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Thursday, January 31, 2013

Review: UnWholly by Neal Shusterman

Thanks to Connor, Lev, and Risa—and their high-profile revolt at Happy Jack Harvest Camp—people can no longer turn a blind eye to unwinding. Ridding society of troublesome teens while simultaneously providing much-needed tissues for transplant might be convenient, but its morality has finally been brought into question. However, unwinding has become big business, and there are powerful political and corporate interests that want to see it not only continue, but also expand to the unwinding of prisoners and the impoverished.

Cam is a product of unwinding; made entirely out of the parts of other unwinds, he is a teen who does not technically exist. A futuristic Frankenstein, Cam struggles with a search for identity and meaning and wonders if a rewound being can have a soul. And when the actions of a sadistic bounty hunter cause Cam’s fate to become inextricably bound with the fates of Connor, Risa, and Lev, he’ll have to question humanity itself.

Rife with action and suspense, this riveting companion to the perennially popular Unwind challenges assumptions about where life begins and ends—and what it means to live.


Reading UnWholly was a bit like taking a trip with someone who wants to stop at every historical marker while you are anxious to get to your destination. There was a lot of jumping around as the reader was introduced to new characters. Everything eventually came together, and the pace really picked up and there was quite a bit of action.

While I wished that more had happened, UnWholly built up my anticipation for the resolution. I will definitely get my hands on a copy of the final book in the Unwind Trilogy when it comes out this fall.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Review: Third Time's the Charm by Heather Moore

Welcome to the Aliso Creek Novella Series

Liz, Gemma, Arie, Jess, and Drew have been best friends since creating “the Five” at Aliso Creek High School. But that was over ten years ago, and each is still trying to find that perfect someone . . . if perfect is even possible.

Liz Carlson will settle for a normal man. A normal man with a job, that is. Married twice, then divorced twice, Liz’s rose-colored glasses fell off and shattered on the ground a long time ago. Her main focus now is raising her six-year-old daughter and surviving long days at work on her feet as a hairdresser. When Sloane Branden answers her call for help, quite literally, Liz doesn’t even give him a second glance. She’s sworn off dating for as many years as it takes, and it seems that Sloane has done the same after his own tumultuous marriage. But when Liz realizes that Sloane defies every stereotypical deadbeat she’s dated, she might just find room in her heart and discover the third time’s the charm.


This is a quick, cute romance with some fun characters.

I liked the bond Liz has with Gemma. Distance doesn't seem to have hurt the friendship they formed back in high school, and Liz relies on Gemma quite a bit (their 911 text idea made me smile).

I liked that Sloane was a bit of a knight in shinning armor (ok, a dripping faucet isn't a huge deal, but the way he took care of the problem and then got to know Liz and her daughter was sweet).

Sloane's ex was not one of the fun characters, but she definitely added drama to the story.

The downside to Third Time's the Charm (if you want to call it that) is that it is over so fast. I would have liked more time for Liz and Sloane to develop their relationship. And it would have been fun to learn more about "the Five".

As far as content, I think there was one swearword, and the reason for Sloane's divorce was a bit shocking (although there aren't a lot of details about it).

Third Time's the Charm is available as an eBook for $1.99.


*I received an eCopy of Third Time's the Charm in exchange for a review.

Monday, January 28, 2013

Book Blast: Jack Templar: Monster Hunter by Jeff Gunhus

Jack Templar: Monster Hunter

Orphan Jack Templar has no memory of his parents and only the smallest details from his Aunt Sophie about how they died. The day before Jack's fourteenth birthday, things start to change for him. At first it's great: A sudden new strength helps him defend his nose-picking friend "T-Rex" from the school bully, and even his crush, Cindy Adams, takes notice. But then a mysterious girl named Eva arrives and tells him two facts that will change his life forever. First, that he's the descendent of a long line of monster hunters and he's destined to be in the family business. Second, that there's a truce between man and monster that children are off-limits...until their fourteenth birthday! Jack has only one day before hundreds of monsters will descend on his little town of Sunnyvale and try to kill him.

As if that weren't enough, things get even more complicated when Jack discovers that the Lord of the Creach (as the monsters are collectively known) holds a personal grudge against him and will do anything to see that Jack has a slow and painful death. To stay alive and save his friends, Jack will have to battle werewolves, vampires, harpies, trolls, zombies and more. But perhaps the most dangerous thing he must face is the truth about his past. Why do the other hunters call him the last Templar? Why do they whisper that he may be the "One?" Why do the monsters want him dead so badly? Even as these questions plague him, he quickly discovers survival is his new full-time job and that in the world of monster hunters, nothing is really what it seems.



Author Jeff Gunhus

Jeff Gunhus grew up in Cyprus, Greece, and Saudi Arabia where there was a distinct lack of television. He quickly found books were the gateway to incredible adventures, fascinating characters and unbelievable discoveries. Now, with five children of his own (all who watch too much television, in his opinion), he has enjoyed revisiting his old books and reliving those adventures all over again.





Kirkus Reviews

"Gunhus brings young readers a monster-filled romp to read at their own risk. In the first few pages, Jack, the storyteller and main character, warns readers not to read about these real-world monsters that would seem to only exist in fiction. The tone is set--sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek and likable; rooting for Jack is easy...Gunhus masterfully introduces fully realized characters with whom readers can connect almost instantly. The pacing is quick but not rushed, and events seamlessly progress, complete with action, cliff-hangers and surprise reveals. "

Amazon Reviews

Watch out Percy Jackson here comes Jack Templar
Move over Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, there's a new kid in town - Jack Templar, and he will take you on a wonderful adventure of good vs evil, with friends and enemies at every turn. The twists and turns keep the reader on a roller coaster of entertainment in the way of JK Rowling and Rick Riordan. ~ Penny Brein

Fast paced adventure through and through
Written for middle school aged students, this book is action-packed from the beginning and will hold the attention of young readers. Not only that, as an adult reader, it was hard to put down, so parents will enjoy it as an easy read. ~ bluejellybean

Kids will love it!
Not only will kids love it, adults will too! I don't want to give the plot away but this is a book worth reading. This book is creatively written drawing in the reader to be a participant in the story. There is lots of action with enough blood and guts to be interesting without being gross. Girls will like it too with the strong female role models and the hint of romance. Even though this is a children's book, I couldn't put it down. I will definitely be adding this to my classroom library. I am looking forward to reading the book in this series and sharing it with my students. Awesome book! ~ pixiep


Purchase


Book Trailer




WARNING

Yeah, you read it right. I’m a monster hunter. Back before I actually became one, I would have thought that sounded totally awesome. And don’t get me wrong, in a lot of ways it is. But most of the time, I’m either running for my life or hiding in the shadows, praying the monster chasing me doesn’t pick up my scent. And I’m almost always scared to death. In a few pages, I think you’ll see why.
     But there are a few things I need to warn you about before I tell you my story.
     First, this isn’t a cartoon. These are bloodthirsty creatures who will stop at nothing to kill. They are scary. Very scary. Second, the only way to stop them is to kill them first…and that gets gross and messy. Third, this is all real.
     You think I’m kidding, don’t you? I can almost see you smirking as you read this. But this isn’t a joke. Monsters are real and the story I’m about to tell you really happened. If you’d rather walk through life believing that monsters are only found in books or on the movie screen, then you should shut this book right now and go do something else.
     I give you these warnings because the story I’m about to tell you isn’t for everyone. Not everyone can handle it. The blood. The gore. The monsters.
     This life was thrust onto me. I had no choice but to take up a sword and fight. But you can still walk away and pretend this dark world doesn’t exist. Or you can walk through the door that I’m about to open and find out the truth about the world around you.
     But I warn you (and this is a big warning), if you read this book, if you learn about the monsters that roam among us and the hunters who fight them, if you decide to learn the truth, then you will become fair game for the monsters to chase.
     Make sure you understand what I’m saying.
     If you read this book, you will be part of this world and the monsters will come after you too. You will start to see things that no other humans can see. The shadows will move when you walk near them. The creatures of the night will seek you out, testing the doors and windows of your house, looking for a way in.
     And, at some point, they will find you, just like they found me, and you will be forced to defend yourself.
     So, think carefully before you turn the page, because once you do, there’s no turning back.
     Ever.
     Once a monster hunter, always a monster hunter.
     See you on the other side.
     If you’re brave enough.


Tour Schedule






Book Blast $50 Giveaway
Ends 2/15/13
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Friday, January 25, 2013

Review: Double Crossed by Ally Carter

If you are a fan of Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls and Heist Society series, you won't want to miss her new (free) crossover novella eBook, Double Crossed.

Macey McHenry—Glamorous society girl or spy-in-training?

W.W. Hale V—Heir to an American dynasty or master thief?

There are two sides to every coin. Whether these two can work together is a tossup.

Born into privilege, Macey and Hale are experts at mingling with the upper class. But even if they’ve never raised an eyebrow at the glitz, neither teenager has ever felt at home with the glamour.

When Macey and Hale meet at a society gala, the party takes a dangerous turn. Suddenly they’re at the center of a hostage situation, and it’s up to them to stop the thugs from becoming hostile. Will Macey’s spy skills and Hale’s con-man ways be enough to outsmart a ruthless gang? Or will they have to seek out the ultimate inside girl to help?

The worlds of Heist Society and the Gallagher Girls collide in Ally Carter’s fast-paced, high-stakes and tantalizing new story. Get a behind the scenes glimpse as Ally delivers an irresistible thriller that is full of her signature style and savvy twists.

