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Showing posts with label Excerpt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Excerpt. Show all posts
Thursday, 10 May 2018
Cover Reveal ~ Chloe Shipton & The Quill of LeFay by Lynn Veevers
Today Lynn Veevers and Rockstar Book Tours are revealing the
cover and an exclusive content for CHLOE SHIPTON & THE QUILL OF LEFAY, her
new YA Fantasy which releases June 12, 2018! Check out the awesome cover and
enter the giveaway for your chance to win $25 Amazon voucher!
On to the reveal!
CHLOE SHIPTON & THE QUILL OF LEFAY
By Lynn Veevers
Pub. Date: June 12, 2018
Publisher: Lynn Veevers
Formats: Paperback,
eBook
Pages: 263
When fifteen-year-old Chloe mysteriously disappears, the rumors at Grammaire Hall point to murder, but spiritual entrapment isn’t the same as dead. In a library that’s believed to be nothing more than a myth, Chloe's spirit is separated from her body after witnessing another student's murder. Try as she may she can't remember what happened to her before she woke up as a spirit in the campus graveyard. As Chloe uncovers clues leading to the mythical library's location and her body, a secret the Magical Parliament doesn't want to get out, starts to unravel. Rogue sorcerers have infiltrated the school, intent on reinstating the Third Edict, and sorcery students are dying because of it. Destroyed long ago for horrific crimes against humanity, the return of the Third Edict would spell disaster for both magical and magicless societies. To prevent her own demise and the fulfillment of the Third Edict’s return, Chloe must find a way to reunite body and soul without giving the rogue sorcerers the weapon they need to succeed, a weapon only Chloe can activate.
Exclusive Excerpt!
The screams ripped at my heart as I listened to the desperation that
permeated them, “Please don’t hurt me anymore,” the voice cried, “I told you, I
don’t know what you’re talking about!”
The girl’s voice in my mind was a familiar one, and not in a
good way either. Unwanted concern weaseled its way into my heart because there
was genuine pain echoing in her words. I tried shaking off the unsettled
emotions her pleas left in their wake and headed toward the librarian’s desk
again. I didn’t want to care about whatever jam she’d gotten herself into.
Suppressing the guilt that riddled me proved difficult, but for a short time, I
was successful. Mrs. Martin checked out my books and the inescapable feelings
of guilt kept growing as the desperate cries continued. Finally, my conscience
caught up with me as I reached for the door leading outside. A defeated sigh
wiggled its way through my lips, and I cast my eyes upward because I couldn’t
ignore this even if I wanted to.
I needed to do the right thing, not because it was my first
choice, but because I felt compelled to. My morals demanded nothing less. If
someone was in trouble, you tried to help, even if you didn’t like them. That’s
what my parents raised me to believe anyway, and so it didn’t make a difference
that the girl’s voice belonged to Lydia Nostredame—the single biggest bane of
my existence. Hate is a strong word, but my feelings toward Lydia were
something dangerously close to that. My gut told me not to get involved, to
ignore my conscious and leave instead. Unfortunately, my intuition was next to
never wrong. Maybe I should have listened to it. However, my views of right and
wrong were a force to be reckoned with, and they weren’t pulling any stops. The
two opposing sides battled it out as I stood there with my hand on the knob.
After a few moments of inner turmoil, my moral stance won out. So I left the
door and headed back into the library. Lydia’s cries ricocheted through my head
like a stray bullet looking for a mark. They became tortured screams as I
hurried in the direction my mind told me they were coming from.
“Ms. Shipton,” Mrs. Martin said sternly. “We do not run
through the Library!”
I cringed at the sharpness of her tone and slowed my pace to
appease the librarian. As soon as that same group of snickering girls snagged
the stoic woman's attention, I darted forward. Lydia’s screams had grown to a
deafening intensity. Like the tolling of church bells, they drowned out every
other sound. The sharp shrill of them poked at my temples, and the pain was
worse than any migraine I’d ever had. My feet carried me across the familiar
parts of the library and into the further reaches which were seldom ever
visited—by anyone. That should have been my first clue.
“Stairs—dark, ominous stairs, of course; why wouldn’t that
be the case,” I sarcastically mumbled as I came to a door.
I assumed I’d just never noticed the stairs. After all, I’d
only ventured to this part of the library maybe once before. The stair’s door
was only partially open but had it been closed I would have thought it was a
broom closet. The stairs twisted down into the unknown depths, dimly lit, and
narrowing by the second. I was starting to feel as if they might spiral on
forever when I finally reached a stone floor. The smell of musty tomes and aged
ink filled the stagnant air. There were rows upon rows of shelving easily
fifteen feet high. Layers of dust covered sheet draped chairs and tables.
Cobwebs, also thick with grime, adorned most everything in this hidden library.
“Please stop, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I
swear—I don’t know anything,” Lydia screamed, but it was weaker than before.
I was close enough by then to hear her conventionally. Her
voice was drenched in terror and quivering with tears. It echoed and bounced
off the milled stone walls of this underground secret I quietly snuck through.
Once again my gut adamantly insisted that I turn back, but I stubbornly ignored
it. My tendency to be good-natured had baited and lured me into the situation
entirely. There would be no turning back no matter how much my intuition
screamed at me. I slinked through the columns of shelved books as the feeling
of danger settled over my skin like static cling on a warm blanket. I glanced
at my arm as goose bumps raced across its tawny surface and the thin layer of
peach fuzz stood on end. The sensation sent an unsettling shiver running down
the length of my spine. The further in I moved through the rows the thinner the
air seemed to become. It felt like I was trying to breathe around a piece of
food lodged in my throat. Sweet smelling smoke wafted around me in a lazy wisp
as I stood at the edge of a row of books. I recognized the scent immediately as
sweet grass, a common reagent used in spells.
About The Author
Lynn Veevers
Lynn Veevers is originally from
Washington State. With her mother being from Christchurch, New Zealand and her
father being a well-traveled retired Navy Chief, Lynn has always had a
fascination with different cultures around the world. An avid reader, she prefers
books that take her to a place she's never been and teach her something new at
the same time. The Young Adult Genre is her absolute favorite to read, so it
comes as no surprise that it is also her favorite to write. Lynn, on average,
pens two to three novels a year with the sequel to Pinnacle in the publishing
process now!
Today Lynn lives with her husband and
kids in Southeast Oklahoma. Her young adult and adolescent children are
supportive and avid beta readers of her work and give her a straightforward and
honest point of view about how authentic her characters voices and
personalities are for their age group. What better reference than someone close
to the same age as the main character. Her kids always have and always will be
her greatest inspiration.
Giveaway Details:
One lucky winner will receive a $25Amazon
gift card, International.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Wednesday, 2 September 2015
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas ~ Release Day Blast + Giveaway + Excerpt
Welcome to the
Release Day Blitz for
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
For the Throne of Glass Series or Sarah J. Maas fans, this is HUGE and a highly anticipated day! To whet your appetite we've got the first 5 chapters of Queen of Shadows, read on for the link.
If you haven't started this wonderful series, this is the perfect time to start as there's a massive giveaway for the first three books in the series, and if your not fortunate enough to win, grab a copy of Throne of Glass, book 1 for 99c!
About The Book
Queen of Shadows
by Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #4
Publication Date: September 1, 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Sarah J. Maas's New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass series reaches new heights in this sweeping fourth volume.
Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she's at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past . . .
She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen's triumphant return.
Celaena’s epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena’s story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.
Read Chapter 1 - 5
Start this series today for only 99c!
About The Author
Sarah J. Maas is the author of the New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling Throne of Glass series–Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, and Heir of Fire, and the series’ prequel, The Assassin’s Blade–as well as the New York Times and USA Today bestselling A Court of Thorns and Roses. She wrote the first incarnation of the Throne of Glass series when she was just sixteen, and it has now sold in twenty-three languages. Queen of Shadows, the fourth book in the Throne of Glass series, will release worldwide on September 1st, 2015.A New York native, Sarah currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and dog. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Hamilton College in 2008 with a degree in Creative Writing and a minor in Religious Studies.
Giveaway
This event is brought to you by
Saturday, 15 August 2015
Lord of the Demons by Jeff Gunhus ~ Review + Giveaway
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| Tour Schedule |
Welcome to my tour stop for
Lord of the Demons by Jeff Gunhus
the 5th book in the Templar Chronicles Series
This is a Middle-Grade Adventure book which I love; check out my review for book 1; Jack Templar Monster Hunter and an Interview with the amazing Jeff and check out my review of book 2; Jack Templar and the Monster Academy and find Jeff's Top Ten Classic Monster Movies.
Stay tuned for my reviews of book 3 and 4 which will be coming shortly. For now let's celebrate the release of book 5 in this fantastic series; The Templar Chronicles and don't forget to enter the giveaway.
About The Book
Jack Templar and the Lord of the Demons
by Jeff Gunhus
Series: The Templar Chronicles #5
Publication Date: August 4, 2015
Publisher: Seven Guns Press
With two of the Jerusalem Stones in hand, Jack and his friends must race the clock to find the remaining Stones as Ren Lucre's Creach forces gather strength. With two of their group now with Creach blood flowing in their veins, the team will be tested as never before. They must unite together if they have any hope of surviving their journey to the Underworld and their battle with the vicious Lord of the Demons. The fate of the entire world hangs in the balance.
Review
Jeff Gunhus did it again! The 5th book in The Templar Chronicles; Lord of the Demons is a fantastic, fast-paced adventure that both kids and Adults would enjoy. Jack Templar and his group of Monster Hunters (some are slightly changed but alas they are hunters at heart) have set off to gain the third Jerusalem stones, as usual, their paths are rarely smooth sailing and they encounter many bizarre and dangerous beings on the way.
Lord of the Demons is like all the other Templar Chronicles, it's fast-paced, adventure-filled, nail-biting and scary at the best of times, what makes this series so much more enjoyable than some is the great characters that we get to know through their adventures. I love how I've seen the growth of the characters, how they've grown as a group and also individually. I really love the dynamics between their little group and found myself laughing out loud when they were bickering amongst each other.
I really love the camaraderie between them, and it was so easy to forget how young they are. They had maturity at the best of times but also the purity of a child's mind and I think that's what I love about the book, children aren't afraid to say what they think, and I like those dialogues when one of them would say things lacking filter, things that adults could only dream about saying out loud.
As usual the journey is tumultuous and dangerous and like all the books in the Templar Chronicles they are all fast paced and filled with adventures. Its definitely a series that you find yourself flipping through the pages and constantly saying "just one more chapter" and then at the end you find yourself breathless and unable to fully articulate in words how damn awesome the story was! I love this series and I could only imagine how much more fantastic it would have been if I read it when I was a child, this is certainly a series that can be enjoyed and appreciated by all age groups.
One of my favourite parts of the books still remain to be the "Warning" at the beginning, I find it really sets the mood and tone for the tumultuous and adventurous journey that anyone that continues to read the book will find themselves in.
Excerpt
Just then, Eva stepped out from the brush directly into the forest path, straddling it with her feet set wide apart like a gunslinger in an old Western. For the life of me, I don’t know how she got that close without me seeing her, but she did.
“Hey,” she called out. “Wolfboy. Where do you think you’re going?”
Even as a vampire, Eva retained her English accent. Usually that took the edge off what she said, but she managed to deliver the challenge to Daniel with so much condescension and mockery that I thought he might charge at her.
Daniel spun around, lips curled back, every tooth showing. What I thought was a snarl before was no more than a tiny growl compared to the vicious sound that now came from his mouth. The skin on my arms and across the back of my neck turned to gooseflesh. I was, after all, a monster hunter. That snarl activated every instinct I had to pull my sword and fight. But I held steady, knowing that if they attacked each other, it was going to be up to me to pull them apart.
“I’m right here,” Eva hissed, barring her teeth to show her vampire fangs. “Come and get me, you dog.”
The words were barely out of her mouth before Daniel launched himself toward her. She crouched low where she was, her face twisting into a terrible mask of hate, her fangs extending out of her mouth past her lower lip, her hands held in front of her like claws.
Daniel took three enormous steps, landing the third immediately beneath the rabbit still desperately kicking to free itself. The second Daniel’s paws touched the ground, the forest floor gave way and he fell out of sight.
The cloth covering the hole we’d dug fell into the trap with him, dragging a layer of dirt and leaves in with it.
Jeff Gunhus is the author of the Amazon bestselling supernatural thriller, Night Chill, and the Middle Grade/YA series, The Templar Chronicles. The first book of the series, Jack Templar Monster Hunter, was written in an effort to get his reluctant reader eleven-year old son excited about reading. It worked and a new series was born. His book Reaching Your Reluctant Reader has helped hundreds of parents create avid readers. Killer Within is his second novel for adults. As a father of five, he and his wife Nicole spend most of their time chasing kids and taking advantage of living in the great state of Maryland. In rare moments of quiet, he can be found in the back of the City Dock Cafe in Annapolis working on his next novel. If you see him there, sit down and have a cup of coffee with him. You just might end up in his next novel.
$25 Blog Tour Giveaway + 3 Templar Coins
$25 Amazon eGift Card or Paypal Cash (Open Internationally)
3 Templar Coins (US only)
Ends 8/31/15
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com eGift Card or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
Tuesday, 11 August 2015
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir ~ Review + Excerpt
So excited for today's post. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir is a loudly touted favourite and she's a debut Author who has just gotten a deal with Paramount to create this book into a movie...yes it was THAT fast! Congratulations to Sabaa Tahir for her wonderful achievements.
Did you miss the #OzYAChat with Sabaa Tahir? Don't despair I've included a recap of the Twitter chat, I've also got An Ember in the Ashes trailer and a sample chapter to whet your appetite.
An Ember in the Ashes
by Sabaa Tahir
Series: An Ember in the Ashes #1
Released: April 28, 2015
Publisher: Harper Collins Australia
Format: ARC
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What if you were the spark that could ignite a revolution? For years Laia has lived in fear. Fear of the Empire, fear of the Martials, fear of truly living at all.
When Laia's brother is taken she must force herself to help the Resistance, the only people who have a chance of saving him. She must spy on the Commandant, ruthless overseer of the Blackcliff Academy.
In the ashes of a broken world one person can make a difference. One voice in the dark can be heard. The price of freedom is always high and this time that price might demand everything, even life itself.
~ Review ~
Ember in the Ashes tells a tale of two people from two very different backgrounds who cross paths in their adventure to seek out freedom for themselves.
Set in Ancient Rome where two class citizens fight to rule the kingdom. The Scholars who were overthrown and the Martials aka "masks" that now rule the kingdom. The resistance/rebel fighters are constantly seeking the opportunity to take back leadership, whilst the Martials continue to rule with an iron fist.
Laia is Scholar born and her Parents were the head of the Resistance, but both her parents died for the cause. Fate would have it that Laia would soon be in the hands of the woman that killed both her parents.
Elias is a Mask studying at the Blackcliff Academy, a school that trains Masks to be Martials, they are trained Assassins. He's main desire is to simply escape the life bestowed upon him through kinship.
Ember in the Ashes are told in alternating point of views between Laia and Elias. Their lives become intertwined and despite being on two different sides of the ongoing war between their people, they soon start to question where they stand, and why they are choosing to stand on those sides.
Ember in the Ashes is a wonderfully written debut novel by Sabaa Tahir. It is an intriguing tale that have you turning the pages rapidly. The twists and turns navigate this story well, and I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery that continued to be expelled at every turn. This story certainly grasps you from the very beginning and as you take your last breathe upon reading the novel you realise that you've been holding your breathe...yes it was one of those books!
Sabaa Tahir certainly has talent, she wielded this story and adventure perfectly, slowly manifesting information as it was needed and not a moment too soon, I really enjoyed this, as this is what kept me turning the pages. Not every mystery was easily guessed, which again is a fantastic part of this book as it kept me engaged and interested to keep reading more. Definitely looking forward to reading the consecutive books to this series.
About The Author
Sabaa Tahir
Sabaa Tahir grew up in California's Mojave Desert at her family's eighteen-room motel. She began writing An Ember in the Ashes while working nights as a newspaper editor. She likes thunderous indie rock, garish socks, and all things nerd. Sabaa currently lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her family.
Monday, 3 August 2015
Guardian by Katy Newton Naas ~ Author Interview + Excerpt
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| Tour Schedule |
Welcome to my tour stop for
Guardian by Katy Newton Naas
I am very excited to introduce to you Katy Newton Naas, Author of Guardian and a fellow dog-lover! Please read our Author Interview with Katy and don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of this post.
~ Author Interview ~
Hi Katy, I'm so happy to host you on my blog, I'm a fellow dog-lover, I have 4 furbabies and I just love them so much, they were my ONLY babies until 3 months ago when my baby boy was born. Anyhow, sorry to get side-track...
Congratulations on the birth of your baby boy! By the time this interview is published, I will have had my second little boy as well – I’m due any day!
How did the story of Guardian come about?
During one of my first years of teaching (I’ve been teaching for nine years now), there was a student in the middle school who had epilepsy. A seizure assistance dog accompanied her everywhere she went. Though I didn’t have her in class and didn’t know her personally, I was fascinated by the idea that her dog could sense her seizures before they occurred. I did some research on it, and the idea for Guardian was born.
Until I heard about your book I actually wasn't aware that they gave guide dogs to people with seizures, so glad this was something that I learnt. I have been donating to the guide dogs for the blind, will be looking into this now too.
You are a reader yourself, and like me you love the YA and MG genre, what makes you love those two genres over the adult genre?
You know, I always joke that my literary tastes just never matured. But I think that since I fell in love with reading as a young kid, those are the books that just really stuck with me. It’s not that I don’t ever read adult novels – I can appreciate Nicholas Sparks as much as the next girl – but the stories I’m drawn to are geared toward children and young adults. And I think that teaching them, working with these age groups every day, has something to do with that, too.
Is there a specific message that you want to get across in Guardian?
Well, I think the lesson that Kinsey, the main character, learns throughout the course of the novel is that there really is no “normal” and that she should not only accept but appreciate who she is.
I didn’t really write the novel to try to preach to kids about bullying, although that is a big issue in our society today and can be a dangerous one at that. But, it is because of the bullying of one student in particular that Kinsey goes through some serious self-doubt. So I guess I hope that if kids take away one thing from the book, it’s to be proud of who you are and not to let anyone else make you feel ashamed of your differences.
I'm guessing your a very popular teacher, we love teachers who teach us and support us but doesn't preach :)
You've been a reader at a very young age, what's the one book you feel that shaped your love for reading?
What a difficult question! So many books come to mind – as a kid, I loved Ann M. Martin’s The Babysitters Club and Babysitters Little Sister series, and anything by Judy Blume, Beatrix Potter, E.B. White, Lois Lowry, Beverly Cleary, or R.L. Stine.
But I guess if I HAD to narrow it down to one book that stands out from my childhood, one book that I’ve read over and over again, I’d say that one would be Just As Long As We’re Together by Judy Blume. I still remember the way it made me feel when I read it for the first time.
Judy Blume is fantastic and I was also an R.L. Stine fan.
How would you describe Guardian in a Tweet (less than 140 characters)?
Well, I guess I would use the tag line on the front cover of the novel:
“A love story between a girl and the dog who lives to protect her.”
You’re also a teacher, what advice would you give to your student's parents about how to encourage their children to read?
Well, there are a lot of great books out there, books of every size and subject. The trick is finding what interests your child. I can’t tell you how many kids I’ve had who tell me they hate to read, and then when we’re in the middle of a chapter and the bell rings, they’re the ones complaining because they have to wait until the next day to find out what happens.
If you can find the right material, they will enjoy it. The problem is, it only takes one or two bad reading experiences to put that mental block in their heads that tells them they don’t like to read. Parents just have to be persistent and research to find books that will speak to their children, based on their interests and reading levels.
What is the next book in your TBR pile?
I just downloaded the Percy Jackson books by Rick Riordan. I read The Odyssey with my high school freshmen at the end of the school year, and some of them recognized the Greek gods and situations from the Percy Jackson series. Listening to their comparisons, the series caught my interest. I look forward to starting them!
3 Things you love about being a dog owner/lover?
I have four dogs…all of which I consider my kids. Things that I love about them are:
- They are all fiercely loyal and protective of our family.
- Every day, when we come home, they are so excited to see us that they just can’t contain
- They all have their own little personalities and quirks.
For example, my dog Poe is a very obedient dog and knows the rule that he's not allowed to get up on the couch, but it doesn't stop him from trying every day. If I'm on the couch, he starts by putting his front paws up there, staring at me the whole time. If I don't scold him, he will slowly slip one of his back feet up there, still watching me to see how I will react. He looks so funny, standing with one leg on the ground, and then suddenly he will slip the last one up there too, so that only the back half of his body is hanging off the couch. The he will inch his way forward until he's lying next to me. I make him get down, but everyday he tries all over again. I can just imagine him, thinking in his head, "This may be the day. Today, she may just let me get up there beside her."
LOL they are so like kids, trying to see what they can get away with.
3 Thing you love about being a Teacher?
I always tell my kids that when I retire, I’m going to write a book about all my experiences teaching – the crazy things I’ve seen and heard. There is truly never a dull moment in the life of a classroom teacher.
Three things I love are:
- Each year…no, each DAY…is different from the rest. It doesn’t matter how prepared you are
- I love working with the kids. Throughout the course of the year, they become “mine.” And
- I love my subject – reading and writing!
As someone who has grown up with a passion for books, what better way to spend my days than trying to help others learn to love them, too?
What can we expect from Katy Newton Naas in the near future?
Well, I just signed a contract for my fourth book with Clean Reads, another middle grade novel called Operation: Bully Renovation. I’m not exactly sure of the release date yet, but it should be toward the end of 2015. I also just submitted a YA to them as well, so fingers crossed on that one! I am working on a children’s chapter book series as well, and I’m hoping to find a home for it somewhere out there in the publishing world.
Life has gotten really busy lately with the birth of my second son, but I hope to just keep writing and getting my books out there into the world…it’s what I love!
Thanks Katy for taking the time to answer my question, and once again I'm happy to host you on my blog.
About The Author
Katy Newton Naas
From the time she was old enough to talk, Katy Newton Naas has been creating characters and telling stories. As a child, they sometimes got her into trouble. She knew she wanted to write books when she won a Young Author's competition as a second-grader for her short story titled, "The Grape Pie." (Don't let its tasty title fool you - it was actually a sad little tale!)Katy devoured books as a child and young adult, always doing chores and odd jobs in order to make enough money to buy more of them. Though she continues to age, her true literature love is and has always been children's and young adult fiction.Katy currently teaches middle school reading and high school English in southern Illinois, as well as children's church. She graduated from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale with a bachelor's degree in English Education and a master's degree in Reading and Language Studies. She enjoys her life out in the country with her husband, her sweet and rowdy young son (soon to be SONS - her second little boy is due any day!), and all her four-legged kids: Shakespeare, Poe, Morgi, Cappy, Ana, and Gray.She loves creating both realistic and futuristic stories about kids, tweens, and teens, and feels so fortunate to get to work with them every day as a teacher.
About The Book
Guardian
by Katy Newton Naas
Published: July 7, 2015
Publisher: Clean Reads
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When Kinsey Lydell enters seventh grade, the only thing she wants is to fit in. But being like everyone else isn’t easy when you have epilepsy. Especially when that means a dog has to follow you around everywhere you go.
Drake, Kinsey’s assistance dog, has been her best friend since the day she met him. They have a special connection – he can sense her seizures before they occur. The other students have always loved having Drake in the classroom, making Kinsey feel special, not strange. But just a short time in a new middle school changes all of that.
Kinsey can’t help but admire Taylor Thompson. The boys like her and the girls want to be like her. But from the first day of school, it’s clear that Taylor is determined to make Kinsey feel like an outsider. Suddenly, her best friend – the one who lives his whole life just to protect her – becomes her source of humiliation.
Katy Newton Naas has teamed up with Willing Partners Canine Education, Inc.! For every
copy of THE GUARDIAN purchased, Willing Partners will receive a portion of sales. Willing
Partners trains service and assistance dogs to work with kids, adults, and veterans. Find out
more about their program through their website.
~ Giveaway ~
This event is brought to you by
Friday, 17 July 2015
Synthetica by Rachel Pattinson Blog Tour ~ Author Interview + Giveaway
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| Tour Schedule |
Welcome to my tour stop for
Synthetica by Rachel Pattinson
Paperback Princess is hosting Synthetica's Author, Rachel Pattinson today, check out the Excerpt for Synthetica and don't forget to enter for your chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card.
About The Author
Rachel Pattinson
Rachel Pattinson graduated from Oxford Brookes University with a BA Hons in Publishing Media. Born and raised in the north of England, she shares a love for anything to do with tea, cake, bread and butter, rain, the dark, lakes, fells and Lord of the Rings. She now lives in Norfolk with her partner in crime, and is currently working on several new projects, including the sequel to Synthetica.
~ Author Interview ~
Can you tell us a little bit about your novel, Synthetica, and your inspiration for the story?
I've always loved sci-fi films and books, although I never thought about writing sci-fi myself until Igot the idea for Synthetica. The book is set in a future world, where everyone's actions are monitored by an ID picochip inserted behind their right ear. When technology giant, Civitas, finally announces the launch of their highly anticipated Scholarly Learning Programs, which allow people to download and learn any subject instantly, seventeen-year-old Anais Finch can hardly wait. But when a man calling himself 'the Hacker' manages to manipulate Civitas' programs to his own advantage and starts a war against the Imperial City, it's up to Anais to stop him before he commits his most appalling crime yet.
The idea for Synthetica actually came about while I was watching The Matrix and I began thinking to myself, what if anyone could download knowledge about any subject they liked directly to their brain? And then, what if someone hacked into these programs and used for their own means? It took a couple of months for me to get all the details of this plot worked out, but once I had, I knew this was a book I simply had to write.
The idea for Synthetica actually came about while I was watching The Matrix and I began thinking to myself, what if anyone could download knowledge about any subject they liked directly to their brain? And then, what if someone hacked into these programs and used for their own means? It took a couple of months for me to get all the details of this plot worked out, but once I had, I knew this was a book I simply had to write.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
If I'm completely honest, I loved writing from the Hacker's POV. I've always had a soft spot for villains, so when it came to writing his chapters, I just went a bit crazy. I loved exploring his (andmy) dark side and seeing what he would do in certain situations. I loved pushing his boundaries – there were times when I'd write a scene but then afterwards I'd realise that it was too tame for him, and I'd have to go back and rewrite the whole thing. It was so much fun writing about someone who has no rules and no morals...although, I don't think I could stay inside his head for too long withoutdriving myself insane too.
How did you come up with the idea for people being able to change their genes on a whim?
I'm a huge sims fan. I used to play the game all the time when I was a teenager, and I still like to play now if I get a spare moment. I loved creating sims from scratch and deciding what they looked like and what kind of personality they had. I didn't consciously think of the sims while I was writingthe book, but I have no doubt in my mind that it had an impact on my sub-conscious. Also, I feel like there are a lot of stories in the news and in magazines that focus on cosmetic surgery, and it seems to have become such a normal thing to do that I thought to myself, 'what if in this world, people can simply go out onto the street and change everything about the way they look? What if changing what you look like becomes not only acceptable, but you're actually considered abnormal if you don't do it?' I love taking a concept about technology or society and pushing it as far as I can.
What are you currently reading?
I'm currently reading Vicious by V E Schwab. I read her book A Darker Shade of Magic earlier this year and loved it, so I thought I'd give this book a try too. I've just read quite a few 'firsts' in a series (Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker and The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey to name a few) and I thought it would be good to read a standalone novel while I wait impatiently for the sequels to come out!
What are you working on now?
I've just started the first draft for the sequel toSynthetica. I'm so excited to dive back into Anais' world again! I'm also attempting to work on several other projects, including a standalone YA sci-fi, and a brand new fantasy series, but I think I need to complete Anais' story first!
If I'm completely honest, I loved writing from the Hacker's POV. I've always had a soft spot for villains, so when it came to writing his chapters, I just went a bit crazy. I loved exploring his (andmy) dark side and seeing what he would do in certain situations. I loved pushing his boundaries – there were times when I'd write a scene but then afterwards I'd realise that it was too tame for him, and I'd have to go back and rewrite the whole thing. It was so much fun writing about someone who has no rules and no morals...although, I don't think I could stay inside his head for too long withoutdriving myself insane too.
How did you come up with the idea for people being able to change their genes on a whim?
I'm a huge sims fan. I used to play the game all the time when I was a teenager, and I still like to play now if I get a spare moment. I loved creating sims from scratch and deciding what they looked like and what kind of personality they had. I didn't consciously think of the sims while I was writingthe book, but I have no doubt in my mind that it had an impact on my sub-conscious. Also, I feel like there are a lot of stories in the news and in magazines that focus on cosmetic surgery, and it seems to have become such a normal thing to do that I thought to myself, 'what if in this world, people can simply go out onto the street and change everything about the way they look? What if changing what you look like becomes not only acceptable, but you're actually considered abnormal if you don't do it?' I love taking a concept about technology or society and pushing it as far as I can.
What are you currently reading?
I'm currently reading Vicious by V E Schwab. I read her book A Darker Shade of Magic earlier this year and loved it, so I thought I'd give this book a try too. I've just read quite a few 'firsts' in a series (Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker and The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey to name a few) and I thought it would be good to read a standalone novel while I wait impatiently for the sequels to come out!
What are you working on now?
I've just started the first draft for the sequel toSynthetica. I'm so excited to dive back into Anais' world again! I'm also attempting to work on several other projects, including a standalone YA sci-fi, and a brand new fantasy series, but I think I need to complete Anais' story first!
About The Book
Synthetica
by Rachel Pattinson
Series: Synthetica #1
Released: April 1, 2015
This city is falling.
Seventeen-year-old Anais Finch lives in a world where everyone is born beautiful, where every dream is a possibility - and where their every move and every piece of personal information is recorded by an ID picochip inserted behind their right ear. When technology giant, Civitas, finally announces the launch of their highly anticipated Scholarly Learning Programs, which allow people to download and learn any subject instantly, Anais can hardly wait.
But not everyone is pleased with society's progress, and not everyone wants to fit in. When Anais witnesses a brutal murder on an innocent citizen and is implicated in the crime, she becomes determined to uncover the truth, especially when others like it begin to occur all over the city. But it may already be too late for Anais to stop the man who calls himself 'the Hacker' before he commits his most appalling crime yet...
~ Excerpt ~
Anais finished her juice in a couple of swallows. She stood up to put her empty cup in the recycle bin a few paces away. She was concentrating so hard on getting out the last few drops from the bottom of her cup, that she didn't notice the man until it was too late.
They bumped into each other with some force; there was a small crash as the box he'd been carrying flew to the floor. The lid popped open and a cascade of tiny silver objects burst out and scattered all over the pavement. Anais staggered backwards, her cup dropping to the ground. “I'm so sorry,” she apologised, immediately bending down to pick up the glinting objects. She picked a few up, recognising them as picochips. Puzzled, she stood back up straight. “Here you go, I'm really sorry, I just wasn't -” she stopped abruptly as she held out her hand containing the tiny chips, and she looked up into his face. The man had picked up his box, but he hadn't said a word to her in apology or acknowledgement. Instead, he was staring at her with something remarkably like fury.
The lower half of his face was covered with what looked like an old pollen mask, designed to make it easier to breathe during the summer months when the air was hazy with dust. His dull black hair hung down to his shoulders, and his silver eyes were so pale, they were almost transparent. He was wearing a battered black jacket, upon which some kind of tatty logo was sewn on in red. There was a black glove on his right hand, which Anais couldn't help thinking was odd in this kind of heat.
But it was his expression that had made her stop talking. There wasn't an ounce of friendliness or apology in that face. Instead, he was looking at her as though he absolutely despised her. A cold chill ran down Anais' spine. She swallowed nervously. “Um, I'm really sorry,” she managed to whisper. He snatched the picochips she was holding out to him, and with one last contemptuous look, he strode off without a word.
~ Giveaway ~
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Thursday, 16 July 2015
Love in the Gilded Age by Saruuh Kelsey ~ Book Blast + Excerpt
About The Book
Love in the Gilded Age
by Saruuh Kelsey
Series: Fissure Chronicles #1
Release Date: October 28, 2014
Once in a hidden queendom...There is an ocean: In the infinite distance, between one hidden world and the next, is an unmeasurable expanse of twenty seas. One sprawling edge of the world to another is filled with waters as beautiful as they are deadly, as miraculous as they are fraught. Treasure and treachery litter their ocean beds, sleeping side by side with adventurers whose travels ended abruptly, lives caught and held under a wave until all breaths fled.There is a land: Tucked into a corner where four oceans fold together, land rises up illustrious in a jagged slash of mountains and forests, with secrets and wonders as plentiful as any water.There are chronicles: Not of the twenty savage seas but of the fissure of land and the people who sigh life into it.In an original epic fantasy world, Love In The Gilded Age reimagines the heroes and heroines of Grimm fairy tales as ethnically diverse, LGBT, disabled, and gender flipped.
Excerpt
Xanna drove herself forward, leaning into the run to propel them along. Her mother was trailing behind her but didn’t have an option except to follow as Xanna leapt from the last bit of land and crashed into the pond. She heard Koal’s strangled shout as she broke the surface, gasping and paddling wildly. She fought every bit of tiredness in her muscles as she dragged her mother from the depths of the water; she emerged spluttering and angry. “He will kill you for that,” her mother said without emotion. No fear for her daughter’s life, no regret, no anger, just a blank statement of facts.
“No,” Xanna hissed. “I won’t be the one dying today.”
