Victoria Simcox's Blog, page 130

High Plains Holiday ~ Spotlight~ & Interview

Garden City, KS 1888

A small Western town receives an early Christmas present; a new pastor for the church. He’s young, handsome, and single. But to church organist Kristina Heitschmidt, Reverend Cody Williams is nothing but trouble. Especially as his first move is to attempt to take control of the music away from her. But Kristina is not about to give up her life’s work.

With Christmas fast approaching, it appears the two are at a stalemate. That is, until a sudden blizzard traps them together in the church overnight. Forced at last to deal with each other, they realize that the explosive feelings between them are really symptoms of an overwhelming passion that just might, if they can finally be honest, lead to the love of a lifetime.

Bio
Simone Beaudelaire is the pseudonym for a mild-mannered French teacher from Texas. When she isn't explaining verb conjugation and adjective agreement, she's writing sweet and sexy romance novels. Mme Beaudelaire lives with her husband of a dozen years, three young children, and one fat tabby cat.Buy it here on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H1XS9IO

Interview with  SimoneDescribe yourself in 140 characters or less.
 
I’m a high school French teacher by day, but at night I write sweet, sexy romances. I have a husband, three kids, and a cat.

What was the most challenging aspect of writing the book?Finding time. I’m a full time teacher and a mom of 3. I have to squeeze writing in around that. It usually means getting up stupidly early and trying to get a bit of writing done before work.
What was the inspiration behind the story?

 The characters and setting are ones I’ve planned to write about for a long time. This series has been on my back burner for a while. However, this particular story appeared rather suddenly during an idle conversation I had with my writing partner. We both write romance, and we were brainstorming all the different scenarios that could lead to a story. He said something about a pastor facing a crisis of faith. I’m not sure how in my mind that changed to a pastor facing a crisis with the church organist, but that’s where High Plains Holiday came from.
What three things do you need in order to write?
Coffee, time, and inspiration.

What do you like to do when you aren't writing?
Sing, play with my kids, read, cook, go to church.

Please share some advice for new writers starting out.
Don’t expect to take off overnight.Do expect to spend a lot of time marketing.Do find more experienced writers to help and encourage you.Do have other people read your book before you publish... picky ones who will tell you when you put commas in the wrong place.

THE DREAMSTONE~ Blog Tour & Giveaway~

Welcome to the Official Blog Tour of:THE DREAMSTONE, Book Two in The Dream Keeper ChroniclesA thrilling fantasy-adventure series for middle-grade reader!_______________________________________________________________ 
Don't forget to check out the GIVEAWAYat the bottom of this page for a chanceto win one of over 30 prizes! 
_______________________________________________________________ DREAMS: 
Dorothy called it Oz, Alice called it Wonderland, but Nightmares call it HOME. 
When Parker’s mom is dreamnapped by the wicked Mab, it is up to him and Kaelyn to save her. When they return to Dreams, they discover Mab isn’t their only problem. Gladamyr has lost his powers and the only way to get them back is to become what he fears the most—a nightmare.
SYNOPSIS: In Book 1, The Dream Keeper, Parker and Kaelyn discovered that Dreams was a real place that everyone visits while they sleep. An evil nightmare named Fyren took control of the gateway to that world. Parker and Kaelyn teamed up with Gladamyr, the only dream keeper to escape capture by Fyren, and together they save Dreams from Fyren’s rule. After the defeat of Fyren the children return to Awake to find Mab, Fyren’s next in command, has dreamnapped Parker’s mom. 
The story continues in Book 2, The Dreamstone, as the children return to Dreams to save Parker’s mom. Finding her, however, is not their only problem. Mab has waged a war on the Crossing and has sent an army of dragons to bring it down, nightmares have been released from prison, and Gladamyr has lost his powers to shape-shift. Parker, Kaelyn, and Gladamyr must once again defy all odds to set things right and save Parker’s mom before it’s too late.    
In Praise of THE DREAMSTONE:“The Dreamstone, by Mikey Brooks, is a wild stallion of a story: fast, thrilling, and unpredictable. I was hooked in chapter one. If he can snare the attention of an old reader like me, he’ll have kids sneaking this one into class underneath their text books…If this one isn’t a kid-pleaser, I don’t know what is.” –Michelle Isenhoff, author of the Divided Decade Trilogy and the Taylor Davis Series.
“This really is a cracking novel. Action-packed and spellbinding!”—Cas Peace, author of The Artisans of Albia series.

"If you like the Percy Jackson, Fablehaven, or the Harry Potter series, you'll love this!" –An Amazon Reviewer.
AUTHOR BIO: Mikey Brooks is a small child masquerading as an adult. On occasion you’ll catch him dancing the funky chicken, singing like a banshee, and pretending to have never grown up. He is the author/illustrator of several books including the best-selling ABC ADVENTURES: MAGICAL CREATURES and BEAN’S DRAGONS as well as the middle-grade fantasy-adventure series THE DREAM KEEPER CHRONICLES. His art can be seen in many forms from picture books to full room murals. He loves to daydream with his three daughters and explore the worlds that only the imagination of children can create. Mikey has a BS degree in English from Utah State University and works full-time as a freelance illustrator and cover designer. As a member of the Emblazoners , he is one of many authors devoted to ‘writing stories on the hearts of children’. He is also one of the hosts of the Authors’ Think Tank Podcast . You can find more about him and his books at: www.insidemikeysworld.com Now Available in Audiobook!
BOOK LINKS:Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1939993237 
Hardback: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1939993229 eBook: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GP33YZO

ISBN: Hardback: 978-1-939993-22-9, Paperback: 978-1-939993-23-6, eBook: 978-1-939993-24-3
PRICE: Hardback: $19.95, Paperback: $12.99, EBook: $2.99. 
Excerpt from: THE DREAMSTONE:Parker watched as the ambulance with his mother inside drove away. He had expected the medics to barrel down the street with sirens blaring and lights flashing, but instead they drove calmly. The cold night air hurt his throat, at least, he told himself it was the air. Whenever Parker tried to hold back his emotions he got a pain way back in his throat. Kaelyn held his hand, but it didn’t really help. All he could think about was Mab and how she’d taken his mom. The former ruler of Dreams was vicious and cruel. He had seen what she was capable of when she cut the arm off Mentia, the psychotic clown that chased him and Kaelyn through the vaults. The only thing that guy did was laugh at her. Parker could only imagine the things Mab could do to his mom. Now that Fyren was gone, Mab had a host of nightmares at her command. He shuddered, thinking about the creatures he had seen during the battle in Éadrom. “Parker, we’ll find her,” Kaelyn said, trying to comfort him.“How are we supposed to do that?” he snapped. Kaelyn pulled back, and immediately he felt bad. Heck, she had just lost everything she had ever owned—another gift from the nightmares of Dreams. They had burnt down her house and almost burnt the two of them in the process. Kaelyn had nothing. Not even a picture to remind herself of her dead parents. Yet here she was, the one comforting him. It wasn’t as if his mom was dead, she was just kidnapped, or dreamnapped. “Look, I’m sorry.”She gave a smile. “It’s okay. Really. I understand.”“Parker,” his dad called from the car. Parker turned to see his dad was ready to leave. What a jerk! Parker glared at him.His dad lowered his cell phone for a second. “Look, I’ve talked it over with Zelda and I want you to come and stay with me for a while—at least until your mom is better.” “No thanks.” Parker turned his back.“Parker, I don’t have time to argue. Remember—I’m still your father.”“You sure act like it.”“I’m acting like it now.”“You can’t even get out of your car!” Parker shouted. “You can’t even put down your freaking phone. Mom just went off in an ambulance, and you’re more concerned with your stupid work. I’m staying here! I’m not going with you!”“You’ve got ten minutes to get a bag.” His dad went back to his phone, not giving a sign he had heard a word Parker said.Parker turned on Zelda. “Did you say I would go with him?”Kaelyn’s aunt stepped back, worry crossing her face. “Parker, he’s your dad, and who else is there?”“You can stay with me. Where else are you going to go?” The second he said it Parker wished he hadn’t; or at least tried to sound more tactful. He knew that Kaelyn was handling the fire okay, but Zelda was on the brink of tears anytime someone mentioned the fire or what she lost in it. “I’m sorry . . . really . . . .”“Parker, I understand, so please, don’t apologize.” Zelda tried to reassure him with a smile. It didn’t really work. Her face was still smudged with black soot, and there were visible tear lines down her cheeks. He at least had a place to go, but Kaelyn and Zelda were homeless. “Your place is with your dad, our place is . . . .”“Where are we going, Zelly?” Kaelyn asked. They waited for an answer but Zelda only shrugged.“Look, if I have to go to my dad’s there’s no reason you can’t stay here. Really, my mom wouldn’t mind. Anyway, it doesn’t matter where I sleep. I have to get back to Dreams.”Zelda looked concerned. “Are you sure, Parker?”“Dead sure! My mom may be a cold hearted person in the courtroom, but she’s at least human at home—well, when she’s not turning off my video games.”“Can you call your house when you’re ready to go back?” Kaelyn asked.“You can count on it, Kae. We’ve got to talk to Gladamyr—I need to find my mom.”“I know.” Kaelyn gave him a hug.Parker looked at both Kaelyn and Zelda. He could tell having a place to stay tonight brought them a little comfort, but he still wished he could stay. He thought of his friend and physiatrist, Dr. Gates. He was like the father his own would never be. He wished right now Dr. Gates were here. “Can you explain to Gates what’s going on when he decides to get his butt over here?”Kaelyn smiled. “You can count on it.” “Come inside and I’ll show you around. Apparently I’ve got ten minutes.”_______________________________________________________________

10 winners will receive a gift bag with numerous signed books marks, collector cards, wrists bands, and a handmade dream key necklace.

Paperback Books:
Can You Survive? Treasure Island, by Blake Hoena
The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer, by Lisa Cole Orchard
Color of Freedom, by Michelle Athearn IsenhoffExplorer X-Alpha, by Lm PrestonGangsterland, by Ansha KotykCycles, by Lois BrownAndy Smithson: Blast of the Dragon’s Fury, by L.R.W LeePrincess Kandake, by Stephanie JeffersonWeight of the Crown, by Stephanie JeffersonArrow of the Mist, by Christina MercerCassidy Jones, by Elise StokesThe Seventh Attendant, by Elise StokesCurse at Zala Manor, by BBHMcChillerThe Curse of the Double Digits, by Lynn KelleyInto the Forest and Down the Tower, by Ann T. BuggOff to Camp and Discovering Art, by Ann T. BuggAgency, by Shantal HiattPsyched, by Juli CaldwellRagesong, by J.R. Simmons
EBooks:Secret Sisters Club, by Monique BuchegerTrouble Blows West, by Monique BuchegerThe Alien Mind, by Virginia JenningsThe Last Time Keepers, by Sharon LedwithFrogs & Toads, by Stacy Lynn CarrollNexus Point, by Jaleta CleggWarrior Beautiful, by Wendy KnightShahira and the Flying Elfs, by Anna del C Dye (PDF) 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Beyond ~ Book Blitz & Giveaway

Beyond (Beyond)by S.P. van der Lee Release date: November 25th 2013
Summary from Goodreads:
Sixteen-year-old Raven desperately wants to fit in, but after using a Ouija Board, her already overwhelming hallucinations take a turn for the worse. A ghostly figure named Sam begins to haunt Raven and seems eager to kill her.
She’s saved by a reclusive biker named Damian who goes to the same school and appears to have an interest in her. Raven can’t help but feel drawn to him. Determined to uncover Damian’s connection to the ghost, Raven sets out to discover his secret and the reason Sam started haunting her. However, there’s more at stake than just her reputation. Raven’s choice between unveiling Damian’s true intentions, and living a normal life will put everyone she cares about at risk. To save them, she'll have to go beyond.

Lives are ruined.
Hearts are shattered.
Death lurks at every corner.
Available from:        
Check out the trailer here!
"I loved the premise of the book & I loved the characters. The ending left me wanting more..." ~ Lisa W.
“Finally this ends my dry spell of unsatisfying fantasy novels! I loved the plot! I can't help but get hooked into it as the story unfolds.” ~ Poecilia from Goodreads
“The book is very good. It has really good mystery in it and a cliffhanger in the end that leaves you screaming for the second book.” ~ Katie from Goodreads

Excerpt #1:

Never before have I felt such fear, suffocating and unrelenting. If my heart continues to beat the way it is, I might die. My hallucinations have never taken the form of a humanlike figure before. Just thinking about the smoke he emitted makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. The only things I’ve ever seen were items being moved around or floating lights, which made people think I was nuts. But just now, at the party, I saw a real shady figure, and he moved the wooden arrow. I pedal as fast as I can. I can’t look back, because I’m afraid I might see something that will make my heart stop. I have to get out of here. Simon and Emma are yelling at me from Lillian’s home, but I’m not listening to what they’re saying. I just tell myself that everything has been a fantasy, even though it still bothers me. Hallucinations should only affect me, not my surroundings. They’re not supposed to be able to touch a Ouija board. Calm down, Raven. Maybe my pills will work. I pull the brakes and come to a stop so quick that I have to put both feet on the ground so I don’t fall over. I grab my bag and rummage through it, looking for the bottle. The pills that reduce the intensity of my hallucinations should be in there. My mom always makes me take them along wherever I go. But they’re not in my bag. How could I have forgotten them? How could I have been so stupid? In my haste to get to the party I must’ve forgotten to pack them. What do I do without my meds? I throw my bag on the ground and exhale a few times before picking it up again. I snort and brush away the sweat from my forehead. Well, nothing I can do about it now. I’ll have to get home as quick as I can. I hop on my mountain bike again and force myself to pedal. It isn’t real. My head is playing tricks. I’m me, not my delusions. They’re all fake. I bike across the road and swallow a couple of times. Maybe the anxiety will go away then. I check my surroundings to assure myself that everything I see is beyond a doubt there and not all in my head. Then I see them, a group of figures in the cemetery. Only they aren’t just figures. Shadows are watching me. Their faces are smooth and unwavering. Their eyes are hollow. Surrounding them is a black and white mist-like fog. The people all look different, but with one similarity; I can see right through them. I shriek and peddle as hard as my feet will allow me, past the cemetery. I’m going nuts. I see things that aren’t really there. Delusions that are so terrifying I feel like I’m going to faint again. This isn’t real. It can´t be! I’m trying to convince myself. Tears roll down my face, and my lungs burn. The warmth of my overheated body makes my soaking wet clothes prickle against my skin. I’m heaving, totally out of breath. In the forest beside me, I spot the shades again. They’re everywhere. At least, I think, but they don’t look like just shadows anymore. They look like real people. Am I hallucinating about ghosts? Their black and white glow is as clear as daylight in the darkness.  The lampposts light the cement path. At first I think the entities are staring into nothing, but then they chase after me. I bike even harder, but my thighs burn. I’m already past my limit. I steal a glimpse, and the floating ghosts are still following me, floating. “Stop! Stop it!” I scream and close my eyes, hoping they will disappear, but when I open them again they’re still there. One of the ghosts drifts closer. It moves so fast, I’m unable to spot it until it’s in my face with its mouth open. I shriek and flap my hands, hoping to push the attacker away, but it doesn’t work. It’s already gone. The shadow went right through me. I’m wobbling so much I lose my balance and fall off my bike. My head hits the asphalt, surging burning pain to the side of my skull. I’m dizzy, and everything around me fades to black.


About the AuthorI am a writer and reader of YA Paranormal Romance novels and aspire to be a well known author. I love reading the same genre, as well as Dystopian and an occasional fantasy book. In my spare time, when I'm not reading books, I like to play games such as RPG's.
I have a bachelor in Digital Communication and enjoy pretty much anything that has to do with technology :)


BEYOND will be published on November 25th 2013. I'm currently available for Promos, spotlights, reviews, interviews, guest posts, you name it! Just send me a message :)
Author Links:        

5 signed E-book copies of Beyond (INT)a Rafflecopter giveaway
Book Blitz Organized by:

Fragile Brilliance Blog Tour & Giveaway

Fragile Brilliance is available on November 26th!
Maggie McCray has worked her whole life for the opportunity to attend Sanders College. It’s her one chance at becoming a world-renowned artist, and she’s determined nothing will get in her way. But when a murder brings Maggie and her powers to the attention of the Alpha Pack and the tragically handsome Charlie Hagan, her carefully planned future hangs in jeopardy.Charlie Hagan isn’t happy when the Alpha Female assigns him as Maggie McCray’s personal bodyguard. Just being near the Thaumaturgic threatens to unleash the primal instincts he’s been suppressing for so long. Charlie knows if the coyote is uncaged, then the person he’ll most need to protect Maggie from is himself.

About Tammy Blackwell 
Tammy Blackwell is a Young Adult Services Coordinator for a public library system in Kentucky. When she’s not reading, writing, cataloging, or talking about books, she’s sleeping. Website Twitter Goodreads

Teaser

With every breath they were drawing closer and closer together. Maggie’s entire body buzzed and tingled in anticipation.


“Who am I, Maggie?”



