tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23238316470376262024-03-13T11:35:30.217-04:00The Cozy CornerAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730291733161697345noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323831647037626.post-7877823920727394432014-12-12T02:03:00.001-05:002014-12-12T02:03:38.085-05:00Faery Marked: Guest Post by Mary Waibel<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Not Your Typical Faeries</span></b><br />Guest Post by Mary Waibel<br /><a href="http://marywaibel.blogspot.com/">marywaibel.blogspot.com</a><br /><br /><br /><img height="220" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/d0R9CbYbxwTP5F_9N1x5HRvl2UYdazXp0Rz62ycpNe0VEblfqeJVQBq5hxFyxl1Rc99FwPzOPDHNDM3IgNRqIaKczsCjv2RJiIcE0Z-8iqYuMPTcgsIX0a5dLi5pvm6MqA" width="640" /><br /><br /><br />Thank you so much, Judith, for hosting me today as part of my Faery Marked blog tour.<br /><br />What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word Faeries? Come on, admit it. You thought of tiny, winged creatures that scatter dust around when the fly. Or, maybe you thought of something more in line with Titania, from Shakespeare’s<i> A MidSummer Night’s Dream</i>.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">John Anster Fitzgerald [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons </span></td></tr>
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<br /><br />These are not the type of faeries you’ll find in Faery Marked.<br /><br />I wanted to take the traditional Seelie Court (ones who enjoy a good prank, but are relatively harmless) and Unseelie Court (those who’ve been known to take a prank too far, and can cause harm) and give them my own twist. So, I created the Adhair and Ebon Fae. <br /><br />What’s the difference, you ask? <br /><br />The Adhair Fae, ruled by Prince Lorcan, are easily identified by their white or light colored wings. In addition to the human-sized faeries, you will also find dryads, naiads, and other creatures that dwell in the open air and the light are part of the Adhair Fae.</span><br />
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<br /><br />The Ebon Fae are ruled by Queen Nissa, and the faeries have black or dark colored wings. Naiads, dryads, and other creatures, especially those who dwell in caves or dark places, are part of Ebon Fae. </span><br />
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<br /><br />As you can see, there’s a bit of crossover on some of the creatures, as the location of their tree or body of water determines which kingdom they live in. <br /><br />Given the descriptions of these Fae, you’d probably assume that the Adhair Fae are the good guys, and the Ebon Fae the bad guys. But, you’d be wrong.<br /><br />I like to play word games, and I found it amusing to take a name that is similar to the word for dark and make that be the good side. Kind of like the hero in a western wearing a black hat. <br /><br />In reality, there are good and bad in both the Ebon and Adhair Fae realms. As with all wars, the victor writes the history, and the history of Faery has been written by the Ebon Fae. Queen Nissa is the beloved leader who saved Faery by refusing to wed the evil Prince Lorcan. And while that history is truthful, it is also one sided. Fortunately, I’ll get to explore the other side when I write book 2 in the trilogy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When Callie Rycroft wakes to find purple flames flickering on the ceiling, she believes she’s still dreaming. But soon she’s forced to accept that she has magic―a special magic that grants her entrance into the Faery Realm.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For centuries humans have been banned from Faery, but dangerous times call for dangerous measures. Declared Champion by the Faery Queen, Callie is assigned a Guardian, and tasked with finding the Cordial―a magical elixir needed to keep the portal to the Faery realm a secret from humans.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The upside? Reece Michaels, the boy she's been crushing on for years, is her Guardian. Callie hopes that, by spending time with Reece, he'll start to see her as more than just his best friend's sister.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />The downside? She's in a race not only against time, but against another Champion, and a rogue Guardian―a Guardian who stands to threaten her developing relationship with Reece.<br /><br />Magic, mistaken identities, and hidden agendas are the least of Callie's worries when she learns that the Cordial requires a sacrifice. Will Callie be willing to risk everything―even Reece―to complete her task as Champion? Or will she let the portal open, and doom both realms?<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Available at<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Faery-Marked-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00PWQA9ZS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416939221&sr=8-1&keywords=faery+marked"> AMAZON</a></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Win a signed copy of Faery Marked and other swag. Details <a href="http://marywaibel.blogspot.com/p/upcoming-events.html">HERE</a>. Don’t miss out on this LIMITED TIME OFFER!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuvCMahLqjatadOa_ajV0qaCZhUE4faw7Vd-gersFUaq97tnsXwbfNaUfc4szOol6sXBmYdvcfHb_2rMIav44veIq2BoOc7ghlRvzmg4vPs9LBBfy_cwcmQazdQCCm1Rg7jP4xRcb7ik/s1600/Author+Photo-+Mary+Waibel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuvCMahLqjatadOa_ajV0qaCZhUE4faw7Vd-gersFUaq97tnsXwbfNaUfc4szOol6sXBmYdvcfHb_2rMIav44veIq2BoOc7ghlRvzmg4vPs9LBBfy_cwcmQazdQCCm1Rg7jP4xRcb7ik/s1600/Author+Photo-+Mary+Waibel.jpg" height="200" width="197" /></a><b>About the Author:</b><br />YA author Mary Waibel’s love for fairytales and happy-ever fill the pages of her works. Whether penning stories in a medieval setting or a modern day school, magic and romance weave their way inside every tale. <br /><br />Strong female characters use both brain and brawn to save the day and win the heart of their men. Mary enjoys connecting with her readers through her website: <a href="http://marywaibel.blogspot.com/">marywaibel.blogspot.com</a></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #b45f06;">American Born Chinese</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #b45f06;">Author: </span></b>Gene Luen Yang<br />
<b><span style="color: #b45f06;">Date Published:</span></b> September 5th, 2006<br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Publisher:</b></span> First Second<br />
<b><span style="color: #b45f06;">Format:</span></b> Paperback<br />
<b><span style="color: #b45f06;">Page Count:</span></b> 235<br />
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I ended up picking up this graphic novel for several reasons:<br />
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(<span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>1</b></span>) I've been trying to give graphic novels a fair chance.<br />
(<b><span style="color: #b45f06;">2</span></b>) As an Asian Studies Major I am always interested in anything related to that particular region.<br />
(<b><span style="color: #b45f06;">3</span></b>) The name caught my interest since I am an American born Cuban and thought I might be able to relate.<br />
(<b><span style="color: #b45f06;">4</span></b>) I had heard lovely things about it.<br />
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I ended up reading this in one sitting after unboxing it and quite enjoyed it but not as much as I was hoping to (but more on why later). I enjoyed the four different character stories and thought it was really neat how all four came together at the end. I really wasn't expecting it to happen the way it did and so I give the author a lot of props for keeping me on my toes. The individual characters were interesting and funny at times. I didn't end up relating as much as I had wanted to because our environments had been different. Whereas they were growing up in a town that had a very low population of Asian students, I was born and raised in Miami, Florida where the majority of the population is Cuban or Hispanic in general. Thus, I didn't feel the alienation nor the inclination to be anything other than what I was. I did however go through a phase where I only wanted to speak English but that's a topic for another day! :)<br />
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Overall, I enjoyed the story for what it was while I was reading it. But here is where my issues start and it is not particularly with the story itself. I am <span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>NOT</b></span> the biggest fan of graphic novels for various reasons. For one, I don't enjoy the length. I know many people love the brevity of a graphic novel but I personally think it goes by way too fast. I feel like I make no connection to these characters whatsoever and character connection is one of my favorite parts about reading. As soon as I am done reading a graphic novel I forget the characters and why they matter. I know that it would probably be a bit different if I read a long series and had more time with the characters but part of what makes me pick up a second book in a series is my interest in what happens to those characters. If I don't feel like I know the characters then I am less likely to care or be interested.<br />
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Another issue I have is the lack of back story or internal thoughts. Again, this is a personal preference and I am sure there are some graphic novels out there that have more of this, I just haven't found them. I love seeing a characters thoughts before and after a situation but the graphic novels I've read tend to be more about the present and in the moment. I also love the set up of a world, its history and its ins and outs and I don't get that very often in graphic novels.<br />
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Regardless, I haven't given up on graphic novels or my quest to find one that blows me away and changes my mind. I will continue to read them because there are good stories within their pages and it would be a disservice to myself not to read them just because of a few issues.<br />
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If you guys have read any great graphic novels you think I just <span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>HAVE</b></span> to read, let me know! :)<br />
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Also, let me know if you feel the same way or if you <b><span style="color: #b45f06;">LOVE</span></b> them!<br />
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~JudithAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730291733161697345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323831647037626.post-13812069845985611662014-07-17T07:30:00.000-04:002014-07-17T12:35:47.557-04:00Review: Keeper by Ingrid Seymour<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.candacesbookblog.com/2014/04/tour-sign-up-keeper-by-ingrid-seymour-ya-urban-fantasy-july-14-25.html" target="_blank">Tour Page & Schedule</a></div>
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<em>Keeper</em> by Ingrid Seymour</div>
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<em id="yui_3_13_0_1_1398192228316_22414">For them, free will is a luxury . . .</em><br />
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Greg Papilio both wants and dreads his impending metamorphosis. He's tired of being an ugly runt--always picked last on the basketball court--when he could be strong and what girls call "drop dead gorgeous." But as much as he looks forward to the transformation, he also fears the caste it will inevitably assign to him. He doesn't want a common caste. He wants a powerful one, a cool one.<br />
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Samantha Gibson is average. She's short and a little full around the hips--a terribly cute look for a future chef. She's two years away from culinary school, from her uncaring parents, and from carving a perfectly Human future. She wants independence, a career and a quiet life of her own.<br />
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Except fate couldn't care less about what Greg and Samantha want and gives them exactly the opposite. Greg's metamorphosis assigns him a caste that enslaves him, while Samantha's chance to attend Le Cordon Bleu is taken away. But things are never as interesting as when Ashby--an intriguing blonde with a hidden identity--enters her life with a splash.<br />
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Greg's fate is to be Samantha's Keeper, to protect her at a time when someone wants her dead. He will stop at nothing to ensure her safety, even if her secret past proves deadly, even if he's keeping her safe for someone else.</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20879276-keeper-omnibus?from_search=true" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></h2>
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Grab<em> Keeper Vol. One</em> (first part of the story) for .99 cents <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Keeper-Vol-Morphid-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B00IS4VIE2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398194450&sr=8-1&keywords=Ingrid+Seymour" target="_blank">on Amazon</a>.</h4>
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I had not read a fantasy novel in quite a bit. Fantasy tends to be the genre that I read in small chunks. I think this is because a lot of fantasy tends to throw so much at you at once. But while I was reading Keeper I didn't feel overwhelmed at all. We do have three main POV's but the way it was broken up made it easy to keep up. I felt that the author didn't just write from a characters POV to fill up space. There is one character we hear from less during the essential parts, and I appreciated that. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The premise of the novel itself is very interesting and unique. We have this species of beings called Morphids who are somewhat integrated into human society. The concept of the metamorphosis and going from ugly to beautiful was very interesting because in my opinion it illustrated the idea that society as a whole and those with power are the ones who set the standards of beauty and those ideals morph into our own over time. The inclusion of a caste system was very interesting as well. There are many societies today that still have caste systems, some more obvious that others. It gives you a lot to think about. The idea of free will vs. "fate" comes to mind a lot when thinking about this book. While I do believe in fate to some extent I also believe in having the free will to change it if you see fit. In all honesty, a lot of the ideas involving the caste system reminded me of Japan. As a Asian Studies major I have read a lot about the "invisible"caste system and just how hard it is to move up the chain. It is even discouraged. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The characters were really funny and interesting and I thoroughly enjoyed all three characters and the voices they brought to the story. Warning: there is a bit of language, though mostly at the beginning of the story. I personally don't have a problem with it at all but I know some people are uncomfortable with it. Overall, I really enjoyed Keeper. It was a great story on it's own but on a deeper level it really made me think about our own society, our standards and ideals, and the implications of losing free will. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially those who normally are a bit intimidated by fantasy. </div>
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<div>
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<a href="http://www.candacesbookblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Ingrid_3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ingrid_3" class="aligncenter wp-image-6940 size-medium" src="http://www.candacesbookblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Ingrid_3-240x300.jpg" height="300" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
AUTHOR BIO:
Ingrid Seymour loves, loves, loves to write. She’s a young and new adult author. She writes in a variety of genres including romance, urban fantasy, paranormal and horror. She loves pizza and sushi, Sunkist and gum. She believes in vampires, witches, but not zombies (uh-uh, never!) She writes to loud music, daydreams constantly and spends too much time in twitter!! Find her there? <img alt=";)" src="http://www.candacesbookblog.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif" /> Ingrid has incredible fun doing what she does, but more than anything she enjoys hearing from her readers. It’s a dream come true.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.ingridseymour.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Ingrid_Seymour">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/IngridSeymourAuthor">Facebook</a> | <a href="http://pinterest.com/IngridSeymour/">Pinterest</a> |</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4052093.Ingrid_Seymour">Goodreads</a> |<a href="https://plus.google.com/+IngridSeymour"> G +</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
********************************************************</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Giveaway:</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
$25 Amazon Gift Card (INT)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
signed paperback of <i>Keeper</i> & <a href="http://fictionbound.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/KeeperBracelet.jpg" target="_blank">Bracelet</a> (US)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Prizing provided by the author</div>
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ef6d9314/" id="rc-ef6d9314" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//widget.rafflecopter.com/load.js"></script></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730291733161697345noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323831647037626.post-77467949324900605372014-07-02T11:31:00.001-04:002014-07-02T11:31:22.151-04:00Impervious by Heather Letto: An (Almost) Agora Tour with Pete<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><b><span style="color: purple;">Impervious</span></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><b style="color: purple;">Author: </b>Heather Letto</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><span style="color: purple; font-weight: bold;">Date Published: </span>April 29th, 2014</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><b style="color: purple;">Publisher: </b>Bookfish Books</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><b style="color: purple;">Format: </b>Paperback </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><b style="color: purple;">Page Count: </b>302</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">The residents of Impervious are the remnant—the survivors of the War of Annihilation. And though the city is </span></span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">chock-full</span></span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"> of pleasures to tantalize and entertain, a beast lurks in the corners, haunting the residents with its presence. </span></span></span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">The Beast—a mysterious and terminal illness killed off most of Generations One, Two, and Three. And as Gen-Four prepares to take the stage, a provocative, yet questionable, new method to avoid an untimely death incites a cultural rage. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">But Fran lives counter-culture, off the grid in true rebel fashion. With a life far from opulent, she scurries through dark tunnels, searching for hot meals with Pete while ditching the holographic security team. To her, it’s a healthy trade-off. Unaccountability means The Council can’t steal her sliver of hope―a belief that she’ll see The Epoch arrive before The Beast can pull her into its fetid embrace. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">After losing her mother and then her Rebel mentor, Fran stumbles upon a miraculous discovery that may save the residents of Impervious. That is, if she can outrun The Beast…</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><span style="color: #181818;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Impervious-Ascension-Heather-Letto-ebook/dp/B00J4UU82W/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1404139359&sr=1-1&keywords=impervious">Amazon</a> </span><b><span style="color: purple;">|</span></b><span style="color: #181818;"> <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/impervious-heather-letto/1119120271?ean=9780991477814&itm=1&usri=impervious">B&N</a></span><span style="color: #181818;"> </span><span style="color: purple;"><b>|</b></span><span style="color: #181818;"> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20986914-impervious?ac=1">Goodreads</a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: purple;">An (Almost) Agora Tour with Pete</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: purple;">_______________________________________________________________________________</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“<i>Hey,
thanks, Pete, for agreeing to take us on a tour of the Agora. What an interesting
place this is, can you tell me where we’re standing (and thus where our tour
begins?)”<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“<i>No
problem-o. My old stomping grounds, right?” </i>Pete waggles a brow before
opening his arms in a grand gesture. “<i>Welcome
to The Agora, where the food is plenty and the entertainment never sleeps!”<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> “<i>Wow, this</i> <i>certainly is fascinating.” </i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I laugh at his grandeur and then turn in a
slow circle to pan the landscape. Gaming stands are dotted here and there and
crowds of teens in spandex and glitter cheer on various avatars. The air is
charged with techy-sounding music (with way too much bass in my humble
opinion.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“<i>Wow,
and loud! How do you hear anything over the music and all the craziness?”<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pete shrugs. “<i>I’dunno. I just do. Come on, follow me.”</i> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He pushes his way through a small crowd and
I follow--although rather tentatively, as I notice several pairs of
thick-lined-eyes scanning me up and down. Apparently, this crowd isn’t too
impressed by my mom-jeans. Pete sidles up to a low counter and places his
elbows on the smooth acrylic surface. A holograph pixelates behind the bar and
greets us – the first welcoming face besides Pete’s I’ve since arriving in the
Agora.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span lang="EN-CA">“Welcome to the lunch hut! What can I serve you
today?!”</span></i><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While recoiling from the
extreme-pleasantness oozing from the eyes and mouth of the ghostly figure, I
gaze up at a translucent screen with menu items scrolling past. Unfortunately,
it moves too fast and all I catch is ‘coffee’… which works just for me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“<i>I
would like a coffee pl--.” </i> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Before I finish my sentence, a bright light
flashes, nearly blinding me, followed by a computer-sounding voice. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“<i>Unidentified
resident</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“<i>Oh,
Man. I hadn’t thought of that. Come on</i>.”
