Title: A Risk Worth Taking
Author: Heather Hildenbrand
Publisher: Accendo Press (October 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Order Heather's books online here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: When 22-year-old Summer Stafford’s parents split halfway through her senior year at college, Summer’s world is rocked. Everything she thought she knew—heck, everything she thought she wanted for her own life—feels like a lie. The truth is love is a risk. And the true kind, the kind that lasts, might even be a fairy tale.

Reeling from the divorce, Summer derails her own future by breaking up with her parent-approved boyfriend and giving up her lifelong plans for a big-city career. She moves back home, business degree in hand. Dad needs her to fill the gaps her mother left behind; Summer needs to find who she is outside of the cookie-cutter life that failed so miserably for her parents.

Ford O’Neal’s future involves one person: himself. He doesn’t have a permanent address and he definitely doesn’t commit. To a place or a person. Raised by hippies, he plans just far enough ahead to secure his next stop, this one landing him at a work-study program at Heritage Plantation where he can grow his own herbal and medicinal creations.

Summer is gorgeous and smart and fun to be with, the perfect way to pass five months. It won’t be love—Ford’s got too many things to accomplish, too many places to go, before he settles down. Yet Summer pulls him in, challenging him to rethink his own philosophy.

When Ford’s five months are up, each of them must decide if love is really worth the risk.

Review: 4.5 Stars - Heather Hildenbrand’s A Risk Worth Taking is a fantastic story written in dual points of view, between the two main characters Summer and Ford. Both in their early twenties they each believe they know what they want in their lives, but how things change when the other offers a different point of view.

Summer and Ford… where do I even begin? At the start of the book Summer’s numb and let me say that Hildenbrand did a fantastic job writing her. I could feel how numb she was while reading, so that’s the first thing I must commend the author on. Summer’s trying to come to terms with the separation of her parents. She doesn’t understand it and is more than scarred from how everything came about. After college she’s moved back home to her family’s farm to help her dad in the office to take over all the books. Slowly we see Summer and her emotions start to crack from behind that wall of numb she’s got surrounding her.

And then we have Ford. He’s somewhat nomadic and is doing a work-study program on the farm working on combining various herbs and plants for medical purposes. He’s easy going, fun loving and has plans for his future… well it’s more of an idea of how he wants to see his life go. He’s more of a “go with the flow, spontaneous kind of guy”. He wants to live his life to the fullest, not miss out on a thing and not look back on his life as if he missed something.

The two characters are both trying to navigate their lives living within the shadow of their parent’s lives and relationships. The parallels are amazingly well written as well. I loved how Summer and Ford had a chance to have their side of the story heard with this dual POV. It was such an amazing chance to watch them work through their issues and seeing just how they helped to change each other.

Another thing I have to more than commend Hildenbrand on is how emotional this novel was. I found myself crying more than once and at a couple of points I was sobbing so hard that I had to stop reading and try to catch my breath. It’s not often while reading that I find myself so emotional about a book or characters and this one really hit me hard.

All in all I loved this story and these characters and thought the writing was done amazingly well. On one hand I wanted to devour the book, which I did because it’s just so easy to read and the words just flow, yet I didn’t want it to end either! I highly recommend this title to anyone looking to read a great contemporary story with characters that’ll be very hard to forget and a story that’ll leave its mark. I would love to see more from these characters or other characters within this world which I hope Hildenbrand has plans of in the future. Either way I’m looking forward to more from her and I’ll be rereading this one over and over again. Enjoy!

Title: A Risk Worth Taking
Author: Heather Hildenbrand
Publisher: Accendo Press (October 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Order Heather's books online here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: When 22-year-old Summer Stafford’s parents split halfway through her senior year at college, Summer’s world is rocked. Everything she thought she knew—heck, everything she thought she wanted for her own life—feels like a lie. The truth is love is a risk. And the true kind, the kind that lasts, might even be a fairy tale.

Reeling from the divorce, Summer derails her own future by breaking up with her parent-approved boyfriend and giving up her lifelong plans for a big-city career. She moves back home, business degree in hand. Dad needs her to fill the gaps her mother left behind; Summer needs to find who she is outside of the cookie-cutter life that failed so miserably for her parents.

Ford O’Neal’s future involves one person: himself. He doesn’t have a permanent address and he definitely doesn’t commit. To a place or a person. Raised by hippies, he plans just far enough ahead to secure his next stop, this one landing him at a work-study program at Heritage Plantation where he can grow his own herbal and medicinal creations.

Summer is gorgeous and smart and fun to be with, the perfect way to pass five months. It won’t be love—Ford’s got too many things to accomplish, too many places to go, before he settles down. Yet Summer pulls him in, challenging him to rethink his own philosophy.

When Ford’s five months are up, each of them must decide if love is really worth the risk.

Guest Post:

Are you a Ford or Casey kind of girl?

On a first date, do you worry more about:   a) what to wear?  or  b) what to say?

Would you call a guy if he didn’t call you after the first date?    a) no way, no call means he’s probably not interested  or    b) definitely. It’s about time the girl made the first move.

Do you prefer riding in a:   a) truck?   or   b) on the back of a dirtbike?

As a pet name, do you want to be called   a) baby or sweetie?   or   b) woman or sexy?

For no other reason than to be thoughtful, you want your man to bring you    a) flowers    or   b) a towel after he turns the hose on you to be funny

Your “first time” with your guy is   a) in hot and humid greenhouse with the smell of fresh dirt all around    or   b) on a towel on the floor beside a taken-apart tractor while country music plays on the stereo in the background.

If you gave more a) answers, you are perfect for Ford! If you gave more b) answers, you are Casey’s kind of girl!

About the author:

Heather Hildenbrand was born and raised in a small town in northern Virginia where she was homeschooled through high school. She now lives in coastal VA, a few miles from the Atlantic Ocean, with her two adorable children. She works from home, part time, as a property manager and when she's not furiously pounding at the keyboard, or staring off into space whilst plotting a new story, she's lying on the beach, soaking in those delicious, pre-cancerous rays.

Heather loves Mexican food, hates socks with sandals, and if her house was on fire, the one thing she'd grab is her DVR player.

Heather is a co-founder of Accendo Press, a publishing group she operates with fellow authors: Angeline Kace and Jennifer Sommersby. Accendo (a-CH-endo), A Latin word, means “to kindle, illuminate, inflame, or set fire.” This is something Accendo strives to do inside a reader’s imagination with every title released. For a complete list of titles and author bios, visit www.accendopress.com.

Find Heather Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Facebook Fan Page | Newsletter | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Release Day Heather!!! 

Keep an eye out for a review of this title soon!

Title: A Risk Worth Taking
Author: Heather Hildenbrand
Publisher: Accendo Press (October 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Order Heather's books online here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: When 22-year-old Summer Stafford’s parents split halfway through her senior year at college, Summer’s world is rocked. Everything she thought she knew—heck, everything she thought she wanted for her own life—feels like a lie. The truth is love is a risk. And the true kind, the kind that lasts, might even be a fairy tale.

Reeling from the divorce, Summer derails her own future by breaking up with her parent-approved boyfriend and giving up her lifelong plans for a big-city career. She moves back home, business degree in hand. Dad needs her to fill the gaps her mother left behind; Summer needs to find who she is outside of the cookie-cutter life that failed so miserably for her parents.

Ford O’Neal’s future involves one person: himself. He doesn’t have a permanent address and he definitely doesn’t commit. To a place or a person. Raised by hippies, he plans just far enough ahead to secure his next stop, this one landing him at a work-study program at Heritage Plantation where he can grow his own herbal and medicinal creations.

Summer is gorgeous and smart and fun to be with, the perfect way to pass five months. It won’t be love—Ford’s got too many things to accomplish, too many places to go, before he settles down. Yet Summer pulls him in, challenging him to rethink his own philosophy.

When Ford’s five months are up, each of them must decide if love is really worth the risk.

About the author:

Heather Hildenbrand was born and raised in a small town in northern Virginia where she was homeschooled through high school. She now lives in coastal VA, a few miles from the Atlantic Ocean, with her two adorable children. She works from home, part time, as a property manager and when she's not furiously pounding at the keyboard, or staring off into space whilst plotting a new story, she's lying on the beach, soaking in those delicious, pre-cancerous rays.

Heather loves Mexican food, hates socks with sandals, and if her house was on fire, the one thing she'd grab is her DVR player.

Heather is a co-founder of Accendo Press, a publishing group she operates with fellow authors: Angeline Kace and Jennifer Sommersby. Accendo (a-CH-endo), A Latin word, means “to kindle, illuminate, inflame, or set fire.” This is something Accendo strives to do inside a reader’s imagination with every title released. For a complete list of titles and author bios, visit www.accendopress.com.

Find Heather Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Facebook Fan Page | Newsletter | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY!!!

Heather is giving away a gift basket with a hair flower, nail polish, bracelet, and a $20 Amazon Gift Card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Title: Wicked Thing
Author: Angeline Kace
Publisher: Accendo Press LLC (September 26th 2013)
From: the Author
Format: eARC
Add to: Goodreads
Order online here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: Carmyn Rafferty witnessed the aftermath of her mother's affair. She learned at a young age not to trust anyone. Especially not your spouse. So she's planned. She's planned every detail of her life: who her husband will be, what their careers will be, what their lives will be like. All to avoid the pain of infidelity.

Dallas Brown lives a life all his own. He doesn't do relationships, he doesn't care what anyone thinks of him, and he doesn't live up to anyone's expectations but his own.

When Carmyn's fiancé cheats on her, it sends her into a whirlwind of one-night stands with the most infamous player on campus. She can't seem to stay away from this tough guy and his dangerous motorcycle. Everything about him is the complete opposite of who she'd planned to fall in love with: tattoos, dark stubble along his jawline, and hair that brushes his shoulders.

As Dallas and Carmyn begin to fall deeper and deeper into each other, they learn that love can truly be a wicked, wicked thing.

Review: 4 Stars - Angeline Kace has been a favorite indie author of mine since I read her first title (YA) Descended By Blood. As soon as I heard she was working on a “New Adult” title I was so excited that I could barely contain myself. Wicked Thing has all that makes a great book un-put-down-able.

