Wednesday, July 31, 2013

New Release ARC Review - To the 5th Power (Powers Trilogy#1) by Shirin Dubbin @ShirinDubbin



To the 5th Power
Powers Trilogy #1
by Shirin Dubbin


Goodreads blurb:  Three years ago, Zola Noite's nemesis killed her sidekick and forced her to watch. The guilt drove her to hang up her cape. Zola knows one thing for certain. She will never be a superhero again.

Psychologist Dr. Arturo "Fort" Forte specializes in super-powered mental health. He’s the only reason Zola can once again call herself sane—although, truth be told, the heat between them is slowly driving her back to mad.

When three mega-villains escape the prison Fort oversees, all Zola's best laid plans go up in flames. Fort asks her for help, and she can't turn down the man she's secretly come to love. As battles ensue and clues add up, the one thing Zola trusts is called into question: Fort's true agenda and which side he’s on.



About the Author:  Shirin Dubbin is often called a “chic geek,” and she likes the sound of it. Especially since she’s a closet wallflower (albeit one with a super-heroine styled alter ego). When not working in graphic design or hosting The Fantastic Forum—a celebration of comics & speculative fiction—she writes stories inspired by the art, literature, international cinema, and anime she grew up with.

In her own storytelling, Shirin spins tales of sci-fi and urban fantasy with romantic edge. The battle between good and evil, humor, and break neck action are ink to her imagination.

Culturally, she’s half American, half British and very southern; right down to the accent and love of grits. Government reports show a residence in DC, but Shirin lives largely on the astral plane and hopes to meet you there.
Connect with Shirin:

My Thoughts - 3.5 out of 5 unicorns - I liked it!
**Received from Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review
Okay to start out, I love the cover.  It grabbed my attention to read it. 
I love superheroes :)  At first, I have to admit that I was confused and lost.  I didn’t get into the book until about half way through and the author totally surprised me because I didn’t see where the ending was going.  I love when an author does that.  I think this book had some awkwardness being the first in the series, but I think this series is going to be fabulous in the coming books.  I definitely wonder about Zola before her retirement and want to read more about her and her friends.  Superheroes are people too, and they have drama just like us.  That’s what this book is about.  If you are interested in superheroes and the drama that goes with the job, you will definitely enjoy this book.

Interested in reading??



Tuesday, July 30, 2013

High School Advice #8 - Break the cycle, INCLUDE EVERYONE!! Guest post by YA author Jacinda Buchmann

My 8th Guest post of High School Advice comes to us from Jacinda Buchmann, author of Indigo Incite.  I think her post is fabulous, what do you think?

