Journey with Books

Mar 29, 2012

Cover Reveal: Defy (Firstborn Book 1) by Raine Thomas

Unknown March 29, 2012 0 Comments

Hi guys! I'm here to present to you the new cover for Raine Thomas' new book entitled Defy. It's the first installment in Firstborn Trilogy! I think it's looking good right?! I've always believed that a beautiful cover is a big factor in picking out books to read! And here it is now!

Blurb:

Seventeen-year-old Tate is about to make her parents’ dreams come true. Unfortunately for her, their dreams foretell her death.

Eager to explore more of the Estilorian plane and prove her abilities, Tate goes against her parents’ wishes and leaves the area of protection surrounding her home. Her choice puts her on a deadly path…one that leaves her alone, severely injured and battling for her life.
Her possible savior arrives in the form of Zachariah, a male who has removed himself from Estilorian society for more than fifty years. Fighting an unexpected connection to Tate, he must decide whether saving her life is worth destroying his.

As Tate struggles to find a way home, she ends up drawn into a dark Mercesti plot involving multiple murders and a powerful ancient artifact. With the unpredictable Zachariah as her only source for aid, she’ll soon find out if her abilities are strong enough to help her defy her Fate.

So what do you guys think? Is the cover good enough? Are you excited to read this book?

Let me know what your thoughts are. Just hit the comment section!

Mar 28, 2012

Book Review: A Strange Fire (A Florence Vaine Novel) by L.H Cosway

Unknown March 28, 2012 2 Comments

Author: L.H Cosway

File Size: 622 KB
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B007K81D6U
Buying Link: A Strange Fire (A Florence Vaine Novel)

Book Blurb:

Flo has always had problems. Her stammer prevents her speech and her dad’s abuse makes her life a living hell. Not to mention she sees colours other people don’t.

When her dad decides to ship her off to live with her grandma in the sleepy town of Chesterport, Flo thinks that this is her chance for a better life. But on her very first day at her new school she is ridiculed and laughed at for having a stammer. One student sticks up for her and his name is Frank.

Frank’s body is surrounded by an aura of fire, but Flo is the only one who can see it. He lives in a foster home for troubled teenagers. Flo is drawn to him because he’s different and so is she.

Things are about to get scary, because Chesterport is not your ordinary suburban town. It’s infested by a coven of dark witches who prey on the young and the elderly. Soon Flo discovers that she’s next on their list of victims, and finds herself fighting a battle she never would have imagined possible.

My Thoughts:

This is the first work of L.H Cosway I've ever read and I must say that I am completely blown away by the awesomeness of it.

Florence Vaine, a girl who has been through so much. Florence is broken girl who was starved of love and affection by her father. She grew up with an unstable father who continually abused her emotionally and physically. She thought she would be forever trapped in that situation.

She was shocked when her father decided to let her live with her grandmother in a little town called Chesterport and for the first time in her life she hoped for a normal and happy life but she was dead wrong.

Normal and happy was shot down the drain when she went to her first day of school. Ever since she could remember, Florence has a gift or a curse (she haven't really decided which is which) of seeing the auras of people. She could read the feelings and personality of a person through their auras. She had always been the strange girl who stammers, the girl who always stares up at the air and that didn't change when she moved to a new town. And so, first day in a new high school was a nightmare but one guy, a very good looking guy who has a very strange aura of fire, a kind of aura she had never seen before, stood up for her.

Chesterport might be a small town and you'd think that because it's small, it's peaceful but there are strange and dangerous creatures living in there and sadly, Florence thinks those strange and dangerous creatures are after her.

Reading this book was really amazing. It was different from other books I've read. L.H. Cosway has a way of writing words that could captivate the reader's full attention. She takes the reader inside the book and make her feel the things that her characters feel.

A reader would really read and devour every word from the very start in the Prologue to the very last chapter of the book. I could say that this book was written well. It started out really strong and maintained it to the very last word.

The characters of this book are really interesting to read. They are fascinating to get to know. Florence is a broken girl who has been through so much. She's very delicate and yet very strong. LH Cosway made her very real to me and that is good. Even though, she's broken and carrying all these emotional baggage the author, made her even more real to me because she showed that Flo is still a young teenager who feels these normal teenage feelings like first crush and young love.

Frank is simply an awesome character. He's perfect for Florence. He's strong and very manly and yet very sweet and protective of Florence. And he's very mysterious! One of the reasons this book is perfectly done is because of how the author held out the mystery of what Frank really is.

The romance between Florence and Frank is quite endearing to read. It was gradual and not rushed. It's not instant and unnatural which makes me root for them more.

The pacing of this book is simply perfect. LH Cosway has the knack of creating this suspense that makes the reader read the book despite how late it is. She has this way of imprisoning the reader into the world she has created. The suspense alone kept me reading further and further until I get to the very last word.

The book wasn't solely built in the Paranormal and Romance stuff that is normally found in the other books. It has this creepiness and suspense that would make your skin crawl and make you feel scared and I think it really blended well with the normal Paranormal Romance stuff. I can honestly say that this book is one of my best reads this year and I cannot wait to read more from a very talented author!

More About the Author:

L.H Cosway is a self-employed writer, editor and proofreader. She has a BA in English Literature and Greek and Roman Civilisation and an MA in Postcolonial Literature. She lives in Dublin city. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favourite things in life include writing stories, vintage clothing, dark cabaret music, food, musical comedy, and of course, books.

