Spring Fling Giveaway Hop

 
Spring is here, HOORAY! There is no better way to celebrate then with a giveaway of course. So I'm doing some spring cleaning and I've got some extra books up for grabs, which is why the giveaway is only US because I have to ship it myself.

Now the best part is that I will be attending RT convention this weekend, so I'm hoping to grab some extra swag and maybe just maybe a lovely signature for one of the books. The sig is not guaranteed simply because things happen and the author might have something come up and not be in attendance or they might not let me bring my own books in (they let you bring your own last year so I'm hoping it's still the case). So on to what the books are,



Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo and if you haven't read this yet, I'm crying for you because it's a must read. Leigh is supposed to be at the convention so I'm hoping to get her signature for you too. I also have an extra arc copy of Pulse by Patrick Carman that I would love to give to someone else to love and enjoy.

You have until the end of the day May 7th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Make sure to keep hoping along....


Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Follow the White Rabbit by Kellie Sheridan


Follow the White Rabbit by Kellie Sheridan
Series: Beautiful Madness, #1
Publication date: May 21, 2013
Genre: YA Fantasy

Synopsis:

For centuries, Wonderland thrived as the domain of beautiful bedlam and unapologetic madness. It was a place like no other. All it took was one girl slipping in through the cracks of the universe to start chaos spiraling toward order. In the 150 years since Alice’s visit, the realm has become tainted—almost normal. Rabbits in waistcoats and playing card minions are little more than creatures of myth, and Wonderland is literally falling to pieces.

For Gwen, Rose, and Lucky, Wonderland is home, and yet they know little of its former glory. When the Alice prophecy resurfaces, they’ll have one chance to use Wonderland’s own legends to bring a little mayhem back into their reality. For she who controls Alice controls the fate of Wonderland.



Giveaway!

Open Internationally. 1 ebook copy of Follow the White Rabbit

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway


AUTHOR BIO

Kellie Sheridan is a Canadian author and book blogger. When not reading books or writing, she also works with books. She is currently working with two small publishers on the marketing/publicity side of things, and is also Joan of ARCs at Spencer Hill Press. In her spare time Kellie watches way too much television and travels whenever she has the opportunity.

Kellie’s first YA novel, Mortality was released in March, and she is currently hard at work on future writing projects.

Author links:

Website / Goodreads / Twitter


Blog Tour and Giveaway: Pretty Dark Nothing by Heather L. Reid

 
PRETTY DARK NOTHING
by Heather L. Reid
Publication Date: April 23, 2012
Month9Books
 

 
Summary:
 
It’s been twenty three days since Quinn has slept for more than minutes at a time. Demons have invaded her dreams, stalking her, and whispering of her death. The lack of sleep and crippling fear are ruining her life. Energy drinks and caffeine pills don’t make a dent. When Quinn dozes off in the school hallway, Aaron, an amnesiac with a psychic ability, accidentally enters her nightmare. The demons are determined to keep them apart, and Aaron from discovering the secret locked away in his memory. Together, they could banish the darkness back to the underworld for good. That is, unless the demons kill them first.



Review:

I really liked the characters in Pretty Dark Nothing. Our main leads Aaron and Quinn are both very strong and likeable. Reese and Marcus were hilarious and definitely supportive friends.
Quinn has the perfect life, good grades, captain of the cheer squad and perfect boyfriend. Things start crumbling rapidly starting with her break up with Jeff. I don’t even know how to describe what Quinn goes through. I felt myself addicted to reading it like a drug hoping to see some light at the end of the tunnel. Quinn’s life is completely spinning out of control and she does actually try to fight off the demons whispering in her ear. She is sleep deprived, popping pills and drinking red bull like it’s her best friend. At first the demons stay a little more at bay, only attacking her in her dreams but then they become more aggressive and keep pushing and picking away at her to make her break.
Aaron is our knight in shining armor. I really liked his character and sometimes I would get frustrated that he wouldn’t try to save Quinn but it was understandable. She would treat him like crap and then find herself in a crazy situation, in the beginning Aaron would save her without thinking about it but then as the book goes on he gets less and less willing to just jump in.  He has the brooding musician thing going for him but he just comes off as an all-around good guy. Aaron has a near death experience that causes him to lose all his memories, in place of them he ends up with some powers. Not like he is shooting lightning bolts or anything but he is able to reach into people’s minds, send them kind of calming vibes and things. With Quinn the connection seems to run even deeper this is part of why he can’t seem to stay away from her.
Marcus and Reese would often steal the show. They would sometimes say really outrageous things that would take the edge off the craziness. There were times that I would feel like I was losing my mind along with Quinn and they were kind of the grounding characters. Like oh ya there are normal people who don’t have demons following them around.
There is sort of a love triangle in the sense that Quinn is still hung up on her ex when she meets Aaron. She can’t deny she is drawn to him but she has this long history with Jeff and he broke her heart in a way with no closure. When things come to light about the breakup I’m not surprised, I suspected something along the lines. It’s kind of interesting though how it comes out.
I’m not sure how I felt about the ending. I’m still up in the air about it. It made sense, it explained some things but there is a part that made my heart do a little flip. The song “Watched you Fall” by Meredith Brooks popped up in my brain as the book was reaching its end point.
The book moved fast and I never felt like it got dull. There are some very cute moments with Aaron and Quinn and I loved that it was from both of their perspectives. The demons were so creepy, I really wanted to crawl inside the book and help Quinn in some way. If you are looking for something on the darker side I would definitely recommend it.


