*Review* Ageless Sea by M.R. Polish + Paperback Giveaway (INT)

I have Indie Girl March to thank for bringing this OUTSTANDING author

into my reading universe!! Seriously beyond loved this book and seriously 

look forward to book two which comes out....

Release Date:  March 29, 2013

Published By:  Author

Length: 302 pages

Review Copy: Mobi. from author for honest review

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  The crash was no accident. Fate carried Brady and his airplane to the isolated island where Karis was banished to live alone. She feared the worst as she sifted through the wreckage, sure that no one could survive. But there he was, barely breathing yet still alive.

  The closer she got to him, the more her powers awakened. He was like a magnet she was drawn to. Maybe it was the years alone that left her yearning for companionship, or maybe it was the taut muscles in his arms that beckoned her to come closer, either way she had a hard time controlling her thoughts. She knew things about him that he couldn’t remember, things that were blocked from his memory. He wasn’t from earth either, and she needed his help to save both of their worlds. But the closer she gets to Brady the more she knows her world is with him.

  Even with a woman as beautiful as Karis, Brady was well trained, but he wasn’t prepared to care as much as he did. Being an underground fighter made him the wrong man for a future Queen of a different world, and he knew it. But that didn’t stop the yearning he felt deep inside. It didn’t stop his heart from racing when she was around. And it didn’t stop him from falling in love.

A MUST READ!!

 M.R. Polish where have you been all of my reading life?!  When picking up Ageless Sea I was excited for what I hoped, was between this stunning cover.  I was not disappointed and in fact was dazzled by the sensational writing.

  The plot was beyond original.  Polish, spun a tale of a princess banished and a magic  that has bound her and can also set her free.  What was unique was the magic also tied many worlds together, worlds where time really had no meaning, with the exception of Earth.  The worlds themselves were all different and offered something that the others hadn't.  Sometimes multiple worlds take away from the story, and the author risks a lot by tying in so much information.  However, these worlds only enhanced the reading experience.  This also gave a place for many of the key twists that Polish expertly placed.  There is nothing in the plot, writing and pacing that I can complain about... M.R. Polish is brilliant.

  Karis didn't come off as strong or weak to start.  She was/is a princess banished for reasons that are not the truth and she had no power in the matter.  She took her banishment and I had to give her credit for it not breaking her.  Years of watching ships mysteriously sink trying to get to her island, and generations of birds her only companions.  She never stopped thinking of her home and wondering how her people were and given the chance she will fight for them.  This girl may be gentle and sweet but she has a fire in her that is not to be ignored and to ignore it is a huge mistake.  She may have been bound to an island but her will is strong and she will not stand down when it comes to what is right.

  Now things did not take too long to get interesting in this one.  Not far in we have a crash and we meet Brady.  He is though source of so much and yet he has no clue who he is or the potential that he truly has.  The meeting between Karis and Brady was not in the most perfect conditions... or the best of spirits considering the length of time Karis had spent alone.  No these two clashed and at the same time were pulled together, you can't deny that there was something there.  Brady was the perfect fit for Karis and her sweetness.  Where she was innocent, he was rough and  where she was unsure, he was a rock.  This is not to say he wasn't an ass from time to time but you would be too if everything you thought was true turned out to be a lie.

  This book is so much more than a gorgeous cover.  It is clever, calculated, well written and utterly addictive.  I went into this book with high expectations and every single one was met and exceeded.  This book really does have it all: action, romance and perfect twists.  I can with all honesty say that I will be on the waiting list for book two and highly recommend that you all get a start now so you can be ready!! Pick this up if you want a read that will blow you away and keep you coming back for more!!

  She marched up the stairs and let the door slam shut. "Hey, watch it," Brady scowled at her.  she wasn't sure why she was so upset, but something about him and his attitude put her nerves on fire.

  He grasped her shoulder and stopped her from leaving.  "I believe you.  I don't know why or how, but I do.  All my life, I felt like I needed to prove I was the best son and fighter.  But with you I believe I am already the best.  Like you accept me without having to prove anything."

  She rolled her eyes and walked out of the room with the nightgown to the bathing room.  Brady had become protective of her and it made her feel adored, but she wanted more.

He feigned a groan.  "Well since you need me."
  "Are you going to be like this forever?"
  "You're already thinking of us in forever terms?"
He wiggled his brow playfully.
  You're impossible.  Just concentrate so we can figure this out."

Thanks to this incredible author one lucky winner will get a Paperback!
If it is a US winner they will receive a Signed Copy & INT will receive a
Paperback and a signed bookplate!!

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~Interview~ Kristina Circelli

So I totally need to get my hands on this beauty!! It sounds so amazing 

and the connection between animal and human is something I hold a lot

of faith in!!!  I fully believe that this book will ROCK!

  Seventeen-year-old Evangeline Frost had a great life, until the car accident that killed her father and turned her mother into a bitter alcoholic. Unable to bear the guilt, Evangeline attempts to take her own life, saved only by the memory of her beloved father.

Left with no other options, Evangeline is enrolled in a program for troubled teens at Kindred Hides Wildlife Preserve. There she meets Caster, a keeper as annoying as he is caring; Jett and Lettie, who treat her more like a daughter than troubled teen; and Ruke, a prized giraffe in mourning for his lost mate.

Immersed in the preserve with her new friends, Evangeline finally begins to heal. But the haunting memories of the accident and her mother’s unforgiving words threaten to destroy her progress. Only her new friends and their unconditional support, along with her own special connection with Ruke, can save her.

Evangeline must learn that there is redemption for her father’s death, and that the bonds between human, animal, and life are not as fragile as she once thought.

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~Top Three~

 

Words you would use to describe yourself.

• Determined
• Imaginative
• Eccentric

Books that you could read over and over.

• Dreams Made Flesh by Anne Bishop
• Peter Pan by JM Barrie
• Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts

Moments or your writing career.

• Introducing Carl Hiaasen at my university’s presidential lecture
• Getting to start my own editing business (a childhood dream)
• Seeing my mom’s face when she read the dedication to her in my first novel

Best things about being an Indie Girl.

• Freedom of choice
• Great community
• The friends I’ve made 

Things that you would panic if you left the house without

• Something to write with/on
• Keys
• Phone 

Moments that you wish you could take back.

• Times my brother and I fought as kids
• The day we had to put Sir Whisky Sour down
• That one time I stepped on a rusty nail and gave myself a five-year blister…. 

Favourite book characters.

• Lucivar Yaslana (Black Jewel series by Anne Bishop)
• Percy Jackson (Rick Riordan)
• Magnus (The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare)

About the Author

 

Night owl, Dorito lover, and quiet eccentric - Kristina Circelli is the author of several fiction novels, including The Helping Hands series, The Whisper Legacy, The Never, and The Sour Orange Derby.
Her latest series, The Whisper Legacy, features Beyond the Western Sun. This book is what all fantasy adventures must strive to be: a complex, intricate examination of human emotion set within the context of worlds known only in our imagination. Melding fantasy and legend in an epic quest, this series signals the arrival of Kristina Circelli as a master storyteller and an important voice in Native American literature.
A descendant of the Cherokee nation and niece of a Cherokee elder, Circelli holds both a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in English from the University of North Florida, where she teaches creative writing. She also heads Red Road Editing, a full-service editing company for independent authors and commercial clients.
She currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida with her husband, Seth, and cats, Lord Finnegin the Fierce and Mr. Malachi the Mighty.

Find Her:

Website~Facebook~Twitter

*Review* Stealing Promises by Brina Courtney

This author is dear to me because she was the first author I ever reviewed 

on this blog.  She knew I was knew and she took a chance on me and honestly

I am beyond grateful for that because she has never failed to amaze me!!

Release Date:  December 19, 2013
Published By:  Author
Length:  --
Review Copy:  mobi., from author for honest review

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  Promises are made to be kept, never stolen. But that's exactly what happened to Victoria Blane and Levi Manor. Tragedy strikes their perfect relationship leaving Victoria struggling to overcome the darkness that threatens to bury her.

  Brighton Hanley knows what it's like to lose someone. He knows what it's like to be haunted by things that can never change. When he meets Victoria he recognizes the pain she's trying to bury deep in her eyes. He knows she's trying to hide, but he also knows that you can't hide forever.

  Victoria is drawn to Brighton in ways she never expected. But is she ready to let go of the past and grab on to her future? Or will she run away from Brighton before she can be hurt again?

  Brina Courtney is a brilliant author and Stealing Promises, is a stunning and heartbreaking read.  You are pulled through such intense emotions and left wondering how anyone could ever deal with loosing like Victoria did.  Your heart will break, expand and pull every direction.  This book is like the great romances you see on the big screen but with the impact emotionally that only a book can carry.

  This story revolves around Victoria and her all consuming love for Levi.  When I say all consuming, I do not mean obsessed, but a love that you have for someone that seems to complete you and just feels right.  They have known each other forever and it seems that they are just meant to be.  However, when it turns out that Levi was not Victoria's future, everyone is torn.  Honestly I was torn because a love like theirs is meant to survive and give the rest of us hope.

  Though it is hard at times, I particularly enjoy the honesty of how Victoria dealt with the loss.  She did not just say "It happens," and simply move on.  She felt broken, she was broken and didn't feel she should live with what she had lost and why.  Even when presented with someone that had dealt with a great loss himself she didn't just spring on it.  Every step she took was calculated and was a risk at times.  I am not sure I loved Brighton like I did Levi but then that is a lesson as well.  You can never love the same but you can love just as great in a different way.

  Stealing Promises is proof that one moment, one heartbeat can change everything you know.  Courtney has without fail created something that shows you not only the after but the before.  The before is often something mentioned but not something we see the character live through and here we do.  That in itself make this story unique and easy to adore, proof that love can never die and that sometimes moving forward is the hardest step.  If you enjoy contemporary reads and love something that touches your heart, do not miss Brina Courtney's Stealing Promises.

  They had their fair share of sexual encounters of course.  There had even been a few boys before Levi if Victoria was being honest with herself, but none of that mattered anymore.  The only person that mattered now was Levi.  He was everything to Victoria.

 

  "Victoria!  Look at me.  I'm not doing this just for my own benefit you know."

  "I know.  And if you really want to know I've thought about dying ever since Levi left!  It makes sense to me."

She looked away, "Promises can be broken."


He squinted at her. "Then don't make me promise. Let me show you."

*Interview* Cindy M. Hogan + Giveaway

I have mad respect for this author and her patience with my wandering mind... I also 

have mad love for every book I read the synopsis for on Goodreads!!  I highly

suggest checking them all out because these two are just teasers!!!

It takes more than a school trip to Washington, D.C. to change fifteen-year-old Christy's life. It takes murder.

A witness to the brutal slaying of a Senator's aide, Christy finds herself watched not only by the killers and the FBI, but also by two hot boys.

She discovers that if she can't help the FBI, who want to protect her, it will cost her and her new friends their lives.

 Buy It:

Amazon~B&N

 

A madman with a mission is kidnapping groups of thrill-seeking high school seniors across the country, and it’s up to Christy to stop him.

To do so, she must take on a fearless alter ego and infiltrate a group of adrenaline junkies bent on pushing life to the limit. Death-defying stunts are only the beginning: two groups fit the profile, and Christy must discover the real target before it’s too late.

If she chooses the wrong group, more people will disappear. But choosing right puts her as the prime target—with no guarantee that she’ll get out alive.

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Amazon~B&N

    Tell me a about yourself. What got you started in writing?

It’s sounds so cliché, but it’s true: I had a dream. LOL. I was minding my own business as a teacher when I had this incredible dream that was so vivid and heart pounding. I thought it should be made into a movie.  Since I knew no movie producers, I wrote the scene down in hopes of one day passing it on to someone. But, the story didn’t stop there. It kept coming to me and I kept writing. Once Watched became a bestseller, there was no stopping the train and I had to choose between being a rocking author or an amazing teacher. After much debate and many tears, I left teaching, but I still get my fix with author visits and assemblies.

How and where do you write? Do you prefer a lap top or do you prefer writing freehand?  

 I write with my laptop. I did write Watched free-hand first, though. I wouldn’t suggest it. It doubles your work. I write in my dining room that is surrounded with windows. I see the mountains out one window, the blue sky out of another, the lake through the third and Salt Lake City out of the fourth. I need space to write for sure. In the Springtime, I sit out back on my deck  or on my front porch. I love the outdoors. Occasionally, I try to write in bed, but that never lasts long…

What's your favorite part about writing? Your least favorite part about writing?

 I love it when a scene comes to life. It’s crazy when you write something one day only to go back to it the next day and be wowed by what you are reading.

I’m not a fan of editing. It’s such tedious work. It drives me nuts. I wish I had a magic wand. I also don’t like marketing very much. It’s time to get an assistant for sure. I just can’t keep up.

How do you come up with your characters? Why would readers want to get to know them?

Good question. It’s funny because I’m not an outliner. I write by the seat of my pants not knowing what is coming next. In that same vein, my characters just pop right out and glom themselves into the story. They come with personalities attached and I love it when they bust into the story. Most people say they totally relate to my characters and either wish they could become any number of them or have a friend who is just like one of them. Hopefully, readers will fall in love with the hot guys that are in each of them.

What types of marketing do you do to promote your writing?

 I advertise with sites that send out alerts through email like Bookbub, Bargain Booksy, etc. I also have my own newsletter that I use. And, of course, I use FB, Twitter and I blog.

How do you schedule your writing time? When do you write?

I write mostly in the morning. I’m an early riser-at 5 am I pop awake. It’s nice and peaceful.

What are you currently working on? Do you have a new book out? 

Adrenaline Rush and Gravediggers came out at the end of October and I just released Confessions of a 16-Year-Old Virgin Lips in February. I just gave my editor a book set in Paris-(It’s nameless still) and I’m almost done with Hotwire. A Christy spy novel set in Brooklyn, NY. I can’t wait for everyone to get to read them.

Do you have a project on the back burner? Tell me about it.

I do have a book I’ve been brainstorming for a while now about a girl who discovers her superpower…but, I’ve never written anything supernatural or fantasy-like and I’m nervous about pursuing it. One day…

What would you tell a beginning writer who wants to publish but doesn't believe he/she has enough talent? 

 #1 keep writing. #2 Keep reading #3 Go to writer’s conferences. #4 get with a good critique group and learn to take criticism #5 keep writing J

About the Author

Cindy M. Hogan graduated with a secondary education teaching degree and enjoys spending time with unpredictable teenagers. More than anything she loves the time she has with her own teenage daughters and wishes she could freeze them at this fun age. If she's not reading or writing, you'll find her snuggled up with the love of her life watching a great movie or planning their next party. She loves to bake, garden, and hang out and play outdoors.

Find Her:

Goodreads~Twitter~Facebook~Website 

Dear US winner... You will have to fight me for your prize...

Kidding of course!!! Two lucky winners will get a prize & as always

GOOD LUCK!!!

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*Review* Final Life by Rose Garcia + Giveaway

I am SO HAPPY that Rose signed up for this event and gave me the 

chance to read Final Life.  I can't wait to read Final Stand!

Release Date:  July 19, 20132
Published By: CreateSpace
Length: 240
Review Copy: Paperback (ARC), from author for honest review

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Buy It:
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  Nothing sucks more than being forced to move cross country during senior year. And Dominique Wells doesn't think things can get any worse until she's invited to a quirky neighbor's party. When pressured into playing a magical card game, Dominique's world goes from sucky to terrifying. She begins having visions of a red desert and an evil presence--a presence who hints at past lives and promises to kill her.

  Plagued by fear and suspicion, and unaware of a family secret kept hidden from her, Dominique is determined to live. Together with a mysterious and gorgeous guy who's moved in while his parents are away, and a hot, popular guy from school, Dominique must seek clues to her past if she's to survive. That, and keep her emotions in check for the two guys she suddenly can't stop thinking about because if she doesn't, she'll be dead. For real

  I had no clue what I was getting myself into with this one!  Yes, I read the synopsis but I really had no clue as to what this was all about.  Take that little factor and Garcia's masterful writing, and you have a book that is almost impossible to put down. This is the type of book people rave about and anxiously await for the next book to be released.

  There is what I consider perfect pacing in this book and an interesting plot line.  Original and fresh.  Final Life is like nothing I have ever picked up before.  I loved that Garcia used cards, a Ouija board and most importantly Numerology to give this book something of its own.  Maybe there is something like this out there and I will hunt it down but for me Garcia did it first.  I am a huge fan of the entire soul idea... be it soul mates, reincarnation or any variation of that and the thought that you get 9 goes at getting everything right is kind of terrifying.  Take the fact that Dominique is on life 9.... Yeah, she has to get it right.

  As readers we always have this or that to pick at with a character, because lets face it they are human too.  Dominique was unique in this sense because though she was flawed, I can't use it as a negative trait with her.  The things that bothered me here and there, really just made her realistic.  She had a lot being dumped on her, while she thought she was going crazy and really no one to turn to.  To top it off everything she is being told aligns with what she is going through and yet she still asks questions and has doubts.  So, even while her crazy in question is being thrown out the window, she questions what she is being told because it just seem so unreal.  I LOVE her for this because I find characters often just accept things far too easy and move on. 

  Love...  There is definitely romantic interest here but with who and how often... See the thing is there is two guys but there isn't.  Dominique has a lot going on and though she is attracted to both guys, she is not a two man girl.  She is not even a kiss one and then fuss over the other girl.  Trent is the sweet boy next door kind of guy and I did really like him.  A lot of factors in his life pushed some good information her way and yet nothing ever seemed to fully develop.  With Farrell who is also desirable, but in a you know me and you don't know me way.  He honestly has the best of intentions I believe but just does not know how to put them out there.   Although, I am sure I would go for Ferrell, I really love what Trent and Dominique have.  It's kind of innocent and seems like it could work if life weren't so nuts.

  There are so many reasons that I feel you all should pick up this book!  Garcia has done a phenomenal job writing this story and created charterers that have meaning and depth.  The final life concept has me intrigued and is yet one more soul theory that I had no clue existed and will need to further explore.  If you want a quick read that has a steady pacing and an amazing well developed plot and characters, Final Life by Rose Garcia is the book you should have in your hands!!!

I am SO EXCITED to be hosting this giveaway!! A HUGE

THANK YOU to Rose for being kind enough to provide it!

GOOD LUCK!!

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