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Thursday, February 28, 2013

Blog Tour: The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back by Sariah Wilson

I am very happy to be a part of The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back Blog Tour today with an author interview with Sariah Wilson (and a Tour Giveaway-don't miss that at the end of this post). I had the chance to read this last September, and really liked it. You can read my full review here, and a summary of my review below in the Praise section.

Earlier this month it was announced that The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back is one of five Whitney Award finalists in the Young Adult - General category. Congratulations to Sariah on this well-deserved honor.

Tour Schedule


Everyone knows how all those fairy tales go. The princess gets beautiful, nabs her prince, falls instantly in love, lives happily ever after and leaves her evil stepsisters in the dust.

But what happens when you’re the ugly stepsister and your obnoxiously perfect—read pretty, smart, and, worst of all, sickeningly nice—stepsister is dating the charming, tall, devastatingly handsome guy you’ve had a thing for since you were nine years old?

Quirky, artistic and snarky Mattie Lowe does not lead a charmed life. Her mother is constantly belittling her on Skype. Mercedes, the school mean girl, has made it her personal mission to torment Mattie. But worst of all? Her stepsister Ella is the most beautiful, popular girl in school and is dating Mattie’s secret longtime crush, Jake Kingston.

Tired of being left out and done with waiting for her own stupid fairy godmother to show up, Mattie decides to change her life. She’ll start by running for senior class president against wildly popular Jake.

Ella can keep her Prince Annoying. Mattie’s going to rule the school.

And no one, not even a cute and suddenly flirty Jake, is going to stop her.

Author Interview:


*What inspired you to write The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back?

Mattie herself. One night while in bed, I had this snarky voice in my head talking about her oh-so-perfect stepsister, and that was that. I got out of bed and started writing as fast as I could – and was up the whole night writing everything down. I loved the idea of telling the Cinderella story from the perspective of the ugly stepsister.

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

That’s hard! It’s like asking me which one of my kids I like the best. I love them all for different reasons. I love Mattie’s creativity, integrity and strength. I love Jake’s charm, humor and cuteness. And I love Ella’s sweetness, kindness and loyalty.
 
*What are your hopes/goals as an author, and what other projects do you have in mind?

My only hope as an author is to make one reader smile. If I’ve managed to make someone forget their problems for a couple of hours by spending time in a world that makes them happy, that would be all I could ask for. My goal is to spend more time writing, but that doesn’t always work out so well. LOL Like most authors, I have ten million different projects in mind. The hard part is narrowing it down and deciding which story to focus on. I’m working on a YA time travel right now, and have in mind a novella with Mattie and Jake at their prom, and a sequel starring Ella set four years in the future.
 
*Do you have any unusual habits while you write?

I usually have a “soundtrack” for each book. To this day I can’t listen to Nick Lachey’s “What’s Left Of Me” without thinking of one of my previous characters. That was his theme song, and explained exactly how he felt in my story. So I listen to a very specific set of songs while writing. I also have a candle with a scent that I associate with each one of my stories, and I light it before I begin writing (different scents for different stories – my YA time travel is orange blossom, because that’s the scent my heroine wears). It’s this way of signaling to my brain that we’re being creative now and it’s time to start being brilliant. LOL
 
*What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I love spending time with my kids and my husband. I am a pop culture junkie, so I like watching TV and movies and reading EOnline. I also like to cross-stitch, and I love reading. I really enjoy baking, but I’m not as good at that as I would like to be!

*What is your favorite book, and why?

Not possible to pick one. I love different genres and different authors. If pressed to pick one, it would probably be the Harry Potter series. That’s one I can read over and over again. Such a fantastic, amazing series. I don’t think we’ll see anything like it again in our lifetimes.

*Do you like having books you enjoy made into movies? What is the best/worst adaptation you've seen?

I love having books made into movies. Sometimes I get bitter about casting choices – I’m still pretty upset that Robert Downey, Jr. isn’t Haymitch and Armie Hammer wasn’t cast as Finnick in “The Hunger Games.” One of the worst book adaptations was “Jurassic Park.” They completely changed characters and altered what I thought were pretty significant plot points so that the movie was almost completely different than the book. But sometimes that change is good – I absolutely love the movie “Possession,” but when I tried to read the book, I just couldn’t get very far because I was so bored.

*If money were no object, where would you like to go, and what would you like to do while you are there?

If I’m going with my family, I’d love to take my kids to Disneyland while they’re still young enough to enjoy it, and do the whole thing first class. If it were me and my husband, I’d take him some place tropical and lay on white sands all day. If it were just me, I’d probably go to England and take a Jane Austen tour.

