Cover Reveal: By The Fates, Fought by Patricia D. Eddy

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Title: By the Fates, Fought
Author: Patricia D. Eddy
Genre: Paranormal Romantic Suspense
Audience: 18+
Formats: eBook
Publisher: Patricia D. Eddy
Cover By: Ravven
Editor: Clare C. Marshall
Pages: 400 pages estimated.
Date to be published: 18 March, 2014
 
 
 
 












 
blurb

Spring in Gralvein brings Ealasaid peace. Six months to the day Raven found her shackled and tortured in the devil's lair, their public handfasting is the happiest day of her life. But a storm is coming. Devils join King Eideard's Guarda and watch Ealasaid constantly. Faolan's spies report Lobhdain is plotting. What is this mystical artifact he searches for?
When the devils attack and one of their allies disappears, Raven and Ealasaid fear they will never be safe. Can they manage a daring rescue? Or will Ealasaid lose everything she holds dear?
By the Fates, Fought is the second novel in the By the Fates trilogy. It contains several disturbing scenes, including brief descriptions of rape and torture and is meant for mature audiences. It ends on a cliffhanger. By the Fates, Fulfilled will be released in Fall of 2014.
 
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author
clip_image006Patricia D. Eddy has been a writer all of her life. She used to sit at her parents' kitchen counter at an Apple IIe typing out short stories. She even wrote a few on their old typewriter. But it wasn't until NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) in 2011 that she ever came close to finishing a story she started.
Once that dam broke, the flood waters never receded. Patricia sits down to write every evening after dinner and quite often sees midnight come and go before she heads to bed. She doesn't sleep much. But she wouldn't have it any other way.
In her spare (HA!) time she runs, bikes, swims, yogas, pilates-es, reads, and is terribly addicted to Doctor Who and Sherlock. Apparently she has a thing for quirky British men.
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The Liebster Blog Award


Karina from Watcha Reading was so generous in nominating me for the Liebster Blog Award! I'm so excited for this. And the idea of being able to use Jennifer Lawrence award ceremony gifs sealed the deal with me accepting it!




  I spent some time on Google after Karina nominated me, and there are fifty thousand variations in the rules and what's expected of the recipients. So, I'm going to just graciously borrow exactly what Karina did in her post.


The Rules:
  • List 11 facts about yourself.
  • Answer the 11 questions chosen by the person who nominated you.
  • Ask 11 new questions to 11 bloggers. They must have less than 200 followers. (You cannot re-nominate the blog that nominated you.)
  • Go to their blog and inform them.

Eleven Little Things:
1. I have a cat, Absinthe Maye or Abi for short, that I adore. My beau (Chris) and I lovingly refer to her as our daughter. At night, she and I both wind up sleeping on top of Chris. He's yet to complain. Such a keeper.
Yes, she plays GTA: San Andreas on the PS2. Boss.

2. My hometown is also the hometown of the first impeached President of the United States, Andrew Johnson! And I'm really proud of it. I love going downtown to visit his National Park Site which includes his homestead, tailor shop, and grave.

3. Because I grew up next door to a Presidential grave, I have started my own little travel challenge to visit all of the US Presidential Graves. I've gotten through around half of them so far, and I love, love, love doing it. Thomas Jefferson's grave has been my favorite.

4. My town is small, and I visit my favorite my favorite restaurant so much that they have my order memorized. It's the ultimate comfort food. Steak and chicken fajitas with extra peppers and tomatoes.

5. My middle name is Noel because I was conceived around Christmas. (Thanks for that fun fact, parents!)

6. But Christmas is my favorite holiday. I still believe in Santa. He isn't just a guy in a jolly red suit. Santa is anyone willing to go out of their way to make someone else feel the holiday spirit.

7. Chris and I have already made a promise to each other that once we have a child, we're going to surprise them on Christmas morning with a trip to Disney World.

8. I am huge fan of football. Last year, I was lucky enough to be in Baltimore to experience my team (Go Ravens!) winning the Superbowl with the rest of our awesome fanbase. They returned to Charm City like kings!

9. I'm not a fan of chocolate unless it's chocolate covered strawberries.

10. If I'm not reading or blogging, I'm lurking on Reddit. /r/AskReddit is my favorite sub. I can get lost there for hours.

11. I have a very weird nervous habit of munching on raw angel hair pasta. Sometimes I'll do it just because. I've been doing it since I was a kid.


The Questions from Karina:

1. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why?

I'm having a hard time singling out one place. I want to go to every place. My top two that I flip between are London and Bruges, Belgium. I'm a fan of the Royal Family, and I've love to experience it's history in and around London. And Bruges is a medieval dream come true.

Bruges, Belgium

2. What supernatural creature would you be? Werewolf, vampire, witch, shapeshifter, etc. Why?

Without a doubt, I'd be a vampire. Having an eternity on Earth to be a part of history and experience it all unfold? Yes, please. Whenever I get bored with watching that, there are always plenty of books to keep me company. Just please don't make me be of the sparkling variety.

3. If you could be a character in a book, who would you be and why?

Wow. This one is really hard. I'm going with Gandalf from Lord of the Rings. I know; he's a boy. Whatevs. Cool staff? Check. Badass blade? Check. Fireworks? Check. Associating with hobbits, elves, and the like? Check. Endless adventure opportunities? Check. Shadowfax? Check.

4. What book character would you want to be stuck on an island with and why?

Easy. Aragorn from Lord of the Rings. He's a ranger, so we would never lack the basic necessities (shelter, water, warmth, and food). If we run across any unsavory creatures (I'm looking at you, Gollum), he could protect me. And if I'm bored, I'll gladly let him sing me to sleep. 

That face.

5. Why did you choose to start blogging?

I love reading. I always have. And whenever I started noticing people linking to their blogs on Goodreads, it was an "oh, hey!" moment. A place to rant and praise books with endless gifs? Sign me right up. And the community is amazing. That's a definite perk that I didn't realize at the beginning.

6. Who's your favorite author? Why?


That man right there, J.R.R. Tolkien. I cannot praise him enough. He gave me a place that will forever feel like home. No matter how many times I pick up one of his works, my respect always grows for him. He gave me the gift of falling in love with reading at a young age, and I will forever be grateful to him for that. He's such an extraordinary writer. And I'm so inspired by his work as a linguist. For Christmas, Chris gave me a copy of Letters from Father Christmas. Reading the letters that he wrote to his children whilst pretending to be Father Christmas left me in tears. He's such a remarkable person. I have to stop myself now or I'll never stop writing and crying. Thank you, J.R.R. Tolkien. You welcomed me into your world of Middle Earth and allowed it to become my home, too.

7. If you could control an element, which would you want to have? Water, fire, earth, air, electricity?

Why can't I pick all of them?! Honestly, I'd probably pick air. My knee jerk reaction was to say fire, but I feel like it's too destructive. Air can definitely be destructive, but I feel like it isn't as uncontrollable as fire. And if I control air, I could surely figure out a way to allow myself to fly. 

8. If there was an apocalypse and you could only keep 5 books, which would you choose?

Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Zombie Survival Guide, Boy Scout Handbook, and The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe.

9. What is something you can't live without? (Besides blogging and books)

I'm going to assume that Chris and our cat aren't included in this either. A pencil. I cannot live without a pencil. I'm always scribbling notes and to-do lists on stuff. Or if I have a weird dream or random idea, I immediately want to write them down. And I love leaving notes around the house and cars for Chris to find. I'm not a fan of pens, so definitely a pencil.

10. What is a book you're dying to read in 2014?

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. And lucky me, I have it sitting next to me! After I catch up on blogging, I'm going to disappear for the day with this book. I have heard so many good things about it. I cannot wait!

11. If you could enter a book world, what book world would it be? Why?

Middle Earth without a doubt. Specifically, I want to go to Rivendell. It's always felt like home to me since I first read Lord of the Rings. That's my entire reasoning. It's home.



11 Questions for my nominees:

1. If you could have dinner with one character from your favorite book, who would it be? Why?
2. Do you prefer hardback or paperback?
3. Which author would you want to be best friends with? Why?
4. What's your favorite book to movie adaptation?
5. Which book do you want to see turned into a movie that hasn't been yet? Why?
6. What book has had the biggest impact on your life? Why?
7. You get one week to do whatever you want. Money isn't an issue, and there are no consequences for what you do. So, what do you spend your week doing?
8. What's the one place (real or fictional) that you want to runaway to?
9. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life as many times as you wanted, which one would you pick?
10. You get to have one super power. What's it going to be and why?
11. Vanilla or chocolate?


My Nominees:
1. Terri at Second Run Reviews
2. Alice at The YA Buzz
3. Jordan at Jordy Paige Books
4. Jenn at Tale of Two Doxies
6. Jackie at Bibliobrat
7. Elizabeth at Redhead Reader
10. Aneta at Angelic Book Reviews
11. Candy at So little time...

Feature & Follow #4: The One I've Been Waiting For!

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!






Change the plot. If you could, what book would you change the ending or a plot thread? Go ahead and do it... Change it.

  I'm not the biggest fan of Twilight. The first three books were eh. Just eh for me. But Breaking Dawn was a mess. I would revamp the entire last book of the series. No Renesmee (who names their kid that, anyway?!) and no creepy infant imprint. No anti-climatic non-battle. I wanted to see blood, guts, and death. The movie, even though it was a cop-out and not real, delivered that for me. Mostly though, I'd do away with Renesmee. I've always hated that whole part of the story. Hate me for it, but she was creepy.


Case in point; this picture.

Nope, nope, nope. 


Alright, you've listened to me rant. Hit me up with yours in the comments!

Review: Dissever by Tracey Ward


Dissever
by Tracey Ward

Genres: Young Adult, New Adult, Paranormal Romance

I have ever and always been perfectly and soundly in love with Ro.

Annabel Lee is growing up in the court of a hidden kingdom, one shrouded from the wars that ravish the outside world. Her father is cruel, her mother is kind and her heart now and always belongs to her greatest friend, Roarke. But he's an Outsider, an unwanted on the island, his people's existence the product of a horrible night over a hundred years ago. A night when an age old treaty was broken. When the sky rained fire and the sea raged deadly.

When tragedy strikes and a horrible accident leaves her friend broken and scarred, Anna begins to wonder if the "safety" of this hidden island is worth the price they pay. A price she herself is now expected to pay in full. 

Can she save herself and an island that doesn't want saving? To even try, she'll have to fight fate, defy the gods and seek the help of an outsider. Of the love she cannot have. The one she will not live without.

*A Young Adult - New Adult supernatural romance based on the Edgar Allen Poe poem "Annabel Lee"
- Dissever on Goodreads


First Sentence:
When I met Roarke, I was deep in hiding.

Last Sentence:
But she's gone.


  Before I even begin this review, you have to know how much I adore Edgar Allan Poe. I've visited his grave in Baltimore numerous times (where I saw the last appearance of the Poe Toaster!), I have duplicate copies of his work littering most of the surfaces in my home, and I'm even planning on using some of his lines in my wedding vows. Yes. This obsession goes deep. (And it doesn't hurt that the hubby to be shares Poe's middle name. Score!) So whenever my favorite Indie author announced she was writing a book inspired by Annabel Lee, I was a bit afraid. I knew I would have high standards for it. Tracey did not disappoint. No. She went above and beyond.
  
  This story... This story is so good. I felt like I got to know Anna so well throughout the course of this book, and I was left sobbing when it ended. There isn't just a plot; it's a lifelong journey that you get to witness. And it's beautiful. 

  The flow of the story never felt hindered by the details I learned along the way. Tracey developed such a fully thought out world, and it was incredible. As I read along, I discovered more and more about this world. I was fascinated by the story of the Tem Aedha and how they wound up on the island. There's an entire world to discover, but I never felt like Tracey was subjecting me to an information dump. She perfectly mastered giving details when needed and keeping the story fresh.

  Anna and Ro made me swoon. Their story was not the usual cookie cutter romance. It was tragic from the first day they met, and I adored it. Whenever I reached the tattoo scene, I had to stop and weep. It was so beautiful. Tracey did a wonderful job at writing a romance that stands out against so many others in this genre.

  I cannot praise Dissever and Tracey Ward enough. This woman is a force to be reckoned with. If I could, I'd recommend this book to every person ever. Yes. It's that good. Don't believe me? Pick up a copy and see for yourself!

Find Dissever on: Goodreads | Amazon
Connect with Tracey Ward on: Goodreads | Facebook | Author Website


Cover Reveal: Journey of the Princess of Ice by LaVerne Thompson

Title: Journey of the Princess of Ice
Author: LaVerne Thompson
Series: The Elementals 
Genre: New Adult/ Fantasy/ Graphic Novel
Publisher: Isisindc Publishing, LLC
Release Date: TBA 
Blurb/Synopsis: 


What happens when fire meets ice?

Ice had traveled the realms for centuries searching for the ice elementals, others of her kind but she was alone always alone. Never staying one place for long because sooner or later her mere presence caused the temperature of the land to drop to a killing freeze. Until she found the one place her powers had no effect. And perhaps the one being who could counter her freeze.
Running from a destiny not of his own choosing, Arch finally found the one person who could make him stop running. But Ice must never learn the truth. A fire demon destroyed her world and he was his father’s son.


LaVerne Thompson is the mother of two college age kids, so weird to read that. A wife, a former intellectual property attorney, a multi-published best-selling author of contemporary, fantasy, and sci/fi sensual romances and avid reader of same. She also writes romantic suspense and new adult contemporary under Ursula Sinclair.

Her stories are available from Amazon, All Romance E-books, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Smashwords as well as her publishers. Visit her at http://lavernethompson.com to learn more.

WWW Wednesday #4

Hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions...
  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you'll read next?

What are you currently reading?
  The fabulous and generous Tracey Ward sent me a copy of Backs Against the Wall, the follow-up to Writing on the Wall. It is so good and way more than I expected! And I'm slowly making my way through Unspoken by Amy Richie for an upcoming blog tour!

What did you recently finish reading?
  I feel like I've finished a thousand books since last week. And I honestly enjoyed every single one of them! That's always a nice feeling.

What do you think you'll read next?
  Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn will be my next read. I've wanted to read it for awhile now, and I accidentally found it at my local library! And it'll help towards my Amazon 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime Reading Challenge

Happy Wednesday, ya'll!

Review: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows


The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

Genre: Historical Fiction

“ I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.” January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb….

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.

Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.

Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.
- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society on Goodreads
First Sentence:
Susan Scott is a wonder.

Last Sentence:
His much-vaunted shyness has evaporated completely-I think it was a ploy to arouse my sympathies.


  I have so many conflicting feelings after reading this book in terms of reviewing it. At times, I thought it'd be a definite five stars. While at other times, I felt like it was a chore to read this one. After finishing it, I felt three stars was a good middle of the road, honest rating for my experience with reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

  The writing style of this book is epistolary. Don't get me wrong, I usually love reading books like this. But my problem with the use of it in this book is that nearly every character sounded the exact same in their letters. I would have to double and triple check who the correspondence was between while reading through the letters because no one has a unique voice. It was frustrating, to say the least. The few times that a character was able to break out their own voice and add something more to the story were the only times I truly enjoyed this book. But those moments were few and far between.

  Some of the characters in this book are great. You turn each page hoping to learn something new about them. But the others including the main character? Not so much. I felt like there were a few examples of writing a character too perfectly, Juliet and Elizabeth being the main examples. Everyone was so quickly enamored with Juliet and Elizabeth except for the one horrid lady who no one liked anyway!

  The plot of this book isn't very plausible in my eyes. Though while I was reading it, I wished it was. One of the draws that kept me turning pages was the elementary school dream of having a pen pal in some place you've barely even heard of before. (Come on, I know you all wanted a pen pal!) But these letters being sent as rapidly as they were for the time period was not a reality. And I don't believe the decision to waltz off to Guernsey after corresponding with strangers would have been handled that lightly.

  All in all, this book had potential. I won't deny that I enjoyed it at times. It made me learn more about the occupation of Guernsey during WWII, and if a book teaches you something you're better for have finishing it. But I felt like the pretty bow that tied up the end of story so perfectly was the explanation for this book as a whole. It was too perfect, too sweet, and too light for some of the subjects that it covers. If you want a light historical read set in the aftermath of WWII, I'd hesitantly recommend this one. It's rather short, so it'd be a quick read.

Find The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society on: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Review: Maybe Baby by Ashlinn Craven


Maybe Baby
by Ashlinn Craven

Genre: Chick Lit

Uber-organized Polly Malone leaves nothing to chance. Running her web design company on a shoestring, she's determined to make it a success. Her career plan doesn't include a man or a family. When she's approached by a stranger with an unusual request, she hasn't the heart—or the bank balance—to refuse. 

Sexy, wealthy, top London games entrepreneur Julian Ripley is battling for control of the company he built and picking up the pieces of his post-divorce life. But his sister makes a plea he can't refuse. 

When Polly and Julian meet in a dusty post office, feelings spark to life, but each harbors a secret—one that both binds and repels. 

Caught between family and commitments, can their love survive or is it inconceivable?
- Maybe Baby on Goodreads

First Sentence:
Polly scrunched her toes in agitation as she looked around the stifling fertility clinic waiting room.

Last Sentence:
"Almost inconceivable."


  Polly Malone is good at taking precautions. But whenever she winds up in a fertility clinic to freeze her eggs, a stranger makes a request of her that sends her world into a tailspin. As Polly gears up to donate her eggs to a lesbian couple, she begins to realize exactly how much she'd have to sacrifice. 

  This book was adorable. I loved reading the thoughts of Polly and Julian as the book progressed. Ashlinn Craven did a masterful job at pacing the story. From the very beginning, you're thrust into the life of Polly effortlessly. As you learn more about her, you will grow to love her as I did. Whenever I had the opportunity to follow along from Julian's point of view, it added a whole different layer to the story. I'm so happy that Ashlinn wrote Maybe Baby this way.

  The subject matter in this book was some heavy stuff, and I think that Ashlinn Craven handled it well. She had clearly researched her topic. I was never left feeling like part of the story was missing because a lack of details. Everything you need to know to follow along Polly's journey was provided flawlessly.

  I loved how Ashlinn wrote the characters in this story. She took the time to really develop them, and the readers are rewarded with such well rounded characters to discover. Their motives were explained in a logical way. Too often, a plot is ignored for the sake of wrapping up the small details. But no such thing happened with Maybe Baby.

  I highly recommend this book to any fan of chick lit. If you're a fan of Bridget Jones' Diary, you'll love this one. It's a fun read with the perfect happily ever after.

Find Maybe Baby on: Goodreads | Amazon | Kobo | Barnes & Noble
Connect with Ashlinn Crave on: Goodreads | Author Website | Twitter

**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Ashlinn Craven.

Amazon's 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime Reading Challenge



I'm sure everyone out there has heard about Amazon's list of 100 books that we're supposed to read over the course of our life. (If you're living under a rock, click here.) I've decided to challenge myself to read through their list. I'm not applying any sort of time limit to myself for this endeavor, nor am I promising to review every book on the list. I've actually got a head start. Out of the 100 books, I've read eleven. Not much of a head start, but I'll take it. Around 30 of the books are already on my TBR list, so there's that.

  Books I've already read on the list:
  1. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
  2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
  3. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
  4. Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
  5. The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank
  6. The Giver by Lois Lowry
  7. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
  8. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
  9. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
  10. Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
  11. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Books I plan on reading in the near future:
  1. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
  2. 1984 by George Orwell
  3. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
  4. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
  5. Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain 

  What do you guys think about Amazon's list? Let me know how many of the books you've read in the comments below!

Review: The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

The Gathering 
by Kelley Armstrong

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal

Sixteen-year-old Maya is just an ordinary teen in an ordinary town. Sure, she doesn't know much about her background - the only thing she really has to cling to is an odd paw-print birthmark on her hip - but she never really put much thought into who her parents were or how she ended up with her adopted parents in this tiny medical-research community on Vancouver Island.

Until now.

Strange things have been happening in this claustrophobic town - from the mountain lions that have been approaching Maya to her best friend's hidden talent for "feeling" out people and situations, to the sexy new bad boy who makes Maya feel...different. Combine that with a few unexplained deaths and a mystery involving Maya's biological parents and it's easy to suspect that this town might have more than its share of skeletons in its closet.
- The Gathering on Goodreads

First Sentence:
Serena stood on the rock ledge twenty feet above the lake, singing in a voice known to bring tears to the eyes of everyone who heard it.

Last Sentence:
The helicopter wobbled once, then lifted off.


  Tucked away on the secluded Vancouver Island, Maya and her friends live what they deem to be a normal life. But as secrets from the past begin to unravel under the looming presence of the St. Cloud Medical Research Facility, everyone begins to question life as they know it. Will the past be the undoing of Maya's normal life?

  I'm a huge fan of The Darkest Powers series by Kelley Armstrong, and this book is the first in the spin-off series, Darkness Rising. I liked The Gathering well enough, but something was missing for me. Kelley's writing is as good as always. The plot twists never stopped coming. My majority of time spent reading this, I was biting my lip trying to work out what was really going on. This one will keep you on the edge of your seat.

  Honestly, I think my problem with The Gathering is that even though the plot is well-developed and flows, it's not as quick paced as The Summoning. The entire time I was reading it, I kept waiting for the big OH! moment, but it never came. The ending is really sudden, and it ends on a brutal cliffhanger. Nothing, and I mean nothing, is resolved. I haven't started the second book of the series yet, but I can almost promise that I'll be saying the two should have been combined to make the story feel more complete.

  The characters in The Gathering are likable. They don't fall prey to many of the YA stereotypes. Maya makes for an interesting main character, but I was constantly yelling at her to piece the puzzle together more quickly. There's a larger group of characters in this series rather than the handful in The Darkest Powers. It makes a very refreshing dynamic, and I looked forward to seeing several of the characters pop up as the book progressed.

  All in all, if you were a fan of The Darkest Powers by Kelley Armstrong, give this book a chance. It's a different change of pace, but Armstrong's incredible writing will still draw you in. Just be patient. The action comes around at the last minute, and it's a wild ride.

Find The Gathering on: Goodreads | Amazon | Kobo | Barnes & Noble
Connect with Kelley Armstrong on: Goodreads | Amazon | Author Website

Release Day Blitz: Even Hippies Get the Blues by Michel Lee King


Even Hippies Get The Blues
by Michel Lee King
Official Release Date: February 21, 2014
202 Pages
Humorous Romance/Literary Humor
Target Audience: Adult Women, New Adult

“Sometimes peace can only come through chaos.”
Amy thought she had it all together. Her goals were set and she was working toward them seamlessly while practicing her peace-loving philosophy.
Her world of blissful ignorance crumbles when Travis, a blond paramedic with a body that can stop a truck, waltzes in to open her eyes... Just after Murphy, and his pesky law, paint a target on her back.
How many times can a waitress be interrogated in one day? Just how much orange acrylic paint can get caught in dreads before an interview? How does one retain their composure while dripping paint nude in their living room and staring down a trespassing police officer?
Excerpt:
Laying in my womb-like chrysalis, I returned the phone call. On the third ring, my best friend answered. “Hey Amy. How’s it going? Why didn’t you answer?”

I started laughing hysterically at the situation. “I’ve been taken hostage by my sheets and they won’t let me go.”

A long pause followed my announcement. Finally I heard a soft chuckle. “Should I call the police? Or search and rescue?”

“Both,” I snorted mid laugh.

Her chuckle intensified. “Oh my god, you’re serious aren’t you?”

“Yes. I’m lying here, on the floor, wrapped up like some sunshine burrito, and I can’t get out.”

I had to hold the phone away from my head because she was laughing so hard. “Why are you laughing at a time like this? My dignity is at stake!”

Rustling met my wheezed outburst before the line went dead. Staring up at the stained ceiling, I gave in to the hilarity of my plight. Who else could get themselves this stuck in cotton?

Calmed somewhat, and out of breath, I gave the sheets an honest fight. Sadly, they were winning. Sweating, and only slightly less trapped, I inched my way into the kitchen where the aromatic wonder that was my customary French roast tempted my bruised ego.

About the Author:
Michel Lee King writes fiction that has a tendency to mix the light and dark elements of life and focusses primarily on the Literary Fiction and Fantasy genres.

Michel is a peace-, and fun-, loving person living in the shadow of Mount Rainier in Washington state. She is happily married, has one son, two dogs, and a cat. When not consuming copious amounts of coffee, she is writing, editing, or enjoying the outdoors with her family.

She can be found online through her website,  Twitter, and Facebook.

Giveaway:
To celebrate the release of “Even Hippies Get The Blues”, you can win a signed paperback, bookmark, mug, mug warmer, Gevalia French roast coffee, dark chocolate, 2 bamboo coasters, 2 bamboo placemats, essential oil (choice of lavender, orange or rose), “laugh” stone and a reusable shopping bag.

Feature & Follow #3: I Have An Ugly Cry Face

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!



What was the last book that made you cry?


  This book... Oh my gosh, this book. Some of you already know this, but for those of you who don't: I live in a rural town in East Tennessee at the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. Like many places you hear about around here, my town has a huge problem with drug and substance abuse. People that I graduated from high school with (only 8 years ago) have died from their addictions. And if they haven't died, they're a shell of their former self. It's truly an epidemic.

  Beneath a Meth Moon follows the story of Laurel as she is sucked into the world of being a meth addict. Like I said in my review, I know Laurel. There are thousands of Laurels in my town. This was book was so powerful at getting across the reality of addiction.

  There were countless times I'd have to stop reading this book to cry. So many things that Laurel experiences, I've seen mirrored with friends that have fallen into the world of meth. It was heartbreaking. If I could, I'd pass this book out along the streets of my town. It's that important to me.

Which book made you break out your ugly cry face last?

Review: Lies by Oliver Dahl

Lies by Oliver Dahl
Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult

Ann Putnam Jr., one of the leading accusers during the Salem Witch Trials (1692) knows that something is wrong. After a horrifying encounter with Tituba, her friends were cursed. Miraculously untouched by the effects of the witch, Ann acts bewitched as well, in an attempt to accuse and hang her friends' torturers. This tragic experience of guilt, abuse, power, and love gives a first-person view into the spine-chilling months where neighbor turned on neighbor at the word of a little girl.
- Lies on Oliver Dahl's Website





First Sentence:
The wind out of the northeast from the distant Atlantic billowed my dress slightly, lifting the hem off the frozen, snow-covered January ground.

Last Sentence:
The tree that would constantly serve as a reminder of something I wished I could forget, the symbol and record-bearer for everything I regretted; the last thing on this earth that knew of my lies.

  Lies chronicles the story of Ann, a teenager who lives through the Salem Witch Trials first hand. Based on historical facts, the story follows the beginnings of the trial as Ann makes a grave mistake that will alter her life forever. Whenever she begins to spin a web of lies, she realizes too late that she's the one caught in the web.

  Okay. First things first. Oliver Dahl, the author of Lies and two other books, is sixteen. Wow. Whenever I first received Lies, I fully expected to be going easy on Oliver because of his age. How wrong I was. His storytelling abilities outshine many of those older than him. Oliver Dahl is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the literary world. Mark my words.

  This story is such a good read. The weaving of history throughout makes it more intriguing. Often times as I read Lies, I would pause to go search Wikipedia for articles to learn more about the events I was reading about. The imagery is built up so well that you're easily immersed in the world of Salem. The characters are the right kind of crazy for everything happening to make sense.

  As I said, Oliver Dahl is talented. Though Lies is a quick read, you'll be left feeling satisfied at the end. I would recommend Lies to any fan of historical fiction. The protagonist is younger, but the story ascends her age. You cannot go wrong with reading Lies.
  

Find out more about Lies on Oliver Dahl's website, Twitter, and Goodreads.

**I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Oliver Dahl.
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