Cover Reveal- MORTAL ENCHANTMENT by Stacey O'Neale and a Giveaway

Today, Stacey O'Neale and Phoenix Reign Publishing are revealing the cover for

MORTAL ENCHANTMENT, releasing on May 20, 2014!

Check out the awesome cover and enter to win a $50 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card!!!

On to the reveal!

“Mortal Enchantment spins a unique twist on elemental mythology. This series is not to be missed.” Jennifer L. Armentrout, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

In Kalin Matthew's world, elementals control the forces of nature. They are divided into four courts: air, woodland, fire, and water. At sixteen she will leave the life she's built with her mortal mother. Kalin will move to Avalon to rule with her father—the elemental king of the air court. Along the way, she's attacked by a fire court assassin and saved by Rowan, a swoon-worthy elemental with a questionable past.

Worst of all, she learns her father is missing.

To rescue him, Kalin will have to work with a judgmental council and a system of courts too busy accusing each other of deceit to actually be able to help her. But, they aren’t her biggest challenge. With the Midwinter’s Ball only five days away, Kalin must take over her father’s duties, which includes shifting control of the elements—power Kalin has yet to realize.

As Rowan attempts to train her, a war looms between the four courts. If Kalin fails, her father will die and the courts will fall, but the betrayal she’s about to uncover may cost her even more...

Add to your Goodreads TBR!!!

If you haven't read THE SHADOW PRINCE, you can download if NOW for FREE from Amazon and Barnes & Noble!!!

Every sacrifice has consequences. Sixteen-year-old Rowan has spent most of his life living among the mortals—learning to control the element of fire, impatiently awaiting the day his vengeful mother, Queen Prisma, will abdicate her throne. When he finally returns to Avalon for his coronation, his mother insists he must first prove his loyalty to the court by completing a secret mission: Kill Kalin, the half-human, half-elemental daughter of the air court king. Willing to do anything to remove his mother from power, he agrees to sacrifice the halfling. He returns to the mortal world with his best friend, Marcus, determined to kill the princess. But as he devises a plan, he starts to question whether or not he's capable of completing such a heinous task. And what price he will pay if he refuses?

Available for FREE on Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Also available in PRINT from Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Stacey O'Neale lives in Annapolis, Maryland. When she's not writing, she spends her time fangirling over books, blogging, watching fantasy television shows, cheering for the Baltimore Ravens, and hanging out with her husband and daughter. Her career in publishing started as a blogger-turned-publicist for two successful small publishers. Stacey writes young adult paranormal romance and adult science fiction romance. Her books always include swoon-worthy heroes, snarky heroines, and lots of kissing. Stacey loves hearing from readers. Follow her on Twitter @StaceyONeale, look for her on Facebook, Pinterest, and GoodReads. You can also visit her blog at http://staceyoneale.com/.
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Blog Tour- THE FOREVER SONG by Julie Kagawa Character Interview and a Giveaway!

I adore Julie Kagawa and her books so I always jump at the chance to have her on the blog and do I have a treat for you today! I have Jackal and Allison here to answer some burning questions Check it out and make sure to enter the awesome giveaway below!
Haven't heard of THE FOREVER SONG? Check it out!

Title: THE FOREVER SONG (Blood of Eden #3)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Pages: 416

Pub. Date: April 15, 2014

Find it: Goodreads |Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Allison Sekemoto once struggled with the question: human or monster?

With the death of her love, Zeke, she has her answer.

MONSTER.

Allie will embrace her cold vampire side to hunt down and end Sarren, the psychopathic vampire who murdered Zeke. But the path is bloody and long, and Sarren has left many surprises for Allie and her companions—her creator, Kanin, and her blood brother, Jackal.

The trail is leading straight to the one place they must protect at any cost— the last vampire-free zone on Earth, Eden. And Sarren has one final, brutal shock in store for Allie. In a ruined world where no life is sacred and former allies can turn on you in one heartbeat, Allie will face her darkest days. And if she succeeds, triumph is short-lived in the face of surviving forever alone.

Now on to the interview!

Hi Allison and Jackal…. or should I call you James? Welcome to Two Chicks on Books! Let me just say I have become a big fan of yours and I can’t wait for the readers to get to know you better! Ok so on to my questions. And feel free to chat away and not just answer the questions I love your banter ;)

• Jackal: How did you get to be so good with cars and boats?

Jackal: I hang out with a raider army, bloodbag.  You think they ride around on camels?  It's not like there are many open gas stations or repair shops in the apocalypse.  You want something fixed, you have to do it yourself. 

• Jackal: How was your childhood or do you even remember it?

Jackal: Ugh, why is every bloodbag I talk to lately so interested in my childhood?  It was perfectly normal.  Ordinary.  Boring.  I barely remember it.  The only part that was remotely interesting was the day my family was killed and I became a vampire.  Everything up until that point was an excruciatingly boring blur, so stop asking about it.

Allison: Seems like a perfectly reasonable question to me.  They just want to make sure you weren't left on a doorstep, or hatched from an egg.

Jackal: Oh, har har.  Once my sides stop splitting I'll tell you what you can do with your egg. 

• Allison: Would you have changed your mind about being a vampire if you knew all that you would have to suffer?

Allison:  You mean if I was dying again, and a vampire gave me a choice to Turn or die?  Yeah, I probably would've done the same thing.  That was the only reason I chose to Turn, the only acceptable excuse, for me, at least.   

Jackal:  Really?  I thought it was to annoy the crap out of anyone within earshot, over and over again, for eternity.

Allison: Shut up, Jackal.

• Jackal: Why do you like to get under Kanin’s skin so much, what did he ever do to you? Allison any thought on this?

Allison: That's easy.  Because he's an insufferable, obnoxious bastard with a death wish.

Jackal:  Hey, the old man tried to kill me.  I think I'm entitled to a little bitterness about that.  Besides, the uptight stiff really needs to loosen up a little.  If he ever deigns to crack a smile, his face will split.     

• For Both: What is the most important or most impressive achievement in your life so far?

Allison:  That I've managed not to strangle this idiot right here.

Jackal:  See, now that's why you'll never get anywhere in life, sister.  One, you need to dream bigger, like ruling your own city, or raising your own army, having minions to do whatever you want, that sort of thing.  And two, you're never going to get the upper hand on me, little sister.  I'm much smarter than you.

Allison: I rest my case.

• Jackal: Why a Fire Ax? Why not a sword or something else?

Jackal:  Where the hell am I going to get a bloody sword?  This isn't medieval Europe.  You think swords are just lying around in the apocalypse? 

Allison: I found one.

Jackal: Bully for you.  If I happen to see a sword, I'll use one.  But I saw an ax, so I make do with what I have.  Besides, axes suit me better.  I like to feel my enemy's skulls implode when I hit them.  So you stick to slicing off heads, and I'll keep breaking bones and cracking skulls, how's that sound to you?

• Allison: If there was no Red Lung virus what do you think Sarren would have done? Do you think he would have still been as crazy and cruel as he was?

Allison: I think the only one who can answer that is Kanin.  He knew Sarren, what he was really like, before all this.  But it doesn't matter.  I don't care what Sarren was like before, I just know I'm going to kill him for what he's done now.

• Allison: What do you think of your brother? Honestly?

Allison:  Honestly?  If he wasn't such a greedy, obnoxious, murdering selfish bastard...he'd actually be okay.

• Jackal: Same question for you. What do you think of your sister?

Jackal: My sister wounds me.  I actually think she's one of the brightest, most talented, bleeding-heart fluffy bunny rabbits I've ever met.  It's actually kinda cute, how she bares her teeth and pretends that she's a fierce, scary monster.  Maybe one day she'll actually be a real vampire, but I'm not getting my hopes up.   

• Anything you’d like to tell our readers?

Jackal: Yeah.  Stop pestering me with stupid questions, unless you're offering to make this a dinner date.  No need to dress up; you'll taste the same either way.

Allison: Always a charmer. 

Thanks for stopping by guys, it’s been a pleasure and I can’t wait for everyone to read The Forever Song! And as for dinner I think I'll have to pass... Jackal thanks for the offer though ;)

About Julie:

Julie Kagawa was born in Sacramento, California. But nothing exciting really happened to her there. So, at the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos and frequent hurricanes. She spent much of her time in the ocean, when she wasn’t getting chased out of it by reef sharks, jellyfish and the odd eel.

To pay the rent, Julie worked in different bookstores over the years, but discovered the managers frowned upon her reading the books she was supposed to be shelving. So she turned to her other passion: training animals. She worked as a professional dog trainer for several years, dodging Chihuahua bites and overly enthusiastic Labradors, until her first book sold and she stopped training to write full-time.

Julie now lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where the frequency of shark attacks are at an all-time low. She lives with her husband, two obnoxious cats, one Australian shepherd who is too smart for his own good and the latest addition, a hyperactive Papillon puppy.

Website |  Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

Each tour stop is offering up the winner’s choice of either THE IMMORTAL RULES, THE ETERNITY CURE or THE FOREVER SONG - whichever book of the series you might be missing!

There are also 2 grand prizes:

• 1 winner will get a complete set of Julie Kagawa’s books, including The Iron Fey Saga and The Blood of Eden Saga!

• 1 winner will get a $100 gift card from either iTunes, Amazon or Barnes & Noble!

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Tour Schedule

Monday, April 7th - Harlequin Paranormal Romance Blog

Tuesday, April 8th - fiktshun

Wednesday, April 9th - The Page Turners

Thursday, April 10st - Books and Things

Friday, April 11th - Ticket To Anywhere

Monday, April 14th - Two Chicks on Books

Tuesday, April 15th - Parajunkee

Wednesday, April 16th - Refracted Light Reviews

Thursday, April 17st - Bewitched Bookworms

Friday, April 18th - Mundie Moms

Monday, April 21th - A Book Obsession

Tuesday, April 22nd - The Book Cellar

Wednesday, April 23th - Supernatural Snark

Thursday, April 24st - The Busy Bibliophile

Blog Tour- BURN OUT by Kristi Helvig and a Giveaway

I am so excited to have Kristi Helvig here with an awesome scene from James for the BURN OUT Blog Tour! I loved this book and since it was told from the MC. Tora's POV I thought it would be cool to hear from one of the other characters! Check it out and make sure to enter the awesome giveaway below!
Haven't heard of BURN OUT? Check it out!

Title: BURN OUT

Author: Kristi Helvig

Publisher: Egmont USA

Pages: 272

Pub. Date: April 8, 2014

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble

A futuristic blend of Beth Revis's Across the Universe and Lenore Appelhans's Level 2, Burn Out will satisfy the growing desire for science fiction with a thrilling story of survival, intrigue, and adventure.

Most people want to save the world; seventeen-year-old Tora Reynolds just wants to get the hell off of it. One of the last survivors in Earth's final years, Tora yearns to escape the wasteland her planet has become after the sun turns "red giant," but discovers her fellow survivors are even deadlier than the hostile environment.

Holed up in an underground shelter, Tora is alone--her brilliant scientist father murdered, her mother and sister burned to death. She dreams of living on a planet with oceans, plants, and animals. Unfortunately, the oceans dried out ages ago, the only plants are giant cacti with deadly spines, and her pet, Trigger, is a gun--one of the bio-energetic weapons her father created for the government before his conscience kicked in.

When family friend, Markus, arrives with mercenaries to take the weapons by force, Tora's fury turns to fear when government ships descend in an attempt to kill them all. She forges an unlikely alliance with Markus and his rag-tag group of raiders, including a smart but quiet soldier named James. Tora must quickly figure out who she can trust, as she must choose between saving herself by giving up the guns or honoring her father's request to save humanity from the most lethal weapons in existence.

Now on to the scene from James's POV!

One of the opening scenes in BURN OUT involves my main character, 17-year-old Tora Reynolds, as she steps outside her underground bunker. She thinks she’s alone on the planet and is caught off guard when soldiers begin firing at her. The scene in the book is from Tora’s point of view, so below is the same scene from the POV of James, a young soldier who captures her attention against her better judgment.

James:

I hoped this wouldn’t take long long. It was hot as hell out here and sweat streamed down my neck. The dying red sun blazed down on us and, despite our helmets and sunsuits, I didn’t know how much longer we could stand it out here. Markus tossed another pebble toward the bunker door. Please just let her come outside and surrender. Or we could do it the hard way and shoot her. We had orders to take her back alive, so we’d only be aiming to incapacitate her which would be easy since I was a perfect shot. Then we could get off of this godforsaken planet for good.

         

“Seriously, Markus?” Britta’s exasperated voice came through the com system in our

helmets. “It’s not like we have all day. I’m sweating my ass off.” Britta crouched behind another large boulder near the one where Markus and I hid. She leaned over, picked up a larger stone and flung it at the door as hard as she could.       

A minute later the bunker door swung upward from its underground entrance. The girl climbed out of the bunker in a faded red sunsuit. She was an easy target amidst the barren landscape as she swung her gun around looking for the source of the noise. I readied my gun and waited for our commander Kale to give the order.

Though the girl’s face was obscured by her helmet, the picture that Markus had shown me earlier flashed through my mind. Something in her eyes had reminded me of myself. She looked strong and sad at the same time. It was hard to tear my eyes away from the photo when Markus identified her as our target. I focused back on the girl, bent over to examine the pebbles strewn about the bunker door.

“Fire!” Kale ordered. I aimed at her right thigh knowing it would take her down quickly. My finger hovered on the trigger panel as I pictured her grief-filled eyes. The others had started firing, so maybe they wouldn’t notice. I moved my gun a few inches to the right and did something I’d never done before. I missed.

Thank you Kristi! That was awesome I adore James!!

About Kristi:

Kristi Helvig is a Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist turned sci-fi/fantasy writer. You can find her musing about space monkeys, Star Trek, and other random topics on her blog. Kristi resides in sunny Colorado with her hubby, kids, and behaviorally-challenged dogs.

Website  |  Blog | Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

1 signed hardcopy of BURN OUT, a red sun necklace, and assorted sun survival items (ie. chapstick, sunscreen) US Only

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Tour Schedule

Week One:

3/31/2014- Library of a Book Witch- Interview

4/1/2014- Shortie Says- Review

4/1/2014- Literary Meanderings- Guest Post

4/2/2014- Ketch's Book Nook- Review

4/3/2014- A Book and a Latte- Interview

4/4/2014- Such a Novel Idea- Review

4/4/2014- Fantasy Book Addict- Guest Post

Week Two:

4/7/2014- Reading with ABC- Review

4/7/2014- Refracted Light Reviews- Interview

4/8/2014- Imagine a World- Review

4/8/2014- Ticket to Anywhere- Guest Post

4/9/2014- The Demon Librarian- Review

4/10/2014- Two Chicks on Books- Guest Post

4/11/2014- Working for the Mandroid- Review

4/11/2014- Parajunkee's View- Interview

Exclusive Cover Reveal!!!! THE OPAL CROWN by Jenny Lundquist and a Giveaway!

I am sooooooo excited!!!! Today I get the EXCLUSIVE cover reveal for THE OPAL CROWN, book 2 in The Opal Mask Series, by Jenny Lundquist releasing in October 2014! I adored THE PRINCESS IN THE OPAL MASK and am dying to get my hands on this one myself! Check out the gorgeous cover, synopsis, and enter to win an ARC!

About the book: (Spoilers for book 1 so don't read if you haven't read The Princess in The Opal Mask)

THE OPAL CROWN by Jenny Lundquist (The Opal Mask #2)

Publisher: Running Press Kids

Publication date: October 28, 2014

One year after her betrothal to the crown prince of Kyrenica, no one has suspected that Princess Wilha (also known as the Masked Princess) has been a decoy. And that Elara, her secret twin sister, has been pretending to be Wilha all along. The Galandrian royal family has kept Elara’s identity hidden from the world, and for the girls, swapping lives has not been easy. There is word that their kingdom is deteriorating, and the sisters need to decide if returning home will offer peace—or add fuel to the slow-burning fire.

When their father, the king, mysteriously dies and Elara and Wilha’s younger brother, Andrei, claims the Galandrian throne, he reveals the girls’ deception to Kyrenica’s royal family. Viewed as traitors, Elara and Wilha realize they are now fighting for their lives—and for their country. But with only one crown to claim and one throne to overthrow, Elara and Wilha must decide who will become queen. Or rather, who will become the next savior for their people.

Jenny Lundquist’s final installment to The Princess in the Opal Mask series delivers a fast-paced fantasy packed with palace intrigue, romance, and epic twists. Fans of princesses and fairy-tale re-imaginings will be rooting for these fierce heroines until the very end.

Find THE OPAL CROWN Online:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads 

 

Jenny Lundquist was born and raised in Huntington Beach, CA. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Intercultural Studies with a minor in TESOL at Biola University. Lundquist is the author of The Princess in Opal Mask and two middle-grade novels, Seeing Cinderella and Plastic Polly. She lives in Rancho Cordova, California, with her husband and two sons. Visit her online at jennylundquist.com and Twitter @Jenny_Lundquist.

Find Jenny Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest

Giveaway

 Want to win your very own ARC of THE OPAL MASK?  Enter the Rafflecopter. Good luck everyone! US Only.

 

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Make sure to grab your copy of THE PRINCESS IN THE OPAL MASK! Available now!

Praise for The Princess in the Opal Mask:

“Fantasy readers will eagerly await the promised second title.”—Booklist

“This delightfully fanciful tale will find a captive audience among fans of Gail Carson Levine.”—School Library Journal

“Engaging and action-packed . . . fans of romantic fantasy will be left begging for a sequel.”—VOYA

The Princess in the Opal Mask

320 pages

ISBN 987-0-7624-5109-8

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads 

Every Fairy-Tale Ending Has a Price. . .

Orphaned as a child in the crumbling village of Tulan, Elara is determined to learn her true identity, even if it means wielding a dagger. Meanwhile, in Galandria's royal capital, Princess Wilha stands out as someone to either worship or fear. Though no one knows why the king has always made her conceal her face—including Wilha herself.

When an assassination attempt threatens the peace of neighboring kingdoms, Elara and Wilha are brought face to face . . . with a chance at claiming new identities. However, with dark revelations now surfacing, both girls will need to decide if brighter futures are worth the binding risks.

Blog Tour-THE SHADOW PRINCE by Bree Despain a Playlist and a Giveaway!

I am so excited to have Bree Despain here with an awesome playlist for THE SHADOW PRINCE Blog Tour! I adored this book! Check it out and make sure to enter the awesome giveaway below!
Haven't heard of  THE SHADOW PRINCE ? Check it out!

Title: THE SHADOW PRINCE 

Author: Bree Despain

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Pages: 496 

Pub. Date: March 11, 2014

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes& Noble

Haden Lord, the disgraced prince of the Underrealm, has been sent to the mortal world to entice a girl into returning with him to the land of the dead. Posing as a student at Olympus Hills High—a haven for children of the rich and famous—Haden must single out the one girl rumored to be able to restore immortality to his race.

Daphne Raines has dreams much bigger than her tiny southern Utah town, so when her rock star dad suddenly reappears, offering her full tuition to Olympus Hills High’s prestigious music program, she sees an opportunity to catch the break she needs to make it as a singer. But upon moving into her estranged father’s mansion in California, and attending her glamorous new school, Daphne soon realizes she isn’t the only student in Olympus who doesn’t quite belong.

Haden and Daphne—destined for each other—know nothing of the true stakes their fated courtship entails. As war between the gods brews, the teenagers’ lives collide. But Daphne won’t be wooed easily and when it seems their prophesied link could happen, Haden realizes something he never intended—he’s fallen in love. Now to save themselves, Haden and Daphne must rewrite their destinies. But as their destinies change, so do the fates of both their worlds.

Now on to the playlist! I'll add vids for the ones I like for the others click on the links to listen.

Music plays a huge role in THE SHADOW PRINCE. Daphne is the daughter of a rock star and wants to be a great musician herself. To Daphne, music is essential to life, while Haden comes from a world where music has been forbidden. However, in order to get close to Daphne, he must immerse himself in her musical world—and open himself up to the repressed emotions that it invokes.

While I’m not completely obsessed like Daphne, I love music, and find it very important to my writing process. I thought it would be fun to share my Shadow Prince writing playlist with you (including links to where you can listen to the songs). Some of these songs are featured in the book, some served as inspiration, and others I just like listening to while I write.

THE SHADOW PRINCE Playlist:

1.       “I Will Follow You Into theDark” by Deathcab for Cutie. (This song was inspiration for the book—hence the similarity in the series title.) 

2.       “Falling Slowly” by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. (This song is featured in the book when Haden and Daphne have to perform a duet in front of the whole town.) 

3.     “Requiem for Dying Mothers,Part One” by Stars of the Lid. (This song is also featured in THE SHADOW PRINCE as part of the musical education that Daphne puts together for Haden. It sounds like the embodiment of grief to me.)  

4.     “Fall in Love” by Phantogram. 

5.    “The Crooked Kind” by Radical Face. (I love this band so much!) 

6.     “Sorry” by The Moth and the Flame. 

     7.    “The Walker” by Fitz and The Tantrums. 

8.     “More Than Life” by Whitley. (I can’t get enough of this song.) 

9.    “This Head I Hold” by Electric Guest. 

10.     “Unbelievers” by Vampire Weekend. (One of my favorite bands!) 

11. “Divisionary” (Do the Right Thing) by Ages and Ages. 

12.    “Demons” by The National. (The lead singer of this band was a tiny bit of inspiration for Daphne’s dad.)  

13.  “About Today” by The National. 

14.  “Clair De Lune” by Claude Debussy. (Not specifically mentioned in the book, but this would have been the first song that Daphne played for Haden in his musical education.) 

Thank you Alexandra! Awesome songs love the Mundian to Bach Ke it's so fitting for the scenes in Mumbai!

About Bree:

Bree Despain is the author of the Dark Divine trilogy and the upcoming Into The Dark trilogy. Bree rediscovered her childhood love for creating stories when she took a semester off college to write and direct plays for at-risk, inner-city teens from Philadelphia and New York. She currently lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband, two young sons, and her beloved TiVo. 
        

Website  |  Blog | Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads | Tumblr | Pinterest

Giveaway Details:

1 finished copies of THE SHADOW PRINCE US/Canada Only.

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