Tuesday, December 31, 2013

VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR [Review & Excerpt + Giveaway!] Apocalipstick by Lisa Acerbo





Apocalipstick
by Lisa Acerbo
Genre: Horror, paranormal romance, Urban fiction
Publisher:  Eternal Press

Cover Artist: Dawne Dominique

Book Description:

Jenna should be having the time of her life at college. Instead, her only desire is survival. She lives in a world gone insane after a virus kills most of the population. Being alive after the apocalypse is bad, but when the undead return, hungry for humans, times turn darker. For Jenna and a small group of survivors, the goal is to reach the High Point Inn. At the inn, Jenna develops feelings for Caleb, who, while exotic and intoxicating, is not quite human. Will this new utopia last?


Apocalipstick is about Jenna who recently graduated from high school when a virus broke out is a killing most of the world and producing flesh-eating zombies. So instead of making post high school plans she has to fight along with a few survivors to stay alive. They watch out for each other and share what supplies they find, on their way to a safe place. 

The virus created 2 different products, one a flesh eating zombie and the other, conveniently called  “Others” who have improved strength, speed, heal quickly and have superb senses. But also they have somewhat of a “vampire” diet and are very sensitive to light. They are a huge help to Jenna and the group of survivors she is traveling with.  

After reading the first few pages, I was drawn into this post apocalyptic world where Caleb, an Other and Quentin, a human, were both pining for Jenna’s attention. I absolutely loved the characters they were very relatable and the world building was so vivid that I could picture it all as though I was there.  I was rooting for both males who wanted Jenna's attention. Will she choose Caleb or Quentin? After the last page, I wanted more. Hopefully there will be another.  I recommend this book to all anyone who loves paranormal romance, suspense, and zombies. 

5 HOOTS for Apocalipstick


“By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes…” ran through Jenna’s mind, another remnant of her former life. Now the graveyard was the safest place. Evil openly roamed the streets and it was coming for her.

Jenna blinked the sweat out of her eyes and took a deep breath. She swayed with exhaustion. Angels, symbols of all things God and good, adornments of the dead, swam in and out of Jenna’s clouded vision. She placed a scarred hand on the peaceful, cold stone markers, embellished with the names of forgotten loved ones. Nowadays, loved ones wanted to come back from the grave and claw your face off, devour your insides.

Jenna wanted to lie down and give up. She was tired and had lost everyone she knew. Hair lank and greasy, mud splattered clothing, old and mismatched. Instead of admitting defeat, she forced herself to stay alert, pushing matted, raven hair out of her eyes with a dirty hand. Jenna could not remember a time in her recent history where she felt clean or had a moment in which she was not fighting to stay alive. Looking around the darkened landscape, she wanted to live. She shoved to her feet once again.

Gingerly, with a limp, she started walking deeper into the cemetery.  She had twisted her ankle during the jump from the gate. The last sprint had been hell. Her stomach ached where the scar stretched from side to side, but her ankle worried her most. If she could not run, Jenna would be food for the dead. Hopefully, she’d find shelter soon.

A noise echoed through what should have been deserted gravestones. Jenna froze for a second, panicked, but then instinct kicked in. She pivoted on her good foot, grabbing for the knife in her pocket. It was all she had left, after losing the gun during her escape yesterday.

Jenna ran back into the oldest part of the graveyard, until she came up to a small mausoleum. It looked more like a shack, a collage of tumbling stone and wood. She pulled on the door, but it stuck, even as everything around it decayed. She felt her way around the side. Her hand slithered across the remains of what once was a delicate, stained glass window. Shards of color caught her coat. Using her elbow, shielded by her jacket, she knocked out the remaining pieces and then painfully pulled herself inside.

Crouched on the ground, she was tempted to give herself over to tears, but instead searched for anything useful. A sturdy casket dominated the tiny interior of the room. The dilapidated mausoleum housed little of use, but someone must have been there before her. Rusty tools, wrenches, hoes, and a beat up shovel lay scattered across the floor, abandoned. They might make good weapons, but were heavy to haul. The handle to the shovel would be usable if she could dislodge it from the base.

She’d try. In addition to the mostly useless tools, Jenna found a box of matches near the charred remains of a former fire which littered the corner. Maybe, if she ever felt safe, she could light a fire and feel warm. For once. Jenna hunkered down, shovel in hand, and began to ply the handle apart from the base. She had to hurry. They would soon be upon her.



Lisa Acerbo is a high school teacher and adjunct faculty at the University of Phoenix. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, daughters, three cats, and two horses. When not writing, she mountain bikes, hikes, and tries to pursue some type of further education--she's working towards an EdD.



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Monday, December 30, 2013

Winter Reads Book Blast

Winter Reads Cover

Sit back, relax in your favorite reading chair and enjoy 15 Winter Reads from 15 bestselling YA authors. There is something to delight every reader in this box set – paranormal romance, futuristic sci-fi, historical, time travel, and contemporary. Many of the Indelibles have given you access to both the first and second books in their series – you’ll be reading well into the New Year!

LIMITED TIME BOX SET - from 15 bestselling YA authors ON SALE 12/29 - 1/11 for just $1.99


Amazon * Barnes & Noble


15 Winter Reads includes:


 
Iron ButterflyThe Iron Butterfly by Chanda Hahn

Escaping an experimental prison, Thalia tries to hide her past and her gifts, from her friends. But her past isn’t always easy to escape, especially when it hunts you down.

 
TrembleTremble (Celestra Series) by Addison Moore

Sixteen year-old, Skyla Messenger is a dead girl walking. When her newly remarried mother moves the family to Paragon Island, to a house that is rumored to be haunted, Skyla finds refuge in Logan Oliver, a boy who shares her unique ability to read minds.

 
ExiledExiled by RaShelle Workman

Venus wakes to find herself no longer on her home planet of Kelari, but on Earth with a week to get back or she'll die.


Dragonfly CoverDragonfly by Leigh Talbert Moore

Gossip Girl meets VC Andrews in this contemporary family saga. Love, lies, and betrayal become the new normal when Anna enters the world of Jack and Lucy Kyser.

Amazon  * Facebook  * Twitter  * Goodreads  * Pinterest

 
open mindsOpen Minds and Closed Hearts by Susan Kaye Quinn

When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep.

 Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Wattpad * Goodreads

 
untraceableUntraceable by S.R. Johannes

When Grace's forest ranger dad disappears on patrol, she fights town authorities, tribal officials, & nature to prove he’s alive. Torn between a new hot boy and cute ex, she heads into the wilderness to find her dad. Soon, she is caught in a web of conspiracy, deception, and murder.

 Twitter * Facebook * Blog  * Goodreads

 
date an alienHow to Date an Alien and How to Break Up With an Alien by Magan Vernon

Alex Bianchi takes an internship at an alien operations center to pad her college applications but doesn't plan on falling in love with one of its residents. But as Alex’s senior year progresses, everything changes and she can’t figure out if it is interstellar or if it is just time to break up with an alien.

 
flutterFlutter of Luv by L.M. Preston

Dawn, the neighborhood tomboy, is happy to be her best friend’s shadow. Acceptance comes from playing football after school with the guys on the block while hiding safely behind her glasses, braces, and boyish ways. But Tony moves in, becomes the star Running Back on her school’s football team, and changes her world and her view of herself forever.

 
watchedWatched by Cindy M. Hogan

It takes more than a school trip to change Christy's life. It takes murder.

 Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

   
clockwise


Clockwise and ClockwiseR by Elle Strauss

A follow up to Clockwise, Casey and Nate travel back in time and race against the clock to rescue Casey's rebellious brother Tim from frontline battle in America's civil war.

 Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Wattpad * Goodreads

   
5.5"X8.5" Post Card TemplateGlimpse (Zellie Wells #1) and Glimmer (Zellie Wells #2) by Stacey Wallace Benefiel

While working together to figure out what their shared vision means, Zellie discovers that Benjamin is a worthy friend and mentor. If only he could keep his hands off of her - if only she wanted him to...

 Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

 
spy like meA Spy Like Me by Laura Pauling

After dodging bullets on a first date, Savvy must decide how far she'll go to protect the ones she loves.

 Blog * Twitter * Goodreads

 
Grasping At Eternity by Karen Amanda Hooper

An eternal soul mate, a supernatural family who has known her for centuries, and lifetimes of erased memories: this is Maryah Woodsen’s life. She just doesn’t know it yet.

 Twitter * Facebook * Blog * Goodreads

 
lacrimosaLacrimosa by Christine Fonseca

In the world of angels and demons, one thing is clear - some sacrifices should never be made. Even for love.

 
spruce knollThe Secret of Spruce Knoll by Heather McCorkle

The town of Spruce Knoll hides many secrets—and many dangers, among them are that the untimely death of Eren’s parents was no accident and that she is far more than she realizes.

 Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Wattpad * Goodreads




Giveaway Details
$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends
1/11/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Friday, December 27, 2013

BOOK BLAST [Giveaway!] Trinkets, Treasures, and Other Bloody Magic by Meghan Ciana Doidge



Trinkets, Treasures, and Other Bloody Magic
by Meghan Ciana Doidge
Three months ago, I lost my foster sister, Sienna, to the darkness. As in blood magic and chaos and general mayhem. No one saw it until it was too late, but I should have. Now, I have a wounded heart and soul that I can’t even reveal to anyone around me, because I’m supposed to hate Sienna with the fiery passion of the justified. And I do. I just wish I didn’t feel so lost without her, so unsure of the path I thought I had carved for myself, and so outclassed by the powerful Adepts constantly by my side these days. I’m not even sure if they’re with me for my own protection or because my shiny new powers are rare and valuable. Assuming I ever figure out who or what I am, and how my magic actually works.
Even chocolate can’t save the day every time … just most of the time. At least I’ve got that going for me.
Trinkets, Treasures, and Other Bloody Magic Purchase Links to Come Soon!!
In the meantime you can purchase Book One below:
You can purchase Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic at the following Retailers:

    
About Meghan Ciana Doidge

Meghan Ciana Doidge is an award-winning writer based out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She has a penchant for bloody love stories, superheroes, and the supernatural. She also has a thing for chocolate, potatoes, and sock yarn.
Novels – After The Virus, Spirit Binder, Time Walker, Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic – Dowser #1, Trinkets, Treasures, and Other Bloody Magic – Dowser #2
Novellas – Love Lies Bleeding

   

GIVEAWAY
1 Winner will receive an  E-Copy of  Trinkets, Treasures, and Other Bloody Magic
and Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic by Meghan Ciana Doidge.
1 Winner will receive a $15.00 Amazon Gift Card.
Must be 13+ to Enter
International Giveaway



Monday, December 23, 2013

VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR [Excerpt, Interview & Trailer + Giveaway!!] Consoling Angel by Denise Alicea





Consoling Angel
by Denise Alicea
Genre and Sub-Genre: Young Adult, Time Travel, Romance
Word and Page Counts: 24 pages
Publisher and Publication Date: Book Baby Sept. 6, 2013

Blurb

Mira did not know what she had in store the day she fell asleep while wanting to escape her current
situation. Overcoming a death from someone so close and burying herself in school and an internship
has kept her somewhat awake and alive. An admiration for the actor, James Dean was all that kept
the memory of her father alive. If she couldn’t be with her father, she could at least remember what
they shared an admiration for together. She always wanted to meet James Dean… she didn’t know it
would come true. Be careful what you wish for. It may just come true.



