Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Guest Post: Favorite books of all time by Tracy Clark of MIRAGE+GIVEAWAY



Hi everyone! Today we have Tracy Clark, author of The Light Key Trilogy, to share us a few of her favorite books of all time and how they get in the count. Also as a part of the book blog tour for her upcoming new YA book, we're all giving away 3 finished copy of MIRAGE to everyone! Also don't forget to check out other posts from the tour. So, without further ado I present Tracy Clark and her favorite books of all time...

A list of my favorite books of all time

Ask any author to make a list of favorite books and then sit back for the inevitable head-pop. It’s a hard question! We are lovers of words; lovers of stories, and words and stories take up too many forms and carry too many meanings to have absolute favorites. A book might become a favorite because it got me through heartbreak. I might latch onto a book for the inspiration it provided. Some books stay in my heart and head because they made me think. Others I love just because they made me feel. I’m certain I’ll regret this post as soon as I send it because I’ll realize I’ve forgotten a couple of crucial favorites. Ask me in a month, and I might even have additions. It’s an eclectic list, but tells a lot about me.

Here goes:

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho – This book was recommended to me by a dear friend; the kind of cosmic friend who always recommends the perfect book when I need it. If you’ve ever heard the phrase “when the student is ready, the teacher will appear” then you get the idea. When the student is ready, the book will appear. The Alchemist is a universal story, a parable, about the quest for true happiness and fulfillment.  

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak – This book is so incredibly inventive but has deep emotional heart as well. I sobbed the first time I read it. I sobbed the second time. I’ve read it multiple times and it never fails to move me. I’m impressed both as a reader and as a writer.

Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling – How can this series NOT be on everyone’s favorites list? I started writing YA when this series was about three books in. Her storytelling is vivid and thorough and amazing. The world is a better place because she shared her stories with us.

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz – In other interviews I’ve said that this book should be required reading for humans—ALL HUMANS. Are you a human? Then read it! I wish so badly I’d have had it as a teenager. It might have saved me so much grief! I’m guilty of forgetting to live by the agreements at times, but I consider them so wise and important that they are as holy as commandments.

Counting Kisses by Karen Katz – Reading this book to my kids when they were little is one of my most cherished memories. It combines counting, sleepy-time, affection, and sweet interactive kisses when you read it to a wee one. I give it as a gift to every single new parent I know.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou – This is the book that made me really want to be a writer. Maya Angelou’s writing can pluck you from your chair and put you right into her scenes. She shares her history, her truth, and her heart with unflinching candor. Reading this book began my love affair with the author and all of her works. One of the bright moments of my life was hearing her speak in person and reading “Phenomenal Woman” in that commanding, self-possessed, saucy way she had. I wish for the talent to write as powerfully.

Walt Disney’s Cinderella (1974) – The story goes that my mother went to my kindergarten parent/teacher conference and the teacher congratulated my mom on teaching me how to read. My mom said, “I thought YOU taught her!” The truth was that when I was four years old, I taught myself using this book and a follow along record that made a tinker-bell chime sound when it was time to turn the pages. Magic of reading!

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky – Welcome to YA fiction that punches you in the heart with its moments of shattering truth. While reading this book, I had a few instants where I stopped and just stared, speechless and touched, pondering the absolute truth of a sentence.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson – The First YA I read as an adult that really made me see that teens need authors and stories that aren’t afraid to touch on awful realities. I knew when I read it that the reason I write for young adults is because I needed books like Speak when I was a teen and that teens now need to be respected enough to have authors write books that help them process some of the uglier truths of their lives. We don’t glorify the darkness by writing about it. We illuminate it.


MIRAGE
by Tracy Clark
Pub. Date: July 5, 2016
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Pages: 272
Format: Hardcover, eBook
Find it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Goodreads
Blurb:
Seventeen-year-old Ryan Poitier Sharpe is a gutsy, outgoing girl who spends her summer days hurling herself out of planes at her parents’ skydiving center in the Mojave Desert. Fiercely independent and willing to take risks, she challenges those around her to live life fully. But after a brush with death, Ryan is severely altered—she’s not the same thrill-seeking girl she once was and seems to be teetering on the edge of psychosis. As her relationships crumble and her life unravels, Ryan must fight the girl she’s become—or lose herself forever—in this eerie and atmospheric thriller.
    


 About the Author  
Tracy Clark is a young-adult writer because she believes teens deserve to know how much they matter and that regardless of what they’re going through, they aren’t alone. In other words, she writes books for her teen self.
She grew up a “Valley Girl” in Southern California but now lives in her home state of Nevada, in a small town at the base of the Sierra Foothills. Her two children teach her the art of distraction and are a continuous source of great dialogue.
Tracy was the recipient of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Work in Progress Grant. A two-time participant in the prestigious Nevada SCBWI Mentor Program. Tracy is a private pilot, an irredeemable dreamer, and a spicy-chocolate connoisseur.

Connect with Tracy on social media:




3 winners will receive a finished copy of MIRAGE, US Only.


Tour Schedule:

Week One:
6/27/2016- The Oracle and The Muse- Interview
6/28/2016- Seeing Double In NeverlandReview
6/29/2016- Teen Readers' DiaryGuest Post
6/30/2016- BookcrushinReview
7/1/2016- The Cover Contessa- Interview

Week Two:
7/4/2016- A Dream Within A DreamReview
7/5/2016- Ohana ReadsGuest Post
7/6/2016- Book-KeepingReview
7/7/2016- Curling Up With A Good BookInterview
7/8/2016- Here's to Happy EndingsReview

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Book Blitz: Remember Jamie Baker by Kelly Oram + Giveaway



Hello everyone! So you'll probably noticed that it's been quite a few days since we've post here in our blog and that's because of our busy schedule. Clarissa's preparing for her Civil Engineering board exam, Dea on her internship and me, I just had my Roast (6 mos presentation) on our office earlier, so yeah we don't have much time to post anything on the blog lately. But recently I've received a very good news from one of my favorite author, Kelly Oram, and that's the final book for Jamie Baker Series will be released really soon! If you knew me you'll know that I really really love this author, I've been a fan of her books for the past years. I love featuring her works here in our blog and just enjoy every bit of her books. So, just imagine my excitement when she announced that Remember Jamie Baker(which let me tell you I've,and all of her fans, been waiting for years!) will be released soon! I was sooo happy I just can't wait to get my hands on this book! And since the book is not yet release will have to settle first on its teasers and a giveaway for everyone. So without further ado, I present to you Remember Jamie Baker! Have fun reading! ;) 


Remember Jamie Baker
Series: Jamie Baker # 3
Author: Kelly Oram
Publisher: Bluefields Publishing
Genre(s): YA sci-fi, comic book, romance
Blurb:
The explosive and long awaited conclusion to the Jamie Baker trilogy!

Plagued by memory loss, Jamie Baker searches high and low for the answers to who she is, where she comes from, and why she’s able to do things other humans can’t. A not-so-simple task when she’s hiding from the people responsible for her amnesia—an evil scientific research company that wants to capture her at any cost.

When Jamie’s quest for the truth reveals a devastating betrayal from the one person she thought she could trust, she’s forced to team up with a secret military organization in order to ensure her safety and stop Visticorp’s horrific human experimenting once and for all.
    
Book buy links:
Amazon || iBooks || Nook || Kobo






I gasped, shocked, and my eyes fell to his arm and the round scar I’d seen their earlier. A bullet wound. I looked at Ryan, and he surprised me even more by grinning. “That’s right, I took a bullet for you, babe.”
“You…” My voice trailed off as I tried to get a grip on the sudden swell of emotions raging inside me. Guilt, gratitude, horror…take your pick. I felt them all.
Ryan squeezed my hand. “That’s a good reason to promote a guy to boyfriend status, don’t you think?”
He was joking about this? He was shot, and he wanted to joke about our relationship? Was he for real?
“Don’t fall for it, Angel,” Johnny G teased. “It was barely a flesh wound. It didn’t even hit anything vital. I’ve been shot twice myself. It’s really not that bad.”




Jamie #3 was everything I had been hoping and waiting for. It brought all the feels. Jamie has the right amount of spunk, bravery and intelligence to make her an extremely likeable and relate-able heroine. I kinda want to be her BFF. And Ryan Miller ... swoon. He is everything. He made Jamie love him again and again, and he did it with me also. Every single book I have fallen in love with Ryan, and every time I reread I will love him even more. Great job, Kelly! It was a journey worth waiting for.  ~ Jaymin Eve, USA Today bestselling author of The Hive trilogy

"Full of great one-liners and intense longing, Remember Jamie Baker is a satisfying conclusion to a fantastic trilogy. Readers will appreciate the new friends Jamie makes, the measures she takes to restore her memory, and the return of Ryan Miller. OH YES. That charming combination of ego and sunshine does show up. I promise. And it's epic." ~ The Dragon’s Nook book reviews

"Kelly Oram’s back with a new Jamie Baker adventure that’s as action-packed as it is hilarious, with all new characters to love and some old favorites that you’ll find yourself falling for, all over again! Remember Jamie Baker is an unforgettable end to a truly amazing series!” ~ Jena Leigh author of the Variant series

" This is the best book of the trilogy. Remember Jamie gives us the steamiest Ryan & Jamie yet with beach fantasies (oh, Kelly went there!) and more curl-your-toes “awwww” scenes where once again pretty boy Ryan Miller steals your heart (and Jamie’s) as he tries to help her remember exactly who she was. Oh? And did I mention your favorite sidekicks (and who doesn’t love our favorite reporter and BFF?) are back? Or how about all of the kickass superhero action we’ve been dying for with Visticorp? Yea, it finally happens and it does not disappoint (be ready for some twists!)…. But the real reason you’ll keep reading? Because Jamie needs to remember! This whole series has honestly been a whirlwind and finally getting the epic conclusion we hoped for is the best gift Kelly could possibly give her readers. Fans of Meg Cabot’s quick wit and normal girl-hero complex (a la 1-800-Where-R-U), the tv show Smallville, or superhero tropes in general will dive right into this one. And who can forget fans of Ryan Miller? You will definitely need your fix." ~ Rachel E. Carter, author of the Black Mage series

Series Summary: "Most superhero stories start with a meteor shower or a nasty insect bite, but mine actually starts with a kiss." The Jamie Baker series is an electrifying superhero origin story about a girl with extraordinary powers and the irresistible guy who helps her learn to control them.
Reading Order: Being Jamie Baker, More Than Jamie Baker, Remember Jamie Baker
(this series is complete)



About the Author  
Kelly Oram wrote her first novel at age fifteen—a fan fiction about her favorite music group, The Backstreet Boys, for which her family and friends still tease her. She's obsessed with reading, talks way too much, and likes to eat frosting by the spoonful. She lives outside of Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, four children, and her cat, Mr. Darcy.

Don't miss the latest news from Kelly Oram! Sign up for her newsletter to receive e-mail notifications for all of her new releases, events, sales, & giveaways. This is a monthly newsletter often with exclusive giveaways and freebies from some of her favorite authors.


Connect with Kelly on social media:

Twitter: @kellyoram
Instagram: @kellyoramwrites


Friday, June 3, 2016

Review and Excerpt Tour for THE FALLEN PRINCE by Amalie Howard + Giveaway(INTL)

          THE FALLEN PRINCE - Review & Excerpt Tour banner


We hope you're ready to be transported by Amalie Howard's THE FALLEN PRINCE, a Young Adult Science Fiction novel and the sequel to THE ALMOST GIRL! Publishers Weekly calls the first in the series “a high-octane thriller.” Grab your copy of this amazing novel today!


 

As the last two people disappear behind Caden and his two Faction guards in a blue haze, I take a breath and hit the coordinates on the keypad.

Era’s eyes meet mine. Even in a wheelchair she still looks fierce. “Remember your promise.”

I’m not sure whether she means my promise to not get in the way or my promise to defend Neospes with my life. Maybe they’re one and the same. “I remember.”

I hit ENTER.

The wind sucks at my gut, pulling me in toward my belly-button as if every part of my body is dissolving and coalescing into that one point. I keep my eyes open for as long as possible, watching time elongate on all sides before the wormhole breaks me into a million pieces. The nanobes harden around my cells, making them impervious to the gravitational changes in pressure. For a second, I feel invincible.

Unbreakable.

At the midpoint of the transition, all is silent, like being in the center of a storm before things start picking up. I’m snapped back together again, disparate cells rushing together toward the whole. As I exit the jump, everything explodes into motion at once.


Voices are coming at me from every direction—screaming and yelling. My ninjatas are out of their harness and in my hands before I can blink. The hot glint of metal reflects o the bodies surrounding us, the sour scent of rotting flesh filling the air. Reptiles—hundreds of them.