Where to Buy:

Mar 27, 2012

Book Feature: Skater Boy (First Kiss Club) by Mari Mancusi

Unknown March 27, 2012 0 Comments

Hi my lovely friends! I'm back to feature another book entitled Skater Boy written by Ms. Mari Mancusi. I just love the book cover, don't you? It was beautifully done! It practically screams "Read Me!". Scroll down if you want to read the Book Excerpt!

This Blog Tour was organized by CBLS Promotions.

And now, let's see what this book is all about...

Title: Skater Boy
Author: Mari Mancusi
Publisher: NLA Digital Liaison Platform LLC
Length: 50,000 words
Sub-Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult (YA)

BLURB:

Dawn Miller is sick of being good. Her parents have scheduled her to within an inch of her life and her popular friends can only think of hooking up and shopping. She's ready for a serious boyfriend, and it's definitely not the obnoxious rich boy everyone wants her to date.

Then she meets Starr, the headmaster's punk rock daughter who refuses to play by the rules. The differences between them are night and day but Dawn is fascinated. Starr introduces her to a world she didn't even know existed: hip indy record stores, all night raves, and cute skateboarders who hang out underneath a parking deck downtown.

Skateboarders like the gorgeous Sean, who's sweet, smart, and curiously serious --everything Dawn's always wanted in a boyfriend. Soon she finds herself head over heels and doing the unthinkable, lying to her parents and friends. Deep down she knows her parents will never approve of this boy from the wrong side of town...and her secret life is finally catching up to her. Will Dawn be forced to choose between the girl she was and the girl she is meant to be? And if she chooses, will she lose her skater boy forever?

"Mancusi has scored a hit. Dawn is likeable, and any teen girl--wealthy or not--should identify with her typical problems. From boys to friends to parents, the author covers it all. She even manages to include one or two deeper messages in the form of "straight edge" teens and a "perfect" wealthy boy who turns out to be a real jerk."-- Alexandra Kay, RT Book Reviews

Book Excerpt:

“Hey, that’s pretty good!”

I look up with a start. I’ve been so wrapped up in my world that I hadn’t realized the new girl, the supposed Satan-worshipper who drinks snake blood, has sat down at the desk beside me and is eyeing my paper.

Up close, I realize she has several piercings to go along with her already punk-rock look—a diamond stud in her nose and a silver hoop embedded in her eyebrow. Her face is pale white, almost as if she’s powdered it, and her eyes, a striking blue, are rimmed with a ton of black.

“You read my poem?” I ask, feeling my cheeks flush. I mean, sure, I realize that if I win the poetry contest lots of people will end up reading it, but still, her peeking over my shoulder without permission seems a grave invasion of privacy. And what if she goes and tells everyone that I, Dawn Miller, friend of the Ashleys, was seen writing poetry in detention? I might as well put in my application for the loserville lunch table right now.

Then again, she said it was good. Since I’ve never shown my scribblings to anyone before, I’ve never gotten an unbiased opinion on them. I mean, sure, I like them, but obviously I’m a bit prejudiced.

“Are you just saying that?” I ask. “ ’Cause you so don’t have to.”

She shakes her head, causing her straight black hair to flip from side to side. “No way,” she says. “I never say things I don’t mean. Life’s too short.” She pauses, then adds, “I was assuming it’d be bad, actually. But I guess you can’t judge a Barbie by its cover.”

I frown. “I’m not a Barbie.” I just hang out with them. She shrugs. “Maybe you are, maybe you aren’t. Honestly, I don’t care either way. But you are a good writer.”

A good writer. She thinks I’m a good writer. No one’s ever told me that before. I feel a warm pride settle over me and I decide to ignore the Barbie comment. Or at least prove her wrong.

“Thanks,” I say. “There’s this poetry contest I want to enter it in and—”

“Oh, the one in Faces?”

I stare at her in shock. “How do you—?”

“I read Faces all the time. It’s a great mag.”

Wow. She actually reads literary magazines. My friends wouldn’t be caught dead reading literary magazines. In fact, we have a saying: If it’s not Cosmo, it’s crap.

“I’m Dawn,” I say, extending a hand.

“Starr.” She shakes my hand. I notice she has on black fingernail polish that’s half flaked off.

Starr. What a cool name.

“You’re the headmaster’s daughter, right?” I ask, assuming at least that part of the Satan-worshipping, snake-eating rumor is true.

“Yeah. Got kicked out of my European boarding school and so I’m stuck in this hellhole now.”

Wow. I wonder what she did to get kicked out. It had to be something pretty bad, I’d think. What would it be like to be a bad girl? Not to care what people think of you? To break the rules and buck authority? I bet her parents don’t dare schedule her life. And if they try, she probably laughs in their faces and then goes out and gets a new tattoo, just to spite them.

“. . . and first day here, Sister Wart Nose catches me smoking in the bathroom and sentences me to detention,” Starr is explaining. “I mean, for smoking! In Europe, everyone our age smokes. Massachusetts is so puritanical. It drives me absolutely insane.”

I nod sympathetically, not sure how to respond. Of course I’m not a smoker, so I can’t relate. But suddenly, I have the undying urge to impress her somehow. Make her see I’m more than just an airhead who happens to be able to write. Which is odd, since most people at Sacred Mary’s do everything in their power to try to impress me and my crowd, not the other way around. But Starr doesn’t seem to care that I’m one of the Populars. On the contrary, that status seems a negative in her book. Which makes her seem even cooler, somehow.

“That ring rocks,” I say at last, noting the silver spider on her index finger. One thing I’ve learned from the Ashleys—when stuck for something to say, compliment their wardrobe. Works every time.

