Cornerstone Review

Welcome to the week, well 6 days of Misty Provencher!! Today we are kicking it off with our review of Cornerstone. The following days will consist of our reviews of Keystone, one of our tour stops involving our review of Jamb, then an excerpt day for Jamb, our visuals for who we see when we read, and then ending it with and interview with a special character! You're going to have to wait and find out who it is *winks*



CORNERSTONE is the story of Nalena Maxwell, a girl who's been dubbed The Waste at her new school, due to her mom's obsessive paper hoarding.

Nalena desperately needs
something to change in her life. But when she receives a sign (and it's the wrong dang one) that invites her into an ancient community, EVERYTHING changes-what she knew of her family and her life and her future.

While seventeen years worth of family skeletons come crashing into Nalena's life, it is the boy...the one with eyes as clean as Jesus...that steps up to help Nalena figure out what he already knows about her...

I stumbled across Cornerstone by Misty Provencher sometime last year and completely fell in love with the series and Misty as well. She has a certain way of writing that catches your attention and propels you into the world she’s created. This is my third time reading this book, frankly I’m a little peeved at myself that I’ve taken so long to write this. Better late than never though, right? LOL

So Nalena isn’t your typical girl, well she doesn’t know that just yet. She does know that something is wrong with her mom, Evangeline. You see Evangeline has this habit of writing, writing, and more writing. Not a big deal right? Well that depends on how you look at. When Nali’s friend stops by unexpected and sees her house, let’s just say Nali’s chance at having friends is diminished. Why you ask? Well she gets the nickname ‘the waste’ and no one wants anything to do with her. You’re probably wonder why right about now right? Well you’ll have to find out by reading.

Then….cue hot boy at the library. 

“He smiles at me. His teeth aren’t perfect but the way his lips frame them, they are. His eyes are bright and amused, like he wants to hear something I didn’t say.”

I don’t know about any of you, but the way Misty wrote this scene when they are checking each other out and then their gazes collide… it took me back to those memories of when I was around a really cute guy and that innocent flirt that we all do. *sigh* Yeah I know, I’m weird lol but I embrace it. And just like that, the moment is gone and Nali is out the door quickly.

There’s been a few books I’ve read, won’t name them, that it’s secondary characters fall flat. Some people might not think they’re important, but to me they are. They complement the MCs and provide dimension to the story. Cora, is Nali’s friend. But I use that term lightly and frankly I don’t like her much. Not because she’s a bad character but because of what type of friend she is. We all have had them. You know the friend that’s only friends with you behind closed doors, the one that doesn’t acknowledge you when they’re around others? If you don’t know what I’m talking about consider yourself lucky. I’ve had my fair share of those ‘friends’ through middle school and high school. Though Cora does come in handy later on when Nali needed her, so I don’t completely dislike her. 

“I guess you can make ‘normal out of any old thing, if you’ve got enough of it.”

Then something happens and the “normal” Nali realizes that maybe, she’s not so normal. The boy from the library has a name. Garrett. And Garrett has been asking around about Nali which is gaining attention from those snobby girls we all just love… or hate… or maybe love to hate? Either way its attention that Nali doesn’t want and something happens that she doesn’t quite understand. What happens… READ IT! Then another rendezvous in the library with an encounter from head biotch of said stink eye girls has Nali running out of the library into the dark or the woods. Now common sense tells us to never do that, but what do we do? We do it anyways and well this time she’s not so lucky. Someone is waiting for her, luckily Garrett saves her and gets her to the hospital. Now the life she thought she knew is about to be blown wide open and at first she’s not going to believe it, any of it.

“I let myself think, I hope he loves me, and then I wonder if I’ve said it out loud.”

She thinks her mother and Garrett’s family are trying to pull a massive joke over on her but then she realizes it’s not a joke. Does she decide to become part of the Iuana Community or stay simple? Then the man that attacked her is identified, so who is he and how does he know about Nali? What happens between her and Garrett? What IS Nali? Is she like her mother or something more, something that can bring a great change… a good change or a bad change? You have to pick this series up and start reading it like yesterday, then get book two in the Cornerstone Series, Keystone.

 -Dani

When I first read Cornerstone by Misty Provencher I was blown away by the difference in the type of book it was. I fell in love with the characters. Well this second time around I love it even more.
Nalena Maxwell is a girl who is made fun of at school. See her mom is a writer and there is a ton of stacks if paper all over their house. She is labeled "The waste" and has maybe one friend. She's frustrated with her mom, and embarrassed.  One night at the library Nalena meets a very cute guy Garrett Reece. He seems interested in her. On one of the nights Nalena is attacked..... Opening her up to a world that she didn't know existed. Her mom has kept a life a secret from her.
Her Mom is an Alo, a keeper if memories and histories of the Iuana , their people. When Nali and her mom stay with the Reece's for Saftey....she finds out about her family. She looses it. Now she wonders does Garrett like her for her or was he protecting her?

Given the sign of the contego warrior, will Nali make the right choice? There is so much emotion her between Nali and her mom and Nali and Garrett. What will Nali choose? And will she know what Garrett means by "yes he does", when she wonders.  "Does he love me!" Get ready for a sweet scene! I love these two!

Toward the end , Nali's father comes in an goes crazy town... And two important people are lost!
Will their grief bind them together?? Trust me you will want book two Keystone right away!! 

-Christina

Pick up Cornerstone at Amazon HERE  and on B&N HERE
After all it is FREE

Enter the Giveaway!! We will be giving away a copy of Keystone and Jamb to two lucky winners! If you have one or both, if you win you can gift it to someone else!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal- Tiffany King

Happy Friday Everyone!!  What better way to start off your day by introducing you to the new book by Tiffany King?! That's right I said TIFFANY KING!!!!!! AHHHHH so excited! You know me and Christina are tremendous fans of Tiffany King, but I have to go one step further than Christina. Tiffany King is literally an inspiration to me. I absolutely love all her books without even reading them, yes she's that good. If you've read her books you know what I'm talking about. IF you haven't you need to get on that like yesterday! But today's post isn't about  how much we, or I, love Tiffany King. It's about her awesome new book being revealed!!!

So without further ado

here 

is

the 

amazingly

beautiful 

cover 

to 

Tiffany King's

book

designed

by

 Sarah Hansen from Okay Creations

Ashton Garrison walked away from a privileged life in order to hide from the one thing she's not willing to face. She knows she left behind a trail of pain, but in the long run, her betrayal will hurt less than the truth. She now has one goal: Live life to the fullest with no regrets and no attachments. She has high hopes that a move to new surroundings will provide the escape she desires, but what Ashton doesn't count on is how fate always seems to find a way to screw up any good plan. Sometimes, when love comes knocking, the pull is too strong not to answer. Suddenly, what she thought she wanted to escape from is what Ashton now wants more than anything.

Nathan Lockton has one mission: find his target and complete the task he was hired to do—no attachments and no emotion necessary. He's done it over and over again. What he thought was a typical lost-and-found job has turned into a life examining moment as Nathan is forced to deal with something he has always ignored--his feelings. Now faced with a decision, Nathan must choose to either follow his heart or complete the job.

Love can come when you least expect it. The question is: If the odds are stacked against you, how far are you willing to go for the one you love?

Releases April 30, 2013!!!!!

About Tiffany King:

Tiffany King is the author of The Saving Angels Series, Wishing for Someday Soon, Forever Changed, Unlikely Allies, Miss Me Not and Jordyn: A Daemon Hunter Novel book one. Writer by day and book fanatic the rest of the time, she is now pursuing her life-long dream of weaving tales for others to enjoy.

She has a loving husband and two wonderful kids. (Five, if you count her three spoiled cats). Her addictions include: Her iphone and ipad, chocolate, Diet Coke, chocolate, Harry Potter, chocolate, and her favorite TV shows. Want to know what they are? Just ask.

Stalk Tiffany Here:

Twitter- @AuthorTiffany

Facebook- Tiffany King

Pintrest- Tiffany King

Blog- authortiffanyjking.blogspot.com

Goodreads- Tiffany King

Ivy League Gabe - Interview

So it was pretty cool when Chris Waltz let us borrow Gabe, from his book Ivy League for a few minutes.  We were able to sit down and ask him a few questions.  Let me tell you this guy is not giving up much.  He keeps up his guard, but is pretty funny. We hope you enjoy getting to know Gabe Malvado just a bit more!

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

Wow, so I can't believe that we get to interview you Gabe. I'm sort of intimidated. *laughs* I'm Christina by the way, and this is Dani Thanks for taking time to sit with us and answer a few questions.
Well, you should feel lucky. I don’t do interviews often and I kind of like to keep a low profile. I’m not sure how I got talked into this actually. I’m thinking there was money involved.
 
Okay so let's get to a few questions.
 
What did you think when Jamie approached you with this business idea?

 *laughs* So, you know about that? He’s not the best at keeping secrets. I guess since you know, it won’t kill me to talk about it. My first thought was “who does this kid think he is?” I’d never talked to him before, and here he was, approaching me about selling drugs with him. I had to admit, he had balls for even mentioning it, so I decided to hear him out.
 
What was the deciding factor that made you decided to go into a partnership with Jaime?
 

I like to take chances, and this seemed like the biggest gamble I could take at the time. I had no intentions of it working out or lasting more than a week or two, but I jumped at the opportunity to teach someone what I know. Growing and selling Weed is my thing… so why not pass on my talents?
 
You seemed kind of a loaner at school. Did you choose that or did it just happen?

 

I was never the ‘popular’ guy at school, but I’d never want to be either. Plus, when you’re in the business I’m in, you learn not to keep many close friends. When you’re breaking the law, everyone is an enemy. Life is just easier that way.
 
 You mentioned to Kip that he and Jaime can go into a family business, Is that how you got started?

 

Yes. Without giving too much information, my brother taught me everything I know. I don’t know if I’d call it a “family” business; my father is a prosecutor and my mother is a typical trophy wife, and neither of them know anything about my business path.
 

Knowing now what you know, would you if given the chance, go back and never start?

 I have no regrets in my life.

 
 You had to know the 'arrangement' was going to end badly right? I mean the deal seemed too good to be true.
 
I wouldn’t say it ended badly. It took an unexpected turn and things worked out differently than planned. But was it bad? I don’t think so. Wow… with that answer, I should look into becoming a politician.

What's your ultimate opinion of Jaime? Was he a good business partner in dealing with the contacts?
 

Jamie is more of a people person than I could ever hope to be. He made friends with the contacts and made them feel like he was really doing them a great service. However, that’s a double-edged sword. You can’t get too close to people you’re selling drugs to. Life doesn’t work that way.
 
Do you regret involving him in the deal?
 

Jamie came to me, wanting in. He knew the risks and consequences; we both knew what we were getting ourselves into. I stand by me previous comment of not having any regrets in my life.
 
What would you have done with your share of all that money?
 
Oh, I love investigative reporting. I won’t say now, but Jamie has a big mouth. Maybe you’ll learn one day.
 
If you could tell Jaime one thing, something that you keep hidden under the angry charade, what would it be and why?
 

What makes you think my anger is a charade? I don’t pretend to be anything I’m not, and anything I’d ever tell Jamie, I’m more than willing to say to his face.
 
Tell me something about yourself, something that you wouldn't normally want to share. We promise to keep it a secret.
 
 Oh, I’m not falling for that. I’m not one to put my guard down like that. I don’t normally keep secrets, but I guess one thing I can tell you is that I love what I do. I wouldn’t want to grow up to be a doctor, a lawyer, or a business executive. That’s not the life for me. I live by the motto of life fast, die young, and I plan to do that until my very last day on Earth.
 
Gabe, thank you so much for taking time away from your "stuff" to talk with us.

 

It was my pleasure, or whatever.

 Ivy Leauge - Look For More about Gabe in Ivy League by Christopher Waltz

Come as You are - Review

 

 

When his younger brother August runs away from home after a disastrous argument with their parents, Connor is the only person not worried. After all, August is known to take off without notice all the time, and he always comes back.

However, August doesn’t show up again until two months later, having drunkenly fallen from the Young Street Bridge in Aberdeen, Washington.

Connor and their mother travel from California to pick up the teenager, unaware that the next twelve hours will cause them to reexamine their own lives and strained relationships, all while Connor and August’s time together leads to a reconnection between brothers and a revelation that Connor never saw coming.

Review

 

 

 

When I first found out that Chris Waltz had another book out other than Ivy League, I went to amazon and got it right away.  I sat down and decided I would preview it really quick and then get back to it after I had done a few other things.  Well that few minutes turned into an hour and I was finished.  I could not stop reading because I was pulled into what Connor had to say. 

When the book starts Conner gets a phone call from his mother, that his brother August had been found.  He had apparently ran away from home two months before.  Apparently August had a fight with their parents and ran off.  Conner and August's parents had expected them to go into the family buisness of Mortuary Work.  That was not happening with either boy.  Connor had moved out on his own and was doing his own thing.  In the phone call his mother asked him to go with her to get August from a hospital in Washington state.  (The family lives in California)  Conner heads over to his parents figuring that they would leave right away, but his father wants to talk to him about how he made mistakes and wants Conner to bring him home.  The drive with his mother is tense, quiet and akward.  When they get to the hopsital Conner see's August and starts talking to him.  They go for a walk and then meet back up with their mom.  Weird thing, mom does not acknowlege August, not even at the hotel.  This strikes Conner as weird.  The boys go to dinner and the waitress keeps looking at Conner weird and not saying anything to August.  Hmmmmm I kept thinking here that something was off.  When Conner and his brother find themselves at the bridge that August fell off and hurt himself on, this is when stuff happens.  August is very mysterious but wants to leave his mark on the bridge with "Come as you Are".  It was his favorite Song by Nirvana, and the Bridge where the band left their mark.  When the cops come to arrest them, August is gone.  Conner explains that he was there with his brother, the cops feel sorry for him.  Wait was August REALY there? 

Conner heads back to the bridge to find August's friend Ezra.  He is sad and things that he could have helped August.  He jumps and Conner gets to save him.

This story had me crying at the end.  It was short but still a book with a huge impact.  It left me wanting more to the story and the characters.  I want to know more about Conner and his life after. I suggest you pick it up for a quick read. 

 

-Christina-

 

 

You can grab it here on amazon:  Come as You Are



Christopher Waltz Interview

Every writer I've come across, and befriended, has been in the process of writing their first book or about to release a book. When I (Christina)  first met Chris Waltz, through a friend, I found out that he had a book out. And what a better way to know more about your new friend than to read their book and interview them right?
So, I'm excited to bring you a little more about Mr. Christopher Waltz.
 
*Laughs* Hey Toph, thanks for taking time to let me interview you.
Are you ready?

I was bornready. (I hope everyone out there reads that in a very serious, action-movieway.)
 
What was your inspiration to becoming a writer?

I’ve been writing since I was a little kid. I rememberbeing in the second grade and writing a sequel to my then-favorite movie, Jumanji. I wrote it in a wide-ruled notebook and used half of each page for illustrations. I gave it to my teacher,Mrs. Fields, to read and she returned it with a note attached that said “Ican’t wait to buy your books in a book store one day!” I knew then I would continue writing the rest of my life.
 
Do you haveanything you  "must have" forwriting?  Like coffee, candy, music?

I usually have a glass of Mountain Dew with me while I’m writing, but I’m trying to break that habit. Sometimes I pretend to be a health nut and Mountain Dew does not fit into that category, unfortunately. I definitely cannot write while listening to music because I get distracted too easily. Usually when I write, it’s just me and a quiet room.
 
What inspired you to write Ivy League? And how long did the process take from when you first started?

I had a very good friend who I tell everyone is my brother. A few years ago, he got into some shady habits (much like Jamie in Ivy League) and the two of us lost touch until very recently. He cleaned up his life, something I’m so proud of him for, but I would be lying if I said he wasn’t an inspiration formy novel. I took one thing about him and exaggerated it into this novel about ateenager who sells drugs to pay for college. I was initially very worried he’dbe mad at me for using a darker period of his life for inspiration, but when Itold him, he thought it was awesome!
 
Who was your favorite character to write? And were any of your characters modeled after any friends in your life?

I want really badly to tell you the maincharacter, Jamie, was my favorite to write, but he wasn’t. In the story, Jamie meets another high school student, Gabe, who he assumes is from the wrong side of the tracks because people in their school have stereotyped him as this “bad guy.” Gabe was my favorite to write because he is very, very different from me.He has this attitude and whit about him I wish I could incorporate into mydaily life; he is completely unfiltered and generally just doesn’t give a shit what anyone thinks about him, and I loved writing him.

I use a lot of my friend’s names in Ivy League, but I wouldn’t say any ofthe characters are actually based on them. A lot of the people in the story arejust generally bad. I took my friend’s names and turned them into horriblepeople, which was a lot of fun.
 
Jaime hassuch a wide range of friends, that sit with him at the table. From hisfriendship with Airic to his partnership with Gabe, what all do you think they have in common?

That’s a tough question to answer. I thinkJamie’s wide variety of friends (especially at his lunch table) shows how forthe past four years of high school, he’s really just been going through themotions. He admits none of these people, aside from Airic, really care abouthim, but hopefully you notice he doesn’t really care either. I feel hispartnership with Gabe really opens him up to who he really is and has beenhiding from the rest of the world and his friends for his entire life.
 
 
When you first hit that publish button and then saw your book for sale, what did that feel like?

I was completely terrified. All I couldthink was “I’m not ready! I’m not ready!” but at the same time, I’d been working on Ivy League for two years and was honestly ready for it to be over. I had also been advertising throughmy Facebook page and Twitter account that it would be available for sale on12/12/12, but Amazon went ahead and released it early, so that was shocking as well. I had to go back and post updates to the release date, something I reallywasn’t expecting to need to do.
 
 
If Iremember right you said there is a book 2 in the works?  When can we expect that out?

Ideally, I’d say it will be ready Decemberof this year. My goal is to kick it up a notch with the as-of-yet-untitledsequel and have it ready as soon as possible, but at the same time, I don’twant to rush it. Every chapter is planned and I’ve written about fifty pages ofthe story, but I’m just going to let it run its course naturally. It’s readywhen it’s ready. Hopefully the people who read Ivy League (I’m looking at you, Mom) will like it enough thatthey’ll be okay with waiting for the perfect sequel.
 
 
Is there anything else you are working on that you'd like to share with everyone?*pretends like I don't know*  

I constantly have new ideas popping into myhead, and I’d love to work on all of them at the same time, but that’s tough,what with working two jobs, plus writing, plus trying to maintain some form of a social life. However, I came up with the idea of a story called Nineteen, about an eighteen-year-old who is convinced he isn’t going to live to see his nineteenth birthday. The notes are just forming on this one, but it’s going to be about him trying to reconnect with people he’s left behind in his life and doing all the things he wants to do before he dies.
 
 
Okay, shallwe play a game? I'm going to give you a few words and you say what they makeyou think of, or your favorite of each.
 
Candy: SourPatch Kids
Music: Chiodos
Friends: Uhhh… is it weird I can’t thinkof anything for this one? Or I have too many thoughts?
Food: Hummus
Vacation: Chicago
Writing: Life
Ice cream:  Vanilla (I’m boring)
 
 
Thank you so much for sitting down and answering my questions! This was fun! Now let's go get a red velvet milk shake shall we?

MILKSHAKE!
Woooo! I’m buying!

And here we are enjoying a post interview Milkshake! Thanks Toph! :)

About Christopher Waltz

BIO:

I am 25, grew up in Columbus, Indiana. Icurrently live in Indianapolis, IN. I have a degree in Secondary Education,with a concentration in English. When I’m not writing, I work with the RedCross and for a pharmacy. I have an insane love for movies and know ridiculousamounts of useless pop culture trivia. I like to cook, work out, run, go toconcerts, and plays... I have a pitbull named Theo. I went to New York to helpwith relief efforts for Hurricane Sandy in November”.

You Can Follow Christopher Waltz at the following places:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/christophwaltz821?fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Christoph_Waltz

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5838809.Christopher_Waltz

and his Blog:

http://cpwaltz.blogspot.com/