Monday, March 31, 2014

Book Blitz: Before You Break by Christina Lee



Book Details:

Before You Break by Christina Lee
(Between Breaths #2)
Published by: Intermix (Penguin)
Publication date: February 18th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:
A sexy, emotional New Adult romance about a bad boy on the edge and a good girl about to lose control…

The star catcher of the college baseball team isn’t supposed to have skeletons in his closet. But Daniel Quinn is hiding a guilty past so dark he refuses to let anyone get close. Except there’s something about gorgeous, studious Ella Abrams that goes beyond the electric attraction between them—something that makes him want to open up.

Ella has suffered enough heartache and guilt to fill one of her psychology textbooks, but she keeps that part of herself hidden behind a bubbly exterior. Until she receives an anonymous call while working the suicide helpline and the voice on the other end touches something inside of her that she can’t ignore.

Soon Ella and Quinn’s physical connection heats up, even as their deep and revealing hotline talks intensify. But by the time Ella realizes that her seductive jock and her sensitive caller are the same guy, it might be too late to save him—or to stop herself from falling too far.

*A companion novel to ALL OF YOU
----

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mother, wife, reader, dreamer. Christina lives in the Midwest with her husband and son--her two favorite guys. She's addicted to lip gloss and salted caramel everything.

She believes in true love and kissing, so writing romance novels has become a dream job.

She also owns her own jewelry business, called Tags-n-Stones(dot com), where she hand-stamps meaningful words or letters onto silver for her customers.

She loves to hear from her readers. You can find her on her WEBSITE: www.christinalee.net. From there you can link to her Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Author links: 


SOMETHING EXTRA:

At the theater, we bought popcorn, Milk Duds, and large sodas. After we settled in our seats in the crowded room, I opened the box of chocolate caramel confections and dumped them in the large tub.

“Um,” Quinn said, scratching his chin.

“Sweet and salty—it’s a must-have for movie watching.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes, seriously.” I picked up a Milk Dud, flanked it with two pieces of popcorn, and then brought it to his lips. “Here. I guarantee you’ll fall in love. You’ll never watch a movie without them again.”

“If you say so. . . .” He dragged the sweet and salty mixture into his mouth but kept my fingers enclosed between his lips. I held in a gasp while he ran his tongue over my thumb and then sucked on my forefinger before releasing my hand and chewing what remained.

“Agree,” he said around a mouthful of popcorn. “Wouldn’t want to be without them ever again.”

Quinn’s gaze latched on to mine. It felt like a bundle of feathers had been let loose in my stomach. “Guess you’ll have to come to every movie from now on. So I don’t forget.”

Speechless wasn’t even the word for what I felt in that moment. Dumbfounded might have been more like it, or maybe just struck stupid, because I couldn’t even move my lips to form any coherent words.

When the movie previews began, he turned toward the screen and reached for my fingers, interlacing our hands. Then he leaned close to my ear and said, “I expect you to feed me just like that the entire movie.”



GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
Blitz-wide giveaway Open INTL
Prizes:
--3 winners for an ebook of their choice 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, March 28, 2014

Blog tour (author interview + giveaway) IF ONLY by A.J.Pine (she's awesome!)

My stop in this tour is an author interview. Enjoy!

Hello AJ! I'm so happy to feature you and your book at YA Story Teller today!

Hi Vanya! Thanks so much for having me on the blog today and for being a part of IF ONLY’s launch!

How did your life as a writer begin?
I’m a high school English teacher and avid reader. I didn’t really start writing until I started working at my school. We have this fabulous event each year called Writers Week where students, faculty, and professional writers get up on stage every class period of every day for a week to share their writing with an auditorium that seats 500+. And it’s always a packed house. Writers Week and my love of YA literature led me to try writing my first book. I started with just a chapter, eight pages, and I read it at Writers Week and got a great response. That gave me the boost I need to continue, and those 8 pages became my first novel that maybe, someday, will move beyond the confines of my laptop.


What makes you feel inspired to write?
Drafting a new book is my absolute happy place. If I could, I would always be drafting. Sharing my work with my amazing critique partners also inspires me because when they give me the thumbs up on an idea, on shared pages, it makes me want to write more.

How did you come with the idea for your current story?
Well, the truth was bound to come out sooner or later, right? Haha. IF ONLY follows Jordan on her year abroad at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. Not coincidentally, I spent my junior year of college in Scotland. And while this is absolutely Jordan, Noah, Griffin, Elaina, and Duncan’s story, bits and pieces of it were definitely inspired by my experience in Aberdeen. Like…I may have taken a Shakespearean comedy class because I saw a certain crush’s name on the roster. Jordan and I have that in common. Haha. But she ended up having a way different year than I did, and it was so much fun to experience it with her!

Tell us about your writing process. Do you outline, or are you more of a seat on your pants type of a writer?
I have totally evolved in my process with each book. My YA book that’s hiding on my laptop was pantsed from beginning to end. I had that first chapter, and I knew exactly what the last scene in the book was, and I just wrote from point A to point B and somehow got there. IF ONLY had a rough outline, just to make sure I had a full story, but I still had to learn about pacing with my edits. My third book that’s with my agent right now was not pantsed at all. I used Blake Snyder’s Beat Sheet, and I LOVED it. The fifteen beats come from his book on screenwriting called Save the Cat, and the beat sheet is now my plotting/pacing bible. I love it. I still get to pants it as new ideas come up while I’m writing, but the beat sheet makes sure I’m hitting all the story arcs before I get to that final scene.

What is your favorite scene in the book? Why?
Oooh, this is a toss-up between a few, so I’ll share an early one that won’t spoil the rest of the book. I love Jordan and Noah’s reboot in the beginning, the scene I like to call the YAWP scene. It’s after they go on this campus scavenger hunt for new students, and the reader knows that these two have a connection. But they can’t be together because of obligations to other people. So based on their joint love of the movie Dead Poets Society, they stand on two desks and yell YAWP to reboot their relationship, to wipe out how they feel about each other since they can’t be together. The way that chapter ends hit me in the feels to write it, and I hope it does the same for readers. I love the emotional scenes. But I also loved writing any scene that had kissing in it too. Because…hello…KISSING.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?
I have to write chronologically. I have friends who get a great idea for a scene and just run with it, even if they aren’t to the place in the manuscript where the scene goes. I can’t do that! If I get a great idea for a scene, I’ll jot it down on my phone and go back to it when I’m ready for that part of the story. Like, I’m pretty sure I’d spontaneously combust if I tried to write out of order. I might have some control issues. I’m okay with that.

What is your usual writing routine?
Because of the day job and the whole parenting gig, I really don’t get to sit down and write until about 9:00 p.m. I park myself on the corner of my couch, boot up the laptop, and hammer at the keys until I can’t stay awake any longer. If I’m on deadline, the routine also includes a mug of Green Mountain’s dark magic coffee. And Trader Joe’s chocolate covered espresso beans. But I only combine the two in extreme circumstances where sleep must be avoided at all costs.

What is the highest goal that you desire to meet as an author?
Getting a book published is pretty huge as far as meeting my goals, and I’m extremely grateful for this step and for my first book landing with a fabulous publisher like Entangled. But I guess if I’m looking beyond this, it would be really swell to get to just keep doing it. My book is out there now, and people are reading it and even liking it. It’s incredibly surreal, and I can’t thank early readers enough for the lovely things they are saying about IF ONLY and for helping put me on the map. As scary as it is to put my words out into the wild, I’d love nothing more than the chance to do it again with the next book. And the one after that. And the one…you get the gist.

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?
I’ve been really fortunate to get to meet a lot of authors in the past few years at conferences I’ve attended. I’m super fangirly when it comes getting books signed, and forget about asking to get my photo taken with them. I’m as awkward as they come. So when I say I’d LOVE to meet Rainbow Rowell, it must come with the disclaimer that I will probably burst into tears or lose my ability to form coherent speech (or both) if it happens. Why? Because Rainbow Rowell writes the kind of books that I want to crawl inside of and live in. I want to hang with her characters, to banter like the dialogue she writes for them. And maybe if we met she could somehow make Levi (FANGIRL) materialize, and I could keep him forever. But really, if she would just sign my books and take a pic with me, I’d probably be just as happy.
Nope. I want Levi too.
Well, I can't say I didn't have fun reading your responses! Thank you and come back soon! :)

BOOK DETAILS: 
Title: IF ONLY
Author: A.J. Pine
Publisher: Entangled Embrace
Pub. Date: March 24, 2014
Pages: 342

Summary:

Sometimes it takes crossing an ocean to figure out where you belong.

