{August 14, 2013} Breaking News: UtopYA 2014 Information and a Challenge To Attendees

Have you heard? UtopYA 2014 is getting bigger and founder Janet Wallace has some great news to share, as well as a challenge!

Did you watch the whole thing? Did you? Do it. This is epic! I cannot wait for June!

Need to know more about the conference before you commit? Click the links below to learn more and read real testaments from those who attended UtopYA 2013:

UtopYA 2013: What You Need To Know and Why You Need to Go in 2014

UtopYA: A Fantasy Conference Grows in Nashville—From Publisher’s Weekly

UtopYA: A Note To People Who Don’t Get It

Lift and Pull and Tug For That Spectacular UtopYA View

UtopYA: Why It Should Already be on Your Calendar for 2014

Impromptu Cups Song—You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone

UtopYA 2013 and Special Announcements!

Quinn Loftis and Tiffany King UtopYA 2013

UtopYA 2013! How awesome was it? This is how awesome…

Why you should attend UtopYA 2014

UtopYA 2013: Author Sarah Ross: Inspirational Video

Author Heather Hildenbrand talks UtopYA 2013 Video

UtopYA Con 2013 + Announcement + Ramblings

UtopYA / Quirky Chick Conference Report

UtopYA

{August 13, 2013} {Blog Tour: ARC Review} Steel Lily by Megan Curd + an Excerpt, Guest Post, Top Ten List, and Giveaway!

From Goodreads: AVERY PIKE is a commodity. No, more than a commodity. Her existence is guarded at all costs.

She’s a water Elementalist, the strongest of her dwindling kind. She creates steam to provide energy to fuel Dome Four: the only thing standing between humanity and an earth ravaged by World War III. No steam, no Dome. No Dome, no life.

Or so she thinks.

That is, until a mysterious man offers her a way out of having to donate steam. A way to escape the corrupt government of Dome Four. While the offer seems too good to be true, Avery is intrigued.

But when she arrives to her new home, she realizes the grass isn’t any less dead on this side of the fence. Instead, the lies are just hidden better.

…Which means digging deeper.

When Avery enlists the help of her friends to uncover the truth, she learns that while some secrets are better left concealed, humankind was never meant to live in a cage. And when you can control the most sought after resource, you can learn to control anything…including the fate of your world.

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If you love dystopian, elemental, or steampunk reads, then this is definitely the book for you. Combining all these genres into one, Megan Curd has created a masterpiece that glues readers to the pages from the very beginning, taking them on a whirlwind journey full of adventure, deceit, mystery, mayhem, and of course, a little swoon-worthy romance as well.

Avery Pike doesn’t know how she got her power to control water. She doesn’t know what happened to her parents, either. What she does know is that the government needs her, and they’ve given her a flea infested bed in a run down apartment and an education, which might not sound great, but it’s better than what most of the population gets. In return, she needs to create steam in order to keep Dome 4 alive. Fair trade? Maybe not. Because Avery’s been kept in the dark for much too long.

Curd drops her readers into the world of Dome 4, populating the pages with riveting descriptions and situations that help make Avery’s world tangible and real. The corrupt government, the dire living situations, and the intense rules and regulations make the story come alive as readers watch in horror as the powerful abuse the weak. Thus, it is with open arms that the reader welcomes the appearance of Riggs, a strange man offering Avery a chance for escape and, like Avery, the reader is baited into believing her luck is about to change. But trading one prison for another isn’t what she expected. And as it turns out… nothing is as it seems in this novel.

Enter Jaxon, dear, sweet, Jaxon. It took me a little while to warm up to his pompous nature in the beginning, although his wit and clever banter made me snicker and fall for him quite quickly. It is also because Curd expertly unveils his true inner soul as we get to know him, and it becomes clear that his hard external self-important demeanor is actually only a cover for a much deeper scar that lies beneath his put-together frame. The fact that his father, Riggs, has never treated him with any amount of dignity is part of the problem. The vast tests, pricks, and prods he endured as a child makes up the other part. And yet, he is truly a loving young man who, though suffering through multiple ordeals as a child, has turned out to be one fine young gentleman. And a swoon-worthy one at that.

Honestly, all the characters in this novel are exceptionally well developed, and I loved that Avery is a strong willed female lead who doesn’t need a man to take care of her. Her loyalty to her friends, Alice and Legs, also makes her an exceptional and likable character, and her sheer will power makes her a force to be reckoned with. Though both Alice and Legs struggle a bit in the story, especially with coming to terms with some rather disheartening events, their struggles show their depth, and Curd has done a phenomenal job fleshing out these side characters. What I love the most is that there are absolutely no flat characters in this novel—everyone changes, in some way, and that takes talent.

Curd also keeps this novel relatively clean, making it the perfect recommendation to give to readers of all ages, but especially YA and, in my case, my students. With both a strong female and male lead, this book isn’t just for girls, and with it’s unbiased, yet beautiful cover, I expect to see this one eaten up by readers male and female alike. Five stars.

I received an ARC of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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EXCERPT:

A hand grasped my shoulder.

“Jesus!”

“Nope, Jaxon. Although, I can understand why you’d confuse the two of us.”

