Showing posts with label YA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label YA. Show all posts

Friday, September 20, 2013

Ten Quickies with Jamie Adams


Today, I must extend my apologies to Jaimie Adams. I was supposed to host her on Monday, but I was sick and missed it. Let's not confuse me with someone who's organized and does these things in advance, okay? So please, let's show her some love, and check out her new YA release, Not Pretty Enough.

Now let's get crackin'.
1. Mountains or Beaches?

I quite like both actually! I’ll say beaches because I live in amongst mountains but don’t see the beach very often so it’s always nice to head down there!

2. Early Morning or Late Night?

Late night. I’m not a morning person at all! If I get up too early or I’m too tired then I tend to stare at the computer screen and not do anything so mornings aren’t very productive for me, whereas I can work late into the night and get much more done then!
3. High Heels or Sneakers?

Sneakers. I’m not a very girly girl and don’t know how people can walk in some of the heels you see around!

4. Summer or Winter?

Winter! I love snow and cold weather and I hate being too hot, so winter is definitely my favourite time of year!

5. Wine or Chocolate?

Chocolate, easily! Nothing makes you feel better than chocolate!

6. Pen or Laptop?

Laptop. I’m too slow writing with a pen, and my handwriting is horrible!

7. Sports Car or Motorcycle?

 Car. Somehow they seem safer than motorcycles!

 8. Tea or Coffee?

Tea! How could you even ask me that?! Tea is an absolute necessity, and I am addicted to it. I can’t function in the mornings without a cuppa! I can’t stand coffee – I don’t mind coffee flavoured things like cake or ice cream, but coffee itself is horrible! Tea all the way!

9. Appetizer or Dessert?

No contest - dessert!

10. Kindle or Paperback?

Kindle! I never expected to love my Kindle like I do, I bought it thinking I’d never give up physical books but might use it occasionally, but the thing is that paperbacks take up so much space, and I’ve run out of that! The Kindle is so easy and holds so many books, I now choose the Kindle edition over the paperback every time. I don’t know how I’d survive without my Kindle!

BUY IT HERE
 Blurb: "New Year's Resolutions:
1. Lloyd Layton will know I exist. He once said three whole words to me, so this is obviously progress. If I don't get a proper conversation out of him soon, then I'll take my top off and streak through the cafeteria, because nobody could fail to notice these boobs.
2. I will not get expelled for streaking through the cafeteria."

Those are the words that begin her mission.
Chessie is fourteen, not pretty enough, and very much in love. Lloyd Layton is hot, popular, and unaware of Chessie's existence.
Her goal is clear: to get Lloyd to love her as much as she loves him, and she has exactly one year to do it.
As Chessie's obsession with Lloyd reaches boiling point and she starts to spin a web of lies that spiral out of control, Lloyd turns out to be not quite the prince she thought he was.
Can Chessie avoid the gathering storm before things go too far?


Excerpt:

There’s a common misconception that everyone wants big boobs. Let me tell you something: they don’t. If they’re fourteen and have a chest bigger than most of their school, including the teachers, they don’t. I’m a DD cup. People pay thousands of pounds to have their boobs enlarged to be smaller than mine. I can’t remember the last time I passed for a half fare on the bus. Or the last time a bus driver asked my face and not my chest for the fare. Everyone notices boobs when you’re my age. In fact, the only human in the world who doesn’t notice them is the one person I would quite like to notice them.

Lloyd Layton.

I’d quite like him to notice my personality too, but at this point just noticing my mere existence will do. If I have to use my boobs to lure him in, then so be it. The thing is, Lloyd Layton is hot, popular, and really, really tall. Taller than everyone else in our year. Taller than the teachers. Occasionally taller than the doorways. He knows what it’s like to be picked on for a physical attribute you can’t control. He’s different too. He knows what it’s like to be an outsider. Okay, when it comes to Lloyd Layton, he’s not really an outsider, because he’s absolutely gorgeous and loads of people like him, and I doubt anyone would dare to pick on him for anything because he could knock them flying with one swoop of his gigantic hands. But still. He’s taller than everyone and I have bigger boobs than everyone. We’re clearly a match made in heaven. It’s just a shame that he can’t see it yet.

But I’m sure he will one day soon.

I’m actually moving closer to that goal because he said one sentence to me back in December.

One sentence. Three small words. Not the three words I would like to hear him say, but I’ll take what I can get.

It was the last lesson of the last day of term before the Christmas holidays. Double technology. Not usually something to get excited about, but we came to the conclusion that the Christmas spirit had gone to Mr. Vale’s head because he let us watch a movie in class instead of doing any work.

The Princess Bride.

We were allowed to pull chairs in around the TV and sit and watch a movie for two hours. Guess who pulled his chair in not that far away from mine?

