Thursday, October 31, 2013

Indie Author Mash Up review and GIVEAWAY!!!

Hi everyone! This is Heather! Last weekend I attended the Indie Author Mash Up hosted by This Red Head Loves Books.  I took my friend Anna along with me and we had a great time.
We left at 5:00am Saturday morning.  Our first stop was Starbucks, but they don't even open until 5:30 on weekends.  What the heck! Yeah....

                                                                                                                                                                     
The cashier at Starbucks asked me what I was doing there so early.  Ummm...What do you think I'm doing?!
About two hours into the drive we got a little turned around before realizing we were actually in Oklahoma. We took a wrong exit too and I blew through a toll booth.  Finally the sun rose and we figured everything out.

 We finally made it to the hotel!! Isn't this amazing! It was beautiful.  We couldn't check in until 3:00 so we left everything in the car and went to the Mash Up!
 I seriously took like no pictures. What was I thinking?! I was distracted by all the authors and books.  Here's me with Komal, Erica, and Autumn!


 I made bank in the SWAG department.  I got 16 new books, a bazillion bookmarks and other postcards and book paraphernalia.  I love all the keychains and magnets too! I connected them all to my wallet so I remember to read what I got!



 After the signing event we had a few hours of down time before the dinner and after party. Here we all are! Me, Komal, Erica, Autumn, and Anna.

So this guy was in the hallway when we were taking some pictures and just randomly started lifting up his shirt and flexing.  We discovered he was looking at himself in the mirror.  But it was still hilarious!  His name is Don Allen and he won the model contest.
 


And this is what Autumn and thought of the whole thing.





 And this is me and Julie Bailes.  You don't want to know what I was laughing about.








It was an amazing trip! I discovered so many new authors! All the authors I met were so sweet and entertaining.  I loved meeting each of them.  Meeting them made me want to read there books even more!
Next year the Mash Up will be in July. Keep and eye out here for more information.  Komal and Erica have already said they are attending again and I'll be there! Now we just need to convince Michelle to come and we'll have a Dash reunion!

SOOO.....You saw all the stuff I got right?! Do you want to win some of it?! I've got bookmarks, postcards, magnets, buttons, keychains and other super awesome swag and most of it is signed by the author!!
All you have to do is fill out the rafflecopter form below and also leave a comment with your favorite Mash Up author.  You can find the list of attending authors Here.

Winner will receive an item signed by each author from the Mash Up (Well those who had items to sign, some didn't).  And a ebook of your choice from an attending author valued $4.99 and under.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Cover Reveal: Fragile Brilliance by Tammy Blackwell

An upcoming novel by Tammy Blackwell?!? You KNOW I'm excited about this one! And today, we are taking part in the COVER REVEAL!
 

 
Maggie McCray has worked her whole life for the opportunity to attend Sanders College. It’s her one chance at becoming a world-renowned artist, and she’s determined nothing will get in her way. But when a murder brings Maggie and her powers to the attention of the Alpha Pack and the tragically handsome Charlie Hagan, her carefully planned future hangs in jeopardy.
 
Charlie Hagan isn’t happy when the Alpha Female assigns him as Maggie McCray’s personal bodyguard. Just being near the Thaumaturgic threatens to unleash the primal instincts he’s been suppressing for so long. Charlie knows if the coyote is uncaged, then the person he’ll most need to protect Maggie from is himself.
 
Fragile Brilliance is the first book in the Shifters & Seers series by Tammy Blackwell, bestselling author of the Timber Wolves trilogy.


 
 
 

Sunday, October 27, 2013

In The Shadows!

Maybe you didn't know but Dash's very own Erica Cope released her sequel In The Shadows. I had the distinct honor of being a part of this. And to further help her out I want to share with you my thoughts.

There was a part of me that was like: Don't be blunt. Pshh.

IT'S AWESOME.

I currently have a giveaway up on my blog if you want to go enter it.

Mia Carrington is struggling to come to terms with the fact that she killed a man, while trying to find a balance between her role as the Princess of the Light Elves and attempting to lead the life of a normal human teenager.
Too bad her dual life doesn't come with an instruction manual.
Just when she thinks that fate can't throw anything else at her, the Duchess Isobel is found on the brink of death and Mia’s boyfriend Jacoby is the only suspect.
Despite the suspicion surrounding him, Mia is sure of the innocence of the boy she loves and she is determined to prove it no matter the risk.
The problem is, the one thing that can save Isobel and clear Jacoby can only be found in the shadows of the Underworld.
Oh boy.

Sequels, especially within trilogies are tough for me. I normally feel like they are fillers. A really long draw bridge. ITS is anything but that. While I don't think it could be read as a stand alone novel, it is a novel that moves forward, brings in the first book, has action sequences, and sets up the third novel.

A lot of girls really like Jacoby. Don't get me wrong, I get why he's dreamy. But he is no GREY! Oh Grey, my sweet, strong, moral compass of a man. How I dream of you. In the last book, Jacoby was in the lead. I really was worried that I wouldn't get enough Grey in this book, because he was the runner up in the love triangle. Well, maybe he's not. But Mia doesn't do the typical love triangle. Erica presents in a subtle way. Mia is never portrayed as flippant or shallow with the boys' feelings.

Mia - My little nerdy girl. What? She is. But in this novel, I got to see how a nerdy girl can be strong and again, Erica presents Mia character change subtly. Mia doesn't go from mild and meek to loud and forth wright. It's shows growth, in a realistic way, if being part elf allows you to be realistic. She had a lot on her shoulders in this book. She copes with grief, guilt, denial, and an unsure future. It's a lot for anyone and Mia cracks a bit, picks herself up, cracks a bit more, and picks herself up.

In the end, go buy it. You won't be sorry! :)


Saturday, October 26, 2013

Cover Reveal: First Glance by L.L. Hunter

Hi ya'll! I'm at Indie Mashup today with Komal and Heather (we miss you Michelle!) but that didn't stop me from wanting to participate in the lovely L.L. Hunter's latest cover reveal! So without further ado:

Title: First Glance: The Adelaide Paige Saga 
Genre:NA contemporary/ romantic suspense/ crime 
Warning: Contains violence and sex scenes. Not suitable for readers under 18.
Formats: eBook and Paperback 
Release Date: January 31


Blurb:
What if you had the ability to see into the future? What if you knew how
someone might die? Would you do something about it? This is Adelaide Paige’s dilemma.
She wakes up one day with the ability to see into the future, but she has no desire
to be a savior. All Adelaide wants is to graduate college and to become a Forensic
Scientist... maybe even date a little. She just wants an ordinary life.
But her world is turned upside down when two dead girls turn up at the local
morgue where she works. Adelaide soon discovers that these cases are not your
everyday cases, but there is a serial killer out there. Someone who is murdering young women just like her. She has a decision to make.
Choose to reveal her secret and risk losing those closest to her? Or remain in the
background and let the police handle it?
Will Adelaide make the choice in time to save those she loves... or even herself...
from a similar fate?
A thrilling NA contemporary novel from the author
of The Garden of Eden, The Legend of the Archangel Series, and Treacherous.
Add to your Goodreads shelf here

Excerpt:
Getting a call to come into work at three in the morning is not a new thing for me. I
often expect it.
But I didn’t expect this.
This better be important, Jim, if I’m giving up my warm bed for this.”
It is Addy. I can assure you.”
Ugh! Why are you so perky this time of morning!”
I’m a vampire. I sleep during the day.” I shoot ice missiles at my unnaturally perky
assistant as he strolls over the fridge to retrieve the reason I was called down here. In
less than a minute he has the body bag on a gurney and wheeled in front of me and sliding onto the metal slab.
It still gives me the heebie jeebies just thinking about it.”
I glance at him in confusion and anticipation and start to unzip the bag.
The face that greets me is not what I was expecting. I jump back with a shriek. Normally I am fine around dead bodies, being a morgue technician and studying forensic science, but nothing I have seen previously prepares me for this. Lying on the slab in front of me pale and cold is a face more familiar to me than anyone else’s.
It’s my face.





Author Bio:
L.L. Hunter is an Australian author who began writing when she was fifteen or
sixteen, originally song lyrics, but then moved onto fanfiction when she was
nineteen, having published over 20 stories online--One of which was nominated for an award. She has also written, directed and starred in two original plays entitled, “No Frills Airlines: Flight 123,” and the sequel, “No frills Airlines: Come Fly with Us.” The latter of which was a musical.
She has studied everything from veterinary nursing, forensic science and
dramatic arts but has always known her true calling to be writing.
Her hobbies include writing her books, reading, singing, acting, directing,
watching movies, 50’s fashion and playing with her animals. When she is
not writing she can be found reading somewhere comfortable with one or both of
her ‘furbabies’.
You can connect with L.L Hunter on Twitter, (@llhunterbooks) Facebook,
Goodreads, her blog ,or her website .


 

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Review: The Garden of Eden By L.L. Hunter


 The Garden of Eden
Author: L.L. Hunter
Released: August 30 2012
Purchased from Amazon

(This book is book one of a novella spin-off of The Chronicles of Fire and Ice)

Eden Daylesford is a sixteen year old Nephilim girl stuck smack bang in the middle of a war between angels and demons. And the bad thing is that she shares both of their blood. When her mother takes her to the Michaelite Sanctuary in London to try to get rid of the deadly trait that has started to appear – one that hasn’t been seen in a long time – it could stop Eden from forming any sort of relationship with anyone, including the tempting Asher. Eden has no idea just how powerful she is…

Will she learn to embrace her new ability and accept her new role, or go back to her old life of an ordinary human teenager?

Will she be tempted?

The enticing first book in the spin off novella series to The Legend of the Archangel. Set after events in The Chronicles of Fire and Ice.


I don't do recaps because the way I look at it, that's what the blurb is for. :)

So here are my thoughts:

I didn't know anything about this series before picking this book up. I chose to read it because the author is super nice and the cover is pretty--yes, I'm totally guilty of judging a book by it's cover.

I didn't realize that it is not only a novella (it's pretty decent size for a novella by the way--156 pages) but it is also a spin-off of another series. However, I didn't feel like I "missed" anything so I think it can definitely be read alone but after reading it, I'm intrigued to read other books in this world!

This is great Young Adult Fantasy!

 

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Finally finishing books!

After an entire summer of not reading anything I've finally started reading again.  I mean, I've started so many books, but it was a tough summer for me.  My dad was seriously ill, I was flying and driving back and forth across the country helping my mom move and my dad passed away a couple weeks ago. So I had a lot on my plate!
So what was my first book after a long slump? In The Shadows by Erica Cope!!! I kind of feel like I was just waiting for it.  I knew she was almost done with it and it would have a fall release so I just gave up on everything else and held out for it.  And let me tell you, it as worth the wait!! I loved it so much.  I don't usually like second books, they tend to be boring, but In the Shadows was awesome! Eek! I can't wait for the third book to come out.
Then I read Divergent.  I know, I know, I'm a little late getting into it, but I loved it!  I loved the story and the characters and the dynamic between Tris and Tobias.  I'm about to start Insurgent.  I read some reviews and it seems that some people didn't like it.  They thought it was unbelievable as a story line and compared it to The Hunger Games.  I mean, it's distopian, and a book, and the author can build her world how ever she wants.  I found it extremely interesting.  Would the Chicago ever end up with five factions like that? Who knows.  Will the world ever end up like the Hunger Games, probably not.  But don't we read books to escape our own world for a bit?
And it's not only paranormal/distopian stories that I sometimes fine unbelievable, there are plenty of real life stories I have a hard time believing.  Like for real, who would ever fall in love with Rush Finley? Sure he's good looking, but he's a flake and can't make up his mind.  I for one wouldn't stick around to find out if he decided to be with me or his sister.

Anyway, off my rant box.  I loved Divergent and can't wait to start the next book.  I decided to pick up Finding Cinderella by Colleen Hoover because it was free.  So far its good and kind of predictable.  We'll see if Colleen throws a twist in there somewhere.  Its a novella so there isn't much room for too much drama.

This weekend Komal, Erica, and I are attending the Indie Author Mash Up in Springdale Arkansas, hosted by This Redhead Loves Books.  I can't tell you how much I"m looking forward to this event. It's my first time at something like this.  I can't wait to meet all the authors and other book lovers like me!

Look for a blog next week telling you all about it!