Saturday, May 25, 2013

He's Gone by Deb Caletti

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Synopsis:
“What do you think happened to your husband, Mrs. Keller?”

The Sunday morning starts like any other, aside from the slight hangover. Dani Keller wakes up on her Seattle houseboat, a headache building behind her eyes from the wine she drank at a party the night before. But on this particular Sunday morning, she’s surprised to see that her husband, Ian, is not home. As the hours pass, Dani fills her day with small things. But still, Ian does not return. Irritation shifts to worry, worry slides almost imperceptibly into panic. And then, like a relentless blackness, the terrible realization hits Dani: He’s gone.

As the police work methodically through all the logical explanations—he’s hurt, he’s run off, he’s been killed—Dani searches frantically for a clue as to whether Ian is in fact dead or alive. And, slowly, she unpacks their relationship, holding each moment up to the light: from its intense, adulterous beginning, to the grandeur of their new love, to the difficulties of forever. She examines all the sins she can—and cannot—remember. As the days pass, Dani will plumb the depths of her conscience, turning over and revealing the darkest of her secrets in order to discover the hard truth—about herself, her husband, and their lives together.


Deb Caletti is an award-winning author and a National Book Award finalist whose books are published and translated worldwide. Her first novel was The Queen of Everything (Simon & Schuster, 2002),of which a starred review in Publisher’s Weekly proclaimed: “This marks Caletti as a writer to watch.” Although written for adults, its coming-of-age themes gained it acclaim as a Y/A book. It made the cover of the esteemed review journal The Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books (the first trade book to do so in the journal’s history), and then was chosen for PSLA’s Top Forty of 2003 and the International Reading Association’s Young Adult Choices for 2004. It is currently in its thirteenth printing.

Deb’s second book, Honey, Baby, Sweetheart, was a finalist for the National Book Award. Kirkus called it, “tender and poetic,” and the book earned other distinguished recognition, including the PNBA Best Book Award, the Washington State Book Award, and School Library Journal’s Best Book award. It was a finalist for the California Young Reader Medal and the PEN USA Literary Award, and was also a 2005 IRA Notable Book, an SSLI Book Awards Honor Book, and made the New York Public Library’s Best Books for the Teen Age, Chicago Library’s Best Books of 2004, and the Texas TAYSHA’s list. Her third book, Wild Roses, won acclaim with starred reviews in Publisher’s Weekly, which deemed it, “rich,” and School Library Journal, which said the book was “multifaceted and emotionally devastating,” with “profound observations and vivid language.” It was a finalist for the Washington State Book Award and was chosen as a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age and a RT Book Club Magazine’s finalist for Best Y/A Book of 2005. The Nature of Jade was a summer 2007 Booksense pick, a Books A Million Book Club selection, and was a finalist for RT Magazine’s Best Y/A Book of the Year.

Her fifth book, The Fortunes of Indigo Skye, was released April 2008, followed by The Secret Life of Prince Charming in 2009, The Six Rules of Maybe in 2010, Stay in 2011, and The Story of Us in 2012. In addition, several anthologies include work by Deb, including “First Kiss, Then Tell,” a Bloomsbury anthology benefiting NPR Youth Radio, and two collections of non-fiction critical essays developed by Borders Books: “The World of the Golden Compass” and “Through the Wardrobe: Your Favorite Authors on C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia.” In 2013, Deb’s first book for adults, He’s Gone, will be released from Random House.

Deb grew up in the San Francisco Bay area and earned her journalism degree from the University of Washington in Seattle. When Deb is not writing books or reading them, she is a painter and a lyricist, and speaks widely to audiences on writing and life as an author. Deb lives with her family in Seattle.

Social Media:
  
Review: 

LOVE LOVE LOVE this book! Deb is a wonderful storyteller. The characters are very realistic. They don't seem unreal at all. The book pulls you in from the very beginning and pulls at your heart hard. Dani is a very strong character that could draw tears to the face of an emotional reader very easily. 







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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

COVER REVEAL: The Prince of Darkness by Beth Ann Masarik

 



Title:  Prince of Darkness (Book 1)

Author:  Beth Ann Masarik






Series:  The World Among Us





Genre:  Mature YA/Urban Fantasy/Romance
Publisher:  Hydra Publications
Release Date:  Summer 2013 (exact date TBA)
Blurb/Synopsis:
Hades is hell-bent on taking over the world, but in order to do so, he has to remove his nemesis, Gaia from power.  But one thing stands in the way and she goes by the name of Selene.
Cue Damien, son of Hades and Persephone.  He happens to be in love with Selene, and will stop at nothing to make sure that she is safe even though their love is forbidden.  Furious with his son’s treachery, Hades tricks Damien into killing the only woman that he has ever loved.  He does so by telling Damien that he will spend the rest of his eternal life in the Fields of Asphodel if he does not prove his loyalty.  Torn between his un-beating heart and his family, Damien does the only thing a true demon prince knows how: killing those closest to him.
Will Damien follow through with his father’s evil scheme?  Or will he be banished to the Fields of Asphodel for his treachery?
Beth Ann Masarik is a Young Adult author and writer, indie publisher, and youth advocate. She writes Young Adult fantasy and urban fantasy novels that are mostly about forbidden romance and have some sort of magical creatures in them. Her debut novel, The World Among Us: Prince of Darkness was first published with Otherworld Publications. Unfortunately, OWP closed on December 31, 2012, and the book is no longer available. However, she has signed with Hydra Publications, and it will be released sometime in 2013.  You can visit her author website at www.bethannmasarik.com and the series website at www.theworldamongussaga.com for more details on my publishing adventures.

As a youth advocate, she, along with her new husband, is one of the adult coordinators of the Our Lady of Fatima youth group that is supported by the current pastor and the parents of the kids in the group.

In addition to writing, she also publishes a bi-monthly e-zine called Literary Lunes Magazine. It is offered as a free black and white e-copy and also offers a low-cost full colored paperback copy of each issue.  For more information, please visit the magazine website at www.literarylunespublications.com  



Author Links


Monday, May 20, 2013

Star Cursed by Ashley Lavering




Star Cursed
by
Ashley Lavering


Book Description from Amazon:

Chel finished tying me to the chair and stood. “This is crazy.”
I ignored her comment. “Go down to the basement.”
“Now, I know you’ve lost it.” She folded her arms. “How will this prove that your giant dog is the hot guy that got in your van?”
“I’ll explain later. Just trust me.”
One of her eyebrows rose.
“Please?” I waited for her to nod. “Once you’re down there, I want you to whisper something. Then come back up.”
“Whatever.” With an eye roll, she left the room.
I focused on her feet thumping against the wood stairs and heard the change when they slapped across the tiled kitchen floor. Once the basement door closed, I strained to hear her, but all I caught was a beetle scuttling across the kitchen. Nerves tangled in my gut. Had I missed it?
“If this doesn’t work, I’m calling the loony bin, Tay.” Chel’s voice rang so loud that I jerked back, toppling the chair. I hit the floor with a thud.
Beast’s airy chortle resonated from outside the window.
“Shut up. This isn’t funny,” I told him.
Chel walked through the door. “Geeze, what happened?” She hurried to me. “Are you okay?” She righted my chair with a grunt.
“That depends.”
“On?” She cocked an eyebrow at me.
“On whether or not you’re going to untie me.”
“Oh my gosh. I’m so sorry.” She scrambled to untie the knots.
My hands slipped free and I rubbed my bruised arm. “What kind of friend are you?”
“What?” She startled.
I shook my head at her. “I can’t believe you’d commit me.”
“Wait, you heard that?” Her eyes widened.
I repeated it word for word.
“Whoa, that’s, like, creepy and awesome at the same time. But I still don’t understand how this proves your dog is a werewolf.”
The dreaded moment had arrived and nerves attacked my stomach. “Because, Chel—he bit me.”

Seventeen-year-old Tayla will never forget Beast’s fiery-venom spreading through her body like an infection. Now, with her best friend Chel’s help, she must find a human true love before the last petal falls from her enchanted rose or the full moon will transform her into a wolf forever.

But Tayla never expected that her biggest obstacle would come from inside—a wolf presence threatening to take her very soul. At every turn, the she-wolf exploits Tayla’s weaknesses and gains enough control to sabotage her dates. Tayla struggles to control her unruly wolf and her forbidden attraction to Beast. But can she resist his southern charm, the she-wolf’s attraction to his alluring scent, and still fall in love with a human?

Tangled in a web of wills, Tayla must risk everything to break the Curse of the Beast. With failure and possible death looming overhead, Tayla will do anything to find true love. But will one moon cycle be long enough to conquer her wolf and remain human? Or will she become a permanent member of Beast’s pack? Find out in the second installment in the Curse of the Beast series.

My Review:

I read Curse of the Beast not long after it's release and loved it! Naturally I had to keep going with the series. Ashley is a wonderful author. She has the perfect knack for storytelling. Ashley makes the words come alive more so than a lot of authors that I have read. She is creative, funny, and smart. The plot is wonderful and Ashley has a special way with words that makes you feel like you are in the story with Tayla and Chel yourself. I absolutely loved the story. I think I actually liked this one better than the first! They are both GREAT reads!


Wednesday, May 15, 2013

One Tiny Secret by Adam Kunz



Happy Release Day Adam!


One Tiny Secret
by
Adam Kunz



Synopsis: 

Just one tiny secret has the potential to ruin everything.

Being the daughter of the sheriff in a small town like Holden Ridge
 
means that eighteen-year-old Danielle “Dani” Marks’ life is under 

constant surveillance. She’s made a habit of staying under the radar 

by being a floater among social circles at school, which has kept her 

out of trouble—until now.

After a missing persons case stirs up the entire town, Dani finds 

herself caught right in the middle of the scandal. When she’s labeled 

a possible suspect, things quickly go from bad to worse. The sudden 

return of her old flame, Parker Reed, manages to make her whole 

situation even more complicated. 

When an elusive unknown person begins to blackmail Dani by 

threatening to reveal her deepest secrets, Dani refuses to play along. 

That is, until the person’s actions take a violent turn. Holden Ridge 

begins to lose its sense of quaint town security, and Dani is caught in 

a deadly game of cat and mouse.

Who can she trust when anyone around her could be a suspect? 

One thing’s for certain though: Never underestimate the power of 

one tiny secret.



Review:

I have followed Adam and his mother's work from the beginning of 

"The Childe" and I have loved everything they have written together. 

This one was a little different. Adam wrote this book without the 

help of his mother and I must say he did NOT disappoint! Adam has 

given us a wonderful new story that took me to an entirely new 

world. I love every aspect of the novel and I hope you all will go

pick up a copy TODAY!!





Thursday, May 9, 2013

Release Event ~ Broken Strings by Nancy Means Wright

 
Book Title: Broken Strings
Author: Nancy Means Wright
Release Date: May 7th 2013
Genre: Mystery
Publisher: GMTA Publishing, LLC
Presented by: As You Wish Tours
 
ONE LINER BLURB

When puppeteer Fay finds a friend dead of poisoned yew and her sister hanging from a rod like a marionette, she races after the killer.

BRIEF SYNOPSIS

When puppeteer Marion collapses during a performance of Sleeping Beauty, her friend Fay Hubbard promises to carry on. But Fay already has her hands full with three demanding foster children, Apple and Beets, who have a fractious jailbird father—and sixteen-year-old Chance, who has a crush on a much older guy in a band called Ghouls. And now Marion’s husband Cedric seems more interested in a drop-dead-gorgeous French teacher than in any string puppets. And who is the mysterious Skull-man who warns of death if the show goes on with one of Marion’s offbeat endings? When an autopsy reveals that Marion had swallowed a dose of deadly crushed yew—and a friend finds her sister dangling from a rod like a marionette, a shocked Fay goes after the killer.


EXCERPT

“A vampire,” Cedric said. “A vampire to give Beauty the wakeup smooch? Ridiculous.” He tightened his hands around the witch’s neck as though this was what he’d like to do to his wife.

Neanderthal, Fay thought. Kids loved vampires—though personally, they weren’t her own cup of tea. She took a step back, a shivery breath. In the coming scene her fairy was to carry Beauty off the stage and Fay worried about dropping her. She signaled the puppeteer for help.

“Here,” said Marion, putting down her herb tea to show Fay how. It was all so easy when Marion did it. After all, she’d studied under a puppeteer father. Fay was merely a failed actress, substituting a puppet for her own face before an audience.

“Never mind Cedric, he’ll come round. I’ll work on him,” Marion said with more confidence than Fay could muster up. Fay had seen Cedric’s icy blue eyes – it was like staring into the eye of a hurricane.

“Places,” Marion was calling out. “Scene Two!” The children were reassembling. Fay saw her foster boy, Beets, squat in the front row with the cell phone his father had sent – it had better not ring!

The teachers were yelling, “No talking! No drinks in the assembly room!”

“We’re on, guys,” said Marion. Fay took a breath, and the four masked puppeteers moved along behind the stage with their stringed puppets.

It was Beauty’s eighteenth birthday. The marionette took her place in the center, a smiling creature with black flowing curls like her creator, a white organdy gown threaded with gold and glass. Balloons and paper lanterns floated overhead; blue, yellow, and pink paper flowers fluttered in the palace garden. The teachers made shushing noises again and the scene began.

One by one the fairies arrived with gifts of books, slippers, bracelets, flowered gowns;

Chance’s fairy dropped chocolates at Beauty’s feet. The taped music rose to a crescendo and the door swung open to reveal – Nightshade again! Nightshade, her ugly face almost hidden behind a bouquet of thorny red roses. The Queen scurried to shut her out but Nightshade prevailed. With deadly accuracy, she flung the bouquet at Beauty; the puppet squealed with pleasure – and then pain as she pricked her finger. Beauty slumped sideways over the embroidered arm of her chair.
“She will not die!” Fay’s fairy shouted. But out front there was an outcry from teachers and children. Fay looked down to see Beauty’s controller with its multiple strings collapse into a tangled heap, and puppeteer Marion gag, then stumble off the set, clutching her chest and throat, as if she, too, were headed for a hundred years of sleep.


About the Author
Nancy Means Wright has published 17 books, including 6 contemporary mysteries from St Martin’s Press and two historical novels featuring 18th-century Mary Wollstonecraft (Perseverance Press). Her two most recent books are the mystery Broken Strings (GMTA publishing) and Walking into the Wild, an historical novel for tweens (LLDreamspell). Her children’s mysteries have received an Agatha Award and Agatha nomination. Nancy lives in Middlebury with her spouse and two Maine Coon cats.




AUTHOR LINKS
Website
Goodreads
Amazon

BOOK LINKS
Amazon (Coming Soon)