tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70638620543252369102023-11-16T06:17:43.057-05:00Casual Readersthe book club group on goodreadsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger161125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063862054325236910.post-550633214898710892015-02-13T07:08:00.000-05:002015-02-13T07:08:46.619-05:00#HotDudesReading<div style="text-align: center;">
That's right, folks. You can now get your fill of <a href="http://instagram.com/hotdudesreading/" target="_blank">Hot Dudes Reading on Instagram</a>!</div>
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Currently, there are only 15 posts. However, the account already has 192K followers.</div>
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Why?</div>
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<a href="http://instagram.com/hotdudesreading/" target="_blank"><img alt="http://instagram.com/hotdudesreading/" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_-09YvEnf85kTumgbg2cdshdZbVOCE5uc-8iX6w-ioi9BAwRWIhPgkEI23ilKyO8eAlqPtNsqfnof_-oZFxtDevcuGCZZ9qJq6rpZ2r2oAhDQEI6LBlPTPCq2xCVuULvfCVw5cyQsVWf/s1600/deanreading.jpg" /></a></div>
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That's why. </div>
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We thought this was headline news for obvious reasons. Enjoy!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063862054325236910.post-31733489913655400192015-01-30T09:00:00.000-05:002015-01-30T09:01:22.703-05:00BOOK CLUB: January & February<div style="text-align: center;">
The holidays threw us for a loop. Honestly, I've just been lazy!</div>
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However, the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/111582-casual-readers" target="_blank">group</a> is still going strong.</div>
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Here's what we've been up to...</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>January </b></span></div>
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This was our main monthly group read suggested by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/12245626-talitha" target="_blank">Talitha</a> from <a href="http://www.victoriansoulcritiques.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Victorian Soul Critiques</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6381205-soulless" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6381205-soulless" border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1314020848l/6381205.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
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<!-- the identifier in the following script tag can be a GR book id or an isbn -->We also read <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6101718-the-magicians" target="_blank">The Magicians</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/142270.Lev_Grossman" target="_blank">Lev Grossman</a> as well as <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21418013-lock-in" target="_blank">Lock In</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4763.John_Scalzi" target="_blank">John Scalzi</a>.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>February</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60931.Kindred" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60931.Kindred" border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1339423248l/60931.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17901125-the-mime-order" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17901125-the-mime-order" border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1421696237l/17901125.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10079321-the-magician-king" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10079321-the-magician-king" border="0" height="320" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1316177353l/10079321.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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You can find all of the official current and upcoming discussions <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group_folder/189326?group_id=111582" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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All of our past discussions are <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group_folder/190174?group_id=111582" target="_blank">archived</a> but still available whenever you get around to it. </div>
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<b>Join us for casual discussions, friends and fun!</b></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063862054325236910.post-64203657745079994802014-11-17T10:10:00.000-05:002014-11-17T10:10:00.032-05:00#RRSciFiMonth Books That Predicted the Future<div style="text-align: center;">
How often do books actually predict the future? More often that you'd think! </div>
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Can you think of any other examples not included in this infographic? Please, share them in the comments.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063862054325236910.post-41880606438204128362014-11-10T07:14:00.000-05:002014-11-11T11:49:01.765-05:00#RRSciFiMonth Author Interview: Rysa Walker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span id="freeTextContainerauthor6581077">Rysa Walker grew up on a cattle ranch in the South. Her options for entertainment were talking to cows and reading books. On the rare occasion that she gained control of the television, she watched <i>Star Trek</i> and imagined living in the future, on distant planets, or at least in a town big enough to have a stop light.<br />
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<i>Timebound</i>, the first book in The CHRONOS Files series, was the Young Adult and Grand Prize winner in the 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards. A CHRONOS Files novella, <i>Time's Echo</i>, is now available exclusively on Kindle. <i>Time's Edge</i>, the second book in the series, was released in October of 2014. The third book is currently scheduled to release in September of 2015.</span></div>
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<span id="freeTextContainerauthor6581077"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>INTERVIEW </b></u></span></span></div>
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<b>Q:</b> First sci-fi novel you remember reading as a child?<br />
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<b>A:</b> It was actually a book of short stories that hooked me on sci-fi. I rarely got my hands on science fiction books as a kid. My primary "book pusher" (one of my grandmothers) had a preference for westerns & historical romance, and the local library was a bit lacking in the sci-fi realm as well. <br />
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Then my uncle, who is seven years older that I am and who was not exactly a stellar student, offered me five dollars to write a book report for him when I was nine or ten. (Yes, it was cheating. But what nine year old wouldn't be flattered and curious as to whether she could write something that would get past an 11th grade English teacher? I've always loved a good challenge...) <br />
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He'd been assigned science fiction as his genre, and he handed me a big, fat book of short stories. I was supposed to pick one, read it, and write a two-page report for his class. I got the book on Sunday morning, and I'll admit that the two-page report was probably not my best work, because I rushed it. The problem was that I read all of the stories and had a tough time deciding which one to write about. For the first time, I read Heinlein, Clarke, Bradbury, Asimov and many others. I finally picked "<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18373.Flowers_for_Algernon">Flowers for Algernon</a>," which is still one of my favorites. <br />
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The paper got a C+, which disappointed me at the time, but in retrospect, the teacher was probably very generous. My uncle was just delighted that he passed the class.<br />
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<b>Q:</b> Describe your perfect writing environment.<br />
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<b>A:</b> Around 11pm. Water bottle nearby. Social media off, desk so cluttered that I have to clear things away to see my monitors. No interruptions until I'm too sleepy to keep writing. <br />
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I rarely get any of those aside from the cluttered desk and water, since I have to get up at 6am to get kids off to school and there are almost always early soccer games on the weekends. So while I'm in fantasy land, I'll add two more: A cup of Double Bergamot Earl Grey that magically stays the right temperature and refills as needed and really dark chocolate (preferably Green & Black's 85%) from which all calories have been removed. <br />
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<b>Q:</b> Favorite sci-fi TV show (past or present)?<br />
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<b>A: </b>You do know this is kind of like asking a mom to pick her favorite child, right? <br />
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If forced to choose just one favorite, I'd go with Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Lost might have bumped it out of that front-runner spot, if not for the fact that the writers botched the landing--the last few episodes were real clunkers.<br />
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<b>Q:</b> Tell us more about your outreach for student writers.<br />
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<b>A:</b> I'm currently part of a contest called <a href="http://rysa.com/the-skys-the-limit-writing-contest/">The Sky's the Limit</a>, along with fellow Skyscape authors Lori Lee, Christina Farley, Meredith McCardle, Chuck Wendig, and Jessie Humphries. The goal is to encourage creative writing in middle and high schools, and we've all been visiting our local schools to encourage young writers. All too often these days, the focus is on the required end-of-year tests. Creative writing gets very little attention in the classroom. It's not the teachers' fault--they'd love to have more time for it--but there just aren't enough hours in the day. We're hoping this will fill in the gap a bit. <br />
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The contest just ended on November 1st, but hopefully we'll be able to make this a yearly contest, depending on everyone's schedule. We'll be announcing the winners in January. Students only had to write the first 250 words of the story -- the goal was to get them thinking creatively and see who could come up with the best "hook" to make us want to read more. The grand prize winner will have the chance to complete the short story, and we'll assist the student in publishing it. There were lots of other great prizes as well, at each grade level (6-12), and a package of 30 Kindle Paperwhite readers for the school with most entries.<br />
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<b>Q:</b> If Twitter existed in the late 1800s, who would you follow?<br />
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<b>A:</b> Mark Twain. Susan B. Anthony. Lucy Stone, a suffragist who gets way too little attention. Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Edward Bellamy. A journalist named Miriam Cole, whose articles in various newspapers were so modern in tone that I could almost believe she had a CHRONOS key of her own. Frederick Douglass. I'd be retweeting Ida B. Wells's campaign to stop lynching. Victoria Woodhull. ...<br />
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I could go on for quite awhile. I suspect I'd be following at least as many people as I am today. :) <br />
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<b>Q:</b> Share your best time travel writing tips.<br />
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<b>A:</b> Keep it simple. Really wish I could go back in time and give myself this tip, because sorting out all of the timelines in Book 3 is making me a bit crazy. <br />
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<b>Q:</b> Favorite sci-fi movie?<br />
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<b>A:</b> If you'd simply asked favorite movie, it's a no-brainer. "The Princess Bride" wins hands down. As for sci-fi films, my favorite always tends to be the *last* really good movie that I see, possible because I have so many other favorites that I simply can't choose except for that one that is still really vivid in my mind. So I'm going to have to go with "Edge of Tomorrow" (aka "Live, Die, Repeat"), which we watched this past weekend. I resisted seeing it at the theaters despite recommendations of friends, because I really don't like Tom Cruise. But he was excellent in this, as was Emily Blunt. It reminded me a lot of another favorite film, "Groundhog Day," which isn't really sci-fi, but still hits many of the same themes. <br />
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<b>Q:</b> Recommend a recent read.<br />
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<b>A:</b> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23204489-rebel-wing">Rebel Wing</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/239569.Tracy_Banghart">Tracy Banghart</a>. Excellent YA sci-fi with a strong heroine. Banghart tackles stereotypes and still manages to tell an excellent story. And there's a book I'd really, really like to be able to recommend. I loved the writing and the characters in Jackaby by William Ritter. It was, as the early reviews promised, a mix of Sherlock and Doctor Who, two of my favorites. But I figured out who-dun-it way too soon for it to work for me as a mystery...and so did the teen reader in my house. Others seem, to have missed it, however, so if that kind of thing won't make you totally crazy, it's beautifully written and very whimsical. I'll read the next in the series, but I'm hoping he doesn't drop as many hints next time! <br />
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<b>Q:</b> If you had a CHRONOS key, where would you go and why?<br />
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<b>A:</b> I already did--virtually at least! Kate's jump to the 1893 World's Fair would be my dream trip. I would hang out for the full run of the Expo and stalk most of the historical figures mentioned above from the 1893 version of Twitter, along with a lot of other names that only a total Progressive era history geek would recognize. I would, however, steer clear of H.H. Holmes's World's Fair hotel and stay at the Palmer House. <br />
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<b>Q:</b> We would love a few hints about The CHRONOS Files, #3!<br />
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<b>A:</b> The Houdini story that began in the Time's Echo novella and drifted over into the second book will be resolved, and Kate will begin working with a new set of allies hinted at in the final pages of Time's Edge. In addition to Houdini and his wife Bess, Victoria Woodhull and Tennessee Claflin have cameo roles in Book 3. Kate will also be taking her first jump into the distant future. I'm starting on that section of the book now, as I barrel toward the end of the first draft. It's kind of a bittersweet thought, since book three will be the last full-length book in the series. It's slated for publication next September, if all goes according to schedule, but there will be another novella, Time's Mirror (from Prudence's perspective) coming out in late spring or early summer.</div>
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</span></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Please, visit Rysa's <a href="http://rysa.com/" target="_blank">website</a> for extended content including <u><b>BONUS CHAPTERS</b></u><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rysa-Walker/e/B00D6GOS62" target="_blank">Amazon</a> • <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6581077.Rysa_Walker" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> • <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Timebound" target="_blank">Facebook</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/RysaWalker" target="_blank">Twitter</a></b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Don't forget to enter <span style="font-family: inherit;">The CHRONOS Files <a href="http://casualreadersbookclub.blogspot.com/2014/11/rrscifi2014timebound.html" target="_blank">giveaway</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">!</span></span></b></span> </span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063862054325236910.post-35603505189428933712014-11-04T08:01:00.000-05:002014-11-10T07:25:53.116-05:00GIVEAWAY & REVIEW: The CHRONOS Files #RRSciFiMonth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1371864811l/18108877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1371864811l/18108877.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18108877-timebound" style="border: none;" target="_blank"><img alt="Timebound (The Chronos Files, #1)" src="https://www.goodreads.com/images/atmb_add_book-70x25.png" /></a></div>
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<!-- the identifier in the following script tag can be a GR book id or an isbn --><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18108877-timebound" target="_blank">Timebound</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6581077.Rysa_Walker" target="_blank">Rysa Walker</a></b></span></div>
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When Kate Pierce-Keller’s grandmother gives her a strange blue medallion and speaks of time travel, sixteen-year-old Kate assumes the old woman is delusional. But it all becomes horrifyingly real when a murder in the past destroys the foundation of Kate’s present-day life. Suddenly, that medallion is the only thing protecting Kate from blinking out of existence.</div>
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Kate learns that the 1893 killing is part of something much more sinister, and Kate’s genetic ability to time-travel makes her the only one who can stop him. Risking everything, she travels to the Chicago World’s Fair to try to prevent the killing and the chain of events that follows.</div>
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Changing the timeline comes with a personal cost, however—if Kate succeeds, the boy she loves will have no memory of her existence. And regardless of her motives, does she have the right to manipulate the fate of the entire world?</div>
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<span class="elementTwo" id="freeText15859561890433334989"><u><span style="font-size: large;"><b>REVIEW</b></span></u></span></div>
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My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/832202740">5 of 5 stars</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYphAkgsszISwXQEYadzuC1xWUlfW-x3doBUowfaNxj_17qWA7ydTJK1i2-NuK1C7jJFEmKJQVK9-Zkn0xzlFhmYuzFvbKOkFv_DRTlBwnltFb-hANoFSDSawCCYfO8Ij0shC7gRGDX6A/s1600/5stars.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYphAkgsszISwXQEYadzuC1xWUlfW-x3doBUowfaNxj_17qWA7ydTJK1i2-NuK1C7jJFEmKJQVK9-Zkn0xzlFhmYuzFvbKOkFv_DRTlBwnltFb-hANoFSDSawCCYfO8Ij0shC7gRGDX6A/s1600/5stars.png" height="112" width="320" /></a> </div>
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Time-travel details can sometimes be dizzyingly difficult to follow, but Walker piles it on with ease. From religious cults to serial killers, this book has it all and is executed magnificently. This is an action-packed read that will have you begging for more!</div>
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The CHRONOS Files series also includes TIME'S ECHO and TIME'S EDGE (both currently available) as well as book three, releasing next year.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>AUTHOR</b></u></span></div>
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I grew up on a cattle ranch in the panhandle of Florida, thirty miles from the nearest bookstore, and ten miles from a library that was sorely underfunded. The librarian’s sole duties seemed to be telling me the book I wanted wasn’t in and shooing me back into the kid’s section. There were plenty of times that I would have sold my soul to get my hands on a new book, so there’s a slight possibility that the Kindle might be the result of a deal between my teenaged self and the devil. One grandmother tried to keep me supplied with books, although they were more likely to be the Louis L’Amour westerns and Barbara Cartland romances she finished reading than the science fiction and fantasy books I loved most. My other grandmother told me stories that awakened my interest in history and stirred my imagination. </div>
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I’ve held many different jobs with varying degrees of competence, including lifeguard at a waterslide (no one drowned), waitress (only a few broken dishes), actress in a melodrama theater (good reviews, except for my two left feet), web & multimedia development (I still dabble in that a bit) and, eventually, professor of history and government. If you can find a common denominator between all of those jobs, please let me know. I started writing before the waterslide gig, but only recently has it begun to pay the bills. </div>
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You’ll often (too often) find me on Facebook and Twitter. If you do, gently remind me that I really should be writing.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>GIVEAWAY</b></u></span></div>
<ul>
<li>One (1) signed copy of TIMEBOUND</li>
<li>One (1) signed copy of TIME'S EDGE</li>
<li>Two (2) audio files of TIME'S ECHO</li>
<li>Three (3) e-book copies of TIME'S ECHO</li>
</ul>
One (1) winner will receive a signed copy of TIMEBOUND and TIME'S EDGE plus their choice of the audio or an e-book copy of TIME'S ECHO! There will then be four (4) additional winners selected for the remaining prizes. (International)<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063862054325236910.post-18394890979848960472014-11-01T14:08:00.001-04:002014-11-01T14:22:43.122-04:00#RRSciFiMonth Intro & Giveaway<br />
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<a href="http://www.ohthebooks.com/sci-fi-november-2014/" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.ohthebooks.com/sci-fi-november-2014/" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAwglXqzBbqAGSdPQZpFidMnvN8wONysJbLIEU9-8CkqDCmk4402X98iam9v15NkJRtmYwJk1PIRlnmPr-ZNzbcMiS8GFxi8J4CXV_1SoRjzha2Vb9i-wE72ZFWn3bqLrl1OVKPgihVKN/s1600/sfm_banner_01a.png" height="176" width="640" /></a></div>
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What is <a href="http://www.ohthebooks.com/sci-fi-november-2014/" target="_blank">Sci-fi November</a>? <a href="http://www.ohthebooks.com/sci-fi-november-2014/#FAQ" target="_blank">Here</a> are a few FAQ. It's not too late to <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ZA1Rlubssl796ZLCjDfQttPTqELGCATkrFaICjdCmO0/viewform" target="_blank">sign up</a>!</div>
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There are tons of <a href="http://www.ohthebooks.com/sci-fi-month-is-coming-are-you-ready/" target="_blank">fun things happening</a>.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">What are you looking forward to the most?</span></b></div>
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Check out the <a href="http://www.ohthebooks.com/sci-fi-month-is-coming-are-you-ready/" target="_blank">schedule</a> and <a href="http://www.ohthebooks.com/sci-fi-month-is-coming-are-you-ready/" target="_blank">list of participants</a> for more science fiction-y goodness. </div>
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We have a very special giveaway from <a href="http://outofprintclothing.com/" target="_blank">Out of Print Clothing</a>!</div>
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Make sure to check out their awesome <a href="http://outofprintclothing.com/science-fiction-collection/" target="_blank">Science Fiction Collection</a>.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">If you are one of the lucky few to win, which item(s) will you choose?</span></b></div>
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Prepare for more #RRSciFiMonth goodies right here every Monday through the month of November.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063862054325236910.post-43387944806786913032014-10-21T07:03:00.000-04:002014-10-21T07:03:15.316-04:00GIVEAWAY & RECIPE: Overnight of the Living Dead French Toast #ZPocEating<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSYQNuqHoLQ-4o8faGnCd3xzXyLuIT8LkdKUfebLp_2w7ryEx9zW2_OPtK-8TBCZhRYNykv2oMXa09V61ff2ofFXz-vdFvgWXbd2YdZsvZRSvqFl66V_soSQyM7vWoRCqLc84GFwK3dyK/s1600/TheArtofEatingThroughtheZombieApocalypse_BlogTourBadge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSYQNuqHoLQ-4o8faGnCd3xzXyLuIT8LkdKUfebLp_2w7ryEx9zW2_OPtK-8TBCZhRYNykv2oMXa09V61ff2ofFXz-vdFvgWXbd2YdZsvZRSvqFl66V_soSQyM7vWoRCqLc84GFwK3dyK/s1600/TheArtofEatingThroughtheZombieApocalypse_BlogTourBadge.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20702841-the-art-of-eating-through-the-zombie-apocalypse" target="_blank">The Art of Eating through the Zombie Apocalypse: A Cookbook and Culinary Survival Guide</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8509030.Lauren_Wilson" target="_blank">Lauren Wilson</a></b></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="freeText13722843674648563545"><b>Just because the undead’s taste buds are atrophying doesn’t mean yours have to!</b><br />
<br />
You duck into the safest-looking abandoned house you can find and hold your breath as you listen for the approaching zombie horde you’ve been running from all day. You hear a gurgling sound. Is it the undead? No—it’s <i>your stomach</i>.<br />
<br />
When the zombie apocalypse tears down life and society as we know it, it will mean no more take out, no more brightly lit, immaculately organized aisles of food just waiting to be plucked effortlessly off the shelves. No more trips down to the local farmers’ market. No more microwaved meals in front of the TV or intimate dinner parties. No, when the undead rise, eating will be hard, and doing it successfully will become an art.<br />
<br />
<i>The Art of Eating through the Zombie Apocalypse</i> is a cookbook and culinary field guide for the busy zpoc survivor. With more than 80 recipes (from <i>Overnight of the Living Dead French Toast</i> and <i>It’s Not Easy Growing Greens Salad</i> to <i>Down & Out Sauerkraut</i>, <i>Honey & Blackberry Mead</i>, and <i>Twinkie Trifle</i>), scads of gastronomic survival tips, and dozens of diagrams and illustrations that help you scavenge, forage, and improvise your way to an artful post-apocalypse meal. <i>The Art of Eating</i> is the ideal handbook for efficient food sourcing and inventive meal preparation in the event of an undead uprising.<br />
<br />
Whether you decide to hole up in your own home or bug out into the wilderness, whether you prefer to scavenge the dregs of society or try your hand at apocalyptic agriculture, and regardless of your level of skill or preparation, <i>The Art of Eating</i> will help you navigate the wasteland and make the most of what you eat.</span><br />
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<span id="freeText13722843674648563545"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>EXCERPT </b></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="freeText13722843674648563545"><b>Bugging In or Nouveau Home Cuisine</b></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span id="freeText13722843674648563545">The recipes here are quick, simple, calorie rich, and, perhaps most importantly, comforting. Yes, that’s right, they’re the <i>zpoc</i> equivalent of the post-financial-crisis comfort food trend. So get ready for warm, indulgent, and satisfying meals that can be fixed in a jiffy and/or need minimal attendance. These recipes are geared to the first days of the outbreak—when the power is either still running or has just gone out—and so, will focus on perishable ingredients that most people would have on hand in their refrigerators and freezers.</span></div>
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<span id="freeText13722843674648563545"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoLoLwsiIpsGSpbZPI-5zzPmtRYaSK18OVg_DZOlbNs5o24NX8krFCtuy1fb_O4TIr4iH8q3upIADsZEiHH_6pwNUO0tjjrkoo_g69OjzfC0dlpjMh56DJdVPRQc0pXuvpAf2Y2TdrUBb/s1600/Overnight+of+the+Living+Dead+French+Toast+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoLoLwsiIpsGSpbZPI-5zzPmtRYaSK18OVg_DZOlbNs5o24NX8krFCtuy1fb_O4TIr4iH8q3upIADsZEiHH_6pwNUO0tjjrkoo_g69OjzfC0dlpjMh56DJdVPRQc0pXuvpAf2Y2TdrUBb/s1600/Overnight+of+the+Living+Dead+French+Toast+photo.jpg" height="233" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span id="freeText13722843674648563545"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></span><span id="freeText13722843674648563545"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></span><span id="freeText13722843674648563545"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></span><span id="freeText13722843674648563545"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> Overnight of the Living Dead French Toast</b></span></span></div>
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<span id="freeText13722843674648563545">Yields: 4 Hungry Survivor servings, 6 Regular Joe servings</span><span id="freeText13722843674648563545"> </span></div>
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<span id="freeText13722843674648563545">Welcome to the zombie apocalypse! Tomorrow is a big day: you will be losing your head (hopefully not literally) trying to fend off the newly infected. On top of that, those pesky little weak spots in your fortress will surely present themselves, leaving you overwhelmed with survival and physical defense–focused activities. Before you go to sleep tonight (if it even seems safe to do so), why not plan ahead for breakfast? Not only will it help use up some of your perishables (milk, eggs, butter, bread), it will also give you a calorie-rich jump-start to your undead-filled day. If the power has already gone out, reduce the amount of time you soak the bread to a couple of hours and use an Oven Hack (page 6) to cook this bad boy.</span></div>
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<u>Requires</u>: <br />
Chef’s or survival knife and cutting board<br />
1 bread knife<br />
1 small mixing bowl<br />
1 mixing spoon<br />
1 fireproof baking dish (preferably 7" x 11")<br />
1 large bowl<br />
1 whisk (or fork)<br />
Piece of foil, to cover baking dish<br />
<br />
<u>Heat Source</u>:<br />
Indirect, conventional oven or other Oven Hack (page 6)<br />
<br />
<u>Time</u>:<br />
10 minutes prep<br />
4-8 hours inactive soaking time<br />
35 minutes unattended cooking time<br />
<br />
<u>Ingredients</u>:<br />
¼ c. (4 tbsp.) butter, melted<br />
½ c. brown sugar<br />
12 oz. bread (challah, raisin, French baguette, Wonder—whatever you got, preferably a mix of several different kinds), sliced into strips 2–3 fingers wide<br />
½ c. dried cranberries or raisins<br />
6 eggs<br />
2 tbsp. granulated sugar<br />
1 ½ c. milk, cream, or combination<br />
1 tbsp. vanilla extract<br />
1 tsp. ground cinnamon<br />
½ tsp. ground nutmeg<br />
½ tsp. ground ginger<br />
Pinch of salt<br />
3 tbsp. rum, orange liqueur, or brandy (optional)<br />
1 c. nuts (walnuts, pecans, or almonds), roughly chopped and preferably toasted<br />
Maple syrup, to taste<br />
<br />
<u>Method</u>:<br />
1. Mix together the melted butter and brown sugar in a small mixing bowl. Spread the mixture along <br />
the bottom of the baking dish.<br />
2. Put down a layer of bread fingers, overlapping and filling gaps where needed. Sprinkle with dried <br />
fruit. Repeat with remaining bread and fruit.<br />
3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs and granulated sugar together until the sugar has dissolved, <br />
about 1 minute. Add the milk/cream, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, pinch of salt, and <br />
liquor/liqueur (if using). Whisk until incorporated.<br />
4. Pour the custard over the bread and dried fruit, sweeping back and forth to moisten the whole top <br />
layer, filling any nooks and crannies. Cover with foil and let sit for 2 hours (no refrigeration) or at <br />
least 4 hours to overnight (in the fridge).<br />
5. Preheat oven (for perhaps the last time!) to 375°F or set up an Oven Hack (see Judging <br />
Temperature, page 7).<br />
6. Remove foil from the baking dish and sprinkle with the toasted nuts (if using). Drizzle lightly <br />
with maple syrup.<br />
7. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes, then cover and bake for another 15 minutes to avoid <br />
over-browning. Check after 20 minutes or so—cooking time will vary widely depending on your <br />
setup.<br />
8. The French toast is ready when the custard at the center feels set (i.e., not jiggly, squishy, or raw). <br />
Let stand for 5–10 minutes, then drizzle liberally with more maple syrup before tucking in.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">AUTHOR</span></b></u></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwykb3Cfjbmvgy4b2cqznoY-5kdl3tr5JxL0wxzPu0-ldW9nlxlE5Fz4tTKZahFASkYs2dw4Kb-i6Sc1KOpxzCwdp_0J4CZePtecAxNd6qgo9z549EMOcQmNgV-4eoKs0c9AU7QRWuGAix/s1600/authorzpoc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwykb3Cfjbmvgy4b2cqznoY-5kdl3tr5JxL0wxzPu0-ldW9nlxlE5Fz4tTKZahFASkYs2dw4Kb-i6Sc1KOpxzCwdp_0J4CZePtecAxNd6qgo9z549EMOcQmNgV-4eoKs0c9AU7QRWuGAix/s1600/authorzpoc.jpg" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="freeTextauthor8509030">Lauren was infected with a
rare strain of undead enthusiasm over a decade ago while fighting off
the zombie menace of Raccoon City in the original Resident Evil. From
video games to comic books, zombie walks to online communities, there
are few corners of the culture she has not explored. And she’s got a
decent zed t-shirt collection, to boot.<br /><br />When not nerding out
about zombies, space, or Adventure Time, Lauren works in the world of
food as a professional cook and writer. Since completing her culinary
training at Toronto's George Brown Chef School in 2008 she has done a
variety of work—from restaurant cooking to cheesemongering, online sales
to catering, teaching cooking classes to writing for print and online
media. She completed research and course development work at George
Brown examining the career motivations, ambitions, and expectations of
students with the aim of better understanding low female representation
at the executive level of professional kitchens.<br /><br />After eating up
all the good bits of Toronto, Lauren followed a trail of crumbs to
Brooklyn, where she is cooking, eating, writing, and teaching happily.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="freeTextauthor8509030"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.laurenmwilson.com/" target="_blank">WEBSITE</a> • <a href="http://www.laurenmwilson.com/blog/" target="_blank">BLOG</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/laurendoesthis" target="_blank">TWITTER</a> • <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LaurenMaritaWilson" target="_blank">FACEBOOK</a></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>GIVEAWAY </b></u></span><br />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9ee1803816/" id="rc-9ee1803816" rel="nofollow">A Rafflecopter Giveaway</a></div>
<script src="//widget.rafflecopter.com/load.js"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063862054325236910.post-9079879359635759592014-10-05T13:00:00.000-04:002014-10-05T13:00:31.186-04:00REVIEW: Magic Bites<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1378141145l/18427611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1378141145l/18427611.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18427611-magic-bites" style="border: none;" target="_blank"><img alt="Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, #1)" src="https://www.goodreads.com/images/atmb_add_book-70x25.png" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18427611-magic-bites">Magic Bites</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21748.Ilona_Andrews">Ilona Andrews</a></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<span id="freeText14391384869684563016">Kate Daniels is a
down-on-her-luck mercenary who makes her living cleaning up magical
problems. But when Kate’s guardian is murdered, her quest for justice
draws her into a power struggle between two strong factions within
Atlanta’s magic circles. Pressured by both sides to find the killer,
Kate realizes she’s way out of her league—but she wouldn't want it any
other way… <br /><br />This special edition includes in-depth information
about the world of Kate Daniels, with descriptions of its characters and
factions. Explore Kate’s Atlanta like never before with answers to FAQ
and a quiz to find your place there. And don’t miss the prequel story “A
Questionable Client,” as well as scenes of events in <em>Magic Bites</em> from Curran’s point of view.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>REVIEW </b></u></span><br />
<br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/701907582">3 of 5 stars</a></div>
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This was one of those first-in-series that had been recommended to me countless times. I had high hopes, but it fell flat. The rhythm of the story flickered like a fey lantern. Sometimes, I was completely enthralled. Other times, I was bored out of my mind. Reading the special edition was helpful as there are a ton of extra features at the end (including a prequel novella). I read <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21900939.A_Questionable_Client" title="A Questionable Client by Ilona Andrews">A Questionable Client</a> after finishing book one, but it didn't help very much in filling in the holes. I loved the magic versus tech concept and the fact that vampires are actually monsters instead of just another glammed up love interest. I'm still a bit confused about the role of each faction but looking forward to book two, nonetheless. Kate was likable enough though I certainly don't feel invested in any of the other characters at this point. Hopefully, the next in series will captivate me. Otherwise, I won't be continuing with Kate Daniels.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063862054325236910.post-16790589271228975002014-10-03T08:59:00.000-04:002014-10-03T08:59:00.041-04:00AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Violet Storm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21793702-violet-storm" target="_blank">Violet Storm: Modi #1</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8106601.Anna_Soliveres" target="_blank">Anna Soliveres</a></span></b><br />
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<span id="freeText4306587063206534749">Several hundred years into the future, The Cleansing, known to some as the End of Days, forced the government to create Arks to shelter its people. When Earth became habitable again, new territories rose up from the ashes: Agria, the City of Light, and the Outer Boundaries. For a while, they lived in peace.<br />
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A brilliant surgeon known for his invention of Modi’s—the only cure for the deadly disease, vaincre—has gone rogue with his experiments, and the Monarchy is desperate to shut him down. That's where Aeva Storm comes in, a champion athlete with an ego to match. Aeva is the surgeon's secret weapon against the Monarchy. And they'll never know what hit them. After reconstructing her body to become a Modi unlike any he's ever created, Aeva is forced into a fight against all odds. She'll have to break loyalties, hurt family, and turn her back on newly awakened love. Thousands of lives hang in the balance in a battle that will set forth a new era.<br />
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Join Aeva on her quest to see whether she's got what it takes to go up against the most powerful humans ever created.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>INTERVIEW</b></u></span><br />
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<b>A:</b> I just got started on the <i>Daughter of Smoke and Bone</i> series and I must say, it’s good, real good! <br />
<br />
<b>Q:</b> List three (3) movies that have inspired you as a writer. <br />
<b>A:</b> Here are the three movies that inspired the world of Violet Storm: <i>iRobot</i>, <i>The Road</i>, and <i>The Book of Eli</i>. I drew quite a bit from these movies to create the VS world! <br />
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<b>Q:</b> Who is your favorite super hero? <br />
<b>A:</b> I grew up loving X-Men, Smallville, and a slew of anime. I’d have to say Rogue is probably one of my favorite super heroes. She’s got this great ability to absorb others powers and their memories. Which is great if you’re battling other mutants. But it comes at such a personal cost: not being able to touch people without harming them. Unlike Superman and many other super heroes, her ability doesn’t give her much choice in pushing away people. She’s forced to in order to keep them safe from her. That’s the kind of character you can do so much with! <br />
<br />
<b>Q:</b> Photography seems to be one of your passions. Share three (3) of your recent photos with us. <br />
<b>A:</b> I’ve been obsessed with my kitten lately. He’s getting so big so fast! I’ve been trying to capture him in many stages. Here are some of my favorite photos.<br />
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<b>Q:</b> Through all of your traveling adventures, where is your favorite place to visit and why? <br />
<b>A:</b> This is a tough one! Internationally, I’d say that my favorite place was Zurich. I spent quite a bit of time there and it was an amazing experience. Domestic, I’d have to say Chicago was a ton of fun! <br />
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<b>Q:</b> Describe the environment that best stimulates your personal creativity. <br />
<b>A:</b> I’ve learned that being at home is where I am most able to tune out the world and focus solely on writing. When I’m out at cafe’s, even out on my balcony, I am overstimulated and can’t quite focus as well on my work.<br />
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<b>Q:</b> Exactly, how fast can you run? Yes, I’m calling you out on the cop story! <br />
<b>A: </b>Haha! I used to be able to run 1 mile in under 7 minutes. My sprints (quarter miles) were even faster--I was always the fastest girl in the group. I wanted to be a cop back when I was in high school after having been a Police Cadet for almost two years. During boot camp, my Drill Sergeant said that I ran like a deer. <br />
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<b>Q:</b> Tell us about a few of your guilty pleasures. <br />
<b>A:</b> I love getting massages. I get these bad knots on my neck and shoulders that only a deep tissue massage can work out. I like going to the gym at least three times a week to work off the stress built up by my full-time job. I like cider over beer, and will have wine with a meal. I love ice cream, but don’t have too terrible of a sweet tooth! <br />
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<b>Q:</b> Violet Storm is book one of the Modi series. Can you tell us anything about Modi #2? <br />
<b>A:</b> If there’s anything I can say; it’s that there’s going to be a lot more world building. I want to take my imagination and the readers imagination to a whole new level. Clearly Modification is proving itself to be somewhat limitless. There are a lot of unanswered questions from book one, more secrets to discover, and a world still left to save. And let’s not forget what might happen between Karth, Ruven, and Aeva! <br />
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<b>Q:</b> If you could live in a world of dolls, what would it be like? <br />
<b>A:</b> Great question. You’ll just have to read it in Snow Dolls! I’ve written this world out to be just the way I would imagine if dolls were fact and not fiction. The challenge so far is building a believable world in which we can fathom that such a practice (of Purification) exists!<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">AUTHOR</span></b></u><br />
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Anna Soliveres has always been a storyteller but it wasn’t until her early twenties when she began writing novel length works. The result was an enthusiasm to get better at the craft until her work could be shared with the world. Releasing in March 2014, <span class="il">VIOLET</span> <span class="il">STORM</span> is her debut novel. Anna is currently working on another young adult sci-fi series, titled SNOW DOLLS, set to release in late 2014.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.annasoliveres.com/p/home.html" target="_blank">Website</a> • <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AnnaSoliveresAuthor" target="_blank">Facebook</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/annasoliveres" target="_blank">Twitter</a> • <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8106601.Anna_Soliveres" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></span> </b><br />
