Tanya Contois's Blog, page 8

Review of How to Lose a Demon in 10 Days by Saranna DeWylde

Grace does. She's got more demon than she can saddle. In fact, she's got a sinfully sexy Crown Prince of Hell named Caspian. She's also got ten days to get rid of him or Bad Things shall ensue. See, her Russian mobster ex-boyfriend didn't take kindly to her smutty Mephistophelean contract. It's not that she's conspiring with fiends; that was his idea. It's that she's conspiring against him with outrageous devilry that runs the gamut from embarrassing to a dead hooker turned dominatrix demon gunning for his soul.

One should never trust demons, let alone shag them. They don't have hearts. Yet Grace is buying hers some slightly tarnished armor and hoping that once he's been shoveled into it, kicking and screaming, he'll find it's just his size. This damsel in distress needs a dark knight for a Happily Ever After.

REVIEW

How to Lose a Demon in 10 Days by Saranna DeWylde was a pleasure to read. I quickly fell in love with the characters Saranna DeWylde created and the blend of humor and the paranormal had me laughing to myself which earned me some strange looks. I felt that the way Saranna DeWylde developed the relationship between Grace and Caspian was perfect because there really is a thin line between love and hate. Anyone who is a fan of Angie Fox and Darynda Jones will find this quirky and humorous series highly entertaining.

http://www.amazon.com/How-Lose-Demon-10-Days/dp/0758269153/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354283939&sr=1-1&keywords=how+to+lose+a+demon+in+10+days+by+saranna+dewylde

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-lose-a-demon-in-10-days-saranna-dewylde/1102033900

 

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Review of Beach Season by Lisa Jackson, Holly Chamberlin, Cathy Lamb, and Rosalind Noonan

"The Brass Ring" by Lisa Jackson - It's a beautiful June day, perfect for a wedding - until Shawna learns that her fiance, Parker, has been involved in a car crash. Though his injuries heal, his memories of her are gone. Yet Shawna won't stop reaching to reclaim the love they once shared..."June's Lace" by Cathy Lamb - June MacKenna is done - with her high-pressure legal career, her cheating soon-to-be-ex, and the stress of city living. In her studio on the Oregon coast, she creates beautiful lace wedding dresses, with no intention of ever wearing one again herself. Then songwriter Reece rents the house next door, and sets out to change her mind..."Second Chance Sweethearts" by Holly Chamberlin - Thea Foss is putting a bad marriage behind her in the pretty vacation town of Ogunquit, Maine. What's past is past...Until her first love wanders into the local diner, reminding Thea of the person she once was, and the life it's not too late to claim..."Carolina Summer" by Rosalind Noonan - Jane Doyle needs to get out of New York - the farther the better. She's headed toward Florida, but thanks to a storm along North Carolina's Outer Banks, she finds herself stranded in a beautiful, remote town that soon feels a lot like home. And thanks to the local sheriff, she finds herself staying longer than she planned - and feeling less lost at sea than ever...

REVIEW

Beach Season is an electic mix of stories by four NY Times bestselling authors. Each story had characters that were very down to earth which made them easy to relate to and likable. The beach setting of these stories makes this a great summer read or a book to help with the cold winter days. I enjoyed each story equally and found myself wanting more stories about these wonderful characters these authors have created.
 
http://www.amazon.com/Beach-Season-Lisa-Jackson/dp/0758265638/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354281888&sr=1-1&keywords=beach+season+lisa+jackson

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beach-season-lisa-jackson/1106568192?ean=9780758265630

Review of Angel in Chains by Cynthia Eden

As a fallen Angel of Death, Azrael is cursed to walk the earth alone in search of redemption. One night, as he wanders the streets of New Orleans, he discovers a woman surrounded by panther shifters. No longer able to contain the anger simmering within, Az summons his dark powers and attacks, determined to protect this innocent human from certain death.
Only Jade Pierce is no delicate flower. She's spent years learning to survive and fight the evil forces sent by her ex-lover who refuses to let her go. But after seeing Az in action, she figures she could use a little supernatural help. And so she plans a course of seduction guaranteed to arouse his interest and his angelic passions. . .

REVIEW

Angel in Chains by Cynthia Eden is a real page turner. The book kicks into high gear only a couple pages in and keeps that pace through the entire book. I thought the relationship Cynthia Eden created between Az and Jade was just one of the things that made this such a great book. There are many twists and unexpected surprises that will keep any fans of Cynthia Eden or the Paranormal Romance genre hooked. Cynthia Eden is a truly talented writer and I find myself enjoying each book I read by her more than the one before it. Her books are highly addictive and I can't wait for her next book to be released.

http://www.amazon.com/Angel-Chains-Fallen-Cynthia-Eden/dp/0758267630/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354279213&sr=1-1&keywords=angel+in+chains

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/angel-in-chains-cynthia-eden/1109472365?ean=9780758267634

Interview with Kelli McCracken, author of the Soulmate series

If someone looked at your browsing history right now, what kind of things would we find? Music lyrics, Spotify, Facebook, and lots of photos of shirtless men. Oops, did I say that out loud? *wink, wink*

If you could write about any subject that is near and dear to your heart, what would it be and why? I’d love to write music. Not just lyrics, but the notes as well. Music is inspiring to me. It helps me write. I can zone out to a song and have an entire scene play out in my head. Maybe that’s why some of the characters in my stories are musicians. ~_^

Do you have a favorite song, album, or playlist to write to? I have lots of favorite songs. I’m a rock chick through and through, though I do listen to other genres. For my Soulmate Series, it’s mostly rock. I created a playlist for Book Two on Spotify. You can check it out on my website.

