{Review} Enemy Within by Angeline Kace (Vampire Born #2)

From Goodreads: Two guys who’ve stolen her heart.
Three races and only one of them worthy.
Countless enemies with insatiable bloodlust for power.
Will one girl’s curse ultimately save her?

Half-vampire Brooke Keller barely survived the slaying of her worst enemy, only to learn that Zladislov—the world’s most powerful vampire, leader of the vampire world, and her father—wants her dead. However, this time, she’s not only fighting vampires but a raging monster within her that endangers what’s left of her humanity. And when a deadly disease threatens to take her best friend’s life, Brooke tries to convince Kaitlynn to accept a monster of her own: becoming a Zao Duh.

As a former slave to the Pijawikas, Mirko is driven to protect the innocent at all costs, but he has never faced a foe more formidable than Zladislov. And when the Commission bears down on Brooke, Mirko finds the stream of enemies runs deeper than he ever imagined.

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I’ve waited a very, very long time for this second installment in the Vampire Born series, and let me tell you, it was worth every minute!  Kace once again grips readers in this tale of love and betrayal, gluing readers to the pages as the plot develops, twists, and turns, leaving the reader wondering just who the enemy within the ranks really is…   

Mirko, Mirko, Mirko.  That boy is so epically swoon worthy and I envy Brooke to the highest degree!  In Descended by Blood, I couldn’t choose between Mirko or Jaren, Brooke’s two love interests, but Enemy Within sealed the deal and, like Brooke, my heart belongs to Mirko, with good reason.  Any guy who is willing to risk his life for mine is a keeper, and any guy who pushes me to the side because he can’t deal with my heritage, well… he has to go.  Kace does a phenomenal job fleshing out Mirko even more in this novel, giving readers more of his background while also playing up the boy rivalry and adding some steamy romance scenes (it’s still tame though).  Mirko melts my heart, and I just want to reach through the pages and bring him into the real world.  We could do with a few dozen men like Mirko walking the earth…

This novel also deals more so with the idea of the Pijawikas, former slaves of the vampire world, and I love how Kace brings in the themes of bigotry, racism, and hypocrisy, teaching very important lessons throughout her phenomenal story.  There are many similarities to the human world and the mistakes we’ve made in our treatment of other humans, and I loved that, while a sensational storyline, it also has its teachable moments.  And, of course, not all is as it seems, and not everyone should be trusted…

The cliffhanger in this novel nearly killer me, just like it did in the first, and I’m hoping and praying that we won’t have to wait another year and a half for the third book to release.  Five amazing stars.

I purchased this novel from Amazon.

The 99 Cent Club–Feature 45-Ten Books for Ten Bucks

Every Saturday I run a feature for the 99 Cent Club, and below are the eBook picks for this week that caught my eye and are (currently) ONLY 99 Cents (On Amazon, with a few on Barnes and Noble as well). I don’t know if these are permanent prices, so please don’t shoot the messenger, and double check pricing before pressing the buy button. Enjoy! (If you could help give these authors some love by spreading the word, that would be epic.)

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Thundering Luv by L.M. Preston

Jewel has always been able to get the guy she wanted. The starting jock on the football team, the team captain on the basketball team, and the lead swimmer on the swim team. Problem is, she didn’t find them the least bit exciting.

Was she cold or a she-wolf for guys? Colin thought so, and he’d do anything to bring her down a peg or two. When these two collide on the sandy beach during their mixed up summer vacation,  sparks fly, making this a summer neither will forget.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Crossing by Stacey Wallace Benefiel

He stole her lipstick…and her heart.

Twenty-year-old Dani Walker can’t believe her luck when she’s paired up with the gorgeous Liam Garrett as her Acting I scene partner – or when he ends up in her bed. Being a Plain Jane with a mouth on her hasn’t exactly served Dani well in the guy department. In fact, she’s had nothing but one night stands. Still, she lets go of her insecurities and falls for Liam, despite feeling like he’s holding something back.

When Dani finally discovers Liam’s secret, she must learn the true meaning of accepting the ones we love for who they are, or risk losing the best thing that’s ever happened to her.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Knotted Roots by Ruthie Kight

Partying with friends and scoring a flawless tan is about all Roxie has on her list of things to make her Hampton’s summer perfect.
Her parents, however, have other plans and Grandma Betty’s farm is just one of them.
Just as her life is in shambles and the quaint town is suffocating her, she meets Chase.
Somewhere in the mix of bummer summer and small town doldrums, he becomes the boy she can’t seem to avoid falling for. Just adding him to the picture, her stay starts to get better, even if she knows it has to end with the summer holidays.
That is until Betty drops a life-shattering bomb.
Roxie must make a choice that will change her life forever. What happens when a spoiled brat from New York learns the true meaning of love, loss, and forgiveness?
Can Chase and Roxie find a way to be together or is this just another summer romance?

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Today Only by D. Love

In life, there are times you are granted a miracle.

It may not be the one you wanted exactly, but it will be the one you need.

It will prepare you for the next step in your journey and help you learn to accept the life you are given, even if that life can be heartbreaking.

Find it on Amazon.

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Summer Unplugged by Amy Sparling

Bayleigh is addicted to her cell phone and her mom has had enough.

After catching her sending a less than lady-like photo to a boy who barely knows her, Bayleigh’s mom sends her away to her grandparent’s house for the summer–sans cell phone, laptop and Ipod.

Bayleigh  thinks the summer will be torture without social media…that is until she meets the boy next door.

Find it on Amazon.

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Quenchless by R.D. Raven

Caitlin Kinsley’s nightmares have become a reality and she thinks she is going mad.

She’s not.

Aidan Sears can’t shake the feeling that he knows her from somewhere; like he’s met her before.

He has.

Hayley Selwyn believes Caitlin might find the answers to all her questions in some of the witchcraft books she’s been reading.

She’s right.

And we’ve only just gotten started…

Find it on Amazon.

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Alice in Deadland Trilogy by Mainak Dhar

Alice in Deadland was released in November 2011 and quickly became an Amazon.com bestseller, selling more than 50,000 copies in its first three months.

