30 October, 2012

Bewitching Book Tour Review: Shallow by Georgia Cates

Blurb:
Nick Hawke likes his car fast and his girls even faster. He blows through females quicker than his muscle car races down the drag strip in Collinsville and he wouldn’t have it any other way. Determined to avoid the devastation he has watched his father endure in the aftermath of his mother leaving, he believes there is no room in his life or his heart for a relationship lasting more than one night. He seeks happiness in things that won’t let him down... fast cars, parties and one night stands. To his absolute dismay, all of that changes when he unexpectedly runs into an old friend and is introduced to Payton Archer, the first girl he ever wanted for more than one night. There’s only one catch...she is completely immune to him and his smooth talking ways.

Payton Archer is looking for what Claire has with Jessie, but she has given up on finding it... at least until she leaves for college in the Fall because she is certain that is where she will find the perfect guy to fit into her perfect world. She plans on Summer being nothing but three uneventful months of fun, but it turns out to be anything but ordinary when Payton is introduced to Nick Hawke, one of Jessie’s old Collinsville friends. She is shocked by her immediate and intense attraction for “Hawke” because nothing about him is what Payton is looking for. Sure, he’s hot and sexy but he comes from Collinsville and that is definitely not on her list of prerequisites. Everything about him makes Payton’s heart speed because he is exciting and dangerous, but his fast car and the dangerous chances he takes isn’t what scares Payton the most...it’s the way Nick Hawke makes her feel every time he looks at her. Can Payton find that moment of total fearlessness and make the decision to leave the safe, shallow end of love to risk going under completely?



It's been a while since I read a contemporary YA, and SHALLOW is the second book in a series of which I had not read the first. So, unlike readers who had read GOING UNDER, the world, style of writing, and characters were wholly unfamiliar to me. Sometimes, this does not bother me at all. Most times this does not bother me at all. But, I found myself wishing that I hadn't started with book #2 of this series. The main character, Payton and her friends had a dialog style that was a little off-putting to me. There were references that even now, are dated and will definitely in the future, date the novel. I noticed these things.

However, the actual story was interesting. Payton and Nick live in a fast world, one where teenagers do all those things that teens do, but some adults seem to think they don't know about, and instead of educating them on these things, try to wrap them in cotton against them. (That was a little bit of a tangent there, eh?) Anyway, Georgia Cates has a straight-forward writing style that depicts events -good or bad- in her characters lives with a authenticity most adults lose by 26. Payton is smart and smart-talking, but not perfect. Nick is cocky and good-looking, which is disaster in a boy-turning-into-a-man's body. It works. Cates make it work very well.

Fast and fancy cars, teens exploring love and sexuality and frank dialog may make SHALLOW inappropriate for some younger YA readers, but it comes off as reality, even if it doesn't portray every teen, or even the "average" teen. SHALLOW takes a plunge (sorry for the pun) into the deep end and doesn't sink.

Book Rating:
10/15
3 star
B-

Goodreads
Barnes and Noble
| Amazon



About The Author:
Georgia resides in rural Mississippi with her wonderful husband, Jeff, and their two beautiful daughters. She spent fourteen years as a labor and delivery nurse before she decided to pursue her dream of becoming an author.

Blood of Anteros, Book One in The Vampire Agápe Series, was her first novel and it was released in September 2011. She decided to briefly step away from the paranormal genre to try her hand at a young adult contemporary romance when she wrote Going Under, but returned to the paranormal romance platform to complete the second book in The Vampire Agápe Series, Blood Jewel.

Her current works in progress are Shallow (A Going Under Novel) which will release on September 27th and Blood Doll (The Vampire Agápe Series #3), to be released in January 2013.

Blog
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This book was provided by Bewitching Book Tours, in exchange for an honest review only

29 October, 2012

Guest Post With Roxanne Rhodes: Let Them Sparkle



Roxanne Rhodes is guest posting at Read My Mind today about a subject we all think about since TWILIGHT: Do Real Vampires Sparkle?

About The Author:
Story strumpet, tome loving tart, eccentric night owl...these words describe book publicist and erotic romance author Roxanne Rhoads.

When not fulfilling one the many roles being a wife and mother of three require, Roxanne's world revolves around words...reading them, writing them, editing them, and talking about them. In addition to writing her own stories she loves to read, promote and review what others write.

Roxanne is the owner of Bewitching Book Tours and operates Fang-tastic Books, a book blog dedicated to paranormal and urban fantasy books.
When not reading, writing, or promoting Roxanne loves to hang out with her family, craft, garden and search for unique vintage finds.

Website
| Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads



Let Them Sparkle
By Roxanne Rhoads


Maybe a little sparkle is exactly what a generation needed to find a light in the everyday darkness that exists in today’s world.

I know some die hard vampire fans say “real vampires don’t sparkle”.

But maybe at this point in time it is exactly what the world needed and why this new breed of vampires opened the doors to all types of vampires becoming popular again, maybe more popular than at any other point in history.

The popularity of vampires comes and goes.

What has made the vampire an enduring and truly immortal creature? What is it about these blood suckers that makes us love them so? Perhaps above all else it is their enduring quality, something evermore in a world of uncertainty.

In times of turmoil we often turn to "fantastical" creatures and stories to find something more interesting than the horror and mundane boredom we face in the world everyday. Turn on the news, and everything is so depressing. It is no wonder we are turning to sparkly vampires and otherworldly creatures to give us an escape.

This generation of teenagers has grown up in the post 9/11 world. A world full of terror, war, economic crisis and despair. So why not fall in love with something bright and shining? Something different than everything else that has come before.

Some writers and anti-fans have declared that the Twilight books are too simplistic, too clichéd and that Bella is so bland and completely lacking of any personality that every girl can see themselves in her (I am paraphrasing here).

Maybe that’s the point. Plus you have to remember these books were written for teens, not adults. The universal themes of a young girl feeling lost, lacking direction, torn between two guys- one her friend the other someone much older and dangerous, wanting protection, seeking a place in the world…hello? Do the critics not remember what it was like to be a teenager?

