New Release – Dark Innocence by Madeline Pryce

Posted on February 1, 2014 by fundinmental

Madeline Pryce wants to share her hot new novel, Dark Innocence, which is now available.

If you like hot and steamy vampire novels, this one is for you.

To read my review of Dark Cravings, the first book in the series, go HERE.

I fell in love with Hannah and feel I HAVE to know her story.

Dark Innocence – Hannah (Book 1.5)

Expected publication: January 31st 2014 by Ellora’s Cave.Hannah Grey will do anything to escape the tortured memories haunting her. Every breath brings back the pain, the fear and the unbearable knowledge that she’ll never be the once-perfect girl everyone thought her to be. When the self-destructive fog of drugs, alcohol and meaningless sex starts to clear, Dante, a lion shifter sexier than sin itself, emerges through the darkness ready to rescue her for the second time in so many months.In the safety of Dante’s embrace, Hannah allows herself to become the woman she’s always wanted to be—smart, sexy, capable and empowered. His every touch electrifies. His hot, hungry kisses set her senses ablaze. As Dante masters her body, Hannah finally finds the strength to master her fears.Perfection shatters as a mysterious vampire escalates from anonymous phone calls to violent encounters. When Hannah’s enemies unite, placing both her and Dante in mortal peril, it’s going to take all of her newfound strength to face the coming darkness and save the man she loves.

******A Romantica® paranormal erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave******

Get your copy of a Madeline Pryce novel by clicking on the cover below.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look below or on the right sidebar at Home and let’s talk.

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Tag Team Event-Don’t go in the Water!-Delta Legend by Kelan O’Connell GP Review & Giveaway

Posted on January 22, 2014 by fundinmental

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Welcome to my Tag Team Events!

Laura and I are the Tag Team Bloggers.

You can find Laura at fuonlyknew

We Tag Team an author and publish our posts at the same time.

Whether it’s for a cover reveal, giveaway, review, interview, or something more, the author will be tagged by us and you will be alerted to go to Laura’s blog or mine to see additional content.

It’s really fun to see how differently we view the same book and you get an extra chance to win with our giveaways!

Be sure to follow us to be kept informed of future tag teaming events.

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Celebrating the release of Delta Legend in paperback!

I loved this book. Creatures and Monsters, of one kind or another, are some of my favorite stories. I love getting lost in the fantasy of another world.

Read my review and enter the giveaway for a signed paperback at the end of the post.

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A Guest Post from Kelan

THE RIDE OF SUSPENDED DISBELIEF

Writing Urban Fantasy Adventure is a bit like creating a wild new theme park ride. It’s a really fun gig. If done right, readers will happily board your attraction and stay engaged through the whole crazy ride, ping-ponging between anticipation, fear, laughter, and satisfaction.

As a novelist, I have to make sure my story has all the necessary elements required for a great ride, and suspended disbelief is a key element in good fantasy fiction.

In Urban Fantasy, fantastical things happen in the modern world as we know it. Undoubtedly, the biggest challenge of writing for this genre is creating a sense of isolation in our modern world. Considering the sheer number of humans crawling all over the planet armed with multiple means of connecting, this can be a formidable task. Enter the all-important selection of location.

The setting for Delta Legend goes by both the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the California Delta. I refer to it by both names in the book. Though surrounded by populated cities, the heart of the Delta retains a sense of isolation due to its vast expanses of farmland and seemingly endless waterways that snake on for 1000 plus miles. That’s right—one thousand.

A picture of California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, with Suisun Bay at left-center and the Carquinez Strait at far left (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It was definitely challenging to describe this unique region in a way that would give people who’ve never been there a visceral sense of the place. Luckily, I have a couple things going for me in this regard. One, I have a background as a screenwriter, so I write visually. And two, I spent a good deal of time in the California Delta from the time I was 15 until I was in my mid 30’s. And let me tell you, no matter how old I got, swimming or waiting to get picked up on a water ski in the Delta, always freaked me out a bit. Anything could be lurking in those deep murky waters.

Photo by Kelan

Of course, if anything like what happens in the book were to actually happen in the Delta, it would be extremely hard to keep it on the down-low, but that’s where the all-important suspended disbelief and sense of isolation come into play.

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When 16-year-old Oakland teenager, Calvin Pierce, makes a bad decision and winds up getting arrested, his mother is quick to take action. Determined not to lose a second son to the drug and gang violence of the inner city, she sends Calvin to spend the summer working for his great uncle in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

There in the predominately white region of agriculture and recreational boating, Calvin’s a fish out of water with a chip on his shoulder. But when severed body parts are discovered floating in a slough, his summer of proving himself takes on new meaning.

Something deadly is lurking in the deep, murky waterways of the Delta. Now the daunting task of containing the living incarnation of a mythical creature falls to Calvin and his ragtag posse of oddball characters.

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My Delta Legend Review

To see my full review, go HERE.

I won this book in a Giveaway on fuonlyknew’s blog. Thank you Kelan and Laura for the giveaway.

When I first picked this book up all I saw was a monster in the water, super, right up my alley. I love these stories. As I read along, it became apparent it was much more than that. Kelan did a great job with the small town descriptions and details of the people lives that brings them together to save their town and themselves, detailing their acts of heroism, growth and change, bringing out the best in people.

