{Book Blitz: Excerpts + Giveaway} The Road to You by Marilyn Brant

 

 

 

The Road to You by Marilyn Brant

Publication Date: October 3rd 2013 

Genre: New Adult Mystery Romance

Pages: 300

Goodreads

 

 

~Summary~

 

Sometimes the only road to the truth...is one you’ve never taken.

Until I found Gideon’s journal in the tool shed — locked in the cedar box where I’d once hidden my old diary — I’d been led to believe my brother was dead. But the contents of his journal changed all that.

The Road to Discovery...
Two years ago, Aurora Gray’s world turned upside down when her big brother Gideon and his best friend Jeremy disappeared. Now, during the summer of her 18th birthday, she unexpectedly finds her brother’s journal and sees that it’s been written in again. Recently. By him.

The Road to Danger...
There are secret messages coded within the journal’s pages. Aurora, who’s unusually perceptive and a natural puzzle solver, is hell bent on following where they lead, no matter what the cost. She confides in the only person she feels can help her interpret the clues: Donovan McCafferty, Jeremy’s older brother and a guy she’s always been drawn to — even against her better judgment.

The Road to You...
Reluctantly, Donovan agrees to go with her and, together, they set out on a road trip of discovery and danger, hoping to find their lost brothers and the answers to questions they’ve never dared to ask aloud.

In that expectant space between silence and melody, our trip began... 

 

 

~Excerpt~

 

I could count on one hand the things I knew were true about Donovan McCafferty:

He was twenty-three—just over five years older than I was.

He’d escaped into the Army at age eighteen and, except for a few quick but memorable visits, hadn’t returned to Minnesota until this past winter.

He had an excellent mechanical mind.

And he made me very nervous.

Underneath my skin, every nerve fiber was fast twitching. Just thinking about Donovan always did that to me...

It was 7:05 p.m. by the time I got to the auto-body shop where he worked. They closed at seven, but the light in the back was on and I knew he was in there. Not because I’d caught even one glimpse of Mr. Tall, Dark and Intense yet, but because the only other car in the lot was a crimson Trans Am with the giant Firebird decal in black and gold across the hood. His, of course.

I pushed open my car door, grabbed my tote bag with Gideon’s journal tucked safely inside and inhaled several lungfuls of the cloying summer air.

I didn’t make it more than five steps before Donovan came out. A solid, broad-shouldered, six-foot-two mass of frequently impenetrable emotions. Not impenetrable enough this time, though.

Even at a distance of half a parking lot, I detected two powerful sensations that crashed, one after the other, into my awareness:

One, he was hugely curious about why I was here.

And, two, he very much wished I hadn’t been.

He walked up to me and cleared his throat. “Car trouble, Aurora?” He glanced at my hand-me-down Buick, which had done nothing but purr contentedly during my drives around town. Donovan was the type to have noticed this, so I could tell he knew it wasn’t the car.

I shook my head. “I need to show you something,” I told him. “Privately.”

A small flash of amusement quirked one corner of his mouth upward. I was surprised he allowed me to read this, especially since he knew I could. Surprised he was letting me see that one of his possible explanations for my presence was flirtatious in origin—even as he immediately dismissed the idea.

I rolled my eyes. “It’s not like that.”

He pressed his lips together, but the amusement still simmered just beneath the surface. “Too bad. ‘We’re both young and inconspicuous,’” he said, parroting the hideously embarrassing words I’d said to him two years ago at our brothers’ secret high-school graduation party..

I fought a blush. “We’re not that young,” I told him, trying to stand straighter and look older. “And we’re not inconspicuous here.”

“Ain’t that the truth.” He turned and motioned for me to follow him inside. Led me into the back office and ushered me in. “You want me to close this door, too? Snap the blinds shut?”

He was mocking me, but there was a layer of concern beneath it. He knew something serious was up. In a town of 2,485 people, where you’d run into the majority of the residents a handful of times each week, I’d spoken with Donovan McCafferty in private exactly six times in the past five years.

Here’s to lucky number seven.

