Looking for participants - New Author Giveaway Hop

Hey everyone!
It's time to sign up for the New Author Blog Hop! I did this last year with some great people and hope to make this year even better!

The NABH is about promoting authors who have recently broken on to the publish scene. It is supposed to be someone who has published within the last year, but if you really want to feature someone that published over that, it's not a big deal. Authors could have traditionally or self-published. If you want to feature your own book, feel free. You worked hard! The publishing world is tough and this is a great way to spread the word for people. So who do you want to feature?

The hop is going to run from the 23rd to the 29th of September. I am starting this now so you can get your authors, giveaways, swag, questions and/or guest posts together.

I am asking that you please have the post up and ready on the 23rd at midnight Eastern time, so all links are active to your post.

Something new this year is a Grand Prize giveaway! I am going to do a separate giveaway that if hoppers go to everyone on the lists post and enter each giveaway, they will be entered to win the grand prize. I have a few things for this, but would love if you could donate some swag, ebooks, books, whatever you got! It would be another great way to promote your author!

If you have any questions, want to jump on board with the promotion, or just want to say hi -comment here, email me at mf060784 at gmail or find me on twitter at mflick729

I am lucky enough to be featuring Wendy Higgins, the author of Sweet Evil! I will be offering up a copy of Sweet Evil and Wendy is going to be sending my lucky winner some signed bookmarks.

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

I hope you participate!

Cover shoot - The Owens Legacy: Redemption

When you hop along on the writing blogs, you read a lot about the hard work that goes into writing. And, lets be honest, it IS hard work. The amount of time you spend, thinking, that's right, thinking, is overwhelming let alone the amount of time it takes to put the 100K story down on paper. I recently read a tweet by Colleen Houck - A writer is never on vacation. They are either writing or they are thinking about writing. Raise your hand if you fall under this category.

So while sometimes I wonder why my life's passion drives me crazy - there are some, hands down, fantastic moments when you are a writer. Some things are: the moment you finish the first rough draft - (I sometimes yell Hallelujah. What do you yell?), when someone tells you they were up all night reading your book, when you make your first sale, the release of your book. On Tuesday I got to do one of my favorite things - design the cover!

I feel super fortunate in this because the person who designs my cover is one of my former students - Kenzie Mencer of Kaboom photography. This young lady has had her own business since the beginning of her high school career. Can you say the same?

Anyway - Kenzie, Maggie, and I got together, took a drive into the woods, found a spot, stuck Maggie on wet trees, in trees, and in the sun. I'm lucky that Kenzie knows how a body will be captured on film. She also has no problem telling me "I'm being cliche." Maggie is so adaptable. She's very subtle about her facial expressions and can transform from: dejected, to angry, to sad in a blink of an eye.

Here's Maggie - she has a tendency to pose like it's her senior portraits. If you wanted to see Maggie's senior pics, check out Kenzie's website - the link is above.







This Kenzie accusing me of "stealing" her job as I document. Hey - I need to document.

This is Kenzie and Maggie being professional. They are cousins and terribly funny but when it comes down to doing the work, they are all business.

I love this pose with Maggie - can you guess which twin she is?

Kenzie getting in her shots.

This is right before I video taped Maggie climbing in a tree. I promised her that I would not show the video. It's pretty funny though.








I had a great time and wanted to share it with you! Do you have any cover stories you want to share? LMK.

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Set on the island of Nantucket, STARCROSSED tells the tale of Helen Hamilton, a young woman whose destiny is forever altered when she meets Lucas Delos and tries to kill him in front of her entire high school. Which is terribly inconvenient, not only because Lucas is the most beautiful boy on the island, but also because Helen is so achingly shy she suffers physical pain whenever she is given too much attention. 

Making matters worse, Helen is beginning to suspect she’s going crazy. Whenever she’s near Lucas or any member of his family she sees the ghostly apparitions of three women weeping bloody tears, and suffers the burden of an intense and irrational hate. She soon learns that she and Lucas are destined to play the leading roles in a Greek tragedy that the Three Fates insist on repeating over and over again throughout history. Like her namesake, Helen of Troy, she’s destined to start a war by falling in love. But even though Lucas and Helen can see their own star-crossed destiny, they’re still powerfully attracted to each other. Will they give up their personal happiness for the greater good, or risk it all to be together?


I loved this book so much. I went on vacation when I read this book. I was in the Jack Daniel's distillery and at every moment I could I pulled out my NOOK and read it. It got to the point where my boyfriend said: Must be a good book huh?

I had never read the summary so everything about this book was a surprise to me. It was great! I anticipated Helen meeting Lucas and the swooning to happen. I did not anticipate that she would want to murder him and despise him or that the furies would be involved. I had no idea who/what Helen was.

Sadly, it took me a really long time to start placing the names, Helen, Hector, Cassandra.  Then it clicked, that they were going to be re-enacting the Trojan War, which made me blissfully happy that Helen and Lucas would get together. He would be my new boyfriend.

SPOILERISH

I LOVE their relationship, Lucas and Helen, that is. I love how he adores her, how they fight for each other, how they fall and break everything in their bodies, how they fly together, how like Paris and Helen, they cannot stay away from each other. It's destined. *blushes because she realizes the romantic in her is coming out* Oh, but wait, Helen and Paris were miserable, so does that mean Helen and Lucas are going to be? You bet it does and man do I hate "D" for the lie. HATE!

My description of Helen: KICK @SS.

I bought the sequel immediately. Review to come.

The Restaurant @ the Mill by Linn B Halton

Ladies and Gents! I would like to welcome Linn B. Halton to my blog today!! I had the joy of being selected to be on her tour and read her book! In today's post, you'll get to hear about Linn, her book, and get a chance to win her book! 

Author Bio

Linn B Halton lives in the UK, in the small Gloucestershire village of Arlingham, on t   he banks of the River Severn with her adorable husband and cat with attitude – Mr Tiggs! She writes romantic fiction with a psychic or astrological theme and many of the paranormal events that feature in her books are real life experiences.

Linn is also a featured new Author on http://loveahappyending.com/ and Editor of the feature ‘Author & Associate Catch-Ups’ including ‘Reader/Author Team Reports’ on the website’s magazine-style blog. (MAKE SURE TO CHECK HER OUT HERE!)

Twitter: @LinnBHalton

Contemporary Romance/Women's Fiction

Title: The Restaurant 

Author: Linn B. Halton

Date to be Published: 8/2/12

Publisher: Sapphire Publishing

Synopsis: 

Age, relationships, and careers – we are all unique. Yet beneath the exterior facade we choose

to show to the world at large, what do we have in common? The things we bury deep inside; the

worries and fears we are unable to verbalise, and the hand fate takes in our lives is a common

thread. Sometimes we fail to recognise in each other that innermost struggle on the path to true

love.

Six very different stories, six couples linked by The Restaurant @ The Mill, owned by Hilary

Marks and Ben Adams. As the restaurant thrives the atmosphere is alive with conversation,

snapshots of lives unfolding; each one a personal journey.

My review: The reason why I loved this book was there were six different stories going on that at some point intertwined. I have always been primarily a YA reader that some times tables in the older stuff. I was really happy I signed up for this tour. It was an easy read that I finished in a few sittings. If you are a dabbler like me, this is for you. 

Hillary was my favorite our of the women that I met. I liked her progression throughout her story. I felt she kind of started off too submissive to Ben. I also wasn't a big fan of Ben, but I think that the difference between YA and Women fiction. The men are different, not bad, but different. I also thought that Ben and Hillary's relationship was realistic.

Thomas was someone who I found to be - not the sure of the word - curious - and I mean I was curious about him. His story is told from his perspective and he starts out with being "girlfriend free" and why he hasn't married yet. I'm someone who really enjoys different point of views and Thomas was def. that. 

Overall, great read. 

Here is an excerpt: 

The first time I walked around the flour mill at Huntingbridge in Gloucestershire turned out to be a life-changing moment.  Reminiscent of the first time I met my business partner, Ben Adams.  The initial thought that struck me on both occasions was “Great, not perfect, but I can work with this.” It was enough to clinch the deal for me.

You see, I thought I had a “perfect” life once a long time ago. I married Josh, the man of my dreams, only to find out one failed marriage and a broken heart later, that everything can change in an instant.  What you see depends upon where you’re standing when you admire it.  If you’re on the outside looking in on someone else’s life, it’s only natural to form an opinion based on the façade you see.  What I would eventually discover  was that even when you’re on the inside looking out, it’s easy to be fooled into thinking everything is fine. On that fateful day many years ago, what I hadn't appreciated was that what we had was in fact a love triangle, and knowing that would have given me a whole new perspective.   

On to the giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Name of The Star by Maureen Johnson

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago. 

Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities


I thought the premise of this book was awesome - and when I say premise I read "Jack the Ripper" and kind of tuned out everything else.

OK so Rory is the fish out of water in London, but quickly makes some really good friends. She settles in, and almost immediately the murders start happening. I put myself in that situation and I would tell you this: I would be calling my parents up and tell them to pick my @ss up. Clearly, that can't happen in this story.

So the murders are happening and then some really weird things start happening to Rory, like when her and her roommate, Jazza, and her sneak out and then Rory sees someone but Jazza doesn't. And then there is that weird officer. So there's a bunch I would like to comment on but I can't. But in the end, Rory is "special" and she has seriously pissed off the person who is doing the Ripper murders.

The Ripper. What a fascinating topic. I learned a lot more from this book, like who named the Ripper the Ripper. I had never thought about it, but the Ripper had never been caught, so how would they know his name was Jack.

There was subtle romance in this book. There were brief make-out sections, but it was NOT a big part of the book. There were two crushes in the book and I will tell you I prefer Stephen over Jerome. Who agrees?

Magnus in the Elite Eight! I need your vote!

Hi everyone! This is round three with my favorite warlock and I can't thank you all enough for getting him this far. 


I get that this round is against another heart throb of mine. And while Jem is that statue that girls all crave, is exotic, and is kick ass in a battle, I want to remind you that Magnus is all of these things PLUS has that extra flare that makes him dangerous and a little sureal. So why should you vote for him? See below. Make sure you read the bottom for some extra, recent developments from Cassandra Clare. 


Magnus is so awesome that Cassandra Clare put him in both of her shadowhunter series, The Mortal Instrument series and The Infernal Devices series. In every one of my reviews for these series, there is always a special section for Magnus. I just fell for him.

So who is Magnus Bane? Besides have a fashion sense that someone would kill for, a long list of adventures, and a warlock? Well – I’ll do my best to sum him up for you and not ramble.

Personality: In both series when we meet him, Magnus is inquisitive about situations but is aloof, making characters like Jace, Clary, Tess, and Will work to get him to help. He’s not someone who trusts easily, but when he does, he is fiercely loyal, willing to call on demons, going into a battle to protect Alec, and standing up to Camille to protect Will and Tess.

Magnus is kind of an instigator as well. He likes to put his friends and people who are in authority positions, in conflicting positions, where they typically have to divulge important information (that makes me gasp!).

And a must have in a crush – sarcasm - “I was alive when the Dead Sea was just a lake that was feeling a little poorly.”

Looks: Magnus maybe a little older than the rest of the crushes that are in the tournament – like maybe 800 years older, but the guy doesn’t look OR act his age. He has spiky black hair and cat like, green-yellow, eyes that smolder (at least in my head they do) when he looks at another beautiful character. I mentioned Magnus’s awesome fashion sense and here is a snip-it of his attire duringCity of Ashes: “Even the Inquisitor's eyebrows shot up when Magnus strode through the gate. The High Warlock was wearing black leather pants, a belt with a buckle in the shape of a jeweled M, and a cobalt-blue Prussian military jacket open over a white lace shirt. He shimmered with layers of glitter.” All right ladies, don’t be jealous that he dresses better than us! I mean look at that style!

Talents: Besides being one of the most powerful warlocks in the world? He gives Will (also a hottie) the piece of mind he has been desperately seeking by summoning a demon. He had the ability to protect Clary until it was time for her to realize who she was. His magic is old and powerful; I’m betting it comes from all that time with the Silent Brothers.

Special Attributes: I’m defaulting to his eyes on this one. – Ones you could get lost in. *passes out from swooning*

Best Qualities: He’s not afraid of telling people what they need to hear. He may hurt your feelings but he is going to get you to the revelation you need to kick some evil booty. Isn’t honesty the best policy? Don’t most of our crushes put their lady loves into bad situations because they don’t tell the truth? No Magnus. Just sayin’.

A few of my favorite quotes:

“Even the trip through the Portal had not disarranged Magnus's hair spikes. He tugged on one proudly. "Check it out," he said to Isabelle.

"Magic?"

"Hair gel. $3.99 at Ricky's.”

“We came to see Jace. Is he alright?"

"I don't know," Magnus said. "Does he normally just lie on the floor like that without moving?”

“If you're texting Magnus to say 'I think u r kewl,' I'm going to kill you."

"Who's Magnus?" Max inquired.

"He's a warlock," said Alec.

"A sexy, sexy warlock," Isabelle told Max, ignoring Alec's look of total fury.

"But warlocks are bad," protested Max, looking baffled.

"Exactly," said Isabelle.”

“Do you want to go back to Vienna?” he said.

Alec didn’t answer, just stared into space.

“Or we could go somewhere else,” said Magnus. “Anywhere you want. Thailand, South Carolina, Brazil, Peru – Oh, wait, no, I’m banned from Peru. I’d forgotten about that. It’s a long story, but amusing if you want to hear it.”

“Magnus's eyes gleamed. "He seems to like you. I saw him going for your hand out there like a squirrel diving for a peanut.”

There have been some developments since the last round with Magnus, Here is a snippet from C. Clare with Clockwork Princess including Magnus. Click here.

And the BEST news is, who the people in charge of casting have casted for my beloved!!! Godfrey Gao will be playing Magnus. THANK YOU CASTING PEOPLE! Just go google some pics of him. You won’t regret it.

OK voters – after reading this post, I just can’t imagine why you wouldn’t vote for Magnus! So go ahead. Vote for Magnus!!!

BLITZ for Destiny Unveiled

 

 Welcome to my first promo blitz with Reading Addiction Book Tours! Today I have for you a giveaway, an excerpt, and a bio of the fabulous Laura DeLuca

Title: Destiny Unveiled 

Genre: YA Paranormal

Author: Laura Deluca

Date Published: 4/2012

Synopsis:

Gabriella and Darron thought their magickal battle was over when they defeated the evil warlock, Richard. When her Aunt Donna seeks Gabriella's help in rescuing her catatonic daughter from the Dark Coven, Gabriella discovers that her cousin holds a power within her that would be catastrophic in the hands of the evil witches. Gabriella's coven sets out on a journey that may be their last. Along the way, they meet new allies, face devastating treachery, and battle not only the Dark Coven, but the darkness within themselves. When Gabriella finally comes face to face with the cousin she never knew existed, her true destiny is unveiled, and the fate of the mortal world is in her hands.

Author's Bio:

Laura “Luna” DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and four children. She loves writing in the young adult genre because it keeps her young at heart.  In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the sole author of a popular review blog called New Age Mama. She is an active member of her local pagan community, and has been studying Wicca for close to eight years.

Excerpt: 

Darron was on the roof of a large building, elevated dizzyingly high over the road below. Other skyscrapers bordered it, but it was by far the largest building in the general area, standing several stories higher than it's neighbors. The few cars that dotted the street below looked like insects. Above him, the moon shone full, round, and red in the night sky. It was an autumn moon, a blood moon. By the light of that moon, Darron was able to see the practiced movements of six black-cloaked figures, who swayed to the steady beat of an invisible drum. Their shapes were obscure in the pale light, and it was impossible to determine if they were men or women because the dark, hooded robes they wore hid their features from view.

There was an altar erected in the center of a circle that was outlined in black charcoal. On that altar sat the normal tools of ritual: a black tipped dagger, a silver chalice, an incense burner, and multiple black candles. Darron owned similar items. They weren't frightening in themselves. But the altar, like the people who lingered around it, was outlined by a shimmering black aura. The vibrations they relayed were no less than evil. Their presence made Darron shudder. He watched in horror, as a silent and unwelcome spectator to the forbidden rights.

Four of the cloaked figures took up the elemental corners, preparing to call the Guardians. The Guardians answered their call, unable to ignore the summons because magick can't be divided into good and evil. It's both because nature is both, harsh and devastating yet beautiful and gentle as the need arises. It was just as easy for the dark witches to harness the destructive forces of nature as it was for Darron and his coven to call upon its life giving magick. Good or evil was in the heart of its master, not in the magick that was wielded.

A fifth cloaked figure, the apparent leader of the group, stood in the center of the circle with the dagger raised high above his head. The sixth and final coven member groveled at the feet of the leader, his head lowered in acquiescence. The hood of his cloak hid his face though he was no more than a few feet away from Darron.

"Brother and sisters," the leader proclaimed, his accented voice heavy with his foreboding presence. "Tonight in the wake of the blood moon, we come together to bring a new brother into our fold. He has completed the required tasks and proven himself worthy to join us in our work."

"So mote it be!"

The four other cloaked figures cried out in perfect unison. Their hands were raised to the sky in honor of the blood moon.

The leader picked up the chalice from the altar. He followed the path of the circle to all of the elemental corners, stopping at each of the robed coven members in turn. Each offered their willing hands to their leader, palm outward. Each welcomed the point of the black edged dagger as it dug into their open palms without so much as a gasp of pain. The high priest cut a clean line down the centers of the palms of his disciples, and they all squeezed their fingers against the open wound to allow the blood to drip into the waiting chalice.

After collecting the offering from his followers, the leader returned to the center of the circle and the waiting initiate. With one quick motion, he sliced open his own palm. He held his hand over the cup, letting his blood drip slowly into the chalice, until the wound miraculously healed before Darron's startled eyes. When the chalice was full, he carried it to the eager initiate who took the cup firmly into his hands and tilted it towards his lips.

"As this blood makes you one with our flesh, so your soul follows to become one with the darkness," the English voice intoned.

As the initiate drained the last of the liquid in the chalice, his hood fell away, revealing a blonde ponytail pulled back over a pale white face, made even paler by the outline of bright red blood around his lips. Darron watched in stunned, horrified silence as his own face turned to meet his gaze. Eyes turned as black as coals stared back at Darron with a grim smile of satisfaction.

"Rise Darron," the leader commanded. And as he spoke, he lifted the hood from his head. Rise brother of the Dark Coven." 


Who wouldn't be hooked by this! Show your support for Laura and leave a comment!

Up for grabs!

Prize Pack will include:

Signed copy of Destiny & Destiny Unveiled

two boxes if incense 

Crystal point

A few dessert rose stone

a Rafflecopter giveaway