Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Day After Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway



Day After (The 19th Year #2)
Author: Emi Gayle
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Release Date: May 6, 2013
Publisher: J. Taylor Publishing

Description:

Demon crypts. Vampire lairs. Glowing angels. Sexy sirens. The stuff of fiction.

Or so Winn Thomas always thought.

Since being accepted into the fold of the supernatural, he knows better. None of what he imagined is true, but everything he feared is, and binding himself to his Changeling girlfriend until her nineteenth birthday will give him an education far beyond what he’d get at his human high school.

Luckily, Winn’s not giving up, he won’t back down, and he definitely isn’t going to run away with his tail between his legs. After all, only werewolves have tails. Right?

In this, the second of the 19th Year trilogy, Winn’s facing the challenge of one lifetime. If he doesn’t learn the truth about mythological creatures, his girlfriend Mac Thorne won’t either. That means, in six months, when she chooses her final form, she won’t know what to pick.

Winn, though, has his own ideas about Mac’s final selection—plans she knows nothing of.

He intends to have her pick human.

Whether she can or not.
  




Demon crypts. Vampire lairs. Glowing angels. Sexy sirens. The stuff of fiction.

Or so Winn Thomas always thought.

Since being accepted into the fold of the supernatural, he knows better. None of what he imagined is true, but everything he feared is, and binding himself to his Changeling girlfriend until her nineteenth birthday will give him an education far beyond what he'd get at his human high school.

Luckily, Winn's not giving up, he won't back down, and he definitely isn't going to run away with his tail between his legs. After all, only werewolves have tails. Right?

In this, the second of the 19th Year trilogy, Winn's facing the challenge of one lifetime. If he doesn't learn the truth about mythological creatures, his girlfriend Mac Thorne won't either. That means, in six months, when she chooses her final form, she won't know what to pick.

Winn, though, has his own ideas about Mac's final selection; plans she knows nothing of.

He intends to have her pick human.

Whether she can or not.
Sitting in front of the twelve most powerful non-humans on the earth would have shaken a lesser guy. In my case, I'd almost thrown up. Twice.

"Don't worry," Mackenzie Thorne, my girlfriend, had said. "It's just a formality."

She hadn't known I'd have to go alone.

Only the intake and exhalation of air in the room made any sound. Eerie light flickered from the tips of candles mounted along dark, oak-paneled walls.

I refused to look anywhere but ahead of me. To the long, wooden, medieval-length table.

Waiting.

Watching.

Holding my own breath.

For a moment, it seemed the walls began to close in on me.

At almost midnight on the first day of the year, I prepared to accept a fate no other human had ever taken on, been given or even offered. In response, sweat pooled under my armpits as alternating cold and hot ran through me.

The scratch of wood against wood had heads turning. Mine included.

Nahir, the oldest of the twelve, rose from his chair. "Winford Richmond Thomas, please rise." His voice had a gravelly, hoarse sound.

I did as requested, my knees pressing against each other.

Nahir moved closer to me, his grandfatherly, human form disappearing under protruding scales of deep green. His arms lengthened into dinosaur-like paws and hit the rock floor, making the room around us shake. Thick wings extended from his body, and a tail lashed out against the wall behind him, rattling the candles.

A dragon, in the color of tropical ocean water, stood before me, huffing air from horse-sized nostrils.

Oh. God. I'm going to die.

Not going to die. It's part of the test. Remember, you have to see them all. Mac's words flowed through my mind.

Keep breathing.

"Master Thomas." Josie, a siren and one of the most beautiful women I'd ever met, rose, her long flowing gown matching the color of her reddish-gold hair. I couldn't help but stare at her. "You've been asked by our current changeling, Miss Maya Mackenzie Thorne, to be her teacher. Have you willingly agreed to take on this duty?" As Josie talked, she stalked forward, shimmering, shifting, the already-pretty woman becoming deadly man-hunting female - according to the legends I'd read.

Vibes ebbed from her like the rocking tide. If she sang, throwing up would be the least of my worries. I'd be dead by sexual self-implosion.

With a rough cough, I gathered my wits. "Yes. I have accepted. Willingly." Every nerve ending in my body urged me to go to Josie, to let her take me and do with me whatever she wanted. A groan built in my throat, tension straining my limbs, most particularly, my crotch. Not now! The need to shift what grew sent heat to my cheeks even as Mac's words played through again. Force yourself not to react to any of them. They'll think you're stronger than you are since you're only human.

Only human. Problem number one.


Day After is the second book in a fantastic young adult paranormal romance series that switches gears to follow the new main character Winn Thomas as he deals with his newfound knowledge of the supernatural world that simmers below the human realm. Alongside his girlfriend, Mac, Winn must learn all he can about mythological creatures so Mac can decide on her final form in six months. If Winn doesn't learn about them, Mac won't either, and she won't be able to make a decision. Winn has a secret card up his sleeve about Mac's final form - one that even she doesn't know about yet. He plans on having her choose a human final form, whether it's possible or not. Will he be able to convince her in time?

This is a fun and unique second book that continues to prove to be an addicting paranormal series. The character of Mac is witty, sarcastic, and very accessible to the reader. She's realistic and believable, which makes it easy to side with her throughout the novel. I really enjoyed the backstory and details of the Changelings and the other paranormal beings, as well as their culture and politics. It gave an intriguing depth to the book that definitely sets it apart from others in the genre. Winn is the narrator in this installment, which makes things interesting - seeing the supernatural world through his eyes and mind gives fresh insight into the world the author has built and the other characters in the series - including Mac. The plot itself was very well written with a great flow and a fast pace. I got sucked into the story on the first page and didn't stop reading until I was finished. There's something for everyone in this book - paranormal, action, mystery, adventure, and romance. Overall, this second installment proves that this series is one that I highly recommend and one that you won't want to miss!

Emi Gayle just wants to be young again. She lives vicariously through her youthful characters, while simultaneously acting as chief-Mom to her teenaged son and searching for a way to keep her two daughters from ever reaching the dreaded teen years.

Ironically, those years were some of Emi's favorite times. She met the man of her dreams at 14, was engaged to him at 19, married him at 20 and she's still in love with him to this day. She'll never forget what it was like to fall in love at such a young age — emotions she wants everyone to feel.


http://www.emigayle.com  


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Book Blitz & Giveaway: Trophy Husband by Lauren Blakely



Trophy Husband
Author: Lauren Blakely
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance (the author describes it as mid-20s Sex and the City vibe)
Release Date: May 21, 2013

Buy Links:

Description:

Sometimes you can't help falling in love, even when you try to do the opposite...Successful fashion blogger McKenna Bell has spent far too long protecting herself after the way her ex-fiancĂ© left her at the altar for a college chick he met the night of his bachelor party. Loving again, trusting again, well, that's just not in the cards. Especially now that her ex is back in town with his new woman, demanding custody of McKenna's favorite creature in the whole world--her dog. No effing way. McKenna's had enough of him, and she decides to even the score by finding her own hot young thing -- a Trophy Husband. Sure, she's only twenty-seven, but doesn't that make it even more fun -- and infuriating to her ex -- to pursue a younger man? When she declares her intentions on her daily blog, her quest quickly skyrockets in popularity, and that's when Chris enters the picture, and he’s got all the assets. He's handsome, successful, and turns her inside out with a kiss to end all kisses, the kind that makes you feel like a shooting star. But loving again could mean losing again, and it's so much easier to focus on getting even, isn't it? Unless, you just can't help falling in love. Which means McKenna will have to come face to face with what she really wants in life -- protecting her heart from hurt, or letting go of her fears of a new beginning.  

My timing is impeccable.
    I do not want to miss a chance to see Chris walk across the sand, so there’s no reason for me to be on time when I can be early.
    I park on Taraval Street along Ocean Beach, get out of my car, and wait. I try my best to look busy, fiddling with my phone, and checking compartments in my purse, but when Chris appears on the horizon, surfboard in hand, wet suit tucked under his arm, I freeze.
    And then I blush, remembering what he did to me in my mere imagination yesterday. I’m sure he’ll be able to tell, to read it in my eyes. I really should pretend I’m not watching him. But it’s impossible not to. I didn’t look away during that scene in Casino Royale either when Daniel Craig emerged from the water. He wears board shorts, low on his hips, and a pair of flip flops. I watch him as he walks through the sand, closer, closer and there, now I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I would like to lick all those water droplets off his chest and his abs and then run a hand down his body to sear into my memory the feel of that kind of firm outline.
    He’s lickable. He’s kissable. He’s chat-up-able. He’s precisely the type of guy a girl can fall into some kind of crazy crush for. He catches my gaze, and I should be embarrassed, I should act as if I’m not staring, but there’s this fluttery feeling inside me, and I want to hold onto it, especially because he’s looking at me and not letting go either. Those green eyes of his are the definition of dreamy, and if I were a writer, I’d find a way to pen a song about them, how they draw me in, romance me, entice me.
    Soon, he’s mere feet from me, scratched-up surfboard by his side, in all his glistening, ocean-ed up glory. Neither one of us says anything for a few seconds, and it’s the kind of silence that’s filled with unsaid things.
    With wishes, with hopes.
    Mine at least.
    “Hey.”
    “Hi.”
    “Thanks for meeting me here,” he says, as a wet shock of hair falls across his forehead. He pushes it back.
    “Thanks for being a surfer,” I say, then I want to kick myself for sounding so goggly-eyed.
    He flashes me a grin and walks to his car, a sporty red car that I recognize as being one of the newest hybrids. He stows the wetsuit in the trunk, then slides the board into the rack on the roof, stretching his arms to lock the board in place. I picture myself slinking into the narrow space between Chris and the car, the look of surprise on his face, then wicked delight, as he closes the gap between our bodies. He’s warm and wet from surfing and sun, and I’m warm and wet from him, and I imagine him lazily tracing a finger down my arm, enjoying the way the slightest touch sets me ablaze. I’d shift closer, my hips inviting him to become a puzzle piece that locks into place with me.
    I force myself to shutter those images, because they have no bearing to reality.
    He opens the passenger door, reaches inside and hands me a bag with the camera in it.
    “Good as new,” he says.
    “How did you fix it?”
    “I can’t give away all my secrets now, can I?”
    I smile. “I suppose not.”
    “But maybe you’d be willing to tell me your last name now that I’ve fixed your camera.”
    Another smile. Another nervous laugh. “McKenna. McKenna Bell.”
    “Well, thank you for letting me fix the camera your friend’s cat peed on, McKenna Bell.”
    “Maybe if I’m lucky, the cat will pee on my router next.”
     He smiles, then runs a hand through his wet hair. There’s something so effortless about the way he moves, so natural, that I don’t even think he’s aware of the effect he has on women.
    Of the effect he has on me. I want to run my hands down his chiseled chest, exploring the lines between his muscles, the way his stomach is outlined so firmly. I want to know what those arms feel like wrapped around me, pulling me in close. I want his hands on my hips as he teases me and taunts me with sweet kisses on my cheeks, my eyelids, my forehead. Then his tongue flicks across my earlobe, and I gasp with pleasure. He pulls back, a satisfied little grin on his face before he returns to my neck, burning up my skin in an instant with those lips that were made to mark my body.

Lauren Blakely is an unabashed fan of clever jokes, toast, and good guys in novels. Like the heroine in CAUGHT UP IN US, she thinks life should be filled with movie kisses and coffee drinks. Lauren lives in California with her husband and children, and spends her days writing both true stories and make-believe ones.

Links:
Website: http://www.laurenblakely.com/
Blog: http://laurenblakelybooks.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/LaurenBlakely3
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenBlakelyBooks
Lauren Blakely Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6860216.Lauren_Blakely  


Giveaway: One Charm Bracelet + a signed copy (US/Can)
 
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Book Blitz & Giveaway: Surface by Tiffany Daune



Surface (Surface #1)
Author: Tiffany Daune
Genre: YA Paranormal/ Fantasy
Release Date: February 2013

Buy Links: Amazon

Description:

Bound to the water bound to land, a Siren’s soul will never be safe on either side of the ocean’s surface. Hidden beneath the rolling waves lies the secret to Theia’s past and as she unveils each haunting truth, she realizes the last seventeen years of her life have been a lie. Now, drawn into a mysterious new world and with nowhere to turn, Theia must place her trust in Luc, a beautiful boy who stops her heart with each dazzling smile, but even his unearthly charm can’t hide the truth—he has secrets— dark secrets binding him to his world—an underwater world where Theia will never belong—a world determined to destroy her soul. 


Watch the Trailer:

 

Tears streamed down the girl's cheeks. She pounded her knees into Dumas's back, struggling to free herself. Dumas reached for his bag, yanking it closer, and pulled out a black hood. Cradling her neck, he slipped the hood over her head. She tried once more to jab him in the back with her knee, but, as the hood enveloped her face, she gave in to the darkness surrounding her, and her body fell limp.
Dumas turned to Oliver, but the boy was bent over, his chest heaving for air. Dumas shook his head, his lips pursed. He didn't have time for this right now. He needed to get the girl out of the house. With one arm, he dragged the girl to her feet and guided her down the hall while Oliver stumbled behind them like a newly resurrected zombie.
Downstairs, Dumas found Fiona pacing the kitchen, her black soles scuffing the tiled floors.
"What happened up there?" Fiona's gaze shifted to Oliver. "What's wrong with him?"
Dumas handed the girl to Fiona. "Take her to the van."
He tossed the keys to Oliver who grabbed them. Facing Dumas with hollow eyes, he awaited further instructions.
Dumas sighed. "Follow Fiona. You can hold the girl in the back of the van."
Oliver ran after Fiona, his feet shuffling through the fallen leaves. Dumas rolled his eyes—next time, he would leave Oliver behind.
Dumas knelt to wipe the floor clean. A little dirt wouldn't matter when he had already created such a big mess, but the simple action grounded his thoughts. He stood up, resting his gaze on the collection of photos pinned to the refrigerator, a museum of shared memories. A small picture of the girl's mother standing beside a handsome young man with golden hair and piercing sea green eyes stared back at him. The man's gaze haunted Dumas, filling him with unwanted memories, too painful to remember, and forcing him to look away.
Dumas sighed as he removed a crumpled envelope from his pocket. He held the letter tight for a moment before placing it on the table. He traced the scrawled name with his finger—Sophia. He hated leaving her this letter. She had already lost so much. Dumas hoped she would understand, but already he was pulling at stitches—opening a wound so deep nothing could stanch the bleeding. With a heavy heart, he closed the door and headed into the emptiness of the night.

Tiffany Daune doesn't get why people want to grow up or why anyone would ever stop eating candy. Her purse is filled with books, lip gloss and a few pieces of Lego bricks. She writes best with a dish of chocolate chips on hand and finds licorice makes a better straw than plastic.

She lives on an island and believes mermaids may be raiding her candy stash, thoughshe hasn't caught them, yet.

Surface is her first novel and pairs well with gummy sharks.

Author Links:
Website: http://www.tiffanydaune.com/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6904400.Tiffany_Daune
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tiffany-Daune/395436080503637
Giveaway: (1) ebook copy of Surface - Open Internationally!

Grand Prize: (1) Sony eReader

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New Cover Reveal: Smash Into You by Shelly Crane

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Smash Into You
Author: Shelly Crane
Expected Release Date: Summer 2013
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
Cover Designed by: Okay Creations
Cover Reveal Organized by: AToMR Tours

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Description:
 
Jude has spent the whole twenty three years of his life running. From what, he wasn't quite sure. His mother tried to keep him safe; a low profile, a constant move on the horizon, a week's pay always stashed away. She tried to instill in him that he was special somehow, though would never elaborate. He never felt different. He was so completely normal and vanilla that he wondered if it had all been in her head. But then she was murdered and all he saw was a running silhouette of a man as his mother said three final words to him. Three words that changed his whole being. Never stop running… Now he's semi-settled into a big town. The college is huge and easy to blend into. It's been three months since he had to move because 'Biloxi', as he calls the man who killed his mother, found him once more. Then Marley, an eighteen year old girl who is as infuriating as she is blissfully ignorant of her gorgeousness, smashes into his car with hers. Then smashes into his life as he realizes that whatever it is he has that Biloxi wants, she has it, too. And now, they're after them both.    


 photo ShellyCrane_zps2d239d01.jpgShelly is a New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author from a small town in Georgia and loves everything about the south. She is wife to a fantastical husband and stay at home mom to two boisterous and mischievous boys who keep her on her toes. They currently reside in everywhere USA as they happily travel all over with her husband's job. She loves to spend time with her family, binge on candy corn, go out to eat at new restaurants, buy paperbacks at little bookstores, site see in the new areas they travel to, listen to music everywhere and also LOVES to read. Her own books happen by accident and she revels in the writing and imagination process. She doesn't go anywhere without her notepad for fear of an idea creeping up and not being able to write it down immediately, even in the middle of the night, where her best ideas are born.   




What do you think of the cover? Leave a comment!


 
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New Cover Reveal: Grounded by G.P. Ching



 

Grounded
Author: G.P. Ching
Genre: YA Paranormal/Science Fiction
Release Date: November 15, 2012
Cover Design by Steven Novak  

 
Description:

All my life I've worked to be simple, but I can't pretend anymore. Nothing about me is simple.

In the year 2050, a secret government study nicknamed Operation Source Code injects eight volunteers with a retrovirus. The goal? To abate the energy crisis by reprogramming human DNA to power personal electronic devices. The experiment works but with disastrous consequences.

Seventeen years later, Lydia Troyer is far from concerned with the energy crisis. Growing up in the isolated community of Hemlock Hollow, life hasn't changed much since 1698 when her Amish ancestors came to America. She milks her cow by hand, makes fresh bread every morning, and hopes to be courted by Jeremiah, the boy who's been her best friend since she could walk.

But when Lydia's father has a stroke and is taken to the outside world for medical treatment, Lydia and Jeremiah leave home to visit him. An ordinary light switch thrusts Lydia into a new world where energy is a coveted commodity and her own personal history makes her the most sought-after weapon on the planet. 



G.P Ching is the author of The Soulkeepers Series and variety of short fiction. She specializes in cross-genre paranormal stories, loves old cemeteries, and enjoys a good ghost tour. She lives in central Illinois with her husband, two children, and one very demanding guinea pig.

Author Links:
 What do you think of the cover? Leave a comment!








Release Day Launch & Giveaway: The Hazards of Skinny Dipping by Alyssa Rose Ivy



The Hazards of Skinny Dipping
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 21, 2013

Buy Links: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Description:

This isn't a deep book about first loves or self-discovery. If you want a book like that, I'd be happy to recommend one, but I don't have that kind of story to tell. Instead my story is about rash decisions and finding out that your dream guy is bad in bed. It's the story of when I finally went skinny dipping, and how my life was never the same again. Oh, and it's also the story of my freshman year of college and realizing Mr. Right might have been there all along.  


Alyssa Rose Ivy is a Young Adult and New Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand. 

Author Links:
Twitter
Website


 
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Monday, May 20, 2013

Release Event & Giveaway: The Do Over by A.L. Zaun

The Do Over
Author: A.L. Zaun
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 20, 2013
Event Organized by AToMR Tours 

Description:

Life doesn’t look like it’s supposed to for Dani Ruiz, a hopeless romantic. After a painful and sudden break-up with Rick Marin, Dani hides away from reality, retreating to a world of fiction where she prefers book boyfriends over the hassles of a relationship.

Almost two years later, Dani’s friends are tired of watching her in a holding pattern, so they stage an intervention, forcing her back into the real world of dating.

Unexpectedly, Dani meets Liam Lucas, a down-to-earth firefighter. He might be the person to show her she’s still worth something. Dani’s hesitant to trust her heart with another man, but their instant and electric chemistry is something she can’t deny.

As Dani starts to believe that she’s found her real-life book boyfriend, Rick decides that he’ll go to any lengths to get her back. Seeing Rick as a changed man makes Dani question everything.

Can Dani trust her patched-up heart with Liam?
Or has Rick transformed into the man she’s always wanted?

Told from various points of views, The Do Over is a story of second chances and new beginnings.



Watch the Book Trailer:


“What about my kiss?” She pouted with a hand on her hip.
My eyes were trained on her lips. They were begging for my attention, and I wanted to give it to them.
“Baby…” I took a deep breath. “If I kiss you now, I won’t be able to stop.”
I wanted her. There was no doubt about it. She drove me insane and turned me on. There was nothing more that I wanted than to be with her. From the moment I saw her until probably the day I took my last breath, my desire would burn for her.
She moved toward me with an exotic look in her eyes, almost like a tiger about to catch her prey. “I want my hello kiss.”
My girl liked playing with fire. Good thing that was my specialty.
“I warned you,” I said, keeping my eyes focused on hers.
I could feel my heart beating faster in my chest. I had to clear my head. I could just kiss her hello. I could do this. Although I couldn’t stop thinking about the other night, feeling her squirming under my touch, I reminded myself that she deserved our first time to be special.
Licking her lips, she smiled and let out a sexy laugh.
I was a goner.

  
 
A.L. Zaun graduated from Florida International University with a degree in English Literature a long time ago. A degree she didn’t use at all in her professional endeavors. She loves to read, write and take pictures. She walks around with her camera, and most importantly she has her e-reader available at all times. Healthcare Management by day, Mommy in the evening and most nights, you can find her sitting in front of her laptop with a bottle of Diet Pepsi, bringing the voices in her head to life on the pages of her debut novel, The Do Over. 
 
Author Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/alzaun01
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnaZ01
Blog: https://alzaun@blogspot.com
Giveaway: (1) ebook copy of THE DO OVER - Open Internationally!
  a Rafflecopter giveaway