I have some seriously amazing information for a fantastic event going on Sunday, October 12th! Do you love zombies?? Then you don't want to miss this!

  Note from Nazarea Andrews -- author of The World Without End series.

I am so so excited about Zombie Day!!!

Wait. What is zombie day?

Okay. So we’re revealing the cover of The Future Without Hope, book 3 in The World Without End series. And because I am so excited about this release, we’ve decided to do something fun.

On October 12th, we’ll be having an all day event where you can... ~Tweet or share on your facebook or post zombified pictures. ~Share graphic teasers with your favorite quotes from the first two books ~Follow the scavenger hunt cover reveal to put together the cover and find a special code ~Come by the party on Sunday at 10pm and talk with us about zombies and The Walking Dead (because come on. Let’s share the zombie love.)

I really hope that you all take part in the fun on Sunday!!! Tweet me @NazareaAndrews or use the hashtag, #BringontheHorde  

 

That's not all! You can follow along and have even more fun on Monday, October 13th when the FULL cover of The Future Without Hope is revealed. This is also the kick off of The World Without a Future's (book #1) read-a-long blog tour. It will take place during the days of October 13-17, 20-24, and Nazarea will be posting a wrap-up post on Monday, October 27th.

 Be sure to join us for all of the zombie celebration events! There will be flash giveaways, fan contests, teasers and excerpts revealed, and more!

 

About the Author: 

Nazarea Andrews is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. She loves chocolate and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids. She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, and overgrown dog.

Find Nazarea Online:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | "The Infects" Street Team

Welcome to Rush Hunt. A YArush hosted scavenger hunt with exclusive content from a number of published and forthcoming Entranced titles, a huge prize, and loads of fun. Along the scavenger trail you’ll find a mix of YA and NA titles from Entranced Publishing’s Rush imprint.

Look out for these 11 titles!

The excitement starts October 25 and runs through to November 1. So hop along to the blogs on the list below and join in the fun. Each hosting blog will have exclusive content from a single title. If the post isn’t at the top of their blog look for the #RushHunt button in their sidebar, that should link to it. Not only will you get to read / see exclusive content, but there’s also a huge prize. That’s what you’re hunting for! Keep an eye open for the numbered clues in each post. You’ll need these in order to enter for a chance to win a massive stash of prizes.

Good luck!

How It Works...

On each blog you will find a clue, a clearly marked number somewhere in the post. Collect all these numbers from all the participating blogs, and simply add them together. The correct answer grants you entry into the Rafflecopter on the YARush blog for a chance to win some awesome prizes.

Participating blogs:

From Bows to Books - The Georgia Corbins
Chapter by Chapter - The Sacrificed
New Adult Addiction - Elected
On Emily’s Bookshelf - In Stone
Aussie Owned and Read - Shadow Born
Book-Marks the Spot - Forget Me Not
Lola's Reviews - Sleeper
Brittany and Bianca Blab Books - Adorned
Cosmochicklitan - Elsker
A Life Bound by Books - Vision of Shadows
Reading Rain Blog - Awakenings

Title: Vision of Shadows (Vision #1)
Author: Vincent Morrone
Publisher: Entranced Publishing (December 30th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
No pre-order links at the time of posting

Synopsis: Is Bristol Blackburn about to meet the love of her life...or her killer?

After the death of her parents, Bristol Blackburn's life is thrown into chaos and she's forced to move to Spirit, a small town where shadows are stirring. As she learns to navigate her new school and figures out how to keep her psychic abilities secret from her family, Bristol comes face to face with the boy who makes a regular appearance in her dreams: the gorgeous, possibly deadly, Payne McKnight. Soon she’ll find out if Payne will be the love of her life, or the end of it — and she has no idea which possibility scares her more.

And that's not even the worst of it. Strange shadows are haunting her dreams, and they're up to something that could put Bristol and the lives of everyone she loves in jeopardy.

About the Author:

Born and raised in Brooklyn NY, Vincent Morrone now resides in Upstate NY with his wife. (Although he can still speak fluent Brooklynese.) His twin daughters remain not only his biggest fans, but usually are the first to read all of his work. Their home is run and operated for the comfort and convenience of their dogs.

Vincent has been writing fiction, poetry and song lyrics for as long as he can remember, most of which involve magical misfits, paranormal prodigies and even on occasion superheroes and their sidekicks.

As they say in Brooklyn: Yo, you got something to say to Vincent? Check out http://vincentmorrone.com/ where you can learn about Vincent and leave him a comment.

Find  Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Vision of Shadows Deleted Scene

Vision of Shadows is the first book in a brand new YA paranormal series. It releases in December. We hope you enjoy this exclusive first look.

