Monday, July 30, 2012

Reluctant Readers


Do you fear approaching your Reluctant Reader?  Have they been spotted this summer participating in questionable behavior with their books like building forts and extreme paper dolls?  Identified by their atypical behaviors, the Reluctant Readers Road to Recovery Guide is here to help you create successful encounters with hesitant young readers everywhere.  Panic no more and take control of rainy day havoc, poolside chaos and playground mayhem with a great book for your unique reader.
Reluctant Readers Road to Recovery Guide 

The Make-Believer has more imagination frequent flier miles than a Pan Am stewardess!  The best cure for this case of Reluctant Reading is Elliot and the Last Underworld War by Jennifer Nielsen (Author of The False Prince).  The Make-Believer will be thrilled to join the sarcastically hilarious Elliot in the Underworld.  As the King of the Brownies, Elliot has battled Goblins, tricked Pixies, and trapped a Demon. But now, the Demon has escaped and he's ready for revenge.  So, the Pixies, Shapeshifters, Elves, Goblins, and Brownies must join forces to battle the Demon head on before he has the chance to destroy Earth.

The Daredevil thinks trick-or-treating should apply to everyday life, especially the tricks!  Cure their hunger for trouble with Horrid Henry and the Zombie Vampire by Francesca Simon.  Not even your daredevil will believe what Henry is up to next in these four new wonderful and wacky tales.  The international bestselling Horrid Henry series provides readers with a prankster whose relentless antics create a laugh-out-loud read.  WARNING: Do not allow daredevils to consume milk while reading or milk may spray from the nose!

The BFF has matching bracelets with all her friends and wins Miss Congeniality every year.  This is a case of Reluctant Reading that can only be cured with Hailey Twitch and the Wedding Glitch by Lauren Barnholdt.  Hailey Twitch and her spirited sprite Maybelle, return in the fourth installment to the fab, fab, fabulous series.  The BFF will be delighted to read as Hailey gets ready to be a flower girl in her cousin’s wedding!  Maybelle’s mischief and fairy magic is back and might land the duo in trouble!

Bruce Lee 2.0 can quote Enter the Dragon from start to finish and has broken table lamps with leg kicks. The only cure for such readers (and your house) is to follow the UK’s youngest secret agent in Jason Steed: Revenge by Mark A. Cooper. Set in a fast-paced 1970s Britain with non-stop excitement and martial arts fight scenes, Revenge is perfect for kids who aspire to be the next martial arts master and are looking for adventure stories and heroes who aren’t afraid to take action.  In the thrilling follow-up to Fledgling Jason is sent on a new undercover mission and must infiltrate a shadowy criminal organization –but his luck is running out.

Follow this guide and win a chance of snagging these great summer reads in a giveaway pack!

                       Elliot and the Last Underworld War by Jennifer Nielsen





                       Horrid Henry and the Zombie Vampire by Francesca Simon



Hailey Twitch and the Wedding Glitch by Lauren Barnholdt


  Jason Steed: Revenge by Mark A. Cooper
               


Sunday, July 29, 2012

Vera Bradley Sundays: What I Want

Ok so THIS weekend we are going to do something special!  Since the summer colors are now out and you have had a few weeks to see what I have. Im going to to show you what I want and put something in here for you to win!


So what do I want?  

 Yes I caved I want it so bad. But at almost $200.00 its just not going to happen right now!  All well maybe next year.

So as I said you get to win something!  And you get it in one of the NEW SUMMER COLORS!

So just click here for >Va Va Bloom<

Click here for >Indigo Pop<

Click here for >Paisley Meets Plaid<

Then pick out what you want (Please under 100.00) 

Then come back here and enter the Rafflecopter!  

Friday, July 27, 2012

Free Book Fridays





Our Next Giveaway Date is:
Aug 3rd

We will be giving away:
2 Print Copies of 
City of Lost Souls 


This Weeks Winners are!

David Proctor

Lia Hanson

Jennifer Kings 



So What is Free Book Friday?!
Every Friday we along with a few other sites we will hold a Free Book Giveaway.
All you have to do to win is follow. 
 Ebooks will be in ALL formats so don't worry. 
 If you win we will make sure you get a format you can use.  

We will also be giving away free print books. 
Print books will be new and used

I will also be adding ARC's which are Advanced Reading Copies. 
So you will get the book before anyone else. 






THANK THE SPONSORES!
I would like to take this time to let you know that this ongoing giveaway if sponsored by Crossroads.
The Hollow Tours and The Hollow Readers have both been sold and have become Crossroads!

 So we got a new look, content, and prices! So again this is a wonderful way to get your info out there.  With tour stops both personal and from authors you can get more followers and all you have to do is read a book.  

So please thank The Crossroads for their time and money as they Sponsor Free Book Fridays!

Ok so what is next!  


Join US!

If you want to join our giveaway you can do that to!  You may click the link and add your site.
It will cost $3.00 per link (includes twitter, Facebook, and Site links)  
Your link will run with us for 6 months. After which time you may repurchase time. 
If you would like to run it for 1 year please double the cost.
All books giveaway are included. 
We are going to have a limited number of links available so get your spot now!
Click to Join!



Donate!
If you would like to help us! You can do that as well.  You don't even need a site. You may donate in two ways. The first one is by mailing us a book in print or emailing a book in ebook. 
To submit a donated book click here!

To donate money to our giveaways to be used to purchase books from Amazon.com please send an email gift card with the subject or message (Free Book Fridays Donation) to witchever82@gmail.com

Either of these will get you either a free link or we will list you as a sponsor on this page.
(Book/Donation must be work $3.00 or more)



Authors
Are you an author?  Well we have a deal for you!  If you donate 3 print books or 3 ebooks gifted via Amazon/Nook we will give you 1 link for free for 1 year. 


If you want to donate or if you are an author please contact me at Jessica@crossroadreviews.com Subject: Free Book Fridays.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Mountain Lion Is HERE!

Ok so I went to bed last night knowing that this morning I would be updating my laptop and my desktop to Mountain Lion!  So its now here yay! I spent the time and put it on the computer and it is so much faster.  Safari is so much faster!

My pages load like magic! And I love the new mail and the notifications!  Now all I need is the update for my phone and ill be set! 

Tiiana Tour





Book Description

May 24, 2012


Pitch:  The 5 Moons of Tiiana is a science fiction narration on a soldier caught in the middle of an interstellar war, faced with rescuing the princess he loves, and solving an ancient alien mystery that might bring peace to the galaxy.

Rez Cantor is a captain in the Imperial Army’s Shadow Guard, and the personal attacheʹto Leanna, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the Emperor, sole heir to the Melelan throne.

On the eve of  a treaty signing ending a twelve year war between the Relcor and the Empire, Rez Cantor learns that the Imperial family has been slated for death.

Under orders from his Queen, Rez is given a final command–save the Princess at all costs. Unprepared, bewildered, and overwhelmed, Rez has only hours to formulate a plan, break into the Imperial Palace, and whisk the princess away before the Relcor learn of the deceit.

Not to be stymied, Rez is partially successful in his efforts. He steals Leanna away, and the two flee Melela in a spaceship, along with others of the Imperial Guard, including Rez’s arch nemesis, Philip Golan. But at the edge of space tragedy strikes. Their ship is nuked as it enters warp, and what happens next transcends all Rez knows or understands. Knocked unconscious during their tumultuous escape, Rez awakens to find himself on a beach–alone–without the princess and no idea where he is.  His predicament worsens as he begins to experience his new environment–an alien moon that harbors new hostilities and challenges at every turn, including a metal-eating cloud that appears to be both alive and deadly.

So begins the sojourn of Rez Cantor upon the Moons of Tiiana.

Trapped upon the water covered moon of Urlena, Rez is captured by the water-breathing Aquella, genetically altered, and made a slave. For two years he labors in the ore mines at the bottom of the sea for his new aquatic masters. Determined to regain control of his life, Rez manages to escape. He makes his way to the moon’s surface and finds an ancient decaying city where he takes up residence. It is here, while fighting for survival, that he stumbles across a transfer point leading to another moon–Boutal.

Rez arrives on Boutal, sick and emaciated from his life as an Aquellian slave. He is found by a mystic called Ahska and her son, Oolat, a giant humanoid ape-wolf. Together, these two nurse Rez back to health, while initiating him into life upon Boutal–a pre-industrial, medieval society, harboring many secrets. It is on Boutal that Rez begins to realize his destiny, though he lacks true understanding. It is only through a series of events, including the color of his skin being changed, that Rez learns that Boutal is under siege from external forces and that the Princess of Melela is alive and well. She is now a full grown woman, and a dark-skinned beauty in her own right, easily capturing Rez’s heart. The only obstacle to their reuniting, is the fact that she is now married to Hazadek, the medieval King of Casita.

Stealing Leanna from Hazadek, Rez and the Princess flee to the northern mountains of Luskia where, with Oolat’s help, they begin to look for a way home. It is during this time that Leanna becomes pregnant. Thrilled at the prospect of being a father, Rez becomes obsessed with finding a way back to Melela, but fate has other plans. The pyramid transfer point they discover in the Northern Plains is under the control of another alien race–the Zecla. The Zecla are a malevolent warrior race of spider-wasps who live on the moon of Zin. They are locusts who propagate every two thousand years, and to meet their biological needs they migrate, bringing death and destruction to everyone in their wake. As fate would have it, they have found access to Boutal and are preparing for an invasion. On their initial foray they kidnap Leanna and take her back to Zin.

In a desperate effort to find Leanna, Rez inadvertently journeys to the moon of Aura where he is reunited with his old nemesis, Philip Golan, the scientist and pilot who helped him and the Princess escape from Melela. Originally enemies, Rez finds that things have changed drastically for Philip–he’s longer human. During their escape from Melela, Philip was critically injured, and while Rez ended up a slave on Urlena, Philip in turn ended up on the moon of Aura–a moon populated by robots. With extensive injuries to his body, the robots saved Philip the only way they knew how, by converting him to a wheelchair bound cyborg.

Because Philip is a genius, and the fact that he is linked with the robot race of Aura, he has gained an understanding of what has transpired upon the moons of Tiiana. He educates Rez on the two thousand year old war that ripped the moons of Tiiana apart. He also provides Rez with a way to save Leanna, for she is in grave danger. It is on Zin that Leanna lies in stasis, as fodder for the Zecla Queen’s hatchlings and her days are numbered. Sealing Rez within a suit of metallic armor, Philip transfers Rez to Zin with a compliment of six robots. Here, our hero races against time and the trials of an inhospitable environment. On one side, Zin is bombarded by radiation from Tiiana, on the other, the moon it is subjected the freezing reaches of space, and in the middle are millions of Zecla preparing for war.

Ever so successful in his efforts, Rez manages to grab Leanna and depart Zin–whereupon Philip’s robots detonates three nuclear weapons upon the moon. These weapons devastate Zin and the Zecla, hopefully destroying their ability to invade the other moons of Tiiana. Unfortunately, all is not well. Leanna is critically injured and lies in a coma, and Philip with all his know how and robot science is unable to help her.  She is dying.

Desperate to save his love, Rez turns to the only beings he has yet to meet–the Visi, the healers of the moon, Vashia.  Calling to them, he pleads for their help, which they eventually grant.  It is on Vashia that things begin to make sense for Rez.  It seems that while the Visi are elusive in their nature, they play a far more important role in the events that are transpiring on the moons of Tiiana than anyone knows. The airy life forms, take Leanna amongst them and begin to reaffirm her body from a genetic level up–they also inform Rez that the Zecla are not dead. They are in fact, regrouping.

Rez’s destiny become clear.  He must somehow unite all the moons to fight the Zecla.  If he fails everyone will die.  Traveling between the moons Rez seeks a way to bring all the races together to stop the Zecla, but in order to do so he must overcome his own prejudices, and the racial hostilities that plague each moon.  Unwavering in his duty, Rez begins to pull the moons together, preparing each one for the struggle that lies ahead. On one side are the Aquella of Urlena, the Solula and Motula from Boutal, the Auraian robots of Aura and the Visi. On the other side are the Zecla and the Brata, a race of flying gargoyles who inhabit the volcanic islands of Boutal. It is these enemies who will meet in the Aritonian desert of Boutal for the final battle and the survival of the moons of Tiiana.

In the final outcome, Rez is successful in his mission.  He saves the Moons of Tiiana by restoring balance to the moons. The outcome is even brighter for Rez because Leanna is once again restored and Philip has made it possible for them to return to Melela in a new spaceship.  Rez’s only concern is the uncertainty of what is waiting for them on Melela.  When they left the Relcor had conquered everything and were bombing Melela into oblivion.  What will they find there?  If he returns with the Princess, will she be safe?  With these unanswered questions lurking in the background, Rez and Leanna return to space, taking with them Giragoc, the viral cloud weapon that Rez first encountered upon arriving on Urlena. The metal eating cloud has plagued the moon for almost 2000 years, nearly destroying it. With this last charitable effort, Rez is under the assumption that he and Leanna are taking Giragoc into deep space where he will be left to die, but that is not the case. The Visi have other plans.

Warping through space Rez is perplexed by the fact that Giragoc is following their ship as they make each jump through space–and he’s getting closer.  Suddenly on their last jump, Rez is given another surprise, he and Leanna have not been returned to Melelan space.  Instead they have landed in orbit around the Relcor’s home world.  Rez is in total panic–this is a total screw up, and their ship now under attack from the Relcor. What have the Visi done?

