First, for those of you who follow my blog, or me on twitter, you have probably witnessed me raving about Janenifer L. Armentrout's book Half-Blood. It's one of my top 3 from this year so far. Hands down! Then I heard Janenifer had another book coming soon and I was flipping out! I just had to know more so I stalked her blog for a bit and now we officially have the cover and blurb from the book. EEK!
Obsidian by Janenifer L. Armentrout Release date: December 6th, 2011 Series: Lux #1 Add it to Goodreads Starting over sucks.
When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, outhouses, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring. Until I spotted my hot neighbor with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.
And then he opened his mouth.
Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something… unexpected happens.
The hot alien living next door marked me.
You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and the mark he left on me has me lit up like Las Vegas strip to the bad guys. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.
If I don't kill him first, that is.
How amazing does that sound?! And how HOT is that cover? I am from West Virginia but I sure as heck didn't have a neighbor who was that smokin' hot!
Find Janenifer L. Armentrout Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Blog
I'm so thrilled to be part of Brenda's tour for Everblue and she has been kind enough to offer up a signed copy for one lucky reader! You can USE GOOGLE to add to the book to goodreads. My review of Everblue will be posted shortly but if you enjoy a fascinating tale about mermaid life, it's a must read! Click the banner to follow the tour!
Everblue by Brenda Pandos Publisher: Obsidian Mountain Publishing (July 29th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 304 pages Series: Mer Tales #1 Best friends share everything with each other. Or do they? Seventeen-year-old Ashlyn Frances Lanski is tired of her boring, single life. Spending time with her best friend Tatiana, dreaming about kissing Tatiana's twin brother Fin, and swimming competitively are her only sanctuary. The girls plan to leave their drab lakeside town far behind for college. But when Tatchi fails to return home after a family emergency, and no one knows where the family has gone, Ash chooses to do something drastic to find them.
Ashlyn is about to discover what she’d thought to be true her whole life, wasn’t, and the truth, too fantastical to imagine. Secrets lurk beneath the deep blue waters of Lake Tahoe, secrets that will change Ashlyn's life forever.
GiveawayPrize:
1 winner will receive a SIGNED copy of Everblue by Brenda Pandos.
Rules:
You must be at least 13 to enter.
Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
Contest is US Only and ends September 9th.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
Thanks everyone for taking the time to fill out my blog survey. First, I'll go over the feedback then announce the winners below. Overall, you all said you really enjoy my blog. THANK YOU! That means so much to me!
REVIEWS — All responses were either great/average.which is wonderful to me. I sometimes struggle with reviews and, oddly enough, the more I liked a book, the harder the review is to write. I feel like I'm not doing it justice. I had some people say they wished I'd add a section to my reviews that said if I recommend the book or not, or who it would be recommended for. That is a great idea! I will start doing this. I'll try to either add (Recommended for ALL/PARANORMAL/CONTEMPORARY fans), something like that and I'll add an age range when needed.
INTERVIEWS — Most of you enjoy my author interviews. Some said they didn't read those, which I completely understand. Typically, I add interviews when I'm giving away a book by that author. I feel it's a way to explain the book better to the readers and introduce them to the person who wrote it. I always alter the questions to fit the author/book. Sometimes they are the same questions you will see on another interview, but I try really hard to not just use the same questions over and over. I'm still trying to expand on this and come up with new post ideas for authors.
GIVEAWAYS — Responses ranged on this question. A majority said the giveaways were great, some said average, and a few said bad. Which is fine. I wanted honest opinions. According to blogger (and this number isn't completely accurate), I've hosted around 193 giveaways. Most of the time these giveaways are made possible by the author or publisher. I try whenever possible to include International readers by giving away ebook copies. Giveaways are one of my favorite parts of blogging because it's nice to give people the chance to read a book they may not have been able to pick up. I would love to host giveaways more but it is expensive to package and ship the books. People may not realize it, but many times bloggers do pay for those things (any time it doesn't come directly from the publisher/author). I'd love to have more giveaways, open to everyone, but it just isn't possible. Even an event like Haunted Halloween costs us (Lisa and I together) about $400 for shipping and supplies alone during that 1 month.
EXPLORING NEW YA — This was a new feature this year and I wanted to know if people liked it. The reason being because it takes an incredible amount of time to set up: ) I post it twice a month. Some people said they haven't seen it, and others said they read it, but normally don't add any of the books to their lists. Just a note, if you haven't seen the feature at all, you can click on FEATURES then EXPLORING NEW YA at the top of the blog. Lots of people said they love it and do use it for book recommendations too. I do enjoy having a place where new releases can be featured. I'm just glad most people do see it and may find some books they'll enjoy.
MOVIE REVIEWS — This part was kinda even around the board. Some liked it, some didn't, some didn't care.: ) This is a new feature that I do think I'll have on, but only occasionally. Maybe 1-2 posts a month related to movies. I liked this idea because we all watch movies. Sometimes these movies will be related to books (like Water for Elephants). When I got the opportunity to review movies for Fox Entertainment I didn't want to pass that up. Especially since they do offer giveaways for many of these movies. This is something I'd really like to offer to readers. Plus, I really need more features on here. I know people get tired of reviews and interviews so this will give me something to break that up. Hopefully people like it!
LEAST FAVORITE POSTS — This one had a wide range of answers but a majority picked either YA NEWS, INTERVIEWS/GUEST POSTS or IN MY MAILBOX. YA News is something I post occasionally just to highlight some things going on in the YA book world. Sometimes it's cheap books/ebooks, author news, book covers, or other bookish news. It's sort of a"misc." place to put things. I would like to make it a more enjoyable thing to read, but it all really depends on what's going on right at that time. I'll try to include more interesting things as we go along. Interviews/Guest Posts are kinda part of the norm for bloggers. I mentioned interviews above and I do want to make these posts more interesting as well. Sometimes these posts are part of a tour so they are out of my hands but I do want people to enjoy what they read. In My Mailbox will be mentioned below.