After my chat with Grandpa, I went straight to my room with my head spinning. I felt horrible about what he had told me, especially about Aunt Eve.
Before I could think about it for very long, my cellphone rang and brought me back to reality. I looked at the caller I.D. and saw it was Maggie.  Good, I needed someone to talk to. Someone sane. Guess Maggie would have to do.
“Sorry,” I said. “I just got back a little while ago and I haven’t had time to call. What? No, we didn’t run off and get married. Stop it and listen. Something happened. Something kinda bad.”
I listened as she made guesses about what bad thing happened. They ranged from the dreaded idea of Payne wanting to just be friends, to him trying to get rough with me. There was even something about him being gay, which I agreed would have been a loss to womankind as a whole.
“Nothing like that,” I broke in. “Maggie, we sorta stumbled upon something while we were together.” I repeated the story Payne and I had used on my uncle about the dog digging in the dirt and finding the body of Payne’s cousin.
There was a pause and I imagined Maggie with her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide with shock. When she spoke, she said all the things you would expect. Asked all the normal questions, and expressed all of the proper outrage.
“Listen,” I interrupted, eager to get to more important matters. “Nothing happened between Payne and me but I think, I mean, I’m not sure…but I think it almost did. He kept playing with my hair…twirling it…and then he was looking at me really…I don’t know…but I really thought he was going to…kiss me.”
I quickly pulled the phone away from my ear. Even Ricky seemed to shake in his soup can at Maggie’s high-pitched squeal.
“Maggie, Maggie, Maggie,” I said over and over again. “Maggie! You stop doing a happy dance right now. I mean it. I’m freaked out! I’ve never kissed anyone in my life. I’ll make a fool out of myself!”
More chatter.
“No, Maggie,” I said as I collapsed on my bed. “I’m not kidding. Have you ever…Really? When you were thirteen? What do you mean it’s no big deal? It is a big deal. Oh dear Lord! I’m such a freak,” I said. “No, it’s not sweet and cute! It’s pathetic!”
Maggie tried her best to convince me otherwise, and I did feel a little better when she was done. Apparently, her early kissing experiences weren’t all great. There were incidents of boys missing her lips, bad breath, a case of the giggles and even one boy who just at that magic moment sneezed.
“Oh my,” I said, “that’s appalling.”
I guess I made her feel bad, so she started to tell me about a few of the better kisses she’s had. (Apparently, good old sneezy was pretty good once he convinced her to let him try again.) Which led into stories of what happened after the kissing had begun. This, of course, made me feel worse.
“I don’t know,” I said. “He didn’t ask me out or anything, but I think he might. He had to go with my uncle. Yeah, he’s the sheriff. No, I don’t want to disturb Payne and his family. Besides I don’t have his number.” Not a big obstacle as far as Maggie was concerned. “But I can’t call him. No, I can’t. No, I can’t.”
I gasped. “What do you mean this is the perfect time? What? Maggie, I am not going to use the idea of checking on him just to call. He can call me if he wants. What? No, he doesn’t have my phone number; I thought you said that wouldn’t be a problem? Wait, what about Pricilla?”
She kept going on and on and somehow arrived on the topic of how much Pricilla would be so mad if Payne really did ask me out. According to Maggie, Pricilla had made it her mission to bed as many McKnights as possible and Payne was the crown jewel. Payne had barely noticed her. Good! At least he had taste.
God, I hated the way I sounded.
“I’m not sure if I want to go out with Payne or any other boy. I don’t date. Maybe Payne and I would be better as just fiends. Maggie. Maggie. Maggie! I am not killing you, so knock it off. If I’m not ready then I’m not ready. Has it occurred to you that after everything I’ve been through, maybe I’m just not ready to try my hand at dating? That maybe I have my reasons for never dating before? That I just can’t handle the idea of dating someone right now? What? No, no, no! Maggie Sheppard, you do not get to cry. Listen to me. Oh man.”
I listened as she apologized. “Maggie, come on. You’re my best friend. Of course you are. You’re probably my only friend right now. I know we’ve only known each other a little bit, but I swear you get me like no one else.”
More eye rolls from me. “Yes, I mean that in a good way. Look, I better go. I think I should do some homework and make sure the boys eat something. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
I sat up and listened to her a few seconds. “No, I won’t rule it out I suppose, but I really think I shouldn’t date. Why? Because between the two of us there’s so much baggage and…I don’t know…I have a feeling it might cause a few problems between our families. You know they don’t like each other. Yes, yes, yes. It’s very Romeo and Juliet. Do you remember how that turned out? Yeah, oh is right. Okay. Okay. Okay. No I don’t think we’ll date but if I do, you’ll be the first to know. What do you mean if I don’t want him, can you have him? Oh hardy har har har. See you tomorrow. Bye.”
I hung up and closed my eyes. Whew. Talking to Maggie was like riding a rollercoaster. You never knew where the ups and downs were going to be, but it was never boring.

Rush Hunt Number: 5

Book Wars a weekly feature hosted between two book review blogs – A Life Bound By Books & Much Loved Books!

It’s a fact that book lovers know all about the covers of the books they covet.  Often when a title is released here in the UK, it’s sometimes vastly different across the pond in the US.  So, Michelle from Much Loved Books and I have come together to create Book Wars to talk about the difference in covers when it comes to the US vs. UK versions. We hope from time to time authors will chime in with their thoughts as well. We welcome everyone to comment and share their thoughts too! The more the merrier! Book Wars is a new feature for both of us which we hope to post every Monday, while we get it up and running this is subject to change as we participate in other features or tours we have committed to prior to setting up Book Wars.

  Before we get to this weeks Book Wars, we have a winner to announce. The Book Wars winner for Shadow and Bone/The Gathering Dark by Leigh Bardugo is - The US Cover!! Thank you to everyone who voted for both books, and for picking a winner.

Also, there's a poll at the bottom of the post that we'd love to hear your input for the two covers! Tell us which one YOU love the most.

Left: US - Right: UK

Title: Under the Never Sky Author: Veronica Rossi
Publisher: US - HarperCollins, 374 Pages, (January 3rd 2012), UK - Atom, 374 Pages, (February 7th 2012)
Add to: Goodreads USA Version | Goodreads UK Version
Order online here: USA: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository UK: Amazon UK, Waterstones, W H Smith, The Book Depository

Synopsis: WORLDS KEPT THEM APART. DESTINY BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER. Aria has lived her whole life in the protected dome of Reverie. Her entire world confined to its spaces, she's never thought to dream of what lies beyond its doors. So when her mother goes missing, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland long enough to find her are slim. Then Aria meets an outsider named Perry. He's searching for someone too. He's also wild - a savage - but might be her best hope at staying alive. If they can survive, they are each other's best hope for finding answers.

About the author: Veronica Rossi is the author of post-apocalyptic fiction for young adults. Her debut novel, UNDER THE NEVER SKY, is the first in a trilogy. Released in January 2012, it was deemed one of the Best Books of Year by School Library Journal. The second book in the trilogy, THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT, debuted in January on the NY Times and USA Today Best Seller Lists. The final book in the series, INTO THE STILL BLUE, is expected to release January 2014. Foreign rights to the UNDER THE NEVER SKY trilogy have sold in over twenty-five territories to date and film rights have been optioned by Warner Bros. She completed undergraduate studies at UCLA and then went on to study fine art at the California College of the Arts in San Francisco. She lives in Northern California with her husband and two sons. When not writing, she enjoys reading, painting, and counting down the minutes until she can get back to making up stories about imaginary people. Her work is represented by Josh Adams of Adams Literary.

Find Veronica Online: Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Let the Wars Begin: Its now time to make our decision, let's see what we think about the covers and pick our favorite cover.

Lisa This week's is easy for me. Hands down I LOVE the US cover. Sadly the UK cover looks like the cover for an 80's rock album. I mean, does anyone else think that for the UK cover? I'm not a fan of the pink, I don't think that it fits the story or characters at all. So, without a doubt, US this week. Check out my review.

Michelle There is no competition at all with these covers.  I love the USA version.  The UK one just doesn't seem appealing to me.  I don't like the pink moon, I don't like how the characters are portrayed, it feels more like a child's book than a Young Adult's book. The USA cover thought is definitely eye catching.  I love how the cover model is walking out of or away from something, which fits in with the story.  It's just more appealing and more relevant to being a Young Adult book. Want to know what I thought about Under the Never Sky?  Check out my review

VOTE for YOUR favorite cover of Under the Never Sky NOW!

free polls

I'm so excited to be hosting rock star author C.J. Redwine in the second annual Authors are Rock Stars Blog Tour! A few of the reasons why I'm so thrilled to be hosting C.J. are pretty simple but epic none the less. Her books, her stories and her characters are thrilling, adventurous, and memorable. The world she has created is easy to vividly imagine. It's all about the writing and Mrs. Redwine sure does have a way with words. I knew I wanted to find out more about the world Defiance is set in and I'm eager to read Deception to find out just what happens next to Rachel and Logan. 

C.J. YOU are without a doubt a Rock Star of an Author and I'm glad that today, my blog was able to celebrate YOU! Keep writing and we'll keep reading. 

And now, I bring you a fun interview with none other than Rachel and Logan!!!

“Good evening and welcome to Happily Ever After with Julia Underwood. I’m here with Rachel Adams and Logan McEntire, the heroine and hero of the recent novel DEFIANCE by C.J. Redwine. Rachel, Logan … thank you for being my guest on the show tonight.”

Rachel: You’re welcome.
Logan: *nods*

Julia: Now, you two really got in over your heads in DEFIANCE! I don’t want to give away any details of your story to readers who haven’t met you yet, but I would like to ask you a few questions. Logan, I know this is probably a difficult subject to discuss, but our readers want to know how it felt to be an outcast on the streets of Baalboden for so many years. If you could describe it in one word, what would that be?

Rachel: *reaches out and takes Logan’s hand.*
Logan: *clears his throat and shifts in his chair* I guess if I had to pick just one word it would be desperate.

Julia: Desperate. *leans forward* Desperate for what? For food? Shelter? Safety?

Logan: *rubs the back of his neck* For family.

Julia: *looks misty eyed* It must be very difficult not to have any family left.

Rachel: *leans forward and blocks Logan from Julia’s view* Oh, he has family. He has me. And I think it’s time for your next question.

Julia: *smiles at Rachel* One of the things our readers noticed right away about you is your loyalty to those you love. Clearly, you’re loyal to Logan.

