First Kiss: Book Blitz (w/ Excerpt)

Book & Author Details:
First Kiss by Cindy M. Hogan
(Confessions of a 16-Year-Old Virgin Lips #1)
Publication date: July 3rd 2013
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult

Synopsis:
VL. Virgin Lips. You may not have heard of it, but where I live, it’s a thing with a card, even if it is a figurative card. I was Brooklyn Hill, certified virgin lips, and I planned on clinging to that figurative card with all I had—while dating as many of the hottest guys at school as I could.Maybe that’s a bit strange. I mean, what teenage girl isn’t interested in kissing? Locking lips definitely interested me, but the drama that came with it didn’t. No kissing, no drama. Simple.But on my sixteenth birthday, on my first real date even, the drama found me. His name was Luke Graham—cute, funny, and bad news for the whole female race.
Excerpt:
“Yes siree, the two of us will die old and decrepit, kiss-less…unless, of course,” he said with a flourish, “we find that special someone.”

Only Parker could get away with a speech like that and not come out looking like a total loser. I wondered why that was. Why some could get away with stuff and others couldn’t.

“Then you’ll be missing out on the best stuff in life,” Ty said. Ty was on the swim team with Parker and me and was known for his roving lips.

“Just ‘cause you’re a lip-slut, Ty,” Ali said, “doesn’t mean you can diss on those saving themselves for something special.”

“Ohhh!” Harrison said, “Ali’s on the war path tonight. You guys better be careful what you say!”

“From the mouth of the oldest VL in the group,” Ty shot back at Ali and splashed her with water.

I could tell she was blushing wildly even in the semi-darkness.

“Actually,” I said, “Ali isn’t in the club.”

“No way!” Parker called out. “Ali, you disappoint me.” He frowned in an exaggerated way.

Ali splashed me. “Thanks a lot, birthday girl.”

That started everyone telling about their first kisses.

Mike said, “I went away with sore teeth after my first kiss. Instead of leading with our lips, our teeth clacked hard against each others’. But don’t worry, Brooklyn, I’ve got all that worked out, now.”

Before I could be too embarrassed, Katherine spoke up. “Nobody’s first kiss was worse than mine. He was salivating so much it dripped down my chin.”

“Well, my first was amazing. After all, I am Ty.”

Alyssa scoffed, “Yeah right.”

“I’m serious. We were just sitting there, not talking, and all of a sudden—a shooting star streaked across the sky.” He shushed all the mocking and sounds of disbelief. “It totally happened! And then, it was like we were telepathically connected, we looked at each other and without even thinking about it, I kissed her, soft and slow. When we stopped, she asked me my wish was, and I said—‘I just got it.’”

All the girls in the group sighed wistfully. I was impressed. I had no idea Ty was such a romantic. Then he broke the spell. “And, man, her lips were so hot. I’ll never forget those lips.”

The girls all groaned and splashed him. “Typical!” Alyssa said, rolling her eyes.

A few more kids shared their first kiss stories. Most sounded awful. We were either laughing hysterically or completely grossed out during the conversation. I held hope that my first kiss would be dreamy, like Ty said his was.


Author Links:


The Exemeus: Review & Giveaway



Her short life was devoted to love and to hate. Love of the man who stole her heart, hate for the man who stole the world. Murdered by the government she swore to destroy, she's been given another chance to make it right. But to save the planet, she needs the help of the most powerful mystic the world has ever seen—unfortunately he hasn’t been born yet.

In a world where fear is the only currency, Dephon has committed the ultimate crime: inspiring hope.

His only goal is to make it safely through ninth grade, but on a post-apocalyptic Earth run by the Treptonian government, it isn’t that simple. Heir to a legendary power, Dephon Johnson is the only threat to the government’s rule. And on Trepton, all threats must be eliminated. When hundreds of assassins are dispatched to neutralize him, Dephon is forced to fight back. His only chance of survival is to enlist the aid of the greatest warrior the world has ever known. The only problem is, she's been dead for 13 years.
Thoughts:
Okay, when I was asked if I'd be interested in reading The Exemeus for review, I really had to read the synopsis and think about it. The cover is definitely not my cup of tea.

However, this is a supreme case of "Do not judge a book by its cover." SERIOUSLY!!!

After the first chapter, I was so interested in this story. The Exemeus is a story about Dephon finding out who and what he and his parents are. In a world of solitary, evil rule, Dephon has been given a book to read about the history of Earth and what exactly had happened to get it to the government-ruled Treptonian. This book, The Exemeus, is about Hyalee.

The story mainly focuses on Hyalee and Singleton and what Trepton was when it was Earth. It is her story of finding out about the powers in which she, Singleton, and others have and finding out they are meant to save the Earth.

I was so involved while reading The Exemeus. Folami and Abeni have created such a world that is easy to imagine and not feel lost. I am very anxious and excited to read the next book!

PS...I LOVED Kayin!

A review copy was provided. All thoughts are my own and I have not been persuaded in any way.
Rating:
The Exemeus is a solid LOVE for me!
About the Authors:
Folami and Abeni Morris are a sister-sister writing team. Together they wrote (and rewrote) The Exemeus, somehow managing to accomplish it without murdering one another. Despite their facial similarities, tendency to finish each other’s thoughts and stick up for each other constantly, no, they’re not twins and thus deserve their own individual bio.

Folami Morris:
Folami grew up in the tiny city of San Mateo, CA, where nothing ever happens and no one ever leaves. She went to Xavier University for undergraduate, getting her B.A in Physics and her B.S in Biology. After graduation she returned to California, to live in an even smaller city, where even less happens, Antioch, CA. During this time she escaped the monotony by hanging out with her imaginary friends Hyalee and Dephon, and by writing the Exemeus. She finally escaped to Queens, NY and now realizes that quiet and tiny aren’t so bad. 
Abeni Morris:
As luck (and logic) would have it, Abeni grew up in the same tiny little town as her sister, then she too escaped to the tinier town of Antioch. She has yet to leave. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Development from Cal State East Bay. She is the mom of two amazing kids, who swear that they deserve a percentage of the book proceeds and a ton of the credit. At least she raised dreamers.

Find the book: Amazon | GoodReads

Find the authors: Website

Giveaway:
1 winner will receive a Kindle 6" e-ink
1 winner will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card
1 winner will receive a Paperback of Demon's at Deadnight by A & E Kirk 

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Make sure to check out The Exemeus Scavenger Hunt, where you can win a Kindle Fire or $150!  The first stop is at My Guilty Obsession, where you can get the first clues on this incredible journey for an amazing prize!  The Scavenger Hunt starts on Monday, August 26th and runs through Friday, August 30.  Chances to win are through Midnight on September 1.  Buy your copy of The Exemeus today, if you haven't already!



Authors Are Rock Stars: Karri Thompson

Thanks to Fiktshun, Two Chicks on Books, and Magical Urban Fantasy Reads for hosting this awesome event again this year!

Welcome to KARRI THOMPSON!

Karri is such a rock star that she has written a book and working on a series about a rock star and his guardian angel! See right there? ROCK STAR!!! If you haven't read Karri's book, Amateur Angel, you should really check it out and my review here.

She might not be on a lot of radars right now, but that will soon change! She has a new series coming out soon: a spin on Rip Van Winkle!

Make sure to read the questions and answers about Karri. There are definitely some amazing facts about her. She is a rocking English teacher and those are some lucky high schoolers!
Q&A Time!
L: I’ve recently read your first YA book, Amateur Angel. How did you come up for the idea of this book?
KT: I was a huge fan of the band Duran Duran when I was in high school and had the biggest crush on the bass player, John Taylor. Over the years, I’ve watched my students go crazy over groups like N’Sync and the Jonas Brothers, and it reminded me of how I was in high school. I started to think about the different ways in which a teenage girl could meet her rock star crush, and one of the first ideas that popped into my head was having the girl become the rock star’s guardian angel.

L: Do you believe in Guardian Angels?
KT: I do believe in guardian angels, maybe not the way they appear in my book, but I think we’re all being watched and in some way protected by angels. One of my former students passed away from cancer a couple years after she graduated from high school. Before she died, she told her parents she saw angels at the foot of her hospital bed waiting for her. Stories like that help me believe.

L: William Shakespeare was part of Amateur Angel. Are you a fan of the bard?
KT: I am a huge Shakespeare fan. Being a high school English teacher, I’ve taught many of his plays. I’ve read Romeo and Juliet so many times that I practically have it memorized. It was so fun to bring Will to life in this book and use quotes from his plays to emphasize the book’s themes. In April, I’m going to Stratford, England, Shakespeare’s birthplace. I can’t wait!

L: Is there going to be another book following Amateur Angel? (That ending…oh, that ending!)
KT: Book two, Hollywood Angels, is written and ready to go. Readers should be on the lookout for it soon online at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The “angel” series will end with a third book. The outline for book 3 is complete, and I can't wait to start writing it. By the way, in Hollywood Angels, Cannon and Ashley are together all the time. Yes!
L: Woohoo!!!!

L: You have a new book coming out later this summer with Entangled Teen. What can you tell us about it?
KT: My next release is Mirror X. It’s the first book in the three-book series, The Van Winkle Chronicles. This book is full of surprises, so I can’t say much without giving it away. What I can say is that it’s about a 17- year-old girl named Cassie Dannacher who unexpectedly wakes up 1,003 years in the future and into a world ruled by three dictators. The difference of over 1, 000 years has made everyone physically – though not visually – different from Cassie, and this difference makes Cassie more valuable than her weight in gold. While Cassie struggles with her new reality, two very different and extremely hot guys enter her life, so as she continues to cope in this futuristic world, she’s overcome by additional challenges. But Cassie’s a strong girl and won’t let anyone stand in her way or take away what she values most in life.

I am so excited about this series! I can’t wait for people to meet my characters and enter the world I created.

L: What do you have in the works for after Mirror X?
KT: The second book in the Van Winkle series is written – no title for it yet, and it hasn’t been critiqued and edited either, but the first draft is complete, and it’s solid. The outline/synopsis for the third book is done and burning in my brain, ready to get down on paper. But I really need to focus on Mirror X at the moment, so book 3 will have to remain at a slow simmer while Mirror X is being finalized.

Six months ago, while I was waiting to return my focus to Mirror X, I started writing a YA, contemporary romance that takes place in Munich, Germany. I’m at about 40, 000 words and am predicting it will end around 80,000. But like book two of the Van Winkle series, it’s also on the back burner for the time being. Right now, Mirror X is my number one priority.

L: I see Charles Dickens is an influence of yours. Do you have any other writing influences?
KT: I really love Billie Letts. The Honk and Holler Opening Soon is one of my favorite contemporary novels. Her characters become real on the page – that’s what I want all of my characters to do.

L: Free time! Tell us something about yourself that might not come across in your writing or my questions.
KT: Toward the end of the last school year, I had a hard rock tune playing as my students entered the classroom. They couldn’t believe that was the type of music I listen to. They thought I liked either jazz or classical. Boy, I sure had them fooled. Some of my favorite bands include: Pearl Jam, Korn, Linkin Park, Disturbed, Slipknot, Avenge Sevenfold, and Drowning Pool. In fact, last month I saw Stone Temple Pilots in concert, and I have tickets for Pearl Jam in November. I love going to concerts. There’s nothing better than live music.

Buy Amateur Angel
Karri and Entangled Teen have offered an ebook copy of Mirror X to one of you lucky readers. I am super jealous and think you should all enter...right now! Get to know Karri and her fun story-telling and enter the Rafflecopter! This does include International friends, too.
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Not Book Related, but CUTE!

I know this isn't book related, but I HAVE to share this video with y'all. This is my #favoriteniece singing part of "Cups." She makes me laugh so much, y'all!


Steel Lily by Megan Curd - Review, Guest Post, Excerpt, & Giveaway

The Book:
Title: Steel Lily
Author: Megan Curd
Genre: Dystopian

Source: ARC for tour. All opinions are my own and I have not been persuaded in any way.
Summary:

AVERY PIKE is a commodity. No, more than a commodity. Her existence is guarded at all costs.

She’s a water Elementalist, the strongest of her dwindling kind. She creates steam to provide energy to fuel Dome Three: the only thing standing between humanity and an earth ravaged by World War III. No steam, no Dome. No Dome, no life.

Or so she thinks.

That is, until a mysterious man offers her a way out of having to donate steam. A way to escape the corrupt government of Dome Three. While the offer seems too good to be true, Avery is intrigued.

But when she arrives to her new home, she realizes the grass isn't any less dead on this side of the fence. Instead, the lies are just hidden better.

…Which means digging deeper.

When Avery enlists the help of her friends to uncover the truth, it may make her wonder if she was better off being a government tool than searching for freedom.

Some secrets are better left concealed, but humankind was never meant to live in a cage. And when you can control the most sought after resource, you can learn to control anything…including the fate of your world.
Excerpt:
I'd never seen anyone like him in Dome Four. His jawbone was strong, his cheekbones set high. His nose was regal and straight and when my gaze reached his eyes, my breath caught. Stormy blue-grey eyes that reminded me of shale returned my gaze with seemingly genuine curiosity, if not a bit of humor. Strips of colored fabric were woven into his dreadlocked hair, giving it a wildly unique appearance that suited him. His smug expression made me realize he was enjoying this.

“Are you finished checking me out? If you’re not, that’s okay; I allow every new woman I meet a free five-minute gawking period. After that, it’ll cost you.”

Blood rushed to my face. I tore my eyes from his magnetic gaze and watched as he took a worn leather strap off his wrist. He pulled back his dreadlocks–deep brown streaked with blonde–into the strap. His devilish grin pulled his eyes tight at the corners. He was trouble incarnate. Trouble I may very well want to get into, given the right circumstances.

“You’re at five minutes and thirty seconds now,” he said in a purr as he leaned in toward me. I felt his breath against my cheek, and my heart raced. “I’m going to start taking payment, and I choose how that payment is issued.”

Before I could respond, Alice stirred groggily beside me. She rubbed her eyes as she sat up. “Where are we?”

“Good question,” piped Jaxon. “One that your friend here failed to ask, but it could have been because I rendered her speechless with my good looks.”

Alice moved to get a better look at him, but he emphatically covered his face, as though he were a vampire trying to block the sun. “Don't look at me!” he cried, then grinned as he winked at me. “I don't want to make two ladies swoon in such a short period of time. How would I entertain myself tonight?”

“You’re not that handsome,” I argued mulishly.

“There’s drool on your chin. Either you're physically unable to keep your mouth shut, or I caused you to forget how. Since when I found you, you were drool free, I’m going with the assumption that it was me.” He fished in his pocket and offered me a piece of white silk. “Here, a handkerchief for your trouble.”
Review:
I truly enjoyed this book, STEEL LILY. Megan created a realistic world with some unique characteristics. These characteristics were "side-effects" from radiation from World War 3. The time frame of this book is eerily close-ish. That kind of freaked me out a bit! Hah!

I like that we were made to think one thing about Avery's Dome and then a plot twist when she arrived at a different Dome. Then, another plot twist! Megan definitely has the reader on his/her toes for this book.

I enjoyed the characters in our story. Avery was great! Jaxon was...Jaxon!!! (I have a totally hot guy in mind and I have the most inappropriate crush!) They had great banter and chemistry. Avery's best friend, Alice, was a great friend and good use of character to the story. Sari, the hacking whiz, was great and helpful. Legs being part of the story in the beginning and throughout...whew!

The characters that I don't want to name, give us big time plot twists and surprises.

If you enjoy humorous banter, a heroine, a hero, friendships, a hottie, Elementalists, Alchemists, a villain, secrets, and being kept guessing, you will enjoy STEEL LILY.
Rating:
The Author:
Megan Curd is a graduate of Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minnesota. While having always enjoyed reading any books she could get her hands on, Megan didn't begin writing until a friend encouraged her to do so while in college.

When not writing, Megan enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She loves to snowboard and travel to new places, and doesn’t turn down the opportunity to play xBox with her brother and friends when it presents itself.

Megan currently resides in Stanton, Kentucky with her husband, son, and Great Dane named Dozer.

Guest Post:
The Footsteps I Follow: Authors I Admire by Megan Curd
Hi Lisa! Thanks for having me on your blog today!

Everyone has people that they look up to and admire in all facets of their lives. However, for writing, I have a few that I really look up to. Some I know, but most I don’t. I’m not sure what I’d do if I got to meet them. I’d probably hyperventilate and fangirl. 
Oh yeah, just like that.

So, who do I admire? I’ll give you my top three, even though the list is more like three thousand. But I highly doubt any of your want to read that many words. Don’t worry, you’ve been spared.

1.)    J.K. Rowling – Oh, what I wouldn’t give to meet her. I’d probably cry, then fan myself, then give her a completely awkward hug that would end up getting me escorted off the premises. I’m sorry in advance, Ms. Rowling. I just can’t contain my love for your world building and character depth. It makes me oh so very happy. The fact that you had me loving to hate Snape for the entirety of the Harry Potter series has solidified you as my #1 favorite author for all time. Plus you pretty much shaped my childhood. I lived for getting those books each summer. So thank you.
 
2.)    Dan Brown – Oh my goodness. This man is the master at making you HAVE to read the next chapter. I love it.
3.)    Cassandra Clare – The woman can build a world from the ground up. I love it. Her descriptions make me taste/touch/smell everything she’s writing. She’s unbelievable. 


And those are my top three authors I admire. What authors do you admire? Any that have shaped your lives or the way you read books? I’d love to hear from you. And, in the meantime, in the words of Sheldon Cooper:


Running on Empty: Cover Reveal (and Giveaway)

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press - Tulip Romance Imprint
Cover Designer: Marie Romero
ISBN: 978-1-939392-81-7
Release Date: November 25, 2013
Format: e-book
Recommended for ages 16 and up

About the book:

What does it feel like when you die—in those final moments? Do you feel the physical pain, or just the pain of your regrets? What does it feel like when you realize you can’t answer these questions because you’re not the victim?

You’re the killer.

River Daniels lives an ordinary life as a high school junior growing up in the confines of rural Texas until her boyfriend’s brutal attack leaves her both a murderer and a fugitive. When River’s closest girlfriends come to her aid, they make a hasty decision to not only help her, but leave their own troubled lives behind and join in her escape. The girls manage to elude police for months, but with every near-miss, River’s life spirals further out of control, until she finally hits rock bottom. Realizing she must stop endangering her friends and find evidence proving she acted in self-defense, the girls decide to make a risky return to Texas. Her return means more than facing her ugly past, she must also face the one person she was protecting the night her world caved in, the guy she has loved for as long as she can remember.
"Raw, romantic, and suspenseful!" ~ Katie McGarry, author of Dare You To

Giveaway:
$50 Amazon gift certificate and 5 signed bookmarks for US residents only (Provided by the Publisher)
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Hyperion and the Great Balls of Fire: Book Blast

Hyperion and the Great Balls of Fire (Heroes in Training Book 4)
hyperion
The action heats up for Zeus and his fellow Olympians in this blazing Heroes in Training tale.

Phew, it’s hot! Under the titan Hyperion’s rule, the sun is burning even brighter than normal and scorching everything in northern Greece—including the villagers! The Olympians are forced to play a sizzling “game” of Dodge the Sunbursts as Hyperion hurls giant fireballs that could fry them to pieces!

Armed with some clues, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades set out to figure out why in the world Hyperion has been making things so hot. They also need to rescue Hera, who is still missing. Battling the extreme heat—and some fantastical and scary creatures, courtesy of their old foe Cronus—the boys are off on another epic adventure…and Zeus is one step closer to discovering his destiny.


Heroes in Training by Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams
Authors Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams deliver fun, adventures, and a few surprises as ten-year-old Olympians go on a journey of a lifetime to discover their true identities and defeat their Titan enemies.

Praise for Heroes in Training
"Readers will gobble this down and look for more, make no mythtake."
~ Kirkus

“This is a fun read, casting Zeus in the role of relatable kid, and there is a nice balance between his primary goal of survival and his sense of destiny and adventure. . . Share this title, and likely more to come, with those still too young for Percy Jackson’s adventures.”
~ School Library Journal

The Series
#1 Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom
#2 Poseidon and the Sea of Fury
#3 Hades and the Helm of Darkness
#4 Hyperion and the Great Balls of Fire

Aladdin Paperbacks (ages 6-9)
http://series.simonandschuster.com/Heroes-in-training


Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom (Book 1)
After pulling a magical thunderbolt from a stone, ten-year-old Zeus goes on the adventure of a lifetime in this thrilling start to a brand-new series! The terrible Titans--merciless giants who enjoy snacking on humans--have dominated the earth and put the world into chaos. But their rule is about to be put to the test as a group of young Olympians discover their powers and prepare to righteously rule the universe....

Ten-year-old Zeus is mystified (and super-annoyed) by the fact that he keeps getting hit by lightening. Every. Single. Year. He also longs for adventure, as he has never been far from the cave where he grew up.

Zeus gets his wish--and a lot more than he bargained for--when he is kidnapped by dangerous, giant Titans! In self-defense, he grabs the first thing he sees--an actual thunderbolt he pulls from a stone that is covered in mysterious markings. Zeus is the only one who can decipher the markings, and sets off on a quest to rescue his youthful fellow Olympians from the evil Cronus. Armed with his trusty thunderbolt (named Bolt, of course), Zeus is on an adventure of a lifetime--and a journey to fulfill his destiny as King of the Gods.



Poseidon and the Sea of Fury (Book 2)
A young Poseidon must triumph over aquatic terrors in this Heroes in Training adventure. The merciless Cronus and his Titan buddies are in hot pursuit of Zeus, Hera, and Poseidon, who plan to travel across the treacherous boiling sea in order to save a fellow Olympian. They have a boat, but they also have a problem: Poseidon can’t swim and is terrified of the water (well, really of the creatures that lurk in its depths). The group faces danger after danger as they battle singing sirens, a fishy and ferocious Titan named Oceanus, and people-eating monsters sent by Cronus himself. Can Poseidon overcome his fears and help his fellow heroes escape Cronus and his cronies?



Hades and the Helm of Darkness (Heroes in Training Book 3)
The Heroes in Training are entering the Underworld—if Hades can conquer his canine fears, that is.

The Underworld usually isn’t really meant to be a fun place—but tell that to Hades! He loves the dark and the stinky smell of sulfur. However, there is one thing that Hades is not a fan of: dogs. And when Zeus and his fellow Olympians encounter Cerberus—a snarling, three-headed dog—Hades must conquer his fears and tame the hound so everyone can continue into the Underworld and deposit their Titan prisoner, Oceanus, back where he belongs!

But with magical water that causes forgetfulness, hot beds of lava, and another epic battle with two more Titans standing in their way, will Zeus and his heroes make it out of the Underworld with everyone intact?
Author Suzanne Williams
Suzanne Williams is the award-winning author of nearly 40 books for children, from picture books and easy readers to chapter books and middle grade fiction series. A former elementary school librarian, she lives near Seattle. Her picture book Library Lil (illustrated by Steven Kellogg) won the New Mexico children's choice award in 2000 and was on several other state award lists. She is co-author (with Joan Holub) of the popular Goddess Girls series(for ages 8 - 12) and Heroes in Training (ages 6 - 11). Other series include Fairy Blossoms and Princess Power.


Author Joan Holub
I graduated from college in Texas with a fine arts degree, and then freelanced as an art director at a graphic design firm for eight years. I dreamed of working in children's books, so I moved to New York City and became associate art director in Scholastic trade books, where I designed books for children and worked with editors and illustrators. It was a great job.

I illustrated my first published children's book in 1992 and soon began illustrating full time. I began completing manuscripts and mailing them out to publishers in the early 1990s. In 1996, I sold my first two manuscripts -- Boo Who? A Spooky Lift-the-Flap Book (Scholastic) and Pen Pals (Grosset & Dunlap). Yippee!

Now I write full time and have written and/or illustrated over 130 children's books. Creating books that entertain, inform, and interest children (and me) is a fabulous job that I truly love.
Book Blast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 8/29/13

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

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Persephone the Daring: Book Blast

Persephone the Daring (Goddess Girls #11)
persephone
Mortal rock star Orpheus steals the spotlight in this Goddess Girls tale of love and lyres!Orpheus is a mortal rock god, and the girls at Mount Olympus Academy are wild about him! With his lyre and singing voice, Orpheus can charm pretty much anything—even things like stones and trees. But Hades and the other MOA boys aren’t charmed. In fact, they are less than thrilled that the girls are so gaga over this guy.

His fans are especially excited about his latest song about the girl he loved and lost, Eurydice. Orpheus was devastated when he lost Eurydice to the Underworld, so he asks Persephone to help get her back. Though it means breaking some very serious Underworld rules, Persephone pushes Hades to return Eurydice to the living world. But restoring Orpheus’s one true love might jeopardize Persephone’s own chances with her biggest crush...