Res’s apprehension is short lived and he realizes that all is as it should be.  He sees Giragoc’s form pouring through the warp hole behind them and the hundreds of Relcor ships approaching–a smile crosses his face–he understands what the Visi have done. The Relcor are a metal based life form–metallic hybrids–the very substance that Giragoc craves and he is famished.  With tears of joy running down his face, Rez understands that the Visi have just given his portion of the universe the only weapon capable of destroying the Relcor.  And they’ve just dropped it on their door step.  He and Leanna can now return home to rebuild their lives and their world.



Theme: Much of my book follows the Hero’s journey as laid out by Joseph Campbell’s Hero with a thousand faces.  My hero is an ordinary man, given a horrendous task, whereupon he is sent into an unknown universe where he has to face a series of tasks and challenges which force him to face and conquer his own fear and prejudices, eventually saving himself and the universe.

Genre: Science fiction

Target Audience: I’m not sure readers of science fiction can be lumped into a particular age group or single gender.  If I had to chose though, I would lean toward young men and women, with open and active imaginations, who are seeking an adventuress read.

Tone: Adventure, mystery, excitement mixed with drama and humor.

Inspiration: I love the creative process–weaving the tale, building the plot and characters.

Distinguishing features: My book is written in the first person narrative which I believe is more difficult and interesting, as it requires the author to weave the story in such a way that is does not become repetitive or entirely singular in its approach to the reader.

Perception: I want the reader to experience this story as a rollicking good yarn.


Editorial Reviews


From the Author

I would best describe this book as Indiana Jones meets Star Wars.

From the Back Cover

Through this portal lie the Five Moons of Tiiana
Upon her shores live creatures born of war, tide, and air
Some are comprised of flesh, others of insect, and still others of metal
They are beings who seek justice, revenge, and salvation.                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
Some see this gleaming portal as an accidental door
A bridge across the galaxy that opens upon the hand of fate
Others call is destiny--some a channel of hope
For how else could the needed one find his way through?                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
On both sides of the galaxy there are heroes
Some are born, and some are made,
some, however, just know how to get the job done
in spite of themselves.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
The Five Moons of Tiiana . . . Your Journey awaits!



Product Details


Author Bio

Paul T. Harry attended the University of Nevada Las Vegas as an English major with a theater arts minor before beginning his career as a writer and music producer. He also worked as an editor with Second Avenue Songwriter’s magazine and has spent the last 30 years writing novels, screenplays and short stories. Paul is married with four children and resides in Gold Canyon, outside Phoenix.

Make sure to check out the other stops on this wonder tour!


7/26  Crossroads   Spot Light, Interview, Giveaway     http://www.crossroadreviews.com/ 
8/13    Close Encounters with the Night Kind   Spot Light, Review, Giveaway    http://closeencounterswiththenightkind.blogspot.com/?zx=db44cf1db3ca677d
8/15   All Things Writing    Interview, Giveaway      http://www.allthingswriting.blogspot.com/
8/20   Soliloquy   Review, Giveaway       http://kaitlinmichelle.com/
8/22   Words I Write Crazy  Review, Give Away      http://writingcrazyme.blogspot.com/
8/23   Always a Booklover  Review and Giveaway    http://alwaysabooklover.blogspot.com/
8/24   The Bunny's Review    Spot Light       http://bunnysreview.com/



Birthdays





Ok so we ALL have these.  If you were born you have one!  Mine was last week on the 18th.  I know happy belated to me.  My oldest daughter was born on the 2nd. In my family we pretty much fill up the calendar for July.    Everyone in my mom's family was born on, before, or right after a holiday.

So what is your bday? Let see how much of the calendar we can fill up!  And hey you might find someone that was born the same day!

Dont forget the links to follow!




Wednesday, July 25, 2012

A CIRCLE








CASTING A CIRCLE


I cast this circle
as in days of old,
protecting the ancient ones,
as their secrets unfold. To the East, I summon the forces of Air
protecting my circle, as it blows away my worries and cares.

To the South, I summon the forces of Fire
it stirs my embers to learn, and rekindles my desires.

To the West, I summon the forces of Water
To cleanse and protect my soul, as it washes away all my malice.

To the North, I summon the forces of Earth
for it brings growth and fertility, and a time of rebirth. 


To Close the Circle

I thank you for my achievements,
and all I will receive,
merry part until we meet again,
for I am with you, as you are with me.




Monday, July 23, 2012

Taming the Wolf







Taming the Wolf

Attacked by a wolf while hiking in the mountains, Anna Avery's life just got a little hairier. Living in the Big Horn mountains in Wyoming, with a group of werewolves who are more animal than human, Anna must try to hold onto her human side. It's not easy when the alpha continues to persuade her into his bed, while another wolf is chomping at the bit to become her mate. To top it all off, dead bodies are showing up and it just so happens that Anna was the last to see them alive. She'll have to work to prove her innocence.

