Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Day 24 of the Unofficial UtopYA Authors Holiday Giveaway

Hello, and welcome to the Unofficial UtopYA Authors Holiday Giveaway!

What is this giveaway all about? Getting you -- the readers -- into the holiday spirit! Each day there will be a new prize pack being given away, loaded with awesome authors all united by the fantastic YA/NA Convention, UtopYA! We hope you'll love our prize packs, but that's not all that's being given away. To top off the holiday spirit, we're giving away TWO, that's right, TWO fully loaded Kindle HDs! Two lucky winners will receive Kindle HDs, loaded with EVERY book being given away in the giveaway prize packs! So what are you waiting for? Check out today's prize pack, and enter to win one of twenty-seven fantastic prizes! HAPPY HOLIDAYS! :)

Without further ado, here are the amazing books in the Day 24 Prize Pack after the jump!



Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Cover Reveal - Amy Bartol - Under Different Stars


SYNOPSIS:

All she wants is a home, but can she find one...UNDER DIFFERENT STARS

Kricket Hollowell is normally not one to wish upon stars; she believes they’re rarely in her favor. Well versed at dodging caseworkers from Chicago’s foster care system, the past few years on her own have made Kricket an expert at the art of survival and blending in. With her 18th birthday fast approaching, she dreams of the day when she can stop running and find what her heart needs most: a home.

Trey Allairis hates Earth and doubts that anyone from his world can thrive here. What he’s learning of Kricket and her existence away from her true home only confirms his theory. But, when he and Kricket lie together under the stars of Ethar, counting them all may be easier than letting her go.

Kyon Ensin’s secrets number the stars; he knows more about Kricket's gifts than anyone and plans to possess her because of them. He also knows she’s more valuable than any fire in the night sky. He’ll move the heavens and align them all in order to make her his own.

When everything in their world can be broken, will Kricket rely upon love to save her under different stars?

AUTHOR: Amy A. Bartol | 
GENRE: YA Dystopian 
RELEASE DATE: December 17, 2013
Smashwords pre-order link: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/380123




 TEASER:

I glance at Trey; he looks like an advertisement for Calvin Klein. Wearing only dark, athletic boxers, he’s something out of a catalog or a warrior movie. Blushing deeply, I want to crawl under the rock I’m on. “Wade into the water together. We should tie you two so that you’re face-to-face with both your heads above the water,” Jax says. Trey nods, extending his hand for me to take.
Avoiding looking at him, I stand up, walking to the water’s edge on my own. Dipping my toes in the water, I pull them back sharply. “It’s freezing!” I glower at them, hearing my voice echo off the walls again.
“It is,” Trey agrees, scooping me up in his arms and wading out quickly into the water before I can object further. When he is chest deep, he says softly in my ear, “Breathe.”
Clinging to him tightly with my arms around his neck, I inhale deeply before muttering, “Shh...you’re interrupting my revenge plotting.”
“If you survive this, I’ll insist that you learn to swim,” he says, sounding annoyed as Jax wades to us with a line, circling us.
“If I survive this, I’m killing you,” I reply dryly, feeling the rope tense, drawing me tighter against Trey’s warm body.
A small smile touches his lips at my comment. “How do you propose to do that?” He gazes into my eyes as Jax knots us together.
“I’ll let you spend some sleepless nights worrying about that,” I reply, my teeth beginning to chatter as the cold water is chilling me to the bone.


AUTHOR LINKS:

AUTHOR BIO:

I live in Michigan with my husband and our two sons. My family is very supportive of my writing. When I’m writing, they often bring me the take-out menu so that I can call and order them dinner. They listen patiently when I talk about my characters like they’re  real. They rarely roll their eyes when I tell them I’ll only be a second while I finish writing a chapter…and then they take off their coats. They ask me how the story is going when I surface after living for hours in a world of my own making. They have learned to accept my “writing uniform” consisting of a slightly unflattering pink fleece jacket, t-shirt, and black yoga pants. And they smile at my nerdy bookishness whenever I try to explain urban fantasy to them. In short, they get me, so they are perfect and I am blessed.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Indie Author Guide link and Give away - Heather Hildenbrand



The Indie Author Guide: A Self-Publisher’s Toolbox
Whether you’re an aspiring author or have been published for a year, this guide is full of information, links, and support sites that can help increase sales and streamline your business as a self-published author. This guide is not like other self-help books on publishing. It includes very specific how-to instructions along with a timeline so you also know when to implement each item. If you’re looking for vague instructions or easy banter, this guide is NOT for you. If you need a little sarcastic humor and someone in your ear telling you to get off your butt and make your dream happen, this IS the guide for you!
What’s inside:
–An extensive list of links to editors, cover artists, formatters, and bloggers is included.  
–Marketing, blog tours, release day blitzes 
–Formatting, cover art and artists for hire, editors, what to ask when hiring out 
–Garnering reviews, how and where to meet bloggers 
–Where to find review groups, beta readers, critique partners 
–Branding, blogging, and social media
–Time management, daily goals, sales strategies, what works, what doesn’t. 
All of this and more is included in this hold-your-hand-style guide. 
Heather Hildenbrand is the YA and NA author of more than eight novels including the bestselling Dirty Blood series. She is a co-founder of Accendo Press, a collaborative publishing effort dedicated to publishing stories that ignite the imagination, a fiction author, and the owner of Phoenix, an author consultant and coaching company that provides support and information for new and experienced self-published authors as they navigate the waters of self-publishing and marketing. 
For more information on Phoenix, visit www.phoenixauthorink.com 



Tuesday, November 12, 2013

David James Cover Reveal - Shadow of the Sun






This is the end.
And this time, no heart is safe.

A stunning read for fans of Laini Taylor’s Days of Blood & Starlight and Maggie Stiefvater’s The Raven Boys, Shadow of the Sun is the lyrical sequel to Light of the Moon and the epic conclusion to the Legend of the Dreamer series that will enrapture you.


"Destined for love, Calum and Kate will do anything to be together. With Kate trapped by a curse in Ashfall, Calum must find a way to save her before she is lost to dark magic. Before she is lost to him and the truth of their love is gone forever. Even if it means sacrificing himself, Calum will choose to keep Kate safe. 

A Warrior for the Order, Zack prides himself on being stoic and strong. As a Warrior, he never cries and never hurts. He does not love. But underneath Zack’s Warrior heart, love beats true. And when he finds someone who will finally catch him, Zack finds himself choosing to fall even if true love kills him. 

Though the heart never lies, everyone has a little darkness in them, and soon shadows begin to rise against the light. As deadly magic consumes their world, love may not be enough to save them all. Because even though sometimes being brave just means falling in love, one choice can destroy everything. This time, no heart is safe."

The end begins on 1.28.14.

Add it to your Goodreads shelf now!



Start at the beginning and get Light of the Moon, the first book in this epic series, today!

Check out The Witch's Curse, the stunning and romantic novella that reveals Kate's history.

Zack is fearless, but he wasn't always. Read The Warrior's Code and learn more about his past.

All two novellas, The Witch's Curse and The Warrior's Code, are included in the Shades of the Stars anthology, along with an exclusive short story about the fire enchanter Lily. This enchanting anthology also features essays, playlists, deleted scenes, and an author interview.



David James writes books about stars and kisses and curses. He is the author of the YA novel, Light of the Moon, the first book in the Legend of the Dreamer duet, as well as the companion novellas, The Witch's Curse and The Warrior's Code. A Legend of the Dreamer anthology, Shades of the Stars, was released July 2013, and includes the exclusive novella, The Enchanter's Fire. The final book in the duet, Shadow of the Sun, will be released in January of 2014. Living in Michigan, he is addicted to coffee, gummy things, and sarcastic comments. David enjoys bad movies, goofy moments, and shivery nights. 


Be brave. 

And you don't have to wait until 1.28.14 to get started! Enter the INTERNATIONAL giveaway below for a chance to win the Legend of the Dreamer e-book of your choice!

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Waves of Love - Guest Review from Heather

  Jenna knew Reece would break her heart, when he did Tyler stepped in to pick up the pieces. 

As she’s ready to take the next step with Tyler, Jenna finds herself face to face with Reece. Lies and secrets are discovered from the two boys she trusted the most. And now it’s more than just her heart on the line, it’s her life as well. 

Torn between two amazing guys Jenna’s certain of only one thing, this is the most important decision of her life. One almost destroyed her. The other brought her back to life. The time has come to choose. Can Jenna move forward with Tyler or will she be stuck in the past with Reece?

It's our pleasure to hand over the blogging reins to Heather. Every once in a while she'll help us out on tours by filling in with her awesome reviews. So here's what she thinks of Danielle Sibarium's Waves of Love!



I was thrilled with this book! I fell in love with this series and was hoping the ending would not disappoint me (like so many other trilogies have in the past.) No spoilers here, but I will say that, not only was the ending unpredictable, it was the best ending possible for the story. I honestly don't think it could have ended any better and I am completely happy with how everything played out. Book two left us with quite a cliff hanger and major questions regarding Tyler and Reece. I really liked Tyler, so I was anxious to see what he was all about.

Tyler is wonderful in this book! I loved his character even though I was still rooting for Reece. He definitely will surprise you and work his way into your heart. All of the pieces to the puzzle finally make sense when secrets are revealed and we can see "the big picture." There was non stop action and major surprises which kept me riveted until the very end. Let's just say that you can't make any assumptions about what's happening because nothing is as it seems. As soon as you think you know what's going on, something changes and you are no closer to discovering the truth than you were before. I loved not being able to predict what was coming and I couldn't put the book down until I finished it! There are much greater forces at work and things are far more complex than they initially appeared. Get ready for a wild ride with plot twists and turns until the very end!

Overall, this was a very addictive read. It has mystery, romance, drama, and at times, humor (courtesy of great dialogue from Tyler!;) It's wonderful when you love a series and it ends better than you could have imagined. Danielle never fails to deliver a fabulous, romantic and engaging read that ends with everything as it should be. I thought about the characters and the story long after I finished it. Now that the series is complete, I plan on re-reading it. If you have enjoyed the series so far, you will be thrilled with the last book. Danielle did a fabulous job and I highly recommend it. I hope you love it as much as I did!.=)
-Heather a.k.a. @javalotta



Buy Links
Heart Waves   Amazon | B&N 
Breaking Waves Amazon | B&N 


Waves of Love Amazon  | B&N

Danielle Sibarium grew up as an only child of divorced parents in Brooklyn, New York. Her imagination was developed at an early age. Surrounded by stuffed animals and imaginary friends, she transported herself into a fantasy world full of magic and wonder. Books were the gateway between her play world and reality. On any given summer afternoon she became Snow White sweeping and cooking for the dwarfs, or Cinderella waiting for the prince.

Danielle always loved dialogue and in elementary school began writing plays and short stories. This is when she began to understand she could not only bring her fantastical world to life for herself, but she could enchant others as well. And so she wrote. She wrote and wrote and wrote.

Sadly the first piece she ever sent out for publication of any sort was a letter to the editor of The Home News Tribune. It was a piece thanking the first responders for their bravery and selflessness on Sept 11th. It was chosen as letter of the week.

In 2007 Danielle collaborated with Charlotte Doreen Small to write songs for her CD More. Danielle wrote the lyrics for Take My Hand, and Goodbye, while Charlotte contributed the melody.
 In October 2011 Danielle’s debut novel For Always was released. She Has since released Heart Waves and the second book in the Heart Waves series, Breaking Waves. Danielle graduated from Farleigh Dickinson University with honors, and currently lives in New Jersey with her husband and three children.

Monday, November 4, 2013

Waves of Love Blog Tour



Jenna knew Reece would break her heart, when he did Tyler stepped in to pick up the pieces.

As she’s ready to take the next step with Tyler, Jenna finds herself face to face with Reece. Lies and secrets are discovered from the two boys she trusted the most. And now it’s more than just her heart on the line, it’s her life as well.

Torn between two amazing guys Jenna’s certain of only one thing, this is the most important decision of her life. One almost destroyed her. The other brought her back to life. The time has come to choose. Can Jenna move forward with Tyler or will she be stuck in the past with Reece?









Christina's Review



I have loved this series by Danielle Sibarium.  I was a total Reece girl in the first book, then I started to like Mr, Bad boy Tyler in book 2.  Going into Waves of Love I was still Team Tyler.  I know others would be saying.... "What is wrong with you Christina?"  Well I don't know. Danielle Sibarium had this way of writing that made me love Tyler. Waves of Love is the end of this series and I had a roller coster of emotions while reading it.  
The book picks up with Jenna and Tyler spending more time together and building a new relationship.  Because Reece is dead, Right?  I Know that Jenna suspects but that only makes her angry that if he is alive and not telling her.  She tries to let him go but he is always there in her memory.  And when she is told by a psychic that she will have to  choose, it throws her mind into a loop.  Then Tyler's dad decides to run for office and wants to send Tyler and Jenna away for a while.
What happens when they go away? Why does Tyler's dad want them to.  And is Tyler true to Jenna and is Reece really alive?   The whole story comes to an EXCITING and shocking conclusion.  I was very happy with the ending.......and I am not on a team anymore. 
I will say that I LOVED this book more than the others.  A few times I was like WHAT???? Come on Danielle, but then I read more and went... YESS ok!  Go Grab it! Read the awesome for yourself! 





If you want to grab Heart waves and Breaking Waves you can go here:

Heart Waves :
Heart Waves Buy Links


Breaking Waves:
Breaking Waves Buy Links







Now a bit about out Danielle Sibarium :






Author Bio
Danielle Sibarium grew up as an only child of divorced parents in Brooklyn, New York. Her imagination was developed at an early age. Surrounded by stuffed animals and imaginary friends, she transported herself into a fantasy world full of magic and wonder. Books were the gateway between her play world and reality. On any given summer afternoon she became Snow White sweeping and cooking for the dwarfs, or Cinderella waiting for the prince.

Danielle always loved dialogue and in elementary school began writing plays and short stories. This is when she began to understand she could not only bring her fantastical world to life for herself, but she could enchant others as well. And so she wrote. She wrote and wrote and wrote.

Sadly the first piece she ever sent out for publication of any sort was a letter to the editor of The Home News Tribune. It was a piece thanking the first responders for their bravery and selflessness on Sept 11th. It was chosen as letter of the week.

In 2007 Danielle collaborated with Charlotte Doreen Small to write songs for her CD More. Danielle wrote the lyrics for Take My Hand, and Goodbye, while Charlotte contributed the melody.
 In October 2011 Danielle’s debut novel For Always was released. She Has since released Heart Waves and the second book in the Heart Waves series, Breaking Waves. 
Danielle graduated from Farleigh Dickinson University with honors, and currently lives in New Jersey with her husband and three children.

Author Links





GIVEAWAY TIME!! : 












Sunday, October 13, 2013

Cover Reveal- Danielle Sibarium

So it's our extreme pleasure to present you with the final book in the Heart Waves Trilogy, Waves of Love. I absolutely fell in love with this series and couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. Yes that means I (Dani) have had the chance to read it already. Yes you are going to love it! No I will not tell you about it! But the purpose of this post is to show you the amazing cover for this finale of an epic love story. So here you go!


 Blurb
Jenna knew Reece would break her heart, when he did Tyler stepped in to pick up the pieces.

As she’s ready to take the next step with Tyler, Jenna finds herself face to face with Reece. Lies and secrets are discovered from the two boys she trusted the most. And now it’s more than just her heart on the line, it’s her life as well. 

Torn between two amazing guys Jenna’s certain of only one thing, this is the most important decision of her life. One almost destroyed her. The other brought her back to life. The time has come to choose. Can Jenna move forward with Tyler or will she be stuck in the past with Reece?
If you want to check out some teasers, trust me you do, go over to Heart Waves Facebook and check them out! Be sure to follow Danielle on the following links to get updates on whats going on!

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

If you haven't started the series there's still time! So go grab Heart Waves and Breaking Waves now! Both are only $0.99!!


Buy Links for Heart Waves
Amazon | B&N

Buy Links for Breaking Waves
Amazon | B&N
Be sure to enter the Giveaway!!


Thursday, October 10, 2013

Mythology :The Wicked - Release Day Blitz and Jonathan interview



So EXCITED for Mythology The WICKED by Helen Boswell! Sit back and relax and go buy your copy today!! 



Amazon   -  Kobo




MYTHOLOGY: THE WICKED (Mythology #2)

Book Description

A demon with a pure heart, Micah Condie lives his life by a code of ethics, but breaking that code may be the only way for him to survive. A supernatural entity in her own right, Hope Gentry would do anything in her power to protect her loved ones, but she may be the one who puts them in peril.

When the Demon Impiorum challenges the laws that keep guardians and demons in balance, ancient enforcers of justice intervene. Micah, Hope, and their mentor Jonathan become entangled in a conspiracy that will test even the deepest love and trust.

Someone will commit an act of betrayal. Someone will forever abandon a loved one.

Someone will enter THE WICKED.







GRAB BOOK ONE FOR JUST 99 PENNIES!!!




MYTHOLOGY (Mythology #1)

Book Description

Hope Gentry doesn’t believe in Fate. Born with an unusual power to see the dark memories of those around her, Hope just wants to be a normal teenager. But on the first day of her senior year of high school, she finds herself irresistibly drawn to a transfer student named Micah Condie. At first glance, Micah seems like a boy that most girls would dream about. But when Hope's powers allow her to discover Micah's darkest secret, she quickly becomes entangled in the lives of mythical entities she never dreamed existed. Was this her destiny all along? And will her powers help her survive the evil of the Demon Impiorum? 
Mythology isn’t just for English class anymore.







And Because Helen is so awesome she let me borrow Jonathan For a few minutes for a awesome interview.  I happen to be a huge Jonathan fan. :)



Hi Jonathan, I'm Christina from the Crazy book Chicks. Thanks for answering a few of my questions! I'm one of your biggest fans by the way! I miss your tweets!

Hello, Christina. *kisses your hand* Thank you so much for interviewing me. I miss you as well, but Twitter is something that completely goes against my character, as everyone is fond of telling me. I am quite honored to visit you on your wonderful blog, however. 


Ok here we go? Ready?

I am.


How is Micah doing handling his demon side?

Ah. That is the big question, isn't it? I'm afraid that you will find Micah struggling with his demon side quite a bit in THE WICKED. I am not permitted to give any spoilers, but I will just say that Micah makes a transition to what my author is calling "Micah 2.0." Whatever that means. *winks*


After everything that's happened how is Hope?

Hope is adjusting to her new life remarkably well. As her mentor, I am quite proud of her progress. It will take a while for her full potential to be realized, but much of her new self will be revealed to you in book two. 


Also, I've always wondered how you felt about her?

Haha! I'm sure others have as well...  I would say that I am protective of her but also want her to be able to protect herself. But yes, I feel like I have a bond with Hope that transcends logic. I am permitted to say that you will find out why I love her so much in this book.  *folds hands*

Having to work with Micah, did it surprise you going against what you've always done?

Yes, Micah has surprised me in a variety of ways, mostly because he has held onto his human values and sense of morality despite being a demon. However, all of that will be tested in book two, and his fate will be held in the balance of his decisions.


What is the hardest thing you've ever had to do?

Leave my wife Adrienne's side during wartime, knowing that when I finally returned to her, she would likely not be alive.


Can you give us any hints from Mythology the Wicked?

Hmm... I will tell you this. I am reunited with someone from my distant past in this book. Some people may not like her, but it will be an interesting reunion, I promise you that.


I have a few personal questions for you.
Favorites......
Color Black
Food Coquilles St. Jacques, if prepared properly, of course. 
Music I have too many to choose one favorite -- I currently have close to three million songs on my MP3 player...
Person Will Shakespeare. Or did you mean someone who was currently alive? 

Thank you again for hosting me. We love and appreciate everything you do for all of us and our author. *bows* 

xo Jonathan




Don'tcha Just LOVE HIM??? :) 


Now a bit about the AMAZING HELEN BOSWELL : 





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Originally from upstate New York, Helen Boswell spent several years of her early adult life tromping around in the city of Buffalo with frequent trips to Toronto, Canada. These two cities in particular serve as inspirational settings for her urban fantasies, and while Helen has since moved to live in the southwestern United States, she will have fond memories of urban life and high-heeled sneakers for all eternity.
Helen earned her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University at Buffalo and dedicates her time to teaching biology and other fun things to college students, spending time with her wonderful family, and eating chocolate while writing.
The YA urban fantasy MYTHOLOGY is her first novel and the first one in the Mythology Series.
Find out more about Helen at http://www.helenboswell.com.




Want to become a character in Book Three or win other cool prizes?
ENTER THE INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY!!!










Thursday, September 26, 2013

Capstone Review

It's supposed to stink. That's what Cusps do.


The Ianua, Nalena and Garrett's own community, have welcomed them back by charging them as traitors and chucking them into the Hotel Celare's slammer. 
And outside the fortress walls, it's no better. 


The Cusp is at full-boil as the world finally surrenders to The Fury's lifestyle. Looting, riots, murders—every kind of crime has become the norm—and The Fury want to make it all permanent. They might even succeed, now that they've nabbed all thirteen of the Ianua's Cornerstones.



To preserve mankind, the only chance the Ianua have left is to beat The Fury to the Earth's Core and somehow trigger the Reset.



Like that's easy. 



There's no manual on how to activate a Reset. Nobody even knows if there’s an actual Core to the Earth. 



Shoot, it could be one big myth; an epic waste of effort. 
But the Addo thinks there is one last hope. 
Maybe.

So long as someone is willing to sacrifice everything to be mankind's long shot.


As soon as I received Capstone I was… sad. I didn’t want to read it, because I knew the moment I started it, I wouldn’t be able to put it down. That’s totally what happened and when I finished I was extremely sad. That’s the bad thing about a series for me, I get so attached to these characters, it’s like Garrett and Nalena are really my friends and saying goodbye just completely and totally sucks. I hate it, but Misty ended it beautifully.


Capstone picked up where Jamb left off and let me tell you it is beyond crazy! Garrett and Nalena aren’t sure who they can trust and the normal way of the Inuana isn’t the normal way anymore. Rules are being broken, trust is being tested, and secrets are being held. So what does that mean for Garrett, Nalena, and the rest of their family? I have to say that no matter what goes on, the supporting characters are phenomenal. I still adore Zane, he just cracks me up and I’m so glad he was present in this book. I was worried something was going to happen to him and the gang with the massive action that was going down at the end of Jamb.

Massive amounts of ups and downs in this book. I was so excited that everyone was alive, worried about who could be trusted, then thrilled and then terrified. I was ready to blow up Misty through Facebook, Twitter, and Email. You’ll know why when you get to that part in the book and you’re going to want to do the same, just know everything will work out. One of the biggest reasons why I love this series is because of the message between the lines, well at least the message I received. Nothing is always as it seems, sometimes we have to have FAITH that everything will work out and trust in those worthy of our trust to have our backs.

I cried a little in the last few chapters and practically bawled when I finished the book. I’m so not ready for Garrett and Nalena’s story to be over.  I need more of them, of all of them. Thank you Misty for writing an amazing series, one that I will definitely revisit often. 
<3 Dani

This was a bitter sweet read for me. I have been a fan of Misty Provencher's Cornerstone series from the beginning. Having the series come to an end was like, awww no more books. No more Garrett and Nalena. And just when you think, ya I know how it will end, like most books do. Nope Misty has a surprise that will make you smile or make you say "I'm okay with that" like I did.

If you haven't read the other books in this series, stop right here. Go read them now!!

Capstone picks up right where Jamb left off. Everyone is back but who is good and who is bad?? Nali knows she can't trust anyone but Garrett. They are all put in cells. She has no idea where the Addo is, if Milo is ok, if Garrett is ok and why can't she figure this out? Well the Veritas play a big park in this book. Nok tunnels in to see Nali in her cell.  She goes through and gets to Garrett. They soon learn who they can trust through winks. Everyone from their area is playing a part! When they are forced into a binding , which they want, there are some awesome hot scenes from Garrett. He's amazingly sweet with Nali. What will they Learn about each other when they are linked? And before this happens Addo gives Nali a mission. Will she have to give up Garrett for it? Nali grows so much in this book. I will say that every time I thought I knew what was happening I was proven wrong. It's a journey.... Both in reading and for the characters. Nali and Garrett learn to trust each other in new ways that I love!

I'm sad to see this come to an end but hope to see maybe more? Otherwise it was a great wrap up by Misty Provencher.
-Christina

Buy Links
Amazon | B&N | Smashwords