I clutched my chest and felt my heart threatening to pound its way out.

He didn’t show his usual conceited visage. His cheeks were flushed, giving him a much younger appearance. His head was turned downward, but his eyes held mine. “Can I borrow you?”

“I have people in line before you. I can pencil you in around midnight.”

He didn’t flinch. “Then midnight it is.”

“Are you kidding?”

“I never joke about midnight rendezvouses with fiery beauties.”

“You’re a torrent of sarcasm.”

“That’s vastly different than kidding. Kidding is frivolity, and I am not frivol. Is that even a word? If it isn’t, insert something else—serious…brooding, perhaps?” He turned to the side and stroked his chin. “Does this look brooding to you? Wait, don’t look. You’re over your five minute ogling allotment.”

“You do know that sarcasm is the refuge for a shallow mind, right?”

“Depth is irrelevant when you can’t find the lake, my dear.”

I opened and closed my mouth, unable to think of a comeback. He always one-upped me. One day I’d come up with something. I’d start writing comebacks down to practice for when the occasion arose. Because that’s not lame at all.

Book Links

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Steel-Lily-Periodic-Series-ebook/dp/B00EH0DF8S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376335474&sr=8-1&keywords=steel+lily+curd

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17828413-steel-lily

Author’s Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Megan-Curd/e/B0054LTV3M/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1375839802&sr=8-1

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Guest Post: This or That—From Jaxon’s POV

Vanilla or chocolate? ::grins:: well, you know you could have both if you go with me. Why choose one or the other when you can have both?

Edward or Jacob? Say what? Who? How about Jaxon? I’m right here, and they don’t have dreads. Or, can I pick from girls? ::dodges Avery’s death stare:: Okay. I pick Avery. I mean, it’s not like Katniss’s deadly aim with a bow and arrow is all that appealing…I’ll take death by Elementalist any day. ::Pats Avery’s leg::

Hockey or soccer? Football. I’m making my own option. Don’t worry, I do it all the time. ::smiles::

Ebook or paper? Paper. I love the feel of a book in my hands. Plus, without much power, the eBook wouldn’t last that long, now would it?

Salty or sweet? Salty. I’m the sweets anyone needs. ::winks::

Beach or mountains? Mountains. I want to camp and see wildlife. I want to see trees and wake up to a real sunrise. Someday, maybe that can happen.

Phone call or email? Neither. I want to see people in person!

Early bird or night owl? Night owl. I do some of my best work at night. ::looks over and winks at Avery:: Get your mind out of the gutter. I meant real work!

Dog or cat? Cat. They’ve got minds of their own, and I can respect that.

Messy or neat? ::points to dreads and shakes head:: Do these look neat to you? I like a bit of disorder in my life. Makes more sense to me.

Ninjas or pirates? Well ninjas, obviously. I have my own ninja! ::nudges Avery::

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About the Author:

Megan Curd is a graduate of Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minnesota. While having always enjoyed reading any books she could get her hands on, Megan didn’t begin writing until a friend encouraged her to do so while in college.

When not writing, Megan enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She loves to snowboard and travel to new places, and doesn’t turn down the opportunity to play xBox with her brother and friends when it presents itself.

Megan currently resides in Stanton, Kentucky with her husband, son, and Great Dane named Dozer.

Top Ten Books on TBR

1.) Prodigy by Marie Lu

2.) Allegiant by Veronica Roth

3.) This Wicked Game by Michelle Zink

4.) Raksha by Frankie Rose

5.) Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor

6.) Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

7.) Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

8.) Splintered by A.G. Howard

9.) Enemy Within by Angeline Kace

10.) The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

OFFICIAL WEBSITE
TWITTER
FACEBOOK
AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

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And now for the Giveaway:

What you can win:

GRAND PRIZE: 1 Steel Lily T-Shirt, Autographed Steel Lily book, & bookmarks

3 Runner-Ups: Autographed Steel Lily books & bookmarks

5 Runner-Ups: eCopies of Steel Lily

Click the Rafflecopter Link to Enter!