What was the first thing you did after the debut of the first book you wrote? Slept. I know. Probably not your typical response, right? Writing is an emotionally draining journey that takes every ounce of you. Not to mention edits and revisions. Lots of late nights. I don’t think I could function properly for a few days.

What is your biggest pet peeve? Arrogance. No one knows everything. When people pretend like they do, it drives me up the wall. You can always learn from others, no matter what it is your dealing with.

Do you have any guilty pleasures? Coffee. I love my caramel lattes. I like a good bottle of wine, too. And then there is always Jack Daniel’s…

What was your favorite book as a teen? I don’t remember reading a whole lot. I was already writing, then, so most of my energy went into that. I did enjoy reading Poe. I also liked Watership Down by Richard Adams.

If an aspiring writer asked for advice what would you tell them? First and foremost, never, ever give up. You have a story to share. A journey that needs told. There are people who will take that journey with you. Life is boring if you’re not taking chances, so take one.

What is the one thing that scares you more than anything else? Losing the ones I love. I can’t imagine not having my family. Especially my children. I lie awake at night and worry about them. I think most parents do.

What book are you reading right now? I haven’t started a new one yet, though I am anxious to read P.C. and Kristin Cast’s newest House of Night novel, Hidden.

Favorite Meal: Crab Alfredo

Favorite Drink (alcoholic/non-alcoholic) Jack and Coke

Sweet or Salty snacks? Yes ~_^

All time favorite movie I have favorite movies like I have favorite songs. Too many to count. Top 3 would be Daze and Confused, Pretty Woman, and He’s Just Not That Into You.

Best book to movie adaption: Gone with the Wind

Worst book to movie adaption: Twilight. The first one. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed the series and the movies. I appreciate the unique story that Stephenie gave us. But when it hit the big screen, they strayed from the book too much. It’s not that they left stuff out. I understand that they can’t include everything. But they changed stuff. That’s not cool.


What the Heart Wants: Soulmate Series Book One

What the Heart Needs: Soulmate Series: Book Two



Bio
Most days you’ll find Kelli McCracken pecking away at the keyboard, sharing secret stories about those pesky little people inside her head. Or arguing with her characters about a scene. Other days she’s hanging out in her secret Facebook group with readers, chatting about books and upcoming writing projects.
“Gone are the days of quiet housewives who clean, cook, watch soaps, and eat bon-bons. We’re all about sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Scratch that. We’re about sex, chocolate, and rock and roll. Add in some great books and we might let you live in the same house with us.”
Kelli lives with her husband and children in the Ohio River Valley region in the United States…at least she thinks that’s where she lives. It could be a nice, white, padded room. Hard to say with that darn vivid imagination.

Want to chat mor Website
Twitter
Facebook
Series Fan Page
Author Fan Page
Goodreads
Email

Kelli has generously offered up 3 e-book copies of both What the Heart Wants and What the Heart Needs. To enter leave your email address and a question for Kelli.

Interview with Gini Koch, author of the Alien series

1. If someone looked at your browsing history right now, what kind of things would we find?
Lots of information on how to poison someone, bullet velocities and bullet calibers, tons of information on the House of Representatives and some on the Senate, maps of the D.C. area, and the sketch for the cover of Alien in the House from my awesome cover artist, Daniel Dos Santos.


2. If you could write about any subject that is near and dear to your heart, what would it be and why?
I write what’s dear to my heart every day. I don’t work on things I don’t like or don’t care about. In the Alien series, my heroine, Kitty, gets to kick butt with a great soundtrack going and hang out with the most gorgeous people on Earth. In my other series I get to go to the far future, the past, the paranormal, the fantastical, and so on. I get to live in the worlds I see in my head AND share them with others. I couldn’t have asked for a better option for what to do every day.


3. Do you have a favorite song, album, or playlist to write to?
I’m incredibly musically driven, and so I have specific bands or songs for specific books or series. There is no “favorite” other than “whichever song or band or album are helping me write the fastest and best right now”.


4. What was the first thing you did after the debut of the first book you wrote?
What I do after the debut of every book, novella, or short story I’ve ever written that’s been published -- worked on the next book.
On the day Touched by an Alien debuted one of our dogs got hella sick and I got to take her to the vet while the hubs cleaned up a massive amount of doggy vomit. A few hours later, a good and thoughtful friend brought a card and a plant by to celebrate. The hubs asked her what we were celebrating. After she bawled him out for forgetting what the hell day it WAS, we COULD have gone out to dinner (because he was ready to do anything to get her and me to forgive him), but said dog was still feeling crappy, so we stayed home. And I worked on another book. Yeah, the writer’s life -- it’s ALL glamour, baby!


5. What is your biggest pet peeve?
OMG, I have so many pet peeves that it’s hard to pick just one or even identify the #1. But one that is for sure in my All Time Top 10 is reviewers giving away spoilers of my books without so much as a warning. I kill myself to have surprises for my readers in everything I write, and to have a reviewer discuss the big reveal before the book’s hit the shelves or is even a month old causes me physical pain.


6. Do you have any guilty pleasures?
I consider the watching of any TV program to be a guilty pleasure because it’s time I could use for writing. So, Castle, Burn Notice, White Collar, Psych, Arrow, and Elementary are my guilty pleasures. (NCIS, The Voice, Dancing with the Stars, and Covert Affairs have moved off this list because, well, something had to go. LOL) Other than that, I don’t do guilt, at all, for anything or any reason.


7. What was your favorite book as a teen?
The Complete Works of O. Henry and the Complete Sherlock Holmes. I read both at least once a year, every year, for my entire teens and early twenty-somethings. (Yes, in case you’re wondering, I’m an incredibly fast reader. To me, a huge “complete collection” counts as “one” book because they can last me more than a few hours or a day.)


8. If an aspiring writer asked for advice what would you tell them?
Patience, professionalism, and perseverance are the three most important qualities you can have and improve upon in this business. And, never give up, never surrender.


Favorite Meal: Sushi

Favorite Drink (alcoholic/non-alcoholic): Nonalcoholic used to be Coca-Cola -- still is, really, but I had to give all sodas up -- so let’s call it Iced Tea. Alcoholic varies, but it’s either reposado tequila on the rocks, or what I call a Chocolate Milk (1 shot Kahlua, 1 shot Bailey’s, half & half, on the rocks).

Sweet or Salty snacks: Sweet, but heading towards salty

All time favorite movie: Disney’s Lady and the Tramp

Best book to movie adaptation: Happily, there are quite a few. For me, it’s Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy and probably the first Harry Potter movie.

Worst book to movie adaptation: Too many to list here, but my first crushing experience with this was when I was young, so I’ll give you The Phantom Tollbooth. And as a young adult, probably Dune (the first one, starring Kyle McLaughlin). After The Phantom Tollbooth I realized what my mother had said was true -- 99.9% of the time, the book is always going to be better.


Author Bio:
Gini Koch lives in Hell’s Orientation Area (aka Phoenix, AZ), works her butt off (sadly, not literally) by day, and writes by night with the rest of the beautiful people. She writes the fast, fresh and funny Alien/Katherine “Kitty” Katt series for DAW Books, the Necropolis Enforcement Files series, and the Martian Alliance Chronicles series for Musa Publishing. As G.J. Koch she writes the Alexander Outland series. She also writes under a variety of other pen names (including Anita Ensal, Jemma Chase, A.E. Stanton, and J.C. Koch), listens to all kinds of music 24/7, and is a proud comics geek-girl willing to discuss at any time why Wolverine is the best superhero ever (even if Deadpool does get all the best lines). She speaks frequently on what it takes to become a successful author and other aspects of writing and the publishing business. She can be reached through her website at www.ginikoch.com.


Website: www.ginikoch.com

Blog: http://ginikoch.blogspot.com/

Official Fan Site, Alien Collective Virtual HQ: http://aliencollectivehq.com
Twitter: @GiniKoch

Facebook: facebook.com/Gini.Koch

Facebook Fan Page, Hairspray and Rock & Roll: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hairspray-and-Rock-n-Roll-Kicking-Evil-Alien-Butt-since-2010-GINI-KOCH/247377348018

Buy Links, Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=gini+koch&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Agini+koch

Interview with S.J Drum/J.T. Fairfield, author of Sinful Southern Ink and Caged in Myth

1. If someone looked at your browsing history right now, what kind of
things would we find?

Oh, jeez. The search results for “tattooed cowboy”. About a hundred pages of Steampunk related rubbish. Facebook. Goodreads. Amazon Books.

2. If you could write about any subject that is near and dear to your
heart, what would it be and why?

Motherhood. If I could find a way to write a story about motherhood which wouldn’t insult the hell out of my family yet still be entertaining to readers, I’d totally do it.

3. Do you have a favorite song, album, or playlist to write to?

I’m listening to a lot of 90’s Country lately. Lame, right? Shut up! I love Jo Dee Messina and SheDaisy. I’m also really liking Pistol Annies and Miranda Lambert.

4. What was the first thing you did after the debut of the first book you wrote?

Had a nervous breakdown. Seriously. I felt like I was going to throw up and cry. It was exactly like being pregnant. Now, 3 books later, I know a book release is not (normally) a life altering event.

5. What is your biggest pet peeve?

Teenagers’ typing abbreviations. If it isn’t important enough to take the time to spell a word correctly, it probably isn’t important enough to say at all. Unless you’re stuck on an island and don’t have enough rocks to spell your entire “Help Me” message, use complete words!


6. Do you have any guilty pleasures?

Kindle books. My husband and our bank account seriously hate that little “buy now” button on my Kindle.


7. What was your favorite book as a teen?

The Old Man and the Sea by Earnest Hemingway


8. If an aspiring writer asked for advice what would you tell them?
Find an experienced critique partner, someone who isn’t a personal friend or family member, who will give you honest feedback.


9. What is the one thing that scares you more than anything else?
Spiders, bugs in general. I was a zookeeper for a few years and used to toss raw meat directly into the mouths of alligators while standing two feet away from them and THAT did not scare me as badly as finding a big bug near me.


10. What book are you reading right now?

You’re evil. I’m trying to resist reading anything right now because I have my own writing to do. Annnnd I’ve read around 200 books already this year (I read fast) so I’m thinking I need to cut back.

Optional questions :)



Favorite Meal:

I haven’t been eating much lately and nothing sounds good. My husband is stationed in Texas for six months while I’m in Ohio with our children and my appetite seems to have flew south with him.

Favorite Drink (alcoholic/non-alcoholic)
Starbuck’s Salted Caramel Latte, it’s like… a million calories worth of yummy goodness.


Sweet or Salty snacks?
Sweet. I love chocolate.


All time favorite movie

Before Sunset


Find S.J. Drum/J.T. Fairfield on Facebook, Author’s Website, Author’s Blog, Goodreads

Check out my new series, The Sinful South, published through Ellora’s Cave’s PRICKED line featuring tattooed characters. Sinful Southern Ink, first in the series, released in July. Sinful Southern Hero, second in the series, is a full-length novel which should release in the Spring in paperback and e-book.



I’ve also recently released my very first LGBT Upper YA Dark Urban Fantasy, CAGED IN MYTH, under the pen name J.T. Fairfield.



*Warning! This Upper YA title contains cursing, graphic violence, and references to sex.*

The Bayou Zoo, where magic is real, the beasts are deadly, and a bad day at work can literally mean the end of the world.

Octavian Julius McKellter— “Jay” to everyone who doesn’t want a punch in the face— struggles with keeping the secrets of his supernatural community and his own secret...he's gay. Throw in a dose of danger, deceit, and Louisiana heat, and you'll find yourself CAGED IN MYTH.

Find Caged in Myth on Goodreads, Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo, B&N

Interview with Jade Lee, author of Wedded in Sin

1. If someone looked at your browsing history right now, what kind of things would we find?
Espresso machine searching. I've got a coffee addiction and now I want to have it satisfied at HOME!

2. If you could write about any subject that is near and dear to your heart, what would it be and why? Energy healing. It's a wide and varied subject. I've studied it for years (over a decade), and I'd like to expose more people to it. What works, what doesn't, and where the potential HUGE problems could be. But my husband thinks I'm nuts, so I stay mostly quiet about this topic. Unless asked. And then...well, look out!

3. Do you have a favorite song, album, or playlist to write to?I write to silence. I do a lot of mediation, and frankly, whenever I get stuck, I close my eyes and get very present. Answers eventually come. Notice I said "eventually." I wish I had a muse magic button, but sadly...I don't. :(

4. What was the first thing you did after the debut of the first book you wrote?Tried to sell my next one. Seriously. I'm a type A personality--very driven. One of anything (book, sale, any step along my way) is never enough, I need 20. 20 is never enough, I'll go for 30. Etc. That's why I discovered meditation and zen and all sorts of ways to slow down and focus better. I have the drive, just not the pinpoint focus. That's what I had to learn. And am still learning.

5. What is your biggest pet peeve?Time wasters. And yet...I have discovered Plants vs. Zombies. Hugest time waster EVER! And yet...I play. A lot!

6. Do you have any guilty pleasures?Chocolate. Plants vs. Zombies. Jewelry. Yeah, I love jewelry...

7. What was your favorite book as a teen?Voyage of the Dawn Treader by CS Lewis. Read that a zillion times as a kid. Oh wait, you said teen. Obsessed with Lord of the Rings by Tolkien. I read a lot of fantasy. Didn't discover romance until late teens and then had to sneak them in the house. Mom tolerated fantasy books. Romance--no way!

8. If an aspiring writer asked for advice what would you tell them?A writing career is a marathon, not a sprint. A little bit every day. Then make that little bit into a bit more every day. EVERY DAY. And don't play Plants vs. Zombies.

9. What is the one thing that scares you more than anything else?Global warming. What can one soul do against that? I try often to reduce my carbon emission, but I fear I'm just one soul among many and we're going to be living in Waterworld much too soon. And I don't like sailing.

10. What book are you reading right now?I've got 3 books going. On Audio: Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas In print: Hidden by Kristen and PC Cast. In e: The Ugly Duchess by Eloisa James


Optional questions :)



Favorite Meal: Anything with Chocolate

Favorite Drink (alcoholic/non-alcoholic) : Bahama Mama at Red Lobster

Sweet or Salty snacks? Do I have to pick? Well, I suppose SWEET!

All time favorite movie: The Avengers

Best book to movie adaption: Hunger Games

Worst book to movie adaption: Any comic that takes itself too seriously. Anything relating to comics ought to be at least a little fun, IMO!


Bio: A USA Today Bestseller, JADE LEE has been scripting love stories since she first picked up a set of paper dolls. Ball gowns and rakish lords caught her attention early (thank you Georgette Heyer), and her fascination with the Regency began. An author of more than 30 romance novels and winner of dozens of industry awards, she finally gets to play in the best girl-heaven place of all: a Bridal Salon! In her new series, four women find love as they dress the most beautiful brides in England. Wedded in Scandal and Wedded in Sin are available now. And don't forget KATHY LYONS! She's Jade's lighter, contemporary half. Look for her latest Blaze Living the Fantasy in October 2012.

        To find out all the latest news on Jade or Kathy, visit them on the web at www.jadeleeauthor.com or www.kathylyons.com!

My review of Betwixt by Melissa Pearl from Julie Newberry

Ebook: Betwixt
Author: Melissa Pearl
Fiction, Paranormal,
This review may contain spoilers
I was given this ARC by the author for an honest review
Summary: Beautiful, wild-chid Nicole Tepper is hit by a car and left for dead. But when she wakes the next morning, Nicole finds herself in bed without a scratch. Perhaps she was more intoxicated than usual, as her mother is giving her the silent treatment and her friends are ignoring her as well. Things take a turn for the weird when Nicole soon discovers she is actually hovering between life and death. Her body is lying in the forest while her spirit is searching for anyone who can hear her. Unfortunately the only person who can is Dale Finnigan, the guy she publicly humiliated with a sharp-tongued insult that has left him branded.Desperate, Nicole has no choice but to haunt Dale and convince the freaked-out senior to help her. Will he find her body before it's too late? Or will the guy who tried to kill her with his car, beat him there and finish her off before anyone finds out?
The ReviewWow, I am in awe of Melissa Pearl right now, this story is beyond words, it has got to be my favourite read of 2012, I was so engrossed in the book, I literally never put it down, I really don’t do ghosty stories but hell I loved this storyline, it was different, unusual, I have never come across a storyline like it before,  The fact that Nicole could only be heard by Dale was just perfect, he has had troubles of his own, so for him to do something good was brilliant and a perfect way to prove himself to anyone else in the town, especially the sheriff,  for her to be between death & life and Dale is the only one who can hear her is just brilliant especially as  she was mean to him earlier, he still really liked her,  because he knows that isn’t the real Nicole, she isn’t really that nasty, something made her that way and it’s lucky that he does think that,  I adored that Nicole gets to meet her sister again, even if it was just a brief meeting, at least she got to say Sorry, I hope we all get that chance to apologise to someone we did wrong to in the afterlife, I laughed and I cried, I love that in a book, I am glad that Nicole sees the error of her ways, I felt Sorry for Adam, can’t say anymore as it would give too much away,  I can’t wait for this book to come out in print, I will be getting myself a copy as I have a fave shelf which houses my favourite reads and this is definitely going on it, I can only give 5/5 even though I really wanted to give it more,  highly recommend to everyone. 
Buy links & where to find Melissa Pearl
Facebookwww.facebook.com/melissapearl...
Goodreadshttp://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15...
Amazon.co.ukhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/Betwixt-ebook...
Amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.com/Betwixt-ebook/d...
Smashwordswww.smashwords.com/books/vi...

Book promo - Wicked Fate by Tabatha Vargo

Book Blurb:

What if you lived in fear of yourself?

For Mage McPherson being afraid of herself is just the norm. Thanks to that fear, being a loner in a small town never bothered the mysterious Mage. Once she received her secret abilities, she figured being alone was the safest way to be. That all changes during her sophomore year at Summerville High when Adam, her equally mysterious secret crush, starts to notice her.

Afraid that she might harm Adam, Mage must learn to either control or deny herself. With Adam by her side she's more powerful than she’s ever been, but is she powerful enough to defeat her worst nightmare? She learns a hard lesson about love and magic when her destiny comes to collect.


Excerpt:

A loud noise from across the gym catches my attention. Searching the crowd, it seems that no one else even notices the strange commotion. I hear it once more before my eyes are directed to the culprit. A now familiar face comes into sight.With her back against the wall, Bernie covers her face with her hands as three girls stand in front of her and pummel her with a big red kick ball. They laugh when the ball bounces off of her and she lets out a little hissing noise. “Stop it!” Bernie yells back. “What are you…five?”“Are you a freak, too? Everyone saw you with the weird girl today at lunch,” I hear one girl say as she bends down to grab the ball.Word gets around fast…poor Bernie.“The gym is the best place for you, fat ass!” another girl says with a laugh.The ball smacks against Bernie’s leg, causing her to fall to one knee.Disgusted, I stare helplessly, knowing that this is because of me. As far as they’re concerned she’s a traitor to the normal people. Just seeing the backs of the three bullies, I know who they are. I don’t need to see their almost perfect faces. Brandy Phillips, Michelle Sedgwick, and Wendy Baker—The Three Bitchkateers. All three are fake blondes with tanning bed tans and acrylic nails. I guess they could be considered as pretty—at least on the outside; inside they’re wretched heathens.I run ideas through my head on how to stop their torment. Before doing anything, I look back up and meet Bernie’s eyes staring back at me with a look of pain on her face. Please look away!No way am I doing anything with her staring at me. It would give everything about me away. Not that it matters if she thinks I’m a freak; everyone else does. I just don’t want to go around flashing to the world that they’re right about me. Finally, she looks away to block the ball. I take advantage of that moment, and I shoot my vision to the little red kick ball. I follow it as it bounces off of Bernie and back into the hands of her tormentors. I let my anger build until I can almost feel the red hotness of my fury burning behind my eyes. Never taking my eyes from the ball, I begin to feel its vibrations inside of me. Every time it bounces from one surface to the other, I feel it; even from across the room.My anger reaches its limits, and I know that I’m now in control of the ball. With one final bounce off of Bernie, I push and add speed behind the ball. Instead of catching it with her hands, the ball flies directly into Brandy’s face. The sound of the red rubber smashing into her echoes through the gym.


About the Author:


Tabatha has been writing since she could pick up a pencil. Her first publication was a little poem in her elementary school paper, from that point on she was hooked. When she was a teenager, she traded in her girly magazines for personalized writing notebooks.

At nineteen, she met her own personal prince charming and writing took a back burner for a while. She is now married to that prince and the mother of a beautiful Six year old princess/rock star. Once her daughter was born, writing came back into her life, and she finished her very first novel in May of 2009.

She is pursuing a Bachelors in English and hopes to one day teach while continuing to write.

As a stay-at-home mom and full-time student, Tabatha enjoys the freedom of spending a good bit of her days doing what she loves the most…writing.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tabatha.vargo.9
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TabathaVargo
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16008688-wicked-fate


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November 22 - http://www.vampandstuff.com/
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December 1 – this date is open because my site will be doing something special!
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Miss Fortune Cookie Blitz

Miss Fortune Cookie
by Lauren Bjorkman
Published: Nov 13th 2012 by Henry Holt and Co.
Meet Erin. Smart student, great daughter, better friend. Secretly the mastermind behind the popular advice blog Miss Fortune Cookie. Totally unaware that her carefully constructed life is about to get crazy. It all begins when her ex-best friend sends a letter to her blog—and then acts on her advice. Erin’s efforts to undo the mess will plunge her into adventure, minor felonies, and possibly her very first romance. What’s a likely fortune for someone no longer completely in control of her fate? Hopefully nothing like: You will become a crispy noodle in the salad of life.
Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7120131-miss-fortune-cookie
Author Bio:
I am the author of two YA novels, MY INVENTED LIFE and MISS FORTUNE COOKIE. I also contributed a short story to the anthology THE FIRST TIME.

Though I grew up on a sail boat and loved traveling the world as a kid, I'm still afraid of the ocean. I much prefer other modes of transportation these days--plane, train, or car. Walking is best.

I love books with multi-faceted, intriguing characters. The best one make me laugh, cry, and turn the pages long past my bed time.

When I'm not reading or writing, I spend time with family and friends, talking about everything under the sun. Add in some good food to the mix, top it off with chocolate, and I'm truly happy.

Author Links:

http://twitter.com/laurenbjorkman http://www.facebook.com/lauren.bjorkman http://www.facebook.com/laurenbjorkmanwrites http://laurenbjorkman.com http://dearmissfortunecookie.wordpress.com http://pinterest.com/laurenbjorkman

Buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Miss-Fortune-Cookie-Lauren-Bjorkman/dp/0805089519/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353015246&sr=1-1&keywords=miss+fortune+cookie
 

You will have much luck and little hardship.Or the other way around.
CHAPTER 1
My friends and I were riding home from school on Muni, clinging to an assortment of slippery handholds, when Linny almost blew my secret identity. Intentionally. “Listen to this one,” she said, reading off her iPhone, a faint but smirky glint in her eyes. “‘Dear Miss Fortune Cookie. My cousin thinks I’m chasing her boyfriend. Her boyfriend and I never flirt, but sometimes we text. What can I do to make her believe me? Just Friends.’” In fact, I—Erin Kavanagh, alias Miss Fortune Cookie—had posted this very letter on my anonymous advice blog, and Linny happened to be the only person in San Francisco to know that, the only person in the whole world, except for some random administrator at WordPress. She takes every opportunity to harass me about keeping my blog a secret. “What advice would you give, Erin?” she asked, winking this time. I kept my face as neutral as possible. Luckily Darren and Mei were only paying attention each other. As usual.Personally speaking, I think nano-deceptions are a good thing. I regularly use them to protect my friends from unpleasant truths. Should I tell Linny that her favorite knit hat makes her head look like a furry meatball? Or nudge Mei whenever Darren winces at her hyena laugh? Should I have cautioned Darren that taking AP physics would wreck his grade-point average? Absolutely not. Sincere lies keep everyone happy.I blew the hair out of my eyes. “The cousin will never stop suspecting the two of them,” I said to Linny, “so Just Friends has to stop the texting. She could get her own boyfriend. Or move to somewhere far away like Moldavia.”Muni, a sort of bus powered by electric wires overhead, jerked to a halt. A seat opened up, and Linny took it. “Exactly!” She had the happiest smile ever, so big it barely fit on her face. Metaphorically speaking. “Mei, don’t you think Erin is a natural at giving advice?”“Hmm?” Mei said. She was somewhat entwined with Darren and therefore distracted.“Nothing.” I jabbed Linny in the ribs to get her to stop talking. Gently of course. The three of us—Mei, Linny, and me—made an enviable friendship trio. I was the lesser third, maybe because Mei and Linny were gorgeously Chinese-American, while I was just Boring-American. A Person of Irish.Mei knew nothing about my connection to Miss Fortune Cookie. We used to be best friends, and by best friends I mean we spent every afternoon and weekend together until eighth grade, when things fell apart between us. The truth is, Mei dumped me. Then Linny brought us together again during freshman year, inviting us both to eat lunch with her, forming a little group. A few months later, I mustered the courage to bring up the dumping incident with Mei, except she didn’t want to talk about it. So we became friends again without dealing with the past. Pretty much.Except I didn’t trust her like I used to.And she didn’t share as many intimate details about herself with me.Linny beckoned me closer to whisper in my ear. “I have a question for Miss Fortune Cookie. A very personal one. But you can’t tell Mei.”“Why not?”She lowered her voice more. “You just can’t, ’kay?”I nodded. Linny usually let both of us in on every detail about her life, although lately she’d been secretive about her new boyfriend. Whatever it was, it wouldn’t be boring. I turned my back toward Mei and said in my quietest voice, “Go ahead. I’m listening. What is it?”Linny shook her head. “Not now.”Just then, the Muni driver made the sharp turn into Chinatown, and three things happened almost simultaneously: a bicyclist veered into the road, the driver slammed on the brakes, and I fell into another passenger. We came to a halt fifty feet from the stop, and the bicyclist escaped unscathed. I could tell by the vigorous way he flipped off the driver. Then I caught sight of Mrs. Liu, bundled against the fog, among the passengers waiting to board.“Your mom!” I whispered to Mei. “She’s getting on!”Mei’s eyes widened. “What the what?”Which demonstrates a problem with sincere lies—in this case, Mei’s lie to her mom about not having a boyfriend. They can be found out. Darren dropped his arm from around Mei’s waist and grabbed his backpack. “Bye,” he mouthed before zipping to the back and catapulting out the rear door. He’s considerate like that.Mrs. Liu’s grocery bags thumped against the handrail as she marched up the steps. She has sharp, high cheekbones and is tall like her daughter. She and Mei both have blunt-cut hair that reaches their shoulders. Our favorite salon in Chinatown sometimes offers two-for-one specials.Mei hurried to the front to take the two largest bags. “Ma, let me.”Mrs. Liu stretched her swan neck toward the window. “Who is that with you?”Mei shook her head nervously. “No one. Just Erin and Linny. I invited them to help with the turnip cakes.”“No. I see boy before.” Mrs. Liu believed with every sinew in her heart that a boyfriend would distract Mei from her schoolwork, ruining her chances of getting into the number one university in the country, Harvard. So when Mei fell in love with Darren last spring, she kept it a secret from her mom. For thirteen whole months. Which showed amazing ingenuity and skill on her part, but once you start a lie, it’s hard to escape it.“Who is boy?”“Oh, him,” Mei said. “Someone from AP chem. We were discussing the homework. Chemical reactions.” She blinked fast. “And stuff like that.”To be fair, most people have trouble lying to Mrs. Liu. Her eyes bore right through your skull and read your thoughts as if you accidentally uploaded them onto Facebook. It’s her superpower.Linny stood up to offer her seat to Mrs. Liu. “Mr. F assigned loads of homework over the weekend. He wants us in top shape for the AP test.”Mrs. Liu ignored the seat. She had just turned forty and didn’t appreciate the senior-citizen treatment. “Very good. Homework make you smart.”