Spotlight | Haven

Haven (Chronicles of Warshard #1) is the 2nd place winner of World's Best Story!

Princess Haven was never meant to be Queen.

Her immortality has saved her time and time again, but when the last of her royal family dies at her feet, she is next in line to rule a nation on the brink of war. With no formal training on how to be Queen, Haven must rise to the occasion with the help of her best friends, and personal guard, or risk losing everyone she has ever loved.

With war to the West, and no escape to the East, the evil tyrant Kadia sets her sights on the six kingdoms. Haven's neighbors are quick to fall under the swords of Kadia's shadow soldiers, leaving a sea of bodies and a clear path to Haven's only home. Haven must make a choice; take her people and flee to the foreign Republic across the sea or lead a last stand against a powerful dictator.

Buy the Book:

Amazon  ~   Barnes & Nobles  ~  Book Depository ~  Indigo Chapters

Author's Bio:

Katherine Bogle's debut young adult novel, Haven, came second in the World's Best Story contest 2015. She currently resides in Saint John, New Brunswick with her partner in crime, and plethora of cats.

​Connect with the author: Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook

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Spotlight | Party With A Plan

1. Tell us a little about yourself

I started writing all the common things people write about themselves, but I don’t want to do that here. I am a free spirited, creative, compassionate, and extroverted 56 years young man. I am the father of an amazing 11-year-old daughter who fills my life with joy. I have endured heartache and pain and ecstasy and joy. My life is full and I am never bored.

2. Why did you write this book?

I wrote this book because in my mid 20’s I had a life altering experience that drastically changed the course of my life. I wrote this book so others could avoid the pitfalls that I fell into.

3. Really? You’re going to leave us hanging like that? What happened? Do you mind telling us?

Not at all. I talk about it in my book so I can talk about it here. At 24 I hit bottom from my cocaine and alcohol addiction. I’ve been sober ever since. This book is my calling and the reason I went through everything I went through. In short, the book teaches people how to drink and not get in trouble with alcohol.

4. You mean it teaches people how to drink responsibly?

Actually, that phrase is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. There’s really no such thing as “responsible drinking.” If you ask five random people to define responsible drinking, you get five completely different answers. Could you imagine driving down the road wondering what the speed limit is, only to see a sign that says, “Drive responsibly.” How fast are you supposed to go? What my book does is give people research based, concrete guidelines on how to drink and lower the risk of having problems associated with alcohol.

5. Is the book meant for anyone who drinks?

Yes, the book is intended for anyone who chooses to drink. I do have an edition specifically for college students and another for women since both have characteristics that need to be addressed for those populations, but the generic book is for anyone who chooses to drink. Being an alcoholic is not fun and I want to help people from crossing the line into addiction. This book will do just that.

Spotlight | Beyond the Rising Tide

Beyond the Rising Tide by Sarah Beard

Kai met Avery only once--in the moment he died saving her life. Now when he's not using his new healing powers to help people, he watches helplessly as Avery's life is unraveled by his death. To help her, he risks everything by breaking the rules, dangerously blurring the barriers between life and death.

Praise for the Book

“Vividly imagined, this novel is the perfect mix of modern love story and literary fiction. One brimming with genuine emotion that had me re-reading passages simply because they were too beautifully written to experience just once.” --Julie N. Ford, author of With No Regrets

“This book is not only an engaging and satisfying supernatural romance, but also a beautiful story about life, death, and the gray places in between.” --E.B. Wheeler, author of The Haunting of Springett Hall
"This is one of those stories that stays with you long after the closing scene. It was beautifully imagined and vividly written and I absolutely loved it!” --Teresa Richards, author of Emerald Bound

My mind retraces the past few months, all the conversations Tyler and I have had, the words we’ve said and haven’t said, all stemming from one incident, one day. And then I’m thrown back to that afternoon, back into the ocean and the cold, roiling waves. I feel them around me, tossing me this way and that, pounding over my head like a stampede of wild horses. I feel the salt stinging my eyes and see the abyss below me in the moment I dove under to find the boy. I saw him there, motionless and suspended in the deep, just out of reach.
Just out of reach.
My face feels hot, and I can’t breathe. But I keep my panic cloaked beneath my skin. A violent earthquake rattles my insides, but I tense my muscles, holding it in, restraining it, refusing to let it show. I dig my nails into my arm, anchoring them there, anchoring me into stillness, and I focus all my attention on the present physical pain in my arm.
Kai’s hand reaches for mine. His touch stills my insides, draws out the tremors as though they’re water and he’s a sponge.

Author Sarah Beard

Sarah Beard is the author of YA novels Porcelain Keys and Beyond the Rising Tide. She earned a degree in communications from the University of Utah and is currently pursuing an MFA in writing from VCFA. When she's not writing, she referees wrestling matches between her three boys and listens to audiobooks while folding self-replicating piles of laundry. She is a breast cancer survivor, a baker of sweets, a seeker of good love stories, a composer of melancholy music, and a traveler who wishes her travel budget was much bigger. She lives with her husband and children in the shadow of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains.

Website * Twitter * Facebook

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 8/1/16

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 and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.




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Spotlight | Eternal Mercury

Eternal Mercury by Elaine Pinter

Chelsee Taylor has been in love with her boyfriend, Max, since they started kindergarten together. She has no idea that high school graduation will be the last perfect day of her life. After a tragic car accident, she refuses to accept Max's death because she can still feel his presence. No one believes her and she is completely alone. But all of that changes the moment she meets Blake Andersen. It's not just that he believes her . . . or even just that he's so understanding . . . but why is Max's presence so strong when she's with Blake?

Eternal Mercury is two intertwined books in one. Book one follows Chelsee’s bittersweet journey and book two uncovers Blake’s story of redemption. In the end, it is Max who will inspire them both to trust fate, live life, and finish well.
Buy it on Amazon!

Praise for Eternal Mercury

“Overall, this novel made me really think about how life can change so completely in the blink of an eye. It was an amazing, life altering story.”

“I loved this book. It made me laugh and cry but most of all it made me feel like there is always hope in this world.”

“I could not put this down. What an amazing story of love, tragedy, strength, triumph, and family.”

Guest Post: Eternal Mercury, Organ Donation, and Cellular Memory

When I first realized that I wanted to write a book, I knew that I wanted it to be different. Shortly after I began brainstorming for that unique idea, a car-crash scene on a mountain highway started playing in my head. Not only was I looking for a unique story idea, but I was also looking for a positive message. I began to wonder if, instead of something scary like a ghost, could something good be left after someone died? The answer became clear to me: organ donation. What could be more beautiful than that? And what could be more romantic than true love that could survive the boundaries of death? To my surprise, the idea turned out to be more realistic than I expected. Through research I discovered the phenomenon of cellular memory. Cellular memory is when people who receive transplants take on traits of people whose organs they receive. It’s rare, but when it does happen, it can come in the form of food cravings, changes in musical taste or hobbies, and sometimes even glimpses at other things about the donor.

Although the level of cellular memory I portrayed in Eternal Mercury is fictional, the need for organs definitely isn’t. It’s hard to think about death, and the common misconceptions about organ donation don’t help. But by understanding the facts and then making your decision known, you just might be able to bring something good out of the bad. That part of Eternal Mercury isn’t based on fiction.

Here are the facts:

Over 100,000 people, including kids, are in need of transplants. Over 20 of them die waiting each day.

One person can save up to seven lives by donating their heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, pancreas, and small intestine. That same person can improve the lives of many others through the donation of tissues such corneas, skin, veins, tendons, ligaments, and bones.

You won’t receive less medical care if you decide to become a donor. Doctors and nurses make every possible effort to save their patients’ lives and will not even consider organ donation unless a person dies.

Income, social status, and race are not factors in deciding who receives organ transplants. You’ll be helping people who need it the most and your family will not be charged for the procedure.

Most major religions support organ donation. I’m not sure that there could be a more loving or selfless gift, but don’t be afraid to check with your spiritual advisor.

Almost anyone can be an organ donor. Age and/or medical history don’t necessarily disqualify you.

The most important thing you can do is let your family know whether or not you want to be an organ donor. No matter what you decide, telling your family will save them from the pain of trying to guess your wishes at a time when that’s the last thing they need. And if the choice is right for you, to let someone else continue on when you’ve reached the end down here, don’t think about what it means for you; instead think of the incredible gratitude you’d feel if someone did it for you or someone you love.


Add it to Good Reads!

Author Elaine Pinter

Elaine Pinter lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband and son. When she’s not hanging out with them, she’s jotting down ideas for her next novel in the tattered notebook she carries everywhere.

Her writing journey began in June of 2012 when a reading spree set off an unexpected chain of events. After poring over the pages, her own ideas began to appear and she found herself glued to her laptop after her family went to bed every evening. The late nights continued until her first two YA romance novels, Eternal Mercury and Between the Starlight, were published.

She’s one of those hopeless romantics who believes love always wins and that the best stories are the ones that drag you through the tears and reward you with a smile when all the pieces fit together perfectly in the end.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 7/26/16

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 and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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In My Mailbox | Grace and Dignity

Grace and Dignity: The Ark of the Sacred Scrolls (Volume 1) by Laura Grody

June 2, 2016 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

248 pages

Amazon + Good Reads

"According to Milo, rescuing Prince Dignity would be easy: 'On the count of three, we take a running Leap of Faith off Carpe' Diem Cliff, cross the River of Fear in the Raft of Courage, and boom, we're at the Castle of Doom.' Princess Grace and Prince Dignity, a royal couple with mystical powers, are set to be crowned king and queen of the magnificent Kingdom of Love. But on the eve of their coronation, disaster strikes, and Grace is told her prince has been murdered. Grief-stricken, the princess reportedly dies of a broken heart, and the shocked kingdom falls into the eager hands of Dignity's unscrupulous cousin, Prince Denial. Months later, however, Grace is found alive with a gap in her memory, a loss of her powers, and a mysterious Pig Latin note suggesting Prince Dignity is very much alive. As she searches for her prince throughout the rundown kingdom, Grace stumbles upon an ancient secret known as 'The Cosmic Source' - a powerful force which promises to revive her mystical powers and lead to an exciting new way of living. But with the crown title 'throne' for a loop, the future of the Kingdom of Love hangs upon the prince's Dignity. Find out if True Love conquers all in this mystical, linguistical tale of 'Grace and Dignity."

-Good Reads

A special thanks to the author, Laura Grody, for giving me a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review. Stay tuned for my review! 

Check out Laura on the internet at the following places:

Website: www.graceanddignitybook.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/graceanddignity

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lauragrody

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/7140777.Laura_Grody

Author Central: www.amazon.com/author/lauragrody 

Amazon paperback: Grace and Dignity paperback

Amazon Kindle eBook: Grace and Dignity eBook

Blogger Spotlight | Velvet and Vibranium

1. Introduce yourself (where are you from, what kind of books do you enjoy reading, etc.)

I'm from South Africa, and I'm currently studying a BA and majoring in French and English Literature (every book lover's dream!). I have pretty varied reading interests and read from most genres, but my favourite is probably YA fantasy and supernatural.

2. What are you currently reading? 

 Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

3. Which book is at the top of your wishlist? 

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children!

4. What tip would you give an aspiring book blogger?

Just do it! The book community is so amazingly welcoming. It's a lot of work, but if you really love it it's so rewarding! And getting to connect with other readers is so much fun.

5. When you're not reading, what do you enjoy doing?

Writing (obviously), taking photos, and watching films.

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kelly_hoggons

Bookstagram: http://www.instagram.com/velvetandvibranium

Booktube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0OGVBJ32Zz2d_VuYsYpQQ

#AYearAThon | What I'm Reading

Happy #AYearAThon, readers! Check out my last post to get the information about this month's #AYearAThon theme... because today, I'm showing you which book I'm reading to help work down my TBR pile.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
First published in 1962
This edition is by Penguin, October 2006
160 pages
Amazon + Good Reads

"Merricat Blackwood lives on the family estate with her sister Constance and her Uncle Julian. Not long ago there were seven Blackwoods—until a fatal dose of arsenic found its way into the sugar bowl one terrible night. Acquitted of the murders, Constance has returned home, where Merricat protects her from the curiosity and hostility of the villagers. Their days pass in happy isolation until cousin Charles appears. Only Merricat can see the danger, and she must act swiftly to keep Constance from his grasp.

Cover art by Thomas Ott."

-Good Reads

Blogger Spotlight | Sabrina Hediger

1. Introduce yourself (where are you from, what kind of books do you enjoy reading, etc.)
My name is Sabrina Hediger, and I'm an aspiring Author from Switzerland. I enjoy reading (and writing) Fantasy the most, but I also enjoy Contemporary and the occasional Young Adult book. What I don't like to read is Crime Fiction or Non-Fiction.
2. What are you currently reading?
 I am currently (by the time I fill out these questions, but probably not anymore by the time this goes up) reading the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini. I am on the second book, Eldest, and sadly I'm not enjoying it as much as the first one. Probably a 3 star rating out of 5.
3. Which book is at the top of your wishlist?
 Probably A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab, but that one will not be out for a while...
4. What tip would you give an aspiring book blogger? 
Don't pressure yourself into reading just because you think you have to write a review on the book. If you do, you'll most likely hit a reading slump sooner rather than later, and getting out of those is not easy. Take your time, enjoy the book and you're review will be a lot better than if you stressed it.
5. When you're not reading, what do you enjoy doing?
Writing. I enjoy writing a lot, but I also love watching TV shows (not really on a TV though) and Youtube videos. And sleeping. I'm a sleepyhead.


Social Media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sabrina_NH
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sabrinahediger/
Tumblr: http://sabrinahediger.tumblr.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5EWWDcTEHcn2LRvfKcCqCw
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sabrina.n.hediger
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/1/104571325585792634175

Spotlight & GIVEAWAY | A Thousand Salt Kisses

A Thousand Salt Kisses by Josie Demuth

April 2016 by Wise Ink Press

443 pages

Amazon + Good Reads

"Seventeen-year-old Crystal White is the new girl on Starfish Island. Dragged to the remote community by her environmental activist father, she is eager to find fun that doesn’t involve touching fish guts or listening to local folklore.

During a midnight swim with some new friends, Crystal is pulled out to sea by the waves. Convinced she’s going to drown, Crystal is rescued by Llyr, a handsome stranger. As she searches for him in the following weeks, she finds there may be more truth to the Starfish legends than she thought.

Over a sizzling roller-coaster summer, Llyr introduces Crystal to magic she’d only ever dreamed of. But as Crystal comes to love Starfish Island, it begins to drive her family apart. A nearby power plant is devastating local marine life, and her parents are stuck in the middle. As the magic and mundane parts of Crystal’s life converge, she finds herself risking everything to save Llyr, her family, and herself."

-Good Reads

Author blurb: Josie is a 31 year-old writer from London. Her Salt Kisses books became popular on Wattpad, and are now also serialized on Radish Fiction. A Thousand Salt Kisses is her third book.

For more information please visit http://www.saltkissesbooks.com/ and https://josiedemuthwriting.wordpress.com/. You can follow author Josie Demuth on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Wattpad.

Tour Schedule: https://bookjunkiepromotions.com/2016/04/04/athousandsaltkissesblogtour/

Hasht

ags: #ATSLBlogTour #SaltKissesTrilogy #YA #Paranormal #Romance #Mermaids #MerStories #JosieDemuth

Twitter Tags: @bkjunkiepromos @WiseInk @JosieDemuth

This post is a part of a Book Junkie tour. 

Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on July 8th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to US residents only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

A Thousand Salt Kisses

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, June 6
Review at 100 Pages a Day

Thursday, June 9
Excerpt at Brooke Blogs

Friday, June 10
Review at Bibliotica

Monday, June 13
Interview at I Heart Reading

Tuesday, June 14
Spotlight at To Read, Or Not to Read

Wednesday, June 15
Review at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!

Friday, June 17
Spotlight at AC Reads

Monday, June 20
Excerpt at Eclectic Ramblings of Author Heather Osborne

Tuesday, June 21
Spotlight at Fiction Conviction Book Blog

Friday, June 24
Spotlight at A Leisure Moment

Monday, June 27
Spotlight at It’s a Mad Mad World

Monday, July 4
Review at A Book Drunkard

Tuesday, July 5
Spotlight at CelticLady’s Reviews

Friday, July 8
Blog Tour Wrap Up at Book Junkie Promotions

Blogger Spotlight | Library of Tomes

1. Introduce yourself (where are you from, what kind of books do you enjoy reading, etc.)

Hiya. My name is Temecka, pronounced with a long e. I am the writer of Library of Tomes. I am from a tiny little town in the middle of nowhere Kentucky. I find that everyone is confused that I am from Kentucky because I tend to hide my horrendous accent. I enjoy reading Young Adult fantasy and contemporary. I have found myself straying away from contemporary more in the last few months, but those are the genres I generally reach for.

My favorite book series is the Raven Cycle quartet, and each character in the series owns a piece of my heart in their own way. Though, Noah Czerny owns a slightly bigger piece than the others.

2. What are you currently reading?

I am currently reading Winter by Marissa Meyer. I am really excited and nervous reading this book because I hope to not be disappointed by the final book in this series!

3. Which book is at the top of your wishlist?

A Court of Mist and Fury! I just finished ACOTAR, and it was amazing! I cannot wait to get the next book.

4. What tip would you give an aspiring book blogger?

Book Blogging is so rewarding. My biggest tip would be to never give up on what you are doing because someone else does not agree with what you are doing or because you are afraid someone will say something negative about it. One of my biggest regrets has been letting other people’s opinions impact my blog.

5. When you’re not reading, what do you enjoy doing?

When I’m not reading, I enjoy watching Supernatural, The Flash, and The Walking Dead. Supernatural is one of the only things that I refuse to miss regardless of if I’m reading or not. I also am the editor of my college newspaper, and I spend a lot of time writing news for our students.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TemeckaE

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/32996279-temecka

Blog: http://libraryoftomes.blogspot.com/