Ally Carter's books are very entertaining, exciting, and clean! Having her two popular series combine in Double Crossed was very fun. My only disappointment was that it was over so quickly. The story was wrapped up very well, I just wanted to spend more time with the characters.

Even if you haven't read either series yet, I recommend reading this novella. There are excerpts at the end for both series, and you can't beat free (it is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble).

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Blog Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway: Make It Happen by Kylee Shields


Welcome to the Make It Happen Blog Tour hosted by Lexi at The Book Bug. I'm happy to have a guest post today by author Kylee Shields, along with a tour Giveaway.

About the Book

Title: Make It Happen: A Guide to Happiness for LDS Singles
Author: Kylee Shields
Release Date: October 2012
Publisher: Walnut Springs Press
Genre: LDS Self Help


Do you know what it means to be a kigatsuku person? Are you currently in a “hurricane” relationship or a “bridge” relationship? Do you know what it takes to be “righteous in the dark”? Have you struggled to find your place in the world as an LDS single? Do you feel like a misfit or a menace—like a circle trying to fit into a square?

If so, you’re not alone. It used to be an anomaly to be twenty-one and single in the LDS culture, but now there are entire stakes filled with single adults. In this book, author Kylee Shields explains how you can make the most of your single life, even if your current situation isn’t what you expected.

Make It Happen is a collection of principles, blog entries, stories, and conversations had on couches, floors, kitchen tables, and at many single-adult gatherings. It is filled with practical ways to make changes in your life, find hope, increase faith, strengthen relationships, and build the kingdom
.

Guest Post: Validation
By Kylee Shields

In my book there are a few themes that circulate throughout. I talk a lot about wandering, loneliness, trials, goals, validation, hearts, etc. When I started putting this book together the one thing I really wanted to do was put my heart into this book in a way that people who had never met me could feel it and understand it. I was also hoping that as my heart whispered to their heart they could feel inspired, heard, and most importantly VALIDATED!!

Here is an excerpt from chapter seven, “Validation”

You know what it feels like to have someone give you a compliment just when you need it. Someone who hasn’t seen you in a few weeks says you look like you’ve lost a lot of weight. Little did she know you skipped the gym a few too many times lately and feel fat. Timing is everything! A person reads a story you’ve written and gives you positive feedback. A call comes when you least expect it to tell you that you matter. A student in the back of the classroom who rarely talks makes a point to let you know you are his favorite teacher. A handwritten personal note lets you know your smile matters. A random stranger tells you she loves your outfit or hair. A girl notices that her date has opened all her doors, paid for everything, walked her to the door at the end of the night, and been a perfect gentlemen—and she tells him she appreciates him. A boy notices how much effort his date put into getting ready for their date and tells her. These are just a few examples of those never-forgotten moments when someone notices the efforts you make and find  a way to let you know. Sometimes these are tender mercies, and sometimes they are just natural compliments born of occasion, but they are always appreciated.

As humans we have a need to be valued, appreciated, loved, and accepted. We need to know that what we do matters. Sometimes in your desperation for approval you put someone up on a pedestal, and when he or she falls, you realize all you really wanted was to be noticed. Sometimes you connect with someone new and want to tell the person everything, so you do and it’s too much, and you realize all you really needed was to feel loved. Often you think or even dream about getting a new job that pays you what you are actually worth, when all you really need is to know that what you are already doing at work makes a difference. You go out and get new clothes, style your hair differently, put on more makeup than usual, pinch your cheeks, put on a pair heels and go out to conquer the world. Then you realize your feet hurt, you feel like a clown, and the hairstyle you spent forever on looks like it always does, when all you really needed was for someone to tell you that you are beautiful.  You find yourself wanting to tell everyone all the amazing things you’ve accomplished and what has been happening in your life, but no one cares, and you realize all you need is someone to listen to you.

We are living in a YouTube world. A few years ago I watched a little YouTube clip with my best friend called “Validation.” If you have time you should go watch it—really, I mean right now. It seriously changed my life. It is a sixteen-minute clip about the power of validation, how one man smiling and making others smile came full circle and in the end blessed his own life. The part about the clip that strikes me is that at the end—after he has done so many things to validate others-he is finally validated. He responds by saying he had never been told that before. REALLY? How is it possible that someone who goes out of his way to compliment and validate others doesn’t get in validation in return? And yet you know what I am talking about. Some of the people who need the most validation are those who are continuously giving it out.

How have you been validated lately?


Tour Giveaway

As part of the tour, Kylee is offering 4 amazing giveaways!! These include a $25 gift card to Amazon, a $25 gift card to Target, and a hard copy and ebook copy of the book.

To enter to win these prizes, simply fill out the Rafflecopter form provided. Open from January 8 to January 31. Must be 13+ years of age to enter.

