Decked with Holly by Marni Bates - Interview & Giveaway

Welcome to Author Marni Bates

Marni Bates began her writing career at the age of 19 with her autobiography, Marni, for HCI’s Louder Than Words series. Her debut novel, Awkward, has been translated into Portuguese, Spanish and Hungarian and has been optioned by Disney Channel as a made for TV movie. She has three other novels with KTeen; Decked with Holly, Invisible, and Notable, as well as a short story in Ambush Books’ Magical Mayhem Anthology.

In her free time she can be found reading romance novels, rollerblading, singing really loudly (and off-key) in public and . . . watching copious amounts of television. You can visit her at www.MarniBates.com, check out her author page on Facebook, follow her on Twitter at @MarniBates, or do all of the above! Really. It would make her day.

Interview

If you were a superhero what would your name be?
I would like to be one half of a superhero team called Marnes and Noble. We would fly around supplying books to underfunded school systems around the world.

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.
There is a scene that involves pepper spray and it will make you laugh...probably.

Any other books in the works?
Right now, I am actually working on the copyedits for INVISIBLE, which is written entirely from Jane’s point of view. And I’m trying to finish my first round of edits on Chelsea’s book, NOTABLE, before the end of the year. And I am working on another short story for an anthology called LOVE STINKS. *Gulps down nearest caffeinated beverage* It will all work out somehow.

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
Getting messages from readers who have enjoyed my books. Definitely. I do an incredibly geeky happy dance every single time.

Is there a song you could list as the theme song for your book or any of your characters?
Oooh, I can’t choose just one song! So here is a mini-playlist for each book in the series.

AWKWARD:

“Be OK” by Ingrid Michaelson
“Uncharted” by Sara Bareilles
“The Show” by Lenka

DECKED WITH HOLLY:

“Overboard” by Ingrid Michaelson
“Scar” by Missy Higgins
“Always in the Season” by Pomplamoose
“Do My Thing” by Estelle

INVISIBLE:

“I Try” by Macy Gray
“Jane Doe” by Never Shout Never
“Naive” by The Kooks
“Maybe, This Time” by OK Go

NOTABLE:

“True Love” by Pink
“Go Places” by The New Pornographers
“Unbroken” by Missy Higgins
“If It Kills Me” by Jason Mraz

What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?
Write what you want to read.

If you could be one of the Greek Gods, which would it be and why?
I never really liked the Greek gods. I mean, they throw these stupid temper tantrums over freaking beauty pageants and then they don’t even feel guilty when hundreds of thousands of people end up dead! But when I was invited to participate in The Magical Mayhem anthology I did a little research on Nemesis (aka the Greek goddess of revenge) and found myself writing a really funny origin story for her called, EPIC REVENGE.

But that’s as close to any of those gods/goddesses as I ever want to get!

What is your favorite quote?
“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Although I still have a soft spot for the Winston Churchill quote I used in my high school yearbook: “History shall be kind to me for I intend to write it.”

Bwahaha!

When you were little, what did you want to be when you "grew up"?
I didn’t have a clear visual of what I wanted to be in any professional sense. I daydreamed more about being popular and happy and the queen of the forest with lots of little bunny friends. Oh, and I really wanted a falcon. Somehow it never occurred to me that the falcon might pose a risk to my little bunny friends.

Mainly I wanted to become a socially well-adjusted adult. I’m not sure I’ve quite achieved that yet, but I think I’ve come pretty close to it!

Who are your favorite authors of all time?
Julie Andrews, Meg Cabot, Gordon Korman, Jane Austen, Ally Carter, Jennifer Crusie, Julia Quinn, Tessa Dare...the list goes on for quite awhile.

Can you see yourself in any of your characters?
Actually, I can see parts of myself in almost all of my characters. Even the ones who aren’t exactly *cough* known for being nice.

Here’s a good example: When I first started working on AWKWARD, I absolutely hated the queen of the Notables, Chelsea Halloway.

I despised her.

But then I realized that just because she’s blonde and gorgeous and, y’know, the anti-Marni, doesn’t mean we didn’t share some of our insecurities. Chelsea’s biggest problem is that she doesn’t know if she’s smart...and as the youngest of four kids there were many years I questioned my own intelligence. I’ve always been considered the odd duckling in my family. My disinterest in the practical things in life made a pretty compelling case to stick me with the honorific of Least Likely to Succeed.

Not that my family would ever say as much...to my face.

Still, I could really relate to Chelsea’s post-high school related insecurities.

What's the craziest writing idea you've had?
I once considered writing INVISIBLE as a paranormal book. I think that will always rank high up there on the list of Marni’s Worst Ideas Ever. Right next to my elementary school plan of taking a carton of eggs from the refrigerator and trying to hatch them in my sock drawer.

What's the best advice anyone has ever given you?
Be yourself. It’s a classic piece of advice for a reason.

Hidden talent?
I’m pretty darn good at rollerblading.

What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?
PERFECT SCOUNDRELS. I am unspeakably excited to read the third book in Ally Carter’s Heist Society series. Seriously. You don’t want me to start talking about it unless you’re willing to run the risk that I will never shut up.

Nickname?
Technically, “Marni” is a nickname. My full legal name is actually Marnina, which means “celebration” or “rejoice” in Hebrew. I’ve always considered my full name beautiful but truncating it to Marni fits my personality much better. My family must agree because even when I’ve been at my most obnoxious nobody has ever called me Marnina.

If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?
AWKWARD. Actually, when my dad saw my debut novel on the shelf in Barnes & Noble, he read the title and asked if it was my autobiography. He also wasn’t kidding.

Do you prefer a bunch of small gifts or one big expensive one?
Size doesn’t really play into it for me. My favorite gifts are ones that shows how well the gift-giver knows me. Whether it’s a pearl necklace, a romance novel, a Starbucks gift card, a sweet postcard, a song left on my voicemail, or a pair of spy sunglasses so I can see if someone tries to sneak up on me...they all make me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside.

What do you think of book trailers?
I love them! In fact, I’ve been making my own book trailers using entirely my own art.

DECKED WITH HOLLY book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsTkuEG13_0

As you can see, I’ve gotten quite a bit better since I made my trailer for AWKWARD!

AWKWARD book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5MorKImrEg

I’ve found creating book trailers works as a really great artistic outlet for me when I need a break from writing or editing.

What's your favorite word?
Brouhaha.

Top 3 things on your bucket list?
1. Go skydiving.
2. Explore Greece in a skirt that swirls and swooshes with every step.
3. Meet my writing heros without doing anything horribly embarrassing, like y’know, sobbing.

Describe your book in 3 words
Hilarious holiday romance.

Do your characters really talk to you?
Not precisely. They definitely talk in my head but I don’t think it’s ever directed at me. It’s more like I hear their internal monologue. And sometimes when they are really mad about something I have to listen to their ranting for hours.

Where is your favorite spot to write?
I find I focus better on my writing in crowded, well-caffeinated areas like Starbucks. But I once bought a pass for the Northwest Music Festival, squeezed my way into an unoccupied corner of the venue, and cranked out some pages on my laptop in the midst of the rock concert.

Yeah, I’m that level of dorky.

What is your favorite part of the writing/publishing process?
I love writing the first three chapters when the story can go anywhere!

Decked With Holly


Holly Dayton is about to go way out of her comfort zone…

Spending Christmas vacation on a cruise with her two cousins from hell isn’t Holly’s idea of a good time. And when in a moment of seasick-fueled desperation she lurches into an open suite—she’s greeted with an eyeful of pepper spray. The culprit? A gorgeous guy calling himself Nick. But when Holly goes to make her exit, she gets the shock of her life: a corridor crammed with screaming teenage fans. Because Nick just happens to be Dominic Wyatt, drummer for ReadySet—one of the hottest bands in America.

Suddenly rumors are swirling, and Holly’s face is captured on countless phones and plastered all over the Internet. But the band can’t risk a scandal destroying their family-friendly image, so Dominic convinces Holly to be his fake girlfriend—just for two weeks. How bad could it be to be fauxmantically involved with one of the cutest rockstars on the planet? Holly’s about to find out…

Tour Schedule

Week One:

Dec. 31, 2012 - Kathy @ I Am A Reader Not A Writer - Author Interview

Jan. 1, 2013 - Karielle @ Books a la Mode - Guest Post - Author Top Ten

Jan. 2, 2013 - Krystal @ Live to Read - Review

Jan. 3, 2013 - Aeicha @ Word Spelunking - Guest Post

Jan. 4, 2013 - JennRenee @ JennRenee Read - Review

Week Two:

Jan. 7, 2013 - Tara @ Hobbitsies - Guest Post
Jan. 8, 2013 - Kailia @ Reading the Best of the Best - Review

Jan. 9, 2013 - Hannah @ The Girl in a Cafe - Author Interview

Jan. 10, 2013 - Emilie @ Emilie's Book World - Review

Jan. 11, 2013 - Rachel @ Parajunkee - Guest Post

Giveaway Details
1 copy of Decked with Holly
Open to US only
Ends 1/21/12


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Silver Sphere by Michael Dadich - Spotlight & Giveaway

Author Michael Dadich

I’ve been writing since first setting pencil to steno pad at age 8. A year later, I began developing the world of my current series-in-progress, and even created its title, The Silver Sphere. Now, with the support of years of experience, those early maps and back stories have progressed into what I hope is a fresh and entertaining take on the classic young adult fantasy adventure.

Despite my frequent escapes into parallel worlds, I root myself firmly in my very real family and community. When not pacing the yard maniacally after every few pages of writing, I spend as much time as possible hanging out with my studly 9-year-old son, and my inspirational wife Jenna. I also coach several local youth sports teams in Beverly Hills, and alternate between yelling at my two crazy Corgis and hiking with my trained German Shepherd.

For more, join me in my favorite fantasy worlds, from Lord of the Rings to the creations of C.S. Lewis, Anne McCaffrey and Terry Brooks. Even more importantly, stop by and say hello on my Facebook page at AuthorMichaelDadich, tweet me at @MichaelDadich, and stalk my website at http://www.thesilversphere.org.

The Silver Sphere

Shelby Pardow never imagined she could kill someone. All she wants to do is hide from her troubled father… when she is teleported to awaiting soldiers on the planet Azimuth. Here she is not a child, but Kin to one of the six Aulic Assembly members whom Malefic Cacoethes has drugged and imprisoned. He seeks to become dictator of this world (and then Earth by proxy).

His father, Biskara, is an evil celestial entity, tracked by the Assembly with an armillary device, The Silver Sphere. With the Assembly now deposed, Biskara directs Malefic and the Nightlanders to their strategic targets. Unless….

Can Shelby find the other Kin, and develop courage and combat skills? Can the Kin reassemble in time to release or replace the Assembly, overthrowing Malefic and restraining Biskara?

Tour Giveaway
Leave a comment to enter.
Michael will be awarding a $75 Amazon or BN.com gift card to a randomly drawn commenter.

Book Review: City Limits by Sheralyn Pratt

Title: City Limits
Author: Sheralyn Pratt
Series: Rhea Jensen #3
Publisher: Cedar Fort
Released: October 8, 2010
Website: http://sheralynpratt.blogspot.com/

Book Summary

In the third installment of the Rhea Jensen series, Rhea's best friend Kay McCoy moves to Salt Lake City to keep a closer eye on Rhea, and Rhea worries that Kay wants things to go back to the way they were in Los Angeles - clubbing, dancing, and men. But when Rhea agrees to do a simple, harmless favor for Kay, she unwittingly sets off a series of events that ends up with a secret society appearing right at her door. The stakes are higher than ever - solving the case means more than just collecting her weekly paycheck. This time, it's a matter of life and death.

While reviewing books on my to read list City Limits caught my eye.  I remembered how much I enjoyed the first two books in this series so I requested City Limits from the library and jump right into it.  I was not disappointed.

Sheralyn has such a fun way of poking fun at the LDS culture.  She makes me laugh at her characters and at myself too.

I love the relationship between Rhea & Ty and love the supporting characters too.

If you are looking for something a little snarky and a lot of fun the Rhea Jensen series is a great bet.

This book was originally released back in 2005 with the title Idle Playgrounds.  Someday I would like to go back and read the original release to see what has changed as I read that quite a bit has.

Rating: 4 stars - Great Book

Content: Clean

Source: Library

Book Review: Candy Fairies by Helen Perelman

Candy Fairies by Helen Perelman Books 1-3

Chocolate Dreams

Cocoa the Chocolate Fairy has been picked to watch over the special chocolate eggs for the spring Egg Parade. But right before the parade, the eggs are missing from the nest. Can Cocoa and her friends solve the egg mystery before the big day?

Rainbow Swirl

In Rainbow Swirl, Raina is a young Gummy Fairy getting ready for the annual candy contest at the castle. But a terrible storm swirls all the colors of the candies together the night before the event! Can Raina create a new candy in time for the contest?

Caramel Moon

All the fairies expect to eat candy corn at the Harvest Festival, but the crop of candy corns is shrinking! Is someone playing a trick? Mellie the Caramel Fairy discovers that the Chuchies are back and have been digging in the fields, pulling up the candy corns before the fairies can collect them. Mellie makes sure the Chuchies learn a lesson while her friends help her to harvest a new crop of candy corn just in time for the festival.




My first grader decided she was done with picture books and ready for chapter books and these were the books she chose for me to read to her.  I was not excited to read these and it honestly took me a while to get into the rhythm of the story and all it's sugary sweetness.  Thankfully they did grow on me as we went along.

I'd say these are just so/so read alouds but my daughter who these books are aimed at thinks they are amazing.

We do have the 4th book in the series but when we finished book 3 she decided she wanted to have me read something different to her.  I'm assuming someday soon she'll want to return to this series but she's done for now.

If you have a 6-8 year old they would likely enjoy these stories too.

Content: Obviously totally clean

Rating: 3.5 Stars - Good Book for those transitioning to chapter books.

Source: Won in a giveaway

2012 End of the Year Book Survey

Hosted by The Perpetual Page-Turner

Best In Books 2012

1. Best Book You Read In 2012? (You can break it down by genre if you want)

The Reluctant Bachelorette, The Rent Collector, Edenbrooke

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Why We Broke by by Daniel Handler or Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012?

Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan - I really need to read the next one & The Rent Collector by Camron Wright

4. Book you recommended to people most in 2012?

The Reluctant Bachelorette by Rachael Anderson & Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson

5. Best series you discovered in 2012?

Revenants, Divergent or Soul Screamer

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012?

Julianne Donaldson, Amy Plum, Kelly Oram

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

Where She Went - Way too much language for me but I still loved it

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012?

Divergent

9. Book You Read In 2012 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year:

Edenbrooke

 

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?

Grace Doll by Jennifer Laurens

11. Most memorable character in 2012? 

Karou from Daughter of Smoke & Bone

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2012?

Daughter of Smoke & Bone/Days of Blood & Starlight

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012? 

The Rent Collector

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2012 to finally read? 

Anna and the French Kiss

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2012? 

I didn't write anything down but I'm sure it came from The Rent Collector

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2012? 

The longest is likely The Book of Mormon & the shortest is probably The Candy Fairies

17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!

Daughter of Smoke & Bone

18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2012 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).

Mia & Adam from Where She Went

19. Favorite Book You Read in 2012 From An Author You Read Previously

Touch of Power by Maria Snyder

20. Best Book You Read That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:

Edenbrook by Julianne Donaldson

 Book Blogging/Reading Life in 2012

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2012? 

I visit so many new blogs each week I could even begin to choose just one.

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2012? 

I am a reader, not a writer so I don't have a favorite review that I wrote!

3. Best discussion you had on your blog?

Not really one for "discussions" but To Finish or Not to Finish got some great comments.

4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else’s blog?

There were a couple - but most recently one on Originality on Parajunkee

5. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

LDSBA Convention in SLC

6. Best moment of book blogging in 2012?

Helping an author launch her book.

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

My blog hop posts always get the most views

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

I wish I could sticky a few reviews on my favorite book to be sure everyone gets a chance to read them.

9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

That you can email an ebook to your Kindle email address

10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

Didn't do any challenges. As far as goals:

• Read 150 books this year.
• Keep blogging fun so it doesn't feel like a chore.

Blogging felt like a chore quite a few times and so far I'm at 134 books so I won't hit 150.

Looking Ahead…

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2012 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2013?

Scent of Magic by Maria Snyder

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2013?

Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson

3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2013?

More reviews

Know Me Better 12/29

"Know Me Better"

Each week I will pick 5 questions off of my author interview list to answers.

I invite you to share your answers to these questions as well.  You can share them as a comment on this post or share them on your own blog and link up to this post.

This Week's Questions:

Favorite restaurant?
What is your view on self publishing?
How do you feel about banned books? Do you have a favorite?
Are you for or against books being made into movies?
Top 3 things on your bucket list?

Favorite restaurant?
I love the Olive Garden but can be happy just about anywhere.  I especially love Italian and Mexican food.

What is your view on self publishing?
Self publishing is awesome when it is done right. Some of my favorite authors self publish. Unfortunately it seems lately way too many people rush to publish and put out unedited, poorly done works that give self-publishing a bad name.

How do you feel about banned books? Do you have a favorite?
My take on Banned Books: All books have their place, but not all books belong on every shelf. I wrote post on it a couple years ago, my opinion hasn't change:
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2010/09/banned-book-week-just-my-opinion.html
As far as a favorite probably Harry Potter.

Are you for or against books being made into movies?
I'm all for it if they do a good job. Unfortunately all to often they don't do a good job.  99.9% of the time books are better.

Top 3 things on your bucket list?
Get out of debt
Remodel our house or move to a new one (we have some seriously outdated flooring)
Take my grandkids on "grandma adventures" (something my mom did with my kids before she passed away - although I need grandkids before I can do this and my oldest is still in high school so hopefully it will be a while before anyone calls me grandma)



Now it's your turn! Share an answer to one or more of these questions as a comment or post your answers on your blog and link up here!  You can grab the linky code and add it to your post if you would like.

Backup Your Blog & Custom Domain Name

One of my friends just had her blog removed by blogger because they labeled it as spam.  It's a good reminder to me to back up my blog!

There are lots of sites online that easily explain how to do it.  It is so simple to do in blogger.

Go to your blogger dashboard
Click on Settings
Click on Other
Click on Export Blog
Click Download Blog

If you are in wordpress I can't help but a simple search will show you lots of sights showing you how to do it.

Also I did purchase a custom domain for my blog through blogger. I may choose a different domain name eventually but for now this is what I have:

http://iamareader.com

I didn't want my full blog name because it is too long so I just used the first part of it.

There are a few things on my blog that are not working properly yet such as the Search gadget but hopefully soon everything it will all work.

Still unsure about how it works but it's something I've been going to do for a long time and finally did since blogger has made it so easy and so cheap to do.

For now http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com still works too!

Holiday Ebook Sale + Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

The Post-Christmas Holiday Book Sale, hosted by the Indie Book Festival, will kick off on December 28 and run through December 31. All books will be .99!! The Indie Book Festival will be posting the participating books to their Facebook page as well.

The Indie Book Festival website is the premier online website for seasonal ebook sales events! From Halloween to Valentine's Day – we'll celebrate it by bringing you bestselling books by today’s hottest Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal and Young Adult indie authors.

Indie Book Festival | Facebook | Twitter

You can also enter to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card now!

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Sworn to Raise Cover Reveal & Giveaway

Author Terah Edun

Terah Edun is an international development professional and author/lover of all things Young Adult Fantasy fiction. She is a native Georgian, adoptive Washingtonian, unrepentant expat currently living in South Sudan, brilliant dreamer, lover of dogs and not-so-closet geek. Her first novel, Red Madrassa, was released on November 8th and her second novel, Sworn to Raise, comes out in March 2013.

Author Links:

Website: http://teedun.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6517970.Terah_Edun

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerahEdunAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/terahedun

Sworn to Raise by Terah Edun (Courtlight #1) - Publication date: March 15th, 2013

Seventeen-year-old Ciardis has grown up in poverty, a cleaner in a small vale on the outskirts of the  kingdom. But beneath her kingdom’s seemingly idyllic surface lies a hidden secret. Whispers of an inept crown Prince are growing ever louder—intensified by the five year anniversary of the soulbond  initiations.

Amidst scandalous whispers, Ciardis finds herself chosen to train for the Companion’s Guild. She leaves her home and sets off on a personal journey to become a Court Companion. A position she’d never thought possible for a lowly servant to obtain, she must prove that she has the skills to attract a Patron.

But she must master those skills quickly. If the legends are true, only Ciardis can harness the power to raise a Prince in an Imperial Court sworn to bring him down.

This sensational series debut melds intricate storylines with remarkable characters and unforgettable magic. Sworn To Raise is ideal for fans of Kristin Cashore, Michelle Sagara, and Maria Snyder.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16061083-sworn-to-raise

Cover Reveal

Kalen O'Donnell Cover Designs

Cover Reveal Amazon Gift Card giveaway
Ends on 12/31/2012


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Top Ten 2013 Releases I'm Looking Forward To

Top Ten 2013 Releases I'm looking forward to.

Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson (I loved Edenbrooke & can't wait for more from Julianne)

Midnight Masquerade & The Secret Bliss of Calliope Ipswich by Marcia Lynn McClure (Obviously!)

Yet untitled summer release by Rachael Renee Anderson (Hooray for another books in the works from Rachael)

Just One Day by Gayle Forman (Love her writing)

Daughter of Smoke & Bone #3 by Laini Taylor (Excited from the next book in the series)

Uninvited by Sophie Jordan (Another YA series from Sophie!)

Unpleasant Grove by Sheralyn Pratt (Can't wait for more Rhea & Ty)

Mind Games by Kiersten White (a psychological thriller?)

The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale (Yipee!)

If I Should Die by Amy Plum (Can't wait)

Feed My Reader Friday #7

FEED MY READER FRIDAY

• Just put up a post sharing the new ebooks you've added to your reader, computer, phone, etc.
• You can grab the graphic I have on this post, make your own graphic, skip the graphic, whatever works for you.
• I will put up a post each week that will include a new linky.  The linky will be set as a blog hop so you can grab the code at the bottom of the linky to include with your post IF you want.  These posts will go live on Thursday night so you can stop by on Fridays and link up your post IF you want.

Graphics 
Here are a couple of graphics if you don't want to create your own.

Here are a few of the books that have been added to my Kindle recently.

I recognize I have an Ebook addiction.  There is no way I will ever be able to read all the great ebooks I have but I love having my Kindle full of wonderful books that I can choose from.  I will never be able to keep up and share all the great ebooks I receive but I'm going to attempt to share as many as I can.




Witch Born by Amber Argyle



Brusenna thought it was finished.

She defeated the Dark Witch, saving the Haven Witches from imprisonment and death. She found love and a place to belong.

She was wrong.

Haven is not the sanctuary it appears to be. Even love is in danger of slipping away like water through cupped hands.

Some things can't be saved.

A new threat merges with the old as the Witches’ dark history begins to catch up with them. Only Brusenna knows the extent of the danger and how to stop it, though doing so might cost her everything.

Including her life.

Will Brusenna be required to make the ultimate sacrifice?




One Classic Latin Lover, Please by Marcia Lynn McClure

“Now apparently your brother has a bridal shower gift for you, Tierney,” Tierney’s mother said, snapping her attention back to the festivities at hand.

Tierney smiled as she saw Aubrey and Tiffany pushing a very large box toward her. The box was on a roller platform and was wrapped in red shiny paper and embellished with wide, black velvet ribbon and a large black velvet bow. The box looked to be about seven feet tall and four feet wide, and Tierney giggled again, wondering what Alec could have sent her.

“There’s a card with it,” Tiffany said, offering a red envelope to Tierney.

“Read it out loud,” Aubrey suggested.

Tierney’s smile broadened as she read the front of the card aloud. “A special day demands a special gift…a gift sent with loving intent. Therefore, for you on your special day, I present to you…” Tierney paused long enough to open the card and then read, “One Classic Latin Lover with a very special message. I love you, baby sister. Alec.”

As fast as she could, Tierney tore the wrapping paper on the front of the tall package to reveal a plastic handle attached to the box with the words, Pull this, written nearby.

Pulling on the handle, however, Tierney gasped as the front of the box broke away to reveal Alec’s gift—one classic Latin lover!





Beauty and the Beast (Faerie Tale Collection) by Jenni James



A prince by day and a wolf by night -Prince Alexander has been turned into a werewolf and has one year to find someone to love the beast and break the spell, or he will be a wolf forever. He has nearly given up achieving the impossible, knowing no girl would ever fall in love with such a monster.
Just when he is about to abdicate the throne to his cousin, he meets Cecelia Hammerstein-Smythe, while a wolf, and begins to hope for the first time in months. Can he balance both worlds as a human and beast, gaining the love and trust of a girl who has every reason to despise him?
Cecelia detests the prince. She only knows Alexander as the arrogant monarch the tyrant who has made her life miserable though perhaps he's changed right before her eyes. He's not as full of himself as he once was. The prince is gentle now... but then again, so is the beast.





In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters

In 1918, the world seems on the verge of apocalypse. Americans roam the streets in gauze masks to ward off the deadly Spanish influenza, and the government ships young men to the front lines of a brutal war, creating an atmosphere of fear and confusion. Sixteen-year-old Mary Shelley Black watches as desperate mourners flock to séances and spirit photographers for comfort, but she herself has never believed in ghosts. During her bleakest moment, however, she’s forced to rethink her entire way of looking at life and death, for her first love—a boy who died in battle—returns in spirit form. But what does he want from her?

Featuring haunting archival early-twentieth-century photographs, this is a tense, romantic story set in a past that is eerily like our own time.




The Rules Project Paper Doll by Stacey Kade



1.     Never trust anyone.

2.     Remember they are always searching.

3.     Don't get involved.

4.     Keep your head down.

5.     Don't fall in love.

Five simple rules. Ariane Tucker has followed them since the night she escaped from the genetics lab where she was created, the result of combining human and extraterrestrial DNA. Ariane's survival--and that of her adoptive father--depends on her ability to blend in among the full-blooded humans, to hide in plain sight from those who seek to recover their lost (and expensive) "project."

But when a cruel prank at school goes awry, it puts her in the path of Zane Bradshaw, the police chief's son and someone who sees too much. Someone who really sees her. After years of trying to be invisible, Ariane finds the attention frightening--and utterly intoxicating. Suddenly, nothing is simple anymore, especially not the rules.





Return To Me by Justina Chen



Nothing is going as planned for Rebecca Muir. She's weeks away from starting college--at a school chosen specifically to put a few thousand miles of freedom between Reb and her parents. But her dad's last-minute job opportunity has her entire family moving all those miles with her! And then there's the matter of her unexpected, amazing boyfriend, Jackson, who is staying behind on the exact opposite coast.

And if that isn't enough to deal with, mere days after moving cross-country, Reb's dad drops shocking, life-changing news. With her mother and brother overwhelmed and confused, Reb is left alone to pick up the pieces of her former life. But how can she do that when everything can change in an instant? How can she trust her "perfect" boyfriend when her own dad let her down? Reb started the year knowing exactly what her future would hold, but now that her world has turned upside down, will she discover what she really wants?

Justina Chen, the acclaimed author of North of Beautiful, has created a moving and powerful novel about the struggles that arise from betrayal, the uncertainty of life after high school, and the joy that ultimately comes from discovering what's truly in your heart.





Altered by Jennifer Rush




They were made to forget. But they'll never forgive.

Everything about Anna's life is a secret. Her father works for the Branch, at the helm of its latest project: monitoring and administering treatments to the four genetically altered boys in the lab below their farmhouse. There's Nick, solemn and brooding; Cas, light-hearted and playful; Trev, smart and caring; and Sam . . . who's stolen Anna's heart.

When the Branch decides it's time to take the boys, Sam stages an escape. Anna's father pushes her to go with them, making Sam promise to keep her away from the Branch, at all costs.

On the run, with her father's warning in her head, Anna begins to doubt everything she thought she knew about herself. She soon discovers that she and Sam are connected in more ways than either of them expected. And if they're both going to survive, they must piece together the clues of their past before the Branch catches up to them and steals it all away.





Catherine by April Lindner



A forbidden romance. A modern mystery. Wuthering Heights as you've never seen it before.

Catherine is tired of struggling musicians befriending her just so they can get a gig at her Dad's famous Manhattan club, The Underground. Then she meets mysterious Hence, an unbelievably passionate and talented musician on the brink of success. As their relationship grows, both are swept away in a fiery romance. But when their love is tested by a cruel whim of fate, will pride keep them apart?

Chelsea has always believed that her mom died of a sudden illness, until she finds a letter her dad has kept from her for years -- a letter from her mom, Catherine, who didn't die: She disappeared. Driven by unanswered questions, Chelsea sets out to look for her -- starting with the return address on the letter: The Underground.

Told in two voices, twenty years apart, Catherine interweaves a timeless forbidden romance with a compelling modern mystery.




Etiquette Espionage: Finishing School Book the First by Gail Carriger



It's one thing to learn to curtsy properly. It's quite another to learn to curtsy and throw a knife at the same time. Welcome to Finishing School.

Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is a great trial to her poor mother. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper manners--and the family can only hope that company never sees her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminnick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. So she enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

But Sophronia soon realizes the school is not quite what her mother might have hoped. At Mademoiselle Geraldine's, young ladies learn to finish...everything. Certainly, they learn the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but the also learn to deal out death, diversion, and espionage--in the politest possible ways, of course. Sophronia and her friends are in for a rousing first year's education.

Set in the same world as the Parasol Protectorate, this YA series debut is filled with all the saucy adventure and droll humor Gail's legions of fans have come to adore.






Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart



I'm coming for you.

The whispers haunt her dreams and fill her waking hours with dread. Something odd is happening. Something...unnatural.

Possession of the living. Resurrection of the dead. And Natalie Stewart is caught right in the middle. Jonathon, the one person she thought she could trust, has become a double agent for the dark side. But he plays the part so well, Natalie has to wonder just how much he's really acting.

She can't even see what it is she's fighting. But the cost of losing her heart, her sanity...her soul.





Peregrine Harker & The Black Death by Luke Hollands


MURDER SPIES EXPLOSIONS REVENGE
Peregrine Harker is about to learn you're never too young to die. London 1908: A secret society stalks the murky streets, a deadly assassin lurks in the shadows and a series of unexplained deaths are linked by a mystery symbol - When boy-detective Peregrine Harker stumbles across a gruesome murder he sparks a chain of events that drag him on a rip-roaring journey through a world of spluttering gas lamps, thick fog, deadly secrets and dastardly villains. Every step of Peregrine's white-knuckle adventure brings him closer to the vile heart of a terrifying mystery - the true story behind the Brotherhood of the Black Death.




The Unveiling (Age of Faith) by Tamara Leigh



12th century England: Two men vie for the throne: King Stephen the usurper and young Duke Henry the rightful heir. Amid civil and private wars, alliances are forged, loyalties are betrayed, families are divided, and marriages are made.

For four years, Lady Annyn Bretanne has trained at arms with one end in mind—to avenge her brother’s murder as God has not deemed it worthy to do. Disguised as a squire, she sets off to exact revenge on a man known only by his surname, Wulfrith. But when she holds his fate in her hands, her will wavers and her heart whispers that her enemy may not be an enemy after all.

Baron Wulfrith, renowned trainer of knights, allows no women within his walls for the distraction they breed. What he never expects is that the impetuous young man sent to train under him is a woman who seeks his death—nor that her unveiling will test his faith and distract the warrior from his purpose.




Gods and Kings: Chronicles of the Kings #1 by Lynn Austin


Gods and Kings is the story of King Hezekiah, heir to the throne of King David. When his evil father plots to sacrifice him, Hezekiah's mother, Abijah, searches frantically for a way to save him. But only two men can help her, and neither of them seems trustworthy. In a time and place engulfed by violence, treachery, and infidelity to Yahweh, Abijah and her son must discover the one true Source of strength if they are to save themselves and their country. Book 1 of Chronicles of the Kings.



Me & My Invisible Guy by Sarah Jeffrey


The cheerleader who has everything . . . ? Mallory Dane has a great family (at least on the surface), is popular at school (as long as she doesn’t make waves), and dates an amazing boyfriend, Todd (who happens to be completely made up). Boys—and sex—are something Mallory just can’t deal with, so she created her “invisible guy” to avoid it all. But when Liam Crawford comes along—a real guy, flesh and bones and strumming his guitar—Mallory starts questioning her fictional relationship. Is she really willing to give up Todd for Liam? And can she make amends for the lies she’s told—even to her best friend, Tess? What if your biggest, most embarrassing secret was broadcast to the whole world? Letting go of her secret will be easier said than done, and Mallory will risk everything—her family, Tess, cheerleading, her reputation, and most of all, her heart.



Real Men Don't Break Hearts by Coleen Kwan



Ally Griffin is horrified to learn her new landlord is none other than the infuriating playboy Nate Hardy—the man she blames for getting her jilted at the altar six years ago. Plus, now her ex-fiancé is back in their hometown of Burronga, Australia, to marry his beautiful new bride…for real this time. Everybody’s treating Ally with kid gloves, as though she’s still heartbroken, but she’s just fine, thank you very much.

Nate Hardy is tired of his high-flying city career and bachelor lifestyle and is looking for something more real. The last thing he needs is to find himself undeniably attracted to Ally, the woman with whom he never saw eye-to-eye. But is he even capable of what Ally wants and deserves?

As Ally tries to pull her life out of the rut it’s fallen in, she doesn't count on Nate stirring up her emotions. A short-term fling with the resident bad boy is practically irresistible, but only if she can guard her heart…




You Know What You Have to Do by Bonnie Shimko



A quirky, appealing YA novel turns formulaic teen fiction on its head

Funny, fiesty, fifteen-year-old Mary Magdalene Feigenbaum (otherwise known as Maggie) suddenly faces more than the usual YA concerns: a voice in her head is telling her to kill people. Not just anyone – each time the target is someone who has done something terrible to a person Maggie cares for. You know what you have to do, the voice commands. Maggie struggles to resist, but the voice is relentless. With rising suspense, this story of psychological horror introduces a narrator whose own unique voice and irreverent humor are unforgettable – an unlikely hero fighting a desperate battle against incomprehensible evil.




Dented Cans by Heather Walsh



A family secret is revealed during an ill-fated—yet hilarious—trip to Disney World.

Sixteen-year-old Hannah Sampson knows her family is not what you would call normal. Her father compulsively buys dented cans and has a particular fondness for cans without labels, which are extremely discounted because their contents are a mystery. Her mother takes countless pictures of her family and then glues them down into the pages of her scrapbooks, but does not allow anyone to look at them. Ryan, Hannah's mischievous fourteen-year-old brother, is headed straight for the remedial track at the local community college, if he’s lucky. Ben, her eight-year-old brother, is a walking sound effects machine, who prefers to communicate with noises rather than words. While Hannah is focused on escaping her working-class Connecticut suburb, she also finds herself being tugged back home as she worries about her brother Ben.

Hannah’s parents inflict one last family vacation on the Sampson children, a trip that goes comically wrong almost from the get-go. Hannah is forced to confront her family's past in Disney World, of all places, when an emotional argument prompts her parents to disclose a secret they have been keeping from the children for sixteen years. Ultimately, she must decide whether to leave her hometown and not look back, or to focus on helping her family.



Playing for Keeps by J.E. MacLeod

Zack Chase, new in town, gets a crash course in the dangerous, fast-paced lives of local teens. 

Despite outward appearances, Zack's a good guy who's looking for love not just a quick thrill. But he's trying to balance his feelings for Jane, for his best friend, Hailey and a lost girl he keeps crossing paths with. 

Tragedy strikes and affects them all in this true-to-life novel, giving readers an insight into the heart and mind of a loveable but not perfect teen boy. The kind you'll fall in love with, despite himself.

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