 
TOUR WIDE GIVEAWAY:

Grand prize includes a signed copy of PRETTY DARK NOTHING, bookmarks, sleep mask, and nail polish! (US Only). Five ebook copies of PRETTY DARK NOTHING will also be given away, open internationally.



a Rafflecopter giveaway




ABOUT HEATHER L. REID:

Heather L. Reid eats mayonnaise on her fries, loves men in kilts, and met her husband playing Star Wars Galaxies online. This native Texan now lives with her Scottish hubby in North Ayrshire, Scotland, where she wanders the moors in search of Heathcliff and William Wallace.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads    









TOUR SCHEDULE:

April 22 - Falling for YA (Guest Post)
April 23 - Imaginary Reads (Review)
April 24 - The Eater of Books! (Review & Interview)
April 25 - Book Twirps (Review)
April 26 - Chapter by Chapter (Review & Favorites Q&A)
April 27 - Library of a Book Witch (Review)
April 28 - Life Debatable (Guest Post)
April 29 - Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf (Interview))
April 30 - YA Book Central (Guest Post)
May 1 - Book Haven Extraordinaire (Guest Post)
May 2 - Books of Love (Review)
May 3 - I Am A Reader, Not a Writer (Top Ten)
May 4 - The Book Cellar (Interview)
May 5 - A Dream Within A Dream (Review)

Book Blitz: Of Silver and Beasts by Trisha Wolfe

 