When Cassandra said that she was a teacher and was looking for guest posts about high school, I jumped on the opportunity. I was a teacher and then a full-time school counselor for several years before I became an author. Now I have the best of both worlds. Starting this school year, I will be a school counselor two days per week, and the rest of the time I will be able to write. I'm currently working on the second book in a trilogy :-)
So, the big question: What would I have done differently in high school? I've always been a practical person and thought that I never gave in to peer pressure. I never smoke, drank, or did drugs because I thought it was dumb. (Still think it's dumb by the way, LOL). I lived in a very small town, my graduating class had only 96 students, and in a small town there isn't a lot to do. Kids were either in sports, working on their parents' farm, or speed dating as many students as possible. Like any high school, anywhere, there were "the groups": "The Jocks", "The Cheerleaders", "The Drama Club", "The Stoners". I could go on, but I have a feeling you know exactly what I'm talking about. Given the physical location of where you live, the groups might be a little different. I grew up in Montana, so ethnicity and race wasn't really an issue as far as "groups" were concerned. There were Caucasian students and a handful of Native Americans, but that was basically it. In the schools around my area now, in Arizona, there is an equal toss up of Caucasian and Hispanic students, and I often see that race and ethnicity because a big issue as far as grouping goes. In the elementary schools I see the Hispanic students team up against the Caucasian students to play soccer at recess.  In middle school and high school I see the same type of racial separation at the lunch tables. My question is, why?  Why do people (of any age) feel the need to belong to a certain group? Is it right to want to belong to a certain group? Is it wrong? They are difficult questions, but the real answer is Yes and No.
Let me go back to the original question and I'll explain. What would I have done differently in high school? I said that I thought I never gave in to peer pressure, but is that really possible? To never give in to pressure? I don't think that's realistic and in thinking about it further, I realized that I did give in to pressure. In high school, I didn't associate myself with any particular group.  I certainly wasn't an athlete, wasn't in drama, didn't do drugs, wasn't considered a "nerd", I was just me. I got along with everyone in school, I was friends with people who I had things in common with, but outside of school I only hung out with a couple of friends. Because again, there was that whole, not giving in to peer pressure thing. I didn't like sports, so I wasn't going to go to a game just because that was the thing to do. I didn't drink so I didn't go to parties because that was the thing to do. I was just happy hanging out with my small group of friends, and I actually liked spending time with my family. So, what was the problem? What could I have possibly done differently?
I thought about that as I sat down to write this post, and the answer became glaringly clear. I DIDN'T go out of my way to befriend the kids who didn't have friends, the kids who didn't fit into a particular group or were considered "nerds" and laughed at by others. Why not? Probably because I was worried what other people would think of me. Would I be considered a "nerd" if I talked to them? Looking back now I think, "What the heck was wrong with me?" I was NEVER mean to anyone, but what excuse is there to sit quietly back and observe people who don't have friends, people who get laughed at by others, and do nothing? Would it have been that difficult to go out of my way to say, "Hi, it looks like you're sitting alone at lunch today, would you like to sit and have lunch with me?" Wow, that's a huge thought. So yeah, if I could go back and do things differently, I would have been a lot friendlier and welcoming to others. It makes me sad now to even think that I could have made a difference in someone's life simply by going out of my way to say "hi". For someone who doesn't feel like they fit in or have friends, a simple "hi" from someone, or a "would you like to sit and have lunch with me" goes a long way to make a difference in someone's day. A "hi" doesn't mean that you're suddenly going to be best friends, or that you "like" someone. It's simply showing that you're a decent person and care about others.
So back to the second question. Is it right or wrong to belong to a certain group? It's human nature to want to belong. Everyone wants to feel that they fit in somewhere in the world. It becomes wrong when we try to fit in somewhere where we don't belong. To try to be someone who we're not. And it's especially wrong to believe that you have to fit into one particular group and exclude all others. A sign of maturing and having a high self-esteem is recognizing that you can be friends and hang out with whoever you want. If a person is nice, if a person has something in common with you, then be nice back. It's okay to be friends with a wide group of people, regardless of their interests and regardless of their skin color.
When I wrote INDIGO INCITE, I created characters with a wide range of backgrounds and ethnicities. Though there are some Caucasian characters, there is also a main character who is half Native American half Mexican, a Chinese girl, and a mixed race African American girl. Oh, and perhaps my favorite, a young autistic boy. Is the story about race and ethnicity? Absolutely not. Does it ever become a topic or an issue? Nope. It's just a great action/adventure with a touch of fantasy and romance with characters who happen to be from different backgrounds who all become friends. It is my hope that, given time, more YA books will begin to show characters with a variety of backgrounds because isn't that who we all are? We're all different. We all come from different backgrounds, and it's about time that society begins to accept the fact that that's okay. Half of that begins with media and literature demonstrating that it's okay, but it also starts with you. Everyone can make a difference by setting a positive example.



About the Author:  Jacinda Buchmann lives in Arizona with her husband and three children. She graduated from Carroll College, in Helena, Montana, with a B.A. in elementary education and later received a Master’s degree from Northern Arizona University, in school counseling. After spending several years as a teacher and later a school counselor, she now spends her time writing, any free chance she can get, that is, when she’s not spending time with her family or creating a new concoction in the kitchen.

Connect with Jacinda:


Goodreads blurb:  There are no secrets

Sixteen-year-old Tyler believed that his extra-sensory powers were a secret, but when his twin brother, Toby, is kidnapped by a covert government agency, he realizes that he has no secrets, and he has nowhere to hide.

He’s not alone

Now, in order to save himself and rescue his brother, Tyler must call upon the help of four strangers. Unknown to each other, Eddie, Liliana, Grace, and Sarah share a common bond. They are Indigo Children. With extra-sensory powers of their own, they must unite with Tyler in order to maintain their freedom.

