Whatever it Takes Blog Tour: Author Interview + Giveaway

Hello book lovers!  Today Lindsay Paige has asked me to be a part of this fantastic blog tour to promote her new book, Whatever it Takes, the third book in the Bold as Love series.  Today I will be doing an author interview and giveaway, so I hope you all will stick around and read my post!! :)

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~The Book~

Their first year of college isn’t what they expected. Emily is still struggling with the loss of her baby, while Jake seems to have no trouble with it at all. Emily is so conflicted about how to deal with the miscarriage. On top of that, she’s having nightmares.

Can Jake help his Sweetness? Will she allow him? Their relationship is suffering and Jake is determined to do whatever Emily asks of him. But when Emily makes a suggestion that she feels will help with her grief, could it tear the couple apart forever?

Goodreads

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~The Author~

Lindsay Paige is a young adult romance author from North Carolina. Most of what Lindsay writes are her daydreams in lavish details. (Please excuse that fact when you read one of her future works about a girl who sleeps around.;)) When not writing, she is working to complete her final year of high school.

Lindsay loves to read, listen to music, watch and play tennis, along with watching her favorite hockey team, the Pittsburgh Penguins. Lindsay is a big fan of Sidney Crosby (87) and buys Penguins merchandise whenever she can.

Lindsay loves to be around her family and best friends. One summer after viewing a video of Nicholas Sparks' house, Lindsay's mother made the comment that she should write a bestselling novel since she "reads so much", that way they could have a beautiful house as well. Lindsay took her comment to heart. She began working on Sweetness. A year later, the novel was complete.

Many of the aspects of the characters in Sweetness were inspired by Lindsay's own struggles, such as a recovering alcoholic father and the anxiety Emily suffers because of her past.

Lindsay has published Sweetness and I'm Yours. The third book Whatever It Takes is coming soon.

Goodreads | Website

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~Author Interview~

1. Why did you decide to become a writer?
It wasn't really a decision. I started writing as an outlet for my anxiety. After encouraged to publish, I did.

2. Who were your biggest influences?
Jessica Park and  Nicholas Sparks to name a few.

3. If you could do anything besides write, what would it be?
Help children with Asperger's, a form of autism. I do plan on doing this as well.

4. Five random things about you?
-I have this crazy fantasy to have my future husband go to Jared's so I can hold up my hand and scream, "He went to Jared's!"
- I have been an aunt since I was 5 years old.
-I actually love watching old shows like Bonanza. 
-I'm not afraid to say that I still watch children's shows. "bubble, bubble, bubble guppies, guppies, guppies!"
-I love listening to all kinds of music.

5. When and how did you get the idea for Whatever it Takes?
It is the third in the series and the idea came from simply wanting to continue the series and seeing how my characters would react in a new setting.

6. What's your favorite food?
Cheeseburgers!

7. Favorite movie?
A Walk to Remember

8. Favorite season?
Spring/Fall

9. Is there another book in the works? If so, what can we expect?

Yes. I'm currently working on book four, a paranormal romance with Elizabeth Waldie, and a book titled Don't Panic in which the character as anxiety as I do.

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~Giveaway~

Today Lindsay Paige has provided an e-book edition of Whatever it Takes for giveaway.  The winner's email address will be emailed to her and she will then provide the winner with the prize.  If you have any other questions feel free to ask! :)

There will be one winner

The Rules:

• Giveaway ends May 29, 2012 @ 11:59 P.M.
• Must be a GFC follower
• Must be 13 or older
• This giveaway is Int
• Fill out the form

Thanks for entering and may the odds be ever in your favor!!

Review: The Lost Code

Author: Kevin Emerson

Series: The Atlanteans #1
Pages: 435
Format: ARC
Source: HarperCollins Children's Books
Release Date: May 22, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Rating: 5/5

Summery:
WHAT IS OLDEST WILL BE NEW, WHAT IS LOST SHALL BE FOUND.

The ozone is ravaged, ocean levels have risen, and the sun is a daily enemy. But global climate change is not something new in the Earth’s history.

No one will know this better than less-than-ordinary Owen Parker, who is about to discover that he is the descendant of a highly advanced ancient race—a race that took their technology too far and almost destroyed the Earth in the process.

Now it is Owen’s turn to make right in his world what went wrong thousands of years ago. If Owen can unlock the lost code in his very genes, he may rediscover the forgotten knowledge of his ancestry…and that less-than-ordinary can evolve into extraordinary.

Review:

I haven’t read a book with a boy as the main character since Percy Jackson, and I really loved those books.  Owen isn’t as kick-butt as Percy was, but he (and this book) are special in their own ways.

First off, this is an amazingly original, imaginative idea.  Atlantis, and dystopia.  Great.  All the books about werewolves and vampires are getting old because how many times can you tell the same story differently.  2012 has produced a great variety of new, imaginative stories, but I must say, this is one of the best.  Not only was the idea amazing, but the story line and writing were as well.  I loved that from page one there was action, and although it was boring at a few points in the story, they didn’t last long and then it was right back into the action.  All the events flowed together, leading up to an amazing climax, and the great writing just topped it off.  Really, really good.

When I first started this book, I hated Owen, because he was weak.  But then, as I read on, I really started to like him.  Not many books portray their main character as weak, especially if the main character is a guy, but it really showed how he grew over the course of the story, how he got some self esteem and really stood up for himself.  So I really really like him and what Emerson did with him.  I liked that he got stronger as the story progressed and finally overcame the bully that had messed with him.

I also really liked Lilly.  She was totally kick-butt, and I loved that.  Owen and her are a perfect combination of kick-butt-ness and used-to-be-weak-but-now-growing-out-of-it-ness (if that makes any sense :P).  So great job Kevin Emerson for creating this great cast.

There is so much left to be explained so as you can imagine I really want to read the second book.

*{Today I have a new thing on my blog that I think is really cool.  My mom actually read my ARC copy of this book before I did, so I've talked her into doing a review of it!}

Mom's Review:

My daughter started this blog about a year ago. I was aware of the whole process of receiving these books and reviewing them, but I never took an active interest in what she was reading. I had a lull in my reading list and ventured into her bookshelf. This was one of the first books she recommended I read. I have read many children’s book that are classics and enjoyed them, but I was unfamiliar with current books.

This book was a wonderful surprise. First of all, it was a male writer. I was excited that she seems moving out of her comfort zone of solely women authors. Secondly, the main character is a boy. Kevin Emerson created a complex hero to star in this series. Owen won a trip to a summer camp and the story shows how much he grows as he’s away from home and facing experiences he’s never considered.  The description of the camp’s activities is humorous in itself and creates a safe feeling, when it’s anything but. There is a strong supporting cast and by the end of the book, you can’t wait for the rest of the story. The plot was original and I enjoyed the historical aspect and look forward to where the next installment takes us.

What do you guys think?

300 Followers Giveaway!

Wow!  Just, wow!  This is amazing.   I can't believe I have 300 followers!!!!! *jumps up and down and screams*.  When I saw "304" on my homepage I literally ran around the house screaming I was so excited :P  And what makes it even cooler is that about a month ago I had like 180, and to get to 300 in that short time, was just amazing.  I want to thank each and every one of my followers for reading my blog and putting up with my crazy self, and, most importantly, following my blog.  It makes me feel so good when every morning I log in and see an increase in followers and comments on my posts.  Thank you all so much <3<3<3

Okay, now onto the giveaway!

The Rules:

• There will be TWO winners. 
• Giveaway ends on May 31, 2012 @ 12:01 A.M.
• Must be a GFC follower
• Must be 13 or older.
• This giveaway is US/CAN
• Fill out the form

The Prizes:

Since this giveaway is so extra special, I have decided to have TWO winners.  Below I will put the covers of the books up for grabs, and which winner will get each one! :)  Oh, and both are ARCs.

The first winner will get an ARC edition of: Darkness Before Dawn, by J.A. London

The second winner will get an ARC edition of: Dreamless, by Josephine Angelini

Fill out the Rafflecopter below and you're done:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway button:

<a href=" http://emilyscrammedbookshelf.blogspot.com/2012/05/300-followers-giveaway.html " target="_blank"><img src="http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s377/EmilysCrammedBookshelf/Buttons/pink-3.jpg"/></a>

Thanks for entering and may the odds be ever in your favor!! :)

My Vampire Summer Blog Tour: Author Interview

Hello book fanatics!!  Today I am joined by the lovely Elle Casey for an author interview as a part of this fabulous tour to promote her upcoming book, My Vampire Summer.  I hope you stick around because I also have an excerpt and giveaway!!  Enjoy!!! :)

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~The Book~

 

My Vampire Summer, a novella, the first novella in a series of four ... Reserved bookworm Iona Candella and her best friend, wildchild Cheri Blake, are spending the summer before college in a small medieval town in France. Iona plans to spend the time reading 100 books on her Kindle and Cheri plans to spend it interfering in Iona's book reading/hibernation plan and finding gorgeous French boyfriends to help them pass the time instead. Both of them get more than they bargained for or even imagined. Ancient curses, haunted castle ruins, crypts protected by supernatural serpents. My Vampire Summer is a veritable YA Fantasy banquet, all in a novella-sized package.