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">GIVEAWAY</span></b></u><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063862054325236910.post-13660170682840370912014-09-30T08:49:00.000-04:002014-09-30T08:49:00.145-04:00GIVEAWAY & REVIEW: Neurotica<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22704194-neurotica" target="_blank">Neurotica</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7361601.Eliza_Gordon" target="_blank">Eliza Gordon</a></b></span></div>
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<span id="freeText3044672540280788333">If you find yourself talking to Jayne Dandy, keep the conversation on Star Wars and rubber ducks—best not to mention men, dating, or S-E-X. Because Jayne is fine with the way things are: writer of obituaries and garage sale ads by day, secret scribe of adventures in distant galaxies by night. But her crippling fear of intimacy has made her the butt of jokes since forever, and hiding behind her laptop isn’t going to get her lightsaber lit.<br />
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After her therapist recommends that she write erotica as a form of exposure therapy, Jayne joins forces with pen and paper to combat the demons that won’t let her kiss and tell. Unexpectedly downsized at work, she adopts a pseudonym and secretly self-publishes one of her naughty books to make ends meet. When her adorable, long-time friend Luke, co-owner of the popular Portland food truck Luke Piewalker’s, hears she’s been demoted, he insists on hiring her to sling éclairs and turnovers at his side. Her secret must be kept, but sparks ignite between them, sending Jayne and her X-Wing into a tailspin that will either make her face down her neuroses or trigger a meltdown of Death Star proportions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>REVIEW</b></u></span><br />
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My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1025456790">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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A must-read romance for all Star Wars fans, this book is totes adorbs. Gretchen is insufferable, and Jayne seems to be the only one to actually tolerate her. What are best friends for, right? Not to mention, Luke (Pie)Walker is the hottest geek this side of Tatooine. This duck infused erotica-ish comedy makes no excuses for being delightfully predictable. Rock on, Penis Fiction!<br />
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Fave Quotes: <br />
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<i>The latest journal, containing the unfinished sequel to the first novel, I carry with me everywhere. In case someone breaks into my apartment to smother himself in my underwear and steal my Star Wars collectibles.</i><br />
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</i> <i>I can't walk home alone or I'll get mugged by bagpipe-playing hipsters on unicycles.</i><br />
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</i> <i>He knows that Senator Palpatine is Darth Sidious, and that General Grievous hates being called a droid. Or if we're Star Wars-weary, we can talk about Middle Earth or the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros or Craigh na Dun as if they were real places, places we could find if we were to get lost while wandering the forests and fields skirting Mt. Hood.</i><br />
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</i> <i>It always feels like the Eye of Sauron searching for the One Ring under my elven cloak.</i><br />
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</i> <i>"Sorry about that. My mother is eagerly awaiting new Padawans to add to her Rebel army."</i><br />
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</i> <i>And in a brief but powerful moment, I feel the bite of tears in the back of my throat—these are my people. We are all crazy and fun and silly together. I've never felt more un-alone in my entire life.</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>AUTHOR</b></u></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzyDAcRWmHjXHdMKz0ykHt9L4aNC76Rhvn26gXot62vpNPRPPcINs205msxWQOnDdaVsuu-pvBNYdn-uk8odg_NQI_g8GYY-iMqkbHgJeR6y4FBlDPfqWddQHinDXYbMPd-oI0PBEVuok/s1600/Eliza+Gordon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzyDAcRWmHjXHdMKz0ykHt9L4aNC76Rhvn26gXot62vpNPRPPcINs205msxWQOnDdaVsuu-pvBNYdn-uk8odg_NQI_g8GYY-iMqkbHgJeR6y4FBlDPfqWddQHinDXYbMPd-oI0PBEVuok/s1600/Eliza+Gordon.jpg" height="200" width="138" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A purveyor of fictions, Eliza Gordon has excellent taste in books, shoes, movies, and friends, and questionable sanity in the realm of love. Best leave that one alone.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.elizagordon.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Website</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> | </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/eliza.gordon.52" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"> Facebook</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> | </span><a href="https://twitter.com/eliza_gordon" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Twitter</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> | </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7361601.Eliza_Gordon" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Goodreads</span></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>GIVEAWAY</b></u></span><br />
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*I received this free copy in return for an honest review, and opinions are mine alone.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063862054325236910.post-78547830648278737162014-09-28T10:10:00.000-04:002014-09-28T10:10:00.287-04:00EXCERPT & SPOTLIGHT: Goddess Born<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20922507-goddess-born" target="_blank">Goddess Born</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7579878.Kari_Edgren" target="_blank">Kari Edgren</a></b></span></div>
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<span id="freeText9119433503680052784">Pennsylvania, 1730<br />
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Selah Kilbrid keeps a dangerous secret: she has the power to heal.<br />
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A direct descendent of the Celtic goddess Brigid, it's Selah's sacred duty to help those in need. But as the last of the Goddess Born living in the New World, she learned from an early age to keep her supernatural abilities hidden. The Quaker community of Hopewell has always been welcoming, but there's no doubt they would see her hanged if her gift was revealed.<br />
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When a prominent minister threatens to try her with witchcraft unless she becomes his wife, Selah has only one hope--that her betrothed, a distant cousin from Ireland, arrives as planned. Marrying Samuel would keep her secret safe, preserve her sacred bloodline, and protect her from being charged as a witch.<br />
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But when news of Samuel's death reaches the Colonies, Selah is truly on her own. Terrified, she faces an impossible choice--forfeit her powers and marry the loathsome Nathan? Or find an imposter to pose as her husband and preserve her birthright?</span></div>
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<u><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">EXCERPT</span></b></u><br />
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I didn’t stop running until Brighmor was well out of view. With my heart pounding, I ducked out of sight behind a large oak tree to wait. A good ten minutes passed before my heart finally slowed, and I felt confident that Henry hadn’t followed me. Returning to the narrow pathway, I walked at a more leisurely pace, throwing the occasional furtive look over my shoulder as I went deeper and deeper into the woods to the manmade alcove that had been built right into the sidhe, or small earthen mound.<br />
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Years ago my grandparents had carved away enough dirt to stack large rocks three feet high, forming a wall in the shape of a half-moon. It measured about twelve feet from end to end with an arc deep enough to accommodate my full height if I were inclined to lie down. In the middle of the arc stood an altar, hewn from a piece of gray granite that had been sealed to the earth by my grandmother’s blood mixed with a handful of sacred dirt brought over from the Old World. Green and brown lichen grew on the stones, and dense foliage pushed up along the perimeter, ready to spill over into the clearing. <br />
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With the rock wall behind me, I knelt down at the altar and set the dried herbs on the smooth stone surface, charred black from countless fires. Finding the flint, I struck it repeatedly to release a shower of white sparks over the bundle. As it started to smolder, fragrances of cowslip, angelica, and goat’s rue rose up. With a long, deep breath, I pulled the smoke inside, letting it inundate my senses. Then I began to recite the ancient words in preparation to cros<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"></a>s over. <br />
<br />
<i>Brigid Buadach, Buaid na fine, Siur Rig nime, Nar in duine, <br />
Eslind luige, Lethan breo. Riar na n-oiged, Oibel ecnai, <br />
Ingen Dubthaig, Duine uallach, Brigid buadach, Brigid <br />
buadach.</i><br />
<br />
The physical world began to waver. Keeping my voice to a low monotone, I repeated the Gaelic words. At the end of the third repetition, the trees and stones, the smoldering bundle, all flickered in and out of view, then disappeared altogether as my soul passed into to the Otherworld. <br />
<br />
For a moment, there was nothing more than thick gray mist and the memory of burning herbs. I stepped out of the mist into the warm sunlight at the edge of Brigid’s garden, free of the night and my body that remained kneeling at the altar.<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<br />
<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">AUTHOR</span></b></u><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Kari Edgren did not dream of becoming a writer. Instead, she dreamed
of everything else and was often made to stay inside during kindergarten
recess to practice her letters. Despite doting parents and a decent
school system, Ms. Edgren managed to make it through elementary school
having completed only one book cover to cover – The Box Car Children,
which she read approximately forty-seven times. Things improved during
high school, but not until she read Gabrielle Garcia Marquez’s One
Hundred Years of Solitude in college, did she truly understand the power
of a book.<br />
Ms. Edgren aspires to be a Vulcan, a world-acclaimed opera singer,
and two inches taller. She resides in the Pacific NW where she spends a
great deal of time torturing her husband and children with strange food
and random historical facts. Ms. Edgren hasn’t stopped dreaming, but has
finally mastered her letters enough to put the stories on paper.<br />
<br />
For more information please visit Kari Edgren’s website. You can also find her on <a href="http://facebook.com/kari.j.edgren" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/KariEdgren" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7579878.Kari_Edgren" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>.<br />
<br />
Sign Up for Kari Edgren’s <a href="http://www.kariedgren.com/blog/" target="_blank">Newsletter</a>. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063862054325236910.post-26461062360666141992014-09-26T09:09:00.000-04:002014-09-26T09:09:00.037-04:00AVERY: The Chronicles of Kaya<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18240196-avery" target="_blank">Avery: The Chronicles of Kaya</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2869149.Charlotte_McConaghy" target="_blank">Charlotte McConaghy</a></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="freeText1579714056528532814">The people of Kaya die in pairs. When one lover dies, the other does too. So it has been for thousands of years – until Ava.<br />
<br />
For although her bondmate, Avery, has been murdered and Ava’s soul has been torn in two, she is the only one who has ever been strong enough to cling to life. Vowing revenge upon the barbarian queen of Pirenti, Ava's plan is interrupted when she is instead captured by the deadly prince of her enemies.<br />
<br />
Prince Ambrose has been brought up to kill and hate. But when he takes charge of a strangely captivating Kayan prisoner and is forced to survive with her on a dangerous island, he must reconsider all he holds true . . .<br />
<br />
In a violent country like Pirenti, where emotion is scorned as a weakness, can he find the strength to fight for the person he loves . . . even when she’s his vengeful enemy?<br />
<br />
Avery is a sweeping, romantic fantasy novel about loss and identity, and finding the courage to love against all odds.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>NOW AVAILABLE</b></u></span><br />
Thorne: The Chronicles of Kaya #2<br />
<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thorne-Random-Romance-Charlotte-McConaghy-ebook/dp/B00L0OOW9U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410197289&sr=8-1&keywords=thorne+by+charlotte+mcconaghy" target="_blank">Amazon</a> • <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22446500-thorne" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>AUTHOR</b></u></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2vwGaHKraR6AZJGPlnoUrY6u7yDvg3Z669LLXNBJ9v1xA2kDEOXGMAPWLlzBRyldFLvUDFqPc3zTWT04tZS7pyQKXWAjW73hc2Uwkcychr_rThQHzeC8I3vvS4SATk8UTqSY6KUBpQiz/s1600/Charlotte-McConaghy-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2vwGaHKraR6AZJGPlnoUrY6u7yDvg3Z669LLXNBJ9v1xA2kDEOXGMAPWLlzBRyldFLvUDFqPc3zTWT04tZS7pyQKXWAjW73hc2Uwkcychr_rThQHzeC8I3vvS4SATk8UTqSY6KUBpQiz/s1600/Charlotte-McConaghy-21.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
Charlotte started writing her children’s fantasy series <i>The Strangers of Paragor</i> as a teenager and has since gone on to publish five novels. After a Masters degree in Screenwriting she wrote AVERY, the first in her adult fantasy series <i>The Chronicles of Kaya</i>, published by Random House. She now lives in Sydney, Australia, and has just released a new dystopian sci-fi novel called FURY – Book One of <i>The Cure</i>, published by Momentum.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://www.charlottemcconaghy.bounce.com.au/">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Charlotte-McConaghy/746419682036451">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/CharMcConaghy">Twitter </a></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>GIVEAWAY</u></span></b><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063862054325236910.post-26881540515685913852014-09-23T10:00:00.000-04:002014-09-23T10:00:05.145-04:00SILVERN: Book Blast Giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.jeanbooknerd.com/2014/09/nerd-blast-silvern-by-christina-farley.html" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.jeanbooknerd.com/2014/09/nerd-blast-silvern-by-christina-farley.html" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6qtAYCEj6KoUMtlBlZKX_1pXwUtrDKqqilbPPV-MAU8rvXqD5aMZGYL2GPwNf0A1TNrO3tNKyKBtmghzit0J4lVD4a0nlcc-fe96oVbBpw3p5iaw4wZ5L1S1mtfLEjaY07i9FcwdEK3AL/s1600/Silvern_Nerd_Blast.jpg" height="312" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20648285-silvern" target="_blank">Silvern (Gilded #2)</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6588802.Christina_L_Farley" target="_blank">Christina Farley</a></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="freeText12607967507607125549">Jae Hwa Lee has destroyed Haemosu, the dangerous demi-god that held her ancestors captive, and now she’s ready to forget about immortals and move on with her life. Then the god of darkness, Kud, sends an assassin to kill her. Jae escapes with the knowledge that Kud is seeking the lost White Tiger Orb, and joins the Guardians of Shinshi to seek out the orb before Kud can find it. <br />
<br />
But Kud is stronger and more devious than Haemosu ever was. Jae is soon painfully reminded that by making an enemy of Kud, she has placed her closest friends in danger, and must decide how much she can bear to sacrifice to defeat one of the most powerful immortals in all of Korea.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<!-- the identifier in the following script tag can be a GR book id or an isbn --><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Silvern-The-Gilded-Series-Book/dp/1477820353/ref=as_sl_pc_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=jamesval-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=P4HXYUPD222SOCIZ&creativeASIN=1477820353" target="_blank">AMAZON</a> | <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/link?id=OSM9yXwjjU4&offerid=239662.9781477820353&type=2&murl=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.barnesandnoble.com%2FSilvern%2FChristina-Farley%2Fe%2F9781477820353" target="_blank">B & N</a> | <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Silvern-Christina-Farley/9781477820346" target="_blank">BOOK DEPOSITORY</a></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<u><span style="font-size: large;"><b>AUTHOR</b></span></u><br />
<br />
After teaching and traveling internationally for ten years, Christina started writing about her adventures, tossing in a little fiction for fun. This inspired her to write the GILDED series, a YA series based on Korean mythology about a Korean-American girl who takes her destiny into her own hands. <br />
<br />
Besides writing, Christina loves traveling, running, driving too fast, and eating dark chocolate. <br />
<br />
Christina writes fantasy for teens. She is represented by Jeff Ourvan of the Jennifer Lyons Literary, LLC. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="http://www.christinafarley.com/index1.html" target="_blank">WEBSITE</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ChristinaFarleyAuthor" target="_blank">FACEBOOK</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/@christinafarley" target="_blank">TWITTER</a> |<wbr></wbr> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20648285-silvern" target="_blank">GOODREADS</a></b></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063862054325236910.post-59248417674329878232014-09-19T07:28:00.000-04:002014-10-06T16:35:57.683-04:00GIVEAWAY SPOTLIGHT: Salt & Storm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18302133-salt-storm" target="_blank">Salt & Storm</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7212406.Kendall_Kulper" target="_blank">Kendall Kulper</a></span></b><br />
<br />
<span id="freeText2305263016628508811">A sweeping historical romance about a witch who foresees her own murder--and the one boy who can help change her future.<br />
<br />
Sixteen-year-old Avery Roe wants only to take her rightful place as the witch of Prince Island, making the charms that keep the island's whalers safe at sea, but her mother has forced her into a magic-free world of proper manners and respectability. When Avery dreams she's to be murdered, she knows time is running out to unlock her magic and save herself.<br />
<br />
Avery finds an unexpected ally in a tattooed harpoon boy named Tane--a sailor with magic of his own, who moves Avery in ways she never expected. Becoming a witch might stop her murder and save her island from ruin, but Avery discovers her magic requires a sacrifice she never prepared for.</span><br />
<br />
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</style> <![endif]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18302133-salt-storm?ac=1">Goodreads</a> •<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Salt-Storm-Kendall-Kulper/dp/0316404519/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> • </span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cant-look-away-donna-cooner/1118327610?ean=9780545427654&itm=1&usri=9780545427654&cm_mmc=AFFILIATES-_-Linkshare-_-GwEz7vxblVU-_-10:1&r=1,%201"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Barnes & Noble</span></a></span></span> </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><b>AUTHOR </b></u></span></span><br />
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Kendall Kulper writes historical fiction with a fantasy twist for teen readers and knows more about nineteenth century whaling than she ever imagined. Her debut YA novel, SALT & STORM will be published by Little, Brown and Company on September 23, 2014. She graduated from Harvard University with a degree in history and literature in 2008 and spent several years as a journalist before deciding to write full-time. She grew up in the wilds of New Jersey and now lives in Boston with her husband and chronically-anxious Australian Shepherd mix, Abby.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="http://kendallkulper.com/">Website</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/Kendall_Kulper">Twitter</a> • <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kendallkulperauthor" target="_blank">Facebook</a> • <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7212406.Kendall_Kulper">Goodreads</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> • </span></span><a href="http://the-old-whaling-island.tumblr.com/">Tumblr</a></b></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: large;"><b>GIVEAWAY </b></span></u></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063862054325236910.post-74535193399176937832014-09-16T16:16:00.000-04:002014-09-16T16:18:16.928-04:00EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY: The Crystal Cage<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sL_f4DkNnMEGc6vN9jvvfY4enCQt1ifnF9BsK3xA5G8Ju-EYE6dC9U1fVlLaTTwh-KxGM4irNIyXzt9ciEb_O0cJmYqxw3MwOYZ_Bz16gFQwgxhMGeME2RSRqViXDSwnT3r0zNqXMJAn/s1600/04_The+Crystal+Cage_Blog+Tour+Banner_FINALv2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sL_f4DkNnMEGc6vN9jvvfY4enCQt1ifnF9BsK3xA5G8Ju-EYE6dC9U1fVlLaTTwh-KxGM4irNIyXzt9ciEb_O0cJmYqxw3MwOYZ_Bz16gFQwgxhMGeME2RSRqViXDSwnT3r0zNqXMJAn/s1600/04_The+Crystal+Cage_Blog+Tour+Banner_FINALv2.png" height="248" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22663812-the-crystal-cage" target="_blank">The Crystal Cage</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8364492.Merryn_Allingham" target="_blank">Merryn Allingham</a></b></span></div>
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<span id="freeText2858522659269230055">Captivated… or captured?<br />
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Appearances don't always reveal the truth. Grace Latimer knows this better than most. Illusions of commitment and comfort have her trapped—until bohemian adventurer Nick Heysham charms his way into her world. Commissioned to recover a Great Exhibition architect's missing designs, he persuades her to assist in his research. The mystery of the Crystal Palace seduces Grace, and once she discovers clues about a forbidden Victorian love affair, she's lured into the deep secrets of the past… secrets that resemble her own.<br />
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As Grace and Nick dig into the elusive architect's illicit, long-untold story, the ghosts of guilt and forbidden passion slip free. And history is bound to repeat itself, unless Grace finds the courage to break free and find a new definition of love…</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>EXCERPT</b></u></span> <br />
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I reached Silver Street before the Merricks, and the tarpaulins flapping in the wind led me straight to the schoolroom. Apart from an ineffectual attempt to shelter a part of the roof that had been opened to the sky, it was obvious that the builders had abandoned the site without securing it. I was able to open the heavy front door and wander into the narrow vestibule. This was where the girls would have hung their coats and capes and left their galoshes on inclement days. I should have waited for the Merricks here, but I didn’t. I was being nudged to explore. Another door faced me; I pushed it ajar and was drawn into a wide, open space. The schoolroom had remained much the same as it had when the last child had closed the lid of her desk. <br />
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I walked across the scratched tiled floor towards the dais that stood at the very end of the room. Remarkably it still boasted a desk, placed in a position of authority. This was where the teacher would have sat, cane no doubt by his or her side. It was as I approached the raised wooden structure that I first felt the prickling. A definite prickling of the skin that started at my scalp and inched downward to my feet. Then my chest began to feel tight and my breath to come less easily. This is absurd, I thought. I was in an empty room, a space that was entirely innocuous. Was I allowing Leo Merrick’s tale of unquiet spirits to get to me? <br />
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I was at the dais and starting up the steps to the desk when I stumbled. My legs felt suddenly heavy, so heavy that I could hardly drag one foot in front of the other. It was as though an invisible force was manipulating me, a force I wasn’t able to control. Somehow I managed to clamber onto the dais and collapse into a seat. The prickling had ceased but my chest was still tight, encased in a steel band. I sat staring down at the desk top for what seemed an age, until its grimy ridges began to flow one into another in a mad crisscross dance. When my pulse gradually steadied, I dared to look around. I’d been fearful at what I might see, but all I gazed on was emptiness. Light from the tall, arched windows fell crookedly across the floor, casting the corners of the room into shadow. But nothing moved, nothing breathed. <br />
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I should have walked back to the vestibule then, but instead I lifted the desk lid. What made me do that, I have no idea; I just knew in that instant that I had to. The desk was empty, of course. Except for the scent. It was a scent that was very familiar and for a moment it caught in my throat. Then common sense returned, and I lifted the lid a little farther and glimpsed a patch of white. Scrabbling in the deep well of the desk I brought out a linen handkerchief and put it to my nose. The perfume was unmistakeable—jasmine. I shook the handkerchief out and looked at it closely. Patched with a century’s dirt, it must have been tucked at the very back of the desk for years. One corner held a small, embroidered initial. When I saw what it was, my heart gave a sharp jolt. It was the letter A.<script src="https://www.goodreads.com/book/add_to_books_widget_frame/22663812?atmb_widget%5Bbutton%5D=atmb_widget_1.png" type="text/javascript"></script><br />
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">AUTHOR</span></b></u><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkPnTYWfevWHc-xJcQ_22-BFp5eH-wbjLeAUY1FlDPCQyI8_mPbdn5wkwpSEMTeWyM0SQPxEO9WPfxW2GDHfXNDfpx67UfaqDwByQfEobLKCnQaUUwOePgf5D7YcZjqaF9onPz6SA8NCM/s1600/03_Merryn+Allingham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkPnTYWfevWHc-xJcQ_22-BFp5eH-wbjLeAUY1FlDPCQyI8_mPbdn5wkwpSEMTeWyM0SQPxEO9WPfxW2GDHfXNDfpx67UfaqDwByQfEobLKCnQaUUwOePgf5D7YcZjqaF9onPz6SA8NCM/s1600/03_Merryn+Allingham.jpg" height="200" width="149" /></a></div>
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My father was a soldier and most of my childhood was spent moving from place to place, school to school, including several years living in Egypt and Germany. I loved some of the schools I attended, but hated others, so it wasn’t too surprising that I left half way through the sixth form with ‘A’ Levels unfinished.<br />
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I became a secretary, as many girls did at the time, only to realise that the role of handmaiden wasn’t for me. Escape beckoned when I landed a job with an airline. I was determined to see as much of the world as possible, and working as cabin crew I met a good many interesting people and enjoyed some great experiences – riding in the foothills of the Andes, walking by the shores of Lake Victoria, flying pilgrims from Kandahar to Mecca to mention just a few.<br />
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I still love to travel and visit new places, especially those with an interesting history, but the arrival of marriage and children meant a more settled existence on the south coast of England, where I’ve lived ever since. It also gave me the opportunity to go back to ‘school’ and eventually gain a PhD from the University of Sussex. For many years I taught university literature and loved every minute of it. What could be better than spending my life reading and talking about books? Well, perhaps writing them.<br />
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I’ve always had a desire to write but there never seemed time to do more than dabble with the occasional short story. And my day job ensured that I never lost the critical voice in my head telling me that I really shouldn’t bother. But gradually the voice started growing fainter and at the same time the idea that I might actually write a whole book began to take hold. My cats – two stunning cream and lilac shorthairs – gave their approval, since it meant my spending a good deal more time at home with them!<br />
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The 19th century is my special period of literature and I grew up reading Georgette Heyer, so when I finally found the courage to try writing for myself, the books had to be Regency romances. Over the last four years, writing as Isabelle Goddard, I’ve published six novels set in the Regency period.<br />
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Since then, I’ve moved on a few years to Victorian England, and I’ve changed genre too. The Crystal Cage is my first novel under the name of Merryn Allingham. The book is a mystery/romantic suspense and tells the story of a long-lost tragedy, and the way echoes from the past can powerfully influence the life of a modern day heroine. The next few Allingham books will see yet another move timewise. I’ve been writing a suspense trilogy set in India and wartime London during the 1930s and 1940s, and hope soon to have news of publication.<br />
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Whatever period, whatever genre, creating new worlds and sharing them with readers gives me huge pleasure and I can’t think of a better job.<br />
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Connect with Merryn Allingham on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Merryn-Allingham/828193150541885" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8364492.Merryn_Allingham" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>GIVEAWAY</b></u></span> <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063862054325236910.post-84250060401923365272014-09-15T03:11:00.000-04:002014-09-15T03:11:57.620-04:00REVIEW: The Wild Hunt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21416356-the-wild-hunt">The Wild Hunt</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5808445.Ron_C_Nieto">Ron C. Nieto</a></span></b></span><br />
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<span id="freeText13975195529778895423">Magic still lingers in the mist-covered corners of the world, wherever the Old Ways are remembered. However, as civilization and reason scoff at the Fair Folk, the paths to power have been forgotten by all but a few.<br />
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Lily Boyd was meant to become a faerie doctor, a warden of humans and a keeper of balance, until disbelief and pragmatism led her away from the hidden world and into a mundane life. But truth has a way to be Heard and she will be forced to face it if she wants to save her family.<br />
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Armed with nothing but her childhood memories and protected by a debt of gratitude she doesn’t understand, Lily must decide who to trust while she navigates a world that is darker and more twisted than she is prepared for. <br />
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And should she make the wrong choice, should she mistake friend and foe… the eternal balance between the Faerie Courts may shatter, and then there will be more than Lily’s life on the line.</span><br />
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<span id="freeText13975195529778895423"><u><span style="font-size: large;"><b>REVIEW</b></span></u> </span><br />
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My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/988881330">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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The cover isn't my favorite, but I'm not supposed to judge, right? Well, what I found inside actually surprised me! I'm a huge fan of fantasy in general, and anything fairy related is a definite plus. This story was a bit confusing at times but refreshingly believable. It delivered high adventure at a breakneck pace, and I'm still guessing about a few exciting outcomes. It seems that I just got sucked in to yet another series...</div>
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*I received this free copy in return for an honest review, and opinions are mine alone.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063862054325236910.post-55392108820332651062014-09-08T06:56:00.000-04:002014-09-08T06:56:45.663-04:00GIVEAWAY & REVIEW: Eleanor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22081556-eleanor">Eleanor</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6904187.Jason_Gurley">Jason Gurley</a></b></span><br />
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<span id="freeText15484809632239096261">1985. The death of Eleanor's twin sister tears her family apart. Her father blames her mother for the accident. When Eleanor's mother looks at her, she sees only the daughter she lost. Their wounded family crumbles under the weight of their shared grief. <br />
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1993. Eleanor is fourteen years old when it happens for the first time... when she walks through an ordinary door at school and finds herself in another world. It happens again and again, but it's only a curiosity until that day at the cliffs. The day when Eleanor dives... and something rips her out of time itself. <br />
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And on the other side, someone is waiting for her.</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-size: large;"><b>REVIEW</b></span></u><br />
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My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/983345469">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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This was a real page-turner! Strangely haunting in the best way possible and definitely more than I expected. At times, it was overwhelmingly depressing, but I felt compelled to keep reading. The imaginatively innocent yet profound story sucked me in and simply refused to let go. It lost some of the initial momentum but still managed to leave me awestruck by the end. The writing is brilliant and gushing with dark imagery and raw emotion. Overall, a wonderfully woven and mystical tale of one family's struggle to reset the delicate balance of life after extreme loss.<br />
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">AUTHOR</span></b></u> <br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6904187.Jason_Gurley" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6904187.Jason_Gurley" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzzUZSrPe9BJ1Ci3Ki3AEYlirKGhSgDh4Btaa27IkANrXEXQDvTvpMhzUseuZYhVRC9ULFZi2KwORNqssFq50U7wSuScKMFDpBMHY-MYbfXc61Ob4YsLpTbtSvkvG-J5fw3pX2sCHYCYk/s1600/Gurley_Jason_3.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Jason Gurley is the author of the bestselling novel <i>Greatfall</i> as well as <i>The Man Who Ended the World</i>, the <i>Movement</i> trilogy and <i>Eleanor</i>, a novel thirteen years in the making. His short stories, including <i>The Dark Age</i>, <i>The Caretaker</i>, <i>The Last Rail-Rider</i> and others, appear in his collection <i>Deep Breath Hold Tight: Stories About the End of Everything</i>. He is work has appeared in a number of anthologies, among them David Gatewood's <i>From the Indie Side</i> and <i>Synchronic</i> as well as John Joseph Adams's <i>Help Fund My Robot Army!!! & Other Improbable Crowdfunding Projects</i>. Jason is a designer by trade and has designed book covers for Amazon Publishing, Subterranean Press, Prime Books and many independent authors, among them bestsellers Hugh Howey, Matthew Mather, Russell Blake, Michael Bunker, Ernie Lindsey and others. Jason lives and writes in the Pacific Northwest.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.jasongurley.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/jgurley" target="_blank">Twitter</a> • <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorjasongurley" target="_blank">Facebook </a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>GIVEAWAY</b></u></span><br />
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Five (5) $20 Amazon Gift Cards<br />
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*I received this free copy in return for an honest review, and opinions are mine alone.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063862054325236910.post-31194379403579438952014-09-07T17:35:00.000-04:002014-09-07T17:40:44.298-04:00GIVEAWAY & REVIEW: East India<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://hfvirtualbooktours.com/eastindiablogtour/02_east-india/" rel="attachment wp-att-4397"><img alt="02_East India" class="alignleft wp-image-4397" src="http://hfvirtualbooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/02_East-India-682x1024.jpg" height="458" width="305" /></a><br />
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In any other circumstance but shipwreck, rape and murder, a man like Michiel van Texel would never have met a fine lady such as Cornelia Noorstrandt.<br />
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He was just a soldier, a sergeant in the Dutch East India company?s army, on his way from Amsterdam to the Indies to fight the Mataram. Such a woman was far above the likes of him.<br />
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But both their destinies intertwine far away from Holland, on some god-forsaken islands near the Great Southland. When their great ship, the Utrecht, founders far from home, surviving the Houtman Rocks is the least of their worries.<br />
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As they battle to survive and the bravest and the best reveal themselves for what they are, Cornelia?s only hope is a mercenary in a torn coat who shows her that a man is more than just manners and money.<br />
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He makes her one promise: <i>Even if God forsakes you, I will find you.</i> But can he keep it?<br />
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Described by one critic as <i>Jack and Rose in the seventeenth century</i>, East India will keep you wondering until the final page.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/East-India-Colin-Falconer/dp/1621251799/ref=tmm_pap_title_0" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/east-india-colin-falconer/1119850409?ean=2940149808465" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble (Nook)</a></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Colin_Falconer_East_India?id=zj_dAwAAQBAJ&hl=en" target="_blank"> Google Play</a></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/fi/book/east-india/id887722473?mt=11" target="_blank">iTunes</a></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/east-india/9781621251781-item.html" target="_blank"> Kobo</a></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>REVIEW</b></u></span><br />
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My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/987711634">2 of 5 stars</a><br />
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Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction on the high seas! The living conditions on an ill-fated trade ship during the early 1600s were horrendous, and the descriptive realism often made me nauseous. Yes, it is technically a love story, but there is much more mayhem, misfortune and murder than mushiness<span style="font-family: inherit;">. In my opinion, it was interesting and obviously thoroughly researched yet just an okay read.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>AUTHOR</b></u></span><br />
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Born in London, Colin first trialed as a professional football player in England, and was eventually brought to Australia. He went to Sydney and worked in TV and radio and freelanced for many of Australia?s leading newspapers and magazines. He has published over twenty novels and his work has so far been translated into 23 languages.<br />
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He travels regularly to research his novels and his quest for authenticity has led him to run with the bulls in Pamplona, pursue tornadoes across Oklahoma and black witches across Mexico, go cage shark diving in South Africa and get tear gassed in a riot in La Paz.<br />
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He currently lives in Barcelona.<br />
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For more information, please visit Colin Falconer's <a href="http://colinfalconer.org/" target="_blank">website</a>.<br />
You can also find him on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/colin.falconer.779?fref=ts&ref=br_tf" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/colin_falconer" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>GIVEAWAY</b></u></span><br />
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<b>INTERNATIONAL / Must be 18+ to enter.</b><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">A total of six (6) winners will be chosen.</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063862054325236910.post-36977283973808167412014-08-31T13:28:00.003-04:002014-08-31T13:28:53.763-04:00GIVEAWAY & REVIEW: An American Girl in Italy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBimB9AnYyQjcZ3FmOubFyGdzyLa29qPzoCbjGBOLi4ZWMUUfloCSsEFX5VxEecGvDRuhzXQbyW_Jue8zoD3AG00S_At0LIzXz8pxmzvqzJUVX_KIS6yzrEB5yRDxYwn5BLj_Qahgbsg5/s1600/americangirl.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBimB9AnYyQjcZ3FmOubFyGdzyLa29qPzoCbjGBOLi4ZWMUUfloCSsEFX5VxEecGvDRuhzXQbyW_Jue8zoD3AG00S_At0LIzXz8pxmzvqzJUVX_KIS6yzrEB5yRDxYwn5BLj_Qahgbsg5/s1600/americangirl.png" height="368" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22292279-an-american-girl-in-italy">An American Girl in Italy</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2964057.Aubrie_Dionne">Aubrie Dionne</a></span></b><br />
<br />
<span id="freeText10105306752749208109">An Italian paradise is the last thing she wants… but the one thing she needs!<br />
</span><br />
<span id="freeText10105306752749208109">Surely any girl would kill for the chance to tour Italy’s most famous cities for the summer? To experience the warmth of the Tuscan sun, the culinary delights of the pizzerias and caffés and to stroll along the cobbled streets of the City of Love itself…<br />
</span><br />
<span id="freeText10105306752749208109">Any girl apart from ambitious oboist Carly Davis that is! For her, the Easthampton Civic Symphony’s latest European tour is one massive inconvenience. She can’t even put her smartphone down long enough to snap a picture of the Coliseum.<br />
</span><br />
<span id="freeText10105306752749208109">Only, there’s one Italian attraction that Carly hadn’t quite expected to be a part of the tourist route…<br />
<br />
Tour guide Michelangelo is as dark and delicious as Carly’s morning espresso. And when she needs a few lessons in the language of love to land her an important gig, he’s a more than capable tutor.<br />
<br />
But with her promising career back in Boston, can Carly really afford to lose her heart in Italy?</span><br />
<br />
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<!-- the identifier in the following script tag can be a GR book id or an isbn --><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JO2Y7YK" target="_blank"><b>Amazon</b></a><br />
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<u><span style="font-size: large;"><b>AUTHOR</b></span></u><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbPcWxJQURS_UO6iza6VLGzbu_UvR5K2SIjfH2ETljq5WklQdmKnxW39LhgSu_rrcwRtowaYyEMd2vV7tol-yET5CPPx1ZfRCUr_uMIZyTZfUdXkuyfC8vvv7gaxRqYCVl9QowUHYYgn0/s1600/authoritaly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbPcWxJQURS_UO6iza6VLGzbu_UvR5K2SIjfH2ETljq5WklQdmKnxW39LhgSu_rrcwRtowaYyEMd2vV7tol-yET5CPPx1ZfRCUr_uMIZyTZfUdXkuyfC8vvv7gaxRqYCVl9QowUHYYgn0/s1600/authoritaly.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-494722a4-2d19-ae62-5e61-3da8ca92459f" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Aubrie Dionne is an author and flutist in New England. Her books have received the highest ratings from Romance Times Magazine, as well as Night Owl Reviews and Two Lips Reviews. She has guest blogged on the USA Today Happily Ever After Blog and the Dear Teen Me blog and signed books at the Boston Book Festival, Barnes and Noble, and the Romance Writers of America conference. Her writings have appeared in Mindflights, Niteblade, Silver Blade, Emerald Tales, Hazard Cat, Moon Drenched Fables, A Fly in Amber, and Aurora Wolf. Her books are published by Astraea Press, Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Publishing, Inkspell Publishing, Lyrical Press, and Gypsy Shadow Publishing. When she’s not writing, Aubrie teaches flute and plays in orchestras.</span><br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-494722a4-2d19-ae62-5e61-3da8ca92459f" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span id="docs-internal-guid-494722a4-2d19-ae62-5e61-3da8ca92459f" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-494722a4-2d19-ae62-5e61-3da8ca92459f" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-494722a4-2d19-ae62-5e61-3da8ca92459f" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.authoraubrie.net/" target="_blank">Webiste</a> • <a href="http://authoraubrie.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blog</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/AuthorAubrie" target="_blank">Twitter</a></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>REVIEW </b></u></span><br />
<br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/983351677">3 of 5 stars</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qcczycs5gmdAp694bEiGoamI8m0_qTR3IWnuY8xdR1vcjVSUaJ8D4b_FiqIxPqH8gHZ43tot48AHOC2BfKUHshZepsmWerWP6mUJI13sAiyRdk2e7D7m1VVthWaGDn7Q4nn50slP1QaS/s1600/3stars.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qcczycs5gmdAp694bEiGoamI8m0_qTR3IWnuY8xdR1vcjVSUaJ8D4b_FiqIxPqH8gHZ43tot48AHOC2BfKUHshZepsmWerWP6mUJI13sAiyRdk2e7D7m1VVthWaGDn7Q4nn50slP1QaS/s1600/3stars.png" height="112" width="320" /></a></div>
This was an easy, quick and sweet read. Anyone with a love for Italy and classical music will certainly appreciate this romantic tale!<br />
<br />
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">GIVEAWAY</span></u><br />
</b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>US Only </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Three (3) <span class="il">Italy</span> Themed Notepads</span><b> </b><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063862054325236910.post-8905944716262906302014-08-20T23:29:00.000-04:002014-08-21T01:08:12.917-04:00GIVEAWAY & REVIEW: Lore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://xpressobooktours.com/2014/06/09/tour-sign-up-lore-tales-of-myth-and-legend-retold-anthology/" target="_blank"><img alt="http://xpressobooktours.com/2014/06/09/tour-sign-up-lore-tales-of-myth-and-legend-retold-anthology/" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2L46Lix2tJl0b3YrO8-pPkU7ohzKUbJsOoEd0rQTBEUWXE5d9Ta7YwfdPRYcyodl3HxII4v5zr5R9b_B857JTFz_LSaWTEptgJtosSAQAy0wgl8cyWFrgfO6U0BwhNNpCUQW-NhvbzAou/s1600/LoreTourBanner1.png" height="236" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20804029-lore" target="_blank">Lore: Tales of Myth and Legend Retold</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5053831.Brinda_Berry" target="_blank">Brinda Berry</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5694181.Cate_Dean" target="_blank">Cate Dean</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7847409.Jayne_A_Knolls" target="_blank">Jayne A. Knolls</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5781888.Karen_Y_Bynum" target="_blank">Karen Y. Bynum</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5815639.Laura_Diamond" target="_blank">Laura Diamond</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7847410.Theresa_DaLayne" target="_blank">Theresa DaLayne</a><br />
(Anthology)</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="freeText4855124381655774541">A collection of six folklore retellings that will twist your mind and claim your heart.<br />
<br />
SHIMMER: A heartbroken boy rescues a mermaid... but is it too late to save her?<br />
<br />
BETWEEN is about a girl, a genie, and a ton of bad decisions. <br />
<br />
SUNSET MOON: Eloise doesn't believe in Native American magic--until the dreamcatcher spiders spin her down an unknown path.<br />
<br />
THE MAKER: An incapacitated young man bent on revenge builds a creature to do it for him.<br />
<br />
A BEAUTIFUL MOURNING: The story of a Maya goddess torn between duty and love, and the ultimate sacrifice she must make to achieve true happiness.<br />
<br />
THE BARRICADES: When a human girl risks everything to save the life of an Eternal prince, will their feelings for each other change the world they know, or tear it apart?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>REVIEW</b></u></span><br />
<br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/985295738">3 of 5 stars</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qcczycs5gmdAp694bEiGoamI8m0_qTR3IWnuY8xdR1vcjVSUaJ8D4b_FiqIxPqH8gHZ43tot48AHOC2BfKUHshZepsmWerWP6mUJI13sAiyRdk2e7D7m1VVthWaGDn7Q4nn50slP1QaS/s1600/3stars.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qcczycs5gmdAp694bEiGoamI8m0_qTR3IWnuY8xdR1vcjVSUaJ8D4b_FiqIxPqH8gHZ43tot48AHOC2BfKUHshZepsmWerWP6mUJI13sAiyRdk2e7D7m1VVthWaGDn7Q4nn50slP1QaS/s1600/3stars.png" height="112" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>ATTENTION: Spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk! </b></i></span><br />
<br />
Overall, I liked this anthology. All of the stories were delightfully original, but I enjoyed some better than others. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<u>Shimmer</u>: Sweet summer mer-love at its finest.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<u>Between</u>: I really wanted to like this story (especially since the author is originally from North Carolina), but I found it annoying from beginning to end. It was over the top with designer name dropping and mean girls. Plus, she got over her dead girlfriend<span class="spoilerContainer" style="display: none;">[got over her dead girlfriend <a class="jsHideSpoiler spoilerAction" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">(hide spoiler)</a>]</span> like it was nothing! Then, to top it all off, shared their favorite movie & even the famous quote with her<a class="jsShowSpoiler spoilerAction" href="https://www.blogger.com/null"></a><span class="spoilerContainer" style="display: none;">[shared their favorite movie & even the famous quote with her <a class="jsHideSpoiler spoilerAction" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">(hide spoiler)</a>]</span> new love interest? Seemed a bit shallow to me... but I guess that's high school. Another thing, why would a fair-skinned, red-headed Russian girl become a djinn<span class="spoilerContainer" style="display: none;">[djinn <a class="jsHideSpoiler spoilerAction" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">(hide spoiler)</a>]</span>? The folklore might've been more believable within another demographic. For me, there were just too many ridiculous holes.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<u>Sunset Moon</u>: Some dreams really do come true.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<u><br />
</u></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<u>The Maker</u>: A 3D printed golem? I loved this modern twist on such an ancient story.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<u>A Beautiful Mourning</u>: A gorgeous Mayan tale of love and loss among the gods.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<u><br />
</u></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<u>The Barricades</u>: Alternate Fae universe? It seemed like a good theory, but the story lacked detail and explanation. I was confused several times throughout and would've been completely lost had I not read the forward. </div>
<br />
<u><span style="font-size: large;"><b>GIVEAWAYS</b></span></u><br />
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Please, read the<i> Terms & Conditions </i>listed in the widget(s) below before entering.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>International / Must be 18+ to enter.</b></span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>One (1) e-book copy of LORE: TALES OF MYTH AND LEGEND RETOLD</i></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063862054325236910.post-87440010431391442322014-08-12T08:58:00.000-04:002014-08-12T08:58:00.400-04:00THE SILVER SIREN: Kindle Paperwhite Giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17715868-the-silver-siren" target="_blank">The Silver Siren (Iron Butterfly Series #3)</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5441556.Chanda_Hahn" target="_blank">Chanda Hahn</a> </span></b><br />
<br />
Every journey has an end.<br />
<br />
Unable to find the answers she sought in Skyfell, Thalia, Joss, and Kael travel to Haven with a prisoner in tow. An attack on the road waylays their plans, and Thalia finds herself traveling alone with Kael to the hidden sanctuary of the SwordBrothers.<br />
<br />
But war is on the horizon and the Raven is amassing his army. This time, the target is not Calandry, but the Sirens of Sinnedor. When family ties are revealed, Thalia must choose sides. Desperate to break the final seal on her power and save those she loves, will Thalia willingly taste the bitter pain of the iron butterfly machine one final time?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>EXCERPT</b></u></span><br />
<br />
The barn burst into flames, the Septori burst into flames, and Talbot screamed as he beat at his clothes to stop the fire. The fire shot across the beams of the barn. <br />
<br />
The Septori in a panic, tried to drag me out of the barn.<br />
<br />
The shriek of a horse made me glance to Faraway, and I saw him outside of the barn screaming in terror. <br />
<br />
He was going to try and run in to save me. With a wave of power, I slammed the barn door closed on him, keeping him out. I was going to end this once and for all. I had a glimpse of what I was becoming and I didn’t like it. <br />
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“Burn,” I whispered and watched as the flames licked higher. Energy flowed through my body, and I could hear something just beyond my consciousness. Like a sigh being released. My body became warm, tingling. And then more pain.<br />
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“Her eyes. Look at her eyes!” One of my captors backed away from me and ran out the side door. <br />
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“Don’t look at her, just grab her!” Talbot screamed. <br />
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I felt more hands grasp me and I hated it. I hated them. Looking up along the beams of the barn, I saw the main support beam. <br />
<br />
It was time to end this for everyone. I gave in to the pain and anger, reached for a smaller support beam, and pulled at it. Half of the burning roof came down on a large group of the Septori. They screamed and tried to cover their heads as it fell. Too late.<br />
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“Stop her! She’s going to kill us all,” Talbot cried waving his hands at me.<br />
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I smirked. I was.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>AUTHOR</b></u></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo160rvMBp3p6aH4GFySARSRpSKTDQbxH6E4b-RcZUaftaa3Uyx3XPB6ymSPyv_bWOVYaM3ntX2MoHlaKY2W2r97LCujarfAOGQwQznNAO3qsP_cmajhLIsV97JwaQL-OZ-KVrQ4ZkoTdP/s1600/Chanda-3-headshot-199x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo160rvMBp3p6aH4GFySARSRpSKTDQbxH6E4b-RcZUaftaa3Uyx3XPB6ymSPyv_bWOVYaM3ntX2MoHlaKY2W2r97LCujarfAOGQwQznNAO3qsP_cmajhLIsV97JwaQL-OZ-KVrQ4ZkoTdP/s1600/Chanda-3-headshot-199x300.jpg" /></a></div>
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Chanda is a bestselling and award winning author of the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/80849-an-unfortunate-fairy-tale" target="_blank"><b>UnEnchanted: An Unfortunate Fairy Tale</b></a> series and the<b> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/82323-iron-butterfly" target="_blank">Iron Butterfly</a></b> series. She’s been a bestseller in five countries and was named one of Amazon’s top 100 customer favorite author. She uses her experience as a children’s pastor, children’s librarian and bookseller to write compelling and popular fiction for teens. She was born in Seattle, WA, grew up in Nebraska and currently resides in Portland, Oregon with her husband and their twin children.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.chandahahn.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> • </b></span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/chandahahn" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Twitter</b></span> </a><br />
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">GIVEAWAYS</span></b></u><br />
<br />
Please, read the<i> Terms & Conditions </i>listed in the widget(s) below before entering.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>International / Must be 18+ to enter.</b></span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>One (1) e-book copy of THE SILVER SIREN</i></span></div>
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9ee1803814/" id="rc-9ee1803814" rel="nofollow">A Rafflecopter Giveaway</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Giveaway is open to US/Canada</b></span></div>
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<i><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1279294027" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ"><span style="font-size: large;">One (1) Kindle Paperwhite</span></span></span></i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063862054325236910.post-80447685211175821592014-08-11T10:10:00.000-04:002014-08-11T10:10:00.016-04:00Snark Attack: Book Snerds #SnarkWeek<b>MONDAY</b> <u>Snark Attack</u>: Tell us how you really feel about a particular blogging subject, and get it off your chest. This is your chance to EXPLODE!<br />
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You asked for it, so here goes... </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="http://www.bustedtees.com" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2n9f1j4biJ2-cWYFr7QGNBEoQzx2tBITkeNFuswHgllYAUAUBDdCmUat8uar4C1C2a_4y4i9zncbIzDcynWFvq16VOQe0dX5xvTzR8Raw8oNSSl5qQ4ofBUV8i6omJDTCSIzeg6QGkMd/s1600/readingjawsome.gif" height="416" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of <a href="http://www.bustedtees.com/" target="_blank">BustedTees</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are you a book snerd?</b></span> </span><br />
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I'm not talking about <i>sexy</i> nerds or <i>super</i> nerds. This post is about <i>snobby</i> nerds!</div>
