Spotlight: This is Sarah

About the book:

When Colin Leventhal leaned out his bedroom window on the night of May 12th and said goodbye to his girlfriend, he never expected it would be forever. But when Sarah Evans goes missing that night, Colin's world unravels as he is transformed from the boyfriend next door to the main police suspect. Then one year later, at her memorial service, Colin makes a phone call that could change everything. Is it possible that Sarah is still alive? And if so, what is Colin willing to do to bring her back?
And as Colin struggles with this possibility, across the street, Sarah’s little sister Claire learns how to navigate the strange new landscape that is life without her sister. Even as her parent’s fall apart, Claire is determined to keep on going. Even if it kills her.

THIS IS SARAH is a meditation on loss, love, and what it means to say goodbye.

Author Bio:

Ally Malinenko is the author of the poetry collection, The Wanting Bone (Six Gallery Press), and the children’s novel Lizzy Speare and the Cursed Tomb (Antenna Books). This Is Sarah is her first YA book. Ally lives in Brooklyn with her husband and a very ridiculous tabby cat. She blogs at allymalinenko.com and you can follow her on twitter at @allymalinenko.

This is Sarah will be Available on Amazon

Check out my Cover Reveal for This is Sarah

Review: Fangirl

Title: Fangirl
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Page Count: 445
My Rating: 4.5 TURTLES: A really great read, I highly recommend!
Synopsis:
Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan...

But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?

Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?

And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

Review:

What a great book! Rainbow Rowell is definitely a master of the contemporary Bildungsroman. I'm not sure if this would fall under Young Adult or New Adult since content wise it is YA, but the characters are in college. I personally think it fits more into the YA category.

This is my first Rainbow Rowell book, and let me just say what a fantastic writer she is. Her characters and conflicts are so real and relatable, and maybe more for me since I am a twin like Cath and familiar with the world of the fangirl, but even if a reader did not have that in common, the family and personal struggles Cath faces throughout is something most of us can relate to whether personally or with friends. I found myself getting mad when Cath was and upset when Cath was, and a book being able to evoke emotions like that for me is a hallmark of great writing.

As I mentioned before, I am familiar with fandom and fan girls, and for those of you who aren't, let me say that the jargon from the book is not contrived at all! If you ever "fangirl" (yes, it is a verb) with another fangirl - or fanboy- they will use words like slash, squick, or AU and for me it was a hoot to read it in a work of fiction and not just on a social media site. Not only did Rowell catch the emotions of family turmoil and growing up beautifully, but she managed to capture the essence of what being part of a fandom is like. I also thought the addition of sections of Cath's fanfic and pieces of the work her fic is based off of was brilliant. I wish it were real!

The author also weaves the different weaves all the elements of the story together, from the subplots to the main characters to the minor characters. It felt more like I was reading about Cath's life than reading about an event where Cath was the center of it and I loved that. I would recommend this book to any fan of coming of age stories, contemporary YA, but especially any fan girls out there, you'll get a kick out of this book!

Quick audio note:
I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it for the most part. There was a British male voice that narrated the Simon Snow parts which worked amazingly, and a female narrator who did the rest of the story. I liked her interpretation for the most part, but her voice sounded very mature so at time it felt like a disconnect from Cath who is very young. Also, at times the dialogue was a bit hard to follow when there were not constant tags.

Check Fangirl out on Amazon

Giveaway: The Golden Key Chronicles

The key would unlock his future and the safety of his kingdom,

but he never imagined the sorceress would unlock his heart…

When antiques restorer, Rowena Lindstrom, purchases an armoire containing a hidden key and a “magic” mirror, she believes the handsome warrior prince waiting on the other side is some sort of elaborate joke. Yet she cannot deny their connection seems bound by more than just the key and, as her love for Prince Caedmon grows, she agrees to join him in his realm. Prophecy intervenes in a way neither of them could have expected. Lost and alone in the Austiere Kingdom, Rowena struggles to find her place, and though she fights the heated advances of the dangerous Prince Caedmon, the attraction between them brings challenges much deeper than her troubled heart can recall.

