21 December, 2012

Promo: Forever My Girl by Heidi McLaughlin Giveaway



Read My Mind is taking part in the FOREVER MY GIRL by Heidi McLaughlin blog tour, hosted by Good Choice Reading Promotions. Heidi is sponsoring a great giveaway during the tour.

There's a grand prize of a KINDLE TOUCH!

Just enter via the rafflecopter at the bottom of this post, and don't forget to follow the tour!


Check out my review of the book HERE

Find the other stops on the tour HERE





a Rafflecopter giveaway






Book Review: Forever My Girl by Heidi McLaughlin

Blurb:
I was never supposed to be a rock star. I had my life all planned out for me. Play football in college. Go to the NFL. Marry my high school sweetheart and live happily ever after.

I broke both our hearts that day when I told her I was leaving. I was young. I made the right decision for me, but the wrong decision for us. I’ve poured my soul into my music, but I’ve never forgotten her. Her smell, her smile.

And now I’m going back.

After ten years.

I hope I can explain that after all this time.

I still want her to be my forever girl.



FOREVER MY GIRL started out as a lament to a character that the reader never gets to know, at least not in the present time. Mason, a beloved friend, father, husband, and hometown hero has died. The assembled cast of characters that include lost loves, Josie and Liam are gathering for his funeral. A secret that Josie kept is revealed almost right away, but I won't say, in case it is thought a spoiler. What I will say is that FOREVER MY GIRL pretty much had my attention with rock-star, lost love, and a trope that I can't get enough of in romance.

To be honest, when I read the first few chapters, I was afraid the book was going to get bogged down in the grief over Mason and be a downer. But, that didn't happen, luckily. Yes, Mason's death shapes the backbone of the plot, but ultimately Josie and Liam are in the spotlight as they reconnect and discover things about their shared past.

There was a slow build-up to the romance in this book. In fact, for a lot of the story McLaughlin had Josie happily matched with another person, but Liam's return had Josie thinking about his place in her life and how she really felt about him. FOREVER MY GIRL was actually a really good study of two people with a relationship that never really ended, and feelings that stayed in their hearts, even during separation and other partners.

Book Rating:
12/15
3.5 star
B+


About The Author:
My grandma once told me that I can do anything I want, so I am.

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, I now live in picturesque Vermont, with my husband and two daughters. Also renting space in our home is an overhyper Beagle/Jack Russell and two Parakeets.

During the day you'll find me behind a desk talking about Land Use. At night, I'm writing one of the many stories I plan to release or sitting courtside during either daughter's basketball games.

I'm also an active reviewer on The Readiacs - a site I own with my best friend and uber special beta, Yvette.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | GoodReads


This book was provided by the author via Good Choice Reading, with no other compensation except for the expectation of an honest review

19 December, 2012

Book Blitz: The Christmas Dare by Joan Chandler with a GC Giveaway



Read My Mind is taking part in a book blitz for THE CHRISTMAS DARE today. One of the things that I love about this time of the season is the Christmas romances that release to both spice up and sweeten the winter nights. Thanks to the author and Goddess Fish Promotions for sponsoring the blitz!


About The Author:

Joan Chandler is a Florida native who has lived in the Deep South all of her life. She is married with two children who are her pride and joy. She lives a double life of sorts, holding down a nine-to-five job during the day, and writing steamy romance at night—often with her black cat curled up in her arms as she types.

When she’s not spending her spare time working on her next novel, she loves to go camping, sharing girls’ night out with her friends, walking her two dogs, and watching football.

Blog | Twitter




Blurb:

Self-professed Christmas addict Gia Dixon, and by-the-book Ethan Castle have been best friends all their lives. When tragedy strikes Ethan’s family, Gia’s the rock he depends on to pull him through the darkest days. Then, a shared, long-forgotten memory leads to an unexpected yet tender kiss. Can a simple Christmas dare help them find true love?



Here's a taste of THE CHRISTMAS DARE!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~


She made a face at him as she prepared to get out of the car, and then flipped around to her knees to reach between the seats to gather up her packages. As she pulled everything forward through the gap, she leaned over to kiss his cheek.

He caught her by surprise when he turned to face her, causing their lips to meet. Her eyes widened, while his turned dark.

“Gia,” he said, the name coming out of his mouth in a low rasp.

She closed her eyes but didn’t move. She couldn’t speak. Then she sensed when he was about to kiss her again. She tilted her face up to receive it, her lips parting to let him know she wasn’t opposed.

Ethan put his hands on either side of her head, his long fingers wrapping around to bury themselves in her thick, blonde hair. “Gia,” he whispered again as he closed his mouth over hers and slipped his tongue inside. She twirled hers around it, gently sucking. They were lost in the moment, oblivious to whether anyone else was around or not. They forgot where they were. They even forgot who they were. And in their place, these two sensual, passionate creatures tangled their arms around each other and kissed as if their lives depended on it.

Finally, Ethan sighed and pulled back a little. “Tell me that this is okay with you. Please say that it is.”

Gia had trouble finding her voice, so instead she pulled his mouth to hers again and greedily kissed him. When it ended, she asked breathily, “Does that answer your question?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Joan Chandler will also be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card, winner's choice, to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour!

Make sure you visit each stop and comment to up your chances of being chosen.

At Read My Mind just comment with your favorite fall/winter seasonal beverage. (Mine is Pumpkin Spice Latte in early fall and Gingerbread Latte in winter)

Check out all of the tour stops HERE.




Book Spotlight: Tidal by Emily Snow


Goodreads

Nook | Smashwords | Kindle



About The Author:

I'm the 26-year-old author of the forthcoming DEVOURED series (2012, 2013) and TIDAL (2012). I love books, sexy bad boys, and really loud rock music, so naturally, I write stories about all three.

Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads




18 December, 2012

ARC Book Review: Prophesy by Ellen Oh

Blurb:
Kira’s the only female in the king’s army, and the prince’s bodyguard. She’s a demon slayer and an outcast, hated by nearly everyone in her home city of Hansong. And, she’s their only hope...

Murdered kings and discovered traitors point to a demon invasion, sending Kira on the run with the young prince. He may be the savior predicted in the Dragon King Prophecy, but the missing treasure of myth may be the true key. With only the guidance of the cryptic prophecy, Kira must battle demon soldiers, evil shaman, and the Demon Lord himself to find what was once lost and raise a prince into a king.

Intrigue and mystery, ancient lore and action-packed fantasy come together in this heart-stopping first book in a trilogy.



PROPHESY throws the reader directly into the story, with an action-packed beginning that introduces Kira and her world. The beginning also serves to show the reader why Kira is an outcast and considered by some to be a monster, instead of the demon-hunter that she really is. Protecting the royal family of Hansong is her privilege and duty and Kira takes it seriously. Though it is billed as being "heart-stopping", I liked that the plot didn't seem built around high intensity just for the sake of it. There is a good story that Ellen Oh carefully constructs and unfolds to the reader.

Relationships seem very important in PROPHESY. Kira's with the royal family in general, and the prince in particular. Kira's with the rest of her society, and the mythology that is interwoven throughout the novel. It's the last point the really drew my attention. The setting is in an Asian city, with all of the lore and mythology that goes along with that culture. It's engrossing and intriguing, and though I can only guess at the authenticity, I feel that it is much more genuine than some of the other YA books have read this year that attempt to incorporate other cultures.

PROPHESY was a quick read, but definitely not a quickly forgotten read. Oh is adept at revealing and explaining a culture that might be foreign to most American readers. She mixes ancient beauty with a sometimes cruel world and does it well. Not only that, this book has whetted my appetite for more Asian culture reads, and I think that it would do the same for a YA audience looking for a fantasy that has just that little bit of differentness that makes it not so ordinary.

Book Rating:
13/15
4 star
A-




This book was provided by the publisher via Around The World ARC Tours, with no other compensation other than the expectation of an honest review

17 December, 2012

Book Tour Review: The Alchemists Academy (Elemental Explosions) by Kailin Gow

Blurb:
A new student has entered The Alchemists Academy, and he brings with him an explosive power that threatens the Academy and the legend of Merlin.

Wirt thought he was the only bad boy at the Academy, but he was wrong. Not only is Roland Black worse than Wirt, but a new teacher had replaced one of their beloved teachers, and she has more planned for Wirt and his friends than just lesson plans.

Alana, his crush has grown prettier, and now he is rivals for her attention with not only his best friend Spencer, but newcomer Roland, as well. On top of that, it is their second year, and the year where all the students must pass a test to move on to the Elite Class at the Academy.

The Elite Class is the only class in the third year at the Academy, and the students who fail will be sent home, others will face something even deadlier.



The second installment of THE ALCHEMISTS ACADEMY brings back the characters from before: Wirt, Alana, Spencer and their instructors. But, Wirt isn't the new student on the block anymore. In their second year, the young students are joined by Roland Black. Black turned out to be an interesting character to me. Wirt didn't trust him from the beginning and since the reader sees everything from Wirt's eyes, we are also left to wonder at Black's preternatural-seeming popularity with the young girls at the Alchemists Academy and also with his proficiency at school subjects. Kailin Gow did an excellent job of introducing a possible foe, while also not making him too obviously evil or even more than just suspicious.


In ELEMENTAL EXPLOSIONS, the second year students learn that the whole of the semester could potentially be a test for the "Elite Class", a very select third year class. In the first installment, after Wirt's introduction to the Alchemist's Academy, the plot turned to a quest for a missing relic. Here, Gow has constructed a plot around the machinations of the headmaster, Black and Wirt's separation from Spencer, a fellow student and former roommate.


While there is not the same excitement and danger as the quest device, a princess' disappearance, Spencer and Alana's relationship discord, and a shocking discovery that Wirt makes about Roland Black filled the pages and made ELEMENTAL EXPLOSIONS a one-sitting read for me. In keeping with the first book in the series, Gow captured my attention with the magical exploits of a group of young students. THE ALCHEMISTS ACADEMY series is a great foray into fantasy for Harry Potter fans and magic enthusiasts.


Book Rating:
12/15
3.5 star
B+


NookBook | Kindle


About The Author:
Kailin Gow is the award-winning, international bestselling author of over 80 distinct books.

Kailin Gow is also the President of a media company, a media personality, and has been writing full-time since she was first published. Holding a Masters in communications management and leadership positions in Fortune 500 corporations, she puts her leadership abilities, her experience, and desire to help others into her fiction books. As a result, she has written the forthcoming, Finding the Heroine in You book which is also a national tour.

She is a mother and spends whatever spare time she has volunteering at the Red Cross, Battered Women's Shelters, and other organizations.

Currently her Frost Series is in development for a major international MMO Game, and she has over 14,000 and growing Frost-ers on her Facebook fan page.

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Book Club | Goodreads


This book was provided by the author via Book Blasts and Blog Tours, with no other compensation other than the expectation of an honest review

14 December, 2012

Mistletoe Madness Blog Hop Giveaway


Welcome to Read My Mind's stop on the Mistletoe Madness Blog Hop! Thanks to author PJ Schnyder for hosting. There's a great grand prize being offered by the 14 authors that have sponsored the hop, so check out the link to check out the goods!

I've got an easy contest here. As usual, enter via the rafflecopter. The first is a US Only entry. The second is for everyone, INTERNATIONAL included.

Rules:
One entry per person
Must be 13+
US ONLY
Ends 12.21, 11:59pm

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Rules:
One entry per person
Must be 13+
INTERNATIONAL
Ends 12.12, 11:59pm

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Don't forget! The authors are sponsoring a KINDLE FIRE giveaway at THIS PAGE and the full list of blog hop participants can be found HERE

Blog Tour: Embers In A Dark Frost by Kelly Keaton Book Review

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.



EMBERS IN A DARK FROST introduces a world where humans have no place. Deira is a half-breed -human and Anu- which means that she is shunned and treated as a lesser person. Indeed, Kelly Keaton has written of the ultimate outcast, not just because a physical feature marks out Deira as different. Her heritage is seen as weakness to her kind and she lives as a servant.

Knowing that Keaton is the author of other books that I have enjoyed immensely, I approached this book with a little trepidation. But, the feeling left me almost immediately. The world that Keaton has created in EMBERS IN A DARK FROST is complex and unlike anything I have read in a long while. Most of the fantasy I read does not involve a solely non-human world. It was intriguing and captured my attention from the start.

Though there is much to learn about the world, I never felt that I was being left behind. Keaton deftly navigates the reader through Deira's journey, the other important characters and avoids massive info dumps that can take a reader out of the story. Just enough is revealed at crucial moments, while also keeping me on my toes about what else this world might throw out next. EMBERS IN A DARK FROST is a good story, one with great pacing, well-written characters, and an author that clearly knows what she is doing.

Book Rating:
12.5/15
4 star
A-

Goodreads
NookBook | Smashwords | Kindle | iTunes


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


This book was provided by the author via Good Choice Reading Promotions, with no other compensation except for the expectation of an honest review

13 December, 2012

12 Days Of Magic Holiday Blitz: Spellbound series by Nikki Jefford


Is December almost halfway over already? The days are moving closer and closer to Christmas. Looking for a bookish gift for that paranormal YA lover(s) in your life? Thanks to Xpresso Book Tours and author Nikki Jefford, the answer may be right in front of you!

Read My Mind is taking part in a special 12 Days of Magic Holiday Blitz, highlighting the three books in the SPELLBOUND series, ENTANGLED, DUPLICITY and ENCHANTMENT. With a little bit of magic, and a little bit of adventure, these books are perfect to buy all at once.

Don't forget to enter the rafflecopter at the bottom of this post. One winner during the tour will be chosen to win a signed ENTANGLED print copy and 12 lucky entrants will win their choice of an e-book copy of any one of the books in the series!


About The Author:
Nikki Jefford is a third generation Alaskan who loves fictional bad boys and heroines who kick butt. She writes edgy teen fiction, including the Spellbound Trilogy and Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter.

Nikki married Sébastien, the love of her life, while working as a teaching assistant in France. They now reside in the not-so-tropical San Juan Islands, 70 miles northeast of Forks, Washington.

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads


ENTANGLED (Spellbound Book #1):
Two months after dying, seventeen-year-old witch Graylee Perez wakes up in her twin sister Charlene’s body.

Until Gray finds a way back inside her own body, she’s stuck being Charlene every twenty-hour hours. Her sister has left precise instructions on how Gray should dress and behave. Looking like a prep isn’t half as bad as hanging out with Charlene’s snotty friends and gropey boyfriend.

The “normals” of McKinley High might be quick to write her behavior off as post-traumatic stress, but warlock Raj McKenna is the only person who suspects Gray has returned from the dead.

Now Gray has to solve the mystery of her death and resurrection and disentangle herself from Charlene’s body before she disappears for good.

GoodReads
NookBook | Smashwords | Amazon | Kindle


DUPLICITY (Spellbound Book #2):
If Graylee Perez thought sharing a body with her twin sister was bad, dealing with a duplicate of herself is two times worse. Gray the second doesn’t seem to get that Lee’s boyfriend, Raj McKenna, is off limits. Then there’s the problem of Adrian Montez. He expects one of the Grays to be his.

Nearly a year later, the council is onto them for past misdeeds; Lee, along with the rest of the coven, has lost control of her powers; and Gray is being stalked by what looks like the Grim Reaper.

If they work together, they may stand a chance of setting things right and making it out alive.

GoodReads
NookBook | Smashwords | Amazon | Kindle


ENCHANTMENT (Spellbound Book #3):
In the third and final installment of the Spellbound series, Graylee Perez (the duplicate), goes to Spain for a summer of escape. There she meets new friends and comes face to face with her old adversary, Adrian Montez.

When Gray tries to setup a spell that will banish Adrian from her life, she inadvertently falls under a love spell instead.

Charlene returns, having hijacked a new body, for one final battle between the twins.
Coming April 2013

Add To GoodReads


Check out the SPELLBOUND series playlist!


ENTANGLED (S1)

Magic Dance by David Bowie from Labyrinth

This song has haunted my brain throughout the series. Plus David Bowie reminds me of warlock Adrian Montez minus the 80’s hair and tight pants…well, let’s keep the tight pants.

Lightning by The Wanted

Raj McKenna steals the show in Entangled. He is the ultimate bad boy with a good heart, and fiercely loyal to Gray. I stumbled upon this YouTube video and have watched it at least a dozen times all while thinking of Raj. Yeah, baby!



DUPLICITY (S2)


Within You and As The World Falls Down by David Bowie from Labyrinth
Adrian’s obsession with Gray reminds me of the Goblin King’s fixation on Sarah. At the end of book one Adrian risks his own life to ensure she doesn’t disappear. In book two his feelings intensify, but are harshly rejected. Sorry, Adrian, you have no power over Gray.

Bad Romance by Lady Gaga
The confusion spell Gray puts over Adrian requires her to speak gibberish the entire time. She starts singing “Rah, rah, ah, ah, ah; Roma, roma, ma; Gaga, ooh, la, la,” then accidently busts into the Bad Romance lyrics.


ENCHANTMENT (S3)

Barcelona by Giulia y Los Tellarini from the Vicky Christina Barcelona soundtrack

Love is in the air. Gray heads to Barcelona for the summer, meets the sexy Spaniard Carlo, wards off the attentions of the polite British Will, runs into Adrian and unwittingly falls head over heels for her arch nemesis. It’s all good fun!

Les Triplettes de Belleville from the French animation movie soundtrack

Charlene nabs herself a new body in Paris, shows up in Spain, much to Gray’s annoyance, and requests her help dealing with a stalker. I like to call this one The “Twins” of Belleville.



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Book Blast: Author Sally Smith O'Rourke

Just in time for Christmas, Sally Smith O'Rourke has 2 great tales for winter reading. Thanks to the author and Kathy at Book Blasts and Blog Tours for also sponsoring a $50 Gift Card Giveaway as part of this spotlight!
Enter via rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

About The Author:
Sally Smith O’Rourke is a surgical scrub nurse at the City of Hope national cancer research hospital in Duarte, California and resides in the near-by Victorian village of Monrovia.

With her late husband, author Michael O’Rourke (aka F.M. O’Rourke) Smith O’Rourke owned and operated a medical advertising company where she used her diverse talents to produce and co-write teaching films and videos. Working not only with major medical and surgical manufacturing companies but also network television. These endeavors ultimately led to a collaboration on two feature films (direct to video) and three published novels.

The wife and husband writing team of Sally Smith and Michael O’Rourke, being long-time fans of Jane Austen, wrote The Man Who Loved Jane Austen released by Kensington Books in 2006. Kensington followed that very successful effort with The Maidenstone Lighthouse in 2007 and Christmas at Sea Pines Cottage in 2009, both also collaborative projects by Smith and O’Rourke. Published after her partner and spouse’s untimely death in 2001, the publisher chose not to use the names Michael O’Rourke and Sally Smith (as the manuscripts were presented), releasing all three books under Sally Smith O’Rourke.

Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen is Sally Smith O’Rourke’s first solo novel.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter




Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen:

Was Mr. Darcy real? Is time travel really possible? For pragmatic Manhattan artist Eliza Knight the answer to both questions is
absolutely, Yes! And Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley Farms, Virginia is the reason why!

His tale of love and romance in Regency England leaves Eliza in no doubt that Fitz Darcy is the embodiment of Jane Austen’s legendary hero. And she’s falling in love with him. But can the man who loved the inimitable Jane Austen ever love average, ordinary Eliza Knight?

Eliza’s doubts grow, perhaps out of proportion, when things start to happen in the quiet hamlet of Chawton, England; events that could change everything. Will the beloved author become the wedge that divides Fitz and Eliza or the tie that binds them?

NookBook | Smashwords | Kindle



Christmas at Sea Pines Cottage:

With its rough gray shingles and weathered slate roof, Sea Pines cottage seems, at first glance, past its prime. But inside this remote fisherman's house, a driftwood fire crackles in the fireplace, brightly colored rugs cover the floor, and cozy cushions dot the worn, welcoming furniture. A young man named Robert has retreated after the war, planning to spend his days writing, tending to the local lighthouse, and nursing his injuries. For company, he adopts a young Golden Retriever puppy named Meteor.

Robert and Meteor spend months in quiet companionship, until the day Robert rescues a young woman from a storm at sea. Strong-willed and intelligent, Laura sees past Robert's injuries to the proud, passionate man beneath, and--with some matchmaking help from Meteor--they begin a new life together at the cottage. But even Meteor's tireless devotion can't protect his cherished family from all of life's unexpected challenges--hurdles that will teach each of them lessons of courage, faith, friendship, and the enduring love that can sustain us through life's coldest seasons.

NookBook | Kindle



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.

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12 December, 2012

Book Tour Review: The Alchemists Academy (Stones To Ashes) by Kailin Gow

The Alchemists Academy Book 1: Stones to Ashes

What do you learn here...at the Academy? Wirt asks. Magic? The responsibility to use your powers responsibly? Uh...something like that, his roommate Spencer said. More like how to rule worlds.

Wirt, is used to being shuffled from foster home to foster home, adopting a devil-may-care attitude toward the world along the way. Now he s in a school he can t escape, learning to develop his latent magical abilities, for what use, he doesn't know...

To save his world or to destroy it...



STONES TO ASHES was actually a fairly low-key YA fantasy, involving magical elements. The book started out with the hero, Wirt, in a world of trouble, but it didn't rely upon frenetic action sequences and constant danger to keep the reader engaged. In fact, there could be a parallel to the HARRY POTTER series drawn here. Wirt discovers a hidden world where students attend a school that teaches them the ins and outs of magic- or alchemy, as it's called here. Alchemy has more to do with the chemistry of making the "impossible" possible than the usual "now you see it..." of magic.

I really enjoyed this first part of THE ALCHEMISTS ACADEMY series. There was a beginning to Wirt's adventures, and a mystery that engaged the characters that he comes to call classmates and friends. Each character has their own personality, and Kailin Gow is proficient in making all of the characters, even the ones not in the spotlight, matter. At the end, it is clear that Wirt and his friends' adventures will continue, however Gow relies on a solid plot, interesting characters, and simple yet affective writing, instead of a cliffhanger to make me, as a reader, want more.

There's really not anything that I didn't like about STONES TO ASHES. In fact, I almost feel that Wirt, as a semi-underdog hero, was a refreshing change from what I usually read. He doesn't have all of the answers, he makes some mistakes along the way, but in the end, his determination and drive to somehow do the right thing leads him to a satisfactory end. Wirt is a regular guy, with who I think, female and male readers will be able to relate. The language and content of STONES TO ASHES is easily accessible to younger YA readers, while not being "dumbed down".

Book Rating: 13/15
4 star
A-

NookBook | Kindle


About The Author:
Kailin Gow is the award-winning, international bestselling author of over 80 distinct books.

Kailin Gow is also the President of a media company, a media personality, and has been writing full-time since she was first published. Holding a Masters in communications management and leadership positions in Fortune 500 corporations, she puts her leadership abilities, her experience, and desire to help others into her fiction books. As a result, she has written the forthcoming, Finding the Heroine in You book which is also a national tour.


She is a mother and spends whatever spare time she has volunteering at the Red Cross, Battered Women's Shelters, and other organizations.


Currently her Frost Series is in development for a major international MMO Game, and she has over 14,000 and growing Frost-ers on her Facebook fan page.


Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Book Club | Goodreads



This book was provided by the author via Book Blasts and Blog Tours, in exchange for my honest review only

11 December, 2012

Guest Post: Classic Inspiration from Leanna Renee Hieber

I had to stop for a fangirl moment, when I received this post. I've had a few encounters with author Leanna Renee Hieber before and always came away feeling slightly awed and intellectually fulfilled. She is a great conversationalist, so when I had the chance to host her at Read My Mind, I jumped at it.

Leanna's newest release is THE TWISTED TRAGEDY OF MISS NATALIE STEWART, which continues the story of Natalie and Denbury started in DARKER STILL. You can check out my review (along with a rafflecopter giveaway until 12.30, 11:59pm) at this link.


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 and 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



Leanna discusses where her interest in Gothic literature stems from and the importance of loving classic novels.

***

The first author I can recall having a profound effect on me as a pre-teen was Edgar Allan Poe. I was entranced by his stories, enraptured by his poetry. I felt like he and I saw stories with the same eyes; his ability to weave the macabre with the beautiful defined my earliest style. I’ve been a Goth girl ever since, at least in spirit. ;) And while being a Goth girl doesn’t necessarily correlate with being a Gothic novelist (Gothic literature having its own separate definition and trajectory than “Goth” culture), there are most certainly parallels.

Books like The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Phantom of the Opera, Frankenstein, Dracula, these books excited my keen flair for the dramatic, my interest in the supernatural and satisfied my craving for rich vocabulary. Big words are sexy. And the historical context of the classics allowed for another fantasy world to be taking place; delving into another time entirely.

You are what you read as a writer, and the most formative novels, the ones I connected to on the viscerally dramatic and soulful level in a way I found only Gothic fiction could really do, are what defines me today. My books all pay homage to classic novels in one way or another. My goal in life is to be a “gateway drug to 19th century literature”.

It’s my hope that sharing my love of the classics, using them as the building blocks of my storytelling as a modern Historical Fantasy author, keeps me tethered to my earliest inspirations, the closest fires to my muse.

***


Thanks so much Leanna! And thanks to Sourcebooks, who provided the book for review.


Darker Still:

It was as if he called to me, demanding I reach out and touch the brushstrokes of color swirled onto the canvas. It was the most exquisite portrait I'd ever seen--everything about Lord Denbury was unbelievable... utterly breathtaking and eerily lifelike.

There was a reason for that. Because despite what everyone said, Denbury never had committed suicide. He was alive. Trapped within his golden frame.

I've crossed over into his world within the painting, and I've seen what dreams haunt him. They haunt me too. He and I are inextricably linked--bound together to watch the darkness seeping through the gas-lit cobblestone streets of Manhattan. Unless I can free him soon, things will only get Darker Still.


The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart:

I'm coming for you.

The whispers haunt her dreams and fill her waking hours with dread. Something odd is happening. Something... unnatural.

Possession of the living. Resurrection of the dead. And Natalie Stewart is caught right in the middle. Jonathon, the one person she thought she could trust, has become a double agent for the dark side. But he plays the part so well, Natalie has to wonder just how much he's really acting.

She can't even see what it is she's fighting. But the cost of losing her heart, her sanity... her soul.

Sourcebooks Spotlight: The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart and Giveaway

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.


THE TWISTED TRAGEDY OF MISS NATALIE STEWART continued the tale of Natalie 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.

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 shown to be an intelligent young woman, with a freedom that is seldom contained, and a sharp mind. The reader gets to experience more of this in THE TWISTED TRAGEDY OF MISS NATALIE STEWART.


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, Hieber has continued the series by molding a legend and mystery with great success.

Book Rating:
13/15
4 Stars
A-

GoodReads

Barnes and Noble
| Indiebound | Amazon



Thanks to my contact at Sourcebooks for sending me a copy of THE TWISTED TRAGEDY OF MISS NATALIE STEWART. Since I read this fantastic book via NetGalley, I'm passing along the brand new print version to one lucky Read My Mind reader! Just enter via rafflecopter and Good Luck!

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This book was provided by Sourcebooks and NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review only
This review was excerpted from the original, posted here at Read My Mind

10 December, 2012

Cover Reveal: Suicide Watch by Kelley York

Read My Mind has a great cover reveal for everyone today! This is a hard-hitting contemporary by author Kelley York, who also wrote HUSHED.


About The Author:
Once upon a time, Kelley York was born in central California. And it's there she she still resides with her lovely wife, step-daughter, and an abundance of cats, while fantasizing about moving to England or Ireland. She has a fascination with bells and animals, is a lover of video games, Doctor Who, manga and anime, and likes to pretend she’s a decent photographer. Her life goal is to find a real unicorn. Or at least write about them.

Kelley is a sucker for dark fiction. She loves writing twisted characters, tragic happenings, and bittersweet endings that leave you wondering and crying. Character development takes center stage in her books because the bounds of a person's character and the workings of their mind are limitless.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads



Blurb:
18-year-old Vincent Hazelwood has spent his entire life being shuffled from one foster home to the next. His grades sucked. Making friends? Out of the question thanks to his nervous breakdowns and unpredictable moods. Still, Vince thought when Maggie Atkins took him in, he might’ve finally found a place to get his life—and his issues—in order.

But then Maggie keels over from a heart attack. Vince is homeless, alone, and the inheritance money isn't going to last long. A year ago, Vince watched a girl leap to her death off a bridge, and now he's starting to think she had the right idea.

Vince stumbles across a website forum geared toward people considering suicide. There, he meets others with the same debate regarding the pros and cons of death: Casper, battling cancer, would rather off herself than slowly waste away. And there’s quiet, withdrawn Adam, who suspects if he died, his mom wouldn't even notice.

As they gravitate toward each other, Vince searches for a reason to live while coping without Maggie's guidance, coming to terms with Casper's imminent death, and falling in love with a boy who doesn't plan on sticking around.

Find On Goodreads




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Book Blast Promo: The Alchemists Series by Kailin Gow with GC Giveaway



Read My Mind has a special book blast today; the first 2 books from Kailin Gow's THE ALCHEMISTS ACADEMY series are being spotlighted!

Thanks to the author and Kathy from Book Blasts and Blog Tours there's also a cool gift card giveaway via rafflecopter. Check out the full Tour Schedule and enjoy!


About The Author:
Kailin Gow is the award-winning, international bestselling author of over 80 distinct books.

Kailin Gow is also the President of a media company, a media personality, and has been writing full-time since she was first published. Holding a Masters in communications management and leadership positions in Fortune 500 corporations, she puts her leadership abilities, her experience, and desire to help others into her fiction books. As a result, she has written the forthcoming, Finding the Heroine in You book which is also a national tour.

She is a mother and spends whatever spare time she has volunteering at the Red Cross, Battered Women's Shelters, and other organizations.

Currently her Frost Series is in development for a major international MMO Game, and she has over 14,000 and growing Frost-ers on her Facebook fan page.

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Book Club | Goodreads



The Alchemists Academy Book 1: Stones to Ashes

What do you learn here...at the Academy? Wirt asks. Magic? The responsibility to use your powers responsibly? Uh...something like that, his roommate Spencer said. More like how to rule worlds.

Wirt, is used to being shuffled from foster home to foster home, adopting a devil-may-care attitude toward the world along the way. Now he s in a school he can t escape, learning to develop his latent magical abilities, for what use, he doesn't know...

To save his world or to destroy it...

NookBook | Kindle



Check out this excerpt from STONES TO ASHES!

***

Wirt screwed his eyes shut, wishing fervently that he was somewhere, anywhere else. Right now, being back with Joan and Peter was looking an awful lot more appetizing. First, though, he had to find some way to get out of here...

Wirt doubled up as his stomach suddenly cramped. For a moment, he though he had been hit, but that hypothesis went by the wayside as the feeling spread to every muscle in his body at once. As far as Wirt knew, and thanks to some of his earlier misadventures he did know, not even three people could manage to hit you everywhere simultaneously. Wirt forced his eyes open, and then quickly shut them again, because the golden radiance surrounding him was simply too bright to look though. Around him, the gasps of the three bullies were clearly audible.

“He’s glowing, Rich. Why is he glowing?”

“How should I know? Look, just grab him.”

“You grab him. He could be radioactive or something, the way he’s glowing.”

“Oh, so it’s all right for me to grab radiation boy, is it?”

The sounds of a scuffle came to Wirt, but they were quickly replaced by silence. He didn’t really care, because by now the unpleasant sensation running through his body had reached unbearable levels, feeling as though every scrap of him were being pulled in a different direction.

As suddenly as it had come, the sensation passed. Wirt had to concentrate just to breathe, and he stood like that for long seconds. He didn’t dare open his eyes, at least until it occurred to him that the three older boys might still be there waiting to hit him. That made his eyes snap open so quickly that for a second he couldn’t make sense of anything around him. When he did, Wirt took a step back, and that itself was surprising enough, given that there should have been a chain link fence in the way. Instead, he was standing in the middle of a field, with no sign of any fences anywhere in sight.

***


The Alchemists Academy Book 2: Elemental Explosions

A new student has entered The Alchemists Academy, and he brings with him an explosive power that threatens the Academy and the legend of Merlin.

Wirt thought he was the only bad boy at the Academy, but he was wrong. Not only is Roland Black worse than Wirt, but a new teacher had replaced one of their beloved teachers, and she has more planned for Wirt and his friends than just lesson plans.

Alana, his crush has grown prettier, and now he is rivals for her attention with not only his best friend Spencer, but newcomer Roland, as well. On top of that, it is their second year, and the year where all the students must pass a test to move on to the Elite Class at the Academy.

The Elite Class is the only class in the third year at the Academy, and the students who fail will be sent home, others will face something even deadlier.

NookBook | Kindle


And here's a taste of ELEMENTAL EXPLOSIONS:

***

The moment didn’t last long, and Wirt opened his gift in a shower of wrapping paper. His parents looked on, those same smiles present on their faces. He looked down into the box, only to see that it was empty. Or not quite empty. Inside was a square of paper, on which careful handwriting stood out clearly. Wirt picked it up and read the words “Merry Christmas, beloved son. You cannot see, taste, or smell your gift, but you will know it when you feel it.”

“What?” Wirt asked. “I don’t understand. Is this some sort of riddle?”

His dream mother and father didn’t say anything. They just smiled and stared at the box in a way that suggested that Wirt was missing something. Not knowing what else to do, Wirt reached down into it, searching it by feel in case there was something at the bottom that he might not have noticed.

There was. Wirt yelped as something closed around his wrist, and tried to yank his arm back. It didn’t move, and as Wirt looked down, he saw dark fingers clasped on his arm. They weren’t just dark-skinned; they were absolutely black, as though carved from onyx or jet. They were as implacable as stone too, refusing to relinquish their grip as Wirt tried to jerk away.

“Help me,” he said to his parents, but they just shook their heads sadly, staring in that way parents had that told you that whatever was happening was for your own good.

The arm pulled at Wirt, and it pulled with far more strength than Wirt had ever experienced. He tried his best to brace himself against it, but slowly, inexorably, the hand drew him towards the box. That swirled with darkness now, and Wirt got the feeling that it was suddenly far deeper than it had been a moment ago.

He found out as the hand dragged him in, though how he fit into the box, Wirt wasn’t sure. He only knew that he fell. Only after a second or two, he wasn’t falling. He was walking along a tunnel instead. The walls were of natural earth, while huge tree roots showed up at intervals like roof beams and standing stones lined the walls, marks on them seeming to tell a story that Wirt could not understand.

***


Book Blast Giveaway: $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

*You need not enter your twitter name for each entry. Simply enter it for the first person you follow and leave the others blank.

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.
Ends 12/31/12


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07 December, 2012

Book Blitz: Phoebe Pope And the Year Of Four by Nya Jade + Kindle Fire HD Giveaway



Xpresso Book Tours is hosting a Book Blitz Promo for PHOEBE POPE AND THE YEAR OF FOUR by Nya Jade, and Read My Mind is participating!

Here's more about the book.


Blurb:
The students of Green Lane Academy roam their halls unaware that below their manicured campus exists a prestigious school of an entirely different kind . . .

Sixteen-year-old Phoebe Pope has enrolled at the Campus Below: a spy academy for shape-shifters hidden deep beneath the grounds of a boarding school whose humans unknowingly protect it. There, thanks to a carefully planned schedule, she leads a double life: spy trainee Below and normal teenager Above.

As if two course loads, concealing a secret power she alone wields, and coping with her father’s recent death weren’t enough, Phoebe finds herself developing major feelings for actor and teen heartthrob Colten Chase, who attends the Campus Above and appears to be majoring in winning Phoebe’s heart. But when officials learn that Phoebe may be at the center of a startling prophecy, she becomes the target of shape-shifting assassins who will stop at nothing to suppress the truth.

Now Phoebe’s lessons about Shaper’s enemies and spycraft take on great importance as a menace stalks the campus, with Phoebe as its target. Meanwhile, what began as an unlikely relationship with Colten, quickly morphs into heartache when she suspects that something sinister lurks beneath this movie star’s glitter and fame. Suddenly, Phoebe’s caught in a mesh of lies, betrayals, and danger where she doesn’t know who to trust, and needs to rely on herself—and her secret power—to get to the truth and to stay alive.

Goodreads
NookBook | Kindle


About The Author:
Nya Jade is a singer-songwriter and author based in San Francisco. Her music videos have aired on the VH1, BET, and MTV networks. USA Today hailed Nya as a “young female troubadour worth keeping your eyes and ears on,” in an entertainment feature on up-and-coming singer-songwriters. “Her cool singing voice recalls Sade,” said the LA Times.

Between writing and performing new music, Nya took a musical sabbatical to focus on writing a novel—an endeavor she found quite daunting, until she began looking at each chapter as a verse in a very long song. Phoebe Pope and the Year of Four is her first novel.

In her free time, Nya enjoys hanging out with family and friends, searching for amazing gluten-free desserts, and bargain hunting for her next pair of funky shoes.

Nya holds a B.A. in Economics and an M.A. in Sociology, both from Stanford University.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads


Check out this excerpt from PHOEBE POPE AND THE YEAR OF FOUR!

***

Phoebe was too far away to sense whether the boy had one heart or two. Through the maze of trees with clattering leaves, she could see him moving with purposeful speed. He was headed toward her destination—a brownstone chapel perched at the top of a small hill. Not knowing the boy’s nature made Phoebe hesitate. Then came the sound of tower bells. Eight o’clock. There was no time to think of an alternate route. She was officially late for the Conversion.

A loud, echoing crack quickened Phoebe’s pace as lightning slashed the indigo sky above her. She had barely reached the base of the hill when rain began pounding down. Clutching the camera that hung from the strap around her neck, she sprinted the final stretch, arriving breathless.

Phoebe wiped the rain from her face, and then entered the chapel. Inside, light from moon-facing windows cast a misty glow across the sanctuary, the air redolent with the smoke of a blazing fireplace. She glanced around the heart of the nondenominational Green Lane Academy. It seemed so ordinary, so quiet, even peaceful. Rows of pews with velvet cushions ran the width of the room. She moved between them, taking care to remain in the shadows. An irregular shape in a dark corner caught her eye and Phoebe could just barely make out the outline of the boy. He knelt with his head between his hands, his body huddled against a pew. Praying.

Phoebe paused several feet away and waited. After a moment she felt energy seeping from the boy’s skin, raising the hairs on hers. Cold and electric, it meant one thing: the boy had only one heart. She couldn’t risk him seeing what she had come there to do. That meant waiting. Just then, something stirred behind her.

***


Author Nya Jade is also sponsoring a Kindle Fire HD Giveaway tour-wide! Enter via the rafflecopter below.

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