Sweet Montana Bride Series Sale!!

Sweet Montana Bride Series Sale!

Looking to rope yourself some Labor Day reads? Well saddle up, 'cuz the entire Sweet Montana Bride series is on sale at last. We've got Reese's Cowboy Kiss, Jade's Cowboy Crush, and Cassie's Cowboy Crave.
Three sweet and steamy clean romance novels complete with cowboys, romance, and happily ever afters. Featuring the witness protection program - rancher style, these ebooks sale for $3.99 a piece, but this week you can snag 'em for just .99 cents each on Amazon.

Here's a bit about each book just to whet your appetite. Happy romance reading!



Reese's Cowboy Kiss:

Texan pageant winner, Reese Taylor, has a former classmate
who wants her dead. Now she must leave her friends and family
to enter a protection program on Emerson Ranch. A group of
good-looking cowboys awaits her, but Reese has her eye on
Blake Emerson, the one man too busy with the ranch to
give her a chance.
Blake Emerson has no time to go lookin’ for love. He’s got
a ranch to run, positions to fill, and an ache in his heart
from love gone wrong. So when he agrees to harbor a witness
to help on the ranch, Blake assumes his first two problems are
solved. But he never dreamed his new guest would be a
woman. One he was destined to lose his heart to.
With sparks burning hot and danger around the bend, one
question lingers in his mind: Has he only added to his list
of troubles, or has Blake just found the woman of his dreams?
* Though this novel is considered clean romance, it does contain passionate kissing and a few minor curse words. *




Jade's Cowboy Crush:

Single mother, Jade Miller, has just witnessed a murder. Now, set to testify against the cold-blooded killer, Jade must be placed under protection. While she is grateful to the kind folks who’ve offered to take in her and her son, Jade is surprised to find the man escorting them from L.A. to Montana is Gavin Emerson. A womanizing, far-too-attractive-for-his-own-good, rebel cowboy. Jade assures Gavin that she has sworn off men until her son is grown, but all too soon she finds herself fighting back feelings for the man who’s agreed to care for them.
Gavin wants nothing to do with ranch life. Not since the ugly fallout he had with his father over eight years ago. But when he agrees to come back, harboring Jade and her son for a time, Gavin falls in love with life on the land once again. Above that, he finds his heart has been captured by his lovely house guest, Jade Miller.
After reservations on both parts, the two are finally ready to open up and give their new-found love a try. Only they aren’t in the clear just yet, and as a dark and deadly threat falls upon them, Gavin finds that his bad-boy past may have led the danger right to their door.
*Though this novel is considered clean romance, it contains passionate kissing & a few mild curse words.*



Cassie's Cowboy Crave:
Twenty-four-year-old Cassie Lovell has a great job, good friends, and an apartment with a killer view. That is, until life is turned upside down. Without the chance to say goodbye, Cassie is forced into a witness protection program on Emerson Ranch. Just when she fears life is doomed, Cassie meets Shane Emerson, the stunningly handsome cowboy who’ll be posing as her newlywed groom.
Shane Emerson is determined not to fall for the woman he’s agreed to harbor. Especially since the whole thing was his family’s way of trying to get him hitched. So why is it when he takes Cassie into his home, Shane wants nothing more than to turn their make-believe marriage into more than just a sham?
In a moment of weakness, Shane steals a kiss.
In return, Cassie steals his heart.
Yet before they confess their undying love,
a hidden danger threatens to tear them apart.
*Though this novel is considered clean romance, it contains passionate kissing & a few mild curse words.*

The Reluctant Assassin: A Review

Goodreads (description):

​The reluctant assassin is Riley, a Victorian boy who is suddenly plucked from his own time and whisked into the twenty-first century, accused of murder and on the run.

Riley has been pulled into the FBI's covert W.A.R.P. operation (Witness Anonymous Relocation Program). He and young FBI Agent Chevie Savano are forced to flee terrifying assassin-for-hire Albert Garrick, who pursues Riley through time and will not stop until he has hunted him down. Barely staying one step ahead, Riley and Chevie must stay alive and stop Garrick returning to his own time with knowledge and power that could change the world forever.


My Review:

After reading and loving Artemis Fowl, and reading the reviews about how Chevron Savano and Riley are exactly like Holly and Artemis, I was let down.

They are nothing like Holly and Artemis. At all.

Frankly, this book took me by a slightly unpleasant surprise.

Yes, it's been a while since I have read Artemis Fowl and AF is more of a middle grade than a YA, but it seems that Colfer really changed his writing style in this one. Honestly, it threw me off and it took me a while to get into the groove of this story. But I love Eoin Colfer's books, so I stuck with it and then I began to understand why he was writing this way.

This book is pretty complex. There's a lot happening at once. You have to pay attention to detail. Colfer, being the writing genius he did, gave us the right amount of what we needed to know, when we needed to know it. This book was meant to be slightly confusing, because even the main characters didn't know how the heck to overcome the super psycho, Albert Garrick.

Truth be told and once again, I didn't really like this new writing style at the beginning. It bothered me, a lot actually. We jump from person to person without really any indication. We see inside of everyone's head and it made me go a little crazy seeing from that many point of views. Thankfully, as the book increases in intensity, we mainly see it from Riley, Chevron, and Garrick's POV.

That's not to say I didn't end up liking it though. I did. It was just sort of a let down, seeing all the acclaimed reviews and everything. It was kind of all over the place until the very end. I love a good complex book every once in a while, but I usually have a warning. So I'm warning you. It's an action packed story, but you really have to pay attention. I've started the second book and I'm liking it so far, now that I'm used to this new style.

I also didn't really feel anything for the characters. I felt like I was seeing this all through a pair of binoculars. I liked the story well enough, but I just felt like I was floating through it. Garrick scared the living day-lights out of me, so I guess that was a good sign, since he's a super crazy. Chevron and Riley though, I mean, I wanted them to safe and all, but eh. They were the main characters so I knew they would be fine.

I'm going to stick with this though, and I have a feeling that this book will be far better once I read it a second time. For now, I'm in the second book and it's pretty good so far.

Eoin Colfer truly is amazing at writing. I know my review sounds harsh, but I don't want it to be. Those are just my thoughts, and that's it. I love his AF series with all of my heart and I even learned to decipher the fairy language because I loved it so much. (Yes, I am a nerd and yes, I am okay with that).

So off I go to read the second and I have a feeling that I'm going to like it a lot more!

I give this a 3.5 out of 5!

Ranger's Apprentice: The Royal Ranger

Goodreads (description):

After a senseless tragedy destroys his life, Will is obsessed with punishing those responsible - even if it means leaving the Ranger Corps. His worried friends must find a way to stop him taking such a dark path.

It is Halt who suggests the solution: Will must take an apprentice. The candidate Halt has in mind surprises everyone - and it's a request Will cannot refuse.

Training a rebellious, unwilling apprentice is hard enough. But when a routine mission uncovers a shocking web of crime, Will must decide where his priorities lie - finishing his quest for revenge, or saving innocent lives?

John Flanagan makes a spectacular return to the world of Ranger's Apprentice - but what has happened since you last saw Will and his friends might shock you!

My Review:

Once again John Flanagan has written another powerful book for Ranger's Apprentice. I was awed by the way he wrote this one. Will is now one of the most senior Ranger's, Halt is retired, and Gilan is head of the corps.

And yet, a tragedy so terrible has struck Will. So much so, that he's not the Will we remember. This is about fifteen years after book 11, The Lost Stories.

In this book, Will's friends help him find himself again. They help him find happiness in life once more.

In all honesty, I was in shock this whole book. I couldn't believe what happened actually happened. Though in reality, I shouldn't have been. Something like this was bound to occur sooner or later, but I was living in the fantasy of this world and hoping that nothing like this would happen...

In this book Will's friends convince him to take on an apprentice, who I actually turned out to like. His apprentice grew from a spoiled brat to a strong and reliable person. Will did a wonderful job of helping his apprentice, which in turn, helped himself learn how to deal with the grief that was tearing him apart. Not only that, but I loved to see how he found himself doing a lot of things similar to his old mentor, Halt. The connection between the characters is one of the things I love most about this series and Flanagan continued it all throughout this one.

I don't name the apprentice, because it's a spoiler.

Anyway, I was really shocked with the way this one ended. In the dedication, Flanagan says that it's the last book and then he dedicates it to his biggest fans. So when I read the ending, knowing that this was the last book my immediate reaction was:

THAT CAN'T BE THE ENDING!

And then I thought about it.

Truth be told, Will's story is over. He will continue to raise his apprentice, yes, but the point is that he found happiness again. Will discovered himself again. Through much trial and hardship, he was able to learn to control the grief that racked him for a year and a half. He will always have that pain buried deep within him, but he found a way to have joy in his life again. Once more, his friends helped him on a journey that ended in wonderful lessons learned and increased companionship.

Now that I really think about it, the ending was wonderful (and yes, I admit, I'm tearing up as I read this and I did cry while reading). I see that Flanagan ended it in a way that wasn't flamboyant or mind boggling, but simple and realistic. And frankly, I now find that very admirable.

Once again, for this beautiful series that has fully captured my heart, I give it a 5 out of 5!

For Love and Country: Book Blast

For Love and Country

When A Man Is Torn Between Honoring His Country And The Woman He Loves, The Best Option Might Be To Choose Both.

When Maggie du Woernig willfully ignores her parents’ admonitions and entangles herself with Nik Koenig, she is certain he’s the only man who will make her happy. Blind to Nik’s real intentions, she throws herself recklessly into a situation that could not only destroy her life but compromise the safety of her country.

Han Heinrich has resigned himself to working in the castle stables, mostly as an excuse to have contact each day with Maggie. His aspirations for a more fulfilling career seem fruitless, in spite of his father’s position as the duke’s highest advisor. But when Han learns about Maggie’s precarious situation, he is willing to sacrifice everything to protect the woman he loves, and to save the country he would die for. He only hopes that someday Maggie will forgive him.

Purchase your copy:

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

iTunes * Google Play * Kobo

Praise for The Horstberg Saga:


I completely enjoyed this book. The character development is fantastic. The author has a great sense of emotional storytelling that wraps you into the story as if you know,and can fully relate to the characters. This is the kind of story that touches the heart and the spirit. Well done. I look forward to the next chapter in the Horstberg Saga.
This book kept me so interested, I had a hard time putting it down. Suspense, love without smut, emotions that so relate to everyday life. This author touched on it all. Such in depth understanding of human emotions with the characters.
Firstly, I loved that this was a VOLUME! And what a great story to really sink my teeth into and get settled in with for more than just one sitting!
Well written and thoroughly satisfying.