Pete grabs my hand. We plow through a throng of residents and get caught
up in a people-current. I squeal and then hold my breath as I feel a prickly
sensation move up and down my body. Pete gives me a yank and finally we’re spit
from the flow of pedestrians into an area lined with potted palm-trees. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span lang="EN-CA">“Come
on, we’re going to have hit the air vents.”</span></i><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-hyphenate: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-hyphenate: auto;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My heart screeches to a halt. I designed these vents. I
know what awaits. And I’m sure they’re no place for my fresh mani/pedi. I back
up a little. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-hyphenate: auto;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-hyphenate: auto;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span lang="EN-CA">“Hey, I think I’ll
just go now.”</span></i><span lang="EN-CA">
I smile and a small twitch erupts on the upper left side of my mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-hyphenate: auto;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-hyphenate: auto;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pete scrambles inside the vent. <i>“Are you sure? I could show you The Ranch.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-hyphenate: auto;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-hyphenate: auto;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I place a hand over my twitchy lip. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-hyphenate: auto;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-hyphenate: auto;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span lang="EN-CA">“No that’s fine.
But thank you, Pete. I think I’ll just hang out on the other side of this
story.”</span></i><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-hyphenate: auto;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-hyphenate: auto;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pete gives me a thumbs-up. <i>“Suit yourself and Sayonara!” <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; mso-hyphenate: auto;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pete disappears as the vent hums to a
close. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I stand up a little straighter and wonder
who would design such a horrid place, as I step back through the portal and
land safely at my keyboard.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: purple; font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: purple; font-family: inherit;"><b>About the Author</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: purple; font-family: inherit;"><b>_______________________________________________________________________________</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="color: purple; font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR31Jd4cX9gIfoy2TvvbGsC2uTpkrFTuRCScZLl17QLw0Wk1lSqStRjHEDF4lMkncTmy5qKDGpZqD5RMwss_fjKoguXJkqukHqrGFV2JE1z6E_5YT7n5bvNTIdiot5M7RJ8I3jEsOQO18/s1600/heather-letto1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR31Jd4cX9gIfoy2TvvbGsC2uTpkrFTuRCScZLl17QLw0Wk1lSqStRjHEDF4lMkncTmy5qKDGpZqD5RMwss_fjKoguXJkqukHqrGFV2JE1z6E_5YT7n5bvNTIdiot5M7RJ8I3jEsOQO18/s1600/heather-letto1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-CA">Heather considers
herself but a worker in the field with a desire to share truth through the art
of good story. In real life, she’s the
proud mother of two grown sons and lives part-time in Northern Illinois with
her husband, but scurries off to warmer climates when the mercury takes a dive
on the thermometer. As well as The Ascension Series, Heather contributes to <i>WHOAwomen</i> magazine, <i>The Fit Christian</i>, <i>Tween
Girls and God</i>, <i>Devotion Magazine</i>
as well as Swagga for Christ Ministry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-CA"> <a href="http://www.heatherletto.com/">Website</a> <span style="color: purple;"><b>| </b><a href="https://twitter.com/hletto2">Twitter</a> <b>| </b><a href="http://www.bookfishbooks.com/">Bookfish Books</a><br /><b> <span id="goog_1184343726"></span><span id="goog_1184343727"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></b></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730291733161697345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323831647037626.post-48878678454112801902014-07-02T11:31:00.000-04:002014-07-02T11:31:06.680-04:00Inkheart Authors Presents: Summertime Beach Reads! (Giveaway)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.candacesbookblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/InkHeart-Boxed-Set-Graphic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="InkHeart Boxed Set Graphic" class="aligncenter wp-image-7561" src="http://www.candacesbookblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/InkHeart-Boxed-Set-Graphic.jpg" height="500" width="333" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10637">***Available for ONE MONTH ONLY***</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10658"><span class="yiv9516182752s9" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10657" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="yiv9516182752bumpedFont15" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10656">Sexy and Sweet Summer Reads </span></span><span class="yiv9516182752s2">
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10667"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10666"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/m24uk3y" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://bit.ly/SweetSexyNook" target="_blank">B&N</a> |<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10665"> </span><a href="http://bit.ly/SweetSexyKobo" target="_blank">Kobo</a>, and </span></span>iBooks coming soon!</div>
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<div class="yiv9516182752s14" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10671" style="text-align: center;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10674"><span class="yiv9516182752s12">
</span><span class="yiv9516182752s13" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Falling </span><span class="yiv9516182752s13" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Into</span><span class="yiv9516182752s13" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> Forever</span><span class="yiv9516182752s10" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10673" style="font-weight: bold;"> by Elena Aitken </span><span class="yiv9516182752s10" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="yiv9516182752s14" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10671" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv9516182752s2" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10675">Secrets cause Kari to run, Rhys is determined to catch her, can she find the courage to trust again? </span><span class="yiv9516182752s2"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv9516182752s14" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10671" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv9516182752s13" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
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</span><span class="yiv9516182752s13" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">A Daughter’s Place</span><span class="yiv9516182752s10" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10676" style="font-weight: bold;"> by CJ Carmichael </span><span class="yiv9516182752s10" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv9516182752s14" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10671" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv9516182752s2" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10677">For the sake of her child, a single mother must face the father who disowned her, the ex-boyfriend who hurt her and the neighbor she's always loved in... </span></div>
<div class="yiv9516182752s14" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10671" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv9516182752s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="yiv9516182752s14" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10679" style="text-align: center;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10692"><span class="yiv9516182752s13" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Tempt Me Cowboy</span><span class="yiv9516182752s10" style="font-weight: bold;"> by Megan Crane </span><span class="yiv9516182752s10" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="yiv9516182752s14" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10679" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv9516182752s2">Chelsea Collier is a good girl schoolteacher who’s never done a bad thing in her life, but bad boy newcomer Jasper Flint is definitely a bad thing worth doing… </span><span class="yiv9516182752s2"> </span></div>
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</span><span class="yiv9516182752s13" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">His for the Weekend</span><span class="yiv9516182752s10" style="font-weight: bold;"> by Janelle Denison</span><span class="yiv9516182752s2"> </span><span class="yiv9516182752s2"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv9516182752s14" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10679" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv9516182752s2">After nine years apart, one forbidden kiss between past lovers leads to one hot weekend, but when their time together is over, will Rachel walk away from Luke again, or can he convince her to stay and be his forever? </span><span class="yiv9516182752s2"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv9516182752s14" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10679" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv9516182752s2"><br /></span></div>
<div class="yiv9516182752s14" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10679" style="text-align: center;">
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</span><span class="yiv9516182752s13" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Unspoken</span><span class="yiv9516182752s10" style="font-weight: bold;"> by Lauren Hawkeye </span><span class="yiv9516182752s10" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv9516182752s14" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10679" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv9516182752s2">Once, Ellie Kendrick was the only thing that Dominic Gabriel wanted... now she’s back and her version of what happened between them so long ago makes him question everything he knows about himself as a man... </span><span class="yiv9516182752s2"> </span></div>
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</span><span class="yiv9516182752s13" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Weekend with the Tycoon </span><span class="yiv9516182752s10" style="font-weight: bold;">by </span><span class="yiv9516182752s10" style="font-weight: bold;">Kaira</span><span class="yiv9516182752s10" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span class="yiv9516182752s10" style="font-weight: bold;">Rouda</span><span class="yiv9516182752s10" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span class="yiv9516182752s10" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv9516182752s14" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10679" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv9516182752s2">When wealthy tycoon Blake Putnam invites employee Samantha Jones to a family wedding on Indigo island with no strings attached he knows it’s risky business, but neither of them expects what happens next. </span></div>
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</span><span class="yiv9516182752s13" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Sweet Reunion</span><span class="yiv9516182752s10" style="font-weight: bold;"> by Melanie Shawn </span><span class="yiv9516182752s10" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv9516182752s14" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10679" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv9516182752s2">Sometimes first love deserves a second chance. </span><span class="yiv9516182752s2"> </span></div>
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</span><span class="yiv9516182752s13" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Start of Something Good</span><span class="yiv9516182752s10" style="font-weight: bold;"> by Renee Vincent writing as Gracie Lee Rose </span></div>
<div class="yiv9516182752s14" style="text-align: center;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10692"><span class="yiv9516182752s2">Who knew Mr. Right lived right next door? </span></span></div>
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</span><span class="yiv9516182752s13" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Where Their Hearts Collide</span><span class="yiv9516182752s10" style="font-weight: bold;"> by Zoe York </span><span class="yiv9516182752s10" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv9516182752s14" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="yiv9516182752s2" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10691">When the girl next door meets the man of her dreams...at exactly the wrong time. </span></div>
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Steamy and Sizzling Summer Reads</div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10685"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10684"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/ptjddey" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://bit.ly/SteamyNook" target="_blank">B&N</a> | <a href="http://bit.ly/steamykobo" target="_blank">Kobo</a>, and iBooks<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1404150193939_10683"> coming soon!</span></span></span></div>
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<b><i>The CEO's Fantasy by RG Alexander</i></b> </div>
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Dean and Sara agree to a month of indulging their most forbidden fantasies--but when reality is better than his wildest dreams, will the CEO break his own rules to keep her?</div>
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<b><i>Wicked All The Way by Shayla Black </i></b></div>
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When a gruff military man with a desire to control seduces a skittish divorcee bent on finding her independence, will she give in to more than their sizzling chemistry?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>The Dom Who Loved Me by Lexi Blake </b></i></div>
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Sent to steal her secrets, he soon craved her submission. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>The Male Stripper by Opal Carew </i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Her ultimate sexual fantasy brought to life....not one, but two sexy male strippers for one night of torrid passion she'll never forget. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Elemental Pleasure by Mari Carr and Lila Dubois</b></i></div>
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There is passion and power in three.</div>
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<b><i>Grif by Bianca D’Arc</i></b> </div>
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Grif is far from home when he meets a sexy, magical woman in desperate need of his help. </div>
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<b><i>Web of Desire by Cathryn Fox </i></b></div>
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When the captive suddenly becomes the captor, Ally finds herself tangled in a web of desire—of her own making. </div>
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<b><i>Allure by Nina Lane</i></b> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In Book Two of the sexy Spiral of Bliss trilogy, Liv and Dean West's passionate romance is put to the test as they struggle with an unexpected family crisis. </div>
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<i><b>One Hot Fall Term by Sharon Page</b></i> </div>
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College freshman Mia fights to make a long distance relationship work with her gorgeous hometown boyfriend Ryan--but billionaire's son Jonathon plans to seduce her away. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Dare to Love by Carly Phillips</b></i> </div>
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When a man who requires dominance falls for a woman who needs independence, can they survive the fallout? </div>
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<i><b>The Great Escape by Suzanne Rock </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Gianni loves dominating Sienna during her sessions at the Ecstasy Spa, but when his ex-lover returns and wants in on the action, all three of them uncover a bond that forces them change their views about love.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Through My Window by Jayne Rylon</b></i></div>
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What happens when a sex worker fall in love with a client but doesn't plan to quit her job?</div>
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<i><b>Rocked by Cari Quinn and Taryn Elliott </b></i></div>
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Love definitely wasn't on the setlist.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730291733161697345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323831647037626.post-85561540049401788592014-07-01T16:11:00.000-04:002014-07-01T16:11:42.129-04:00Wishlist Spotlight: The Martian by Andy Weir<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-AgFHzc6nLdE17U2-d4LZHZau4wj5RLlRRaOmEdzsq1Slm8_R4KVPn93QdrF050DEQfNshsYv-5xLR_Uueeu3kXkgnn6MVsvwPQCLjIw11Te4dTSw1ClXj7vg9NhQhtiavgA4XUIPGM/s1600/18007564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-AgFHzc6nLdE17U2-d4LZHZau4wj5RLlRRaOmEdzsq1Slm8_R4KVPn93QdrF050DEQfNshsYv-5xLR_Uueeu3kXkgnn6MVsvwPQCLjIw11Te4dTSw1ClXj7vg9NhQhtiavgA4XUIPGM/s1600/18007564.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><b><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: inherit;">The Martian </span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">Author:</span> </b><span style="color: #181818;">Andy Weir </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">Date Published:</span> </b><span style="color: #181818;">February 11th, 2014</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">Publisher:</span> </b><span style="color: #181818;">Crown</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">Format:</span> </b><span style="color: #181818;">Hardback</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">Page Count:</span> </b><span style="color: #181818;">384</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first men to walk on the surface of Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first man to die there.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">It started with the dust storm that holed his suit and nearly killed him, and that forced his crew to leave him behind, sure he was already dead. Now he's stranded millions of miles from the nearest human being, with no way to even signal Earth that he's alive--and even if he could get word out, his food would be gone years before a rescue mission could arrive. Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to get him first.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">But Mark isn't ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills--and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit--he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. But will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0804139024/ref=ox_sc_act_title_9?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER">Amazon</a> <span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>| </b><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-martian-andy-weir/1114993828?ean=9780804139021&itm=1&usri=the+martian">B&N</a><b> | </b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18007564-the-martian?from_search=true">Goodreads</a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: inherit;"><b>Grabby Hands Because</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: inherit;"><b>_______________________________________________________________________________</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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I am beyond excited and impatient to get my hands on this book! For one, it takes place in <span style="color: #b45f06;">SPACE</span> and I have been obsessed with all things space/alien recently! Not only that but it is also a survival story and I am a huge fan of those as well. My boyfriend's grandma was the first one to recommend this book to me and I fell in love with the synopsis from the moment I read it. Since then I have seen several people recommending it and it has made me even more anxious to pick up this book! My only concern is whether or not I'll have to read this book during the day. I get easily creeped out and if it is anything like <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15790843-172-hours-on-the-moon">172 Hours on the Moon</a> I will be paranoid a couple chapters in. The thing is, I <span style="color: #b45f06;">LOVE</span> reading about space but it <span style="color: #b45f06;">TERRIFIES</span> me! If I ever had the chance to go to the moon or Mars my answer would probably be "Over my dead body!" Even so, I am really looking forward to purchasing and reading this book as soon as I get the chance! </div>
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What books are at the top of your wishlist? </div>
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~Judith</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730291733161697345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323831647037626.post-80335333805500117802014-07-01T01:01:00.002-04:002014-07-01T13:33:57.951-04:00Spotlight & Deleted Scene: This is Sarah by Ally Malinenko <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><b><span style="color: #741b47;">This Is Sarah</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><b><span style="color: #741b47;">Author:</span> </b><span style="color: #181818;">Ally Malinenko</span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><b><span style="color: #741b47;">Release Date:</span> </b><span style="color: #181818;">Summer 2014</span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><b><span style="color: #741b47;">Publisher:</span> </b><span style="color: #181818;">Bookfish Books</span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><b><span style="color: #741b47;">Format:</span> </b><span style="color: #181818;">Paperback</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">When Colin Leventhal leaned out his
bedroom window on the night of May 12th and said goodbye to his girlfriend, he
never expected it would be forever. But when Sarah Evans goes missing that
night, Colin's world unravels as he transforms from the boyfriend next door to
the main police suspect. Then one year later, at her memorial service, Colin
makes a phone call that could change everything. Is it possible that Sarah is
still alive? And if so, how far will he go to bring her back? </span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">As Colin struggles with this possibility, across
the street, Sarah’s little sister, Claire learns how to navigate the strange
new landscape of life without her sister. While her parents fall apart, Claire
remains determined to keep going, even if it kills her. </span><br />
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<span style="background: white;">THIS IS SARAH serves as a meditation on loss,
love, and what it means to say goodbye.</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="background: white;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22360316-this-is-sarah?ac=1">Goodreads</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><b><span style="color: #741b47;">Excerpt</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><b><span style="color: #741b47;">___________________________________________________________</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">From the Journal of Claire Evans<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">High School Sophomore <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I quit the band today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mr. Denshaw didn’t even
try to stop me… like it didn’t even matter. And I guess it doesn’t. I wasn’t
first chair or anything. I was just another lone clarinet adding to all that
noise. It’s not like anyone could hear anything I did. It’s not like it
mattered. I told him that I wouldn’t be able to play anymore and that I was
sorry but he just sort of nodded his head and adjusted his glasses. He looked
everywhere but at me. People do that a lot now. Like if they look me in the eye
they’re going to catch my family’s bad luck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Bad luck. That’s a way to
put it, Claire. Your whole family has exploded and you call it Bad Luck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Anyway, I quit band and
had to hand in my clarinet because it was on loan and my parent’s hadn’t paid
the whole thing off yet. If I’m gonna be totally honest (and why not? It is my
stupid journal) I guess I was sort glad to get rid of it because every time
that case was in my hand, I just thought about that moment sitting in Colin’s
mom’s car and her telling me that Sarah was gone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That my sister got in her
car and drove off and no one knows what happened next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was like I couldn’t
separate the instrument from my sister.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That last night, at
dinner, before she went to meet Jenna, that was when she told me band was for
dorks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You were right, Sarah. I
don’t want to be a dork anymore. I want to be whatever it was that you were
going to be before…whatever happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There’s a party at the
lake tomorrow. I keep wondering if Colin is going to be there. I want to see
him so badly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My parents are fighting
again. All they ever do is fight. Like they have to keep attacking each other
to keep the pain of missing Sarah away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Man, keeping a journal is
hard. It’s like I don’t even know what to say. I even feel self-conscious
writing a journal. How sad is that? Sarah kept a journal for years. It probably
holds every single secret about her. My mother read it when she went missing.
