Wednesday 30 October 2013

Book Promo - Twisted


TWISTED CROP


Twisted (Deathwind Trilogy #1) will be released on December 15, 2013.  



Twisted (Deathwind Trilogy #1) is a spin off from The Destroyers Series


Sixteen-year-old Allie isn’t like other girls.  Instead of spending her summer break sitting around on the beach, she takes the epic vacation of a lifetime.

Tornado chasing.

And she’s not disappointed.  Just a few miles from the town of Evansburg, Nebraska, Allie meets her dream of seeing a tornado.  In person.  She can’t wait to tell her friends back home.  Never mind that her parents are going to kill her.

But her dream soon turns into a nightmare, and a strange event leaves her shocked.  Confused.  When she returns home to Wisconsin, something’s…different.  Allie now bears a curse so awful, it could destroy everyone and everything she’s ever known.

With her best friend, Tommy, Allie must return to the plains to find a way to reverse it.  She enters a world that she had never imagined, where she becomes a pawn in a fight to save the people of Evansburg from her fate…or to destroy them.

The cover will be revealed on November 15th!  If you are interested in participating in the cover reveal sign up here.  In the meantime here is the first chapter from Twisted!

Chapter One  
My very first tornado touches the grass of the plains. 
I stand next to the van, mouth dropping open, heart pounding.  It’s the moment I’ve been waiting for, saved money for, begged my uncle to book us for the Wild Weather Storm Chasing Tours for.

Uncle Cassius swears next to me, equally in awe.  It barely cuts over the wind rushing towards the distant funnel.  Waves of grass bow down to the twister, whipped down by the surrounding air flying in to feed it.  The perfect white cone stands out against the coal sky, slim and graceful.  A skirt of dust spins around its base, signaling its dance through a field a few miles away. 
“Beautiful!”  Kyle, our storm chaser guide, snaps a photo for his website.  He steals a glance at me and smiles.  He’s all enthusiasm, joy that we’ve found our prey. “Don’t worry.  We’re safe.  It’s heading to the east.  It’ll pass no closer than a couple of miles to our north.” 
I want his job someday. 
“I’m not scared,” I said, but my shaky voice betrays me.  Who am I kidding?  Kyle’s an experienced chaser–twenty years–but this is a real tornado.  In person.  Live.  I never realized it would be this intense, this breathtaking.  A hollow feeling fills my stomach like I’m plunging down the first hill of a roller coaster. 
The tornado curves, almost like it’s leaning to the side for a better look at something.  At us?  It’s a silly thought, one that makes me laugh.  The thunderstorm spins slowly above it, low and menacing.  Thunder claps.  It’s enough to remind me that the storm in front of me isn’t just beautiful.  It’s a predator, entrancing like a cobra and ready to strike. 
Good thing there’s no houses or buildings in its way.  Only farmland stretches from horizon to horizon. 
“Allie.  Forget your camera?”  Uncle Cassius slaps me on the arm, smiling.  It’s a tense smile.  So I’m not the only one with some nerves going. 
Camera. 
Yes.  Duh. 
I pull it out of my pocket and fumble with the slim case, fingers hunting for the button.  The camera zings to life.  Behind it, the tornado looms a bit larger, gaining strength and racing across the ground.  More dust kicks up around the perfect white of the twister. 
“Now I can really prove to everyone at school how crazy I am.”  I give Uncle Cassius a nervous chuckle.  The camera trembles in my hands as I catch the tornado in my view, click, and seal it in my memory forever. 
I’m having the most insane summer vacation of my entire high school.

I lift the camera for another shot, backing up to squeeze the tornado into the viewport.  I click another picture and lowered the camera again for another look. 
My heart jumps. 
The tornado looms larger, taller.  Kyle holds his hand up to his face, squinting for a better view.  Even Uncle Cassius goes quiet, stiffening and taking a step back towards the tour van. 
All at once I understand. 
The tornado has changed course. 
Kyle turns.  Real fear widens his features. 
“Get in the van,” he shouts.

* * * * *

The one big thing I can recall from those first ten seconds is the roar, like a distant train growing closer.  The wind whips my hair back, trying to pull me back out of the van.  It feels like the twister’s right behind me already, coming down for the kill. 
I slam the door on it.  The funnel’s much bigger behind the glass, so much that I can’t see the top of it anymore. 
Uncle Cassius snaps on his seat belt next to me.  Kyle starts it up, punches the gas, and gets us back on the road to nowhere. 
I toss my camera to the floor.  My hands fumble with the seat belt.  The van speeds up, slamming me into the seat.  The specter of the tornado closes in, whipping across the field towards us.  I’ve heard of tornadoes making sudden turns like this but I never realized it could happen this fast.  It rips across the field, coming straight at us.  My heart beats on a runaway course.  My mind locks into overdrive.  I feel like that news crew they always have on tornado shows, that one that survived by hiding under that overpass.  Will Kyle make us get out and climb under one?  They’re actually bad places to hide.  That news crew got off lucky.  Kyle knows better.  He’s been chasing storms longer than I’ve been alive.
Only green and yellow spreads out ahead.  No shelter for miles.  Worse, no ditches.  The radar on Kyle’s laptop is covered in ugly red and orange blotches like Nebraska has sores. 
A hole of panic opens up inside me and for the first time, I regret coming on this vacation. 
“Can’t you go faster?”  Uncle Cassius leans forward in his seat, gaze hard, arms trembling. 
Uncle Cassius never loses his cool. 
Ever.
Not even when I accidentally set his Persian rug on fire when I was seven and broke my arm at the age of nine. 
Outside, the tornado grows so close that I could only see the bottom half of the funnel.  The van bounces along every speed bump on the highway, every uneven spot.  My stomach heaves.  I’m going to be sick right here.  It’s my stupid fault we’re in this mess. 
“I don’t understand.”  Kyle punches the gas harder, making the van jump.  He turns his head like Linda Blair in the Exorcist, eyes widening.  “The tornado should not be moving this way.”

He’s right.  It shouldn’t.  But it is.
The funnel reaches the road behind us, twisting harder, kicking up earth higher and higher.  We’ve gotten out in front of it.  I breathe a sigh of relief.  Kyle and Uncle Cassius do the same.  It’ll cross the road and forget all about us. 
Kyle lets off the gas a little and the whine of the engine calms some.  “We’re safe now.  That was highly unusual.  I’ve never seen a tornado turn like that in my career.”  There’s a hint of an apology in his voice. 
“Well, that was a close one, wasn’t it, Allie?”  Uncle Cassius hugs me from the side. 
“Yeah,” I say, willing my heart to slow down.  At least I can think straight now.  Can I even do another two days of this? 
Wow, what a dumb idea this was. 
But I still can’t resist another look at the storm.  I turn as far as my seat belt allows. 
My guts fall out of me all over again. 
The tornado’s still on the road, bigger than ever.  It can’t be. 
The twister has turned again.  It’s coming right up behind us.  Rolling dust eats the entire highway.  There’s tornado taking up the whole view of the back window.  Dust rips to the sides.  The bottom of its funnel spins with fury, big enough to swallow a house whole.  Its roar screams against the outside of the van, shaking the seat, pushing the whole van to the side. 
It’s no longer beautiful. 
“Ohmigod,” I say, sucking in a breath.  “Um…Kyle?  Stomp on the gas.  Just saying.” 
“I know!” he snaps.  His knuckles turn white on the steering wheel.  The van lurches again but he maintains control.
“Allie, get down!”  Uncle Cassius puts his huge hand on my back and pushes me towards the floor.  
The seat belt cuts into my throat.
What good is it going to do?  If the tornado lifts the car– 
I’m going to die. 
I begged to go on this trip and now Uncle Cassius is going to die too. 
The windows shatter with a deafening boom and the wind screams in my ears.  AllieAllieAllieAllie…

I can’t breathe. 
We’re floating. 
Uncle Cassius shouts something.  Kyle yells.  If I’m screaming, I can’t tell.  The storm’s sucking it right out of me.  Windy hands seize my arms, my legs. 
They pull. 
My safety belt snaps, whipping against my leg.  I cry out with the sting.  The seat disappears under me. 
I’m flying. 
The tornado’s ripping me right out of the van. 
The world turns to a white and brown roar.  The van’s gone.  I have no time to cry out to Uncle Cassius before the world snaps to black and silence takes the place of all.

About Holly Hook

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Holly Hook is the author of the Destroyers Series, which consists of five young adult books about teens who are walking disasters...literally. She is also the author of the Rita Morse series, a young adult fantasy series still in progress, and After These Messages, a short ya comedy. Currently she is writing Twisted, a spin-off of the Destroyers Series due out in December. When not writing, she enjoys reading books for teens, especially ya fantasy and paranormal series with a unique twist.


Check out Holly's Books!
1 Tempest SmlTempest (Destroyers, Book One) By Holly Hook

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, Sci Fi, Adventure

Price: FREE!
KINDLE EDITION       KINDLE UK
KINDLE CA          NOOK EDITION
iTUNES EDITION       SONY
SMASHWORDS          KOBO (Coming Soon)
*

Book 1 of the Destroyers Series

Sixteen-year-old Janelle never thought the gray spiral birthmark on her arm meant anything special. That is, until she meets Gary, a boy her age with a birthmark exactly like hers. Gary’s attractive, brooding, and perfectly normal…except for the fact that he materialized out of a dangerous hurricane right in front of her. Janelle’s certain of only one thing. Gary’s mark—and hers, too—mean something, but he’s reluctant to tell her what.


At last she squeezes the truth from Gary about their markings. And the truth is utterly terrifying: Janelle and Gary are more connected to the destructive power of nature than she ever dreamed possible. And learning the truth about herself is only the start of her nightmare.

Book 2 of the Destroyers Series, Inferno, is now available.  See below.

*TEMPEST is a 2010 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Semifinalist and has now sold over 6000 copies since its release in September 2010!


2 Inferno SmlInferno (Destroyers, Book Two) by Holly Hook

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, Sci Fi, Adventure
Price: $2.99 for the eBook (available for all eReaders!)
KINDLE EDITION       KINDLE UK
KINDLE CA           NOOK EDITION
iTUNES EDITION       SONY
SMASHWORDS          KOBO (Coming Soon)

Book 2 of the Destroyers Series

Ever since becoming leader of the human hurricanes called Tempests, 16-year-old Janelle is overdue for a vacation. But the trip to Hawaii quickly presents its own problems when she meets Kenna, a local sophomore who makes the volcano start rumbling when she’s nearby. So when Kenna gets kidnapped, Janelle has to find her before catastrophes can start.  If she doesn’t, it could mean the end of civilization as we know it, and the death of everyone she loves.

3 Outbreak SmlOutbreak (Destroyers, Book Three)

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Price: $2.99 eBook
KINDLE          KINDLE UK               
KINDLE CA      NOOK EDITION    
ITUNES EDITION      SONY
SMASHWORDS      KOBO (Coming SOON)
*

Book 3 of the Destroyers Series


Paul doesn’t want to kill anyone.  All he’s wanted through his teenage years is to have his first Outbreak, where he’ll leave his body to take the form of a tornado.  In Mobley, Oklahoma, it’s a normal part of growing up.  But just as his wish is granted, he learns that his ability can be used for an evil purpose–and that those in charge are watching him.
*
4 Frostbite SmlFrostbite (Destroyers, Book Four)

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Price: $2.99
AMAZON       AMAZON UK
AMAZON CA        NOOK EDITION
iTUNES EDITION       SONY
SMASHWORDS      KOBO (Coming Soon)
*

Book Four of the Destroyers Series


Sophia’s teenage years have been plagued with another presence that lives inside her–one that freezes everything around her when it gets angry.  When a new storm goddess arrives in town, it’s determined to get out of Sophia and join her…even it it means Sophia’s destruction and the end of the world.

5 Ancient SmlAncient (Destroyers, Book Five)

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Price: $2.99
AMAZON       AMAZON UK
AMAZON CA        NOOK EDITION
iTUNES EDITION       SONY
SMASHWORDS      KOBO (Coming Soon)

Book Five of the Destroyers Series

This is the fifth and final book of the Destroyers Series.

Things are never easy when you’re growing up. They’re even worse when you’re also a group of walking natural disasters.

With the insane goddess Andrina on the loose, Janelle and her friends have no choice but to seek out Huracan, the ancient Mayan god of storms, to combat her. But their solution could cause more problems on their adventure than they ever anticipated. Huracan is an old god who craved power and human sacrifice, and handing over power to him could return the world to those days…and mean their end.

Janelle, weary from her position as Tempest High Leader, may finally have a way out of the nightmare she and her boyfriend, Gary, have lived in since she discovered her true identity. But waking up an old, grumpy storm god and giving back her curse might not be better than anything she’s ever known.

Since Kenna learned of her place as a volcano goddess, she has struggled to control her power…and anger. Tired of being helpless in the face of Andrina and falling into her traps, she must discover her own abilities or perish. Unfortunately, Andrina has her own new plans for Kenna.

Paul, riddled with guilt from being forced to turn his girlfriend, Leslie, into an Outbreaker like him, has promised that she will be human again, no matter what price Huracan demands from him. Anything is better than watching her turn into a tornado each time it storms, unable to stop herself from destroying everything around her.

Leslie fears that she will be forced to help Andrina bring Janelle to her side. Worse, she fears that she will lose Paul. She’s willing to sacrifice her humanity forever to keep him safe, but if Paul doesn’t listen, she could lose everything she loves.

Sophia has lived her entire life harboring a winter demon in her body, a dangerous spirit that can take her over and freeze others at any moment. Her new friends need the demon’s help in order to track down the storm god, but there’s no telling what she can do and when.

An adventure told from the point of view of five different teens, this is the conclusion to the Destroyers Series.

Rita Morse and the Sinister Shadow

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Price: $1.99
NOOK EDITION
KINDLE EDITION
ALL OTHER EBOOK FORMATS (INCLUDING SONY READER, PDF, EPUB, AND OTHERS)
*
Fourteen year-old Rita Morse is the kind of girl that the teen-hating Shadow Regime doesn’t like. She won’t put up with crap that isn’t fair. Ever. After she toilet-papers a video game store in retaliation for a ban on teens, the Regime, an army of immortals secretly trying to oppress teens all over the world, adds her to their list of threats. That’s not good, because the Regime’s enemies always disappear.

Now Rita’s in the biggest trouble of her life. She’s being stalked, threatened, and nearly kidnapped by shadow people. And the Regime isn’t the only danger: they also control countless humans around the world, some of which are much closer to Rita than she thinks. There’s nowhere to turn.

If Rita can’t learn the Shadow Regime’s reason for their war on teens—and her—she might not make it through her first week of high school.


Rita Morse and the Treacherous Traitor (Rita Morse, Book Two)

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Price: $3.99
KINDLE EDITION
SMASHWORDS (ALL EBOOK FORMATS)*

Learning that she’s a Guardian, meant to protect the world from evil and injustice, has only been the start of Rita Morse’s problems. Now the teen-hating Shadow Regime has returned, with its sights now set on kidnapping and enslaving Rita’s classmates.  Rita’s new powers might not be enough to protect them, and worse, there may be a traitor working in her midst.


After These Messages (A Parody)

Genre: Young Adult Humor, Fantasy, Parody
Price: $1.99
AMAZON (FOR KINDLE)
BARNES AND NOBLE (NOOK)
SMASHWORDS (KINDLE, NOOK, AND EVERYTHING ELSE)

What would happen if the world suddenly turned into a giant commercial break? Unfortunately, Jade is about to find out, thanks to her little brother’s stupid wish.

Now, not only must she face stupid ads coming to life around her every minute of the day. She’s also being stalked by the most terrifying one of all: the creepy, ever-smiling Burger Planet mascot!

If Jade is unable to face him, she risks losing everyone she cares about to thirty-second slots forever.

*This is a novella at about 23,000 words long. It’s not too serious.*

Tuesday 29 October 2013

Book Blast - arbitrate


arbitrate
arbitrate:
It's one year later. And everything has changed.
Remember The Second Chance Institute (SCI). Earth’s benevolent non-profit by day, Thera’s totalitarian regime by night. They’ve stepped up their game on Earth and on Thera—infiltrating political parties, preying on the downtrodden, and planning offensive maneuvers. The SCI’s abuse of their charter leads to Arbiter oversight and bitter consequences.
Remember Kira Donovan. Broken, burdened, and evading those who wish her harm, Kira enlists the Arbiters’ help when forced to return to the clutches of the SCI and her angry, estranged love.
Remember Blake Sundry. Exiled, determined, and packing an agenda, Blake seeks assistance on Earth and Thera to use his newfound knowledge to bring down the SCI.
Remember Ethan Darcton. Overworked, emotional, and holding a grudge, Ethan hunts down his stolen property, but finds himself in awkward territory, stuck between the Arbiters and the SCI.
Full of action, competing agendas, romantic entanglements, humor, twists and turns, arbitrate is Megan Thomason’s third installment in the award-winningdaynight series after daynight and clean slate complex (a daynight story).

Praise for arbitrate:

"There are a lot of books I finish and feel happy, this one I finished and my head is swirling, in a totally awesome way! Not only does it have a great story with characters that you like (and some you just hate as they are the enemy) but the book also gets you thinking, thinking about the implication of effects of different actions and courses in life. This story has action, fighting, plots and plans, romance, love triangles, family, betrayal - has it all." --Emily Barton, Emmy Mom One Day at a Time blog, 5 stars

"You have hit this one out of the park." --ARC Reviewer

"For the record, I LOVED Kira's choice!! And the whole thing just blew me away! Very, very well done!! Now when can I get my hands on generate?! Can't wait " --ARC Reviewer

"Read my ARC of Arbitrate and consider my mind blown! I started it the minute it was sent and couldn't put it down." --ARC Reviewer
add to goodreads


daynight new


daynight

Meet The Second Chance Institute (SCI): Earth's benevolent non-profit by day, Thera's totalitarian regime by night. Their motto: Because Everyone Deserves a Second Chance at Life(TM). Reality: the SCI subjects Second Chancers to strict controls and politically motivated science experiments like Cleaving--forced lifetime union between two people who have sex. Punishment for disobeying SCI edicts? Immediate Exile or death.

Meet Kira Donovan. Fiercely loyal, overly optimistic, and ensnared by the promise of a full-ride college scholarship, Kira signs the SCI Recruit contract to escape memories of a tragedy that left her boyfriend and friends dead.

Meet Blake Sundry. Bitter about being raised in Exile and his mother's death, Blake's been trained to infiltrate and destroy the SCI. Current barrier to success? His Recruit partner--Miss Goody Two Shoes Kira Donovan.

Meet Ethan Darcton. Born with a defective heart and resulting inferiority complex, Ethan's forced to do his SCI elite family's bidding. Cleave-worthy Kira Donovan catches his eye, but the presiding powers give defect-free Blake Sundry first dibs.

Full of competing agendas, romantic entanglements, humor, twists and turns, daynight is an award-winning, bestselling novel and first in thedaynight series.


arbitrate freebie
Download a FREE copy of daynight
October 29th, 30th & 31st


Praise for daynight:

2012 Book of the Year Award Finalist-Young Adult Fiction, ForeWord Reviews

"Sure to win over YA readers looking for a dangerous, dystopian adventure story" —Kirkus Reviews

"Gripping young adult dystopian novel; compelling conflicts; high stakes; powerful narrative; surprises keep coming; strong writing; page-turner; engaging characters; Readers will be hungry for the sequels.”—BlueInk Review (starred review)

"Thomason's description of Thera's totalitarianism will make fans of Brave New World shiver... SCI, her fantasy corporation, has disturbing parallels to actual companies and regimes that claim to do good while harming people... The author deftly appeals to both romance-loving teens as well as those intrigued by young adults fighting the establishment.”—ForeWord Clarion Review, 4 stars





arbitrate Excerpt:

“I’m angry at all of them. Every SCI leader. In fact Joshua gave me a list of those who are Earth-side. It makes for a great to-do list.” They all deserve to pay.
I’m done talking. It’s time for some action.
One thousand one.
One thousand two.
One thousand three.
That’s all it takes to even out my breathing and steady my hand.
I shift the crosshairs on my target ever so slightly—from his heart to his hand—and pull the trigger.
My father would be proud that all his training paid off. Oh, who am I kidding? He’d find something to criticize about my work here. Sad that even though he’s gone I can hear him saying, “If you’d hit a little to the left you’d have taken out a higher concentration of nerves.”

arbitrate tour


meganAuthor Megan Thomason

Bestselling, award-winning author Megan Thomason lives in paradise aka San Diego, CA with her husband and five children. A former software manager, Megan vastly prefers writing twisted tales to business, product, and marketing plans. When she isn't typing away on her laptop, she's reading books on her phone--over 600 in the last year--or attending to the needs of her family. Megan's fluent in sarcasm, could potentially benefit from a 12-step program for road rage, struggles with a Hot Tamales addiction, loves world travel & fast cars and hates paperwork & being an insomniac.






BookBlast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 11/18/13

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.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday 28 October 2013

Book Review - Diamond

Title: Diamond
Author: Jacqueline Wilson
Series: Hetty Feather (book 4)
Publisher: Doubleday Childrens
Release Date: 26 September 2013
ISBN-13: 978-0857531070 
ASIN: B00COMWJL0

Synopsis
Diamond wasn’t always a star. Born to penniless parents who longed for a strong, healthy son, she was a dainty, delicate daughter - and a bitter disappointment.

Discovering she has an extraordinary gift for acrobatics, Diamond uses her talent to earn a few pennies, but brings shame on her family. Then a mysterious, cruel-eyed stranger spots her performing, and makes a deal with her father. Diamond is sold for five guineas, and is taken to become an acrobat at Tanglefield’s Travelling Circus.

The crowds adore Diamond, but life behind the velvet curtains is far from glamorous. Her wicked master forces Diamond to attempt ever more daring and dangerous tricks, until she is terrified to step into the ring. But there are true friends to be found at the circus, too: the gentle Mister Marvel; the kindly Madame Adeline; and the glorious Emerald Star, Tanglefield’s brand-new ringmaster, and Diamond’s heroine.

When life at the circus becomes too dangerous to bear any longer, what will the future hold for Diamond? And will her beloved Emerald be a part of it?
 


My Review
I was a massive Wilson fan as a child and I occasionally like to go back to that world. I read the Hetty Feather series last year I think and found I quite liked it. As I've got older I tend to either really like Wilson's books or find them a bit annoying, but this series seemed to call to me and so when I found out there was going to be another one in the series I requested it from the library.
This time Hetty or Emerald as she is now known is more of a back stage player, instead we are introduced to Diamond. A poor little girl who is rather neglected by her family. The last child of the family and a bitter disappointment she is ignored by most of her family. her mother was desperate for another little boy and her father blames her for the families problems. So when a stranger offers her dad 5 guineas for her he accepts and so little Diamond is taken away to live at the Circus. She always enjoyed doing acrobatics but now she is forced to train day and night and learn new tricks and tumbles for the show. Circus life is not kind to a small little girl alone in the world.
In comes Hetty, the girls instantly become friends and Diamond starts to settle into life. Hetty's personality blows up across the page and makes reading more exciting, her presence just fills the story and you can't help but like her.
Wilson's books always have an 'issue' or two, child abuse, neglect, broken families, things like that and this was no exception but it wasn't too pushy and fit quite well into the story. 
The ending isn't really an ending, it is clearly set for a sequel so I'm sure we can expect more from the two girls, now a team. 
This book is perfect for fans of Wilson and fits right in with the collection, and for girls trying to get into reading would probably do well with these. They are easy to read and flow well. 
Was quite nice to read an easy children's book for a change and embrace my inner child! :D

My Rating
     

Book Review - Perfect Chemistry

Title: Perfect Chemistry
Author: Simone Elkeles
Series: Perfect Chemistry (book 1)
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's
Release Date: 1 April 2010
ISBN-13: 978-1847388056
ASIN: B0067PEDLE

Synopsis
When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect.

Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more. In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.


My Review
I got talking to a friend in the library this summer and I recommended she read 'Pushing the Limits' by Katie McGarry, she replied that I should read this book. I love a good book exchange so we made a deal and requested the books on our library cards. I have to confess I have since had this sitting on my table and didn't have time to read it with the Book Day reading list I had. But I went away for a few days last week and took this with me. I made a start with it there and then finished it yesterday evening when I was home. 
From reading the blurb and the book's tag line: "Two different worlds. One true love." I could already tell pretty much how this book was gonna go down - the traditional story of forbidden lovers, Romeo & Juliet meets West Side Story etc etc.
But to give this book it's credit - it does bring unique elements into it. Brittany isn't the airhead, superficial girl you expect and she has a background and baggage to her that makes her more realistic. Alex is pretty much the typical bad boy, with the baggage and bad history, and tough guy attitude but I still kind of liked him and found myself routing for him a bit. 
I actually read this quite quickly overall and did find that I wanted to know what would happen, there were a few moments that had me reading as fast as I could to see what would come next. 
Every character is well described and presented, even the more minor ones felt like an essential part of the story and like they had a purpose which is hard to do but always good. It strengthens the story and the world it's created.
I was pleasantly surprised overall by this book and am glad I have read it, I will probably request the other books by Elkeles too, but it didn't absolutely blow me away. I don't think I would re-read it. But it is worth picking up, you won't regret it. 

My Rating
    

Divergent Trilogy Giveaway Winner

There were 29 total entries into this giveaway.
The winner was picked using Rafflecopters generator.
The lucky number picked was: 21

Beverley has been emailed and has 3 days to respond. Big Congrats and Thanks go to her. 
She has won a copy of Divergent, Insurgent and Allegiant from the Publishers
Congrats to Beverley, and thanks to all who entered.   
 
 


Book Promo - Stolen Time

Stolen Time

Angela Rae Harris:  Stories of Hope ~ Creating Dreams

The debut novella by Author Angela Harris


Tragedy has made Keaira wise beyond her twenty years. Forced to work for the General, a commanding man who blackmailed his way into her life, she was ordered to study self-defense and master knife throwing. In the hidden community of Shifters, falcons are considered weak, a fact which may ultimately save her life. To escape his cruelty, she will need to call
upon her quick-witted falcon side, but the General has other plans – ones which involve his only son, Carson.

When unexpected feelings form between Keaira and Carson, the General quickly moves his pieces into place, launching his quest to take over the world. If she wants to survive, Keaira must stay one step ahead in the General’s deadly game and discover his weaknesses. Even if it means risking her life and the lives of those she cares about most.

With war on the horizon, sides are being drawn.  Deadly secrets must be exposed. Time is running out for Keaira and all of mankind.





Excerpt:
Carson stuffed his hands into his front pockets to keep from touching her.
“Then maybe a movie?” After he said it, he felt his lips slip into a half smile.
Keaira laughed, and her eyes brightened.
“My first night back isn’t going to be spent in an uncomfortable chair, staring at a screen. Not being allowed to move or talk.”
Carson chuckled. She was turning out to be unlike any girl he had met.
“Then let’s hear your ideas.”
Stepping closer, Keaira raised her eyebrows. Her tongue darted out to moisten lips that had turned serious. She had to tilt her chin up to look at him by the time she stopped in front of him.
“I say we go to my favorite sports pub and have dinner. I know for a fact that there is a baseball game on tonight.”
She was so close Carson could smell mint on her breath. He closed his eyes for a minute and was greeted by his other half. His young mountain lion was calmly sitting in the darkness of his subconscious. Carson had inherited his family’s Shifter genes. He could change into the large cat at will. His kitty let out an irritated huff and circled before lying down with his back to Carson. Apparently, the cat wasn’t interested in Keaira. He didn’t raise any alarms, so Carson took that as a “do what you want” kind of message.
Opening his eyes, Carson refrained from leaning into Keaira. He met her gaze and then scanned her face. She stole his breath away when she bit down on her lower lip. Freckles dotted her cheeks and her nose, making her look more innocent than she acted. A striped white mark was visible just under her left eye. It was so white it could have been an old scar. Four lines that looked like a bird track in the white sand that was her pale skin. He felt his fingers ball up into fists in his pockets. The urge to feel how soft her skin must be was overwhelming. 
Author Bio

Angela is an author, a wife, mother of two, and a part-time assistant office manager. She loves nights when her husband cooks. Her two kids keep her hopping and help her tap into her well of creativity and imagination.
At thirteen, Angela read Harry Potter and was reacquainted with books. She reads everything from Steven King to Will Hobbs. She started writing after her youngest was born. The characters started to visit and wouldn’t let her sleep until she wrote down their stories.
She'd love for people to get lost in her books.
Website/Blog / Facebook Fan Page / Twitter / Goodreads /
Book Links:
Amazon / Amazon U.K. / Barnes & Noble / Smashwords / Goodreads


My Hero
                  I have been fortunate to have many people support me throughout my life. My parents have always been there for me. My third grade teacher helped me adjust from the big city to a small town. Even now I have a wonderful support group.
                  There is one man that stands out, that was there for me during a tough time – high school. He makes a small cameo in Stolen Time. My history teacher, Mr. Jorgensen, was about more than just the classroom and test scores. He knew students by name and what sport they played or what their favorite subject was. The students fondly call him Jorg.
                  When I was in high school my father had to work three hours away to support his family and he was only home on weekends. I was on the dance team. After state competition, the dance team puts on a spring show. Before the dancing starts, the team dresses in their prom dresses and their father’s walk them to the middle of the floor where academic awards and medals are announced. It was a big deal for me.
                  Spring Show was on a weekday however, and that meant that my dad couldn’t be there to escort me. Jorg was the director of women’s sports at the time and I went to him with my problem. Without hesitation he told me he would be my escort. We jokingly called him my substitute father.
                  Both my junior and my senior year Jorg escorted me to the middle of the basketball court. Both years I was acknowledged for placing in the regional drill down competition and my senior year for my grades. No one was smiling wider than Jorg, as if he was really my proud father. Nothing meant more to me that seeing his face.
                  These days, I haven’t kept in touch with Jorg as much as I’d like. He is still at Carbon High School cheering on those students who mean so much to him. He is always in my thoughts and inspired me more than he knows!  Here’s to you Jorg. Thank you!
                  And thank you for hosting me on my blog tour! To those reading: who is your hero?


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Wednesday 23 October 2013

Blog Tour - SUSY Asylum - Guest Post

 


About Provex City (Lorne Family Vault #1)

Fifteen-year-old Oliver Grain begins his school year fighting off bullies, learning about the boy who committed suicide in his room, and trying to understand why his history teacher, Mr. Gordon, has taken such a personal interest in him.

Do you believe in ghosts? Do you believe you can make bullies simply disappear? Do you believe you can walk through walls?

Mr. Gordon tells Oliver: "When you truly believe anything is possible, you will be able to open doors where there were only walls." And one of those doors leads Oliver to Provex City, which puts him in far greater danger than he can possibly fathom.



About SUSY Asylum (Lorne Family Vault #2)

In SUSY Asylum, there is no release. There is no escape. No hope.

Oliver and Desiree are introduced to the writings of a mysterious blogger, Commodore Chaos, when they return to Provex City to indulge in what the sublime city has to offer. The blogger claims the Lornes are collecting people venturing between the higher planes of awareness and locking them away in a mythical asylum. But are these legitimate concerns for inter-plane travelers or just the ramblings of an anonymous conspiracy blogger?

Oliver looks to Provex City as his only connection to his father while Desiree looks to the city as an escape from the torment of losing her best friend—again. Provex City is a wonder of beautiful treasures, entrancing them to continue returning. But behind the beauty, wolves have continued hunting Oliver, a boy who is still unaware of his importance in the rebellion.

Oliver’s belief is waning. Desiree will not always be by his side. Mr. Gordon will not always come to his aid. Oliver finds himself alone, forced to confront his biggest fears, fight his inner demons, and face the very cold reality that no one is coming to save him.

Welcome to SUSY Asylum.

About Michael Pierce:
 
I believe in a future where I will be able to write full-time, a picture I already hold vividly in my mind. It all starts with my debut young adult novel, Provex City. I love Harry Potter & The Marbury Lens, Tool & Elliott Smith, Dexter & Donnie Darko, bold coffee & amber ale. I also love dabbling with writing music and recording, with no illusions of ever making it a career. I am ecstatically married and the lucky father to a beautiful baby girl.

Find the author: Website/Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads




 
There were still bloodstains on the concrete where he had taken his last steps and collapsed. Desiree was powerless to her memory of the gruesome final moments of Kafka Lorne’s life—the end of Oliver’s bogeyman. She was cold and alone on the observation deck of Lorne Tower. She could almost see the body. She could still feel her own body flying through the air, crashing into the railing—the only thing between her and a thousand-foot drop onto the unsuspecting citizens of Provex City. This was one place she never imagined she’d return.
There has to be another way.
She shivered, not from the cold, but from remembering that day, sure it would be her last. It had only been a month since she last stood on this roof. She’d been trying to return to her ordinary, everyday routine ever since. But her travels to and from Provex City had opened a door she couldn’t reclose. Her realization that there were two separate worlds in shrouded coexistence brought on a barrage of questions that swirled around her conscious mind. And it was rumored there were more. TJ helped her find Provex City the first time, and then he disappeared. It was the second time he’d neglected to say goodbye.
Desiree pried her eyes from the nauseating stains and inched toward the railing. She gripped the top bar and peered over the edge. The city was so elegant and beautifully lit. She felt so tiny and insignificant. Down below—far below—was a city functioning in perfect harmony.
There has to be another way.
The wind was drowning out her thoughts. But the voice, the voice she’d heard every time she and Oliver had returned to Provex City, led her here. She never told Oliver and she felt guilty for it now. The first time Oliver had come to Provex City, leaving her behind, she’d been devastated. Desiree didn’t know if Oliver would feel the same about her coming here.
The voice was even louder than the wind screaming against her eardrums. Desiree climbed over the railing and shakily stood on the edge of the building, clutching tightly to the top bar. She couldn’t bear to look down. Her muscles were fully flexed like she was holding up her entire bodyweight and more.
There has to be another way.
Desiree stared back at the bloodstain, balancing just inches from where Oliver had nearly lost his life. She was on the outside looking in. Oliver still dangled in midair from Kafka’s vicious grip. It was only a memory, but she could almost see the violence unfolding before her all over again. She couldn’t get the haunting images out of her mind as the scene replayed sadistically over and over. It was a mistake to come here. She believed it. She knew it. But the voice said—
There has to be another way.
—to jump.
TJ had made his choice and she’d made hers.
Desiree closed her eyes and let go of the railing. She felt her tense body slide back and take flight.


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