Blog Tour: Before He Was Famous by Becky Wicks

So happy to be a part of this tour! Prepare for my fangirling in
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My Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars!

About the Book:

Falling in love with your best friend isn’t always a great idea, especially when he’s Noah Lockton - the sexiest, most famous new talent on the planet. When 21-year-old small-town photographer Chloe Campbell is offered the chance of a lifetime – to join her celebrity childhood friend Noah on tour as an exclusive blogger for a New York magazine – she’s certain both have put what happened four years ago behind them. But his eyes still burn; his voice is still a jackhammer to her heartstrings; all his songs are about her. Is it possible that that night still haunts them both?

The music industry is a machine, spinning hype and rumors as much as his records. It’s not just Noah’s girlfriends who’ve got it in for Chloe (there’s no stopping the Twitter-obsessed, cat-loving pop-star Courtney Lentini for starters). Pretty soon, the jealousy and media frenzy surrounding these so-called-friends takes a life-changing turn and it seems making love means making enemies at every turn. When tragedy threatens to pull the final curtain on their relationship, both Chloe and Noah must make a choice. As much as this world leaves them starstruck, is living their dream really worth living without each other?

A story of lifelong friendships, love and hope, set in a world of celebrity, fame and social media gone very, very wrong.
Add to Your Goodreads TBR List!

My Thoughts:

When starting Before He Was Famous, I expected the standard "best friends suddenly realize they're 'perfect' for each other" type story line. You know the one? We've read it in books and seen it on the big screen and to be honest the plot has just been used to death. Even so, I still love a good love story, so I was more than happy to give it a shot. 

I was absolutely blown away by this book! It is so much better than I could imagine. Chloe and Noah and all of side characters too, they were just so well developed. The changing of Point of Views between Chloe and Noah flows perfectly and really added to the story. I am amazed by the amount of research that must have gone into Before He Was Famous! Chloe is a photographer, and I feel like the author definitely knew what she was talking about, but I guess having written travel memoirs before Becky had to have known what she was doing there. Still yet, Noah's a musician and then there's his manager and the tour bus and all of these things that just seem to be written so well that, to me, made me part of the story. I honestly could go on about this book for hours, but I'm going to slow this train down here and say that if you love a good New Adult type book with just the right amount of well, everything. I recommend you grab a copy of Before He Was Famous. If you don't like it, I totally give you my permission to yell at me on Twitter. Yeah, it's that good people!

Excerpt:

I see the scar on his right shoulder from where he fell off Jack's homemade sled one winter and tumbled roly-poly style right into a rock. It's a thin, shiny white line. I resist the urge to touch it. He's undoing me, again, lying here beside me in a literal bed we made ages ago but have since refused to lie in. How does he do this?

'I guess she knows it, even if you don't,' he whispers.

'I do,' I say, and inside I'm screaming. We're not doing this; we're not. This is dangerous. But he climbed in next to me and now it's the strongest, aching urge to keep him here, to have him holding me again and to never let me go. The guilt surges through me, along with the fear. 'So, she broke up with you?' I manage.

'I guess so,' he replies, scanning my cuts with his eyes.

'She really liked you, Noah,'

'Yeah, well, maybe I'm just an asshole.'

I realize my hand is still in his hair and I retract it quickly. He grabs it, holds it against him. You're not an asshole I'm thinking, but for some reason I can't say it. It would be like admitting something else; like the fact that he's an asshole to every girl who likes him, but never to me. And then I'd have to really think about why that is and that's not something I'll ever be comfortable with at all, even though his eyes are like maps and his words are like anchors and his songs are like personal messages and I love all that. 

 Giveaway Time:
Becky will be awarding an eCopy of Before He Was Famous to a randomly drawn commenter at each stop during the tour, and a Grand Prize of an eCopy of Before He Was Famous, as well as a print copy of Latinalicious, Becky's last travel memoir (HarperCollins) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.
(International winner) So, be sure to comment below and tell me why you'd like to read Before He was Famous!
  a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Becky:

 

Facebook|Twitter|Blog|Google+

Becky Wicks is a HarperCollins author going indie! Itchy feet has led her to live and work all over the world since leaving England at age 21, including NYC, Sydney, Bali, South America and Dubai. Right now she’s scribbling the second book in the HotFlush series in Vietnam, and will soon be in Vancouver if any hot Canadian men want to make her a cup of tea?

Becky has also written three funny travel books about her time in Dubai, Bali and South America (HarperCollins). Her first book, Burqalicious - The Dubai Diaries, her second book, Balilicious - The Bali Diaries and her third, Latinalicious -The South America Diaries are out now as ebooks.

Becky has also written a comedy romance with author Sarah Alderson under the name Lola Salt, called The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft (not Croft) which should raise a giggle or two... think Bridget Jones if Jackie Collins had written it!

Follow her on twitter at bex_wicks and her blog www.beckywicks.com 

 

   
 

 

Spotlight: Liberty Frye and the Witches of Hessen by J.L. McCreedy

Publisher: Penelope Pipp Publishing

Release Date: February 2012

Visit the Author: Website|Book Website|Twitter

Buy the Book: Amazon|B&N

Add to Your Goodreads TBR List:

My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

About the Book:

The average ten-year-old girl seldom travels far from home. She doesn’t worry about being kidnapped by witches or imprisoned in medieval castles where children are ensnared to meet their unspeakable demise. She rarely gives thought to curses, potions and magic. She certainly isn’t concerned about risking life and limb to decipher ancient rites and lost treasures....

But Liberty Frye is about to discover that she is not just your average girl.

When a cryptic note from long-lost relatives arrives, the news it brings flips Libby’s small-town existence upside down. Soon, she finds herself lured to a foreign land where retired witches, talking bats and geriatric World War II pilots await. It’s up to Libby to unravel the sinister plot that brought her there in the first place, but in so doing, she’ll uncover a shocking secret that will change her life forever ... if she survives the challenge.

This is the story of Liberty "Libby" Frye, a young girl from the American South, who finds herself lured to a foreign land where she falls into the clutches of an evil witch with sinister plans. Libby will need to rely upon her wits and courage, as well as the help of some friends, if she hopes to save not only herself, but also those dearest to her. This is a tale that blends adventure, humor, and mystery, while at the same time showcasing positive values such as loyalty, bravery, and integrity. It is a middle grade novel with strong characters that can serve as positive role models, particularly to young girls.

Excerpt/Warning

(from the front of the book):

This is a tale about a remarkable girl who is forced to 

face unimaginable things. It should not be read by 

those who despise anything out of the ordinary, who 

disapprove of smart (and somewhat stubborn) young ladies, 

or who disdain any hint of adventure. Nor should it be read 

by those who believe that the world around them is as it 

seems, because at least in this case, it definitely is not. No, 

this tale is filled with treachery and mystery and with exploits 

so daring that only the very stalwart should dare to read. 

And so, if one should find this document and feel compelled 

to proceed, it is strongly advised to do so with caution, in a 

supervised manner, and no matter what, never, ever read this 

 tale within one hour of eating.

My Thoughts:

I am always happy to be able to read and review a good middle grade fiction book. While I am past the target age group, I like to read a wide variety of things, and sometimes a book like this is just the ticket. It didn't take me long into reading this book to realize that Liberty Frye and the Witches of Hessen is one of my favorite kinds of books--the ones with strong female characters. Libby may be ten years old, but she has a mind that, to me, reads far beyond her age. Her as the main character creates an absolutely lovely book filled with lots of adventure.

Libby's life is not as it seems to be, and she's never really understood why her parents were so overprotective of her. One day, her small town life is in for a big change when her family receives a yellow envelope that whisks her off for Christmas with grandparents in Germany she didn't even knew existed. That is where the story really gets going! 

I would go so far as to say that Liberty Frye is one of the best middle grade books I've read in a really long time. Right up there as a favorite with Daisy and the Pirates(who I'm doing a character interview with tomorrow), the Harry Potter series, The Spiderwick series and a few other awesome series. I would highly recommend this book for readers of all ages. It has a really good message of bravery and reads really well. To be completely honest, one day(many, many years from now, haha) when I have kids of my own this is a book that I'll read to them. It's that good! 

*I received this book for review from the author, but this in no way affected my thoughts as expressed in this review* 

About the Author: 

 J.L. McCreedy is a shoe-string traveler, a street food fanatic and a (confused) attorney who prefers writing stories over legal briefs.  Her debut novel, Liberty Frye and the Witches of Hessen, is a middle grade fantasy blending fairy tale elements with real-life locations.

She first learned a love of writing — and developed an incurable condition of wanderlust — while growing up in Southeast Asia as the child of missionaries.  (Although it has been mentioned more than once that nice, missionary children do not pen novels about witches.)

In addition to working on her next book, she freelances for various magazines, consults for charitable organizations and keeps up her budget travel/lifestyle site: www.tongatime.com.

She currently lives in a cute, crumbling apartment in Tianjin, China with her husband, a pet gecko and an assortment of dehydrated, potted plants.

 

I Will Never Forget by Elaine C. Pereira

My Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars

Release Date: May 1st 2012

Visit the Author: Website|Facebook|Twitter|

Add to Goodreads TBR List

Buy the Book: Amazon|B&N|IUniverse

About the Book:

I Will Never Forget is the incredible true story of the author Elaine ’s talented mother’s poignant and often humorous journey through the mystifying haze of Dementia. Through superb stories of Elaine's childhood, from her controversial name, tales of smoking' dragons and the feisty teenage years, her mother Betty Ward’s wonderful character is revealed.

Over time, as their relationship evolves and a new paradigm is formed, Betty begins to exhibit goofy actions, uncharacteristic verbal assaults and bizarre thinking. Although clearly mystified by her mother's irrational behaviors, Elaine does not appreciate the extent of Betty’s mental decline. Her amazing ability to mask the truth clouds Elaine’s vision and prolongs her denial until one cataclysmic explosion of reality over an innocuous drapery rod launches a waterfall of destructive events.

As her mother’s brilliant mind is steadily destroyed by Dementia's insatiable appetite for brain cells, Elaine accompanies her mother on her journey. She witnesses Betty’s fascinating visions of her own mother, masterful Houdini-like disappearances and finally a stunning rally to take control of her own destiny.

I Will Never Forget is a heartwarming, humorous, honest and deeply moving story pertinent to everyone touched by the insidious effects of Dementia. Learn from Elaine's unwitting mistakes as she weaves her way through her mother’s unpredictable disease to capture insightful and effective intervention strategies.

Excerpt:

Chapter 1: Christmas Clues and Catastrophes

December 1960

It was a week before Christmas. The tree was in its usual beautiful splendor, although at eight years old, I definitely cared more about what was under the tree than on it. My dad was at work, my older brother Jerry was off somewhere with his friends, and Mom was in the basement doing laundry. With the spies out of the way, I seized the opportunity to investigate my presents.

I huddled under the tree in the back and pressed hard on the top of a box with my name on it. The tissue paper was white, maybe two or three layers thick. The box was light—wide but not very deep. I shook it, but the sounds were vague and did not reveal anything about its contents. Bummer! I tried to remember what I might have put on my Christmas list that could be in a box of this shape and size, but I was stumped. I had to take more serious steps to uncover the prize inside. I pressed down on the top of the box and tried to see if I could unveil any clues.

Something reddish blurred under my fingertips, but I couldn’t make anything out. I slid my finger slowly to the right and pressed down firmly again. This time, a bluish mark like an 1 or an I came through. I kept going to reveal green and yellow marks but nothing very helpful. Hmm. I went back to the red line on the left side and pressed down with the index fingers of both hands. Maybe doubling up would help. It was working, although the paper and box top were crinkling under the pressure of my fingertips. I kept pushing the paper out to the left and the right while also pushing down, and then there it was: an L. So I had an L and an 1 or an I; of course, it was an I. LI …, I pondered. Life! The game. Cool. It wasn’t on my list, but my mom had great gift ideas and I was sure it would be fun. So I had figured out one of the presents; now on to the next. Santa had nothing on me!…

Christmas 2009

My mom was planning to stay at my house for three nights, December 23—26. The first clue that things were a little amiss was when I saw her rummaging through her suitcase. She was “looking for something” but couldn’t tell me what. I saw that she had packed six bras and maybe eight pair of underwear but no extra socks. No problem, I figured. She can borrow some of mine. Okay, so she was a little off on the undies. Also, she had pajamas but no robe. Robes, especially winter ones, were a little bulky to pack, so I loaned one to her, as well as some extra socks.

Then I noticed that her sweater was uncharacteristically dirty. At first I assumed it was stained permanently, but as I scratched my finger over the discolored streak, I realized something brownish was sloughing off in my hand—chocolate. 

“Mom,” I said gently, “this is a little dirty. Maybe I can wash it for you?”

“Sure. You can do my laundry anytime,” she answered.

As the designated laundry fairy, I was on a mission to search for and rescue her dirty clothes. The slacks she was wearing were soiled too. This is so not my mom, I thought. She was a meticulous dresser and never would have gone anywhere with grubby clothes except out in the yard. I organized a laundry coup and started snatching her pants and sweater after she got ready for bed.…

Packing for a short trip to my house was not a new experience for her, nor a difficult one, but clearly she had made several errors. It would not be long before I would be impressed that she had done this well rather than this poorly.…

My Thoughts:

I'm not going to even lie to y'all: when I received a request to review this book I literally cried. Not even kidding. This is a subject very near and dear to my heart- I lost my grandfather in May of 2012 after a battle with Alzheimer's that started before I was even born. He without a doubt had a very large impact on my life, and before my grandparents moved in with us, we spent every day at their home. Some of my fondest memories have him at the center of them, and as a child you don't really, truly grasp that there is anything different about your Pappaw and you only know that he loves to tell that same story about that dog he used to take with him when he was driving trucks as a young man before he started working for AK-Steel every single day. Yes, I loved my grandfather very much and so reading this story about someone that went through something similar with there loved one I knew was going to be hard on me.

Let me just say that Elaine beautifully portrayed this journey. From those early times like expressed above in the excerpt where she really didn't know anything was wrong right on through to where there was no question she did an amazing job showing what a wonderful woman her mother was so that her memory will forever live on. Despite my tears(because I'm an emotional person and I did cry several times throughout), I feel like this book was a great comfort to me and I feel like maybe it would be to anyone else out there who has a loved one going through something like Dementia or Alzheimer's. It is a terrible thing watching someone go through it. I feel that although Elaine really didn't sugar coat, she has  this soothing voice that sort of carries you through each page with the small flashbacks seeming like a written picture of what happened with her and her mother. I truly cannot recommend this enough! If I hear of someone who has someone closed to them diagnosed with Dementia or Alzheimer's the first thing I'm going to do is give them a huge hug, and the next thing I'm going to do is buy them this book. 

*I received this book for review from the author, but this in no way affected my thoughts as expressed in this review*

About the Author:

Elaine Pereira retired as a school Occupational Therapist with more than 30 years experience in pediatrics and a decade in adult home care.  She earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Wayne State University in OT and her Master’s in Liberal Arts.  Pereira maintains her OT licensure and holds Certifications as a Dementia Caregiver and Practitioner. She and her husband Joseph live in southeastern Michigan with their two big dogs Bailey and Maddee and Snoopy the cat.  Together they have five adult children, Elaine’s twin daughters and Joe’s three sons and five grandchildren. 

I Will Never Forget-A Daughter’s Story of Her Mother’s Arduous and Humorous Journey Through Dementia is Elaine’s first book, a memoir in tribute to her amazingly talented mother.  Pereira writes for MariaShriver.com, Alzheimer’s Reading Room, Endear For Alzheimer’s and a variety of guest blog posts.  She has been featured in four television spots, Fox 2 Detroit, Living Dayton and Fox 45 Dayton and The Best of Aging magazine, April 2013 edition. 

Her hobbies include golf, sewing, hand-craft projects and gardening.  She has traveled extensively throughout the United States and world wide including Europe; Madeira, Portugal; Australia; Seoul and Hong Kong.  

Now she networks extensively to advance Alzheimer’s awareness and donates from each book sold to Alzheimer’s research.  

Elaine also does presentations that are customized for each audience and are perfect for Families, Caregivers, Professionals, Organizations, Book Clubs and More. To schedule a presentation please contact her @ elainep@iwillneverforgetbook.com. she  is readily available and offers reasonable rates to fit your budget and needs. If you would like a promotional sheet, have any questions, or want to share anything: please feel free to send her an email!

Book Blitz: Twelve Steps by Veronica Bartles

Twelve Steps

by Veronica Bartles

Release Date: 03/25/14

Buy: Amazon 

Book Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Andi is tired of being a second-class sibling to perfect sister Laina. There in Laina's shadow, Andi's only noticeable feature is her pretty awesome hair. And even that is eclipsed by Laina's perfect everything else.

When Andi’s crush asks her to fix him up with Laina, Andi decides enough is enough and devises a twelve-step program to wrangle the spotlight away from Laina. After all, great hair must count for something.

Step 1: Admit she’s powerless to change her perfect sister, and accept that her life really, really sucks. OK, maybe that's two steps in one.

Step 4: Make a list of her good qualities besides great hair. There have got to be at least three good qualities, right?

Step 7: Demand attention for more than just her shortcomings, and break out of her shell. Easier said that done, but worth the effort in the long-run. 

When a stolen kiss from her crush ends in disaster, Andi finds that her prince isn’t as charming as she'd hoped, and realizes she may need a new program--perhaps with less steps!

As cracks in Laina’s flawless façade begin to show, the sisters work together to find a spotlight big enough for both to shine.

About the Author:

As the second of eight children and the mother of four, Veronica Bartles is no stranger to the ups and downs of sibling relationships. (She was sandwiched between the gorgeous-and-insanely-popular older sister and the too-adorable-for-words younger sister.) She uses this insight to write stories about siblings who mostly love each other, even while they’re driving one another crazy.   When she isn’t writing or getting lost in the pages of her newest favorite book, Veronica enjoys knitting fabulous bags and jewelry out of recycled plastic bags and old VHS tapes, sky diving (though she hasn’t actually tried that yet), and inventing the world’s most delectable cookie recipes.  TWELVE STEPS is Veronica Bartles's first novel.

Author Links:

  

Excerpt:
The scent of buttered popcorn fills the air, and my mouth waters as I step into line with Summer and Emily to buy our tickets for Fiero Furious. I don’t see Jarod or his friends, but the movie starts in ten minutes. They’re probably already inside.

“Hey, Andi. What’s up?” Dave appears in line behind me.

“Are you following me now?” I take a half-step away from him, carefully maneuvering so that Emily stands as a buffer between us. 

He laughs and points to the long line forming behind him. “I guess, if getting in line behind you means I’m following you, then I’m guilty as charged. But so are about thirty other people.”

I cross my arms and turn my back on him. “Whatever. I just think it’s awfully coincidental that you happen to show up right after we get in line.”

“You’re right. I planned it. Because it’s completely unbelievable that two random people could both want to go to the movies. On a Friday night. At the only good theater in town.”

“Hey, Dave, what’s up?” Summer asks, giving me her patented, exaggerated eye roll. I can practically hear her thoughts screaming at me. What are you so afraid of? Dave’s harmless. It’s not like he’s going to attack you right here in the middle of the mall. But she wasn’t there when Dave tried to kiss me in the coat closet after recess in fourth grade. She’d be freaked out too if some guy had been flirting with her nonstop since they were nine years old, even though she kept telling him she wasn’t interested.

Dave is totally following me. I’d bet anything that he was listening to our conversation in the cafeteria. I bet he doesn’t even like race car movies, and he’s only here because he wanted a chance to “accidentally” run into me. And if Summer can’t see what a creepy stalker he is, I’ll just have to prove it. 

I give Dave a million-megawatt smile. “What movie are you going to see?” 

He blushes and points to a little boy who’s probably about four years old hiding behind his leg. “My aunt and uncle are visiting, and I promised my cousin I’d take him to see Ninja Unicorn Strikes Back. He’s a little shy, so my aunt always worries that he isn’t socialized enough. Not sure that hanging out with his old cousin counts, but he’s a cool kid, so it’s all good. What are you here for?”

Very clever. Of course he’d choose a different movie, so he could pretend to be all innocent. And I have to give him bonus points for bringing along a decoy kid. I bend down and wave at the cute, little mini-Dave. “You like ninja unicorns?”

The little boy nods solemnly and releases his death grip on Dave’s pant leg. 

I glance at Dave and then smile at the kid. “How long did Dave make you wait around for us to show up before you got into line?” That’s one thing Dave didn’t count on. Kids always tell the truth. He is so busted.

The little boy smiles and pats my cheek. “You have lots and lots of freckles,” he says.

I stand up quickly and cover my face with my hands. Summer and Emily are laughing so hard they’re practically rolling on the floor. “Well, it was nice meeting you,” I say and shuffle forward as the line slowly advances, leaving my friends to fend for themselves. 

Dave scoops the demon kid up and closes the gap between us. “We think your freckles are adorable.” He hugs the kid. “Don’t we?”

The little boy nods. “I like freckles.”

***GIVEAWAY***

1 ebook of Twelve Steps & $10 Amazon gift card (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz Organized by:

Spotlight and Review: Wakefield Erin Callahan and Troy Gardner

So happy to be participating in this tour for this awesome book by Erin Callahan and Troy Gardner. Here's some more about it, including an excerpt and my review!

About Wakefield:

Released October 2012

Buy the Book: Amazon|B&N|MuseIt

Orphans Astrid Chalke and Max Fisher meet when they’re sent to live at Wakefield, a residential and educational facility for teens with psychiatric and behavioral problems. Astrid’s roommate cuts herself with anything sharp she can get her hands on and Max’s roommate threatens him upon introduction. 

Just as Astrid and Max develop a strong bond and begin to adjust to the constant chaos surrounding them, a charming and mysterious resident of Wakefield named Teddy claims he has unexplainable abilities. Sometimes he can move things without touching them. Sometimes he can see people’s voices emanating from their mouths. Teddy also thinks that some of the Wakefield staff are on to him. 

At first, Astrid and Max think Teddy is paranoid, but Max’s strange, recurring dreams and a series of unsettling events force them to reconsider Teddy’s claims. Are they a product of his supposedly disturbed mind or is the truth stranger than insanity?

My Review:

I was so happy when I heard about this book. Not only did Wakefield sound really unique, it had that spooky undertone just to the synopsis that let me know that when I read it I was going to be in for one heck of a ride. 

The book begins and gives us a nice, solid backstory that really sets the tone for the whole book, and then along the way you meet the most interesting cast of characters I've ever read about. I feel like it takes a lot to give characters distinct personalities, and to do that with this group must of been even more of a challenge but the authors did it perfectly. I felt, at times, like I was genuinely part of the story and the little twists and turns kept me on edge from start to finish. I've read other reviews and some seem to think that at times Wakefield can go a little slow, but for me the pacing was perfect--it added a nice suspenseful tone that had me anxiously turning pages to get to that wonderfully written conclusion(and looking forward to getting my hands on book two!). 

Overall, I recommend Wakefield for all readers that like to step out the norm and read something really interesting and just a really good story! 

*Although I received this book for review as part of this blog tour, this in no way affected my opinion or this review.*

Excerpt:

I ran a hand lightly against the cold wall, imagining the force it would take to smash through it. The yellow lights above shone with a dull intensity that turned my stomach. The doors all matched, and I felt claustrophobic. The only thing that broke up the monotony was the random graffiti scribbled on the walls. Most of it had been scrubbed off, but I could make out faint lines here and there. They were like ghosts, just out of reach. Realizing I wouldn’t be able to leave these walls, I slunk down to the shiny, white floor and nearly cried.

“Hey,” a timid voice called out. It was the goth kid I’d noticed earlier. He was bone thin and had a long mop of straight hair that matched his black shirt and pants. He pushed the hair out of his face; the movement showed off his seven or eight bracelets.

I ignored him completely, so he approached very slowly and said, “You’ll get your regular clothes back tomorrow.”

“Yeah?”

“They give them back the next day.” He bobbed his head. He was younger than I was, but I couldn’t tell by how much. Dark hair covered half his face, which made him look younger, or he might have been little for his age.

“I look stupid,” I confided.

“Yeah, those suck,” he went on. “They made me feel like a tool when I got here. But you won’t have to wear them again. I haven’t.”

“That’s cool.”

“So, welcome to Newton,” he said with a half grin.

“Newton?”

“Yeah, this part of the building. We have to pretty much stay in our own area. There are three other units—Whitehall, Lancre, and McCarthy. We’re the best.”

“Clearly. I’m Max,” I introduced myself as he sat down against the opposite wall. He acted like I was a dangerous animal, moving slowly, like I might pounce at any minute. The woman at the staff desk looked up over her laptop for about twenty seconds before going back to whatever she was doing. I wondered if he thought he was fast enough to outrun me. I doubted he was. “So what do I call you?”

“Uh, I’m Azrael,” he told me shyly. He looked away, down the hall, in case I’d laugh at him.

“Your name is Azrael?” I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t want to scare him off, but it was a weird name.

“No,” he admitted and looked up at the ceiling. “It’s really Jon Applegarth, but I like Azrael better. It’s stupid, I guess.” He shrugged and let out a deep breath. I could tell he was not a fan of Wakefield.

“Did you get your name from the cat in The Smurfs?” I asked.

“No, I just like it. It sounds vampiric,” he said, brown eyes glistening with excitement.

“All right. Azrael it is then,” I reassured this kid.

He turned his face back to me and grinned. He had a tiny row of neat, little teeth.

“So, Simon’s your roommate, huh?” he asked, though he was fully aware of the answer.

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“I’m sorry,” he squinted at me, lowering his voice.

“He’s that bad?”

“Some guys like him. Couple of the girls do, too,” Azrael told me. “I stay away if I can.”

“Maybe he’ll be cool to me.” I shrugged.

“Yeah, maybe,” Azrael lied. “I gotta go.”

I doubted Azrael had any pressing business to take care of, but I didn’t say anything as he stood up and skittered away. This wasn’t the sort of place you tell people how you really feel. I’d have to start practicing biting my tongue and letting people do what they want. At least it was nice of Azrael to sit with me for a few minutes, even though he only worried me about Simon. If people liked me before I came here, then why wouldn’t they like me here at Wakefield?

A fat guy, older than me, left a room up ahead. He looked at me for a few seconds and then continued on to the bathroom. I hung my head low as I stood and walked down the hall to stare at my darkened reflection in the small window. It was gray outside, and I couldn't see much, but I would have given anything to be on the other side of that glass. It showed me a face that looked at least two years older than the last time I’d seen myself. Maybe I could get into R rated movies now. If only they’d let me out to see movies. I went back to my room, where Simon sat at his desk.

“Hey, do they ever let us out to the movies?” I asked Simon.

He grunted, so I sat on the empty bed to wait for my stuff to come. I didn’t know how long it would take the state social worker to bring my things to Wakefield or the staff to pour through all my belongings. I’d later hear how they’d go through all the pockets and seams for anything cutters use. They’d also check my music and movies to make sure none of it was inappropriate.

My “new” dresser was a simple, beat up, wooden monstrosity shoved against the wall. At least it looked more inviting than the bed I sat on. It was a wooden box with eight holes on the sides for straps to pass through in case the staff needed to restrain anyone in their rooms. Small rails cradled the thin, uncomfortable mattress.

Then I noticed a small rectangular camera hanging from the ceiling.

“Uhm, do all the rooms have cameras? Is that thing on?” I asked Simon.

“Yeah, dumbass, it's on. And no, not every room has one. But because of your newbie ass, I have to live with a camera until they decide to trust you. Thanks a lot.”

At least I knew why Simon was angry with me.

About the Authors:

Website|Author Website|Blog|Facebook|Twitter|Goodreads

Erin Callahan lives with her husband in the bustling metropolis of Hooksett, New Hampshire, and works for the federal government. She enjoys reading and writing young adult fiction, playing recreational volleyball, and mining the depths of pop culture for new and interesting ideas. A year after graduating from law school, she found herself unemployed and took a job as a case manager at a residential facility similar to the one featured in Wakefield. Though she worked there for just over a year, the strange and amazing kids she met will forever serve as a well of inspiration.

Troy H. Gardner grew up in New Hampshire and graduated with a B.A. in English/Communications with a dual concentration in film and writing from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. He spent ten years working in the banking industry dreaming up numerous stories to write. When not writing, which is seldom, Troy busies himself jet-setting from Sunapee, NH to Moultonborough, NH.

Excerpt Blast: Recklessly Royal by Nichole Chase!

So happy to be sharing an excerpt of Nichole Chase's Recklessly Royal! Here's some more info about the book and that super awesome excerpt of chapter two. 

About Recklessly Royal:

Catherine has spent her life being the perfect princess. She’s kept her hands clean, her head down, and most importantly—men at arm’s length. After all, most men are after only one thing, and for Cathy there’s a lot more at stake than her bed; she has to worry about the fate of an entire nation. But at the rate she’s going, Cathy is afraid she’ll give the Virgin Queen a run for her money. She is tired of waiting for someone good enough to come along. She has a plan, and it all hinges on seducing the one man who seems utterly unimpressed by all things royal. The one man she is tempted by more than any other . . .

When David arrives at the royal wedding of his friend, the newly ordained Duchess Samantha Rousseau, he expected to feel uncomfortable and out of his element, but he wasn’t prepared to be targeted by Prince Alex’s gorgeous younger sister. With Cathy’s giant blue eyes, killer figure, and sense of humor, it won’t take long before he gives in. But when he finds out just how innocent the crown princess really is, will he play the part of knight in shining armor or the dashing rogue?

Pre-Order on Amazon or B&N and add to your Goodreads TBR List!

About Nichole Chase:

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Nichole Chase is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Suddenly Royal, Flukes, The Dark Betrayal Trilogy, and several short stories. She is also the instructor of Say What? a dialogue class at the Romance Academy.

Nichole lives in Georgia with her husband, energetic daughter, superhero dog, Sulcata tortoise, and two cats. When not writing, you may find her reading, painting, crafting, or chasing her daughter around the house while making monster noises. 

Now Here's the Excerpt!

Chapter two of Recklessly Royal

Spotlight and Giveaway: Undertow by K.R. Conway

Undertow - PROMO Blitz

By K.R. Conway

Upper YA / NA Urban Paranormal Romance

Date Published: 10/13/2013

Seventeen-year-old Eila Walker’s new home has defied the brutal Atlantic for over 160 years. Abandoned since her 4th great grandmother Elizabeth vanished, the town legend declares that she drowned . . . or was struck by lightning.

Unbeknownst to the town and Eila, however, is that someone does know what really happened to Elizabeth, and he has returned, determined to protect the last surviving Walker from a history of violence.

But what starts out as a quest for redemption, evolves into something more and soon young guardian, Raef, is forced to reveal the truth to Eila. As hidden secrets about their warring families come to light, Eila begins to realize that she may be their best shot at survival, even if it means following in her grandmother’s fearless footsteps to save her killer bodyguard.

Excerpt:

We walked for a couple of minutes, and the pounding music faded to mere background tunes, gently complementing the fires that glowed softer with distance. We found a spot by the dunes near a large home that faced the water. The stretch of beach was probably private, considering the row of huge houses that sat among the tall grass, but I figured the owners would not care as long as we left Fergie and her musical crew farther down the beach.

Raef shook out the blanket and I helped smooth it wide, then sat down and slowly zipped off my boots so I could stick my toes in the cold sand. Raef sat down next to me and looked up at the stars.

He was right.

Away from the blaze of the fires, the stars were all the more brilliant.  The massive moon continued to climb higher, causing the luminous pathway on the water to slowly stretch toward the horizon.  I just smiled at the good fortune that granted me a chance to live here.

I glanced over at Raef and caught him looking at me. “Yes?” I asked, an odd combination of unease and desire flashing through my veins.

“I was just wondering what you were thinking about.”

“I was thinking how amazing this view is, and how unbelievable it is that I get to enjoy it because I live here,” I said, my nerves slowly calming. “It’s just incredible. I’m waiting to wake from this dream.”

I looked back at the stars and then leaned back onto the blanket so I could enjoy the broad view of space,  “Perhaps I’m not really here. Maybe I’m in a coma somewhere and this is just my brain misfiring. I think that is more plausible, especially the way my luck normally runs.”

He leaned down next to me, propping himself on one elbow as he looked at me. “You are not in a coma.”

“Oh yeah? How do you know? Maybe you’re in a coma too. Maybe we had some tragic accident and now we’re both carrots in a hospital bed somewhere.” 

He reached over to my arm and pinched me. I let out a yelp. “What the heck?”

“See? Not vegetables,” he said with a smile, then looked a bit more serious. “This is real. This is your life now.”

I looked at him, debating how to phrase what I was about to say, fearing his answer as well. “And your life? Is this your life as well, or is this temporary?”

He rolled over on his back to study the sky with me, “I think this is my life now as well. Kian and I are not planning on leaving anytime soon.”

I nearly sighed audibly in relief, but managed to control myself. We lay there, staring at the stars and watching the moonrise. Finally he spoke up, “You know, as a true native, you should know your constellations.”

I didn’t follow. “Why is that?”

“Well, Cape Cod is an ocean-going community. Your own grandparents were a big part of that as well. And, as such, knowing how to navigate by the heavens is part of being a native.”

“And I take it, as a brilliant boat-dweller, you know such things?”

“Heck yeah. Care to learn?”

“Go for it, but be forewarned – I am a slow study.”

“Then I guess it is a good thing we don’t have school tomorrow,” he laughed. 

For the next hour, Raef explained the stars and the pictures they made in the sky. He told me about the stories of the gods they represented, and how to find your way based on the characters that rose in the universe nightly. I was pleased when I was able to find Sirius with his help.

“I am a true Cape Codder,” I said proudly, thanks to my limited, but accurate constellation identification. He was silent for a moment as he lay next to me and I turned to him.

He looked at me, eye to eye for a moment, then slowly sat up. “A true Cape Codder needs a badge of belonging,” he said as he looked back at me lying on the faded blanket. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a little velvet bag.

Intrigued, I sat up next to him and pulled my chilled feet under me. He reached out and took my hand, unfurling my fingers as he placed the soft bag in my palm.

“What’s this?” I asked, my heart pounding.

“A gift that says you belong to this area,” said Raef, watching me.

I swallowed and slowly untied the black string, tipping the bag upside down into my other hand. A beautiful silver bangle bracelet with a glistening ball in the center slid out into my hand. The ball had a thousand little facets cut into it, making it pulse with moonlight.

“It’s . . . beautiful,” I said, breathless and stunned.

He picked it up and untwisted the ball, causing the bracelet to spring open slightly. He took my other arm and slid the bracelet onto my wrist, then tightened the ball down again to link the hoop together. He turned it slightly so the ball faced the moon, twinkling.

“This is made here. Most locals have one and it’s distinctive to Cape Cod. I wanted you to have one, so that whenever you felt like you didn’t belong, you could look at it and remember that someone says differently.”

I sat there, turning my wrist slightly, watching it shine like the moonlit path on the water. I looked up at Raef, who was watching me with a serious look on his face that I found unsettling and impossible to read.

“Thank you,” I said, trying to understand what this gift from him meant. Was it just a gift of friendship, or something more?

I was about to ask where I stood with him, when the jovial voice of Jesse broke our silence.

“Well HELLO. What are you two doing way out here. In the dark. ALL ALONE,” asked Jesse, a huge smile on his face, directed at me. I may just murder him if he embarrassed me. All I could think of was the way he had watched me check out Raef our first day of school.

Raef got to his feet. He reached down and took my hand, pulling me to mine. “Ana has the music a bit too deafening for my taste,” said Raef with a brief smile.

“Plus we wanted to see the stars better,” I blurted out. Jesse gave me a look that screamed he didn’t believe I had been stargazing. As if to prove I wasn’t lying, I pointed skyward without looking up. “Cepheus. Right above us.”

“Sure,” said Jesse, the smile still on his face. He turned to Raef, “Since you’re out here, can you help me grab a few cases of beer from my house?”

Raef looked at me, as if seeking permission, and Jesse’s smile got even more irritatingly huge. “Go ahead. I’ll just hang out here and wait for you,” I said, sliding Jesse a look of death.

“You sure?” asked Raef.

“Yeah,” I said, nodding toward the house. Raef’s fingertips gently touched mine, but so surreptitiously that Jesse didn’t see. The sensation, so simple, gave me a rush of heat.

K.R. Conway

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