The Dawning of Firebird Alex by Orren Merton

Welcome to my tour stop for The Dawning of Firebird Alex by Orren Merton. The tour runs April 27- May 8th. Check out the tour page for more information.

The Dawning of Firebird Alex by Orren Merton

Eighteen-year-old Alexandra Gold is a Seduman: her humanity and compassion come from her deceased human mother, and her powers over spirit fire and super-human strength from her demon-like Sedu father. Collecting the first three novels inThe Sedumen Chronicles, this volume includes:

Firebird Alex: When Alex unearths her father’s Sedublade, it sets in motion a journey that challenges everything she thought she was. Rescuing her friends from another Seduman gives her a taste of the heroine she might become.

Lady Firebird: Her old nemesis, down but not out, executes a horrific plan to conquer both Earth and Sediin. It’s up to Alex to assume the mantle of Lady Firebird and hunt her adversary across universes.

Firebird Vengeance: Just when Alex thought she’d won, she discovers her victory has unleashed a horrible vengeance that threatens to destroy human and Sedu alike. In order to save everyone, she must convince skeptics in both universes that she truly is the heroine that she claims to be.

Also in this collectionFirebird Manor: In this bonus novelette, Alex and her friends unwittingly awaken a murderous eldritch horror in a beachside manor. They must defeat the monster before it kills again.

Kindle | iBooks | Google Play | Kobo | Goodreads | Nook
Paperback version on Amazon

My Favorite Failure

By Orren Merton

In a very real sense, The Sedumen Chronicles came out of a failure. An epic failure, really. But it was an epic failure that taught me a lot.

After I'd published my first novel, The Deviant, in 2010, I had an idea to write a young adult paranormal romance, featuring an eighteen year-old protagonist named Melanie who could communicate with ghosts. I was very excited about the characters and the environment I had in mind, and I started working on it in 2011.

Almost immediately, it became clear this was a novel that simply didn't want to come easily. I had various story elements but they didn't quite connect up smoothly. I got carried away fleshing out and creating the characters; I was extremely proud of how uniquely I had developed their independent voices, but I suddenly realized after nearly a year of work, I'd written almost 150,000 words—that's almost double the length of the individual Sedumen Chronicle novels—but I had barely written half the story! And after all that time, I still didn't come up with a title I liked.

I tried to edit the novel, to rewrite it, but I'd spent so much time and energy on it, and it just wasn't working. So I put it aside and wrote an adult science-fiction novel, Skye Entity. But I always wanted to revisit the YA genre, specifically with an eighteen year old girl as the star.

It was at this point, I got the idea for an eighteen-year old girl who was half-human, and half-demon—but she wasn't a monster, she was a hero. If she was a demon, what would her power set be? Obviously, fire would be a part of it. And at that point, a name came to mind: Firebird Alex. I loved the name for the character, but also for the novel.

All the hard lessons I'd learned with my failed novel came back to help me here. When I plotted out the novel, I made sure that it made sense and moved quickly. I still did my best to flesh out the characters and give them unique voices, but not to the point of self-indulgence. And if something wasn't working, I cut it out, which sometimes is the hardest part of all.

And thus, Firebird Alex, and The Sedumen Chronicles was born. Sometimes we need to fail before we can succeed, and this was one of those times. In the moment, I felt quite disheartened, but looking back, I can see how necessary it was, and I'm glad that I tried so hard and learned so much. I came out of that experience a better writer, and for that I'm grateful. And that's why it's my favorite mistake.

Orren Merton started writing fantasy and science fiction at an embarrassingly young age. In high school, he picked up guitar and start playing up and down California in a few bands, culminating in his industrial rock band Ember After. During that time, magazines, developers, and corporations began to pay him to write and edit music software related articles, manuals, and books. Since then he has written the urban fantasy novel The Deviant and the science fiction novel Skye Entity before working on his current series of YA novels. He lives in Southern California with his family, pets, collection of sci-fi/fantasy memorabilia, and curiously large stuffed animal collection.

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GIVEAWAY

Orren will be giving away ecopies of his book to 5 winners of the below Rafflecopter.

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This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

The Burned Bridges Protocol by Abigail Borders

Welcome to my tour stop for The Burned Bridges Protocol by Abigail Borders. This is a YA science fiction published by Giant Squid Books. 

The tour runs March 2nd-13th with reviews, author interviews, guest posts and excerpts. Check out the tour page for the full schedule.

The Burned Bridges Protocol by Abigail Borders
238 pages, young adult, science fiction
Seven hundred years ago, disaster forced humanity to abandon Earth. Life on the colony ship New Edinburgh is all sixteen-year-old Lilliane, the best programmer in her year at the Institute, has ever known. A week ago, Lilliane woke up in a life-pod. Its destination? Earth itself. Because it's time to rebuild. It's up to Lilliane and the four other survivors of the New Edinburgh to reclaim humanity's ancestral home. Today, the life pod arrived at Lady Diana--the lunar holding station that was once the luxury holiday destination for Earth’s super-rich. It’s supposed to be a good place. A safe place. Not anymore. Today, Lady Di is a battlefield. Because while Lilliane and her friends thought they they were the only humans left, somebody else got to Lady Di first. And he will stop at nothing to keep Lilliane from ever getting to Earth.
BBP on Giant Squid Books | Goodreads | Amazon | Indiebound



Guest post by Abigail Borders

BBP, partly dissected.