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Bookworms were the first social outcasts before being a <i>geek</i> went mainstream and suddenly became cool. We would rather have our nose in a book than interact with <i>real</i> people. So why does it seem like I am constantly reading about some sort of division within the geek subculture on the Interwebs? Yes, this includes the book blogging world as well (although the information is always secretive and vague). Personally, I believe that we all have a responsibility to positively interact with our readers as well as other bloggers within the community.</div>
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Do you respond to comments on your blog?<br />
If not, you might be book snerd. </div>
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Do you host a blog hop that requires participants to follow and comment but don't actually lead by example?<br />
You might be a book snerd.</div>
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Do you bash authors and/or other bloggers publicly (or at all, for that matter)?<br />
You might be a book snerd. </div>
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Do you spout snide remarks about those that do not read at your pace or prefer a certain genre that you deem unfavorable?<br />
You might be a book snerd.</div>
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Do you consider yourself an online celebrity, diva, expert, guru or maven?<br />
You might be book snerd.<br />
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Do you frequently recommend that other bloggers redesign their blog?<br />
You might be a book snerd.</div>
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Do you favorite or retweet the tweets of others but don't actually follow them back or even say thank you (especially when said tweets are sharing your promotional content)?<br />
You might be a book snerd.<br />
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Do you follow authors and/or other blogs as part of a giveaway and then promptly unfollow?<br />
You might be a book snerd.<br />
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Are you constantly arguing about what is and what is NOT <i>literature</i>?<br />
You might be a book snerd. </div>
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Are you more focused on fame and profit than on your love for books and reading?<br />
You might be a book snerd. </div>
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Are you a veteran blogger or just another new kid on the block that obsesses over your number of comments, followers or subscribers (or lack thereof)?<br />
You might be a book snerd.</div>
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It's time for us to look outward instead of inward. Unfortunately, we live in self-indulgent society bombarded by incessant social media sharing and selfies fueled by overinflated egos. Admittedly, many book bloggers are outgoing introverts, a walking, talking (and blogging) oxymoron. Our online personality usually differs greatly from our offline one. We are all busy with <i>real </i>life, and choosing to be socially responsible is obviously much more time consuming than just being a blogger (which is pretty damn time consuming already).<br />
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How are you actively engaging with other book bloggers? Are you proud of your interaction with the book blogging community? Does the positive outweigh the negative? Do you feel that you have a social responsibility to your audience? Do you feel supported by other bloggers or do you often feel alone and ostracized?<br />
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I hope that this post encourages everyone to reevaluate their role as a blogger, because honestly...<br />
nobody really wants to be a pretentious book snerd! Do they?<br />
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*This post is in homage to all of the <i>you might be a redneck</i> jokes. By definition, snarky is sarcastic, impertinent, or irreverent in tone or manner. If you were offended by reading this, I hope that you eventually understand that the concept was to shed light on what's really important versus piss off a bunch of book bloggers. Therefore, go forth and blog dear book nerds for your voice deserves to be heard (even if everyone else completely disagrees with you)!<br />
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<b><u>HOW TO PARTICIPATE</u>:</b><br />
<b> </b> <br />
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SHARE THIS POST TO GET MORE BOOK BLOGGERS ON BOARD. <br />
Schedule your snarky posts for each day, Monday-Friday, during #SnarkWeek.</div>
Head on over to <a href="http://www.parajunkee.com/" target="_blank">Parajunkee</a> every day to link up your post.<br />
Visit participating blogs to read their snarkiness!</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063862054325236910.post-47913482694116459432014-08-10T10:10:00.000-04:002014-08-10T10:10:00.253-04:00VACATION: Lake Life<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://img1.etsystatic.com/000/0/6667862/il_570xN.316382601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://img1.etsystatic.com/000/0/6667862/il_570xN.316382601.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/CTheWritingOnTheWall" target="_blank">Etsy</a></td></tr>
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We are packing up this morning and headed to the lake for a few days with friends and family. The kiddos need one last hurrah before school starts, and the big kids need a couple days of rest and relaxation! Don't worry, I will respond to all comments upon my return.</div>
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My goal is to read <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18658063-fool-s-assassin" target="_blank">Fool's Assassin</a> whilst sipping a cold one in the sun (if it doesn't rain the whole time). Summer is fading fast and so is my tan! Hopefully, I can also catch up on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6475685-the-silmarillion" target="_blank">The Silmarillion</a> for <a href="http://www.nerdist.com/2014/06/nerdist-book-club-the-silmarillion/" target="_blank">#NerdistBookClub</a> as well as finish <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18778170-joss-whedon" target="_blank">Joss Whedon: The Biography</a> for <a href="http://www.readsleeprepeat.org/2014/07/2015-arc-august-sign-up/" target="_blank">#ARCAugust</a>.</div>
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What are you reading this week?</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063862054325236910.post-1266436118021370062014-08-08T14:53:00.001-04:002014-08-08T14:53:23.133-04:00REVIEW: Guy in Real Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1405097705l/18599748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1405097705l/18599748.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/isbn/0062266853" style="border: none;" target="_blank"><img alt="Guy in Real Life" src="https://www.goodreads.com/images/atmb_add_book-70x25.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22015551-guy-in-real-life">Guy in Real Life</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/580517.Steve_Brezenoff">Steve Brezenoff</a></b></span></div>
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<span id="freeText16379774508052826365">From the acclaimed author of Brooklyn, Burning comes Guy in Real Life, an achingly real and profoundly moving love story about two Minnesota teens whose lives become intertwined through school, role-playing games, and a chance two-a.m. bike accident.<br />
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It is Labor Day weekend in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and boy and girl collide on a dark street at two thirty in the morning: Lesh, who wears black, listens to metal, and plays MMOs; Svetlana, who embroiders her skirts, listens to Björk and Berlioz, and dungeon masters her own RPG. They should pick themselves up, continue on their way, and never talk to each other again.<br />
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But they don't.<br />
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This is a story of two people who do not belong in each other's lives, who find each other at a time when they desperately need someone who doesn't belong in their lives. A story of those moments when we act like people we aren't in order to figure out who we are. A story of the roles we all play-at school, at home, with our friends, and without our friends-and the one person who might show us what lies underneath it all.</span> </div>
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My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/918434481">5 of 5 stars</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYphAkgsszISwXQEYadzuC1xWUlfW-x3doBUowfaNxj_17qWA7ydTJK1i2-NuK1C7jJFEmKJQVK9-Zkn0xzlFhmYuzFvbKOkFv_DRTlBwnltFb-hANoFSDSawCCYfO8Ij0shC7gRGDX6A/s1600/5stars.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYphAkgsszISwXQEYadzuC1xWUlfW-x3doBUowfaNxj_17qWA7ydTJK1i2-NuK1C7jJFEmKJQVK9-Zkn0xzlFhmYuzFvbKOkFv_DRTlBwnltFb-hANoFSDSawCCYfO8Ij0shC7gRGDX6A/s1600/5stars.png" height="112" width="320" /></a></div>
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Above all else, this book is about role-playing. We are all expected to play certain roles for various reasons IRL. Okay, so you've never gamed online or via pen and paper? That doesn't matter. We are all role-players, and it's never simple... especially in high school.</div>
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As a gamer (console, PC and table top), this book personally resonated with me. It is pretty tame YA but definitely not lame. Come on now, who doesn't adore pseudo cursing? Sh...ark attack! This book made me snortle more than just a few times.</div>
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Lesh and Svetlana are on the cusp of adulthood but still figuring out the details. The characters are genuine and raw, and the awkwardness is consistently palpable. Metal heads and hippies alike should enjoy this one! I sure did. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063862054325236910.post-63722932042650575332014-08-08T10:10:00.000-04:002014-08-08T10:10:00.458-04:00REVIEW: Shadows of Asphodel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18754150-shadows-of-asphodel" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18754150-shadows-of-asphodel" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1383644688l/18754150.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F8W9H0O/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00F8W9H0O&linkCode=as2&tag=casuread-20&linkId=YZRNFG77BULOXHCY" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shadows-of-asphodel-karen-kincy/1116943023" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18754150-shadows-of-asphodel" style="border: none;" target="_blank"><img alt="Shadows of Asphodel (Shadows of Asphodel #1)" src="https://www.goodreads.com/images/atmb_add_book-70x25.png" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18754150-shadows-of-asphodel">Shadows of Asphodel</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2900815.Karen_Kincy">Karen Kincy</a></span></b></div>
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<span id="freeText15436673007710750056">When Ardis discovers a man bleeding to death on the battlefield, she knows she has to walk away.<br />
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1913. In her work as a mercenary for Austria-Hungary, Ardis has killed many men without hesitation. One more man shouldn't matter, even if he manages to be a charming bastard while he stands dying in the snow.<br />
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But when he raises the dead to fight for him, she realizes she must save his life.<br />
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If a necromancer like Wendel dies, he will return as a monster--or so the rumors say. Ardis decides to play it safe and rescues him. What she doesn't expect is Wendel falling to one knee and swearing fealty. Ardis never asked for the undying loyalty of a necromancer, but it's too late now.<br />
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Ardis and Wendel forge an uneasy alliance underscored with sexual tension. Together, they confront rebels, assassins, and a conspiracy involving a military secret: robotically-enhanced soldiers for a world on the brink of war. But as Ardis starts to fall for Wendel, she realizes the scars from his past run more deeply than she ever imagined. Can Ardis stop Wendel before his thirst for revenge destroys him and everyone else around him?<br />
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<i><span id="freeText15436673007710750056">Dieselpunk romance. Because Steampunk wasn't dirty enough.</span></i><br />
<i><span id="freeText15436673007710750056">Recommended for ages 17 & up.</span><span id="freeText15436673007710750056"> </span></i><br />
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<b>My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/982732611">4 of 5 stars</a></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdU11xo12pjYbcX8pHzLU_UYaRg0O4hF19N-kLGtEuA2xu-MnHh8fluTIFH-ItLtZAlefc_PkVhTqzfirZ4CARfyW0a6EgBlFisgsRnCm98SBY1WRBSoiqOsbU0hv-5p4RpXghqPhWiIO/s1600/4stars.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdU11xo12pjYbcX8pHzLU_UYaRg0O4hF19N-kLGtEuA2xu-MnHh8fluTIFH-ItLtZAlefc_PkVhTqzfirZ4CARfyW0a6EgBlFisgsRnCm98SBY1WRBSoiqOsbU0hv-5p4RpXghqPhWiIO/s1600/4stars.png" height="112" width="320" /></a></div>
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As my first attempt at Dieselpunk, this book certainly does not disappoint. I am not a huge fan of romance, but it managed to capture just the right amount of bitter versus sweet with a huge dollop of snark. The pages are filled with assassins and archmages bound by a truce that is centuries old but on the brink of complete collapse. War rages under the guise of peace, magic prevents the use of gunpowder and enchanted blades swarm the battlefield with a far more sinister conflict looming on the horizon. I am now completely infatuated with necromancy, technomancy and automatons! Throwing myself headfirst into the next book, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18519509.Storms_of_Lazarus" title="Storms of Lazarus by Karen Kincy">Storms of Lazarus</a>.</div>
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<b>AUTHOR</b><br />
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Karen Kincy (Redmond, Washington) can be found lurking in her writing cave, though sunshine will lure her outside. When not writing, she stays busy gardening, tinkering with aquariums, or running just one more mile. Karen has a BA in Linguistics and Literature from The Evergreen State College.<br />
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<a href="http://www.karenkincy.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/karenkincy" target="_blank">T</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" target="_blank">witter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KarenKincyAuthor" target="_blank">Facebook</a><br />
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<i>*I received this copy from the author in return for an honest review, and opinions are mine alone.</i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com