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Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Blog Tour & Author Interview: Charlie's Girl by Mary-Helen and Daniel Foxx


Welcome to the Charlie's Girl Blog Tour. I'm excited to share my interviews with co-authors Mary-Helen and Daniel Foxx.

About the Book

Fourteen-year-old Rosalind has always been a foster girl without a past, until she’s sent to live with a long-lost grandmother in a house full of memories—and secrets. Soon Rosalind discovers that there’s more to her family history than she ever dreamed. Set in 1960s South Carolina, this unforgettable story of family, friendship, and faith is perfect for readers of all ages.




About the Authors

Mary-Helen Foxx retired in 2009 after a long career in public education with the Peoria Unified School District where she worked primarily in library services and IT. She has written widely on genealogical topics and has authored four books on the histories of prominent Southern families. Mary-Helen was also a contributing editor for three years with “Georgia Genealogical Magazine” and has won awards for her writing.

Daniel is Professor Emeritus of History at Ottawa University in Phoenix and has been published in various academic and historical journals. He is the author ofI Only Laugh When It Hurts (Reissued by Pelican Publishing Company, Gretna, LA, 2009). His latest book, Nathan Bedford Forrest: In Search of the Enigmawith Eddy W. Davison (Pelican, 2007) was a National Book Awards nominee, received the 2008 Arizona Book Award for biography, and was finalist for the 2008 Independent Book Publishers Association Benjamin Franklin Award.


Author Interview
Mary-Helen Foxx

*What inspired you to write Charlie's Girl?

I first wrote the story about thirty years ago on a typewriter, and the characters just seemed to "come to me."  My husband and I dug it out and decided to polish it up last year.

*Is there a message in Charlie's Girl that you want readers to come away with?

A message of tolerance toward those with different beliefs from yours and for patience and kindness toward those who may be hurt by your choices.

*Who is your favorite character in your book, and why?

Rosalind.  She is vulnerable and lacking in self-esteem and self-confidence when she is thrust into a totally new social environment.

*It seems like it might be difficult to co-write a novel. What is the process you used to get the novel to come together?

We started with the original manuscript and broke it up into chapters to work on individually, then compared and combined for the first draft.

*What are your hopes/goals as an author, and what other projects do you have in mind?

I would like to see Charlie's Girl reach more readers with its message. We are writing the sequel with the working title Rosalind's Roots in which she seeks out her mother's family in Florida. I am also working on a children's book about an ancestor, a surgeon under General Greene in the Revolutionary War, who brings his little daughter with him to meet George Washington in Augusta, Georgia during his tour of the South.

*Do you have any unusual habits while you write?

Nothing special except that when the words really flow, I don't like to be interrupted.

*What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I love to do counted cross-stitch. Each year I design and stitch a 4x6 page on perforated paper for each of our four sons and their families with events of that year.  Our own 4 x 6 album has pages going back to our first Christmas in 1964.  Our grandchildren enjoy looking through these little keepsake albums each year to remember family events. I have a software that allows me to scan photos and create patterns from which I have stitched keepsake portraits of my parents and a grandfather, a childhood home of a brother-in-law, and a departed but beloved pet dog. if I'm not in my stitching mode, I'm working on a jigsaw puzzle.

*What is your favorite book, and why?


With my ancestry being from Georgia from the period after the American Revolution, I really like Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind. I admire her dogged determination to check out her facts and to assure she didn't use any names of living persons.  She did extensive research on the area, and having grown up around veterans of the conflict, she had a special insight that flavors her writing.

Author Interview
Daniel Foxx

*What inspired you to write Charlie’s Girl?

Mary-Helen wrote the heart of this story many years ago. She recently asked me to get involved with rewriting and expanding it. Once I began to read I was hooked and on board 100%. Her inspiration has been contagious. These characters drew me in and as their story continued to grow in our minds and on the page I couldn’t put it aside until it was finished.

*Is there a message in Charlie’s Girl that you want readers to come away with?


An important message of this book is the power and eternal nature of love and our yearning for family connections.

*Who is your favorite character in your book, and why?

Rosalind is the main character and I found myself wanting to love and protect her. But I also like Emily for her cheerfulness and loyalty to her friend, Rosalind.

*It seems like it might be difficult to co-write a novel. What is the process you used to get the novel to come together?

My previous book was co-authored with a former student so I was aware of stresses of co-writing. It was a successful venture. Charlie’s Girl offered me a different experience, as I had never written fiction. Mary-Helen has been a delightful co-author. We had no real disagreements and our relationship as husband and wife has grown stronger.
    
At the outset we agreed upon complete honesty with each other as the work progressed. That we live in the same house together gave us an advantage most co-authors don’t have. We continually conferred on new material and the removal of material that didn’t work as we continued to write and polish the story.

*What are your hopes/goals as an author, and what other projects do you have in mind?

Well, high on my list of hopes is that I get to keep writing for a long time to come. I want my readers to find something of worth in the stories I write and in the characters that populate my stories.

My, I should say our, immediate next project is the completion of a sequel to Charlie’s Girl. By the end of Charlie’s Girl we were already asking ourselves questions about what happens next with Rosalind and Grace and Mark William Dobson and the rest of the characters. We hope that our readers have the same questions and will be receptive to the sequel.

I am a historian and have another manuscript looking for a home. I call it Rebel Refugees: The Confederate Colonization of Mexico. It deals with the exodus of thousands of Southerners who left the United States at the end of the Civil War to find refuge and hopefully avoid the military occupation and reconstruction of their former homeland.

Another book on my plate has the working title The Carwash That Ate the Green Wrinkle, a collection of essays.

*Do you have any unusual habits while you write?

Sometimes I play music that I think is appropriate to a scene I’m writing.

*What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I love to watch old movies. As far as I’m concerned TV was invented to show old movies and the History Channel.

*What is your favorite book, and why?

Tough question. I’ve been contemplating this question for a while as I’ve thought of book after book that I really love and reread often. But you ask for one, so here it is: To Kill a Mockingbird. Each time I read it I always reflect on the quite dignity of justice and the ugliness of mindless prejudice. I also love the children and their world that Harper Lee creates. I grew up in a world like this. Perhaps the familiarity I feel for her world brings me back so often.

Thanks to Mary-Helen and Daniel for taking the time to answer my questions. 

Purchase the Book

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Spotlight & Excerpt: The Broken Path by Cami Checketts

Author Cami Checketts has a new novel out called The Broken Path.

About the Book

Injured in a debilitating accident at age six, Ethan Searle believes women eye him with a mixture of pity and disdain. He’s tried love before. He won’t again. He meets his match in a precocious two-year old who loves him despite his disability, even while her mother seems bothered by everything about Ethan.

Autumn Reader escaped her abusive marriage with her beautiful daughter and a stack of fear. She can’t make the mistake of trusting a man again. Autumn’s daughter becomes enraptured by Ethan. Despite Autumn’s best intentions, she finds herself following her daughter’s example. When her ex-husband reappears, threatening everyone she loves if she won’t submit to his demands, Autumn has to learn to trust or lose her chance at real love.

“Characters to fall in love with, action to keep you turning pages, and the most adorable little girl ever, The Broken Path is a compelling tale of strength and trust, courage and heart. I truly enjoyed this book.” – Maria Hoagland, Author of Family Size

"The Broken Path is sweet romance with heart, suspense, and plenty of story twists that kept me turning pages. Add in a romantic hero with a cane, a struggling single mom, and an adorable little girl and this book has it all!" --Heather Justesen, author of The Switch

Excerpt

Brittan picked a petunia from one of the terra cotta planters. Leaping onto Ethan’s legs, she shoved the flower at him.

“Brittan, please don’t jump on Ethan like that,” Autumn said.

“Why?” Brittan questioned.

“Well...because it’s rude,” Autumn explained.

“Effan don’t care.” Brittan bounced up and down on Ethan, landing hard on his thighs.

He grunted slightly with the impact, his forkful of salad landed on his shirt.

“Brittan, stop!” Autumn cried out.

Brittan shrunk into Ethan’s arms.

Autumn softened her voice. “Please stop jumping, you’re hurting Eth...”Her words died in her throat, slaughtered by the look on Ethan’s face.

“She isn’t hurting me.” He glared at her, his eyes colder than a slab of black granite. “My legs can handle a twenty-five pound toddler, even if they can’t support my weight.”

Autumn turned from his intense, challenging gaze. She felt like a worm. She’d not only raised her voice to her daughter, she’d offended Ethan, again. Maybe she should just listen to him and her mom talk. Not open her big mouth again.

“My mama silly,” Brittan exclaimed. “You toughs.” Brittan grabbed his nicely defined upper arm. “You got big muscleses. I no hurt you.”

Ethan smiled, the tension in the air diffused. Autumn swallowed a gulp of lemonade, the cool drink sliding down her throat wasn’t her only relief at the moment.

“My mama no like Effan,” Brittan confided.

Autumn choked on the now sour lemonade. Ethan’s features stiffened. The tension returned.

“What?” Autumn gasped. She set her glass on the patio table and blotted the lemonade she’d sputtered down her shirt with a napkin. How had her daughter so terribly misconstrued what her mother was feeling and then announced her childlike assumptions to Ethan?

“You say, ‘no say Effan,’” Brittan reminded her. “You say, ‘it makes me crazy and aches my head.’” Brittan copied the face Autumn had made earlier. “You no like him.”