Lloyd Layton.

I don’t know what happened next. I can’t explain it. It was like having an out of body experience. I’ll never understand how I had the courage to do it, but halfway through the film, I leaned over and said, “This is a good movie.” To Lloyd Layton. Better than that, he actually replied. He said, “Yes, it is.”

Three whole words.

It got even better than that again because after it was over and we were putting the chairs up on the desks, he smiled at me. A real smile. And it wasn’t at the person behind me because I was next to a wall. He smiled at me.

What a fun excerpt. This looks like an awesome read. If you enjoy YA, you should give it a try. Thanks so much for being with us today, Jaimie. We wish you much success with your book!


Friday, May 25, 2012

Unicorn Keep


Today it's my pleasure to host YA author Angelia Almos, and her new release Unicorn Keep. Without further adieu, here's the blurb and my review.





Blurb:
Jiline of Ainsley is dismayed when her best friend is selected by the mages to become a unicorn keeper at the Keep, an isolated mountain fortress. Especially since Madelen is in love and engaged to the richest boy in the village. Jiline on the other hand has no prospects of marriage or a trade in their small village. So, she comes up with a plan to take Madelen’s place at the Keep and hopefully flunk out of unicorn keeper training before the mages can discover the deception. Unfortunately, the unicorns have their own plans for her.

Mage Herrick, son of the Keep Mage, returns home to the Keep as the trainee keepers arrive. A chance encounter with Jiline, who he believes is Madelen, on the trail sparks a magical connection between the two. Knowing he can’t feel a magical draw to someone who has no magic, he tries to prove Madelen (Jiline) has magic within her. His attention brings unforeseen complications for both of them.

My Review:
In fifteen year old Jiline of Ainsley, Ms. Almos has crafted the perfect bff. What’s not to love about a friend who will sacrifice herself for your happiness? Without thought for herself, Jiline does just that for Madelen, and steps into a rollicking adventure filled with mythical creatures and magic. Along the way she finds friends who will help her, and makes enemies who wish her ill. Yet she handles each with a steadfast devotion to her task, once she accepts it.

Herrick is a powerful young mage kept very carefully under his mother’s thumb. Once he meets Jiline masquerading as Madelen, he’s determined to get out from under the control of the the Keep’s mistress and live a life of his own choosing. Like many young men he turns his back on the familiar to embrace the unknown.

The unicorns are a wonderful basis for this story, and Ms. Almos has crafted the creatures in such a way that they truly live up to the fantastic legends we’ve become familiar with. Her love of fleet-footed, hooved creatures makes the story shine. The further along I read, the more I found myself cheering them on their journey.

If your older tween, or young teen would like to read something without fangs, this is a fantasy tale of adventure worth looking at.





Angelia Almos formed a lifelong passion for horses at the age of five when she talked her parents into riding lessons. Horses often play a prominent role in her young adult fantasy books. She also write horsey nonfiction and space opera. She lives in the Sierra Nevada Mountains with her husband, two daughters, two dogs, two cats, and one pony (she often thinks of bumping that number up to two).

Visit her website: www.angeliaalmos.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/angeliaalmos
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AngeliaAlmosAuthor

Thank you for allowing Fox Tales the honor of reviewing your story. We wish you much success!

Friday, May 18, 2012

Want

Welcome! Today it's my pleasure to host Upper YA author, Stephanie Lawton. Stephanie is touring her new release, Want. Isn't the cover just gorgeous? Check out the deets below, along with my review.



 Blurb:

Julianne counts the days until she can pack her bags and leave her old-money, tradition-bound Southern town where appearance is everything and secrecy is a way of life. A piano virtuoso, she dreams of attending a prestigious music school in Boston. Failure is not an option, so she enlists the help of New England Conservatory graduate Isaac Laroche to help her.

She can’t understand why he suddenly gave up Boston’s music scene to return to the South. He doesn’t know her life depends on escaping it. Julianne must face down madness from without, just as it threatens from within. Isaac must resist an inappropriate attraction, but an indiscretion at a Mardi Gras ball—the pinnacle event for Mobile’s elite—forces their present wants and needs to collide with sins of the past.

My Review:

Ms. Lawton has my admiration. I’m not from the south, but after spending several years there, I believe she’s done a fabulous job of capturing the intricacies of southern life and how it shapes the people who live it.

Julianne is a young woman trapped by societal mores who is determined to break free of them, and everything they represent. She yearns for acceptance, and love, yet feels unlovable. Her talent is huge, her dreams beckon, and yet her everyday life threatens to not only thwart her dreams, but crush them into dust.

Isaac is the wunderkind who has it all. He’s lived the life Julianne craves. And it didn’t work out exactly as he believed it would, due to circumstances beyond his control. With Julianne he may have another chance to live his dreams, but only if he’s willing to change.