This book is not intended for readers under 18.



Hashtag - #TamingtheWolfBookTour


Darklight






Book Description

June 20, 2012
Dark Light is the light that shines through when some of the finest writers in horror use the power of their words for good. That’s the case with this anthology—42 writers coming together to help support the Ronald McDonald House Charities and all the good the organization does for families every year round. Make no mistake, though. These are horror writers and the stories they’ve written are not pretty. Traditional and non-traditional horror, dark humor, ghosts, serial killers, alternate universes, magic, zombies, and other creatures of the night hide between these pages. Shadows move and dead fingers stroke unsuspecting flesh, razor sharp knives shimmer in the moonlight, and unknown things hide in closets and under the bed. The stories here are as varied as the writers themselves. If you’re a fan of horror, you will not be let down. Despite the horrific nature of these tales, however, their very existence in Dark Light stands as proof there will always be a light at the end of every tunnel. Dark Light is published by MARLvision Publishing and edited by Carl Hose.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

When I decided to do an anthology to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities, I immediately set out to find writers I admired and writers I knew would come up with something good. I had no idea how many of them would actually want to participate. I was surprised by the overwhelming positive responses I got, and it wasn't long before I knew "Dark Light" was going to be a beast of a book.

Most of these writers responded to my request before my daughter was even out of the hospital, while my wife and I were living at the Ronald McDonald house and spending our days and nights walking from RMH to the hospital to feed and nurture our daughter. There was very little time for sleep, and during those lengthy waking moments, my phone would chirp to let me know there was another writer offering up a story to help me give back to the Ronald McDonald House.

"Dark Light" came together rather quickly, from its inception in in February of 2012 to its release date of June 15th. The writers involved have been gracious and helpful along the way, making the compilation of "Dark Light" a smooth job.

Forty-four tales of terror are included here, all for the purpose of raising money for Ronald McDonald House Charities. I couldn't be prouder of this.

From the Inside Flap

When I was contacted about contributing to the Dark Light anthology there was no question for me about participating. Though he is physically healthy, my son Colin is autistic, and so I can empathize with any parent whose child has faced tough challenges. Also, there was no question for me about which story I wanted to present to Carl for use in the book. "John Sadness" was one of several stories I wrote as a means of assimilating the news when Colin was first diagnosed as being autistic. It's a story about the unconditional love of parents for their children. I thought that was appropriate--Jeffrey Thomas (John Sadness)
* * *
When Carl Hose invited me to submit to this horror anthology, I didn't hesitate to say yes because I had complete confidence in his professionalism. More importantly, I can't think of a worthier charity. The Ronald McDonald House has helped many of my friends and relatives through trying times, and I am honored to be part of the stellar lineup involved--Debbie Kuhn (Crasher)
* * *
As a parent of a child with special needs, I understand the necessity of a support system such as the national network of Ronald McDonald houses. As a writer, submitting to Dark Light was a way for me to provide not only an entertaining story for an awesome anthology, but a heartfelt contribution to a charity that gives so much to families when they feel as if they have so little. In Dark Light, MARLvision Publishing pulls from the crème de la crème of the horror industry, joining together to shine light into the darkness of childhood illnesses through the donation of the anthology proceeds--Angeline Hawkes (Shattered Mirrors and Smokeless Flames)
* * *
When Carl asked me to contribute a story for Dark Light, I felt that When Shadows Come Back was a perfect fit for both the title and the idea.  It's an honor to have my story reprinted in an anthology that is for a good cause, and also one that is close to the heart of the editor--Nancy Kilpatrick (When Shadows Come Back)
* * *
When someone you love has a serious medical condition, it can literally feel like the world is crumbling around you. It's like this personal apocalypse where fear and uncertainty hold sway. But the Ronald McDonald House provides in the real world what the characters in my stories need so badly: a ray of hope in the face of adversity and safe harbor in trying times--William Todd Rose (Hunters)
* * *
I decided to get involved with Dark Light for two reasons. On a general level, I wanted to help the Ronald McDonald House. Growing up, my family was poor, the kind of poor where you're wearing coats that don't quite fit in the winter and each new school term comes with a new place to live, sometimes yours, sometimes a friend's or a relative's, and sometimes neither. Any organization that helps people who need it and especially one that helps families stay together is, I think, necessary and deserving of whatever any of us can give or do. On a more specific level, I wanted to help because one of my best friends stayed at a Ronald McDonald House as a young teen. Without them, she would have been separated from her family when she needed them most. This is my way of thanking her for all she's done for me. Dark Light is a great anthology, and I'm very proud to have had the opportunity to contribute to such a deserving cause--Chris Shearer (The Long Wait)
* * *
Ronald McDonald House provides much needed services to families of critically ill children, allowing them to be close in times of need. This organization has helped families all over the world and giving a story to help benefit them is the least I can do to help give back to this wonderful charity--Joseph Mulak (Cognitive)
* * *

I was touched by Carl's personal experience at the Ronald McDonald House, and I didn't want to pass up the chance of having my work appear in the company of some of the best and brightest in the horror biz. And the darkest--Randy Chandler (3:33 and Death Comes Calling)


This video is something I decided to make after getting these pictures!  I thought that this would save space. I never imagined it would come out so well!  So I hope you like it!


