Fall For THIRD DAUGHTER–Review and Giveaway

If you had to marry for love or marry for peace, what would you choose?

That’s the question facing Princess Aniri, Third Daughter to the Queen of Dharia.
Hi there and welcome to my stop on the THIRD DAUGHTER blog tour. It’s my great pleasure to welcome this YA Royalty Romance–from my friend and longtime writing colleague Susan Kaye Quinn.

How about a little taste?

“I love you, Aniri,” Devesh whispered.

When he pulled back, she smiled. “I hate to tell you this, Dev, but I already knew that.”

“If you go off with this Prince Malik, and anything happens to you, the Queen may dispense an army to come after you, but I will beat them there.”

Aniri drew in a shaky breath. Prince Malik said he would allow her a lover, even though arranged marriages were expected to be true marriages, especially among royalty. But could she live that kind of life? A secret love on the side while performing the duties of Queen in a foreign land? The idea made her shudder. It pained her every day her love for Devesh was kept hidden. She couldn’t imagine a lifetime of it. Nor could she picture Devesh, with his love of the court and all things political, banished to the frozen wastelands of the north simply to be her consort.

He must have seen the emotions warring across her face. “Tell him no, Aniri. Refuse him and come away with me. We could leave today.”

“Dev—”

He cut her off with a kiss. “We could return to Samir,” he whispered against her lips. “We won’t be rich, but we could travel anywhere you wished, all the places your father would have taken you. We would have all the time in the world. To be together. To learn the truth about your father’s killers. To make a family of our own.”

It was precisely what they had planned. Now it all seemed like a hopeless fantasy. “Dev, I can’t simply abandon my country. If I refuse Malik, and there is war to pay, I cannot just run away… Is this the confidence you wanted to tell me?”

Devesh looked torn, like there was something more he wanted to say but was holding it back. “I cannot offer you a Queendom, Aniri. My love is all I can promise. I hope it is enough to convince you to refuse Prince Malik’s offer.”

He stepped back, and with clasped hands and a short bow, he turned and strode away. Her heart tried to beat its way out of her chest to follow him. If she accepted Prince Malik’s offer, she would lose the man she loved.

Unlike the Jungali prince, she wasn’t sure that was a price she was willing to pay.

My Review:

It’s two weeks until Aniri turns eighteen and can choose to marry her beau–Devesh, a courtesan and emissary from Samir. Her two older sisters have already married men that complement their station, even when love is not present, and Aniri is determined to follow her heart, not her duty.

Especially when her duty involves marrying Prince Malik, heir to the throne of the barbarous northern Jungali provinces. No. No! NO!

Except, Aniri knows she can’t decline outright–and rumors of a Jungali airship weapon are serious indeed. If Aniri accepts the prince’s proposal she can get close enough to find out if the airship is real–and maybe she can help her homeland and her mother’s Queendom figure out how to avoid a war.

Prince Malik makes it easy on Aniri–he tells her their marriage would be one of business. That she could (discreetly) take a lover if she wished. Hmm… And her mother, the Queen, assures her that the choice is hers.

Aniri does what she must–becomes a spy. I loved her reactions to the “barbarians” she encounters on her journey north! Oh, how sweet to have her realize, “Hey, they’re pretty awesome in their own way!” Then Devesh shows up and tells her the airship is a ruse–a trick to get her to marry Malik. After which she will be killed and her beloved country Dharia overrun by Samir and Jungali. Aniri doesn’t know whom to believe, and espionage is not her strong suit. The political intrigue is high and Aniri barely escapes an attempt on her life.

The tension is fierce throughout. Each new chapter brings Aniri closer to either love, or death. We get a fantastic steampunk world, with an East Indian flair, and a strong female main character who picks up the ball and runs her hardest. Even when she fumbles, Aniri is worthy of cheers because she learns from her mistakes and never quits.

What I hadn’t expected, and thoroughly adored, was Malik’s assistance. He realizes his only shot at peace is this marriage, and he’s willing to trust a confessed spy with the biggest military secret of his country. Aniri could never have learned what was necessary to save her people without Malik earning her forever trust. And Devesh? Well, perhaps an on-the-side lover isn’t the best place for him in the Jungali court. In the end, Aniri does choose her own husband. And she chooses very well indeed.

Three words to describe this Third Daughter? Indomitable. Passionate. Resourceful. She’s my kind of heroine.

And, can I say the cover is exquisite? The internal art (chapter headings and section breaks) is just as lovely, and speaks volumes about the care that went into making this book. I absolutely LOVED it, and would recommend it to any YA reader. Its smidgeon of passion–some swoony kisses–won’t make you blush, but will get your heart beating.

Interested? You can find THIRD DAUGHTER at Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, and kobo.

About Susan Kaye Quinn:
Susan Kaye Quinn is the author of the bestselling Mindjack Trilogy, which is young adult science fiction. The Dharian Affairs trilogy is her excuse to dress up in corsets and fight with swords. She also has a dark-and-gritty SF serial called The Debt Collector and a middle grade fantasy called Faery Swap. It’s possible she’s easily distracted. She always has more speculative fiction fun in the works. You can find out what she’s up to by subscribing to her newsletter (hint: new subscribers get a free short story!).

She is also NOMINATED for the Illinois Librarian’s “Soon to be Famous Author Project” wherein librarians hope to discover local authors whose “work will jump off the page for readers.”

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest * Goodreads

***Blog Tour Giveaway***
Click on the the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win
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Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code 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, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Mindreading? DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!–A Review

If you could read minds, would you?

That’s one part of the premise in Sarah Mlynowski’s contemporary YA novel DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.

What’s this book about?

Twenty-two students at a public high school in NYC (Tribeca, a rather affluent neighborhood) are given a flu vaccine. The next day most of them can read minds. Over the next few days, they all develop this ability.

With consequences.

My Review:

I devoured this title. At first, the style was off-putting. I’m always in search of the narrative character, the viewpoint, through which the story comes–but that’s impossible here. Because the story is told from the collective “We” as a past-tense rehash of how these ordinary kids became infected with the extraordinary. Talk about a side-effect! After that quick adaptation on my part, the story rolled.

While there are twenty-two high school sophomores within this hive mind, there are several who carry the story.

Timid Olivia, who is as big a germaphobe and hypochondriac as her mother, is the first to notice her new telepathy. Unfortunately, it happens while she’s standing in front of her class preparing to deliver a speech on Lyme Disease. Yeah, she faints–but not before alerting a fellow classmate, Pi, that she has telepathy.

Pi’s brilliant. Second in the class, and pining for first, she’s determined to be extraordinary. Imagine her dismay in learning that her telepathy isn’t that unique. Of course, Pi’s the first one to figure out how to use his gift to her advantage. Ever the strategist, she begins to position herself in closer proximity to Number 1, in the hopes of overtaking him.

See, while they can hear other people’s thoughts, there are some rules to this ability:

First, the closer they are to a person, the louder those thoughts are heard. If there are people in the way, they buffer the thought signals, diluting them. Also, vision is important. If a person has his or her eyes closed, their thoughts are unhearable. Likewise, for the new telepaths, closing their own eyes shuts out the noise of thoughts around them. Glasses can magnify the ability, while dark glasses mute it. It’s an interesting story frame, and it’s exploited by many of the characters at different points.

Some of the telepaths want to exploit their position immediately.

Take Tess. She’s bears a secret crush for her best guy-friend Teddy. He’s single and they hang out a lot, and she wants to know if her feelings are returned. Should she listen in? Heck, yeah, she does. But one can’t unhear those thoughts–and Tess isn’t exactly thrilled with Teddy after a bit.

And what about those secrets? Mackensie, class pretty girl, is dating Cooper, class sweetheart. But when he was away at camp this summer she had a fling with Bennett–an older boy in her building. It’s something she’s kept inside, but now everyone knows, except Cooper, who is the last to develop telepathy.

Poor Cooper. His luck just goes from bad to worse when he goes home a gets a taste of parent’s thoughts.

That’s the thing about telepathy. While some kids are grade boosting, others are having complete personal meltdowns. Yet, they all agree to keep this ability secret. They form the hive mind of Espies, and attempt to behave as normally as possible to throw off any suspicion. Pi designates herself as the leader of the group, because Pi is a take-charge gal. Others, like Tess and Olivia, emerge from their “shells” to become more confident individuals–without being outright dishonest–now that they can see how their private fears hampered their happiness.

Soon, the CDC comes sniffing ’round the hallway. Guess there were other affected lots of vaccine produced and they traced the last vial to the school. See, one person from another location who had the vaccine died–so it could be the telepathy is fatal. It’s hard to say as the man was 81 and suffered a stroke–maybe he would have died without the vaccine? Nevertheless, there’s an antidote available, and, for their trouble, the kids will receive a $50,000 payoff from the drug manufacturer when they accept the antidote.

Will they choose to take the antidote? Do they even have a choice? I mean, it’s a nice hunk of money–and nobody wants to die at age 15…

DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT will be available for sale March 11. I received an advanced reader’s copy from NetGalley for the purpose of review. Keep your eyes open for this one in bookstores and libraries. It’s a great read. I think teen and fans of YA fiction will adore it as much as I did.

I wonder what your choice would be: Telepathy, or not? Drop me a comment if you like…I think I’d go with NO telepathy. My money’s on the age-factor with the fatality…but I’m like Mackensie–I don’t want anyone knowing my secrets.

Then again, if someone ELSE had telepathy, they’d know my secrets and I would never know it!

Eeep! The killer conundrum! Okay. I’ll take telepathy. With a side order of dark glasses.

Telepathic, or no, keep reading my friends! 😀

MY DATE FROM HELL–Epic Review and Giveaway

Hi there, and welcome to my stop on the MY DATE FROM HELL blog tour, sponsored by YA Bound book tours. Check out other stops here. This YA paranormal romance by best-selling author Tellulah Darling is a perfect blend of snark, fantasy and swoon!

Book Description:
Sophie Bloom’s junior year has been a bit of a train wreck. After the world’s greatest kiss re-awakened Sophie’s true identity as Persephone (Goddess of Spring and Savior of Humanity), she fought her dragon-lady guidance counselor to the death, navigated mean girl Bethany’s bitchy troublemaking, and dealt with the betrayal of her backstabbing ex, Kai (sexy Prince of Darkness). You’d think a girl could catch a break.

Yeah, right.

