Cindy C. Bennett's Blog, page 41

Unseen by Melissa Pearl

Now Available: Unseen  by Melissa Pearl Danger surrounds the Seekers. Having already faced overwhelming odds, Kyla and Jethro discover it is only the beginning. Now they must face the power of nature itself. Each day is a test of faith. Two elements remain undiscovered. The light is yet to be resurrected. Dark forces prepare to descend upon the heroes of prophecy and they have one more power they must over come...their forbidden love for each other. Each moment is a test of loyalty and courage. In Taramon, Athra faces his own demons as he frets over the safety of his fiancée while trying to counter a dark evil that is brought to his doorstep. Treachery lurks in the shadows, forcing the future king into an action that could destroy his beloved city. Through it all, they must cling to the truths hidden in the unseen. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18000448-unseen "The plotting is sublime and the pacing is perfect. I held my breath as I turned the pages, hoping that Kyla and Jethro would return in time to help save their kingdom. What a fabulous addition to this series! I can't wait for the third book!" Taylor Longford, Author of the Greystone Series. www.melissapearlauthor.com

Great Summer Reads Hop!

 
    
Welcome to the Great Summer Reads Hop hosted by Author Cindy C Bennett, featuring books that make for a great summer read!
Enter my giveaway and then click on any link in the linky list at the bottom of this post to hop over to the other blogs participating to win more great prizes.
I also want to thank everyone that is participating in my very first blog hop. So for a little something extra I am adding each of you to my giveaway.
Thanks again and good luck!

The Experiment
Time is running out for the Collaborative's oppressive rule of the remote world Senca One. The government attempts to suppress the escalating riots, even while seeking to further their experiments. When their parents are taken, triplets Juliet, Cilla, and Emiah Tripp set out to locate them, and soon discover they are at the center of a hunt to capture them.

Evading the Collaborative across Seneca One’s harsh terrain, they’re confronted with the trials of survival. They also discover something that changes the very core of what they are: they’re morphs. Struggling to adapt to the strange new ability, they question what they really are . . . and why. Are the rumors of experiments done on children true? Did their scientist parents have anything to do with it?
 Their quest brings them to the capitol city of Brighton, which is on the verge of revolt. While searching for information about their parents, the Tripps align themselves with the very people fueling the rebellion. They unwittingly spark the revolution they want no part of and discover something more dangerous than they suspected
 
Whisper of Razari  
When sixteen year old Olivia Adams wakes from a horrible car accident that killed her parents, she knows she’s something different. Olivia died, and now the soul inhabiting her body needs to find out who - and what - she is. A glimpse of a world called Razari burning is the only clue to her previous existence—a tragic memory, sparking events that endanger the people helping her.  Jacobi McKenzie has lived in Crescent, Montana for more years than he can remember, even though he's only seventeen. He's been waiting, but for what he isn't sure. Jacobi recognizes Olivia for what she is before she's even aware of it herself and the effect she has on him threatens to expose his true identity--a thing he’s worked hard to conceal.   They come together in an explosion of emotion that neither of them is supposed to feel. As Jacobi fights for Olivia's life, protecting her from those who would use her for their own selfish purposes, together they unravel the mystery surrounding the destruction of their race.
   
 

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Reminder: Great Summer Reads Hop

Just a reminder in case you haven't signed up yet! 
Everyone loves a good summer read! So this is your chance to share and giveaway your favorite.
I’m hosting my first ever blog hop so I’m hoping to have lots of participation. For my very first blog hop I have chosen to go with a summer theme. Very unique, right, since we will be in the middle of summer July 9-12th. I just have a few rules to go over. I hope you join!Great Summer Reads Rules:1. Must give away a book (digital or paper) or a gift card to let someone pick out their own summer read.
2. Each blog will post their own giveaway.
3. No more than 10 possible entries max and only one max mandatory.
4. Your post must include Great Summer Reads image.
5. Posts can go up one day early (July 8th) but must be up by July 9th by 12 am Mountain Time.
6. Limited to 200 participants in the hop so sign up quick.
7. Must email a link once post is active.

Any questions you can email me at cindynikkibennett@gmail.com

Now Available

Available July 1!
Whispers of Razari byCindy C BennettandJeffery Moore I'm really excited about my new release! It's different than anything I've done before. I wrote the book with one of my critique partners, Jeffery Moore, author of The Bounds series and Jericho Solus , both speculative fiction novels. Whispers of Razari is a YA speculative fiction, though some might call it sci-fi, fantasy, or paranormal as well. Hope you enjoy it! Get a sneek peek here of the prologue and first two chapters.


