Two for Thursday Blitz + Giveaway: Boneseeker + Endless

Welcome to this week’s Two for Thursday Book Blitz #T4T
presented by Month9books/Tantrum Books!

Today, we will be showcasing two titles that may tickle your fancy,
and we’ll share what readers have to say about these titles!

You just might find your next read!

This week, #T4T presents to you:

Boneseeker by Brynn Chapman and
Endless by Amanda Gray

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

I just wanted to pop in and say that I've read both of these books and loved each one! You can read my reviews by clicking on the links:

Boneseeker

Endless 

Arabella Holmes was born different and raised different. After it became apparent she wouldn’t fit the role of a proper 1900′s lady, her father, Sherlock, called in some lingering favors, and landed her a position at the Mutter Museum. The museum was Arabella’s dream; she was to become a purveyor of abnormal science. What her father called a BoneSeeker.

Henry Watson arrives at the Mutter Museum with a double assignment–to become a finder of abnormal antiquities and to watch over and keep Arabella Holmes. An easy task, if he could only get her to speak to him instead of throwing knives in his general direction.

But this is no time for child’s play. The two teens are assigned to a most secret exploration, when the hand of a Nephilim is unearthed in upstate New York. Soon, Arabella and Henry are caught in a fight for their lives as scientific debate swirls around them. Are the bones from a Neanderthal … or are they living proof of fallen angels, who supposedly mated with humans according to ancient scrolls?

Sent to recover the skeleton, they discover they are the second team to have been deployed and the entire first team is dead. And now they must trust their instincts and rely on one another in order to survive and uncover the truth.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Chapters | TBD | IndieBound | iBooks | Google Play | BAM

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:


“For the love of all things Sherlock! I loved this book to bits. I felt like I was seeing old friends.” – Kristie, Lost in Ever After


“Boneseeker is one that fans of historical mysteries and a little bit romance along the way will enjoy.” – Jenea, Reviewer


"a fab idea to take Holmes and Watson to the next generation and to have them on a kind of steampunk/ science adventure” – Nicky Peacock, Author

Born and raised in western Pennsylvania, Brynn Chapman is the daughter of two teachers. Her writing reflects her passions: science, history and love—not necessarily in that order. In real life, the geek gene runs strong in her family, as does the Asperger’s syndrome. Her writing reflects her experience as a pediatric therapist and her interactions with society’s downtrodden. In fiction, she’s a strong believer in underdogs and happily-ever-afters. She also writes non-fiction and lectures on the subjects of autism and sensory integration and is a medical contributor to online journal The Age of Autism.

Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest

IN A RACE AGAINST TIME, HOW DO YOU KEEP THOSE YOU LOVE SAFE?

Jenny Kramer knows she isn’t normal. After all, not everybody can see the past lives of people around them. When she befriends Ben Daulton, resident new boy, the pair stumbles on an old music box with instructions for “mesmerization” and discover they may have more in common than they thought.

Like a past life.

Using the instructions in the music box, Ben and Jenny share a dream that transports them to Romanov Russia and leads them to believe they have been there together before. But they weren’t alone. Nikolai, the mysterious young man Jenny has been seeing in her own dreams was there, too. When Nikolai appears next door, Jenny is forced to acknowledge that he has traveled through time and space to find her. Doing so means he has defied the laws of time, and the Order, an ominous organization tasked with keeping people in the correct time, is determined to send him back. While Ben, Jenny and Nikolai race against the clock -- and the Order -- the trio discovers a link that joins them in life -- and beyond death.

Chapters | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | TBD | Indiebound | Google Play | BAM | iBooks

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:

“I thought this book was pretty amazing – the characters, the setting and the adventure all came together to create this romantic yet ultimately dangerous story with a perfect time travel twist!” – Hannah – Lemonade Library

“I started reading this not knowing completely what the story was about but there's an amazing love story as well as a bit of history thrown into the mix along with some time travel and a soul mate and reincarnation!” – Anna – Bound in Ink Books

“This book is a very interesting twist on time travel, history and romance, something I would love to see adapted on the big screen in the future.” – Lyn - Reading Tsinoy

Amanda Gray believes in magic and fantasy and possibilities. She is a team of two bestselling authors who live only miles apart but have never met in person. They talk on the phone and are the best of friends and between them have written more than a dozen novels and novellas and have had their work appear on television.

