The Page Unbound

The Witchling Apprentice Book Blitz

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The Witchling Apprentice
by B. Kristin McMichael
Genre: YA Paranormal
Release Date: March 15th 2016
Lexia Press, LLC

Summary from Goodreads:

Witches, potions, and magical spells—that all made sense, but men turning into animal-like monsters in the middle of the night? That had to be fiction, right? Wrong. Cassandra Booth thought her world of witches would be complete when she joined her coven. Fate didn’t plan to let that be the case for her. Joining the coven brings new knowledge, like mates and men as animals, all things Cassie would rather not know. As her plans unravel she must find a way to join the coven without committing her life to a guy she once was friends with and now hates.

Buy Links:
Amazon│Barnes
& Noble│Kobo
Books│iTunes│Smashwords

EXCERPT:

Tick … Tick … Tick …

Cassandra Booth tried to ignore the clock as it clicked away from above the desk beside her. It was nerve-wracking enough knowing that if you wanted to take the test to be an apprentice witch you had to do it in front of at least fifty people. However, the clock reminding her it was just about to start was driving her nuts.

Tick … Tick … Tick …

Cassie tried to go over each step of the potion she was making in her head. She needed to concentrate and ignore the noises around her as the room began to fill up with high schoolers.

Tick … Tick …

The sound was lost in the now-growing sound of students talking. Unfortunately, that wasn’t any better. She glanced up at the room in front of her. Mistake. It was almost half-full of people. No one was looking directly at her, but that didn’t make it any easier. Cassie was anxious enough sitting in the lecture area alone, on display, but now there were students who would be watching and talking about her.

Cassie kept her eyes locked on the table and all her supplies. Taking inventory was easy. Doing the actual potion and saying the spell correctly was supposed to be the hard part. No one in her high school, let alone grade, was even attempting to make the protection spell that had been assigned to her and which would move her from witchling up to the level of junior apprentice. Most people were shocked when she’d asked. It had been many years since a high school student had apprenticed, but that wasn’t going to stop Cassie. She was ready to get out of her boring classes. She was ready to join everyone in obtaining the great knowledge that came with being a full-time member of the coven. Cassie was ready to belong.

About the Author

Originally from Wisconsin, B. Kristin currently resides in Ohio with her husband, three small children, and three cats. When not doing the mom thing of chasing kids, baking cookies, and playing outside, she is using her PhD in biology as a scientist. In her free time she is currently hard at work on multiple novels. Every day is a new writing adventure. She is a fan of all YA/NA fantasy and science fiction.

Author Links:

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GIVEAWAY:

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Winter Queen Review

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Winter Queen

by Amber Argyle

Release Date: June 19th 2013

Summary from Goodreads

Becoming a winter queen will make Ilyenna as cold and cruel and deadly as winter itself, but it might be the only way to save her people from a war they have no hope of winning.

Mortally wounded during a raid, seventeen-year-old Ilyenna is healed by winter fairies who present her with a seductive offer: become one of them and share their power over winter. But that power comes with a price. If she accepts, she will become a force of nature, lose her humanity, and abandon her family.

Unwilling to pay such a high price, Ilyenna is enslaved by one of the invaders, Darrien. While in captivity, she learns the attack wasn’t just a simple raid but part of a larger plot to overthrow her entire nation.

With the enemy stealing over the mountains and Darrien coming to take her to his bed, Ilyenna must decide whether to resurrect the power the fairies left behind. Doing so will allow her to defeat Darrien and the other invaders, but if she embraces winter, she will lose herself to that destroying power —forever.

Buy Links

Amazon│Barnes and Noble│Kobo

To receive Amber Argyle’s starter library for free (4 books!), simply tell her where to send it: http://eepurl.com/l8fl1

My Review

Can I just first say how pretty this cover is? It reminds me of my childhood when I used to print out fantasy creatures and put them on my wall. It really is some great work. Now to the review!

Argyle has an incredible ability to immediately suck you in to a book. It was really easy for me to immediately connect with Ilyenna and admire her throughout the book.

This book very much plays like a movie and allows the reader to envision the characters and surroundings to their imagination. While I enjoy the more descriptive novels, I found that all of the action and plot motivators really moved the story along. This book is very heavily action packed to start out with, which is really right up my alley of what I like in books. I will say that for the reader that enjoys a more description and explanatory introduction, this book can be a bit of a whirlwind to start. A lot of new names, clans, and places are dropped with occasional backstory, so it kind of became of those stories where I have to repeat the word in my head a fews times to remember it. Or you can take a cue from my mom and have a post-it of names and descriptions nearby. 😉

The most admirable characteristic of Ilyenna was definitely her kindness. As a great healer in her village, she not only has a desire to help those in need but puts the people’s safety before her own. While her actions were not always the right one, she continues to the best of her ability to still be herself.

