{Meet the Author} Laney McMann #giveaway #yalit

Welcome to a special edition of Meet the Author where I’ll be putting YA author Laney McMann in the hot seat as part of her Tied blog tour. 

Welcome, Laney!

If you met a yummy man who had a time machine, where would you ask him to take you, and when?

Ha … nice question, Jocelyn. Let’s see, I can think of a few places. My first thought would be to go to Ireland, though, and meet my ancestors, so I suppose that would be hitting quite a few time periods.

Ooo, Ireland is on my bucket list too.  I’ve heard it’s beautiful there, and the culture seems open and fun.  Who was your childhood hero?  It can be someone fictional or real.

My grandmother was my childhood hero. 😉

Good answer.  The real heroes of the world are usually the ones who clear the monsters out from under our beds, aren’t they?  🙂  What author do you most admire?  What about him/her earned the place at the top of your list?

I have a few. Anne Rice for her incredible ability to transport her readers back in time.  Tolkien for his rich and vibrant world building skills, and Neil Gaiman, not only for his wild imagination, but also for the realness he has about him. The way he sees the world is truly inspiring.

I haven’t read any Neil Gaiman, but I keep hearing his name so I’m going to have to pick up some of his work.  What’s your favorite paragraph from Tied?  No spoilers now, just a nice, slow tease if you please.

Here’s my favorite (at least one of them) paragraphs from TIED.

I tried to speak, but words wouldn’t form. I remembered his face, the waterfall, the forest. The warmth of his hand in mine. Droplets of water cascading down his golden skin. His eyes reflecting the sunlight like crystals. The rush of wind as he ran beside me. His laughter. The sound of his voice when he called my name.

Okay, so now I really want to see this guy too.  The ole imagination is having a good time with that one.  🙂  Speaking of yummy, wet heroes, where did yours come from?  Someone you know?  Dreams of the *ahem* daytime persuasion?  What makes him tick?  Inquiring minds would like to know.

Dreams, dreams, oh the power of dreams. Max came to me like all my characters do—from my crazy imagination. He’s that perfect combination of strong and gentle. What makes Max tick? Layla does. 😉

Strong gentle type, huh?  Love it.  Best. Movie.  Ever.  As in, went to the theater ten times to see it.

All of The Lord of The Ring movies. Including The Hobbit.

Who’s your favorite artist/type of music to listen to?

I always play music when I write. It’s inspiring. I have too many favorite artists to mention them all, but my favorite kind of music is alternative/indie.

If you were to write yourself into a novel, would you be the heroine or the villain?

I’d probably be the villain. That’s so bad, isn’t it? Villains are so fun to write, though. 😉

Me too!  Love me a good villain, and yes, they are definitely the most fun to write.  If I opened up your purse/handbag right now, what would I find in there?

Nothing too great. My iphone, wallet, chapstick. I’m a chapstick junkie. Actually Blistex Herbal Answer. LOVE that stuff. Oh, and Visine for tired eyes. I think I need glasses now. ;P

Ah, yes.  I have a stock of Visine around the house too.  Getting old is such a joy isn’t it?  Not.  Now that we’ve picked Laney’s brain of all her secrets, let’s have a look at the lovely.  Isn’t it awesome?

Back of the book

Normal people don’t believe their nightmares stalk them. They don’t fall in love with boys who don’t exist, either.

Seventeen-year-old Layla Labelle, though, is far from normal. Her delusions walk the earth. Her hallucinations hunt her, and her skin heats to a burn every time her anger flares.

Or is that all in her head?

Layla doesn’t know what to believe any more because if none of that’s true, Max MacLarnon must be an illusion, and her heart must still be broken.

No matter how much she wants to believe Max is real, doing so would mean everything else is, too. How, then, is that possible?

The answers lie in an age-old legend the supernatural aren’t prepared to reveal, and with a curse that could tear Layla and Max apart forever—if it doesn’t kill them both first.

In TIED, book one in the Fire Born trilogy, learning the truth will mean fighting an arsenal of demons, and being with Max will put Layla on a path toward her own destruction.

Just how far will Layla go to protect the one she loves?

The answer may never be far enough … away.

Giveaway

Sounds fantastic, right?  Well, does she have a treat for you.  She’s giving away one signed paperback (US only), two e-book copies (International) and some book marks.  To enter for a chance to win, please click the link below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Buy Links

Connect with Laney

You can find my occasional ramblings on Twitter.

Book updates on my author page at goodreads.

My Facebook Profile for inspiration and randomness.

Updates on The Fire Born Novels at my Facebook Author Page

My interests on Pinterest.

And I’m now on Tumblr ,too.

Excerpt

My window opened easily. The same way it had so many times before. Climbing out on the ledge, I found the ground empty and dropped from the second floor—a jump I’d made a hundred times. In another life.

My feet sunk into the sand, and I followed the well-worn pathway through the dunes. Even the strong evening winds hadn’t misshaped the deep gully. The ocean’s breeze lashed at my hair as the moonlight glinted off the water’s surface. Seagulls flew up from their nesting grounds. They should have recognized me, since I’d been wandering at night for so long. Wrapping my arms around my knees to block the slight chill, I settled in the sand, and the birds quieted in a tight huddle, the wind blowing their feathers in awkward angles.

My gaze fell on a figure standing beyond the dunes edge, a shadow hidden within the darkness. My pulse quickened, but I didn’t move. Another trick—an illusion. Weary of the games my mind continued to play, I bit back tears and the catch in my throat. I should have been immune to them—the hallucinations—the way they haunted me and followed me, but I wasn’t.

Forcing myself to blink, I turned my head away. The visions had grown worse as I’d become older. I’d tried to convince myself they were nightmares—or weird dreams. Hoped for years they were, but only people who sleep dream.

Unable, or unwilling to stop myself, I glanced back over my shoulder, thoughts flooding my brain. Memories I knew couldn’t be memories but I cherished all the same. For years I’d tried to shake them away. To make myself forget.

I couldn’t.

#**#**#

A stone raps against my bedroom window. I creep over and peer through the blinds.

“You’re late.” I lean out over the sill, grinning at the boy staring up at me.

“Come on, let’s go before she comes,” he says.

I climb onto the window ledge. “Be nice. She’s my friend.”

“Okay. Jump.” He waves at me to go faster.

“Move, and I will.”

He takes one casual step to the side.

The jump isn’t too high; I make it all the time.

He grabs my hand when I land beside him in the soft sand. “Ready?”

I nod.

“One, two …”

“I’m going to tell!” Benny runs across my yard toward me, her blonde pigtails flapping in the wind. “You’re not allowed to talk to that boy, Layla! Your mom said!”

Max tightens his grip on my hand.

“Shut up, Benny! I’m old enough.”

“You’re only nine. Don’t go! ”

“Three!” Max and I leave the ground.

“You’re going to get in so much trouble.” Benny’s yell rings in the distance.

Our feet touch down in the wet grass of the Otherworld, icy sea air whipping at my face.

“Hopefully, she won’t follow us again.” Max lets go of my hand.

“She won’t. I told her not to.” I lead the way down the cliff face to the ocean.

“She never listens to you.”

{Meet The Author} Remember Me by Amaleen Ison

I’m very excited about my Meet the Author guest today.  This amazing writer is so good at what she does it hurts my head trying to figure out how she does it.  I feel like a total hack after gliding through her poetic prose and absorbing the soul-deep emotion she pours into her work.  Her latest masterpiece, Remember me (which I was extremely fortunate to have beta-read for Ms. Ison) is no different, packed with her heart and talent.

Welcome to the great white north, Amaleen!  What scared you most as a child?  Has it changed as an adult?

I’ve always been terrified of the dark, which probably stems from an overactive imagination (and watching horror films with my mum as a child). I’m still afraid to this day—not of the dark itself, just what lurks in the shadows.

We have that in common.  I’m not fond of the dark, either.  *shivers*  How much of you is in your heroine?

My heroine’s naivety is a mirror of my own when I was her age. I believed everyone was honest and adults always spoke the truth. I’ve since learnt that’s not the case, more’s the pity, but that doesn’t stop me looking for the best in people—just like Sera.

It’s one of the things I love about you, that you’re always positive and uplifting.  I want to be you when I grow up.  🙂  What kind of high school personality were you?  Band dork?  Jock?  Loner?  Brainiac?

I was an artiac. Yep, I just made up that word, but it perfectly describes my high school personality (though we call them secondary schools in the UK). I hung out in the art department every break and lunchtime, drawing and painting with my friends.

We call them both here.  Weird.  It would be neat if you could design and create your own book cover in the future.   If you could be a superhero, what would your power be?

I’d love to be able to levitate slowly off the ground, then set off like a bullet into the sky. Forget super human strength, telekinesis, or any other kind of power, flying is something I’ve dreamed of doing since I was a wee child.

I’d totally be with you if I wasn’t a total Nancy when it came to heights.  🙂  Do you have any phobias, like run-screaming-at-the-mere-mention-of-it, fears?

Spiders scare the bejesus out of me. Even a small one has me dancing around like a mad woman, much to the amusement of my six-year-old daughter.

Okay, now I totally have the squirms.  Ick!  We have that one in common, too.  If you could live your life as an animal, what would it be?

I’d love to be one of my own cats. Seriously, they have a wonderful life. They get the very best of everything, come and go as they please, have no responsibility, and get to sleep all day. Perfect!

Oh yeah, that sounds nice.  Best.  Movie.  Ever.  As in, went to the theatre ten times to see it.

The Lost Boys was a coming of age film for me. I was about twelve when I watched it for the first time. (I’ve probably watched it a hundred times since). Not only did it begin my love affair with vampires and all things paranormal, it also introduced me to my first teen crush: Corey Haim. When I wasn’t re-playing the movie over and over on the family VCR, I was listening to the soundtrack on my Walkman.

Jeez, I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen that, but now I’m going to have to watch it.  Like…now.  If I opened up your purse/handbag right now, what would I find in there?

A disorganised mess. It takes lots of routing around through all the junk in my handbag to find my mobile when it rings.

Hehe…I think a lot of us have that problem.  Everything but the kitchen sink, and you usually pull everything else out before you find what you’re looking for.  Or maybe that’s just me.

Now that we’ve gotten to know Amaleen a little, let’s check out her pretty.  Isn’t it a gorgeous cover?

Blurb:

Sera isn’t living. She’s existing—barely. Bedbound by illness, she has no memory of life before the freezing barn she now calls home. A mournful song haunts her dreams and hints at a past not completely buried—one she’s desperate to uncover. Yet Father’s whirlwind visits to draw blood and administer medication don’t provide answers. He only confirms the one thing she already knows; she’s dying.

A lonely death without ever knowing her past seems inevitable until a sudden, mystifying return to health coincides with the arrival of a boy in the opposite out-building. The inextricable pull to the stranger, and the broken memories that storm her mind when he’s near, warn of a history quite different to any she could have imagined. If she’s to uncover the truth she craves, she’ll have to decide whether knowledge of the past is worth forfeiting her second chance at life.

Goodreads

Title: Remember Me
Author: Amaleen Ison
Release Date: 11th June 2013
ISBN: 978-1-61333-545-1
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Cover Artist: Scott Carpenter
Genre: Young Adult
Format: E-book
Length: Novella

Pick up a copy:

Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com

Excerpt:

Father snatches the cover away and yanks my bare arm straight. Angry-looking bruises and red track marks riddle my paper-thin skin from wrist to elbow crease. He flicks a spidery-looking vein. “Dammit. Next.” My sluggish movements prove too slow for his liking, and he grabs my other arm. “We’ll give this one a try.”

I turn to Noah. Although younger than Father and not yet graying, his straggly black beard and tired-looking eyes make him appear older. He wears a worried expression and avoids my gaze. Perhaps he pities me, or my condition embarrasses him. Probably both.

The fog of medication descends in my mind and sends its glacial water surging through my veins. The barn wobbles, and my head lolls back on the pillow, giving me a view of the rafters. When it comes, the prick of the needle doesn’t hurt. Only the beautiful, melancholy song that plays constantly in my mind accompanies the odd sense of draining life.

Minutes, hours, days later—I can’t tell—Father holds up a full vial of blood to a shaft of sunlight streaming through the hole in the roof. “Thank you, my angel.” He kisses my forehead and squeezes my hand at the same time. I smile at the show of relief in his eyes, before my heavy lids close.

“She’s sleeping,” he says.

Footsteps draw near.

“She looks worse.” The disembodied comment comes from somewhere near the foot of the bed.

Father grunts.

“Her blood isn’t working anymore.” Noah’s voice sounds tight.

Silence.

“We ought to let her die peacefully.”

Yes, they ought to let me die peacefully.

“No!” Father’s breath comes in heavy gusts. “I won’t give up on her. We’ll capture the other one.”

“We’ll be damned.”

“Too late.” A loud clunk and something metallic skitters across the floor. “We’re already damned.”

Rafflecopter Givaway

Click here: a Rafflecopter giveaway
for a chance to win a $20.00 Amazon gift card and an e-copy of Remember me.

About the Author

Amaleen Ison is a married mother of one. She lives with her family in Hertfordshire, England, along with her cats (Oscar and Winston), guinea pig ( LouLou), and gerbils (Blackberry and Pumpkinseed). She writes Young Adult fantasy stories that meander into a variety of sub-genres.

As a child, Amaleen lived most of her life in her head. She imagined herself in mystical lands populated by the weird and wonderful. She still spends way too much time daydreaming, but now she writes about her imaginings and weaves them into stories. The fantasy element is always important, but more so the hodgepodge of emotions that arise from her characters first time experiences.

Connect with Amaleen here

Facebook | Twitter | Website/Blog | Goodreads

{Blog Tour} Leap of Faith by R. Brennan #erotica

How about a little spice for your Tuesday morning from one of my favorite erotica authors?  🙂  Yeah, that’s what I thought.  The perfect bit of flavor for one of the most boring days of the week.

Check out this lovely.

Blurb:

New submissive, Faith Daniels is completely infatuated with her amazing Dominant, Richard Halstead, so when he sends her a summons via text message a full day before they had plans to meet, she can barely contain her excitement.

But, Richard didn’t just invite her over for a play date. Not this time. He has a proposition for Faith. One that could change the rest of her life.

Buy Links:

Evernight Publishing  |  All Romance eBooks  |  Bookstrand  |  Amazon

Excerpt (Mature Audiences Only):

Strong hands grabbed hold of her kneecaps, startling her. Richard jerked her legs apart until she knelt in an exposed V position. His voice arrived close to her ear, sending a chill through her. “When I ask you to kneel for me, this is how you are to do it. I want you to display your desire. Show your need with the pride of a submissive. Do you understand me, Faith?”

Her body ached for his touch. The brush of his hand, the caress of a breast. Anything. She’d even welcome the slap of his paddle if it meant he’d touch her again. “Yes, Sir.” Her voice was little more than a hoarse whisper.

“That’s my girl.” He slid a finger along her wet opening. Half a breath later, she heard his lips smack together, as if he’d just finished eating barbeque ribs. “Sweet nectar.” His hand returned to probe her slit. A finger entered her.

A gasp of pleasure tore from Faith’s throat, contorting into a whimper when he withdrew from her quivering pussy.

He traced a fingertip over her mouth, coating her lips with the evidence of her arousal.

The carnal scent of her juices surrounded her, pushing Faith toward the mindless black abyss of wanton need. Her nails dug into the flesh of her forearms as she willed herself to resist reaching for him again.

Two fingers forced their way into her mouth. “Taste your desire.”

Faith sucked them clean, her tongue swirling sensually around each offered digit.

Richard abruptly withdrew his hand and moved away.

 Solitude rushed in to fill the space he left behind, leaving Faith breathless.

He signaled his return a few pounding heartbeats later with the ‘snap’ of his leash on her collar. “Come, pet,” he commanded.

 

Add it on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17894387-a-leap-of-faith

 

Author Bio: R. Brennan is a subbie brat with a bitch streak, an IT geek for the state of New York, and reformed gaming addict raising her daughters in the rolling hills of Upstate NY. (You know, where it takes a ten minute drive to buy a gallon of milk, and the smell of cows lingers on the breeze.) The brave are welcome to follow her blog: http://bexbooknook.wordpress.com or stalk her on twitter: @bexbrennan Often sarcastic, blunt, and NSFW, but usually entertaining.

 

Author Links:

Blog: http://bexbooknook.wordpress.com

Website: http://rbrennan.weebly.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/bexbooknook

Twitter: http://twitter.com/bexbrennan

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/rebelhart69

So, what do you think?  Do you need a cold shower?  Or your man?  Maybe both?  Seriously, you need to check this one out.

{Blog Tour} Leap of Faith by R. Brennan

{Blog Tour} Lichgates by S.M. Boyce

Welcome to a tour stop for Lichgates, book one of the Grimoire Saga, by S.M. Boyce.  I’d like to introduce you to the book, and the author herself.  I’m always looking for new reads, especially in the fantasy genre, and this sounds like a fascinating one.  To celebrate the book release, she’s giving away a great prize.  Check it out.

Back of the Book

Kara Magari is about to discover a beautiful world full of terrifying things—Ourea.

Kara, a college student still reeling from her mother’s recent death, has no idea the hidden world of Ourea even exists until a freak storm traps her in a sunken library. With no way out, she opens an ancient book of magic called the Grimoire and unwittingly becomes its master, which means Kara now wields the cursed book’s untamed power. Discovered by Ourea’s royalty, she becomes an unwilling pawn in a generations-old conflict—a war intensified by her arrival. In this world of chilling creatures and betrayal, Kara shouldn’t trust anyone… but she’s being hunted and can’t survive on her own. She drops her guard when Braeden, a native soldier with a dark secret, vows to keep her safe. And though she doesn’t know it, her growing attraction to him may just be her undoing.

For twelve years, Braeden Drakonin has lived a lie. The Grimoire is his one chance at redemption, and it lands in his lap when Kara Magari comes into his life. Though he begins to care for this human girl, there is something he wants more. He wants the Grimoire.

Welcome to Ourea, where only the cunning survive.

 

Praise for Lichgates

Wow, the world building on this one was breathtaking. The world of Ourea is just full of so many things. Surprises are around every corner.
~Alexia P.

From the first few pages into this story, it was obvious that Boyce has a way with words.
~Author Becca Campbell

Excerpt

Thunder rumbled overhead. A dark cloud churned in the sky, and her heart fell into her stomach; there hadn’t even been a single fluffy cloud up there ten minutes ago. That didn’t make sense at all—how could the weather shift so suddenly?

She glanced to the door and then back up the trail, hesitating, but her decision was soon made for her.

A blinding bolt of moss-colored lightning flashed, striking something in the sinkhole. The hairs on her arms stood on end. Heat coursed through her calves, and she caught her breath. Her ears rang.

Wait. That lightning was definitely green.

The cliff trembled as a deafening boom shattered the air. A drizzle of rain began, but it quickly melted into heavy drops that pelted her skin and clung to her hair. Another rumble coursed along the far edge of the valley. Kara needed shelter, and the last place she would go in a lightning storm was up a hill.

She turned back and twisted the door’s handle, sighing with relief as it opened—unlocked—and swung inward. Still, as wet as it was outside and as much as she wanted a safe place to wait out the rain, she lingered on the threshold to examine the room.

Mud covered everything from the floor to the ceiling, and since there weren’t any supports to hold the roof, she couldn’t figure out how the ten-by-ten dirt shelter hadn’t caved in yet. The air within was heavy, moist with the rot of dead leaves, and her only guiding light streamed in from behind her. Roots dangled from the ceiling like stalactites reaching for the floor. The wind picked up, howling as it pelted rain against her back.

She tested the ground with her sneaker. The dirt floor supported her weight, so she tip-toed into the room and left the door open. Rain fell in lingering drops on the threshold before disappearing into the growing pools of mud. She stuck her hands in her pockets and watched the raging storm outside.

A flash of dark brown blurred past her.

She jumped. A tan flicker snaked along the roof, and clumps of soil fell in sheets. She glared at the ceiling, holding her breath as the settling dust rained onto her shoes.

It had almost looked like a root moving, but—no, that was crazy.

Another streak of motion raced down the opposite wall. It passed through a shaft of light, and Kara saw its pointed, wooden tip. Tiny veins sprouted from it like hairs, digging into the dirt so that it could travel.

It was a root moving.

Author S.M. Boyce

S.M. Boyce is a fantasy and paranormal fiction novelist who also dabbles in contemporary fiction and comedy. She updates her blog a few times each week so that you have something to wake you up in the morning.

She also has a B.A. in Creative Writing which, naturally, qualifies her to be pompous and serve you french fries.

Twitter * Website

Giveaway

Prize:  $25.00 Amazon Gift card or Paypal cash.  Who couldn’t use a few more books?

How do you enter?  Click the link below and follow the instructions.  Easy peasy.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Blog Tour} Soul Avenged by Keri Lake #giveaway #soulavenged

Today I welcome Keri Lake for a stop on her blog tour to celebrate the release of Soul Avenged, a Sons of Wrath novel.  Check below for details of Keri’s amazing giveaway.

Welcome, to the hot seat, Keri!  Where did your hero come from?  Someone you know?  Dreams of the *ahem* daytime persuasion?  What makes him tick?  Inquiring minds would like to know.

The hero in my book came to me after I’d fleshed out the female protagonist.  Ordinarily I like to write the mean, brooding bad boy types, which seems like, would be right up Ayden’s alley.  But the deeper you dive into her character, the more you realize the kind of hero that would challenge her the most and probably make her fall harder. 

I remember watching Blade: Trinity (warning explicit language and violence) and Ryan Reynolds’ character cracked me up.  I loved him in this movie and thought his smartass attitude would make the perfect compliment to such a serious character as Ayden.  So Kane is slightly modeled after Hannibal King’s character in the movie.

Ooh, I need to watch that again now that you’ve mentioned his character.  Love me some Blade.  Are you a thrill seeker?  What’s your adrenaline of choice?  Motorcycles?  Roller coasters?  Sky diving?  Bungee jumping?

This isn’t going to be on par with jumping out of an airplane or swimming with Great White sharks, but I’ve always had a thing for fast moving vehicles.  My dad and uncles fixed up old cars as a hobby so I grew up with an appreciation for them.  But there is something about motorcycles that just gets my adrenaline going.  The faster, the better.

Yup.  Ditto.  Bikes have always been my fav, too.  Are there any other fantastic novels waiting to burst free from your imagination in the future?  Can you tell us about them?

Yes!  Book 2 of Sons of Wrath, with a working title of Soul Resurrected, is written and ready for edits.  I’ve also plotted a couple of novellas that will explore some of the characters a bit more intimately, and then I’ll begin book 3 sometime this summer.  Very exciting stuff on the horizon!

I can’t wait to get my hands on number one, then I’ll be bugging you for the rest.  🙂  There are a lot of stereotypes cast in a romance novelist’s direction, like they must sleep in slinky lingerie when most I’ve met are dressed from head to toe in flannel jammies when they hit the sack.  Are you a warm and comfy girl?  Or an in-the-buff or silk and satin kind of girl?

Words cannot express how much I love this question… in fact, I wrote a blog post during this tour and referenced Mary Fisher from She Devil.  Haha! 

I’m definitely not writing romance in the buff, and silk or satin would make the laptop slide around too much.  Nope, I’m a pajama pants and t-shirt kinda girl.  

You gave me a total visual with the writing in the buff thing.  Can you say laptop burns!  *snort*  How much of you is in your hero/heroine?

Quite a bit of me is in my heroine, actually.  That’s not to say I’m out slaying wolves or anything, but I’m very quiet and have been called feisty at times, just like Ayden. 

What kind of high school personality were you?  Band dork?  Jock?  Loner?  Brainiac?

I was actually a combination of these.  I didn’t have tons of friends, but I was very close to the ones I had.  I was a member of National Honor Society and kept a pretty high grade point average, but I was also a cheerleader and played sports.  Kind of a mixed breed, I suppose.

Wow, way to go on the Honor Society!  🙂  If you could have an hour alone with any literary character, who would it be?  What would you say to him or her?  Or do with, if you’re more adventurous 😉

Oh my gosh.  Rydstrom Woede from Kresley Cole’s Kiss of a Demon King.  See, I know that there are a lot of drool-worthy heroes in books—I’ve seen JR Ward’s brothers listed a few times as book boyfriends and Larissa Ione’s demons always get a lot of love from the readers.  I don’t know what the hell it is about this character, but he gets my fan-girl flags a-waving.  Perhaps it’s his clearly alpha male dominant presence, mixed with calmness & logic, and a very reverent and protective approach to the female lead in the book … you know, what’s-her-name chick who—rolls eyes—ends up with him in the end.

But if I got to be the lead … well, let’s just say I’d keep him chained up a little longer than she did.  And I don’t think I’d be too worried about interrogations.

Okay, interest spiked.  I have not read that.  Will soon rectify.  *sneaks away to add to TBR*  Do you play music when you write?

Yes I do!  Music is a must!  My favorite type of music is Alternative/Rock.  I listen to a lot of Avenged Sevenfold, Paramore, Flyleaf, Deftones, NIN, Metric and The XX.

Now for the pretty and the deets!

Back of the book:

Passion is blind in vengeance and love  …

Ayden’s suburban home was invaded by a pack of Lycans.

The brutal attack is the only memory she carries of her former life.

Now, one motive burns in her soul:

KILL THEM ALL.

The Sons of Wrath—a brood of vengeance-dealing warrior demons—band with Ayden to hunt the Lycans on Detroit’s most deadly feeding grounds.

Kane Walker should’ve been her easiest kill.

Unfortunately, the newly bitten Lycan has something she wants—clues that may finally lay her past to rest.  To reach them, she must be willing to submit to the sensual pleasures awakened by his touch.

Time is running out.

In seven days, Kane will become what Ayden despises most.  She can halt his transformation but the antidote requires the ultimate sacrifice.  As the beast takes hold, Kane becomes more of a threat.

Ayden must choose between her lust for revenge, or surrender to her enemy and discover a horrible truth.

SOUL AVENGED (Sons of Wrath, #1)

By: Keri Lake

Release Date:  February 6, 2013

Genre:  Adult Paranormal Romance/Dark Urban Fantasy

ISBN:  978-0-9848517-3-7

Number of pages:  533

Pick up a copy:

Soul Avenged Page on Keri Lake’s website:  http://www.kerilake.com/book/soul-avenged-sons-of-wrath-1/

Barnes & Noble (Nook): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/soul-avenged-keri-lake/1114284613?ean=2940015951851

Amazon (Paperback):  http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Avenged-Sons-Wrath-1/dp/0984851720/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359970552&sr=8-1&keywords=soul+avenged

Amazon (Kindle):  http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Avenged-Sons-Wrath-ebook/dp/B00BAWLEG6/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1360010189&sr=8-7&keywords=soul+avenged

Amazon UK (Kindle): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Soul-Avenged-Sons-Wrath-ebook/dp/B00BAWLEG6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1360015704&sr=8-3

Smashwords:  http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/281254

Connect with Keri Lake here:

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

 Amazon Author Page

About Keri Lake:

Keri Lake is a married mother of two living in Michigan.  She writes paranormal romance, urban fantasy and loves a good, tragic love story.  Though novels tend to be her focus, she also writes short stories and flash fiction whenever distraction manages to suck her in to the Land of Shiny Things.

When she isn’t toiling away on plots and protagonists, she enjoys reading, music and travel.  If she could create mystical powers for herself, she’d have the ability to flash to anywhere in the world.  And if she could flash to anywhere in the world at this very moment, she’d be staring at the ocean from her adirondack chair on the shores of North Carolina.

GIVEAWAY

To enter, click HERE to be taken to the Rafflecopter site.

Grand Prize:  (Valued at approximately $280)

1-Kindle Fire HD (approximate value $199)

1-Signed Paperback Soul Avenged (Sons of Wrath, #1)

1-Sons of Wrath t-shirt

1-Sons of Wrath coffee mug

1-Soul Avenged Notebook

 1^st Runner-Up:  (Valued at approximately $75)

 1-$25 iTunes giftcard

1-Signed Paperback Soul Avenged (Sons of Wrath, #1)

1-Sons of Wrath t-shirt

1-Sons of Wrath coffee mug

1-Sons of Wrath notebook

2^nd Runner-Up: (Valued at approximately $35)

 1-Signed Paperback Soul Avenged (Sons of Wrath, #1)

1-Sons of Wrath t-shirt

Blog Tour Dates:

{Review} Crux by Julie Reece

I’m honored to be part of Julie Reece’s blog tour for her newly released Young Adult novel, Crux. Congrats, girl!

What a dream to read. I laughed.  I cried.  I clutched my kindle, wishing I could read faster, frustrated when I couldn’t get to the end fast enough. 

And I gave it a big fat, well earned, five cupcakes!

Let’s start off with the nitty gritty, courtesy of Goodreads:

Crux, by Julie Reece

Release Date:  July 9, 2012

Publisher:  J. Taylor Publishing

Back of the Book

She should have run. Now, she’ll have to fight.

Eighteen year old Birdie may be homeless, but she’s surviving, that is until a mysterious guy throws money in the air like a crazy game show host, and she grabs some with the idea she’ll be able to buy dinner that night.

In that singular moment, unassuming Birdie becomes the girl in everyone’s viewfinder. Thugs want to kill her. Money-guy wants to recruit her. The very hot, very rich, and very out of her league Grey Mathews wants to save her.

Birdie, though, wants nothing to do with any of them, until she realizes fate didn’t bring them all together.

Her heritage did.

Now, with only twenty-one days left, she’s got to decide whether to follow in the footsteps of those before her or risk her life for people she’s only just met.

~~~~

Cover

Isn’t this cover amazing?  I loved having this image of Birdie in my mind’s eye as I read, and I could totally see this cover girl throughout the story, surviving through what the author put her through.  Whatever artist created this is incredible.  I bow to you, whoever you are.  Your talent is mind-blowing.

What I loved about the book:

In one word:  Birdie.  Her character is so simple, yet so complex it just about blew my mind.  She’s hilarious and wounded deeply, a survivor I couldn’t help but pull for.  As an author, I’m always looking for what works and what doesn’t, and the characters and world Ms. Reece creates are colorful and believable, working to paint a complex tapestry for me to admire and even learn a thing or two from.

I’ve read scarce few present tense books that I enjoyed.  It has to be spot on, and this one is, and how.  I was IN the story as I was reading, right there with Birdie.

There are subtle lines throughout the book like these that are extremely creative and awe-inspiring:

“Uh hmm. That’s why you be sittin’ here in someone else’s piss? Girl, you gonna have to come up with somethin’ better than that.” Shondra shakes her head. She looks younger than me, but, like, a hundred years old, too. I can’t explain the quick bond between us, but I like her, and I don’t like many people. “They’s places you can go. Some churches, a day shelter on Ethel Street, Hosea House on Donnelly Avenue, and the Guthrie Shelter, but you ain’t got no kids, right?”
“No.”
She scoots closer on her butt cheeks until our shoulders touch. “Then you can’t go there. You stick with Shondra, honey. I’ll help you.”
Seeing as how Shondra is sitting in the same pee I am, I don’t know what she thinks she can do for me, but at least I’m not alone.

That simple line, that Shondra is sitting in the same pee struck me when I read it.  Simple, vivid, tells a story within the story in only a few words. Birdie’s “voice” is just perfect.

Here’s another bit that makes me love Birdie in all her blunt glory:

My trip to the corner market was fun. When you’re homeless, you don’t dream of Perrier, or the surf and turf special at the local steakhouse that you pay for with plastic from your new Coach purse. You dream of bologna and cheese sandwiches, bottled water, and a grocery bag to keep your crap in.

This is a wonderful story that young adult fans everywhere are going to gobble up and rave about.

About the Author:

Julie Reece (biography courtesy of J. Taylor Publishing)

Born in Ohio, I lived next to my grandfather’s horse farm until the fourth grade. Summers were about riding, fishing and make-believe, while winter brought sledding and ice-skating on frozen ponds. Most of life was magical, but not all.

I struggled with multiple learning disabilities, did not excel in school. I spent much of my time looking out windows and daydreaming. In the fourth grade (with the help of one very nice teacher) I fought dyslexia for my right to read, like a prince fights a dragon in order to free the princess locked in a tower, and I won.

Afterwards, I read like a fiend. I invented stories where I could be the princess… or a gifted heroine from another world who kicked bad guy butt to win the heart of a charismatic hero. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that? Later, I moved to Florida where I continued to fantasize about superpowers and monsters, fabricating stories (my mother called it lying) and sharing them with my friends.

Then I thought I’d write one down…

Hooked, I’ve been writing ever since. I write historical, contemporary, urban fantasy, adventure, and young adult romances. I love strong heroines, sweeping tales of mystery and epic adventure… which must include a really hot guy. My writing is proof you can work hard to overcome any obstacle. Don’t give up. I say, if you write, write on!

Find her on:

Goodreads

Twitter

Facebook

Purchase links:

Amazon.com

Barnes & Noble.com