“You’re Charlie Hagan. Stratego of the Alpha Pack.” She breathed in the scent of him. Cinnamon and male. “You’re a fighter of demons and protector of innocents.” Unable to stop herself, she finally did what she’d been dreaming of since she first met him and placed her lips against his. It was just a fleeting caress, but she felt it deep in her soul. “You’re beautiful,” she said, knowing it wasn’t a strong enough word to describe him. Giveaway
  a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Watcher Book Blitz & Giveaway

The Watcherby Lisa VoisinRelease Date: 03/04/13
Summary from Goodreads: Millennia ago, he fell from heaven for her.

Can he face her without falling again?

Fascinated with ancient civilizations, seventeen-year-old Mia Crawford dreams of becoming an archaeologist. She also dreams of wings—soft and silent like snow—and somebody trying to steal them.

When a horrible creature appears out of thin air and attacks her, she knows Michael Fontaine is involved, though he claims to know nothing about it. Secretive and aloof, Michael evokes feelings in Mia that she doesn’t understand. Images of another time and place haunt her. She recognizes them—but not from any textbook.

In search of the truth, Mia discovers a past life of forbidden love, jealousy and revenge that tore an angel from Heaven and sent her to an early grave. Now that her soul has returned, does she have a chance at loving that angel again? Or will an age-old nemesis destroy them both?

Ancient history is only the beginning.
Available from:   Inkspell Publishing
Praise for The Watcher:"Voisin's THE WATCHER blends paranormal mystery and romance into a book that is sure to keep readers turning the pages late into the night."-- Eileen Cook, author of THE ALMOST TRUTH
"Perfect for fans of angels and demons, Lisa Voisin has created an uplifting tale of redemption, love, and spirituality that gives hope. Never preachy, THE WATCHER is the perfect answer to critics who claim Young Adult literature is too dark."-- Stephanie Lawton, author of WANT and SHRAPNEL
"The Watcher is stunning! A paranormal romance that you won't want to put down. Voisin will enthrall you until the very last page."-- Stephanie Keyes, author, THE STAR CHILD series
 "Grips the reader, pulls them in and leaves them cheering for good!"-- InD'tale Magazine
“The Watcher is my favorite angel fiction tale yet.” -- Katrina @Kindred Dreamheart
“This book is phenomenal! I was hooked in right away and didn't want to stop.” -- Michelle @Michelle’s Paranormal Vault
About the AuthorA Canadian-born author, Lisa Voisin spent her childhood daydreaming and making up stories, but it was her love of reading and writing in her teens that drew her to Young Adult fiction. In her spare time, she teaches meditation. So when she's not writing, you'll find her meditating or hiking in the mountains to counter the side effects of drinking too much coffee. She lives in Vancouver, B.C. with her fiance and their two cats.



Author Links:        

GIVEAWAY$25 gift certificate from Amazon (INT)a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz Organized by:

Daughter of Isis~ Book Blitz & Giveaway

Daughter of Isis (Descendants of Isis, #1)by Kelsey KetchRelease Date: 10/26/13Cover Designed by: Steven Novak
Summary from Goodreads: “Her mouth parted slightly, waiting for Seth to breathe life into her own body, just like in the story. She wanted him to awaken her senses.”

Their worlds collide in California’s high desert.
The last thing Natara “Natti” Stone wants to do is to start anew at Setemple High School. She wished she had never left London. Yet the brutal murder of her maternal grandmother has made her life very complicated. The only clue related to her murder is an ancient, encrypted necklace Natti discovered after her grandmother’s death. And if trying to adjust to American life is not enough, Natti is being stalked by a mysterious, charming high school senior, Seth O’Keefe, who is annoyingly persistent in his attempts at seduction.

Seth O’Keefe is secretly a member of the Sons of Set, an order that worships the Egyptian god of chaos. Seth’s blessing from Set, his “charm,” never failed, except with one person: Natti Stone. Her ability to elude him infatuates and infuriates him, and he becomes obsessed with the chase. But the closer he gets to her, the more his emotions take a dangerous turn, and he risks breaking one of the most valued covenants of his order. The punishment for which is a fate worse than death.

The adventure this unlikely couple becomes engulfed in could cost them their lives and their souls.

*Note: Content for Upper YA*
Available from:    
About the AuthorDuring her high school years, Kelsey Ketch could always be found tucked away in a little corner of the hall or classroom, writing her fantasy worlds and creating illustrations and maps. Today is no different, except now she’s writing in the break room at her office building or at the tables of the Barnes and Noble Café in Cary, North Carolina. She is also an avid reader, a part-time book blogger at Ketch’s Book Nook, and lives with her two orange tabbies and awesome and humorous flat-mate.Daughter of Isis is her debut novel.
For more information, please visit her site at kelseyketch.com.

***Author Links***      

GIVEAWAY:One winner will receive an Anubis Plush Toy and a Tyet Necklace (INT)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Book Blitz Organized by:

Ghost Leopard Blog Tour ~Giveaway & My Review

About the Book Title: Ghost Leopard (Zoe and Zak Series, Book #1)Authors: Lars GuignardPublication Date: July 21, 2012 Publisher: Fantastic Press Pages: 338 Recommended Age: 8+Summary (Amazon):

Zoe and Zak are lost in exotic India, where gods and magic still exist. Before they can find their way home, they just have to do one little thing… …Save a mythical creature from an ancient evil that wants to rule the world. When Zoe Guire goes along on her mom’s business trip to India, things get very weird, very quickly. An elephant god speaks to her from the bottom of a swimming pool… She and her classmate Zak get locked in a trunk and shipped off to a strange city near the foothills of the Himalayas… and a crazy snake charmer tells them they’ve been chosen to protect a mythical creature called the Ghost Leopard from an ancient evil that wants to take over the world. As they travel deeper into the majestic mountains known as the Realm of the Gods, things get even weirder. If she and Zak want to make it back to their parents, they’re going to have to tap into powers they never knew existed. Because if they don’t, things will never be the same for any of us ever again. 

My Review  This novel is jam packed with adventure, tons of humor and great information on the culture, religions and mysticism of India. The main character, Zoe, is a smarter than average, type A, eleven year old girl, who tags along with her mom on her business trip to India. Zoe figures she’ll have fun doing things with her mom during her free time―that’s what she figures, however, things don’t go quite as Zoe had planned. Soon after she arrives at her luxurious hotel, she is unexpectedly surprised by another kid; not just any kid, but one she knows from her class back home in the US. Zak is his name, and he just happens to be in India with his dad, on the same business trip as Zoe’s mom.  It isn’t long before Zak, a carefree, witty, jokester, goof-ball type kid starts to get on Zoe’s nerves. Zoe doesn’t mind seeing Zak and being friendly to him but when her mom and Zak’s dad tell her and Zak that they will be going away for 4 days (part of the business trip) and be leaving Zoe and Zak with a hotel nanny, this just throws a wrench into the plans Zoe had with her mom. No matter though; Zoe is optimistic and just figures she’ll make the best of it and have a peaceful time at the hotel, hang out at the pool, and take a bunch of pictures while her mom is away. Zak on the other hand hardly likes things calm. He’d rather have some adventure and get into mischief. And, he is not disappointed, for once the parents leave, Zak finds a map, belonging to a man (the kids name him Rhino butt, due to his large rear, lol). They decide to return the map, but it’s not that easily done. This is when things get complicated and their nonstop whirlwind of adventure begins. Zoe and Zak end up venturing through India, where they will try to find the “Ghost Leopard” ―their supposed destiny.  Along their journey they will run into many mind boggling situations, meet a yogi, named Mukta, barely escape danger on numerous occasions, and encounter all kinds of strange and mystical circumstances. 
What I liked about this book is it is nonstop action from beginning to end. There is a great deal of the real culture, history as well as mysterious beliefs described throughout the book. Lars Guignard did a great job of recounting the Indian dogmas he experienced firsthand himself, and his descriptions of India drew me into the story, making me feel like I, too, was in the foreign and wonderful country. Lars has a great sense of humor, which he incorporates into the characters, especially Zak and Zoe’s dealing with each other’s opposite personalities, and Mukta, the yogi―he cracked me up more than a few times. I was laughing through many parts of this book. I think it would make a really cool kids action movie. Great job Lars! I’m looking forward to reading book 2. 


