Cover Reveal: House of Royals by Keary Taylor

House of Royals

by Keary Taylor
Publication date: June 21st 2015
NA, fantasy

  Every town has its history and skeletons, but Silent Bend, Mississippi’s are darker than most. Ruled from the shadows by the House—the immortal Born and their aging, enslaved Bitten—everyone knows not to go out after dark and that the police will never look into crimes involving blood.

Alivia Ryan didn’t know the man who claims to be her father through a will even existed until she inherits the Conrath plantation. Instead of the sleepy house she expects, she finds a mansion and a staff who look at her with fear in their eyes.

Ian Ward tried to kill Alivia the first time they meet, and then insisted he train her to defend herself against the House, who he claims will try to manipulate and take her in for their own political reasons. And the growing attraction between them will threaten their lives—Ian is a sworn enemy of the House.

In Silent Bend, people disappear, the threat of a demented King and the legend of his resurrecting Queen hang over everyone’s heads, and proving loyalty means far more than blood. You’d better watch who you trust in this town…

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And now the awesome cover!

Are you ready?

Here it comes!

Author bio

Keary Taylor grew up along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains where she started creating imaginary worlds and daring characters who always fell in love. She now resides on a tiny island in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their two young children. She continues to have an overactive imagination that frequently keeps her up at night. She is the author of THE EDEN TRILOGY, the FALL OF ANGELS trilogy, and WHAT I DIDN'T SAY. To learn more about Keary and her writing process, please visit www.KearyTaylor.com.

 

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Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Recently Added To My To-Be-Read List

 

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week participating bloggers can create lists of topic given by the host, and share them with others!

Because I have two TBR lists (one for books I actually own and need to read, and one for books that I don't own yet or hasn't been published yet) I'm going to divide this week's TTT. I'll give you five books from my owned TBR and five book from my yet to be owned TBR. Confusing? I hope not too much.

Here's five books from my TBR pile that I do own (and recently added):

Half A King by Joe Abercrombie: My most recent purchase. I can't wait to dive in this fantasy world, it sounds really intriguing and it's been a while since I read high fantasy.

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab: Definitely very high on my TBR pile. I mean, why not? There's four London's and the summary just sounds divine. Plus I've heard nothing but great things about V.E. Schwab!

Cinder by Marissa Meyer: Actually, I'm currently reading this one. 129 pages in and I'm all for it.

While England Sleeps by David Leavitt: I have a feeling that I'm going to need tissues when I read this one. I don't read much historical fiction but I can't wait to read this one!

Ferryman by Claire McFall: Looks good and sounds good. Definitely very, very high on my TBR pile - and as far as I know, Ferryman is a standalone.

And five books from my TBR pile that I don't own yet (and recently added):

Trust the Focus by Megan Erickson: Nyrae Dawn recommend this recently and I found it interesting and I just wanted to read it, so of course I added it to my TBR pile.

The Fixer by Jennifer Lynn Barnes: I've liked every one of her books that I've read, and The Fixer caught my attention so yes, definitely waiting for it!

The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley by Shaun Hutchinson: I have heard nothing but good things about this one and honestly, it just intrigues me so much that I added it on my TBR list when I stumbled upon it.

This Monstrous Thing by Mackenzi Lee: First of all, the cover is gorgeous. Second of all, the synopsis got me. There's really no other reason why I added this one.

Our Lady of the Ice by Cassandra Rose Clarke: I love the cover. It's so beautiful! The synopsis are intriguing and that's why I added it to my TBR pile.

Stacking the Shelves (29)

 

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, and is all about sharing the book you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

 

Purchased

 

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

Half A King by Joe Abercrombie

Quite fantasy filled haul. I love the UK cover of A Darker Shade of Magic more than the original US cover even though it was gorgeous, too. I can't wait to read these!

Book Blitz + Giveaway: Royal Date by Sariah Wilson

Royal Date

by Sariah Wilson
Publication date: March 3rd 2015
New Adult, romance

 

This Cinderella didn’t plan on a prince . . .

Kat MacTaggart is a girl who has a plan for everything—including her holiday ski trip to Monterra with her best friend. Everything is going according to plan until she finds herself careening out of control down a mountainside and being rescued by a guy who looks like Superman’s hotter Italian cousin.

HRH Prince Nico is intrigued by the woman he saved on the slopes and her refusal to date him. He offers Kat a deal—let him show her his country and he’ll pay her to write articles that will help Monterra’s tourism industry. Kat agrees, but given her past and lingering distrust of men, she has one condition—absolutely no kissing.

Thanks to the claims of a jealous British noblewoman and the schemes of a meddling paparazzo, Kat’s rule doesn’t seem to be a problem at first. But the more Kat gets to know Nico and the people around him, the harder it is to remember her keep-your-distance plan. Should she stick to it or risk everything for a chance at happily ever after?

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Purchase your copy!

Amazon

 

NOTE that the book is currently 50% off with the discount code ScoutOne!

 

Author bio

Sariah Wilson has never jumped out of an airplane, never climbed Mt. Everest, and is not a former CIA operative. She has, however, been madly, passionately in love with her soulmate and is a fervent believer in happily ever afters--which is why she writes romance. She has published five happily ever after stories. She grew up in southern California, graduated from Brigham Young University (go Cougars!) with a semi-useless degree in history, and is the oldest of nine (yes, nine) children. She currently lives with the aforementioned soulmate and their four children in Utah, along with three tiger barb fish, a cat named Tiger, and a recently departed hamster that is buried in the backyard (and has nothing at all to do with tigers).

 

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Giveaway! (INTL)

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Giveaway Blitz: YA Spring Fling

 

There are over 70 authors and 100 books in the giveaway, and they range from YA contemporary to YA sci-fi with everything in between. A few of the authors included: Beth Revis, CJ Archer, Megan Thomason, Katie French, Ann Christy, Lola Stvil, Sutton Shields.

We'd like you to add the following link in your post where readers can browse the giveaway's official page, which has all the details of the books included in this giveaway. They can check out the participating authors, read the book descriptions, and the giveaway terms and conditions are listed there as well. To enter, Sarah opted to go with a form and not Rafflecopter. This is the link to the form where people can go and enter HERE.

 

 

Q & A with the organiser – Sarah Dalton

How can readers enter the YA Spring Fling giveaway?

Head over to my website Sarahdaltonbooks.com and find the page for the YA Spring Fling (handy hint, it’s HERE). Once you’re there you can browse through the books on offer, or check out more information about the participating authors. 

You should see plenty of links prompting you to enter the giveaway. Simply fill out the Google document telling us which books you’d like to win, the format you prefer, and whether you would also like to win paperbacks and swag. It’s that simple. Pick the books you want and sign off. 

How will I know I’ve won?

There are so many books on offer that I’d be surprised if you didn’t win something! So you will be hearing from us. J

After April 3rd, I will collate all the entries and pass them on to the participating authors. They will then choose the winners at random and Email the winners to let them know the good news. 

Will my Email or personal details be used outside the giveaway?

Absolutely not. We’re all against spam and promise not to use your Email for anything other than contacting you as a winner. If you joined up to the YA Spring Fling mailing list you will receive one Email telling you the giveaway is open, and another warning you it is about to close. That’s it! 

Is the giveaway open internationally?

Yes! But there are some paperbacks on offer that are region specific. Not all of our authors are sending paperbacks and swag internationally, purely because it costs us so much money and we ain’t made of it. ;) 

We will ask for your country of residence in the Google document. That’s so we can work out the winners for region specific paperbacks more easily. Everything else is open internationally.

I have a question, who can I contact?

Me! Send me a message on Facebook. My Email might be clogged by answering author queries, so Facebook might be the easiest method. 

Who can I tell about the giveaway? And what can I do to help spread the word?

You can tell everyone and anyone who might like YA books. If you’d like to spread the word it would be awesome if you could follow or like some of the authors and share their posts about the giveaway. You can find a full list of the participating authors and their social media links here.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE! MAY YOU WIN MANY BOOKS!

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Out Now: Falling by Barbara Elsborg

Falling (Fall or Break, #1)

by Barbara Elsborg

Published by Samhain Publishing

Adult, LGBT, contemporary, dark, romance

Falling is easy. Landing without breaking your heart? Impossible.

Harper is no longer behind bars, but it doesn’t feel like it. Ten years serving time for a crime he didn’t commit have left him shut down, numb, and a frozen wreck over the simplest of choices.

He’s acutely aware of the dark-haired young man checking him out in the supermarket, but he’s too deep in panic mode to even meet the guy’s gaze. Afraid the slightest move will trigger a fall that will never stop.

Fresh off a long-term relationship with a controlling man, Malachi is stuck living with relatives who think he’s a waste of oxygen. The tall guy in the long, gray coat is the first bright spot he’s glimpsed in a long time…though the man’s unblinking stare at a bottle of shower gel is a touch alarming.

Hard experience tells both of them to turn away before lust turns to hopeless attraction, and inevitably to disaster. But once their sparks connect, the arc of electricity is too strong to deny. Even if the cost is too much to bear.

Warning: Contains an ex-con with disaster written all over him, a boy toy who’s trouble with a capital T, a damp old British house, compulsive meddling, and enough hot sex to cure the severe case of nervous babbling.

Falling is out right now! I was lucky to get a chance to read and review ARC of this. You can find my review here and see how much I loved the story. Go check it out!

 

You can purchase the book several places, including
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Book Depository

Falling on Goodreads.

Cover Reveal: Saving London by Taylor Dawn

Saving London

by Taylor Dawn
Published by: Booktrope Publishing
Publication date: June 9th 2015
Adult, urban fantasy

 

“You have terminal cancer.”

 

London Patterson, a seemingly healthy young woman had her entire life ahead of her. That was until four little words brought everything to a screeching halt. As the shock and grief begin to fade, London decides to map out her last year and embark on an epic journey to complete a bucket list. She wants to do the things she’s been afraid to do in her life, step out of her self-contained box, and see the world. What she didn’t expect was for a mysterious stranger named Adam to breeze into her life like a breath of fresh air.

 

Adam offers to help London complete her list on one condition…that she sees it through to the end. Agreeing on those terms, the two set out on an adventure of a lifetime. But London soon realizes that Adam isn’t quite…human. Along their journey odd occurrences happen that cause London to question who or what Adam is and why he’s helping her.

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And now the cover reveal...

 

hold your breath...

 

 

 

Author bio

C.D. Taylor [pen name Taylor Dawn) began writing as an item to check off her bucket list. She resides in the southernmost part of Illinois, right on the mighty Mississippi river. She enjoys the quiet country life with her husband, son and the many farm animals that make up the rest of the family. C.D. decided that farm life was just a little too mundane, so she started writing erotica to spice things up, so far so good. C.D. entered cosmetology school right out of High School and practiced the art of hair styling for 12 years. When she isn't writing, she can usually be found sitting around a table making people laugh. She has always wanted to be a standup comic. She loves pulling practical jokes, dresses up in a costume every Halloween and believes that dancing is the key to a happy life (even if you aren't a good dancer). She believes that life shouldn't be taken too seriously, we will never get out alive anyway. More than anything, C.D. is a kid at heart, she doesn't believe in bedtimes, eating everything on her plate, or having ice cream only for dessert. Her favorite quote is by Dr. Seuss..."Why fit in, when you were born to stand out."

 

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Top Ten Tuesday: Books From My Teens That I Would Love To Revisit

 

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week participating bloggers can create lists of topic given by the host, and share them with others!

So, today we have ten books from my teenager years that I'd like to revisit, and probably would if there weren't so many new books I want to read. But, here we go:

That Was Then, This Is Now by S.E. Hinton
I've read all Hinton's books but That Was Then, This Is Now stayed with me like no other. It broke my poor little heart, and all I could do was to love it even more. Hinton surely knows how to wrench her reader's heartstrings but at the same time she tells so powerful growing stories. I can't even with Bryon and Mark. This is so special and dear book to me, and changed a lot.
 

Tex by S.E. Hinton
Very true Hinton style book, but Tex had something happier in it. Still messed up with my heartstrings and I have read Tex many times already but the story never goes old. It's beautiful story, and I love how Hinton deals with family problems and how her characters have such strong relationships, especially brotherhoods.
 

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
I'm sure I don't need to explain this one.
 

Atonement by Ian McEwan
Atonement had such an impact on me when I was my teens. It's powerful story and I love how it doesn't shame anything. I cried so much for Robbie and Cecilia. I've never been into war stories, still aren't, but Atonement is exception to that and will always be. I've read it probably four times but I could revisit it any day.
 

Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Alonside with Harry Potter, Eragon made me love fantasy. I know a lot of people critize Paolini for many things but I always loved Eragon, no matter how slow it was at times. I still need to read Inheritance but I'd love to re-read all the three books before that.

 

Stardust by Neil Gaiman
What there's not to love? Such a good story telling, wonderful characters, plot, and the fairytale feeling without it being actual fairytale (close, but still). I love the book, I love the movie. I should revisit Stardust someday, even though I've already read it countless times.
 

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
I actually saw the movie first and while I did love it, I prefer the book. I loved the idea that Winifred was just a child when she met Tuck's, not teenager. Such heartfelt story about immortality, beats every vampire tale any given day.
 

Holes by Louis Sachar
I don't know about other countries, but here in Finland Holes was must read during secondary school. Everyone had to read it. Nobody wanted and there was so much rumors how boring Holes is and everything. It turned out to be so good! Although, I did love Small Steps more than Holes but I've read Small Steps many times but Holes only once, so I'd like to re-read it.
 

My Swordhand Is Singing by Marcus Sedgwick
I was scared when I read this. Nervous, afraid and all things like that. It was maybe a little bit too gore for little me at time. Because let's face it, after reading Twilight, My Swordhand Is Singing has vampires from your nightmares. Still, it was darn good story and I'd like to revisit it and see whether it's as scary as I remember.
 

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
I don't know if there's re-read or revisit list from me that doesn't include Wuthering Heights. I just love it so much and it had such impact on me when I read it - I was probably fourteen or fifteen at the time. It really made me see, how love isn't always pure, simple, easy or rational. Sometimes it's messy, hurtful, obsessive and irrational. And that's what makes it so great, so tragic. Yes, Heathcliff and Cathy ruined me, after that sweet, pure and caring romance hasn't been the same. For me, love stories need to be a little bit irrational and a lot of hurt to really be great.

What books from your teens you'd love to revisit?

Book Blitz + Giveaway: Numbers Game by Rebecca Rode

Numbers Game

by Rebecca Rode
Publication date: March 16th 2015
YA, dystopia
 

Treena can’t wait for Rating Day. Her high score will mean a life of luxury, showing the world that she’s a valuable member of society, not a pathetic waste of space. It won’t hurt her chances with her top-Rated boyfriend, either. But when the big day arrives, her true number shocks everyone.

To get her life—and boyfriend—back, she must go undercover and expose a military spy. Doesn’t sound too hard, except that someone seems to want her dead. And then there’s the mysterious soldier with a haunted past and beautiful brown eyes. Together, they discover a dark numbers conspiracy, one that shatters the nation’s future. They must band together if they are to survive the dangerous game of numbers—and the terrible war that rages within Treena’s heart.

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Purchase your copy!

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Author bio

REBECCA RODE is an award-winning author, journalist, and mother of four. She is the author of the YA dystopian novel, NUMBERS GAME, and the inspirational book, HOW TO HAVE PEACE WHEN YOU'RE FALLING TO PIECES. She also writes for Deseret News, KSL.com, FamilyShare, and Provo Daily Herald. However, her true love is writing for teenagers. She enjoys traveling, reading, and martial arts, and she has a ridiculous addiction  to chocolate-banana shakes. Visit her at www.AuthorRebeccaRode.com.

 

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Amazing giveaway! (INTL)

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Q&A with Rebecca Rode

Q: Will you tell us about Numbers Game?
A: Absolutely! In the New Order Republic of America, 16-year-olds are given a Rating, a number that encompasses what they’re worth to society. It determines their career, living conditions, and potential partners. This is the story of Treena, who gets a different Rating than the one she earned. She decides to fight for what is rightfully hers, determined to get her boyfriend back in the process.

Meanwhile, she meets Vance, a mysterious prisoner-turned-soldier who has his own agenda. When someone tries to kill Treena—twice—they uncover a dark conspiracy that risks much more than Treena’s Rating. 

Q: Great. You probably get this question a lot, but the concept is so unique that I have to ask—where did you get the idea for Numbers Game? 
A: I love this question! My husband sent me to the bank to finalize the loan on the truck he was buying. I looked at my credit score and thought how strange it was that one number was supposed to incorporate everything about me—my purchase history, how reliable I’d been, whether they could trust me to make payments, that sort of thing. And then I thought how strange it was, that we as citizens are so trusting of the accuracy of that little number, and how important it is in our lives. It spiraled from there—what is someone was manipulating the numbers? What if the number included appearance and intelligence rather than just financial history? It didn’t take long for the plot to unfold in my mind.

Q: What type of reader would like this book?
A: I tell people that it’s like a thriller version of The Scarlet Letter, but set in the future. With bombs. And kissing. Dystopian fans who like Divergent, Hunger Games, and Matched would love it. 

Q: Who is your favorite character and why?
A: At first, Tali was my favorite. She knows exactly what she wants and doesn’t put up with anything. But now that the book is done, I think Vance has overtaken her as my favorite. The way he sees the world and struggles to survive while torn between two worlds really resonates with me. 

Q: What was your favorite part of the writing process? What was the hardest?
A: I really enjoyed taking an idea and running with it. Once I had the world solidified in my head, it was fun to explore all the different aspects of it—political, social, financial,
emotional, etc. I wrote myself into a dozen corners because I was just having too much fun. 

The hardest part? Probably the time it took to finish it. When I began writing Numbers Game in 2012, I was also juggling a journalism career and three kids, and then my nonfiction book was accepted for publication, so that took all my remaining hours. When my fourth child was born, everything came to a screeching halt for a while. It wasn’t until Numbers Game won first place in a statewide writing contest in that I decided to buckle down and get serious with it. 

Q: Why did you decide to make it a series instead of a stand-alone book? 
A: You know how some authors say that their characters grab hold of the story and steer it in a different direction without their permission? That’s kind of what happened here. It just couldn’t end with this book. There was so much more that needed to be explored. Besides, Treena had a little more growing to do, and I think you’ll love the person that she becomes.

Q: Thanks for joining us. Where can we find out more?
A: Visit my website at www.AuthorRebeccaRode.com or sign up for my monthly newsletter at http://eepurl.com/bdwUKL. I give away free stuff sometimes, if you’re into that type of thing. But remember, Numbers Game is only discounted on Amazon for a few days, so you may want to snatch it up quick. 

It's Time To Show Some Love For Book Dedications!

It all started when lovely Azee wondered if anyone even reads dedications (and after that she made us read). Her post is great and the dedications she chose for her post are awesome, so go and check it out!

 

Now, I'm about to show you some more, because I love book dedications. Even those that are just for mom or for my family (it's interesting how many books are dedicated for moms, where are all the dads?) It's so intriguing to see who the author wants to dedicate their book. I'll even share a secret with you. I don't have a bucket list but there's one thing I'd love more than anything (well, besides seeing the world): a book dedicated to me. I know it's a distant dream, but a girl can dream, right?

 

Enough of rambling. I picked up ten dedications from books that I own to share with you guys! Here we go:

 

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

 

This book is perfection from the dedication till the very end, okay.  I love how the font matches with the rest of the book, and there's just something in this dedication that I love. It's a whole story itself, and the book tells it with more details. So amazing.

 

The Giver by Lois Lowry

 

It's simply both beautiful and so true.

 

Ferryman by Claire McFall

 

I find these snippets from author's life very intriguing. It's like a little, vague story about someone's life - and it's also about how the book came to be (because support is awesome and I think we all need it, especially authors who disappear inside their heads).

 

This Book Is Gay by James Dawson

 

It fits the book but it's also charmingly interesting.

 

 

Partials by Dan Wells

 

It should be written down somewhere: Dan Wells have awesome dedications. Just check out the dedication in Ruins. I love this one little bit more, my inner rule breaker likes it (it's inner because I don't really break the rules, well, not often).

 

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

 

Dads deserve dedications too, not just moms. I also like how she descripes her father with a few words. It's also obvious there's so many stories behind this one, and I love stories behind stories.

 

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

 

Reader kids rules!

 

White Cat by Holly Black

 

It's certainly hilarious. I laughed. And then I felt for those dead fictional cats.

 

Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez

 

It has important message, but I also love how it's not just typed there. It had beautiful design that just rocks!

 

The Lux Guardians: A Compilation of Side Stories by Saruuh Kelsey

 

Well, I had to include this one. Because you know what. I'm one of those believers and I own (and cherish) this book. Saruuh is awesome, such a lovely person, and I love to help her any way I can. Also, her dedications are funny and beautiful.

 

What did we learn? Authors, write down dedications. Many might not read them, but I certainly love them!

 

Do you read dedications or do you just skip it?

Top Ten Tuesday: Books On My Spring TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week participating bloggers can create lists of topic given by the host, and share them with others!

My reading has been a little bit off, mostly because I've had academicly two hellish weeks. But exams and whatnot are over this Saturday so after that I'm going to dive into these awesome sounding books. Here's my spring TBR!

Cinder by Marissa Meyer: I finally got my hands on this, so I'm definitely going to read it as soon as I finish my exams this week!
 

Of Triton by Anna Banks: I've been waiting for this since I finished Of Poseidon, and now I have it. Altough, it doesn't have even three hundred pages, it's going to end way too soon. (And Of Neptune doesn't come out as paperback until summer, I don't know how I am going to survive).
 

Carry the Ocean by Heidi Cullinan: I'm so excited to finally have time to dive into this review copy! This far I've loved everything I've read from Samhain Publishing, so I'm waiting for this being good.

 

The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky: I'm so late with this train. I've already seen the movie (yes, I'm a bad bookworm) but I'm still excited to read this and I have high expectations. This will probably be the one I start with my sping TBR!
 

Ferryman by Claire McFall: I purchased this while I was in Tenerife, and I've been dying to read it after that. I have never heard anything about Ferryman, but it sounds something I'm going to love.

 

The Wandering by Saruuh Kelsey: Way long overdue, especially since I'm excited to see what happens to characters and where Saruuh went with the story. Definitely high on my spring TBR!

The Wicked We Have Done by Sarah Harian: I've wanting to read this so long, over a year. But I've never gotten into it. Now I'm trying to - if not during spring, then on summer. This just sounds so awesome that I have to read it.

 

 

If I Stay by Gayle Forman: I haven't watched the movie because I wanted to read the book first, and now I own this so I'm probably going to read this and then watch the movie.
 

While England Sleeps by David Leavitt: This sounds emotional and heartwrenching read, so yeah, I'm all in. And historical fiction, I do enjoy it once in a while.
 

Bomb by Sarah Mussi: It looks good, sounds good, my friend raved about Mussi's other book so yeah, I'm excited. This one is review copy so I'll probably dive into it very soon.

 

What's on your spring TBR?