Complete the Rafflecopter for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Month9Books Holiday Gift Blitz + Giveaway

Welcome to Month9Books’ gift blitz for our amazing winter titles: CROWN OF ICE by Vicki L. Weavil, PRAEFATIO by Georgia McBride, ENDLESS by Amanda Gray, A MURDER OF MAGPIES by Sarah Bromley, DEAD JED (1 & 2) by Scott Craven, and TRACY TAM by Krystalyn Drown! Are you looking for the perfect winter/holiday read? Then these are the titles for you! Oh and as a thank you to our readers we have an amazing giveaway for you!

Crown of Ice by Vicki L. Weavil

Summary:

Thyra Winther's seventeen, the Snow Queen, and immortal, but if she can't reassemble a shattered enchanted mirror by her eighteenth birthday she's doomed to spend eternity as a wraith.

Armed with magic granted by a ruthless wizard, Thyra schemes to survive with her mind and body intact. Unencumbered by kindness, she kidnaps local boy Kai Thorsen, whose mathematical skills rival her own. Two logical minds, Thyra calculates, are better than one. With time rapidly melting away she needs all the help she can steal.

A cruel lie ensnares Kai in her plan, but three missing mirror shards and Kai's childhood friend, Gerda, present more formidable obstacles. Thyra's willing to do anything – venture into uncharted lands, outwit sorcerers, or battle enchanted beasts -- to reconstruct the mirror, yet her most dangerous adversary lies within her breast. Touched by the warmth of a wolf pup's devotion and the fire of a young man's desire, the thawing of Thyra's frozen heart could be her ultimate undoing.

CROWN OF ICE is a YA Fantasy that reinvents Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen" from the perspective of a young woman who discovers that the greatest threat to her survival may be her own humanity.

Purchase Links: Month9Books | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Chapters Indigo! | TBD | iBooks

Praefatio by Georgia McBride

Summary:

Seventeen-year-old Grace Ann Miller is no ordinary runaway. After having been missing for weeks, Grace is found on the estate of international rock star Gavin Vault, half-dressed and yelling for help. Over the course of twenty-four hours Grace holds an entire police force captive with incredulous tales of angels, demons, and war; intent on saving Gavin from lockup and her family from worry over her safety. Authorities believe that Grace is ill, suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, the victim of assault and a severely fractured mind. 

Undeterred, Grace reveals the secret existence of dark angels on earth, an ancient prophecy and a wretched curse steeped in Biblical myth. Grace’s claims set into motion an ages-old war, resulting in blood, death and the loss of everything that matters. But are these the delusions of an immensely sick girl, or could Grace’s story actually be true? Praefatio is Grace’s account of weeks on the run, falling in love and losing everything but her faith. When it’s sister against brother, light versus darkness, corrupt police officers, eager doctors and accusing journalists, against one girl with nothing but her word as proof: who do you believe?

Purchase Links: Month9Books | Amazon │ Barnes & Noble | Kobo | TBD | IndieBound

Endless by Amanda Gray

Summary:

Jenny Kramer knows she isn’t normal. After all, not everybody can see the past lives of people around them. When she befriends Ben Daulton, resident new boy, the pair stumble onto an old music box with instructions for "mesmerization" and discover they may have more in common than they thought—like a past life! Using the instructions in the music box, Ben and Jenny share a dream that transports them to Romanov Russia and leads them to believe they have been there together before. But Nikolai, the mysterious young man Jenny has been seeing in her dreams who has now appeared next door, was there, too. Jenny is forced to acknowledge that Nikolai has traveled through time and space to find her. Doing so means he has defied the laws of time, and the Order, an ominous organization tasked with keeping people in the correct time, is determined to send him back. While Ben, Jenny, and Nikolai race against the clock—and the Order—Jenny and Nikolai discover a link that joins them in life and beyond death.

Purchase Links: Month9Books | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | IndieBound

A Murder of Magpies by Sarah Bromley

Summary:

Winter in Black Orchard, Wisconsin, is long and dark, and sixteen-year-old Vayda Silver prays the snow will keep the truth and secrecy of the last two years buried. Hiding from the past with her father and twin brother, Vayda knows the rules: never return to the town of her mother’s murder, and never work a Mind Game where someone might see.

No one can know the toll emotions take on Vayda, how emotion becomes energy in her hands, or how she can’t control the destruction she causes. But it's not long before her powers can no longer be contained. The truth is dangerously close to being exposed, placing Vadya and her family at risk.

Until someone quiets the chaos inside her.

Unwanted. That's all Ward Ravenscroft has ever been. To cope, he numbs the pain of rejection by denying himself emotions of any kind. Yet Vayda stirs something in him. He can't explain the hold she has on him--inspiring him with both hope and fear. He claims not to scare easily, except he doesn't know what her powers can do. Yet.

