Friday, November 30, 2012

2012 Christmas Blog Hop


Hi Everyone! I hope you love the hop! Make sure you visit all the participating blogs and enter their giveaways as well as mine.Have fun and remember to leave comments :) I will pick a comment at the end of the tour for an EXTRA giveaway.  

All participating blogs MUST follow the following rules:
1) Your post MUST be up by 12:00 AM est on Dec 1

2) Your post MUST include a giveaway specifically for this hop.
3) Your giveaway must end at 11:59 PM est on Dec 12
4) Your giveaway is YOUR responsibility. I do not provide the items being given away. 
5) You must include the list of other participating blogs in your post. I will provide this for you the week before we go live.


Here are all the links to other participating blogs:
1. Intoxicated by Books                                       11. Amethyst Daydreams
2. Ashley Lavering                                               12. Romance, Rumors, Rogues
3. Forbidden Reviews                                          13. Gracen Miller @ Road to Hell series
4. Close Encounters with the Night Kind              14. MIsfits and Heroes
5. Aine @ Hose Millar                                        15. Sunday S. Smith
6. Natasha Blackthorne                                       16.My life, One story at a time
7. My Book Chatter                                            17. Better Read than Dead
8. JC Martin                                                       18. Cecilia Robert
9. Beck Valley Books                                         19. Casey Crow

Here's my Giveaway Rafflecopter!

Bound by Jennifer Dean

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Bound

Jennifer Dean


Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance


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ISBN: 9781300196211


Number of pages: 254
Word Count: 89,600



Guest Post
Hello all! First off, I want to say thanks to Intoxicated by Books for hosting me today.

Well, seeing as this is the first stop on my month long tour, I would love to start off by talking about someone quite important to me. Someone who is quite…imaginary. My main character, Emma. I thought what better way to kick off this tour, then with the whole reason I am even talking to you. So, without further ado, let me introduce you to…


Name: Emma Rose Morgan
Nicknames: Em, Little Morgan, Sean’s little sister
Born: January 3, 1994
Age: 17
Physical Appearance: Long chocolate brown hair with hazel eyes. 5’4” and 120 pounds. Skin is always a consistent color, despite the turning seasons, not tan but far from fair.
Hometown: Washington, North Carolina
Parents: Paul and Angelia Morgan. Though they remain married, they fell out of love a long time ago. An issue that affects Emma into believing that real love is nothing but a myth.
Siblings: She has one older brother, Sean Morgan, who is a year older than her. He is the one person she trusts most in the world. When she was 14, her father’s new job forced the family to move to Dallas, Texas but Sean refused to go, staying behind to live with Emma’s Uncle Greg. A very decision that sealed the already strained relationship of Sean and their father. Luckily, before the second semester of junior year starts, Paul’s job relocates back to Washington, letting Emma happily reunite with Sean. She considers the reunion with Sean, the best day of her life.
Moves back to Washington: January 1, 2011
Friends: Once moving back, Emma is happy to see her childhood friendships with: Lauren Stevens, Pamela Mercer, Rebecca Davis, and Erika Reynolds have remained intact, despite her failing to keep in touch the three years she was in Dallas. Even family friend, Michael Harris is excited to see her back.
Favorite food: Italian
School: Junior at Washington High School
Grades: 3.8 G.P.A. but still considers herself average compared to her brother’s 4.0
Car: 2001 Black Volkswagen Jetta
Favorite pastime: Loves to read a lot of classic and modern novels but holds a special relationship with A Wrinkle In Time. It was the first book she was ever given by her brother, as a goodbye present the day she left Washington.
Sports: She used to compete in volleyball but gave it up after the move to Dallas, and loss interest completely by the time she moved back to Washington. She likes to go for runs to clear her mind.
Personality: Considers herself the plain Morgan. Not ugly, but definitely not noticeable compared to her popular, handsome older brother. At times she can be stubborn, but all in all Emma is very down to earth, sweet, and considerate of others, always putting Sean before herself.

Book Description:



17-year-old Emma Morgan believes she finally has the chance at happiness again when she relocates back to her hometown of Washington, North Carolina and reunites with her older brother, Sean.

But after three years apart, their unique bond is tested when Sean protests her meeting of the oddly charming and bright-eyed, Liam Alexander.  A boy who holds a very deep secret from the rest of the residents in Washington.

A secret that will change Emma’s life forever and lead her to discovering the beginning of something she never believed could exist...true love.

Excerpt


This is the end of chapter five, after a very intense scene.

Once I shut the door behind me, I felt as if the imaginary director had yelled “cut”, letting me finally involuntarily collapse to my knees. I closed my eyes, sitting on my heels with my hands resting on my thighs, slowly filtering in a shaky breath. What the hell just happened? I wanted to hear Sean’s voice to soothe me, but I didn’t have the strength to grab my phone from inside my purse, which I had thrown to the bed a moment before my collapse.

Suddenly I heard a knock at my door. Damn. I opened my eyes before my hands helped lift me back to my feet. I knew my mom would definitely question me if she found me on the floor like that. I breathed out two deep sighs in order to calm my expression before I was ready. Action, I thought.

“Come in,” I said.

The door opened, but it wasn’t my mother. It was Sean that peeked his head through the frame gap, before stepping inside my room and shutting the door behind him. I didn’t waste the time to rush him. I wrapped my arms underneath his as I laid my head to his chest. The instant warmth of his presence lifted me to a better place.

“I thought you had to work late,” I said.

“I just got back and felt like I should stop by and see you.” I felt him gently pat the back of my hair comfortingly. “Is everything all right?”

“I don’t know how you do it,” I said.

“Do what?”

“Make yourself appear right when I need you. But I’m glad that you do.”

“It’s a gift. Now are you going to tell me what’s wrong?”

I finally stepped back to look up at him. But now in the moment of truth, I knew that I couldn’t say anything. I couldn’t be the reason that Sean lost his friends. But I also knew that was what Ross and Nick were hoping on, and I wasn’t keeping quiet for their sake. I have to tell him. I opened my mouth, but still nothing came out. I curled my fingers into fists, looking for the courage to speak.

“I got . . . ” This was my chance as my tongue lingered with the words. Say it. “Freaked out earlier.”

Sean narrowed his gaze with a prepared anger. “Freaked out by what?”

I gulped, not quite sure why this was so hard to say. I hadn’t even begun to wrap my head around Liam Alexander. “I forgot my purse, and when I went back for it the janitor was really creepy.” I rolled my eyes for dramatics with a small shrug. “But you know how my imagination can be.”

I sighed with the guilt weighing me down like lead. I’ll admit the janitor wasn’t going to be my friend but he didn’t deserve the persona I was building of him. I expected a lecture of any kind for being stupid enough to not bring a friend with me. I even welcomed it in order to serve as punishment for lying.

Instead Sean merely pulled his neck back to gaze at me with his brow lifted. “Are you sure that’s all?”

I nodded, maybe a little too much. It wasn’t as if he knew I was lying but more that I wasn’t telling the truth. Luckily he was choosing to ignore it, and I was grateful.

My eyes shifted to the floor with guilt.

“I know it sounds a bit childish, but would you stay until I fall asleep?”

“Sure,” he said.

I wasn’t sure how long it would take me to fall asleep, but I was glad Sean had stayed to do what he had always done best, protect me. Lucky for him, I would have no problem staying away from Liam Alexander now. I wasn’t even sure where to begin with Liam. My mind could barely decipher the idea of what I had seen, let alone how to articulate it into words.

There must be an explanation for it all, but for now I laid under the covers, moving to curl into Sean, with my head rested on the warmth of his chest. It was like sunshine that radiated around my body. The warmth on my skin was like that sensation of hot water from the shower on a cold day. Just being near him made me feel better.

“Sean,” I said.

“Yeah, Em?”

“I’ll stay away from Liam.”

There was a few seconds of silence where I felt like I could almost see his eyes shift away with a smile of accomplishment.

“Why now? Did something happen with him tonight?”

I shook my head, while my mind knew the opposite. “No, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is that I believe you. There is something strange about him.” I paused to exhale at the memory of tonight. “So, you don’t have to worry about him anymore.”

I thought of how different things would be if Sean had seen what I did. He would surely be even more protective of me. But if he had known, then it would be something he would have already told me. Even if I knew how hypocritical I seemed by withholding what I had seen tonight.

I felt Sean’s light, comforting kiss on my scalp before he laid his head on top of my own. “Promise?”

I sighed into the warm silence crawling around the two of us.

“I promise.”

About the Author:

Jennifer lives in Dallas, Texas with her family. When not immersed in her writing, she is either engaged in a book or one of her favorite television shows.





Amazon Author Central Profile

Goodreads Author profile

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Wildflower by Amy Jones


new Wildflower cover createspace.jpg 
Wildflower 
by 
Amy Jones

Review copy provided by Books Complete Me

After you're done here be sure to visit the other blogs that are hosting Amy throughout the month! There are some giveaways involved :)

Nov 19-  I Read Indie
Nov 21- Live to Read
Nov 30- Amy Jones Young Adult Fantasy Fiction

Blurb:

Love can be tragic.

17th Century America:
A Shaman’s daughter falls in love with an Englishman,
only her hand has been promised to a warrior.

Tears fall.
Promises are broken.
Rage is unleashed.
Souls are bound or shattered.

Present Day:
Laney Stillwater dreams about a boy she has never met,
but she longs for the attention of the ever popular and gorgeous, Jordan Stone.

Time tempts change.
Destined souls awaken.
Love gets a second chance.
Souls are bound or shattered.

What will destiny offer this time?
Reconciliation or more despair?


Here is Chapter two if you choose to post it. I would like to only have a few blogs post this unless they are posting it in addition to another post.

Plymouth, Massachusetts

And a very special sneak peek at Chapter 2:

Fall 2011
Chapter Two

Jordan



I shuffled my feet more quickly as the late bell rang for class. The obnoxiously, blaring sound was a rude reminder of my inability to get to class on time. Fortunately, I had Mr. Falls for calculus this period and he would, no doubt, be attempting to flirt with Ms. Warner, the algebra teacher, in the hallway just outside the classroom. As I rounded the corner I confirmed my suspicions were correct, raced through the door and slid into my seat before Mr. Falls had the slightest clue.

“Pushing it a little close again aren’t we, Laney?” I heard a friendly voice tease as I settled into my seat.

I only smiled in return, guilty as charged. My junior year at Plymouth North High School isn’t panning out so great, not that I’d expected it to. No, I’m pretty much ignored by my peers and most of my teachers. It’s not so much that I’m disliked, I’m just, well, not the norm. I’m not rich, so I can’t claim any trust fund baby attention. My parents, Shane and Andrea Stillwater, are hardworking, middle-class folk. My mom is an accountant and my dad is the art teacher here at Plymouth North and, sadly, the only teacher in the school who acknowledges my efforts. I have no exceptional athletic abilities. In fact, I’m pretty pathetic with any sport that requires the manipulation of a ball, which is pretty much every sport. I’m just an average student, so you won’t find my name on the principal’s list. Not that I’m complaining, I don’t mind being average and blending into the drab beige walls of Plymouth North. In fact, I prefer it that way. Unfortunately, I’m not quite average or normal enough. You see, my mom is White but my dad is Native American and apparently, at Plymouth North, the in-crowd prefers a pure pedigree. In their eyes, I’m a freak. My people believe physical wellness and spiritual wellness are connected. By alleviating injury or sickness affecting the soul, you may restore the physical body to balance and wholeness. If I get sick my dad takes me to see my grandfather, our tribe’s shaman, and he heals me with his spiritual gifts. Needless to say, my peers find my tribe’s beliefs and practices to be a bit odd, so I’ve been labeled as the weird witch of the North, North Plymouth, that is. I’m not bitter, though… OK, I’m a little bitter, but I don’t feel sorry for myself because that’s just pathetic and I am not pathetic.

So, what motivates me not to jump off a cliff, you wonder? Well, first of all, my parents are pretty great. Yeah, I know, this is not exactly a normal sentiment for a teenager, but they don’t really bug me that much. Second, I’m pretty good at finding distractions. I love to draw and ride horses. When I get bored I can draw myself into a world that is much more interesting than my own or head out to my grandfather’s ranch and hit the trails with Bunny, my favorite quarter horse. Third, Carly Higgins, my best friend since kindergarten. Carly can always makes me laugh, even when I feel like crying. Last, but not least, Jordan Stone, a super-hot guy. We have English and Spanish together, and he sits right behind me in both classes. We talk and flirt and joke around and it subdues the monotony a little bit.

“So, do we have any plans for the weekend yet?” the friendly voice whispered as Mr. Falls entered the classroom three minutes after the bell finished ringing.

“I don’t know, Carly. I’m still kind of bummed about the last one,” I complained.

“All the more reason to put yourself back out there!” she encouraged, forever the optimist.

“Miss Higgins, do you wish to address the class this morning?” Mr. Falls interrupted.

“No, sir…” Carly frowned.

Mr. Falls nodded an unspoken warning to Carly and me and began his lesson. I was off the hook for now.



The day continued in its usual monotonous manner until fourth period English class. Jordan Stone is in this class.

“How’s it going, Stillwater?” Jordan smiled as he loped into the room and slung his book bag to the side of his painfully uncomfortable metal-and-wooden desk behind mine. He was dressed in worn blue jeans and a black T-shirt. His blond hair was tousled on top of his head from the recent sprint from his previous class. It still looked good. No, more like perfect. His green eyes pierced through me as his dimpled and gleaming white grin took my breath away. OK, stupid, it’s time to say something. What was it that he just asked me? Crap!

“Um, hey, I didn’t see you at Jessica Jacob’s party last weekend. Did you find something better to do?” I teased awkwardly, at a loss for words.

Jordan laughed, not missing a beat. I have no doubt he realizes that he drives me crazy. This can’t be healthy; still, I persist, being the masochist to love that I am.

“Nah, we heard it was gonna be lame so we crashed Gracie’s place instead. Her parents were out of town,” he replied nonchalantly.

Great! My favorite person, Gracie Henderson, Little Miss Perfect, weaseled her way into Jordan’s weekend effectively canceling me out. Gracie’s been getting one up on me more often than I care to admit these days.

“Oh, um, well, how was that?” I asked tightly, not wanting to show my annoyance and not really wanting to hear his reply.

“Awesome!” he nodded enthusiastically. “Everyone was there. Why didn’t you come? I missed you,” he said sincerely.

OK, this is an improvement. He noticed that I wasn’t there. Maybe he was looking for me. Maybe he had wished that I had been there. I looked up to see that he was staring at me and it finally dawned on me that he was waiting for my reply.

I straightened up and snapped out of my trance.

“Oh, well, you know, I didn’t want to let Jessica down. It was her birthday and all.” I explained lamely, not wanting to admit that I had not been invited, would never be invited, to a party being thrown by the one person who seems to hate me more than anyone else in the entire world.

I’ve often wondered what Gracie has against me. For the life of me I can’t come up with a single reason. I’ve never done anything to her. Actually, that’s a lie. I know exactly why Gracie doesn’t like me, but it would not be politically correct to voice my opinion on this matter. I am, after all, already the underdog here. My father isn’t white, and this fact doesn’t sit well with some people. It really sucks and I wish everyone would just grow up and get over it. Well, no use crying about it, I guess. It won’t change anything.

Just as the bell was about to ring, the devil herself sashayed into the classroom.

“Hi, Jordan!” she squealed. “It was so great that you could make it to my party last Saturday. It was so much fun, wasn’t it? I mean, everyone who was anyone was there, right?” she droned on.

Don’t think I didn’t catch that last jab either. She eyed me meaningfully when she uttered it so sweetly.

“Oh yeah, man! Your party totally rocked.” Jordan nodded. “Let me know when you decide to play host again.” He winked before he shifted around in his seat to face Laura Rice. “Hey Laura,” he whispered, “did you finish you’re calculus homework last night? Can I copy it?” he grinned mischievously.

“Sure thing, Jordan.” She agreed easily, pulling her homework from her bag.

I bet Jordan has yet to do a single calculus assignment this year. As Jordan smiled at Laura, or her homework, Gracie’s expression fell. Her glance drifted to Laura and conformed into a scowl. Laura remained oblivious, still entranced by Jordan’s charms. Dang! Gracie must have it bad for Jordan to be jealous of Snora- Laura. We’re talking major borefest personality. Get a grip, Gracie!

OK, I know, that was mean, and being mean isn’t usually my style. Maybe Laura isn’t so bad, maybe she’s just shy. She’s good at calculus. There, I said something nice about her, so why do I still feel like a total hag? I don’t mean to be cruel; it’s just that Gracie always makes me feel like a loser. She thinks she’s better than me, so much so that sometimes I begin to feel like she might be right. She really gets under my skin, you know?

“So, Laney, how was Jessica’s party?” Gracie turned her venom on me.

Sure, her voice was friendly enough but her eyes held the paralyzing and hypnotic stare of a cobra ready to strike.

“Oh, it was great!” I smiled cheerfully.

I lied. Gracie rolled her eyes.

“Well, I heard it sucked!” she hissed, no longer attempting to hide her malice.

On that note, we all shifted uncomfortably in our seats and focused our attention toward the English teacher who was beginning the day’s lecture. Yet again, I was saved by the institution of public education.

After English class Jordan walked with me to our Spanish classroom. During our stroll he remained unusually quiet for about half the distance.

“So, Laney, do you have plans for this weekend?” Jordan voiced shyly.

OMG! He was asking me out! OK, take deep breaths and don’t pass out.

“Um, no?” I responded awkwardly.

I was completely caught off guard by his inquiry.

”Oh, well um, how would you feel about going to see a movie with me?” he continued.

“Great! What movie?” I agreed with out hesitation.

Only then did I realize that perhaps I shouldn’t sound so eager. My doubt was immediately remedied, however. As soon as my words were uttered, I observed Jordan’s shoulders and gait relax and return to his normal easy posture.

“Really?” Jordan breathed with relief and surprise.

“Um… Yeah, what movie?” I persisted, entirely surprised and thrilled by his reaction.

Surely, he knew I would say yes. What idiot wouldn’t?

“Awe, wow! I totally thought you would say no.” He continued to confound me with his delusional response. “I mean, I’m totally psyched that you want to go out with me. I’m just surprised, I guess,” he jabbered on, finally explaining his uncharacteristic behavior.

“Why?” I wondered.

“Because you never do.” He shrugged.

I raised another clueless eyebrow at him.

“You never say yes when guys ask you out,” he clarified.

“So, what, is this like an experiment or something?” I worried.

Get the freaky Indian girl to go out with you! Were they taking bets? Was money exchanged?

“No, I promise it’s not like that at all. I really like you, Laney. The truth is I’ve wanted to ask you out for a long time, but I didn’t because all the guys said you would say no. I was too chicken. You know, afraid of rejection?” he admitted sheepishly. I smiled, both satisfied and flattered by his response. Jordan immediately relaxed again and ran his fingers through his golden locks. “So, why do you always say no… to the other guys, I mean?” he wondered.

“Because I think they’re a bunch of creeps.” I answered honestly.

It’s true. Most boys at Plymouth North find me to be more than easy on the eyes, but I’m not easy, and I know their intentions don’t progress beyond their hormonally-driven male instincts. What I mean to say is, none of them would take me home to meet their mothers, if you can catch my drift. The sad fact is, my caramel complexion would not be overlooked or accepted.

Jordan’s shocked expression was so comical I couldn’t help but burst into laughter. At my knowing reaction he quickly and ever so smoothly collected himself.

“You’re a handful, aren’t you?” he chuckled.

“Maybe…” I said coyly.


Links for Amy Jones:

Young Adult Paranormal Romance/Speculative Fiction Author

My Blog
http://amyjonesyaff.blogspot.com<http://amyjonesyaff.blogspot.com/>

My Website
http://www.soulquesttrilogy.com<http://www.soulquesttrilogy.com/>

My Books
Soulless; The Story of Shayan, The Soul Quest Trilogy, Prequel
http://www.amazon.com/Soulless-Story-Shayan-Quest-Trilogy/dp/1468002465/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_4

Soul Quest, The Soul Quest Trilogy, Book One
http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Quest-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B004OL26JY/ref=tf_ssw?&linkCode=wss&tag=widgetsamazon-20

The Guardians of Souls, The Soul Quest Trilogy, Book Two
http://www.amazon.com/Guardians-Souls-Quest-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B005DOP166/ref=pd_sim_kinc_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

Soul Deep, The Soul Quest Trilogy, Book Three
http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Deep-Quest-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B008ZRLWAC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1345413966&sr=1-1&keywords=Soul+Deep+Amy+Maurer+Jones#_

The Glassheart Chronicles (Co - Author; A series of paranormal romance short stories.)
http://www.amazon.com/The-Glassheart-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B005F50GOK/ref=pd_sim_kinc_4?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

Wildflower, The Wildflower Series, Book One
http://www.amazon.com/Wildflower-The-Series-ebook/dp/B008755190/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1339533562&sr=1-1