Oh, no. She wrung the napkin between her hands. “Honey, I didn’t say I didn’t like him.”

“What did you say?” Nancy asked. She stared at Autumn, eyes wide. The perfectly cooked steak she’d been cutting forgotten. She appeared as stunned as Autumn felt.

“I only said to stop repeating his name over and over.” Autumn dropped the mutilated napkin on the table and twisted the ring on her index finger, unable to look at him. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled. “She wouldn’t stop saying it.”

“I’m sorry my name bothers you so much.” His voice was cold, devoid of emotion.

“No, it isn’t that. It’s just...” There was no way to dig herself out of this hole. His eyes bore into hers.

“...when you have children you’ll understand. They get a word in their mind and say it so many times you wish you could bang your head against a wall.”

Ethan simply raised an eyebrow.

Read more or buy The Broken Path on Amazon.

About the Author

Cami is a part-time author, part-time exercise consultant, part-time housekeeper, full-time wife, and overtime mother of four adorable boys. Sleep and relaxation are fond memories. She's never been happier.

A portion of the proceeds from Cami's books will be donated to The Child & Family Support Center. For more information on this worthy cause, please go to www.cachecfsc.org.

Author of The Broken Path, Dead Running, and Dying to Run.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Monday, January 14, 2013

Authors Kindle Fire Giveaway




20 Amazing Authors plus more than 100 of the Best Bloggers have joined together to bring you 1 Amazing Giveaway!

The winner will have the option of receiving a Kindle Fire HD (US Only)


Or $199 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)


Or $199 in Paypal Cash (International)




This giveaway is sponsored by these Awesome Authors:

The Essence (The Pledge, #2)Alaina Claiborne (British Agent Novel #1)Excuse Me, My Brains Have Stepped OutUncontrollable (#2, Nature of Grace series)Hunted (The Guardian Legacy, #3)Cliffhanger (The Belinda & Bennett Mysteries, Book 1)I Was Here—Before You CameEverlostBlood OathReaper's Novice (Soul Collector  #1)BulletproofLancaster HouseTwo HalvesMurder on Potrero Hill (A Peyton Brooks' Mystery, #1)Bellyache: A Delicious TaleKill ShotSkid Out (Heavy Influence Trilogy, #0.5)Between (Crossroads Saga, #2)Dragon Stones: Book One of the Dragon Stone Saga (Dragon Stone Saga, #1)Rapunzel Untangled


The Essence by Kimberly Derting
Alaina Claiborne by MK McClintock
Excuse Me, My Brains Have Stepped Out by Pandora Poikilos
Uncontrollable by S.R. Johannes
Hunted by Ednah Walters
Cliffhanger by Amy Saunders
I Was Here - Before You Came by Camelia Miron Skiba
Everlost by Brenda Pandos
Blood Oath by T.L. Clarke
Reaper's Novice by Cecilia Robert
Bulletproof by Jeff LaFerney
Lancaster House by Taylor Dean
Two Halves by Marta Szemik
Murder on Potrero Hill by M.L. Hamilton
Bellyache by Crystal Marcos
Kill Shot by Anne Patrick
Skid Out by Ann Marie Frohoff
Between by Mary Ting
Dragon Stones Saga by Kristian Alva
Rapunzel Untangled by Cindy C. Bennett


Giveaway Details
1 winner will receive their choice of a Kindle Fire HD (US Only), $199 Amazon Gift Card or $199 in Paypal Cash (International).
Ends 1/31/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


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Friday, January 11, 2013

Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: Heart of the Ocean by Heather B. Moore

Tour Schedule

A dark secret . . . a grieving ghost  . . . a handsome stranger  . . .
What more could Eliza Robinson want?
Except for maybe her life.

In Heather B. Moore’s enthralling 1840’s historical romance, Heart of the Ocean, Eliza Robinson has turned down the very pretentious Mr. Thomas Beesley’s marriage proposal. As a business partner of Eliza’s father, Thomas quickly discredits the family and brings disgrace to the Robinson name.

While her father scrambles to restore his good name in New York City, Eliza flees to the remote Puritan town of Maybrook to stay with her Aunt Maeve. Although relieved to be away from all- things-male and unforgiving gossip columns, odd things start to happen to Eliza, and she is plagued by a ghostly voice. Her aunt’s explanation? That Eliza is being haunted by a woman who died of a broken heart twenty years ago.

After Aunt Maeve is tragically killed, Eliza's life is put in danger as she tries to uncover the mystery of her aunt's death. She encounters Jonathan Porter in Maybrook, whose presence in the town seems suspicious, yet she finds herself drawn to him. When she discovers that Jonathan’s dark secrets may be the link between the dead woman who haunts her and her aunt’s murderer, Eliza realizes that Jonathan is the one man she should never trust.


Purchase


My Review

I couldn't help but be excited when I read that Heather Moore would be releasing a new historical novel, Heart of the Ocean. I've been a fan of her historical fiction for several years, and although the topic and setting are quite different from her other historical novels, I couldn't help but be interested in how she'd write about this time period and the Puritans.

Heart of the Ocean has an intense mystery, and I thought the characters were very well done. There was a twist or two I didn't see coming, and I really liked the interaction between Eliza and Jonathan.

The Puritans were very interesting to read about. Heather showed quite a contrast between how kind they could be to strangers, and how cruel they could be to one of their own. I couldn't imagine living amongst them, and that made the decisions by outsiders to live among them and join them intriguing.

While I wasn't quite as connected to this story as Heather's other historical novels, I found the romance to be sweet and the Puritan lifestyle to be eye opening.

There is some violence and swearing.



Author Heather B. Moore
Heather B. Moore is the award-winning author of ten novels, two inspirational non-fiction books, and two anthologies, including The Newport Ladies Book Club Series, A Timeless Romance Anthology, and Christ's Gifts to Women (co-authored by Angela Eschler).

Her historical fiction is published under the pen name H.B. Moore. She is the two-time recipient of Best of State in Literary Fiction, two-time Whitney Award Winner, and two-time Golden Quill Winner for Best Novel. Her most recent historical novel under H.B. Moore is Daughters of Jared (2012 LUW Gold Award of Excellence & 2012 LUW Best Book Trailer).




Blog Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 1/3/12
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


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Thursday, January 10, 2013

Wattpad: Take My Advice by Tristi Pinkston

Tristi Pinkston is one of the authors posting on Wattpad (that wonderful, free site that allows you to read stories in many genres). She recently started posting her new YA novel, Take My Advice. I've been able to read the five chapters she's posted so far, and I really like it. Here's the blurb:

Jill Gray thinks she knows it all, and as the advice columnist for her school paper, she gets to share her wisdom on a weekly basis. But when life throws her some curves she can't handle, she realizes she knows a whole less than she thought she did, and she'll need to ask others for their advice so she can make it through. This clean teen romance/comedy will appeal to readers of all ages.

If you like YA, be sure to check it out.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Finished Being Fat eBook Winner

Thanks to everyone who entered the Finished Being Fat giveaway, and CONGRATULATIONS to Tara for her winning entry.
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Book Blast: Heart of the Ocean by Heather B. Moore

Heart of the Ocean
by Heather B. Moore

A dark secret . . . a grieving ghost  . . . a handsome stranger  . . .
What more could Eliza Robinson want?
Except for maybe her life.

In Heather B. Moore’s enthralling 1840’s historical romance, Heart of the Ocean, Eliza Robinson has turned down the very pretentious Mr. Thomas Beesley’s marriage proposal. As a business partner of Eliza’s father, Thomas quickly discredits the family and brings disgrace to the Robinson name.

While her father scrambles to restore his good name in New York City, Eliza flees to the remote Puritan town of Maybrook to stay with her Aunt Maeve. Although relieved to be away from all- things-male and unforgiving gossip columns, odd things start to happen to Eliza, and she is plagued by a ghostly voice. Her aunt’s explanation? That Eliza is being haunted by a woman who died of a broken heart twenty years ago.

After Aunt Maeve is tragically killed, Eliza's life is put in danger as she tries to uncover the mystery of her aunt's death. She encounters Jonathan Porter in Maybrook, whose presence in the town seems suspicious, yet she finds herself drawn to him. When she discovers that Jonathan’s dark secrets may be the link between the dead woman who haunts her and her aunt’s murderer, Eliza realizes that Jonathan is the one man she should never trust.


Purchase



Author Heather B. Moore
Heather B. Moore is the award-winning author of ten novels, two inspirational non-fiction books, and two anthologies, including The Newport Ladies Book Club Series, A Timeless Romance Anthology, and Christ's Gifts to Women (co-authored by Angela Eschler).

Her historical fiction is published under the pen name H.B. Moore. She is the two-time recipient of Best of State in Literary Fiction, two-time Whitney Award Winner, and two-time Golden Quill Winner for Best Novel. Her most recent historical novel under H.B. Moore is Daughters of Jared (2012 LUW Gold Award of Excellence & 2012 LUW Best Book Trailer).





Blog Tour Now through January 25th
Blog Tour Schedule




Book Blast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 1/27/12


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Book Blast: Gracier by Milissa R. Bailey

Everyone around her knows. Everyone she trusts has lied. And the one man who held the key to Jessica McCabe’s past is dead.

Welcome to Gracier, Iowa, a well-kept community with even better kept secrets. Lives are peaceful, streets are quiet, but behind the tranquility is many a tale to be told. Veterinarian Jessica McCabe has returned, but it is not the homecoming she had expected. Her grandfather, Jonas McCabe and Gracier’s longtime vet has died, leaving behind the practice they had hoped to share.

