Love, Lucas by Chantele Sedgwick + Giftcard and Book Giveaway!

When Oakley Nelson loses her brother, Lucas, to cancer, she thinks she’ll never recover. Between her parents’ arguing and the battle she’s fighting with depression, she feels nothing inside but a hollow emptiness. When Mom suggests they spend the summer in California with Aunt Jo, Oakley isn’t sure that a change of scenery will alter anything, but she’s willing to give it a try.

In California, Oakley discovers a sort of safety and freedom in Aunt Jo’s beach house. Once they’re settled, Mom hands her a notebook full of letters addressed to her—from Lucas. As Oakley reads one each day, she realizes how much he loved her, and each letter challenges her to be better and to continue to enjoy her life. He wants her to move on.

If only it were that easy.

But then a surfer named Carson comes into her life, and Oakley is blindsided. He makes her feel again. As she lets him in, she is surprised by how much she cares for him, and things get complicated. How can she fall in love and be happy when Lucas never got the chance to do those very same things?

With her brother’s dying words as guidance, Oakley must learn to listen to and trust herself again. She soon realizes that second chances are ways to learn from the past, and you don’t always have to leave the past behind to find happiness in the future.

 * Goodreads * Barnes & Noble * Amazon *

I'm so happy to be a part of this tour for Love, Lucas.  When I signed on for this tour I was really hoping to love this book.  It sounded like it had emotional potential and one thing I love when I read books is to be sucked in emotionally.

Oakley's brother has just passed away from cancer.  She is devastated, hurting and feeling so alone.  Her parents are struggling separately and together and Oakley is basically left to work through all these feelings on her own.  It's just heart wrenching.

I did love the emotional connection I felt to Oakley.  I was caught up and invested in this book the whole way through.  It was sad and hopeful at the same time.  I will admit to shedding a few tears throughout this book.  It was really good.  Oakley is on an emotional journey, trying to heal and find a way back to herself and I went on the journey with her.

Carson is all things fantastic.  He is sweet and charming and thoughtful.  He is so kind to Oakley and looks past the emotional turmoil and anger to see the real her.  Yeah, he is a good book boyfriend.  :)

I had the chance to ask the author a few questions for this post.  How fun, right?  Here's what went down:

What are ten things we need to know about Carson?

10 Things You Need To Know About Carson:

1. Heart of Gold

2. Nice Beach Body (Of course!)

3. Close to his family. Especially his sister.

4. Skittles are his candy of choice.

5. Awesome surfer

6. Spends free time listening to music. (He's a big fan of Coldplay)

7. He's all about helping people.

8. Truly cares about those he loves.

9. He was a straight A student in high school.

10. Bought and fixed up his awesome jeep himself. (Who doesn't like a guy who works on cars?)

Which character from your book would you most like to have dinner with?

Dinner With Oakley. Just so I can give her a big hug.

Tell us about a typical day in the life of Chantele Sedgwick.

A Day in the life of Chantele Sedgwick consists of many glamorous things. Like getting up at 6:20 to go to the gym, waking the kids up when I get back, getting breakfast ready, doing hair and taking my two oldest to school. Then I get to hang out with my two youngest and watch CARS and EVER AFTER HIGH at least once a day each. I try to squeeze in a shower at some point, do mountains of laundry, make lunches, get kids in baths, pick up kids from school and take them to different appointments, help with homework and projects. I end the day with getting dinner on the table, putting the kids to bed, hanging with the hubby for a bit before I write until bed. SO VERY GLAMOROUS I tell you. Haha. I love my kids and my hubby though and they always come first before writing. That's the way it should be. :)

Chantele Sedgwick is a YA author, harpist, wife to one and stay-at-home mom to four. She loves happy endings, Kit Kats and judging by her book shelves, buys way too many books.

Website: http://www.chantelesedgwick.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5772887.Chantele_Sedgwick

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChanteleSedgwick

Twitter: https://twitter.com/chantelesedg

Blog: http://chantelesedgwick.blogspot.com

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/channywax/

Enter the Giveaway!

Prize pack 1: Signed hardcover copy of Love, Lucas, a Micro Mini Book necklace of your choice (Up to $9.95) from the Tiny Book Town Etsy Shop and a full swag pack (US Only)

Prize Pack 2: $10 Amazon Gift Card and a full swag pack (US Only)

Starts: April 27th, 2015

Ends: May 6th, 2015

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Between Now & Never by Laura Johnston + Excerpt and $50 Giveaway

Between Now and Never by Laura Johnston Buh boom, buh boom. My heart thrusts with a force that takes me by surprise. Telling me something I don’t understand. A splitting pain, a longing to slip back under. They tell me I was in a hit-and-run, but I can’t remember what happened that night. All I know is that I woke up with pictures in my pocket, a card from one of those photo booths in the mall. And I’m in the pictures. Cody Rush. Me and… Julianna. Her brother was there that night, and my dad, the FBI agent, was the one who put her mom behind bars. What’s the connection? And why won’t Julianna talk to me now? Somehow, she holds the key to it all, and getting close–real close—to her for the answers I need will be no hardship at all…

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo

I was excited to be a part of this tour for "Between Now & Never".  I loved Laura Johnston's first book, "Rewind to You" and I couldn't wait to read her next book.

Okay, so I don't think I loved this book quite as much as I loved "Rewind to You" but I still really, really liked it.  I'll tell you why.

There were some heart pounding moments.  Cody finds himself into a dangerous situation and my heart was getting worked up.  Then he was running and I felt like I might be running too.  :)  There was a bit of suspense and mystery as Cody works through slippery memories and tries to figure out what happened to him.  I'm a girl who likes my suspense light and not too scary so this was perfect for me.

In between those scenes, we have a relationship growing between Julianna and Cody.  Cody really needs Julianna's help to figure some things out but Julianna isn't a fan.  Well, she is, then she isn't, then she is again.  haha.  

Julianna has a tough home life.  Her mom is in prison for trying to protect and help her son.  Her dad is distant and not dependable.  Her brother is volatile and involved in drugs.  Julianna shoulders a lot of responsibility trying to please her mother, keep her family together, work and go to school.  I felt exhausted on her behalf but I really liked her.  It's that inner strength that I was drawn to.  That and her pluck.

I really enjoyed the way the revolving pieces of this story all slowly came together.  I was interested and engaged in this book from beginning to end.

Content:  No swearing or sexual content- just some kissing.  Drug use and drug activity with dealers.

Enjoy the following excerpt!

“Listen”—I cut him off before his flirtatious ways turn me into a puddle of mush at his feet—“for the record, that whole photo booth . . . incident . . . didn’t mean anything, okay?”

He sits up, leaning forward to pull a wallet from his back pocket. He fishes something out and slaps it down on the coffee table.

“Oh, yeah?” he challenges. “What about that?”

I glance down at the pictures—the photo-booth pictures. His index finger taps the third picture, the one of him practically kissing my neck. The nerve! I feel a wave of heat rising up my neck and into my cheeks. Wait, he keeps this in his wallet?

“Pulling out that dimple-loaded smile of yours and doing . . .” I fish for a term to describe what he’s doing in that picture. Smelling my hair? Kissing my ear? It’s too intimate, too personal to articulate. “. . . doing . . . that. . . might win over every other girl who comes your way, but it doesn’t work for me.”

“Oh, yeah?” he asks again and leans in dangerously close, his tone doubtful. His gaze drops from my eyes to my lips. “What does do it for you, Julianna?”

The sound of my name on his lips sinks right to my core, rich and tempting. Like chocolate. Isn’t the admiration of three fourths of the Highland High School female student body enough for him? Why is he toying with me?

“You would like to know, wouldn’t you?” I ask, loading as much spite into that challenge as possible. One side of his lips kicks up, like he’s thoroughly enjoying this.

Author Laura Johnston Laura Johnston lives in Utah with her husband and two children. Growing up with five siblings, a few horses, peach trees, beehives and gardens, she developed an active imagination and always loved a good story. She fell in love with the young adult genre both through her experience in high school as well as her job later as a high school teacher. Laura enjoys running, playing tennis, sewing, traveling, writing, and above all, spending time with her husband and kids.

Website * Twitter * Facebook

Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 4/26/15 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

  

Blog Tour Schedule

Less Than Nothing by R.E. Blake

Sage’s life as a teenage runaway in San Francisco is simple: Snatch a few hours of sleep on park benches and bus stops; dodge perverts, predators, and cops; and make enough as a street musician to eat. But her world flips upside down when she meets Derek – hot, tattooed, and charming, a singer from Seattle whose looks and talent take her breath away.