So how about I talk a little bit about the two main characters’ – Carmyn and Dallas. Carmyn is extremely guarded due to her mother’s past faults. When she finds her fiancé cheating on her, her issues with trust are broken yet again. She’s out to try things a different way, one without relationships and only one night stands.  She thought she had a plan and when those are smashed beyond recognition she has no idea how she’s going to move past this and get her life plan back on track. This is when Dallas enters her life.

Dallas does what he wants when he wants to. He lives by his own set of rules and isn’t the type for relationships. He’s the guy that all the girls want – good looks, tattoo’s, rides a motorcycle and cocky. The perfect bad boy and the perfect guy to fit exactly what Carmyn is looking for.

The thing about Carmyn is that she’s the girl all the guys want, but she doesn’t come across as being full of herself. She’s in a sorority, which, ugh… some of those girls were pretty horrible, which is one thing I couldn’t understand, I mean she’s so different from so many of these girls!

And Dallas, one of the things I loved about him the most was he’s an artist and reading this part of him was almost mesmerizing because just when you think you as a reader know the bad boy that he is, it’s things like this that make you realize that you don’t know him as well as you think do you. That really no one does and it makes him different and endearing.

The relationship between Carmyn and Dallas might have started somewhat quick, but that wasn’t the true beginning of these two for me. That came a bit later and then watching it all progress and how they both questioned their budding feelings, how they navigated through these new feelings and emotions and changes they were going through was one of the best parts or the story.

In the end my high hopes for another amazing novel from Kace were met and she’s written another set of characters that I love. The story was fantastic and I couldn’t put it down, reading this title in one sitting. One of the things I love and look forward to with Kace is her writing. Another is her memorable characters. With those two things combined I know I’m going to get one heck of a read. Add in the fantastic plots and she’s hit a home run, which is a great way to describe Wicked Thing making this title one I highly recommend. Fans of great “New Adult” contemporary titles should pick this one up and fall in love with the latest bad boy, Dallas. Read, swoon and enjoy!

About the author:

Angeline is a Scorpio living in the Rocky Mountains with her husband and dogs. She loves all things paranormal, believes ghosts are real, werewolves aren't, and vampires? Definitely real! At least in the Vampire Born world they are. She is currently at work on her first New Adult Romance, Wicked Thing, which releases September 2013.

Find Angeline Online: 

Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Facebook Fan Page | Goodreads

Title: Wicked Thing
Author: Angeline Kace
Publisher: Accendo Press LLC (September 26th 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Order online here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

Synopsis: Carmyn Rafferty witnessed the aftermath of her mother's affair. She learned at a young age not to trust anyone. Especially not your spouse. So she's planned. She's planned every detail of her life: who her husband will be, what their careers will be, what their lives will be like. All to avoid the pain of infidelity.

Dallas Brown lives a life all his own. He doesn't do relationships, he doesn't care what anyone thinks of him, and he doesn't live up to anyone's expectations but his own.

When Carmyn's fiancé cheats on her, it sends her into a whirlwind of one-night stands with the most infamous player on campus. She can't seem to stay away from this tough guy and his dangerous motorcycle. Everything about him is the complete opposite of who she'd planned to fall in love with: tattoos, dark stubble along his jawline, and hair that brushes his shoulders.

As Dallas and Carmyn begin to fall deeper and deeper into each other, they learn that love can truly be a wicked, wicked thing.

YAY, the Wicked Thing release day is FINALLY HERE!!! A HUGE congrats to my friend Angeline on her latest title and wow! It's pretty amazing! I can't wait to share my review with everyone during the blog tour. If you like tattooed artistic boys, then go grab a copy and introduce yourself to Dallas!

About the author:

Angeline is a Scorpio living in the Rocky Mountains with her husband and dogs. She loves all things paranormal, believes ghosts are real, werewolves aren't, and vampires? Definitely real! At least in the Vampire Born world they are. She is currently at work on her first New Adult Romance, Wicked Thing, which releases September 2013.

Find Angeline Online: 

Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Facebook Fan Page | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Title: A Risk Worth Taking
Author: Heather Hildenbrand
Publisher: Accendo Press (October 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Order Heather's books online here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: When 22-year-old Summer Stafford’s parents split halfway through her senior year at college, Summer’s world is rocked. Everything she thought she knew—heck, everything she thought she wanted for her own life—feels like a lie. The truth is love is a risk. And the true kind, the kind that lasts, might even be a fairy tale.

Reeling from the divorce, Summer derails her own future by breaking up with her parent-approved boyfriend and giving up her lifelong plans for a big-city career. She moves back home, business degree in hand. Dad needs her to fill the gaps her mother left behind; Summer needs to find who she is outside of the cookie-cutter life that failed so miserably for her parents.

Ford O’Neal’s future involves one person: himself. He doesn’t have a permanent address and he definitely doesn’t commit. To a place or a person. Raised by hippies, he plans just far enough ahead to secure his next stop, this one landing him at a work-study program at Heritage Plantation where he can grow his own herbal and medicinal creations.

Summer is gorgeous and smart and fun to be with, the perfect way to pass five months. It won’t be love—Ford’s got too many things to accomplish, too many places to go, before he settles down. Yet Summer pulls him in, challenging him to rethink his own philosophy.

When Ford’s five months are up, each of them must decide if love is really worth the risk.

WOW authors, you guys are all getting some amazing covers! Love this one! Looking forward to reading it Heather!

About the author:

Heather Hildenbrand was born and raised in a small town in northern Virginia where she was homeschooled through high school. She now lives in coastal VA, a few miles from the Atlantic Ocean, with her two adorable children. She works from home, part time, as a property manager and when she's not furiously pounding at the keyboard, or staring off into space whilst plotting a new story, she's lying on the beach, soaking in those delicious, pre-cancerous rays.

Heather loves Mexican food, hates socks with sandals, and if her house was on fire, the one thing she'd grab is her DVR player.

Heather is a co-founder of Accendo Press, a publishing group she operates with fellow authors: Angeline Kace and Jennifer Sommersby. Accendo (a-CH-endo), A Latin word, means “to kindle, illuminate, inflame, or set fire.” This is something Accendo strives to do inside a reader’s imagination with every title released. For a complete list of titles and author bios, visit www.accendopress.com.

Find Heather Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Facebook Fan Page | Newsletter | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Title: Enemy Within (Vampire Born #2)
Author: Angeline Kace
Publisher: Accendo Press, (April 30th 2013)
From: the Author
Format: eARC
Add to: Goodreads
Check out my review for: Descended By Blood (Vampire Born, #1)

Synopsis: Two guys who’ve stolen her heart.
Three races and only one of them worthy.
Countless enemies with insatiable bloodlust for power.Will one girl's curse ultimately save her?

Half-vampire Brooke Keller barely survived the slaying of her worst enemy, only to learn that Zladislov—the world's most powerful vampire, leader of the vampire world, and her father—wants her dead. However, this time, she's not only fighting vampires but a raging monster within her that endangers what's left of her humanity. And when a deadly disease threatens to take her best friend's life, Brooke tries to convince Kaitlynn to accept a monster of her own: becoming a Zao Duh.

As a former slave to the Pijawikas, Mirko is driven to protect the innocent at all costs, but he has never faced a foe more formidable than Zladislov. And when the Commission bears down on Brooke, Mirko finds the stream of enemies runs deeper than he ever imagined.

Review: 5 Stars - Enemy Within is the second title in author Angeline Kace’s Vampire Born trilogy. With the events that happened at the end of Descended By Blood, I knew without a doubt that I had to get my hands on this one. As soon as I did I also knew I’d drop everything to find out what was about to happen next to Brooke, Mirko and company!

This book, without a doubt left me stunned. If there’s one thing that Angeline does and does well, it’s the crazy tension that builds over and over again between her characters. And I’m not just talking about the sexual tension between Brooke and our favorite vampire Mirko either. There’s drama at every turn heartbreaking new rules that must be followed, eyes everywhere and new players that are about to change everything!

Once reading it was one heck of a ride that Angeline gave me. I will admit that I was angry a few times over what she makes her characters go through. There were plenty of times I almost put my Kindle down and sent her an email asking WHY?! I knew that’d take too much time… so I kept reading and before I knew it I’d want to fire that email off to her again!

Oh the emotions! Speaking of… while Descended By Blood was emotional, it didn’t hold a candle to what I saw and felt while reading this novel. How she does it, I don’t know but if I have one thing to say, it’s KEEP DOING WHAT YOU’RE DOING ANGELINE!

Relationships face heavy strain, are tested and damaged. I flew through the story and when I hit that last page I about died. I seriously wondered if I had a copy that was missing that last chapter or two. I had to reread the last few pages a few times to come to terms with what exactly I was absorbing. Angeline! Are you serious? How could you DO that to us??

All in all, I loved the first book and knew that we’d be in for a treat with the second, and I am happy to say that I was right. Angeline has an exciting fresh new take and lore to vampires. She writes a fast paced story with characters you won’t be able to forget, a book boyfriend that’ll make you swoon and a tension that’s over the top in more ways than one. I loved it and I know everyone will too! Hurry, go read! No waiting, go, go GO!

Title: Enemy Within (Vampire Born #2)
Author: Angeline Kace
Publisher: Accendo Press, (April 30th 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Order online here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK
Check out my review for: Descended By Blood (Vampire Born, #1)

Synopsis: Two guys who’ve stolen her heart.
Three races and only one of them worthy.
Countless enemies with insatiable bloodlust for power.Will one girl's curse ultimately save her?

Half-vampire Brooke Keller barely survived the slaying of her worst enemy, only to learn that Zladislov—the world's most powerful vampire, leader of the vampire world, and her father—wants her dead. However, this time, she's not only fighting vampires but a raging monster within her that endangers what's left of her humanity. And when a deadly disease threatens to take her best friend's life, Brooke tries to convince Kaitlynn to accept a monster of her own: becoming a Zao Duh.

As a former slave to the Pijawikas, Mirko is driven to protect the innocent at all costs, but he has never faced a foe more formidable than Zladislov. And when the Commission bears down on Brooke, Mirko finds the stream of enemies runs deeper than he ever imagined.

Find Angeline Online: 

Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Check out Date Night with Brooke & Mirko:

Part 1 & Part 2




Book Trailer:

Ohhh MIRKO, SWOON!!! Great trailer, congrats Angeline! If you haven't checked out this series yet, you have NO idea what you're missing! Such a great story, utterly captivating characters and a unique take on vampires! I LOVE IT! I'll be posting my review for Enemy Within soon... I need the third book ASAP! *hint, hint Angeline!*

GIVEAWAY!!!

Angeline is offering up a fantastic giveaway! One lucky winner will receive a Kindle Fire HD with an Enemy Within skin and ebooks from authors Chelsea Fine, JL Bryan, Raine Thomas, Sarah Ross, and more!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FTC Disclaimer: I have NOT been compensated at all in any way or means for sharing this post or giveaway.

Title: Enemy Within (Vampire Born #2)
Author: Angeline Kace
Publisher: Accendo Press (April 30th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Review: Descended By Blood (Vampire Born, #1)
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble

Synopsis: Two guys who’ve stolen her heart.
Three races and only one of them worthy.
Countless enemies with insatiable bloodlust for power.
Will one girl's curse ultimately save her? 

Half-vampire Brooke Keller barely survived the slaying of her worst enemy, only to learn that Zladislov—the world's most powerful vampire, leader of the vampire world, and her father—wants her dead. However, this time, she's not only fighting vampires but a raging monster within her that endangers what's left of her humanity. And when a deadly disease threatens to take her best friend's life, Brooke tries to convince Kaitlynn to accept a monster of her own: becoming a Zao Duh.

As a former slave to the Pijawikas, Mirko is driven to protect the innocent at all costs, but he has never faced a foe more formidable than Zladislov. And when the Commission bears down on Brooke, Mirko finds the stream of enemies runs deeper than he ever imagined.

Brooke has a HUGE choice to make between two guys. Mirko wanted Brooke to have a real date. A real human date. It all started with the first part of this post. >>>CHECK OUT PART ONE OF THEIR DATE HERE<<< before reading the continuation of the date, here in this post below.

Brook & Mirko's Date - Part Two

           Mirko and I got to work on toilet papering the rose bushes. “You start on that end, and I’ll start over here,” He said as he wound his toilet paper around the far bush.
           I couldn’t help but keep looking up at him while I wound and tucked the string of tissue around the branches. It was dark and the street light did little but cast shadows on the property Mirko chose for us, but I could still make out his strong jaw line, and the upturn of his lips as he worked on his bush. Toilet papering seemed like such a normal thing to do. And the fact that Mirko went out of his way to give me this experience made me want to drop my rolls and make out with him right here in the bushes.
           We worked on each bush, moving inward toward one another. As soon as I finished the last one, Mirko stepped back and appraised our work. “Not bad for an amateur, Slatki. Not bad at all.”
           I wadded up some tissue and threw it at him. “This is your first time too, so if it’s sloppy, I’m blaming it on you.”
           He appraised me with a crooked smile as he closed the distance between us. “It’s toilet papering. I don’t think it’s supposed to be neat.”
           I pushed his shoulder with my free hand, but he caught my hands and held them to my chest, leaning in and giving me a quick kiss on the lips.
           “Now the trees,” he said as he released me.
           My insides were twirling with giddiness. Excitement from doing something that we shouldn’t be doing and could get in trouble if we got caught. And excitement over doing it in the dark with Mirko.
From the way he grinned and stole glances up at me I think he felt the same way.
           Mirko took a roll of toilet paper out of his bag, held on to the loose end and flung the roll over the tree. The roll broke free from the trail he held onto and rolled out into the darkened street. “Well, that didn’t go as expected.”
           I chuckled, no longer able to be as quiet as I wanted to be. “And you said you weren’t a cheap date. I’d say you sure bought the cheap toilet paper.”
           Mirko took out another roll from his bag and aimed it at me.
           I ran across the yard and hid behind the other tree.
           He sped over to me, unwinding the toilet paper in his hand. I laughed as he chased me around the trunk, flinging sheets of toilet paper at me. “No using your Pijawikian speed,” he said as he grabbed the hood of my sweater and spun me around.
           I tried to push his hands free of me, but he held tight with one hand and spun the toilet paper around me with the other. “The house. The house!” I squealed, trying to be quiet but failing.
           Now he was laughing too. Of course. He always thinks he’s funny.
           Street lights flicked onto the street and grew as the car came closer to the house.
           Mirko dropped his toilet paper and grabbed my hand.
           I tore the wrapped toilet paper off of me as we booked it down the block. We didn’t get far before the car was close enough that its passengers could have spotted us.
           “Take cover,” Mirko said. He dropped to his knees and army crawled along the driveway and underneath a neighbor’s boat.
           I dropped to the ground and followed him under. When I was halfway hidden, he grabbed under my arms and pulled me completely under, then rolled so he was flat on his back and I was on top of him.
           The surprise of our position took my breath away, and I gasped.
           “Shhh,” he whispered.
           “I’m trying,” I said once I caught my breath. I trembled from the adrenaline rush of almost getting caught, but also because my body was flush with Mirko’s.
           A car door slammed and then foot steps sounded loudly toward us. “I know you didn’t get far,” an angry voice yelled closer to our hiding spot than I preferred. “I just saw you run away.”
           My heart thumbed triple time in my chest, and I inhaled deeply through my nose to keep from squealing or making any other sound that might give us away.
           Mirko cupped the sides of my face and pulled me down to him, kissing me on the mouth and distracting me in a way I didn’t think I’d like as much in such a predicament.
           But I did. I liked it. A lot.
           Our breathing was heavy from our flight, but I relaxed into his kiss, being as quiet as I could with every move of my mouth.
           “You delinquents. Get out here and clean this up before I call the cops.”
           Mirko’s mouth froze in place with mine, and I felt a slight grin take over the shape of his lips.
           I couldn’t help myself and started to smile as well, my exhale coming out on a slight laugh.
           He threw his hand over my mouth and smothered any sound that I might have been made. He thumbed toward the back of the boat to the neighbor’s back yard.
           I nodded, and he slowly rolled me off of him onto the cold concrete. He turned onto his stomach and crawled toward the back yard. I followed him, wishing I could do it as soundless and as smooth as he did.
           When he reached the darkest area of the driveway, he slid out from under the boat and put his hand out to me to help me up. We sidestepped along the dark shadows of the house into the back yard, then sprinted across the grass to the edge of the property.
           Mirko jumped the fence in silence and made sure I didn’t make any sound getting over it before he turned forward again, grabbed my hand, and ran.
           We cut through the yard we jumped into, circled the block and then bee-lined it to the car.
           Once inside and moving away from the scene of our crime, we both let out all the laughter we couldn’t hold in anymore.
           “That was awesome,” I said.
           He looked at me and smiled. “I’m glad you had fun, Slatki.”His eyes were sincere and drew me into their depths.
           “And you didn’t leave me.”
           “I’d never leave you, Slatki. No matter how small the consequences are, I’ll always make sure you get away.”
           My heart melted. We stopped at a red light and I leaned over to kiss him.
           He pulled away when the light turned green, but he grabbed my hand and held it as he drove the car home. Both of us smiling the whole way.

Find Angeline Online: 

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GIVEAWAY!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FTC Disclaimer: I have NOT been compensated at all in any way or means for sharing this post or giveaway.

Title: Imitation (Clone Chronicles #1)
Author: Heather Hilderbrand
Publisher: Accendo Press, (March 12th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble

Synopsis: Everyone is exactly like me.
There is no one like me.
The rough fabric of my cotton nightgown chafes so I lie very still. They say my discomfort comes from being built like one accustomed to niceties. How is that fair when I myself have never experienced anything but copies of the real thing?
My entire life is an imitation.
I am an Imitation.
I’ve been here five years. Training. Preparing. Waiting.
And now I have a letter.
My assignment has begun.
I am a prisoner.
I am not Raven Rogen.
I am here to die.

The finally book – Body & Soul – in The Ghost and the Goth trilogy was released earlier this year. Being a huge fan of the books, I know I’m sad to see the end of the story for Alona & Will. Can you talk about how it was for you in writing the last book?

I cried. So much! I’m not even kidding. Some of that was because I knew it was the last book, and some of it came from this feeling of catharsis.

I always feel this strong sense of responsibility to characters, people I’ve dragged into this mess, to get them back out. To see them reach their goals and be changed, even if it’s not in a way they would want or expect.

In my head, Alona and Will had been on this journey for five years, and seeing them reach the end I’d been imagining for so long…it was amazing and a little sad too. I miss them!

Do you believe in ghosts?

Yes. And they scare me. You’ll never catch me on one of those ghost-hunting tour things.

And lastly, how about a fun question? Being that it’s the scariest time of the year – Halloween – what’s your favorite?

Scary Book: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Scary Movie: Disturbia (I’m not really a fan of bloody, scary movies!)

Halloween Candy: Reese’s peanut butter cups, the pumpkin ones!

Costume from Halloween’s Past: Judging by the number of pictures of me in it, I’d have to say the “store-bought” Spiderman costume when I was three.

Title: Body & Soul (The Ghost and the Goth #3)

Author: Stacey Kade

Publisher: Hyperion, 316 Pages (May 1st, 2012)

Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis: The final book in The Ghost and the Goth Trilogy!

The Ghost

I’ve been trapped in the body of Lily “Ally” Turner for a month now. Talk about a fashion crisis on an epic scale. What worries me more, though, is sometimes I catch Will looking at me like he thinks I’m Lily...or that he wishes I were. Without the good looks of my former self, I don’t know who I am, or if who that is is good enough. I need out of this mess. Now.

Will and I have been looking for a solution, one that would separate me from Lily without killing her. But it’s not going well. Then, when it seems like things couldn’t get any worse, we run into Misty, my former best friend and boyfriend-stealer extraordinaire, who claims she’s being haunted...by me. Seriously?

I’m determined to get to the bottom of who’s pretending to be the spirit of Alona Dare (while I’m pretending to be someone else) and then get the heck out of this body. Or die trying...

The Goth

I’ll admit it. It’s really weird to look at Alona but see Lily. I do know the difference, though, contrary to what Alona might be saying. And Alona is more than a pretty face to me, not that she would believe that.
O
ur one lead for some help in this messed up situation might be a page torn from the yellow pages-—the “Psychics” section-—I found in my dad’s stuff. One of the “fakes” seems a bit more real-—and odd-—than the others. Before I can investigate further, though, Alona is off and chasing a ghost that’s probably nothing more than a figment of Misty’s guilty imagination. Now Lily’s family is freaking out because she didn’t come home, my mom is ordering me to stay out of it, and something is definitely wrong with the person formerly known as Lily “Ally” Turner...

Photo credit: Vania Stoyanova

Find Stacey Online: 

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GIVEAWAY!

How the Crossroads Tour Giveaway works

All the authors got together and decided, instead of each blog getting one or two titles to giveaway - they'd have a single grand prize - a real doozie. With that in mind each blogger is asked to encourage readers to answer the daily trivia/research question on the tour main page. (http://judithgraves.com/events/the-crossroads-tour/crossroads-2011/) At the end of the tour all answers have to be emailed to judithgraves@ymail.com by midnight on the 29th. 

So, it's your job, to head over to the mail tour page I've linked above, read the question and go find the answer in the posts for that day. Make sure you get your answers in by the deadline - October 29th at Midnight!

Entries will be put in a drawing and a winner chosen randomly.

And I bet you're wondering what the heck this amazing prize is? How about a FREE KINDLE PRELOADED with an eBOOK from each of the Crossroads authors???

The more questions you answer, the better, so be sure to check back each day!

Any questions? Please send them my way!

I might be a little late to the party posting this cover reveal, but I'm SO excited about it, I'm chair dancing as I type up this post! Angeline knows just how much I love her, but I still will always been there to be cheering her on no matter what she does. She is a rock star to me. I could go on and on about this lady, but I think I'll share with you the amazing cover for her second book in the Vampire Born series - Enemy Within.

Enemy Within (Vampire Born, #2)

Available August 30th, 2012 from Accendo Press

Synopsis: Two guys who’ve stolen her heart.
Three races and only one of them worthy.
Countless enemies with insatiable bloodlust for power.
Will one girl's curse ultimately save her?

Half-vampire Brooke Keller barely survived the slaying of her worst enemy, only to learn that Zladislov—the world's most powerful vampire, leader of the vampire world, and her father—wants her dead. However, this time, she's not only fighting vampires but a raging monster within her that endangers what's left of her humanity. And when a deadly disease threatens to take her best friend's life, Brooke tries to convince Kaitlynn to accept a monster of her own: becoming a Zao Duh.

As a former slave to the Pijawikas, Mirko is driven to protect the innocent at all costs, but he has never faced a foe more formidable than Zladislov. And when the Commission bears down on Brooke, Mirko finds the stream of enemies runs deeper than he ever imagined.

HOLY AMAZING COVERS!!! I seriously love how amazing Brooke looks on the cover! Exactly how I pictured her! HUGE CONGRATS to you Angeline for scoring with the covers for your books. They just keep getting better and better...

I have been seriously on pins and needles for this book since I finished the first book in the series - Descended By Blood. And if you haven't read it yet... you are missing out on Mirko. You have no idea. Just wait til you meet him. *swoon!*

Oh... And some amazing news - Want to meet Booke & Mirko for yourself? Well, Descended By Blood eBook is available for FREE for 3 days only. Check it out, don't miss it! (June 7th - 9th, 2012)

Click here to get your copy from AMAZON today!

And now, Angeline is having a giveaway offering a fantastic prize to THREE lucky winners! Here's the details and what you have a chance to win.

THREE LUCKY winners will each receive an eARC copy of Enemy Within.

As soon as the book is ready - ie. formatted, etc. the winners will receive their eBook around the end of July or early August, BEFORE the official release on August 30th, 2012.

You MUST be at least 13 years old to enter.
Please fill out the Rafflecopter form provided below for your entry to count. Please do NOT leave your email address in comments. No entries in comments will be counted toward this giveaway.
Giveaway is open INTERNATIONAL!
Ends: June 15th, 2012 at 12:01AM EST.

Please only enter the giveaway ONCE. This Rafflecopter form is the same on all the blogs who are taking part in the cover reveal.

THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM WILL BE HERE SHORTLY! THE CODE ISN'T WORKING! SORRY FOR THE DELAY!

Angeline, thank you for asking me to help out with the cover reveal! I'm more than happy and thrilled to help you out in any possible.

The winnings of this giveaway are being provided by Angeline, so another thank you goes out to her for making this giveaway happen.

Title: Descended by Blood (Vampire Born, #1)
Author: Angeline Kace
Publisher: Accendo Press, 263 Pages (August 26th, 2011)
Add to: Goodreads
Check out: My Review

Synopsis: Brooke Keller is a high school junior who has never spent much time living in one place. She is finally in a town long enough to almost snag the boy of her dreams, until her life is threatened after killing a fanged man in his attempt to kidnap her. Brooke begins a dangerous journey in an effort to find out who is after her and how to stop them. In a world with powerful and prejudiced vampires, Brooke must tap into the side of her that she never knew existed at the risk of losing her life in order to save it.

 

As some of you may know, Brooke has a decision to make between Mirko and Jaren. Her situation isn’t really favorable for the normal dating setup, but Mirko isn’t one to let that get in his way. Hope you enjoy. :) 

       Mirko met me outside my room when I was ready. “So, what do you have planned?” I asked. When I questioned him with how I should dress he suggested I wear something casual, comfortable, and black.

       His mischievous smile hinted at trouble, but I already knew that was part of his agenda. It’s not often your date tells you to wear black—well outside of the little-black-dress variety anyway. “You’ll see.” He loved to drive me crazy, and keeping me in the “unknown” was definitely a way to do it.

       I struck my foot out in front of him, but he stepped over it and swiveled around, picking me up and spinning with me in his arms. My laughter echoed down the massive hall. 

        “A real date, Slatki,” he said, putting me back on my feet. “Evidence that you don’t ever have to put your life on hold.” He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Not even when someone’s trying to kill you.” He pulled me close and hugged me tight.

       I knew he worried about me, but he still wanted me to have fun. And that was why he wanted to take me out on a date. Well, one of them anyway. I’d been sad about not being able to go out and do the things a normal girl my age could do, and Mirko promised me a night of all things a normal girl my age would do.

       I just hoped his idea and my idea were on the same page. He is a guy after all.

       “Wait,” Mirko said, stopping me before I could get into the car. “You have to put this on first.”

       “You have got to be kidding me,” I said, watching the blindfold dangle from his raised finger.

       “Not one bit.” He stepped closer to me and slid the material over my eyes, sending a shiver down my spine and heat swelling along my skin wherever he touched me. On second thought, the blindfold was a good idea.

       When he finished, he helped me get in the car and then we set out to...somewhere I didn’t know.

       Mirko could be stealthy, but when I wanted to know something, I could be too. “So how do you know what a normal girl likes to do?”

       “I asked Garwin.”

       I laughed. “Garwin’s pretty smart, but I’m not sure I’d ever go to him for dating advice.”

       “His idea seems ridiculous, but I Googled it and he seems to know what he’s talking about.”

       Restlessness stirred within me and I pulled on the outer sleeve of my sweater. I couldn’t wait to find out what Garwin suggested Mirko do with me on a date.

       “Is it far?” I asked.

       “The location doesn’t really matter.”

       What the heck does that mean? “Does it cost anything?”

       “Of course it costs something. Even the gas to drive there is a cost.”

       Crap. He was smooth. “Are there other people involved?”

       “No, just the two of us.”

       That narrowed it down. It couldn’t be a restaurant or teen hang out then. “Well, do you have to pay for us to get in?”

       Mirko chuckled. “No, but that doesn’t mean I’m a cheap date either. See, we already have the normal-teenage-girl thing down. Your game of 20 questions is perfect.”

       I smiled. “Did you Google that, too?”

       He grabbed my hand. “Yes. That was number twenty three.”

       I giggled. It probably was.

       The car slowed to a stop. Mirko pulled my hand up and his velvety lips brushed against my knuckles.          “Are you ready?”

       I wouldn’t mind him doing that some more, but I couldn’t wait to see what he was going to have us do.      “Yep.”

       He helped me out of the car and then walked me a few steps. He stopped me and then pulled the blind fold off with a swift and efficient tug.

       I starred ahead with what was probably a blank expression on my face. “Who lives here?” We stood in front of an average house on an average street. The lights were out inside, but even with the lights on, I still didn’t think I would recognize it.

       “I’m told that part doesn’t matter.” Mirko walked back to the car and when he turned around and showed me what was in his arms, I laughed so hard I bent over with my hands on my knees.

       “Toilet papering!?”

       He nodded. “We are going to mummify this house. And we’re going to do it the way a normal girl would. No Pijawikan speed, stealth, or strength.” He tossed the bag of toilet paper rolls and I caught it.

       “Ah, now would a normal girl have caught that?” His face squinted with mirth.

       I dropped the bag. “Probably not.”

       He grabbed another bag from the back seat and walked toward the house while tearing it open.

       I saw the house with new eyes. The trees, the porch, and the rosebushes were all a blank canvas waiting for me to toilet paper. I couldn’t even contain the excitement. Kaitlynn and I had always wanted to go toilet papering, but never actually did it.

       “If we get caught, I’m so telling them this was your idea.”

       Mirko chuckled. “I said you couldn’t use any Pijawikian abilities. As soon as I hear someone coming, I’m out of here.”

       I gasped. “You wouldn’t!”

       “I don’t know, Slatki. We are playing teenagers here, and I’m inclined to think that’s something a teenage boy would do. However,” he said and stalked toward me so close his breath tickled my face, “I’m not a teenage boy and there are a thousand other things I’d rather do with you than abandon you.”

       My mouth gaped open slightly. That was hot.

       His eyes left mine and met with my lips. The next thing I knew my bottom lip was caught between his teeth in a small bite. He pulled slightly and then glided my lip along his teeth as he released me.

       I leaned forward to capture his lips, but he withdrew. “Time to toilet paper.”

Be sure to come back in June to see Part TWO of the date between Brooke and Mirko!!

Angeline you are so amazing for doing this for me! You are simply fabulous for taking the time out to write this when I know things have been crazy for you. I can't thank you enough and you always know who to come to anytime you need anything. <3

Find Angeline Online:

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Order a copy of Descended By Blood:

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