Spotlight: Magic Within by Sara Fitzgerald

Spotlight * Giveaway

Magic Within by Sara Fitzgerald

Book Description:

Nancy, a purple-haired witch, has never fit in with the kids in town. She has always felt something was deeply wrong with her. When Josh, her best friend, is attacked by a werewolf, Nancy seeks a potion to save him from the werewolf curse within him. But Josh’s fate--werewolf or human--is his to decide, when the potion is injected during his transition at the full of the moon.

Nancy, too, must make a choice. Her mother, her best friend, and a steadfast young man all see the magic within her. Can she finally accept who she is and give love a chance?

About Author Sara Fitzgerald:

Sara lives with her husband and seven-year-old daughter in Salt Lake City. She loves romance, intrigue, writing and exploring the city with her family. Her two favorite parts of the day are reading bedtime stories with her daughter and hanging out with her husband.

Author Website

Giveaway:

Author Sara Fitzgerald is offering one eCopy of Magic Within to a Literary Time Out follower. Entering is easy, just use the Rafflecopter form below by February 12, 2014. Good luck and happy reading!

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Title: Magic Within
Author: Sara Fitzgerald
Publisher: Champagne Books
Published: February 2014
ASIN: B00I7DYJ0Y

Purchase: Kindle | Barnes & Noble
 

Blog Tour: Guardians by Heather Frost

Tour Schedule

Title: Guardians

Author: Heather Frost

Publisher: Sweetwater Press, an imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc.

Published: July 2013

ISBN: 1462110355

FTC FYI: I received an eCopy via the author in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble


Book Description:

Kate Bennett has escaped captivity, but she has not escaped the hunt. The Demon Lord has one million dollars on Kate’s head, and every bounty hunter around is just waiting for the chance to break through her guardian force. Kate’s only shot at staying alive and protecting her loved ones is to lead the seers on a mission to the past and kill the Demon Lord before he comes to power.

But Patrick, Kate’s immortal guardian and the love of her life, knows what happens when she travels back in time: he has seen her die in his arms. With Patrick keeping a protective watch over her, Kate knows she can never lead her mission, but she cannot wait around to be captured by demons again, either.

This final installment of the Seers trilogy brings Kate Bennett’s tale to a surprising and exciting conclusion filled with love and heartache, danger and triumph, loss and redemption.

Review:

The Seers trilogy is an exciting paranormal YA series that has the added bonus of also being clean!

I read the first two books in the series ten months ago, and really enjoyed them. The second book was especially intense, and had a huge cliff hanger ending. Sadly, I didn't have time to re-read the books, or even brush up on what had happened before reading Guardians. I really, REALLY recommend reading these close enough together that you have the details of book two fresh on your mind. You'll enjoy the book so much more if you do!

The first half of Guardians moved along a bit slowly for me, although that could have had something to do with being a little lost since the details of the rest of the series were hazy. The pace and action got very interesting about half way through, and I was excited to see how everything was going to turn out.

Without spoiling anything, I'll just say that I was really happy with a change of heart that occurred, and the ending for all of the characters was pretty satisfying.

If you like paranormal YA, don't miss the Seers Trilogy.

About the Author:

Heather Frost was born in Sandy, Utah, and raised in a small Northern Utah town. She is the second oldest of ten children, and she has always been an avid reader and writer. She’s a graduate of Snow College, and, more recently, Utah State University. She enjoys playing the flute, listening to all types of music, and watching a wide variety of movies. Ever since she wrote her first short story—at the age of four—she has dreamed of one day becoming an author. Guardians is her third published novel; her second book, Demons, was a Whitney Award Finalist.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Giveaway:

Heather Frost is offering one copy of Guardians to a Literary Time Out follower (hard copy for a winner in the US or Canada, eCopy for an international winner). To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below by midnight EST on July 14, 2013.