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August 12th

Into the Land of Books-Author Interview, Top Ten, Excerpt

Life Between the Pages-Review

Kelly P’s Blog-Excerpt

Books For A Delicate Eternity-Review, Character Interview

August 13th

A Book Vacation-Review, Guest Post/Top Ten, Excerpt

Indy Book Fairy-Review, Guest Post

This Is How It’s Supposed To Be– Review

Literary Meanderings-Top Ten List

lilybloombooks-Review

ReadingToTheStarsAndBack-Review, Author Interview

Kaidans Seduction-Review, Excerpt

August 14th

SassyCat’s Books Review– Guest Post, Author Interview, Character Interview

Oops! I Read A Book Again– Guest Post/Top Ten, Character Interview, Excerpt

Little Hyuts-Review

BookEnd 2 BookEnd-Review, Excerpt

Fabulous and Fun-Review

August 15th

Upon The Wings of Greater Things– Review, Author Interview

Such A Novel Idea-Review, Interview, Excerpt

Shelfspace Needed-Review, Character Interview, Excerpt

the flirty reader-Review, Interview

Little Bookworm Reviews-Excerpt

August 16th

TSK TSK What to Read-Review, Character Interview

bees knees reviews-Review

Books Forget Me Knot– Review, Excerpt

paranormal book club– Review, Excerpt

Book 2 Book-Review

Read-A-holicZ-Review

August 17th

The Book Ninja-Review

Adventures in Reading-Excerpt

Life with Lesley-Review, Excerpt

August 18th

Black Lilies Are Deadly-Review, Excerpt

Reader Girls– Review, Top Ten List

Write Away Bliss-Review, Character Interview

Paperback Princess-Review, Author Interview, Character Interview, Top Ten List

abookandalattee– Review

Girls With Books– Review, Guest Post

Musings of a Blogder-Review

August 19th

My Bookopolis-Review & Excerpt

Mercurial Musings-Guest Post, Author Interview, Character Interview, Excerpt, Top Ten List

TeamNerd Reviews-Review, Excerpt

Brooke Blogs-Guest Post

JeanzBookReadNReview-Review, Interview, Excerpt

Jess resides here-Guest Post, Excerpt, Top Ten List

Working for the Mandroid-Review, Guest Post, Top Ten List

deal sharing aunt-Top Ten List

The Bearded Scribe-Review, Interview

{August 8, 2013} {Review} Here Without You by Tammara Webber (Between the Lines #4)

From Goodreads: Everyone has secrets.
Some are buried so deep, their existence is forgotten.
But a secret never told can turn into a lie.
And in love, a lie is one thing:
Poison.

Reid’s in love with Dori, though she hasn’t told her parents that she’s fallen hard for the guy they’d forbidden her to see. Now she’s leaving for college, and Reid’s promise not to push her to go public is wearing thin, especially when she can’t – or won’t – return those three important words he wants to hear.

Five years ago, Brooke and Reid were a Thing. That relationship is long gone, detonated amid allegations of cheating – but they still share a secret that would stun everyone they know and alter public perception of them both if it ever comes out. And it’s about to do just that.

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Here Without You, a moving story that will grip readers’ hearts, brings about the perfect closure to the Between the Lines series, a series that is very dear to me. Beginning with the epic novels, Between the Lines and Where You Are, readers of this series have learned much about young Hollywood stars Reid, Brooke, Graham, and Emma through Webber’s in-depth characterization and first-person narration, giving all her exceptional characters a voice while allowing readers to connect with them on a deeper level, learning the truths in their hearts as their souls are laid bare.

But while the first two novels, Between the Lines and Where You Are focus on the intertwined lives of Reid, Brooke, Graham, and Emma, the last two novels, Good For You and Here Without You, focus mainly on Reid and newcomer, Dori, and it is through their relationship that readers really begin to see Reid change for the better. And in this fourth novel, the introduction of another new character, River, provides a raw, gripping point-of-view that is beautifully executed in this final installment, which will leave readers raw and full of emotion; a full box of tissues nearby is a must for this heart-rending read.

Perhaps more so that Webber’s other novels, Here Without You deals with some extremely tender subjects, ones that actually cannot be mentioned without triggering a spoiler here or there. But readers should know that this extremely powerful story will have them falling in love with all their favorite (and not so favorite) characters all over again. It is, in a word, perfect. Five stars.

I purchased this novel from Amazon.

Check out all the books in this awesome series!

Between the Lines (#1)

Where You Are (#2)

Good For You (#3)

Here Without You (#4)

{August 8, 2013} {Cover Reveal and Excerpt} Wicked Thing by Angeline Kace

Wicked Thing by Angeline Kace

September 2013

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Synopsis:

Carmyn Rafferty witnessed the aftermath of her mother’s affair. She learned at a young age not to trust anyone. Especially not your spouse. So she’s planned. She’s planned every detail of her life: who her husband will be, what their careers will be, what their lives will be like. All to avoid the pain of infidelity.

Dallas Brown lives a life all his own. He doesn’t do relationships, he doesn’t care what anyone thinks of him, and he doesn’t live up to anyone’s expectations but his own.

When Carmyn’s fiancé cheats on her, it sends her into a whirlwind of one-night stands with the most infamous player on campus. She can’t seem to stay away from this tough guy and his dangerous motorcycle. Everything about him is the complete opposite of who she’d planned to fall in love with: tattoos, dark stubble along his jawline, and hair that brushes his shoulders.

As Dallas and Carmyn begin to fall deeper and deeper into each other, they learn that love can truly be a wicked, wicked thing.

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WICKED THING EXCERPT

DALLAS

I shoot some darts with the guys, losing some, but winning mostly.

Carmyn looks over at me a few times, always looking away when our eyes meet. She’s watched us play most of this last game, so I grab the darts out of the board and walk over to her. “Play me.”

She tries to hold back her smile. “I don’t have any cash on me.”

“Then if I win, you kiss me.”

She looks me up and down. “What the hell.” She shrugs. “And if I win…” She studies me as if she’s not sure what’s worth my price. “You have to teach me how to drive your motorcycle.”

The crowd roars with a loud, “Ooooohhhh!” and she’s grinning like a god damn magician. That’s a good one. She’s gotta know I don’t let anyone drive my bike but me. Everyone knows it. It’s my baby. But I’m confident I’ll win. She’s dancing tonight like she’s reached a perfect buzz level—drunk enough to let loose, but not too drunk to fall ass over face. And on the point-oh-five percent chance that I do lose, it’ll get her on my bike, spreading her legs to straddle the leather and steel. No matter how much I’ve stuck to my self-imposed rule of “no chicks on the bike,” that alone might be worth the small risk.

But shit. To let her drive it. I just don’t know. That’s a lot. “You know I don’t let anyone drive it, right? Hell, I don’t even let the ladies on for a ride.”

She grins, again challenge accepted. “Well, you know I don’t go around betting to let just anyone kiss me, right? And I doubt this is anything less than a once in a life time opportunity.”

It only has a single seat, so I won’t be able to be on there with her to help her drive it. I specifically asked for the single 1939 Harley Davidson seat during the build. Every detail of this bike was thought through.

Vick’s glaring at me from the sidelines. She’s tried on numerous occasions to talk me into taking her for a ride. Even going so far as to offer sexual favors, or incentives as she calls them. Which of course I could never accept. She’s gonna be pissed.

“Do it. Do it!” the guys start chanting.

I’ve never seen her play when the brothers get a game going. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her watch much of our games before, either. And that pussy of an ex-boyfriend of hers has never had the balls to throw any money down. Shit. I gotta do it. I present the darts to her. “Do you wanna start, or shall I?”

The crowd whoops, and Ava runs up and hugs her. “I’m so proud of you,” she yell-whispers into Carmyn’s ear. Carmyn pats Ava’s arm and then steps forward, wrapping her fingers around the darts in my palm.

I curl my hand, catching the beveled darts between our fingers. “Do you know how to play?”

“Outer ring is double, inner ring is triple. First to zero wins.” She yanks the darts out of my hand when I’m too stunned to do anything but let them go.

Shit. Is she trying to hustle me?

She walks back to the line we’ve taped on the scratched hardwood. It’s sexy as hell seeing her walk over there like she owns it. That doesn’t mean she’ll win, though. My shot is straight and accurate. Even if she does know how to play, I doubt she’s better than me.

She shoots pretty well. I’m surprised why she never plays more; she could win a shitload of money from these drunk clowns.

Still, I should win this round. Carmyn has one hundred nine points left, and I’m down to fifty-four. I could hit a triple eighteen, but I can’t win on the first dart because I’ll appear too eager. And I can’t win on the third and final dart of this round because I’ll look like a chump. I survey the board and do some quick math, figuring out where I have to hit to get the numbers I want from each dart. I shoot the first dart and hit a single four.

The guys cheer.

“Only the inner bulls eye is left,” Nate says. He’s keeping score.

“He’s got this,” Randall calls.

I do. I look over at Carmyn and she’s holding back a smile, shaking her head. “Nope. You’re not gonna hit it.”

I’ve been avoiding that the whole game. She doesn’t think I can hit it. I wet my lips. That kiss is mine. I throw the second dart and it sinks into the center of the board.

I raise my fists into the air and hop on my toes while the crowd cheers.

Carmyn’s jutting out her jaw and shaking her head.

I move the couple of steps over to her, taking my time. “I’ve come to collect what’s mine,” I warn her.

“Right here?” She glances around at all the bystanders.

“They’re all invested now too. They’re not about to look away now.” I drop my voice. “Better make it good.”

She swallows, hesitating.

“I believe this is yours.” I hand her the last dart in my hand. “And this is my mine.” I cup her face in my hands before she can think anything else, and I kiss her.

Her lips pucker, but I’ve worked for this, so she better give me more than that. I open my mouth slightly and she mirrors me. My tongue strokes her upper lip gently. Hers reaches out and caresses mine. When she pulls her tongue back to stroke again, I open my mouth to a full kiss. Our tongues run along the other’s, tasting, taking in the firm but giving sensation as they meld together and then pull apart.

The room is loud around us, but I tune everyone out. I’ve kissed a lot of women before, but Carmyn’s is more than that. From her breaths mingling with mine, to the delicate way she tilts her head. I knew the bet would be worth it.

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Author Information

Angeline is a Scorpio living in the Rocky Mountains with her husband and dogs. She loves all things paranormal, believes ghosts are real, werewolves aren’t, and vampires? Definitely real! At least in the Vampire Born world they are. She is currently at work on her first New Adult Romance, Wicked Thing, which releases September 2013.

Website: http://www.angelinekace.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Angeline-Kace-YA-Author/122820374454142

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Angeline-Kace-YA-Author/122820374454142?fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Angeline_Kace

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4641669.Angeline_Kace

{August 7, 2013} {Review} Dead Push by Tim O’Rouke (Kiera Hudson Series Two #7)

From Goodreads: When two enemies push back together!

“…Most of them just sit as if waiting for someone to join them on their impending journey. Others are rushing for their train as if late for some important meeting. They can’t wait to board one of those trains below ground. When I first discovered this place, I don’t know how long I sat here watching the dead hustle and bustle about, queue at the ticket office and take drinks from the vending machines. Like any new place you visit, like your first day at a new school or in a new job, you soon figure out how things work. I knew I was dead…”

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Tim O’Rourke’s pushed world in the Kiera Hudson Series Two novels just got even cooler with the revelation that turning back time is possible. Similar to the concept of Hermoine Granger’s Time-Turner in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the characters in O’Rourke’s novel discover that, in this pushed world, they can turn back time and review events, a task Potter and Jack Seth must complete in order to help push the world back into its right alignment.

Think about it. How cool would it be to turn back time and witness events as they happen as an outsider? I’d love that, though the pull of wanting to change events and to interfere would be unbearable, as Potter and Jack Seth soon find out. Together, these two enemies must overcome their hatred for one another in order to save a common love: Kiera.

This time, readers get to see both sides of the story, viewing the events leading up to Isidor, Melody, and Kiera’s deaths in the pushed world, and new information has come to light; information that will floor you. As always, O’Rourke surprised me at every turn, and as events came to their climax, I was bowled over by the revelations thrown at me concerning Kiera, Isidor, and Jack Seth.

Jack Seth’s inner monologue is absolutely hilarious in this novel. As he works through his sinister feelings, leaping into the past and watching for the photographer, his musings about Isidor and Melody Rose had me snickering to myself as I read. His pet names and thoughts about their actions were quite funny, especially as readers of this series have heard this story before, from a much more serious standpoint in Dead Angels. However, seeing it through an observer’s eyes, obtaining both sides of the picture added a new twist to the story and it is beautifully done, especially as it forces Jack Seth to take a long hard look at his inner soul. And what he finds and chooses to do will surprise you.

Potter, ever the snarky mouth-off, finds himself leaping into the past to watch for the photographer at Kiera’s house, however, he soon finds himself battling against his feelings for Kiera—not his Kiera, might I add, but the pushed version; the version destined to die in a robbery shootout. Potter’s thoughts and feelings, and ultimately his actions reveal much about himself and the pushed world, and it is through him that we learn even more concerning the Wolf Man and his seemingly “all-knowing” intentions.

So much is revealed in this novel about the pushed world, the elders, and even the wolves—it’s an intense read told from alternating perspectives of Potter and Jack Seth, and I absolutely adored it. Of course, there is a major cliffhanger at the end, but, with Tim O’Rourke’s writing expertise, it won’t be long before we have the next installment, Dead Lost. Five stars.

I received this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

For MORE books by Tim O’Rourke:

(Formerly known as Cowgirls and Vampires)

Doorways Series

Doorways (#1)

The League of Doorways (#2)

Flashes Series

Flashes (#1)–Coming 2013

Pick Series

Pick (#1)–Coming Soon

{August 6, 2013} {Blog Tour and Giveaway} Blood Rule by Heather Hildenbrand :: Release Day Blitz

Blood Rule by Heather Hildenbrand

The Dirty Blood Series, #4

Accendo Press – August 2013

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Synopsis:

Forty-six.

That’s how many hybrids survived the Hunter attack in the woods after I revived them with an injection of my blood. That’s how many followed me home to Frederick Falls. And that’s how many were now mentally linked to me through a blood bond.

Two days. Three valium. Fourteen hours of sleep.

That’s what it took to realize I wasn’t losing my mind as a result of the noise in my own head.

Sixteen.

That’s how many days have passed since I almost killed Alex. That’s how many days I’ve sat by his bedside, waiting for him to wake up. To ease the guilt, to understand his betrayal, to remember the exact shade of brown in his eyes.

Zero.

That’s my chances of skating by with Gordon Steppe and the Hunter Council. They want me for questioning. I’m afraid what’ll happen if I give them answers.

Buy the Book:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ECL1OZS/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_pZyasb1V8KETS

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blood-rule-book-4-dirty-blood-series-heather-hildenbrand/1116310366?ean=2940148570240

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Author Information

Heather Hildenbrand was born and raised in a small town in northern Virginia where she was homeschooled through high school. She now lives in coastal VA, a few miles from the Atlantic Ocean, with her two adorable children. She works from home, part time, as a property manager and when she’s not furiously pounding at the keyboard, or staring off into space whilst plotting a new story, she’s lying on the beach, soaking in those delicious, pre-cancerous rays.

Heather loves Mexican food, hates socks with sandals, and if her house was on fire, the one thing she’d grab is her DVR player.

Heather is a co-founder of Accendo Press, a publishing group she operates with fellow authors: Angeline Kace and Jennifer Sommersby. Accendo (a-CH-endo), A Latin word, means “to kindle, illuminate, inflame, or set fire.” This is something Accendo strives to do inside a reader’s imagination with every title released. For a complete list of titles and author bios, visit http://www.accendopress.com

Website: www.heatherhildenbrand.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Heather.L.Hildenbrand

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherHildenbrandsFanPage

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeatherHildenbr

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4607856.Heather_Hildenbrand

Newsletter: http://blogspot.us4.list-manage2.com/subscribe?u=77abacb38959bc9c0f7b4e81b&id=739fdcef83

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Click the gif below to go to Heather’s AWESOME giveaway!

For more tour stops and information:
http://heatherhildenbrand.blogspot.com/2013/08/blood-rule-release-day-blitz-blog-tour.html

{August 4, 2013} {ARC Review} The Weight of Souls by Bryony Pearce (#1)

From Goodreads: Sixteen year old Taylor Oh is cursed: if she is touched by the ghost of a murder victim then they pass a mark beneath her skin. She has three weeks to find their murderer and pass the mark to them – letting justice take place and sending them into the Darkness. And if she doesn’t make it in time? The Darkness will come for her…

She spends her life trying to avoid ghosts, make it through school where she’s bullied by popular Justin and his cronies, keep her one remaining friend, and persuade her father that this is real and that she’s not going crazy.

But then Justin is murdered and everything gets a whole lot worse. Justin doesn’t know who killed him, so there’s no obvious person for Taylor to go after. The clues she has lead her to the V Club, a vicious secret society at her school where no one is allowed to leave… and where Justin was dared to do the stunt which led to his death.

Can she find out who was responsible for his murder before the Darkness comes for her? Can she put aside her hatred for her former bully to truly help him?

And what happens if she starts to fall for him?

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This novel was phenomenal! I was enraptured from the very beginning, watching Taylor walk into the depths of a violent gang to pass on the mark, noting her vast courage and fortitude as she attempted to trap a killer. With her “them or me” mentality, drilled into her from a young age, Taylor runs the gauntlet of danger throughout this entire novel trying to stave off the Darkness, keeping it at bay one murdered soul at a time.

Enter Justin and his teenage followers: the popular crowd who enjoy nothing more than to plague Taylor at every turn. They don’t know about the Darkness; they don’t know Taylor sees the dead, or that the murdered’s touch is the reason she wears gloves, hoping to cover the ever deepening black mark death leaves on her hand. All the populars know is that she’s different. And “different” in high school terms means the end of all social acceptance. The brunt of their spiteful attacks and malicious slurs tend to fall on deaf ears, however, as Taylor is a strong female lead; she’s more interested in saving her soul than fitting in. And I loved this about her. She’s not afraid to assert herself or speak up against her tormentors, though it never brings about much good. Yet when faced with the death of the most popular of her tormentors, Justin, Taylor has to do more than fight back—she must fit in in order to figure out the truth before it’s too late, before the Darkness comes for her.

The fact that her scientist father doesn’t believe anything Taylor says about her curse, chalking it all up to a disease he’s intent on curing, only adds another barrier that she must overcome in order to continue roaming the streets in search of murderers, attempting to keep away the Darkness and also convince her father she’s not crazy. I can’t imagine being in her situation and having a parent disregard my words and insist on extracting my blood in attempts to heal me, but Taylor bares it quite well, following in her deceased mother’s footsteps, so it seems. Now, there’s a story that’s highly intriguing! Learning all about Taylor’s family curse, passed down from her mother’s side, was fascinating. I loved the glimpses and stories we’re given as Taylor reads from her mother’s book, the one that explains how it all began and sets the stage for the upcoming fight with the Darkness that readers know is bound to come.

This novel is unlike anything I’ve read before, and I loved the sleuthing Taylor undertakes, as well as learning the truth about Justin, the V Club, and watching Taylor risk her life in order to impede the Darkness. It’s very well written, and as I said before, I just adore Taylor and her inner strength. Regardless of all the obstacles set before her, she diligently tries to do what is right and protect others. Justin grew on me too, though I really hated him in the beginning, even though his side-kick James is actually the more threatening of Taylor’s tormenting group, made all the more sinister by the revelation of the V Club.

The whole idea of the V Club was fascinating, and it made me think of all those underground clubs that are rumored to have been in hiding for centuries, which only adds to the fun of it all. Of course, V Club seems a lot more sinister than the underground clubs I’ve heard of (but then again, I wouldn’t really know because I’m not privy to their societies and all they do), and it was awesome watching Taylor attempt to infiltrate. Likewise, we eventually learn more about the Darkness and, in this case, it’s interest in the V Club, which filled me with trepidation as we get an up-close and personal view of what lies beyond—which then begs the question, if all the murderers are sucked into the Darkness, what, exactly, are all these evil murderers going to be used for in the future? Because… the Darkness is not hell, as one might assume. So, what is it? Five stars.

Angry Robot and Strange Chemistry have been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this awesome novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on August 6, 2013.

{August 1, 2013} {Trailer Reveal and Giveaway} Enemy Within by Angeline Kace

Enemy Within by Angeline Kace

Vampire Born, #2

Accendo Press – April 2013

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Synopsis:

Two guys who’ve stolen her heart.

Three races and only one of them worthy.

Countless enemies with insatiable bloodlust for power.

Will one girl’s curse ultimately save her?

Half-vampire Brooke Keller barely survived the slaying of her worst enemy, only to learn that Zladislov—the world’s most powerful vampire, leader of the vampire world, and her father—wants her dead. However, this time, she’s not only fighting vampires but a raging monster within her that endangers what’s left of her humanity.

And when a deadly disease threatens to take her best friend’s life, Brooke tries to convince Kaitlynn to accept a monster of her own: becoming a Zao Duh.