Book Trailer



My life couldn’t be more complete. As we reached the apartments, I slowly got off the bike, surprised
at myself that I had done this. Ordinarily, I’d never get on a motorcycle. James leaned over and
caressed my cheek. Before I could open my mouth to tell him what was to happen to him, he gave
me a quick peck on the lips. I couldn’t let James walk away, not now.
Something in me grasped his wrist; my breath caught in my throat. I no longer cared about the
rain. I must have looked like a drowned rat to him. “I have to tell you something,” I blurted as I waited
for his reaction.
James smiled, then chuckled as he caressed my face. The rain was preventing me from
seeing clearly. “Sweetheart, it’s raining and you’re soaked. I hope this is important.” Pulling him
toward me, I faced him. I could change history. I could have him live out his life as he was meant to. If
I couldn’t save my father, I could save him.
“In the future, when you become famous, please be careful. Remember this: there will be a
day that you are off to a race. You will not see a car until it’s too late. James, please promise me. It
could mean your life.” I must have sounded like a complete and total idiot to him. Geez! I think I
watched Back To The Future too many times. I sounded like Marty talking to the professor about his
impending death.
Chuckling, he shook his head, expelling the rain off his head and onto me. Laughter erupted
between us as I covered my face. He then cupped my face, kissed my forehead. “Are you sure you’re
not an angel? I cannot promise anything, but baby, I can promise I’ll see you tomorrow. I’ll pick you up
here and you can ditch your responsibilities. Ride with me.”
Sighing, now I knew how all those girls felt when they looked at him. What an offer that would
be. Ditch school to ride with the man who was loved by so many. I was determined he’d listen to me.
Gripping his hands from my face, I gazed into his eyes. “I’m serious!”
Before I could utter another word, his lips descended on mine. My body went toward him and
melted. I couldn’t help but respond as I brought him closer. I was lost in his warm lips as they
caressed mine. Lingering near my lips, he breathed, “I know you are.” Then, winking as he kissed me
again, smiling that beautiful smile of his, “How else can my angel guard me if she isn’t with me?”


What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
My favorite flavor would have to be vanilla. (I know boring!) I do enjoy other flavors such as coffee, but Vanilla tends to be an all favorite.

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
Starbucks is a favorite to eat every morning. I love their gouda, egg, and bacon artisan sandwiches.

Night owl or early bird?
It all depends. If I have to work I prefer early shifts. If I’m off then I can stay up doing what I need to get done.

One food you would never eat?
Fish and shellfish - I’m allergic. :(

Skittles or M&Ms?
Ooohh… I can’t decide! I love both. If I’m feeling sweet then I want Skittles. If I want something satisfying  then I tend to go for the chocolate.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you "grew up”?
I wanted to be a vet to help animals. I also then wanted to be an archaeologist like Indiana Jones!

You have won one million dollars what is the first thing that you would buy?
A house for my parents. Pay off all my debts then use the rest to by myself a house.

Print or Ebook?
Both! It all depends on my mood to read.

What movie are you looking forward to this year?
I would have to say Thor, Dark world. Love Mythology and Chris Hemsworth.

Finish the sentence- one book I wish I had written is….
Mortal Instruments.

What is next on your to read list?
So many books, so little time. I just finished Bella Andre’s latest book, It Must Be Your Love. I’m trying to catch up with all my favorite authors.

Any other books in the works?
Yes def. I have The Lucky Valentine, a short story time traveling romance. Here is the blurb:On an internship in London, England Ana finds herself in a tiny bookshop where she finds an old valentine stuck into a book she starts to read. Before she knows it she finds herself in England, but during the Blitz (World War II). There she meets the handsome Sgt. Marcus Hunter.Will Ana be able to go back home?




Born to the great lively city of Manhattan, NY, and raised in quiet Connecticut. Denise started writing
when drawing and painting were not enough. Deciding to try a new type of medium, she thought to
start with poetry. After her first success and first reading at the age of fifteen. Her writing began to
take on new life with her own worlds of fantasy, time travel, action, adventure and of course
romance. She draws inspiration from her favorite childhood cartoons and experiences to her current
day ones.
When not writing, Denise loves technology, reading (romance, YA, anime, nonfiction, fiction) ,
blogging, watching movies and TV shows and of course volunteering for many RWA chapters. She
also enjoys blogging at her personal blog  and book review blog at The Pen & Muse .




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Saturday, December 21, 2013

BOOK BLITZ [Excerpt + Giveaway!] The Cure by Stephanie Erickson





The Cure 
by Stephanie Erickson 
Publication date: November 14th 2013
Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult

Synopsis:
“One life will make the difference.” Macey Holsinger has been hearing that promise her whole life. But it hasn’t saved anyone yet, not even her little brother.

The disease has claimed countless lives in the last hundred years, and the government is working hard to find a cure through human testing. Testing that has killed nearly as many people as the disease.

At sixteen, Macey has better things to think about than saving lives and submitting to any rule other than her parents’. As a budding artist, she has her whole life ahead of her, at least until she faces her own testing.

Questions plague Macey. Questions that make everyone else nervous. How can death be justified with more death? What’s the point of all this?

Answers evade her until she’s left with only one question: How much will she sacrifice in the name of the cure?




By eight, the party was in full swing.  I was standing at a table near the dance floor watching the fun when a group of girls from school converged on me.
“Hey, Macey, so what time do you get your date?” Ariel asked me.  
I was trying not to think about it.  I glanced at my watch.  “8:23.”  
She looked at one of the other girls.  “When I got my date I was a wreck.  But the message is actually pretty cool.  Once it was over, I wondered what I was so worked up about.”  
I knew she was trying to reassure me, but it wasn’t helping.  One of the other girls, Hannidy, piped up.  “What was the message like?” she asked.  She was still a few months away from getting her date and clearly wasn’t comforted by Ariel’s sentiment either.  
“Oh, it was neat.  One of those immersion holograms, ya know?  The speaker was in the mountains, and I swear I could smell the cool, crisp air when the breeze blew across this field of wild flowers and over a glacial pond.  I don’t even know if places like that still exist, but it was exactly where I wanted to be.”
“And what did the speaker say?” Hannidy persisted.
“Well, not much to be honest.  Just congratulating me on reaching an age where I could contribute to the greater good, announced my date, and that was it.  All told, I think it was only about two minutes long.”  
I turned to one of the girls, who was nodding.  She’d already gotten her date as well.  “Was it the same for you, Charlotte?”
“Yup.  Pretty much.  Mine wasn’t in the mountains though.  Mine was in the most luxurious lobby I’d ever seen.  Crystal chandeliers, stained glass windows, giant marble columns, it was gorgeous.  It looked like some place that demanded grand dresses and dancing.”  She smiled as she recalled the image.  I hoped I could look back on my message with such fondness, and not as the death sentence it might turn out to be.  
At 8:23 p.m., Rosie interrupted the party.  The music went quiet, and all games paused.  “An incoming message from the Facility for Macey.”  
My parents gathered around me, and Alex appeared out of nowhere.  “Would you like to see it down here or upstairs?”  
I looked at all my friends.  Some of them looked nervous, but most of them nodded encouragement at me.  “I guess we can watch it down here.  Rosie, go ahead with it.”  
I was surrounded by an image of the beach.  Ariel was right.  I could just about smell the salt air.  Sea gulls screeched and swooped low over the waves, and sand pipers darted in and out of the surf.  I turned around and dunes stretched for miles in either direction.  The hologram was like nothing I’d ever seen before.  It was so real, and slightly unnerving.  
Although I knew my parents and Alex were there watching it with me, I was alone on the beach, save for a woman standing a short distance from me.  The hologram was made to be a complete experience for each person, so everyone watching had the same experience.  I was the only one that was alone, though.  Everyone else could see me and the woman but no one else at the party.  
“Hello, Macey.” she said.  She was dressed in a dark suit, her bobbed brown hair blowing in the ocean breeze.  She looked weird in the surroundings.  Out of place.  I didn’t want her here, spoiling it.  
I didn’t respond to her.  It was just a hologram, not meant to be interactive.  She continued without noticing.  “As you know, I’m here to deliver your date.  First of all, we at the Facility would like to congratulate you on reaching an age where you can fulfill the vows you’ve been making since you were five years old and become a vital part of finding a cure to the disease.”  
She paused and looked sympathetically at me.  It was odd.  How did they know where I’d be standing, and how could they program her to do that?  I glanced left and right but couldn’t see my parents.  I felt someone grab my hand, but when I looked down, no one was there.  It squeezed, and I squeezed back.  
“Now, your date is very special.”  Was this normal?  Why was my date special?  “It’s the first of its kind.”  I narrowed my eyes and watched the hologram skeptically.  It didn’t sound good.  “Due to an overwhelming need, the Facility has had to change its experimentation policies and date assignments moving forward.  Macey, you are the first to receive a date that precedes your twentieth birthday.”
I gasped in horror.  “Your date is June 30, 2115.”  
She let it hang there for a second.  “The Facility thanks you for your contribution, and we look forward to meeting you in person.”  
The image dissolved, and I was left in the basement with the shock of knowing I had only two years until my date.  

A low murmur passed over my group of friends.  I frantically looked from face to face, looking for conformation that I’d simply misheard.  Pleading silently with someone to tell me she’d said 2117 and not 2115, they all stared back at me with the same shock I imagined was on my face, and a few of them had sympathetic, “better you than me” expressions.
My legs started to tremble.  Alex reached out for me and guided me to the nearest couch.  My parents followed, my mom leaning heavily on Dad.  The guests parted for us and went back to the party, trying to give us our moment.  
I looked over at Alex, who’d settled next to me on the couch.  “Well, maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to watch the message down here.”  I smiled weakly, trying to lighten the mood.  Two years.  That was only a few months after Alex’s date and would be right after I graduated from school.  If I died during the experiments, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to get rejected by art schools because I was too much of a loose cannon.  
“It’s a mistake, right?  A glitch in the message?  Who can we contact at the Facility to get her actual date?” My mom asked, grasping at even the tiniest hope.  
My dad sprang into action.  “Rosie, can you please display the latest headlines?”  
There on the glass coffee table in front of us were all the headlines of the day.  At the top, was the most damning one of all, time stamped from thirty seconds ago.  
FACILITY CHANGES DATING POLICY. 
Dad tapped that headline, and the article opened.
Citing overwhelming need for more volunteers, the Facility has altered its dating policy moving forward.  All new dates will be assigned after the receiver’s eighteenth birthday, not their twentieth.  The first to receive their new date was Macey Holsinger, who was assigned June 30, 2115.  The teen will be eighteen years and three months old for her first experiment.
A Facility representative issued this statement: 
“We want to thank all new volunteers.  We hope the young blood will be the key to finding the cure that much faster.”
Dad closed the article before the rest of us could finish reading it.  “My baby,” Mom whispered.  Dad turned and held her in his arms.  She looked at me over his shoulder, too horrified to summon even a single tear.



Let's see. What do you want to know about me? I love apocalypse movies like 2012 (which is probably why my first book is sort of apocalyptic), I love to read, I love my fur babies, my husband and my family.

I'm a graphic designer by trade, but hoping to some day be able to write full time.

Dan, my husband, and I are brand new parents and loving life!

As far as writing goes, The Blackout was my first published novel, but I've been writing for quite awhile. I won honorable mention in the 72nd Annual Writer's Digest Competition for a short story junior year of college, so that was...awhile ago anyway. Although I published a scholarly paper senior year, fiction writing has always been my passion. Can't wait to see what's next!






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(Open internationally as long as Amazon ships there):
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