{Blitz} {Excerpt} {Interview} Letters to Nowhere @Juliecross1980 @Giselleco

0.99c SALE: Julie would love you to know that Letters to Nowhere is on sale for only 0.99c on Amazon !

From the International Bestselling Author of the Tempest Series...

Set in the tough world of Elite Gymnastics...

I've gotten used to the dead parents face. I've gotten used to living with my gymnastics coach. I've even adjusted to sharing a bathroom with his way-too-hot son. Dealing with boys is not something that's made it onto my list of experiences as of yet. But here I am, doing it. And something about Jordan--being around him, talking to him, thinking about him--makes me feel like I can finally breathe again. That's something I haven't been able to do lately. He knows what it feels like to be me right now. He knows what it's like to wonder--what now? I think about it constantly. I need answers. I need to know how to get through this. In the gym, if you're struggling, you train harder, you do drills and conditioning. How do I work hard at moving on? At being on my own? And what happens if I might be...maybe...probably falling for Jordan? I mean we live together now. That can't happen, can it? But kissing him...well, let's just say it's not an easy activity to forget.

› Amazon Page | Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Biography

Julie Cross is the International Bestselling author of the Tempest series, a young adult science fiction trilogy which includes Tempest, Vortex, and the final installment, Timestorm (St. Martin's Press). She's also the author of Letters to Nowhere (8/13), a mature young adult romance set in the world of elite gymnastics, as well as several forthcoming young adult and new adult novels with publishers like Entangled, Sourcebooks, HarperCollins, and St. Martin's Press/Thomas Dunne Books.

Julie lives in Central Illinois with her husband and three children. She's a former gymnast, longtime gymnastics fan, coach, and former Gymnastics Program Director with the YMCA. She's a lover of books, devouring several novels a week, especially in the young adult and new adult genres. Outside of her reading and writing credibility's, Julie Cross is a committed--but not talented--long distance runner, creator of imaginary beach vacations, Midwest bipolar weather survivor, expired CPR certification card holder, as well as a ponytail and gym shoe addict. You can find her online via twitter, her personal website, email, facebook, Goodreads, or co-moderating the YAwriters section of reddit. 

Interview

INTERVIEW WITH LETTERS TO NOWHERE AUTHOR Do you have a favorite character from Letters to Nowhere? Why is he (or she) your favorite? Karen, my main character, is my favorite to write mostly because I’ve wanted to write a book narrated from the point of view of an elite gymnast since my author journey first began. I absolutely love capturing that socially sheltered mindset and pairing it up with a level of maturity and discipline that most adults don’t have. That’s the essence of women’s elite gymnastics. Young girls carrying big loads of responsibility and self-awareness. They have it completely together, there’s always a plan for what’s next. With Karen, I gave her all of those qualities and then I pulled the rug out from under her by taking away her parents in a car accident before the book opens. Then: *Enter cute boy* whom she is forced to share a bathroom with. Who has a tragic past of his own. Who may be the only one that can help her heal.  Were you nervous when you decided to venture outside of your Sci-Fi series and write a contemporary novel? Did you have any reservations at first? I wasn’t nervous to write the book, but I was super super nervous to tell people about it. Especially online to Tempest series fans. I honestly figured I’d finish the book so the characters would stop tormenting me inside my head, which I know it sounds a little schizophrenic, but it’s the truth and probably never publish it. And just hearing you say that it paid off means that it totally has. I’ve pleased at least one reader. Mission accomplished. Thanks so much for that J Gymnastics is a huge part of this novel and your website says that you were a former gymnastics coach. How excited were you to combine your passions for writing and gymnastics into one project? It was like Disney World, Universal Studios and a house right on the beach all packaged into one trip that didn’t even require packing or travel time. I enjoyed every phase of creating this story so much, I felt guilty calling it my job. There are some pretty heartbreaking scenes in the book. Do you get extremely attached to your characters? If so, how do you feel when you have to write a scene that is going to be particularly hard on them? Normally, I struggle with getting all the tension I need in a first draft because it becomes so difficult to put characters I love through all this emotional trauma. Often I have to step away from the story for a while and then I raise the stakes in the next draft. But with Letters to Nowhere, I had no problem shoving the characters into flaming fire after fire because I knew that in order for Karen (and also Jordan and Coach Bentley) to properly grieve and begin to heal, there was only one way to get past the fire—run straight through it. And the whole time I was writing this book, I knew Karen was a bomb waiting to go off. I knew she’d need to have that moment of realization about her future and what losing her parents really meant. And I wanted to get her there so I could see that she was okay. What was the hardest part of writing Letters to Nowhere? Nothing was really hard to write, but I worked the hardest at making the gymnastics element “user friendly” in the sense that I wanted this to be a book for the widest audience possible while still showing a true portrayal of the sport. What was your favorite part?                   The evolution of “Jaren” hands down. The relationship between Karen and Jordan is built in a way that I hadn’t done before in novel. Not exactly. I rarely do the insta-love thing but what they have is so much deeper than romantic love. Not to spoil anything in the book or future books in this world, but I truly believe that Jordan and Karen will always have a tie that can’t be severed no matter where their paths lead them. They could never hate each other. Many people look back on their first love and the relationship and drama often seem silly. It won’t be like that for these two. Their relationship will always represent a hugely important part of their lives.

EXCERPT 

HUMEROUS EXCERPT I don’t think Jordan even noticed me or Coach Bentley sitting at the table. He went right for the fridge, chugging milk straight from the carton. I eyed my nearly empty glass. Gross.             Coach Bentley looked over the morning paper at his son. “Damn it, Jordan! Put on a shirt.”             And pants?             Jordan glared at his dad but snatched a black hoodie from a hook by the back door and threw it on. Coach Bentley glared right back and turned to me. “Be ready in ten minutes?”             I nodded, indicating I was ready to leave anytime, then I returned to watching YouTube videos on my phone. There was a release move on the uneven bars that I wanted to learn, even though Coach Bentley probably wouldn’t let me try it. He was too obsessed with perfection to let me take a big risk. And honestly, I’d never been a risk-taker until recently. It was like an itch I couldn’t scratch.             Jordan nudged the gooey eggs around in the skillet, made a face, and reached in a high-up cabinet, removing a box of sugar-filled cereal. He plunged his hand right into the box and stuffed his mouth full of fruity pebbles.             What would I have to do to disinfect this food? Spray it all with Lysol? At least I wouldn’t be eating that cereal, but who knew what he’d get his hands in (literally) when I wasn’t around to watch?             I distracted myself from pointless germ thoughts and went back watching videos again.             “No way,” Jordan said with his mouth full.             I jumped and glanced over my shoulder at him, now standing right behind me. “What?”             “You can’t do that.” He pointed to the video on my phone.             “I know that.” I stuffed the phone in my gym bag and got up from the chair. “I like to watch videos of crazy moves when I’m bored.”             Jordan plopped right into my abandoned spot, his disheveled hair looking slightly more attractive than you’d think it would. He had dimples that popped up when his mouth wasn’t too full, too. “A crazy move that my dad used to do.”             Now it was my turn to lift an eyebrow. “Yeah, I heard that, too, but I couldn’t find a video of him performing it.”             Jordan tossed his feet up on the empty chair. “Because he tore his bicep doing that release right before the World Championships and never competed it.”             “That explains a lot.” Maybe this wasn’t the worst place to be living while training. It was kind of like a home court advantage.             “Ready, Karen?” Coach Bentley called from the foyer.             “I’ll be in the shower in a few minutes,” Jordan whispered loudly. “Just in case you need to know. Don’t want you to accidently walk in on me. We should probably post a schedule or put an alarm on the bathroom door.”             I closed my eyes and turned around, feeling completely mortified.             “Karen?”             “Uh-huh,” I said, not looking back at him.             “Thanks for not saying anything. About yesterday…”             Which part? Forgetting to give me a ride or the girl you were feeling up on the couch last night? I let out a breath. “No problem.”

Buy the Complete Series: Click on the first two books to be taken to amazon.  Third book is not yet available 

Disclaimer: Thanks to Goodreads and Amazon for the book cover, about the book, and author information.

GIVEAWAYS

Individual giveaways:

(1) ebook copy (will be gifted via Amazon only) of 

Letters to Nowhere . Open internationally. 

Just comment on this post with your email!

{Review} Indigo Awakening @JordanDane

Because of what you are, the Believers will hunt you down.

Voices told Lucas Darby to run. Voices no one else can hear. He’s warned his sister not to look for him, but Rayne refuses to let her troubled brother vanish on the streets of LA. In her desperate search, she meets Gabriel Stewart, a runaway with mysterious powers and far too many secrets. Rayne can’t explain her crazy need to trust the strange yet compelling boy—to touch him—to protect him even though he scares her.

A fanatical church secretly hunts psychic kids—gifted “Indigo” teens feared to be the next evolution of mankind—for reasons only “the Believers” know. Now Rayne’s only hope is Gabe, who is haunted by an awakening power—a force darker than either of them imagine—that could doom them all.

@JordanDane

› Visit Amazon's Jordan Dane Page

Biography

Jordan Dane's adult suspense novels were launched back to back in 2008 after the 3-book series sold in auction. Ripped from the headlines, Jordan's gritty plots weave a tapestry of vivid settings, intrigue, and dark humor. Publishers Weekly compared her intense thrillers to Lisa Jackson, Lisa Gardner, and Tami Hoag. This national best selling, critically acclaimed author's debut novel NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM was named Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2008. Dane's first Young Adult book is IN THE ARMS OF STONE ANGELS (Apr 2011, Harlequin Teen) with ON A DARK WING released January 2012. Her next YA books with Harlequin Teen will be a series - THE HUNTED, release slated for fall 2012 through 2013. Formerly an energy sales manager, she now writes full time. Jordan and her husband share their Texas residence with two cats of highborn lineage and two very lucky rescue dogs.

For more, visit www.jordandane.com.

1 Star
This one I had a big problem with.  I was so happy to finanaly get a finished copy and then was so disappointed.  It all started going down hill with the zoo.  Because, of course her Intsa-Love was there right where she was looking for her brother.  And of course he saved her!  The other issues arising when magic powers for the Indigo Children start popping up.  It doesn't seem that there is any norm when it comes to these powers.  Each kids in the story just has the powers that they need to get out of the situation that they are in.  So I'm sad to say that this one has no real world building and no standard for powers.


"*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."

Disclaimer: Thanks to Goodreads and Amazon for the book cover, about the book, and author information.

{Blitz} Midnight Fire Series @daviskaitlyn with {Giveaway} @NereydaG1003

The Complete Midnight Fire Series (Midnight Fire)

by Kaitlyn Davis

Release Date: 10/31/13

Summary from Goodreads:

**Get the first two books FREE when you buy the entire series at once!**

From bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis comes a paranormal romance perfect for fans of Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, and Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

"With one last look, one final search of the lines of his face for some sign, Kira turned and ran away from the sound of the man she loved laughing in the face of her death."

When Kira Dawson moves to South Carolina, she meets Luke, a blond goofball who quickly becomes her best friend, and Tristan, a mysterious bad boy who sends shivers down her spine. Kira knows they're keeping secrets, but when she discovers Tristan's lust for blood and her own dormant mystical powers, Kira is forced to fight for her life and make the heartbreaking decision between the familiar comfort of friendship and the fiery passion of love.

Available from:

  

RAVE REVIEWS for the Midnight Fire Series! 

"The writing is effortlessly mind blowing. I could not put this entire series down. Once you're hooked, you won't either because it'll eat you up not knowing what happened! And then you'll pick a team like I did and you'll fall in love with all the characters and you'll want all the bad guys to die horribly! Just trust me when I say it really is your loss to miss out on this series! It's a blaze of glory!" - Happy Tales and Tails Blog

"Kaitlyn Davis writes some of the best action scenes I have come across in a young adult book; they are fast paced and so well delivered making this more than just a silly romance." - Reflections of a Bookworm

"The only downside to this series, is that it ended. But the ending was beautiful." - My Seryniti

"Kira isn't a human girl who is one dimensional and in love with a vampire. She's a well-thought out character who comes to life from the pages and steals into your heart. Read the books. Do it." - Urban Girl Reader

"I love and hate how fast of a read this was! I love it because I couldn't get enough of it and hate it because once I finished I wanted more!" - I Just Wanna Sit Here And Read

"I really enjoyed Ms Davis's writing, I was riveted throughout and was eager to see what would happen - there was drama, danger, action and romance that was wonderfully detailed and described." - Obsession With Books

"You'll make friends with Kira, choose sides with Tristan and Luke, and fall in love with the story at heart about a girl with so bright a future....even shades aren't gonna cut it." - Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

About the Author

I've always been a writer. I grew up duct taping my novels together, started writing complete manuscripts in high school and studied creative writing at Johns Hopkins University. Upon graduating, I decided it was finally time to actually give my dream career a chance. So, of course, I started writing a young adult paranormal romance series -- and no, I'm not jumping on the bandwagon. I've been a true paranormal supporter for my entire life! I blame my obsession almost completely on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, my all-time favorite television show. And, before you ask: Yes, I own every season... even the post WB ones! I especially challenge anyone to watch the first three seasons and not fall in love with Angel, securing a lifelong love of vampires! Other culprits of my paranormal obsession are some of my favorite authors: JK Rowling, Raymond Feist, Meg Cabot, Richelle Mead, Lynne Ewing and Tamora Pierce.

Author Links:

    

GIVEAWAY:

3 Digital sets of The Complete Midnight Fire Series. Each copy includes all FOUR books in the series – Ignite, Simmer, Blaze & Scorch (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz hosted by:

{Blitz} Never Say Never @CMarieMosley @Giselleco

All he wanted was a distraction... 
All she wanted was to conquer him... 
Instead, they both got a reason to change their minds... 
Forever was never an option...
... Never Say Never.



Never Say Never follows two friends, Kasey and Jonah, that have known each other just short of forever. In a single moment, they decide to take their friendship to a different level...with no strings attached. Neither of them intended for things to go so far. Kasey and Jonah fall, fight, and re-fall for each other in only ways that the two of them can. Knowing each other's past can be a double-edged sword. But in Harden Fields, there are always skeletons left hanging in the closet...they just don't hang around for long.

Add to your Goodreads Shelf
Prologe of Never Say Never

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

C. Marie grew up in a small town outside of Birmingham, Alabama. When she’s not making up her own stories, she’s extremely busy getting lost in someone else’s. C. Marie enjoys penning stories in new adult and young adult contemporary romance. She also has a young adult fantasy fiction series, entitled Empyreal.

Writing is her passion, but she enjoys other things, too. She is an avid-reader, and she loves to dance & practically lives through music. She loves to make people laugh, and is extremely creative in every genre. But most of all, she loves to spend time with her wonderful family. She currently lives in Alabama with her amazing family, and continues to create imaginary worlds for all to enjoy.

You can contact C. Marie through email at cmmosleybooks@gmail.com. You can also follow her on Twitter @CMarieMosley, and visit her author page on Facebook. Other social media networks where you can find her include Pinterest, Tumblr, & Google+.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Goodreads and Amazon for the book cover, about the book, and author information.

GIVEAWAYS

Individual giveaways:

 (1) ebook copy of 

Never Say Never. Open internationally.

To enter this giveaway just comment on this post with email! 

Grand prize giveaway

Prizes (open internationally)

-paperback copy and swag

To win this giveaway enter the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Giveaway} Fugitive X @GreggRosenblum

Their fight for freedom is humanity's last hope for survival. The chilling Revolution 19 trilogy continues in Fugitive X.

A war between humans and robots is on the horizon, and only one side will survive.

Siblings Nick, Kevin, and Cass are struggling to survive in a world where deadly, sophisticated robots have turned on their creators and enslaved mankind. Fugitives from one of the bot-controlled Cities, the siblings venture into the woods, but when they are attacked by bot foot soldiers, the siblings are separated...and for the first time, they are on their own.

Created in conjunction with Alloy Entertainment; Howard Gordon, showrunner of 24 and Showtime's Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning Homeland; and James Wong, writer-director of the Final Destination films, Fugitive X is the gripping next installment in the cinematic Revolution 19 series.

› Visit Amazon's Gregg Rosenblum Page

Biography

Gregg Rosenblum works at Harvard, where he wages epic battles against technology as an editor/webmaster/communications/quasi-IT guy. He graduated from UC San Diego and has an MFA in creative writing from Emerson College. He lives in Boston with his wife and daughter.

This one was sent to me via the publisher.  

But since I haven't read book one I am giving it away to you my followers!  

So enter to win!

Disclaimer: Thanks to Goodreads and Amazon for the book cover, about the book, and author information.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Review} Witch Finder @ruthwarburton

London. 1880. In the slums of Spitalfields apprentice blacksmith Luke is facing initiation into the Malleus Maleficorum, the fearsome brotherhood dedicated to hunting and killing witches.

Luke’s final test is to pick a name at random from the Book of Witches, a name he must track down and kill within a month, or face death himself. Luke knows that tonight will change his life forever. But when he picks out sixteen-year-old Rosa Greenwood, Luke has no idea that his task will be harder than he could ever imagine.

I prefer cheese to chocolate (but would eat either, if you're offering). 

I grew up on a reading diet of my mum's classics (Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice) my dad's sci-fi/fantasy (A Wizard of Earthsea, Dune) and the Jilly Cooper novels passed around school at break time. I always wanted to be a writer but I never thought it would happen.

I was born and raised in Sussex on the south coast of England, and I went to school in Lewes and Brighton, but I now live in London, and A Witch in Winter was my first book.

For more information or to contact me, visit my website www.ruthwarburton.com

The beginning of this one had me hooked.  But, as the story unfolded I found myself wanting to stop reading.  It was slow paced and was lacking that mystery~adventure!  The characters didn't really add value to their story.  Other than Luke watching his family being murdered and didn't do anything about and living with the guilt of that choice as well as being marked because of it.  I didn't really get into this one.  Rosa was such a whinny character.  All she did in the start was complain about her life with no goal to change it.  I think the plot was interesting just the execution was a fail.

"*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."

Disclaimer: Thanks to Goodreads and Amazon for the book cover, about the book, and author information.

{MovieMonday} {Review} {Giveaway} Now You See Me

So I thought why wait until Jan to post this one!  I have an extra code to this movie.

  It was one of my favs of 2013 and I'm sure you will all feel the same! 

Four gifted street magicians—J. Daniel Atlas, Henley Reeves, Jack Wilder, and Merritt McKinney—are brought together by an unknown benefactor and, one year later, perform in Las Vegas as "The Four Horsemen," sponsored by insurance magnate Arthur Tressler. For the finale, a member of the audience is invited to help them in their next trick: robbing a bank. That audience member is Étienne Forcier, an account holder at the Crédit Républicain de Paris. Forcier is apparently teleported to his bank in Paris, where he activates an air-duct that vacuums up the money and showers it onto the crowd in Las Vegas.

This giveaway is open to everyone! This is for a digital code that can be used with iTunes, UltraViolet etc.  It will be a one time use for the movie Now You See Me.

I loved this movie! It keeps you on your toes and you never know what is going to happen!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Review} Stick Dog Wants A Hot Dog #TomWatson @HarperCollinsCh

In Stick Dog Wants a Hot Dog, Tom Watson's hilarious sequel to Stick Dog, Stick Dog returns with the same crew of friends, and they're hungrier than ever. As the dogs embark on their quest for hot dogs, they learn they're not the only ones on a mission—a band of raccoons are following close behind, and they're ravenous, too!

In this second book, Stick Dog and his four friends, Poo-Poo, Mutt, Stripes, and Karen, must execute a master plan for stealing hot dogs. The closer they get to the hot dog vendor, the more difficult their mission becomes. With the same hilarious antics, the five dogs are met with many challenges along the way, including having to distract the frankfurter guy and Karen getting locked in a human's house. No matter what, these dogs have their eyes—and stomachs—on the prize.

5 Stars

My 9 year old daughter loved this book so much she asked if I could donate it to her class.  Which we did.  She loved that the book was written on lined paper like the Dork Daries and others of its kind.  Which made it very easy to follow.  We believe that this will deff. help out kids that have reading issues.  As it makes sure that they don't loose their spot.  Even though this is a book two you won't be lost in the story.  The author takes the time to introduce you to the characters and why he draws stick dog the way he does.  As well as talking and explaining about his friends.  This was a very cute and entertaining read and will appeal to the boy crowed as much as the girls.

"*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."

Disclaimer: Thanks to Goodreads and Amazon for the book cover, about the book, and author information.