Keeper of the Lost Souls Blog Tour: Interview & Giveaway

Welcome to my stop on the Keeper of the Lost Souls blog tour hosted by YA Bound Book Tours. Click HERE to see the full blog tour schedule! 

Keeper of the Lost Souls

Author: Kristy Centeno

Genre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal

Description:

Bryn McCaskey is young, naïve, and can talk to ghosts...

Like her mother and grandmother, Bryn comes from a breed of witches called The Keepers of the Lost Souls. Their main purpose is to guard those spirits who are permanently or temporarily grounded in the world of the living. Handling supernatural creatures is something which comes naturally to Bryn, however, dealing with people is a whole different story.

As her 18th birthday approaches it's time for her to take on her first assignment. Bryn is forced to confront her inability to communicate with others in an effort to save the one soul that can mean the difference between life and death for mankind.

Johnny Shaw is a lost soul with a personal vendetta against witches...

A vendetta he has carried on even after death. As much as he hate's them he must join forces with a keeper witch, in order to stop a century old threat. When fate brings them together, not only will they be forced to learn how to work as a team, but they will have to depend on each other to stop an evil witch carrying a six hundred year grudge! 

Interview with Johnny Shaw from Keeper of the Lost Souls by Kristy Centeno 

I’d like to introduce my guest for today. His name is Johnny Shaw, and he’s the controversial witch hater in Keeper of the Lost Souls. He was kind enough to take some time off to sit and chat with us for a little bit.

K: Welcome, Johnny. How are you?
J: I’m okay, I guess. Could be better though.

K: Oh? Is something wrong?
J: Just the usual. Demons, power hungry sorcerers, and that kind of stuff. They’re a hassle.

K: It must be a dangerous job.
J: It’s more annoying than anything else and very inconvenient at times.

K: Inconvenient?”
J: Well, I do have a girlfriend now.

K: That’s right. Bryn and you are dating now.
J: Yep. But taking time to destroy evil takes away from our relationship.

K: Isn’t that how you two met in the first place?
J: It is, but she’s the Keeper here not me.

K: Have you two joined forces now?
J: I figured it was best for us to since I’m always worried about her getting hurt.

K: That’s nice. Fighting evil side to side is bound to bring you closer, don’t you think?”
J: Fighting off evil while trying to stay alive isn’t exactly flattering. Besides, I think a setting where we can sit and talk without having to worry over whom or what is watching is would be much better.

K: I might have to agree with you on that one. Love is complicated.
J: Tell me about it. We have the biggest complications of all, but no one said it would be easy.

K: What’s next for you?”
J: Man, I have no clue. I have so much to do and don’t even know where to start. With college, taking care of my parents’ properties and everything else my schedule is kind of hectic right now. Which reminds me, I should be getting back soon.

K: Well, I’ll take that pulsing vein on your forehead as a sign to shift the direction of this interview to something less stressful for you. Since you have to get back to your hectic lifestyle, why don’t we wrap this up with a few more questions about your preferences?
J: Sure.

K: What’s your favorite color?
J: Red.

K: TV show?”
J: I’ll pass on this one.

K: Favorite movie?
J: That sounds like a trick question.

K: Favorite time of day?
J: I’m a morning person.

K: Favorite song?
J: This is a hard one. I have at least one favorite song for every band I like. And I don’t have time to name them all. Sorry.

K: Duty’s calling?
J: Not really. Bryn is.

K: Well, Johnny, thanks for taking a few minutes to answer some questions for us. I’m sure that for those who are wondering why you’re in a hurry, all queries will be answered in Keeper of the Lost Souls.

As a child, I used to lose myself in an imaginary world by the means of a good book. Now that I’m all grown up, I get to create my own fictional realms and make them come to life in ways that most readers might not expect. I’ve always had a passion for writing but never had the opportunity do so until now. After trying out numerous options I realized that writing was what I loved the most so when I found myself with some free time on my hands, I decided to give it a shot. As it turned out, my very active imagination helped me achieve my goals of creating believable plots with some ordinary, and some not so ordinary characters that helped the stories move along in one way or another. As I keep moving along in achieving my dreams of becoming a published author, I divide my time in between my four children and my very understanding husband. 

Author Links:

    

  

 

 Giveaway: 3 e-books of Keeper of the Lost Souls, Open Internationally! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway



 

Anomaly Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway

 

Welcome to my stop on the Anomaly blog tour hosted by YA Bound Book Tours. Click HERE to see the full blog tour schedule! 


Anomaly
Author: Krista McGee
Genre: YA Science Fiction/Dystopia
Release Date: July 9, 2013
Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Description:

Thalli has fifteen minutes and twenty-three seconds left to live. The toxic gas that will complete her annihilation is invading her bloodstream. But she is not afraid.

Thalli is different than others in The State. She feels things. She asks questions. And in the State, this is not tolerated. The Ten scientists who survived the nuclear war that destroyed the world above believe that emotion was at the core of what went wrong—and they have genetically removed it from the citizens they have since created. Thalli has kept her malformation secret from those who have monitored her for most of her life, but when she receives an ancient piece of music to record as her community’s assigned musician, she can no longer keep her emotions secreted away.