Firstly, thank you for allowing me this space in you blog. I am truly, very grateful. That being said, onward ☺

Protagonists’ names: Have I mentioned I am bad at generating names for my characters? Because I am truly horrible at it. So Kiddo was in school and I was racking my one working brain cell for names when inspiration struck from my salad bowl. Lilliane’s Yellow is a type of heirloom tomato. Tomain rhymes with romaine. Balsaine is a corruption of balsamic – as in balsamic vinegar. Hecuba is a Greek name associated with the sea – where we get sea salt. And Lemon is… well… lemon.

Antagonist’s name: I picked Kiddo’s brain for this one. Actually, quite a few of my characters are named after Kiddo’s friends. I’d tell him that I need a name, and he’d start listing his classmates until I hear a name I like the sound of. Davie Boy sounds so innocuous and benign, I could not resist. It also reminds me of the song Dannie Boy – which is sweet, sad, and (given what my character did) suitably creepy.

The Ark names: I must confess mea culpa. This bit didn’t make it into the manuscript because I couldn’t figure out how to include it without infodumping. The New Edinburgh colony ship did not actually originate from Edinburgh. When disaster struck seven hundred years before events in the novella, the human race unified and worked as one to fund, build and launch the Arks. All the Arks were named after cities – centers of history and civilization – because people saw the colony ships, and the evacuees on board, as symbolizing the best of humanity. Which is why the twins and Balsaine are Caucasian, Cleo is of African descent and Hecuba is of Afghani descent.

The Gentle Ladies: I’ve mentioned in Maureen’s blog that I’m a humanities person. Not a science person. Ironic, I know. So the Gentle Ladies is actually a bit of a cheat for me. I find it much easier to borrow and re-frame an existing myth, than to re-invent the wheel. Besides, scorpions flails are cool, no? It should be ranked right next to jellied skulls.

Cleo and chocolate cake: Cleo loves chocolate cake. As do I. When she talks about chocolate cake, she speaks for us both. I tend to make pound cake though, because that happens to be Kiddo’s favorite. But if I had my way, it’s chocolate all the way ☺

Abigail is fluent in three languages, grew up in Asia, studied History in the UK, and now calls sunny Southern California her home. When not working with flowers (and daydreaming about what a ranunculus flower fairy looks like) she sings about Winnie the Pooh while baking treats like pineapple tarts and sand dollar cookies for her son, El Kiddo. She has an-going love/hate relationship with all things chocolate, although coffee will always remain her first love. She also holds graduate degrees in International Management and Special Education.
The Burned Bridges Protocol is Abigail’s first novella. Her first novel, Cyrion, is scheduled to be released by MuseItUp Publishing in spring 2015.
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Giveaway:
Five (5) digital copies of The Burned Bridges Protocol (INT) & a signed paperback copy (US)
Ends March 18th

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This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

Blade Singer by Aaron de Orive and Martha Wells.

 Tour Page & Schedule

Blade Singer by Aaron de Orive & Martha Wells

202 pages

Manuel "Manny" Boreaux, a troubled adolescent from Texas, is magically transported into the body of a goblin pickpocket in an alternate world inhabited by faerie creatures. Manny must quickly adapt to the danger all around him and try to find a way to get back home, a feat complicated by the pickpocket's association with a notorious gang of thieves. But when Manny uncovers a plot to assassinate a young king, he must enlist the aid of an elf cavalier and a cat burglar to thwart a Sidhe witch's scheme to ignite a civil war between humans and the Fae.

Goodreads | Amazon

Inspirations for Blade Singer

It all started with an incredible duel.
It was the climax of Scaramouche, the 1952 movie starring Stewart Granger and Mel Ferrer as Andreu Moreau and the Marquis de Maynes. The amazing swordplay lasted around eight minutes and ranged all across a lavish theater, ending on a stage with a shocking reveal. It's one of my favorite cinematic moments and one of the finest sword fights ever put on film. I longed to write a story that featured a duel like that.
My love of swashbuckling films started early. Movies from the Golden Age of Hollywood such as The Black Swan, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Captain Blood, and The Three Musketeers (the one that starred Gene Kelly) made an indelible impression on my young mind. I've watched the 1973 version of The Three Musketeers (the one that starred Michael York) so many times, I've memorized every line of dialogue. And there are some zingers in there courtesy of Alexandre Dumas and George MacDonald Fraser (who also gave us the entertaining Flashman novels).
I suppose it was inevitable that I would write a story like Blade Singer. But it didn't start out as a novel. My background is in film production, which I studied at the University of Texas. My focus was on screenwriting. I took very naturally to the screenplay format. Some find it overly mechanical and restrictive, but I loved it. It's ideal for training storytellers to think in terms of scenes and beats, for understanding the narrative flow, and for achieving the maximum amount of drama with the fewest words possible. Blade Singer's first incarnation was as a feature-length screenplay.
A few years after I wrote the screenplay, I got the opportunity to show it to one of my favorite authors, Martha Wells. I had just finished reading her wonderful novel The Death of the Necromancer and found myself sharing a panel with her at ArmadilloCon. I expressed my admiration for her work, and then helped her prepare for a Star Wars trivia contest (I forget who won). I was fortunate enough to become her friend. When I told her about my desire to turn the screenplay into a novel she was incredibly supportive. And when I asked if she'd be interested in co-writing it with me, I was delighted (and stunned) when she said yes.
The screenplay became the spine of the novel, and together Martha and I fleshed out the setting, characters, and subplots. We settled on how we'd share the writing duties and we dug in. It was an amazing experience. Martha's talents as a storyteller are both enlightening and humbling to witness in action. When the novel was finished, we were both very proud of what we had created.
Blade Singer is a middle-grade fantasy novel that features faeries, swashbuckling, monsters, intrigue, ancient sorcery, and a singing crystal sword. It's fun, it's scary, it's suspenseful, it's exciting, and it's funny. And of course it features an incredible duel worthy of the one that inspired this story all those years ago. We're confident that if you check it out for yourselves, you'll agree. 

