THE GIRL AND THE RAVEN–A Review

Being sixteen just got tougher…

In THE GIRL AND THE RAVEN, a newly released YA paranormal romance by Pauline Gruber, we got a whole lotta supernatural going on.

The Girl and the Raven Soon-to-be-sixteen year old Lucy Walker is an orphan. Her mother just OD’ed on heroin and she never knew her daddy. Lucy also harbors a strange power–the ability to shoot fire from her hands when she gets angry. Now she’s leaving the trailer park in Tennessee to live with her uncles in Chicago.

She is befriended by the neighbors, a broody yet handsome boy named Marcus and her late grandmother’s BFF Persephone. Learning that her grandmother had been a witch and Lucy is supposed to inherit her powers is quite the curveball. And, what is up with Marcus? Boys never gave her the time of day back in Tennessee, yet he seems almost fixated on Lucy, and her safety.

It soon becomes clear that Lucy’s father isn’t as anonymous as she had believed. In fact, her father has known about her from the start, but he walked away from her pregnant mother and Lucy paid the price of her scorned heart. Of course, that’s probably standard operating procedure when you are a demon… Lucy’s frustrated that she was abandoned to a nightmare life due to his callousness, and refuses all Daddy’s overtures to make amends.

Demons seem to be in abundance in the big city, because there are two who regularly invade Lucy’s room, seeking what? She has no idea. But it can’t be good, right?

As the new girl in town, Lucy expects to struggle. But, not this much. She strives to make choices that will keep her safe and help her to feel normal–so she takes on a summer job babysitting the younger half-brother and sister of her school’s most eligible football player, Dylan. He’s the typical rich kid girls fall all over, and her friends are no exception. Except Dylan starts having crazed dreams and visions–just like Lucy’s mother had–followed by seizures.

Lucy’s sure her demon dad is behind the whole mess, so she takes him head-on, offering to accept his persistent attempts at a relationship, if he’ll release his destructive influence on Dylan. Naturally, Demon Dad has seven aces up his sleeve and Lucy’s so outmatched she can’t see the danger until it’s in her face. Good thing Marcus is more than just a friend–or a boy. His own supernatural powers come in handy when Lucy’s poisoned. And flung off a roof and nearly killed. Twice.

Man, that Marcus has his work cut out for him, keeping Lucy from a pine box fate!

The action in this story is pretty intense. There are so many characters–and the point-of-view switches between characters in several chapters–I had the teeniest trouble keeping up. Particularly with all the shapeshifting. Lucy is a strong character. Almost too strong. She’s so determined to take care of herself, that she jumps into problems she would have avoided–by simply asking for help. I wished she would have been less stubborn, though she takes her bizarre heritage in without even a qualm, which surprised me. I’d have been more than freaked learning that I was half-witch, half-demon. For all the witchiness in her lineage, Lucy doesn’t actually learn any witchcraft, or practice it, in this book. We do see a good deal of her demon-side however. I suppose the rest waits for Book Two. The story ends in a quiet place–no cliffhanger–but sets the stage for further books.

Interested? You can find the THE GIRL AND THE RAVEN at Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

If you happen to pick it up, come back and tell me what you thought!

And, remember to keep reading my friends.

Cover Reveal and GIVEAWAY! SON OF SET by Kelsey Ketch

Son of Set (Descendants of Isis #2)

by Kelsey Ketch

Release Date: 5/02/14

Summary from Goodreads:
“. . . the Sons would
never just let him go—alive.”

Seth O’Keefe has broken the laws of his god. He never thought he would
sacrifice his own future to protect a Daughter of Isis. But when the Sons of
Set discovered Natti is the Secret Keeper, he had no choice. Now, Seth and
Natti are on the run from his father, who wants nothing more than to see Seth
dead. With no allies, Seth turns to the Daughters of Isis for help, hoping they
would protect Natti. But when they meet the Daughters, he discovers a secret
that puts both their lives in more danger. Low on options, Seth sees only one
possibility for survival. He must help Natti solve an ancient puzzle and find
the secret name of Ra.

Natara “Natti” Stone is having a hard time swallowing the truth. She can’t
believe what she has learned in the past twenty-four hours: Seth is a Son of
Set blessed with charm; she is a Daughter of Isis blessed with a sliver of Ma
‘at; the locket her grandmother gave her holds an ancient Egyptian secret
linking to Osiris and Isis. That along with being tortured and brutalized by
the Sons of Set, she can hardly hold herself together. Thank God for Seth’s
touch! That warm, tingling sensation that drowns it all out. Yet her heart
struggles to stay focused. She must quickly embrace her destiny before the
secret name of Ra falls into the wrong hands.

*Note: Content for Upper YA*

Book One:

(cover linked from Goodreads)

Available from:

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photo 111AD205-AA04-4F9E-A0F4-C1264C4E9F30-1855-000001A1E8CEB6D7_zps9b730b94.jpg

About the Author

During her high school years, Kelsey Ketch could always be found tucked away in a little corner of the hall or classroom, writing her fantasy worlds and creating illustrations and maps. Today is no different, except now she’s writing in the break room at her office building or at the tables of the Barnes and Noble Café in Cary, North Carolina. She is also an avid reader, a part-time book blogger at Ketch’s Book Nook, and lives with her two orange tabbies and awesome and humorous flat-mate.Daughter of Isis is her debut novel.
For more information, please visit her site at kelseyketch.com.

***Author Links***

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GIVEAWAY

Two prize packs, each
containing a silver ankh pendant with seven knot anklet, Son of Set e-reader
bling, 3 bookmarks, 2 temporary tattoos, 2 character collectable
cards, and 2 wristbands (INT).
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal Organized by:

In Love With ONE MAN GUY–A Review

I was trolling NetGalley this week–looking for the fun, the new, the different–when I came across this Contemporary YA M/M romance from debut novelist Michael Barakiva. It takes teen angst to a whole new, humorous, educational level…

One Man Guy Fourteen year old Armenian-American Aleksander is weeks away from the end of his freshman year. For him, summer is all about tennis camp and a family trip to Niagara Falls and hanging with his BFF, Becky, and he can’t wait.

Oh, the cruel whims of parents!

It seems that Alek is doing okay in his classes, but not nearly good enough to remain in the Honors track–unless he retakes English and Algebra in summer school. So, those plans of summer fun and tennis? POOF!

And Alek is downright salty* over it. (*in this context ‘salty’ means rude and angry, or so my teen son tells me…)

But, honor his parents’ wishes he does, because being Armenian means, well, I guess it means doing more. Alex’s parents definitely lay a guilt trip so thick a water buffalo might drown in it. See, Alek’s family is very tight-knit. He wants to assert his independence, but he’s smothered by his folks, unable to even pick out his own clothing. So he doesn’t stand a chance of avoiding summer school if that’s what his parents demand.

While at summer school Alek meets the notorious skater-boy, rabble-rousing, food-fight-starting Ethan Novick, a junior. Ethan is the embodiment of rebellious teen in Alek’s admiring eyes. He’s not sure why Ethan draws his attention, but Alek cannot seem to get him out of his thoughts. Confessing to Becky, Alek learns she harbors a secret crush for Alek creating a bit of discomfort.

On the way to school one morning, Alek and Ethan meet at the NYC-bound train stop, and Ethan drags Alek off to The City for a daylong hooky adventure, the like of which Alek has dreamed of but never had. He and Ethan bond until Ethan uses the F-word: Faggot. Alek isn’t gay, but he’s thoroughly offended and stands up to Ethan over it–at least until Ethan explains why it’s A-Okay for him to use that particular slur–Ethan’s gay.

Alek is stunned, but still friendly. In fact, to make up for his mistake he creates a gift that wins Ethan completely over, and Alek begins to realize why Ethan is such a big focus in his mind…attraction. But, he struggles with this new wrinkle in his identity. Alek’s had a couple girlfriends before, after all. And he never felt attracted to boys–Ethan excepted. When they actually kiss, Alek is blown away by the rightness of his feelings, the overwhelming rush of desire.

This relationship must stay on the down-low, however, because Alek is certain his Orthodox Armenian parents will never accept a gay child. Good thing their vacation is looming. Family friends convince Alek’s parents to leave him unattended while they travel–a point Alek had argued for–and now he has an empty home and a curious boyfriend. They skip school again for another NYC visit and Alek indulges in his freedom, getting a new haircut and updating his wardrobe from the geek-chic clothes his mother buys.

Do I need to tell you that Alek’s parents return home at an inopportune time? Yeah. Drama.

But the end is a super HEA that satisfies. I adored this book for its humor, and its cultural grounding. I really learned a lot about Armenian culture (and food!) and history that, lamented often by the Armenian characters, is largely denied and forgotten except by those within the Armenian community. Observing Alek accept his sexuality was refreshing. His wit and observations had me in stitches, even if I’m one of those Americans! Becky and Ethan are solid supporting characters, and Alek’s over-involved parents are real people, not cardboard caricatures. They really shine in their love and sincerity.

Overall, the book is meant for teen readers and I’d highly recommend it. There are brief encounters between Alek and Ethan that amount to some heavy make-outs, but nothing more. Having no knowledge of Armenian culture and life, I was pleased to recognize some similarities to the Jewish experiences with which I am familiar. I think any reader could relate to Alek’s family and their quirks. Well, unless you are Turkish. There seems to be a decidedly anti-Turk sentiment within the Armenian community represented here–and its historical significance is fully described within the book.

The author, Michael Barakiva, has really injected a lot of history into the novel without making it preachy. In fact, his deft hand actually calls into question the validity of holding onto past prejudice as opposed to pursuing future happiness. As a result, uneasy truces are made that support moving forward with love and acceptance, even when a Turk is involved.

Interested? ONE MAN GUY will be out this May. You can find more info at Goodreads, and pre-order it via Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It’s a fantastic read! I received an advanced review copy of this book via NetGalley.

Thanks for popping by, and keep reading my friends!

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
$25 either in a Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash (Ends 3/24/14)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck, and keep reading my friends!

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

***GIVEAWAY***
Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win an
eBook three pack of My Ex From Hell, My Date From Hell and A Date of Godlike Proportions
(mobi or epub only, open internationally)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

RULES AND RESTRICTIONS: Contest is void where prohibited. 
Entrants must be 13 or else have parent or guardian’s 
permission to enter. Winners will be notified via email 
and will have 48 hours to respond  or another winner’s 
name will be selected. Winning entries will be verified 
for authenticity.

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

Cover Reveal! EASTLAND by Marian Cheatham

Eastland

by Marian Cheatham

Coming 2/14/14

Would you risk your life for just one day of freedom?

Book Summary:
For hardworking teen, Dee Pageau, the annual employee picnic will let her escape the drudgery of work and possibly find love with her best friend Mae’s older brother, Karel. But in 1915 Chicago,
girls don’t go on picnics without their mother’s approval.

Unfortunately for Dee, Mama has had a premonition of disaster and forbids Dee from going. Forced
to watch as Mae and Karel leave without her, Dee defies Mama and rushes off to join her friends.

But Dee’s joy soon turns to terror when the ship ferrying them to the picnic capsizes. Rescued not once, but twice, by Karel and a mysterious sailor, Dee finds herself tested in unimaginable ways. What happens next turns out to be worse … and better … than anything Dee ever expected.

About the Author:
Marian Cheatham lives in a suburb of Chicago with her family and their menagerie of pets. A graduate of Northern Illinois University, Marian taught Special Education for many years before becoming a full-time writer.

Catch up with Marian on her blog, Goodreads and Facebook.

I’ll be blogging a review for this book later in the month, so stay tuned! 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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Cover Reveal–FINDING Mr. DARCY: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION

Finding Mr. Darcy: High School Edition

by Erin Butler

Coming: 09/16/14

Summary from Goodreads:
Sixteen-year-old Liza Johnson takes fangirl to a whole new level of crazy when she decides to take dating advice from her literary hero: Jane Austen.

With the help of her best friends, Liza sheds her ancient-speak and complete Austen wardrobe for something a bit more modern in an attempt at finding her very own Mr. Darcy.

Enter Will, the new kid and Liza’s Darcy incarnate. Add her BFF’s ex to mix and the sexy Brit who kisses with an accent, and Liza is in trouble.

So, what’s a girl to do? Without her mom to go to relationship advice, Liza turns to the only person she can truly trust with matters of the heart via her mother’s copy of COMPLETED WORKS OF JANE AUSTEN.

It’s too bad Austen’s heroines have never played Spin the Bottle or Seven Minutes in Heaven. Liza’s determined to find her true Austen-esque happy ending, but if she can’t trust herself instead of books, she just might end up in her own tragic love story.

WOW! I love the idea of this book! I’m a total sucker for Jane Austen, too, and who doesn’t swoon for a young Brit love interest? Can’t wait to check this one out… 🙂

About the Author

Erin Butler is lucky enough to have two jobs she truly loves. As a librarian, she gets to work with books all day long, and as an author, Erin uses her active imagination to write the kinds of books she enjoys reading. Young Adult and New Adult books are her favorites, but she especially loves the ones with kissing scenes.

Erin lives in Central New York with her very understanding husband, a stepson, and doggie BFF, Maxie. She prefers to spend her time indoors reading and writing, but will venture out for chocolate and sunshine. She is the author of BLOOD HEX, a YA paranormal, HOW WE LIVED, a contemporary New Adult novel, and FINDING MR. DARCY: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION, a contemporary YA.

Author Links:

Cover Reveal Organized by:

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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V's Reads…

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

YA Romance

THE GIRL AND THE RAVEN–A Review

Cover Reveal and GIVEAWAY! SON OF SET by Kelsey Ketch

In Love With ONE MAN GUY–A Review

Fall For THIRD DAUGHTER–Review and Giveaway

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

MY DATE FROM HELL–Epic Review and Giveaway

Cover Reveal! EASTLAND by Marian Cheatham

Eastland

by Marian Cheatham

Coming 2/14/14

Would you risk your life for just one day of freedom?

THIRD DAUGHTER–Book Blast, Review and Giveaway!!

Cover Reveal–FINDING Mr. DARCY: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION

The Gryphon Series by Stacey Rourke–Reviews and Giveaway!