After two torturous years held captive in the dungeons of Seviere’s Keep, Prince Caedmon returns home with more than just lash marks lacing his back. He now retains the secret behind the key, and is the only one who understands its grim connection to his beloved Rowena. Yet their enemies to the north are merely one of many obstacles determined to see them fail and, to escape the clutches of the evil Wizard Gaelleod, Rowena and Caedmon flee to the future—the one place Caedmon’s worst fears are confirmed. Though Rowena’s memories have returned, everything he loves stands to be ripped from his grasp.

Join Caedmon and Rowena as they embark on an epic journey bound by fate, and struggle to unravel the significance behind an age-old prophecy in The Golden Key Chronicles.

Bio:

I am a multi-published, award-winning author who lives in the middle of a cornfield in NW Indiana. My loving husband, two beautiful children and a bevy of spoiled pets have agreed to stay and, in exchange for three rations per day and laundry service, tolerate my lunacy. While I spend most days happily ensconced in crafting romance across a multitude of genres, an underground coup has been percolating. The dogs just informed me the cat is secretly vying for dictatorship.

Website

Blog

Email: ajnuest@yahoo.com

FaceBook Page

Author FB Page

Twitter:  @AJNuest

Pinterest

The Golden Key Chronicles Collection—which includes a FREE bonus read,

The Story of Helios and Selene, The Mythology Behind The Golden Key Chronicles:

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Rowena’s Key:

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Candra’s Freedom:

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Caedmon’s Curse:

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Braedric’s Bane:

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Review: Foreplay

Title: Foreplay (The Ivy Chronicles #1)
Author: Sophie Jordan
Page Count: 294
My Rating: 2.5 TURTLES: An okay read. It had its ups and downs, more downs though. Probably don't recommend.

Description:
Pepper has been hopelessly in love with her best friend’s brother, Hunter, for like ever. He’s the key to everything she’s always craved: security, stability, family. But she needs Hunter to notice her as more than just a friend. Even though she’s kissed exactly one guy, she has just the plan to go from novice to rock star in the bedroom—take a few pointers from someone who knows what he’s doing.

Her college roommates have the perfect teacher in mind. But bartender Reece is nothing like the player Pepper expects. Yes, he’s beyond gorgeous, but he’s also dangerous, deep—with a troubled past. Soon what started as lessons in attraction are turning both their worlds around, and showing just what can happen when you go past foreplay and get to what’s real

Review:
I was kind of going back and forth with what I should rate this one. At the time I was reading it, I enjoyed it enough to give it 3 or maybe even 3.5 stars, but after I finished and thought back on it, I realized that it was super trope-y and the nagging feeling I had about the main character the whole time was annoyance.

Now I know there has been some debates on the interwebs about the fact of reviewers dissing "unlikable characters", some parties saying that not all people are likable, that the purpose of literature is not necessarily to please the audience, etc., etc,. I don't disagree with this, I adore One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest even though I have never wanted to reach into pages and strangle a character as much as I wanted to strangle Nurse Ratched. Heck, the BBC's Sherlock Sherlock is a total a-hole a solid 90% of the time,and yet I still love the character and the show as I love the book The Great Gatsby even though I can't think of a single character in it that I "like". Despite all this I will say that part of the reason I didn't enjoy this book was because I disliked the main character, Pepper, so much. More than anything because it was the traits and decisions that made me not like her that drove the plot. Pepper struck me as extremely shallow and immature. She wants to learn some moves with a random guy, Reece, and once she knows what she is doing, she will go sweep the boy she's been in love with since childhood off his feet. She has this idea of what her perfect life will be and goes after it, even once she has fallen for Reece. The reason the author gives Pepper for this behavior is a troubled past and her need for safety and security, which makes sense. But what really made this a kicker though was the fact that Pepper was studying to become a therapist and yet she had extraordinarily little awareness or insight. She acknowledges that the reason she craved to be with Hunter, the man she'd known since she was twelve was his safety and functional family, but stops short of realizing that her fantasy of her perfect life with him is a fallacy and ultimately will not singlehandedly remove all her problems. The raging feminist in me didn't dig the whole "I need a safe man to make me feel like I've put my past behind me" thing. 
My second major complaint: N/A tropes everywhere