I do, that’s why I understand completely the appeal of Twilight (even if my adult, feminist brain doesn’t agree with all of it). Twilight is in many ways so simple everyone can find a place, everyone can find something appealing. Especially after you throw in some supernatural fun and a little sparkle and ta-da something fresh and new for a generation that really needed something to distract them from the world.

So please don’t over read it, let everyone have fun and focus on something not so dark and full of despair.

I've been a fan of vampires ever since the late 80s when I found a copy of Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice. Everyone who was into vampires back then seemed to be really into Anne Rice. But back then we didn't have the internet, email, cell phones, texting, Twitter, Facebook, etc.

Today teens (and anyone else) can instantly share what they love with anyone and everyone... around the world. Everyone's voice can be heard these days. Technology is truly what has made Twilight such a huge success. I mean, we even have more technology now than we had when Harry Potter first came out. It's just a sign of the times. Technology has made it possible for anything to instantly "go viral".

Vampire fans have existed since Dracula became a literary phenomenon.

It’s a passing phase, something that goes in and out of style like clothing. And every generation puts a new spin on what’s in style. Dracula fans loved the darkness, the veiled references of sex, desire and danger. Anne Rice fans loved the angst, the vampires feeling lost and not knowing their place in the world while being beautiful and young forever (a connection to teenagers everywhere at the time).

Today’s vampire fans are varied- from the ones who love the dark, scary horror vamps a la 30 Days of Night to the fans of sexy alpha males so popular in vampire romance novels, to the sparkly vamps Twilight fans love so much.

I think every vamp has its place- and if they sparkle, so what, let them sparkle. If Sparkly vamps are what it takes to get people to read, to be happy, to b excited about something... then so be it. Let them sparkle.


Thanks to Roxanne for stopping by! Here's a little more about Roxanne's newest release.


Hex And The Single Witch (Vehicle City Vampires #1):
Anwyn Rose is descended from a long line of powerful witches yet she can barely cast spells young witchlings have mastered. She has one functioning witch gift, the power of knowing, which she puts to good use as a Detective on Flint’s Preternatural Investigation Team.
It’s a new era in Vehicle City, supernaturals are running the town.

The P.I.T has their hands full with paranormal crimes. Top priority is a serial killer, who appears to be a vampire, draining young women in the city.

Anwyn is on the case with her sexy partner Detective Mike Malone. Complicating things is her relationship Galen, a vampire who looks more guilty than innocent, although Anwyn trusts her instincts even if her power is on the fritz.

Mysterious spells, compromising situations, and a possible demon on the loose make it hard to focus on the case, but Anwyn has to make things right before the human police execute the wrong vampire.

Goodreads
Barnes and Noble | NookBook | Amazon | Kindle



26 October, 2012

Cover Reveal: Embers In A Dark Frost by Kelly Keaton

I am super happy to have this cover reveal at Read My Mind! EMBERS IN A DARK FROST is Kelly Keaton -AKA Kelly Gay's- newest venture. A New Adult fantasy, EMBERS IN A DARK FROST will be available in e-book format November 2012.


About The Author:
Kelly loves ancient history, fantasy, and mythology. She dreams of one day attaining magical powers, discovering the secret to immortality, ridding her home of pet hair, and being crowned Mardi-Gras queen. 

As Kelly Gay, she writes the popular adult urban fantasy series, Charlie Madigan, for Pocket Books. While she calls Raleigh, NC, home, she can also be found chatting about books and life on Facebook and Twitter.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads


Blurb:
The Fire Breathers have come. The Underworld calls. A choice must be made…

With her feared half blood and flame-colored hair, DEIRA D'ANU is a constant reminder of human betrayal and the war that claimed the light from Innis Fail. Now, darkness and frost creep across the land, strengthening the Lord of the Underworld. War is imminent—an allegiance with the Fire Breathers is vital. When their champion, Balen, sees Deira, he believes she is the key to finding the light and stopping the dark frost.

But the Underworld calls to Deira, tempting her to turn her back on a world that never cared and betray the champion willing to sacrifice everything to keep her safe and save his world from darkness.

Find On Goodreads



I really like red hair on a cover model, when it stands out sharply against the rest of the art. I think this cover strikes just the right balance between Kelly's other work; it looks like the next step up from her YA books, and hopefully will have cross-over appeal from both them and her adult urban fantasy.

Congrats Kelly!

What are you thoughts on the cover? Leave em in comments and discuss...


Cover Art Created By: Claudia McKinney at Phat Puppy Creations
Typography Designed By: Hot Damn Designs

25 October, 2012

Book Blast Giveaway: The Waiting Booth by Brinda Berry



Thanks to Kathy of I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and her new venture Book Blasts and Blog Tours, and the author Brinda Berry, Read My Mind is participating in a promotion for THE WAITING BOOTH, which was released in September 2012 by Etopia Press. The first book in the WHISPERING WOODS series, I can't wait to read!

Here's a little more about THE WAITING BOOTH and Brinda.


Blurb:
A missing boy, government agents, an interdimensional portal... Mia has one goal for her senior year at Whispering Woods High-find her missing older brother. But when her science project reveals a portal into another dimension, she learns that travelers are moving in and out of her woods in the most alarming way and government agents Regulus and Arizona are policing their immigration.

Mia's drawn to the mysterious, aloof Regulus, but it's no time for a crush. She needs to find out what they know about her brother, while the agents fight to save the world from viral contamination. But when Regulus reveals that he knows Mia's secrets, she begins to wonder if there's more going on than she thought... and if she was wrong to trust him...


Goodreads

Barnes and Noble | Book Depository | Amazon




About The Author:
Brinda Berry lives in the southern US with her family and two spunky cairn terriers. She has a BSE in English and French and a MEd in Learning Systems Technology. 

She's terribly fond of chocolate, coffee, and books that take her away from reality. She doesn't mind being called a geek or “crazy dog lady”. 

When she's not working the day job or writing a novel, she's guilty of surfing the internet for no good reason.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook | Youtube | Google+


Basically, Brinda Berry is sponsoring a ONE HUNDRED DOLLAR Amazon Gift Card or PayPal Cash prize! WHAT THE WHAT?!? you say. Yup. Just follow the instructions on the rafflecopter below to enter.
Ends November 1st, 2012

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent's permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

24 October, 2012

Gothic/Gaslamp Wednesday Review: The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart by Leanna Renee Hieber

Blurb:
For Natalie Stewart, a normal life has never seemed so far away. Her only solace, Lord Jonathan Denbury, is wanted for murder. To clear his name, Denbury must return to England and assume the role of his demon doppelganger. 

But Natalie begins to doubt his true motives, especially as a new gentleman begins whispering in her ear. Natalie and Denbury may be able to visit each other in their dreams, but they can't escape the darkening shadows. 

spontaneous explosions, friends turned enemies and dangerous secrets revealed, there's still a demon who has Natalie's scent, and someone is trying to resurrect the ultimate evil.


It's funny that I happened to read THE TWISTED TALE OF MISS NATALIE STEWART just before I read another gothic tale. Perhaps, after reading this wonderful addition to the DARKER STILL series, I still had a taste for a good gothic mystery. Regardless, this book continued the tale of Natalie Stewart and her love, Jonathan Denbury. having been rescued from the painting that he was trapped in, the two embark on a journey (figuratively and literally, at points) to find and uncover the villain they can't seem to shed. I've already slightly spoiled DARKER STILL, the first book in the series, and to avoid major spoilers for both, I won't speak too much on the plot.

However, Natalie has regained her voice, which makes her part in discovering more about the demon that walked about as Jonathan slightly easier, as now she can talk to her confidantes and help Jonathan don the personality of his demon doppelganger. In DARKER STILL, Natalie is an intelligent young woman, and rather unlike the truth of a majority of Victorian women. She has a freedom that is seldom contained, and a sharp mind that the reader gets to experience more of in THE TWISTED TRAGEDY OF MISS NATALIE STEWART.

What I like about Leanna Renee Hieber's writing is that is has little touches here and there that seem to go beyond one-dimentional research. There is an authenticity employed in the dress, the speech, and the personalities that seem impossible for someone who could never have experienced Victorian or Gaslamp society themselves.

THE TWISTED TRAGEDY OF MISS NATALIE STEWART was all that I could hope for in a follow-up to DARKER STILL. Everything that I liked about the characters from the first book has perfect continuity in this one. Hieber knows how to spin a great tale, where the setting is just as important as the story, and she captured my interest with the unusual tale of Denbury and Natalie. Starting out as a tribute to the Dorian Grey idea, the series has gone beyond what most know about the "picture". Hieber has molded and twisted the idea into her own with great success.

Book Rating:
13/15
4 Stars
A-

GoodReads
Barnes and Noble
| Indiebound | Amazon



About The Author:
Author, actress and playwright Leanna Renee Hieber grew up in rural Ohio inventing ghost stories. She graduated with a BFA in Theatre and a focus in the Victorian Era from Miami University. She began her theatrical career with the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and began adapting works of 19th Century literature for the stage. Her one-act plays such as Favorite Lady have been published, awarded and produced around the country. Her novella Dark Nest won the 2009 Prism Award for excellence in the genre of Futuristic, Fantasy, or Paranormal Romance.

Her debut novel, The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, first in her Strangely Beautiful series, landed on Barnes & Noble's bestseller lists, was named a favourite of 2009 by 14 book blogs, won two 2010 Prism Awards (Best Fantasy, Best First Book), the 2010 Orange County Book Buyer's Best Award (Young Adult category) and is currently in development as a musical theatre production with Broadway talent on board. The Strangely Beautiful series has been translated into several languages and was selected for hardcover editions via Rhapsody and SciFi Book Clubs. The Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess, the prequel in the series, won the 2012 Prism Award (Best Fantasy).

DARKER STILL: A Novel of Magic Most Foul, first in Leanna's Gothic Historical Paranormal saga for teens (Sourcebooks Fire), hit the Kid's/YA INDIE NEXT LIST as a recommended title by the American Booksellers Association. Seventeen Magazine said of DARKER STILL: "This chilling tale will draw you in and keep you guessing until the very last page!" The book has been praised by Shelf Awareness, The Chicago Tribune, Pixie Magazine and more. DARKER STILL will also be translated into several languages and has been selected for a SCHOLASTIC edition as a "highly recommended" title.

Leanna's short fiction has been featured in anthologies Candle In the Attic Window and the upcoming Willful Impropriety: Tales of Society and Scandal, "Too Fond"; a forthcoming short for Tor.com and Queen Victoria's Book of Spells: Tales of Gaslight Fantasy (March 2013, Tor).

Represented by Nicholas Roman Lewis, Leanna is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Romance Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. She is proud to be a co-founder of the original Lady Jane's Salon Reading Series in New York. Leanna was named the 2010 RWA NYC Chapter Author of the Year.

A member of Actors Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA, Leanna works often in film and television on shows like Boardwalk Empire and is thrilled to be playing a principle role as Deputy Kellion in the forthcoming web-series Auror's Tale. When not writing or on set, she's busy telling ghost stories, frequenting Goth clubs, corset shopping, channeling Narcissa Malfoy, wandering graveyards and generally adventuring about her adopted hometown of New York City, where she resides with her real-life hero and their beloved rescued lab rabbit.

Website | Blog | Twitter | GoodReads


This book was provided by Around The World ARC Tours, in exchange for my honest review only

Gothic/Gaslamp Wednesday Review: Ours Is Just a Little Sorrow by Gwen Hayes

Blurb:
The colony of New Geneva has risen from the ashes of her dying mother planet, Earth, by rebuilding a society based on a time before everything went horribly, horribly wrong... the Victorian Era...

Violet Merriweather first sets eyes on Colonel Winston when he purchases her at auction from Witherspoon Academy, the orphanage where she’d been raised after her rescue from Earth. Dutifully, as she was taught, Violet pushes away her fear of the monstrous, forbidding Thornfield Abbey, and throws herself into her work as governess to the Colonel’s youngest son.

But the Colonel's elder sons have other ideas.

John and Gideon Winston are as different as night and day, and each wants to claim Violet for his own. John immediately charms her with his intelligence and cordial demeanor, while Gideon, the dark rogue, delights in flustering her at every opportunity, awakening a yearning she doesn't understand and most assuredly does not want. She tries to deny her pull to both men, but an uneasy midnight bargain with one forges a new alliance as she’s dazzled by an underground New Geneva she hadn't known existed. And temptations she cannot resist.

But something is preying on the women of New Geneva, something that threatens to unleash the ghosts of Thornfield and drag them all into hell. And that something wants Violet most of all.


OURS IS JUST A LITTLE SORROW starts out at an auction, where orphans are sold into service to wealthy families. Sounds a bit harsh for a beginning? Gwen Hayes is adept at capturing trepidation Violet Merriweather feels as her story opens. The story thrusts the reader into a futuristic world, which has reverted to the Victorian way of living, post-apocolypse. A world where the serving class happens to be those that are raised in orphanages, and the upper class can hold some dangerous secrets.

The reader lives mostly in Violet's head, getting a chance to experience her life in the household of Colonel Winston, where she meets his two sons, John and Gideon. Now, here's where Hayes impressed me. The two guys/one girl trope could have turned into a typical love triangle, but it didn't seem there just for the sake of being there. Violet's attraction and friendship with the two brothers is a revelation for how she had grown up. For someone who is supposed to know that she is lesser and not worthy of the same affection between her and her "employers", it is quite interesting to see how the two vastly different personalities of the brother affect and beguile Violet.

Hayes has a lyrical quality to her writing that is perfect for this novella. The darker aspect of the plot is a gothic tale at its best. Though Hayes throws in several different themes -aspects of steampunk/gaslamp culture, mystery, suspense, romance, and shades of JANE EYRE- she twists all of these together to create a novella that read like a 400 page sci-fi/fantasy. My attention was captured throughout, even though the action was low-key. The autumn season is a perfect time to try out OURS IS JUST A LITTLE SORROW. It's short enough to be just the tidbit for a chilly weekend indoors, but fulfilling enough to not be left wanting.

Book Rating:
13.5/15
4.5 Stars
A

GoodReads
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| Smashwords | All Romance E-Books | Amazon




About The Author:
Gwen Hayes lives in the Pacific Northwest with her real life hero, their children, and the pets that own them. She writes stories for teen and adult readers about love, angst, and saving the world.

Gwen's first novel, Falling Under, was released in March of 2011 by NAL/Penguin and followed up by the sequel, Dreaming Awake, in January of 2012.

She is represented by Jessica Sinsheimer of the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads


This book was provided by the author, in exchange for my honest review only

23 October, 2012

Book Review: Under His Skin by Sidney Bristol



Blurb:
A woman who doesn’t believe she deserves love...

Toe-curling kisses and enough sex to fill a weekend were all Pandora wanted from a fling with her teenage crush. She’s never forgotten how he played the knight in shining armor to her damsel in distress. She’s ready to say thank you in several naughty ways, so long as she can walk away when it’s over with her heart intact.


A man moving on from tragedy...


Brian has no intention of allowing the feisty tattoo artist to leave after one taste. He hasn’t had enough of her inked curves. The packaging might have changed, but Pandy is the woman he hasn’t been able to excise from his memory. He’s ready to put together a new life, one that includes her.


But Brian isn’t the only one vying for Pandora’s attention. Someone else wants her, dead or alive.




I was really interested in UNDER HIS SKIN when I saw the cover and read the blurb. Tattoos are a bit of an obsession with me; after I got my first one, I just wanted to keep going back for more. So of course, I was intrigued by the prospect of reading a romance that had a tattoo parlor (and female tattoo artist) as part of the story. Each chapter is headed by an important tattoo definition, and as I read, I noticed how the lead-off was related to the chapter it headed. Not only did this contribute to the overall authenticity of the book, but it also taught me a few things I didn't previously know.

I really enjoyed Pandora and Brian's relationship. Though they have a history that includes a very painful experience of Pandora's, the two manage to muddle along. And I say, muddle along, because their relationship isn't easy or their love instant. The two have an attraction, and don't try to stop themselves from ending up in bed together, but the rest develops in a real-time and real-life sort of way, over the course of the whole novella. Again, Sidney Bristol demonstrates an authenticity to the process of love and the pattern of a relationship here, just as she does with the parts involving tattoos and their artistry.

Ultimately, even with the involvement of the tattoo parlor, UNDER HIS SKIN is a story of Pandora coming to terms with her past, learning to trust Brian, and giving their relationship a try. Brian too, has a past that haunts him, and though he is quicker to recognize his feelings, the two actually go through a process to get to love. Especially with Pandora's ex, Robert, lurking in the shadows. Bristol brings to life an enjoyable erotic romance that wasn't just about the sex, and introduces characters that I hope to see in further SO INKED books.

Book Rating:
13/15
4 stars
A-

Goodreads
Barnes and Noble | Ellora's Cave | Amazon



About The Author:
It can never be said that Sidney Bristol has had a ‘normal’ life. She is a recovering roller derby queen, former missionary, and tattoo addict. She grew up in a motor-home on the US highways (with an occasional jaunt into Canada and Mexico), traveling the rodeo circuit with her parents. Sidney has lived abroad in both Russia and Thailand, working with children and teenagers. She now lives in Texas where she splits her time between a job she loves, writing, reading and belly dancing.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads


This book was provided by Bewitching Book Tours, in exchange for my honest review only

Promo: Under His Skin by Sidney Bristol w/ Giveaway



Thanks to Sidney Bristol and Bewitching Book Tours, Read My Mind has a promo and giveaway for Sidney's UNDER HIS SKIN, a tantalizing romance with a tattoo parlor as the setting.

Blurb:
A woman who doesn’t believe she deserves love...

Toe-curling kisses and enough sex to fill a weekend were all Pandora wanted from a fling with her teenage crush. She’s never forgotten how he played the knight in shining armor to her damsel in distress. She’s ready to say thank you in several naughty ways, so long as she can walk away when it’s over with her heart intact.

A man moving on from tragedy...

Brian has no intention of allowing the feisty tattoo artist to leave after one taste. He hasn’t had enough of her inked curves. The packaging might have changed, but Pandy is the woman he hasn’t been able to excise from his memory. He’s ready to put together a new life, one that includes her.

But Brian isn’t the only one vying for Pandora’s attention. Someone else wants her, dead or alive.

Goodreads
Barnes and Noble | Ellora's Cave | Amazon




About The Author:
It can never be said that Sidney Bristol has had a ‘normal’ life. She is a recovering roller derby queen, former missionary, and tattoo addict. She grew up in a motor-home on the US highways (with an occasional jaunt into Canada and Mexico), traveling the rodeo circuit with her parents. Sidney has lived abroad in both Russia and Thailand, working with children and teenagers. She now lives in Texas where she splits her time between a job she loves, writing, reading and belly dancing.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads


Here's a little taste of UNDER HIS SKIN!


“I think I’m going to be sick,” she muttered into his t-shirt.

He said something she didn’t hear and took her hand. As Butch began acquainting the audience with one of the smaller contests, Brian led her through the press of people crammed into the ballroom. Focusing on putting one foot in front of the other, she didn’t question why she was following him. It was nice not to have to sit at the bar by herself. She hadn’t yet been able to face the other girls after her public disqualification. Escaping with Brian was preferable to the alternative.

Exiting from the ballroom-turned-bar, she sucked in a deep breath and squinted in the bright lights of the lobby. Brian kept a firm grasp on her hand, leading her across the foyer to a comfortable nook with contemporary leather lounge seating built against the walls. He pushed her down onto the edge of one of the couches and hovered.

Pandora cradled her face in her hands, her elbows two painful points digging into her knees.

“Can I get you anything?”

“A beer? I’m not drunk yet.”

“I think you are. How about some water?”

“This is tipsy, not drunk.”

Where the ballroom had become stifling with the press of bodies and the pulsing music, the foyer was cool and the music at least muted. She wanted to drink away today, but it would require a greater amount of alcohol than she’d consumed to do more than make her a little loose.

Her gaze focused on Brian’s worn Converse, the way each shoe sported twin worn spots behind the rubber toe where the shoe would crease when he knelt.

“Hey.” The shoes creased and his right knee hit the ground.

Sighing, she straightened and pushed her hair over her shoulder. She’d curled it for nothing. “I’m fine. A little dramatic, but I’ll be okay.”

“Pandora, Pandora, fly away home.”

She whipped her head around and glared at Robert, flanked by her former coworker Juan and a man she didn’t recognize. He had his thumbs hooked into his belt and glared at Brian. She hated how often Robert said her name.

“Fuck off, Robert.” Her voice lacked the heat, the fiery quality of her hatred for him. It took effort to be that mad, and she was beaten down enough not to care.
“Slumming for a new boyfriend, Pandora?”

Her blood boiled. Shoving to her feet, she took two steps toward Robert, jabbing her finger at him. “What? Or go back to being with you? No thank you.”

“Hey.” Brian stepped in front of her, blocking her view. “Back off.”

She peeked over Brian’s shoulders. Robert’s face had transformed from his typical, cocky grin to full-on crazy. His eyes glinted, the pupils larger, his nostrils flared and color high in his cheeks. All he needed was a vein popping out of his forehead to complete the picture. She’d seen him like this before, and he’d demolished a Vespa because it was in the spot where he usually parked.

“Or what?” he said in a low voice that had goose bumps breaking out down her arms.
Looping an arm around Brian’s chest, she pulled him back. She didn’t know what Robert would do, but he was crazy and getting into it with him was not how she wanted to spend the night.

“Let’s just go, please?” She pressed her front to his back, her hand splayed over his stomach. She wasn’t tipsy anymore.

He flattened his hand over hers, rubbing his fingers across her knuckles.

Robert turned his head to acknowledge someone calling his name. Pandora took advantage of the distraction to grab Brian’s hand and lead him to the bank of elevators. She pressed the button and allowed him to push her into the first available lift. She tottered to the far wall, grabbed hold of the bar mounted at hip height and faced the glass. She liked to watch the ground drop away suddenly, as if she were flying. At the first pull of gravity as the elevator rose, her stomach rolled and protested.

“You okay?”

She glanced over her shoulder and nodded. “Yeah.”

Leaning back, her back hit his chest. Brian paused and she thought he would step away from her, but he wrapped his arms around her waist. Allowing her eyes to shut intensified the disorientation, but Brian steadied her.

“You can’t antagonize him like that.”

His breath was warm against her neck. “You did.”

“Yeah, well I almost married him. For some reason I get away with fighting with him. I think he likes it. But you? I think he would go berserk.” She knew he would. Though she hadn’t seen it happen to a person, Robert was one small step away from making that leap.

“You were going to marry him?” The disbelieving growl surprised her.

She looked over her shoulder, wanting to soothe her hero. “I was in a bad place the last year I worked for him. I’m not proud of who I was then, and I regret every second I was engaged to that deranged, self-centered dipshit.”

His features relaxed and he leaned against her. Their breath mingled, scented with vanilla and brandy. She could kiss him right now. He squeezed her hip and circled her waist with his other arm to splay his hand over her stomach. The press of gravity lessened as the lift slowed to a stop.

“Where are we going?”

She shrugged. “I already checked out of my room.”

“This is my floor. Come on. I can get you some water.”

They walked hand in hand down the hall, with its pretentious gold-plated sconces and busy patterned carpet. They could be any couple returning to their room together for the night. Brian led her into one of the rooms not far from the elevator, swiped his card and pushed her in ahead of him. The darkness swathing the room was comforting, easier on her eyes. Even when he flipped the lights on, bathing the room in a muted glow, it was better than the harsh glare downstairs. Besides a suitcase sitting on the desk, there wasn’t any evidence he was staying in the room.

“How you feeling?”

She turned to face him. It was like being eighteen again and going back into the piercing room to make out with him, only this time it was actually Brian. As if to remind her it wasn’t a dream, his hand brushed her arm.

Flinching away from the touch, she headed for the armchair next to the window and sank down in it. The curtains blocked out all but two lines of light at the top and bottom. Closing her eyes, she tried not to listen to the rasp of his jeans as Brian walked across the room, following the path she’d taken but much slower. She could hear his breathing and smell the cologne that had rubbed off on her skin the day before. Dropping her head back against the chair, she dug her fingers into the armrest to give them something to do.

Brian was not Robert. He wasn’t like the guy kicked out of his band. He wouldn’t hurt her, at least not physically. But neither was he the kind of guy that dated a girl like her.

Large hands grasped her knees, his thumbs swiping over the fishnets that were already slicing into her toes.

“Hey.”

The gentle word might as well have been a command. Prying one eye open, she looked at him kneeling in front of her.

He appeared serious and stark without the long hair. He’d aged, and not in a bad way. “How you feeling?”

“Like shit.” She massaged her temples.

“Want some water? Something for a headache?”

“All of the above?”

The corners of his mouth turned up. “You got it.”

He left for a few moments, then came back with a glass and a package of pain relievers.

“Thanks.” She downed both, folding her hands around the glass. She held it in her lap and stared at it to keep from looking at him. “I should go back downstairs. The girls will be looking for me.” She pushed to the edge of the seat until her knees bumped his chest.

He put a hand on her thigh. She could feel the pressure from each individual finger through the sateen skirt. “Do you think Robert’s going to give you a hard time again? You don’t have to go. You can stay here for a bit.”

Lifting her gaze to his face, she searched him for some sign, some intangible something she couldn’t name. One side of her mouth hitched up and she put a hand against his arm. The muscles tensed under her fingertips. He might be scarred, but he was a strong, virile man. “Was this your plan? Get me up here and see where it goes?”

“What?” He snatched his hand back and she missed the reassuring weight of him immediately. “That’s not what this is about.”




Ready for the giveaway? Sidney Bristol is offering an e-book OR print copy of UNDER HIS SKIN. Just enter via the rafflecopter below.

Rules:
Must be 18+
One entry per person
Ends November 6th, 11:59pm
Winning entry WILL BE VERIFIED

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22 October, 2012

Promo: Two And Twenty Dark Tales Anthology + Giveaway (@Month9Books)

I'm happy to feature a new publishing company on the YA scene. Month9 Books launched October 2012, with TWO AND TWENTY DARK TALES, a dark and twisted retelling of fairytale rhymes from 22 YA authors.


About Month9 Books:
Month 9 Books is a publisher of speculative fiction for teens and tweens... where nothing is as it seems. Month9Books will donate proceeds from each of its annual charity anthologies to a deserving charity. Individually, authors may donate his or her advances and royalties to a charitable organization. Month9Books will also release 10-12 non-charitable titles annually. TWO AND TWENTY DARK TALES: DARK RETELLINGS OF MOTHER GOOSE RHYMES is Month9Books’s first release. Month9Books is distributed by Small Press United, a division of IPG.

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About TWO AND TWENTY DARK TALES:

TWO AND TWENTY DARK TALES: DARK RETELLINGS OF MOTHER GOOSE RHYMES. THIS AIN’T YOUR TODDLER’S MOTHER GOOSE BOOK!

Fairy tales sung sweetly can take us back to childhood, but just beneath those same sweet tales, is a hint of something dark…

Month9Books, a new publisher of speculative fiction for teens and tweens launches in October 2012, with the release of TWO AND TWENTY DARK TALES: DARK RETELLINGS OF MOTHER GOOSE RHYMES. This unique collaboration’s proceeds (from the first 5,000 copies sold) will be donated to YALITCHAT.ORG, an organization that fosters the advancement, reading, writing and acceptance of young adult literature worldwide. TWO AND TWENTY DARK TALES: DARK RETELLINGS OF MOTHER GOOSE RHYMES features some of today’s most admired young adult authors, including: Michelle Zink, Lisa Mantchev, Sarwat Chadda, Nina Berry, Leigh Fallon, Suzanne Young, C. Lee McKenzie, Angie Frazier, Jessie Harrell, Gretchen McNeil, KM Walton, Heidi R. Kling, Nancy Holder, Karen Mahoney, Suzanne Lazear, Pamela van Hylckama Vlieg, Shannon Delany with Max Scialdone, Leah Cypess, Sayantani DasGupta, and Georgia McBride, founder of Month9Books. Francisco X. Stork, author of the critically acclaimed MARCELLO IN THE REAL WORLD, provides a foreword that is nearly as riveting as the stories themselves.

When asked why they wanted to be a part of TWO AND TWENTY DARK TALES: DARK RETELLINGS of MOTHER GOOSE RHYMES, the authors had a lot to say!

“I'm so excited to be working on Month9Books's epic anthology. I've been a Tudor© nerd since before the Tudors© were cool, and this nursery rhyme is about the accession of the Scottish king, James VI, to the English throne (as James I.)” -- New York Times Bestselling author, Nancy Holder

"As soon as I heard the anthology's theme, I knew there was no stopping me! I love anything to do with folklore, so immediately latched onto 'One for Sorrow' as my story's basis. I've wanted to write a crow story for a long time, and this was the perfect excuse!" -- Karen Mahoney, author of The Iron Witch and The Wood Queen, Flux Books

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NookBook | Amazon | Kindle


Month9 Books has kindly offered a giveaway of THE IRON WITCH by Karen Mahoney for Read My Mind during the tour! Just enter via the rafflecopter below, and be sure to leave a blog post comment answering the question on the rafflecopter for your entry to count.

Rules:
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INTERNATIONAL!
Ends November 4th, 11:59pm

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19 October, 2012

Blog Tour: Wild Encounter by Nikki Logan Giveaway




Entangled Publishing has a relatively new imprint called Dead Sexy, which features a combination of suspense, danger and romance. WILD ENCOUNTER caught my eye because of the cover art, and I was happy to have a chance to feature it at Read My Mind with a giveaway to one of my lovely readers.

Blurb:
A wildlife release mission in Africa turns deadly when the convoy is hijacked by smugglers, and veterinarian Clare Delaney is taken hostage. Terrified for her life and her animals, the intrepid Clare establishes a rapport with the man she believes is the criminals’ leader, and reluctantly finds herself under his protection... and falling hard for the enigmatic man.

Alpha-to-the-max Simon deVries sees right through his sexy captive’s attempt to seduce her way to freedom. So when their simmering attraction flares into true passion, it takes them both by surprise. Now he’s torn between completing his secret mission and letting her escape without telling her his true identity. He knows if he lets her go, he will be risking his career, his life... and his heart.
September 2012, DEAD SEXY (ENTANGLED PUBLISHING)

Goodreads
Barnes and Noble | Amazon




About The Author:
Nikki Logan lives amongst a string of wetlands in Western Australia with her long-suffering partner and a menagerie of furred, feathered and scaly mates.

She studied film and theatre at university, and worked for years in advertising and film distribution before finally settling down in the wildlife industry.

Her romance with nature goes way back, and she considers her life charmed, given that she works with wildlife by day and writes fiction by night–the perfect way to combine her two loves.

Nikki believes that the passion and risk of falling in love are perfectly mirrored in the danger and beauty of wild places. Every romance she writes contains an element of nature, and if readers catch a waft of rich earth or the spray of wild ocean between the pages she knows her job is done.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads


Want to win a copy of WILD ENCOUNTER? Just enter via the rafflecopter below.

Rules:
Must be 18+
One entry per person
Ends November 2nd, 11:59pm
Winning entry WILL BE VERIFIED


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18 October, 2012

Blog Tour Book Review: Stitch by Samantha Durante



Blurb:
Her heart races, her muscles coil, and every impulse in Alessa’s body screams at her to run... but yet she’s powerless to move.

Still struggling to find her footing after the sudden death of her parents, the last thing college freshman Alessa has the strength to deal with is the inexplicable visceral pull drawing her to a handsome ghostly presence. In between grappling with exams and sorority soirees – and disturbing recurring dreams of being captive in a futuristic prison hell – Alessa is determined to unravel the mystery of the apparition who leaves her breathless. But the terrifying secret she uncovers will find her groping desperately through her nightmares for answers.

Because what Alessa hasn’t figured out yet is that she’s not really a student, the object of her obsession is no ghost, and her sneaking suspicions that something sinister is lurking behind the walls of her university’s idyllic campus are only just scratching the surface...


STITCH was a very interesting read for me. What I expected was not necessarily what I got, but that's not a bad thing either. Because of the blurb, I thought that STITCH would be a wholly paranormal read, immersing me in a world of unearthly things with mystery and a dash of dystopia. That does come, but not in the first part of the novel. In fact, the first 1/3 of STITCH reads like a contemporary. The reader experiences Alessa's life in college. A life that has gone off the expected track with the death of her parents some months before. The point-of-view is solely from Alessa's limited sight, so her feelings, experiences, and personality are what get the spotlight.

Then, a little unexpectedly, the point-of-view shifts to the ghost that Alessa often sees. Now, several chapters are devoted to his life and the thoughts and feelings he has about seeing a strange girl appear and disappear. From there, there is somewhat of an alternating viewpoint. The setup of the beginning of the book builds the mystery of what allows Isaac and Alessa to see each other, and gives a purpose to Alessa's actions. Though she is supposed to be attending classes, a majority of the focus is on her social life (being part of a sorority and meeting "real" guy, Nikhil) and her research into Isaac and his family.

Most books that start a series clearly show that they are building up to something. Something that probably won't happen in book one, because the drive for readers to continue the series needs to be there. STITCH has this same sense of a path being forged that will lead somewhere important, but there is plenty of substance in the story being told here. I didn't feel that same sense of impending doom about a cliffhanger that I usually do about paranormal YA series books, as I neared the final pages. I don't want to spoil or reveal anything about the end of STITCH, but I will say that the book was a satisfying read, with a combination of YA and New Adult issues presented in with a mash-up of mystery, suspense, and paranormal elements.

Book Rating:
12/15
3.5 Stars
B+


Find the Book:
Barnes and Noble | Smashwords | Amazon | Facebook Page | GoodReads




About The Author:
Samantha Durante lives in New York City with her husband, Sudeep, and her cat, Gio. Formerly an engineer at Microsoft, Samantha left the world of software in 2010 to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams and a lifelong love of writing. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology, Samantha is currently working full time for her company Medley Media Associates as a freelance business writer and communications consultant. Stitch is her first novel.
Website | Blog | Facebook | GoodReads


This book was provided by the author, in exchange for my honest review only

10 October, 2012

2Views 2Raves: The Angel by Tiffany Reisz

Blurb:
No safe word can protect the heart
Infamous erotica author and accomplished dominatrix Nora Sutherlin is doing something utterly out of character: hiding. While her longtime lover, Søren—whose fetishes, if exposed, would be his ruin—is under scrutiny pending a major promotion, Nora's lying low and away from temptation in the lap of luxury.

Her host, the wealthy and uninhibited Griffin Fiske, is thrilled to have Nora stay at his country estate, especially once he meets her traveling companion. Young, inexperienced and angelically beautiful, Michael has become Nora's protégé, and this summer with Griffin is going to be his training, where the hazing never ends.

But while her flesh is willing, Nora's mind is wandering. To thoughts of Søren, her master, under investigation by a journalist with an ax to grind. And to another man from Nora's past, whose hold on her is less bruising, but whose secrets are no less painful. It's a summer that will prove the old adage: love hurts.


1st View, Lillie from Read My Mind

Three Alliterative Words To Describe THE ANGEL:
seductive, salacious, scintillating

Favorite Character And What Scene Decided Favorite:
The little peek of Griffin that showed up in THE SIREN made me want more. And I got it. There's a scene about halfway through the novel that has just Michael and Griffin in it (I won't spoil it by doing an in-depth description), but it is intimate and hot and reveals so much about both Griffin and Michael, and what I really was hoping would come to a satisfying completion by the end of the book (see what I did there?).

Outstanding Quotes:
"Angel, you aren't a real kinkster until you have had a threesome."

Kingsley Edge had that look about him too. Something in the eyes. Something glinting and fearless. He looked like a man who'd seen so much blood he had the Grim Reaper on speed dial.

"Exactly. Of course we aren't lovers." Sutherlin slid on a pair of chic black sunglasses. "He's a priest. That's gross."

Final Thoughts:
If you read and liked THE SIREN, get ready to love THE ANGEL. More heart-rendingly honest insight from a group of characters that celebrate their kinkiness and don't apologize for the lives they lead. Michael (yes, the 15-year old from that scene at The 8th Circle in THE SIREN) is back and wow, does the reader ever get to experience his growing pains. Griffin is as sardonic as ever, but vulnerable in a way that wasn't expressed before. And Nora, Nora, Nora. Even with other characters taking the spotlight this time around, Nora still shines, and Soren and Kingsley still intimidate (in utterly delicious ways). I thought that THE SIREN blew my mind, but THE ANGEL tops it with a fantastic sophomore outing for THE ORIGINAL SINNERS series.

Book Rating:
15/15
5 Stars
A+


2nd View, JL from An Avid Reader's Musings

Three Alliterative Words To Describe THE ANGEL:
revealing, raunchy, risky

Favorite Character And What Scene Decided Favorite:
Kingsley is by far my favorite character in this series. As a self professed Francophile, how could I not love the half-French King of Kink? Although readers meet Kingsley in THE SIREN, his character is more developed in THE ANGEL and I have firmly situated myself on the side of #TeamKingsley. The scene where Michael meets Kingsley for the first time, in the back of a Rolls Royce, natch, is probably what made me love Kingsley all the more. Especially when he utters his infamous line, "Tell me, Michael, have you ever had sex in the back of a Rolls Royce?"

Outstanding Quotes:
"Who was Kingsley? Kingsley Edge, the King of Kink in New York City. Half-French, all pervert."

Kingsley Edge had that look about him too. Something in the eyes. Something glinting and fearless. He looked like a man who'd seen so much blood he had the Grim Reaper on speed dial.

Final Thoughts:
THE ANGEL is by far one of the best books I've read this year and it's in my top ten favorite books overall. Tiffany Reisz has penned an great story, with fantastic and well developed characters. While Nora is still the focus of the story, the plotlines diverge to reveal Soren's childhood and readers are allowed to experience events that shaped him into the priest and man he is today. I also loved the development of Griffin and Michael's relationship. It's heartbreaking and redemptive, yet I cheered at the outcome. I hope this isn't the last of Griffin and Michael that readers will be exposed too! I'm also looking forward to reading the next book in the Original Sinners series, THE PRINCE. It comes out mid November and I can't wait to see the dynamics of teenage Soren and Kingsley that will feature in that novel.

If you've read and liked THE SIREN, go pick up THE ANGEL today - you will not be disappointed!

Book Rating:
5 Stars


Find The Book:
Add to GoodReads
Barnes and Noble | Amazon


About The Author:
Tiffany Reisz lives in Lexington, Kentucky with her boyfriend (a reformed book reviewer) and two cats (one good, one evil). She graduated with a B.A. in English from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky and is making both her parents and her professors proud by writing BDSM erotica under her real name. She has five piercings, one tattoo, and has been arrested twice.

When not under arrest, Tiffany enjoys Latin Dance, Latin Men, and Latin Verbs. She dropped out of a conservative southern seminary in order to pursue her dream of becoming a smut peddler. Johnny Depp’s aunt was her fourth grade teacher. Her first full-length novel THE SIREN was inspired by a desire to tie up actor Jason Isaacs (on paper). She hopes someday life will imitate art (in bed).

If she couldn’t write, she would die.

Website | GoodReads | Twitter


This book was provided by Littlebird Publicity, in exchange for my honest review only

05 October, 2012

Cover Reveal: PHOENIX (Black City #2) by Elizabeth Richards


The time has come for the PHOENIX (Black City #2) Cover Reveal! Again, thanks to host and organizer, Damaris at Good Choice Reading for all her hard work putting together a special week to celebrate the uncovering.

Missed anything? Check out Read My Mind's Teaser Tuesday and Trailer Thursday


About The Author:
Elizabeth Richards is an award-winning journalist, who spent her early career reviewing videogames before making the bold (or crazy) move into travel writing, despite suffering from terrible travel sickness.

In her spare time, she ran a successful lifestyle website aimed at teenage girls, where she got to interview many of her favourite bands, go to gigs and basically blag loads of free swag all in the name of ‘research’.

Elizabeth lives in Buckinghamshire, England, with her husband. Black City is her debut novel.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads


BLACK CITY (Black City #1) releases November 2012, G.P. PUTNAM SON'S BYR.

In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-olds Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable—they fall in love. Bonded by a mysterious connection that causes Ash’s long-dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they’re caught, they’ll be executed—but their feelings are too strong.

When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.


Goodreads



PHOENIX (Black City #2) releases June 2013, G.P. PUTNAM SON'S BYR

Engaged to be married, Ash and Natalie are just starting to build a life together, when things in the United Sentry States go from bad to worse. Ash and Natalie find themselves at the center of the turmoil when dictator Purian Rose threatens Natalie’s life unless Ash votes in favor of Rose’s law—a law that will send Darklings and other dissenters to a deadly concentration camp known as the Tenth.

Ash can’t bring himself to trade Natalie’s life for those of millions of Darklings. The only way to save everyone is to escape Black City and find the Ora, a powerful weapon that could take down Purian Rose for good. But fleeing the city and finding this weapon is easier said than done, if it even exists, and becomes a quest that could tear Ash and Natalie apart, even pushing them into the arms of others.


Goodreads





What do you think? The phoenix myth is one of my favorites, and I ADORE how this cover has incorporated the fire and the burning feather. The red really stands out, but I like how it's a deeper red, as opposed to a bright, blood-like red. Honestly, I love this cover!

What do you think? Comment please, with your thoughts.


Don't miss the giveaway that Good Choice Reading is hosting either! Check out the link for all the details, and their thoughts on the cover, too. You can enter via the rafflecopter below.

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