Anne & Henry Blog Tour

The Paperback Princesses welcomes you to our leg of the Anne and Henry Blog Tour!!

In this wonderfully creative retelling of the infamous—and torrid—love affair between Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII, history collides with the present when a sizzling romance ignites in a modern-day high school.

Henry Tudor’s life has been mapped out since the day he was born: student body president, valedictorian, Harvard Law School, and a stunning political career just like his father’s. But ever since the death of his brother, the pressure for Henry to be perfect has doubled. And now he’s trapped: forbidden from pursuing a life as an artist or dating any girl who isn’t Tudor-approved.

Then Anne Boleyn crashes into his life.

Wild, brash, and outspoken, Anne is everything Henry isn’t allowed to be—or want. But soon Anne is all he can think about. His mother, his friends, and even his girlfriend warn him away, but his desire for Anne consumes him.

Henry is willing to do anything to be with her, but once they’re together, will their romance destroy them both?

Inspired by the true story of Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII, Anne & Henry beautifully reimagines the intensity, love, and betrayal between one of the most infamous couples of all time.

Firstly, let me give a great big THANK YOU shoutout to Simon & Schuster Canada for including us on your blog tour!  

Have you heard? Dawn Ius has re-vamped this historical romance into a kick-ass YA novel.  Anne and Henry as a young couple who fall into a reckless romance is fresh, smart and captures all of the high intensity emotions of young lovers.  Ius creates so much sexual tension with these characters that I felt like my book was on fire and smoking in my hot little hands!  

I certainly wouldn't recommend this title to a younger reading audience because of the language and sexual innuendo but it was PERFECT for high school and us older adults who LOVE the YA genre!

One of my favourite aspects of Anne and Henry was how the author set up her characters.  Each character was well-defined and you either loved or hated them.  Each also played a role in creating the drama and fire in this building crescendo of a relationship only to be the strings that tore it down.  And together, the upper echelon of the school tore down this relationship.  Ms. Ius touched on all of my emotions in this book.  I felt the full gamut of young fierce, fiery love being built up and then broken to pieces.  

There are subtle references to history throughout the book. For instance, they dine at The Tower of London restaurant, Henry meets Jane Seymour in a coffee shop, and of course the last scene where...wait a minute...you didn't really think I would tell you, did you??

Well, I must say...Anne might be HEAD over heels for Henry but at least the ending is happier than the real life story....sort of.  (You didn't really think that I would leave without some kind of joke, do you?)  Bravo to Ms. Ius for creating a novel with the wit and intensity of Anne and Henry.  I would HIGHLY recommend this title and it could certainly be used as an ISU.  I would love to see more novels like this one for the YA audience to become interested in historical fiction!  So the real question is....will there be another? Cause I know I'll be in line to buy my copy...

So, for all of your lucky followers, Simon & Schuster Canada has graciously offered to give THREE finished copies of Anne and Henry away on our blog!!  The contest is open to Canadians only (sorry international peeps!) and you must fill out an entry to qualify. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Every Breath Blog Tour

Welcome to the Every Breath Blog Tour hosted by Tundra Books!

This stop with the Paperback Princesses will feature an interview with Ellie Marney, author of Every Breath.  A huge thank you goes out to Tundra for including us in your blog tour as well as Ellie for taking the time out to answer a few questions.

Summary (by Goodreads)

When James Mycroft drags Rachel Watts off on a night mission to the Melbourne Zoo, the last thing she expects to find is the mutilated body of Homeless Dave, one of Mycroft's numerous eccentric friends. But Mycroft's passion for forensics leads him to realize that something about the scene isn't right--and he wants Watts to help him investigate the murder. 

     While Watts battles her attraction to bad-boy Mycroft, he's busy getting himself expelled and clashing with the police, becoming murder suspect number one. When Watts and Mycroft unknowingly reveal too much to the cold-blooded killer, they find themselves in the lion's den--literally. A trip to the zoo will never have quite the same meaning to Rachel Watts again...

Ellie is quite an interesting author. She resides in Australia but has lived all over the world. She currently lives in the country and has been working hard on the Every series. 

Hi Ellie, and welcome to The Paperback Princesses!

Hi Christina!

I have a few questions to pick your brain....

What book are you currently reading (or do you even have the time??)

Oh, I always find time to read!  Reading is probably my number one activity after writing – I think most authors would say the same.  You’ve got to keep reading, or your TBR pile falls over and smothers you! I sometimes go through a bit of a lull when I’m working on a book, because I have a terrible (or wonderful) tendency to get sucked into another world, and I spend all my time pondering the book I’m reading instead of thinking about the book I’m supposed to be writing…

At the moment, though, I’ve got a couple of books on the go, which is my usual way unless I come across something that really compels my total attention.  I’m deep in 18^th century Scotland right now with the third Outlander book, Voyager by Diane Gabaldon, and I’ve started Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey.  I’m keenly waiting for the next book by Graeme Simsion (The Rosie Project) too – The Rosie Effect has just come out, and I’m a bit desperate for it!

I also dip in and out of books I’ve already read, usually when I’m keen for a comfort-read, or I want to recapture a feeling or a tone that inspires my own work.  I usually have a pile of books that I pick up and read a few pages of from time to time – the current pile on my desk is getting quite high, and holds books by Honey Brown (a fantastic Aussie author of psychological thrillers), Felicity Castagna (The Incredible Here and Now), Melina Marchetta (The Piper’s Son), Katie McGarry (Take Me On), Holly Black (Black Heart) and Helen Garner (who is an Australian writer of beautiful non-fiction and memoir).

Where do you write?  Do you have a particular spot where inspiration hits? 

I used to write in cafes, when my children were small.  For the last few years I’ve been writing in a little study room that’s squeezed into our shed – it’s pretty basic there, and unfortunately it also tends to be used as a place to store random junk.

You can see by the pic that my workspace is kind of a homage to mess…  In the summer it’s horribly hot, and there’s no heating either, so I freeze my fingers off in the winter.  But I love it – it’s my retreat from the world, and it’s where I’ve written all my books, so I guess it’s the place where my imagination feels happy J

Hey, there is no judgement where creativity is concerned!!  I used to use a Rubbermaid tote as my desk...and it doubled as my "closet" for stationary and my laptop!

Where did you come up with your character's names? The pair - Mycroft and Watts just rolls off your tongue.

Well thank you!  Mycroft’s name is fairly easy to understand – it’s the name of Sherlock Holmes’s older brother, who is described as being ‘much smarter’ than Sherlock but too lazy to put his skills to use in any investigatory capacity.

Mycroft’s full name is actually James Whelan Mycroft.   I really don’t know where Whelan came from – it just seemed to fit, and I imagined that it was a family name, the way some names are passed down through generations (my husband has something like that in his family).  James was a name that seemed to pair well with Mycroft – but interestingly enough, while researching Every Breath I discovered that actually it was Sherlock’s nemesis who owned that name: Dr James Moriarty.  So in some respects, Mycroft is his own worse enemy!

As for Rachel Watts…well, that is a funny one.  I think the name Rachel just came to me as her voice started speaking in my head – some characters seem to name themselves, in that way.  Her brother, Mike, sometimes calls her Rache for short – and again, in one of those weird kismet things, I remembered a long time later that ‘Rache’ is German for ‘revenge’, and was actually referenced as a clue in one of the Sherlock Holmes stories, A Study In Scarlet!

Watts was a name I had to really search for.  I wanted something that sounded like Watson, but wasn’t so excruciatingly obvious.  I was on a camping holiday and madly scribbling down names and crossing them off…I think Weston was one of the names that came up as a possibility.  Then I was sitting in the car on the way to the beach, and I remembered the character of Watts, from Some Kind of Wonderful (directed by John Hughes), and I thought that’s it!  If you haven’t seen that movie, btw, you should – it’s totally awesome, and there’s more than a little bit of drummer-girl Watts in Rachel, I think.

If you could meet any author, who would it be?

Well, if I was allowed to include dead writers, I would have to say William Shakespeare – he’s a bit like the writer’s god, and I went through a phase after high school when I read all his plays and poems, madly falling in love with each one in turn (although Romeo and Juliet is still my favourite).

Living authors only would be harder, there are so many I admire…  But actually I’d love to meet Stephen King.  He’s always been a bit of an idol of mine, and I would love to actually meet him one day (and hopefully I wouldn’t turn into a stammering idiot talking to him).