She smiles and waves her hand in the air, allowing the ring to catch the light and sparkle. Evidently even punk rock chicks aren’t immune to flattery. “Thanks. I got it at this really cool thrift store in Boston.” She pauses for a moment, as if deciding something. Then she says, “You know, I’m planning on heading there after detention, if you want to come.”

I raise my eyebrows. “You’re going to Boston? How are you going to get there? Do you have a car?”

“Nah.” She shakes her head. “I’m only fifteen. No license. But there’s a train about a block away.”

She planned to hop a train? I try to imagine what The Evil Ones would do to me if they found out I’d hopped a train to the big city. Would they kill me quickly or devise a slow, torturous death to make sure I’m really, really sorry I disobeyed?

“Come with me!” Starr says eagerly. “I know some killer used record stores.”

I shake my head. “I’m already missing gymnastics ’cause of detention. My parents will totally kick my butt if I miss my Japanese tutoring as well.”

Starr raises a pierced eyebrow. “Oh,” she says, her tone a bit colder than before. “I understand.” But she doesn’t sound like she understands. In fact, she sounds more like she thinks I’m the lamest girl on the planet.

Boring Barbie, that’s me.

It’s so not fair. I never get to do anything fun. Run off to the big city on a whim. I suddenly envy Starr and her laissez-faire attitude on life.

Envy her and want to be her.

Maybe I could call my tutor and tell him I’m sick. And then call The Evil Ones and tell them I’m going over to one of the Ashleys’ houses to work on a class project after my lesson. That should buy me at least ’til nine o’clock. Plenty of time to hit Boston and get back before they realize I’m gone.

I feel a strange thrill well up deep inside. You know what? I’m going to do it.

For once, I’m going to be a bad girl.

“Maybe I will go to Boston with you,” I say, trying to keep my voice casual as my excitement takes hold. “Sounds like fun.”

More about the Author:

Two time Emmy award winner Mari Mancusi used to wish she could be a vampire back in high school. But she ended up in another bloodsucking profession--journalism--instead. Today she works as a freelance TV producer and author of books for teens, including the award winning Blood Coven Vampire series published by Penguin Books. When not writing about creatures of the night, Mari enjoys traveling, cooking, goth clubbing, watching cheesy horror movie and her favorite guilty pleasure--videogames. A graduate of Boston University, she lives in Austin, Texas with her husband Jacob, daughter Avalon and dog Mesquite. You can find her online at www.marimancusi.com.

Website: www.marimancusi.com
Email: mari@marimancusi.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bloodcovenvampires
Twitter: www.twitter.com/#1/marimancusi

Where to Buy:

Amazon:

Skater Boy (First Kiss Club)

B&N:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/skater-boy-mari-mancusi/1107997451?ean=2940013849259&itm=8&usri=mari+mancusi

Google Books:

http://books.google.com/ebooks?id=uVkOLtuKOGAC&dq=skater+boy&as_brr=5

Also available on iBooks

Mar 22, 2012

The Strong Female Character: A Guest Post by Sheryl Steines, Author of The Day of First Sun. Plus $450 in Amazon Gift Cards and a Kindle Fire up for Grabs!

Unknown March 22, 2012 2 Comments

Please enjoy this guest post by Sheryl Steines, author of the urban fantasy novel, The Day of First Sun. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including $450 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book.

The Strong Female

I am always amazed to hear that, in the year 2012, women are still talking about strong female characters. It’s funny that we’re always surprised when one comes along. Even in Hollywood, actresses still can’t find roles to sink their teeth into. As a reader, I look for characters that I can relate to in some way; a character who is more than a damsel in distress but less than an unfeeling, mean, witch. I’m putting it gently, but I’m looking for someone, who when facing a problem, doesn’t necessarily need a man to bail her out--a woman who can take care of herself in spite of her vulnerabilities. Because in reality, women are multi-layered and complex. We don’t fall to one end of an extreme or the other.

When I was younger, I started reading Danielle Steele, but I couldn't read her for long. Her female characters were far too needy and always put themselves in a position of requiring a savior. Even as a child, I couldn't help but wonder why these characters always needed a man to improve their lives. Why couldn’t they simply take care of themselves? It seemed as though female characters fell into two camps, and only two. They were either villains, witches, someone to be hated and despised, or they were weak, pathetic, your classic damsels in distress. Why is fiction lacking real women, women who can simply be human and celebrate all that they are?

As I got older, I found myself drawn to shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I saw in Buffy a strong character. Yes, she could kick ass, kill the vampires and fight the demons. She also had a brain, could plan, and could save the world each week. But she wasn't uni-dimensional. She also has a side that liked clothes, shoes and boys, a side that was feminine, a little vulnerable; a side that, okay, sometimes needed to be saved. She was a complex female character, real and human, a character with whom I could definitely relate.

The strong female character isn’t a caricature or stereotype. She’s not a total wimp like Snow White, and she’s not a total monster like the evil queen. She falls somewhere in the middle. She’s reactive, emotional, human, sexual, confident and sometimes unsure of herself.

When I originally wrote my character Annie Pearce in The Day of First Sun, I wrote her as a no-nonsense person, strong and smart, the girl who could survive on her own. But she didn’t feel genuine. As the story unfolded and changed, I rewrote her, gave her friends and family with whom she could interact. I gave her feelings, gave her stress. I let the other characters take charge once in awhile and offer some support. I melded two halves into one woman--a strong woman, who can take care of herself and ask for help when necessary. We’re not perfect, so why should our characters be? Instead, why can’t we make them simply authentic?

Charlize Theron made a really compelling comment regarding her character in the movie Young Adult. She said, "Women are usually either really good prostitutes or really good mothers. Maybe women are finally getting the chance to play more honest characters," Theron said. "We usually don't get to play bad hookers or bad mothers -- or anything in between."

Maybe it’s time to be a little more real and a little more honest.

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Day of First Sun eBook edition is just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes. The prizes include $450 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book. All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment--easy to enter; easy to win! To win the prizes:

Purchase your copy of The Day of First Sun for just 99 cents
Fill-out the simple form on Novel Publicity
Visit today’s featured social media event

Help my blog win: The tour blogger who receives the most votes in the traffic-breaker poll will win a $100 gift card. When you visit Novel Publicity’s site to fill-out the contest entry form, don’t forget to VOTE FOR ME.

About the book: A vampire, a rogue wizard and an army of soulless zombies are par for the course for Annie Pearce and Bobby “Cham” Chamsky of the Wizard’s Guard. But when the non-magical princess, Amelie of Amborix, is murdered by magical means, a deeper plot unfolds. Get it on Amazon.

About the author: Behind the wheel of her ’66 Mustang Convertible, Sheryl is a constant surprise, using her sense of humor and relatable style make her books something everyone can enjoy. Visit Sheryl on her website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

Author Interview: Sheryl Steines (The Day of First Sun) and $450 Amazon GC, Kindle Fire and 5 Autographed Copies of The Day of First Sun

Unknown March 22, 2012 0 Comments

Please enjoy this interview with Sheryl Steines, author of the urban fantasy novel, The Day of First Sun. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including $450 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book.

If you could travel in a time machine, would you go back to the past or into the future?
I would go to the past, meet famous people, see history as it happened. I’d be afraid to go to the future. I’m not sure I really want to know when I die.

If you could jump into a book, and live in that world, which would it be?
This might be to expected, but I would love to live at Hogwarts, stroll through Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, play with all the magical stuff, and visit the Weasleys at their house. I saw the Harry Potter exhibit at the museum a few years ago, and it just seemed so fun.

If a movie was made about your life, who would you want to play the lead role and why?
Sandra Bullock. Since she became a movie star, people all over the place tell me I look like her. She’s also funny. I can only imagine how much more interesting and funny my life would be if she were the lead.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I always knew I wanted to be a writer. There were times that I thought I wanted to be an interior decorator, but in the end, I was always much happier writing and creating.

Who are your favorite authors of all time?
I have two. The first would be Stephen King. I was always amazed by the detail and imagination he used in his books, especially the earliest books. I watched him on an interview many years ago and he was talking about the things he was afraid of, one of which was sleeping with his feet outside the covers at night. He would always cover his feet so that the monsters under the bed wouldn’t get him. I laughed so hard because I do the same thing. J.K. Rowling is also a favorite. Her life story and Harry Potter reminded me that I wanted to be a writer when I was seven. She reminded me of the genre that I loved. It got me thinking about what stories intrigued me. I watched her interview on Oprah and cried through the entire thing. It got me thinking of ways to take my personal experiences and hide them in the fantasy world.

What do you do in your free time?
I read, a lot. In the winter, I spend time at museums and go shopping. In the summer, I love to go to flea markets. You could never have too many fleas. I love to travel. I spend most of the summer driving my 1966 Mustang convertible.

What is your guilty pleasure?
I’m a huge fan of Ninja Warrior. Yeah, the Japanese obstacle course. On one side, it’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen. On the other side of it, the obstacles are so challenging, and the participants are so revered for making it through each stage that it is a huge honor to win.

Favorite places to travel?
I love Europe, London being my favorite city. I’ve been to Scotland, France, Italy, Germany and Austria. The Austrian/German Alps are some of the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen.

Favorite way to spend a rainy day?
In front of the television watching my favorite movies. Who doesn’t love Ferris Buehler’s Day Off and Sixteen Candles.

If you could have a superpower, what would you choose? Telekinesis! Then I could clean my house without actually having to do anything.

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Day of First Sun eBook edition is just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes. The prizes include $450 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book.

All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment--easy to enter; easy to win! To win the prizes:

Purchase your copy of The Day of First Sun for just 99 cents
Fill-out the simple form on Novel Publicity
Visit today’s featured social media event

Help my blog win: The tour blogger who receives the most votes in the traffic-breaker poll will win a $100 gift card. When you visit Novel Publicity’s site to fill-out the contest entry form, don’t forget to VOTE FOR ME.

About the book: A vampire, a rogue wizard and an army of soulless zombies are par for the course for Annie Pearce and Bobby “Cham” Chamsky of the Wizard’s Guard. But when the non-magical princess, Amelie of Amborix, is murdered by magical means, a deeper plot unfolds. Get it on Amazon.

About the author: Behind the wheel of her ’66 Mustang Convertible, Sheryl is a constant surprise, using her sense of humor and relatable style make her books something everyone can enjoy. Visit Sheryl on her website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

Mar 20, 2012

An Excerpt from The Day of First Sun. Plus $450 in Amazon Gift Cards and Kindle Fire up for Grabs!

Unknown March 20, 2012 1 Comments

Please enjoy this excerpt from the urban fantasy novel, The Day of First Sun. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including $450 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book.

Sturtagaard chose not to speak, though it was he who had called for the meeting. They both checked their watches and realized they had been sitting across from him for ten minutes, watching him sniff the air. If he wanted to play this, they would play along at least for a little while longer, though both were tired of the leering. As the vampire sniffed again, Cham finally figured out why.

"You know, you called us. We really don't have anything to say to you, so if you're just playing games, we're happy to leave. I've got other, more important things to do than watch you sniff and leer," Cham finally said, and stood up.

