Blog Tour- THE KISS OF DECEPTION by Mary E Pearson and a Giveaway!

I think by now everyone knows my love of high fantasy so I am stoked to be on this blog tour! This is one of my favorite books of 2014. I have Mary E. Pearson here with an awesome guest post about the map in the book! In my opinion it's not a proper high fantasy unless there's a map so I had to get the dish. And if you love high fantasy as much as I do stick around to win a copy of the book!
Haven't heard of THE KISS OF DECEPTION? Check it out!

THE KISS OF DECEPTION (The Morrighan Chronicles book #1)

Mary E. Pearson

Release Date: July 7, 2014

Hardcover: 496pages

Publisher: Henry Holt (Macmillan) 

ISBN: 978-0805099232

Goodreads/Amazon/Barnes& Noble

Read an excerpt of Kiss of Deception now!

In this timeless new trilogy about love and sacrifice, a princess must find her place in a reborn world.

In a society steeped in tradition, Princess Lia’s life follows a preordained course. As First Daughter, she is expected to have the revered gift of sight—but she doesn’t—and she knows her parents are perpetrating a sham when they arrange her marriage to secure an alliance with a neighboring kingdom—to a prince she has never met.

On the morning of her wedding, Lia flees to a distant village. She settles into a new life, hopeful when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assasin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—even as she finds herself falling in love.

Now on to the post!

Click on the map to enlarge

The Map

The Kingdom of Morrighan came first.  Originally, in my mind’s eye it was just a tiny little kingdom on a vast continent, with some very specific features, like forests and rolling hills, all nestled up against a great ocean. But as the other kingdoms came into play, it grew.  

Venda and Dalbreck came next, and then the many lesser kingdoms and all the places in between. I tend to be a very visual person, and with numerous kingdoms to juggle, I almost immediately began drawing maps.  I needed to understand the kingdoms my characters spoke about, exactly what their borders were, just how long it would take to travel between them, and what physical features would be passed along the way.  By having a map, no matter where I was in the book, I could look at it and be consistent in my descriptions. 

I actually drew simple maps of Terravin, and the Vagabond camp too—very basic ones but enough for me to visualize how things were laid out—but the whole world of The Remnant Chronicles was much more specific because of distances and several other reasons.  I revised my map over and over again as I wrote the story and changed details. 

The map that I drew was only for me to keep things straight in my head, but then my publisher decided to put one in the book.  I was thrilled to say the least, and practically doing backflips when I found out Keith Thompson was going to be drawing it! So I gave the Macmillan design department detailed descriptions of the kingdoms, important physical features in the Remnant world, and of course my very roughly drawn map.

I was pretty much blown away when I got the initial sketch. Keith Thompson turned my descriptions into pictures and added surprise elements that were simply gorgeous—details like shields, books, and veiled figures at the bottom. I swooned. There were just a couple of changes I requested in the final so the map would be in sync with the story.  When it came back, more swooning ensued, and Anna Booth in the Macmillan art department  got to work laying in the type which was no small task trying to balance all the labels with the artwork and she did an incredible job.

I was so excited just to have a map inside the book, but then my publisher made a poster of it too! Can I use the word gorgeous again?  I can’t wait to frame it and hang it in my office.

Of course, the map isn’t just about beautiful artwork but it also serves  a very practical purpose.  I think with a book that is so long and spans so many places, it’s very helpful for the reader to have their own map, just as I had one to refer to as I was writing the book.

I hope this answered your questions. Thanks so much for having me at your blog, Jaime!

This is awesome! Thanks Mary!!!!

About Mary:

Mary E. Pearson is the award-winning author of The Jenna Fox Chronicles, The Miles Between, A Room on Lorelei, and Scribbler of Dreams.  She writes full-time from her home office in California where she lives with her husband and two golden retrievers.

Website/Twitter/Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

1 finished copy of THE KISS OF DECEPTION. US/Canada Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Kiss of Deception Blog Tour Schedule

Monday July 7

Icey Books (Review)

The Starry-Eyed Revue (Guest Post)

Tuesday July 8

Adventures of a Book Junkie (Review)

Cuddlebuggery (Guest Post)

Wednesday July 9

FicFare (Review)

Two Chicks on Books (Guest Post)

Thursday July 10

Winterhaven Books (Review)

Tales of a Ravenous Reader (Guest Post)

Friday July 11

MundieMoms (Review)

Alice Marvels (Guest Post)

Monday July 14

YA Bibliophile (Review)

Bewitched Bookworms (Guest Post)

Tuesday July 15

That Artsy Reader Girl (Review)

Jenna Does Books (Guest Post)

Wednesday July 16

ExLibris (Review)

My Friends are Fiction (Guest Post)

Thursday July 17

Birth of a New Witch (Review)

Good Books and Good Wine (Guest Post)

Friday July 18

Google Hangout with Mary Pearson hosted by Belle of the Literati (More info to come)

COMPULSION by Martina Boone July Giveaway Tour

Today is awesome! I get to help Martina Boone spread the word about her upcoming book COMPULSION! I've already read it and loved it! And I have an extra special swoon worthy excerpt to share with you too! Oh and make sure to stick around because there's an awesome giveaway included!
Haven't heard of COMPULSION? Check it out!

Compulsion, Heirs of Watson Island Book 1
by Martina Boone
Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse 
October 28, 2014

Pub. Date: October 28, 2014

Pages: 304

Find it: Amazon, Barnes& Noble, Goodreads

Three plantations. Two wishes. One ancient curse.

All her life, Barrie Watson has been a virtual prisoner in the house where she lived with her shut-in mother. When her mother dies, Barrie promises to put some mileage on her stiletto heels. But she finds a new kind of prison at her aunt’s South Carolina plantation instead--a prison guarded by an ancient spirit who long ago cursed one of the three founding families of Watson Island and gave the others magical gifts that became compulsions.

Stuck with the ghosts of a generations-old feud and hunted by forces she cannot see, Barrie must find a way to break free of the family legacy. With the help of sun-kissed Eight Beaufort, who knows what Barrie wants before she knows herself, the last Watson heir starts to unravel her family's twisted secrets. What she finds is dangerous: a love she never expected, a river that turns to fire at midnight, a gorgeous cousin who isn’t what she seems, and very real enemies who want both Eight and Barrie dead.

“Darkly romantic and steeped in Southern Gothic charm, you’ll be compelled to get lost in the Heirs of Watson Island series.” — #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Jennifer L. Armentrout 

"Compulsion is a stunningly magical debut with a delicious slow burn to be savored. I want to live in this story world!” — Wendy Higgins, USA Today and NYT bestselling author of the Sweet Evil Trilogy from HarperTeen 

"Beautifully written, with vivid characters, a generations-old feud, and romance that leaps off the page, this Southern ghost story left me lingering over every word, and yet wanting to race to the compelling finish. Martina Boone’s COMPULSION is not to be missed." — Megan Shepherd, Author of THE MADMAN’S DAUGHTER 

"A star-crossed romance, lush gothic plantations, and an island full of intrigue--COMPULSION was a heart-pounding race to the finish! A thrilling debut!" — Kimberly Derting, author of The Body Finder series

"Martina Boone's COMPULSION is the perfect southern family saga, charming and steamy on the surface, with cold-blooded secrets buried down deep. What more do you want? More time to read it, that's what.” — Kendare Blake, author of ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD and ANTIGODESS 


Now on to the excerpt!

Drained by the aftereffects of anger and adrenaline, Barrie found herself breathing in Eight’s recklessness, swept up in it, and suddenly it didn’t matter where they were going or what he planned to do. His moods were contagious, dangerous to her equilibrium. 

He stopped at the beach, the same beach where they’d seen the turtle nest. Neither of them said a word while Eight retrieved a musty-smelling towel from his trunk and caught Barrie’s hand, lacing their fingers like they were made to fit.  

They ran barefoot over the dunes and through a break in the pickets that held back the sea oats. The moon turned the white sand to diamond dust, and Eight laid the towel down above the hide-tide marker of shells and seaweed and damp, dark sand. He sat down and drew her against him, her back against his chest. His arms wrapped around her, and she leaned into the solidness of him. His heartbeat washed through her like the waves, until she didn’t know whether the pounding of it was hers or his. 

When she sighed and relaxed, he eased her down and leaned over and finally kissed her until she felt like she was going to fall. She reached for him, kissing him more deeply. His lips were scalding on hers, leaving her tingling and whole instead of so, so alone. She wanted the feeling, the moment, to never stop. 