Before I realized it, I was enmeshed in Julianne’s struggle. This story is a roller coaster ride, filled with twists you won’t see coming. By turns, it angered me, shocked me, and took me into dark emotional places I didn’t want to go. But I’m glad I did. Even days after reading it, the characters are still with me. If didn’t know better, I’d swear I’ve met some of these people. For fans of Upper YA, this story is a must read.





Author Bio:

After collecting a couple English degrees in the Midwest, Stephanie Lawton suddenly awoke in the deepest reaches of the Deep South. Culture shock inspired her to write about Mobile, Alabama, her adopted city, and all the ways Southern culture, history and attitudes seduce the unsuspecting.

A lover of all things gothic, she can often be spotted photographing old cemeteries, historic buildings and, ironically, the beautiful beaches of the Gulf Coast. She also has a tendency to psychoanalyze people, which comes in handy when creating character profiles.

On her thirtieth birthday, she mourned (okay bawled) the fact that in no way could she still be considered a “young adult,” so she rebelled by picking up Twilight and promptly fell in love with Young Adult literature.

She has a love/hate relationship with Mardi Gras –where does all that money come from?–and can sneeze 18 times in a row.

Links:

Blog: http://stephanielawton.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Lawton-author/192796874113180
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Steph_Lawton

Pre-order Want: http://www.inkspellpublishing.com/4/post/2012/02/want-by-stephanie-lawton.html


Thank you for letting Fox Tales review your book. Congratulations on your new release. Wishing you much success!!

Monday, January 9, 2012

Mirror, Mirror



Welcome to Monday, everyone! We have a special book tour review today. It's for Mirror, Mirror a YA paranormal/horror novel. So grab a beverage, and let's get started. Here's the cover and the blurb:



Piper is nearly as obsessed with antiquities and century-old houses as her mother is. It’s no surprise that she immediately falls in love with the old mirror she discovers on the attic of their new home. Despite the warnings of her best friend Alison, who senses something isn’t quite right about Piper’s newest discovery, she puts the mirror in her bedroom.

Tormented by nightmares and haunted by eerie voices in the middle of the night, Piper realizes she has made a terrible mistake. But is it really the fault of that antique mirror, or is her imagination playing tricks on her? Maybe the truth is even more terrifying…

My Review:

Piper is an average teen who struggles with loss, grief, and constant upheaval in her life. Constantly moving from home to home leaves her looking for stability and security. One way she finds this is through a group of friends she’s had for a very long time. Another way is to share the love of antiques with her mother. When she finds an exquisitely made mirror, she believes it will be the perfect addition to her bedroom. And since I really detest those spoiler reviews that detail every plot line, you’ll have to read the book to find out just how Piper grows from ordinary to extraordinary, what she’ll do for love, and what she learns along the way.

Ms. Verstraete has crafted an engaging read with a well thought out plot and enough twists and turns to keep you turning pages. She’s created down-to-earth characters we can all relate to, and cheer for. Although I did realize early on that English isn’t the author’s first language, and I struggled a bit with that, because writing it is different than speaking it. It’s like a secret handshake; there are a million snafu’s that catch you up. However, in spite of that the story still held my interest.

If you are a fan of YA paranormal/horror, you’ll enjoy this book. I believe once the language issues are worked out—and they aren’t major, they just need some fine tuning—Ms. Verstraete has a tremendous future ahead of her as a writer. She is studying law at university, and I can see why. She’s brilliant. And I’m honored to have been able to review one of her first works.


 
Author Bio

Majanka Verstraete is a twenty-one year old female from Belgium. She’s currently studying law at university. Her greatest passions in life are writing and reading. She especially enjoys writing books in the young adult genre, ranging from young adult horror novels to epic fantasy and paranormal romance. She has currently published two books, The Blood That Defines Us and Mirror, Mirror. She’s working on a collection of horror short stories, The Thirteenth Hour, which is due for release on June 1st 2012. Her current writing project is a paranormal romance series under the working title “The Angel of Death Series”. Volume one will be entitled “Soul Thief”.

Here's where you can get your copy of Mirror, Mirror and keep up with Majanka around the web.


Author website:
http://writings.eternalised.net/

Buy Kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/Mirror-ebook/dp/B0060O7AP8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324462386&sr=8-1

Buy EPUB from Lulu:
http://www.lulu.com/product/ebook/mirror-mirror/18490911

Buy Paperback:
http://www.lulu.com/product/pocketboek/mirror-mirror-%28print%29/18495969

Buy Mirror, Mirror from Smashwords:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/99771

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-Heart-Reading/187070877978083

Twitter:
@iheartreads

I look forward to reading The Angel of Death Series when it's released. We wish you much success on your book tour, Majanka!