Friday 31 July 2015

Good Intentions by Pembroke Sinclair Book Blitz and Giveaway!



Good Intentions by Pembroke Sinclair (The Road to Salvation #3) Published by: Booktrope Publishing Publication date: July 28th 2015 Genres: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult


Synopsis:
Katie has been through Hell—literally—and discovered that it wasn’t as bad as she thought it would be. In fact, she kind of enjoyed it. She got to be with Josh, found out about her past, and discovered who she wanted to be as a person. Katie didn’t care that her actions went against social norms. She was happy.But things are changing—again. Wes has come back into her life, and that can only mean trouble. His presence threatens to unravel her new-found happiness. She can’t allow that. She won’t let him back in. Yet, Katie can’t push him away.Thrown back into a state of confusion and uncertainty, Katie is once again forced to pick sides, and in the process, she may lose herself.

Purchase:


Guest Post:

Unlikeable Characters
By Pembroke Sinclair

Characters, like real people, have their quirks.  There are parts of them readers may like, and others readers may find loathsome.  Katie, my main character from the Road to Salvation series, isn’t always liked.  In fact, some readers have even gone so far as to say they hate her.  

My first reaction to that was that I needed to come to Katie’s defense.  I felt like I needed to protect her like I would protect my own children.  I would explain that she acts the way she acts because she’s a 17-year-old girl or give some other excuse, like she’s naive.  I was upset that they would attack her like that.

Then, I stopped.  I was talking to an author friend of mine about how not all main characters have to be likable.  The point of stories is to put characters in challenging situations and see how they react to them.  Not all of them come out fighting.  Some are more passive and maybe a lot more self-centered.  Some are unreliable.  You can’t trust anything they have to say, and they often twist the truth to their own benefit.  Some are sneaky.  Like the real world, characters in fiction display a wide range of personality traits--not all of which are desirable.

Katie is young, naive, self-centered, needy, and whiny.  She has moments of being strong, but they are fleeting and quickly devolve into self-doubt and insecurity.  Katie is who she is, and she shouldn’t have to apologize for that or explain it to anyone.  And neither do I.  If she was any other way, it wouldn’t be the same story.


I understand that readers don’t like her, but some do.  And both of those feelings are correct.  Katie isn’t always my favorite either, and I know her really well.  I don’t cringe anymore when reviewers write about how much they despise her.  In fact, I laugh.  To me, that’s an awesome compliment.  I love to see that my character evokes such a strong emotional response.  It means I’m doing something right.

AUTHOR BIO:
Pembroke Sinclair is a literary jack of all trades, playing her hand at multiple genres. She has written an eclectic mix of fiction ranging from horror to sci-fi and even some westerns. Born in Rock Springs, Wyoming--the home of 56 nationalities--it is no wonder Pembroke ended up so creatively diverse. Her fascination with the notions of good and evil, demons and angels, and how the lines blur have inspired her writing. Pembroke lives in Laramie, Wyoming, with her husband, two spirited boys, a black lab named Ryder, and a rescue kitty named Alia, who happens to be the sweetest, most adorable kitty in the world! She cannot say no to dessert, orange soda, or cinnamon. She loves rats and tatts and rock and roll and wants to be an alien queen when she grows up. 
You can learn more about Pembroke Sinclair by visiting her at http://pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com/
Social Media Links:
https://www.facebook.com/jessicarobinsonauthor
https://twitter.com/PembrokeSinclai
https://plus.google.com/+PembrokeSinclair/posts
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3522214.Pembroke_Sinclair
http://www.amazon.com/Pembroke-Sinclair/e/B007RFYJ6W/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1435343528&sr=1-1



Blitz-wide giveaway (US only)
  • A set of paperbacks of the series (The Appeal of Evil, Dealing with Devils, and Good Intentions)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

M9B Friday Reveal: Author Spotlight - Charles Curtis with Giveaway! #M9BFridayReveals

M9B-Friday-Reveal Banner

Welcome to this week’s M9B Friday Reveal!

This week, we are spotlighting
Charles Curtis
author of
Strange Country Days
a Middle Grade title from Tantrum Books, coming August 2015!

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

Charles Curtis

Twitter or Facebook?
I use both, but I'm plugged into Twitter every day for eight hours (I swear, it's for my job as a sportswriter! - http://connect.nj.com/staff/CharlesCurtis/posts.html).

Favorite Superhero?

I was hooked on Wolverine as a kid. Who doesn't love a sarcastic hero with a murky origin tale, claws and all the best one-liners?

Favorite TV show?

Current: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. All-Time: Seinfeld. Guilty Pleasure: Food Network Star

Sweet or Salty?

I will eat something sweet like a peanut butter cup and follow it up with a salty snack. It's a yin/yang thing I started doing as a teenager.

Coke or Pepsi?

Coke and it's not even close.

Any Phobias?

Three words: Big hairy spiders.

Song you can’t get enough of right now?

I just discovered an artist named Jacob Collier who does these incredible, mostly a cappella arrangements of songs and I'm hooked on his take on the jazz standard "Fascinating Rhythm." Amazing! [link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K28H04Y2IdE]

What are you reading right now or what's on your TBR?

I just started "The Maze Runner" and plan on reading Andy Weir's "The Martian" next.

Fall Movie you’re most looking forward to?

I've watched the Star Wars trailers about 80 times each and geek out. Every. Single. Time.
Charles Curtis is a writer and journalist based in New York City. He has reported and written for publications including NJ.com (where he is currently the site’s sports buzz reporter), The Daily, ESPN.com, ESPN the Magazine, Bleacher Report, TV Guide and Entertainment Weekly. Charles has covered the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, golf, tennis and NASCAR. He has also written about television, film and pop culture.
In addition, Curtis has also written, produced and was featured in videos for ESPN.com and The Daily. He has made radio appearances on stations including 92.9 The Ticket in Bangor, Maine, WLIE 540 AM in Long Island and on morning shows across Canada via the CBC.
He can be reached on Twitter: @charlescurtis82.
Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Strange-Country-Day-Cover

Alexander Graham Ptuiac, the son of an inventor, wants to play for the school’s football team. During tryouts, and under the watchful eye of the team’s coach, he suddenly manifests mysterious superhuman powers. Alexander makes the team, but not before the some ill-intended adults take notice, putting his life in danger.
Alex struggles to suppress and control his strange new abilities, worried about exposing his secret and being kicked off the football team. Then he befriends Dex, a diminutive classmate who can somehow jump as high as ten feet in the air. Seems Alex isn’t the only one at school with a secret.
As the school year unfolds, Alex will find himself the target of bullies, holding hands with his first crush and discovering the shocking truth about himself and his parents.
add to goodreads


Giveaway


Button

Thursday 30 July 2015

M9B Two for Thursday Book Blitz – Boneseeker by Brynn Chapman and Endless by Amanda Gray with Giveaway! #T4T

T4T-Banner

Welcome to this week’s Two for Thursday Book Blitz #T4T
presented by Month9books/Tantrum Books!

This week, #T4T presents to you:
Boneseeker by Brynn Chapman and
Endless by Amanda Gray

Today, we will be showcasing two titles that may tickle your fancy,
and we’ll share what readers have to say about these titles!
You just might find your next read!

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

Boneseeker
Arabella Holmes was born different and raised different. After it became apparent she wouldn’t fit the role of a proper 1900′s lady, her father, Sherlock, called in some lingering favors, and landed her a position at the Mutter Museum. The museum was Arabella’s dream; she was to become a purveyor of abnormal science. What her father called a BoneSeeker.
Henry Watson arrives at the Mutter Museum with a double assignment–to become a finder of abnormal antiquities and to watch over and keep Arabella Holmes. An easy task, if he could only get her to speak to him instead of throwing knives in his general direction.
But this is no time for child’s play. The two teens are assigned to a most secret exploration, when the hand of a Nephilim is unearthed in upstate New York. Soon, Arabella and Henry are caught in a fight for their lives as scientific debate swirls around them. Are the bones from a Neanderthal … or are they living proof of fallen angels, who supposedly mated with humans according to ancient scrolls?
Sent to recover the skeleton, they discover they are the second team to have been deployed and the entire first team is dead. And now they must trust their instincts and rely on one another in order to survive and uncover the truth.
add to goodreads


WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:

For the love of all things Sherlock! I loved this book to bits. I felt like I was seeing old friends.” – Kristie, Lost in Ever After


“Boneseeker is one that fans of historical mysteries and a little bit romance along the way will enjoy.”Jenea, Reviewer


a fab idea to take Holmes and Watson to the next generation and to have them on a kind of steampunk/ science adventure” – Nicky Peacock, Author


about-the-author
Brynn ChapmanBorn and raised in western Pennsylvania, Brynn Chapman is the daughter of two teachers. Her writing reflects her passions: science, history and love—not necessarily in that order. In real life, the geek gene runs strong in her family, as does the Asperger’s syndrome. Her writing reflects her experience as a pediatric therapist and her interactions with society’s downtrodden. In fiction, she’s a strong believer in underdogs and happily-ever-afters. She also writes non-fiction and lectures on the subjects of autism and sensory integration and is a medical contributor to online journal The Age of Autism.
Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest


Endless
IN A RACE AGAINST TIME, HOW DO YOU KEEP THOSE YOU LOVE SAFE?
Jenny Kramer knows she isn’t normal. After all, not everybody can see the past lives of people around them. When she befriends Ben Daulton, resident new boy, the pair stumbles on an old music box with instructions for “mesmerization” and discover they may have more in common than they thought.

Like a past life.

Using the instructions in the music box, Ben and Jenny share a dream that transports them to Romanov Russia and leads them to believe they have been there together before. But they weren’t alone. Nikolai, the mysterious young man Jenny has been seeing in her own dreams was there, too. When Nikolai appears next door, Jenny is forced to acknowledge that he has traveled through time and space to find her. Doing so means he has defied the laws of time, and the Order, an ominous organization tasked with keeping people in the correct time, is determined to send him back. While Ben, Jenny and Nikolai race against the clock -- and the Order -- the trio discovers a link that joins them in life -- and beyond death.
add to goodreads


WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:

“I thought this book was pretty amazing – the characters, the setting and the adventure all came together to create this romantic yet ultimately dangerous story with a perfect time travel twist!”Hannah – Lemonade Library

“I started reading this not knowing completely what the story was about but there's an amazing love story as well as a bit of history thrown into the mix along with some time travel and a soul mate and reincarnation!” – Anna – Bound in Ink Books

“This book is a very interesting twist on time travel, history and romance, something I would love to see adapted on the big screen in the future.” Lyn - Reading Tsinoy

about-the-author
Amanda Gray believes in magic and fantasy and possibilities. She is a team of two bestselling authors who live only miles apart but have never met in person. They talk on the phone and are the best of friends and between them have written more than a dozen novels and novellas and have had their work appear on television.
Giveaway
Complete the Rafflecopter for your chance to win!


Chapter-by-Chapter-blog-tour-button

Forever Bound by Deanna Roy Book Blitz and Giveaway!



Forever Bound by Deanna Roy (The Forever Series #4) Publication date: July 28th 2015 Genres: New Adult, Romance


Synopsis:
A new standalone romance with the characters from the USA Today bestselling Forever series, coming July 28, 2015.You can only run from life for a little while. Eventually, it catches up.A hitchhiking musician looking only for freedom and adventure as he sings for tips across the US spends a single night with spunky pink-haired Jenny, only to discover that sometimes, one night can be the beginning of forever.


Purchase:

Excerpt:


The guy I’d been watching walked over to the mike and said, “Hello, I’m Chance, and Paul here has kindly invited this Tennessee boy up to do a number.”

His name was Chance.

“Yeah!” Paul bellowed. He lifted his guitar strap over his head and handed it to Chance.

I made it to the base of the stage, where the crowd had left a gap in its disinterest. I wondered if my boy choice was doing to get their attention, or if he would be terrible.

I was rooting for him.

The band crashed into the opening licks, and when Chance started singing, I wanted to laugh out loud with giddiness. His voice was pure magic, deep and edgy.

He moved across stage like a fury, all energy and muscle. I was so close I could feel the wood floor shifting under his feet. His fingers squeezed the guitar in a steady grip. I was mesmerized by every movement. I could already see how his skilled hands would work on me.

I was hooked.

The song rollicked along for another chorus, then Chance brought them to a strong stop with a motion of his hand.

That’s when he saw me.

He froze a second, as if he couldn’t believe I was so close after he’d searched for me for so long. His smile spread to a wide grin. I’m sure my panties would have gone flying, if I’d been wearing any.

AUTHOR BIO:
Deanna Roy is the five-time USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and women's fiction.
She is a passionate advocate for women who have lost babies. She has several books on the subject, including her bestseller FOREVER INNOCENT, a romance about a couple whose baby is taken off life support at seven days old.
She has run the website PregnancyLoss.Info for fifteen years, including many large spin-off support groups both online and in person.
To learn about new releases, sign up for her subscriber list at http://deannaroy.com/news. She has regular giveaways in conjunction with major pregnancy loss events.

Author Links:



Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)
  • $50 Gift Card to any store
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday 29 July 2015

Hunter by Renee Donne Book Blitz and Giveaway!


Hunter
Release Date: 11/14/14
Anaiah Press

Summary from Goodreads:
Moving across the country isn’t Hunter’s ideal start to her Junior year of high school. She has no friends to hang out with, no beaches to lounge on, and she’s living just a few miles from the secluded hiking trail where her father died when she was a baby.
Living in Wyoming isn’t all bad, though, thanks to Logan, the handsome veterinary assistant at the animal clinic where she lands an after school job. And he seems just as interested in her as she is in him.
As Hunter begins to settle into her new home, she learns more about the circumstances surrounding her father’s tragic death, and it may not have been the accident everyone believes. Something dangerous lurks in the woods, and Hunter might be the next victim. 



Buy Links:
Amazon

Book Trailer:

About the Author
Renee Donne is a native Floridian with a penchant for writing books with a western theme. In her head, she's a world traveler and an amateur chef. In real life, she's a hometown girl with an affinity for fine wine and good friends. Her favorite place to write is sitting on her veranda, overlooking the beach.

Author Links:
 photo iconwebsite-32x32_zps1f477f69.png  photo icongoodreads32_zps60f83491.png  photo icontwitter-32x32_zpsae13e2b2.png  photo iconfacebook-32x32_zps64a79d4a.png


GIVEAWAY:


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Destroying Angel by Missy Wilkinson Book Blitz and Giveaway!


Destroying Angel
Release Date: 07/09/15
187 pages

Summary from Goodreads:
Gates McFarland’s mother has just been proclaimed brain dead by a neurologist. But fifteen-year-old Gates doesn’t believe it’s true, because she hears her mother’s voice in her head. The command is simple: Find my heart. It’s the last thing Gates hears from her mother before the neurologist pulls the plug.
After contacting the Organ Procurement Agency, Gates learns there is no record of her mother’s organ donation. She meets Dr. Ascuitto, her mother’s neurologist. A menacing figure, he threatens to institutionalize Gates if she continues her inquiries.
Determined to find the truth, Gates gets help from John Ed, a street-smart, sixteen-year-old recovering addict. Together, they navigate an underworld of body theft, interstellar drug trafficking and doctors who double as dealers. She finds herself attracted to John Ed’s musical talents and emotional strength even as she is drawn ever-deeper into an alien world accessible only by use of a hallucinogenic spore. Hostile and governed by a sinister waif named Penny, the world holds secrets about Gates’ mother’s death…and the key to Gates’ survival.



Buy Links:

The book release party is Tuesday, July 28 in New Orleans. Everyone is welcome to attend! The Facebook invitation is here: https://www.facebook.com/events/391976724334930/

Excerpt:


“Penny shot him with an arrow. I think the tip was covered in Amanita spores,” I say.
Scott shakes his head. “That’s incredibly toxic. In the bloodstream, it spreads like, well, like a mold. It can take people over. Animals, too, I’d assume.”
“What happens when people get taken over by the Amanita?” I ask.
“They aren’t themselves anymore,” Scott says flatly. “That’s why you should never snort it or shoot it. But some people, well, they don’t listen and then you wind up with Sporeheads.”
“You think that’s what’s happening to Papageno? That it’s spreading though his body...colonizing him?”
“That’s what fungus does. Filthy stuff. I hate selling it. One of these days, I’m gonna tell Penny that’s it, I’m through...” Scott trails off on his rant. “Anyway, we better make sure that wound’s clean.”

About the Author
Hi all! I'm a book fiend turned professional wordsmith who tells stories both fictional and factual. My debut novel, DESTROYING ANGEL, was published this year by Torquere Press. I freelance for publications including xoJane.com, HelloGiggles.com, BRIDES and Country Living, and I have served as a local editor for Zagat and Fodor guides.
I work as a full-time journalist at Gambit Weekly, THE BEST source for news in New Orleans (I'm biased, obviously). 


Author Links:
 photo iconwebsite-32x32_zps1f477f69.png  photo icongoodreads32_zps60f83491.png  photo icontwitter-32x32_zpsae13e2b2.png  photo iconfacebook-32x32_zps64a79d4a.png

GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday 28 July 2015

Audiobook Review: Suckers by Z. Rider!


    Suckers: A Horror Novel | [Z. Rider]
  • Written by: Z. Rider
  • Narrated by: Chris Vallancourt
  • Length: 7 hrs and 50 mins 
  • Unabridged Audiobook

  • Release Date:02-26-15
  • Publisher: Dark Ride Publishing
  • Source : Audio Jukebox



  • When worn-out musician Dan Ferry decides to take a shortcut back to the band's hotel, he picks the wrong dark alley to go down. Within days of being attacked by a bat-like creature, he becomes consumed with the need to drink human blood. Terrified of what will happen if he doesn't get his fix - and terrified of what he'll do to get it - he turns to his best friend and bandmate, Ray Ford, for help. But what the two don't know as they try to keep Dan's situation quiet is that the parasite driving Dan's addiction has the potential to wipe out humankind.


  • My Thoughts:

  • Well this was weird but wonderful! The synopsis was sufficiently teasing enough that I knew I had to try it at least, and I'm so glad I did. It was frightening but also heartening with the friendship bonds that are present. 

  • After a gig, Dan and his friend walk home through an alley only for them to be attacked by these almost bat like creatures. Dan gets bitten on the neck and while nothing happens straight away, he finds himself with incredibly bad headaches, and worse, a thirst for blood. Just what is wrong and how will Dan handle it? 

  • The plot was fast paced and well written. The idea of the Suckers was unique and very icky!! At first I thought vampires but it's not, it's much more than that. Its a refreshingly unique vampire/alienesque story and one I devoured. The story grabs you from the start and won't let go till after you finish. I found myself having to read to see what happens! 

  • The characters are all well defined and developed. I actually loved them all. I have to say that the best thing for me in the book is the relationship between the band mates. When Dan gets bitten, he turns to Ray and he does everything in his power to help Dan. Their bond is unbreakable. It was so nice reading their story!! 

  • In all this was a quick listen. I expected a typical vampire story but what I got was so much more. I couldn't take my earbuds out because I had to see what happened next and when the outbreak spread, my heart picked up. So why the 4 stars if I loved it!! I took off one star because we don't get a proper explanation as to where exactly the suckers came from. I wanted that explained a little more, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book!

  • Chris Vallancourt is a new to me narrator and while I liked his voice, I found that he never changed his tone much from character to character. I got confused sometimes. Other than that, he was great. He brought life to the story and got the atmosphere perfect. 

  • *I received a copy of this, via Audiobook Jukebox, in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.* 

Last Siege of Haven (Undertakers 4) by Ty Drago Paperback Release Blitz and Giveaway!

Undertakers-4-blitz-banner

Title: Last Siege of Haven (Undertakers #4)
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.
Author: Ty Drago

Welcome to the Paperback Release Blitz for
Last Siege of Haven (Undertakers 4) by Ty Drago
presented by Month9Books!

Looking for a great zombie read?

Enter the giveaway at the end of the post for your chance to win!

Undertakers-4-cover

While away on an undercover mission, Undertaker Will Ritter has made an unthinkable alliance...with a Corpse! But though Robert Dillin (aka 'The Zombie Prince') is indeed one of those alien invaders who animate and possess the bodies of the dead -- unlike the rest of his kind, Dillin isn't evil. In fact, he wants to help. And Will needs that help, because the Queen of the Dead has learned the location of Haven, the Undertakers' secret HQ, and is planning a massive and deadly assault.
With the last day of the Corpse War finally upon them, Will and his friends find themselves in a desperate race to close the Rift between worlds and forever kill the Corpses. But can they do before Haven is overrun?
For that matter, can they do it at all?
add to goodreads



Excerpt:

“What’s going on?” Jillian asked.
In answer, Tom turned to Helene. “Got the pics?”
She nodded, holding up a small stack of white photo paper. “Hot off Sammy’s printer.”
“Lay ‘em out across the table. Face up.”
Helene did so.
People. It was a sunny, late spring day topside, and men and women in suits were busy going about their business. From the look of it, Helene had found herself a choice spot near the “clothespin,” a big modern sculpture of—well—a giant clothespin, that stood at 16th and Market Streets.
Helene had been subtle with the camera, maybe holding it in the palm of her hand while turning in a slow circle. Most of the shots were at an upward angle.
Smart.
Dozens of faces, all wearing different expressions, all clueless that their image had just been digitally captured.
“Susan,” Tom said, turning to Will’s mother. “Look at these pics.”
Obviously perplexed, the woman did so. “What am I looking for?”
He asked her, “How many are Corpses?”
To her credit, she actually tried. She even picked up a few of the shots and held them closer to her face, as if that would help. Finally, with a sigh, she put the last one down and said, “I don’t know. Are any of them?”
Tom looked from her to Jillian.
“Are any of them Corpses?”
Now it was Jill’s turn to look perplexed. Her gaze moved from Tom to the pictures, to Helene, to the pictures again. “Three,” she said.
“Which ones?”
She picked up three shots, two women and one man.
“Give ‘em here,” Tom said.
Jillian handed them to him and, for half-a-minute, Tom studied them.
“What’s going on, Chief?” Helene asked.
Tom Jefferson lowered the pictures and regarded each of them in turn. He would have preferred to have Will and Sharyn here, but that wasn’t possible. Things were happening, and he simply couldn’t wait.
So he told them, “I wanted to be absolutely sure before I said anything.”
“About what?” Susan asked.
He replied in a calm, matter-of-fact voice. “I’ve lost the Sight. I can’t see Corpses anymore.”

about-the-author
Ty DragoTy Drago does his writing just across the river from Philadelphia, where the Undertakers novels take place. In addition to The Undertakers: Rise of the Corpses,The Undertakers: Queen of the Dead, and The Undertakers: Secret of the Corpse Eater, he is the author of The Franklin Affair and Phobos, as well as short stories and articles that have appeared in numerous publications, including Writer’s Digest. He currently lives in southern New Jersey with his wife and best friend, the real Helene Drago née Boettcher.

Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Giveaway
Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!