They had to give it to the police in case there was anything in there that
would help them find her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sarah wouldn’t have been
self-conscious. I bet her whole journal is about her and Colin and acting and
stuff. I bet it’s funny and smart like Sarah.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Basically the opposite of
me. If awkward had a baby, it would be me.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: inherit;"><b>About the Author</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: inherit;"><b>_______________________________________________________________________________</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbo7lr5l6B_MvMFtomyfh1WYmUBau5BVqh0h2JfF9ebCQjDWDXX6p0ds5Gqa9ayStmBdgXX_ZYeAyrU1iXKDdj73etxvM8UJY7IZrta9z9F9RNFJvlpXx95uRIlKrdoMI5062Uvmcik0/s1600/Ally'sPicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbo7lr5l6B_MvMFtomyfh1WYmUBau5BVqh0h2JfF9ebCQjDWDXX6p0ds5Gqa9ayStmBdgXX_ZYeAyrU1iXKDdj73etxvM8UJY7IZrta9z9F9RNFJvlpXx95uRIlKrdoMI5062Uvmcik0/s1600/Ally'sPicture.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ally Malinenko is the author of the poetry collection <i>The Wanting Bone</i> (Six Gallery Press) and
the children's fantasy <i>Lizzy Speare and
the Cursed Tomb </i>(Antenna Books). She lives in Brooklyn with her husband. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <a href="http://allymalinenko.com/">Website</a><span style="color: #741b47;"><b> | </b></span><a href="https://twitter.com/AllyMalinenko">Twitter</a><b><span style="color: #741b47;"> | </span></b><a href="http://www.bookfishbooks.com/">Bookfish Books</a> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730291733161697345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323831647037626.post-13392756594768931972014-07-01T01:01:00.000-04:002014-07-01T01:01:19.307-04:00Cover Reveal: Storms of Lazarus by Karen Kincy (Giveaway)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/stormsbanner.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="stormsbanner" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-418" src="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/stormsbanner.png" height="240" width="500" /></a></div>
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Today we're bringing you the cover reveal for <em>Storms of Lazarus</em> by Karen Kincy. This is the second book in the <em>Shadows of Asphodel</em> series<em>.</em> This is a new adult dieselpunk romance and releases in July. Check out this stunning cover and then enter the giveaway!</div>
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<i id="yui_3_16_0_1_1403364635032_1028926">Storms of Lazarus (Shadows of Asphodel #2)</i></div>
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<b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1403364635032_1028923">Sometimes escape is impossible. Sometimes love isn't enough.</b></div>
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1913. Christmas Eve. Ardis hardly expects a quiet holiday with Wendel, between fleeing Constantinople and hiding from an ancient society of assassins. And they owe a debt to a certain archmage.<br />
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In Königsberg, Prussia, they work with Konstantin on the next evolution of Project Lazarus. Wendel once called Königsberg home, the city now besieged by the Russians and their clockwork engines of war. This may be Wendel’s last chance to save his family and find redemption, but he's tormented by nightmares and tempted by laudanum. Ardis fears her love isn’t enough to save Wendel. Her hands are full piloting the automatons, and she's terrified to tell him a secret of her own. Will they—and their love—survive the storms of war?<br />
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<strong><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18519509-storms-of-lazarus" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></strong><br />
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<a href="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Shadows-of-Asphodel-Cover.jpg"><img alt="Shadows of Asphodel Cover" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-406" src="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Shadows-of-Asphodel-Cover.jpg" height="475" width="317" /></a></div>
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<i>Shadows of Asphodel (Shadows of Asphodel #1)</i></div>
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<b>She never asked for the undying loyalty of a necromancer.</b></div>
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1913. Austria-Hungary. Ardis knows better than to save a man on the battlefield. Even if he manages to be a charming bastard while bleeding out in the snow. She hasn’t survived this long as a mercenary without some common sense.</div>
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When she rescues Wendel, it isn’t because he's devilishly handsome, but because he's a necromancer. His touch can revive the dead, and Ardis worries he will return from the grave to hunt her down. Besides, a necromancer can be useful in this world on the brink of war.</div>
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A gentleman of questionable morals, Wendel drops to one knee and pledges his undying loyalty to Ardis. She resists falling for him, no matter how hot the tension smolders between them. Especially when she discovers Wendel's scars run much deeper than his skin, and it might be too late to truly save him from himself.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18401837-shadows-of-asphodel" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shadows-Asphodel-Karen-Kincy-ebook/dp/B00F8W9H0O/ref=la_B0030CWP4Y_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1403812891&sr=1-2" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></strong><br />
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<b>About the Author:</b> </div>
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Karen Kincy (Kirkland, Washington) can be found lurking in her writing cave, though sunshine will lure her outside. When not writing, she stays busy gardening, tinkering with aquariums, or running just one more mile. Karen has a BA in Linguistics and Literature from The Evergreen State College.</div>
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<b>Find the author:
<a href="http://www.karenkincy.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/karenkincy">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KarenKincyAuthor">Facebook </a></b></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Giveaway:</span></strong></div>
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Prize one: signed paperbacks of<em> Shadows of Asphodel</em> and<em> Storms of Lazarus</em>. US only</div>
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Prize two: ebooks of<em> Shadows of Asphodel</em> and<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;"><em>Storms of Lazarus</em>.</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;"> Open worldwide</span></div>
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This event was organized by <a href="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/" target="_blank">CBB Book Promotions</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730291733161697345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323831647037626.post-92149745249216699392014-06-30T00:08:00.000-04:002014-06-30T00:08:54.585-04:00Cover Reveal: Smolder by Kelbian Noel (Giveaway)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I'm excited to share the cover for <em>Smolder</em>, book three in The Witchbound series by Kelbian Noel. This is a YA urban fantasy series and the first two books are <em>Roots</em> and <em>Sprung</em>. Check out the gorgeous cover and then enter to win a $25 gift card!</div>
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<a href="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Smolder-Book-Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Smolder Book Cover" class="aligncenter wp-image-416" src="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Smolder-Book-Cover-640x1024.jpg" height="650" width="406" /></a></div>
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<strong>Smolder (Witchbound #3) by Kelbian Noel</strong></div>
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<strong>About Smolder:</strong></div>
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Calida Cevallos has never been special. In fact, as far as she’s concerned, there isn’t an exceptional bone in her body. But, this summer, she’ll discover extraordinary literally runs through her veins.</div>
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I’ve always been a burden. The girl people put up with, the one they tolerated. When I finally found someone who actually wanted me around, I couldn’t have be happier. But lately something’s been bubbling at the surface. Something wants to break free…and I’m afraid it’s me.</div>
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I love him. And, for a time, I thought I needed him. Now I’m not so sure. These days, I get the feeling I’m the one who’s needed. By whom? I’m about to find out.</div>
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<strong><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17382205-smolder" target="_blank">Goodreads </a></strong></h2>
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<b>Roots (Witchbound Book One) by Kelbian Noel</b><br />
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgI3DlcUJCbEK8E_2QgyOkvfpia4gUUpS9fsInnEw1jFwCm5xf5egtn_nvmL51lQoflUyqDV2EA01Yf97VgNWJJldKymcRV4p99xw_7yFHYwF64_3OJwFUgWL6HkPiHUSgeR4oDnG6g/s1600/Witchbound+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgI3DlcUJCbEK8E_2QgyOkvfpia4gUUpS9fsInnEw1jFwCm5xf5egtn_nvmL51lQoflUyqDV2EA01Yf97VgNWJJldKymcRV4p99xw_7yFHYwF64_3OJwFUgWL6HkPiHUSgeR4oDnG6g/s1600/Witchbound+Cover.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></b></div>
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Seventeen-year-old Baltimore Land just wants to be normal, but magic has other plans. <br />
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I don’t consider myself a witch, that’s my parents’ thing. I’ve never really believed in magic either. Sure, I tried it a few times. Fell for the whole “magic happens” thing. But it didn’t happen to me. No amount of rhyming stopped my parents from moving me halfway across the country. Not one spell stopped me from being labeled the town freak.<br />
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And worst of all, no matter how many times I begged the Universe to bring my twin back, I was ignored. Until now.<br />
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He’s back all right. And in a magical bind of his own. Not the magic-won’t-work-for-me kind either. In fact, it’s working a little too well. Too dark. Too deep.<br />
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It turns out our entire family’s magical roots run just as deep and my brother didn’t end up where he is by accident. So I’m going to help him. But magic isn’t really on my side. Nope. Once I finally get the craft under control, I’m expected to abandon the one person in the world who’s closest to me, just to save myself.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Roots-Witchbound-Book-Kelbian-Noel-ebook/dp/B008MZ59Q0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1402339503&sr=1-1&keywords=Roots+by+Kelbian+Noel">Amazon</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17688068-roots">Goodreads</a> |<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aicE3HPzqH0"> Book Trailer</a></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFfl9U6By3d2WrpgR3-x-UTZMH7VgPUiD_lvmV1GHCQvoIaZBOGKJZpkfvdUDDyO0W1FHNt396g8ks707IOOkW-Xf4xyCJih9EnWX9tfBFIMaPP9yX_D5nXZjiFvKUiUqoF9covN3ZQ/s1600/Sprung+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFfl9U6By3d2WrpgR3-x-UTZMH7VgPUiD_lvmV1GHCQvoIaZBOGKJZpkfvdUDDyO0W1FHNt396g8ks707IOOkW-Xf4xyCJih9EnWX9tfBFIMaPP9yX_D5nXZjiFvKUiUqoF9covN3ZQ/s1600/Sprung+Cover.jpg" height="320" width="219" /></a><b>Sprung (Witchbound Book Two) by Kelbian Noel</b><br />
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Since she discovered magic, seventeen-year-old Skye Jackson’s life is almost perfect. Almost. Even perfect has its glitches. <br />
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What happens when the one with all the power makes the biggest mistakes? Welcome to my life.<br />
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Four months ago, I couldn’t have been happier. When my parents got divorced, I wasn’t exactly thrilled. Especially when Mom married a guy half her age. But then I found out I wasn’t the average Joana. Discovering magic existed and, best of all, I could use it, made everything easier to deal with. That is until I got a little too spell happy. But what girl wouldn’t defend her best friend against a world-class creep? Now I’m stuck in a nightmare, forced to make life and death decisions I never dreamed I’d face.<br />
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Love the magic, hate the responsibility.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sprung-Witchbound-Book-Kelbian-Noel-ebook/dp/B00C4XJ534/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1402339414&sr=1-5&keywords=Sprung"><b></b></a><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sprung-Witchbound-Book-Kelbian-Noel-ebook/dp/B00C4XJ534/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1402339414&sr=1-5&keywords=Sprung">Amazon</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17780497-sprung">Goodreads</a></b></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/KelbianNoel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="KelbianNoel" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-316" src="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/KelbianNoel-283x300.jpg" height="300" width="283" /></a></div>
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<b>About the Author:</b></div>
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<i id="yui_3_16_0_1_1403364635032_1100878">Kelbian Noel was born on a warm June night in Moncton, New Brunswick. From a very young age, she loved to read. She found herself engulfed in novels by Janette Oke and L.M. Montgomery, but never seemed to find herself in the pages. At the age of 11 she declared she would simply have to rewrite them, and become the youngest author in history. But life was full of baseball, homework, BFFs and boys. Decades later, having studied writing in college and pursued it as a career, she rediscovered her hobby. She is excited to introduce The Witchbound Series to the world with hopes someone will love this story as much as she does. Kelbian lives in Toronto, Ontario with her two children (where, thanks to a thick layer of smog, Junes are much warmer than they used to be).</i></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<i>She is the founder of <a href="http://www.diverse-pages.com/">www.diverse-pages.com</a> and blogs there often, in the company of some pretty cool people.</i></div>
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<strong><a href="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/www.kelbiannoel.com" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6446157.Kelbian_Noel" target="_blank">Goodreads Author Page</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kelbian-Noel/e/B008N2REJC/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1" target="_blank">Amazon Author Page</a> |<a href="https://twitter.com/Kelbian_Noel" target="_blank"> Twitter </a>|<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelbian-Noel/472945699390013" target="_blank"> Facebook</a> </strong></div>
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<strong>Giveaway:</strong></div>
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$25 Amazon Gift Card (INT)</div>
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This event was organized by<a href="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/" target="_blank"> CBB Book Promotions</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730291733161697345noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323831647037626.post-69635784290525339702014-06-28T09:00:00.000-04:002014-06-28T13:23:23.923-04:00Review/Interview: Ex-Factor by Elisa Dane (Giveaway)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rVXYb24EvTzdBjg-RsZEi9u233Pr_uk-gu3f2XH5uzsqyy-HXCEIoKbUo4VTJYXiXdWtLePRMBhiDHdHqpDC0xn2LIewzaZ6wS6CCbcO5YFMuEwEL9IMnz2d9KUbOEp77CM-i6mo348/s1600/Ex-Factor-Elisa-Dane+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rVXYb24EvTzdBjg-RsZEi9u233Pr_uk-gu3f2XH5uzsqyy-HXCEIoKbUo4VTJYXiXdWtLePRMBhiDHdHqpDC0xn2LIewzaZ6wS6CCbcO5YFMuEwEL9IMnz2d9KUbOEp77CM-i6mo348/s1600/Ex-Factor-Elisa-Dane+(1).jpg" height="150" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.lite-rate-ture.com/2014/04/open-signupblog-tour-ex-factor-by-elisa-dane/">Tour Page and Schedule</a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Ex-Factor: Book One in <i>The Diamond Girls</i> Series </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Author:</span></b> Elisa Dane </div>
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<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Date Published:</span></b> April 14th, 2014</div>
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<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Publisher:</span> </b>Swoon Romance</div>
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<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Format:</span></b> e-book </div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Nevaeh Evan’s life is uprooted after her father’s death, when she moves in with her aunt and cousin, Livvie. Her plan to lay low at her new high school </span></span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">isn't</span></span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"> working. Her friend’s jerky boyfriend keeps asking her out, the guy she likes treats her like garbage, and the thought of tumbling again makes her want to hurl. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">So when her aunt pushes her into joining the elite X-FACTOR cheer leading squad, Navaeh goes along with it. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">But Nev feels she </span></span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">doesn't</span></span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"> deserve to be happy. Not after what happened the night her father died. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Bodie Scott knows about grief all too well. Critically injured in an alcohol related accident the year before, Bodie struggles with the fact that he’ll never play football again, and he’s so far behind in credits he can’t see straight. That is, until he meets Nev. Haunted by their bloody pasts and wary of a shared future, Nev and Bodie turn to one another for comfort and support, and realize they’re not so alone after all. And when the party scene at school threatens the life of a loved one, the two stop at nothing to keep the past from repeating itself.</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19031631-ex-factor?ac=1">Goodreads</a><b><span style="color: #351c75;"> | </span></b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ex-Factor-Diamond-Girls-Elisa-Dane-ebook/dp/B00JPRUYBO/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1398697122&sr=1-1">Amazon</a> <b><span style="color: #351c75;">| </span></b><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ex-factor-elisa-dane/1119273776?ean=2940149489558">B&N</a> </div>
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<b><span style="color: #351c75;">My Review</span></b></div>
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Let me start off by saying that this book was AMAZING! I am a big fan of contemporaries so I read quite a bit of them and I know that often times they tend to be somewhat similar. Ex-Factor by Elisa Dane definitely broke the mold for me. For one, it dealt with the sport of All Star Cheer-leading, which I didn't know much about. Several contemporaries I've read dealt with cheer-leading but more along the lines of the kind done at football games. It gave me a whole new respect for these young ladies (and men) who go through such rigorous training. I even found myself looking up videos of competitions after I was done reading! </div>
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Another reason why Ex-Factor stood out to me was its incorporation of the topic of drinking and driving. We all know so many YA books bring up the topic of teen drinking but rarely do we ever see the disastrous consequences that such actions can lead to. There were definitely some heart breaking scenes in this book but they drive home the point well and make you value those you have in your life. There were many sad scenes but also many happy and funny scenes. I loved the characters together. I know some people might label their relationship "insta-love" but I hate that term because in my opinion there is no set time limit on when you are allowed to fall for someone. I personally loved the relationship and thought they really helped each other out. </div>
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This was a fantastic book and also an important one. I think we all need to read this and be reminded that even though it is about teens, this lesson applies to all of us no matter the age. I think a lot of times adults think they know best and they are in control when in reality we are just as susceptible to mistakes and consequences. I can't wait to pick up the second book in the series! Everyone please go check out this amazing book! </div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Author Interview</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Q:</span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love watching your book tube channel and you are always so full of life. How do you manage to stay in such high spirits even with your very busy schedule?</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>A:</b><span style="color: #351c75;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; white-space: pre-wrap;">Awww, thank you! I'm so glad to hear you enjoy my channel. I love books, and I tend to get excited when talking about them. It's tough some days to find time to shoot videos, but so worth it when I meet someone online who loves the same book as me and wants to talk about it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; white-space: pre-wrap;">Q: H</span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">ow did you come up with the idea for Ex Factor?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>A:</b> </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was lucky enough to attend the Every 15 Minutes program when my oldest daughter was a senior. The mock crash and assembly were both extremely moving and inspired Nev and Bodie's story.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: 15.454545021057129px; line-height: 15.681818008422852px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Q: </span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">What inspired you to write Ex Factor? Your daughters are All- Star cheerleaders, are they your main inspiration when it comes to writing your YA books, especially Ex Factor? Did they have any input in the book? </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15.454545021057129px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>A:</b> </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The loss I witnessed while watching the Every 15 Minutes program inspired the theme for </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ex Factor</span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. That being said, I've been wanting to write a story about All Star cheerleaders for years. My girls have been cheering for ten years now. It's a HUGE part of our lives. Their teammates are their closest friends, and in a sense, extended family. They sweat, bleed, win, and lose together, and it's that special team bond that is so inspirational. Not to mention, the things those athletes do on the mat are nothing short of incredible. My oldest daughter gave me a lot of input while I was writing, for which I'm very grateful.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Q: </span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Which character was your favorite to write and which did you have the most trouble with?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>A: </b></span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oh gosh! That's a tough question. I love my Diamond Girls. I'm not sure I can pick a favorite. I'm going to take the easy way out and go with Mr. Keltar, the Foods instructor. He's in all three books, and is as crabby, crotchey, and sour in the third book as he is in the first. He takes great delight in needling his students and it was a ton of fun to write his character.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; white-space: pre-wrap;">Q: </span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">How does the writing process differ when it comes to writing and coming up with ideas for your YA novels versus writing your adult novels? </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>A:</b> </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; white-space: pre-wrap;">Honestly, I found it much easier to write contemporary YA. I think because my girls are so rooted in the sport of cheerleading, and because I've got three girls, things just seemed to come easier. One of my girls always has some sort of drama going on, which gives me plenty of inspiration to draw from lol!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; white-space: pre-wrap;">Q: </span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is your favorite genre to write about? I know that you enjoy writing paranormal romances, so what got you into writing YA books? </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15.454545021057129px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>A:</b> </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; white-space: pre-wrap;">I definitely think I found my niche in contemporary YA. My girls live in their cheer gym, and I'm surrounded by teenage girls all the time. It makes sense for me to write what I know.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; white-space: pre-wrap;">Q: </span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I understand that you write adult novels with your real name. What made you use a pen name for your YA books? How did you come up with your pen name?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>A:</b> </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wanted to keep my YA books separate from my steamier adult stuff. My YA stories are geared toward ages 15 and up, and though they include foul language and reference adult themes and situations, there is no sex in them. I wanted to keep them separate from my other work. Elisa Dane was created from the letters of my first and middle names: Lisa, and Deanne.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; white-space: pre-wrap;">Q: </span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are you writing anything new at the moment? If so, can we have a little sneak peak? </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>A:</b> </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I just finished up the third and final book in the Diamond Girls trilogy. It's currently titled, </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Defenseless </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and features Claire and a new character, Ryker as the leads. Much like </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ex Factor</span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Defenseless</span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is a story of loss and learning to live again. That's all I'm saying. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Q: </span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">What main message would you like readers to take away from Ex Factor? </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>A:</b> </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; white-space: pre-wrap;">I'd love for readers to come away with the knowledge that although you can't change the past, you can change your behavior and actions and become a better person. Drinking and driving is never a good decision. It's my hope that teenagers and adults alike will make the wise choice to call a cab, phone a friend, or parent and ask for a ride home from wherever they're at if they've been drinking and need a ride. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; white-space: pre-wrap;">Q: </span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">What are some of books you feel made an impact in your life and influenced you as a person or as a writer?</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>A:</b> </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Knight In Shining Armor</span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Jude Deveraux was the first romance I fell in love with when I was a teen and sparked my love affair with the romance genre in general. Jamie Fraser from Diana Gabaldon's </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Outlander</span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.1500000000000001; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> series was my first fictional crush, and paved the way for many book boyfriends to come. Then, of course, there is Colleen Hoover. Pretty much everything she writes is gold and I'm in awe of her.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: inherit;"><b>About the Author </b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OFqDeElwgMAT3egjLrecLpiM-jxA_GHDPKLHVOiNR_RPDg-MKPpacYd1DHpXGx9sO3WrsbgkwUikOg64KfxoG8HBomdIaa2887XiVmnd9l437pxgDj7PJyUmY6_nP1isjJQDo5GRVRk/s1600/Author+Pic.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OFqDeElwgMAT3egjLrecLpiM-jxA_GHDPKLHVOiNR_RPDg-MKPpacYd1DHpXGx9sO3WrsbgkwUikOg64KfxoG8HBomdIaa2887XiVmnd9l437pxgDj7PJyUmY6_nP1isjJQDo5GRVRk/s1600/Author+Pic.jpeg" height="320" width="163" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">I'm a lover of books (YA & Adult
romance), chocolate, reality television, and am a proud mother to three All
Star cheerleaders. Woot! </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 13pt;">I write Contemporary YA romance with
cheerleaders. Yep. I write what I know, and it's my hope that my stories will
not only take you on a romantic journey that will warm your heart, but that
you'll find a new respect and interest in the sport of Cheerleading you may not
have had before.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Links</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><a href="https://twitter.com/ElisaDane" style="font-weight: bold;">Twitter</a> <b>| </b><a href="http://instagram.com/authorelisadane" style="font-weight: bold;">Instagram</a><b> | </b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ElisaDane" style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook</a><b> | </b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/LisaSanchez3/videos" style="font-weight: bold;">Youtube</a><b> | </b><a href="http://www.elisadane.com/" style="font-weight: bold;">Website</a></span></div>
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<b style="color: #351c75;">Giveaway</b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730291733161697345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323831647037626.post-1236087786133742662014-06-24T00:01:00.000-04:002014-06-24T00:01:47.396-04:00Cover Reveal: Silent Echo by Elisa Freilich<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaA9-_uekV2Iru1pKlSRO2a_r52l_aDcTe0AYqHv5xFuntugPTo2tJWrOaBVwJETZ3tGW1LSpvGmfMry_M1e1ukD87flCD6MBZwoMQHAOENzuhaYXhmyasB3SjgTfjmjqjFVOOxgDfSQ/s1600/SI+Cover+reveal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaA9-_uekV2Iru1pKlSRO2a_r52l_aDcTe0AYqHv5xFuntugPTo2tJWrOaBVwJETZ3tGW1LSpvGmfMry_M1e1ukD87flCD6MBZwoMQHAOENzuhaYXhmyasB3SjgTfjmjqjFVOOxgDfSQ/s1600/SI+Cover+reveal.jpg" height="182" width="320" /></a></div>
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Today we're excited to reveal the cover for<em> Silent Echo</em> by Elisa Freilich!</div>
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<a href="http://www.candacesbookblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Silentecho3b.jpg"><img alt="Silentecho3b" class="aligncenter wp-image-7491" src="http://www.candacesbookblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Silentecho3b-640x1024.jpg" height="400" width="250" /></a></div>
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<strong>About the Book:</strong></div>
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Rendered mute at birth, Portia Griffin has been silent for 16 years. Music is her constant companion, along with Felix, her deaf best friend who couldn t care less whether or not she can speak. If only he were as nonchalant about her newfound interest in the musically gifted Max Hunter.</div>
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But Portia s silence is about to be broken with the abrupt discovery of her voice, unparalleled in its purity and the power it affords to control those around her. Able to persuade, seduce and destroy using only her voice, Portia embarks on a search for answers about who she really is, and what she is destined to do.</div>
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<b>Add it on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22568155-silent-echo?ac=1">Goodreads</a>!</b></div>
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<b>Available for sale:</b></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Echo-Sirens-Tale-ebook/dp/B00G3UXM0Q">Amazon ebook</a> & <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Echo-A-Sirens-Tale/dp/1626811342">paperback</a></b></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/silent-echo-elisa-freilich/1116862760?ean=2940148384663&itm=1&usri=silent+echo">B&N ebook</a> & <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/silent-echo-elisa-freilich/1116862760?ean=9781626811348">paperback</a></b></div>
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<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/silent-echo/id688471724?ls=1"><b>iTunes</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/books/silent-echo/c0qd6NNu-kSdhz8jJ6j8pw"><b>Kobo</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Echo-A-Sirens-Tale/dp/B00G3KNH60"><b>Audible Audiobook</b></a></div>
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<span style="color: #181818;"><a href="http://www.candacesbookblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/new-bio-photo.jpg"><img alt="new-bio-photo" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7490" src="http://www.candacesbookblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/new-bio-photo.jpg" height="279" width="200" /></a> </span></div>
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<b>About the Author:</b></div>
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Elisa Freilich has enjoyed a love affair with language from her earliest days. Raised in rural Monsey, New York, Elisa spent her days reading whatever crossed her path and developed a keen appreciation for the ever-present music in her home – from classical to rock. French lessons and creative writing workshops complemented her adolescence, which was also greatly enhanced by a summer spent abroad at Cambridge University. From the time she could read and write, Elisa could often be found composing poems, song lyrics and satirical newspapers.</div>
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Throughout the years, Elisa has retained her devotion to all genres of books and music and was determined to synthesize her passions into one refreshing and original platform. The result is her debut novel, SILENT ECHO: A Siren’s Tale, which will be published by Diversion Books in September 2013. With her own lyrical style, Elisa has created a world that young adults around the globe will find intensely gripping and refreshingly original. </div>
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<b>Links:</b></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.elisafreilich.com/">Website</a>| <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ElisaFreilichAuthor?ref_type=bookmark">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Elisafreilich">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18569585-silent-echo">Goodreads</a></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Giveaway:</span></b></div>
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Awesome paper lashes like the ones on the cover, Signed poster of the cover and an ebook of<i> Silent Echo</i></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></strong><a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1cb20415/" id="rc-1cb20415" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730291733161697345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323831647037626.post-11274271626056065022014-06-23T19:02:00.000-04:002014-06-25T07:45:25.784-04:00An Inside Look: The Girl who Believed in Fairy Tales by Heidi Garrett<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="yiv3054691490s3" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1403364635032_66259" style="direction: rtl; font-weight: bold;">The Girl Who Believed in Fairy Tales</span></div>
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<span class="yiv3054691490s3" style="direction: rtl; font-weight: bold;">Release Date:</span><span class="yiv3054691490s5" style="direction: rtl;"> June 23, 2014</span></div>
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Heather Baker believes in fairy tales, and she turns to their timeless wisdom whenever life gets difficult. </div>
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Again and again, the playfulness, symbolism, and deeper meaning in fairy tales have filled Heather with hope, nurtured her spirit, and fired her imagination. Sometimes touching, and sometimes humorous, these tales capture the three most transformative experiences in her life: </div>
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—Heather reframes her childhood sorrow in “The Girl Who Watched for Elves” </div>
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—She embarks upon a life imbued with meaning in “The Girl Who Dreamed of Red Shoes” </div>
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—And after taking several wrong turns, she finds the place where she belongs in “The Girl Who Couldn’t Sing” </div>
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The Girl Who Believed in Fairy Tales chronicles the journey of someone who was willing to change the way she viewed the world... and never stopped believing.</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L2TXE92" target="_blank">Amazon </a>| <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22540119-the-girl-who-believed-in-fairy-tales" target="_blank">GoodReads</a></b></div>
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<b>The Archetypal Fairy Tale Journey</b></div>
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Many adults love fairy tales as much as children do. Why is this so? And why are fairy tales and their retellings so enduring?</div>
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In every fairy tale, five things always happen to the fairy tale character: She leaves home, she gets lost in the woods, she faces obstacles and/or tests, she overcomes these challenges, and she finds her happily ever after.</div>
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That journey, the fairy tale character’s journey, is archetypal because it involves the task of discovering and committing to the true Self. Since each of us yearns to connect with the true Self, the archetypal fairy tale journey is compelling in the tips and clues it offers about such an undertaking.</div>
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<b>1.</b></div>
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<b><b><b>Leaving Home</b></b></b></div>
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Fairy Tale Character’s (FTC’s) leave home. The impetus for the departure varies; curiosity, duplicity, parents who are invasive, stepparents who are envious, a call to duty and/or sacrifice—something—ousts the naive child from their secure, loving environment.</div>
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<b><b>Getting Lost in the Woods</b></b></div>
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The FTC always stumbles and falls psychologically, metaphorically, and literally in the first stage of her journey. Her naiveté, fear, and inexperience lead her to make poor choices that inevitably heighten her dire situation.</div>
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<b>Facing Obstacles and Tests</b></div>
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As more trouble is heaped upon the FTC, she is driven to experiment. She must embrace her innate strength, courage, and/or cleverness; and she must make wiser choices in regards to her relationships and who she trusts. Otherwise, she’ll be fated to eke out a meek/mean/meager/impoverished existence… or die.</div>
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<b><b>4.</b></b></div>
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<b><b><b>Overcoming the Challenges</b></b></b></div>
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Once the FTC comes into her own, i.e. once her consciousness has evolved to the point where she has become her own authority, she can achieve mastery over the trials that face her.</div>
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<b>5.</b></div>
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<b><b><b>Living Happily Ever After</b></b></b></div>
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Living in accordance with her true nature, and following her true path, is the FTC’s ultimate living happily ever after. Partnering with the beloved is a function of her matured Self.</div>
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Throughout our very real lives, we cycle through these phases again and again and again. Fairy tales, presumably the province of children, can be quite effective in spurring adults toward believing in themselves—and Happily Ever Afters—as well.</div>
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That is the enduring power of the archetypal fairy tale journey.</div>
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<b><b>About The Girl Who Couldn’t Sing:</b></b></div>
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<i>She began to meditate upon "The Ugly Duckling” for she'd always imagined herself as a misplaced swan. But with all the changes, and her sadness shedding like the skin of snake, she'd stare in the mirror and whisper, “Perhaps, you're not even a bird."</i></div>
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Heather Baker struggles to find the balance between fantasy and reality in her everyday life. Enticed by Neptune, the planet that rules everything hazy and glamourous--she's desperate to become the next indie singer/songwriter sensation. Dogged by Saturn, the planet that rules obstacles and everything practical--she's confronted with the limitations of her abilities and talent.</div>
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Which planet will win?</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="yiv3054691490s6" style="direction: rtl;">“</span><span class="yiv3054691490s5" style="direction: rtl;">The Girl Who Couldn</span><span class="yiv3054691490s6" style="direction: rtl;">’</span><span class="yiv3054691490s5" style="direction: rtl;">t Sing</span><span class="yiv3054691490s6" style="direction: rtl;">” </span><span class="yiv3054691490s5" style="direction: rtl;">is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GFQSNEI" target="_blank">free on Amazon</a> June 23rd-27th!</span></span></b></div>
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<b><b>Author Bio</b></b></div>
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Heidi Garrett is the author of the contemporary fairy tale novella collection, Once Upon a Time Today. In these stand-alone retellings of popular and obscure fairy tales, adult characters navigate the deep woods of the modern landscape to find their Happily Ever Afters.</div>
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She's also the author of the Daughter of Light series, a fantasy about a young half-faerie, half-mortal searching for her place in the Whole. Heidi's latest project is a collaboration with Billie Limpin. They're cooking up a yummy paranormal romance!</div>
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Signup for Heidi's newsletter at: <a href="http://eepurl.com/wWKUj">http://eepurl.com/wWKUj</a> for discounts on all new releases!</div>
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Heidi was born in Texas, and in an attempt to reside in as many cities in that state as she could, made it to Houston, Lubbock, Austin, and El Paso. She now lives in Eastern Washington state with her husband, their two cats, her laptop, and her Kindle.</div>
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Being from the South, she often contemplates the magic of snow.</div>
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<a href="http://www.heidigwrites.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>Website/Blog</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/heidigwrites" target="_blank"><b>Facebook for Heidi Garrett</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/FrostingandBeans" target="_blank"><b>Facebook for The Magic Cupcake Series</b></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Giveaway:</span></b></div>
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5 lucky people get a signed copy of <i>The Girl Who Believed in Fairy Tales</i> & a happily every after bracelet </div>
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US only</div>
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This event was organized by <a href="http://cbbbookpromotions.com/" target="_blank">CBB Book Promotions</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730291733161697345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323831647037626.post-4794301200115901192014-06-04T01:00:00.000-04:002014-06-04T19:42:30.260-04:00Review: Fury by Charlotte McConaghy (Giveaway)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.candacesbookblog.com/2014/04/tour-sign-ups-fury-by-charlotte-mcconaghy-yana-sci-fi-romance-june-2-13.html" target="_blank"> Tour Page and Schedule</a></div>
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<strong>Fury: Book 1 of The Cure by Charlotte McConaghy</strong><br />
348 pages,
Published March 25th, 2014 by Momentum Books, Pan Macmillan
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In the tradition of Divergent comes a novel about a world where negative emotions are stolen ... and only those with fury can stand up and fight.<br />
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Eighteen-year-old Josephine Luquet wakes naked and covered in blood that is not hers on the same day every year—when the blood moon is full. Josi has not responded to the "Cure"—an immunization against anger mandated by the government—and believes herself to be a threat to others.<br />
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Then she meets Luke. Luke has had the Cure but seems different to the other "drones"—and he's dead set on helping Josi discover the truth about herself before the next blood moon.<br />
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But time is running out. Is Luke willing to risk his life to be near her? Does he truly understand what violence she is capable of?<br />
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Raw and full of passion, Fury is a story of love in a dystopian world, and how much we are willing to forgive in the struggle to remember our humanity.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20922678-fury?from_search=true">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fury-Book-Cure-Omnibus-Edition-ebook/dp/B00H8KB55O/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1397078130&sr=8-2&keywords=Fury+by+Charlotte+McConaghy">Amazon</a> </div>
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My Review:</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">One of the most amazing aspects of reviewing books is that often times you come across a book that you might have other wise never had the chance to read. If you are really lucky, it turns out to be an AMAZING book that you want to share with the world. Fury by Charlotte McConaghy is one of those books. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">From the second you begin to read Fury you are sucked in. I knew I was going to love this book from the first few words. It helps that the writing is utterly wonderful! I normally don't share book openings in my reviews but this one deserves to be spotlighted. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>I am a flame of fury. The last flickering flame in a </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>world long since burned out. I have rage threaded</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>through my skin, whispering against my ears, tied</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>tightly around each one of my bones. My eyes, one</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>brown and one blue, leak with it. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Most of the times it frightens me.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>But sometimes I like it. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">If that alone doesn't make you want to run and pick up this book then I don't know what will! The rest of the writing was just as brilliant. Most times the writing was poetic and when it wasn't it was hilarious! I laughed so many times out load while reading this book. Josephine's retorts and sarcastic comments were right up my alley. They brought a bit of light to such a dark circumstance. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I loved the world and the idea behind it. The idea that we as humans would try to remove negative emotions is not completely foreign. We have medication to help with "sadness" and medicine to help deal with angry mood swings. Even in today's society we attempt to find ways to get rid of the bad emotions and only keep the good ones. But that brings up the question: can we know one without the other? I think we can to some extent but I also think we feel are biggest highs when we know what our lowest lows have felt like. I think the author did a great job of presenting the idea that removing one emotion damages the rest of us because if we cannot feel we cannot truly live. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I know a great majority of people are not a fan of multiple POVs but I am in the minority. When done right it can bring so many dimensions to the story. I loved all three of the perspectives. We got to see Josephine as she sees herself and then we see her in two different lights. The way Luke sees her and the way Anthony sees her. This made Josephine so much more real. In life there are many different sides to a story and this also applies to people. I didn't think any of the characters fell flat and I give a lot of credit to Charlotte for keeping me interested in the story all three had to say. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This book was crazy intense and action packed. There was not really a moment of complete peace and I loved that because it kept you on your toes. It made you unable to relax while reading this book because the second you were about to something new would smack you in the face! It is one of those stories that you want to continue reading but are nervous to turn the page. There were a few times that I put down my kindle, paced around my living room, grabbed a drink and THEN braved picking it up again. There is no way you can read this book and not become emotionally invested in the world, the characters and the outcome. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The only bone I have to pick with Fury is the GIANT cliffhanger at the end! REALLY? I needed more! Definitely one of those books that could have been 1000 pages and I still would have devoured it! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Please go out and buy yourself a copy! It is a thrilling story from start to end. It will keep you on your toes. A new favorite of mine! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">~Judith</span></div>
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<strong>About the Author:</strong></div>
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Charlotte started writing her children’s fantasy series ‘The Strangers of Paragor’ as a teenager and has since gone on to publish five novels. After a Masters degree in Screenwriting she wrote ‘Avery’, the first in her adult fantasy series ‘The Chronicles of Kaya’, published by Random House. She now lives in Sydney, Australia, and has just released a new dystopian sci-fi novel called ‘Fury – Book One of The Cure’, published by Momentum.<br />
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<b><b>Connect with the author:</b></b></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.charlottemcconaghy.bounce.com.au/">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Charlotte-McConaghy/746419682036451">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/CharMcConaghy">Twitter</a></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730291733161697345noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323831647037626.post-40166146532544966122014-06-03T00:17:00.001-04:002014-06-03T00:17:41.394-04:00Review: The Golden Cage by Kaitlyn Davis (Giveaway)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<em><strong>The Golden Cage</strong></em> (A Dance of Dragons #0.5) by Kaitlyn Davis<br />
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From bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis comes a fantasy adventure perfect for fans of Throne of Glass, Graceling, and Game of Thrones.</div>
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In the land of Ourthuro, cruelty is a way of life. The king rules with an iron fist and no one dare defy him--no one except his daughter. Princess Leena is keeping a dangerous secret, she has fallen in love with a soldier and it would mean both of their lives if her father ever discovered their affair.</span>
But Leena will risk it all to be with the man she loves--her heart, her life, her freedom. And when her brother's birthday celebration takes a dangerous turn, Leena is forced to make a decision that will change the fate of her nation and eventually the world.
The Golden Cage is a prequel novella to The Shadow Soul (A Dance of Dragons #1)--available now!
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21892106-the-golden-cage?from_search=true" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b></div>
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<b><b>Free Novella:</b></b></div>
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<b><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JEN90C8/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00JEN90C8&linkCode=as2&tag=theoffiweb0b9-20">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-golden-cage-kaitlyn-davis/1119054962?ean=2940045795630">B&N</a> | <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/golden-cage-dance-dragons/id850440504?mt=11">Apple</a> | <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/423347">Smashwords</a></b></b></div>
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My Review:</div>
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From the moment I read the synopsis, I was hooked! I definitely wasn't disappointed after reading it. I think Kaitlyn Davis managed to pack so much into such a short novella. It is often times very hard to capture multiple emotions within a novella because of its short length but I was able to feel fear, horror, love, and hope.<br />
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I was appalled with this world from the minute I started reading. (Keep in mind I am talking about the society not the writing) I was horrified with the way women were treated and I hated the King and the people who stood by idle. There is a line where Princess Leenaka describes her sisters as "A backdrop. Pieces of art to be admired." This summed it up perfectly and it made me want to jump through the screen and teach the King a lesson or two. The sad part is that this is not far from the truth in some places around the world. I thought it was great that the author was bringing the issue of women objectification and the inequality and lack of voice some women have to light, whether it was her main focus or not.<br />
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Another thing I found particularly interesting and unique within the world was the use of tattoos. I won't go into great detail about it since I think it adds to the story. But I did love the presentation of it and the role it played towards the end of the novella. The symbolism behind it was both beautiful and frightening.<br />
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Overall I really enjoyed this novella and I would even go as far as calling it my favorite novella thus far! I loved that I could read it without reading the first book in the series and not feel a disconnect. It was very well written and engaging and it left me wanting more! I though the romance was sweet and would have loved to see even more of it and how it had developed over time. The only negative I would mention is that I would have really loved to read more about her "gift" and have it explained more in depth but I understand why that couldn't happen within this story and so it is more of a selfish complaint. I will definitely be picking up and reviewing the first book in the series: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20903363-the-shadow-soul?ac=1">The Shadow Soul</a>!<br />
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This novella is FREE so you should all go out and check it out!<br />
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~Judith</div>
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<strong>Author Bio:</strong></div>
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<span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1398727629527_159887">Kaitlyn Davis is the bestselling author of the</span></div>
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Midnight Fire series, a young adult paranormal </div>
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romance, and the A Dance of Dragons series, a young adult epic fantasy. Kaitlyn graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Johns Hopkins University with a B.A. in Writing Seminars. She's been writing ever since she picked up her first crayon and is overjoyed to finally share her work with the world. She currently lives in New York City and dreams of having a puppy of her own.</div>
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<b>Author Links:</b></div>
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<b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/KaitlynDavisBooks.com">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KaitlynDavisBooks">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/DavisKaitlyn">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://kaitlyndavisbooks.tumblr.com/">Tumblr</a> | <a href="http://www.wattpad.com/user/KaitlynDavisBooks">Wattpad</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5276341.Kaitlyn_Davis">Goodreads</a> </b></div>
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Giveaway:</h1>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730291733161697345noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323831647037626.post-84552827737935539932014-06-03T00:17:00.000-04:002014-06-03T00:17:08.847-04:00New Release: Wreck You by Jennifer Snyder (Meet Ian + Giveaway) <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's a release day party for<em> Wreck You</em> by Jennifer Snyder! <em>Wreck You</em> is book three in the Coldcreek series. <i> Wreck You</i> is only .99 cents for a limited time!</div>
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<strong>About the Book:</strong>
Outspoken and flirtatious, Lauren Myers is more than most guys can handle. Even so, a disastrous trip to her boyfriend’s hometown in Greece leaves her reeling, forcing her to reevaluate her views on men and relationships all together.
Level-headed and reserved, Ian Mason is perfectly content with his life the way that it is—until a phone call from his mother flips his life upside down. Suddenly, everything changes and he’s forced to hold the weight of the family business all on his own.
After a chance meeting draws them together, the two will learn love often finds those who aren’t necessarily looking, and that there are moments in life that hold within them all the power to wreck you.
