Sunday, September 30, 2012

The Chosen of Gaia by M. Mariz Blog Tour Stop

Fifteen-year-old Albert has just received an invitation that could transform his disappointing life completely – a chance to belong to an advanced and hidden society that only reveals itself to a select few.

Immersed in a new world of mind-boggling technology and intriguing peers, Albert will overcome his fears enough to ignore a few suspicious details. But soon he'll find his family dragged to the center of a scandal that threatens to tear them apart and erase their very identities.

A conflicted Albert must find the strength to challenge authority by relying on his newfound allies and gift for Revelation.

Prepare for adventure, humor and suspense in this fast-paced tale of a “normal” family striving for their place in a “perfect” world.

MY REVIEW

5 OF 5 CHOSEN GAIA

The Chosen Of Gaia ia a great read. I was excited when I was asked to read this book because I had never heard of it and I am so glad I was able to read it. This is such a great Dystopian book that I highly recommend it.

Gaia starts off with Albert and his family being chosen to to be a part of The Gaia Society. This is huge because no one can join you have to be chosen and accepted by the elders. As Albert learns everything is not what it seems he realizes he has a special gift. Albert has the gift of Revelation and once people find out things start to reveal themselves to Albert and his family.

See there are two societies The Gaia and The Raif clan. The Reif Clan believes The Chosen are impure and corrupted. They treat The chosen like they are the devil full of impurities. Albert finds out that his family is in trouble and someone wants to destroy them and erase their memories. As Albert learns to use his new gift he will have to hurry because he is in a race of time to get the revelation he needs to save his friends and family.

What will Albert do? Will he be able to save everyone? What will his revelation reveal? Come along for the greatest ride from another world where technology meets revelations. Where prejudices are the norm and change seems inevitable.

INTERVIEW WITH M. MARIZ

Today on A Diary of a Book Addict we have a special guest. Please welcome M. Mariz author of The Chosen of Gaia. I have to say that this was an absolute fun read for me. I have never read a story where you could be chosen to live in a place. It sort of reminded me of how the African tribes chose who will live where and who will do what job to tend to the field or the family. I loved every minute of this story. 

What inspired you to write this story? 

The main idea of the book came to me through a dream, when I was sixteen. But I was also inspired by my grandma, who passed away a few years ago. She was raised by her Portuguese mother in a farm and was very connected to nature. She knew a lot about plants and herbs; any health issues that we had she would have some natural medicine for it. She was also very superstitious, believing that dreams carry hidden messages. 

Can you share your Revelation Dream with us? 

I dreamed about a teen boy who was very lonely and dissatisfied with his own life. But one day he received an intriguing invitation that could bring the transformation he was waiting for: the chance to be part of an advanced and hidden society that only reveals itself to the specially selected. Unfortunately, my grandma woke me up that day, yelling that I was late for school, so the dream stopped at that moment. 

How did you come up with the idea of having a lottery to get into Gaia? 

Well it wasn’t exactly a lottery, although it may have been a lucky break for Albert. One inspiration was the common religious idea that we are constantly being watched by morally advanced “spirits” and that the ones who have a lifestyle in accordance with what they value will be granted a place in a “better world”. 

Is Albert fashioned after someone in your life? 

Albert is a mix of different people that I know who are very insecure and shy. They are naïve and pure-hearted at the same time, and that makes them suffer more but also seems to guide them along the right path.      

Where do you find your quiet place to write? 

I like to take a notebook outside and let the energy of the sun inspire me. Listening to calm music on my ipod and surrounded by the nature, I let my pen slide across the empty pages for a few hours. 

How do you like being a lawyer, actress, and writer? 

I love to tell stories and those three careers allow me to do that. 

Which do you prefer to do? 

I confess that I prefer to act or write. I can’t choose between those two, though. Both complete me and boost my happiness. 

What made you decide to write a YA book? 

The book was actually based on a script that I wrote early last year and that received great feedback from a major studio. Instead of submitting it to other studios, I decided to reinvent it as a novel, as it was the only way to express Albert’s often confused and vulnerable development. 

Are you a Kindle or a Nook girl? 

I’m a kindle girl. 

Do you take notes in a journal or on your computer when you write? 

I kind of have an old-fashioned preference for writing on a blank page first, which makes extra work for me, as later on I have to type everything on my laptop. 

Are you currently working on another book? 

I’m actually working on a romantic-comedy screenplay right now, entitled The Liars Club, but I’m taking notes on some ideas for my next book so I can start developing it before the end of the year. 

Thank you for stopping by and sharing with your readers. I look forward to reading more from you! 

Thank you for the opportunity!
M. Mariz is an actress, lawyer and writer with more than 20 plays produced. Her debut novel The Chosen of Gaia (Sept. 28, 2012) was inspired by her own Revelation dream.

Born in Rio de Janeiro and currently living in Southern California, Mariz writes screenplays and novels in both Portuguese and English. The artist has more than 15 years of acting experience, encompassing works in theater, television and movies. She has multiple plays and sketches featured in theaters, including a teenager play that was performed by young Brazilian celebrities all over the country, and has written many other plays for different Brazilian companies to present work-related themes in a funny, entertaining way.

She lives with her husband in Orange, California, where she is constantly developing ideas for new stories to tell.

Quick Glance

One

Sunday. The warm weather combined with the soft breeze of the early morning seemed to be holding the promise of some new and exciting adventure.

This was definitely the time for a change – a wave of boldness filled Albert’s lungs.

He was fifteen now, an age when things could finally start happening, if he could rise to the challenge.

Maybe he just needed to rely more on Ruth and ask for a “social intervention”. For the last couple of days they had been renting the beach house, his twin sister had learned kite surfing, won a hiking competition and even took to the sky in her first paragliding flight.

There she was on the ocean… swimming with her new friends… while he was sitting pathetically on the sand, wearing too much sunscreen, and holding an old book that he wasn’t even that interested in reading.

“Albert?” a soft voice interrupted his thoughts. The kindest voice he had ever known belonged to the sweetest person he could imagine – his mom, Sarah. “I’ve called your name more than five times already, but you didn’t even blink. Is everything okay?” Her bright green eyes were fixed on him, trying to decipher his thoughts.

“Yeah, I was just thinking about… this book. It’s very interesting…” he feigned.

He knew he couldn’t hide much from her, but there were a few things that he just preferred to keep to himself.

“I brought your lunch!” offered Sarah, handing him a plate with some chips and a hamburger.

“Uh-oh… Do you think Dad made it right this time?”

Hesitantly he grabbed the burger, while his mom sat next to him.

“Well… it’s better than the last time…” she said, glancing at Albert’s dad, Victor Klein, grilling in front of the house. Although clouds of dark smoke poured out of his makeshift grill, he seemed confident in his own performance. “Isn’t your dad the best?”

“He definitely should be prohibited from any kind of food preparation,” said Albert, his eyes frozen on his plate. His dad didn’t use to dedicate too much of his time to family events like these, so he would try to show a little support and appreciation. After a deep breath, he gathered the courage to take his first bite. Although his gag reflex was almost instantaneous, he had to disguise his difficulty in chewing and swallowing it, after noticing his dad’s glance. Albert gave him a quick thumbs up, and Victor smiled back, proudly.

“Soap seems to love it!” Sarah pointed to their basset hound, happily devouring a cooked patty that Victor had inadvertently dropped on the floor.

“Soap?” repeated Albert, discreetly spitting the food in a napkin. “He eats Ruth’s makeup and even my dirty socks! He doesn’t count!”

Sarah couldn’t hold back a smile; Albert definitely had a point. That same week she had already caught the dog eating lemons, red peppers and her toothbrush.

“Wait—what’s going on…?” Albert gasped, staring at the ocean.

The water seemed to rush away from the shoreline, as if sucked down a bath tub drain.

“Oh my God, Mom…” Albert stammered. “It’s a tsunami!”

A warning siren sounded. Life guards blew their whistles and yelled evacuation orders. Surfers started to swim back desperately. Parents ran looking for their children and children started to cry. Total chaos.

Sarah grabbed held Albert’s hands, in shock.

“Come on, we’ve got to get out of here!” instructed Albert, helping his mother to rise.

Albert scanned the horizon for Ruth. She was standing still, frozen, as if hypnotized by the retracting water.

“Ruth!” screamed Sarah.

“I’ll help her, Mom, go stay with Dad!” Albert instructed.

But it wasn’t easy struggling past the flow of people fleeing the beach. Like a terrified herd, they stampeded over everything and everyone in their path. His body seemed to be dragged by the others and a few times he ended up thrown on the sand along with crushed coolers and chairs.

When he finally got a hold of Ruth he knew it was too late. A colossal wave, perhaps thirty feet high, was roaring towards them. If they tried to run they would only make it a few steps. So he just stayed there, with one arm around her. His sprinting parents arrived just in time to join their embrace, and they huddled together, waiting for the water to wash everything away.

But it didn’t happen. The beach houses and palm trees were knocked down. All the people and their possessions left on the beach were washed away. But not them. When the tide had settled and the Klein family reopened their eyes, they found themselves completely alone on the sand. Alone, except for a gray-haired black man, just a few steps in front of them.

He approached and looked them each in the eye, one by one. Then he announced in a deep voice:

“You have been chosen.”

Albert woke up. His red hair was damp with sweat that had trickled onto his forehead. Trying to control his quick breathing, he looked at the alarm clock on a very organized nightstand: 5:30am.

It was so insanely real, so rich with details and emotions, even his thoughts in the dream were so… genuine.

As Albert got up and his feet reached for the floor, a dog’s sharp cry broke the absolute silence of the room.

“Sorry Soap!” whispered Albert, immediately caressing the dog, as an apology for squashing him.

“Quiet!” complained Ruth, sleeping across the hall… through their open doors he could make out the pile of clothes, cosmetics, purses and books on the floor around her bed. How could she live like that? He wondered.

He stumbled out towards the balcony followed faithfully by Soap.

The sun was beginning to rise, and the sky had that typical pale blue early morning color. Albert grabbed the old beach chair that was leaning against the iron bars, opened it and sat, taking a deep and reassuring breath.

“Another weird dream… that makes five now,” he thought, caressing Soap’s ears. Was the unconscious side of his brain trying to send some weird message with that dream, he wondered? Or was his conscious side just simplifying something that he already knew: life sucks.

Albert glanced at the sky, then sat up, startled, and rose from the chair.

The pale blue had been completely overwhelmed by reds. He rubbed his eyes. Still red! He stepped back, one foot and then another, but failed to notice Soap was once again in his way. He lost balance, and while he fell his arms smacked loudly against everything around him. Ruth woke up immediately and screamed. Soap barked instinctively.

For a few seconds Albert remained lying on the floor, with half of his body inside the bedroom, half in the balcony.

WHERE TO FIND M. MARIZ




Brooklyn Love by Yael Levy Interview With Yael Levy

For any young woman, it can be hard to follow the rules … especially when you’re falling in love.
But for Rachel, Hindy, and Leah, it’s especially hard. Because as Orthodox Jews, they live by a whole different set of rules. No touching a guy—any guy!—before marriage. No dating—unless they are considering marriage—and then, only marrying a man who rates high on their parents’ checklists.