It was followed by its sequel, ‘Through The Looking Glass’ and ‘Off With Their Heads’, the prequel to Alice in Deadland.

Now, get all three novels in the Alice in Deadland Trilogy in one single omnibus edition and immerse yourself in this bestselling adventure.

Find it on Amazon.

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First Bite by Laura Briggs 

The first volume in The Dark Woods Trilogy explores the sinister origins of one of the fairytale world’s most frightening villains–The Wicked Queen.

Her quest for unmatched power and beauty seems unstoppable – unless the destiny of an innocent girl is something more than meets the eye.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Already Gone by Christopher Fulbright

Meet Mitchell Chase, a 16-year-old hard case who pays his dad rent in exchange for being treated as an adult. Unfortunately, he’s having a tough time of it—Mitchell drinks too much, fights too much, he’s broke, and he’s got girl problems like a dog’s got fleas.

When the prettiest girl in Carson Lake High School asks Mitchell to help find her missing baby brother, he doesn’t exactly jump at the chance. He’s just a student and part-time intern reporter for the local newspaper, after all, not Jupiter Jones. But considering she’s a friend of Sarah Faulk, the girl that got away, he figures it’s a good chance to get back in her good graces. However, as pieces of the mystery come together, the pieces of his social life begin to fall apart. Soon, Mitchell is dodging menacing intruders, emotional wrecks, angry boyfriends, and a villain intent on eliminating loose ends.

Already Gone is a hard-hitting young adult mystery novel that will appeal to fans of hard-boiled detective fiction and thrillers. With more teeth than Anthony Horowitz’s Alex Rider adventures, and more bite than a pack of wild dogs, you’ve never read a young adult novel quite like this one before!

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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A Whisper to a Scream by Lauren Hammond

Sometimes love….can be deadly.

Ellory Graham detested high school. She relished the fact that she was a rebel. A wild, carefree, type of girl. She basked in the glory of being the type of girl who stood up to authority. Unfortunately for her, her upfront, honest and bitchy nature always managed to land her in some kind of trouble.

Adam Jacobs was everything Ellory was not. Not only was he beautiful, but he was smart, artistic, and sweet. To almost every girl he seemed like the total package- that all around perfect guy. But in a town were nothing particularly interesting happens, and gossip seems like the only fun thing to do, sometimes those perfections become flaws. And it doesn’t take long for Ellory to find out, even Adam has secrets.

But Adam’s secrets, are the kind of secrets people die for…

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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If you could help give these authors some love by spreading the word, that would be epic.

Incarnate by Lawrence Weill :: Spotlight

Incarnate Synopsis:

What should a woman do if she believes she is the mother of the second coming of Christ? This is the problem Lara Joyner faces when she comes to believe, through her visions, through the look on his face, through her cards, and through the thousands of hidden signs she sees in nature, that her son is Christ incarnate.

Incarnate is driven by this woman’s character and readers struggle between wanting to sympathize and knowing she is deeply troubled. In the end, we discover how her delusion turns many worlds upside down, as well as how faith overpowers reason. The story follows Lara and her two sons as she pushes Dale to perform miracles and save humanity. Although obviously unable to do so, he goes through the motions to protect his little brother Louis. Told alternately from Lara’s perspective (in the present tense) and from the other principles in the story, the plot follows the trials brought on by Lara’s spiraling madness, her husband’s desperate search for his family, and the children’s bewilderment and fear.

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About Lawrence Weill:

Lawrence Weill is an author and artist in western Kentucky. In addition to novels, he writes short fiction, non-fiction articles and books, and poetry. His work has appeared in a wide range of local, regional, and national journals. He and his wife live in the woods overlooking a beaver pond. Please visit his website: http://www.lawrenceweill.com

Website | Facebook

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 Buy the Book:

Amazon

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Tour Schedule and Activities

May 6 – Read 2 Review – Interview

May 7 – I Read a Book Once – Contest/Giveaway

May 8 – Books, Owls & Tea – Interview

May 9 – The FlipSide of Julianne – Guest Post

May 10 – Makayla’s Book Reviews – Guest Post

May 12 – Crossroads Reviews – Review

May 13 - Laurie’s Thoughts and Reviews – Excerpt and Tens List

May 15 - The Dan O’Brien Project – Excerpt/Promo

May 17 – A Book Vacation – Promo/Spotlight —  ME!

May 21 – StoreyBook Reviews – Promo/Spotlight/Excerpt

May 22 – Armand Rosamilla, Horror Author – Guest Post

May 23 – Bookishly Me – Review

May 26 – Breath of Life – Review

May 27 - Lost Inside the Covers – Review

May 31 – Darlene’s Book Nook – Guest Post

June 1 – Spellbindings -Review

June 2  – Babs Book Bistro – Podcast Interview

June 4 – Ali’s Bookshelf  – Character Post

June 5 – Mom Cat’s Book Blog – Guest Post

  

 Contacts:

Tomorrow Comes Media Contact:

Stephen Zimmer

email: stephen@tomorrowcomesmedia.com

or

C.C. James

email: ccjames@seventhstarpress.com

{Review} A Terrible Love by Marata Eros (Tamara Rose Blodgett)

From Goodreads: Jess Mackey is living a meticulously fabricated lie of necessity. She’s left the secret tragedy of her past behind along with who she was and is forging ahead with a clean slate. But Jess soon discovers that passion can’t be left behind—neither her own, nor that of the one man who sees who she really is…and whose unexpected presence may breach the peaceful life Jess has painstakingly created for herself.

Devin Castile didn’t expect to meet a young woman who may be the missing puzzle piece to his existence…and who is also the victim of a heinous crime. Devin convinces himself that he can remain emotionally distant even while indulging his physical desire for her. But when Jess’s lies begin to crumble in the face of their undeniable attraction and the truth is revealed, one of them might pay with their life.
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I picked up this novel because it’s written by one of my favorite authors, Tamara Rose Blodgett (pen name Marata Eros).  Though I really try to shy away from most novels that I know deal with content of a more sexual nature, it’s somewhat impossible for me to pass up a book written by a favorite author, and so I purchased a copy and sat down to read.  And, once again, I’m very glad I did. Yes, there are some intense sexual encounters in this novel, and sexual tension abounds throughout, however, Blodgett walks a very fine line, staying just this side of too explicit, for which I am eternally grateful (I’m a bit of a prude, as you know).

Truthfully, though, I was worried I wasn’t going to like this novel as I found that the men in it, all of them, it seems, are demanding.  Most also seem to relish hurting women, which just isn’t my thing in any way, shape, or form.  That, in and of itself, really gets my blood boiling.  No, it’s not Fifty-Shades of Greyesque, thank God; it’s not that type of “hurting women,” but more so physical abuse.  In fact, I had more issues with the way men treated women in this story than I did with the sexual encounters, which is saying a lot, because I am a bonafide cringer—and cringe I do—when a scene becomes too explicit for my liking. But in this novel, I wasn’t cringing over the sex scenes, I was cringing over the inhumane treatment of Jess by the men around her, by their nasty demanding nature, and by their physical abuse towards her.  But, the story is so well written, and the ending revelation so perfect, that the novel did sweep me off my feet.  Sure, I screamed at the male characters a lot, especially Cas, who I originally disliked just as much as the other male characters, but he is redeemable, and Blodgett redeems him quite nicely in the end, as the truth is unveiled.  

Despite my reservations and dislike of abuse, this novel won me over, and I think much of that has to do with the characterization.  While Jess isn’t perfect, by any means, and she makes some bad choices, overall she’s got a good head on her shoulders and she’s believable.  And, truth be told, any novel that can get me so riled that I yell at the characters through the pages is a winner in my book, because it caused me to really feel, and really interact, and that is exactly what Blodgett did in A Terrible Love.  Blodgett has written a beautiful tale of redemption, full of suspense and mystery, and I highly recommend it for a more mature audience.  Five stars.

I purchased this novel from Amazon.

{ARC Review} Runes by Ednah Walters

From Goodreads: Seventeen-year-old Raine Cooper has enough on her plate dealing with her father’s disappearance, her mother’s erratic behavior and the possibility of her boyfriend relocating. The last thing she needs is Torin St. James—a mysterious new neighbor with a wicked smile and uncanny way of reading her.

Raine is drawn to Torin’s dark sexiness against her better judgment, until he saves her life with weird marks and she realizes he is different. But by healing her, Torin changes something inside Raine. Now she can’t stop thinking about him. Half the time, she’s not sure whether to fall into his arms or run.

Scared, she sets out to find out what Torin is. But the closer she gets to the truth the more she uncovers something sinister about Torin. What Torin is goes back to an ancient mythology and Raine is somehow part of it. Not only are she and her friends in danger, she must choose a side, but the wrong choice will cost Raine her life.

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I really enjoyed this new twist on mythology, especially as it’s Norse mythology, something I haven’t come across in a YA novel before.  As an avid reader, I am always looking for something brand new and original, and this novel definitely has elements of that.  I won’t say it’s completely original, though, because the idea of a mysterious boy and a sweet innocent girl falling for each other instantly has been done many a time, but even so, not like this. 

Torin is definitely a swoon worthy character, and I highly enjoyed him.  He’s got the whole dark and brooding thing down pat, and it really works well for him.  He’s shrouded in mystery, and I was dying to learn the truth about his origins right alongside Raine, though I don’t harbor as many fuzzy feelings for her. 

Raine is… aggravating.  She and her best friend in the whole world have finally started dating, something she’s been waiting for her whole life, but her inability to stop checking out Torin, even before they “bond,” made me think much less of her.  She also decides to hide everything instead of trusting the people around her, which is very much a YA aspect that I don’t care for in my novels.  I’d like my heroes and heroines to trust someone, and it’d be nice if, on occasion, that person could be an adult, say, a family member.  I do get that teens hide a lot from their parents and family, but something huge and scary should break that ice, in my opinion, and I’d have liked for Raine to step up and ask for help, or, you know, at least tell her boyfriend something weird is going on and she can’t figure out why she’s drawn to Torin.  Bucking up and facing the music is so much better than running around and trying to see two boys at once.  Well, I think so, at least. 

The Norse mythology was very interesting, but I don’t feel like I know enough as of yet.  We’ve just hit the tip of the iceberg, and I expect, and hope, to learn much more about Torin and his posses’ origins and powers in the next novel, because, truth be told, I am hooked, even if I didn’t like the main character.  Three stars.

Firetrail Publishing has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on May 20, 2013.

Jason Walters Blog Tour: Guest Post

Jason S. Walters–A Guest Post

Virtual Tour May 1 to May 31, 2013

My name is Jason Walters and I have problems with my character.

Okay – that’s not what I mean. I don’t have any problems with my character. Well… not so that most people would throw me out of their house in any case. (Or at least not right away.) My problem lies with the creation of two particular characters from my upcoming novel Nakba: Mitchell Green and Cassidy Brazo. Both are main characters. Both are living in outer space. And both have Down syndrome.

I know, I know: in the future there aren’t supposed to be any people with Down syndrome. They’ve all been cured… or aborted… or, well, they’re just not there. And certainly not trundling happily about in the artificial, distant worlds of outer space, going about their business more-or-less like they do today. And yes: in the distant future of Nakba Down syndrome – indeed, all genetic aberrations and differences – are completely treatable. Yet there are some who have chosen not to be cured, and even to reproduce various variant and different strains of humanity with little concern for their society’s utopian ideas of perfection.

Just like today, actually.

However, as you may of guessed, that’s not the character problem. That’s editorializing. (Which is undoubtedly also a character problem – just not the one I’m having with the novel.) You see, I wanted to write a science fiction novel in which their would be major characters with Down syndrome – not as victims or objects of pity, but as important people performing heroic tasks. I have a daughter with Down syndrome. And I find as she’s growing up that I’m more and more confident in her abilities, and less and less worried about her shortcomings. Which set me asking myself: with all of the advances in medicine and technology today, why couldn’t people like her survive in outer space 100 years from now? Or a 1,000? And even be relatively self-sufficient? If you’re raised in a certain habitat, certain things become second nature. Like not running in front of a car or cutting yourself with a knife.

