Book Blitz + Giveaway - Upside Down by Lia Riley

Upside Down by Lia Riley
(Off the Map #1)
Published by: Grand Central
Publication date: August 5th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:

If You Never Get Lost, You’ll Never Be Found

Twenty-one-year-old Natalia Stolfi is saying goodbye to painful memories—and turning her life upside down with a trip to the land down under. For the next six months, she’ll pretend to be a carefree exchange student. Everything is going to plan until she meets a surly surfer with hypnotic green eyes, and the troubling ability to see straight through her act.

Bran Lockhart is having the worst year on record. After the girl of his dreams turned into a nightmare, he slunk back to Melbourne to piece his life together. Yet no amount of disappointment could blind him to the pretty California girl who gets past all his defenses. He’s never wanted anyone the way he wants Talia. A single semester abroad won’t  cover something this serious. But when Bran gets a stark reminder of why he stopped believing in love, he and Talia must decide if what they have is once-in-a-lifetime . . . or if there’s a plane to California with her name on it.

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AUTHOR BIO

  
Lia Riley writes offbeat New Adult Romance. After studying at the University of Montana-Missoula, she scoured the world armed only with a backpack, overconfidence and a terrible sense of direction. She counts shooting vodka with a Ukranian mechanic in Antarctica, sipping yerba mate with gauchos in Chile and swilling fourex with stationhands in Outback Australia among her accomplishments.

A British literature fanatic at heart, Lia considers Mr. Darcy and Edward Rochester as her fictional boyfriends. Her very patient husband doesn't mind. Much. When not torturing heroes (because c'mon, who doesn't love a good tortured hero?), Lia herds unruly chickens, camps, beach combs, daydreams about as-of-yet unwritten books, wades through a mile-high TBR pile and schemes yet another trip. Right now, Icelandic hot springs and Scottish castles sound mighty fine.

She and her family live mostly in Northern California.

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Twitter: @liarileywrites

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Excerpt:

“Never have I ever worn handcuffs,” I say.
Bran reaches over, yanks the lid off the water bottle and takes a sip.
“Really?” My stomach lurches at the idea of another girl within five feet of him.
“Once. Wasn’t for me. I prefer more control, you know?”
“Nope—not really.” My sex life is shorter than a haiku. I bite my inner cheek and pretend not to notice his gaze slant toward me. “All right, Kink Boy, your turn.”
“Never have I ever done something I regret.”
I giggle but he looks dead serious. “Wow, that must make you alone in the universe.” I take a drink.
“Your smile, it lights up your whole face, but your eyes stay sad.”
Is he being serious or is this yet another bait? “Never have I ever sleepwalked.”
Bran drinks. “When I was eight, my neighbors woke to me in their bedroom. Don’t remember a thing. Lucky they didn’t call the coppers.”
“Whoa, crazy. Do you still do it?”
“Sometimes. Lock your door tonight. Let’s see. . .never have I ever shot a gun.”
I don’t drink.
“Isn’t that Anti-American?”
“I’m a pacifist. Never have I ever kissed in the rain.”
“This is the single most depressing fact I’ve ever heard.” He drinks.
“Hence my sad eyes.”
Traffic starts moving. I hang my hand out the window and hot wind blows through my fingers.
“Bran?”
“Natalia?”
I stiffen. No one ever calls me that except for my mom. “How’d you know my full name?”
“Read the luggage tag on your bag—Natalia Stolfi.”
“Oh, right.” I shake my head and regroup. “Is it true you have no regrets, not even one?” Hopefully he has no idea how serious I am about his response.
“There’s no point.” His fingers tighten infinitesimally on the wheel. “The past is past. End of story.”
“Like whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger?”
“No, that’s a dumb ass cliché. I mean there’s no meaning to life, despite what people pretend. Once I figured that out, everything got easier.”
“Has anyone ever said you are intense?”
“Since the day I was born.”
 

