Apr 4, 2016

Blog Tour: His Country Bride by Debra Holt

Review:
I'll be honest - I didn't have high hopes for this one going in, but I think that's why I fell so head over heels in love with HIS COUNTRY BRIDE. From start to finish, this is a sweet, upbeat romance that you can sink into with a cup of tea and just thoroughly enjoy.

Ellie cracked me up on a regular basis. Lucas made me swoon on a regular basis. Those two things alone are enough for me to love a book, but combining them into one steamy couple that constantly challenged and complemented the other sealed the deal for me.

By the end, I was anything buy ready for the end. I hated saying goodbye to these two characters I had fallen for. Debra Holt also provides an assortment of fun side characters that gave additional depth to the story. I'm expecting (hoping?) they'll be featured in other books down the line.

If you want a fun, light read this Spring, look no further than HIS COUNTRY BRIDE.
ABOUT HIS COUNTRY BRIDE:
"Sheriff's Department! Raise your hands above your head and don't move."

She’s a runaway bride who left her two-timing fiance at the altar. He’s a county sheriff determined to keep the peace in his country and leave city girls alone after his own fiance left him for the bright lights of the city. Neither of them planned on running straight into each other...over a burning wedding dress.

Ellie and Lucas planned on never trusting their hearts to love again. When danger follows her from the city, the sheriff must do his duty to protect her. However, it isn’t long before he discovers the real danger may be to his heart. Ellie just might teach him that even a city girl can be a country girl at heart.
LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon


ABOUT DEBRA HOLT:

Born and raised in the Lone Star state of Texas, Debra grew up among horses, cowboys, wide open spaces, and real Texas Rangers. Pride in her state and ancestry knows no bounds and it is these heroes and heroines she loves to write about the most. She also draws upon a variety of life experiences including working with abused children, caring for baby animals at a major zoo, and planning high-end weddings (ah, romance!).
Debra's real pride and joys, however, are her son, an aspiring film actor, and a daughter with aspirations to join the Federal Bureau of Investigation. (more story ideas!) When she isn't busy writing about tall Texans and feisty heroines, she can be found cheering on her Texas Tech Red Raiders, or heading off on another cruise adventure. She read her first romance...Janet Dailey's Fiesta San Antonio, over thirty years ago and became hooked on the genre. Writing contemporary western romances, is both her passion and dream come true, and she hopes her books will bring smiles...and sighs... to all who believe in happily-ever-after's.

Debra invites you to visit her website at www.debraholtbooks.com. She loves to hear from other aspiring authors or readers via email at debraholtbooks@gmail.com.
LINKS: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Tour Schedule:
Posted by Hannah at 12:00 AM 1 comments
Labels: , , , ,

Mar 28, 2016

Blog Tour: All Chained Up by Sophie Jordan


ALL CHAINED UP is a thrilling, sexy start to a new series by versatile writer Sophie Jordan. Having been a fan of Sophie Jordan's for years, I was so excited when this book landed in my lap.

Look - I'm just gonna say it: I loved the prison setting. I am a fan of Prison Break and there's something about a hot bad boy in prison who still has a heart and protects what/who he loves. That's Knox. Knox is a fabulously delicious character that sucks in you from the start. I get it, Briar - I was attracted to him, too.

 And let's talk about my girl Briar, who is a sweet and idealistic and complements Knox's hard edges perfectly. They have chemistry in spades, their dialogue and ... uh, non-dialogue scenes sear the pages.

 ALL CHAINED UP is a brilliant start to a new series, introducing a cast of characters I can't wait for Jordan to expound on. I am so ready for the next book!

ABOUT ALL CHAINED UP:
Some men come with a built-in warning label. Knox Callaghan is one of them. Danger radiates from every lean, muscled inch of him, and his deep blue eyes seem to see right through to Briar Davis’s most secret fantasies. But there’s one major problem: Briar is a nurse volunteering at the local prison, and Knox is an inmate who should be off-limits in every way.

Knox feels it too—a shocking animal magnetism that drives him to risk his own life to protect Briar’s. Paroled at last, he tries to resist her. She’s too innocent, too sweet, and she has no idea what Knox is capable of. But a single touch can lead to a kiss—and a taste . . . until the only crime is denying what feels so right . . .

ABOUT SOPHIE JORDAN:
Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.

A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature - teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.

In less than three years, her first book, Once Upon A Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, Too Wicked To Tame, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller's List.



Tour Schedule:
Week 1:

Week 2:

Week 3:
Giveaway:
3 Finished Copies of ALL CHAINED UP (US Only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Posted by Hannah at 12:00 AM 4 comments

Mar 25, 2016

Spotlight: Furious by T.R. Ragan

Synopsis: 
Faith McMann comes home to a nightmare: her husband is killed and her son and daughter are taken. Although the intruders leave her for dead, she survives. Crippling grief and fear for her children make life unbearable. Until her anguish turns to anger…and she trades victimhood for vengeance. Frustrated with the law’s efforts, she takes action to rescue her children—and wreaks havoc on the brutal criminals who tore them from her. With her family and newfound allies at her side, Faith descends into the hellish underworld of human trafficking, determined to make those who prey on the innocent pray for mercy. The forces she's up against have already proven that their ruthlessness knows no bounds. And there's nothing they won't do to turn Faith's crusade into a suicide mission. But they're about to learn that nothing is more dangerous than a mother fighting for her children—especially one who's earned the nickname Furious.



Author Bio: 

T.R. Ragan (Theresa Ragan) is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author. Her exciting Lizzy Gardner series: Abducted, Dead Weight, A Dark Mind, Obsessed, Almost Dead, and Evil Never Dies, has received tremendous praise. In August 2015 Evil Never Dies hit #7 on the Wall Street Journal Bestselling List. Since publishing in 2011, she has sold over two million books and has been mentioned in the Wall Street Journal, the L.A. Times, PC Magazine, Huffington Post, and Publishers Weekly. Theresa grew up in a family of five girls in Lafayette, California. An avid traveler, her wanderings have carried her to Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, China, Thailand, and Nepal, where she narrowly survived being chased by a killer elephant. Before devoting herself to writing fiction, she worked as a legal secretary for a large corporation. Theresa and her husband Joe have four children and live in Sacramento, California. FURIOUS, the first book in her most recent Faith McMann series will be released March 22, 2016, followed by OUTRAGE and WRATH.


Early Praise
“Faith McMann, heroine of this gripping novel, is a Sacramento schoolteacher, wife, and mother who comes home just in time to witness her husband’s throat getting cut and her two children hauled away. The attempt on her life is botched—the killers were in a hurry—and as she recovers, she’s convinced the police are brushing her off. So she whacks a detective with his computer keyboard and gets sentenced to anger management sessions. If this were a cookie-cutter thriller, the male hero would be tracking the killers with an automatic weapon and maybe a major babe beside him. But our hero is smarter than that, and her revenge is a product of relationships, not bullets. In classes, she meets other victims as angry as she is, and, together, in fine scenes of action and suspense, they seek explanations and vengeance as well as the children’s rescue, which takes them into a slimy world of human trafficking. Learn here about “lot lizards” and “kiddie strolls” on the way to a wild finale. Suspenseful and smart, in equal measure.” —Don Crinklaw, Booklist
“Searing...Readers with strong stomachs will eagerly await the next installment.” —Publishers Weekly

Giveaway:
5 copies of FURIOUS (US Only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Posted by Hannah at 12:00 AM 7 comments
Labels: ,

Mar 24, 2016

Blog Tour: The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith


I discovered this beautiful book a few months ago and since then, I've been trying to get EVERYONE to read it because it must be read. It demands to be read. I had the chance to sit down with Amber Smith for a Q&A.
Hi, Amber! Welcome to the blog! I am such a huge fan of THE WAY I USED TO BE and you (as you know).

Hello, and thank you so much for having me!

1. So – it’s here! Your first published novel! What has the process been like for you?
Amber: Well, the short answer is...it’s been amazing! But it’s also been a long road. I started writing THE WAY I USED TO BE at the very beginning of 2010, and now, after six years it’s finally out in the world! There have been a lot of ups and downs along the way, but it’s been a wonderful journey. Scary, exciting, challenging, and so extremely rewarding, all at once!

2. Did you always want to be a writer? Or when did you know you might want to be one?
Amber: Yes, I’ve wanted to be a writer ever since I was a little kid. But there weren’t many educational opportunities for creative writing when I was growing up, so being a writer seemed very mysterious—I wasn’t quite sure how you would go about becoming one. Then in high school I was actually much more involved in the visual arts, and so that’s what I went on to study in college (I have my BFA in painting and my master’s in art history). As I began working in art organizations I was able to start doing a lot of nonfiction writing (on art), which, I think is what ultimately gave me the push I needed to seriously revisit my dream of writing fiction. I had the creative background from art school and the writing skills from my profession—it all suddenly felt a lot more feasible than it did when I was younger. So, that’s what I did!

3. THE WAY I USED TO BE deals with the very sensitive issue of rape, but was there ever a point you second guessed what you were writing?
Amber: No, I never second guessed the content of what I was writing, but there were times when I found it to be pretty challenging, emotionally speaking. There were different points during the writing process when I had to take long breaks from the book altogether—to take a step back and make sure I was keeping a clear boundary between the fictional world of the book and my real life. But even during those times when I may have felt emotionally strained by the subject matter, I never had any doubts as to whether or not I should be writing it—it’s so important to tell those stories that might be difficult, sensitive, or controversial, because these are the voices that are too often silenced. 

4. What message do you want readers to come away with from THE WAY I USED TO BE?
Amber: I think the overarching message I’d like to see readers come away with has to do with self-worth: the importance of finding your voice and speaking your truth, standing up to abuse in all its forms—even the abuse we sometimes inflict on ourselves. Self-worth is something everyone can relate to, regardless of whether or not someone has shared in Eden’s particular experience.

5. What are your writing essentials (silence? music? coffee?)?

Amber: Coffee is a must, always. And I usually do listen to music while I’m writing—I like to create enormous playlists for each project I’m working on to help get me in the right mindset. I also have a separate studio/writing room in my house where I do all of my writing—it’s my creative sanctuary.
ABOUT THE WAY I USED TO BE:
In the tradition of Speak, this extraordinary debut novel shares the unforgettable story of a young woman as she struggles to find strength in the aftermath of an assault.

Eden was always good at being good. Starting high school didn’t change who she was. But the night her brother’s best friend rapes her, Eden’s world capsizes.

What was once simple, is now complex. What Eden once loved—who she once loved—she now hates. What she thought she knew to be true, is now lies. Nothing makes sense anymore, and she knows she’s supposed to tell someone what happened but she can’t. So she buries it instead. And she buries the way she used to be.

Told in four parts—freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior year—this provocative debut reveals the deep cuts of trauma. But it also demonstrates one young woman’s strength as she navigates the disappointment and unbearable pains of adolescence, of first love and first heartbreak, of friendships broken and rebuilt, and while learning to embrace a power of survival she never knew she had hidden within her heart.




ABOUT AMBER SMITH:
Amber Smith grew up in Buffalo, NY and now lives in Charlotte, NC with her two dogs. After graduating from art school with a BFA in Painting, she earned her MA in Art History. When she’s not writing, she is working as a curator and art consultant. She has also written on the topics of art history and modern and contemporary art. The Way I Used to Be is her first novel. 
Tour Schedule:
Week 1:

Week 2:
Giveaway:
3 Finished Copies of THE WAY I USED TO BE (US Only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Posted by Hannah at 12:00 AM 12 comments
Labels: , , , , ,

Mar 23, 2016

Eleanor Herman Cover Reveals!!

Hey y'all!!! I'm super excited to get to share the super pretty covers for Eleanor Herman's enovella, QUEEN OF ASHES, for her Legacy of Kings series!

 So .... are you ready for this?!


If you look away from her face, you will die.

This is the warning given to the suitors of Queen Laila of Sharuna, who must compete against one another to win the royal Egyptian’s affections. One by one, men cower under her penetrating gaze, and one by one, they are executed.

That is, until Laila meets two brothers who do not cower before her: Brehan, noble and courageous…and Riel, intelligent and ambitious. As Laila is tempted by both of them and their differing approaches to magic, she decides that there is one thing she wants more than either brother’s affection: power.

But when the brothers turn on each other, Laila must choose where her heart truly lies, before the brothers she loves turn her kingdom to ash. 


From the New York Times bestselling author of Legacy of Kings, Queen of Ashes shares the secret history of characters who play an unforgettable role in the Blood of Gods and Royals series.

Soooo ... what do you think?!
Posted by Hannah at 11:00 AM 4 comments
Labels: ,

Harper Summer 2016 Tour: Girl Against the Universe

Look! You came back to me! Due to a snafu, the regularly scheduled blog didn't get their post up, but I didn't want you to miss out on today's book (which is one of my favorites from the catalog!) and the keyword!!!


GIRL AGAINST THE UNIVERSE
By: Paula Stokes

Maguire is bad luck.

No matter how many charms she buys off the internet or good luck rituals she performs each morning, horrible things happen when Maguire is around. Like that time the rollercoaster jumped off its tracks. Or the time the house next door caught on fire. Or that time her brother, father, and uncle were all killed in a car crash—and Maguire walked away with barely a scratch.

It’s safest for Maguire to hide out in her room, where she can cause less damage and avoid meeting new people who she could hurt. But then she meets Jordy, an aspiring tennis star. Jordy is confident, talented, and lucky, and he’s convinced he can help Maguire break her unlucky streak. Maguire knows that the best thing she can do for Jordy is to stay away. But it turns out staying away is harder than she thought.

Ready for the awesome prizes we have?

Prizes:
#1 – A Harper Teen Summer 2016 Catalog prizepack of 45+ books*.
*Titles not included: The Crown by Kiera Cass, Escape from Asylum by Madeline Roux, Sing by Vivi Greene, & United As One by Pittacus Lore
In addition to the one massive prize winner, we will also have 4 winners who will be able to select 3 titles they want from the Summer 2016 Catalog.
US Only


a Rafflecopter giveaway


#2 – 5 Finished Copies from the Harper Teen Fall 2015 Catalog
5 books are: Front Lines by Michael Grant, Revenge & the Wild by Michelle Modesto, The Lifeboat Clique by Kathy Parks, Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin, & The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig 
US Only 

How to enter:
Collect the daily word from each blog stop during the Harper Summer 2016 Tour (a total of 50). Once you’ve collected them all, email the complete saying to: HarperTeenTour@gmail.com

Today's code word is: SUMMER

Prize Rules:
1.)    Winner must have a valid US mailing address to receive the prize
2.)    Winner must be over 13
3.)    Only one (1) entry per person for Prize #2 – duplicates will be deleted.
4.)    Only a completed phrase will be accepted as an entry – do not email each word/phrase daily. Wait until you have the complete saying and then email in.
5.)    All email submissions must be received by 11:59 PM EST 3/31/2016.
6.)    Winners will be selected 4/1/2016 and will have 48 hours to claim their prize before another is selected.
7.)    Participating blogs and bloggers are not responsible for unsent, damaged, and/or stolen prizes offered by the publisher.


#3 – PreOrder Giveaway
3 Winners will win their choice of a pre-order of ANY finished copy of a title featured on the tour! 
Open INT as long as The Book Depository ships to you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway






Posted by Hannah at 1:30 AM 10 comments
Labels: , ,

Mar 22, 2016

Blog Tour: Stone Field by Christy Lenzi



STONE FIELD is a beautiful mix of historical, romance, and retelling. I have to admit, I was drawn in by the historical aspect, though. I am a huge fan of historical fiction (but it must be done right) and period dramas.  



There's something almost magical about slipping back into a simpler time before technology and engineering took us to a cell-phone-mandatory type of a life. There's an isolation that give a whole new dimension to a story.

I can also accept insta-love a lot more in historical settings than I can nowadays. Back then everything seemed to happen so fast - engagements, marriage, children (probably because the life expectancy was much lower), but I feel like reading a historical gives insta-love a pass. It wasn't uncommon to meet someone and decide that week that you were spending forever together.


STONE FIELD is a must for anyone who loves historical fiction (a genre I feel is deeply under-repped in YA). 

Make sure you check out the rest of the tour:

Blog
Date
Content
www.bookrookreviews.com
3/19/2016
RETELLING
http://www.swoonyboyspodcast.com
3/20/2016
ROMANCE
www.fictionfare.com
3/21/2016
ROMANCE
http://theirishbanana.blogspot.com/
3/22/2016
HISTORICAL
http://katiesbookblog.com/
3/23/2016
RETELLING
http://www.addicted2novels.com
3/25/2016
ROMANCE
Fiercereads.com
3/26/2016
RETELLING
http://aperfectioncalledbooks.blogspot.com/
3/27/2016
HISTORICAL
http://www.fiktshun.com
3/28/2016
ROMANCE
http://www.intothehallofbooks.com/
3/29/2016
HISTORICAL












Posted by Hannah at 2:08 PM 1 comments
Labels: ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)