Seen as a threat to the harmony of her Pod, Thalli is taken to the Scientists for immediate annihilation. But before that can happen, Berk—her former Pod mate who is being groomed as a Scientist—steps in and persuades the Scientists to keep Thalli alive as a test subject.

The more time she spends in the Scientist’s Pod, the clearer it becomes that things are not as simple as she was programmed to believe. She hears stories of a Designer—stories that fill her mind with more questions: Who can she trust? What is this emotion called love? And what if she isn’t just an anomaly, but part of a greater design? 

Anomaly is a young adult science fiction/dystopia novel that begins as Thalli is counting down her final moments before death. The reader is then taken back in time to hear Thalli's story of how her world came to be the way it is, how she first learned she was an anomaly, and how this discovery both set her free and condemned her.

This was a captivating and enthralling novel that had me sucked into the story after the first paragraph. The setting is a dystopian new world after the aboveground has been destroyed following the Nuclear War. The author put a lot of world building and detail into described the dystopian world that Thalli lives in and how it came to be this way. I found myself fascinated by the world she created for the novel and I loved learning as much about it as I could. The characters were very drone-like, as they are programmed to be, so Thalli's character really stood out among them. She's a smart and strong lead character with an interesting personality and outlook on life. She is technically deemed defective by the Scientists who govern the State, but the Thalli realizes that feeling emotions and thinking for herself are a much better alternative than the life they are programmed to live. The plot was mesmerizing and I found myself eagerly reading to see what would happen next in this creepy new world. The scary part of this setting was that I could actually envision it happening to our world now, if things continue down the wrong road. This realization made the story all the more powerful. The writing was seamless and had a quick pace, so I flew through the pages in one sitting. I literally couldn't put it down! The entire package - setting, characters, plot, and the deeper topics of individuality, love, faith, and self discovery - all made for a superb addition to the YA dystopian genre. Highly recommended for fans of science fiction and dystopian novels as well as those looking for a unique book with a beautiful message.

Krista McGee’s passion to see teens excited about serving God is a driving force behind her novels. Ever since college when she spent a summer working at a youth camp, McGee knew she wanted to invest in teenagers. Since then she’s been involved in a variety of youth ministries and currently teaches at a Christian school in Tampa, FL.

McGee broke into the writing world during her time in Spain. A friend encouraged her to submit an article to a Christian girls’ magazine, and it got published. Once her family moved back to Tampa, she got the idea for her first novel, First Date, a modern take of the story of Esther. Her subsequent books, Starring Me and Right Where I Belong, are based on Rebekah and Ruth.

When Krista McGee isn’t living in fictional worlds of her own creation, she spends her days as a wife, mom, teacher and coffee snob.
Learn more about Krista McGee and her books at kristamcgeebooks.com. Readers can also become a fan on Facebook (krista.a.mcgee) or follow her on Twitter (@KristaMcGeeYA). 

Author Links:

    

      

Giveaway: (5) Print copies of Anomaly - US only!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway



 

Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway

Welcome to my stop on the Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend blog tour hosted by YA Bound Book Tours.  Click HERE to see the full blog tour schedule!

Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend (Confessions #2)

Author: Louise Rozett

Genre: YA Contemporary

Release Date: June 18, 2013

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Buy Links: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Description:

Rose Zarelli has big plans for sophomore year—everything is going to be different. This year, she’s going to be the talented singer with the killer voice, the fabulous girl with the fashionista best friend, the brainiac who refuses to let Jamie Forta jerk her around...

...but if she’s not careful, she’s also going to be the sister who misses the signals, the daughter who can only think about her own pain, the “good girl” who finds herself in mid-scandal again (because no good deed goes unpunished) and possibly worst of all...the almost-girlfriend.

When all else fails, stop looking for love and go find yourself. 

Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend is a fresh young adult contemporary novel that continues to follow leading lady Rose Zarelli as she attempts to navigate her way through high school. Rose has begun her sophomore year of school and she's determined that things will be better than last year. She has great plans for herself - to join the school musical, become the sassy version of herself that doesn't get walked all over, and to finally figure out where she and Jamie Forta stand. Only it seems that life might have other plans in store for Rose and if she's not careful she'll end up being the type of girl who misses out on a lot of other people's problems because she's too focused on her own.

This was a fantastic second installment in a highly entertaining and realistic YA contemporary series. Rose is a great main character - she's witty, smart, devoted to her friends, and yet she's also flawed in ways that many of us are. Her strengths and weaknesses are what makes her so realistic and easy to identify with - I found myself connecting with her right away. The high school setting is one so commonly used that it almost feels overdone, but the author writes about the ins and outs of school along with the dramatic events and feelings that the characters experience in such a powerful way that it felt like I was back in high school right alongside Rose. The book deals with deep and important issues such as homophobia, bullying, fear, guilt, drugs, peer pressure and so many other common teen problems that need to be dealt with more often. These topics were honestly dealt with in the book, so it felt realistic and not glazed over like some YA contemporary books do. Reading this novel brought back several memories of when I was in high school - it reminded me of the pain, humiliation, fear, and anxiety that the bullying and peer pressure brought, but it also reminded me of the good times - good friends, laughing at stupid things, crushes on boys and the small things that seemed bigger than life back then. The writing of the novel was superb and it was only the author's immense talent and vivid details that allowed me to travel to high school once again alongside Rose. Overall, this is one of the best YA contemporary books I've read - one that pits serious teen problems alongside witty dialogue and romance - in a way that was a real breath of fresh air in the genre. Highly recommended for fans of the genre and those looking for a great YA novel in general.

 

 Check out the first book in the series:

Confessions of an Angry Girl (Confessions #1)

Author: Louise Rozett

Genre: YA Contemporary

Release Date: August 28, 2012

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
 

Buy Links: Amazon / Barnes and Noble  

Description:
  Rose Zarelli, self-proclaimed word geek and angry girl, has some confessions to make…

1. I'm livid all the time. Why? My dad died. My mom barely talks. My brother abandoned us. I think I'm allowed to be irate, don't you?

2. I make people furious regularly. Want an example? I kissed Jamie Forta, a badass guy who might be dating a cheerleader. She is now enraged and out for blood. Mine.

3. High school might as well be Mars. My best friend has been replaced by an alien, and I see red all the time. (Mars is red and "seeing red" means being angry—get it?)

Here are some other vocab words that describe my life: Inadequate. Insufferable. Intolerable.

(Don't know what they mean? Look them up yourself.)

(Sorry. That was rude.)

Louise Rozett is an author, a playwright, and a recovering performer. She made her YA debut with Confessions of an Angry Girl, published by Harlequin Teen. The next book in the series, Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend, is due out June 2013. She lives with her 120-pound Bernese Mountain dog Lester (named after Lester Freamon from THE WIRE, of course) in one of the world's greatest literary meccas, Brooklyn...and also in sunny Los Angeles. (Being bi-coastal is fun!) Visit www.Louiserozett.com for more info. 

Website│Blog│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook│Pinterest

One lucky winner will get a signed copy of ANGRY GIRL, a signed copy of ALMOST-GIRLFRIEND, and a $25 iTunes gift card! (US only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway


 

Book Blitz & Giveaway: Triangles by Kimberly Ann Miller

Triangles
Author: Kimberly Ann Miller
Release Date: June 18, 2013
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Summary from Goodreads: 
 
A cruise ship. A beautiful island. Two sexy guys. What could possibly go wrong?

In the Bermuda Triangle—a lot.

Hoping to leave behind the reminders of her crappy life--her father's death years ago, her mother's medical problems, and the loser who’s practically stalking her--seventeen-year-old Autumn Taylor hops on a ship with her sister for a little distraction. When she wakes up in the Bermuda Triangle, she fears she's gone nuts for more than one reason: that loser’s suddenly claiming they're a happy couple... a hot guy is wrapping his arms around her and saying "Happy Anniversary"... and suddenly, she’s full of bruises, losing her hair, and getting IV medication. Autumn visits the ship's doctor, hoping for a pill or a shot to make the craziness go away. Instead, she's warned that these "alternate realities" could become permanent.

She just has to ask herself one question—how the hell is she going to get out of this mess?

   

“Are you all right, honey?”

I opened my eyes. An attractive young woman with red hair and brilliant

green eyes was looking at me. What I thought was salt water from the

ocean must have been tears because my face was the only one nearby that

was wet. I glanced at her concerned expression and smiled. “Yes, thank

you. I’m fine.” I swiped away a tear with my finger. “Just…everything’s

fine.”

She stepped closer and lowered her voice. “This cruise will change

your life. Nothing will be the same when it’s over, but it will be worth it.

You’ll see.” Her emerald eyes twinkled, and she nodded her head once.

I forced a laugh to be polite. “Thanks. Enjoy your cruise.”

What a weirdo. What did that even mean? How could a cruise change

my life? I moved from my spot to avoid more weirdness from her and

found a less populated area at the back of the ship. New York and New

Jersey disappeared behind us as we charged toward Bermuda and away

from the mess my life had become.

A cloud covered the retreating sun, sending shivers through me. A

white-haired lady dropped her purse and lots of change tumbled out. A

penny hit my foot and landed on tails.

My cell phone buzzed. I pulled it from my pocket. I had thirteen

messages and thirteen texts. How would Nisha survive the next five days

without hearing from me? I took care of the messages and told her I’d call

her when we got back to Jersey.

Even though I was not very superstitious, a bad feeling crawled into

the pit of my stomach and took up residence.

I knew what I was leaving behind, but what was I floating toward?

Kimberly Miller received Bachelor's degrees from Georgian Court University and Rutgers University and a Master's degree from The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. She is an avid reader and particularly enjoys true crime and young adult novels. She grew up in New Jersey and currently resides in Monmouth County with her husband and three cats. When she’s not writing, she loves to travel to sunny islands where she snorkels by day and stargazes by night. She always takes her Nook with her. 

Website│Twitter│Goodreads│Facebook│Tumblr

(2) $10 gift card to Amazon or Barnes and Noble
Spencer Hill Press is also doing a giveaway for a cruise!  Click HERE to enter to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway