BookSpark

Interview/Giveaway: Debbie Brown (Amethyst Eyes)

2012-03-05T13:19:00.000-05:00

Today, I have the pleasure of kicking off the first ever blog tour of a brand new tour group - Making Connections!! I get to interview Debbie Brown, author of Amethyst Eyes, as part if my stop :)))
So. Tell us a little bit about your book, Debbie.When a car accident claims his mother’s life and puts 15-year-old Tommy in the hospital, the arrival of his estranged, alien father brings more changes than he bargained for. It doesn’t take his father long to figure out that Tommy knows nothing about who or what he is. Without any explanation, or even a moment to adjust, Tommy finds himself onboard his father’s spaceship, where he is forced to trust a man he does not know in a world he knows even less about. The experience proves to be terrifying.
Changing schools and making friends is hard enough on Earth, but here, Tommy has to do more than just ‘catch-up’. His father’s solution may yet prove to be Tommy’s finest challenge…Jayden. A few months younger than Tommy, high strung and always in a mood, the doctor’s daughter definitely didn’t like being ‘told’ to help Tommy fit in. Jayden is not the most welcoming or patient of tutors, let alone a friend.
(Spaceship? SPACESHIP??!)

Do you view writing as a profession or just as a part-time job?
I believe I am in transition from part-time to profession.

Which part of Amethyst eyes did you most enjoy writing? Have there been many lulls in the writing process?
For the most part, each chapter is a new day, a new discovery and a new adventure, but I really enjoyed when Tommy becomes aware of the ‘link’ and later on when his father shared scenes of his time with Tommy’s mother.

There are many :o)I went from page 1 to published book in a year…almost to the day. I honestly felt as though I was documenting the story, observing as the scenes played out before me. There were times when I wished I could type faster, times I remember thinking ‘wow, that’s cool’, or ‘OMG, I can’t write that’…
(Any of you budding authors relate to that?)

Have you written any other books? Are you working on anything currently?
Amethyst Eyes was my first.
The first draft of another YA adventure is due to be completed in less than two weeks. (And then the editing process begins). I am writing it as part of an advanced writing course with the Institute of Children’s Literature. The other book I am working on tells the story of Tommy’s parents, so it is more of an adventure with romance.
(Wow!)

Harry Potter or Twilight?
Harry Potter
(Yay! (: )

Coffee or tea?
It depends on my mood. I have an extensive tea collection from around the world and enjoy it done right, but I do love my Tim Horton’s coffee.

Where can we find you on the Internetz?
Blog: http://amethysteyesauthor.blogspot.com/
Facebook Book Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amethyst-Eyes/169207996492385
Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5370747.Debbie_Brown
Email: amethysteyes01@yahoo.ca
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Amethyst-Eyes-Debbie-Brown/dp/1462050158
Book Trailer:

If you like the book, feel free to LIKE its facebook page.
If you have any questions feel free to ask and I promise to get back to you. Feel free to post comments and reviews! Thank you for reading!

Thank you Debbie!
To enter the giveaway, go ahead and watch the book trailer and tell me what you think! For an extra entry, like that Facebook page!

Awesome Excerpt: Witchful Thinking

2012-03-01T22:30:00.000-05:00

I've got a really fun new series to show you today! Witchful Thinking (out February 28) is H.P. Mallory's newest book and it looks like it's going to be a wildly fun beginning to a series too :)
Check out the videos introducing the hilarious protagonist, , and then be sure to browse the excerpt if it caches your fancy!

Synopsis:
From H. P. Mallory—the exciting author of Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble—comes her new paranormal romance featuring the sassy, self-deprecating witch Jolie Wilkins.

Jolie thinks she’s seen it all, but life continues to spring surprises. The latest shocker? She’s just been crowned Queen of the Underworld. Jolie may possess a rare gift for reanimating the dead, but she doesn’t know the first thing about governing disparate factions of supernatural creatures. She can barely maintain order in her own chaotic personal life, which is heading into a romantic tailspin.

First there’s sexy warlock Rand, the love of her life, from whom Jolie is hiding a devastating secret. Then there’s Sinjin, a darkly seductive vampire and Jolie’s sworn protector—though others suspect he harbors ulterior motives. As the two polar opposite yet magnetic men vie for Jolie’s affection, she must keep her wits about her to balance affairs of state and affairs of her heart. Overwhelmed, under pressure, and longing for love, Jolie decides it’s time to take charge—and show everyone that this queen won’t take jack.

#1

#2

#3

Witchful Thinking: A Jolie Wilkins Novel by H. P. Mallory (Free Excerpt)

To buy Witchful Thinking, just go to http://www.randomhouse.com/book/214350/witchful-thinking-by-h-p-mallory

Review & Giveaway: Fire Baptized

2012-02-29T19:52:00.002-05:00

Fire Baptized by Kenya Wright

.5
“Dante and this Palero were definitely playing some sort of game, and I didn’t know the rules, which was fine with me. Whenever a game became too complicated, I just set the board on fire.”

Publisher: Dragonfairy Press
Publishing Date: Jan 28, 2012

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal

Series: Habitat #1
Received: Free as part of blog tour
Others by this Author: Burning Bush (Habitat #2), Incubus Hunter

Synopsis: Since the 1970s humans have forced supernaturals to live in caged cities. Silver brands embedded in their foreheads identify them by species: a full moon for Vampires, a crescent moon for Shifters, a pair of wings for Fairies, and the list goes on, for each supernatural species has been tagged and categorized by humans.

Lanore Vesta is marked with a silver X, the brand of Mixbreeds, second-class citizens shunned by society. She stays to herself, revealing her ability to create fire only during emergencies. All she wants to do is graduate college and stop having to steal to survive. But when she stumbles upon a murder in progress, she catches the attention of a supernatural killer. Now all she wants is to stop finding dead bodies in her apartment.

Enlisting help from her Were-cheetah ex-boyfriend MeShack and a new mysterious friend named Zulu, she is steered through the habitat’s raunchy nightlife. But their presence sometimes proves to be more burden than help, as they fight for her attention.

While the corpses pile up, and the scent of blood fills the air, Lanore is left wondering: will she find the psycho or die trying?

Plot:

A very interesting, fast-paced novel that totally grabs your attention from the very beginning with Lanore, a mixbreed, witnessing a horrible murder. Unfortunately, the killer sees her too and soon she's getting "I See You" messages and dead bodies at her door. Now I loved the concept, but I didn't feel like I could connect with or follow the story with full attention...I suppose it's partly the overdone vamps, werewolves, etc. Still, I really liked the mystery aspect of the book that kept me guessing until the end and there is plenty of action.

Characters:

What unique, believable characters! What great background stories! Lanore is a fantastic protagonist - strong, sassy and a great friend. She is neither human nor a pureblood so she's looked down by both and has to live in a dilapidated district where rape is the least of residents' worries. All she wants to do is finish up college but she gets caught up in this murderer business near her apartment. What the book lacks in plot, it more than compensates for with these great characters!

MeShack, a Were-Cheetah (yes, you heard me) is sometimes kind of a jerk - he cheats on Lanore when they were dating and now sleeps with random girls he can't remember the name of even though he is still madly in love with her. Also, he is smokin'. You want to know the best part? He and Lanore live together to share the rent. Still, he is very good in emergencies and he really cares about Lanore and does everything in his power to keep her from harm.

Narration:

Grammar and syntax-wise, this is a very well-written, often humorous book. I wouldn't have believed it was self-published. But the main reason got 3 stars instead of 4 was unnecessary, often graphic descriptions of sex, rape and prostitution and excessive cussing. I'm no prim person who can't handle profanity but it's everywhere in this book! There's also a lot of gore and violence that I'm not sure was truly needed.

World:

The vampires and werewolves aspect seemed so overdone, but Kenya gave it a nice dystopian twist with the supernaturals sidelined as inferiors and forced into separate communities according to their species.

Romanciness:

I have to hand it to ya, Ms. Wright, you know how to write a good love triangle. It isn't forced and it doesn't encompass the whole book and it really makes sense. I loved reading about the ex-boyfriend MeShack and the mysterious and hot Zulu, and for once, I found myself rooting for both terrific dudes!

Recommended? Yes :)

Still Skeptical?

Check out an excerpt on Paranormal Romantics' blog.
Watch the book trailer below:

Thanks to Goddess Fish for sending me an ebook review copy!

Giveaway:
The author is giving a $10 gift certificate to one commenter during the tour so be sure to leave that comment! Happy Leap Day!

CO-Review: Iwishacana/Acanawishi

2012-02-27T21:58:00.005-05:00

Last month, I had an interview with author Larissa Hinton about her debut novel, Iwishacana/Acanawishi. If you didn't get a chance to look at it, here's the link to the spotlight and the interview. Well I hosted a giveaway with the spotlight and the winner agreed to do a little something with me: she would leave some comments on different aspects of the book that I could post along with my own opinions. Here's the outcome, see if you like it!
Thank you, Rachel Vessar, for your awesome contribution to this review!

Iwishacana by Larissa Hinton

My Rating:
Rachel's Rating:

Publisher: Smashwords
Publishing Date: August 12, 2011

Genre: YA, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance

Series: Iwishacana #1
Received: Free ebook as part of blog tour
Others by this Author: Everblossom: A Short Story and Poetry Anthology

Synopsis: There are two worlds in Larissa's book. The normal world (which I assume is Acanawishi) and an alternate world that everyone knows about where everything you wish for comes true. Anissa is forbidden to travel to this alternate world because of prior misdemeanors. But she sneaks away anyway to see her friends (she doesn't have friends in the normal world). Florence is a heartbreaker and a "bad boy" and he's very spoiled having always had anything he wanted with a snap of his fingers. To teach him a lesson, Anissa brings him into her own world. Unfortunately, her mom discovers the two of them in her room and decides to send her to Juvenile Detention Center (and Florence inexplicably follows along). There, Anissa is convicted of various crimes she didn't commit and the story takes off from there.

Plot:

Rachel: The story is unique. I enjoyed it and the places it took me. The author did a good job on keeping you guessing who the villain was. I would read it again.

Ana: I absolutely loved the action-packed beginning. It really pulled you in. But after that, I thought it was a bunch of random ideas put together very haphazardly. What immediately got me was wondering about the title. But I have to agree with Rachel, I had NO idea who the villain was going to be, but mainly because that character didn't even come in until the last few pages. Actually, you didn't really hear about anybody other than Anissa, Florence and this genie-type dude who is all for helping out Anissa (I don't remember the exact relationship he had with her).

It's the (not so) little things that matter. Like why is a prison camp described as if it were a 5-star hotel? And why is Florence the boss around said camp? I was so completely confused through most of the book (NOT a good thing)!

Characters

Rachel: I would like to see the characters and the world developed a little more. We know about Anissa and a little of her background but not Florence, Terrell or Sasha's backgrounds.

Ana: Absolutely. You get to know Anissa as a person (sort of) but everyone else has a huge blank for their past (saved for a future book maybe?). Which is why you can't really make any guesses as to the real villain because you don't really know anybody as well-rounded characters.

Also, Florence? HUMONGOUS jerkface. I understand he's this super-hot hunk, but how could you care about someone who acts like such a spoiled brat? It's completely beyond me. After a while, he transforms to some version of Heathcliff (Wuthering Heights). Great, he passionately loves Anissa but he can't go around being cruel to everyone else!

Anissa calls her parents Jason and Laura. Who calls parents by their first name anyway? It would be enough to get me in some serious trouble. And the parents themselves are pretty dysfunctional. They might as well be spoiled teenagers in disguise.

Narration:

Rachel: I felt like the story didn't flow as well as it could of with the hopping from one place to another. I felt it needed a little more explanation to it.

Ana: It was probably the narration that caused the most problem for me. In addition to random placement of the events, there were a gazillion and one errors. It was like a rough rough draft I wouldn't dare show a soul and yet here it is - published. With all of its fallacies, this could honestly be a readable book with all the typos. Eve someone not as sensitive to typos would cringe. You really need an editor, Larissa.

The book didn't really have a believable feel to it either. Everything happened so suddenly - without any explanations of the rules of this alternate world, it was like skydiving without an instructor. Or a parachute.

The dual worlds

Rachel: The two separate worlds was a unique idea that I enjoyed.

Ana: I liked the idea, just not its execution.

Romanciness

Rachel: The romance between Florence and Anissa didn't pull me in. It was a little confusing if they were actually together or not.

Ana: So. True! One moment they're flirting, the next they're fighting like crazy. One pushes away, then the other with a few moments of intense gazing into each other's eyes. Aahh!

Cover/Title

Rachel: I liked the cover it was dramatic and got my attention.

Ana: I do too! The title was the main reason I picked it up. I mean, two similar unpronounceable names? Bring it on! ;)

Overall:

Rachel: All in all I enjoyed the book and am glad that I read it. Hope to see a sequel to this story.

Ana: Whether or not I read a sequel would probably depend on whether the author got a good editor for the next one. Also, I might be more inclined to read it if there were more action scenes.

Recommended: NO!

Would you want to see more co-reviews in the future? Let us know is the comments!

Cover Reveal: Streamline

2012-02-25T22:45:00.001-05:00

The last thing for today, I've got a cover reveal for Streamline by Jennifer Lane. Hang on cuz this is one awesomesauce book here!

Us Needs a Synopsis of Course...

Seems like Leo Scott has it all: looks, brains, and athletic talent. He’s captain of his high school swim team with a bright future in college and beyond. But Leo has secrets. His mother’s crippling car accident has devastated his family and left Leo to deal with his father’s abuse, battered and alone.

Leo’s girlfriend Audrey Rose is poised for her own share of success. As one of Florida’s top high school swimmers, Audrey dreams of college swimming stardom. But there’s an obstacle to her glorious rise to the top. Her number-one supporter--her father--is in prison for murder.

Part murder mystery, part tale of young love in a military family, this gripping story takes readers on a journey from Pensacola to Annapolis. Leo and Audrey must band together to rise above the adversity they encounter and find their true selves in the process. When everything’s on the line . . . streamline.

Sound good? Just wait! It's being released March 23! Here's the author in all her glory...

Jennifer Lane's Blog

Twitter: @JenLaneBooks

STREAMLINE on Goodreads

Oh and I've got an awesome review planned for tomorrow...our first ever co-review! My friend and I will be sharing our thoughts on the same book! Let us know what you think tomorrow!

January Giveaway Winners

2012-02-25T22:30:00.000-05:00

I know I know February is about to end and NOW I'm posting Jan winners? Well there's really no good answer for that so I'll just sit tight and pray that winning something will begin to make up for all the non-posting I've done.

YA Faerie Hop:

Lament by Maggie Stiefvater: roro @ Roro is Reading
Lisa Nguyen @ Shatterbooks
BookAttict
Ballad (there were 4 people wanting Ballad and 46 for Lament, eep!): Ashley G
jwhitus

Darkspell by Elizabeth Mueller:
Danielle Smiley @ Known to Read

Iwishacana/Acanawishi: Hey-o. It's been so long since I emailed the winner for this one, she already read it and this is the book we're going to co-review tomorrow ;)
Winner was Rachel Vessar! She's got some good thoughts, man, even though they're different from mine. You wouldn't be able to guess she doesn't have her own review blog!

Within by Clare Marshall: Well, I got one correct response so she won by default ;) Sorry about the iPad problemo, Heidi-o!
Winner is Valerie!

And the Sea Turtle Summer giveaway has been extended to Feb 30 for you lovely people (:

FINALLY!! I'm Back, Dude! Wassup?!! ;)

2012-02-25T22:15:00.004-05:00

Yes oh yes oh yes!!!
Oh it's good to be back! It is good to have the lovely fantastic Internet! Oh I'll never take anything for granted again! It's been almost a month, y'all! I'll be glad to see your pretty faces around here ;)
Not to bash on my blog, but I HATE my Internet provider. Seriously, they have the most horrible service.
Aah, I feel like dancing around with pure joy lol! I was able to check my email and do quick comments on Goodreads at school, but never got enough time to put together a post. Huge sorry to you blog tour coordinators whose stops I had to miss :(
BUT. One good thing about this no Internet thing: I wasn't constantly checking my email and I got lots of time to...wait for it...READ! So I have plenty of reviews lined up. As soon as I get to writing them that is, which will be after I catch up with everything in the bookish world. So what did I miss?
Another good thing: I slowed down and really thought about what I began this blog for - to talk about books I like, not sign up for a bajillion and one tours which I always do. Definitely working on that.

But for right now, I've got a little guest post to share with you, courtesy of the awesome tour coordinator over at Bewitching Book Tours. I know I know I just said no more tours and here I am...but tours are booked way in advance (I've even got some booked for May!) and I definitely don't want to flake on anybody anymore. But this is a fun book, I promise!
So I'll stop babbling now ;)

Merlin’s Round Table: Characters and their Stories

The Legend of Arthur—you’ve probably heard of it. My Boyfriend Merlin picks up where King Arthur left off. Fast-forward a thousand years or so. And everything you know about the legend changes.
To sum up the story: My Boyfriend Merlin is a YA Arthurian in which Merlin goes to high school to recruit candidates to pull the sword from the stone—one of them his girlfriend.

Whoa! Stop the presses! Merlin goes to high school? He has a girlfriend? Are you lost yet? Good, so let me tell you about the people in this retelling/modernization of the legend you think you know…

There are three main characters. Arriane, aka Ryan our nice girl protagonist. Matt, aka Merlin, our hero in a cape. Lastly, there is Vane, hero’s brother and generally, the villain.

Arriane, aka Ryan, is seventeen, a nice girl, and the student-president. She has a quest—to pick the Prom theme and avoid any texting with the guy who dumped her. Little does she know that when the sword and stone crashes in the middle of London, she would find herself back in his arms.
Ryan’s song - Alice by Avril Lavigne – Why? I repeat, fairy tale junkie. This beautiful moody piece perfectly fits Ryan’s struggle.

Merlin, aka Matt, has an agenda. And he's completely screwed it up. To get close to the brother, he chatted up the sister. Only to back off when he started to fall for her...to the point he was having a hard time remembering his name or his mission. Now he's realized there is not one, but two candidate —brother and sister. And he needs them both.
Matt’s song - Superman (It’s Not Easy) by Five for Fighting –Why? In My Boyfriend Merlin, Merlin’s alter-ego is Matt. This is a huge struggle in the book for Merlin…does he want to be the “Most Powerful Wizard in the World” or does he want to be plain-old Matt?

Vivane, aka Vane, has one mission—to get to the Candidate before his brother Vane. Always the second brother, he knows Merlin like no other. In his eyes, Merlin failed with King Arthur and lost Camelot. He’s going to make sure it doesn’t happen a second time.
Vane’s song - Vindicated by Dashboard Confessional – Why? Vane’s a deliciously tortured soul.

Caught in the middle of the two brothers, Ryan battles gruesome gargoyles, grapples with a new world of magic, and tries to figure out if she can be the warrior everyone wants her to be. Because, in the end, Ryan knows that family is everything and she’ll do anything to stop Merlin from sacrificing hers to save the world.

Want more Merlin? Watch the “If you can’t trust your boyfriend, who can you trust?” book trailer on youtube at http://youtu.be/dTMiYHRFEt8

My Boyfriend Merlin is an eBook available through most major book retailers. The next book in the My Merlin series, My Merlin Awakening, will be coming out in April 2012! Add it on Goodreads at http://www.goodreads.com/priyaardis

Find My Boyfriend Merlin at:

Author Website: http://www.priyaardis.com/my-boyfriend-merlin.aspx
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Boyfriend-Arthurian-Paranormal-Fantasy-ebook/dp/B006C58CMA
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-boyfriend-merlin-priya-ardis/1107712999
Android Market: https://market.android.com/details?id=book-xiplFYap_xEC
iBooks: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/my-boyfriend-merlin/id485487047?mt=11

About the Author:

I love stories of all kinds--but especially the gooey ones that make your nose leak and let your latte go cold. My young adult novel, My Boyfriend Merlin, comes from a childhood of playing too much She-Ra and watching too much Spock. I started my first book at sixteen, writing in notebooks on long train rides. While reading My Boyfriend Merlin or most books, I recommend pajamas first and a pumpkin spice anything for taste. My favorite Arthurian piece is the poem "The Lady of Shalott" by Lord Alfred Tennyson and a gorgeous song by Loreena McKennitt. A hopeless romantic, I’m a longtime member of the Romance Writer's of America.

Connect with Priya Ardis at:

Blog: http://merlinblogs.priyaardis.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/priyaardis
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/priyaardis
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/priyaardis

Stay Tuned For...
January Giveaway Winners
Streamline Cover Reveal

Giveaway Hops! Romancing, Follower Love

2012-02-06T15:17:00.002-05:00

I know I haven't posted anything in a week. Sorry-o! My Internet's been broken since the first of this month (I know, how did I survive??). Hopefully, it will be fixed sometime this week. I had a few tour stops during this time - and I apologize for not posting at my date but it wasn't really in my hands, ya know. Now I have a limited time at my school computer so let's get down to the good stuff!

What you can win: 74 Seaside Avenue by Debbie Macomber ebook (most formats)

How to enter: Please follow my blog (GFC +1, email +2) and let me know what name/email you used to follow. For an extra entry, leave a comment on my latest post which happens to be kind of old by now, but anyway it's last week's NetGalley Recommendations. Good luck!!

Thanks so much to Reading Romances for hosting this hop! Find all the blogs participating here.

What you can win: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne ebook (most formats)

How to enter: Since this is two hops in the same post, you can enter both by following one blog. Two in one deal! Nice right? Again, GFC one entry and email 2 entries. For an extra entry, join our Goodreads group! Be sure to let me know in the comments if you do so and what your Goodreads username is! Good luck!!

Thanks so much to Kathy at I Am a Reader not a Writer for hosting this hop! Find all the blogs participating here.

NetGalley Recommendations #8

2012-01-30T13:58:00.001-05:00

NetGalley Recommendations: A Look Back Part 3 (October/November)

This is a weekly meme started by yours truly. NetGalley.com is a commonly-used site by book reviewers and bloggers to view egalleys and comment on upcoming releases. Here, I show what the hottest titles are and what you MUST request!

Other than two awesomesauce YA books, this week focuses on "Read Now" titles, which means that all requests will be auto-approved.

To Read Now!

The Wedding Gift (horror): It is a spine-electrifying supernatural tale where a huge Southern States mansion contains one of the most terrifying, violent and indeed psychopathic ghosts to haunt any town. It is also a murder mystery - why did Robina Willets apparently kill all five of her young children, and her husband, before stabbing herself to death? And, if you are in the camp of believing that 'justice .... just is not', then this will have you frothing at the mouth with righteous social fury. Add to that the vision of two exceptionally beautiful girls lying on a landing stage in the middle of a secluded lake, sleeping naked in the sun .... .... and then see if you can find any consecutive ten minutes in this book when you don't at least snicker at the heroine Leeann's sly, caustic, sometimes-knowing sometimes 'too stupid to live' commentary.
My two cents: This is one of the few self-published books you'll find on NetGalley - authors don't usually have the money to post their titles on NetGalley. This is a psychological thriller you should definitely check out...unless you're too chicken?
Grab this Galley! http://netgalley.com/index2.php?module=catalog&page=1&genre=&sdir=2&sfld=1&type=0&txt=wedding+gift

Alias Dragonfly (action YA): Fifteen years old. Wanted: Dead or Alive.
"Don't love a spy," warns fifteen-year-old Pinkerton agent Maddie Bradford, a lonely, rebellious outsider with a mind on fire and a photographic memory. It is 1861, the Civil War has just started and this motherless teen must move with her soldier-father from New Hampshire to Washington, DC-a city at war, packed cheek by jowl with soldiers, Rebel spies, slave catchers and traitors of all stripes bent on waging a war of destruction against the Union, and President Lincoln himself.
Maddie's journal, written in secret, of course, begins with her arrival at her aunt's DC boardinghouse through the first year of the Civil War, a time, as Maddie puts it, full of "dips and dangers," when she becomes a fearless Union spy. And then there is the mysterious, maddening Jake Whitestone, a young man who awakens something equally dangerous in Maddie: Love in a time of terror.
My two cents: I love stories about characters with protographic memory. I think it takes me back to Cam Jansen and carefree childhood. That's probably as far as the resemblance goes though. This is spy action YA!
Grab this Galley! http://netgalley.com/index2.php?module=catalog&page=1&genre=&sdir=2&sfld=1&type=0&txt=alias+dragonfly

The Past Came Hunting (action/romance)

Fifteen years ago a young Colorado Springs police officer arrested a teen runaway accused of aiding a convenience store robbery and attempted murder. She was innocent, but still served prison time briefly. Her testimony sent the real thief to jail for much longer. Now she’s a young widow raising a son, and the man she put in prison is free and seeking revenge.
She moves to a home in a new neighborhood—then learns that her next-door neighbor is the by-the-book officer who arrested her. Now he’s a Colorado Springs P.D. Lieutenant. Like it or not, he may be the only one who can protect her and her son from the past he helped create
My two cents: Remember how I just mentioned indies are few and far between on NetGalley. Well, here's another one. If you like lots of romance in your book with action too Harlequin-style, this might just be the book for you!
Grab this Galley! http://netgalley.com/index2.php?module=catalog&page=1&genre=&sdir=2&sfld=1&type=0&txt=past+came+hunting

For YA lovers
Dearly, Departed: Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?
The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.
But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold...
My two cents: I definitely am *not* cool with a protagonist named Nora but that's another story. What I am liking is the ZOMBIES! It's historical fiction, it's zombie fiction, action, adventure, suspense, romance, comedy, you name it - all wrapped into one helluva cover!
Grab this Galley! http://netgalley.com/index2.php?module=catalog&page=1&genre=&sdir=2&sfld=1&type=0&txt=dearly

I was going to recommend another YA book here, but it turns out it has awful ratings on Goodreads that I hadn't seen before. Never mind!

View More NetGalley Recommendations HERE.
Coming Up Soon...Review AND Giveaway!

Blue Sky Days

On a Random Note...Obama and Dystopians

2012-01-25T11:29:00.006-05:00

Did you watch the president's State of the Union address last Tuesday? I did. Not voicing my political beliefs or anything but I really enjoyed the speech. whatever you say about president obama, you have to admit he's a fantastic speaker. He talked about many relevant things and some not-so-relevant. He is proposing a new bill to help homeowners, and he's trying to make graduating high school mandatory, which is a high hope imo. There was also lots of talk about financial crime, energy and job training. What I'm still skeptical about is how he intends to do so much 'big government' stuff while in this awful debt crisis. I was very disappointed he talked about the debt no more than 5 minutes when that is such a big concern not only in Washington, but with the public and all over the world. I do think he has accomplished less than I would have liked in his three years. I'm not saying he was an abolute failure, but if he would take a moment and stop blaming Congress for the lack of progress, maybe they might have a little less trouble getting along.

Now that I have bored you with my blabbing long enough, let's go back to books. ;)
There is a new blog tour site in our midst! Check out Fierce Reading Virtual Tours which has started sign-ups for some cool tours, including one for David Estes' Angel Evolution which I am participating in. Do it for the exposure, do it for the giveaways, do it for the free books!

And lastly, you definitely need to check out this awesomesauce event going on at two blogs that dystopian fans will love!

This is hosted by Fragments of Life and Amateratsu Reads. Every day, there are reviews, interviews, and giveaways - all of fabulou dystopian books! You HAVE to check it out!

Interview: Larissa Hinton of Iwishacana

2012-01-24T21:36:00.001-05:00

Hey y'all! Remember the spotlight where I showed you the interesting looking Iwishacana? I promised you I'd ask the author how to pronounce that name once and for all! And it's here! I'm very happy to wrap-up the Larissa blog tour with a fun mini-interview. Read on!

Hi Larissa! Thanks for stopping by BookSpark to wrap-up the Iwishacana/Acanawishi blog tour!

Q: Can you give us a Twitter-style description of your book?
A: Where rules are meant to be broken, secrets are meant to be kept, and everything is not what it seems. Put it in a wishland and you have Iwishacana/Acanawishi!

Q: I know Iwishacana is the alternate world Anissa is able to travel to. What's Acanawishi?
A: it is Iwishacana spelled backwords. You don't know why until you finish the series. There is a distinct reason why though, I didn't do it for fun, lol.
(Aah, keepin' us in the dark, huh? Is there an alternate alternate world maybe??)

Q: How do you pronounce these names anyway? I've started thinking of them as tongue twisters LOL
A: It's simple: I+wish+a+can+a Think of it this way: I wish therefore I can. Add a few vowels and there ya go. I tried to make it as simple as possible. Then of course for the other part, it's exactly the same way except backwards= A+cana+wish+i
(I'm still fixated on the title!)

Q: Do you view writing as a profession or just as a part-time job?
A: I wish I could say it's a full time job, but right now my full time job is teaching and it is literally taking over my life right now. Thankfully, for us teachers, we have the summer to write and read and travel. So that's what I plan to do: Read and write whenever I can during the school year and write fully during the summer.

Q: Let's step away from your book for a moment. What are you currently reading?
A: I'm currently reading From the Pages of Fables: Cinderella by Chris Roberson and Shawn McManus. It's a trendy spend on a classic tale in graphic novel form and I have to say it's interesting.
(I love alternate versions of fairy tales, but not sure about graphic...)

Q: Harry Potter or Twilight?
A: Neither. Next question please.
(Heyy, no fair!)

Q: Your book contains both fighting and flirting. Which would you rather read -action scenes or romance? Which would you rather write?
A: This is actually quite funny since I use to love writing romance but now I'm veering towards writing and reading action-packed scenes. So action it is.
Thanks for being here, Larissa! I had a blast asking you these questions!
PS My iPhone ate up all the post formatting, so I'll have to fix it tomorrow. It wasn't supposed to look this boring, I promise!
Update: Fixed the colors, but will add pics in an hour or so!

In the Spotlight: Nancy Stewart + Giveaway

2012-01-23T22:23:00.002-05:00

We've got a children's book author with us today whose newest book I gladly get to give away to one (or more) of you readers! Lemme introduce to you the talented Nancy Stewart!

About Nancy...After having been both an elementary school teacher, a university professor of education and a consultant for New Options, Inc. in New York City, Nancy Stewart writes children’s books full time. She, her husband and three sons, lived in London for eight years, where she was a consultant to several universities, including Cambridge.
Her travels take her extensively throughout the world, most particularly Africa. Nancy is US chair of a charity in Lamu, Kenya, that places girls in intermediate schools to allow them to further their education.
Nancy is the author of the Bella and Britt picture book series, One Pelican at a Time, Sea Turtle Summer, Bella Saves the Beach and Mystery at Manatee Key. All are published by Guardian Angel Publishing. Pelican was nominated for a Global eBook Award.
She was featured in the PBS Tampa (WEDU) series, Gulfwatch. It concerned the writing of One Pelican at a Time: A Story of the Gulf Oil Spill. She and her family live in St. Louis and Tampa.

Nancy has written lots and lots of cool children's books, but today I'm spotlighting two of them: Sea Turtle Summer, her most recent, and One Pelican at a Time.
Sea Turtle Summer
Bella and Britt think living by the beach is the coolest thing ever. When they discover a Loggerhead Sea Turtle laying her eggs in broad daylight, the girls go into action to help.
No one, though, seems to care about the nest. The beach is a busy place and is getting busier by the minute on such a beautiful summer day. What can they do? Who will help, and what do they learn about themselves?
As a bonus, Sea Turtle Summer contains kid appealing facts about sea turtles.

One Pelican at a Time
Bella and Britt love living by the beach. When they find oil washing to shore from a gulf spill, they want to help but are told there is nothing for kids to do. But when their old friend, the pelican, becomes covered with oil, they help save his life by their quick thinking and action. Suggested age for readers: 7 to 12

So if you have a young child, sibling, cousin, etc, be sure to check out these books!
To buy these, you can go to the Guardian Angel Publishing website or Amazon.
Also, check out her website and blog.
You can read an excerpt from each of these books HERE.

And lastly, the giveaway! You get to win an ebook copy of Sea Turtle Summer for your child, sibling, cousin (or yourself?) To enter, check out the excerpt and tell me the names of the two girls! For an extra entry, I'd love for you to leave a comment on my latest netGalley Recommendations. What? Another extra entry? Okay, how about you answer the question: What is your favorite memory from childhood? If I get some really awesome entries, I'll buy an ecopy myself and put an extra one up for grabs! (: Good luck!

Thank you to Pump Up Your Book and Nancy for letting me give this ebook away! (:

Quick Update on a Previous Interview

2012-01-22T22:47:00.000-05:00

I just found out that Robert Orfali's book, Death with Dignity, made the Best Indies of 2011 list at Kirkus Reviews! Congrats Robert! You can read the interview I had with Robert HERE about his book and euthanasia.