New Update!

Hello everyone. All of my Reviews, that I have yet to write, will be posted sporadically during the summer. After the end of this summer, I will not be posting on here anymore, as you will see the info on the right side of the blog.
Thanks for your understanding.

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Cover Reveal: Forty Days (Neima’s Ark, Book One) by Stephanie Parent!


Forty Days (Neima’s Ark, Book One)
By Stephanie Parent
Release Date: 02/12/13
Genre: YA
Cover Artist: Najla Qamber

Summary from Goodreads:
The entire village knows Neima’s grandfather is a madman.  For years the old man has prophesied that a great flood is coming, a flood disastrous enough to blot out the entire earth.  He’s even built an enormous ark that he claims will allow his family to survive the deluge.  But no one believes the ravings of a lunatic…

…until the rain starts.  And doesn’t stop. 

Soon sixteen-year-old Neima finds her entire world transformed, her life and those of the people she loves in peril.  Trapped on the ark with her grandfather Noah, the rest of her family, and a noisy, filthy, and hungry assortment of wild animals, will Neima find a way to survive?

With lions, tigers, and bears oh my, elephants and flamingos too, along with rivalries and betrayals, a mysterious stowaway, and perhaps even an unexpected romance, Forty Days is not your grandfather’s Noah’s Ark story.

Forty Days is approximately 45000 words, the length of a shorter novel, and is the first installment in a two-part epic story.  It does contain a cliffhanger ending.
Readers looking for a traditional, religiously oriented version of the Noah’s Ark story should be warned that Forty Days may not appeal to them.  The novel will, however, appeal to lovers of apocalyptic fiction, historical fiction, and romance, as well as anyone who’s ever dreamed of having a baby elephant as a pet.

About the Author:
Stephanie Parent is a graduate of the Master of Professional Writing program at USC and attended the Baltimore School for the Arts as a piano major. She moved to Los Angeles because of Francesca Lia Block's WEETZIE BAT books, which might give you some idea of how much books mean to her. She also loves dogs, books about dogs, and sugary coffee drinks both hot and cold.

Author Links:

The Seeds of a Daisy By: Alison Caiola *Author Interview*



Book
Description
(From Goodreads)

From the outside looking in, Lily Lockwood, popular star of the hit TV show St. Joe’s, has it all. Recently nominated for an Emmy, her star is definitely on the rise. She shares her gorgeous Malibu beachfront home with her even more gorgeous actor boyfriend. Perfect, right? Not so much! Within a matter of just a few days, it all falls apart. The wind is knocked out of her when she finds out that her boyfriend, on location shooting a western, is riding horses all day and his curvy co-star all night. Before Lily can catch her breath, she gets word that her mother, best-selling author Daisy Lockwood, is in intensive care after a near-fatal accident. Lily flies across the country to be by her side. The girl, who has a hard time deciding if her Chai Latte should be Grande or Venti, is now faced with making crucial life and death decisions. While rifling through Daisy’s papers, she comes across shocking information about her mother that threatens to shake her very foundation. Lily embarks on a journey of self-discovery and closure as she seeks to unlock the mysteries of her mother’s past.




My Interview with Alison Caiola, author of The Seeds of a Daisy



Tell us a little about you : )

I was born in New York and spent most of my adult life in California. I’m currently living back on the east coast and absolutely despise winter (this is being written during a deep freeze—it’s 9 degrees Fahrenheit outside. Yuck!)I am a mom to my son JD Daniels, who is an actor and has been since he was a child.

I’m an author, screenwriter and producer and love all aspects of the literary world and entertainment industry. I have a daughter-dog named Emma, a Malti-Poo who has me wrapped around her little finger. . .I mean paw.

What inspired you to write The Seeds of a Daisy?

I have been in different facets of the entertainment industry for over twenty-five years. The story is about a young actress, whose mother is a writer who is in a coma after a near-fatal accident.  I thought an insider view of Hollywood would make a great story. 

Also, I had just gone through a rough time, caring for my mom when she was ill, so I wanted to put in the element of not only deep ties between mother and daughter but also thought it would be interesting to investigate what would happen if a dependent daughter is thrown into being main caregiver and life and death decision maker.

How long did it take to write?

I started the book in February 2005 and finished the very last edit in December 2011. I put the book down for six months at one point.

When and how did you come up with this story?

I started off with the premise of delving into relationships-- between lovers, between parents and children and between friends. I used Hollywood as a backdrop and I planted those seeds (pun intended) and ideas sprouted and grew from there. There was much in the book inspired by my real-life events.

In general, how do you come up with your story ideas?

Usually something that I see, an event or an experience sparks my ideas.

Which character(s) were the most fun writing?

Of course I love ALL my characters and they were each fun in different ways. I LOVED writing the argument scenes between Jamie and Lily I wanted to make sure that it felt real and true to life. Fernando’s character was fun writing, because he is so emotional and so fabulous. Young Daisy during the flashback scenes was also fun. It gave me the opportunity to speak as a pre-teen and then teenager and imagine what she was feeling during those crucial times. And of course Lily’s adventure through the book was the most enjoyable of all. Being that it is written present tense, first person, I really became intimate with her character and all the emotions that she was feeling.

Did you have to research, and if yes, how was that process?

The Hollywood aspect I didn’t have to do much research about, but the medical portion of the book took a lot of research. I spoke to many people in the medical field and asked questions along the way.  I read medical journals and did lots of googling!

Are there any messages that you want your readers to see? What is that?

The messages that I hope come through are that we all are incredibly resilient and that growth can come as a result of the most painful of times.

Which actors do you see playing the main characters?

I could see Emma Stone playing Lily and Diane Lane playing her mom Daisy. Marissa Tomei  as Daisy’s best friend Donna. I could also see Josh Harnett as Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Jamie. If that were to happen I would be the happiest person on the planet.

When did you first realize that you wanted to become a writer?

I just wrote a blog about that! I knew I wanted to be a writer when I was about seven or eight years old. I used to devour books and I decided that one day I wanted to be a storyteller and place the right words side by side, fill up countless empty pages and finally release the stories that were spinning around in my head

Is there a place you especially like to write?

I usually write in my living room.  My computer sits on my lap and I sit on a beautiful, overstuffed couch. On my right there are large windows that overlook my garden and I get to see and hear the many birds that visit my feeders throughout the day. In front of me,  is a sliding glass door that looks out over a beautiful pond,  Emma usually sprawls out on the ottoman watching me work. It’s a peaceful room and allows me to relax and let the creativity flow uninterrupted.

What are you currently working on?

I am working on a sequel to The Seeds of a Daisy entitled The Seeds of a Lily.  The story continues and  follows Lily through the next phase of her life and all the adventures, joys and drama that she experiences.

I am also writing and producing The Tyme Chronicles TV series which is a new action packed series about two close friends (Ex Special Ops) who, with their family, create an organization "Heroes 4 Hire" and go undercover to work with the CIA and FBI. It's buddy movie funny and the romance component and family dynamic really tug at the heartstrings.

For aspiring writers, do you have any advice for them?

I would tell them to hone their craft and never be afraid to delve into themselves; using their emotions and experiences as writing tools.

What are your favorite genres to read?

I really enjoy a good mystery and love reading generational women’s fiction. I also enjoy biographies and historic novels. Throw in a few good chick lits and I’m good to go.

What are you currently reading? What are you reading now?

I recently wrote an article for Boating Times, Long Island and interviewed  Tania Aebi who wrote the biography Maiden Voyage. When she was eighteen years old she solo circumnavigated the globe. This novel chronicles her adventure. Even though I read it several times in the past, I am currently rereading it.

Do you have a favorite film? What is it?

I adore Out of Africa, the story is unique, the cinematography is gorgeous and of course the actors are stellar.

Film you are looking forward to see in theaters?

Because of the book signing tour and editing the television show, I am a bit behind on my movies. My son JD was in Les Miserable on Broadway, so it is a favorite of mine. I can’t wait to see the movie. I’m also interested in seeing Silver Linings Playbook, Gangster Squad and Django Unchained.

What TV show do you have to see on a daily basis?

The shows that I watch faithfully are Homeland, Nashville, Sons of Anarchy and almost every single competition reality show. The Voice, Top Chef and Project Runway—I’m obsessed with them all. 

Location of place you have never visited, but really want to go to someday?

I would love to go on safari in Africa and also experience The Galapagos.

(This is if you watch the Oscars) Do you have any picks for winners for this upcoming Academy Awards?

I think Daniel  Day Lewis and Sally Field were incredible in Lincoln.

Thank you so much for answering my Qs! ~Marissa

My pleasure. Let me know if you need anything else.xo Alison


Author Bio & Social Media Links
Alison Caiola's many years in Hollywood, first as a PR Executive and then as a writer, makes her qualified to write about the entertainment industry and the behind-the-scenes craziness that ofte it often spawns.

Like Daisy, the mother in The Seeds of a Daisy, her son JD Daniels is a successful and award-winning actor. Alison recently wrote, directed, and produced the television series The Tyme Chronicles. She currently resides on the beautiful North Fork of Long Island with her Malti-Poo daughter-dog Emma, surrounded by vineyards, farms, and wonderful friends.

twitter: AlisonMCaiola
Now available for sale hard copy and kindle Amazon.com
Barnesandnoble.com and on iTunes.

Feature & Follow *14*


Feature & Follow is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee & Alison Can Read. The purpose is to meet people and gain more followers in the book blogging community.

Q: What is the first thing you would do if you woke up to find yourself in your favorite book? 

Wow, this is definitely a good Q! I like it :)
Hmm well, I have two choices, and two different series in my mind. The most obvious is Harry Potter, because come on, I would love to spend a day or two at Hogwarts. The first thing I would do from my bed, is direct it to fetch my clothes for the day, and it would land at my feet lol Yeah, I would be a little lazy, come to think of it; that's why I would spend little time there, but enough, to enjoy my favorite fictional world :)

Oh, and the other series in mind, is well, you know I have featured this on this meme for quite some time now, but from the Thoughtless Trilogy, I would wake up to have some coffee with the hottest guy, in my opinion, from the D-Bags Band, Kellan Kyle of course! It would be fun, to just be Kiera, if I woke up to be her, and have Kellan at my side...hmmm :)

Now, What About You?

P.S. This is Just Random but I Find It Necessary to put out there, that S.C. Stephens will reveal the 2nd Chapter of Reckless (Book 3!) when she gets 25,000 Likes on her FB, and she's like over 200 Likes Away so Click Here To Check Out Her FB Page And Hopefully You'll Like It!


Flight (The Crescent Chronicles #1) By: Alyssa Rose Ivy *Book Excerpt & Giveaway*


Thanks for stopping by! The Book Description for Focus (Book 2) will be down below, but the Book Excerpt & (INT) E-Book Giveaway is for Flight, Book 1 in The Crescent Chronicles, so hope you participate, thanks! :)

Flight Book Description
(From Goodreads)

Sometimes you just have to take flight.

A summer in New Orleans is exactly what Allie needs before starting college. Accepting her dad’s invitation to work at his hotel offers an escape from her ex-boyfriend and the chance to spend the summer with her best friend. Meeting a guy is the last thing on her mind—until she sees Levi.

Unable to resist the infuriating yet alluring Levi, Allie finds herself at the center of a supernatural society and forced to decide between following the path she has always trusted or saving a city that might just save her.



Purchase



Flight Book Excerpt

I glanced up. Intense gray-blue eyes stared back at me, as I recognized the guy from the hotel. Surprised to see him again, I merely nodded before bringing the shot to my lips.
 “What was that?” I spat out while the liquor continued to burn my throat.
“A jaeger shot.” He laughed lightly. “Feeling better?”
“Yeah. I can’t believe I did that.” I peered over my shoulder at the stage where another group was starting their rendition of Time of my Life.
“It really wasn’t so bad. It was more entertaining than if Cyndi Lauper performed it herself.” Raking his eyes from my toes back up to my face, he spent an annoying amount of time studying my legs. Long legs were nice, but not when they attracted the wrong type of attention. Normally I would call a guy on mentally undressing me, but I was too busy taking my own inventory. Finished, I glanced around for Jess but couldn’t see her in the crowd.
“So, thanks for the shot, but I need to find my friend.”
“Hey, you can’t run off on me again.” He didn’t say it like a question, more like a demand and it annoyed me. “Besides, your friend appears to be unavailable.”
I followed his gaze and noticed Jess flirting with Dave again. “Run off on you again? That implies we have run into each other before.” I tried for coy; I wasn’t going to let this guy unnerve me. Sure, he had the most amazing set of eyes I had ever seen, but I wasn’t interested.
“I saw you at the Crescent City Hotel this afternoon, but you took off before I could say hello.” He leaned in closer to me, trying to be heard over the loud music.
“Oh, I didn’t notice you.”
He smiled, ignoring my comment. “You here for vacation?”
“I’m here for work actually, at the hotel.”
“Are you around for the whole summer then?”
I allowed myself to really look at him. My earlier estimate of his height was dead on; he was much taller than my 5 feet 9 inches.
I finally answered. “Yeah, I’m here until I start school in the fall.”
“All right, so where are you going to school?”
“Princeton.” I braced myself for his response.
“Nice,” he said in a way that suggested he wasn’t impressed.
“You in school?” 
“Yeah, I’m going to be a senior at Tulane.”
“Oh, so you live here?”
“Born and raised,” he said proudly.
“I didn’t think locals hung out at places like this.”
“We don’t usually, but they’re great spots to meet girls from out of town.”
I shook my head. “Ah, so you’re one of them.”
“One of who?”
“The type to prey on innocent tourists.”
“Innocent tourists? You make me sound like the big bad wolf.”
“And you’re not?” I questioned.
“Only if you’re Red Riding Hood,” he said flirtatiously.
“Wow, that’s original.” I caught myself staring at his eyes again and decided it was time to end the conversation. “Well, nice talking to you.”
“Hey, I didn’t even get your name yet.”
“Allie.”
“Is that short for Allison?”
“Yes, but no one calls me Allison.” I cursed myself. Why couldn’t I just walk away from this guy? I briefly regretted my decision to swear off men because if I hadn’t this one would be exactly my type: tall, strong, and confident. He was exactly the kind to avoid.



Focus Book Description
(From Goodreads)

Freshman year of college is hard even when you're not tied to the future king of a supernatural society.

Allie dives into college head first with Hailey as her roommate and the city of New Orleans as her backyard. As things within The Society heat up, Allie realizes that whether she’s with Levi or not, she's in far too deep to turn back.


Purchase



Author Bio & Social Media Links
Alyssa Rose Ivy is a Young Adult and New Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.

--Author Websitehttp://www.alyssaroseivy.com/



Giveaway Details & Rules

- This is an International Giveaway!
- Ends February 17th!
- There Will Be 1 E-Book Copy Given Away of Flight (Book 1), picked by Rafflecopter!
- I will be Checking the Entries Regularly, so if there is Cheating, those Entries Will be Disqualified
- As you submit Entries, be sure to use an Email that you use Daily, as that is how I will contact you, if you Win.
- You will have 48 hours to Respond, or I will have to Choose a New Winner!
- And Good Luck! :)




*Book Blast* Silver-White by Shawn Underhill


Silver-White by Shawn Underhill

“The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep.”
~ Robert Frost

*Evie’s family has been holding out on her …

Big time.

On an unexpected visit to her grandparents’ house in New Hampshire’s secluded North Woods, the sixteen-year-old literally runs into the truth of the long-hidden family secrets, and finds herself thrust without warning into the clandestine world of the Great North Pack—a wild and exhilarating world of rugged beauty, heart-pounding adventures, and long nights running under a sea of stars … but as she’s set to discover, a world also fraught with potential dangers lurking in the shadows.


Praise
 "Simply put, this book was amazing. I've read more fantasy novels than than I can count, but this one is certainly one of the best. The heroine isn't some wishy-washy pansy that screams at everything, and the focus of the story isn't on some unbelievably beautiful teenage girl who suddenly becomes the biggest, baddest member of her species falling in love with some big, bad, sexy member of her newfound species. It's about a girl becoming something she never knew existed, finding her place within the pack family she values more than ever before, and an age-old feud that threatens everything she loves." ~Morgan


Purchase ~ just .99 cents



Author Shawn Underhill

Shawn is a part-time writer from New Hampshire, where he spends his free time hiking in the mountains, camping, racing dirt bikes, or anything else that keeps him outdoors. Dogs are his very favorite people. He is also the author of the novel All Things Different.










BookBlast $100 Giveaway
$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 2/13/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Indigo Awakening (The Hunted #1) By: Jordan Dane *Promo Post & Giveaways*

*Click The Tour Banner To Check The Tour Schedule*

Book Description


Indigo Awakening (The Hunted #1)
Release Date: 12/18/12
Paperback/e-book
304 pages

Trailer Link: 
http://youtu.be/cwAJAU3azRU


(From Goodreads)

Because of what you are, the Believers will hunt you down.

Voices told Lucas Darby to run. Voices no one else can hear. He’s warned his sister not to look for him, but Rayne refuses to let her troubled brother vanish on the streets of LA. In her desperate search, she meets Gabriel Stewart, a runaway with mysterious powers and far too many secrets. Rayne can’t explain her crazy need to trust the strange yet compelling boy—to touch him—to protect him even though he scares her.

A fanatical church secretly hunts psychic kids—gifted “Indigo” teens feared to be the next evolution of mankind—for reasons only “the Believers” know. Now Rayne’s only hope is Gabe, who is haunted by an awakening power—a force darker than either of them imagine—that could doom them all.






Indigo Awakening – Character Bios & Actor Images
There is a fuller cast of characters in Indigo Awakening (Book #1 in the Hunted series), but here are the bios of the main ones in the order in which they appear in the book. It was especially fun to have more boys to write and it became a challenge to give each one a unique voice that I could hear in my head. I have fallen in love with each of them and worry that they won’t come out of this unscathed in some way. I’m writing book #2 now – Crystal Fire – and I am definitely worried.
Gabriel Stewart is eighteen and has a faint British accent. He’s tall and well-built, with long hair and honey amber eyes. He looks like a rocker and is partial to wearing T-shirts from local rock bands in LA and hoodie sweatshirts to cover his face when he doesn’t want to be seen. Gabe has a very mysterious past that will unfold during the series. For part of his childhood, he was “on the run” with his mother, Kathryn, and led a very strange nomadic life in their chosen line of work (which I can’t talk about without spoilers). Gabriel is the most powerful Crystal child. He thought he was an Indigo, like his British mother, but after he meets Lucas’s sister, Rayne, and links to the collective hive mind through Lucas (another Crystal child), he is gripped by a metamorphosis that he can’t stop. He can connect his consciousness through animals and the dead, but his powers evolve into much more. I can’t say too much about his abilities without giving away strong elements to the story, but Gabe is seriously cool. His faithful companion is his dead dog, Hellboy.


About The Author
Bestselling, critically-acclaimed author Jordan Dane’s gritty romantic thrillers are ripped from the headlines with vivid settings, intrigue, and dark humor. Publishers Weekly compared her intense novels to Lisa Jackson, Lisa Gardner, and Tami Hoag, naming her debut novel NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM as Best Books of 2008. She also pens young-adult novels for Harlequin Teen. Formerly an energy sales manager, she now writes full time. Jordan and her husband share their Texas residence with two cats of highborn lineage and two lucky rescue dogs.

Social Media Links

Thriller/Crime Fiction Blogs

YA Blogs


Giveaways!

HarlequinTEEN prize pack, includes (US only):
·         INDIGO AWAKENING by Jordan Dane
·         ON A DARK WING by Jordan Dane
·         IN THE ARMS OF STONE ANGELS by Jordan Dane
·         THE JULIET SPELL by Douglas Rees
·         BELONGING by Karen Ann Hopkins (ARC)
·         DANCERGIRL by Carol M. Tanzman
·         2 Harlequin notebooks

4 Infinity Bracelets: (US only)
For anyone who has read an advance copy of INDIGO AWAKENING, you know that a silver infinity bracelet plays an important part in the story. Special bracelets will be given away on the virtual tour so the lucky winners will be part of Rafael’s street family. Rafe’s bracelet was in black leather, but I’ve added a white leather braid as my personal remembrance to you for being in MY family.

-1 audio book of In the Arms of Stone Angels. Digital download only. (International)


a Rafflecopter giveaway
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