Monday, March 31, 2014

Book Blitz @PrismBookTours - The Golden Apple by Michelle Diener @michellediener

To post this Blitz and add your Social Media to the Rafflecopter, 
email us at PrismBookTours(at)gmail.com with "Golden Apple Blitz" in the subject line!


We're celebrating the release of Michelle Diener's second fairy tale retelling:
The Golden Apple
An Adult Fantasy Romance based loosely on the Princess on the Glass Hill



The Golden AppleThe Golden Apple
by Michelle Diener
Adult Fantasy/SciFi
March 24, 2014

Kayla's world has been turned upside-down...

Her father has made her the prize in a deadly, impossible tournament, and Kayla has retaliated in the only way she knows how; by choosing her champion beforehand. But taking control of the outcome changes the game completely, and when the real reason behind the strange test becomes apparent, Kayla realizes not just her life, but her entire kingdom is at stake.

Rane's honor is torn in two...

In order to save his brother, Rane will do whatever he has to--including deceive and betray a princess. He knew nothing about this tournament would be easy, but when it turns into a deeper, far more sinister game, Rane is forced to see it through to the end, or leave his brother at the mercy of their enemy.

Now their fates are entwined, and they must venture into the deep, dark forest together...

Kayla and Rane are bound to one another by an enchantment and Kayla's actions. But the sorcerer forcing them to do his will may have miscalculated, because no-one comes out of the Great Forest unchanged. No-one.


The inspiration for The Golden Apple

The Golden Apple is loosely based on the Norwegian fairy tale The Princess on the Glass Hill. The original tale is more about the hero than the heroine, and it is a very straightforward quest story, with the hero becoming more and more accomplished, until at last he succeeds against the odds. But there were a few things in this fairy tale that stood out for me and made me take notice. The first is the very unusual situation of the king holding a contest for his daughter’s hand by putting her on top of a glass hill with a golden apple in her lap. Knights from all over are invited to race a horse up the smooth glass sides of the mountain and the one who can pluck the golden apple from the princess's lap wins her hand and is heir to the kingdom. As usual in fairy tales, there is no explanation as to how the king came by a glass mountain, but I wondered where he got it, and that sparked the starting point of the story. It is really the inciting incident that starts the story off, rather than the focus of the story, as it was in the fairy tale.

Secondly, the crux of the tale, for me, is that the hero cannot win the princess's hand without help from the princess herself. That part of the original tale is one or two lines long, but for me, it's fascinating. The feminine power determining and choosing which masculine power will prevail. This really made me interested, because the princess doesn't just sit there and take whoever it is manages to accomplish the (impossible) task set by her father, but actively chooses who it is she wants to win and helps them. I wanted to write a story about the consequences of her taking that power and using it and The Golden Apple was the result -- far, far more heroine-centric than the original, and I really had fun with it.
- Michelle Diener



LAST CALL FOR REVIEWERS!
Are you interested in fantasy romance?
Do you love fairy tale retellings?
Have you read Michelle Diener and enjoyed her work in the past?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you can request a review copy of The Golden Apple! The Golden Apple is up for review by invitation only on NetGalley. Reviewers with book review sites can apply for a limited number of pre-approved copies. Book reviewers who post their review on their review site, Amazon, and Goodreads can enter a Rafflecopter draw to win one of ten copies of any Michelle Diener book of their choice, or a $10 Amazon gift card. (Instructions in sign-up form.)

Sign up HERE


Image of Michelle DienerMichelle Diener writes historical fiction. Her Susanna Horenbout & John Parker series, set in the court of Henry VIII, includes In a Treacherous Court, Keeper of the King's Secrets and In Defense of the Queen.

Michelle's other historical novels include Daughter of the Sky, The Emperor's Conspiracy and Banquet of Lies (loosely connected to The Emperor's Conspiracy).

Michelle's first fantasy novel, Mistress of the Wind, is set for a December 23, 2013, release.

Michelle was born in London, grew up in South Africa and currently lives in Australia with her husband and two children.

Blitz-Wide Giveaways:

1 - Enter to WIN one of ten ebooks of The Golden Apple.
- March 30 - April 7.
See Rafflecopter for restrictions.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2 - For book bloggers: Review The Golden Apple by April 1, 2014 and enter to WIN one of 10 prizes:
- Choose any one of Michelle Diener's books or $10 Gift Card!
- March 24 - April 7

Request an early review copy using the form. Instructions on entering the second giveaway are included!


Are you a blogger and want to receive information about new tours? Go HERE.
Are you an author or publisher and would like to have us organize a tour event? Go HERE.

Review & Giveaway - Andromeda's Fall by Abigail Owen @AOwenBooks #AFTour (Shadowcat Nation #1)




Andromeda's Fall
Shadowcat Nation #1
by Abigail Owen


Publication Date: February 25, 2014
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance (18+)

Synopsis:  Andie Reynolds is being hunted. After witnessing her mother's violent death at the hands of a pack of wolf shifters, Andie has devoted her life to protecting her community of cougar shifters from a similar fate. But now, a greater threat lies within her own dare, and she must run. If she stays, Kyle Carstairs will try to force their Mating, seeking the added power their union would provide.

Andie would rather chew off her own foot than end up with Kyle. Though, knowing him, she won't live long either way. Andie's only hope of survival is to Mate the Alpha of the Keller Dare with which she is seeking asylum. But before she can get to him, Andie must first go through A.J., one of the Alpha's Protectors. The incredibly frustrating shifter insists on challenging her story, her skills, her trust… and her heart.

Andie is running out of options and out of time. But risking the life of someone she loves - just to save herself - goes against every instinct she has.


About the Author:  Award-winning author, Abigail Owen was born in Greeley, Colorado and raised in Austin, Texas. She now resides in Northern California with her husband and two adorable children who are the center of her universe.

Abigail grew up consuming books and exploring the world through her writing. A fourth generation graduate of Texas A&M University, she attempted to find a practical career related to her favorite pastime by obtaining a degree in English Rhetoric/Technical Writing. However, she swiftly discovered that writing without imagination is not nearly as fun as writing with it.

Connect with Abigail:
~ Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~


My Thoughts - 5 out of 5 Unicorns - I love it!!!
***I received a complimentary copy for an honest review as part of this tour

The cover is breathtaking, and she looks at fierce as she sounds in the book.

The author had me from the first page.  She grabs your attention and doesn’t let go.  I totally connect with her writing style, and of course I totally love shifters :)  Her book is not the typical shifter book because all shifters do not get along.  It is more like real predators because they try to hunt each other for territory.  I thought this was cool and a first for me; it reminds me of Big Cat Diaries on tv. 

This book is action packed.  There was not a moment where I thought anything was boring which rarely happens if ever.  This book does not have the major sex scenes, so those who usually shy away from shifter books containing these scenes will love this book too.

Andie is awesome because she doesn’t take shit from anyone and can hold her own.  I love her snarky attitude and quick wit.  She is feisty and reminds me of a big cat because she is always evaluating threats and looking for openings or escape routes for fight or flight. 

Jaxon (AJ) is interesting and keeping Andie in the dark about who he is, but she has strong suspicions that he is the alpha.  I love his protector instincts and his personality.

The secondary characters seem really cool and I’m definitely going to be reading more from this author because I want to see more of these characters :)  OMG, I want the next book NOW!!!  I love finding great new to me authors :)  Abigail did an epic job of closing out the book, but leaving a hook for the series that isn’t a cliffhanger but makes you want more right NOW :)

You have no idea how annoyed I was that I couldn’t read this book straight through because it was awesome from the get go :)  I want a fated mate now…sigh!!

I highly recommend this book to all my shifter loving friends and paranormal fanatics because you will LOVE this book :)


Interested in Reading??


Giveaway: There is a giveaway for this tour. $40 Amazon Giftcard or PayPal Cash. Open Internationally. Ends 4/7. 



Saturday, March 29, 2014

Blog Tour @masqtours - Andromeda's Fall by Abigail Owen @AOwenBooks #AFTour (Shadowcat Nation #1)




Andromeda's Fall
Shadowcat Nation #1
by Abigail Owen


Publication Date: February 25, 2014
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance (18+)

Synopsis:  Andie Reynolds is being hunted. After witnessing her mother's violent death at the hands of a pack of wolf shifters, Andie has devoted her life to protecting her community of cougar shifters from a similar fate. But now, a greater threat lies within her own dare, and she must run. If she stays, Kyle Carstairs will try to force their Mating, seeking the added power their union would provide.

Andie would rather chew off her own foot than end up with Kyle. Though, knowing him, she won't live long either way. Andie's only hope of survival is to Mate the Alpha of the Keller Dare with which she is seeking asylum. But before she can get to him, Andie must first go through A.J., one of the Alpha's Protectors. The incredibly frustrating shifter insists on challenging her story, her skills, her trust… and her heart.

Andie is running out of options and out of time. But risking the life of someone she loves - just to save herself - goes against every instinct she has.

My Thoughts - 5 out of 5 Unicorns - I love it!!!
***I received a complimentary copy for an honest review as part of this tour

Okay confession time first, I have not finished reading this book yet because life has gotten in the way, so this is a partial review with a full review to follow.

The cover is breathtaking, and she looks at fierce as she sounds in the book.

This book is awesome so far.  The author had me from the first page.  She grabs your attention and doesn’t let go.  I totally connect with her writing style, and of course I totally love shifters :)  Her book is not the typical shifter book because all shifters do not get along.  It is more like real predators because they try to hunt each other for territory.  I thought this was cool and a first for me; it reminds me of Big Cat Diaries on tv. 

Andie is awesome because she doesn’t take shit from anyone and can hold her own.  I love her snarky attitude and quick wit.  She is feisty and reminds me of a big cat because she is always evaluating threats and looking for openings or escape routes for fight or flight.

Jaxon (AJ) is interesting and keeping Andie in the dark about who he is, but she has strong suspicions that he is the alpha.  I love his protector instincts and his personality.

The secondary characters seem really cool and I’m definitely going to be reading more from this author because I want to see more of these characters :)  I love finding great new to me authors :)

Remember, I haven’t finished this yet, but I will finish it this weekend and follow up with a full review.  I'm stoked to finish it because it is awesome (exhaustion is the only reason I stopped, I fell asleep.)   :)


Interested in Reading??

About the Author:  Award-winning author, Abigail Owen was born in Greeley, Colorado and raised in Austin, Texas. She now resides in Northern California with her husband and two adorable children who are the center of her universe.

Abigail grew up consuming books and exploring the world through her writing. A fourth generation graduate of Texas A&M University, she attempted to find a practical career related to her favorite pastime by obtaining a degree in English Rhetoric/Technical Writing. However, she swiftly discovered that writing without imagination is not nearly as fun as writing with it.

Connect with Abigail:
~ Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~


Giveaway: There is a giveaway for this tour. $40 Amazon Giftcard or PayPal Cash. Open Internationally. Ends 4/7. 




Friday, March 28, 2014

Cover Reveal @Month9Books - Fingers in the Mist by O’Dell Hutchison @OtotheDell



Welcome to the Cover Reveal for

Fingers in the Mist by O’Dell Hutchison

presented by Month9Books!
Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

Fingers in the Mist 1600x2400
Sixteen-year-old Caitlyn Foster never believed in the legend of the Redeemers. That was before the trees started to whisper her name. Before a murder of crows attacked the town. Before she and her family came home to find a bloody handprint on their front door, marking one of them as a sacrifice. As Caitlyn’s friends are ripped from their homes, she knows it’s only a matter of time before the Redeemers come for her. Caitlyn has the power to stop the terror, but she’ll have to decide if she’s willing to sacrifice herself to save those she loves.
add to goodreads

Fingers in the Mist by O’Dell Hutchison
Publisher: Month9Books
Chapter-by-Chapter-header---About-the-Author
O'Dell Hutchison
O’Dell was born in a small rural town in Idaho. There were no Redeemers living there (that he knows of). After attending college in the Pacific Northwest, he found his way to the Houston area. By day, he is a Business Systems Analyst and at night you can either find him sitting at home, dreaming of random super powers he wishes he had, or directing plays and musicals at various theaters around Houston.
Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Chapter-by-Chapter-header---Giveaway
Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

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Thursday, March 27, 2014

March Book Frenzy by Fabulosity Reads @FabulosityReads



This Hop is brought to you by 

8 AUTHORS OVER 4 DAYS

GENRES: Romance, Historical Fiction
Tour Link:  March Book Frenzy



FIND FREE AND DEEPLY DISCOUNTED KINDLE 


COUNT DOWN DEALS ON THE HOP CATALOGUE.
Scroll down for catalogue.


GIVEAWAYS

Check out the prizes the authors are sponsoring:

FOR READERS
$35, $25 and $20
PLUS
2 featured e Books from each author.

PARTCIPATING BLOGGERS ONLY

2 X $20
in cash via paypal or gift card via Amazon (your choice)
Giveaway Link (Bloggers ONLY): Bloggers Giveaway

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please visit the authors blogs by clicking on book covers. 
They have each prepared a special feature for you about one of their 
characters on each on the 8 blogs.
The tour feature is entitled: "A Day In The Life Of.....(characters name)"

Follow the hop by visiting as many of the blogs on the linky as possible. We encourage you to follow the blogs and leave a comment mentioning that you are from the Book March Frenzy Hop so that they may follow you back.
Remember to enter the Giveaway at each blog visit to increase your chances of winning.
*|MC:SUBJECT|*
March Book Frenzy Catalogue
View this email in your browser

eNovel Authors at Work Catalogue

*Please click on the red buttom to download a book.
*Click on the book cover to visit the authors page.

There you will find at post about a a day in the life of their character.
Please comment and follow are many  blogs as you can.
* ENTER TO WIN: $120 in Cash & eBook Prizes
*Join The Hop
* Guide to Participating in the HOP
All Book Prices Are Valid From March 27th thru 30th.
A passionate romantic-suspense .
 
She Belongs To Me is a tightly woven tale of love, possession, and concealed histories, 'She Belongs to Me' follows a man who finds his wife unconscious, clinging to life. Was it a suicide attempt, or a sinister force from her former life? To learn the answer, he must go back to the beginning, five years ago when he met his wife and learned of her tragic past. 
 
She Belongs to Me is book one of The Southern Suspense Series. From there, all the stories have a slight connection to each other, so you can continue the journey and meet different protagonists with different issues and tragedies to overcome. Every story has a mystery, there's always a gentle message, and above all, there's always romance and suspense.
FREE DOWNLOAD
A secret and unauthorized trip through the chaos of a 1717 London marketplace takes a bizarre twist for 16 year old Tess. Unexpectedly witnessing the murder of a renowned Seer, Tess becomes the keeper of the old woman's legendary spinner ring and its supposed power of prophecy.

Returning home, Tess bears the brunt of her father's rage when he is informed of her disobedient excursion. An ensuing altercation with her father leads Tess to the discovery of a family secret that stuns her. 

Even so, she never imagines that she will soon find herself forcibly betrothed to the murderer and trapped on a ship bound for the pirate-infested waters of the West Indies. Moreover, she quickly
$2.99 on Kindle
Miriam loves her work at a rural health clinic in Afghanistan but is aware of cracks appearing in her marriage, though she doesn't know what is going wrong - only that her husband seems to be changing and is no longer the man she married.

When, against Iqbal's wishes, Miriam agrees to act as translator at a health teaching camp she hopes time apart might help her understand the cause of their problems. An old friend appears at the camp, inviting her to visit his village and Miriam finds herself travelling on a journey into her past where she must face up to the traumatic loss of her first husband.

When she realises it is partly her own behaviour which has damaged her relationship with Iqbal, Miriam resolves to put things right between them - but is she too late? Will Iqbal still want her, or will the return of his first love, a beautiful Afghan girl now a widow, mean he no longer wants Miriam?
From $0.99 on Kindle Count Down
USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR! 
 
"...an utterly charming romantic comedy...told with humor and honesty..." ~Karen McQuestion, Author of A Scattered Life, Easily Amused, and The Long Way Home
 
When Lauren divorces her husband, she has one thought on her mind...stepping off the merry-go-round. However, her life quickly turns into a three-ring circus: her hypochondriac father moves in, her ex is using her shower when she's not home, and her perky assistant is pushing her out into the fearsome dating world.

She also has to decide if the dilapidated barn and vintage merry-go-round she's awarded in the divorce settlement is a blessing or a bane. As if Lauren's personal life isn't chaotic enough, this slightly jaded attorney is overrun with a cast of quirky characters who can't stay on the right side of the law. What's a woman to do? She can allow life to spin her in circles forever. Or she can reach out and grab the brass ring.
$1.99 on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, iBooks
The accidental death of his beloved wife sent Alex Morgan into a numbing world of suppressed grief and rage, eased only by a profound bond with his son. Suddenly his life is shattered again when a chance discovery propels him into a world gone horribly, terrifyingly wrong.

Piecing together clues in this new nightmare, Alex suspects a colleague of taking a few, meddling steps back in time, changing the course of history - destroying Alex's family and all he loves. Desperately clinging to his sanity, he searches for any evidence his young son still exists.

Jessica O'Neil is fighting a nightmare of her own, captured and facing execution for freedom-fighting heroics in her grim, oppressive society. When Alex rescues the feisty young rebel, she resists her dangerous attraction to him - a man who's clearly crazy, literally in a world of his own.
$3.99 on Kindle
A heart-warming romance of second chances and self discovery, of family and the love that overcomes all. Set in New Zealand.

Jack Fletcher has survived his rough upbringing to become a mega success, but with his personal life down the toilet, discovering he has a son sends his life even further into turmoil.

Robyn Taylor was the brainy girl destined for great things who now waits tables for a living to support her twins. Life is a struggle, but when Jack convinces her he needs her to look after his son, the conditions are too good to turn down.

Robyn has always had a bit of a crush on Jack, but being this close means the crush is rapidly turning into something else altogether, and when Jack gets 
shocking news, it draws the two of them even closer together. 
But how can Jack ever believe he can be a father to his son, and a husband to a woman who must learn not only how to trust him - but to have faith in herself as well.
$0.99 on Kindle
Parnell Stillman, ace pilot, is man to the bone in a lackadaisical kind of way. He has the ability to fly through anything except solid mountain. He lives alone because people are not to be trusted--especially women. Flying is his high road until one sleet-filled morning--it isn't. Mischance forces his plane down in a frozen wilderness.

He can survive, but his live cargo is another matter--an annoying social worker and five orphans--the most irksome freight he's ever hauled in his life.
 Rebecca Hollis is distraught. The orphans have missed their chance for parents. She determines to force the obnoxious, disagreeable, self-centered pilot to do what is necessary to insure the survival and rescue of the orphans... Even if it means making the noble gesture of keeping her mouth shut--or other womanly things.


But the pilot isn't having it. No way. No how. No time. He'd rather dance with a grizzly or wrestle a puma 
than give his heart over to a sly, conniving, wily do-gooder. But the pilot isn't having it. No way. No how. No time. He'd rather dance with a grizzly or wrestle a puma than give his heart over to a sly, conniving, wily do-gooder. He is not into heroics. Rebecca Hollis has other ideas--lots of them! All artful and disingenuou one of which is bound to work...she hopes. 
- Starting price 99 cents @ 8:00 a.m. PST AZ U.S. /77p AZ U.K. 40+  hours. Next increment : $1.99 for 22 hours.
FROM $0.99 on Kindle Count Down
In 1997, Justin Dickerson, a Biblical Archaeologist, jumps at the opportunity to attend the Fifty Year Jubilee commemorating the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The invitation to Jerusalem could not have come at a better time. Her life is almost unbearable. Travel, conversation with colleagues, and celebrating the find that stunned the Christian and secular world alike in 1949 promises a wonderful diversion from personal angst.

However, in the bustling metropolis of Jerusalem she learns that some of the 2,000 year old manuscripts, once hidden in clay pots in the caves of Qumran, may have been purposely destroyed. Obsessed with the discovery, Justin determines to find the truth. Family and an abiding faith are her anchors as she discovers the answer to Earth's ancient mysteries and what really happened In the Beginning . . . 
$2.99 on Kindle
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My Thoughts - These are definitely not my usual genres, but I try not to limit myself especially if I find a great deal and if it sounds interesting.  The cover of Quintspinner is very cool and probably why I picked up the book last year.  The faded compass and rock structures remind me of a treasure hunt and of pirates.  The girl sort of looks worried.  I wonder if she is worried about what the pirates are going to do to her or if one of the pirates is hers.  I haven't had a chance to read it yet though.  I've never read a pirate book, but I have seen lots of pirate cartoons and movies dedicated to pirates.  I'm going to have to read it to see if it is like Goonies, Pirates of the Caribbean, or Peter Pan's Hook ;)  What do you think of the cover?  Have you read any pirate books?  How were they?

The cover for She Belongs To Me is very mysterious, and the story sounds like is a very intriguing story.  I picked it up, so I can read it in the future when I'm not so busy :)  Of all the stories and covers, I think these 2 attract my attention.  Which ones do you like and why??  Don't forget to enter the giveaway :)