Book Tour: Ready to Go by Stephanie Mann

Ready To Go

Author: Stephanie Mann

Release Date: 11/12/13

Published by: Swoon Romance

Summary

Daniel is sick of his wonderfully boring and predictable life. He dutifully gets up every morning, goes to class, goes to work, and it never changes. He does, says and even wears exactly what others expect of him. He's so predictable that he barely notices just how unhappy he truly is.

One afternoon, everything changes when David meets a girl on the run from her own demons. She doesn't need Daniel's help, but he offers and she accepts--setting a course for an adventure neither will soon forget.

Together, on an impromptu road trip, two strangers become friends and a bit more, all while facing money problems, car problems, and tourist traps and the naked truth: they can't run forever.

Will they finally stop running long enough to discover true and lasting love?

Review

Ready to Go was a cute story. I did have a little trouble pegging the genre because the characters are almost to old for it to be considered a young adult piece, yet they're a little on the young side for a romance novel. To me, it seems like it is floating somewhere in the middle. Both characters had their "young" moments where they acted more like teenagers, but they also had some "grow-up" moments too, where they acted beyond their years. (After some googling and reading, I think it's referred to as NA. Before I joined the blogging world, I never heard of that catergory.)

It was a quick read. That's not to say the writing is simplistic. It was short and sweet. Two young adults, one in college and one not, take off on a trip. Daniel is looking for a little change, and the girl he meets is just trying to get somewhere far away from home. The idea that someone can just drop their life for a day or two like Daniel does is lovely. Everyone wants to do it at some point. It's a romantic idea.

There were some times where I was concerned about Daniel's intentions, though. There were some parts where he was noticing her physical "assets" a little more than I think most narrators would admit, and sometimes it was at weird moments where it didn't feel as ..natural. There are also a few places where the description takes a little longer than helps the story flow - there is a scene in a library that takes the reader a little out of it because the unnecessary length of it.

I could have used a little more, though. I wanted there to be more when I reached the end. It was a sweet, "coming of age", road trip romance that is easy to read and easy to enjoy.

Rating

About the Author

Stephanie Mann lives in Massachusetts. Besides writing, she spends her free time working with fan conventions. She loves to travel, and has visited many tourist traps along the way. READY TO GO is Stephanie Mann's first novel.

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Book Blitz and Giveaway: Alive by Megan D. Martin

Alive

Series: Crave #1

Author: Megan D. Martin

Genre: New Adult, Post-Apocalyptic, Romance

Release Date: November 22nd, 2013

Available from:

Synopsis

Flesh-eating zombies, dirty sex, and a shattered past…

What’s more dangerous—the man who broke her heart or those trying to eat it?

Fighting to survive, Eve finds herself alone in the world after the Crave—the only parallel of her former life. On the hunt for her sister, she runs into Gage—the first and only boy to have her heart and break it. It’s been four years and he isn’t a boy anymore, nor is he the same person he used to be. Against her better judgment, Eve agrees to stay with him when he divulges information on a safe haven near the small town they grew up in—but that doesn’t mean she has to like it…

Returning home elicits a myriad of emotions that both Eve and Gage thought they had buried. The past and present collide and they are forced to the face bitter deceits that ruined them in the before and threaten to destroy them now…

Excerpt

He jerked her body forward as she struggled against his iron grip. He didn’t stop until he had her back pressed against the decaying wall of the old wooden building with her backpack scrunched painfully in between.

“I know what you need, Eve. You need me.” White-hot heat stabbed through her body like a knife. She fought the urge to rub against him. No, don’t let him control your body like this! “You can deny it all you want. You can escape and head to Eden on your merry way. I know you know where it is. I know you don’t need some fucking tour guide.” His words were vicious, his gray eyes brighter than moments before.

“Then why won’t you let me go? Huh?” She choked the words out, hoping he didn’t notice how he affected her.

“You don’t know what’s out there.”

About the Author

Megan D. Martin is a multi-published author, mother, student and editor. In her spare time she enjoys decorating her house with strange things that do not match, playing her old school Nintendo Entertainment System, and buying fish for her many fish tanks.

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Book Tour Promo: The Star Catcher by Stephanie Keyes

The Star Catcher

Author: Stephanie Keyes

Series: The Star Child #3

Release Date: Fall 2013

Published by: Inkspell Publishing

Summary

Magick and destiny intertwine as he fights to save his kingdom and the goddess he loves.
Her kiss…the feel of her skin…the beat of her heart…For seventeen-year-old Kellen St. James, each memory is marred by a single sentence on a lone strip of paper.

Cali has been taken…

Armed with an amulet that channels the ultimate power of Faerie, Kellen searches for his love. However, control of the amulet’s energy comes with a price, and Kellen soon learns that Cali’s captor has plans for the stone. With the threat of the Star Catcher’s evil looming above Kellen and his kingdom, he’ll have to free the Heart of Faerie and break the curse the binds the Children of Danu to the darkness. But before that, he has to find his real father, the king. No pressure, right?

Kellen and Cali will battle bewitched armies and unknown foes as they fight to stay together. Will Kellen embrace his immortal destiny? Or will his world, and the man he is fated to become, be destroyed by The Star Catcher?

Read the books that started it all... Click on each of the covers below to learn more...

Book 1

Book 1.5

Book 2

Book 3

The Trailer

Interested to learn more about The Star Catcher? Check out the cool trailer from the award-winning, Kristen Kress of BrainFry Productions!

Star Catcher Book Trailer from Brain Fry Productions on Vimeo.

Featured Playlist Song

There is this one part where Gabe and Kellen, linked via telepathic communication, are entering a castle to try and find Kellen's real father, the king. Every door they try leads to danger and they could be wiped out at any moment. While Cali files to keep an unseen force at bay, Kellen searches for the man who could be their last hope. What other band could capture this, but Muse? Supremecy fit the bill perfectly.

Weeds grew from cracks in the stone, sprouting out at odd angles. A low wall sat a hundred yards to my right. Weather or some other element had contributed to a slow crumbling of the wall. Stray bits of it had broken off at some point. At each end of the courtyard stood a door. So you got here. What are you supposed to do? Gabe asked. “I haven’t exactly thought that far ahead.” Nice. “How about I try door number two, then?” I walked toward the door to the right. Turning, the knob, I opened it a crack and then slammed it immediately. I’d barely gotten an image of a raging fire and a face before I’d slammed it shut. What the H was that? “Exactly.” I moved through the courtyard to the other door.

About the Author

Stephanie Keyes has been addicted to Fantasy since she discovered T.H. White as a child and started drumming up incredible journeys in her head. Today, she's still doing the same thing, except now she gets to share those ideas with readers!

When she's not writing, Stephanie is also a graphic designer, international speaker, teacher, musician, avid reader, and Mom to two little boys who constantly keep her on her toes. In addition, she's best friend to her incredible husband of eleven years.

Mrs. Keyes holds an undergraduate degree in Business and Management Information Systems from Robert Morris University and a M.Ed. from Duquesne University. She is a member of the Society For Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), as well as a featured author in the global group of writers, Love a Happy Ending.com.

Keyes is the author of the YA Fantasy series, The Star Child, which currently includes The Star Child, After Faerie, The Fallen Stars, and the soon to-be-released finale, The Star Catcher (November 2013), all from by Inkspell Publishing. Mrs. Keyes is hard at work on a new YA Paranormal Romance.

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The Giveaway

So for this giveaway, we're releasing several cool items. Let me tell you about them!

• 1 The Star Child series E-book Pack (includes all three novels, plus the novelette, After Faerie)
• 2 The Star Catcher e-book
• 1 The Fallen Stars custom faerie bookmark
• 1 The Star Child series swag pack (contains bookmarks, and more!)

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Cover Reveal: The Fire Walker by Nicole R. Taylor

The Fire Walker

Author: Nicole R. Taylor

Series: Devil’s Tattoo #2

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Publication Date: December 16th 2013

Synopsis

Dylan “Dee” Cosgrove is one fourth of Australian band, The Devil’s Tattoo. Loveable, cocky as hell, but one thing is missing. He’s never been in love. He doesn’t want meaningless, he wants meaningful and all he keeps hearing is I’m sorry… Forever the good guy finishing last.

A year after their first tour, The Devil’s Tattoo are making it big in LA recording their next album. For Dee, all he wants is to stand on stage and play. After all, music is his first love. He could care less about the money and the fakery that comes with the LA scene and the big executive types with dollar signs in their eyes. But in walks the woman who is about to obliterate him and she’s one of them. So, what’s a guy to do when one look is all it takes?

