Monday, 23 June 2014

Blog Tour + Guest Post + Giveaway - Where Life Takes You by Claudia Y. Burgoa


Find the tour schedule here.




Where Life Takes You by Claudia Y. Burgoa
Publication date: July 31st 2013
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult

Synopsis:

Becca Trent lived her childhood next to a cruel woman—her mom—who lived to torment and neglect her. During her high school years, her mother married; bringing home not only a new husband, but a step sister her same age. The latter took over her Mom’s role—making Becca’s life miserable. Including stealing Ian—Becca’s best friend and boyfriend—Lisa treated her worse than her mother had for the previous fifteen years. A couple of years later, things ended up in tragedy.

Becca buried that part of her life in the deep corners of her psyche, but that only work during the days when the nightmares didn’t come back to haunt her. Her best friend, Dan gives her that family love she always lacked. Everything was close to perfect, until everything and everyone from her past came back. Now, she’s trying to figure out how to survive and keep that bond which seems now to be held together by a thread.


Note: This is the first part of a two book novel.

|




----

AUTHOR BIO


Claudia lives in Colorado with her family and three dogs. 

Two beagles who believe they are human, and a bichon who thinks she’s a beagle.

While managing life, she works as a CFO at a small IT Company. 

She’s a dreamer who enjoys music, laughter and a good story.




Author Links:








10 Things I Wish I Knew About Being an Author I Didn’t Know Before 


1. Professional help is not optional.
DIY—do it yourself—a great concept, but is it worth it? As you finish your first draft and consider the possibilities to share it with the world, you think about the next step. Conventional or Self-publishing? Either way, you need to get that manuscript ready for an agent or the public. Yes, you might’ve the credentials to DIY; but paying a third party to polish that MS will open get an agent ask for more than ten pages; or the readers to say that was a book worth reading. Presentation, presentation…presentation. 


2. Just because it worked for them, it’ll word the same for you.
So here I was, newbie trying to find a way to get my first manuscript ready to be published. Followed the usual steps, editor, formatter, and cover…Where to find them? Recommendations form fellow authors, hired the first without doing my homework and verify that X editor was a good fit, Y formatter would work the way I like and so on. I just made the mistake of hiring what worked for them and barely lived to tell the story of how I banged my head again and again and…you get the idea. Five months later I found the team to fix it. Yes, fixing your mistakes is better than ignoring the big elephant in the room.
Note: Find the team that works for you. Shop around, it’s an investment. 


3. Twitter, Facebook, Blogs…
Once that pretty shiny new book of yours hits the cyber shelves, yes the one you’ve been working on for the past—insert time—you’ll spend the same amount of time promoting it. You
have now two missions, one promoting and the second, writing your next book…two balls to juggle and you better not drop either one.


4. Blogs, Tours…who knew about them?
Not me. Blogs are your best friends, blogs aren’t a trend that will go away, and they are the places where one gives ones opinion to the cyberworld. There are all types of blogs, including reading blogs. They are the door to your reader, the ones that can share an excerpt of you book and give your future reader a glimpse of what your novel is about. Approach them, approach a tourbook company and let the public have a taste of what you can do. So far I’ve encounter amazing people who has nothing but open their doors to my books and share a piece of us—my books and I—with others. 


5. Your work isn’t for everyone.
My work is like my child, it’s something I created that comes from the deep dark side of my imagination or another times from the happily one. Either way, I’m giving a huge part of myself while I’m doing it and for the same reason I want everyone to like it. But also, that creation is subjective and as everything in that class I’ll get the ‘I love it and I hate it all’ within one day from different readers. That’s life. 


6. Talking about likes, loves and hates…
Reviews are the reflection of the reader, not your work—unless the reviewer says your book is full of typos. Then, that’s all you. Don’t take them personal, if they didn’t like your MC, that doesn’t translate on a: I don’t like you. I appreciate each person that has left me a review, good or bad, it reflects that they took their time to read my book. 


7. There’s a life outside the computer
Personally, I like to obsess to a point of forgetting there’s another life. At the beginning, there were weekends when I sat in front of my computer for more than twelve hours. Between tweeting, facebooking, writing and researching; there’s no time to have a life. Wrong, there is and you need to get out there. Family exists and you should set your own pace, your deadlines and as everything accept there’s more to life than what you love to do—for me is writing. 


8. Reminders are your friends
As I get wrapped up about my character’s lives, time flies and I forget to do my day job, go to doctor’s appointments or leave on time to pick up my children from school. Post its work, but maybe setting an alarm on your phone that will ring when needed might be the best. 


9. Don’t forget why you started it.
I did because it’s a way to express myself, to have fun typing all those daydreams that since I was little lingered around my head. Either it was the dream of being an alien, a fairy, a witch—I could, I was born on October 30th—fix world hunger or something in between. It’s a job, but the job you love, celebrate each milestone, each sale and love each new word you type too. 


10. There’s always something new to learn.
We don’t have all the knowledge and we should always be open to learn a new trick. Writing is also a learning process about the world or ourselves. Never be stagnant and be open for the next stage.






Tour-wide giveaway

Open internationally


Sunday, 22 June 2014

My Week in Books (16th-22nd June)

My Week:

I've not long got back from seeing The Fault in Our Stars and oh boy am I am emotional wreck right now!





Everyone in the cinema was crying and there was someone sobbing rather loudly (not me).
Was a good film but I'd definitely recommend taking tissues if you go see this!



Read:

Shattered (Slated, #3) by Teri Terry


3.5/5 stars



Carnelian (Chalcedony Chronicles, #1) by B. Kristin McMichael


2.5/5 stars

Review to come after blog tour.



For Review:


Thanks to YA Bound Book Tours and Andrew Klavan



Won:


Signed copies! Squueee!
Haven't read these yet but I've wanted to for ages.

Big thanks to Book Passion for Life!!!!



Currently Reading:

The Ace of Skulls (Tales of the Ketty Jay, #4) by Chris Wooding 


Just over half way through and really enjoying this :)




Take Back the Skies by Lucy Saxon


Reading this during my lunch break at work.
Currently 7% through and already have issues with it :/



Pics from Goodreads.


Hope you all had a great week!


Cover Reveal - Street Food and Love by H.A. Enri



Street Food and Love by H.A. Enri
Publication date: Summer 2014 

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Sole Eaby, seventeen, has a few complaints he’d like to lodge against life, the main one being that his dad, Cedro, has recently quit his job and withdrawn his entire life savings, which included Sole’s college fund. Why? To launch a food truck business he knows nothing about.

To cope, Sole uses his knifelike wit to moonlight as a stand-up comedian, and so far, it’s paying off. He’s not only replenishing his college treasury, he’s making people laugh; but it’s one person in particular he performs for. Her name is Ava. When the fated bond of humor joins the two, and they begin a sort of quasi-romance, things begin to seem somewhat bearable. Of course, that’s when an ill-timed event decides to put another spin on things. Just when Sole is ready to move on with his own life and disconnect himself from his father and the family business, he suddenly finds himself in charge of the food truck he desperately loathes. Here is where Sole must realize that the answers to love and life are not to be found apart but, rather, are more like a savory recipe: only by combining the ingredients will the wonderful flavors reveal themselves. When comedy isn’t enough, the future seems ever bleak, and a fledgling love has barely had a chance to bloom, where will Sole turn?

Saturday, 21 June 2014

Book Blitz + Giveaway - More Than Music by Elizabeth Briggs



More Than Music by Elizabeth Briggs
(Chasing The Dream #1)
Publication date: June 17th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult

Synopsis:

Music major Maddie Taylor seems to have her life all figured out. She’s just finished her junior year of college, has a summer internship lined up with the LA Philharmonic, and plans to go to grad school to write movie scores. Only her roommates know she practices guitar every night and secretly dreams of a louder life. But geeky girls like her don’t get to be rock stars.
Tattooed singer Jared Cross has a new girl every week, but when he catches Maddie playing one of his songs, she attracts his attention in an unexpected way. His band needs a fourth member for The Sound, a reality TV show competition—and he wants her. Though Maddie refuses to be another notch on Jared’s bedpost, she agrees to risk everything for the chance to be a rock star.
Once on the show, Maddie discovers there’s more to Jared behind his flirty smile, and with each performance their attraction becomes impossible to ignore. When the show pressures Jared to flaunt his player image, they’re forced to keep their relationship secret, but Maddie can’t help but want something real.
As the competition heats up, Jared will do whatever it takes for his band to win, and Maddie must decide if following her dream is worth losing her heart.



Purchase


--B&N


----

AUTHOR BIO


Elizabeth Briggs is a full-time geek who writes books for teens and adults. 

She plays the guitar, mentors at-risk teens, and volunteers with a dog rescue group. 

She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and a pack of small, fluffy dogs.





 Author Links:












Blitz-wide giveaway

Open internationally
 

Friday, 20 June 2014

Month9Books Friday Cover Reveal - Lifer by Beck Nicholas

M9B-Friday-Reveal

Welcome to the Cover Reveal for

Lifer by Beck Nicholas

presented by Month9Books!

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


BNicholas_M9B_Lifer_1800x2700Asher is a Lifer, a slave aboard the spaceship Pelican. A member of the lowest rung of society, she must serve the ship’s Officials and Astronauts as punishment for her grandparents' crimes back on Earth. The one thing that made life bearable was her illicit relationship with Samuai, a Fishie boy, but he died alongside her brother in a freak training accident.

Still grieving for the loss of her loved ones, Asher is summoned to the upper levels to wait on Lady, the head Official’s wife and Samuai’s mother. It is the perfect opportunity to gather intel for the Lifer’s brewing rebellion. There’s just one problem—the last girl who went to the upper levels never came back.

On the other side of the universe, an alien attack has left Earth in shambles and a group called The Company has taken control. Blank wakes up in a pond completely naked and with no memory, not even his real name. So when a hot girl named Megs invites him to a black-market gaming warehouse where winning means information, he doesn’t think twice about playing. But sometimes the past is better left buried.

As Asher and Blank’s worlds collide, the truth comes out—everyone has been lied to. Bourne Identity meets Under the Never Sky in this intergalactic tale of love and deception from debut novelist Beck Nicholas.

add to goodreads


Title: LIFER
Publication date: December 16, 2014
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.
Author: Beck Nichols





Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

(Winners will receive their book on release day)




Button

Thursday, 19 June 2014

Blog Tour - Crane by Stacey Rourke




Crane by Stacey Rourke

Legends Saga Book 1



The Horseman is unending,
his presence shan’t lessen.
If you break the curse,
you become the legend.

Washington Irving and Rip Van Winkle had no choice but to cover up the deadly truth behind Ichabod Crane’s disappearance. Centuries later, a Crane returns to Sleepy Hollow awakening macabre secrets once believed to be buried deep.

What if the monster that spawned the legend lived within you?

Now, Ireland Crane, reeling from a break-up and seeking a fresh start, must rely on the newly awakened Rip Van Winkle to discover the key to channeling the darkness swirling within her. Bodies are piling high and Ireland is the only one that can save Sleepy Hollow by embracing her own damning curse.

But is anyone truly safe when the Horseman rides?







Purchase





About Stacy Rourke


There is nothing worse than being put on the spot and asked to talk about yourself. For me it brings back that inevitable moment in a new school when the teacher would ask me to stand up, introduce myself and tell the class something about myself. I was always worried I would blurt out something stupid that I would get teased for. Something like, “My name’s Stacey and I like pickles!” Then for the rest of the school year I’d be known as the Pickle Girl and let’s be honest, no one wants that. So to avoid such a faux pas I will simply say that I love to write. It allows me to get my crazy out just enough that I can function as a normal member of society.




 

Book Blitz + Giveaway - Breaking Fences by Juliana Haygert



Breaking Fences (The Breaking Series, #2) by Juliana Haygert
Genre: NA contemporary romance
Word Count: ~80,000
Release date: June/2014
Cover by: Okay Creations 

Summary from Goodreads: 

All Beatriz “Bia” Fernandes wants is to prove herself—to her family and friends—though it’s hard to prove anything with an overbearing father and three famous polo-playing older brothers. After her acceptance into college results in a heated family argument, the Brazilian girl leaves everything behind to find her own American dream. College life away from home is perfect until the people she believes to be her friends turn on her. With lies and rumors threatening to suffocate her, Bia turns to her only freedom. Riding. But one thing gets in the way of her escape. Garrett Blackwell and his bad cowboy attitude. Working at the ranch is his obligation, bugging Bia is his newfound hobby. His thick skin and easy grin don’t hide what Bia already knows—this misunderstood and lonely cowboy fights his own demons. Brushing horses’ coats and mucking out stalls shouldn’t be this sexy, and it isn’t long before he becomes a part of her distraction. However, escaping won’t solve her problems, and it’s up to Bia to break down the fences around her and prove her strength—not to her family and friends, but to herself … and for Garrett. Because standing on her own doesn’t have to mean standing alone. 


** Companion novel of Breaking the Reins. Can be read out of order.** 




Goodreads link to book one: 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17730510-breaking-the-reins



Buy Links for Breaking Fences: 





About the Author: 


New Adult author and contributor at NA Alley blog. 
While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting—but equally gratifying—life of a wife, mother, and author. 
Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in Connecticut and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy. 





Author Links: 





 Excerpt:

“Time’s up,” Garrett shouted.
I pulled the reins and slowed Midnight, steering him toward the men.
I leaned over the horse and patted his neck. “Good boy.” I stopped him in front of Garrett and smiled. “He’s amazing.”
Garrett nodded, his face serious, and Tom looked at me with a frown.
I was about to ask them what happened when Garrett’s cell phone beeped. He glanced at it and sighed.
“Delilah will be here in ten minutes,” he said, jumping off the fence. “Can you cool him down, please?”
“Yeah,” I said. He stalked off and I glanced at Tom. “Something wrong?”
“When isn’t something wrong?” Tom answered before following Garrett inside the stables.
What the hell?
Midnight nickered, bringing my attention back to him. “All right, big boy.” I slipped off him. “Let’s get you cooled down for your practice.”
I didn’t take him inside to a wash stall since he would be out here again in a few minutes. I just tied his reins to a fence post, took off his saddle, and turned on the hose on the outside of the stable.
As soon as the cold water hit his hot coat, he advanced on me, in a happy gait. I laughed and got out of his way. To let him play, I untied his reins and held them in my left hand, while I hosed him with the right one.
He nipped at my shirt, biting the edge, and pulled me closer.
I laughed. “Hey. Are you trying to get me wet too?”
He nickered and I laughed louder. He tried nipping at me again and I stepped aside, turning around to escape him, and saw Garrett leaning in the stable’s doorway, watching us with his arms crossed.
That caught me by surprised, and I came to an abrupt halt, facing him. He held my stare, his expression impassive. I didn’t get him. Half an hour earlier, I could swear he was flirting with me, and now he was distant and looking at me as if I had stolen something from him.
Midnight poked his muzzle on my waist, tickling me, and I laughed again. I pushed Garrett out of my mind and turned to the horse.
We played with the water for a while, and he did manage to get my legs soaked. Droga, I didn’t have any other jeans with me. Next time, I would bring a couple of extra pants, boots, and tops.
I was about to turn off the hose when Midnight bit my shirt again and pulled me back, away from the faucet.
I laughed. “Come on, big boy. We have to get you ready.”
“What’s going on?”
A chill wave rushed through me. Midnight let go of me and neighed.
I turned around and found Delilah tapping her foot on the ground, her hands on her waist, and her blue eyes about to murder me.
“I asked, what’s going on? What are you doing with my horse?”
“I was helping Garrett. He asked me to cool Midnight down before your practice.” I walked to her, pulling the horse with me. He snorted, not wanting to come, but I jerked the reins with force. I offered her the reins. “Here. He’s all yours.”
She took the reins, still looking at me as if she was going to jump at my throat at any moment.
“Excuse me.” She took a step closer, expecting me to move from her away. Oh, there was plenty of space by my sides. I jutted my chin out and didn’t move.
With a huff, Delilah walked around me, keeping her eyes on mine until she couldn’t turn her neck any farther.
I watched as she marched to the other side of the arena, fighting with Midnight all the way. He didn’t want to go with her, but she pulled him hard and hissed at him. That was no way to treat a horse.
Garrett was going after her, but before walking on, he paused by my side and offered me a hand towel.
“You’ve got some balls,” he said, his lips turned up.
I smiled, using the towel to dry a little of my pants. “I rather think I don’t.”
He chuckled low, and I swear he almost smiled. Shaking his head, he said, “Gotta make sure the princess is well attended.” He tipped his hat and followed his half-sister to where the jumping poles were set up.





Blitz-wide giveaway




Blitz organised by:

http://yaboundbooktours.blogspot.co.uk/