The Book of Kindly Deaths: Cover Reveal

Cover designed by Lisa Amowitz!

Title: The Book of Kindly Deaths

Author: Eldritch Black

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press Middle Grade

ISBN:  978-1939392954

ISBN Ebook: 978-1-939392-96-1

Release Date: 6/10/2014

Formats: Paper, e-book

Summary

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF THE MONSTERS IN A BOOK BECAME REAL? 
 When twelve-year old Eliza Winter finds a secret room in her missing grandfather’s sprawling, Gothic house, her safe, sheltered life is blown apart. Inside, below a stained glass window where moonlight shines no matter the time of day, sits The Book of Kindly Deaths. 
 In defiance of her controlling mother, who has always forbidden her to read anything strange or imaginary, Eliza takes the book. As night sets in, Eliza reads one haunting story after another. And the further she journeys inside the book, the more the boundaries between our world and a shadowy land of monsters and forbidden places begin to blur.
 When the strange, crooked man from the book arrives on the doorstep claiming to be a rare book collector and demanding entry into the house, Eliza’s world is turned upside down. To escape him she must dive all the way into the spine-tingling world of The Book of Kindly Deaths to save her grandfather—and write an end to the nightmare she's caught inside. 

From Eldritch's blog --
The Curious Origins of Eldritch Black

I was born in the dark and twisted streets of London, England and raised by a pack of vampiric wolves until I passed into the care of a ghostly family of former ventriloquists. The least said about that time, the better.

Upon being ejected from school like a cork from a bottle of Port, I left the family home and found a career investigating the strange and unusual. Sometimes I was paid, but mostly not. Still, my work inspired me to write tales of ghastly things and daring adventures for readers both young and old alike.

During my journey into the world of writing, I was fortunate enough to make the acquaintance, and later representation, of the all-roundsupercalifragilisticexpialidocious literary Agent Savant Laurie McLean.

Since that happy meeting, my intrepid agent sold my debut novel “The Book of Kindly Deaths” which is set to be published by Spencer Hill Press in June 2014.

Copper Ravens: Cover Reveal (w/ GIVEAWAY!)

Cover Artwork by Lisa Amowitz

Summary

Sara should be happy.

She has what every girl wants: a man who loves her, a beautiful home, and wealth beyond imagining. She rescued her brother from the Peacekeepers, destroyed the Iron Queen, and doesn’t have to go to her boring job any more.

And yet… Sara still doesn’t know if her father is alive or dead. Her mother hides in the garden, brooding about her missing husband. Her sister, the Inheritor of Metal, is scared of her own shadow, and her brother spends his days fighting and gambling. To add to Sara’s misery, the new queen (gold, of course) is more than a bit crazy, she misses her life in the Mundane world, and, worst of all, Micah wants to have children. A lot of them.

As Sara wavers between happiness and homesickness, a conspiracy emerges against the Raven clan, implicating them in a plot to dethrone the Gold Queen. How can Sara prove her family’s innocence, and become the consort Micah needs her to be, without losing herself in the process?   

About the Author

Jennifer Allis Provost is a native New Englander who lives in a sprawling colonial along with her beautiful and precocious twins, a dog, two birds, three cats, and a wonderful husband who never forgets to buy ice cream. As a child, she read anything and everything she could get her hands on, including a set of encyclopedias, but fantasy was always her favorite. She spends her days drinking vast amounts of coffee, arguing with her computer, and avoiding any and all domestic behavior. 

To celebrate this beautiful cover, I am giving away one copy of the 1st book in the series, Copper Girl.

• This is an International giveaway, open to anyone 13 and older. 
• The prize will be one paperback or one ebook copy of Copper Girl.
• The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email or a new winner will be chosen.

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The Zodiac Collector: Cover Reveal

Title: The Zodiac Collector

Author: Laura Diamond
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
ISBN: 978-1-937053-63-5
Release Date: May 2014
Formats: Paperback, e-book

Cover design by Veronica Jones (www.moonshines.com)

For almost-16 year-old Anne Devans, the annual Renaissance Faire means three things—her dad spending weeks in the smithy, her bipolar mom doing some manic costume making, and another ruined birthday for her and her twin sister, Mary.

This year, Anne wants things to be different, and she's going to do things her way.

On the eve of the Faire, Anne (along with a reluctant Mary) conjures up a spell that will make their 16th birthday party a whirlwind event. Little do they know that it's a literal request.

After the mini tornado in their room subsides, the girls realize they've invoked the power of the Gemini Twins, Castor and Pollux. That's the good news. The bad news is they also caught the attention of a sorceress named Zeena who has been collecting children born under each Zodiac Sign to enhance her power. Once she captures Anne and Mary, Gemini twins, the entire Zodiac—and the world—will be hers.

Anne leads the fight against Zeena, but her one-sided decisions could throw them into a world so far from home, even the Renaissance Faire would seem like a brilliant vacation. Between managing their new Zodiac powers, dodging their manic mother and trying to stop Zeena, they'll get a 16th birthday they'll never forget.

Running on Empty: Cover Reveal (and Giveaway)

Title: Running on Empty

Author: Colette Ballard

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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Camp Boyfriend: Review & Giveaway

Check out all of the tour stops!

Title: Camp Boyfriend

Author(s): J.K. Rock (Joanne Rock & Karen Rock)
Source: Review copy from Spencer Hill Contemporary for a blog tour. All thoughts are honest and have in no way been persuaded by anyone.

Goodreads Summary & Cover:

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?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository
Signed copies of Camp Boyfriend are available for purchase from Anderson's Book Shop in Larchmont, NY! Give them a call - 914.834.6900

Thoughts:
I have been anticipating Camp Boyfriend for such a long time, it seems. When I finally received a copy, I squealed with delight and immediately began reading. Boy, oh boy, it was so worth the wait! 

Camp Boyfriend is the epitome of what a Young Adult Contemporary story should be. It was full of love, self-discovery, roller coaster emotions, humor, decisions, family issues, friendships, and more.

The main focus of this story was Lauren making Seth her boyfriend: not just her camp boyfriend, but her permanent boyfriend. The problem with that was that she was dating a boy, Matt, from her new school in Texas.

While trying to break up with Matt, he revealed a family issue going on with his family and said he would be going to Camp Juniper Point with her. To North Carolina. For four weeks. Womp, womp, woommmpp!

Once they got to camp, and the secret of Seth "the camp boyfriend" and Matt "the home boyfriend" came out, it was straight-up trouble for Lauren. The path of figuring out what and who she wanted was greatly detailed and a hard decision to make. The emotions were so real. I felt for her. I cried for her. 

I admired Matt's character to let her have her space and figure out what she wanted. He was definitely not giving up easily. 

Lauren also had issues with her friends at camp. Her Munchies cabin friends didn't really care for the new Lauren: her new look, the way she dressed, the jock boyfriend that Matt was... They eventually exiled her and she had nowhere to go but to the Divas' Den. If you read Camp Kiss (you can download it for free here, if not!), you'll know that these two cabins are enemies! Everything they do is a competition and they're so snarky and so typically teenager-y mean to each other, especially the Divas.

The ending of the book and how it all wrapped up was fantastic! It was exactly what I had hoped for. I loved Lauren and the growth she showed. She never gave up on her friends, Matt, or Seth. She had to figure out what it was that she needed and what was best for her. Her decision was brilliant! I wholeheartedly approve!

Joanne and Karen wrote a great cast of characters. From the mean girls, the nerdy girls, the geeky guys, the jocks, the counselors...all of them! They were easily distinguishable and likeable; even the mean girls...eventually.

I can't wait to read the next two books in the Camp Boyfriend series: Camp Payback and Camp Forget-Me-Not. I am very anxious for the summaries of these books! Ahhhh!

Rating:

Camp Boyfriend definitely meets the expectations of 4 1/2 Mickeys! I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was almost perfection to me. I am so glad these two ladies are writing together...and writing more!

Camp Boyfriend is definitely a book to purchase and share with all of your friends. It will be a true delight for lovers of YA Contemporary.

Meet the Authors:

J.K. Rock

Joanne and Karen Rock- writing sisters-in-law- formed a partnership to pen YA novels as J.K. Rock. Their debut book, Camp Boyfriend, is available July 2, 2013 from Spencer Hill Contemporary.

Prior to joining creative forces, Joanne Rock began her career as an author of adult romance for various Harlequin series. Published in twenty languages and twenty-seven countries, Joanne writes both contemporary romance and medieval historicals in addition to the occasional romantic suspense. She is a three-time RITA nominee and Bookseller’s Best finalist.

Karen Rock sold her first adult romance to Harlequin’s new Heartwarming line. The Forever Wish (September 2013) is an uplifting tale of love against the odds during the hero’s battle with cancer. In addition to writing, Karen is an eighth grade English teacher who has written and published screenplays for production by school theater departments. She is a regular blogger at Cynthia Leitich Smith’s popular “Cynsations” blog.

Together, Joanne and Karen write Young Adult stories that don’t back down from real issues. Whether their characters are falling in love at summer camp or facing the consequences of tough life choices, the authors enjoy helping them navigate those challenges. Their “Camp Boyfriend” books are romantic dramas with a strong emphasis on teen friendships and self discovery. Fun, warm-hearted and emotional, the series includes Camp Boyfriend (July 2013), Camp Payback (April 2014) and Camp Forget-Me-Not (August 2014).

Website / Goodreads / Joanne's Twitter / Karen's Twitter

Giveaway:

Daily Prize: Camp journal, pen, bookmark, friendship bracelet and I <3 Camp temporary tattoos - colors and style may vary (see picture).

Grand Prize: Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols, Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles,The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han, Sometimes It Happens by Lauren Barnholdt, That Summer by Sarah Dessen, Always You by Kirsty Moseley, an autographed Arc of Wait For You by Jennifer Armentrout as J.Lynn and autographed copies of Camp Boyfriend and Camp Kiss along with 'I <3 Camp' temporary tattoos, a 'I <3 My Camp Boyfriend' t-shirt, a Camp Boyfriend bookmark and friendship bracelets- puppy not included :)

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Camp Boyfriend is on my stop for North Carolina on the Reading Road Trip. Go! Enter! You don't want to miss out!

Breaking Glass: Book Blast w/ Giveaway

BREAKING GLASS from Spencer Hill Press, July 2013 

by Lisa Amowitz

On the night seventeen-year-old Jeremy Glass winds up in the hospital with a broken leg and a blood alcohol level well above the legal limit, his secret crush, Susannah, disappears. When he begins receiving messages from her from beyond the grave, he’s not sure whether they’re real or if he’s losing his grip on reality. Clue by clue, he gets closer to unraveling the mystery, and soon realizes he must discover the truth or become the next victim himself.

ISBN: 978-1937053383

Goodreads  IndieBound  B&N  Amazon

Author bio:
Lisa Amowitz was born in Queens and raised in the wilds of Long Island, New York where she climbed trees, thought small creatures lived under rocks and studied ant hills. And drew. A lot.

When she hit her teens, she realized that Long Island was too small for her and she needed to escape. So she went to college in Pittsburgh. Go figure.

On leaving college, Lisa became a graphic designer living in New York City. She eventually married her husband of a zillion years, had two lovely children, and was swept away to a fairy tale life in the Bronx, where, unbelievably there are more trees and wilderness than her hometown. She can see the Hudson River from her kitchen window.

Lisa has been a professor of Graphic Design at her beloved Bronx Community College where she has been tormenting and cajoling students for nearly seventeen years. She started writing eight years ago because she wanted something to illustrate, but somehow, instead ended up writing YA. Probably because her mind is too dark and twisted for small children.

BREAKING GLASS which will be released in July, 2013 from Spencer Hill Press, is her first published work. VISION, the first of the Finder series will be released in 2014, along with an unnamed sequel in the following year. LIFE AND BETH will also be released in the near future, along with graphic novel style art.

Blog  Facebook  Twitter

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Giveaway items:
(1) custom pendant like the one pictured on the book cover

(2) signed ARCS
(1) original work of Breaking Glass related art created and signed by the author.

One more thing...
Download SHARDS, which is an illustrated preview of BREAKING GLASS, for free! >>HERE<<

Cover Reveal: Face of Death

FACE OF DEATH
The third and final book in the TOUCH OF DEATH series.
By Kelly Hashway Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

Having fallen at the hands of Hades, Jodi's enduring torture like she never imagined. Worse, she has to watch her Ophi friends suffer along with her--the punishment doled out by the very people she'd sentenced to life in Tartarus. Hell. This is one reunion Jodi hoped would never happen, but now she must find a way to free them all.

Except the underworld is nearly impossible to escape.

Jodi's one chance may rest in raising the human soul she killed when she drank Medusa's blood.

But splitting her human soul from her Ophi soul means living a double life: One as an Ophi experiencing unspeakable torture and the other as the human she could have been if she never came into her powers. With her two worlds colliding, Jodi will have to make the toughest decision she's faced yet.

Title: Face of Death (Touch of Death #3)

Author: Kelly Hashway
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
ISBN: 978-1-937053-92-5
Release Date: 1/7/2014
Formats: Paper, e-book