Purchase


Praise

“My top pick of 2012 YA… This book is just. plain. fun.”
~Jordan McCollum, author of Saints & Spies and I, Spy

“Sariah Wilson's new book, The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back, is hilarious…What follows is a story of fun and romance with some good non-preachy life lessons thrown in.  The voice in the main character, Mattie, makes the whole thing.  I thought it was definitely a book I'd recommend to anyone with teenagers or who just want to read a good teen romance.”
~Julie Coulter Bellon, author of All Fall Down and All’s Fair

“Sariah [Wilson] has written one of the funniest stories I've read in such a long, long time. I literally couldn't put it down. Yes, my poor Kindle's battery died and I was attached to a short power cord, contorted in a very uncomfortable position while I read to the end…. Sariah Wilson captured the back-biting, insecure, hormone-driven, clique-riddled high school atmosphere so perfectly you'd think she never grew up. I dare you not to laugh as you read this witty and oh, so, romantic story.”
~Debra Erfert of Windows into Writing

“Sariah Wilson writes like the best of/most popular YA teen fiction/teen romance authors - Sarah Dessen, Jennifer Echols, Susanne Collins, Cassandra Clare.  She sucks you in and never lets you go.  I finished the ~194 novel in one night because I just couldn't go to sleep without knowing the ending!  I hope that Sariah comes out with more novels, I know I'll be re-reading this one all the time!  She's extremely talented and needs to be talked about.  I highly recommend The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back! to anyone (over the age of 12) who wants a YA novel that's a real modern-day fairy tale.”
~Hilary at Novel d’Tales

“This was such an entertaining story! I shouldn't have started reading it so late in the evening, because I didn't want to put it down to go to sleep…This is a book I can see myself reading several times. It's a fast, clean read with great characters, and I highly recommend it.”
~Andrea of Literary Time Out

The book is wonderful.  It’s quirky and fun.  The story makes you laugh and you fall in love with the characters right from the beginning…This is a well-written book.  It is one that will make you smile and sigh as you remember your first love.  And it has a moral…be yourself, believe in yourself and maybe, just maybe, your fairytale will come true.  Pick up this book.”
~Ana of The Book Hookup


About the Author

Sariah Wilson has never jumped out of an airplane, never climbed Mt. Everest, and is not a former CIA operative. She has, however, been madly, passionately in love with her soulmate and is a fervent believer in happily ever afters—which is why she writes romance. The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back is her fourth happily ever after novel. She grew up in southern California, graduated from Brigham Young University (go Cougars!) with a semi-useless degree in history, and is the oldest of nine (yes, nine) children. She currently lives with the aforementioned soulmate and their four children in Utah, along with three tiger barb fish, a cat named Tiger, and a recently departed hamster that is buried in the backyard (and has nothing at all to do with tigers).




Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 3/10/13

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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Monday, February 25, 2013

Winner of Glitch eBook Giveaway

I love being able to spread the word about great books. It is also lots of fun to be able to share these books with you. Thanks so much to everyone who entered the eBook giveaway for Amber Gilchrist's Glitch. And the winner is:
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Congratulations Kimberly. Please watch for my email.

Blog Tour: Table Talk by John and Tina Bushman


Strengthening families is an important topic, and that is what the new book Table Talk addresses. As part of the Blog Tour I'm happy to share a guest post from the authors, John and Tina Bushman, along with my review and a giveaway.


About the Book

Nothing has a greater or more lasting impact on children than their parents, yet our society tries to weaken that influence. Talking and teaching are two things best done at home. Using hundreds of fun questions and quotes from this book, watch as your family comes together to discuss the most important issues of life—patriotism, values, fun, faith, and more.

To find out more on Table Talk and authors John and Tina Bushman, visit their website.





Guest Post

Thank you so much for hosting us on this blog tour. John and I are so excited for Table Talk to finally come out! We started this project after a date night of asking each other questions and then later testing them out on our kids. It’s been so fun getting to know each of our 5 children a little better by asking them get-to-know-you-type questions but it’s also been very insightful to hear the answers they have for some of the deeper questions like “How would you change the world?” One said, “I would make everything out of candy.” While another one said, “I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s just the way it was intended to be.” John and I feel that Table Talk can be helpful to families trying to establish healthy lines of communication through fun and insightful questions. We hope it will give parents a tool to get their kids talking and to help parents teach values in an informal way. As children develop a pattern of talking with their parents about a wide range of topics, they will be able to turn to their parents in times of great need. As our kids are “dished up” and “served” many positive and negative values each day from so many different sources, family discussions can help children learn their family’s values and expectations more clearly. This is what Table Talk does. It gets kids talking...and talking about what matters.

Thanks again for having us. Visit us at www.tabletalkbook.com. We’d love to hear about your family’s memorable dinnertime conversations.


My Review

My first impression of Table Talk came when I pulled my review copy out of the envelope. I love the miniature size (4x6) and thought that that along with the cover art makes for a very cute package. I'm not sure that you'd tote this around to dinner parties, but it's the perfect size if you are inclined to do so. And, quite a few of the questions inside would be great at extended family get-togethers.

I liked the variety of questions. Some sound great for a child to ask a parent, while other questions definitely fit best for a parent asking a child. There are also questions that would work well for relatives or friends you aren't as familiar with. I also liked how some of the questions were very important (like what to do in case of certain emergencies). Other questions were on a much lighter side, but are a great way to get to know and understand your family (and those around you).

There are 200 questions, and almost all of them are accompanied by a related quote or two. Many of the quotes are by well-known authors, political and religious leaders, and even comedians. One quote that stood out to me and made me laugh went along with a question about games:

"The perfect family board game is one that can be played each time with fewer pieces." - Robert Brault, American Writer

Another quote that I liked went along with a question about swearing:

"The foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing is a vice so mean and low that every person of sense and character detests and despises it." - George Washington, first US president

Some of the questions are somewhat leading, but there are no rules. You can use the questions to get ideas for other questions that might be relevant to issues that are currently facing your family. I thought Table Talk was very well put together, and I'm looking forward to using it with my family.


Meet the Authors

John and Tina Bushman find their greatest joy in spending time together as a family. They are the proud parents of five wonderful children. The most rewarding moments in their family life are watching their children learn, discover and grow, whether it’s in a formal setting, around the table, in the car, or on an outing. John and Tina grew up in Arizona and both attended Arizona State University, where they met and started their happily ever after.

John has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a Master’s Degree in Instructional Technology and has been an educator and speaker for over 15 years with youth and young adults. John has also written the book Impractical Grace. Tina studied Physics and Secondary Education but left that season for a better one. She loves her stay at home status and enjoys creating and capturing fun times with her children. The Bushmans now live in beautiful Washington State where there are field trips just around the corner.

Website | Video | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest


Purchase the Book

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books & Things


Giveaway

I received an extra copy of Table Talk from the publisher, and I am excited to give it away to one lucky Literary Time Out follower. This giveaway is open for followers with mailing addresses within the continental United States. Enter using the Rafflecopter form below by March 3rd. I'll post the winner on March 4th, and will mail the book within 72 hours of receiving the winner's mailing address. Good luck!

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Friday, February 22, 2013

2012 Whitney Award Finalists - Romance Category

It's that time of year again! Earlier this month the 2012 Whitney Award Finalists were announced. There is an additional category this year (Middle Grade), bringing the finalist total to 40. I took on a challenge last year to read all 35 finalists prior to the voting deadline, so I was able to vote for each category, along with best novel of the year and best novel by a new author.

I've read 18 of the 2012 finalists so far, but I'm not sure that I'll get all of them read by the April 29th deadline. And I'm ok with this. Hopefully I'll take more time to enjoy the books that most appeal to me.

The category I'm completely finished with so far is Romance (this probably doesn't come as a surprise-I'm a sucker for a good, clean romance).

Lady Outlaw Of Grace and Chocolate Smart Move Twitterpated Edenbrooke
Stacy Henrie* Krista Lynne Jensen* Melanie Jacobson Melanie Jacobson Julianne Donaldson*

While I enjoyed all of these books (you can click the titles to see my individual reviews), I absolutely LOVED Edenbrooke! It captured my attention right off, and held it the entire time! The writing is smooth and the story is entertaining (and totally sweet). I also really like how it appeals to a national audience, and does so without any questionable content.

If you are looking for a good book to read, consider picking one of the 2012 Whitney Award finalists.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Winner of Do Over by Shannon Guymon

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway for the eCopy of Do Over by Shannon Guymon. And the lucky winner is:

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Congratulations Dena! Please watch for the email I sent.

There is still time to enter the Thank You giveaway, and the Glitch giveaway. Be sure to check them out if you haven't yet.

Book Blast: Baked Alaska by Josi S. Kilpack

Baked Alaska by Josi S. Kilpack

An Alaskan cruise is the setting for amateur detective Sadie Hoffmillers latest adventure. Sadie plans to spend time relaxing with her two grown children, Breanna and Shawn, and her boyfriend, Pete, while enjoying the luxury and cuisine of an elegant cruise ship and helping to plan her daughters upcoming wedding. But even as the crew prepares to leave port, Sadie has suspicions about the voyage ahead and the relationship between her normally easygoing son and a mysterious female passenger he obviously knows but refuses to discuss. When the woman is discovered unconscious during the second night at sea, Sadies apprehension escalates. Over the last few years, Sadie has developed an extreme dislike for secrets and it would seem her son is keeping one from her. *Includes eight new mouthwatering recipes, tested and approved by the official bakers of Sadies Virtual Test Kitchen.




Praise for Baked Alaska
Josi Kilpack has done it again. You would think that all these events that occur in Sadie's life wouldn't be natural, but Josi Kilpack has a way of making you believe that it just "happens" and it is normal. I have grown to love Sadie's character, even if she is a busybody, you can't help but cheer for her as she attempts to solve a mystery or crime. One of my favorite series. :)
~Goodreads Reviewer Lacey McNeill









Author Josi S. Kilpack

Josi S. Kilpack grew up hating to read until she was thirteen and her mother handed her a copy of The Witch of Blackbird Pond. From that day forward, she read everything she could get her hands on and credits her writing “education” to the many novels she has “studied” since then. She began her first novel in 1998 and hasn’t stopped since. Her seventh novel, Sheep’s Clothing, won the 2007 Whitney Award for Mystery/Suspense, and Lemon Tart, her ninth novel, was a 2009 Whitney Award Finalist. Josi was the Best in State winner in literature for 2012 and currently has two books (Banana Split and Tres Leches Cupcakes) as finalists in the 2012 Whitney awards.

Josi currently lives in Willard, Utah, with her family.




Tour Schedule




Book Blast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 3/17/13

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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Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Blog Tour: Rapunzel Untangled by Cindy C. Bennett

A Girl Trapped in a Mansion . . .

A Mysterious Old Woman . . .

The Boy Who Will Change Everything . . .



Rapunzel Untangled by Cindy C Bennett

Fab Fane Fannigan: Are you saying you live at GOTHEL MANSION??? The Gothel Mansion?

RG: My mother calls it Gothel Manor, so maybe that’s different?

Fab Fane Flannigan: No, Rapunzel, there’s only one that I know of. It has to be the same. Are you telling me the truth here?

RG: Yes, of course. Is it weird that I live here?

Fab Fane Flannigan: No, not weird, just . . . never mind. So you live in the tower?

RG: Uh, the tower? I don’t know. Is it a tower?

Fab Fane Flannigan: Yes, it is. I know where it is. I’ll be there Friday at 8.

Rapunzel sensed the difference in his tone. Something wasn’t right.

Fab Fane Flannigan: Rapunzel, promise me one thing.

RG: Okay.

Fab Fane Flannigan: Don’t Google your house.
 
Rapunzel is not your average teenager. For one thing, she has a serious illness that keeps her inside the mysterious Gothel Mansion. And for another, her hair is 15 feet long. Not to mention that she’s also the key to ultimately saving the world from certain destruction.

But then she meets a boy named Fane, who changes all she has ever known, and she decides to risk everything familiar to find out who she really is.

Filled with romance, adventure, and mystery, Rapunzel Untangled is one story you won’t want to put down. Discover the true meaning of love and friendship in this modern twist to the classic fairytale.

My Review

When I saw the great cover for Rapunzel Untangled on NetGalley, I immediately requested a review copy. I hadn't read anything by Cindy C. Bennett, but I had heard great things about one of her other books, so I was looking forward to her modernization of the popular fairy tale.

I was drawn in to Rapunzel Untangled right away. Rapunzel and Fane were every bit as likeable as Rapunzel and Flynn from Disney's recent animated film, and the use of Facebook and Skype made for a fun addition to the updated version.

Modernizing wicked fairy tale characters makes for ultra evil bad guys. I was creeped out by Gothel (the "mother"/kidnapper), and the parts where her true nature were revealed were not my favorite. Thankfully the dark parts of the story didn't last too long.

Not all of my questions were answered at the end, but Rapunzel Untangled was an enjoyable read. I'm looking forward to reading more of Bennett's novels.

Rapunzel Untangled from Sweetwater Books February 12, 2013. Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or at a bookstore near you!

Join the giveaway below for your chance to win one of many great prizes, including a Nook and an MP3 Player! (Domestic only. For international giveaway click here.) Nothing required to win other than signing in.

About the Author
  
Cindy C Bennett was born and raised in beautiful Salt Lake City, growing up in the shadows of the majestic Rocky Mountains. She and her husband - who happens to be her high-school sweetheart - raised two sons and two daughters. She's now blessed with two daughters-in-law as well. She developed a love of writing in high school when a teacher introduced her to the joys of escaping reality for ten minutes each day in writing.
When she's not writing, reading, or answering emails (notice there's no mention of cleaning, cooking, or anything remotely domestic), she can often be found riding her Harley through the beautiful canyons near her home. (Yes, she rides a Harley.)


You can find Cindy at:  Blog    Facebook    Twitter    Goodreads

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Monday, February 18, 2013

Book Blast: The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back by Sariah Wilson

The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back by Sariah Wilson 

Everyone knows how all those fairy tales go. The princess gets beautiful, nabs her prince, falls instantly in love, lives happily ever after and leaves her evil stepsisters in the dust.

But what happens when you’re the ugly stepsister and your obnoxiously perfect—read pretty, smart, and, worst of all, sickeningly nice—stepsister is dating the charming, tall, devastatingly handsome guy you’ve had a thing for since you were nine years old?

Quirky, artistic and snarky Mattie Lowe does not lead a charmed life. Her mother is constantly belittling her on Skype. Mercedes, the school mean girl, has made it her personal mission to torment Mattie. But worst of all? Her stepsister Ella is the most beautiful, popular girl in school and is dating Mattie’s secret longtime crush, Jake Kingston.

Tired of being left out and done with waiting for her own stupid fairy godmother to show up, Mattie decides to change her life. She’ll start by running for senior class president against wildly popular Jake.

Ella can keep her Prince Annoying. Mattie’s going to rule the school.

And no one, not even a cute and suddenly flirty Jake, is going to stop her.


Purchase


Praise

“My top pick of 2012 YA… This book is just. plain. fun.”
~Jordan McCollum, author of Saints & Spies and I, Spy

“Sariah Wilson's new book, The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back, is hilarious…What follows is a story of fun and romance with some good non-preachy life lessons thrown in.  The voice in the main character, Mattie, makes the whole thing.  I thought it was definitely a book I'd recommend to anyone with teenagers or who just want to read a good teen romance.”
~Julie Coulter Bellon, author of All Fall Down and All’s Fair

“Sariah [Wilson] has written one of the funniest stories I've read in such a long, long time. I literally couldn't put it down. Yes, my poor Kindle's battery died and I was attached to a short power cord, contorted in a very uncomfortable position while I read to the end…. Sariah Wilson captured the back-biting, insecure, hormone-driven, clique-riddled high school atmosphere so perfectly you'd think she never grew up. I dare you not to laugh as you read this witty and oh, so, romantic story.”
~Debra Erfert of Windows into Writing

“Sariah Wilson writes like the best of/most popular YA teen fiction/teen romance authors - Sarah Dessen, Jennifer Echols, Susanne Collins, Cassandra Clare.  She sucks you in and never lets you go.  I finished the ~194 novel in one night because I just couldn't go to sleep without knowing the ending!  I hope that Sariah comes out with more novels, I know I'll be re-reading this one all the time!  She's extremely talented and needs to be talked about.  I highly recommend The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back! to anyone (over the age of 12) who wants a YA novel that's a real modern-day fairy tale.”
~Hilary at Novel d’Tales

“This was such an entertaining story! I shouldn't have started reading it so late in the evening, because I didn't want to put it down to go to sleep…This is a book I can see myself reading several times. It's a fast, clean read with great characters, and I highly recommend it.”
~Andrea of Literary Time Out

The book is wonderful.  It’s quirky and fun.  The story makes you laugh and you fall in love with the characters right from the beginning…This is a well-written book.  It is one that will make you smile and sigh as you remember your first love.  And it has a moral…be yourself, believe in yourself and maybe, just maybe, your fairytale will come true.  Pick up this book.”
~Ana of The Book Hookup



Author Sariah Wilson

Sariah Wilson has never jumped out of an airplane, never climbed Mt. Everest, and is not a former CIA operative. She has, however, been madly, passionately in love with her soulmate and is a fervent believer in happily ever afters—which is why she writes romance. The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back is her fourth happily ever after novel. She grew up in southern California, graduated from Brigham Young University (go Cougars!) with a semi-useless degree in history, and is the oldest of nine (yes, nine) children. She currently lives with the aforementioned soulmate and their four children in Utah, along with three tiger barb fish, a cat named Tiger, and a recently departed hamster that is buried in the backyard (and has nothing at all to do with tigers).



Tour Schedule





Book Blast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 3/5/13

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, February 15, 2013

Blog Tour: Glitch by Amber Gilchrist

If you love a good, clean, romantic comedy, you won't want to miss Amber Gilchrist's novel Glitch. Thanks to Lexi over at The Book Bug for introducing it to me and inviting me to be a part of the Blog Tour.



About the Book

When the bishop of a singles ward attempts to use a computer program designed to match clients with insurance programs to match people instead, a massive glitch in his system leads to chaos, hysteria and—just maybe—love.

Greer Pierson spent too long losing her crazy ex-boyfriend to be matched with him again. She’d rather spend another night eating microwave pizza and watching cheesy martial arts movies with her next door neighbor, Ri Mankowitz. And speaking of Ri, he’s way too nice to be a nearly perfect match with a girl who is content to talk about hair for hours.

She wants to see Ri with the right girl and Greer thinks she knows who that girl is. But to get Ri with his perfect mate she’s going to have to do some serious re-matching. And no one is safe. Not even, as it turns out, Greer herself.

Now Greer's about to learn that sometimes everything has to fall apart so her life can finally come together.


Review

Glitch totally exceeded my expectations! Gilchrist did a great job capturing the quirkiness that is an LDS single's ward. The matching story was very entertaining, and I had fun "getting to know" Greer, Ri, and their friends.

A lot of romances I read are obvious right from the get-go about who is going to get together. Glitch was great because that aspect kept you guessing for awhile.

For a comedy, I was surprised at the emotions I felt while reading Glitch. It definitely says something about Gilchrist's writing ability that I was nearly brought to tears a few times. The humor was excellent, but the book had much more to it than laughs.

