Saturday, March 31, 2012

Forsaken Harbor by Laura Kreitzer

Forsaken Harbor
Summer Chronicles 2

Author: Laura Kreitzer
Pages: 228 pgs
Genre: YA, Sci- Fi, Dystopian
Release Date: February 15th 2012
Review Source: Revolution Publishing

Laura Kreitzer has become one of my favorite authors because of her ability to tell an amazing story. When I got the opportunity to read this next book in her second series, I jumped at the chance. And I wasn't disappointed.

Summer has experienced unimaginable horrors in her life as a slave, but now that she's finally found her voice, nothing will ever be the same again.

The Secret Clock Society will stop at nothing to retrieve Summer again and she has to find a way to beat them. With the help of her new friends, she may just have that chance. But it will take them to a place no one dares go to: Forsaken Harbor.

When we first met Summer she had spent nearly all of her life as a slave, forced into utter silence. She discovered that there was a world beyond what she'd known for twelve years. Well, in this book we really get to see Summer grow and find her confidence. I loved being to see her change and find her inner strength in spite of everything.

Laura also gives us a little more of The Secret Clock Society and just what they're all about. In Phantom Universe we're only briefly introduced to them, but in this book we get more. There are bad guys and groups that you really want to dislike, but I think these guys take home the cake for that particular honor. We don't know everything that they're about, but so far I'm not all that impressed.

The Summer Chronicles give us a little bit of everything: romance, action, sci-fi, and I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. And even though this is Summer's story, there is so much that takes place with the secondary characters that I find them just as fascinating. I'm already bouncing in my seat for the next book (in this series and her Timeless series) Burning Falls!

This meets the following challenges:

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

New Book Deal at Omnific

Former Mr. USA WORLD, Dr. Ivan Rusilko, and erotica author, Everly Drummond, ink new book deal with Omnific Publishing, for their first co-authored erotic romance novel, The Winemaker’s Dinner.

DALLAS, TX, March 28, 2012 –Omnific Publishing announces they have signed authors Dr. Ivan Rusilko and Everly Drummond for the first title in a planned three book erotic romance series.  The story is set in Miami and is loosely based on Dr. Ivan’s past romantic triumphs and tragedies.  The Winemaker’s Dinner marks the first collaboration and book deal for the writing team.  

Women everywhere will be dying to get their hands on one of the few erotic romances featuring a male voice in this predominantly female-authored genre.  Dr. Ivan’s smoldering good looks, chiseled physique, impressive professional accomplishments, and passion for life, bring the romantic hero off the page, embodying a true blue, flesh and bone fantasy for erotica fans.  Even writing partner, Everly Drummond says of the Good Doctor, “Ivan is going to be the obsession of women worldwide.”  

Synopsis:  The Winemakers Dinner is a story about small town girl who is uprooted from her simple Colorado life and transplanted into the craziness that is Miami Beach. Attending her first major event, The Winemaker’s Dinner in Sarasota, as the head chef to one of Miami Beach’s top restaurants, she comes to experience an evening of unbridled passion with a man who she never thought she’d see again. Little does she know that this apparent one night stand has set her life on a course that will end with her having to make the ultimate decision between  her two passions – her lover and her career.


Anticipated publication date:  Late summer 2012

Format:  Paperback & e-book

Author bios:  

Dr. Ivan Rusilko, DO, CSN, PT, is an accomplished weight loss and wellness physician affiliated with the prestigious MIAMI Institute in Miami, Florida.  A certified sports nutritionist, champion bodybuilder, international male fitness model, and former Mr. USA 2008 & 2010, Dr. Ivan graduated from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2010 and is the national media and public relations expert and spokesperson on diet, exercise and sports nutrition for the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).

Dr. Ivan has been a feature health writer and lifestyle coach for numerous magazines and online publications including The Washington Times, My Reality and Quarter Life Health.

In addition to health and wellness, he has a variety of interests and activities including event coordination, photography, writing, and politics. 

Everly Drummond is a graduate of the Social Services Worker program at Centennial College, and the Trent University Biology undergraduate program. Past writing accomplishments include The City of the Damned, a paranormal erotic romance series, all three titles of which have appeared on the Amazon.com bestseller list.