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Book Blitz + Giveaway - Perfectly Broken by Prescott Lane

Perfectly Broken by Prescott Lane
Publication date: March 2014
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

Even after years of trauma therapy, Peyton still believes she’s broken.  She has little desire to date or show off her natural beauty, content simply to hang out with her best friends and run her pie shop in New Orleans.  But her world turns upside-down when a handsome architect and self-confessed player shows up in her shop and thinks she’s perfect, much more than the usual hook-up.  While Peyton does her best to resist his charms, believing she could never be enough for him, she can’t deny the obvious heat between them.

With Reed determined to have her, Peyton must decide whether to continue to hide behind her apron and baggy clothes or take a chance and share her scars with Reed, a man with a playboy reputation and scars of his own — a dark past he can’t possibly share with Peyton, not after learning the horrors she’s endured.  But if they can find a way to trust each other, and themselves, they just might be able to heal, to save each other, to live perfectly broken together.

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AUTHOR BIO

Prescott Lane is originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, and graduated from Centenary College in 1997 with a degree in sociology. She went on to Tulane University to receive her MSW in 1998, after which she worked with developmentally delayed and disabled children. She currently resides in New Orleans with her husband and two children.

Author links:

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Excerpt:

A rush of vanilla hit him as a breeze blew through the air.  He took off his jacket and slid it around Peyton’s shoulders, his fingers grazing her neck when he moved her hair to the side.  Her eyes locked on his, and he pulled on the jacket collar to bring Peyton close to him.  He took his time, teasing her, his warm breath just barely brushing her lips.  Her hands slid up the muscles of his back, pulling his lips even closer to hers, hoping he’d kiss her, ready to crawl up his body, begging, if he didn’t.  

Reed gave a sexy smile, eyeing her mouth, and took a step back.  Peyton felt the muscles between her legs clench in disappointment, but she wasn’t about to show it, straightening her spine.  “I thought you said our date would be ‘pretty damn hot’?”

Reed laughed.  He hadn’t laughed like this with a woman before.  She was just so damn funny and cute, standing before him wearing his jacket.  He didn’t mind her wearing oversized clothing if it was his.  “Come here,” he said and pulled her back to him.

 

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Review - Song of the Fireflies by J.A. Redmerski

Title: Song of the Fireflies

Author: J.A. Redmerski

Publisher: Forever

Pages: 464

Release date: 4th February 2014

Blurb from Goodreads:

THE TRUTH WILL SET THEM FREE

Brayelle Bates has always been a force of nature. Even as a child, Bray's wild and carefree spirit intimidated everyone around her. The only person who's ever truly understood her is her best friend, Elias Kline. Though every fiber of her being wants to stay with Elias forever, Bray can't bear the thought of him discovering her agonizing history. She's done everything she can to keep him at arm's length, including moving away. But their undying bond was too strong a pull to deny, and Bray couldn't survive without him. Now she's back home with Elias, and things have never felt more right--until one night changes everything.
Elias vowed never to be separated from Bray again. So when she decides to flee in a desperate attempt to escape her fate, Elias knows he must go with her. As the two try to make the most of their circumstance, taking up with a reckless group of new friends, Elias soon realizes there's a darkness driving Bray he can't ignore. Now in order to save her, he'll have to convince Bray to accept the consequences of their reality--even if it means losing her.

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My Review:

*Contains spoilers*

*I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. Thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and J.A. Redmerski*

2/5 stars

Song of the Fireflies tells the story of Bray and Elias who are best friends and have been in love with each other for years.

Where to begin?
This was not the sweet, romantic love story that I was expecting. This was dark and full of sex and drugs - more than I was comfortable with. To be honest I found the whole story a bit pointless - if Bray had just turned herself in like she should have done then none of it would have happened.
Speaking of Bray I kind of hated her.

 

 

I know she was suffering from a serious mental condition but at times she was horrible to Elias and nearly everything she did/said annoyed me. She was very immature and should have gone to the police instead of running away.
Elias was okay but he deserved better than Bray - even though there were some things he did that annoyed me too.
I do think that Bray's parents had a lot to answer for in regards to her illness and behaviour.
Unfortunately I couldn't connect to the storyline or the characters.
Overall this was an okay read.

Month9Books Friday Cover Reveal - Fingers in the Mist by O'Dell Hutchison

Welcome to the Cover Reveal for

Fingers in the Mist by O’Dell Hutchison

presented by Month9Books!

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

Sixteen-year-old Caitlyn Foster never believed in the legend of the Redeemers. That was before the trees started to whisper her name. Before a murder of crows attacked the town. Before she and her family came home to find a bloody handprint on their front door, marking one of them as a sacrifice. As Caitlyn’s friends are ripped from their homes, she knows it’s only a matter of time before the Redeemers come for her. Caitlyn has the power to stop the terror, but she’ll have to decide if she’s willing to sacrifice herself to save those she loves.

Fingers in the Mist by O’Dell Hutchison
Publisher: Month9Books

About the Author

 

O’Dell was born in a small rural town in Idaho. There were no Redeemers living there (that he knows of). After attending college in the Pacific Northwest, he found his way to the Houston area. By day, he is a Business Systems Analyst and at night you can either find him sitting at home, dreaming of random super powers he wishes he had, or directing plays and musicals at various theaters around Houston.

Connect with the Author:

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Blog Tour + Guest Post + Giveaway - Road to Somewhere by Kelley Lynn and Jenny Morris

Find the tour schedule here.

Release date: March 11th 2014

Publisher: Bloomsbury Spark

Purchase: Amazon

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BOOK DESCRIPTION:

New! From Bloomsbury Spark, a sunny heartwarming story of discovery and sisterhood. 

A road trip. A singing competition. And super-hot cowboys. 

What could be better? 

For Charlie, a post-high school road trip isn't just a vacation, it's life changing. While her parents think she's helping a friend move, a chance at fame is the real reason to grab her best friends and drive to L.A. But when her super annoying, uber-responsible, younger sister, Lucy, has to tag along, it isn't quite the summer of fun she imagined. 

Add in a detour to her grandparents' ranch in Texas, and between mucking the stalls, down-home cookin’, and drool worthy ranch hands, this could just turn into the best, and most complicated, summer of their lives.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Kelley Lynn was born and raised a Midwestern girl. She’s not afraid to sweat and fills her free time with softball, soccer and volleyball. (Though you probably don’t want her on your volleyball team.) She occasionally makes guest appearances as a female vocalist for area bands. Music plays a large role in her writing process as well as the characters and plot lines within her stories.

getbetweenthebookends.blogspot.com | twitter.com/KelleyLynn1 | facebook.com/AuthorKelleyLynn

Jenny S. Morris is a YA author who loves all things geek, may have a Kdrama addiction, and prefers the rainy NW to any place she's ever lived. Road to Somewhere is her debut novel.

jennysimaginaryworld.blogspot.com | twitter.com/jennysmorris | facebook.com/JennyS.Morrs

Guest post by Jenny:

Thank you, Jess, for letting me guest post today! And thanks for being a part of our blog tour. 

The topic Jess gave me today was Inside the Mind of the Author. I’m not sure you all want to see what goes on in my brain, but we’ll give a whirl. 
I am a HUGE geek. So if you cracked open my head you would find a ton of superheroes, wizards, time lords, an air bender or two, super-secret spies. Maybe even a Vulcan. That’s the part of my author brain that runs wild a lot. The big ideas. The, what ifs. The first book I wrote was contemporary with a dash of supernatural. The second book was urban fantasy. With both of them I explored the mystery of things that are unseen. I even have a fantasy middle grade that I’ve written. I love exploring what the world would be like if I created it.
Then there’s the part of my brain where my characters incessantly talk to each other. Or yell at me. J That’s usually the part that gets fired up when I start a new project. Sometimes I’ll start with an idea, but with my contemporary books it usually starts with a character. And creating a person is my favorite part of the writing process. Naming them, giving them wants and needs. I’m a little quirky when it comes to my people. I can’t understand them fully until I know what type of music they listen to, what kind of car they drive, and who belongs in their family.
Charlie from Road to Somewhere was easy. When they first hopped in the car, I knew her and her friends would start belting out Kelley Clarkson. The type of music people like says a lot about who they are. Once I know what my character listens to then I tend to listen to that a lot. Which has backfired on me before. I can only take so many Hank Williams songs. J
Charlie’s car isn’t something that comes up in the book, but I have to know or I can’t understand my character. I’m not sure why it’s important. LOL. (Charlie drives a red Mini Cooper S if you’re wondering, and her name is Ruby.)
This post is starting to get a little long. So I’ll wrap it up with saying that the author part of my brain fights with the rest all the time. I work full time and have a lovely little family. I’m always trying to concentrate on what’s important and not let my book ideas and characters take over my life. But I love that when I turn on the radio for my ride to work, writing allows me to drift off into another world and experience things through someone else’s eyes.
Thanks again for having me!!

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Blog Tour + Guest Post + Giveaway - Daughter of Chaos by Jen McConnel

Find the tour schedule here.

Title: Daughter of Chaos (Red Magic #1)

Publication Date: March 25, 2014

Publisher: Month9Books

Author: Jen McConnel

There comes a time in every witch’s life when she must choose her path. Darlena’s friends have already chosen, so why is it so hard for her to make up her mind? Now, Darlena is out of time. Under pressure from Hecate, the Queen of all witches, Darlena makes a rash decision to choose Red magic, a path no witch in her right mind would dare take. As a Red witch, she will be responsible for chaos and mayhem, drawing her deep into darkness. Will the power of Red magic prove too much for Darlena, or will she learn to control it before it’s too late?

DAUGHTER OF CHAOS is the first in the RED MAGIC paranormal YA trilogy.

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About the Author

 

 

 Jen McConnel now lives and writes in the beautiful state of North Carolina. When she isn't crafting worlds of fiction, she teaches writing composition at a community college. Once upon a time, she was a middle school teacher, a librarian, and a bookseller, but those are stories for another time.

Author Links:

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Guest Post:

10 Tips for Becoming a Better Writer 

Thanks so much for hosting my tour today! I love top ten lists, so I thought I’d share my ten favorite tips for becoming a better writer. Enjoy! 

1. Write
It should go without saying, but the best way to get better at something is to do it. Ray Bradbury once said that you have to write a million words before you can truly be a good writer, but no matter where you are in the process, learning to put words on a page and developing a strong writing routine will help you get better. 

2. Read
Read fiction. Read memoirs. Read books about writing. Read genres you want to write. Read genres you have no intention of writing. Read myths and fairy tales. The more you read, the more you expand your vocabulary and knowledge base, and the more you learn about what works and what doesn’t. Plus, it’s fun!

3. Be Critical
When you’re done reading for fun, go back and read for information. Study your favorite authors; how do they pace their stories? What works, and what doesn’t? Take your reading to the next level, and become deeply aware of the tropes of your genre. Take notes!

4. Find Your Process
Are you a pantser, or do you work best with an outline? Do you write in order, or do you tell your story in a mish mash of scenes that you straighten out later? Figure out what works for you, and be willing to try a new approach to storytelling. What worked once may not work again, but that’s okay. It’s all a learning process! 

5. Revise
Some folks are willing to send raw drafts to betas and CPs, but I don’t like to share my work until I’ve revised it at least once. Just like writing, revision is a process. Do you work best on the computer, or do you need to revise by hand? Don’t be afraid to experiment, but make sure that your revision process becomes as familiar and consistent as your writing process. You don’t have to hate revisions!

