The Immortal Circus Blast

 First of all, I want to say how sorry that I missed this post.  I apologize to Book Nerd Tours and to the Author A.R. Kahler for being late.  This is the first time I have missed a post. However, I still wanted to post.  It was one of those, "I thought I did it, then realized I didn't" kind of thing!

Vivienne is almost content with her new life in the Cirque des Immortels. She has moved up from selling cotton candy to telling fortunes, she has a gorgeous, magical boyfriend, Kingston…and no one has been murdered since the clash between the otherworldly Courts. Her life under the faerie big top would be perfect, in fact, if not for the nightmares and visions that compel her to seek and confront her half-remembered past. But for Viv, not knowing her past may well be a blessing. There’s a reason she ran away. But can she truly escape herself?.

The second act of the fantastically evocative Cirque des Immortels series, The Immortal Circus: Act Two draws readers further into a world that’s at once wonderful, seductive…and deadly.

Step right up…

About the Author Alex is many things, but first and foremost, he’s a Sagittarius.

In the past few years he’s taught circus in Amsterdam and Madrid, gotten madly lost in the Scottish wilderness, received his Masters in Creative Writing from Glasgow University, drummed with Norse shamans, and even spent a few months as the assistant to Holly Black and Cassandra Clare.

THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS, book one in his Cirque des Immortels series, is now available from 47North. ACT TWO will be released June 11, 2013.
MARTYR, the first book in his post-apocalyptic YA fantasy series, THE HUNTED, is set to be published October 28, 2014 by Spencer Hill Press.
When he’s not writing or climbing in the rafters, he’s probably outside, staring at the clouds. And seeing as he now resides in Seattle, there are clouds aplenty.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dare Me Trailer Blast and Giveaway

DARE ME by Eric Devine
Book Blast



Dare Me trailer from Patrick Willems on Vimeo.

When Ben Candido and his friends, Ricky and John, decide to post a YouTube video of themselves surfing on top of a car, they finally feel like the somebodies they are meant to be instead of the social nobodies that they are. Overnight, the video becomes the talk of the school, and the boys are sure that their self-appointed senior year of dares will live in infamy. Every dare brings an increased risk of bodily harm, but Ben cannot deny the thrill and sense of swagger that come with it. The stakes become even more complex when a mysterious donor bankrolls their dares in exchange for a cut in the online revenue the videos generate. But at what point do the risk and the reward come at too high of a price? What does it take to stay true to one’s self in the face of relentless pressure?

About the Author

Eric Devine is the Young Adult fiction author of Dare Me (pub. date 10/8/13), Tap Out and This Side of Normal

He is also a high school English teacher and education consultant. 

Eric married his high school sweetheart, and together they are raising two daughters in Upstate, NY.

He is represented by Kate McKean of the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency. 

Both Dare Me and Tap Out are edited by Lisa Cheng and published by Running Press.

Check out Book Nerds Tour HERE

About the Giveaway:

1 Winner will get this awesome t-shirt + an ARC of DARE ME by Eric Devine

Must be 13+ To Enter – Shipping in the US Only

Rafflecopter code:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Hero's Lot Book Blast

 

The Hero's Lot 

 Riveting Sequel from Christian Fantasy's Most Talented New Voice. When Sarin Valon, the corrupt secondus of the conclave, flees Erinon and the kingdom, Errol Stone believes his troubles have at last ended. But other forces bent on the destruction of the kingdom remain and conspire to accuse Errol and his friends of a conspiracy to usurp the throne. In a bid to keep the three of them from the axe, Archbenefice Canon sends Martin and Luis to Errol's home village, Callowford, to discover what makes him so important to the kingdom. But Errol is also accused of consorting with spirits. Convicted, his punishment is a journey to the enemy kingdom of Merakh, where he must find Sarin Valon, and kill him. To enforce their sentence, Errol is placed under a compulsion, and he is driven to accomplish his task or die resisting.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Hero's Lot is the Sequel to A Cast of Stones