Sturtagaard smiled as he watched Cham open the door because he much preferred dealing with Annie, but when she stood up, too, he realized he'd overplayed his hand.

"If I talk, my employer will have me staked. I'd like some assurance that you won't do the same," he said rather quickly, before they left.

They turned and looked at him, both rolling their eyes.

"I'll have you staked if you don't talk," replied Cham, as he stood by the door.

"You're out of options if you ever hope to get out of here again," Annie said calmly, focusing on his face.

Sturtagaard squirmed a little in his seat, as Annie's expression was somewhat disquieting and unemotional. He looked at Cham, whose face was expressionless, and then back to Annie, who hadn't moved a muscle. The vampire sighed.

"You heard right. I was hired to create a zombie army to overthrow the Wizard Council," Sturtagaard said. His voice remained steady and calm with resignation.

"Who wants to overthrow the Council?" asked Cham, his hand still clutching the door.

"My employer. I've told you, I don't know who he is. I always dealt with his associate. He'd show up, leave notes, or send others with messages. I've never contacted him." He looked from one to the other, but they both remained stony and detached. "Come on, now. I can't give you information I don't have." Sturtagaard was charming.

Annie rolled her eyes again. "You really don't have any idea who the employer is?" she asked with sarcasm.

"Really, I don't," he said.

"So you're building an army of the dead. How long did you have to get this done?" Annie took out her phone and pulled out her calendar.

"He wanted it ready for September first."

Annie looked up with a grimace, and Cham looked surprised. She didn't need to mark the date on her calendar or research its significance, though neither could figure out why a zombie army had to be created for that day, the Day of First Sun. It was a very powerful and ancient day for good magic.

"So, your employer wants an army of the dead on that day? Why?" Cham asked in a flat, emotionless voice.

"He's a black wizard. What do you think he wants? He wants to overthrow the Council, take over the world, practice magic in the open. You know, the typical magical fantasy." Sturtagaard grinned because he believed that would benefit the entire supernatural world.

"Wipe the smirk off your face, Sturtagaard. Having free reign won't be as good as you think, with all the angry mobs, torches, and stakes through the heart."

Annie smirked at Cham, who shook his head and laughed. He waited to compose himself before looking back at the vampire.

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Day of First Sun eBook edition is just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes. The prizes include $450 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book.

All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment--easy to enter; easy to win!

To win the prizes:

Purchase your copy of The Day of First Sun for just 99 cents
Fill-out the simple form on Novel Publicity
Visit today’s featured social media event

Help my blog win: The tour blogger who receives the most votes in the traffic-breaker poll will win a $100 gift card. When you visit Novel Publicity’s site to fill-out the contest entry form, don’t forget to VOTE FOR ME.

About the book: A vampire, a rogue wizard and an army of soulless zombies are par for the course for Annie Pearce and Bobby “Cham” Chamsky of the Wizard’s Guard. But when the non-magical princess, Amelie of Amborix, is murdered by magical means, a deeper plot unfolds. Get it on Amazon.

About the author: Behind the wheel of her ’66 Mustang Convertible, Sheryl is a constant surprise, using her sense of humor and relatable style make her books something everyone can enjoy. Visit Sheryl on her website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

Mar 18, 2012

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Initiation (Bonfire Academy 1) by Imogen Rose

Unknown March 18, 2012 4 Comments

Hi my sweets! I'm back again with another blog tour organized by Bewitching Book Tours. Today, Journey with Books Blog is featuring Initiation, the first installment of Bonfire Academy by Ms. Imogen Rose.

And now let's see what this book is all about.

Title: Initiation
Author: Imogen Rose

Genre: Paranormal YA

Book Blurb:

Welcome to Bonfire Academy!

Set in the foothills of the alpine mountains in St.Moritz, this exclusive private school caters to a special kind of student. Enter at your own risk... but if you are human, you may not want to enter at all.

WARNING: This YA story is set in a school for paranormals who are very different from normal human teens. Thus, the language and some scenes might not be appropriate for younger YA readers. Recommended for those sixteen and above.

Book Excerpt:

She eyed Faustine and took a long sip from her bottle of fresh blood. “So, you’ve been through quite an ordeal. Way to start Initiation, Faustine. Now, I need to talk to you both separately, though Jagger insists on being around when I talk to you, Faustine. You know, in case I get the urge to snack on you.” She laughed. “Just kidding, of course. I never snack on my clients.” She rolled her eyes.

“Since he isn’t here yet, let’s start with you, Cordelia. Faustine, can you excuse us for a bit? Quinn is waiting outside to take you back to your room.”

I wondered where Jagger was. We were sitting in his office. Was he asleep in the next room? I fought the urge to check it out, and potentially jump his bones again, the memories from the ski slope still fresh in my mind. I shook myself and turned my attention back to Octavia. “So, what do you think?”

“Like Jagger told you, I’ve seen the video. Now I need to hear the story from you. Your impressions may uncover additional clues.”

“Like what?” I asked, confused.

“Smells, for instance. There could be other things as well, so start from the beginning and tell me everything. Don’t leave out any details. Try to remember smells, colors, and things like nails–manicured or not–designer labels, everything, no matter how insignificant it may seem. Play the scene in your head in slow motion, analyze every nuance.”

“Okay.” I did what she said and told her everything I knew, which wasn’t much more than the video would show. I described the rancid smell of the shifters.

“You know, just regular shifter smell.”

“Male or female?”

“There were four males and one female. You can see that on the video.”

“No, I mean how many female and male scents did you pick up before you actually saw them?”

I closed my eyes, trying to remember. Truth was that I wasn’t very good at the whole sniffer thing.

About the Author:

Imogen Rose is the author of the bestselling YA series, the Portal Chronicles. She was born in a small town in Sweden and moved to London in her twenties. After obtaining a PhD in immunology from Imperial College, she moved with her family to New Jersey, where she’s been based for the past ten years.

For as long as she can remember, Imogen has dreamt stories. Stories that continued from night to night, from dream to dream. So, even as a child, going to bed was never an issue, just an anticipation of the story to come.

PORTAL, Imogen’s first novel, would have remained in her imagination, to be shared only with her daughter, Lauren, had her eight-year-old not insisted that she write it down. In the course of a month, Imogen typed while Lauren waited eagerly by the printer for the pages to appear, and a novel took shape.

The warm reception PORTAL received encouraged her to continue with the story and the Portal Chronicles. The Bonfire Chronicles is Imogen’s new YA paranormal series.

Imogen is a self-confessed Hermès addict who enjoys shopping, traveling, watching movies and playing with her dog, Tallulah.

Buying Links:

Giveaways:

4 signed paperback copies of INITIATION

1 of each:

Inititation Sack Pack

Initiation Bear

Initiation Toiletry bag

Initiation Gym Bag

8 winners

Open to US Shipping

Book Feature and Giveaway: A Strange Fire (Florence Vaine 1) by L.H Cosway

Unknown March 16, 2012 0 Comments

Author: L.H Cosway
File Size: 622 KB
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B007K81D6U
Buying Link: A Strange Fire (Florence Vaine)

Blurb:
Flo has always had problems. Her stammer prevents her speech and her dad’s abuse makes her life a living hell. Not to mention she sees colours other people don’t.

When her dad decides to ship her off to live with her grandma in the sleepy town of Chesterport, Flo thinks that this is her chance for a better life. But on her very first day at her new school she is ridiculed and laughed at for having a stammer. One student sticks up for her and his name is Frank.

Frank’s body is surrounded by an aura of fire, but Flo is the only one who can see it. He lives in a foster home for troubled teenagers. Flo is drawn to him because he’s different and so is she.

Things are about to get scary, because Chesterport is not your ordinary suburban town. It’s infested by a coven of dark witches who prey on the young and the elderly. Soon Flo discovers that she’s next on their list of victims, and finds herself fighting a battle she never would have imagined possible.

About the Author:

Giveaway:

The author is having a giveaway of five copies of the book to celebrate its release. So if you want to win a copy all you have to do is answer the following question (the answer is in the synopsis above) and email the answer to lhcosway@gmail.com, also state whether you would like a mobi or pdf copy of the book.

You have until Saturday, March 17 of 2012 to email your answers to the author! Good luck!

Question: What supernatural beings have infested the town of Chesterport?

A. Vampires
B. Witches
C. Werewolves

I will be posting a review of this book by the end of March, so you guys better watch out for it!

Where to Buy:

Mar 15, 2012

Book Review: Initation (Bonfire Academy 1) by Imogen Rose

Unknown March 15, 2012 5 Comments

Paperback, 412 pages
Published: December 25th 2011 by Imogen Rose (first published November 23rd 2011)
ISBN 0982800258 (ISBN13: 9780982800256)
Edition Language: English
Series: Bonfire Academy #1
Characters: Cordelia, Jagger, Faustine, Ryker
Buying Link:
Initiation: Bonfire Academy Book One (Bonfire Chronicles)

Blurb:

Welcome to Bonfire Academy. Set in the foothills of the alpine mountains in St.Moritz, this exclusive private school caters to a special kind of student. Enter at your own risk... but if you are human, you may not want to enter at all.

My Thoughts:

Initiation is the first book of Bonfire Academy written by Imogen Rose. This book is a very nice, action packed and full of mind blowing mystery and suspense that would definitely make you guess and would make you think. I must say that it is a very nice way to start a series.

The story started with the start of school year for the supernaturals in Bonfire Academy. Cordelia thought that it would be a very normal year (for a demon princess like her) and her boyfriend Quinn. The truth was she didn’t really have to go back, the only reason she was back at the academy was so she could spend more time with Quinn. She didn’t expect that things would be so different for her and for the whole academy.

Initiation is one story that the young and young at heart would definitely enjoy. It’s a bit different from the other Young Adult books out there. It has a bit of everything. It has mystery, suspense and action! It also has a bit of romance, although, I think it’s not the main focus of the story.

The characters are all fascinating! There are a lot of characters in this book but the main character is Cordelia. I have a bit of love and hate feelings for Cordelia. I mean, I don’t hate her but I guess, some of her actions and decisions annoyed me a little bit. She’s very complex. She’s not perfect. Sometimes, she’s a bit spoiled and selfish but still she shows maturity when it matters. I think these qualities are the ones that make her so endearing to readers.

Cordelia is caught in between her long time boyfriend Quinn and this mysterious Student Council President, Jagger. She loves Quinn but Jagger makes her feel intense things. This is where I didn’t understand Cordelia, she wouldn’t let Quinn go even though she’s having a secret affair with Jagger. Now, don’t judge her yet. Jagger and Cordelia formed an unbreakable bond, somehow when they met and she couldn’t stop whatever feelings she have for Jagger just as Jagger couldn’t stop his feelings for Cordelia. It’s like they mated.

Now, if you think that this book is just all about their unbelievable love triangle then you are dead wrong. As I said before, this book didn’t focus much on romance, it has more action, suspense and mystery which was greatly mixed by the way. I loved how the author made this even more unique. She didn’t just make another love triangle for us to be obsessed about. She put a lot more in the action/suspense part of this book which makes it more exciting and intriguing. It’s the kind of book that could make you so curious that you wouldn’t want to put this book down.

The only complain I have is the relationship between Jagger and Cordelia and Quinn. It would have been nicer and more heartfelt if their relationships could be discussed in a more evenly manner, in a way that could make us, the readers, connect more with them. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series and see where the love triangle goes even though I’m absolutely TEAM JAGGER!

Overall, I think this book is on the right track when it comes to being a first book of a series. I always believed that the first book of a series is the most critical one because it’s the one that would decide the fate of the whole series, the one that would make people decide if it’s worth following and I think that the way Imogen Rose wrote Initiation made it pass with flying colors.

Initiation is a great YA read! It would make your heart beat faster with its mystery, suspense and action! It’s a definite keeper!

About the Author:

Hi! I am Imogen Rose and I am based in New Jersey. For as long as I can remember, I have dreamt stories. Stories that can and do continue from night to night, from dream to dream. So, going to bed was never an issue, even as a child, just an anticipation of the story to come.

I was born in a small town in Sweden and moved to London in my twenties. After obtaining a PhD in immunology from Imperial College, I moved with my family to New Jersey, where I have been based for the past ten years. Although storytelling is my real passion, I have only now decided to share my stories by publishing my first work of fiction, PORTAL.

PORTAL would have remained in my imagination, to be shared only with my daughter, Lauren, had my eight-year-old not insisted that I write it down. In the course of a month, I typed while Lauren waited eagerly by the printer for the pages to appear, and a novel took shape.

The warm reception PORTAL has received has encouraged me to continue with the story and the Portal Chronicles. The sequel, EQUILIBRIUM, is due to be published Summer 2010

Buying Links:

Mar 9, 2012

Book Review: Compromising Kessen by Rachel Van Dyken

Unknown March 09, 2012 11 Comments

Title: Compromising Kessen
Author: Rachel Van Dyken
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 253 pages
Release Date: February 2012
Buy Link: http://www.astraeapress.com
ISBN: 978-1-936852-98-7

BOOK BLURB:

The last thing career-driven Kessen Newberry wants is to leave her home in Colorado to spend a Season in London, far away from her job, her friends and the memories of her mother. However, her father, the Earl of Newberry, threatens to disinherit her unless she gets in touch with her British roots. She complies, but has no intention of enjoying the experience.

That is until she meets Christian Vandenbrook, the arrogant and irritatingly handsome future Duke of Albany and her father’s business partner. Unfortunately, Christian hates Americans. And coffee. And apparently, Kessen.
A hatred this passionate can only lead to one thing… marriage.

Caught in the middle of a Regency-inspired nightmare, Kessen and Christian are forced to marry in only one week’s time. Resigned to their fate, the two resolve to give the relationship a chance—which would be much easier if everyone would stop interrupting them every time they found a moment alone.

MY THOUGHTS:

Well, this is the first work of Rachel Van Dyken I've ever read and honestly, I'm thinking why haven't I ever read anything from her until now.

The book was good and the cover was perfectly gorgeous! It's definitely one of my most fun reads. It's a bit different from other Contemporary Romances because it's like a Modern Day Regency Romance. It's like both Historical and Modern Contemporary Romance in one book which I think is brilliantly done by the author. The characters are well likable. Christian and Kessen are quite good because the author make them work. I must say that I love love love their amusing chemistry. And the other characters are quite fun too. I think 'FUN' is what this book is all about.

I loved reading this because it's hilarious! And the way the author wrote their dialogues and interactions with one another is quite natural and fun. I must say that the wit is also one of the things I loved about this book. The pacing of the story is just right. There are no dull moments. The only thing I might complain about this book is that, I think the depth was overshadowed by the hilarity and funniness of the plot. I could have enjoyed this book even more if it was given a little more depth.

Overall, I think the book is good for readers who just wants to sit and relax for a while. For those who wants a light read that you can laugh out loud on your down time, then you just can't afford to miss this book. This one is a keeper!

I'm thinking I might stalk Rachel Van Dyken's other works!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rachel Van Dyken is a Graduate of Northwest Nazarene University, with a degree in Social Sciences with an emphasis in industrial psychology and a minor in Spanish. She is also a Post Graduate of California Coast University receiving a MBA with an emphasis in Human Resource Management. She resides in Nampa, Idaho and counsels children. Starbucks is a daily must, spiders make her scream, and she loves chocolate but is allergic, of course. Nate, her husband makes her laugh so hard she cries and they share their Pacific Northwest home with a very loud snoring boxer named Sir Winston Churchill.

Rachel loves to read almost as much as she loves to write. Although she loves to write contemporary romance, her heart will always be with historical and regency romances. Glittering balls and dangerous rakes hold her captivated like chocolate and Starbucks.
http://deliciousromancebyrachel.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachel-Van-Dyken
http://www.twitter.com/RachVD

BUYING LINKS:

http://www.astraeapress.com

Mar 7, 2012

Author Interview: Sophia Duane (My Only)

Unknown March 07, 2012 0 Comments

Hi my loves! How are you guys doing? I'm here now because we have a very special guest on Journey with Books Blog today. We have Ms. Sophia Duane! She's the author of 'My Only'. I have posted a review of her book few days ago. Here's the link on my review "My Only"

And now, we'll learn more about her!

1. Can you please tell us something about yourself?

Something most people don't know about you yet. I never know what people find interesting, so this question stumps me a bit. Do I tell you about my favorite shoes that are now falling apart, but I wear them anyway, or is that a bit mundane? I suppose I'll tell you about what a geek I am. When I love something (movie, television, book, etc), I research the hell out of it. When Jurassic Park came out, I owned TONS of merchandise and read just about every book on dinosaurs I could find. That trait (the border line obsessive) has followed me through to today, which is why I love writing. Whatever the topic is, there's research to be done and I can geek out a bit. Right now I'm neck deep in World War II research as I'm writing something about that era right now.

2. When did you realize that you wanted to be an author?

I was about eighteen when I started writing for real, not that I showed many people what I wrote or thought at that point that I wanted to be published. I've always been a storyteller, but way back when, I just told myself stories to occupy my mind. Many of the stories I work on (in my mind) are the same or variations of the ones from when I was in high school.

3. What is the hardest part about being an author?

Lack of sleep. I have to work when everyone else is sleeping, which means I'm up after four hours of rest sometimes. It's not difficult once in a while, but years of doing it takes a toll. I've started getting about five hours average now, which helps quite a bit. Another difficult thing is dealing with the fact that most people around me don't understand that I can't "just sleep in." I have to write. It's imperative.

4. What are the perks that you get now that you are an officially published author?

I get shiny new books on my bookshelves with my name on them. :) I also get people who joke about having to be nice to me now since they don't want to "wind up in" my next novel. That's always good for a chuckle. My writing career is young, so the "perks" of being published haven't really started to roll in. Seriously, most perks I can think of are an internal.

5. Where did you get the inspiration to write the very moving story of "My Only"?

I love drumlines. I love the dynamics of twins. I love coming of age stories. Also, I wanted to explore the idea of people coming into our lives for a reason. They bring something to us and sometimes it's not easy to see, but we grow from our interactions with everyone. Sometimes people come into your life just in passing, but the impact of that short engagement can be very deep.

6. How did you feel the moment that you typed that very last 'period’ on "My Only"? Did you cry like I did the moment I finished reading it?

I've only teared up once at something I've written. It wasn't My Only. Really, I don't know what I felt. Relief probably, followed by a strong sense of anticipation for the editing and revising yet to come. There's always a bit of a high that happens when I finish a project, followed by a bit of depression because your time with those characters is over.

Fun Questions:

1. When the word 'HUNK' is uttered, who is the first person that comes to your mind?

I don't know. Someone from 1980's television, I'm sure. HUNK isn't a word I associate with "HOT" guys. When I think of HUNK, I think of oiled muscles and cheesy synthesizer music, neither of which are a turn-on for me.

2. What is that one movie you're dying to see?

I cannot wait to see Hunger Games! I love the books and want to see how the creative people in Hollywood have translated it onto the screen. Likewise, I am DYING to see Catching Fire (even from before I've been wanting to see HG), because I need to see Finnick Odair in the flesh.

3. Who is that one 'HOT' celebrity that you would want to marry?

Since I'm married already, I'll decline to answer this, but I'd love to meet some musician who may or may not be hot looking, but where their music makes them utterly attractive. I don't know what I'd do if I met them, but it'd be nice to express how much their music means to me. Also, I'd like love to meet Sean Bean. Again, I have absolutely no idea what I'd do if I met him beyond stare at him and maybe quote some Tolkien. :)

4. If you're going to heaven, who would you take with you?

Everyone in my life, I suppose. I think everyone deserves a bit of paradise. There isn't one person I know of that I'd ever keep from eternal happiness. If it was mine to give, I would gladly give it to everyone I know.

5. If you're going to hell, who would you drag down with you?

No one. I'm not a throw-'em-under-the-bus kind of girl. If I was "bad" enough to earn my way to "hell," I wouldn't drag anyone with me.

Last Question:

What is next for Ms. Sophia Duane?

Writing, working, working, writing. Laughing, living, playing. Being as good of a person as I can be, with a little working and writing mixed in. Seriously, Ms. Sophia Duane will continue to write and if someone wants to put my words into print, I will graciously accept, but if not, I'll continue to write the stories that tickle my heart and mind. There will continue to be early mornings filled with geeky research, and binders filled with snippets of dialog and scenes. There will be more highs of accomplishments, followed by low of mourning for putting beloved characters to bed. In short: What's next for me is that same as what's current for me: Writing, because it's an imperative. :)

And there you have it! It's fun to read her answers right? Sometimes it's good to know the person behind the book you've read and cherished inside your heart.

Thanks to Ms. Sophia Duane for being game to answer these questions. Also, I want to thank

Ms. Annelies Ivens, part of the Marketing Team of TWCS Publishing House for being so nice to me.

Author: Sophia Duane

Category: Romance

Publication date: Mar 8, 2012

ISBN (paper): 978-1-61213-095-8

ISBN (ebook): 978-1-61213-096-5

Book Blurb:

Adam James’s life is far from perfect. A talented drummer from a small suburb of Chicago, he keeps to himself, downplaying his abilities, thinking that he is less than all those around him, including his popular twin brother, Aaron..

When a free-spirited new girl with a troubled past moves in across the street, Adam's eyes are opened to a new world of possibilities. Olivia Cartwright’s philosophies on life give her a deeper understanding of the world. An instant connection between Adam and Olivia draws them closer, but he wonders why anyone would choose him when a better version exists, particularly when Aaron also takes an interest in her.

Will the friendship with Olivia change Adam, or will he continue to close himself off in his own world?

Adam has a choice to make: risk his friendship with Olivia or fight for something more.

It seems Adam has a lot to learn about love....and life.

Buying Link:

http://ph.thewriterscoffeeshop.com/books/detail/49

Be sure to check out my review for "My Only"

Thanks! Happy Reading everyone!