I really enjoyed how easily this story flowed and continued the story along. The villain of the story, Darrien, really was a teeth-grinding, cringe-worthy, glaring eyes bad guy. All good books have a good villain (or bad villain I guess I should say). His capture of Ilyenna was very tense and really quite frustrating. After Ilyenna is near death, she’s met with even more harsh decisions that affect not only her life, but the lives of those she loves, and the fate of her clan. However, as Ilyenna knows from the beginning, everything has a Balance in her world.

The romance in the book was a great addition as well. Ilyenna and Rone weren’t perfect and had clashing from time to time. However, they really do care for one another quite a bit. It was complicated and made it quite real and believable. Especially since this is just the beginning of the series, it was nice to see a blossoming relationship that left you wanting more.

I’ve really just touched the Iceberg of this adventurous story and would recommend it for sure!

Sidenote: There are a few triggers in this book that can come from the violence and war the clans ensue. Any future reader should take note of the summary as it is important to always be prepared.

About the Author

Amber Argyle is the number-one bestselling author of the Witch Song Series and the Fairy Queen Series. Her books have been nominated for and won awards in addition to being translated into French and Indonesian.

Amber graduated cum laude from Utah State University with a degree in English and physical education, a husband, and a two-year old. Since then, she and her husband have added two more children, which they are actively trying to transform from crazy small people into less crazy larger people.

Author Links

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

Giveaway

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Triumph of Chaos Blog Tour, Author Interview, and Giveaway

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Link to Tour Schedule:

Triumph of Chaos (Red Magic #3)
by Jen McConnel
Publication Date: March 8, 2016
Publisher: Month9Books

After the disaster in Europe, Darlena’s starting to get desperate. She knows the only way to
defeat Hecate and the other crazy Red Gods is by banding together with other Witches, but is it any wonder she has a hard time trusting them?

With Izzy’s support, Darlena begins making fragile strides toward repairing the mess she made,
but she just can’t catch a break. As chaos runs rampant around her, Darlena begins to think that things would be better if she’d never become a Red Witch in the first place. But there’s no way to change the past…is there?

The final book in the Red Magic series brings Darlena face to face with impossible odds, and a
terrifying choice.

Author Interview:

Tell us a little about yourself. How did you begin writing? What inspires you to write?
I’ve been writing as long as I can remember, but what really prompted me to get serious about my writing was my teaching career. I started out teaching in middle school, and I feel in love with YA literature. I’m an avid reader, and I love stories in all forms, whether I’m telling them or hearing (or reading!) them.

Who is your intended audience and why should they read your book?
The Red Magic series is a YA Fantasy series, so my primary audience will hopefully be teens, but I’m a huge advocate of reading whatever you want to read, and I know there are a lot of adults like me who love YA lit as well. I hope whoever picks up my books will enjoy being thrown into the fast-paced, high-stakes world that Darlena inhabits.

How did you come up with the title of your book or series?
I went through a number of titles before landing on Daughter of Chaos, Gods of Chaos, and Triumph of Chaos. I got a lot of feedback from various writers and agents early on in the process, and my friend who’s a middle school librarian really helped me brainstorm to get Daughter of Chaos. I always knew I wanted to call the series Red Magic, though, since that’s such a vital part of the story.

Tell us a little bit about your cover art. Who designed it? Why did you go with that particular image/artwork?
My publisher commissioned the covers for the series, and I love the way each one captures the changes in Darlena, my main character: she begins the series terrified and unsteady, hits a low point of depression and frustration in the second book, and by the final book, she’s really begun to embrace her power…even if that means she’s lethal.

Who is your favorite character from your book and why?
I love Darlena, the impulsive, 16 year old Witchy protagonist. I love her energy and her loyalty, and her stubbornness and snark were a lot of fun to write.

How about your least favorite character? What makes them less appealing to you?
That’s a tough question! I guess I’ll have to say Samuel, Marcus and Izzy’s uncle; I like him least because I developed him the least, so I never really got to know him.

If you could change ONE thing about your novel, what would it be? Why?
Another tough question! I try not to think about changes I would make once a book is published, so I really don’t know! Letting the stories go is an important part of being an author.

Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about your book or series:
When I started writing Daughter of Chaos, I got more than halfway through the first draft before I realized that Darlena needed a best friend (if you’ve read DoC, you know just how important Rochelle became!).

What other books are similar to your own? What makes them alike?
There are a lot of awesome witchy YA titles out there, but I especially love the Sweep series by Cate Tiernan. We both draw from contemporary Pagan roots in our stories, but her series is much closer to our reality in many ways, whereas the Red Magic series presents a reality that is totally unlike our own.

How can we contact you or find out more about your books?
I’m all over the Internet; if you visit my website at http://www.jenmcconnel.com, you can sign up for my newsletter and find out where to follow me on social media.

What can we expect from you in the future?
I’ve got lots of story ideas simmering, but I think next up will be a NA Paranormal Romance series.

What can readers who enjoy your book do to help make it successful?
That’s an awesome question! Reader recommendations are super important, whether that means leaving a review at your favorite online retailer or suggesting the book to your friends and family. Readers make the book world go round, and I am so appreciative of everyone who’s fallen in love with Darlena’s messed up life.

Do you have any tips for readers or advice for other writers trying to get published?
Keep writing and reading, and never let anyone tell you to give up on your dreams.

Is there anything else you’d like to say?
Thanks so much for hosting me on this tour! ❤

And now, before you go, how about a snippet from your book that is meant to intrigue and tantalize us:
Since this is the last book in the series, I don’t want to give too much away, but here’s a sneak peek:
I used to scoff at people who preached about the end of the world, but ever since Marcus, I hadn’t been able to laugh off the sandwich-board crazies popping up everywhere. Maybe it would have been funny if I didn’t know the truth.
The world was ending. Or at least it would be if I couldn’t stop it.

Link to Red Magic Series

Purchase Links:

Daughter of Chaos (Red Magic #1):

Google Play / BAM / Chapters / Indies / Amazon / B&N / Kobo / TBD / iBooks

Gods of Chaos (Red Magic #2):

Google Play / BAM / Chapters / Indies / Amazon / B&N / Kobo / TBD / iBooks

Triumph of Chaos (Red Magic #3):

Google Play / BAM / Chapters / Indies / Amazon / B&N / Kobo / TBD / iBooks

About the Author:

A Michigander by birth, Jen McConnel now makes her home in the beautiful state of North Carolina. She writes NA, including the recently released Adventures Abroad series (Bloomsbury Spark), the award winning YA novel Beautiful Curse (Swoon Romance), and various other works. When she isn’t writing, she can be found on her yoga mat or wandering off on another adventure. Once upon a time, she was a middle school teacher, a librarian, and a bookseller, but those are stories for another time. Visit http://www.JenMcConnel.com to learn more!

Author Links:

Website / Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Tumblr / Goodreads

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Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours:

Giveaway Information: Contest ends March 25, 2016

• Five (5) winners will receive a digital copy of Triumph of Chaos (Red Magic #3) by Jen McConnel (INT)

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The Beltane Escape Review

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The Beltane Escape by Ariella Moon
(The Two Realms Trilogy, #1)
Publication date: February 2016
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Book Summary

Lady Fenella, ever surrounded by guards, knows only responsibility and duty. She believes Merlin and the Lady of the Lake are myths, Gran’s warnings about Fairy are superstition, and Fairy was invented to make children behave.But then Gran brands her, Lord Argonshire kidnaps her, and the Lady of the Lake makes her a pawn. The Highland heiress must betray her newly betrothed and fend for herself when she dives into a wormhole to save her cousin. She lands in a part of Fairy even fairies avoid, and joins forces with Talfryn, a half-Viking/half-Fairy.Fenella must use her wits to find her cousin, free the Lady of the Lake, and reach the wormhole in Glastonbury by Beltane. Nine days to unshackle herself from a sorceress, prevent a war between rival clans, and decide in which realm—and with which lad—she truly belongs. Oh, and The Most Powerful Wizard stands in her way.

Purchase

Amazon | B&N

My Review

This book is one wild adventure after the next. It begins with Viviane, the Lady of the Lake, running from the powerful Merlin in a quest to best him and prove her power. However, with her sight, it is revealed he will imprison her for her recklessness. This begins a chain of events that lead to our heroine Fenella. Fenella lives in the Scottish Highlands in 1505 and heir to the thanedom of two bickering people that were united by her mother and father’s marriage. While young, she carries a lot of responsibility on her shoulders and tries her best to set a good example.

However, Fenella’s life is turned upside down when her land is invaded by the Blackwoods. She is betrayed and hurt by her Gran, kidnapped by the Blackwoods, and arranged to marry the third son. Her only chance to survive the ordeal is if she is not ‘tainted’ by magic. Still, Fenella’s actions are honorable and she truly tries her best to stay noble in her actions. Even to the point of keeping her word and staying in the Blackwoods captivity. It’s only when her hand is forced, that she escapes in pursuit of her cousin Sorley, fearing he is in danger.

