30 June 2017

Blog Tour: The Bakersville Dozen by Kristina McBride

The Bakersville Dozen

by Kristina McBride
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Release Date: July 4, 2017
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery, Thriller
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Synopsis:

You have four days to locate five treasured trophies. Break the rules and you all die. Happy hunting!

Back in September, the town of Bakersville, Ohio made national news when a video went viral featuring thirteen of the high school’s elite in compromising positions. Now it’s May, and every month since the “ Bakersville Dozen” made their infamous appearance on the national stage, one girl has gone missing. Officials are no closer to identifying the criminal.

Bailey “ Like a Virgin” Holzman is getting really fed up with the scrutiny. She just wants to enjoy the rest of her senior year and have an epic summer before heading off to college. So when she discovers a note inher locker on the last dayof school inviting heron a scavenger hunt, she thinks it’s just a sweet surprise from her boyfriend trying to cheer her up.

But following the clue leads her, instead, to the first official casualty. And another sinister envelope. The killer is close, and it could be anyone. Even the people Bailey’s always trusted most—her best friend, her perfect boyfriend, or the boy-next-door she’s always pined for.

With the clock ticking, she faces a terrifying choice: play the game by the killer’s rules—follow the clues, tell no one, and no cops—for a chance to save the rest of the missing girls, or risk becoming the next grisly victim.



1) What made you want to be a writer?
I lived across the street from a library when I was a child. I spent so much time there, surrounded by books, which felt so magical to me. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t dream of seeing my name on the front cover of a novel. 

2)What is your least favorite aspect of being a writer?
The rejection. It’s so hard when you pour your heart and soul into a novel and others (readers, editors, etc.) don’t feel the same love that you feel for your story and characters. But it’s part of the business, and I totally understand that there’s no way to write something for everyone, so I ultimately write for me– the younger version of me–and take the approach that if I’m happy with the final product, that’s what matters most. I feel that the best way to write something that will connect with readers is to write something that I connect with on an emotional level. 

3) What do you do when you get writers block?
I have to write myself through it. It’s the only way to the other side. It can be painful and slow, but it always works. 

4)Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Read as much as you can, within the genre you aspire to be part of, and without. Study what you like and what you don’t, what works and what doesn’t, and be aware of the trends, but don’t write to them. Write books that make you feel something deeply.

5) Do you have an email newsletter or a facebook page for my followers and I to join to keep up to date on you and your writing?

Readers can learn more on my website at http://kristinamcbride.com where I blog about any recent book news. Readers can also connect with me on Twitter @mcbridekristina.



Kristina McBride has published three novels for young adults - THE TENSION OF OPPOSITES, ONE MOMENT, and A MILLION TIMES GOODNIGHT. Her fourth novel, THE BAKERSVILLE DOZEN, willbe released July 2017.

Kristina is a former high school English teacher and yearbook advisor, aswellasan adjunct professor at Antioch University Midwest and Wright State University. Kristina has a thing for music, trees, purses, and chocolate. You might be surprised to learn that Kristina was almost kidnapped when she was a child. She also bookstalks people on a regular basis. Kristina lives in Ohio with her husband and two young children. You can learn more atwww.kristinamcbride.com.


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Blog Tour: Why I Loathe Sterling Lane by Ingrid Paulson



Why I Loathe Sterling Lane by Ingrid Paulson
Publication Date: June 6, 2017
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Synopsis:
Per her 537 rules, Harper Campbell keeps her life tidy—academically and socially. But the moment Sterling Lane transfers into her tiny boarding school, her twin brother gets swept up in Sterling’s pranks and schemes and nearly gets expelled. Harper knows it’s Sterling’s fault, and to protect her brother, she vows to take him down. As she exposes his endless school violations, he keeps striking back, framing her for his own infractions. Worst of all, he’s charmed the administration into thinking he’s harmless, and only Harper sees him for the troublemaker he absolutely is.

As she breaks rule after precious rule in her battle of wits against Sterling and tension between them hits a boiling point, she’s horrified to discover that perhaps the two of them aren’t so different. And maybe she doesn't entirely hate him after all. Teaming up with Sterling to save her brother might be the only way to keep from breaking the most important rule—protecting Cole.

Meet Ingrid,
Ingrid Paulson does not, in fact, loathe anyone. Although the snarky sense of humor and verbal barbs in Why I Loathe Sterling Lane might suggest otherwise (and shock those who think they know her best).

Ingrid lives in San Francisco with her husband and children and enjoys long-distance running, eavesdropping, and watching science documentaries. She has always loved books and writing short stories, but was surprised one day to discover the story she was working on wasn’t so short any more. Valkyrie Rising, a paranormal girl power story was

Ingrid’s first novel. Expect another humorous contemporary romance to join the list soon.



Author Links:


28 June 2017

Blog Tour: The Disappearences by Emily Bain Murphy



The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Release Date: July 4, 2017
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Magical Realism
Synopsis: What if the ordinary things in life suddenly…disappeared? Aila Quinn’s mother, Juliet, has always been a mystery: vibrant yet guarded, she keeps her secrets beyond Aila’s reach. When Juliet dies, Aila and her younger brother Miles are sent to live in Sterling, a rural town far from home--and the place where Juliet grew up.
Sterling is a place with mysteries of its own. A place where the experiences that weave life together--
scents of flowers and food, reflections from mirrors and lakes, even the ability to dream--vanish every seven years. No one knows what caused these “Disappearances,”
or what will slip away next. But Sterling always suspected
that Juliet Quinn was somehow responsible--and Aila must bear the brunt of their blame while she follows the chain of literary clues her mother left behind. As the
next Disappearance nears, Aila begins to unravel the dual mystery of why the Disappearances happen and who her mother truly was. One thing is clear: Sterling isn’t going to hold on to anyone's secrets for long before it starts giving them up.
t going to hold on to anyone's secrets for long before it starts giving them up. Meet Emily,

 Q & A with Emily:

1) What made you want to become a writer?
I love, love reading, and I always have.  I moved around a lot growing up, between Indiana, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. When I was in elementary school in Asia, there wasn’t a lot of television in English—or even the Internet—so I read. I found a constant home in books that I could always return to no matter where I was in the world, and I wrote my own stories along with them, and dreamed of becoming an author who might be able to provide that imaginary home for someone else some day. 

2) What is your least favorite thing about being a writer?
Ooh… Least favorite. Well, being a writer definitely involves a lot of rejection. I’d say my least favorite thing about being a writer is that it’s impossible to write a book that is going to please everyone. But we try!!

3) What do you do when you get writers block?
I’m a very visual person inspired by settings, so sometimes I make a Pinterest page. If I’m really stuck on a plot point, I’ll try to talk it out with my agent, my husband, or other author friends. Occasionally, I just have to set it down for a few days and read other people’s books until I feel like writing my own words again.

4) Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Read a lot, persevere, and don’t be shocked by how much you will likely need to revise. I try to remember that writing a book requires a lot of learning—sort of like athletes who prepare for the Olympics, and no one sees all of the falls or practices alone in the gym that happened leading up to the big event. You just see the results of all that hard work and preparation—just like when you pick up a finished book.

5) Do you have a email newsletter or a facebook page/group my followers and I can join to keep up to date on you and your writing?
Yes! Thank you for asking! I have a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/emilybainmurphy. I’m also on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ebain and Instagram at www.instagram.com/ebmwrites.

Thank you so much for having me—I had a lot of fun!


Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed learning about a new book as well as getting to know Emily!



20 June 2017

Blog Tour: Final Girls by Riley Sager

Final Girls

byRiley Sager
Publisher: Dutton Press
Release Date: July 18, 2017
Genre: Adult, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
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Synopsis:

Ten years ago, college student Quincy Carpenter went on vacation with five friends and came back alone, the only survivor of a horror movie–scale massacre. In an instant, she became a member of a club no one wants to belong to—a group of similar survivors known in the press as the Final Girls. Lisa, who lost nine sorority sisters to a college dropout’s knife; Sam, who went up against the Sack Man during her shift at the Night-light Inn; and now Quincy, who ran bleeding through the woods to escape Pine Cottage and the man she refers to only as Him. The three girls are all attempting to put their nightmares behind them, and, with that, one another. Despite the media’s attempts, they never meet. Now, Quincy is doing well—maybe even great, thanks to her Xanax prescription. She has a caring almost-fiancé, Jeff; a popular baking blog; a beautiful apartment; and a therapeutic presence in Coop, the police officer who saved her life all those years ago. Her memory won’t even allow her to recall the events of that night; the past is in the past. That is, until Lisa, the first Final Girl, is found dead in her bathtub, wrists slit, and Sam, the second, appears on Quincy’s doorstep. Blowing through Quincy’s life like a whirlwind, Sam seems intent on making Quincy relive the past, with increasingly dire consequences, all of which makes Quincy question why Sam is really seeking her out. And when new details about Lisa’s death come to light, Quincy’s life becomes a race against time as she tries to unravel Sam’s truths from her lies, evade the police and hungry reporters, and, most crucially, remember what really happened at Pine Cottage, before what was started ten years ago is finished.



Riley Sager is a pseudonym for an author who has been previously published under another name. A native of Pennsylvania, Riley is a writer, editor and graphic designer who now lives in Princeton, New Jersey. Riley's first novel, FINAL GIRLS (called "The first great thriller of 2017" by Stephen King), will be published in 2017 in the United States, the United Kingdom and more than a dozen countries around the world.





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19 June 2017

Blog Tour: Ahe'ey by Jamie le Fay


AHE'EY by Kamie Le Fay
Genre: Epic Fantasy Romance
Release Date: March 8, 2017
Synopsis: Morgan’s feminist books didn’t prepare her to deal with the dashing Gabriel and the land of Ahe’ey.
Morgan is a dreamer, change maker and art lover. She is
a feisty, slightly preachy, romantic feminist full of contradictions and insecurities. Morgan uncovers a world where women have the power, and where magic is no longer just a figment of her wild imagination. Sounds like a
dream, but it may, in fact, turn into a nightmare.
The world of the Ahe'ey challenges and subverts her views about gender, genes, and nature versus nurture.
The strong and uninvited chemistry between her and the dashing Gabriel makes matters even more complicated. His stunning looks keep short-circuiting her rational mind.


 EDITORIAL REVIEWS
“A bracing mix of emotionally and intellectually honest fantasy." - Kirkus Reviews

"This book is a thoughtful look at empowerment for women. At the same time, it’s a rollicking trip into a fantasy world complete with dragons, love and strength, and ideas that really get you thinking. This book is highly recommended for all ages." - HUGEOrange

"They're flawed, real, and honest characters that can be easily related to. Ahe'ey is the kind of novel society needs to read, to create inspiration and to make people think. Ahe'ey is daring,
complex, and honest. A must-read novel that tackles heavy and real topics with a mix of serious and humorous, charm and tragedy." - Reader's Favorite  “5 Star Review”

Ahe’ey contains a richly imagined world that raises complicated
 and timely questions about our own. Jamie Le Fay’s Ahe’ey is an
action-packed love story that puts forth a nuanced vision of gender
stereotypes, body politics, and the dark side of seeking perfection." - Foreword Clarion - 4 Star Review
 
Meet Jamie,
Jamie is an accomplished writer and speaker that focuses mainly on topics related to girlhood, feminism, gender equality, and the misrepresentation of minorities in media and marketing.















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15 June 2017

What I'm Currently Reading #2


Good Afternoon Comfort Readers! I'm back again to share my huge currently reading pile in hopes to making it much smaller. Here are a couple that are on my list and what I plan to do with them!

1) Strange Sweet Song by Adi Rule 
This was an impulse buy. I borrowed it from work to check it out because the author was coming to do a signing. I didn't finish by the time she arrived and so I bought it just because I was so excited and
she was really sweet. I got a good chunk into the book, but I think I might start all over since its been so long I really want to get back into the story on my own terms.

2) My Not so Super Sweet Life by Rachel Harris
So this was also requested on impulse. Rachel Harris is one of the only authors that I've read more than 2 or 3 books written by them so I definitely consider her one of my favorite authors, and the only reason why I didn't finish this is because it is an e-book and my e-reader broke :( I'm hoping to either get a physical copy or to start over on my phone soon!
3) Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson 
This is a book that was sent to me before it came out in stores so I believe it was an ARC or maybe even a finished copy right before it came out. Either way, the book is written in verse and I'm not a huge fan of verse so even though it was a good book when I started it didn't hold my interest that much so this is one I probably wont return to.

4) A Sister to Honor by Lucy Ferriss 
I really enjoyed this book while I was reading it and I was almost finished BUT I lost it! So I obviously don't want to just start over since I was almost done and I could fix that if I was keeping track of what page I was on with goodreads but I was stupid and didn't so unless I can find this missing book I probably won't be finishing it :(
 

5) The Hero of Blind Pig Island and other stories by Jimmy Olsen
This was a review book of short stories set on an Island. I got about halfway through some of the stories were really good some were bland but either way I was planning on finishing it but I've also lost this since my move back home so hopefully I can find it soon because it was a perfect beachy read!



Thanks for stopping by what are you guys reading!?

13 June 2017

Release Day Blitz: The D.B. List by Rebekah L. Purdy

 
Hello Readers!  Welcome to the Release Day Celebration for
The D.B. List by Rebekah L. Purdy
presented by Swoon Romance!
Grab your copy today!
 
Happy Book Birthday, Rebekah!
 
 
Seventeen-year-old Ellie Gebhardt has spent the last three years of high school in psychotherapy, trying to fix a very broken her. And her shrink (or therapist as she likes to be called) seems to think that in order to totally heal, she needs to recognize all the good and bad things that have led her to this point. As if a trip down memory lane will suddenly make her better.
She’s given a “homework” assignment to create two lists. One with nothing but happy memories and thoughts on it (otherwise known as the ‘happy rainbow farting unicorns list’). And the other with everything negative that Ellie thinks contributed to “the” day she could no longer cope.
So begins Ellie’s Douche Bag list (or D.B. List for short). And once she gets started, it’s hard to stop remembering all the jerks, the petty crap, the times she’d been bullied or the main focus of the rumor mill.
So when nice guy, Ky Laramie, walks into her life, Ellie instantly puts her shields up. But as she gets to know him and his family, she wonders if she can dare to put herself out there again. Because as everyone knows, once a candle is lit, the wind can always blow it out. And Ellie couldn’t handle it if Ky ends up atop of the D.B. List.
The D.B. List by Rebekah L. Purdy Publisher: Swoon Romance Release Date: June 13, 2017
 
 
Rebekah was born and raised in Michigan where she spent many late nights armed with a good book and a flashlight. She’s lived in Michigan most of her life other than the few years she spent in the U.S. Army. At which time she got a chance to experience Missouri, Kansas, South Carolina, and California.Rebekah has a business degree from University of Phoenix and currently works full time for the court system. In her free time she writes YA stories, anything from YA Fantasy to YA Contemporary Romance. Rebekah also has a big family (6 kids)—she likes to consider her family as the modern day Brady Bunch complete with crazy road trips and game nights.When not hiding at her computer, Rebekah enjoys reading, singing, soccer, swimming, football, camping, playing video games, traveling, and hanging out with her family and gazillion pets.
 
 
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