It's been two years since twenty-year-old Jordan had a boyfriend—which means it's been forever since she, well, you know. But now she’s off to spend her junior year in Aberdeen, Scotland, the perfect place to stop waiting for Mr. Right and just enjoy Mr. Right Now.

Sexy, sweet (and possible player) Griffin may be her perfect, no-strings-attached match. He’s fun, gorgeous, and makes her laugh. So why can’t she stop thinking about Noah who, minutes after being trapped together outside the train’s loo, kisses Jordan like she’s never been kissed before? Never mind his impossible blue eyes, his weathered, annotated copy of The Great Gatsby (total English-major porn)…oh, and his girlfriend.

Jordan knows everything this year has an expiration date. Aberdeen is supposed to be about fun rather than waiting for life to happen. But E. M. Forster, Shakespeare, and mistletoe on Valentine’s Day make her reconsider what love is and how far she’s willing to go for the right guy.


About A.J.:
AJ writes stories to break readers’ hearts, but don’t worry—she’ll mend those hearts with a happily ever after…maybe. The first book she wrote was YA, but now she’s two-timing her first love Pine4BWwith NA. She’s always in the middle of reading two to three books, adores online shopping (everything from groceries to shoes), and she still loves vampires, whether it’s Eric Northman or the Salvatore brothers. When she’s not writing, AJ is sneaking off to her day job as a high school English teacher or hanging with her husband and kids in the Chicago burbs.

AJ’s debut NA novel, IF ONLY, releases with Entangled’s Embrace line on March 24!

Representation: Courtney Miller-Callihan at SJGA.

Giveaway Details:
1 If Only Swag Pack -An “I love you from here to Scotland” print, Ahava pendent, A pack each of Much Ado about Nothing and A Room With a View confetti, Much Ado about Nothing travel mug and A Room With a View Blu-ray (a $25 Amazon gift card will be substituted if winner is outside the US)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:
3/24/2014- Auggie-TalkReview
3/24/2014- Ticket to AnywhereGuest Post
3/25/2014- Taking It One Book at a TimeReview
3/25/2014- Curling Up With A Good Book- Excerpt
3/26/2014- Kate's Tales of Books and BandsGuest Post
3/27/2014- Lovin' Los LibrosReview
3/27/2014- FicWishesGuest Post
3/28/2014- Reviews By MollyReview
3/28/2014- YA Story Teller- Interview

Week Two:
3/31/2014- BibliojunkiesExcerpt
4/1/2014- LeAnn's Book ReviewsReview
4/1/2014- Step Into FictionExcerpt
4/2/2014- The Phantom ParagrapherReview
4/3/2014- Books and SwoonsReview
4/3/2014- Creating SerenityGuest Post
4/4/2014- Kindle and MeReview
4/4/2014- Burning Impossibly BrightGuest Post

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Cover Reveal: The Wild Hunt by Ron C. Nieto

MY THOUGHTS:
Well, Yum!!! Sweet dude in a faery lake, chiseled  body, sleek hair. Yup, gorgeous cover.

BOOK DETAILS:

The Wild Hunt by Ron C. Nieto
(Faerie Sworn #1)
Publication date: June 2014
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Synopsis:Magic still lingers in the mist-covered corners of the world, wherever the Old Ways are remembered. However, as civilization and reason scoff at the Fair Folk, the paths to power have been forgotten by all but a few.

Lily Boyd was meant to become a faerie doctor, a warden of humans and a keeper of balance, until disbelief and pragmatism led her away from the hidden world and into a mundane life. But truth has a way to be Heard and she will be forced to face it if she wants to save her family.

Armed with nothing but her childhood memories and protected by a debt of gratitude she doesn’t understand, Lily must decide who to trust while she navigates a world that is darker and more twisted than she is prepared for.

And should she make the wrong choice, should she mistake friend and foe… the eternal balance between the Faerie Courts may shatter, and then there will be more than Lily’s life on the line.

----

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
 
Ron C. Nieto is a fantasy and romance author who has been writing in her secluded fortress for the longest time. Recently, she had a talk with her cat and decided that she should share her creations, because it was selfish to hoard them all for herself.
If you would like to know more about her, please visit her website.

Author links: 

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday #12


Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blog post by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights releases we're eagerly awaiting.

My pick this week is:







Title: The Diamond Thief
Series: --
Genre: Historical Fiction
Audience: YA
Author: Sharon Gosling
Release date: October 1st, 2014
Publisher: Capstone

Summary:

No one performs on the circus trapeze like 16-year-old Rémy Brunel. But Rémy also leads another life, prowling through the backstreets of Victorian London as a jewel thief. When she is forced to steal one of the world’s most valuable diamonds, she uncovers a world of treachery and fiendish plots.

Meanwhile, young detective Thaddeus Rec is determined to find the jewel and clear his name. Will Thaddeus manage to rescue the jewel? Or is it really Rémy that he needs to save?
 Why I want to read it:

Well, it sure sounds amazing. But Capstone doesn't offer Kindle formatted arc's on Netgalley. That's a big bummer right there.


So how about you? What amazing book are you waiting on this week?  

Cover reveal: Collide by Christine Fonseca

MY THOUGHTS:

Dark and cunning. Those are the words that come to mind as I'm looking at this cover. It's gorgeous in a very different way from I've been seeing lately. I like the mystery and the face in the background. And these trees/nerve endings (or are they blood vessels??) are really bold. 

In other words, I love it! :)

BOOK INFO:

Collide by Christine Fonseca
Publication date: April 29th 2014
Genres: Thriller, Young Adult

Synopsis:
The most dangerous secrets are the ones that kill.

When a surprising mental breakdown draws too much attention from a secret government group called the Order, 17-year-old Dakota discovers that her so-called boring life isn’t so boring after all. Between the lies, secrets and assassins out to kill her family, Dakota discovers there’s more to paranormal activity than ghosts and cheap mind tricks. Now she must uncover the truth before a new breed of terrorism takes everything away – including her life.

----

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Critically acclaimed nonfiction and YA author Christine Fonseca is dedicated to helping children of all ages find their voice in the world. Drawing on her expertise as an educational psychologist, her nonfiction titles address issues of emotional intensity, resiliency and giftedness. In fiction, she explores the darker aspects of humanity and delivers gothic thrillers that take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. In life, she teaches her own children to embrace their unique talents and find their voice by being a force of positive change in the world.
When she’s not writing or developing programs to support children with exceptional needs, she can be found spending time with her family, sipping too many skinny vanilla lattes at her favorite coffee house or playing around on Facebook and Twitter. For more information about Christine Fonseca or her books, visit her website – http://christinefonseca.com 
or her blog http://christinefonseca.blogspot.com.

Author links: 

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Book feature: The Soured Earth by Sophie Weeks

BOOK DETAILS:


Title: The Soured Earth
Author: Sophie Weeks
Publisher: Booktrope Publishing
Genre: young adult contemporary romance
Publication date: January 8th, 2014
Length: 165 pages
 
Book blurb
When Margaret Campbell left her home, a working ranch in the Canada prairies, for the East coast and college, she never meant to come back. In the aftermath of a tragic accident that claimed the lives of her aunt and uncle, however, Margaret is called home to help. There she must assume a much less glamorous role as chef, gardener, and mother figure for her orphaned cousins.
But when a strange sickness strikes their cattle and blights their crops, Margaret’s family is threatened with the loss of their ranch and only livelihood. Now caught in the middle of a full-scale environmental disaster, Margaret finds herself divided between duty to home and family and the fashion designer career she’s still struggling to build.
 

Excerpt
When Margaret first got the call about her grandmother's heart, it didn't really process. “You should come home,” her father said, and she accepted that, but it still didn't make sense that her bright, strong grandmother's heart should suddenly have just stopped beating like that, even for a moment, with no notice at all. Still, she was stepping off a plane in Calgary before morning, and she found her way out of the airport, looking all bleary and clutching a cup of Tim Horton's coffee and a box of doughnut holes.
Her father's familiar truck was waiting at the curb, and she tossed her bag in the back before climbing in. “Hi, Dad,” she sighed softly, leaning into his shoulder as he gave her a sideways hug from the driver's seat. “How is she?”
“Better than I hoped. But I don't want you to consider this a wasted trip.”
“I wouldn't—I didn't say that,” Margaret protested, sitting back and buckling her seatbelt. “It's just so far and so expensive.”
“You know I'll pay, Margaret, that isn't the point.” Jon looked a little irritated, but Margaret couldn't entirely blame him, under the circumstances.
“All right, it's not. So when you say better than you hoped, is it a lot better, or... ?”
“A lot better. Thing is, the doctors say she's got this incurable thing. They call it aging.” Though his words were flip, his tone was all too somber.
“Okay, well, I guess mortality is a little tough if you were just suddenly introduced to the concept,” Margaret said, peering a little.
Jon gave her a bit of a look. “Sam's only eleven, Margaret,” he said. “And I may have raised a daughter, and a damn fine one, but that doesn't mean I'm exactly equipped to raise two more by myself.”
Oh good. It was time for that talk. “So, what, I'm supposed to give up my degree and come back here to bake cookies?”
“You already have a degree, honey.”
“Yes, but not the one I want.” Margaret had graduated a couple of years ago with a solid degree in business economics before realizing that she wanted to pursue fashion design and starting all over again.
“Well, you'd have to come back eventually,” Jon said stubbornly. “Is it so bad if it happens now?”
“I don't have to come back, Dad. There is no law that allows you to imprison your daughters forever in the middle of nowhere, though if there was one anywhere, God knows it would be here,” Margaret said, sounding very fierce.
Jon didn't say anything for a few moments, not till they were on the highway, and then he looked at her sideways. “Might be something still on the books. Worth checking.”
“Very funny.” Margaret shoved the Timbits at him and put her feet up on the dash.
“Look,” Jon said finally, flatly. “I know you didn't count on coming back. But I didn't count on Penny and Jeff getting killed. I didn't count on being a dad again at this age. They're your cousins. You have a responsibility too.”
Margaret couldn't deny that. She might not have wanted to stay home on the ranch, might not be the most family-oriented person in the world, but her cousins were suddenly orphans, and Bonne-maman was sick and… she was beginning to feel a little sick herself.

Author bio
Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Sophie Weeks received a Masters degree in English Literature from Mills College in 2006 and completed her PhD in Victorian Literature at Rice University in 2013. Sophie resides in Payson, Arizona with three furry miscreants, who are wanted in multiple states for criminal adorableness. She is also the author of Outside the Spotlight and Unsettled Spirits.
 
Author links

 
 
 
Guest post: 8 Best Book Dates

Who wouldn't like to leave reality behind for a night and go on a date with one of their favorite characters? Below is my highly subjective list of the eight best dating prospects from some of my favorite books.

Lord Peter Wimsey (Dorothy Sayers's Lord Peter series): Lord Peter is the perfect gentleman, witty and urbane. He has minimal tolerance for pretension, a nose for good wine, and a seemingly inexhaustible fortune. He'll take you to the most expensive restaurant in town and, if you're lucky, regale you with tales of his criminal investigations.

Gale (Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games series): Gale is a tough fellow, but also a smoldering powder keg of passion. He's loyal, self-sufficient and brave. There may not be many bars and clubs in District 12, but he'll take you out in the woods and kill and cook your dinner right in front of you. Impressive!

Flora Poste (Stella Gibbons's Cold Comfort Farm): Flora is deeply conventional, but also ready for some fun. She's a fussy date (woe betide you if you offer her champagne that doesn't earn the terroir appellation), but a good dancer and a first-class wit. Warning: if Flora takes you in hand as a project, your life will never be the same.

Tobias (Veronica Roth's Divergent): I've only read the first book in the series, so please leave me in blissful ignorance if Tobias misbehaves later, but I really like the contrast of tough and tender that he displays. A date with Tobias would certainly be a wild night—one that, should you survive, you'd remember forever. Amateur parkour and a flask, maybe?

Archangel Raphael (Nalini Singh's Angels' Blood): Who doesn't want to date a fellow who can fly? Singh's Raphael is arrogant, occasionally cruel, and beautiful as...well, as an angel. He's also dynamite in the sack, so on this one you might end up skipping dinner altogether and head back to his place.

Seraphina (Rachel Hartman's Seraphina): So what if she's half dragon? Seraphina turns heads all over the place, commanding the affection and desire of prince and commoner alike. She's a talented musician, so take her to an intimate chamber music concert and finish up at the local tavern. If things get frisky, however, be prepared for scales.

Captain Wentworth (Jane Austen's Persuasion): With Austen's plethora of handsome, eligible bachelors, it's hard to choose just one, but Wentworth's quiet courtesy and faithful heart make him stand out. Appropriate dates might include a nature ramble or taking in the sights and sounds of a seaside town (beware of the impulse to jump off of walls to impress him).

Door (Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere): Door may seem fragile, but she's a tough cookie and frighteningly clever. Door inhabits the mysterious world of London Below, so a good date might be a trip to the Floating Market where you can marvel at the strange treasures of those who have fallen through the cracks. But even a single night in London Below may make it surprisingly difficult to return to your old life...
 

Blog Tour (review): Before They Find Us by Michelle A. Hansen


My stop for this tour is a review.

NOTE: I received the book from the author through Xpresso Book Tours, in exchange for my honest review.

When I saw this cover (dark and all meaningful), and read the premise (death threats from a mysterious person), I knew I had to have this book. I really enjoyed reading it. It had a nice mystery/suspense factor that kept the story going until the very end.

The romance was a bit weird, but taking in account everything that happened, the characters' personalities and everything else, I think that it's believable.

Writing style:
Good, intriguing, makes the reader turn the page and ask for more.
Only downside is the need for a final proofreading.

Story line:
After Rebecca receives several text threats, it's like all hell breaks loose. She has to help clear the name of her best friend, Ryan, and in the mean time she meets lots of people, including some enemies she never thought she had.

Themes:
-Revenge
-Sacrifice
-Is telling the truth a good thing?
-The power of blackmailing
-The reality of love
-Best friends turned lovers, could it be?

Characters:
Rebecca(Beck) - being the only witness to a monstrous crime, Rebecca has nightmares since she was 11. The entire town hates her for blaming and sending to jail a 'good' guy. Even she begins to doubt herself until those text threats find her inbox. Then, after Ryan is framed for a school bombing, she decides to clear his name.
I could not believe how brave and resourceful Rebecca turned out to be. I didn't expect it from her, but it really did fit her character.
What I didn't like about her was how her mind strayed to other guys, when she was obviously in love with Ryan. True, she didn't believe there was a future for her and Ryan, but still.

Ryan seemed to be a bit of a wuss, letting/making Beck do everything on her own. Sure, he was wanted by the FBI for terrorism, and his face was everywhere, but I felt like he should've been more involved somehow. The ending put him in a different light. I liked how courageous he was in the spurt of the moment, and how protective he was of Beck.

Andrew was a cop, a friend of Rebecca's and had additional involvement that we weren't told until the end. I had expected a revelation of some sort about his reasons to hang around Rebecca so much, but what I got was not what I'd had in mind. I never believed him to be a traitor though. He was way too straight forward and predictable.

Jordan - I was glad Beck met him. He was a good friend, taken the circumstances. At one point of time I wished he'd become something more, since I wasn't sure Ryan was good enough for Rebecca. But then I was glad it didn't happen.
I really liked that he had style, without being gay.

Wade - now that guy was a total psycho. His reasons for helping out in the revenge of Mary Kay over Rebecca were ridiculous. I'm sure that without his help Mary Kay wouldn't have had the guts to do anything in the first place. He gave her strength to proceed, ideas and misplaced courage. He didn't feed her need for revenge, but he didn't do anything to stop her either.

All in all, Before They Find Us is a nice mystery/thriller/suspense novel. It isn't perfect, but it's quite enjoyable.

My rating is 3.5 stars, but I'm round it up:



Book details:

Before They Find Us by Michelle A. Hansen
Publication date: November 2013
Genres: Romantic Thriller, Young Adult

Synopsis:
I’m going to make you wish you were dead.

Just a text. Seventeen-year-old Rebecca Hales tries not to worry. Probably a wrong number. Not really meant for her, and definitely not related to the crime she witnessed six years ago. Right?

Then two states away, a bomb goes off in her best friend’s locker. Soon Ryan is labeled a terrorist and runs to the safest place he knows—Rebecca’s house in small-town Wyoming. It doesn’t take long for the FBI to show up asking questions. Rebecca lies, of course, and says she hasn’t seen him.

Now she’s neck-deep in it with him, whatever “it” is. The only way out is to return to Vegas, where Ryan is a wanted man. The city of lies and illusion tests Rebecca’s wits as she struggles to find the person who framed Ryan and why.

Is Rebecca’s text linked to the bombing? And what does it have to do with a six year old murder? Rebecca needs to find out before she loses Ryan—and her own life.
----

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Michelle A. Hansen was raised in southeastern Washington. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in English teaching from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and taught high school English for six years.

Michelle loves Pepsi and Doritos more than chocolate. She loves summertime and hates to be cold. She has had three near-death experiences. She’s addicted to office supplies and has an irrationally large stash of pens and notebooks.

Author links:


Giveaway details:
Tour wide giveaway
Open INTL:
-- $25 Amazon gift card
-- Signed paperback copy of Before They Find Us
-- Before They Find Us charm necklace, bookmarks and signed postcard
-- Ebook copies of Before They Find Us & Painted Blind
 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, March 24, 2014

Cover reveal: Prophesy of the Most Beautiful

MY THOUGHTS:
Wow! Such a pretty cover! Original too! It's hard to come by those lately... Great job, designer! :)

BOOK INFO:

Prophecy of the Most Beautiful by Diantha Jones
(Oracle of Delphi #1)
Publication date: March 1st 2012
Genres: Fantasy, Mythology, 
Young Adult

Synopsis:
She has a destiny so great that even the gods fear her.

Constant hallucinations and the frequent conversations with the voices in her head, have earned eighteen-year-old Chloe Clever the not-so-coveted title of “Whack Job” in her home town of Adel, Georgia. With the onslaught of prescription medications and therapists threatening to push her over the edge, she wishes for a life far away from the one she has, a life where she is destined to be more than the butt of everyone’s jokes and mockery.

Be careful what you wish for has never rung more true.

After living through an attack from her worst nightmare, she awakens to find herself far from home, surrounded by glorious riches and servants…and a few demigods who enjoy killing things. Upon learning that her favorite rockstar is an Olympian god, she is thrust into her new life as the Oracle of Delphi, the prophesier of the future, and the great Pythia that the gods have been anxiously awaiting to arrive for centuries. Setting out to fulfill the prophecy she has been given and to keep her family safe from a demigod Princess that wants her dead, Chloe learns of how great she is to become, all the while fighting mythical monsters, evading divine assassins and trying to outwit the ever-cunning Greek gods who harbor secrets of their own. In the hopes of discovering the Most Beautiful and the truth of her destiny, she strives to uncover the mysteries of the demigod Prince who has sworn to protect her with his life…and threatens to win her heart in the process.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Diantha was born on Thanksgiving Day so that explains why her mother calls her a "turkey." She spent the first 16 years of her life as an official Army brat (now she's a retired one), and has spent the last twelve years living in Georgia (Atlanta, then Savannah). She now resides in Washington D.C. She loves to read and watch movies (Quentin Tarantino is her fave director), and she loves cold weather and french fries (with cheese if possible).

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