HUSHED Blog Tour ~ Guest Post from Kelley York

We are excited to be hosting today's stop on the HUSHED  Blog Tour.

I've read HUSHED, and let me say, this book is fabulous. Come back and check out my review on Friday.

Kelley York, the author of HUSHED, has written a lovely post.
Enjoy!

Discovering Your Niche

Once upon a time, as a kid, I devoured fantasy books. My favorites included MRS. FRISBY AND THE RATS OF NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien, THE FIREBRINGER trilogy by Meredith Ann Pierce, and the ENCHANTED FOREST CHRONICLES by Patricia C. Wrede. I loved talking animals, witches, dragons, and monsters.

Then came a period of my life where I didn't read much. When I did jump back into it, it was primarily YA books...and absolutely no fantasy. Instead, I was eating up paranormal—particularly ghost stories and vampire stories. The first book I wrote was paranormal, the first of a series I'd still really love to write out someday.

And I shunned everything contemporary. I didn't like 'real world' books with 'real world' lives. I always thought, "I live in a boring real world every day of my life. I want to read about ones that are different." I wanted creatures roaming the streets and magical powers and urban legends come to life.

But, quickly, I started losing interest. It seemed like every book I got just wasn't doing it for me. Too cliché, too far-fetched, too eyeroll-inducing. I was buying these books I thought would be right up my alley, and not enjoying them at all! For that matter, writing paranormal wasn't as much fun as it used to be. I was so unbelievably frustrated.

Somehow or another, while trying to think of a really good idea for my next book...I ended up writing a contemporary story.

Except HUSHED wasn't exactly 'contemporary,' though at the time I had no idea how to categorize it. But I had shocked myself by writing a story without a single paranormal element. Not to mention how easily this story came to me, and how it remains my favorite of anything I've written. It was fun. It was exciting. It was different.

Since I enjoyed writing a story in that genre so much, I very, very slowly began branching out with what I was reading, too. A majority of the boy-meets-girl novels were boring to me, but I started learning where to look for things a little more my style. Darker and edgier books that didn't necessarily focus on romance as much as character development and plot.

(Before I go further, I'm definitely not saying all these other books don't have all that. I'm just saying—for my personal tastes—I had a hard time getting into the romance-heavy stories.)

I came across books like Hannah Moskowitz's INVINCIBLE SUMMER, Jay Asher's 13 REASONS WHY, and Sean Olin's BROTHER/SISTER, among others. I began to discover this whole new world of amazing books I loved in a genre I'd been avoiding for so long!

The more I read, the more ideas I started to get for non-paranormal books. (Or some with very, very light paranormal elements.) I have a folder of characters, plots, concepts, and I just can't write fast enough in the time I have. None of them are heavy on the romance, and I've slowly started coming to terms that there is nothing wrong with that. I can create a good story without it.

The point of this post being, sometimes it takes awhile to really find your niche. Be it with genre, boy versus girl narrators, point of view, or even writing style. Sometimes you find it in the most unexpected of places, so don't be afraid to try new things and branch out to new horizons. You never know what you're going to find.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'Kelley York delivers in this impressive debut. I was at the edge of my
seat waiting to see what would happen next! Bottom line, this was
unputdownable!!!' --- YA Fantasy Guide ---

Author Bio:

Kelley was born and raised in central California, where she still resides
with her lovely wife, daughter, and an abundance of pets. (Although she
does fantasize about moving across the globe to Ireland.) She has a
fascination with bells, adores all things furry - be them squeaky, barky
or meow-y - is a lover of video games, manga and anime, and likes to
pretend she's a decent photographer. Her life goal is to find a real
unicorn. Or maybe a mermaid.

Within young adult, she enjoys writing and reading a variety of genres
from contemporary with a unique twist, psychological thrillers,
paranormal/urban fantasy and horror. She loves stories where character
development takes center stage.

Kelley's website: http://www.kelley-york.com/blog

He's saved her. He's loved her. He's killed for her.

Eighteen-year-old Archer couldn't protect his best friend, Vivian, from
what happened when they were kids, so he's never stopped trying to protect
her from everything else. It doesn't matter that Vivian only uses him when
hopping from one toxic relationship to another - Archer is always there,
waiting to be noticed.

Then along comes Evan, the only person who's ever cared about Archer
without a single string attached. The harder he falls for Evan, the more
Archer sees Vivian for the manipulative hot-mess she really is.

But Viv has her hooks in deep, and when she finds out about the murders
Archer's committed and his relationship with Evan, she threatens to turn
him in if she doesn't get what she wants...And what she wants is Evan's
death, and for Archer to forfeit his last chance at redemption.

Purchase HUSHED at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW pick is...

Molly Bartolucci wants to blend in, date hottie Rick and keep her zombie-raising abilities on the down-low. Then the god Anubis chooses her to become a reaper—and she accidentally undoes the work of another reaper, Rath.

Within days, she’s shipped off to the Nekyia Academy, an elite school that trains the best necromancers in the world. And her personal reaping tutor? Rath. Who seems to hate her guts.

Rath will be watching closely to be sure she completes her first assignment-reaping Rick, the boy who should have died. The boy she still wants to be with.

To make matters worse, students at the academy start turning up catatonic, and accusations fly—against Molly. The only way out of this mess? To go through hell. Literally.(From GoodReads)

Paperback, 304 pages

Expected publication: February 28th 2012 by Harlequin Teen

Why I'm waiting ~ I have a serious thing for Reapers. Undeadly looks like a sure WIN!

Pre-order Undeadly at:

Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following:

·         Grab your current read

       ·         Open to a random page

       ·         Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page

·         Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others.

Make sure to share the title and the author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles.

This week's Teaser is from

Toby’s best friend, and unrequited love, Molly Harper has gone missing. Molly’s boyfriend, “Spud,” thinks he knows where she’s been taken: the mysterious Zombie High, where Spud’s father just happens to be in charge of the top-secret medical facility famous for its work rehabilitating teenage zombies.

Armed with blueprints, passwords, keys and codes, Spud and Toby are ready to make an all-out assault on Zombie High and rescue their fair Molly. There’s just one problem: Toby and Spud are the biggest wimps at Cypress Cove High and need some muscle along for the ride in case any of the zombies get loose.

That’s where Boner and Zack come in. Two of the football team’s biggest players, the jocks are easily conned into joining Spud and Toby on their fictional “panty raid” the minute Spud calls them “chicken” for not accepting his challenge to spend the night at Zombie High.

When Zack and Boner show up to accept the challenge, however, they don’t come alone; they bring their two girlfriends, Lilac and Haley, along for the ride. With events spiraling out of control and zombies lurking around every corner, will Toby and Spud even survive their night at Zombie High, let alone rescue Molly?

My Teaser ~

"But Spud looks so confident, and the guys are acting cool, and the chicks are fairly hot so...am I the 
 only fool here? Does no one else care that a rabid, brain-eating zombie could jump out from behind
 the building at any moment and suck our brains out of our skulls like the last scoop of three-alarm 
 chili from the bottom of the bowl?"

Kindle Edition

Published October 26th 2011 by Decadent Publishing Company, LLC

You can purchase Panty Raid at Zombie High at:

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

Come back and check out my review on Thursday!

Giveaway ~ Awakenings by Edward

I have a great giveaway for you!  I have a copy of

Awakenings by Edward Lazellari, courtesy of Tor Publishing.

Cal MacDonnell is a happily married New York City cop with a loving family. Seth Raincrest is a washed-up photographer who has alienated even his closest friends. The two have nothing in common—except that they both suffer from retrograde amnesia. It’s as if they just appeared out of thin air thirteen years ago, and nothing has been able to restore their memories. Now their forgotten past has caught up to them with a vengeance.

Cal's and Seth’s lives are turned upside down as they are stalked by otherworldly beings who know about the men's past lives. But these creatures aren't here to help; they're intent on killing anyone who gets in their way. In the balance hangs the life of a child who might someday restore a broken empire to peace and prosperity. With no clue why they're being hunted, Cal and Seth must accept the aid of a strange and beautiful woman who has promised to unlock their secrets. The two must stay alive long enough to protect their loved ones, recover their true selves—and save two worlds from tyranny and destruction. (From GoodReads)

The Rules ~

• Must be 13+ years of age to enter.
• Must be a resident of US/Can (if you are International & have a US/Can addressee who will accept the book on your behalf, that's fine).
• Following is not required.
• Giveaway will end Monday, December 5, 2011 at 11:59 pm.

Just fill out the form and you're good to go.
Good Luck!

The winner is:

Ashlynn W.

Congratulations to Ashlynn. I have already contacted Ashlynn, if she does not respond within 48 hours, I will choose a new winner.

Review ~ Clockwise by Elle Strauss

A teenage time traveler accidentally takes her secret crush back in time. Awkward.

Boy watching with her best friend would be enough excitement for fifteen year old Casey Donovan. She doesn't even mind life at the bottom of the Cambridge High social ladder, if only she didn’t have this other much bigger problem. Unscheduled trips to the nineteenth century!

When Casey gets talked into going to the Fall Dance, the unthinkable happens--she accidentally takes Nate Mackenzie, the cutest boy in the school, back in time.

Protocol pressures her to tell their 1860 hosts that he is her brother and when Casey finds she has a handsome, wealthy (and unwanted) suitor, something changes in Nate. Are those romantic sparks or is it just ‘brotherly’ protectiveness?

When they return to the present things go back to the way they were before: Casey at the bottom of the social totem pole and Nate perched on the very the top. Except this time her heart is broken. Plus, her best friend is mad, her parents are split up, and her little brother gets escorted home by the police. The only thing that could make life worse is if, by some strange twist of fate, she took Nate back to the past again.

Which of course, she does. (From GoodReads)

Clockwise, by Elle Strauss is a fun, lighthearted book about Casey, a time traveler, and her struggles to manage school, friends, family, and her crush, all while trying to navigate the world in two different time periods. And when Casey accidentally takes her crush, Nate, into the past with her, her world becomes even more complicated.
There were two big aspects to the book that I felt the author got spot-on right away. The first is the tone of the book. From the very first sentence I knew that I would, at the very least, have a nice time reading Clockwise. The second aspect I liked was the fact that I never felt a huge secret was being dangled over my head. Strauss lets the reader in on the secret from the get-go. And I can't say how much I appreciated that.

There were just a few small issues I had with Clockwise. The first was Nate. I know that hot, popular guys are "supposed" to be jerks to the poor wallflowers who love them, but his back and forth, hot and cold attitude wore pretty thin on me. Does the boy finally wise up and get his act together? I'll let you read and find out! The other issue is the lack in explanation of Casey's time-tripping abilities. Maybe that will be explored in a second book? I just wish I had a little more detail.

Here's what I loved about Clockwise. The historical references tied in to Casey's travels. The author managed to sneak in some really great lessons on race and  gender equality. And, I almost forgot! There was a super-cool, out-of-nowhere shocker. It was awesome and I never saw it coming.

Clockwise would be a fabulous choice for a young reader who is itching to read a fun, paranormal young adult book.

3 Smooches

Worthy of some extra loving!

Favorite Quote ~
" I followed Sara into the Good Ol' Book Shoppe, stunned  by the great and ancient literary works. I
  picked up a volume of Gray's Anatomy, Descriptive and Surgical. And here I thought Grey's
 Anatomy was just a TV Drama."

Paperback, print, 290 pages

Expected publication: November 21st 2011 by ESB Publishing

You can purchase Clockwise at:

Barnes & Noble | Amazon

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme created by Kristi at The Story Siren. It is a great way to put a spotlight on books received during the past week.

For Review ~

EMBRACE by Cherie Colyer (Thanks to Omnific Publishing)

EXISTENCE by Abbi Glines (Thanks to the author)

UNDER THE NEVER SKY, by Veroinca Rossi (Thanks to Harper Teen)

SWITCHED (TRYLLE TRILOGY #1) by Amanda Hocking (Thanks to St. Martin's)

Purchased ~

SHATTER ME by Tahereh Mafi

DRINK SLAY LOVE by Sarah Beth Durst

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure and leave a link so I can check out your mailbox.

Happy Thanksgiving! {Mini-Break}

To all my US friends, Happy Holidays!

To all my International friends, Happy Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday!

This is one of my favorite days of the year. This year my husband's family is celebrating Christmas this weekend, as well. So you can see, I'll be super-busy. I'm taking a few days off from blogging.

I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.



For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined. (From GoodReads)

You know what I'm going to say, right? Look at that COVER!  April needs to hurry and get here becuase I am so ready to read THE SELECTION!

You can find it at
 GoodReads  |  Book Depository  |  Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following:

·         Grab your current read

       ·         Open to a random page

      ·         Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page

       ·         Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others!

Make sure to share the title and the author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles.

This week's Teaser is from

A teenage time traveler accidentally takes her secret crush back in time. Awkward.

Boy watching with her best friend would be enough excitement for fifteen year old Casey Donovan. She doesn't even mind life at the bottom of the Cambridge High social ladder, if only she didn’t have this other much bigger problem. Unscheduled trips to the nineteenth century!

When Casey gets talked into going to the Fall Dance, the unthinkable happens--she accidentally takes Nate Mackenzie, the cutest boy in the school, back in time.

Protocol pressures her to tell their 1860 hosts that he is her brother and when Casey finds she has a handsome, wealthy (and unwanted) suitor, something changes in Nate. Are those romantic sparks or is it just ‘brotherly’ protectiveness?

When they return to the present things go back to the way they were before: Casey at the bottom of the social totem pole and Nate perched on the very the top. Except this time her heart is broken. Plus, her best friend is mad, her parents are split up, and her little brother gets escorted home by the police. The only thing that could make life worse is if, by some strange twist of fate, she took Nate back to the past again.

Which of course, she does. (From GoodReads)

My Teaser ~

"I followed Sara into the Good Ol' Book Shoppe, stunned by the great and ancient literary works. I  
 picked up a volume of Gray's Anatomy, Descriptive and Surgical. And here I thought Grey's
 Anatomy was just a tv drama."

Paperback, print, 290 pages

Expected publication: November 21st 2011 by ESB Publishing

You can purchase Clockwise at:

Barnes & Noble  |  Amazon

 http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13011828-clockwise

Review & Giveaway~ A Girl Named Willow Krimble, by Giuseppe Blanco

So, you’ve just discovered that the person who has tormented, mocked and humiliated you for the past three years is lying in the school parking lot, bleeding internally from a hit and run accident. No one else is around and you need to get to a life-and-death family emergency of your own before it is too late. What would you do? Oh, did I mention you have the secret ability to heal others just by touching them? This is just one of the many situations 13-year-old Willow Krimble must face in this Web Novel, A Girl Named Willow Krimble.

Willow lives with her mother and older brother, Wyatt; she loves hanging out with her best friend, the feisty and sarcastic Razzel Fiora, and she has a close relationship with her grandmother. Seems pretty normal, right? It might be if the two most popular girls in middle school, Shayla Stergus and Snella Burenbine, did not taunt and remind her, on a daily basis, that she was born without her left leg.

Forced to maneuver through obstacles most teenagers would not need to tackle, Willow is suddenly blessed (or cursed?) with the unusual power to heal others through touch. Ever selfless, Willow’s desire to help the injured and sick thrusts her into a world where she is given immense responsibility, putting the needs of others before her own, all the while trying to maintain her secret.

Willow’s adolescent journey takes her through an emotional cyclone where she finds joy and purpose in helping an array of patients from an old man with Alzheimer’s to a mauled animal in a pet store. But Willow soon finds out there are limitations to her ability and, no matter how hard she might try, she cannot save everyone.

Through the intermingling of joy and pain, Willow is repeatedly tested to discover just how strong she can be, how strong she has been her entire life, and how everyone possesses the ability to effect another person’s world, with or without a secret power. (From GoodReads)

A Girl Named Willow Krimble is the story of, you guessed it, Willow Krimble. Willow is a fun, smart, clever girl who is filled with devotion for her family and friends. When she discovers she has a life-changing ability, she devotes her life to helping others.

To me, Willow Krimble was a sweet little book full of power themes seemingly tailored for young girls. Seriously, if there is a girl in your life who needs a dose of girl power, she would surely benefit from reading this book. The book is filled with important messages of self-esteem, fitting in vs. being yourself, standing up for what's right, being a good friend.

Personally, I would have liked the book to delve further into the mystery of Willow's abilities. That aspect wasn't explained very much, and I really needed more to go on to feel fully satisfied. To be fair,I'm not sure if there is a second book planned that will explain that, I hope so. Willow definitely has more story to tell.

Favorite Quote:
" 'You know, Will,' said Razzel, 'maybe next time we're sitting behind that dark-haired Barbie doll, you
   shouldn't play with your food?' "
  'Me?' replied Willow.'You're the one who wanted to see how far a hot dog could fly from the rubber band
   on my retainer.' "

Paperback, 316 pages

Published January 19th 2011 by Self Published-read for free via url

You can purchase Willow Krimble at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble 

Read it for free at http://www.willowkrimble.com/

I received a copy of this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review.

GIVEAWAY

I want one of you to be able to enjoy Willow Krimble. It's in great condition.

This giveaway will be super easy.

Fill out the form.

Giveaway ends November 27, 2011.

This giveaway has ended. The winner of a signed copy of A Girl Named Willow Krimble is:
Kathy D.!
I have emailed Kathy. If she does not respond w/in 48 hours, I will choose a new winner.

In My Mailbox ~ The Idiot Edition]

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme created by Kristi at The Story Siren. It is a great way to put a spotlight on books received during the past week.

For Review:

Cold Blood (Dirty Blood #2) by Heather Hildenbrand

Purchased:

For a Few Demon's More (The Hollows #5) by Kim Harrison

The Outlaw Demon Wails (The Hollows #6)

White Witch, Black Curse (The Hollows #7

Anna and the French Kiss, by Stephanie Perkins

Lola and the Boy Next Door, by Stephanie Perkins

Jane, by April Lindner (two copies)

Incarceron (Incarceron #1), by Catherine Fisher

Leave me a link so I can come check out your mailbox. See you next week!





Blog Tour & Review ~ Two Moons of Sera, by Parvati K. Tyler

Welcome to The Bookish Babes' stop on the Two Moons of Sera Blog Tour!

I have a review of the book, plus the awesome trailer, and the Two Moons of Sera Personality Quiz.

Parvati also has a reader's giveaway that features some awesome prizes. To enter, click the tour button at the top of this post.

In a world where water and earth teem with life, Serafay is an anomaly. The result of genetic experiments on her mother's water-borne line Serafay will have to face the very people responsible to discover who she really is. But is she the only one?

All the Fun of YA written for Adults (From GoodReads)

Two Moons of Sera by Parvati Tyler is a beautiful, enchanting bit of escapist fantasy. The writing is beautiful and flows smoothly along, taking you on a journey sure to please.

Two Moons of Sera is the first installment in the journey of Serafey, a half-Sualwet and half-Erdlander. Now, you may be asking yourself, what is a Sualwet and Erdlander? I'm not going to spoil the details, because they are quite cool. Because of her unheard-of hybrid status, Serafey and her mother, for protecting her, are exiles, forced to live a  life of fear and solitude. When a mysterious man enters Serafey's world, everything changes in a heartbeat.

Two Moons of Sera is a quick-paced, fast read. The only problem I had was when it ended. I definitely wanted to keep going with the adventure. I can't wait for Part Two.
Favorite Quote(s):
" My world held me tightly, like too-small clothing which refused to adjust as you grew."

"The touch of his gaze had been a creation of the mind, the shadow of a sensation I'd never
 experienced."


To hit all of the tour dates, go  to the tour schedule.

You can but TMoS at:
Amazon | Smashwords

Open Minds Blog Tour ~ Review and Giveaway

Welcome to today's stop on the Open Minds Blog Tour!

Today, I have a review & ebook giveaway of Open Minds (Mindjack #1)

(To hit all the stops on the tour, click the badge)

When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep.

Sixteen-year-old Kira Moore is a zero, someone who can’t read thoughts or be read by others. Zeros are outcasts who can’t be trusted, leaving her no chance with Raf, a regular mindreader and the best friend she secretly loves. When she accidentally controls Raf’s mind and nearly kills him, Kira tries to hide her frightening new ability from her family and an increasingly suspicious Raf. But lies tangle around her, and she’s dragged deep into a hidden world of mindjackers, where having to mind control everyone she loves is just the beginning of the deadly choices before her. (From GoodReads)

I'll admit, I was excited to read Open Minds. From the moment I got the request to read and review Open Minds, I was curious to learn about this new reality where it is the norm to read minds and those who can't are considered freaks. Now, having read Open Minds, I have to say that I was not disappointed.

From the very first line "A zero like me shouldn't take public transportation." I was pushed into main character Kira's world. Her reality is isolation, being shunned, invisibility. Those who are "readers" do not become involved with zeroes, those who can not read minds. Zeroes are designated to the bottom ranks of society. They cannot go to college, have good jobs, because, since they cannot be read, they have the ability to lie. Quinn gives a complete look at what Kira goes through each day, the hostility and aggression she must face.

I loved reading from Kira's perspective. She seems to be resigned to the life ahead of her, but doesn't become whiny. The two boys in her life Raf and Simon both seem to be great choices for her, at first, but I can't really explain what I mean about that without getting spoil-ery. I thought Raf was sweet and the ideal guy. Simon is a little dangerous and deceptive, but I enjoyed him all the more for it. I really didn't get her mom at first, but that issue resolves itself quite neatly. Let's just say that the theme of the book could be "Nothing is what it seems"! Deception and betrayal run rampant throughout Open Minds. Kira can not trust anyone, really.

The best part of Open Minds, in my opinion, is the world-building. I have a problem with world-building sometimes, especially in the first book of a series. Sometimes the author just hands out an info dump and to me, that' s overwhelming. Quinn did it right. She doles it out small chunks at a time, until you have a whole complete world without feeling overwhelmed.

Open Minds is about the power of one girl to control her destiny, and ultimately, the destiny of others. It's all about accepting your destiny, control of your life. It's a great, fun, action-packed read.


Favorite Quote:
"I started to ask him what he meant, but his hands were on my cheeks, and he crashed his lips onto
 mine. My entire body stilled, every sense focused on the contact between us."

Paperback, 326 pages

Published November 1st 2011

Purchase Open Minds  (ebook) at:

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Smashwords  |  iBooks

Purchase Open Minds (paperback) at:

Amazon  |  Createspace

Susan Kaye Quinn grew up in California, where she wrote snippets of stories and passed them to her friends during class. She pursued a bunch of engineering degrees and worked a lot of geeky jobs, including turns at GE Aircraft Engines, NASA, and NCAR. Now that she writes novels, her business card says "Author and Rocket Scientist" and she don't have to sneak her notes anymore. All that engineering comes in handy when dreaming up paranormal powers in future worlds or mixing science with fantasy to conjure slightly plausible inventions. Susan writes from the Chicago suburbs with her three boys, two cats, and one husband. Which, it turns out, is exactly as much as she can handle.

Now for the GIVEAWAY!

Susan is generously offering an ebook of Open Minds to one lucky winner.

The only mandatory entry is Name & Email Address.
You can earn two extra entries.

• Subscribe to Susan's newsletter.
• Like Susan's Facebook page.

Open Internationally

Giveaway ends 11:59pm on November 24, 2011.

This giveaway has ended. The winner of an ecopy of Open Minds is:
Kara D!
(I have emailed Kara. If she does not respond w/in 48 hours, I will choose a new winner.)

Review & Giveaway ~ Where to Belong, by WJ Smith

Madison is an ex-con artist who has now lived by the rules for eight years following the tragic death of her fiancé. She has made a new life for herself in Chicago despite the challenges of honest work. Her world flips upside-down once again when she runs into her best friend that she left behind in a desperate attempt to escape the dangerous lifestyle they were leading, only to find out he is in deeper than she could have ever imagined. They are forced to team up with the hope to shield one another while still dealing with the abrupt separation that left them both secretly heartbroken. When not only her way of life, but also the life of her dearest friend is threatened by an old associate, will it be enough for her to continue as a law abiding citizen, or will she be forced back into the line of work that claimed the love of her life?(From GoodReads)

If you know me at all through Twitter, this blog, or GoodReads, you've probably noticed that I almost strictly read Young Adult, Paranormal, and Urban Fantasy books. But I only starting reading these genres less than five years ago, with the exception of the Harry Potter series. So when author WJ Smith asked me to review her book, Where to Belong, I readily accepted. I was curious to see if a general fiction book with a slight chick-lit slant could hold my interest.

Happily, Where to Belong did capture my attention and held it throughout the entire book. I enjoyed the characters. Madison was kind and thoughtful, if not terribly exciting considering she's a reformed con artist. Her lifelong friend and former partner in crime, Skyler, was also an attentive and generous person. Separately, their characters were fine, but when they shared scenes they both shined. The flashbacks to their childhoods and early adulthood helped show why they were so caring to one another, even with years of separation.

As much as I liked Madison and Skyler, I am a huge fan of stand-out secondary characters. In this case, it's Chase. Chase is Skyler's roommate and is funny and sweet and the best source of comic relief. He usually busted into the room during the worst moments, and had great reactions. Books always, always benefit from a character like Chase.

I'm not sure that general fiction is ever going to be my go-to source of reading again, but I have to say that it's nice to take a break from the vampires and demons and ghosts and poor teens trying to make it in a post-apocalyptic world. Where to Belong was a nice, worthwhile escape.

Favorite Quote:

"I've walked around all these years only pretending to have a life. It hasn't been anything I thought it  
 would be. It's empty. Hollow."

Paperback, 294 pages

Published August 31st 2011 by CreateSpace

Find Where to Belong on GoodReads

Purchase Where to Belong at:

Book Depository  |  Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

And now for the GIVEAWAY!

*There are two paperback copies of Where to Belong up for grabs.

*You must be a resident of US/CAN to enter the giveaway, UNLESS you have a US/CAN address 

  that the book can be shipped to.

*You must be 13+ years of age to enter.

*Following this blog is NOT required.

*The giveaway will end November 23, 2011.

This giveaway has ended. The winners are:

Desiree and Linda H!!

Congratulations, ladies!

(I have emailed both winners. If they do not respond w/in 48 hours, new winners will be chosen.)

Gratitude Giveaway Hop

This hop is hosted by Kathy at I Am a Reader, Not a Writer and Tiger at All-Consuming Books.

Over 300 blogs are participating in book-related giveaways! We are all linked together so that you may hop from one blog to the next. The hop runs from  November 17-27, 2011.

I have a great giveaway for you! There will be 1 winner.

The Prize

Dark Eden, by Patrick Carman (ARC)

The rules of this giveaway is simple. All you have to do is follow this blog. That's it!

You must be a US/Can resident. (Or have an address in the US/Can that can accept on your behalf.

Just fill out the Rafflecopter form and you're good to go.

Good Luck!

You can find all of the blogs linked to the giveaway here.

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW is...



When Psyche receives a prophecy gone horribly wrong, she learns that even the most beautiful girl in Greece can have a hideous future. Her fate? Fall in love with the one creature even the gods fear.

As she feels herself slipping closer into the arms of the prophecy, Psyche must choose between the terrifyingly tender touch she feels almost powerless to resist and the one constant she's come to expect out of life: you cannot escape what is destined.

Destined is a fresh and heartachingly romantic retelling of the Cupid & Psyche myth from debut novelist, Jessie Harrell. (From GoodReads)

I'm a sucker for a fabulous Greek myth story. I've  never read one featuring Psyche, and this sounds terrific. Good thing it comes out tomorrow, right?

Paperback, 260 pages

Expected publication: November 17th 2011 by Mae Day Publishing

 

You can find Destined at GoodReads.

 

You can purchase Destined at:

Amazon   |  Barnes & Noble

 

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following:

·         Grab your current read

       ·         Open to a random page

      ·         Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page

       ·         Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others!

Make sure to share the title and the author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles.

This week's Teaser is from

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.(From GoodReads)

My Teaser ~

"I'm not even human anymore. I'm so much more. The sun and the moon have merged and the earth is
 upside down. I feel like I can be exactly who I want to be in his arms."

SHATTER ME is possibly the most-hyped book this year. With good reason. As soon as I finished reading my ARC, I ordered a finished copy. Read it, people. It's out today, you have no excuses.

Hardcover, 342 pages

Expected publication: November 15th 2011 by Harper/HarperCollins

Buy Shatter Me at:

Book Depository (best price)  | Barnes & Noble | Amazon

The Vincent Boys Blog Tour ~ Character Interview with Beau Vincent

Hi! Welcome to today's stop on The Vincent Boys Blog Tour, hosted by Julie at A Tale of Many Reviews. My stop on the tour includes an interview with my favorite character, Beau Vincent. But first, take a look at The Vincent Boys, by Abbi Glines.

Being the good girl isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Ashton Gray has grown weary of playing the part to please her parents, and to be worthy of the town’s prince charming, Sawyer Vincent. Maybe That’s why she’s found herself spending time with Sawyer’s cousin, Beau, while he’s away for the summer camping with his family. Beau is nothing like her perfect boyfriend. He’s the sexiest guy she’s ever seen, dangerous in ways she’s only day dreamed about, and the one guy she should stay away from.
Beau never envied Sawyer his loving parents, his big nice home, or his position as quarterback. He loves him like a brother. Which is why he's tried everything in his power to keep his distance from Sawyer’s girlfriend. Even if he has loved her since the age of five, Ashton is Sawyer’s girl, so therefore she’s off limits. But when Sawyer leaves for the summer, Ashton, the one girl Beau would move Heaven and Earth for, decides she wants to get into trouble. Stabbing the one person who’s always accepted him and stood by him in the back, is the cost of finally holding Ashton Gray in his arms. Is she worth losing his cousin over?.... Hell Yeah.

(From GoodReads)

You can check out my review of The Vincent Boys here.

Like I said, Beau is my favorite character from the book. And you can bet, I was so freaking excited to get to ask him a few questions. I hope you love reading Beau's answers as much as I did. Enjoy!

BB: "Beau, you are well-known to be quite the beer drinker. What's your beer of choice?"

BV: "Budweiser or whatever is on tap."

(For the record, this blog does not condone underage drinking. But, come on, I had to ask!)

BB: "I believe you can tell a lot about a guy by the music he listens to. What is your favorite music 

        genre/band or singer/song?"

BV: "I like a good mix. Not sure there is a favorite. If I had to pick one band it would be Aerosmith. 

        However, I listen to Toby Keith, Kings of Leon, and The Greatful Dead that should give you an 

        idea of my range of music preferences."

BB: "Does your "bad boy" label ever frustrate or upset you?"

BV: "Hell no. Well, I take that back. With Ashton's dad it sucks."

BB: "What are your plans after high school?"

BV: "I might actually be considering college."

(BB: Higher education for the win!)

BB: "What is your favorite childhood memory of Ash?"

BV: "The day I taught her to flip off the rope swing. She was scared as shit but so damn determined. 

         Every time she let go she'd squeal so loud it would make my ears ring. "

BB: "Is there anything Ash does that drives you crazy?"

BV: "This could be a pretty long list. I'll just name a few things. Her tight shirts annoy the hell out of 

         me. The fact she now distracts me in unfair ways in order to beat me at pool which is happening a

         lot lately. Her close relationship to my Mom. Wait... is she going to read this?"

BB: "I'll see if I can distract her."

BB: "How did you feel when you realized Ash & Sawyer were together?"

BV: "Like someone had kicked me in the stomach several times. I never saw that one coming but then 

         I was young and I took Ash and me for granted."

BB: "Honestly, do you ever find Sawyer just a little boring?"

BV: "Hell yes I do. The boy visits our grandmother like five damn times a week at the nursing home 

         and she doesn't even know who he is anymore. It's all part of his Mr. Perfect thing he has going. 

         It's just the way he is though. The guy can't help it."

(BB: I have to admit, Sawyer is a pretty great guy.)

Do you see why I love Beau Vincent? If only he wasn't tragically too young for me. Sigh.

Now it's GIVEAWAY TIME!

What's up for grabs~

A Kindle edition of The Vincent Boys, courtesy of author Abbi Glines.

How to enter~

Fill out the super-easy form below.

Contest ends November 20, 2011 at 11:59 pm

BUT WAIT, THAT'S NOT ALL!

There will be a Grand Prize giveaway of $20 Gift Card to B&N, a Kindle copy, and a signed tote bag to participants that comment at each tour stop.

The winner of a Kindle version of The Vincent Boys  is :

Tess W.

I have contacted the host of the blog tour with Tess' info.