January 31, 2015

All That Burns Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway



All That Burns (All That Glows #2)
by Ryan Graudin
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: February 10th 2015
Rating: 4.5 Stars

Synopsis:

In this thrilling sequel to All That Glows, the worlds of magic and mortal are colliding as London celebrates its new king, marking an era of unity between the Faery realm and the human one. Emrys, the Faery guard to the British royal family, sacrificed her powers to be with King Richard, choosing love over immortality. But now, as Emrys struggles to navigate her place between the Faery queen’s court and London’s lavish galas, danger looms beyond the Thames.When a prisoner with dark, strange magic breaks out of Queen Titania’s labyrinthine prison, endangering Emrys's king and sparking an uprising, Emrys must make the hardest decision of all.

Will she reclaim her magic to save Richard’s life and lose him forever? Or stay powerless as the kingdom goes down in flames?
All That Burns is the enchanting second book in a magnificent young adult paranormal/fantasy series. This book picks up where the last one ended - with Emrys having given up her immortality and magic to become human so she could be with Richard - the guy she loves. Emrys is still trying to adjust to her new life without magic and is finding that being mortal is harder than it seems. Richard and Emrys are also attempting to meld the human world with the Faery realm, so the two can live in peace and unity once again - like during the days of King Arthur. Emrys has the job being the ambassador for both the Faery Realm and the human world - traveling back and forth between the two constantly in an effort to make the fusion of the worlds a smooth transition. Emrys knows something is terribly wrong when Queen Titania orders her back to the realm immediately, even using a Kelpie as quick transportation. A prisoner has escaped the Queen's prison - something that has never happened before. Emrys is tasked with fining the escapee and bringing them back before any danger can happen to either world. She has her hands full when the prisoner gets dangerously close to the king and is trying to cause an uprising against him. Emrys is forced once again to make one of the hardest decisions in her life - will she reclaim her fae magic in order to save her beloved Richard - while losing him forever, or will she stay mortal and stand by as the kingdom collapses around them?

I loved the first book and I have to admit that I was a little worried that the second book was going to kill the series, as so many often do. But that's definitely not what happened in this case. I thought that this book was just as good as the first and only deepened my love for the series - and everything pertaining to it. Emrys continues to be a fantastic female lead. She's adjusting to her new life as a mortal and is doing a pretty good job, in my opinion. She's smart, strong, determined, and incredibly devoted - to both her fae roots and to the man she loves - King Richard. Emrys character grows a lot throughout the book and I enjoyed watching her making mistakes and learning from them, while growing more mature and wiser the entire time. She's faced with incredible difficult situations and decisions that most wouldn't even have to imagine in their lives, but she accepts her fate and does what she believes is the right thing and follows through with it. I loved watching Emrys and Richard's relationship grow too - some romance is always a good thing. 

The plot of the book was incredibly unique and complex. It has several layers that all intertwine to create a beautiful and thrilling novel. There's a bit of almost every genre mixed into the story - from fantasy and paranormal aspects to romance, action, and adventure - and even some mystery and suspense. I believe it will really appeal to fans of most genres because it's such an original story. The author's writing style was fantastic. The story was told at a natural pace from Emrys point of view - which makes it a quick and easy read due to the conversational tone of the writing. I always say this about books written in first person POV - I love it because it gives the reader the opportunity to really get to know and understand the main character. We literally get a peek inside their minds and learn their fears, desires, hopes, dreams, emotions - which leaves the reader feeling like they know the character on a personal level and can more easily identify with them throughout the book. That's definitely what happened with this novel and my experience - I was sucked into Emrys' world right from the beginning and I didn't come back out until the very last words. The author used a great amount of details and descriptions along with vivid imagery and distinct characters to create a world so real that I could easily imagine myself inside of it alongside Emrys and everyone else. The plot was a fantastic and original mixture of several concepts and genres, which gave it a sense of suspense and mystery - especially with the dangerous prisoner escaping from the queen's prison. I was reading as fast as I could to see what would happen next - not just to find out about the danger or the prisoner, but just to envelop myself inside the story. I can't wait to read the next book in the series - I know that it will be just as good (if not better!) than the previous ones - and I'm anxious to see what's going to happen next. The only thing that I hate is having to wait so long until it releases. After reading these two books, I'm an avid fan of the author's and will definitely be reading her other works while I wait for the next installment to come out. Very highly recommended for fans of YA paranormal and fantasies, as well as those who enjoy stories about faeries and romance - with a bit of action and suspense mixed in as well.


by Ryan Graudin



Ryan Graudin is doing a preorder special through her local indie Blue Bicycle Books. You can pre-order a signed copy of All That Burns and get a free ALL THAT BURNS tea (a ginger plum flavored black tea). Don’t miss this special offer! Click here to pre-order a signed copy of All That Burns.
 photo addtogoodreadssmall_zpsa2a6cf28.png photo B6096376-6C81-4465-8935-CE890C777EB9-1855-000001A1E900B890_zps5affbed6.jpg
Follow the All That Burns by Ryan Graudin Blog Tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.


