Giveaway Interview SHADOW FIRE by KIMBER LEIGH WHEATON @Cymberle @toobusyreading

Shadow Fire Blog Tour Schedule

Shadow Fire

Ashlyn – a free-spirited teenager whose peaceful life is shattered when the village elders honor her with a perilous quest to recover a stolen relic.

Zane – a jaded mercenary, torn by his undeniable desire for Ashlyn and the dark secret that could make her hate him forever.

Delistaire – a malevolent sorcerer driven by an insatiable lust for power.

All three are bound together by an ancient relic supposedly infused with the power of a Goddess.

Shadow Fire – adventure, passion, secrets, and betrayal

As Ashlyn and Zane race to stay one step ahead of the evil lurking in the shadows, their passions are ignited and their bond strengthens. But will they find the relic before Delistaire? Or has their entire quest been orchestrated from the very beginning by a madman in pursuit of ultimate power?

Each installment of The Light Chronicles is a standalone story.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * Smashwords

Praise for Shadow Fire 

"This book contains monsters, magic, majestic creatures, and a evil guy that wants to destroy the world. If you love hot guys.....Zane is all that plus a few tricks up his sleeve. Just read it!" Venture ~Amazon Reviewer

 "Adventure, magical creatures, fun characters, and romance make this book a perfect read for all ages." James ~Amazon Reviewer 

 "I thought the writing was strong; it had me turning the pages quickly to see what would happen next. The characters were engaging and the dialogue well-written." Lisa Temple ~ Goodreads

 "Oh, I truly loved this one! Shadow Fire, by Kimber Leigh Wheaton, is a snappy, sassy, sweet, all-that-kind-of-awesome-and-then-some YA read. I couldn't put it down." ~Sasha Hibbs ~ Amazon Reviewer

  Author Kimber Leigh Wheaton Kimber Leigh Wheaton is a YA/NA author with a soft spot for sweet romance and is a member of Romance Writers of America. She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs and four cats. No, she doesn’t live on a farm, she just loves animals. Her house is filled with dragons, though she does lament that they are the porcelain, non-flying variety. Kimber Leigh is addicted to romance, videogames, superheroes, villains, and chocolate—not necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose, she’ll take a chocolate covered superhero!) Her debut novel, Shadow Fire, is the first book in The Light Chronicles series. Watch for book two, Stolen Moon, a standalone sequel, coming soon.  

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest * Blog

1.      What is the first book you remember reading by yourself as a child?

Lamont the Lonely Monster by Dean Walley. It was one of those ‘lift and look surprises’ books. I read that book until the flaps were barely hanging on. It’s up in my bookcase right now. It was so special, I couldn’t bear to part with it. 

2.      What are you reading right now?

            I am reading Thankless in Death by J.D. Robb and Black Abaddon by Sasha Hibbs

3.      How does your garden grow?

With silver bells and cockle shells… No, it actually grows with little help from me. We have a very natural landscape—several oak trees and whatever plants manage to thrive in south Texas. My garden has more animal statues than actual plants, and don’t forget the all-important garden gnome.

4.      What is the last thing you Googled?

Wow, can I start over and go Google something profound? Okay, I’ll be honest, the last thing I Googled was ‘cold iron’. I’m towards the end of my current manuscript and wanted to make sure I had the folklore about ghosts and iron correct. The last thing I needed was my heroine brandishing an iron poker at the ghost for no discernible reason.

5.   What makes you cringe?

            Off-key singing.

The smell of burnt popcorn.

Slow drivers in the fast lane.

Spotty Wifi.

            When one of my dogs sneaks up and licks my face while I’m lost in the writing zone.

  Blog Tour Giveaway


$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 5/25/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. 


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REVIEW The Daughter of Smoke and Bones by Laini Taylor @lbkids

Publication Date: September 27, 2011

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

About the Author

Laini Taylor is the author of the National Book Award finalist Lips Touch, as well as the novels Blackbringer, which Kirkus said "belongs at the top of everyone's fantasy must-read list," and Silksinger. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, illustrator Jim Di Bartolo, and their daughter, Clementine.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (September 27, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316134023
• ISBN-13: 978-0316134026

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

If you haven't noticed before, there is a quote from this book at the top of my blog:

You'd have to have, like, a lentil for a soul to hate wiener dogs. ~Zuzana from The Daughter of Smoke & Bones by Laini Taylor 

So if you are a follower of my blog, you know that I insist you adore wiener dogs and thus Zuzana stole my heart.  She is a supporting character in this book but, oh so important, to give comic relief and after attending an author appearance at my local Barnes and Noble, I equally fell in love with the author who explained her writing style and thoughts behind the characters.  I have to agree with her that the way the story unfolds in a circular timeline is the only way it could be told.  So, my thoughts on this book are not the normal format. That adorable feather mask above was a gift from the author at the signing.

Karou grows up believing she is an orphan and that the life she has become accustomed to is normal that she can open doors and find herself in a new location within seconds or that she helps out her foster father by collecting teeth, or that he is also a wishmonger who grants wished for these teeth.  Every birthday she is bestowed with a new language and her natural blue hair, well, that was the one wish she was granted unlike the others she might have thought about.  As the story unfolds, you easily believe this world in which Karou tries desperately to be normal, attending art school with her best friend Zuzana while drawing fantastical pictures of demons and creatures that should only exist in her imagination.  But those creatures are real. 

To say this book is exciting is an understatement.  There are breathtaking fights, a true romance that you will never see coming, bits of angels and demon lore, and characters that truly jump off the page and are suitable for an action movie.  The story starts out in the presents and then flashes back to Karou's past, while again going forward.  I know it sounds really strange, but it all comes together perfectly.  I wish I could put into words how much I enjoyed Taylor's writing but I am at  loss.  It is just such a magical place that she takes you to and the way it is written is completely fabulous! 

tattoos!

REVIEW Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo @mackkidsbooks @LBardugo @FireceReads

Book Description

Publication Date: June 5, 2012 | Series: The Grisha Trilogy

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.

About the Author

Leigh Bardugo was born in Jerusalem, raised in Los Angeles, and graduated from Yale University. She is fond of glamour, ghouls, and costuming, and gets to indulge all of these fancies in her other life as a makeup artist. She can occasionally be heard singing with her band, Captain Automatic.

SOURCE: PUBLISHER

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

Alina and her best friend, Mal, grow up in an orphanage under the patron of a local duke during a time of encroaching darkness from a place known as the Fold.  A shadowy area where Ravka has been sliced in two and is populated by creatures who feast on humans trying to cross.  The both join the military since there are few outlets to earn a living.  They both failed the test to become Grisha and join the magical elite that would have opened up an easier life.  While on a crossing through the Fold, the pair is attacked and Alina brings forth a power that saves Mal's life and throws her right in the middle of a major power struggle.  

First off, I was so drawn into this world of magic and evil with such amazingly strong characters so quickly that I found myself going back and rereading passages just to make sure I didn't miss anything. Everything seemed to move so effortlessly that I found it hard to put the book down once I started it.  The dynamic between Alina and Mal was one that was cleverly scripted and would really translate to the screen well.  She has longed for him since they were children and when they are separated, it pains her to no end when she realizes those feelings aren't returned.  So she does what any teen would do, go for the older guy with power that has seduced her.  The Darkling has taken her under his wing and wants her to develop her powers (sorry, I know I am being vague about those so you read the book!), and has that cover of goodness that makes her unable to see the evil lurking inside until it is almost too late.  

The descriptions are equally matched with the believable dialogue and all seem to have a somewhat Russian flavor.  I am not a huge fan of descriptive prose, but Bardugo nails everything with a concise and elegant tone that made me want to linger over each scene that she depicts.  You can feel what Alina is conflicted about and how everything affects her.  Oh!  I want more of this series.  I know there are two more books to come and they won't be here soon enough.  The pacing is just amazing as well since it doesn't drag at any part.  If you are a fan of Philip Pullman's Golden Compass series, you are going to love this one as well.  

GIVEAWAY! May Mystery Book - ya edition

WELCOME TO THE  MAY MYSTERY BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Something a bit different this month!  

Here are the blurbs from three books (one is an ARC) all from the same author. 

You tell me the author! 

Book #1 

Jordan's life sucks. Her boyfriend, Michael, dumped her, slept his way through half the student body, and then killed himself. But now, somehow, he appears at her window every night, begging her to let him in. 

Book #2 

The Van Helsing family has been hunting vampires for over one hundred years, but sixteen-year-old Daphne wishes her parents would take up an occupation that doesn’t involve decapitating vamps for cash. 

Book #3

Megan has been haunted by the ghost of her twin sister, Remy, since the accident nine years ago. Megan doesn't want anyone to think she's crazy, so she keeps this little "talent" to herself.

HINT:  I checked and these are all easy to google!  Please don't post the author in the comments since there is a place on the entry from



WANT TO WIN THESE BOOKS?  

Ends 5/31/14

Open to US residents only

Open only to those who can legally enter

Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary.

You must be 13 or older to enter .

The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified.

The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.

Giveaway was organized by BookHounds and sponsored by me.

VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Giveaway Review SAVAGE DRIFT (Monument 14) by EMMY LAYBOURNE @EmmyLaybourne @FierceReads

Book Description

Publication Date: May 6, 2014

In Monument 14: Savage Drift, the stunningly fierce conclusion to the Monument 14 trilogy, author Emmy Laybourne ups the stakes even higher for a group of kids who have continually survived the unthinkable. Can they do so one last time?

It's over. 
Dean, Alex, and the other survivors of the Monument 14 have escaped the disaster zone and made it to the safety of a Canadian refugee camp. Some of the kids have been reunited with their families, and everyone is making tentative plans for the future. And then, Niko learns that his lost love, Josie, has survived!

Or is it? For Josie, separated from the group and presumed dead, life has gone from bad to worse. Trapped in a terrible prison camp with other exposed O's and traumatized by her experiences, she has given up all hope of rescue. Meanwhile, scared by the government's unusual interest in her pregnancy, Astrid--along with her two protectors, Dean and Jake--joins Niko on his desperate quest to be reunited with Josie.

About the Author

Emmy Laybourne, author of the Monument 14 trilogy, is a writer and actress. She has appeared in movies like Superstar and The In-Laws, and has performed original comedy on Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, and with UCB and Chicago City Limits. She lives in Upstate New York with her husband and their two children. Visit her online at emmylaybourne.com.

Website * Facebook * Twitter  * Goodreads 

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER

MY THOUGHTS:  ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT


Dean, Alex and the younger kids have been safe at the camp near Vancouver, but they still want to find Josie after Niko discovers that she is still alive.  Astrid is experiencing difficulties in her pregnancy but fears going to the doctor there since she has heard rumors of pregnant girls just disappearing.  To save Astrid from medical experimentation, the boys devise a plan and with the help of the twins' father, the escape the camp and venture back into the states.  

I love that the story alternates between the different points of view of each character and Josie, in her exile as a type O monster, shows that her compassion goes beyond being a prisoner in a sea of monsters.  The chemicals have morphed into a dust cloud that drifts into areas that weren't previously effected.  As Jake, Astrid and Dean travel south to reach safety for the baby, Niko sets off on his own to find Josie.  This part of the story becomes extremely exciting as you wonder if the group will survive the chemicals and circumstances to save Josie.  

Rarely do I get an ending that I wanted but still was a bit surprised at how it ended.  That is exactly what happened to me in this conclusion of the Monument 14 series.  The whole cast of characters are so accessible and it is heartening that these teens try to do what is right. Fans of dystopian stories are going to enjoy this one immensely.  You do need to read the first two books in the series since each builds on the other.  Parents:  There is some violence, alcohol abuse and minor sexual situations.  

WANT TO WIN THIS  ARC BOOK?

Ends 5/13/14 


Open to anyone with a US mailing address

Open only to those who can legally enter

Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary.

You must be 13 or older to enter .

The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified.

The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.

Giveaway was organized by BookHounds and sponsored by me.

VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review THESE BROKEN STARS by AMIE KAUFMAN & MEAGAN SPOONER @MeaganSpooner @AmieKaufman @DisneyHyperion

Book Description

Publication Date: December 10, 2013

It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone. Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they're worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help. Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other's arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever? Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won't be the same people who landed on it. The first in a sweeping science fiction trilogy, These Broken Stars is a timeless love story about hope and survival in the face of unthinkable odds.


Source:  Publisher

My Thoughts

LOVE LOVE LOVE




Lilac lives a life of privilege as the daughter of the richest man in the universe.  She sets style, starts trends and has everything she wants or needs.  Setting off on a solo trip aboard her father's latest space ship, the Icarius.  On the same flight is Tarver, the newest military hero and his acts of bravery are posted everywhere.  In a cute meet, Lilac drops her glove when Tarver just happens to walk by.  Tarver knows nothing about society or gossip, so he honestly doesn't know who Lilac is.  When the flight is pulled out of hyperspace, Tarver realizes he only has one chance to save his life and finds Lilac and the pair make it to an escape pod. Lilac has a working knowledge of technology and she is able to rewire the pod and they successfully launch away from the ship.  Unfortunately, the pod crashes onto an uninhabited planet.  They survive and try to make their way to the crash site of the mother ship.  

Told in alternating voices, each character moves the plot along as the pair fall in love and make it through the wilderness alone.  Strange things start to happen to them when Lilac starts having visions and hearing voices that warn her about dangers.  This is a serious page turner and although this is story that been told before, the way the words are put together make everything unique.  Lilac starts out as sort of a simpering, spoiled mess but finds her strength, while Tarver, loses a bit of his military hard edge.  Over all, this book is worth the hype and quickly became one of my favorites so far of this year.  LOVE.  

May I Suggest . . . GIVEAWAY HOP #win Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Welcome to the 

May I Suggest  . . . Giveaway Hop

May 3rd   to May  16th 

Hosted by Stuck In Books

There are a bunch of blogs participating in this one so be sure to stop by each one. Each has their own entry rules and geographic limits, so be sure to read the rules for each one.  This hop starts May 3rd to May 16th ,  midnight. 

HERE IS WHAT I HAVE FOR ONE LUCKY WINNER:






 



  WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK?

Ends 5/16/14 


Open to anyone with a US mailing address

Open only to those who can legally enter

Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary.

You must be 13 or older to enter .

The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified.

The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.

Giveaway was organized by BookHounds and sponsored by me.

VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


a Rafflecopter giveaway