I know you like mangoes and avocados on toast but what are galahs?

I should clarify that statement about food – I love mangoes, and I love avocado on toast, but not mangoes and avocado on toast together!

Galahs are the loveliest birds we have here in Australia, in my opinion.  They’re a type of parrot, with gray feathers and this beautiful pink tummy, and they make a strong calling cry.  We have loads of them living on our property here, and have fostered a few baby galahs that we’ve rescued after they’ve fallen out of the nest. 

(They sound so nice!!  So glad to hear you aren't having galahs on toast now that I know what they are....)

What I love about them is that they’re family birds.  They have a distinct territory, and they mate for life, which I find gorgeous – they actually fly around together in married pairs.  And the parents look after the chicks with such devotion…  Whenever we’ve found and rescued chicks, the parents have always come to the house, responding to the call of their chick.  When that happens, we usually put the baby out on our back veranda and go hide, and the parents come down onto the veranda to feed the chick!  It’s amazing, and I love them for it, that they’re so protective and caring of their babies.  (Where can I find myself a Galah??)

One word...everyone say it with me now....awwwww!!!!!

Will you be doing an in-person book tour?  And if so, where will you be? Our followers are from all over the world.  Maybe there are some in your area!

I would love to do an in-person tour!  That would be a bit of a dream come true…  But I would have to talk to my publisher about it (*nudges Tundra Books*)!

I am actually thinking of coming to the US for BEA next year, when the second book Every Word is due for release, although that is still a wish and not a reality yet.  If it actually happens, I will most definitely let you know!  And hi to all your followers – if you’re living in Victoria, Australia (anywhere near Melbourne or Castlemaine), be sure to look me up next time I’m around!

Thank you!!

Thank you so much for taking the time out to chat with us!  Can't wait to dig into Every Breath!!  Really hoping that Tundra will bring you out for BEA 2015!  Would be wonderful to meet you!!  Congrats on Every Breath and best of luck!!

It’s been a total pleasure!  Thank you, for having me over for a chat on this amazing blog tour, and I hope you enjoy Every Breath.  Have a great week!

Xx Ellie

Follow Ellie on Twitter @elliemarney

Follow Tundra's blog tour @TundraBooks

Haze Blog Tour

Welcome to the Haze Blog tour!

So if you missed the first book in The Rephaim series, let me re-visit - 

Summary (by Goodreads)

It's almost a year since Gaby Winters watched her twin brother die. In the sunshine of a new town her body has healed, but her grief is raw and constant. It doesn't help that every night in her dreams she fights and kills hell-beasts. And then Rafa comes to town. Not only does he look exactly like the guy who's been appearing in Gaby's dreams, he tells her things about her brother and her life that cannot be true, things that are dangerous. Who is Rafa? Who are the Rephaim? And who is Gaby? The truth lies in the shadows of her nightmares.

In Shadows we were first introduced to the Rephaim.  It was complicated for someone who had lost their memory. Gaby discovers that she is much much more than a girl who has encountered tragedy and lost a loved one.  Her life is much more complicated and valuable. In fact, she is so important that people are looking for her...but what do they want from her?  

Shadows brought us into the world of the Rephaim.  I don't have much experience reading about angels but I did find it interesting how Paula explained so much in this book.  About how angels go to war and their different factions.  Gaby's life is complicated and oh so interesting!  I couldn't wait for Book #2 to continue so we could unravel more about her life.  And of course see how Rafa fits in...

Summary (by Goodreads)

"But what if we can’t find Jude?" 
He leans closer. His breath is warm on my ear. "We will."
"How can you be so sure?" I want to believe him so badly, but this is Rafa. The guy who’s all action and no plan. His smile is tired, knowing. An echo of a shared past I don’t remember. 
"Because I’m not smart enough to give up, and you don’t know how to." 

Gaby Winters’ nightmares have stopped but she still can’t remember her old life. Still can’t quite believe she is one of the Rephaim—the wingless half-angels who can shift from place to place, country to country, in the blink of an eye. That she was once the Rephaim’s best fighter. That demons exist. That Rafa has stayed. 

But most of all, she can’t quite believe that her twin brother, Jude, might be alive. 

And Gaby can’t explain the hesitancy that sidetracks the search for him, infuriates Rafa, and sends them, again, into the darkest danger.

Review:

(Yes, there will be spoilers!)

Ah, Jude!  Book #2 of the Rephaim series centers around discovering more about Gaby's planted memories and the possibility that her brother may still be alive.  Before she lost her memories, they were on different sides.  But what if he were alive now? Would he remember her?  Would they still be feuding?

To be honest, the first half of the book was a bit of a slow read for me.  It could be for you as well but there are plenty of details that will help you understand the last 1/2 of the novel.  The book REALLY picks up about 1/2 way through as Paula weaves her story and the reader feels more integrated.  I felt like I was reading at warp-speed!!  There is some serious pulse-pounding, heart-thumping action!  Things start to get very involved as we see the relationship between Rafa and Gaby develop.  After all, he becomes the main character she depends on.  Jason also begins to shape into a better supporting character in Book #2.

There is so much that starts to be uncovered in Haze!  Thank god there are 4 books in this series!  I'm not sure that Paula could have packed so much into a trilogy!

One of my biggest concerns when reading a series is that a title suffers from "second-book" letdown but Paula pulled out all the punches and kept me engaged in the story. Book #1 helped shape the characters and Book #2 shaped the story with plenty of intrigue and action to carry the reader into a suspenseful, anticipatory wait for Book #3.

Overall, I am really enjoying the Rephaim series.  I think you will too so I'm going to offer up a GIVEAWAY!  You can choose either Shadows (Book #1) or Haze (Book #2).  The rules? You must be a follower of this blog.  The contest is open to anywhere The Book Depository ships.  Additional entries can be earned by following the directions in Rafflecopter.  GOOD LUCK!  The contest will run until the end of the September.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A HUGE thank you to Paula Weston and Tundra books for including us in their blog tour!!

Oh, and by the way...I took a little quiz to find out which character I am and...

Must be my desire to make things...and my lack of supernatural abilities :)

For those of you who have read either Shadow and/or Haze, which character would you be most likely to hang out with?

Happy Reading!

- Christinabean

Blog Tour - A Breath of Frost by Alyxandra Harvey

 

 

 

 

Published: January 7th

Publisher: Walker Children's

Pages: 496

Copy: Publisher via Netgalley

Summay: Goodreads

In 1814, three cousins-Gretchen, Emma, and Penelope-discover their unknown family lineage of witchcraft. Beyond the familiar manicured gardens and ballrooms of Regency London, a dangerous, alluring new underworld visible only to those with power is now open to the cousins.
But unbeknownst to them, by claiming their power, the three cousins have inadvertently opened the gates to the Underworld.
Now the dead, ghouls, hellhounds-and the most terrifying of all: the spirits of dark witches known as the Greymalkin Sisters-are hunting and killing young debutante witches for their powers.
And, somehow, Emma is connected to the murders...because she keeps finding the bodies.
Can the cousins unravel the clues and mystery behind their heritage and power before their gifts are stripped away ...or even worse, another witch is killed?

I am a huge fan of Alyxandra Harvey's Drake Chronicles, so when the opportunity arose to become part of this tour and do an early review of A Breath of Frost, I was positively  thrilled to bits.  A Breath of Frost is a marvellous historical fantasy with a creepy mystery and Ms. Harveys' trademark humour.  Written with strong characters and some incredible world building, it was a pleasure to read.

The three cousins, Gretchen, Emma and Penelope are all so very different in their personalities, but not one of them was afraid to be themselves.  Finding out that they are from a famous witchy family makes a huge change in their lives, but they take it in stride, each in their own way.  The challenges that Emma faces in solving the murders really stretch her, but she learns from them and is not afraid to ask for help.  I particularly loved the smouldering romantic tension between Emma and Cormac. Cormac has no magic himself, but he's a genuine knight in tarnished armor and his covert help is essential to the girls' quest.