With Zeus stepping things up, it’s vital that Sophie retrieve Persephone’s memories and discover the location of the ritual to stop Zeus and Hades. So when Aphrodite strikes a deal that can unlock Sophie’s pre-mortal past, what choice does the teen goddess have but to accept?

The mission: stop media mogul Hermes from turning Bethany into a global mega-celebrity. The catch? Aphrodite partners Sophie and Kai to work together … and treat this suicide mission as a date. Which could work out for Sophie’s plan to force Kai to admit his feelings for her–if she doesn’t kill him first.

Add to that the fact that BFF Theo’s love life and other BFF Hannah’s actual life are in Sophie’s hands, and suddenly being a teenager—even a godlike one—seems a bit like … well, hell. Whatever happened to dinner and a movie?

The YA romantic comedy/Greek mythology fireworks continue to fly in My Date From Hell. Love meets comedy with a whole lot of sass in book two of this teen fantasy romance series. Breaking up is easy; dating is deadly.

My Review:
MY DATE FROM HELL begins where it should—with Sophie being tortured within an inch of her life by her dad, Zeus. Family, ain’t it grand?

Still Sophie—a reincarnation of Persephone—can’t reclaim the memories she’s being tortured to divulge. So she battles on. In the process she frees herself, and Kai—Kyrillos, son of Hades—who is likewise up for execution. Sophie returns to her Vancouver boarding school to learn her magically-enhanced-bully, Bethany, is poised to claim supreme star-status with the help of Hermes—god of tricksters.

Oh, and Sophie has less than two months to regain Persephone’s memories and fall in love with Kai, or humanity is doomed. But Sophie can’t seem to let go of her fears that Kai will only love her for Persephone’s sake, and not her own. And that’s kinda not so okay with Sophie.

Though Eros and Aphrodite toss in some magic, Sophie can’t overcome her own romantic notion that a person should be really in love, not simply faking it. Kai gets it, and he’d like to let her know his own feelings on the matter, but hey, gods have their pride.

In order to unravel Persephone’s memories, Sophie turns to master caster-Hephestus-also known by his hipster name, Festos. And, he’s game to help if Sophie can maybe sway Theo into looking his way again. Oh, and Eros volunteers to reverse the brain-drain, but it’s gonna hurt. So the merry bunch takes off after Hermes, on a date arranged by Aphrodite, to cut the cord on Bethany’s villainous popularity.

The date between Sophie and Kai soon becomes a Game of Death to rescue Hannah and gain Hermes’ cooperation. Along the way Sophie begins to see that Kai isn’t all bubbly over Persephone any longer. No, he’s realized that Sophie’s a pretty extraordinary gal—what with her snark and her magic powers and her saving the day. In fact, Sophie’s willingness to accept Kai is what returns Persephone’s memories. Now she knows who tried to kill her years ago in Hades.

And, sadly, that person is back to finish the job.

Interested? You can find MY DATE FROM HELL at Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Book Depository.…

The first book in the trilogy, MY EX FROM HELL, is a total blast. Check out my review here. To pick it up for yourself…try AMAZON or Barnes & Noble.

Oh! And Tellulah has written Book 2.5 in this saga, A DATE OF GODLIKE PROPORTIONS, which you can download FREE here. Go on and get that. It’ll get you all geared up for the release of the final book, My Life From Hell, releasing March 20, 2014. With the Spring Equinox comes Sophie’s final showdown with Zeus and Hades in the book. I have a feeling Sophie’s gonna kick some tail!

About the Author
Tellulah Darling: noun
1. YA romantic comedy author because her first kiss sucked and she’s compensating.
2. Alter ego of former screenwriter.
3. Sassy minx.
Geeks out over: cool tech.
Squees for: great storytelling.
Delights in: fabulous conversation.
Writes about: where love meets comedy. Awkwardness ensues.
Sassy girls. Swoony boys. What could go wrong?

Find the delightful Ms. Darling on her blog, Goodreads, Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook

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Good luck, and, as always, keep reading, my friends!

THIRD DAUGHTER–Book Blast, Review and Giveaway!!

Hi there! And welcome to MY stop on the THIRD DAUGHTER book blast. For other stops on the tour, click here. It’s my great pleasure to recommend this YA Steampunk/Bollywood Romance by a great friend, and prolific indie author Susan Kay Quinn.

Third Daughter by Susan Kaye Quinn

Skyships, saber duels, and lots of royal intrigue… and, of course, kissing.

The Third Daughter of the Queen wants her birthday to arrive so she’ll be free to marry for love, but rumors of a new flying weapon may force her to accept a barbarian prince’s proposal for a peace-brokering marriage. Desperate to marry the charming courtesan she loves, Aniri agrees to the prince’s proposal as a subterfuge in order to spy on him, find the weapon, and hopefully avoid both war and an arranged marriage to a man she does not love.

Third Daughter is the first book in the The Dharian Affairs Trilogy (Third Daughter, Second Daughter, First Daughter). This steampunk-goes-to-Bollywood (Bollypunk!) romance that takes place in an east-Indian-flavored alternate world filled with skyships, saber duels, and lots of royal intrigue. And, of course, kissing.

From the author of the bestselling Mindjack Trilogy, The Dharian Affairs is a new series filled with equal doses of action-adventure and romance, meant to appeal to fans of Mindjack.

NOMINATED for the Illinois Librarian’s “Soon to be Famous Author Project” wherein librarians hope to discover local authors whose “work will jump off the page for readers.”

“Third Daughter is vividly breathtaking. Quinn delivers royal intrigue, exotic locations, and sweeping romance. Not to be missed!” – Pavarti K. Tyler, author of Shadow on the Wall

“Susan Kaye Quinn writes characters that leap off the page… Incredibly well written, the vivid setting was crisp in my mind… As the plot raced on, I was cursing real life for not letting me just sit glued to my kindle, punching the touch screen to get to the next page.” – Tiffany on Goodreads

My Review:
If you had to marry for love or marry for peace, what would you choose?

That’s the question facing Princess Aniri, Third Daughter to the Queen of Dharia.

It’s two weeks until Aniri can choose to marry her beau–Devesh–a courtesan and emissary from Samir. Her two older sisters have already married men that compliment their station, even when love is not present, and Aniri is determined to follow her heart, not her duty.

Especially when her duty involves marrying Prince Malik, heir to the throne of the barbarous northern Jungali provinces. No. No! NO!

Aniri does what she must–becomes a spy. I loved her reactions to the ‘barbarians” she encounters on her journey north! Oh, how sweet to have her realize, “Hey, they’re pretty awesome in their own way!” Then Devesh shows up and tells her the airship is a ruse–a trick to get her to marry Malik. After which she will be killed and her beloved country Dharia overrun by Samir and Jungali. Aniri doesn’t know who to believe, and espionage is not her strong suit. The political intrigue is high and Aniri barely escapes an attempt on her life.

The tension is fierce throughout. Each new chapter brings Aniri closer to either love, or death. We got a fantastic steampunk world, with an east Indian flair, and a strong female main character who picks up the ball and runs her hardest. Even when she fumbles, Aniri is worthy of cheers because she learns from her mistakes and never quits.

What I hadn’t expected, and thoroughly adored, was Malik’s assistance. He realizes his only shot at peace is this marriage, and he’s willing to trust a confessed spy with the biggest military secret of his country. Aniri could never have learned what was necessary to save her people without Malik earning her forever trust. And Devesh? Well, perhaps an on-the-side lover isn’t the best place for him in the Jungali court. In the end, Aniri does choose her own husband. And she chooses very well indeed.

Three words to describe this Third Daughter? Indomitable. Passionate. Resourceful. She’s my kind of heroine.

Interested? You can find THIRD DAUGHTER at: Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * Book Depository

Excerpt

A lone two-wheeled surrey ambled out of the shadows of the Samirian embassy and headed toward her dark corner of the Queen’s estate. Aniri held her breath and silently cursed the full two-moon night. If the carriage came much closer, the occupants would surely see her clinging to the side of the palace like a spider on her thread.

The six-hooved beast pulling the surrey slowed as it neared the giant stone statue of Devkasera. The mother goddess of ancient Dharia loomed larger-than-life, threatening the carriage with a sword and a scroll—the powers of destruction and creation—clasped in two of her six hands. The Queen loved the ancient traditions, so the goddess held a place of respect in the middle of the palace lawns. Aniri preferred the clean streets and steam-driven inventions of modern Dharia to the unwashed feet and mystic religion of her country’s past, but that didn’t stop her from sending a silent prayer to Devkasera—for invisibility for herself or perhaps a sudden loss of sight by the persons in the carriage.

Author Susan Kaye Quinn

Susan Kaye Quinn is the author of the bestselling Mindjack Trilogy, which is young adult science fiction. The Dharian Affairs trilogy is her excuse to dress up in corsets and fight with swords. She also has a dark-and-gritty SF serial called The Debt Collector and a middle grade fantasy called Faery Swap. It’s possible she’s easily distracted. She always has more speculative fiction fun in the works. You can find out what she’s up to by subscribing to her newsletter (hint: new subscribers get a free short story!) or by stopping by her blog (www.susankayequinn.com).

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest * Goodreads

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The Gryphon Series by Stacey Rourke–Reviews and Giveaway!

Hi there and welcome to my stop on the tour for the Gryphon Series by Stacey Rourke sponsored by AToMR Book Tours. For other stops on the tour, click here. Because there are four books in the series, I’ve attached links to my Goodreads reviews–and just a snippet of my overall impressions to give you a flavor of the series. (Otherwise this post would be fo-eva… long!)

The Conduit (Book, #1)

All 18-year-old Celeste Garrett wants is to head off to college and make those fun, yet ill-advised, choices college kids are known for. And maybe to spend some time with the hot cameraman she just met. Instead, because of a pact her ancestors made in the 17th century with a mythical creature, she has to save the world.

While normal kids are slamming energy drinks and cramming for exams, Celeste will get her adrenaline rush fighting a fire breathing dragon. She wants to meet friends in the quad to exchange lecture notes, but first she must exchange blows with a shapeshifting demon on the rooftop. Life isn’t always fair for a superhero, but at least she doesn’t have to do it alone. With her brother and sister as sidekicks, they alternate between saving lives and getting on each others’ nerves. Together the trio encounters unspeakable odds, mystical forces and comes face-to-face with an image that will haunt them forever—their grandmother in a leopard print bikini.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Embrace (Book, #2) Find my review HERE.

