Pages

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Giveaway & Excerpt: Last Impressions by A.J. Aalto

Blurb:
"When an FBI Internal Affairs investigation lands the Preternatural Crimes Unit in a bureaucratic spank-fest, it feels like the perfect time for Marnie Baranuik to skip town and lend her expertise to a bear-sized Canadian cop who doesn't want her help with his case, his love life, or his car stereo. Back in her childhood stomping grounds, Marnie leaps into action, facing an exorcist in skinny jeans, a slap-happy specter, and an old friend up to new tricks. Are ghosts behind a string of unusual deaths? Why didn't her revenant companion, Lord Harry Dreppenstedt, tell her he had a Combat Butler? Can she survive dinner with her parents? With a shifty man of the cloth offering her soul's redemption, and a revelation that could change the future of her love life, she has her gloved hands full. She may not make a great first impression, but no one makes a Last Impression quite like Marnie." 

Excerpt: Last Impressions (The Marnie Baranuik Files, Book 3)
The Epp farm was tucked behind an industrial park on the east side of the canal, not far from the Twin Flight Locks. From the looks of it, the farm had been there for generations, pre-dating the industry by decades. It consisted of two barns and some hen houses, a maze of chicken-wire fences topped with fresh snow, and a light blue farmhouse with doors and shutters freshly-painted the brilliant yellow of egg yolk.
Downwind, it stank of years’ worth of guano. So did Mr. Epp, who came waddling out of the smaller barn wiping his hands on his olive green coveralls, trudging through the snow. His padded, red plaid jacket was the type that always made me think of lumberjacks. Under a crammed-down, wrinkly Molson Canadian knit cap of washed-out grey, he had poker-straight orange hair complemented by a silver-streaked carroty handlebar mustache that he must have begun cultivating about the time I was born. I thought Batten’s upper lip would be sorely intimidated in the face of such manly follicles. When he opened his mouth to talk, I expected him to draw matching revolvers like Yosemite Sam. He was definitely the rootinest, tootinest, chicken-poopinest dude I'd ever laid eyes on.
“Why, I know I said I’m up and at ‘em before dawn, officer, but I sure didn’t expect you to show before the sun did.”
I whispered, “Is he for real?”
Schenk elbowed me. Because of his height, his chiding elbow connected with my left ear. “I understand you witnessed some youths down by the pond recently,” Schenk said. “Why don’t we go inside and you can tell me all about that?”
“Sorry, you misunderstood.” The farmer rubbed one hand with the other in rough strokes, thumb-in-palm. “I said I knew they were down there, but I didn’t personally see them.”
“Oh?” Schenk withdrew a flip pad and his pencil from his inside jacket pocket, and scribbled a note.
“The chickens saw them.”
Schenk didn’t miss a beat. “The chickens.” He wrote this, too, as though it could possibly mean something.
I raised my hand like I was in class. “Uh, how do you know the chickens saw them?”
“They told me. Well, not me, directly.” Epp smiled widely. “Obviously, I can’t talk to chickens.”
“You can’t,” Schenk clarified.
“No, not me, no sir.” When he shook his head, Epp’s ginger handlebars waved hypnotically back and forth like magic tentacles. “So, I’ll just go get the Chicken Whisperer, and we’ll get to interviewing your star witnesses, officer.”
Epp tromped off in the direction of the house. Schenk let a long, steady breath out of his nostrils and began to thump his pencil against his pad rapidly, taptaptap. My eyes snuck sideways and way, way up at him.
“Did he just say Chicken Whisperer?”
Unhappily, Schenk confirmed, “He did.”
“Oh, I’m so glad I answered your call this morning.”
“You owe me big time.”
“Wait a second. You woke me up, told me to come with you under pain of replacement with some less-awesome psychic, and I owe you? What kind of happy horse hockey are you trying to pull, Longshanks?”
“Hockey?” He paused, thoughtful. “I'll be damned. That's why he looks so familiar. He could be Lanny McDonald's twin brother.”
What I knew about hockey would probably fit on a puck with room to spare, because I am the worst Canadian in the history of ever, so I kept my ignorance to myself. I thought he needed a pat on the arm to bolster his spirits, so I gave him one.
He glanced down at me. “Getting anything off him, Big City Psychic?”
“Not a thing,” I confessed. “The Blue Sense must not be awake yet.” I turned at the sound of the door. “Holy crispy crapsicles.”
Epp thumped out the back door of the farmhouse wearing a floppy blond Marilyn Monroe wig and a quilted housecoat thrown over his overalls. He backhanded ropey platinum waves out of his hairy face. He’d smeared tangerine lipstick on his lips. It matched the color of his facial hair almost perfectly. He made me feel like Janet Leigh when the shower curtain tore open. It’s entirely possible I let out a little eep in lieu of a violin musical sting.
Schenk said tentatively, “Mr. Epp?”
“I’m Tina Epp, the Chicken Whisperer.” She handed Schenk a business card. “I’ll take you down to talk to Henny. She’s in charge of the girls out in the big barn. This way.”
I whispered out the side of my mouth, “It’s that new horror movie: Mrs. Doubtfire Silences the Lambs.”
Schenk clamped his lips together hard to keep a straight face and tucked the business card in his back pocket. “Uh, ma’am?” He followed her into the barn, clearing his throat. “Who's Henny? A hen?”
The barn was lit by stark white fluorescents and warmed just enough to take the chill off. The smell of chickens was only mildly worse inside. Epp began rubbing her hands again.
“She’s the Black Jersey Giant. Isn’t she a beaut? Now, hold on.”
She approached the pens and began talking to the chicken. In clucks.
I said, “How come you got a business card and I didn’t?”
 Schenk was working valiantly at keeping his shit together; he flicked me an annoyed glance, dug the card out, and handed it to me. It was warm from being tucked against his butt cheek and it read: Chickens: I “get” them. The hinky quotation marks made me wonder:  how exactly did Tina Epp “get” the chickens? She folded her fists into her armpits to make ersatz wings of her arms and used one boot to scratch at the dirt.
“This might be the best-worst thing that’s ever happened to me,” I confided to the cop in a whisper, “and I’ve been chased by half-naked zombies cosplaying wildlife.”
“Nope,” Tina reported to us, flexing her fingers. “Nope. Sorry. Henny says the girls don’t know nothing. Only the rooster was out.”
I ventured, “And you can’t talk to the rooster?”
“Aw, heck no, not me, Ma’am.” She batted at her wig again, spitting as strands of hair drifted and stuck to her mustache and lipstick: rookie make-up problem. It almost never happened to me anymore. Mostly because I stopped wearing lipstick.
Schenk opened his mouth, and by the hitching of his belt, I figured he was going to tell Epp we’d be heading out. Epp held up one finger to tell us to wait.
 “You just hold them horses, officer. I’ll go on in and fetch the Cock Whisperer.”
Schenk and I froze in mutual stunned silence, our eyes slinking sideways to each other’s, while Epp clomped back toward the house in her black rubber boots, rubbing her hands in one another. I wondered if Schenk realized his hand had drifted to check that his gun was in place.
“Are you scared, too?” I whispered.
“I’ve never been so afraid in all my days on the force,” he said.


Author Bio:
A.J. Aalto is a proud native of the Niagara Region.  Born in St. Catharines, she currently resides with her wonderfully peculiar husband Jason and two quirky kids, a puppy that drives her bonkers and two cats who are undoubtedly plotting her demise.  When not writing horror or dark urban fantasy, you can find A.J. researching horrible things, braying her unladylike guffaw, making dick jokes, mentally undressing strangers or sitting cross-legged on her front porch eating peanut butter M&Ms by the spoonful.
Social Links:
WebsiteFacebook | Twitter

Buying Link

For the giveaway:  the entire series (ebooks/international) to 7 lucky winners: Touched (book 1), Death Rejoices (Book 2), Cold Company (Novella, 2.1) and Dirt Nap (Novella, 2.2) and Last Impressions (Book 3).


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Blitz & Giveaway: Don't Fall by @RMSchieffelbein @swoonromance

Don't Fall by Rachel Schieffelbein
Release Date: 2014
Swoon Romance


Summary from Goodreads:
In which a teenage girl endures the over-protective love of her adoptive mother until she falls for a boy who has her wanting to spread her wings, pitched as a contemporary retelling of RAPUNZEL.

Seventeen-year-old Anya leads a very secluded life in a house on the edge of town with her adopted mother. She doesn't go to school, but instead has a private tutor. Her over-protective mom keeps her so sheltered that she doesn't even have a best friend. 

But Anya doesn't seem to mind. She has her books, her photography, and her daydreams, and would do anything to please her mom. Until one day at the library, the only place she's allowed to go, she takes a picture of a beautiful boy.

Before long she's lying to her mom, and sneaking out late at night to meet Zander. But Zander wants more than a secret romance. If Anya wants to be with the boy of her dreams, she will have to risk her relationship with the only other person she's ever cared about.

Guest Post
First of all, thank you so much for having me on your blog! I’m going to talk a bit about fairy tales and why I wrote this retelling. 
I have always loved fairy tales. I grew up on them, and I suppose I’m a bit of a romantic. I love magic, and true love, and happily ever afters. It makes me happy that retellings are gaining in popularity. All those old stories I loved are getting a new light shone on them, new twists, new characters, and new perspectives.
Rapunzel has been my favorite fairy tale from long before Disney made its version of it. (Although the Disney version is pretty cute.) To be honest, I think a big part of why it’s my favorite has to do with fond memories of visiting an elderly neighbor who used to read it to me. 
It was a story I really wanted to work with, but making it contemporary had its challenges! So I will tell you now, no one climbs anyone’s hair. It’s the theme of the story I wanted to hold onto. The idea of this girl being locked away from the world, and how she has to set herself free to really find herself. 
I love Anya, my Rapunzel. She’s sweet and innocent, but also spunky and fun. I wanted to write her a modern fairy tale, with its own kind of magic, true love, and happily ever after. Hopefully I’ve succeeded, and readers will fall for her and Zander, too.

About the Author
Rachel grew up in a tiny town in Minnesota. She still lives there, with her husband and their four kids. She coaches high school speech and theater, rides Arabian horses, reads as much as she can, and writes stories.

Author Links:
   


***GIVEAWAY***
1 ebook of Don’t Fall + $10 Amazon Gift Card (INT)
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Book Blitz Organized by:

Monday, May 26, 2014

Blog Tour: Branded by Abi Ketner & Missy Kalicicki A Sinners Series

Branded by Abi Ketner & Missy Kalicicki
A Sinners Series

Fifty years ago the Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadly sins were the downfall of society. He created the Hole where sinners are branded according to their sins and might survive a few years. At best. Now LUST wraps around my neck like blue fingers strangling me. I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit and now the Hole is my new home. 

Darkness. Death. Violence. Pain. 

Now every day is a fight for survival. But I won’t die. I won’t let them win.

The Hole can’t keep me. The Hole can’t break me. I am more than my brand. I’m a fighter. My name is Lexi Hamilton, and this is my story.



Excerpt
I turn on the faucet for a long while only to discover ice-cold water rushing out. The water never warms and I begin to understand. The Commander thinks he can wash away my soul by freezing me to death. He thinks he can destroy me by stripping away my possessions. But he can’t and I won’t let him take my memories, my ambition, and my pride.
He thinks I’m so easily broken.
The Commander doesn’t know anything about me, what I grew up with, what I endured—the father I lost, the mother I hate, the brother who walked out of my life, and the stepfather I was forced to accept. He thinks since I was rich, making me poor will cause me to give up. What he doesn’t understand is that, after my father passed away, I grew up behind walls of hatred. I had nothing, but had everything at the same time. I owned expensive clothes, enjoyed good schooling, and lived in a nice home. But my body was just a shell protecting an empty, desperate heart. My life was a colorful façade.
I had so much time to sit and think. I spent the majority of my life between four walls. I was abandoned, neglected, starved, betrayed, and abused. I’ve already been treated like the scum of the earth, so the Hole is nothing new. He wants to erase every sign of my existence on this earth, but I won’t let that happen. He can strip me naked, but he’ll never reach my soul.
It’s personal, completely personal.


Purchase

About Abi and Missy 
Abi and Missy met in the summer of 1999 at college orientation and have been best friends ever since. After college, they added jobs, husbands and kids to their lives, but they still found time for their friendship. Instead of hanging out on weekends, they went to dinner once a month and reviewed books. What started out as an enjoyable hobby has now become an incredible adventure.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Abi's GoodreadsMissy's Goodreads




Saturday, May 24, 2014

Nantucket Red by Leila Howland

Author: Leila Howland
Title: Nantucket Red
Series: Nantucket #2
Publication: May 13, 2014
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Source: Netgalley via Publisher
Website
Cricket Thompson's lifetime of overachieving has paid off: she's headed to Brown University in the fall, with a spot on the lacrosse team and a scholarship that covers almost everything. Who knew living in the dorm cost money? An Ivy League education seems to mean living at home for the next four years.

When Cricket is offered the chance to earn enough cash to afford a real college experience, she heads back to Nantucket for the summer. But the faraway island challenges Cricket in ways she hadn't anticipated. It's hard to focus on earning money for next year, when she finds her world opening up in entirely new ways-to art, to travel, and, most unexpectedly, to a future completely different from the one she has been working toward her whole life. A friendship blossoms with Ben, the gorgeous surfer and bartender who encourages Cricket to be free, even as she smarts at the pain of seeing Zack, her first love, falling for her worst enemy.

But one night, when Cricket finally lets herself break all her own rules, she realizes she may have ruined her carefully constructed future with one impulsive decision. Cricket must dig deep to fight for her future, discovering that success isn't just about reaching goals, but also about listening to what she's been trying to ignore-her own heart.
When I realized that there was a book two coming out, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I loved Cricket in Nantucket Blue. The summer is over and Cricket and Zack, still haven't decided what they plan do afterwards. In an effort to savor  the moment, they pause their relationship to pick back up next summer but one of them can't take being apart. What happens next is well life. Cricket gets accepted into college at Brown but the expenses of staying on campus are steep, so she has to stay home and commute. However, she receives an opportunity to move out, she just has to show she wants it by coming up with half of the amount. The only way for her to get that is to go back to Nantucket, where she is sure to bump into Zack and his new girlfriend. Cricket is an adorable character and it's great experiencing her finding her way. She wants to go to Brown but she also wants something more. She discovers a list on the back of a graduation gift given to her and takes it upon herself to live out her own version of this list. What happens next is an adventure she never expected that will bring new love, renewed friendship and different perspective on life. Overall, this was a pretty fast read for me and I enjoyed the story and characters. I liked how the author brings the world of Nantucket to life in a way that's so realistic I could touch it. 

Friday, May 23, 2014

Review: While We Run by Karen Healey

Author: Karen Healey
Title: While We Run
Series: When We Wake #2
Publication: May 27, 2014
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Source: Publisher
Website
Abdi Taalib thought he was moving to Australia for a music scholarship. But after meeting the beautiful and brazen Tegan Oglietti, his world was turned upside down. Tegan's no ordinary girl - she died in 2027, only to be frozen and brought back to life in Abdi's time, 100 years later.

Now, all they want is for things to return to normal (or as normal as they can be), but the government has other ideas. Especially since the two just spilled the secrets behind Australia's cryonics project to the world. On the run, Abdi and Tegan have no idea who they can trust, and when they uncover startling new details about Project Ark, they realise thousands of lives may be in their hands.

A suspenseful, page-turning sequel to When We Wake that will keep readers on the edge of their seats and make them call into question their own ideas about morality - and mortality, too.

Abdi and Tegan are captives of a group named SADU, determined to keep the people in the dark about the Ark Project. They're forced to put on false faces to convince everyone that the truth they revealed in the first book is untrue and that more people should join in the cause. Sadly, as much as they want to tell the truth and rebel, the pain inflicted upon them is debilitating. It's interesting to see two strong characters suffer so much in this book because they believe in doing what's right. They're separated for a small part of the book as each has their own handler that ensures that they follow through on their assignments. Abdi has changed since book one and he's angrier but also emotionally wounded. What he experiences is horrifying and it's not something you hear many people talk about happening to boys but I liked how the author presents his perspective. I liked his voice and how he felt that he's being used for a cause and it was always about "Saving Tegan" but he was the person doing all the talking. It was so easy to feel what he felt and want him to go home with his family again. His life started getting complicated when he left to go to school in Australia but it changed when he met Tegan.  She is still herself, reckless and always diving headfirst into everything but the are cute together. As they try to get back what they lost, the will uncover the truth about the Ark Project and must decide to flee to safety or save the many lives in jeopardy in Australia. Overall, this story's well written and a good ending for these characters. 

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Reign of Shadows by Melissa Wright

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Welcome to the Cover Reveal for the third book 
in the YA/NA Urban Fantasy Descendants Series:
Reign of Shadows
By Melissa Wright



Brianna can see her future, but it’s the past that haunts her. Plans laid in place centuries ago are threatening not only her and her sister, but all of the Seven Lines. As the shadows plot their way to old rule, the visions shift again. Her power has led to some hard choices—and the occasional stab wound—but this set of futures holds nothing but darkness.

Unable to bear the idea of losing the footing they've so recently gained, she turns the soldiers of the Seven. But with shadows hidden among the ranks, can she overcome the path they've set in place, or is she blindly following their lead?

The other books in the Descendants Series

Shifting Fate (Descendants Series, #2)Shifting Fate
(Descendants #2)
by Melissa Wright

Summary

According to prophecy, Brianna Drake was born to save the world. The trouble is, she doesn't have the slightest idea how. Her visions should have given her the answer, but they’re beginning to shift, making the danger too unpredictable, even for a prophet.

If she can just help her sister restore their hidden powers, she might be able to stop what’s coming. But an old enemy returns, and he’s got plans for Brianna and her visions.

What neither of them knows is that fate has given a stranger one chance to find her. He was trained to protect the chosen—but if he fails, the future will crumble.

Shifting Fate is the second book in the Descendants Series (following Bound by Prophecy) and focuses on Brianna and Logan.

There is a teaser posted here and the first chapter posted here, but beware, it's full of spoilers from the first book.

Purchase from Amazon , Barnes and Noble, and the Book Depository. Can also purchase in audio at iTunes and Audible.

Bound by Prophecy
(Descendants #1)
by Melissa Wright

Summary

Twenty-two-year-old Aern is done watching his brother destroy the only thing that matters. He never wanted to take Morgan’s place among council, never wanted to rule their hidden world. But when the key to the prophecy is found, a young girl named Brianna whom Morgan will destroy, Aern knows he has to take action.


What he really wants, is for things to go back to normal. But now he’s kidnapped a girl, and his brother’s men are after him. His only hope is to join with the Division, but they have plans of their own, and it’s the last thing Aern is willing to do.


Emily just wants her sister back. She doesn't care about the prophecy, or realize what’s at stake. But when she goes after Aern, the truth of the matter uncoils, and Brianna isn't the only one who’s in danger.


Suddenly, they’re at the center of a secret war, and unless they can work together, they’ll both have a sacrifice too big to make.


You can read an excerpt of Bound by Prophecy here.


Get the ebook for FREE on Nook and Kindle. Can also purchase from the Book Depository, and in audio at iTunes and Audible.



About the Author

Melissa Wright is the author of the Frey Saga and the new Descendants series. Melissa spends her time working on novels, but when not writing she can be found on Goodreads and Pinterest.


Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card
Open internationally.
Ends May 25th. 


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Are you a blogger and want to receive information about new tours? Go HERE.
Are you an author or publisher and would like to have us organize a tour? Go HERE.

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Sleep No More by Aprilynne Pike

Author: Aprilynne Pike
Title: Sleep No More
Series: Sleep No More #1
Publication: April 29th 2014 
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Publisher
Website

The blockbuster film Inception meets Lisa McMann's Wake trilogy in this dark paranormal thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Aprilynne Pike. This novel is also perfect for fans of Kelley Armstrong, Alyson Noel, and Kimberly Derting.

Charlotte Westing has a gift. She is an Oracle and has the ability to tell the future. But it doesn't do her much good. Instead of using their miraculous power, modern-day Oracles are told to fight their visions—to refrain from interfering. And Charlotte knows the price of breaking the rules. She sees it every day in her wheelchair-bound mother and the absence of her father. But when a premonition of a classmate's death is too strong for her to ignore, Charlotte is forced to make an impossible decision: continue following the rules or risk everything—even her sanity—to stop the serial killer who is stalking her town.

Charlotte story begins with death, she's just lost her father and her Aunt Sierra decides that it's best that she lives with her to keep an eye on her. Charlotte is an Oracle like her aunt, she's able to see the future but has been taught all her life to fight the visions. Then one day, a fellow student gets murdered and in her distress it becomes harder to ignore her sight. She receives a cryptic message from a stranger, who knows what she saw and knows she could've prevented it. Okay, so what she does next was entirely naïve on her part but she invites this stranger into her life and he begins to show her how to stop the killer. This isn't her fault completely because her aunt shouldn't have left her in the dark about the Oracle history, which I think may have kept things from unfolding the way they did.Sierra tries so hard to protect her that in a sense she puts up a barrier between herself and Charlotte. I did like how fast-paced the ending was because we get to know who did it and how everything that's happened to Charlotte comes full circle. At first, I was guessing who the possible killer could be and it wasn't unexpected who it is but I found the reason interesting. Charlotte is a character that has room for growth, this book she learns much about herself and what being an Oracle means for her but I think she will become stronger as her story progresses. The writing is good and the story is okay, just want more details about the oracles and their existence in this world but I liked the book.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Tour & Giveaway: Meant to Be Mine by Becky Wade

A book tour hosted by Prism Book Tours.

The REVIEW & EXCERPT TOUR GRAND FINALE for
Meant to Be Mine
by Becky Wade

Happy Mother's Day! In Meant to Be Mine, Celia has been living as a single mother and then later in the story has to figure out who she is as a woman as her daughter becomes less dependent on her. We want to thank all you moms out there who give so much of yourselves to do what you do!! It isn't easy being a mother all the time, but it is also one of the best jobs for all the love given and received.


Meant to be Mine (A Porter Family Novel, #2)
Meant to Be Mine
(A Porter Family Novel #2)
by Becky Wade

Christian Romance
May 2014 by Bethany House Publishers

Ty Porter has always been irresistible to Celia Park. All through high school—irresistible. When their paths cross again after college—still irresistible. This time, though, Ty seems to feel exactly the same way about Celia. Their whirlwind romance deposits them at a street-corner Las Vegas wedding chapel.

The next morning they wake to a marriage certificate and a dose of cold reality. Celia’s ready to be Ty’s wife, but Ty’s not ready to be her husband. He’s a professional bull rider, he lives on the road, and he’s long planned to settle down with the hometown girl he’s known since childhood.

Five and a half years pass. Celia’s buried her dreams so that she can afford to raise her daughter. Ty’s achieved all of his goals. Or thought he had, until he looks again into the eyes of the woman he couldn’t forget and into the face of the child he never knew he had.

How much will Ty sacrifice to win back Celia’s trust and prove to her that their spontaneous marriage can still become the love of a lifetime?

Did you miss any of the stops along the tour? 
You can go back and check them out now!

May 5
"It had a perfect mix of romance, heartbreak, well-fleshed characters, inspiration, hope, and a small-town setting....Truly a well-written, heartfelt, and enjoyably sweet story!"

I Am A Reader - Excerpt
     “I’m not Mrs. Porter.” Teasing tinged her voice. She didn’t want to be too hard on him, not when the notion of him wanting to marry her was so outrageously flattering.
     “Determined to wait until after the ceremony, huh?” He tipped the dealers and requested a tray so that he could pack up his chips. “You coming?”
     “Definitely.” She didn’t want to tell him this, at the risk of seeming pathetic. But she’d follow him anywhere.

Rina's Reading - Review
"Read this if you enjoy contemporary romance with twists, cowboys and cute little girls. And great (clean, but sweep you off your feet) kisses."

May 6
     There he was.
     She forgot how to breathe.
     He was striding down the sidewalk towards her, a few shops away and closing, looking up, probably to find the sign that said Jana’s.
     She’d anticipated that he’d look handsome. But ‘handsome’ was something you might say about a male model in a magazine ad; it was too stiff and flat an adjective for Ty Porter.
     Ty Porter had the kind of appeal that pulled your gaze to him and wouldn’t let you look away.

JoJo's Corner - Review
"I think this story will ring true and resonate with many readers- that love isn’t always like a Disney fairy tale. If you’re a fan of great love stories with memorable characters- don’t miss this one!!!!"

Heidi Reads... - Review
"I was surprised by how much I loved this book! The secret baby theme isn't my favorite, but the author was so skilled in portraying the complex emotions of the characters, I was immediately drawn in and couldn't put the book down!...I definitely recommend this book and can't wait to read the rest of her books!"

May 7
Copywrite1985 - Review
"Ty Porter and Celia Parker got married in Vegas after dating four days. It shouldn’t have worked, and for a long time, it didn’t. But God had a plan to save the bull rider and the baker’s marriage, and He carried it out despite their stubbornness, bitterness, and inability to forgive. This reader really enjoyed being along for the ride."

Kindle and Me - Review
"I am so glad that I read this. It delved deeper into all aspects of relationships with their sacrifices and trust issues. It was an eye opener for me. I definitely will be reading the rest of the series."

Redpillows - Review
"This is truly a fun read and the simpleness of the story is beautiful. The author has also brought out the strong belief people have in God and in the end how that can shape or change a person’s life if you just believe. This is a beautiful story of love, understanding and trust, the lengths to which people can go to protect the ones they love or to gain the trust of the people they love."

Little Lisa - Spotlight
"I LOVED THIS BOOK! I loved the banter, the romance and the theme of forgiveness! I couldn't put the book down and recommend it to all!!!"

Add Librarian - Review
"It’s romance with just the right touch of faith at it’s heart. The characters are spot on and the pacing is fantastic."

May 8
"I absolutely loved the journey Ty and Celia went on in their discovery of what truly matters in life. The journey to true love isn't always easy, but it can be so much fun, as well as sweet and romantic."

     “Aw,” he crooned. “Watching me ride gave you a little thing for me, didn’t it sweet one?”
     She turned a withering look on him. “What kind of a thing?”
     “A burning love kind of a thing.”
     “Hardly.”
     “Admit it, you missed me while I was gone.” 
     “Not in the least.” 
     “Still hate me?” 
     “Yes.” 

     If he could feel a calm sort of kindness toward Celia, that would be good. That's what he'd been going for tonight.
     Instead, when she'd opened her door, pleasure had rushed through him at the sight of her. After years on the road, seeing her standing in front of him with a bright, good-smelling house behind her had felt like coming home. The kind of home that had nothing to do with her fool apartment.

     Once Pummeler had disappeared down the passage where all bulls disappeared, Ty lifted his hat, smiled at the crowd, and turned in a circle to acknowledge their support. The down-home commentators with the chicken-fried-steak accents called him a ‘fan favorite’ and a ‘three time world champion’ and ‘third in the season’s standings’.
     “Nice try, Pummeler.” Celia shook her head and fast-forwarded. 
     Ty rode again and stayed on again. 
     Unfortunately no one would be denting Ty’s arrogance tonight.

"If you are looking for a cute story full of witty banter and to sink your teeth into be sure to check out this book as well as Becky Wade’s other stories."

"I just got through Becky Wades new book called Meant to Be. If you haven't read any books by Becky, I highly recommend it! She is a delight....It's truly great and I give it five stars!"

May 9
"I just loved everything about this book. I loved that it made me mad, and laugh and cry. I mean, when an author does that to me, I just want to jump up and down. I know, kind of crazy, but I love it when a book can bring such emotions out of me....It was sweet, funny, and just an all around great read."

Batch of Books - Review
"It's official. I'm a die hard Becky Wade fan. I love her books. They are real and heartfelt stories that I connect to....I would highly recommend this book to fans of Christian fiction and romance. It's a beautiful reminder that marriage is sacred to God."

"The Christian elements are there but aren’t overpowering. The story really shines through and I enjoyed it all a lot. In fact, when I finished this book, which is the second in the series, I went right to Amazon to check out the other books by this author."

"I just love the simplicity and the beauty of the story. It’s about love and forgiveness. It’s one of those books you want to read if you want to relax and unwind."


About the Author

During her childhood in California, Becky Wade frequently produced homemade plays starring her sisters, friends, and cousins. These plays almost always featured a heroine, a prince, and a love story with a happy ending. She's been a fan of all things romantic ever since.

Becky and her husband lived overseas in the Caribbean and Australia before settling in Dallas, Texas. It was during her years abroad that Becky's passion for reading turned into a passion for writing. She published three historical romances for the general market, put her career on hold for many years to care for her kids, and eventually returned to writing sheerly for the love of it. She’s delighted to be penning warm, wry, and heartwarming contemporary romances for the Christian market. Her CBA debut, My Stubborn Heart, was a finalist in both the RITA and INSPY awards. Undeniably Yours kicked off her Texas-set Porter Family series. Her newest contemporary romance, Meant to Be Mine, has just hit shelves!

These days Becky can be found failing but trying to keep up with her housework, sweating at the gym, carting her kids around town, playing tennis, hunched over her computer, eating chocolate, or collapsed on the sofa watching TV with her husband.



Tour-Wide Giveaway

Prize #1: $50 Visa gift card and a paperback or ebook copy of Meant to Be Mine (open internationally)
Prize #2: 1 lb. of Starbucks coffee and signed copies of Undeniably Yours and Meant to Be Mine (US Only)
Prize #3: Box of See's Chocolates and signed copies of Undeniably Yours and Meant to Be Mine (US Only)
May 4 - 18

Prism Book Tours
Are you a blogger and want to receive information about new tours? Go HERE.
Are you an author or publisher and would like to have us organize a tour event? Go HERE.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Renegade by Debra Driza

Author: Debra Driza
Title: Renegade 
Series: Mila 2.0 #2
Publication: May 13, 2013
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Genre: Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss
Website

There is no one left for Mila to trust. Except for a boy she barely knows.

But Hunter has no idea who—and what—Mila really is. She can’t bear to reveal her secret, even though he’s unwittingly joined her search for Richard Grady, a man who may know more details of Mila’s complicated past.

Yet the road to the truth is more dangerous than ever. With General Holland and the Vita Obscura scouring the earth for her whereabouts, Mila must rely on her newfound android abilities to protect herself and Hunter from imminent harm. Still, embracing her identity as a machine leads her to question the state of her humanity—as well as Hunter’s real motives.

Perfect for fans of I Am Number Four and Divergent, this action-packed and heart-wrenching second installment of MILA 2.0 will leave readers breathlessly awaiting the series conclusion.

Sometimes I forget she's not human. I love, love Mila, she has so many levels and as she grapples with her android abilities, she seems more realistic. I could actually see her world existing in our time. This book she on the run with her friend Hunter, who still doesn't know she's not human yet but he's willing to journey with her to find her father. She's lying more in this book because she's afraid that he won't accept that she not a real girl and look at her as some sort of freak. I couldn't help but feel sad for her because of everything she learns about herself and the reason for her creation. There is a scene where she has to struggle to hold on to her humanity and ends up doing something even she doesn't expect. Overall, action, romance and that ending will leave you wanting more!