Ms Harvey has put together  a seamless and fully realised alternate Regency London that screams authenticity. It was very easy to imagine myself within its confines.  I found myself reminiscing slightly over its parallels with Harry Potter, in that there is a witchy community side by side with the real world, that non-witches are completely unaware of.  It also reminded me a little of another of my favourite series - The Demon's Lexicon trilogy by Sarah Rees Brennan - with the introduction of the Goblin Market.  This is the dark underground where you can find potions and charms.  I just loved its mystery, and the fact that Moira was there on the rooftops looking out for everyone. She is just so resourceful! 

Add to this the fact that girls, young witches in fact, are dying, demons are causing havoc, antlers are hard to accessorise, and Emma is trying to find out why her mother chose madness instead of a regular life, and the book is almost un-put-downable.  With a title that is incredibly appropriate, A Breathe of Frost, was actually a breathe of fresh air in my reading right now   Mysterious, exciting, fantastical and romantic, I'm still trying to find something I didn't like about it, but the answer is zilch,  I loved every minute of it and I'm certain that you will too.   

Blog Tour with Shadows by Paula Weston

Published: September 2013

Publisher: Tundra Books

Pages: 400

Copy Provided by: Publisher

Summary: Goodreads

Summary:

It’s almost a year since Gaby Winters was in the car crash that killed her twin brother, Jude. Her body has healed in the sunshine of Pandanus Beach, but her grief is raw and constant. It doesn’t help that every night in her dreams she kills demons and other hell-spawn.

And then Rafa comes to town. Not only does he look exactly like the guy who’s been appearing in Gaby’s dreams—he claims a history with her brother that makes no sense. Gaby is forced to accept that what she thought she knew about herself and her life is only a shadow of the truth—and that the truth is more likely to be found in the shadows of her nightmares.

Who is Rafa? Who are the Rephaim? And most importantly, who can she trust?

Fast-paced and gripping, Shadows, the first book in the Rephaim series, is a standout paranormal romance for fans of Richelle Mead and Cassandra Clare.

Review:

As soon as Goodreads recommended Shadows to fans of Richelle Mead and Cassandra Clare, I was racing to learn more about this title.  Lucky for me, Tundra was kind enough to send me a copy of the book for review!

Shadows begins with Gaby who is a little lost and having trouble remembering everything in her old life.  What she does remember is the tragic loss of her twin brother in an accident but there are other parts of her memory missing.  If you had started reading without knowledge of the synopsis, you would think that this is a contemporary novel but it quickly picks up speed with the introduction of Rafa.  Enter a handsome dark stranger that has been seen in Gaby's dreams and things really start to take flight.  

Paula Weston pulled me in with Shadows and never let go.  I was itching to keep reading every moment I could get.  Once the action started rolling, I wanted to find out what would happen next.  Surprisingly, for a slow reader like myself, 400 pages was devoured in just a few days and I am definitely looking forward to book #2 - Haze.

At first I found that there were so many characters it was hard to keep track of them all but then they came into focus.  Ms. Weston's writing style created a clear distinction between her characters and their interactions, making them memorable for the reader.   I am eager to discover more about the Rephaim and what REALLY happened to Jude.  

As a debut novel, kudos to Paula!  Well done!  I loved it and I would recommend this title to those who enjoyed the Hush Hush series by Becca Fitzpatrick and the Fallen series by Lauren Kate.  A little mystery, supernatural aspects and of course many handsome suitors for Gabe to choose from.  Thank you again to Tundra Books for allowing the Paperback Princesses to participate in the Shadows blog tour.  Please don't forget to visit our fellow bloggers listed below and feel free to leave us your comments about the book as well!

About the Author:

Paula Weston lives in Brisbane with her husband, Murray and their pets, a retired greyhound and a moody cockatiel. She reads widely, and is addicted to paranormal stories. Shadows, book one of the Rephaim series, is her first novel.

You can also follow @TundraBooks, @PaulaWeston, and the wonderful bloggers on twitter! We will be using the hashtag #Shadows

Follow the Shadows Blog tour!