Media Notes

Please see
The Winemaker's Dinner  for more information on the title and the writing team of Drummond and Rusilko. 

Any media inquiries on this title or authors, Everly Drummond and Dr. Ivan Rusilko, including personal appearances, book signings and or interview queries should be directed to: micha.stone@omnificpublishing.com.

Omnific Publishing, a registered LLC that was founded in 2009, represents Dr. Ivan Rusilko and Everly Drummond. It is a female-owned and operated independent publishing company that seeks to publish fresh, relevant and entertaining fiction in a number of different media, including eBooks, audio books, and print editions. Omnific Publishing specializes in the genre of romance, including contemporary, historical, paranormal, suspense, and erotic romance.

For more information about Omnific Publishing, please send inquiries to: publisher@omnificpublishing.com

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Streamline Launch Party



Streamline Launch Party


Major thanks go out to Megan for joining the Launch Par-tay and for serving as an early beta for this story!

Megan asked me to share what it’s like to prepare for a swim meet. If you read Streamline you’ll know  I’m obsessed with swimming. I love sharing my favorite sport with readers, so I’m more than happy to oblige.

First, competitive swimming is a weird sport. Instead of gearing up for each meet, we focus all our energy on one big meet each season, known as the “taper” meet. We swim many miles each week and are often quite tired for dual meets, but before our big meet we rest (taper down yardage) so that we can swim faster than ever. We also shave our bodies (yep, even our arms and back!) to be more hydrodynamic. There’s nothing like the sensation of diving into the cold water with a sleek, shaved, powerful body, feeling the water tingle and caress our skin, popping up to take strong, effortless strokes. I LOVE taper.

My specialties are the 200 breaststroke and the 200 Individual Medley—races that take a little over two minutes to complete. Yet we train about four hours a day to prepare for those races. Our training schedule is typically 90 minutes of swimming and/or strength training in the morning and about 150 minutes of swimming in the afternoon. Enduring adversity together can create a tight bond among individuals, so you can imagine how close a swim team gets with this rigorous schedule. Toward the end of the season we taper down to about 30 minutes a day. Now do you see why I love taper?

But there’s not only physical preparation to consider. There’s also the mental side—the head games. What if you have personal drama right before a big meet? What if your archrival intimidates you? What if you’re feeling sick during the preliminary heats? None of that matters now… it’s time to bring it ON!

We strive to conquer pee-in-your-pants anxiety behind the starting blocks by taking deep breaths and focusing on the task at hand. Hopefully we can quiet our minds and let our well-trained bodies take over. We step up to the blocks and crouch down for the start, then explode off the blocks in a tight streamline to slice through the water with minimal resistance. Swimming a personal best is an amazing feeling—an accomplishment that makes all the hard work worth it.

Leo Scott and Audrey Rose go through all this and more in Streamline as they navigate all the tortuous obstacles I throw in their way. I hope you decide to take this journey with them! One of my happiest moments as a writer was when my friend Lorne read this story and started swimming for fitness a few days a week. I’m proud to call myself her coach.

Thanks for joining us today, Jen! Be sure to fill out the form below for your chance to win some prizes and here's a little description about Streamline:

 Seems like Leo Scott has it all: looks, brains, and athletic talent. He’s captain of his high school swim team with a bright future in college and beyond. But Leo has secrets. His mother’s crippling car accident has devastated his family and left Leo to deal with his father’s abuse, battered and alone.

Leo’s girlfriend Audrey Rose is poised for her own share of success. As one of Florida’s top high school swimmers, Audrey dreams of college swimming stardom. But there’s an obstacle to her glorious rise to the top. Her number-one supporter--her father--is in prison for murder.

Part murder mystery, part tale of young love in a military family, this gripping story takes readers on a journey from Pensacola to Annapolis. Leo and Audrey must band together to rise above the adversity they encounter and find their true selves in the process. When everything’s on the line . . . streamline.


Friday, March 23, 2012

Friday Finds and New Reads.

Friday Finds and New Reads

This is where I talk about new books that really stand out to me or sound unique, and what new books I have to read or will be getting soon.

This week I have some pretty interesting finds for you. First up we have Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes:

  
Summary: Sixteen-year-old Cleo has grown up in luxury, the royal heiress to a prosperous kingdom. But beneath her nation’s seemingly peaceful surface lies dangerous unrest. Whispers of war are growing ever louder—intensified by a murderous incident for which Cleo’s betrothed, Aron, is accused.

Amidst the ongoing intrigue, Cleo has a more desperate mission. She defies her father’s orders and sets off on a secret and perilous journey into a neighboring country, seeking a magic long thought to be mythical. If it’s real, it could be the cure that heals her ailing sister. If it’s only legend, Cleo will be stranded in a kingdom that has just declared war on her own. This sensational series debut melds intricate storylines with unforgettable characters and vibrantly imagined magic.

 Not only is this cover intriguing with a sort of video gameish look, but so is the summary. A tough girl in a world of fantasy and magic, who wouldn't want to read it? It's still months away from coming out, but I'm so excited for this.

And next we have The Dark Light by Sarah Walsh:


:Summary: Mysterious lights have flickered above Crownsville for as long as Mia can remember. And as far as she’s concerned, that’s about the only interesting thing to happen in her small town.

That is, until Sol arrives. Mia’s not one to fall for just any guy, but she can’t get intense Sol—or the brilliant tattoo on his back—out of her mind.

Then Mia’s brother goes missing, and Mia’s convinced that Sol knows more than he’s sharing. But getting closer to Sol means reevaluating everything she once believed to be true. Because Sol’s not who Mia thought he was—and neither is she.

Even with this summary there's so many questions about what this will be about and I don't know about you, but I want to know more!

Now for some new reads:

 

What I'm reading next:

Slide by Jill Hathaway

Abyss by Laura Kreitzer

Allegiance by Cayla Kluver

The Temptation by Alisa Valdes

A Confusion of Princes by Garth Nix

Next up for review:

Illuminate by Aimee Agresti

Glimmer by Phoebe Kitandis

The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting

Forsaken Harbor by Laura Kreitzer

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Bloodlines
Bloodlines 1

Author: Richelle Mead
Pages: 421 pgs
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Release Date: August 23rd 2011
Review Source: Purchased

I became a fan of Richelle Mead's after reading her Vampire Academy books and was beyond thrilled when I heard that she would be doing a spin-off series from that. Bloodlines was a wonderful start to what promises to be a great series.

Sydney Sage is on shakey ground with the alchemists and wants to do what she can to prove her loyalty. Protecting Moroi Princess Jill Dragomir wasn't exactly what she had in mind, but she goes along with it.

Moving to a private boarding school in Palm Springs is only just the beginning for Sydney and the others. Strange tattoos, mysterious deaths, and Sydney's precarious standing with the alchemists are enough to keep them guessing. Nothing is what it seems.

With the ending of Last Sacrifice, I was excited that their was going to be this spin-off series because their were quite a few things left unresolved, including certain character fates. And while we get introduced to new ones in Bloodlines, we also get to see some old ones and learn more about the secondary characters from VA like Jill and Eddie and Adrian.

Sydney is probably my favorite character to have narrated this series. While she's super smart and a trained alchemist, she's also incredibly clueless when it comes to human interaction. Her life training to be an alchemist was limited and it's obvious that she has things to work through and deal with. But, I think that makes the best stories. Being able to watch the progression of a character grow and change throughout.

There's even the struggle between the Moroi and the Strigoi. It's not exactly something they can runaway from and I really like where Richelle is going with it. After Lissa was able to heal a Strigoi and turn him back to a dhampir, I can't wait to find out what else they may discover. *taps fingers on table patiently*

Richelle is giving us an interesting look into this world, from the human perspective, and it's only just begun. And after the ending for this first book, I definitely can't wait to find out what happens next in The Golden Lily!

This meets the following challenges:



Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Cover Reveal: Tallis by M.C. Rae

 Killian McRae, author of A Love By Any Measure and 12.21.12, is publishing a YA novella under the penname of M.C. Rae. And thanks to the publisher we can do a cover reveal. So, without any further adieu here is the cover to TALLIS:


 

And here is the summary if you haven't had a chance to see it:

The Empire of Andresium is threatened by the corruption of the immortals, ancient beings given the gift of eternal life after the death of the last reigning empress. A prophecy speaks of their eventual downfall at the hands of one of their own, however. Tallis is known by most simply as "The Loren," and seeks to avoid her destiny while trying herself to remain untainted by the decaying morals and indifference to the fates of men that plague her kind. As the events of the prophecy begin to unfold, Tallis finds herself conflicted between upholding her dedication to justice, and falling victim to the ramifications of following the desires of her own heart.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Blog Tour: Embrace by Jessica Shirvington

Embrace
The Embrace Series 1
Author: Jessica Shirvington
Pages: 367 pgs
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Release Date: March 6th 2012
Review Source: Sourcebooks Fire

I actually discovered this series last year when the third book was going to be released in Australia. When I found out that it was going to be publish in the U.S., I couldn't wait to read it. And I was not disappointed.

Violet isn't much for celebrating her birthday's and wants more than anything to forget her seventeenth. But when her best friend Lincoln finally kisses her, a strange dream haunts her sleep, and an even stranger tattoo begins to form on her wrists, Violet knows she can't just let it go.

What she discovers is more than could have ever imagined. Not only is she Grigori, half-human half-angel, but so is Lincoln and he's lied to her about it. Struggling with the truth is only half the battle as she's pulled into a world she never wanted, fighting a war that she's been preparing for unknowingly. Will she finally embrace her destiny?

From the very beginning I was pulled into this story and didn't want to put it down. Violet was a teen girl looking for normalcy and stability and I think that's something we can all relate to. She did what she could to make herself feel safe and didn't want anyone fighting her battles for her. She was strong yet vulnerable.

And her emotions are what really kept me going. Everything from the relationship with her father to the intense struggle she had with her feelings for Lincoln to even discovering Phoenix, I felt as though I was on the roller coaster ride along with Violet. She didn't know what was going on with her and that was brilliantly displayed.

The angel mythology and world that Jessica created is what really made the book for me, though. It wasn't the typical history that has been used before which made it exciting. Plus, we didn't get the whole story right off the bat. There's still so much more to be told and I'm interested to find out what's going to happen next.

I'm so glad that I got a chance to read this amazing debut and highly recommend it. There's a little bit of everything in it for every reader. I can honestly say I hated for it to end because it meant I'd have to wait to find out what happens in the next book, Enticed. *only six months*

For more information about the author and her books you can check out her website http://www.jessicashirvington.com/.

This meets the following challenges:


Monday, March 12, 2012

The Selection by Kiera Cass

The Selection
The Selection 1

Author: Kiera Cass
Pages: 327 pgs
Genre: YA, Dystopian
Release Date: April 24th 2012
Review Source: HarperTeen

The description for this is what first caught my attention, and then I saw the cover. There was no way I could pass this one up (especially since its release is on my birthday) and I'm so glad that I didn't! Kiera's debut is fabulous!

America Singer know exactly what she wants out of life. To continue to sing and play music, and to marry Aspen, the boy she's loved secretly for years.

But when the opportunity to compete for the chance to marry Prince Maxon comes, everything that America had thought was true gets turned upside down. She finds herself thrust into the competition, though she doesn't want to be a princess. The more time she spends with Maxon, the more confused she becomes. And the selection begins.

I honestly enjoyed this from the very beginning. America's voice was one that rang true for a girl her age and what she was experiencing. I loved the fact that things were very gradual and didn't just happen over night. The selection, though a competition, was about building a relationship and you can't rush through it.

And I enjoyed seeing both relationships, America and Aspen and America and Maxon. Both boys and relationships are obviously different, but I can see how they worked together. For now, I'm going to hold off on saying who I'd like her to end up with, it may change. But hopefully there will be others who share my thoughts as well.

Kiera did a wonderful job of creating her world and characters, and after finishing this first installment, I can say that I'm anxious to find out what happens next. I want to learn more about the world and relationships, characters and choices. There's so many ways it can go and I'm excited to find out what she does.

For more information on the author you can check out her website www.kieracass.com or follow her on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/kieracass.

This meets the following challenges:


 


Supernaturally by Kiersten White

Supernaturally
Paranormalcy 2

Author: Kiersten White
Pages: 336 pgs
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Release Date: July 26th 2011
Review Source: Purchased

I became a fan of Kiersten's after reading Paranormalcy. And now that I've finished this sequel in the trilogy I can say that she's only cemented my fan status. Plus, isn't this cover gorgeous!

Once Evie has a "normal" life, she finds out that it isn't everything she'd thought it would be. Except for her locker. And soon Evie finds herself working for International Paranormal Containment Agency again, behind Lend's back.

With each mission Evie's given, things get more and more out of control. Revelations that she wasn't prepared for completely rock her world, and Evie has to figure out where she fits into all of it. Can she do it before things get really crazy?

One of the things that I absolutely loved about Evie from the first book was that she was a strong character that also had no problem being girly. She helped bring in big bad paranormals, but also loved the color pink and cute clothes. She was a true teen girl and Kiersten continued to hold true to that in Supernaturally. I loved her sense of humor and longing to just be "normal".

While there were some old characters that returned, we also got introduced to some new ones like Jack. He was a human that could move through the Faerie Paths without there help. We got some answers, but also had more questions and situations to figure out. That I believe is the perfect balance in a story, leaving the readers wanting more.

And of course there was also Lend. He was probably one of my favorite characters from Paranormalcy, and even though we didn't get nearly enough of him this go around, I still loved that he had his appearances. He's that one piece for Evie that signifies paranormal yet normal and he gives her a balance that she doesn't get from anything else. Plus, I love the fact that he knows he can be himself around her and not wear one of his disguises all the time.

I'm incredibly sad that this series has to come to an end, but I can't wait for Endlessly now! Evie and the whole gang are so much fun and I'm excited to find out what Kiersten has in store for them. Plus, we have a new trilogy to expect and another book from her that I'm sure will be just as fabulous. Who's as excited as I am?

This meets the following challenges:

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Embrace Blog Tour Gust Post: Angels Have a Pecking Order


Today we are going to be joined by Jessica Shirvington, the author of The Violet Eden Chapters. The first book in her series released in the U.S. yesterday. She has graciously agreed to do a guest post and I hope you all enjoy:



Angels Have A Pecking Order


Researching for EMBRACE, I discovered the entire subject of Angelology to be truly fascinating. In the end, I chose to go with the most popular theory, that there are 3 choirs of angels and within each choir, 3 ranks.

At the top of the angel hierarchy sit the Seraphim. They are the angels that are supposed to burn with an all-consuming white flame and who perform the all-important role of maintaining the source of Existence within the physical world.

Following the Seraphim come the Cherubim, and Thrones. I always like the descriptions of the Thrones – bringers of justice.

In the second choir are Powers, Dominations and Virtues. And in the third choir – Principalities, Archangels and Angels (guardians).

In writing EMBRACE, discovering each of these ranks and their purpose on earth was what led to the development of my characters powers. Each character is specifically placed within a rank of angels and then given powers accordingly. For example: Griffin is parented by a Seraph angel, meaning he is a leader and his unique power is a mind power (that of reading and delivering truth) to correlate with the description of the Seraphim’s function in the universe. It is a great way of keeping order to the power pool!

Each angelic rank also has a different appearance and different color that represent them and I found this really interesting. Any time I describe an angelic image, it relates back to this research in some way. Additionally, combining this research with things like the Chakra has led me to the use of color as a representation of power and also gemstones as a link to old mythology. For example: Phoenix’s hair is like opal – so black that it shimmers with purple and it catches the light exposing streaks of dazzling silver. First, I loved the idea of his hair being different, but also, it linked to the significance to his power, and his heritage in the story.

Basing the story around the bones of angel mythology and hierarchy gives me a solid structure to use as my foundation. It anchors the story and gives me direction any time I think the story might be straying.

Also, it allowed me to develop one of the big mysteries within the series: what rank is Violet from?


Thanks, Jessica! And be sure to check back at this time next week for my review of Embrace.

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails