Destiny's Fire Blog Tour

Trisha Wolfe's debut novel, Destiny's Fire, was released earlier this week! In celebration of that fact there's a great blog tour going on to promote the book. Here's a little bit more about it:

It’s the year 2040, and sixteen-year-old Dez Harkly is one of the last of her kind—part of a nearly extinct race of shape-shifters descended from guardians to the Egyptian pharaohs. Her home and her secret are threatened when the Council lowers the barrier, allowing the enemy race to enter the Shythe haven.

As the Narcolym airships approach, Dez and her friends rebel against their Council and secretly train for battle. Not only is Dez wary of war and her growing affection for her best friend Jace, but she fears the change her birthday will bring. When Dez’s newfound power rockets out of control, it’s a Narcolym who could change her fate… if she can trust him.

Dez’s guarded world crumbles when she discovers why the Narcos have really come to Haven Falls, and she's forced to choose between the race who raised her and the enemy she's feared her whole life.

Find more information about Trisha & Destiny's Fire:

• Goodreads
• Blog
• Website
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Tumblr
• Youtube
• Fans of Trisha Wolfe Facebook

Be sure to check out the other tour posts for reviews, guest posts, interviews, and giveaways. The grand prize consists of an Egyptian/steampunk necklace (see picture), a print copy of Destiny's Fire, a DF bookmark, and a signed bookplate.

Embrace Cover Reveal

I'm psyched to be a part of the cover reveal for Embrace by Jessica Shirvington. Embrace is set for release on March 1, 2012 through Sourcebooks.

And here's the cover!!

What do you think? I love the purple, the feathers, and the smoke that hints at Violet's angel aspect.

Jacket Flap Synopsis:
It starts with a whisper.
“It’s time for you to know who you are…”

Strange dreams leave her with very real injuries and there’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms. The guy she thought she could fall in love with just told her he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her. And she keeps hearing a distant fluttering of wings.

Violet Eden is having a very bad 17th birthday.

But if angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden…

[A longer description can be found here]

You can also...

• mark Embrace 'to read' on Goodreads
• visit the Facebook page for Embrace
• check out the site that Sourcebooks has created for the series

Another fun thing that the team at Sourcebooks put together is a behind the scenes look at the cover photo shoot. I think it's pretty awesome to see the vision of the publisher and how it becomes reality, as well as get the POV from the photographer and the model.

Embrace Cover Shoot from Sourcebooks Inc on Vimeo.

The Way We Fall - New Cover

You may remember that I posted my review of Megan Crewe's 2012 release "The Way We Fall" back in August. Well I loved the book, but I wasn't totally sold on the cover.

Apparently the publishers weren't either, because as Megan revealed on her blog today, the book has a new official cover:


What do you think?? I kind of love it! The concept of it reminds me a bit of the original Delirium cover, which can never be a bad thing. I think it represents the tone of the book quite well, and it's just interesting to look at. I bet it will be even better in person.

Here's the synopsis for the book:

It starts with an itch you just can't shake. Then comes a fever and a tickle in your throat. A few days later, you'll be blabbing your secrets and chatting with strangers like they’re old friends. Three more, and the paranoid hallucinations kick in.

And then you're dead.

When a deadly virus begins to sweep through sixteen-year-old Kaelyn’s community, the government quarantines her island—no one can leave, and no one can come back.

Those still healthy must fight for dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival. As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest.

Because how will she go on if there isn't?

Megan Crewe crafts a powerful and gripping exploration of self-preservation, first love, and hope. Poignant and dizzying, this heart-wrenching story of one girl’s bravery and unbeatable spirit will leave readers fervently awaiting the next book in this standout new series.

You can find "The Way We Fall" on Goodreads; it will be released on January 24, 2012.

Best Overlooked Book Battle

I'm so excited to be participating in The Shady Glade's 'Best Overlooked Book Battle'. As a round two judge I was assigned two titles and then had to make a decision about which book would go on in the battle. Here are the two titles I was assigned:


StarCrossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce:
‘StarCrossed’ is a book I was looking forward to reading, and I am glad to say that it did not disappoint. I absolutely enjoyed this book! The main character, Celyn (or Digger), was so delightful. I loved how extremely practical she was, and how she really cared about other people. Digger’s loyalty was one of her best qualities, but she was also strong and intelligent. I definitely enjoyed the characters in this novel, but I also loved the fantasy aspects. This is a book which includes magic, court politics, and religion.

Digger’s mysterious past is slowly revealed throughout the novel, and as a reader you are drawn into the story completely. The world building in this book is amazing (so many awesome details, but not in an overwhelming way. I felt like I really understood the world and its politics), so I’m extremely excited that there is a second book coming out this fall. I can't believe that not a lot of people have read this book, because I would definitely recommend it!

Threads and Flames by Esther Friesner:
The beginning of this novel has a bit of a slower pace, but very quickly I became wrapped up in Raisa’s story, caring about her and wanting her to succeed. ‘Threads and Flames’ presents such an interesting account of what it must have been like as an immigrant coming to America and living in poverty. This is a story that involves religious persecution, the reality of social classes, and working conditions for the poor.

Even though the whole book was mesmerizing, the events described within the last 1/3 (or less) of the book are the most hard hitting. This book is centred around the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, a real life event that happened in 1911. It’s absolutely heartbreaking to read about, especially once I did a little research and realized that almost all the events of the fire that Esther Friesner wrote about actually happened.

The characters in this book are amazing. You will love Raisa and want so desperately for her to be safe and happy and to find some hope. Other side characters are just as lovely, especially Gavrel. This is a book with tons of emotional intensity which quietly grabs your heart as you read through its pages.

The Winner:
This was a serious debate! I enjoyed ‘StarCrossed’ so much that before I started ‘Threads and Flames’ I thought to myself “Oh, I already know I’m going to pick ‘StarCrossed’.” Um, I stand corrected. I’m picking ‘Threads and Flames’ to move on in the Book Battle.

This was a tough decision because the books are so different. An incredibly fun cat-burglar fantasy tale versus a heartwrenching historical. They’re so dissimilar that it’s tough to judge them against each other. When it came down to it I asked myself “Which book, of the two, would you say that people have to read?” The answer was clear. While ‘StarCrossed’ is well written and enjoyable, ‘Threads and Flames’ is just plain important. ‘Threads and Flames’ can, and probably has, touched people’s lives. It would be a shame if more people didn’t pick up this book, which is why I made it my winner.

Don't forget to check out more of the Book Battle results at The Shady Glade.

Flat-Out Love Blog Tour

Hi everyone, and welcome to the 'Flat-Out Love' blog tour! I am so honoured to host this event for the very talented Jessica Park.

Come and visit each of our tour stops for reviews, guest posts, interviews, and GIVEAWAYS!!

Tuesday, July 5 (today!): Cindy’s Love of Books -- Giveaway, Guest Post, & Review
Wednesday, July 6: SeeKRead -- Guest Post
Thursday, July 7: The Zealous Reader -- Guest Post & Review and Giveaway.
Friday, July 8: Blonde...Undercover Blonde -- Review, Interview, & Giveaway
Monday, July 11: The Reading Date -- Review and Giveaway & Guest Post
Tuesday, July 12: reutreads -- Review & Interview and Giveaway
Wednesday, July 13: Tour wrap-up back here at Book Labyrinth; winners revealed & new giveaway announced!

Each tour stop is offering the chance to win an eBook of 'Flat-Out Love'! There will be 3 winners in total and you can enter on each blog! PLUS, you might want to come back to Book Labyrinth at the end of the tour to participate in an exciting giveaway.

'Flat-Out Love' on Book Labyrinth:
- Five-Star Review
- Interview with Jessica
- Guest Post about self-publishing

Help promote 'Flat-Out Love'

Want to help support an amazing self-published author? You're in the right place!

You may have seen me rave about the book Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park. You might have read the interview I did with her, or viewed the illuminating guest post she wrote about self-publishing.

Conclusion? I really adore Jessica's latest release! And we're book bloggers, right? So what do we do when we love a book? We promote it! We want to share it with everyone.



WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR:
To put it simply - people who are willing to review 'Flat-Out Love' on their blog. That's it. Simple, right?

You'll be given a PDF copy of the book for free in exchange for your review. If you have an eReader -or- read eBooks on your computer then you can participate.

Want to participate even further? Then sign up to host a guest post or interview.