“Ma, please sit down. Ni shi lao.” That means you are the elder, a show of respect. It also means you are old.“I am comfortable,” Mrs. Liu said.Mei continued arguing politely. Though most Chinese immigrants to San Francisco speak Cantonese, a dialect common in the south of China, Mrs. Liu emigrated from the north, where they speak Mandarin. I was fluent enough to follow their conversation.“Ma, ni zuo.” Ma, just sit.“Gaosu wo ta de mingzi.” Tell me his name.Before they resolved anything, the driver pulled into the stop by Mrs. Liu’s restaurant, and we all got off. Hay Fat occupies a prominent street corner in Chinatown. Mrs. Liu’s heightened culinary sensibility has turned it into a legend, luring in the more adventurous tourists and fussy locals. She serves authentic dishes with ingredients such as fermented bean paste, whole fish with eyeballs intact, and lotus. Her menu also includes beef broccoli in case people with less sophisticated palates wander in by mistake.We entered the kitchen through the alley. The dinner rush had yet to begin, which meant we had the place to ourselves. After setting me up with the grater and Mei with the bacon to steam, Mrs. Liu tossed a handful of sesame seeds into sizzling oil at the bottom of the wok. I closed my eyes to better appreciate the scrumptious smell.“What should I do?” Linny asked. I looked at her appraisingly, wondering about her secret. Not that we could talk here in the kitchen.Mrs. Liu handed her a bowl. “Cut mushrooms. Very small pieces.”I consider Hay Fat my second home. Mom and Mrs. Liu met when Mei and I were in preschool and have been good friends ever since. We live one floor below them in an apartment a few blocks from here in a quieter part of Chinatown. Mrs. Liu has always welcomed me into her kitchen, even during that black year when Mei and I barely spoke.What I know of her life before America comes through Mom. Twenty-three years ago, Mrs. Liu studied cooking at a special school in China that trains workers for American restaurants. After finishing the program, she immigrated to San Francisco, where she met Mei’s dad. He soon left her, and she has remained single ever since. Which could explain some of her gruffness.“No lollygagging,” Mrs. Liu said. The cloth she wore over her hair fell askew, and my fingers itched to straighten it. I didn’t stop grating for a second, though, because sometimes when I slack off from a job she’s given me, she’ll pinch my arm. Not hard, but still.Linny held out her cutting board for inspection. “Are these pieces small enough?”Mrs. Liu took the board and tossed the mushrooms into the wok. “Almost. Watch. This is secret part. Very important. Not in recipe.”Smoke rose from the hot metal. While Mrs. Liu stirred up a storm, I took the chance to rest my aching muscles. As I was standing there, I noticed that the photographs hanging over the sink had been dusted recently. One showed four-year-old Mei holding a pen and scroll, a minischolar. Next to it hung a picture of me dressed as a sunflower for our preschool play.The turnip cakes were for a party next week, an event to celebrate Mei’s acceptance into Harvard. Mrs. Liu had planned it out a long time ago. I think she decided on which dishes to serve before Mei started high school. Last July, she bought boxes of scarlet and black decorations. She mailed the invitations a month ago. Harvard’s acceptance emails, though, wouldn’t go out until tomorrow, April 1, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.Now Mei just had to get in.The three of us attend Lowell, a high school for academic types—nerds in the best sense—a rare public school that students compete to get into. At Lowell, we have a popular crowd, hipsters, and partiers like everywhere else, but we worry more about SAT percentiles and college choices than our counterparts. For us, the first of April is bigger than the Academy Awards. Tomorrow, hopes would be mangled and dreams decapitated.Mrs. Liu spun around to face Mei. “Meihua! That boy on bus. Shi bu shi boyfriend?”Meihua blinked. “He’s not, Ma.”Linny and I exchanged glances.full denial = a lie of omission × 10 3Mei’s sincere lie had gone bad, turned slimy and evil smelling like leftovers jammed to the back of the fridge behind the sauce jars.“The stove!” Linny yelled.Flames shot upward. Mrs. Liu calmly fetched a small broom and beat out the fire in three precise strokes. She’s efficient like that. “You are young. You cannot know love.”Except Romeo and Juliet were young, and though Darren had not declared his devotion publicly from the alley or climbed a trellis to the window leading to Mei’s bedchamber, Romeo had nothing on him when it came to passion. I’d seen more of that than I cared to, in fact.Mei laid the steamed bacon on a clean bamboo chopping block and commenced mincing it into molecule-sized bits. Mrs. Liu waved her spatula. “Harvard most important thing. Future more valuable than useless boy. You tell me, Erin. Who is boy?”My hand flew across the grater, and the mound of turnips grew. “The boy on Muni?”Mrs. Liu growled with exasperation. “The Master say give elder no reason for anxiety.”Mei ducked her head. “You’re right, Ma.”“I am not right,” Mrs. Liu barked. “The Master is right.” By the Master, she meant Confucius, the spiritual grandfather of China, born more than five hundred years before Jesus. Arguing against the Master would be futile. The main dinner chef arrived, and Mrs. Liu dismissed us. “Skedaddle. Do homework. Good-bye.”Grateful for the reprieve, I slipped out of my apron. Mei planted her feet by the stove and lifted her chin. She looked exactly like she used to long ago when we shoved cooked rice and fruit under the stove to feed the hungry ghost that lived there: scared but determined. She turned to Linny and me. “I’m staying to help Ma. Wait for me.”Which meant Linny and I would get a little time alone and she could finally tell me what she started to say on Muni.