Bring Down the Rain w/ Book Giveaway

Book Details
Author: J. Lloyd Morgan
Release Date: May 2014
Publisher: Pendr Publishing
Genre: YA Fiction

Starting at a new high school is hard, especially as a senior.

At age 17, Derek moves with his family from North Carolina to Utah.

Derek learns about the unwritten laws of dating in Utah, and that his mom and dad have a history at his new school—a history that threatens his future.

Set in 1986, “Bring Down The Rain” is a story of loss, grief, redemption, hope, and making life altering choices.

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~ AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY ~

Signed Copies of J. Lloyd Morgan's previously released books!!

Open Worldwide

Ends Friday 31st October

Enter Below & Good Luck !!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author
J. Lloyd Morgan is a bestselling author and an award-winning television director. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Communications and a minor in English. In 2014, Morgan earned his Master’s degree in Creative Writing. Morgan has lived all over the United States, but now resides in North Carolina with his wife and four daughters where he teaches college English classes. Aside from writing, Morgan is an avid reader. He’s also a huge fan of baseball and enjoys listening to progressive rock.

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10 Unique Things about Author J. Lloyd Morgan

1. I have dyslexia and I’m a terrible speller. (Thank you spell check!)

2. I was born in the least populated state in the USA—Wyoming.

3. I’ve lived (not just visited) in seven different states, and in one foreign country.

4. My four daughters’ names all end with the “e” sound. (Kelley, Emily, Amy, Stephanie.)

5. I don’t like to fly in airplanes, not because I’m scared, but at 6’3” the seats are not comfortable.

6. I lived in the New York City area during 9/11—and could see the smoke from our house.

7. I’m not afraid to stand up for what I believe to be ethical, even when others get mad at me for “rocking the boat.”

8. When people ask me what I write, I say, “Books.” When they press me for a genre, I respond, “Whatever interests me at the time.”

9. My dream job is to teach Creative Writing at a university—I’m on my way now that I teach college English and have my MFA in Creative Writing.

10. Even though I’m considered a dynamic lecturer and engaging teacher, I’m very introverted and love spending time by myself.

Follow the Book Tour ~ Read the Reviews!!
The Book Stalker ~ October 15, 2014
Espacular Aiesa ~ October 18, 2014
Cali Book Reviews ~ October 19, 2014
Sanity is for Those Without Children ~ October 21, 2014
A Bit Bookish ~ October 24, 2014
I Love to Read & Review Books ~ October 27, 2014 - Q&A
Totally Addicted to Reading ~ October 28, 2014 - Interview
Manic Mama of 3 ~ October 30, 2014
Book Worm & More ~ October 31, 2014

True Colors w/ $25 Amazon or PayPal Giveaway

Book Details
Author: Krysten Lindsay Hager
Release Date: June 2014
Publisher: Astraea Press
Genre: YA Fiction

Landry Albright enters a modeling competition with her two best friends, but runs into jealousy when she advances to the next level without them. Enter the gorgeous Devon, who also makes the first cut of the modeling contest. Devon seems like the perfect new best friend, but can their friendship survive the competition? Throw in a new boy, jealousy and loyalty issues, and insults from hair stylists. How’s a girl to deal?

Excerpt
“Landry, they’re having modeling tryouts to be on the American Ingénue show,” Ericka said, showing me the ad she had torn out of the Grand Rapids Press. “The Ingénue judges are trying to find local teens to compete on their reality show.”

I watched every second of the last show. Talisa Milan won and got a Little Rose cosmetics contract and was on this month’s cover of Bright and Livelymagazine. She was also a host on Hot Videos Now, a music video show. Melani Parkington, the runner-up, was the new spokesperson for Bouncy Hair conditioner. You were almost guaranteed to be famous if you made it to the final round of the contest.

“First you have to win in your city, and then your state, and then the regional competition,” Tori read. “Then you get to the tough part of the competition where they vote off someone new each week on national TV.”

“It’s an amazing opportunity to get discovered,” Ericka said, checking out her reflection in her spoon.

“Yeah, except for the fact the judges are known to be brutal when they’re honest. Like when they told Melani her gorgeous face was too pinched, her forehead was too low, and her eyebrows were too high,” I said. “They also told one girl she was pretty, but her lips looked like she had walked into a sliding glass door.”

“Well, they did,” Ericka said shrugging. They were holding auditions at the Perry Mall, which was the smallest mall in Grand Rapids. There weren’t a lot of stores there, so you usually just saw old people mall walking around there. Still, it had a decent bookstore and a cute clothing store, so I said I’d go watch while they tried out.

“No, we’re all trying out,” Ericka said, grabbing the ad back from me.

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About the Author

Krysten Lindsay Hager is an author and book addict who has never met a bookstore she didn’t like. She’s worked as a journalist and also writes middle grade, YA, humor essays, and adult fiction. Her debut novel, TRUE COLORS, will be out June 17th from Astraea Press. She is originally from Michigan and has lived in South Dakota, Portugal, and currently resides in Southern Ohio where you can find her reading and writing when she’s not catching up on her favorite shows.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest

   

Blog Tour Giveaway 

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash 

Ends 8/15/14 

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash.  Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the publisher. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.   a Rafflecopter giveaway

Podium Finish w/ $25 Amazon or PayPal Giveaway

Book Details
Author: Beth Pond
Release Date: November 2013
Publisher: Astraea Press
Genre: YA Fiction


WHAT AN AMAZINGLY WONDERFUL BOOK!

Skating on ice...
Training hard...
Hoping...
And Going for the Gold...

Two girls...roommates at the Olympic Training Center...and their stories.

Harper is seeking a place on the Team USA Women's Hockey...when a knee injury sets her back on her goal. With the help of a boyfriend she wasn't planning on having she just might see her dreams come true.

Alex is seeking a medal with skating partner, Ace..but Ace is holding back secrets that leaves Alex feeling unsure about their efforts. They must learn to trust each other not only on the ice but off the ice as well.

A little sweat...
A little blood...
A little tears...
A little romance...
A GREAT read!

Tour Giveaway 

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash 

Ends 2/9/14 

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.   a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

Beth Pond graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Hendrix College in 2012. In 2013, she taught in South Africa for 9 months as part of a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Grant. Pond is currently completing her coursework at the University of British Columbia’s Creative Writing MFA program. Her debut novel, Podium Finish, was released from Astraea Press in November 2013. When she’s not writing, Pond enjoys martial arts (she’s a black belt) and serving as a volunteer coach for her brother’s special needs baseball team.

(A review copy was provided, however, all reviews are of my own opinion :)

Traitor's Knife

Book Details
Author: E. Kaiser
Release Date: July 2013
Publisher: Hearth Books
Genre: YA Fiction

War, spies, secrets, refugees, adventures, jewels, a knife, and a strong female heroine...that's what this book delivers!

SO GOOD!
A WONDERFUL READ!

"When the loyalist cause enlists the mountain house into a weaponry, apprentice Fia is confronted with three refugee children, a disturbingly upstart former messenger, and accidents happening everywhere. Are saboteurs out to nix the weapons works... or is it the incognito crown prince they're after?"

Fia shows great courage and bravery as she steps up to do what is needed to help out in every situation...

Even putting her own life in danger.

Who can she trust?

And can she keep HER secret as her adventure as a jeweler's apprentice continues?

Read my review of Book 1: Jeweler's Apprentice

About the Author

E. Kaiser was born into a family of readers, and got started on storytelling around the age of four when her older siblings prompted her into recounting an absolutely ridiculous account of a parallel childhood. It was good for the family's general entertainment, and she discovered the thrill of making people laugh.At the age of seven her mother read the Hobbit aloud, and a fascination with beautiful fantasy was born. At nine she came to the decision that she wanted to be a writer, and set to reading rabidly to learn the art. At thirteen she attempted her first novel, and it was eaten in a computer's demise.
Afterward, during her teenage years she tried very hard at various times to stop writing all together.

Not succeeding, she at last gave in to her addiction, and wrote "for fun".

(A review copy was provided for this review. However, all reviews are of my own opinion :)

Jeweler's Apprentice

Book Details
Author: E. Kaiser
Release Date: December 2011
Publisher: Hearth Books
Genre: YA Fiction

"Jeweler's Apprentice, is a light-fantasy adventure for teens. The shy, bookish heroine is thrust out on the first step toward the adventure that awaits, and growing up."

That's growing up for you. Things are never the same again, and that part always hurts, Fia. Don't try to think it shouldn't. Every time something changes, something hurts. It's the natural way of things. But there are parts that are good about it too. It is right to grieve for things you've lost, or given up. But remember even when it's hard that it's not all sad. 

And that is what happens to Fia. She is growing up...but she is also starting a grand adventure.

After she stumbles upon a secret she is whisked off to become the jeweler's apprentice and just as she is getting the hang of it she is sent on a rescue mission where she will tangle with strangers, thieves, and all sorts of dangers.

But she will also find heroes and royalty and family who was once thought of as lost.

Yes, growing up can be hard, but it can be wonderful too.

One of my favorite passages:

You spend too much time here. Too much strain on your nerves. You need fresh air, get out and get some exercise. Clean your thoughts out and free up your mind...Get up then! Come along...Learn too fast and you'll not learn well.

A WONDERFUL BOOK!
A FUN, FUN READ!

About the Author

E. Kaiser was born into a family of readers, and got started on storytelling around the age of four when her older siblings prompted her into recounting an absolutely ridiculous account of a parallel childhood. It was good for the family's general entertainment, and she discovered the thrill of making people laugh.At the age of seven her mother read the Hobbit aloud, and a fascination with beautiful fantasy was born. At nine she came to the decision that she wanted to be a writer, and set to reading rabidly to learn the art. At thirteen she attempted her first novel, and it was eaten in a computer's demise.
Afterward, during her teenage years she tried very hard at various times to stop writing all together.

Not succeeding, she at last gave in to her addiction, and wrote "for fun".

(A review copy was provided for this review. However, all reviews are of my own opinion :)

Charlie's Girl Blog Tour

Tour Schedule

About the Book:

Authors: Mary-Helen and Daniel Foxx

Release Date: May 2012

Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc.

Genre: YA Fiction
 

Book Description:

Fourteen-year-old Rosalind has always been a foster girl without a past, until she’s sent to live with a long-lost grandmother in a house full of memories—and secrets. Soon Rosalind discovers that there’s more to her family history than she ever dreamed. Set in 1960s South Carolina, this unforgettable story of family, friendship, and faith is perfect for readers of all ages.

My Review:

WOW! :)

This book is IMPRESSIVE! The story is so sweet and tender....filled with love and loss, family and prejudices, hope and longing, truth and rumor, friendship and snubbing, death and healing.

I was greatly moved by the connection between a mother and a child, and a grandmother and a child of her child...for just as the book states Rosalind is Charlie's girl. A beautiful story...especially the very last line!

About the Authors:

Mary-Helen Foxx retired in 2009 after a long career in public education with the Peoria Unified School District where she worked primarily in library services and IT. She has written widely on genealogical topics and has authored four books on the histories of prominent Southern families. Mary-Helen was also a contributing editor for three years with “Georgia Genealogical Magazine” and has won awards for her writing.

Daniel is Professor Emeritus of History at Ottawa University in Phoenix and has been published in various academic and historical journals. He is the author of I Only Laugh When It Hurts (Reissued by Pelican Publishing Company, Gretna, LA, 2009). His latest book, Nathan Bedford Forrest: In Search of the Enigmawith Eddy W. Davison (Pelican, 2007) was a National Book Awards nominee, received the 2008 Arizona Book Award for biography, and was finalist for the 2008 Independent Book Publishers Association Benjamin Franklin Award.


(A digital review copy of this title was provided by the author for this review. However, all reviews are of my own opinion :)

Castles on the Sand

This is the FIRST book I have EVER read WITHOUT reading the back of the book first to see what the book was about...

I LOVED the cover and the title so I wanted to read it...and I won it as a FREE book...

SO...

 I had no idea what the story-line was going into it.

I will admit there were a few times I wasn't sure I wanted to finish the book...

But then I found myself wanting to know more and more and more...

So I kept reading and reading and reading.

I finished it in two days...I couldn't put it down...

I am SO GRATEFUL I finished the book!

It is one of those books that you really think about and want to share what happened with many other people.