Express Yourself Meme, Celebration and Stuff and Goal Drain

The TV Show I could be in as myself would be Grimm and what do I bring to the table. My writing and research skills. I would take up 'residency' in the trailer and help compile the mounds of books into easier to search files and also with my job being online at home be able to move around without too many questions being asked. I'd be the happy loner who loves to read and has a secret crush on Monroe while helping Nick 'The Grimm' do research on the creatures he has to stop and be able to send out warnings if anyone unusual starts coming around the trailer.

Besides who wouldn't want a chance to play a character on Grimm? Even if I can't kick butt (unless someone comes at me, watch out), I can write a mean story, do research and give advice during nice long chats. A very useful quality if I say so myself.

1. I purchased a copy of A Journey Begins by Cambria Harrington last night. If you remember on my Wednesday post I mentioned her and suggested you guys check out the interview she did. I plan to read the book over the weekend and see what talent this fourteen year old author really has. I'm glad to support a teen's writing dream and hope others take the opportunity. In two days the book goes from 99 cents for the kindle back to $2.99. So get your copy fast if you want to get a great deal.

2. I loved this week's Express Yourself Meme question. I have to say before that if I imagined myself on Grimm, I would give myself some kind of ability. But this week's question got me thinking of my own real lufe qualities and they aren't half bad. Thank you Dani for helping host such a fun meme.

3. I have my theme down for the A-Z Challenge. Just need to complete the posts. But I will be done in time.

4. Pseudo celebrating my blogging break next week (minus cover reveal for Kyra). I still want to blog but I need the break to recharge my batteries and focus more on writing (including my writing gig, laptop, you will soon be mine).

5. Realizing the inflammation in my left thumb and index finger wasn't from a bug bite but inflammation. Yay internet. Now instead of spending almost $700 JA Dollars on bug cream. I can instead spend $105 on over the counter aspirin so the Ibuprofen can get rid of the swelling. Been working over the past two days, only my thumb left. Yay, seriously please go away swelling.

6. Going to see the Lego Movie on Saturday. This somebody is going with nobody. And it will be AWESOME! And I won't have a certain someone telling me about weight and eating...whatever. I'm going to the movies y'all! I'm eating theatre food. Not popcorn, the kernels hurt my throat. Sorry but I have to particular and hope the type is kind to my swallowing when I pop them in my mouth. Boy do I sound like a sissy.

7. Ghostwriting gig is bringing some dough! Thanks to this I get to go to the movies 100% on my own dime and don't need to ask for a pick up. Yup I'm taking the bus to and back with my own cash money. Trust me, this is big for me. No begging, I mean asking for rides home in advance to save money or my fear of travelling after dark. Well, more of a dislike. Plus The Lego Movie has a 2:30 pm showing at Palace Cineplex so I can get home before dark. Yay!

Goal Drain

Do You Have Goals? Bloghop is a monthly hop hosted by Misha. Each month you state the progress of a goal you submitted to the hop for the year or whichever period you choose to complete it in.

My AYA goal has taken a backseat this month. Sorry but between my ghost writing gig, saving for a laptop before April, plans to have Monster City MG ready for October and writing Beseech's first five chapters....I have not done much of anything this month. I plan to start the AYA blog in March and continue again with the novella I have planned for this new genre. That's all I can handle right now.

Enjoy your weekend everyone and see you soon.

Special Feature: Cambria's Interview and Blogging Break

Sorry no book review today but I will suggest you go check out Cambria Harrington Interview. She is a teen author of A Journey Begins which is the first book in an exciting series. In Cambria's own words the novel is about: It's a story about four teenagers whose parents sacrificed everything so their children would grow up to be powerful magicians strong enough together to defeat the Dark King. To find out more go see the rest of the interview and show some support for a young burgeoning author.

Source: Carool @ Morguefile

On another note I will be on a short blogging break as of March 1st and will not be returning until March 10. With one exception. Kyra Lennon plans to have a cover reveal next week and I will post the reveal when it comes out. So aside from sharing Kyra's reveal, after Friday (February 28) I won't be posting until Monday March 10. Enjoy your day everyone and remember that the A-Z Challenge is less than 2 months away.

Fate Intended Tour: Elizabeth Talks about the Hard Stuff (In Writing) and Success

Please Note: There will be no post on Tuesday. Wednesday will be a book review and Thursday and Friday will have the usual posts.

Today I'm excited to welcome Elizabeth Seckman and being the latest stop on the Fate Intended Tour! Now I give the floor to today's feature author. Take it away Liz! Enthral us Blogger sista! Okay, I'll let you take over now. *Disappears in a puff of smoke*

I hate to see writers burn out. My writing dream started
over ten years ago, and in that time I have met a lot of writers. Some move on
to success, but many give up and drop out. 

The drop outs didn’t fall away because they had no talent.
There was plenty of talent. 

The problem: writing is work. 

Hard work. 

There was a time when I thought I could only be a writer if:

1.    
I could write a perfect manuscript in a couple
of days.

2.    
I could edit and polish that manuscript as
quickly as running spell check.

3.    
Agents and editors tripped over themselves to
hand me a contract.

4.    
My platform built itself like one of those
inflatable life rafts.

5.    
My published book sold by word of mouth. 

That sort of thinking nearly ruined my love of writing. I
had those preconceived notions that if I wasn’t hitting those brass rings
(quickly!), I wasn’t ever going to grab one. And only holding one of those
shiny little devils would prove to myself and the world that I was a writer. 

Then one day, I was watching a biography on Sean (PuffDaddy; P Diddy) Combs. Seems Sean dropped out of college with a dream of
breaking into the music industry. To get his foot in the door, he begged for an
Uptown Records internship…which means working for free. He said he was given
every crap job in the place…got pruned hands washing the executive’s cars. After
a while, he was hired on, and then fired. 

Yep. Fired. Canned. Ditched. 

But getting tossed didn’t make him quit. He didn’t say, “Well,
Uptown records rejected me, so I guess I suck…better go back to college.” 

Nope. He didn’t quit. He started his own record label, Bad
Boy Records. 

The rest is history.

The lesson? If you NEED success, you have to work hard,
climb out on some limbs, and get just a little lucky. Writing, blogging,
editing, marketing, networking…they are skills and they are learned and
practiced. 

Now, notice I said if you NEED success. 

You don’t NEED to be successful to be a good writer. 

Emily Dickinson was a masterful poet, but not once did she
hold a book of poems in her hands. She didn’t need the validation of a check to
call herself a writer.

I mean not every person who loves to make music makes it to
the Grammy’s, but who’s to stop them from playing gigs on Saturday nights? 

If it gives the soul joy, do it. If the NY Times list is the
only goal, then get to work. Every rejection and door closed in your face just
makes for a better biography later.

Fate Intended is the
third book in the Coulter Men Series.  Trip is the last of the Coulter
sons to find love. He’s a handsome man with all the skills a young spy
needs to succeed. But when it comes to love, he misses the target. Jane
is a sweet beauty who may or may not be wanted for murder. She’s hiding
out as a cleaning lady when chance brings her and Trip together. It
looks like a happily ever after is in the cross hairs until reality
tries to destroy what fate has intended.

Elizabeth Seckman is a simple chick with a simple dream…to write stories people want to read.

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Express Yourself Meme and Celebrate the small things

Express Yourself Meme this week wants a list of five book world's I wouldn't want to live in and five that I would want to go to.

Never Ever!

1. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - If you read it, you'd know why.

2. The Diary of Anne Frank - Same here.

3. Moonless by Crystal Collier - Seriously the soulless are scary. And the passionate can be...a bit too passionate.

4. Delirium by Lauren Oliver - Love a disease? Please!

5. Flowers in the Attic by  V.C. Andrews - Incest. Need I explain any further? Love the books but would never take a character's place. EVER.

Take Me!

1. Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling - Screw The Dark Lord, I want to see some magic.

2. X-Men created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby -  Comic, novel, movie....who cares! Sign me up!

3. The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare - I just want to see it. No I don't any powers, just a back stage pass.

4. Um...Oh Batman Universe - Yup, I want to see Batman...and Poison Ivy from a distance.

5. Static by L.A. Swift - Hey I would like to see someone change from female to male or vice versa. Plus can you imagine how insane Wendy William's Hot Topic segment would be if this was real life? Tell me you wouldn't want to get a peek at that?

Yes I picked comics too but I don't care! It's my list.

Celebrate the small things

Sadly not my best week but I do have something to be happy about. Yesterday I saw that Riptide Publishing retweeted my netgalley review of Static. Also I have been ruminating about it and decided I want to complete Monster City before October 2014 so I can enter it in the 2015 Times/Chicken House Children's Competition. Worst case scenario if I don't make it I can always enter Chickenhouse Open Submission if they have it again next January. Monster City is a w.i.p. MG and I would feel more comfortable having help from a publisher selling it than doing it on my own. Also I write mostly YA and don't want to give mixed signals to any agent by shopping it out first. I know agents can do both YA and MG but since this might be my only MG, I just feel more comfortable trying to get it to a publisher on my own first. Plus I'm holding out for Circa being my first manuscript to shop to agents next year or later.

Yes that's my celebration this week. Enjoy your weekend.

Book Review: Static

Static by L.A. Swift
Genre: LGBT, Romance, Transgender Science Fiction
Source: Netgalley
Purchase: Riptide, Amazon

Summary: After two years together, Alex has been dreading the inevitable moment when Damon learns the truth: that Alex is a shifter, part of a small percentage of the population able to switch genders at will. Thanks to a forced implant, though, Alex is suddenly static—unable to shift—and male. Overnight, he’s out to a world that neither understands nor tolerates shifters . . . and to his heterosexual boyfriend. 

Damon is stunned to discover his girlfriend is a shifter, and scared to death of the dangers the implant poses to Alex’s health. He refuses to abandon Alex, but what about their relationship? Damon is straight, and with the implant both costly and dangerous to remove, Alex is stuck as a man. 

Stripped of half his identity and facing serious physical and social ramifications, Alex needs Damon more than ever, but he doesn’t see how they can get through this. Especially if he’s static forever. 

- Winner: Best Science Fiction Romance in the 2013 EPIC Awards! 

Finalist: Best Transgender Fiction in the 24th annual Lambda Literary Awards! 

Winner: Best Bisexual / Transgender Sci-Fi / Paranromal / Fantasy in the 2011 Rainbow Awards! 

(This award-winning title is a revised and edited second edition of Static, originally released in 2011 by Amber Allure.)

Review

Another top selection from Riptide Publishing. Last month I lauded over the love in The Beginning of Us and today I get to deliver the delicious reading of Static. Imagine if you will being in a relationship only to find out that your significant other can change genders. But that's not all, you find out after your significant other's parents drug your partner and puts an implant that now has him or her stuck as the opposite sex of who you're with. So if you were dating a man, he's now stuck as a woman or vice versa. Tell me that isn't a mind bender.

In Static this happens when Alex has to reveal 'her' secret of being a shifter to her boyfriend Damon after fanatic parents install an implant that not only stops her gender shifting/switching but has 'her' now stuck in the body of a male. Damon is naturally shocked but tries to help Alex in a world where shifters often treated as freaks or abnormalities. Being static is natural for Damon who has always been male but for Alex it is a hell that leads to heavy drinking, depression and anger at a world that won't accept that simple gender roles no longer apply. Through friends both at home and work Alex tries to work through being static and maintaining a relationship with Damon who naturally has reservations on being with a man since he's straight. The novel shows readers that this book is talking about more than just gender. That being different is often considered dangerous and if we're not careful people will try to destroy or corrupt what makes us special just to make themselves more comfortable. Static is a book people should read no matter what side they are on the gender/sexuality debate because this book is about accepting differences and not harming people just because we don't agree with their lifestyle. The black market implants to me symbolize the different ways people, sadly including parents, try to change others by diabolical means in the name of social acceptance. Throughout the book Alex bravely tries to return to the person he/she once was and is willing to even take risky surgery to get the implants out and possibly sending the parents who did this injustice to prison. Even with a teen sister who might never forgive the act to consider. Damon also has a tough decision to make as he stands by Alex and sees just how  hard it really is to make a relationship work. Love is blind but circumstances aren't and the challenges Alex and Damon face and how they get through will have you glued to the last page. I started Monday night and read right til Tuesday morning, Yup almost no sleep, it's that good a must read folks.

I love this book because it pushes boundaries and makes me think. Also the characters press at my heart strings whether it is the different POVs of Damon and Alex or the other characters in the book including a transgender co-worker and a supportive detective and medical professional. Even the ones who disgust me like Alex's parents draw me in. Plus there are a few surprises in the mix and when an author does it as elegantly as L.A. Swift, her other books are probably must reads too. If you want a book to take you out your comfort zone this is for you and even if you don't still check it out to find a read that will knock your socks off and warm your heart.

Oh and I also think this book should be made into a movie. The themes are so fresh and some of the books being made into movies are already done before. This one is definitely a different take and I plan to make a Facebook page and do some hunting...I mean asking around. I think I'll add my suggestion to the note section on netgalley for the publisher. Yes I definitely will.

Rating: 5 Stars and I want a movie!

Book Review: Moonless by Crystal Collier

Moonless by Crystal Collier
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Historical Fiction, Paranormal
Source: Purchased on Amazon
Purchase: Kindle, Paperback

Summary: In the English society of 1768 where women are bred to marry, unattractive Alexia, just sixteen, believes she will end up alone. But on the county doorstep of a neighbor’s estate, she meets a man straight out of her nightmares, one whose blue eyes threaten to consume her whole world—especially later when she discovers him standing over her murdered host in the middle of the night. 

Among the many things to change for her that evening are: her physical appearance—from ghastly to breathtaking, an epidemic of night terrors predicting the future, and the blue-eyed man’s unexpected infusion into her life. Not only do his appearances precede tragedies, but they are echoed by the arrival of ravenous, black-robed wraiths on moonless nights.

Unable to decide whether he is one of these monsters or protecting her from them, she uncovers what her father has been concealing: truths about her own identity, about the blue-eyed man, and about love. After an attack close to home, Alexia realizes she cannot keep one foot in her old life and one in this new world. To protect her family she must either be sold into a loveless marriage, or escape with the man of her dreams and risk becoming one of the Soulless

Review

The Good: Crystal has done amazing world building and we get to meet Alexia and her family at a crucial time in her life. The at first unsightly Alexia is quickly transformed into a beautiful young lady but like all 'quick fixes' this comes at a price and she is thrust into a world where humans aren't the only beings on earth and moonless nights are not the time to for a night stroll. Readers will be drawn into a world where females are raised to be married to better their families and even Alexia's father who's more lenient than most has his expectations of her. These are thrown asunder however with the appearance of the mysterious Kiren and the crazy (like a fox in my opinion) yet deliciously clever Bellezza. Alexia's transformation not just from teenager to womanhood but also from being thought of as a human of noble blood to one of the special beings called the 'Passionate' is chronicled in Moonless and we readers get to see her go from a sheltered girl to a brave heroine is ready not to just fight for her family but for love as well. No matter the costs. Also you get to read snippets of other characters perspectives and get the chance to see how others view Alexia and all the craziness brought not just by her antics but also the dangerous Soulless who lurk waiting to grab their next victim.

The Bad: Sigh, the following is why Moonless can't get five stars from me. It is a five star story but the following issues just don't mesh well for me. First at the beginning Alexia was okay, not great but ok. Then she got pretty and then got whiny bitchy in my opinion. I get that she wants to find out about the transformation and the mysterious Kiren. But she seems to run to danger, grab it by the neck, then whine when it bites back. Seriously I hated her for the first 40% of my kindle read and would have abandoned the book if the surrounding story and other characters didn't hold my attention. I got to liking her later and loving her before the end but it's never good to hate the MC for almost half a book. This I don't fault the author for, it's my own personal tastes. Second I just can't stand it when girls run headlong into danger after a guy, seriously, there isn't a shortage of males on the planet. I get that she is in love but come on, this is so overdone it's tragic that such a wonderful book has such an overused theme. Third I actually loved secondary characters like Bellezza and Miles way more than Alexia and their lives drew much more interest to me. I know secondary characters should help the story but they actually stole the show and made Alexia look somewhat petty and bland in comparison. Also there were parts of the novel that were somewhat boring and caused sections to limp along until something exciting happened to jolt the story along.

My Verdict: This is a well written novel and despite my hang ups it was a really good read. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys young adult books that are different from the regular fare and those who just want to read a really good book. Alexia matured in the book and I got to like her and Kiren's bond but the issue was how long it took me to like her and I leave her likeability up to each individual reader. The supporting characters are amazing and if you want a read that is chock full of exciting characters this is the book for you. Whether you love romance, adventure, crazed super children like Bellezza (though she looks thirteen), paranormal insanity and main characters who can make you fall in love or drive you batty...Moonless is ready to take on the ride of your life. And I personally am ready for a sequel. Plus novellas staring secondary characters from the series. Please?

Rating: 4 Stars

Getting Personal Special: A Serious Re-assessment

Yes I was supposed to review Static today (will on Thursday instead) but I decided I need to discuss this today instead waiting for Thursday when I usually do Getting Personal bi-monthly. I love books, reading is still a loved pastime of mine. Writing is something I plan to do til life leaves my body and even after that if I can. But I have come to a realization. I have fallen out of love with writing.

*Gasp*

Source: Slowfoot

I know, the coming up with ideas and creating characters I still love but actually sitting down and writing a book from draft to finish has become a somewhat ugly process for me. I can still do it but only in really tiny bursts. This became especially obvious during my ghost writing gig when I had way more fun writing someone else's work than even taking a pen to mine. In fact Beseech which I started this month and gave you a snippet of was the most fun I have had writing something for myself since 2014. I also enjoy Monster City but I gave it a break to focus more on finishing up The Sacrifice Series.

When it comes to blogging however nothing could be more opposite. I see so much potential for 2014. In fact I'm actually excited about the different posts and My Perfect Match was the most fun blogfest post I have done in ages. So anyone thinking that my writing issues extend to blogging, be at ease, my blogging persona is at it's peak and shall not wane. I L-O-V-E blogging and right now if I had to choose between blogging or writing a novel, blogging wins hands down. This is both lovely and disturbing. After all I never planned to a career blogger.

Back to writing, right now I feel like taking a bat to Sacrifice Her. No matter what there is something...I just can't accept it right now. I really want to go on a release and tour...wait no. Sunday I thought 'great now I have to promote this stupid thing' so in truth no I actually want to suffocate my own work with a pillow and bury it in the back yard. The only book that brings true excitement in this series right now is Frozen Doll, the final novella. Great. Not that I don't like the other books and I'm excited about going about getting a cover done for Deadly Luxury. But that's the problem, I'm excited about the cover, not the book. Don't get me wrong, I don't think my work is crap but right now I just feel crappy about doing the work. Get me?

Which is why I have come to a tough but I think necessary decision. I have decided to postpone any publishing of novels or novellas. No new release dates until I have rediscovered my love of writing novels and can truly enjoy dealing with my own work. I had planned at first to give myself a date but I have decided against it. Dates are deadlines and I have decided the last thing I need right now is a deadline. I know that I have hopped from date to date when it comes to Sacrifice HER and feel bad about putting it on hold yet again. But I think it is a really bad idea and disservice for any author to release a book they currently want to maul to death. Yes, really hate it right now and no matter how good the book might be. That can't be a positive thing. So yes, all my books are delayed as of now and until further notice, that is my final decision. Please bear with me and pray for my sanity.

In Other News

I have decided to open myself up and reveal my writing pseudonyms. First one is Roe and yes I have a blog for it too. On this site I'm working on writing LGBT themed YA and unlike with my other writing, it is procrastination and time that slows the writing process for these books. Not burning hate. I am also excited about writing about books staring lesbians/homosexuals because I don't think their lives are explored enough in fiction and sometimes only in overly explicit ways. Not all of them are sexual deviants, sadists or suicidal. Gay characters are just as varied as straight ones. Currently I am working on Lez and Lesbians. A fantasy and contemporary version staring the same characters but in very different settings with different names. They will be released as two separate books.

Also I have Royme which is for adult LGBT books. Yup when I started blogging never thought I would do adult books much less adult gay books. How times have changed. Right now there are The Hatter Series and Cin (stand alone). If anyone heard about Cin, the wip that stars a female character in disguised as a male pirate during 2013 Nano, yup, that was my work. Also have a Pinterest Board and discovered that I'm secretly obsessed about the Mortal Instruments series. See what pseudonyms can reveal about you?

Yes I also have blogs for these but no I don't find that stressful at all. You might think I have a lot on my plate but I actually have fun looking over work under my pseudonyms. I never felt frustrated beyond measure unlike....you know. And you're probably wondering why now do I reveal these? Well while reading L.A. Swift's Author's Note in Static I realized I wanted all my works known to be by me and just those with straight couples/characters. I want to not just be my authentic real life self but also my writing self. And no this is not leading to a revelation that I'm gay. Sorry ladies but this girl is a man's girl. I know, the crushing disappointment will pass. And so will the drugs I'm clearly inhaling.

Now rub your temples and absorb all that has been revealed to you today. You can never say I have never gotten personal with you guys. Maybe a little too personal.

Tomorrow: Moonless Book Review

Thursday: Static Book Review

Dead Girl Walking Cover Reveal and Giveaway

Today I'm revealing the cover for Dead Girl Walking as part of a Cover Reveal and giveaway. Click here to enter giveaway and read on to find out more about the upcoming new series by Ruth Silver, also author of Abberant.

Title: Dead Girl Walking (Royal Reaper)

Author: Ruth Silver

Expected Publication: Summer 2014

Publisher: Patchwork Press

Genre: YA, Paranormal Fantasy

Cover Design: Erica Crouch

Blurb:

In 1346, Princess Ophelia Dacre sneaks out of the castle to visit her boyfriend in secret. A perfect night cut short when she’s brutally murdered.

Ophelia is given the rare chance to become a grim reaper. She must become Leila Bele, cut ties with her old life, and follow the rules of the reapers. Her greatest adventure begins with death.

Add to GoodReads! 

Excerpt:

                "The scroll chose you. For whatever reason, she's your reap."

                "Well, that sucks." Leila chewed her bottom lip. "If I don't do it?"

                Edon hesitated before he said, "Her soul will rot inside her body. Do you have any idea what that’s like? She'll be a living corpse, a shell of a person. She won't feel anything including love. We as reapers, the undead, feel more than she ever will alive."

                Leila swallowed the lump in her throat. "How do you know that?"

                "Because I've seen what it does to a person," Edon said. "That little girl deserves better."

About the Author

Ruth Silver attended Northern Illinois University and graduated with a Bachelor's in Communication in the spring of 2005.  While in college, she spent much of her free time writing with friends she met online and penning her first novel, Deuces are Wild, which she self-published in 2004.  Her favorite class was Creative Writing senior year where she often handed in assignments longer than the professor required because she loved to write and always wanted to finish her stories.  Her love of writing led her on an adventure in 2007 to Melbourne, Australia. 

Silver enjoys reading, photography, traveling and most of all writing.  She loves dystopian and fantasy young adult stories.  Her debut novel published by Lazy Day Publishing and Patchwork Press, ABERRANT, was released April 2013.  The second novel in the series, MOIRAI, continues the saga. ISAURA, is the final installment in the ABERRANT trilogy. Ruth has been actively writing since she was a teenager.  Her current writing projects include a YA science-fiction fantasy series, ORENDA, and a YA paranormal series, DEAD GIRL WALKING. Both novels are due for release in 2014. She currently resides in Plainfield, Illinois.

You can visit her online at her website, twitter, Facebook, and Amazon.

Express Yourself Meme and Celebrate Valentines, Gift Cards, Books and Blogs

"Express Yourself" is a weekly meme. It's goal is to help our fellow bloggers get to know one another better, to help motivate one another, laugh (or cry) together, in other words – stalk.

This week: Tell us about some book couples you adore.

1. Ron and Hermione from Harry Potter series. Yeah Rowling wanted Harry but guess what? It didn't happen! Bam! The characters run the show people.

2. Tara and Eliza from The Beginning of Us. The only lesbian couple on the list but trust me their struggles to be together will draw you in.

3. Tobias and Tris from Divergent. These two have been through quite a bit and truly love each other.


Celebrate the small things meme

First off, Happy Valentine's Day!!! OK, unto the next.

Won two Amazon gift cards this week, one from Clare Dugmore's giveaway. Thanks Clare. Whoo! I bought ebooks galore including Cassie Mae's (Becca Ann) latest book and Cassatorm by Alex Cavanaugh at it's $3.99 price. Also bought some other books including Winter Queen by Amber Argyle (at special $0.99 price) and Cinder by Marrisa Myer at special $2.99 price. Not everything was on special but this girl loves grabbing a deal and with $30.00 worth of Amazon G.C. to spend I cleaned up!

Also read Static off Netgally, published by Riptide Publishing. Reviewing next Tuesday and I must say in advance...be there. Another LGBT hit people. And this one deserves a movie. Plus, Moonless by Crystal Collier will be reviewed next Wednesday.

Last but not least my Perfect Match for the Moon Release Blogfest earned lots of reviews and praise. Even got mentioned yesterday on Tara Tyler's Blog. Like London says, "Yay Me!".

See you guys around and enjoy your weekend.

P.S. : I went through my bloglist this morning and quite a couple blogs moved up to the top 50/100. So if some of you who might have gotten a comment from me almost bi-weekly or less start getting weekly/regular comments from me that's why. I love commenting and visiting as many blogs as I can and welcome to the party level new arrivals. Sorry to those deleted blogs I had to remove links for and some that got moved down because of months of no updates. I love you guys but if your blog is gone or not updated for example...since October 2013? Come on, you can't be in my top 50/75 sitting pretty while other blogs being updated regularly are as far as 150 on my side bar. Again love you but...sorry it's just life.

THE QUEEN OF ZOMBIE HEARTS Cover Reveal

Hi everyone, I was so excited when Rockstar Book Tours sent me an invite to be among the blogs to reveal the latest cover in this exciting series. You get to also see the first two covers which I adore but the last one does look a bit high fashion-ish but still very good. See for yourself.

Today is the day! The cover of Gena Showalter's THE QUEEN OF ZOMBIE HEARTS is here! We're so excited to be able to share this with you as it joins an already stunning set! Ready to see it? Not quite yet lets take a look a the first two covers in the series!

First there was ALICE IN ZOMBIELAND...

Then came THROUGH THE ZOMBIE GLASS...

Now get ready to EAT YOUR HEARTS OUT!!!

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Official White Rabbit
Chronicles website

On-sale date: Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Add it to your TBR!  Goodreads

Pre-order your copy! Amazon, Barnes
& Noble

        

        

  Official book description:

I have a plan.



We'll either destroy them for good, or they'll destroy us.



Either way, only one of us is walking away.



In the stunning conclusion to the wildly popular White Rabbit Chronicles, Alice
"Ali" Bell thinks the worst is behind her. She's ready to take the
next step with boyfriend Cole Holland, the leader of the zombie slayers…until
Anima Industries, the agency controlling the zombies, launches a sneak attack,
killing four of her friends. It's then she realizes that humans can be more
dangerous than monsters…and the worst has only begun.



As the surviving slayers prepare for war, Ali discovers she, too, can control
the zombies…and she isn't the girl she thought she was. She's connected to the
woman responsible for killing—and turning—Cole's mother. How can their
relationship endure? As secrets come to light, and more slayers are taken or
killed, Ali will fight harder than ever to bring down Anima—even sacrificing her
own life for those she loves.

About Gena:

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of the wildly popular White Rabbit Chronicles, the Angels of the Dark, the Lords of the Underworld, and the Otherworld Assassins series.  In addition to being a National Reader's Choice and RITA nominee, her romance novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazine, and have been translated in multiple languages.  She lives in Oklahoma with her family and menagerie of dogs, and truly believes love conquers all.

Website/Twitter/Facebook/The White Rabbit Chronicles Facebook

Giveaway Details:

1 complete set of The White Rabbit Chronicles (first 2 sent
as soon as the giveaway is over and the winner will get the first hardcover of
book 3 when it's available!) US/Canada Only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: Nightmare in Niceville

Nightmare in Niceville by Amberle Ciane

Source: Netgalley

Genre: YA, Contemporary

Summary: Lily Strykes is a typical teenage girl, who, along with her mother and younger sister, settles into a comfortably predictable lifestyle in the quiet little town of Niceville, Florida. But hidden in their past is something dark. A fun night out with friends takes an unexpected and terrifying turn as her previous life quickly catches up to her. Lily's routine but peaceful existence, as well as those of her family and friends, is turned upside down in a matter of hours when a figure from her violent past suddenly returns.

Review

At the start of this story you are introduced to Lily Strykes. She seems like a typical teenager with her best friend Emily. Also being crushed on by two people she'd rather be friends with and isn't sure that her actual crush feels the same about her. But her family has a past that comes back to haunt them in a terrifying way and not everyone makes it to the end.

This book was well done and the writer's style is easy to read. While I could have done with more descriptions she did a really good job describing both the beauty and horror that happened in Niceville. Also she gave different characters turns at being charge of the story. We got to see the good, the bad and the ugly. Which would not be the same if it was told from only Lily's POV. Readers get to see how people react in bad situations and how the consequences stick with you. Highly recommend and must add that Sarah, a secondary character is my hero.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Moonless Book Release Blogfest: My Perfect Match

Today I'm taking part in the Moonless Book Release Blogfest hosted by Crystal Collier and three lovely co-hosts. So what is this blogfest about you ask? Firstly it is to celebrate Moonless being released in paperback.

Blurb: In the English society of 1768 where women are bred to marry, unattractive Alexia, just sixteen, believes she will end up alone. But on the county doorstep of a neighbor’s estate, she meets a man straight out of her nightmares, one whose blue eyes threaten to consume her whole world—especially later when she discovers him standing over her murdered host in the middle of the night.

Her nightmares become reality: a dead baron, red-eyed wraiths, and forbidden love with a man hunted by these creatures. After an attack close to home, Alexia realizes she cannot keep one foot in her old life and one in this new world. To protect her family she must either be sold into a loveless marriage, or escape with her beloved and risk becoming one of the Soulless.

Purchase: Amazon

Secondly about fifty participants including myself get to do this. Hit it Crystal...whose words I copied from her blog page but it's still from her. So close enough, right?

So here's where you come in: If you lived in a society where arranged marriages were a la mode, who would you beg your parents to set you up with? (Literary characters and celebrities welcomed.) Who and why? That's what I want to know on February 10th, so think about it, sign up on my linky list, and make sure to include the hop image in your post.

Oh, and be sure to grab my button and post it on your blog, share it with everyone and let's make it a party! Yay! I can't wait to hear all about your dream matches!

Who is My Perfect Match you ask? I have selected three gentlemen who I think would be worthy of my hand. Hopefully my parents will agree to me marrying any of them.

First

This is Severus Snape and he is a professor. Oh what subject Mom? Um, it has something to do with the arts. Of course that's not a wand in his hand. Magic is forbidden in our parts. *Laughs nervously* He is a brave man and even suffered loss years ago when he lost the love of his life. Also like me mother and father he's undefiled and I know how you love the morality of purity. Also as a working older man he probably won't demand a heavy dowry and I would be moving with him to live at his residence. Where? Oh um, I have a picture of him as a teen too. Look.

Isn't he cute? No mother he's not a vampire! They can't age! Dad he is not sickly. Sigh, let's go to the next one

Second

Now this is Tobias Eaton also known as Four because he is claimed to only have four fears. He is a um soldier and lives in a very structured community. Like our community they also have people to fear called Divergent as we have witchcraft. Their group is called Dauntless and they help protect where they live. Do I have any other pictures um I don't...all right mother I'll show you!

Funny enough it was the girl in this picture who sent me this. Her name is Beatrice or Tris or something skank I mean girl. Yes he is younger than me mother. No dad the girl is not threatening to cut me, they work together. Oh, right. He's probably too young for me anyway, I am twenty-nine. Yes I know it's a bit late to get married now mother and father. *Sighs*

And Last but not Least

This is Arrow, mother and father. He is a vigilante who fights in memory of his father and lost friend. He is unattached and between you and me his liar points to his secret identity being loaded. Probably don't require a dowry at all and he is over twenty like Severus.

So any questions before you pick.

Mother: Do you have a less menacing photo of this man.

Me: Yes, I think you'll love this one.

Father: The lair does look expensive.

Mother: Husband! He is a criminal and I don't like the look of those lights and...are those tubes? Does he experiment on people!

Me: Mother he is not even a scientist. Plus don't worry about him getting caught, he never works alone. He has a computer girl and guard whose faces I can't show on penalty of death. *Weak laugh* But his on again off again co-vigilante does have a photo I can show you.

Mother: Seriously? Another one.

Me: He's not Tobias mother and she has made it clear that their relationship ended long ago.

Mother: So she's an ex.

Me: Yes.

Mother: And a criminal.

Me: Come on! Father?

Father: He looks like Robin Hood and that green face paint isn't covering is face very well. Wait is that Oliver McQueen, the party boy?

Me: *Hides away photo* Of course not, a cop thought that in the past but was proven wrong.

Mother: Uh huh, who was the cop?

Me: *Winces* Father of another ex. For Oliver this time not Arrow.

Mother: Right. So let's review. A man who might practice magic and looks like a vampire.

Me: Mother!

Mother: I said looks. Clearly he's not a vampire. He has walked in the sunlight?

Me: *Sighs* Yes mother.

Father: Tobias has a crazy girlfriend who threatened you.

Me: I think we already agreed he's out father.

Mother: And lastly a criminal you dare bring to us as a suitor.

Me: Oh mother, it's not like I picked him just to make Severus look better.

Father: Of course not.

Me: Plus, he is a hero. Look at the drawings people do of him in America. It is called fan art.

Mother: Witchcraft!

Me: No mother, it is a drawing.

Father: Then why is the arrow glowing?

Me: Ugh! Fine, who do you suggest.

Father: I have someone. He is an old friend.

Me: *Sceptically* How old?

Mother: *Bops me on the head* Don't be fresh.

Me: *Hangs head* Sorry, please father, show me my potential husband.

Father: Presenting Haymitch.

Me: Seriously! Haymitch Abernathy, the limping drunkard from District Twelve? Father he is old and gross. Plus he lives where people are in constant fear. Last I heard his district got blown up!

Father: True but they have alternate accommodations in a secret underground district and he plans to send me the details after he hears about your dowry.

Mother: *Laughs* I bet.

Father: Oh? You rather the magic wielder or the vigilante. No buts Sheena, he is clearly holding a wand in that picture and I heard that there is a Professor Snape at a high school known as Hogwarts Witchcraft and Wizardy. I think that's the name.

Mother: *Frowns* You are marrying Haymitch. You should have taken that other man who wanted you when you were twenty-one.

Me: Lex Luthor! Mother, he is a convicted criminal!

Mother: Ahem, he always gets away from the charges with a slap on the wrist and he is a successful black man. You should mind doing well by your race. Too many of our skin colour fall by the wayside.

Me: *Mumbles* I'm so running away tonight.

Mother: What was that?

Me: I am so excited. When will you be mailing Haymitch about the match.

Father: Today, I want it all done as quickly as possible.

Me: Of course, may I be excused?

Parents: Of course, have a good day daughter.

Me: *Writes letter to Snape and attaches it to an owl* Fly and bring good news of my love back to me!

Owl flies to the Snape residence. A relative collecting belongings reads the letter of a young woman asking Snape to save her from a loveless arranged marriage and to come for her at midnight.

Man: Pity, she has no idea he is dead. *Crushes letter and resumes packing*

Yup, that is the end of my post and yes...I better runaway from this union fast. No I don't hate Haymitch, just think his demons are just too much for me to handle. Sheena out and remember to visit other participants in the blogfest. Would you believe I started this after midnight this morning? Think I did a pretty good job though. No judging! I signed up last night. Crystal is a cool person and I wanted to show my support. And yes the blogfest idea also caught my attention. But I would not sign up for a blogfest I would have to write the post for on the same day for just anyone. Love you Crystal and congrats.

Tomorrow: Book Review: Nightmare in Niceville. Should have been today but then I saw Crystal's event on Facebook last night and found this blogfest. No regrets! Yup, after practically two hours of work this post is perfect. Compliment me! I mean enjoy this post and remember to congratulate Crystal and let me know what you think. *Eye twitches* Love you guys.... at 2:13 a.m. Still, lots of love.

Express Yourself Meme and Celebrating Happy Fate

My goals for this month include:

Finishing my Take My Soul novella (for AYA) so I can get it critiqued.

Write the first five chapters for Beseech, a novel idea that finally breathed life last night. Yay jealousy!

Finalize the cover for Deadly Luxury

Write even more than last month

Actually update my fan fiction

Pray more

Help my fellow bloggers/writers

I am excited to say that an idea I wrote down sometime back has come to life. Well fruition. Inspiration comes in many forms and in this case it was from a bit of jealousy funny enough. I was thinking about another young adult novel I had read the preview of and thought I wish I had written something like that. Then last night when the thought came again I was hit with the realization that I already had an idea written down a while back that also had a town with an unusual quality that held it's occupants under it's sway. So I got an empty notebook, wrote my name and the title on it and decided to try and start the novel Beseech (working title). A little rocky at first I started with a Welcome to Happy Fate, the town which most important rule was that no one was allowed to share bad news. Then I went unto chapter one and wrote the first paragraph. And guess what?

I'm presenting it to you now! Isn't that cause for celebration?!

Chapter One

Armalie Tate listened attentively to the latest rumour to hit Happy Fate. Mrs. Rogers had gotten second place in the Front Yard Garden Contest for the third year in a row. Before that she always won. But after Mr. Junebug started growing flowers out of his picket fence, he was a shoo in. no one could imitate it and he refused to share his secret. His garden looked like paradise and his front yard fence screamed ingenuity and springtime. The scandal of the whole situation had Armalie anxious to share it with Rin Baker, her best friend.

So? What did you think? Let me know and enjoy your weekend everyone.

IWSG: Cancelled and Book Review: Defy by Sara B. Larson

Sad to say today I have to cancel my Cover Reveal for Deadly Luxury. I had gotten an inkling of this late January but I tried to fight it. Here's the quick version. When I announced the reveal last month, the cover was practically a done deal. I have an awesome cover artist who did the last cover and her services are very affordable on Fiverr. But like last time I needed an image to give her first. I got one but this time I needed it retouched to be made into a digital version of itself similar to covers by Phat Puppy Art. Getting someone was easy, what was the problem was that after going through a long process til practically the end of January (which should have raised alarm bells earlier), she up and cancels and gives me my money back. What the what?! Left out at sea I go to another retoucher only to have him do the work but not following instructions and removing the entire background, he did the work quick though so I commended him and just asked him to modify the error. Days later and I still haven't received a message or correction from him. So officially, I still don't have a cover despite the fact that this should have been done long ago and the cover designer I use gets things done in two days max. Alas since these retouchers are a bunch of....sigh, I have had enough. My decision is officially to move the reveal to a new date after I get a new one done. AFTER this time.

Good news? With my ghost writer gig as of this month I can afford a non-budget designer like Jen Naumann did with  her latest book. So instead of spending under $40 like with Sacrifice HER, I can spend between $90-$120, a huge jump. So I guess there is a silver lining in all this. Still feel bad about cancelling and having to tell all those who volunteered to help that the reveal is off, but at least I know this will lead to a better cover. Thank you for listening to me rant and moan and I love you guys.

IWSG is hosted by the wonderful Alex Cavanaugh. also this month's co-hosts are Julie Musil, Jamie Ayres, Mike Swift, and me, Sheena-kay Graham. Enjoy your day and please read the book review below before you comment.

Book Review

Defy by Sara B. Larson

Source: Netgalley

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance

Purchase: Amazon, B&N

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Review

Sara B. Larson hit it out of the park with this novel. No matter the faults this is a must read not only for those who enjoy reading but also writers/authors. The writing is superb and if you want to improve on your writing I suggest using this book as fun source material on how to write not just well but also tell an attention grabbing story. At the beginning we have siblings Alex and Marcel. Alex is the main character disguised as a boy to join the army with her brother to avoid the breeding houses. They serve a strong but cold hearted king who is willing to let his people suffer in order to protect the kingdom from their enemies. Especially deadly sorcerers who can wield deadly fire that killed both the soldier serving siblings parents years before. When tragedy strikes during an attack Alex has to face her challenges with even more caution as her secret is always at risk of being revealed. When an attack on the prince puts her in a vulnerable position, she now has to not only guard her secret but her heart as well. Then Rylan, her fellow soldier reveals something shocking and a love triangle soon develops but not without a kidnapping that has Damian-the prince, Alex(a) and Rylan taken from the castle and led by a band of rebels into enemy territory. Talk about a hot mess in fantasy land.

What I love with this novel is the writing, Sara's writing has me taken into a world where being a girl is dangerous and also being a boy is dangerous as well. But between the nasty breeding houses or the soldier draft, I'd pick the latter. The first would have me running for a cliff. Raped over and over to deliver boys for the king's army? Oh hell to the no! I also enjoyed the beginning when Alex was hiding her 'girlhood' and you got to see the sacrifices both she and her brother made to stay alive and keep Alex's secret. Alex to me was a cool character and Marcel was a true gem. Then things took a turn. A turn that will have me reveal what I hate about this novel. Yes not dislike...hate. Alexa (yes I used the female in this part because...ugh, just read) suddenly turns from this strong boyish character to some confused love sick gender bender after she is assigned to personally guard prince Damian after a direct attack on his life. Seriously, I must say that romance ruined a lot of this book for me. Wash my mouth out with soup but without the romance this book would have been better than Divergent in my honest opinion. Sadly with it and story lines bent to go along with the love triangle that dropped Alexa's cool factor faster than Miley's ever increasing twerk appearances....I must say that this book's fault is bending too the pressure of being overly romantic in a book where all that was unnescarry. Just think if in Hunger Games, Katniss while in the cave with Peeta suddenly started giggling and twirling her hair. I mean seriously Sara? Are you sure that this turn about was not you trying to turn Alex into Alexa just a tad too much?

But despite the faults, I love this novel and can't wait for book two. This is a five star book with a sadly three star fault level. But thanks to the amazing writing I have to give it a high rating and recommendation. Just...try not to get reading murdered by the hacky love triangle.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

P.S.: Before those who love the 'romance' go ape on me, know that over at goodreads a lot of other reviewers had this problem. So it's not just me. Now love or hate me away. Release the doves!