Unexpected romance

They’re on the run. They’re on a mission. Romance is a distraction that Tyler can’t afford. But sometimes, the heart has a mind of its own.

Time is running out

Will they find Toby before the agency finds them first? Find out in Indigo Incite, Book One of the Indigo Trilogy.



Interested in reading?


Sunday, July 28, 2013

Series Spotlight & Giveaway - Saving Grace & Leaving Annalise by Pamela Fagan Hutchins


Saving Grace
Katie & Annalise #1
by Pamela Fagan Hutchins

Goodreads blurb:  Katie Connell is a high-strung attorney whose sloppy drinking habits and stunted love life collide hilariously in a doomed celebrity case in Dallas. When she flees Texas for the Caribbean, Katie escapes professional humiliation, a broken heart, and a wicked Bloody Mary habit, but she trades one set of problems for another when she begins to investigate the suspicious deaths of her parents on the island of St. Marcos. She’s bewitched by the voodoo spirit of an abandoned house in the rainforest and discovers that she’s as much a danger to herself as the island’s bad guys are. As the worst of her worlds collide, Katie drags herself back to the courthouse to defend her new friend Ava, an island local accused of stabbing the senator she’s been sleeping with.


~ Amazon ~ AmazonUK ~ B&N ~ 




Leaving Annalise
Katie & Annalise #2
by Pamela Fagan Hutchins
 **NEW RELEASE**

Goodreads blurb:  One unexpected and hotly fought-over little boy, two dead bodies, and a series of home vandalisms throw Texas attorney turned island chanteuse Katie Connell into a tizzy. Juggling all of this, Bloody Mary cravings, baggage, and the bad guys too, she waffles between the jumbie house that brought her back from the brink and the man she believes is the love of her life. 


Be sure to catch Saving Grace, #1 in the Katie & Annalise Series.

What People Are Saying About Leaving Annalise, Saving Grace, and the Katie & Annalise mystery series:

“Could not put [Leaving Annalise] down and did not want it to end!” Rebecca Weiss, attorney and reader

“As much as I loved Saving Grace, I love Leaving Annalise even more.” Rhonda Erb, editor

“A lively romantic mystery that will likely leave readers eagerly awaiting a sequel.” Kirkus Reviews

“…an exciting tale that combines twisting investigative and legal subplots with a character seeking redemption…an exhilarating mystery with a touch of voodoo.” Midwest Book Review MBR Bookwatch

“A riveting drama with plenty of twists and turns for an exciting read, highly recommended.” Small Press Bookwatch

“Katie is the first character I have absolutely fallen in love with since Stephanie Plum!” Stephanie Hayes Swindell, bookstore owner

"This book was worth every moment I spent savouring it, and I can't wait to read the next one." Joana James, author of Finding Romeo and reviewer for Book Wormz

“Saving Grace is a remarkable debut novel. It is everything a good read should be, with an exotic setting, vivid characterization (including jumbies), authentic-sounding dialogue, and real emotion, all balanced with page-turning doses of action and suspense. Fun, witty, exciting, and unputdownable!” Rhonda Doyle Erb, editor

“Living through Katie was at times nerve-wracking, embarrassing, exciting, frightening, but most of all, it was really funny. It almost feels wrong to say I laughed at a woman dealing with alcoholism, unrequited love, the mysterious death of her parents, and a voodoo spirit - but I did.” Heidi D., librarian.

About the Author:  Pamela Fagan Hutchins is an employment attorney and workplace investigator by day who writes award-winning and bestselling mysterious women's fiction (Saving Grace, Leaving Annalise, and others) and relationship humor (How to Screw Up Your Kids, Hot Flashes and Half Ironmans, and others) by night. She is passionate about great writing and smart author-preneurship. She also leaps medium-tall buildings in a single bound, if she gets a good running start.

Connect with Pamela:

~ Amazon ~ AmazonUK ~ B&N ~ 

Reviews to come, so be looking for them :)  Don't forget to enter to win a signed copy of Saving Grace or signed bookmarks.


Saturday, July 27, 2013

Woohoo!! I got to go to my first ever author book signing where I met Pamela Fagan Hutchins!!

Today, I went to Springfield, MO.  This is the first time I've found a book event close enough for me to go to!!!  YAY!!!  I talk my mom and grandma into going to and of course I dragged my son with me too!!  :)

Pamela travels in style with her dog Petey and her son was with her too!! Though, she did have some trouble, but repair man hooked her up and fixed most of the trouble.  You can keep looking for the whole story on her website.





















We arrived really early, so we had to scope out the book store first.

ABC Books in Springfield, MO, has new and used books, so it was a treasure trove of books.  I had to behave myself, but talked my mom into getting 2 books I want to read later (we share paperbacks!) and grandma left with 7 books.  Check out this store by clicking the picture below for their website!!



Okay, now onto when I first see Pamela :)



She was in the process of signing books for another person.

When she was done, I said Hi, and she was asking about how we knew about the signing.  As soon as I said Goodreads, she asked are you Cassandra.  It was cool that she remembered me :)

I'm not sure, but hell may have frozen over because I am now going to post a pic of Pamela & me, and I just don't do pictures.  I'm not a photogenic person, but Pamela is beautiful :)



Pamela talked with my family and me for over an hour about all sorts of stuff from books to animals to traveling in an RV.  In the midst of all this talking, I get to meet her beloved Petey.



Petey loves everyone :) So want to see what I got :) and they are signed!!  *insert girly scream here!!




See even my cat Twister had to check out my haul :)  

I also was given a couple of books to giveaway on my blog, so be looking for those giveaways soon as well as some signed bookmarks :)

Best moment!!!  Pamela called her son over for something (whatever it was in his wallet I think...which was in his pocket) but to get his wallet out, he had to pull a half eaten sandwich out of his pocket that he had forgotten he put there and continued eating it like it was completely normal.  We were all falling out laughing!!  It made my day for the laugh alone!!  He is a smart kid too as he is soon heading to A&M for college.

Look for a book spotlight and giveaway in the next day or two when I get back home to my house :)  I hope I get to meet more authors soon because this was a blast and Pamela rocks!!!

If you want to try to catch up with her at one of her stops in the tour she is on, check it out HERE!!!  She has stops in Oklahoma for the next 2 days, then Arkansas, Louisiana, Kansas, Colorado, and more :)  Look for her!!!

Thursday, July 25, 2013

New Release Review on one of my favorite series Awkward Holidays by Kallysten (Giveaways listed!!)


Awkward Holidays
Ward of the Vampire #3
by Kallysten

Goodreads blurb:  Trapped in the Ward mansion with a reluctant and standoffish host – a vampire she should be afraid of but can’t help being attracted to – Angelina is preparing herself for grim, lonely holidays.

When her parents unexpectedly decide to visit, the situation, far from improving, only grows more complicated. They look forward to visiting New York with her, but how can she explain that she’s unable to leave the mansion? For that matter, what will they say when they realize she lives with a millionaire?

A hastily concocted excuse smoothes things over, but now Angelina finds herself having to work closely with Morgan Ward. It wouldn’t be so bad if Morgan was as pleasant to her as he is to her parents, but his mercurial moods leave her confused and frustrated. It doesn’t help that he seems no closer to finding a way for her to leave his house.

The New Year brings change with a startling kiss and an even more surprising guest… or is it more of the same?



About the Author:  Kallysten is a writer of romance novels and short stories, most of them with paranormal elements.

Her first eBooks were published by Linden Bay Romance in 2005. The defunct Venus Press subsequently published a few of her short stories. Because so many of her stories are linked as series and part of the same universe, she decided it would make sense to have them all in the same place, which is why she self-published, first with the co-op Alinar Publishing and now on her own. When she sees calls for submissions that speak to her muse, she sometimes tries for them, and was published this way by Samhain and Torquere.
Connect with Kallysten at her website or on twitter.

My Thoughts - 5 out of 5 unicorns - I loved it!!!
**Gifted to me by the author for an honest review
I really enjoy this series and love reading it.  Kally’s writing style just makes it so easy to connect with Angelina.  Morgan is confusing, but I think there is a story there that we will eventually learn about that will pull at our heartstrings and then I won’t want to slap him so much.  Angelina’s parents pop in for a visit which makes things uncomfortable and challenging for Angelina and Morgan, you will definitely want to see how they rise to it.  There is also a new person who I have decided is….I can’t describe what I’m feeling but pain should be involved.  This was another emotional rollercoaster, and it was over much too quickly.  I want the next book NOW, so I can see what happens next…Grrrr!  

If you love paranormal and Kally, you can’t miss out on reading this you will enjoy it!!!  I need more Kally!!!

Interested in reading??


Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Cover Reveal & Giveaway - A Wicked Kind of Dark by Jonathan K. Benton

Author Jonathan K. Benton

Jonathan Benton always wanted to write books, having won first place in a short story competition when he was ten. Inspired by writes such as Ray Bradbury and Stephen King, Jonathan first discovered the crossover genre of literary/fantasy while reading Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes.
Jonathan grew up in New Zealand, dreaming of travelling to London and finally making the pilgrimage in his mid-twenties. Returning from England, he settled in Australia, the country he now calls home, and decided to take his writing seriously.









A Wicked Kind of Dark

Robert Duncan no longer believes in magic. A mysterious call about a blood moon, however, leads him back to the magical world of his childhood and to Luthien, the beautiful girl with flame-coloured hair, who he loved and lost.

As Robert unravels the secrets of his childhood, darkness enters his life and an ancient evil awakens. To have any chance of defeating the dark forces that would destroy two worlds, Robert must find Luthien before the rise of the blood moon. He must, once more, believe in magic …

A Wicked Kind of Dark mixes vast and spectacular fantasy landscapes with gritty urban reality. A must-read for people of all ages who believe in the power of imagination, and the importance of never losing touch with your inner child.



Giveaway Details
$10 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Open Internationally
Ends 8/15/13

Open only to those 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 enter for you. 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. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

*An additional $10 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash is available to anyone who shares this giveaway on their blog.  See link in the rafflecopter form.


a Rafflecopter giveaway



Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Review - Demon Lovers Boxed Set (Books #1-5) by Kate Douglas


Demon Lovers Boxed Set
(Books #1-5)
by Kate Douglas

Goodreads blurb:  Kate Douglas captivated the world of erotic romance with her groundbreaking Wolf Tales series, and she continues to push boundaries in this complete set of her Demon Lovers series.

After barely surviving a vicious attack, Addie Logan awakens to find two gorgeous men standing over her bedside. Unsure if they are real or a figment of her imagination, she reaches out and unleashes an erotic hunger like none she's ever known. But these men need more from her than just erotic pleasure. They are demon hunters, and the attack on Addie in the park has made her one of them.

Together the three will forge an erotic and loving relationship while tirelessly fighting the demonic threat to humanity.

This boxed set contains the complete Demon Lovers series, as serialized in Unbalanced, Unbound, Unmasked, Unleashed, and Undaunted.

* Also includes bonus material from Dark Wolf, the first book in the Spirit Wild series, and Dream Unchained, the second book in the Dream Catchers series.


About the Author:  Some people just seem to know they are meant to write, but it can still take a while to figure out exactly what their career will entail. Kate Douglas started out writing radio copy for a country western radio station in 1972, wrote and illustrated an educational cartoon strip for the American Mosquito Control Association for a number of years, was a newspaper reporter for a small town weekly where she covered everything from high school sports to drug busts, and then, in the mid-1980s, decided to write her first romance. 

Many submissions and rejections followed.

In 1998, she published with a small ebook publisher before anyone knew what an ebook was, but it wasn't until 2005, a full twenty years after finishing that first romance, that she signed with a New York publisher.

In January 2006, Kensington Publishing launched their Aphrodisia imprint of erotic romance with Kate's Wolf Tales, a sexy paranormal series about a lost race of shapeshifters. Kate has continued on as the imprint's lead author, with twenty-one novels and novellas in the full Wolf Tales series. She also has a series with Kensington's Zebra imprint, DemonSlayers, and has just completed her latest Aphrodisia series, Dream Catchers, which opened with the NightShift anthology and her novella, Dream Catcher, followed by the novels Dream Bound and Dream Unchained.

Her next series, Spirit Wild, debuts April 30, 2013 with Dark Wolf. This is a spin-off series that takes place in the Chanku world readers first met in Wolf Tales. Characters are the grown children of the first Chanku.

Kate and her husband of over forty years have two adult children and six grandchildren. They live in the small town of Healdsburg, California, in the heart of the beautiful Sonoma County wine country.

www.katedouglas.com and www.katedouglas.com/eroticromance for full chapter excerpts of all of Kate's books.

You can find Kate on Facebook at www.facebook.com/katedouglas.authorpage or on Twitter @wolftales


My Thoughts - 4 out of 5 unicorns - I really liked it!! 

**Gifted to me through Netgalley by publisher for an honest review

Unbalanced (Book #1)

I liked this story and started to really connect with Addie, Locan, & Jett, but then it ended.  It was less than 50 pages long.  I always struggle with connections in short stories, so I’m hoping that the rest of the stories are a continuation which will help my interest.  This is definitely 18+, and there are some very R related erotic scenes that involved all 3 of them.  I think anyone who likes Kate Douglas will definitely was to read this too :) Her descriptions are very vivid.

Unbound (Book #2)

This story is also about 50 pages.  Again short stories are not my favorite because it is hard to connect with characters.  Addie has accepted her role as the fulcrum.  While they were out hunting demons, Jett was attacked and things get out of hand.  Locan and Addie will not give up on Jett and will do anything to save him because they both love him.  This story covers those 2 days of time and not much action outside of sex.  Again some very adult and descriptive scenes in this book.  Anyone who loves Kate Douglas will like this story, but anyone who does not like erotic ménage may want to skip this series.

Unmasked (Book #3)

Okay I liked this story more than the first 2 stories and felt much more connected to the characters, but would still rather have a novel but that’s me.  This story is also about 50 pages and about the same 3 characters.  They are getting closer in their relationship.  They had another unusual demon situation to solve in this story.  It tied in well into everything that has happened so far.  Again, this is a very adult series with erotic ménage and may not suit everyone, but if you like those types of erotic stories and are a Kate Douglas fan, you definitely want to read this.  I recommend the boxed set for the best value.


Unleashed (Book #4)

Okay another adventure with Addie, Locan, and Jett, and I really liked it now that I feel connected with the characters.  Locan is forced to deal with some things he didn’t know about himself and struggles with it, but Addie & Locan are supportive & loving.  I didn’t much like the Goddesses, but they were kind of self absorbed and only cared about themselves and what they wanted.  Az was cool but has a lot of mystery that I hope we learn more about him in the last book.  This book of course has some very adult material that is erotic ménage & as well as some bondage.  Kate Douglas’ writing is very descriptive and gets your imagination going.  If you are one of her fans, I think you’d love the story.  You know if this is your type of story, and if it is you will enjoy it :)

Undaunted (Book #5)

Again, this is an adult series, and probably not for you if you do not like erotic ménage.  The way Kate Douglas describes things is amazing because your imagination will have no problem processing her work.  I really love Addie’s personality, and she is such a strong character and fights for those she loves.  In this adventure, we learn more about Az, and I easily loved his character because of Addie and her men.  Ukopach is in this story too, and he is funny for a PG demon.  Of course, they are more demons to battle and the threat of hell.  I really liked this book, and I was happy with where it ended. If you enjoyed the other books in this set, you must read this one which I think is my favorite of the five.  If you haven’t read this set of stories and especially if you are a Kate Douglas fan, you should read this because you will enjoy it.

Interested in reading??

Monday, July 22, 2013

GHBT New Release Book Blitz & Birthday Presents!!! - The Chalice of Malvron by Elisabeth Wheatley (free ebooks)



The Chalice of Malvron
Argatellam Series Book #3
by Elisabeth Wheatley
Publication Date:  July 22nd, 2013

Blurb:  A princess with no recollection of the past eight years. War on the horizon. Who to trust? Who to save?

Sixteen-year-old Janir Caersynn Argetallam wakes, sore and disoriented in the home city of her people, surrounded by relatives who seem concerned for her well-being. As she tries to recover, the Argetallams’ allies, the Stlavish, prepare to unleash a magical relic of untold power against the Argetallams’ age-old enemies, the Brevians. Janir watches silently from the sidelines until she meets a warrior elf and a strange wizard-boy who claim to know her and make her feel…confused. They claim that everything she’s been told is a lie, that her memories were stolen at the command of her father, the Lord Argetallam. As the eve of Brevia’s destruction draws closer, Janir finds herself with the power to stop the Stlavish. Conflicted and confused, she must decide whether she will allow Brevia to be conquered or if she will betray her father and destroy the relic—the Chalice of Malvron…



Keep reading to find the presents (free ebooks!!!) below:

About the Author:  Elisabeth Wheatley is a teenager of the Texas Hill Country. When she’s not daydreaming of elves, vampires, or hot guys in armor, she is reading copious amounts of fantasy, playing with her little brothers, studying mythology, and training and showing her Jack Russell Terrier, Schnay.


Connect with Elisabeth:


NOW…..
Onto the awesomeness :) 

Book 1 & 2 are free!!! The new release is only 99 cents!!!  Elisabeth is giving you presents on her 18th birthday!!  Please wish her happy birthday!! 




I haven’t read the series yet even though I bought these books a few months ago, and I bought book 3 too today!!  I’m such a book addict :)  But I have read Fanged Princess by Elisabeth and loved it, you can see the review here!! 


Here is where I first learned about this talented young lady :) Once Upon a Bookcase’s blog which you can read here.  I found the blog post on Nov 30, 2012.  

Don't forget to leave her some comment love & birthday wishes :)  I hope she has a fabulous birthday filled with magic and love :)

Friday, July 19, 2013

High School Advice #7 Guest post & GIVEAWAY for My Girlfriend Bites Blog Tour by author Doug Solter

Today, my blog serves a dual purpose as both a Guest post in my High School Advice #7 and as a stop for My Girlfriend Bites blog tour by author Doug Solter.  Again I cannot give enough thanks all the authors who have participated in this Guest post series for me.  You rock!
If you have missed some of the post catch up via the links at the end of the post.  And I'm really looking forward to reading Doug's book and if I do like it adding it to my classroom library to share with my students :)

Don't forget to enter Doug's fabulous GIVEAWAY too!!

Now onto Doug’s Guest post:

        Hi, Everyone! I'm Doug and I'm a writer of young adult fiction. Cassandra was nice enough to invite me here today to write about my experience in high school.     
        Interesting subject because I was a different guy in high school. I was very shy and got bullied a lot all through junior high and parts of high school. And I had no confidence whatsoever in asking girls out. Even the concept of going up to a girl and asking her out was too terrifying to think about. That's the one thing I like about writing young adult fiction is the awesome concept of do-overs.
        What would have happened if I told that one girl that I liked her? What was it like to be “popular?” What if I had special powers and the bullies didn't? What is it like to be a teen now? How is that different then when I went to school? Because I've found a lot of differences, but then it's always interesting to discover that some things never change and many kids still have to fight through some of the same things I did.
        The one thing I remember as a high school student was how I viewed the future. Sure, I had a vague idea of what I wanted to do after high school, but I didn't take it too seriously. I was always focused on the here and now. For me, surviving every school day was enough of a struggle because I didn't have confidence in myself and always had that stress a kid would get when they were bullied all the time. When I became a senior, things got a little better. But there's a steep climb to that senior year, and I almost fell off the mountain a couple times.
        In my case, I was lucky enough to physically move away from home and go to college. That saved the high-school me. College reset my life. I wasn't high-school me anymore. I could finally become the person that I wanted to become. The me that wasn't allowed to grow in high school because I had to act like everyone wanted me to act...changed into someone I didn't mind hanging with. And to be honest, everyone is different inside and that's awesome. One day the awesome you. The true you. The you that may have to hide inside a shell at school. That you, will have a chance to exist in the real world. I know that because it happened to me.
        All I'm saying is high school will not define you as a person no matter how hard it tries. It's your job to be the person you want to be. Maybe you won't be able to do this in high school because, it's not easy. But there's a light at the end of the tunnel. It's there. I've walked through it. Maybe that light isn't college. Maybe it's the military. Maybe it's a job opportunity in a field that you're really interested in or maybe it's something new and wonderful that you have yet to discover. Some wonderful thing that you didn't even know existed and forces you to ask; “People get paid for doing this?”
        And the big trick in finding that light at the end of the tunnel?
        Always be looking for it.
        It won't fall on your head despite all the wishful thinking in the world.
        If you told the high-school me that I was going to be a writer, high-school me would have said that's impossible. Yet, here I am writing this post. I had to go on searching into my late twenties before finding that awesome thing that I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
        As I said, everyone's journey is different so don't compare yours with theirs.
        Because they could be complete idiots.
        May your journey into the future be just as fun as the destination!



About Doug:  Growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Doug went to college at nearby Oklahoma State where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Radio/TV/Film production and worked in local television for 20 years. Doug began writing screenplays in 1998 and became a 2001 semi-finalist in The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences’ Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting. His script Father Figure was one of 129 scripts left from 5,489 entries. His tenth script, Rail Fan, became a quarter-finalist in 2009. Soon after, Doug made the switch to writing young adult novels in 2008. Skid, a young adult novel set in the world of Formula 1 racing, is his first.

Connect with Doug:


About MY GIRLFRIEND BITES:
A wimpy 16-year-old boy wants to find a girlfriend. When he falls for the perfect one, she shifts into a werewolf and throws his life upside down.

After his "dream" girl rejects him, 16-year-old Aiden tries to commit suicide. Yet he mysteriously survives. Now he feels like a loser with zero possibility of  finding the perfect girlfriend. Enter Bree, the creepy girl with too much hair who's rumored to be cloned from a frozen prehistoric cave girl that scientists discovered in Canada. But when he accepts a ride from “Cave Girl” during a storm, Aiden discovers this weird girl not only has a kind heart. She's also cute.

Aiden offers to help Bree in Algebra and the two become friends. When Aiden pushes that friendship into a date, Bree accepts. On a romantic night at the zoo, Bree and Aiden fall in love as the animals watch. Unlike Aiden, they can smell what Bree really is.

Bree decides to tell him her deep, dark secret. Her family are werewolves hiding from the Demon Skins, a mysterious new enemy hunting down all the werewolf packs on earth. Aiden struggles with Bree's revelation, but chooses to stand by the girl he fell in love with. But standing by his new girlfriend will be the biggest test of his life.

Too bad Bree can't turn a coward into a fearless werewolf. That bite thing is only a myth.
This forces Aiden to do the unthinkable...believe in himself.

Sometimes the boy gets the werewolf.

Interested in reading??



I'm really looking forward to reading this book because it has my interest :)  So look for a review coming soon!!
  
My Girlfriend Bites Blog Tour Schedule

July 16 - Froze 8 Blog
http://katetilton.com/froze8s-blog
Guest Post by MGB character Bree Mayflower!

July 17 - I Read Indie
http://twimom101bookblog.blogspot.com/
Guest Post by MGB character Aiden Jay!

July 18 - Girl in the Woods
http://girlinthewoodsreviews.blogspot...
10 Things You Didn’t Know About My Girlfriend Bites.

July 19 - Cassandra Lost in Books
http://closkot.blogspot.com/
Guest post: High School and the concept of The Future.

July 22 - Lady's Book Stuff
http://ladysbookstuff.blogspot.com/
Guest post: Sneak Peek of first two chapters of My Girlfriend Bites.

July 23 - Oops I Read a Book Again
http://oopsireadabookagain.blogspot.com/
Interview with MGB character Bree Mayflower. Plus MGB dream movie cast!

July 24 - Morgan Dragonwillow
http://morgandragonwillow.com/
Guest Post: Protecting Manhood in YA. My opinion.

July 25 - Dana Square
http://danasquare.blogspot.com/
Author interview.

July 26 - Bittersweet Enchantment
http://www.bittersweet-enchantment.com/
Interview with MGB character Aiden Jay.

July 29 - Alli's World
http://mrscaptkirk51.blogspot.com/
Guest Post: What Inspired Me to Write My Girlfriend Bites

August 1 - Reading Teen
http://www.readingteen.net
Indie Spotlight