And the winner is…

Laura Parmentier

An email has already gone out to the winner, but if I don’t hear from her within 48 hours, I will select a new winner using Rafflecopter.

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

Enter to win my other great giveaways:

Win a SIGNED Paperback of Ultraviolet: Ends June 6

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

______________________________________________________________

From Goodreads:

Once upon a time there was a girl who was special.

This is not her story.

Unless you count the part where I killed her.

Sixteen-year-old Alison has been sectioned in a mental institute for teens, having murdered the most perfect and popular girl at school. But the case is a mystery: no body has been found, and Alison’s condition is proving difficult to diagnose. Alison herself can’t explain what happened: one minute she was fighting with Tori—the next she disintegrated. Into nothing. But that’s impossible. Right?

To see my 5 star review click HERE.

______________________________________________________________

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)

Andrew Toy

Spotlight and Giveaway for: The Man in the Box

____________________________________________________________________

Synopsis:

Work provided Robbie Lake the perfect escape from his family. But his life is turned upside down when he is unexpectedly fired. When he finds a new way of escape through a cardboard box, everything changes. The imaginary world of his childhood has evolved in his absence and is now more savage and hostile than even he could have dreamed. Robbie is drawn in by the excitement of his secret world, but will the cost of abandoning his family prove too high?

____________________________________________________________

About Andrew Toy:

Andrew Toy lives with his wife and dachshunds in Louisville, KY. He is currently editing books of nearly every genre and is a writing coach for aspiring authors. He and his wife are trying to adopt their first child, and he is using the means of writing and editing to accomplish the goal of enlarging his family. Check out some more of his writing and upcoming books on his popular blog: adoptingjames.wordpress.com

 Twitter | Facebook | Blog

____________________________________________________________

 Giveaway:

Click HERE to Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway!

 ____________________________________________________________

Tour Schedule and Activities

April 29 – Read 2 Review – Guest Post

April 30 – Ian’s Realm – Character Post

May 1 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – Promo/Spotlight

May 1 – Ali’s Bookshelf – Character Post

May 2  – Writings, Musings, & Other Such Nonsense – Guest Post

May 3 – Beagle Book Space – Promo/Spotlight

May 4 – Watch Play Read – Interview

May 5  – Lost Island of Book Reviews – Review

May 6 – Angela Meadon                – Interview

May 6 – A Girl and Her Kindle – Review

May 7 – A Daydreamer’s Thoughts – Guest Post

May 8  – Book in the Bag – Interview

May 9  – Lost Inside the Covers – Review

May 10 – Come Selahway With Me- Interview

May 11 – Alex Reads – Review

May 12 – The FlipSide of Julianne – Interview

May 13 – Sheila Deeth – Guest Post

May 14 - SpecMusicMuse – Review

May 14 - Mom Cat’s Book Blog – Guest Post

May 15 – Spellbindings   – Contest/Giveaway

May 16 – Darlene’s Book Nook – Guest Post

May 17 – Bee’s Knees Reviews -Review

May 18 – Laurie’s Thoughts and Reviews – Character Interview

May 20 – The Dan O’Brien Project – Excerpt/Promo

May 21 – A Book Vacation – Character Interview & Contest/Giveaway

May 23 – WTF Are You Reading? – Review

May 25 – I Smell Sheep – Guest Post

May 28 – Breath of Life – Review

May 29 -  Library Girl reads and Reviews – Guest Post

____________________________________________________________

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.

____________________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________________________

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

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.

______________________________________________________________

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

______________________________________________________________

 Buy the Book:

Amazon

 ______________________________________________________________

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

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.
_______________________________________________________
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.

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.

______________________________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________________

This novel is absolutely, 100% amazing, and even days after I finishing it, I am still haunted by the story.  It’s one of those that really makes you think, mulling over the character’s choices and decisions, and wondering if, faced with the same adversity, you’d be able to do what Grace does.  She amazes me, as do all young women who choose adoption over abortion.  Truth be told, I wouldn’t be here today had my birth-mother not made the same choice as Grace, so this story definitely hits close to home.  But, it isn’t just the choice to keep the baby that is difficult for Grace.  It’s her parents’ abandonment of her, as well as the talk among her peers and community, that make it fifty times harder.  With no support system, I feel I’d never make it through the long nine months, but Grace perseveres and finds solace and true love, which made this heartbreaking tale one of triumph, one that will stay with you long after the last page, and one you definitely need to read—it will make you laugh, and cry, and rage all at once, it’s that good.

My only issue with this novel is that it seems to be making a derogatory statement about religious people.  In a secular society that already looks down on religion, especially Christianity, tagging the more conservative as bigots and the like, this novel furthers that belief.  Had Grace’s parents not been religious, the fact that they disown her wouldn’t have been as big a deal—still a big deal, but not as big—because so much more is expected out of someone who claims God and religion, as if they are not allowed to be human, be selfish, or make mistakes.  I feel the author chose to make Grace and her parents religious as it adds much more to the shock value, and believe me, some of the things Grace’s parents do shocked me to the core, but it also irked me just the tiniest bit that it becomes a religious issue and not so much a human issue, anymore.  I don’t think that it was done intentionally, again, readers and publishers are always looking for shock value in novels, but even so, coming from a religious background, I did view it as a bit of a dig at religion. 

No matter what, disowning a child should never happen, and I definitely was livid and angry, and didn’t want Grace to ever speak to her parents again, let alone forgive them, but then again, that just goes to show how religion can also be a healing power, allowing Grace to be the bigger person.  So, basically what I’m trying to say is, I dislike how the novel seems to look down on religious people, but at the same time, this is such a well written, well-rounded story that smoothes itself out in the end.  And, I highly recommend this novel to all!  Four and a half stars.

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.

__________________________________________________________________

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

___________________________________________________________________

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.

___________________________________________________________________

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

___________________________________________________________________

Contacts:

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

______________________________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________________________

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.
***
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.

______________________________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________________________

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

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

______________________________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________________________

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)

King Henry Price is twenty-two, a recent graduate of the Asylum as an Artificer. With the special ability to create lasting items of the Mancy, he’s spurned the Artificer’s Guild and struck out on his own to found an Artificer workshop looking to do things his way. One night, a vampire baroness claiming she’s named Anne Boleyn walks into his shop, telling King Henry he’s going to help her, and she’s not taking ‘no’ for an answer. King Henry is pretty sure the whole name thing is just a joke, but only pretty sure…

_________________________________________________________

Unfortunately, this novel is just not for me.  I was intrigued by the premise, and I really enjoyed the back and forth nature of the narration, where the narrator tells readers about his life at 14 and then switches to his current life, but the language and humor isn’t my style.

King Henry Price has had a difficult life, and I understand the angst and hatred he carries, but his obsession with sex, the middle finger, and words for certain body parts, both male and female, put me off of the story as a whole. Now, I do think the novel is very well written, and the characterization is also done very well.  In fact, King Henry is probably more true to life than I care to admit, but he also isn’t someone I’d surround myself with in real life, so listening to him cuss and make lude and crude comments throughout was much more than I could handle. Maybe I should have realized this might be the case based on the title, but I really wasn’t thinking “foul mouth” as in lude and crude to the level that this novel takes it.  A little bit of this is always tolerable and can even be funny, but King Henry just takes it over the top and it was too much for me, and I’m sorry to say that I, personally, can only give it one and a half star.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Will Reychel learn to control her gift or will she be forced to deliver a false prophecy that could lead her people into a violent war?

_____________________________________________

This second novel in the Cloud Prophet Trilogy is much more refined and solid than the first, Anathema.  Jensen has slowed the story down, and the development of the characters takes the forefront, allowing the story to flow together more seamlessly while providing readers with an easily understandable story that is highly enjoyable.

Reychel, a former slave, is now free and in a rival nation, hiding her abilities until the “right time.”  Believed to be the Cloud Prophet, though not entirely sure herself, Reychel must figure out the truth about the prophecy before she claims her heritage.  The main problem is, nothing makes sense, and her abilities seem to be waning, thus, she may be forced to lie to the nation in order to set things in motion, and save those she holds dear, but Reychel struggles with the thought that her lies could end in bloodshed. 

What I really enjoyed about this novel is the mystery surrounding the original Cloud Prophet.  Jensen sheds light on his life and his truths as the story progresses, and as it turns out, nothing is as it seems. I was surprised on many an occasion as I read, and I really enjoyed learning the truth alongside Reychel, even though that truth isn’t necessarily a good one.  And, of course, the mystery behind the betrayals within the castle also spurred me on as I read!  Add in the magical aspects, such as invisible threads leading to portals (which I thought was ingenious), and this story really turns out to be a great read!  This world Jensen has created holds many a mystery, and the magical realm really helped pull me into the story and connect to the characters, who are now very well fleshed out and much more likable.

I really enjoyed seeing Reychel grow into herself in this novel, especially with all the threats that crop up around her.  In the first novel, she seems a bit more sporadic and easily led astray, whereas in this novel she has a much better head on her shoulders, taking matters into her own hands and selflessly attempting to save the world.  She’s a great young heroine, and I’m excited to see where the rest of the story leads in the final novel of the trilogy.  So, if you’ve read the first novel and weren’t sure whether to pick up the next installment for whatever reason, I believe you should definitely give it a go.  The series definitely gets better!  Four stars.