Blog Tour Mini Review & Giveaway: Life Unaware by Cole Gibsen!

Title: Life Unaware

Author: Cole Gibson

Release date: 4/28/15

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

Regan Flay has been talking about you.

Regan Flay is on the cusp of achieving her control-freak mother's "plan" for high school success―cheerleading, student council, the Honor Society—until her life gets turned horribly, horribly upside down. Every bitchy text. Every bitchy email. Every lie, manipulation, and insult she's ever said have been printed out and taped to all the lockers in school.

Now Regan has gone from popular princess to total pariah.
The only person who even speaks to her is her former best friend's hot but socially miscreant brother, Nolan Letner. Nolan thinks he knows what Regan's going through, but whatnobody knows is that Regan isn't really Little Miss Perfect. In fact, she's barely holding it together under her mom's pressure. But the consequences of Regan's fall from grace are only just beginning. Once the chain reaction starts, no one will remain untouched...

Especially Regan Flay.

Review:

★★★★

I have to say, I really enjoyed this book.

For me, teen bullying books are usually hit or miss. I either totally relate or disconnect completely. I'm glad to say that this one was one that I hit it off with.

I think that this book is largely realistic, and honestly that's what makes it a bit scary. Teenagers are terrifying, and this book gives a window into the teenage girl brain. I was reminded of a few people that I knew in high school. The characters were well written and their dialogue felt natural (something else I often have issues with in teen/high school books). I also appreciate the amount of loathing that the author got me to feel for some of the characters. I quickly became invested into the story, and loved reading as the main character's world came crashing down around her. It was kind of nice to watch the mean girl up in flames, but at parts you definitely sympathize with her too.

I connected with her a bit more because she has an anxiety disorder and so do I, so I sympathized with her a bit more. And her mother... Good lord, don't get me started on her mother. She made me ridiculously angry. Well done to the author for making me have such intense feelings for a fictional character.

It's a fast paced read that doesn't take very long, but does deal with some pretty tough things to swallow, like bullying/cyberbullying. I think that a lot of teenage girls and YA fans will like this one, especially fans of books like The S Word or #scandal. This book has some language and serious themes, so be warned before going in.

Get it Here:

Amazon | BN | TBD | BAM | IndieBound | Powells

About the Author:

Cole Gibsen first realized she different when, in high school, she was still reading comic books while the other girls were reading fashion magazines.

It was her love of superheroes that first inspired her to pick up a pen. Her favorite things to write about are ordinary girls who find themselves in extraordinary situations.

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Fish Also Go To Heaven by Tammy Brown Elkeles Book Blast & Giveaway!

About the Book

Title: Fish Also Go To Heaven | Author: Tammy Brown Elkeles | Illustrator: Raquel Afonso | Publication Date: October 28, 2014 | Publisher: Independent | Pages: 42 | Recommended Ages: 4 to 8


Summary: Fish Also Go to Heaven – A unique optimistic view of a loss of a loved pet.

Ellie’s best friend is her little goldfish. Spending every moment she can with him and telling him all her secrets. And at school she talks about him all the time as well. But one morning little “Fishie” is not moving….

Like all children, Ellie loves her little pet, Fishie. Sometimes young children are confronted by the realities of life that no one lives forever, especially little fish. How will Ellie and her mother handle the situation when Fishie is not moving one morning?

After trying to spare Ellie the pain and replacing Fishie by a similar fish, after a while the new fish jumps out of his fish bowl. Mother must now teach Ellie about one of the most basic facts of life. What happens to fish when they die? Are they OK wherever they are? Will we ever see them again? How will Ellie handle the loss of her goldfish? How will mother help Ellie with her loss?

Fish Also Go To Heaven offers kids a lesson about the facts of life and death in a unique optimistic way that will make it easy for them to handle similar loss. The book will help parents of tender children discuss the subject of loss with their kids and ease the grieving process for those who are faced with such loss.

This children’s book is suitable for a read aloud bedtime story for preschoolers or as a self-read for older children.

* PRICE DROP *

* "Fish Also Go To Heaven" is available as an e-book for only 99 cents from Amazon between May 5 & 7, 2015. Or, subscribers to Kindle Unlimited can grab an e-copy for FREE! *

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The Buzz About the Book

"My daughter loves this book, I read it to her over and over again. Warmly recommended." ~ Daphna, Amazon

"This bittersweet story deals with the subject of loss and death in a creatively spiritual way that would appeal to small children as well as their parents, who may debate how to answer such questions as 'What happened to my cherished goldfish?' Highly recommended." ~ Shiran B., Amazon

"This lovely bed time story gives an insight into how to help small children to deal with loss in a lovely manner. The illustrations are cute as in other books by the same author. I generally feel that Tammy's stories, invite me into her life and experiences with her children." ~ Odvir, Amazon

 

About the Author: Tammy Brown Elkeles

I started to write children's stories soon after a gave birth to my first child. I believe that children are an endless source of inspiration and joy and they can teach us important lessons about life. I live in Tel Aviv with my husband Miki, a photographer and documentary director, and my two boys. Being a staunch optimist, I believe that we have the power to influence reality and shape our own lives, and that is the message I wish to convey through my writing. I graduated with a BA in chemistry and nutritional biochemistry and later studied advertising as well as interior design. It was only in my thirties that I got to realize my childhood dream, studying playwriting and screenwriting and making writing my main focus. Works Published I currently have seven children’s books available on Kindle, and there are more to come. My book The Birds’ Bakery will soon appear in print nationwide. I’m also working on a comic books series for teenagers, D.J. Dirty Brown, to be published on Kindle.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

 

* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner’s choice)

Contest ends: May 18, 11:59 pm, 2015

Open: Internationally

How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Tammy Brown Elkeles and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

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Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: Dream of Me by Quinn Loftis!

Title: Dream of Me

Series: Dream Maker #1

Author: Quinn Loftis

Release date: 2/28/15

Length: 319 pages

Summary from Goodreads:

“In the evening… [he] blows softly upon their necks, till their heads begin to droop. […] Under each arm he carries an umbrella; one of them, with pictures on the inside, he spreads over the good children, and then they dream the most beautiful stories the whole night.” ~ Hans Christian Anderson

Since the dawn of time, Brudair, otherwise known as the Sandman to the world, has faithfully lived out his purpose, faithfully performed his duties. He has never questioned his lot among the immortals, until now, until her. Sarah Serenity Tillman, a consummate beauty both inside and out, is a high school senior five months from her graduation. She has great plans, dreams of leaving the small town of her childhood behind her forever. But destiny has other plans, and it’s the Sandman’s job to make sure those plans are fulfilled.

The tall muscular Sandman, known as Dair to his friends, dressed in black, wrapped in shadows, is more than a myth. And he has a job to do. His very existence makes him a creature of the night, because dreams, (yes the legends got that part right), were indeed his specialty. But his purpose was more than just weaving dreams for sleeping children. No, his dreams were made to influence, made to ensure that certain special individuals, those individuals who would change the course of history, actually accepted their chosen destiny.

Little does Serenity know that she is Dair’s next assignment. And the dream that he weaves for her, if she follows its influence, will change the course of, not only her life, but possibly the whole of history as well. But she isn’t the only one being influenced. The beauty inside of her was weighing on the Sandman, lighting up the darkness that was his constant companion. Her light was warmth, it was life, and he didn’t understand how he had survived the previous millennia without it.

The Sandman was indeed greater than anything humans had ever imagined, and his purpose was vital to the course of history. So what happens when the weaver of dreams gets so distracted by a mere human that he ignores his own duties in the immortal realm? How can an immortal who was never meant to have a mate, join a young woman in her destiny without irrevocably changing the lives of millions and potentially altering history in a way the Creator never intended?

“Dream of me, Princess,” Dair whispered into her ear.
“Then weave me a dream, Sandman,” she said softly. “And we can dream together.”
As her eyes grew heavy, she heard Dair’s voice telling her to sleep, to open her mind to him and let him in. I’m all yours, she thought as sleep finally claimed her.

Review:

★★★★

The reason why I picked up this book was pretty much intrigue alone. I've read a lot of young adult books in my time, and most of those deal with mythology and fantasy. In all of those titles, I have never come across a romance that dealt with the Sandman. How could I resist? Overall, I wasn't left disappointed.

Part of why I liked this book so much is the main male character, Dair. He's the Sandman himself, and I loved him. He was sweet and dreamy (no pun intended), and just the right amount of dark and mysterious. I really liked how his role as an immortal was tied into mythology, because though it's obviously not a real story, being tied to myth makes it seem a bit more real. At least, it feels that way to me. I didn't care for the lead female, Serenity, as much. From the very beginning, she had a bit of the "special snowflake" syndrome that made me roll my eyes, but I didn't hate her. I just felt that I was made to sympathize/feel sorry for her a bit too much. I enjoyed her much more when she was with Dair, and I liked them together as a unit, despite the insta-love factor.

The writing is detailed and well done, and the pacing is too. I was never bored while reading this story, and it flowed along nicely. I was pleasantly surprised that this book deals with some angelic/Christian themes. I'm not Christian myself, so it makes me happy when these ideas are in a story without being too much or detracting from the story line in order to give a more moral message. This worked for me.

Plus, look at the cover. Isn't it pretty?

I think this book will appeal to a lot of people, because it has a lot of things going for it. It's kind of young adult, kind of new adult. It's fantasy and mythology and paranormal romance. If you like any of these things, I'd recommend giving this one a read. I'll pick up the next book in the series when it's available.

Get it Here:

Amazon | BN | Kobo

About the Author:

Quinn is an award winning author who lives in beautiful Western Arkansas with her husband, two son (and one on the way!), Nora the Doberman, and Phoebe the Cat (who thinks she is a ninja in disguise). She is the author of twelve novels, including the USA Today bestseller, Fate and Fury. Quinn is beyond thankful that she has been blessed to be able to write full time and hopes the readers know how much all of their support means to her. Some of her hobbies include reading, exercising, crochet, and spending time with family and friends. She gives all credit of her success to God because he gave her the creative spirit and vivid imagination it takes to write.

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Review: Buttercream Dreams by Jeff Martin

Title: Buttercream Dreams: Small Cakes, Big Scoops, and Sweet Treats
Author: Jeff Martin
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: May 5th 2015
Source: Andrews McMeel Publishing

Description:

Maybe a cupcake will help? That's the slogan of one of the nation's most popular sweet spots, Smallcakes. Here are thirty of the best, fun, and easiest recipes for iced cupcakes, ice creams, and sweet treats from this fast growing company.

More than just a super cookbook, this is the story of how Jeff Martin created the wildly popular and fast-growing Smallcakes franchise. He shares his experiences on starting his business and coming up with some of his very first signature cupcake flavors like Cookies-n-Cream. He appeared on the Food Network's reality show called Cupcake Wars and famously became the guy who forgot the pumpkin in a pumpkin cupcake challenge. That popular recipe for a Pumpkin Cupcake with Cardamon buttercream is among the recipes in this book. He also introduces some of his creative new flavors like Peanut Butter Pretzel and French Toast with Bacon. Since they are a family owned company, he also includes his kid's favorite flavors. His son Jax loves bubble gum so they created a Bubblegum Cupcake. His daughter Lily is a very crazy kid, so she asked her dad to come up with some crazy flavors like Orange Creamsicle and Caramel Pecan Carrot Cake. This is not just another cupcake book, it also contains recipes for ice cream and other confections offered now at Smallcakes locations such as Jeff's recipes for their famous Nutella Wella Ice cream, Mama's Chocolate Fudge, and Smallcakes Crazy Monster Cookies. These are thirty recipes to make and enjoy with the whole family.

★★★★★

Review:

It's no secret that I love to back. Additionally, my girlfriend has an unhealthy obsession with cupcakes. So when I stumbled across this title, I knew I had to give it a read.

This is a very short, sweet, and to the point book. It's conveniently sorted by the type of treat for easy navigation when you're searching for something specific to make. This is a great book for beginners, thanks to the instructions. They're numbered and step-by-step so they're easy to follow. Plus, there are foolproof descriptions of what your creation should be looking like at each step, to help keep you on track. There's also a conversions chart, should you need it.

The recipes are interwoven with a lot of personal stories and pictures, which make it clear that the author made this book as an object of passion and love. It was nice to learn about the family and why certain items exist on the menu.

There are lots and lots of pictures, which is great for me since one of my biggest pet peeves is cookbooks with no pictures. They're bright, colorful, and delicious, and make you want to bake everything in this book at once.

There's quite a few recipes in this book that I look forward to trying, but the ones that I'm most excited for are Blueberry Muffin Ice Cream, French Toast and Bacon Cupcakes, and Infamous Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cardamom Buttercream.

Overall, I think this is a great little baking book that is awesome for beginners, but that more seasoned bakers will enjoy too. It's easy to follow, has lots of pictures, and has a good variety of recipes sure to please anyone.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Way of the Warrior Homecoming Tour Spotlight & Giveaway!

Title: Way of the Warriors
Author:Suzanne Brockmann, Julie Ann Walker, Catherine Mann, Tina Wainscott, Anne Elizabeth, M.L. Buchman, Kate SeRine, and Lea Griffith
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: May 5th 2015

About the Book:

EIGHT PASSIONATE LOVE STORIES ABOUT AMAZING MILITARY HEROES BY AUTHORS Suzanne Brockmann, Julie Ann Walker, Catherine Mann, Tina Wainscott, Anne Elizabeth, M.L. Buchman, Kate SeRine, Lea Griffith

To honor and empower those who've served, all author and publisher proceeds go to the Wounded Warrior Project.

The Wounded Warrior Project was founded in 2002 and provides a wide range of programs and services to veterans and service members who have survived physical or mental injury during their brave service to our nation. Get involved or register for programs and benefits for yourself and your family online at www.woundedwarriorproject.org

From the Authors:

Suzanne Brockmann on “Home Fire Inferno”

I write about a SEAL team, so my military heroes tend to show up in a rather large group! And although Home Fire Inferno focuses on Navy SEAL Dan Gillman (whose wife, Jenn, is about to have a baby!), you’ll also see quite a bit of Izzy Zanella, along with Mark Jenkins, Jay Lopez, and the inimitable Senior Chief Stan Wolchonok. Readers will also get to meet the SEAL with the face of a serial killer and the intriguing nickname HoboMofo . . . who happens to live with his mother and his ten-year-old daughter. But all the SEALs in this story would be in full agreement that family is the one word answer to the question “What is your military hero/ine most excited about returning to after active duty?”

Honoring love and family is a long-held tradition in the U.S. Navy. A ritual called the First Kiss is still practiced for ships returning to their homeports. (Google “US Navy first kiss tradition” to see pictures that will brighten your day!) All married sailors, officer and enlisted alike, can take part in a lottery in which the winner is the first to disembark, greet, and kiss his or her spouse after many months away from home. It’s a huge deal, with boatloads of ceremony involved. This is the big, bad U.S. Navy, part of the most powerful military force in the world. But everyone—from admirals to seamen recruits—unabashedly recognize that the most important part of their homecoming lies in the arms of the men and women waiting for them.

Julie Ann Walker on “Hot As Hell”

Despite running missions to the ass ends of the earth, Navy SEAL Michael “Mad Dog” Wainwright from Hot as Hell is a family man at heart. Born and raised in Atlantic City, he longs for the sea when he’s conducting sorties in the desert. Hankers for the boardwalk when he’s belly deep in some bog in the jungle. And craves a slice of Tony Bologney’s pizza when he’d eaten one-too-many MREs – meals ready to eat – to count. So when Michael gets time off from missiles and mayhem, you can bet your bottom dollar he races home to be with his two brothers and his mother and father. Together, they make a night of pizza, walks along the boardwalk, salt water taffy, and some tossing of the dice at one of Atlantic City’s seaside casinos. It’s a bit of normalcy in a life that’s otherwise filled by the extraordinary. A bit of fun in a world Michael knows can be full of horror and woe. A bit of life to go along with so much death. Michael “Mad Dog” Wainwright lives for those moments, for those homecomings. They’re what he fights for…

Catherine Mann on “In Plain Sight”

Tech Sergeant Gavin “Bubbles” Novak isn’t known for a sparkling wit, but his steely eyed focus on the job has made him the go-to guy in the most stressful of pararescue missions. Until a fateful military mission leaves him blind and ends his Air Force career. With nowhere else to go, he returns to his small Kentucky hometown with his seeing-eye dog and takes a job as a 9-1-1 operator. His first day on the job brings a voice from the past, the only woman who has ever blasted through that tough shell to reach his soul - his high school sweetheart Stacie Curry. She’s being stalked by her abusive ex-husband and he’s broken into her home.

Stacie Curry thought she made the safe choice in marrying the hometown boy rather than leaving with brooding outsider Gavin. But her decision has led to a nightmare existence. Since her divorce, she is stalked and terrorized by her ex. When she calls 9-1-1, she’s stunned to hear Gavin’s deep voice on the other end of the line. And when she sees him face to face afterward, she’s shocked – and heartbroken – to learn he’s blind. But she soon finds Gavin will let nothing stand in the way of protecting her.

Learning to overcome the loss of his sight and his Air Force career, Gavin comes to her rescue, protecting her, helping expose her ex … and rekindling their old romance with a blazing-hot flame.

Tina Wainscott on “Beauty and the Marine”

Once the gorgeous golden boy of his small Georgia town, Marine Griff Tate returned home scarred from an explosion in Afghanistan. Now, the only people he sees are his family and the out-of-towners he takes hunting and fishing on their private acreage. Griff thinks that all he wants is to be with his family in the comfort of the woods in which he spent his youth. He can barely look at himself in the mirror—how can he expect a woman to want to wake up to his ugly mug every morning? But even a battle-scarred veteran needs love … even if he doesn’t know it!

Anne Elizabeth on “SEALed with Passion”

Navy SEAL LT Cmdr Jonah Melo has his feet back on American soil. That's when the itchy-need begins--to get back into the action and/or to fill his time with something useful. Luckily, he's got an opportunity to jump in and do a building project for the Wounded Warriors. This particular house is special because it's going to be the home of his long-time friend Kevin Toms. Melo has participated in a lot of builds before, but seeing his buddy in a home that enables his happiness and mobility is going to top the list of experiences. If only he could be as blessed in love as he is in friendship.

M.L. Buchman on “NSDQ”

U.S. Army Captain Lois Lang knows only one thing, flying combat search-and-rescue helicopters into the heart of the battlezone and getting her people back out. And when a CSAR mission gone wrong forces her to make the ultimate sacrifice—for her it isn’t a choice. Her crew and the wounded they’ve recovered always come first.
But the battle that awaits her will test her limits. She can learn to walk again, but she must discover the strength to face what to do when she can’t fly.

Kate SeRine on “Torn”

During his deployment, the thing that kept Joe Dawson going was the thought of returning home to Sadie—his best friend since childhood and the woman he’s been in love with for as long as he can remember. But a mission gone wrong has left him scarred—both inside and out. And when he and Sadie finally share an unexpected moment of passion, Joe has a hard time believing that Sadie could have feelings for the damaged man he has become and worries that her heart is being ruled by pity and not love.

Those doubts are compounded now that he’s set to resume his duty as a deputy sheriff. With his father and three brothers already making names for themselves with successful law enforcement careers, the pressure’s on, leaving Joe torn between honoring the family tradition and leaving behind the only career he’s ever known outside the military.

Lea Griffith on her inspiration for “War Games”

There are many things I could tell you about my stepfather. He married a wonderful woman with a tiny, 6 year old girl from a previous marriage who still wondered why her daddy couldn’t be a daddy—and then he became a stepfather and helped raise her. A strict disciplinarian he nevertheless was giving to a fault. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War. (Side note: he refused to call it a “conflict”. He always said, “When people kill people like we killed people that’s a goddamn war.” Finally, I guess I’d tell you he was one of the most tortured souls I have ever known. In the midst of his torment, the nightmares and flashbacks, the anger that always simmered just below the surface there was a strength to be admired and it is that strength that makes him one of my heroes.

My stepdad was born and raised in a little town called Tennille, Georgia. It’s nothing but country with field after field of corn and cotton and country folk living a simple life. When young men came of age they either went into the family business of cotton and corn or they went into the service and this is the route William Thomas Howell, Jr. took. He entered the Air Force and lost any innocence he might have once had running tactical rescue and recovery missions in Vietnam of which he would say nothing about. I remember asking him what war was like and he refused to answer. Then one day when he was talking about Vietnam—not the war, mind you, but the country itself—I asked him what he missed the most about home when he was “in country”. He smiled and for some reason my gut clenched and I remember wishing I hadn’t asked the question. But then he answered and I had to smile with him. “Lightning bugs,” he said. “Lightning bugs and Coca Cola.”

My stepdad passed away almost nine years ago. He has missed the births of several of his grandchildren and the marriage of one of his children. But in the midst of his loss, he left a legacy that includes perseverance, giving and most of all a love of Coca Cola.

Oh, and the lightning bugs. I cannot forget the tiny bugs with the “lights in their butts”. It seems the smallest bug made a light big enough for my stepdad to yearn for. They make me smile every time spring comes. And yes, because he made me smile with his longing for lightning bugs I taught my girls how to catch them and put them in a mason jar for a little while before you release them. This more than anything else has helped me remember him.

Get it Here:

Amazon | iTunes | BN | IndieBound

About the Authors:

Suzanne Brockmann

Suz Brockmann is the award-winning author of over fifty books, and is widely recognized as one of the leading voices in romantic suspense. Her work has earned her repeated appearances on the New York Times bestseller list, as well as numerous awards, including Romance Writers of America's #1 Favorite Book of the Year and two RITA awards.

Website: http://www.suzannebrockmann.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuzanneBrockmannBooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SuzBrockmann

Julie Ann Walker

Julie Ann Walker is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of romantic suspense. Her books have been described as “alpha, edgy, and downright hot.” Most days you can find her on her bicycle along the lake shore in Chicago or blasting away at her keyboard, trying to wrangle her capricious imagination into submission.

Website: http://julieannwalker.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jawalkerauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JAWalkerAuthor

Catherine Mann

USA Today bestselling author Catherine Mann specializes in military romances with over 50 books in print. A RITA winner, she has also won the Bookseller's Best Award. Catherine's books have been widely released internationally including in Great Britain, Germany, Spain, France, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Iceland, Australia, and Japan. She lives with her husband, who is a combat veteran and retired Air Force Colonel, near Pensacola in the Florida Panhandle.

Website: http://www.catherinemann.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatherineMannAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/catherinemann1

Tina Wainscott

Tina Wainscott has always loved the combination of suspenseful chills and romantic thrills. She's published fifteen romantic suspense novels, as well as ten paranormal romances as Jaime Rush. Losing her nephew, a Marine, in the war made her realize that our military men are really the perfect heroes. Not only during the war but afterward as they try to stitch their lives and souls together once they're home.

Website: http://tinawainscott.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tinawainscottbooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tina_Wainscott

Anne Elizabeth

New York Times bestselling author Anne Elizabeth is an award-winning romance author and comic creator. With a BS in business and MS in communications from Boston University, she is a regular presenter at conventions as well as a member of The Author’s Guild and Romance Writers of America. Anne lives with her husband, a retired Navy SEAL, in the mountains above San Diego.

Website: http://anneelizabeth.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aeauthorfanpage
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AEAnneElizabeth

M.L. Buchman

M. L. Buchman has over 30 novels in print. His military romantic suspense books have been named Barnes & Noble and NPR “Top 5 of the year” and Booklist “Top 10 of the Year.” He also writes thrillers, fantasy, and science fiction. In addition to his career as a corporate project manager he has: rebuilt and single-handed a fifty-foot sailboat, both flown and jumped out of airplanes, designed and built two houses, and bicycled solo around the world. He is now making his living as a full-time writer on the Oregon Coast with his beloved wife.

Website: http://www.mlbuchman.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mlbuchman
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mlbuchman

Kate SeRine

Kate SeRine (pronounced "serene") is a hopeless romantic who firmly believes in true love that lasts forever. So it's no surprise that when she began writing her own stories, Kate vowed her characters would always have a happily ever after. Kate lives in a smallish, quintessentially Midwestern town with her husband and two sons, who share her love of storytelling. She never tires of creating new worlds to share and is even now working on her next project.

Website: http://www.kateserine.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kateserine
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kateserine

Lea Griffith

Lea Griffith began sneaking to read her mother’s romance novels at a young age. She cut her teeth on the greats: McNaught, Woodiwiss, and Garwood. She still consumes every romance book she can put her hands on, but now she writes her own. When not working as a Practice Manager for an Internal Medicine Physician, you’ll find her at her keyboard, writing. She loves romance and nothing is off-limits when it comes to her muse. Lea lives in rural Georgia with her husband, three teenage daughters, two dogs, a cat, and a Betta fish named Coddy George.

Website: http://www.leagriffith.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeaGriffithWrites
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeaGriffith

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Blog Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: Dragons Are People, Too by Sarah Nicolas!

Title: Dragons Are People, Too

Author: Sarah Nichols

Release date: 4/28/15

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

Never judge a dragon
by her human cover...

Sixteen-year-old Kitty Lung has everyone convinced she’s a normal teen—not a secret government operative, not the one charged with protecting the president’s son, and certainly not a were-dragon. The only one she trusts with the truth is her best friend—and secret crush—the über-hot Bulisani Mathe.

Then a junior operative breaks Rule Number One by changing into his dragon form in public—on Kitty’s watch—and suddenly, the world knows. About dragons. About the Draconic Intelligence Command (DIC) Kitty works for. About Kitty herself.

Now the government is hunting down and incarcerating dragons to stop a public panic, and a new shape-shifting enemy has kidnapped the president’s son. Kitty and Bulisani are the last free dragons, wanted by both their allies and their enemies. If they can’t rescue the president’s son and liberate their fellow dragons before getting caught themselves, dragons might never live free again.

Excerpt:

Thank you so much for having me on your blog today! I have an excerpt for you. In this scene, the CIA has just torn apart Kitty’s father’s tea shop looking for her. She’s hovering invisible against the roof. This scene is a great example of Kitty and Sani’s relationship.

I know my father's dragon-self must be searing with rage, as mine is, but he doesn't show it. "Told you she wasn't here," he says simply. "That's too bad," Cleft Chin says. He shrugs. "At least we'll be returning one rogue dragon to the compound." One rogue dragon? I don't think there are any other dragons out on assignment today due to last night's mishap. Domestic missions had been immediately recalled and foreign missions were told to hold off on returning until further notice was given. Who could they be bringing in? When one of the thugs takes out a pair of handcuffs, I realize they're talking about my father. My dragon-self roars in my head, the sound drowning out all logical thought. "No!" I yell, but only Sani can hear me. My ability protects us from being heard, though I'm ready to lose control of that when Sani places a hand on the side of my dragon-head. "Kitty." He sounds scared, but far more in control than I am. "Look at me." I can't. These assholes are putting handcuffs on my wheelchair-bound father and I'm calculating how many seconds it would take for me to rip all of their throats out. Less than three, I’d bet. "Your father doesn't want you caught," he says. "They have half an army outside and I still can't change." They start wheeling him out and the full length of my dragon body tenses. I'm thinking, as mad as I am, I could take out the bulk of the U.S. Army right now. If I let the dragon take full control, I probably wouldn't even feel bad about it. I loosen my hold on the magnetic currents keeping me aloft and we descend a few inches. "Look at me." I hear Sani's plea on the very edge of my rage-colored world. "Damn it, Kitty!"

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About the Author:

Sarah is a 30-something YA author who currently lives in Orlando, FL with a 60-lb mutt who thinks he's a chihuahua. She believes that some boys are worth trusting, all girls have power, and dragons are people too.

She's a proud member of the Gator Nation and has a BS in Mechanical Engineering, but has switched careers entirely. She now works as an Event Coordinator for a County Library and as a freelance book publicist and author's assistant. She also blogs at YAtopia and video blogs at the YA Rebels.

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Release Day Blitz, Excerpt, & Giveaway: Lola Carlyle's 12-Step Romance by Danielle Younge-Ullman!

Lola Carlyle's 12-Step Romance

by Danielle Younge-Ullman

Release Date: 05/05/15

Entangled Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

Lola Carlyle is lonely, out of sorts, and in for a boring summer. So when her best friend, Sydney, calls to rave about her stay at a posh Malibu rehab and reveals that the love of Lola’s life, Wade Miller, is being admitted, she knows what she has to do. Never mind that her worst addiction is decaf cappuccino; Lola is going to rehab.

Lola arrives at Sunrise Rehab intent solely on finding Wade, saving him from himself, and—naturally—making him fall in love with her…only to discover she’s actually expected to be an addict. And get treatment. And talk about her issues with her parents, and with herself. Plus she has insane roommates, and an irritatingly attractive mentor, Adam, who’s determined to thwart her at every turn.

Oh, and Sydney? She’s gone.


Turns out, once her pride, her defenses, and her best friend are stripped away, Lola realizes she’s actually got a lot to overcome…if she can open her heart long enough to let it happen.

Excerpt:

Thanks for having me! For today’s blog post, I am posting an excerpt from my debut YA novel, LOLA CARLYLE’S 12 STEP ROMANCE. A bit of set-up: Lola has faked her way into rehab to “rescue” a boy she loves, and thinking it’s not a serious rehab, but more of a spa. Sadly, she’s wrong, and soon she’s butting heads with Adam, her mentor—ie the person in charge of getting her settled in the program. This scene happens a few hours after Lola lost her temper and poured coffee on Adam. (Did I mention she doesn’t adjust well to the program?)

“Look,” I say, head snapping up finally to brave his gaze, “if you would stop giving me shit for five seconds, I would apologize!”
“Wow,” he says. “This should be good.”
“Except you’re annoying me again already, and that makes it hard to keep feeling remorseful. Which I am, actually.”
He shakes his head and turns, as if to leave.
“Wait!” I stand. “Please don’t leave.”
He turns back. Still having trouble looking into his eyes, I glance down and notice he has changed his clothes into a darker pair of jeans and a rather tight T-shirt. I wonder if he keeps extra ones here, or if he went home to Venice. I wonder when he finds time to work out, because obviously he does. Maybe he does it in one of the gyms here…
Amazing what my brain will jump to when I’m avoiding something difficult.
Focus, Lola.
I yank my gaze up—God, what if he thinks I’m ogling him on top of everything else?—then I fill my lungs with air and let it all out in one long sentence. “I really am sorry; it was totally out of line to pour coffee on your stuff and I truly, honestly feel terrible about it and I really, really promise I won’t do it again.”
“Okay.”
“And I want to add that it was very uncharacteristic behavior for me and I’m sure my parents will pay for the dry cleaning bills for the couch and your clothes, and for replacing your binder or the paper, or whatever. Seriously. In fact go ahead and get yourself a designer leather binder and, like, paper made from Indonesian silkworms or Mexican bark or whatever. I know you’re actually a hardworking guy.”
“Uh…thanks.”
“That’s it? ‘Thanks’?”
“But I’ll pass on the silkworms. What were you expecting?”
“Well…it was a big step, I thought.”
“To apologize?”
“Yes! And I was very sincere, Adam.”
He walks closer, never taking his eyes off me. “Good.”
“And I’m embarrassed. I have no idea what came over me.”
“Because you’re usually one hundred percent charming,” he says with a smirk, now only a step away from me and staring right into my eyes like he’s trying to gauge my sincerity.
“Exactly,” I say, but then, again, I find myself looking away. “And I don’t want you to think I’m…I don’t want you to hate me.”
I must be looking pathetic all of a sudden because Adam puts his hands on my shoulders. His skin is warm but instead of soothing me, it makes me jumpy. Then he squeezes and says, “Relax, Lola. It’s all right.”
I reach up, thinking I need to pull his hands off my shoulders and step away, but instead I find myself—WTF?—falling into him for a hug like some kind of desperate little girl, or not-so-little girl. And he lets it happen. He actually wraps his arms around me and pulls me closer, and it feels—crap, I can’t put words to it; I don’t know. We’re not that physical a family and in general I don’t hug a lot of people, so it’s kind of a shock. He smells really nice—clean and somehow sharp and he’s so warm and solid, and it…aches. Shit. To my horror I suddenly feel like I might cry.
“You’d have to dish out a lot worse than that for me to hate you,” he says.
“Okay,” I say, blinking hard, swallowing, keeping my face turned away, head on his chest as I try to pull myself back together.
“But please,” he says, “don’t take that as a challenge.”

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About the Author

Danielle Younge-Ullman is a novelist, playwright and freelance writer. She studied English and Theater at  McGill University, then returned to her hometown of Toronto to work as professional actor for ten  years. Danielle’s short story, Reconciliation, was published in MODERN MORSELS—a McGraw-Hill  Anthology for young adults—in 2012, her one-act play, 7 Acts of Intercourse, debuted at Toronto's SummerWorks Festival in 2005, and her adult novel, FALLING UNDER, was published by Penguin in 2008.  Danielle lives in Toronto with her husband and two daughters.


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