RONE Award Winner Best YA Paranormal Work of 2012

Whether she likes it or not, eighteen year old Celeste Garrett has come to terms with being the Chosen One. She knew having a “normal life” would be tricky, between intense training sessions and epic demonic battles, but she didn’t know at what cost it would come. That is, until a dear friend is harmed by the malicious forces hunting her.

Now, she’d like nothing more than to retreat into a hermit lifestyle to prevent anyone else from getting hurt. But startling revelations, amazing new abilities, and mortifying moments in front of insanely hot guys won’t allow time for that. Soon, Celeste finds herself surrounded by darkness and wondering who she can trust—if anyone.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Sacrifice (Book, #3) Find my review HERE.

Celeste Garrett has finally found a happy balance in her life as the Chosen One, thanks in large part to a certain hunky Irishman. But if there’s any lesson she should heed since receiving her calling it’s that everything can change in the blink of an eye. Soon a terrible new threat, unlike anything she’s ever encountered, causes her to make a gut-wrenching choice that will strip her of someone she holds dear.

As much as she’d like to have a pity party for one, there’s no time for that now because wedding bells are ringing in Gainesboro! In between dress fittings and rehearsal dinners Celeste will have to fend off attacking demons and leering pirates. As if the Dark Army wasn’t scary enough our heroine is faced with the horrifying trauma of attending a bachelorette party with her mom and watching Grams do Jello shots. Is a walk down the aisle even possible for a member of the Garrett family when the Dark Army is out to destroy them? More importantly, will the Dark Army Glee Club sing at the reception?

Raise your glass to the happy couple, and get ready for a wedding…Conduit-style.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Ascension (Book, #4) Read my review HERE.

From best selling and award winning author Stacey Rourke comes the heart-pounding continuation of the acclaimed Gryphon Series.

The turning point of the Gryphon saga is at hand …

Battle looms. Three unstoppable forces prepare to clash in a colossal explosion that could wipe Gainesboro off the map. Fate and a sacred calling have landed nineteen year old Celeste Garrett in the middle with nowhere to run.

Her trust wavers as she uncovers dark secrets of the Council, powerful enough to test her loyalty and turn her against those she swore to protect. Playing to the longing of her heart, a malevolent enemy uses her weakness against her to form an alliance.

With the trumpets of war about to sound, which side will the Conduit choose, and who will be left standing?

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Having read books 2, 3, and 4–I’ll tell you I just really enjoyed the series. It’s a fast-paced imaginative adventure that pits a down-to-Earth gal against the forces of evil. Celeste didn’t choose this fate, but she embraces it, works with it, struggles through it and in the end more than survives it.

It’s a great read with epic battles and a plucky heroine whose deadpan humor often made me laugh out loud. I highly recommend it for YA readers–and though it’s technically got a romance, I’d give it 3 bars of Dial soap for being so squeaky-clean.

About the Author

RONE Award Winner for Best YA Paranormal Work of 2012 for Embrace, a Gryphon Series Novel.

Young Adult and Teen Reader voted Author of the Year 2012.

Stacey Rourke is the author of the YA Fantasy Gryphon Series and the nonfiction autobiographical I’m Not Crazy, I’m on Lupron; a Journey Through Infertility. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant, drooly dogs. Stacey loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head. She is currently hard at work on the continuations of the Gryphon Series as well as other literary projects.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

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CLAN is Phenomenal–Review and Giveaway

Hi there and welcome to my stop on the CLAN blog tour sponsored by YA Bound Book Tours. For other stops on the tour click here. This dystopian YA novel by newcomer Realm Lovejoy blends sci-fi and adventure with a surprising hint of romance.

Summary from Goodreads:
Clans are Unity.
No variation. No deviation.
On Clades, to be a Clan is to be an exact copy.

A perfect society cloning themselves to survive, even as the zombielike Frags threaten to overrun them on an unforgiving planet.
Clan 1672 (privately known as Twain) was never supposed to survive the Incubation Tank.

But he did. Illegally.

He is different from the other Clans.
A secret that could destroy him.

Kirkus Reviews: “In this fast-paced novel, Lovejoy uses economical prose while developing the story’s characters and setting in detail. She also meets the challenge of creating memorable characters in a world of identical people…”

My Review:

An entire civilization of human men cloned from one single being living on a distant planet? From the start I was hooked. These clones of Father Krume are designed to be identical. Same appearance, same ideas, identical desires. And, that’s just plain impossible folks. I don’t care if you were raised in a petri dish or a human uterus–every human WANTS. Something, anything…and that desire is what separates each of us–even if we happen to be an identical genetic match to another.

In CLAN, we get the viewpoint of three nearly eighteen year-old males. They have very different experiences, despite the call to Unity (conformity).

Clone 1672, also called Twain, tells most of the story. He was never meant to live. A genetic “experiment” by his sponsor Twigg–the second clone from Krume–Twain is raised in Twigg’s home completely separate from the other clan. Twain longs to join his brethren, but can’t. Because he’s different. More so than he even realizes from seeing his white eyes gaze back at him from the mirror. See all clan have brown eyes, and being differnt targets Twain for destruction.

Clone 1249, called Buster, is a rebel. In fact, 1249 isn’t even his real clone number. He’s on the outskirts of Clan society providing illegal comfort to other clan in order to have a private life raising a defective clan child he saved. He recognizes Twain’s plight and strives to teach Twain how to act within clan society–and how to escape it when the executioners come knocking.

Clone 1348, also called Chad, is sponsored by a second generation clone he despises. How can he not? Clan are about Unity, and perfection. And there is nothing perfect about witnessing your “father” commit an act of indecency. Chad will not ever succumb to the Narcissism lingering on the fringe of Clan society, yet his world is shifted by his interactions with Twain. If nothing else, being near this clan makes Chad realize there is more than Unity to respect.

When Father Krume dies and his successor is assassinated, the chaos of the Clan society forces these three unlikely compatriots into a journey none of them want to make–outside the safety of the city walls. There they develop the skill and knowledge to overcome their prejudices and their Frag enemies. Of course, alliances bring them home–but what awaits is a society in even more disarray.

And the secret reason the Clan clones was developed? It’s stone-cold.

I don’t care that they were ‘identical’ they were indomitable. The action is fast-paced and the characters leap off the page. Twain learning his genetic anomaly goes far beyond his different colored eyes? Wow. And Chad coming to terms with his fear of the unknown, fear of connection? I was so glad to see. it. But Buster goes the extra mile in every way. Just when you think he’s going to take the easy way out–he freaking saves the day. I highly recommend CLAN to all YA readers and anyone who likes dystopian fiction.

Interested? You can find CLAN at Goodreads and Amazon.

Right now the eBook is priced at $.99, but you can get it FREE!!! if you download it December 19-20! Mark your calendars people!

Book Trailer link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-59si3YVQBw

Realm aspires to tell stories through her writing and art.
She is agented by Jessica Regel. You can find Realm hanging on her website, Goodreads, twitter, Facebook, or Tumblr.

***GIVEAWAY***
Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win:
1 Signed Paperback + CLAN Button + Signed Illustration from Paperback (US only)
1 of 6 Paperbacks (US only) or
1 of 10 eBooks (international shipping)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck, and as always, keep reading my friends!

Swooning for THIRD DAUGHTER!!–A Review and Giveaway

If you had to marry for love or marry for peace, what would you choose?

That’s the question facing Princess Aniri, Third Daughter to the Queen of Dharia.

Especially when her duty involves marrying Prince Malik, heir to the throne of the barbarous northern Jungali provinces. No. No! NO!

Aniri does what she must–becomes a spy. I loved her reactions to the “barbarians” she encounters on her journey north! Oh, how sweet to have her realize, “Hey, they’re pretty awesome in their own way!” Then Devesh shows up and tells her the airship is a ruse–a trick to get her to marry Malik. After which she will be killed and her beloved country Dharia overrun by Samir and Jungali. Aniri doesn’t know who to believe, and espionage is not her strong suit. The political intrigue is high and Aniri barely escapes an attempt on her life.

Three words to describe this Third Daughter? Indomitable. Passionate. Resourceful. She’s my kind of heroine.

And, can I say the cover is exquisite? The internal art (chapter headings and section breaks) is just as lovely, and speaks volumes about the care that went into making this book.

So, a bit of disclosure: I have known the delightful Susan Kaye Quinn for going on four years. We are longtime critique partners and I’ve read everything she’s published (except the INDIE GUIDE TO SELF PUBLISHING). THIRD DAUGHTER is, in fact, the first book I received from Sue as a freebie for the purpose of review. I absolutely LOVED it, and would recommend it to any YA reader. Its smidgeon of passion–some swoony kisses–won’t make you blush, but will get your heart beating.

Interested? You can find THIRD DAUGHTER at Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, and kobo. It comes out today, so HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY, THIRD DAUGHTER!
*tosses confetti* *releases balloons to the sky*

About the Fantastic Susan Kaye Quinn:

Susan Kaye Quinn grew up in California, where she wrote snippets of stories and passed them to her friends during class. Her teachers pretended not to notice and only confiscated her stories a couple times. Susan left writing behind to pursue a bunch of engineering degrees, but she was drawn back to writing by an irresistible urge to share her stories with her niece, her kids, and all the wonderful friends she’s met along the way. She doesn’t have to sneak her notes anymore, which is too bad.Susan writes from the Chicago suburbs with her three boys, two cats, and one husband. Which, it turns out, is exactly as a much as she can handle. You can find Sue actively engaged in writing and mentoring on her website, Goodreads, Facebook and Twitter.

***GIVEAWAY***

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win any of these cool prizes!

–20x “Third Daughter” mini M&M packs (US only)

–A steampunk key necklace (INTL)

–“Third Daughter” East-Indian style bridal jewelry (INT)

Best of luck, and as always, keep reading my friends!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

SUBMERGED–Book Blitz and Giveaway

Submerged (Outbreak #1)

by Nicole Sobon

Release Date: 02/14/13

Summary from Goodreads:

After a mysterious virus makes its way into the United States, the government demands that states seal themselves off from one another and do their best to protect their surviving residents. When the state of Florida is bordered off from the surrounding states, Taylen Fincher, a seventeen-year-old girl with a yearning for her former life finds herself wondering how much of what they’ve been told is true.

When Troum took control of the state, he told the residents that the other states had fallen to the virus and that he wouldn’t allow the same thing to happen to them. But Taylen doesn’t believe it. She insists that there is still life outside of the state, and she is going to do whatever it takes to prove it… but her actions will cost her more than she ever expected.

Troum kidnaps Taylen’s sister, Penelope, in hopes of coaxing her into behaving–-into being a submissive resident, much like the others. But Taylen isn’t one to give in that easily.

Eager to rescue her sister, Taylen will set out on an adventure that’ll force her to open her heart to the unexpected and to uncover secrets that will change everything.

SUBMERGED is the first book in a YA dystopian duology.

How about a little taste?
“Milo, can I ask you something?” I asked, lifting my hand to my lip.
“Not here.” He looked back at Penelope and signaled for me to follow him outside. “Come on.”
I followed Milo out of the Hovercopter, nearly running into him when he stopped suddenly at the end of the walkway. “If you’re wondering if I knew, I didn’t,” he paused, lowering himself onto the ground, “My parents were faithful followers, unwilling to believe things could only get worse after the Outbreak. Though I can’t say much, after all, I was just as naive as they were.”
You weren’t the only one, I thought.
“I had a twin sister,” he said after a moment of silence.
“What happened to her?”
“She died.” He lowered his head as if not sure he wanted to discuss it, but he continued, “Our parents insisted that we join the guard on our seventeenth birthday. She did her best to follow Troum, but over time, she began to grow tired of fighting for a system that clearly didn’t care for its people. She’d spent most of her time serving the Widowed Sector, where she met a boy her age.”
“They fell in love,” I said, knowing exactly where this story was headed.
“I don’t think that it was love. I’d say it was longing more than anything,” he corrected. “She knew what would happen if she began a relationship with a resident, especially one from the Widowed Sector, but she didn’t care.”
“What was her name?” I took a seat next to Milo, resting my head in my hand.
“Miranda,” he said, smiling. “She was a lot like you, you know.”
“I’m not entirely sure that is a good thing.”
“It is.” Milo reached for my hand.
Wow! This one sounds great!

Available from: (only $.99!)

About the Author

Nicole Sobon is the
author of the Emile Reed Chronicles, Capture, No Place Like Home, and various
short stories.

***Author
Links***

***GIVEAWAY***

2 signed copies of Submerged in paperback
plus swag (Program 13 and Deprogrammed bookmarks) (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz
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SIA is Unforgettable–Review and Giveaway!

Hi there and welcome to my stop on the SIA Blog Tour sponsored by YA Bound Book Tours. For other stops on the tour click here. Today’s book on review is a YA romance by debut author Josh Greyson and it’s a good one!

Summary from Goodreads:
When seventeen-year-old Sia wakes up on a park bench, she has no idea who or where she is. Yet after a week of being homeless, she’s reunited with her family. At school, she’s powerful and popular. At home, she’s wealthy beyond her dreams. But she quickly realizes her perfect life is a lie. Her family is falling apart and her friends are snobby, cruel and plastic. Worse yet, she discovers she was the cruelest one. Mortified by her past, she embarks on a journey of redemption and falls for Kyle, the “geek” she once tormented. Yet all the time she wonders if, when her memories return, she’ll become the bully she was before…and if she’ll lose Kyle.

My Review:
This YA adventure is fast-paced and captivating. Sia comes to awareness in a park wearing nothing but a hot-pink bra top and running shorts and her gym shoes. She has an iPod, no ID, no money, and no idea who (or where) she is. For the next eight days her life is all about survival. After being propositioned by many and nearly kidnapped by a pimp, Sia is cared for by Carol, a homeless woman who helps as best she can.

Through her friendship with Carol, Sia learns the skills she needs to survive on the streets. They sleep under bridges and make the rounds of soup kitchens, aiming to find day work to make a little cash. One morning, a boy from her high school sees Sia in line at the soup kitchen and accuses her of pranking everyone. Scared, Sia flees the shelter and is hit by a car. When she wakes in the hospital, the doctors recognize Sia’s condition–dissociative fugue–a rare type of temporary amnesia that has wiped out all of Sia’s memories.

Her parents come to claim her and she’s unsettled and mystified, but she’s apparently very wealthy. Resuming her old life, Sia learns she was the high school mean girl: beautiful and nasty wrapped in a designer label. The new Sia can’t reconcile the way she now feels with the person she used to be. Her friends and boyfriend are stunned by her new sensitivity, and really don’t want to accept this tidal wave of social change, so Sia helps them out. By moving on. She tries to strike up new friendships, with mixed success, and is certain that there’s something about Kyle that she really likes. He’s the boy from the shelter. The one who smells like his parents’ bakery. The one who volunteers his time helping the homeless and recent earthquake victims.

For the new Sia, this world where a thin veneer of “perfection” overlays her father’s dismal financial state and her mother’s alcoholism, is something she can strive to overcome. A world she can make better. This is Sia’s “Do Over” and she makes the most of it. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and read it in one sitting. It’s YA, but will appeal to upper MG grade readers and adults who love a good YA redemption tale.

Interested? You can find SIA at Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Kobo.

What others think about SIA…
“A compelling read full of intrigue, romance, and lots of surprises. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next!” – Jennifer Read Hawthorne, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“There have been very few books that made me think they made to someday become a movie (i.e. Warm Bodies, The Host). And I guess Sia can join the club, because this book, I say, is perfect for it. I felt like I was reading a script for a movie, the plot is fantastic and the characters are great, there’s a little of humor as well as tragic situations.” -Bookish Randomness—I agree! The book read like a screenplay–V

“Well I finished this book amazingly fast. This whole book will leave you amused, intrigued, in awe, and most importantly in love with the whole story line until the very last word. I’ll have to go with 5 stars for this book.” – Lovely Reads

“Beautifully written…this one will have you reflecting on your current and past actions. Although a fiction, Sia inspires.” –A Starry-eyed Heart Review

About the Author
Josh Grayson was born in Mexico, raised in Massachusetts, and now lives in Martinsville, Virginia. It was his move to the South that stirred his imagination and gave him the courage to start writing. During his free time, Josh enjoys reading, jogging, swimming, and watching YouTube videos.

Josh currently works as a medical driver, shuttling people all over Virginia and North Carolina. He has also worked as a machinist, film sales rep, administrative assistant, and telemarketer (he apologizes if he called you). You can catch up with Josh on his website, Goodreads, Facebook, and twitter.

Sia is his debut YA novel.

***GIVEAWAY***

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win:

5 print copies of SIA (US only)

5 ebooks copies of SIA (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Best of luck and, as always, keep reading my friends!

CLAN–Book Blitz and Giveaway!

Clan
by Realm Lovejoy
Release Date: 11/12/13
Summary from Goodreads:
Clans are Unity.
No variation. No deviation.
On Clades, to be a Clan is to be an exact copy.
A perfect society cloning themselves to survive, even as the zombielike Frags threaten to overrun them on an unforgiving planet.
Clan 1672 (privately known as Twain) was never supposed to survive the Incubation Tank.
But he did. Illegally.
He is different from the other Clans.
A secret that could destroy him.

How about a little tease?
The fetuses all faced the same way. The glass curved and magnified them until every trickle of vein was visible.
“Clans, do not tap on the glass, as you may disturb your fetus Brethren.”
Luge continued forward in the dark tunnel toward the large monitor embedded in the wall. It was blue and various data splashed across it—numbers, graphs.
Twain lagged behind the outermost edge of the group until he could barely see Luge. The bubbling blue fluid in the cases around him had a saltwater smell. Though most probably did not notice, Twain knew the scent too well. Whenever he had his nausea episode, he had to soak in a vat of Incubation Fluid—regenerative for cells, his sponsor had said. It was lukewarm and had a musty salt smell, like blood. Just remembering the fluid provoked nausea.
Twain rubbed his head and stared at the ground, blinking rapidly and chewing his lip. His vision dimmed as the bitter taste in his mouth brought him back to reality. Please don’t get sick…
“I think he looked at us,” someone whispered with childlike wonder. 1249’s nose was almost touching the glass capsule. The light put a halo around his slightly rumpled hair. He wasn’t chewing his gum today, but he still had the sugary scent on him.
“His eyes are closed,” Twain said. “They just look open because his eyelids are transparent.”
1249’s eyes caught the blue light when he turned away from the fetus. “In which case, he sees through them…”
“Sure.” Twain looked back to the floor and took a large gulp of air. Nausea crawled through his stomach.
“Are you all right?”
Twain looked up. “What?”
“I asked if you were all right.”
Twain noted that 1249 said “I.” Only Father Krume and the First-Batchers were allowed to say that. Was he trying to act like the leaders of Clan?
“Why would you ask something like that?”
“You look ill.”
Twain tried to rectify his posture as he turned his face away. 1249 is strange.
“You have a bruise on your face,” 1249 continued.
Twain grimaced. “You can see it?”
“How can I not?”
“We thought… nobody noticed.” Twain’s eyes darted over to 1348 who was standing among the cluster of students up ahead.
“You afraid of him?” 1249 whispered.
“Afraid? I…” Twain started, but the word “I” hung in the sticky air.
Slowly, 1249’s mouth curved into a smile.
Twain backed away.
“My name is Buster,” 1249 said.

Kinda like high school, huh? 🙂
In all seriousness, the book sounds great and I can’t wait to read it…

Kirkus Reviews: “In this fast-paced novel, Lovejoy uses economical prose while developing the story’s characters and setting in detail. She also meets the challenge of creating memorable characters in a world of identical people…” (Read
more here!)

Available from:

About the Author
Realm Lovejoy is a writer and an artist. She was raised in Washington State and the alps of Nagano, Japan. Her father is a Japanese ex-monk and her mother an English teacher from Rhode Island. Her art is influenced by both the East and the West.
Realm aspires to tell stories through her writing and art.
She is agented by Jessica Regel. Her upcoming YA sci-fi novel is titled CLAN, is newly released.
Author Links:

***GIVEAWAY***

1 Signed Paperback + CLAN Button + Signed Illustration from Paperback (6×8) (US only)

6 Paperbacks of CLAN (US only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz
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Reviews, Rants and Rambles from a mom and pre-published author

YA Adventure

Fall For THIRD DAUGHTER–Review and Giveaway

Mindreading? DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!–A Review

MY DATE FROM HELL–Epic Review and Giveaway

THIRD DAUGHTER–Book Blast, Review and Giveaway!!

The Gryphon Series by Stacey Rourke–Reviews and Giveaway!

CLAN is Phenomenal–Review and Giveaway

Swooning for THIRD DAUGHTER!!–A Review and Giveaway

SUBMERGED–Book Blitz and Giveaway

SIA is Unforgettable–Review and Giveaway!

CLAN–Book Blitz and Giveaway!