Tuesday, March 31, 2015

[I-Hate-Myself DNF] Where Sea Meets Sky by Karina Halle

Where Sea Meets SkyWhere Sea Meets Sky
by 
A new adult novel that perfectly captures the existential angst of your early twenties with raw wit, fresh insight, and true feeling from a critically adored USA TODAY bestselling author.

Joshua Miles has spent his early twenties spinning his wheels. Working dead-end jobs and living at home has left him exhausted and uninspired, with little energy to pursue his passion for graphic art. Until he meets Gemma Henare, a vivacious out-of-towner from New Zealand. What begins as a one-night stand soon becomes a turning point for Josh. He can't get Gemma out of his head, even after she has left for home, and finds himself throwing caution to the wind for the first time in his life.

It's not long before Josh is headed to New Zealand with only a backpack, some cash, and Gemma's name to go on. But when he finally tracks her down, he finds his adventure is only just beginning. Equally infatuated, Gemma leads him on a whirlwind tour across the beautiful country, opening Josh up to life, lust, love, and all the messy heartache in between. Because, when love drags you somewhere, it might never let go even when you know you have to say goodbye.




Yup. That's exactly how I feel right now. 

Because it's Karina Halle & freaking love her but I just couldn't get into this book. I literally FORCED myself to read but it's like my breain just went - NOPE. So yes. That's a DNF... :/


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Monday, March 16, 2015

[Book Spolight + Giveaway] One Great Year by Tamara Veitch & Rene DeFazio



Welcome to my tour stop for One Great Year by Tamara Veitch and Rene Defazio. This is an adult book that has romance, historical fiction, literary fiction, philosophical fiction, fantasy, science fiction and adventure.  


An epic, thought-provoking tale of reincarnation, love, and the struggle of good against evil. 

As the world descends from a Golden Age into darkness and brutality, Marcus has been reincarnated an exhausting number of times. Selected to become an Emissary, it is his duty to protect the ancient secrets. His adventure is heightened because he secretly consumes a serum that allows him to have memory from one lifetime to the next. In doing so, he sets himself up for thousands of years of torment, loneliness, and searching. 

Desperate to never forget his soulmate, Theron, and never sure if he was truly meant to be an Emissary, Marcus struggles through lifetimes to overcome his cruel and powerful nemesis, Helghul.

Fusing the adventure of Indiana Jones with the introspection and wisdom of Eckhart Tolle, One Great Year takes readers on an epic journey through history, following characters who are born and reborn as they struggle to triumph over evil.

One Great Year Excerpt
Sartaña  waited tentatively to see who would enter at such an unexpected
time. The familiar face of her guard came around the edge of the door.
The guard stepped aside and Inti, squinting in the dim light to make out the figure,
came eye to eye with Sartaña. She was awful, an ugly old crone. Her filthy black hair was
streaked with grey and the knobby, ridged scars that patterned her face made her distressing
to look at. The guard backed himself out of the chamber and, clicking the door
behind him, left them alone. Inti was slightly alarmed to be locked in, even briefly, and he
did his best to ignore the overpowering smells that accompanied life in that awful place.
Sartaña gasped with astonishment. She did not move, and more than ever she was
tormented by the loss of her tongue. Her inability to speak at that moment was exactly
the reason the cruelty had been perpetrated.…
“Who are you?” he asked finally, searching her face.
She took his young hand in hers. He allowed it and did not mind the dirty, cracked
frailty of her grasp. Her mind screamed out to him. My son! Theron! She sent all of her
energy desperately into his. He doesn’t know me! Sartañathought in anguish. Theron doesn’t
know me! her Marcus-brain acknowledged painfully. Sartañamaintained her composure
and calm demeanor, afraid to scare him away.
Suddenly, Inti reached out with his free hand and pushed up her ragged sleeve to
expose her shoulder. His recognition was immediate. He looked from the flower symbol
on her skin to the rock and back at her disfigured face. “No!” he croaked, barely able to
breathe. “It’s you!” Inti’s mind raced. How is this possible? What does it mean? The colors
around them were frenzied as his conscious emotion joined his unconscious.
Sartaña nodded emphatically, bringing his hand to her lips. Her tears poured freely
down her ruined cheeks. Her face was luminous and filled with love.
Inti embraced the frail ghost, and their souls danced and bubbled as their auras mingled,
sending pleasant shock waves through them. She felt like a skeleton in his arms, and
his concern and sadness for her condition welled up in him. “I thought you were dead.
They told me you were dead!” he cried, his tears flowing down his face.
Sartaña just shook her head and held him until the most violent of his sobbing
subsided.
“Why?” he asked angrily. “What happened? Why did he send you here?”
Sartaña’s joy turned to heartache as she once again imagined her young son mourning
her.
“I need answers!” he shouted toward the door. The guard re-entered, unsure that he
had done the right thing. He was further alarmed by the vision of the young man before
him, so distraught and wild-looking. “You! Guard!” he said, grabbing the man with his
free hand, the other hand still tightly clasping the flower-carved stone. “Tell me everything
you know!”
“The high priestess is of royal, sacred lineage. Your father claimed her and killed her
husband and your half-brother when he conquered this city. You were born one year later.
When you were five, your father took over your care and your mother was brought here.”
“Who knows this? Who knows she lives?” Inti demanded through gritted teeth.
“Only the three of us and the high priest,” the guard answered. “He disfigured her
and cut out her tongue so that she could never speak against him. I nursed her the best I
could, but you see what a mess he made.”
“It is your tongue I should have cut out,” interjected Katari’sdeep menacing voice
from behind the guard. In a flash, the point of Katari’s spear burst through…

About the Authors:

Tamara-and-Rene-265 (1)What happens when two passionate writer-artists fall in love and decide to make an uncommon life together? The award-winning novel One Great Year and its forthcoming sequels are just a few of the awesome possibilities!

Born and raised in the Vancouver area, Rene DeFazio is an actor, screenwriter and producer with numerous film and television roles to his credit, as well as countless commercials and print ads. After spending many years backpacking and filming, Rene drew upon an abundance of unusual and exciting experiences to create One Great Year. His tireless research and firsthand knowledge of exotic locations, customs, sights and smells helped to bring this epic story to life.

Tamara Veitch is a writer, artist and mother. She also grew up in the Vancouver area, and attended Simon Fraser University to study English and psychology. Tamara worked as a special education assistant for the Vancouver School Board, and later opened her own mural painting business.

One Great Year took three painstaking years to complete. Within months of its independent release, One Great Year was optioned to become a Hollywood blockbuster film trilogy. Rene and Tamara have also partnered with Greenleaf Book Group for their literary debut and U.S. release, in October 2013.

The authors are currently writing the second and third books in the One Great Year series, filming a documentary, embarking on a book tour, and offering free seminars called POD Parties (Plain ol’ Discussion about monumental topics), where they discuss the ancient history, modern science, and inspirations layered throughout One Great Year.  

Giveaway: 
Three (3) winners will get paperbacks of One Great Year 
Open Worldwide
Ends March 25
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Tuesday, March 10, 2015

[Book Spotlight + Giveaway] Chronicles from Chateau Moines by Evelyne Holingue

Chroniclesfrom (1)


Chronicles from Chateau MoinesChronicles from Chateau Moines
by 

September 1970: Scott’s mother has recently died and his father gets the crazy idea to move his family from California to Normandy. Now Scott has to learn to live without his mom while adjusting to France. In his seventh grade class there is only Ibrahim who comes from another country. Scott doesn’t even want to play his guitar anymore. Why does his father think that life will be better so far from home?

Scott has no idea that his arrival is also a challenge to Sylvie. While her best friend is excited to have an American boy at school, Sylvie cannot say one word to Scott. She can’t even write good songs in her notebook anymore. Why is life so different since Scott moved to Château Moines?

Set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War protest era and told from the perspectives of twelve-year old Scott and Sylvie, this is a story about loss and friendship, music and peace, and also about secrets.