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Blog Tour: Replacing Gentry by Julie N. Ford

Tour Schedule

Replacing Gentry

When Marlie agrees to attend a cadaver ball at Vanderbilt Medical School, she did not expect to actually see any cadavers. Or, that a strange apparition would issue her a chilling message.

Despite the cadaver's warning, Marlie is married a year later to Tennessee State Senator, Daniel Cannon, and living in a plantation-style mansion with two step sons. Add to the mix her growing suspicion that something is amiss with the death of Daniel’s first wife, Gentry; and newlywed Marlie is definitely in over her pretty Yankee head.

What begins as an innocent inquiry into her new husband’s clouded past, ends with Marlie in the midst of a dangerous conspiracy.

A modern twist on the classic Gothic romance novels of Rebecca and Jane Eyre, Replacing Gentry follows Marlie’s precarious journey as she learns the truth about the man she married.

Review

I was drawn to Replacing Gentry by the cover and the book blurb. This story has a little bit of everything-secret groups, ghosts, romance, mystery. Although having so many elements left some room for polish, I found the story to be intriguing.

The main character, Marlie, had a tendency to be drawn to people or situations that often lead to trouble. I didn't always love or understand her choices, but her determination and desire to make the best of her situation made her quite likeable.

Replacing Gentry is a fast read with twists and turns that kept me guessing on some aspects of the story right up until the end.

There is some swearing, mention of sex (both marital and extramarital), and discovery of violent crimes.

Replacing Gentry will be released on April 9th

Preorder on Amazon

Author Julie N. Ford

Julie N. Ford graduated from San Diego State University with a BA in Political Science and a minor in English Literature. In addition, she has a Masters in Social Work from the University of Alabama. Professionally, she has worked in teaching and as a Marriage & Family Counselor. She is the author of two women’s fiction novels, The Woman He Married and No Holly for Christmas, published in 2011. In addition, she wrote a romance/chick-lit novel, Count Down to Love, also published in 2011. Count Down to Love was a 2011 Whitney Award finalist. Her next novel, Replacing Gentry, is due for release April 9th, 2013.

Currently, she lives in Nashville, TN with her husband, two daughters and one hedgehog.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

Tour Giveaway
$50 Barnes & Noble Gift Card
Open to US only
Ends 4/30/13

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Review: Intrinsical by Lani Woodland

Sixteen-year-old Yara Silva has always known that ghosts walk alongside the living. Her grandma, like the other females in her family, is a Waker, someone who can see and communicate with ghosts. Yara grew up watching her grandmother taunted and scorned for this unusual ability and doesn't want that to be her future. She has been dreading the day when she too would see ghosts, and is relieved that the usually dominant Waker gene seems to have skipped her, letting her live a normal teenage life. However, all that changes for Yara on her first day at her elite boarding school when she discovers the gene was only lying dormant. She witnesses a dark mist attack Brent, a handsome fellow student, and rushes to his rescue. Her act of heroism draws the mist's attention, and the dark spirit begins stalking her. Yara finds herself entrenched in a sixty-year-old curse that haunts the school, threatening not only her life, but the lives of her closest friends as well. Yara soon realizes that the past she was trying to put behind her isn't going to go quietly.

While I love to own books, I don't typically buy them unless I've read them first (unless it's part of a series that I really like). However, awhile back I read a good review about Intrinsical, and I enjoyed the sample I found online. So, when I saw a heads-up that the eBook was available for only 99 cents, I bought it (along with its sequel).

The idea of being a Waker was intriguing to me, and the boarding school setting (which just went co-ed) added a great element to the story. Yara and her friend Cheri made a good duo. Yara was fairly serious while Cheri kept things on the lighter side (most of the time).

Not too far into the story a major event took place that totally threw me for a loop. I had no idea how the situation would be resolved (as it seemed that there was no coming back from it). But, I was happy with the resolution.

If you like reading ghost stories (especially close to Halloween), consider adding Intrinsical to your list. It's mysterious without being overly creepy. There are plenty of serious moments, but there are light moments along with a well-paced romance.

Demons Blog Tour

I am happy to be one of the stops on this fourth day of the Demons Blog Tour.

Demons are not just killers, they are also masterminds.

Kate’s life is far from normal. She can see Auras, her boyfriend is immortal, and her powers make her a target. But now that the Demon Lord is hunting her, things are about to go from dangerous to truly deadly. Packed with action, mind-blowing plot twists, and characters you can’t get enough of, this is a fast-paced, heart-pounding read from cover to cover.

I was concerned that I might be totally lost reading Demons without having read Seers (the first book in the series), but Demons stood on its own feet! This isn't in any way a recommendation to skip Seers if you can get your hands on a copy though. I was able to read Seers after the fact, and it makes Kate, Patrick and the other characters even more endearing than they are in Demons. And yes, I just used the word endearing for a book about demons, but there is so much more to the book than the demons.

As a Seer, Kate has the ability to see auras (colors around people that indicate their mood, and if they are human, demon, or guardian). She and her two guardians (Patrick and Tony) are constantly on their toes battling and/or dodging the enemy (both demons and humans).

Frost's demons, while definitely bad guys, didn't illicit unsettling, dark feelings (a major bonus-I like conflict, but don't want to be weighed down by evil).

The romance between Kate and Patrick was sweet. There are several kissing scenes, but they never let their passion go overboard.

The ending was intense! A definite cliff-hanger that makes me eagerly anticipate Guardians, the final book the in trilogy.

I was very impressed with Heather Frost's writing, even more so when I learned how young she is. Her story was compelling and the characters were excellent!

Interview with author Heather Frost

How did you come up with the idea for this series?

I started thinking about guardian angels, and what life might be like for them. How they got there, what they do, that sort of thing. Those thoughts simmered for a couple weeks, and then suddenly, in a single moment while making up some lunch, everything fell into place. Demons, Guardians, and Seers—the inspiration was undeniable. Kate Bennett, my main character, was the last to climb on board, and then I started typing, and didn’t stop until all three manuscripts were complete.

I am so impressed that you've had two novels published while in college! How do you find the time to write and work on your degree?

I don’t sleep. :) Just kidding, I love my sleep. Nothing could keep it from me! Actually, I just do a lot of writing during the summers and weekends. I wrote the entire Seers Trilogy (over 600 pages) in a summer, so during the school year I’m mostly polishing, editing, and marketing my books. Don’t get me wrong, its still a huge juggling act. But it’s nice not having to write from scratch.

What do you plan on doing once you graduate with your BS in English?

I plan to devote more time to writing. I have so many stories clamoring in my head, demanding to be written. Not to mention plenty of already written novels, just asking for a little bit of attention, so they can have their chance at publication. All of this while keeping up a day job, of course . . .

What is the expected publication date for the final book in this series, Guardians?

Fall 2013.

Who is your favorite character in your books, and why?

Picking a favorite character is terribly difficult. But a favorite is definitely Lee. She’s just an awesome best friend, and an incredible girl. She’s brave enough to be herself, no matter what, and I really admire her for that. And of course she’s just plain funny. What’s not to like about Lee?

Are there any books that you would recommend as must-reads?

I can tell you some of my favorite books, sure. “Jane Eyre”, by Charlotte Bronte; “The Scarlet Pimpernel”, Baroness Orczy; “Harry Potter”, J.K. Rowling; “Percy Jackson and the Olympians”, Rick Riordan (I’m such a kid at heart!).

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

It depends. I’m usually skeptical when I first hear a book is coming out as a movie, but I’m more than happy to give it a chance. Best book to movie: Hunger Games. Wasn’t that breath-taking? I loved every second! Worst book to movie? . . . Eragon comes to mind . . . But sometimes—very rarely—I love both the movie, and the book, even though they’re different. The Harry Potter series fits into that category, definitely.

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


I’d love to travel all over Europe, starting in Ireland. I’d try to see absolutely everything, but at my own pace, no rush. I think that could eat up a few years of my life, easy.


Do you have any unusual habits while you write?

Aside from talking to myself, nothing really comes to mind. I love listening to music.

Heather, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer my questions!

GIVEAWAY

Heather has offered an electronic copy of Demons to one Literary Time Out follower. The giveaway will be open through September 13th, and the randomly selected winner will be posted on September 14th. To enter, make sure you are following via Google Friend Connect, and then comment below by answering the following question:

If you were given the choice at death of being a guardian (immortality) or going to heaven, what would you choose?

You can earn extra entries by sharing on your blog, Facebook, and Twitter. Leave a comment with the link for each entry.

About the Author

Heather Frost was born in Sandy, Utah, and raised in a small Northern Utah town. She is the second oldest of ten children, and she has always been an avid reader and writer. She graduated from Snow College and is currently attending Utah State University. She enjoys playing the flute, listening to all types of music, and watching a wide variety of movies. Ever since she wrote her first short story—at the age of four—she has dreamed of one day becoming an author. Demons is her second published novel. Visit www.HeatherFrost.com to leave her a message, or learn more about her and the Seers Trilogy.

You can also follow Heather on Facebook and Goodreads.

Pre-Order Demons

Cedar Fort | Amazon

Seers

I recently learned about a book called Demons, and jumped at the chance to be part of the blog tour. The only "problem" was that it is the 2nd book in the series, and I hadn't read the first book, Seers. I couldn't track down a copy at nearby libraries, so I just went ahead and read Demons. It was an excellent book, and it even did well on its own (see my review tomorrow, along with an author interview and giveaway).

In addition to a great story, I really liked Heather Frost's writing style. So, even though I knew what was going to happen, I couldn't resist reading Seers when I got the chance.

This paranormal YA novel follows Kate, a 17-year-old who is trying to cope with the loss of her parents, along with a major physical change since the accident that took her parents' lives and nearly took her own. She can now see auras (colors surrounding people that indicate their emotions). Her best friend, Lee, is the only one who knows about her new ability, and she is a major strength for Kate. But Kate soon learns that the support she needs is way over Lee's head, and she has to trust the Guardians that have come to protect her from the Demons that want her.

I really liked the idea of this story. Sure, guardian angels and demons aren't a new idea, but Frost's portrayal of them was unique. I really appreciated the lack of wings (call me crazy, but I like the idea of wingless angels), and the way guardians and demons come to be. I also loved the personalities that each character had. They were so different, but they all meshed well for a great story.

I also loved that this book is clean. There are plenty of intense moments, but you don't have to worry about foul language or out of control passion. Even the violence is tastefully done.

A great start to a great series!

*I received an e-copy of Seers in exchange for a review.

Refuge

I found the Refuge ARC on Netgalley, and the blurb caught my attention.

Laney Lowell moved across the country to escape her past, not to fall in love. But when she becomes friends with Gabe, a handsome artist plagued by a mysterious disease, she'll have to decide between facing his dark truth or walking away from him forever. This thrilling romance is full of twists that will keep you guessing to the last page.

While I enjoyed aspects of this story, it definitely didn't keep me "guessing until the last page." The mysterious disease was pretty obvious early on, but it took Laney most of the book to figure it out. There was a lot of buildup followed by a very rushed ending.

At one point Laney is thinking about her appearance, and says she wouldn't have stood out in Salt Lake with her multiple piercings, pink streaked hair, and tattoo. I'm pretty sure she'd stand out anywhere looking like that, but especially in Salt Lake City, Utah. That issue aside, Laney's explanation about her appearance was eye opening. I wonder how many people out there have sentimental reasons for their seemingly rebellious attire?

The best part of the book was the relationship between Laney and her aunt and uncle. It developed at a realistic pace, and it was moving to learn about their pasts and see them overcome some of their obstacles.