My Review:
When I found out this tour was for the Ronald McDonald house charities I jumped on the chance to review and be on it.  I can't tell you how many stories I have heard over the past 30 years of people finding help though them. This book was wonderful!  Its filled with a bunch of short horror books.  You can't go bad there!  It's a pretty fast read. Even at over 500 pages. I know I will be picking up a printed copy soon! 

5 Stars

Join us and Donate
 HOPE! 
Lets see if we can raise some money!


CURRENT DONATION AMOUNT
$10.00 
(updated hourly)




Welcome Author Julie Reece



Today I would like to welcome author Julie Reece to my blog. Julie is the author of

Released in July 9, 2012. Here's a little bit about Julie from the Goodreads and J Taylor Publishing websites:
Hey! I'm Julie Reece and I write Young Adult novels. I live in Atlanta with my husband, and daughters, and am passionate about animals, underdogs, and dark chocolate. I love to read urban fantasy, paranormal romance ... okay, pretty much anything YA.
Born in Ohio, I lived next to my grandfather’s horse farm until the fourth grade. Summers were about riding, fishing and make-believe, while winter brought sledding and ice-skating on frozen ponds. Most of life was magical, but not all.

I struggled with multiple learning disabilities, did not excel in school. I spent much of my time looking out windows and daydreaming. In the fourth grade (with the help of one very nice teacher) I fought dyslexia for my right to read, like a prince fights a dragon in order to free the princess locked in a tower, and I won.

Afterwards, I read like a fiend. I invented stories where I could be the princess... or a gifted heroine from another world who kicked bad guy butt to win the heart of a charismatic hero. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that? Later, I moved to Florida where I continued to fantasize about superpowers and monsters, fabricating stories (my mother called it lying) and sharing them with my friends.

Then I thought I’d write one down…

Hooked, I’ve been writing ever since. I write historical, contemporary, urban fantasy, adventure, and young adult romances. I love strong heroines, sweeping tales of mystery and epic adventure… which must include a really hot guy. My writing is proof you can work hard to overcome any obstacle. Don’t give up. I say, if you write, write on!

I was fortunate enough to receive an advanced copy of this book for review from J Taylor Publishing. I loved everything about this book. Here's my review:


CruxCrux by Julie Reece
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I would like to thank J.Taylor publishing for providing me with an ARC copy of this book for review.
Summary from Goodreads: She should have run. Now, she’ll have to fight. Eighteen year old Birdie may be homeless, but she’s surviving, that is until a mysterious guy throws money in the air like a crazy game show host, and she grabs some with the idea she’ll be able to buy dinner that night. In that singular moment, unassuming Birdie becomes the girl in everyone’s viewfinder. Thugs want to kill her. Money-guy wants to recruit her. The very hot, very rich, and very out of her league Grey Mathews wants to save her.Birdie, though, wants nothing to do with any of them, until she realizes fate didn’t bring them all together. Her heritage did. Now, with only twenty-one days left, she’s got to decide whether to follow in the footsteps of those before her or risk her life for people she’s only just met.
This story was really engrossing. I love Reece's use of language. Her descriptive ability is amazing. There was not a time in this book that I wasn't able to picture exactly what Reece was describing. She is lyrical and poetic while at the same time she inserts a bit of humor into the story, no doubt to somewhat lighten the mood. The flow of the words truly kept me wrapped up in the story and I didn't want to put the book down.
Birdie's character is amazingly strong, yet unsure at the same time. She certainly has that teenage angst we see in most young adult novels but at the same time, you can see she has maturity beyond her years. I think the fact that she had to live on the streets toughened her. Yet, she is still quite vulnerable and untrusting. She doesn't want to open herself up to anyone for fear she will get hurt. She seems to accept her fate without question, knowing full well fighting to save her heritage may cost her her life and the life of the one she loves.
Grey is the perfect male lead. He's confident and sexy, he's caring and loving and he knows what he wants. He's not afraid to go after it and put aside what others might think. He has an immediate connection to Birdie and he never waivers in how he feels for her. He is utterly swoon worthy and strong with an enormous want to protect Birdie. Grey is willing to risk his own life to save Birdie, how can you not love that in a male lead character?
Jeff, Birdie's mentor, is mysterious. He holds secrets he won't tell Birdie, no doubt to protect her. He is that rich, eccentric man you see in such stories as Little Orphan Annie and The Sound of Music. He is calm and collected and there is more to him than meets the eye.
Throw in a great supporting cast of characters who are well developed and how can you not love this story?
The story line is flawless. Reece escorts you through her book with what seems like effortless prose. She reveals just the right amount of information at just the right time, building a story that is completing intriguing. Reece spins a tale of historic lore and weaves in romance and fantasy which captures the reader, never letting go. She creates characters who are believable and lovable, characters you care about. Reece also brings about a range of emotions from making me laugh, to making me scared, to making my heart ache.
This book gets 4.5/5 stars from me. The only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is because I know this is a stand alone, and it left me wanting more: more Birdie, more Grey, more story. Julie Reece has definitely become one of my top authors. I am looking forward to future books from her!

And now, Julie has generously answered some questions about her writing and her book! Enjoy!

  When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? What was your inspiration? 
Three years ago. My girls and I were reading a lot of YA books together and got to talking about what we would write if we were authors. The more ideas started rolling around in my head, the more inspired I became to try and write my own story. I wrote the book I couldn’t find, with all the elements I like in the books I choose to read. I’m lucky and grateful J Taylor took a chance on an untried, no-name writer. I’m just thrilled. It’s like a dream. J
 How long does it take you to write a book? 
Four or five months to write and a month or two to edit. Another month is spent sending the sucker out to beta readers so they can slice it up for me, and then I rewrite based on that feedback for a couple of weeks. Oy. A lot of time, I know. Many writers are faster than I am, maybe I will get better as I go. That’s my goal, to improve in every way with each new novel … fingers crossed J
 What do you think makes a great story?
Conflict is uber important. I know it’s mean, but I sit around and think up ways to torture my characters. I think, ‘oh, are you happy? Well, what can I do to mess up your day!’ *insert evil laugh here* There needs to be something blocking what my hero wants, and something entirely different preventing what my heroine wants. As far as relationships go … they need to want each other, but of course, there have to be good reasons why they can’t be together … throw in a good villain, maybe an earthquake … deadly plague, giant rats, whatever horrible thing I can toss at them,  I will. Pssst … you do realize they will have to overcome it all for the big romantic make out scene in the endright? Yep. That’ll do authors, that’ll do.
What is your work schedule like when you're writing? Do you have a specific place and/or time you like to write?
I write when I’m not working, sometimes all day on weekends and late at night. I’m always writing in my head , though. Standing in the check-out line in the grocery store, in the car, doing the dishes … I may go into a rubber room at some point because the ideas never ever stop. There’s a good chance I’m there now, or in a hospital. Maybe all this is only happening in my imagination … and I live in a reality I’ve made up while my body lies in a coma... Now I’m freaking myself out and must stop, lol. I’m so weird. J
How do you balance family and writing?
My family is very patient and supportive. They all live under the delusion my books will be made into movies and we will get rich and move to Fijitherefore, they think it’s in their best interest to leave me alone and let me write. The truth is, I try really hard to have integrity in all areas of my life. I try. Sometimes I fail. I schedule, make time for work, writing and pouring into my family and friends. If I neglect any area, the consequences will make a part of my life that I love suffer, so I’m watchful to ensure nothing gets lopsided.  
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
I research in libraries, magazines and online, but the ideas can come from anywhere. Crux was born from a dream I had,  but sometimes my ideas are hatched from a song or something one of my girls dreams or talks about.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book? Did you do specific research?
I did a lot of research on Vikings and fell in love with them. I will definitely write more with this theme. I didn’t know outside of a few runes, they had no written language until monks brought Latin into their lives. They were a much more elegant, evolved and complicated people than I realized. Fierce? Heck yes, but they had their own code of honor and loyalty I find fascinating and wonderful. 
On another front, homeless people and the plight of kids caught in the skin trafficking trade weighs heavily on my heart. I did research in that area, too, and it pissed me off, actually. I needed Birdie to so something I can’t, put the smack down on some people responsible.
Are your characters based on anyone you know?
Not really. Most are figments of my imagination or people I wish I knew! I think every author pulls from their own experience, we jumble bits and pieces together until we create the hero or villain we want. That’s the best part. J
How hard is is to get published? Do you have any advice for writers who are looking to get published?
That really depends on who you ask! Some fortunate authors get picked up by an agent and they sell their books right away, others labor for years  to see their name on the spine of a book. I think it’s hard to publish, because to do it well, planets have to align. Here’s what I mean: writing badly leads to critiques and beta readers, which leads to writing better, which leads to queries and rejections, which leads to  edits and rewriting, which  leads to awesome writing, which  leads to publication. Phew! That’s the way it happens for most of us. It’s hard work, and the ones who cross the finish line are the ones who don’t quit. (PS almost everyone thinks about quitting at some point)  Don’t! J  You can do it!!!
What do your family and friends think about your book?
Man, everyone has been super supportive! Even if Crux isn’t their preferred ‘genre’ they’ve cheered me on. My boss even read it. He’s an attorney who is usually knee deep in legal descriptions,not fantasy romance. If that’s not loyalty, I don’t know what is! LOl. J 
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Hang with my hubby. He’s my best friend. We go to antique stores, eat, and go to concerts together. (We just saw Aerosmith live, awesome!) I like to ride horses, fish, garden, eat, (did I say that?) rescue animals, sleep, travel, read, paint, buy shoes and things that sparkle, watch TV and go to the movies. J
 Do you have any suggestions to help aspiring writers better themselves and their craft? If so, what are they? 
Beg, borrow or steal some beta readers to point out mistakes and give you feedback on your manuscript. Be humble and give good consideration to their comments, especially if you hear the same criticisms from more than one reader. It’s your reputation on the line, so you want to make it shine! Don’t rush, even though you’re excited, be patient. I put my finished book away for a month or two and then go back and re-read it. You’d be surprised what mistakes you’ll find.
As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up? 
Marry my hero. LOl . Seriously, I’ve been a ridiculous romantic all my life and that was number one on my list. Marry the hot guy. J After that, lion tamer, fine arts artist, nurse, landscape architect, interior designer or a movie star. Yeah, that about covers it. J 
What are your favorite books and which authors inspire you?
Wow, tough question! I loved the classics, Austen, Webb, Dickens, Bronte …  I could keep going. Now I love Cassandra Clare, Veronica Roth, Suzanne Collins, Maggie Stiefvater, Rick Riordin,Kelly Creagh, and many more.  Um … how much time do you have? J There’s never been so many amazing YA writers. When my writing grows up, I want to write like the names on my list!
What makes you want to pick up a book?
First, I get seduced by a beautiful cover. I can’t help it. J I’m an artist, and pictures draw me in and start to tell the story before I even turn the first page. I love that! A good blurb on the back cover will make me read, a recommendation from a friend I trust or any new book from an author I’ve already grown to love.
Do you read reviews before reading a book? Have you read the reviews on your books? What are the effects of a good versus a bad review on your writing?
Sometimes, but if I’m dying to read a book, I’ll read it despite dubious reviews and decide for myself. I’m sort of quirky (can you tell?) so sometimes I will like a book or movie that’s overlooked by others. I have read many of the reviews on Crux. I’m always excited, ecstatic (happy feet level) and grateful when someone seems to ‘get’ my story. If a review is less than glowing, I try to learn from what the reader said. If they were frustrated or disappointed, I can take that information with me into my next story. Likewise, if someone loves something, I pay particular attention to what moves readers and  try to learn from that as well.
For an aspiring writer what do you feel are certain do's and don’ts for getting their material published?
I was given a piece of advice I cherish, and I will pass that on to you. Hone your craft. Don’t get frustrated if you get a few rejection letters (or a lot of rejection letters) and rush to self-publish. No matter how you publish, self, indie or agent/large publisher, the work needs to be edited by someone other than you, and it’s important to spend serious time revising. When you query an agent, be sure to read the guidelines on their site. Nothing ticks off an agent/publisher like someone who didn’t care enough to see how they like to receive their submissions. Address an agent by name when you contact them, no one likes to be addressed as …
‘Yo, agenty-type-whatever-person,
It’s your luck  day! I’m just what you’ve been looking for and you’re gonna love my book!’
Be professional and take as much pride in your work as you can. No one’s perfect. Agents know that. They really are very nice people and aren’t sitting around waiting to crush us like bugs, but they will ask us to take each submission seriously, so do your homework on the agent you query and find out what type of book they are looking for.
That was great advice to me. I hope it helps you, too. J
What are you working on now?
I have three novels started, all YA and different premises. I’d guess I’m about a third into each one.  I have a fourth one (finished) that I am editing now and will send out to be shredded by my really mean beta readers soon! LOl  J

Thank you very much. I had a ball answering the questions  J
And I loved having you answer them! Thanks so much for stopping by!
And now, Julie has generously offered an ebook copy of her book, Crux! It's excellent. Enter with the Rafflecopter below and good luck!




a Rafflecopter giveaway