OUT TODAY!! Book of the Lost by Bryna Butler

I'm delighted to share fellow YA author and all round cool chick, Bryna Butler's latest release with you all today!!

Book of the Lost (Midnight Guardian #5)
Death. Love. Werewolves. Jealousy. Shadows. Prom. Unionists. Betrayal. Graduation.
Who said senior year would be easy?

Book 5 in the Midnight Guardian series is a roller coaster of suspense taking riders on Keira's journey to fulfill her destiny and bring about the end of the gremlin-like mogdocs. The Book of the Lost may be their last hope. Trouble is...they can't read it and every bad guy in this world and beyond wants it.
Enter the world of the Midnight Guardian and read the series that fans are calling original, fun, and engrossing.

Indie author Bryna Butler pens an engrossing and refreshingly original take on the paranormal in her debut Midnight Guardian series. Butler's young adult paranormal novels feature strong female leads and are woven from elements of horror, suspense, comedy, and mystery, all in a modern, small town setting.
Butler is inspired by authors like Rachel Caine, Charlaine Harris, Lauren Kate, Joss Whedon, Neil Gaiman, Stephenie Meyer, and MaryJanice Davidson. Her work contains no profanity or explicit scenes, making it appropriate for pre-teen as well as teen readers.

Book of the Lost Trailer:

All Book Trailers: http://www.youtube.com/user/thebutlerwroteit/videos

Website/Blog
Facebook
Mogdoc News Network on Twitter: @mogdocnews
Mogdoc News on Pinterest


Series List: www.brynabutler.com/books
OF SUN & MOON (Midnight Guardian Series, Book 1)
WHISPERING EVIL (Book 2)
MIDNIGHT CHILD (Book 3)
SHADOWS RISING (Book 4)
BOOK OF THE LOST (Book 5) - Coming November 30th
HOUSE OF GAMMEN (Book 6) - Coming 2014

Paperback & eBook editions available from: Amazon | Apple iBooks | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | Sony eReader Store 

Black Friday - Must Have Reads

Sorry I haven't been around much lately folks, but things have been CRAZY to say the least! After I finished my latest book (a chick lit novel called Forever Fredless), I wrote a short movie script which we have been making into a movie YAY! Its the most awesome fun, incredibly hectic and insane but fun all the same! On top of that, I got the flu, we went away for a few days and in the next few weeks we have more filming, we're away for a few more days and then we're off for a long Christmas holiday! I'm going to need it, I tell you!

Anyway, today I'm finally able to take part in the YA Storytellers fun..........

All the folks at the YA Storytellers are revealing some of their Must Have Reads. Here are just a few of my favourite YA reads (click the images)...

The Marchwood Vampire Series / Outside series

Shalini Boland

Shalini's books are absolutely amazing! I couldn't put them down :)

The Time Spirit Trilogy By Melissa Pearl

This series kept me up all night! When I finished the first book, thank goodness for Kindle so I could immediately download the second and third!!

Scarlet Vamporium by Poppet

Totally blew me away!! Poppet is one amazing author!

The Sentinel by Holly Martin

Holly is amazing author and I particularly loved the fact this book is set in the UK.

Witchwood Estate by Patti Roberts

This is one of those series that leaves you desperate for more. I can't wait for the next book!!

Don't forget to check out the awesome http://yastorytellers.com/ for more fantastic YA reads :)

Rewrite Redemption Blog Tour with J.H. Walker

Rewrite Redemption by J.H. Walker
Publication date: January 25th 2013
Genres: Science Fiction, Time-Travel, Young Adult

She’s sixteen. He’s seventeen. They don’t know each other…at least not yet.
She has a secret and her whole life revolves around keeping it. Every few months and with little warning, she simply disappears, pulled into the past for hours or even days. She’s terrified it will happen in front of someone, changing her life forever. So far, the only witnesses have been her parents, and that didn’t end well. She has no control over it and no idea why it happens to her.
She wants answers.
He has answers—at least he understands what’s going on. He has a secret, too. He’s part of an organization that goes back in time to rewrite reality. But he also has a problem. He broke the organization’s number-one rule by altering his own timeline. As punishment, he’s been blocked from time travel, which is most unfortunate. Because the changes he made to his timeline, accidentally resulted in disaster for his family. A disaster he’s now prevented from repairing. No one can travel beneath the organization’s radar except a Shadow. But they’re rare, so rare he’s never even met one.
Then he moves to her town.
Goodreads
Purchase:
--Amazon

Author Interview
Can you tell us a little about Rewrite Redemption?
There’s a girl with a screwed-up life and a secret she doesn’t understand. At any moment, she could disappear into the past for hours or even days. She’s terrified someone will see this happen, and she’ll spend the rest of her life in a glass cage in a government facility. So she tries to be invisible. The last thing she thinks will happen in her messed-up life is that she’ll meet a guy. She considers that a luxury that’s not in the cards for her.
There’s a guy who has a secret, too, but he knows about going to the past to rewrite reality. He’s tormented by a mistake he made that resulted in disaster for his family and a sanction on his ability to travel through time. He desperately wants to repair that mistake and find redemption. He doesn’t expect to meet a girl who could maybe help him. And he doesn’t expect that that girl will ignite a passion in him that consumes his every thought.
But when he moves to her town…

What inspired you to write it?
I grew up in an extremely strict environment. Self-expression was not something encouraged in my house. Conformity and absolute adherence to a rigid ideology were the rules of the day. (The main reason I never wrote early in life. In this kind of environment, you learn to hide what you really think. Ergo, you don’t become a writer. Why leave damning evidence?) Since I lived in Central America, I wasn’t part of the mainstream American culture. I knew nothing about the real world and was totally unprepared to deal with it when I left home at eighteen. I’ve always wished I could go back in time and give my younger self the benefit of the wisdom that begins to come with age. I’ve always been fascinated with time travel for that very reason. It was only natural that my first novel would have that element.

If it was made into a movie, who would you like to play the main characters?
I wish, ha. But why not dream? Seventeen-year-old Abigail Breslin would make a great A.J. She recently played Valentine in the movie, “Ender’s Game.” When I first saw Ian Somerhalder on “Vampire Diaries” I remarked to my husband, “he looks just like Constantine…that wiry build, that dark hair, those arched eyebrows, and those piercing blue eyes.” But I just Googled him and he’s way too freaking old. (Constantine is about ready to turn 18.) I think I’ll have to go with Austin Butler as he has Constantine’s smile. We’ll just have to darken his hair. Or maybe Carter Jenkins. Amanda Seyfried would make a great Lex. She’s got that great sassy smile. And Justin Chon would be a very sweet Ipod.

Why do you write YA?
I was a great pretender as a child. My God-fearing household valued conformity. Right and wrong were absolute. Freethinking was wrong, and not allowed. On the outside, I conformed. I had no choice. But inside my head, I created very different worlds and those worlds saved me. I believe this was the foundation for my over-active imagination and the basis of my creativity.
As for the YA angle, I’ve always loved stories that go beyond the bounds of reality. YA is far more accepting of make believe than the adult market. Besides, everything is so much more intense in the young adult world…the euphoria of a first love…the sorrow of a first heartbreak. It all entails so much more passion. I love that.

What made you want to become an author?
I’m a life-long student of human behavior. I’ve studied it incessantly since I was in my twenties—at university, around the country with mentors, and on my own. Much of my education has been in alternative studies in innovative techniques separate from mainstream institutions. (Mainstream is highly resistant to change.) One of the areas of interest to me is creativity itself. Who has it and how do we enhance it? Where does it come from? How do we foster it in children? Creativity is as necessary to me as breathing. My last decade was spent making art. Writing is just another form of creativity I’m exploring.

Name one of your all-time favourite YA books?
I really loved White Oleander by Janet Finch. It’s intense, poignant, and beautifully written.

Who, or what, inspires you?
I’ve never had to look outward for inspiration. Time has always been my problem—probably another reason I was drawn to time travel—lack of time to just wander. I’m the kind of person to whom creativity is as necessary as breathing. I’ve engaged in all kinds of creative endeavors and have found immense satisfaction from all of them. There’s just something about that act of creation in itself that brings joy like nothing else. Over the years, I’ve had ideas for books and characters that danced in my head, and I figured that someday I’d write books. I’m finally finding the time and space to bring that desire to fruition. That being said, there’s inspiration everywhere…in the beauty of a fall leaf on my pear tree, in a piece of art I find surfing the net, in the small act of kindness from a complete stranger. Inspiration is ubiquitous. You just have to be open to it.

Where is your favourite place to write?
I do all my writing at my desk in my study. I have a picture window across from my desk that looks out on a beautiful meadow bounded by red-rock cliffs. It’s quiet and peaceful.

What is your favourite movie that was based on a book?
To Kill a Mockingbird with the late, great, Gregory Peck. Yes, I know it’s ancient, but that story changed me. It laid the foundation of my political activism and desire to see us move towards a more egalitarian society. That’s what great stories do. As far as contemporary dystopian YA, The Hunger Games was pretty spectacular, and I absolutely loved Hugo.

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why?
World War 1 had a devastating impact on the world with over 37 million lives lost. After the war, many writers felt disillusioned and lost. The generation that came of age during this time became known as the Lost Generation, a name coined by writer, Gertrude Stein. They were skeptical of authority and rebelled, giving rise to the roaring twenties. (Their parents wanted prohibition.) A group of Lost Generation writers flocked to Paris and created a literary culture that captured the spirit of a generation. The group included Gertrude Stein, Henry Miller, Ernest Hemingway, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Realistic and rebellious, they bucked authority and wrote what they wanted, fighting censorship all the way. They were true progressives. They pushed the envelope and had an impact in the world. Stein had salons in her home that included these writers and artists like Pablo Picasso. I bet those were some kick-ass parties. I’d love to sit in on a few. They’d all be drinking me under the table, ha. Still…it would be fun and incredibly stimulating.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
There was a time in my life when I was connected to the rock and roll music world. I was working as a governess to the children of a really rich guy. I lived in a house on his estate in a plush suburb of Chicago. My then boyfriend owned a company that did lighting for bands, including some big names. I had back-stage passes to all kinds of venues. I met a lot of interesting people and had some wild times. But I have to say, it’s a life that burns you out if you let it. Luckily, I realized that and moved on for that very reason. It sounds glamorous and some of it is. But a lot of it is, shall we say, not very healthy both mentally and physically. I have some fond memories. But I’m way happier living a more quiet life.

Who would play you in the movie about your life?
Well, I doubt she’d take the part, but my choice would be Jodi Foster. I’m a fan. They’d have to add a little gray in her hair and maybe a few more wrinkles, ha. But hey, it’s Hollywood. They can do anything. We’re both fairly petite and have similar coloring. Foster is an amazing actor and an even more impressive person. I’d be more than honored to have her bring my life to light.

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live.
I lived in Boulder for 23 years and will always consider it my hometown. It’s one of the coolest little cities in the country—high tech, progressive, healthy, and filled with cultural activities. But it grew over the years as cool towns tend to do, and my husband and I wanted a little more privacy and quiet. We didn’t want to leave the area, as we love it. So we found the perfect compromise, a place in the foothills about 35 minutes from the northern border of Boulder.
We bought the land about 15 years ago while it was still cheap and held on to it for a decade. We built a house on it a few years back. Because of the land formations (gullies, rock cliffs, hills, and meadows) we have a lot of privacy. The views out our living room windows show nothing but nature. We can see for miles out over the valley. We watch the raptors soar off the red rock cliffs and down into the meadow. Because we’re not in a town, the stars are brilliant against the dark night sky. It’s wonderful. We love living here.

AUTHOR BIO

J.H. grew up in Central America. She now lives in the foothills of the Colorado Rockies with her photographer husband and many, many books. In addition to her never-ending study of human behavior, she’s a political junkie and a certified tree hugger. Rewrite Redemption is her debut novel.

Author Links:
-Website: http://www.jhwalkerbooks.com/
-Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6907642.J_H_Walker
-Twitter: https://twitter.com/@jhwalkerbooks
-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jhwalkerbooks

Dead Dreams by Emma Right

Dead Dreams by Emma Right
(Dead Dreams #1)
Publication date: August 26th 2013
Genres: Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Young Adult

Eighteen-year-old Brie O’Mara has so much going for her: a loving family in the sidelines, an heiress for a roommate, and dreams that might just come true. Big dreams–of going to acting school, finishing college and making a name for herself. She is about to be the envy of everyone she knew. What more could she hope for? Except her dreams are about to lead her down the road to nightmares. Nightmares that could turn into a deadly reality.
Dead Dreams, Book 1, is a young adult psychological thriller and mystery.
Purchase:
--Amazon
--B&N

Guest post by Emma Right
Significance of the Title Dead Dreams
We all have dreams which is great. Dreams of furthering our lot in life, of a hope and a promising future but what is the cost we are willing to pay to fulfill those dreams? Do we even know what that cost is as we set our eyes on a goal we have perhaps nurtured since childhood?
We've all been there--at least those of us who are over 21. Once in the not so distant past, we are revving to grow up, the world at our feet, the stars reachable. Wonderful ,wondrous future. But in wanting to get there, we forget to smell the roses, we trample on thorns and we get sorely poked and pricked, and alas, some of the barbs could be poisonous.
Except for the Grace that watches over me, over you, (call it LUCK if you wish), all it might have taken for any of us to go down a wrong path was that wrong turn, that grabbing of something that looked too good to pass up on. This, coupled with a strong desire to make it in life, may just blind us enough to grab at adder's tail. That is the story of Dead Dreams; of Brie O'Mara, a good girl; someone who'd never even gotten a traffic ticket, even a Miss Goodie Two-shoes. But, let's face it we can all be tempted, just a tiny bit. And sometimes that's all it takes to have things spiral out of control.
The “dream” is also a pun since Brie O’Mara had dreams…or maybe I should say nightmares. Was this her subconscious telling her things she should listen to?
I believe our unconscious mind is aware of innuendoes we don’t normally pick up as we go about our busy lives. It’s only when we sleep that the mind notices things that do not add up or becomes sensitive to “clues” we should have paid attention to but didn’t or couldn’t due to the busyness of life. That’s just how humans are made. Our warning system is supposed to alert us to suspicious goings-on, and I feel even things that the best Sherlock Holmes might have passed up on. Think about those people who escaped 911 (if you all are old enough to have seen and heard those stories.) There were those who escaped the Twin Towers because for some strange reason their subconscious mind told them to go for coffee, or wear tennis shoes (which allowed this one lady to run, something she’d have a hard time doing if she had her stilettos on) and numerous other accounts of “coincidences”. Coincidences? Really?
And how about dreams in the Bible, of warnings and urges to tell people to escape troubles? When heeded they were spared, when they ignored these they had to bear the brunt of the cost for ignoring.
So, the title "Dead Dreams" is a play on words—both types of definition for "dreams" and also the “dead” portion of the title—but, if I told you why it's "dead" I’d spoil the fun of reading for you. Maybe you can finish the story and let me know why you thought the dreams were connected to the word “dead”. Love to hear from you and your opinions on this. I’m going to have a blog on dreams and you can comment there, too.

Emma Right is a happy wife and homeschool mother of five living in the Pacific West Coast. Besides running a busy home, and looking after too many pets, she also enjoys reading aloud to her children and often has her nose in a book. Right was a copywriter for a major advertising agency during her B.C. years. B.C.meaning “Before Children,” which may as well have been in the B.C.era, as she always says. Please feel free to contact Emma. She’s always happy to hear from her readers. – See more at: http://www.emmaright.com

Giveaway
Grand prize giveaway
Prize (open internationally):
--A copy of Dead Dreams and $15 Amazon Gift Card

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  Sign up to Sponsor the December Giveaway (starting around December 2nd) http://www.iamareader.com/2013/10/december-kindle-fire.html   Giveaway Details 1 winner will receive their choice of an all new Kindle Fire 7" HDX (US Only - $229 value), $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash (International). There is a second separate giveaway for bloggers who post this giveaway on their blog. See details in the rafflecopter on how to enter to win the 2nd Kindle Fire HDX 7". Ends 11/30/13 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 participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.   a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Reaper Diaries by Michele Vail

Series: The Reaper Diaries #2
Release date: October 29th 2013
Publisher: A Freeman Publication

Synopsis via Goodreads:
I thought the worst of my reaper training was behind me… turns out I was wrong. Dead wrong.
Molly Bartolucci has done a lot of growing up but after being accused of using illegal magic at her school for necromancers, reaper-in-training Molly is treading lightly. As the destined leader of Anubis’s Chosen, she needs to study hard, train harder, and stay out of trouble.
Uh, right.
It doesn’t help that she’s feeling more than academic about her melt-your-bones hot reaping instructor, Rath. And if her relationship drama isn’t enough to drive her over the edge, she has to deal with mother issues, nosy little sisters, suspicious friends, and an unnamed force stalking her at school.
Then her family is attacked, and her bio-dad ends up comatose in the hospital. Now, Molly has to uncover who’s trying to hurt her loved ones—and all without the help of Anubis.

Ten Signs You’re Falling for a Dead Guy

Contributed by UNCHOSEN’s Molly Bartolucci, reaper-in-training

1. You don’t care that he’s a reaper.
2. Your dates sometime end in zombie carnage.
3. Whenever he shows up reaper-style (popping out of nowhere in a flash of black and freezing cold), you resist the urge to scream and/or punch him in the face.
4. Every time he kisses you, your knees go wobbly.
5. You don’t mind that his idea of “taking you somewhere special” usually means going to the Underworld.
6. Visiting his grave doesn’t give you the heebie jeebies.
7. Every time he holds your hand, you can’t stop smiling.
8. You make friends with his three-headed dog, even though the one on the left really doesn’t like you.
9. When he shows up with ghosts and zombies, you don’t freak out. Much.
10. Every time his whispers your name, your heart skips a beat.

The Reaper Diaries Book Trailer

About the Author

Michele Vail is the author of The Reaper Diaries, a young adult paranormal series set in the modern world with a zombie twist. The stories center on 16-year-old Molly Bartolucci, a reaper-in-training who's learning to deal with love, destiny, and death.
Michele Vail is the pen name of national bestselling paranormal romance author Michele Bardsley (who also writes thriller mysteries under Michele Freeman). The Reaper Diaries consist of three books: Undeadly, Unchosen, and Unbroken.

Living Blond Trilogy by Allison Rushby

Living Blond Trilogy: Diamonds Are a Teen’s Best Friend, The Seven Month Itch, How to Date a Millionaire
Allison Rushby
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult

Book 1 in the Living Blond trilogy…
Diamonds are a Teen's Best Friend
Nessa Joanne Mulholland, aka Marilyn Monroe's No. 1 teenage fan, is used to moving house. This time, however, she's relocating in movie-star style—crossing the Atlantic on board the Majestic, headed for Paris from New York City. And it really would be in movie-star style if it wasn't for the fact that she's bringing her cringe-fest professor dad along for the ride (Dad's specialization: human mating rituals—need Nessa say more?). Oh yeah, and sharing a cabin that's five decks below sea level and next to the engine room. Still, at least Holly Isles is on board. Yes, really, that Holly Isles—star of stage and screen. Suddenly, things are looking up. Looking a little Marilyn, in fact, because events are strangely mirroring Nessa's favorite movie of all time, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
Watch!
As Holly Isles, world-famous actress, confides in Nessa over mocktails.
Listen!
As Nessa coaches Holly in the amazing "Nessa's Lesson's in Love"—the ultimate man-catching rules to finding true and lasting lurv.
See!
Nessa fall for Holly's too-cute nephew, Marc. . . and
Cover your eyes!
As it all goes terribly, horribly, embarrassingly wrong.
There's no doubting it. This is going to be one pitchy crossing.

***

Book 2 in the Living Blond trilogy…

The Seven Month Itch
Nessa Joanne Mulholland, aka Marilyn Monroe's No. 1 teenage fan, is living the high life in Manhattan. Literally. Waffling and pancaking it up every morning (care of housekeeper Vera) in her soon-to-be stepmother's Tribeca penthouse apartment. Things couldn't be better. Or so she thinks, until things start to go terribly, horribly wrong, in true Nessa fashion. All of a sudden, she's starting to feel the need to pull at her collar. Yes, it's summer in NYC and things are heating up fast, including the professor and Holly's wedding plans.
Gasp!
Along with Nessa as her dad's too-gorgeous research assistant moves into the new family penthouse while Holly's away filming in LA . . .
Cringe!
As Nessa gets dumped for "Doris Day" . . .
Hiss!
As Kent Sweetman decides he wants Holly back, wedding or no wedding . . . and
Bite your nails!
As the cupcakiest wedding ever hangs in the balance.
Phew! The temperature's getting hotter by the second, heat rash is setting in fast—and everyone's starting to scratch that Seven Month Itch!

***

Book 3 in the Living Blond trilogy
How to Date a Millionaire
Nessa Joanne Mulholland, aka Marilyn Monroe's No. 1 teenage fan, is about to become a big sister—twice over. Her movie-star stepmother, Holly, is very pregnant with twins when, suddenly, B and G (that's Boy and Girl) decide they need to get away from it all.
Within hours, Nessa, her dad, Holly, her best friend Alexa, and tag-along cousin Nat are on a private jet and headed for some rest and relaxation Hawaiian style. Except that, on hitting the sand, there's not a lot of rest and relaxation to be found. The penthouse apartment they've booked is suddenly unavailable, Holly's blood pressure skyrockets, Nat is bronze-beach-boy crazy, and what's with the three cute guys living upstairs?
Laugh!
At Nat's crazy antics (will Nessa and Alexa really have to chain her to the apartment balcony to keep her out of boy trouble?)
Cry!
When Nessa meets someone who's had the life-saving operation her mother couldn't have.
Sigh!
As two gorgeous babies make their way into the world . . . and
Applaud!
As Nessa finally gets things right . . . for once.
Goodreads

Purchase:
--Amazon
--B&N

Excerpt

"Is this the boat to Europe, France?"

Honestly, I tried to stop myself from asking the question, I truly did. In front of me, the porter guy looks at me as if I'm a thirteen (almost fourteen!)-year-old idiot. Beside me, dear old Dad looks at me as if I'm delusional (that's because a lot of the time he actually thinks I am—he's even had me tested to make sure I'm not). And he's about to open his mouth to start in on me (again . . . sigh) when, behind me, I hear it—someone laughs. Right on cue.

I swing around quickly, my head zipping from side to side, trying to see who it is, but it's practically impossible in this traffic jam of a crowd, especially when you're as short as I am and your dad won't let you wear a kitten heel, let alone rhinestones in the daytime. I bet Marilyn Monroe's mother never said a thing about Marilyn wearing rhinestones in the daytime. Then again, Marilyn Monroe's mother let her get married at sixteen and spent a great deal of time in a mental institution, so that's probably not saying very much. I'm just about to give up on the searching thing when the crowd parts and someone dressed entirely in red, going out/in/out (in all the right places) and hips swaying, passes me by with a wink and a lift of one perfectly arched eyebrow.

"Honey," she says, in the kind of voice that makes everyone turn and look at her. "France is in Europe."

Oh. My. God.

It's one of those moments when you just know you'll think up a zillion and two perfect things to say later, but instead you stand there looking like you've recently had a lobotomy. Especially when I realize that the someone is actually a Someone and that the woman now heading up the escalator to the biggest ship I've ever seen in my life is, in fact, Holly Isles.

Yes, the Holly Isles.

Actress. Goddess. Star of stage, screen and various tabloid magazines that you skim as fast as you can at the supermarket checkout because your dad will never let you buy them, Holly Isles.

Someone whistles. And this time, I don't need to look around. This time, I know for sure it's not for me. (Laughing, sure. Whistling? I am sincerely doubting it . . .) And because I don't turn around, I don't move for the guy. The one who smacks into my shoulder and says, "Excuse me. I need to get to my aunt."

I follow his gaze directly up the escalator to Holly. His aunt? Holly is his aunt? Well, la de da. I go to give him my best "Get your filthy mitts off me, don't mess with the outfit and don't go anywhere near the hair, buster" look when my mouth drops even further. Hello, sailor! Cute boy ahoy! This guy is definitely related to Holly in a big way.

"Ah . . ." my dad exhales, the lecture he'd been working on giving me obviously forgotten. Funny, but he's got the same kind of lobotomy look as me. And he's staring straight at Holly.

It takes me a moment to get over the shock. When I finally do, my eyes move back from my dad to Holly's form as she goes up, up, up (and I'm not alone, I think everyone on the dock is watching Holly go up, up, up). Slowly, I shake my head from side to side. I can't believe it. I can't believe Holly Isles just said that to me. And it wasn't exactly the line from the movie I was thinking about, but then again, neither was mine. And I could probably go on watching her forever, my mouth hanging open (okay, so I only check out her nephew a few more times), except that Holly's now out of sight and my dad has obviously returned to his old lecturing form.

"Nessa Joanne Mulholland."

"Mmmm."

"NESSA JOANNE MULHOLLAND!"

"Huh?" I finally look up, only to see him looking down at something. At my chest. Ugh. Gross. What is he doing? He'd better not be doing any research on me. But then I look down too.

Oops. The tissues are escaping again.

I surreptitiously stuff them down my black-with-leopard-skin-trim top with one hand. "I've got a cold, okay?" I mutter. Geez. So much for Marilyn's mother. I bet she never had to put up with this kind of harassment from her father, either. Except that no-one was ever quite sure exactly who he was. And, of course, Marilyn didn't need to stuff, either, did she?

I sigh my second sigh of the morning. Life. It's just so . . . unmovielike.

***

Having failed at becoming a ballerina with pierced ears (her childhood dream), Allison Rushby instead began a writing career as a journalism student at The University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. Within a few months she had slunk sideways into studying Russian. By the end of her degree she had learned two very important things: that she wasn't going to be a journalist; and that there are hundreds of types of vodka and they're all pretty good. After several years spent whining about how hard it would be to write a novel, she finally tried writing one and found it was quite an enjoyable experience. Since then, she has had nine novels published. She keeps up her education by sampling new kinds of vodka on a regular basis.

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BOOK BLAST: Tied by Laney McMann

Tied by Laney McMann 

 Normal people don't believe their nightmares stalk them. They don’t fall in love with boys who don’t exist, either. Seventeen-year-old Layla Labelle, though, is far from normal. Her delusions walk the earth. Her hallucinations hunt her, and her skin heats to a burn every time her anger flares. Or is that all in her head? Layla doesn't know what to believe any more because if none of that’s true, Max MacLarnon must be an illusion, and her heart must still be broken. No matter how much she wants to believe Max is real, doing so would mean everything else is, too. How, then, is that possible? The answers lie in an age-old legend the supernatural aren’t prepared to reveal, and with a curse that could tear Layla and Max apart forever—if it doesn’t kill them both first. In TIED, book one in the Fire Born trilogy, learning the truth will mean fighting an arsenal of demons, and being with Max will put Layla on a path toward her own destruction. Just how far will Layla go to protect the one she loves? The answer may never be far enough ... away.  

Excerpt:
 My window opened easily. The same way it had so many times before. Climbing out on the ledge, I found the ground empty and dropped from the second floor—a jump I'd made a hundred times. In another life. My feet sunk into the sand, and I followed the well-worn pathway through the dunes. Even the strong evening winds hadn’t misshaped the deep gully. The ocean's breeze lashed at my hair as the moonlight glinted off the water’s surface. Seagulls flew up from their nesting grounds. They should have recognized me, since I’d been wandering at night for so long. Wrapping my arms around my knees to block the slight chill, I settled in the sand, and the birds quieted in a tight huddle, the wind blowing their feathers in awkward angles. My gaze fell on a figure standing beyond the dunes edge, a shadow hidden within the darkness. My pulse quickened, but I didn't move. Another trick—an illusion. Weary of the games my mind continued to play, I bit back tears and the catch in my throat. I should have been immune to them—the hallucinations—the way they haunted me and followed me, but I wasn’t. Forcing myself to blink, I turned my head away. The visions had grown worse as I’d become older. I’d tried to convince myself they were nightmares—or weird dreams. Hoped for years they were, but only people who sleep dream. Unable, or unwilling to stop myself, I glanced back over my shoulder, thoughts flooding my brain. Memories I knew couldn’t be memories but I cherished all the same. For years I’d tried to shake them away. To make myself forget. I couldn’t.#**#**# A stone raps against my bedroom window. I creep over and peer through the blinds. "You’re late." I lean out over the sill, grinning at the boy staring up at me. "Come on, let’s go before she comes," he says. I climb onto the window ledge. "Be nice. She’s my friend." "Okay. Jump." He waves at me to go faster. "Move, and I will." He takes one casual step to the side.The jump isn’t too high; I make it all the time. He grabs my hand when I land beside him in the soft sand. "Ready?" I nod. "One, two …" "I’m going to tell!" Benny runs across my yard toward me, her blonde pigtails flapping in the wind. "You’re not allowed to talk to that boy, Layla! Your mom said!" Max tightens his grip on my hand. "Shut up, Benny! I'm old enough." "You’re only nine. Don't go! " "Three!" Max and I leave the ground. “You're going to get in so much trouble.” Benny’s yell rings in the distance. Our feet touch down in the wet grass of the Otherworld, icy sea air whipping at my face. "Hopefully, she won’t follow us again." Max lets go of my hand. "She won’t. I told her not to." I lead the way down the cliff face to the ocean. "She never listens to you."  

        

 Praise for Tied:
“The author has taken a unique concept and created a brilliantly written story. One of my new favorite fantasy books.” — The Reading Diaries “I was so engrossed in this story that real life went on without me being aware of it.” — Crazy Four Books “In the midst of games between parallel worlds, past and present, interrupted by visions and ancient prophecies, you are caught up in the story’s threads.” — Mythical Books “There's so much amazing creativity that has gone into the Fire Born world; McMann combines and twist legends and the paranormal to come up with the perfect urban fantasy setting. ” — Known to Read  

  Author Laney McMann With a passion for the supernatural and all things magical, Laney developed a voracious appetite for reading fantasy at a young age. A vivid imagination helped set the stage for creating her own worlds and placed her onto the writing path. By the time she reached her teens, she'd accumulated notebooks full of poems, which led to short stories and finally novels. Young adult dark fantasy, paranormal romance, and mythology are among her favorite genres. A former classical dancer and chef, she grew up in sultry Florida where she still resides with her family.  

   

 BookBlast Giveaway
 $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 11/24/13 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. a Rafflecopter giveaway

I Am Just Junco Omnibus by J.A. Huss

I Am Just Junco Omnibus by J.A. Huss
(I Am Just Junco Books 1-3)
Publication date: November 4th 2013
Genres: Dystopia, New Adult, Science Fiction

Clutch~Fledge~Flight (1,152 pages) – the first three books in the epic science fiction fantasy saga that spans five full length novels and one novella. The final book, RETURN, will be released on December 2, 2013.
Nineteen year old Rural Republic sniper, Junco Coot, has been lied to. Not once or twice, but pretty much everyone she ever trusted is totally full of sh*t. And now her father is dead, she’s on the run, and everyone wants a piece of her—including one winged alien warrior named Tier.
But the truth always catches up and Junco has to choose who she should trust. The people who have lied and trained her to kill since she was a small child? Or the warriors who want to steal her away and use her as the catalyst in a plot to fight the final battle in an ancient war?
It’s a choice that will change her fate forever. And once it’s made—there’s no turning back. Life becomes nothing but brutal killing in the name of vengeance. But everything requires sacrifice—everything has a price. And Junco is about to find out what it means to dedicate herself to saving someone else.
Junco is not young adult. She has a foul mouth and violent tendencies.

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J. A. Huss likes to write new adult books that make you think and keep you guessing. Her favorite genre to read is space opera, but since practically no one reads those books, she writes new adult science fiction, paranormal romance, contemporary romance, urban fantasy, and books about Junco (who refuses to be saddled with a label).
She has an undergraduate degree in horses, (yes, really–Thank you, Colorado State University) and a master’s degree in forensic toxicology from the University of Florida. She used to have a job driving around Colorado doing pretty much nothing but shooting the breeze with farmers, but now she just writes, runs the New Adult Addiction and Clean Teen Reads Book Blogs, and runs an online science classroom for homeschoolers.
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My Date From Hell by Tellulah Darling

My Date From Hell
Tellulah Darling
(The Blooming Goddess Trilogy #2)
Publication date: October 31st 2013
Genres: Comedy, Mythology, Young Adult

Synopsis:
Sophie Bloom’s junior year has been a bit of a train wreck. After the world’s greatest kiss re-awakened Sophie’s true identity as Persephone (Goddess of Spring and Savior of Humanity), she fought her dragon-lady guidance counselor to the death, navigated mean girl Bethany’s bitchy troublemaking, and dealt with the betrayal of her backstabbing ex, Kai (sexy Prince of Darkness). You’d think a girl could catch a break.
Yeah, right.
With Zeus stepping things up, it’s vital that Sophie retrieve Persephone’s memories and discover the location of the ritual to stop Zeus and Hades. So when Aphrodite strikes a deal that can unlock Sophie’s pre-mortal past, what choice does the teen goddess have but to accept?
The mission: stop media mogul Hermes from turning Bethany into a global mega-celebrity. The catch? Aphrodite partners Sophie and Kai to work together … and treat this suicide mission as a date. Which could work out for Sophie’s plan to force Kai to admit his feelings for her–if she doesn’t kill him first.
Add to that the fact that BFF Theo’s love life and other BFF Hannah’s actual life are in Sophie’s hands, and suddenly being a teenager—even a godlike one—seems a bit like … well, hell. Whatever happened to dinner and a movie?
The YA romantic comedy/Greek mythology fireworks continue to fly in My Date From Hell. Love meets comedy with a whole lot of sass in book two of this teen fantasy romance series. Breaking up is easy; dating is deadly.
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PROMO PRICE: On Oct 31 (launch day) and Nov 1, My Date From Hell will be 99 cents on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1auqxsM - Anyone posting on Oct 30- Nov 1 please mention this in your post.

Excerpt

The tigers herded me along for about fifteen minutes over soft, spongy ground with the occasional tree root to stumble over. Nothing slithered or skittered over my feet, for which I was profoundly grateful.
We stepped into a clearing in front of a large, clear pond with a waterfall. It was beautiful here. I almost forgot about my keepers until one of them pawed at me gently. I jumped at the slight rasp of its claws on my skirt and glared at it.
“You prefer lunch with a view?” I asked the tigers, pleased with my bravado. They sat down, hemming me in along the shore of the pond.
A woman began to sing. Not in Greek. Not a hymn or a chant or a lullaby.
Nope. She sang of how her loneliness was killing her. Which sounds poetic, but was actually Britney Spears.
Another woman joined her. And another.
It was the best unplugged cover of “Hit Me Baby One More Time” that I’d ever heard.
Three young women swam out from behind the waterfall. They looked like triplets, with dusky olive skin, and long black hair all threaded through with silvery flowers that glinted as they caught the sunlight. Their voices soared as they entreated the object of their song to give them a sign.
My toes were tapping. And yeah, I hummed along. Whatever. It didn’t get to be a massive hit without being catchy.
The Diana Ross of the group swam forward and held out her hand.
As if. I wasn’t jumping in.
One of my feline jailers nudged me hard enough to push me in.
Instead of being wet, I found myself floating underwater but in the air. The women continued to sing, starting their song again as they somehow plucked orchids which did usually not grow underwater to weave in my hair.
By the time they had finished adorning me, I was singing, too.
I rose out of the waves. Light caught the spray of droplets, creating a thousand tiny prisms of color. Crooning my heart out with eternal angst, I was consumed with emotion. I had to sing.
This was the most poignant song ever written and I was the keeper of all the anguish.
Kai stepped out into the clearing and I sang to him. Sang this ageless story that was our tale. About misunderstanding. About confession. And this burning need to know.
I walked out of the water and took Kai’s hands. Enfolded him in my arms then returned us to the pond. I sank with him beneath the waves into this place of air, my voice raised in lyrical pleading to show me that sign.
That’s when Kai tickled me.
As I started to laugh and could no longer sing, I realized that I was drowning him—not in air but in cold water—while burbling Britney Spears lyrics off- key, tears falling from my eyes like an overwrought teenybopper.
Jack hadn’t attacked me, psychologically or otherwise. No, he’d put me under the spell of the sirens and then made me their lead singer in an attempt to take Kai out. Thankfully, it hadn’t worked.
I stumbled out of the pond and said casually, “Well, that was awkward.”

Tellulah Darling
noun
1. YA Novelist
2. Alter ego of former screenwriter and instructor
3. Sassy minx

Geeks out over: cool tech.
Squees for: great storytelling.
Delights in: fabulous conversation.
Writes about: where love meets comedy. Awkwardness ensues.


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