Fenella then begins her wild journey through a wormhole where fairies, brownies, and other magical creatures reside. As the Beltane approaches, she desperately searches for her cousin and gains allies along the way. Fenella is likely one of the stronger characters I’ve ever read. Though she fears the strange world she travels in, she continues with a second thought, desperate to save Sorley. She receives the unlikely help of a gatekeeper Dit and meets the mysterious Talfryn, and though she is wary of him, he intrigues her more and more.

It did take some adjusting to the way the time and culture is expressed. Some of the speech and descriptions of the scenes could be a bit confusing at first but after more chapters, it became a lot easier to follow. Even with the slightly challenging terms, Moon has a way of describing each scene and description of surroundings as incredible visuals. There are so many amazing details that easily fit in a scene and really enlighten the story.

I really enjoyed reading about the magical creatures that lived in the Fairy world and the ancient traditions they followed. There was so many amazing descriptions of the Fairy world packed into every scene but still moved the story along quite well. From the summary, it was known that Talfryn was half-Fairy which was eluded but quite interesting to discover as Fenalla travels with him. Not only is he on a quest of his own and still helps Fenella, but he subjected to harshness from others for his lineage.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It has a lot of information about the fair folk, which is slightly daunting but still fascinating. Fenella is a strong and great character to root for and I really enjoyed her development throughout the story. Anyone who enjoys amazing world building will love this story. I was really taken by the beautiful descriptions and suspenseful scenes. Moon really takes fantasy stories to the next level and I’d recommend this to anyone that enjoys them.

About the Author

Ariella Moon draws upon her experiences as a shaman to create magical Young Adult fiction. Her Two Realms Trilogy is a medieval fantasy adventure series with romantic elements. The Teen Wytche Saga is a series of sweet contemporary paranormal romances.Ariella spent her childhood searching for a magical wardrobe that would transport her to Narnia. Extreme math anxiety and taller students who mistook her for a leaning post, marred her youth. Despite these horrors, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at Davis. Ariella lives a nearly normal life doting on her extraordinary daughter, two shamelessly spoiled dogs, and an enormous dragon.Ariella loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at http://www.AriellaMoon.comor visit her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ariellamoon.author

Author Links

Website | Facebook | Goodreads

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Arthur Zarr’s Amazing Art Car Review

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ARTHUR ZARR’S AMAZING ART CAR

by Cathey Graham Nickell

Illustrated by Bill Megenhardt

Genre: Children’s Picture Book/Outsider Art

Publisher: Twenty-Eight Creative

Date of Publication: November, 2015

# of pages: 40

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Arthur Zarr is a quiet man with few friends. His life is rather plain, and his car is plain, too. But not for long! When Arthur gets a creative idea to add everyday objects to his car’s plain exterior, he’s noticed for the first time. Neighbors and other bystanders add their own artistic flair to the car, too.

What happens when he enters his bedazzled vehicle in the town’s art car parade? Mr. Zarr finds happiness and makes friends by building an amazing art car. In this whimsical story, children learn about recycling, community, friendship building, and the power of imagination. The book includes a “History of Art Cars” page for readers who’ve never heard of this creative form of artistic expression. It also has a subtle ABC theme, as Arthur Zarr adds objects to his art car in alphabetical order! This is the first—and so far, the only—children’s book published about an art car. Suitable for all ages but especially ages 4-8. Illustrated by Houston graphic artist, Bill Megenhardt.

Praise for Arthur Zarr’s Amazing Art Car:

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“Nickell’s book is a treat for sight, sound, and sense, for readers and artcarfans (no, you won’t find the word in your dictionary just yet, anyway) of all levels.” —Lone Star Literary Life.

“A wonderful story of art, opening up to the joys of life, and celebrating the artist in everyone.”—Lynette Wallace, Executive Director, Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, Houston, Texas.

“Cathey Nickell’s book will help fuel the desire to make positive changes in our world through artistic endeavor.”—Alicia Duplan, Assistant Director, Art Car Museum, Houston, Texas.

“Cathey’s story. . . is both engaging and warm. By the end, I found myself rooting for Mr. Zarr. I even felt a small twinge of disappointment when he didn’t win the trophy. Artcar Nation highly recommends this book. Give it to all the children you know.”— Paul McRae, Artcar Nation.

