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Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Blog Tour- AGAINST ALL ODDS by Patricia Vanasse An Excerpt and A Giveaway!


I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the AGAINST ALL ODDS blog tour! I have an excerpt to share with you today! And make sure to enter the giveaway to win some awesome prizes!!

Haven't heard of AGAINST ALL ODDS? Check it out!


Title: AGAINST ALL ODDS 
Author: Patricia Vanasse 
Release date: September 25, 2015
Publisher: Pants On Fire Press
Pages: 384
Formats: eBook
Find it: AMAZON | GOODREADS

Sometimes boy meets girl, and the stars align, and their future is laid out neatly before them. Together forever. Meant to be. But Max and Loren are not one of those couples.

Seventeen-year-old Max DuPont is on the verge of becoming a ward of the state and foster kid. Contrary to expectations, Max is not from the "wrong" side of town. He's from a good home in a nice neighborhood, but his mother left after his father lost his job and turned to drinking. Max has been struggling to keep his head above water ever since. All he wants is to survive his senior year, play hockey, and move on to college. When his dad lands himself in jail, Max has no choice but to accept an offer to live with his father's do-gooder attorney, Mr. Larssi. The only contingency is that Max must stay far away from Larssi's beautiful teenage daughter Loren.

Loren is aware that she's had every opportunity in her young adult life—at least, that is, every opportunity her parents designed for her. She excels in academics at a competitive prep school, she never parties, she never dates, and she's a budding ballerina and major hopeful for a Juilliard scholarship. But since her best friend Lily died tragically three months ago, Loren is lost. She knows just how precious life is. But she has no idea how to make the best of it. How can she live—really live—with obsessive parents breathing down her neck…and inviting the only guy who never noticed her to live right under their roof?

Loren's first step in living her own life might be to get Max to notice her. Max's only chance at a solid future without foster care is to keep his distance from Loren. But their chemistry is undeniable. And they can't fight the odds forever.



Now on to the excerpt.

Excerpt


“Check,” he says grinning and his dark blue eyes move to meet mine.
 
I feel a smile attempting to crack on the side of my lips. I could just stay here for the rest of the night, staring into his dark blue dimensions and trying to guess what goes on behind them. I don’t care about winning the stupid chess game. What I want to win is his attention. He looks everywhere except at me…until his gaze slowly moves down to my neck and then to my cleavage. But he quickly looks away—that’s what happens when a girl doesn't have much to show. There’s no way I’m making a move on Max. He’ll totally reject me. I look at my game and I can’t believe I’ve let him get this close to winning. I use my knight to capture his bishop, and the game ends in a draw. I feel defeated.
He shrugs, sinking his shoulders down. “I didn’t think you were paying attention,” he says. Did he notice me watching him the entire time? Well, that’s embarrassing.

“I didn’t think you were paying attention to me,” I reply and immediately feel heat running through my cheeks. Did I just say that? Max’s eyebrow goes up in a questioning look and then down in a frown. I lick my lips, thinking of something to say, and his eyes follow my movements. Nothing comes to my mind other than the desire to know what he’s thinking right now. 

“I was,” he says. “I noticed you press your lips together when you’re thinking.” He mimics me. “And just a few minutes ago, I noticed your eyes are more green than brown, with a hint of yellow in the center.” He raises his hand to scratch the back of his neck and leans back in his chair. “You bite the inside of your cheek a lot. I couldn’t figure out why though.”

I swallow and move my hair from behind my burning ears to cover my face. I didn’t notice him looking at me at all, and right now, I wish his eyes weren’t glued on me. “I do that when I’m nervous.”

“Why are you nervous?” He places his elbows on his knees and leans forward, giving me his full attention. My feet shuffle and I wish I could hide under the table. You make me feel this way. You bring butterflies to my stomach every time I look at you. That’s what I wanted to say.  

“I—I have a physics test tomorrow,” I say instead and hope he didn’t notice the stuttering in my voice. It tends to show when I lie.





About Patricia:

Patricia Vanasse was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Now she lives on a beautiful island in the Pacific Northwest. She has been through 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. Her weakness- an obsessive relationship with caffeine.




Giveaway Details:

Patricia is generously offering up a variety of prizes!
A $25 Amazon gift card (international)
A signed copy of AGAINST ALL ODDS (US only)
2 eCopies of AGAINST ALL ODDS (international)
Please enter via the Rafflecopter form.



a Rafflecopter giveaway


Check out the Tour Schedule!










Dying to Read (124)- KINGDOM OF ASHES by Rhiannon Thomas


Hey y’all thanks for stopping by to see my Dying to Read post and of course as always I have to give credit to the lovely Jill over at Breaking the Spine for the Waiting on Wednesday Meme!


Well I'm on a roll with fairy tale retellings and fantasy books for 2016! Here's another I can't wait for! I really like book 1 so I can't wait to read this one.



Title: KINGDOM OF ASHES
Author: Rhiannon Thomas
Release Date: February 23, 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 368
Formats: Hardcover & eBook
Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | iBooks 
Asleep for a hundred years, awoken by a kiss, Aurora’s life was supposed to be a fairytale. But since discovering that loyalty to the crown and loyalty to her country are two very different things, Aurora knows she can only dream of happily ever after. Once the enchanted princess, savior of her people, she is now branded a traitor.

Aurora is determined to free her home from the king’s tyrannical rule, even if it means traveling across the sea to the kingdom of the handsome and devious Prince Finnegan—someone who seems to know far more about her magic than he should. However, Finnegan’s kingdom has perils of its own, and any help he gives Aurora will come at a price.

As Aurora and Finnegan work together to harness her power—something so fiery and dangerous that is as likely to destroy those close to Aurora as it is to save them—she begins to unravel the mysteries surrounding the curse that was placed on her over a century before…and uncover the truth about the destiny she was always meant to fulfill.

Brimming with captivating fantasy and life-threatening danger, the sequel to A Wicked Thing takes Sleeping Beauty on an adventure unlike any she’s ever had before. 

So what do you think? Will you be adding this to your pile? What are you dying to read this week?

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday (43)- Ten Books To Read If You Like Maria V. Snyder


Hi thanks for stopping by!!! And welcome to my Top 10 Tuesday post! 

Thanks to the lovely ladies at The Broke And The Bookish for creating this weekly meme!

Here's this week's topic.

September 29: Ten Books To Read If You Like This Super Popular Book/Author

I'm going with Maria V. Snyder not only because she's my favorite author and it's the 10 year anniversary of POISON STUDY but because she writes more than fantasy (she also writes sci-fi)!

This is a mix of high fantasy and sci-fi and sci-fi/fantasy all in one :)


2. Across the Universe series by Beth Revis
3. The Firebird Series by Claudia Gray
4. Nameless by Jennifer Jenkins
5. An Ember in The Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
6. The Wrath & The Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
7. The Orphan Queen series by Jodi Meadows
8. The Zodiac series by Romina Russell
9. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
10. The Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas

Also 2 honorable mentions. 

Uprooted by Naomi Novik


So what about you? What series haven't you finished? And come back next week for my October 6:  Ten Bookish Things I Want to Quit Or Have Quit (aka ten books I marked as DNF (did not finish) recently).


Hugs,
Jaime

Minotaur by Phillip W. Simpson Release Day Blitz and A Giveaway!

Minotaur-RDB-Banner
 
Happy Release Day to
Minotaur by Phillip W. Simpson!!
Join us in celebrating this release from Month9Books!
Enter the giveaway found at the end of the post.
Happy Book Birthday, Phillip!
 
Minotaur-Cover
“Where shall I start?” asked Minotaur. Ovid made an expansive gesture with both hands. “Where else but the beginning of course.” Minotaur nodded his huge head. “Yes,” he said. “Yes,” his eyes already glazing over with the weight of thousand year old memories. And then he began. So begins the story of Asterion, later known as Minotaur, the supposed half bull creature of Greek legend. Recorded by the famous Roman poet, Ovid, Asterion tells of his boyhood in Crete under the cruel hand of his stepfather Minos, his adventures with his friend, Theseus, and his growing love for the beautiful Phaedra.And of course what really happened in the labyrinth. This is the true story of the Minotaur.  
add to goodreads
 
excerpt
 
Scene 3 – Asterion and Phaedra in love
When I say love, we were young, and it was largely innocent—kissing, caressing, and the like. Still heady stuff for a young man, so of course I tried to lure Phaedra away from the palace at any opportunity.

Sometimes, we would lie sheltered from the sun amongst the cyprus and oak trees, talking, kissing, and doing what other young couples in love did. They were probably the best times of my life.
On one such occasion, Phaedra and I had taken some food and a little wine I’d stolen from the kitchen and wrapped up in cloth. We set it down in a clearing amongst the trees and ate and drank our fill. I confess I’d probably drunk more wine than was good for me and was feeling more than a little bold.

We kissed. Reluctantly, I broke the embrace to ask a question that had been plaguing me.

“Why do you love me?” I asked.

Phaedra looked at me askance, her head tilting slightly to show the perfection of her jawline. I desperately wanted to kiss her again.

“Do you really need to ask such questions?” she replied, her face serious.

“Of course I do. Look at me. Look at you. Don’t you think we are an odd match?”

“Asterion, you of all people should know I don’t judge based on appearances. To me, you are the most handsome man in the world because of who you are. You are gentle and have a kind soul. That’s more important to me than looks. Besides,” she said, with a twinkle in her eye, “you have big muscles. Every girl likes big muscles.”

“Is that all I am to you? A slab of meat?” I tried to joke, but my tone was all wrong. I knew I half meant what I said. I was only too conscious of my massive size and, like my horns, knew it marked me as an oddity or a strange freak of nature.

Phaedra slapped me playfully. “Most of the time. Sometimes you’re able to string a sentence together that is almost intelligent.”

 
About-the-Author2
 
Phillip W SimpsonPhillip W. Simpson is the author of many novels, chapter books and other stories for children. His publishers include Macmillan, Penguin, Pearson, Cengage, Raintree and Oxford University Press.
He received both his undergraduate degree in Ancient History and Archaeology and his Masters (Hons) degree in Archaeology from the University of Auckland.
Before embarking on his writing career, he joined the army as an officer cadet, owned a comic shop and worked in recruitment in both the UK and Australia.
His first young adult novel, Rapture (Rapture Trilogy #1), was shortlisted for the Sir Julius Vogel Awards for best Youth novel in 2012.
He is represented by Vicki Marsdon at Wordlink literary agency.
When not writing, he works as a school teacher.
Phillip lives and writes in Auckland, New Zealand with his wife Rose, their son, Jack and their two border terriers, Whiskey and Raffles. He loves fishing, reading, movies, football (soccer) and single malt Whiskeys.
Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
 
giveaway2
Complete the Rafflecopter for a chance to win!
 
 
Chapter-by-Chapter-blog-tour-button
 

Friday, September 25, 2015

Fall 2015 Premiere Reviews


Hey y'all! I just wanted to do a quick post on the fall 2015 TV shows that have started and do a quick review of them. I'm going to try and do this each week new shows start. Obviously since I'm posting this on a Friday I won't review those shows but I'm only looking forward to Hawaii 5-0 and The Amazing Race tonight anyways. 

Ok onto my mini reviews! I'm reviewing last weeks too since I didn't think of doing this until last night. Note this is only for new shows not returning ones.

Tuesday, Sept. 15


The Bastard Executioner – 10 p.m., FX
Great premise the 2 hour premiere was a tad too long but I really enjoyed this show! I will admit Katy Segal (although awesome in SoA) is my least favorite part of the show, her fake accent is distracting and I get Sutter wanted to write his wife into the show but it would be better without her. 

Verdict- if you like historical pieces with quite a bit of violence this one is for you!

Monday, Sept. 21

Life in Pieces – 8:30 p.m., CBS

I had to try this one since Collin Hanks grew up in my hometown and we used to hang out at the same coffee shop in HS. I thought it was really funny! I like how they broke it up into 4 stories. I will definitely keep watching this one. 

Verdict- this one won't be for everyone but if you like snark in your comedy give it a shot!

Minority Report -9 p.m., FOX

I gave this one a shot but it wasn't very good IMO. I can't even remember what I didn't like that's how not memorable this show was.

Verdict -like most of FOX TV's debut shows I doubt this one will even make a full season so don't bother watching.

Blindspot – 10 p.m., NBC

I was excited for this one the minute I saw the comic con trailer! I have a huge crush in Sullivan Stapleton he's been a favorite of mine since Strike Back (on Cinemax trust me if you haven't seen this show watch it) started! I was not disappointed in Blindspot! Not one bit! This show was freaking awesome Jaimie Alexander was brilliant as Jane Doe and like I said Sullivan was sexy as hell and an did an amazing job! I can't wait to see this mystery of Jane and her tattoos unravel! Verdict- If you didn't watch the first episode do so now and then set your DVR's for the series!

Tuesday, Sept. 22

The Muppets – 8 p.m., ABC

It was funny but I admit I miss the Muppets from my childhood. I'll give it a few more episodes 

Verdict- Give it a go especially if you were a fan.

Scream Queens – 8 p.m., FOX

Honestly I'm still compiling my feelings on this one. It was funny as hell definitely not scary. It has a good cast but like most FOX shows I doubt it will last. 

Verdict- Give it a shot and see what you think.

Limitless – 10 p.m., CBS

This one had potential with the great cast and story possibilities but it didn't live up to it in my opinion. 

Verdict- skip it.

Wednesday, Sept. 23

There was one new show Rosewood on FOX but the premise didn't look too great to me. I'm kinda sick of crime/forensic shows so I didn't DVR this one.

Thursday, Sept. 24

Heroes Reborn – 8 p.m., NBC

Ok this one I was super excited for! You can tell by the photo I used as my header lol! I was a HUGE fan of Heroes and was mad when it got cancelled. This was everything I thought it would be and I'm so happy to have this world back on my TV! I love the new characters (I will admit I miss the old ones especially Peter Petrelli). The 2 hour premiere was amazing and I can't wait for next weeks episode!

Verdict- WATCH THIS SHOW!!! Even if you didn't watch Heroes you will love it!


The Player – 10 p.m., NBC

This is another show I was hoping would be good. Wesley Snipes rocks and I love Phillip Winchester, I've loved him since I saw him in the SYFY mini-series Alice. I'll admit it didn't live up to hopes but it's not awful. I'll give it a few more episodes.

Verdict- Give it a shot ans see what you think.

So what were your favorite shows this week? I'd love to know leave me a comment below! 
Ok so I will be back next week with reviews for the shows below not many new ones starting next wee.

Sunday, Sept. 27

Blood & Oil – 9 p.m., ABC

Quantico – 10 p.m., ABC


Wednesday, Sept. 30


Code Black – 10 p.m., CBS

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Blog Tour- THE WEIGHT OF FEATHERS by Anna Marie McLemore and Interview and a Giveaway!


I am so excited to be hosting a spot on THE WEIGHT OF FEATHERS blog tour! Anna is a local author and I love having our local peeps on the blog! I have an interview with Anna to share with you today! And make sure to enter the giveaway to win the book!!

Haven't heard of THE WEIGHT OF FEATHERS? Check it out!


THE WEIGHT OF FEATHERS: A Novel
By Anna-Marie McLemore
St. Martin’s Griffin
On Sale: September 15, 2015
Hardcover: 978-1-250-05865-2/ $18.99 USD
eBook: 978-1-466-87323-0 / $9.99 USD

The Night Circus meets Romeo and Juliet in this stunning young adult novel about two teens who fall in love despite the almost impossible odds against them.

The Palomas and the Corbeaus have long been rivals and enemies, locked in an escalating feud for over a generation. Both families make their living as traveling performers in competing shows-the Palomas swimming in mermaid exhibitions, the Corbeaus, former tightrope walkers, performing in the tallest trees they can find. 


Lace Paloma may be new to her family's show, but she knows as well as anyone that the Corbeaus are pure magia negra, black magic from the devil himself. Simply touching one could mean death, and she's been taught from birth to keep away. But when disaster strikes the small town where both families are performing, it's a Corbeau boy, Cluck, who saves Lace's life. And his touch immerses her in the world of the Corbeaus, where falling for him could turn his own family against him, and one misstep can be just as dangerous on the ground as it is in the trees.


“McLemore’s prose is ethereal and beguiling… The enchanting setup and the forbidden romance that blooms between these two outcasts will quickly draw readers in, along with the steady unspooling of the families’ history and mutual suspicions in this promising first novel.” —Publishers Weekly

“Readers beguiled by the languorous language—a striking mix of French and Spanish phrases, wry colloquialism, lush imagery, and elevated syntax—will find themselves falling under its spell. The third-person narration alternates between Lace and Cluck, doling out twists and building to a satisfying, romantic conclusion.” —Kirkus Reviews

“In this tale of magical realism, the magic is so deftly woven into the fabric of the story… Told with skillful poetic nuances, this Romeo-and-Juliet story of forbidden love will entice fans of Maggie Stiefvater’s Raven Cycle who wished for a little more romance.” —School Library Journal

“Anna-Marie McLemore's debut novel is a very imaginative modern-day romance akin to Romeo and Juliet and is infused with the whimsy of magical realism.” —RT Book Reviews

“An air of mysterious fantasy enshrouds the whole book, pulling the reader through it as if in a spell. McLemore is a writer to watch.”—The Guardian

“You've never read a love story quite like this one. Anna-Marie McLemore has created in entirely imaginative world and rich characters that will pull you in as if she's spinning magic herself.” —Bustle

“With prose as magical as its characters, The Weight of Feathers is an exciting debut.” —Paste Magazine

“McLemore’s debut novel has ties to Romeo and Juliet, David Almond’s mythical Skellig, and the real-life performances of Cirque du Soleil.” —Booklist



Now on to the interview.

Hi Anna! First I want to say welcome to Two Chicks on Books! It’s always awesome to have a local Norther California author stop by for a visit! THE WEIGHT OF FEATHERS sounds absolutely fantastic and am so happy that you could stop by for a visit! (From A-M: Thank you so much for having me! Yay Northern California!)

For the readers: can you tell us a little bit about THE WEIGHT OF FEATHERS and the characters?

THE WEIGHT OF FEATHERS is the story of the romance between a Latina girl and a Romani boy whose families each run rival traveling shows. In addition to being rivals, their families have also been in a feud for the last twenty years, and the love between Lace and Cluck begins to unravel what they believe about their own families. 

Were any of the characters in the book inspired by people from your real life?

The characters are all very much their own, but I was definitely inspired by my family in depicting how a relatives have a strong influence in shaping who you are. 



Who was your favorite character to write? What about your least favorite?


I didn’t so much have favorite or least favorite characters to write, but writing Cluck was probably both the most challenging and the most rewarding. He very much values his heritage, and unlike Lace’s heritage, his isn’t the same as my own, and I felt a tremendous responsibility to portray it in a way that was both respectful and accurate.

What is your favorite passage/scene in THE WEIGHT OF FEATHERS?

There’s a scene when Cluck first convinces Lace to climb a tree with him, and, a little later, when she gets him to come with her into the river. They’ve been raised as enemies, but in both those moments they open themselves to each other’s worlds.



What kind of research did you have to do for the story?


I did a lot of research about Romani traditions and history, including talking with a Romani scholar. I also talked with a longtime mermaid performer, a geologist, a couple of language experts…there was a lot of research that went into this book, and I’m tremendously grateful to everyone who was willing to answer my questions!




Lightening Round Questions


What are you reading right now? Or what do you have on your TBR that you’re dying to read?

Emery Lord’s WHEN WE COLLIDED

Who is your ultimate Book Boyfriend?

A grown-up Dickon Sowerby. *faints*

What Hogwarts House would the Sorting Hat place you in?

Ravenpuff!

What inspired you to write YA?

I didn’t really set out to write YA so much as I knew I wanted to write about teens. I still 
remember how it felt to be seventeen. Maybe that’s because it wasn’t that long ago, but I don’t think I’ll ever forget. 

Twitter or Facebook?

I like them both, but I took more easily to Twitter.

Favorite Superhero?

Rogue from the X-Men. Fun fact: Her real name is Anna-Marie.

Favorite TV show?

UnReal (OMG ME TOOO!) Y'all if you haven't seen this show we both highly suggest it!



Sweet or Salty?

Yes. :)

Any Phobias?

Heights!

Song you can’t get enough of right now?

“Today” by Poe

Fall Movie you’re most looking forward to?

I’m so behind on what movies are coming out! But I do have a list of old movies to check out from the library. Next up: Stage Door

Thanks so much Anna for answering my questions! I can’t wait to read THE WEIGHT OF FEATHERS!

Thanks for having me! I’m thrilled to be on Two Chicks on Books!



About Anna:

Anna-Marie McLemore was born in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and grew up in a Mexican-American family. She attended University of Southern California on a Trustee Scholarship. A Lambda Literary Fellow, she has had work featured by the Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West, CRATE Literary Magazine's cratelit, Camera Obscura's Bridge the Gap Series, and The Portland Review.  The Weight of Feathers is her first novel.



Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a signed hardcover of THE WEIGHT OF FEATHERS.US Only.






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