It took me awhile to get used to the unusual names of several characters, but they didn't hold me up for long. Although the ending felt a little bit flat compared to the rest of the book, I liked what happened.

Overall the story was very entertaining with a fun setting and likeable characters. Glitch has a pretty sweet romance that feels realistic, and the story is a clean, quick read.


Excerpt

He walked me to my door and leaned against my door frame.  “So, you wanna go out again?”

I stared at him.  “No, I don’t want to go out again.  We already did this Bob, and it didn’t work the first time.  Why would we do it again?”

“I’ve grown,” he objected.

“It was six months ago!  How much could you possibly have grown?”

“Enough to know that now is not a good time to ask you to come to my parents’ house for dinner.”
 

I slammed the door in his face.  “I’ll call you, Greer,” he called through the wood.


Purchase the Book



About the Author

Amber Gilchrist lives in New Mexico with her husband and three children. She writes YA for upper teens, as well as LDS Romantic Comedies. She calls her lifetime of jumping from one job to another 'experience' for her books and not an inability to settle down. Amber loves mysteries and a good, happy romance. She also loves to laugh. Sometimes she likes all of them together.

A fan of quirky movies and indie books, Amber likes to be with her family, is socially inept, and fears strangers and small yippy dogs. She alternates between writing and being a mom and wife. She tries to do both at the same time but her kids don't appreciate being served lunch and told, "This is the hot dog of your discontent." So mostly she writes when everyone else is in bed.

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Giveaway

Amber has offered a copy of Glitch to one of my followers. The giveaway is for an eBook and is open Internationally through February 24th. I'll post the winner on February 25th. Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter.
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Thursday, February 14, 2013

Blog Tour: Do Over by Shannon Guymon


Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I'm excited to share my review of Shannon Guymon's fun new romance today, along with an excerpt and a giveaway!

About the Book

Who wouldn't be tired of dating after falling for the wrong woman over and over again? Trey has decided to take a much-needed break from the fairer sex, until Iris tumbles into his life. Their romance will either be a disaster waiting to happen or the best fairy tale since Sleeping Beauty. This final installment of the Alpine series will have you giving love another chance.




My Review


I recently heard great things about Do Over, so when I found it on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to read it. The first chapter (which you can read on Shannon Guymon's website) totally drew me in. So much emotion! My heart broke a bit for Iris, and I was really curious how the rest of the story would turn out.

It's not unusual for me to not read book blurbs, so I didn't realize going into Do Over that it was a part of a series. The funny thing is that I read the rest of the series a few years ago. I didn't remember very many details, but I was somewhat familiar with most of the characters. However, I think Do Over stands alone very well, especially because Iris is a new character.

The main characters are both really well off, and although that makes for some hard to relate to circumstances, most of the story is pretty believable. The relationship comes on very quickly, but it is presented in a way that doesn't feel like it is so fast.

I really like the cover, although I pictured some tougher looking boots.

Do Over is a cute, clean romance that you can easily read in a few hours.

Excerpt

“Christmas has come early,” a deep, gravely voice said behind her.

Iris lowered her pencil and turned her head to see a huge man, most likely Vin Diesel’s twin brother, standing behind her grinning as if he had just won the Super Bowl. His black hair was spiky and went quite nicely with the large black gauge in his ear. His nose looked like it had been smashed in a few times, but overall he looked like a nice man. He must be excited to have a designer on the job.

“Hi,” Iris said in a polite, friendly way and then went back to work.

“Honey, I don’t know where you came from, or why you’re here, but I need to send someone a thank-you card, because I have just fallen in love.”

Iris frowned, turning back around to face the imposing man. He really was huge, and his arms were covered in real tattoos, not the fake henna ones she had. Yep, one of them looked like Satan. And he was looking at her like she was Sunday dinner and he hadn’t eaten in months. Time to shut this guy down.

“I’m Iris Levine. I’ll be working on this project with Trey Kellen. I’m just doing some preliminary sketches before I meet with the owners tomorrow. Let me know if I’m in your way,” she said dismissively.

The man’s eyebrows went up. “You’re the designer Trey was telling me about this morning? Wow. I would have never guessed. I never imagined a serious designer could look like you. You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” the man said with such blatant honesty that Iris had to smile.

She heard boots hitting gravel and turned to see Trey running fast toward them.

“Donny, I see you’ve met Iris,” Trey said, looking back and forth worriedly between the two of them.

Iris opened her mouth to say something, but Donny rushed in. “Trey, why in the world didn’t you warn me about Iris. I about had a heart attack standing here trying to take it all in.”

Iris blushed and started to feel a little uncomfortable. What had happened to her invisible Stay-the-Heck-Away-from-Me sign she’d posted on her forehead? The tattoos, the chains, the black, the hair?

Trey nodded his head and patted Donny on the shoulder. “Now why would I want to do that? I don’t want you trying to steal my girlfriend.”

Donny made a huffing noise and shook his head, continuing to stare at Iris. “She’s not your type, Trey. She’s mine. Look at her. She’s perfect. No way is she your girlfriend.”

Iris started feeling panicky and looked at Trey, silently pleading for help. Trey winked at her, his light blue eyes practically sparkling at the position she was in.

“Sorry, Donny, but I found her first,” he said and then stepped around Donny to gently and slowly put his arm around Iris’s shoulders, completely breaking one of her rules.

Iris bit her lip but didn’t say anything, so Trey cleared his throat and faced the doubting giant in front of him.

“But regardless of my passionate regard for Iris, she has been hired by Sam to design the restaurant, so we both need to be careful not to let our feelings get in the way of work. I’d hate for Iris to feel uncomfortable being on the jobsite,” he said, his voice sounding firm and with an unmistakable warning.

Donny nodded his head as his shoulders fell. “Gotcha, boss. It was nice meeting you, Iris,” he said looking at her soulfully one last time.

Iris and Trey watched as Donny went back inside the building. When she could no longer see Donny’s massive shoulders, she let a shaky breath out. She stepped away from Trey, forcing his arm to drop and turned to face him.

“Oh. My. Heck.”

Trey laughed softly and reached out to grab a strand of fiery red hair. “What? You’re surprised?”

Iris shoved her hands in her pockets and kicked a rock. “Well, yeah! I’ve done everything but put a sign on my back that says stay back. Maybe he’s dyslexic.”

Trey laughed again and reached out taking her arm in his hands as he studied the tribal tattoos in dark brown that ran from her wrist to her shoulder.

“Well, there’s one thing you forgot. Men. You’re obviously used to a certain type of man. You’re back off sign that works so well for the successful, business-suit-wearing, corporate kind of guy actually does the opposite for my dear friend Donny. You see, there’s a whole population of men who will take one look at you and start to believe in heaven again.”

Iris’s mouth fell open in horror at her giant mistake. “Oh, no.”

About the Author

I live in Utah with my six children and I’m the author of ten books – so far. I enjoy the outdoors, reading and being with my children. I’m a HUGE believer in happy endings. Scarlett really should have been happy with Rhett, and it’s a darn shame Leo and Kate didn’t float safely into New York on the Titanic. Alas, since I can only control my own imagination, happy endings are found in my books.

To find out more on Do Over and author Shannon Guymon, visit her blog and Facebook page.

Giveaway

One lucky Literary Time Out follower will win an eCopy of Do Over from publisher Cedar Fort. The giveaway is open Internationally. Enter using the Rafflecopter form from now through February 20th.

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Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Thank You Giveaway

Back in September when I setup the Literary Time Out Facebook and Twitter pages, I had no idea I'd have over 1,000 fans AND followers within 5 months. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to Like and/or Follow.

As a small token of my appreciation, I'm giving away a new, hardcover copy of Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale (you can read my review & author interview here).



This giveaway is open for all Literary Time Out followers that have a mailing address within the continental United States through the end of February. I'll post the winner on March 1st, and will get the book in the mail within 72 hours of receiving the winner's mailing address. To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below.

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Book Blast: Forever My Girl by Heidi McLaughlin

Forever My Girl

I was never supposed to be a rock star. I had my life all planned out for me. Play football in college. Go to the NFL. Marry my high school sweetheart and live happily ever after.

I broke both our hearts that day when I told her I was leaving. I was young. I made the right decision for me, but the wrong decision for us. I’ve poured my soul into my music, but I’ve never forgotten her. Her smell, her smile.

And now I’m going back.

After ten years.

I hope I can explain that after all this time.

I still want her to be my forever girl




USA Today Best Selling Novel

"Seeing both sides of the story helped connect me to both main characters and given the complicated situation they were in, it was really well done."
~Aestas Book Blog

"I enjoyed reading this book and I finished it in one sitting ."
~Tootx

"Loved this book, loved all the characters, they were very relatable, and really enjoyed the story line."


Purchase



Author Heidi McLaughlin

My grandma once told me that I can do anything I want, so I am.

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, I now live in picturesque Vermont, with my husband and two daughters. Also renting space in our home is an overhyper Beagle/Jack Russell and two Parakeets.

During the day you’ll find me behind a desk talking about Land Use. At night, I’m writing one of the many stories I plan to release or sitting courtside during either daughter’s basketball games.

I’m also an active reviewer on The Readiacs.





BookBlast $50 Giveaway
Ends 2/24/13

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, February 12, 2013

Review: Nobody's Damsel by E.M. Tippets

Chloe has finished her masters degree and taken a job as a forensic scientist back in her home town of Albuquerque, New Mexico, only the press will not leave her alone. They follow her to crime scenes and report on her every move, eager to show that her marriage to Hollywood A-lister, Jason Vanderholt, is on the brink of collapse. Millions of fans who dream of their own celebrity romance with him want this more than anything. This scrutiny comes at a particularly bad time as Chloe's first case is a crime against a child roughly the same age that Chloe was when she survived a homicide attempt.

Now that she sees the case from an adult's perspective, she realizes it's much harder than she ever dreamed. It's even worse for Jason, who is two steps removed from the crime. He must watch and try to support his wife as she battles with past demons and tries to keep up with a nameless suspect who evades identification and capture. Never has Jason been more frustrated with his job, its frivolities, and its lack of connection to the real world. When he storms off the set of his latest movie, the press goes wild with conjecture. Perhaps he never was anything more than a pretty face after all.

Together, Chloe and Jason must find their way past all the popping flashbulbs and through the dark maze of the criminal investigation to discover whether they can balance their professional goals with the demands of a celebrity marriage. The odds are entirely against them.


I was really excited to read Nobody's Damsel after I enjoyed Someone Else's Fairytale so much. I wasn't really sure what to expect, and was a bit saddened to find that the fairytale is over. I'm definitely a sucker for "happily ever afters".

Chloe finds herself living a very stressful life. She's constantly followed by paparazzi, and can't escape the stories saying that she and Jason are getting divorced. Seeds of doubt are planted, and her stress is increased by her first case in her new job as Albuquerque's newest forensic scientist.

Following the case was really interesting, albeit sad because it was a crime involving a child.

I didn't like Jason as much in this sequel. He's gone a lot, and I really did doubt him being true to Chloe for the bulk of the book.

The TV show scenes were a little confusing to me initially, but eventually it's all tied together.

Although not what I expected, I liked Nobody's Damsel and was happy that a lot of the characters were able to get a happy ending.

Monday, February 11, 2013

Review: Castles in the Sand by E.M. Tippets

Madison Lukas knows her place in the world. She’s not pretty, not interesting, and therefore easy to forget.

John Britton is serving his mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and has been praying for fifteen years to find the sister he lost in his parents’ divorce. She is beautiful, talented, and makes kindness a fine art.

When John and Madison cross paths, he recognizes her at once, but Madison is certain that he’s got it all wrong. Even if she is his long-lost sister, she can’t possibly be the exceptional, amazing girl he thinks she is, can she?


I'm a little torn on my rating for Castles on the Sand. I started reading it late one afternoon and stayed up until almost 3:00 a.m. to finish it. While it definitely held my attention, I prefer a much happier story. Although this does have a happy ending, much of the story is dealing with some serious problems (neglect, abuse, mental illness, bullying, etc.), so there is a dark cloud (if you will) over most of the story.

I liked the main character, Madison. I believed her kindness, even to those who continually hurt her, but was really saddened by it, especially with everything Kailie did.

I struggled a bit with the situation with John (Madison's long-lost brother she never knew about). It was hard to believe that he'd recognize her after so much time (especially because she was only one-year-old when he last saw her). His comments about her being so beautiful seemed a bit much for a brother. But, I did like how protective he was of her, and that he provided some much needed support for her.

There's no sex, although it is talked about, and some make out scenes go pretty far. There's also quite a bit of sneaking around. You can't really blame Madison because her mother doesn't care, but I wouldn't be comfortable giving this to a teen to read.

I think this would be considered LDS fiction, although the religion plays a much smaller role than in other LDS fiction I've read. Also, the few feelings Madison has about it aren't really positive.

*I received a copy of Castles in the Sand in exchange for a review.

Saturday, February 9, 2013

February Author's Kindle Fire Giveaway




Kindle Fire HD 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 Authors:


The Reluctant Bachelorette by Rachael Anderson


One Classic Latin Lover, PleaseThe Reluctant BacheloretteBetrayal (Wounded Heroes, #3)Bellyache: A Delicious Tale Ethan Justice: OriginsI Have PeopleFor What It's WorthA Kiss of Ashen Twilight (Ashen Twilight #1)The Unraveling (Sage Seed Chronicles, #3)Fateful (Fateful, #1) Dracian Legacy (Dracian, # 1)Cascade Brides: The Complete SeriesA World ApartReality Bites: Tales of a Half-VampireFace-Off (Book One)Two EqualsThe Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw (Morgan Sisters, #1)One for KamiFreak of NatureGrace DollThe Secret of the Scarlet Stone (Gabby Girls Adventure, #1)Gallagher's Hope (Gallagher, #2)The Spy LoverPRIZE-WINNING PACIFIC STORIES  (SPECIAL EDITION, BOXED SET VOL I-III)RejectedRapunzel UntangledA Hard Act to FollowStarseed


Giveaway Details
1 winner will receive their choice of a Kindle Fire HD (US Only), $199 Amazon Gift Card or $199 in Paypal Cash (Internaitonal).
Ends 2/28/13

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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