A Cast of Stones 

 An Epic Medieval Saga Fantasy Readers Will Love. In the backwater village of Callowford, Errol Stone's search for a drink is interrupted by a church messenger who arrives with urgent missives for the hermit priest in the hills. Desperate for coin, Errol volunteers to deliver them but soon finds himself hunted by deadly assassins. Forced to flee with the priest and a small band of travelers, Errol soon learns he's joined a quest that could change the fate of his kingdom. Protected for millennia by the heirs of the first king, the kingdom's dynasty is near an end and a new king must be selected. As tension and danger mount, Errol must leave behind his drunkenness and grief, learn to fight, and come to know his God in order to survive a journey to discover his destiny.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

 

Author Patrick W. Carr Patrick Carr was born on an Air Force base in West Germany at the height of the cold war. He has been told this was not his fault. As an Air Force brat, he experienced a change in locale every three years until his father retired to Tennessee. Patrick saw more of the world on his own through a varied and somewhat eclectic education and work history. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1984 and has worked as a draftsman at a nuclear plant, did design work for the Air Force, worked for a printing company, and consulted as an engineer. Patrick’s day gig for the last five years has been teaching high school math in Nashville, TN. He currently makes his home in Nashville with his wonderfully patient wife, Mary, and four sons he thinks are amazing: Patrick, Connor, Daniel, and Ethan. Sometime in the future he would like to be a jazz pianist. Patrick thinks writing about himself in the third person is kind of weird.

Website * Facebook

    

  Book Blast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 8/11/13

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sylo Blog Tour and Giveaway

Check out the Tour HERE

Synopsis

Does Tucker Pierce have what it takes to be a hero when the U.S. military quarantines his island?

Fourteen-year-old Tucker Pierce prefers to fly under the radar. He’s used to navigating around summer tourists in his hometown on idyllic Pemberwick Island, Maine. He’s content to sit on the sidelines as a backup player on the high school football team. And though his best friend Quinn tells him to “go for it,” he’s too chicken to ask Tori Sleeper on a date. There’s always tomorrow, he figures. Then Pemberwick Island is invaded by a mysterious branch of the U.S. military called SYLO. And sitting on the sidelines is no longer an option for Tucker, because tomorrow may never come. 

It’s up to Tucker, Quinn, and Tori to uncover the truth about the singing aircraft that appears only at night—and the stranger named Feit who’s pushing a red crystal he calls the Ruby that brings unique powers to all who take it. Tucker and his friends must rescue not just Pemberwick Island, but the fate of the world—and all before tomorrow is too late.  

#1 New York Times bestselling author D.J. MacHale brings his brilliant plotting and breathless pacing to SYLO, the first in this ultimate end-of-the-world adventure trilogy.

My Review

Sylo intrigues your imagination with creative plots and courageous characters.

Tucker is a layed back fourteen year old who doesn't like to rock the boat. He doesn't need to, when he has best friend Quinn who is smart and outspoken for the both of them.  Tucker is happy living in Pemberwick, Maine.  He moved there with his parents from Connecticut.  Quinn has big dreams of making a name for himself, when Tucker would be satisfied working with his dad in his lawn care service.

However, the town of Pemberwick finds itself in chaos when it becomes under quarantine.  The US military branch called Sylo takes control, telling the citizens and stranded tourists to go about their everyday lives, until the situation is under control.  However, Tucker and Quinn witness an explosion at night.  There are questionable deaths with some locals, and surfer dude Feit keeps popping up.  Could this have anything to do with Sylo?  Is Sylo the good guys or the bad guys?  The community begins to wonder when they are shut off from the outside world.

I knew, without a doubt, that I would love reading Sylo.  D.J. MacHale has an incredible imagination with his creative writing skills.  He captures traits of his characters personalities with ease, making those characters lovable, and others you just completely despise.  The hilarious conversations between Tucker and Quinn will make you chuckle out loud.  Their fourteen year old personalities are captured just perfect.  The complete story is written in a way that I can easily envision in my mind.  Just when you think you know which direction the plot will take...BOOM!  It takes a complete different direction...BOOM...another complete different direction.  I never knew what to expect which was a complete thrill. There were also moments that I said to myself, "Oh no you didn't MacHale!!" The mystery of Sylo hangs throughout the whole book.  Actually, I still have my doubts on what it actually is. I have a feeling we will learn more about Sylo as the series progresses.  Of course the ending is a cliff hanger, which leaves you thinking, "I have to wait HOW long now?"  But isn't that the sign of a great read?  In my world it is.  I would say that D.J. MacHale is an expert in this with all the anticipation he left in each Pendragon novel.

Yeah, I know, when it comes right down to it, my review is vague.  But really, do you want to know too much when you begin reading it?  That's like shouting out, "The butler did it!"  I want you to have the incredible reading experience I did while reading this story.

I really, really recommend this book.  Young readers will devourer it, older readers (such as myself) will adore it, giving an escape to real life.  Don't just put it on your TO BE READ list, get it now and read it.

And how cool is it that I got to meet D.J. MacHale at Chicago ALA...yes, I just had to share my fan girl moment!

Check out the tour, and sign up for the awesome giveaways!

A Big Thank you to D.J. MacHale for handling my silly fan girl moment complete with me saying OMG OMG and flapping my arms like a bird.  Because of his Pendragon series, I have great memories of reading  with my oldest son who is now 22.  It gave us a bond that can never be broken.  My son is now reading the Pendragon series AGAIN after my exciting experience. ( oh and yeah, I went thru the signing line twice because that's the book geek that I am.)

D.J. MacHale is a writer, director, executive producer and creator of several popular television series and movies. As an author, his ten-volume book series: PENDRAGON – JOURNAL OF AN ADVENTURE THROUGH TIME AND SPACE became a New York Times #1 bestseller.

He was raised in Greenwich, CT and graduated from Greenwich High School. While in school, he had several jobs including collecting eggs at a poultry farm, engraving trophies and washing dishes in a steakhouse…in between playing football and running track. D.J. attended New York University where he received a BFA in film production.

His filmmaking career began in New York where he worked as a freelance writer/director making corporate videos and television commercials. He also taught photography and film production.

D.J. broke into the entertainment business by writing several ABC AFTERSCHOOL SPECIALS. As co-creator of the popular Nickelodeon series: ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?, he produced all 91 episodes over 8 years. D.J. also wrote and directed the movieTOWER OF TERROR for ABC’s WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY which starred Kirsten Dunst and Steve Guttenberg. The Showtime series CHRIS CROSS was co-created, written and produced by D.J. It received the CableAce award for Best Youth Series.

D.J. co-created and produced the Discovery Kids/NBC television series FLIGHT 29 DOWN. He wrote every episode and directed several. His work on FLIGHT 29 DOWN earned him the Writers Guild of America award for “Outstanding Children’s Script” and a Directors Guild of America award nomination.

Other notable writing credits include the ABC AFTERSCHOOL SPECIAL titled SEASONAL DIFFERENCES; the pilot for the long-running PBS/CBS series GHOSTWRITER; and the HBO series ENCYCLOPEDIA BROWN, BOY DETECTIVE for which he received a CableAce nomination for writing.

In print, D.J. has co-written the book THE TALE OF THE NIGHTLY NEIGHBORS, based on his own teleplay and penned the poetic adaptation of the classic Norwegian folk tale EAST OF THE SUN AND WEST OF THE MOON. His most current work is the spooky MORPHEUS ROAD trilogy; and a whimsical picture book THE MONSTER PRINCESS.

D.J. lives in Southern California with his wife Evangeline and daughter Keaton. They are avid backpackers, scuba divers and skiers. Rounding out the household are two elderly goldfish and a Kitten, Kaboodle.

Links:

Website
  

Launch Party Schedule:

·       July 22^nd Monday

-        Vlog & Review Jean BookNerd

-        Excerpt & Spotlight Wintry Words

-        Spotlight Books Beside My Bed

·       July 23^rd  Tuesday

-        Favorite Things & Spotlight Sassy Book Lovers

-        Dream Cast & Spotlight Book Hounds YA

-        Spotlight Tam’s Two Cents

-        Review & Spotlight Paranormal & Urban Fantasy Reviews

·       July 24^th Wednesday

-        Review & Spotlight Beneath the Moon and Stars

-        Spotlight Bookaru-Ju

-        Interview & Spotlight Read, Rinse, Repeat

-        Interview & Spotlight Nick’s Book Blog

·       July 25^th Thursday

-        Music Playlist & Spotlight Lust for Stories

-        Review & Spotlight Scott Reads it

-        Spotlight Snuggling in the Sofa

-        Excerpt & Spotlight Sabrina’s Paranormal Palace

·       July 26^th Friday     

-        Review & Spotlight Alluring Reads

-        Excerpt & Spotlight Ramblings of a Diva Book Nerd

-        Review & Spotlight Book Haven Extraordinaire

-        Spotlight The Reader Lines

·       July 27^th Saturday

-        Review & Spotlight Bookish Things and More

-        Interview & Spotlight I am a Reader, Not a Writer

-        Tens List & Spotlight Best Books

-        Spotlight Silver Wings Reviews

·       July 28^th Sunday   

-        Spotlight Rose’s Book Corner

-        This or That & Spotlight Little Library Muse

-        Review & Spotlight Emilie’s Book World

·       July 29^th Monday  

-        Tens List & Spotlight Me, My Shelf and I

-        Art work & Spotlight with James Vallesteros

-        Spotlight Cici’s Theories

-        Review & Spotlight Fictitious Musings

  

Tour Stops:

·       Jean BookNerd       http://www.jeanbooknerd.com/

·       Amber                              http://www.memyshelfandi.com/

·       Alice                       http://bestbooks1.blogspot.co.nz/

·       Abby                       http://wintrywords.blogspot.com/

·       Colleen                   http://cicistheories.com/

·       Debbie                    http://snugglingonthesofa.wordpress.com/

·       Emilie                     http://www.emiliebookworld.com/

·       Grace                     http://lustforstories.blogspot.ca/

·       Hannah                   http://bookhavenextraordinaire.blogspot.com/

·       James                              http://jamesvallesteros.blogspot.com/

·       Jennifer                  http://www.fictitiousmusings.com/

·       Jenni                      http://www.alluringreads.com/

·       Jon                         http://scottreadsit.blogspot.com/

·       Julie                       http://bookarooju.wordpress.com/

·       Kathy                      http://www.iamareader.com/

·       Karen                     http://www.booksbesidemybed.com/

·       Katrina                    http://www.bookishthingsandmore.com/

·       Kelly                       http://divainpyjamas.blogspot.com.au/

·       Lis                          http://www.thereaderlines.blogspot.com/

·       Leigh Ann               http://flyingonsilverwings.blogspot.com/

·       Lisa                        http://pnrurbanfantasyreviews.blogspot.com/

·       Latoya                    http://littlelibrarymuse.blogspot.com/

·       Mary                       http://foreveryoungadult.blogspot.com/

·       Marissa                  http://beneaththemoonandstars.blogspot.com/

·       Nick                        http://nicksbookblog93.blogspot.com/

·       Rose                      http://rosesbookcorner.blogspot.ca/

·       Sabrina                   http://sabrinasparanormalpalace.blogspot.com/

·       Stephanie               http://readrinserepeat.blogspot.com/

·       Stacey                    http://sassybooklovers.blogspot.com/

·       Tammy                   http://tamssbookblog.blogspot.com/

2 Winners will receive a Copy of SYLO by D.J. MacHale.
1 Winner will receive a Surprise ART Poster and Bookmark by James Vallesteros.
5 Winners will receive a Surprise ART Bookmark by James Vallesteros.
Must be 13+ to Enter
International Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Chicago ALA 2013

OMG!!  I got to go to Chicago ALA this year with one of my best friends and fellow blogger, Mindy from Books Complete Me.  We had a fantastic time and it was an experience that I will never forget!

I came home with 52 books for some light reading....hahaha...and was thrilled with some of the books that I snagged!!  I also was able to meet some great authors!!

I got to Meet Simone!!!

OMG!!!  It's Marie Lu!!

Now, I had a TOTAL fan girl moment here....I LOVE D.J. MacHale...I read all the Pendragon series with my oldest son when he was growing up.  I shared that with him and he loved it.  Lucky for me, I had a bunch of bookplates and he was SO kind to sign 10 of them so I could have the whole series signed!!

It's Jennifer Armentrout!!  Got to chat with her for a while over at the Spencer Hill booth because I am friends with them!!

Patrick Ness....Loved his accent!!

AMANDA!!!

Jonathon Maberry....ROT ON!!  That's what he signed in my book...so stinkin cool!!

It was a great experience, and if you ever get a chance to go to one, you should.  Next year it's in LAS VEGAS!!  I so plan on going!!  

I also got to meet a bunch of my TwilightMom friends, who I have been talking to online for years.  Without them, my life would not be complete. I have been given so many friendships, and my love for reading.  Without them, I would have never found the book blogging world!