THE FALLEN PRINCE - cover
The Fallen Prince
by  Amalie Howard
Published by: Sky Pony Press
Publication date:April 5th 2016
Genres:Young Adult, Science Fiction
Blurb:

Riven has fought for a hard-won peace in her world, and has come to shaky terms with who and what she is—a human with cyborg DNA. Now that the rightful ruler of Neospes has been reinstated, Riven is on the hunt for her father in the Otherworld to bring him to justice for his crimes against her people.

But when she receives an unwelcome visit from two former allies, she knows that trouble is brewing once again in Neospes. The army has been decimated and there are precious few left to fight this mysterious new threat.

To muster a first line of defense, her people need help from the one person Riven loathes most—her father. But what he wants in return is her complete surrender.

And now Riven must choose: save Neospes or save herself.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Books-A-Million | IndieBound



   TheFallenPrince - Tour Teaser 1  

Praise for THE FALLEN PRINCE:

"[P]acked with action . . . Imagery is the highlight of this book."—VOYA

“A parallel-dimension–jumping cyborg soldier must make questionable alliances to save her country from an existential threat in this sequel to The Almost Girl. [O]ffers a solid conclusion.” —Kirkus Reviews “This sequel to The Almost Girl was everything I wanted: non-stop action, smart science, new and intriguing characters, and a satisfying romance. I couldn’t put it down!” —Page Morgan, author of The Beautiful and the Cursed

“[T]he next step in a dark, clever and thrilling scorched-earth, world-hopping adventure.” —Jet Black Ink


TheFallenPrince - Tour Teaser 2



And don’t miss the first book in The Riven Chronicles Series!

The Almost Girl - cover

THE ALMOST GIRL





About the Author  
Amalie Howard - headshotAMALIE HOWARD grew up on a small Caribbean island where she spent most of her childhood with her nose buried in a book or being a tomboy running around barefoot, shimmying up mango trees and dreaming of adventure. 25 countries, surfing with sharks and several tattoos later, she has traded in bungee jumping in China for writing the adventures she imagines instead. She isn't entirely convinced which takes more guts. 

She is the award-winning author of several young adult novels critically acclaimed by Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, VOYA, and Booklist, including Waterfell, The Almost Girl, and Alpha Goddess, a Spring 2014 Kid's INDIE NEXT title. Her debut novel, Bloodspell, was a #1 Amazon bestseller, and the sequel, Bloodcraft, was a national silver IPPY medalist. 

She is also the co-author of the adult historical romance series, THE LORDS OF ESSEX. As an author of color and a proud supporter of diversity in fiction, her articles on multicultural fiction have appeared in The Portland Book Review and on the popular Diversity in YA blog. She currently resides in Colorado with her husband and three children.

     

 Instagram** THE FALLEN PRINCE Goodreads

   
   
Amalie Howard’s THE FALLEN PRINCE – Review & Excerpt Tour Schedule:
May 30th
My YA NA Book Obsession – Review & Excerpt
The LitBuzz – Review
WTF Are You Reading? – Review & Excerpt
Rambling Reads – Excerpt
AC Book Blog – Excerpt
Cynthia Bloggs – Excerpt
May 31st
Dazzled by Books – Excerpt
Comic Book Love – Review
Pandora's Books – Excerpt
Have Words Will Scribble – Review & Excerpt
Vagabonda Reads – Excerpt
Hannah's Words – Review & Excerpt
The Romance Reviews – Excerpt
June 1st
Escape Inside the Pages – Review & Excerpt
June 2nd
Book it – Review & Excerpt
Books Need TLC – Review & Excerpt
BookCrushin – Excerpt
Roxy's Reviews – Review & Excerpt
Romance Book Nerd – Excerpt
Mes Livres – Review & Excerpt
The Rest Is Still Unwritten – Review & Excerpt
June 3rd
The book slayer – Review & Excerpt
Fishing for Books – Excerpt
The Recipe Fairy – Review & Excerpt
YA Book Divas – Excerpt
Book Lovers Life – Excerpt
Only One More Page – Excerpt
Teen Readers' Diary – Excerpt
June 4th
Mama Reads Hazel Sleeps – Review & Excerpt
The Cover Contessa – Review & Excerpt
Evermore Books – Excerpt
The A P Book Club – Review & Excerpt
City of Books – Review & Excerpt
RhiReading – Excerpt
Danielle’s Domain – Excerpt
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