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<strong><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21840859-wreck-you" target="_blank">Goodreads </a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wreck-You-A-Coldcreek-Novel-ebook/dp/B00KPDPWFA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1401642168&sr=8-1&keywords=Wreck+You+by+Jennifer+Snyder" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/434080" target="_blank">Smashwords</a> | <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/wreck-you/id872845924?mt=11" target="_blank">iTunes</a> | <a href="http://m.barnesandnoble.com/w/wreck-you-jennifer-snyder/1119638605?ean=2940149587438" target="_blank">B&N</a> </strong></div>
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Meet Ian Mason</h1>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibaBcTHJQ6w0SBnZUXibGHiiUIU9LL0PBH5oqC1quRZoc5qXQ64nR_z9VWh3eyLU5Z0L5pLobFn0idq78hvkXh9ToRp8Ua6XOzIHn5MmqldzAAq050y4FxVp-45dydA65fM8hYOTkHatM/s1600/Meet-Ian-Mason-682x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibaBcTHJQ6w0SBnZUXibGHiiUIU9LL0PBH5oqC1quRZoc5qXQ64nR_z9VWh3eyLU5Z0L5pLobFn0idq78hvkXh9ToRp8Ua6XOzIHn5MmqldzAAq050y4FxVp-45dydA65fM8hYOTkHatM/s1600/Meet-Ian-Mason-682x1024.jpg" height="640" width="427" /></a></div>
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Super sweet and a little shy at times, Ian is a genuine good guy. I’ve wrote cocky arrogant types in the past, and while I love to add a dose of both in my male characters from time to time, writing a straight up good guy was refreshing.</div>
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Don’t get me wrong though, Ian is no dud in the personality department…</div>
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<b>“Confident enough, are you kidding me? I just got a tattoo.” He shifted his eyes from the road to glance at me for a split-second. “Sweetheart, I went from confident, to dead sexy, to fucking badass in a single afternoon.”</b></div>
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Ian’s story is one of responsibility. It’s all about learning that sometimes in life you have to step up your game for those you love, while at the same time it reminds us that stepping out of our comfort zone occasionally is healthy.</div>
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<strong>Author Bio:</strong></div>
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<strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCHghVXXayNlElhhK0YDQoLHjUCiHqTRBIwpmOpOG8vUeQLgK89a7RJWBF0LPXQp6JH4Kf694keLK-5hZV_Cv27mTTllXk2PuUKS1X8MugM8BlfE3e0gt2WHaEdIi39F230RthC97nA/s1600/SAM_1626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCHghVXXayNlElhhK0YDQoLHjUCiHqTRBIwpmOpOG8vUeQLgK89a7RJWBF0LPXQp6JH4Kf694keLK-5hZV_Cv27mTTllXk2PuUKS1X8MugM8BlfE3e0gt2WHaEdIi39F230RthC97nA/s1600/SAM_1626.JPG" height="315" width="320" /></a></strong></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Jennifer Snyder lives in North Carolina were she spends most of her time writing New Adult and Young Adult Fiction, reading, and struggling to stay on top of housework. She is a tea lover with an obsession for Post-it notes and smooth writing pens. Jennifer lives with her husband and two children, who endure listening to songs that spur inspiration on repeat and tolerate her love for all paranormal, teenage-targeted TV shows.</div>
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<strong><a href="http://jennifersnyderbooks.com/" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1400793740694_364728" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="http://twitter.com/jennsnyder04" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1400793740694_364573" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank">Twitter</a> |<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/760553.Jennifer_Snyder" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1400793740694_364571" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorjennifersnyder" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1400793740694_364730" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank">Facebook Author Page</a> |<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Snyder/e/B00529EAJ6" target="_blank"> Amazon Author Page</a> | <a href="http://eepurl.com/vVRsb" target="_blank">Newsletter </a></strong></div>
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<strong>Giveaway:</strong></h1>
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US only</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730291733161697345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323831647037626.post-68712394686920237272014-05-26T09:00:00.000-04:002014-05-26T09:06:10.412-04:00Review: Branded<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdM8vmUxAif3zEz0M0PspQ763kBV1BEfXSg423mDcDZyZXxCK8nWSoEzN4SpLlviq5NjyikF9DahA01B2Sqdxy4zuXWWzrMv4XE2Qo4xzCEWGjseSCXu5kaJBZ5H05giMtLHE-qLZgik/s1600/Branded.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdM8vmUxAif3zEz0M0PspQ763kBV1BEfXSg423mDcDZyZXxCK8nWSoEzN4SpLlviq5NjyikF9DahA01B2Sqdxy4zuXWWzrMv4XE2Qo4xzCEWGjseSCXu5kaJBZ5H05giMtLHE-qLZgik/s1600/Branded.jpg" height="265" width="570" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Branded by Abi Ketner & Missy Kalicicki</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>A Sinners Series</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnI4pE8IGd_c1o-TwzqjVVe_-50WIewT8S_8yNUujl7zw0Oi0A908AlRPNwYBjmqSMwXKRk6V1ZjnE37faa6uP0YSP850HkQG6_fFyEWJACy_SXHHdBwhzfi0ABu9JPZrugEAOE6ejsP0/s1600/20647319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnI4pE8IGd_c1o-TwzqjVVe_-50WIewT8S_8yNUujl7zw0Oi0A908AlRPNwYBjmqSMwXKRk6V1ZjnE37faa6uP0YSP850HkQG6_fFyEWJACy_SXHHdBwhzfi0ABu9JPZrugEAOE6ejsP0/s1600/20647319.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Fifty years ago the Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadly sins were the downfall of society. He created the Hole where sinners are branded according to their sins and might survive a few years. At best. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Now LUST wraps around my neck like blue fingers strangling me. I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit and now the Hole is my new home. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Darkness. Death. Violence. Pain. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Now every day is a fight for survival. But I won’t die. I won’t let them win.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">The Hole can’t keep me. The Hole can’t break me. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">I am more than my brand. I’m a fighter. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">My name is Lexi Hamilton, and this is my story.</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20647319-branded"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmQuHlJtwq3gB2WJm-iSU1tnurQFnL9pmS0qdu3CIgdc4d5n3vqyzPKj12_ISTITf1PyE_ZTiqf7do826XJS07vFsOxAhQ4YrSTLO3BFK-wnLZI5WS1sYCQsicR9hFHg5vagFbi7xFxk/s1600/976da-addtogoodreads.png" /></a></div>
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<b>Excerpt</b></h3>
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I turn on the faucet for a long while only to discover
ice-cold water rushing out. The water never warms and I begin to understand.
The Commander thinks he can wash away my soul by freezing me to death. He
thinks he can destroy me by stripping away my possessions. But he can’t and I
won’t let him take my memories, my ambition, and my pride.</div>
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He thinks I’m so easily broken.</div>
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The Commander doesn’t know anything about me, what I grew up
with, what I endured—the father I lost, the mother I hate, the brother who
walked out of my life, and the stepfather I was forced to accept. He thinks
since I was rich, making me poor will cause me to give up. What he doesn’t
understand is that, after my father passed away, I grew up behind walls of
hatred. I had nothing, but had everything at the same time. I owned expensive
clothes, enjoyed good schooling, and lived in a nice home. But my body was just
a shell protecting an empty, desperate heart. My life was a colorful façade.</div>
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I had so much time to sit and think. I spent the majority of
my life between four walls. I was abandoned, neglected, starved, betrayed, and
abused. I’ve already been treated like the scum of the earth, so the Hole is
nothing new. He wants to erase every sign of my existence on this earth, but I
won’t let that happen. He can strip me naked, but he’ll never reach my soul.</div>
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It’s personal, completely personal.</div>
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<b>My Review</b></div>
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First of all, stop right there! Open a new tab and go purchase a copy of Branded! </div>
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I won't be able to get into words how much I love and recommend this book but I will give it a shot. From the second I started reading I was hooked. The first few chapters had more action than most books have overall! I loved the descriptions in this book it made everything feel so real.</div>
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I have to say I have read tons of dystopians and even a few horror books and none have disturbed me as much. I say this in the BEST way possible! I do have to warn squeamish readers, there are some graphic scenes but they add SO much to the story. It was a reminder of just how horrible this world was. Often times when I read dystopians I picture myself living in the world, and usually I think to myself that I could do it. In the case of Branded, I didn't even want to try because I don't think I could survive. The environment was so harsh and unforgiving. I loved that there was a lot more chaos in this world than you normally see in societies. In many books we are often painted this picture of Utopia and then shown the issues with it. Branded on the other hand painted the picture for what it was right from the start. </div>
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I absolutely loved the characters. They all had so much personality. I must say though that my favorite character was Alyssa. She helped ME see beauty in even the darkest of situations. Another favorite character of mine was Sutton. He was a voice of reason and I loved seeing someone that had not let the Hole break them. Branded also had plenty of despicable characters that were so well written that I cringed at any mention of them! </div>
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This book made me angry, uncomfortable, sad, happy, nervous, and hopeful. I enjoyed feeling all that. Sometimes we have moments in life devoid of certain emotions and it is important to remember to feel. I really enjoyed the uncomfortable parts because it led me to question my own tolerance. There were times where I questioned if I would have the energy or will to live in such a harsh society. The thing is, that the Hole is not complete fantasy. There are situations in parts of the world right now where that much harshness and violence is a fact of life for it's citizens. It made me really grateful for the society I live in now regardless of it's flaws. </div>
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There is not much more I can say about this book without spoiling the experience. I read the book with out much knowledge about it and I am grateful for that! All I can say is please go out and buy this book! It is an amazing story of bravery, fear, love, and hope. I cannot wait until the next installment in the series! I need it NOW! :) </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
~Judith</div>
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<b>Purchase</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Branded-Sinners-Abi-Ketner-ebook/dp/B00DOPHK56/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400709329&sr=8-1&keywords=Branded"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5aSsP5egDpc5gkrUOykNCGpuJyHz95yRDgksFujqrpYe4IgtpZZ6DylN-OiaqRvDvuKsyIpQrsA691Zn1bfK3z00lEMy9gPvMzPnbTxgBEbTSK_yNO4bCOPJzbXHoehKpX4t9hwQxJbI/s1600/amazon.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/branded-abi-ketner/1115861790?ean=2940016481692"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjp0jil-Xi5cwR2qG99COSIZ65o6YxyxHs1_6rw1NFjE5pIr3Zvhf62qg5_LF1ErwvBNEpum-xXIahK7eTk5Fb8YQV8BCu2gQ7DBdC9iJ1c5zb93Au0Jd4QXuNhgDvbhv0l36aDO0nAmo/s1600/barnesnoble-e1397693154264.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/branded/id667631006?mt=11" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxGz72hd6NlTnOlE2obFtnKPMXPK9eAk1P4v6ief71tlYdYH89JFx9QgZtIA-lHkwNdaqF0RTrSHWc7WQmaVafnSOxaT9_mT_KHwwkPqaVfjd5IzyOOMPmNuPRXRUtCzc1bBEcVgQhxZ0/s1600/iBookstore.png" height="63" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglp7PbxXVjas_4NXUGu4ZT9nW7lekd3-g_4nmamODqhtwgC2roFfNyxeIKN-UhWrMo-lLm5bsMyoH-flpT1zoZyW3HcVj_e-lxBuRUsOFLN01cWRMYrEV0nVK8rmnbJbMX8m3Rh_eZnbQ/s1600/64317_701434279897078_800434602_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglp7PbxXVjas_4NXUGu4ZT9nW7lekd3-g_4nmamODqhtwgC2roFfNyxeIKN-UhWrMo-lLm5bsMyoH-flpT1zoZyW3HcVj_e-lxBuRUsOFLN01cWRMYrEV0nVK8rmnbJbMX8m3Rh_eZnbQ/s1600/64317_701434279897078_800434602_n.jpg" height="330" width="400" /></a></div>
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<h3 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>About Abi and Missy </b></h3>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEEHnHsSsF8p6R7BnWZDnIf52xjwmBRG4Bx3XNCsbhPhBtYKR2KgHNZ01N12QQ2ZwcOvoJMO9lEPh8anBLCJoeex36ZgmnZt_LDQwsoC0spxwosSVk9tZkzMbWLdIhyphenhyphenJAToE8LTrmiDA/s1600/T2c-300x200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEEHnHsSsF8p6R7BnWZDnIf52xjwmBRG4Bx3XNCsbhPhBtYKR2KgHNZ01N12QQ2ZwcOvoJMO9lEPh8anBLCJoeex36ZgmnZt_LDQwsoC0spxwosSVk9tZkzMbWLdIhyphenhyphenJAToE8LTrmiDA/s1600/T2c-300x200.jpg" /></a><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Abi and Missy met in the summer of 1999 at college orientation and have been best friends ever since. After college, they added jobs, husbands and kids to their lives, but they still found time for their friendship. Instead of hanging out on weekends, they went to dinner once a month and reviewed books. What started out as an enjoyable hobby has now become an incredible adventure.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.abiandmissy.com/">Website</a> / <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AbiandMissy">Facebook</a> /<a href="https://twitter.com/AbiandMissy"> Twitter</a> / <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6948816.Abi_Ketner">Abi's Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6948817.Missy_Kalicicki">Missy's Goodreads</a></span></span></span></div>
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<i><b>Zoe & Zak and the Tiger Temple </b></i><b>by Lars Guignard</b>
<b>Read by Sonja Field</b><br />
<b>Genre:</b> Middle Grade Magic, Fantasy Adventure. Ages 8-13
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<strong>About the Book:</strong></div>
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Zoe and Zak have learned some things since their first semester at Moonstock Himalayan Academy in India: #1 Don't trust the parrots. #2 Don't eat the food. #3 And most importantly . . . don't stick around if something crawls out of the lava hole beneath your school. Last semester, Zoe and Zak returned the first lost Noble Truth to its rightful home. Now, the seventh graders are back in India for their second semester at Moonstock, their boarding school high in the Himalayan mountains where impossible things seem to happen on a regular basis. School kicks off with the Activity Week Challenge in the tiny mountain kingdom of Bhutan where the students must deliver medical supplies. Things take a turn for the worse when Zak becomes deathly ill after an encounter with a strange floating bubble. On returning to Moonstock, Zoe and Zak discover that a creature has come through the lava hole far below their dormitory. When Zoe and Zak follow the creature, they soon learn what they must do. They have been tasked with finding the second lost Noble Truth--the Tiger Eye of Justice. Finding the Tiger Eye sounds like an impossible mission, and it's only made more confusing when Zak discovers that he has been given a powerful gift to help with the task. But Zak's new gift is a double-edged sword, and if Zoe and Zak don't find the Tiger Eye quickly, Zak's time will run out. The Tiger Temple takes Zoe and Zak deep into an exotic world of magical enchantment and heart-pounding action. It promises to be the most thrilling Zoe and Zak adventure yet.</div>
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Audio sample is under the cover on the<a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/Kids/Zoe-Zak-and-the-Tiger-Temple-Audiobook/B00J2HK3RC/ref=a_hp_c2b_1_1_i?ie=UTF8&pf_rd_r=0XG7P1AMB18QAH86KS58&pf_rd_m=A2ZO8JX97D5MN9&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=5000&pf_rd_p=1755816682&pf_rd_s=center-2-b" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> audible page</a> if you want to sample it.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/Kids/Zoe-Zak-and-the-Tiger-Temple-Audiobook/B00J2HK3RC/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1397676794&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Audible</a> | <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/audiobook/zoe-zak-tiger-temple-zoe-zak/id843542717" target="_blank"> iTunes </a>|<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tiger-Temple-Fantasy-Action-Adventure-ebook/dp/B00HMKEPDY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1397676886&sr=1-1&keywords=zoe+%26+zak+and+the+tiger+temple" target="_blank"> Amazon</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20535026-zoe-zak-and-the-tiger-temple" target="_blank">GoodReads</a></b><br />
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<b> My Review:</b></div>
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I didn't have much experience with Audiobooks outside of realistic fiction because I was always afraid that it would be so much harder to get into a fantasy or adventure story without reading it myself. Zoe and Zak and the Tiger Temple definitely proved me wrong! The story just seemed to play right in front of my eyes like a movie and I found myself closing my eyes a lot while listening to it. I don't know what it was but in this case I feel the audio enhanced the story so well. I sometimes find that audiobooks can drag on a bit and the sentences just become a blur but in this case I hung to every word! I wanted to keep listening and I felt like I was part of the adventure: Zoe and Zak and Judith! :)</div>
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The story itself was great! I find that most Middle Grade novels have epic adventures, and this was no different. One of my favorite things about Zoe and Zak and the Tiger Temple was the setting! I absolutely love when books take place in foreign lands! This book was like taking a much cheaper flight right into the Himalayan Mountains of India! Regardless of all the crazy and dangerous things they face in those mountains, I found myself wanting to go!! I loved Zoe and Zak as characters because they embodied everything we wished we were as kids. They were living out the fantasy and the adventure I could only have dreamed about when I was their age. That's not to say that both Zoe and Zak don't deal with some issues all of us can relate to, such as bullying, embarrassment, and the joys of success. </div>
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I listened to this one with out having read the previous two and I didn't feel out of the loop at all. I love series like this when you can jump in at any point and enjoy each individual story on it's own. I do however plan on picking up both very soon because I was left wanting more! Overall I HIGHLY recommend this book! Not just for your child but for yourself as well! It doesn't matter what age you are, we can all take something away from Zoe and Zak. I know it left me wanting to be more brave and adventurous! It also teaches us the meaning and value of friendship and that is something we all need to remember. So buy yourself a copy, sit outside, and prepare yourself for a magnificent, magical adventure! </div>
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<b>About the Author:</b><br />
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpHt2f9_6M6IVp5OxQOCnzXce-iNguHLuZ8Jvg0pRFm00pwFJDmE934_admnjuKa12laOFStNB4pEREmXufIpYgnP9yBXNceUfun4fFE7gi2XOQQzcZJRaEFY_ZjOXKffPi6-Bx9cuQ/s1600/Lars+Guignard+Photo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpHt2f9_6M6IVp5OxQOCnzXce-iNguHLuZ8Jvg0pRFm00pwFJDmE934_admnjuKa12laOFStNB4pEREmXufIpYgnP9yBXNceUfun4fFE7gi2XOQQzcZJRaEFY_ZjOXKffPi6-Bx9cuQ/s1600/Lars+Guignard+Photo.jpeg" /></a></b></div>
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Prior to writing novels, Lars Guignard wrote for film and television. As a teenager he attended boarding school in the Indian Himalayas and his experiences there provided the inspiration for the Zoe and Zak series which now include: Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopardand Zoe & Zak and the Yogi’s Curse and Zoe & Zak and the Tiger Temple.
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He lives in the Pacific Northwest where he dodges bears and cougars while hiking & skiing the magnificent Coast Mountain Range.</div>
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For news about new releases, please join his email list here: Zoe&ZakAdventures@gmail.com</div>
He can also be reached at the following places:
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Website: www.larsguignard.com</div>
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<b><a href="https://twitter.com/Lars_Gu">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.facebook.com/LarsGuignardAuthor">Facebook</a> | </b><b style="font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.5em;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5149795.Lars_Guignard">Goodreads</a></b></div>
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<b>About the narrator:</b>
Sonja Field combines her life-long passion for reading with her skill as an actress to bring audiobooks to life! A dynamic and versatile narrator, she has logged hundreds of hours recording textbooks with an organization called Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic. She loved recording the action-packed Zoe & Zak and the Yogi’s Curse because of its wealth of colorful, quirky, and memorable characters.
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Giveaway:</h2>
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d34746205/" id="rc-d34746205" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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This tour was organized by<a href="http://cbbbookpromotions.com/" target="_blank"> CBB Book Promotions</a>.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730291733161697345noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323831647037626.post-56049744859499795202014-05-22T10:00:00.000-04:002014-05-22T13:38:47.787-04:00Cover Reveal: The Summer Sacrifice by Holly Hinton<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/summerreveal-1.png"><img alt="summerreveal (1)" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-191" src="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/summerreveal-1.png" height="332" width="400" /></a></div>
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Today we are excited to share the cover process via images and the final cover for the middle grade fantasy <em>The Summer Sacrifice</em> by Holly Hinton. The book is scheduled for release on June 21st, 2014.</div>
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The cover artist has provided us with the images to show the process of creating the cover.</div>
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<a href="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Thumbnails-a-b-c-small.jpg"><img alt="Thumbnails-a-b-c small" class="aligncenter wp-image-175" src="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Thumbnails-a-b-c-small.jpg" height="347" width="640" /></a></div>
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These three concept images were the first pictures David created for The Summer Sacrifice. Thumbnail A evoked the atmosphere of a mysterious fantasy, B gave the impression of a teenage classic, and C was more poetic in tone. Holly settled on a mixture of A and B as the basis for David to start constructing the final cover.</div>
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<a href="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Thumbnails-color-mood-d-e-f-small.jpg"><img alt="Thumbnails-color-mood-d-e-f small" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-177" src="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Thumbnails-color-mood-d-e-f-small.jpg" height="308" width="600" /></a></div>
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These drawings were 'speed-painted' by David. They are rough in nature as their purpose was to help decide the cover's general colour scheme.</div>
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<a href="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Pencil-line-art-artwork-small.jpg"><img alt="Pencil-line-art-artwork small" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174" src="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Pencil-line-art-artwork-small.jpg" height="691" width="500" /></a></div>
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David drew a detailed sketch of the friendship group. He used this as a guide for the final painting of the group on the cover. He kept the 'camera' low, almost on the floor, to make the characters look more heroic and the serpent bonfire bigger. He worked to get a sense of wind into the image to give it an outdoor feeling and to add dynamism, and also to break up the composition's symmetry.</div>
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<a href="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/06-work-in-progress-detail.jpg"><img alt="06-work-in-progress-detail" class="aligncenter wp-image-176" src="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/06-work-in-progress-detail.jpg" height="522" width="487" /></a></div>
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David paid great attention to working out the many light sources in the painting, and particularly how they would interact with the faces and bodies of the five central characters. There is a strong backlight from the fire, a mix of bounced lights from the environment, and diffuse bluish light from the sky.</div>
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<a href="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/work-in-progress-global-small.jpg"><img alt="work-in-progress-global small" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-178" src="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/work-in-progress-global-small.jpg" height="754" width="500" /></a></div>
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This version of the cover is close to the final one. The serpent and the title still required small changes, and David also did some other general polishing, including painting the moon's glow onto the vines and leaves framing the picture, and adding the stars.</div>
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<a href="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Screenshot.jpg"><img alt="Screenshot" class="aligncenter wp-image-179" src="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Screenshot.jpg" height="350" width="560" /></a></div>
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This screenshot shows the front, back and spine of the cover from inside Krita, the open-source software David uses to create his work.</div>
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<a href="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/The-Summer-Sacrifice-Paperback_export.jpg"><img alt="The-Summer-Sacrifice Paperback_export" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-180" src="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/The-Summer-Sacrifice-Paperback_export-1024x742.jpg" height="420" width="580" /></a></div>
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The final cover for the paperback.</div>
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<a href="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/The-Summer-Sacrifice_cover.jpg"><img alt="The-Summer-Sacrifice_cover" class="aligncenter wp-image-181" src="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/The-Summer-Sacrifice_cover.jpg" height="640" width="400" /></a></div>
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The final cover for the ebook.</div>
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<strong>Book Description:</strong>
Three hundred years ago, the Great Goddess sent a storm to destroy mankind. She nearly succeeded.
One island survived.
These days, the Goddess stops the spread of evil by sacrificing the Island’s rotten teenage souls. Or so the story goes...
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When Jamie Tuff survives her Taking, she thinks her worst nightmares are behind her. But then her soul starts wandering into other people’s bodies, and she
discovers that the Island harbours a deadly secret.
Now, she must save her little world from a fate worse than—well, worse than what the Goddess has already done to it.
Join Jamie Tuff and friends on their adventures through land, sea and sky, in a world where stars walk and Halfhawks fly.
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<strong><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21873863-the-summer-sacrifice-master-game-1?from_search=true" target="_blank">Add to your Goodreads Shelf</a>!</strong></div>
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<strong>About the Cover Designer:</strong><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;"><b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1400268224178_248109">David Revoy</b> (nickname </span><b style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;">Deevad</b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;">), is a french artist living in the south of France. </span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;">He has more than 10 years of experience working remotely as a freelancer. His skills and expertise includes </span><b style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;">illustration</b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;">, </span><b style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;">art-direction</b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;">, </span><b style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;">concept-art</b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;"> and </span><b style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;">teaching</b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;">. In short: he's a 2D artist (he uses drawing, painting, digital painting techniques) and paints custom artworks for books, posters, board-games, video-games and movies. His clients are located all around the world.</span>
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Since 2009 he has painted using only free and open-source software. He uses Krita, Mypaint, and Gimp on Linux. This technical choice doesn't affect compatibility with his clients: he still provides industry standards and can work or open any regular files.</div>
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He can be followed on <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/110962949352937565678/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" title="follow me on G+, I use it as a blog; for everything">Google+</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/davidrevoy" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" title="follow me on Twitter, I post links, update, and sketch">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://davidrevoy.tumblr.com/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" title="follow me on Tumblr: I post extra sketch and screenshot there">Tumblr</a> or <a href="http://deevad.deviantart.com/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" title="follow me on deviantArt: I post extra sketch and even experimentations.">deviantArt</a>.</div>
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Visit him at: <a href="http://www.davidrevoy.com/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank">http://www.davidrevoy.com/</a></div>
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<strong>About the Author:</strong><br />
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<a href="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/holly.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="holly" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-184" src="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/holly-300x300.png" height="300" width="300" /></a>Holly grew up in a small, sleepy village in Suffolk. The acting bug hit her at age nine, when she was asked to play Baboushka in the school nativity. That same year she played the lead role of a naughty black poodle in a pet parlour themed ballet, and she thought she had made it. Years passed, but the acting bug didn’t. She went to Goldsmiths, University of London to study Drama, after which she completed her actor training at Arts Ed.
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Writing a book was never part of the plan. But life’s full of swerves and surprises and ideas dropping into people’s heads. Holly had an idea drop into hers, and that idea became The Summer Sacrifice, and The Summer Sacrifice became the first book of the Master Game Series.</div>
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<strong>For more information please visit: <a href="http://www.hollyhinton.com/" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank">http://www.hollyhinton.com/</a></strong><br />
<strong><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8131385.Holly_Hinton" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HollyHintonAuthor" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="http://hollyhinton1.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/HollyHinton1" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/hollyhinton1/the-summer-sacrifice/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></strong></div>
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This event was organized by <a href="http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/" target="_blank">CBB Book Promotions.</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730291733161697345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323831647037626.post-3191391597233981882014-05-14T23:19:00.003-04:002014-05-14T23:19:27.100-04:00Bout of Books Update: Days 1, 2, and 3Hey lovelies,<br />
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So you remember last week when I said I would be putting up daily updates...well that went well. NOT! I'm terribly sorry but life gets to you sometimes. :(<br />
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Anyways, this will be a collective update of days 1-3. There is not a terribly big amount to report so might as well put it all together.<br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79;">MONDAY:</span><br />
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Monday was a big flop reading wise. I think I got like 50 pages read, if that. I picked up <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1582996.City_of_Ashes?ac=1">City of Ashes</a> and took it to work with me with the intention of getting some reading done during my lunch break. Between getting some food, eating, and constant interruptions from co-workers, 13 pages was all I got read. Then when I got home later that night I read a bit more and then I was too tired to continue.<br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79;">TUESDAY: </span><br />
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Tuesday was a pretty great reading day for me. I had the day off so I woke up at around 8:30 AM and began reading at around nine. I read most of the day, taking a break to clean up a bit. I got about 400 pages read! Meaning I finished City of Ashes. It was great!! I didn't want to pick up <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3777732-city-of-glass?ac=1">City of Glass</a> right away because I needed a small break. I ended up watching some Booktube videos instead. BUT I did order <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6752378-city-of-fallen-angels?ac=1">City of Fallen Angels</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8755776-city-of-lost-souls?ac=1">City of Lost Souls</a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13568619-the-shadowhunter-s-codex?ac=1">The Shadowhunter's Codex</a>! I am so excited to hopefully catch up in this series before <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8755785-city-of-heavenly-fire?ac=1">City of Heavenly Fire</a> comes out May 27th!<br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79;">WEDNESDAY: </span><br />
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I haven't gotten much reading done today. I did read the <a href="http://www.cassandraclare.com/my-writing/excerpts-extras/kissed/">bonus scene</a> between Magnus and Alec, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I also picked up City of Glass and read about 100 pages. AND then I watched the live show for TFIOS music! Which isn't reading but it is book related! :) I am not sure how much more I will read before the night is over. I am hoping to finish City of Glass tomorrow but I am not so sure seeing as I have to do some reading for Uni. Regardless I am really enjoying this read-a-thon!<br />
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Let me know how you guys have done and what you are reading now!<br />
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~JudithAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730291733161697345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323831647037626.post-59756359686784997942014-05-12T15:05:00.001-04:002014-05-12T15:05:29.954-04:00So You Want To Be A #GIRLBOSS ?<b><span style="font-size: large;">Review: <span style="color: #e06666;">#GIRLBOSS</span> by Sophia Amoruso</span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Title: #GIRLBOSS<br />Author: Sophia Amoruso</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Year: 2014<br />Pages: 256<br />Format: Hardcover</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><strong style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><span style="font-size: large;">T</span></strong><strong style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">he founder of Nasty Gal offers a sassy and irreverent manifesto for ambitious young women</strong><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">At seventeen, Sophia Amoruso decided to forgo continuing education to pursue a life of hitchhiking, dumpster diving, and petty thievery. Now, at twenty-nine, she is the Founder, CEO, and Creative Director of Nasty Gal, a $100+ million e-tailer that draws A-list publicity and rabid fans for its leading-edge fashion and provocative online persona. Her story is extraordinary—and only part of the appeal of </span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">#GIRLBOSS</span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">.</span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">This aspirational book doesn’t patronize young women the way many business experts do. Amoruso shows readers how to channel their passion and hard work, while keeping their insecurities from getting in the way. She offers straight talk about making your voice heard and doing meaningful work.</span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;" /><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">She’s proof that you can be a huge success without giving up your spirit of adventure or distinctive style. As she writes, �I have three pieces of advice I want you to remember: Don’t ever grow up. Don’t become a bore. Don’t let The Man get to you. OK? Cool. Then let’s do this.” ~ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18667945-girlboss?ac=1">Goodreads</a> </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Let me just start by saying that I am not usually one to pick up a memoir/self-help type book; however, from the moment this book was announced to be released (by the Bad Ass Chick herself) I knew I just had to grab it. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><i>NASTY GAL--- </i>A controversial, yet appropriate name for online fashion store that I, dare I say, love and quite frequently obsess over, was started by CEO, Founder, and Creative Director Sophia Amoruso. Her first book #GIRLBOSS will take you on the wildest-- at least for the moment-- ride of your life all the while helping you put yours together.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">(<i>NASTY GAL</i>--- because we all have a little bad side to give a little hell to the world)</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">I mean who wouldn't want to become a rich, famous, and most importantly, self-confident #GIRLBOSS? You learn to love yourself, have faith in what you do, don't take s*** from anyone and work hard until you make it (in whatever area of your life: work, romance, life itself). </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">With various tips and tricks, Sophia will guide and teach you the right ways (aka whatever you feel comfortable with) and all the wrong ways she went about it. The secret to being a #GIRLBOSS is about creating your own life, not taking someone else's. That's what this book is all about!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Sophia shows you that failing isn't as bad as it seems nor is it the end, but just the beginning. Her life was full of mistakes (even she says so), but she never stopped. She kept going with her instincts and her street smarts and became the best #GIRLBOSS we know (and all before she was 30)! She doesn't sugarcoat the truth but rather tells it like it is. Even if your life wasn't as crazy as hers, you can relate to her perspective on life because inside all of us is a little <strike style="font-style: italic;">Nasty Gal</strike> just waiting to show the world what we can do. And that means jamming to the beat of your own drum.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">So all you girls out there, I recommend you get your hands on this ASAP! This empowering book will keep you on your toes. It will change your life and your attitude, because it sure changed mine. Life is all about perspective and how you deal with the bad and make it better. I promise you'll want to read more and more of this non-stop action. I wasn't able to put it down and I know you won't either. And regardless of your age, you can definitely become a #GIRLBOSS!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And as she says:</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"</span></span></span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">Don’t ever grow up. Don’t become a bore. Don’t let The Man get to you.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">"</span></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kristy <3</span></span></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730291733161697345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323831647037626.post-91292316385996821412014-05-11T22:40:00.000-04:002014-05-12T00:15:17.562-04:00Bout of Books! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; text-align: start;">The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 12th and runs through Sunday, May 18th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. </span><b style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; text-align: start;">For all Bout of Books 10 information and updates, be sure to visit the <a href="http://boutofbooks.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #00a9ac; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Bout of Books</a> blog. </b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 18.479999542236328px; text-align: start;">- From the Bout of Books team</span></span></div>
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HEY LOVELIES!!<br />
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It is once again time for the Bout of Books Read-a-thon and I could not be more excited! Last time when I participated I did really well reading around 6 or 7 books. This time around I am working and so I don't think I will be able to read as much. :( Regardless it is motivation to get some reading done!<br />
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This go around I am not making a TBR list at all. I have been mood reading a lot lately and I really have no clue what I am going to want to read this week. The only one I am sure I will pick up is City of Ashes since I just finished City of Bones. Everything else is up in the air and I'll find out as I go along. I am however setting myself the goal of reading 4 books. I think it might be a little high considering I have to work but if I manage my time I should be able to.<br />
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I will try to do separate daily updates with how much I read and what I am thinking about the book so far. And I will also try to do as many challenges as I can. They are so much fun!<br />
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Let me know if you are participating and what you will be reading!!! :)<br />
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~Judith Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730291733161697345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323831647037626.post-23749092280993733632014-05-10T00:30:00.000-04:002014-05-10T09:55:21.334-04:00THIS IS SARAH by Ally Malinenko Cover Reveal! <div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I am very excited to have Ally Malinenko on the blog today, sharing the cover of her YA novel, <i>THIS IS SARAH</i>, and talking about writer's block. Take it away, Ally!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Writer’s block is defined by <i>Merriam-Webster</i> as a psychological inhibition preventing a writer from proceeding with a piece. Though I believe many writers would instead refer to it as the paranoia that cripples, maims, and destroys their once bright and shining future. <br /><br />Personally I don’t believe in writer’s block. Now, that isn’t to say that I don’t have trouble. I have entire months where it’s like pulling teeth and every word – every LETTER of every word - is painful. And I have months where I write and write and write and then wake up and realize that back on page 50 I made a horrible decision and now my whole plot is a tangled hopeless mess. Or that the great story idea I had in my head turned to utter rubbish once it was put down on paper. Or my revision is useless because I can’t see past the forest of text I’ve already put down. Or I have no good ideas to begin with. <br /><br />Every single one of those things has happened to me and I still don’t believe in writer’s block because of one simple notion. Discipline. And by discipline I mean creating a segment of time, every day if you can, where you write. Once you dedicate yourself to that you create discipline. You start saying things like, “it’s 8 pm. I should be writing.” Or “I need to do 500 words by the end of this hour.” <br /><br />This is why NaNoWriMo is so successful and motivating for people. It sets parameters (word count and the notion of “winning”) on something that is creative and therefore considered ethereal. Once you lock it down by time or by word count, once you have parameters, you have dedicated yourself to a goal. Half the battle is already won. <br /><br />I get up at 5 am to write. It wasn’t my idea, it was my husband’s. He’s a writer too. And he reasoned that if he got up every morning at 5 am he could write for two hours before he had to go to work. Two solid hours, before the day started to chip away at him. Two solids hours where the only thing that mattered was getting the word down. I watched and laughed, pulling the blanket around me. No way was I giving up sleep. <br /><br />Then I saw that it worked. So I tried it. And it was horrible. And then it was slightly less horrible. I’ve been doing it for years now and like any muscle, creativity thrives on exercise. It works because I’ve created a physical space and time where the only thing that happens is writing. For those two hours, that is all I do. And the magic is that when I don’t do it, when I skip it and sleep in, I feel guilty about it. I feel like I missed an opportunity to do something creative for myself. And I hate feeling that way. Also my routine allows for preparation. I can say, “What am I going to work on tomorrow?” or “Where am I going with that short story?” and brainstorm on my commute. <br /><br />That said I sometimes still stare at the screen and wonder what I’m doing. I still have doubts. I still mess up. I still realize that I derailed the whole novel back at page 50. Some mornings are absolute rubbish and I wake up the next day and delete the previous 2 hours worth of writing. Sometime I do that for a whole week until I find my way. Sometimes it’s baby steps, teeth-grinding hair-pulling baby steps, but baby steps none the less. Every step is a step forward. I’m a firm believer in forward progress. And it stops me from locking up, completely giving into the fear, and giving up for good. <br /><br />Now I’m not saying that everyone has to give up sleep. That was my choice. But writing has to become a priority and parameters need to be set. Something must be sacrificed to the gods. <br /><br />First you need discipline. Then you can be ethereal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>About the author:</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Ally Malinenko is the author of the poetry collection, <i>The Wanting Bone</i> (Six Gallery Press), and the children’s novel <i>Lizzy Speare and the Cursed Tomb</i> (Antenna Books). <i>This Is Sarah</i> is her first YA book. Ally lives in Brooklyn with her husband and a very ridiculous tabby cat. She blogs at <a href="http://allymalinenko.com/">allymalinenko.com</a> and you can follow her on twitter at @allymalinenko. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>About the book:</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">When Colin Leventhal leaned out his bedroom window on the night of May 12th and said goodbye to his girlfriend, he never expected it would be forever. But when Sarah Evans goes missing that night, Colin's world unravels as he is transformed from the boyfriend next door to the main police suspect. Then one year later, at her memorial service, Colin makes a phone call that could change everything. Is it possible that Sarah is still alive? And if so, what is Colin willing to do to bring her back?<br />And as Colin struggles with this possibility, across the street, Sarah’s little sister Claire learns how to navigate the strange new landscape that is life without her sister. Even as her parent’s fall apart, Claire is determined to keep on going. Even if it kills her.<br /><br /><i>THIS IS SARAH</i> is a meditation on loss, love, and what it means to say goodbye.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;">Cover design by Anita B. Carroll at </span><a href="http://race-point.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 13px; text-align: start;" target="_blank">Race-Point.com</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730291733161697345noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323831647037626.post-30026987276139675232014-05-06T20:31:00.001-04:002014-05-09T19:14:17.925-04:00Being A Mood ReaderHey lovely readers!<br />
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I wanted to pop in for a bit and tell you about a little struggle I sometimes have. I am a complete and utter mood reader. What do I mean by that? Well, simply put, if I'm not in the mood for it I won't read it. End of story.<br />
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Now, for the most part this isn't too big a deal. I simply never make set TBR's for that reason, and I am fine with that. But every now and then a themed read-a-thon comes along and I get all excited about joining in <span style="color: #741b47;">UNTIL</span> I remember that I won't be able to stick to it. I might make it through one or two books in my list if I am lucky but I am sure to deviate.<br />
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How bad is it really? Well, my boyfriend makes fun of me because I will sit in front of my bookshelf for a good 30 minutes and stare at it until a book calls out to me. Sometimes not even one does. I might be reading a great book and get a sudden urge to pick up another one and devour it in one sitting. This was the case last week when in the middle of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11454587-spell-bound?ac=1">Spell Bound</a> (which I was totally <span style="color: #741b47;">LOVING</span> btw) I had a sudden urge to read <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15749186-to-all-the-boys-i-ve-loved-before?ac=1">To All the Boys I've Loved Before</a>. Then as soon as I was done I picked up <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13574417-alienated?ac=1">Alienated</a> only to put it down half way so that I could finish Spell Bound. Kooky I know!<br />
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I started thinking about this yesterday because I was<span style="color: #741b47;"> REALLY </span>excited about the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/123987-ayearathon">AYEARATHON</a><br />
read-a-long that is going on this week. The theme is finishing up or catching up on series. I thought <span style="color: #741b47;">GREAT</span> I can pick up <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13414446-prodigy?ac=1">Prodigy</a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14290364-champion?ac=1">Champion</a> by Marie Lu and finish up the series! Except I picked up Prodigy last night and couldn't get past the <span style="color: #741b47;">FIRST</span> chapter! I had <span style="color: #741b47;">ZERO</span> interest in it. So what was I in the mood for? <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/256683.City_of_Bones?ac=1">City of Bones</a>, which I have owned for <span style="color: #741b47;">THREE </span>years and never been in the mood to pick it up! Am I the only one that does this??! <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><br />
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I am still telling myself that I am participating in the read-a-thon because who knows, I might pick up something else that <span style="color: #741b47;">DOES</span> fall into the theme later on this week. As for all you lovely readers out there who <span style="color: #741b47;">CAN</span> stick to TBR's I commend you. Apparently the books control my will power. But I am not complaining. 95% of the time I love or really like what I read and I think that is mainly because that is what I want to be reading at that moment. I guess for me it is better this way than reading a book and not enjoying it because I wasn't in the mood for it.<br />
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What kind of reader are you?<br />
Let me know which you prefer so maybe I won't feel like the only weird one! :)<br />
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~JudithAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730291733161697345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323831647037626.post-21796054362368635272014-05-01T23:12:00.002-04:002014-05-09T19:13:59.198-04:00Judith's Cozy ReadsHello lovely readers!<br />
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I am so sorry for our small absence! Both me and Kristy have been swamped with work, home life and school. <span style="color: orange;">BUT</span> we are back and ready to rock! :)<br />
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Speaking of rocking, don't forget to check out my previous post for Heather Letto's <span style="color: #741b47;">IMPERVIOUS</span>! Not only does the book sound amazing but there is a giveaway for a chance to win a signed copy and a gift card! Even if you don't win you can go and purchase <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Impervious-Ascension-Heather-Letto-ebook/dp/B00J4UU82W/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1398997294&sr=1-1&keywords=impervious">IMPERVIOUS</a> for only 99 cents! Please support this lovely author!<br />
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Now on to my current reads!<br />
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I actually have Friday and Sunday off this week and so I am hoping to get <span style="color: #073763;">A LOT</span> of reading done! I have quite a number of books that I have started but haven't gotten the chance to finish for one reason or another.<br />
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The first book I am hoping to finish is <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11454587-spell-bound?from_search=true">Spell Bound</a> by Rachel Hawkins. This is the third and final book in the Hex Hall trilogy. I absolutely <span style="color: #990000;">LOVE</span> this series! It is so action packed and the humor in it is laugh out loud funny! I am currently on page 244 out of 327. I haven't finished this not because I am not enjoying it but I tend to do this with the last book in a series. I am so afraid of it ending that it takes me so long to get through! With Allegiant I was only able to read about 50 pages a day before I was filled with anxiety about the series coming to an end!<br />
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The second book I want to finish is <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13574417-alienated?from_search=true">Alienated</a> by Melissa Landers. I am totally in love with this book! I read most of it in one sitting and picked it up a bit today at work during lunch. I am about 150 pages from finishing and I have no idea where it is headed! I am loving the incorporation of the L'eihr language. Lately I am for all things aliens and space!<br />
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The third book I am planning on picking up but more than likely not finishing is <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6.Harry_Potter_and_the_Goblet_of_Fire?ac=1">Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire</a> by J.K. Rowling. I am slowly making my way through the series again and am in no rush to finish because I want to enjoy them all over again. So if I read 300 or 50 pages this weekend I will be happy! I am currently on page 117, so not very far in.<br />
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The last two books are Susan Mallery books. I love her books because they are so fun and simply make me so happy! The first is the audio book for <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15822175-just-one-kiss?ac=1">Just One Kiss</a> which I am about half way through. I mostly listen to it while I am cooking or cleaning so I am not sure if I will actually finish this one this weekend. The second is the newest release in paperback for <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18371645-when-we-met?from_search=true">When We Met</a>. I haven't started this one yet so this will be my treat if I finish Spell Bound and Alienated!<br />
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I know it seems like a lot to read in just one weekend <span style="color: #38761d;">BUT</span> I think I will be able to get through most of it. I am so excited to be able to just sit and read for a couple hours! Let me know what you will be reading this weekend!<br />
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Some upcoming posts to look forward to:<br />
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*Several Book Hauls<br />
*Kristy's Cozy Reads<br />
*Year-a-thon TBR<br />
*Bout-of Books TBR<br />
*To All The Boys I've Loved Before Review<br />
*Paper Towns ReviewAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730291733161697345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323831647037626.post-84490841087765119422014-04-30T18:25:00.000-04:002014-05-01T07:37:58.174-04:00Blog Tour: IMPERVIOUS by Heather Letto! *Giveaway*<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am so excited to be a part of the blog tour for Heather Letto's <i>IMPERVIOUS</i>. This book sounds AMAZING and right up my alley! Not to mention the cover is GORGEOUS! In celebration of her debut release, Heather has a special giveaway running. Be sure to check out the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!</span><br>
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<b>Book Blurb:</b></div>
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The residents of Impervious are the remnant—survivors of the War of Annihilation. And though the city is chockfull of pleasures to tantalize and entertain, a beast lurks in its corners haunting the residents with its presence. The Beast—a mysterious and terminal illness―has killed off most of Generations One, Two and Three. And as Gen-Four prepares to take the stage a provocative, yet questionable, new method to avoid an untimely death becomes a cultural rage. </div>
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But Fran is counter-cultural. And living off the grid in true rebel fashion, her life is far from opulent. Scurrying through dark tunnels, searching for hot meals and ditching the holographic security team encompass most of her day. However, she views it as a healthy trade-off. Unaccountability means The Council can’t steal her sliver of hope―a belief that she’ll see The Epoch arrive before the beast can pull her into its fetid embrace. <br>
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After losing her mother and then her Rebel mentor, however, she grasps painfully onto the splintered sliver, until a new hope is born. First through Pete. And then through a miraculous discovery. <br>
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Can she outrun The Beast?<br>
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<br><br><b>INTERVIEW WITH FRAN:</b><br><br>Hi all! Heather Letto here with a funny story-- I sent Fran an email not too long ago, asking if she wouldn’t mind making an appearance for today’s blog stop. She said, sure… if I was willing to throw a few donuts and a Big Gulp into the kitty.<br><br>So, sitting with me today, fresh out of the Impervious air vents, with a box of Dunkin’s finest in her lap, would you welcome Gen-Four’s most elusive Rebel, Fran Monde.<br><br><b>Fran:</b>(Waving a chocolate cake donut dipped in sprinkles) Hey. <br></div>
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<b>Heather:</b> Do you mind if I call you Fran or do you prefer Frannie? <br><br><b>Fran:</b> (Stuffs donut into her mouth and rolls her eyes.) <br><br><b>Heather:</b> Great. Fran it is. So let’s start with your hometown, Fran. Although it wasn’t your favorite place, I’m sure the readers would love to hear about the city. What can you tell us about the lifestyle of an Impervieite (and yours before you became a Rebel)?<br><br><b>Fran:</b> Well, you might notice as you thumb through my story, food plays a pretty central role in the lives of underground dwellers. <br><br><b>Heather:</b> Duly noted. Why is that? <br><br><b>Fran:</b> (Shrugs) I’m not sure how to explain it. I was just always hungry underground. <br><br><b>Heather:</b> And obviously still are. (chuckles)<br><br><b>Fran:</b> (Snarky laugh.) Maybe it’s because there’s really not much to do. It’s kind of boring actually. I spent a lot of my free time as a kid just wandering the Agora, snacking, gaming… that’s about it.<br><br><b>Heather:</b> Hmm. Fair enough. What about Pete?<br><br><b>Fran:</b> (Stuffs the remainder of the donut into her mouth and licks each finger) What about him?<br><br><b>Heather:</b> Like him?<br><br><b>Fran:</b> Duh.<br><br><b>Heather:</b> Love him?<br><br><b>Fran:</b> Sheesh. No comment. (Grabs second donut.)<br><br><b>Heather:</b> Okay, how about that weird name your brother called you? Some sort of worm?<br><br><b>Fran:</b> Wickworm? <br></div>
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<b>Heather:</b> Yes, that’s it. What’s that all about?<br></div>
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<b>Fran:</b> Well, if you Google the word, you’d see that A Wickworm is a worm, or parasite, that <br>lives in the intestines of an animal. You may not be aware of this, but the air vents of impervious are kind of like the guts of the city… therefore—<br><br><b>Heather:</b> Ah yes…. You’d be the worm.<br><br><b>Fran:</b> Exactly. (Winks at me.)<br><br><b>Heather:</b> Listen, I know you don’t have a lot of time here today, but I do have one final question that I think a lot of the readers would want to know.<br><br><b>Fran:</b> (Nods her head) I’m listening.<br><br><b>Heather:</b> Retter. Is there a crush happening there?<br><br><b>Fran:</b> (Face blossoms into a cherry) Nah. Ret’s just a guy. Well, a very muscular guy. With tawny eyes…. <br><br><b>Heather:</b> (snapping fingers) Hello? You still with us, Fran?<br><br><b>Fran:</b> I gotta go. (grabs box of donuts and stomps off).<br><br><b>Heather:</b> (Clears throat.) Well. Thanks, Fran, for gracing us with your presence. (Sighs) <br><br>
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<b>About Heather Letto:</b></div>
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Heather considers herself but a worker in the field with a desire to share truth through the art of good story. In real life, she’s the proud mother of two grown sons and lives part-time in Northern Illinois with her husband, but scurries off to warmer climates when the mercury takes a dive on the thermometer. As well as The Ascension Series, Heather contributes to <i>WHOAwomen</i> magazine,<i> The Fit Christian, Tween Girls and God, Devotion Magazine</i> as well as Swagga for Christ Ministry.<br>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Impervious </i>is available in </span></b><br>
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<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Impervious-Ascension-Heather-Letto-ebook/dp/B00J4UU82W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398366007&sr=8-1&keywords=impervious"><span style="font-size: x-large;">AMAZON</span></a></b></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/impervious-heather-letto/1119159723?ean=9780991477821"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Barnes and Noble</span></a></b></div>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/8dd3cc0/" id="rc-8dd3cc0" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span><script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06730291733161697345noreply@blogger.com3