All Rachel’s mother wants for her daughter is to see that her daughter marries well. Naturally, this is where the rich, Columbia University educated lawyer comes in. The problem is, Rachel’s already found a guy who makes her heart race. A Rabbi. But how could a struggling Rabbi possibly give Rachel the security her mother demands?

Hindy is very pious and only wants to marry a Talmud scholar. The problem is, she’s in love with an Orthodox Jewish guy she works with. How long can she keep saying no when her heart says yes? And will she be able to stick to her values amidst temptation?

Leah wants to be a doctor, but her mother insists she study computers even though she hates computers. Her mom, a struggling immigrant, has fixed ideas about the course to success and marriage—which doesn’t include any of Leah’s wishes. What will it take for Leah to break out of her mom’s—and community’s—expectations and follow her dreams?

In Brooklyn Love, three Orthodox Jewish women who are caught between crushing guilt of defying their mothers and their desire to be “normal” are there for each other as they try to figure out who they really are … and what they really want.

INTERVIEW WITH YAEL LEVY

Today we have a special visitor with us Yael Levy author of Brooklyn Love. I have to say I read this book is six hours and I just did not want it to end. I laughed and cried reading this book. It’s funny how our parents want us to love who they want but we ending loving who we think is a compromise to our parents. This is a story about finding one’s self and where love takes you. Yael thank you so much for stopping by and answering a few questions for your readers. 

What inspired you to write Brooklyn Love? 

I was working as a freelance journalist for City Lights, (the weekend edition of The Jerusalem Post) and my editor asked me for an article about how Orthodox Jews date. I realized I couldn’t do the topic justice in just one article and instead, wrote a book. 

Are any of the three girls made after someone close to you? 

They are all combinations of many people I know. 

What music did you listen to while writing this book? 

I need complete silence when I write. I retreat into myself, kind of like a trance... 

Can you tell us what was really going on in Rachel’s mind when her mother found out she loved a Rabbi? OMG! What am I going to do?! 

I loved Hindy she was a hoot, what was she really thinking when she realized she loved her co-worker and not a Talmud Scholar? 

How important was something seemingly flighty like love in when trying to make an important decision about something important like marriage? 

What inspired Leah to want to be a doctor when her mother clearly felt like she needed to be like her? She truly loved helping people and also wanted to try for a career that was financially stable. 

Where is your favorite place to write? My studio in my attic. 

Are you a nook girl or Kindle Girl? OMG-- I don’t have any! 

Are you currently working on another book, if so what is it and when will it be out? 

STARSTRUCK is due out in March, also with Crimson Romance. It is a VERY different book-- a very light, funny, romantic romp about what happens when a Jewish homemaker’s life (literally) collides with a soap opera star. (And her BFF who is an Assistant D.A. with issues of her own!) 

TOUCHDOWN should be out in the summer, it’s a Jewish paranormal rom-com about what happens when a New York Jewish woman, murdered on her wedding night, becomes a “dybbuk” and possesses the soul of a Southern football hero, refusing to leave until he promises to break up the wedding between her fiancee and the witch who killed her. Kind of like THE NANNY meets FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS meets GHOST. Whatevah! 

I’m also working on a memoir which my agent will be sending out on submission soon with a working title of “CONFESSIONS OF A BURNT OUT JEWISH MATCHMAKER” it is pretty serious and intense because I really delve into where Judaism, and society in general taken such a wrong turn in terms of relationships...and have a nearly done “literary” novel about feminism as seen through the eyes of traditional Jewish homemaker. 

Finally, I have 2 YA’s which I need to polish up, a prequel to BROOKLYN LOVE about what the girls were up to in high school and a serious YA about a Brooklyn boy who’s dad is Christian, mom is Jewish and what happens when he flies to Israel for the summer where he befriends a Palestinian boy -- and falls in love with an Orthodox Jewish girl...It’s pretty intense. I hesitate giving the YA manuscripts to my agent for submission, because I really want to connect to the right editor for those. I don’t want an editor who wants my work just because she sees my characters as a novelty...but who gets what I’m trying to do and guides me to polish the books to be the best that they can be. 

Thank you once again Yael for coming on A Diary Of A Book Addict and answering a few questions. I loved the book and I know other’s will love it to! Happy Sunday!

Willow Pond by Carol Tibaldi Blog Tour Stop

Published by: Create Space
Pages: 324
Available in ebook and paperback
Author: Carol Tibaldi

Buy the book: Amazon and Barnes and Noble

The Roaring Twenties crumble into the Great Depression, but Virginia Kingsley, New York's toughest and most successful speakeasy owner, is doing just fine. Now that the world is falling apart, bootlegging is a flourishing business, and she's queen of that castle. 

Then her infant nephew is kidnapped. Her niece, Laura, and Laura's philandering movie star husband, are devastated. The police have few leads, and speculation and rumors abound in the media circus that follows the celebrity abduction. 

Only one reporter, Erich Muller, seems to care enough about the child's welfare and the parents' feelings to report the case responsibly. Over the course of the investigation, Erich Muller and Laura fall in love, but their relationship is doomed to failure since he suspects her beloved aunt Virginia is behind the kidnapping. Laura, jaded when it comes to men, sides with Virginia.

But Virginia has figured out the truth, and she can't tell anyone for fear of losing her niece's affections and having the police ransack her life. So she pursues her own investigation, shaking down, threatening, and killing one petty crook after another during her search.

Little Todd's absence shapes everyone's lives. When he is finally found, the discovery will bring disaster for some and revelation for others.

MY REVIEW

5 OF 5 SPEAKEASY

Willow Pond was a FANTASTIC read. I love reading stories from the 20 and 30's era. I love how they lived on the edge and the women were not meek or shy. In this case Virginia Kingsley owned a Speakeasy. She sold bootleg alcohol and could have a mean streak in her a mile long. But she also carried herself like a lady.

In Willow Pond we meet Virginia's niece Laura whose son is kidnapped. At first no one cares and the case goes without publicity until a lone reporter Erich Muller decides he is going to report the kidnapping and snoop around to gain information. What Erich uncovers leads him to think that Virginia had something to do with her nephews disappearance.

As Erich gathers information he is also falling in love with Laura. The feelings become mutual but Erich fears that once Laura finds out he suspects her aunt of the kidnapping she will have nothing to do with him. He is right because Laura loves her aunt and would never believe she would hurt her child let alone her family.

What is Erich to do? What is Laura going to do to get her son back? Who really has him? Come along on a fantastic ride where the rubber meets the rode and the answers will completely shock you!
Carol Tibaldi was born and raised in Bayside, New York and attended Queens College of the City University of New York. She loves to travel and has lived in London and Los Angeles. For twenty five years she worked as a newspaper reporter and covered the crime beat. She is a history buff and loves to research different time periods having a special affinity of the prohibition era and the Civil War. Willow Pond is her first novel and she is hard at work on the sequel. 

Find out more about Carol and "Willow Pond" here: http://caroltibaldi.com

Friday, September 28, 2012

Blood and Whiskey (Cowboy and Vampire #2) By Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall Blog Tour Stop

You can follow the Virtual Book Tour and learn more about this book at: http://pumpupyourbook.com Search: Blood and Whiskey 
Publisher: Pumpjack Press
Pages: 365
Genre: Paranormal/Mystery
Authors: Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall
Purchase the book: Amazon and Barnes and Noble

Wanted: Lizzie Vaughan, Dead or Alive. Relationships are always hard, but for a broke cowboy and a newly turned Vampire, true love may be lethal. After barely surviving an undead apocalypse in The Cowboy and the Vampire, Tucker and Lizzie hightail it back to quirky LonePine, Wyoming (population 438), to start a family. But she's got a growing thirst for blood and he's realizing that mortality ain't all it's cracked up to be when your girlfriend may live forever. With a scheming Vampire nation hot on their boot heels and a price on her head, how far will Lizzie and Tucker go to protect their unlikely love? Blending evolution, religion and an overly sensitive cow dog named Rex, Blood and Whiskey drags the Vampire myth into the modern west, delivering double-barreled action, heart-pounding passion and wicked humor. 

MY REVIEW

5 OF 5 COWBOYS AND VAMPIRES

Clark Hays grew up in Montana in the shadow of the Tobacco Root Mountains. In addition to his fiction work, he is a cowboy, a published poet and occasional food critic. Recently, he was nominated for Pushcart Prize for short fiction and not so recently for a Rhysling award for poetry. Clark brings a deep knowledge about the modern west, weaponry, country music and existentialism to his writing.

Kathleen McFall grew up in the heart of Washington, D.C. She worked as a petroleum geologist and, later, as a journalist, and has published hundreds of articles about scientific research, energy and natural resources. An interest in the overlap of science and mysticism are an essential aspect of her fiction writing. She received an Oregon Literary Arts Fellowship for fiction writing.

*** Cover Reveal *** Release By M.R. Merrick‏


After uniting the shifters and calling in reinforcements, Chase has to face his toughest challenge yet: learning to control his emotions. But as tensions rise and his powers grow, controlling his emotions becomes the least of his problems.

Terrorized by a multi-shifter who is hell-bent on turning him, Chase questions just how far he’s willing to go to stop his father. Meanwhile, Tiki’s virtuous nature has placed him in the middle of Vincent’s past, leaving Chase to oppose a senate of vampires and defend a demon he hates.

Trying to balance his friends, his enemies, and his inner demons, Chase is left searching for answers about the Mark, his destiny, and where he can find the next soul piece. Stopping Riley is his top priority, but as more obstacles arise, he finds himself doubting all the decisions he’s made - especially regarding Rayna.

One thing is for certain: Chase has finally realized that he doesn’t know anything. The light doesn’t always quell the darkness, the monsters don’t always stay in the shadows, and the past doesn’t always stay in the past - sometimes, the demons inside are the hardest to fight.
RELEASE RELEASES ON DECEMBER 10, 2012 JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS!
M.R. Merrick is a Canadian writer, and author of Exiled, the first installment in The Protector Series. Having never traveled, he adventures to far off lands through his imagination and in between cups of coffee. As a music lover and proud breakfast enthusiast, he's usually found at the computer, between a pair of headphones and in front of a large bowl of cereal. 

Links:

Thursday, September 27, 2012

At What Cost by Jessie Andersen Blog Tour Stop

At What Cost
By J. Andersen
Release Date: June 13, 2012
Currently E-book only
225 pages

Book Description from Goodreads:

During her junior year, sixteen-year-old Maggie Reynolds expected to shop for prom dresses not maternity clothes. Now, instead of studying for the SATs, she’s reading, What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Maggie’s ‘Mother Dearest’ lives in fear that Maggie will somehow taint the family name, so Maggie can’t turn to her for help. Meanwhile, her father is oblivious to anything but his 9-9 job. And her boyfriend, Justin? She’s pretty sure he’ll stay by her side.

While Maggie wrestles with her options, Justin offers a solution: abortion. It would solve all her problems quickly, easily, and effectively. And her parents would never know, which means they won’t throw her out and cut her off like they’d always threatened if she got herself knocked up. Now Maggie must decide which choice she can live with: abortion or teenage motherhood. Either way, it’ll be a tough road to travel.

Goodreads Link:


MY REVIEW

5 OF 5 PRECIOUS DECISION'S

At What Cost is a MUST READ for all teenage girls. Thank you to YA Bound for allowing me to read this ARC and be a part of this tour. I have to say that teenage pregnancy is such a hot topic right now. With shows like Teen Moms and other reality shows trying to portray the life of a teen mom. I have to say that they do not show everything that it entails and these young girls who get pregnant go through so much and sometimes by themselves because these boys just want to have sex with no commitments or attachments.

This is a story about Maggie who gets pregnant at the start of her junior year of high school. When she tells her boyfriend Justin his answer is get an abortion and move on. What a total tool because he did not even consider her and her feelings. So feeling lost Maggie turns to her friend Evan. Man oh man we need more stand up guys like Evan. He helps Maggie through her decision and helps her along the way. He does not preach to her or give his personal opinion but supports her. I totally loved that about him.

This story is a reminder that when you decide to have sex with your partner you need to use protection. You also need to know that once you start being intimate with someone it is not just an act but an emotional act as well. Maggie learned the hard way just what happens when you have sex and end up pregnant.J. Andersen you did a great job writing this story and taking on a hot topic so congrats on that! I loved this book and will recommend it to everyone! 
Jessie Andersen lives in a small town in Western New York with her husband and three kids. A former English teacher, she now spends her time writing while the kids are at school and the baby is sleeping. She volunteers at the local library and sings in the church band. You can find information about her books at jandersenbooks.com, and you can follow her blogs at Therabidwriter.blogspot (Personal blog) andReadbetweenthelinesbookclub.blogspot.com (Book blog). You can also follow her on Twitter atwww.twitter.com/jvdlandersen and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jandersenbooks.


Giveaway Details:

3 e-book copies of At What Cost by Jessie Andersen (open Internationally)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Schedule link:

The Vampire Hunter’s Daughter By Jennifer Malone Wright Blog Tour Stop

Book Title: The Vampire Hunter’s Daughter: The Complete Collection
Author Name: Jennifer Malone Wright
Genre: YA paranormal
Publisher: Self
Date of Publication: June 2012
ISBN: 978-0615650081
ASIN: B008ASVXR8
Number of pages: 217 paperback
Word Count: 78,734 

MY REVIEW

5 OF 5 VAMPIRE HUNTER'S DAUGHTER

TVHD is a wonderful read. Thank you to Parajunkee for allowing me to be on this tour. I had heard of this series but I never had time to read it. So when I saw it was on tour I jumped at the chance to finally get to read it and boy oh boy you don't know what you are missing! This story had so many twists and turns and secrets and lies and things that were kept hidden that it kept me at the edge of my seat. After reading each part of the story it plain to see that Chloe was going to have to grow up fast and learn the family business so to speak.

Chloe witnesses her mother being killed by a vampire and wants to help her mother but she is helpless against the strong vampire. She is rescued by vampire hunter's and taken to a safe place. When she wakes up she meets her grandfather who she did not know existed. Her mother kept her in the dark about a lot of things and soon Chloe will find out what she is and who she is. She comes from a long line of powerful vampire hunter's.

Upset and wanting revenge on the vampire that killed her mother she agrees to train and become a vampire hunter to kill that vampire who destroyed her world. What Chloe learns about herself and her family she never knew will blow her mind but at the end of the day when the dust settles revenge fuels her heart to kill the vampire who took her mother from her. This is a great read and I love how the hunters all came together to support Chloe and train her in the hunters way. 

About Author Jennifer Malone Wright
Jennifer Malone Wright resides in the beautiful mountains of northern Idaho with her husband and five children. Between the craziness of taking care of her children, whose ages range from fourteen all the way down to six months, and being a homemaker, Jennifer has little time left for herself. The time she does have left, usually leading far into the night, is spent working on freelance work or her beloved fiction.

When she grew up, Jennifer always had her nose in a book. She has been writing stories and poems since grade school. This love of the written word and her strong interest in the paranormal is what has led to her first novel “The Birth of Jaiden.”

In addition to being a mother and homemaker, Jennifer is also a very proud military wife. Moving around the country for the last ten years has made her a bit of a nomad and she finds it difficult to be in one place for too long.

Jennifer is also the author of The Birth of Jaiden, a paranormal novel filled with action, suspense, and even a love story.

Felice's Worlds by Henry Massie Blog Tour Stop

Welcome to our stop along the Pump Up Your Book Virtual Tour for Henry Massie's new book, Felice's Worlds! 
FIRST SHE ESCAPED THE HOLOCAUST AND THE POVERTY OF THE SHTETL. AFTER THAT, SHE MOVED IN MANY WORLDS. AND IN EVERY ONE SHE MADE HER MARK.

Felice Massie was a student in France, caught up in the horrors of Naziism when she was 20 years old. Cut off by the war from her family living in a small village in Poland, she shifted from one country to another attempting to find a home for herself and a means to rescue her parents, brother and sister. As the Holocaust descended on her shtetl, she arrived penniless in America. Over time she raised a family and amassed one of foremost collections of American modern art. Her boldness and resilience became a beacon of hope and inspiration for others.


MY REVIEW

5 OF 5 FELICE'S WORLDS

Felice's Worlds is an excellent Memoir written by her son. I really enjoyed reading about her life and the time she grew up in. I don't think people really understand the depravity The Holocaust caused. This is a story of a women's survival in that time and how she kept going in spite of every obstacle. When life threw her lemons she just made lemonade.

She traveled around the world looking for a home where she could provide for her family and save her parents and siblings from the horror they were under. Along the way she met and married and had a family of her own. She is known for her Modern Art collection that she collected on all her journeys.

Her son has done an excellent job describing the things she went through and the places she was at at the time things were happening. I can't even begin to imagine going through something like that and surviving. But she did and it is through her eyes that we get to see just how strong a woman can be when faced with obstacles.

Read this book because it is a journey into the unknown and it has so many ups and downs it will leave you breathless in the end! 

Dr. Henry Massie is a psychiatrist, award-winning author, and pioneering researcher in the field of autism. FELICE'S WORLDS--From the Holocaust to the Halls of Modern Art, is the a memoir and biography of his mother, a brilliant and beautiful woman who participated in many of the most critical periods of the 20th Century.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

The Last Year Series By Trisha Leigh Blog Tour Stop

In 2015, a race of alien Others conquered Earth. They enslaved humanity not by force, but through an aggressive mind control that turned people into contented, unquestioning robots. 
Except sixteen-year-old Althea isn’t content at all, and she doesn’t need the mysterious note inside her locket to tell her she’s Something Else. It also warns her to trust no one, so she hides the pieces that make her different, even though it means being alone. 

Then she meets Lucas, everything changes. 

Althea and Lucas are immune to the alien mind control, and together they search for the reason why. What they uncover is a stunning truth the Others never anticipated, one with the potential to free the brainwashed human race. 

It’s not who they are that makes them special, but what.

And what they are is a threat. One the Others are determined to eliminate for good.

Goodreads links


MY REVIEW

5 OF 5 WHISPERS IN AUTUMN

First I would like to Thank AToMR Tours for allowing me to read and review this book. I have to say that I have not read a lot of dystopian or sci-fi books but this one is at the top for me. I loved how it had everything from action, to romance to fighting to survive. The book cover does this book justice as well which is big for me because I really love when the book cover screams read me read me!

Imagine it the year 2015 and the world has been taken over by Aliens. Well that is reality for Althea and the world but Althea has a secret she will share with no one. The Aliens have taken over the humans minds and control them to do what they want the humans to do. Althea has a secret though and that secret is that she can not be controlled by the aliens. She pretends to be controlled like everyone else but she can see the truth and she is going to search for the answers as to why she is different.

Then she meets Lucas. At first she does not trust Lucas but soon she finds that Lucas id just like her and he can't be controlled by the Aliens either. Together they go on a search for the reason why they can't be controlled. What they find can kill them and free the human race from the Aliens but they will have to be careful as to how to go about doing this. One slip and they could be killed. The Others are always watching and they will do whatever it takes to rule over the human race. What will Althea and Lucas do? Will they be able to expose the Aliens? Will they be able to free their family and friends from the mind control?

Come along for the greatest dystopian slash sci-fi read of 2012! 
Althea and Lucas barely escaped the Others’ clutches in the autumn, and were separated in the process. Alone and on the run from the cruel alien race determined to exterminate her, Althea struggles to adapt and survive in a world she never imagined. 

When a boy named Pax appears out of nowhere, he quickly recognizes Althea for what she is – a human/Other hybrid just like him. Althea begs him to help her find Lucas, but Pax refuses, intent on following his own mysterious agenda. 

The Others’ presence continues to devour the planet’s resources, and if history is an indication, they won’t leave until Earth is destroyed beyond repair. Althea and Pax sense the only way to save themselves – and maybe their home – is to understand the powers simmering inside them. 

Together they push the limits of their capabilities in the quiet Wilds, but are soon confronted with a terrifying fact: no place is safe from the relentless pursuit of the Others.

Least of all their own minds.

Goodreads links 


MY REVIEW

5 OF 5 WINTER OMENS

Thank you to AToMr Tours for allowing me to read this ARC and be a part of this EPIC tour! I have to say that I am absolutely in LOVE with this series. It hooked me right from the start and I had to read this book to see what was going to happen to Althea and Lucas. I have to say that Winter Omens did not disappoint me at all!

Winter Omens picks up right where Whispers in Autumn left off. Althea and Lucas are on the run from The Others. The Others want to destroy them because they have powers that if unleashed can destroy them. So Lucas and Althea are on the run and get separated which leaves them alone. Althea wakes up and realizes that she must fight by herself until she can find Lucas. But where does she start to find Lucas she has no idea. Alone and scared she finds a dog she thinks is a wolf for a companion. As she is on the run she meets a boy named Pax.

Althea at first has issues trusting him but she soon finds out that Pax is just like her and Lucas. She asks him to help her find Lucas but Pax has one thing on his mind and that is to get to Portland to finish up some unfinished business he has there. As the two of them get to know each other and share their stories they become closer and closer. There are feelings of attraction there but they both have goals set out so they fight the attractions. It is difficult to do because every time they touch they want to kiss they feel the pull towards one another.

Then if it is not bad enough they are on the run The Others have found a way to track Althea. The Others get into Althea's mind when she is sleeping. She must learn how to use her powers to keep them out. Pax has powers as well that he is learning how to use. The two of them set out to look for the four seasons of elements. Pax is one of them so they only need to find the other three. If The Others have their way they will kill Pax and Althea before they find the other three seasons.

Lord have mercy to say this book had me on the edge of my seat would be an understatement! This series keeps getting better and better as the plot unfolds and the adventures get harder for Althea. In this book you learn so much about Althea that your heart goes out to her. I am so torn between Lucas and Pax because both are great guys and she has feelings for both so who will she chose in the end? We will have to wait and see! 

BIO
Trisha is an author of Young Adult fiction from Kansas City, MO. She’s currently writing/revising/cursing her next novel.

Raised by a family of ex-farmers and/or almost rock stars from Southeastern Iowa, Trisha always loved to tell stories. After graduating from Texas Christian University with a degree in Film, she began to search for a way to release the voices in her head. Trisha wrote a thriller and a couple of ghost stories, getting her feet wet and learning with each discarded manuscript. When she attempted her first YA novel, which would become Whispers in Autumn, she was hooked. Trisha knew then her heart lay with telling stories about and for young adults, and for anyone who loves to read and recapture those fleeting “first” moments.

Her spare time is spent reviewing television and movies, spending time with a large, loud, loving family, reading any book that falls into her hands, and being dragged into the fresh air by her dogs Yoda and Jilly.

Like everyone, Trisha’s had some ups and downs, but life is good. She’s writing. She’s happy.

CONTACT
I’m addicted to Twitter and Tumblr. (I also have a Tumblr for my Seinfeld addiction. If you’re a fan, join me).

Follow my Pinterest.

Be my friend on Goodreads and/or Facebook.

You can also find The Last Year Fan page on Facebook.

I write television and movie reviews for Poptimal.


FOLLOW ALONG THIS TOUR FOR MORE AWESOME REVIEWS AND PRIZES

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

So Into You (The Jane Austen Academy Series, #2: A Modern Retelling of Sense & Sensibility) by Cecilia Gray Blog Tour Stop

So Into You (The Jane Austen Academy Series #2)
by Cecilia Gray
Publication Date: July 15, 2012
Publisher: The Alpha Division, LLC
Source: e-ARC provided by author for tour.

Book description: 

Modern retelling/based on Sense & Sensibility.

The last thing that the girls at the elite Jane Austen Academy need is guys. But over the summer the school has been sold, and like it or not, the guys are coming. And they're about to turn the Academy—and the lives of its students—totally upside down…

Meet sweet and sensible Ellie who hasn’t met a problem her mom’s yoga mantras can’t fix. But when her parents threaten to pull her from the Academy just as her flirtation with the cutest boy in school heats up, will Ellie be able to keep her cool?


5 OF 5 SENSE AND SENSIBILITY 

I first want to give a big Thank You to AToMR Blog Tours for allowing me to read and review So Into you and allowing me to be a part of this tour. I have to say I love love love these books so far! Fall For You was the first in the series and So Into you is the second book. 

So Into you follows Ellie whose life is pretty simple. Her mothers motto is one of piece and happiness and not to let life get you down. So when Ellie returns to school and finds out she may have to leave the academy because of her tuition and her parents decide that they want to move to another country. Man oh man does Ellie have a fit and she enlists the help of her friend Emma to see if there is anything she can do to stay at the school and not move to another country. The JAA is home for her and she does not want to go live anywhere else let alone change schools.

And if life could not get any worse for her she meets Edward. Edward is her crush and as they get closer she is definitely not moving anywhere. For once things feel so right and she does not want to rock the boat. But all good things come to end and soon she will find out that Edward has been keeping secrets from her. What is a girl to do? Will Ellie have to leave the only home she has ever known? Will Ellie and Edward become a couple? What secrets is Edward hiding? 

Come along for a crazy ride and see what happens in this installment of The Jane Austen Academy! 

Retail Links – SO INTO YOU 





Kobo pending 

Author Links 




http://eepurl.com/fs4zk (newsletter) 


Author Bio 

Cecilia Gray lives in Oakland where she reads, writes and breaks for food. She also pens her biographies in the third person. Like this. As if to trick you into thinking someone else wrote it because she is important. Alas, this is not the case. 

Cecilia has been praised for “instilling a warmth and weight into her characters” (Romancing The Book Reviews) and her books have been praised for being “well-written, original, realistic and witty” (Quills & Zebras Reviews). 

Several of her titles - including A Delightful Arrangement (The Gentlemen Next Door #1) and An Illicit Engagement (The Gentlemen Next Door #2) - have spent, in her view, a shocking amount of time on bestseller lists for romance, historical romance and regency romance in the US, UK, Italy and Spain. 

Her latest release, FALL FOR YOU, the first in a series of young-adult contemporary Jane Austen retellings received a starred Kirkus review and was praised for being a “unique twist on a classic” and offering “a compelling mix of action, drama and love.” 

She’s rather enamored of being contacted by readers and hopes you’ll oblige.

FOLLOW ALONG THIS TOUR FOR SOME GREAT REVIEWS AND PRIZES
http://atomrbookblogtours.com/2012/05/24/so-into-you-book-2-in-the-jane-austen-academy-by-cecilia-gray/

Monday, September 24, 2012

Heirs of Prophecy by Michael A. Rothman Blog Tour Stop

The Riverton family had been enjoying a simple summer vacation when, through a fluke of nature, they found themselves in a strange new land. The Riverton brothers quickly realize that in this world, they have gained unusual powers. Powers that their parents fear will attract the attention of Azazel himself - the merciless wizard who brutally controls this world. The two brothers soon learn that an ancient prophecy has finally been initiated by their arrival in Trimoria. As the heirs of this prophecy, they are destined to lead the armies of men, dwarves, elves, and even a misfit ogre against the prophesied demon horde. Only one thing stands in their way. The evil wizard who has learned of their presence, and has sent assassins to wipe them from existence.

MY REVIEW

5 OF 5 PROPHECIES

First I would like to Thank AToMR Tours for allowing me to read and review this book for the blog tour. I have to say I am a HUGE fan of middle school books. Anything to get my sons attention gets my attention. We both read this together and he really enjoyed it as much as I did.

This story is about the Riverton Family who decides to take a summer vacation with the family. Only on their way there they are detoured to another place actually another land named Trimoria. Trimoria is beautiful and the brothers soon realize they have powers in this world they do not have at home. Their parents explain to them that it is their destiny to help the people of Trimoria.

The only thing is in Trimoria the boys will meet an evil wizarrd who wants their powers. The boys will have to fight him and his evil minions to save Trimoria. As the boys meet a town and fight him off they soon realize the wizards minions want to capture them to bring them back to the wizard so he can steal their powers. What will The Riverton Boys do? Will they be able to fight off the evil wizarrd? Will they ever get back home?

I loved this book because it was clean and family oriented and full of action. Right from the very first page there is action and it leads through out the book. This is a must read for anyone who wants to enjoy a fun filled adventure full of wizards, ogres, and more!

WANT TO READ HEIRS OF PROPHECY... IT IS FREE THIS WEEK ON AMAZON JUST CLICK THE LINK AND ENJOY

The TOOLS OF PROPHECY is the second volume in an epic saga which describes a prophecy that has placed the Riverton brothers in the lead roles of a struggle to save their world from being overrun by unspeakable horrors. This destiny requires that they face off with the demons that nearly destroyed their world over five centuries ago.

In the first book, the population of wizards had been practically eradicated by the former tyrant. The Rivertons are now charged with creating an Academy of Magic, recruiting qualified students, and furthering their own training with secrets that have long been held by the reclusive elves.

Despite their youth, a mysterious spirit has engaged them in an epic struggle to gain mastery of their newfound skills, help raise and train two armies, and stay alive long enough for their final showdown with destiny.

The only things that stand in their way are the assassins hired to destroy them and the Demon Lord’s minion who holds a personal grudge and intends to witness the young boys’ deaths. 

MY REVIEW

5 OF 5 PROPHECIES

I first want to say Thank You to AToMR Tours for hosting this blog tour and allowing me to be a part of it.After reading the first book I jumped right into the sequel which was completely and utterly as fascinating as the first one with a lot more action and adventure for The Riverton Brothers.

After defeating the evil Wizard Azazel the Riverton Brother's have to rebuild what was destroyed by the evilness of the wizard Azazel. Jared the older brother is building a school of magic where the brothers can train others in the magic that is needed to defeat the evil that still exists in Trimoria. The elves have been training the brothers and others and the brothers are getting stronger to fight in their next battle between the Demon Lord and his minions. 

The Elves hold the secrets of the magic and they train the brothers with fierce love and respect. The brothers have removed one threat from their world and the elves plan on helping them destroy all the evil in their world. While the brothers are raising two armies to fight the Demon Lord is planing and plotting ways to destroy them. This is their final showdown with destiny. What will the Riverton Brothers do? Will they be able to defeat the evil Demon Lord and his Minions? Will the Riverton Brothers be strong enough in their magic?

Come along for the best ride of adventure and magic.I was totally hooked from book one and book two did not disappoint! Michael thank you for creating such a great world! 

About Mike

Michael A. Rothman – Author, Engineer, Prankster, Parent, and husband.

Ok, let’s face it. Anyone who knows me would be shocked to hear I am blogging. I am highly opinionated when it comes to technology and children’s education, but channel that energy into technical writing (co-written several technology-based books, written technical journal articles, and hold 100′s of issued patents).

Yet here I am, blogging and writing Epic Fantasy books? I know, I can barely believe it myself. ;-)

My first novel, HEIRS OF PROPHECY, was published earlier this year. The second novel, TOOLS OF PROPHECY, is being released on schedule July 1st (Kindle/Nook) and August 1st (Hardcover/Paperback).

I have also finished a prequel novel which focuses on some of the time immediately before the time of HEIRS OF PROPHECY. This book, will hopefully be released for the holiday season in the end of 2012. I am actually very proud of this novel, I think for those of you who were clamoring for more details on some of the denizens of Trimoria, you will find out a lot of things in the novel PRINCESS INTERRUPTED.

Also very proud of the cover that was just revealed. [Yes, its my design, but thanks to Paul Pederson for the actual artwork. He constantly amazes me...]
I am busily working on novel number four while the acquisition editor glares at me with a whip in her hand, waiting for the completed work…

This novel has a working title of LORDS OF PROPHECY and will be the concluding novel of the main Prophecies trilogy. Yes, I will be tying up any lose ends that were part of the main storyline. You won’t be left wondering about too much. However…

I’ll be frank and let you know that I have quite a bit more directions for the land of Trimoria and how our favorite characters can evolve. There are many things that were not part of the storyline, but let’s call it part of the background that begs for storylines unto themselves. Would you want to know more about the Ta’ah? What about those dark elves that make cameo appearances – the followers of Lilith? When you read the prequel, you will also learn that the Princess has some missions that could be explored further about how she holds the destiny of her people in her hands.

Yes – lots of directions, lots of stories, only one me. I did promise my wife though that I would only explore beyond the first series of 4 books if they proved to be commercially viable and that is up to you my friends, the readers.

If you explore the site, you will see that I have posted examples of the artwork/covers for the novels. You’ll also see my quips of “wisdom” occasionally and maybe even an occasional venting session.

All of my books will be available in both EBook and hardcover/paperback versions.

They will certainly be available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and also order-able (possibly stocked) at your local bookstores (if you have any left in your area).

The prequel novel (3rd novel), PRINCESS INTERRUPTED, is in the editing phase and once complete, will be sent out to all the industry review types. I hope to be able to post the reviews as they come in. If things go as planned, I hope the novel comes out by the end of the year.

One more thing – for those who wonder about all those recipes and why does this would-be fiction writer have them on his blog, the answer is simple.

I enjoy cooking. In fact am pretty good at it, and I’ve been harassed for recipes over the years, so I started to write stuff down. In hindsight, I find that it’s sometimes easier to look at my own written down recipes instead of trying to remember the items I need. I try hard to make the recipes accurate, easy to read, and geared toward the novice.

If you enjoy the recipes, I am happy to put more up, but otherwise I will probably do it on-demand or when the fancy strikes me.

Enjoy the site and keep reading and cooking.

Contact Mike

Anyone who needs to contact me should be able to find me at any of the following locations:

You can contact me at: rothmanwrites (at) gmail.com

You can follow me here on Twitter (@MichaelARothman)

You ‘like’ me at my author page on Facebook.

You can find me here on Goodreads.
a Rafflecopter giveaway