  Purchase  Amazon (Print) | Amazon (Kindle) | Amazon (Audiobook) | iTunes (Audiobook)  The Buzz"Awesome! ~ I am 11 and I liked the book because I love adventures. It was a different kind of adventure from what I usually read and it was funny too. " ~ 5-Star Review from J. Olsen, Amazon "This was a fun read. This book was like a kid's version of Indiana Jones. It's also very educational as Zoe tells you real facts about what she sees and the history. I enjoyed it immensely. If you have a 10-12 year old child that loves adventure books, this is definitely a must read. " ~ 5-Star review from Simone Lilly-Egerter, Amazon"I'm sure this book was written for children who are around the age of the two children in the book, 11 or so. But, this 35 year old loved this book! It had action, adventure and imagination galore! It was exactly the kind of adventure that a lot of kids that age dream of." ~ 5-Star review from The Novice Christian, Amazon  About The Author: Lars Guignard  Prior to writing novels, Lars Guignard wrote for film and television. As a teenager he attended boarding school in the Indian Himalayas and his experiences there provided the inspiration for the Zoe and Zak series which now include: Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard , Zoe & Zak and the Yogi’s Curse , and Zoe & Zak and the Tiger Temple . He lives in the Pacific Northwest where he dodges bears and cougars while hiking & skiing the magnificent Coast Mountain Range. For news about new releases, please join his email list here: http://www.larsguignard.com/contact/   Blog | Twitter | Facebook | GoodreadsAsk Lars Guignard a Question on Goodreads Fantastic Press is pleased to announce that Lars Guignard will be answering questions about Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard throughout the day on Monday, December 16th, 2013 on Goodreads. If you have any questions for Lars or just want to introduce yourself, you can head on over to Goodreads and say hello now. Also, everyone who joins the Forum will earn an entry into the Ghost Leopard Blog Tour giveaway (see below for more details).Click on the Goodreads Button below to go to the Mon, Dec 16 - "Ask Lars Guignard about Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard" event and leave a question for the author anytime from now until December 16th, 2013.   The Ghost Leopard Blog Tour Schedule (2013)November 15Mother Daughter Book Reviews (Launch & Review)Jump Into a Book (Review)November 16Brooke Blogs (Author Interview)November 18Giveaway Breaking News for Indonesia (Review)November 19Black Words - White Pages Kids (Review) Fantasy Fun With Kirsten Pulioff (Review)November 20For the Love of Books (Review)Mary-andering Among the Pages (Review) November 21Fiona Ingram (Author Interview & Review)November 22Stitch Says (Review) November 24When I Grow Up, I Wanna Write a Kid's Book (Review)November 25Bibliothecary Prescriptions (Review)November 26Bound 4 Escape (Review)Victoria Simcox (Review)November 27We are the DinoFamily (Review)Sher A. Hart: Written Art (Review)November 28The World of ContestPatti (Review) November 29Best Kids' Reads (Review)December 1Every Free Chance Book Reviews (Review)December 2The Owl's Skull (Review) December 3InkSpired: A Blog (Review)December 4BeachBoundBooks (Review) December 5Geo Librarian (Author Interview) December 7Generation iKid (Review) December 10That Girl Reads (Spotlight)December 11Bookworm for Kids (Review)Cheryl Carpinello's Writing Pages (Author Interview)December 12Books, Reviews, Etc. (Review)December 14Dalene's Book Reviews (Review) ** Be sure to look for the upcoming Blog Tour for Book 2 in the Zoe and Zak Series, "Yogi's Curse" coming December 15, 2013. **  * Ghost Leopard Blog Tour Giveaway * Prize: Three winners will receive a print (U.S. & Canada) or electronic (international winners) copy of Ghost Leopard by Lars Guignard. Contest runs: November 15 to December 17, 11:59 pm, 2013 Open: Worldwide How to enter: Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. The winners will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winners will then have 72 hours to respond. If a winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author Lars Guignard and Fantastic Press and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions - feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway ~ END HTML ~

Music Box ~ Cover Reveal & Giveaway

Music Box (Dollhouse #4)by Anya AllynRelease Date: Fall 2013
Summary from Goodreads: Final book of the series.

Cassie endures her darkest days under the rule of Balthazar. She finds a passage into the high tower, and comes face to face with the shadowy being whose presence has haunted her since her first days at the castle of La Falaise – and she makes an immense and horrifying discovery.


At the museum, the last survivors of a bleak existence are barely holding on. And the strange Order of Sister Celia make a chilling decision.


Someone very close to Ethan once told him, “When we can fight, we will fight, and when we can no longer fight, we will endure.”

With time running out, it is time to fight.

About the AuthorAnya Allyn was born unexpectedly and without proper instructions.A dreamy girl betwixt the clouds and space, she was given the thing she desired most for her tenth birthday–a microscope–and subsequently developed a penchant for small things: frogs and ants and microbes, and the earth (when viewed from other planets).She considers a mind and body that do not roam free are the living dead.Anya lives in a cottage by the sea–and slips in and out of forests and through a day, where the wild things are ….

She has four adventure-seeking boys and a bookcase filled with adventures. One day soon, she plans to head off on adventures of her own…

Author Links:      
GIVEAWAYa Rafflecopter giveaway
Cover Reveal Hosted by:

Tale of the Messed Up Talent Show~$100 Book Blast

Title: Tale of the Messed Up Talent Show (Madison and GA - My Guardian Angel) Author: Melissa Perry Moraja Publication Date: November 15, 2013 Publisher: Independent - Melissa Productions Inc. Number of pages: 156 Recommended age: 6-12     Summary

Madison Wunderkind is a sweet, honest girl, who always seems to find herself in trouble with the principal. But this time she's not alone. It all started three days earlier, when Sophia, the most popular fifth-grade girl at Gator Elementary, asked Madison to hang out and plan this year's talent show. Instantly, Madison had become Little Miss Popular. But what Madison soon discovered was that being Little Miss Popular wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Her best friends were ignoring her. Her brothers were angry at her. And her guardian angel, GA, was irritated by her snobbish attitude. And if things couldn't get more messed up for Madison, everything that could go wrong at the talent show did, sparking Principal Dimples to find out why! Find out what happens at Gator Elementary's Talent Show. Will GA be able to help Madison? Or will Madison become Little Miss Lonely? Also, try and find one of GA's feathers in each picture!

  Purchase Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iTunes You can purchase the first book of the series (e-copy), Tale of the Slimy Spitball for only 99 cents until Christmas, December 25, 2013 from Amazon. Just click on the cover below!   About the Author: Melissa Perry Moraja Melissa Perry Moraja, Founder of Melissa Productions, Inc., is an entrepreneurial mom, a multifaceted business woman, a creative producer, and an author/illustrator of numerous modern-fantasy children's books and self-help books. Melissa also has published articles, appeared on television, been interviewed on radio, has spoken in front of hundreds of people, and held workshops at local schools, discussing creative learning, publishing and parenting. Her desire to make a difference in her four young children’s lives inspired her to leave her six-salary career at IBM in 2007 to become a full-time mom and children's author. Melissa spends her personal time coaching soccer and softball, painting, and coming up with fun art projects for her kids. She also blogs for Working Mother blog, has guest blogged for Charlotte Observer Mom's Charlotte, and has her own personal blog at Not Your Ordinary Psychic Mom. Melissa is also committed to building awareness and support for Type 1 Diabetes. Her twin daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes November 4, 2011. To learn more about Madison's type 1 diabetes disease please read M adison's Story. Website | Blog | Facebook (Author Fan Page)Facebook (Book Fan Page) | Twitter | Pinterest  * $100 Book Blast Giveaway *Prize: $100 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner's choice) Contest runs: November 25 to December 24, 11:59 pm, 2013 Open: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Melissa Perry Moraja and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions - feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Submerged Book Blitz & Giveaway

Submerged (Outbreak #1)by Nicole SobonRelease Date: 02/14/13
Summary from Goodreads: After a mysterious virus makes its way into the United States, the government demands that states seal themselves off from one another and do their best to protect their surviving residents. When the state of Florida is bordered off from the surrounding states, Taylen Fincher, a seventeen-year-old girl with a yearning for her former life finds herself wondering how much of what they’ve been told is true.

When Troum took control of the state, he told the residents that the other states had fallen to the virus and that he wouldn’t allow the same thing to happen to them. But Taylen doesn’t believe it. She insists that there is still life outside of the state, and she is going to do whatever it takes to prove it… but her actions will cost her more than she ever expected.

Troum kidnaps Taylen’s sister, Penelope, in hopes of coaxing her into behaving – into being a submissive resident, much like the others. But Taylen isn’t one to give in that easily.

Eager to rescue her sister, Taylen will set out on an adventure that’ll force her to open her heart to the unexpected and to uncover secrets that will change everything.

SUBMERGED is the first book in a YA dystopian duology.

Available from: (only $.99!)
   

About the AuthorNicole Sobon is the author of the Emile Reed Chronicles, Capture, No Place Like Home, and various short stories.***Author Links***      

***GIVEAWAY***2 signed copies of Submerged in paperback plus swag (Program 13 and Deprogrammed bookmarks) (INT)a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz Hosted by: