Every Little Piece

by Kate Ashton

Synopsis 

~ Buy It Now ~

~ Giveaway ~

About The Author

Tracy Lane

I use to love to write short stories in school and always wanted to be a writer. But raising children and working jobs I just could not find the time to indulge my passion. Then my children grew up and I ended up having two teenagers at home who did not need as much attention from me. I started toying with the idea of writing once again. So setting aside 5 to 10 minutes per day to write at least one page I could end up with a book a year. Now Paranormal Properties is published and I have a list of 8 more books to write. I don't think I"ll be slowing down anytime soon.

~ Guest Post by Tracy Lane ~ 

Hello! My name is Tracy Lane and I am the author of Paranormal Properties. I have always been intrigued with ghosts even at a young age. I could swear there was someone around me even when I was alone. At times I thought I could hear voices. As I became a young woman I would watch movies and television shows about ghosts and ghost hunting.

Some of my favorite shows now are Ghost Hunters, Supernatural, A Haunting, Ghost Whisperer. I have tried to watch Medium but never really enjoyed that one as much. Once in awhile I would watch Psychic Kids. I felt for those children who were outcasts because of their abilities.

My favorite all time movie is Ghost. I can still sit and watch that one. That is what I believe the afterlife is really like. It is quickly followed by Stir of Echoes and Sixth Sense. Now Sixth Sense is where I sat in the theatre after the movie was done and others were leaving. I was so in awe over it, I thought why not write a book about a boy who can see ghosts and make friends with one? But to take it further I decided to make his parents ghost hunters! I also gave my ghost more of a personality. Not to put down Bruce Willis, he did a wonderful job! I just needed my ghost to be more energetic and bossy. But I also wanted my book to be a fun read, one children and adults would love to read again and again. It is a cross between Scooby Doo, Goosebumps, and Hardy Boys.

I put all my love of the afterlife interacting with our reality into one fun to read book. I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it!

About The Book

Paranormal Properties

by Tracy Lane

Series - Paranormal Properties #1
Released - February 27, 2013
Publisher - Pants on Fire Press
Genre - YA Paranormal

Synopsis

Jake Weir, while on the set of his parents ghost hunting TV show, agrees to help a ghost investigate a 61 year-old murder. 

Jake Weir is not like the other kids in Dusk, North Carolina. Then again, Dusk, North Carolina is not like other cities. Known as one of the most haunted cities in America, behind Salem, Massachusetts and New Orleans, Louisiana, Dusk is ground zero for Jake's ghost hunting parents. 

The Weir family has arrived in Dusk eager to scope out some of the town's 127 reported "paranormal properties," which just happens to be the name of their own ghost hunting show: Paranormal Properties. What Jake doesn't know, and what his parents could never imagine, is that Jake can see ghosts! And hear them. And talk back to them! This talent comes in handy when he runs into Dusk's oldest, most famous ghost: one Frank Barrone, a one-time lounge singer made famous by his booze-soaked ballad, "Barroom Eyes." 

Frank was gunned down by a local mobster in 1951 and has been searching for his killer ever since. When he learns that Jake can see and hear him, Frank makes young Jake a deal: if Jake will help Frank find his killer, Frank will help his parents find a ghost to film for their upcoming Halloween Special on Public Access Channel #319. Jake enlists the only friend he's made in Dusk, an overweight tomboy nicknamed "Tank," to help him track down Frank's killer. As clues emerge and old leads heat up, Frank and Jake learn they make quite a team. But will Jake find Frank's killer? And will Frank find a real haunted house in time for Halloween?

Excerpt

“Silas…” 

The voice was eerie, barely above a whisper. Jake paused, his sneaker poised above a grave as he stood in the middle of Dusk Cemetery. 

It was nearly midnight and he’d grabbed the wrong flashlight before sneaking out of his bedroom window. It had run out of juice halfway through the graveyard, and he’d been blindly stumbling around ever since. 

The moon was full, but it was frequently obscured by heavy cloud cover and he had to wait until another patch moved through to see very well. 

He wasn’t scared, so much. Jake had a special relationship with graveyards, and this was far from his first time at the rodeo. Still, it was the first time a headstone had ever talked to him. 

The voice grew louder. 

“Silas…” 

It was a female voice, sounding dark in a way a ghost might: dark and deep and frosty. 

He risked another step, letting the moonlight guide his path. It was a big cemetery, and well-maintained as cemeteries go. There were headstones everywhere, some leaning, some taller than Jake. 

“Silas…” 

Jake turned to the left to follow the sound. It was coming from a massive tombstone two feet taller than he was, and three feet wider. He pointed the flashlight at it, but the beacon was dim, even after he banged it three times on the palm of his hand. 

Then, suddenly, it lit, falling upon the dead soul’s name: “Rose Colder.” 

It was there on the grave stone, but the flashlight flickered out just before he could read the dates. 

“Silas…” came the eerie voice again, so close he could hear the ghost’s lips smacking. 

But, wait. Did ghosts really have lips to smack? 

Jake parted his own lips and spoke for the first time since walking into the graveyard. “R-R-Rose?” 

He hadn’t meant to stutter, but he couldn’t help it. He heard a rasp, or a cough, and then the crunch of dry leaves behind the headstone. 

“Silas?” was the reply, and then the rustling of cheap plastic against flesh. The clouds broke, the moon shone down, and a giant, yellow monster reared from behind the headstone, smiling. 

Smiling? 

“Gotcha!” said the beast, in a boastful, girlish voice. It was a girl, a giant girl, a living girl in a big, yellow raincoat. 

“W— who are you?” Jake stammered, trying to hold his ground. He had to look up a good four inches to see her face. 

Her eyes glittered beneath her short, greasy hair. She was heavy, but with her big smile and that cheerful way about her, she looked more nice than scary. 

“I’m Tank,” she said proudly, inching closer to him with big black and white sneakers crunching over dry, dead leaves. “Who are you?” 

“Jake Weir,” he said, relieved he didn’t stammer that time. “And who…who’s Silas?” 

“Don’t you know?” she asked, sitting down on one of the large marble slabs that surrounded Rose Colder’s grave. She patted the one next to him, and he sat, too. 

He didn’t know why, but even in a graveyard, even after pranking him in her big, yellow raincoat that made her look like a linebacker for an NFL team, this “Tank” girl didn’t scare him. 

Much. 

“No,” he replied. 

Tank frowned. “Rose Colder,” she explained, “snuck out at midnight to meet her boyfriend, Silas Miner, in this very cemetery over a hundred years ago. But Silas’s Dad didn’t approve of his son dating a commoner, so he kept Silas from seeing her and sent a couple of local thugs to teach Rose a lesson. When the thugs showed up, Rose fought back…and lost. They buried her here, and legend has it that every night, at midnight, she rises from her grave to take revenge on the men who ended her life.” 

“So…so that’s why you were calling me Silas?” 

Tank nodded, and then slugged him on the shoulder. “What are you doing here, anyway?” Jake shrugged. He didn’t really want to tell her. 

She pulled a flashlight from her raincoat pocket and flicked it on, right in his eyes. “Hey!” He held up a hand to shield his face. 

“Wait, hold up.” Tank pointed the beam up. “What’s that on your hat?” 

Jake blushed. He’d grabbed the hat at the last minute, not thinking about it. He had so many of them, and they all looked alike: black ball cap, neon green writing that spelled “Paranormal Properties.” 

“You…you work for that TV show? The ghost hunting one?” 

“You know about it?” Jake was surprised. They’d just gotten into town, and his parents hadn’t even filmed an episode here yet. That’s what he was doing out in the graveyard at midnight, trying to find something extra special for a new episode. 

Of course, they’d kill him if they found out, but he figured it would be worth it if they finally got more than a handful of people to watch. 

“Know about it?” Tank shouted. “I watch it every week! You know, the live feed on the web page. We don’t have any local channels that play it.” 

Jake beamed in appreciation. “Cool,” he said. 

“So,” Tank urged, nudging his knee with her own. He noticed she was wearing plaid pants under her yellow rain coat. “Do you work for it or what?” 

“My Mom is the host. My Dad is the cameraman.” 

Tank gasped and shoved Jake with each word. “No. Way! Get. Out. Of. Town!” 

She stopped shoving him and stood up instead, yanking him by the sleeve of his T-shirt. Dragging him from the cemetery, she said, “I love your Mom. You have to tell me all about her.” 

“Where are we going?” he asked, finally regaining use of his feet and catching up to her. 

She saw him at her side, looked down and let him go. “There’s a diner around the corner, open all night. I’m buying you a hot fudge sundae and you’re going to tell me all about what it’s like to have famous parents.” 

“Famous?” he chuckled as he followed her past the cemetery gate. His Mongoose bike was sitting there, dry and rusty, just where he’d left it. 

“Sure thing.” She reached behind some bushes and lifted out a green ten speed with just one hand. 

They mounted their bikes and, now that he was looking for it, Jake saw the neon sign for the Dusk Diner just around the corner. Yet, something was still bugging him. “Hey,” he said, “what were you doing in the graveyard at midnight?” 

Tank shrugged. “Couldn’t sleep.” 

“So you went to a cemetery?” 

She shrugged again, pedaling off. While struggling to catch up, Jake heard her say, “Hey, I met you, didn’t I?”

~ Giveaway ~ 

Werewolves Be Damned

by Stacey Kennedy

Synopsis

Nexi Jones—part witch, part guardian, and wannabe kick-ass warrior—can’t throw a punch or conjure the simplest magic. But that doesn’t stop her from hunting the werewolves who slaughtered her human family. She’ll have her revenge, but only if Kyden, the elite guardian, would get the hell out of her way. 

Kyden can’t decide if Nexi wants to get herself killed or if she just has no clue what she’s doing. But her father made it clear: keep Nexi safe…or else. Of course, the more Nexi runs toward revenge, the more she needs Kyden’s aid, and as she grows into her power and confidence, so does his desire to protect her. The only problem? She’d rather he dropped dead. 

But when a vampire paints a bull’s-eye on Nexi’s back, she’s hard-pressed to deny Kyden and the help he’s offering. Even if it means getting her revenge will be a little bit harder. At least it will still be as sweet.

Excerpt 

I’ve found you, fur ball. 

Nexi peered from behind the large oak tree and spotted the small log cabin nestled in the thick forest. The porch light cast a warm glow into the night. Fog settled over the lush grass, and the night was dark, eerie. 

Stepping away from her hiding place behind the tree, she strode forward and gripped the dagger tightly in her hand. Keeping the silver blade pointed outward, she climbed the cabin’s porch steps, taking each one slowly to avoid detection. 

Once she arrived at the front door, she wrapped her hand around the door handle. Rich hunger for revenge burned in her veins and made her intent on one thing: to slaughter the werewolf who escaped the night of her parents’ murder. Not caring what awaited her, she stormed inside, dagger pointed, ready to kill. 

The simple cabin had two large brown couches near a wood-burning stove, a kitchenette behind the living room, and a quilt-covered bed resting in the back. And that was it; there were no other rooms to investigate. No secret hiding places she could see. 

No damned werewolf. 

She cursed, shut the front door behind her, then trotted down the steps to return to her hiding spot. On her way across the yard, she glanced at the space to the right of the tree, which looked much like a heat wave, indicating that the portal to the Otherworld remained. 

In some places around the world—or the Earthworld, as supernaturals had called it—there were permanent portals to the supernatural realm. This portal had only appeared because Nexi had travelled to this cabin from the Otherworld. Once she passed through the portal again, the gateway would vanish. 

Magic had its perks. Quick travel was one of them. 

Nexi shook her head at how normal all this magical stuff seemed now. Just over a month ago she’d never believed in anything that went bump in the night. Now she knew all those things existed, and in fact, she was one of them. 

To her horror, she had learned that her birth mother, Tillie, had been murdered by a power-hungry vampire, Lazarus.  All those years ago, her birth father, Drake, had protectively decided to block Nexi’s supernatural abilities. He had planned for her to live and die as a mortal. Now with her return to the Otherworld and the removal of the block on her true identity, there was no going back. 

She was no longer plain, human, Nexi Jones. 

She was Nexi Jones, part guardian, part witch. 

Looking away from the portal and to her hiding spot until the werewolf returned, she hurried her steps. She wasn’t ready to return to the Otherworld yet. Not until she had the werewolf’s head as her wall ornament would she dare go home. 

Just as she neared the tree, a woodsy scent that had nothing to do with the forest mixed with the citrusy aroma of aftershave. A blink of an eye later, the dagger she held was now at her throat, a hard body closed in on her back. 

“You smelled lovely when you arrived.” The low voice by her ear held a faint English accent. “But I never imagined you’d be so pretty.” 

The blade pressed into her skin, not drawing blood, but implying that if the werewolf chose, she’d be destined for the grave. “I’m…” 

“Going to explain yourself.” He lowered the dagger, took hold of her arm, and jerked her forward. 

In a few short strides, the werewolf tossed her through the threshold of the cabin, and slammed the door behind them. He sauntered to the couch, sat down, and regarded her. “Now then, darlin’.” His olive skin was stunningly flawless, and his chocolate-colored hair was spiked tall. “Why would a pretty lass like yourself plan to attack me?” 

“Don’t move.” That charm wouldn’t fool her. “Stay right where you are.” 

“My mouth is the only thing moving.” His slanted amber eyes raked over her. “Would you like me to stop talking?” 

“No.” She hesitated then added, “Only your mouth can move. Nothing else. Tell me what you know.” 

He gave her a long look. “I’d be glad to tell you anything you’d like, love.” 

His kind face and soft voice wouldn’t trick her. He was a werewolf. She was certain, which was another oddity. 

After the block on her supernatural abilities had been lifted, she could identify a supernatural creature as if knowing the difference between a brunette and a redhead. “Tell me why you killed my family.” 

“That’s an interesting accusation.” He cocked his head, studying her with a frown. “But I think the more important question is who are you?” 

She lifted her chin. “The lass who’s going to cut off your furry wolf balls.”

About The Author

Stacey Kennedy

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon

Stacey Kennedy is an urban fantasy lover at heart, but she also enjoys losing herself in dark and sensual worlds. She lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, who gave her a happily-ever-after. Together, they have two small children who can always make her smile, and who will never be allowed to read Mommy’s books. If she’s not plugging away at a new story, you’ll find her camping, curling up with the latest flick, or obsessing over Sons of Anarchy and Game of Thrones.

~ Giveaway ~ 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This event is presented to you by

Welcome to Belle of the Ball!

Book Cover #1

Book Cover #2

Book Cover #3

Book Cover #4

Book Cover #5

Book Cover #6

Prizes 

Spring Blog Carnival Map

Before we get started, please get your tickets here

Now let's enjoy…

Welcome to my 2013 Reading Challenges

Rules & Guidelines

• You must have a blog, a Goodreads account, a YouTube account, an Amazon account – any where you can post your reviews and share them with others. 

• There is no deadline to join the 2013 Debut Author Challenge, but make sure you give yourself enough time to achieve the goal! 

• ARCs of 2013 debuts read before January 01, 2013 do not count towards your challenge goal. 

• The 2013 debuts must be read between January 01, 2013 – January 31, 2014 to count for the 2013 Debut Author Challenge. The extra month is to allow participants more time to read the December releases.

• 2013 debuts must be young adult or middle grade in order to count towards the challenge. 

• The title must be the author’s young adult or middle grade debut. If they have previously published an adult title, and this is their first young adult/middle grade title, that counts towards the challenge. If this is their second young adult/middle grade title, it does not count towards the challenge.

• Each review equals one entry in the monthly prize pack. If you post six review titles in January, you get six entries to win the January prize pack. 

Book List

1. Aberrant by Ruth Silver
2. Dualed by Elsie Chapman
3. Prophecy Girl by Cecily White
4. The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston
5. Darkness of Light by Stacey Marie Brown
6. Disconnect by Imran Siddiq
7. Legacy of the Clockwork Key by Kristin Bailey
8. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell 
9. Ink by Amanda Sun
10. My Sister's Reaper by Dorothy Dreyer
11. Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas
12. The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise

Rules & Guidelines

1. On signup link your blog or wherever else you post your Netgalley reviews at here. Whilst not compulsory to declare your participation, like I have in this post, it's preferred.

2. Pick your Reading Level 

Blue Star ~ Read 1-10 

Green Star ~ 11-20 

Red Star ~ 21-30 

Gold Star ~ 30+

3. Snag the event banner and place on your blog sidebar or on your participation post (like I have done above). If your more creative (like I am not) and you'd like to create your own, link it back to Red House Books so she can add it to her site for others to use.

4. Read, Read, Read!!!

5. Monthly, link up your reviews. On the 1st of every month a linky will be posted, add your reviews to the linky and you'll be entered to win a monthly prize.

Book List

1. What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang
2. Venom by Fiona Paul
3. The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston
4. Prophecy Girl by Cecily White
5. Ink by Amanda Sun
6. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
7. School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins
8. Double Crossed by Ally Carter 
9. The Collector by Victoria Scott
10. Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

Rules & Guidelines

• This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2013 - Dec 31, 2013. 

• Anyone can enter! You don't have to be a blogger, as long as you review the book you've read! (On your blog, Amazon or Goodreads/Shelfari!) Any genre, length or format of book counts, as long as it is a book that's been sitting on your shelf for some time now. Only books released in 2012 and earlier! NO 2013 ARCs and 2013 fresh-off-the-press releases allowed! 

• You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you. 

• When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the 2013 TBR PILE Reading Challenge. (If you don't have a blog, post about it on Facebook or Tweet!) 

• You can move up levels, but no moving down. 

• Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2013, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year. 

• On the 20th of each month one of the hosts will post a wrap-up. Every wrap-up will have it's unique theme, a mini-challenge, a giveaway and place for you to link up your reviews from this month. For each review you link up, you will get one entry in a drawing of one book of choice from Book Depository. It's open to INTERNATIONALS. The giveaway will be open until the next wrap up post goes up! (i.e. the entire month) 

• If you miss a wrap-up post + giveaway, you can link up your reviews next month. Do not, however, try to link up one review twice - we will be checking ;) 

• December is a wrap-up for the whole year. All the book reviews you linked up January-November + the ones you'll link up in December will be entered into a HUGE giveaway - a box of books. 

• You don't have to follow all the hosts to join the challenge, but you do have to follow all of us to be entered in giveaways! 

Levels

(how many books you're planning to read for this challenge in 2013) 

1-10 - A Firm Handshake 

11-20 - A Friendly Hug 

21-30 - A Sweet Kiss 

31-40 - Love At First Sight 

41-50 - Married With Children 

Clean Sweep ARC Challenge is hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and The Windy Pages. The purpose of this challenge is to read as many ARC's in your TBR (published or soon-to-be-released). Every Saturday challenges will be hosted by different bloggers, win yourself some awesome prizes! These challenges are not compulsory but the more you participate the more points you get towards the ultimate grand prize. Click on the button above for further info and you'll also find the Rafflecopter for the Clean Sweep prize.

The Rules 

• Must be read during May 1st and May 31st, 2013 
• Starts and ends at midnight in your local time zone 
• Physical and digital ARCs are eligible, in any length and genre! 
• Linky will close on May 15th so sign up before you miss out! 
• When you join, please add the challenge button to your blog. When you post your goals be sure add button and links back to hosts. 
• Challenges will be hosted each Saturday with a chance to win additional prize 
• Grand Prize- TWO winners will be chosen to pick a book of their choice from The Book Depository. (Up to $15 value per book) 
• Please post your recap by June 3rd. This is the day that the Rafflecopter will close. Recap post should include a link to the review or Goodreads review with date it will be posted on your blog. (This is for readers who may be reading books way ahead of schedule and don't want to post a review yet!) 
• Rafflecopter entries will be awarded for each book review linked, posting about challenge, recap post, participation in challenges, and following. 

Challenge Schedule

Do you have pets? Are they your cuddle-buddies when you’re reading? Share the pet love! (Thanks, Sarah/Sarah Says Read and Miki/ Lecture toute une Aventure and Dovile)

Sunday Post is a weekly feature hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Reviewer. It's main purpose is similar to that of a Sunday newspaper; recap of the week gone by, additions to your library and what is going on in the book blogging community.

Addition to my Library 

Won 

Pulse by HJ Daly Giveaway hosted by Girl Who Reads.

It included:-

- $35 Amazon Gift Card

- Signed Paperback copy of Pulse by HJ Daly

- Signed Pulse bookmark

- Pulse pen

- Pulse card

- Pulse cloth bag

- Beautiful Flower hardback notebook

I absolutely loved the bag and the pen! I'm also very excited to spend my $35 Amazon Gift card. 

Prize Pack 3 from the YAlicious April Giveaway 

Bought Ebooks 

In The Blogosphere