SCENT OF DARKNESS

Everyone has a unique scent.

Title: SCENT OF DARKNESS
Author: Margot Berwin
Genre: Urban Paranormal
Publisher: Pantheon
Released: January 29, 2013
Pages: 240

I'd like to thank the author for providing me a copy with this book in return for an unbiased review.

Favorite Line/Passage: I walked down the long, wide, sweeping staircase to the first floor. She must have had it built in this way because she came from the South, where the width of a staircase had meaning. The stairs themselves probably missed her southernness and her slow, northeastern gait, feeling their own graciousness going to waste. 

Description: Evangeline is eighteen years old when her grandmother gives her the ultimate gift-a scent she has created just for her. From the moment Eva places a drop on her neck, her entire life changes. Previously unnoticed, she becomes the object of intense desire for everyone around her. Men dance close to her; women dip their noses deep into her hair; even the cats outside her bedroom cry to be near her. Gabriel, the quiet student Eva has admired from afar, falls head-over-heels in love with her. But soon the gift begins to control Eva's life: strangers follow her around, sniffing and touching her at every turn. When Eva meets Michael, an artist who barely registers her smell, Eva wonders if he is the one person who can love her for herself. Or is her scent impossible to escape? A bewitching, wildly imaginative novel steeped in the mythology of perfume, Scent of Darkness seduces the reader's every sense.

BRING ALONG +1

My Splats: a sensual tale that bewitches the mind, tantalizes the heart, and stimulates the idea of a person's scent and how it truly effects others.

The premise of scent intrigued me from the start. We've heard of pheromones and how they invisibly affect people, but I'd never thought of scent and its abilities. Many vivid descriptions were used throughout the book to draw the reader into the plausibility of this theme.

Mentions of the Bayon and New Orleans, Cypress swamps and marshes carry an eerie and mysterious scent of its own. The reader is drawn to more intrigue as the setting deepens, permeating a strange yet teasing aroma.

Eva has a soft, distant, and almost guarded relationship with her grandmother. Although there is current action between the two, most was given in hindsight and Eva remembering specifics about her grandmother. The story soon amped up with mystery, using Eva's memories and a bottle of scent her grandmother had made just for her. This scent seems to become apart of her, drawing attention to her and making her irresistible to her boyfriend, Gabriel, and a strange male character, Michael--Gabriel's landlord.

Michael seemed quite charming, at first. But, to be honest, soon he gave me the creeps. He was one of the people you'd meet in a grocery store line and just know you should stay away. But of course, Eva soon becomes entangled with him, but in a way you'd never expect. I won't give it away, but it is a bit strange--creative, but strange.

There was something distant about Eva though, like a piece or ingredient about her was missing or a more intimate thread between Eva and myself. In the author's defense, this could have been her intention. Leaving the characters on the surface for most of the book made me calculate my own conclusions, kind of the same way we do in life.  And as the story progress to the final 30 pages, I realized that might have been it afterall. Once I reached that point in the story, all three characters deepened, as each shared with the reader what he/she had learned about the world and each other.

Gabriel made up a bit for those misgivings, at least for me. I liked the safe sense he gave me as I read and how much he truly cared for Eva. To this end, questions about life, death, and the in-between braided through Eva's thoughts and actions.

There was something deep and profound about this read, an element about life unseen and what that means. It even made me ponder how that applies to me, to each of us.

In the end, I'd say it was a solid read and I'd recommend it to older YA readers, the age categorized as New Adult, and readers who enjoy pondering life and its meanings.

What are your thoughts on this whole scent thing? 

Wistful YA~PRAEFATIO

Waking up with no knowledge of how you got where you are must be a scary feeling.

PRAEFATIO (#1) by Georgia McBride

Genre: Paranormal 
Publisher: Month9Books
Released Date: May 21, 2013
Pages: 332

I'd like to thank the publisher for a copy of this book for an unbiased review.

Favorite line/passage: Knowing, kind, and alluring eyes met my sad and confused ones. As I looked at him, I knew somehow that if I was ever lucky enough to be held by him, the comfort of a thousand pillows awaited. (Page 228)

Description: Seventeen-year-old Grace Ann Miller is no ordinary runaway. After having been missing for weeks, Grace is found on the estate of international rock star Gavin Vault, half-dressed and yelling for help. Over the course of twenty-four hours Grace holds an entire police force captive with incredulous tales of angels, demons, and war; intent on saving Gavin from lockup and her family from worry over her safety. Authorities believe that Grace is ill, suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, the victim of assault and a severely fractured mind. 