Only when she came up for air did the word “love” enter her thoughts. She pushed it away, but maybe by the time any girl thought about protecting herself, keeping herself from falling for a guy who was going to leave her brokenhearted, it was already too late. Maybe it had been like that for Lula with Wade, and instead of being Prince Charming, Wade had turned out to be like Wyatt.

“Why do you suppose my mother was afraid of Wyatt?” Barrie rolled and rested on one elbow to look at Eight.

“Apart from what we saw tonight, you mean?”

“I assumed it was about the feud. Because she was a Watson and she’d run off with Wyatt’s brother. But it felt more personal.”

“Feuds are always personal. That’s what makes it hard to break the cycle. Everyone lives locked inside their own anger until someone is finally brave enough to step outside themselves to see the view from the other side. It’s why I need to get away from this place.”

“But you’re not stepping out for a different view.” Barrie tipped her face up to the stars so she wouldn’t have to look at him. “You’re stepping out to run away.”

He was silent, and she was suddenly afraid. Afraid that she had said too much, presumed too much, hoped too much. She rolled her capris as high as they would go, then ran toward the water. She didn’t look back until she was knee deep, which was as far as she dared. He was right behind her, his face gleaming in the kind of light that turned beautiful boys into gods. He caught her, and held her, his skin so warm and alive, she couldn’t help but melt.

“Why did you run?” he asked.

“To see if you’d come after me.” 

“It scares me how willing I am to run after you. We’re both doing too much running.”

“So kiss me again.”

Her hands crept around his neck, tangling in his hair to keep him closer, even though she knew that beautiful boys with expiration dates couldn’t be held, only borrowed for a time

Loved this! Thanks Martina!!!

About Martina:

Martina Boone writes contemporary fantasy set in the kinds of magical places she would love to visit. She is the founder of YASeriesInsiders.com and AdventuresinYAPublishing.com, a two-time Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers blog. If you like romance steeped in mystery, mayhem, Spanish moss, and a bit of magic, she hopes you'll look forward to meeting Barrie, Eight, Cassie, Pru, Seven and the other characters of Watson Island.

Website | AdventuresInYAPublishing.com | First Five Pages Workshop | YASeriesInsiders.com | Tumblr | Twitter.

Giveaway Details:

Both giveaways US and Canada only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule

Fantasy Ink
Two Chicks on Books (Here)
Reading Teen
OneFour KidLit
Writers for Misfits

Exclusive Cover Reveal- TRANSCENDENT by Lesley Livingston and aGiveaway!!

I am sooooooo excited!!!! Today I get the EXCLUSIVE cover reveal for TRANSCENDENT, book 3 in The Starling Series, by Lesley Livingston releasing in August 2014 in Canada and December 2014 in the US! I adore this series and Fennrys 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 and 2 so don't read if you haven't read STARLING and DESCENDENT)

TRANSCENDENT by Lesley Livingston (STARLING #3)

Publisher: Harper Teen

Publication date: US December 23, 2014 and Canada August, 2014

LOVE CONQUERS

On a storm-swept terrace high above the streets of Manhattan, Mason Starling holds the fate of the world in her hands as her beloved Fennrys lies bleeding at her feet, his life hanging in the balance. The ancient Norse prophecy of Ragnarok stands poised on the knife edge of fulfillment. Mason’s transformation into a Valkyrie—a chooser of the slain and the one who will ultimately bring about the end of the world—is complete. Still, she remains determined to thwart her father’s apocalyptic desires. Whatever is to come, it won’t happen because of what the prophecy foretold, or what Gunnar Starling has planned, or what the fates have already decided. What happens next will be up to Mason and the Fennrys Wolf. The world had better hope they haven’t reached the limits of what their souls and swords can survive.


Perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series, and set in the same universe as Lesley Livingston’s much-loved WONDROUS STRANGE trilogy, with roots in Greek, Roman, Norse, Egyptian, and Celtic myths and legends, this thrilling conclusion to the acclaimed Starling trilogy is filled to the hilt with sweeping adventure and soaring romance.

Praise for the Starling series:

“Thrilling and intense; pulls you along like the inevitable rush toward Ragnarok.”
Julie Kagawa, New York Times Bestselling author of The Iron Fey series.

“Memorable characters and a plot replete with some staggering acts of loyalty and betrayal will have fans eagerly awaiting the next installment.”
Quill & Quire

“Livingston’s intense novel will satisfy eager readers.”
VOYA

Find TRANSCENDENT Online:

Amazon | Amazon Canada |Barnes & Noble | Goodreads 

 

About Lesley:

Lesley Livingston is a writer and actress living in Toronto. She has a master's degree in English from the University of Toronto, where she specialized in Arthurian Literature and Shakespeare. She frequently performs with the Tempest Theatre Group, of which she is a co-founder. She is also the author of WONDROUS STRANGE and DARKLIGHT.

You can visit Lesley online at www.lesleylivingston.com

Website/Blog/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

Giveaway

 Want to win your very own ARC of TRANSCENDENT?  Enter the Rafflecopter. Good luck everyone! US and Canada Only.

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Dying to Read (61)- THE FALL by Bethany Griffin

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!

I love Bethany's Poe retellings so I'm super excited for this one! The Fall of the House of Usher is one of my favorites!!!

THE FALL

Release Date: November 8, 2014

Hardcover: 432 pages

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

ISBN:  978-0062107855

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Madeline Usher is doomed.

She has spent her life fighting fate, and she thought she was succeeding. Until she woke up in a coffin.

Ushers die young. Ushers are cursed. Ushers can never leave their house, a house that haunts and is haunted, a house that almost seems to have a mind of its own. Madeline’s life—revealed through short bursts of memory—has hinged around her desperate plan to escape, to save herself and her brother. Her only chance lies in destroying the house.

In the end, can Madeline keep her own sanity and bring the house down? The Fall is a literary psychological thriller, reimagining Edgar Allan Poe’s classic The Fall of the House of Usher.

Look for it- Fall 2014!

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

I'm going to ALA Annual in Vegas Squee!!!

I wanted to write a small post since I'll be MIA for the next few days. I'm going to ALA in Vegas and I couldn't be more excited!!! I haven't been to an ALA since Midwinter in Seattle 2 years ago! I'm so excited to be reunited with blogger friends and author friends I haven't seen in a while as well as meeting new friends!


I will be there for myself but also as a representative for Month9Books and I will be handing out swag and if you give me your business card I'll be entering you in a drawing to win Month9Books!

I haven't been to Vegas in years and am looking forward to getting away from the old homestead for a while. The conference is only 4 days for me but, we'll be leaving on June 24th we decided to turn our trip into a vacation. So posting on the blog will be sporadic through the end of the month. Just wanted to let you all know I'm not going anywhere!

Here's the signing schedule that I want to try to do. I know some of them are at the same time so I'll have to choose wisely.

FRIDAY, JUNE 27
6:00pm - 7:00pm
Meet the Authors: Becca Fitzpatrick (Simon & Schuster, Inc.)
Exhibit Hall - Booth 302-303

6:00pm - 7:00pm
Meet the Authors: Scott Westerfeld (Simon & Schuster, Inc.)
Exhibit Hall - Booth 302-303

SATURDAY, JUNE 28
9:00am - 10:00am
Meet the Authors: Jenny Han (Simon & Schuster, Inc.)
Exhibit Hall - Booth 302-303

9:00am - 10:00am
Meet the Authors: Neal Shusterman (Simon & Schuster, Inc.)
Exhibit Hall - Booth 302-303

9:30am - 10:30am
Meet the Authors: Whitney A. Miller (Flux/Llewellyn)
Exhibit Hall - Booth 235

10:00am - 11:00am
Meet the Authors: Marcus Sedgwick (Macmillan Children's Publishing Group)
Exhibit Hall - Booth 523

10:00am - 11:00am
Meet the Authors: Colleen Gleason (Chronicle Books)  
Exhibit Hall - Booth 608

10:00am - 11:00am
Meet the Authors: Shaunta Grimes (Penguin Group)  
Exhibit Hall - Booth 449

10:30am - 11:30am
Meet the Authors: Victoria Schwab (Disney-Hyperion)
Exhibit Hall - Booth 603

10:30am - 11:30am
Meet the Authors: Jonathan Friesen (Penguin Young Readers Group)
Exhibit Hall - Booth 442-443

10:30am - 11:30am
Meet the Authors: Neal Shusterman (Penguin Young Readers Group) Convention Center
Exhibit Hall - Booth 442-443

