Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours Book Blast, & Giveaway: Deborah Swift

HF Virtual Book Tours is delighted to introduce you to historical novelist Deborah Swift! Deborah�s acclaimed novels are set in turbulent seventeenth century England and have been described as �brilliant� and �a must for all readers looking for something out of the ordinary but grippingly alive�. Her previous life as a scenographer and costume designer shine through as the settings are beautifully evoked, immersing the reader in the sights and smells of the time.

Deborah�s multi-layered and engrossing historical adventures will make perfect picks for reading groups. Reading Group Guides can be conveniently found in the back of each book and on her website.

Find more information on Deborah's novels below and enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card (�15 UK)!

The Lady's Slipper

Publication Date: June 3, 2011
Pan MacMillan
Formats: Ebook, Paperback

England, 1660.

The King is back, but memories of the English Civil War still rankle. In rural Westmorland, artist Alice Ibbetson has become captivated by the rare Lady�s Slipper orchid. She is determined to capture it�s unique beauty for posterity, even if it means stealing the flower from the land of the recently converted Quaker, Richard Wheeler. Fired by his newfound faith, the former soldier Wheeler feels bound to track down the missing orchid. Meanwhile, others are eager to lay hands on the flower, and have their own powerful motives.

Margaret Poulter, a local medicine woman, is seduced by the orchid�s mysterious herbal powers, while Geoffrey Fisk, Alice�s patron and former comrade-in-arms of Wheeler, sees the valuable plant as a way to repair his ailing fortunes and cure his own agonizing illness. Fearing that Wheeler and his friends are planning revolution, Fisk sends his son Stephen to spy on the Quakers, only for the young man to find his loyalties divided as he befriends the group he has been sent to investigate.

Then, when Alice Ibbetson is implicated in a brutal murder, she is imprisoned along with the suspected anti-royalist Wheeler. As Fisk�s sanity grows ever more precarious, and Wheeler and Alice plot their escape, a storm begins to brew, from which no party will escape unscathed. Vivid, gripping and intensely atmospheric, The Lady�s Slipper is a novel about beauty, faith and loyalty.

Praise for The Lady's Slipper

"The novel grips from the opening lines and carries the interest throughout. The several plot-lines are seamlessly blended and come together in a wholly satisfying conclusion. Her characters are so real that they linger in the mind long after the book is back on the shelf. Highly recommended." - Historical Novels Review Magazine

"Recommended for fans of Philippa Gregory and Rose Tremain, as well as students of the English Civil War." - Library Journal

�The intertwined stories of the orchid�s fate, the mounting problems between the Quakers and the King�s men, and Alice�s murder trial and its aftermath make for a riveting narrative.� - For the Love of Books Blog

The Gilded Lily

Publication Date: September 13, 2012
Pan MacMillan
Formats: Ebook, Paperback

Westmorland, 1660.

Sadie Appleby has lived all her life in her small village. One night she is rudely awoken by her older and bolder sister, Ella, who has robbed her employer and is on the run. The girls flee their rural home of Westmorland to head for London, hoping to lose themselves in the teeming city. But the dead man�s relatives are in hot pursuit, and soon a game of cat and mouse begins.

Ella becomes obsessed with the glitter and glamour of city life and sets her sights on the flamboyant man-about-town, Jay Whitgift. But nothing is what it seems � even Jay Whitgift.

Can Sadie survive a fugitive�s life in the big city? But even more pressing, can she survive life with her older sister Ella?

Set in London�s atmospheric coffee houses, the rich mansions of Whitehall, and the pawnshops, slums and rookeries hidden from rich men�s view, The Gilded Lily is about beauty and desire, about the stories we tell ourselves, and about how sisterhood can be both a burden and a saving grace.

Praise for The Gilded Lily

"There is no greater compliment than �Give me more!� A delight." - Susanna Gregory

"The Gilded Lily is impeccably written historical fiction. The detail is superb and life in London is so vividly depicted that the city seems to take on its own persona and become a lurking character in the story." - Let Them Read Books

"A heart-rending story of two sisters on the run, searching for a better life. Beautifully written and meticulously researched, the novel drew me straight into the teeming streets of Restoration London. An addictive, page-turning read." - Mary Sharratt


"Superb dialogue, steeped in contemporary language, adds credibility and atmosphere to this compelling tale which examines the ties that bind together siblings, the consequences of greed and ambition, the fickleness of fate and women�s constant battle to survive in a man�s world. The Gilded Lily is also a fast-paced adventure peopled with ruthless villains and feisty heroines whose exploits grab the imagination and add suspense and excitement to a historical gem." - Lancashire Evening Post

The Gilded Lily Book Trailer

A Divided Inheritance

UK Publication Date: October 24, 2013
Pan MacMillan
Formats: Ebook, Paperback

London, 1609.

Elspet Leviston�s greatest ambition is to continue the success of her father Nathaniel�s lace business. But her simple dreams are thrown into turmoil with the arrival of her mysterious cousin Zachary Deane � who has his own designs on Leviston�s Lace. Zachary is a dedicated swordsman with a secret past that seems to invite trouble. So Nathaniel sends him on a Grand Tour, away from the distractions of Jacobean London. Elspet believes herself to be free of her hot-headed relation but when Nathaniel dies her fortunes change dramatically. She is forced to leave her beloved home and go in search of Zachary � determined to claim the inheritance that is rightfully hers.

In the searing heat of Seville, Elspet and Zachary become locked in a battle of wills. But these are dangerous times and they are soon embroiled in the roar and sweep of something far more threatening, sending them both on an unexpected journey of discovery and finally unlocking the true meaning of family.

Praise for A Divided Inheritance

"a true gem. It has a pacy storyline, the characters are complex, intriguing and often unexpected � and it is packed with fascinating historical fact" - Gabrielle Kimm, author of His Last Duchess

"Elegantly written, A Divided Inheritance brings the uncertainty of the seventeenth century gloriously to life in an engaging tale of determination, tenacity and family loyalty." - Flashlight Commentary Blog

"a multifaceted tale about the consequences of religious intolerance, the expiation of guilt, the importance of family, and the appearance of unexpected love. And swordplay! The action sequences are as sharp and dazzling as Zachary�s hand-forged blade." - Sarah Johnson, Reading the Past

Buy the Books

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About the Author

Deborah Swift used to work in the theatre and at the BBC as a set and costume designer, before studying for an MA in Creative Writing in 2007. She lives in a beautiful area of Lancashire near the Lake District National Park. She is the author of The Lady�s Slipper and is a member of the Historical Writers Association, the Historical Novel Society, and the Romantic Novelists Association.

Website
Facebook
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The Riddle of Writing Blog
Royalty Free Fiction Blog
English History Authors Blog

Book Blast Schedule

Sunday, March 16
Lily Pond Reads
Kincavel Korner
Bibliophilia, Please
Passages to the Past
The True Book Addict

Monday, March 17
Mari Reads
Turning the Pages
A Chick Who Reads
Historical Fiction Connection
History from a Woman's Perspective

Tuesday, March 18
Just One More Chapter
Susan Heim on Writing
Caroline Wilson Writes
Historical Fiction Obsession
Historical Readings & Reviews

Wednesday, March 19
Book Nerd
Broken Teepee
Literary Chanteuse
Historical Tapestry

Thursday, March 20
Book Drunkard
Mina's Bookshelf
Curling Up By the Fire
To Read or Not to Read
Svetlana's Reads and Views

Friday, March 21
Closed the Cover
CelticLady's Reviews
The Little Reader Library
Books by the Willow Tree

Giveaway

To enter to win a $20 (�15 UK) Amazon Gift Card please complete the Rafflecopter giveaway form.

Giveaway will run from March 16-21. You must be 18 or older to enter.
Winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter on March 22 and notifiied via email.
Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

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I Am A Reader Blog Tour & Giveaway: Home Matters (Julie N. Ford)

Tour Schedule

Home Matters by Julie N. Ford According to her mother, Olivia Pembroke was born to be a star. But how is she supposed to be famous when she can't even get a decent acting gig? Her lucky break comes when she lands an audition for a wildly popular home improvement show. Even though she has no design training and has never even held a power tool, she refuses to let that stop her. She's confident that her destiny is finally within reach. When her affections are torn between her heartthrob co-host and the irritating, yet somehow endearing lead contractor, does she continue to reach for the stars? Or does she design a new happily ever after? One that leads not to the fading lights of fame and fortune, but to a love that will burn forever.

Amazon * Kobo * Barnes & Noble

  Author Julie N. Ford Julie is a forty-something, dangerously close to becoming a fifty-something, graduate from San Diego State University with a BA in Political Science. In addition, she has a Masters in Social Work from the University of Alabama, which has only made her better able to recognize the unhealthy, codependent relationship she has with writing. Professionally, she has worked in teaching and as a marriage and family counselor. She is the author of four women’s fiction novels, including Count Down to Love, a 2011 Whitney Award finalist. When she’s not writing, she entertains delusions of being a master gardener, that is, when she’s not killing the unsuspecting plants in her yard with her good intentions. She lives outside of Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband, two daughters, a Betta named Bob, and a Scottish fold kitten, Ardweal.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

The Ripple Effect Romance Novella Series Enjoy this exciting new series of clean novellas by six critically-acclaimed authors. "Like a pebble tossed into calm water, a simple act can ripple outward and have a far-reaching effect on those we meet, perhaps setting a life on a different course—one filled with excitement, adventure, and sometimes even love." Book 1: Home Matters by Julie N. Ford Book 2: Silver Linings by Kaylee Baldwin Book 3: Righting A Wrong by Rachael Anderson Book 4: Lost and Found by Karey White Book 5: Second Chances 101 by Donna K. Weaver Book 6: Immersed by Jennifer Griffith

Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 3/31/14   Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Inspired Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tasty Virtual Book Tours Blog Tour, Review, & Giveaway: Safe In the Tycoon's Arms (Jennifer Faye)

Click here for Tour Page and Schedule!!!

Paperback, 256 pages
Published March 4th 2014 by Harlequin

ARC Provided by Publisher

The man behind the headlines…
When billionaire Lucas Carrington returns to his New York mansion, he never expects to find beautiful stranger Kate Whitley making herself at home. Invited by his aunt to stay, he soon discovers she's a woman in need. She's raising funds for her sick daughter, so he agrees to let her stay—temporarily!

Kate may not belong in Lucas's high-society world, but she sees there is more to this tycoon than the headlines suggest. Yet with so much at stake, can she trust herself and her heart with New York's most sought-after bachelor?

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * Amazon UK

Jennifer Faye is a two-time RT Book Reviews Reviewers' Choice Best Book Award nominee. Maybe that’s partly due to the fact that she has spent most of her life with her nose in one book or another. It was only natural that she would go on to spin tales of her own. Now living her dream, she resides in Pennsylvania with her patient husband, one amazing daughter (the other remarkable daughter has flown the coop to chase her own dreams) and two spoiled cats. She’d love to hear from you via her website.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

One that will pull on the heart strings! If you are a parent or have a heart for children then this book will definitely leave an impression on you. Kate travels to New York to try and find a doctor that will agree to perform surgery on her 4 year old daughter, Molly. At the end of her rope Kate accepts the generosity of a stranger she meets at the hospital. Little did she know that the stranger was the Aunt to New York's most eligible bachelor!

 Lucas Carrington comes home early from a business trip to find a stranger living in his house, Kate!! Kate decides to stay at the house with Lucas while Molly is in the hospital. Sparks begin to fly between Kate and Lucas. What is Lucas hiding from Kate?! Why are they both holding back?! Can they both move forward from their past?! I recommend adding this to your reading list! I give it 4 stars!

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Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours Book Blast & Giveaway: The Chalice (Nancy Bilyeau)

The new novel The Chalice, by Nancy Bilyeau, sends readers on a page-turning historical quest. Set in Henry VIII's England, the story is driven by plot twists, deceptions, spiritual searching and romantic tension. Readers fall in love with protagonist Joanna Stafford, a Catholic novice forced to leave her priory and find her answers. "She is strong and determined and very likable," says one blogger. "Exhilarating," says Good Housekeeping, and "The novel is riveting and provides fascinating insight into into the lives of displaced nuns and priests, with fully realized characters," says RT Book Reviews. Launching in paperback on March 18 and available in ebook too.

The Chalice
by Nancy Bilyeau

Publication Date: March 18, 2014
Touchstone Publishing
Paperback; 496p
ISBN-10: 1476708665

Series: Joanna Stafford, Book Two
Genre: Historical Mystery

READ AN EXCERPT.

Between the crown and the cross stands one woman...

IN 1538, ENGLAND is in the midst of bloody power struggles that threaten to tear the country apart. Aristocrat-turned-novice Joanna Stafford knows what lies inside the king�s torture rooms and risks imprisonment when she is caught up in an international plot targeting the king. As the power plays turn vicious, Joanna understands she may have to assume her role in a prophecy foretold by three different seers.

Joanna realizes the life of Henry VIII, as well as the future of Christendom, are in her hands�hands that must someday hold the chalice that lies at the center of these deadly prophecies...

Praise for The Chalice

"A brilliant and gripping page-turner�A fascinating blend of politics, religion, mysticism and personal turmoil. Well-researched and filled with sumptuous detail, it follows Joanna�s early life from Bilyeau�s d�but novel, The Crown, but this book easily stands on its own. Bilyeau fills in the blanks from her earlier work while leaving the reader both wanting to read the first book and eagerly awaiting the next. This is a must-read for lovers of historical fiction." � Free Lance-Star

"English history buffs and mystery fans alike will revel in Nancy Bilyeau's richly detailed sequel to The Crown." � Parade

"The novel is riveting, and provides fascinating insight into the lives of displaced nuns and priests during the tumultuous Tudor period. Bilyeau creates fully realized characters, with complex actions and emotions, driving the machinations of these historic personages." � RT Book Reviews, (Top Pick)

"The human and political battles of Henry VIII's reformation are brought to exhilarating life in The Chalice by Nancy Bilyeau." � Good Housekeeping UK, April 2014

"Bilyeau sends her plucky former novice back into the intrigue-laden court of Henry VIII." � Entertainment Weekly

"Bilyeau continues from her first novel the subtle, complex development of Joanna�s character and combines that with a fast-paced, unexpected plot to hold the reader�s interest on every page . . . history and supernatural mysticism combine in this compelling thriller." � Historical Novel Society

"Joanna Stafford is a young novice caught up in power struggles familiar to readers of Hilary Mantel and C.J. Sansom, but with elements of magic that echo the historical thrillers of Kate Mosse." � S.J. Parris, author of 'Heresy,' 'Prophecy' and 'Sacrilege'

"[A] layered book of historical suspense." � Kirkus Reviews

"The Chalice is an engrossing mix of the complicated politics of the Reformation with the magical elements of the Dominican order, and Joanna--fiery, passionate, determined to honor what she thinks God wants her to do--is a fascinating character. Fans of historical mysteries, Tudor politics and supernatural fiction will all be pleased by the broad scope, quick-moving plot and historical integrity of Bilyeau's second novel." � Shelf Awareness

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Buy the Book

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IndieBound
Simon & Schuster

About the Author

Nancy Bilyeau has worked on the staffs of InStyle, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and Ladies Home Journal. She is currently the executive editor of DuJour magazine. Her screenplays have placed in several prominent industry competitions. Two scripts reached the semi-finalist round of the Nicholl Fellowships of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Her screenplay "Zenobia" placed with the American Zoetrope competition, and "Loving Marys" reached the finalist stage of Scriptapalooza. A native of the Midwest, she earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan. THE CROWN, her first novel, was published in 2012; the sequel, THE CHALICE, followed in 2013.

Some earlier milestones: In 1661, Nancy's ancestor, Pierre Billiou, emigrated from France to what was then New Amsterdam when he and his family sailed on the St. Jean de Baptiste to escape persecution for their Protestant beliefs. Pierre built the first stone house on Staten Island and is considered the borough's founder. His little white house is on the national register of historic homes and is still standing to this day.

Nancy lives in New York City with her husband and two children.

Author Links

Website
Blog
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Twitter
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Sign up for Nancy Bilyeau's Newsletter.

Nancy Bilyeau Gives an Inside Peek Behind THE CHALICE

Book Blast Schedule

Monday, March 17
Bibliophilia, Please
Book-alicious Mama
HF Book Muse-News
Flashlight Commentary
Confessions of an Avid Reader
So Many Books, So Little Time

Tuesday, March 18
A Book Geek
Kinx's Book Nook
Passages to the Past
Book Lovers Paradise
To Read or Not to Read
Oh, for the Hook of a Book
Historical Fiction Obsession

Wednesday, March 19
Closed the Cover
A Chick Who Reads
The True Book Addict
A Dream within a Dream

Thursday, March 20
CelticLady's Reviews
Ageless Pages Reviews
She is Too Fond of Books
Peeking Between the Pages

Friday, March 21
A Bookish Affair
The Maiden's Court
Let Them Read Books
Historical Fiction Connection

Giveaway

To enter to win one of 10 copies of The Chalice please complete the Rafflecopter giveaway form below. Giveaway is open to US residents only.

Giveaway will run from March 17-21. You must be 18 or older to enter.
Winners will be chosen via Rafflecopter on March 22 and notifiied via email.
Winners have 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

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Itching For Books Tours, Spotlight, & Giveaway: Drowning (Rachel Firasek)

Click here for Tour Page and Schedule!!

Series: Tears of Sin #1
Release date: October 19th 2013
Publisher: Naedge Publishing

"I dare you." Those words would change adrenaline junkie, Alice Harrison's life forever. She's a party girl that doesn't believe in love until she meets a man that only writes about it. Seth James escaped his overbearing father and moved into one of the James family's vacant condos, hoping to create the music he loves in peace. But the fragile calm he's envisioned shatters when a tiny woman with a world full of energy bounces out of the elevator and nearly takes him out. With the patience of a saint, Seth seeks the dark that keeps Alice from enjoying life. He challenges her to exorcise the demons in her past in order to discover the true meaning of love. But when the walls fall down, the hidden deceptions will bare the ugly truth about a woman drowning in sorrow and a man who may not know how to be her hero. 

Purchase from Amazon 

Rachel Firasek spends her days daydreaming of stories and her nights putting the ideas to ink. She has spent a dull life following the rules, meeting deadlines, and toeing the line, but in her made up worlds, she can let the wild side loose. Her wonderful husband and three children support her love of the written word and only ask for the occasional American Idol or Swamp People quality hour.
She has a philosophy about love. It must devastate or it isn’t truly worth loving. She hopes that you all find your devastating love and cling to it with all your heart!

www.rachelfirasek.com/ | twitter.com/RachelFirasek | facebook.com/RachelFirasekAuthor

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Review: Sea of Shadows (Kelley Armstrong)

Paperback, 416 pages
Expected publication: April 8th 2014 by HarperCollins
ARC Provided by Publisher for Honest Review

In the Forest of the Dead, where the empire’s worst criminals are exiled, twin sisters Moria and Ashyn are charged with a dangerous task. For they are the Keeper and the Seeker, and each year they must quiet the enraged souls of the damned.
Only this year, the souls will not be quieted.
Ambushed and separated by an ancient evil, the sisters’ journey to find each other sends them far from the only home they’ve ever known. Accompanied by a stubborn imperial guard and a dashing condemned thief, the girls cross a once-empty wasteland, now filled with reawakened monsters of legend, as they travel to warn the emperor. But a terrible secret awaits them at court—one that will alter the balance of their world forever.

Amazon * Kobo  

Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.
Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.

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First thing that grabbed my eye about this book was the fascinating cover. A dark forest with some type of red leaves encircling it creating a strange looking creature...possibly a winged animal...So mysterious...LOVE it!!

I have never read any of Kelley Armstrong's books but have definitely heard of her and have been told several times that I need to!! So when I started reading so many positive reviews on this book then I knew I had to try it!! 

The prologue of the book really grabbed me and caught my attention....

"#1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong takes an exciting new direction with this big, breathtaking trilogy that blends fantasy, romance, horror, and pulse-pounding action, perfect for fans of Graceling and Game of Thrones."

I then continued to read it and it got kinda slow for me but I just had a feeling that I needed to keep reading and that the best was yet to come!! and I was exactly right! Around the middle of the book I absolutely COULD NOT put it down. 

The main characters are twin sisters, Moria and Ashyn. They were marked and birth to be Seeker and Keeper of Edgewood. Their destiny is to lead a group into the Forest of the Dead each year to pay respect to the spirits who have passed and to help them to the next world. They are trained in fighting and secret rites of spirits which helps them to complete their mission.

I am not even sure where to start on describing this book and all of its awesomeness...It has a little bit of everything in it. It has romance, drama, action, and some serious horror and that is probably my favorite part. The forest is so creepy and mysterious and the obstacles that Moria and Ashyn face are at some points horrific. I found myself cringing and flipping pages so fast just to see what happened next. It seemed that their worst fears were all coming true and they were being tested at each turn. 

"The face of something from a nightmare, gray skin stretched over bone, jutting chin and nose and cheekbones. No lips, just a slash of a mouth. And teeth. Fangs. So big his mouth could close. He let out another of those terrible cries, his jaw stretching open until all she could see were the fangs."

Moria and Ashyn also have guards that assist them through this journey and of course I loved both of them. Strong, angry Ronan and quiet, mysterious Gavril were incredible characters that added immensely to the storyline. 

The twins also have their loyal "beasts" that are always at their sides and are born to protect them and stand by them till the day they die. I truly love this aspect of the story. I love when an author includes animals in the story and especially when they perform a specific function in the story line such as this. The animals are so important and cause many emotions throughout the story. Ashyn has Tova, a hound dog and Moira has Daigo, a wildcat. 

"Tova was a Hound of the Immortals, almost as much a creature of legend as those in her sister's tales. Raised in a secret location and given only to Seekers, a Hound of the Immortals lived as long as a human and was said to be the reincarnation of a great warrior from the First Age."

Again, I cannot express how much I loved this book!! Yes it was slow at first but hang in there because it was REALLY GOOD!!! I cannot wait until the second one comes out and I will read it immediately!! and now I want to go and read all of Kelley Armstrong's books because I love how much emotion she put into this book and I am positive her other books are just as good as this one!!

***I want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to HarperCollins for allowing me to review this phenomenal book!!! and also to Melissa Murray for recommending it!! As always she was spot on that I would love it!!***

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: I Know Lucy (Melissa Pearl)

Releases on April 20, 2014

Add to your Want To Read List on Goodreads

Genre: YA Romantic Suspense

Lucy Tate is on the run. After witnessing the brutal murder of her parents, she's spent five years in hiding -- taking on different personas and faking her way through life. The authorities can't be trusted, so she remains in the shadows, always one beat ahead of the man who is forever hunting her. That is, until she meets Zach Schultz, a senior at Monte Vista High and the one guy she can’t bear to leave. Suddenly her natural instincts to lie, steal, and run are overshadowed by something else...the desire to stay. It’s her one shot at a normal life.

Curious by nature, Zach is immediately drawn to the new girl at school. How can a person look both confident and vulnerable all in the same moment? Determined to learn more about her, he tries to get close, but is thrown into a world of lies and confusion. The only thing that becomes apparent is that discovering the truth may get him killed.

ZACH...

"This is different, you guys." I shook my head. "I mean yes, she is gorgeous. And yes, I'm attracted to her, but it's not just her looks. There's something about her. She's intriguing. It's like she's not all she appears to be or something."

"You can tell that after two minutes of interacting with her? Give me a break." Elliot balled up his napkin and threw it on the table.

"I know I don't know her at all yet, but I can tell there's something more there." I rubbed my bottom lip.

"She looks normal to me." AJ shrugged.

"I think she's pretty. She looks sweet, but..." Liesl turned to spy her quickly. "AJ's right. She looks like any other transfer student. What makes her so different?"

"It's something about her eyes. There's a story in them. I can't even explain why I think that. I just feel like she's got a lot of layers and I want to peel back every single one of them."

"I bet you do." Elliot raised his eyebrows.

"Not like that." I threw him a droll look. "I just want to solve the mystery that is Danielle Harrison."

"Dude, there is no mystery." Elliot slapped his hand lightly on the table.

"Yes there is. I can feel it."

"Careful, Zachy, your Nancy Drew is showing." Jaeda's green eyes were large and round as she gave me a playful look.

"I don't care." I shrugged, confident in the truth that I really didn't. "That girl over there has secrets and I'm gonna figure out what they are."

Giveaway

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Author Bio

Melissa Pearl was born in Auckland, New Zealand, but has spent much of her life abroad, living in countries such as Jordan, Cyprus and Pakistan... not to mention a nine month road trip around North America with her husband. "Best. Year. Ever!!" She now lives in China with her husband and two sons. She is a trained elementary teacher, but writing is her passion. Since becoming a full time mother she has had the opportunity to pursue this dream and her debut novel hit the internet in November 2011. Since then she has continued to produce a steady stream of books. Recently she signed with Evatopia Press and her first Evatopia book is coming out in February 2014 - True Colors, The Masks Series #1. She is very excited to be trying out new things this year while continuing to publish under her own name as well. She has six books planned for 2014 and is excited about writing each and every one of them.

"I am passionate about writing. It stirs a fire in my soul that I never knew I had. I want to be the best writer I can possibly be and transport my readers into another world where they can laugh, cry and fall in love."

http://www.melissapearlauthor.com

Social Links:

Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/melissapearlauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MelissaPearlG

Blogs: http://melissapearl.blogspot.com/ and http://yalicious.blogspot.com/

Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/melissapearl

Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5314516.Melissa_Pearl

Smashwords Author Page: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/melissapearl

Newsletter subscription: ‪ http://eepurl.com/p3g8v

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Website: http://www.melissapearlauthor.com

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/melissapearlg/

Other Titles by Melissa Pearl:

The Time Spirit Trilogy

Golden Blood - Black Blood - Pure Blood

The Betwixt Series

Betwixt - Before - Beyond

The Mica & Lexy Series

Forbidden Territory

Forbidden Waters (due for release: 2014)

The Masks Series

True Colors

Book 2 (due for release: 2014)

Book 3 (due for release: 2014)

Book 4 (due for release: 2015)

The Fugitive Series

I Know Lucy (Releasing: April 20th, 2014)

Set Me Free (Releasing: May 18th, 2014)

The Song Bird Series

Fever (Releasing: June 15th, 2014)

I Am A Reader Blog Tour & Giveaway: A Thousand Perfect Things (Kay Kenyon)

Tour Schedule

  A Thousand Perfect Things In this epic new work, the award-winning Kenyon, whose work has be compared to Larry Nivens and Stephen R. Donaldson, creates an alternate Earth in the 19th century. This Earth is ruled by two warring factions—scientific Anglica (England) and magical Bharata (India). Tori Harding, a Victorian woman, whose heart aches to claim the legendary powers of the golden lotus, must leave her reasoned world behind and journey to Bharata. In pursuit of the golden lotus, Tori will be forced to brave its magics, intrigues, deadly secrets and haunted places, to claim her destiny and choose between two lovers in two irreconcilable realms. As a great native insurrection sweeps the continent of Bharata—Tori will find the thing she most desires, beautifully flawed and more wonderfully strange than she could have ever dreamed.  

  Praise for A Thousand Perfect Things "This has become my favorite of all Kay Kenyon's books. The science-driven men of Anglica have constructed a marvel of engineering-a bridge that crosses the ocean-but they don't understand the mystical forces they're facing in the dangerously seductive country of Bharata. As usual, Kenyon offers flawless world-building and a diverse cast of characters driven by conflicting and wholly believable desires. This is a rich, gorgeous, and marvelously detailed tapestry of a book." -- Sharon Shinn, Author of Troubled Waters and Royal Airs "Kay Kenyon has once again created a world into which one blissfully disappears, replete with magic and monsters, romance and reigning dynasties, set upon the fragile social scaffolding of mid-nineteenth century England. The story is, literally and figuratively, a bridge between the mystical and the very real, with a young heroine who a delivers a deliciously vicarious ride. Brilliantly told with elegant yet occasionally jarring prose, A Thousand Perfect Things is a masterwork from the mind of one of our best authors of compelling alternate realities." -- Larry Brooks, Author of Story Engineering

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * Book Depository

  Author Kay Kenyon Kay Kenyon is the author of eleven science fiction and fantasy novels, including A Thousand Perfect Things. She is the author of the critically acclaimed science fiction quartet, The Entire and The Rose. Bright of the Sky was among PW's top 150 books of 2007. The series has twice been shortlisted for the ALA Reading List awards and three times for the Endeavour Award. Four of her novels have been translated into French, Spanish and Czech. Along with her novels Tropic of Creation and Maximum Ice, two of the works in the quartet received starred reviews from PW.

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Blog Tour Giveaway 

 $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 3/31/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. 

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Rockstar Book Tours Blog Tour, Interview, & Giveaway: Donna of The Dead (Alison Kemper)

Title: DONNA OF THE DEAD
Author: Alison Kemper
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Pub. Date: March 4, 2014

Donna Pierce might hear voices, but that doesn’t mean she’s crazy. Probably.The voices do serve their purpose, though—whenever Donna hears them, she knows she’s in danger. So when they start yelling at the top of their proverbial lungs, it’s no surprise she and her best friend, Deke, end up narrowly escaping a zombie horde. Alone without their families, they take refuge at their high school with the super-helpful nerds, the bossy head cheerleader, and—best of all?—Lance, hottie extraordinaire and Donna’s long-time crush. When Lance is around, it’s easy to forget about the moaning zombies, her dad’s plight to reach them, and how weird Deke is suddenly acting toward her.
But as the teens’ numbers dwindle and their escape plans fall apart, Donna has to listen to the secrets those voices in her head have been hiding. It seems not all the zombies are shuffling idiots, and the half-undead aren’t really down with kids like Donna…

Find it:

Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes& Noble

Alison Kemper grew up in South Florida, the only girl on a street with eleven boys. She spent most of her childhood paddling a canoe through neighborhood canals and looking for adventure. She usually found it. Sometimes the police were involved. And large dogs. And one time, a very territorial snake. She now lives in North Carolina and writes books. The books often include girls having adventures. With boys. Cute boys. And cute dogs too. But no cute snakes. Never cute snakes.

Her debut novel, Donna of the Dead, will be published by Entangled Teen in 2014 and followed by two companion novels. She loves to meet new people and talk books, so send her a friend request or connect with her on Twitter and Instagram.

Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads * Instagram

What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

I’ve always had scary dreams. In one, I was holed up in a bank building surrounding by zombies, and my dad refused to give me a gun because I was “too young.” There was also a hot guy hiding in the bank. Something happened with this hot guy. (This something ends up in the book, so I can’t tell you ‘cause, you know *spoilers*.) When I woke up that morning, I HAD to write down this dream. I’d never done any creative writing in my life, but once I started, I couldn’t stop. I swapped the bank setting for a high school and gave the dad a more minor role. I had no idea I was writing a novel that would be published—I just knew I was having a great time.   

Who is your favorite character in the book?

Deke. I think he’s everyone’s favorite character. I considered writing the novel from his POV, because he’s such a likable guy, but I worried if he was hearing voices and saving the world, he might be too much of a Marty Stu.

Which came first, the title or the novel?

Definitely the title. Shaun of the Dead is one of my all-time favorite movies. And the title just screams, funny zombies. I wanted something similar, but with a girl’s name.  

What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?

There’s a scene near the end, when readers finally discover what causes the voices in Donna’s head. My marvelous agent Kristin Miller-Vincent made me write/revise/rewrite this aspect of the book over and over. Seriously, it took a month of swapping emails before I finally got it right. There were tons of little details, scattered throughout the novel that had to be changed. I was so frustrated at that point I almost wanted to feed Donna to the zombies. But Kristin was right, and I’ve already gotten compliments from readers about how much they like this part of the book. It was a struggle, but it was worth it.

Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?

Enjoy yourself. Not too many people get rich or famous in this biz. At the end of the day, it’s just you, the laptop and the stories in your head. Make sure you’re having a good time.

What do you like most about the cover of the book?

I LOVE Donna’s hair. So pretty. And the boy. I won’t tell you which boy it is, but damn, he looks just like he does in my head. The zombies make me laugh because they’re all so quirky. I want to write stories about each one of them. For example, why is one holding sneakers?

What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2014?

I am a HUGE fan of Mike Mullin’s Ashfall trilogy. I’m dying to get my hands on Sunrise and find out how it all ends.

What was your favorite book in 2013?

I started Maggie Stiefvater’s Raven Cycle last year. I adored The Raven Boys (Gansey!) and was sure The Dream Thieves would be a letdown. It was not. Amazing plot.  And also, Ronan! Sheesh, that Maggie Stiefvater sure can write fantastic boy characters.

What’s up next for you?

Two companion novels for Donna of the Dead. Same virus, same time frame, different characters. The next one is tentatively titled Dwight of the Living Dead. I’m going to try my hand at writing from a boy’s POV. Wish me luck. 

Is there anything that you would like to add?

Thanks for having me on your blog and for all the fun interview questions! And thanks to all the Donna of the Dead readers. You guys have made my writing dreams come true!

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Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/10/2014- Watcha Reading- Review

3/10/2014- Parajunkee's View- Interview

3/11/2014- Creating Serenity- Review

3/11/2014- Fantasy Book Addict- Guest Post

3/12/2014- Clever Girls Read- Review

3/12/2014- Step Into Fiction- Interview

3/13/2014- Taking It One Book at a Time- Review

3/13/2014- Library of the Seen- Excerpt

3/14/2014- Racing To Read- Review

3/14/2014- Pivot Book Reviews- Guest Post

Week Two:

3/17/2014- The Reading Diaries- Review

3/17/2014- Addicted Readers- Interview

3/18/2014- Sabrina's Paranormal Palace - Review

3/18/2014- Happy Booker- Excerpt

3/19/2014- vvb32 reads - Review

3/19/2014- Curling Up With A Good Book- Interview

3/20/2014- The Phantom Paragrapher- Review

3/20/2014- Imagine a World- Excerpt

3/21/2014- Mom With A Kindle- Review

3/21/2014- Comfort Books- Guest Post