Yay! The kids are back in school. I love my kids, but I love to have some time away from them and for them to have time away from each other. If you homeschool, you have my utmost respect, I couldn't do it.
For this hop, I will give a choice from a couple of books I have read lately and REALLY enjoyed! They were my most recent 5 star ratings. I will link the title with my review.
This will be international as long as the Book Depository ships to your country.
Nora tries to resume her mundane life, but she is now consumed with the one whose very presence ignited her soul, the one with eyes of emerald. Nora soon learns that an energy buried deep within has been unleashed. She now wields unimaginable power and has become Gavin's source, his strength.
Her newfound joy is shaken when she discovers that Gavin is not who he appears to be and she has been thrust in the middle of a war of mythical proportions. Negativity has allowed all things evil to flourish, the earth is under siege. The fate of creation hinges on the power within her heart. Will she be strong enough to survive?
A gripping tale of unbounded love and ancient power, The Light of Asteria will take you on an epic adventure filled with war, treachery, and demons, as well as unimaginable delights.
Use the Rafflecopter to enter! See my giveaway policy in the right side bar. 13+ to enter.
Book Description:Dori Seward can’t wait to get out of Eastcove, a sleepy fishing village on the border of New Brunswick and Maine. She bides her time by hanging out with friends, attending swim club, and holding her biggest competition, Colby–who wants more than just friendship, at arm’s length. Then Tor Riley comes to town and he has everything Dori dreams of in a boyfriend–looks, athleticism and mystery.
But Tor also has a tantalizing secret and Dori is determined to find out what it is. The truth is crazier than her wildest imaginations and more dangerous, too. Dori has new enemies, and they will do anything to get to her.
Her life, her dreams and her love for Tor are all weighing in the balance. Will Dori risk it all in order to have it all?
My thoughts: Dori loves water. She is a competitive swimmer and has a great future ahead of her in her sport. Her biggest problem and competition is her friend Colby, he wants to be more than friends and that is not part of her plan.
Then we meet a new guy. His name is Tor and he and Dori hit it off almost instantly, if you don't take into account that he ran and dove into the ocean when she threw water in his face. Not every guy can be completely perfect. Right?
Dori soon discovers the world of the Mer. She is pulled into the war between two clans. One clan wants to accept her and the other wants to use her. Her future path changes in a very short period of time.
This book is fun and easy to read. Elle did a great job creating the plot and world of the Mer people. I didn't connect with the characters, but I did enjoy them. I believe that this could be the beginning of another series. There is a lot of places she could take this story to in the future.
No content warnings on this one.
Follow the Tour!
<!-- end LinkyTools script --
About Elle:I write time travel and merfolk chic-lit, light SF and historical YA fiction. I'm a married mom of four, and live in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, famous for beaches and vineyards. I'm fond of Lindt's sea salt dark chocolate and hiking in good weather. My YA rom/com time-travel CLOCKWISE is now available on Amazon, B&N and other sites! Links for Elle : Blog / facebook / Twitter Giveaway!
Elle will be giving away a signed copy of her book Clockwise (I loved it by the way), a whale fin necklace (see the above picture of Elle), and a copy of Seaweed. This is a US/CAN contest, shipping is a bugger. Use the rafflecopter form to enter. This contest is sponsored through the blog tour.
Source: Received to review for tour ATOMR tours
Genre: Paranormal YA
Book Description: Madly is your average nearly-eighteen year old girl—for a princess, that is. Madly James is thoroughly enjoying her internship in the small town of Slumber when the unthinkable happens—there’s a prison break in Atlas, the magically-protected home of Madly’s race. A traitor has set free eight Lore, the spirits of what humans know as fairy tales, and they are making their way to Slumber to awaken their descendants.
In order to save her home, the lives of her family, and all of humanity, Madly must learn to wield her exceptional powers and recapture the Lore before it’s too late and all is lost. But Madly’s only help are her two best friends and the Sentinel, Jackson Hamilton, that threatens both her heart and her destiny. Madly has loved Jackson as long as she can remember, but he is the one thing even a princess can’t have. Can she resist love to become the queen she was fated to be? Or can she find a way to have both?
This novelette introduces you to Madly and prepares you for the quest of a lifetime.
My thoughts: Madly is a great introduction to the world of Mer's that M. Leighton created. I am intrigued and want to know more and how she will save her family and the people of Atlas.
Madly is a princess who has a sudden power surge of magic, she finds that there has been a prison break in her home of Atlas. She is the only person outside of Atlas who can send the prisoner's back to prison.
She has her friends to help her, as well as the boy/Mer she crushed on. She wishes she could feel the attraction for her betrothed as she does for Jackson, he's a sentinel and is now guarding her.
I really enjoyed this novella and will look forward to reading the books of Madly. It's very short and easy to read. No content warnings from me.
Follow the Tour!
Giveaway! This contest if for US/Canada. There will be signed paperbacks of Madly, Madly & Wolhardt, and Madly & the Jackal. Swag pack, and a Madly t-shirt. Use the Rafflecopter form to enter.
Madly James is thoroughly enjoying her internship in the small town of Slumber when the unthinkable happens—there’s a prison break in Atlas, the magically-protected home of Madly’s race. A traitor has set free eight Lore, the spirits of what humans know as fairy tales, and they are making their way to Slumber to awaken their descendants.
The first spirit to arrive is that of Ulrich Wolfhardt, a man that was once obsessed with wolves and a young maiden he would follow through the woods. After a bite from a wolf, Wolfhardt’s obsession with the girl became an unnatural hunger and the young maiden’s grandmother cursed him with a fate worse than death. And now he’s back…with a vengeance and a bite that can infect others as well.
Madly must learn the identity of Wolfhardt’s descendant and stop him before he kills again and spreads his curse across the earth. But the only person strong enough to help Madly is Jackson, the Sentinel who vowed to protect her and the one person capable of breaking her heart. Can Madly resist forbidden love long enough to save the world from Wolfhardt? Or will she have to sacrifice her heart and her destiny to save the ones she loves?
MADLY & The Jackal
How deep does love run? Deeper than the ocean? Deeper than memory? Deeper than magic?
Following their plan to save Atlas, Madly and Jackson return the spirit of Wolfhardt to his prison beneath the sea. But even the best laid plans couldn’t account for the surprises they find. This time, Lore aren’t their only challenges.
Madly is special in ways no one could have guessed and dark forces seek to control her. They want her power, but first they must weaken her. They need her beaten. Vulnerable. Near death. And alone. But that task isn’t an easy one with Jackson at her side. The strongest of their kind, the only way to separate Jackson from Madly is to destroy his love for her, to erase it from his mind. And his heart.
Is it possible to steal Jackson’s love from Madly? Or is their love the only truly unbreakable thing?
Elizabeth Tarkson has it all figured out. She has a plan. She knows exactly what she wants and how to get it. At least she does until the day she turns eighteen, and a gorgeous stranger crashes her birthday party.
But this stranger knows things about her that he shouldn’t know, and as he slowly reveals his secrets, she discovers the world she thought she understood is much larger than she’d ever imagined. She is swept into a whirlwind of secrets, death, and attraction all involving him. Will she uncover the truth about her tragic past in time? Or will she be forever bound to…
There will be two copies of A Destined Death given to commentors on any of the blog tour posts. You may want to be checking out all of the tour stops! :)
Aphrodite is not please and sends her son to take care of the beautiful young lady. He comes, but does not do things quite like his mother planned. She is different than he expected and he wants to protect her. Falling in love wasn't part of the plan for either of them.
Psyche breaks the one rule that he had to stay with him. She looked at his face in a moment of curiosity. Now she will do whatever she must to get him back. Even making a deal with Aphrodite and demonstrating her abilities with fulfilling quests set for her.
This is a story of Psyche and Eros told in the modern day. Michelle Hansen has put a little twist with the Greek Mythology inhabiting space with Earth in another dimension and aging at a different rate. Sounds like a little bit of fantasy mixed in.
I love Mythological retellings. This book did not disappoint for me. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Follow the Tour!
Giveaway! There are two rafflecopters for entry. The first is a US only for a print copies and the second inclues international entries for ebook copies and postcards. This giveaway is run through ATOMR tours.
a Rafflecopter giveawaya Rafflecopter giveaway
About Michelle:Michelle A. Hansen was raised in southeastern Washington. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in English teaching from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and taught high school English for six years. She and her husband have four children. Links for Michelle: Blog / facebook / twitter Links for the Book: goodreads / facebook / Amazon Painted Blind
/ B & N / Book Depository
The Goddess Test meets Dexter in an edgy, compelling debut about one teen’s quest for revenge…no matter how far it takes her.
Cory Graff is not alone in her head. Bound to a deal of desperation made when she was a child, Cory’s mind houses the Furies—the hawk and the serpent—lingering always, waiting for her to satisfy their bloodlust. After escaping the asylum where she was trapped for years, Cory knows how to keep the Furies quiet. By day, she lives a normal life, but by night, she tracks down targets the Furies send her way. And she brings down Justice upon them.
Cory’s perfected her system of survival, but when she meets a mysterious boy named Niko at her new school, she can’t figure out how she feels about him. For the first time, the Furies are quiet in her head around a guy. But does this mean that Cory’s finally found someone who she can trust, or are there greater factors at work?
As Cory’s mind becomes a battlefield, with the Furies fighting for control, Cory will have to put everything on the line to hold on to what she’s worked so hard to build.
This is another book that sounds very interesting to me. The author is Justina Ireland. The book will be published by Simon and Schuster will a projected release date of April 2, 2013. Thanks to ATOMR Tours for organizing this cover reveal. So, what do you think?
Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
Rating: I didn't finish the book and will not give a rating
source: Netgalley
Genre: Contemporary YA
Book Description: No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible. Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again My thoughts: There are so many positive things about this book. I really liked that two teenagers who are experiencing traumatic lives are pulled together and are able to help each other.
Echo and Noah are basically two great kids. They have quite a bit going for the. Noah deals with the tragic death of his parents, Echo deals with events that she can't remember that forever changed their lives. They meet because they have he same therapist. Both have questions, they teem together to find the answers, neither expecting to fall in love. They share that the systems set in place to help and protect them are failing them.
The problem that I have with this book is the frequent use of the "f" bomb. I understand the usage in the context of the book. It illustrates how far Noah has to change his life, and how much it has changed in foster care.
There is also drug/alcohol/sex issues in the book. This book wasn't for me, it doesn't mean that I didn't see quite a bit of great things about it.
Q: What was your inspiration for writing Pushing the Limits?
A: I had
two main inspirations: One, I knew from the beginning that I wanted to write a
story in which my characters felt strong enough to leave their pasts behind and
create new futures for themselves. The first scene I ever saw in my mind was
Echo and Noah leaving town after graduation. Two, I wanted to write two
characters who were facing over- whelming
issues and who, through battling these issues, found hope at the end of their journey.
Q: How did you come up with Echo’s name?
A: Echo
went through several name changes as I wrote the man- uscript. For a while, she had a very normal name, but it
alwaysfelt off. It wasn’t until I looked at Echo from her mother’s point of
view that I found her name. Echo’s mother loved Greek my- thology so it made
perfect sense that she would name her chil- dren after the myths. I read
several Greek myths and the mo- ment I
found Echo’s, I fell in love. Echo, to me, was the girl who lost her voice. Thankfully, she finds it by the end.
Q: Which character is the most “like” you?
A: All of
them. I gave each character a piece of me (though some have larger slices of me than others). Overall, I’d say I’m
a strange combination of Echo, Lila and Beth. Echo
has my need to please, Lila has my unfailing loyalty to my friends and Beth
encompasses my insecurities.
Q: Did you experience friendships with Grace
types when you were in high school?
A: Yes.
And the more people have read this story, the more this question comes up. Grace has struck a stronger nerve in people than I ever would have imagined. It seems most of us have un- fortunately experienced a relationship where a person wants to “like” you and wants “be your friend,” but only if it serves
their needs. In case anyone is wondering, that isn’t friendship.
Q: Are there any parts of the story you feel
particularly close to?
A: Yes.
The relationship between Noah, Isaiah and Beth. Beyond my parents and sister, my nearest family members were over fourteen hours away. My friends became my family. The peopleI grew up with were more than people I watched movies with or talked to occasionally on the phone. These were people with whom I shared life’s most devastating moments, but also my
hardest laughs. These were people who I would have willing- ly died for and I
know they would have done the same for me. They shared my triumphs with smiles
on their faces and con- gratulatory hugs. They held
me when I cried and offered to beat up whoever
hurt my feelings. These were also the same people who were more than happy to
get in my face if they thought I was making a wrong decision.
Q: Did anything that happens to Echo happen to
you?
A: Sort of. I was bitten by a dog
when I was in second grade and repressed the memory. It felt very strange to
have no memory of an incident that other people knew
about. It was even strang- er to have injuries and not have an inkling where
they came from. In college, I finally remembered the incident when a dog lunged
at me. I relived the horrible event and sort of “woke up” a few minutes later to find myself surrounded by people I loved.
Even though I “remember” the incident, I still
don’t remember the whole thing. I only see still frames in my mind and there is
no blood in any of the memories.
Giveaway! This book can go to someone with a US or Canadian address. Because of the content, you must be 17+ to enter. Use the rafflecopter from to enter. This contest will end on September 6. Good luck! :) I am not sponsoring this giveaway. Even though this book was not for me, I know that many will love it. I can't pass up an opportunity to help someone get a book that they would love to have.
Abigail Tate was a normal human girl. Until the day Bronx the vampire barges into her life and turns her against her will. Held captive while forced to deal with never ending cravings for blood, Abby prays for a way to escape. Only when an opportunity arises, it's with the aid of an innocent human named Tyler--except vampires are forbidden to interact with the unbitten. But Abby quickly learns this human has secrets of his own...secrets that can either help her or get her killed. Only Abby discovers that she was the one with the biggest secret of them all.
**June 2012 Extras added to the e-book version only (including the first chapter of the sequel Crimson Flames (book #2 of The Crimson Series)
Add to your Good Reads shelf
Purchase Kindle / PaperbackAshley Robertson resides in sunny Orlando, Florida and loves reading and writing about everything urban fantasy and paranormal romance. When she isn't writing you'll find her spending time with family and friends, training in her home gym, traveling and exploring new places, drinking fine red wines, and making gourmet coffees with her Nespresso machine.
Follow Ashley Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Blog
Ashley Robertson is giving away 3 Book Swag packs!
Follow the Tour
Enter to win a swag pack brought to you by Ashley Robertson and Promotional Book Tours. Open to US Residents (International winners will receive ebooks and egiftcard) a Rafflecopter giveaway
Welcome to the big leagues. To secrets and scandals.
It's all about the game. Who's playing. Who's not. Who has no idea about the
game. And...wait, what game are we playing?
I'll leave that for you to decide.
Where to start is the big question for Chloe Baker. How was she supposed to
explain to Zack Warren that she started a fan club for him when she was a kid?
It was just a game. A way to make friends and have fun. She never thought it
would spiral out of control. And never. In a million, gazillion years, did she
think it would follow her to college. How could she tell him her best friend
Lana kept the club alive? That she had nothing to do with the craziness?
Chloe didn’t understand why she cared so much about Zack's opinion of her. She
hated him. He hated her. They had very mutual feelings of dislike for each
other. So he'd just hate her even more when or if he found out.
And that's totally fine...she thinks.
Zack Warren had a soft spot for Chloe Baker. He likes the way she walks. He
likes the way she talks. If he was poetically inclined, he’d write a sonnet
about her ass.
It's Zack’s junior year of college. He’s got things to worry about. Scouts from
the major leagues. Baseball games. Contracts. Grades.... His father ran away to
Vegas with Chloe's mother. He didn’t have time to worry about a girl. But he
did. He worried about Chloe a lot, especially with that jerk Max sniffing
around her. It's weird though, to like your stepsister, right?
But Zack could argue that he saw Chloe first. Way before his dad met her mom.
He was too young to stake a claim. But he just doesn't care anymore.
He’s done playing games.
My thoughts: Zack has been the object of Chloe's attention for a long time. In fact in elementary school she created a club in honor of Zach. It was fun and a way to get together with her friends, she never expected it to continue in college. In fact, she wants it to end, but it just keeps going...
To make matters worse, Zack has just become her stepbrother. She is desperate to keep the secret of the club, but her best friend isn't doing so well in keeping confidences and friendships. She is afraid of what Zack will think and that someone will have hurt feelings.
For Zack, Chloe has always been the girl that he has secretly admired, but not wanted to get close to. He knew if he did, it would be beyond friendship for him. He will do anything to keep her safe and away from the guys who want to use her.
The book was written in a fun and light voice. It alternates between Zach and Chloe's point of view. I really like that we get to know where both of them are in their opinion of each other. There are some grammatical errors, but I really didn't detract from the story for me.
While this book is fun, it is not for readers who are not mature. There is quite a bit of swearing, including several 'f' bombs. There is quite a bit of talk about sex and innuendo. I would suggest that parents read the book before letting their teens. It needs parental approval. :)
About J. C. :
J.C. Isabella is
the author of Chasing McCree and The Unofficial Zack Warren Fan Club. Ever
since she discovered romance novels in high school, she has been a self
proclaimed fan. This led to penning her first YA . When she isn't thinking up
new recipes for the cookbook she hopes to one day write, she is brainstorming a
new novel and listening to country music. She lives in the tropics of Florida
with her big fat Italian family and ornery feline companion.
Nostalgia is for idiots and Zack Warren is trouble.
I knew it the first time I saw him in second grade. The
boy had heartbreaker written all over him. He was two years older, wiser. He
did a back flip off the jungle gym, landing right at my feet with a cocky grin,
getting dirt all over my new pink Keds.
He didn’t apologize.
Instead he dropped a lizard on my head and called me
prissy.
Despite the fact that we didn’t hit it off on day one, I
harbored a huge crush on Zack, my first ever. In the third grade I started a
club. Girls only. We dubbed it an unofficial club because we thought some
powerful person, like Oprah, had to deem it official.
We have since discovered that is not true, but the name
had a nice ring to it.
During our unofficial meets we talked about Zack, spied
on him, and risked being found out on a regular basis. What a rush, seriously.
It was going great. The group accepted new members, and we even drew up plans
for a clubhouse. I invented a fun game and made new friends.
Then, when I was in the fifth grade, Zack stole the
streamers off my bike.
I cried, and made the very rational decision to hate him
until the end of time.
This effectively ended my reign as leader of The
Unofficial Zack Warren Fan Club.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading
Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author.
Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no
payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation
to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may
not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or
readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade
Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and
Testimonials in Advertising*
Book Description:Summer camp won't know what hit them Pip's parents are sending him away on an adventure, but Pip's sure a whole week at camp will be more like torture Filled with fun comedy, eye-catching pictures, and an easy-to-follow storyline, this book is perfect for young readers and guaranteed to keep the whole family grinning to the very last page
My thoughts: Pip is such a cute and precocious little boy. Trouble just seems to follow him around. He really tries to stay out of trouble, but being a kid is a hard thing.
In this adventure, he goes to summer camp. He thinks it will be more like a prison and wishes his parents didn't make him give up part of his summer for camp.
He meets some other kids who all have interesting "problems". It's fun to see them through Pip's eyes. He has a unique way of looking at the world. He learns that camp is not a bad thing, but a fun thing.
This book is written in an entertaining fashion. It is descriptive, and easy to read. Perfect for the kids starting chapter books.
About Donna!Donna Peterson has enjoyed writing stories and poetry since the second grade. She is the author of the Misadventures of Phillip Isaac Penn series and has been published four times in theIdaho Magazine. She wrote a weekly humor column, “Kaleidoscope,” for theThree Rivers Chronicle, and she continues to write short stories for the children at Park Intermediate School where she has been employed for the past twelve years. Two years ago Donna took a children’s literature class at TVCC, taught by the popular children’s author, Judy Cox. This inspired Donna to finally publish her own stories.
Donna lives in Weiser with her husband, Brad, and her three-legged cat, Samson. Her eldest son, Erik, lives in Murray, Utah, with his wife, Shawna. David, her other son, just moved out to start his first year of college.
Writing has always been Donna’s favorite pastime, so having her children’s books published is a dream come true.
Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Inspirational fiction
Source: Received eBook to review
Book Description:"Faith, Hope and Gravity" is the spiritual, magical adventure of teenage Liam Kane as he discovers some of the same lessons Merrill Osmond learned as the world-traveling lead singer of the Osmond Brothers. Merrill, like Liam, was often misunderstood for his visionary quests to understand those who looked for answers to life's questions.
Liam's talents gain him international notoriety as "The Prophecy Boy" who swims with dolphins, dreams of a mysterious red door, and champions those who are misunderstood.
Surviving kidnapping, near-drowning, and imprisonment ultimately leads to the discovery that despite inherent differences, when people respect one another's unique abilities, the thread of commonality that runs through mankind grows ever stronger.
Turn the pages and join the unforgettable journey.
My thoughts: As the book opens, Liam is twelve and suffering from problem's with bullies. An incident takes matters too far and Liam is hurt physically. This event causes him to withdraw from society and seek the shelter of his home, the beach, his dog, and his dolphin friends.
Liam's journey toward discovering his purpose and place in the world is hard for him. He leaves his home in Hawaii and travels to places and countries that he didn't want to go to. His companion on some is one of the two boys who tormented him as a child. He must learn to forgive and understand. His challenges are compacted by the fact that he dreams of events that foretell the future.
The idea behind the book is one of overcoming and learning to have faith. There is a very Christian theme that runs throughout the book. Liam is blessed with a mother who seeks to help her son fulfill his destiny and think of others, not to focus so much on his pain.
I found this book to be interesting, there were a few parts that felt a little sluggish to me, overall it is an enjoyable book.
About the author's:
Merrill Osmond is a world-class entertainer, producer, author, motivational speaker and renowned lead singer of the Osmonds. Merrill and his siblings have produced 47 platinum & gold records and Merrill has written the lyrics for five #1 hit records. Merrill is a co-founder of the Osmond Foundation, which originally produced “The Children’s Miracle Network” Telethon. He has produced presidential inaugural events for both Reagan& Bush. Merrill is excited to release his first novel, Faith, Hope & Gravity.
Shirley Bahlmann has written a wide variety of genres, including historical fiction, novels, biographies, how-to, and how-not-to books. One of her favorites is a children’s book titled “When the Chicken Crossed the Road” which comes with instructions and a chicken-colored washcloth so you can roll your own chicken! Shirley finds the most annoying thing about being a prolific writer is sleep, because she’d rather be writing.
Audio book of Let the Reason Be Love written and narrated by Merrill Osmond
Let the Reason Be Love - In this new medium, Merrill Osmond continues to entertain us through real-life journal excerpts and fascinating life stories set against a show business backdrop. But more than a melody of family and fame, he blends into this work the harmony of his faith. Just when we feel alone or unprepared on this stage of life, here are new tunes and steps to motivate and inspire. The middle man in this famous family not only presents us with a backstage pass into his unusual life, but beckons us open-armed into his unusual heart, offering the best reason of all to keep singing and dancing. To followers of Christ and truth-seekers everywhere, here is a gift, as down-to-earth as a book about God can be.
Use the rafflecopter form to enter for this audio book. See my full giveaway policy in the right sidebar. I will be passing on the winner's information to another source, who will get the prize to the winner. Contest will end on September 7, 2012.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
.JPG)
.jpg)
/ .JPG)