When sixteen year old Olivia Adams wakes from a horrible car accident that killed her parents, she knows she’s something different. Olivia died, and now the soul inhabiting her body needs to find out who - and what - she is. A glimpse of a world called Razari burning is the only clue to her previous existence—a tragic memory, sparking events that endanger the people helping her.
Jacobi McKenzie has lived in Crescent, Montana for more years than he can remember, even though he's only seventeen. He's been waiting, but for what he isn't sure. Jacobi recognizes Olivia for what she is before she's even aware of it herself and the effect she has on him threatens to expose his true identity--a thing he’s worked hard to conceal.
They come together in an explosion of emotion that neither of them is supposed to feel. As Jacobi fights for Olivia's life, protecting her from those who would use her for their own selfish purposes, together they unravel the mystery surrounding the destruction of their race.
Read more at the Whispers of Razari blog!  Available at these retailers: 



About the Authors:

Jeffery Moore

Moore was born in Germany. As a military brat, much of his childhood was spent abroad, growing up in Germany on military installations. He subsequently enlisted in the military and served for ten years as an army pilot. While in the military, he lived in Italy and South Korea and deployed to many European countries. He has traveled to Australia, Japan, Singapore and most European countries. His experiences and contact with many different cultures helps form some of the elements in his stories. He currently works for a global IT company and lives in Massachusetts.
Find more about Jeffery here.
 Cindy C Bennett
Bennett is the YA author of several books. She lives in Utah with her husband and two daughters. Both of her sons have married, giving her two more daughters (in-law). She loves gooey cookies, dark chocolate, and cheese popcorn. She hates housework and cooking, and has no plans to become a domestic goddess. She occasionally co-hosts a geek podcast with her son, called Geek Revolution Radio. Her favorite pastime is riding her Harley.
 Find more about Cindy here.  

Rising Sun, Falling Star Book Blast

  Rising Sun, Falling Star Different eyes and skin Mock me from the mirror’s light Enemy am I. Dec 7, 1941 Today my life changed forever . . . I am no longer considered American, but by shear heritage I am now the hated enemy . . . The lives of Kenji and Aiko Onishi and their American-born children are about to unravel when the United States is thrust into war with Japan. Confronted by insurmountable prejudice and fear, the family is ripped from their California home without just cause by the American government and sent to an assembly center “for their own protection.” Forced to live in deplorable circumstances, every aspect of their lives regulated and controlled, the Onishi’s freedoms are stripped from their grasp as they struggle to survive behind barbed wire. It isn’t long before the mind-numbing confinement and feelings of helplessness begin to pit the family against one another. When sent to a relocation camp in the center of the Utah desert, they’re beset by ever increasing emotional and physical challenges, and Aiko is faced with her greatest yet: to mend the broken spirits of her family, or risk losing them forever. Based on true and tragic events that transpired during World War II, Rising Sun, Falling Star is a heart-rending story of one family’s struggle to survive uncalculated loss and emotional destruction.
Amazon
Tour Schedule   
Author Vickie Hall Vickie is a native of Utah, but growing up, lived in the states of Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and Nebraska. When she’s not writing, she’s composing music, or shopping with her sister. She loves animals of all kinds and camping with her family. Her favorite pastime is watching old movies on TCM, and unashamedly has a crush on Cary Grant.


Links:Blog * Website Facebook * Goodreads    BookBlast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 8/2/13 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blogger Book Fair

Friday Five: English Language

Welcome to this week’s Friday Five. If you haven’t been here before, this is nothing more than my random rambling about something that interests me, with a list of five, in no particular order. Because I'm a lover of completely useless trivia, this week’s list is five random pieces of trivia about the English language (according to Amercan English anyway). Hope you enjoy!
  Five Random Pieces of Trivia About the English Language:
 1. “Stewardesses” is the longest word typed using only your left hand (which, by the way, does 56% of your typing. See, I knew we lefties had something over righties). Conversely, “lollipop” is the longest using only your right hand (notice it’s a shorter word, lazy righties). Of course, if you type like me, there’s not really any clear line between what letters you’re actually supposed to type with a specific hand—it’s fairly random. While we’re on the subject, “typewriter” is the longest word using letters from a single row on the keyboard.   2. There aren’t any words in the English language that rhyme with orange, silver, purple, or month—unless your name is Theodore Geisel in which case almost anything will rhyme with them. (Theodore Geisel is Dr. Seuss in case you didn’t know.)

3. Dreamt is the only word in the English language that ends with the letters “mt”, and there are only 4 words which end with “dous”: tremendous, hazardous, horrendous, and stupendous.


4. Ever wondered why when you download a new font, it gives you a sample sentence of: “The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog”? That sentence uses every letter in the alphabet, so you can see what each letter looks like.
  5. There are only two words (in the English language) which use all five vowels in order: facetious and abstemious. Can’t say as I’ve ever heard a single soul speak the word abstemious (which means moderate or temperate in eating/drinking).
  I created the Friday Five graphic from an original image copyrighted by: <a href='http://www.123rf.com/photo_10806220_n... / 123RF Stock Photo</a

Jamie Canosa's Vengeance

   Things aren’t always as they seem. In fact, in a world of secrets and lies, almost nothing ever is. But, Kaleigh made her choices and now she has to live with the consequences. 

Haunted by her guilt, Kaleigh is forced to question everything she thought she knew. From friends and foes, to loyalty and love, she’s quickly losing faith in herself and those around her. 

Everyone she cares about has been launched to the front lines, but can Kaleigh find the strength within herself to keep fighting? Or, surrounded by loss, deceit, and betrayal, will her fiery spirit finally be extinguished?

Available at:  Amazon

My Review:
As a huge fan of Jamie Canosa's Dissidence, I couldn't wait for the sequel. But then I worried it might not be as good as the first. Sometimes when you're a little fanatical over something, any sequels will just disappoint. I can tell you right now that with the sequel, Vengeance, Jamie definitely didn't disappoint.
Vengeance begins right where Dissidence left off, in the wake of the explosion Kaleigh was right smack in the middle of. And the story never slows down. This time Kaleigh finds she has a new enemy to contend with. And she's contending with it in the midst of her overwhelming guilt and grief from how wrong things seem to have gone, and a strong desire for revenge that almost eclipses everything else.
This sequel is fast-paced, full of Kaleigh's fiery wit and sarcasm that so endeared me to her in the first book, and holds true to the love story that began when first she realized she had a choice to make between the two men who love her. I can't say enough good about this book. Once you start reading it, you won't be able to stop until you get to the perfect ending. If you're a fan of good writing, humor, romance, and non-stop action, then this book is one you won't want to miss. Vengeance is the sequel to Dissidence, which you can read about below 
In dystopian America, sixteen-year-old Kaleigh finds out quickly what having a big mouth and not enough brains to keep it shut can earn you. A one-way ticket to the work camps that no one even knows exists.

Nuclear war has ravished the nation, and a century later, the survivors are living in an entirely new world. In a society where everything is decided for you, from where you work to who you marry, dissidence is not taken lightly.

But, even inside the camps, Kaleigh’s fiery spirit refuses to be extinguished. In a single moment of defiance, she manages to spark a riot that ignites into a full-blown rebellion.
 Dissidence available at: Amazonand Barnes & Noble
  About the Author Jamie Canosa is a full time author of YA literature, which she absolutely loves. When she’s not writing or spending time with her family, she can usually be found with her nose in a book. She currently resides in Ravena, NY with her wonderful husband and three crazy kids . . . plus the dog, the bird and the rabbit. Her debut novel, Dissidence, was published in 2012 along with several novellas, including ‘Temptation’, the first in her Heart and Soul mini-series, and her contemporary NA romance, Fight or Flight.

She currently has several projects in the works. Another (spin-off) contemporary NA romance, Sink or Swim, coming in July, the fourth and final installment of the Heart and Soul series coming in August, and the sequel to Fight or Flight, entitled Now or Never due out this fall.Find Jamie at: Facebook  Blog  Goodreads  Twitter  Want to win your own copy of Jamie's book? Enter here. 

After being dragged to the 2005 movie Pride and Prejudice...

After being dragged to the 2005 movie Pride and Prejudice by her mother, sixteen-year-old Elizabeth’s life changes when Matthew Macfadyen’s Mr. Darcy appears on the screen. Lizzie falls hard and makes a promise to herself that she will settle for nothing less than her own Mr. Darcy. This ill-advised pledge threatens to ruin any chance of finding true love. During the six intervening years, she has refused to give any interested suitors a chance. They weren’t Mr. Darcy enough.

Coerced by her roommate, Elizabeth agrees to give the next interested guy ten dates before she dumps him. That guy is Chad, a kind and thoughtful science teacher and swim coach. While she’s dating Chad, her dream comes true in the form of a wealthy bookstore owner named Matt Dawson, who looks and acts like her Mr. Darcy. Of course she has to follow her dream. But as Elizabeth simultaneously dates a regular guy and the dazzling Mr. Dawson, she’s forced to re-evaluate what it was she loved about Mr. Darcy in the first place.






Karey White grew up in Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and Missouri. She attended Ricks College and Brigham Young University. Her first novel, Gifted, was a Whitney Award Finalist.

She loves to travel, read, bake treats, and spend time with family and friends. She and her husband are the parents of four great children. She teaches summer creative writing courses to young people and is currently working on her next book.






Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads









Excerpt 1
Janessa folded her arms and looked at me for so long I started to squirm. “What?”
“I wish you’d look at yourself. You’re ruining your life with this stupid obsession.”“I’m not obsessed.” I stood up quickly, nearly tipping my chair over. I rinsed my plate and put it in the dishwasher. I could feel Janessa’s eyes on me the entire time, but I refused to look at her. “And just because I’m not interested in this guy doesn’t mean my life is ruined.”“Let me guess. Was he blond?”“Knock it off.”“Too short?”“He wasn’t short. I’ve got to go.” I left the kitchen with Janessa on my heels.“Was he too cheerful?”“Oh brother. I’m not having this conversation with you.”Janessa grabbed my arm and turned me toward her. “Yes, you are.”“I’m going to be late for work.”“Then we’d better talk fast.”“I don’t have anything to say,” I said.“Then I’ll talk. You listen. You have to start giving these guys a chance.”I folded my arms tightly. “I give them a chance.”“You give them one date, two at the most. But you’re not really giving them a chance because your mind’s already made up before you even go out.”I was getting annoyed. “I don’t have time for this conversation again.” Janessa was practically reciting word for word what she’d said after my last date. And the one before that.“Lizzie. If you don’t want to have the same conversation, do something different. Shake things up a little.” She smiled and did a little shimmy. I refused to smile no matter how silly she looked.“How do you suggest I do that?”“If this guy… What’s his name?”“Chad.”“If Chad calls you back, go out with him again.”“I don’t see the point.”“Did you get a serial killer vibe from him?”“No, I got a nice-guy-that-doesn’t-deserve-to-be-led-on vibe from him.”“Nice guys are good. So you’ll say yes, right?”“If I’m not interested, it wouldn’t be fair to say yes.”“Oh knock off the baloney. You haven’t been fair to a guy since high school. You’re just afraid if you get to know a guy, you might like him. And wouldn’t that be awful? Was Chad funny?”“Yes, he was funny.”“Handsome?”I sighed. “I don’t know if I’d call him handsome, but he was cute.”“Cute is good. Especially if he was funny. So go out with him again.”“You act like it’s all up to me.” I walked to the closet and collected my purse. Like a tiger leaping on her prey, Janessa pounced at the bowl on the entry table and grabbed my car keys. “This isn’t funny, Janessa. I’m going to be late for work.”“Then let’s make a deal. You agree to go out with him ten times before you toss him aside and I’ll give you your keys.”“Ten times? No way.”“That’ll give you time to get to know him.”“You’ve got to be kidding.”“I’m serious, Lizzie. Ten is a good number. In that amount of time, you can make a real decision. Instead of one based on a stupid movie.”Now Janessa was skipping through a minefield. “It’s not a stupid movie and I’ve got to go.”“It’s the stupidest movie in the world if it ruins your life.”“Nothing’s ruining my life and I’m going to be late. Give me my keys and we’ll talk about this later.” A little tussle ensued as I tried to rescue my keys from her clutches. I almost had them when she darted to the bathroom and shut the door hard and fast, locking it behind her. “This is real mature.”“I don’t care about mature. You’re my best friend, Lizzie.  I love you and I’m trying to save you from yourself.”I banged on the door. “Give me the keys. Now.” My voice had become shrieky.“I’ll give you the keys as soon as you promise you’ll go out with him ten times.”“I doubt he’ll ask me out again.”“Why? Were you a jerk?”“No.”“Are you sure?”I hesitated, knowing I hadn’t been very good company. “I’m pretty sure.”“If he doesn’t ask you out, you have to ask him.”“No way am I asking out a guy ten times. No way!”“You just have to ask him out once. If he doesn’t return the favor you can move on. But you have to be nice to him and give him a reason to want to ask you out again.”“This is the dumbest idea you’ve ever had.”“Listen Liz, I’m doing this for you. Give a guy a chance before you give him the old heave-ho.”I leaned my head on the door. “Just give me the keys. Please.” Now I was whining.“You’re the one keeping yourself from your keys. And probably true love.”I looked at my watch. Now I’d have to risk a speeding ticket or get to work five minutes late. I wasn’t sure which was worse—a ticket from a police officer or a tongue-lashing from Delia.“Fine. I’ll go out with him again if he asks me.”“And?”“If he doesn’t ask me, I’ll ask him?”“Right. And how many times will you go out with him?”“Way too many,” I said under my breath.“I can’t hear you.”“Ten times. If he asks me.”The door cracked open. “And you’ll be nice to him?”“Whatever you say. Now give me the keys.”Janessa emerged from the bathroom and triumphantly dropped my keys into my outstretched hand.“You’re an idiot,” I said.“An idiot that loves you and wants you to be happy,” she said. She turned and headed down the hall. “Someday you’ll thank me,” she sang.“If I don’t kill you first.” I slammed the door behind me.


Excerpt 2
It was a busy Monday morning. I was looking out at the line of waiting customers when he walked in. I gasped, shut my thumb in my cash drawer, and then tried not to cry while Mr. Sandoval from a hearing aid store asked me if I was okay.When I finished Mr. Sandoval’s transaction, I looked at him again. He was taller than anyone in the room. Of course. His hair was dark and a little disheveled. It was hard to see from where I was, but his eyes looked like they were blue. And best of all, he didn’t smile. He looked gorgeously unpleasant and impatient. He looked around the room and his eyes met mine. Still he didn’t smile. My heart was racing. He looked perfect.I did my best to time it so I’d be his teller. I went a little too fast with one customer and accidentally shorted her a twenty dollar bill. I tried to concentrate as I corrected the transaction. I slowed way down on the next customer, but just when I thought I was finished and would be able to help him next, my customer asked me to break a ten into change. He walked up to Courtney’s window while I counted out nickels and dimes. Furious, I stomped my foot. Not too loudly but enough to release a little of my frustration.I listened closely as Courtney helped him to see if I could learn anything, but he hardly spoke. He gave a terse nod when Courtney thanked him for coming in and turned on his heel and left. He had excellent posture and a nice, confident stride.I finished with my customer, and then before anyone else could step forward, I picked up the phone and dialed Courtney’s extension. She glanced at her phone’s display and looked over at me curiously.
            “Who was that?” I whispered when she picked up the receiver.“Elizabeth, look how many customers there are.”“I know. Just tell me who that was.” I watched as Courtney picked up her last transaction slip.“His name is Matt Dawson.”“Is he married?”“I have no idea,” Courtney said.“Was he wearing a ring?”“I didn’t look. What’s going on, Lizzie?”“I just need to know about him.”“Well, I don’t know anything about him and Delia’s watching us. I’ve gotta go.”Matt Dawson. Matt. Matthew. Like Matthew Macfadyen. Dawson. It was pretty close to Darcy. The only way it could be better is if his name was Fitzwilliam but I’d never met a Fitzwilliam in my life.Matt Dawson.This had to be a sign.  



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John William and the Bandits of Basswood Book Blast

 
John William and the Bandits of BasswoodWe already know Alexander Drake’s story. His father, John William started it all years before when he entered Azra’s Pith. This is his story. John William was born an explorer; just like his dad before him. His adventure really began with the worst year of his life. He lived everyday in misery until his twelfth birthday. He set out to turn things around and find his smile again. A new friend gave him an invitation he could not turn down… follow me and change your destiny. He never imagined being captured by bandits and taken to a ship riddled with river rats was part of his fate. Not just any bandits – the Bandits of Basswood; known to be a ruthless and wild crew of thieves. Trying to escape would be a ridiculous idea. No one has ever escaped and lived to tell about it. Someone should have mentioned that to John William before he snuck off the ship. The chase out of Basswood was on. He took a chance to change his destiny and ended up on a wild ride to save his life. Amazon     Author Elizabeth Parkinson-BellowsBeing the frizzy-haired tomboy with buck teeth gave me a slight case of shyness as a kid. A colorful imagination meant escape and adventure at the drop of a hat. Over the years I learned that the insecurities I carried around were a waste of time. I still prefer a football game to a manicure any day of the week. That indispensable imagination has found its way into my writing providing a sense of joy and a true purpose. Website * Twitter * Facebook    Book Blast Giveaway$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 7/10/13 a Rafflecopter giveaway  Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.