Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Kirby Puckernut Blog Tour

Kirby Tour
Tour Schedule

Welcome to the blog tour for Kirby Puckernut and the Christmas Surprise by Alicia Richardson!

kirby puckernut

Kirby Puckernut is Santa’s cleverest little elf. While dreaming up marvelous toys for good girls and boys, Kirby has his best idea yet – a real elf in every home, all through the holidays, spreading Christmas Magic Santa finds the perfect family and allows Kirby to serve as the test elf for the first momentous visit. Fun and adventure are at every turn, but not everything goes as planned… Will Kirby’s idea be a success.  

Peek Inside
Kirby Book

 

Alicia

About the Author

Author Alicia Richardson has created a new Christmas classic with her children’s book, Kirby Puckernut and the Christmas Surprise. Alicia Richardson resides in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband and four children. She has always had a flair for storytelling, and has given life to a special little elf named Kirby Puckernut.

  Tour Giveaways

  Giveaway#1
Kirby Elf
5 winners will each recieve a copy of Kirby Puckernut and the Christmas Suprise + Kirby Elf
Open to US Only
Ends 12/31/13

  a Rafflecopter giveaway    

 Giveaway #2
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/31/13  
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Spellfire Blog Tour

spell fire tour

Welcome to the blog tour for Spellfire by Ariella Moon!

Spell Fire

New school. New friends. New reputation. High school sophomore Ainslie Avalon-Bennett works hard to hide her Crazy Girl past. But as long as her best friend’s disappearance remains unsolved, she can’t shake the depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder that once landed her in a mental ward.   Ainslie’s tenuous control over her life shatters when her warring parents ditch her at Christmas. While they take a cruise to “work things out,” Ainslie must spend the holiday in Palm Springs with her aunt and uncle, owners of a struggling Mystery School and occult store. Plunged into the world of fire fortunes, dragons, entity eaters, and an ailing spell book, Ainslie is well beyond her comfort zone. Then she meets a boy who spikes her pulse and calms her OCD. But will she lose him once he discovers her past? Or will his deadly secret, hidden in plain view, be their undoing?

amazon blog Barnes and Noble
ariella
Author Ariella Moon

Ariella Moon writes about magic, friendship, secrets, and love in her Young Adult novels, Spell Check, Spell Struck, and Spell Fire, Books 1, 2, & 3 in The Teen Wytche Saga. Ariella spent her childhood searching for a magical wardrobe that would transport her to Narnia. Extreme math anxiety, and taller students who mistook her for a leaning post, marred Ariella’s teen years. Despite these horrors, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at Davis. An author and shaman, she now lives a nearly normal life with her extraordinary daughter, shamelessly spoiled dog, and an enormous dragon.  

Social Media Website Social Media Blog Social Media Facebook Social Media Goodreads

Excerpt:

Thor shifted position, and his knee grazed my leg. A tingle skyrocketed up my thigh. "What about you?" he asked. "Harboring any secret talents?"

Does obsessive hand washing and dragon melding count?" Just amazing accuracy with throwing stars."

Thor blinked and his head jerked. "Get out of here! Aren't they illegal?"


"Sort of." My stomach grew queasy at the thought of doing a year in prison. 

"I'm shocked." Thor massaged a spot behind and below his left ear. 

One. Two. Three. Four. His outdoorsy tan had retreated behind an ashen pallor and sweat droplets glistened along his hairline. My worry meter cranked on. The throwing stars shocked him? How would he feel about my stint in the lockdown ward?

Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/31/13
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Monday, December 16, 2013

The Christmas Train Blog Tour

christmas train tour

Welcome to the blog tour for The Christmas Train by Thomas S. Monson!

Christmas train

 In this children’s picture book, President Thomas S. Monson recounts a Christmas memory from his childhood. As a boy, he yearned for an electric train. To his delight, on Christmas morning he got exactly that a train that operated through the miracle of electricity. Then he noticed a second train that his mother had purchased for the boy down the street whose family was struggling. Although it was only a wind-up train, it had an beautiful oil tanker car, which little Tommy wanted for his own. Soon after, Tommy s mother invited him to accompany her to the neighbor s home to deliver the gift. Young Mark was thrilled with his new train and, of course, didn t notice the missing train car. However, a remorseful Tommy did. What happened next will bring the spirit of Christmas into every heart and home. Illustrated by renowned artist Dan Burr, The Christmas Train is sure to be a classic Christmas story and a beautiful addition to every Christmas library.


Includes a QR code for a FREE download of President Monson's narration of the story!

Winner of the 2012 Gold Medal Mom's Choice Award!  

Download the new interactive Christmas Train app for your iPad! The pages come alive with animations, sound effects, and narration by the author, Thomas S. Monson. Kids will love listening to a true Christmas story, read by a familiar voice, while navigating trains, turning Christmas lights on and off, and experiencing the importance of giving during the Christmas season.

Click Here to Learn More

About the Author

President Thomas S. Monson was set apart as the sixteenth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in February 2008. He had previously served for twenty-two years in the First Presidency of the Church, after having been a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles since October1963. Five years after his call to the Twelve, he was given a special assignment for the work of the Church in Europe, requiring many visits with members behind the Iron Curtain. He was instrumental in the construction of the Freiberg Germany Temple and in advancing the Lord’s work in other eastern European countries that were part of the communist bloc. He also served as chairman of the Scriptures Publication Committee and supervised the process that resulted in the new editions of the scriptures. His ministry has been characterized by his compassion for the needs of individuals and his gift for one-on-one service. President Monson and his wife, Frances, are the parents of three children, grandparents of eight, and great-grandparents of eight.

About the Illustrator

Dan Burr earned his bachelor of fine arts degree from Utah State University and a master’s degree in illustration from Syracuse University. He and his wife, Patti, are raising their two children in the Teton Valley of southeast Idaho, a setting that provides great artistic inspiration and fantastic fly fishing. Dan is a well-known illustrator, having been in the business for many years, most recently working as a children’s picture book illustrator. A few of the books Dan has illustrated are The Miracle of the Wooden Shoes; God Bless Your Way; A Christmas Journey; and I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.

Christmas Train by Monson

Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/31/13
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Dear Mr. Knightley Blog Tour


Welcome to the blog tour for Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay!


Samantha Moore has always hidden behind the words of others-namely her favorite characters in literature. Now, she will learn to write her own story-by giving that story to a complete stranger.
Growing up orphaned and alone, Sam found her best friends in the works of Austen, Dickens, and the Brontë sisters. The problem is that she now relates to others more comfortably as Elizabeth Bennet and Jane Eyre than as herself.

Sometimes we lose ourselves in the things we care about most.
But life for this twenty-three-year-old is about to get stranger than fiction, when an anonymous benefactor (calling himself "Mr. Knightley") offers to put Sam through the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. There is only one catch: Sam must write frequent letters to the mysterious donor, detailing her progress.

As Sam's program and peers force her to confront her past, she finds safety in her increasingly personal letters to Mr. Knightley. And when Sam meets eligible, best-selling novelist Alex Powell, those letters unfold a story of love and literature that feels as if it's pulled from her favorite books. But when secrets come to light, Sam is --- once again --- made painfully aware of how easily trust can be broken.


Reay's debut novel follows one young woman's journey as she sheds her protective persona and embraces the person she was meant to become.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/qDEkp 


Meet the author: Katherine Reay has enjoyed a life-long affair with the works of Jane Austen and her contemporaries. After earning degrees in history and marketing from Northwestern University, she worked as a marketer for Proctor & Gamble and Sears before returning to school to earn her MTS. Her works have been published in "Focus on the Family" and the "Upper Room." Katherine currently lives with her husband and three children in Seattle. "Dear Mr. Knightley" is her first novel.

Learn more about Katherine at: http://katherinereay.com/

Review:

Sam has been trying to escape her past for a while. After being shunted from foster home to foster home, Sam ended up in a safe house where she could finally move forward. While her after college career didn't turn out quite as planned, Sam has managed to be given an amazing opportunity. A mysterious benefactor has offered her the chance to go to a prestigious journalism graduate program. Everything will be paid for, and Sam only has to write about her progress to the anonymous donor known only as "Mr. Knightley." While Sam pours her heart into her letters, in the real world she has a much more difficult time. Afraid to let people get too close, Sam relies on her favorite book characters and quotes to get her through the day. All that begins to change when she meets her favorite current writer Alex Powell. Their friendship helps them both as they work through past and current issues. As Sam begins to come out of her shell, she realizes that her past can be a hindrance or a help to her. Sam will have to learn to let people in, even if it means getting hurt in the process.

This book is written strictly as a series of letters to Mr. Knightley (plus a wrap-up chapter at the end). I was afraid this format might get a bit old, but it managed to stay interesting throughout. It actually ended up forcing the author to keep things tighter as far as the story goes to keep the letters manageable (and believable). I loved that many of the main characters were flawed. While they were good at heart, they had great weaknesses as well. Those were the things that ended up making them so interesting and real though. I feel like a lot of us are at least a little like Sam. Books provide a beautiful escape from an ugly reality sometimes. Sam managed to take this a little too far though, but this was all really a defense mechanism for her. It was Sam's way of protecting herself, and while it did it's job it also kept her from experiencing some of the more beautiful parts of life.