As a former slave to the Pijawikas, Mirko is driven to protect the innocent at all costs, but he has never faced a foe more formidable than Zladislov. And when the Commission bears down on Brooke, Mirko finds the stream of enemies runs deeper than he ever imagined.

Read my 5 STAR REVIEW.

Buy Now:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

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Author Information

Angeline is a Scorpio living in the Rocky Mountains with her husband and dogs. She loves all things paranormal, believes ghosts are real, werewolves aren’t, and vampires? Definitely real! At least in the Vampire Born world they are.

She is currently at work on her first New Adult Romance, Wicked Thing, which releases September 2013.

Website: http://www.angelinekace.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Angeline-Kace-YA-Author/122820374454142?ref=hl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Angeline_Kace

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4641669.Angeline_Kace

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And an EPIC GIVEAWAY:

Angeline is offering up a fantastic giveaway! One lucky winner will receive a Kindle Fire HD with an Enemy Within skin and ebooks from authors Chelsea Fine, JL Bryan, Raine Thomas, Sarah Ross, and more!

Click this Rafflecopter link to enter!

{August 1, 2013} My Recently Released Giveaway Goodness #27–August–Choose From Eight Recently Released Novels

It’s that time again! For no other reason than that I like giveaways… we’re onto the TWENTY-SEVENTH Recently Released Giveaway Goodness Giveaway!

Many of these novels have recently released. I’ve included my reviews below to help you pick the novel you’d like to win. And honestly, there should be something here for everyone!

Interested? Of course you are! I’m offering ONE lucky winner one of these novels:

Crush. Candy. Corpse. by Sylvia McNicoll
Taking Back Forever by Karen Amanda Hooper
The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington
Eyes Ever to the Sky by Katie French
Spirit by Brigid Kemmerer
Screwed by Laurie Plissner
The Tribe: Homeroom Headhunters by Clay McLeod Chapman
Hush by Stacey R. Campbell

This is an INTERNATIONAL giveaway from the book depository, but you need to make sure they send to your country before entering–check here.

To enter you must:

-Be 13 years or older (or have parent/guardian permission)

-Fill in the mandatory question on rafflecopter (extra entries optional)

Click here to go to the Rafflecopter entry form!

This contest is open internationally and will end at 12:01am EST on September 1st. The winner will be announced later on September 1st, and will receive email notification! Please read my giveaway policy and leave me a comment!

{August 1, 2013} Announcing the Winner of My Recently Released Giveaway Goodness #26–July

My Recently Released Giveaway Goodness #26–July–has just concluded, and I’m excited to say that the winner has been chosen via Rafflecopter.

And the winner is…

Alicia

Book of Choice:

Pretty Dark Nothing by Heather L. Reid

A tweet has already gone out to the winner, and an email will go out later this evening! If I don’t hear from the winner within 48 hours, I will select a new winner using Rafflecopter.

Thanks to everyone who participated, and congratulations to the winner… but don’t despair if you didn’t win this round!

Enter to win my other great giveaways:

Win a Signed Paperback of Becoming Bryn by Angela Carling: Ends August 14

Win a Recently Released Book of Your Choice: Ends September 1

{May 27, 2012} {Review} Easy by Tammara Webber

From Goodreads: When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she’s single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, stalked by her ex’s frat brother, and failing a class for the first time in her life.

Her econ professor gives her an email address for Landon, the class tutor, who shows her that she’s still the same intelligent girl she’s always been. As Jacqueline becomes interested in more from her tutor than a better grade, his teasing responses make the feeling seem mutual. There’s just one problem—their only interactions are through email.

Meanwhile, a guy in her econ class proves his worth the first night she meets him. Nothing like her popular ex or her brainy tutor, Lucas sits on the back row, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. At a downtown club, he disappears after several dances that leave her on fire. When he asks if he can sketch her, alone in her room, she agrees—hoping for more.

Then Jacqueline discovers a withheld connection between her supportive tutor and her seductive classmate, her ex comes back into the picture, and her stalker escalates his attention by spreading rumors that they’ve hooked up. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy.

Author Recommendation: Mature Young Adults (language, drinking, sexual situations)

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I love that this YA novel deals with college-aged characters. Most YA literature looks at teens in the high school setting, but Webber sets her novel apart through the college campus and college situations that the characters face. It’s a nice change of pace that helped me connect more with the characters, especially as they are closer to my age than many YA leads, and I was able to identify with them even more. I also love that Webber’s characters behave like college students; they are extremely real and the dialogue is pristine, making me feel like I was right there alongside the characters, facing the same situations. I just adored this novel!

Lucas is a dreamy character of whom I can’t get enough. I tried to read the book in one sitting, and would have had I not had to go to my evening job, but even though I was away from the book, the characters permeated my mind the entire evening. I found myself day dreaming about Lucas, wondering what would happen next, how he and Jacqueline would pan out, and whether or not Buck and Kennedy would make another appearance… these characters are so real and enticing that they literally became a part of my life. I was, and am still, enamored by them and though the novel ends on a great note and doesn’t need a sequel, I’d love one because these characters are so real and I’m dying to know what happens to them as they continue to grow up, graduate, and join the workforce.

Now, you may have noticed that Webber states that her novel is for mature YA as there is some language usage, drinking, and sexual situations. This is not a book for your 14 year old, but it is a great novel for those who are older and more mature. Yes, there are some sexual situations with more detail than I like in my novels, but Webber does an amazing job working them into the storyline of the plot—it moves the plot along and isn’t just there to add spice to the story, like we see in so many novels nowadays.

Webber is one of those authors that I adore; her novels have always been immaculate, perfectly written gems that I can’t get enough of, and Easy is another masterpiece. I was pulled into the story the moment I began reading, my heart in my throat as the suspense and peril Jacqueline faces from the get go are explained in detail. This novel deals with heavy topics, such as rape, loss, and even murder, but Webber relates them in such a way that it’s not as hard to stomach as it may sound. It actually deals more with gaining self-worth and focusing on the positive than on the negative, and I really believe that all mature young adults should read this book, especially as young women tend to have such a warped belief concerning what rape really is, and how to go about handling it. Now, I hate to give away any spoilers, but I think this is one thing that some readers might need to know… I cannot stomach novels that deal with rape, so potential readers, if you’re like me, rest assured that Jacqueline is not raped. There are attempts, yes, but if you’re scared to pick up this novel based on the potential that the main character is taken advantage of, you can breathe easy, as that doesn’t happen. Overall, this is just a phenomenal piece that I highly recommend. Five stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

{May 25, 2012} Easy, by Tammara Webber, Has Released!!!

It’s finally here, folks! Easy, by Tammara Webber, released early this morning and is now available for Kindle and Nook for just $3.99! I cannot wait to get home this afternoon and begin reading it! Check out the intense synopsis below and the beautiful cover, then pick up your copy today!

Never read a book by Tammara Webber? She’s amazing! Check out all her other novels: Between the Lines, Where You Are, and Good For You by visiting either Goodreads, Amazon, or Barnes and Nobel!

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Synopsis: When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she’s single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, stalked by her ex’s frat brother, and failing a class for the first time in her life.

Author Recommendation: Mature Young Adults (language, drinking, sexual situations)

{March 16, 2012} {Cover Reveal} Easy by Tammara Webber

Tammara Webber has spent the last few months secretly working on her fourth book, a stand-alone novel that readers have been eagerly anticipating. Today marks the reveal of the cover and synopsis of Easy, and with its beautiful cover and intriguing synopsis, it‘s sure to be another hit, just like Webber’s riveting Between the Lines series!

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Synopsis:

When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she’s single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, stalked by her ex’s frat brother, and failing a class for the first time in her life.

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Intrigued? Easy is slated to release in late May and, like many others, I cannot wait to read this book!

{November 5, 2011} {Review} Vampire Hunt by Tim O’Rourke (Kiera Hudson Series One, #3)

From Goodreads: In search of Kayla and on the run, Kiera and her friends make a race against time across the Cumbria Mountains. With the vampires predicting their every move, the trust amongst Kiera and her friends starts to fade.

From the desolate monastery set high between the mountains to the mysterious lake and the caves beneath the fountain, Kiera must discover the connection between the vampires and her mother, Isidor and Kayla, and resolve her inner feelings for Potter and Luke.

Kiera herself has started to change and this frightens her. So turning to her friends for help, she realises that it is only her mother who can provide the truth. But Kiera has other questions that she needs to have answered. Why did Isidor murder an innocent girl? Who is the person that Murphy has been meeting in secret? But above all, why have they put their lives and trust in the hands of a serial killer?

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I don’t know how it is possible to write a series and have each new book always be better than the last, but that is exactly what O’Rourke is doing with his Kiera Hudson novels. These novels, Vampire Shift, Vampire Wake, and now Vampire Hunt, have been an extremely riveting rollercoaster ride, each novel taking the reader further into the story and creating more action and suspense. It seems so unfeasible to be able to create such mind-blowing texts, yet O’Rourke obviously possesses the gift of storytelling, and this dark vampire novel cranks up the action tenfold as Kiera and her friends run for their lives. Vampire Hunt picks up right where the second novel, Vampire Wake, left off, jumping directly into the action, with cars and helicopters blowing up, vampires taking on vampyrus and, overall, trust being shaken among Kiera and her friends.

This novel deals more intently with a love triangle than the previous novels did, and something that I absolutely love about O’Rourke is that he keeps his novels clean. While Kiera harbors feelings for both Luke and Potter, none of the scenes are racy or inappropriate, which is rare to find in both YA and adult novels in this day and age. I really enjoyed O’Rourke’s portrayal of this love triangle and, though I do hate to say it, I am starting to lean a little more towards Potter, whereas in the previous novels, I haven’t even given him a second thought! The fact that O’Rourke has been able to cause me to swing sides is a testament to his sheer writing abilities, and I am stunned.

I especially enjoyed watching Kiera begin her shift and, though we don’t have all the answers yet, O’Rourke has set the scene for a pretty intense plotline in the near future. The ending of this novel left me breathless, and I am extremely excited to read the next installment–I’ve now read the first three books in the series for a second time, and my thoughts remain the same: 5 amazing stars!! So if you haven’t yet begun this series, I highly suggest you do. It’s an amazing tale and you really won’t be disappointed. Five stars!!