SYNC Summer 2013 (free YA audiobook downloads)

SYNC_13_300x250SYNC Summer 2013 is almost upon us!  For those of you who love YA literature, this is a dream come true.  This summer from May 30-August 21, 2013,  you have the opportunity to download 2 FREE audiobooks each week.  Yes, FREE!  What a fantastic deal!

SYNC is the audiobook publishers’ and AudioFile Magazine’s commitment to introducing the listening experience to the young adult audience.  Check out the details at http://www.audiobooksync.com/about/ and join me for a summer of reading pleasure!

Let the reading begin!!

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Book Review and Giveaway: Hunted by Ednah Walters

Tour Schedule 

Hunted by Ednah Walters
Bran and Lil may have escaped an attempt to lure Lil to the dark side, and recovered the contracts damned people signed with Bran when he was a soul collector, but someone forgot to tell them that no one switches sides or cancels contracts without consequences.

Hunted by an unknown but powerful enemy, Lil, Bran and the Guardians must seek help from unlikely sources to avert total annihilation of the Guardians. When they finally face their enemy, one of them may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Purchase a Print copy for just $5.85!

Praise

All in all, Hunted is a very enjoyable read, especially for those who enjoy angel/demon books. This one has everything you want in an angel book while still maintaining its own distinct feel.

~TeresaMaryRose

This series is addictive.

~Author Kate Kaynak

AMAZING! There is not enough words to describe how much I loved Hunted. Ednah Walters has outdid herself if that is even possible.

~Megan McDade

Synopsis:  Bran and Lil may have escaped an attempt to lure Lil to the dark side, and recovered the contracts damned people signed with Bran when he was a soul collector, but someone forgot to tell them that no one switches sides or cancels contracts without consequences.

Hunted by an unknown but powerful enemy, Lil, Bran and the Guardians must seek help from unlikely sources to avert total annihilation of the Guardians. When they finally face their enemy, one of them may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

My Review

Unfortunately, I started reading this series in the middle and was a little confused at first about what was going on, but with the handy SELECTED GLOSSARY OF TERMINOLOGY at the beginning it gave me some background that I needed.  This was an interesting young adult fantasy with angels and demons that blew me away with the detail, interesting characters and the fantastic story line that just sucked me into the story and never let me go.  The build up to find out who the enemy was well done and wasn’t a disappointment.  Now, I HAVE to go back and get the first two books in the series, AWAKENED and BETRAYED, so I can savor this series from the beginning.  Thank you to Ms. Walters for giving me the opportunity to review her book and a big THANK YOU to INSPIRED KATHY at http://www.iamareader.com/2013/02/hunted-by-ednah-walters-blog-tour.html for having me be a part of this blog tour.

Author Ednah Walters

I grew up reading Nancy Drew and Hardy boys mysteries, hence Stratemeyer influence, before I graduated to Mills & Boons (starting with Janet Daily’s Shutter the Sky) and the rest is history.

I enjoy good love stories, tingly mysteries and wondrous adventures. When I finished my college and decided to be a stay-at-home mother, I devoured books like they were going out of production, until reading just wasn’t enough. So I started to write.

I’ve written picture books, contemporary and romantic suspense, biracial/multicultural books, and finally YA fantasy. Awakened is the first book in The Guardian Legacy series. I’m working on book 2, tentatively named Betrayed. When I’m not writing, I do things with my family, five children or my darling husband of 18 years. I live in a picturesque valley in Utah, the setting for my series.

 

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 4/28/13
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://www.iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

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Book review: With or Without You by Domenica Ruta (9780679645023) E-book

15998223“I will not become my mother.” These were famous last words from Domenica (Nikki) Ruta. It was touch and go for a while.

Nikki’s mom, Kathi, was a drug addict who wanted her daughter to have more than she did. This book is not only about Nikki’s fight to try and find a “normal” life, but it is also a story of Kathi who truly loves her daughter and will fight tooth and nail to find the money to put her daughter in a private school and then on to college.

Your emotions are all over the place with this story. One minute you are laughing, the next you are crying and then you are angry. The ups and downs of Nikki’s life are like a roller coaster and when she finally realizes she needs to change or die, you breathe a sigh of relief.  This is a remarkable memoir that you won’t want to put down.

Thank you to Ms. Ruta, Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book.

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Book review: Just One Night, Part One: The Stranger by Kyra Davis (9781476711102) E-book

e28876ffd2150755973366b6667434d414f4141Kasie Fitzgerald’s best friend, Simone, takes her to Vegas for one last fling before she ties the knot.  Kasie feels out of place in the tight red “bandage dress” that Simone lends her, but she meets a mysterious stranger who gives her a night of unforgettable pleasure.  “This man, he’s not like the man who raked my body with his eyes, all conceit and sleaze.  This man isn’t pushing his agenda on me.  He’s drawing out mine; reading my movements, my smiles, the quick path of my eyes. Tonight I’m the girl who is going to sleep with a stranger.”  But what about her fiance Dave.  “This isn’t the woman I’m supposed to be.”  Or is it?

All I can say is hot, hot, hot!!!  An erotic ride where Kasie battles with her desires and weaknesses which leaves you breathless and only makes it worse with the cliffhanger at the end.  Can’t wait to get my hands on Part 2.

Thank you for Ms. Davis, Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for giving me this opportunity review this very hot book.

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Book review: Hero of My Heart by Megan Frampton (0345542029) E-book

16085323“Merry” Mary Smith, the late vicar’s daughter, is in a very bad predicament.  Her half brother is gambling and drinking her inheritance away and has decided to sell her to the highest bidder who happens to be a devastatingly handsome man who seems to be ill. Little does she know she is in for the adventure of her life.  “So much for her prayers”.

Alasdair Thornham, Marquess of Datchworth, is in an opium laden state when he sees the man auctioning off a beautiful woman in the local tavern and feels compelled to save the damsel in distress.  Little does he know he will have a handful to deal with after coming out of his stupor.  “Welcome to hell, Alasdair, he reminded himself”.

This is a suspenseful and romantic adventure of two lost souls who are destined to torture and love each other no matter what the outcome.  I find Ms. Frampton’s style very clean and refreshing and her characters are playful as well serious.  The issue of opium addiction with soldiers of war is a new twist and very probable.

Thank you to Ms. Frampton, Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept Series and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book.

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Book Review and Giveaway: The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back by Sariah Wilson

Everyone knows how all those fairy tales go. The princess gets beautiful, nabs her prince, falls instantly in love, lives happily ever after and leaves her evil stepsisters in the dust.

But what happens when you’re the ugly stepsister and your obnoxiously perfect—read pretty, smart, and, worst of all, sickeningly nice—stepsister is dating the charming, tall, devastatingly handsome guy you’ve had a thing for since you were nine years old?

Quirky, artistic and snarky Mattie Lowe does not lead a charmed life. Her mother is constantly belittling her on Skype. Mercedes, the school mean girl, has made it her personal mission to torment Mattie. But worst of all? Her stepsister Ella is the most beautiful, popular girl in school and is dating Mattie’s secret longtime crush, Jake Kingston.

Tired of being left out and done with waiting for her own stupid fairy godmother to show up, Mattie decides to change her life. She’ll start by running for senior class president against wildly popular Jake.

Ella can keep her Prince Annoying. Mattie’s going to rule the school.

And no one, not even a cute and suddenly flirty Jake, is going to stop her.

 

Purchase

Praise

“My top pick of 2012 YA… This book is just. plain. fun.”
~Jordan McCollum, author of Saints & Spies and I, Spy

“Sariah Wilson’s new book, The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back, is hilarious…What follows is a story of fun and romance with some good non-preachy life lessons thrown in.  The voice in the main character, Mattie, makes the whole thing.  I thought it was definitely a book I’d recommend to anyone with teenagers or who just want to read a good teen romance.”
~Julie Coulter Bellon, author of All Fall Down and All’s Fair

“Sariah [Wilson] has written one of the funniest stories I’ve read in such a long, long time. I literally couldn’t put it down. Yes, my poor Kindle’s battery died and I was attached to a short power cord, contorted in a very uncomfortable position while I read to the end…. Sariah Wilson captured the back-biting, insecure, hormone-driven, clique-riddled high school atmosphere so perfectly you’d think she never grew up. I dare you not to laugh as you read this witty and oh, so, romantic story.”
~Debra Erfert of Windows into Writing

“Sariah Wilson writes like the best of/most popular YA teen fiction/teen romance authors - Sarah Dessen, Jennifer Echols, Susanne Collins, Cassandra Clare.  She sucks you in and never lets you go.  I finished the ~194 novel in one night because I just couldn’t go to sleep without knowing the ending!  I hope that Sariah comes out with more novels, I know I’ll be re-reading this one all the time!  She’s extremely talented and needs to be talked about.  I highly recommend The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back! to anyone (over the age of 12) who wants a YA novel that’s a real modern-day fairy tale.”
~Hilary at Novel d’Tales

“This was such an entertaining story! I shouldn’t have started reading it so late in the evening, because I didn’t want to put it down to go to sleep…This is a book I can see myself reading several times. It’s a fast, clean read with great characters, and I highly recommend it.”
~Andrea of Literary Time Out

“The book is wonderful.  It’s quirky and fun.  The story makes you laugh and you fall in love with the characters right from the beginning…This is a well-written book.  It is one that will make you smile and sigh as you remember your first love.  And it has a moral…be yourself, believe in yourself and maybe, just maybe, your fairytale will come true.  Pick up this book.”
~Ana of The Book Hookup

MY REVIEW

uglyThe ugly stepsister is determined not to finish last in this tale.  This a very fun, laugh-out-loud story about Mattie Lowe, a good girl (and not ugly by the way) who is pining for her stepsister, Ella’s boyfriend Jake.  Little does Mattie know that Ella is pining for Mattie’s good friend Trent and has given Mattie free rein to pursue Jake in any way she wants.  But what would Jake, class jock and lead competitor to Mattie’s run  for class president,  think of that?  Will Prince Charming turn out to be a frog?

I read this young adult book in one day.  The references to John Hughes films are memorable.  I can’t wait to read the next in the series.

Author Sariah Wilson

Sariah Wilson has never jumped out of an airplane, never climbed Mt. Everest, and is not a former CIA operative. She has, however, been madly, passionately in love with her soulmate and is a fervent believer in happily ever afters—which is why she writes romance. The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back is her fourth happily ever after novel. She grew up in southern California, graduated from Brigham Young University (go Cougars!) with a semi-useless degree in history, and is the oldest of nine (yes, nine) children. She currently lives with the aforementioned soulmate and their four children in Utah, along with three tiger barb fish, a cat named Tiger, and a recently departed hamster that is buried in the backyard (and has nothing at all to do with tigers).

Tour Schedule


I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 3/10/13


Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


  Click Here to Enter

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Virtual Book Review Tour and Giveaway: Wind’s Aria by Tessa Stockton

VBRT Wind's Aria Book Cover Banner copyWelcome to my blog!  I’m excited to present Tessa Stockton’s new book Wind’s Aria.

Book Summary:  Elected as the Songstress, Aria takes her place on the sacred platform to sing before every dawn. As long as she does so, peace and abundant life belong to her people. One morning, amidst a strange wind that brings with it a curse in its eerie howl, Aria loses her ability to make music. But the encroaching death that transpires isn’t her biggest tragedy. It’s that she adores the cause of her blunder, for he’s a magnificent winged creature who’s stolen more than her voice.

Excerpt from the Book:  

“Who are you?”

He pushed further back into the shadows as she strode closer. “Someone you need not know.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

When he didn’t answer, she sighed.

“What a strange, terrible day,” she mumbled. “Well, at least tell me your name . . .”

He stood, speechless, knowing he shouldn’t be there at all—conversing with a Meleyan—especially not their musical deliverer that he was set to doom the day after tomorrow.

A peculiar grumbling interrupted her insistence, to his relief.

“Sorry.” She patted her stomach. He could see, even in the blackened night, how her face turned a deeper shade of red than her hair. “I’ve forgotten to eat. I guess I’m hungrier than I realized.”

He plucked an apple from the tree he’d nearly become a part of and held it out to her. The girl approached tentatively. She reached for the fruit but recoiled when her fingers brushed his.

“Is touching me so horrible?” he asked.

Her jaw dropped open and her delicate brow furrowed. She inclined her head. “It . . . hurt.”

“How?” he asked, for her fingers felt good to him, soothing. Warm. He wanted to try again.

“I don’t know how to explain . . .”

“Hum.” Unsatisfied with the answer, he tossed the apple to her and watched as she crunched her teeth into it.

AuthorPic Biography: 

A veteran of the performing arts and worldwide missions, Tessa Stockton also contributed as a writer/editor for ministry publications, ghostwriter for political content, and she headed a column on the topic of forgiveness. Today she writes romance and intrigue novels in a variety of genres. In addition to her fantasy romance, WIND’S ARIA, she’s the author of suspense/thriller, THE UNSPEAKABLE, political intrigue/romance, THE UNFORGIVABLE, and a literary short story, LOVE AND LULL, with more in the works.

You can find out more about Tessa and her other books at www.TessaStockton.com , tweet her at https://twitter.com/TessaStockton or friend her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/tessastockton.

Chance to Win!   Tessa will be awarding a $50 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during this tour and her book blast tour.  The more you comment, the better your chances of winning.  Click on the link below for more chances to WIN.

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/12/virtual-review-tour-winds-aria-by-tessa.html

My Review:  Aria’s people “looked to her for the favorable blessings of the Sacred Flower.  She was the Songstress, the chosen communicator of the Sacred One.”  Every morning she would make the trek to perform her duty for the people, but one morning she was distracted by another force which caused the sun to disappear and her people to despair.  The force was a magnificent winged creature doing the work of the ill-fated, but who was falling in love with Aria.  Will they be able to beat the forces that keep them apart?

Ms. Stockton’s fantasy is refreshing and I enjoyed the sweet romance between the characters.  This is a story that makes you want to read more to see how it ends.

Thank you to Ms. Stockton and Goddess Fish Promotions for giving me the opportunity to host and review Wind’s Aria.

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