THIS SUMMER trailer reveal by Katyln Duncan

I am super excited to be participating in the trailer reveal for Katlyn Duncan's THIS SUMMER. It's awesome and it makes me even more excited to read the book and I can't wait for its release on July 9th.

I am also thrilled to be able to share a guest post in which characters Hadley and Lily share their Top "Summer to Remember" Must Haves.

If you haven't yet heard of this upcoming New Adult release from Author Katlyn Duncan, the book's description is below. And if you haven't yet "met" the author, her details and places to find her online are also below.

But first, here is the THIS SUMMER Trailer. I can't wait to share it with you. What do you think?

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The Trailer

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The Guest Post

Hadley and Lily’s Top ‘Summer to Remember’ Must Haves

Hadley: Hey everyone. My best friend, Lily, and me are going to tell you our top must haves for this summer.

Lily: This girl is headed to college in the Fall and it’s our last summer together before “growing up”. I’ll start! My number one is boys.

Hadley: (eye roll)

Lily: What? Boys are important for a summer to remember. And now that we’re both single we can have a little fun with them.

Hadley: Are you done?

Lily: Fine. What’s your number one?

Hadley: (grins) My best friend.

Lily: Oh! And a job working with your best friend.

Hadley: Yes that too.

Lily: (pauses dramatically) And on a serious note…sunscreen.

Hadley: UV protection is important.

Lily: I was thinking more along the lines of awful tan lines.

Hadley: Okay…

Lily: Next is…parties. And oh! Older brothers who can get supplies for parties, if you know what I mean.

Hadley: Oh my God…

Lily: So we have boys, best friends, a job WITH a best friend, sunscreen, parties, brothers, what else?

Hadley: Camp!

Lily: That counts as a job with your best friend.

Hadley: Camp should be a category of its own—

Lily: Here we go…

Hadley: But without camp we wouldn’t have had the best summers of our lives. And we will be a part of making that happen for the kids.

Lily: Yeah. I’m still sticking with boys.

Hadley: You’re hopeless, but I do love you! Well that does it, everyone. Be sure to make this summer, a summer to remember. And comment below with your must haves I’d love to hear them!

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About This Summer

Release date: July 9, 2014
Publisher: Carina UK
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
ISBN: 9781472096449

Description...

Before college, before responsibilities, Hadley Beauman and best friend Lily are determined to have a summer to remember. There will be all the usual dramas - ex-boyfriends who don't seem to know what 'ex' means, pesky younger brothers with unrequited crushes, but what Hadley didn't anticipate was the out-of-the-blue return of the seriously hot boy-next-door, Will Carson. The boy who broke her heart when he skipped town two years ago.

Will may have shot up a foot and filled out (oh yes), but inside he carries the weight of guilt - for leaving, for coming back... Now he's just passing through to tie up loose ends but it's clear the old chemistry still crackles between him and Hadley. Trouble is, it's built on two years of lies...

This summer might just be the best time of their lives, but is Hadley ready for everything to change - again?

Find it at...

Amazon | Amazon UK | Goodreads

Coming soon... iBooks, Nook UK, Kobo, Google Play, & Sony Store.

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About Katlyn Duncan

Katlyn Duncan was born and raised in a small town in western Massachusetts. Her overactive imagination involved invisible friends, wanting to be a Disney Princess and making up her own stories. Her bibliophile mom always encouraged her love of reading and that stayed with her since. Even though she works full time in the medical field Katlyn has always made time for books, whether she is reading or writing them.

Katlyn now lives in southern Connecticut with her husband and adorable Wheaten Terrier and she is thrilled to finally share her stories with the world.

WEBSITE | BLOG | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | INSTAGRAM | TUMBLR | YOUTUBE | GOODREADS

GIRLS ON FIRE!

So there's this box set of 10 fabulous young adult books coming June 16th for only 99 cents! It doesn't get any cheaper than that, folks, so be sure to grab your copy when it becomes available!

Publication date: June 16, 2014

Price: 99 cents for 10 amazing YA novels!

Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22370438-girls-on-fire

Buy links coming soon! We’ll send these out when the boxed set is live and you can leave your reviews. Thanks!

WITCH FALL – Amber Argyle

High Fantasy

Supreme in their dominion over seasons, storms, and sea, the witches have forgotten the unmatched destructiveness of mankind. And among the weapons men seek are the magical songs of the witches. Born of witches but raised among their enemies, Lilette searches for a way to heal the rift between mankind and the witches. But it may be too late to save either. For if there is one thing Lilette has come to know for certain, it’s that all things fall.

ETERNAL STARLING – Angela Corbett

Paranormal Romance

For centuries, Alex Night and Emil Stone have yearned for Evie Starling. When both men claim to be her soul mate and tell her about an unbelievable past, Evie learns that she’s not the person she thought she was, and her soul is about to become the rope in an eternal tug-of-war.