Something in the water. Awesome – I could hardly wait to begin reading. Is it bigger than Jaws? You’ll have to read it to find out.

I love creature stories, so it’s easy for me to rate this one very high. The cover was over the top. Simple, yet complex, as you delve into the eye trying to see what’s there. The cover and title related well to the book, it’s important to me that they do.

I really got a feel for the small town setting, where the cafe was the focal point and you could hear all the latest gossip. The cops even hung out there. I used to visit a small southern town in Mississippi, and their local hangout was a gas station, where everyone would meet, drink colas and play checkers. Very ……….quaint? Does your town have a local hangout?

The characters were well developed and realistic. I could picture them in my mind and relate to them easily. Some of the characters were hateful and disgusting, others so much like your next door neighbor, just living their lives. When Kelan described Huestes as a Weeble, I busted out laughing . It brought back memories of buying them for my son when he was young. Can’t you just picture Huestes? “Weebles wobble, but they don’t fall down.”

Kelan laid a good base in the first half to crank it out in the second half.The suspense kept building and I kept waiting for the creature to appear. Every time someone went near the water, I was waiting for the monster to get them. Just like Jaws. Don’t go in the water. How many times do you have to be told, don’t go in the water. LOL!

The Lochness Monster, Bigfoot, Aliens……would you believe someone’s story, or would you have to see for yourself?

There were two surprises at the end. One I saw coming and I figured Kelan threw that one in to distract me from the other one, which I didn’t see coming. I am a voracious reader, so when the author throws in a surprise or two, it makes my day. Keeps me on my toes.

Even though there is a Book II, this tied things up nicely, while leaving it open enough to continue the story. I can hardly wait to find out what happens next, so I hope you are busy writing, Kelan.

The history leading to the legend was well-developed and detailed, going in to depth about Chinese history in relation to building the Transcontinental Railroad and the Sacramento – San Joaquin Delta.

I can absolutely see this as a movie. As I was reading along, the scenes played out in my mind as the story unfolded. I saw the ending as if I was watching it on the big screen.

5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

As a young adult, Kelan O’Connell spent her summers aboard a family houseboat in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Apparently, she still harbors suspicions about those deep murky waters. Though she’s been writing in one form or another since the age of 20, Delta Legend is her debut Young Adult Crossover novel.

Kelan began writing in college, creating character monologues as a way to stand out in auditions while also cranking out sketch comedy. She holds a degree in Theatre Arts from San Francisco State University and has worked in the Entertainment Industry in Northern California and Los Angeles, among her many other day jobs.

She currently lives in Northern California with her partner, Sound Engineer/Producer Tom Size, and the incredibly spoiled pets of Camp Runamuck.

Website / Blog / Goodreads

Wanna come along for the ride? It’s fun … and a little scary.

To get your copy of Delta Legend by Kelan O’Connell, click on the cover below.

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I have my eye on you.

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GIVEAWAY

Kelan O’Connell always has some of the most fantastic giveaways and this one is no exception. International.

1 (one) signed paperback to a lucky commenter.

Leave your email and let me know:

Does your town have a local hangout, where all the latest gossip can be heard?

This is a Tag Team event – for another opportunity to win, go to fuonlyknew.

Giveaway ends February 3, 2014.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look below or on the right sidebar at Home and let’s talk.

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Release Day Giveaway – The Waiting Game by J L Flynn

Posted on January 20, 2014 by fundinmental

The Waiting Game by J L Flynn is a series about Gypsys. I am always looking for something a little different and I don’t see a lot of gypsy novels, so I was eager to participate in this tour. Take a look and see if it is something that catches your interest.

BLURB

Twenty-five-year-old Tommy Costello has been going out on the road with his best friend Jim Reilly since they were kids. They’ve pulled cons together, picked up dates together, and have always had each other’s backs. They’re as close as brothers, and Tommy’s sure their bond will never be broken.

That is, until Maggie Downey shows up. She’s an enigma: smart, bold, and charming. From the moment they meet, sparks fly. But there’s a huge problem. She’s arranged to be married to Jim.

Tommy tries to keep his feelings for Maggie in check, but it’s not easy, especially when he’s also hiding a dark secret for Jim—both from Maggie and the rest of their Irish-American Gypsy clan. A secret that not only affects his friend, but that could mean a life of misery for Maggie as well. Tommy does his best to protect both his friendship and his own heart, but it’s soon clear that falling in love with his best friend’s girl is the least dangerous thing happening in the Village that year.

The Waiting Game is a prequel to The Long Game, and the second book in J.L. Fynn’s American Gypsy series.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

J.L. Fynn is the public face of the writing collaboration between Katherine Ernst and Chelle Bruhn. Katherine and Chelle disagree on most everything (music, food, need for punctuality), except for what’s really important, which is why they’ve been best friends for seventeen years and writing together for three.

Twitter: www.twitter.com/jlfynnauthor

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jlfynnauthor

Tumblr: jlfynn.tumblr.com

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/7173188.J_L_Fynn

Website: www.jlfynn.com

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GIVEAWAY

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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To get your copy of a J L Flynn novel, click on the cover below.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look below or on the right sidebar at Home and let’s talk.

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Grand Finale Giveaway – Mistress of the Wind by Michelle Diener

Posted on January 19, 2014 by fundinmental

This is such a gorgeous cover that I had to share it. Hope you enjoy all the goodies and be sure to enter the giveaway at the end of the post.

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

The Tour!

Did you miss any of the tour stops for this beautiful New Adult retelling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon? Catch what you missed now!

12/29: Launch

+ Saeit Yahalomi – Review

“The descriptions are superb, told in a way that is unique, fantastical, and yet, as crazy as this will sound, believable (a world filled with strange magical creatures and trolls).”

12/30: My Seryniti – Review

“Super easy to read and once I melted into the story, really easy to follow and enjoy! Lovely story which makes me want to check out the original myth!”

+ Tome Tender – Guest Post

Because Mistress of the Wind is a retelling of the Scandinavian fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon, I used Norse mythology throughout the story.

Trolls are an intergral part of Scandinavian myth and folklore, and there are plenty of trolls in Mistress of the Wind. But I also introduced two other folklore creatures which came from my imagination or which were a tweak of existing folklore.

The first of these is the yggren. . .

2/31: Kelly P’s Blog – Guest Post

Mistress of the Wind is based on the fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon, and as I researched it, I was enchanted by the number of unusual and interesting elements in the original tale. Thinking about how to deal with them in Mistress of the Wind, and de-constructing them for a better and deeper understanding of the original, inspired some of the storyline I wove into Mistress of the Wind.

+ Giveaway Breaking News for Indonesia – Guest Post

I don’t write with music playing, I find it distracting, but I most definitely would go for my morning walk and listen to music that suited the mood of the story, and think about what I was going to write next. I find it interesting how music can so affect our moods and our tempo and pace.

1/1: Mel’s Shelves – Review

She didn’t realize, either, what powers she possessed until she decided to do her best to get Bjorn back. Bjorn is also very likable and they have a great connection. Then there are some secondary characters which add to the story and are fun to learn about. I enjoyed the second half of the book more than the first half and towards the end, I couldn’t put it down.

1/2: Mythical Books – Guest Post

The concept of a wind hag, the controller of the winds, was one that delighted me immediately. In the book Women Who Run With the Wolves, Clarissa Estes talks about hags and crones, including the Russian uber-hag, Baba-Yaga, as women of power and consequence. The word ‘hag’ generally has such negative connotations, but Estes introduced me to the idea that rather than a negative, it was a positive. Her ideas really resonated with me, so when I stumbled upon the Wind Hag folk tale, I was all over it. It just fit so well into the story, as seamlessly as if it was meant to be there.

+ Tressa’s Wishful Endings – This or That

Read a book or watch TV?

Reading a book wins 90% of the time.

Get out of the house or stay at home?

I like to get out of the house, because I work from home, so it is the office and the house, and sometimes, I need a break.

Winter or summer?

Winter. I love boots, I love coming in to a warm house from the cold, and I love how green everything gets (winter in Western Australia is probably like summer in some parts of the world :))

1/3: Brooke Blogs – Guest Post

The challenge with Mistress of the Wind, given I wanted to remain true to the original fairy tale, was to give Astrid a good reason to go against Bjorn’s request to see him as a man.

The consequences of her doing so are huge, to both her and Bjorn, and I really had to create a compelling situation for her to act against his wishes. If she doesn’t do it, however, the story is over, they win and everyone lives happily ever after.

Unfortunately for them, they have to work a little harder for their happy ending than that.

1/5: Leeanna.me; – Review

I thought this book was well-written and engaging, and I would check out the author’s next fairy tale retelling, THE GOLDEN APPLE, based on “The Princess on the Glass Hill.”

1/6: The Book Landers – Guest Post

I love being asked for a list of ten of my favorite fairy tales. There are so many great ones, and I’ll probably head-smack myself in a couple of days because I left out a really good one, but here goes, in no particular order – and I’ve put in a link to a version of the fairy tale on the Sur La Lune Fairy Tale website, where there is one. It comes with annotations, and I really love the site, even if some of my favorites are a slightly different version to the one they have up there…

+ Deal Sharing Aunt – Interview

2. Where do you shop for books? What format?

I shop for print books at Amazon, Book Depository and my local Dymocks bookstore, and for ebooks on Amazon. Because I live in Australia, I can’t always get the books I want in ebook format, because the rights for electronic book sales to Australia haven’t been enabled, so I probably buy more print books than ebooks, but that isn’t by choice, it’s by necessity.

1/7: So Many Reads – Review

If you are fond of fairy tales and fantasy, you should check out Mistress of the Wind. I will admit that I have a tough time getting into fairy tales because it seems the walls on my imagination only allow me to go so far. However, Michelle’s writing is fantastic and she sets my mind free and helps me really visualize what is going on in the story.

1/8: My Devotional Thoughts – Guest Post

Mistress of the Wind is such a great fairy tale because the heroine gets to take an amazing journey to find where her lover has been taken, and rescue him. But part of why I love the fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon so much is because the physical journey she takes mirrors a spiritual journey of coming into her power and into her sense of self. So here are ten things you can discover about yourself on a quest – – Astrid certainly did…

1/10: Colorimetry; – Review

Michelle Diener follows the fairy tale quite closely while weaving in the Norse mythology stuff. Right in the middle of the story there’s a very big switcheroo… and this is where I expected things to get boring or fuzzy with lack of specific detail because… well, read the story. This is where Michelle totally won me over. The Norse mythology side fills in all the vagueness of the fairy tale and the second half of the book is even better than the first.

1/12: The Reading Diaries – Review

I think the author did a fantastic job creating a complex story that mixes fantasy with adventure and romance. It was one of those stories you just can’t put down if not for sleep I would have stayed up all night to finish even though I knew how it would play out. The characters are easy to connect with you can’t help rooting for Astrid on her journey. I enjoyed the book it was worth reading and I’m sure I’ll read it again.

+ Bookish Outsider – Review

Ms Diener’s writing is delightful and so descriptive, especially in the latter half of the book when Astrid is traveling with the winds and I could have quite easily carried on reading for some time thanks to the wonderful world the characters inhabited brought to life by the author’s writing style and obvious love of the original fairy tale.

1/13: The Wonderings of One Person – Interview

How has this story touched your life?

All my stories touch my life, because I live in the world of the story every day I write it, and I walk in the steps of the characters, and know them as well as I know myself. Mistress of the Wind is about magical things and enduring love and finding your strength. I love its depth and the world it is set in.

1/14: Dalene’s Book Reviews – Interview

4) Why did you decide to write Mistress of the Wind?

I’ve always loved fairy tales. But when I was at university, doing research for a history paper on the witch hunts of the 17th Century, I came across a really interesting (but totally unrelated :)) journal full of articles on the meanings of fairy tales. It was fantastic, and mind-blowing. I suddenly saw the subversion in the tales…

1/15: A Backwards Story – Interview

What was the hardest scene/element to write in MISTRESS OF THE WIND? The easiest?

Definitely the hardest was working on a way to give Astrid, my heroine, a good reason to go against Bjorn’s wishes to see him as a man. It has to happen, it is part of the story, but creating the conditions for her to do so in a way that didn’t show her to be careless of what would happen to him was challenging.

The easiest scenes were between Astrid and the troll princess. I’m not sure if it is because I had such a clear idea of who each of them were and their motivations, but I loved writing those scenes and they came easily to me.

+ Books & Chocolate – Interview

What inspired you to become a writer?

It was a decision made a long time ago, and at its heart, has never really changed – I love books and love telling stories.

What the inspiration behind Mistress Of The Wind?

I love fairy tales, and the fairy tale East of the Sun West of the Moon has always been one of my absolute favorites. The idea of writing a book based on the fairy tale has been swirling through my head for many, many years.

1/16: Addicted Readers

For me, it was about revelling in the world I had fallen in love with in the original tale. Perhaps I could have contemplated shaking things up a lot more if I didn’t adore the tale just as it is, but I do, and it was fun and satisfying to set Mistress of the Wind in that world. I felt like I was honoring the original.

1/17: Grand Finale

Mistress of the Wind
by Michelle Diener
New Adult/Sci-Fi Fantasy
Paperback, 342 pages
Expected publication: December 19th 2013

Bjorn needs to find a very special woman . . .The fate of his people, and his own life, depends on it. But when he does find her, she is nothing like he imagined, and may just harbor more secrets than he does himself.Astrid has never taken well to commands. No matter who issues them . . .She’s clashed her whole life with her father, and now her lover, the mysterious man who comes to her bedroom in darkness and disappears to guard his mountain by day as a bear, is finding it out the hard way. And when he’s taken by his enemies, no one is prepared for Astrid’s response.

It is never wise to anger the mistress of the wind . . .

A captivating and magical adult retelling of the fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon.

Michelle Diener writes historical fiction. Her Susanna Horenbout & John Parker series, set in the court of Henry VIII, includes In a Treacherous Court, Keeper of the King’s Secrets and In Defense of the Queen.Michelle’s other historical novels include Daughter of the Sky, The Emperor’s Conspiracy and Banquet of Lies (loosely connected to The Emperor’s Conspiracy).

Michelle’s first fantasy novel, Mistress of the Wind, is set for a December 23, 2013, release.

Michelle was born in London, grew up in South Africa and currently lives in Australia with her husband and two children.

Goodreads; * Amazon; * Website * Twitter; * Facebook

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Grab your copy of Mistress of the Wind by Michelle Diener, click on the cover below.

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International Giveaway

10 copies of Mistress of the Wind, Kindle or print, winner’s choice.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look below or on the right sidebar at Home and let’s talk.

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New Release – Siren’s Curse by Sara Jiang

Posted on December 13, 2013 by fundinmental

The cover for Siren’s Curse by Sara Jiang is beautiful in it’s simplicity.

I lm a lover of water and find the blue fading dark to light with the sunlight filtering through very soothing.

I haven’t read a lot of books about sirens, add in a sea dragon, a heart-throb shark and an eel looking for revenge – what could possibly go wrong? ^_^

Title: Siren’s Curse

Author: Sara Jiang

Date of Publication: December 5, 2013

Circe only has seven days to live… and time is ticking.

Long ago, Sirens were cursed to stay on the rocks. If they ever stopped eating human flesh, their horns would pierce their bodies and they would die.

Circe had a choice: stay on the Perch with her sisters, feeding off of sailors for all time, or to dive into the deep, face the unknown, and take her chance at freedom.

On her journey into the ocean Circe meets a precocious little sea dragon, a heart-throb shark, and an eel with a vengeance. She comes face to face with witches, madmen, monsters, and a mysterious, loud rumbling that seems to only be getting louder.

Can she break the curse?

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Purchase from Amazon | B&N

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About Sara Jiang

Sara Jiang was born in 1991 and lived on a sailboat in the Caribbean for 3 years when she was younger. This exposure to the ocean influences much of her art and writing. She is currently studying for her Bachelor’s in Vocal Music Education at Abilene Christian University.

The cover

Sara Jiang does commission artwork and recently won Abilene Christian University’s Summit Art Contest with one of her pen and ink drawings.

Website | Twitter

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To grab your copy of Siren’s Curse or to learn more about Sara Jiang, click on the cover below.

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look on the right sidebar at Home and let’s talk.

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Ya Series Insiders Launch and Amazin Giveaway

Posted on November 23, 2013 by fundinmental

Reblogged from Ya Series Insiders

I am happy to share the launch of Ya Series Insiders, with this fantastic Giveaway.

Be sure to check out all the blogs for more fun and games.

WIN OVER $1000 in SIGNED YA SERIES BESTSELLERS PLUS JEWELRY & MORE!

To kick off the launch of YA Series Insiders, the YASI authors are each giving away a set of one of the series that most inspired our own books, along with something special that relates to the series we have launching in 2014.

ENTER NOW! Scroll down to see the AMAZING prizes and then complete the form at the bottom of the post to enter!

Our big giveaway is here on the Tumblr, but we also have additional giveaways with signed books, jewelry, special swag, and other items at the following blogs:
Adventures in YA Publishing
YA Books Central
Page Turners Blog
Mundie Moms

All giveaways are one winner takes all. Enter any time between today, November 23, 2013, to December 31, 2013. Winners will be announced here on January 1, 2014. (See here for full eligibility guidelines.)

YA Series Insiders Launch Giveaway

From Jennifer L. Armentrout:

Signed Soul Screamers Omnibus Volumes 1, 2, and 3 by Rachel Vincent plus a stone gargoyle.

Jennifer says:

Soul Screamers is not only one of my favorite YA series of all time, I think I might have a tiny girl crush on Rachel Vincent. Okay. I might have a big author girl crush on her, but who doesn’t? She brings the action, the nonstop intrigue and swoon-worthy romance, and I like to think WHITE HOT KISS, the first book in the DARK ELEMENT Series does too. I’m giving away signed Soul Screamers omnibus Volumes 1, 2, and 3, and a stone gargoyle. Considering my characters are… well, gargoyles, that extra special prize seems a wee bit fitting.

From NINA BERRY:

Judy Blundell’s fabulous period mysteries, WHAT I SAW AND HOW I LIED and STRINGS ATTACHED, plus a beautiful early 60s-style double-stranded champagne pearl and rhinestone necklace.

Nina says:

The necklace for my giveaway is almost exactly like one Pagan wears in THE NOTORIOUS PAGAN JONES. The traditional elegance of the necklace, which she inherited from her mysterious mother, helps Pagan disguise her rebellious soul, and it can do the same for you… That’s all I can reveal now, but there will be more tidbits and giveaways when the book comes out in late 2014.

As far as why I’m picking Judy Blundell’s books? I’m in love with the complex period setting and three-dimensional characters, not to mention their film noir aura of mystery and danger. For the PAGAN JONES series, I take the reader back to the tumultuous years of the early 1960s, when “good” girls supposedly didn’t drink too much, stay out too late with boys, or get involved with Cold War politics. Too bad for the powers that be that disgraced teen starlet Pagan Jones knows that’s all nonsense.

As Pagan would say – you think spying on communist East Germany is hard? Try growing up in Hollywood.

From ANNE BLANKMAN:

Elizabeth Wein’s CODE NAME VERITY and a fabulous CZ ART DECO pendant similar to the jewelry my main character wears.

Anne says:

This Art Deco necklace is a style that was popular during the 1930s. Curious about the bird charms? Pay attention to the meanings of several characters’ names, and you’ll figure out why I chose this delicate necklace as something my main character, Gretchen, would wear.

It’s no secret why I picked Elizabeth Wein’s CODE NAME VERITY to give away. I love the story’s suspenseful, twisty feel, not to mention a mind-bending mystery that keeps readers guessing until the very end.

In PRISONER OF NIGHT AND FOG and its sequel, step into the treacherous world of the Nazi elite’s inner circle. Gretchen has always felt as though she belonged there…until she stumbles across a horrific secret that forces her to question everything she’s ever believed. Find out if she manages to break free when my book comes out this spring.

From MARTINA BOONE:

A signed four-book box set of the BEAUTIFUL CREATURES series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, plus a sterling silver Tiffany-style key necklace that ties into all the secrets that Barrie had to unlock to survive at Watson’s Landing.

Martina Says:

I love the rich, deeply Southern setting and the quirky characters in the BEAUTIFUL CREATURES books by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, as well as the swoon-worthy romance and the fun twist on magic. For the HEIRS OF WATSON ISLAND trilogy, I’ve built a mysterious and magical Southern world with crumbling traditions and haunted histories, and I’ve thrown in three plantations, a 300-year-old feud, ghosts and guardian spirits, and hey, did I mention a breathless romance? Not to mention lots of magical family secrets that need to be unlocked.

I’ll admit though, the key has multiple meanings. Barrie, my main character, wears three of the real Tiffany keys in platinum and diamonds, and it has a lot of emotional significance. That’s all I’m going to say for now, but I’ll be providing more hints and giveaways between now and when the book comes out next fall. ☺

From LANIE BROSS:

A signed set of THE FURY trilogy by Elizabeth Miles plus a handmade necklace with a firefly charm.

Lanie Says:

I loved ENVY/FURY/ETERNITY because like FATES, it makes you question what is our choice, what is meant to be, and what should never happen! Enter our equally epic YASeriesInsiders’ giveaway to win a complete autographed set of the ENVY/FURY/ETERNITY series, plus a handmade necklace with a firefly charm and the quote “There will be no miracles today” in honor of my main character, Corinthe, and the ultimate choice she will have to make in FATES!

From TRACY CLARK:

The Infernal Devices Hardcover Boxed Set with a bold and feminine hammered spiral ring in recycled sterling silver.

Tracy says:

The spiral is an ancient and mysterious symbol found all over the world, which speaks to the mystery of SCINTILLATE and THE LIGHT KEY TRILOGY as a whole.

In my trilogy, the most mystical people around us have a name and a mythology. The truth about them has been aggressively covered up, but Cora discovers the meaning of her newfound powers and her role in a conspiracy spanning centuries—a conspiracy that could end her life and change mankind forever. The book is full of mysterious symbols, and Finn has a version of the triple spiral tattooed on his chest. How yummy is that?

For the book portion of my giveaway, I’ve chosen a series that I loved so much, I couldn’t be happy until I’d read them all. Then, I despaired when it was over. I loved the characters in THE INFERNAL DEVICES by Cassandra Clare enough to cry and fret over them. I loved the mystery and sense of place. It was fresh and yet, timeless.

From BREE DESPAIN:

The Abandon trilogy by Meg Cabot, a beautiful lyre necklace, and a $30 iTunes giftcard.

Bree Says:

I loved taking ancient mythological elements and giving them a fun, modern-day twist in my new Into The Dark series. Like Meg Cabot’s Abandon trilogy, INTO THE DARK: THE SHADOW PRINCE explores elements of the Persephone and Hades myth from Greek mythology—but in completely different and exciting ways.

I am also giving away a beautiful lyre necklace that is the ancient Greek symbol for music and storytelling, along with a $30 iTunes gift card. Music plays an important role in THE SHADOW PRINCE. Haden, the disgraced prince of the Underrealm has been sent to the mortal world to entice Daphne, an aspiring musician and the daughter of a rockstar, to return with him to the land of the dead because she is rumored to be able to restore immortality to his race. Where Haden is from, music is forbidden, but to get close to Daphne he must become immersed in her musical world. Music is what makes Haden and Daphne so different but becomes the emotional core that draws them together.

From CLAUDIA GRAY:

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE by Beth Revis, HOURGLASS by Myra Mcintyre, and SHADOW AND BONE by Leigh Bardugo, plus a beautiful reproduction Faberge egg.

Claudia Says:

A THOUSAND PIECES OF YOU is the first in a trilogy about the countless possible worlds that exist alongside our own — and Marguerite Caine’s struggle, through a thousand different realities, to hold on to one true thing.

Really, I think of this book as the YA version of A WRINKLE IN TIME. But fans of great YA science fiction books such as ACROSS THE UNIVERSE by Beth Revis and HOURGLASS by Myra Mcintyre should love A THOUSAND PIECES OF YOU as well. And people who love the alternate Russia of Leigh Bardugo’s SHADOW AND BONE might be fans too. So I’ll give away copies of all three books … as well a beautiful reproduction Faberge egg, just like one that Marguerite encounters at one of the most dramatic — and romantic — moments of her adventure.

From S. E. GREEN:

A copy of THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin, a copy of I HUNT KILLERS by Barry Lyga, and a complete set of the hit Showtime series, DEXTER. Plus some really cool evidence bags loaded with KILLER INSTINCT swag.

Shannon says:

Everyone has a dark side. Nature versus nurture. Destiny. Secrets. Wondering if you’re crazy. Repressed memories. The fine line between reality and psychosis. Being frightened by your own self. These are shared elements in my debut thriller and why I love shows like Dexter and books like I Hunt Killers and The Mara Dyer Trilogy. I’m a sucker for a good intrigue, a bit of gore, and a thrilling ride.

From KIMBERLEY GRIFFITHS LITTLE:

A hardcover set of Laini Taylor’s gorgeous novels, DAUGHTER OF SMOKE & BONE and DAYS OF BLOOD & STARLIGHT. Plus a silky belly dance skirt and jangling bead/coin hip scarf to send you off to the Goddess Temple of Ashtoreth.

Kimberley says:

I love DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT because of its exotic desert setting, lush descriptions, complex mythology, and delicious, sexy romance. That’s the same feeling and atmosphere I’ve tried to create in the two worlds of FORBIDDEN: the safety of Jayden’s family among the tents and women of the desert where belly dancing is like breathing, and the dangerous world of the Goddess Temples of Ashtoreth, where lush beauty adorns the candle-lit corridors and the sexual dancing lures young girls into the goddess lifestyle.

For some young women though, that beauty turns dark and dangerous. As hints of danger surface, Jayden becomes frantic to save her sister who has already succumbed, and finds herself swept along until she must choose between the temple’s mysteries and the boy she loves from the secret frankincense lands.

From SARA RAASCH:

A complete set of THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy plus a chakram keychain for SNOW LIKE ASHES in honor of my main character, Meira, and her weapon of choice!

Sara says:

The themes in Lord of the Rings — ancient evil, underdog heroes, fully realized kingdoms, and breathtaking battles — have been the basis for generations of fantasy obsessions. Is it any wonder I can attribute some of my inspiration for SNOW LIKE ASHES to Tolkien’s epic masterpiece?

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taiwan flag smiley animated gif Pictures, Images and Photos .

GIVEAWAY

TO ENTER, GO TO YA SERIES INSIDERS HERE

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IACP Award Winning Chef John Besh – Cooking From The Heart

Posted on November 13, 2013 by fundinmental

**MEDIA ALERT**

CHEF JOHN BESH HOSTS COOKBOOK SIGNING IN PENSACOLA

John Besh is the acclaimed chef committed to “bringing back” New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

Food & Wine named him one of the Top 10 Best New Chefs in America in 1999.

WHAT

Chef John Besh is coming to Pensacola to host a book signing of his new cookbook Cooking from the Heart (Oct 29th, 2013; Andrews McMeel).

For more information on John’s new cookbook, visit www.chefjohnbesh.com.

WHEN

Sunday, November 17, 2013; 1pm – 2:30pm

WHERE

DUH; 501 N 9th Ave Pensacola, FL 32501

WHO

John Besh is a chef and native son dedicated to the culinary riches of southern Louisiana. In his restaurants, entrepreneurial pursuits, and public activities, he aims to preserve and promote ingredients, techniques, and heritage. John’s cookbooks, My New Orleans and My Family Table, were each recognized with an IACP Award. His third cookbook, “Cooking from the Heart,” was released on October 29th, 2013. He hosts two national public television cooking shows based on the books.

Goodreads Author Info

John Besh is the acclaimed chef committed to “bringing back” New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Besh grew up in Southern Louisiana and graduated from The Culinary Institute of America. Food & Wine named him one of the Top 10 Best New Chefs in America in 1999. His passion for food and New Orleans is always simmering.

Besh owns and operates New Orleans restaurants: August, his downtown flagship. Luke is his newest adventure, a downtown brasserie. La Provence, a rustic French restaurant and mini-farm just north of New Orleans. And, not to be overlooked, the award-winning, Besh Steak. ”

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INTERVIEWS:

Please let us know if you are interested in an advance interview with John.

CONTACT:

Sophie Latapie I sophie@thedooronline.com I 646-340-1768

ABOUT THE BOOK:

COOKING FROM THE HEART: My Favorite Lessons Learned Along the Way (October 29, 2013; Andrews McMeel Publishing; Hardcover; $40.00) recalls the places, lessons, and mentors that shaped John Besh’s culinary journey. His engaging personal narrative takes the reader to his touchstones, from the heart of Germany’s Black Forest to the sun-drenched south of France. Each chapter features a lesson learned, told in Besh’s own charming style, full of heartfelt memories and delicious recipes.

With 375 original and archival photographs and 140 easy-to-follow recipes, the 11 chapters bring John’s experiences home into the everyday cook’s kitchen. The book also includes instructional “Cooking Lessons,” illustrated with step-by-step photography, that demonstrate techniques which will help readers master classics such as building a perfect green salad, roasting a whole fish, coaxing deep flavor from stews and roasts, making easy and elegant fruit desserts start to finish and many others.

Gia Vecchio

The Door l an idea house
37 West 17th St., Floor 5
New York, NY 10011
o: 646-340-1767
c: 917-280-5043
gia@thedooronline.com

http ://thedooronline.com
http://twitter.com/thedooronline
http://facebook.com/thedooronline

Check out John Besh’s books on Amazon by clicking on the cover.

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Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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Release, Excerpt & GP – Reclaim My Heart by Donna Fasano

Posted on November 11, 2013 by fundinmental

Now with Montlake Romance – Release Day TODAY 12 November, 2013

On becoming a Montlake Author:

Let me tell you about my wonderful publishing experience! I have to back up a little bit… to this past spring. I self-published a romance titled Reclaim My Heart. The book received great reviews immediately, and it sold well from the beginning. Very well. In fact, during the first week of August I was enjoying a mug of coffee while perusing the USA Today Bestseller’s List (my usual Thursday morning routine), and I nearly choked when I saw that Reclaim My Heart was sitting at #123 on the list. A couple of days later I was contacted by an editor from Montlake. She told me she’d read one of my books months before and had been keeping an eye on me. She said she’d read Reclaim My Heart and loved it. Now, what author doesn’t love to hear that? She made an offer I couldn’t refuse.

The Montlake editor and the design team loved the cover that was on the indie version of the book; however, Amazon had trouble licensing the rights to the image. So we searched for weeks before finding the picture that’s on the current cover. I love it! And I hope my readers do, too.

I’m happy to be writing romance novels for Montlake. I feel wanted and appreciated, and it can’t get much better than that in the publishing industry!

~Donna

Title: Reclaim My Heart
Author: Donna Fasano
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Pages: 282
Formats: Paperback, eBook, AudioCD
ISBN: 978-1477817988
Purchase Now: Paperback § eBook § AudioCD

About The Book :

Sixteen years ago, Tyne Whitlock cut all ties to her past and left town under the shameful shadow of a teenage pregnancy. Now her fifteen-year-old son is in trouble with the law, and she is desperate for help. But reaching out to high-powered attorney Lucas Silver Hawk will tear open the heart-wrenching past in ways Tyne never imagined.

Forced to return to the Delaware Indian community where Lucas was raised, Tyne and Lucas are tempted by the heated passion that consumed them as teens. Tyne rediscovers all the reasons she found this man irresistible, but there are scandalous secrets waiting to be revealed, disgraceful choices made in the past that cannot be denied. Love is a powerful force that could heal them both—if the truth doesn’t rip them apart.

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Excerpt

From Chapter Two”Oh, wait. There’s someone here to see you.”
He frowned. “I don’t have time today.”
“I know, I know.” Martha looked apologetic. “I tried to explain that your schedule is packed, but she insisted on waiting—”
“She?”
Martha glanced down at a pad on her desktop. “A Ms. Whitlock. Tyne Whitlock.”
Lucas stared. Blinked. Then he reached up and tugged at his tie, wondering who the hell shut off the room’s air supply.
“She’s waiting in your office. I tried to tell her your schedule was full, but…” Concern sharpened Martha’s tone. “Are you all right? She said she knew you. That you were old friends. That she’d only take a minute of your time. Should I not have let her in?”
Martha droned on and he watched her lips move, but he didn’t hear a word of what she said. A blind-sided punch wouldn’t have stunned him more than hearing that name. He lifted his hand and nodded at Martha to let her know everything was okay even though he had no idea if it was or not, then he turned and headed down the corridor.
“Don’t forget Larry and Nate. They’re waiting!”
Martha’s warning sounded like a distant echo.
Tyne. Here. In this building. In his office.
What had it been? Twelve, thirteen… no. Sixteen years. He scrubbed his fingers across his jaw.
He turned the corner and came to an abrupt halt. At the end of the corridor, the door of his office stood ajar. He saw Tyne’s perfect profile as she sat in a straight-backed chair staring at something out of his line of view.
In an instant, Lucas was catapulted into the past.
Darkness surrounded them like a cloak. Tyne’s soft sobs tore at his heart. Of all the girls he’d dated—and there had been more than a few—only she brought out in him a fierce compulsion to protect.
He swiped away her tears, the dark color of his thumb a stark contrast against her creamy white skin.
“I don’t understand them, Lucas. I never will.”
“Don’t worry,” he crooned. “It’s going to be all right. Trust me, babe. They can’t keep us apart. You’ll be eighteen soon too. We can do what we want then. Go wherever we want.”
He cradled her, his back supported by the massive pin oak. And when she stopped crying, she pulled away from him and gazed into his eyes. Her sweet face wrenched his heart and caused heat to spark his desire. Never had he wanted a girl the way he wanted Tyne. Raw need coursed through him.
She cradled his face between her palms and drew him to her. Her lips were hot against his. The kiss grew hungry, their breathing labored.
“Our love will last forever,” she whispered against his mouth.
He heard the question in her quavery tone, responded to her need for reassurance.
“Forever,” he groaned, tugging her down onto the mossy ground.
Lucas tilted his head to stare at the carpet in front of his shoes and gulped in the artificially-cooled air as he dragged his way out of the past. The grip he had on his attaché case made his hand throb almost as much as the memory had caused his groin to go all achy and needful.
Of course, their love hadn’t lasted forever.
He was within steps of the door when Tyne glanced in his direction. Nuances of various emotions passed across her face. And it was a striking face, Lucas couldn’t deny it. The years had refined her features—
She stood, smoothing her palms across the fabric of her skirt.
—and ripened her body. Her eyes were the same vivid blue he remembered, and her white-blond hair was still long and straight. He could easily recall the silky feel of it brushing against his bare chest. As teens, he’d thought of them as the perfect juxtaposition: she, all sunshine and light, he, dark like the night.
He forced his gaze back onto her face.
“Tyne.” He entered his office, puzzled by the strain in his voice. What really confused him was the fact that he couldn’t seem to get his tongue to form anything more.
“Hi, Lucas. It’s been a long time.” Her lush mouth pressed into a nervous smile, and his gut tensed.
He wanted to smile back. He truly did. With every fiber of his being. To let her know that he’d survived the sprawling interim since they’d parted just as well as she obviously had. But he couldn’t smile. Couldn’t speak. Couldn’t think.

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About Donna Fasano

Donna Fasano is a three time winner of the HOLT Medallion, a CataRomance Reviewers Choice Award winner for Best Single Title, a Desert Rose Golden Quill Award finalist, and a Golden Heart finalist. Her books have sold over 3.6 million copies worldwide and have been published in nearly two dozen languages. Her books have made the Kindle Top 100 Paid List numerous times, climbing as high as #17.

What others are saying about Donna’s books:
“…complex, funny, and realistic…” ~Wilmington News Journal

“Excellent!” ~Bookreview.com

“Could not help myself from reading excerpts to my husband and friends. This book is well written, the characters are real, everyday folks. It is very easy to identify with them. Donna Fasano is a talented author.” ~Elizabeth M. Caldwell on Amazon

“…a fast paced riotous look at family life today. Donna Fasano is right on target!”
~Donna Zapf, SingleTitles.com

Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads

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To pick up your copy of Reclaim My Heart by Donna Fasano, or one of her many other books, click on the cover below.