“Three souls will pass in this last fight.” Her mother dissolved into the senseless chanting of before, only repeated the ominous three souls will pass in this last fight. At least she had the good sense to pump her legs and move her arms to stay afloat.
Xanna had to get the rope off them if her plan was going to work. She pulled at their bound wrists, fearful and frustrated, and the vine uncoiled as if in response to her wish at the same moment the Wolf reached the edge of the pool and leapt in. It loves my mother, Xanna thought, but found she didn’t care. She gripped the rope in a fist as she put three lengths between her mother, watching the Wolf wade sloppily through the water to the woman it loved.
She didn’t have long. Xanna had to act, and she had to be both quick and quiet about it—a impossibility now that her every movement made a splash. Still, she had to try. Koal was shouting at her from the clearing but she blocked out his warnings.
The Wolf only noticed her presence when she wrapped the vine around its neck and pulled it taut. Growling, it fought to face her but couldn’t spin and remain afloat at the same time. Xanna kicked her legs faster, unable to use her arms to keep her from a drowned death as she strangled the animal. She was slipping, on the verge of sinking. Without warning, the Wolf dipped underwater, testing her grip on the vine. She lost the rope.
Xanna looked around for it desperately. It was her only weapon.
The vine didn’t resurface but the Wolf did.
About The Author
Saruuh Kelsey
Saruuh Kelsey is the author of several novels for young adults, including the free Lux Guardians series and The Legend Mirror series. Her latest releases include THE BEAST OF CALLAIRE, the first novel of a new YA fantasy series, and a collection of diverse fairy tales in LOVE IN THE GILDED AGE.
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Sunday, 12 July 2015
Don't Ever Change by M.Beth Bloom ~ Review + Giveaway
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| Tour Schedule |
Welcome to my tour stop for
Don't Ever Change by M. Beth Bloom
This was an amazing read, one that's definitely unputdownable, really enjoyable. Harper Teen has kindly given the Tour readers a pretty lengthy Excerpt, and I can nearly assure you that it will grasp you like it did me. A hardback copy of Don't Ever Change is also being given away courtesy of M. Beth Bloom so don't forget to enter!
About The Book
Don't Ever Change
by M. Beth Bloom
Publication Date: July 7, 2015
Publisher: Harper Teen
Genre: YA Contemporary
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Eva has always wanted to write a modern classic—one that actually appeals to her generation. The only problem is that she has realized she can't "write what she knows" because she hasn't yet begun to live. So before heading off to college, Eva is determined to get a life worth writing about.Soon Eva's life encounters a few unexpected plot twists. She becomes a counselor at a nearby summer camp—a job she is completely unqualified for. She starts growing apart from her best friends before they've even left for school. And most surprising of all, she begins to fall for the last guy she would have ever imagined. But no matter the roadblocks, or writer's blocks, it is all up to Eva to figure out how she wants this chapter in her story to end.Perfect for fans of E. Lockhart, David Levithan, and Rainbow Rowell,Don't Ever Change is a witty, snarky, and thought-provoking coming-of-age young adult novel about a teen who sets out to write better fiction and, ultimately, discovers the truth about herself.
My Thoughts
Eva is a confident writer, she believes in her stories and she can write, that much she knows...so she thinks.
"I do like it, Eva. It's well written. But that's all it is." He pauses, choosing his words. "There's a difference between writing that's fictional, and writing that's false," Mr. Roush continues. "Does that make sense?"
"You think my story is fake," I say.
Don't Ever Change is a coming of age story of a girl finishing High School, knowing what she has planned for the future, but soon realising that she may not have it all figured out as much as she thought she did. The summer before College is her time to "live" and write the wrongs (and that's not a spelling mistake).
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, Eva is unlikeable but she's real and her humour and wit is what made me really like her. Her commentary is funny and I liked how she was constantly composing stories in her mind about the events that are happening to her.
I veer pretty close to being an unlikeable character I'm at least aware of the fact. Which means I have the chance to stop what I'm doing and change, before I become so unlikeable that the reader gives up on me, shuts the book, and sends it flying across the room, disgusted.
I thoroughly enjoyed the banter between Courtney and Eva and I loved the chemistry between them, even though Eva is a snob she humbles herself when it comes to her sister and I really liked that, it showed that her character has depth and growth.
Don't Ever Change are one of those "unputdownable" books and apart from Eva's character which I love, love, love due to her being realistic and even unlikeable, I also enjoyed the writing style. M. Beth Bloom wrote Don't Ever Change like Eva's memoir, and I was wondering if maybe these were all written as a personal experience, is M. Beth, Eva? You don't have to be an aspiring teen writer to appreciate this book because there's definitely a little Eva in all of us.
About The Author
M. Beth Bloom
M. Beth Bloom is a novelist and a screenwriter. Her fiction has appeared in StoryQuarterly and Dave Eggers's Best American Nonrequired Reading series. She is also the author of Drain You. M. Beth lives in Los Angeles.
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