Please help! Friend and fellow blogger loses everything in house fire!

My friend and a fellow blogger Yara of Once Upon A Twilight, lost everything in a devastating house fire.  Fortunately, she and her family are safe, but they are going to need lots of love, support and our friendship to help get them through the difficult journey they face ahead.

The wonderful Twilight Moms, my friends and the women I credit for helping me meet so many amazing friends, is collecting donations to help Yara and her family.  Every penny given will go to support Yara and her family and help them buy clothing and necessities they need and lost in the fire.  If you can, please help... any amount whether it is a couple bucks or twenty bucks will all add up, and be a huge help.

You can donate funds by clicking HERE.  Please keep Yara and her family in your thoughts and prayers, and again, please help in any way you can. 

Thank you.

Between by Mary Ting Blog Tour

Hi Everyone!  I am so excited to host the blog tour for Mary Ting and her AMAZING book, BETWEEN!  During the tour, several blogs will be featuring interviews with Mary, her characters, and some fun guest posts so that you can get to know Mary better.  If you read and loved Crossroads, you really haven't seen anything yet.  Between is AMAZING! Order your copy by clicking HERE now!  It is available on Kindle too! 

Here is the tour schedule for the tour, click each blog name to be taken there. 

January 14^th -  Books Ahoy 

January 15^th -  Totally Bookalicious 

January 16^th – My Neurotic Book Affair 

January 17^th – Dark Readers

January 18^th – We Fancy Books 

January 19^th – Mundie Moms 

January 20^th – What’s beyond Forks?   

January 22^nd – Journey With Books 

January 23^rd – ILoveTeenBooks

January 24^th -  Once Upon A Twilight 

January 25^th – Ellie Sew Sweet 

January 26^th – Page Turners Blog 

January 27^th – Between the Covers 

For the tour, Mary is giving away three signed copies of BETWEEN with a gorgeous snowflake pendant to go with each book.  Take a look at the picture below!  In order to enter, please fill out the form below!  Enjoy the tour!

P.S. A fan created this facebook page for Mary which is really a compliment!  Please 'like' the page!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Make-crossroads-a-movi-/158638190911599?sk=wall

 

Don't Breathe A Word by Holly Cupala Blog Tour

Hi Everyone!  Welcome to the tour stop for Holly Cupala's Don't Breathe A Word!  Take a look at my guest post below from Holly!

It was the day after they went to the New Horizons shelter for a real shower and a change of clothes.

“I’m not going,” I’d said.

A hot meal, May promised, even though, according to her, I had a long way to go before I got scrawny. A shower, Creed hinted. New shoes and warmer clothes, Santos promised.

“The New Ho’s are all right. Least, they give decent food,” he said. And last week, he’d come home with a jacket, new socks, and underwear.

I thought of my oldest brother, Jesse, the Good Samaritan. He was always the one collecting clothing for the shelters. I’d probably run into my own clothes there, remnants from another life. If they thought I ran away, that would be the first place they’d check. Were there posters up for missing kids? Would they report me to the police?

Even if they didn’t, there were other hazards. If I undressed in front of May, she would see the bracelet. And more.

“I can’t.”

“Oh, come on,” Santos wheedled as he ran his hand over Faulkner’s sleek fur. ‘I mean, I didn’t wanna say anything, but you’re getting kinda smelly―”

“I said no!”

May raised her eyebrows. Santos looked hurt. Creed appraised me thoughtfully. “Fine,” Santos said, “you don’t have to go…”

Creed pushed himself away from the wall. “Leave her alone. If she doesn’t want to go, she doesn’t have to. We all have things we don’t want to talk about.”

A sick feeling crept into my stomach. May had things. Santos had things. If they knew about my things, they would kick me out faster than I could swipe a bar of soap from the drugstore. If they knew about my friends, my house, my parents…still they wouldn’t know a thing about me.

- Excerpt from Don’t Breathe a Word

New Horizons—or New Ho’s, as it’s known—is a real location in Seattle, and their mission is to help homeless teens get on their feet and leave street life. 

When I first started making notes for Don’t Breathe a Word, I didn’t know if my ideas would fit into the reality of what teens actually experience on the streets…so I did a lot of independent research and took a class at New Horizons on working with homeless teens. Just a few things I learned:

·         The three most typical outcomes for homeless teens: they go home, they get off the streets, or they die.

·         Rain, cold, and mold are a big problem in Seattle. A lot of kids get sick, and clean, dry socks are a big deal. 

·         A lot of homeless teens have pets for protection and love.

·         Kids are usually running from something (like trauma or abuse), not running to the streets.

·         Abuse on the streets is common. One statistic is that within 72 hours, most kids have been approached or assaulted.

·         Wanting to leave bad habits is not a motivation to leave the streets—finding purpose and meaning is.  

I was also really surprised when the ideas I already had for the story (like street names, ideas of justice, and banding together for family and protection) were confirmed by real life. I guess some things are universal. 

So for every meaningful comment on the DBAW blog tour from now until Monday January 16th, I will donate $1 to New Horizons. Ask questions and I will try to answer them! Tell me something you’ve learned about homeless teens through the Don’t Breathe a Word tour. Let me know what you think of Joy, May, Santos, and Creed. And thank you for supporting me and my writing—it means the world. 

 Thank you, Jennifer at Late Bloomer Online, for inviting me to your blog! 

Order your copy of Don't Breathe a World today!  You can visit Holly's website by clicking HERE!

Thank you Holly for allowing us to be a stop on your tour!

Crescendo Paperback Release - Blog Tour

We have a special post for you in honor of CRESCENDO releasing today on paperback!  Our friends over at Fallen Archangel asked us to post a special deleted scene from CRESCENDO!  Enjoy! 

CRESCENDO Paperback Blog Tour - Day 2

In the original draft of CRESCENDO, Patch and Nora broke up early on...but it was Patch who called it quits.  After Marcie was knifed (that's right!) at the Devil's Handbag by Nephilim, Patch made the tough decision to break up with Nora, hoping to keep her out of danger.  From now on, he's strictly her guardian angel.  But keeping his relationship with Nora purely professional may prove harder than even he can handle... 

“I also came by to tell you I won't be coming around anymore.”    

“Coming around?” I repeated.  

His words moved through my brain in slow motion.  What felt like a long, convoluted moment later, I gave a short laugh.  “Okay, what's the punchline?”  

He checked his watch.  “I need to get going.”  

“Are you breaking up with me?”  I was still smiling, but it wavered.  He was joking – he had to be joking.  But a drop of fear slithered through me.  What if he wasn't?   

“I got a new phone.  The number you have no longer works.”     

I felt the last trace of smile vanish from my expression.  “In other words, don't bother calling?  Is that what you're saying?  Isn't this kind of, oh I don't know, sudden?”  

He looked up at me through lowered lashes, and there was nothing remotely close to humor in his eyes.       

“Sorry, Patch, but I'm a little confused.  I need a little more to go on.”    

“I thought I made myself pretty clear.”  

“You told me Marcie was knifed, and that we're over.  Just like that.  This makes no sense.”   

A muscle in his jaw jumped, a telltale sign that he was withholding information.  In my book, withholding information and lying were one and the same.  I wasn't going to sit here and take this.  “Last night we made a promise, and now you want to end things?” I said, my voice rising.  “You gave up becoming human for me, and all I get are two months?”  

“This is what you get.  This is who I am.”

“Funny, I thought you were my guardian angel!”  

“That's where I'm drawing the line.”

Dragonswood Blog Tour

Welcome to Dragonswood blog tour!  I read and loved this book!  I have a fun guest post from author Janet Lee Carey.  Take a look below!

Answer in 140 characters or less.

1.             Describe Dragonswood in 3 words.

Dragonswood by me :)

2.             What is your greatest strength as a writer?

Layering words to evoke moods.

3.             What is something readers would be surprised to know about you?

I fear spiders & used to make my brothers suck them up with the vacuum cleaner. Then I started fearing the vacuum cleaner and the vengeful spiders waiting inside it.  

4.             If you were a crayon, what color would you be? 

Turquoise

5.             What is your favorite movie?

Annie Hall.

~ Dragonswood Brief Description:
In a dark time when girls with powers are called witches, Tess escapes the witch hunter and hides with a mysterious huntsman until magical voices draw her deeper into Dragonswood where she learns the secret of her birth. Caught between love and loyalty, Tess chooses the hardest path of all – her own.

~ Kirkus review line:
Painful, cathartic and cautiously hopeful; a fairy tale for those who have given up on believing in them, but still yearn for happily ever after. -- Kirkus starred review]

Happy New Year!

May all your dreams come true in 2012!  Happy New Year!!!  Thank you for following the blog! 

Book Review - The Onyx Talisman

Book Title - The Onyx Talisman
Author - Brenda Pandos
Release date - December 16, 2011
Pubslisher - Obsidian Mountain Publishing

Synopsis from Goodreads - Alora looked back and the corner of her lip turned up. “It’s always darkest before the dawn, Julia. Good luck.”
Her words sent chills up my spine as she vanished.

Unrest stirs deep in Scotts Valley. Filled with uncertainty, Julia anxiously awaits Nicholas’ return. Phil, hurt and unsure of his place as a sober vampire, holds the pieces of Julia’s fragile psyche together, secretly hoping Nicholas stays away forever. Scarlett bides her time, plotting for the perfect moment to prove herself and earn redemption. But somewhere in L.A., Alora conspires to reclaim her talisman and strip Julia of everything she holds dear.

Little do they know, a war is coming and more than one vampire would like to see the Prince of Vampires overthrown. As more and more vampires show up from nowhere, addicted to her scent, Julia must pick her allies carefully before it’s too late. Can Julia bargain with fate? When the time comes, will she even have a choice? Find out how it all ends in this explosive grand finale of The Talisman Trilogy.

My Review - I love this series so much, and am sad to see it end. I know that wrapping up a series, and meeting all your readers expectations has to be really hard. You can never make everyone happy. I felt like something was missing in this finale for me. I couldn't pin point what it was at first, but I think it is that due to something that happens to Nicholas, I felt like I didn't get enough of the couple I love in this last installment. By the time I felt like what I was looking for was finally there... it was the end and I admit I felt a little let down. I'm just a hopeless romantic, I admit it :) That is honestly my only complaint about this finale.

The action in this story is amazing. Once things start, they don't let up, and there are so many twists and turns that I did not see coming AT ALL. Brenda's storyline is so intriguing and I couldn't wait to see how she was going to wrap this up. At one point it all just seemed hopeless and I had no clue how my beloved characters were going to get their happy ending.  I was blown away by the direction the story went because the outcome was not one I anticipated at all! 

Thank you Brenda for a wonderful series and for the amazing Nicholas! I can't wait to see what you bring us next.

Review of Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey

 Book Title - Stolen Away
Author - Alyxandra Harvey
Publisher - Walker Childrens
Release date - January 17th, 2012


Synopsis from Goodreads - For seventeen years, Eloise Hart had no idea the world of Faery even existed. Now she has been abducted and trapped in the Rath of Lord Strahan, King of Faery. Strahan was only meant to rule for seven years, as Faery tradition dictates, and then give up his crown to another. But he won't comply, and now chaos threatens both worlds.

The only one who can break his stranglehold on the Faery court is his wife. . . Eloise's aunt Antonia. Using Eloise to lure Antonia, Strahan captures his wife, desperate to end the only threat to his reign. Now Eloise must become the rescuer. Together with her best friends Jo and Devin, she must forge alliances with other Fae, including a gorgeous protector named Lucas, and Strahan's mysterious son, Eldric—who may or may not betray them.



My Review - I just finished this book and I really liked it a lot. Eloise is kidnapped by Strahan, the Fae king because he wants to use her as leverage to get his estranged wife – Eloise’s Aunt – to come to Eloise’s rescue. His plan is to use Eloise to entrap her into giving him complete power over the Unseelie court once again after he was forced to share power.

Eloise is helped by her best friends Jo and Devin, both of which I really loved. Eloise meets the handsome Lucas, and the boy whom becomes Jo’s love interest Eldric. Eldric is Strahan’s son, and although his interest in Jo seems genuine, Eloise isn’t sure if he should be trusted.

Stolen Away was a quick read, I finished it in a few hours, and it kept me interested in the story throughout the book. Full of excitement, action and romance, it was perfect. My only complaint is that the book seemed to focus a lot about the relationship between Jo and Eldric, and I really wanted more of Eloise and Lucas. Where Jo and Eldric get their fill of stolen kisses, I wanted the same for Eloise and Lucas too. I really liked their characters and just plain wanted more.

Bottom line Stolen Away is a fairy tale that stole my complete attention for a few hours, and I was completely mesmerized by the faerie world Harvey created. I really like Alyxandra’s writing style, and although this was the first novel of hers I’ve read, it will not be the last.

*Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the ARC to review!

Best I've Read Blog Tour Day 7

Welcome to the last day of the Best I've Read blog tour for 2011.  I hope you have enjoyed the tour.  Today I am featuring Author Myra McEntire and her amazing book HOURGLASS.  This book deserves every one of its 5 shining stars, as I've never read a story about time travel that was as captivating as the one Myra writes.  With a kick ass heroine, two hot boys vying for her attention, drama, mystery, mayhem, a villain and a bit of tragedy, and you get a book that is kick ass in every way.  You should definitely add this one to your to be read list if you haven't read it yet. 

Synopsis from Goodreads - One hour to rewrite the past . . 
 
For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.
Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.

Interview with Myra...

1.       How excited were you about the cover of Timepiece?  It is as amazing as Hourglass! 

I WAS SOOOOO EXCITED. I was so sad when it leaked, I had some fun plans for the reveal!

2.       Do you know if you will be releasing excerpts from Timepiece leading up to the release? 

I will. Not sure where or when or how, but definitely, yes.

3.       If you could go back in time and change something, what would it be?  One of mine would be the HORRIBLE glasses I wore in 7^th grade! 

I would speak my mind a little more often, and I wouldn't be afraid of my own shadow.

4.       What is one of your favorite holiday traditions? 

Coca-Cola in a glass bottle. Thanks, Granny Doris!

5.       What is your favorite kind of Christmas cookie?  Or sweet? 

ALL OF THEM? Fudge. The kind with chocolate chips and marshmallow creme.  

6.       I know you are SUPER excited for Hunger Games the movie too… what are you most excited to see? 

The Capitol! The way it looked in the trailer totally blew my mind!

Thanks Myra for taking time for an interview!  You can enter to win an HOURGLASS poster by leaving a comment on this post.  One winner will be chosen.  Please leave your full name, and email address.  Good luck!  And don't forget to head on over to the Best I've Read Blog for today's featured authors, Lauren Oliver for DELIRIUM and Michelle Hodkin for THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER.