Thursday, April 30, 2015

#T4T Book Blitz Two Dead Jed books! #mg #giveaway

These sound like so much fun! And below this post is another great MG story - my review coming next month.

T4T-Banner
Hello and welcome to this week’s Two for Thursday Book Blitz #T4T
presented by Month9books/Tantrum Books!
Today, we will be showcasing two titles that may tickle your fancy,
and we’ll share what readers have to say about these titles!
You just might find your next read!
This week, #T4T presents to you the Dead Jed series by Scott Craven:
Dead Jed: Adventures of A Middle School Zombie
and
Dead Jed 2: Dawn of the Jed!
Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

Dead-Jed-Cover
Dead Jed is Shaun of the Dead meets Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Jed's not your typical junior high geek. He is, to use the politically-correct term, cardiovascularly-challenged. And while his parents have attempted to shield him from the implications of being 'different' for as long as they could (Jed was 8 and at a friend's sister's birthday party when he blew his lips off onto the cake in front of everyone, finally prompting the “Big Talk” from his parents and an emergency SuperGlue repair by his dad), 7th grade at Pine Hollow Middle School as a target of Robbie the supreme school bully and his pack of moronic toadies is rapidly becoming unbearable.
From being stuffed in a filled trash can as “dead meat” and into a trophy case as the bully's “prize,” to literally having his hand pulled off in the boys' room (Jed's always losing body parts. Luckily, a good stapler and some duct tape and he's back in the action) and a cigarette put in it and try to frame him for the recent reports of smoking in the school, Jed's had enough and is ready to plan his revenge. Besides, it's awesome what you can do when you're already dead!
add to goodreads
Available for Purchase:
amazon B&N
WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:
DEAD JED is amazing. It takes true talent to write a book that's witty and has such clever humor. That's exactly what DEAD JED has.” – Courtney, Author

I’m entirely convinced this series is going to be as big and popular as the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, if not more. It might be aimed at middle grade readers, but I will highly and happily recommend it to readers aged 9 to 99!”Angie, Books4Tomorrow

“Middle Grade humor at its finest.” – S.A. Larsen, Author

Dead-Jed-2-Cover
The first part of seventh grade was rough on Jed, but things are looking up now that Christmas is almost here. As with past Christmases, Jed asks for the one thing he’s always wanted–a dog–and again, his parents tell him they’re not ready. But fate has a different plan when Jed sees a dog get run over by a car. Then, it happens. Jed suddenly has a pet, Tread, a zombie dog bearing his namesake–a tire tread down his back. Jed may have gained a dog, but he loses his best friend Luke, who fears the way Jed created his undead pet.
When Jed returns to school, he finds a mysterious group called the No Zombies Now Network spreading rumors of the dangers the undead pose to normal people. Forced to disprove Hollywood stereotypes, Jed has his work cut out for him as stories of a zombie dog begin to circulate. Jed could be expelled if he can’t expose the NZN Network as a fraud. Jed needs help from his kind of girlfriend Anna, especially after he discovers Luke has joined the shadowy group.
Once again navigating the treacherous waters of middle school, Jed does his best to stay in one piece. Only this time he’ll need even more duct tape and staples than usual.
add to goodreads
Available for Purchase:
amazon B&N
WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:
“Like its predecessor Dead Jed, Dead Jed 2: Dawn of the Jed is an incredibly cute and fun read!”Angie, Books4Tomorrow



“This is a fun story, which was written very well for the age group. I can imagine the series being a huge hit, especially with zombies being so popular at the moment.”Bri, Natural Bri - Pursuits of Life

“…just read it, you will love it and it sooooo funny” – Michelle, Because Reading



about-the-author


Scott Craven
Proud graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, have one son who will turn 18 in March 2013, now a features writer for The Arizona Republic.

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter

Giveaway
Complete the Rafflecopter for a chance to win!

Chapter-by-Chapter-blog-tour-button

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Book release, sample chapter of Foiled by Carey Fessler #mg #sciencefiction #scifi

Welcome to the book release celebration for my Aussie friend and critique partner, Carey Fessler. Foiled is a wonderfully fun middle grade romp through the New Mexico desert - all because of ... aliens!



Two best friends.
A Top Secret incident.
A mysterious souvenir.
A wild cross-state adventure.

It’s 1947 on a U.S. Army base near Roswell, New Mexico, and eleven-year-old Kate’s friend and neighbor, Billy, shows her a secret. A CIA agent arrives at Billy’s house, to recover the Top Secret items, and threatens the family, warning them to never talk about the incident—ever. Special Agent Falco informs them of their sudden reassignment to Germany. Billy, not wanting to move to Germany or return his treasures, begs Kate for help. Feisty and fiercely loyal, she agrees to hide him.

Thus begins a most unusual road trip in which the two friends use their wits, their knowledge of the terrain and geography around the base, and sheer determination to evade capture. Kate must also reach her grandfather, more than two hundred miles away, and warn him how the secret poses a dangerous threat … to anyone involved. 

Their race has begun, and there’s no turning back. 


Buy here: Amazon 


Carey Fessler was a ‘military brat,’ growing up on Air Force bases around the U.S. of A until his mother decided to plant roots in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He learned to fly, parachute, and scuba dive before dropping out of the University of New Mexico and enlisting in the U.S. Navy to see the world, which he saw through a periscope since he joined the ‘silent service’—submarine duty. He unpacked his sea bag in the ‘Land Down Under’— Sydney, Australia where he worked as a postman, a flight planner for QANTAS, and an animator for Disney before becoming a children’s author. 


Saturday, April 25, 2015

#Interview with the authors of Dangerous Love #romance #giveaway #excerpt

For today's stop on the Dangerous Love blog tour, we have an interview with the authors. Be sure to read through to the bottom for an excerpt and giveaway as well.

  
Dangerous Love by Kara Leigh Miller and Jody Holford
Anaiah Romance


Blurb:
He’s fighting to forget his past while she struggles to remember hers…

Doctor Josh Parker lives with guilt about his wife’s death every day.

He believes himself incapable of ever loving again, but when a
mysterious woman arrives in the Emergency Room, brutally beaten and left for dead, he starts to feel something he hasn’t felt in far too long:
hope.

Alessandra Matthews has no memory of the events that led to her being hospitalized. Worse, she has no idea who hurt her or why. Although she’s uncertain of who she is, she is fully aware of one thing—she’s falling for her doctor.

Sometimes, what you don’t know can kill you…

As Josh and Alessa work to solve the mystery surrounding her past, she soon realizes just how much danger she’s really in, but Josh refuses to let her face the darkness of her memories alone. With each of them struggling to put their pasts behind them, theirs is a DANGEROUS LOVE.

Release Date:
April 14, 2015


Book Links:

Buy Links:

Interview:
1. Where/how did you come up with the idea for your story? Did it suddenly pop into your head or were you brainstorming?
KARA: Oh, man. lol. I’m honestly not sure where or how this idea came to me. Like most of my other ideas, I probably heard something or saw something that stuck with me and it just morphed into something else. That happens to me a lot.

JODY:Kara had the idea for the story and, with Anaiah, held a co-author contest. Once we got started, the ideas stemmed from her big picture idea. We spent a lot of time chatting back and forth through google, Facebook, and email. When ideas do pop into our head, we share them with each other and build them into the writing.

2. Did you start with the main character, the world or the overarching concept?
 KARA: For me, Dangerous Love started with the concept of a man dealing with the loss of his wife. Distraught and unable to really move on, he was just going through the motions. Until a woman came into his ER, beaten and barely alive. His inexplicable concern for her brought him back from a very dark place. Jody and I built upon that idea to create what DL is now.

JODY:When I read the first couple chapters that Kara had started, it was clear that Josh Parker was driving the story. The pain of losing his wife, blaming himself, and finding a way to move forward became Dangerous Love.

3. Panster or Plotter? Or in between?
 KARA: I used to be a die hard panster, but writing with a partner required a certain level of plotting. Otherwise, we probably would’ve had two distinct stories happening within the confines of one book. Now, like Jody, I do a bit of both. I generally just start writing until I get stuck, then I go back and plot, which helps me work through the block.

JODY:I can’t pick a side. I don’t know, now that I’ve done both, if there’s any way not to be a little bit of the two. I’m a plantser. Or a plonster.

4. Are you a fan of writing contests?
 KARA: Yes! It’s how I ultimately found and signed with my agent. I’m also a mentor for PitchWars, so I’ve had the pleasure of being on both sides of the contests. They can be a major rush, pitching your work, having someone else say they like it, but as Jody says, the connections and friendships you make are much more valuable than anything else. While they are a great avenue for reaching your goals, they are not the end all be all of publishing. Just because you don’t make it into a contest or don’t grab an agent’s attention, that doesn’t mean your book isn’t good. Don’t ever forget that.

JODY: I have to say yes here because that is exactly what brought us together. The Anaiah co-author contest was a really cool one and not just because I won but because it was an amazing opportunity for a new author. Though I am definitely a fan, I think that it’s important that beginning writers realize that one of the best things about the contests, aside from getting your work out there, is the connections and friendships that you establish. There is a fabulous support group in the writing community and a lot of the people I’ve connected with, I’ve met through contests or pitch events.

5. How did you find your agent? How many query letters did you send?
 KARA: Collectively, Jody and I are unagented. Personally, I’m agented by Dawn Dowdle of The Blue Ridge Literary Agency. She found me during #Pitchmas and quickly rejected me. lol. Then, a month later, she found me during #Pitmad (same book) and I resent my query with a note she’d already rejected. She very politely said she’d look again considering she’d been the one to request -- twice. And the second time was the charm! I’d been querying agents for almost 3 years before I signed with Dawn, and this was my third book, so it certainly didn’t happen quickly.

JODY:As Kara said, together, we are unagented. I was agented in 2012/2013 for picture books but when I decided to branch out in genres, my agent and I amicably parted ways. Every step of this journey is a learning curve. The writing, querying, connecting with authors and agents-- all of it. I am currently querying agents for my work outside of Anaiah. When we start out, it’s hard to know the multitude of ways that you can be a published author.

6. What's the best marketing tool you've found so far?
 KARA: I’m still searching for this. If you happen to find the magical answer, please let me know ;-) lol. On a serious note, I’ve found just being out there and interacting with readers is the best marketing tool. Being a “real” person on social media, engaging with your audience, letting them know you’re human is so effective. I know I love it when my favorite authors genuinely interact with me, so I strive to do the same in my career.

JODY:I agree with Kara. I have been overwhelmed by the support of other authors, bloggers, and reviewers. Everything you read says to create a platform, connect with your readers. But in trying to do that, I’ve found this group of people that have celebrated my successes, helped me through trouble spots, and become allies and friends. I don’t know if it works for marketing but with our books and my online interactions, I try to use the same approach as I do IRL-- treat others as you want to be treated.

7. What do you like best about your mc?
 KARA: Our hero is a doctor. What’s not to like about that? Ha! But more than that, he’s kind and compassionate and a true gentleman. Despite all of his past heartbreaks, he still has the ability to see the good in the world, and I think that’s a rare thing to find in human beings nowadays. As for our heroine, she’s a truly strong woman. She’s been knocked down so much, but she keeps fighting back, and I think that makes her a real inspiration to readers.

JODY:I think the best thing about both of our main characters is that they are real and they are flawed. They have to face their pasts and still move forward. In life, we have to do that. We have to accept who we are and find someone who sees that, and loves us anyway. Josh and Alessa do that for each other.

8. What do you like best about your main antagonist?
KARA: Honestly, not much. lol. He’s not a very nice guy. But it was fun writing him for the simple fact he challenged me as a writer. When you’re a “good girl” in real life, it can be hard to write a bad guy. It stretched my skills to be able to get into his mind and make him feel real to readers. And, he does have a couple of humorous lines -- he’s very arrogant -- so that was cool.

JODY:That’s a tough question. He’s not very likable. I guess I like that he gives us another view of Alessa. Even though he found her stronger characteristics a threat, it gives the audience a view of who Alessa was without Josh. As Kara said, it stretches you as a writer because we had to create a character that was worth Alessa’s fear.

9. Anything else you like to share about your journey or your upcoming launch, including links to giveaways or ways people can help spread the word?
KARA: Writing this book with Jody has been a true rollercoaster -- in the best sense of the way, and the journey has been amazing. I wouldn’t trade a single moment of it for anything. We’re very excited for the world to meet Josh and Alessa, and we hope they enjoy Dangerous Love as much as we do! For up-to-date information about Dangerous Love and the complete Mending Hearts Series, you can visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/MendingHeartsSeries

JODY:The journey, in general, is completely unpredictable. Working with Kara has given me confidence and helped me improve as a writer. It’s been fun, even when it’s stressful. I am so excited that we get to share Dangerous Love with others. We have quite a few ideas planned for giveaways. Each Tuesday until release, we’re giving away an Amazon gift card. You can also find other promotions and updates on our page or on our individual websites. www.facebook.com/MendingHeartsSeries Word of mouth about books you enjoy is one of the best ways for people to help and share. Thank you everyone for your support.

Excerpt:
The long, drawn out beep of the heart monitor silenced the room. “Call it,” Dr. Parker said, his voice strained and low with defeat.
“Time of death, eleven twenty-four p.m.” Nurse Renee pulled the sheet over the patient’s head.
Dr. Parker walked out of the room. Once in the hallway, he leaned against the wall and lowered his head. Losing a patient sucked, but knowing he had to go tell a waiting room full of friends and family that their loved one was dead made it much harder. He rubbed his hands over his face and blew out a long breath. The smell of antiseptic and blood still permeated his senses.
“You did everything you could, Josh,” Renee said, joining him in the hallway and patting him on the back.
“Thanks.” He smiled weakly. “I’m going to go tell the family.” Dr. Parker headed down the hall toward the bank of elevators, the sound of his dress shoes clapping the linoleum. He hated this part of his job. Working in the ER was good to keep his mind busy, but it was taking its toll. It was physically and emotionally exhausting. Not to mention, it always seemed when he was on duty, there was at least one death. He couldn’t handle much more.
Josh pushed the down button and waited for the elevator to arrive. The idea of opening his own practice was becoming more and more appealing. The doors slid open,
and he stepped inside, forcing himself to breathe deeply. Pushing the button for the lobby, he made a decision to take a short break and grab some coffee, maybe a sandwich from the deli across the street.
The elevator dinged, the doors slid open, and because he had no other choice, he stepped out. As soon as he came into view, the boy’s parents stood. The patient was a twenty-year-old college student who’d been out partying with his friends, drinking, and was in a car accident that left two of his friends in critical condition and him dead. It was such a senseless waste of life and a prime example of why drinking and driving, in any amount, is harmful.
“Doctor, how is our son?” the mom asked.
Josh’s stomach lurched, making the words catch in his throat for a moment. “I’m sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Sutton, but Jackson didn’t make it. There was a lot of internal bleeding. We did everything we could.” Mrs. Sutton shook her head, denying what Josh said. Her husband’s face crumpled as he reached for his wife, pulling her into his arms. She let herself fall into him, and Josh looked away in an effort to give them some privacy. After a few moments, Josh said, “I’m very sorry for your loss. The hospital has grief counselors on staff if you’d like to meet with one of them.” His words did nothing to ease their pain, and he knew it. He knew firsthand just how empty they were, how daft and cold they sounded, but they were protocol.
With a sad nod, Josh left the family to grieve. He needed some air that didn’t taste like the hospital. Stopping at the nurses’ station, he said, “Renee, I’m going to go out for a bit. Page me if you need me.”
She looked up from the chart she read and gave him a weak smile. Concern shone from her dark, quiet eyes. She knew him well, had worked beside him many times.
“You look tired. Try to sneak in a nap.”
“Thanks.” He smiled, but there was no emotion behind it. He often wondered if he had the ability to feel emotions anymore. Ever since Laura . . . He shook her name from his mind. Thinking of her would only bring his mood down even more than it already was.
He stepped out into the cool, evening air and took a deep breath, letting his eyes close momentarily. His stomach had been in knots all night, and he didn’t know why. There was a sense of unease, restlessness coursing through his body. It was wreaking havoc on his ability to concentrate, and he couldn’t help but wonder if his lack of concentration led to a mistake in the ER—a mistake that had cost that boy his life.
“I did everything I could,” he muttered to himself, not finding any solace in the words. Josh took several steps toward the road, toward the deli when his beeper went off. “Shoot.” He jogged back inside and met the EMTs as they wheeled a stretcher into the ER. “What do we got?” he asked.
“Young woman, early thirties, beaten unconscious, trauma to the head, stomach, and chest,” the EMT ticked off the woman’s injuries. “Possible broken ribs, too. Breathing is shallow.”
Josh pulled a tiny flashlight from his pocket and checked her eyes. They were reacting to light. That was a good sign. Unhooking his stethoscope from around his neck, he checked her heart. Slow, but steady. “Do we know her name?”
“Alessandra Mathews.”
“Okay, Alessandra,” Josh said in a soft voice. “My name is Dr. Parker. You’re at Metro General Hospital. Can you hear me?”
On the stretcher, she groaned in pain. Tears fell from her bruised and swollen eyes. Dried blood coated her face. Dear God, she looked horrible, so scared and weak.
“We’re going to take care of you now. You’re safe.” Josh put his hand on her shoulder in an attempt to soothe her. It unsettled him to see this woman so shaken, perhaps more than it should. He kept his hand light on her but with enough pressure for her to register that he was there, that she wasn’t alone. “Okay, let’s get her into room four. Renee,” he motioned for her to follow, “we need to get her into a gown and cleaned up.”
At the count of three, the EMTs lifted her from the stretcher and onto the bed. Josh went about checking her from head to toe. There were several deep lacerations on her face and neck that would require stitches. There were also defensive wounds on her hands and arms. Who would do this to her? And why? The depravity of mankind would never cease to disgust him.
“Laceration above her left eye needs sutures. Abrasions on her lips, along her jaw, on her cheek.” Josh lifted her eyelids, checking her pupils against the light again. “Possible concussion.” He moved down her body, inspecting for further injury. “Ribs don’t appear to be broken, but we’ll need an X-ray to be sure.”
Renee efficiently scribbled each one of them down, nodding to confirm she’d heard and noted them.
“A rape kit will need to be done.” He hated having to even think that let alone say it, but in this type of situation, it was a bleak reality. “And get a tech up here with a portable X-ray, STAT.”
He would not lose another patient tonight. He couldn’t.


Author Bios:
Kara Leigh Miller: Kara lives in Upstate New York with her husband, three kids, three dogs, and three cats. When she's not busy writing romance novels that leave readers swooning, she's spending time with her family or attending one of her many writers groups. An active member of The Romance Writers of America and the CNY Writers Haven, Kara is also Managing Editor for Anaiah Press' Surge and Romance Imprints. She absolutely loves to hear from her fans and fellow authors, so feel free to drop her a line anytime!

Jody Holford: Jody lives in British Columbia with her husband and two daughters. She is a fan of Nora Roberts, Jill Shalvis, Rachel Gibson, and Rainbow Rowell. In reading and writing, she likes characters who are flawed, but driven toward the pursuit of love and happiness. In November 2013, she published A Not So Lonely Christmas with Foreward Literary. In December 2014, she published Forever Christmas through Kindle Direct.


Kara Leigh Miller

Jody Holford

Rafflecopter giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway



Best in Blogs April 19-24 #amwriting #amreading

Project Mayhem
The manic minds of Middle Grade Writers - thoughts on secondary characters
"Sometimes writing is all about the pre-writing. What has to happen in this scene to move the story forward? What's driving that secondary character's arc? Who has the magic, and what are they going to do with it? Who's going to be pissed off at the result?"

Adventures in YA Publishing
Great blog for writing advice, information, and excellent giveaways! I'm crossing my fingers on this one.
"So many great books, so many beautiful covers - it's an embarrassment of riches this week. We have fourteen new books to share with you, nine author interviews, and three awesome giveaways. Check out what's hitting the shelves this week and make sure to enter to win below. "

Michelle 4 Laughs
Writing blog with great contests and in this case, an excellent discussion on trends in writing contests
"Trends in Contests
Now that Pitchslam is over, I decided to put together a few thoughts on how contests have changed and where they might be headed."

Operation Awesome
Great group of writers
"Is your character someone to root for?"

Emblazon
Writing Stories on the Hearts of Children - this post describes me exactly!
"I admit it. I’m a skimmer. Show me a bloated chunk of descriptive text and my eyes glaze over. I don’t care about every detail in a room, or each step that must be performed in making a sandwich. I have a decent enough imagination."



Friday, April 24, 2015

Cover Reveal - Eternal Sacrifice by Stacey O'Neale #giveaway #ya #paranormal

I'm a big fan of Stacey's books - I hope you'll be too!

If you're new to the series, this is the BEST TIME to check it out!!!
THE SHADOW PRINCE & MORTAL ENCHANTMENT are currently available for FREE on Amazon from April 24th through April 28th. I promise, this the ONE AND ONLY TIME I will do this, so pick up your copies NOW!!!
And now, here is the cover of the last book in the series, ETERNAL SACRIFICE!!!
Drum roll, please...

EternalSacrifice.v2-Final.v2
As promised, here is the Gift Card CONTEST!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover reveal Last Siege of Haven by Ty Drago #M9BFridayReveals #paranormal #giveaway


M9B-Friday-Reveal
Welcome to this week’s M9B Friday Reveal!
This week, we are revealing the cover for
Last Siege Of Haven (The Undertakers #4) by Ty Drago
presented by Month9Books!
Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

Undertakers4ebook
While away on an undercover mission, Undertaker Will Ritter has made an unthinkable alliance…with a Corpse! But though Robert Dillin (aka ‘The Zombie Prince’) is indeed one of those alien invaders who animate and possess the bodies of the dead — unlike the rest of his kind, Dillin isn’t evil. In fact, he wants to help. And Will needs that help, because the Queen of the Dead has learned the location of Haven, the Undertakers’ secret HQ, and is planning a massive and deadly assault.

With the last day of the Corpse War finally upon them, Will and his friends find themselves in a desperate race to close the Rift between worlds and forever kill the Corpses. But can they do before Haven is overrun?

For that matter, can they do it at all?
add to goodreads
Last Siege of Haven (The Undertakers #4)
by Ty Drago
Publication Date: May 11, 2015
Publisher: Month9Books
Available for Pre-order:
amazon
About-the-Author
Ty Drago
Ty Drago does his writing just across the river from Philadelphia, where the Undertakers novels take place. In addition to The Undertakers: Rise of the Corpses,The Undertakers: Queen of the Dead, and The Undertakers: Secret of the Corpse Eater, he is the author of The Franklin Affair and Phobos, as well as short stories and articles that have appeared in numerous publications, including Writer’s Digest. He currently lives in southern New Jersey with his wife and best friend, the real Helene Drago née Boettcher.
Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway
Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!
Title will be sent upon its release.

Button

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Cover reveal - A Seahorse Tale by Michael Mardel #mg


Synopsis:

This is a fantasy story for middle grade and Young Adult readers. The Seahorse relates his interactions with a Mermaid and she regales him with stories about a few famous, and not so famous, women. There's some historical fiction and Australiana included as well as pirates, elves and leprechauns. Come on an adventure in the life of a seahorse and a mermaid and learn how the Mermaid teaches the Seahorse as well as transporting him to a place like the Bermudas.
Michael Mardel implements a tale of philosophical proportions. Anthony Avina.


Author Bio:

Michael Mardel has been writing school textbooks for over 10 years. In between he has written 10 short stories around Australia, and a middle grade trilogy about a boy who leaves Melbourne for Broome, then back again to a farm and later overseas (everywhere Michael has travelled and then some). Michael has had many jobs but education covers about 15 years, 10 of which he was a teacher-librarian. He lives in Broome, Western Australia, with his wife, step daughter and two dogs.

Amazon link for this book (Kindle): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T2TRYG8

#T4T Life A.D and M.I.A by Michelle Reed #giveaway #Month9Books

   
T4T-Banner
Hello and welcome to this week’s Two for Thursday Book Blitz #T4T
presented by Month9books/Tantrum Books!
Today, we will be showcasing two titles that may tickle your fancy,
and we’ll share what readers have to say about these titles!
You just might find your next read!
This week, #T4T presents to you the Atman City series by Michelle E. Reed:
Life, A.D.: Life After Dez
and
M.I.A.: Missing in Atman!
Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

Life-AD-Cover
In Life, A.D. you have two choices: join the program or face the consequences.
Seventeen-year-old Dez Donnelly crashes headlong into fate on the side of a rural highway, her life ending in a violent collision of steel and screaming brakes. The train that delivers her newly departed soul to the crossroads of the afterlife won’t be carrying her to the sweet hereafter until she accepts her abrupt end and learns to let go of the life she’ll never finish.
Her new reality is conduct manuals, propaganda, and unrelenting staff, all part of a system to ease her transition from life to death, while helping her earn her way out of limbo. Atman City, beautiful and enticing, is an ever-present temptation that is strictly off limits to underage souls. The promise of adventure proves too strong, and beneath the city’s sheen of ethereal majesty, Dez discovers a world teeming with danger.
Welcome to Life, A.D. where being dead doesn’t mean you’re safe, and the only thing harder than getting out of limbo is getting through it.
add to goodreads
Available for Purchase:
amazon B&N
WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:

I loved this book. it takes on the aspect of death and afterlife, transforming it into a character driven story.” – Troy, Goodreads Reviewer

There was a theme threaded throughout the tale: Most people are busy living life preparing for the future instead of living in the moment. Gosh, I love that.”S.A. Larsen, Author

“I think Life A.D. holds high potential for a fantastic series. It was GREAT and I really do think that people would really get into it if it became a series.” – Olivia, Book Comet

MIA-Cover
Dez is finally hitting her afterlife stride. She hasn’t missed a meeting or session in 42 days, and she’s put the adventures and danger of her first days at Atman behind her. Life after death is becoming tolerable, yet nothing is quite what she’d hoped. Confusion over her feelings for Charlie, residual resentment over losing Hannah, and a continuous stream of unwanted assignments leave Dez restless and argumentative. In a missed encounter with Crosby, her prying gaze lands upon a single entry in the datebook on his unoccupied desk. These few, hastily scribbled words reveal an enormous secret he’s keeping from her. Possessed by a painful sense of betrayal, she once again sneaks off to Atman City, determined to find answers to an unresolved piece of her life. It begins as all their adventures do, but as light falls into darkness, a stop in an unfamiliar neighborhood sets forth a chaotic series of events. Dez will have to fight for her very existence, and will face painful, irreparable loss in an afterlife teeming with demons wielding ancient powers.
add to goodreads
Available for Purchase:
amazon B&N
WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:

“This was a wonderful continuation to the Atman City series!”Bri, Books and Ashes

“I couldn't put it down!!
Now I desperately await the next installment. I'm nowhere near the writer Michelle Reed is, so I won't bother trying. I'll simply say this book is a must read, following the first installment, "Life A.D."”Amy, Goodreads Reviewer

“M.I.A. had an interesting ending and I imagine there will be a third book in the series based on it. I look forward to reading it.” – Dawn, Bound 4 Escape


about-the-author
Michelle Reed
Michelle E. Reed was born in a small Midwestern town, to which she has returned to raise her own family. Her imagination and love of literature were fueled by a childhood of late nights, hidden under the covers and reading by flashlight. She is a passionate adoption advocate who lives in Wisconsin with her husband, son, and their yellow lab, Sully.

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads


Giveaway
Complete the Rafflecopter for a chance to win!

Chapter-by-Chapter-blog-tour-button

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Cover reveal: Cassie Shine's Yours Truly #giveaway #ya #romance

We're thrilled to take part in the cover reveal for YOURS TRULY, book 1 in Cassie Shine's brand new Pen Pal Series! Check out the cover below, enter the giveaway, and be sure to let us know what you think in the comments.

YOURS TRULY by Cassie Shine Coming this fall!

CS_YT_CVR_FINAL
Sixteen-year-old Laia Hawkins wonders what in the heck she’s supposed to say to Adrian Gutierrez, the name of her new pen pal—thanks to her World History teacher. How could Adrian, from Seville, Spain, possibly relate to Laia and her quiet life in a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri? But, as Adrian and Laia write to each other, friendship blossoms and secrets emerge. Laia finds comfort in Adrian’s letters confessing truths she’s kept hidden—even from those closest to her—like how lost she’s felt since her father’s death, her anxiety about graduation, and her fears about leaving her family and two best friends. Adrian, determined to help Laia come out of her shell and face her fears, devises a series of challenges that she must complete and document in her letters to him. And, what started as an innocent game of twenty questions becomes more.
Add Java Man to your Goodreads TBR!

What do you think of the cover?

Cassie ShineAbout Cassie Shine

Cassie Shine is the YA author of Harp’s Song and Harp’s Voice. An avid reader and lover of music, she has a weak spot for all things teenybopper, especially boy bands. She also loves classical, country, rock and well, pretty much everything.
After living in St. Louis for more than ten years, she and her husband packed up a U-Haul and headed west. They currently live in Orange County, CA with their furry kids Finnegan and Molly.

Giveaway

Enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card! Any contestant that uses dummy or contest only accounts to enter will be disqualified.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, April 20, 2015

First endurance ride of the season!




This past weekend we enjoyed some firsts! We just moved to beautiful central Oregon, so got to attend the first endurance ride of the season and our first in the region and meet lots of new people.






Because of the move (which was delayed an complicated a few times) we didn't have much time to get our horses ready for the ride. We normally try to ride the 50 mile distance, but we decided to start the season with a 10 mile fun ride for two of our geldings that are coming back from some lameness issues. Plus my husband was tossed off his youngster last year and not quite ready to push the limits until he's had more saddle time.

It was a lovely ride and both horses finished strong and quite capable of more. The next day I rode my experienced 50 miler mare, but just did the 35 mile ride - more because I'm not in riding shape than her!

I got to ride with a member of a team we've joined who has tons of experience, so I rode faster and more consistently than I've done in the past - part of my goals for this year. She'll be a wonderful mentor for me and my husband, so hopefully soon we'll be ready for 100 mile rides.

Central Oregon is a beautiful place to ride with panoramic views of snow-capped peaks. These peaks don't do it justice because of the distance, but many times on the ride my attention was completely captured by the beauty. No better sport to explore the country and share an experience with my horse.