I haven't read a million New Adult Novels, but I bet it's safe to assume that if I've read 5-10 that have certain elements that are constant throughout, and if some of them have plots that are so similar that it is spooky, these similarities fall into the trope/formula category. Oftentimes the heroine has some sort of trauma and while being more innocent and quiet, the lead guy is drop dead gorgeous and the heroine can't figure out why the guy is so into her. Later it turns out the guy has a troubled past too. Something angsty happens that causes them to break up - sometimes more than once - but some event, whether the climax of the plot or not, brings them back together and they are madly in love. Add in a few quirky best friends of the heroine who generally have more relationship experience than she does and poof! you have your standard contemporary New Adult novel. The first time I read that story I enjoyed it, but if I read a repackaged version several times it starts to get old.

I really wanted to like this book, but when I finished I felt very meh. There were things that had bothered me throughout, but not enough to actively dislike the book. It was after I'd finished that I realized the extent of the issues I had with the it. I've enjoyed the majority of the N/A that I've read, so it is not the genre in and of itself. But it was a combination of Pepper annoying me and the feeling that I'd read the same book before as well as other smaller things that prevented me from really getting into it. If you love N/A I would recommend this book to you, but otherwise I might point you elsewhere. Needless to say I won't be reading the sequel.

Check this book out on Amazon

Release Annoucement: Taming Fate

“TAMING FATE” / AMALIA DILLIN

Alpena, MI (June 3, 2014) – World Weaver Press (Eileen Wiedbrauk, Editor-in-Chief) has announced Taming Fate by Amalia Dillin, a novella in the “Fate of the Gods” series, and previously featured in A Winter’s Enchantment will be available in trade paperback and ebook Tuesday, June 24, 2014.

Praise for Forged by Fate (“Fate of the Gods” Book 1): “You won’t be able to deny that Miss Dillin is a genius … This story was absolutely amazing. It’s like nothing I’ve read before … a complete game changer.” — Parajunkee “An amazing fantasy world which succeeds in cleverly incorporating history, mythology and biblical figures. The seamless integration of Norse and Greek gods was inspired and I can’t wait to see where this series heads next.” — Book Chick City “One of the more fascinating and haunting books I’ve read in quite some time.” — JC Andrijeski, Allie’s War “A beautiful, sweeping story that puts on display the power of every interpretation of love, and the truth of what can be accomplished when people choose peace over strife. I couldn’t put it out of my mind for days.” — Trisha Leigh, The Last Year

For the first time in her many lives, Eve would rather be anywhere but home. In 15th Century France, Eve would have burned as a witch if it hadn’t been for the too-timely arrival of the Marquis DeLeon to save her skin. But Eve didn’t ask to be rescued, and their hasty marriage is off to anything but a smooth start. As tensions in the town grow and plague threatens, Ryam DeLeon knows if he and Eve cannot find common ground, their first Christmas may be their last.

Taming Fate will be available in trade paperback and ebook via Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, Kobo.com, and other online retailers, and for wholesale through Ingram. You can also find Taming Fate on Goodreads.

 Amalia Dillin began as a Biology major before taking Latin and falling in love with old heroes and older gods. After that, she couldn't stop writing about them, with the occasional break for more contemporary subjects. Her short stories have been published by Daily Science Fiction and Birdville magazine, and she's also the author of the “Fate of the Gods” series and Honor Among Orcs, the first book in the Orc Saga. Amalia lives in upstate New York with her husband, and dreams of the day when she will own goats — to pull her chariot through the sky, of course.

World Weaver Press is a publisher of fantasy, paranormal, and science fiction, dedicated to producing quality works. We believe in great storytelling.

Publication Date: June 24 • Romance $9.95 trade paperback, 280 pages  • $3.99 ebook ISBN: 978-0692232750 Publicity/Reviews: publicity@worldweaverpress.com Information: www.worldweaverpress.com/store/p17/Taming_Fate_(Fate_of_the_Gods%2C_2.5).html

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Release Announcement: Legally Undead

“LEGALLY UNDEAD” / MARGO BOND COLLINS

Alpena, MI (May 27, 2014) – World Weaver Press (Eileen Wiedbrauk, Editor-in-Chief) has announced Legally Undead, the first novel in Vampirarchy, an urban fantasy series by Margo Bond Collins, is now available in trade paperback and ebook today, Tuesday, May 27, 2014.

Praise for Legally Undead: “I loved this! Margo Bond Collins spins a delightful and tightly woven tale of intrigue and danger, whose protagonist, Elle Dupree, instantly joins the ranks of the great vampire hunters in a story where the blood sucking fiends are dire and the consequences grim. A truly fun yarn that has left me eagerly waiting the next book!” — Jenn Lyons, author of Marduk’s Rebellion and the forthcoming Blood Chimera “Finally, a vampire story with bite! Elle is a smart, witty vampire hunter, and I can’t wait to find out what happens to her next.” — Rebecca Roland, author of The Graveyard Girl andShards of History

A reluctant vampire hunter, stalking New York City as only a scorned bride can. Elle Dupree has her life all figured out: first a wedding, then her Ph.D., then swank faculty parties where she’ll serve wine and cheese and introduce people to her husband the lawyer. But those plans disintegrate when she walks in on a vampire sucking the blood from her fiancé, Greg. Horrified, she screams and runs—not away from the vampire, but toward it, brandishing a wooden letter opener. As she slams the improvised stake into the vampire’s heart, a team of black-clad men bursts into the apartment. Turning to face them, Elle realizes Greg’s body is gone—and her perfect life falls apart.

Legally Undead is available in trade paperback and ebook via Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, Kobo.com, and other online retailers, and for wholesale through Ingram. You can also find Legally Undead on Goodreads.

Margo Bond Collins lives in Texas with her husband, their daughter, several spoiled cats, and a ridiculous turtle. She teaches college-level English courses online, though writing fiction is her first love. She enjoys reading urban fantasy and paranormal fiction of any genre and spends most of her free time daydreaming about vampires, ghosts, zombies, werewolves, and other monsters.

World Weaver Press is a publisher of fantasy, paranormal, and science fiction, dedicated to producing quality works. We believe in great storytelling.

Publication Date: May 27, 2014 • Urban Fantasy $13.95 trade paperback, 280 pages  • $6.99 ebook ISBN: 978-0692211496 Publicity/Reviews: publicity@worldweaverpress.com Information: www.worldweaverpress.com/books/legally-undead

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Guest Post: Ley Hayley

They say to write what you know. That the things that are the closest to your heart are the things that you can put into words and make into something that other people will connect to. I’ve long wondered if that was a good piece of advice. After all, who really knows about magic kingdoms, fairies, and trolls? But some of the best and most beautiful stories in the world are written about things that people couldn’t possibly know.

            But there are things that we can write about that are so close to the human condition that everyone can connect to them. I think the most telling thing is heartbreak. It’s something that everyone has gone through at least once in their lives. And why do we go through the trouble of spending our time reading books? It’s because there are tales and stories that draw us in and bring us to a point where we can join in to what is going on in the world around us.

            I remember the first time I read a book about heartbreak. It wasn’t romantic heartbreak though. It was Lois Lowry’s Number the Stars, a book I read a thousand times as a kid. I still read it every now and then just because it’s a wonderful book. But it isn’t even about a relationship that falls apart. It’s about a family that is shattered by the horrors of Nazi occupation. And it always made me think about how family isn’t just about blood.

            I think about that as I write these days, especially as I’m working on the new Elemental Royals novel. Family isn’t about blood, and heartbreak doesn’t always have to be romantic. It’s never that simple, and there are always consequences that can make things worse than they were in the beginning. I suppose I try to figure out how to attach these kinds of ideas to my novels—these timeless themes that make people think and bring them to novels over and over again.

            I don’t want to be a classic. I just want to be someone’s favorite.

Fire's Princess will be available on Amazon and Smashwords on June 4th

Ley Hayley's Page on Amazon