TOUR DATES?
This is completely in the beginning planning stages right now, so there are no set dates... but I'm thinking about running it through July. You will be assigned a date for your review.



OTHER DETAILS:
What fun is a blog tour without prizes? There will be a couple of "grand prizes" that everyone can enter. This giveaway will be promoted at each tour stop.

PLUS, for a few of the guest posts and interviews we'll be hosting giveaways for a Kindle version of 'Flat-Out Love' for your readers.

Basically...
- Get an awesome eBook for free in exchange for a review
- Help promote out a lesser known author
- Have fun!

If you are interested in participating, please...

FILL OUT FORM HERE

Cover Reveal: Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Have you seen the gorgeous cover for Tera Lynn Childs' new book?



Isn't it great? I LOVE the colours and contrast/sharpness used on it. It's pretty simple, but there are the few details there that make it so interesting.

Well, what about the book?

Sweet Venom, the first book in a trilogy, by Tera Lynn Childs will be released in October 2011.

There's no official blurb for it yet, but here's a teaser line for you --

Three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful gorgon maligned by myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in a world where monsters lurk in plain sight.

Wow, just that blurb alone sounds pretty cool, right? I know I'm insanely looking forward to this one.

You can add "Sweet Venom" to Goodreads here and/or like it on Facebook. Tera also has an info page up on her site.

Back in May, Tera also posted some very awesome looking character collages which may give you some insight into the three main characters, Grace, Gretchen, and Greer.

So, what do you think of the cover?

More 'You Killed Wesley Payne' + Giveaway!!

You may remember that just a little while ago I posted a review for a book which has an ultra cool looking cover -- "You Killed Wesley Payne", written by Sean Beaudoin.


Here's the book synopsis if you forget what it's about:

He’s come to do a job.

A job that involves a body.

A body wrapped in duct tape found hanging from the goal posts at the end of the football field.

You Killed Wesley Payne is a truly original and darkly hilarious update of classic pulp-noir, in which hard-boiled seventeen year old Dalton Rev transfers to the mean hallways of Salt River High to take on the toughest case of his life. The question isn’t whether Dalton’s going to get paid. He always gets paid. Or whether he’s gonna get the girl. He always (sometimes) gets the girl. The real question is whether Dalton Rev can outwit crooked cops and killer cliques in time to solve the mystery of “The Body” before it solves him.

Sean Beaudoin (Going Nowhere Faster, Fade to Blue) evokes the distinctive voices of legendary crime/noir authors Dashiell Hammett and Jim Thompson with a little bit of Mean Girls and Heathers throw in in for good measure. It’ll tease you, please you, and never ever leave you. Actually, that’s not true. It’s only a book. One that’s going to suck you in, spit you out, and make you shake hands with the devil. Probably.

Sounds pretty good, right? You may also remember that the book wasn't my normal style, but I really found it enjoyable despite that fact. You can also check out the book trailer --


& the book's website at http://www.youkilledwesleypayne.com -- it has all kinds of information on the book, as well as a cool option where you can read an excerpt of the book just for tweeting or sharing on Facebook.

I also have some exciting news... to celebrate the release of 'You Killed Wesley Payne' on February 1, Blog Reach Solutions is giving away an AUTOGRAPHED copy of Sean's first novel, 'Going Nowhere Faster'.

Giveaway Details:
- 1 winner will receive the book direct from BRS
- Contest runs from January 30 - February 6 at midnight
- Winner will have 3 days to respond to my email, otherwise a new winner will be selected
- US/Canada only

To enter, fill out THIS FORM.

Comments and promotion are appreciated, and I hope you'll check out 'You Killed Wesley Payne'.

'First Ever' Giveaway -- Hunger Games bookmarks

Hi everyone, and welcome to...




Yes, it's giveaway time! I wanted to celebrate a few different things: being done my Master's, almost 6 months of blogging, over 100 followers, and, most importantly, I just wanted to celebrate the awesome book blogging community.

I figured that giving away something bookish was appropriate, so I picked up these very cool Hunger Games bookmarks:




The details are simple:
- 3 winners, 1 bookmark each
- Open internationally
- You can enter up until February 3rd at midnight
- The winners will be emailed by me and will have 3 days to respond with their address before I pick a new winner


To enter, fill out THIS FORM 

Comments and promotion are appreciated. =)

Cover Reveal: Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker

Have you seen the gorgeous cover for Melissa Walker's new book?



What do you think? I love the fonts used, and I love how interesting the cover is in general... how about the apple? It adds a cuteness to the haunting feel, yet it's still ominous at the same time. Plus I'm sure it has some interesting religious significance, considering the topic of the book. Here's the official description:

Lacey Anne Byer is a perennial good girl and lifelong member of the House of Enlightenment, the Evangelical church in her small town. With her driver's license in hand and the chance to try out for a lead role in Hell House, her church's annual haunted house of sin, Lacey's junior year is looking promising. But when a cute new stranger comes to town, something begins to stir inside her. Ty Davis doesn't know the sweet, shy Lacey Anne Byer everyone else does. With Ty, Lacey could reinvent herself. As her feelings for Ty make Lacey test her boundaries, events surrounding Hell House make her question her religion.

You can add "Small Town Sinners" to Goodreads here (it doesn't come out until July 2011, unfortunately!) & be sure to check out Melissa Walker's blog for the upcoming cover story.

YA Spooktacular - "Darkness" Part 4 + Trick

Hi everyone, and welcome to Book Labyrinth's part in the YA Spooktacular, hosted by the lovely Danielle & Khelsea.

The YA Spooktacular is an awesome Halloween event which is comprised of two spooky YA stories. And if you thought that reading the stories was awesome, then you'll be thrilled to enter for the chance to win 1 of 2 great prize packs!

View the Twitter hashtag #YAspooktacular and follow the links in this post for more information. The stories will continue until the 28th, with prize pack details going up on the host blogs on the 29th.

THE RULES:
- Comment on EVERY post in a story to be eligible for the grand prize pack.
- You can enter for BOTH stories.
- Yes, this is international! =D
- Enter the Trick or Treats for extra entries or chances to win (these Treats are U.S. only).
- When the stories are complete, fill out the entry form(s) on the host blog in order to be eligible to win -- you have until October 31st.
- Winners will be selected at random.

And now, for the story...


--Click on the banner to read from the beginning--

Part 4: written by Chad Kallauner

They were waiting to envelop Anna like a midnight fog and steal her away for eternity, away from him and his spellbound desire.

The darker ones, horrendous, unholy fiends, weren't capable of Jeremy's overwhelming passion and admiration for such a lovely creature as she, a creature whose long auburn hair, creamy complexion, and faint orchid scent never failed to ignite a raging wildfire in his chest and throughout his being. No. They craved but one thing—her blood.

Their insatiable appetites were the rusty scythes that severed emotion and reason. It left them as the untamed, crimson-eyed beasts that they were, completely unlike Jeremy.

Or so he tried to believe.

Those beasts saw and knew everything. Anna's passionate willingness to hide in the shadows, and the naivete that allowed Jeremy to hold her in his strong, gentle arms did not go unseen.

He arrived at the cobblestone path on the outskirts of the city, the path that led through the trees to the decrepit wrought-iron gates of the cemetery. The glare of the city lights was suffocated by the thick tangle of oak branches that hid the collection of ancient headstones and statues from the side street. Only the moonlight in the cloudless sky illuminated the crumbling cherubs and Gothic crosses in the sprawling grounds.

Overgrown weeds and grass lapped at Jeremy's calves like ripples in a black lake as he made his way into the cemetery.

"Jeremy?"

It was her, his dear Anna. A wave of emotion overcame him, a tidal wave of lust and longing that toppled him with ease. He welcomed the refreshing tide. But another kind of lust dug into his essence like shards of glass; this yearning made him stop cold, made him afraid.

The lust for blood.

Want to read more?
You can read Part 5 at Once Upon A Review.

Book Labyrinth is also home to a TRICK, which will get you extra entries into the contest.

Click on the button to fill out the form & follow the YA Spooktacular bloggers (the list can be find here) to receive your extra entries.

Would you like to follow the other story for more spooky fun & more chances to win? Click on the button below to read 'A Soul Laid Bare' from the beginning.


Any questions? Feel free to ask here, or contact our hosts on Twitter ( @daniellebunner OR @onceuponareview ). Thanks for visiting Book Labyrinth! =)