Jessie Ware is an intern at Galaxy Records, New York. When she’s asked to go to LA to help her boss schmooze with the latest big thing to come out of Australia, The Devil’s Tattoo, it’s her chance to get her foot firmly wedged into the door. If she can pull this off, then there could be a permanent job in it. But she didn’t count on one thing. Dee Cosgrove and his cocky Australian attitude. He makes her question everything without even trying and it might just push her over the edge… if she doesn’t give her heart to him first.

The more Dee gets to know Jessie, the harder he falls and he’d walk over fire and back to win her over. That’s if she doesn’t deliver him straight into the ranks of the scarred and broken first.

—

The Fire Walker is a companion novel to The Devil’s Tattoo. It has a dose of drama, some colourful language, a HEA and some sex scenes.It’s recommended for readers 18 and up.

Book Trailer

About the Author

Nicole R. Taylor is an Australian born paranormal, fantasy and contemporary fiction author. She is a graduate of the University of Ballarat Professional Writing and Editing programme and is a former music memorabilia sales person and grocery merchandiser. She currently lives in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia with a two year old rescue cat named, Burger. She enjoys reading, writing (of course!), traveling and a little too much chocolate. One day she hopes to sky dive, but has to work up the courage first.

The first in her new paranormal fantasy series, The Witch Hunter Saga is available in e-edition and print from March 20th 2013

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Book Blitz and Giveaway: Reap by Christina Channelle

Reap

Author: Christina Channelle

Release Date: 10/11/13

Genre: YA, Paranormal Romance, Novella

Available from:

Synopsis

Foreign, or rather unfamiliar, would be the word I would use to describe how I felt.

Faintly, I could hear the glimmer of voices surrounding me in this dark haze, caressing my ears like skin against silk. I felt like I was in a cocoon of sorts, protectively enveloped, quietly drifting in some far-off place. I wanted to stay that way forever.

But we all know that what you want never really seems to happen in the real world.

Something’s not right in Mia’s head.

The first thing is that her name isn’t Mia. In fact, she has no clue what her name is—who she is. All that she knows is that she’s not like the ones who found her: Dante with his kind blue eyes, Amy with her child-like demeanor, James with his questioning gaze.

And Briggs.

The one she cannot decipher no matter how hard she tries.

As Mia tries to fit in with these people, a strange occurrence is amidst outside. And as she finally remembers who she is …

Well, let’s just say that things get a little more complicated.

Excerpt

I opened my eyes but had to squeeze them shut against the harsh lights. My lids felt swollen, heavy with fatigue. My eyes burned, tears leaking from their corners. It was the most uncomfortable of feelings.

I must have been dreaming.

“Hello?”

Although the word seemed alien to me, almost as if I had never heard it before, I instantly understood its meaning. The voice that had spoken was warm, making me feel as if I were suddenly sitting in front of a fireplace, wrapped in a heavy blanket, flames crackling. The heat of the word practically licked my skin.

Again, I tried opening my eyes, this time a bit more cautiously. Blinking, I slowly adjusted to the artificial lights, now able to see.

I found myself staring back into a pair of bright blue eyes, a look of wariness in their depths. For a brief moment I couldn’t look away as I stared up at him. Then he cleared his throat and glanced away, as if uncomfortable with my gaze. With the spell of his eyes broken, it was then that I noticed I was lying on the ground—no, on hardwood floor. And with not one, but three interested faces peering down at me.

I sat up, then winced at the abruptness of my movement, bringing my hand to the back of my head.

Pain, my mind whispered.

“Careful now.”

I directed my eyes toward the person who had spoken such kind words. It was the first person I had noticed, the one with the blue eyes and the warm voice. His voice was deep and calming, and as I sat there I tried to think of the emotion I should be experiencing. Inhaling softly, I closed my eyes, ignored the painful throb in my head, and waited for the proper term to flutter into my mind.

Gratitude.

“Where did you come from?”

Satisfied I had found the correct word, I opened my eyes again to the voice speaking to me. It was a pleasant voice, reassuring to say the least, and immediately captured my attention.

