Katie Hamstead's Blog, page 103
September 19, 2013
Because of Lucy Blog Tour
*Recommended 17+ due to strong language and sexual content* Ness’s parents are shocked when she turns down her place at Leeds University and takes on a full-time job in a call center. Determined to begin her adult life the way she wants, Ness moves to Leeds to live with her best friend Abby.
One night she meets Evan, who is everything she hates about guys. He may be hot but he’s also drunken, arrogant, and on top of that, he apparently has sex with girls and forgets about it. But Evan isn't what he seems and Ness soon discovers they have more in common than she thought.
Evan is struggling to escape from his past too, and when Lucy appears she threatens his new relationship with Ness. Unsure if she can deal with the effect Lucy has on Evan, Ness makes a decision about her future which pulls them apart.
When their new lives don't go as planned, Ness and Evan are both faced with difficult choices. All because of Lucy...
Lisa is originally from the UK but now lives in Perth, Western Australia. She splits her time between writing, raising a family and running a business. She even leaves the house occasionally.
Lisa writes romance and is currently working on a series of new adult paranormal romance novels, the first book, Soul Ties, was published in July 2013. She also writes new adult contemporary - Because of Lucy was released August 2013.
Find Lisa on:
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September 18, 2013
Release: Fade into the Woodwork by Kristina Circelli
Join author Kristina Circelli today in the release of her new book, Fade into the Woodwork! This nail-biting novella is now available on the Kindle and Nook.
Synopsis:
Abducted in broad daylight, locked away in a basement cage, starved for food and light - how would you escape your prison?
Valentina Murdoch finds herself asking that same question after she is attacked and kidnapped one ordinary morning. Brought to a secluded hideaway in the middle of the woods to await her fate at the hands of "the boss," she has but days to survive.
Utilizing her love of action movies to create a plan, Valentina plots her escape while battling a crippling fear of the dark - for the dark is where her childhood nightmare lurks, waiting for her one moment of weakness. But as the clock winds down and her husband's search for her threatens his own life, Valentina realizes that her true fight lies within herself.
Will she have the strength to survive, or will the dark - and all the figures that haunt it - finally win?
Meet the Author:
Night owl, Dorito lover, and quiet eccentric - Kristina Circelli is the author of several fiction novels, including The Helping Hands series, The Whisper Legacy, The Never, and The Sour Orange Derby.
A descendent of the Cherokee nation and niece of a Cherokee elder, Circelli holds both a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in English from the University of North Florida, where she teaches creative writing. She also heads Red Road Editing, a full-service editing company for independent authors and commercial clients.
She currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida with her husband, Seth, and cats, Lord Finnegin the Fierce and Mr. Malachi the Mighty.
Connect with Kristina:
Twitter: @KCircelli
Website
Blog
Facebook
Synopsis:
Abducted in broad daylight, locked away in a basement cage, starved for food and light - how would you escape your prison?Valentina Murdoch finds herself asking that same question after she is attacked and kidnapped one ordinary morning. Brought to a secluded hideaway in the middle of the woods to await her fate at the hands of "the boss," she has but days to survive.
Utilizing her love of action movies to create a plan, Valentina plots her escape while battling a crippling fear of the dark - for the dark is where her childhood nightmare lurks, waiting for her one moment of weakness. But as the clock winds down and her husband's search for her threatens his own life, Valentina realizes that her true fight lies within herself.
Will she have the strength to survive, or will the dark - and all the figures that haunt it - finally win?
Meet the Author:
Night owl, Dorito lover, and quiet eccentric - Kristina Circelli is the author of several fiction novels, including The Helping Hands series, The Whisper Legacy, The Never, and The Sour Orange Derby.A descendent of the Cherokee nation and niece of a Cherokee elder, Circelli holds both a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in English from the University of North Florida, where she teaches creative writing. She also heads Red Road Editing, a full-service editing company for independent authors and commercial clients.
She currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida with her husband, Seth, and cats, Lord Finnegin the Fierce and Mr. Malachi the Mighty.
Connect with Kristina:
Twitter: @KCircelli
Website
Blog
Cover Reveal: A Zebra Like Me by Amy Maurer Jones
Thanks so much, Katie, for hosting me today. I'm excited to announce that I have a new YA book coming out this winter! It's a stand alone YA contemporary entitled, A Zebra Like Me. It's my first stab at contemporary and the subject matter hits close to home so I am more than a little nervous about it.
The cover art is by Kelsey Keeton of KKeeton Designs and it is gorgeous but you don't have to take my word for it, see for yourself!
Here's the blurb on the back of the cover.
Maybelle Dawson longs for normalcy and belonging. Often misunderstood, she struggles with a rare disorder, labeling her a Medical Zebra.
Maybelle’s happiness and well-being threaten to slip through her fingers as she battles to take control of her life. She faces a never-ending battle on her journey to find love, courage and friendship in a world lacking acceptance.
With the guidance of her guardian angel, Maybelle finds her way out of emotional and physical isolation to discover lasting love and amazing friendships.
A Zebra Like Me is the story of one teenager’s battle with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a disorder affecting one in five thousand people.
Sneak Peak - Here's a glimpse into Maybelle's world in pre-edited form. Please forgive my typos. It will be edited professionally prior to publication.
Maybelle
I sat on the soft, green grass staring out at the lake behind my house. The breeze was cool and soothing against my sun kissed skin. Tomorrow is the first day of school. A sour feeling invades my stomach. I barely passed last year. The pressure of my reality is consuming. Now, in the waning heat of August, after a summer filled with rest and relaxation, it’s easy to pretend this year will be better, but I know the truth. Soon, a daily routine of torture will overwhelm me. Pain-filled days spent trudging up and down concrete floors and flights of stares. Agonizing hours of stillness trapped in the unforgiving frames of wooden desks. Neck-breaking, never ending minutes straining to see what my teacher wrote on the board and overhead projector. And, the paralyzing stress of knowing it’s getting worse and I can’t handle it. I feel helpless and defeated and have yet to step through the school’s front doors. “I’m a zebra. No one understands me.” I whisper to myself. I take a deep breath as the air stirs. My focus is distracted by a shimmering glint of light. A silvery, white slip of paper floats down from the clear, blue sky. I stretch out my open palm and clasp my fingers around it. It’s folded neatly into quadrants. I unfold the square of paper to find out what is written inside. You’re not alone, Maybelle. I search the empty space around me and find nothing out of place. Everything is the same. My grandmother’s ferns dangle from their baskets on the back porch. The heavy, faded wooden rocking chairs are still, immune to the feeble breeze. The vegetable garden and the locked shed beyond it are undisturbed. An occasional boater drifts by on the lake but otherwise all is quiet. I am alone. I reach for my backpack and retrieve my make-shift diary, a simple spiral-bound notebook. I tear out a piece of paper. “Prove it.” I say the words as I scrawl them onto the slip of paper, fold it into a square, and toss it toward the heavens.
If you'd like to learn more about me or my books you can find me here:
BlogWebsiteFacebookTwitter
The cover art is by Kelsey Keeton of KKeeton Designs and it is gorgeous but you don't have to take my word for it, see for yourself!
Here's the blurb on the back of the cover.
Maybelle Dawson longs for normalcy and belonging. Often misunderstood, she struggles with a rare disorder, labeling her a Medical Zebra.
Maybelle’s happiness and well-being threaten to slip through her fingers as she battles to take control of her life. She faces a never-ending battle on her journey to find love, courage and friendship in a world lacking acceptance.
With the guidance of her guardian angel, Maybelle finds her way out of emotional and physical isolation to discover lasting love and amazing friendships.
A Zebra Like Me is the story of one teenager’s battle with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a disorder affecting one in five thousand people.
Sneak Peak - Here's a glimpse into Maybelle's world in pre-edited form. Please forgive my typos. It will be edited professionally prior to publication.
Maybelle
I sat on the soft, green grass staring out at the lake behind my house. The breeze was cool and soothing against my sun kissed skin. Tomorrow is the first day of school. A sour feeling invades my stomach. I barely passed last year. The pressure of my reality is consuming. Now, in the waning heat of August, after a summer filled with rest and relaxation, it’s easy to pretend this year will be better, but I know the truth. Soon, a daily routine of torture will overwhelm me. Pain-filled days spent trudging up and down concrete floors and flights of stares. Agonizing hours of stillness trapped in the unforgiving frames of wooden desks. Neck-breaking, never ending minutes straining to see what my teacher wrote on the board and overhead projector. And, the paralyzing stress of knowing it’s getting worse and I can’t handle it. I feel helpless and defeated and have yet to step through the school’s front doors. “I’m a zebra. No one understands me.” I whisper to myself. I take a deep breath as the air stirs. My focus is distracted by a shimmering glint of light. A silvery, white slip of paper floats down from the clear, blue sky. I stretch out my open palm and clasp my fingers around it. It’s folded neatly into quadrants. I unfold the square of paper to find out what is written inside. You’re not alone, Maybelle. I search the empty space around me and find nothing out of place. Everything is the same. My grandmother’s ferns dangle from their baskets on the back porch. The heavy, faded wooden rocking chairs are still, immune to the feeble breeze. The vegetable garden and the locked shed beyond it are undisturbed. An occasional boater drifts by on the lake but otherwise all is quiet. I am alone. I reach for my backpack and retrieve my make-shift diary, a simple spiral-bound notebook. I tear out a piece of paper. “Prove it.” I say the words as I scrawl them onto the slip of paper, fold it into a square, and toss it toward the heavens.
If you'd like to learn more about me or my books you can find me here:
BlogWebsiteFacebookTwitter
September 14, 2013
Character Interview: Disciple Part III by L. Blankenship
L. Blankenship: My character interviews are usually with one of my main characters. This time, I asked the mentor figure in Disciple, Parselev, for his perspective on how we got to Disciple, Part III.
Disciple, Part III
Kate fought for her place as a healer in the war’s front lines. Serving her homeland has been her goal since her magical gifts earned her a coveted apprenticeship with the kingdom’s greatest healer. She believes she’s prepared.
But nothing’s simple when defending a besieged capital city — or her heart.
She loves the prince, who means to protect her even though his duties as a knight keep him on the battlements, fighting the enemy’s monstrous army.
Kate’s husband is the one who checks on her, lingers over dinner, and slowly but surely charms her. She’s all too aware that her beloved prince threatened to kill him if he touches her.
As the enemy thunders against the city walls, the kingdom needs more from Kate than just her healing magic. All disciples must put aside their tangled feelings and stand in the homeland’s defense.
Kate believed she's ready for a war. She isn't.
L: What was your motivation in taking Kate on as your student, when others were more qualified?
Parselev: Kate's gift with kir was what brought her to my attention. It's true that as a peasant girl there was much she needed to learn when she first arrived, but reading came easily to her and the rest followed.
L: The rest being -- writing? math?
Parselev: (nodding) In truth, finding her confidence was more important. Leadership. She was timid, at first, and easily bullied by the older students. I could not be a mother hen to her, when I have so many other duties, but I saw to it that she had her chances to prove herself.
L: The experience she earned during the secret mission (in Disciple, Part I) greatly improved her confidence?
Parselev: Yes. It gave her a taste of what she could do. She's improved steadily, despite a few setbacks, and now that the war is on our doorstep… (he stares into the distance, pursing his mouth.)
L: You worry for her.
Parselev: Of course. She's young. Anything might happen.
L: Why not send her north when the city was evacuated, then?
Parselev: Her gift is needed here. Serving in a battlefield surgery is -- hard, but she needs the discipline of it. It will strengthen her.
True, there are three more parts of Discipleyet to come. Kate will need to be strong.
On sale now! See the list of retailers
Read a sample of Disciple, Part III • sample Part II • sample Part I
L's book blog • Goodreads• Facebook• Google+
Disciple, Part III
Kate fought for her place as a healer in the war’s front lines. Serving her homeland has been her goal since her magical gifts earned her a coveted apprenticeship with the kingdom’s greatest healer. She believes she’s prepared.But nothing’s simple when defending a besieged capital city — or her heart.
She loves the prince, who means to protect her even though his duties as a knight keep him on the battlements, fighting the enemy’s monstrous army.
Kate’s husband is the one who checks on her, lingers over dinner, and slowly but surely charms her. She’s all too aware that her beloved prince threatened to kill him if he touches her.
As the enemy thunders against the city walls, the kingdom needs more from Kate than just her healing magic. All disciples must put aside their tangled feelings and stand in the homeland’s defense.
Kate believed she's ready for a war. She isn't.
L: What was your motivation in taking Kate on as your student, when others were more qualified?
Parselev: Kate's gift with kir was what brought her to my attention. It's true that as a peasant girl there was much she needed to learn when she first arrived, but reading came easily to her and the rest followed.
L: The rest being -- writing? math?
Parselev: (nodding) In truth, finding her confidence was more important. Leadership. She was timid, at first, and easily bullied by the older students. I could not be a mother hen to her, when I have so many other duties, but I saw to it that she had her chances to prove herself.
L: The experience she earned during the secret mission (in Disciple, Part I) greatly improved her confidence?
Parselev: Yes. It gave her a taste of what she could do. She's improved steadily, despite a few setbacks, and now that the war is on our doorstep… (he stares into the distance, pursing his mouth.)
L: You worry for her.
Parselev: Of course. She's young. Anything might happen.
L: Why not send her north when the city was evacuated, then?
Parselev: Her gift is needed here. Serving in a battlefield surgery is -- hard, but she needs the discipline of it. It will strengthen her.
True, there are three more parts of Discipleyet to come. Kate will need to be strong.
On sale now! See the list of retailers
Read a sample of Disciple, Part III • sample Part II • sample Part I
L's book blog • Goodreads• Facebook• Google+
September 12, 2013
Review: Chameleon: The Awakening by Maggie Faire
Here's another NetGalley. I've had this one waiting for a while... sorry about that. Having a Kindle makes life so much easier.
From Goodreads:
No identity. That’s what it’s like to be a human chameleon, and sixteen-year-old Camryn Painter wonders if she'll ever figure out who the real Camryn is—or should be. Just looking at someone else will cause her body to change into that person. Her parents called it her gift. She calls it her curse.
Then Ohar, a man with impossibly good looks and an ethereal manner offers her a way to claim her birthright by joining the Mazikeen as part of the Forest People. He says she is “the chosen” of the Forest People. The prophecy indicates her powers are beyond any others and she will save their world.
Camryn had always loved the Redwoods at her back door. The stories her mother spun of its inhabitants kept her entertained for much of her childhood. The problem is the stories are real. The forest people are real, human yet not human. They are faery and beasts, evil and angels, mutations of humans and animals over thousands of years. Then there's Dagger, a young man who distrusts the Mazikeen and Ohar, but admits to being a thief and only interested in his own pleasure. All of them want the Chameleon for their own agenda.
With the help of Ohar and Dagger, Camryn learns to control her identity so that she can walk among more than one world. Yet the more Camryn learns, the more she suspects there are too many secrets — dangerous secrets. There are no easy answers, and every decision she makes puts someone’s life in danger.
My thoughts:
I wanted to like this more than I did. The concept, plot, and scenes were very good. The first few chapters I enjoyed, but the deeper in I went, I found myself skipping the excessive and repetitive internal dialogue and descriptions of body language. I felt like they were distracting me from the moment of the plot, where I wanted to throw myself into a tension riddled scene I was getting frustrated at the broken conversations and too much thought from Camryn.
I didn't like Ohar from the very first encouter, and I mean this in a good way. His character made me mad, that he loved someone else but still wanted to "mate" with Camryn. Garg. I'm really glad Dagger came along, and I want to see her open to him because her closed off attitude toward him when he's so honest and nice to her, even though he says over and over he is bad, kind of frustrated me.
All in all, I think it just needs a good edit down and I'd enjoy the next book thoroughly.
From Goodreads:No identity. That’s what it’s like to be a human chameleon, and sixteen-year-old Camryn Painter wonders if she'll ever figure out who the real Camryn is—or should be. Just looking at someone else will cause her body to change into that person. Her parents called it her gift. She calls it her curse.
Then Ohar, a man with impossibly good looks and an ethereal manner offers her a way to claim her birthright by joining the Mazikeen as part of the Forest People. He says she is “the chosen” of the Forest People. The prophecy indicates her powers are beyond any others and she will save their world.
Camryn had always loved the Redwoods at her back door. The stories her mother spun of its inhabitants kept her entertained for much of her childhood. The problem is the stories are real. The forest people are real, human yet not human. They are faery and beasts, evil and angels, mutations of humans and animals over thousands of years. Then there's Dagger, a young man who distrusts the Mazikeen and Ohar, but admits to being a thief and only interested in his own pleasure. All of them want the Chameleon for their own agenda.
With the help of Ohar and Dagger, Camryn learns to control her identity so that she can walk among more than one world. Yet the more Camryn learns, the more she suspects there are too many secrets — dangerous secrets. There are no easy answers, and every decision she makes puts someone’s life in danger.
My thoughts:
I wanted to like this more than I did. The concept, plot, and scenes were very good. The first few chapters I enjoyed, but the deeper in I went, I found myself skipping the excessive and repetitive internal dialogue and descriptions of body language. I felt like they were distracting me from the moment of the plot, where I wanted to throw myself into a tension riddled scene I was getting frustrated at the broken conversations and too much thought from Camryn.
I didn't like Ohar from the very first encouter, and I mean this in a good way. His character made me mad, that he loved someone else but still wanted to "mate" with Camryn. Garg. I'm really glad Dagger came along, and I want to see her open to him because her closed off attitude toward him when he's so honest and nice to her, even though he says over and over he is bad, kind of frustrated me.
All in all, I think it just needs a good edit down and I'd enjoy the next book thoroughly.
September 9, 2013
The Tempering Tour
Something weird happened and this didn't post right! Sorry everyone! Here is the tour stop for The Tempering by Adrianne James.
The Mythology department at prestigious Harvard University is tiny—and Mackenzie Duncan has just been selected as one of the lucky few. Her love for myths and legends is strong, but she never thought any of it could be real.
After being attacked by a large wolf while walking home alone, Mackenzie realizes something is not right. She heals quickly, is suddenly super strong, and is experiencing mood swings that can't possibly be normal. The myths she's studying aren't myths at all. Werewolves are real and she's one of them. Fear of what she is, and who she might hurt sends Mackenzie running from the life she’s worked hard to build–and straight into the arms of a handsome Were named Geoff and into the home of his pack. Living with her new pack takes the edge off her confusion and self-loathing, but the arrival of new pack members changes the dynamic, and tests Geoff and Mackenzie’s growing relationship.
The hardest part of being a werewolf is having no control and no memory of her time as a blood thirsty beast. When a moon cycle passes and she actually remembers bits and pieces of the night, she starts to ask questions, and the more questions she asks, the more she realizes she doesn't like the answers. Can she set aside her own sense of morals to belong to a pack that is like a family or will she leave everything behind yet again in search of a life she can be proud of?
Add it on Goodreads
Author bio: Growing up, Adrianne couldn't get her hands on enough books to satisfy her need for the make believe. If she finished a novel and didn't have a new one ready and waiting for her, she began to create her own tales of magic and wonder. Now, as an adult, books still make up majority of her free time, and now her tales get written down to be shared with the world.
During the day, Adrianne uses her camera to capture life's stories for clients of all ages and at night, after her two children are tucked in bed; she devotes herself to her written work. Adrianne is living the life she always wanted, surrounded by art and beauty, the written word and a loving family.
As a young adult and new adult author, Adrianne James has plans to bring stories of growing characters, a little romance, and perhaps a little magic and mythology down the line for her readers to enjoy.
Find Adrianne on:
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
The Tempering releases September 13, 2013!
The Mythology department at prestigious Harvard University is tiny—and Mackenzie Duncan has just been selected as one of the lucky few. Her love for myths and legends is strong, but she never thought any of it could be real.After being attacked by a large wolf while walking home alone, Mackenzie realizes something is not right. She heals quickly, is suddenly super strong, and is experiencing mood swings that can't possibly be normal. The myths she's studying aren't myths at all. Werewolves are real and she's one of them. Fear of what she is, and who she might hurt sends Mackenzie running from the life she’s worked hard to build–and straight into the arms of a handsome Were named Geoff and into the home of his pack. Living with her new pack takes the edge off her confusion and self-loathing, but the arrival of new pack members changes the dynamic, and tests Geoff and Mackenzie’s growing relationship.
The hardest part of being a werewolf is having no control and no memory of her time as a blood thirsty beast. When a moon cycle passes and she actually remembers bits and pieces of the night, she starts to ask questions, and the more questions she asks, the more she realizes she doesn't like the answers. Can she set aside her own sense of morals to belong to a pack that is like a family or will she leave everything behind yet again in search of a life she can be proud of?
Add it on Goodreads
Author bio: Growing up, Adrianne couldn't get her hands on enough books to satisfy her need for the make believe. If she finished a novel and didn't have a new one ready and waiting for her, she began to create her own tales of magic and wonder. Now, as an adult, books still make up majority of her free time, and now her tales get written down to be shared with the world.
During the day, Adrianne uses her camera to capture life's stories for clients of all ages and at night, after her two children are tucked in bed; she devotes herself to her written work. Adrianne is living the life she always wanted, surrounded by art and beauty, the written word and a loving family.
As a young adult and new adult author, Adrianne James has plans to bring stories of growing characters, a little romance, and perhaps a little magic and mythology down the line for her readers to enjoy.
Find Adrianne on:
Goodreads
The Tempering releases September 13, 2013!
September 7, 2013
Kiya: Mother of a King.... cover?
So I got my first mock up cover for Kiya 2! This means I'll need some cover reveal volunteers soon! If your interested, just leave me a comment with your email below.
September 5, 2013
The Typelings: The Summer We Were Sixteen: Part IV - Ozz
The Typelings: The Summer We Were Sixteen: Part IV - Ozz: In Australia, summer is Dec-Feb, so my 16th birthday was right before the end of the school year. I remember it clearly because as a 10th gr...
September 3, 2013
Cover Reveal - Olympia Heights: The Cult of Kronos (Book 4) by Amy Leigh Strickland
So I jumped on another cover reveal! I just think they are fun. So here is the cover for the forth book of the Olympia Heights series by Amy Leigh Strickland. Visit the series' website for details: www.olympia-heights.com
a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
September 2, 2013
Review: Secret Sisters by Emelle Gamble
I've had this one sitting waiting for me for a while from NetGalley and I've finally got to it!
From Goodreads:
What if everything about you changed in an instant...
Nick & Cathy and Roxanne. Two best friends. One husband. An extraordinary twist of fate.
How much do you really know about your husband? Your best friend? Yourself? Cathy Chance knows she loves her husband, Nick, with the same passion she had when she married him seven years ago, and he adores her. She also knows that she and her best friend, Roxanne, are closer than most sisters. But on a sunny summer day, these three are hurled into an astounding new reality which forces each to reconsider everything they thought was true about themselves, and one another.
The first couple of chapters are great. They had me really interested and curious to see what happens next. But then while Roxanne couldn't remember anything it started to drag a bit while I wanted it to get to the point. When it finally did, the pace picked up again and I couldn't put it down.
The ending is not what I expected and definitely made the story go out with a bang.
The characters were all messed up in completely understandable ways. The things that happened definitely would mess with someone's head. I didn't like Roxanne one bit from the beginning, and although I did like Cathy, I couldn't understand her loyalty to Roxanne. But Nick was so human and so real and his love for Cathy was beautiful, despite his flaws.
From Goodreads:What if everything about you changed in an instant...
Nick & Cathy and Roxanne. Two best friends. One husband. An extraordinary twist of fate.
How much do you really know about your husband? Your best friend? Yourself? Cathy Chance knows she loves her husband, Nick, with the same passion she had when she married him seven years ago, and he adores her. She also knows that she and her best friend, Roxanne, are closer than most sisters. But on a sunny summer day, these three are hurled into an astounding new reality which forces each to reconsider everything they thought was true about themselves, and one another.
The first couple of chapters are great. They had me really interested and curious to see what happens next. But then while Roxanne couldn't remember anything it started to drag a bit while I wanted it to get to the point. When it finally did, the pace picked up again and I couldn't put it down.
The ending is not what I expected and definitely made the story go out with a bang.
The characters were all messed up in completely understandable ways. The things that happened definitely would mess with someone's head. I didn't like Roxanne one bit from the beginning, and although I did like Cathy, I couldn't understand her loyalty to Roxanne. But Nick was so human and so real and his love for Cathy was beautiful, despite his flaws.