Undeterred, Grace reveals the secret existence of dark angels on earth, an ancient prophecy and a wretched curse steeped in Biblical myth. Grace’s claims set into motion an ages-old war, resulting in blood, death and the loss of everything that matters. But are these the delusions of an immensely sick girl, or could Grace’s story actually be true? Praefatio is Grace’s account of weeks on the run, falling in love and losing everything but her faith. When it’s sister against brother, light versus darkness, corrupt police officers, eager doctors and accusing journalists, against one girl with nothing but her word as proof: who do you believe?

ACCLAIM: “With PRAEFATIO, Georgia McBride proves that you can take any genre to a higher level. This is teen fantasy at its most entertaining, most heartbreaking, most compelling. Highly recommended.” –Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of ROT & RUIN and FIRE & ASH

NIGHTSTAND WORTHY!! +2

My Splats:  Intriguing view of angels, their purpose and interaction with the human race, twisted around a young girl, her brother, and an ancient text older than the Bible.

Clever yet subtle details slowly weave this tale into an inevitable and delectable whirlwind. From the interesting relationship Grace appears to have with her mother to the closeness she shares with her brother, Praefatio lays a strong foundation for the story yet to come. McBride uses poetic prose to tease the reader, as well as creating a unique teen voice to communicate it. Granted, there was plenty of snark in that young adult voice, but it was genuine and heartfelt.

Fast action, both physically and mentally, keep this story moving ahead, engaging the reader to form desirable questions of what could happen next. There was almost an adventurous feel to the dangers Grace faced, all of which were creative and plausible. I found the Biblical references accurate and the use of creative license was effective to create wonder and awe. The creation of different celestial beings were integrated into the story well, with each having his/her own purpose.

Grace must undergo many changes in a short period of time, much like the young adult life. So there was lots of humanity and realism throughout the paranormal elements of this book. She had ample opportunities to ponder the danger of who and what she really was, as well as the harm that could come to those closest to her, depending on her actions and reactions. I'm a huge fan of incorporating life lessons into teen literature, and this book definitely fits that bill.

But soon, Grace's perception of her world (both tangible and intangible) changes, and when a serious complication arises for her brother, Remi, Grace must yet again find more answers in who and what she really is, and the probability of what that could mean. Intense battling in her new Heavenly existence complicates an already volital scene, and Grace must decide what is real and trustworthy.

A surprise awaits the reader at novel's end, as McBride tied the conclusion to the opening of the story, revealing just enough to feed the reader a hunger for more.

What do you think about the cover? Are you into angels and demons with a new twist?

SPLAT! Please make sure to stop by yesterday's post just below. Kelly Hashway shared two of her characters from A TOUCH OF DEATH with us. I had to blog yesterday because Monday was a holiday. :) Thanks!!!

A TOUCH OF DEATH Stars ~ Jodi & Alex

GRAFFITI PROMOTIONS is a regular feature on Writer's Alley, where authors and aspiring writers, editors, publishers, and anyone from the publishing world share their journeys, valuable wisdom, and promote their work along a road of humor, encouragement, and inspiration. Features include Author Interviews, Book Promos, and Character Introductions.

A touch of Greek mythology, astrology, and romance. Oh, and death.

A TOUCH OF DEATH (#1) by Kelly Hashway

Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Released: January 15, 2013

Pages: 235

Description: Jodi Marshall isn’t sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she’s in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she’s being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.

After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he’s not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she’s part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendents of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins.

Jodi’s deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn’t difficult enough, Jodi discovers she’s the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. If she can’t figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct.

Probing into the brains of novel stars is always fun; even better when there are two of them. I'd like to introduce you all to Jodi & Alex. Guys, let's here your voices.

Well, my name is Jodi Marshall and I'm a necromancer. Not just any necromancer, though. I'm a descendent of Medusa and I was born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, which makes me an Ophi. That basically means I can raise the dead, but I'm also poisonous to humans. So I can take life too, not that I want to.

Ooh...cool.

Hey.

Sorry, Alex.

I'm Alex Montgomery. I'm an Ophi, too, but I grew up into this life so I'm pretty used to my abilities.

Hmmm...cool, but not as cool as Jodi's answer. *wink* JK. Really, what's your biggest quirk?

Jodi: I'd say having a kiss that kills humans. That's pretty quirky... and deadly.

Alex: I've been told I'm a little awkward around humans. Jodi thought I was a stalker at first.

Jodi: Because he totally was!

Although the world see you one way, how do you see yourselves and your world?

Jodi: Hmm, let's see, we have all these powers that we have to try to use for good because Hades—yeah, THAT Hades—hates us and wants us all dead.

Alex: Yeah, that pretty much says it all, except Jodi forgets that being an Ophi isn't all bad. We're really powerful and that part is awesome.

What do you really think of each other? 

Jodi: Alex isn't like anyone I've ever met before. He's totally sexy—

Alex: Very true.

Jodi: Anyway, he's protective and powerful, too, but he has this way of turning off his emotions at times, and it's a little scary.

Alex: It's called being focused.

Jodi: Fine. Scary focused. Now what do you think of me?

Alex: Jodi is hot—really hot. And she's wicked powerful. Oh, and did I mention hot?

You two are funny. So tell me, what is your creator really like? Be careful, I've heard she's not done with you yet. :)

Jodi: Oh, Kelly didn't create us. 

Really?

We came to her with our story. Luckily she types quickly because she said we wouldn't leave her alone and we talked really fast.

Now that I can see. Alex...

Alex: I think I may have made her blush a few times. She wants to know if I have any more long-sleeve t-shirts lying around, but I gave my last one to Jodi to sleep in so Kelly's out of luck.

Jodi: I think she might have a thing for Hades, too, because as much as that god tortures us, she loves to hear about him.

I'm thinking I should look into Hades. Fun fact, because I'm weird like that. Favorite ice cream?

Jodi: Cookie dough! It's ice cream and raw cookie dough. It doesn't get much better than that. Unless you add rainbow sprinkles. Sprinkles make everything better.

Alex: I'm going to agree with Jodi on this one.

Beverage or food? 

Jodi: I drink hot tea in one or two gulps. It's just not as good when it gets cold.

Alex: I eat mac and cheese at every meal. I'd rather not get into why, though.

So you're just going to leave us hanging, Alex. *waits but receives no response* Fine. Guess we'll all just have to read the book, then. Thank you both for being here. You two are a riot!

Kelly Hashway writes books and short stories for children through young adults. Her full-length middle grade and young adult fiction is represented by Lauren Hammond of ADA Management. Her upcoming YA novels include STALKED BY DEATH (Spencer Hill Press, 7/23/13), THE MONSTER WITHIN (Spencer Hill Press, April 2014), THE DARKNESS WITHIN (Spencer Hill Press, TBA), and INTO THE FIRE (Month9Books, spring 2014). Her YA novella series GAME. SET. MATCH. HEARTBREAK includes, LOVE ALL (Swoon Romance 1/22/13), SERVING UP HEARTBREAK (Swoon Romance, 5/7/13), and PERFECT MATCH (Swoon Romance, 10/15/13). Her debut MG series, CURSE OF THE GRANVILLE FORTUNE releases in 2016 through Month9Books. She is also the author of the picture books, MAY THE BEST DOG WIN, THE PURRFECT PUPPY, and SANTA BUNNY. For more about Kelly visit her Website, Blog, Facebook, & Twitter - @kellyhashway.

Got a question for Jodi, Alex, or Kelly? Ask away!

RUBY'S FIRE Cover Reveal!

Cover reveals are always exciting. It's like that last ultrasound to check on your baby before the real labor begins. New life is thrilling, and in the literary sense, it's every author's oxygen.

Ruby's Fire (Book II in the Fireseed series) by Catherine Stine

The book, however, can be a stand alone.
Released Date: June 26, 2013
Genre: YA Sci Fi

Description:

If everything about you changes, what remains?

Seventeen year-old Ruby, long-pledged to the much older Stiles from the Fireseed desert cult, escapes with only a change of clothes, a pouch of Oblivion Powder and her mute little brother, Thorn. Arriving at The Greening, a boarding school for orphaned teens, she can finally stop running. Or can she? The Greening is not what it seems. Students are rampaging out of control and as she cares for the secret Fireseed crop, she experiences frightening physical changes. She’s ashamed of her attraction to burly, hard-talking Blane, the resident bodyguard, and wonders why she can’t be happy with the gentler Armonk. She’s long considered her great beauty a liability, a thing she’s misused in order to survive. And how is she to stop her dependence on Oblivion to find a real beauty within, using her talent as a maker of salves, when she has nightmares of Stiles without it?

When George Axiom, wealthy mogul of Vegas-by-the-Sea offers a huge cash prize for the winner of a student contest, Ruby is hopeful she might collect the prize to rescue her family and friends from what she now knows is a dangerous cult. But when Stiles comes to reclaim her, and Thorn sickens after creating the most astonishing contest project of all, the world Ruby knows is changed forever. This romantic fantasy set in 2099 on earth has a crafty heroine in Ruby, and a swoonworthy cast, which will surely appeal to the YA and new adult audience. + to your Goodreads!

Enjoyed what you see? Then offer to be a part of Catherine's book tour. Expresso Tours is currently organizing a book tour for Ruby's Fire at the end of July through August. If you are interested in joining the tour all you have to do is SIGN UP!

Catherine Stine writes YA, New Adult and middle grade fiction. Her YA futuristic thriller, Fireseed One, illustrated by the author was granted a Bronze Wishing Shelf Book Award and an Indie Reader Approved notable stamp. Her YA Refugees, earned a New York Public Library Best Book. Middle grade novels include A Girl’s Best Friend. More and more, she’s enjoying writing speculative tales. She teaches literature at the School of Visual Arts and creative writing at the Philadelphia Writing Conference and in her own ongoing NYC writing workshop. Catherine earned a double focus MFA in Creative Writing at the New School.
Visit her: Website / Blog / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

My favorite part of this cover is definitely the elements of red. What's yours?

Middle Grade LUV: The TROUBLE With TOADS

FUR-REAKING OUT!!

Yes, that would be me. Why, you gorgeous people ask yourselves? Uh-hum...I am a major FROG-FAN!! Did I ever tell you I used to own a frog named Froggy-Doggy-Doggy? A stuffed animal frog, but I owned him. Why haven't I written a picture book about  him, yet??? *rushes off; makes quick notes*

Anyway, when I first heard about this book, the one just below me here. Yeah, right there. I knew it had to be spotlighted on my site. Just look at it.

*waiting for you to drop your eyes* Doo-dee-doo.... Cute, huh?

The Trouble with Toads by Danyelle Leafty

 Once upon a time a young girl wanted revenge. But first, she wanted to be beautiful. Twelve-year-old Bettony has read enough stories that begin with ‘Once upon a time’ to know what happens to the ugly stepsisters at the end, and she’s determined to escape that fate by any means necessary—even by magic.

Unfortunately, when it comes to magic, there is no place for regret, refunds, or exchanges. Even if you accidentally turn your older sister into a toad. If Bettony wants her Happily Ever After to end well, she’s going to have to find a way to turn her sister back into a person before their mother finds out she’s been dabbling with magic and grounds her for life. Tracking down the family magic turns out to be surprisingly easy. Now, if only it came with directions . . .

THE TROUBLE WITH TOADS (45,000 words) is the first book in a new upper MG series The Secret Stepsister Society. The second book will be released Summer 2013.

Amazon

  Author Danyelle Leafty writes upper MG and YA fantasy, and is the author of THE FAIRY GODMOTHER DILEMMA series. Danyelle has always loved fairy tales, and prefers stories where someone gets eaten, or at the very least, transmogrified. Much of her inspiration has come from fairy tales, because as G.K. Chesterton so aptly states, "Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten."

 In her spare time, she collects dragons, talking frogs, and fairy godmothers. She also collects books, and one day hopes to make a house out of them. She enjoys learning languages, fiddling with her harp, and perfecting the fine art of mothering. (It's a lot like trying to herd chickens during a lightning storm while a goat stampede is going on.) One of her heroes is Albert Einstein, particularly for the following quote: "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The most important thing is not to stop questioning."

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Blog

Book Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 6/10/13

a Rafflecopter giveaway   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. Prize value $50 US.

HURRY & Enter!!! And hey, did you have a favorite stuffed animal when you were a kid? Maybe your stuffed animal and Froggy-Doggy-Doggy could meet in his picture book.

How Social Attitudes Affect YA Literature

Fashion to hairstyles. Sexual orientation to lifestyles. Racism, bigotry, prejudice, bullying, and even rape. How does social attitudes affect YA literature? 
 (Splat: I was supposed to release my thoughts on the magical MG book TWERP, today, but just couldn't let this subject slide by any longer. Hope you MGers understand. Thx!)
******
I recently came across a video showing a young man taking a stand against a fashion mogul. Some of you may have seen this video or read the post. I've posted links to both at the end of this article.

The gist of the story is that Abercrombie & Fitch - huge young adult fashion icon - has publicly stated they want to cut off the not-so-cool-kids from purchasing their products. Uh-hmmm. Excuse me? This is just as bad as the recent admission from Starbucks that traditional marriage lovers should stay home. Dude, I'm cool with however someone wants to live their life, but I'm thinking that being married to the same man for over twenty years kind of makes me a traditional marriage lover.

Apparently, Starbucks believes those who've been in a traditional marriage are against anyone else's views. Or maybe they think we might be allergic to their coffee or that it causes teenage acne; teens do drink boatloads of coffee today, do they not? That must be the reason, yes? And it looks like A&F has developed a perfect description of the not-so-cool-kids in America and around the world. So, who exactly is this group of kiddos?

• the teen boy, who wears hammy-downs from his cousin because he works two jobs to help his family buy oil for the winter?
• or what about the sophomore girl, whose eyeglasses are too big for her face but her parents can't afford to buy her more expensive ones?
• maybe it's the high school senior unable to afford college or simply feels that school is not his/her thing?
• could it be the teenage cashier or bus-boy, or babysitter? 

Another issue A&F has decided to go public with is their opinion of overweight people, woman in particular. A&F will not make large or extra-large clothing for woman, wanting only the fit or lean woman showing off their brand. 

What I want to discuss today is how social attitudes such as these affect young adult literature and how much responsible should rest on those larger entities for influencing our YA population. Do young adult authors include such dynamics in their stories. If they do, how much responsibility is theirs--ours?

Now, I'm not a bible toting person and I rarely refer to religion here. But the later half of the above sentence brought to mind a life lesson I've learned over the years, which just happens to be a biblical truth: Do well in the smaller things and you will be entrusted with larger things.

We've seen YA literature of the past address racism, prejudice, and teen gangs. To Kill A Mocking Bird and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn came out in a time when racism was outwardly prevalent. Did writing about such a social issue during its modern height add to social awareness or simply poke a stick at it, giving haters the nod? The Outsiders released later, but also dealt with racism, gangs, acceptance or the lack of it. Did that story open new views about such issues?

Now writers have no control over how their audience will react to the social issues they choose to explore through their work. However, they can control the manner in which it's delivered. It is my opinion that To Kill A Mocking Bird, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and The Outsiders did open new views on those social issues. Countless other young adult stories, whose authors had the courage to explore such social thorns and expose them for what they were/are, have done the same.

How did these authors and these particular stories open new views? Was it timing, delivery, character & story setting, a combo of both, or something more? Does society have to be ready for the challenge to change?

Granted, there are more pressing issues than the one raised here about A&F. But we, as young adult authors, are in a unique position. We can stand up and shed light on such issues. And in doing so, we can lean to the right or the left, weaving our opinions through our characters, settings, and overall arcs. We can remain neutral and thread both sides of a social attitude through our stories, letting the reader form their own opinions. We must always remember--as A&F and Starbucks have obviously forgotten--that we're dealing with impressionable teenagers. We have the ability to make a difference, change wrongs of humanities' past, and pave the road for a brighter mankind.

But on the other hand, we are merely writers. Each of us living in our own space and time, towns and ideals--social attitudes. Where do the young adult readers fit into this? My three teenagers would be the first to tell you they know it all or that they can handle it. They've even told me that I've raised them to know better. Although that is encouraging, the world is much bigger than me alone. Then you alone.

With today's social media and technology being merely a fingertip away, teens are inundated with social opinions and attitudes. So many of these are delivered by retailers through products or services attractive to young people. Just look at the Homecoming or Prom gowns of today. Most of the gowns I see make me ask "Where the heck is the rest of it?" Retailers airbrush amazing images of high school girls draped in gorgeous gowns, coxing teen girls to want whatever they are selling. Once again, how does this simple act of buying a prom dress affect YA literature?

Laurie Halse Anderson spotlighted the topic of teen rape in her amazing book SPEAK. The gripping story of a young girl, who was raped yet feared to tell anyone, created a great stir among teen and adult groups alike. As most of you know, that book was placed on a band book list years ago.

Let's talk about branding and platforms. As authors, we all want to sell books. For the most part, authors say they write because they want to share stories with the world, love to create and explore, and simply enjoy writing. But let's be honest, we also have to make a living. So that lends to the subject of platform. What content do I use on my blog? What topics do I steer away from? What social attitudes am I willing to include in my work, and will any of those alienate a group of readers, marketers, publishers? I'm not sure about you, but even though I write for kids/tweens/teens, I'd love for my books to be read by everyone regardless of age, race, status, etc.... The question we have to ask ourselves here is "Am I willing to sellout my personal ideals, morals, and opinions to sell my books? If not, how far am I willing to push the envelope of bucking-the-social-system?"

So why would A&F cut off certain buyers? Is it solely for appearances? Social status? Do authors do the same thing?

How do young adult authors incorporate these social attitudes in our stories without preaching? How do we deliver material in such a way that gives the young adult reader the freedom to form his/her own attitudes and feel courageous enough to stand up for them?

My answer to those two questions is simple: I will remain true to myself in all things, even if it goes against the grain of accepted social attitudes. What is your answer? 

Tomorrow is Be Positive Day!
Help spread the shine & encourage
others, using hashtag #bepositive!

Here are the links: ARTICLE - VIDEO. (I would love it if you'd share this article. I'd really like to start a discussion about this, maybe make a difference. THX!)

Middle Grade Madness: THE CIRCLE & Giveaway

MMGM aka Marvelous Middle Grade Monday was created by Shannon Messenger to give middle grade reads the attention they deserve. Though I'm scheduled to release this today, a Thursday, it still will be included in the MMGM lineup. If you'd like to see more MG books on Monday, Click HERE to follow other participants.

 I was thrilled to be invited to join this next blog tour. Author Cindy Cipriano has created an intriguing world for MGers, filled with mystery, THE CIRCLE. Take a peek below for a short excerpt, my thoughts on the story, and a giveaway to enter! Tour Schedule through I Am A Reader, Not A Writer.

Title: The Circle (Book One of The Sidhe)

Author: Cindy Cipriano

Genre: Children's Fiction; Sci Fi & Fantasy

Pages: 138

Publisher: Odyssey Books

Released Date: June 1, 2013

I'd like to thank the author for providing me with a copy of this book for an unbiased review.

Description: Calum Ranson is sure of three things: his cousin Finley is alive, Calum will find him, and no one knows Calum and his family are Sidhe. No one until Laurel shows up at his mother’s bookstore wearing a dark clan’s mark.

When Calum learns the details surrounding the disappearance of Laurel’s brother, he suspects the evil Hobayeth clan. Calum and Laurel work together in the Realm of Man and the Otherworld to rescue her brother— revealing a connection between Calum and Laurel that may cost Finley his life.

The Circle is full of magic and mystery. Readers will be engrossed in faerie realms, charming characters, and a state of wonder and imagination. The Circle is for those who delight in reading fantasy and exploring mystical worlds.

                                                            ~Kathleen Fox, LibraryGames.com

The Circle is the first in a seven-book series.

For more information, visit www.thesidheseries.com

An Excerpt

Calum looked at Laurel, trying to measure her sincerity. “Aren’t you a little big for fairy tales?”

“Can you please just tell me if you have any books like that or not? If I don’t hurry up and get over to that realtor’s office, my mom’s gonna freak.” “Sorry.  Yeah.  They’re  over  here.”  He  showed  Laurel  the  Nature  and Folklore  section,  and  tried  to  smooth  things  over.  “I  guess  your  mom doesn’t like you reading about fairies.”

“She doesn’t believe they exist, but I know they do.”

Calum stared at her hard. She didn’t seem to notice. He watched her hand move to her neck. A gray stone with an ill-formed cross hung from a long silver chain. She held onto it as she scanned the titles on the stack, the fingertips of her free hand gliding over the spine of each book.

“I’ll try this one,” said Laurel. She pulled An Encyclopedia Of Fairies And Other Natural Oddities from the stack. “I’d better pay for it now.” She carried the book to the cash register where Calum scanned the book’s barcode.

“That’s seventeen dollars and twenty-five cents,” he said.

Laurel laid down a handful of money. “I have change.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a quarter. There was a spark and a soft pop as Calum took the coin from her.

“Ouch!” he said, quickly withdrawing his hand.

“It must be static electricity,” said Laurel. She tucked the book inside her tote bag along with one of the lavender flyers.

“Yeah, I guess,” said Calum. Static electricity? In the summer?

The shop bell chimed. Andrea Werner was back. “Sorry, kiddo. Your dad wants both of us to look at a house."

“Now?” asked Laurel. “But I didn’t get my books yet, and I only have a few weeks to read them before summer’s over.”

“We’ll have to get them later.” Andrea looked around the shop for Kenzie. “Would you please thank your mom for me?”

“Yes ma’am,” said Calum. “Do you want me to put the books on hold?” “No thanks,” said Andrea, hurriedly. “We’re staying two doors down at the Whitney Hotel. We’ll come back tomorrow.”

Calum drummed his fingers on the desk as he watched them leave the store. He wanted to know more about Laurel, and her interest in faeries. Or maybe he just wanted to know more about her. Calum wondered what Laurel thought about him, although he didn’t know why it should matter. He hid between the stacks, quietly following them through the bookstore, listening to their conversation.

“Well?” asked Andrea, as they approached the door.

“He seems nice,” said Laurel, in a hushed whisper. “Not at all weird like John Phillip said. And, he doesn’t seem to mind that Dad’s going to be the assistant principal. Maybe I could be friends with a boy.”

“Imagine that,” said her mother as they closed the door.

“Imagine that,” said Calum. He watched through the window as a car rolled to a stop in front of the bookstore.

“Imagine what?” asked Kenzie, stepping from behind a nearby stack. Calum jumped at the sound of her voice, knocking several books to the floor. “Geez Mom, don’t sneak up on me.”

“Especially when you’re sneaking up on someone else, right?” A wave of Kenzie’s hand returned the fallen books to the shelf. “You’re right to be curious, though. I’m sure you saw it hanging around her neck. I wonder how that girl got a token from one of the darkest of faerie clans.” Kenzie squinted as she watched Laurel climb into the backseat of the Stanton Realtor car.

“I don’t think she knows what it is,” said Calum. “Either way we’d better keep an eye on her.”

My summer just got a lot more interesting, thought Calum.

THE AUTHOR

Cindy Cipriano lives in North Carolina and has taught middle school science since 2001. She was named a North Carolina Outstanding Science Teacher in 2009 by the North Carolina Science Teachers Association. In 2012, Cindy received the Burroughs Wellcome Fund PRISM award for innovative teaching. Cindy has a M.Ed. and is a National Board Certified Teacher. She is also a North Carolina Certified Environmental Educator.

Cindy is a member of the Drawbridge Writers Group, and the Triad Writers Group. Cindy enjoys speaking at conferences and is available for conference presentations, book club meetings, or other author visits. Please contact her at cindy@cindycipriano.com to schedule an appearance. www.cindycipriano.com

NIGHTSTAND WORTHY +1

MY SPLATS: a heartening tale that will sweep young readers into the adventurous world of the Sidhe and the importance of family.

The story opens with a poem, setting up the story perfectly and giving a 'feel' of mischievous play. There is something elfish or fairy-like about it. 

Middle grade voices abound through distinct characters. Calum has the typical MG response to a girl of shyness yet intrigue. He's mature enough to face it head on, though. The friends Cipriano has created for Calum support his personality--both challenging and comforting him--as well as his mortal and otherlyworld. What is absolutely atypically about this story is the names. If you know anything about me then you know I'm a major name buff. Using unusual character names adds flavor and color to the world and mounds of the Sidhe; I found that so Harry Potter-like. Ingenious connections between the Otherworld and the Realm of Man are plausible.

Another aspect that caught my attention was the sweet, caring relationship Calum has with his mom. It builds trust and a strong foundation with the reader. His father is also involved, which is a nice change from a lot of books I've read lately. The family is fully intact; no absent parents here.

Young readers will enjoy piecing the scattered crumbs of mystery Cipriano strategically places throughout the story. As mystery one crumb builds on the next, posing questions as to where and from who Laurel--Calum's new friend--got the stone she wears, the reader is challenged to think and evaluate what he/she has already read. But then a strange reaction from Laurel to old friend/cousin Hagen suddenly turns the story awkward and very normal. When this happens, Calum senses something odd, but doesn't know what it is other than it seems he's crushing on Laurel. As you might have guessed ... well, you'll have to read the story to discover that. 

What do you think? How does this MG sound to you??

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wistful YA: CASTLES on the SAND~Giveaway & Excerpt

If there’s one thing Madison Lukas understands, it’s pain. The pain she feels when her mother ignores her completely. 

The pain her best friend endures as her parents starve her as punishment. The pain of a dangerous boy whose mother has to be carried away by law enforcement on a regular basis.

She gets it. She feels the pain of others as if it were her own.

But when a mysterious man claiming to be her long lost brother appears with promises of relieving her suffering, trusting him could reveal more truths than Madison is ready for. Because the truth can hurt, too.

I just shared with you the official description for a new YA release, CASTLES  in the SAND.

Title: Castles on the Sand (Shattered Castles, #1)

Author: E.M. Tippetts

Release date: August 20, 2012

Genre:  Contemporary Romance/coming of age

Age Group: Young Adult

Event organized by: AToMR Tours

Purchase/Info links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Goodreads

"A fast-paced blend of high-stakes drama and average teenage concerns (sex, appearance, friends), capped with a welcome message of hope." ~Kirkus Reviews

Excerpt 3

A million thoughts flit through my mind as this mystery person kisses me. It's not a passionate kiss; it's an obnoxious one, the person sucking on my mouth in a really annoying way. I squirm and the person lets me go.

I blink and find myself face to face with Alex.

He smirks, as if to say, “Well, it was worth a try.” And turns to leave.

But my temper flares and I grab his arm. “What was that?”

No response, just the usual stare.

“You don't do that, jerk. I don't care how hot you are, you are not hot enough to get away with assaulting people.” I wonder if it counts as assault, though. I don't know the legal definition, but I bet he does, which means I'm insane to grab his arm and yell at him.

He looks down at me, pulls his arm out of my grasp, and then glances around, though there isn't much to see besides the blank white sides of the vans we stand between. What's odd is how vulnerable he seems now, even though he's six feet tall at least, and all corded muscle. He shrugs again, as if this is supposed to explain why he planted one on me.

And then it clicks. “That whole promise to Carson, the next guy who kisses me is gonna be my boyfriend? Dream on. Sneak attacks so don't count.”

“What if you sneak attack me?”

Really, I think, it's better when he's silent. I unzip my backpack, pull out his jacket, and try to shove it at him, only to discover that he has rock hard abs. I'd thought that was just a saying. It's like punching a brick wall and I wince in pain.

He, however, stares down at his jacket as if I just handed him a brick of gold.

“Why are you even in school today?” I ask. “Why aren't you in jail?”

A sullen glare is the only reply to that one.

“And listen, you are a loser, you are a creep, you threatened me with a switchblade-”

“Was a joke.”

“It wasn't funny! Let me add to that list of what it would take for a guy to be my boyfriend. He'd have to be nice to me. He'd have to talk to me sometimes. He'd have to not feel like he has to sneak around and catch me off guard. He'd have to act like he likes me.”

“That all?”

“What? It rules you out. Except for the talking thing. And what is with the talking thing? Why are you talking now?”

He ignores that, lifts his jacket to his face, and sniffs it.

“Oh, and smoking? Disgusting. I washed your jacket because it was giving me a headache.”

A dig through his pockets, and he pulls out his cigarettes, then looks at me with a lifted eyebrow.

“What? I am not a thief. Of course I put them back.”

The pack crushes in his fist.

“What are you doing?”

He digs in his pocket again and retrieves his lighter.

“Yeah, I gave that back to you, so you'll have it to burn down the school or whatever.”

But rather than ignite it and shove the flame at me, as I expect, he tosses it to me and I catch it awkwardly with one hand. “Thanks,” he says. He leaves without a backwards glance.

Book Trailer:

About the Author: Emily Mah Tippetts writes romance under the name E.M. Tippetts and science fiction and fantasy under the name Emily Mah. Originally from New Mexico, she now lives in London with her family. Before she was a published author, she was an attorney who specialized in real estate, contracts, and estate planning, especially literary estate planning.
Website | Twitter | Facebook

What are your thoughts on the book trailer and/or the excerpt provided?

GIVEAWAY!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wistful YA: Meet the Djinni Leela from THE BINDING STONE

Waking up without your body must have really sucked.

Title: the Binding Stone (Book One In The Djinn Series)
Author: Lisa Gail Green
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Fuzzbom Publishing
Release Date: May 2013

Description: Tricked into slavery by the man she loved, the Djinni Leela has an eternity to regret her choices.

Awakened in the prison of her adolescent body, she finds a new master in possession of the opal that binds her. But seventeen-year-old Jered is unlike any she’s seen. His kindness makes Leela yearn to trust again, to allow herself a glimmer of hope.

Could Jered be strong enough to free her from the curse of the Binding Stone?
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon Purchase Link

Alleywalkers, please welcome Leela to our Alleyway. *Hi, Leela!

Feel free to introduce yourself.
I am Leela and I am Djinn. *eyes glow green*

Tell us a little about your world.
The world I come from originally is devoid of any human senses. It is quite dull comparatively, but not as dangerous as the human world. 

Hmm...dull in comparison. Well, let's livin' this up a bit. Care to share secret feelings about one of your fellow characters?
*smiles slyly* I must admit that though I would prefer freedom, my new master, Jered is... quite pleasant. I do not mind his company. 

Fun facts, because I'm weird like that. What's your favorite flavor of ice cream?
I recently had a vanilla milkshake which I enjoyed very much. Though I admit it was more the company than the ice cream.

That is such a nice sentiment. What about thoughts on music? 
I do not like Mozart. He was a cruel master. Though the music I created for him is enjoyable.  

If you could have any job in the world, what would it be and why?
Job? I have never considered this. I would like to be free. Does that count? 

I suppose it does.

Did I tell you that Alleywalkers are great secret-keepers? Well, they are. Tell us what you really think of your creator. We WON'T tell. Promise.
She is horrible! *shudders* The torture she put me through - I cannot even describe it. And how can she have created people like Kitra and Achan? What kind of a mind thinks of these things? 

It has been a pleasure chatting with you, Leela. Looking forward to hearing from you again!

Have you ever heard of the Djinni? Any advice to Leela relating to humans?