***Excerpt***
 
“What’s your rank, baby blue eyes?” the guy asks, pushing off his cot and stalking toward the prince.
Everything in me screams to act, but I don’t want to declare alliances this early on. Not without understanding the dynamic of placements and bonds already formed among these people. But I’ll not let this hulk of a man harm the prince. I brace my heel against the wall, ready to push off and lunge.
Prince Caben rises to his feet, slowly turning to face him. He straightens his spine, squaring his shoulders. “I don’t have one. And my name is Payne. Not ‘baby blue eyes’, meathead.”
Big guy laughs, his husky voice bounces off the rock walls. “I’m Crew”—he beats his chest hard once, like a barbarian—“and I’ve won three fights. I’ll win the next two and be the one awarded the freedom ring.” He leans down toward Prince Caben, leveling their faces. “So don’t even think about you or your princess over there walking out of here. I’m ranked as a Colossal. The strongest Colossal in Bax’s league.”
Princess? I nearly scoff. Then I realize what the problem with Crew is: he feels threatened by Prince Caben. That revelation almost makes me laugh out right. What does a big stack of muscles like Crew have to fear from the prince?
The other prisons slowly circle around the stand-off in the center of the cell. Tension thickens the musty air. It coils around my spine, tightening my muscles. If I allow the fight to continue without interruption, will the guards stop it? They’d want their fighters in pristine shape, wouldn’t they?
Prince Caben doesn’t back away from Crew. Instead, he moves into his space. I roll my eyes. Stupid, conceited man.
“Freedom ring?” the prince questions. “As in, there’s a chance to leave?” He rubs his chin, and I notice the dark shadow of facial hair that has darkened his features overnight. “Is there a season that has to be won, or can someone gain five wins during their entire imprisonment?”
Crew’s eyebrows pinch together. He’s clearly despondent that he hasn’t succeeded in intimidating the prince. “We’re in a season right now, you weakling. If you don’t win—you’re dead. Which by the looks of you, will happen in your first match.”
Prince Caben nods, as if he’s simply piecing together a jigsaw puzzle and not being told of his demise. “What is the cuff for?” He points to the iron clamp around Crew’s wrist.
“It’s our biometric monitor.” Crew shoves the cuff up close to the prince’s face. “See those three blue lights? Those are my wins. When the fifth lights up, I’m outta’ here.”
“Has anyone ever won the freedom ring before?” Prince Caben asks.
Crew’s massive arms tremble. “No,” he grinds out. “But I will.” He cocks his cuffed hand back, then sends a blow to Prince Caben’s chin.
Hell.
I’m up and racing across the cell before the prince hits the ground. Crew spots me from his peripheral. He turns and swipes the air. I duck, roll, and come up behind him. I jump on the cot and leap onto his back.
“You squirrely little ...” he mumbles, trying to reach over his shoulders to get a hold on me.
Tightening my arms around his thick neck, I squeeze. He gasps for air, and rams my back into the wall. I wheeze as the air whooshes from my lungs, pain splintering through my already bruised chest. But I hold tight, bearing down harder, and cut off his supply of oxygen.
Finally, I feel Crew weaken beneath my hold. He drops to his knees, and I only release him once I’m sure he’s knocked out.
Stepping around the now limp Crew, I glance at all the wide eyes studying me, and meet the prince’s. Fury ignites his stormy blue irises. He picks himself off the floor and heads toward one of the side chambers, throwing the tattered material aside as he stalks inside.
I follow after him. When I step inside the tiny, dank room, my eyes trail Prince Caben as he paces. He reaches each side of the small chamber with three quick strides. Back and forth.
On his third round, I open my mouth and get out a single syllable before he holds up a hand, halting me. He drives his hand through his dark hair. “Thank you for making me look like a spineless jerk.” He shakes his head and faces me.
Taken aback, I say, “This is my duty to protect—”
“No. In your country it was your duty to guard me. In my world and here”—he opens his arms wide—“a man fights his own battles. He does not depend on a woman to fight them for him. You just disgraced me.”
Fire simmers in my core. “I’m still assigned as your protector no matter what realm we inhabit, Your High—” I stop myself before addressing him by title out of habit. “Your pride is polluting your reasoning.”
He laughs. “Yes, well. Thanks to your show out there, I no longer have my pride to worry about.”


Buy Of Silver and Beasts for only $2.99: 

 photo B6096376-6C81-4465-8935-CE890C777EB9-1855-000001A1E900B890_zps5affbed6.jpg  photo 111AD205-AA04-4F9E-A0F4-C1264C4E9F30-1855-000001A1E8CEB6D7_zps9b730b94.jpg 


***GIVEAWAY***

a Rafflecopter giveaway




Book
Blitz organized by:

Feature and Follow

Feature and Follow Friday is a blog hop that is designed to provide some much-appreciated exposure to the bloggers participating, and to expand their following. Hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read, each of whom feature a chosen blog for the week, it's an interesting way to get to know one another.

If you would like to follow me, you can do so by GFC, Twitter or Linky .

I also make sure to go back and follow everyone that comments and I try to always follow twitter along with GFC/Linky. So if you have a twitter that is not on your page for some reason leave it in the comments and I will follow you that way too! I've recently become a fan of Bloglovin since it sends me an email update of everyones post. So much easier to follow then GFC! So follow me on there and I will definitely follow you back. If you don't have it, check it out.

Follow on Bloglovin
Q: Is there a song that reminds you of a book? Or vice versa? What is the song & the book?
 
I actually have a playlist on Spotify called Book songs and I toss any song that reminds me of books in there. I like to check out authors playlist too because sometimes I'm like oh ya. I was just reading Pretty Dark Nothing and the song "Watch you Fall" by Meredith Brooks kept playing over and over in my head towards the end of the book.

Book Blast Giveaway: Unbreakable by Elizabeth Norris

 
Unbreakable
Elizabeth Norris
April 23, 2013
 

 

Four months after Ben disappeared through the portal to his home universe, Janelle believes she’ll never see him again. Her world is still devastated, but life is finally starting to resume some kind of normalcy. Until Interverse Agent Taylor Barclay shows up. Somebody from an alternate universe is running a human trafficking ring, kidnapping people and selling them on different Earths—and Ben is the prime suspect. Now his family has been imprisoned and will be executed if Ben doesn’t turn himself over within five days.

And when Janelle learns that someone she cares about—someone from her own world—has become one of the missing, she knows that she has to help Barclay, regardless of the danger. Now Janelle has five days to track down the real culprit. Five days to locate the missing people before they’re lost forever. Five days to reunite with the boy who stole her heart. But as the clues begin to add up, Janelle realizes that she’s in way over her head—and that she may not have known Ben as well as she thought. Can she uncover the truth before everyone she cares about is killed?

Giveaway

Winner will receive a Signed Copy of Unbreakable & Swag
(Bookmark, Sticker, Poster & Magnet) by Elizabeth Norris.

2 Winners will receive a Swag (Bookmark, Sticker, Poster & Magnet) by Elizabeth Norris



a Rafflecopter giveaway


About the Author:

Elizabeth Norris briefly taught high school English and history before trading the southern California beaches and sunshine for Manhattan's recent snowpocalyptic winter.

She harbors dangerous addictions to guacamole, red velvet cupcakes, sushi, and Argo Tea, fortunately not all together.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Google * Goodreads







Goodbye Shadow Falls: Chosen at Nightfall by C.C. Hunter

 
Chosen at Nightfall
C.C. Hunter
April 23, 2013
St. Martin's Press
 
Blurb: 
 
When Kylie Galen entered Shadow Falls Camp, she left her old life behind forever and discovered a world more magical than she ever imagined. A place where you’re two best friends can be a witch and a vampire…and where love doesn’t happen the way you’d expect.
 
When Kylie’s most powerful enemy returns to destroy her once and for all, there’s only one way to stop him—to step into her full powers and make a stunning transformation that will amaze everyone around her. But her journey won’t be complete until she makes one final choice…which guy to love. Should she choose to the werewolf who broke her heart but will give anything to win her back, or the half-fae who ran from their attraction before they had a chance? Everything she’s learned at Shadow Falls has been preparing her for this moment—when her fate will be revealed and her heart claimed forever.
 
 

In Chosen at Nightfall Kylie. . .

1. …nearly kills Lucas twice.
2. …has another boy become interested in her.
3. …acquires another stalker.
4. …is accused of having an affair with an older man.
5. …has an unwanted guest crawl over a bathroom stall when she’s trying to pee.
6. …gets kissed by two guys.
7. …finally makes a choice of which boy she loves.
8. …is forced to kill someone to save someone she loves

9. …tells a human that she’s a supernatural.

10. Discovers someone isn’t who they say they are.
11. …gets caught buying pregnancy tests for someone.
12. …Has another guy paying a pint of blood to spend an hour with her.
13. …gets read the riot act by Burnett.




 
Review:

I was both excited and sad to start this book, it was harder to say goodbye to this series than I thought it would be. I enjoyed being sucked into the world of Shadow Falls and even though I know things will continue with Della’s story it won’t be the same.
 
We start off about two weeks after where we left off in book 4. Kylie is now at her Grandfathers compound with not only him and her great aunt but other chameleons like her. Even though she is glad to be learning about what she is, she doesn’t feel like she fits in the way she did at Shadow Falls, oddly enough. With Mario on the loose it doesn’t take long for Burnett to drag Kylie back there. Not that she goes kicking and screaming.
 
I was worried about how the love triangle situation was going to play out in this book and was pleasantly surprised by it. After everything with Whispers at Moonrise, if Kylie was still ping ponging between the two boys, I was going to be ticked. She doesn’t however and that doesn’t mean she instantly get with Derek or Lucas. She has some personal issues to work out before she makes a final decision.
 
Derek was not annoying! I was so frustrated with him in the last book that I thought I would never like him again but he acted more like he did in the first book, which made me enjoy his character again. Being Team Derek has never been in the cards for me but at least now I don’t want him to disappear on a FRU mission.
 
I still love Lucas and even though he hasn’t been perfect through the series he always manages to redeem himself. He doesn’t give up on Kylie even if he thinks she will never talk to him again. He never stops trying to apologize or get through to her. He is still a hot head but you can see him trying to rein it in for her. He also does a lot better with the ghost this time around. It’s not that he is ever going to be comfortable with them but he finds a way to deal. He is more attentive in the book when Kylie lets him be too. I don’t know how to explain Lucas except that he definitely has book boyfriend status with me.
 
I love the ghost that Kylie has encountered in her journey. They have all had something do to with her “quest”, which Holiday reiterates that it’s common for the ghost to have a connection to the person they are contacting. The ghost in this book is by far my favorite, and is also the first hell bound spirit that we meet. She walks around swinging a sword and carrying severed heads in order to get Kylie’s attention. I can’t help laughing at it when she does it while standing behind Kylie’s grandfather at the dinner table. This ghost is not as confused as the other ones either, so she is not as frustrating.
 
There are definite side characters that I would love to see novellas or spin-offs for. Of course Della, which is already in the works and you can read her first story in Saved at Sunrise. I felt like I want to know more about Jenny and Clara though. Jenny is another teenager chameleon from the compound and Clara is Lucas’s half-sister. They are both characters that only get some minimal time in the book but in a way it makes them more appealing to me to learn about them. I still love Perry and Miranda; they win my award for Shadow Falls cutest quirkiest couple. With a new school year starting there is some rivalry for Perry’s affection and Miranda handles, well Miranda style. I’m a big fan of Hayden too; he is another character that is really interesting to me because he is so laid back and aloof. Ahh see I’m sad the series is ending I want more interaction with the characters!

Being the final book we do tie up the loose ends of Kylie’s adventures. All family members found and evil doers exposed. I was happy with the ending, although the battle at the end isn’t as all out as it could be but I was fine with it. I don’t really feel like the series was just about a villain, it was more about Kylie learning about herself. Dealing with the supernatural world prejudices. I was satisfied with the ending and like I keep saying sad to see Lucas’s story, I mean Kylie’s story come to an end. :o)



 

About the Author:

C.C. Hunter grew up in Alabama, where she caught lightning bugs, ran barefoot, and regularly rescued potential princes, in the form of Alabama bullfrogs, from her brothers. Today, she's still fascinated with lightning bugs, mostly wears shoes, but has turned her focus to rescuing mammals. She now lives in Texas with her four rescued cats, one dog, and a prince of a husband, who for the record, is so not a frog. When she's not writing, she's reading, spending time with her family, or is shooting things-with a camera, not a gun.
Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads


The Game by Shane Scollins Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway

@shanescollins #yabound @NereydaG1003
The Game blog tour hosted by YA Bound. Click HERE to see the full blog tour schedule!



The Game
Shane Scollins
Release Date: 03/13/13
 

Summary from Goodreads:
 
No matter where you are, they’ll find you, and put you in “The GAME”.

Candice Laguna’s life is being systematically dismantled, by an unknown force, for a reason she can’t imagine. But she is about to become the unwilling star of a reality gamecompetition the likes of which has never been broadcast to the world.

Just when things get darkest, a mysterious man snatches her from the grips of doom. He is a man who is not what he appears, and not who he says. He has no name and his motivation to help Candice is not what it seems to be.

THE GAME is a mystery/thriller with an unpredictable paranormal twist. It has action and adventure and plays up the everyday exploitation of reality television obsession gone wrong.


Review:


Wow this book was one of those that it’s so creepy that you have to keep reading to find out what happens. I had a lot of the WTF did that just happen moments when I would be downright surprised and shocked. It was very fast paced and there was definitely no lag time even when it was setting up the scene. I felt like the stuff Candice was experiencing was happening to me.
Candice is your average girl (could be any of us) who is getting these really strange phone calls and being fed up with ignoring them finally begins answering. She ends up with a bunch of different creepy and I mean creepy voices saying random things to her and before she knows it her life is being pulled a part piece by piece. She’s left with nothing except these creepy phone calls that can find her wherever she goes. There is no place to hide, somehow they see her every move. Nobody believes her because she cannot prove it and she finds herself running out of options. With some luck she teams up with a couple of people that know what is going on but even with their help she can only elude her pursuer for so long before she finds herself thrust into sick brain child of a psychopath, The Game.
Candice is a strong main character, she isn’t easily pushed down and she rises to the occasion when it comes to protecting people and finding her way out of the mess. She does have a love interest, Lukas, but it does not over take the story and for those of you who hate the love sick heroine she is not one of those. Angus is a villain through and through and completely disturbing. I got shivers every time we encountered him. I enjoyed the characters and none of them were ever out of place.
The paranormal aspect enters the book about halfway through and to be honest in my head I was thinking, oh this going to be awkward but it wasn’t at all. It actually brought a nice little twist to the book and flowed in pretty well.
It’s written in many different perspectives and I never once found that confusing or annoying, it was done well and it gave us a glimpse of what was going on in all the different avenues. I have to say though Angus, Rena, Caleb and Mark are pretty creepy people and the less time I was spending in their heads the better.
This is a great psychological thriller that is fast paced and never dull. Full of twist and turns and a dash of paranormal. If you like romance this does have a light sprinkling of it, but it didn’t take away from the main focus. It slides in nicely with the rest of the story. If you are going to pick it up I would say give yourself some time because you might want to read it all in one sitting.



***GIVEAWAY***

5 e-book copies of The Game, open Internationally!


a Rafflecopter giveaway




About the Author:

Shane Scollins is a freelance writer and author. Originally from New Jersey, he now resides in Upstate New York with his wife, Heather. He has worked as an automotive service manager, a website developer and a computer network engineer. Primarily a science fiction and paranormal novelist, Shane enjoys taking readers on surprising and unexpected journeys that twist reality. He is currently working on his next book.

Follow Shane at:
Website * Twitter * Goodreads * Facebook




Feature and Follow

Feature and Follow Friday is a blog hop that is designed to provide some much-appreciated exposure to the bloggers participating, and to expand their following. Hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read, each of whom feature a chosen blog for the week, it's an interesting way to get to know one another.

If you would like to follow me, you can do so by GFC, Twitter or Linky .

I also make sure to go back and follow everyone that comments and I try to always follow twitter along with GFC/Linky. So if you have a twitter that is not on your page for some reason leave it in the comments and I will follow you that way too! I've recently become a fan of Bloglovin since it sends me an email update of everyones post. So much easier to follow then GFC! So follow me on there and I will definitely follow you back. If you don't have it, check it out.

Follow on Bloglovin

Q: If you could hang out with any author (living) who would it be and what would you want to do?

I would have to say probably J.K. Rowling because the odds are that I am never going to meet her and it would be interesting to pick her brain. Just about her life before the series and after.

There are so many other authors that I would love to hang out with, I can't think of one that I would be like, oh man I got stuck hanging out with them. :o)

Tuff Girl Legion Presents: Astarte's Wrath by Trisha Wolfe

 
I'm so happy to be part of the Tuff Girl Legion Astarte's Wrath awesomeness tour. Trisha Wolfe is wonderful in so many ways so I was nothing but excited to read Astarte's Wrath. Not only can you check out my review but there is also a sneak peek at the Bath Scene from Xarion's POV and I can tell you this is definitely one of my favorite scenes in the book. There is also a giveaway for you to enter.
 
 
Astarte's Wrath : A Kythan Guardians Novel
Trisha Wolfe
Release: March 2, 2013
 
Summary:
 
A tragic love story.

Two thousand years before Dez Harkly developed her secret powers, Guardian Astarte was vowed to protect by the binds enslaving her to the Egyptian pharaohs. Discover the prophecy that originated from a very different time, and spans generations to link two very different girls.

This is the beginning.

Set against the backdrop of the Battle of Actium, in the city of Alexandria, Star struggles with her guardian duties as her feelings for the newly named pharaoh of Egypt grow deeper. Not only is Caesarion her duty, he's the son of Cleopatra, and he's human. All of which makes their love forbidden.

But when a conspiracy linked to Caesar creeps into Alexandria, Star must choose between helping her fellow Kythan free themselves of their servitude, and protecting her charge--the last pharaoh--while Egypt burns around her.
 
 
Reveiw:
 
So I have read Destiny’s Fire and I had loved it so I was pretty excited to read this. I love these books because Trisha takes Egyptian history and mixes it in with a unique world. You see so many different books based off of Greek Mythology it’s refreshing to see a different approach taken. Plus there is just something so romantic about Egypt and Cleopatra you can’t help but be enthralled. Trisha does a wonderful job of transporting me into this romantic world of Eypgt as if I could feel the sand under my own feet.  You do not need to read Destiny’s Fire in order to read this. I actually feel like I want to read Destiny’s Fire again now that I havethis back story in my head.
I loved Astarte because she has sense of duty and loyalty that does not come from just being a slave. It’s because she loves the royal family like her own family. So for her as much as she would like to be free, she would never just pick and abandon them. She would still be a protector of the family because that is who she is. I was rooting for her through the entire book and just wanted to her kick some asses, which she does.
What a swoon worthy relationship between Astarte and Xarion. While I was reading I was thinking who cares about laws just get together. The chemistry between the two of them in phenomenal and it was easy to see that they needed to be together. I could feel myself sighing whenever they were in the vicinity of each other. If you are one that hates love triangles, never fear there are none here.  Just a very sweet and endearing relationship between two people that is both beautiful and tragic.
Great characters, I loved how the villains were a mix of history and fantasy. There are some great side characters as well, like Astarte’s friends. Especially Phoenix, he is that funny lovable womanizing kind of guy that helps brings a little something extra to the book.
Okay there are twist in this book and not ones that I was really expecting. I would think okay this is totally going to happen and then what thought was going to happen didn’t but something that surprised me did. So that sentence might be a bit confusing but I definitely do not want to give anything away. I loved how things played out and the curve balls kept the story moving.
I consider this one of those bittersweet beautiful endings. There were so many heartbreaking moments in this book and the ending definitely had some of that. It also had a little bit of happiness sprinkled in too. I thought it was absolutely perfect for the story.
 

Help Trisha and the Tuff Girl Legion get to 50 reviews on Amazon for the full scene release of the “Bath Scene” on Trisha’s blog! You can bookmark the bonus material here!


Sneak Peek: Bath Scene from Xarion’s POV
Star narrows her eyes at me, her full, bottom lip puckering out the way it does when she’s in serious thought—and though I’m listening to her words, all I want to do is trap that bottom lip between my teeth. Nip it and caress it with my tongue.
            “I knew you’d say that,” she says. “And that is precisely why I didn’t want you to know.” She raises her hand from my chest and swipes the wet hair from my forehead. Her body subtly moves against me with this action, and it drives me wild. “A possible retaliation by the guardians is just one more weighted burden on top of the many you already carry. You don’t need the added strain. Let me deal with Candra and the Kythan. They’re my kindred. As long as I’m their equal—in both power and status—I can protect you.”
            This woman—the woman I’ve loved my entire life—is my protector. She not only guards against physical threats, but watches over my mental wellbeing. But I cannot allow her to carry all my problems alone anymore. I want to be her guardian, to be the one to comfort her when she’s fearful, and protect her against this world.
            I tilt my head and suck in a deep breath. “This is why you won’t be with me.” I want her to admit it. If she finally confesses that our titles and her battle with the right course of action have been the only reasons for her kept affections, then by Gods…help me from laying her out on this tile and taking her—making her mine. I won’t stop.
            She nods.
“This is the only reason.” She nods again, and that is all the conformation I need. “Then I refuse to let them keep us apart for one more moment.” I grasp her face between my hands and claim her lips with mine.
          Her lips are soft and warm as I achingly coax them into a fevered kiss, unable to hold back my desire for her. I had planned for our first kiss many times, imagined it over and over. The way I would caress her lips slowly and lovingly, conveying my affections. But every emotion I have ever felt for Star rushes to the surface all at once, and I can’t slow. I won’t. I won’t allow her a moment to question our actions, to reconsider us. I’m going to kiss her senseless—kiss the reason right out of her infuriatingly rational head.
 

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About the Author:

Trisha Wolfe is the author of the YA Steampunk DESTINY'S FIRE (Omnific Publishing), the NA Historical/Supernatural ASTARTE'S WRATH, and the upcoming YA Utopian FIREBLOOD from Spencer Hill Press, October 2013. Her NA Dark Fantasy OF SILVER AND BEASTS available May 2013.

She’s the creator of YA Bound, a promotional site for the Young Adult genre. Also a member of SCWW and The Apocalypsies. Check out www.TrishaWolfe.com for more on her books and bonus material. Follow Trisha on Twitter @TrishWolfe and like her Facebook page for updates.



Guest Post & Giveaway: Drowning in You by Rebecca Berto

 
 
 
 
Drowning In You by Rebecca Berto
Publication date: April 12th 2013
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Secretly crushing

Crushed by a tragedy

Charlee May’s been crushing on Dexter Hollingworth since she was fifteen. Five years later, a horrific skiing disaster at Mason’s Ski Lift Resort leaves her millionaire dad critically injured and her mom dead at the hands of Dexter operating the lifts. Charlee is suddenly the sole caretaker for her little brother while their world falls apart.

Dexter couldn’t be more different from Charlee. He’s tattooed, avoids exclusive relationships and his Dad has a fair share of illegal dealings. With Dexter’s reputation, almost everyone believes he planned the Mason’s skiing disaster.

And after all these years he’s still crushing on Charlee May, the girl who’s too good for him.

When this cruel twist of fate ties Charlee’s family and Dexter’s reputation together, Charlee and Dexter wonder if their feelings are reciprocated, while Dexter discovers his dad is trying to steal the May’s millionaire fortune.

But like an addiction, one look, one touch, one taste—they’re hooked no matter the consequences.


 
 
GUEST POST: Rebecca Berto
 
 
On writing my fictional characters

Writing a character is like making a new friend. At first you realize they have some good qualities, perks and habits. They seem nice or quirky or weird. And then you get closer and realize what is behind those characteristics that make them up. But it’s only once you become “true” friends, when you adore them, that they become a part of your life so deeply that you can probably guess how they’d react to something.

Fictional characters are exactly that. When I started writing Charlee and Dexter, they had specific qualities that made them them. When I came back to revise the story during the second draft I learnt their deep traits, about their gestures and dialogue patterns that individualized them into fuller, realer characters.

Charlee May
She’s a sweet girl. She’s the type that’s selfless, but her downfall is that she isn’t comfortable voicing her own opinions. Part of her from me is that she’s a swimmer. She used to compete at a state-level and now is a swim teacher. Swimming is how she gets away.

She had a crush on Dexter since 15 at high school, but she was the girl on the edge of the football and soccer ovals, gawking at the hot boys, not the popular, I-get-the-boys type.

Dexter Hollingworth
Dexter’s made what he could out of shit luck. He grew up without a dad for years since his one was in jail. He had to make and lose friends for years as a child moving across the world for his family. Thus, he’s guarded. He plays the guitar and writes songs, and has a sleeve of tattoos to instead express himself and the pain he’s been through. He doesn’t do serious girlfriends since he’s grown to rely on himself only.

He’s been crushing on Charlee, the tall, blonde-haired beautiful girl a year younger than him, since 16. The girl who’s dad’s a millionaire. The girl who’s perfect in every way. The girl he’s hardly spoken to and probably will never get the chance to.

The Couple
Charlee and Dexter, together, are like cake. They’re delicious and dangerously addictive. When split apart, though, they begin to crumble.

These characters became close to my heart for a few reasons:
• They were broken for different reasons and proved two wrongs can make a right—a whole—by healing and learning through each other.
• As I revised and edited, I analysed why they would act the way they did, and put myself in their shoes. They turned into 3D characters by me acting out a scene in my head as them: thinking through what a real person would do in their shoes.
• Unlike real people, characters have to be empathized with. They don’t have to be liked, but as readers, you do have to understand them. Charlee and Dexter, for me, turned from a list of descriptions and traits on paper to friends by how they reacted to conflict. That—that is what made them loveable to me.

I hope you enjoyed getting inside my head! This post was a lot of fun to write. If you want to get to know Charlee and Dexter better, why not read their stories in Drowning in You?

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AUTHOR BIO

Rebecca Berto is the author or the dark contemporary/literary novella, PRECISE and the upcoming new adult contemporary romance novel, DROWNING IN YOU. She is also a freelance editor.

She writes stories that are a bit sexy, and straddle the line between Literary and Tear Your Heart Out. She gets a thrill when her readers are emotional reading her stories, and gets even more of a kick when they tell her so. She’s strangely imaginative, spends too much time on her computer, and is certifiably crazy when she works on her fiction.

Rebecca Berto lives in Melbourne, Australia with her boyfriend and their doggy.

Author Links:

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter


Feature and Follow

Feature and Follow Friday is a blog hop that is designed to provide some much-appreciated exposure to the bloggers participating, and to expand their following. Hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read, each of whom feature a chosen blog for the week, it's an interesting way to get to know one another.

If you would like to follow me, you can do so by GFC, Twitter or Linky .

I also make sure to go back and follow everyone that comments and I try to always follow twitter along with GFC/Linky. So if you have a twitter that is not on your page for some reason leave it in the comments and I will follow you that way too! I've recently become a fan of Bloglovin since it sends me an email update of everyones post. So much easier to follow then GFC! So follow me on there and I will definitely follow you back. If you don't have it, check it out.

Follow on Bloglovin

Q: We are about to see a lot of posts & tweets about reader conventions, RT, BEA, ALA and many more are starting soon. Which one would you love to attend? Where and why?


I'm actually attending RT because I live in Chicago and Kansas City is not to bad of a drive. I really want to go to BEA and ALA but I haven't been yet. Maybe next year I can go to BEA. My husband loves New York so I'm thinking maybe I can convince him. With my dad having cancer and many complications it just hasn't been possible this year (I've had to take a lot of time off work already). So if you are going to RT and want to meet let me know, although I'm very awkward/shy in person.