Next week, we will be hosting Paula Weston's North American blog tour (clickhere to see the UK one)! We have a wonderful line-up of contributors and tour hosts for her debut novel, Shadows. Have a look at who will be bloggingin 7 days! MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2013 Wendy and K. at The Midnight Garden Jo Ann at Journey of a Bookseller Crystal at WinterHaven Books Alexandra at Collections Lee at Rally the Readers TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2013 Jen at Perogies & Gyoza Ashley at Book Labyrinth LaQuita at Just Us Girls Flannery at The Readventurer WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2013 Krystal at Krystal’s Stellar Book Blog Andrea at Cozy Up With A Good Read Jillian at Centre of the Universe Nova at Musings of a Blogder Stephanie at Poetry to Prose THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2013 Christina at The Paperback Princesses Linh at A.A. Omer Bethzaida at Bookittyblog Summer at MissFictional's World of YA Books Michelle at Michelle & Leslie's Book Picks FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013 Joy at Joyousreads Kristen at My Friends Are Fiction Kat at Cuddlebuggery Book Blog Crystal at Crystal in Bookland

Don't forget to visit our giveaways on the upper right hand corner of the blog!

Blog Tour - Resillient by Patricia Vanasse

 

Livia has never felt like she fits in. As normal as it sounds, Livia is anything but ordinary. She can feel every emotion of every single person around her, and it’s maddening. In pursuit of some psychic quiet, she moves with her family from New York City to Whidbey Island in the lush and sleepy Pacific Northwest. But when a horseback riding accident in her new home gives her a broken leg that heals in a day, she finds that another unexplainable ability has manifested, and her life isn’t about to get any easier.

  Adam has no problem fitting in and making friends. In fact, he’s the top of the school, the boy everyone knows and loves. However, people only see what he allows them to. No one knows what Adam is truly capable of. After witnessing Livia’s accident, Adam sees something intriguing in her quick recovery, something that gives him hope that he’s not alone.

 Adam is the only one whose emotions Livia can’t read. Afraid of not knowing what goes on behind his dark eyes, Livia decides to keep him at a distance. Yet the more she tries to ignore him, the more alluring he becomes, and while their personal quests for identity will inevitably bring them closer together, it is the confirmation of what they really are that threatens to tear them apart.

Resilient, told in alternating point of views, is a gripping story of survival and romance, in which two teenagers face the consequences of being anything but normal.

 

About Patricia Vanasse:

Patricia Vanasse was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Now she lives on Whidbey Island in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, two adorable children, and two crazy dogs. She has been trough Culinary Arts, Psychology, Law School, and now has finally found her passion in creative writing. She also loves traveling, cooking, and is an avid reader. Her strength- believes that everything is possible.
 

The Paperback Princesses are thrilled to be part of the Blog Tour for Resilient by Patricia Vanasse.  We asked Patricia if she would enlighten us as to why she writes for a YA audience. 

First, thank you Paperback Princesses for having me on your fantastic blog!  

 

Why do I write YA?

When someone asks why do I write for teens, it usually comes with a certain connotation that translates to, “Are you stuck in high school? Are you trying to relive the glory days? Or are you scared to write as a grown up?”

It’s none of that. 

My teen years are a part of my life that I can look back and comfortably know all the aspects of. It’s a phase of my life that is fully complete. Another reason I chose to write for teens is because they are living in the moment. They are constantly learning, and every emotion runs on the skin’s surface. Everything is a big deal. I love how one day a teenager says they hate their life, and the next day they’re the happiest person alive. Every little aspect of life matters. They are on the path to discovering who they are, what they want, and what life is all about.  As an adult, today I can look back and know that anything is possible as a teenager. They haven’t lived their whole lives yet, there’s nothing holding them back, and anything can happen. The future is full of possibilities.

I have six cousins whose ages range from fourteen to twenty-one, and they all like to contribute to my stories. They’re my best cheerleaders because of the squeals and jumps when they love something. That’s why I write for YA. 

Author Sites:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Thank you so much Patricia for joining us today and letting us be part of your blog tour.

For those of you who think you'd like to try Resilient check out the Rafflecopter giveaway below. 
 

Short Review

 

I managed to find some time to read Resilient and I am so very glad I did.  I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery and romance and the characters were well fleshed out and believable. The relationship between Livia and Adam seemed real and finding out the reasons for their differences was very intriguing.

 

I've always thought that having some type of psychic power would be cool, but after reading Resilient I'm not so certain any more.  Poor Livia has such a struggle and I found myself really sympathizing with her and hoping everything would turn out ok.

 

With intriguing concepts, great characters and a gut wrenching mystery, I definitely recommend this one for those who enjoy paranormal romance.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Blog Tour - Bittersweet by Kathy Petrakis

A few months ago, we were lucky enough to feature author Kathy Petrakis and her then new novel Passion and Pain. Now were happy to be part of the tour for her new book Bittersweet.  Check out below for an excerpt and for some rafflecopter giveaways, as well as some links if you'd like to purchase the books.  It looks like Passion and Pain is still available for under $1 if you'd like to give it a try.

 

 

 

Here is an excerpt from Bittersweet

Page  159

“Frankie got the lead in the comedy and yours truly will be her main man.”

“Oh yeah, well I expected that, you were both perfect for the parts,” Elena said. Then, she took a deep breath, “And….”

“Let’s see here,” Sebastien stalled. “Mmmm, Leon got the part of Romeo, but,” he exhaled and looked up at her with those deep blue eyes. “The part of Juliet went to…” Sebastien dropped his head momentarily. Elena’s heart stopped. Please not Letitia. Anyone but Letitia. “Elena Martinez!” he said jerking his head up with a smile.

“Oh my God, I got it. Yes. Yes. Yes,” she chanted, pulling her fist down before doing a little dance, circling her hands and hips in opposite directions. “I’m Juli-et-et, I’m Juli-et-et.”  

Sebastien got up and joined in “You’re Juli-et-et, you’re Juli-et-et. I got the le-ead. I got the le-ead.” They kept that up for a couple of moments before crumbling to the floor in laughter.

 Try your luck here - 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out Kathy's blog HERE, Amazon HERE and Goodreads HERE

Good luck with the new book Kathy.

The Heroes Guide to Storming the Castle - GIVEAWAY, Exclusive artwork reveal and excerpt

 

Published: April 30th, 2013

Publisher: Walden Pond Press

Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav. You remember them, don't you? They're the Princes Charming who finally got some credit after they stepped out of the shadows of their princesses - Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White, and Briar Rose - to defeat an evil witch bent on destroying all their kingdoms.

But alas, such fame and recognition only last so long. And when the princes discover that an object of great power might fall into any number of wrong hands, they are going to have to once again band together to stop it from happening - even if no one will ever know it was they who did it.

Christopher Healy, author of the acclaimed The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, takes us back to the hilariously fractured fairy-tale world he created for another tale of medieval mischief. Magical gemstones, bladejaw eels, a mysterious Gray Phantom, and two maniacal warlords bent on world domination - it's all in a day's work for the League of Princes.

Last year we were happy to be part of an artwork reveal for the first book in this series The Hero's Guide to Saving the Kingdom.  This year, we are lucky enough to once again be part of the reveal and we have an exclusive piece of artwork to show you.  What is really exciting is that we have a special giveaway as well this year - you can win a  framed copy of this piece of art, signed by artist Todd Harris, along with a hard cover copy of the book.  What an amazing giveaway - right?

  Artwork Copyright © 2013 by Todd Harris

I just love this picture of Duncan writing.  That rabbit sitting on his head just cracks me up. Now how about an excerpt from the book -

Hello! I’m Prince Duncan of Sylvaria. You may remember me from bard songs such as “The Tale of Snow White” or “Cinderella and the League of Princes.” Although that first one never mentions my name and the second is full of factual inaccuracies. For instance, I did not escape the Bandit King by donning a magical “ring of flight” as the song suggests; I simply fell off his roof.

But at least it gets one thing right: I’m a hero. But did you know there was a time when I didn’t even realize I was a hero? It’s true. In fact, I thought I was kind of a loser. That’s what everyone always told me, anyway. But then I joined the League of Princes, and along with my good friends Liam (the one from “Sleeping Beauty”), Frederic (the one from “Cinderella”), and Gustav (the one from “Rapunzel”), I outwitted the trolls, vanquished the giant, tamed the dragon, and destroyed the evil old witch, What’s-her-name, without even breaking a sweat. Because sweat is gross.

—from The Hero’s Guide to Being a Hero by Prince Duncan of Sylvaria, a.k.a. Prince Charming (the one from “Snow White”)

 

  Text Copyright © 2013 by Christopher Healy


a Rafflecopter giveaway -         

Good luck with you entries, I wish I could win this one!