Although this is a work of fiction, the cultural, social, and historical background of the early 1970s in France and the United States inspired the writing. At the end of the book the reader will find a list of the songs, the names of singers, and bands mentioned through the novel as well as some elements about fashion, immigration in France, the Vietnam War, and other cultural, social, and historical facts relevant to the period of time.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

 

About the Author:

evelyne0115I was born and raised in Normandy, France, where I spent most of my childhood reading. 
My first published piece of writing was a poem about a man spending Christmas behind bars. I was eleven years old and wasn’t paid for my work, but I was hooked.
I studied French Literature at the Université de Caen and at the Sorbonne in Paris and worked in a publishing house before moving to California, following my husband.
It was a challenging time in my life as I was leaving my own career, my family, my friends and my beloved Paris behind.  But how could I say no to the dreams of the man I love?
Readers enjoy escaping the familiar for the unknown.  Being a foreigner is discovering the unknown day after day, not only for the time of a book. However, since most things in life come with a silver lining, I credit this move for giving me the opportunity to write. Through my words, I share my affection for my native and adoptive countries that I love equally.
www.evelyneholingue.com 

Giveaway: 
Two (2) kindle copies of Chronicles from Chateau Moines (INT)
Ends March 18th

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This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

Thursday, March 5, 2015

[Book Review + Giveaway] Empty Cup by Suzanne Costigan

Empty-Cup-Banner


Empty Cup
Empty Cup

Mom’s new boyfriend is creepy.

On the night of her seventeenth birthday, Raven finds out he isn’t just creepy, he’s dangerous. He leaves Raven broken and bleeding, but Mom blames her for what happened. She kicks Raven out of the house with nothing but a blanket to protect her from a frigid winter night.

Alone.

Devastated.

Abandoned.

As Raven struggles with the aftermath of the ultimate betrayal, she seeks solace in her imagination and a teacher who seems to understand her situation. She ultimately discovers that her world won’t change if she relies upon someone else to do it. Real change begins within.


Raven is just like any other teenager who goes to school, hangs out with her friends, and even though she does not live in the most prestige neighborhood, she knows that she has a future. On the day of her birthday, she gets really creepy vibes from her mother's boyfriend - Trevor. And even though she always thought he was weird, this time he goes a little too far. And her mother blames her for it. This incredible novel is filled with raw emotions & attempt to feel normal after a tragedy. 

“With the water almost hotter than I can stand, I scald him off. I scrub with soap, but no matter how hard I press the facecloth into my skin, no matter how red and raw my skin gets, I still smell him...” 

I almost couldn't bear to read this book. I could not believe how cruel Raven's mother is and how she said that she stole everything from her including her youth and future. Reading books like this makes me want to help these poor girls to try to understand that it's not their fault. I'm glad that Ravel had a good support among her friends, I would not be able to bear the thought of her being alone. Great read, really recommended! 


About The Author:
Suzanne, empty cup 6xSuzanne Costigan is a child welfare advocate, supporting high risk children in her home, and an active member of the Winnipeg writing community. Empty Cup is her first novel.
Author Links:Website | Twitter Facebook | Goodreads
Where To Buy:
Chapters Indigo | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | TBD | IndieBound


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Tuesday, March 3, 2015

[Exclusive Giveaway] Pre-Order Campaign for Whitney A. Miller's THE CRIMSON GATE!


Publisher: FLUX
Dimensions: 132mm x 203mm 454g
Publication date: 8 March 2015
ISBN 10: 073874204X
ISBN 13: 9780738742045




Harlow must stop her evil counterpart in this thrilling sequel to The Violet Hour.

Harlow Wintergreen has just been named the new Matriarch of VisionCrest, the powerful religious organization previously led by her father. But there's one big problem. The real Harlow is trapped inside a Cambodian temple, and her double, the evil Isiris, has escaped confinement and is masquerading as her.

Now initiated as their leader, Isiris intends to unleash a killer super virus aimed at cleansing the planet of VisionCrest. In order to stop her, Harlow must find a way out of the temple and locate the Resistance...or the world will be destroyed.


You can purchase The Crimson Gate at the following Retailers:
        



Whitney A. Miller lives in San Francisco with her husband and a struggling houseplant.
She’s summited Mt. Kilimanjaro, ridden the Trans-Siberian rails, bicycled through Vietnam, done the splits on the Great Wall of China, and evaded the boat police in Venice. However, her best international adventures take place on the page.Whitney is represented by Jennifer Laughran at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency.


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EXCLUSIVE GIVEAWAY

FANTASTIC NEWS BOOK NERDS!! We have an awesome pre-order Campaign for Whitney A. Miller’s The Crimson Gate running from now until 11:59pm (PST) on March 8, 2014!

A personal Skype session OR phone call with Whitney, autographed copies of The Violet Hour, Lots of Swag, $50.00 Amazon Gift Card and an EXCLUSIVE pair of Sami Ryan "All Seeing Eye" earrings (just like the VisionCrest symbol!)
You’ll have to email your final order to WMillerPreOrder@gmail.com. You can forward an email, take a screenshot of the order page, attach a picture or pdf of the order. And you can order from anyone — online, your local bookstore, your local chain store, or any retailer who sells books. The winning entry will be chosen from Rafflecopter.

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Monday, March 2, 2015

[Book Review] Dear Killer by Katherine Ewell

Dear KillerDear Killer
by 

Kit takes her role as London’s notorious “Perfect Killer” seriously. The letters and cash that come to her via a secret mailbox are not a game; choosing who to kill is not an impulse decision. Every letter she receives begins with “Dear Killer,” and every time Kit murders, she leaves a letter with the dead body. Her moral nihilism and thus her murders are a way of life—the only way of life she has ever known.

But when a letter appears in the mailbox that will have the power to topple Kit’s convictions as perfectly as she commits her murders, she must make a decision: follow the only rules she has ever known, or challenge Rule One, and go from there.

Katherine Ewell’s Dear Killer is a sinister psychological thriller that explores the thin line between good and evil, and the messiness of that inevitable moment when life contradicts everything you believe.


Rule One—Nothing is right, nothing is wrong.
Rule Two—Be careful.
Rule Three—Fight using your legs whenever possible, because they’re the strongest part of your body. Your arms are the weakest.
Rule Four—Hit to kill. The first blow should be the last, if at all possible.
Rule Five—The letters are the law.
 


If you thought that having a seventeen year old as a serial killer is silly, think again. Nothing about Kit is silly. She is a cold-blooded killer who is precise and does everything with absolute detail. 

“I kill on order. I am everyone's assassin. I belong to no one but the grim reaper herself.”

Having to train from her mother, Kit knows exactly what she needs to do to make this world better. Take people out one by one if they betrayed someone or broke someone's heart. When a letter comes in from her school, she knows she will do it soon but there are some planning that she has to do first. With everything piling on, she also befriends a cop that is unofficially working on the Perfect Killer case. 

“Sometimes I imagine we're all like paper stars, folded up and gathered together, each of us convinced that we are glittering and celestial, each of us bent into a shape so we believe we're something we're not.”

Incredibly entertaining, I definitely loved the writing and the way characters were set up. Having Kit transform into another version of herself can tell that she has issues but the actual danger of her actions are unbelievable. Great read!

[Nerd Blast Giveaway] Liars, Inc. by Paula Stokes


Publisher: Harper Teen
Format: Hardback | 368 pages
Publication date: 24 March 2015
ISBN 10: 0062323288
ISBN 13: 9780062323286



Official Book Blast for Liars, Inc. by Paula Stokes.

For fans of Gone GirlI Hunt Killers, and TV's How to Get Away with Murder.

Max Cantrell has never been a big fan of the truth, so when the opportunity arises to sell forged permission slips and cover stories to his classmates, it sounds like a good way to make a little money and liven up a boring senior year. With the help of his friends Preston and Parvati, Max starts Liars, Inc. Suddenly everybody needs something and the cash starts pouring in. Who knew lying could be so lucrative?

When Preston wants his own cover story to go visit a girl he met online, Max doesn’t think twice about hooking him up. Until Preston never comes home. Then the evidence starts to pile up—terrifying clues that lead the cops to Preston’s body. Terrifying clues that point to Max as the murderer.

Can Max find the real killer before he goes to prison for a crime he didn’t commit? In a story that Kirkus Reviews called "Captivating to the very end," Paula Stokes starts with one single white lie and weaves a twisted tale that will have readers guessing until the explosive final chapters.

For more information, check out THE OFFICIAL LIARS, INC. WEBSITE.

You can purchase Liars, Inc. at the following Retailers:
        


Book Nerd Spotlight

Paula Stokes writes stories about flawed characters with good hearts who sometimes make bad decisions. She’s the author of several YA novels, most recently Liars, Inc. and The Art of Lainey. Her writing has been translated into nine foreign languages. Paula loves kayaking, hiking, reading, and seeking out new adventures in faraway lands She also loves interacting with readers. Find her online at authorpaulastokes.com or on twitter as @pstokesbooks.

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