Just as Vadya and Ward draw closer, she finds the past isn't so easily buried. And when it follows the Silvers to Black Orchard, it has murder in mind.

Purchase Links: Month9Books |  Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Kobo  |  Chapters Indigo! | TBD | IndieBound

Dead Jed: Adventures of a Middle School Zombie by Scott Craven

Summary:

The first part of seventh grade was rough on Jed, but things are looking up now that Christmas is almost here. As with past Christmases, Jed asks for the one thing he's always wanted--a dog--and again, his parents tell him they're not ready. But fate has a different plan when Jed sees a dog get run over by a car. Then, it happens. Jed suddenly has a pet, Tread, a zombie dog bearing his namesake--a tire tread down his back. Jed may have gained a dog, but he loses his best friend Luke, who fears the way Jed created his undead pet. When Jed returns to school, he finds a mysterious group called the No Zombies Now Network spreading rumors of the dangers the undead pose to normal people. Forced to disprove Hollywood stereotypes, Jed has his work cut out for him as stories of a zombie dog begin to circulate. Jed could be expelled if he can't expose the NZN Network as a fraud. Jed needs help from his kind of girlfriend Anna, especially after he discovers Luke has joined the shadowy group. Once again navigating the treacherous waters of middle school, Jed does his best to stay in one piece. Only this time he'll need even more duct tape and staples than usual.

Purchase Links: Month9Books | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Book Depository | Chapters Indigo! | Kobo

Dawn of the Jed (Dead Jed #2) by Scott Craven

Summary:

As the fall semester ends and kids head home for winter break, Jed and his parents gather for the annual exchanging of gift lists. Once again, Jed asks for a dog, leading to a heated argument and a firm "no." But when Jed spots a stray, he chases it until the dog darts into the street where it is struck and killed by a car. Grief stricken by what he's done, Jed cradles the dead dog in his arms. Soon, ooze from the dog mixes with teardrops from Jed, creating Tread the zombie dog. Finally getting his wish, Jed must convince his parents to let him keep the undead dog. But a zombie dog turns out to be the least of Jed's issues. It seems some parents don't want Jed attending school with their kids. Enter the mysterious NZN Network. They've been distributing anti-zombie propaganda in an effort to get Jed expelled. But Jed wonders if the creation of Tread has caused his relationship with Luke to sour. And why, just as he seems to need them the most, have his best friends abandoned him? Could they have bought in to the anti-zombie way of thinking? Was creating Tread a mistake Jed will live to regret? 

When Tread goes missing, and with his very existence at stake, Jed must rely on his instincts, team up with an old nemesis, and fight for his right to have just as miserable a middle school existence as any other student—undead or alive.

Purchase Links: Month9Books | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | TBD | Chapter Indigo! | Kobo

Tracy Tam: Santa Command by Krystalyn Drown

Summary:

Tracy Tam doesn't really believe in Santa Claus, at least not like the rest of us do. She also doesn't believe that Santa can possibly deliver all of those presents in one night, to children around the world, without a little help from science. A flying sleigh can only be powered by jet engines, after all, and Santa's magical abilities can only be the result of altered DNA. How else could he know what every little girl and boy wants for Christmas and who has been naughty or nice? In order to test her theories, Tracy sneaks onto Santa's sleigh then ends up at Santa Command, where a team of (gasp!) humans monitor Santa's big night. When Tracy attempts to hack into their computers, she accidentally introduces a virus into the system. As a result, three states get knocked out of sync with the rest of the world (oops!). Santa won't be able to deliver all the presents in time! Now, Tracy must fix time and help Santa, but she has no idea how. How can a girl who doesn't believe help Santa and save Christmas before it's too late? With a little Christmas magic, of course!

Purchase Links: Month9Books | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Chapters Indigo! | TBD | IndieBound | iBooks

Giveaway Details:

(1) Winner will receive A Taste of Christmas Gift Basket (US Only)

(3) Winners will receive eBook bundles of (5) Month9Books. (International)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Endless Blog Tour: Review, Excerpt + Giveaway

 

Welcome to my stop on the Endless blog tour! Today I have an exclusive excerpt from the book to share with you along with my review of the book - and don't forget to scroll to the bottom of the post to enter the tour wide giveaway!

 

Endless
Author: Amanda Gray
Genre: YA Fantasy/ Time Travel/ Romance
Release Date: September 10, 2013
Publisher: Month9Books

Buy Links: Amazon 

Description:

Jenny Kramer knows she isn't normal. After all, not everybody can see the past lives of people around them.

When she befriends Ben Daulton, resident new boy, the pair stumble on an old music box with instructions for “mesmerization” and discover they may have more in common than they thought. Like a past life.

Using the instructions in the music box, Ben and Jenny share a dream that transports them to Romanov Russia and leads them to believe they have been there together before. But they weren't alone. Nikolai, the mysterious young man Jenny has been seeing in her own dreams was there, too. When Nikolai appears next door, Jenny is forced to acknowledge that he has travelled through time and space to find her. Doing so means he has defied the laws of time, and the Order, an ominous organization tasked with keeping people in the correct time, is determined to send him back.

While Ben, Jenny and Nikolai race against the clock - and the Order - Jenny and Nikolai discover a link that joins them in life - and beyond death.  

Chapter Six


The graveyard was quiet. There was no wind, and the air held the heavy heat of Connecticut in summer. Jenny ran a hand across her brow, setting down the paper and pencil and stretching her fingers.
“How many more are there?” She turned her eyes to the dark-haired woman kneeling at a gravestone one row over.
The woman rocked back on her heels, gazing across the cemetery like she was calculating when Jenny knew that it wasn’t necessary. Morgan Frazier kept count of every tombstone and every mausoleum in the old graveyard. She could have recited the numbers by heart.
She turned her green eyes on Jenny. “Four hundred and sixty-three.”
“But who’s counting, right?” Jenny laughed.
Morgan grinned. “Right.”
It might have been wrong to feel closer to Morgan than she did to her own father, but Jenny couldn’t help it. Morgan had been her mother’s best friend, and the older woman seemed to understand Jenny in ways her dad just couldn’t. Morgan accepted her without getting freaked out when Jenny felt herself slipping toward the darkness that always seemed to lurk at the edges of her consciousness. Helping in the cemetery was a bonus. Guaranteed time to think in silence or talk about her art while they worked their way through the tombstones, rubbing the epitaphs so that Morgan could add them to her study of the strange runes and markings that appeared on some of them.
“I heard your dad has a new project,” Morgan said.
Jenny picked up the pencil and paper, rubbing the marker in front of her to get an impression of the stylized “3” with swirled ends etched into the gravestone’s surface.
“Yeah. An old farmhouse outside of town.”
“You going to help?”
Jenny couldn’t stop the bitter laugh that escaped her mouth. “Do I have a choice?”
“You always have a choice.”
Jenny sighed. “If I make a big deal out of it we’ll just end up arguing about the same things all over again. He’ll tell me there’s no future in art, I’ll tell him it doesn’t matter, since it’s my future anyway, and he’ll end up worried and unhappy which will just make me worried and unhappy, too.”
“Right.” Morgan didn’t look up from her work. “But you still have a choice, and choosing what you want isn’t always easy.”
“I guess.”
Jenny had moved onto the next stone when Morgan spoke again. “I heard the client has a son your age.”
From the teasing tone in the older woman’s voice, Jenny knew right where this was going. She shook her head. “Uh-uh. Don’t even think about it.”
“Think about what?”
“Don’t try to act innocent!” Jenny said. “I know what you’re thinking!”
Morgan stood, picking up her stuff and moving on to the next gravestone. “What am I thinking?”
“That Dad’s client has a son who’s a potential boyfriend for me.”
Morgan shrugged, glancing over at Jenny. “So?”
“So, you’re way off base. I’ve met the guy and trust me, there is no possibility whatsoever.”
Jenny had a flash of the boy named Nikolai, his lips full and sensual as he’d gazed at the painting over her shoulder in the big fancy room. She had a reckless desire to tell Morgan about him instead of Ben. To tell Morgan how he’d made her feel, even in her dream.
“Why not?” Morgan asked, pulling Jenny back to the conversation. “You don’t think he’s cute?”
Jenny thought of Ben Daulton. “Sure, he’s cute. Until he opens his mouth.”
“Ah!” Morgan laughed out loud. “That bad, huh?”
“Worse!” Jenny was getting mad all over again just thinking about it.
“Is he a brainless twit like half of those other guys you go to school with?”
“Not exactly. I mean … I guess I don’t know. We didn’t talk for very long.”
“Then how do you know you don’t like him?”
“Because! He’s rude! He has the manners of a gorilla!” Jenny sputtered.
Nodding, Morgan appraised Jenny with fresh interest and a sly smile. “I see.”
Jenny sighed, shaking her head. “No, you don’t. You think you do, but you don’t.”
Morgan turned back to her work. “If you say so.”
They worked in silence for another half hour before Jenny realized the time. She stood up, stretching. “I have to get ready for the show. Need me to do anything else before I go?”
Morgan shook her head, standing to say goodbye. “I’m good. You didn’t have to come at all. This is a big day!”
“It’s just a local show,” Jenny said, embarrassed.
“Don’t sell yourself short, Jenny. Didn’t you say they only accepted twenty-five artists in the whole county?”
“Well, yeah … ”
“Then give yourself a little credit, will you?” Morgan stepped toward Jenny, taking her hand. “I’m proud of you. And you know what?”
“What?”
“Your mom would be proud, too.”
“She would?” Jenny asked.
Morgan nodded, smiling. “She would.”


