Category Archives: blog tour

Blog Tour Book Review: Comes the Night by Norah Wilson and Heather Doherty

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Today I am one of the stops on the blog tour for COMES THE NIGHT by Norah Wilson and Heather Doherty. The tour is hosted by ATOMR Book Blog Tours and you can view the rest of the stops here.

comes the nightInfo:
Title: Comes the Night
Authors: Norah Wilson and Heather Doherty
Release Date: December 9, 2012
Publisher: Something Shiny Press
Source: Authors for blog tour
Series? Casters Series #1
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Page Count: 330
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

How far would you go to escape your own personal teenage hell? Would you run away, break away from everything you know—even your own body?

Alex Robbins, Brooke Saunders and Maryanne Hemlock could not be more different, yet they all have something in common — deep and soul-searing pain. They are also all students at Streep Academy, a boarding school just one step away from juvie, where they’ve come to complete high school. The three have been relegated to Harvell House, the residence reserved for the hardest cases, the so-called Rejects from Reject Row. In the forbidden attic of the old Victorian house-turned-residence, the girls discover the diary of Connie Harvell, a young woman who was confined and abused there some 50 years ago. In the end, Connie’s attic prison couldn’t hold her—not completely. She found a way out. At least a dark part of her did. And after reading her diary, the girls discover they can escape at will too. A terrifying, thrilling flight from their bodies and their troubles.

But God help them, their pain isn’t all they leave behind when they join with the night. And God help anyone who’s wronged them… (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
COMES THE NIGHT is the story of three living girls, Alex, Maryanne, and Brooke, and one dead girl, Connie. The four are connected when Alex finds Connie’s old diary in the attic of their school dormitory. Shocked by the tales of abuse with the diary’s pages, the girls learn about Connie’s method of coping, and eventually they try out her method, too.

Alex, Maryanne, and Brooke attend Streep Academy, best described as a boarding school for troubled and out of control teens. They live in Harvell House, aka the house of the worst of the worst. As it turns out, Harvell was also Connie’s prison — she was locked in the attic by her stepfather.

COMES THE NIGHT is definitely a dark book for mature teens. There are some things that may be triggers for readers, such as rape, incest, and child neglect. The book starts with Alex waking up after being raped, and her struggles to remember what happened that night are a big part of the story, even though she keeps it a secret. Maryanne and Brooke have their own issues they’re working through; I’ll let you discover them on your own.

Connie’s method of coping turns out to be a type of astral projection, something she and the other girls call “casting.” It leads to the three girls haunting the town, almost as if they are living ghosts. I was really curious about casting, and would have liked to learn more about it. Why it’s possible, how Connie discovered it, etc. I do understand the girls didn’t have those answers, so hopefully more shows up in the next book. COMES THE NIGHT is the first in a trilogy, the Casters Series.

I enjoyed reading COMES THE NIGHT, although the book didn’t grab me. It was well-written, with an intriguing hook — the casting — and also, I liked that the authors weren’t afraid to harm their characters. There was a part where I wasn’t sure if one of the main characters would wake up from a serious injury — I like having worry moments like that. But I figured out most of the story early on; there was perhaps a bit much foreshadowing. The way the girls acted while out casting bugged me sometimes — they were kind of juvenile and petty — but I also am sure that’s how lots of teens would act with such a power in their hands.

The main stories within COMES THE NIGHT are wrapped up by the end of the book, and I am curious to see where the authors will take the characters in the next book.

Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

*giveaway is tour-wide

The authors:
NORAH WILSON is a Kindle best-selling author of romantic suspense and paranormal romance. She lives in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, with her husband, two adult children, dog Chloe, and kitty, Ruckus.

HEATHER DOHERTY fell in love with writing while taking creative writing courses with Athabasca University. Motivated by her university success, and a life-long dream of becoming a novelist, she later enrolled in the Humber School for Writers under the mentorship of David Adams Richards. Her first literary novel was published in 2006. While still writing dark literary (as well as not-so-dark children’s lit), she is beyond thrilled to be writing paranormal/horror with Norah. Heather lives in Fredericton, New Brunswick with her family. (No pets, but I swear Norah’s dog, Chloe, calls me Aunt Heather).

Together, Heather and Norah write dark, edgy, frightening young adult paranormal/horror.

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– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: Twisted Summer by Lucy V. Morgan (and giveaway!)

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Today I am one of the stops on the blog tour for TWISTED SUMMER by Lucy V. Morgan. The tour is hosted by Itching For Books and you can visit the rest of the stops here.

twisted summerInfo:
Title: Twisted Summer
Author: Lucy V. Morgan
Release Date: April, 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Source: Author for blog tour
Series? No
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Page Count: 169
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

A dark New Adult romance

You have to understand that we never meant for it to happen. We knew it was stupid. We knew it was wrong.

Eighteen-year-old Danni Warren has big plans for her last summer before college: a cool job, a concert she wouldn’t miss for the world, and spending time with her beautiful girlfriend, Esme. But after one hell of an argument, Danni’s mother packs her off to stay with her estranged step-uncle, Gabe, in his lodge on the English coast. So begins a weekend of the worst punishment imaginable: no phone signal.

With his sun kissed good looks and sarcastic manner, twenty-nine-year-old Gabe Asher isn’t anything like Danni expected. She wants to hate him—he’s her punishment for standing up to her mother—but between surfing lessons and beach hikes, Gabe and Danni grow close. Maybe too close.

Now Danni’s questioning everything: old family secrets, her future, her strained relationship with Esme. One sun stained afternoon, Gabe and Danni go too far. And then everything else falls apart… (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
TWISTED SUMMER is a fast, fun, wild ride, much like the relationship of the two characters within its pages. It’s a new adult contemporary focusing on the “taboo” attraction and relationship between Danni, eighteen, and Gabe, twenty-nine. As if the age difference wasn’t enough, Gabe is sort of Danni’s uncle (he’s her mother’s step-brother, so they aren’t actually related by blood).

They meet when Danni’s mother, tired of her attitude and cheekiness, sends her to Gabe’s beach shack as a punishment. An out lesbian, Danni’s pissed she’ll miss going to a concert with her girlfriend Esme. But her bad attitude starts to change when she notices that Gabe is, well, hot. And he seems to like her, too.

TWISTED SUMMER is just that — the story of one very twisted summer love affair. Danni and Gabe know their attraction can’t move beyond the weekend, but of course, they end up wanting much more from each other than a fling. For Danni, there’s the added complication of her girlfriend, and figuring out how to let Esme down gently. Hint: it’s a lot harder than she thought it would be.

What I liked most about TWISTED SUMMER was the realism of being young and confused. I think it’s important for teens and young adults to realize that their first love is most likely not going to be their soulmate, and that sometimes, you really have no idea what you want. Did Danni and Gabe do some stupid things? Did they rush into the sack a little too fast? Maybe. But you know, that’s real life, and it happens sometimes.

The ending was maybe a bit too neat, but you know what? I liked that Danni and Gabe got their happily ever after. TWISTED SUMMER isn’t a perfect book, but it did engage me the whole time I was reading, even though contemporary isn’t a favorite genre of mine. I do recommend it for mature readers, as there are quite a few adult scenes, both of the boy on girl and girl on girl variety.

Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

*giveaway is tour-wide

About the author:
Lucy writes sharp contemporary fiction, usually with a liberal splatter of filth. She is a Lyrical Press author and a screenwriter.

Her upcoming new adult novel, TWISTED SUMMER, is a gutsy take on forbidden love starring an even gutsier heroine.

Her contemporary series, encompassing CHAIRMAN OF THE WHORED and THE WHORED’S PRAYER, features slick London lawyers with a penchant for sensual violence. It’s definitely on the darker side. BEAUTIFUL MESS, her current release, is a snarky, sexy friends-to-lovers romp.

Lucy is currently working on new novels, and is developing a paranormal television series with producers (think The Vampire Diaries meets The 4400).

She is still trying to kick her dirty Pepsi habit.
Website

– leeanna

Blog Tour: Submerged by Nicole Sobon (and giveaway!)

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Today I am one of the stops on the blog tour for SUBMERGED by Nicole Sobon. The tour is hosted by Itching For Books and you can visit the rest of the stops here.

submergedInfo:
Title: Submerged
Author: Nicole Sobon
Release Date: February 14, 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Series? Outbreak #1
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian
Page Count: 384

Summary:

After a mysterious virus makes its way into the United States, the government demands that states seal themselves off from one another and do their best to protect their surviving residents. When the state of Florida is bordered off from the surrounding states, Taylen Fincher, a seventeen-year-old girl with a yearning for her former life finds herself wondering how much of what they’ve been told is true.

When Troum took control of the state, he told the residents that the other states had fallen to the virus and that he wouldn’t allow the same thing to happen to them. But Taylen doesn’t believe it. She insists that there is still life outside of the state, and she is going to do whatever it takes to prove it… but her actions will cost her more than she ever expected.

Troum kidnaps Taylen’s sister, Penelope, in hopes of coaxing her into behaving – into being a submissive resident, much like the others. But Taylen isn’t one to give in that easily.

Eager to rescue her sister, Taylen will set out on an adventure that’ll force her to open her heart to the unexpected and to uncover secrets that will change everything.

SUBMERGED is the first book in a YA dystopian duology. (summary from goodreads)

Excerpt:
This excerpt is from the prologue, from Lexton’s point of view. I picked it because it gives a good idea of what’s about to happen in SUBMERGED.

There was this power about Taylen. She drew people in. She was a force of nature, and everyone knew it. Even as a child, I could see the fire that sparked within her eyes.

She was always one to want more, to dream the impossible possible.

She was everything that Troum feared, and I knew that, sooner or later, her determination would only result in trouble for her.

“You know this girl, don’t you, Lexton?” He tapped the screen, his pointer finger lingering over her head. When I didn’t speak, he tried again. “This girl — Taylen Fincher, is it? You grew up with her?”

“That is correct, sir.” I swallowed down the spit that had gathered in my throat.

He drummed his fingers along the tablet screen before leaning back in his oversized chair. “She’s a problem for our people,” he finally said after what felt like hours.

I’d thought that my heart had been broken when I was forced to leave her behind; to erase her from my life. I had thought wrong.

It felt as though someone had taken a knife to my chest and plunged it deep inside of my heart. Surely he was joking, I thought, he had to be.

But he wasn’t.

He reached for the tablet and tabbed on a small icon beneath her photo. There, on the tiny screen, was a record of everything she’d done over the past six months, including every time she’d escaped to the beach across the way of the Family Sector.

So the rumors were true.

“As you can see,” he said, laying the tablet back down, “Taylen has not only managed to slip past the guard daily for the past six months, but she has also questioned everything I stand for as a leader, and as you know, that is unacceptable behavior, Lexton.”

“Yes,” I struggled to speak. “I understand, sir.”

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*giveaway is tour-wide.

About the author:
Nicole Sobon is a YA author of several novels, including Program 13, The Emile Reed Chronicles, Capture, No Place Like Home, and the latest Submerged. This is the first in her dystopian duology.

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– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: Deer in Headlights by Staci Hart (and giveaways!)

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Today I am the stop on the blog tour for DEER IN HEADLIGHTS by Staci Hart. The tour is hosted by Parajunkee Blog Tours.

deer in headlightsInfo:
Title: Deer in Headlights
Author: Staci Hart
Release Date: February 13, 2013
Publisher: Promise Socks Publishing
Source: Author/blog tour
Series? Good Gods #1
Genre: Adult, Romance, Paranormal, Mythology
Page Count: 166
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

What do the Greek gods do when they’re bored? Because they’re always bored, so humans are the perfect players in their games.

Aphrodite owns love; she hasn’t lost a competition on her turf in over three millennia. Apollo is on a mission to win. He’s counting on it to finally get the one woman he’s never been able to have. The two gods will choose their human players, and if Aphrodite can’t get them together before the clock runs out, Apollo will get his way. And Aphrodite couldn’t have that.

Lex and Dean are perfect for each other, they just don’t know it yet. Dean is a perpetual bachelor, and a brooding, beautiful rock star. Lex is always with a man, but she’ll never fully give herself up. Aphrodite has her work cut out for her, but if she can’t make it work, no one can.

The gods have their own drama. Apollo killed Aprhodite’s mortal love – they’ve got beef that’s been dragging on for thousands of years. Ares, the douchebag, is forever trying to pick a fight, and trying to get Aphrodite into bed. And Persephone, Aphrodite’s best friend, is the one person who Aphrodite shares everything with.

Follow the gods as they fight, laugh, cry, lose love, gain power, and make a mess with humans. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
If you’re immortal, what do you do when you’re bored? That’s the question DEER IN HEADLIGHTS attempts to answer, showing the modern day lives of the Greek gods.

The first in a series, this book is really two stories in one. The first is the competition between Aphrodite and Apollo, the latest in thousands of years of such challenges. Each has a mortal hero — Aphrodite’s goal is to get the two humans to fall in love in two weeks, and Apollo’s is to keep them apart. Aphrodite and Apollo have a long, long history, and neither wants the other to win.

The second story in DEER IN HEADLIGHTS is the story of the gods’ humans. Lex, Dita’s human, is a girl afraid to get truly attached to any man, and Dean, Apollo’s champion, is the epitome of bad boy. Seriously. Dean’s the lead singer of a band, believes in one night stands, and is a magnet for chicks.

I was originally drawn to DEER IN HEADLIGHTS because of the cover, which is quite different from what you usually see, but the stories and characters inside kept me reading. The narrative bounces back and forth between the gods and the humans, and between the gods’ past and present lives. Sometimes I had to reread a page or two to figure out what was going on, but on the whole, the author did a good job of keeping all the different plotlines easy to follow. I always like to see new twists on Greek mythology.

I wanted to root for both Aphrodite and Apollo. They both have excellent reasons for wanting to win, which you learn from the flashbacks. Their part of the book was the most interesting to me, and I would have liked to see more of them and the other gods in modern day. The romance between Dean and Lex was okay, but I just had more interest in the Greek gods.

DEER IN HEADLIGHTS is definitely not a book for younger readers. There are some explicit scenes, all of which were nicely descriptive without going overboard or being too flowery. One little thing that bugged me about the book was the use of nicknames — almost every character has one. There’s Dita for Aphrodite, Perry for Persephone, Heff for Hephaestus. The writing was pretty easy to read, with the exception of dialogue that sometimes felt over the top.

The two stories in DEER IN HEADLIGHTS are both resolved at the end, yet there’s an opening for the next book in the series, Good Gods. It sounds like the next book will feature Persephone and Ares, presumably with a competition between them. I’m curious to see what else the author has in mind.

Giveaways:

Tour Wide Giveaway:
US ONLY
5 signed copies of Deer in Headlights
2 $25 Amazon Gift cards

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Socialize with the author:
Staci Hart:
Website
Facebook
Twitter

– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: The Last Academy by Anne Applegate (and giveaway!)

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Today I am one of the stops on the blog tour for THE LAST ACADEMY by Anne Applegate. The tour is hosted by Itching For Books and you can check out the rest of the stops here.

the last academyInfo:
Title: The Last Academy
Author: Anne Applegate
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Publisher: Point
Source: Point/NetGalley
Series? No
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Mystery
Page Count: 320
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

What is this prep school preparing them for?

Camden Fisher arrives at boarding school haunted by a falling-out with her best friend back home. But the manicured grounds of Lethe Academy are like nothing Cam has ever known. There are gorgeous, preppy boys wielding tennis rackets, and circles of girls with secrets to spare. Only . . . something is not quite right. One of Cam’s new friends mysteriously disappears, but the teachers don’t seem too concerned. Cam wakes up to strangers in her room, who then melt into the night. She is suddenly plagued by odd memories, and senses there might be something dark and terrible brewing. But what? The answer will leave Cam—and readers—stunned and breathless, in this thrilling debut novel. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
THE LAST ACADEMY is a book that is very difficult to describe without spoiling its gigantic twist. The summary somehow gave me the idea that it would be about a paranormal boarding school, which is why I originally wanted to read it. It is — sort of — but first there’s a lot of contemporary-style story going on.

After a huge, embarrassing fight with her best friend, Camden is happy she’s heading off to boarding school instead of going to high school with everyone else. Although she’s fourteen, Camden’s voice read to me like that of an older character … except where boys were concerned. After getting to Lethe (quirky name for a school, right?), Camden gets the hots for upperclassman Mark Elliot. It wasn’t quite insta-love, but it reminded me a lot of a first crush.

At first, THE LAST ACADEMY is about life at normal high school. Camden doesn’t get along with her mean roommate, but she does find a few friends, including Jessie, Nora, and Brynn. But when Jessie mysteriously disappears in the middle of the night, Camden starts to realize something’s wrong. The staff claim Jessie decided to go home, but Brynn says Jessie left with a guy. Add in Barnaby Charon, a guy who gives Camden the creeps, and you’ve got the beginning of a big mystery.

I’ll admit, I almost gave up by the first half of THE LAST ACADEMY. I wasn’t really getting into the happenings at Lethe, and was confused by the actions of some of the supporting characters. But then, then came the gigantic twist, and everything clicked into place. Suddenly all the things that didn’t make sense were clear, and I had an entirely new appreciation for the book.

There are a liberal amount of hints and foreshadowing pointing to the big twist, but even so, I didn’t predict how it would all come together. So in the end, I liked the way THE LAST ACADEMY turned out. The idea behind it was pretty creative, and though I would have liked more from the book overall, it was a good read.

Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

*giveaway is tour-wide

About the author:
Anne Applegate was born in Chico, California. Most of her childhood was spent moving across America with her family, nomad style.

When Anne was fourteen, her parents sent her to boarding school so she could spend four years in a single educational system. As it turned out, her family then promptly settled into a small mid-western town and lived there for the next sixteen years. Anne still hasn’t figured out if this means something.

After graduation, she went on to Tufts University in Medford, MA, where she had a wicked good time. Eventually, she wound up back on the west coast, where she married a fantastic Californian guy. Together, they have three children.

For the last twelve years, Anne has lived in San Luis Obispo County. This is by far the longest time she has stayed in any one place her whole life. She immensely enjoys living where 1) the sun always shines and 2) she isn’t the weirdest person in town.

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– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: The Forgotten Ones by Laura Howard (and giveaway!)

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Today I am one of the stops on the blog tour for THE FORGOTTEN ONES by Laura Howard. The tour is hosted by Itching For Books and you can check out the rest of the stops here.

the forgotten onesInfo:
Title: The Forgotten Ones
Author: Laura Howard
Release Date: April 30, 2012
Publisher: Self-Published
Source: Author for blog tour
Series? Danaan Trilogy #1
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Fantasy
Page Count: 177
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

Allison O’Malley’s plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she’s been in love with for as long as she can remember.

What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison’s mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn’t trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother’s sanity. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
THE FORGOTTEN ONES is an interesting blend of contemporary and fantasy. Main character Allison is twenty-one, which places the book in the new adult age range, but it reads sort of like a young adult book, so I’d recommend for fans of either or both. She has some experiences of young adult characters, like dancing around a guy she likes, but also experiences of adults, with her desire to take care of her mother on her own.

I liked Allison. She’s responsible and smart, and doesn’t let a cute guy sway her from her intended goals. Allison’s mother has schizophrenia, and she blames herself for her mother’s disorder, because it developed after she was born. Her mother’s parents have always taken care of Allison and her mother, but now that she’s an adult, Allison feels it’s time for her to step up.

The first half of THE FORGOTTEN ONES is contemporary. There’s a hint of the fantasy world to come, because Allison has strange dreams, but otherwise, she lives a pretty normal life. It’s only when her long lost father shows up that she learns the truth about him: he’s a Danaan, an Irish fairy. Allison rightfully resents her father for leaving her mother pregnant and alone, so she’s not happy that he claims he’s the only one that can fix her mom.

When Allison enters Tír na n’Óg, aka Irish fairy stomping grounds, the fantasy part of THE FORGOTTEN ONES comes alive. I liked that the author turned to Irish mythology for inspiration. Allison quickly gets stuck in the middle of Danaan politics in an attempt to rescue her mother. She doesn’t know who she can trust, because Danaan are verrrry tricky. But she has an ally in Aodhan, a human who gradually turned Danaan after spending hundreds of years in Tír na n’Óg. I found Aodhan an interesting character because he’s a good example of what happens to humans when they spend too much time in Tír na n’Óg.

Allison does have a love interest, Ethan. She’s known Ethan since they were kids, and although they shared a pretty passionate kiss a few years ago, she doesn’t want to get anywhere near a relationship with him. As I said above, Allison doesn’t want to be detracted by a guy because supporting herself and her mother is more important to her. Inevitably, though, they head towards a relationship. Ethan’s a nice guy, but I wasn’t convinced of their attraction to each other.

THE FORGOTTEN ONES is a good start to a new series. It is a short read at only 177 pages. I would have liked to see a longer book because I think the story and characters could have been expanded upon. I had trouble keeping track of all the different Danaan because they were introduced in quick succession. I also thought the ending was somewhat abrupt. However, the author did intrigue me enough for me to want to find out what happens next to Allison.

Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

*giveaway is tour-wide.

About the author:
Laura Howard lives in New Hampshire with her husband and four children. Her obsession with books began at the age of 6 when she got her first library card. Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and other girly novels were routinely devoured in single sittings. Books took a backseat to diapers when she had her first child. It wasn’t until the release of a little novel called Twilight, 8 years later, that she rediscovered her love of fiction. Soon after, her own characters began to make themselves known. The Forgotten Ones is her first published novel.

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– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: Influential Magic by Deanna Chase

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Today I am the stop for the INFLUENTIAL MAGIC blog tour. The tour is hosted by Bewitching Book Tours and you can find the rest of the stops here. Check below my review for an interview with the author, Deanna Chase.

influential magicInfo:
Title: Influential Magic
Author: Deanna Chase
Release Date: March 6, 2013
Publisher: Bayou Moon Press
Source: Author for blog tour
Series? Crescent City Fae #1
Genre: New Adult, Urban Fantasy
Page Count: 310
Rating: [4/5 stars]

Summary:

It’s tough being a faery in New Orleans, a city fraught with vampires… especially when their very existence drains your life-force.

Willow Rhoswen, owner of The Fated Cupcake and part-time vampire hunter for the Void is having a rough week. Four years after her twin brother’s mysterious death, Willow’s life is threatened and the director saddles her with a new partner—her ex-boyfriend, David. To her horror, he’s turned vamp, which causes her physical pain whenever she touches him… and any other specimen of the undead.

In order to save Willow’s life, David agrees to turn double agent against the most powerful vampire organization in New Orleans. Or so he says. And she’s convinced they know something about her brother’s death. Unsure where David’s loyalties lie, she turns to Talisen, her childhood crush, to help her solve the mystery.

Caught between two gorgeous men and a director who’ll stop at nothing to control Willow’s gifts, she’ll have to follow her instincts and learn who to trust. Otherwise, she risks losing more than just her life. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
INFLUENTIAL MAGIC is a new adult, urban fantasy, a combination I’ve been trying to find for a while. Most new adult books are contemporary, which isn’t my cup of tea. I’m happy to say INFLUENTIAL MAGIC was worth the search!

Right from the start, the worldbuilding begins. Willow, the protagonist, is a faery, complete with wings that let her fly and an extreme sensitivity to metal. For her, spending several hours on a plane is more than just an annoyance: metal sucks away her energy. Which is not a good thing, because minutes after getting off the plane to New Orleans, she’s in a cemetery hunting a vampire. Cemeteries and vampires are two more deadly things to faeries like Willow.

I appreciated that the author didn’t do information dumps about the world, but gave information as it was needed. And what a world! In INFLUENTIAL MAGIC, faeries, vampires, and witches live amongst humans without hiding who they are. Willow runs a mega successful bake shop, selling magically enhanced goodies. I would love to get my hands on a Molten Muse cupcake, which sparks inspiration.

Aside from her bakery, Willow is also an agent for the Void, a government branch for supernatural dealings. So is her best friend and witch, Phoebe, as well as her aunt, Maude. It’s a big tangled deal, one Willow isn’t thrilled about being a part of. But she has a unique ability that is extremely helpful: she can track vampires.

There’s a LOT going on in INFLUENTIAL MAGIC. A lot in a good way. The action is fast, with barely a dull or down moment. There are tons of twists, and I really didn’t know how everything was going to tie together at the end. As someone who can usually figure out a book early on, I always like when a story is unpredictable. But at the same time, I had a small problem with so much action: I had trouble keeping track of the passage of time. Thinking back, it’s almost as if the whole story took place over the course of a very long day.

I also had some trouble with both of the men in Willow’s life. David, her ex-boyfriend, comes back into the picture as a vampire. He ended their relationship with a real jerk move — he sent her a text message. Willow has to deal with the feelings from that while trying to keep ahead of someone who wants to use her abilities. There’s also Talisen, the best friend of Willow’s deceased twin and a fellow fae. Talisen has become a sort of replacement brother for Willow, but she won’t go into boyfriend/girlfriend territory with him because he’s a playboy (play faery?). Though romance isn’t really a big focus, I didn’t know why Willow had dated David in the first place, since their relationship took place prior to the book. So their reconciliation or lack of one wasn’t important to me. And with Talisen, yeah he’s cute and cares for Willow, but I never felt the attraction between them.

Considering the entire book, though, those are two minor complaints. The writing in INFLUENTIAL MAGIC is strong, and the author easily drew me into the world, characters, and story. The main mysteries in this book are tied up at its end, but there are some open storylines leaving plenty of room for a sequel. I’d say the book is a steal at $3.99 for the Kindle version.

Oh goddess! I almost forgot to mention Link, Willow’s shapeshifter protector. If you like good animals characters, you’ll love Link. Sometimes he’s a Shih Tzu and sometimes he’s a wolf. He transforms with Willow’s moods and the situation, although there are some hilarious images of him in Shih Tzu form hanging from a bad dude’s butt by his teeth.

Interview:
1. I read on your blog that you feel the stigma of self-publishing even though you’ve been successful. Why did you decide to self-publish? 

I’ve been writing for about six years now and when I started, self-publishing was known as the kiss of death for writers wanting any type of career. The only way to be taken seriously was to submit to agents and publishers and pray someone, anywhere would like what you write and give you a chance. I did my time on the query merry-go-round with not much success.

Then one day I read an article on Amanda Hocking. Up until that point, I had no idea Kindle Direct Publishing, Pubit (now NOOKpress), or Smashwords even existed. I spent the next forty-eight hours scouring the internet to find out as much as I could about the viability of self-publishing. After my eyes were glazed over and my head was spinning, I got that nervous anticipation feeling in my gut and I knew what I was going to do.

I’d been running the glass business I share with my husband for six years by then. Since I’m used to being my own boss, self-publishing seemed like a no-brainer. I like being in charge of my business and holding my professional fate in my own hands. And I was right. Self-publishing turned out to be the best decision I ever made. I now have a writing career that I’m proud of.

As far as the stigma of self-publishing, I wrote that blog post back in September of last year. I was (and am still) very proud of my accomplishments, but there was a bit of self-doubt about how other writers might see my choices. But attitudes and the market are changing so fast these days, I no longer feel the way I did then. I’m very proud and comfortable with my decisions. I wouldn’t change them and really, I’m no longer bothered by what anyone else may think.

Bead-DeannaChase2. I checked out your glass beads (which are awesome!). How did you get into lampworking, and do you find yourself working on beads when you’re stuck with writing? 

Thank you!

In 1999 my husband and I were at a street fair and we saw a woman selling handmade glass beads and marbles that she made using a technique called lampworking (also known as flameworking). It’s called lampworking because in the past people used to melt glass over oil lamps. My husband (who at the time was a stained glass artist) decided he was going to learn to be a lampworker. He went home, bought a book and all the equipment, and three months later he was selling his work on eBay.

He did that as a hobby for three years. Then in 2003 my husband and I sold our house and moved into an RV to travel the country fulltime while working at campgrounds. It was a grand adventure that we both loved. Along the way, I started lampworking as well and in 2005 we started selling our glass beads and marbles fulltime. In 2007, when we decided we needed more studio space than our RV could handle, we settled into a house in southeast Louisiana. I started writing that year.

As far as lampworking when I get stuck writing, yes it helps. It helps a lot actually. The studio is a great place to work out plot issues.

Duncan-DeannaChase3. Where did the idea for INFLUENTIAL MAGIC come from? 
Hmm, tough question.  To tell you the truth, I don’t even know. I started writing Influential Magic back in early 2011 after I decided Haunted on Bourbon Street, my previous novel, wasn’t going to find a home with a publisher. But then I learned about self-publishing and went full speed ahead on publishing the Bourbon Street novels. I came back to Influential Magic late last year to finish it because that story was always in the back of my mind.

I will tell you that Link, Willow’s shih tzu is inspired my dog Duncan (full name Duncan Donut). He’s positive he’s a wolf and quite pleased he has a starring role in Influential Magic.

4. I’m thrilled there’s finally a new adult novel that *isn’t* contemporary. Did you decide consciously to write new adult, or did Willow just pop into your head? 

As I said earlier, I started writing this back in early 2011. I’m not even sure New Adult existed as a genre back then. So no, I didn’t consciously decide to write New Adult, but I think it does fit squarely in the genre given Willow’s age of twenty-four, the fact that she’s dealing with her childhood crush, and that she’s just now coming into her powers and what they mean for her life path.

5. When reading yourself, do you prefer e-books or physical books? 
Both. And audio books. Audio books are great for when I’m in the studio.

6. Favorite book or series you reread? If you reread.
JK Rowling’s Harry Potter, of course.
The Hollows series by Kim Harrison.
And let’s not forget the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.

7. Any tips for aspiring writers? 
To just write. If you have a story in you, get it out. Then worry about editing and story structure and all that good stuff. It’s wonderful to take workshops, find critique partners, and read books on how to write books. But until you have words down, you don’t have anything to work with. So if you want to write, then write.

Also, write from the heart. Don’t worry too much about what you think people want to read. Write what you want to read. If it means something to you, it’s likely the story will resonate with readers.

Giveaway:
Tour Wide Giveaway:
–One tote bag with a notebook, keychain and signed copy of Influential Magic
–One notebook, keychain and signed copy of Influential Magic
–3 keychains and signed copies of Influential Magic
–5 signed print copies of Influential Magic
–10 ebook copies of Influential Magic

Physical prizes open to US Shipping

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:
Deanna is a native Californian, transplanted to the slower paced lifestyle of southeastern Louisiana.

When she isn’t writing, she is often goofing off with her husband in New Orleans, playing with her two shih tzu dogs, making glass beads, or out hocking her wares at various bead shows across the country.

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– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: The S-Word by Chelsea Pitcher (and giveaway!)

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Today I am one of the stops for THE S-WORD blog tour. The tour is hosted by Shane at Itching For Books. You can check out the rest of the stops here.

the s-wordInfo:
Title: The S-Word
Author: Chelsea Pitcher
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Gallery Books
Source: Edelweiss/Blog Tour
Series? No
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Mystery
Page Count: 304
Rating: [4/5 stars]

Summary:

First it was SLUT scribbled all over Lizzie Hart’s locker.

But one week after Lizzie kills herself, SUICIDE SLUT replaces it—in Lizzie’s looping scrawl.

Lizzie’s reputation is destroyed when she’s caught in bed with her best friend’s boyfriend on prom night. With the whole school turned against her, and Angie not speaking to her, Lizzie takes her own life. But someone isn’t letting her go quietly. As graffiti and photocopies of Lizzie’s diary plaster the school, Angie begins a relentless investigation into who, exactly, made Lizzie feel she didn’t deserve to keep living. And while she claims she simply wants to punish Lizzie’s tormentors, Angie’s own anguish over abandoning her best friend will drive her deep into the dark, twisted side of Verity High—and she might not be able to pull herself back out. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
I almost passed over THE S-WORD. As a rule, I don’t read a lot of contemporary fiction. It’s just not my favorite genre. But so far in 2013, I’ve read a couple of great contemporary books, so after reading the summary for THE S-WORD, I decided to give it a try.

I am happy I did. I like when YA books go deep into issues, and THE S-WORD explores quite a few, like bullying. I also like when YA books are realistic, and THE S-WORD is. There’s sex, drinking, and all the stuff teens do that adults don’t like to think they do. I think it’s important that teens have these realistic books, so that they have examples of how life can really be, instead of the sanitized and unrealistic relationships that populate many YA books.

Okay, I’ll get off my soapbox.

THE S-WORD is a powerful book that explores what the word “slut” really means. As Lizzie herself says, in a diary entry, “Ask a hundred people the meaning of that word and you’ll hear a hundred answers (p. 89, ARC).” The author leaves it to the reader to come up with their own meaning.

At the start of the book, Lizzie is already dead. But, as Angie says, Lizzie didn’t go quietly. A few days after Lizzie’s funeral, “Suicide Slut” shows up on lockers, the words written in Lizzie’s handwriting. Determined to find out who is making fun of her best friend’s suicide, Angie delves into the reasons why Lizzie took her own life. It’s not a pretty look, and Angie’s not always a character I liked. That was a plus for me, because usually, I am a character-driven reader, but the story the author created was compelling enough for me to overlook the fact that Angie was somewhat psychotic at times.

THE S-WORD is also a mystery, with layers of story surrounding the truth about Angie and Lizzie. It was a book I didn’t want to stop reading, because I had to find out what was going to happen next, or what truth would be revealed.

Excerpt:

Miss Popularity is found on the bleachers of the football field, positioned perfectly so the boys below can see all the way up her long, long legs, past the hem of her skirt, and then . . . nothing. her legs cross at the thigh, cutting off the view just when it gets interesting. We girls learn early what to show and what to hide, to walk that tightrope between useless prude and usable slut. p. 7, ARC)

Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

*giveaway is tour wide

About the author:
Chelsea Pitcher is a native of Portland, OR where she received her BA in English Literature. Fascinated by all things literary, she began gobbling up stories as soon as she could read, and especially enjoys delving into the darker places to see if she can draw out some light.

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– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: Nefertiti’s Heart by A. W. Exley

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Today I am one of the stops on the blog tour for NEFERTITI’S HEART by A. W. Exley. The tour is hosted by Bewitching Book Tours and you can check out the rest of the stops here.

nefertiti's heartInfo:
Title: Nefertiti’s Heart
Author: A. W. Exley
Release Date: February 2, 2013
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Source: Blog tour/NetGalley
Series? Unknown
Genre: New Adult, Steampunk, Mystery, Romance
Page Count: 280
Rating: [4/5 stars]

Summary:

Cara Devon has always suffered curiosity and impetuousness, but tangling with a serial killer might cure that. Permanently.

London, 1861. Impoverished noble Cara has a simple mission after the strange death of her father – sell off his damned collection of priceless artifacts. Her plan goes awry when aristocratic beauties start dying of broken hearts, an eight inch long brass key hammered through their chests. A killer hunts amongst the nobility, searching for a regal beauty and an ancient Egyptian relic rumored to hold the key to immortality.

Her Majesty’s Enforcers are in pursuit of the murderer and they see a connection between the gruesome deaths and Cara. So does she, somewhere in London her father hid Nefertiti’s Heart, a fist sized diamond with strange mechanical workings. Adding further complication to her life, notorious crime lord, Viscount Nathaniel Lyons is relentless in his desire to lay his hands on Cara and the priceless artifact. If only she could figure out his motive.

Self-preservation fuels Cara’s search for the gem. In a society where everyone wears a mask to hide their true intent, she needs to figure out who to trust, before she makes a fatal mistake.

My Review:
I have to start this review by saying I had a serious case of cover lust for NEFERTITI’S HEART. It’s simple yet eye-catching, a perfect combination of the steampunk heart with the ankh in the title. The best part? The heart on the cover plays a big part in the book. It makes me a happy reader when the cover and story match.

And whew, what a story! Like the cover, NEFERTITI’S HEART is a blend of steampunk and Egyptian mythology, along with a healthy dash of mystery, romance, and memorable characters. If you’ve read any of my reviews, you’ll know that I like me some kick-butt female characters, and Cara Devon is definitely a kick-butt character. Within the first few pages, she shoots two thugs who come to steal something from her. I think I adored her from this quote: “She [Cara] popped the metal dome and drew her pistol. Her arm was straight and unwavering as she aimed directly at the thug. ‘My friend here, Mr Smith, also wants you to leave (p. 8, ARC).’”

In a world where most noble-born women are simpering, pretty playthings waiting for marriage, Cara is an anomaly. When she was fourteen, Cara’s reputation was sullied, but through no fault of her own. Traded by her own father to cover his gambling debts, she was horribly abused, which left her with a hatred of being touched and a fear of intimacy. Seven years later, after exploring the world and hiding behind a feisty, shoot first and ask questions later personality, Cara’s drawn back into a world she’d rather forget when her father is murdered.

But when Cara starts tracking down her father’s precious artifacts — famous historical objects he loved more than her — she gets tangled up with a murder investigation. The question of who is murdering the daughters of noblemen is one big mystery, and I have to say, I was totally surprised by the culprit. The clues dropped throughout the book, as well as the sections from the killer’s personality, had me thinking it was one person, but I was wrong. I love when that happens! I hate when a book is too predictable.

Cara was my favorite part of NEFERTITI’S HEART. I enjoyed seeing her growth, becoming stronger by confronting the demons of her past. She’s helped along in that process by Nathaniel Trent, the Viscount Lyons. Nathaniel is the ruthless head of London’s underworld, but he’s also the biggest gentleman in the book. I had a little trouble believing the relationship between him and Cara at first, but the author took time to develop it, and didn’t rush them into bed. NEFERTITI’S HEART is an adult book — there are some steamy scenes — but those scenes contribute to Cara’s development. Nathaniel’s character also represents the divide that exists in a society where a rich man can get away with almost anything. Unlike the man who raped Cara and faced no consequences, Nathaniel is a rogue who both attracts and repulses society. He’s like the big, bad, protective wolf. I adored him, and I usually don’t have more than a passing thought for the male romantic lead.

I also have to mention Cara’s grandmother, Nan, and her friend, Nessy. They were only in a few scenes, but they stole those scenes! I have to quote: “‘You’re young, you’re beautiful, and he sounds ridiculously handsome. Enjoy what you have. If you don’t jump him, someone else will.’ Nessy summed the situation up succinctly, to earthy laughter all round (p. 203, ARC).” I can’t imagine the typical, sixty-year-old Victorian woman saying such things. Nan and Nessy were a hoot.

The only thing about NEFERTITI’S HEART that might turn off some readers is the overly descriptive writing. Every setting is detailed, clothing is described down to the color, and so on. Some readers like that level of detail — I do — and some don’t. I thought the writing helped set the tone and established the world in the book. The beginning of the book was a little slow, but when it gets going, it zooms like an airship.

NEFERTITI’S HEART is a quirky, unique book. I’d recommend it if you’re looking for something different than the usual romance or adventure, and I know I can’t wait to see what else the author has up her wordsmithing holster.

About the author:
Books and writing have always been an enormous part of my life. I survived school by hiding out in the library, with several thousand fictional characters for company. At university, I overcame the boredom of studying accountancy by squeezing in Egyptology papers and learning to read hieroglyphics.

Today, I write steampunk novels with a sexy edge and an Egyptian twist. I live in rural New Zealand surrounded by an assortment of weird and wonderful equines, felines, canine and homicidal chickens.

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– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: Stung by Bethany Wiggins (and giveaway!)

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Today I am one of the stops on the blog tour for STUNG by Bethany Wiggens. The tour is hosted by The Book Paparazzi and you can find the rest of the stops here.

stungInfo:
Title: Stung
Author: Bethany Wiggins
Release Date: April 2, 2013
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Source: Walker Childrens for blog tour
Series? Not that I know of
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Romance, Thriller
Page Count: 304
Find It: Goodreads | Barnes and Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository | IndieBound
Rating: [4/5 stars]

Summary:

There is no cure for being stung.

Fiona doesn’t remember going to sleep. But when she opens her eyes, she discovers her entire world has been altered—her house is abandoned and broken, and the entire neighborhood is barren and dead. Even stranger is the tattoo on her right hand—a black oval with five marks on either side—that she doesn’t remember getting but somehow knows she must cover at any cost. She’s right.

Those bearing the tattoo have turned into mindless, violent beasts that roam the streets and sewers, preying upon the unbranded while a select few live protected inside a fortress-like wall, their lives devoted to rebuilding society and killing all who bear the mark.

Now Fiona has awakened branded, alone—and on the wrong side of the wall. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
Bees scare the honey out of me. As there’s one featured on the cover of STUNG, I almost passed this book up the first time I saw it. But I love me some dystopian and post-apocalyptic books, and so after I read the blurb for STUNG, I knew I had to take a chance.

I’m happy I did. STUNG captured my attention from the beginning. Fiona wakes up, in her house, but something is wrong. The house is filthy, destroyed, and empty. Fiona last remembers being thirteen, but she’s no longer thirteen — years have passed while she was sleeping. She also has a mysterious tattoo on her hand, one that’s similar to the one on her brother’s. But Fiona’s brother isn’t there to explain things — he’s after her, and minutes after waking up, Fiona’s jumping out the bathroom window to escape.

The first several chapters are a wild ride. Fiona knows nothing about the world into which she’s awoken. It was a challenge to put the pieces together and figure out what happened. I liked being confused at the beginning, because it’s no fun to know the whole story before the main character does. I mostly liked Fiona. I thought the author did a good job of balancing Fiona’s past and present. There are some flashbacks scattered throughout STUNG that help explain what happened to make the world the way it is. The flashbacks also develop Fiona’s character.

In the world of STUNG, Colorado has separated from the rest of America and formed its own government. A militia protects a walled off inner society, where only people who are perfect and young are allowed to live and reproduce.

Back when the world was normal, honeybees were going extinct. So the government created genetically modified bees, because if there were no bees, crops wouldn’t grow, animals wouldn’t have food, people wouldn’t have animals to eat, etc. But the genetically modified bees turned out to be dangerous in unexpected ways.

Fiona runs from one place to the next, not sure who to trust. Running away from one danger, she meets Arrin, a mysterious “Fec” (you can read where “Fec” comes from yourself; hold your nose!), who is the epitome of creepy and unreliable. Arrin helps Fiona, but demands a price for helping, which sends Fiona straight into the hands of the militia.

There she meets a boy from her childhood, Dreyden Bowen. Now, the romance was the one part of the book that didn’t work for me. It smacked of insta-love, and I had some problems with Fiona falling in love with her captor. Bowen goes from hating and fearing Fiona to returning her feelings, and even saying he would rather have Fiona tear his heart out than see her captured.

Oh, yeah. I didn’t mention the whole people turning into beasts thing, did I? The tattoo on Fiona’s hand signals that she had a special vaccine before the world changed… one that turns kids into raging animals who have no thoughts but killing.

The idea behind STUNG is unique. There are some science fiction aspects to the book, which I appreciated. The ending was a bit too neatly drawn together for me, but overall, I’m happy I read STUNG. Bees still creep me out, though, and maybe more than before now that I’ve read it!

The author:
Bethany Wiggins has always been an avid reader, but not an avid writer. She failed ninth grade English because she read novels instead of doing her homework. In high school, she sat alone at lunch and read massive hardback fantasy novels (Tad Williams and Robert Jordan anyone?). It wasn’t until the end of her senior year that the other students realized she was reading fiction–not the Bible.

Once upon a time, Bethany’s sister dared her to start writing an hour a day until she completed a novel. Bethany wrote a seven-hundred page fantasy novel that she wisely let no one read–but it taught her how to write. She is the author of SHIFTING, STUNG (April 2013), and CURED (2014).

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Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

*This giveaway is tour wide. I am not responsible for the prizes or winners.

– leeanna