6. Participate
Conferences and workshops are some of my favorite ways to refuel, connect with other writers, and learn. Join your writing community, whether it’s face to face or online, and become an active participant. You’ll be glad you did, especially when you find that group of writers you click with like old friends.

7. Study
No matter how long you’ve been writing, keep approaching the process with an open mind. Be willing to go back to basics from time to time, and seek out opportunities to learn. Read new books, take a class, and push yourself outside of your comfort zone.

8. Teach
Start a critique group, lead a workshop, or visit a school. Teaching other people about the writing process is a great way for you to solidify your own thoughts, and I swear I learn more from teaching than anything else I’ve ever done. The old adage is totally true; the teacher becomes the student.

9. Give
Mentor another writer. Give your time to your friends. Critique and beta read for folks without necessarily expecting something back. Give your favorite books to people (or at least give them book recommendations). When you engage gratitude in your writing process, it makes everything better.

10. Change It Up
Don’t be afraid to stretch outside your comfort zone. Write a zombie romance if that’s something you’ve never done before. Try your hand at a mythic retelling. Write in a different location, or try pantsing if you’re a planner. It’s good to mix things up, and you never know; you might stumble into a story you can’t wait to tell by doing things just a little different.


There you have it! My top ten tips for writers of all stages. What writing advice do you have?

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Promo Post - Reveal by Brina Courtney

Title: Reveal (Cryptid Tales #1)

Author: Brina Courtney

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

You think seeing ghosts is weird? Tell me something I don't know.

Shay Tafford's childhood has been fatherless, filled instead with memories of speaking to the

dead. She is forced to hide her unique ability from those living around her. That's why it's been comforting to have Jeremy, a child ghost, as her confidante. But recently he's been absent, perhaps lost as her father is. When Shay meets Hugh, the guy she's had a crush on for weeks, and finds he can speak to ghosts too, she's just starting to find a normalcy in her life.

But as Hugh reveals the truth to Shay, about who she really is and about what it is she can do, he erases all chances she had at a normal existence. Turns out talking to ghosts is just scratching the surface of her genetically engineered gifts. Shay learns she may be part of an age old prophecy that could save the entire race of cryptids. But can she?

Quotes

"So here I am with a dead girl in my car, in a super creepy forest, stalking a potentially dead father…yeah, not one of my brightest moments."

"She sighs, “Shay you can’t live your life in fear. If you do there’s just no point in living."

"He turns and leaves, heading towards the math building and though I hate to see him leave, I do love to watch him walk away."

About Brina Courtney

Brina Courtney is a young adult author obsessed with chocolate, crime shows, and fantasy movies. She's spent the last few years as an elementary teacher and a high school cheering coach. She lives in a small town in Pennsylvania with her husband and two very loud, small dogs.

Links

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Why Sci-Fi Isn’t Just For Boys Anymore 


When I was young, Sci-Fi was targeted at young boys, not girls. We could certainly check a book out from the library but wouldn’t we rather read Judy Blume? And then Harry Potter and other fantasy books came out and changed the way we look at YA and MG books.

So when I decided to write a book and I told my husband I was going to write about genetic mutation he was all for it, but so was my best girl friend. Why? Because my main character is a kick butt, take names kind of girl. She’s different from other characters you’ve met because she’s a cryptid. Yes you can google it. Not only is she a cryptid but she’s also a parahuman. I can’t give you too much information because then you won’t need to read Reveal, but I’ll tell you this, there’s nothing quite like her.

Sci-Fi used to be all aliens and spaceships, but now it includes romance, teens trying to live normal lives and various species. There’s a hook for the ladies now too. Whether they’re looking for adventure, romance, or just a new experience Sci-Fi is now for everyone. It’s written more accessibly with words you can google, or just know from reading. We have a better understanding of what could happen, so it’s more believable too and with that more relatable.

So ladies your chance to read Sci-Fi is now. Take the opportunity, trust me, it’s worth it.