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Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Book Blast: LETICIA by Lindsay Anne Kendal [Guest Post + Giveaway]






LETICIA by Lindsay Anne Kendal
 Release DateApril 14, 2014
Paperback, 320 pages 
Genre: YA / Fantasy / Paranormal
Leticia has a dark secret, and somebody somewhere knows what it is. After being tormented and brutally attacked, it becomes obvious they want her dead. A mysterious group comes to her aid. They want to fight by her side and help her win the war someone has declared on her.

Together, they present a force to be reckoned with. Love, loss and longing put strains on the alliance. Not only must they fight their enemies, but their own fears and desires. Leticia must also face a harsh reality.


If she wants a happy future, she must first confront her past.


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"My heart raced as our lips parted and his tongue danced with mine. My mind was lost in the arms of the man I hoped would now be mine."



Inside the Mind of the Author

My mind… it’s an overactive, jumbled up and scary place to be. I’ll be honest, 99% of the time I don’t live in the real world. Let’s face it, the “real” world is a stressful, violent and sometimes boring place to be. The worlds I live in aren't governed by corruption, greed, envy, etc. They are free, happy and sometimes darn right weird.

My family tells me I wake up a different person every day – they’re probably right. I have about thirty characters talking to me and giving me ideas on what to write. So it’s hardly surprising.

Everyday life bores me for the most part. Moans and groans, people worried about finances, studying, jobs and so on. I do have those thoughts, but I tend to block them out and live with my characters. I prefer to be surrounded by magic and demons, mythical creatures and alternate worlds, rather than “real” everyday issues. I guess that’s just my way of dealing with things.

I’m a very deep thinker. I often space out and know nothing of what’s going on around me. Unless it’s to do with writing, graphic art, history (especially old buildings), photography or the weird and wonderful – I tend not to have an interest in it. I find it extremely difficult to concentrate on anything outside those areas. I much prefer to be creating something from nothing.


I guess I’m anti-social too. I love my friends and family, but I don’t see people all the time. I much prefer my own company (bearing in mind I have characters speaking to me all day every day, so I’m not lonely, lol). Most of my dearest friends live very close by, with exception of the few who live across the sea from me. I speak with them over email, Facebook, Skype, etc. But other than that, I’m a “keep myself to myself” kinda person. I love speaking with people over the internet, but face to face, I get a little anxious. I’m just not a confident person, well, not in the “real” world.  


"He stayed close to me for a few more seconds. I let my hand fall so it was now against his chest. I looked him straight in the eyes, getting lost in them for a moment. I could feel his heartbeat, hard and fast. I so desperately wanted to kiss him."




“I have lived in Droylsden, Manchester, all my life. I live with my parents, my younger sister, Cheryl and her little girl Faith.

I never knew what I wanted to do with my life until I began writing. This is my dream. I get most of my inspiration from music, I’ll sit there listening to it and suddenly I’m no longer in the room. My stories play like videos in my mind, then I go and write them down.

I’m a very dark person, I love anything spooky, supernatural, or unexplainable, and so that’s the genre I want to write in for the rest of my life.

I love watching scary films, although I find it very hard to find one these days that actually frighten me.

I also love getting creative with graphics. I've designed over twenty book covers so far. I create promo art and even book trailers.


I have had a love of photography from being a child. I have literally thousands of photographs which I have taken over the years. Now, I have a professional DSLR camera and I'm looking to do photography as well as my graphics as a sideline project.”


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Book Blast: THE CHALLENGE by Cas Peace [Trailer, Excerpt + Giveaway]


  



Friend against friend, lover against lover, ally against ally.
 
Conflict is coming …
 
Nine months have passed since Brynne Sullyan helped forge an alliance between the realms of Albia and Andaryon. A fragile peace reigns as both sides recover from the events of the previous year. Then mysterious raiders strike Andaryon villages. Attempts are made on the life of Albia’s High King. As Sullyan scrambles to find those responsible, unseen enemies threaten to pull apart everything she has worked for, including her marriage.
 

To betray either one would break her heart, but if conflict is inevitable, she must make a choice …
The alliance begins to crumble, and Sullyan finds herself caught between two monarchs: the king she’s sworn allegiance to, and the man she loves as a father. 






Series Synopsis:

On a foolhardy foray into a foreign realm, Taran Elijah is attacked by a terrible weapon known as the Staff. Killing its wielder, he escapes into Albia, inadvertantly carrying the Staff.

Concerned by the vicious raids that follow Taran's actions, Major Sullyan of the High King's forces crosses into Andaryon to seek diplomatic resolution to the crisis. She is captured and tortured by Lord Rykan, aspirant to the Andaryon throne.

Slowly dying, Sullyan escapes his clutches. She offers her skills to the Hierarch in defense of his throne, finally confronting Rykan on the field of battle. Her handsome Captain and lover, Robin Tamsen, embarks on a desperate quest to recover the Staff. But Rykan's greedy General, Sonten, is two steps ahead of him.

If Robin cannot lay hold of the weapon before Sonten does, Sullyan's life and the lives of all Artesans are forfeit.


The race for the Staff has begun.


Review Quotes:

“Cas Peace has a most beguiling method of pulling you into this very well thought out world she has created. You simply fall in love with her characters, and then you cannot put the book down.” -P C Dodge, Amazon Reviewer.
“If you enjoy being whisked away to the realm of fantasy, I strongly suggest this unique, special read! Hands down, one of the best fantasy series I have ever read!” -Ashley L. Knight, author of FALWYN


“I have just loved this entire series. Cas Peace is a master storyteller, providing a depth and breadth of information about her worlds and their people that is just staggering. Her characters are complex and multi-dimensional, and I have very much enjoyed reading this series. I am also looking forward with great anticipation to her next novel in this series. I heartily recommend this series to anyone who enjoys epic fantasy, strong world-building and beautiful storytelling. Highly recommended!” -K. Sozaeva, Amazon Vine Voice and Top 1000 Reviewer.



Cas Peace's Artesans of Albia trilogy immediately sweeps you away:  the drama starts with King's Envoy, continues unabated in King's Champion, and climaxes in King's Artesan, yet each volume is complete, satisfying.  The Artesan series propels you into a world so deftly written that you see, feel, touch, and even smell each twist and turn. These nesting novels are evocative, hauntingly real.  Smart.  Powerful.  Compelling.  The trilogy teems with finely drawn characters, heroes and villains and societies worth knowing; with stories so organic and yet iconic you know you've found another home—in Albia.


Now there's a fourth book on Albia's horizon:  The Challenge, also Book One in Peace's forthcoming sub-series, the Circle of Conspiracy trilogy, proof of more Albian tales on the way.  So start reading now.  I, for one, can't wait to find out what will happen next. -Janet Morris: The Sacred Band of Stepsons; the Dream Dancer series; I, the Sun; Outpassage










Cas Peace was born in Hampshire UK, in 1957, and has lived there most of her life. Her first career was as a horse-riding instructor, and horses remain very close to her heart. She then spent 13 years working for the British Civil Service before leaving the UK to live in Italy for three years, 1991-1994. She speaks passable but by no means perfect Italian, and loves to return to Italy whenever she can.

 Cas's other great loves are anything to do with animals, especially dogs and horses, (she supports many animal charities) and also singing.


 Cas loves folk songs and along with her husband, who plays guitar, has performed in many a Southern England folk club. Sometimes they even asked her back! She writes folk songs to accompany her fantasy novels, and offers them as free downloads from her website.



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Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Review: FLOAT by Roni O'Connell


FLOAT
By Roni O'Connell
Release Date: November 12, 2013
Paperback, 258 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction / YA

What if your only memory is of who you aren't, not who you are?

Seventeen-year-old Rashelle Santos fights her way out of a coma to find she doesn't remember her life, except for her parents and dog. Brain damage doctors tell her, but Rashelle knows with absolute certainty that Shellie (her nickname) died at the bottom of Kaweah Lake, bequeathing her death memories to Rashelle.

Rashelle leaps into a relationship with Shellie's boyfriend, Aiden Brody, because he stirs her feelings and fills the void within her. As their relationship becomes serious, she questions whom he really loves.

When threats appear in the form of notes stuffed into her locker and calls in the night, Rashelle wonders if she can stay alive long enough to discover who wants her dead, because somewhere out there Shellie's attacker watches and waits to finish what he started.

And what the hell, she wonders, is she deranged or could dead Shellie be lingering to keep her alive?

I read this book in less than a day. The author took me on a path that I didn't need to rest on. My attention was grabbed and we were off. I loved the story-line and how detailed everything was. I could imagine myself there; sitting in the room and watching everything unfold just as it was in the pages.

I could not wait to see how it worked out, so I didn't. Wait, that is. I let myself fall completely and utterly into the story and immersed myself into Rashelle’s world and did not climb out until the very end. At that point I felt so many emotions. Disbelief, shock, surprised, shocked and then the “Ahaa” moment clicked.

O’Connell definitely keeps you guessing and second guessing yourself. She takes you on a roller coaster ride with your emotions.

I have already been suggesting this book to all of my friends and anyone else that might listen to me. My only hope is that other readers enjoy it as much as I did.


Guest Review by: Karin Baker



Roni O’Connell lives with her husband and two dogs high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. She finds inspiration in the forest, wildlife, and lakes around her home.

A former English teacher, Roni enjoys the company of young adults, their spirited opinions, great enthusiasm, and outrageous humor.

When Roni isn't writing novels, you can find her hiking in the forest or contemplating the wonders of nature.


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Monday, April 14, 2014

Review: FLOAT by Roni O'Connell


FLOAT
By Roni O'Connell
Release Date: November 12, 2013
Paperback, 258 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction / YA

What if your only memory is of who you aren't, not who you are?

Seventeen-year-old Rashelle Santos fights her way out of a coma to find she doesn't remember her life, except for her parents and dog. Brain damage doctors tell her, but Rashelle knows with absolute certainty that Shellie (her nickname) died at the bottom of Kaweah Lake, bequeathing her death memories to Rashelle.

Rashelle leaps into a relationship with Shellie's boyfriend, Aiden Brody, because he stirs her feelings and fills the void within her. As their relationship becomes serious, she questions whom he really loves.

When threats appear in the form of notes stuffed into her locker and calls in the night, Rashelle wonders if she can stay alive long enough to discover who wants her dead, because somewhere out there Shellie's attacker watches and waits to finish what he started.

And what the hell, she wonders, is she deranged or could dead Shellie be lingering to keep her alive?
FLOAT by Roni O’Connell is a book I went into reading with little expectations, as I normally don’t care for teen mystery/suspense novels. However, I was immensely surprised.

O’Connell’s characters are well developed, the plot is fresh and well fleshed out, and the book is overall very addictive.


I read the entire novel, cover to cover, in two sittings! I loved the blend of fast-paced mystery, romance, and the paranormal twists thrown in gave the book a definite edge.

I was actually tempted to cheat several times and try to see what the ending held, but I was good and made myself read each page. Don’t let yourself cheat – because you will want to! – And will end up missing out on several key plot points.

I was very impressed with Roni O’Connell and will happily agree to read any of her coming books.

Guest Review by: Victoria Lucas



Roni O’Connell lives with her husband and two dogs high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. She finds inspiration in the forest, wildlife, and lakes around her home.

A former English teacher, Roni enjoys the company of young adults, their spirited opinions, great enthusiasm, and outrageous humor.

When Roni isn't writing novels, you can find her hiking in the forest or contemplating the wonders of nature.


Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook 




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