Goodreads / Amazon

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~Author Interview~

1. Could you tell us a bit about yourself?  

I've been writing all my life, but published my first fiction novel in January 2012.  To date, I've published a 4-book series title War of the Fae (YA Fantasy), Wrecked (YA Action/Adventure), and My Vampire Summer, a novella (YA Fantasy).  I'm also an attorney, a university professor, a wife and mother.  I am American but have lived in southern France for the past two years with my husband, three kids, and dog.  I love to read, write, travel, sing, dance, cook, eat, hike, embarrass my children, and hang out with family and friends. 



2. Why did you become a writer?  

I became a writer because I love to think up fantastic stories and share my crazy imagination with others who appreciate it.  Plus, writing is just fun for me, so to be able to do what I love and get paid for it is a dream come true. It's really not a job so much as it's an obsession.
Who were your biggest influences?  That's hard to say because I've read and enjoyed so, so many books.  In the fantasy genre, I'd say authors like Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman when they were writing together had a big impact on me.  And JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings were of course great.  I loved the Narnia books as a kid and lots of others in the same vein.  I've also read plenty of Stephen King and many romances.  As an adult I've enjoyed the Sookie Stackhouse novels (since way back), the Mercy Thompson series, the Twilight series, and many more too numerous to mention.  I have a bad habit of forgetting books after I read them; then I re-buy them and about two pages in, say, "Hey!  This sounds familiar!"  Duh.  I like to support indie authors, so I have a crowd-sourced reading list dedicated to them on my site here:  http://ellecasey.com/more-about-indie-authors/indie-authors-reading-list/

3. Where and how did you get the idea for My Vampire Summer?  

Living in that town where the story is set gave me the inspiration.  All of the things I mention in the book related to the setting are true, including the "thing in the church" which I won't elaborate on because it's a spoiler!  I will post pictures of it on my website soon.  www.ElleCasey.com <http://www.ellecasey.com/> , for those of you who doubt me.  The second I saw it, I knew there was a supernatural story behind it.  I just knew it.

4. Any special talents (besides writing)?

Ha, I wish I could include all kinds of things here, but alas, I have few talents.  I wish I could draw or paint, but I can't - all my drawings look like a four-year-old was set loose with a pencil and too much caffeine.  I wish I could speak ten languages, but don't - I struggle with French and provide much entertainment for my friends and neighbors as a result.  I try to sew but I can't ever get my *expletive withheld* sewing machine to work right (it's probably me).  I do however cook pretty well.  And I've been told I'm funny.

5. Do you have a special place you like to write?

An apartment in Paris owned by a friend of mine.  It's quiet and cut off from the Internet, so that makes it easy to focus on my work.  Plus my friend spoils me while I'm there, so it's an added bonus.  That's not to say that my regular writing spot isn't awesome too.  When I write at home in my tiny corner office in my bedroom, my husband delivers meals to my desk and manages the crew so I can focus.  I use headphones tuned into simplynoise.com <http://simplynoise.com/>  which plays white noise in my ears, making it possible to drown out the sounds of three kids, a dog, the phone, and all the activity a house of our size has.  The only difference is that I have Internet at home and am easily distracted by it.

6. What is the craziest thing you've ever done while researching a book?

I feel boring when I think about my answer to this question.  Most of my research is done online, and the only location I've visited for research is Sommières, the French town were My Vampire Summer takes place.  I did go into the church and think very hard about opening the "thing in the church", but chickened out.  Probably a good thing since I probably would have been either arrested or turned into a vampire.  Twenty years ago, I would have done it.  Now, the idea of being in the clink and away from my computer where I write my books, not an option.

7. What's your favorite movie?

I have a top ten of sorts, and it's tough for me to pick #1.  Up there near the top are:  Pretty Woman, Men in Black, any John Hughes movie from the 80s, Dumb and Dumber, Galaxy Quest ... as you can see, I'm a sucker for romance and stupid or goofy humor.

8. Favorite food?

Is it terrible to say "all food"?  Seriously, I have a problem.  I love food too much.  Right now I'm eating a lot of salads with Roquette lettuce, a very peppery, almost garlicky flavor to it, with this great dressing made of lemon juice, olive oil (locally produced), salt (also locally produced from The Camargue), and pepper and then all kinds of things added like boiled egg (French hens!) or chicken or smoked duck, red bell peppers, cucumber, coeur de boeuf tomatoes, goat cheese, a few croutons ...  okay, I have to stop now.  I'm getting hungry.  My favorite dessert is banana cobbler with streusel on top.  I'll send you the recipe if you want.  :)

9. Favorite season?

The spot between Spring and Summer - flowers, temperature about 73 degrees Fahrenheit, cool nights, long days.

10. Is there another book in the works?  If so, what can we expect?

Yes.  Many.  I just finished War of the Fae, book 4.  That's the end of that series.  BUT, I am starting another series that's separate but also has many of the same characters from War of the Fae coming back, called "Clash of the Otherworlds".  I'm also doing at least one more installment of the Vampire Seasons series (My Vampire Summer is the first book in that series).  I also have a sequel for Wrecked planned for the end of the year.  And last, but not least, this summer I'll be writing a 3-book post-apocalyptic series, tentatively titled "Apocalypsis".  I am a very busy girl!  Like I mentioned before, writing is an obsession for me, so I put out about 1.2 books a month.  So, to answer your question, you can expect a lot of books, a lot of fantasy and adventure, and hopefully, my books in paperback beginning this summer as well.

**  Thank you so much for having me on your blog.  Come on over to mine for a visit sometime ... www.ElleCasey.com <http://www.ellecasey.com/> .  I love getting comments and emails.  Reader feedback is my drug!

Waiting on Wednesday (#31): Cold Fury

This is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlites upcoming new releases that we're highly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Cold Fury, by T.M. Geoglein

Add on Goodreads

Release Date: July 24, 2012

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Jason Bourne meets The Sopranos in this breathtaking adventure

Sara Jane Rispoli is a normal sixteen-year-old coping with school and a budding romance--until her parents and brother are kidnapped and she discovers her family is deeply embedded in the Chicago Outfit (aka the mob).

Now on the run from a masked assassin, rogue cops and her turncoat uncle, Sara Jane is chased and attacked at every turn, fighting back with cold fury as she searches for her family. It's a quest that takes her through concealed doors and forgotten speakeasies--a city hiding in plain sight. Though armed with a .45 and 96K in cash, an old tattered notebook might be her best defense--hidden in its pages the secret to "ultimate power." It's why she's being pursued, why her family was taken, and could be the key to saving all of their lives.

What are you waiting on?

Link me up!!

Cover Reveal: The Program by Suzanne Young

The Program
by Suzanne Young
#1 in The Program
Release Date: April 2013
Number of pages: ----
Format: Hardcover

SLOANE KNOWS BETTER THAN TO CRY IN FRONT OF ANYONE.

With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in.

AND THE PROGRAM IS COMING FOR THEM.

What do you think of this new cover?

Teaser Tuesday: (#25)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

Anyone can do it. You just have to do is:

(1): Grab your current read.

(2): Open it to a random page.

(3): Share 1 or 2 "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!!

(4): Make sure you also mention the author and title.

**PLEASE NOTE: These teasers were taken from an ARC edition of the book below, so they might not be the same as in the finished copy**

Dreamless, by Josephine Angelini

Add on Goodreads

#1: "Helen stowed her shock, planted her left foot, and booted the monster with all her might.  It didn't seem to hurt the hellhound at all.  Instead, all the kick managed to do was get the beast's attention.  Helen stumbled back.  The monster turned  its glowing red eyes on her.  She squeaked in terror as the beast dove at her."

#2: "To Helen, it looked like Cassandra was as unconcerned with the emotional querral between Jason and Claire as she would be with a TV show that happened to be on in the background while she was trying to read.  In a way, this was more disheartening than anything that had been said during the fight.  Jason obviously held some kind of grudge against Helen, but at least they all cared about each other.  Helen didn't know if the same was true of Cassandra anymore."

What's your teaser this Tuesday?

Link me up!!

Knee Deep Blog Tour: Guest Post + Excerpt

Hello book lovers!  Today I am doing a spotlight of Knee Deep, by Jolene B. Perry.  I am super-excited to share a guest post and excerpt with you below so make sure you stay around and read the whole post.  Thanks!! :)

~The Book~

Shawn is the guy Ronnie Bird promised her life to at the age of fourteen. He's her soul mate. He's more uptight every day, but it's not his fault. His family life is stressful, and she's adding to it. She just needs to be more understanding, and he'll start to be the boy she fell in love with. She won’t give up on someone she’s loved for so long.

Luke is her best friend, and the guy she hangs with to watch girlie movies in her large blanketopias. He's the guy she can confide in before she even goes to her girlfriends, and the guy who she's playing opposite in Romeo and Juliet. Now her chest flutters every time he gets too close. This is new. Is Ronnie falling for him? Or is Juliet? The lines are getting blurry, but leaving one guy for another is not something that a girl like Ronnie does.

