Devon Ashley's Blog, page 27

Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown (ARC)

Lies Beneath
Anne Greenwood Brown
Exp. Pub. Date: June 12, 2012

Synopsis: Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy. But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake. Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough—especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistable good looks and charm on ususpecting girls. Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him.
Unpaid supernatural debt. Bitter, murderous children itching for a mother's revenge. Merman point of view. Gorgeous cover. Sounds like a winner right? Sadly, Lies Beneath doesn't win the desirable 'Homecoming Queen' and will probably only be remembered as 'Also Ran.' First off, I'm not quite sure why there's a mermaid on the cover since our main character is male. Want to stand out? Give us a drool-worthy merman underwater that's totally unique in today's market and will really grab the attention of gals as they walk past the shelves at B&N.
I really wanted to like this one. The premise sounded so intriguing. I will say that I did like to see the way the sister mermaids had zero scruples over taking victims to the bottom of Lake Superior to drown them and we even get to see that through Calder's eyes. Calder himself was not born a merman, but made one by their mother. How? I'll let you read to learn that. So Calder's desire to kill and absorb happy emotions mermaids naturally lacked wasn't as strong as his true sisters. He begins to develop a conscience and often challenges himself to go long periods of time without taking a life. So when the time comes to woo Lily to develop a close relationship with her dad, it's not surprising that he begins to feel guilty about setting him up for murder. Unfortunately, most of this novel was Calder trying to get to know Lily and I found myself pretty bored with the conversations. I couldn't figure out why Lily liked him back. She had doubts from the beginning and sensed something wasn't right with him, her new friends didn't recognize him and questioned him constantly, she thinks he intentionally pushed her off a cliff and took his sweet time trying to save her, he stalks her by taking a job at the same cafe, and she catches him numerous times swimming in the water beside her lakeside home in the middle of the night. Would you fall for a guy like that? Not freakin' likely, so it makes this paranormal romance hard to swallow and I ended up choking on water.
Read it if you want but it's doubtful you'll read it twice.

ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley.

Interview and Giveaway with Ceysa MaRae Cuono, Author of the Elemental Reality Series

Today I have the fabulous Ceysa (pronounced Sesha) MaRae Cuono. She's a hair-changing obession-ista,  Pininterest addict and a party-till-ya-can't-remember kind of gal. [LOL-Love it!] She's the author of YA Faery Fantasy Elemental Reality and the upcoming Battle Scars. If you're a GoodReads stalker then you've certainly seen her gorgeous covers gracing the must-read piles. If you haven't added them to your shelves yet, just click on those nifty links I just snuck in. :)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'll get to the giveaway in just a moment. But first let's take a moment to get to know this gal, shall we? And ooh! You can find my review of Elemental Reality here!


Ceysa's Hangouts:
Blog
GoodReads
Facebook
Twitter

Tell us your favorite quote. "I won't go down by myself but I'll go down with my friends."
Any pet peeves you'd be willing to share? I hate when things are out of order. I'm constantly rearranging my cd's, dvd's, and books so they're in alphabetical order.
If the Earth suddenly became uninhabital, would you rather live under the sea or in space? The sea! I've always wanted to be a mermaid. Even when I was younger I used to pretend my pool was the ocean. I was totally jealous of Ariel!
If you could live in any time period other than the present, which would you choose and why? The 80s! I want big hair and bright colored clothes!
Take us through a typical writing day for you. Do you have anything quirky - like you have to have a certain pen to write with, or the desk laid out in a particular manner, does it need to be raining, do you require a certain food/drink/candy to work by? Will you have an absolute meltdown if the atmosphere isn't what you like? Since I no longer have a desk, everything is done in my writing space (a.k.a. on my bed). I type everything instead of writing it. The only way I get ANY writing done is if there's background noise. Like my music. The TV doesn't work so well unless it's on in another room. And someone has to be home. If I try to write while the house is empty I'll be on Facebook the entire time. I'd say that's pretty quirky. LOL!
What do you do when you experience that lovely problem called writer's block? I go on Pinterest and look up pins to give me inspiration.
Do you have a secret obsession you'd be willing to share? <wink, wink> I'm obsessed with changing my hair. I get bored if it stays a certain way for too long. But since I have a real job now and I'm no longer a college student who has no cares in the world my hair has to stay <pouts>.
Did you do anything special to celebrate your first book release? It was my birthday but I can't remember what I did. I suck. <hangs head>
Which is your favorite fairytale? The Little Mermaid
Which book are you most looking forward to reading this year? Insurgent!
Which do you prefer: ebook, hardback or paperback? Hardback

Underworld or Twilight: TwilightOriginal or Remake: Original unless I've never seen it then RemakeSweet or Salty: BothDrama or Comedy: ComedyFantasy or Romance: Fantasy with a side of RomanceSpring or Autumn: SpringMichael Jackson or Whitney Houston: Michael JacksonWalter Mathau or Jack Lemmon: Ummmm . . . neitherDirty Dancing or Footloose: FootlooseAmerican Idol or X-Factor or The Voice: The VoiceMovie Theatre or Loveseat: LoveseatTea or Coffee: CoffeeRain or Sunshine: SunshineSkiing or Surfing: Surfing Treehouse or Man Cave: Man Cave
MADLIB CHALLENGECeysa has accepted the MadLib Challenge! Whoop! She chose a random madlib and entered people and places from her novel Elemental Reality. Check it out:
Dear Oli,

It has come to my intention that you are the lovliest boy in the coverage. My pelvis starts stretching a faucet every time you speak. I would like to attend if you want to go to the Halloween Fest with me next Wednesday. If you exchange please toy me at the The Greasy Spoon in five days. I rattle you and everything about you.

Breathily,
Callie

And now for the giveaway! Ceysa's kindly offering the winner four stickers, a postcard and a signed bookmark! And if you'd like to get a copy of your book (and I totally recommend you do!) Elemental Reality is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, the Book Depository and Audible.

Elemental Reality by Cesya MaRae Cuono

Elemental Reality
Elemental #1
Cesya MaRae Cuono

Synopsis: When Callie Pierce was ten, her mother disappeared without a trace. On the eve of her disappearance twelve years later, the earth seemingly comes alive. The elements speak to Callie, and that's only the beginning. Everything she has ever known was a twisted fabrication to protect her. Now the truth is set free. Callie and her sister are more powerful than any Faerie ever born. Now they have to use their powers to save their mother and family from the evil hands of fate that threaten to tear them apart. Welcome to her elemental reality.
That ending was just wicked. Seriously evil.
Callie and Lola Pierce were born Alkuaine faeries, a rarity in the fae world, which meant their lives were in constant danger from the demons that try to wipe them out and tip the faerie-demon war in their favor. Why? Because the Alkuaine faeries can conjure and manipulate all five elements: earth, wind, fire, water and electricity, which make them hard to destroy. In order to protect their children, their parents fled the faerie world and got lost in the human world. They got a decent decade in before their mother did a disappearing act. It wasn't until they learned what they were another ten years laters did they also learn their mother was taken by a demon. Now grown up and coming into their powers, the truth comes out and the girls are determined to save their mother.
Of course Callie won't have to go through it alone, as her soul mate in the faerie world was drawn to her the moment her powers surfaced. Oli was absolutely delicious. Their interest in one another moves a little fast, as two known soul mates probably would, but it's still clean throughout the novel. That said, their connection sizzled...and their scenes are freakin' HOT!!!  Poor Lola though doesn't feel any kind of pull and is left wondering what, and if, there's a soul mate out there for her.
I'm not one to spoil how the battle turns out, all I can say is the ending is absolutely wicked and has got me dancing impatiently on tiptoes until Battlescars comes out. Elemental Reality was fun, refreshing and the storyline unique, with characters that make you smile.

Novel provided by publisher for honest review.

Blog Tour Sign-Ups for ORDAINED (The Immortal Archives, #1)

So I’ve decided to take Ordained (The Immortal Archives, #1) on tour. Yeah, I know, it’s been out for a year now. But Ordained was the very first book I published and I had absolutely no idea of how to go about really promoting it. The {Teen} Book Scene did a great job setting up a small tour, but it really only involved about 5 or 6 bloggers. So now I want to go bigger. But since Ordained is already published, I’m going to throw a few guidelines out there. If you think you’re interested, please consider the following before signing up:Ordained is an Urban Fantasy novel with characters mostly between the ages of 20-25 but is appropriate for young adults. The series follows four main characters, each with their own point of view, so if you don’t like to read a bunch of POVs or you find it hard to keep with that many, this may not be for you. If you’re okay with that, read on. JOrdained is light in the romance department. Sorry, but my couple has been married for awhile. J However, if you stick with the series, there's plenty of romance in Catacombs, which will be out in 2013!I’m only going to offer eBooks for this tour. Normally I would offer paperbacks but I’ve been out of work for a year and a half and I simply can’t afford it right now. All tour bloggers will be gifted a copy through Amazon, Barnes and Noble or an epub through Smashwords. If you don’t have access to these sites or the ability to read these three files (kindle, nook, epub), sorry, but I’m won’t be able to pick you up for this tour. I’m only going to be doing reviews for this tour. [Exception to this guideline: If you’ve already read Ordained in the past and would like to be part of the tour, I would be willing to do an interview or a post of your choice] Reviewers must have a blog, hence the 'blog tour' concept. Come large, come small - I promise I won't discriminate against the number of followers you have. I will, however, take a peek at your blog to see what you typically blog about. JI'm not sure yet how many bloggers I'm going to take for this tour but I will contact you if you're picked up. Bloggers will be notified and gifted their eBook by mid-May.Exact tour dates haven't been determined but I expect it will have dates in June and July. SynopsisNormally, the school creates the hunters - not the monsters.

Abby Sorrensten likes to play rough. Ripping the horns off the foreheads of demons, manipulating lightning and setting things on fire with the flick of your wrist can give you a serious rush. So she probably wasn’t the best choice for the Order’s experimental training program. Thirteen years of isolation, lack of affection and a bruised and broken body from horrendous training sessions creates more than just an exceptional fighter. It creates an evil within - an evil responsible for several deaths the night she left.

Two hundred years later Abby resurfaces as the very thing the Order trained her to kill: a vampire. A mythical demon has set his sights on the school and only the ordained hunter has the powers to face it. Unbeknownst to the Order, Abby’s their precious ordained one and their only chance for survival. As much as she would love to leave them hanging, she’s not willing to risk the life of Emily, a fellow friend and hunter also fed up with the organization.

But for Abby, locking herself away in a fortress with angry descendents of those she killed causes suspicions and tensions to run high. Abby must learn the demon’s weaknesses for battle before the Order learns hers.







The main plot of Ordained revolves around Abby but you'll find all four main characters have their own issues to deal with. If the synopsis appeals to you and you're okay with the guidelines, then please sign up below!
Kind Regards,
Devon

4/20 ***Sign-Ups Now Closed*** Sorry, but I already have more entries than I can use! But thanks for stopping by. :)

Cover Reveal for DUST (YA Fae Fantasy), ORDAINED and METAMORPHOSIS (YA Urban Fantasy)

4 - The number of times my delicate wings have been broken and clamped behind my back.

68 - The number inked upon my skin marking me the sixty-eighth pixie to be stolen.

87 - The number of days I’ve been trapped within this cave, a slave to my new enemy.

88 - The first day the faeries will regret stealing me.

Healthy. Cheery. Vivacious. All traits Rosalie has before becoming enslaved by the faeries to make an endless supply of pixie dust. Now this hardened pixie is anything but. When this rebellious teenager attempts an escape, she’s isolated in cramped quarters until she learns her place. Just as she begins to let go of all that hope, she finds an unlikely friend in Jack, the faerie assigned to guard her. Interspecies dating is forbidden in the fae world, so their growing attraction is unacceptable. And even if Jack can find a way to free her, the prison is the only place they can truly be together.

Coming 2013! Find it on GoodReads.



The second cover reveal today is for Ordained. It's been out for a year and I get a lot of remarks that the title and the cross on the cover make people think the novel is filled with religious tones, and it's not. So I decided to go ahead and freshen it up a bit.


Yep, the new version has a little award on it. That's because Ordained recently won the fantasy division over at Reader Views, where readers determine the winners. Since I won, I got a nifty new TRAILER made by Blazing Trailers. You can check it out here.
Normally, the school creates the hunters - not the monsters.


Abby Sorrensten likes to play rough. Ripping the horns off the heads of demons, manipulating lightning and setting things on fire with the flick of your wrist can give you a serious rush. So she probably wasn't the best choice for the Order's experimental training program. Thirteen years of isolation, lack of affection and a bruised and broken body from horrendous training sessions creates more than just an exceptional fighter. It creates an evil within - an evil responsible for the several deaths the night she left.
Two hundred years later Abby resurfaces as the very thing the Order trained her to kill: a vampire. A mythical demon has set his sights on the school and only the ordained hunter has the powers to face it. Unbenknownst to the Order, Abby's their precious ordained one and their only chance for survival. As much as she would love to leave them hanging, she's not willing to risk the life of Emily, a fellow friend and hunter also fed up with the organization.
But for Abby, locking herself away in a fortress filled with angry descendents of those she killed causes suspicions and tensions to run high. Abby must learn the demon's weaknesses for battle before the Order learns hers.
Paperbacks available on Amazon US, UK, DE and FR, and my E-Store.

eBooks available on Kindle US, UK, DE, FR, IT and ES, Nook and Smashwords.
***The paperback is already available but it may take a few days for Amazon to swap the pics.


And since I updated Ordained, I thought I may as well go ahead and update Metamorphosis. :) Which means I'll also have to come up with something new for Catacombs when I release it!



Change is not always a good thing...

Some survived the battle – but not without a price. As one heart starts up again, another dies down. The pure vampires learn their immortality isn't as strong as they'd thought – the status of their hearts determines their vulnerability. And when the truth gets out, a betrayal by one of their own will cost more lives.
***The new cover isn't live on the sites yet but should be by weekend's end.***

Paperbacks available on Amazon US and my E-store.

eBooks available on Kindle US, UK, DE, FR, IT and ES, Nook and Smashwords.

Cover Reveal for DUST (YA Faerie Fantasy), ORDAINED and METAMORPHOSIS (YA Urban Fantasy)

4. The number of times my delicate wings have been broken and clamped behind my back.

68. The number inked upon my skin marking me the sixty-eighth pixie to be stolen.

87. The number of days I’ve been trapped within this cave, a slave to my enemy the fae.

88. The first day the fae will regret stealing me.

Healthy. Cheery. Vivacious. All traits Rosetta had before becoming enslaved by the fae to make an endless supply of pixie dust. Now this hardened pixie is anything but. When this rebellious teenager riles up the slaves and stands up against their enemy, she’s isolated in cramped quarters until she learns her place. Just as she begins to let go of all that hope, she finds an unlikely friend in Jack, the fae assigned to guard her. Trusting Jack may get her out of prison, but his motive for helping her may also get her killed.
Coming 2013! Find it on GoodReads.


The second cover reveal today is for Ordained. It's been out for a year and I get a lot of remarks that the title and the cross on the cover make people think the novel is filled with religious tones, and it's not. So I decided to go ahead and freshen it up a bit.


Yep, the new version has a little award on it. That's because Ordained recently won the fantasy division over at Reader Views, where readers determine the winners. Since I won, I got a nifty new TRAILER made by Blazing Trailers. You can check it out here.
Normally, the school creates the hunters - not the monsters.

Abby Sorrensten likes to play rough. Ripping the horns off the heads of demons, manipulating lightning and setting things on fire with the flick of your wrist can give you a serious rush. So she probably wasn't the best choice for the Order's experimental training program. Thirteen years of isolation, lack of affection and a bruised and broken body from horrendous training sessions creates more than just an exceptional fighter. It creates an evil within - an evil responsible for the several deaths the night she left.
Two hundred years later Abby resurfaces as the very thing the Order trained her to kill: a vampire. A mythical demon has set his sights on the school and only the ordained hunter has the powers to face it. Unbenknownst to the Order, Abby's their precious ordained one and their only chance for survival. As much as she would love to leave them hanging, she's not willing to risk the life of Emily, a fellow friend and hunter also fed up with the organization.
But for Abby, locking herself away in a fortress filled with angry descendents of those she killed causes suspicions and tensions to run high. Abby must learn the demon's weaknesses for battle before the Order learns hers.
Paperbacks available on Amazon US, UK, DE and FR, and my E-Store.

eBooks available on Kindle US, UK, DE, FR, IT and ES, Nook and Smashwords.
***The paperback is already available but it may take a few days for Amazon to swap the pics.


And since I updated Ordained, I thought I may as well go ahead and update Metamorphosis. :) Which means I'll also have to come up with something new for Catacombs when I release it!



Change is not always a good thing...

Some survived the battle – but not without a price. As one heart starts up again, another dies down. The pure vampires learn their immortality isn't as strong as they'd thought – the status of their hearts determines their vulnerability. And when the truth gets out, a betrayal by one of their own will cost more lives.
***The new cover isn't live on the sites yet but should be by weekend's end.***

Paperbacks available on Amazon US and my E-store.

eBooks available on Kindle US, UK, DE, FR, IT and ES, Nook and Smashwords.

Interview and Giveaway with Melissa Lemon, Author of Cinder and Ella

This week on the Writer's Block I have Melissa Lemon, author of Cinder and Ella, a retelling of Cinderella with a supernatural twist. She's hydrophobic, addicted to chocolate (me too!) and peanut butter and her craziest dream involved a group of nuns (hmm...I'm sensing the beginning of a great joke here).


Melissa Lemon and her cat Matilda (such a cute name!)
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Whatwas your favorite book as a kid? Iremember liking The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary and TheEducation of Little Tree by Forrest Carter.
Tellus your favorite quote. "Thelonger I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, tome, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, theeducation, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, thanwhat other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance,giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. Theremarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we willembrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the factthat people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. Theonly thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is ourattitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how Ireact to it." Charles R. Swindoll
Whatis your favorite genre to read and what makes it so awesome? Actually,I like a wide variety of books.  I almostnever read the same genre twice in a row. 
Tellus your favorite author. Which book is your total fave from that author? Myfavorite authors are Jane Austen and Charles Dickens.  My favorite books of theirs are Pride andPrejudice and A Tale of Two Cities.
Anypet peeves you'd be willing to share? Ofcourse!  I hate it when people leave flyswatters on surfaces that are used for preparing food or eating.  I have issues with things like bug guts andgerms.
Ifthe Earth suddenly became uninhabitable, would you rather live under the sea orin space?   Um,definitely space, because I'm hydrophobic as well.  I actually have panic attacks when I seelarge bodies of water.
Whatwas your most favorite past time as a kid? Playingsoftball.  If there wasn't anybody aroundto play with, I'd put on my mitt and throw a ball up against the foundation ofthe house so it came rolling back to me; or I'd throw the ball high up in theair so it was almost out of reach behind me and I'd have to jump backward toget it.  We didn't live close to anybodyelse, so I had to keep myself entertained a lot. 
Ifyou could live in any time period other than the present, which would youchoose and why? I'dlove to be on Prince Edward Island with Anne Shirley.  I love the idea of living in simpler times.
Takeus through a typical writing day for you. Do you have anything quirky - likeyou have to have a certain pen to write with, or the desk laid out in aparticular manner, does it need to be raining, do you require a certainfood/drink/candy to work by? Will you have an absolute meltdown ifthe atmosphere isn't what you like? I'mpretty easy going with no set schedule. I just have to be ALONE, and it has to be QUIET.
Whatdo you do when you experience that lovely problem called writer's block? Oneof three things:  I write through it,work on something else for a while or take a break from writing completely evenfor a day or two.  All of these haveworked for me at one time or another, but taking a break seems to ALWAYSwork.  I think that's why we get writer'sblock sometimes, because our brains need a break.  When I come back to look at something afterleaving it alone for a while, I am usually able to see the problem, fix it andmove on.
Whatis the craziest dream you've ever had? Youdon't want to know, but I'll tell you that it involved nuns, water, and adobehouses.
Ifyou could live anywhere in the world you'd like, where would that be and why? I'dlove to live in several places in Europe, including the UK, Italy, andGermany.  There is just somethinghopelessly romantic about those places in my eyes.  I've always loved the German language andcustoms, so that would be my first pick.   
Doyou have a secret obsession you'd be willing to share? <wink, wink> Chocolate,but it's really not a secret, especially if you see my hips.
Whatfood/drink would absolutely devastate you if they stopped production on? Peanutbutter and chocolate.
Ifyou could step into the shoes of any fictional character for one day, who wouldit be and why? DidI mention I really like Anne Shirley?  Ithink I'd rather be Marilla or Diana so I could spend time with Anne.
Whichdo you prefer: ebook, hardback or paperback? Ithink all three have their uses.  I lovehardbacks for my favorite, favorite books. I like to get paperbacks when I'm getting books from the library orpurchasing a book that maybe isn't as much of a favorite.  E-books are great for traveling.  I think they'll all continue to haveimportant places in the literary world.
Thisor ThatUnderworldor TwilightOriginalor Remake: DependsSweetor SaltyDramaor Comedy: BothFantasyor Romance: Both Springor AutumnMichaelJackson or Whitney HoustonWalterMathau or Jack Lemmon: Hello, we're probably relatedDirtyDancing or FootlooseAmerican Idol or X-Factor or The VoiceMovieTheatre or Loveseat: because I can't seem to get overthe fear of contracting lice.Teaor Coffee: I'm a water girl. Boring, I know.Rain or SunshineSkiing or SurfingTreehouse or Man Cave

Choosea challenge...if you dare!Writea sentence using all these words: joker, fireball, backpack, sticker, hulahoop: Withthe joker suffering from mild distraction thanks to a fireball that came out ofnowhere, I yanked the hula hoop into place, resting it on my large hips while Istrapped the activation sticker around it—the backpack still tight on myback—and WHOOSH, up I went, higher and higher above the sidewalk.   Hey! That's actually pretty darn good! :)
You can pick up Cinder and Ella lots of places but here's the Amazon and Barnes and Noble links. And if you'd like, check out my 5 STAR review too, which (*coughs*) happened to make the back of the cover!
And now for the giveaway! Melissa is graciously offering a hardback of Cinder and Ella for you guys! Just fill in the rafflecopter below.
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Official Trailer for Ordained (The Immortal Archives #1)

As some of you already know, my urban fantasy novel Ordained (The Immortal Archives #1) won first place in the Fantasy division for Reader Views 2011 . My prize was a free trailer made by Blazing Trailers. After watching I'm incredibly impressed cause as experienced as I am in the world of computers, book covers and HTML code, I find this whole trailer business daunting. So I'm so glad Kim over at Blazing Trailers was able to come up with this for me! Thanks Kim! And thanks to the readers that participated in the Reader Views competition and chose Ordained for Best Fantasy.

Interview and Giveaway with Jessie Harrell, Author of Destined

So today I have with me Jessie Harrell, the author of the beloved Destined I've seen all over everyone's GoodReads shelves. I always ask my interviewees to offer up a different kind of pic and Jessie certainly delivered! Love the unicorn! What she said: "Here's a picture of me and my youngest daughter, Samantha, at the Fern Bank Museum in Atlanta. I've always LOVED unicorns. And if you want to get really candid, here's me about to shove cupcake in my mouth after serving them up at my oldest daughter's birthday party. As you can see, I obvious believe my sunglasses are a superior form of hair clip."

...yum...now I want a cupcake. BRB!
Okay, sugar crave satisfied. On with the interview!
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What was your favorite book as a kid? This ties back into the unicorns. I loved this series called Morgan Mine (also included were Morgan & Me and Morgan & Ewe). They were about a unicorn named Morgan and they were illustrated with the most beautiful pictures and written so lyrically for children's books. Probably no surprise that my oldest daughter is named Morgan.
Any pet peeves you'd be willing to share? I can't stand people who drive at or below the speed limit until there is an actual police officer in the immediate vicinity. I have places to go, people!
If the Earth suddenly became uninhabital, would you rather live under the sea or in space? No question about it, under the sea! "Darling it's better, down where it's wetter, take it from me!" Sorry, Little Mermaid flashback. Space travel is another one of my pet peeves (don't get me started) and my time as a certified diver wasn't nearly long enough.
What was your most favorite pasttime as a kid? Duh - reading!
Do you have a secret obsession you'd be willing to share? <wink, wink> Checking e-mail. Although it's probably not-so-secret and thankfully not that shameful, but I've gotten adult onset ADD as a result of technology and I have to know if I have email ALL. THE. TIME.
Do you like to listen to music when you read or write? Tell us a few of your favorites. I love listening to Joshua Radin - he's so mellow and his music just inspires me. I got to meet him after a concert a few years back and, as he was scribbling his name on my CD like every other person in line, I told him he was my favorite person to listen to while I was writing. I'm sure he TOTALLY remembers me now.
Underworld or Twilight: TWILIGHT!!
Sweet or Salty: SWEET! (I seem locked in caps lock tonight, but some of these choices I feel very passionate about. LOL.)
Fantasy or Romance: ROMANCE

Spring or Autumn: Autumn in Asheville
Walter Mathau or Jack Lemmon: I'm not old enough to admit I know who these men are ;) [LOL-You're my age girlie (which is young, of course) so I'm gonna bet you've seen Grumpy Old Me by now!]
American Idol or X-Factor or The Voice: American Idol (esp. the first episodes where the show all the people who suck - like I would if I were foolish enough to audition)
Tea or Coffee: COFFEE

Rain or Sunshine: I like both, actually. Rain for reading and napping; sunshine for playing
Treehouse or Man Cave: Dude, treehouse, all the way. Can I have one like the Swiss Family Robinson in the Magic Kingdom?
Alright, so if you haven't already put Destined on your to-read lists, you should do it now. :) Seriously, I'll even link it for you. And in case you're not convinced yet, just check out the synopsis and my review of Destined. Now on to the giveaway. Jessie is graciously offering one winner an ebook of Destined and a signed bookmark! Just fill in the rafflecopter below.
Get paperbacks of Destined at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, the Book Depository. Grab the ebooks at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords.



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Destined by Jessie Harrell

Destined
Jessie Harrell

Synopsis: When Psyche receives a prophecy gone horribly wrong, she learns that even the most beautiful girl in Greece can have a hideous future. Her fate? Fall in love with the one creature even the gods fear.

As she feels herself slipping closer into the arms of the prophecy, Psyche must choose between the terrifyingly tender touch she feels almost powerless to resist and the one constant she's come to expect out of life: you cannot escape what is destined.
Psst... Do you feel that? It's the long, calming sigh of satisfaction you get once you read the last sentence in a truly heart-wrenching novel. You immediately say Aww and your heart warms a little. Sigh... And then disappointment cause you realize you've left that spectacular fantasy world containing the totally yummy, scrumpdidlyumptious hottie that you've been drooling over the past 200 pages and you're suddenly stuck back in reality without him. [Uh, no offense babe! I totally love you! heh heh...eh] Oh, well. The fantasy was good while it lasted.
So Psyche has been dubbed the new mortal daughter of Aphrodite by the goddess herself. Happy dance, right? Except it didn't work out too well for Aphrodite's first mortal daughter, Helen of Troy, did it? Uh...no. Psyche is blindsided but she goes with the flow - until Aphrodite brings her son Eros (aka Cupid) over and tells them she wants them to marry. Shocker, neither take to the news too well and end up throwing a few inappropriate comments. Eros is an immortal and gets to storm off to has his hissyfit but Aphrodite wants revenge against the mere human that dared to defy her wishes and reject her immortal son. She decides Psyche's destiny is to spend her remaining days in love with a despicable creature and declares that Eros must pierce her with one of his arrows to force this love upon her. But when the time comes to shoot Psyche, he finds he just can't do it and ends up nicking himself with the arrow. Now in love with Psyche himself, he must find a way to keep her safe and fulfill his mother's wishes all at the same time. Not an easy feat...
Now I will say that I know nothing about the myth involving Cupid and Psyche so I don't know how this compares, but I think any author deserves a little latitude when it comes to making it their own. I'm not one to criticize if it isn't an exact retelling - quite frankly I would find that boring (had I known it). I can say that I enjoyed watching these two characters grow to love one another once they put their pride aside and let their guards down long enough to do so. Sorta like Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. Sigh...
Anyways, Destiny offers reluctant lovers, lots of mythical characters (my fave being the dead man that ferries the dead, or shades, into the Underworld), swoon-worthy heartthrob, and some of those horrible 'tests' the Gods like to throw at you to see if you're worthy of their time.



Novel provided by author for honest review.