FREE/CHEAP EBOOKS — Most of you said you do want to know about free or cheap ebooks. This is something I've had in YA News most of the time. I'm going to keep a look out for these books and hopefully post about them more frequently. For now, they will be with other YA news though. I don't find out about them enough to have a separate thing so be on the lookout for those.
INDIE/SELF-PUBLISHED BOOKS — A majority said yes, they do read these books. I try super hard to feature these books for a few reasons. 1- the books can totally rock! Some of my all-time favorite books are self-published or from a super small publisher. 2- the authors rock! 3- the books are normally much cheaper. This is especially true if it's in ebook form. So, an awesome book for only.99 or $2.99? Yes! And 4- because these awesome books from these fabulous authors are often overlooked. I'm not someone who will ever turn down someone just because their book is self-published or from a publisher I'm unaware of. That isn't fair. Every book deserves a chance and if it's something I think I'll enjoy, I'll read it. That's the fun part of reading. You never know where your next favorite book will come from. At the same time, it really makes me happy to know that the readers enjoy these books as well. I honestly wasn't sure if people did so I'm sure this makes a lot of the authors very pleased.
WHAT IS NEEDED? — This had a wide range of answers. CONTEMPORARY/HISTORICAL/FANTASY/MYSTERY. And this is why I loved the survey. I hadn't realized how neglected certain genre's were on here! Especially contemporary. I love contemporary books! I admit, when I first started blogging paranormal was my go-to type. Over time, I've tried to expand that a bit. This can be difficult because I'd say around 60-70% of the review books I receive are paranormal. But I will be changing this! I'm even thinking of having a contemporary week in a few months. I'm reading more and more contemp. books so you guys are in luck! I'm not a huge fan of historical and I really don't get many of those for review. Same goes for fantasy or mystery. But, I will still try to feature those books in some way. I do want to have a nice balance on here.
WHAT IS NOT NEEDED? I didn't have a ton of answers here but PARANORMAL was a common answer.: ) Sorry guys! I do have lots and lots of paranormal. Expanding my own book preferences is a goal of mine for this year. I've been surprised in the past by the books I've liked so I think it will be nice to get out of my comfort zone.
WHAT NEEDS IMPROVED? Some people commented here about the blog appearance. I do realize there is a font problem. I'm not sure why it's like that and my blog designer isn't sure either. It is small and usually I have to go back and resize each post (but then that throws the formatting off). This is something I plan to work on. Along with that, I hope to de-clutter a bit and change things around in the next few months. But it's good to hear from readers because I'm not sure how things show up or load for you guys. Others said NOTHING, so thank you!!: ) I'm so happy to see that many of you enjoy my blog and like coming here. I did see a comment about using more social media and YES, I need to do this badly. I'm naturally introverted. I do have twitter but rarely get on there. I lurk a lot: ) I do want to become more social on twitter and even have more conversations take place on the blog. Actually I'm working on this part right now (stay tuned for details on that!).
FAVORITE PART OF THE BLOG — You guys had such nice answers here! Many said reviews, that I think of international followers, that I seem to care about my readers (I do, lots!), that I'm nice (*blush*). Thank you! Sometimes it's hard to know how things come off when we are just typing them out. I never want anyone to feel ignored or like I don't care about what the majority would want. Yes, I blog for myself but I enjoy it because of you guys. Honestly, I would never do this if no one read what I wrote. The enjoyment comes from knowing that maybe at least 1 person will get joy out of a book I recommend, or out of reading about a new author. That is what makes everything worthwhile. HOW OFTEN DO YOU COME HERE? Most said a few times a week, which is great! I know I've been slacking since October. Haunted Halloween sort of gives me a blogging hangover: ) I want to pick things back up again and I do have lots planned!
LAYOUT — Most people said they loved it or it was average. Personality, I do love the overall look of the blog but I do plan to change things up a bit because I know it can get boring. But the design will stay the same for a while, little things may change.
IN MY MAILBOX — I know IMM is something people either love or hate. Some people picked it as a favorite post and some suggested I stop doing it. I don't do IMM each week. I'm lucky to do it once a month.: ) So if you see a ton of books on here, that's why. I DO like to do IMM occasionally because it's a way to mention books that may otherwise not be noticed. I can't read everything I get, and I'd feel bad for getting a book that never gets viewed on my blog. IMM gives me a way to show the books where hopefully some people will see them and add them to their lists. I personally love seeing people's mailbox posts because I get a lot of good book ideas myself. Plus, it's nice to see an actual copy of the book (I'm all about book covers!). So I guess I'll be somewhere in the middle. IMM won't be something you'll see here each week, but I won't be cutting it out completely. But I did want to mention it so people know why I personally do it.
RATING REVIEWS — Everyone said yes or that it doesn't matter. I wasn't sure if people liked this fact or not so I was glad with the results. I pay much more attention to reviews that are rated but I didn't know if people agreed with that or hated if a book was rated. This will be staying the same. I will continue to rate books and will be adding the recommendations I added above.
Again, thank you guys so much for participating! You all had such nice comments and suggestions. Another survey will be posted in the near future related to Haunted Halloween. Lisa and I will give more information about that soon.
Also, be on the lookout for some new features coming up!: )
Winners! US Winner (Wins Damon.uhh, I mean Vampire Diaries season 2, UNLEASHED, and AMPLIFIED) theatredreamer@…
INTERNATIONAL Winner ambiepie@…
Other Winners from past giveaways UNTRACEABLE Kelsey D.
I highly enjoyed the book The Emerald Talisman and one of my favorite characters is Julia's friend Samantha. I am thrilled to have her on the blog today to ask her a few questions.
J: Hello Sam, so glad you could be here with me today!
Sam: Thanks for interviewing me. Forgive me for being nervous. This is my first interview. J: Sam, can you tell us a little about how you and Julia became such good friends? Sam: One day in the 4th grade she asked me to play two-square and we were friends ever since. Not a lot of kids have lost a parent. A drunk driver killed my dad in an accident when I was in second grade. Julia was the only person who understood and helped me. J: What about the others? What do you think keeps your group together?You all seem to differ in a lot of ways, especially Katie.
Sam: Julia is defiantly the glue that keeps us together. Between Cam and Katie always getting on each other’s nerves, without Julia, we’d of parted ways along time ago. We all care about Jules a lot. J:Do you ever worry about Julia or think that maybe she is hiding something from you? Sam: Never. We tell each other everything. She sometimes zones out and seems distracted with what others are going through, but I think it’s just her natural way of empathizing with people. She really knows what to say to help you feel better. J: Do you wish that she would confide in you more? Sam: She and I usually do, but I guess you can’t tell your friends everything. I don’t think there are secrets between us. Why? Is there something I should know? J: What? *looks away* oh no, um, of course not. *Clears throat*.moving on… Even when you and Julia fight, how do you keep your friendship strong?
Sam: We never really fight. I hate conflict. She hates conflict. We do our best to get along. She’s a really sweet person. What’s to fight about? J: If you could choose 1 word to describe each of your friends, what would it be?
Sam: I don’t know. That’s hard to say in one word. Cam – Smart. Katie – Cool. Dena – Nice. Julia – Sweet. J: If you could have a hope, or wish, for each of them, what would it be? Sam: I wish Cam would get into the college he wants to get into and find a cool girlfriend. That Katie would find a great boyfriend and get into the college she wants to attend too. That Dena and Morgan would get married and live happily ever after and have cute kids. That Jules and Nicholas figure out a way to tell her dad about their relationship and they get married to. J: What about yourself? What are you hoping for? Sam: Oh, I don’t know. Is it just between us? I’d like to marry Todd, but if I had like an impossible wish, I’d like my dad back. Thanks for the interview. It was fun.
The Sapphire Talisman by Brenda Pandos Publisher: Obsidian Mountain Publishing (December 15th, 2010) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 320 pages Series: The Emerald Talisman, book #2 With the local vampire coven decimated, Julia and Nicholas try to begin a somewhat normal life together. Bound by secrecy from a shape shifter determined to see Julia’s world-saving prediction come to fruition, Julia isn’t allowed to tell Nicholas the leader survived, ransacking her happiness with guilt. When Alora returns, bent on revenge, the reunion forces Nicholas and Julia to choose what they are willing to live and die for.
The Sapphire Talisman blog tour is hosted by Teen {book} scene.You can USE GOOGLE to visit the other stops on the tour. USE GOOGLE to find out how to pre-order a signed copy and all pre-orders can be entered to win a talisman. Ends November 30th.
The Sapphire Talisman will be out December 15th, 2010.
Find Brenda Pandos Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads Purchase The Emerald Talisman Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository The Emerald Talisman Book Trailer
Evergreen by Brenda Pandos Publisher: Obsidian Mountain Publishing Date: June 29th, 2012 Series: Mer Tales #2 Add it to Goodreads Summary: A kingdom on the brink of war. A king on the fringes of insanity. A family running for their lives.
Ash and Fin’s only desire is to be together and dive into their happily ever after, though their conflicting worlds work to pull them apart. Neither is ready to convert to the other’s life: become a human or a mer. Little do they know that somewhere in Natatoria a secret holds the fine fabric of everyone’s lives together. If the truth is discovered, Ash and Fin will no longer have the luxury of waiting. They’ll be forced to choose. But will it be for loyalty or love? Or will someone else make the choice for them if they can’t decide? Brenda is also hosting a contest right now on her blog. It's a a 'Name Tatchi's Novella Contest' where the winner will get a $50 Giftcard. Everyone can enter and you can get details by going to Brenda's blog.
The lovely Brenda Pandos has just released the cover of her next book, The Onyx Talisman, the third and final book in the Talisman trilogy. Check out my reviews of The Emerald Talisman and The Sapphire Talisman. This is an amazing series and I highly recommend it! Publisher: Obsidian Mountain Publishing Tentative Release Date: 11/16/2011 **WARNING SPOILERS** All was perfect in Julia’s life until Nicholas had his vampire blood-lust activated by his mother Alora, her immortal enemy, turning him evil and bent on revenge. Heartbroken and out of choices, Phil and Julia ran away in the middle of the night, with Scarlett on foot, to Orange County to warn and plead Nicholas’ Godfather for help. Once arriving at Harry’s though, the local coven accosted them and they narrowly escaped. After they returned home, there was a huge showdown between Phil, Nicholas, Scarlett, Alora, Katie and Julia. Alora almost got what she wanted—Julia’s vampire warding talisman—but Preston, Nicholas’ father, and Harry came to the rescue. They escorted Nicholas and Alora back to Beverly Hills, pledging to return Nicholas free from his blood-lust. But all Julia’s received in the past four months is a letter stating Nicholas missed her along with some song lyrics and promise of a quick return. That was a month ago. Now Julia awaits Nicholas’ return with the Fab Five Coven: Phil and Katie—the sober vampires, Scarlett—the half-vamp/shape-shifter, and Tyler and Julia—the inducted humans. She’s stuck in Scotts Valley with Phil as her self-appointed chaperon and no way to return to Los Angeles to check on Nicholas. Only Scarlett and Julia know her fate ultimately involves the demise of all vampires, possibly including the ones she loves. When the time comes, will she even have a choice? Find out in the final installment of the bestselling Talisman Series November 16, 2011!
Find Brenda Pandos Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads Purchase The Emerald Talisman Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository Purchase The Sapphire Talisman Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository
The Emerald Talisman is available for the KINDLE or NOOK for just $0.99.
Everblue, book #1 of Mer Tales Publisher: Obsidian Mountain Publishing Tentative Release Date: 7/31/2011 Follow Brenda on Facebook Goodreads Twitter: @brendapandos Blog: brendapandos.blogspot.com
Best friends share everything with each other. Or do they? Seventeen-year-old Ashlyn Frances Lanski is tired of her boring, single life. Spending time with her best friend Tatiana, dreaming about kissing Tatiana's twin brother Fin, and swimming competitively are her only sanctuary. The girls plan to leave their drab lakeside town far behind for college. But when Tatchi fails to return home after a family emergency, and no one knows where the family has gone, Ash chooses to do something drastic to find them. Ashlyn is about to discover what she’d thought to be true her whole life, wasn’t, and the truth, too fantastical to imagine. Secrets lurk beneath the deep blue waters of Lake Tahoe, secrets that will change Ashlyn's life forever.
Want to know more? Check out Brenda’s blog at: http://brendapandos.blogspot.com
It is now time to vote on the story entries! Thanks to everyone who entered! We really appreciate you all for sharing your stories with us! We do hope that everyone takes time out to read each story before voting for their favorites! You have until this Friday, the 22nd to vote. Voters:
Lisa and I will both be posting the stories.
PLEASE ONLY CAST YOUR VOTE ONCE!
The form is the same on both blogs so duplicates will be deleted.
To vote, put your email address and the number of the story you like into the form.
Email addresses are only used in order to check for duplicate votes.
If you are participating in the comment contest, leave your email with the comment for it to be counted. Same as with the other Haunted Halloween posts.
If you voted, say"I voted!" in the comment and you will get an extra entry into the comment contest.
Vote for your favorite!
Participants:
Feel free to post about the voting starting. Please encourage people to vote for their favorite.
You can cast a vote for your own story, but only once each round.
Rules:
This is Round 1 of voting. It will end Friday, the 22nd.
Round 2 will begin next Sunday, the 24th. It will end Friday, the 29th.
8 stories will continue onto Round 2!
The winners will be announced on Halloween!
For this contest we will be posting excerpts from each story in the order that they were received. If a story grabs your attention, click on the link below to read the rest. The link will take you to the blog post where the story can be found.
Story #1 — Found"Hello my love." Came a horribly familiar voice. I slowly turned around and there he was. My worst nightmare. The last time I saw him he was covered in my blood. My knees felt week and I didn't know if I had the strength to keep them study. He smiled that same dark smile that he had the day he tried to kill me. I thought I had escaped, I thought it was over. As he reached for my hand I knew it would be soon."How I have missed you." He said as our hands met. I felt a tingle run up my arm as he touched me. I couldn’t speak, couldn’t move, everything that I had worked for, to get past the memory of him was gone. All there was in the world was him and his hand upon mine. I couldn’t bring myself to run or to scream. I was lost in his murderous eyes. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #2 — Invisible Gotta find the exit. I just have to. I don't want to die I am too young. He told me that it wouldn't end like this that if I just give him what he needed then he would leave me and my family alone. I have been running for nearly three days and every time I think I am safe I see his shadow again. It all started back when I met the new kid in school. He was gorgeous nonetheless. Always seemed so perfect and mysterious. Apparently my judgment was correct except for the perfect part. As I grew closer to him the more I drew away from school, friends, and even worse my family. There seemed to be something pulling me deeper into his world, something that was turning me almost invisible to the world around me. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #3 — Sun and Moon The obsidian building towered high into the thunderous clouds, and was surrounded by a large iron-wrought fence. Erus, a grim and depressing boy for his age, stared at the bleak view before him: This was to be his new home: The Orphanage. Erus picked anxiously at his raggedy blue sweatshirt. His dark black hair obscured his vision, but gave him a sharper look. The pale skin of his face often made others think that he was dead, maybe a vampire. Maybe he was, no, he most definitely was. Due to the monumental hunger he felt building up inside him like carbon in a soda bottle. Every sense in his body became more acute, and human blood sang beneath luscious skin. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #4 — Ghost girl This was when I was around 17 years old. My parent move us in to our first house after living so long in an apartment. The house had 3 bedrooms and one bathroom. I was sharing a room with my sister, she was 16 year old. My two brother were sharing the room next to ours. my parents room was across the hallway. My room had the only window a/c unit. Our bedroom was the smallest bedroom and we only had a bunkbed an old tv, those old one that had the wooden box arround and with the big knobs. After a week I was watching tv late one night and the tv out of nowhere turn off. I thought the tv had a short and went to sleep. The next week weird things started to happen. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #5 — The Blood Spirit 1920 It was in the small town of Ashbury, New York that the rumor became. “Oh, Mary, I’ve missed you so much!” “Hahaha, well, I told you I’d return didn’t I, silly boy.” The girl’s sweet voice filled the room. It was like a drug to Everett and he wanted more. He had long awaited her return spending night after night staring longingly into the mirror on his dresser, until she had finally appeared that night. “I thought… maybe you had moved on.” Everett’s voice tried to cover his emotions at the thought of losing his beautiful Mary. Mary, the one that had saved him from all the darkness in his life and now he could barely stand to look her in the eyes because of her beauty. They had shown with understanding, but that was all a mask to help cover up the thing she really was. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #6 — The Current-Day 1900's Spiderman: A Little Boy's Tale A shaggy haired two year old boy with wide eyes watched the hall of his newly built home. Not only was his puppy barking at it but both pet cats were hissing as well. His mommy turned to the hall then back at the display in front of her calling their attention. The little boy dropped his multi-colored duplos and looked to his mommy, his eyes glistening with a look she never seen before, then pointed to the short hall between the living room and the playroom saying one word. “Man.”
The appearances of 'man' didn't stop that one quiet night. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #7 — Friendly Fire Fire. One word. One very short word. And yet, for Kaylee it was the most important word in the world. It was the last thing her mother ever said to her. As a child she had been hurt that her mother hadn’t spoken words of love and encouragement in the last moments of her life, it was only when she was older that she understood the true power behind that one word.
Fire. It brings warmth. It brings light. It brings destruction. And eventually it can bring life. But for Kaylee it brought wonder and mystery and a power so overwhelming that the mere sight of her would strike fear into complete strangers. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #8 — Stranger in the Night"We should dance," Brady smiled. Prom night. I heard a voice."Excuse me," someone said from behind.
"Sorry, sorry" Brady muttered.
Me, I couldn't speak. It was his eyes; they smoldered. I had never seen a guy with black eyes before. Taking one look at his face --pale, chiseled, eerily handsome-- I was totally, totally lost.
"Stephanie," he grinned. I parted my lips, but couldn't speak.
"Stephanie?" I couldn't hear Brady. I couldn't even tell he was still there. Everything was a big, buzzing blur; his hand at my waist, it wasn't even there. I swear it wasn't. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #9 — The Good Mother Our lake is haunted.
Long ago there was a Mother who fell asleep by the water. While she slept her child crawled into the water and was lost.
The Mother, unwilling to accept her child’s death, dove beneath the waves and disappeared.
Supposedly, she searches for him still. Children roaming near the lake on the night her child disappeared will disappear too. She waits to wrap them in her watery embrace. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #10 — Blackbird Sing They say the beautiful song of the blackbird makes it a symbol of temptations. For the most part, I have been a fairly responsible adult during the course of my life. I live in control and in restraint; I have no weakness.
When I approach the enormous tree with the bare and scraggly branches, I see it is full of blackbirds. I should think something is not right. But with a sensible head resting atop my shoulders, omens never affected me. I could shatter a thousand mirrors and still live in good health and in good luck.
My phone shrills in my pocket. I do not want to pick it up. Instead, I gaze at the still blackbirds, with their graceful feathers and beady eyes. Nothing is wrong. Just a tree full of silly birds. I see them all the time. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #11 — The Mattress Kasey never liked hospitals. They just made her feel uncomfortable. Everything smelled like hand soap or old people, and everything was so… sterile. She especially hated it at night when her room's light was turned off. The hallway would still be brightly lighted — yes, even in the middle of the night — but even the small sliver of light that she could see under her door wasn't comfort enough. Being in the dark scared her, and being in the dark alone was even more frightening.
She had had three concussions in the past spring from playing rugby — three too much. She had spent week after week in hospitals attempting to recover, missing school, missing her friends, missing life. She hardly knew what sunshine felt like. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #12 — Lifeless Love Her breath raced as she ran down the hill. Sweat glistened on her face in the light of the half-moon. Her pursuer was not far behind, his long arms flapping limply at his sides. She turned right and hid behind a trash can and prayed he would pass her by.
“Chloe,” He croaked. “Come out. You know I won’t hurt you. How could I hurt you? I love you.”
Silent tears slid down her face. How she wanted to believe those words. But she knew now that he was lost to her.
Footsteps were heard receding into the distance; he was gone, for now. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #13 — Whisper Damien was filled with dread as he crossed the threshold of Milton Manor. Fear emanated from his every pore, clouded his vision, and burned its way through his lungs with each breath.
Then the whispers began…
Get out! You don’t belong here. This is our home!
With each whisper more and more voices joined in, bringing the words to a crescendo, reverberating around Damien’s head and bombarding his mind. The voices began screaming at Damien, commanding him to leave.
Leave now or we’ll kill them all! Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #14 — Howl at the Moon The sharp ululation had my head snap back. Shivers shot up my spine, the harsh wind causing my cheeks to sting. They were coming for me. I tried to cover my scent with the dirt and foliage around me, but it didnt work. They had super noses, and hearing. I tripped over a root and landed on my knees and hands. I muffled a cry. I quickly got up, ignoring the globs of blood appearing on my knees. I could almost here them approaching me. My blood ran cold, my limbs grew stiff even as I stumbled my way through the forest. My breath thickened, blood tricked down my legs. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #15 — The Secret Ball Louisiana, 1862 I could hear the carriage roll on the damp stone path. The path where what had mattered most was silently taken from me. I saw men in white masks embellished with jewels and lined with intricate black lace. The men who took Dylan, my love. Who were they? Why didn’t I panic? “Olivia Preston,” I remembered hearing the husky voice say with invisible lips, “thank you. You’ve done well.” Unfortunately, it’s simple to know who I am. I’m the daughter of James Preston, the wealthiest man in New Orleans. Was Dylan taken because of this? Because of where I come from? Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #16 — Strange Things Are Happening Emily walked towards the sound of the music. Her friend, Mel, and she were on their way home from school when they first heard it, and they had followed it all the way until they came to the source: Shay Manor. Shay Manor had been abandoned for so long that no one could even remember when someone had lived in it last or why they left. The only people who went in the supposedly haunted mansion now were teenagers looking for a scare on the weekends. “Emily! What the—” Mel started, coming up behind Emily. “Shh!” Emily hissed. “Do you hear that?” Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #17 — Under the Bed I folded my arms and did the infamous mom stare in front of my little sister. “Jessie, I thought you were old enough not to believe in this stuff anymore,” I said, shaking my head. “I am a big girl,” my five-year-old sister whined. “But this time it’s different, something is under my bed!” “Look it’s one thing that I missed the biggest Halloween party ever to take you trick or treating, but it’s not fair I have to do this.” For a moment, just from the pleading in her tiny blue eyes, I believed her. I shook it off and let out a deep sigh. “Fine, Kylie, I’ll go look. But just one time. Ryan is coming over in ten minutes and we’re watching a movie.” She stood at the bottom of the stairs, biting her thumbnail nervously as I entered her room. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
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Everblue by Brenda Pandos Publisher: Obsidian Mountain Publishing (July 29th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 304 pages Source: Author (Thank You!) Series: Mer Tales #1 Rating: 4 of 5 stars Best friends share everything with each other. Or do they? Seventeen-year-old Ashlyn Frances Lanski is tired of her boring, single life. Spending time with her best friend Tatiana, dreaming about kissing Tatiana's twin brother Fin, and swimming competitively are her only sanctuary. The girls plan to leave their drab lakeside town far behind for college. But when Tatchi fails to return home after a family emergency, and no one knows where the family has gone, Ash chooses to do something drastic to find them.
Ashlyn is about to discover what she’d thought to be true her whole life, wasn’t, and the truth, too fantastical to imagine. Secrets lurk beneath the deep blue waters of Lake Tahoe, secrets that will change Ashlyn's life forever. Review: Something wonderful I have learned about Brenda Pandos and her writing is that she knows exactly how to create a world. It doesn't matter if it is a world full of mermaids or vampires; it's just as spellbinding.
This is one of my first mermaid books and I have to say that I was completely mesmerized at how Brenda told this story. Everblue alternates from Ashlyn to Fin throughout the story and they have very different lives. Ashlyn is a student, dealing with boy issues, swim practice, and a pretty typical family life. Fin, on the other hand, has a life far from typical. He lives in the mer world and it is not as magical as people may think. Rules and politics get in the way of any sort of normal life for Fin and his family. He is forced to live within the world and watch his sister Tatiana deal with the same uncontrollable fate.
During the first part of Everblue we get a chance to get to know each character. I enjoyed each point of view and it was nice to see how the characters acted independently. But I gotta say that the middle and end of the book was really what hooked me. We are able to see more of a mingling between the characters and I feel this is where they both shined. We see the passion and determination come out. Ashlyn doesn't back down and Fin just glowed with strength and courage.
As much as we get to know the characters, we are able to truly visualize their contrasting worlds. Ashlyn sees the clear blue water while Fin lives deep below it. Everblue really allows the reader to open their imagination and accept a place full of beauty and charm. But even a place that beautiful hides some dark secrets and Fin and Tatiana must find ways to protect each other. The last thing Fin wants is to bring Ashlyn into the mix too.
Everblue continues on with the fabulous, descriptive writing style readers have come to enjoy through Brenda's Talisman series. Readers will easily dive into this story!
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The Onyx Talisman by Brenda Pandos Publisher: Obsidian Mountain Publishing (December 16th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Source: Author (Thank You!) Series: The Emerald Talisman #3 Rating: 4 of 5 stars Unrest stirs deep in Scotts Valley. Filled with uncertainty, Julia anxiously awaits Nicholas’ return. Phil, hurt and unsure of his place as a sober vampire, holds the pieces of Julia’s fragile psyche together, secretly hoping Nicholas stays away forever. Scarlett bides her time, plotting for the perfect moment to prove herself and earn redemption. But somewhere in L.A., Alora conspires to reclaim her talisman and strip Julia of everything she holds dear.
Little do they know, a war is coming and more than one vampire would like to see the Prince of Vampires overthrown. As more and more vampires show up from nowhere, addicted to her scent, Julia must pick her allies carefully before it’s too late. Can Julia bargain with fate? When the time comes, will she even have a choice?
Review:
Ah, I'm so sad to see this series end. I've been a huge fan since the very beginning and I still remember the crazy rush I had after finishing book 1. The Onyx Talisman takes readers on another wild ride with these characters we easily grow to love.
Brenda has always been a fantastic author so, needless to say, the writing in this book is amazing. She really knows how to throw in some intense action that will have your heart racing. I liked the way that each book flows so well together and it's easy to see the progression of each character.
I admit, I have a soft spot for Phil and I wish there was something more for him. I wanted him to have more happiness. I loved him from the beginning and he was so loyal and caring towards Julia. I felt that he was the person who really brought out some new emotions for Julia. Even more than Nicholas, sometimes Phil was just able to break down the walls Julia sometimes had around herself.
One thing I loved (without going into detail) is that we really get a satisfying ending — meaning that it isn't abrupt or not explained. I hate when the action ends with a book and within a paragraph, it's over. Brenda gives a little more to help readers truly understand what happened.
Brenda, I feel like I've known you forever. You were one of the first people I worked with and I cannot thank you enough for allowing me to enter the world you created. You continue to amaze me with all you do and you are truly an inspiration. Even more than your talent, you are a fabulous person, friend, and mother. You do it all! And, you still remain positive even during the stressful times. Thank you for all you do and for creating such a fascinating world full of characters that will always be in my heart.
--Jessica
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Next Tour Stops March 24- Proud Book Nerd March 25- La Femme Readers March 26- Yara @ Once Upon A Twilight March 27-Katie’s Book Blog March 28- Kristie Cook Fill out the form for a chance to win a KINDLE, a signed copy of the book, or an ebook!
My Scary Story by Brenda Pandos My overactive imagination creates interesting drama in my life, especially when I sleep. For instance, I still can’t swim alone, even in a pool, thanks to Jaws. And, for a long time, I couldn’t go potty without looking down into the bowl to check for critters. So, I avoid horror and scary things at all costs. But my imagination is very helpful with my creative writing, so I can’t go wrong there.
I’ve always been an active dreamer, talking nightly in my sleep. Many times, it’s just an endless puzzle I’m trying to solve, salt and peppered with visions of the daily events that makes so much sense when I’m half awake, but slips away once I become lucid.
So, when my husband and I were first married, I seemed to be more active than usual. I’d freak him out, frequently talking and/or getting out of bed, scared or worried about something or another. He’d just consol me (probably to get me to be quiet) and I’d go back to sleep. But one night, I woke up and saw what I thought to be an alien, flutter from the curtains, fly under our sheets and possess the love of my life before my eyes. At my gasp he tried to consol me, reaching out, but I screamed bloody murder and fought his arms in absolute panic, afraid the creature inside was coming to get me next. Once my mind became clearer and dear hubby was able to grab me and talk me down from my hysteria, I burst into tears, thankful he was still himself and not some horrible creature I’d dreamt him to be.
I’m happy to say, after nine years of marriage, he sleeps through most of my night activities except when I see spiders.
The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos Publisher: Obsidian Mountain Publishing (March 24th, 2010) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 280 pages Series: Talisman, book #1 To be normal, sixteen-year-old Julia Parker would shed her empathic gift in a second. Life has been difficult since her mother's mysterious disappearance ten years earlier — an event she witnessed, but can't remember. Julia's situation becomes more complicated after a near death experience from a blood thirsty stalker. As high school students go missing it is clear there is a connection to her own experience--past and present. Someone has to stop the madness and a chance encounter with a creepy psychic foretells that only Julia is the key to stopping the madness, but it may require the life of the one she loves.
Prize:
1 winner will receive a signed copy of The Emerald Talisman and bookmarks.
Rules:
You must be at least 13 to enter.
Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
Contest is US ONLY and ends November 3rd.
Once contacted the winner will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address.
The form must be filled out to enter.
The Sapphire Talisman, book 2 in the Talisman series, will be out December 15th, 2010.
- Thank you so much Brenda for the story and book donation!
Find Brenda Pandos Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads Purchase The Emerald Talisman Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository
Book Trailer
* Check out Lisa's Haunted Halloween post.
*Reminder: If you are interested in the COMMENT CONTEST, remember to include your email address with your comment for an extra entry! Please read full entry rules here.
The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos Publisher: Obsidian Mountain Publishing (March 24th, 2010) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 280 pages Source: Author (for review) Series: Talisman, book #1 Rating: 5 of 5 stars To be normal, sixteen-year-old Julia Parker would shed her empathic gift in a second. Life has been difficult since her mother's mysterious disappearance ten years earlier — an event she witnessed, but can't remember. Julia's situation becomes more complicated after a near death experience from a blood thirsty stalker. As high school students go missing it is clear there is a connection to her own experience--past and present. Someone has to stop the madness and a chance encounter with a creepy psychic foretells that only Julia is the key to stopping the madness, but it may require the life of the one she loves. Review: The Emerald Talisman starts out with a bang and never slows down. Julia was a fascinating character who immediately runs into trouble when something dangerous comes after her in the woods. To make things more interesting Julia has a"gift" of sensing emotions. The first thing she notices is the overwhelming hunger coming from her predator. This seems odd to Julia because she typically doesn't sense emotions from animals so that only means one thing; it's human. Out of nowhere Nicholas comes to save the day and this starts the whirlwind of their relationship, exposed secrets, and dramatic conclusions for Julia.
Julia and Nicholas were amazingly written characters but the story was not simply centered around them as most books are. Brenda incorporates more interesting characters as Julia's friends and classmates. This kept the story flowing smoothly even without the constant presence of Nicholas. I found this to be one of my favorite aspects of the story.
As things progress we dive into the drama of Julia's life as she learns about the truth that surrounds her, but we also get a glimpse into her past and the mystery surrounding the disappearance of her mother. Julia is a caring individual who is close to her family and easy to relate to. She seems to become a strong young lady as the story progresses. In many ways she is the typical teenage girl but her gift lets her in on some of the secrets people keep hidden by emotions. Nicholas is a vampire hunter and quite mysterious in many ways. One constant with him is his protectiveness of Julia. I look forward to learning more about him and his past.
Brenda did an incredible job of keeping the story moving and keeping me, as the reader, interested. I enjoyed the complex plot, strong characters, and fast paced action throughout. By the end of the story we have answers to many of the key questions but some remain that will be answered in the sequel, The Sapphire Talisman.
I'm also thrilled to be part of The Sapphire Talisman blog tour hosted by Teen {book} scene. Be sure to stop back by on Wednesday, November 24th for an interview with one of the characters from the series. USE GOOGLE to find out how to pre-order a signed copy and all pre-orders can be entered to win a talisman.
The Sapphire Talisman, book 2 in the Talisman series, will be out December 15th, 2010.
Find Brenda Pandos Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads Purchase The Emerald Talisman Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository
Once Every Never (Once Every Never #1) by Lesley Livingston (Penguin Canada 7/14/2011) Love Story by Janenifer Echols (MTV Books 7/19/2011) Pearl by Jo Knowles (Henry Holt and Co. 7/19/2011)
The Summer I Learned to Fly by Dana Reinhardt (Wendy Lamb Books 7/19/2011) Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker (Bloomsbury 7/19/2011) Ripple by Mandy Hubbard (Razorbill/Penguin 7/21/2011)
Touch of Frost (Mythos Academy #1) by Janenifer Estep (Kensington Publishing Corp. 7/26/2011) Supernaturally (Paranormalcy #2) by Kiersten White (HarperTeen 7/26/2011) Everblue (Mer Tales #1) by Brenda Pandos (Obsidian Mountain Publishing 7/31/2011)
Wolfsbane (Nightshade #2) by Andrea Cremer (Philomel 7/26/2011)
Wildefire (Wildefire #1) by Karsten Knight (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers 7/26/2011)
If you know of any other new releases for July 14th- 31st feel free to add them in the comments so others will know about them!
This year we wanted to add to the excitement of Top 10 lists by making it an event! Lisa from A Life Bound By Books, Rachel from Fiktshun & Jaime & Patricia from Two Chicks on Books and and I are hosting a top 10 week where everyone can join the fun! You can check out this post for more information. Each day you add your top 10 list to the linky (below), you get an extra entry into the giveaway for a $50 amazon gift card! Just remember, each day will have a linky for THAT Top 10 topic and your list has to be for that top 10. Today is Top 10 Book Characters of 2011! I decided to go with favorite heroines because I really love when a book has a strong girl in the story.
Divergent by Veronica Roth Katherine Tegen Books (May 3rd, 2011)
Who: Beatrice Prior (Tris Why: Tris was incredibly strong and determined. She went away from what she had known and picked a difficult path. But once she got there, she always gave 100% of herself. Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary: In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her.
Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins Hyperion Books (March 22nd, 2011)
Who: Sophie Mercer Why: Sophie was an incredible character and not just for her strength. She was hilarious and always found a way to get out of hard situations. She really makes this series shine! Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary: Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.
That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.
Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.
But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?
Obsidian by Janenifer L. Armentrout Entangled Publishing (December 6th, 2011)
Who: Katy Why: She's a flippin' book blogger!! How can I not love her?? She's a book version of ME and she gets THAT in her life *points to book cover*! It's like a dream come true!: ) Ha! But seriously, she was amazing because she never backed down or pretended to be anyone but herself. Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary:Starting over sucks.
When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring… until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.
And then he opened his mouth.
Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something… unexpected happens.
The hot alien living next door marks me.
You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.
If I don’t kill him first, that is.
Stay by Deb Caletti Simon Pulse (April 5th, 2011) Who: Clara Why: Clara was sweet, caring, and very mature for her age because of what she had been through. I liked that she had a great connection with her father and had the strength to leave a difficult situation. Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary:Clara's relationship with Christian is intense from the start, and like nothing she’s ever experienced before. But what starts as devotion quickly becomes obsession, and it's almost too late before Clara realizes how far gone Christian is—and what he's willing to do to make her stay. Now Clara has left the city—and Christian—behind. No one back home has any idea where she is, but she still struggles to shake off her fear. She knows Christian won't let her go that easily, and that no matter how far she runs, it may not be far enough…
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi HarperCollins (November 15th, 2011)
Who: Juliette Why: Juliette was just.wow! Even though she had a life no one could imagine, and felt she was a monster, she is able to push through her fears and turn into a very powerful young woman. She completely blew me away! Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary:Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.
The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.
The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.
Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.
Catching Jordan by Miranda KenneallySourcebooks Fire (December 1st, 2011) Who: Jordan Why:Jordan was great because she went against the norm, and her father's wishes, in order to pursue her dreams. She never backed down from a challenge and really showed how girls can do absolutely anything.Read My ReviewAdd it to GoodreadsSummary: What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though — she leads them as the captain and quarterback on her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starring position on the team… and has her suddenly wishing to be seen as more than just a teammate.
Half-Blood by Janenifer L. Armentrout Spencer Hill Press (October 18th, 2011)
Who: Alex Why: Because, yet again, Janenifer really knows how to create characters! Alex has had a difficult time dealing the various obstacles that arise but she keeps pushing through. She has a lot of qualities I think many people would love to possess. Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary: The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures. Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.
Forgotten by Cat Patrick Little, Brown (June 7th, 2011) Who: London Why: London had to go through a lot and she never backed down. She's sweet and smart, and she deals with her memory problems in the best way she can. Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary: Each night at precisely 4:33 am, while sixteen-year-old London Lane is asleep, her memory of that day is erased. In the morning, all she can"remember" are events from her future. London is used to relying on reminder notes and a trusted friend to get through the day, but things get complicated when a new boy at school enters the picture. Luke Henry is not someone you'd easily forget, yet try as she might, London can't find him in her memories of things to come. When London starts experiencing disturbing flashbacks, or flash-forwards, as the case may be, she realizes it's time to learn about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future.
Amplified by Tara Kelly Henry Holt (October 25th, 2011)
Who: Jasmine Why: Jasmine left her comfortable life to go on her own personal journey. She could have easily ran away from the teasing and issues that came up, but she stuck it out and gained more courage each day. Add it to Goodreads Review Coming Soon Summary: When privileged 17-year-old Jasmine gets kicked out of her house, she takes what is left of her savings and flees to Santa Cruz to pursue her dream of becoming a musician. Jasmine finds the ideal room in an oceanfront house, but she needs to convince the three guys living there that she's the perfect roommate and lead guitarist for their band, C-Side. Too bad she has major stage fright and the cute bassist doesn't think a spoiled girl from over the hill can hack it..
Hourglass by Myra McEntire Egmont (June 14th, 2011) Who: Emerson Why: Emerson was just a bundle of awesomeness. She's kind but so protective of the people she loves. She was so well developed and absolutely perfect for this story. Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary:One hour to rewrite the past.. For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.
So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past. Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened? Tomorrow's Topic — Top 10 Coming in 2012! Don't forget to link each day! Signing up & then linking your Top 10 posts early you EXTRA entries into the $50.00 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway. The last day to share your posts is January 8th, 2012. The winner will be picked using Random.org and announced during the week of the 9th, 2012. Good Luck!
NOTE: this is the SAME Linky on each of the Co-Hosts Blogs, so please only enter your Name, Blog Name and URL once. Thanks!