Shawn’s outbursts are starting to give her bruises, and Luke’s heart breaks as Ronnie remains torn. While her thoughts and feelings swirl around the lines between friendship and forever, she’s about to lose them both.

Find it on: Goodreads / Website

Buy it on: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Google / Smashwords



~The Author~

Jolene grew up in Wasilla, Alaska. She graduated from Southern Utah University with a degree in political science and French, which she used to teach math to middle schoolers.

After living in Washington, Utah and Las Vegas, she now resides in Alaska with her husband, and two children. Aside from writing, Jolene sews, plays the guitar, sings when forced, and spends as much time outside as possible.

Goodreads / Website / Blog

~Guest Post~

Sometimes a story is more personal than you expect it to be.

I read an article in an online newspaper that talked about the YA books coming out that year which dealt with abusive relationships.

I'd part mapped one out a while back, and thought maybe I'd work on it - all evidence that the market had just gotten an influx of them didn't sway me the way it should have…

The more I wrote in the story, the more personal it became.

I was not ever hit by my boyfriend in high school. He never screamed and yelled at me - though I heard him trashing his room a few times when I left after an argument, and he didn't hesitate to show me when he was pissed about something.

He'd pick fights with me over the phone and hang up, knowing it meant I'd sneak out to "straighten things out."

There was one really horrible night with him that I'd blocked from my mind for a long time, that I remembered when I was writing, so I used it.

I see these cases my husband talks about with women who are beaten and bruised and making up excuses and going back over and over. One ended in murder a couple of weeks ago. A case my husband will be prosecuting when it goes to trial.

The abuse story I told is nowhere near that dramatic, but so much of Ronnie's story was mine. WAY more than I realized while I was writing it. When I got to the end, and started writing down the parts of her story that were real (I always do this for my author site), I realized more and more how much of me was in that girl.

I stared at my computer screen in shock.

I had one of my best friends, who was a guy, who I shared more with than I probably did to most of my girlfriends - (like Luke from Knee Deep) and a boyfriend I'd known since I was a kid (like Shawn from Knee Deep) And I felt this draw to my boyfriend, only because I'd known him for so long, not because we really had anything left in common.

I felt more like I was stuck in this relationship, and didn't even realize I didn't want to be there until I visited a friend in college and saw how much more LIFE was out there. It was just that the idea of this one person had been in my head for way too long.

And where did I end up? Married to the best friend.

People talk about writing what you know, and then talk about keeping yourself out of your books. But you know what? I KNEW that situation - and I know I'll get some bad reviews (like you always do - ESPECIALLY when you tackle a tough topic) that are going to say that Ronnie's actions weren't believable.

But here's the thing - I told her story, the best way I knew how. Ronnie's reactions with pieces of my truth. And there are some drastic differences, but there are also some startling similarities. So, to me, Ronnie's actions were completely and totally understandable.

And that's the story of how Knee Deep came to be.

~Excerpt~

My front door opens. “Hello?” Shawn calls.

“In here!” I say back. Suddenly this feels weird. Why would this feel weird? This is just what happens when one of us is stuck at home. Why would today be any different? But my heart’s beating against the inside of my ribs, trying to tell me this is different.

Luke scoots away from the couch. Does he feel it too? That maybe him and me hanging out alone for the day might not have been the best idea?

Shawn steps through the hallway and scowls when his eyes meet mine and then pass to Luke. This shouldn’t be a big deal. Except...I’m so stupid. I was just thinking how I needed to make Shawn’s life outside of his house less stressful, and part of me
knew it was weird that Luke was here without Shawn. I thought it, and did nothing. But again, it is just Luke.

“What’re you doing here?” Shawn asks. His dark eyes fix on Luke.

“I figured you’d be here, man.” Luke stands up. “It’s like we always ditch together, right?” 

Romeo and Juliet kissing in the pool on the TV screen probably isn’t helping anything. Maybe Shawn won’t notice, or maybe it’s just sending my heart into crazy flutters because this tension between Shawn and Luke and, I guess, me, is happening during the most romantic scene of the movie.

“Uh, I don’t know.” Shawn’s still scowling, his brows pulled low and his jaw tight.

“You would’ve hated it,” I say. My eyes catch his, but his are as black as his mood seems to be. I’m so stupid. Why did I have to let Luke stay?

“Yeah, maybe.” Shawn’s narrowed eyes go from Luke to me, back and forth, as if judging the situation. Really? What did he think could possibly happen between Luke and I? Even if this is suddenly on my top three ‘most awkward moments’ ever. I can’t even think about what the other two might be. Maybe I’ve just found number one.

“Romeo and Juliet all day.” Luke laughs, but I know him well enough to see he’s trying really hard to be relaxed. His shoulders are too stiff, and his normal stance is too rigid. I wonder if Shawn sees it too. “Guess I’ll leave you two alone.” Luke’s trying hard to keep his voice light.

“Yeah.” Shawn has yet to return Luke’s smile. “I almost never see my girl anymore.” 

It’s like I’m on the edge of my seat, tension pinpricking every part of me. I’ve never seen Shawn like this.

“Well, I should get my ass to rehearsal anyway.” Luke gives Shawn a friendly pat on the shoulder before heading outside. 

I don’t watch him go. My eyes are on Shawn, trying to figure out what to expect next.

“What the hell was that?” His sharp gaze is now pointed directly at me.

I stand up and lean to the side, trying to be relaxed. “It didn’t seem like a big deal this morning.” Maybe if I play it off as nothing Shawn won’t be so mad. He knows Luke and I are friends. No big deal, I tell myself again. But I don’t know if I’m trying to convince myself or Shawn.

“Was he here when we were texting?” he asks. His voice may be low, but not in a good way. It’s low in a way that makes him sound like he’s past the edge of reasonable anger.

My body’s screaming for me to take a step back, which makes no sense. This is Shawn. My Shawn. “No.” But I’m weakening by the second, almost shaking inside. His jaw tightens again.

My eyes close as I remember, and dread fills my chest. “He got here as I sent my last one.” Is that bad? Good?

“And you didn’t think to tell me? What the hell is that?”

I jump at the sharpness of his voice. Shawn doesn’t need this stress. I know this. I reach forward to put my arms around him. We just need to hold one another for a minute, then it’ll all be fine.

He stops me, grabbing my arm—hard—just above my wrist.

“This is not okay.” His jaw is set.

“Hey.” My voice shakes. My body shakes. I’m actually scared of Shawn for the first time ever. I jerk my hand once, but he tightens his grip...impossibly tight. My lungs can’t pull in a breath; there’s just not enough air in the room anymore. “Shawn, you’re hurting me.” He can’t mean to hurt me. He can’t.

His face is stuck in a sharp scowl.

“He’s your friend.” My voice is crying. I want to try and pull my shaky arm out of his grasp again, but I’m afraid to; he’s squeezing so hard. Tears are hot against the back of my eyes, threatening to spill over. 

“How would you feel if I spent all day with some chick?” The words come out as angry spit from between his teeth. 

I open my mouth to answer but can’t, the lump in my throat has taken over. All I can think about is that I need to find something to say so he’ll let me go. Some way to get the air through my throat to form words. “It’s just Luke,” I plead, sucking in a breath.

“Whatever.” He throws my arm back at me, turns, and walks out the door, slamming it hard behind him. My body jumps at the sound.

I stumble backward onto the couch. I’m like a leaf battered about in the wind. Nothing’s working right. I need to sit. Normally I’d run after him, but I have no idea what to expect. And I’m afraid. Of Shawn.

He’s never been that way before. Ever. He’s moody and particular, but this seems...extreme. I’m cradling my wrist with my other hand, afraid to look at any possible damage. It hurts to move it. What just happened here? How did it happen?

It’s like there suddenly must be something fundamentally wrong with the universe. But the TV’s still on. My house looks normal and quiet. I’m still breathing, but Shawn, my Shawn, just hurt me. Lying down seems so anti-climactic, but I can’t bring myself to do anything else.

When Juliet realizes Romeo’s dying the sobs take over, and I pull my knees to my chest as if making myself smaller will somehow dull the pain. 

It doesn’t.

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And that's all for today!  I hope you'll check out the author by following the links provided and also check out the book.  I don't know about you  guys, but that cover is seriously amazing.  I'm really glad you guys stopped by today and hope you have an awesome rest of your week!  Oh, and by the way, I love comments *hint**hint*

In my Mailbox: (#22)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, where we spotlight the books that we've received for review, swapped, or purchased that week.

FOR REVIEW:

Betrayed, by Ednah Walters (From Firetrail Publishing)

GIFTED FOR BIRTHDAY:



Speak Now Taylor Swift T-shirt

Speak Now bracelet

Speak Now necklace

Amazon giftcard

Thank you so much Grandma for all these awesome gifts.  I LOVES YOU SO MUCH!!! <3

What's in your mailbox this week?

Link me up!!! :)

Waiting on Wednesday (#30): Poison Princess

This is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlites upcoming new releases that we're highly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Poison Princess, by Kresley Cole

Add on Goodreads

Release Date: October 2, 2012

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Sixteen-year-old Evie Greene thought her horrific apocalyptic hallucinations were a sign that she was slowly losing her mind. But when her visions come true, decimating the world around her and killing everyone she loves, Evie is forced to accept that she was seeing the future.

Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she turns to wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate, the gorgeous and dangerous Jackson Deveaux for help. As Jackson and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have got the same call and discover that Evie is not the only one with special powers. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and as the battle between good and evil intensifies, it is not always clear who is on which side…

What are you waiting on? Link me up!! :)

Broken Illusions Blog Tour: Review + Author Interview + Giveaway

Hi everyone!  Today the lovely Ellie James has asked me to be a part of her fabulous tour for her latest release, Broken Illusions.  Below is a review, author interview, and mega-giveaway, so I hope you all will stick around and read it!! :)

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~Review~

Author: Ellie James

Series: Midnight Dragonfly #2

Pages: 352

Format: ARC

Source: Ellie James

Release Date: May 8, 2012

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Rating: 4/5

Summery:

It’s Mardi Gras, but for 16 year-old psychic Trinity Monsour this is no time for celebration. Another girl is missing. Haunted by visions she doesn’t understand—of an empty street lined by crumbling old buildings, a terrified voice warning her to be careful, and a body lying motionless in the grass—Trinity embarks upon a dark odyssey she could never have imagined. She'll stop at nothing to better understand her abilities, convinced that doing so is the only way she can make sure the terrifying images she sees never actually happen.

But it seems everyone wants to stop her. Her aunt is worried Trinity might discover secrets best left in the past. Her best friend, Victoria, is afraid Trinity is slipping away, her boyfriend, Chase, fears she’s taking too many chances, and the lead detective will barely let her out of his sight. Only one person stands by her side, and in doing so, he slips deeper and deeper into her heart—and her dreams—blurring the lines of reality and illusion.

When the dust settles, one of them will be dead.

Review: 

After reading and liking the first book, Shattered Dreams, I was pretty excited to read this one.  And, in ways, it was even better.

It was a good idea.  It really was.  Like I said in my review of Shattered Dreams, I love the combination of psychics and mystery.  It’s such a cool, original idea, and it really work well.  I feel like there might have been a bit too much drama in this one, but that’s hardly enough to make me give it a low rating.  In Shattered Dreams, Ellie James got right into the story from page one, and I feel like in this book it took a bit longer, and it wasn’t as thrilling as Shattered Dreams.  I really liked the ending though.  You guys know how I always say and ending can make or break a book.  Well, it made this book.

Like in the first book, I really like Trinity.  She’s strong, smart, and is not afraid to do whatever she has to to save a loved one.

Unlike in the other book, I didn’t really like Chase.  I didn’t like the way he treated Trinity.  If you really love someone you trust them not to do anything, even if they are in a different city with another guy.  He’s too possessive and kind of mean, so I don’t really like him anymore.

This book comes out on May 8 (my birthday!!) so make sure you mark your calendars so you can get a copy when it hits the shelves.

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~Author Interview~

 

Most people who know Ellie think she’s your nice, ordinary average wife and mom of two little kids. They see someone who does all that normal stuff, like grocery shopping, walking the dogs, going to baseball games, and somehow always forgetting to get the house cleaned and laundry done.

 What they don't know is that more often than not, this LSU J-School alum is somewhere far, far away, in an extraordinary world, deeply embroiled in solving a riddle or puzzle or crime, testing the limits of possibility, exploring the unexplained, and holding her breath while two people fall in love.

Regardless of which world Ellie’s in, she loves rain and wind and thunder and lightning; the first warm kiss of spring and the first cool whisper of fall; family, friends, and animals; dreams and happy endings; Lost and Fringe; Arcade Fire and Dave Matthews, and last but not least…warm gooey chocolate chip cookies.

Twitter / Website / Goodreads / Blog / Facebook

1. Could you tell us a bit about yourself?

Sure!  I’m a dreamer. I believe anything is possible, that we’re all stronger and far more capable than we realize. I believe in trying new things, especially those that frighten you, that the only way to fly is to spread your wings. I believe attitudes are contagious and adversity makes you stronger. I believe in love and friendship, that promises are meant to be kept and forever is more than a word. I believe sunrises and sunsets are equally beautiful, that the best way to predict your future is to create it, and that imagination can take you anywhere. Aside from all that, I’m a mom and a wife, an animal lover, chocolate chip cookie fanatic and thunderstorm junkie J

2. Why did you become a writer? Who were your biggest influences?

I’ve been living with fictional characters as long as I can remember!  The first two I remember were best friends Sally and Susie. After that, it was a family of monsters, followed by star-crossed cats. Then came a girl named Jacquie and her terrifying flight through a sinister swamp, with a mysterious boy racing to help her. I had no choice but to write the stories down. It was the only way to get them to leave me alone J

As for influences, as a kid I loved Nancy Drew mysteries, but the first book I remember making me cry was Island of the Blue Dolphins. Then came my love affair with Judy Blue (and the forbidden Rosemary Rogers novels I found between my mother’s mattresses!) After that there’s a huge gap before Stephen King and Michael Creighton took over. I think that gap is called high school and college!! 

My senior year of high school I remember talking to my mom about choosing a major at LSU. She asked what I loved most, and I said writing J  I ended up graduating with a degree in Journalism, but several years passed (new city, new apartment, new job, new LOVE) before the characters in my mind started to again wreak havoc!

3. When and how did you get the idea for the Midnight Dragonfly series?

Back during the sleep-deprived days after my little boy was born prematurely, I woke up one night from one of the most incredibly detailed, vivid dreams I’d ever had. I’d more than just seen a group of teen sneak into an old abandoned mansion--I’d been with them.  I’d gazed into the darkness, and smelled the decay. I’d felt the fear, and the crazy blast of excitement at the prospect of a game of truth or dare.  My heart was still racing when I woke up. The images lingered. I kept thinking about what I’d seen, and from the questions came: What happened next? What if one of the teens was a psychic? What if she saw something…something bad? What if she had a premonition? What if what she saw actually happened?  What if no one believed her, or at least, no one but the last guy she should let herself begin to fall for?

As I answered those questions, the Midnight Dragonfly books were born!

4. Is there a special place you like to write?

I move around the house, based upon what I’m doing. I WRITE at my laptop in a small home-office, but I brainstorm when I’m running or showering, and I edit sitting in an old baseball-glove-leather chair surrounded by bookcases. It’s odd, but I find the change of venue for different parts of the process really helps. I absolutely cannot brainstorm at the computer!

5. What's your favorite food?

Today it’s guacamole. Tomorrow it might be onion rings. I tend to change my mind a lot!

6. Favorite movie?

Raiders of the lost Ark!  OMG, I love that movie. (Close seconds: The Sixth Sense and Last of the Mohicans.)

7. Favorite season?

Spring!

8. Are you Team Peeta or Team Gale?

Team Peeta. There’s just something about unconditional love that gets me every time!

9. Is there another novel in the works? If so, what can we expect?

On my desk next to me are Line Edits for the third book in the Midnight Dragonfly series, FRAGILE DARKNESS.  In addition to those, I’m exploring possibilities for where Trinity goes next, as well as fleshing out several new series ideas. I’m not sure what’s going to bubble up first, but I can promise you lots of action, adventure, mystery, and romance!

10. What makes the Midnight Dragonfly Books different?

My editor and I have talked about this, and really, the books have emerged into real-world Thrillers. There’s lots of paranormal out there, lots of romance and suspense and mysteries, but Trinity’s story takes all of these elements and combines them into a race against time to solve riddles and mysteries, while at the same time trying to understand her feelings for two very different guys.

11. What are five things your characters learn in Broken Illusions?

Only five?  Hmmmm.  1) Forever is more than just a word,  2) A drivers license really can unlock a door, 3)Ouija boards aren’t just a child’s toy, 4) Airbags hurt, and 5) Before you tell the wrong guy how you really feel, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re really dreaming. Oh….and 6) be careful who you give voodoo dolls to.

12. What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done in the name of book research?

Jumped into a swimming pool with my hands tied together (to see if I could stay afloat)--and broken into a place long abandoned (can’t say where--yet!) to see what it would feel like, and what kind of trouble I could get Trinity into on the other side!

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~Giveaway~

Ellie James has kindly provided a signed copy of Broken Illusions for a giveaway, and I will also throw in my signed ARC of the book, plus a signed finished copy of Shattered Dreams.

The Rules:

• There will be one winner. 
• Giveaway ends on May 22, 2012 @ 11:59 p.m.
• Must be a GFC follower
• Must be 13 or older.
• This giveaway is US/CAN
• Fill out the form

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

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Isn't she just great?  She has so much personality, it was so fun working with her for this author interview.  Make sure you stop by and say hi to her by following the links I provided and see for yourself.  She's so sweet and nice and I just love her!  Thank you Ellie James for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour, and I hope all the readers of my blog enjoyed this post. And btw, I love comments *hint hint*