About the Authors
A graduate of the University of Texas' film program, Aaron de Orive began his professional writing career in the video game industry, serving as a lead or senior writer on Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided, Tabula Rasa, Anarchy Online, and Star Wars: The Old Republic. He is also the creator of the fantasy role-playing game SHARD: World of the False Dawn. Blade Singer is his first novel. Aaron lives in Austin with his wife, daughter, and two very spoiled terriers.

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Martha Wells is the author of a number of fantasy novels, including The Cloud Roads, The Siren Depths, The Wizard Hunters, Wheel of the Infinite, and the Nebula-nominated The Death of the Necromancer. Her YA fantasy, Emilie and the Hollow World, was published by Angry Robot/Strange Chemistry in April 2013, and the sequel, Emilie and the Sky World, was released in March 2014. Two collections of Books of the Raksura novellas will be published in September 2014 and Fall 2015. She has had short stories in Black Gate, Realms of Fantasy, Stargate Magazine, and Lightspeed Magazine, and in the anthologies Elemental, The Year's Best Fantasy #7, Tales of the Emerald Serpent and The Other Half of the Sky. She has essays in the nonfiction anthologies Farscape Forever, Mapping the World of Harry Potter, and Chicks Unravel Time. She has also written media-tie-in novels, Stargate Atlantis: Reliquary and Stargate Atlantis: Entanglement, and a Star Wars novel, Empire and Rebellion: Razor's Edge.

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Giveaway:
(2) $25 Gift Cards to Amazon or B&N (INT)

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Teaser Tour: Who R U Really? By Margo Kelly

I'm delighted to share the teaser tour for Who R U Really? by Margo Kelly. This young adult thriller is available for sale now. The publisher was kind enough to send me a copy of this book so there will be a review coming up in the next few months (I have tonnes to review!)

Margo Kelly’s Debut Who R U Really? was Ripped from a Real Life Event

After her daughter narrowly survived a man she met in an online role-playing game, Kelly wrote a breathless young adult thriller with the hopes of helping others spot and unmask internet predators.
When a Nampa, Idaho, police detective said to Margo Kelly’s daughter, “It is your job to tell others—your real everyday friends that you go to school with—tell them what happened to you, so nothing like this can happen to them.” … she agreed.
“My daughter is my hero,” Kelly said, “for being willing to share her personal choices, conversations, and feelings in order to help others, regardless of the negative judgment she might receive as a result.” Additionally, Kelly realized if she wrote a novel about her daughter’s experience, they could help more people avoid the trappings of internet predators. Who R U Really? is primarily a work of fiction, but the essence of the plot is what happened when Kelly’s daughter was nearly abducted. The
fictional elements are based on what has happened to young women across the country on a too frequent basis.
“Inspired by her own daughter's terrifying story, Kelly has painted a realistic picture of how a smart girl can get caught up in something dangerous online,” said the School Library Journal. “Guaranteed to give readers goosebumps—particularly as events heat up toward the end. … A good
choice for families to read together.”
According to the Fall Preview issue of Kirkus Reviews, “Thea’s mistakes, while frustrating to encounter, are frighteningly plausible, and the relationships among characters are well–fleshed out, especially between mother and daughter. Kelly’s first novel is a suspenseful page-turner with multiple suspects, a little bit of romance, and a strong but not overbearing message.”

About the Book:

Who R U Really? by Margo Kelly
(ages 12-18)

When Thea discovers a new role-playing game online, she breaks her parents’ rules to play. And in the world of the game, Thea falls for an older boy named Kit whose smarts and savvy can’t defeat his near-suicidal despair. Soon, he’s texting her, asking her to meet him, and talking in vague ways about how they can be together forever. As much as she suspects that this is wrong, Thea is powerless to resist Kit’s allure, and hurtles toward the very fate her parents feared most. Who R U Really? will excite you and scare you, as Thea’s life spins out of control.

“Kelly has painted a realistic picture of how a smart girl can get caught up in something dangerous online. … Guaranteed to give readers goosebumps.” -- School Library Journal. (http://www.bookverdict.com)

“Thea’s mistakes, while frustrating to encounter, are frighteningly plausible, and the relationships among characters are well–fleshed out, especially between mother and daughter. Kelly’s first novel is a suspenseful page-turner.” -- Kirkus Reviews (www.kirkusreviews.com)

Amazon | B&N | AdamsMediaStore | Goodreads

Margo Kelly is a native of the Northwest and currently resides in Idaho. A veteran public speaker, she is now actively pursuing her love of writing. Who R U Really? is her first novel. Margo welcomes the opportunities to speak to youth groups, library groups, and book clubs.


Website | Facebook | Twitter (@MargoWKelly) | Goodreads

Giveaway:

Hardcover of Who R U Really?

US only

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Lady Firebird by Orren Merton

I'm delighted to help spread the word with this teaser tour for Lady Firebird by author Orren Merton to celebrate the release of this young adult urban fantasy series. This is book two in the Sedumen Chronicles.

Let's see if this news report piques your interest...

News Report from Cambridge, Massachusetts

Carla: This is Carla Hennington from WGBC in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at the scene what will no doubt have repercussions far outside the greater Boston area; indeed, this may change everything we know, or think we know, about the universe in which we live.

I'm standing here with Laura Meeks, a junior at John Adams High School. Laura, can you tell me what you saw?

Laura: It was crazy. Some huge guy with, like, two bears or wolves or something grabbed this blond girl—I think she was a sophomore—who was walking home. She started screaming, my buddy Bruce and I were thinking we should do something, when we heard that girl, Lady Firebird, start yelling—

Carla: Can you describe the girl, Laura?

Laura: Oh, yeah. She was off the charts! Her hair and eyes were on fire, her skin was like leather or stone or something, I dunno, hard, you know? And she ran right at the kidnapper and his wolves, swinging her huge curved sword—it had blue flames.

Carla: The man responded?

Laura: Oh man, he sicked his wolves on her. Then Lady Firebird, like, opened up a rip in the air or something—it was crazy—and her wolves started coming out. The wolves fought, she fought the guy, but he cut her open and he and his wolves got away with the girl. It was intense—and really sad.

Carla: And that's when you and your friends aided—

Laura: Lady Firebird, yeah. I walked up, and she talked to us, that's how I know her name. Here, Bruce, why don't you...

Carla: Bruce Williams, ladies and gentleman, another eye witness. Bruce, why don't you tell us what happened from here.

Bruce: Thank you, Ms. Hennington. Yeah, um, we approached Lady Firebird, me first. She was hurt bad, but she could still talk. She told us what to do—we took her blade, and, like, waved it in the air like she said. It made like a slice in the air, and we couldn't see into it or through it, it was all black. I'd never seen—or done—anything like that.

Laura: Some other guys on the scene from John Adams dragged her wolf over, and they all were pulled through the hole in the air by these huge ape hands or something.

Carla: Were you scared?

Laura: Oh my God you have no idea.

Bruce: The whole thing was so intense! We were like...how could this be real? But there it was, in front of us. Some huge monster dude and his wolf kidnapped a girl from my school...it was crazy. But Lady Firebird tried to save her, and said she was going to bring her home.

Laura: Yeah, I hope she's okay, and she can bring that poor girl home. I can't imagine...

Carla: We're all praying for the victim of this horrible crime, absolutely. What a terrifying event. Were you two afraid, not just of the kidnapper, but of the mysterious flaming swordswoman?

Bruce: Were we scared of Lady Firebird?

Laura: I mean, sure, she was scary and all, but I think she was after that kidnapper, you know? She was trying to help.

Carla: We all hope so, that's for sure. Bruce, Laura, thank you both. And I'm Carla Hennington from WGHC, on the scene in Cambridge. For more on this breaking story we return to our Boston studio.

 About Lady Firebird:

Alexandra Gold leads two lives. 

In a universe filled with powerful spirit beings, she is the half human, half-demon Lady Firebird of the House of Keroz. She stopped Dirk Raum from murdering humans whose fresh souls he fed the House of Raum. This won her the respect of some but the enmity of others.

On Earth, she appears to be like every other eighteen-year old girl, but she longs to step forward as Lady Firebird, and let people know that she will protect them—but she worries that once people see her flaming hair, eyes, and long fangs, she will terrify those she wants to help. When Dirk returns and starts a kidnapping spree as part of his plan to conquer both universes, Alex races to the rescue. 

She is ready to meet the challenge; but is the world ready to meet Lady Firebird?

Goodreads | Amazon

About the Author:

Orren Merton started writing fantasy and science fiction at an embarrassingly young age, mostly for his own

amusement. In high school, he listened to a lot of dark and moody rock, which inspired him to pick up guitar and start playing up and down California in a few bands, culminating in his Industrial rock group Ember After releasing their debut album, Grasping At Straws, and subsequently The Misery EP.  During that time, magazines, developers, and corporations began to pay him to write and edit music software related articles, manuals, and  books. Since then he has written the urban fantasy novel The Deviant and the science fiction novel Skye Entity before working on his current series of YA novels. He lives in Southern California with his family, pets, collection of sci-fi/fantasy memorabilia, and curiously large stuffed animal collection.

Website |  Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway:

5 ebook copies of Lady Firebird by Orren Merton (INT)

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Cover Reveal: Henge by Realm Lovejoy

I'm always excited to share cover reveals for urban fantasy books and this is one is gorgeous, right? AND it's based on Arthurian legends! How cool is that?!
Henge is a YA Fantasy that is a modern spin-off featuring Morgan le Fay as the protagonist. It is due to release this Autumn. The cover art is by the author, Realm Lovejoy.

About the book:
Modern-day Camelot. Where knights no longer carry swords. Magic is dangerous. And those who seek control are not to be trusted.

Sixteen-year-old Morgan le Fay is a fire user. An ordinary girl with an extraordinary skill, she has the ability to create and command fire at will. Her dream is to become the Maven—the right hand of the future King Arthur. In the chance of a lifetime, Morgan is selected to join Arthur’s Round, an elite group of young magic users from which the new Maven will be chosen.

Along with the other fire, water, and wind users in Arthur’s Round, Morgan is rigorously trained and tested. The handsome Merlin, a brilliant water user, takes a particular interest in her. Is his friendship to be trusted, or is Merlin simply trying to win the position of Maven for himself? Among the many rivals Morgan faces is the current Maven, Mordred, who seems determined to see her fail.

But Morgan has a secret—years ago, her mother was executed for using fire magic, and Morgan’s desire for justice makes her more than ready to take on the challenge before her. Can she prevail in Camelot’s tests of survival and magic? Only time—and Morgan’s powerful fire—will tell.

Realm Lovejoy’s modern Arthurian series features one of literature’s most complicated and powerful female figures. Henge is the first book in the LE FAY series, and—like Morgan le Fay’s magic—it is sure to dazzle and amaze.

Add it on Goodreads!

About the Author:

Realm Lovejoy is an American writer and an artist. She grew up in both Washington State and the Japanese Alps of Nagano, Japan. Currently, she lives in Seattle and works as an artist in the video game industry. CLAN is her first book. You can find out more about her and her book at www.realmlovejoy.com


Find the Author:
Webpage | Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Tumblr

Giveaway:

$30 Amazon Gift Card (INT)

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Life Interrupted by Kristen Kehoe

Tour Schedule

Life Interrupted by Kristen Kehoe

328 pages
Rachel Reynolds isn't running from her past, but she wouldn't mind if it stopped chasing her, either. A senior in high school getting ready to graduate, Rachel is trying to look ahead toward her future, while forgetting the one night two years ago that set events in motion which altered the course of her entire life. Part of the future she's looking for includes falling out of love with her best friend, an act she seems incapable of, especially when it appears he might just love her, too. As Rachel tries to find her footing in a relationship that has baggage before it starts, a nightmare from her past reappears, upsetting the tenuous balance of Rachel's life and threatening the one person she loves most.

Amazon | Goodreads

Rachel Reynolds: Real Life vs. Player Profile (as written by Rachel “Flow” Reynolds)

• Name: Rachel Reynolds
• Height:​ 6’0
• Age: 18
• Weight: yeah right
• POS: Outside/opposite
• College: undecided
• Stats: 0.250-4.00 hitting percentage; 1.26 aces/set; 2.0 passing percentage

Ah, my player profile. Beautiful. Why, you might ask? Is it because of the random numbers ninety percent of the population reading it don’t understand, or the fact that my height is in the top percentile for females? Because I refuse to put my weight on there as a high five to feminists everywhere, or maybe it’s because my college is undecided and, therefore, makes my future look open and inviting. Sadly, no, the beauty is not because of any of these things. The beauty in this profile comes from the fact that it’s just that, a profile, a glance, an overview of who I am that highlights only the necessary portions, while outright ignoring the other, more dramatic and infinitely more complicated portions of my life.
Dramatic, you say? You’re eighteen, a teenager with no responsibility and the world ahead of her, what drama could you possibly have? Please, don’t be such an adult (Read: naïve asshole).
In order to give you more insight into my life and its participants, I’ve listed below my teammates’ profiles, if you will, those people in my life that matter, that mean something to me, that impact me. Maybe after this you’ll understand why the player profile is so beautiful in its uncomplicatedness (spell check didn’t underline it, so I know that’s a word. Back off).

Players in the Life if Rachel “Flow” Reynolds.
• Parents: Sam and Leigh Reynolds
• Marital Status: Divorced.
• Relationship: Love mom, laugh at Dad.
• Stats: Mom’s a professor of Biology at the university; Dad’s discovering himself…and half the female population of our state.
• Siblings: Sister, Stacy.
• Age: 28
• Height: 5’7”
• Weight: Maybe a buck fifteen
• Stats: Type A perfectionist with OCD and narcissistic tendencies. A general pain in the ass.

• Best Friend #1: Katie Bowers
• Height: Tiny
• Age: 17 going on 23
• Weight: Less than me by a good twenty pounds
• Stats: one douchebag boyfriend, an absentee mother and criminal dad. Hello, daddy issues, party of one.

• Best Friend #2: Tripp Jones
• Height: 6’3” give or take an inch (I’ll take one, thanks)
• Age: 18
• Weight: more than me, praise Jesus.
• Stats: Girlfriend, Lauren, tiny and blonde and annoyingly pretty. Also, he’s the hated love of my life. We hooked up two years ago, ignored each other, and have come to a tentative truce. I want to fall out of love with him almost as much as I want to graduate from high school, though the latter is definitely more probable.

• Baby Daddy: Marcus Kash
• Oh yeah, I have a daughter. Surprise.
• Age: 20
• Height and Weight: who gives a shit
• Stats: Pothead asshole with violent tendencies. Yay, for drunken hookups and morning after consequences that last a lifetime.

• Baby: Gracie Reynolds
• Height: 30 inches (yep, tall like Mama)
• Age: one and half
• Weight: almost thirty pounds
• Stats: physically resembles her sperm donor of a father, and emotionally resembles her mother—thank God. Feisty, verbal, and generally hilarious.

What kind of drama, you ask? I’m a teen mom whose loved her best friend her entire life, and watched from afar while he dated a plethora of girls, except for that one time our sophomore year he chose me and we spent an intense night together. When I woke up without him, I got drunk and pregnant—the best response to a broken heart, yeah? Now, we’re graduating from high school, and I’m working on falling out of love with him while trying to get into college and give a good life to my daughter, while making sure the man who fathered her doesn’t kill me. Seriously. Yay to player profiles and simpler times, because life’s a bitch and she rarely allows me to ignore her.
Goodbye, uncomplicated, hello life, you sneaky biatch.

About the Author:
Mom, Wife, Coffee Addict, and Book Lover

I am a writer of YA/NA contemporary novels. I write about those crazy ages of 18-23 because there is nothing scarier than being told to grow up and decide what to do with your life and who to be so suddenly. I write about love because it's my belief that love, in one form or another, saves us all at some point in our lives. I am married to a man who understands and believes in me, and mother to a beautiful baby girl and a neurotic Great Dane Puppy.

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Giveaway:

2 winners get a $25 Amazon Gift Card (INT)

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Tour organized by:

Wreck You by Jennifer Snyder

It's a release day party for Wreck You by Jennifer Snyder! Wreck You is book three in the Coldcreek series.  Wreck You is only .99 cents for a limited time!

About the Book: Outspoken and flirtatious, Lauren Myers is more than most guys can handle. Even so, a disastrous trip to her boyfriend’s hometown in Greece leaves her reeling, forcing her to reevaluate her views on men and relationships all together. Level-headed and reserved, Ian Mason is perfectly content with his life the way that it is—until a phone call from his mother flips his life upside down. Suddenly, everything changes and he’s forced to hold the weight of the family business all on his own. After a chance meeting draws them together, the two will learn love often finds those who aren’t necessarily looking, and that there are moments in life that hold within them all the power to wreck you.  

Goodreads  | Amazon | Smashwords | iTunes | B&N 

Meet Lauren Myers

 

A little bit wild and loads of fun, Lauren is definitely someone who can liven up a party. She’s flirty and adventurous, and incredibly bold with her words.

Same as every woman, Lauren sometimes holds a serious side as well…

“The warmth I’d felt inside died a little, because in that moment, I wanted to be that type of girl, the type who didn’t think it was awkward or strange for a guy to hold a car door open for her.

But I wasn’t.”

Lauren’s story is one of finding yourself. It’s about realizing everything happens for a reason—how we have to go through tough times to get to the better ones, and how heartbreaks can make us appreciate happiness more.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Meet Ian Mason

Super sweet and a little shy at times, Ian is a genuine good guy. I’ve wrote cocky arrogant types in the past, and while I love to add a dose of both in my male characters from time to time, writing a straight up good guy was refreshing.

Don’t get me wrong though, Ian is no dud in the personality department…

“Confident enough, are you kidding me? I just got a tattoo.” He shifted his eyes from the road to glance at me for a split-second. “Sweetheart, I went from confident, to dead sexy, to fucking badass in a single afternoon.”

Ian’s story is one of responsibility. It’s all about learning that sometimes in life you have to step up your game for those you love, while at the same time it reminds us that stepping out of our comfort zone occasionally is healthy.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Wreck You Excerpt One:

(From Ian)

  “I drink just about anything, but because I started with a margarita, I’ll have a shot of some tequila.” She sat up straight and tipped her head to the side. “What about you? Are you just a sloppy beer drinker?” “A sloppy beer drinker?” I questioned while polishing off my last few swigs. “Yeah. They say beer drinkers are known for sloppy, lazy sex.” She flashed me this look, one that made me feel as though she were waiting for a specific type of reaction. She was baiting me to ask how she knew this and to push the topic of conversation further; it was reflected in her eyes. “Never heard that before.” I pushed my empty beer bottle away. If that was the type of sex she associated with guys who drank beer, then I didn’t want to be lumped into that category in her mind—even though it was too late for that. “So what do they say about tequila?” “I’m sure you’ve heard the saying.” Her eyes glittered with mischief as she glared at me. I shook my head. “And what saying is that?” “That tequila makes clothes come off.” I laughed. “Oh really? I think I have heard that before actually. It’s in a song or something. The question is—is it true?” I raised an eyebrow at her, wondering where the hell this brazen guy had come from. This was so not me. I didn’t talk this way to females. This was Brent. Oh, God, Brent had rested at the bottom of that beer. Yeah, it was definitely time to switch up my drink of choice for the night.

Author Bio:

Jennifer Snyder lives in North Carolina were she spends most of her time writing New Adult and Young Adult Fiction, reading, and struggling to stay on top of housework. She is a tea lover with an obsession for Post-it notes and smooth writing pens. Jennifer lives with her husband and two children, who endure listening to songs that spur inspiration on repeat and tolerate her love for all paranormal, teenage-targeted TV shows.

 

Website | Twitter |Goodreads | Facebook Author Page | Amazon Author Page | Newsletter 

   

Giveaway:

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The Wolf's Cry by Natalie Crown

Thanks for stopping by my tour stop for The Wolf's Cry by Natalie Crown. This is a YA Fantasy book that released in January 2014. This is the first book in the The Semei Trilogy.  This tour will run March 10th-21st and consist of reviews, author interviews, guest posts, top tens and a giveaway.  Stop by the tour page for the full list of tour stops.

Book Title: The Wolf's Cry (Book One in the Semei Trilogy)
Author: Natalie Crown
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: YA
Length: PDF is 199 pages

She is his weakness.
And she will ruin everything.
Kammy Helseth's idea of adventure never amounted to more than getting a boat across to the mainland and finally escaping to London. That was until she stumbled through the mouth of the forest into a world beneath our own, the world of the Semei.
Her only wish is to find her way home but when Jamie, her best friend, is taken into this new world of shapeshifters and Crystals she has no choice but to stand up to her fear and to remain beneath the surface. Hunted by Bagor, King of Alashdial, and those that are loyal to him, Kammy finds herself in the company of a group of outlaws led by Jad, a Prince with a bitter past and a similarly bitter demeanour.
They overcome age-old prejudice to find a way to work together. But Bagor knows a secret about the Crystals that threatens to change everything. Kammy and Jad must find a way to thwart the king and to save Jamie, but that is just the beginning. For Kammy is in possession of a Key and the fate of countless lives, both human and Semei, may rest in her hands.

EXCERPT
Kammy and Irena
The wind rattled the windows and Kammy glanced back at the darkness, entertaining the possibility that her grandmother was out in the storm. She let out a sigh of relief when she heard a muffled curse. Laughing to herself, Kammy straightened and started to fill the kettle.
Irena came striding into the kitchen, her trim figure clothed in a pair of old dungarees and a red jumper. ‘Kam, I didn’t expect to see you back so soon.’ Her grey hair was pulled up into a scruffy bun and there was a line on her brow that told Kammy she was incredibly frustrated. She dropped herself into a chair at the table and huffed.
Smiling, Kammy pulled two mugs from the cupboard and asked. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘That bloody wardrobe. Heavier than I thought.’
‘Gran,’ Kammy groaned, placing the mugs down with more force than she had intended. ‘I told you that Harry offered to help, if you really must move the thing.’
Irena waved a hand, ignoring Kammy's words completely, and fixed her moss green eyes on her granddaughter. ‘You look ill.’
Kammy snorted. ‘Thanks.’
‘Seriously Kam, you look ever so pale.’
The kettle began to whistle. ‘I am pale. This is what I always look like.’
Irena’s silence was not comforting, and Kammy focused on making the tea. She placed the mugs onto the table and Irena thanked her. Kammy sank into the other chair and curled her fingers around her drink.
She sighed, ‘Go on, and say it.’
Irena stared, and then shrugged her innocence. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. Jamie stopped here by the way. Did he catch you?’
Kammy was suspicious. Her Gran was usually quick to pick at the various aspects of Kammy’s life that she disagreed with, namely her tendency to spend her time alone. Jamie and his importance to Kammy seemed to be the only thing they agreed on in that regard.
‘He found me just as that started up,’ she looked out the window. When she turned back to her Gran, she flinched. Irena’s eyes were alight in a way that Kammy knew all too well. It was a look that made her feel as though all her thoughts and feelings could be drawn out of her on a string.
‘You should have gone back to his for once. You’re seventeen. You shouldn’t be stuck around here all the time.’
‘I didn’t know you were so keen to get rid of me.’
Irena raised a thin eyebrow. ‘It is my life ambition.’
Kammy laughed. ‘I might have gotten stuck in the village. I had to come home.’
‘You could have stayed at his.’
‘Gran.’
‘Kammy.’
Kammy was in the mood to be stubborn, but she had never been able to outmanoeuvre her grandmother when it came to stubbornness and she did not suppose she would start now.
‘His mum hates me.’
Irena’s eyebrows disappeared altogether. ‘Helen? Why on earth do you think that?’
Kammy slouched back in her chair and mumbled, ‘Because she does.’
‘That is ridiculous,’ said Irena, and her tone told Kammy that there would be no arguing such a statement. So, Kammy took a sip of tea and stayed silent. Her Gran could believe what she wanted about Helen Powell but Kammy knew the truth. Jamie would never admit it but he knew it too. We don’t want you here, Esme had said. Kammy folded her arms on the table and rested her chin on top of them. She had never understood it and she was sure that she never would.
‘I’m just concerned Kam. Since you finished school, you’re either at home, at work, or at the beach. You’re quite predictable.’
‘You are full of compliments today.’
‘I always thought you wanted to get away from this place.’
‘I do.’
‘Then do it.’
Kammy clamped her teeth together and stared at her lap. She made it sound so easy.
‘Kam?’
‘You hate it here too. So why don’t you leave?’ The words escaped her with more sharpness than she had meant and Irena’s stare softened.
‘I’m old.’
Kammy shook her head. She felt the years of bitterness filling her up from her toes. ‘You weren’t old ten years ago, we should have left then. Mum might have liked the mainland. There might have been something…’
‘There wouldn't have been.’
Kammy caught herself and closed her eyes. After a long moment she said, ‘Sorry.’
‘Maybe you’re right. Maybe we should have left anyway.’
Kammy peered up at her Gran and for a second Irena looked old and weary of the years behind her. Kammy felt an instant of blind panic and when Irena reached a hand across the table, Kammy took it and held on tight.

Book Links:  

Goodreads | Amazon 

About the Author:
I grew up in a village called Swilland, in the countryside of Suffolk, England. There wasn't much around, other than farms and fields, but for the most part I loved it, and I still do. I’m a passionate person by nature. I don’t just LIKE things, I LOVE things. Whether it’s a book, a film, or a sports team. Once I decide to enjoy something, I enjoy it to the MAX.
I’m a terrible cook. I prioritise essential social media work over keeping my flat tidy, because I know best.
Onto my love of reading and, consequently, writing - it was my dad that played a big role in encouraging me to read. He didn't push me towards books necessarily; he simply read a lot himself. Then I would pick up his books and read them after him. I was reading high and epic fantasy from a very young age. I guess that might explain why I have always loved adventure stories with magic and intrigue and princes and princesses in.
I was aware that I wanted to ‘be a writer’ from a very young age. I was convinced I would be the first best seller that hadn't reached double figures in age yet! I wrote about the Danshees, furry creatures that lived through a mirror. I wrote about a Sand Bottle that transported a boy into a world of magic. I wrote about a sick girl finding a music boy that healed her, but transported her back in time. (Wow, I always have loved alternate universes…)
When I was eight I wrote my first novel called The Land of No Return. Despite the title, I am determined to return to it one day. I feel like I owe it to my past self. So, as you can see, I have always been writing. There have been times when I have gone weeks without scratching down a word. Then there are days where I churn out multiple chapters and only my body’s silly desire for sleep and/or food can stop me.
I write because I enjoy it. I write fantasy because I enjoy it. I try my hardest to put something of myself into my writing. I like to think my characters have depth, I like to think that my fantasy worlds reflect upon the real world in some way. You guys will be the judge of that but even if you don't agree I know that I at least try and I can do no more than that.
These days I live in North London and I love it. I work full time and London is a hectic city. Juggling work, writing and a social life is tough but nobody is forcing me to do it so I can't complain. The dream is that writing will be my career one day but it doesn't matter if I never quite make it. I love writing too much to ever pack it in.
I am desperate to get a dog. My mum suspects I miss my cats at home more than I miss her. I am a devout Arsenal/Ferrari/Rafael Nadal fan. I get all mad when confronted with a case of social injustice and then I get all mad when people take the fight for social justice too far. I mostly keep those thoughts to myself and simmer with rage. I watch good TV and bad TV, because I can. What I can’t do is enjoy bad books (subjective opinion of course). I just can’t.

Find the author:

Website/Blog |  Tumblr | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway:

2 $50 Amazon Gift Cards (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This tour was organized by CBB Book Promotions

 

A different kind of Cover Reveal: Mine to Spell by Janeal Falor

Today we have something different for you.  Instead of just revealing a cover we are asking YOU to help us choose WHICH cover to use!   Mine to Spell by Janeal Falor is the second book in the Mine series. This is a YA fantasy and it is scheduled to release May 5th, 2014.

Do you like cover choice #1:

Or do you like cover choice #2:

Cast your vote here:

Cover #1 or cover #2?
	Cover #1
	Cover #2
pollcode.com free polls

Be sure to stop by the authors website on March 6th for the final reveal of which cover was chosen!

MINE TO SPELL Description:

Cynthia has always hidden from her father’s hexes behind her older sister. When her family gains independence unheard of for women, she’s relieved that her days of harsh punishments are over. But as her seventeenth birthday approaches—the typical age to be sold to a new master—death threats endanger her sisters. She now faces two options: run or meet society’s expectations.

For once, Cynthia isn’t going to let her older sister shield her from the problem. She’s going to prove to herself, her sisters, and society that her family isn’t a threat to their traditions. She willingly chooses to be purchased by a new master. A bold step that takes her somewhere she never thought she would go and to a man she might possibly fall in love with. With his help, she may just find a way to save her sisters while discovering how to stand up for herself. If she lives long enough.

MINE TO SPELL on Goodreads

 

YOU ARE MINE on Good Reads | YOU ARE MINE on Amazon | YOU ARE MINE on B&N

MINE TO TARNISH on Good Reads | MINE TO TARNISH on Amazon

About the author:
Amazon bestselling author Janeal Falor lives in Utah with her husband and three children. In her non-writing time she teaches her kids to make silly faces, cooks whatever strikes her fancy, and attempts to cultivate a garden even when half the things she plants die. When it's time for a break she can be found taking a scenic drive with her family or drinking hot chocolate.

Find the author:

Website: janealfalor.com

Twitter: @JanealFalor
Facebook

Author Page on Goodreads

Giveaway:

 Ten Giveaway Combo Packs: ebooks of YOU ARE MINE and prequel, MINE TO TARNISH
Open INT
a Rafflecopter giveaway

This event was put together by CBB Book Promotions.

 

Cover Reveal: Keeper by Ingrid Seymour

I'm excited to reveal the cover for Keeper by Ingrid Seymour.  This YA fantasy is releasing as a serial novel with the following release dates:
 vol 1 - March 05
 vol 2 - April 2
 vol 3 - May 7
 vol 4 - June 4
and the Omnibus edition with all volumes releases in July.
This is the cover of the omnibus that contains all the stories that comes out in July. 

About the Book:
Greg Papilio both wants and dreads his impending metamorphosis. He’s tired of being a runt—always picked last on the basketball court—and tired of being ugly, like a caterpillar, when he could be what girls call “drop dead gorgeous.” But as much as he looks forward to the transformation, he also fears the caste it will inevitably assign to him. He doesn’t want a common caste, or one that will obliterate his freewill and make him a slave. He wants a powerful one, a cool one.

Samantha Gibson is average. She’s short and a little full around the hips—a terribly cute look for a future chef. À-la-Rachael-Ray in her old days. She’s two years away from culinary school, from her uncaring parents, and from carving a perfectly Human future. She wants independence, a career and a quiet life of her own.

Except fate couldn’t care less about what Greg and Samantha want and gives them exactly the opposite. Greg’s metamorphosis assigns him a caste that enslaves him to Samantha, while her chance to attend Le Cordon Bleu is taken away when her parents get a divorce. And fate’s cruelty doesn’t stop there. Not content with shattering their dreams, it also makes them fall in love, just to tear them apart when Samantha morphs, losing her freewill and developing a compulsion for a guy she barely knows.

Still, these misfortunes are just the tip of the iceberg, because Greg’s fate is to protect Samantha at a time when someone wants her dead. He is her Keeper and will stop at nothing to ensure her safety, even if her secret past proves deadly, even if she belongs to someone else.



AUTHOR BIO:
Ingrid Seymour loves, loves, loves to write. She's a young and new adult author. She writes in a variety of
genres including romance, urban fantasy, paranormal and horror. She loves pizza and sushi, Sunkist and gum. She believes in vampires, witches, but not zombies (uh-uh, never!) She writes to loud music, daydreams constantly and spends too much time in twitter!! Find her there? ;) Ingrid has incredible fun doing what she does, but more than anything she enjoys hearing from her readers. It's a dream come true.

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