At that moment, I didn’t notice the black hair atop his head, a striking contrast against his blue eyes that looked like I was staring into an ocean. I didn’t notice that the corners of his eyes crinkled up when he smiled kindly at me, complementing the single dimple in his right cheek. By just looking at him, anyone could tell that he was someone who knew how to laugh. But I didn’t notice any of that.

All those things I would notice later.

About the Author

A dreamer, Christina Channelle holds two degrees in health sciences but has always had a passion for writing. You will find her reading other young adult novels, or typing up a new story on her computer. When not writing, Christina spends her free time at the movies, listening to music, or eating sushi. She’s a reality TV junkie and has a close relationship with many characters on TV that have been a topic of many heated discussions among friends. She resides in Ontario, Canada.

Other Books by Christina Channelle

Blood Crave Series:
Dahlia
Fallen Tears, A Blood Crave Novella
Rowan

Novellas/Short Stories
Dealing With It
Those Four Letter Words
Reap

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Book Tour: Run For the Roses by Rachel Schieffelbein

Run for the Roses

Author: Rachel Schieffelbein

Release Date: Release 11/2013

Published by: Swoon Romance

Summary

Abigail Conrad has spent her whole life training for one goal: to win the roses at the Arabian Youth Nationals. She’s given up friends, a social life, and doesn’t have time to even think about guys -- much less date!
Now that she’s headed off to college in the fall, it’s her last chance to be a Youth National Champion, and she won’t let anything distract her from that dream.
Except maybe Chase, the older brother of Abigail's biggest rival. He’s charming, funny, and possibly Abigail's biggest problem. How can she focus on riding when her mind keeps wandering to Chase’s green eyes and confident smile?
With her dream on the line, Abigail had better learn to fight her growing attraction to Chase, or she might end up losing the roses and the guy.

Review

Let me start out by saying that this was such a cute story. I don't read a lot of young adult novels or ones with teenagers as the protagonist, but I enjoyed reading this one. Abigail is a sweet girl, and she is full of spunk. She works hard for what she wants, and I find that admirable

I have never seen horse competitions. I've ridden a horse or two in my life, but I don't know much about breeds, keeping a horse clean and happy, or teaching them to do tricks. It's obvious that Rachel Schieffelbein knows all about it, though. Through Abigail, she is able to show her knowledge and ability about horse showing. It isn't so technical that I had problems following it or needed clarification, but it isn't so easily explained that it sounds like sitting on a horse and looking pretty. Rachel does a good job balancing the two and making an uneducated reader follow along with ease.

All of a sudden, this handsome, charming boy walks into Abigail's life, and she doesn't know what to do about it. She really likes him, but he gets in the way of her concentration - not to mention being the brother of Abigail's biggest rival in the horse show world. Like most goal driven women, Abigail has a hard time letting go of control - even if it means love and finally having a boyfriend in her life. She has put so much of her time into her horse. A guy will just get in the way. Or will he?

Run For The Roses is an easy and interesting read. I would definitely suggest it to readers who enjoy YA or stories involving horses or romance.

Rating

About the Author

Rachel grew up in a tiny town in Minnesota. She still lives there, with her husband and their four kids. She coaches high school speech and theater, rides Arabian horses, reads as much as she can, and writes stories.

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Book Blitz and Giveaway: Run for the Roses by Rachel Schieffelbein

Run for the Roses

by Rachel Schieffelbein

Release Date: 11/2013

by Swoon Romance

Summary from Goodreads:

Abigail Conrad has spent her whole life training for one goal: to win the roses at the Arabian Youth Nationals. She’s given up friends, a social life, and doesn’t have time to even think about guys -- much less date!

Now that she’s headed off to college in the fall, it’s her last chance to be a Youth National Champion, and she won’t let anything distract her from that dream.

Except maybe Chase, the older brother of Abigail's biggest rival. He’s charming, funny, and possibly Abigail's biggest problem. How can she focus on riding when her mind keeps wandering to Chase’s green eyes and confident smile?

With her dream on the line, Abigail had better learn to fight her growing attraction to Chase, or she might end up losing the roses and the guy.

About the Author

Rachel grew up in a tiny town in Minnesota. She still lives there, with her husband and their four kids. She coaches high school speech and theater, rides Arabian horses, reads as much as she can, and writes stories.

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***GIVEAWAY***

1 - $10 Starbucks Gift Card & ebook of Run For the Roses (INT)

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