Blog Tour Spotlight + Playlist + Giveaway: Before You Go by Clare James

Today I'm participating in a blog tour organized by Book Nerd Tours run by the well known Jean. Please, help me welcome Clare James and her book Before You Go.
And to make things even more interesting there is a giveaway so remember to keep reading ;)

Spotlight

Before You Go

by Clare James
Release date: 31st March, 2013
Publisher: Selfpub
Pages: 202 (paperback dition)

Summary from Goodreads:

Paralyzed by the past and terrified of the future, Tabitha Kelly is broken.

After a public sex scandal at her college, Tabby moves to a new city with a new school, convinced she can start over. But she soon realizes the changes are not enough. Tabby must take action to help her heal and move on from the past.
And though it sounds crazy, she believes a one-night stand is the best way to take back what’s hers. If she can choose where, when, and most importantly, who … maybe she can regain control.
First, she needs a willing participant.

She finds more than that when she meets Noah Adler.

Unfortunately, she can’t go through with it. And when she tries to forget about the plan—and the guy—it becomes impossible.

Noah quickly weaves his way into her new life and her heart. But as he comes dangerously close to discovering her secret, Tabby’s at risk of losing it all.

You can buy it here:

You can find Clare James here:

Twitter // Facebook // Official Web

Remember to Follow the Tour

Playlist

Click on the names to go to Youtube

Music Playlist for Before You Go

by Clare James

“All These Things That I've Done” – The Killers
“Lost in My Mind” – The Head and the Heart
“A Thousand Years” – Christina Perri
“Falling Slowly” – Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
“O’ Children” – Nick Cave
“Maybe” – Ingrid Michaelson
“Be Okay” – Ingrid Michaelson
“Settle Down” – No Doubt
“Countdown” – Beyoncé

Giveaway

- 5 winners will receive a e-copy of Before You Go.
- 2 winners will receive a signed copy of Before You Go.
- 2 winners will receive a $25.00 Amazon Gift Card.
- 1 winner will receive a poster and bookmark of a surprise art by James Vallesteros.
- 10 winners will receive one bookmark of a surprise art by James Vallesteros.

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Blog Tour Review + Giveaway: Sacred Bloodlines by Wendy Owens

Today I'm participating in a blog tour organized by Parajunkee Blog Tours. Please, help me welcome Wendy Owens and her book Sacred Bloodlines.
And to make things even more interesting there is a giveaway so remember to keep reading ;)

Review

Sacred Bloodlines

by Wendy Owens
Series: The Guardians #1
Release date: 21st November, 2011
Publisher: Four Bean Soup Publishing
Pages: 286 (kindle book in exchange of an honest review)

Summary from Goodreads:

Tragedy has defined Gabe's short existence in this world. An ominous darkness lurked on the edge of his existence until one day in a subway, strange things start happening. A series of events lead Gabe into a new and fascinating life filled with angels and demons, but he isn't sure if he wants to be a part of it.

Gabe is thrust into the middle of this exciting world that is full of things he has longed for in his life but it comes with a price. This new life also promises constant terrifying dangers that Gabe fears he may not be able to survive.

Review By Alaiel Kreuz:
If you are a fan of Harry Potter or Percy Jackson and the Olympians then this is certainly a book for you. As the story goes we find a lost piece than needs to fin it's place in this world, and that piece is our main character.
He is a young orphan who only knows that he is alone and that he is different from everybody else... which can only mean one thing: somebody must hate him because those powers of his are a curse.

Or so he thinks.

Gladly for him he is found and brought closer to people who, just like him, have different abilities and accept him just the way he is. Now he only needs to learn to control his abilities and be ready to fight his nemesis: demons. Yup, Gabe is an angel. Sort of. And there are going to be a lot of fights in this new path.

As for the rest of the characters I can't say too much, specially if you are well versed in angelology since a lot of well known angels make an appearance.
Suffice to say the author takes some artistic license to mold the plot and make it her own.