Author Elizabeth D. Michaels


Elizabeth D. Michaels began writing at the age of sixteen, immersing herself ever since in the lives created by her vivid imagination. Beyond her devotion to family and friends, writing has been her passion for nearly three decades. While she has more than fifty published novels under the name Anita Stansfield and is the recipient of many awards, she boldly declares The Horstberg Saga as the story she was born to write, with many volumes in the works. She is best known for her keen ability to explore the psychological depths of human nature, bringing her characters to life through the timeless struggles they face in the midst of exquisite dramas.

Website * Blog * Facebook

BookBlast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 9/26/14

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 and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Rival Love: Release Day Book Blitz!

Rival Love
by Natalie Decker
Release Date: 08/26/14
Swoon Romance

Summary from Goodreads:


Skylar Fletcher is a proud Harris Academy Bulldog! She has everything she’s ever wanted: a perfect boyfriend, great friends, and her dream college waiting for her in the fall. But nothing lasts forever. Skylar's world shatters when her mom decides it is time to move and drags Skylar, kicking and screaming, into Bobcat territory.

At Delmont High School, home of the Bobcats, Skylar has no friends and is often bullied. To make matters worse, her home life sucks thanks to all-star quarterback Caleb Morgan, nephew of her mom's live-in boyfriend.

At first Skylar and Caleb want nothing to do with one another. But they soon discover they're not that different after all--and each is harboring a secret attraction to the other. But can a Bulldog and a Bobcat ever really be more than friends? And are Skylar and Caleb willing to risk everything to find out? Rival Love is a debut young adult contemporary romance from Natalie Decker.





Available from:

Here's an Excerpt!

My eyes expand. Morgan? Why do I know that name? My mother makes her way toward the commotion. I stifle back a remark and wander off into the other rooms of the house. A loud snapping sound pulls my focus from a set of mahogany chairs and table, to a black and white kitchen. Taking a seat on one of the barstools is a tall, cute guy with shaggy, dark brown hair. I watch a bottle of water shift from one hand to the other. Why am I staring at him? I don’t know why, and for some reason can’t stop. Black cords string from his ears down to a small iPod secured to his left bicep. He unscrews the cap and starts to take a drink from the bottle. All at once, it hits me: I’m staring at the all-star Bobcat quarterback. Caleb Morgan. My life just became a whole lot worse.

“Liv!” my mother calls.

I flinch and glance back at the dining room. My mother continues to yell my name but I don’t answer. Facing the boy again, his green eyes lock with mine, and I stand there frozen and say nothing.

His eyes trail up and down my body. “Well, well, well. A freaking Bulldog is in my house. Hell must’ve frozen over,” Caleb says.

I glare at him. “I was just leaving.”

“Uh-huh. Guess I could give you some parting wisdom before you go.” He stands and makes his way to me. “Changing your name to Liv isn’t going to save you from getting your assed kicked in school. You do know that, right, Skylar?” The way he says my name sends a shiver down my spine. His face cringes a little when my mother’s voice carries into the kitchen.

I flip him the bird. “That’s what I think about your parting wisdom. And FYI, I’m not changing my name, that’s just what my mother calls me, moron!”

I turn on my heels and my mother enters the room with Brian in tow. Damn. “Oh, there you are. I wanted you to see … oh … ” She looks past me and smiles. “Hi, Caleb. I’m glad you two have met then. See, Liv, you already know someone. It’s not going to be so bad.”

She has no idea. Not a freaking clue. I want her to stop talking now. Why won’t she stop talking? “I’m so glad someone Liv’s age will be around to help her get adjusted to the school.”

“My pleasure. I’d love to stay and chat, but I need to get my run in.” My mother is oblivious to the sarcasm lacing his words, but I notice.

Brian blocks the exit to the back door. “Hold up. I need your help with their bags and we need to talk about the Danielle Samson episode on my front porch.”

I smirk as Caleb’s face slowly changes from a smile to a frown.

Ha. Stupid Bobcat! “Fine,” Caleb grumbles. They make their way past my mother and I. My mother gets a peck on the lips from Brian, and I get a snort from Caleb.

As soon as the boys leave, my mother squeals, “What do you think?”

“I think this place sucks. Are we done pretending yet? If we leave now, I might be able to get my life back.”

My comments bring her down from her glowing high. “Skylar, I’m happy. This is our home now. As soon as you start accepting that the better off things will be for the both of us.”

“I’m a Bulldog, Mother! This isn’t my home. I’m far from it.”







About the Author




Natalie Decker is the Author of Rival Love. She loves oceans, sunsets, sand between her toes, and carefree days. Her imagination is always going, which some find odd. But she believes in seeing the world in a different light at all times. Her first passion for writing started at age twelve when she had to write a poem for English class. However, seventh grade wasn’t her favorite time and books were her source of comfort. She took all college prep classes in High school, and attended the University of Akron. Although she studied Mathematics she never lost her passion for writing or her comfort in books. She’s a mean cook in the kitchen, loves her family and friends and her awesome dog infinity times infinity. If she’s not writing, reading, traveling, hanging out with her family and friends, then she’s off having an adventure. Because Natalie believes in a saying: Your life is your own journey, so make it amazing!


Author Links:

GIVEAWAY:

$10 Amazon gift

card + ebook of Rival Love (INT)

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Book Blitz Organized by:

Cinderella Theorem GRAND FINALE!!

A themed book tour through Prism Book Tours.