AWAKENING – Christy Dorrity

Fantasy

When an ancient curse threatens McKayla McCleery's family, she must decide what in her life is real and what is fantasy. Based in Celtic mythology, Awakening is a gripping young adult fantasy that is rife with magic, romance, and mystery.

INEVITABLE – Tamara Hart Heiner

Suspense

Visions of death plague Jayne, who thinks watching her sister die is the worst that could happen to her. But when she witnesses a murder, Jayne realizes that the next death she sees might be her own.

WATCHED – Cindy M. Hogan

Romantic Suspense

Change. She longed for it.

A murder. She will never be the same.

THE FORGOTTEN ONES – Laura Howard

Fantasy

ELEMENTAL HUNGER – Elana Johnson

Futuristic Fantasy

Sixteen-year-old Gabriella Kilpatrick can shoot fire from her hands, which would be great if she didn’t get blamed for a blazing inferno that kills 17 schoolmates. Gabby will have to learn who she can trust, how to control her own power, and most of all, how to lead a Council of Elementals, most of whom have more control over their power than she does. If she can’t, she’ll find herself just like those 17 schoolmates: burned and six feet under.

THE FAERIE GUARDIAN – Rachel Morgan

Fantasy

Kickbutt faerie Violet is about to graduate as the top guardian trainee of her class, but when an assignment goes wrong and the human boy she’s meant to be protecting follows her back into the fae realm, a dangerous plot is set in motion.

PERCEPTION – Lee Strauss

Dystopian/Romance

Eternal Life is to Die For.

A spoiled genetically altered girl needs the help of a jaded “natural” boy to find her missing brother.

INTRINSICAL – Lani Woodland

Paranormal

The gene that allows the women in Yara’s family to see and communicate with spirits seems to have passed her over. Until the night she rescues a local hottie from an attacking ghost. Her act of heroism attracts the attention of the evil spirit, and she finds herself entrenched in the middle of a sixty-year-old curse that haunts the school, threatening her own life as well as that of her friends.

About the Authors: 

Follow each author’s link to learn more about them and their books.

Amber Argyle

Angela Corbett

Christy Dorrity

Tamara Hart Heiner

Cindy M. Hogan

Laura Howard

Elana Johnson

Rachel Morgan

Lee Strauss

Lani Woodland

Book Review: Mortal Danger by Ann Aguirre

Edie Kramer has a score to settle with the beautiful people at Blackbriar Academy. Their cruelty drove her to the brink of despair, and four months ago, she couldn't imagine being strong enough to face her senior year. But thanks to a Faustian compact with the enigmatic Kian, she has the power to make the bullies pay. She's not supposed to think about Kian once the deal is done, but devastating pain burns behind his unearthly beauty, and he's impossible to forget.

In one short summer, her entire life changes, and she sweeps through Blackbriar, prepped to take the beautiful people down from the inside. A whisper here, a look there, and suddenly... bad things are happening. It's a heady rush, seeing her tormentors get what they deserve, but things that seem too good to be true usually are, and soon, the pranks and payback turns from delicious to deadly. Edie is alone in a world teeming with secrets and fiends lurking in the shadows. In this murky morass of devil's bargains, she isn't sure who—or what--she can trust. Not even her own mind...

Agh, this was a tough one to review. I went back and forth, unable to decide if I wanted to rate it with 3 or 4 stars. In the end I went with 3, because even though I had a hard time putting it down, I felt the story had its flaws.

The beginning definitely hooked me with Edith being so depressed from bullying that she was prepared to jump to her death. As a huge advocate of anti-bullying, I really wanted to see her life turn around.

Still, I wasn’t completely satisfied with the idea of her being granted “wishes”, and changing her physical appearance to become happier. While I get the concept, because who wouldn’t want to wish for something like that, I wanted to see her overcome her issues in a different way. Because even though this is paranormal fiction, we’re seeing a real problem solved with an unrealistic solution, and I hate to see any teenage girls struggling with their identity think there isn’t any hope.

I liked the cast of friends Edith hung out with, though I’m still on the fence about “cat-like” Kian ever since the author described his eyes as having a feline slant. I kept picturing him as the guy from Sleepwalkers. Plus his intent wasn’t clear throughout the story, as we were reminded by Edith. Numerous times.

Without giving too much away, the stories with the Teflon crew (one of many Mean Girls references) were what kept me the most interested, making a person think twice about revenge. The sub-plot towards the end dealing with Edith and her father felt a little forced, and I felt Edith’s “wishes” really weren’t well thought out from beginning to end considering how smart she is pimped out as being. I loved the occasional glimpses of horror and wish there had been more of that instead of an occasional scattering.

This was mostly a fun read, but I don’t know that I’ll read the sequel.

*I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

NOW AVAILABLE: A Different Kind

If you haven't ever given an alien novel a chance before, this book is a must read!

The lovely and talented Lauryn April just released A Different Kind, a young adult paranormal romance/sci-fi thriller about a girl who is abducted by aliens and is desperate to find a way to keep them from taking her away. One of the most refreshing aspects of this book is that it's told by a queen cheerleading bee who is borderline bitchy (don't worry, she evolves with the story) rather than the stereotyped quiet, awkward girl (**cough** Bella Swan **cough**).

The further I dove into this story, the more I wondered just how many abductions have been reported, and if anything like this has ever happened. April's book has a tremendous amount of credibility as well as heart. Check out the official blurb below, and watch the awesome trailer at the end.

Payton Carlson’s life is perfect – until the night she’s abducted by aliens. Now she’s plagued by pieces of memories from a night that feels as hazy as a dream, and that’s not the only strange thing that’s been happening. When Payton’s neighbor, Logan Reed, who spends every night sitting on his roof staring at the stars, starts to pay extra attention to her, Payton starts to wonder if he knows more about the night she can’t remember than she does. Suddenly finding a date to the Homecoming dance and cheering at the football games aren’t as important as they used to be - especially when the aliens return for a second time.

Grab your copy of A Different Kind!

Amazon | Kobo | Barnes & Noble

Add on Goodreads

Lauryn April is an indie writer in the young adult / adult paranormal romance genre. She lives in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and is currently seeking a degree in Psychology. Her debut novel "Into the Deep" explores the intricacies of the adolescent mind and what it means to feel alone. 

Follow Lauryn: Twitter | Blog | Facebook 

"Paranormal Keepers" is finally here! (Sort of)

Sadly, releasing a book has become less of a "thing", and more of just a part of life. With the first few, I would insist my family go out to celebrate, or make my husband take me to the bar for a couple drinks. Now, as our lives have become crazy with two kids in middle school, I've been forced to celebrate the release of book #7 during working hours, alone. Kind of sounds pathetic, like throwing yourself a birthday party, but ask any indie author how much work goes into writing and publishing a book, and you'll understand.

So today I'm getting my hair cut/colored, and indulging in a facial (that I won in a drawing). May not seem a very glamorous thing for an author to do, but as big as my hair is, this will be an all-afternoon event. I'm hoping, at the very least, to relax my mind enough to come up with more ideas for the sequel to Shymers that I'm working on.

While today marks the official release day for my newest YA paranormal romance, Paranormal Keepers, you may notice it has yet to post on Barnes & Noble, and the paperback version is not quite up on Amazon. You can expect them to appear (hopefully) soon, as they were submitted yesterday, but unfortunately I don't know exactly when. Such is life when you're an indie author. In the meantime, you can purchase the Kindle version HERE, and remember you don't have to own a Kindle to read this version (find info on how to use the Kindle app on your phone, digital tablet, or computer HERE). You can also purchase the paperback copy through Createspace. Happy reading! (Now where did I set my mimosa?)

**Update: Paranormal Keepers is now on available on Nook and the paperback is on Amazon! It's all good!

because Leo makes everything better

Valentine's Day Treat from Danielle Sibarium

Happy Valentine's Day!

As a special treat, I'm excited to bring you an announcement from my good friend Danielle Sibarium. I've become a big fan of Danielle's YA romance novels, so I was so pumped when I got her message below. Be sure to enter the giveaway posted below for her new release!

First, I would like to thank you for allowing me to announce my special message on your blog. I am so honored to be here today. I understand your blog is a reflection of you and so I thank you for giving me this opportunity. Next, I’d like to thank every reader that has ever picked up one of my books and given them a chance. And finally I’d like to thank all of my fans that have felt compelled to reach out to me. I have appreciated all of your letters, messages, and support, whether it came in an email, or just a short and sweet tweet. 

When I began this journey, I had no expectations. I had dreams and hopes and wishes, but to say I expected For Always to take on a life of its own would not be true. Since its release in October of 2011, many people have contacted me asking me if I planned to write a sequel. I thought Stephanie and Jordan’s story had been completed, but for many of you, it wasn’t enough. So because you asked, because you told me in no uncertain terms you wanted it, I am working on And Forever, the sequel to For Always. And Forever picks up where For Always ended. While Stephanie and Jordan are finally a couple, they still carry the same baggage they had before. Can their love survive the ghosts of their past and the challenges of the future?

I hope you are excited about this as I am. I expect And Forever to be released in July 2014. Until then, look for teasers on Facebook and Twitter. And before I go, I leave you with this, the prologue of And Forever.  Once again thank you for being so amazing. Happy Reading! 

Prologue  

     The scent of death lingered nearby. Always. Only I didn't attract it, I repelled it, like a deflector shield. This was my lot in life, to extend the days of those I loved. That theory came from Jordan; the keeper of my heart, and the love of my life!
I sighed. I didn't realize I did it until Jordan apologized. Again.
"I'm sorry Steph, I don't want to be distracted."
"I know. I understand. Promise."
He misunderstood. It was a contented sigh. One that said I was thrilled my boyfriend was driving me to school. The sigh was a sign of how surreal sitting next to Jordan and knowing that he loved me was. How I couldn't believe in a matter of hours he'd be leaving me alone on the college campus, and I intended to savor each minute with him. The sigh was the only chance I had of getting any of those sentiments across because he didn't want me to talk while he was driving. I knew just being in the car together was challenging for him.
Jordan still suffered the after effects of a terrible car accident that left his ex-girlfriend dead. Of course he was breaking up with her at the time because he loved me, and I pushed him into making a choice between us. When he served as my unexpected prom date, I made him admit his feelings. That's what led to his break-up with Madison, leaving him in a swamp of guilt induced quick sand when she died. But we worked through all that.
I hoped.
I didn't bother saying anything further to try and reassure him I wasn't upset. I'd already been warned he couldn't concentrate on the road and to keep the radio down. The problem was he wanted it down so low I couldn't hear the music. I glanced at his hands on the steering wheel, his knuckles were white. He held on so tight I expected his fingers to cramp up. I hated that this was so hard for him. I wished I knew how to make it better, but the only thing I could do was stand beside him and hope in time he'd heal.
I turned to my window, watching the never ending expanse of trees zoom by. I wished for a brief moment I'd gone in the other car with my mother and her new, at least new to me, boyfriend Eddie. I'd been clueless about Eddie, but after her health scare last week, she came clean. She wanted to see him and had been ordered to take a few days off of work. Work is where they'd rendezvous during lunch. She'd been frightened when they first told her it looked like a heart attack and realized it was silly to keep him hidden away. No way I wanted to hear what cheesy, weird things they might be talking about. I mean it was my mom, gross. Still, I was happy for her. My father died a decade ago and as far as I knew she'd never dated before.
I chose to ride with Jordan, because even in the deafening silence, and the tension he carried on his shoulders every time we got in a car together, there was nowhere else I'd rather be. From the first moment he spoke to me, he owned my heart. It was branded with his name. I'd tried for four years to move on, to forget him, but that wasn't an option for me. No one could hold a candle to him.
"Hey," He pulled my attention back to the here and now. "You know I love you right?"
I smiled. Of course he knew that would make me smile, that's why he said it. It felt like that's all I'd done over the last week since he found me crying on the beach. I'll never forget the wave of relief that washed over me when I found out he'd been spared from a terrible plane crash. He never made it on the plane because I called him at the last minute in an attempt to get him to stay. Thank goodness I did. I didn't know where he was going or why, but Maria warned me that he was leaving, and it might be forever.
I always believed myself to be the root cause of the bad things that happen to people around me, Jordan thought I was what kept them hanging on. I didn't believe him, at least not yet. But having him try to convince me otherwise promised to be amazing.

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COVER REVEAL: A DIFFERENT KIND

Genre: YA Scifi Romance

Release Date: March 2014

Cover Design: Lauryn April

Publisher: Phantom Owl Press

Goodreads

"All I could see was bright blinding white. I tried to glance back at my bedroom window, but couldn’t move. My eyes were frozen open and watering as I stared into the abyss. God, this can’t be real."

Book Description:

Payton Carlson’s life is perfect, until the night she’s abducted by aliens. Now she’s plagued by pieces of memories from a night that feels as hazy as a dream, and that’s not the only strange thing that’s been happening. When Payton’s neighbor, Logan Reed, who spends every night sitting on his roof staring at the stars, starts to pay extra attention to her, Payton starts to wonder if he knows more about the night she can’t remember than she does. Suddenly finding a date to the Homecoming dance and cheering at the football games aren’t as important as they used to be - especially when the aliens return for a second time.

 

About the Author:

Lauryn has always been fascinated by the paranormal, picking up a healthy Stephen King habit by the age of thirteen. Her favorite TV show growing up was "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", and she's always preferred bands like The Rolling Stones and The Doors over whatever they're playing on the radio (However she admits “I Love It” by Icona Pop always puts her in a good mood). She self-published her first two books “Into the Deep” and “Hidden Beneath”, and continues to write paranormal YA and NA stories.

 

Ways to follow Lauryn:

Her blog

Facebook

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THE ZOMBIES ARE BACK!

I'm super excited to announce The Time Zombies Became the Least of My Worries (sequel to The Day Zombies Ruined My Perfectly Boring Life) is now available for purchase on Amazon and Barnes and Noble! Finally you can hear the rest of Emma and Finn's adventure (some of it told in Finn's voice), and find out what happens to the rest of the gang of misfits. I know it was a long time coming, but I'm pretty sure fans of the series will be happy with the way it all ends.

If you haven't read the first book, it's only 99 cents on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Also be sure to enter the giveaway for paperback copies of The Time Zombies Became the Least of My Worries on Goodreads, and check out the brand new book trailer below!

Ever since the zombie virus hit Emma’s irritatingly boring Midwestern hometown, she’s been on the run with her old best friend-turned-boyfriend Finn. On their journey, they’ve witnessed some pretty disgusting deaths, narrowly escaped life-threatening escapades that sometimes included one of their own pulling a gun on them numerous times, and redefined the definition of what makes up a family (as it turns out, soldiers and geeks can be pretty decent). They’ve even learned the disturbing truth behind the mysterious virus. But after Emma was bit by one of the infected trying to save her neighbor boy, she was told she would not have long to live.

In the thrilling sequel to The Day Zombies Ruined My Perfectly Boring Life, Finn will help to tell the story as Emma and the gang are faced with the most crucial life-changing decisions yet. They’ll come across an unfortunate group of rednecks, discover the truth of what happened to Finn’s federal agent mother, and finally see a chance at truly being safe without having to run anymore. But in the middle of it all, Emma and Finn’s relationship will soar to completely uncomfortable levels when Finn takes things one step too far. And between being injected with an unknown liquid, taking on a completely unexpected (and really agitating alliance), and being left for dead by those she loves most, Emma will realize that zombies are the least of her worries.

Get Addicted Tour & Guest Post by Becca & Krista Ritchie

You may remember how I recently gushed over the steamy Addicted to You new adult series by twin sisters Becca and Krista Richtie. Now I'm crazy excited to participate in their Get Addicted Tour, and bring you all sorts of goodies from the fabulous duo! Check out the five secrets about the Addicted series, then enter the giveaway at the bottom to win an Amazon gift card, and two books from the Addicted to You series!

Title: Addicted for Now

Author: Krista & Becca Ritchie

Series: Addicted #2

Pub Date: November 30^th, 2013

Amazon: Link not available until Nov. 30^th. 

Add Addicted to Now to Your Goodreads Shelf!

He's addicted to booze. She's addicted to sex...staying sober is only half the battle.
No. More. Sex.

Those are the three words Lily Calloway fears the most. But Loren Hale is determined to be with Lily without enabling her dangerous compulsions. With their new living situation—sleeping in the same bed, for real, together—Lily has new battles. Like not jumping Lo’s bones every night. Not being consumed by sex and his body.

Loren plans to stay sober, to right all of his wrongs. So when someone threatens to expose Lily’s secret to her family and the public, he promises that he’ll do anything to protect her. But with old enemies surfacing, Lo has more at stake than his sobriety.

They will torment Lily until Lo breaks.

And his worst fear isn’t relapsing. He hears the end. He sees it. The one thing that could change everything. Just three words.

No. More. Us. 

5 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets about the Addicted Series

We may have mentioned some of these before on Twitter. (Truthfully, late-night writing time leads me to loopy deliriousness and I take to social media too quickly with secrets – not spoilers!) Krista may hate me in the morning (or maybe I’m just projecting). But I make it up to her with chocolate. Chocolate is the answer to everything :D 

5) The novels are more detailed (sex-wise) with each consecutive book because Lily becomes more comfortable talking about sex. And in Addicted for Now, we see Lo’s POV, and he’s never been as ashamed as Lily when describing the act. I’m not sure anyone will pick up on that, but we were always conscious of it. 

4) From the beginning of Addicted to You, Lily is 20, and by the end of the series with Addicted After All, Lily is 23, almost 24. So the series spans nearly 4 years. 

3) We never meant for Addicted for Now to be so long. We constantly consider deleting subplots and scenes, but in the end, we’re keeping everything that we intended to give. Most especially because Lily and Lo’s story will have a break while the spin-offs go on, and we wanted to give our readers as much as possible without adding any filler. 

2) Addicted to You (Addicted #1) may feel repetitious in a couple places. We’ve wanted to come out and explain this aspect for a while, so I guess that makes this a secret. But when we were editing the first book, we both knew there was a part that seemed to repeat. Krista even said, “I feel like I just read this.” And after a long, long conversation, we decided to keep it. We knew that addiction was a cycle, and we wanted to accurately depict that sense of “whoa, this is happening again?”

1) Okay, this is the hardest secret for me to write (even though in my haste, I know I shouted this one out on Twitter). If you have NOT read Ricochet (Addicted #1.5) or Addicted for Now (Addicted #2), divert your eyes. Spoilers ahead! …

 … There’s a very controversial convo that happens in Ricochet on the boat. Daisy is talking about sex (naturally, the series is a discourse about sex)—and Ryke offers her some advice. Here’s the secret: I was given the same advice at 17 by a guy I just met. Daisy was 16 in the book. This stuff happens. And while it’s awkward, I look back on the moment and think about his views on sex. He hated the idea of a guy not giving the girl any lead-up, anything in return. Getting in and getting out made him cringe. He wanted sex to be about her high, her experience. 

And Ryke, as a character, is very, very empathetic towards women. He was raised by a single mother. He’s self-assured and doesn’t care what people think of him. All he wants is to make sure that you’re okay. And if you’re okay, he’s fine. He’ll move on. But Daisy isn’t emotionally fine yet. She’s tricked everyone but him. 

So that’s the number one secret. It’s hard to justify something that I went through. And the Ryke and Daisy friendship has quickly become one of the most taboo aspects of the series. She’s a high fashion model. She has been an adult since she was 14 and sucked into that world, and I can’t wait to share her story in Hothouse Flower. Our plan isn’t to convince you to like these two. If you don’t like them now, I can’t guarantee you ever will. We’re just going to show them as they are. Raw, honest people—flaws and all. 

For more stops on the Get Addicted Tour, check out their schedule here!

AUTHOR BIOS

Becca Ritchie claims she's from Mystic Falls, but really, she lives in Atlanta where humidity is her greatest foe. She loves comic books, blue nail polish and Jonathan Taylor Thomas circa 1995. She frequents Twitter to dish about too many TV shows, and when she's not blogging, she writes novels and has teamed up with her twin sister to collaborate on a New Adult series.  

Krista Ritchie has a clone...or someone who looks exactly like her. If she's not writing books with her twin sister, she's pouring over entertainment news and ingesting copious amounts of pop culture. She likes tennis, that thing called the TV, and beating Becca (her clone) on Sega Genesis. She created  YA Book Exchange to combat her book buying addiction and started Nawanda Files, a YA Book Blog that features books into movies news, to share her love for all things bookish. Oh, and she does something called science. Whatever that is. 

AUTHOR LINKS

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Krista

Becca

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Zombie Cover Overhaul AND SALE!

You may have (or most likely, have not) noticed my second zombie cover has changed since I posted the reveal a few days ago. This is one of those things as an indie author that can be good or bad—I can change anything I want at any given time. I'm going to stick with the good, since I've gotten great feedback on the changes. As The Time Zombies Became the Least of My Worries is the second book in the series, I've also given the first book an overhaul to match. So here they are, side by side!

To celebrate the new covers (or just to appease my manic mode), I've reduced the digital versions of the first book in the series (The Day Zombies Ruined My Perfectly Boring Life) to just 99 cents! So if you haven't read this fun adventure yet, do it now before the second book is released...you'll be glad you waited since book #1 contains a pretty big cliffhanger.

You can read the first chapter here:

Chapter One - The Day Zombies Ruined My Perfectly Boring Life

And purchase the rest of the book here:

Amazon (Kindle and paperback)

Barnes & Noble

Kobo (includes iBook format)

Cover Reveal: Waves of Love by Danielle Sibarium

My friend Danielle Sibarium does an excellent job of writing YA romance, so when she asked if I would help reveal the cover for the third installment in her paranormal trilogy, I jumped at the opportunity. And I was pleasantly surprised to see a guy with muscular arms featured (how can you not appreciate a man with well-built biceps?).

In celebration of her new release, Danielle is giving away three free copies, so be sure to enter below!

Jenna knew Reece would break her heart, when he did Tyler stepped in to pick up the pieces.

As she’s ready to take the next step with Tyler, Jenna finds herself face to face with Reece. Lies and secrets are discovered from the two boys she trusted the most. And now it’s more than just her heart on the line, it’s her life as well. 

Torn between two amazing guys Jenna’s certain of only one thing, this is the most important decision of her life. One almost destroyed her. The other brought her back to life. The time has come to choose. Can Jenna move forward with Tyler or will she be stuck in the past with Reece?

Become a fan of the Waves of Love Heart Waves Facebook page for teasers of this heartwarming story, coming October 31, 2013.

Ways to follow Danielle Sibarium:

Website

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Giveaway for KINETIC by S.K. Anthony

I previously participated in the stunning cover reveal of S.K. Anthony's new release, Kinetic. Be sure to swing over to The Writer Diaries to catch my review of this book, as well as enter for a chance to win your own copy!

Preview of MIND STATIC!

Happy Friday, peeps!

As a special treat to all my amazing readers, I'm posting the first chapter of my newest YA paranormal release, Mind Static! The best part? It's absolutely free!!!! I want to share it with all of you as it's getting great feedback, and I'm told it's my best book to date. I had a blast writing this crazy adventure full of twists and good humor.

The story is told by a witty, rather bold senior girl named Keyanna who's getting ready to celebrate her 18th birthday quietly with her friends Dallas and Nora. But Nora, who's a bit of a more social creature, plans the party of all parties that spirals out of control. And when Keyanna discovers she can make things happen by wishing for them, she soon finds herself in the middle of a really strange whirlwind of events that make her question who she is, and who she can trust. It's a lot of fun, and I'm told you can read the whole thing in just a few sittings.

Click on the link below to start reading now!

Mind Control - Chapter One

Official book trailer:

Links to purchase Mind Static:

Amazon (Kindle and paperback)

Nook

Happy reading!

Movie Review: This Is the End

While attending a party at James Franco's house, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel and many other celebrities are faced with the apocalypse. (Rated R)

Once again, I'm a little late to the party since this movie will be out on DVD this coming Tuesday, but I've been really looking forward to it with the promise of apocalyptic humor (two of my favorite elements in a movie). I'm just going to say up front that I really don't get into the drug themed movies most of these guys have starred in like "Your Highness", "Pineapple Express", and "Knocked Up". Although I guessed drugs would be a theme in this movie as well, I consider most of these comedians to be pretty funny, and figured they could pull off a hilarious story together.

As a huge fangirl, it was kind of fun to at least pretend we were glimpsing into the personal lives of celebrities. While there were some stellar cameos (Emma Watson, Rihanna, Michael Cera), there were some that fell short (Paul Rudd, Back Street Boys), and one that really didn't do any favors for the actor (Channing Tatum...he must really be proud). When the guys weren't prattling on about drugs or sexually crude acts, there were some pretty funny moments. I got a kick out of the actors trying to redeem themselves as being worthy of saving (James Franco: "We're actors! We bring joy to people's lives!"), Michael Cera playing an out-of-control character, the scene where the men are trying to decide how to lay in close proximity to each other, and the misunderstanding that happened with Emma Watson. I especially loved the development of Jonah Hill's character toward the end.

Overall it was a pretty decent movie. The premise of the apocalypse was fun, having a feel like a 1990s Adam Sandler film. The special effects were campy, like when the partygoers fell into a flaming hole, and the "big bad" at the very end, but it can be expected from a lower budgeted movie. If you can get past all the drug usage, and take this movie for what it is—a goofy comedy—you might actually enjoy the folly Seth Rogan, Jonah Hill, and Jay Baruchel most definitely deliver.

In Anticipation of The Mortal Instruments

I'll admit to being just as much of a cinephile as I am a bibliophile. Accordingly, I get extremely pumped for the release of movies to the point I'm like a school girl awaiting Justin Bieber's next tattoo. Lately the list of movies I've been dying to see have included a few screenplays based off books I was less than enthused about (i.e. World War Z, Beautiful Creatures, and The Mortal Instruments). As a writer, I've come to accept that everyone has different tastes when it comes to reading, and for some reason those three books were unable to hold my interest, even though by all means they should've as their subjects were right up my alley (well, technically gravel road since I live in the country). While the World War Z movie completely hit the mark I was hoping for, Beautiful Creatures completely missed it by lightyears, disappointing me to astronomical levels.

The Mortal Instruments seems to have the biggest built-in fan base of the three, leading me to believe it will achieve the biggest success. They're already filming the second book in the series (and p.s. I just stumbled across a major spoiler upon reading the storyline for movie #2 on IMDB, so if you're not familiar with the series, don't go there). I'm already a fan of Lily Collins (playing Clary), and Jamie Campbell Bower as Jace isn't so hard on the eyes (unless you're watching his stiff performance in Twilight). But it all comes down to the screenplay writing, and TMI's writer, Jessica Postigo, has virtually no resume in the cinematic world for us to consider.

Therefore, being the major audiophile that I also am (wow I have a lot of addictions), I go to the soundtrack. Many times I'm able to tell just how a good a movie will be just by considering how much time and money the movie spent on finding its musical talent, even though you don't always hear the songs in the actual movie itself (has anyone figured out this strange phenomenon?). To my dismay, the list of performers on this soundtrack is less than stellar, and the songs don't do much for me, which makes me extremely nervous. Add the fact that the trailer uses as great song, just as Mortal Instruments did (Florence + The Machine's Seven Devils), and I'm downright paranoid. BUT, after listening to the beautiful musical score by Atli Orvarsson, there's still hope.

RIP Cory :(

As a last resort, I looked into some of the comments on YouTube. Those who have seen the movie have really good things to say, with the exception of "they didn't follow the book", which obviously won't bother me one bit. So I still hold on to hope that this flick, with a vibe of Constantine meets Flowers in the Attic (if you don't get this reference, don't go looking into it unless you've read TMI), will end up being my favorite movie of the summer.

Finally, I leave you with the trailer. No only does the movie look crazy good, but it would appear they've spent a healthy amount of money on special effects (another sign of good things to come). Unfortunately, I won't get to the theatre until next Tuesday, but you can expect a review as soon as I form my completely biased opinion.

Book Trailer for Mind Static

Guys! I'm so excited that the book trailer for my newest YA paranormal release has gone live! This is me right now:

I decided to go an entirely different route from the slow and dramatic trailers I've created in the past, and wanted something upbeat, quick, and fun. There's so much work behind making a trailer, starting with just the right music, the perfect pictures, and the careful editing in putting everything together so it will make an intriguing story. With an adventurous story and a main character who's witty, this was actually a blast to put together, and I feel like I just witnessed the party of a lifetime.

Without further delay, I give you the official trailer for "Mind Static"!

The images in this video do not belong to the author

Cover Reveal: Because of You by Maria E. Monteiro

While I may be a bit biased considering I'm the designer, I'm so excited to present to you the cover reveal for Maria Monteiro's new novel, Because of You. Maria, a close friend of mine, is one of the masters of contemporary romance, and promises to deliver an emotional love story that will tug at your heart strings. Expected release date is September 17, 2013.

Title: Because of You

Genre: YA Romance

Release Date: September 17, 2013

Cover Design: At or With Me Publishing

Synopsis:

No one ever forgets their first love.

Six years ago Austin broke Jade’s heart. On that day he went from being her best friend to the person she hated the most.

Now, six years later, Jade’s life has been turned upside down. The family she once knew no longer exists. Her father’s infidelity has made it hard for her to trust anyone.

That is, until she reconnects with the one person she’s despised the most.

Will Austin be able to break through Jade’s wall of anger to get her to trust him again? 

Or will she always see him as the boy who first broke her heart?

Together they will learn what love is really all about.

Links to Because of You

Goodreads

Facebook

Meet the author:
Maria E Monteiro was born in Chile, but grew up in Sleepy Hollow NY. The Catskills is now the place she calls home, alongside her husband. She has been writing since she was a little girl. Her love for reading and writing led her to obtain a BA in English and a Masters in Literacy. Maria loves to write about the small moments that become huge when falling in love. Hold on Tight is Maria E. Monteiro's debut YA novel. Her love of writing accompanies her love for music. When she is not writing, Maria can be found at a rock concert or dancing around her house.

Follow Maria

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Goodreads

Cover Reveal: Kinetic by S.K. Anthony

I'm honored to present to you the stunning cover of the upcoming release by the fabulous S. K. Anthony! I'm one of those who will buy a book based on the cover alone, and I'm already sold on this one. Check out a synopsis of the NA Urban Fantasy novel below, and where to follow S. K..

Title: Kinetic

Genre: NA Urban Fantasy

Release Date: September 2013

Cover Design: Mae I Design & Photography

Synopsis:

Being strong is one thing. Being an unlimited source of power is quite another.

Genetically altered by the Organization, Annie Fox takes down criminals CIA-style with her luminary strength. With nothing to mend but her broken heart, she is relentlessly pursued by her boss Derek Lake. Just when Annie is about to give him a chance, her ex-husband unexpectedly comes out of hiding. 

A wanted man, Nick Logan is a cold-hearted murderer who is considered enemy number one, and orders are clear: kill on contact. He is more powerful than ever and threatens the lives of those she holds most dear. His plan? Get his hands on Annie and use her Kinetic energy to destroy them all. When Annie finds herself with an opportunity to end him, she pauses, horrified by the scars covering the face she once loved. A split second that will cost her everything…

Meet the Author: 

S. K. Anthony is a writer, a reader and a make-stuff-up-er who lives in New York with her husband and toddler twins. She is a wine connoisseur, which just really means she knows she loves it, and a caffeine addict. When she isn’t busy with her family she finds herself being transported into the world of imagination. Well, either that or running away from spiders…she is convinced they are out to get her!

Follow S. K.

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The Indie Bookshelf: Cheating Death by Jen Naumann

The Indie Bookshelf: Cheating Death by Jen Naumann: 4 Star Review by Laura Wilson

Celebrate the Small Things

I just had a total Pretty in Pink moment. Remember when Iona tells Andie about her friend who missed the prom?

"I have this girlfriend who didn't go to hers, and every once in a while, she gets this really terrible feeling—you know, like something is missing. She checks her purse, and then she checks her keys. She counts her kids, she goes crazy, and then she realizes that nothing is missing. She decided it was side effects from skipping the prom."

I knew I was forgetting something and realized it must be side effects from skipping Celebrate the Small Things blog hop! Since I'm already a day late, I'm going to keep it short and sweet. Things that had me jumping up and joy for this week:

1. I received the proof for the revised version of What I've Done with it's fabulous new cover!

2. I started writing a totally new story that flowed out of me like lava. Last time that happened was when I wrote The Day Zombies Ruined My Perfectly Boring Life so I'm expecting big things!

3. I finally got to "meet" three of my good writer friends that I've communicated non-stop with on Twitter for the last year.

4. The first reviews for my newest release Cheating Death came out and they were great! It's always nerve-racking to get feedback when you release a story into the wild.

AND FINALLY, in personal news:

My step-daughter gave birth yesterday to a healthy baby boy! It's the first grandson in the family, so everyone is over-the-moon excited. We're in the car heading up to see him as I type this!

Hope everyone is enjoying beautiful weather and having a great weekend!