My name is Ryan and I've been writing ever since I grabbed one of my dad's old tax ledgers and created this masterpiece: see image.

My writing has since improved, though my obsession with wolves has remained relatively the same (I even own a wolf-hybrid pup.) My childhood was a happy, sunny thing. I grew up on a steady diet of fairytales, salt-marshes, music and brothers who would re-enact Redwall battles with me in the back yard. I went to an artsy sort of high-school that allowed cello recitals in the hallways and impromptu poetry slams in the cafeteria. It was there I decided that writing was what I wanted to do more than anything.

I'm officially a grownup now (I suppose one must admit that once they turn 26). My diet still includes fairytales, salt-marshes and art, but there are a few new loves thrown in. A big one is travel. Pieces of my heart are scattered like breadcrumbs all over the globe--I've bartered them off for writing inspiration, so I suppose it's a fair trade.

When I'm not cramming my earthly belongings into a backpack and waiting in airport security lines, I'm doing one of the following: Writing YA novels, Photographing weddings with my husband, Making our little white cottage more homey, Playing with my wolf pup, Trying out Korean récipes, Haunting local coffee shops with my friends.
Giveaway: Win (1) of (2) signed copies of All That Burns by Ryan Graudin (US Only)
Giveaway Starts: January 26th; Ends: February 4th


a Rafflecopter giveaway











January 30, 2015

Sing For Me Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway


http://xpressobooktours.com/2014/11/07/tour-sign-up-sing-for-me-by-gracie-madison/

Welcome to my stop on the Sing For Me blog tour! Today I have a great excerpt from the book to share with you along with some cool teasers - and don't forget to enter the giveaway! To follow the rest of the tour, click on the banner above.


Sing For Me
Author: Gracie Madison
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Release Date: January 23, 2015

Description:

Madeline Noel fled war-torn Heaven to hide within the mortal world, but the blessing that could protect her from evil is the holy realm’s forbidden power.

As a talented soprano for the Eden Theatre Company, Madeline hides among prima donnas and tone-deaf flutists. Her perfect voice may entertain audiences, but a careless laugh may shatter glass, and her greatest scream can kill. To control her unrestrained voice, the angels forbid Madeline from embracing the emotions that strengthen her song. Anger. Fear.

Love.

The demon-hunter Damascus vows to defend Madeline from Hell’s relentless evil, but he cannot protect her from her own feelings. Though they deny their dangerous attraction, her guardian becomes her greatest temptation.

Surrendering to desire may awaken the gift suppressed within Madeline’s soul, and neither Heaven nor Hell will allow such absolute power to exist.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23314885-sing-for-me?ac=1

She meditated instead, and, when that failed, simply showered the anxiety away. The soap bubbles didn’t cover much. Her ribs showed. They hadn’t poked out when she was originally Veiled, but the Realm didn’t explain anything about her mortal body. Specifically, that coffee was not a suitable replacement for food and sleep, no matter how double-shotted or caffeinated. But the jolt kept her awake and guarded against whatever might have lurked in the shadows.
 
She didn’t experience her first full night of rest until Damascus was named her guardian.
 
Now she couldn’t sleep for other reasons.
 
She guided the silky soap over her body. A rivulet of cool gel passed below her belly and between her legs. Her gasp superheated the water into blistering punishment. She silently swore and leapt from the shower.
 
Fear and anger were hard enough to control. If she couldn’t even rinse the soap from the delicate softness between her thighs without thinking of Damascus, she didn’t need to fear Corinth. Her desire would kill them all.
 
She flicked the light to her bedroom and dropped her towel in the hamper.
 
“Magdala.”
 
Her hand merely muffled the screeched yelp. Madeline fell backward, smacking against the closet. She tripped and clattered into the hamper. Damascus apologized, but her gasp shattered the perfume container on her vanity.
 
Madeline yanked the towel from the laundry. The wet scrap of material wove over her body, and she clutched the fraying edges.
 
Damascus’s silence stole any sound she might have uttered.
 
His muscles bound, tight and tensed, more prepared for war than the glimpse of her bared skin. The gold in his eyes burned molten. Madeline shifted, her bare toes gripping the carpet to prevent her from toppling over once more.
 
She shivered. It wasn’t the wet hair that whispered the goose bumps along her spine. Damascus saw far more than what the thin strip of cloth hid. His gaze warmed her curves and tickled the swell of her breasts. Her nipples hardened. She prayed he hadn’t noticed.
 
He did.
 
The memory of the soap in the shower tortured the twisting in her lower belly. For a single, blissful, blasphemous moment, she imagined it had been Damascus’s hand washing her.
 
She exhaled.
 
Damascus growled.
 
His every movement strengthened with need. The wild, uninhibited, dangerous desire would claim them both. Madeline clamored backward, the apology shrill and muffled by her hand.
 
She hadn’t needed to speak, drop the towel, or offer any secrets. The heat smoldering low escaped in a sigh. The soft puff promised more than she intended. She breathed an invitation.
 
A seduction.
 
And he answered.

Gracie Madison would spend every day, all day writing…if it were socially acceptable.  Ever since she was a little girl scribbling with a crayon, Gracie’s dedicated herself to her books and all the supernatural and paranormal, creepy and beautiful stories and characters born within the pages. Now Gracie is committed to finally sharing those books with the world. When the laptop is pried from her hands, Gracie is probably working her day job, rooting on the Steelers, or out with her husband searching for Pittsburgh’s best sushi.

Author Links:
 Buy Link: Amazon

 Tour Wide Giveaway (Open to US/CAN): (1) Kindle Paperwhite





  





Book Blitz + Giveaway: State of Alliance by Summer Lane



State of Alliance (Collapse #5)
Author: Summer Lane
Genre: New Adult Post-Apocalyptic
Release Date: January 30, 2015

Description:

There is no such thing as safe.

For Commander Cassidy Hart, staying alive is only one of her day-to-day problems. As a newly minted Senator of the State of California, she must travel to Monterey Bay with the hope of bringing an agreement between the militia forces and the Pacific Northwest Alliance as the United States desperately battles against the shadow invasion forces of Omega.

But Monterey is not what it seems. The threat of another Omega attack looms on the horizon, and Commander Chris Young – the love of Cassidy’s life – is not the only important person in Cassidy’s life who is keeping secrets. Assassinations, betrayal and startling revelations lie ahead.
 

The war is now. Fight or die.
 

Choose your side.

The fifth installment in the international bestselling Collapse Series, a YA/NA post-apocalyptic romantic adventure.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23575118-state-of-alliance?ac=1

The Writing Process of The Collapse Series
By Summer Lane

I’m frequently asked what it’s like to write a series. The truth is, it’s hard to sum up the experience in just a couple of sentences, because creating a series is very hard work! I released the first installment in The Collapse Series, State of Emergency, in January 2013. It’s been two years. I have since released six books, and by the end of this year, I will have at least ten total published works. Writing, editing, publishing and selling an average of 3-4 books per year is a massive undertaking, one that must be carefully scheduled out. My year is divided into an average of three sections: January-March, March-June and June-October. This is the most challenging part of the year. November-December is spent purely writing without editing or marketing, so in a way, those two months are like a vacation to me – ALMOST!

With my year sectioned out like this, the moths pass very quickly. It usually takes me a full month to write a novel, and at least three weeks to write a novella. The rest of the time is devoted to editing and research. Before I know it, the entire year is already over! I do not write by the seat of my pants. Everything I do is planned and thought out long before the pen ever meets paper – or in my case, before my fingers hit the keyboard. My series are all interconnected, so planning and plotting is an absolute must. I love what I do. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’m so excited to share State of Alliance with the world! 
Summer Lane is the author of the international bestselling Collapse Series and Zero Trilogy. She owns WB Publishing and Writing Belle, an online magazine dedicated to the Art of Storytelling. Summer is also an accomplished creative writing teacher and professional journalist. She lives in the Central Valley of California where she creates her stories and shares them with the world.

Author Links:
Buy Links:
Blitz Wide Giveaway (Open INT): 
~ 13 eBooks:

The Soul Thief, Majanka Verstraete
Trigger, Jill Meengs
Dead Girl Walking, by Ruth Silver
Spirit Warrior, by DEL Connor
Fractured Dream, by KM Randall
The Green Dagger, by Kelly Hess
Jacob, King of Portalia, by Casey Cubb
A Reaper Made by Liz Long
The Road by G. Michael Hopf
The Death, by John W. Vance
Last Woman by Jacqueline Druga
Realm of the Unknown by James McPike
Element Wielder, by Cesar Gonzalez  

~ (1) paperback of The Lost and the Wicked by Cesar Gonzalez
~ (1) signed copy of Day Zero by Summer Lane
~ $10 Amazon Gift Card