11:00am - 12:00pm
Meet the Authors: Holly Black (Simon & Schuster, Inc.)
Exhibit Hall - Booth 302-303

12:00pm - 12:30pm
Meet the Authors: Neal Shusterman (HarperCollins Children's Books)
Exhibit Hall - Booth 503

12:00pm - 1:00pm
Meet the Authors: Jonathan Maberry (Simon & Schuster, Inc.)
Exhibit Hall - Booth 302-303

Abrams Book Buzz panel on Saturday at 2:30. Cat Winters

2:00pm - 2:30pm
Meet the Authors: Neal Shusterman (Disney-Hyperion)
Exhibit Hall - Booth 603

2:00pm - 3:00pm
Meet the Authors: Katherine Howe (Penguin Young Readers Group)  
Exhibit Hall - Booth 442-443

2:00pm - 3:00pm
Meet the Authors: Ellen Hopkins (Simon & Schuster, Inc.)
Exhibit Hall - Booth 302-303

3:00pm - 4:00pm
Meet the Authors: Cassandra Clare (Simon & Schuster, Inc.)
Exhibit Hall - Booth 302-303

4:00pm - 5:00pm
Meet the Authors: Marcus Zusak (Scholastic Inc.)
Exhibit Hall - Booth 430

SUNDAY, JUNE 29

9:00am - 10:00am 
YA Author Coffee Klatch Author Event, Ticketed event Las Vegas Hotel


Ballroom C

10:30am - 11:30am
Meet the Authors: Caragh O'Brien (Macmillan Children's Publishing Group)
Exhibit Hall - Booth 523

10:30am - 11:30am
Meet the Authors: Mary E. Pearson (Macmillan Children's Publishing Group)
Exhibit Hall - Booth 523

11:00am - 12:00pm
Meet the Authors: Jandy Nelson (Penguin Young Readers Group)   Exhibit Hall - Booth 442-443

11:00am - 12:00pm
Meet the Authors: Lauren Myracle (Abrams Books)    
Exhibit Hall - Booth 628

12:00pm - 1:00pm
Meet the Authors: Ally Condie (Penguin Young Readers Group)
Exhibit Hall - Booth 442-443

12:00pm - 1:00pm
Meet the Authors: Marie Lu (Penguin Young Readers Group)
Exhibit Hall -Booth 442-443

1:00pm - 2:00pm
Meet the Authors: Maggie Stiefvater (Scholastic Inc.)
Exhibit Hall - Booth 430

1:00pm - 2:00pm
Meet the Authors: Lois Lowry (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)      
Exhibit Hall - Booth 403

2:00pm - 3:00pm
Meet the Authors: Cassandra Clare & Holly Black (Scholastic Inc.) Exhibit Hall - Booth 430

2:00pm - 3:00pm
Meet the Authors: Cat Winters Abrams
Exhibit Hall - Booth 628

3:00pm - 3:30pm
Meet the Authors: Melissa Landers (Disney-Hyperion)
Exhibit Hall - Booth 603

3:00pm - 4:00pm
Meet the Authors: Josephine Angelini (Macmillan Children's Publishing Group)
Exhibit Hall - Booth 522

3:00pm - 4:00pm
Meet the Authors: Judy Blume (Simon & Schuster, Inc.)
Exhibit Hall - Booth 302-303

3:00pm - 4:00pm
Meet the Authors: Leigh Bardugo (Macmillan Children's Publishing Group)
Exhibit Hall - Booth 523

3:00pm - 4:00pm
Meet the Authors: David Levithan (Random House Children's Books)
Exhibit Hall - Booth 543

3:00pm - 4:00pm
Meet the Authors: Jay Asher (Penguin Young Readers Group)  
Exhibit Hall - Booth 442-443

3:00pm - 4:00pm
Meet the Authors: Jessica Brody (Macmillan Children's Publishing Group)
Exhibit Hall - Booth 523

Talk to you all when I get back! 

Blog Tour- GRADUATION DAY by Joelle Charbonneau and a Giveaway!

Today is kind of bittersweet. I have Joelle Charbonneau here with an awesome scene from Raffe's POV I Loved this series so much and I'm sad to see it end! It's one of my favorite series and even though it ended perfectly I want more. If you haven't read the books don't worry this scene won't spoil anything and also enter below to win the full set!
Haven't heard of GRADUATION DAY? Check it out!

Title: GRADUATION DAY (The Testing #3)

Author: Joelle Charbonneau

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

Pub. Date: June 17, 2014

Pages: 304

Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads

In book three of the Testing series, the United Commonwealth wants to eliminate the rebel alliance fighting to destroy The Testing for good. Cia is ready to lead the charge, but will her lethal classmates follow her into battle?

She wants to put an end to the Testing

In a scarred and brutal future, The United Commonwealth teeters on the brink of all-out civil war. The rebel resistance plots against a government that rules with cruelty and cunning. Gifted student and Testing survivor, Cia Vale, vows to fight.

But she can't do it alone.

This is the chance to lead that Cia has trained for - but who will follow? Plunging through layers of danger and deception, Cia must risk the lives of those she loves--and gamble on the loyalty of her lethal classmates.

Who can Cia trust?

The stakes are higher than ever-lives of promise cut short or fulfilled; a future ruled by fear or hope--in the electrifying conclusion to Joelle Charbonneau's epic Testing trilogy. Ready or not…it's Graduation Day.

The Final Test is the Deadliest!

Now on to the scene from Raffe's POV!

Raffe (Independent Study version)

Induction Day.

After working for this moment for years, its no wonder that I am awake and ready earlier than everyone else.  Standing in the hang out room next to the lit fireplace, I look around me at everything I always thought I wanted then down at the gold bracelet and the symbol smack in the center.  The coiled spring sitting beneath the scales of justice.  Why the coiled spring?  Got me.  After looking at the symbols the other students were given, I have to guess the administration assigned random designs hoping we could read into them something that fit us.  Whatever.  But the scales do mean something.  Balanced scales to remind us that the government is supposed to seek justice for everyone.  Yeah, right.

But despite the lack of meaning to me, the design is nice.  Good composition.  Whoever created the symbols is skilled.  For a moment, I wonder if the symbol was fabricated by a male or female.  Whether the artist always wanted to etch designs in metal or if they failed to make it into the University and reluctantly embraced a different life.  Lucky them.

“Hey, Raffe.” 

          I turn as Damone strolls into the room and walks over to where I stand next to the fireplace.  I smile.   It never hurts to be nice to someone who thinks he’s your friend.  “Ready to become an official University student?” I ask.

          He shrugs his bony shoulders.  The guy has always been skinny.  Kind of like a snake, which would be a fitting symbol for his bracelet.  The only real annoyance is that he’s taller than me.  Looking up at Damone for any reason seems wrong. 

“I’ve been ready for years. “  Damone leans against the fireplace and I imagine him setting his pants on fire.  That makes my smile real as he continues talking,  “If it weren’t for all these colony students they wouldn’t have to bother with the whole Induction process.  They’d already know which students are capable of being successful.  What a waste of time.  It’s not like there was any doubt we’d get in.  Right?”

          “Sure.”  There’s no point in reminding him that he would never have made it this far if it weren’t for his father’s influence or his Induction team’s abilities.  Damone isn’t exactly a mental giant. 

          Damone looks over his shoulder to make sure no one is around and when he turns back to me I see calculation on his face. “We have a problem.”

          “Us as in you and me?”

          Damone shakes his head.  “One of our classmates should never have been accepted to the University.  Professor Holt wants assistance from loyal University students in removing her.  She asked Griffin and I to help and I suggested to Griffin that we bring you in.  It never hurts to do a favor for someone like Professor Holt and I think you’ll be as happy as I am to get rid of the colony brat.”

          “Who?” 

          “The one who showed you and your team up a couple days ago.  Cia Vale.”

          Cia.

          I rub the spot on my arm where I was burned. It’s healed now, but I still bare the scar.  The medical team could make it fade, but I want to keep it.  A reminder of what happens when you rely on anyone but yourself.  My Induction team, which included Damone’s best friend, Griffin, was so damn cocky.  And when things went to hell it was Cia that stopped to help me.  She shouldn’t have.  It cost her team time and could have cost them winning, something she didn’t seem to care about.  I don’t understand colony kids.  But I certainly plan to.

          “You’re good with the girls.”  Damone gives me a sly smile that make me want to deck him.  “I figure you have a better shot of getting close to her than Griffin and I do.  I think she might even have a crush on you already.  Why else would she come back to treat your burn?”

          Why else would she? 

          “I heard she has a boyfriend.”  Actually, I know she does.  I asked around about the duo from Five Lakes.

          “I’m sure that’s never stopped you before,” Damone grins.

          No one ever accused Damone of having class.  That’s for sure.  Still, I’m intrigued.   “Why is Professor Holt so threatened by Cia?”

          Damone shrugs again.  “She didn’t say and I don’t care.  Having one less colony student around, especially one that thinks she’s better than everyone else is good enough reason for me.  And I’m happy to have Professor Holt owe me when test time rolls around.  What do you say?  It’s not like she’s hard to look at.  Griffin and I will watch where she goes and who she talks to.  Between the three of us, we can get Professor Holt the information she needs to redirect that Five Lakes Colony wannabe out of this place.   What do you think?  Are you in?”

          I hear footsteps in the hall and voices coming from the stairs telling me people are heading out of their rooms for the ceremony.  Induction will begin shortly, which means we have to get outside and in our designated positions soon.  But I can tell from the intensity of Damone’s stare that he won’t wait until later for an answer. 

          I catch a glimpse of long dark hair in the middle of a group of students passing by and I take a step toward the door so I can watch as Cia walks toward the dining hall.  Probably to grab a snack with the rest of them before the festivities begin.  Yeah – Damone isn’t right about much, but looking at Cia isn’t a hardship.  She’s pretty and acts like she doesn’t know it with makes her even more attractive.  High cheekbones.  Slightly upturned nose and lightly tanned skin. But as pretty as her face is, it’s her dark eyes that caught my interest when I told her she didn’t have to come back to help me and she responded “Yes, I did.”    Serious.  Kind.  Determined.  Sad.  And in the middle of all of that, secrets.  Lots and lots of secrets.

          Cia.  A girl from Five Lakes.  A girl who Professor Holt has targeted, which means Cia’s secrets are important.  How important?  Will they give me the answers I’m searching for?”

“Sure.  I’m in,” I say.  “I’ll start as soon as the ceremony is over.”

“Great.”  Damone slaps me on the shoulder and grins.  “I told Griffin you’d do it.  You’re one of us.”

No, I’m not.  But I don’t dispute his belief as we walk out into the sunshine and lineup for the ceremony that makes our University student status official.  I’m no longer like Damone and Griffin.  Or maybe I am.  Because as I Professor Holt clips my new silver and gold bracelet on my arm, I understand that the scales on the symbol aren’t really balanced.  They tilt in the direction of whoever is in power.  Those are the people who can demand answers and action.   They are the ones that know everyone’s secrets.  I plan on being one of them. 

Loved this! Thanks Joelle!

About Joelle:

Ever since I can remember I loved telling stories. As I grew up, I started performing those stories on the stage. Creating vivid characters and singing wonderfully complex songs were my passion. I graduated from Millikin University with a Bachelors Degree in Vocal Performance and then continued onto DePaul University for my Masters Degree in Opera Performance. From there I went onto perform across the Chicagoland area in a variety of Operas, Operettas and Musicals. I also started teaching acting classes and private voice lessons to pass my passion along to the next generation.

Not exactly the path you’d expect a writer to take.

I’d never dreamed of writing a novel. But I loved to read. Then one day I had an idea and I started to write. I found my passion for creating characters lived on the page as well as the stage. It is my hope that the characters I’ve created resonate with you and make you smile.

I still teach voice lessons and sing for the occasional professional event. But the rest of my time is spent with my husband and son while dreaming up new and interesting stories. I hope that someday I hear yours.

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads/Pinterest

Giveaway Details:

3 sets of the complete series along with a Graduation Day pen and a T-Shirt. US Only

1 T-Shirt US ONLY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule

Week One:

6/9/2014- NightlyReading- Review

6/10/2014- The Book Cellar- Guest Post

6/11/2014- Curling Up With A Good Book- Review

6/12/2014- Fiktshun- Interview

6/13/2014- Manga Maniac Café- Review

Week Two:

6/16/2014- Magical Urban Fantasy Reads- Guest Post

6/17/2014- K-books- Review

6/18/2014- Tales of the Ravenous Reader- Interview

6/19/2014- Parajunkee's View- Review

6/20/2014- Two Chicks on Books- Guest Post