Sunday, November 25, 2012

Teaser: The Gifted Ones

Author P.G. Shriver has stopped by today with a teaser from her book The Gifted Ones: The Fairytale.
The cold, dim room saddened the visitor upon entry. Immediately, with a slap, he flipped the light switch up, drew the shades back, and placed the cheerful pot of daisies in the center of the shelf. In that location, the daisies sat in view of the shallowly breathing patient, should she awaken. He knew better, though. He seated himself next to the hospital bed, in the uncomfortable wooden chair, the seat cushion so well used little padding remained, lumps forming beneath the green plastic coating. Reaching out, he took a slender, limp, dark hand in his own, and then gently began stroking the forehead and hair of the sleeping beauty before him with his free hand. Tears pooled in his dark eyes while guilt flooded his heart. "Momma, I'm here. I know you already know that, and I realize I haven't been here in a while. I haven't exactly been doin' things that would make you proud the past few months, either, and I'm sorry. “I hope you don't know too much about that, but I've just been so angry. Just be glad I ain't in jail," he paused, waited, hoped that her eyes would flutter and he would see that disappointing look she would always give him when he transgressed. Her silence pushed him onward in the one-sided discussion. "You'll never guess what happened to me this morning," excitement shook his voice, muffled only slightly by a guilty tone, and flowed on hopefully, making him sound almost chipper. "I was doin' somethin' I shouldn'ta been doin', one of them things you wouldn't be proud of? And this girl walked up, ya' know?" he paused again, this time not for a response from the comatose woman before him, but out of fear that what he was about to tell her would be overheard, as well as a little disbelief over what had happened. Anyone listening outside might think him crazy when they heard the description of what he saw that morning, what he wanted his mother to know. After raising his eyes to the open door and the shuttered window looking out on an empty hall, he leaned forward, close to her left ear, her light, slow breath slightly warming his cool forehead, "I saw Bree this morning, Momma. Really! I saw her, and she told me I had to come see you. She made it sound really important, Momma... you know... like you might wake up today or somethin'. She knew I hadn't been here in a while, too. Her smile, Momma, man I surely miss her smile. Remember how pretty she smiled, Momma? Remember the sparkle in her eyes? I saw her today, Momma, and it made me so happy, but it made me feel guilty, too." He stopped, stood for a second, leaned forward again, and gripped the slender, brown hand firmer, a sense of urgency filling his heart. "Wake up, Momma. You can wake up now; you can come back to me; it's safe, really. I really need you, especially now. At least give me a sign you can hear me, Momma, please?" a tear rolled down his soft, plum cheek, but her eyes were dry, motionless and tightly closed. When no sign came, he scooted back in the chair, folded his hands together, set his elbows on the edge of the bed and bowed his head in silent prayer, something he hadn't done in months, since he had given up on her… on life.
Title: The Gifted Ones: The Fairytale
Author: P. G. Shriver
Publisher: Gean Penny
Pages: 274
Blurb: Thrown together by the cruelties of a modern day world in which genuine compassion is rare, evil abounds, and goodness is often tainted by the fight to survive, two unusually gifted teenagers discover they are linked by a fairytale told them repeatedly throughout their youth by their late mothers. Destiny awaits them, but first they must locate the others, as the fairytale foretells, to defeat the evil monster who waits and change the lonely world in which they live. Only then will they find peace... and family.
Author Links: Goodreads Authorcentral Purchase Website Blog Facebook Twitter
About P. G. Shriver Born in California, and raised in Minnesota and Texas, P.G. spent her early years writing poetry and winning poetry contests, while escaping the drama in her own childhood by reading great books for children. Ever since her earliest days, she loved story telling. She wrote numerous short stories in High School and her early college years, continually trying to relive that first experience at the age of seven of seeing her name in print in the local newspaper. P.G. sought her education at the University of Texas, where she studied English, literature, and Education. During the entire process of earning her BA and M.Ed, she never stopped writing and trying to be published. It was during this time that her first children's book No More Stinkbugs! was accepted for publication by Castle Keep Press. Many of her stories develop from nature. P.G. graduated college and began her career in education, another great world that offered real experiences to humor and delight through children's books. She watched children interact, bringing to surface her own experiences as a child and yet more events to write about. While teaching, she discovered many great books for young people, such as The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963, Maniac Magee, So. B. It and many more. She is a fan of Dean Koontz novels, too, and loves reading fantasy and paranormal books. P.G. was married 20 years in March 2012 and has a bright, young daughter who has begun her own college career. She lives on a small farm in Texas with her family and animals. P.G. has experienced great love and loss throughout her life. Those her family has lost have dedications in her books. P.G. has two young adult books published, Dead Perfect and The Gifted Ones: The Fairytale the first book in The Gifted Ones Trilogy. She also has several children's books written under Gean Penny, her pseudonym. P. G. has since dissolved her contract for her first book with Castle Keep Press and moved the title to her own imprint, Gean Penny Books.      

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Review: Crater

My Review:
This ended up being a 3 stars for me.  Its just one of those books where the store will be great for some and well not so much for others.  This book was a fast read but just needed more.  If you are a sci-fi fan you will prob suck this book up. If you are more of a literature reader then this one may be to simple for you. This book is created for Middle School/High School.
happy_blogoversary1-2-1-7"*I received a copy of this book for free to review, this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own."

Book Description

April 10, 2012 A Helium-3 Novel
A Helium-3 miner named Crater makes a treacherous journey through space to find a mysterious and priceless treasure.
It's the 22nd Century and a tough, pioneering people are mining the moon
to produce energy for a desperate, war torn Earth.  Crater Trueblood, an
orphan, loves his life in Moontown, a frontier mining settlement.  Just turned sixteen, Crater is already a seasoned Helium 3 miner, hoping someday to be a foreman on the scrapes.  But "the Colonel," the man who owns the mine, has a different plan for Crater which includes Maria, the Colonel's daring young granddaughter.  Crater, accompanied by Maria and his gillie--a sentient and sometimes insubordinate clump of slime mold cells--must shepherd a convoy of Helium 3 trucks across a forbidding river of dust while also looking for a mysterious, historical artifact that could mean the difference between life and death for every inhabitant on the moon.

"Thanks to the publisher or author for sending me this copy!"

Friday, November 23, 2012

Teaser: Embrace

Author Stacey Rourke has stopped by today with a teaser of the second book in The Gryphon Series, Embrace!
My head snapped up and my cheeks burned. “Wha…?!” Picture of eloquence, that’s me.
“Saturday. A date. You, me, dinner? Yah’ve heard of this concept, yeah?”
“Yes, the concept is somewhat foreign to me, but I’ve heard of it,” I answered. Still fearing this was some kind of joke, I couldn’t help but ask, “Why? Why are you asking me out?”
His expression was equal parts amusement and confusion. “Because if I don’t ask ya the chance of ya actually showin’ up on the date is highly unlikely, isn’t it?”
An abrupt—and incredibly loud—laugh erupted out of me. “True. But why? Why would you ask out the freaky purring girl?”
“Yar laugh is amazin’.” He grinned. Another wave of heat rushed through me. “And because from the moment I laid eyes on ya I knew there was somethin’ different about ya. The purrin’ just supported the theory. So, would ya like to go out with me?”
“Yes, I’d like to. Go on a date. With you. Please.” Smooth, huh?
On her way to another table, Sophia passed behind me. “Give him your number.”
“My what? Oh! My number! I have a number!” I scribbled it on my order pad and tore off the page to hand to him.
His chin jerked up slightly. “Who do I ask for when I call?”
I agreed to go on a date with a guy before I even knew his name, or told him mine. Please, don’t tell my mother.
“Celeste.” I chewed on my lower lip and I brushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
He caught my raised hand and drew it gently to him. His emerald eyes stayed locked on mine, as he bowed his head to brush his lips across the back of my hand. Tingles of excitement tracked up my arm and down my spine. I clamped my teeth together to stifle the purr that threatened to escape.
“It’s nice to formally meet ya, Celeste. The name’s Caleb.”
Title: Embrace
Author: Stacey Rourke
Publisher: Anchor Group
Pages: 194
Blurb: Whether she likes it or not, eighteen year old Celeste Garrett has come to terms with being the Chosen One. She knew having a “normal life” would be tricky, between intense training sessions and epic demonic battles, but she didn’t know at what cost it would come. That is, until a dear friend is harmed by the malicious forces hunting her. Now, she’d like nothing more than to retreat into a hermit lifestyle to prevent anyone else from getting hurt. But startling revelations, amazing new abilities, and mortifying moments in front of insanely hot guys won’t allow time for that. Soon, Celeste finds herself surrounded by darkness and wondering who she can trust—if anyone. Author Links: Purchase on Amazon Purchase on Smashwords Goodreads Anchor Publishing Book Trailer About Stacey Rourke: Writing is something I have always done. I can remember in elementary school creating stories that I would stand up and read aloud to my classmates…whether they liked it or not. As I grew older I didn’t flaunt my writing as freely. It became something I did just for me to vent my teenage angst, or chronicle my journey to adulthood. I never thought about becoming a writer because that title prompted the visual of a grey-haired man in a tweed smoking jacket with suede elbow patches, slaving over an old fashion typewriter while puffing away on a pipe. No way was that stuffy kind of life for me. (Plus tweed is itchy.) Instead I wanted to be in the spotlight! I wanted to be–pause for dramatic effect–an actress! I gave it my best shot, too. Got about as far as any aspiring actress can get in Flint, Michigan. Which is exactly no where. But I did get two great things out of my time delving into the theatrical world; I gained the ability to act out the scenes I write to make sure they’re believable (yes, I really do that and no, you can’t watch) and I met my amazing husband. My theater ambitions behind me, I decided to do the “mature,” “grown up” thing and went back to college. As I worked toward my Bachelor’s degree in marketing I did a lot of writing. Essays, research papers, PowerPoint presentations. All of it mandatory, none of it what I would ever call fun. Even then, becoming a writer never entered my mind. No, then I was going to be a business tycoon…or somethin’. Truth be told, I never picked writing. It picked me. During my time as a stay at home mom I needed an outlet to give me a mental break from diapers, formula and midnight feedings. That’s when my hands found their way back to the keyboard. Story ideas began coming at such an incessant rate that my rapidly clicking fingers couldn’t keep up. Post-It notes and scrapes of paper with story ideas decorated every inch of our house. In mid-conversation with my husband I would dart off to jot down things that would come to me. Sweet guy my hubby is, he would just shake his head at my obvious rudeness and hold my place in the conversation. My first book was completed for an entire year before I told anyone about it. I outed myself as an author and then sent out my first round of query letters to literary agents. Surely, it would be picked up immediately and become an overnight success! Yeah, not so much. For two years I got rejection, after rejection, after rejection, after rejection…you get the idea. Thankfully with the ever increasing pile of rejections came feedback. I digested all the suggestions and applied the usable ones to my manuscript. Little by little, the rough edges were chipped away and the diamond shone through. The work paid off when I received an email from a publisher offering me a contract on The Conduit. It’s been a long road, and it ain’t over yet. But now, at thirty-mumble, mumble years old I finally know what I wanna be when I grow up–-a writer.  

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Review: A Shimmer of Angels



happy_blogoversary1-2-1Well I decided that my break from angels was over.  So I grabbed this one from Netgalley.  Well although the cover is beautiful the book laid a little flat for me.  It was slow and just didn't keep my attention.  I actually fell asleep reading it. 
"*I received a copy of this book for free to review, this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own."

Book Description

January 29, 2013 The Angel Sight Series
In this compelling and spirited debut novel, 16-year-old Rayna Evans has spent the last three years in a mental institution for seeing angels—intent on remaining free, she ignores signs that she may be slipping into a world she has tried to climb out of. When her hallucinations begin showing up at school, can she keep her sanity and prevent students from dying at the hands of angels she cannot admit to seeing? Psychiatry, fantasy, and realism come together here in a story of a young girl struggling with identity, secrets, and confronting her greatest fears. Buy Links/BAM/BN

Lisa M. Basso is a writer and fan of young adult fiction. She lives in San Francisco.
"Thanks to the publisher or author for sending me this copy!"

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Review: The Bracelet

My Review:
I received this book from the publisher Thanks Gallery!! Again this is one of my branch out books.  Not something I would normally read.  But this book was so good.  I love the cover its beautiful and classic. This story will grip you and not let you go until the end.  A book about a real issue we face today.  Human Trafficking is really something we have to worry about.  My mother had a brush with this when she was a teen.  She had applied for a babysitting job that would allow her to travel the world with the family.  And at 18 that seemed wonderful.  So she set up a time to meet.  When she got to the house it was swarming with police.  She later found out that they had been kidnapping young woman and sending them over seas. So read this book it will move you! 
happy_blogoversary1-2-1"*I received a copy of this book for free to review, this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own."
 
"Thanks to the publisher or author for sending me this copy!"

Book Description

November 6, 2012
Newly heartbroken and searching for purpose in her life, Abby Monroe is determined to make her mark as a UN worker in one of the world’s most unstable cities: Peshawar, Pakistan. But after witnessing the brutal murder of a woman thrown from a building, she is haunted by the memory of an intricate and sparkling bracelet that adorned the victim’s wrist.
At a local women’s shelter, Abby meets former sex slaves who have miraculously escaped their captors. As she gains the girls’ trust and documents their horrifying accounts of unspeakable pain and betrayal, she joins forces with a dashing New York Times reporter who believes he can incriminate the shadowy leader of the vicious human trafficking ring. Inspired by the women’s remarkable bravery—and the mysterious reappearance of the bracelet— the duo traces evidence that spreads from remote villages of South Asia to the most powerful corners of the West, risking their lives to offer a voice to the countless innocents in bondage.
 Buy Links/BAM/BN

Biography

Bio: 
A nurse, humanitarian aid worker, and writer, Roberta Gately has served in 3rd world war zones ranging from Africa to Afghanistan. She has written on the subject of refugees for the Journal of Emergency Nursing and the BBC World News Online. She speaks regularly on the plight of the world's refugees and displaced.  

Monday, November 19, 2012

Review: Renegade - A MUST READ!


MY REVIEW: 

WOW LIKE WOW I WAS BLOWN AWAY!!!!         Ok at first I didnt know about this one.  I found it repetitive VERY repetitive BUT then we find out why (cant tell its a spoiler)  But it was worth the read.  We find out that our herioin is the Daughter of the People and that us people who live on the surface (suface dwellers) are the bad guys or so it seems.  We also find out that Evies world (Elysium)  is UNDER the ocean.  |Which gave me the creeps!  I don't even like being in the tubes at Sea world let alone live there.| When Gavin Hunter (yes a surface dweller) finds himself in Evies garden she finds herself drawn to him.  Her world is ruled by a woman known as Mother whom is a nasty lady!  Evie comes to find out with the help of Gavin that she has been put through the process called Conditioning (which is what they use on the enforcers who are supposed to protect their world) (IE. Enforcers start out at age 3 which kinda made me cringe I am a mom) Her memories have been altered and she is having trouble dealing with them flooding back.  So knowing that her mother is not going to let Gavin live they attempt to escape..........................................................................................................................................Ok so this book is one of those that it makes a great stand alone but an even better series which it is! (happy girly dance) This is the first book in a new series called Elysium Chronicles.  The ending of this book is uncertain but great. (cant give you more without giving it away) I can't wait for the next one and hope that Tor is nice enough to approve me for the next one!  AND YOU KNOW WHAT............MY LIFE IS ALMOST PERFECT!  LOL READ THE BOOK AND YOU WILL GET IT!
happy_blogoversary1-2-1-2"*I received a copy of this book for free to review, this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own."

Book Description

November 13, 2012 Elysium Chronicles
  • Hardcover: 368 pages
  • Publisher: Tor Teen; First Edition edition (November 13, 2012)
Since the age of three, sixteen-year-old Evelyn Winters has trained to be Daughter of the People in the underwater utopia known as Elysium. Selected from hundreds of children for her ideal genes, all her life she’s believed that everything is perfect. Her world. Her people. The Law.

But when Gavin Hunter, a Surface Dweller, accidentally stumbles into Elysium’s secluded little world, Evelyn comes to a startling realization: Everything she knows is a lie.

Her memories have been altered.

Her mind and body aren’t under her own control.

And the person she knows as Mother is a monster.
Together with Gavin she plans her escape, only to learn that her own mind is a ticking time bomb...and Mother has one last secret that will destroy them all.
Buy Links: Amazon Kindle | Amazon Hardback | BAMBN

Biography

J.A. Souders was born in the heartland with an overactive imagination and an over abundance of curiosity that was always getting her into trouble. She first began writing at the age of 13, when she moved to Florida and not only befriended the monsters under the bed, but created worlds for them to play together.

Because she never grew up, she decided she'd put her imaginary friends to work and started writing. She still lives in the land of sunshine and palm trees with her husband and their two children and is an active member of the RWA, CFRW, YARWA and SCBWI.

She is represented by Natalie Fischer Lakosil of the Bradford Literary Agency. Her debut book, RENEGADE, surfaces November 13, 2012 from Tor Teen (Macmillan).
Her short story TOOTHLESS is in the Mystery Times Ten anthology from Buddhapuss Ink.
"Thanks to the publisher or author for sending me this copy!"

UPDATE: My review is featured on Amazon.com for this title (kindle copy)

   
Crossroad Reviews   


  

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Undeadly













My Reivew:
This book was amazing! I loved it! You need to buy it! Yep just click above and be wisked away to amazon!


BUY LINKS/Barnes & Noble/Books-A-Million


"*I received a copy of this book for free to review, this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own."



~TOUR SCHEDULE~

November 12 Two Chicks On Books *Interview & Playlist (author's choice)(Giveaway)
Some Like It Paranormal *Review & Excerpt (Giveaway)
The Starry-Eyed Revue *Review & Dream cast (Giveaway)
Ramblings of a Teenage Bookworm *Review (Giveaway)
Realm of Fiction *Review
   Young Adult Book Haven *Review (Giveaway)
   Rondo of a Possible World *Review & Dream cast (Giveaway)
   Paperback Princess *Review & Author Bio (Giveaway)

November 13 For Those About To Read *Guest post as main character Molly(Giveaway)
Xpresso Reads *Review & Author Bio 
Readers Live A Thousand Lives *Review & Playlist (Giveaway)
Claire Reads *Review
Chapter by Chapter *Review & Excerpt (Giveaway)
   A Reader of Fictions *Review (Giveaway)
   Winter Haven *Review & Author Bio (Giveaway)
   Young Readers *Review (Giveaway)

November 14 FireStarBooks *Review & Author Bio
Everything A-TO-C *Review & Excerpt (Giveaway)
Book Me! *Review & Dream cast (Giveaway)
Book Sniffers Annonymous *Review (Giveaway)
BlookGirl *Review (Giveaway)
   A Dream Within A Dream *Review, Excerpt & Author Bio (Giveaway)
   Reader Girls *Review & Playlist (Giveaway)
   Doctor's Notes *Review (Giveaway)
   Rainy Day Ramblings *Review (Giveaway)

November 15 Mostly YA Book Obsessed *Interview & Dream cast (Giveaway)
A Reader Dreamer *Review & Excerpt (Giveaway)
Forbidden Passions Reviews *Review & Author Bio (Giveaway)
Shiirleyy's Bookshelf *Review (Giveaway)
The Book Slayer *Review (Giveaway)
   Always YA At Heart *Review & Excerpt (Giveaway)
   Abbey Ann's Bookland *Review (Giveaway)
   Catch the Lune *Review

November 16 For The Love of Films *Guest post (Giveaway)
Leisure Reads *Review & Author Bio (Giveaway)
Realms of an Open Mind *Review & Playlist (Giveaway)
The Book Goddess *Review & Excerpt
   Jenn Renee Reads *Review & Playlist (Giveaway)
   Book Briefs *Review (Giveaway)
   My Not So Real Life *Review & Author Bio (Giveaway)

November 17 Simple Books *Interview & Review (Giveaway)
Head Stuck in a Book *Review & Author Bio (Giveaway)
Maji Bookshelf *Review & Dream cast (Giveaway)
Beauty and the Bookshelf *Review (Giveaway)
I Heart YA Books *Review (Giveaway)
   Christy's Book Addiction *Review & Excerpt (Giveaway)
   Fiction Freak *Review (Giveaway)
   Books to Infinity *Review (Giveaway)

November 18 Auntie Spinelli Reads *Guest post (Giveaway)
Book Haven Extraordinaire *Excerpt (Giveaway)
What's Hot? *Review  & Author Bio (Giveaway)
Crossroads *Review (Giveaway)
Skyway Avenue *Review (Giveaway)
   Book Loving Mom *Review (Giveaway)
   Ramblings of a Book Junkie *Review & Author Bio (Giveaway)
   Rumor Has It *Excerpt & Author Bio (Giveaway)

November 19 The Reader Lines *Interview (Giveaway)
Nick's Book Blog *Guest post (Giveaway)
The Bookish Babe *Review & Excerpt (Giveaway)
Aripi Pentru a Visa *Review & Author Bio
Rants~n~Scribbles *Review
   Alluring Reads *Review (Giveaway)
   Artsy Musings of a Bibliophile *Review & Author Bio (Giveaway)
Kindred Dreamheart *Review & Excerpt (Giveaway)