As you watch Sam progress from her imaginary world into a more realized actual life, you see her experience joy and pain. Her friendship with Alex Powell is particularly interesting to watch. These two people had such different lives, and yet they share some things in common. The ending had a bit of a twist, but I kind of expected it really? It was the only way the story made sense to me. That didn't matter though. I absolutely loved this book. It was so easy to love these characters even as you got annoyed with some of their actions. They felt like real people. This is a book I'll keep to read over and over. It was fun, smart, and thoroughly entertaining. I know loads of people will fill like they know Sam (or maybe are Sam a little bit). Wonderful book!

Book provided for review. 



Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Snow on the Tulips Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for Snow on the Tulips by Liz Tolsma!


A stranger's life hangs in the balance. But to save him is to risk everything.
The war is drawing to a close, but the Nazis still occupy part of the Netherlands. After the losses she's endured, war widow Cornelia is only a shadow of the woman she once was. She fights now to protect her younger brother, Johan, who lives in hiding.
When Johan brings Gerrit Laninga, a wounded Dutch Resistance member, to Cornelia's doorstep, their lives are forever altered. Although scared of the consequences of harboring a wanted man, Cornelia's faith won't let her turn him out.
As she nurses Gerrit back to health, she is drawn to his fierce passion and ideals, and notices a shift within herself. Gerrit's intensity challenges her, making her want to live fully, despite the fear that constrains her. When the opportunity to join him in the Resistance presents itself, Cornelia must summon every ounce of courage imaginable.
She is as terrified of loving Gerrit as she is of losing him. But as the winter landscape thaws, so too does her heart. Will she get a second chance at true love? She fears their story will end before it even begins.
Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/q92YR

Meet the author: Liz Tolsma has lived in Wisconsin most of her life, and she now resides next to a farm field with her husband, their son, and their two daughters. Add a dog and a cat to that mix and there's always something going on at their house. She's spent time teaching second grade, writing advertising for a real estate company, and working as a church secretary, but she always dreamed of becoming an author.
She'd love to have you visit her at www.liztolsma.com.

Review:

War has torn Europe apart, and the Netherlands is no exception. Overrun by Nazi soldiers, the Dutch people live in constant fear. There are a few brave enough to resist the occupying Germans though. Gerrit Laninga is one of them. Cornelia de Vries is another. While Gerrit is working for the Resistance, Cornelia is hiding her brother from consignment into the German army. When Gerrit escapes execution, his path soon crosses with Cornelia's. Cornelia becomes involved with the Resistance to help out Gerrit (and prevent her hiding brother from doing it), and soon finds herself doing things she never imagined. As all this is happening, Cornelia and Gerrit grow ever closer. Will they both live long enough to share in their mutual affection?

I found this book to be really interesting. Cornelia was a character I could relate too. She wanted to do more but lived in constant fear of losing everything. However, she was able to find ways to help out, such as hiding her brother to keep him out of the army. When a very wounded stranger showed up on her steps, she did the only thing she could think of, which was to get him more help. Gerrit was interesting as well. He was actually out in the field trying to protect the country and people he held dear. This meant that he was no longer able to communicate with his family at all. I can't imagine what a hardship that must have been for him. Cornelia and Gerrit shared similar ideals and beliefs, so it was easy to see why they would be drawn to each other. Of course, war helps you to really know what's important, so I found it believable that they could fall in love so fast.

More than anything this book helped me to be thankful for the peaceful times I live in. This book is full of fear and tense moments. You can really feel that coming through the writing. The Dutch people lived through some incredibly horrible times, but many heroes came out of it. People began doing courageous things knowing they could die at any moment. That didn't matter though. They wanted their country back, and they were going to do whatever it took. I sincerely hope that I will never be faced with a situation like that, but if I did I could only hope to be able to go forward with as much strength and faith as Cornelia and Gerrit.

Book provided for review. 

Monday, December 2, 2013

Double Cover Reveal!

HTML FOR DOUBLE COVER REVEAL Today Rebekah Purdy and Entangled Teen are revealing the covers for LEGEND OF ME, releasing in early 2014. And THE WINTER PEOPLE, releasing July 1, 2014! Check out the gorgeous covers, exclusive excerpts, and enter to win an eARC of each!




On to the reveals!


About the Book
LEGEND OF ME
Author: Rebekah Purdy
Release Date: Early 2014
Publisher: Entangled Teen

Sixteen-year-old Brielle has grown up hearing tales of a beast that kills humans, leaving behind only a scattering of bones and limbs. Or so the village elders say. She thinks it’s just their way of keeping children in line, though it doesn’t explain her grisly premonitions of blood, claws, and severed heads.

When Lord Kenrick, Knight of the Crowhurst Order, shows up asking questions about the legendary monster and Brielle finds a mangled body in the woods, she begins to wonder if the grim stories are true. Her attraction to the handsome knight grows as she spends time with him searching for clues to the creature’s existence, and she becomes even more determined to help him discover the beast’s location.

But as her seventeenth birthday approaches, her nightmares worsen. If Brielle doesn’t figure out the connection between Kenrick, the monster, and visions of a ghostly woman in the woods soon, more people could die. Including those closest to her…

Exclusive Excerpt!

Brambles scratched my legs, snagging my skirt. Gnarled trees bent in gruesome forms, while thick shadows splayed out beneath them. A heavy gloom settled over the woodland as wisps of fog slithered like snakes against the ground. I shivered.

Don’t think. I picked an animal trail to follow, stepping over dead branches and forest debris. Blood pounded in my ears and the hair on the back of my neck prickled. I twisted around to glance behind me.

Nothing there. Only the trees. Urgency gripped hold of me and I picked up my pace once more. As I scrambled through the thicket, an overwhelming scent of rotten meat made me gag. I covered my mouth with my hand and stopped running when a bright red piece of fabric caught my eye. With hesitant steps, I moved toward it.

“Oh God.” I stumbled. There, sticking out from beneath a barberry bush was a severed arm, its finger pointed at me in accusation. My breath came in gasps as I scanned the rest of the clearing.

My foot nudged against something and I looked down in horror to find the head of Liam Gatekeeper staring up at me.

I screamed, backing away as fast as I could. All around me were pieces of his body scattered like breadcrumbs. I shielded my eyes with my hands, until I bumped into something else.

With another scream, I whipped around only to find myself faced with an oak tree covered in dried blood and deep claw marks. My vision darkened and I prayed I wouldn’t faint, that I wouldn’t be stuck in the woods. Because somewhere out here, a monster lurked. If I didn’t believe it before, I did now. The beast was real.


About the Book
THE WINTER PEOPLE
Author: Rebekah Purdy
Release Date: July 1, 2014
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Pages: 320
ISBN: 978-1622663682

An engrossing, complex, romantic fantasy perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore or Maggie Stiefvater, set in a wholly unique world.
Salome Montgomery fears winter—the cold, the snow, the ice, but most of all, the frozen pond she fell through as a child. Haunted by the voices and images of the strange beings that pulled her to safety, she hasn’t forgotten their warning to "stay away." For eleven years, she has avoided the winter woods, the pond, and the darkness that lurks nearby. But when failing health takes her grandparents to Arizona, she is left in charge of maintaining their estate. This includes the "special gifts" that must be left at the back of the property.
Salome discovers she’s a key player in a world she’s tried for years to avoid. At the center of this world is the strange and beautiful Nevin, who she finds trespassing on her family’s property. Cursed with dark secrets and knowledge of the creatures in the woods, his interactions with Salome take her life in a new direction. A direction where she’ll have to decide between her longtime crush Colton, who could cure her fear of winter. Or Nevin who, along with an appointed bodyguard, Gareth, protects her from the darkness that swirls in the snowy backdrop. An evil that, given the chance, will kill her.

Exclusive Excerpt!

The sky darkened with ominous storm clouds. Giant flakes fell onto my face, sticking to my eyelashes and cheeks. Snow blew unhindered across the yard into what looked like small tornadoes.

Oh God. It’s happening again. The frigid air. The creaking of the treetops beneath the wind. Even the way the snow blew across the yard.

I only had one more feeder. Just needed to toss the seeds in then I could leave. Be safe.

The pond water rippled, while the trees bent beneath the strong gusts. Soon, everything became so white I couldn’t see the house. In the distance a strange tinkling sounded, like dozens of wind chimes.

What had the shrink told me to do?

Ten, nine, eight. Breathe. Seven, six, five. Shit!

Panic stole my thoughts. I backed away from the pond as the flurries swirled toward me. Chasing me.

Then, I bumped into something—something that felt quite human. A firm chest, arms, hands. Not something, someone. A shriek tumbled from my lips and I spun around to face my captor.

“It’s okay. I won’t hurt you,” a soft masculine voice said, pale hands clinging to my arms as he kept me from falling.

My gaze followed those long fingers, up black leather sleeves, to the most gorgeous face I’d ever seen. My breath caught in my throat. I’m gawking. But I couldn’t help it. His raven hair shot with strands of blue, his face pale and perfect, like an ice sculptor had chiseled it into existence. His eyes—oh God, his eyes. They were the palest blue I’d ever seen. Glacial. He had to be over six feet tall, muscles evident through the tight shirt he wore beneath an unzipped jacket.

His mouth turned up at the corners as if enjoying my scrutiny. A cocky grin that made my cheeks warm.

“You’re trespassing.” I tried to keep the tremble from my voice. “This is private property, or can’t you read the signs?” Bravo, that’s right, scare him off with your bitchiness.

He chuckled. And it sounded like the low song of the chimes. “Doris doesn’t mind me coming around. In fact, I’ve met you before, Salome.”

My name on his lips made my knees go buttery. I groaned inwardly.

“You know my grandma?” I fidgeted with the bucket still in hand.

He gave a nod. “Yeah, I’ve known her for years. But I haven’t seen you since you were a child.”

Warning bells went off in my mind, but I pushed them aside. If he knew my grandma, then he must be okay. “Funny, I don’t remember you at all.”

“Don’t you, Salome?” Strands of my hair blew about my face. He reached a hand out as if to touch them then stopped, dropping his arms back to his side.

“No. Grandma’s never mentioned you.”

He gave me another cocky grin. “Well then, maybe we should be reacquainted.”

“Or maybe not.” I snorted. “I’m not sure how you got on the property, Grandma keeps all the gates locked.”

He produced an antique-looking skeleton key. “She gave me this. Like I said, Doris has known me for a long time.”

“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be a jerk or anything, it’s just my grandma never mentioned I’d have visitors.” In fact, I wondered why she didn’t ask this guy to watch her house instead of me.

The arrogance left his face and he stared at me. “Perhaps, we can try this again.” He held his hand out to me. “I’m Nevin.”



 About Rebekah: 


Rebekah was born and raised in Michigan (just look for the mitten-shaped state on the map). She’s lived there most of her life other than the few years she spent in the U.S. Army.  At which time she got a chance to experience MO, KS, SC, and CA.
She works full time for the court system and in her free time she writes YA stories. Pretty much any genre within the YA realm is game for her, but her favorites are fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, thrillers, light sci-fi, and some time travel.
She also has a big family–she like to considers them the modern day Brady Bunch. When her hubby and her met and got married, he had 3 children from a previous marriage, she had 2 and  have 1 together. It’s a lot of fun though.
And she can’t forget her other family members–yep, they’ve got some pets: 4 dogs, 3 cats,  and 1 turtle. Everyone in the family has one…she won’t bore you all with their names (unless you really want to know). Okay, you talked her into it! Jack, Pearl, Grr…(yes that’s her dog’s name), Callie, Shadow, Mooshoo, Grouchy, and Sorbert. Other than writing some of her other hobbies include: reading (mostly YA of course), singing, swimming, football, soccer, running, camping, sledding, church, hanging with her kids, and traveling.
She belong to a fabulous writing group called YA Fiction Fantatics (YAFF) and you guessed it they all write YA!
REPPED by Jennifer Mishler and Frances Black of Literary Counsel.
And that’s her in a big ‘ol nutshell.


Giveaway Details:
1 eARC of LEGEND OF ME International
1 eARC of THE WINTER PEOPLE International
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Spell Fire Book Blast

Welcome to the book blast for Spell Fire by Ariella Moon!

Spell Fire

New school. New friends. New reputation. High school sophomore Ainslie Avalon-Bennett works hard to hide her Crazy Girl past. But as long as her best friend’s disappearance remains unsolved, she can’t shake the depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder that once landed her in a mental ward.   Ainslie’s tenuous control over her life shatters when her warring parents ditch her at Christmas. While they take a cruise to “work things out,” Ainslie must spend the holiday in Palm Springs with her aunt and uncle, owners of a struggling Mystery School and occult store. Plunged into the world of fire fortunes, dragons, entity eaters, and an ailing spell book, Ainslie is well beyond her comfort zone. Then she meets a boy who spikes her pulse and calms her OCD. But will she lose him once he discovers her past? Or will his deadly secret, hidden in plain view, be their undoing?
amazon blog Barnes and Noble
ariella
Author Ariella Moon

Ariella Moon writes about magic, friendship, secrets, and love in her Young Adult novels, Spell Check, Spell Struck, and Spell Fire, Books 1, 2, & 3 in The Teen Wytche Saga. Ariella spent her childhood searching for a magical wardrobe that would transport her to Narnia. Extreme math anxiety, and taller students who mistook her for a leaning post, marred Ariella’s teen years. Despite these horrors, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at Davis. An author and shaman, she now lives a nearly normal life with her extraordinary daughter, shamelessly spoiled dog, and an enormous dragon.  
Social Media Website Social Media Blog Social Media Facebook Social Media Goodreads

Spell Fire Excerpt 

My body elongated, and I swore I grew six inches. Inside the cafe, there was no line. Another miracle. I paused beneath the fern‑painted ceiling fan and scanned the wall menu. I wasn't sure what I was looking for, but a weird craving fueled my search. The dragon exerted pressure between my shoulder blades, prompting me. "A Scorpion's Nest smoothie." Morningstar leaned over the high counter and gave me a onceover. "You feeling okay?" I licked my lips. "Absolutely." I had never tasted an orange juice, vanilla ice cream, and peanut butter combo, but I slapped the countertop and said, "I'm fine. Hit me." Morningstar tilted her head to one side and studied me. Oh — crap. Maybe I'm dragon drunk. I wiped the drool from the corner of my mouth stood straighter. I could do this. I could act normal and in control. Behind me, the dragon blew on my hair. I clawed back the stray locks. "Strong ceiling fan." Morningstar glanced up. I held my gaze steady on her face and tried to remember if the fan was actually on. I couldn't hear the whir of its motor or feel the stir of cool air. I can't feel anything. I went for distraction and slipped a ten across the counter. Morningstar leveled her gaze, then handed me my change. "I'll bring the smoothie to your table." "Cool." My eyes crossed. I pivoted and fell out of my right flip‑flop. Fortunately, the place was almost empty, and I didn't think anyone saw me stumble. Still, my face heated as I chose a table with plenty of space behind it for the dragon and my invisible wings. "Mind if I join you for a minute?" Morningstar asked when she brought my drink. "Please." I giggled, giddy with dragon energy. I was a bright, beneficent angel among earthlings. I was — as crazy as my parents feared.

Book Blast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/20/13
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Glittering Promises Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for Glittering Promises by Lisa T. Bergren!



Lisa T. Bergren's popular Grand Tour series concludes as Cora Kensington journeys farther into Italy, wrestles with a terrible ultimatum from her father, and comes to terms with the Father who will never fail her.

America's newest heiress must decide if her potential fortune is rationale enough to give up her freedom and all that God is leading her toward. And when her newly-discovered siblings are threatened with ruin, her quandary deepens. Then as Cora nears Rome, more journalists are tracking the news story of the decade---"Copper Cora," the rags-to-riches girl---and want to know more about her family and the men vying for her attention. Meanwhile, a charming Italian countess decides that if Cora isn't going to claim Will's heart, she might just 
try . . .
Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/pvxTP


About the author: Lisa T. Bergren is the award-winning author of over thirty-five books, with more than 2 million copies sold. A former publishing executive, Lisa now divides her time between writing, editing, parenting three children with her husband, Tim, and dreaming of her next trip to Italy. She lives in Colorado Springs.
Learn more about Lisa here:http://lisatawnbergren.com.

Review:

Cora Diehl Kensington is determined to finish her Grand Tour. She has been kidnapped and had stories written about her, but she wants to keep going on. On top of all the peril, Cora has fallen for the leader of their group, Will. She and Will have gone public, so Cora thinks that is settled. It's not. Meanwhile, Cora has been handed the means by which to her future can be made secure as part owner of a mine. Cora will have to deal with more danger both to her person and to her relationship with Will if she's to make it through the rest of the tour. 

The final installment in this series finds us reading some very familiar characters. I like when we are able to spend time with people we feel like we already know. This book continues a lot of the themes and plotlines introduced in the earlier books. I found that made a few things feel a little repetitive, but overall there was enough new stuff to make it all feel fresh. Cora is still managing to find ways to grow, so I enjoyed that. She and Will are still working to know each other and work through their issues, and they are having more things throw at them with Cora's new placement as an owner of one of the mines. I found this part to be very realistic actually, and I think that they handled things in a good way.

There are a bit of a twist in the end, but I honestly wasn't too surprised. It seemed a bit telegraphed to me, but that's ok. It was still interesting. It definitely felt like a good payoff for reading the entire series. Things were wrapped up in an acceptable manner (to me anyway), so I couldn't really ask for me. Overall this was a great book in a great series, so be sure to check it out.

Book provided for review.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Just Ella Blog Tour

Just Ella Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for Just Ella by Annette K. Larsen!

Just Ella
A Proper Romance 

Ariella was only looking for a distraction, something to break up the monotony of palace life. What she found was a young man willing to overlook her title and show her a new and vibrant way of life. But when her growing feelings for Gavin spiral out of control and clash with the expectations of her station, she will discover that the consequences of her curiosity are far more severe than she’d imagined. 

I watched in helpless horror as two guards hauled Gavin to his feet and dragged him from the room. My voice was frozen, unable to protest as another guard took hold of my arm, leading me upstairs. From the confines of my room, I stared into the darkness beyond my window, hoping to catch one more glimpse of Gavin. He was gone, and I wondered if he would have been better off if he had never met me. 

I write clean romance. Why? Because that’s what I love to read, but over the years I’ve discovered it’s quite a challenge to find good clean romance. I believe it’s a genre that many people are looking for and too few authors are writing. My first novel, Just Ella, took me many years to write because I wanted it to be more than just a cutesy love story. I wanted it to have depth, to feel genuine. Hopefully I succeeded, but you’ll have to be the judge.


Book Blast/Blog Tour Special
Grab your copy of Just Ella for just $4.99!

annette
Author Annette K. Larsen

I was born in Utah, but grew up in Flagstaff Arizona and St. Louis Missouri, the fifth of seven children. I attended college at Southern Virginia University and Brigham Young University where I studied English and Theater. I now live in Idaho with my husband and four children. I have Charlotte Bronte to thank for the courage to write novels. After being bombarded with assigned reading about women who justified abandoning either their families or their principles in the name of love, I had the great fortune of reading Jane Eyre. And that was it: finally a heroine who understood that being moral and making the right choice was hard, and sometimes it hurt, but it was still worth it. After rereading it several years later, I realized that if I wanted more books to exist with the kinds of heroines I admired, then I might as well write a few myself. My books are about women who face hard choices, who face pain and rejection and often have to sacrifice what they want for what is right. The consequences are often difficult or unpleasant, but it the end, doing what’s right will always be worth it. I believe there is no substitute for good writing or good chocolate. Fortunately, one often leads to the other.  


Review:

Princess Ariella is tired of palace life. She doesn't feel she gets to do what she desires, only what others expect of her. Her only refuge is the maze on the palace grounds, a wonderful place where she can escape from it all. One day while in the maze, she meets the young gardener Gavin. Gavin and Ella form a strong bond as they teach each other about their very different worlds. Ella soon finds herself drawn to Gavin, but this is strongly frowned upon as Ella is expected to marry another noble. Ella is about to find out that the path to true love is much more twisted that she could have ever imagined.

I really enjoyed this book. Ella was able to walk the fine line between being sympathetic and being too much of a whiner very well. I thought the author did a great job of helping you see that being noble or common both had their ups and downs. Ella's friendship with Gavin felt very natural and never forced. This is really important for me when reading a book like that, because I find it much more believable. Of course, every good romance needs a villain, and this book delivered a great bad one. He was easy to dislike, and he managed to provide a path to happiness for more than one person. 

This book is a quick, fun read. I found it to be a good balance of good story and general romance fluffiness. You need both of those in a romance novel to keep it interesting I think. The book also has a bit of a fairytale feel to it which I really like as well. The awesome thing about this book is that while it is romantic, it's super clean and anyone from 12-90 would probably enjoy it. If you like fun, romance, and the feel of a fairytale, this is a great book to check out!

Book provided for review.

Blog Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 11/5/13  
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Star Child Book Blast

Welcome to the book blast for Starchild: The City of Souls!


 

In The Age of Akra, a pilgrimage to the Valley of a Thousand Thoughts brings together four children as an ancient prophecy is set in motion. Having triumphed against dangerous adversaries, Mai, Long, Akra and Sahib are now pursued by the melkarie and must escape to the City of Souls. In the land of Naroan, in a city hidden under a blanket of living green, they are confronted with the challenge to find the Singing Soul. But the underworld has other plans, and a beast so fierce is conjured to stop the children from finding anything that will add to the power to the prophecy of the seven nations.

*** Starchild: The Age of Akra (Book One) is only $0.99 in the Kindle Store for October ***

Excerpt:

The children were unaware of the dark forces that had gathered in the south. A force far greater than any seen before had grown into a power of unconquerable strength. From the very first night of Mai and Long’s journey, the eyes from which this force had grown had been searching for them. The search would not stop until the prophecy, its foreknowledge and the children were extinguished. The four children had travelled a long way. The mountain had disappeared behind them and so had the crumbled Castle of Stone. Akra had been attentive throughout the whole journey, listening to Sahib talk about the City of Beams. Behind them Long listened in, but Mai sensed a twinge of jealousy was beginning to twist his thoughts. Sahib and Akra were friends now. Long’s ‘buddy for life’ had been yanked away from him—by a sealer of all things. Mai noticed the frown on Long’s face, pushing his eyebrows closer together as he watched Sahib and Akra talk. Every so often he stopped to rub his ankles. Mai knew the burns around them would not heal quickly. The wound left from the searing grasp of the invisible hands of the underworld, which had almost pulled him to his death, would soon blister. What she didn’t know was that two nasty red streaks were beginning to snake their way up Long’s legs, and with them came an unusual meddling in his thoughts. When it was clear to Mai they had walked as far as possible for that day they found a place to rest. Long collected some dead wood, and with Akra’s fireruling skills a crackling fire soon spread its warmth as the darkness of the night settled over them. It was a clear night. A starlit blanket twinkled above them. Each of the children, too tired to eat, curled up around the fire and soon they were all asleep. Mai was happy to be back on her journey to the Valley of a Thousand Thoughts. But as she slept her flickering eyelids told a different story. Her mind replayed memories of the last few days that had passed. It was a skill only thoughtbankers possessed: the ability to replay a memory as if it were a dream.  


Author Vacen Taylor

Vacen Taylor is an author, writer, storyteller, occasional artist and amateur photographer. She describes her writing as a basic prose style with the occasional splash of creative penning. She collects comics and loves superheroes, anime and science.  

Facebook * Twitter * Website

 BookBlast Giveaway
$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Open Internationally
Ends 11/4/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the publisher. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


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Friday, October 18, 2013

The Pitcher Blog Tour

pitcher tour

Welcome to the blog tour for The Pitcher  by William Hazelgrove!

pitcher

“I never knew I had an arm until this guy called out, “Hey you want to try and get a ball in the hole, sonny?” I was only nine, but mom said, “come on, let’s play.” This Carney guy with no teeth and a fuming cigarette hands me five blue rubber balls and says if I throw three in the hole we win a prize. He’s grinning, because he took mom’s five bucks and figures a sucker is born every minute. That really got me, because we didn’t have any money after Fernando took off, and he only comes back to beat up mom and steal our money. So I really wanted to get mom back something, you know, for her five bucks.” A boy with a golden arm but no money for lessons. A mother who wants to give her son his dream before she dies. A broken down World Series pitcher who cannot go on after the death of his wife. These are the elements of The Pitcher. A story of a man at the end of his dream and a boy whose dream is to make his high school baseball team. In the tradition of The Natural and The Field of Dreams, this is a mythic story about how a man and a boy meet in the crossroads of their life and find a way to go on. You will laugh and you will cry as The Pitcher and Ricky prepare for the ultimate try out of life. 

william

 Author William Hazelgrove

William Hazelgrove is the best selling author of five novels, Ripples, Tobacco Sticks Mica Highways and Rocket Man and The Pitcher His books have received starred reviews in Publisher Weekly, Book of the Month Selections, Junior Library Guild Selections, ALA Editors Choice Awards and optioned for the movies. He was the Ernest Hemingway Writer in Residence where he wrote in the attic of Ernest Hemingway’s birthplace. He has written articles and reviews for USA Today and other publications. His latest novel Rocket Man due out May 1, 2013 was chosen Book of the Year by Books and Authors.net. He runs a political cultural blog, The View From Hemingway’s Attic. A forthcoming novel, The Pitcher will be out Sept 1, 2013. He lives in Chicago.


Excerpt:

I never knew I had an arm until this guy calls out,

“Hey you want to try and get a ball in the hole, sonny?” I am

only nine, but Mom says, “Come on, let’s play.” This carnival

guy with no teeth and a fuming cigarette hands me five blue

rubber balls and says if I throw three in the hole, we win a prize.

He’s grinning, because he’s taken Mom’s five bucks and figures

a sucker is born every minute. This really gets me, because we

didn’t have any money after Fernando took off, and he only

comes back to beat up Mom and steal our money. So I really

want to get Mom back something, you know, for her five bucks.

I take the first rubber ball and throw it over my head and

wham! The carnival guy looks at me and laughs. “Whoa! A

ringer. Let’s see you do it again, sonny.” It’s like something

happens when I throw a ball. My arm windmills over the top

then snaps down like a rubber band. It’s like I’m following my

arm. So I throw the second ball and he mutters, “Alright, let’s
see you get the next ball in.” I mean we’re Mexicans, and I think

this guy figures he’ll put one over on us.

I throw the next two balls and they go wild. I hit the top of

the wood circle with one and the other one flies completely over

the game. The carnival guy is grinning again because he knows

I have only one more ball. I wind up like I had seen pitchers on

television and wham, right in the hole again. He hands Mom a

big white polar bear and takes the cigarette from his mouth.

“That looked like a sixty-mile-an-hour pitch to me,” he says.

“I don’t know,” I reply, shrugging.

He nods and picks up the rubber balls.

“You should pitch, buddy,” he says with one eye closed. “You

have a hell of an arm.”

Blog Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 10/27/11
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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