It's the tour Grand Finale for

The Cinderella Theorem

By Kristee Ravan

Did you enjoy this logical fairy tale journey? If you missed any posts, go back and check them out now! Be sure to enter the giveaway as well!!

Launch with Excerpt (click on the link to read the full excerpt)

     “Right. Well,” she took a breath. “To begin, I should say that your father is not dead.”

     “But, he is dead. You told me that he died–that the train he was on hit a cow.”^[i]

     “No, Sweetie.” She patted my knee. “He’s not dead. He is alive and he’s coming to dinner.”

     “I don’t understand. The train wrecked, the cow died, Dad died. You showed me the news story.”

     Mom sighed. (Why is she sighing? Did she think that I would automatically understand? Did I miss the Lily, your dad is not dead memo?) “There was a train wreck, a cow did die. And it was on the news. But your father was not on the train.”

---

[i] If I seem a little slow to understand what my mom is telling me, keep in mind that fifteen years of believing my dad is dead is greater than 3 minutes of hearing he is alive. (15 > 3.)

Kelly P's Blog - Inspiration for The Cinderella Theorem

Once upon a time, in a library far, far away, I discovered the fairy tale shelf. I remember it was in a sunny area. The books were smaller than normal and were a part of a set. I checked them out over and over again. I’m sure my seven-year-old self had heard or had all these fairy tales read to her before, but this was the first time, I was able to read them for myself. This began a life-long love for fairy tales...

Coffee Books & Art - Anatomy of a Good Bad Guy

Confession: I love to write Levi, the evil villain in The Cinderella Theorem. He’s to develop, he makes Lily (and everyone else) squirm and lose their cool, plus he’s greasy. Let’s explore the qualities that make up a good bad guy...

The Wonderings of One Person - Interview

Is there a singular character that really touched your heart and why?

Lily has to make a couple of choices to be brave in the story. One of those is when she decides that she’d rather face facts and get to know her (previously believed dead) father than hold on to the nice, neat “story” of what she believed happened. I’m not always best at making hard choices, or being willing to do what is hard, so that aspect of Lily inspired me.

Bookworm Lisa - A Book About Math? Really??

I need to let you in on a little secret. There’s math in my book. Probably an above average amount. It’s not a math book, but there is way more math in it than you would find in a regular book. And while I don’t think I’m BFFs with math, I do think I’m friendly with math. Which is interesting because there was a time in my life that math and I were not friendly at all...

Shannon's Blog - Review

"I liked the first-person writing style of The Cinderella Theorem; I thought Lily had a good voice. The characters were quirky and likable, and the ideas and world itself were delightful. The Cinderella Theorem is an enjoyable book, a fun play on the old fairy tales. Recommended."

Simplistic Reviews - Promo

Skye Malone's Blog - Fairy Tales You Aren’t Reading — But Should (Part One)

In my book, The Cinderella Theorem, a lot of the fairy tale world’s usual subjects show up: Cinderella, the Gingerbread Man, Sleeping Beauty. But I also got to shed some light on some of the rarer tales around, like the Erlking...

Wonderous Reviews - Interview

What is your favorite thing about writing a book partly set in a fairy-tale world?

Thinking up things like Marvelous Midas Creme—magical ice cream made by King Midas. From one carton, everyone will magically have whatever flavor is their favorite in their bowl. Creating the structure for HEA (The Office of Happily Ever After Affairs) was a lot of fun too!

Mythical Books - Why I Heart Beauty and the Beast 

Everyone’s got a favorite fairy tale and mine is Beauty and the Beast. There are a lot of reasons this tale could be my favorite, but the truth is there’s only one reason that it is my favorite...

Rockin' Book Reviews - Interview

2. This not only has a mathematical twist but a comical twist to the Cinderella theme? Will this become a series? If so, what type of theme will follow? If not, what will be your next project?

I am working on a sequel called Calculating Christmas. It will be a Christmas theme as Lily and her friends try to save Christmas. I also know what the third book will be about, but haven’t really planned it yet.

Sarah's StoryLines - The Shocking Truth About Fairy Tales

They start with once upon a time and end with everyone living happily ever after and in between those two things there is singing, talking woodland animals and a good deal of magic. Everyone knows that’s how fairy tales go. But do we really know these tales?

Katy's Krazy Books - Review

"I absolutely loved The Cinderella Theorem!! It was amazing. I thought it was so cool how Lily grew as a character and learned all these different lessons. The footnotes that the author added at the bottom of the pages were so great and helpful."

Letters from Annie (Douglass) Lima - Review

"This is definitely the most unique fantasy novel I've read in a long time (and I read a lot of fantasy)! I love the main character and the way she views the world in terms of math."

My Devotional Thoughts - Interview

What kind of research (if any) do you do for your books?

Because math and fairy tales are so important in these books, I try to keep them in my mind by following blogs about fairy tales and math. I also read books about math and fairy tales. (Women in Mathematics and The Witch Must Die are what I’m working through now.) I’ve found that I’m faster at writing if I don’t stop to research in the moment, so I’ve started jotting down post-it notes of things to look up later. I’ve got some math friends that I ask questions of when needed. My friend, Kelly, helped me think of a math poster to be in Lily’s bedroom. I also use the internet quite a bit.

The Written Adventure - A Deleted Scene

Mom hadn’t mentioned what I was supposed to wear for the interview, but then again, Mom hadn’t mentioned the interview either. There were a lot of things going unmentioned in the Sparrow family these days. Like my dad isn’t really dead, like I’m a princess, like I’m having a ball in my honor. So in the grand scheme of things unmentioned by my mother, what was one reporter, showing up unannounced, knocking on my bedroom door...

Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews - Review

"I expected it to be okay, but it far surpassed my expectations. I picked it up and couldn't stop! I was laughing out loud the entire time!... This book was SO much fun! I honestly loved every minute of it. The romance was fleeting, but promised more. I can't wait for the next book!"

Mel's Shelves - Review

"I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading more! I felt that I learned more about both fairytales and math while reading it so I feel smarter now than I was before I started. The ending was great and left me wanting more, so I was glad to get a sneak peek into the next book, Calculating Christmas (which is hopefully coming soon). If you or someone you know loves math, this book is a no brainer! If you don't enjoy math, you will still find plenty about it to love, so give it a chance!!"

My Life, Loves and Passion - Review

"This is a very interesting spin on fairy tales. I did truly enjoy the story. It was fun to think how I would feel as a teenager in this situation. She uses math to rationalize life. For a 15 year old girl I did not find her annoying. Most of the time the female character can be whinny and boy crazy. Lily was not like that and I was glad for a change of pace. A great fun read."

Katie's Clean Book Collection - Review

"I'm not into math, but I love fairy tales. I passed my math classes, but it's not my favorite subject, and I wasn't sure how a story about fairy tales could possibly tie into math. But it worked! I thought it was very creative and the story was even written in a math book-type of format--little side notes and footnotes. It was interesting to see the way a logical girl could come to accept a fantasy world--almost like right brain meets left brain."

Book Briefs - Review

"The Cinderella Theorem overall was a really great read. I had a few small issues with the book early, but they were minor things and I am so glad that I didn’t let them get in the way of enjoying the story, because this was a book that just kept getting better and better. I loved the concept of the story and the main character, Lily was a delight."

Deal Sharing Aunt - Review

"What I liked the most is that the author had me laughing. A lot. I can not wait until the next book comes out and I read more about these characters!"

A Backwards Story - From The Fireland Flame 

From the Fireland Flame, the daily newspaper of EG Smythe’s Salty Fire Land:
Tybalt’s Tales, Gossip from all the Genres

August 19th has finally arrived! The day we’ve all been waiting for, Fireland! Princess Lily turns 15 today and finds out that she’s really a princess. How will our secret Protector respond?

Coffee, Books and Me - What's in a Name?

Even though no one ever spells it correctly, I love my first name: Kristee. It’s unique and special and though a Google search will reveal that there are other Kristees in the world. I personally have never met one, and I know there’s no one else named “Kristee Ravan” (Kudos to my husband for giving me a unique last name, that no one ever spells correctly either…). So when I began creating Lily’s world, I wanted to be intentional with the names of the people and places. Here’s the inside scoop on what some the names mean.

I Am A Reader - Fairy Tales You Aren't Reading, But Should, Part 2

Snow White and Rose Red

First of all, this is not the Snow White who hangs with the seven dwarves. This Snow White and her sister, Rose Red, were named for rosebushes that grew in front of their cottage, where the girls and their mother lived a happy life in the woods. (The dad’s dead.)

Dividing by Zero - Review

"The characters are well developed (and fun!), the plot is entertaining and very creative, the writing flows well, the dialogue is natural sounding and true to the character who’s speaking, and it’s overall just a good, fun read. I was also geekily excited that Lily shares information about Pi Day (March 14th – 3/14 – because pi is 3.14159… get it?) I’m looking very much forward to The Lily Sparrow Chronicles Book 2: Calculating Christmas..."

Calling for Reviewers!

We're looking for reviewers! You don't need a blog to sign up, but you do need to at least post a review on Amazon. Other sites (blog, Goodreads, etc.) are also appreciated. Reviews must be completed by the end of November. To sign up, please fill out this form.

The Cinderella Theorem

(The Lily Sparrow Chronicles #1)

by Kristee Ravan

YA Urban Fantasy

Paperback, 367 pages

March 17th 2014





Fairy tales are naturally non-mathematical. That is a fact, and fifteen-year-old Lily Sparrow loves factual, mathematical logic. So when her mother confesses that Lily’s deceased father is (a) not dead, (b) coming to dinner, and (c) the ruler of a fairy tale kingdom accessible through the upstairs bathtub, Lily clings to her math to help her make sense of this new double life (1 life in the real world + 1 secret life in the fairy tale world = a double life).



Even though it’s not mathematical, Lily finds herself being pulled into a mystery involving an unhappy Cinderella, a greasy sycophant called Levi, and a slew of vanishing fairy tale characters. Racing against the clock, with a sound mathematical plan, Lily attempts to save her fairy tale friends while proving that normality = happiness.

Amazon

Kristee Ravan lives in Oklahoma with her husband, daughter, and pet fish, Val (short for Valentine). She wanted to be many things as she grew up including a general, an artist, and an architect. But she never bothered to say, "I want to be a writer when I grow up." She was always writing stories and thought of herself as a writer anyway. She sent her first story to a publisher in the sixth grade. (It was rejected - in a nice way.) When she is not making up stories in her head, she enjoys reading, juggling, green smoothies, playing dollhouse with her daughter, and hearing from her fans. You can contact Kristee at the facebook page for her Lily Sparrow books: The Lily Sparrow Chronicles.

Website - Goodreads - Facebook - Amazon

Tour-Wide Giveaway

5 copies of The Cinderella Theorem (print for US winners, ebook for international winners)

Ends August 31st 

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My Unfair Godmother: A Review

Goodreads (description):

Tansy Miller has always felt that her divorced father has never had enough time for her. But mistakenly getting caught on the wrong side of the law wasn't exactly how she wanted to get his attention. Enter Chrysanthemum "Chrissy" Everstar, Tansy's fairy in shining, er, high heels. Chrissy is only a fair godmother, of course, so Tansy's three wishes don't exactly go according to plan. And if bringing Robin Hood to the twenty-first century isn't bad enough for Tansy, being transported back to the Middle Ages to deal with Rumpelstiltskin certainly is. She'll need the help of her blended family, her wits, and especially the cute police chief's son to stop the gold-spinning story from spinning wildly out of control. Janette Rallison pulls out all the stops in this fresh, fun-filled follow-up to the popular My Fair Godmother.

My Review:

I have to give it to Janette Rallison, she has become one of my favorite writers ever. I won't ever hesitate to buy a book by her because I know that it will be clean, that it has a good message, it has humor, and most of all, adventure. Whether that adventure be medieval, contemporary, or even futuristic. She is extremely talented!

I found that the Fair Godmother books can actually be read as stand alones. Granted, there are several references in here to the first novel, but if you were to read them out of order, you wouldn't be missing anything.

This book follows a teenage girl named Tansy Miller. She has lived a tough life and ends up dating a super douche bag who ends up abandoning her after he stupidly vandalized a building. So not only is Tansy having daddy problems, but now she's on the wrong side of the law.

Now, the Fair Godmother, Chrysanthemum Everstar enter and things get better, right?

Wrong.

Tansy vaguely wishes that she could have advice from the notorious Robin Hood. In this version, though, Robin Hood isn't the hero we know from Disney or certain BBC TV shows. He goes around and robs just about every convenience store there is. What cracks me up is that when he threatens for money, he only takes the coins, so he only ends up taking like $4.00 because he doesn't believe bills are considered as money.

When that ultimately fails, Tansy's wishes ultimately lead her, her family, Robin Hood and his Merry Men, and the super hotty Hudson into the Middle Ages.

Here we follow her on an adventure where Tansy really grows up. She goes from being the angry, dejected daughter to being the smart, happy, and trusting heroine. She takes every twist and turn with strength. She never gives up even when fighting doesn't seem worth it anymore. She wants to help her family and Hudson. No longer does she only think of herself, but she thinks of how to set things right so that the others don't have to suffer from her wish.

Hudson was kind of awesome. He was a great hero, who, despite his strained relationship with Tansy, helps her. He saw the sacrifice she made to help save him, and though he could easily leave her behind in the Middle Ages, he doesn't. He makes sure that she is by his side as they discover the way back to the future.

The ending was so sweet. Beautiful really. I was surprised by a twist near the end and even more so by the events that followed. This is definitely worth the read! If you like fairy tales, this is a must read!

I give this a 5 out of 5!

Persuaded: A Review

Goodreads (Description):

Will he take her back, or fling her aside like she deserves?

Three years ago Amanda made the biggest mistake of her life when she let her friends persuade her to reject the guy she loved. They were convinced he was a loser and wasn't good enough for her.

Now Gregory's back in Farmington . . . taller, stronger, hotter than ever, and worth millions. Those gorgeous girls who snubbed him before are now falling at his feet and he's enjoying every moment of it.

Can he see past the pain Amanda caused him and give her a second chance? Or will she forever regret losing the only guy who truly loved her?



My Review:

So the way this book started out made me really mad. Not because of the way it was written, but because of the choice which the character made. The main character, Amanda, was persuaded by her cheerleader friends to break up with the only man she has ever and will ever love.

Now that just pissed me off. For a variety of reasons.

A) I hate mean girls. They degraded and humiliated this guy not only to his face, but behind his back, ultimately leading to breaking his heart.

B) Being a recent high school graduate, I was reminded of many experiences I had at school with girls like this. Now, I wasn't actually personally involved, but I did have to watch two of my friends suffer through from the terrible things the girls said and did to them while they were on the cheerleading team. I'm not saying cheerleaders are bad people, nor am I trying to be stereotypical. At my school, they just weren't the nicest group of people. I had two friends who were cheerleaders and they are two of the most amazing people I know, but when they were on the team, they had a very hard time and it broke my heart. They eventually left the team, and they grew into much happier people once they surrounded themselves around others who uplifted them and encouraged them--they also became more pleasant to hang out with, they were no longer intimated to act like the others on their ex-team.

and C) I'm not a perfect person, but I do try my best to be kind to everyone. I have learned that by doing so, life is far more enjoyable for everyone. Granted, everyone is not always going to love everyone. This quote is something I try to live by:

This sort of goes back to A). You're not going to like everyone you meet, but I believe that is NEVER okay to make them feel bad about themselves. That's bullying, whether your 6, 16, or 60. It still hurts and I've seen enough friends (and once even myself) go through this horrible pain that I made it my lifetime goal to never be that person.

Now that I told you my anger about how this book started, let me tell you just how amazing it is!

And it really was amazing. Amanda was like my cheerleading friends. She was intimidated and put down by a lot of the people who surrounded her, especially those on her cheerleading team during her freshman year. What I liked about her was that she immediately recognized her mistake and went to set things right, only the love of her life had moved away unexpectedly and she was forced through three years of torture as she fought the guilt that ate her alive.

Now he's back. The now very handsome and attractive Gregory is back and man, is he smoking!

I haven't read the original Jane Austin for this book either, but boy, I really want to.

We get to see the struggle between Amanda and Gregory as they try to find a way to be around each other while desperately trying to avoid the past. It's not easy for them, and they aren't entirely successful. It's glaringly obvious through the whole book that they are still head over heels for each other, but are too prideful to do something about it.

That's why I love Gregory's parents so much. They openly oppose their stupidity, though Amanda and Gregory don't really recognize it until later on in the book. (It's quite humorous, actually).

I really liked Amanda and I felt really bad for the situation she was in. Her family always made her feel ugly and under appreciated, that she wasn't good enough or pretty enough. Her friend Kylie, who wasn't much of a friend (at least, that's my opinion) wasn't exactly her biggest supporter either. What I loved was that Amanda stayed strong and true to herself this time. She didn't let anyone persuade her to do something she didn't want to do, as they did her freshmen year. She really grew up a lot, and I loved to see that in her.

I liked Gregory too, though he did slightly annoy me at times. He was so obviously in love with Amanda that I wanted to slap him to outrageously flirting with anything in a skirt. Still, I understood that he was still hurt by Amanda's open and hurtful rejection all those years ago. What I loved about him was that he was never rude to her, ever. He never said an unkind thing to her and even found ways to compliment her. He was hurt and yet he still made sure that he never did anything to harm Amanda. How honorable is that? So my annoyance gradually fell away and I fell in love with him too.

This was a fantastic book! It surprisingly brought a lot of memories back to me of my recent high school days. I can't say I miss them or that I want to go back, but I did make some great friends there. Friends who had to go through a similar pain like Amanda who turned out to be amazing people. Funny how life goes.

I give this a 4.5 out of 5!

Ranger's Apprentice: The Lost Stories: A Review

Goodreads (description):

The secret history of the New York Times bestselling Ranger's Apprentice, with over 5 million copies sold in the U.S. alone!

Unconfirmed accounts of a group of Araluen warriors - tales of adventure, battle, and triumph over evil - have spread for centuries throughout the known world. Most notable is a clan shrouded in mystery, phantom warriors known as the Rangers.

Two names pass the lips of every storyteller: Halt, and his apprentice, Will. They and their comrades in arms are said to have traveled throughout the kingdom and beyond its borders, protecting those who needed it most. If true, these rumors can be only part of the story.

Only now, centuries after these men and women walked the earth, do we have confirmation of their existence. Behold The Lost Stories, Book 11 in the Ranger's Apprentice epic.

Perfect for fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, T.H. White’s The Sword in the Stone, Christopher Paolini’s Eragon series, and George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones / A Song of Ice and Fire series.

My Review:

Can I just cry? I am so happy the book ended this way. Granted, this was book was a collection of stories here and there both in the past and in the more recent adventures of the Rangers. It was incredible. I spent my day cleaning my house and turned on the Speech-To-Text on my Kindle. Previously, I hated the robot voice, but I am so glad I listened to it!

I won't tell you how the book ends, but I will tell you that Halt's reaction almost brought tears to my eyes. I would have cried if I didn't have to go and eat dinner five seconds later with the family. I don't like crying...

This book was full of adventure and heartbreak. And yet, I was inspired by how I was able to see how much Will has grown and how wise and mature he got. I can't believe that he started out as a fifteen-year-old orphan boy who wanted so desperately wanted to be knight. It's so weird to think that he actually wanted to be a knight. For now he is the best Ranger that his world had ever seen.

GO WILL!

What I thought was super cool about this book was that it began with a guy digging up the ruins of Will's world. He was an archaeologist and he discovered these "Lost Stories." It was a brilliant idea. John Flanagan is by far one of my favorite authors. He's a genius. I want to meet this guy and just say, "You amazing. The world you created was mind blowing and beautiful." I'm not good with words, but I really admire him.

I really love this series because it has been like I'm with the characters. I have come to care deeply for them, as if they are my own family. The fact that they are all grown now makes me feel like they are leaving me. I'm glad there is one last book for me to read. I can promise you though, (because I'm tearing up just thinking about it right now) that I will cry when this ends. I haven't read a series I've come to care so much about since the Pendragon series.

I hope that it ends well. For this series is epic and I love it.

I give this a 5 out of 5!

My Fair Godmother: A Review

Goodreads (Description):

Finding your one true love can be a Grimm experience!

After her boyfriend dumps her for her older sister, sophomore Savannah Delano wishes she could find a true prince to take her to the prom. Enter Chrissy (Chrysanthemum) Everstar: Savannah’s gum-chewing, cell phone–carrying, high heel-wearing Fair Godmother. Showing why she’s only Fair—because she’s not a very good fairy student—Chrissy mistakenly sends Savannah back in time to the Middle Ages, first as Cinderella, then as Snow White. Finally she sends Tristan, a boy in Savannah’s class, back instead to turn him into her prom-worthy prince. When Savannah returns to the Middle Ages to save Tristan, they must team up to defeat a troll, a dragon, and the mysterious and undeniably sexy Black Knight. Laughs abound in this clever fairy tale twist from a master of romantic comedy.

My Review:

This story is quite excellent. It is clever and it is witty. It follows the story of a second sister whose boyfriend is stolen by her older sister. Sad, right? The story begins with this BOOM of a beginning and I'm left with like a, wow. What could possibly happen next?

And then we see how Savannah meets her incompetent and slightly annoying Fair Godmother, Chrysanthemum Everstar. Frankly, I find the banter between the two slightly amusing, but if I were in Savannah's shoes I would totally smack that Fair Godmother upside her head. I mean, sheesh. She messes up the simplest of wishes like no other.

This results in Savannah spending a lot of time in the Middle Ages. It is very interesting to see a how a modern, preppy, not-so-smart modern girl learns how to survive the hard, demanding work given to servants in the Middle Ages. Yet, surprisingly, Savannah owns up to it. She works hard until she is finally able to contact her aloof Fair Godmother to chide her and say that Chrissy wasn't really helping her. And still, Chrissy messes up even more wishes.

Eventually, Savannah goes to save her friend Tristan from the Middle Ages. It's here when the book gets really funny. Mainly because Tristan is super mad at Savannah for getting him mixed up with all of this. And yet despite his anger, he protects her and does his best to fulfill the wish so that they can finally go home. He is strong and loyal, even when Savannah made some super dumb choices and nearly got herself killed several times. Tristan is a really cool guy and I'm glad that it was him Chrissy involved and not some other guy from Savannah's school.

Savannah is an interesting character. She is kind of an idiot, but she's not an annoying one. Like, she doesn't whine or complain. She just doesn't make the smartest choices all the time. I couldn't help but thinking, could you really be that air headed? And then I remember how and where she was raised as a kid, so I nodded and answered my question. Yes, she really could be that air headed. It was funny though, to see what she put herself through and how she managed to get herself out--although most of the time it was with the help of Tristan. What I loved was that she learned how to become an honest person (well, if she lied, she spit up frogs and such, blech). But she also grew a lot. She got smarter and more genuine. It wasn't all about being the most popular or beautiful anymore. She finally realized that if she were just herself, everything would work out in the end.

Like I mentioned above, Tristan was my favorite. I love how he never went soft on Savannah. She made a ton of dumb choices, but he didn't show sympathy (she did after all, send him to the Middle Ages). Basically he told her to grow up. It was awesome. He wasn't unkind to her or a jerk about it, though. Which made me like him all the more. He was a great love interest and I liked him a lot!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loved medieval adventures! It was quite a fun ride!

I give this a 5 out of 5!

The picture on the right is my (and my mother, Becca aka Paij Slater's, over at My Love for Reading Keeps Growing) signed copy! I saw Janette at an author's night at the Barnes and Noble at the San Tan Gilbert, Arizona Mall! I have been to several of her author events. She is such an amazing person. Not only does she write beautifully, but she is a fabulous person to know. I also got a signed poster for her Slayer's Series under her pen name, C.J. Hill.

Cover Reveal: Hemlock Veils

Hemlock Veils

by Jennie

Davenport

Release Date: 11/25/14

Swoon Romance

Summary from Goodreads:

When Elizabeth Ashton
escapes her damaging city life and finds herself in the remote town of Hemlock
Veils, Oregon, she is smitten by its quaint mystery; but the surrounding forest
holds an enchantment she didn’t think existed, and worse, a most terrifying
monster. The town claims it vicious and evil, but Elizabeth suspects something
is amiss. Even with its enormous, hairy frame, gruesome claws, and knifelike
teeth, the monster’s eyes speak to her: wolf-like and ringed with gold, yet
holding an awareness that can only be human. That’s when Elizabeth knows she is
the only one who can see the struggling soul trapped inside, the soul to which
she is moved.

Secretly, Elizabeth befriends the beast at night, discovering there’s more to
his story and that the rising of the sun transforms him into a human more
complex than his beastly self. Elizabeth eventually learns that his curse is
unlike any other and that a single murderous act is all that stands between him
and his freedom. Though love is not enough to break his curse, it may be the
only means by which the unimaginable can be done: sacrifice a beauty for the
beast.











About the Author


Though Jennie Davenport was raised throughout the Midwest, she now lives
in the little desert mining town of Bagdad, Arizona, where six guys beg for her
constant attention: a husband, three young, blond sons, a German shepherd with
a name much mightier than his disposition (Zeus), and a black cat named Mouse.
When she isn’t trying to run her home with as little casualties as possible,
Jennie loves snuggling with her family, laughing with her friends, delving into
brilliant entertainment of any vein, and playing outside. Despite the way being
a writer is in her blood, and the wheels of her writerly mind are constantly
turning, Jennie likes to think that in another life, she would have been a
Broadway star. Or an American Idol finalist.

Jennie lives for the fall, and not just because of her adoration for the
NFL (Go Broncos!). In her perfect world, she would have the springs, summers,
and falls of Colorado, and the winters of Arizona—someplace where the climate
and weather would allow her to go on a trail run all year round. But even
though she prefers the pines and mountains, she is a devoted fan of all nature,
from sandy beaches to woodsy cabins, and all are her greatest inspiration. She
believes nature is one of the best healing remedies, with a magic all its own.

Jennie’s passion for writing is the way she survives, and is as vital to
her sanity as oxygen, caffeine, food, and music. Even before she began writing
it, well-told, original, and character-driven romance was always her weak spot.
Add the paranormal or magical realism element and she may never make it back to
reality.


Author Links:

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