Praise for The Goddess Girls
“…a clever take on Greek deities…”
~ Booklist

"Readers familiar with Greek myths should get a kick out of this plucky restaging."
~Publisher's Weekly

“…an enchanting mythological world with middle-school woes compounded by life as a deity…”
~ School Library Journal
The Goddess Girls Series
The Goddess Girls series, by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams puts a modern spin on classic Greek myths. Follow the ins and outs of divine social life where the most privileged godboys and goddessgirls in the Greek pantheon hone their mythical skills.
  • Athena the Brain Finding out she’s a goddess and being sent to Mount Olympus brings Athena new friends, a weird dad, and the meanest girl in mythology—Medusa!
  • Persephone the Phony Hiding her feelings works fine for Persephone until she meets a guy she can be herself with—Hades, the bad-boy of the Underworld.
  • Aphrodite the Beauty Sure Aphrodite is beautiful, but it’s not always easy being the goddessgirl of love.
  • Artemis the Brave She may be the goddess of the hunt, but that doesn’t mean Artemis always feels brave.
  • Athena the Wise Zeus says Heracles has to do twelve tasks or he'll get kicked out of MOA! Although she's not sure it's wise, Athena agrees to help out.
  • Aphrodite the Diva Isis claims she's the goddess of love? Ha! But to keep the title all to herself, Aphrodite has to find the perfect match for Pygmalion, the most annoying boy ever.
  • Artemis the Loyal It’s time for the annual Olympic Games, and Artemis and her friends are not happy. It’s boys only. Not fair!
  • Medusa the Mean Medusa wants to be more like her two sisters and the other kids at Mount Olympus Academy -- immortal. Is that too much to ask?
  • The Girl Games (Goddess Girls Super Special) Listen in on what all four goddess girls are thinking as Mount Olympus Academy hosts visitors from many lands--including an adorable kitten!The first-ever standalone superspecial in the Goddess Girls series!
  • Pandora the Curious Pandora is one of the few mortals at Mount Olympus Academy—and probably the most curious of all the students in school.
  • Pheme the Gossip As the goddess girl of rumor and gossip, Pheme prides herself on being “in the know” and having the most up-to-date info on anyone and everyone at Mount Olympus Academy.
Author Suzanne Williams

Suzanne Williams is the award-winning author of nearly 40 books for children, from picture books and easy readers to chapter books and middle grade fiction series. A former elementary school librarian, she lives near Seattle. Her picture book Library Lil (illustrated by Steven Kellogg) won the New Mexico children's choice award in 2000 and was on several other state award lists. She is co-author (with Joan Holub) of the popular Goddess Girls series(for ages 8 - 12) and Heroes in Training (ages 6 - 11). Other series include Fairy Blossoms and Princess Power.
Website * Blog

Author Joan Holub

I graduated from college in Texas with a fine arts degree, and then freelanced as an art director at a graphic design firm for eight years. I dreamed of working in children's books, so I moved to New York City and became associate art director in Scholastic trade books, where I designed books for children and worked with editors and illustrators. It was a great job.

I illustrated my first published children's book in 1992 and soon began illustrating full time. I began completing manuscripts and mailing them out to publishers in the early 1990s. In 1996, I sold my first two manuscripts -- Boo Who? A Spooky Lift-the-Flap Book (Scholastic) and Pen Pals (Grosset & Dunlap). Yippee!

Now I write full time and have written and/or illustrated over 130 children's books. Creating books that entertain, inform, and interest children (and me) is a fabulous job that I truly love.

Book Blast Giveaway
$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 8/22/13

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

I can't seem to get enough of pushing this book! If you haven't read it...seriously...why are you waiting? Check out my review here!

Camp Boyfriend (Camp Boyfriend #1)
Release Date: 07/02/13
From Spencer Hill Press
Summary from Goodreads:
The summer of her dreams is about to get a reality check.

They said it couldn't be done, but geeky sophomore Lauren Carlson transformed herself into a popular girl after moving to a new school halfway across the country. Amazing what losing her braces and going out for cheerleading will do. Only trouble is, the popular crowd is wearing on Lauren's nerves and she can't wait to return to summer camp where she's valued for her brain instead of her handsprings. She misses her old friends and most of all, her long time camp-only boyfriend, Seth. This year she intends to upgrade their relationship to year-round status once she's broken up with her new, jock boyfriend, Matt.He doesn't even begin to know the real her, a girl fascinated by the night sky who dreams of discovering new planets and galaxies.

But Matt isn't giving her up without a fight. As he makes his case to stay together, Lauren begins to realize his feelings run deeper than she ever would have guessed. What if the guy she thought she was meant to be with forever isn't really The One? Returning to Camp Juniper Point was supposed to ground her uprooted life, but she's more adrift than ever. Everything feels different and soon Lauren's friends are turning on her and both guys question what she really wants. As summer tensions escalate, Lauren wonders if she's changed more than she thought. Will her first big discovery be herself?

Available from:
 photo B6096376-6C81-4465-8935-CE890C777EB9-1855-000001A1E900B890_zps5affbed6.jpg  photo 111AD205-AA04-4F9E-A0F4-C1264C4E9F30-1855-000001A1E8CEB6D7_zps9b730b94.jpg  photo KoboIcon_zps515cdc1a.jpg  photo B1426D4C-9EEC-4C0B-A1FB-90524B03C0CA-1855-000001A1E82B3B3E_zps17d98f4d.jpg
"Fun, romantic and giddy, Camp Boyfriend brings real romance to summer camp with grace, humor and passion." - Carrie Jones, New York Times Best-selling Author of the NEED series

About the Authors:
J. K. Rock is the writing partnership of sisters-in-law Joanne & Karen Rock. Separately, they write adult romance. Together, they dream up Young Adult books like CAMP BOYFRIEND, the first in a three-book series. The summer camp stories continue with CAMP PAYBACK (4/14) and CAMP FORGET-ME-NOT (8/14), plus bonus free novellas in between stories. Visit http://campboyfriend.net to learn more about the series and the free prequel novella, CAMP KISS, which you can download here.

***Author Links***
Author Website / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads / Karen's Twitter / Joanne's Twitter Facebook

Excerpt:
“Who needs a cabin, when we can be alone like this?”
He cradled my face and lowered his mouth. His lips began to move incrementally along my jawbone. We were very alone out here, more so than we’d ever been before. Back at Turtle Creek, there’d always been friends nearby and a curfew hanging over our heads. Now? The possibility of being together was all too real.
“Matt,” I breathed around the catch in my throat, knowing we shouldn’t complicate things between us. Especially when I’d only promised him four weeks.
Tough to remember when his hungry lips met mine. His arms tightened around me and his fingertips ran through my hair. My lips parted under his, my hands trapped between his chest and mine. Underneath my palms his heart drummed.
His hands moved forward until he cupped my face then pulled away. He made a soft, ragged sound as he gazed down at me.
“God, you’re beautiful,” he murmured, eyes more intense than I’d ever seen them. My pulse raced when his lips drifted down to my clavicle and along the neckline of my shirt. His hands skimmed across my back, making me shudder in a way that had little to do with the water temperature. When his strong fingers circled to the front and rubbed my ribcage, my body tingled in pleasure.
And yeah, I was sending out the wrong message. Trying to shake off the feelings, I grabbed his hands and nudged him away. I treaded water and tried to slow my breathing. Matt looked like he’d run wind sprints.
“Too much?” he asked, still the southern gentleman despite the wicked gleam in his eye.
I nodded, wanting to say more but needing time to puzzle things out. We stayed out as long as we dared, and we needed to be in our beds before our counselors got back from their meeting.
Back at my cabin, I just barely beat Emily when I slipped inside. My friends might have given me the third degree except that our counselor was right behind me and we all had to fake sleep since it was well past curfew. Grateful this once for the early bedtime, I dried off, put on sleep shorts and a tank, and snuggled under the covers. I turned over and pounded my pillow, Matt’s face intruding every time I tried imagining Seth’s.
Who knew I’d have a First Kiss of Camp with two boys? Or that they’d both confuse me so much. I’d thought my feelings about them were clear before I came here. But Seth surprised me by letting me go so easily that it hurt. And Matt had given me a few surprises too, forgiving me when I didn’t necessarily deserve it and fighting for me like I was more than a nerd masquerading in designer clothes.
As my eyes drifted closed, Seth’s sun-tipped curls and lightly freckled face finally came into focus. He’d want to know what I decided when he came back and wouldn’t like my answer. I’d done nothing wrong tonight, but I couldn’t stop feeling like I’d betrayed him—us.  

I might have had a FKOC with both guys. Now I needed to figure out which one would have the last.
***GIVEAWAY***
Grand prize - Signed copies Amanda Ink's SUN, Jennifer
Armentrout writing as J. Lynn's FRIGID and JK Rock's CAMP BOYFRIEND. Also
included, advance sneak peek copy Laurie Halse Anderson's THE IMPOSSIBLE KNIFE
OF MEMORY and Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian's FIRE WITH FIRE, plus an "I
<3 my Camp Boyfriend" tee shirt, friendship
bracelets,  'I <3 Camp' temporary tattoos, and a
bookmark with the download code for CAMP KISS.
Three other winners will receive $10 Amazon gift cards
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