The reading of Jonas’ will sets off a series of events that bring into question Jessica’s birthright, the truth surrounding her mother’s untimely death and her grandfather’s sanity. With her world turned upside down she is thrown into a partnership with Matthew Cassidy, the man who chose his family’s wealth over Jessica’s love.

Her determined spirit leads Jessica to stay, continue the veterinarian practice and return to the life and the community she loves. But a secret loft and a box filled with a hidden past change the course of her life once again.

Longtime family friends, Dr. Andrew Harrison and retired Sheriff Chester Caughlin know the truth. A promise made to a dear old friend to protect the girl they helped raise is one they intend to keep. But the wheels of fate have been put in motion. The people entrusted with protecting Jessica from the past are losing control. The small town of Gracier, Iowa holds many secrets and those who have kept the truth hidden are about to discover that not everything has been laid to rest.


Book Trailer





Praise
"Milissa Bailey has set the perfect stage for the next book in the series with her intriguing characters that are as unpredictable as an Iowa tornado and as genuine as the county fair. The labyrinth of their lives makes you want to learn more about the secrets of Gracier".  - D. Bahrenfuss - Editor

"I was pulled in with the depth of this story and couldn't stop myself from finishing the second half in one sitting. GRACIER is a beautiful reminder of all that is important in life. Bailey has a wonderful gift and I hope she will continue to "breathe"!"
--Leisa Anslinger, author of Forming Generous Hearts, Here Comes Everybody

"...think Jennifer Chiaverini or Jan Karon" - Burlington by the Book

“It was one of those books that I stayed up late reading and picked back up the minute I woke up! ” -Mari Kait

"Milissa Bailey's depiction of small town Iowa is both charming and mysterious--the perfect combination to captivate readers." -C.G.Reader

“Add to that a group of supporting characters you can't help but love. Gracier is a must read.” -Shari

 "I couldn't put the book down...can't wait for book #2!!!!" -RJW



Purchase



Author Milissa Bailey

Milissa Bailey grew up among the rolling fields of rural Iowa, where she continues to live with her husband, and three children. In her debut novel she draws upon her rich knowledge of the Midwest as she welcomes us to Gracier, Iowa, a well-kept community with even better kept secrets. Readers are introduced to a cast of characters they will come to know, love and hate. Vivid descriptions, palatable anguish, forbidden romance and touches of humor lend itself to the stories weaved in this idyllic setting. The small town of Gracier holds many secrets and those who have kept the truth hidden are about to discover that not everything has been laid to rest.

Milissa, along with her husband, own a marketing firm located in Iowa. She is currently at work on the second book in the Gracier series.




Author Interview





$100 BookBlast Giveaway (starts January 9th)

Ends 1/20/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


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Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: Dying to Run by Cami Checketts


Cassidy Christensen is running.

Running from the mercenaries who killed her parents.

Running from a scheming redhead intent on making her life miserable.

Running from painful memories that sabotage her dreams of happiness.

With two very tempting men competing for her attention, she hopes she'll finally have someone to run to, but can she trust either of them? When secrets from her past threaten her family, Cassidy decides to stop running and fight for her future.



Cassidy Christensen wants to run.

Captured by the traffickers who killed her mother, her only hope is Dr. Tattoo, a man she loves but nobody trusts. When she finally gets a chance to run, someone else she cares about is taken. Running might be her only chance at survival, but she won’t allow another family member to be killed in her place.

This must-read sequel to Dead Running will have you laughing, biting your nails, and hoping for more.


My Review

Dying to Run is a short sequel to Dead Running (see my Dead Running review here). Like many novellas, some things feel a bit rushed, but I enjoyed seeing the loose ends from Dead Running tied up.

While Dead Running had a lot of humor mixed in with some intense action and suspense, Dying to Run is mostly action. The bad guys put it on pretty heavy, and there's a scene where things get a bit steamy with our main characters, but the focus quickly goes back to taking down the traffickers.

If you enjoyed Dead Running, don't miss Dying to Run.



Purchase



Author Cami Checketts

Cami Checketts is married and the proud mother of four future WWF champions. Sometimes between being a human horse, cleaning up magic potions, and reading Bernstein Bears, she gets the chance to write fiction.

Cami graduated from Utah State University with a degree in Exercise Science. Cami teaches strength training classes at her local rec and shares healthy living tips on her fitness blog: http://fitnessformom.blogspot.com.

Cami and her family live in the beautiful Cache Valley of Northern Utah. During the two months of the year it isn't snowing, she enjoys swimming, biking, running, and water-skiing.


Links






Blog Tour Giveaway!

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash from Author Cami Checketts
3 Sets of iFrogz Earbuds & Armbands


Ends 1/31/13
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.





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