Rachel: *sits up straighter* Clearly.
Logan: *small smile at the edge of his lips*

Julia: We all know that you first told Logan you loved him when you were fifteen, but certainly you must have realized your feelings before that. Our readers want to know when you first knew that Logan, who’d been taken in by your adopted grandfather and then apprenticed and treated like one of the family by your father, was more than a brother to you.

Rachel: *glares* What kind of question is that? Logan was never a brother to me. Ew.
Logan: That really is a disturbing thought.

Julia: I simply mean, when did you first realize that you were attracted to Logan in a romantic way?


Rachel: *cheeks turn pink*
Logan: *smiles wider* I’d love to know the answer to this question myself.
Rachel: You would. *meets Logan’s eyes* It was the night we ruined the cake. Remember?
Logan: I remember. *looks at Rachel like she’s the only person in the room*

Julia: For those of us who weren’t there, can you explain more?

Logan: *still looking at Rachel* It was Oliver’s birthday.

Julia: Rachel’s adopted grandfather who also took you in, correct?

Logan: Right. *rubs his thumb over Rachel’s hand* It was his birthday, and he was always baking special treats for us, so we decided we would surprise him with a cake that we made ourselves.
Rachel: Except neither of us knew how to make a cake. I got out ingredients that looked like they probably belonged in a cake—
Logan: And I estimated the measurements, the probable cook time, and the most logical sequence for proper chemical bonding between the ingredients—
Rachel: And he estimated wrong. The batter rose over the side of the pan and spilled all over the bottom of Oliver’s oven. The middle caved in. And the entire thing, especially the stuff on the bottom of the oven, burned.
Logan: *grins at Rachel* It smelled worse than the trash heap you threw Jeff Hughson into when he was bothering Sylph.

Julia: And how did a ruined cake help you fall in love with Logan?

Rachel: *frowns slightly* I didn’t fall in love with him because of the cake. I fell in love with him because he kept fighting for himself and for those he cared about even when the odds were always stacked against him. And because he bites his lip when he’s concentrating. And he makes me laugh. And he takes me seriously. And he tries so hard to do the right thing. And when he looks at me … wait, what was the question?

Julia: The cake?

Rachel: Right. There we were with that cake all over the place, and the smell, and Oliver due home any minute to a mess instead of a birthday surprise, and Logan started laughing even while he burned his fingertips trying to clean the oven before Oliver could see it. He stood there and laughed, and it made me laugh too, and I realized that I wanted to laugh with him all the time. I wanted to be near him, even when everything was a disaster, because no one else could make me laugh when I wanted to cry.

Julia: That’s lovely. Logan, when did you realize you loved Rachel? Was it over the cake?

Logan: *tightens his hold on Rachel’s hand* I didn’t know I loved her until I was separated from her. Until I was confronted with the very real possibility that I would lose her forever. I guess it takes me a while to figure things out.
Rachel: It would be easier for you if people came with schematics, right?
Logan: *grins* Much easier.

Julia: Your road to romance was blocked, not just by the fact that you didn’t realize your feelings at the same time, but by the culture of your city and by outside circumstances. If you could go back and change one choice of yours, what would it be?

Logan: I would’ve said yes when Rachel asked me to help her find her father.
Rachel: *smiles at him* I wouldn’t have wasted two years being mad and embarrassed that he turned me down when I was fifteen. Our friendship is too important for that.

Julia: There are a lot of obstacles yet to be faced in your lives. Here at Happily Ever After, our readers are always curious to know what you are willing to do to overcome those obstacles.

Rachel: Whatever it takes.
Logan: *jaw tightens* Anything that doesn’t put Rachel in danger.
Rachel: Oh, great. Now you make it sound like I’d willingly put you in danger. Or worse, like I need to be protected.
Logan: *leans close to her* No, I made it sound like I love you and don’t want to lose you.

Julia: *beams* Wonderful. One last question. What does happily ever after mean to you? What do you want most?

Rachel: *is silent for a moment while she thinks* I want to finish our enemies and then go live quietly somewhere where our only problems are ruined cake and too much laughter.
Logan: *looks at Rachel* She’s my happily ever after. Anything else is a bonus.

Julia: There you have it, readers! Thank you for joining me for tonight’s episode, and may all your ever afters be happy.

Title: Defiance (Courier's Daughter #1)
Author: C.J. Redwine
Publisher: Balzer + Bray, 403 Pages (August 28th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Check out my review of: Defiance

Synopsis: While the other girls in the walled city-state of Baalboden learn to sew and dance, Rachel Adams learns to track and hunt. While they bend like reeds to the will of their male Protectors, she uses hers for sparring practice.

When Rachel's father fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the city's brutal Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector: her father's apprentice, Logan—the boy she declared her love to and who turned her down two years before. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father's survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can't be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

Title: Deception (Courier's Daughter #2)

Author: C.J. Redwine
Publisher: Balzer + Bray, 480 Pages (August 27th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis: Baalboden has been ravaged. The brutal Commander's whereabouts are unknown. And Rachel, grief stricken over her father's death, needs Logan more than ever. With their ragged group of survivors struggling to forge a future, it's up to Logan to become the leader they need—with Rachel by his side. Under constant threat from rival Carrington's army, who is after the device that controls the Cursed One, the group decides to abandon the ruins of their home and take their chances in the Wasteland.



But soon their problems intensify tenfold: someone—possibly inside their ranks—is sabotaging the survivors, picking them off one by one. The chaos and uncertainty of each day puts unbearable strain on Rachel and Logan, and it isn't long before they feel their love splintering. Even worse, as it becomes clear that the Commander will stop at nothing to destroy them, the band of survivors begins to question whether the price of freedom may be too great—and whether, hunted by their enemies and the murderous traitor in their midst, they can make it out of the Wasteland alive.

In this daring sequel to Defiance, with the world they once loved forever destroyed, Rachel and Logan must decide between a life on the run and standing their ground to fight.

Order both books online:

Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

About the author: 

C.J. Redwine loves stilettos, lemon bars, any movie starring Johnny Depp, and books. C.J. holds a degree in English Literature from Pepperdine University and now lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband, four kids, two spastic cats, and one long-suffering dog. For more on C.J., please visit her website at: http://cjredwine.blogspot.com. 

Find C.J. Online:

Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Tumblr | Goodreads

Title: Wounded
Author: Jasinda Wilder
Publisher: 277 Pages (December 16th, 2012)
Add to: Goodreads

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" title and is intended for adult readers due to mature content.

Synopsis: War has taken everything from me. My family. My home. My innocence. In a country blasted by war and wracked by economic hardship, a young orphan girl like me has very few options when it comes to survival. Thus, I do what I must to live, to eat, and I try very hard to not consider the cost to my soul. My heart is empty, and my existence brutal.

The one impossibility in my life is love.

And then I meet HIM.

War is hell. It takes a chunk out of a man's very soul to do the kinds of things war demands of you. You live with fear, you live with guilt, and you live with nightmares. If you haven't been through it, there's no understanding it. War leaves no room for love, no room for tenderness or softness. You gotta be hard, closed off, and ready to fight every moment of every day. Lose focus for a split second, and you're dead.

Now the only thing that can save me is HER.

Excerpt:

          I have nothing to do but think. Nothing but memory and pain.
          Derek is dead. It just hit me. I was too involved in the pain and in the mystery of Rania, but now, alone while she "works," all I have to do is feel the pain. Derek is dead.
          God. He was my best friend. My only real friend. My brother. I've killed for him. We've stood over each other's bleeding bodies.
          He's gone, but the pain won't let me cry. I can't. I don't know how anymore. After my parents died I wept, alone in a bathroom. I haven't since. Not for anything.
          I won't cry for Derek, either. He wouldn't want me to. He'd tell me to get drunk in his memory. Bang a hot chick for him. Of course, none of that will happen now.

          The reality of my situation is hitting me. I'm wounded, surrounded by insurgents. There's no sign of my unit. They might eventually come back for me, or at least to find my body. Until then, I'm stuck here. Reliant on this girl, this slip of a thing, this prostitute.
          Rania. Her name is music. Her eyes are veiled pools of expression. She hides behind anger, behind toughness. It's all an act. I see the pain. See the fear. See the need. She's lonely. She hates what she does.

          I think I confuse her as much as she does me.
She's back, cleaning herself up. It's a familiar pattern now. She returns from the building next door, a half-destroyed mosque, I think it's called. The irony of a prostitute operating in a bombed-out church isn't lost on me.

Find Jasinda Online: 

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Order Wounded Online:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

GIVEAWAY!!!

ENTER TO WIN A $100.00 GIFT CARD!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Title: Up to Me (The Bad Boys, #2)
Author: M. Leighton
Publisher: Self Published (January 6th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
My Review: Up To Me (The Bad Boys, #2)

NOTE: Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance- Please be advised that this book is NOT YA friendly, not even in a New Adult category!

Synopsis: Happily ever after doesn’t come easy. But for love, it’s always worth the fight.

Olivia finds bliss unlike any she’s ever known in Cash’s arms. He sets her skin on fire and melts her heart right inside her chest. Unfortunately, their happily ever after is short-lived when a shadow from Cash’s past threatens to turn their world upside down.

Dangerous people from his father’s world have discovered that Cash holds information that could put them away for a very long time. And they’re willing to do anything—and hurt anybody—to get it back. Giving it up means Cash must choose between the life of his father and the life of Olivia.

Having nearly overcome her wariness of bad boys, Olivia’s trust is shaken when this new threat arises. Now she finds that Cash is not only a danger to her heart, but his family has associations that are a danger to her life as well. She soon discovers that there are some situations in life where trust is a girl’s only option. And this is one of them. If she’s to live, she must trust Cash with her life. But to Olivia, that’s much, much easier than letting go and trusting him with her heart.

Excerpt:

Cash’s back is to me. I see him run his fingers through his hair and I hear him sigh again.  “I’m asking you to trust me, Olivia.”  He turns to face me.  “Trust in what you know about me.  Because I know, if you stop listening to your fear, you know who I am.  Deep down.  You know me, Olivia.  You know me.”

His voice is sincere. His expression is urgent.  I close my eyes against his face, his handsome face, the face that haunts both my waking and my sleeping world.  I open them again when I feel warm hands cup my cheeks.  Cash is a breath away, his eyes pools of midnight, drawing me in.

“It’s me,” he says softly.  “Stop listening to everything else.  Remember the way you feel when I’m kissing you and touching you.  Don’t think with your head.  You know me.  And when my lips are on yours, you trust me.”  As if to make his point, he dips his head and brushes his mouth over mine.  Sparks fly between us.  As always.  “You trust me, when my hands are on your skin.”  He runs his palms down my arms and then over to my waist where he pushes them up under the edge of my shirt.  Chills break out down my back.  “You trust me when you turn your mind off, when you just feel.”

About Michelle: New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, M. Leighton, is a native of Ohio. She relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: literary fiction. Having written over a dozen novels, these days Michelle enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you'll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren't roaming in that direction, she'll be riding horses, swimming in ponds and experiencing life on a ranch, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.

Find Michelle Online:

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Order Michelle's Books Online:

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GIVEAWAY!!!

Enter to win an eBOOK copy of DOWN TO YOU!

Title: Down To You (The Bad Boys, #1
Author: M. Leighton
Publisher: Self Published (January 6th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
My Review: Down To You (The Bad Boys, #1)

Synopsis: The scorching tale of one girl, two brothers and a love triangle…that’s not. Olivia Townsend is nothing special. She’s just a girl working her way through college so she can return home to help her father run his business. She’s determined not to be the second woman in his life to abandon him, even if it means putting her own life on hold. To Olivia, it’s clear what she must do. Plain and simple. Black and white. But clear becomes complicated when she meets Cash and Nash Davenport. They’re brothers. Twins.

Cash is everything she’s always wanted in a guy. He’s a dangerous, sexy bad boy who wants her in his bed at any cost. He turns her insides to mush and, with just one kiss, makes her forget why he’s no good for her. Nash is everything she’s ever needed in a guy. He’s successful, responsible and intensely passionate. But he’s taken. Very taken, by none other than Marissa, Liv’s rich, beautiful cousin. That doesn’t stop Olivia from melting every time he looks at her, though. With just one touch, he makes her forget why they can never be together.

Black and white turns to shades of gray when Olivia discovers the boys are hiding something, something that should make her run as far and as fast as she can. But it’s too late to run. Olivia’s already involved. And in love. With both of them. Both brothers make her heart tremble. Both brothers set her body on fire. She wants them both. And they want her. How will she ever choose between them?

• ONE winner will receive an eBook copy of this title.

Rules and how to enter:

• Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter this giveaway.
• Name & Email Address must be provided. (Easy Entry, just click the form & it does it for you!)
• You must be at least 18 years old to enter.
• This giveaway is open: INTERNATIONAL!!!
• Giveaway ends: January 22nd, 2013 (12:00AM EST)

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Michelle, Thank you for the eCopy of Down To You for giveaway!

Second Chance is the sequel to First Comes Love and is currently available!

Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis: Can two drastically different, imperfect people be perfect for each other?

It’s been four months since Gray and Dylan have seen each other. Dylan’s been traveling in Europe, while Gray has college, baseball, and a life rooted in one place. Gray’s determined to forget Dylan, the girl he fell in love with in First Comes Love. Besides, how do you make a relationship work with an independent loner?

Just when he decides he’s over her, Dylan makes an unexpected entrance back into his life, hoping their steamy romance can start right where it left off. Gray realizes you can tell your mind to do one thing, but you can’t always convince your heart to follow. Dylan realizes she finally has to make a choice between freedom and her relationship with Gray.

Hilarious, intense, inspiring, and emotional, Second Chance shows that love is a journey, and there are never clear road signs or maps to guide you along. You can only navigate with your heart.

Interview:

Congrats on the release of your self published title – Second Chance – the sequel to First Comes Love. At what point did you know you wanted to write a sequel to Gray & Dylan’s story? Or did you always know at the beginning that there was more to their story than just one book?

I never planned on writing a sequel. First Comes Love was a standalone, but after I finished writing it, Gray and Dylan kept talking to me. It went on for MONTHS and the only thing I could do to shut them up was to write down the dialogue going through my head. As soon as I did that, Second Chance basically wrote itself. I realized their story wasn't over—that’s what they were trying to tell me.

Being that you jumped into self publishing with this title, what was your experience with it like?

It's been an interesting experiment. My publishers never formally rejected Second Chance, they just sat on it for six months which definitely doesn't help a writer's self esteem. I thought it was a great book, so I downloaded it and made it available as an ebook. Amazon gets a bad rap, but to be honest, they are really good to authors. It almost felt like making an independent film—I hired my own group of editors and designers that I collaborated with on a daily basis, so it had a “grass roots” feeling.

Do you think you’d ever have a go at self publishing again?

That’s tough. Although self publishing was fun, it was MUCH MORE time consuming and stressful. I still think getting picked up by a tradition house is the way to go. Plus, my favorite places on this earth are bookstores. If people keep self publishing, bookstores are really going to suffer.  I’m still crossing my fingers that a publisher picks up Second Chance, so it can have a wider distribution.

Can you share with us a favorite line or two from Second Chance?

“Note to self: when you take directions from your heart, plan on getting lost.”  (this one hits pretty close to home)

How about asking Gray and Dylan something for us? Could they tell us 1 or 2 things about the other that we might not know?

Oh, man, I’m terrible at these questions. Let’s just say, there will be many more quirky insights into these characters in the final book.

What do you hope people will take away with them after reading their story?

I hope people will realize that relationships aren’t supposed to be perfect and fluffy and easy. I think relationships are a lot of work—they’re about asking the hard questions and loving people on their worst days. They’re about growing and changing and making sacrifices. My favorite movies are When Harry Met Sally and Annie Hall, because they're a realistic story of a relationship. That's what I’m trying to do with this series.

Is this the end of Gray and Dylan’s story? Or will we be seeing more from them in the future?

There is one more book. I mapped it out during a fifteen hour drive between Los Angeles and Corvallis, Oregon. It's all sitting in my head, I just need to get it down on paper. This is going to be a really fun one to write...lots more drama to come.

Lastly, can you tell us what you’re working on now and when we might be getting a chance to read it?

I'm working on the last book in the Awaken series right now. The sequel to Awaken, Middle Ground, is coming out on November 20th and I'd like the third and final book to be available in 2013.

Also, I wanted to add that I hired a graphic designer to touch up the cover of Second Chance, so if it isn’t already available in print, it should be available any day (on Amazon).  The ebook will also be available on Smashwords/Barnes and Noble, before Christmas. Please buy a copy. J

Katie, thanks for visiting with me today and for writing some amazing characters! I for one LOVED their story and can’t wait to read what you write next. Please visit again soon or drop on in anytime!

Title: First Comes Love (First Comes Love, #1)
Author: Katie Kacvinsky
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 198 Pages (May 8th, 2012)
Add to: Goodreads

Check out my review: HERE

Synopsis: Like his name, Gray is dark and stormy. Dylan, a girl always searching for what's next, seemingly unable to settle down, is the exact opposite: full of light and life. On the outside, they seem like an unlikely couple. But looks can be deceiving and besides, opposites attract.

What starts as friendship, turns into admiration, respect and caring, until finally these two lone souls find they are truly in love with each other.

But staying in love is not as easy as falling in love. If Dylan and Gray want their love to last, they're going to have to work at it. And learn that sometimes love means having to say you're sorry.

Find Katie Online:

Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Order Katie's books Online:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

Messages in the Moonlight
By Chelsea Fine

I’m convinced I have some kind of “Spooky Creature” magnetism. Terrifying animals of all kinds have been tracking me down my whole life.

When I was eleven, I heard panting outside my bedroom window while I was trying to sleep. Looking out into the moonlight, I found a wolf pacing right outside my room. My first thought was, “Aw…what a pretty dog.” But then that “pretty dog” stopped pacing and started staring at me. No longer panting, the wolf eyed me ominously and then, without warning, raised his wolf snout into the night and began to howl. He HOWLED! Let me tell you something: A wolf howl at close proximity is FREAKING loud. I was completely terrified and promptly ran from my room crying.

Fast forward seven years and I’m eighteen years old driving home from work late at night when BAM! A bat—yes, a BAT—smashes into my windshield, face first, and stares at me with his creepy little vampire teeth/eyes/wing-claw things. He kept beating his wings against the glass, his beady eyes staring at me with all the doom and gloom that comes with a bat stare-down, and then the nocturnal creature chirped at me! (Bats chirp, did you know this?) He screeched at me through the windshield and then disappeared into the night, leaving me alone in my dark car with a pounding heart and sweaty palms.

And then earlier this year, I exited the grocery store (after a late night run for coffee creamer) and was stopped--mid-journey to my car--by an owl. Swooping down from the rafters of wherever the crap he’d been perched, this owl landed in front of me, the moon casting a giant bird shadow on the ground between us. Without provocation, the owl spread his wings (which were HUGE) and started HOOTING at me. A large, hooting owl is a terrifying thing to see up close—especially when you know they can tear you to shreds with their deadly talons. So I carefully stepped far far away from said terrifying owl and sprinted to my car, where I jumped inside and locked my doors in fear.

I’m telling you, I have “Spooky Creature” magnetism. All these scary animals are drawn to me. And I think they’re trying to get me a message…

Title: Anew (The Archers of Avalon #1)
Author: Chelsea Fine
Publisher: Acacia Publishing, 385 Pages (December 7th, 2011)
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis: Two years ago, Scarlet awoke in the forest alone, afraid, and unable to remember anything. Lost and confused, her life was a mystery...until she met a boy with a familiar voice.

Gabriel Archer has a voice from her past, and Scarlet's determined to remember why. She immerses herself in his life only to discover he has a brother he's kept hidden from her: Tristan Archer.

Upon meeting Tristan, Scarlet's world becomes even more muddled. While she's instinctively drawn to Gabriel, she's impossibly drawn to Tristan--and confused out of her mind. As she tries to piece together her history Scarlet realizes her past...might just be the death of her.

Title: Awry (The Archers of Avalon #2)
Author: Chelsea Fine
Publisher: Firefall Publishing, 495 Pages (June 12th, 2012)
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis: Sometimes love is meant to be. But sometimes...love is the death of you....

Seventeen-year-old Scarlet has just died. Only, dying isn't unusual for a girl under a centuries old curse that left her semi-immortal.

This time, though, she comes back to her current life instead of awaking in a new one, and she realizes the curse is changing. Together with the immortal Archer brothers, Scarlet must piece together her life and try to break the curse before her impending death comes again.

Find Chelsea Online:

Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Order Chelsea's Books Online:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository | Signed Copies



Book Trailer:

WIN a ARCHERS of AVALON PRIZE PACK! PACK INCLUDES, BOOK & SWAG!!!

• ONE winner will receive the above prize pack

Rules and how to enter -

Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter this giveaway.
Name & Email Address must be provided. (Easy Entry, just click the form & it does it for you!)
You must be at least 13 years old to enter.
This giveaway is open to US residents only.
Giveaway ends: November 13th, 2012 (12:01AM EST)

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Chelsea, my scary animal magnet friend! Okay, that's a bit crazy. So, I would assume then that if there was a Zombie Apocalypse they'd be drawn to you as well? lol Thanks for sharing these crazy times with us and for sending me all the swag & books, some are coming in handy for this giveaway.

Don't forget to stop by and check out who Jessica is featuring today for Haunted Halloween!

REMINDER: *If you are interested in the COMMENT CONTEST, remember to include your email address with your comment for an extra entry.

Please ready full entry rules >>>HERE<<<

Could you tell us a bit about – first as a writer, then as a reader – what the pull is for you when it comes to Paranormal/Supernatural characters & stories?

Had to really think about this one.  I've never liked the word "supernatural".  This is a big universe, and there's a lot more going on that we can fit into our nice, neat Box of Reason.  I recently had a death in my family, a woman I loved like a sister, and for days after the tragedy, I am convinced that she was hanging around, if only to say goodbye.  What could be more "natural" than that?

But that's not really an answer, is it?

I write about the paranormal because the paranormal fascinates me.  I've never been satisfied with just my five senses, and I've longed to explore the questions of ghosts, UFO's, the Loch Ness Monster, and all the other "fringe" beliefs that most grown-ups scoff at.

And I think that's the reason why I've been drawn to it as a reader as well.  There's a wonderful mystery to it, a sense of wonder, of being at the very edge of something much bigger than yourself.

Besides, there's nothing like a good ghost story, is there?

Rise of the Corpses, the first in your Undertakers series main characters is Will, a 12 year old who ends up fighting with a group of teen resistance fighters. Will is what you call a Seer. Can you talk to us a bit about what a Seer is?

A Seer is a boy or girl who suddenly, and for thus-far unexplained reasons, develops the ability to penetrate the illusion of normalcy that the Corpses somehow project around themselves.   The ability generally manifests around age 11 for girls, and age 12 for boys.  Suddenly, their bus driver, or their teacher, or someone else familiar in their life has become a maggot-riddled cadaver!

It's not a good thing to be a Seer because, if the Corpses figure out that you can See them, they'll hunt you down.

Unless, of course, the Undertakers rescue you first!

Your story sounds like it’s about Zombies; however in the book they are called “Corpses”. Can you tell us the difference between what we all know as a “Zombie” and the “Corpses” in your series?

Zombie's are stupid.  There, I said it.  If any of you reading this are zombies and I've offended you, I'm sorry.  But, like it or not, zombies are moaning, shuffling morons.

Corpses, on the other hand, are fast, smart and organized.  They aren't actually the dead people they appear to be, but are instead beings from "elsewhere".  They invade our world without bodies of our own and so must animate cadavers, wearing them like suits of clothing.  Then, in order to blend in, they project an illusion that they're just normal people.

It's an illusion that only the Undertakers can penetrate.

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

Scary Book:  THE SHINING by Stephen King
Scary Movie:  THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS by Thomas Harris
Halloween Candy: Tootsie Rolls!
Costume from Halloween’s Past:  Every Halloween, I used to stand outside my house, scaring the crap out of any kids (above a certain age) brave enough to risk knocking on my front door.  I’m a big guy, and I would dress up all in black with gloves and a whole head horror mask.  It was a blast!

I kept up that neighborhood tradition for years, until my own kids got too old for Trick-or-Treating, and the tradition went from “big Halloween fun” to “just a little bit weird.”  :)

Title: Rise of the Corpses (The Undertakers #1)
Author: Ty Drago
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 480 Pages (April 1st, 2011)
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis: "On a sunny Wednesday morning in October, a day that would mark the end of one life and the beginning of another, I found out my grouchy next door neighbor was the walking dead. When you turn around expecting to see something familiar, and instead see something else altogether, it takes a little while for your brain to catch up with your eyes. I call it the 'Holy Crap Factor.'"

Forced to flee his home and family, twelve-year-old Will Ritter falls in with the Undertakers-a rag-tag army of teenage resistance fighters who've banded together to battle the Corpses.

Find Ty Online:

Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Order Ty's Books Online:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

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!