Dreaming of Summer Give@way Hop!!

Is winter really here? Is that what the fluffy white stuff covering the ground is? Thank goodness, the Dreaming of Summer Giveaway Hop is here!!

Thanks go out to I am a Reader, Not a Writer and  Me, My Shelf and I for hosting the giveaway!

So, I thought for this hop I would giveaway one of Shelly Crane's books! Since I read Significance and  Accordance over the summer they take me back to reading beside the pool on those warm, sunny, days.

So my giveaway is for an ebook of any one of the novels in the Significance series! You can check out my reviews of Significance here and Accordance here.

 This Giveaway is open internationally as long as you can receive Amazon Kindle gifts! 

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Update on Life and All That Good Stuff!

So, I've been having a hard time lately keeping up with my blogging. Over the summer, I was so gung-ho and signed up for a bazillion tours, posts, ARCs, and hops. Then vacation ended and life (AKA work, family, writing, editing, illness, NaNoWriMo)got in the way.

I have been reading, but had absolutely no time to review. My plan right now is to be back on track with reviews by next week. I've read some amazing and not so amazing books, all of which I really want to share (Skinny, Bad Hair Day, Secret of Betrayal, Flawless, Ever).

I do have some awesome things coming up though!

~ I've signed up to do a few blog hops (3 in December!) hosted by I am a Reader, Not a Writer where you'll be able to win copies of my new novel Lie to Me (A Touched Trilogy, #1), and possibly something by Shelly Crane (I love her Significance series, so I may share the love). Okay, definitely something by Shelly Crane - I just have to figure out which one to give away.

~ Lie to Me (A Touched Trilogy, #1) will be available on December 1st! Look for it in paperback and Kindle format at Amazon and B&N for Nook!

~ Songbird will be free for lending to Amazon Select members starting in December. And look for a Free purchase day sometime before the end of the year!

~ The draft for Heal Me (a Touched Trilogy, #2) is nearly complete and will be going into editing in December. We're planning for a Spring release. Hopefully, I'll have more details in January!

For once I'm looking forward to the end of the year for a reason other than Christmas!!

Blog Tour: Owlet by Emma Michaels *Review, Excerpt, and G!vaway!

I am so excited to be hosting today's stop on the Owlet Blog Tour!! For those of you following the Read Along, I am posting the next excerpt! For those just joining the tour make sure you enter the giveaway and then click on the tour banner to check out the previous stops along the tour so you can catch up on the read along! 
 
Owlet (Society of Feathers, #1)
by Emma Michaels
Published: October 13, 2012
Publsiher: Tribute Books
Available: Amazon, B&N, iBookstore, Smashwords

Synopsis: 

Somewhere between falling and flying… there is a girl.

Iris has a secret. She lost her memory eight years ago and never told a living soul. After an asthma attack one night she finds out that her dreams of a strange house on a snowy island may be a memory resurfacing but the more she learns about the past the more she realizes the life she has been living is a lie. As the façade her father has built starts to crumble around her she will have to decide which means more to her; the truth or her life.

Review:

Owlet was an extremely fast read. I felt like I had barely begun reading before it was over. There is no lag time and the quick pace made it an engaging read. It also meant that a lot of information is given in a very short number of pages. With a paranormal book such as this, there needs to be a lot of world building and background for the characters. At times I felt like this was a bit too cramped in Owlet and I wish that there had been a slower pace so that we could get a smoother introduction to the world Iris is inhabiting.

Iris was an interesting character. She suffers from asthma, which often debilitates her, yet she still manages to hold her own. She doesn't use it as an excuse for not living her life, or for not making choices. I enjoyed Iris's interactions with her love interest Falcon. There was a dark side of Falcon that I wish we could have seen more of, and this again I felt was a result of the fast pace. His past played a really big part in the decisions he made and I thought he was really under used.

I found Owlet to be a very interesting start to a series, and I would definitely be willing to read more. 

Excerpt

“Why?” Iris responded, not understanding what was going on or why Falcon was suddenly on his feet and crouching lightly, looking like a bird about to burst into flight.

“Iris! Do as I say and get away from him! Come over to me. Now!” Diana said,
moving into the clearing and to the first steps of the gazebo, opposite from where Iris and Falcon were now standing. Diana was crouching just like Falcon only her hands were up and ready to fight.

“What are you doing?” Iris yelled. “Have you lost your mind?”

“No, Iris. He is one of the things that you don’t know about, or at least not enough to understand.”

Iris tried to keep calm but she started to get defensive. She realized she might not understand the full situation, but seeing Diana ready to attack Falcon who she knew had been a part of her past, was making her feel protective—even though her loyalties were still to Diana, which made her emotions turn and twist inside her mind.

“Diana, put your hands down,” she said. Looking to the right she could see Falcon trying to stop himself from going into a defensive stance.

“What is going on?” Iris screamed. Getting confused, Iris suddenly realized that she was backing up from both of them leaving her standing exactly in between them— two people who looked as if they were enemies in some invisible war.

“Iris, run.”

“No, Iris. Don’t go with her. You need to understand. I won’t lose you again,” Falcon said in a desperate voice.

Diana’s expression softened for a moment at his words, but the hard mask of defense reappeared in seconds.

“Iris, he is the one who—”

“No!” Falcon shouted.

“—was sent to kill you.”

About the Author

Emma Michaels is the author of the ‘A Sense of Truth’ and ‘Society of Feathers’ series. Her goal with her latest YA novel 'Owlet' is to give others what she did not have growing up; a strong female protagonist with asthma. While her previous aspiration was to be a lady knight she realized that not being able to run more than a few feet might become a hindrance so turned to writing instead. Her day jobs include being a cover artist, marketing consultant and silk screen designer.

As the founder of The Writers Voice blog (http://OurBooksOurVoice.Blogspot.com) she loves to connect authors and readers. As a book blogger turned author, she was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, until she moved at eighteen to Washington State. Suddenly, the world was a new place filled with tall green trees that reached further for the sky with every moment, making her want to do the same. Ever since, she has tried to make her life something new and different from what it was before, pursuing her future career, setting high goals and reaching for them. With the support of her fiancé, Chihuahua, and her amazing blog followers and fellow bloggers, she wants to prove to the world that anything is possible and help inspire fellow literary lovers to reach for their dreams.

Facebook  /  Twitter  /  Website  /  Goodreads  / Tribute Website  /  Tribute Facebook

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Cover Reveal and G!veaway: Lie to Me by Angela Fristoe

The cover for Lie to Me (A Touched Trilogy, #1) is finally here! I am sooo much happier with this one than the original I was sent. Now, I just have to wait for the December 1st release date! Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win 1 of 2 ARCs of Lie to Me!

Lie to Me (A Touched Trilogy, #1) 

by Angela Fristoe

Expected Release Date: December 1, 2012

Publisher: Little Prince Publishing

Synopsis:

With a Truth Telling gift that has never worked, Phoebe Matlin accepted long ago that she was broken.

Then one simple lie changes everything and suddenly the whisper of liar is ripping through her. Some lies, though, cover darker truths than Phoebe ever imagined.

But knowing when someone is lying is the easy part. It's convincing everyone else that's the problem.

Giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (For international residents, check back on November 27th for an opportunity to win an ebook copy of Lie to Me during the Dreaming of Summer giveaway Hop!)
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Blog Tour ~ Reaction by Jessica Roberts *Review

I am so excited to be hosting the next stop on the Reaction by Jessica Roberts Blog Tour! Reaction is book 2 in the Reflection series by Jessica Roberts and is a heart warming romance that straddles the Young Adult - New Adult genres. After reading the review and entering the giveaway, click on the banner to check out more stops along the Reaction Tour!

Reaction  
by Jessica Roberts
Published: November 5, 2012
Available: Amazon

Synopsis:

Harmony…

I’ve previously had that in my life, but only once, briefly, a while ago. It was during the time I’d started my first year of college. My own apartment, a new old car, and a life free of deadbeat stepfathers, all of which was fulfilling enough. But if it wasn’t, I also had a best friend, soul mate, and boyfriend all in one. Yes, life was near perfect.

But one stormy night can change everything…

For many months I rested in a prolonged sleep, fighting for my life. Well, more than fighting for it, also dreaming of it. Dreaming of him. Thank goodness, the dream is over and I’m back in the real world now. And all I want is for everything to return to the way it was. But nothing’s the same; most of all, us.

Once again, I find myself at the crossroads of a ruthless battle, this time not for life, but love. Do I fight for the guy I twice fell for, or do I let her take him away?

Review:

The first thing I have to say about Reaction is that if you haven't read Reflection first, do it. I'm sure you could figure out pretty quickly what was going on, but the emotional impact is so much more knowing what Heather has gone through.

Reaction picks up only weeks after Reflection ended, jumping right into Heather's life as she leaves the hospital and giving us drama right away. I love happy endings and while Reflection didn't exactly give us that, Reaction starts off with the slightest hint of hope. Heather has learned that the boy she has been dreaming of while in a coma for years has moved on with his life. I actually liked that Nick hadn't spent years just sitting around pining after her, although it does become obvious that he's never gotten over her completely even though he thought she had run off to marry someone else.

Reaction is a very melodramatic book, in the best way possible. Yes, there are parts where I was rolling my eyes at the frequent disagreements and the all-too-convenient run ins Nick and Heather have, but those were also those moments where I was hoping that and thinking "this is the moment", and then feeling the disappointment each time it wasn't. It's exactly the type of drama I love in my romance novels.

I definitely recommend the Reflection series to those who love romances that constantly have you alternating between crying and smiling.

About the Author:

JESSICA ROBERTS grew up in the San Francisco, California Bay Area where she spent most of her time playing sports alongside her six siblings. She was crowned Miss Teen California her senior year of high school, and went on to Brigham Young University where she graduated in Human Development. Her love of family, church, writing, athletics, and singing and dancing keeps her life busy and fulfilled. She currently resides in Utah with her husband and three children.

http://www.jessicarobertsauthor.blogspot.com/

@JRobertsAuthor

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Blog Tour ~ Defy the Stars by Stephanie Parent *Review

I am thrilled to be part of the Defy the Stars Blog Tour by Stephanie Parent! Defy the Stars is a modern retelling of Shakespeare's classic Romeo and Juliet. After checking out the review and entering the giveaways, click on the tour banner to check out more stops along the tour!

Defy the Stars
by Stephanie Parent
Published: July 30, 2012
Available: Amazon

Synopsis:
Julia Cape: A dedicated classical piano student just trying to get through her last semester of high school while waiting to hear from music conservatories.

Reed MacAllister: A slacker more likely to be found by the stoners’ tree than in class.

Julia and Reed might have graduated high school without ever speaking to each other…until, during a class discussion of Romeo and Juliet, Julia scoffs at the play’s theme of love at first sight, and Reed responds by arguing that feelings don’t always have to make sense. Julia tries to shake off Reed’s comment and forget about this boy who hangs with the stoner crowd—and who happens to have breathtaking blue eyes—but fate seems to bring the two together again and again. After they share an impulsive, passionate kiss, neither one can deny the chemistry between them. Yet as Julia gets closer to Reed, she also finds herself drawn into his dark world of drugs and violence. Then a horrific tragedy forces Julia’s and Reed’s families even farther apart…and Julia must decide whether she’s willing to give up everything for love.

Defy the Stars is written in an edgy free-verse style that will appeal to fans of Ellen Hopkins and Lisa Schroeder; however, the writing is accessible enough to speak to non-verse fans as well. The novel’s combination of steamy romance and raw emotion will appeal to fans of Gayle Forman, Simone Elkeles, Jennifer Echols, and Tammara Webber. With a story, language and form that both pay homage to and subvert Shakespeare’s play, Defy the Stars is much more than just another Romeo and Juliet story.

Review:

As I started reading Defy the Stars, I found myself completely torn. On one hand I love anything Shakespeare (yes, even the cheesy 10 Things I Hate About You), and Romeo and Juliet is one of my favorites. On the other hand is that I hate sad endings and Defy the Stars starts off letting you know this will be a sad ending, which really shouldn't be a surprise considering it's a retelling of one of the saddest love stories ever told.

So, where did that leave me? Well, I went in cautiously. I tried not to let myself care about Julia and Reed, to realize that I knew exactly where their story was going so that I wouldn't feel let down. And for a while it worked, I picked apart things about them I didn't like, how quickly their relationship developed, how cliche the characters were, but by the end I cried. I can't say I was a big fan of Julia. She was so easy to jump into danger again and again, I just wanted to smack her, especially since she does it simply because she likes a guy. Reed, however, felt like a much more powerful character. He has deep problems that even at the end I didn't feel were ever truly revealed. I really wanted to know more about him, and while his storyline was realistic for his character, it was also very sad. Ultimately it was Reed's character that kept me reading, and hoping that maybe this reimaging of Romeo and Juliet would have a happy ending.

I didn't quite getting the happy ending I wanted, not surprising considering Parent let's us know that right up front in the prologue. But neither did the ending go exactly the way I was expecting. While Parent stayed true to some aspects of Shakespeare's original tale, she does make it her own. Despite finding the ending sad and hopeless, there was just a touch of light at the end, something to make the reader think that maybe all hope is not lost, and that the experiences we have that seem so unsurvivable can make us stronger.

The writing style was definitely different as it is set up as verse, and while there were times I could fall into the rhythm of it, other times I would stumble over a word that didn't follow the regular soft-hard pattern of the syllables and it pulled me out of the story. After a while, though, I found myself focusing more on the characters, and simply reading the story as regular prose.

I would recommend Defy the Stars to lovers of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and anyone who loves a romance with a good cry at the end.

About the Author:
Stephanie Parent is a YA author repped by Brenda Bowen of Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. She is a graduate of the Master of Professional Writing program at USC and attended the Baltimore School for the Arts as a piano major.
http://www.stephanieparent.blogspot.com

Giveaway Info:
1st prize: $30 gift card from Amazon and a e-book copy of Defy the Stars.
2nd place: 4 e-book copies of Defy the Stars.
Additional Prize: A query letter critique by Stephanie Parent.
All giveaways are open internationally!
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