My Review

Children’s books do not just entertain but they inspire. Every wild imagination I had as a kid was sparked by the brilliant and wondrous world in books. That’s why I feel this book is so important. It not only is a great book to inspire children but teaches them that creativity never stops. Arthur Zarr is lonely in the beginning with no friends, but it’s his spark of humor and appreciation for creativity that begins his wonderful tale of transforming his car. With just a little tweaking to his car, the people of his community gather is a generous and enriching way of their own. Suddenly Arthur Zarr is given the opportunity to bring his community together, and after entering the art car show, can have pride in how many he’s reached.

Nickell gives us lessons that the greatest reward is the one of friendship. That being lonely can be temporary and only needs a little creative motivation to change the way we spend our life. That the smallest act of kindness can turn someones day and even life around. There are so many great lessons in this book and accompanied by the amazing illustrations, I can see it being one that children will want to enjoy over and over.

I’ve been to plenty of car shows with my dad but never an art car show. I was pleasantly surprised to read in the history section of this book that there is a show in Houston I can attend! It goes to show that this book not only displays how a community can come together but also can be bring me closer to my own.

I really don’t think there’s a single person to leave out in my recommendation for reading this. Great for children, inspirational to adult, and especially fun to enjoy for the kid in all of us. Arthur Zarr’s Amazing Art Car is a beautifully illustrated journey that I believe anyone can appreciate.

Buy Links

AMAZON AUTOGRAPHED COPIES

ALSO AVAILABLE AT THESE BRICKS & MORTAR STORES:

BEER CAN HOUSE, 222 Malone St., Houston, Texas (weekends only).

BERINGS Baby and Kids Dept., 3900 Bissonnet St. and 6102 Westheimer Rd., Houston, Texas.

BETWEEN THE COVERS BOOKSTORE, 224 W. Colorado Ave., Telluride, Colorado.

BLUE WILLOW BOOKSHOP, 14532 Memorial Dr., Houston, Texas.

BRAZOS BOOKSTORE, 2421 Bissonnet St., Houston, Texas.

CONTEMPORARY ARTS MUSEUM, 5216 Montrose Blvd., Houston, Texas.

THE JUNG CENTER BOOKSTORE, 5200 Montrose Blvd., Houston, Texas.

TOY FAIR at Pierremont Mall, 4801 Line Ave., Shreveport, Louisiana.

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Cathey Graham Nickell is an author, mother, and wife living in Houston, Texas. She is best known as the seeing-eye-person for her little blind dog named Cricket. Cathey launched her first children’s picture book, Arthur Zarr’s Amazing Art Car, in November 2015. She doesn’t drive an art car herself, but she has a habit of covering the back of her SUV with bumper stickers! Cathey also snaps pictures of art cars—which are plentiful in Houston—when she sees them. Her all-time favorite car was the bright- yellow Volkswagen Beetle that her grandmother drove in the 1970s. Cathey draws from her experience as a former newspaper reporter and public relations professional. After taking a few years off to raise four children, Cathey started freelance writing again in 2012 when a non-profit organization called the Institute for Spirituality and Health hired her to research and write its six-decade history. Uniting Faith, Medicine and Healthcare: A 60-Year History of the Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center was published in 2015. The book is used as a marketing and communications tool, and all financial proceeds benefit the

Institute (not Cathey). Cathey graduated from Baylor University with a BA in Journalism in 1985. She earned a Master of Arts from Louisiana State University-Shreveport in 2013.

Find her online where she blogs about her writing and publishing adventures.

WEBSITE FACEBOOK TWITTER

INSTAGRAM GOODREADS PINTEREST

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

GIVEAWAY!! Three winners will each win

$20 CASH & an Author and Illustrator

Signed Copy of the Book!

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Check out these other great blog stops on the tour!

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3/7 Hall Ways Blog – Review

3/8 Because This is My Life Y’all – Author Interview

3/9 Blogging for the Love of Authors and Their Books – Promo

3/10 Books and Broomsticks — Review

3/11 The Librarian Talks – Promo

3/12 The Page Unbound – Review

3/13 Texas Book Lover – Guest Post

3/14 The Crazy Booksellers – Promo

3/15 Missus Gonzo — Review

3/16 A Novel Reality — Author Interview

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The Changelings Book Blitz

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The Changelings
Elle Casey
(War of the Fae #1)
Publication date: February 5th 2012
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult

NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR, ELLE CASEY, brings readers Book 1 in the YA Urban Fantasy WAR OF THE FAE Series.

Jayne Sparks, a potty-mouthed, rebellious seventeen-year-old and her best friend, shy and bookish Tony Green, have a pretty typical high school existence, until several seemingly unrelated incidents converge, causing a cascade of events that change their lives forever. Jayne and Tony, together with a group of runaway teens, are hijacked and sent into a forest, where nothing and no one are as they seem. Who will emerge triumphant? And what will they be when they do?

Content Warning: Mild violence and significant foul language within. Meant for older Young Adult readers (age 15+).

Goodreads / Amazon / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

Grab your copy today for FREE!

—

EXCERPT:

I couldn’t take much more of the high school nonsense. I felt like I wasn’t supposed to be there. Where would I be if I weren’t there? … I don’t know. All I did know was I was in the middle of all that crap, going to class, taking tests – but I was on autopilot, going through the motions, waiting for life to start happening.

Sitting in World History and bored out of my mind, I was looking at a girl one row over who was the polar opposite of me. She was staring attentively at the teacher, her pen poised above an already nearly full page of notes, eager to write down every nugget of educational wisdom he was throwing our way. She loved high school, and she had big plans for moving on to college next year. She had cheer practice after school and a boyfriend named Mike who played wide receiver on the football team. Ugh.

I owned a pen. I probably had some paper somewhere in my backpack too. That day, however, I was using my pen to draw symbols all over my right hand – temporary tattoos. I write and eat with my left hand but do just about everything else with my right. My own body was confused with what it was supposed to do.

I was in the minority in that school. It seemed like just about everyone else knew exactly what they were doing now and what they were going to be doing until the day they died. Me? I didn’t have a clue. All I knew was this wasn’t it.

Author Bio:

Elle Casey, a former attorney and teacher, is a NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestselling American author who lives in Southern France with her husband, three kids, and a number of furry friends. She has written books in several genres and publishes an average of one full-length novel per month.

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Facsimile Review and Giveaway

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Facsimile by Vicki L. Weavil
Publication Date: March 8, 2016
Publisher: Month9Books
Rating: 3.5/5

Book Summary:

For a ticket to Earth, seventeen-year-old Anna-Maria “Ann” Solano is willing to jettison her birth planet, best friend, and the boy who loves her. Especially since all she’s required to do is escort Dace Keeling, a young naturalist, through the wilderness of the partially terraformed planet Eco. Ann‘s determination to escape the limitations of her small, frontier colony never falters, until Dace’s expeditions uncover three secrets. One offers riches, one shatters Ann’s perceptions of herself, and one reveals that the humans stranded on Eco are not its only inhabitants.

Ann’s willing to sacrifice friendship and love for a new life on Earth. But when an entire species is placed in jeopardy by her actions, she must make a choice – fulfill the dream that’s always sustained her, or save the planet she’s never considered home.

Facsimile Cover

My Review:

Facsimile follows Ann whom is desperate to get off of Eco. Her descendants came to Eco to terraform the plant to resemble Earth. Ann helps her grandma in the green house, and she has a boy her age name Raiden that fancies her, but there’s nothing keeping her on Eco. Eco is not her home. Earth is. The community on Eco barters with shippers that come to dock. The captain on the ship has a nephew that is a naturalist and has been conducting research on other planets. Ann volunteers to show Dace around Eco so he can collect samples. And on their ventures they make a miraculous discovery, one that tells them they aren’t completely alone in the universe. Their discovery though is soon in peril and Dace and Ann must do what they can to keep their discovery from being destroyed.

Facsimile is a fast past adventure filled with all sorts of exciting scientific concepts. Ann grows a lot through this story. She starts off as being somewhat selfish and a little insensitive to others, but over time she grows as an individual and starts care about more than just herself. Dace is a scientific nerd, and I just loved him. He’s very into his findings and is an easy character to like. Raiden is probably my favorite character. He’s a bit moody, but underneath it all a really good person. There is a love triangle in this book, and I’m not particularly a fan of love triangles, but I enjoyed the message at the end of the book concerning boyfriends. Part of the reason why Ann doesn’t really want to be with Raiden is that there really is no one else in their small community for her to match up with. It was practically a given when they were young that they would be together. But I think Raiden’s feelings are true and genuine and even though he’s moody and grumpy at times he’s very considerate of Ann’s feelings and doesn’t push her concerning the issue with Dace even though he obviously get’s jealous. And the two boys even were fond of each other, which is rare in love triangles and I have to admit I rather enjoyed it.

The plot was very enjoyable. It centers around their discovery and how to save it. If you enjoy adventures filled with science and great characters than be sure to check this book out! I highly recommended reading it! I give this book a rating of 3.5 out of 5!

About the Author:

Vicki Weavil 11

Vicki L. Weavil was raised in a farming community in Virginia, where her life was shaped by a wonderful family, the culture of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and an obsession with reading. She holds a B.A. in Theatre from the University of Virginia, a Masters in Library Science from Indiana University, and a Masters in Liberal Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. After working as a librarian at the NY Public Library at Lincoln Center, and the Museum of Television & Radio (now the Paley Center for Media) in NYC, she is currently the Director for Library Services at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Vicki loves good writing in any genre, and has been known to read seven books in as many days. She enjoys travel, gardening, and the arts. Vicki lives in North Carolina with her husband and some very spoiled cats. A member of SCBWI, Vicki is represented by Fran Black at Literary Counsel, NY, NY.

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Blackheath Review and Giveaway

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Blackheath by Gabriella Lepore
Publication date: December 21st 2015
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Maggie Ellmes is dogged by a case of chronic bad luck. She figures that’s just her lot in life—that is, until the psychic at Blackheath’s annual carnival reveals that Maggie’s problems are caused by more than just ordinary misfortune; she’s actually been cursed.

Desperate to shake the hex, Maggie has no choice but to seek out the help of Joel Tomlins, a rebellious classmate who’s descended from Blackheath’s most powerful line of witches. After breaking all of his coven’s conventions to help her, Joel discovers that the curse isn’t as bad as Maggie fears. In fact, it’s much, much worse.

Purchase:

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My Review:

Maggie and her friend, Isla, try to get their fortunes told at Blackheath’s annual carnival. The fortune teller refuses to even let Maggie enter the tent. It seems that she has already been cursed by someone. All of Maggie’s friends just brush off the incident, but Maggie isn’t so sure. She has had a lot of bad luck lately. Maybe she really has been cursed. The only one she can turn to is Joel, a fellow classmate who just happens to be a witch. In fact, his whole family are witches. Joel agrees to help her break the curse, but it turns out to be harder than he thought it would be. Helping Maggie might even be dangerous to his health.

I really liked this book. Maggie and Joel are wonderful characters, but I also enjoyed the supporting characters like Joel’s brothers and Maggie’s best friend Isla. The writing was good and the story line kept me interested all the way through the book. I never got bored for a minute. There were some interesting twists in the story that I didn’t see coming and I thoroughly enjoyed the little love story between Maggie and Joel. I will definitely be reading the sequel when it comes out this fall.

If you are looking for a light, clean read full of high school drama with some witchcraft thrown in, then this book is for you. I give this book 4 stars.

AUTHOR BIO:

Gabriella Lepore lives on the coast of Wales in the United Kingdom. She began writing at an early age and grew up with a passion for all things supernatural—especially witches! She currently has six Young Adult books in print: Evanescent, The Blackheath Witches, How I Found You, Secrets In Phoenix, and The Witches of the Glass Castle books 1 & 2.

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Facsimile Release Day Blitz and Giveaway!

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Happy Release Day to

Facsimile by Vicki L. Weavil!!

Join us in celebrating this release from Month9Books!

Enter the giveaway found at the end of the post.

Happy Book Birthday, Vicki!

Facsimile Cover

For a ticket to Earth, seventeen-year-old Anna-Maria “Ann” Solano is willing to jettison her birth planet, best friend, and the boy who loves her. Especially since all she’s required to do is escort Dace Keeling, a young naturalist, through the wilderness of the partially terraformed planet Eco. Ann‘s determination to escape the limitations of her small, frontier colony never falters, until Dace’s expeditions uncover three secrets. One offers riches, one shatters Ann’s perceptions of herself, and one reveals that the humans stranded on Eco are not its only inhabitants.

Ann’s willing to sacrifice friendship and love for a new life on Earth. But when an entire species is placed in jeopardy by her actions, she must make a choice – fulfill the dream that’s always sustained her, or save the planet she’s never considered home.

Facsimile by Vicki L. Weavil
Publication Date: March 8, 2016
Publisher: Month9Books

About-the-Author2

Vicki Weavil 11

Vicki L. Weavil was raised in a farming community in Virginia, where her life was shaped by a wonderful family, the culture of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and an obsession with reading. She holds a B.A. in Theatre from the University of Virginia, a Masters in Library Science from Indiana University, and a Masters in Liberal Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. After working as a librarian at the NY Public Library at Lincoln Center, and the Museum of Television & Radio (now the Paley Center for Media) in NYC, she is currently the Director for Library Services at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Vicki loves good writing in any genre, and has been known to read seven books in as many days. She enjoys travel, gardening, and the arts. Vicki lives in North Carolina with her husband and some very spoiled cats. A member of SCBWI, Vicki is represented by Fran Black at Literary Counsel, NY, NY.

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Avenging Heart Book Blitz

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Avenging Heart (Ignited #4)
by Desni Dantone
Release Date: March 8th 2016

Summary from Goodreads:

Kris Young wants nothing more than to be a normal girl. Thrust into a life she didn’t ask for, and faced with a future that she does not want, she sets off an adventure that she hopes will lead to her freedom. With her best friend’s life, the future of the Kala-Skotadi war, and her own soul at stake, failure is not an option.

Old and new allies unite on a quest against the demigods and Kris’s half-sister, Circe, the mastermind behind it all. Together, they fight to sever Kris and Alec from their evil ties once and for all, and rescue Callie from her own doomed fate. But Circe has other plans for them.

When an unexpected loss strikes the group, will Kris lose the will to go on? Or will a need for vengeance drive her to finally succeed?

Find out how the story of Kris, Nathan, Alec, and Callie will end in the epic conclusion to The Ignited Series, where, in the race against time and evil, all bets are off . . . and no one is safe.

Buy Links:

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Previous books in the series (click on images for Goodreads links):

Book Excerpt:
“Good!” He flexed his fingers as he held his hands out to me. “Again.”I swung, and connected my fist with his open palm with a crack. God, it felt good.

“Combo,” he instructed, and I jabbed both of his palms.

“Left is weak,” he critiqued. “Again.”

I struck him as he instructed, and winced from the sting to my knuckles.

“You can do better than that.” I tried again, and he shook his head. “You call that a punch?”

“You know what?” I dropped my arms to my sides with a groan. “My arms feel like Jell-O. How do you expect me to punch with Jell-O arms?”

Nathan stared at me over his hands, which were still raised expectantly. “You done?”

“Yes, I’m done.” I turned away with a sigh of relief. I was eager for a much needed break, and a shower. We had started over an hour ago with a run before the sun rose. After an ungodly number of sit-ups, push-ups, and fighting drills, I was so done.

“I meant . . . are you done complaining?” Nathan said, stopping me.

I glared at him over my shoulder, and he raised his eyebrows in challenge. I blew out a puff of air, and shook some life back into my arms as I turned to face him with narrowed eyes.

He was going to pay for that.

My right fist cracked his palm hard. As I rotated, I pulled my left arm back with the intention of giving him everything I had. Before I made contact, Nathan’s hand shot out and clamped down on my wrist, stopping my follow through. My eyes lifted to his in time to see the smirk on his face before he twisted my arm behind my back and spun me around.

“Now what?” he murmured in my ear.

I ignored the shivers caused by his breath on my neck, and wrapped my right arm around his head as I twisted out of his hold. At the same time, I kicked my leg out. He grabbed it with his free hand before I could connect, and I lost my balance.

I’m going down . . .

And he’s coming with me.

I attempted a twist that would land him beneath me, so that I could claim bragging rights, but it didn’t happen. I ended up with my back on the sand, and Nathan kneeling over me in total control.

“Ugh!” I threw my head back with a groan. “How do you always manage to take me down first?”

Nathan brushed a speck of sand off my forehead with a grin. “You think too much. Just do it.”

“Me? Think too much?” Had he forgotten who he was talking to? The girl who notoriously acted first, and thought second.

“You’ve got the potential. You’re definitely a lot stronger than you were,” he praised.

“Then why can’t I take you down?” I whined. “I’m a demigod! I should be able to take you.”

“I’m still more practiced than you,” he returned with a small chuckle. “I don’t think about my moves. I just do them. You’re concentrating too much on getting everything perfect. That distracts you.”

“Hmm.” I bit my lip as I peered into his eyes, a silver-ringed blue that rivaled the most pristine of oceans. “You know what’s distracting me right now?”

About the Author

I live in the quiet, middle-of-nowhere Everett, Pennsylvania with my husband and three sons.

I’ve been writing since I was eleven, after I swiped one of my mom’s Dean Koontz books. I still remember the first one I read; it was called Darkfall, and kept me awake most of the night. Anyway, I was totally inspired when I learned that he came from the small rural town I called home (true story, I swear!), and started writing freaky little horror stories because I wanted to be just like him. I gave the stories to my mom to read. I don’t think she was as impressed as I was, but she put on an encouraging face…and that was how my writing obsession started.

After years of writing for a hobby and taking creative writing courses, I’ve published my first novel, Ignited. My dream is for Dean Koontz to no longer be the only bestselling author from my little middle-of-nowhere hometown.

You can check out more about me, The Ignited Series, and my upcoming books as they become available at:
http://www.desnidantone.com
http://www.facebook.com/ignitedbooks

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