Real Mermaids Love the Holidays Blog Tour: Guest Post

Real Mermaids Festive Treats

Hi everyone! Jade here from Real Mermaids. 


One of my favorite things about the upcoming holidays is the great treats we get to make and share. I love food so much, in fact, that I included a recipe for some of my favourite snacks in each of the Real Mermaids books.


My friend Cori and I thought we’d experiment a bit and ‘holiday-ize’ each recipe for you!


In my upcoming book, Real Mermaids Don’t Need High Heels (out Feb 1st, 2013), my cutie friend Luke came up with a genius campfire treat he called Peanut Butter Cup S’mores. Here’s a cookie version my friend Rachel shared with me, which I think would be PERFECT around a crackling fireplace (indoors!). 

Peanut Butter S’more Bites

Beat together:

- 1 cup butter

- 1 cup peanut butter

- 1/2 cup sugar

- 1/2 cup brown sugar

- 1 tsp vanilla

- 1 egg

Then add:

- 1 1/3 cup flour

- 1 tsp baking soda

- 1/4 tsp salt 

Drop into mini muffin tins and bake for 8 minutes at 350F. Remove from oven, place 3 mini marshmallows on top and return to oven for 1 minute. Cool. Drizzle with melted chocolate and try not to lick your fingers...



Happy treats and have a great holiday, everyone!


Love,


Jade 

About the Series:

Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings (Real Mermaids #1)

Author: Helene Boudreau

Genre: YA Fantasy

Release Date: December 10, 2010

Description:

First zit. First crush. First…mermaid’s tail?

If she hadn’t been so clueless, she might have seen it coming. But really, who expects to get into a relaxing bathtub after a stressful day of shopping for tankinis and come out with scales and a tail?

Most. Embarassing. Moment. Ever.

Jade soon discovers she inherited her mermaid tendencies from her mom. But this revelation raises a serious question: if Mom was a mermaid, how did she drown?

Jade is determined to find out. But how does a plus-sized, aqua-phobic, mer-girl go about doing that, exactly? And how will Jade ever be able to explain her secret to her best friend Cori, and her crush, Luke?

This summer is about to get a lot more interesting…    

Real Mermaids Don't Hold Their Breath (Real Mermaids #2)

Release Date: May 1, 2012

Description:

Jade begins her summer confused. Yes, there's that whole "will this be a leg-day or a tail-day" kind of confusion, but Jade's got even bigger problems: it's been three weeks since Mom returned to the ocean with no news of her whereabouts. Plus, it's been twenty-one days since Jade first kissed her mer-boy Luke and now-nothing.

Will Mom find the enchanted tidal pool that will allow her to become human? And why is Luke acting so weird?

The SEAquel to Helene Boudreau's critically acclaimed Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings is as energetic and fresh as a salty sea breeze. 

Real Mermaids Don't Need High Heels (Real Mermaids #3)

Release Date: February 1, 2013

Description:

  

In Real Mermaids Don’t Need High Heels, Jade is finally ready for life to return to normal—even if starting ninth grade is like being a goldfish in a shark tank and being asked to the school dance means Jade must get over her fear of awkward dancing.

But just as Jade settles into high school life, there is unrest in the ocean, and the whole mer-world is on the brink of civil war. Can Jade find a plus-sized dress that doesn’t look like a shower curtain, keep her mer-ness a secret, and finally figure out if she and Luke are officially dating? Who knew being a high school freshman is even more awkward than being a plus-sized aqua-phobic mer-girl?

    

About the Author:

Hélène Boudreau never spotted a real mermaid while growing up on an island surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, but she believes mermaids are just as plausible as giant squids, flying fish, or electric eels. She now writes fiction and nonfiction for kids from her landlocked home in Ontario, Canada. Her first book of this series, Real Mermaids Don’t Wear Toe Rings, was a 2011 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award finalist. Learn more about Helene at www.heleneboudreau.com.

  

Barely Alive Blog Tour: Series Spotlight & Giveaway

 

Barely Alive (Barely Alive #1)
Author: Bonnie R. Paulson
Genre: YA Fantasy/Horror
Release Date: March 26, 2012

Buy Links:   Amazon   Barnes & Noble

Description:

In twelve weeks, seventeen-year-old Paul Ledger will be dead. At least he hopes so.

Paul is trapped in the worst cult the United States has ever seen. Infected with a zombie virus, symptoms culminate in a dead body but thriving mind over a course of twelve weeks. If he doesn’t earn the final death he longs for, he’ll be chained in a basement facility, moaning for human flesh for eternity.

Sent out to kidnap girls for food, toys, or whatever the boss wants, Paul nabs Heather McCain. He’s not a fan of humans as a general rule, but even his graying skin and insatiable hunger for her flesh don’t stop her from reaching out to him. Give him the second chance he doesn’t know he needs.

Overcome by his cravings, Paul bites her delectable skin. Amazingly, she doesn’t develop the zombie-like side effects. When the boss discovers Heather’s immunity, he gives Paul an ultimatum – deliver up Heather and her family to continue the research or watch as Paul’s brother suffers the zombie fate.

Paul has a chance to endure his short zombie existence knowing his brother is safe. But he’ll have to sacrifice Heather to do it.  

Falling Apart (Barely Alive #2)
Author: Bonnie R. Paulson
Release Date: September 2012

Buy Links:   Amazon   Barnes & Noble

Description:

Days slip through Paul’s graying fingers. Humanity faces the end. His brother has the virus and is dying, too.

Paul’s hopes ride on Heather’s genetic code. Her immunity leaves her unchanged and untouchable. What would she see in the zombie he was becoming anyway?

Dominic’s army of infected grows, capturing the south and leaving little alive in its wake.

While Paul and his friends work on the vaccine, protecting the north becomes protecting the world. Heather is taken hostage and Paul races toward Dominic to save his heart.

With his time “alive” shortened, Paul must do more than protect the uninfected. He has to get his brother and Heather back to Sandpoint before the zombies find them. Paul needs to survive the upcoming war before he finds himself defecting to the other side and leaving Heather to Dominic’s mercy.

He has three days to get the cure or he might as well find a fire to call home.

*This has mature themes and language. Not for young or pre-teens.*  

Mostly Dead (Barely Alive #3)
Author: Bonnie R. Paulson
Release Date: October 31, 2012

Buy Links:   Amazon    Barnes & Noble

Description:

Time is running out and Paul’s original wish for death looms.
As his skin grays and hunger becomes uncontrollable, the world burns.

Heather and Paul have fallen for each other, but with life and death barricading them apart, and the potential cure disappearing into time, they have no hope.

Paul’s hunger is all-consuming. He has to walk into the flames, join Dominic, or eat everyone he loves.

Can he save anyone, if not himself?  

About the Author:

Bonnie R. Paulson mixes her science and medical background with reality and possibilities to make even myths seem likely and give every romance the genetic strength to survive. Bonnie has discovered a dark and twisty turn in her writing that she hopes you enjoy as much as she has enjoyed uncovering it. Dirt biking with her family in the Northwest keeps her sane.  

Author Links:

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 Giveaway: (1) ebook copy of Barely Alive - Open Internationally!
 

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Annabelle's Story Blog Tour: Spotlight, Review & Giveaway

Series Summary:

Annabelle Walsh thought she had it all. She was the star of her swim team, had a loving family, a great boyfriend, and to top it off, she’d be starting at UCLA in the fall. One day, she’d be referred to as Dr. Annabelle Walsh.

She was living every girl’s dream – until her life was turned upside down. All starting with finding out that she's not just a human, but also a water spirit. Half-human, half-sprite to be exact. Although not just any sprite, Annabelle is prophesied to be the only one who can save both the sprites and mankind.

With a mix of current events, anecdotes from Greek mythology, tidbits of folklore, and Leigh’s own imagination, we join Annabelle in her journey to restore order beneath the sea. Each step of the way her mind, body, and soul are pushed to the limit begging the question, how much can one half-human, half-sprite take?


Sprite Review:

Sprite is the first book in the young adult fantasy series, Annabelle's Story. It follows the main character, Annabelle Walsh, as her entire life comes crashing down around her when she learns she is actually half water sprite. On top of this bomb, she learns that she isn't just any half sprite, she is the one prophesied about - the one who will save humans and sprites alike. Will Annabelle be able to accept her fate and save the world?

I found this book to be a fast-paced and fun read with tons of adventure and great fantasy characters. I found it interesting how the author presented the sprite culture and their history. There are tons of mermaid books out there, but the water sprites brought a unique and refreshing feel to the fantasy genre in young adult fiction.

This story was somewhat predictable but had great twists and adventures that I didn't see coming. I easily reconnected to Annabelle and identified with her early in the story. The ending was a good fit for a first in a series - it doesn't leave the ending too closed and it doesn't leave too many questions unanswered either. All in all, Sprite is a great start to a fun and interesting series. Fans of fantasy YA fiction and mermaid lore will love this series.

Kin Review:

Kin is the second book in the Annabelle's Story series and picks up right where the first book left off. The story continues effortlessly from each book into the next, which makes for great flow. The characters grow and gain more depth with the second novel, which makes them all the more realistic and easy to root for.

I really liked how the author explained the back story of the sprite culture and history. She went above and beyond by not just writing about sprites, but including other interesting beings, which I thought added a lot of uniqueness to the series. The series deals with serious issues that all readers can identify with; ones like family, friends, fate, courage, love, and responsibility. It's a fresh voice in the fantasy and young adult genre.This is a wonderfully fun and interesting series that fans of YA fantasy will definitely enjoy!
 

 

PROMOTIONAL SPOTLIGHT:

Annabelle's Story by Leigh Michael

Annabelle Walsh thought she had it all. She was the star of her swim team, had a loving family, a great boyfriend, and to top it off, she’d be starting at UCLA in the fall. One day, she’d be referred to as Dr. Annabelle Walsh.

She was living every girl’s dream – until her life was turned upside down. All starting with finding out that she's not just a human, but also a water spirit. Half-human, half-sprite to be exact. Although not just any sprite, Annabelle is prophesied to be the only one who can save both the sprites and mankind.
 

With a mix of current events, anecdotes from Greek mythology, tidbits of folklore, and Leigh’s own imagination, we join Annabelle in her journey to restore order beneath the sea. Each step of the way her mind, body, and soul are pushed to the limit begging the question, how much can one half-human, half-sprite take? 

 

"I quickly got sucked into the world Leigh Michael created." 

Excerpt from Annabelle's Story

It was odd; people have always said that your life flashed before your eyes when you die. 

But mine didn’t. All I thought about was a story I’d heard as a lifeguard — from a guy who drowned and was brought back to life through CPR.

He said after a few minutes he gradually sunk. It was because little by little all the air had left his lungs. He felt his lungs aching to be replenished, making his heart quicken.

Then the only thing left for him to do was inhale. He had no choice, his body instinctively breathed. It didn’t matter that he was under water. But after he did, the water burned his throat as it went down, it filled his lungs, and then he died.

Right on cue, my body forced me to inhale. 

"I think Leigh Michael is a YA author to keep your eye on."

Buy Annabelle's Story:

Sprite can be purchased at: Amazon Barnes & Noble

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Kin can be purchased at: Amazon Barnes & Noble

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About Leigh:

Leigh Michael is an author of YA fiction. She's worked within the advertising world for nearly a decade before writing her debut series, Annabelle's Story. Leigh lives in Washington, DC with her husband and goldendoodle. Be sure to stop by her site on October 31st for a special Trick or Treat surprise.

Author Links:

Website

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Email

Amazon

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