I can't wait to read the next book :D

Alaiel's Rating:

You can order it here:

You can find Wendy Owens here:

Twitter // Facebook // Official Web

Remember to Follow the Tour

Giveaway

2 sets of Books 1-3


Angel Necklace


Demon Necklace

$25 gift card

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Blog Tour Guest post + Giveaway: Vengeance Bound by Justina Ireland

Today I'm participating in a blog tour organized by ATOMR Blog Tours. Please, help me welcome Justina Ireland and her book Sacred.
And to make things even more interesting there is a giveaway so remember to keep reading ;)

Spotlight

Vengeance Bound

by Justina Ireland
Release date: 2nd April, 2013Vengeance Bound
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Pages: 320 (hardcover edition)

Summary from Goodreads:

The Goddess Test meets Dexter in an edgy, compelling debut about one teen’s quest for revenge… no matter how far it takes her.

Cory Graff is not alone in her head. Bound to a deal of desperation made when she was a child, Cory’s mind houses the Furies—the hawk and the serpent—lingering always, waiting for her to satisfy their bloodlust. After escaping the asylum where she was trapped for years, Cory knows how to keep the Furies quiet. By day, she lives a normal life, but by night, she tracks down targets the Furies send her way. And she brings down Justice upon them.

Cory’s perfected her system of survival, but when she meets a mysterious boy named Niko at her new school, she can’t figure out how she feels about him. For the first time, the Furies are quiet in her head around a guy. But does this mean that Cory’s finally found someone who she can trust, or are there greater factors at work? As Cory’s mind becomes a battlefield, with the Furies fighting for control, Cory will have to put everything on the line to hold on to what she’s worked so hard to build.

You can order it here:

You can find Justina Ireland here:

Twitter // Facebook // Official Web

Remember to Follow the Tour

Guest Post

The Goddess Test meets Dexter

by Justina Ireland

When I first read my tagline I was like: “What? Does that even make sense?” If you didn’t know, publishers tend to write taglines on their own sometimes, since authors are known to be terrible at marketing. So when I first read it I was kind of thrown for a loop. But that was mostly because I hadn’t read The Goddess Test. Once I looked it up I had a total “A-ha!” moment.
Because it describes my book perfectly.
Vengeance Bound is very much like Dexter, only my main character is motivated by the Furies living in her head and not an innate need to kill. Like Dexter, Amelie lives in two different worlds: the life of a normal teenager by day and a killing machine by night. But unlike Dexter, Amelie isn’t happy with her life. She longs to have her own thoughts and dreams, and not just to continue on as an agent of the Furies.
The Goddess Test reference comes in due to the Greek mythology, although I don’t think my book has as much romance in it. Still, it does have a smidge.
Meh. I think you’ll like it.

Giveaway

- 2 Hardback copies of VENGEANCE BOUND plus a Swag Pack - US/Canada Only
- 5 Vengeance Bound Swag Packs - US/Canada Only
Swag pack includes:
Stickers
Deluxe Bookmarks
Rubber Bracelets
Nail polish
Lip gloss

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Book Review: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and Bone

by Leigh Bardugo
Series: The Grisha #1
Release date: 6th June, 2013
Publisher: Indigo (an Imprint of Orion Children's)
Pages: 320 (ARC in exchange of an honest review)

Summary from Goodreads:

The Shadow Fold, a swathe of impenetrable darkness, crawling with monsters that feast on human flesh, is slowly destroying the once-great nation of Ravka.

Alina, a pale, lonely orphan, discovers a unique power that thrusts her into the lavish world of the kingdom’s magical elite—the Grisha. Could she be the key to unravelling the dark fabric of the Shadow Fold and setting Ravka free?

The Darkling, a creature of seductive charm and terrifying power, leader of the Grisha. If Alina is to fulfil her destiny, she must discover how to unlock her gift and face up to her dangerous attraction to him.

But what of Mal, Alina’s childhood best friend? As Alina contemplates her dazzling new future, why can’t she ever quite forget him?

Glorious. Epic. Irresistible. Romance.

Blog Tour Spotlight + Guest Post + Giveaway: Sacred by Elana K. Arnold

Today I'm participating in a blog tour organized by Jean BookNerd Blog Tours run by the well known Jean. Please, help me welcome Elana K. Arnold and her book Sacred.
And to make things even more interesting there is a giveaway so remember to keep reading ;)

Spotlight

Sacred

by Elana K. Arnold
Release date: 13th November, 2012
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages: 368 (hardcover dition)

Summary from Goodreads:

Growing up on Catalina Island, off the California coast, Scarlett Wenderoth has led a fairly isolated life. After her brother dies, her isolation deepens as she withdraws into herself, shutting out her friends and boyfriend. Her parents, shattered by their own sorrow, fail to notice Scarlett's pain and sudden alarming thinness. Scarlett finds pleasure only on her horse, escaping to the heart of the island on long, solitary rides. One day, as she races around a bend, Scarlett is startled by a boy who raises his hand in warning and says one word: "Stop."

The boy—intense, beautiful—is Will Cohen, a newcomer to the island. For reasons he can't or won't explain, he's drawn to Scarlett and feels compelled to keep her safe. To keep her from wasting away. His meddling irritates Scarlett, though she can't deny her attraction to him. As their relationship blossoms into love, Scarlett's body slowly awakens at Will's touch. But just when her grief begins to ebb, she makes a startling discovery about Will, a discovery he's been grappling with himself. A discovery that threatens to force them apart. And if it does, Scarlett fears she will unravel all over again.

You can order it here:

You can find Elana K. Arnold here:

Twitter // Facebook // Official Web

Remember to Follow the Tour

Guest Post

What’s the best advice you can give writers to help them develop their own unique voice and style?

by Elana K. Arnold

This is the thing about me. I have always wanted other people’s hair. One of my earliest hair-lusts was directed toward Anne of Green Gables. She hated her long, thick, red hair… I coveted it. “Covet” is not too strong a word. I choose it particularly, knowing its implications. To covet is to wish for earnestly, to desire that which belongs to another, inordinately or culpably.

I wanted Anne Shirley’s hair so badly that in seventh grade I poured an entire bottle of red food coloring over my head. My hair is blond, so it soaked up the dye readily. But I ended up pink instead of red, with a blotchy scalp and streaks of color down my neck, in my ears. It lasted for days and days.

In high school there was a girl, Julie Blackmore, who had a mane of thick dark brown hair, slightly wavy, that she wore some days in a high bouncy ponytail, other days like a river of chocolate down her back. Her hair smelled so good. I kind of hated her.

Even now, a grown woman, I suffer from hair envy. I know a writer—a famous writer, whose books have put her on the New York Times bestseller list, whose book is being turned into a movie by a big-time Hollywood star, who is on a first-name basis with Oprah. I am not jealous of these things. I cheer her on. I root for her, sure that if there is room in the universe for that kind of rock star success, surely a slice of it will come my way. I do, however, envy her hair.

It’s blond, like mine, but it grows long without splitting or turning into fluff at the ends. It frames her face the way people write about hair doing to faces. It looks good in all her Facebook pictures.

So what is the point of all this, of Anne’s and Julie’s and Cheryl’s beautiful hair? The point is this: their hair is not my hair. It will never be my hair. I can dye my hair, and curl my hair, and curse my hair, but still, alas, their hair will never become my hair. I can covet it, but I cannot possess it. And if I attempt to imitate it, all I will do is screw up the few things my hair does have going for it—it’s not oily; it’s not going gray; it grows all over my head.

And hair, of course, is not that different from a writer’s voice. You have one, already. As a speaking member of the English language (or any language, actually), you have a voice. As a reader, you know what you like to read. So I say—own your voice. Find what you love about what you have, and focus there. Keep reading—the way I continue to flip through slick-paged magazines, the way I always check my friend Jessica to see how she’s wearing her glossy brown locks. And then put words on the page. If you don’t like them, write more. And be gentle with yourself—there is time.

Watch Out For

Splendor
by Elana K. Arnold
Release Date: 12th November, 2013

Official synopsis:

The passionate romance that began in Sacred concludes in Splendor.

Scarlett loves the touch of her boyfriend, Will. But when he leaves Catalina Island to start college on the East Coast, she wonders whether their passion can survive a long-distance relationship—and whether she can face the home front on her own. Scarlett's senior year should be a breeze, but her parents have recently separated, and her already-wild best friend, Lily, is becoming involved with a dangerous boy named Gunner . . . a boy Scarlett is also attracted to. A boy she doesn't want to be—and shouldn't be—attracted to.

To take her mind off her troubles, Scarlett focuses on caring for her newly pregnant mare and delving deeper into the Kabbalah. Her religious exploration offers a way to stay connected to Will, who is a Kabbalah mystic, and a key to understanding her disturbing dreams about him. But as she gets wrapped up in her mare, her Kabbalah studies, and her conflicting feelings for Will and Gunner, Scarlett misses the warning signs that lead to a heartbreaking loss.

Burning
by Elana K. Arnold
Release Date: 11th June, 2013

Official synopsis:

Ben: Having just graduated from high school, Ben is set to leave Gypsum, Nevada. It's good timing since the gypsum mine that is the lifeblood of the area is closing, shutting the whole town down with it. Ben is lucky: he's headed to San Diego, where he's got a track scholarship at the University of California. But his best friends, Pete and Hog Boy, don't have college to look forward to, so to make them happy, Ben goes with them to check out the hot chick parked on the side of Highway 447.

Lala: She and her Gypsy family earn money by telling fortunes. Some customers choose Tarot cards; others have their palms read. The thousands of people attending the nearby Burning Man festival spend lots of cash--especially as Lala gives uncanny readings. But lately Lala's been questioning whether there might be more to life than her upcoming arranged marriage. And the day she reads Ben's cards is the day that everything changes for her... and for him.

Giveaway

- 3 winners will receive a signed copy of Sacred
- 1 winner will receive a poster, a bookmark, a button and a surprise art by James Vallesteros.
- 10 winners will receive one bookmark of a surprise by James Vallesteros.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Double Review: Sweetest Taboo and Tainted Love by Eva Márquez

This time I'm participating in a blog tour organized by with AToMR Tours. Help me welcome Eva Márquez and her two books: Sweetest Taboo and Tainted Love!

Review

Sweetest Taboo

by Eva Márquez
Series: Sweetest Taboo #1
Release date: 1st October, 2012
Publisher: Terra-Mía Press
Pages: 295 (eARC received for blog tour in exchange of an honest review)

Summary from Goodreads:

Isabel Cruz was fifteen years old when she met Tom Stevens. She was 15 when they started dating, and 16 when she lost her virginity to him. By the time she turned 18 and went to college, everything had fallen apart.

This hadn’t been an ordinary love, though. Not a love between two dear friends, or even high school sweethearts. This had been the most taboo sort of love there was: a relationship between a student and her teacher. Isabel started her high school career as a normal student, but set her sights on Tom Stevens as soon as she met him, and pursued him with an intense – and sometimes reckless – fascination. When he finally approached her after swim practice and told her that he shared her feelings, it was the start of a forbidden and dangerous relationship.

Join Isabel as she makes her way through this dark love story, hiding from teachers, lying to her parents, and defying the authorities to make a life with the man she loves. Watch as she discovers the wonders of love and romance, and the terrible betrayal of jealous friends. And cry with her when she learns the hard truth about life and the people in her world.

Sweetest Taboo is inspired by the true and tragic stories of students who fall in love with their teachers, and live with the hard truths of forbidden romances. In a world full of after-school specials on sexual predators, this touching book seeks a different path, casting both student and teacher in a gentle light, and showing that true love may lie at the base of even the most illicit romance.