What begins as a reluctant partnership quickly develops into a cross-country race against time - and awakens a hunger in Sage that’s unfamiliar and exciting.

As they travel from coast to coast, Sage and Derek pursue their dream, only to discover that they can never run far enough to escape the demons from their pasts.

The first thing that drew my attention to this book was the musical aspect and the across country travel.  After reading the book, I'd have to say that those two things remain the most appealing.  It was easy to imagine Sage and Derek on the streets of SF, singing and it was easy to imagine them in New York doing the same thing on stage.  The whole road tripping with the truckers was fun.

The backstory for Sage and Derek unravels slowly and gently, bit by bit.  Sometimes I don't love that approach, but for this book it worked.  It gave some good insights on the homeless and circumstances that may have brought them there.  Especially for teenagers.  It kind of breaks my heart.

I felt like the romantic tension in the book fell a little bit flat.  I appreciate that there was no sex in the book but that isn't what I'm talking about.  It's that tension and build up.  Instead of increasing tension, there was a let down, especially in the last third of the book.  I just didn't believe Derek's reasoning for pulling away given his previous actions.

For me, there was too much swearing and profanity.  There was a lot of what I would term, "crass talk" and I'm just not a fan of that.  There is underage drinking and some violence including an attempted rape.

I picked this book up on NetGalley in exchange for a review.  My thanks to the publisher for allowing me to read and review for them.

You can find "Less Than Nothing" on Amazon.

The Trouble with Flirting by Rachel Morgan

Labelled a nerd for most of high school, Livi sees her first year of university as a chance to redefine herself. She can finally enter the popular crowd and maybe even land herself a super hot boyfriend. But Livi’s about to discover that the price of popularity may be more than she’s willing to pay, and that what—and who—she wants most has always been right in front of her.

This was sort of a coming of age story for Alivia.  It is her first year living away from home, on her own, making her own choices and spreading her wings.  It includes many firsts and navigating those tricky waters of freedom.

Alivia is determined that her university years are going to be different than her high school years.  University is her time to break out of the labeled shell she was in and become someone new and in her opinion, better.  Only it doesn't really go the way Livi thinks it will and in the process she loses parts of herself that not only made her happy but made up who she really is.  It was a long, hard battle because Livi is very determined, but I was glad to see in the end that Livi learned a valuable lesson about being happy with herself.

Yeah, Livi isn't perfect.  She makes lots of "dumb" mistakes.  But those mistakes made her human and real.  We can all releate to making mistakes, I think.  Adam is a good friend to Livi.  He is, for the most part, patient and he is there when she falls.  Adam grew on me as the story progressed.  He is a solid guy and I liked that.

I loved the South Africa setting, the mental pictures the book created for me and even the lesson in slang.  :)  The overall story was one that anyone romantic at heart will love.  You can't help but breathe a contented sigh at the end.  

Content:  There was mild swearing, sexual innuendo and one scene where a boy tries to force himself on a girl at a party.  There is drinking and drugs.  For these reasons, I would recommend the older YA age group for this book.  This book won't make it into my teenage daughter's hands because of the previously mentioned things.  

My thanks to the author, Rachel Morgan, for allowing me to read and review for her.  This is the second book in the Trouble series.  

* Amazon * Goodreads *

Changing Fate by Michelle Merrill

All Kate wants is to live. Battling cystic fibrosis is hard enough, dying from it is even harder. When her mom moves them closer to the hospital in the middle of her senior year, Kate’s determined to isolate herself—saving everyone the trouble of befriending a dying girl. It’s a difficult task when cheerful optimist Giana insists on being Kate’s friend.

Kate’s resolve falters even more when curly-haired Kyler captivates her with his sweet melodies. As her emotional walls collapse, Kate realizes the people she’s been pushing away may be the ones giving her a reason to live. But it might be too late.

I am always grateful for books that help inform and educate me on something I don't know much about.  I don't often get that sort of thing in YA fiction, but with this book, I did.  Cystic Fibrosis is something I have absolutely no first hand knowledge of.  I don't know anyone who has cystic fibrosis.  I am completely ignorant.  That must be the motivation behind the author's desire to write a book like this because by reading this book I learned many things I did not know about this disease.  Not only did my knowledge increase, but my compassion as well.

Kate has had a rough go of life.  Facing death every day and trying to protect your fragile emotions must be a difficult thing.  Kate manages well for the most part but her self imposed isolation is making her life harder, not easier.  Kate is trying to protect herself and others but I love how she gradually realizes that people are willing to help her carry tough burdens.  Friendship is one of the greatest treasures we have.  Kate finds some true friends and it makes all the difference for her.

I really liked the strong friendships in this book.  It was less of a romance and more friendship based.  It is also a story of healing within Kate's own family.  The ending was a little hard to believe, but this is a work of fiction and it made for a happily ever after ending for Kate tied up with a pretty red bow.  It was both heart wrenching and hopeful.

It must be hard to write a book like this, I think, because you want to bring out the realities of of cystic fibrosis without it becoming overwhelming to the reader.  There were plenty of hard and emotional things in this book but I felt like I walked away better for reading it.

You can purchase this book on Amazon.  Half of all proceeds will be given to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Michelle Merrill loves kissing her hubby, snuggling her kids, eating candy, reading books, and writing first drafts. She names her computers after favorite fictional characters and fictional characters after favorite names. To learn more about her, visit www.authormichellemerrill.com.

Being Hartley by Allison Rushby

Fifteen-year-old Thea Wallis was born to entertain. Her mother, Oscar winning actress Cassie Hartley, thinks differently and has kept her daughter out of the spotlight since day one. Coming from showbiz royalty, it hasn't been easy to go unnoticed, but mismatched surnames, a family home in Tasmania and a low-key scriptwriter father has made this possible.

Just like her cousin Rory on the hugely popular TV show Saturday Morning Dance, Thea loves to dance. She learns the show's routines off by heart each week, despite her mother's attempts to convince her that dentistry would be a far more fulfilling career choice.

However, when Rory goes off the rails in LA, Thea's mother is suddenly left with no choice at all – Rory needs them and to LA they must go. Within forty-eight hours, Thea finds herself a long way from Tasmania and living her dream – on the road to Las Vegas with the Saturday Morning Dance team.

It doesn't take long before Thea's talents are discovered and she's offered everything she's ever wanted on a plate, including the dance partner she's had a crush on forever. But, as her mother has always told her, Hollywood dreams come at a price. Thea soon realizes she will have to work out just how much she's willing to pay. And, ultimately, discover her own way to be Hartley.

Being Hartley was something different than what I was expecting. It’s a YA book, but on the younger side of that spectrum.

Thea is 15 years old. She is part of a family of stars- the Hartley’s. Her mother is famous but determined to keep Thea out of the spotlight. While Thea’s cousin works on a popular dance show in L.A., living the dream (Thea’s dream), Thea studies dance moves at home.

I liked Thea. She is a typical teenager but perhaps more level headed than most. She has moments of brilliance and moments of, well, not so brilliance.  Thea is struggling to spread her wings while her mother is struggling to keep her under her thumb. Thea is a kind hearted person who loves her family but wants to become something herself. She feels she is ready to venture out into the world of fame.

The whole story is andante-at walking speed. There were no heart pounding scenes and no real climactic build up but there was plenty of depth to the characters.

This is a story of families, relationships and, for me, loyalty. When one member of the Hartley family is struggling the whole family swoops in to help. They rally, take care and support. That is what family is all about. I really liked that. Thea learns some valuable lessons and grows throughout the book.

This was a fun book set for the younger YA crowd. There were a few instances of mild swearing and profanity.

You can purchase Being Hartley at Amazon.

Allison Rushby is the Australian author of a whole lot of books. She is crazy about Mini Coopers, Devon Rex cats, Downton Abbey and corn chips. You can often find her procrastinating on Twitter at @Allison_Rushby or on Facebook. That is, when she’s not on eBay, or Etsy, or any other place she can shop in secret while looking like she’s writing… http://www.allisonrushby.com

On Tour with Played by Liz Fichera + book giveaway!

Played (Hooked #2)

by Liz Fichera

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: May 27th 2014

This Game Is Getting All Too Real

He said: I like to keep under the radar and mostly hang out with my friends from the rez. But when I saved Riley Berenger from falling off a mountain, that rich suburban princess decided to try to save me. 

She said: If I can help Sam Tracy win the heart of the girl he can't get over, I'll pay him back for helping me. I promised him I would, no matter what it takes.

I always have such mixed emotions when I read books like this. If I could just do some personal editing, I would love this book. Why? Because the characters are so life- like. The conversations and interactions are so real you might as well be standing right there with them, listening. This book is full on high school drama with all the crazy stuff you might expect to happen. Stress over relationships, grades, scholarships, friends and home life are all covered. I think teenagers everywhere will be able to relate to this book.

However, there were a few things in this book that bothered me. The swearing and profanity being the first things. I realize that many teenagers may talk this way, but there are many who do not. I just don’t think it is necessary to put in books. Personal opinion. Nothing more.

The other thing that always makes me cringe is the party scene. I hate reading detailed descriptions of teenage parties gone wild. Even though bad things happen at the party, it is still glamorized to some degree and it just makes me sad. Under-aged drinking is illegal. Drinking and driving is illegal. Getting so drunk you don’t remember you had sex is not okay. Or glamorous. Or cool. And I just don’t like reading about vomit.

This book was well written and engaging though. It had me interested and hoping that both Riley and Sam would figure things out. They were both great characters. I love how Riley starts to realize the mistakes she has made and goes out of her way to try to fix them. The realization that her family is behind her and wants the best for her is a good one and probably my favorite moment in the book. Aside from the awesome, chemistry charged, motorcycle ride, that is.  J

"The book stands out in its nicely realistic portraits of the teens." (Kirkus)

"The plot is the perfect mix of real-life scenarios and swoon-worthy romance, while the issues of race and class that Fichera interweaves into the story add substance. In an alternating first-person narration style similar to Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor and Park, readers are given insight into the characters' thoughts and feelings. The tale sticks to the formula but the captivating ways in which the sequence of events plays out keep this take fresh and exciting." (School Library Journal)

Follow the FFBC Played blog tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.

I'm an American author living in the American Southwest by way of Chicago.  

Born and raised in Park Ridge, Illinois, I moved to Phoenix, Arizona, after college, never expecting to live more than one year among cactus and people who’d never seen snow. I was wrong. It certainly didn't hurt that I met my future husband in Phoenix too. 

Most of my stories are set in the American Southwest because I think the desert is a cool place. Living in Phoenix, I'm surrounded by Native American culture and influences, not to mention intriguing Hohokam petroglyphs and centuries-old canals. There are over 20 tribes in Arizona and I'm lucky to be neighbors to the Gila River and the Salt River Indian Communities. 

When I'm not busy writing my next novel, I like to travel, visit museums, support local theater productions, hike, and pretend that I'm training for a triathlon. I post a lot of photos from my desert and mountain hikes on my Facebook and Twitter pages. In no particular order, I've been chased by javalinas, rattlesnakes, coyotes, and even one curious black bear.

#QoD Author Liz has been chased by all kinds of animals!  Have you ever been chased by an animal and if so, what?

Win (1) signed copy of PLAYED by Liz Fichera (INT)

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Solving for Ex blog tour and GIVEAWAY!

Solving for Ex

by LeighAnn Kopans

300 pages

Release Date: February 11th 2014

COVER DESIGNED By Hafsah Laziaf of Icey Designs http://www.iceydesigns.com/

Synopsis:

1 crush on your best friend +
1 gorgeous, scheming new girl +
1 Mathletics competition =
1 big mess

SIMPLIFY.

Ashley Price doesn’t have much in life after being bullied so hard she had to leave her old school to live with her aunt and uncle in Pittsburgh. But the camera she borrowed from her best friend and secret crush Brendan, and her off the charts math abilities, make things a lot more bearable. Plus, since Brendan is the captain, making the school Mathletes team should be easy.

But when gorgeous new girl Sofia rolls in and steals Brendan, Ashley's place on the team, and her fragile foothold on the Mansfield Park Prep social totem pole, it’s on. Sofia is everything Ashley left her old school to escape. The only thing Ashley didn’t count on is Sofia’s sexy twin brother Vincent.

Vincent is not only the hottest boy in school, he’s charming, sweet, and he’s got his eye on Ashley. He’s also not taking no for an answer. There's no real reason Ashley shouldn't like Vincent, but with the
battle lines being drawn between her and Sofia, Ashley’s not sure which side he’s on. Or which side she wants him to be on.

She does know Sofia is trouble with a capital T, and she’s determined to make Brendan see it.

SOLVING FOR EX is a YA contemporary romance that remixes Mansfield Park as Clueless meets Mean Girls in a crazy mix of high school society, mathletic competition, and teenage romance.

This review is sort of a mixed bag for me.  So, I'm going to break it down into like and dislike.

Like:

Characters you can visualize and feel

Forward moving plot that keeps you interested and engaged, good flow

Camera loving, picture taking, math geek!
Scene on the water tower

little math notes at the end of some chapters- so cute!
The cover!

Dislike:

all the swearing.  So much of it- including the F word, many times

party scene- crude and vile- drinking, sex, vomit, teenage stupidity

If I could take out all the swearing and the disgusting party scene, this would be a book I could enjoy.  I loved the whole modern concept of an old story, but I'm a firm believer that a book doesn't have to have the above mentioned dislikes to be a good book- especially for teenagers.

Solving for Ex on Goodreads

AmazonPaperback

AmazonKindle

Barnesand Noble

Raised on comic books and classic novels, Leigh Ann developed an early love of science fiction and literature. As an adult, she rediscovered her love for not only reading, but also writing the types of fiction that enchanted her as a teen. Solving for Ex was born of her love for Jane Austen’s classics, and how they taught her that love stories could be funny and wickedly smart.

Leigh Ann, her husband, and four children live in Columbus, Ohio. When she’s not immersed in the world of fiction, you can find her obsessing over the latest superhero movie or using her kids as an excuse to go out for ice cream (again.)

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/LeighAnnKopans
Website: http://www.leighannkopans.com/index2.php
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeighAnnKopansbooks
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6439443.LeighAnn_Kopans
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/leighannkopans/
Blog: http://leighannkopans.blogspot.com.es

GIVEAWAY:

Win (1) "Mathlete" Tee (US Only)

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Win (1) "I <3 u" equation coffee mug (US Only)

Win (1) signed paperback of Solving For Ex by LeighAnn Kopans (US Only)

Win (1) of (3) e-copies of Solving For Ex by LeighAnn Kopans (INT)

Win (1) "Reading Is Sexy" Tee (US Only)

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Sun and Moon by Lee Strauss- Blog Tour, Giveaway and Music!

(Book One in the Minstrel Series)

Coming January 26th! If you’re a fan of the movie Inside, Llewyn Davis, ABC television’s Nashville or Colleen Hoover’s upcoming novel, "Maybe Someday", the Minstrel Series is for you! The Minstrel Series is a collection of contemporary romance novels set in the singer/songwriter world. The books are companion novels, with shared settings and characters, but each are complete standalone stories with a HEA (happily ever after) and no cliffhangers!

Katja Stoltz is a risk-taking singer-songwriter hoping to make it in the indie music scene in Dresden, Germany. Micah Sturm's a brooding uptown banker on a quest. Driven to the streets, Katja is picked up by Micah - but he doesn't want what she thinks he does. There’s an undeniable attraction between them, a gravitational pull they both struggle to resist. Katja knows she mustn’t fall in love with this handsome enigma. There’s something dark lurking beneath the surface. He could be dangerous. And even if her life isn’t on the line, her heart most definitely is. *not erotica - no explicit sex or coarse language

This series is an exciting collaboration between Lee Strauss as an Indie Author and several very talented Indie Singer-Songwriters. Four original songs produced by Norm Strauss are featured in Sun & Moon and are performed by award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter Kim McMechan. MP3 links are included at the end. Check out the music video!



All the songs from the Minstrel Series can be found at Bandcamp. The Minstrel Series also has its own Facebook page. Go Like it to follow all the upcoming Minstrel Series news! Pre- orders now available at the pre-release price of 2.99! (Price goes up after launch) itunes | kobo | Barnes & Noble Amazon

I was really looking forward to reading Sun and Moon.  I think it's a cool idea- blending Indie music with books and giving me something fresh and new.  I really, really liked it.  It's like combining my favorite things. 

Katja and Micah's story is a good one.  I loved the pull between them.  Micah is an enigma and I found myself as confused and frustrated as Katja that I didn't know what was going on with him.  One of the things I like best in books is when characters grow up and change  for the better because of hard things that happen.  That happened in this book.  Both Micah and Katja have to let go of secrets and let each other in.

The path of love is never easy.  When you love someone, it's easy to get hurt because you are vulnerable.  It's the classic love story.  I think it's awesome that the author tells us right up front that there is no cliff hangers (THANK YOU) and always a HEA.  (THANK YOU AGAIN).  I think I can handle a series like that.

This was a good book with characters that I felt drawn to.  It left me feeling happy.  Oh, and I loved the setting too.  Germany is a beautiful place and I'd love to visit there one day.  This book made it sound magical.

As far as content, there is no sex or course language as mentioned above by the author.  There is talk about sex and the main character does start out the book with the intention of selling herself on the street for money.  It doesn't happen, but it is talked about.  There is drinking and some mentioned drug use.

About Lee Strauss: Lee Strauss writes romantic mixed genres set in the past, present and future for YA and adult readers. She also writes light and fun stuff as Elle Strauss. She divides her time between BC, Canada and Dresden, Germany, and enjoys drinking coffee and eating chocolate in both places. Find out more at www.ellestraussbooks.com.

Lee is giving away prizes to celebrate the upcoming launch of Sun & Moon. 

Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card, MP3s of all four songs featured on Sun & Moon, and a 12 month calendar from Dresden, Germany featuring many of the settings found in Sun & Moon.

Dresden, Germany

Break It Up by E.M. Tippetts

Title: Break It Up

 Author: E.M. Tippetts

 Release date: November 12, 2013

 Age Group: New Adult

 Genre: Contemporary Romance

Kyra Armijo is making a few changes in her life. One of them being, she's no longer going to give it up to every guy who looks at her twice. And she's putting her hopes and dreams for her future first. When the aspiring photojournalist gets the opportunity of a lifetime to tag along with international boy band sensation, Triple Cross, she can't pass up the chance.

The only problem is that she's in love with one band member, dodging the unwanted attention of another, and desperate to keep her turbulent past under wraps. Triple Cross have "nice guy" appeal, approved of by parents the world over, but have just let go their longtime manager, who controlled their clean image and media exposure with an iron fist. When Zach Wechsler, the object of Kyra's affection, begins to show interest, she has to be careful.

Surely one girl can't destroy a band that's been together for ten years... only what if she can? Kyra knows she's one bad decision away from ruining everything she's worked for, and taking the hottest act of her generation down with her.

Kyra has made a lot of mistakes.  She’s got a past she isn’t necessarily proud of.  Things are different now though.  She is trying so hard to be the person she really wants to be.  You have to admire a person who can sink so low in life and fight their way back up and out of it.  That sort of tenacity makes for a great character that you can relate to and root for.  Kyra is that kind of character.

This story had a great flow to it.  I enjoyed listening to Kyra’s inner turmoil whenever she was around Zach.  Hot guy from a famous boy band- sweet and a bit lost.  Just the kind of puppy you want to take home and love.  Kyra really wants to be his friend and be worthy of his love and attentions- if he’d ever give them to her.  But she knows that her past will catch up with her sometime and she dreads the day.  It’s funny how the past has a way of doing that.  Kyra rises to the occasion though.  When her past is thrown in her face in front of the entire world, she uses what she has learned to help other people.  I think that’s what mistakes are all about.  Owning up to them, becoming better and overcoming them and then using the knowledge and experience to help other people do the same.  It was a theme I could get behind as a reader.

I’ve read previous books by this author and really enjoyed them.  It was nice to have a different character within the same family to get to know without having to leave the others completely behind.

Content:  There is a lot of talk about a very sexually active past.  There is sexual thoughts and references to sexual things.  There is some teenage drinking and drugs.

About the Author

Emily Mah Tippetts writes romance as E.M. Tippetts and science fiction and fantasy as Emily Mah. She is a former attorney with degrees in philosophy, politics and economics from Oxford University and business law from UCLA, and currently lives in her lifelong home state of New Mexico with her family. For more information or to sign up for updates on future book releases, visit her website at www.emtippetts.com

Author Social Media Links:

www.emtippetts.com

www.facebook.com/emtippetts

twitter.com/emtippetts

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