Henge- Review and Giveaway

I am a huge fan of Arthurian Legends and retellings. I thought this modernized tale was quite well written. I really enjoyed this take on Morgan La Fey. Morgan is a very strong character. She is heavily influenced by her mother. There is a lot of intrigue in this novel. I loved reading what motivated Morgan and what influenced her goals.- Even if it was cheating. There is a fascinating mix of characters and they all add to the story.

Henge by Realm Lovejoy is a YA Fantasy that is a modern spin-off of the Arthurian legends featuring Morgan Le Fay as the protagonist. This tour will consist of reviews, interviews & guest posts. Check out the full schedule for more information.

About the book:
Modern-day Camelot. Where knights no longer carry swords. Magic is dangerous. And those who seek control are not to be trusted.

Sixteen-year-old Morgan le Fay is a fire user. An ordinary girl with an extraordinary skill, she has the ability to create and command fire at will. Her dream is to become the Maven—the right hand of the future King Arthur. In the chance of a lifetime, Morgan is selected to join Arthur’s Round, an elite group of young magic users from which the new Maven will be chosen.

Along with the other fire, water, and wind users in Arthur’s Round, Morgan is rigorously trained and tested. The handsome Merlin, a brilliant water user, takes a particular interest in her. Is his friendship to be trusted, or is Merlin simply trying to win the position of Maven for himself? Among the many rivals Morgan faces is the current Maven, Mordred, who seems determined to see her fail.

But Morgan has a secret—years ago, her mother was executed for using fire magic, and Morgan’s desire for justice makes her more than ready to take on the challenge before her. Can she prevail in Camelot’s tests of survival and magic? Only time—and Morgan’s powerful fire—will tell.

Realm Lovejoy’s modern Arthurian series features one of literature’s most complicated and powerful female figures. Henge is the first book in the LE FAY series, and—like Morgan le Fay’s magic—it is sure to dazzle and amaze.

Goodreads | Amazon

About the Author:
Realm Lovejoy is an American writer and an artist. She grew up in both Washington State and the Japanese Alps of Nagano, Japan. Currently, she lives in Seattle and works as an artist in the video game industry. CLAN is her first book. You can find out more about her and her book at www.realmlovejoy.com

Find the Author:


Webpage | Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Tumblr

Giveaway:

signed paperback of Henge + swag (US)

4 paperbacks of Henge (US)

6 ebooks (INT)

1 ebook + $20 Gift Card (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

11.14. Induction Day

Yay I loved reading about Bianca from Butterman Travel Inc.  So I was super excited to read the sequel. It was like visiting a friend, The writing was superb.  Induction Day was a great time travel story and perfect for 16 and older age group.

It had a great story that made you question how your actions have consequences. The characters were awesome.
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Tour Page & Schedule

Induction Day (Butterman {Time} Travel, Inc #2) 

Ages: 16+

Pages: 247

The year 2069 is coming to a close, and eighteen-year-old Bianca Butterman's time-craft license is finally official. She's ready for the Induction Day she’s waited for since she was a kid—the one that will secure her name on the Butterman family tree of time travelers. But ever since the media discovered Bianca is pop superstar Tristan Helms’ latest new honey, everything Bianca does or says becomes a target of criticism. Having her professional credibility topping the gossip sites across social media is an open invitation for the government to step in and regulate Bianca’s Induction. Now she will have to ask herself if saving 1500 people from drowning is worth losing everything she’s ever worked for, including the Butterman family biz.

Welcome to Butterman Travel, Incorporated; a full service agency designed to meet all your exclusive time travel needs. We’re a family owned and operated business with one hundred years of experience. A place where you can rest assured, safety and reliability always come first.

Anxious to attend some special event from the past? Or for a glimpse of what the future holds?

You’ve come to the right place. We’re a fully accredited operation, offering an array of services; including, but not limited to: customized travel plans, professionally piloted operations, and personal trip guides. *Terms and conditions do apply

Use our Web conferencing to contact our frontline reservation specialist, Bianca Butterman, who will handle all your inquiries in a professional and efficient manner, offering a tentative itinerary and free fare quote, so you can make the most of your time trip.

We look forward to serving you at Butterman Travel, Inc., where time is always in your hands.

Goodreads | YouTube

  Information on Butterman (Time) Travel, Inc 

 

Description: Welcome to Butterman Travel, IncorporatedWe are a full service agency designed to meet all your exclusive time travel needs. Family-owned and operated, we offer clients one hundred years of time travel experience. A place where you can rest assured, safety and reliability always come first.Anxious to attend a special event from the past? Or for a glimpse of what the future holds?You’ve come to the right place. We’re a fully accredited operation, offering an array of services; including, but not limited to: customized travel plans, professionally piloted operations, and personal trip guides. *Terms and conditions do applyConference us directly from our Website. Our frontline reservation specialist, Bianca Butterman, will handle all your inquiries in a professional and efficient manner, offering a tentative itinerary and free fare quote, so you can make the most of your time trip.We look forward to serving you at Butterman Travel, Inc., where time is always in your hands.

 Goodreads |  Amazon Kindle  | B&N  

    About the author:

PK Hrezo is a native Floridian rarely found without her flip flops on. She shares her home with her firefighter husband, their two children, and big dog named Ripley. When not creating characters and their worlds, PK can be found at her other job of rearranging passenger’s itineraries for a major international airline. The only hobbies she loves more than traveling are reading, writing, and music, and when the four are combined she exists in total bliss.

Twitter | Facebook | Website | Blog

 

Giveaway:

To be entered into a special giveaway, copy one of these ready-made posts and share it. Make sure PK’s name is tagged so she can see it and enter your name into a giveaway. The more you share, the more entries you receive. Five winners will receive a time traveler’s book thong:

TWEETS:

Induction Day by @PKHrezo is a #timetravel #mustread. Retweet this to be entered into a special #giveaway. Add it to #AmazonCart here.

FACEBOOK:

Induction Day is here! A taut, fast-paced, engrossing read by PKHrezo. Find it on Amazon here:http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G9ADV2O

Share this post for an entry into a special giveaway.


GOOGLE PLUS
Induction Day by #PKHrezo is a #timetravel #mustread. Retweet this to be entered into a special #giveaway. A taut, fast-paced, engrossing read. Find it on Amazon here:http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G9ADV2O

Share this post for an entry into a special giveaway.

Just Girls - Review

This was my first experience reading a LGBT coming of age story. The new terminology is difficult to remember at first, but it makes sense. I think it is important to be aware of hetero privilege and this novel helps to understand this problem. Also, there is a very helpful chart at the beginning of the novel.
I loved the main character, Ella. She was refreshing and full of depth. The other characters rounded her out.  Tucker was so brave. I connected with the characters and story. 
I didn't connect with Lindy and Vivian but they definitely had their unique personalities. 
I recommend this book for older teens, people who want to understand LGBT people and anyone who enjoys a social justice oriented tale. This is a lot to learn from Just Girls. I recommend it for upper YA readers and adults. There are many adult themes throughout this novel. However, I believe there is a lot of resonance for younger and mature reader.

NOV 5

About the Book - About the Author - Prizes!!!

About the prizes: Who doesn't love prizes? You could win one of two $50 Amazon gift cards or an autographed copy of Just Girls! Here's what you need to do...

1. Enter the Rafflecopter contest
2. Leave a comment on my blog

That's it! One random commenter during this tour will win the first gift card. Visit more blogs for more chances to win--the full list of participating bloggers can be found HERE. The other two prizes will be given out via Rafflecopter. You can find the contest entry form linked below or on the official Just Girls tour page via Novel Publicity. Good luck! 

  About the book: Jess Tucker sticks her neck out for a stranger—the buzz is someone in the dorm is a trans girl. So Tucker says it’s her, even though it’s not, to stop the finger pointing. She was an out lesbian in high school, and she figures she can stare down whatever gets thrown her way in college. It can’t be that bad. Ella Ramsey is making new friends at Freytag College, playing with on-campus gamers and enjoying her first year, but she’s rocked by the sight of a slur painted on someone else’s door. A slur clearly meant for her, if they’d only known. New rules, old prejudices, personal courage, private fear. In this stunning follow-up to the groundbreaking Being Emily, Rachel Gold explores the brave, changing landscape where young women try to be Just Girls.Get Just Girls through Amazon or Barnes & Noble. 

  About the author: An award-winning marketing strategist and author, Rachel Gold also spent a decade as a reporter in the LGBT community where she learned many of her most important lessons about being a woman from the transgender community. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Religious Studies from Macalester College, and a Master of Fine Arts in Writing from Hamline University. When she’s not “translating English for English-speaking people” or working on her novels, you can find Rachel online checking out the latest games. Connect with Rachel on her website, Facebook, Twitter,or GoodReads.. 

GoodReads.. EMBED CODE can be found at http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-

The Rebel

Today, I am excited to bring you the Rebel Series Tour. It is a YA series perfect for any fan of dystopian novels. I have information about the books and a giveaway.

My Review:

I was able to read The Rebel Within. It is a very intriguing premise Filled with strong female characters, The Rebels Within is a great YA novel. Annabelle acts true to her age. I am not always a fan of present tense, but this novel grabbed me. The plot was well developed and I enjoyed the characters. Overall, it was an engaging story and a great start to the series. I recommend this novel for teenage readers and anyone who enjoys sci fi and ya. I believe it has a 5 star rating!

Tour Page & Schedule

THE REBEL WITHIN (264 pages)

Action packed first book in Rebel series.

Annabelle (16) faces adult dilemmas and a fight for her life. Orphaned at age three when the military took her parents, she’s a tomboy who rebels against her conformist society, which pushes her to become a cop intern to catch escaped boys. Then she’s forced to choose between joining the elite military that took her parents or being torn from her beloved sister and adoptive mom.

The Rebel Within turns our male dominated world upside down. After the Second American Civil War, the Federal Union pursues a utopian society without men by rounding up the remaining males, and enforcing Harmony. Central to their plan is EggFusion Fertilization and Female Mechanized Warriors.

In this world, Annabelle faces a cop intern boss who hates her, a military commander who demands too much, and an amazon bully who won’t leave her alone. She meets a handsome boy who escapes prison. As she tries to survive rigorous military training and hunt for her imprisoned birth mother, Annabelle must choose between capturing the boy and helping him escape, while she wrestles with the consequences of her actions.

Goodreads |  Amazon | Amazon INT

 ***

  THE REBEL TRAP (259 pages)

Voices in 16-year-old Annabelle’s head aren’t God or signs she’s going mad—yet.

The Rebel Trap sweeps readers into a haunting world with no privacy. Written as a standalone story, it also follows Annabelle’s adventures from The Rebel Within.

Auditory implants and contact cams allow her military commander from the unit that took her parents to watch her 24-7. A boy she helped to escape hacks her implants to plead for her help. She’s forced to be a cop and military spy investigating her police captain as well as capturing escaped boys. Observed constantly, Annabelle has to dance between helping the escaped boy she likes free his brother from a heavily guarded geek institute, her job to capture him, and the feud between her military commander and the police chief she’s expected to spy on.

A pawn in a bigger game, no one believes she can handle this, which may be her greatest asset.

 Goodreads | AmazonUS | Amazon INT

***

   

REBELS DIVIDED (286 pages)

Rebels Divided is a fun thrill ride written as a standalone action story, but also part of the Rebel series, three years later.

The first time Geo sees Annabelle, they meet as enemies and she doesn’t kill him. That’s worth something. Geo (19) is a rugged frontiersman who hungers to see more of the world than the impoverished Outland glen where he and his pa hide from local Rangers. Annabelle (19) is a tough yet fragile tomboy who lost her parents at age three to the Mech Warriors. Then she’s forced to become a Mech.

After the Second American Civil War, the nation divides into two ‘utopias’. The Federal Union enforces Harmony and an all-female society protected by Mechanized Warriors. The Outland promotes rugged individualism, but Thane Edwards holds a monopoly of power with his Rangers. The Union’s Tenn-tucky governor and the Outland warlord conclude a secret deal, pledging Annabelle to the warlord to provide heirs, and putting a bounty on Geo and his pa.

Hunted by military from both sides, Geo and Annabelle struggle to overcome mutual distrust in order to work together to rescue her sister and gain justice for the murder of his father.

Goodreads |  Amazon US | Amazon INT

 

About the Author:

Lance Erlick grew up in various parts of the United States and Europe. He took to stories as his anchor and was inspired by his father’s engineering work on cutting-edge aerospace projects to look to the future. He studied creative writing at Northwestern University and University of Iowa.

He writes science fiction, dystopian and young adult stories and likes to explore the future implications of social and technological trends. He is the author of The Rebel Within, The Rebel Trap, and Rebels Divided, three books in the Rebel series. In those stories, he flips traditional exploitation to explore the effects of a world that discriminates against males and the consequences of following conscience for those coming of age. Erlick lives in the Chicago area with his family.

Find learn more about the author and his stories visit his website at http://www.LanceErlick.com.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

 

Giveaway:

(2) $25 Amazon Gift Cards (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

The Ifs

The Ifs by JD Pooker is an interesting story. It is perfect for kids in the middle grade.  I would recommend this to my 9 year old brother. It is a tale reminiscent of The Borrowers or The Littles or a movie like Epic.  I loved both series as a child. As for The Ifs,  Landon and Broden are perfectly described as brothers. The tension between them is very true to life. What happens next is a stunning journey into another type of people's life. Even more engrossing than Horton and the Whos. The Ifs is a powerful tale. A little more character development would have been awesome, but overall it was well written.

4 stars!

Ondine Quartet Super Sale & Kindle HD Giveaway-

Check out this awesome sale of the Ondine Quartet! Buy the first three books (Whirl, Billow, Crest) in this thrilling, action-packed, mature young adult urban fantasy series at 0.99 cents each for a limited time! Preorder Breaker and get it at only .99 cents,. The full price will be $4.99 on release day. That's less than $4 for the full Quartet! Also, you could win a Kindle Fire HD 6 in the celebration giveaway!

About Ondine (Ondine Quartet 0.5), a FREE novella

“I shouldn’t get involved.”
Rebellious and headstrong, sixteen-year-old Kendra Irisavie doesn’t have much respect for authority. An ondine with the powerful gift of Virtue, she uses her tough attitude and Empath magic to navigate through high school and keep others away.

Because being an ondine also means keeping secrets.

Kendra and her mother are Rogue water elementals in the middle of an ancient war. They hide among humans, their survival constantly threatened by monstrous Aquidae demons.

Along with a rigorous training regimen to mold Kendra into a lethal fighter, her mother has instituted four rules to keep her safe.

Trust no one. Relationships are weaknesses. Emotional attachments are dangerous. Be responsible only for yourself.

But when Kendra witnesses a classmate in trouble, she intervenes and her decision to break the rules comes at a price.

Sometimes, humans could be more dangerous than demons.

Ondine is a short prequel novella for the young adult urban / paranormal fantasy series, the Ondine Quartet.
Ondine (#0.5): Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo
 

About Whirl (Ondine Quartet #1):

Outspoken and independent, Kendra Irisavie has always played by her own rules.

She's an ondine, a water elemental gifted with the powerful magic of Empath Virtue and trained to be a fighter. Pursued by Aquidae demons, she and her mother remain Rogue, hiding among humans to avoid becoming casualties in an ancient war.

Everything changes when violence erupts on Kendra's seventeenth birthday. A dark stranger appears, promising answers to her mysterious past and stirring unexpected feelings in her fiercely guarded heart.

But as Kendra uncovers the truth about her heritage and future, she realizes just how deep the lies and deception run.

Now, in the face of unthinkable odds, she will need all her wits, skills, and magic to fulfill an extraordinary prophecy.

The first in a sweeping urban fantasy series, Whirl is the beginning of a young woman's exhilarating journey for survival, love, and hope as she fights for her place in a world where she doesn't belong.
 

• Whirl (Book 1): Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo
• Billow (Book 2): Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo
• Crest (Book 3): Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo
 

Breaker (Book 4) Preorder links:

• Amazon Kindle
• Amazon Paperback
• Barnes & Noble
• Apple iBooks
• Kobo

Pre-order Breaker now at the special 0.99 cent pricing and receive a bonus post-Breaker short story during release week! This short story will not be available anywhere else for six months after Breaker's release.

Simply pre-order from any retailer and complete this form to receive this exclusive bonus!

Author Bio:

Emma Raveling writes a wide variety of fiction for teens and adults. She is the author of the young adult urban / contemporary fantasy series, the Ondine Quartet, and Lost Blood, the first installment of the forthcoming young adult urban fantasy series, Chancer. She's also working on the first book in her new Steel Magic series for adults.

An avid traveler hopelessly addicted to diet coke and coffee, she currently resides in Honolulu, Hawaii with her husband and German shepherd.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Giveaway:

• One winner will receive a 16GB Kindle Fire HD6 tablet
• Giveaway open international

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This event was organized by:

 

The Light of Day- Cover Reveal

Are you a fan of NA? Look at that gorgeous cover!  I am in love with the play of light and colours. Today we're excited to announce and share the cover of The Light of Day by Kristen Kehoe. The Light of Day is a New Adult contemporary. This is an installment in the Beyond the Horizon series, not a sequel and does not need to be read after Beyond the Horizon. Release date is October 2014. The first two chapters can be read at www.kristenkehoe.com.

Add it to your shelf! 

GoodReads

About the Author:

Mom, Wife, Coffee Addict, and Book Lover

I am a writer of YA/NA contemporary novels.  I write about those crazy ages of 18-23 because there is nothing scarier than being told to grow up and decide what to do with your life and who to be so suddenly.  I write about love because it’s my belief that love, in one form or another, saves us all at some point in our lives.  I am married to a man who understands and believes in me, and mother to a beautiful baby girl and a neurotic Great Dane Puppy.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

 

 

Giveaway:  

$25 Amazon Gift Card (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Sing-Along Construction Song Book Review Blitz

A fun sing-along book for little construction enthusiasts. Visit the construction site early in the morning and join the rough and tough construction vehicles, as they go about their daily work.

This is such an adorable book! It is a lovely way to introduce "mighty machines" to your children. It is the perfect length for small children. The illustrations are quite charming. They are very colourful and detailed. The Construction Song is easy to remember and is sung to the tune of Around the Mulbery Bush. I recommend this book for parents of toddlers and young children.
I love that you can download the audio track as well.

Shadow Swarm - Blog Tour and Giveaway

Review and Giveaway- Shadow Swarm by D. Robert Pease

My Review: Shadow Swarm is a great novel! It fits into the high fantasy genre- with the character's names. I was so glad that there was a list to keep track of who was who and what everything meant. It is something I love and hate about the fantasy realm. I enjoyed reading about Aberthol's adventures. I connected with his struggle to find out who he was and how to save people. It quite a change in doing things that he had to find out himself. His companions were quite the characters! And who can resist a dragon!  My favourite character was Lexy, who had so much spirit. He was really fun to read about.  I thought the story-line was epic and well written. There was a lot of details, but the novel didn't over describe events either. Although one of the negatives is that the story doesn't reveal all- like how Aberthol is reborn- I am hoping that it is made clear in a new story. 4.5 stars and I am excited that this is part of a series. I personally would love to read more of Pease's works.

About the Book - About the Author - Prizes!!!

About the prizes: Who doesn't love prizes? You could win one of two $50 Amazon gift cards or an autographed copy of Shadow Swarm! Here's what you need to do...

1. Enter the Rafflecopter contest
2. Leave a comment on my blog

That's it! One random commenter during this tour will win the first gift card. Visit more blogs for more chances to win--the full list of participating bloggers can be found HERE. The other two prizes will be given out via Rafflecopter. You can find the contest entry form linked below or on the official Shadow Swarm tour page via Novel Publicity. Good luck!

  About the book: 

Aberthol Nauile doesn’t know that he once led legions in a war that raged since the dawn of time, against an enemy that cannot be killed. He doesn’t know that he rode on a dragon with his father, and saw his mother die while giving birth to him. He doesn’t know that he once saved his great, great, great grandfather by defeating the black enemy on the slopes of a volcano. Aberthol doesn’t know that he beheld the creation of the world, as his grandfather eight generations before took the planet ravaged by a war of the gods and began anew. All he knows is that he awoke in a coffin in a tomb, and now the whole world thinks he is their savior. All he really wants to know is his name, and why he keeps hearing voices in his head.Get Shadow Swarm through Amazon or Barnes & Noble. 

About the author: 

D. Robert Pease has been interested in creating worlds since childhood. From building in the sandbox behind his house, to drawing fantastical worlds with paper and pencil, there has hardly been a time he hasn't been off on some adventure in his mind, to the dismay of parents and teachers alike. Also, since the moment he could read, books have consumed vast swaths of his life. From The Mouse and the Motorcycle, to The Lord of the Rings, worlds just beyond reality have called to him like Homer's Sirens. It's not surprising then he chose to write stories of his own. Each filled with worlds just beyond reach, but close enough we can all catch a glimpse of ourselves in the characters he brings to life. Connect with D. Robert on his website, Facebook, Twitter,or GoodReads.
a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Disclaimer- I received a free review copy. It did not affect my review.

The Undiscovered Goddess- A Review

"An inspiring, funny tale about one woman's journey to become a better person." ~Kirkus Review

Who knew a Cosmo quiz and a bottle of wine could change a woman’s life?
Holly, housewife and frazzled mother of three, is determined to discredit the lackluster result of a Cosmopolitan magazine quiz. After buying a workbook geared toward helping her find her inner goddess, Holly sets off on a year of self-discovery, journaling through each exercise as she goes. Facing inner demons, yoga, an explosive colon cleanse and REALLY spicy curry, the lessons are hard on her emotions, not to mention her digestive system. But does she succeed in the end? Beyond the superficial, what important lesson does Holly’s inner goddess have the power to teach her…and what can Holly teach you?

My Review: 

I was intrigued by the premise of the book. Based on a self help book and the title drew me in. Right away, I found it difficult to connect with the main character- She was so self centered.  She did grow over the course of the novel but I did find it difficult to care about her. Overall, the book was well written. It was a great idea- self help books are a great way to find out more about yourself. I really appreciated the ending. I thought it brought the whole story together.

Most chick lit readers should enjoy this story. In many ways, it is true to life- a bored housewife who is tired of life. She isn't happy with how things are going.  Instead of changing externally, she changes internally, which is good.


I give this book a 3 star rating because I skimmed through parts of the book.

Quote:
 “Suffering is my teacher. If I pay attention to it instead of trying to numb it out, maybe it can lead me to its root.”

I really like the truth explored in this quote. 


About the author: 

Michelle Colston, mother, writer and all around American neurotic. What first began as a hobby, writing irreverent jokes and “Get to Know Your Friend” emails, has developed into a full-fledged vocation. Michelle draws inspiration from the simple experiences of day-to-day life such as; womanhood, friendship, wrangling a family, a messy house and a writing career—all while trying to refrain from using the F-word excessively. 
She keeps a weekly blog atwww.theundiscoveredgoddess.com and is currently working on a new series of upscale women’s fiction. 















Thanks netgalley for the review copy.

Shadows of Asphodel- Review

Shadows of Asphodel  by Karen Kincy is the charming story of a mercenary and a necromancer. As it is based on alternate history with diesel engines and magic - it is also diesel punk. Did I just call diesel punk charming? Well, it definitely is ! The characters are very charming and full of depth. Ardis and Wendel are great together. Other characters are just as interesting. I love how magic is blended into a tale of assassins.  Also, The history of the world war comes alive in a new way. I really like reading historical fiction through the lens of diesel punk.

What I liked: 

Ardis and Wendel- Both characters are equally strong and passionate. They are full of surprises and keep you guessing. 

The setting: I love history.  So I really enjoyed this take on the world war. I also liked how the diesel punk added to the overall story. 

The ending: I wasn't expecting it- either! Very well done. 

 I recommend this to fans of YA and NA as well as paranormal and steam and diesel punk. 

4 stars!

About the Author:

Karen Kincy (Kirkland, Washington) can be found lurking in her writing cave, though sunshine will lure her outside. When not writing, she stays busy gardening, tinkering with aquariums, or running just one more mile. Karen has a BA in Linguistics and Literature from The Evergreen State College.


I recieved a review copy through CBB. Thank you. http://www.candacesbookblog.com

Kindle Fire HDX Giveaway!

Enter to win 1 of 2 great prizes. Winner’s choice of a Kindle Fire HDX or $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 Paypal Cash! The first prize is available via the rafflecopter below. The 2nd is available only to bloggers who post about this giveaway. You can find info on how to enter the 2nd giveaway in the rafflecopter.  

Win a Kindle Fire HDX, Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash ($229 value)

All New Kindle Fire HDX 7" Giveaway

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HDX (US Only - $229 Value)

  Or $229 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

  Or $229 in Paypal Cash (International)

  Sponsors I Am A Reader Feed Your Reader Author Rachael Anderson Author Karey White Chelsea Author Promotions Illusio & Baqer BookReviewsAndGiveaways Author Alecia Stone Lori's Reading Corner Author Inger Iversen Shelf of Imagination Candace's Book Blog Where The Broken Lie by Derek Rempfer Helen Smith (author) Christine's Blog Reviews from a Bookworm More Than a Review Tressa's Wishful Endings Pieces of Whimsy Laurie Treacy, Author The Loopy Librarian Author Dorothy Dreyer Author Deanna Lynn Sletten Author Steven Brown Claudia Burgoa Launching Sisters to WitchCamp Rhiannon Paille Author Amanda Tru Melissa McClone, Author Author Michelle Merrill Author M. Kircher Author A&E Kirk Author Melissa Lemon My Story That I Like Best Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf J.L. Weil Maia Sepp Luthando Coeur Making it Happen Jennifer Laurens Author Extraordinary Reads Grimmtastic Girls series: Snow White Lucks Out (tween)   Sign up to sponsor the next Kindle Giveaway here: http://www.iamareader.com/category/kindle-giveaway-sign-ups   Giveaway Details 1 winner will receive their choice of an all new Kindle Fire 7" HDX (US Only - $229 value), $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash (International). There is a second separate giveaway for bloggers who post this giveaway on their blog. See details in the rafflecopter on how to enter to win the 2nd Kindle Fire HDX 7", $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash. Ends 7/15/14 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 and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: Ashleigh Loves Books is not responsible for prize.

Fractured- New Release and contest

 

To celebrate the release of Fractured we have a teaser tour for you all to go along with a great giveaway! Fractured is a New Adult Contemporary Romance by Leanne Pearson.  It just released June 1st, 2014.

Fractured by Leanne Pearson

For twenty three year old Katrina Smith, the events of one day irrevocably changed her life. Life in Christchurch, New Zealand, couldn't have been better. She was in love with a wonderful man, had a job she enjoyed, and had her life mapped out before her... What dawned as a typical summer’s day, changed into a day of devastation and overwhelming loss. An insidious danger lay beneath the benign land surface, seismic tension, like a ticking time-bomb, was counting down to a catastrophe. And Kate and her boyfriend, Daniel, were in its path. It took mere seconds for the world to be ripped out from under her. Suddenly, Kate was deluged by a vortex of Post Traumatic Stress, guilt and crippling anguish. Dominic Dell’Antonio, an American marine working in New Zealand, was a man hiding from his own demons which lurked behind depthless blue eyes that read so much, yet yielded so little. He kept himself aloof and isolated. Nightmares regularly plagued him. As Kate slipped under a suffocating wave of heartache, she blocks out the world behind self imposed walls, drowning in the torrents of grief. Quiet, yet commanding, Dominic connects with Kate on some inexplicably deeper level. He wants to protect her. He wants to make her his. Two damaged and guarded souls drawn together through tragic circumstances. Two lonely hearts drawn to one another to find comfort.

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TEASER 1:

I have to take a deep breath. Having this fragile, yet exquisite woman lying in my bed two feet away is pure torture. She's facing me, legs tucked up towards her chest; eyes closed. The moonlight streaming through the window is casting a muted light over her delicate features. Her blonde hair is fanned across my pillow in soft waves. Forcing myself to focus on her face, I dare not let my eyes roam south. Her sweet musky scent hits my nostrils, and I have to clench my fists, talking myself down from the really stupid impulse I have to reach down and run my hand through those golden locks. Despite the outdoor temperature, this woman has set my body on slow burn. I feel drawn to her. From that first moment our eyes met, I felt it. An inexplicable pull.

TEASER 2:

 He leans across the table and moves the hair out of my face to touch my cheek. I inwardly cringe; my ugly scar now fully exposed.

"So easy to coax a blush outta this gorgeous face, ain’t it?" he murmurs.

My cheek tingles where his fingers brushed across it and butterflies take flight in my stomach. Oddly, I have the urge to cry though, as his touch stirs memories of a forgotten longing: The yearning to be touched intimately. Held. Comforted. That must be it. I'm lonely. It's the only logical explanation for the confusing feelings I’m experiencing around this man.

"My face is scarred, Dominic. It's an ugly reminder I have to look at every day."

Dominic takes my hand in his, and my breath hitches. He pins me with his eyes.

"It's not somethin' I even notice, sweetheart. It's invisible to me. What I do see is an exquisitely beautiful woman who has experienced unimaginable loss and hurt, but she survived. Don't allow this to define you. Every time you look in the mirror, let that scar be a reminder that you've been given another chance at life."

"I can't, Dominic. Every time I look at it, it reminds me of what I've lost."

About the Author:

Leanne Pearson grew up in Durban, South Africa. She later immigrated to New Zealand, where she now lives with her husband and two children. During her down time, if she's not reading, she can be found relaxing outside, sipping on an apple cider, soaking up the sights and sounds of rural New Zealand. Leanne has had a few feature articles published in the newspaper over the years and has had a flair for creative writing from a very young age.

Connect with the Author:

 Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Giveaway:

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This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

The Myth of the Spoiled Child.

Alfie Kohn is a prolific author who writes a strong critique of education and parenting. His many books and articles include The Homework Myth and Unconditional Parenting and the Case against Grades. 

His newest offering is The Myth of the Spoiled Child:Challenging the conventional wisdom about Children and Parenting.

From the book Flap

Somehow, a set of deeply conservative assumptions about children -- what they're like and how they should be raised -- have congealed into the conventional wisdom in our society. Parents are accused of being both permissive and overprotective, unwilling to set limits and afraid to let their kids fail.  Young people, meanwhile, are routinely described as entitled and narcissistic. . . among other unflattering adjectives.    

In The Myth of the Spoiled Child, Alfie Kohn systematically debunks these beliefs -- not only challenging erroneous factual claims but also exposing the troubling ideology that underlies them.  Complaints about pushover parents and coddled kids are hardly new, he shows, and there is no evidence that either phenomenon is especially widespread today -- let alone more common than in previous generations.  Moreover, new research reveals that helicopter parenting is quite rare and, surprisingly, may do more good than harm when it does occur.  The major threat to healthy child development, Kohn argues, is posed by parenting that is too controlling rather than too indulgent.   

With the same lively, contrarian style that marked his influential books about rewards, competition, and education, Kohn relies on a vast collection of social science data, as well as on logic and humor, to challenge assertions that appear with numbing regularity in the popular press.  These include claims that young people suffer from inflated self-esteem; that they receive trophies, praise, and A's too easily; and that they would benefit from more self-discipline and "grit."  These conservative beliefs are often accepted without question, even by people who are politically liberal.  Kohn's invitation to reexamine our assumptions is particularly timely, then; his book has the potential to change our culture's conversation about kids and the people who raise them. 

My Review
I really enjoyed reading this perspective. I think Kohn has hit the nail on the head. So often, kids are described as indulgent and entitled. Indeed, he shows it is not a new phenomenon but rather a belief that has been felt by adults since at least the 1950's. This shows that our attitude towards children seems to stem from a rather cynical view of children, rather than children being parented wrongly.

Using a vast array of social studies data Kohn shows the method behind the madness and what is to be done. I think the research done in the book demonstrates a deep understanding of children. To that end, this book should be read by parents and educators.  Of course, you may disagree with him but I do feel like there is a lot of validity to his statements.

This book is engaging and well written. It is an easy to read book, but is beyond simple. As well, the research is great. Perhaps as a millennial I see this phenomenon too easily- we were always judged for being narcissistic and not caring about the world at large. The Myth of The Spoiled Child adds to the discussion. As well, it is a great addition to your library!
5 stars!


Links to Goodreads and Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/The-Myth-Spoiled-Child-Conventional-ebook/dp/B00G1SD9PI

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17318455-the-myth-of-the-spoiled-child

Thanks Netgalley ~ 

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Autism Breakthrough -Review

As April 2nd was World Autism Day, I think it is important to highlight the fact that children on the spectrum are beautiful people who experience life differently. 

Review

Autism Breakthrough is the story of a man diagnosed as Autistic as a child but after years, his parents were able to reverse the diagnosis. This led to the development of the Son- Rise Program and a phenomenal new way to look at Autism.  Many people view an Autism diagnosis as set in stone. However, it is possible that you can ease or even reverse the diagnosis. of course, this doesn't always work. Still, this kind of knowledge is a huge step forward. This is an amazing story that shows how believing in someone can make a huge difference. The techniques are amazing and a new way to help kids. I think it is an improvement on the old paradigm. (which really ignored why kids with Autism were experiencing certain behaviours). 

There is such a positive message through this book. It uses groundbreaking research and real life experience. Is the author biased? Perhaps a little. However, he is the living embodiment of the program. He is also very honest in each chapter. I truly recommend this book to any parent and caregiver. It gives you such a deep understanding of Autism.

5 Stars!