Or not opening the wrong airlock, for that matter.

Why couldn’t she care passionately about something to fight for it? From my experience with my own child and in meeting other people like her, I see no reason why not. They’re certainly stubborn, opinionated, and foolhardy enough to be heroic. And if they often don’t seem to grasp the deeper meanings of things or complex abstractions … well, since when is having a degree in semiotics a prerequisite for heroism? Sergeant York did okay – and I’m not even certain he could read.

But that’s also not the character problem. That’s digression. (Which is admittedly another one of my character problems.)

Trying to get the inner voices of the characters with Down syndrome right was the real challenge. Crafting the urbane, disillusioned inner voices of the characters that populate the first half of the book was easy. Because I am that person. So that’s not a particular challenge.

But I’m not my daughter. I don’t really know how she thinks. (Though she often surprises me with common sense insights.) So I spent a lot of time worrying about “Goldilocks” stuff: that sounds too smart. That sounds too stupid. It that just right? How do you judge the inner voice of someone whose cognition literally functions differently from yourself? And, with advanced artificial intelligence handling the duties of translation between different peoples, how much do speech impediments and odd sentence structure even matter when expressing oneself?

The inner dialogue of the characters worried me in particular. I took great care to make certain that their spoken words were simple and direct – though not obnoxiously so – and that the two characters got flustered and confused by certain complex concepts and abstract ideas.

But the inner voice of someone whose cognitive processes must by definition be different from your own is a difficult thing to accurately portray, even for a more talented author than myself. For example:

Mitchell nodded slowly, again not really knowing what to make of the woman’s alien glances and gestures. They seemed to be waiting for his permission to proceed. It struck him for the first time that Un-Deux-Trois had no idea he was a Special. This seemed crazy (he looked very much like one after all), until he remembered that they had never actually seen a man before, either. And, really, were his small stature, flat features, and epicanthic folds any more alien to them than the towering height, dark skin, and alien thinness of the Maasai? The women of this sequestered, strange culture had withdrawn not only from the Earth, but from all contact with opposite sex. Which, effectively, put them out of contact with practically everyone. Like himself, they probably had only a vague concept of the complexities of the outside world.

Did I get Mitchell’s clash-of-cultures confusion in dealing with an entire colony whose population is entirely comprised of clones of Monique Wittig correct? (And who wouldn’t be confused?) It’s hard to quantify without having Down syndrome myself. I’ve tried to compensate for this problem somewhat by reading the small library of books actually written by people with Down syndrome (there are four). But, in the end , all I can hope is that I’ve managed to strike a balance – one that is fair to people like my daughter without being absurd.

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Author Bio:

Jason S. Walters is an author, essayist, and publisher best known for running Indie Press Revolution (IPR), a distributor of micro-published roleplaying games. He is also one of a small group of investors that purchased Hero Games in 2001, and serves as its general manager. After owning a San Francisco bike messenger service for 15 years, he and his wife Tina moved to Midian Ranch: a homestead near the town of Gerlach, Nevada. It is also the location of IPR’s warehousing complex. They have a daughter with Down syndrome named Cassidy and animals too numerous to mention.

Blog | Facebook

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Nakba

A thousand years ago humanity’s dissidents fled, leaving behind a peaceful, unified world content to exist in a state of perpetual hedonism. Then a daring escape plunged civilization into chaos, forcing its rulers to expand outward to maintain order. Now all that stands between a newly imperial Earth and the rest of the solar system is a loose coalition of Maasai tribesmen, cloned feminists, shape shifting humannequins, and vengeful Berbers led by the least likely hero in human history: a young woman with Down syndrome and a bad attitude.

An Unforgiving Land Reloaded

In the desert life is hard. It can also be surreal.

In the absence of congestion and convention, imagination takes you by the hand: or the balls.

In this macabre collection of riveting tales, ENnie Award-nominated author Jason S. Walters grabs the reins of storytelling as if it were a wild stallion, leading the reader ever deeper into the physical and spiritual wasteland of the Black Rock Desert.

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Tour Schedule and Activities

May 1 – Read 2 Review – Guest Post

May 2 – Makayla’s Book Reviews – Interview

May 3 – The Dan O’Brien Project – Promo/Excerpt

May 5 – Crossroads Reviews – Review

May 6 – Beauty in Ruins – Guest Post

May 8 – Reading Away the Days – Contest/Giveaway

May 9 – Ian’s Realm – Guest Post

May 10 – Angela Meadon – Interview

May 12 – A Book Vacation – Guest Post

May 14 – Azure Dwarf – Review

May 15 – Book in the Bag – Interview

May 16 – Word to Dreams – Spotlight and Giveaway

May 17 – The FlipSide fo Julianne Guest Post and Excerpt

May 18 – Mom Cat’s Book Blog – Guest Post

May 20 – Lost Inside the Covers – Review

May 21 – I Read a Book Once – Contest/Giveaaway

May 22 – Rachel Tsoumbakos – Review

May 23 – Darlenes Book Nook – Guest Post

May 26 – Bee’s Knees Reviews – Review

May 28 – Once Upon a Time – Guest Post

May 31 – Library Girl Reads and Reviews – Character Post

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Contacts:

Tomorrow Comes Media Contact: Stephen Zimmer email: stephen@tomorrowcomesmedia.com or C.C. James email: ccjames@seventhstarpress.com

The 99 Cent Club–Feature 44-Ten Books for Ten Bucks

Every Saturday I run a feature for the 99 Cent Club, and below are the eBook picks for this week that caught my eye and are currently ONLY 99 Cents on Amazon, with a few on Barnes and Noble as well. I don’t know if these are permanent prices, so please don’t shoot the messenger, and double check pricing before pressing the buy button. Enjoy! (If you could help give these authors some love by spreading the word, that would be epic.)

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No Attachments by Tiffany King

** Recommended for ages 17+ due to sexual situations, language and mature subject matter **

Ashton Garrison walked away from a privileged life in order to hide from the one thing she’s not willing to face. She knows she left behind a trail of pain, but in the long run, her betrayal will hurt less than the truth. She now has one goal: Live life to the fullest with no regrets and no attachments. She has high hopes that a move to new surroundings will provide the escape she desires, but what Ashton doesn’t count on is how fate always seems to find a way to screw up any good plan. Sometimes, when love comes knocking, the pull is too strong not to answer. Suddenly, what she thought she wanted to escape from is what Ashton now wants more than anything.

Nathan Lockton has one mission: find his target and complete the task he was hired to do—no attachments and no emotion necessary. He’s done it over and over again. What he thought was a typical lost-and-found job has turned into a life examining moment as Nathan is forced to deal with something he has always ignored–his feelings. Now faced with a decision, Nathan must choose to either follow his heart or complete the job.

Love can come when you least expect it. The question is: If the odds are stacked against you, how far are you willing to go for the one you love?

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Destiny Ever-Changing by Tasha Ivey

Some are destined for greatness . . . others for pure unadulterated misery.

After catching her boyfriend with another woman, Laura struggles with beginning again, knowing deep down that she is destined to be unhappily out of love for her entire life. Needing some time to recoup and formulate a game plan, she decides to visit her notoriously wise grandmother. But once there, a curveball in the form of a deliciously attractive stranger has her falling again.

Brooks is another story altogether. He is quite content with his life until his father forces him into a business decision that will ruin the rest of his life. As if his relationship with his father isn’t tumultuous enough, his new fiancé is making every waking moment a living hell and loving every manipulative minute of it.

When Laura stumbles upon her mother’s old journal, she opens a door into a long forgotten past. A past that somehow leads both Laura and Brooks into unfamiliar territory and changes everything they ever knew about fate.

Destiny is ever-changing, after all.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Faith by Brei Betzold

Mags is a single mother, running her own business trying to make ends meet.  Drake is an A&R guy for a local indie record company who has been working nonstop for a year.  When both finally take a vacation with family and friends, they are forced to finally admit, at least to themselves, that they have feelings for each other.

When they go home, they find it even more difficult to put the past in the past and maintain a relationship strong enough to face the challenges ahead.  Follow along as they try to make a relationship work while fighting demons of their own, through circumstances not of their making, and with family and friends trying to help.

Find it on Amazon.

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Unbeautifully Loved by Emma Grayson 

In three words I can sum up everything I learned about life. Regardless of the shit going on in your life, this fact still remains.

It. Goes. On

Lexie Todd knew these 3 simple words. They were her mantra.  So, after dealing with years of abuse at the hands of her boyfriend and the father of her son, she knows what needs to be done. With help from her best friend Mollie, they go on the run.

After months of being on the run they finally find the perfect town to settle in. Unable to trust and always having her guard up, the last thing Lexie wants is to get involved with Lukas Gunn.

Persistent, annoying, bossy, over protective and extremely hot, Detective Lukas Gunn.

After an incident leaves her vulnerable, Lukas knows there’s something haunting her. He’s determined to find out, wanting to protect her and make her his. But Lexie is determined also. Not wanting to give up her past, she pushes him away. Repeatedly.

But when history repeats itself, will Lexie finally be able to trust those around her to keep her safe? Will Lukas be able to save her? Or will Lexie succumb to only knowing what it’s like to be Unbeautifully Loved?

**Warning**
This book contains the following and is recommended for ages 18 and up.

-Sexual content.
-Abusive subject matter
-Attempted rape
-Language

Find it on Amazon.

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The Upside of Letting Go by Nacole Stayton

Haley Martin decides the only way to let go of her lingering nightmares is to literally move on. Taking a leap of faith she finds herself enrolling at a campus hundreds of miles away from home.

She leaves any thoughts of dating again in Jersey, that is until fate crosses her path with a blue-eyed stud named Kyler King. He is notoriously known for being emotionally unattainable, but his façade is only to hide the burdens he bares every day.

As Kyler and Haley’s physical attraction becomes deeper, the secrets of the past threaten to surface. When Haley’s past collides with the present, will her secrets prove too big of an obstacle hindering their happily ever after, or will letting go be the key that locks their bond forever?

Warning: This book is intended for readers 17+ due to explicit language and sexual encounters.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Roots of Insight by Breeana Puttroff

Quinn Robbins has just returned from spending ten days in Eirentheos, a world she had never known existed. Trying to settle back into her familiar life and establish a relationship with her new boyfriend, Zander, is more of a challenge than she ever dreamed it would be.

Things are just beginning to feel normal again when Thomas shows up in her world, and invites her back to Eirentheos for a royal wedding. She’s excited at the chance to reconnect with the people and places she had begun to fall in love with.

What she doesn’t realize is just how deeply connected with this new world she might become … and just what old secrets might be beginning to unravel.

The second book in the beloved Dusk Gate series reconnects Quinn with the charming princes, and the pristine world of Eirentheos. From a beautiful royal wedding to a dangerous rescue mission, Quinn’s adventures are about to take her life on a course that will change it forever.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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For Ever by C.J. Valles

For Ever starts now.

A faded memory, something I saw behind Ever Casey’s eyes, begins to claw its way to the surface, and fuzzy impressions from my second day at Springview High School make the skin on my arms crawl. My limbs grow cold with fear. Whatever I saw in his mind was indistinct, but unmistakably sinister.

It hadn’t been nothing behind Ever Casey’s eyes. It had been something evil. Something he didn’t want me to see.
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Sixteen-year-old Wren Sullivan doesn’t want to know what other people are thinking about her—because most of the time it sucks. Too bad since that’s what happens every time she looks into someone’s eyes.

When she moves to Portland, Oregon, after her parents’ divorce, she finally encounters someone whose thoughts are off limits. Looking into Ever Casey’s eyes, she finds … nothing. Or is there something he doesn’t want her to see there that will put her and anyone near her in danger?

When For Ever ends, Never begins. Never, the second book in The Ever Series, is coming soon.

Find it on Amazon.

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Discern by Samantha Shakespeare

Discern begins when Haley Helms, a 20 year-old college student, is compelled to return home to Boulder, Colorado, after her heart is shattered by love’s betrayal. After a chance meeting with an alluring passenger on the plane ride home, her life will never be the same.

Thrust into a once-believed mythical world, she finds out the stranger on the plane is no ordinary man. Andrew Alexander, an immortal called a Parevite, has spent many centuries, along with the others of his kind, altering much of mankind’s beliefs.

Andrew is hell-bent on winning Haley’s heart, no matter the cost. But will his dark side and catastrophic secret destroy any chance?

Find it on Amazon.

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Falling from Grace by S.L. Naeole

When you wake up in the morning and your eyes take in the first hints of light that shine through your window, the dust motes catching and reflecting the sun’s rays like little diamonds, the shimmering hues of yellow and orangey gold breaking through into your room, the first thing you think about usually isn’t how you’re going to make it through the worst day of your life.

Unfortunately for Grace Shelley, that’s exactly what she’s facing as she ponders what to do now that she’s going to be starting out her last year in high school without her best friend. She’s not exactly the most popular girl in school – well, not the most popular girl in school to like, anyway – and everything seems to be hinting at another status quo year for her until she bumps into a stranger who leaves her stumbling for words and chasing after her heart.

The new guy in school is different. Robert doesn’t care about the rumors he’s heard about her or that no one else seems to see her the same way that he does; he only wants to be her friend. That’s when things get complicated. When Grace learns that he’s not your typical high school boy and that he’s actually a wingless angel who’s looking for someone to trust, she’s thrust into his world where not all angels are meant to protect human beings, and where the changes she brings into his life changes everything in hers.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Still Life With Murder by P.B. Ryan

National bestseller Still Life With Murder is the first book of P.B. Ryan’s acclaimed historical mystery series featuring Boston governess Nell Sweeney and opium-smoking former battle surgeon Will Hewitt. Thought to have died during the Civil War, Will is arrested for murder, and Nell must prove his innocence. Originally published by Berkley Prime Crime.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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If you could help give these authors some love by spreading the word, that would be epic.

Announcing the Winner of a Signed Hardcover of Every Day by David Levithan

My giveaway for a SIGNED Hardcover of Every Day has just concluded, and I’m excited to say that the winner has been chosen via Rafflecopter.

And the winner is…

Darith Ly

A tweet has already gone out to the winner, and an email will go out later this evening! If I don’t hear from the winner within 48 hours, I will select a new winner using Rafflecopter.

Thanks to everyone who participated, and congratulations to the winner… but don’t despair if you didn’t win this round!

Enter to win my other great giveaways:

Win a SIGNED Paperback of Conjure: Ends May 23

Win a Recently Released Book of Your Choice: Ends June 1

Win a Signed Paperback of Conjure by Lea Nolan

I recently went to a book festival in my area and I met Lea Nolan, the author of Conjure.  Prior to the event, I’d never heard of this novel, but as Nolan read an excerpt and gave us some backgroud information about her book, I became highly enraptured and had to have it!  So, I picked up a signed copy for myself, and of course, a signed copy for a giveaway, as well.  Good luck!

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From Goodreads: Be careful what you search for…

Emma Guthrie expects this summer to be like any other in the South Carolina Lowcountry–hot and steamy with plenty of beach time alongside her best friend and secret crush, Cooper Beaumont, and Emma’s ever-present twin brother, Jack. But then a mysterious eighteenth-century message in a bottle surfaces, revealing a hidden pirate bounty. Lured by the adventure, the trio discovers the treasure and unwittingly unleashes an ancient Gullah curse that attacks Jack with the wicked flesh-eating Creep and promises to steal Cooper’s soul on his approaching sixteenth birthday.

When a strange girl appears, bent on revenge; demon dogs become a threat; and Jack turns into a walking skeleton; Emma has no choice but to learn hoodoo magic to undo the hex, all before summer—and her friends–are lost forever.

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To enter my giveaway, you must:

-Be 13 years or older (or have parent/guardian permission)

-Agree to HONESTLY REVIEW the novel via a blog (if you have one), or Goodreads, or any other media format you use for book reviews

-Fill in the mandatory question on rafflecopter (extra entries optional)

Click here to go to the Rafflecopter entry form!

This contest is open to USA ENTRANTS ONLY (sorry) and will end at 12:01am EST on May 23nd. Please only enter once. The winner will be announced later on May 23nd, and will receive email notification! Please read my giveaway policy and leave me a comment!

The 99 Cent Club–Feature 43-Ten Books for Ten Bucks

Every Saturday I run a feature for the 99 Cent Club, and below are the eBook picks for this week that caught my eye and are (currently) ONLY 99 Cents (On Amazon, with a few on Barnes and Noble as well). I don’t know if these are permanent prices, so please don’t shoot the messenger, and double check pricing before pressing the buy button. Enjoy! (If you could help give these authors some love by spreading the word, that would be epic.)

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Burned Bridges by Marguerite Ashton

Newly sober and dating the man of her dreams, Traci Collins is ready to enjoy the good life, until her new best friend, Olivia Durning, confides a dreadful secret far worse than Traci could imagine.

Sealed by a shared bond, and unaware there is more to the secret than what she was told, Collins feels honor bound to protect her friend when a confrontation between Olivia and her childhood tormentor turns deadly.

A mysterious text forces Traci to question Olivia’s actions and re-examine her loyalties. When the answers to Traci’s questions endanger a life she treasures more than her own, she must decide if friendship has a limit. For a bridge once burnt severs ties forever…

Find it on Amazon.

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Persons Missing or Dead by Cliff Black

“Persons Missing or Dead” is a sequel to “Face in The Creek,” and continues the adventures of Daniel Corbin, his daughter, Natasha, and Daniel’s friend, Deputy Sheriff Ezzy Miller.

G Daniel Corbin buys an old Airstream camp trailer to replace one lost in a fire. All he wants is a camp trailer, but what he gets is a search for the trailer’s missing previous owner, which leads to a murder investigation and to more unsolved and even unknown murders over the past eighteen years. Even Daniel’s new lady friend, Shelly, has her troubles with the law.

Find it on Amazon.

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The Face of Evil by Monisha Pujari

A taut psychological tale, The Face of Evil details the complex, caroming, and escalating relationship between two brothers, one of whom is confronted with the strong possibility of his sibling’s depravity. Expertly crafted, the book will unfailingly capture your attention and bring you to unresolved, deeper questions regarding the nature and eradication of evil. The Face of Evil is an ever-appropriate read, given society’s constant grappling with incomprehensible acts of evil, and our collective inability to rationally process them. A quick, powerful, and commanding read, this book will push you to probe your own feelings with regards to what constitutes evil, and what one does to combat it. Don’t pass this book up – the combination of crisp language, a philosophical edge, and a quickly-paced, dynamic, and gripping narrative makes for an edge-of-your-seat read.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Come and Talk to Me by June Kramin

Regina was determined to keep the secrets from her past buried. She had her reasons for keeping her distance from men, but Donovan refused to play by her rules.
Giving into her heart and marrying him, Regina finally began to feel whole again. When an injury ultimately claims his life, she moves a few states away to a small town where she couldn’t be reminded of him everywhere she turned.

Trying to live her life in isolation, she wasn’t prepared for what the humble cabin next door would bring her. Reggie is not sure she will be able to overcome the horrible twist fate has thrown her way.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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The Love Game by Emma Hart

His challenge? Make her fall in love with him.
Her challenge? Play the player.
Until life changes the rules of the game.

New Adult Contemporary Romance.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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If You Stay by Courtney Cole

Twenty-four-year-old Pax Tate is an asshole. Seriously. He’s a tattooed, rock-hard bad boy with a tough attitude to match. His mother died when Pax was seven, leaving a hole in his heart filled with an intense guilt that he doesn’t understand. What he does know is that he and his dad were left alone, and they have never been close. Now, he uses drugs and women to cope with the black void in his soul. He pretends that the emptiness isn’t there and this has always worked . . . until he meets Mila.

Sweet, beautiful Mila Hill is the fresh air that Pax has never known in his life. He doesn’t know how to not hurt her, but he quickly realizes that he’d better figure it out because he needs her to breathe. When the memories of his mother’s death resurface to haunt Pax, Mila is there to save him from his overwhelming guilt. Mila restores his broken heart, even as she evokes his powerful, sexual desires. Now for Pax to keep Mila, he needs to work on his issuesand stop being an asshole. But is that enough to make her stay?

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Girl Over the Edge by Amy Kinzer

It started with a bad decision and ended with an obsession.

Seventeen-year-old best friends Beckett Smith and Chloe Baker can’t shake their reputations after taking risqué photos at a college party. The pictures are distributed to the North Lake High School student body sending the best friends to the bottom rung of the social ladder right before senior year. When Beckett and Chloe return to school, they find themselves ill prepared for the harassment and bullying that follows.

Beckett has an easier time being reaccepted than Chloe. And she’ll do anything to be part of her old clique and to get a second chance at a relationship with her ex-boyfriend, star running back Kale Fenton. But Beckett’s attempts at a normal senior year are at odds with Chloe’s increasingly anti-social behavior. As Chloe’s life spirals out of control she becomes obsessed with the Aurora Bridge in Seattle, also known as Suicide Bridge, a place known for the jumpers. And after everyone’s abandoned Chloe, Beckett is the only person who can prevent Chloe from making the jump.

Girl Over the Edge is a novel about best friends, damaged relationships, and the help that sometimes comes from unexpected places.

Find it on Amazon.

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Unlovable by Choice Jane Doe

Thirteen year old Jessica thinks she just hit the jackpot. The most popular boy in her middle-school, Eric, just became her boyfriend and now she’s finally in the ‘it’ crowd. At first the relationship is like a dream come true but it quickly turns into a nightmare when Eric becomes abusive, controlling and sexually violates Jessica. Unable to understand how someone could say I love you and the next minute treats you like someone they hate, Jessica gets sucked into the abusive behavior and loses herself completely to it.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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The Curse of Europa by Brian Kayser

Is there life on Europa? You are invited to accompany a crew of eight astronauts on their mission to the Jupiter ice-moon named Europa. Their mission is relatively straight forward, look for evidence of life in a vast ocean, which is trapped beneath a thick blanket of ice. There is one problem though… “The Curse!”

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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Mars 185 by David Czaplicki

They were looking for life… and only found death! The first independent settlement is being constructed on Mars. This monumental task is suffering numerous delays and unexplained accidents, finally compelling Calprex, the contractor building Roman, to send Brett Roberts, an ex-employee, to the planet to conduct a thorough investigation. His preliminary findings only deepen the mysteries with the secrets he ultimately uncovers changing mankind forever.

Find it on Amazon.

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If you could help give these authors some love by spreading the word, that would be epic.

{ARC Review} Homeroom Headhunters: The Tribe by Clay McLeod Chapman

From Goodreads: All Schools are the same and Spencer Pendleton expects no less from Greenfield Middle. But Spencer hasn’t met them yet-the Tribe, a group of runaway students who secretly own the school. They live off cafeteria food and wield weapons made out of everyday school supplies. Strangely, no one seems to know they exist, except for Spencer. And the group wants him to join their ranks. All he has to do is pass the initiations…and leave his mother and life behind. Can Spencer go through with it? Better yet, what will happen if he says no?

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This novel started out really funny and I highly enjoyed it, and then it took on a bit of a darker tone, fleshing out the theme of bullying, going from a more humorous tone to a didactic one.  It’s a great middle school novel just the same, though, and I love just how imaginative the author, Clay McLeod Chapman, really is.  As an adult, I never expect to laugh out loud when reading middle grade novels, but this one really had me snickering for a while there, and it drew me right in to the story.  Thus, I was already hooked when the novel went from funny to sinister.

As a kid, I always had this fantasy of living between the walls of places, spying on society, and being self-sufficient, and in a way, this novel really spoke to me on that level.  The Tribe does just this, but their fun antics quickly turn threatening and the more I read, the more I realized just how silly my childhood dream really was.  Mix in some hilarity with the outlandish, and it becomes clear fairly quickly that this really isn’t the lifestyle for me, or anyone, for that matter.  These kids have forsaken society, a place that shunned them and treated them badly, full of cliques and judgment, only to cut themselves off from reality in the sense that they eventually become what they hate.  As I said before, it’s quite edifying with lots of teachable moments, and a great overall theme against bullying.  Overall, I highly recommend it to MG readers, and I think many YA readers would enjoy it as well, especially with the intrigue surrounding the Tribe.  Four stars.

Disney Book Group has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its official release on May 7, 2013.

{ARC Review} The Reluctant Assassin: WARP by Eoin Colfer

From Goodreads: Riley, a teen orphan boy living in Victorian London, has had the misfortune of being apprenticed to Albert Garrick, an illusionist who has fallen on difficult times and now uses his unique conjuring skills to gain access to victims’ dwellings. On one such escapade, Garrick brings his reluctant apprentice along and urges him to commit his first killing. Riley is saved from having to commit the grisly act when the intended victim turns out to be a scientist from the future, part of the FBI’s Witness Anonymous Relocation Program (WARP) Riley is unwittingly transported via wormhole to modern day London, followed closely by Garrick.

In modern London, Riley is helped by Chevron Savano, a seventeen-year-old FBI agent sent to London as punishment after a disastrous undercover, anti-terrorist operation in Los Angeles. Together Riley and Chevie must evade Garrick, who has been fundamentally altered by his trip through the wormhole. Garrick is now not only evil, but he also possesses all of the scientist’s knowledge. He is determined to track Riley down and use the timekey in Chevie’s possession to make his way back to Victorian London where he can literally change the world.

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This was an interesting time-travel novel that I think MG and YA readers will like, especially if they’re a fan of Eoin Colfer.  I’ve only read one other of Colfer’s books, and while I liked it, and I liked this novel as well, I didn’t fall in love with either.  The characterization is good, and the events are quick and energetic, but the novel itself just never pulled me in to the point where I just couldn’t get enough.

I liked getting to know Riley, but as a character, he almost seemed like a pushover.  And I didn’t care for Chevron much.  She’s a bit of a typical teenage female trying to save face, believing she’s tougher and better than those around her, and her lack of humility and ability to stop and listen to those around her really rubbed me the wrong way.  She does redeem herself throughout the novel, so I did get to the point where I liked her enough, but I never really got beyond that point, and a lack of connections between myself and the characters always makes it difficult for me to fall in love with the novel.

Colfer definitely has a knack for imaginative literature, though, and the situations these young teens find themselves in were interesting and piqued my interest enough to keep me turning the pages, and enough for me to be curious concerning the next installment.  I really liked the idea of a wormhole and sending important witnesses back in time to keep them safe, and the revelation of who Riley really is was great.  I didn’t see it coming, but it made perfect sense and I really enjoyed how Colfer made it all come together.  Overall, this is a pretty good read.  Three stars.

Disney Book Group has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its official release on May 7, 2013.

Recently Released Giveaway Goodness Giveaway #24–May

It’s that time again! For no other reason than that I like giveaways… we’re onto the TWENTY-FOURTH Recently Released Giveaway Goodness Giveaway!

Many of these novels have recently released. I’ve included my reviews below to help you pick the novel you’d like to win. And honestly, there should be something here for everyone!

Interested? Of course you are! I’m offering ONE lucky winner one of these novels:

• If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch
• The Sin-Eater’s Confession by Ilsa J. Bick
• Unremembered by Jessica Brody
• Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt
• Change of Heart by Norah McClintock
• Room No. 10 by Ake Edwardson
• Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz
• Spellbinding by Maya Gold

This is an INTERNATIONAL giveaway from the book depository, but you need to make sure they send to your country before entering–check here.

To enter you must:

-Be 13 years or older (or have parent/guardian permission)

-Fill in the mandatory question on rafflecopter (extra entries optional)

Click here to go to the Rafflecopter entry form!

This contest is open internationally and will end at 12:01am EST on June 1st. The winner will be announced later on June 1st, and will receive email notification! Please read my giveaway policy and leave me a comment!

Announcing the Winner of My Recently Released Giveaway Goodness #23–April

My Recently Released Giveaway Goodness #23–April–has just concluded, and I’m excited to say that the winner has been chosen via Rafflecopter.

And the winner is…

Carl Scott

Book of Choice:

The Dinner by Herman Koch

A tweet has already gone out to the winner, and an email will go out later this evening! If I don’t hear from Carl within 48 hours, I will select a new winner using Rafflecopter.

Thanks to everyone who participated, and congratulations to the winner… but don’t despair if you didn’t win this round!

Enter to win my other great giveaways:

Win a SIGNED Hardcover of Every Day: Ends May 9

Win a Recently Released Book of Your Choice: (Ends June 1)

Cover Reveal of Endure by M.R. Merrick (The Protector #4)

Endure (The Protector, #4) by M.R. Merrick

Cover by Parajunkee Design

Available June 5th

YA Urban Fantasy

Final book in The Protector Series

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Goodreads:

Synopsis:

Wrapped in darkness and woven with defeat, every action Chase has taken since being exiled from the Circle has been met with a devastating response. Now he’s been burdened with a quest that seems impossible, and he needs to evolve into something more—something greater than he ever thought he could be.

Armed with magic, friendship, and an unbreakable will, Chase must build an army and find a weapon capable of defeating the ultimate evil. But he knows that nothing great comes without sacrifice. Blessed by the very gods who have abandoned him and carrying the fate of all the worlds on his shoulders, Chase Williams is about find out just how much one man can endure.

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 Book 1 – Exiled is FREE!

Amazon | B&N | Kobo

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About the author:

M.R. Merrick is a Canadian writer, and author of Exiled, the first installment in The Protector Series. Having never traveled, he adventures to far off lands through his imagination and in between cups of coffee. As a music lover and proud breakfast enthusiast, he’s usually found at the computer, between a pair of headphones and in front of a large bowl of cereal.

M.R. Merrick | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook