Book Blitz/#Giveaway : Undertow by KR Conway

Undertow (Undertow #1)

by K.R. Conway

Release Date: 10/18/13

Summary from Goodreads:

Luckless Eila is unknowingly the last of her kind: Rare. Gifted. Breakable. Stunning Raef is her kind's historic enemy: Soulless. Lethal. Lost. A legendary death 160 years before would set their lives to collide, forcing a beautiful killer to become a savior, a simple wallflower to become a warrior, and ruthless destiny to become a death sentence.

SUMMARY:
High school senior Eila Walker knows that good luck skips over her like an Easter Bunny on Speed. So when she inherits her grandmother's million-dollar Cape Cod home, she is downright shocked. And yeah, her new town isn't perfect: the cheerleaders are heinous clones, the local undertow can kill ya, and her Great Grams was supposedly fried by lightning in the harbor square. Still, Eila is hopeful her luckless days are in the past . . . until history decides to repeat itself.

A self-proclaimed loner and previous-social reject, Eila thinks she's hit the jackpot when drool-worthy Raef O’Reilly becomes her friendly, yet weirdly protective shadow. But being hauled beneath the waves by an unnatural undertow slams the brakes on bliss – especially when Raef storms to her aid with coal-black eyes and iron-like strength.

Eila, entirely freaked, demands an explanation and Raef comes clean, revealing that neither of them are average humans but rather the genetic remnants of an angelic pissing-match gone wrong. Eila supposedly can channel the power of human souls, while Raef is quite adept at stealing them. Even worse, the legend about her ancestor isn't such a myth, since Eila’s grandmother was one kick-ass warrior until her lightning-like power backfired. A power that is written all over Eila's DNA.

Now sought by Raef’s own family for her destructive ability, Eila must trust him to watch her back. But when a quest for information goes terribly wrong, Eila is suddenly left with only two options: become a weapon for the enemy or follow in her Gram’s fearless footsteps to save those she loves. Unfortunately she needs a willing enemy to ignite her suicidal energy and the only one she trusts has been guarding her butt and scorching her lips.

Available from:

About the Author

I have been a journalist for 15 years and serve on the Board of Directors for the Cape Cod Writers Center. I also drive a 16-ton school bus because I am ENTIRELY NUTS.

In addition to working jobs that should come with a warning label , I hold a BA in Psychos (Forensic Psych), torment the tourists about Jaws, and occasionally jump from the Town Neck bridge in an attempt to reclaim my youth.

I live on Cape Cod with two smallish humans who apparently are my kids, my fishing-obsessed husband, two canines (adept at both flatulence and snoring), and a cage-defiant lovebird that sleeps in a miniature tent. Nope - that's not a type-o. The bird is quite the indoor camper.

Author Links:

   










Eila’s POV:
His mouth tipped up, amused at my pitiful punch, so I went to whack him again, but he snatched my wrist, holding it snuggly in his wide palm. My skin tingled softly where he touched and he tugged me towards him, bringing my face closer to his.
“I just want you safe, E. And I realize now that not hunting enough actually makes me more of a liability. But don’t worry. I’ll hunt more.”
I looked at his storm-blue eyes for a moment, allowing myself to enjoy our close proximity. I could hear the voices of Kian and Ana discussing which movie to watch, but their conversation barely registered in my head. I was as close to Raef as I was the night he first kissed me, and thus my brain wasn’t functioning too well anymore. I swallowed and finally pulled myself out of my momentary stupor.
“We had an agreement that you have not honored. If you really want me safe, you will help me train,” I whispered.
His face tensed and his grip on my wrist tightened. “I know. And I’m sorry I haven’t supported you on that. But I will – I promise. Just let me figure out where we can train and how. We can’t risk attracting any more government goons. And we do it in stages. Basic self-defense first, okay?”
“Ana comes along as well,” I demanded. It wasn’t a question, but a statement of fact.
He gave a quick nod, “The Elmo groupie learns to kick ass too.”
I snorted a laugh, “It’s not Elmo!”
“All furry monsters are the same in my book,” replied Raef, finally releasing my hand.











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Book Blitz/#Giveaway : Rush by Eve Silver

Rush (The Game #1)

by Eve Silver

Release Date: June 11, 2013

Publisher: Harper Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

So what’s the game now? This, or the life I used to know?

When Miki Jones is pulled from her life, pulled through time and space into some kind of game—her carefully controlled life spirals into chaos. In the game, she and a team of other teens are sent on missions to eliminate the Drau, terrifying and beautiful alien creatures. 


There are no practice runs, no training, and no way out. Miki has only the guidance of secretive but maddeningly attractive team leader Jackson Tate, who says the game isn’t really a game, that what Miki and her new teammates do now determines their survival, and the survival of every other person on this planet. She laughs. He doesn’t. And then the game takes a deadly and terrifying turn.

(UK and Australian cover)

Available from (US links):

    

On sale for only $1.99 at the following links only:

Amazon UK│Amazon AU│iTunes UK│iTunes AU│iTunes IE│iTunes NZ

Books in this series:

About the Author
Eve Silver lives with her gamer husband and sons, sometimes in Canada, but often in worlds she dreams up. She loves kayaking and sunshine, dogs and desserts, and books, lots and lots of books. Watch for the first book in Eve’s new teen series, THE GAME: RUSH, coming from Katherine Tegen Books, June 2013. She also writes books for adults.Author Links:

     








Excerpt #2:

“You can lean on me,” Jackson says.
“I—”
“Lean on me.” Not an offer this time, an order.
I scoot over and lean my weight against his arm.
“Not like that.” He shifts both of us around until my back’s against one side of his chest, my head lolling sideways onto his shoulder, our legs stretched out in front of us, side by side. Not perfect on the comfort score, but better than it was a minute ago. He rests his chin lightly on the top of my head and tells me, “Sleep.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll keep watch. I’ve been doing this long enough that I don’t need rest while we’re on a mission.”
“What about Luka and Tyrone?”
“They won’t need to rest, either. You’re still getting used to the jumps. By the next mission or the one after that, you’ll be like us. A robo-soldier.” And there it is again, that thread of humor, like he’s laughing at himself.
“Is that supposed to reassure me? ’Cause I gotta tell ya, thinking about upcoming missions doesn’t exactly thrill me.”
I jump when his hands settle on my shoulders. Then I sigh as he kneads my muscles. Long fingers. Strong hands. Some of my tension slips away.

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Book Blitz/Giveaway : Phantom's Dance by Lesa Howard

Phantom's Dance

by Lesa Howard 

Release Date: 03/01/14

Summary from Goodreads:

Christine Dadey’s
family uprooted their lives and moved to Houston for her to attend the
prestigious Rousseau Academy of Dance. Now, two years later, Christine
struggles to compete among the Academy’s finest dancers, her parents are on the
brink of divorce, and she’s told no one about her debilitating performance
anxiety and what she’s willing to do to cope with it.



Erik was a ballet prodigy, a savant, destined to be a star on the world’s
stage, but a suspicious fire left Erik’s face horribly disfigured. Now, a
lonely phantom forced to keep his scars hidden, he spends his nights haunting
the theater halls, mourning all he’s lost. Then, from behind the curtain he
sees the lovely Christine. The moldable, malleable Christine.



Drawn in by Erik’s unwavering confidence, Christine allows herself to believe
Erik’s declarations that he can transform her into the dancer she longs to be.
But Christine’s hope of achieving her dreams may be her undoing when she learns
Erik is not everything he claims. And before long, Erik’s shadowy past
jeopardizes Christine’s unstable present as his obsession with her becomes
hopelessly entangled with his plans for revenge.

Excerpt 1:
“I don’t understand, Mrs. Zaborov. You want us to show football players how to dance?” I asked.
It wasn’t unusual for upper-level dancers to teach or mentor younger students. Sometimes we did private tutoring, but that was with children.
“It is quite simple, my dear Christine. Tomorrow afternoon, the director will bring the football players, and you and Jenna will be here to greet them. Then we will set a time for classes to begin and you will assist.”
Jenna’s mouth moved but no sound came out. I was at a loss as well. But Ms. Zaborov, pleased she’d meted out punishment suiting the offense, gave us a dismissive snap of her head. “Now, I have a class waiting. You will excuse me.” Then she proceeded, dainty and light-footed, out of the room.
In the aftermath, Jenna sputtered, “What the hell just happened?”
“It looks like we’re going to teach football players to dance,” I replied.
“No way. Nuh-uh. Not me. I’m not teaching a bunch of knuckle-dragging no-necks how to plié, much less pas de deux. Think what they’d do to our feet!”
“I’m not sure we have a choice.” We stared at each other a few seconds before bursting into laughter.
“Oh em gee!” Jenna mocked. “We’re going to have jocks in here!”
“I know. Can you imagine?” I glanced at the clock on the wall and dropped the laughter. “We’d better get moving, or we’ll be late to pointe.”
“Right,” Jenna agreed. “Because if we’re late to another class they’re likely to make us teach the chimps at the zoo to pirouette.”

Available from:

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

About the Author

I'm not the typical author. I didn't always enjoy reading or writing.
While in school, I found it to be a chore I'd just as soon skip. I would rather
have been daydreaming, my favorite past time. It wasn’t until I grew up and
didn’t have to, that I realized reading was fun. I soon discovered that reading
fueled my daydreaming. So, remembering a short story I'd written in high school,
I began imagining expanding that story into a book. Before long I found I had
loads of ideas for not just the short story but other books and stories as
well. Fast forward a few years, a lot of studying about writing, practicing my
writing, studying some more, taking classes from people who knew what they were
doing, studying and practicing yet more, and ta-dah, author! In the same way I
had learned I loved reading, I learned I loved writing, too. It’s just that
writing is a lot harder than reading.

Author Links:

   

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Book Blitz Organized by:

Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon (Sept 8 - 20)

Monday
What I read today:
Today's finished books:
Total number of finished books:
Titles of finished books:

End Of Summer Read-A-Thon

Hoping to finish up some books

Book Blitz/Giveaway : Lost To Me by Jamie Blair

Lost To Me

by Jamie Blair

Release Date: 08/19/14

Summary from Goodreads:

Lauren Kelling’s prom night is a memory she’ll never forget—in her nightmares. She had the dress, the hair, and romantic first time plans with her boyfriend, Kolton Seidel. But what should have been the best night of her life bleeds into terror when she’s brutally attacked.



Now, Lauren relives the events leading up to prom, unraveling the clues that should have warned her of the trauma to come. Like Kolton ’s malicious ex-girlfriend, who’ll do anything to rip them apart. Or Kolton’s mentally unstable brother.



After the tragedy, Lauren wants to hide, disfigured inside and out, while Kolton drowns in a sea of guilt. Only together can the two of them lay rest to the past and heal each other, through a love too strong to break.

Excerpt 1
I chased after him, laughter spilling from my throat. I could hear him laughing, too. I wasn’t far behind. When I got to the dune and climbed up behind him, my legs ached. He clasped his hands around my wrists and tugged me up beside him.
Two higher dunes on either side sheltered us, giving us our own private spot to sit. I rubbed my calf, trying to get a knot out of the muscle.
“Cramp?” Kolton stretched my leg across his lap and rubbed. It was a little awkward at first, but I liked him touching me. “Is that good?”
“Getting better.” My face grew hot. My hand found my cheek on instinct. The moon gave the crests of the waves silver tips. The ocean roared as it crashed onto the sand. I took a deep breath of the warm air. It smelled of seaweed and Kolton, making me shiver.
“Cold?” he asked.
“No, I’m fine.” I was more than fine. The shiver was from total relaxation, from being immersed in the moment.
His head tilted to the side, and his eyes studied mine. Then, he reached up, took my hand, and lowered it from my face. “It bothers you, doesn’t it? Your birthmark?”
I blinked a few times and focused on a patch of sea grass by my foot. “I guess.”
“It shouldn’t. It’s not like a big, hairy wart or something.” He squeezed my hand. His laugh was tender. “It’s actually cute—like a beauty mark.”
“Right.” I rolled my eyes. The last thing I could accept was compliments on my birthmark. “It’s gorgeous.”
He put my leg down and wrapped his arm around me. “Lauren?”
“Yeah?”
“I want to kiss you.”
Before I could see it happen, he’d cupped my chin, and his lips were against mine. They felt amazing, full and soft. His kisses were gentle. He didn’t overwhelm me, and I liked him even more for that.

About the Author

Jamie Blair lives in Northeast Ohio with her husband, their two kids and a cat that broke into their house and refused to leave. She won a young author's contest in third grade, but it probably shouldn't count since her mom wrote most of her entry. LEAP OF FAITH is her first novel. She promises her mom didn't write one word of it. 

Author Links:

   



GIVEAWAY:

1 - Bracelet with charms that go
with the book, a $20 Amazon card and a signed, dry erase, cover magnet (INT)

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Book Blitz Organized by:

Bout Of Books 11.0 - Days 1- 3 Update

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 18th and runs through Sunday, August 24th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 10 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team



Time Devoted to Reading

I will be reading a day/on the weekend/all week.

My Goals

Still thinking on this

Books to Read

Children's
Library Books

Updates

Monday
Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read:1
Books:


Tuesday
Number of books I've read today:1
Total number of books I've read:2
Books:


Wednesday
Number of books I've read today:1
Total number of books I've read:3
Books:

It's That Time Again - Bout of Books 11.0

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 18th and runs through Sunday, August 24th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 10 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team



Time Devoted to Reading

I will be reading a day/on the weekend/all week.

My Goals

Still thinking on this

Books to Read

TBA

Updates

Monday
Number of books I've read today:
Total number of books I've read:
Books: