Monday, December 9, 2013

SHIFTING FATE BOOK BLAST



On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Shifting Fate Book Blast!!
Win a $50 Amazon Gift Card prize pack below.


Shifting Fate (Descendants Series, #2)Shifting Fate
(Descendants #2)
by Melissa Wright
YA/NA Paranormal Romance

Summary

According to prophecy, Brianna Drake was born to save the world. The trouble is, she doesn't have the slightest idea how. Her visions should have given her the answer, but they’re beginning to shift, making the danger too unpredictable, even for a prophet.

If she can just help her sister restore their hidden powers, she might be able to stop what’s coming. But an old enemy returns, and he’s got plans for Brianna and her visions.

What neither of them knows is that fate has given a stranger one chance to find her. He was trained to protect the chosen—but if he fails, the future will crumble.

Shifting Fate is the second book in the Descendants Series (following Bound by Prophecy) and focuses on Brianna and Logan.

There is a teaser posted here and the first chapter posted here, but beware, it's full of spoilers from the first book.

Purchase from Amazon
Will soon be release to to iTunes, Barnes & Noble, and most other eBook vendors.

Excerpt

     I stayed there for a long while, staring at the dark marble countertop, the tiles inlaid with gold, until all of the voices quieted. When I finally came out, Brendan was waiting for me in the bedroom.
     “I’m sorry about this,” he said, indicating the windowless walls around us. “As soon as the security updates are finished, we’ll be moving you to Council.” I could see the idea bothered him more than it should, and the rest of his explanation seemed to be more to convince himself than me. “It’s the best place for you. To keep you safe.”
     I nodded.
     “I had them bring up some lunch. It’s in the sitting room.”
     My stomach turned. “Thanks. I’m not really hungry.”
     He didn’t shift; he hadn’t taken his eyes off me at all. “If you’d like to sleep for a—”
     “No,” I interrupted. “No, I’m not tired.” I was exhausted—my muscles ached, and my hands still shook—but I didn’t want to be alone.
     He held out a hand. “Sit with me then?”
     I walked past him toward the sitting room, and his hand fell to the small of my back. I could have sat in the reading chair, but I didn’t. Instead, I took the center of a small sofa where Brendan could settle beside me. His arm came around me, and I curled my legs up, letting him tuck my back against his side.
     I shouldn’t have. I knew that. But Brendan cared about me, and it felt good to have someone there.
     I stared at the wall across from us, a beautiful Wyeth painting centered over a narrow table. It was probably an original. And yet, I couldn’t bring myself to appreciate it. They had been attacking Council ever since Morgan was taken. We had thought it was in retaliation. We had thought they meant to rescue Morgan. But we were wrong ... because they were after me.
     I closed my eyes, trying to force a vision to come. It didn’t work that way, but I wanted so badly to finally have this over with, to save my sister and myself. To save everyone. I just needed a clue. One small indicator of how, of what I was searching for in Emily, of what to do.
     Brendan’s hand slid down my arm, and I became suddenly aware I’d sunk into him. My elbow rested on his leg, my back against his chest. His cheek brushed my hair, and I went rigid.
     “Brianna,” he started, and I was on my feet, nowhere to go but the table across from us.
     I could almost feel his presence behind me. I picked up a vase, examining the etched glass, and internally cringed. Nice, Brianna, run over to look at glass.
     “Brianna,” he said again, and the hurt in his tone was clear. I had to say something. Do something.
I turned to face him. “I’m sorry.” He was too close. I sat the vase back on the table, stepped one leg behind me. Two would have been too much. Two would have injured him more. I looked into his eyes, so dark they were nearly black, and said, “I like you, Brendan. I do.” Before I could finish, before I could add, “but …” his phone rang.
     He answered it. In the middle of our conversation.
     After a brief exchange, he slid the cell phone back into his pocket. His gaze found me. “I’m sorry, Brianna, but I have to take care of something.” He glanced at his watch. “I hate to leave you alone, but Aern will be here shortly. There are two men at the door, and the alarms are always on.” He reached up to touch my shoulder. “We will talk soon.”
     And then he smiled, clearly only taking the “I like you” from our conversation, before walking out the door.
     I stared at it for several minutes, open as it was, before finally falling onto the couch and throwing an arm over my eyes.
     I had bigger problems, I knew, so I started populating a list in my head for when Aern arrived. I would do everything I could to resolve our issue. I had a lot of work to do before I could figure out where to start.
~Melissa Wright. Shifting Fate (from Chapter 2, Kindle Locations 204-245).



Bound by Prophecy
(Descendants #1)
by Melissa Wright
YA/NA Paranormal Romance
April 15th 2013

Summary

Twenty-two-year-old Aern is done watching his brother destroy the only thing that matters. He never wanted to take Morgan’s place among council, never wanted to rule their hidden world. But when the key to the prophecy is found, a young girl named Brianna whom Morgan will destroy, Aern knows he has to take action.

What he really wants, is for things to go back to normal. But now he’s kidnapped a girl, and his brother’s men are after him. His only hope is to join with the Division, but they have plans of their own, and it’s the last thing Aern is willing to do.

Emily just wants her sister back. She doesn't care about the prophecy, or realize what’s at stake. But when she goes after Aern, the truth of the matter uncoils, and Brianna isn't the only one who’s in danger.

Suddenly, they’re at the center of a secret war, and unless they can work together, they’ll both have a sacrifice too big to make.

You can read an excerpt of Bound by Prophecy here.

Purchase ebook for FREE on Nook and Kindle. Can also purchase from the Book Depository, and in audio at Amazon, iTunes, and Audible.com.



About the Author

Melissa Wright is the author of the Frey Saga and the new Descendants series. Melissa spends her time working on novels, but when not writing she can be found on Goodreads and Pinterest.



Giveaways

1 - $50 Amazon Gift Card and an ebook of Shifting Fate (US & INT)
2 - Paperback copies of Bound by Prophecy and Shifting Fate (US ONLY)
3 - ebook of Shifting Fate (US & INT)
Ends December 15th. Enter via the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

There is currently a giveaway going on on Goodreads as well.


Goodreads Book Giveaway

Shifting Fate by Melissa Wright

Shifting Fate

by Melissa Wright

Giveaway ends January 07, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter to win

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Sunday, December 8, 2013

DECEMBER 2013 KINDLE FIRE GIVEAWAY

December Kindle Fire

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

This is a joint AUTHOR & BLOGGER GIVEAWAY EVENT! Bloggers & Authors have joined together and each chipped in a little money towards a Kindle Fire HDX 7".
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)
      December Kindle Fire Giveaway #2 Sponsors
  1. I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
  2. Feed Your Reader
  3. Darker Passions
  4. Author Talia Jager
  5. The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl
  6. Kelly P's Blog
  7. Kelly's Lucky You
  8. LeahSay's Views
  9. Author Bella Street
  10. Author Bonnie Blythe
  11. Feed Your Fiction Addiction
  12. Blogging the Beloved
  13. Fae Books
  14. Author Kelli Beck
  15. Barb's Wire - eBooks & More
  16. MumbleBee Inc.
  17. MyLadyWeb: Women's History and Women Authors
  18. I Know That Book!
  19. NESSAROX
  20. The Reporter and the Girl
  21. My Story That I Like Best
  22. Jessica Loves Book
  23. Author Jennie Sherwin
  24. Candace's Book Blog
  25. Attack of the Books!
  26. Author Elizabeth Seckman
  27. Author Rosanne Rivers
  28. Author Carole Lanham
  29. Author Jennifer L. Weil
  30. The Real Bookshelves of Room 918
  31. Author David Pandolfe
  32. Author Georgina Young-Ellis
  33. Author C.J. Burright
  34. Author Derek Rempfer
  35. Book Crushin
  36. Laloba Press
  37. Author Louise Caiola
  38. Author Becky Monson
  39. Write Story Editing
  40. Bookworm Lisa
  41. Author John D. Mimms
  42. Author Heidi Garrett
  43. Stanley and Katrina Pet Authors
  44. Author Carol Davis Luce
  45. Author A. Wrighton
  46. The Late Bloomer's Book Blog
  47. Immortal Ink Publishing
  48. Circus of Lost Souls
  49. Author Inger Iversen
  50. Author Tracy Jorgensen
  51. Author Christy Hayes
  52. Author Lisa C. Temple
  Sign up to sponsor the next Kindle Fire Giveaway: 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". Ends 1/1/14 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, Not A Writer and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.  a Rafflecopter giveaway END HTML

Friday, December 6, 2013

ROOK by Stella MacDonald Book Tour

rook updated
 

Rook Could you be the monster to save who you love? Two women, separated by generations, must leave what they know to start a new life. Seventeen-year-old Kate's senior year is ruined when she's moved from the only home she's ever known. After an isolating month alone in her apartment, school starts, but neither her classmates nor her teacher are who they seem. Kali, a single mother living in the nineteenth century wilds of Montana, is stalked by a malicious past. She fights to keep her daughter safe while her freedom is threatened by her less than benevolent benefactor. Both find love, and with it hope, but that is quickly ripped away as one woman must learn the lessons of the other -- before it's too late to save either.  

amazon blog



  Praise for Rook: "This book also drew me in. I couldn't let go of what was happening and when life intervened and forced me to close my computer I kept looking for a few moments to sit down and read some more.” Brookeworm, a Blog 4 Stars "Rook had me hooked from the first page. It all started so mysteriously that I just had to know what it was all about. “ Jannat Bhat, Obsessive Compulsive Reader 4 Stars “Rook is an amazing story that had me at the edge of my seat.” Tee Loves Kyle Jacobson Blog, 5 Stars   Excerpt Is that him? Is he back? My legs jerked, kicking and twitching me around to face the sound. I managed to roll slightly, knocking against a soft, solid object at my feet. It grunted weakly, and immediately I recoiled as though I had been bitten. Squinting, I stared, willing my eyes to find light in the dark, but there was nothing. The sound of the runner drew closer, as if they would trample me any moment. A dim, swaying light appeared through the trees, burning away the inky edges of the deep shadows. When light and sound were almost upon me, branches above me snapped, spraying me in a shower of dried pine needles and snow.

Rook copy
  

  Monica MAuthor Stella MacDonald Stella is a married graduate student with three boys. Utah is home right now, but the need to wander has extended beyond the fantasy world of writing and into real life. She's lived all around the US and even into the Middle East. The world is really a small place, only made bigger through imagination.  
Social Media Facebook Social Media TwitterSocial Media Goodreads Social Media Website

  BookBlast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 12/30/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Review of THE RENT COLLECTOR by Camron Wright

Picture and Description taken  from GoodReads

Survival for Ki Lim and Sang Ly is a daily battle at Stung Meanchey, the largest municipal waste dump in all of Cambodia. They make their living scavenging recyclables from the trash. Life would be hard enough without the worry for their chronically ill child, Nisay, and the added expense of medicines that are not working. Just when things seem worst, Sang Ly learns a secret about the bad-tempered rent collector who comes demanding money--a secret that sets in motion a tide that will change the life of everyone it sweeps past. The Rent Collector is a story of hope, of one woman's journey to save her son and another woman's chance at redemption.


My Review / Thoughts:

I don't even know where to start.  Honestly.  This book is FABULOUS....I mean absolutely fabulous.  I didn't even want to start.  I didn't want to even start reading because I was thinking it was going to be a sad book.  It was...in a way.  I don't know if I got from it what every one else has gotten from it, but this book made me feel good.  I don't even know how to put it in words.  It just is such a touching story.   There are just so many great lessons in this book, but most of all for me was, don't judge.  You never know where a person comes from, or what they have gone through.  This book made this absolutely clear.

I don't want to say much because if you haven't read this book, you should really think about it.  Really.  I love a feel good story.  It was so sad, and so sweet, and so great, all at the same time.  Sang Ly is such a wonderful person on so many levels.  She lives in a dump, and though she hates it, she does all she can to make things better for herself and her family.  The Rent Collector seems like such a hard, and bitter woman, but it is obvious there is more to her than meet the eyes.

I have decided that since reading my eyes have started leaking a lot more than I am use to.  I use to get touched by book, but not like I have been lately.  Since I have started reading on such a large level it seems with every book the words come more and more to life for me.  It's amazing.  Camron Wright is an absolutely amazing author.  A MAY ZING!  

If you need a book about hope, and redemption this is such a great book for both.  I am in awe of this book.  It made me cry like a little girl at the end.  This book deserves more than 5 stars!!!!!  It's clean, wonderful, and touching!

My Rating:


Source:  I bought this book myself, and was not asked to do this review.  These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on this wonderful book.  I was not compensated in any way for this review.

About the Author
taken from GoodReads

Camron Wright was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He has a master’s degree in Writing and Public Relations from Westminster College. 

He has owned several successful retail stores, in addition to working with his wife in the fashion industry, designing for the McCall Pattern Company in New York.

He currently works in public relations, marketing and design.

Camron began writing to get out of attending MBA School at the time and it proved the better decision. Letters for Emily was a “Readers Choice” award winner, as well as a selection of the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild. In addition to North America, Letters for Emily was published in several foreign countries. 

Camron lives with his wife, Alicyn, in Utah, just south of Salt Lake City, at the base of the Wasatch mountains. He is the proud father of four children.





Read -A- Thon

I am participating in a read - a - thon. Now I have an excuse to read more...hehehehe!  I am so excited about this.  It is thrown by Liza Wiemer @ WhoRuBlog...you can click the link and read about it!  I just like having an excuse to read... Thanks Liza and Tressa @ Tressa's Wishful Endings for letting me know about this fabulous opportunity!
I like no pressure read a thons.  She is doing a great thing with this though.  You can decide to donate, time, money, food during this time.  I have decided to donate a can of food for every chapter I read.  I hope I get a lot done, since it's only a few days and I haven't had much time to read, but this just give me more reason to do so!

Ominous Tour Review!!!

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

What would you do if you held 
infinite power in the palm of your hand?

Order of the Seers (Order of the Seers, #1)  The Red Order (Order of the Seers, #2)


Order of the Seers 

...begins with the journey of Liam and Lilith Knight, a brother and sister who are hunted by The Guild, a ruthless world organization that seeks to capture and exploit Lilith s unique ability as a Seer to envision the future. Soon after they are forced to leave their home, Lilith and Liam discover that she is not alone. Other Seers like Lilith are routinely kidnapped and enslaved by the Guild for the purpose of consolidating wealth and power around the world... see more on Goodreads

Read Chapter 1 of Order of the Seers HERE

The Red Order -

The Lost Seers embark upon a world-wide mission to save their kind from the tyranny of the Guild and unveil their greatest weapon -  Developed in secret, The Restoration Project has the potential to awaken the supernatural ability within every man, woman, and child on earth and bring down the very foundation of the Guild’s power and authority.

But the Guild has other plans. Driven by the necessity for control, Crane Le Dieu creates The Red Order... see more on Goodreads.


Read Chapter 1-2 of The Red Order HERE.

My Review / Thoughts for Order of the Seers:
Lets start with what I like about this book.  First and foremost it grabbed me from the very beginning.  The opening of this book is intense.

Liam and his younger sister Lilli find themselves orphaned and on the run.  Lilli is a "seer" meaning she can see the future.  The Guild doesn't want the world to know about seers so they have set out to find and eliminate them.

Liam and Lilli are having to constantly move around, and finally find a community where they can stop running for a while.  This is when the book gets really great for me.  It's so exciting.  New people come into play and new "powers" are discovered.  While hiding and trying to save those who are like her, Lilli comes to learn just how powerful a seer she might become.  

It is so fascinating.  I would have a love/hate relationship with being able to see the future.  On some accounts it would be great, and others it would be heart breaking.  I think that is why this book is so fascinating to me.

CONTENT:  Now, to what I DID NOT like...I have to be honest, I really, really enjoyed this book, but it is a hard one for me to review.  I couldn't put it down, but there are some things about it that I wish were not there. There are too many f-bombs dropped, which is a personal pet peeve of mine, but even more is there is a very descriptive sex scene in the book.  Just beware when you are reading, if these things bother you.  This totally would have been a 5 for me if there hadn't been so much language.

My Rating:


I was given this book to read in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in anyway for this review, and these are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.
===================================


My Review / Thoughts for THE RED ORDER:


This book is so intense.  I really enjoyed how everyone in the book seems to  be so much more evolved than the last book.  I love Lilli and Joel and the relationship that they have.  It's a beautiful thing.  The author did a great job of helping me feel the connection those two had.

We meet Crane Le Dieu in this book, and right from the beginning he was someone I didn't like.  He isn't even a character I love to hate...I just didn't like him at all.  Which to me means the author did a good job of writing him in as a bad guy!

Joel and Liam are my favorite characters by far.  They are such great men, who would do anything for those that the love.  Their unwavering loyalty to their "family" is so touching.  It seems as though because they are so fiercely loyal it is they who have to face the hardest times in the book.  The fact that they face those times, and only come out stronger makes me love them even more.  This book brought each of the characters to life for me, even more than the first book.  Especially Joel and Liam.  I just love them.

The Seers are in a constant struggle to stay safe, and to show the world who they really are.  The Seers are faced with a new creature in this book, that goes beyond human.  The constant battle they have to go through to be safe and to keep those they love safe is so exhausting, and fabulous.  This book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.

My ONLY complaint about this book is the stupid F-word used so many times.  It's just so unnecessary.  Again this totally would have been a 5 for me if it wasn't for the f-bomb so often.  Although it is MUCH less in this book than the first, and there are not any sex scenes in this book as descriptive as the first book.  It is done so much better in this book.

My Rating:

I was given this book to read in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in anyway for this review, and these are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.
==================================




Cerece Rennie Murphy lives and writes just outside of her hometown of Washington, DC. In addition to completing the Order of the Seers trilogy, Ms. Murphy is also developing a children’s book series titled Enchanted: 5 Tales of Magic in the Everyday, and a 2-part science fiction series set in outer space. 



Tour-wide Giveaway:
December 2 - 31. International giveaway. See Rafflecopter for restrictions.

Grande Prize - Signed print copies of both books with an Order of the Seers reusable bag, bookmarks and signed poster.

1 Large Order of the Seers t-shirt - black with the anniversary poster image on it.  

1 Order of the Seers Audiobook.

1 free ebook of Order of the Seers to giveaway at each blog post. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


The Ominous Tour
We asked the hosts:
If you had a super-power, what would it be?

December Dates
4 - Launch
Read peoples minds
to know when people are liars
super-fast healing! ;-)
shape shifting >^.^<
reading minds
13 - The Real Deal
see into the future
If I could have any super power I'd pick Mind Reading 
because I would love to know what everyone really thinks about me C:
To know when someone is lying!
Hmmm stopping time? I'm not sure lol
something that would get dinner on the table automatically, but I'm not sure what kind of power that would be :)
20 - AUDIOBOOK of Order of the Seers RELEASED!
I want to fly!
The ability to be in two places at once or to jump places 
25 - Merry Christmas Grand Finale!

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

OMINOUS TOUR LAUNCH

Launching...

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

What would you do if you held
infinite power in the palm of your hand?


The Ominous Tour

We asked the hosts:
If you had a super-power, what would it be?

December Dates
4 - Launch
5 - My Love For Reading Keeps Growing
Read peoples minds
7 - All That's Written
to know when people are liars
9 - Kelly P's Blog
super-fast healing! ;-)
10 - Cu's Ebook Giveaways
shape shifting >^.^<
11 - The Wonderings of One Person
reading minds
13 - The Real Deal
see into the future
15 - Nocturnal Predator Reviews
If I could have any super power I'd pick Mind Reading 
because I would love to know what everyone really thinks about me C:
16 - Life As Leels
To know when someone is lying!
17 - Painted Words
Hmmm stopping time? I'm not sure lol
19 - Literary Time Out
something that would get dinner on the table automatically, but I'm not sure what kind of power that would be :)
20 - AUDIOBOOK of Order of the Seers RELEASED!
22 - Colorimetry
I want to fly!
24 - Dalene's Book Reviews
The ability to be in two places at once or to jump places 
25 - Merry Christmas Grand Finale!


Order of the Seers (Order of the Seers, #1)  The Red Order (Order of the Seers, #2)


Order of the Seers 

...begins with the journey of Liam and Lilith Knight, a brother and sister who are hunted by The Guild, a ruthless world organization that seeks to capture and exploit Lilith s unique ability as a Seer to envision the future. Soon after they are forced to leave their home, Lilith and Liam discover that she is not alone. Other Seers like Lilith are routinely kidnapped and enslaved by the Guild for the purpose of consolidating wealth and power around the world... see more on Goodreads

Praise for Order of the Seers

“Ms. Murphy's novel is an excellent example of why I love, not only indie authors, but debut authors so much. This book was fresh, hoppin' and a fun, yet engrossing read.” A Book and a Review, blog

"This story combines family, friendship, love, danger, discovery and loss all into one; and does it magnificently...As I was reading this, I felt immersed into Liam and Lilli's world and found myself rooting for them and their fight against the Guild."Luxury Reading, blog

Read Chapter 1 of Order of the Seers HERE


The Red Order -

The Lost Seers embark upon a world-wide mission to save their kind from the tyranny of the Guild and unveil their greatest weapon -  Developed in secret, The Restoration Project has the potential to awaken the supernatural ability within every man, woman, and child on earth and bring down the very foundation of the Guild’s power and authority.

But the Guild has other plans. Driven by the necessity for control, Crane Le Dieu creates The Red Order... see more on Goodreads.

Praise for The Red Order

With page-turning suspense, secrets revealed and noteworthy characters, Order of the Seers [The Red Order] is a must read for any supernatural fantasy fan. Tense, keen and gripping, Order of the Seers: the Red Order is highly recommended! – Minding Spot

I have to start out by saying if you haven't read Order of the Seers you have no idea what you're missing. The author has an uncanny knack for making the reader feel every bit a part of the story and feeling the characters' emotions….Order of the Seers is shaping up to be a fantastic series already and I highly recommend it. – A Thousand Lives Book Blog




My name is Cerece Rennie Murphy, but, among my 5 siblings, I am known and teased by my superhero name, Wonder Worry, (and yes, I am a little worried about your reaction to what I just said). While in my youth, I used my superpower to whip minor setbacks into epic tragedies in 60 seconds flat, I no longer have the time to hone the skills I once possessed, which were handed down to me VERY CAREFULLY by my mother and her mother before. 

Instead of spending my days imagining worst case scenarios, I am now on the front lines of true disaster prevention – treading the fine line between boo-boos and permanent brain damage, fighting crimes of curiosity, omission, absent-mindedness and sleep deprivation. I carry others down the winding, bumpy road of youth that starts out at the nexus of unique and brilliant but intersects with narcissistic serial killer at some distant point I hope fervently to avoid. As you might have guessed, I am a wife and mother of 2 small children. Luckily, my family lights up the sky so I never stumble too hard or lose my way.

I would lament the luxury of needless worry, but alas, I don’t have the energy. As I write this, I am losing a battle fought between my trusty sponge and a hardened glob of half-eaten cheese that traveled from the kitchen to the living room rug in the palm of a very small, but mischievous hand. Its stronghold on the fibers suggests occupancy of at least 2 days, but I’ll never know for sure. Rather than despair, I’ve chosen to retreat to my keyboard, noting that I have won the war - most of the rug is un-cheesed. 

Before I worried. Now, I write. 

I look forward to slowly, quietly, in my own shy way, becoming a part of this community. If you would like to get to know me and my work a bit better, you can visit me... 



Tour-wide Giveaway:

Grande Prize - signed copies of both books with an Order of the Seers reusable bag, bookmarks and signed poster.  

1 Large Order of the Seers t-shirt - black with the anniversary poster image on it.

1 Order of the Seers Audiobook 

1 free ebook of Order of the Seers to giveaway at each blog post. 


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Monday, December 2, 2013

Review of: The Holdout by Laurel Osterkamp


Description and picture from Goodreads

DESCRIPTION:  Robin wanted to win The Holdout, a cutthroat reality TV show, so she gave it her all, challenge after challenge. Then she fell for Grant, with his irresistible eyes and heartbreaking life story. But Grant was only using Robin as they competed for a million dollars. Once home, Robin wants to hide from the humiliation as episodes of The Holdout are aired, and she worries her family was right all along; she's not a survivor. Or maybe she'll have the last laugh Besides, Robin now has jury duty. And as she forges ahead, confronting her demons about bravery, justice, and romance, Robin will come to decide which is more important: the courage to stand alone, or the strength to love again. 


My Review / Thoughts:

I liked this book OK, but the "Holdout" was just "Survivor" with names changed.  If you like Survivor you will probably like this book.  It's a good thing I am a Survivor fan.  I don't think the idea of the book is very unique, but it was fun to read.


There are two stories going on at the same time, and I really enjoyed that.  It was fun to see how her "game" life interfered with here "real" life.  She had been humiliated on national television, and in the mean time had to try and go on with her normal life.

Since I am a huge Survivor fan, I just laugh over and over at the thought of someone putting their love life out there for the whole world to see, or in this case read :).  Then, to be surprised by the outcome.  It just amuses me.  

I think the back story that goes on during Robin's time on the Jury is my favorite part of the book.    While serving she has the opportunity to meet people from different walks of life that she probably wouldn't have associated with before hand, and in so doing a budding romance forms.  I love stories that involve an "opposites attract" kind of situation.  Those are my favorite.  

Nick or 10 as Robin calls him is my favorite character in the book.  You can tell he's a good guy even if he seems stand offish at the beginning.

Grant from the TV show is definitely my least favorite character, but he is one of those characters you love to hate.

I would probably recommend this book if you are in the mood for a light, fast read.  I liked the book, but wasn't blown away by the book.  

My Rating:



source:  I was given this book to read in return for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way for this review, and these are my PERSONAL thoughts on the book.

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