I loved reading "The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back" by Sariah Wilson ~ blog tour/giveaway

The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back by Sariah Wilson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Source: Received to Review for this blog tour
Genre: YA Romance

Book Description:  Everyone knows how all those fairy tales go. The princess gets beautiful, nabs her prince, falls instantly in love, lives happily ever after and leaves her evil stepsisters in the dust.

But what happens when you’re the ugly stepsister and your obnoxiously perfect—read pretty, smart, and, worst of all, sickeningly nice—stepsister is dating the charming, tall, devastatingly handsome guy you’ve had a thing for since you were nine years old?

Quirky, artistic and snarky Mattie Lowe does not lead a charmed life. Her mother is constantly belittling her on Skype. Mercedes, the school mean girl, has made it her personal mission to torment Mattie. But worst of all? Her stepsister Ella is the most beautiful, popular girl in school and is dating Mattie’s secret longtime crush, Jake Kingston.

Tired of being left out and done with waiting for her own stupid fairy godmother to show up, Mattie decides to change her life. She’ll start by running for senior class president against wildly popular Jake.

Ella can keep her Prince Annoying. Mattie’s going to rule the school.

And no one, not even a cute and suddenly flirty Jake, is going to stop her.


My thoughts:  Mattie compares her life to a fairy tale. She is the ugly step sister. She has a list of grievances against Ella, her step sister. Ella is smart, thrifty, beautiful, perky, kind...... in short the near perfect person. Ella's boyfriend is the crush that Mattie has had since elementary school.

This book is written from Mattie's perspective. Mattie is such an amazing character. She has elements in her personality that everyone could relate to. She is hiding. Hiding from herself, her peers, her sister, her parents, the whole world really.

Through circumstances not entirely of her own making ,she learns that she has self worth, that just maybe she has her fairy tale wrong. Maybe the ugly stepsister is worthy of the prince. Maybe the ugly stepsister is worthy of respect and can make a place for herself.

The secondary characters are wonderful. Ella is really as good as she seems. Jake is swoon worthy. Her best friend is a great guy. The rival and bully, Mercedes, is very good at being mean and causing drama.  Her mom is not a good example of motherhood but plays a pivotal role in her self esteem issues.

This book is perfect for girls wanting to read a romance book. It's clean, fun, and full of situations that could be semi realistic.

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Purchase

Amazon Kindle ~ The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back

Praise

“Sariah Wilson's new book, The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back, is hilarious…What follows is a story of fun and romance with some good non-preachy life lessons thrown in.  The voice in the main character, Mattie, makes the whole thing.  I thought it was definitely a book I'd recommend to anyone with teenagers or who just want to read a good teen romance.”

~Julie Coulter Bellon, author of All Fall Down and All’s Fair

“Sariah [Wilson] has written one of the funniest stories I've read in such a long, long time. I literally couldn't put it down. Yes, my poor Kindle's battery died and I was attached to a short power cord, contorted in a very uncomfortable position while I read to the end…. Sariah Wilson captured the back-biting, insecure, hormone-driven, clique-riddled high school atmosphere so perfectly you'd think she never grew up. I dare you not to laugh as you read this witty and oh, so, romantic story.”

~Debra Erfert of Windows into Writing

“This was such an entertaining story! I shouldn't have started reading it so late in the evening, because I didn't want to put it down to go to sleep…This is a book I can see myself reading several times. It's a fast, clean read with great characters, and I highly recommend it.”

~Andrea of Literary Time Out

The book is wonderful.  It’s quirky and fun.  The story makes you laugh and you fall in love with the characters right from the beginning…This is a well-written book.  It is one that will make you smile and sigh as you remember your first love.  And it has a moral…be yourself, believe in yourself and maybe, just maybe, your fairytale will come true.  Pick up this book.”

~Ana of The Book Hookup

Author Sariah Wilson

Sariah Wilson has never jumped out of an airplane, never climbed Mt. Everest, and is not a former CIA operative. She has, however, been madly, passionately in love with her soulmate and is a fervent believer in happily ever afters—which is why she writes romance. The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back is her fourth happily ever after novel. She grew up in southern California, graduated from Brigham Young University (go Cougars!) with a semi-useless degree in history, and is the oldest of nine (yes, nine) children. She currently lives with the aforementioned soulmate and their four children in Utah, along with three tiger barb fish, a cat named Tiger, and a recently departed hamster that is buried in the backyard (and has nothing at all to do with tigers).

Website * Twitter * Facebook

Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 3/10/13

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 author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To see the full tour schedule and stop by the other posts, click on this LINK!

Cover Reveal - "Out of Play" by Nyrae Dawn and Jolene Perry

Rock star drummer Bishop Riley doesn't have a problem. Celebrities—especially ones suffering from anxiety—deserve to party, right? Wrong. After taking a few too many pills, Bishop wakes up in the hospital facing an intervention. If he wants to stay in the band, he’ll have to detox while under house arrest in Seldon, Alaska.

Hockey player Penny Jones can't imagine a life outside of Seldon. Though she has tons of scholarship offers, the last thing she wants is to leave. Who'll take care of her absent-minded gramps? Not her mother, who can’t even be bothered with the new tenants next door.

Penny’s too hung up on another guy to deal with Bishop’s crappy attitude, and Bishop’s too busy
sneaking pills to care. Until he starts hanging out with Gramps. If Bishop wants a chance with the fiery girl next door, he’ll have to admit he has a problem and kick it. Too bad addiction is hard to kick…and Bishop’s about to run out of time.

This book is scheduled to be released in August 2013.

You can pre-order at :

Amazon Out of Play / Barnes and Noble

Leap Into Books Hop! (Int)

Thanks to I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Jinky is Reading for bringing us this fabulous hop!


I am writing and scheduling this post because on the day that it goes up (2/27), I am having a tonsillectomy and will be incapacitated for a few days.  So, enjoy the hop and if there are any problems, leave me a message, but it may take a day or two to get it fixed.  I will just cross my fingers that all will go as planned. :)

I finished a wonderful book this week. I loved it so much that I wanted to offer another opportunity for someone to win it.  There is a  book blast giveaway associated with this book and a blog tour, both are happening on this blog right now.  Well, the blog tour posts on the 28th, so if you are reading this on the 27th, come back tommorrow and  enter for that giveaway to!

The book is......

I loved, loved, loved this book!  It is appropriate for happy ever after readers of all ages.  Seriously, I think anyone can read this book and enjoy it.  Mom's can share it with their teen daughters and can giggle at the antics in the book together.

This book is not currently on The Book Depository.  I will offer a kindle copy to anyone outside of the Unites States.  I will gift it to you from Amazon.  If you live in the US, you can choose between a kindle or hard copy to come from Amazon.

Read my giveaway policy in the right side bar.  By entering your information into the raffelcopter form you are letting me know that you have read and are in compliance with the terms listed. Contest ends on March 7th. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fractured Soul by Rachel McClellan ~ (Blog tour/giveaway)

Fractured Soul by Rachel McClellan

 My rating: 4 of 5 stars
 Source: Received to review for this blog tour from ATOMR
 Genre: YA Paranormal

Book Description: Llona will do whatever it takes to protect her new found friends and home, but the dark plot that is threatening Lucent Academy, a school that’s supposed to be a safe place for Auras, may be too powerful for even Llona to defeat. This fast-paced tale of love, loyalty, and overcoming the darkness will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page!


My thoughts:  Llona's life doesn't get easier than it was in Fractured Light. In fact it becomes more complicated and dangerous.  She has entered an all girls school for Aura's. She is older than the typical new student, and still doesn't fit in. She is looked at with scorn and contempt.  Fortunately, her friend, May, was able to join her.

There is something wrong happening. The girls are complacent. The school seems to be teaching them not to use their powers to help make change. There is no competition. The girls are not encouraged to think for themselves. Their history only spans back to the 1930's. The student's blood is drawn once a month and they are required to take little blue pills.

I enjoyed reading this book. Fractured Soul is well written and the plot is well developed. New paranormal species were added in this story. The additions of Tess and Liam were welcome. They added a new perspective and interest. Both had a major role to play in Llona's development and training. The Vyken's are still bad, they are like a vampire and they play a huge role in this story.

Llona's and Christians love story was brief and poignant. There was so much going on in the story that there wasn't a lot of time for romance. I liked the times that they were able to sneak time together and be themselves.

This book is a wonderful addition to the paranormal book world. I love that it is a book that I would feel comfortable letting a young teen read. I would suggest that if you want to read this book and haven't read Fractured Light yet, that you start with the first.  There will be a third book in this series, "Fractured Truth".  I am looking forward to reading it.

About Rachel: Rachel was born and raised in Idaho, a place secretly known for its supernatural creatures. When she's not in her writing lair, she's partying with her husband and four children. Her love for storytelling began as a child when the moon first possessed the night. For when the lights went out, her imagination painted a whole new world. And what a scary world it was…

Find her at:

Facebook /twitter / blog / web



Follow the Tour


Tour Giveaway!

 10 ebooks and 5 Hardbacks-Choice between Fractured Light and Fractured Soul (INT)

This giveaway is tourwide.  The winner will be contacted by the tour hosts and they will arrange for delivery of the prizes. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review ~ "A Royal Marriage" by Rachelle McCalla

A Royal Marriage by Rachelle McCalla

Source: Netgalley
Genre: Historical Romance

Book Description: Despite her protests, Princess Gisela, headstrong daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne, must enter into a diplomatic marriage. Yet en route to her wedding, her ship is attacked and she's gravely injured. Rescued by a renowned healer, King John of Lydia, Gisela recuperates at his Mediterranean castle. The handsome, widowed ruler soon has her reevaluating her beliefs on love and marriage…but only if King John could be her groom. Their love is forbidden, and duty requires him to deliver her to her betrothed. Unless they can find a way to join their hearts—and kingdoms—with love, faith and honor


Colleen's Thoughts:  This is a clean romance, historical novel, based on true people.  Although King John and his country are fictional, Charlemagne and Gisela are valid historical figures.  I enjoyed the romance the author built around Gisela and King John.  They were both extremely dedicated to their prospective countries and the political climates of each, and were willing to give up a relationship with each other because of their patriotism.   

Gisela was a wise and level headed woman.  Unlike so many other women, she was able to see past her feelings and recognize the repercussions her relationship with King John might have were they to pursue it.  King John was gallant, noble, brave, and romantic - like every romantic hero ought to be.  

The resolution of both the political and emotional issues was logical, if somewhat predictable.  It was thoroughly enjoyable none-the-less.  Not that I like the idea of my children reading romance novels yet (I think they're still too young), but if they did, this novel is clean enough for any age group.

 Buy from the Book Depository

"The Samantha Project" by Stephanie Karpinske (Tour/Giveaway)

Seventeen-year-old Samantha Andrews has a seemingly perfect life; great parents, early admission to Stanford, and a boyfriend who just happens to be the hottest guy in school. But a dark secret from her past turns her world upside down. Sam discovers she's part of a global corporation's genetic enhancement project. And just as she's learning what these enhanced genes can do, the corporation decides they want her, and the technology inside her, back! 

During a heart-pounding race to flee from her pursuers, she encounters another person who was part of the experimental project. He's tall, blond, tan and completely irresistible! And he can read her thoughts!! Together, they're both in danger and a rogue scientist discovers yet another secret lies inside them.

About the Author

A former editor for a publishing company, Stephanie Karpinske has worked on several bestselling nonfiction books. Now she freelances full-time, writing for a variety of books and national magazines. The Samantha Project is her debut YA novel and is the first in The Samantha Project series. Stephanie lives in Des Moines, Iowa.

Find her at:

 Twitter * Goodreads

Read an Excerpt!

*********************

“What is this? Why am I here?” I asked, still feeling like I was half asleep.

More footsteps entered the room. “I think she’s slept most of it off,” I heard Erik say to whoever walked in.

I felt Erik’s other hand on my arm and then felt a prick from a needle. Soon I could feel the grogginess go away and the strength in my muscles return. I opened my eyes and could see normally.

Erik was sitting at my side, still holding my hand. “Ready to get up now?” His smile was so warm and kind that the anger I had prepared to unleash on him was quickly disarmed.

Jack stood behind him, arms crossed, studying my every move.

“Amazing,” he said. “But I can’t quite understand it.”

Erik shot him a glance of annoyance.

“Um, yes. Well, let’s get started then, shall we?” Jack said, sitting on a chair at the end of my bed.

Erik sighed, disappointed in how the old man was handling things. He turned back to me. “I know it may not seem like it, but we’re actually trying to help you.”

I gave him the look that I had heard that line before.

“Sure. You don’t believe me,” he continued. “I wouldn’t believe me either. Someone drugs me and I wake up in some strange place, I’d be pretty pissed.” He flashed a slight smile.

“But here’s the deal. We have a lot of stuff to tell you. And we’d like you to tell us some stuff, too,” he paused, sensing my hesitation, “if, and only if, you want to. Okay?” He waited for me to shake my head yes.

“I’ll start with the basics.” Erik let go of my hand and sat in the chair next to my bed. “I don’t know if you noticed, but I’m a little like you.” I glanced over at him, unsure of what he was trying to tell me. “You see what I mean? Not everyone can do this.”

I looked at him confused. Not do what? I thought. This guy is cute but not at all good at explaining things in clear and simple terms.

“So you think I’m cute, huh?” I looked up to see him smiling. “And by the way, I think my explanation is very clear. You just need to pay attention.”

“I AM paying attention!” I said loudly. And then it hit me. My voice had filled what had been a silent room. Nobody had spoken for at least a minute. Erik hadn’t said anything. And yet we were having a conversation. A two-way conversation—without spoken words. He could read thoughts! That’s why he said we were alike.

 *********************

 Giveaway!  

One ebook copy is available to a winner from this blog.  It will be in either mobi or epub format.  Use the rafflecopter form to enter.  I am not sponsoring this giveaway, I will be forwarding the winners email and format choice to the organizers of this blog tour.  The prize will be sent from another source.    See my full giveaway policy in the right side bar.  It is in effect for this contest.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tide Ever Rising ~ Blog Tour

It's time for the blog tour for "Tide Ever Rising".  I jumped on this blog tour because this is a book that I really want to read. I enjoyed her book "The Alias".  I was just checking my email and noticed that I didn't write this book down on my calendar, so I didn't read it.  It's not because I don't want to, I just failed to follow through.

I will be reading this book asap and post a review when I am done.  I apologize to Mandi Tucker Slack.

Check out the book description.  You can see why it  caught my attention.

 Kadence Reynold’s favorite pastime is exploring old ghost towns, but when she and her sister, Maysha, stumble across an old journal and cheap pendant hidden in the depths of a crumbling foundation near Eureka, Utah, their world is suddenly turned upside down. Immediately, strange dreams and premonitions begin to haunt “Kadie” as she learns more about the author of the journal, Charlotte Clark. Kadie sets out on a journey to learn more about Charlotte and her family, and she and Maysha travel to Bremerton, Washington, where they discover Charlotte's still living twin sister, Adelaide and her family.  

  Kadie and Maysha, upon arriving in Washington, are immediately immersed in Adelaide and Charlotte’s story. Kadie soon learns that Charlotte disappeared the night of a tragic fire that took the lives of Adelaide’s entire family. With the help of Logan Mathews, Adelaide’s handsome grandson, and Charlotte’s ever disconcerting presence, Kadie delves into the past. Hoping to solve the mystery of Charlotte’s disappearance, Kadie immediately discovers the secrets contained in the journal will toss her and Adelaide’s family into a world filled with mystery, past regrets, and dark unknowns.

About Mandi:  Mandi Tucker Slack grew up in Orangeville, UT, where her father worked as a coal miner for eighteen years. In 1987 the coal mines shut down for a time and her father joined the U.S. Army. They were stationed in Hanau, Germany, and she had the opportunity to explore Europe. Mandi’s family returned to Utah in 1992, and they settled in Orangeville once again, where she attended and completed High School. She then attended the College of Eastern Utah, where she studied Geology. Eventually Mandi changed her major and moved on to Utah State University while she completed a degree in Special Education. She then married her best friend, Charles Slack. They have three children, with one on the way, 6 chickens, and a lizard (sometimes several lizards).Their family loves to spend time together. They enjoy 4-wheeling, camping, and especially rock hounding. Her house is littered with rocks and fossils. As a child Mandi spent many weekends with her parents and sister exploring abandoned mining towns and searching for relics among the brick ruins. Her adventures with her family are often the inspiration for her stories. Mandi is also the author of romantic/ suspense title, The Alias, available at a bookstore near you. To find out more on The Alias and author Mandi Tucker Slack, visit: mandituckerslack.com.

Discover "A Shade of a Vampire" by Bella Forrest (giveaway)

On the evening of Sofia Claremont's seventeenth birthday, she is sucked into a nightmare from which she cannot wake. 

A quiet evening walk along a beach brings her face to face with a dangerous pale creature that craves much more than her blood. 

She is kidnapped to an island where the sun is eternally forbidden to shine. 

An island uncharted by any map and ruled by the most powerful vampire coven on the planet. She wakes here as a slave, a captive in chains. 

Sofia's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn when she is the one selected out of hundreds of girls to join the harem of Derek Novak, the dark royal Prince. 

Despite his addiction to power and obsessive thirst for her blood, Sofia soon realizes that the safest place on the island is within his quarters, and she must do all within her power to win him over if she is to survive even one more night.

Will she succeed? ...or is she destined to the same fate that all other girls have met at the hands of the Novaks?

Read an Excerpt:

********************

I’d been walking along the sea shore for about an hour when I suddenly sensed that I wasn’t alone. Someone was approaching me from behind. My heart leapt. I was so sure it was Ben, that when a stranger showed up beside me, I couldn’t hide my disappointment.

He must have noticed, because a smirk formed on his lips. “Were you expecting someone else, love?”

I eyed him suspiciously, remembering how many times my father told me not to talk to strangers. I looked him over from head to foot, taking in his appearance. I held my breath. I couldn’t find words to describe how fine a man he was. He was almost beautiful. The first thing I took notice of was how his blue eyes were about three shades brighter than any I’d ever seen before. It was such a stark contrast to his pale – almost white – skin and his dark hair. I next noted how he was easily more than half a foot taller than I was. His height, broad shoulders and lean build reminded me of Ben, but he had a presence that was far more imposing than my best friend’s.

My gaze settled on his face.

I realized that he was inspecting me just as closely as I was him. His eyes on me suddenly made me feel uncomfortably vulnerable. I gave my father’s advice a second thought, but quickly canceled out all notions of heeding to his counsel when I reminded myself that he stopped caring a long time ago. I straightened to my full height and mustered all the courage I had to keep myself from running away from this stranger.

Big mistake.

The confident smirk didn’t leave his face for even a moment. “Like what you see?”

I frowned, annoyed by his audacity. “A bit full of yourself, aren’t you?”

He stepped forward, closer to me, and leaned his head toward mine. “Don’t I have the right to be?”

He knew he looked good and wasn’t about to act like he didn’t.

“Whatever,” was my oh-so-brilliant comeback.

My shoulders sagged with defeat as I took a step back, overwhelmed by how close he was. I rolled my eyes and did a one-eighty, not quite in the mood to play whatever game this stranger was proposing.

I would soon realize that I was about to play his game whether I liked it or not. He grabbed my arm and turned my body to face him. The motion alone made every single internal alarm I had go off in a frenzy.

This man was danger and I knew it. I tried to wriggle away from his touch, but I was no match for his strength.

“Tell me your name,” he commanded.

I was about to refuse, but was horrified to find myself blurting out my name in response. “Sofia Claremont.”

He traced his thumb over my jaw line. “Hello, Sofia Claremont. You’re one stupid girl for taking a walk alone at this time of night. You never know what kind of evil a pretty little thing like you could happen to come by.”

I found myself wondering exactly what kind of evil he was. But I was suddenly overcome by the sensations that were surrounding me. My senses took everything in at once. I heard the waves, felt the sand beneath my feet, smelled the ocean salt, tasted the flavor of cherry on my lips and saw the stranger’s manic appearance as he stuck a needle to my neck. The effect was instant. I was barely able to gasp, much less scream. I went from sensing everything to sensing absolutely nothing.

My last conscious thought was that I may never see Ben again.

********************

Giveaway!

Bella is willing to give away one signed copy to one winner here on Bookworm Lisa.  It's even International!

Use the rafflecopter form to enter.  My giveaway policy is in the sidebar.  When you enter your info into the form, you are verifying that you are in compliance with the policy.  This contest will end on March 8th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Where can you purchase a copy?

Amazon USA / Amazon UK

Baked Alaska by Josi S. Kilpack ~ Book blast!

Baked Alaska by Josi S. Kilpack

An Alaskan cruise is the setting for amateur detective Sadie Hoffmillers latest adventure. Sadie plans to spend time relaxing with her two grown children, Breanna and Shawn, and her boyfriend, Pete, while enjoying the luxury and cuisine of an elegant cruise ship and helping to plan her daughters upcoming wedding. But even as the crew prepares to leave port, Sadie has suspicions about the voyage ahead and the relationship between her normally easygoing son and a mysterious female passenger he obviously knows but refuses to discuss. When the woman is discovered unconscious during the second night at sea, Sadies apprehension escalates. Over the last few years, Sadie has developed an extreme dislike for secrets and it would seem her son is keeping one from her. *Includes eight new mouthwatering recipes, tested and approved by the official bakers of Sadies Virtual Test Kitchen.







About Josi S Kilpack: Josi S. Kilpack grew up hating to read until she was thirteen and her mother handed her a copy of The Witch of Blackbird Pond. From that day forward, she read everything she could get her hands on and credits her writing “education” to the many novels she has “studied” since then. She began her first novel in 1998 and hasn’t stopped since. Her seventh novel, Sheep’s Clothing, won the 2007 Whitney Award for Mystery/Suspense, and Lemon Tart, her ninth novel, was a 2009 Whitney Award Finalist. Josi was the Best in State winner in literature for 2012 and currently has two books (Banana Split and Tres Leches Cupcakes) as finalists in the 2012 Whitney awards.

Josi currently lives in Willard, Utah, with her family.

Website * Twitter

Tour Schedule

Purchase
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Deseret Book

Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery Series

Book Blast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 3/17/13

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 author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour ~ "Untimed" by Andy Gavin

Untimed by Andy Gavin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Source: Received to review
Genre: Time Travel - Older YA

Book Description:  Charlie’s the kind of boy that no one notices. Hell, even his own mother can’t remember his name. And girls? The invisible man gets more dates.

As if that weren’t enough, when a mysterious clockwork man tries to kill him in modern day Philadelphia, and they tumble through a hole into 1725 London, Charlie realizes even the laws of time don’t take him seriously.

Still, this isn’t all bad. In fact, there’s this girl, another time traveler, who not only remembers his name, but might even like him! Unfortunately, Yvaine carries more than her share of baggage: like a baby boy and at least two ex-boyfriends! One’s famous, the other’s murderous, and Charlie doesn’t know who is the bigger problem.

When one kills the other — and the other is nineteen year-old Ben Franklin — things get really crazy. Can their relationship survive? Can the future? Charlie and Yvaine are time travelers, they can fix this — theoretically — but the rules are complicated and the stakes are history as we know it.

And there's one more wrinkle: he can only travel into the past, and she can only travel into the future!

My thoughts: Charlie is unnoticed. He wins a race, someone else gets the credit. No one can seem to remember his name, including his mother. She places post it notes all over the house with his name on them. He sees his father every once in while. His dad travels quite a bit. He really doesn't know what his father does, only that he wants him to study his history. (Who wants to study history?)

His life takes a drastic turn when he follows a guy, who is a clock, down a worm hole. He finds himself in London during the 18th century. It is at this point when he finds out that he is a time traveler. He meets Yvaine, no one can remember her name either. It's a side effect for time travelers.

Somehow he and Yvaine have altered time and history.  They must figure out how to fix it and save Yvaine's infant son from a life of poverty and crime.

The book picks up in action and interest about a fourth of the way in. The beginning Andy Gavin is laying the foundation for the book. There is action/adventure/romance/time travel in the book.  I was impressed with the illustrations in the book.  It is not common in a YA book, but I thought that it added to the story.

I feel that this book is suited best for ages 16+. There is quite a bit of profanity and sexual innuendo.

To see the full tour schedule, go to this LINK.

About the Author:  Andy Gavin is a serial creative, polymath, novelist, entrepreneur, computer programmer, author, foodie, and video game creator. He co-founded video game developer Naughty Dog and co-created Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter. He started numerous companies, has been lead programmer on video games that have sold more than forty million copies, and has written two novels.

His first book, The Darkening Dream, has been well-received by fans and critics alike. Publisher’s Weekly called it “gorgeously creepy, strangely humorous, and sincerely terrifying.” Untimed is an even more ambitious follow-up. It is a lavish production with a cover by acclaimed fantasy artist Cliff Nielsen and twenty-one full page interior illustrations by Dave Phillips.

Author Links:

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Blog * Pinterest * Wikipedia * Goodreads

Tour Giveaway:  a Rafflecopter giveaway




Read an Excerpt:  I fall hard onto wet cobblestones.

A pair of horses bears down on me fast. I roll into the gutter to avoid being trampled.

It’s seriously raining, a genuine Noah’s Ark deluge. Between the downpour and the low clouds, you’d hardly know it’s daytime.

The horses pass, drawing a covered coach behind them.

Coach?

The driver huddles in his cloak, a triangular hat pulled low against the downpour. Two flickering lamps hang from the vehicle’s rear.

Tourists ride coaches in Independence Park, and the drivers wear Revolutionary War outfits like this guy — but who takes a scenic ride during a rainstorm?

Then again, I just followed a clockwork man through a Hanna-Barbera hole.

I’d been halfway hoping the hole would lead to my father, but I look around and realize I’m the only one on the street — even the clockwork guy is long gone. Way to make my dad proud. Act after analysis, he’d say. Instead, I jumped into a wormhole to wherever.

And where is wherever? It’s a city street, a little like old Philly but there’s no sidewalk. Just a nasty strip of mud and refuse between the road and the building fronts. I take a few steps — and look down at my shoes, which are pinching my feet. Instead of sneakers I see old-fashioned black leather shoes crudely sewn and covered in mud, but they go with my waterlogged stockings, tattered knee-length pants, and ratty wool coat.

Like the coach driver or a mock pilgrim in the Thanksgiving Day Parade.

What the hell?

I limp down the empty street. The air seems different. January in Philly is always cold and dry, unless it’s snowing. Nothing like this slashing rain that makes me wish the Goretex jacket I put on this morning wasn’t lost in translation.

I hear my mother’s voice in my head: Get inside or you’ll catch cold.

While I don’t think you can catch the temperature, I better call her. Maybe even check the GPS and see where I am. I grope my strange pants and find the bulges made by my wallet and mobile. Rain and my new iPhone are not something I want to mix, but the nearby townhouses have covered porches like the ones on Society Hill.

I hop up a trio of marble steps to get out of the downpour, lean against a wooden column, and reach into my pocket for the phone.

But that’s not what I find. My fingers extract a small notebook covered in brown leather. I open it carefully, trying not to drip.

On the first page are some names written in blotchy ink. In my handwriting!

My name, my mom’s, our doctor’s, Dad’s, Aunt Sophie’s. The phone numbers and addresses underneath. On the next page is the embarrassing script that ought to be entitled The Tragedy of Charlie and Michelle — still enciphered. Whew!

I flip another page to find a charcoal sketch of my mother and me, posed exactly like that photo I took with my phone.

My life has always been pretty weird — like me. The ticking clock dude and the hole in the world were extremely weird.

But this is beyond weird. My mobile phone has mutated into a notebook!

I put it away and take out my wallet — um, leather pouch, full of silver and copper change. I don’t see any Washingtons or Jeffersons, only pirate coins.

I’m not dreaming. My wet clothes chafe against my skin, and when I run a finger down my jacket sleeve, I feel every bump in the rough wool. I study the street, easier on the porch without water pouring down my face.

Another carriage passes, this one with four horses and two drivers. A couple of people scurry along near the edges of the buildings trying their best to stay dry. A man helps a lady pick her way through the mud. She wears huge skirts and a bonnet. He’s sporting knickers, a long jacket, and a tri-corner hat atop his big white wig.

A spontaneous historic celebration? Magic mushrooms slipped into my Frappuccino? No, I’m me, and I’m not in Philadelphia. And I better find my dad or at least a way back, so I step out into the rain wishing I wasn’t the only one without a hat.

I make it about ten feet before the mud literally sucks one of my crappy shoes right off my foot. I kneel to pull it from the earth’s thieving grasp and someone collides with me from behind, knocking me face down into the muck.

“Pardon me, so sorry.” The accent is funny, but the voice is lilting.

I roll over to find a soaked rat of a girl backing away. Her dress is ragged and the yellow-brown hair escaping her bonnet is plastered against her filthy face. Even so, she stands out brightly against the drab cityscape.

“Where are we?” I ask.

Her eyes, too large for her face to begin with, seem to grow even larger.

Then she bolts down the street.

I try to knock the mud out of my shoe but the stuff is as thick as… mud.

And I notice my pants feel light — both my wallet-turned-purse and the phone-become-notebook are gone.

The girl is making good headway — she’s halfway down the block, running — and I notice her footprints have toes.

She’s barefoot and she picked my damn pocket!

I remember I’m only wearing one shoe, pull it off, and sprint after her in stocking feet.

Review ~ "Poison" by Bridget Zinn

Poison by Bridget Zinn
Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Source: Netgalley

Ages 12 and up

Book description: Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she’s the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom’s future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend.

But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart…misses.   Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king’s army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she’s not alone. She’s armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can’t stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?

Kyra is not your typical murderer, and she’s certainly no damsel-in-distress—she's the lovable and quick-witted hero of this romantic novel that has all the right ingredients to make teen girls swoon.

Colleen's Thoughts:  This was an entertaining story which seemed to be set during the medieval time period.  However, the dialogue is riddled with modern phrases that made the story less than believable.  The twists in the plot were enjoyable and sometimes unexpected.  The personalities of the characters, and even the animals, were easy to relate to and fun to read about.  The dialogue between Fred and Kyra at the very end is nothing short of ridiculous.  I wish it were written differently, but the point is clear even if the dialogue is silly.  There is some very mild swearing and an occasional mention of kissing.  I recommend it for readers 12 and up.