 

 

Purchase Link:

Amazon


~About The Author~

Marilyn Brant is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary fiction. She wrote the new adult/humorous paranormal novel ACCORDING TO JANE (2009), the women’s fiction relationship drama FRIDAY MORNINGS AT NINE (2010), and the romantic travel adventure A SUMMER IN EUROPE (2011), all published by Kensington Books. She's also a #1 Kindle and #1 Nook bestseller and has written a series of fun and flirty romantic comedies, including ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAE (2011) and PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND THE PERFECT MATCH (2013). Her coming-of-age romantic mystery, THE ROAD TO YOU, will be available in October 2013.

Marilyn is a lifelong music lover and a travel junkie. She’s visited 46 states and over 30 countries (so far—she's not done yet!), but she now lives in the Chicago suburbs with her family. When she isn't rereading Jane Austen's books or enjoying the latest releases by her writer friends, she's working on her next novel, eating chocolate indiscriminately and hiding from the laundry.

 

Author Links:

 

Website: http://www.marilynbrant.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.brant
Twitter: https://twitter.com/marilynbrant
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2978367.Marilyn_Brant

 

 

~Giveaway~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Review: Unpretty: An Unloved Ones Prequel (The Unloved Ones Prequels #1) by Kevin Richey

Unpretty: An Unloved Ones Prequel (The Unloved Ones Prequels #1) by Kevin Richey
Publication Date: July 18th 2013
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Pages: 61
Format: Kindle
Source: free on Amazon
Goodreads


~Summary~

 What if you could become thin overnight?

Katherine Blythe is an overweight teenager who, on her sixteenth birthday, wishes to be thin, only to find her wish coming true with alarming side effects. As she loses over half her weight in the span of a week, she finds the world is a different place when you look the way you’re told you should.

But is her wish responsible for all this? Or is there something else going on—something distinctly supernatural?


~My Thoughts~

Unpretty, we've all felt like that before. Either with weight, like our main gal, or with some other natural flaw, like mine. My flaw is acne, which is why some days I don't feel pretty (even though my boyfriend reminds me every day that I am). A couple years ago I got hit by the acne fairy and have been trying to find a cure ever since (so far extra virgin olive oil has done the trick, though it's still a WIP haha). So I feel for our main gal, Katherine.

She's overweight and she has a problem with over eating. She doesn't know why she does it, it's just a habit she fell into. Most of the time it happens in the middle of the night, when she can just eat and eat. Mr. Richey did an amazing job at describing this problem of hers, it felt completely real. That scene was absolutely disturbing to me (sorry) as I don't get how someone can do this to themselves. So this aspect was definitely compelling to me.

On Katherine’s birthday she makes a wish and surprise, her wish becomes true. Yeah, I'm sure we all wished that our birthday wishes have become true. She begins to lose weight and fast. In a matter of days she loses over a 100 pounds and there are a couple of hints later in the book to what's going on with her. Once I got to the end, I was even more intrigued than I already was. I can't wait to get more of Katherine’s story as this is a prequel.

Overall I was hooked from the very first page. I've got so much sympathy for her and I know that's what the author was going for, so bravo Mr. Richey. Well done. The storyline will grip you and the details will hold you in place till you reach the ending. And once you get to the ending you'll wish there was more. I can't wait to read the rest of the series, four bats for this one.

 

Will disturb your being



~More of this series~



Uninvited: An Unloved Ones Prequel
Unpopular: An Unloved Ones Prequel


~About The Author~



Kevin Richey lives and writes in Portland, Oregon. He is the author of Zombie Fairy Tales, a series of short stories set in a dark fairy tale universe plagued by zombies, and the Unloved Ones series, about seven vampire siblings who have one year to reduce their family to a single member, by whatever means necessary.

He kindly welcomes readers to become a GoodReads friend or fan. Feel free to comment with questions or requests on blog entries as well.

If you are a blogger and would like a review copy, please write to info@thekevinrichey.com. All reviews are appreciated.


Author Links:

Goodreads / Twitter / Website



Sweet Readings Everybody!



{Cover Reveal} Adrenaline Rush by Cindy M. Hogan

 

Adrenaline Rush by Cindy M. Hogan

Publication Date: October 2013

Genre: Young Adult Suspense

Goodreads

 

 

~Summary~

 

A madman with a mission is kidnapping groups of thrill-seeking high school seniors across the country, and it’s up to Christy to stop him.

To do so, she must take on a fearless alter ego and infiltrate a group of adrenaline junkies bent on pushing life to the limit. Death-defying stunts are only the beginning: two groups fit the profile, and Christy must discover the real target before it’s too late.

If she chooses the wrong group, more people will disappear. But choosing right puts her as the prime target—with no guarantee that she’ll get out alive. 

 

 

Preorder Link:

 

Amazon

 

 

 

~About The Author~

 

 

Cindy M. Hogan graduated with a secondary education teaching degree and enjoys spending time with unpredictable teenagers. More than anything she loves the time she has with her own teenage daughters and wishes she could freeze them at this fun age. If she's not reading or writing, you'll find her snuggled up with the love of her life watching a great movie or planning their next party. She loves to bake, garden and be outdoors doing a myriad of activities.

Author links:

 

Blog: http://cindymhogan.blogspot.ca/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/watched1

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4858618.Cindy_M_Hogan

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Watched-The-Book-By-Cindy-M-Hogan/185737298139932

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Blog Tour Shoutout: Awakening (The Geis #1) by Christy Dorrity

About the Book

. . . because some Celtic stories won’t be contained in myth.

A little magic has always run in sixteen-year-old McKayla McCleery's family—at least that’s what she’s been told. McKayla’s eccentric Aunt Avril travels the world as a psychic for the FBI, and her mother can make amazing delicacies out of the most basic of ingredients. But McKayla doesn't think for a second that the magic is real—it’s just good storytelling. Besides, McKayla doesn’t need magic. She recently moved to beautiful Star Valley, Wyoming, and already she has a best friend, a solo in her upcoming ballet recital—and the gorgeous guy in her physics class keeps looking her way.

When an unexpected fascination with Irish dance leads McKayla to seek instruction from the mute, crippled janitor at her high school, she learns that her family is not the only one with unexplained abilities. After Aunt Avril comes to Star Valley in pursuit of a supernatural killer, people begin disappearing, and the lives of those McKayla holds most dear are threatened.

When the janitor reveals that an ancient curse, known as a geis, has awakened deadly powers that defy explanation, McKayla is forced to come to terms with what is real and what is fantasy. A thrilling debut novel based in Celtic mythology, Awakening is a gripping young adult fantasy rife with magic, romance, and mystery.

 



Praise for Awakening

"AWAKENING is a wonder and a delight. Christy Dorrity is a talent to watch."

~David Farland, New York Times bestselling author of Nightingale

"I thoroughly enjoyed AWAKENING, a captivating and unique debut novel that creatively integrates Irish dance."

~ CHRIS NAISH, Riverdance member and Creative Director of Fusion Fighters Irish dancers.

 

Purchase Awakening by Christy Dorrity:

 

 

 

 
 

~About the Author~

 

 

Christy Dorrity lives in the mountains with her husband, five children, and a cocker spaniel. She grew up on a trout ranch in Star Valley, Wyoming, and is the author of The Geis series for young adults, and The Book Blogger’s Cookbooks. Christy is a champion Irish dancer and when she’s not reading or writing, she’s probably trying out a new recipe in the kitchen.

 

Author links:

Website / Goodreads / Twitter

 

 

Christy I hope you have a wonderful tour! :)

 

Thanks for stopping by Everybody!

 



{Book Blitz: Interview + Giveaway} Because of Lucy by Lisa Swallow

 

 

 

Because of Lucy by Lisa Swallow

Publication Date: August 28th 2013

Genre: New Adult Contemporary

Pages: 220

Goodreads

 

 

~Summary~

 

*Recommended 17+ due to strong language and sexual content*

Ness’s parents are shocked when she turns down her place at Leeds University and takes on a full-time job in a call center. Determined to begin her adult life the way she wants, Ness moves to Leeds to live with her best friend Abby.

One night she meets Evan, who is everything she hates about guys. He may be hot but he’s also drunken, arrogant, and on top of that, he apparently has sex with girls and forgets about it. But Evan isn’t what he seems and Ness soon discovers they have more in common than she thought.

Evan is struggling to escape from his past too, and when Lucy appears she threatens his new relationship with Ness. Unsure if she can deal with the effect Lucy has on Evan, Ness makes a decision about her future which pulls them apart.

When their new lives don’t go as planned, Ness and Evan are both faced with difficult choices. All because of Lucy…

 

 

Purchase Link:

 

Amazon

 

 

~About The Author~

 

 

Lisa is originally from the UK but now lives in Perth, Western Australia. She splits her time between writing, raising a family and running a business. She even leaves the house occasionally.

Lisa writes romance and is currently working on a series of new adult paranormal romance novels, the first book, Soul Ties, was published in July 2013. She also writes new adult contemporary - Because of Lucy was released August 2013.

Author links:

 

Website: http://lisaswallow.net/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7091632.Lisa_Swallow

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisaswallowbooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lisa_swallow_au

 

 

 

~Interview~

 

AUTHOR INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Where did you grow up?
 

I was born in the UK and I grew up in Europe, travelling around with my military family. Most of the time I lived in the UK and Germany.

 

Where do you live now?
 

Perth, Western Australia.

 

If you could live anywhere, where would you choose?
 

Perth!

 

How long have you been writing?
 

Since I was 8 years old when I had a poem published in the local newspaper. Last year, I decided it was time I tried to find a publisher!

 

Where did you get the inspiration for ‘Because of Lucy’?
 

I love the new adult genre - being able to write about the time of self-discovery that comes  from moving away from family influences and into adulthood. I wanted to show the struggle that people often have at this age when trying to forge an identity outside of the one that they may have unwillingly been molded into.
 

I love hidden secrets in books, but only ones which keep the reader guessing. When I was half way through the first draft, I tested the story on a friend. If she’d guessed who Lucy was before she was revealed, I would have scrapped the book!

 

Do you have any pets?
 

A Weimaraner named Tilly who is not the brightest of dogs. She does a great impression of a Weeping Angel (geek reference!). We also have a cat called Twinkle but, as all cat owners know, we’re her pets.

 

Something about you not many people know?
 

Until I moved to Australia, I had never lived in one house longer than two years or one city longer than three. Eight years later, I don’t want to move again!

 

Who would you cast as actors if a movie was made of your book?

I always find this question tricky because every reader has their own pictures in their heads of who the characters look like. When I started writing Because of Lucy I was watching Supernatural a lot and Evan looked a little like a younger Jared Padalecki in my mind. But not as tall! Ness is more difficult - maybe I don’t pay enough attention to female actresses lol.

If you were a cartoon character who would you be and why?

Lisa Simpson. Because I was a little like her when I was younger (and we share a first name and initials!)

Early bird or night owl?
 

Night owl.

 

What is your next project?

I’m currently finishing the third book in my paranormal romance series, Soul Ties. I have also started writing a second book featuring Ness and Evan. Because of Lucy was going to be a standalone as it has no cliffhanger and a happy ending, but readers have asked to follow more of Ness and Evan’s story. And I’m happy to do that because...more time with Evan!

~Giveaway~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Review: Just for Fins (Fins #3) by Tera Lynn Childs

 

Just for Fins (Fins #3) by Tera Lynn Childs

Publication Date: July 3rd 2012

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 246

Format: Hardcover

Source: Library

Goodreads

 

 

~Summary~

 

When Lily Sanderson decided to remain Crown Princess Waterlily of the mermaid kingdom Thalassinia, she knew she couldn’t just coast along in the current. But since she’s spent the last couple of years on land—with gorgeous human Quince by her side—Lily’s not sure she has the fins to lead a kingdom. Even her maddeningly pretentious cousin Dosinia seems to know more about ruling than she does.

But Lily has to dive in deep to keep her promise to Tellin, her mer bond in name only, whose kingdom is suffering in the changing ocean climate. Lily knows this is a seven seas–sized problem: from sea animals dying to oil spills and threats to humans. They’ll need to create some serious waves to make the mer community aware and get it to join together to make things right. Even if that means facing one of the iciest queens in the mer kingdoms.

Just when Lily thinks her double life on land and sea can’t get any more complicated, an ancient mer law might separate Lily and Quince after all. It feels as if the pair is up against a solid tsunami wave!

In this third installment in the series that began with Forgive My Fins and Fins Are Forever, Lily will have to find a way to balance safety and justice for the mer people as well as for the humans she loves.

 

 

~My Thoughts~

 

Now this is the kind of depth I was looking for in book 2. Just for Fins is still cute and the romance is still swoon worthy however we've also get the seriousness behind Lily's powerful storyline. Though sometimes Lily's whining bugged me but I do understand why, because she gets irritated that the royal rules just won't leave Quince and her alone. And I mean they won't, one of those later chapters was an emotional ride and not just for the characters, but for me too. I was sitting on the edge of my seat going "No! You can't do this to them!"

Yeah, this is the kind of struggle I was hoping for in the second book. There was struggle in the first book with Lily accidentally kissing the wrong guy but then finding out it was for the better. That's what made the first book so amazing and I wished there was more of that depth in the second book. There was some small struggle but nothing like this one or the first book. Just for Fins showed me why I fell for this mermaid tail in the first place.

And not only is there struggle in this sweet romance but there's also major struggle in Lily's underwater world. Because of us humans and the environmental changes, their lives are dying. Some of the kingdoms are being destroyed so the people of those kingdoms look for shelter in other kingdoms. Yet most kingdoms are having their own problems too. On Lily's first duty of princess she finds this out and that it isn't just Tellin’s world that is in trouble.

Lily grows so much in this book and I'm so proud of her haha. I wished there were more books to come! I was really sad that it ended but I'm happy with how it ended. Overall this was the perfect tale to tell for the last book in the series. With struggles of romance, of dying kingdoms, of wanting revenge against us humans, and of Lily turning into the princess her world needs. This final book will have you on your toes. The only thing I didn't really like was the names of the kingdoms and the names of most mermaids. They were hard to pronounce and even harder when I was on a roll, so it slowed down my reading when I didn't want it to. But other than that, I loved this book!

 

4.5 Bats

Will disturb your being

 

 

 

Sweet Readings Everybody!

 

 



{Cover Reveal} Defector (Variants #2) by Susanne Winnacker

 

Defector (Variants #2) by Susanne Winnacker

Publication Date: June 26, 2014

Genre: Young Adult Thriller

Goodreads

 

 

~Summary~

 

None


~Sequel To~



Impostor (Variants #1)
Publication Date: May 28th 2013
Genre: Young Adult Thriller
Goodreads


~Summary~

Can Tessa pose as Madison . . . and stop a killer before it’s too late?

Tessa is a Variant, able to absorb the DNA of anyone she touches and mimic their appearance. Shunned by her family, she’s spent the last two years training with the Forces with Extraordinary Abilities, a secret branch of the FBI. When a serial killer rocks a small town in Oregon, Tessa is given a mission: she must impersonate Madison, a local teen, to find the killer before he strikes again.

Tessa hates everything about being an impostor—the stress, the danger, the deceit—but loves playing the role of a normal girl. As Madison, she finds friends, romance, and the kind of loving family she’d do anything to keep. Amid action, suspense, and a ticking clock, this super-human comes to a very human conclusion: even a girl who can look like anyone struggles the most with being herself


~About The Author~

Susanne Winnacker studied law before she became a full-time writer. She lives with her husband, a dog and three bunnies in Germany. She loves coffee (in every shape and form), traveling and animals.
When she isn't writing, you can usually find her in the kitchen, experimenting with new vegan dishes.
Her YA thriller IMPOSTOR will be published on May 28, 2013. It has been optioned for TV by Warner Brothers!

Website: http://www.susannewinnacker.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SusanneWinnackerAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SusanneWrites
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/91168.Susanne_Winnacker

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!