* * *


Morgan, beaming like a proud mother, was already at the gallery when Jenny arrived with her dad later that night. The show was in full swing, a long table at the back of the room covered with fancy finger food and punch.
Jenny was engulfed in a patchouli-scented cloud as Morgan hugged her. “Yours are upstairs. I checked it out before you got here.” Morgan started for the stairs. “Let’s go take a look.”
“I thought you said you already checked it out,” Jenny said weakly. Suddenly, she wasn’t so sure she wanted to see her art hanging on the walls. It was too personal.
“I did,” Morgan said, “but I want to see them with you.”
“Okay.” Jenny felt sick. She was surprised to feel her dad take her hand. He squeezed it reassuringly.
Jenny was careful as they ascended the stairs to the second-floor exhibit space. She wasn’t used to wearing heels, but she’d wanted to look nice for the show, so she’d worn gold sandals with the simple black shift dress that Morgan had bought her for her last birthday. The shoes only had a kitten heel, but it would be just like her to trip and fall in front of everyone at her first gallery showing. She didn’t take her hand off of the banister until they reached the landing.
They made their way down the second-floor hallway, passing four rooms with pure white walls punctuated only by art. It was easy to tell which of the teenagers at the gallery were part of the show. They were the ones hovering around the pieces, paying too close attention to the words of the people around them.
They were almost to the end of the hallway when Morgan turned in to the second-to-last room. Jenny followed, her breath catching in her throat as her work came into view.
Morgan stepped forward, turning to face Jenny and her dad, “Well, what do you think, Daniel? Aren’t they amazing?”
Jenny watched her dad’s face as he looked at the wall of paintings. He was almost immobile for what seemed like a long time, his face impassive. Then he turned to Jenny with a smile.
“They’re beautiful, Jenny. Just beautiful.” He pulled her into his arms. “I’m so proud of you.”
Jenny smiled into his jacket. “Really? You like them?”
He stepped back, looking into her eyes. “Of course I do.”
Just then a familiar voice sounded from the doorway. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I know I’m late.”
Tiffany burst into the room wearing flared jeans that made her legs look a mile long and a boyfriend sweater over a white T-shirt.
Jenny hugged her. “Don’t even worry about it. I hope you didn’t drive too fast to get here. There’s no rush. It goes until nine.”
“I’m alive, aren’t I?” Tiffany joked. “Now let me look at these paintings.”
“I’m going to go grab a glass of wine,” Jenny’s dad said. “Can I get you girls some punch?”
“Sure! Thanks, Mr. Kramer.”
“I’ll help your dad, Jenny,” Morgan said. “Then I want to take a closer look and talk to you about these pieces.”
They left the room, and Tiffany turned to Jenny. “I’m so freaking excited for you, Jen.”
Jenny rolled her eyes. “Thanks, but it’s no big deal.”
“What are you talking about? You could become some big-shot famous artist someday, in which case you’ll look back on this as the moment everything began.”
Jenny laughed. “Yeah, okay, Tiff. Whatever you say.”
Tiffany punched her playfully on the arm. “Don’t patronize me. God!”
She stepped forward, looking more closely at one of the paintings, the one of the old train depot, the hulking black locomotive, steam coming out its top in a big, gray cloud, sitting on the tracks in the background.
“Who is this?” she asked, still peering at the painting.
“Who is who?” Jenny knew what Tiffany was talking about, she just didn’t know how to answer.
“This.” Tiffany pointed at the man standing at the edge of the track. “Wait a minute … ” She leaned back, her eyes skipping across the other paintings. “Why is this guy in every one? He wasn’t there the last time I saw these.”
Jenny sighed. “I know. I added him. Just yesterday, actually.”
Tiffany’s eyes met hers. “To all of them?”
Jenny’s nod was slow. “Yeah.”
“Why?”
“I’m not sure.” Jenny struggled to find words that wouldn’t make sense to someone who wasn’t her. Someone who hadn’t had the dream about the guy named Nikolai. Who hadn’t felt like she’d known him. Like the dream had been real. “I was touching everything up, and it just felt … right. Like he was supposed to be there.”
It wasn’t a lie, exactly. Now that he was in the paintings, it did seem like he was supposed to be there. Like he was meant to be there all along.
Jenny turned to the sound of clicking heels entering the room. Maxine, the Assistant Curator of the gallery, stepped toward the painting of the snowy field. The one Jenny had been working on the night she’d painted the man into all her pieces. Maxine leaned forward, showing a long stretch of leg under her tight navy dress as she placed a red sticker on the plaque that read, “Jennifer Kramer, Snowy Field.”
“Wait a minute,” Tiffany said, the guy forgotten. “Does that mean it’s sold?”
Maxine smiled. “It does. Just now, in fact.”
“Wait a minute,” Jenny said. “I sold something?”
Maxine laughed. “That’s my understanding.” She left the room in an elegant click of heels on the wood flooring.
“Oh, my God, Jen! You sold something!” Tiffany practically squealed. “And in, like, the first hour, too!”
Jenny didn’t know what to say. Selling the painting was validation of her work. Validation she needed. But she still couldn’t help feeling a pang of loss. Snowy Field wouldn’t be coming home with her.
And even though the guy named Nikolai was in all her paintings, even the ones that hadn’t sold, she was suddenly bereft at the thought of losing even one of them.


* * *


Jenny stood in her exhibit room, empty except for the painting that had sold, the red dot sticker still on the plaque underneath the piece. The gallery was emptying out. Other than the occasional muffled scrape from one of the other rooms, it was quiet.
Most of the artists had already packed up their unsold paintings and headed home. Tiffany and Morgan had left an hour ago after congratulating Jenny and showering her with compliments. Jenny’s dad was loading the car with her unsold paintings.
She probably should have been helping him, but she wanted to say goodbye to Snowy Field. Robert, the gallery owner, had told her the buyer was going to pick up the piece tomorrow. Jenny tried to imagine it in its new home, on the wall of some aspiring collector. Maybe it would
be in their dining room and they would look at it over breakfast every morning. Or maybe they would hang it over the bed, and it would be the last thing they saw before going to sleep every night.
She sighed, wondering if it would always be hard to say goodbye to her pieces or if this one was just special.
“It’s lovely.” The voice, coming from behind her, made her jump.
She turned, her initial surprise at hearing the voice eclipsed by total and complete shock.
She knew the guy standing in the doorway. She’d seen him in her dream.
Had painted him in her painting.
She shook her head, denying it to herself as he stepped into the room. He was tall, almost slender, though Jenny had the impression that he was also strong under the trousers and button-down shirt. His black hair shone even in the soft light of the gallery.
“What … who … ” She stumbled over her words. “Who are you?”
He tipped his head, his smile a little sad. “I think you know.”
She stared at him as he came toward her. He didn’t take his eyes, a deep green, off her.
“I don’t,” she finally managed to croak. “How would I?”
She said it because that’s what a normal person would say. Because a normal person wouldn’t say, “You’re the guy from my dream.”
He was right in front of her now. He smelled like the cold. Like the evergreens in the field around her house at winter, bracing and clean and a little bitter. He looked down into her eyes, his gaze drifting to the base of her neck. She reached up, touching the birthmark with her fingers before feeling awkward and dropping her hand.
“Maria … ” he said softly. “Jenny.”
The name rang like a bell in her mind. Maria.
She saw again the image from her dream. The girl named Maria painting with her sister while a green-eyed boy arranged for them to meet.
Then the younger sister’s voice: Shall Maria paint it ugly then, if that is how she sees it?
Jenny looked at the guy standing across from her, his green eyes identical to those of the young man named Nikolai in her dream. He reached out, and for a second, Jenny had the strangest impression that he was going to touch her cheek.
“Sorry, honey!” Her dad came into the room in a flurry of words. “I had to wait for some of the other kids to load up before I could—” He stopped suddenly, seeing the guy standing next to Jenny.
He dropped his hand back to his side.
“Who is this?” her dad asked.
Jenny swallowed, trying to clear her head, trying to figure out how to answer a question she didn’t even dare to ask yet.
The guy extended a hand and smiled at her father. “I’m a fan of your daughter’s work. You must be very proud.”
“Thank you.” Her dad took the guy’s hand. “I am. Very proud.”
The guy turned to her. “Congratulations. I’m sure this is just the first of many successful shows.”
Jenny watched him head for the door, her brain trying to wrap her head around what was happening. By the time she felt coherent, all she could do was register he was gone.
“Wow,” her dad said. “You already have fans.” 
Jenny took a deep breath, steadying her voice as she stared at the empty doorway. “Yeah … ”
“Anyway!” her dad said, a little too loud. “Let’s go. Someone else might be waiting for me to move the car so they can pack up.”
Jenny followed him out of the room, taking one last look at Snowy Field. But as they descended the stairs, stepping out into the warm summer night, it wasn’t her painting she saw but the guy named Nikolai, his green eyes shimmering in the world of her dream.
And somehow in this one, too.

 

Endless is a young adult fantasy/time travel novel that follows heroine Jennifer "Jenny" Kramer as she prepares for yet another dull summer in her small town. Although boring is something that Jenny cherishes, because she's not exactly normal. She can see and experience other people's past lives just by touching them. When a chance encounter introduces her to Ben and a mysterious music box with instructions on "mesmerization" - things for Jenny go from weird to full on crazy. Not to mention her incredibly vivid dreams from the past including a gorgeous guy named Nikolai; who just happens to appear in Jenny's life outside her dreams. Jenny's convinced that there are mysterious and life changing events happening around her, but she's not sure what to make of them. When Nikolai moves in next door, Jenny must finally come to grips with the fact that he has crossed time and space searching for her - and now the Order, whose task it is to keep people in their own times - is determined to send him back. Now Jenny, Ben and Nikolai are running from the Order and they just might realize they have a connection that defies time and death.

This novel was a beautifully told story capturing both the present time and the historical Russian era of the Romanovs. I'm always intrigued by time travel books - especially ones that include soul mates searching for each other in different times and places. It definitely is one of my romantic downfalls. The plot wasn't completely original in the time travel aspect or even dealing with the Romanov era, but the author wrote the book with such vivid imagery and detailed descriptions that I was immediately drawn into the world she created. The characters were all interesting and well written with their own personalities. I liked Jenny as a main character - she was a typical teenage girl that had to deal with a unnatural ability and isn't used to having many friends. She's smart, strong and a loyal friend and daughter - and I easily found myself identifying with her early on in the book. Nikolai and Ben were both well written characters too - each with their own strengths and weaknesses, which made them more realistic. The plot, as I mentioned, wasn't completely original, but I loved learning as much as I could about the music box, the Romanov's, the Order, and the connection that Jenny, Nikolai and Ben shared. Apparently, like I mentioned above, I also have a huge soft spot for soul mates and all that too. The writing of the book was well done with a natural flow and a quick pace that kept me eagerly turning the pages to see what was going  to happen next. There's a bit of action, adventure, history and mystery blended in with the time travel and romance, so the book has definite appeal for fans of multiple genres. Highly recommended for fans of fantasy and time travel fiction as well as those who enjoy great love stories.

Amanda Gray believes in magic and fantasy and possibilities. She is a team of two bestselling authors who live only miles apart but have never met in person. They talk on the phone and are the best of friends and between them have written more than a dozen novels and novellas and have had their work appear on television.

Giveaway Information:

(2) print copies of Endless by Amanda Gray (US Only)

(2) eBook copies of Endless by Amanda Gray (INT)

(1) $25 iTunes gift card (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway


 

Endless Blog Tour: Review + Guest Post

 

Welcome to my stop on the Endless blog tour being presented by Sourcebooks! Today I have a guest post from Jessica to share with you along with my review of the book!

Endless (The Violet Eden Chapters #4)
Author: Jessica Shirvington
Genre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Description:

LOVE WILL KILL US ALL
Violet Eden thought she was getting things under control. Then all hell breaks loose-literally. In the war between angels and exiles, she's about to face the biggest baddie of all time. Except she's not nearly ready.

The dark exile Phoenix is still messing with her head-not to mention her heart. And her undeniable attraction to Lincoln has gotten downright dangerous. When Hell unleashes its worst, Violet must embrace every facet of her angel self to save the people she cares about and the world as she knows it. But death is not the worst thing she will face...

Mythology of the Series

 

Discussing the mythology that has gone into the entire series is no small task.

I love every stage of research and have found throughout the books that it has become a bit of an obsession of mine to include hints or small snippets of mythology even at times when, unless the reader was really looking for it, they would not know it was there. From color choices, powers, geographical locations to different references, conversations, and wardrobe choices. I realize I may have a little problem! ;-) Every now and then a reader will write to me and say ... er, I happened to notice such and such and I was wondering if you had done that on purpose? Those messages are always a big highlight for me! 

More importantly to all of that is the direct mythology that I have chosen to use in order to anchor and drive the story and plot. When looking at what the big drivers have been – there is definitely the story from The Book of Enoch and his version of the Great Flood – that it was God’s response to discovering that angels on earth had been taking humans as husbands and wives and having children with them. According to his version, the flood was in fact brought by a legion of warrior angels and worked to rid the world of the children, and humans and to cast the offending angels into the pits of hell. That story more than any other was the foundation of Violet’s world of angels, exiled angels, and angel-human warriors on earth.

Beyond that, in each book I have selected a few pieces of mythology to manipulate into the story. In Entice I played with the tales of the Stigmata, the Tabernacles and the story of Judas. In Emblaze I used the historical references to the destruction of Thera, the mythology of the great City of Atlantis and the All Seeing Eye. In Endless, I had the opportunity to delve into biblical folklore, the angel hierarchy as well as some ancient Egyptian beliefs.

For me, having the opportunity to work with these references in this series has been an absolute highlight. It is not always possible to have such a huge range of research to work with when writing stories and I know I have been spoiled for choice with these books!

Thanks for stopping by the blog today and chatting with us about the mythology behind the series Jessica!

Endless is the fourth book in a young adult fantasy/paranormal series that follows our heroine, Violet Eden, as she continues to navigate the world of the Grigori and attempts to stop a full on war between exiles and angels. Things are about to get ugly - Lilith has been unleashed, Phoenix is still messing with her head, and war is not far off. Violet doesn't even know the full extent of her abilities - so how can she be ready to help save the world? Everyone believes that she's the key to winning the war, but she's having serious doubts. Not to mention her previously dead mother is back and her relationship with Lincoln is so complicated it hurts - literally. Will Violet and the rest of the Grigori be able to stop the exiles before they destroy the world or will Violet have to pay the ultimate price?

This is by far one of my favorite series I've ever read and Endless did not disappoint in the least. Most series start to burn out by the fourth book or so, but this one only seems to get more exciting and intense. I absolutely love the overarching plot of the series - the mythology of angels, exiles, and Grigori. We learn a little more about them and their history in each book and I'm utterly fascinated by every tidbit the author gives me. The story in this book was really intense as things are getting heated between the exiles and the Grigori. There's so much going on throughout the book, but I didn't feel overwhelmed or confused in the least. The characters are all incredible. There's quite an array of characters by now in the series, and they each have their own distinct personalities with flaws and strengths. Violet is a kickass heroine - she's smart, strong, brave, and doesn't back down from what needs to be done. There's definitely some romantic elements to the story, but I think it makes the series even better. There are so many obstacles and impossibilities in front of Violet and Lincoln, but they refuse to give up on each other. The writing was phenomenal, as usual. The book picked up where the last one left off and it was like I never missed a beat in the story. I was instantly back in Violet's world alongside her and the rest of the gang by the end of the first paragraph. There's a fast pace to the book due to the action and the impending war, so it had me reading as fast as I could to see what was going to happen next. Although it's catagorized as a fantasy or paranormal series, there's a ton of other genres mixed in - action, adventure, romance, thrills, suspense, and awesome mythology. I don't experience extreme reactions to books very often, but with this book (the entire series actually), I found myself going through a whole slew of emotions that I couldn't keep in check. There were points where I was rooting for Violet and the gang, parts where I was literally like "OMG! WHAT?!?!, and parts where I cried - a lot. It's always a sign of the author's exceptional talent when a book can affect me like that. I'm already anxiously awaiting the next book in the series to see what will happen next. The only problem is how long I'm going to have to wait. I honestly can't recommend this book or this series highly enough to everyone. I don't care what genres you usually prefer - this series will appeal to fans of all types of fiction. If you haven't read this series - DO IT NOW. You will not be disappointed - that I promise you.

An Ultimate All Time Favorite!!

Jessica Shirvington is the author of THE VIOLET EDEN CHAPTERS also known as THE EMBRACE SERIES, and stand alone novel, BETWEEN THE LIVES. An entrepreneur, author, and mother living in Sydney, Australia, Jessica is also a 2011 finalist for Cosmopolitan’s annual Fun, Fearless Female Award. She’s also one of the lucky few who met the love of her life at age seventeen: Matt Shirvington, a former Olympian and current sports broadcaster for FOXTEL and Sky News. Married for twleve years with two beautiful daughters, Sienna and Winter, Jessica knows her early age romance and its longevity has definitely contributed to how she tackles relationships in her YA novels. (Taken from Goodreads)

http://www.jessicashirvington.com/

*Note - I did not make the banner at the top of this post. It was originally found on the book blog, Chapter by Chapter.*