Heather Self's Blog, page 15

YA Indie Carnival: Luck o' the Irish

Carnival rides and St. Patty's Day! What could be better together? So we're SUPPOSED to be posting "lucky excerpts" for the Carnival today, either from our books or from real life. Now, I'm not one who really believes in luck and I don't have any "lucky" scenes from the current WIP. BUT I have been to Ireland. The first time I went was in 2005 and I was there for St. Patrick's Day. Funnily enough, we here in the States make a bigger deal of it then the Irish in Blarney did. The second time I went was VERY recent and super special because after nearly 14 years of marriage, the hubs and I went in December 2011 for our honeymoon. We stayed in FOUR different castles so this History major was nerding out a little bit, and enjoyed some AMAZING scenery. So in honor of Ireland and St Patrick here are a few photos from our trip. Hope you enjoy just a taste of how gorgeou Ireland is! Don't forget to check in with the other Carnies by clicking the banner above and see what's new! Kinnity, Co. Offaly, Ireland
N27, Scenic Route to Cliffs of Moher Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare, Ireland


Kilronan Castle, Ballyfarnon, Co. Roscommon, Ireland On the road to Waterford

Easy by Tammara Webber COVER REVEAL

First: Woo hoo! I can not even begin to tell you how excited I am to be helping with this cover reveal! Tammara is one of my fav online author friends and her Between the Lines series is one I LOVE LOVE LOVE (one for each book) so how could I NOT jump at the chance to pimp promote her newest novel. It's a stand alone YA-Mature so 'rents make sure you preview it for your younger teens. Scheduled release date is May 25th so mark those calendars people because this sounds like a GOOD one!

Blurb
When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to thecollege of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup. After two weeksin shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she's single, attending a stateuniversity instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle offriends, stalked by her ex's frat brother, and failing a class for the firsttime in her life.
 Her econ professor gives her an email address forLandon, the class tutor, who shows her that she's still the same intelligentgirl she's always been. As Jacqueline becomes interested in more from her tutorthan a better grade, his teasing responses make the feeling seem mutual.There's just one problem—their only interactions are through email. Meanwhile, a guy in her econ class proves his worththe first night she meets him. Nothing like her popular ex or her brainy tutor,Lucas sits on the back row, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. At adowntown club, he disappears after several dances that leave her on fire. Whenhe asks if he can sketch her, alone in her room, she agrees—hoping for more. Then Jacqueline discovers a withheld connection betweenher supportive tutor and her seductive classmate, her ex comes back into thepicture, and her stalker escalates his attention by spreading rumors thatthey've hooked up. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who totrust is anything but easy.

My Super Sweet 16th Century by Rachel Harris COVER REVEAL

I think my favorite part of being a blogger is cover reveals.  I stinking LOVE them and this one is WAY awesome, and I've already added the book to my TBR on Good Reads. SO here it is:


On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family's trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze. 

Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore. 

Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?








Doesn't that sound AWESOME!? This is one of my favorite periods in history and I'm very much looking forward to this novel! My Super Sweet 16th Century, by Rachel Harris is available for pre-order on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble Be sure to add it to your TBR pile on Goodreads! It releases September 11, 2012. And if that isn't enough to whet your appetite for the book, I even have a super cool excerpt:
I hear their muffled whispers and understand every Italian word. Every witty comment made at my expense.It's like my brain is automatically translating. I bunch the soft fabric of the dress in my hand and then reach up to feel the ribbon in my hair. I lightly skim my fingers over my chin and feel my lack of zit. I take in the costumes of the crowd, the stench of the animals, and the Italian I can now speak and understand. And suddenly it hits me. Reyna must have pulled some kind of gypsy mojo. Maybe this is one of those nifty "change your life" magic scenarios like in the movies. I mean, mostly I'm still expecting to blink and be right back in the midst of overpriced, gaudy tourism, but for now, the gypsy-time-warp explanation is infinitely better than thinking I've lost my mind. As I decide to go with that option, I feel my frantic tension melt away. The growing crowd seems to notice my change in demeanor and begins shooting one another amused looks, but I don't care anymore. A smile stretches across my face. Evidently, I was wrong earlier; Reyna is a psychic mind reader, because if this is her special brand of bibbity-bobbity-boo, then she made my exact daydream from earlier in the courtyard come to life. The long red gown, the braided hair, the Italian merchant's daughter, the time period. I am in Renaissance Florence. I stare dumbly at the ground, the words and reality sinking in. I'm in Renaissance Florence!
Finally, there will be MUCH chatting tomorrow with Rachel on the social networking sites! Be sure to connect with Rachel at:
www.RachelHarrisWrites.com
www.twitter.com/@RachelHarrisYA
www.facebook.com/RachelHarrisYA
www.goodreads.com/RachelHarris

SSRC: My Soul to Save By Rachel Vincent

When Kaylee Cavanaugh screams, someone dies. 



So when teen pop star Eden croaks onstage and Kaylee doesn't wail, she knows something is dead wrong. She can't cry for someone who has no soul. 


The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad's ironclad curfew and putting her too-hot-to-be-real boyfriend's loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls: a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld—a consequence they can't possibly understand. 

Kaylee can't let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk...

Rating: 4
So Kaylee's story continues in this, the second official book, of the Soul Screamers series and it was a really fun ride.  Kaylee feels guilty about some of the stuff that happened in My Soul to Take (I'm not telling in case you haven't read it yet) and because of it has a great need to help a former friend of Tod's named Addison.  The danger level in this book is definitely upped quite a bit with trips to the Netherworld and SUPER big baddies and crazies trying to stop them along the way.  Nash is still oh so sweet and lovable and is not happy about Kaylee trying to save Addison, especially as Tod seems determined to free Addy's soul no matter the risk.  And that brings me to Tod.  EVERYBODY loves Tod and supposedly I will too eventually but as of this book, Tod is a selfish, whiny, punk who puts what he wants ahead of anyone else.  He is so determined to save Addison that he will even LIE and LIE HARD about the risk to a certain person's life just because he needs that person to help him save Addison.  I was ticked at the jerk by the end of this book and wish Nash had taken him to the pavement for the crap her pulled.  Ugh. Needless to say, I am NOT team Tod and if I ever am...someone may have to take ME to the pavement.  
I also really liked seeing Kaylee's relationship with her dad develop a bit more as well as her relationship with Nash's mom who is now teaching her how to "be" a banshee.  All in all a good read, and now I  have to go back and read it again.
Happy Reading!!

YA Indie Carnival:FOUR SEASONS: What season do we tend to write/review?

Carnival rides are up and running again here at the triple P and this week it's about the Four Seasons--no not the hotel sadly.  The question was posed what season do we tend to write in/review.  Umm...yeah. All of them?  I can't really pose an appropriate response to this question as far as writing goes since I picked the craft back up in November and started the book blog in October. So I guess I'll say winter since I haven't made it though a spring, summer or fall yet. ;)  Maybe the other carnies can help me out a bit with this one...click above to see what they have to say and don't forget to check out:

When Stuff Gets Lost/Save the DoDo

So remember that time I told my kids to clean the living and they actually DID and they lost my blogger reveal list and the editing notes for my next chapters? Yeah that happened this week and completely sucked.  Plus side: the composition book with all my notes actually got put away and the elder child knew where it was. {insert HUGE sigh of relief here}   Minus side: the list of bloggers who said yes to my cover reveal has gone the way of the dodo.  So let's save it!  If you were one of the peeps helping me with the big reveal, could you post your email in the comments? At least this way the only way I'll lose the list is if the internet dies.  Thanks for your help!