Author Interview: A Raven’s Touch by Linda Bloodworth (Giveaway)

Hey everyone! I’m really excited to have Linda Bloodworth, author of A Raven’s Touch (January 4, 2016 by Pronoun) here for an interview! First, here’s more about the book:

ART cover Bullied through high school, seventeen-year-old Justice St. Michaels is grateful for the help of her best friend Moira O’Fhey. Their only wish is to graduate high school, leave the sleepy town of Fallingbrook and all that happened behind them. The Heavens have other plans. Between growths on her back and being involved in explosive school fights, nothing seems to make sense. When an unexpected encounter with Darien Raventhorn causes worlds to collide it exposes the truth about Justice’s real identity. To avenge a family death, Justice must embrace her birthright, and slay a demon before all Hell breaks loose.

Goodreads | Amazon

 

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Justice and Moira

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And now for the interview! Enjoy!

Question: Congratulations on the release of A Raven’s Touch! Your book has been out in the world for over a month now. What’s the response been like?
Answer: Thank you! It’s been a lot of fun, that’s for sure. I’ve met so many new people I don’t know if I’d have met otherwise. Having built a fan base before I released really helped and then reading the 5-star reviews after has put me on cloud 9. I have to reel myself back in sometimes. Overall, it’s been fantastic, a real dream come true.

Question: A Raven’s Touch sounds amazing! What inspired the plot?
Answer: I had a dream and the name of the book came to me. From there I just let the story take me on a journey and that’s how it came to be.

Question: What books/movies/TV shows did you enjoy when you were younger? In what ways did those books/movies/TV shows inspire your writing style?
Answer: I absolutely loved watching X-Files. There’s something about the bizarre and strange that spoke to me. I have a character that is a combination of David Duchovny and Matt Smith’s Doctor Who character. I identified with X-Men because who doesn’t feel like a freak at some point in their life. Also, Sailor Moon really dominated my early teenage years. My main character, Justice, has some extraordinary powers and she also has the bravery of the sailor scouts. I figured, why not combine all the things I love? Twin Peaks really influenced me during the first time I wrote my novel when I was 14-18. Now, in my 30s, I’ve re-written it from an adult perspective and that in itself is rather different.

Question: According to your website, A Raven’s Touch features a half angel, a witch, a vampire, elves and a dragon! If you could be ONE of these supernatural creatures, which would it be and why?
Answer: Oh, that’s a good question! I’d have to say a half angel. It’s the best of both worlds. You don’t have to kill anyone to survive, you have awesome powers, and you get to be chummy with the big man upstairs. Sounds like a win-win to me.

Question: You’re self-published. Can you tell me more about that? When did you make the decision to self-publish? What has the road to publication been like for you?
Answer: I knew when I started writing that I’d self-publish. From speaking with a few friends who are with a publishing house, I’ve heard they don’t get to decide their covers, or agree with their edits, and have to do a lot of the promotion themselves. That is something I can’t tolerate. Why would I let someone take a huge percentage just to have me do the work? No thanks. I’m not afraid of a little hard work.

Question: Do you see yourself breaking out of YA Paranormal/Fantasy for future WIPs? Or is it your preferred genre?
Answer: For now, it’s what I am writing just because that’s how the stories come to me, but I can see myself writing a horror novel. If I look deep enough there might be a contemporary story in me. I may have to squint.

Question: Craziest thing you’ve had to Google for a WIP?
Answer: I honestly hope the FBI doesn’t come knocking on my door because I’ve had to search a few weird things indeed. The worst one was how long does a human body decompose after being dissolved. Yeah, I can imagine that wouldn’t go over too well. Other runners up: how to defend against an attack, how to stop a throat wound, and police radio codes.

Question: According to Goodreads, A Raven’s Touch is book one in the A Raven Wing series! Are you working on the next book? When can readers expect it out? Any idea how many books – total – will be in the series?
Answer: I am working on the sequel to A Raven’s Touch and I am thinking it will take me at least two years minimum. The revision/editing process is not the easiest and I know this time to leave a long period of time for that alone. Probably the story will be a trilogy, but I’m going to leave that open because I left many avenues open for Justice and her friends to explore even after they complete their first adventure.

Question: Are you working on anything new (aside from book two of A Raven’s Wing)?
Answer: Just keeping my sanity. One book is all I can handle at a time. ;)

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Not today

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And now for the giveaway! Thanks to Linda, two winners will receive an eBook copy of A Raven’s Touch!

Rules: Giveaway is International as long as you can accept the eBook copy from Amazon or in ePub or PDF format. Once emailed, the winner will have 48 hours to respond to the email to claim their prize. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be selected. Must be 13 or older OR have parental permission to enter! Neither I nor the author/publicist/publisher are responsible for lost, stolen or damaged prizes/items

To enter, leave a comment on this post, answering this question: A Raven’s Touch features a half angel, a witch, a vampire, elves and a dragon! If you could be ONE of these supernatural creatures, which would it be and why? Along with your comment, please leave your email address and/or Twitter handle so I have a way to contact you if you win! Giveaway ends February 29, 2016 at 11pm EST!

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Linda Bloodworth loves chips, like really, ketchup to be exact. Ketchup chips are only found in Canada. Lucky for Linda she lives in Toronto with her husband and three fur babies. In between writing, debating for hours about the Oxford comma, and the misunderstood semi colon, Linda enjoys camping and getting away from the city on day trips.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Blog Tour: The Union and The Ruins by T.H. Hernandez (Excerpt + Giveaway)

t h hernandez blog tour banner 
Hey guys! Today, I’m excited to share with you an excerpt from The Union (November 18, 2014) and The Ruins (June 16, 2015) by T.H. Hernandez ! I also have a giveaway, courtesy of the author!

First up, here’s more info for The Union!

The Union

Book One – The Union by T.H. Hernandez

Genre: Young Adult/Speculative

Published: November 18th, 2014

Goodreads | Amazon | Createspace

Read the first 3 chapters for free on Wattpad!

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After global warming and a second civil war devastated the former United States, two different societies rose from the ashes – the Union, a towering high-tech utopia, hugging the perimeter of the continent, and the devastated, untamed midsection known as the Ruins.

Seventeen-year-old Evan Taylor has an easy, privileged life in the Union. What she doesn’t have is any idea what to do with the rest of her life. She only knows she wants to do something meaningful, to make a difference in the lives of others.

When she’s kidnapped and taken into the Ruins as a pawn in a dispute involving her boyfriend, Bryce, her ideal world is turned upside down. What she learns while in the Ruins shakes her faith in everything she’s ever known, from Bryce, to her family, and even the Union itself.

Now Evan must choose whether to stay with Cyrus, the sexy, resourceful survivor who believes she’s in the Ruins for a reason, or return to the only life she’s ever known. But when she stumbles upon a dangerous plot that threatens both worlds, her decision could tear her apart.

The Union is a futuristic young adult romantic adventure

The Union - Teaser 2 
And now here’s an excerpt from The Union! Enjoy!

Once the sun rises, I can make out trees in the distance. Real trees with leaves, which means there must be water nearby. I’m not sure Ruins water is safe to drink, but I do know I’ll die if I don’t drink something.

Even though I’ve been walking for hours, the trees don’t seem to be getting any closer. My legs have taken on a sponge-like quality and I stumble, but manage to stay upright. If I fall, I may never get up again.

I’m almost to the trees. They’re only a little farther now.

There’s no water here. How can there be trees without water?

Despair overtakes me and I drop down, pounding my fists on the barren ground. I stuff a soft green leaf in my mouth, seeking moisture, but my mouth is so dry, I gag on the pieces, tearing my throat like shards of broken glass.

My head spins as I lie on my back and struggle to form coherent thoughts. I take a deep breath and tell myself to think. Think is such a strange word.Think, think, think. It doesn’t even sound English.

Shaking my head to clear my mind, I try to pull myself together, remembering where I am and forcing myself to focus on my immediate situation. What do the Buddhists call it? Being mindful.

My brain works to form rational thoughts, but there’s nothing rational about this. I left home to find my place in the world, is this really where my search was supposed to lead me? It’s more like a cruel joke. If I was on a date with destiny, it just took a bizarre turn into a twisted ending I never saw coming.

God, if only I hadn’t gone to the park that night, none of this would’ve happened. I begin to cry. For my family and friends who will never know what happened to me, and for me. I’m not ready to die, I’m only 17.

I can’t help wondering if I would have spent so much time agonizing over my future if I’d known I’d be dead so soon. If I’d known, maybe I’d have done everything differently. Now I know my future. My life ends here. Alone. In the Ruins.

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Next up, we have more info for The Ruins!

The Ruins

Book Two – The Ruins by T.H. Hernandez

Genre: Young Adult/Speculative

Published: June 16th, 2015

Goodreads | Amazon | Createspace

Read the first 3 chapters for free on Wattpad!

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Heartbroken, grief-stricken, and wracked with guilt, seventeen-year-old Evan Taylor returned to the Union, leaving behind the boy she loved.

Now, she and her friends must find a way to do the impossible – warn the citizens of the Union about an impending rebel attack without alerting the government and risking retaliation against her friends in the Ruins.

When every move Evan makes is thwarted, it soon becomes clear she’s being watched. Faced with a daily fight to stay one step ahead of her pursuers, she returns to the Ruins. But life in the Ruins has its own dangers, and soon she’s fighting a different battle – to stay alive long enough to discover the truth.

The Ruins - Teaser 2 
And now here’s an excerpt from The Ruins! Enjoy!

Lisa opens the door still in her pajama pants and a tank top. Jack’s behind her in nothing but a pair of sweatpants. I raise an eyebrow in silent judgment. How could she have Jack spend the night with Colin here?

“Where’s Colin?” she asks, looking past me.

“What do you mean, where’s Colin? Isn’t he here?”

“No. He never came home last night. I thought he was with you.”

You were with me.”

“No, I mean after we separated. I figured he showed up at your place.” Her cheeks turn bright red.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” My hands ball into fists of anger at my sides. “You can’t really be that…” I bite off the words. It’s not my place to share how Colin feels about her.

“He probably left with one of those girls we saw him with,” she says.

I push into her apartment and find Colin’s duffel bag on the floor where it’s been since he began camping out on her couch last week. “So, he just blew off his train?”

“Maybe,” she shrugs.

“Not likely,” I say, stalking back outside, unease gnawing through my stomach. If all this other shit wasn’t going on, I could chalk it up to Colin getting laid, but I can’t shake the feeling something isn’t right. I’m halfway to Bryce’s before I realize that’s where I’m headed. Hopefully he takes me seriously.

My fast walk turns into a jog as I cover the remaining three blocks and two flights of stairs down to the apartment he shares with Jack. I’ve only been here once before, but I think I remember which one it is. I lift my hand and knock on the pale blue door then pace the small empty concrete porch. Thirty seconds pass before I knock again, louder and longer this time. Still no answer. I’m beginning to think he’s not here when the lock clicks and the door cracks open.

Bryce swings the door wider, and my eyes zero in on a bare chest. My gaze drifts from his firm abs and pecs up to meet a pair of gray eyes, squinted against the morning light. Confusion fills his features as he stares at me.

“Colin didn’t come home last night,” I blurt out, my voice breaking.

His gaze rests on my face for a moment before circling the room, reminding me we’re being monitored. “I’m sure he’s fine, but let me get dressed, and we’ll look for him.”

Stepping inside, I close the door and bounce on the balls of my feet while I wait for him. The place is decorated in neo-classic guy. A fireplace and hearth runs the length of the front of the apartment, and opposite that is a solid glass wall overlooking a weedy, overgrown garden. The limited furniture is a jumble of chairs, a couch, and a couple of mismatched tables littered with empty beer bottles.

Bryce dresses in record time and takes my hand, pulling me outside. He leads the way to the depot to catch a train back to the nightclub. “I want to retrace his steps after we left,” he says. “He might’ve just found some company for the evening.”

“That’s what Lisa said, but I think there’s more to it.”

“It’s no secret how he feels about Lisa. He might’ve just wanted to get away for the night.”

“But his bag is still at her place. He would’ve had to come get it before catching his train.”

The nightclub is deserted with the exception of a handful of staff still cleaning up. Bryce walks up to a lanky guy pushing a broom. “Can I talk to the manager?”

A woman in her mid-thirties approaches us a few minutes later, wiping her hands on an apron. She sweeps a chunk of blond hair out of her face with the back of her wrist. “Can I help you?”

“Yeah, I’m Detective Cooper,” Bryce says, flashing his credentials. “We’re looking for a friend. He was here with us last night, but we’re not sure what happened to him.”

She glances between me and Bryce. “Did something happen to him?”

“That’s what we’re trying to find out. Can we take a look at the security feed from last night?”

“Sure,” she says, inclining her head. “Come on back.”

We follow her past the bar and into a small office beyond the kitchen. “Here,” she says, indicating a chair in front of a display screen.

Bryce sits and she shows him how to move through the video files. Bryce locates the one time-stamped from when we were here and forwards through frame-by-frame. I see us leaving for the night and Colin dancing with the girls, getting another drink, dancing some more, then about an hour later, Colin walks toward the exit alone. A guy in a sweatshirt, hood pulled up, hands shoved into his jeans pockets, approaches Colin. They appear to exchange words. Colin nods before following the guy out the front door.

“What the hell?” I ask. “Who was that guy?” Terror sweeps through me, turning my blood to ice. “And where the hell is Colin?”

“I don’t know,” Bryce says, reaching over to squeeze my hand. “But we’ll find him, I promise.”

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And last – but not least – we have more info for The Uprising (December 2015)!

The Uprising

Book Three: The Uprising by T.H. Hernandez

Genre: Young Adult/Speculative

Published: December 2015

Goodreads | Amazon

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Recovering from a near-fatal gunshot wound, eighteen-year-old Evan Taylor must find a way to stop the Uprising, an underground movement committed to destroying the Union, before her homeland is attacked.

After spending the last four months in the Ruins trying to get back to the only girl he’s ever loved, nineteen-year-old Cyrus needs to get past his jealousy over Evan’s involvement with Bryce or risk losing her again.

Together, Evan and Cyrus join with their friends to devise a plan to save both the Ruins and the Union, but when the pressure’s on, bickering and infighting threaten to undermine their goals. New information revealing a weakness in the Uprising is uncovered, forcing them to act quickly or risk losing everything.

With the help of old friends and new allies they set out to make history, but it might just take a miracle for everyone to make it out alive.

THE UPRISING is the third book in THE UNION series, a young adult romantic adventure set in the near future.

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And now for the Giveaway! Prizes include:

(1) $25 Amazon GC

(2) $10 Amazon GC

(5) $5 Amazon GC

To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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theresaAbout the Author:

T.H. Hernandez is the author of the young adult futuristic/dystopian series, The Union. The first book, The Union, was a finalist in the 2015 San Diego book awards in the Young Adult Fiction category.

When not writing, you can usually find her reading, finishing more than 200 books over the past two years. She loves pumpkin spice lattes, Comic-Con, Star Wars, Doctor Who marathons, Bad Lip Reading videos, and all things young adult, especially the three young adults who share her home.

When not visiting the imaginary worlds inside her head, T.H. Hernandez lives in usually sunny San Diego, California with her husband and three children, a couple of cats and a dog who thinks he’s a cat, often referred to as “the puppycat.”

 

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

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M9B Friday Reveal: TRIUMPH OF CHAOS by Jen McConnel (Cover Reveal & Chapter One Excerpt)

Friday Reveal Banner 
Today Jen McConnel and Month9Books are revealing the cover and first chapter for TRIUMPH OF CHAOS the final book in the Red Magic Series, which releases March 8, 2016! Check out the gorgeous cover and enter to win the complete eBook series!!

First, here’s a quick note from the author:

I can’t tell you how bittersweet it is to see the cover for Triumph of Chaos. In a few weeks, the Red Magic series will be entirely in your hands, and while it’s hard to let these characters go, I’m thrilled that you’ll be able to follow Darlena as her journey culminates in Triumph. The cover is a perfect way to wrap up this trilogy, and I hope you love it (and the story!) as much as I do. Red Magic has been a part of my life for five years, and of all the characters I’ve created, Darlena feels the most familiar, the most real to me. I can’t wait for the last installment of her story to be out in the world!

And now, the cover! Are you ready to see it??

Are you sure?

It’s gorgeous!

Okay, ready?


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..

..

Here it is!

TRIUMPH OF CHAOS 
Isn’t it amazing?!?!?!? And now here’s more about the book, including the official synopsis, Goodreads link and buy links!

Title: TRIUMPH OF CHAOS
Author: Jen McConnel
Pub. Date: March 8, 2016
Publisher: Month9Books
Format: Paperback & eBook
Find it: Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

After the disaster in Europe, Darlena’s starting to get desperate. She knows the only way to defeat Hecate and the other crazy Red Gods is by banding together with other Witches, but is it any wonder she has a hard time trusting them?

With Izzy’s support, Darlena begins making fragile strides toward repairing the mess she made, but she just can’t catch a break. As chaos runs rampant around her, Darlena begins to think that things would be better if she’d never become a Red Witch in the first place. But there’s no way to change the past… is there?

The final book in the Red Magic series brings Darlena face to face with impossible odds, and a terrifying choice.

And now for the Chapter One excerpt! Enjoy!

Exclusive Excerpt: Chapter one

For months, I thought I’d killed my best friend.

Now I sort of wish I had.

What kind of person does that make me?
Justin had once told me that I’d go crazy if I tried to decide who should live or die, but I kept thinking that if I’d been able to make that kind of choice in the first place, none of this would have happened. If Rochelle had really died on that rooftop last fall, then the world wouldn’t be falling apart, and I wouldn’t be to blame.

Sometimes, it sucks to be a Witch.

I used to scoff at people who preached about the end of the world, but ever since Marcus, I hadn’t been able to laugh off the sandwich-board crazies popping up everywhere. Maybe it would have been funny if I didn’t know the truth.

The world was ending. Or at least it would be if I couldn’t stop it.

Sulking, I followed my parents into our favorite breakfast place. They didn’t seem to notice the group of people standing on the corner holding signs that promised the end was nigh.

“Phew,” Mom said, pulling off her light-blue cardigan. “Summer will be here before we know it!”

A waitress bustled over, handing out menus and smiling at us. “Feels to me like summer’s already started!”

“Weather like this is exactly why people need to pay attention to global warming. I’ll have a sweet tea, and the breakfast special,” my dad added, settling back into his chair without glancing at the menu.

The waitress scribbled on a notepad. “I don’t know about all that, but eighty degrees in March is odd, even for North Carolina!”

Mom nodded, shooting a look in my direction. “We just have to stay cool and try not to think about what July will be like.”

After the waitress had taken our orders and moved on, I leaned forward. “You don’t think this heat has anything to do with … ” I gestured helplessly.

Mom shook her head. “Not something we should talk about here.”

Dad snorted, and I heard him mutter, “Not something we should talk about, period.”

My stomach clenched, and I stared at my hands, trying to pretend I hadn’t heard him. Ever since I got back from Scotland in January, my parents had kept me at arm’s length. Well, not Mom as much, but even she was more reserved than usual. My father seemed to want to pretend that I didn’t exist.

I had thought I’d only been away for a month, but the trip had actually taken over a year. I’d ended up in the Celtic Underworld, and time runs differently in Underworlds; I should have remembered that. While I’d been there, Rochelle had glamoured herself and pretended to be me. My parents said they believed I was who I said I was, but there was an edge to our relationship that hadn’t been there before.

It probably didn’t help that I had participated in what had become the biggest nuclear disaster in the history of the world.

Mom and Dad are both Green Witches, hippie-dippie earth-loving types, and they seemed to take it personally that their daughter had so thoughtlessly damaged the earth. To be fair, I had thought what Marcus and I did could be fixed, but that’s beside the point. My parents seemed to think the fact that I had messed with nuclear power at all was an intentional act of rebellion. It made talking to them nearly impossible, but I kept trying. Whether they liked it or not, I needed their help to fix the mess I’d made of things.

“So,” I began, forcing myself to sound cheerful, “what are you guys going to do this weekend?”

Dad muttered something about saving the world, but Mom shot him a dark look. “I might work in the garden.” She hesitated. “Did you want to help?”

Before I could answer, Dad butted in. “Lena doesn’t exactly have a green thumb.”

His words stung, but he was right—my gift seemed to be destruction, not growth. I tried to shrug it off. “I can help, if you want.”

Mom smiled, and for a moment, I could almost forget about everything that had happened, but by the time the food came, the familiar knot was back in my stomach, and I picked at my pancakes without enthusiasm. It had been hard for me to eat ever since Marcus died.

Marcus had been another Red Witch, like me. He was a little older than me and hard as granite. He’d been trained by his patron, the goddess Cerridwyn, and she had shown him how to use his magic by subjecting him to countless battles and acts of brutality. I’d never known anyone as powerful or frightening, and I had killed him.

Well, not directly. I released this crazy god of chaos, Loki, and Loki was the one who instigated Marcus’s death. But it still felt like the guilt rested solely on my shoulders: if I hadn’t listened to any of the Red gods, maybe Marcus would still be alive, and then I could figure out if I hated him or was in love with him. Yeah, I’m not messed up at all, I thought sourly.

“How’s breakfast?” Mom interrupted my thoughts, staring pointedly at my plate.

I looked down, surprised. I had eaten everything in front of me, and it even looked like I’d licked the plate clean. I didn’t remember taking a single bite. “Um. Good,” I lied. “What about you?”

She shrugged. “The toast was a bit dry, but the omelet was good.”

I nodded, struggling to make small talk. Before I could think of anything else to say, someone cranked up the volume on the TV suspended over the doorway.

“Europe is still in a state of chaos as leaders scramble to secure the countryside of France. Meanwhile, the president is preparing for a visit to Germany to discuss nuclear energy. It is assumed that he will push for stricter safety regulations.” The reporter read the teleprompter with no emotion, clearly unaware of the effect his words were having on my family.

Dad slurped his sweet tea loudly. “I thought you said you were working on it.”

I shrugged, but I felt my hands starting to shake. “I’m trying. There’s not a lot I can do, remember? It’s not my territory.” If I didn’t get a grip on myself, I knew I’d light up like a sparkler in a minute.

“You should have thought of that before.”

“Richard.” My mom’s voice was low with warning. “This is not the place.”

He glared at me. “Fine. But she needs to think about the consequences of her actions.”

I met his gaze, furious. “Believe me. That’s all I’ve been doing lately.” A burst of Red energy crackled on my skin, and I gritted my teeth, pulling the power back inside.

Dad snorted, oblivious, and Mom flagged down the waitress for the bill. When my arms stopped sparking, I stood up and headed for the door. Neither of them asked where I was going, but I didn’t care.

I marched up to the apocalyptic group, still chanting on the corner. “Give me one,” I said, sticking my hand out for a flier.

An older man with gray hair and a sagging chin frowned at me. “There isn’t much time left.” He handed me a flier solemnly. “Repent now, before it’s too late.”

“It’s already too late.” I pretended not to notice the fearful look he shot me as I sat down on the curb, skimming the paper. It was the same old religious drivel, talking about Armageddon and God. According to this group, the only way to escape the coming end times was to give up worldly goods and join them in their quest to spread the truth.

I crumpled the flier in disgust. It had been foolish of me to expect Nons to have a solution, but I couldn’t stop hoping that they might know more than they let on. Evidently, that group didn’t. What am I going to do? Resisting the urge to bury my head in my hands and sob, I slapped the hot pavement underneath me instead. Cracks shot through the sidewalk, like ice, and someone in the little group on the corner shrieked. Good. You should be afraid. I glared at them, and one by one they picked up their signs and crossed the street.

When my parents finally walked by me, I stood without a word and followed them to our Subaru parked at the curb. The seatbelt buckle burned my fingers, but I barely noticed. The heat was miserable, but something about it made me feel powerful, too. I almost laughed at that thought. Powerful and destructive. Red magic was linked to fire, something I’d learned firsthand after meeting Loki. It’s no wonder the hot weather is winding me up. I glanced up at the front seat, wondering if I should tell my parents how close to exploding I’d come that morning, but then I shook my head.

We drove home in silence, even though I knew the storm would have to break sometime.

A few blocks from our house, my phone buzzed insistently in my pocket, and I looked at the screen. My throat clenched. Justin. My ex had been trying to get me to sit down and talk with him ever since I came back, but I hadn’t felt up to it. I didn’t know what to say to him about Loki and Rochelle, and I couldn’t even imagine telling him about Marcus. So, yeah, I met the other Red Witch, and we sort of made out, but now he’s dead, so we can get back to normal, right? Still, talking to him would be a break from not talking to my parents. Anything was better than that.

“Mom,” I leaned forward, tapping her on the shoulder, “could you drop me off at Justin’s house?”

She hesitated, glancing at Dad, but he didn’t act like he’d heard my question. Finally, Mom nodded. “I suppose. But be home in time for dinner.” Her eyes flicked quickly to the rearview mirror, and I heard her unspoken thought: sooner or later, we’d have to deal with all this.

“Thanks.” I hopped out of the car as soon as we pulled up in front of Justin’s house. He only lived a few blocks away from us; I could have just walked over once we got home. But for some reason, now that I’d decided to see him, I couldn’t wait a minute longer.

He was sitting on the sidewalk in front of his house. His shoulders looked a little wider, and maybe his hair was shorter than I remembered, but nothing else about Justin had really changed. He was still the first boy I’d ever loved, and the poor guy had been the recipient of my disastrous attempts at love magic twice. And he’d spent a year with the fake me. My stomach clenched.

I had no idea what had happened between him and Rochelle while I was gone, but I had a feeling whatever it was would be more than I could handle. That was only one of the reasons I had been avoiding him: the whole Marcus situation had been holding me back, too. I tried to push the other Red Witch out of my head when I saw Justin.

He stood up and smiled his heart-melting smile, and just like that, it was like I’d never been gone. Without thinking, I threw my arms around his neck. He embraced me, and it felt good to just stand there, safe in his familiar arms. Tingles raced up my spine, and I shivered in pleasure. It wasn’t the same electric shock I’d gotten whenever I touched Marcus, but I still leaned into his body, enjoying the sensation.

“That’s quite a hello.” He chuckled, letting me go, and I tugged on the bottom of my T-shirt, not meeting his eyes. Maybe I still wasn’t ready to be around him.

I cleared my throat, preparing to tell him everything. “I’ve been gone a long time.”

He nodded. “I know.”

Startled by his serious tone, I looked at him closely. “What do you know?”

Instead of answering, he silently opened the front door. He led me up to his bedroom, and then warded the door behind us. “I know that you were gone for over a year.”

If I had been sitting down, I would have fallen off the chair. Instead, I lowered myself shakily to perch on the corner of his desk. “How long have you known?”

“Lena, come on. Do you really think I can’t tell the difference between the real you and a glamour?”

I blushed, thinking about the glamour Aphrodite had taught me to weave. Justin had been fooled by that for a few days, but there was no way I was going to bring that up. “My parents didn’t know.”

He shrugged. “They probably expect you to be different all the time. We’re teenagers, right?”

I laughed weakly. “So you knew this whole time. But I thought—” I broke off, remembering something Mom had said over the phone while I’d been gone.

“I kept hanging out with her. I mean you. I didn’t know who it was, and I didn’t want to do anything to make your parents suspicious. But nothing happened.” He spread his palms wide. “I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you.”

So you got back together with the fake me, but you didn’t do anything? I looked at him, wanting desperately to believe what he said. “It was Rochelle.”

He stared at me as if I’d slapped him. “I thought she was dead.”

“So did I. But I didn’t kill her, I guess, and she glamoured herself to look like me to take revenge.” I forced a laugh, trying not to imagine Rochelle making out with Justin. “I’m actually surprised she didn’t hurt you. She’s always hated you, you know.”

His brown eyes were full of concern. “How did you get rid of her?”

“My friend Izzy helped me.” I kept my words short, hoping he wouldn’t ask me any questions about Izzy. Talking about her would lead to talking about Marcus, and I wasn’t sure I could do that yet.

Justin closed his eyes, pressing his fingertips to his forehead in concentration. “How has she gained so much power? Black magic is strong, but this is ridiculous.”

I took a deep a breath. We’d gotten there quicker than I’d hoped, but I couldn’t lie to him. I could never lie to Justin, but that didn’t mean I had to tell him everything. I measured my words carefully. “Another Red died, and Rochelle took his place.”

Justin opened his mouth, and I shook my head.

“It’s complicated. But Rochelle is a Red Witch now.” I took a deep breath. “And it’s even worse than that. While I was gone, I found out what Hecate wants.”

I told Justin what I could, haltingly, doing my best to leave out Marcus while telling him about Hecate’s plan to remake the world. Finally, with shaking hands, I told him about Loki.

“So now the worst of the Red gods is free again, and between him and Hecate, the world could end at any time.” I swallowed the lump in my throat and tried to sound matter-of-fact. “Rochelle controls a third of the world, and if you’ve been watching the news, this hasn’t been a good few months for Europe.” I held up my hands helplessly. “I just don’t know how to stop any of it.”

Justin didn’t say anything for a minute. I watched him nervously, waiting for the cold glances and accusations that I’d gotten used to from my parents, but he didn’t tell me I was a monster. He studied me, and then he sat down on his desk chair and reached for my hands. Smoothly, he pulled me into his lap, one arm circling me firmly for support, and I leaned against him, surprised at how easy it was to be so close. “You said your friend Izzy helped you stop Rochelle. So maybe it’s a question of working together.”

I nodded, relieved that he wasn’t asking any questions yet, and I tried to think straight. It wasn’t easy with his breath tickling my ear. “Did you know that there are six types of magic?”

He looked at me as if I’d grown wings. “There’s White, Black, and Green. And of course, Red.” He squeezed me gently when he said that, and my heart began to speed up.

I shook my head, trying to focus. “For some reason, when magic came to America, part of it was left behind. There’s also Blue and Yellow; my friend Izzy is a Blue Witch.”

Justin paused for a moment, digesting what I’d said. “Why wouldn’t they teach us that?” He rested his chin on my shoulder, and I shivered at the contact.

“I don’t know.” I wanted to lose myself in the simple sensation of being pressed against Justin, but finally I leaned away from him, still perched on his knees. “I have a lot of questions, and I don’t know where to start. But the important thing is the six magics. Together, they’re balanced. Green is earth magic, Blue controls water, Yellow is for air, and Red is for fire. And White and Black are the balance of spirit.” I twisted around, watching his face. “If we can balance the paths, maybe all six together is more powerful than any Red Witch.”

“Or the Red gods.” Justin spoke without inflection, and I watched him nervously.

“If we could form a group, a Coven—”

He stood up abruptly, dropping me onto the chair. “What kind of crap did you get into over there?”

I hopped out of the chair, clenching my fists. “It isn’t crap! I met a Coven there, and Izzy and I think that might be our only option.” I could feel the swirl of Red energy pulsing through my hands, but I struggled to control it.

His lips parted in surprise. “Covens are things in horror movies, Darlena! And besides, how could Witches of such different paths work together? It would all turn into chaos.”

“No,” I said tightly. “This is our only chance to stop chaos.”

He shook his head. “Look, I want to help you. You know that.” His eyes searched mine. “But you’ve changed since you came back. I can’t,” he paused, taking a deep breath, “I can’t tell what it is, but it’s as if you’re somebody else.” He stared at me for a long moment. “Maybe I just got used to the way Rochelle felt.”

I reeled as if he’d slapped me. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He held up his hands quickly. “You were gone for over a year. I knew that she wasn’t you, but I still spent a lot of time with her. I got used to the way her energy felt. Yours feels—well, it isn’t the way I remember it.”

I glared at him, fighting the urge to kiss him and show him I was exactly the girl he remembered. Instead, I gritted my teeth. “People change. That’s part of life.”

Justin shook his head. “But are you sure you’ve changed for the good?”

~*~*~*~

Jen-McConnel-0034-200x300About the Author

Jen McConnel first began writing poetry as a child. Since then, her words have appeared in a variety of magazines and journals, including Sagewoman, PanGaia, and The Storyteller (where she won the people’s choice 3rd place award for her poem, “Luna”).

She is also a former reviewer for Voices of Youth Advocates (VOYA), and a proud member of SCBWI, NCWN, and SCWW.

A Michigander by birth, she now lives and writes in the beautiful state of North Carolina. She’s a graduate of Western Michigan University, and she also earned her MS in Library Science at Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

When she isn’t crafting worlds of fiction, she teaches writing composition at a community college. Once upon a time, she was a middle school teacher, a librarian, and a bookseller, but those are stories for another time.
 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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And now for the giveaway! One winner will receive the all 3 Red Magic eBooks. International.

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Author Interview: Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell (Giveaway)

Hey everyone! I’m really excited to have Lisa Maxwell, author of Unhooked (February 2, 2016, Simon Pulse) here for an interview! I LOVE retellings, so I’m VERY excited for Unhooked and thrilled to have Lisa here today! First, here’s more about the book:

unhooked lisa maxwell For as long as she can remember, Gwendolyn Allister has never had a place to call home—all because her mother believes that monsters are hunting them. Now these delusions have brought them to London, far from the life Gwen had finally started to build for herself. The only saving grace is her best friend, Olivia, who’s coming with them for the summer.

But when Gwen and Olivia are kidnapped by shadowy creatures and taken to a world of flesh-eating sea hags and dangerous Fey, Gwen realizes her mom might have been sane all along.

The world Gwen finds herself in is called Neverland, yet it’s nothing like the stories. Here, good and evil lose their meaning and memories slip like water through her fingers. As Gwen struggles to remember where she came from and find a way home, she must choose between trusting the charming fairy-tale hero who says all the right things and the roguish young pirate who promises to keep her safe.

With time running out and her enemies closing in, Gwen is forced to face the truths she’s been hiding from all along. But will she be able to save Neverland without losing herself?

Goodreads | Amazon

IndieBound | The Book Depository

And now for the interview! Enjoy!!

Question: Congratulations! Unhooked just published! What have the last few weeks been like for you? And going forward, what do you have on your schedule?
Answer: The last few weeks have been absolutely intense. I had a deadline for my 2017 book that was due Jan. 19th, so I had barely two weeks to shift from writing mode to book launch mode. Going forward, I’ll be working on the edits for the 2017 book, and hopefully writing more!

Question: Unhooked sounds AMAZING! How did the idea for it come about?
Answer: The short answer is that I wanted to write a pirate book, but I didn’t want to write a historical. Once I thought about rehashing Hook, to make him younger and more appealing, the rest came out of research.

Question: There have been a lot of Peter Pan retellings recently. What makes Unhooked stand out?
Answer: I think retellings in general have been pretty popular lately. Mine takes a different twist on the story, but it’s hard to explain what that is without giving away the end. But I tried to go back to the source material as much as possible, because I wanted to revive the darkness in the original book.

Question: On a similar note, why do you think Peter Pan retellings have been so popular recently?
Answer: I think as kids, the idea of going off to Neverland and running amok has a certain appeal. I think as an older teen and even as an adult it also has that same appeal—to leave reality behind and live in a fantasy world.

Question: Did you do a lot of research for Unhooked? If so, what was the weirdest/craziest/most intriguing thing you had to Google and/or learned?
Answer: I didn’t do as much for UNHOOKED as I’ve done for my other books. I read the original Peter and Wendy, and I did a lot of research about JM Barrie and the Llewelyn Davies boys when I was trying to figure out which angle I was going to take on the story. I did some reading on Fairy mythology, especially Celtic myths about the Fey. And I did some research on World War I battles, because I needed to find one where troops got caught in a crossfire.

Question: Unhooked is your third published novel. Is the publishing process easier, now that you know what to expect? Or harder?
Answer: Oh, that’s a good question. I think it’s just different. When you get your first deal everything is a combination of shiny and happy and terrifying. But once that book’s out and you have to start worrying about if you’ll ever have another book, I feel like maybe there’s more pressure.

Question: What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned since signing with your agent?
Answer: A good agent—one who is a real partner and loves your work—is worth her weight in gold.

Question: Best reader experience you’ve had?
Answer: I think UNHOOKED is the first book where I’ve gotten actual reader mail telling me how much they loved the story. That has been really fun.

Question: Have you had any moments where you met an author and, despite being a published author yourself now, still fangirled over him/her?
Answer: Oh goodness, yes. There was that one time when I was meeting a bunch of the 2014 debut group in New Orleans and Natalie Parker had brought her partner, which I wasn’t expecting, and I was like, “Oh, my god. You’re Tessa Gratton!” and she just kind of smiled politely, like… duh. But she was lovely. After that, I’ve been better at not making a total idiot of myself. For instance, when I met Maggie Stiefvater, I did not lick her car. So that’s a win, I think.

Question: Are you working on anything new? Can you share some details?
Answer: I am!! The book I just finished a first, very rough draft of should be my 2017 release. I pitched it as Gangs of New York with magic. Also with time travel and magicians who wear guy liner, and…I’m kind of excited about it:

Lisa Maxwell  post

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And now for the giveway! One winner will receive some epic Unhooked swag!!

Rules: Giveaway is International. Once emailed, the winner will have 48 hours to respond to the email to claim their prize. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be selected. Must be 13 or older OR have parental permission to enter! Neither I nor the author/publicist/publisher are responsible for lost, stolen or damaged prizes/items

To enter, leave a comment on this post, telling me why you’re excited to read Unhooked/Why you enjoy retellings (Peter Pan or otherwise). Along with your comment, please leave your email address and/or Twitter handle so I have a way to contact you if you win! Giveaway ends February 29, 2016 at 11pm EST!

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lisa maxwell 
 
About the author
 
 
Lisa Maxwell is the author of Sweet Unrest, Gathering Deep, and Unhooked (Simon Pulse, 2-2-16). When she’s not writing books, she’s an English professor at a local college. She lives near DC with her very patient husband and two not-so patient boys.
 
 

Website | Twitter | Facebook

 
 

M9B Two for Thursday Book Blitz: Two and Twenty Dark Tales & Very Superstitious (Giveaway)

 
Welcome to this week’s Two for Thursday! #T4T presented by Month9books/Tantrum Books!
Today, we will be showcasing two titles that will tickle your fancy, and we’ll share what readers have to say about these titles! You just might find your next read!

This week, #T4T presents to you:

Two and Twenty Dark Tales 
Title: Two and Twenty Dark Tales: Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes
Author: Nina Berry, Sarwat Chadda, Shannon Delany, Max Scialdone, Karen Mahoney, Lisa Mantchev, Georgia McBride, C. Lee McKenzie, Gretchen McNeil, K.M. Walton, Suzanne Young, Michelle Zink, Leigh
Fallon, Angie Frazier, Jessie Harrell, Nancy Holder, Heidi R. Kling, Suzanne Lazear, Pam van Hylckama Vlieg ,Leah Cypess. Forward by Francisco X. Stork.
Pub. Date: October 16, 2012
Publisher: Month9Books
Pages: 340
Formats: Paperback, eBook
 

Find it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Goodreads
 
In this anthology, 20 authors explore the dark and hidden meanings behind some of the most beloved Mother Goose nursery rhymes through short story retellings. The dark twists on classic tales range from exploring whether Jack truly fell or if Jill pushed him instead to why Humpty Dumpty, fragile and alone, sat atop so high of a wall. The authors include Nina Berry, Sarwat Chadda, Leigh Fallon, Gretchen McNeil, and Suzanne Young.

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WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:

 
“As a whole this is an inspired and enjoyable nibbler for those days leading up to Halloween. If you love dark retellings, especially when they involve murderous fiends there’s more than one here that will leave a wicked gleam in your eye.” ~ Rhi Reading
 
“Twenty-two authors. Twenty-two stories. Twenty-two rhymes. This is an anthology of twenty-two Mother Goose Rhymes that will have you shuddering in your reading nook, crying in public and looking over your shoulder during the day. These are not the silly rhymes that you used to sing as a child or watch on Barney. These are creepy tales with no happy endings (or bittersweet at the most). From fantasy to paranormal, twenty-two authors dive into the dark side of Mother Goose rhymes.” ~ Dark Faerie Tales
 
“The stories in this anthology are dark & sometimes twisted retellings of nursery rhymes we all remember from childhood. The stories are wonderful, not one leaves you bored. This is a book I will definitely purchase a physical copy of. It is perfect for the YA readers right now who crave worlds with a supernatural twist. The variety of this collection is great; each author takes a completely different approach in their re-telling..” ~ Little Miss Trainwreck

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Very SuperstitiousTitle: Very Superstitious:
Myths, Legends and Tales of Superstition
Author: Shannon Delany, Pab Sungenis,
Stephanie Kuehnert, Jennifer Knight, Mari Mancusi, Michelle E. Reed, Jackie Morse Kessler, Dianne K. Salerni. Edited by Georgia McBride.
Pub. Date: March 17, 2015
Publisher: Month9Books
Pages: 297
Formats: Hardcover, eBook 

Find it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Goodreads
 
Read this book free via Kindle Unlimited!

 

As told by some of today’s most admired young adult authors—and a few newbies—this charity anthology boasts stories that will make readers scream, laugh, and tremble with fear, and all for a good cause! Proceeds from the sale of the first 5,000 copies will be donated to the SPCA International. Based on stories long-told by the campfire, superstitions passed down through the generations, creatures who exist in legend, literature, and film, and those myths that raise the hairs on the back of our necks, these tales are sure keep readers up late at night with lamps lit and covers over their heads. 

 

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WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:
 
A collection of spook-licious tales that will taunt, and in a few cases, tickle the
fear bone in any reader.” ~ Author S.A Larsen

 
“VERY SUPERSTITIOUS is a fine anthology for fantasy readers looking for something slightly creepy for Halloween reading.” ~In Bed With Books
 
“A timely collection for a good cause, with some delightful surprises, full of myths and superstitions, and a vast array of stories that will make you laugh, cry and think.” ~Books
Bones & Buffy

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Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

 
Giveaway Details:

Three winners will receive an eBook of TWO AND TWENTY DARK TALES & VERY SUPERSTITIOUS. International!

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Cover reveal: The Rise of Genesis by M.R. Merrick


Announcing a new book by M.R. Merrick!



In a world where being Supernatural means you’re in danger, Ash Lawson is front and center. After years of helping others escape ATOM—a government entity known for abusing Supernaturals—he’s captured, and saving himself will prove to be the most difficult task he’s undertaken.

Tryst Rivera is a Succubus and veteran at the Academy, a facility tasked with converting underage Supernaturals into cooperative ATOM soldiers. She’s endured her time mostly unscathed, but when Ash arrives and their lives are tethered to one another, she’s placed in immediate danger.

With escape at the forefront of his mind, Ash struggles with the idea of life under ATOM’s thumb. He’ll die before he converts, but his life isn’t the only one he’s responsible for, and he already has more blood on his hands than he can bear. When a chance for freedom arises, Ash needs to decide how much—and who—he’s willing to risk for a second chance.



Coming March 15, 2016


About the Author

M.R. Merrick is a Canadian writer and author of The Protector Series, and The Rise of Genesis. Having never traveled, he adventures to far off lands through his imagination and in between cups of coffee. As a music lover and proud breakfast enthusiast, he’s usually found at the computer between a pair of headphones and a large bowl of cereal.


Connect with the author

 
 

HarperTeen Summer 2016 Tour: Unrivaled by Alyson Noel (Blog Tour + Giveaway)

HarperTeenSummer2016Tour 
Hey everyone! Welcome to my stop on the HarperTeen Summer 2016 Blog Tour! I’m so, so, SO excited to be part of this amazing 7-week/50-book tour and I’m honored to be spotlighting one of my favorite authors! I’ve been reading Alyson Noel’s books for years – probably since middle school, give or take a few years! And Unrivaled looks like it’s going to be just as epic as all her others!

I have a LOT of fun things for you today – including an epic “whodunnit” style post and giveaways! Be sure to scroll to the very end of this post so you don’t miss anything! First, here’s more about the book!

Unrivaled Everyone wants to be someone.

Layla Harrison wants to leave her beach-bum days for digs behind a reporter’s desk. Aster Amirpour wants to scream at the next casting director who tells her “we need ethnic but not your kind of ethnic.” Tommy Phillips dreams of buying a twelve-string guitar and using it to shred his way back into his famous absentee dad’s life.

But Madison Brooks took destiny and made it her bitch a long time ago.

She’s Hollywood’s hottest starlet, and the things she did to become the name on everyone’s lips are merely a stain on the pavement, ground beneath her Louboutin heel.

That is, until Layla, Aster, and Tommy find themselves with a VIP invite to the glamorous and gritty world of Los Angeles’s nightlife and lured into a high-stakes competition where Madison Brooks is the target. Just as their hopes begin to gleam like stars through the California smog, Madison Brooks goes missing. . . . And all of their hopes are blacked out in the haze of their lies.

Unrivaled is #1 New York Times bestselling author Alyson Noël’s first book in a thrilling suspense trilogy about how our most desperate dreams can become our darkest nightmares.

Goodreads | Amazon

The Book Depository | IndieBound

Indigo | Kobo | iBooks

Now for the main event, I give you: “Whodunnit? Bookish Edition!”

In Unrivaled, the main character, Madison, goes missing. For today’s “Whodunnit? Bookish Edition!” post, Alyson Noel has gone missing – she’s been kidnapped! And it’s up to you lovelies to solve the mystery of her disappearance! We have suspects with motives and alibis!

Below, you’ll find more information regarding how/when Alyson disappeared, plus a list of suspects, their motives and their alibis. Under that will be a Rafflecopter. You’ll be able to pick three suspects and explain why you think they’re guilty. Complete the Rafflecopter to be entered to win a pre-order of Unrivaled! Giveaway is International as long as The Book Depository ships to you!

And now, without further adieu, let the game begin!

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The Set-Up


Alyson Noel has been kidnapped! She was taken from her home on February 4, 2016 around 5pm EST. There were signs of a struggle. All her writing materials, including her laptop, were gone. Nothing else was taken.

The Suspects

Suspect One: Kat
Motive: Kat is a writer, but she struggles when it comes to story ideas. In the past, she’s been overheard discussing Alyson’s novels with friends. Kat is a huge Alyson fan and envies the plots that Alyson comes up with. She kidnapped Alyson so Alyson could help her come up with story ideas.
Alibi: Kat claims she was out visiting her nieces at the time of the alleged kidnapping.

Suspect Two: Stacee
Motive: Stacee is notorious for reading the ending of a book before she reads the rest of it. She received an ARC of Unrivaled and the last 10 pages were ripped out, so she wasn’t able to read the ending first! Enraged, Stacee sought Alyson out. She wanted a new ARC or access to Alyson’s original manuscript so she could read the ending. The problem is, Alyson doesn’t have author copies of the ARC yet and her computer is password protected. When Alyson refused to give Stacee the password, Stacee kidnapped her, hoping to ransom her for a copy of the ARC.
Alibi: Stacee claims she was at Disneyland at the time of the alleged kidnapping.

Suspect Three: Jessica
Motive: Crazed, book-obsessed Jessica wants to make Alyson write books for her, misery-style.
Alibi: She was hanging out with Valerie, her co-blogger, at the time of the alleged kidnapping. They claim they were buying books and talking about Jennifer L. Armentrout and book boyfriends.

Suspect Four: Nichole
Motive: After two weeks of struggling with her essay for English class, which is worth 40% of her grade, Nichole realized that she only had two sentences written. Therefore, she decided to kidnap Alyson so that Alyson could write Nichole’s paper for her, since Nichole believes that Alyson is a master of words. Nichole promised Alyson that she would be returned after she helps Nichole get an ‘A’ in English class!
Alibi: Nichole claims she was on the corner of 5th and Main at the time of the alleged kidnapping. She was holding up a homeless sign, trying to raise money to get to the Super Bowl. She insists the traffic cameras caught her on film and can prove she’s innocent.

Suspect Five: Stefani
Motive: Stefani is obsessed with Alyson and frequently stalks her and does internet searches on her. From these stalking sessions, she knows Alyson is a huge Dexter fan. She kidnapped Alyson so they could have a Dexter Binge watch session!
Alibi: Stefani claims she was reading her own Harper Summer Tour book, True Letters from a Fictional Life, at the time of the alleged kidnapping. There are no witnesses who can corroborate this statement.

Suspect Six: Celeste
Motive: Celeste is a a super villain who believes she can manipulate brain waves to get Alyson’s writing genius for herself.
Alibi: Celeste claims she was at a showing of Hamilton at the time of the alleged kidnapping.

So, who kidnapped Alyson Noel?!?!?! Fill out the Rafflecopter below with your answers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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alyson-noel-press2About Alyson Noel:
 
Alyson Noël is the #1 New York Times best-selling, award-winning, author of 21 novels including: THE IMMORTALS, THE RILEY BLOOM, and THE SOUL SEEKERS series.

With 8 New York Times bestsellers in 2 years, and over 8 million copies in print, her books have been translated into 36 languages, sold in over 50 countries, and have made the New York Times, USA Today, LA Times, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal, NCIBA, and Walmart Bestsellers lists, and have won numerous awards such as: the National Reader’s Choice Award, NYLA Book of Winter Award, NYPL Stuff for the Teenage, TeenReads Best Books of 2007, Reviewer’s Choice 2007 Top Ten, appeared on the CBS Early Show’s “Give the Gift of Reading” segment, and selected for Seventeen Magazine’s “Hot List” and Beach Book Club Pick.

Chosen as one of OC Metro magazine’s “20 Women to Watch,” she’s been nominated for the Orange County Business Journal’s “Women in Business Awards” as well as their “Excellence in Entrepreneurship” award. The dramatic rights for for her adult novel, FLY ME TO THE MOON, were optioned by Ridley Scott’s, Scott Free Productions, with Sharon Maguire (Bridget Jones’ Diary) set to write and direct. While the dramatic rights for all 4 books in THE SOUL SEEKERS were optioned by Cheyenne Enterprises.

Born and raised in Orange County, California, she’s lived in both Mykonos and Manhattan and is now settled back in Southern California where she’s working on her new YA series, UNRIVALED (Harper Collins), set to debut in summer 2016, and a new MG, KISS MY WISH (Random House), set to debut winter 2016. You can visit her at: www.alysonnoel.com, www.immortalsseries.com or www.soulseekersseries.com.

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Hope you guys had fun with that little mystery! I can’t wait to read your answers! Now, before you go, here are some more epic giveaways you can enter!

Prizes:

#1 – A Harper Teen Summer 2016 Catalog prizepack of 45 books*.

*Titles not included: The Crown by Kiera Cass, Escape from Asylum by Madeline Roux, Sing by Vivi Greene, The Countdown by Kimberly Derting, & United As One by Pittacus Lore
In addition to the one massive prize winner, we will also have 4 winners who will be able to select 3 titles they want from the Summer 2016 Catalog.

This giveaway is US Only

Rafflecopter:

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#2 – 5 Finished Copies from the Harper Teen Winter 2016 Catalog

5 books are: Front Lines by Michael Grant, Revenge & the Wild by Michelle Modesto, The Lifeboat Clique by Kathy Parks, Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin, & The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig

This giveaway is US Only

How to enter:
Collect the daily word from each blog stop during the Harper Summer 2016 Tour (a total of 50). Once you’ve collected them all, email the complete saying to: HarperTeenTour@gmail.com

The key word for today’s tour stop is: cold

Prize Rules:
1.) Winner must have a valid US mailing address to receive the prize
2.) Winner must be over 13
3.) Only one (1) entry per person for Prize #2 – duplicates will be deleted.
4.) Only a completed phrase will be accepted as an entry – do not email each word/phrase daily. Wait until you have the complete saying and then email in.
5.) All email submissions must be received by 11:59 PM EST 3/31/2016.
6.) Winners will be selected 4/1/2016 and will have 48 hours to claim their prize before another is selected.
7.) Participating blogs and bloggers are not responsible for unsent, damaged, and/or stolen prizes offered by the publisher.

#3 – Leap Year Giveaway – 4 of the most anticipated ARCs from Summer 2016

Books are: My Lady Jane, Ivory & Bone, The Crown’s Game and This Savage Song

This giveaway is US Only

How to enter:
This giveaway will only run on February 29, 2016. The rafflecopter form will work for 24 hours and a winner will be chosen on March 1, 2016.

Rafflecopter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Lastly, don’t forget about our amazing Facebook Author Chats where you will have chances to win more prizes and books! The first chat will be 2/16/16 at 8 pm EST!

RSVP TODAY

Or CLICK HERE for more info!

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Check out the other stops on the blog tour!



Review: Reign of Shadows by Sophie Jordan

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Reign of Shadows by Sophie JordanReign of Shadows by Sophie Jordan
Series: Reign of Shadows #1
Published by HarperTeen on February 9, 2016
Pages: 304
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
three-stars

Seventeen years ago, an eclipse cloaked the kingdom of Relhok in perpetual darkness. In the chaos, an evil chancellor murdered the king and queen and seized their throne. Luna, Relhok’s lost princess, has been hiding in a tower ever since. Luna’s survival depends on the world believing she is dead.

But that doesn’t stop Luna from wanting more. When she meets Fowler, a mysterious archer braving the woods outside her tower, Luna is drawn to him despite the risk. When the tower is attacked, Luna and Fowler escape together. But this world of darkness is more treacherous than Luna ever realized.

With every threat stacked against them, Luna and Fowler find solace in each other. But with secrets still unspoken between them, falling in love might be their most dangerous journey yet.

When I first read the synopsis for this book, I was super intrigued. But as I began reading, I just felt.. meh. It was good enough that I finished it, but I definitely considered putting it down a few times. The writing was pretty good, but the pacing was way off. And I’m really torn with regards to the characters. Honestly, I was completely 50/50 regarding every aspect of this book. I finished it Wednesday night and I’m still not even sure how I feel about it.

I felt seriously disconnected from the characters. I didn’t like nor dislike them. Honestly, I felt pretty indifferent towards them. I didn’t really care what happened to them, only in the sense that I wanted to see how the story ended as a whole. I loved how Luna’s lack of sight wasn’t the focus – the author didn’t make a big deal about it, yet it was still integral to Luna’s story and character development. She was incredibly brave, strong and resilient. She also had mad fighting skills! She was also a compassionate character, running to the aid of complete strangers. Despite all that, I still really didn’t connect with her or care about her.

As far as Fowler goes, I… Wow. I really have nothing to say about him. Nothing good or bad. I’m completely indifferent to him. Nothing about him stands out. He was a very isolated, selfish character for most of the book. And then, out of nowhere, he had “feelings” and it was like.. What? Since when? Also, I did NOT have ANY ship feels for Luna and Fowler at all. I barely even blinked when they kissed – not even when they full-on made out. I just didn’t believe it or feel it. The only thing I will say is, the revelation with Fowler was interesting, but not surprising.

I did really like Sivo and Perla, but we didn’t get to see nearly enough of them. I wanted more of them and their backstories. Hopefully we’ll see more of them in book two!

Like I said earlier, the pacing was really weird. Sometimes I flew through several chapters in one sitting, sometimes I had to push myself to read just one chapter. There were also a LOT of “dangerous situations” and “obstacles” throughout the book. Like, it would have been odd if they hadn’t run into ANY trouble at all, but I almost felt like they ran into TOO much trouble.

And then.. That ending.. Umm… I really don’t know how I feel. Like, I really don’t. It was very, very, VERY strange and random. But.. it was also intriguing. I know that’s… a complete contradiction.. But… GAH! I really don’t know..!!! I think I was intrigued enough to read book two… But not dying for it, I guess. I DID have major Rapunzel/Tangled feels. So that’s a plus!

So… I don’t think I can confidently say I recommend this book, only because I still don’t know how I feel about it. If you like Sophie Jordan, you’ll probably enjoy Reign of Shadows. If you’ve never read a Sophie Jordan book before, I suggest starting with one of her other books first.

three-stars

Review: Remembrance by Meg Cabot (Blog Tour + Giveaway)

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Remembrance by Meg Cabot (Blog Tour + Giveaway)Remembrance by Meg Cabot
Series: The Mediator #7
Published by William Morrow on February 2, 2016
Pages: 400
Format: Hardcover
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
four-stars

Fifteen years after the release of the first Mediator novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot returns with a deliciously sexy new entry to a fan-favorite series. Suze Simon—all grown up and engaged to her once-ghostly soulmate—faces a vengeful spirit and an old enemy bent on ending Suze's wedded bliss before it begins.

You can take the boy out of the darkness.

But you can’t take the darkness out of the boy.

All Susannah Simon wants is to make a good impression at her first job since graduating from college (and since becoming engaged to Dr. Jesse de Silva).

But when she’s hired as a guidance counselor at her alma mater, she stumbles across a decade-old murder, and soon ancient history isn’t all that’s coming back to haunt her. Old ghosts as well as new ones are coming out of the woodwork, some to test her, some to vex her, and it isn’t only because she’s a mediator, gifted with second sight.

From a sophomore haunted by the murderous specter of a child, to ghosts of a very different kind—including Paul Slater, Suze’s ex, who shows up to make a bargain Suze is certain must have come from the Devil himself—Suze isn’t sure she’ll make it through the semester, let alone to her wedding night.

Suze is used to striking first and asking questions later. But what happens when ghosts from her past—including one she found nearly impossible to resist—strike first?

What happens when old ghosts come back to haunt you?

If you’re a mediator, you might have to kick a little ass.

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REMEMBRANCE (The Mediator #7) by Meg Cabot

Blog Tour February 1-12
 
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Hey everyone! Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Remembrance by Meg Cabot Those of you who follow me on Twitter know what a HUGE fan of Meg Cabot I am! And if you don’t, just read this Once Upon a Time feature to find out! So, it’s no surprise that I FREAKED OUT when I first heard that we’d be getting a seventh Mediator book! And it’s even less of a surprise that I FLIPPED OUT when I found out I was on the blog tour!!! Obviously, I absolutely LOVED this book!!!! I hope you enjoy my review! And don’t forget to enter the giveaway at the end of this post!!

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I’ve been reading the Mediator series since I was roughly 13/14-years-old. When I first started reading the series, there were only four books out. I read them over and over and over again. Then we got a fifth book, then a sixth, and I read all six over and over and over again. I loved the way the series ended – it was an incredibly satisfying ending, for all the characters involved and all the plots, spanning across all six books. But I was still sad to see it end. So, of course, I flipped out when we found out we were getting Remembrance! And it was everything I hoped for!

Being back in this world was amazing. It was like I’d never left (though that could be because I re-read the entire series to prepare for Remembrance, including the new novella, Proposal!). Meg Cabot created a truly amazing world with these books – the characters, the plot, the writing. I have very few complaints where these books are concerned!

Suze is amazing. Re-reading the series reminded me of just how amazing she is. And I also realized something: Suze was, unknowingly at the time, the basis for which I set my standards for YA heroines. Thanks to her and Buffy Summers, I expect all YA heroines to be strong, fierce, kick-ass, stubborn and witty. Though Suze and Buffy embody these characteristics, they still have their faults and weaknesses and they still learn and grow from their mistakes. They’re amazing role models for young girls. And, for those reasons, I can confidently say that Suze is my absolute favorite YA (book) heroine of all time. My OTBH (One True Book Heroine! I made that up, but.. It works!).

I loved the way Suze’s life kind of came full circle in Remembrance. I love that she went to school to be a guidance counselor (and her reasons why) and I loved that she was hired at her alma mater. There are so many more things I want to list here that I loved, but some of them are spoilers, so I can’t! But I literally loved EVERYTHING about Suze’s post-college life!

Jesse… Oh my hotness! The first few times I read these books, I didn’t know what a “book boyfriend” was. I’d never heard the term – I don’t even think it existed back then! But the more I think about it, the more I realize he really was my first book boyfriend! He’s so swoon-worthy, especially when he calls Suze “Querida.” I’m not saying he’s without his faults. He’s moody and broody and he definitely has a temper he needs to learn to control. There were times I just wanted to smack him, Gibbs style!

via GIPHY

But overall, Jesse was just as swoony as he was in the original six novels. I’ve always shipped Suze and Jesse, evening though “shipping” wasn’t a thing that existed years ago, just as “book boyfriend” didn’t exist years ago. But now that I know these terms, I know it’s true. Suze and Jesse are my ultimate OTP of all time!

And then there’s Paul. Sigh. I’ve never been a Paul fan. I always hoped he would redeem himself, grow up and change. He sort of did in the sixth (and original final) book and I was mostly satisfied with how his story ended, though I could never forgive some of the things he did to Suze and Jesse. But his story in Remembrance was not my favorite at all. In fact, I think Remembrance could have been amazing without Paul. Though I admit not having him might have been weird, since he was such a big part of the original series.

My only complaint with Remembrance – the only reason it’s 4-stars instead of 5-stars – is that I wanted MORE. There were certain things that felt very “high school.” What I mean is, this book almost felt like it could have occurred while Suze was still a teen, taking place immediately after the sixth book instead of years later. Suze still lied about Paul. Jesse still had temper tantrums. Paul was still an ass. These characters had SO MUCH overall character development throughout the series, but in these respects, they had none. I wanted Suze to be more honest with Jesse. I wanted Jesse’s temper to be more in check, as well as his jealousy. I wanted to see a more mature Paul, who didn’t try to blackmail Suze or hurt Jesse. Where these things are concerned, I just wanted MORE from the characters.

And I wanted MORE in the sense that I’m not satisfied with just one book. Now that we’ve been brought back into this world and into the lives of these characters, I’m not satisfied with just one book! The end wrapped things up nicely enough that, I’m guessing, we won’t be getting more. BUT I WANT MORE!!!!!

Overall, Remembrance was an epic, epic book. I’m so glad we were able to be back in this world one more time (though I’m still holding out hope that it won’t be the last time!). Meg Cabot is Queen and if you haven’t read The Mediator series yet, we can’t be friends anymore. Kidding, but go read it! NOW!!! Otherwise, we really CAN’T be friends anymore (no, I’m not kidding this time…).

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And now for the giveaway! One winner will get a physical copy of the first Mediator novel, SHADOWLAND!! Must be 13+ To Enter. Ships in US only!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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11654About Meg:
 
Meg Cabot was born in Bloomington, Indiana. In addition to her adult contemporary fiction she is the author of the bestselling young adult fiction series, The Princess Diaries. Over 25 million copies of her novels for children and adults have sold worldwide. Meg lives in Key West, FL, with her husband.
 
 

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four-stars

Once Upon a Time: Meg Cabot

Once Upon a Time Image Main 
Hey guys! As you may know, I recently launched my new feature, Once Upon a Time. If you didn’t get a chance to check out the intro post, you can read it here! To sum it up: Once Upon a Time is a backlist feature that not only helps me showcase some really amazing authors and their backlist titles, but also allows me to share with you some of the books that I read when I was younger and that are still favorites now. These are the books that shaped me as a reader and made me feel less alone as a teen.

Today, I have the first of many author features to share with you! Since Remembrance (The Mediator #7) is releasing this month (tomorrow, in fact!), I figured it would be perfect timing to feature Meg Cabot!

Meg Cabot is my #1 favorite author. I first discovered her books when I was 13/14, browsing at a used bookstore. Meg Cabot was one of the first authors I read in the YA genre – along with R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike. See, a lot of people have that One Book that they KNOW started them on their YA journey. For me, it was a natural progression from chapter books to middle grade to YA. As my reading level advanced (I was always ahead of my age/peers), I just kept reading “older” books. So I don’t really have a specific book that started me on YA, but I do know that Cabot, Stine and Pike were some of the first authors/books that I read – And to this day, they remain my favorites.

Basically, at that point in my life, I just knew I loved supernatural/paranormal books. I wasn’t big on contemporary AT ALL! So when I discovered Meg’s books in that used bookstore, I was in heaven! I can’t completely remember if I discovered her Mediator books first or her 1-800-Where-R-U books first. Or maybe I found some of each at the same time. All I know is, since I hadn’t yet discovered the joys of Amazon and online ordering, it took several trips back to that used bookstore before I was able to snag all four books in each series (yeah, each series only had four books at that point!).

Fun fact? I didn’t even know her name was Meg Cabot at the time! Because the copies of the Mediator series that I found still had her pen name, Jenny Carroll, on them!

Mediator 1234 
Now, her 1-800-Where-R-U books DID (do?) say Meg Cabot, but under that they say “Written as Jenny Carroll.” So, to 13-year-old me, this was a bit confusing (I’m not even sure if I knew authors had pen names when I was 13/14! Obviously I figured it out eventually, haha!) But I love that I have older editions like these! They’re almost like collector’s editions now!

Where R U 1234 
Shadowland, the first book in the Mediator series, came out in 2000, and I discovered them (roughly) in 2002/2003. By 2003, Meg had written the fifth Mediator book, Haunted! And then in 2005, she wrote the 6th and – at the time – final book, Twilight. These books were a BIG part of my childhood. Again, they were some of my first YA books. They shaped me as a reader. There weren’t as many epic YA books back in the 2000s as there are now, so I read these over and over and over.

Honestly, at the time, I was more obsessed with the 1-800-Where-R-U books. But now that I’ve re-read all the Mediator books again, I’ve come to realize that The Mediator series is my absolute favorite Meg Cabot series – and possibly my favorite series ever. Re-reading them was like coming home after being away for a long time. I fell right back into the world Meg created. Suze is a kick-ass heroine. She’s fierce and she can kick ghost butt like nobody’s business! She doesn’t like sitting on the side-lines and she definitely doesn’t like being told to! She reminds me of Buffy, actually. Jesse was my first Book Boyfriend, before I even knew what a Book Boyfriend was! I mean, really… Every time he says “Querida,” I swoon! I also shipped Suze and Jesse before I knew what shipping was! And I’m 100% positive now that they’re my Ultimate OTP (again, something I didn’t know existed back then).

Becoming a blogger has afforded me a LOT of EPIC opportunities. I was able to attend Book Expo America (BEA) in NYC in 2015 and I GOT TO MEET MEG CABOT!!! I kid you not, I almost cried. I was SO NERVOUS to meet her! I gushed and fangirled and told her she’s amazing and my absolute favorite author and I probably sounded like such a dork, but, out of all my Bookish experiences, it was BY FAR the best thing to ever happen to me! In addition to signing her new book (at the time, it was Royal Wedding and was being featured at BEA), I also got her to sign Shadowland (The Mediator #1) and When Lighting Strikes (1-800-Where-R-U #1). Because those were the books that I grew up with, the ones that meant the world to me, the ones I read over and over and over again. I’m sure I walked away from that signing with the biggest, goofiest grin on my face and I don’t even care. Because it REALLY was the most amazing thing ever! It’s a moment I’ll NEVER forget!

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When I discovered that Meg Cabot was writing Remembrance – an adult installment in the Mediator series – I pretty much screamed with joy! I mean, the sixth book (Twilight) came out in 2005! And now it’s 2016! That’s an 11-year gap between the last book and this new book! Eleven years without Suze and Jesse! And now we’re getting a NEW Mediator book!

Needless to say, I’ve ALREADY read it and LOVED LOVED LOVED. The only problem? Now I want MORE! I’m not satisfied with just ONE new book. I. Want. More! *GRABBY HANDS!!!!*

So basically, Meg Cabot is Queen. Oh, did I mention she follows me on Twitter? Yeah, I shrieked when I saw that! She’s Queen and she’s following me and I got to meet her and I’m crying, guys. I’m literally crying as I write this because I can’t contain my feels.

These books – and Meg as an author – will never stop being the most important thing to ever happen to me. I’m so grateful that I went into the used bookstore all those times and was able to get these books and have them in my life. I’ve never even bothered to replace the first four books from either series with newer editions because why would I? These are the copies I bought as a teen and these are the copies that are old and worn from multiple readings and have impressions from when I dog-eared books (Yes, I know, a terrible habit that I broke years ago!). These copies are lovingly used and will always be considered some of my most prized possessions. I can’t imagine these editions are easy to come by now, so I’ll always treasure them and the experience of reading them – not to mention the way they made me feel, when I was a young reader with no one but my mom to discuss them with. These books, as some of my first YA books, made me feel less alone.

I should note, also, that I’ve read MANY of Meg Cabot’s other books, as well. But these are the two series that mean the most to me and will always hold a special place in my heart. So they’re the books I wanted to focus on for this feature.

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So, are you a Meg Cabot fan? Which of her books have you read? What did they mean to you? Do you still re-read them? Have you met Meg? Discuss in the comments!!

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Meg CabotAbout Meg Cabot:
 
Meg Cabot is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of books for both adults and tweens/teens. There have been over 25 million copies of Meg’s nearly 80 published books sold in 38 countries. Her last name rhymes with habit, as in “her books can be habit forming.” She currently lives in Key West, Florida with her husband and various cats.
 
 

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