Ember Blog Tour & Review of DARKER DAYS (+ contest)

"Our fires burn brightly for our readers and as a way to say thanks to our readers we've launched our latest division of Entangled Teen and it's name is Ember. We have two exciting launch titles: Darker Days by Jus Accardo and Chaos by Christine O'Neil. Read away!" Entangled Teen Ember is a division of Entangled Teen that specializes in digital-first YAs.

Chaos by Christine O’Neil

My name is Maggie Raynard. After sixteen years being just plain me, suddenly, when I lose my temper, my fingers become weapons of mass destruction. Turns out I'm a semi-god, descended from Aphrodite. Sounds cool in theory, but when I accidentally put my ex-boyfriend in a coma, things go downhill pretty fast.

Now some new guy named Mac Finnegan has made it his mission in life to continually piss me off. I'm stuck learning how to use my new powers while also dealing with regular high school problems, and with this annoying and super-hot—guy all
up in my business, I'm about to flip out.

But it gets worse. I just learned there's this watchdog council of semis who keep an eye out for any bad apples. They think I'm the baddest one in the bunch and want to take me out before I do any more damage. My nemesis Mac might turn out to be my salvation, only he's got secrets of his own...and they may just kill us both.

Darker Days by Jus Accardo 

A little sin can be deadly...

Jessie Darker goes to high school during the day, but at night she helps with the family investigation business. 

Cheating husbands and stolen inheritances? They’re your girls—but their specialty is a bit darker. Zombie in your garage? Pesky Poltergeist living in your pool? They’ll have the problem solved in a magical minute. For a nominal fee, of course...

When gorgeous new client, Lukas Scott, saunters into the office requesting their help to find a stolen box, it sounds like a simple case—until the truth comes out. The box is full of Sin.

Seven deadly ones, in fact.

They’ve got five days to recapture the Sins before they're recalled by the box, taking seven hijacked human bodies with them. Easy peasy—except for one thing...

There’s a spell that will allow the Sins to remain free, causing chaos forever. When the key ingredient threatens the life of someone she knows, Jessie must make the ultimate choice between love and family—or lose everything.

REVIEW

I was given an ARC of Darker Days in exchange for my honest review.  This was my first Jus Accardo novel, but I "knew" her from #yalitchat and was really excited to dive in.  The synopsis sounded awesome!  And I wasn't disappointed.  From line 1, I knew I was going to like Accardo's writing style.

Jessie (awesome name, btw!) Darker takes teen snark to a whole new level.  This girl has a quip for everything and can't manage to keep her mouth shut unless a witch is forcing her to.  But it wasn't annoying at all.  Jessie just had that kick butt personality and when you're a teen, sometimes your only (or best) weapons are words.  Not that Jessie has a shortage of weapons, because when it comes to "monster mashing" (her term), she and her mom are on top of their game.  They take down zombies, possessed dogs, and any sort of Otherworlder that comes their way.

The book sort of reminded me of a teen version of Kim Harrison's The Hallow Series (starting with Dead Witch Walking).  Jessie is tough at nails even if not completely competent.  She's got a bit of a hidden power -- she's not a witch but her abilities are arguably cooler.  And there are a collection of cool paranormal creatures in the mix.

Perhaps the best paranormal creature is Lukas.  Sweet, yummy Lukas.  Lukas is full of Sin himself (at least it's not Lust), but he does a really good job of keeping his inner evil at bay (I can't tell you more than that without spoiling things). But the best part about Lukas is how at peace he is with his fate because just a small amount of time with Jessie has given him peace. Who doesn't want someone to love them like that?  Jessie and Lukas felt so star-crossed, it made me root for them even harder.

The plot was relatively complex, meaning I didn't guess precisely how the ending was going to come down.  That's a good thing!  And it certainly kept me flipping the pages.  It's action-packed and I never once felt bored or wanting the pace to move along more quickly.  But then again, with 7 deadly sins rampaging your town, there's never going to be a dull moment.

In short, if you like snappy dialog and a fast-moving plot with paranormal hotties and baddies, you won't want to miss Darker Days.  I'll be very interested to see where the next book in the series goes.

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Debut YA Book Birthdays~ Week of August 20th

Well, this is it for us.  Today is my kiddos' official LAST day of summer.  School starts tomorrow and I'm pretty excited (although I'd be happier if Lands End had gotten the new uniforms here on time!). But something else that's pretty exciting are these debut YA novels.  What's got you excited this week?

VIII by H.M. Castor (who knew Henry VIII was so hot??)

Destined for greatness...tormented by demons. The epic story of Henry VIII’s transformation from a handsome, gifted youth to a murderous, cruel king.

Hal is a young man of extraordinary talents, astonishing warrior skills, sharp intelligence, and a fierce sense of honor and virtue. He believes he is destined for greatness. His father wishes he would disappear. Haunted by the ghosts of his family’s violent past, Hal embarks on a journey that leads him to absolute power—and brings him face to face with his demons.

“History comes alive from the first page to the last” (The Independent) in this fascinating, previously untold story of how a charismatic, athletic young man grew up to become the murderous, vengeful King Henry VIII.

BROTHER, BROTHER by Clay Carmichael (she has other
children's books and an MG, but this is her first YA)

The day his grandmother dies, seventeen-year-old Billy “Brother” Grace discovers that he has a twin who has recently made headlines by nearly overdosing on drugs. His twin also happens to be the son of a powerful senator. His newly discovered family may not be all that interested in a cheery reunion, but Brother is determined to get answers. When he arrives on the secluded island off the coast of North Carolina where the senator and his family live, sparks will fly, old resentments will be released, and secrets revealed. Part coming-of-age story, part love story, Clay Carmichael's Brother, Brother is a book about finding out that who you are and where you come from aren't necessarily the same thing.

Happy Release Day Tiffany King! (+ giveaway)

I had the great pleasure of meeting Tiffany King at the Decatur Book Festival last year.  Not only was she from Florida (instant awesome) but she was sweet as can be!  Today, she's celebrating ANOTHER book birthday, this time with her sequel to Jordyn, called Jordyn and the Caverns of Gloom.

Sadly, I haven't had the chance to read Jordyn yet, but OMG does this sound good.

Lies.
My so-called family lied.
My friends lied.
The only guy I ever liked lied.
My mentor, the one I was supposed to trust lied.

My entire existence is built on lies and yet now they want my help. Scratch that, now
they need my help. I'll play the good soldier, but I am no longer the person I was before. This time it will be on my terms. I will trust no one.

I am a weapon. I am Jordyn.

To get your copy now, check out Amazon.
And to find Tiffany around the web, try these favorite haunts:

Twitter- @AuthorTiffany

Facebook- Tiffany King

Pintrest- Tiffany King

Blog- authortiffanyjking.blogspot.com

Goodreads- Tiffany King

  Author Bio:

Tiffany King is the author of The Saving Angels Series, Wishing for Someday Soon, Forever Changed, Unlikely Allies, Miss Me Not and Jordyn: A Daemon Hunter Novel book one. Writer by day and book fanatic the rest of the time, she is now pursuing her life-long dream of weaving tales for others to enjoy.

She has a loving husband and two wonderful kids. (Five, if you count her three spoiled cats). Her addictions include: Her iphone and ipad, chocolate, Diet Coke, chocolate, Harry Potter, chocolate, and her favorite TV shows. Want to know what they are? Just ask.

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Free Download of Beautifully Broken by Sherry Soule

Hello readers - I have exciting news from author Sherry Soule on how you can get a FREE copy of her novel, Beautifully Broken, and enter to win a $10 Amazon gift card for leaving a review.

To promote the new edition of BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN (with more romantic escapades and additional bonus material!) and to give fans of the Spellbound series a chance to read the revised version without having to buy a new copy, I have decided to offer it as a free download at Story Cartel for a limited time. 

Readers who sign up at Story Cartel to receive the free eBook will also be entered into a random drawing to win a $10 Amazon gift card, IF they post an honest review of the book. 

Free book + Review = Gift card

Sounds pretty awesome, right? 

A word of warning…BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN (Part One) does end with a major cliffhanger, so if you hate those, then you might want to skip the free download. However, on the plus side, the sequel SHATTERED SILENCE (Part Two) is available for purchase from all major online retailers for only $3.99, if you’re dying to find out what happens next.

I will post reminders about this and other promos on my Facebook page and my Twitter: @WriterSherry so be sure that you follow me at both of these social media sites, and the Official Spellbound Site.

So, anyone willing and able to read and review the new version of BB, would you be so kind as to leave an honest review on Amazon and/or Goodreads afterwards? (You don’t have to include that it was a “free read,” and actually, I’d prefer that you didn’t. But it’s fine if you do.)

Leave review at this Amazon page: http://amzn.to/18NB8CG

goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11634793-beautifully-broken

If you could do your best to get your review up by Sunday, September 8, 2013, I would greatly appreciate it. 

Win a $10 Amazon Gift card

I will be giving away three $10 Amazon Gift cards to reviewers. It's easy to enter. Just fill out this form with the link to your review.

If you'd like to write something for your blog, you're quite welcome to do that at any time. If you do, send us the link here and it will count as an extra entry into the giveaway contest.

Thank you for supporting the work of writers. I hope you enjoy the book!

P.S. If you'd like to share this free book with your friends, visit http://storycartel.com/books/230/beautifully-broken-part-one/ and spread the word through Facebook and Twitter. 

Thanks!!!

P. S. Please help me to promote this free eBook by posting it on your FB page, blog, or by sending out a tweet with a link back to this post. ;-D

NOTE: Please remove/delete the previous copy BEFORE uploading the new free version to ensure that you read the correct edition. Sometimes an eReader device will not upload another version of the same title if the old one isn’t removed first.

Debut YA Book Birthdays ~ Week of August 13th

Summer may be winding down, but there are a few last-minute summer reads you still may want to grab by debut YA authors.  I've had my eye on this first one for a LONG time... what turns your eye?

BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA by April Genevieve Tucholke

You stop fearing the Devil when you're holding his hand...

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White's sleepy, seaside town...until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet's crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet's grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery...who makes you want to kiss back. Violet's already so knee-deep in love, she can't see straight. And that's just how River likes it.

A gothic thriller romance with shades of Stephen King and F. Scott Fitzgerald, set against a creepy summertime backdrop--a must-read for fans of Beautiful Creatures, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, and Anna Dressed in Blood.

DANCER, DAUGHTER, TRAITOR, SPY by Elizabeth Kiem

A new breed of spy novel combines classic thrills (The Americans, John Le Carre, and Alan Furst), Bolshoi intrigue, and elements of the paranormal.

Marina is born of privilege. Her mother, Sveta, is the Soviet Union's prima ballerina: an international star handpicked by the regime. But Sveta is afflicted with a mysterious second sight and becomes obsessed with exposing a horrific state secret. Then she disappears. 

Fearing for their lives, Marina and her father defect to Brooklyn. Marina struggles to reestablish herself as a dancer at Juilliard. But her enigmatic partner, Sergei, makes concentration almost impossible, as does the fact that Marina shares her mother's “gift,” and has a vision of her father’s murder at the hands of the Russian crooks and con artists she thought they'd left behind.  

Now Marina must navigate the web of intrigue surrounding her mother's disappearance, her ability, and exactly whom she can—and can't—trust.

ON LITTLE WINGS by Regina Sioris

Jennifer is an only child, and so were her parents—at least that's what she thinks, until she finds an old photo in the back of one of her mother's books. The woman in the photo looks just like Jennifer, down to the smattering of freckles across her nose. And her mother refuses to talk about it.

Compelled to find answers, Jennifer embarks on a quest that takes her from the wheat fields of Nebraska to the fishing town of Smithport, Maine, home to the one person who can help her solve this family secret—the woman in the photo. But Jennifer learns that it takes the entire village of Smithport to piece together the story of her mother's hidden past. She needs help from Nathan, the genius with the reluctant smile from across the cove; Little, the elderly town matriarch and former movie star; and The Jacks, three weathered fishermen who dabble in pyrotechnics. As Jennifer discovers the lost chapters of her mother's life, she unwittingly begins to write a few chapters of her own.

Elegantly written, On Little Wings is an evocative debut novel about self discovery, first love, and the power of family.

Summer Love Book Blast

I'm thrilled to be participating in Marysue Hobika's Summer Love Book Blast.  I recently read the book (not a review copy, I might add) and really enjoyed it. It was light and fun and a great summer read. It's definitely for more mature audiences though (17+) because some of the scenes are hot!

Carly and her best friend Becca are ready to drop a nuclear bomb on summer. It’s the last one before reality sets in and they’re off on their own. Carly is ready to break the mold and stop being known as a goody-two-shoes. In order to get the ball rolling, she agrees to a double date with Gavin – her good-looking, yet moody, lab partner.

Gavin doesn’t have summer plans except to work at his two jobs and hang out in his room drawing. He likes to keep to himself, but lets his brother Nate talk him into going on a double date. Carly isn’t like the rest of the girls at school that drive him crazy. She doesn’t ask a lot of questions and seems to know when to give him the space he craves. Gavin always thought that she was beautiful, but he believes that relationships and love are a lost cause.

Will their date prove that summer love is right around the corner or will it be a dead end?

Because that synopsis probably left you wanting more, here's an excerpt.  This one's from Gavin's perspective.  (The book is told in alternating perspective from Carly and Gavin.)

The band played and I held my breath, waiting to hear Carly’s voice. I thought maybe she’d lost her nerve. I was ready to rush in and rescue her, even if she didn’t want me to, when, like magic, she began to sing. The notes that came out of her mouth were full and sensuous, changing the band’s sound completely. It was harmonious, free flowing, and full. 

I’d heard the band last summer, and even though they were good, something had always been missing. That something was Carly. Her voice fit and molded perfectly with Nate’s, and I felt another tinge of jealousy. Their sound filtered through the cracks and walls of the garage and into the night air. For a second, I forgot how to breathe. I found myself slinking back into the garage as the song came to an end. I felt empty and lost when she hit the last note, and every cell in my body craved more. I’d been wrong. So very wrong. 

Everyone in the garage was silent, as if the music had cast a spell on them. All of a sudden, led by Ed, claps and cheers echoed. Carly looked elated until her gaze landed on me. I read in her eyes that she thought I was a jerk for not believing in her, and I couldn’t blame her. I was a jerk. 

“Damn!” shouted Ed. “That gave me goose bumps.” He hugged himself, rubbing his hands over his arms. 

“I told you Carly could sing,” Becca said, directing her words toward Nate.

To get your copy now, buy it here.  And be sure to add it to your list on Goodreads.

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