Blog Tour+Giveaway: Garden of Eden by Kate Cowan

Title: Garden of Eden (The Legend of Eden #1)
Author: Kate Cowan

Re-Release date: October 22nd 2013

Publisher: Anchor Group Publishing

Book Summary:

"It has been four years.
Four years since the day the Catchers found her family.
Four years since she escaped capture.
And four years since the day her mother locked her and Will, a boy she hardly knew, in an attic, 'for their own protection'. 
Now, Eden White is fifteen, and sick of being a prisoner of parents who all but abandoned her. It was as simple as one walk down a beautiful, foggy beach, but it ended with Eden and Will face to face with Catchers - and this time, there is no escape.
When Eden wakes, she finds herself on an island, surrounded by hundreds of stolen children. Enrolled in the island school, Jordan Hall, Eden quickly learns that the island is not what it seems.
And, in the woods surrounding the school, she discovers a wild, beautiful magic inside of herself - one she has no idea how to control. With three unlikely new friends, Eden begins to realize that the headmistress is hiding much more than the stolen children - and what they learn in the laboratories below the school could cost Eden her life."

Haunting and mysterious, this sounds like my type of novel! If you want to find out what happens, it's your lucky day! Enter the giveaway below for your chance to read Garden of Eden for yourself! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway About the Author:

Kate is an artist, an animation student, a black belt in karate and now, an author. She didn't discover writing until mid-high school, when she began writing an (unintentionally) hilarious novel involving a teenage girl and a magic necklace. Her current novel series, The Legend of Eden, began as a story of Arthurian magic, but quickly transformed into something much different.

Kate currently lives in Ontario, Canada, in a zoo of a house. When she isn't writing, she's drawing, cooking, or browsing the Internet for new music.

BLOG TOUR: Power by Theresa Jones

Title: Power (The Descendant Trilogy #1)
Author: Theresa M. Jones
Publication Date: February 2013
Links: Amazon  Goodreads 

Blurb...

Thousands of years after the battle between the angels, when Lucifer was defeated by Michael in the Heavens, the war is still being fought on Earth by the humans who have their Power, the Angel’s Power. 

Allison Stevens is a 21 year old single mother who gets thrown into the middle of this battle when Damien, the Leader of the Rising, decides to hunt her down and kill her because he fears she is the descendant prophesied to save the world. 

David, a member of the Order, takes Allison under his wing in order to show her the ropes, and hopefully groom her into being the one they have been waiting for. The only problem is that they start to grow more attached than a teacher/student relationship should allow.

But that isn’t all. Damien wants to open the Seven Seals and bring about the apocalypse and it’s up to Allison to not only save herself and her family, but save the world, all while trying to keep her heart from breaking.

No problem… right?

POWER is the first book in a New Adult (Mature YA) Paranormal Romance Trilogy and is the debut novel for author Theresa M Jones.

Author Bio...
Theresa M Jones is just a regular small town, Texas girl. When she isn't at work at a local Medical Equipment provider,you can find her at home with her husband and two beautiful (and rambunctious) kiddos.

In her spare time- as if there ever was such a thing as "spare time" - she reads and reviews books on her book blog, and writes paranormal romance novels.

POWER (The Descendent Trilogy #1) is her debut New Adult (Mature YA) Paranormal Romance novel. 

 Giveaway
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Nobody But Us Blog Tour

This blog tour is being hosted by Shane at Itching For Books. Don't forget to check out the other stops on the tour!

 Title: Nobody But Us
Author: Kristin Halbrook
Publication Date: 29th Jan 2013
Tagline:'They're young. They're in love. They're on the run.' 

 

Summary...

Bonnie and Clyde meets IF I STAY in this heart-wrenching story of two desperate teenagers on the run from their pasts.

They’re young. They’re in love. They’re on the run.

Zoe wants to save Will as much as Will wants to save Zoe. When Will turns eighteen, they decide to run away together. But they never expected their escape to be so fraught with danger....

When the whole world is after you, sometimes it seems like you can’t run fast enough.

Nobody But Us, told in alternating perspectives from Will and Zoe, is an unflinching novel, in turns heartbreaking and hopeful, about survival, choices, and love...and how having love doesn’t always mean that you get a happy ending. Described as “beautiful, heartbreaking, and exhilarating” by Kody Keplinger, author of The DUFF, Nobody But Us will prove irresistible to fans of Nina Lacour, Jenny Han, and Sara Zarr.

Like the sound of it? I definitely do! Sounds like a great new contemporary novel - can't wait to read it!

Goodreads     Amazon

 

About The Author...

When Kristin was little, she wanted to be a writer, the President of the USA or the first female NFL quarterback. Despite being able to throw a wicked spiral, Kristin didn't really grow to the size needed for the NFL. Then, as she got older and studied more, she came to realize there were better ways to effect positive change than becoming president. The first one, however, stuck. Even when Kristin was pursuing other dreams, she always took time to write here and there.  When she's not writing or reading (which is what she does all day, in all of her work), Kristin's spending time with pixies, her Mad Scot soulmate, and one grumpy cocker spaniel; traveling across oceans and time; cooking and baking up a storm and watching sunsets and waves crash on the beach.

Kristin currently lives, loves and explores in The Emerald City, though she occasionally makes wispy, dream-like plans to move to New York, Paris or a Scottish castle one day (if just temporarily).

Official site: http://www.kristinhalbrook.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5070015.Kristin_Halbrook

Twitter:        http://www.twitter.com/kristinhalbrook

Giveaway!

Please note this giveaway is U.S. only

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The Dirt BLOG TOUR: Spotlight+Giveaway!

Hi there! Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for The Dirt by Lori Culwell, which is being hosted by AToMR Tours! For the full tour schedule, go here :)

Now, in case you're not really sure what The Dirt is about, here's a little bit of info...

Title: The Dirt
Author: Lori Culwell
Publisher: Booktrope Editions
Released: November 2011 

Book description:

Lucy Whitley cannot wait to get out of Palm Desert. It’s not a place for a frizzy-haired science nerd, particularly when her fashion-obsessed older sister Sloane is the head of a clique of pretty girls who rule the school—and practically the whole town.Fortunately, life is about to change forever. Lucy’s dad is getting re-married, and then she can transfer to a boarding school in Connecticut, escaping all the mean girls and the endless whispers about the Whitley family scandal. Everything is going to be perfect—as long as the wedding goes smoothly.

Links:

Amazon UK       Paperback         Kindle Edition
Amazon US       Paperback         Kindle Edition 
Barnes & Noble
Goodreads

Find the author on...

Facebook            Twitter                Her website

And now, for the bit you've all been waiting for...
The GIVEAWAYS!!!

There are two giveaway - one is open to US residents only and one is international. Here's what's up for grabs...

1. 5 Paperback Copies of The Dirt (US only)
2. 12 E-book Copies of The Dirt (Int.) 

Enter in the Rafflecopters below! :)

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LUMINOSITY Blog Tour: Review, Excerpt + Giveaway!

Hi there! Welcome to my stop on the Luminosity blog tour, which is running from 29th October to 13th November and is hosted by Shane at Itching For Books! Click here to see the full tour schedule!

First, a little bit about the book...

Title: Luminosity
Author: Stephanie Thomas
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Release Date: November 2012 
Tagline: 'Seeing the future isn't enough to save it...'
Links: Goodreads
Amazon 
Author's Website

Summary

My name is Beatrice. When I was born, I was blessed with the Sight. I was immediately removed from my parents and enrolled in the Institution. At the age of twelve, I had my first true vision, earning my raven’s wings. And when I turned seventeen, one of my visions came true. Things haven’t been the same since.

The Institution depends on me to keep the City safe from our enemy, the Dreamcatchers, but I’m finding it harder to do while keeping a secret from everyone, including my best friend Gabe. It is a secret that could put us all in danger. A secret that could kill me and everyone close to me.

The enemy has been coming to me in my dreams, and I think I'm falling in love with him. He says they're coming. He says they're angry. And I think I've already helped them win.

Excerpt
As part of the blog tour today, I get to share a short excerpt from the book with you...so here is the first chapter of Luminosity! Enjoy this little taste of what the book is like, and I hope it leaves you wanting more! :)

 CHAPTER ONE

At night, my room illuminates with an indescribable brilliance. The glow of a million City lights pours into the small space officially referred to as Bunk 34A. It’s not a large bunk by any means—just enough space to harbor a twin bed tucked under an overhead compartment of drawers where I keep my jumpsuits and robes.

Stacked in squares of black, it is hard to tell which article of clothing is which without touching them. Sometimes, it feels the same way in the Institution—you don’t know one thing from the other, no matter how long you try to figure it out. The Institution is all about uniformity. Nothing has changed here in years. 

I have a small desk where I finish my class work. Stacked books form little towers on the surface, mimicking the tall buildings just outside my window. Some books are about learning to survive in conditions that aren’t ideal. Some are about our enemy, and others are about the history of the Seers and our gift. There’s always something to be learned here.

My reflection stares back at me, and I try to peer through it and the tinted glass panel. I trace the image of the black raven’s wings, one tattooed over each of my eyes. The wings are spread and ready for flight. These mark the maturation of my Visions. They are a rite of passage, a signal to everyone that I am truly gifted with the Sight.

Most of us earn our raven’s wings by the time we are teenagers, but there are still those who take a little longer to understand the images that come to us. It’s not easy to decipher or pick out what is truth inside our minds.

Just outside my window, patrol helicopters hover high above the ground, their searchlights bright and unforgiving. If you are caught in one of those beams, there is no escaping. The Watch are beyond vigilant since the first sighting. They take no chances in the City, or in the Institution. Especially not since the Dreamcatchers came.

The Keeper mandated a curfew, demanding that every Seer be in their bunks by nine in the evening. The Dreamcatchers are double the threat to us. They are able to reach into the minds of normal humans—Citizens—through dreams or touch. From what I’ve been told, a Dreamcatcher can shatter a person’s mind with just one touch. I once saw a picture of one of the unfortunate souls who was Caught. His eyes turned white, mouth open…gone. Like an oyster shell without any meat inside.

The Seers are trained to prevent this, to protect the Citizens at all costs. At seventeen years old, I am arguably the most revered Seer because my Vision is the clearest, next to that of the Keeper. I didn’t understand the importance of that at the time. I had the Vision that would change everything. But we all do now.

A knock jars me out of my thoughts. “Who is it?” 

The door slides open with a hiss and then disappears into the wall. Gabriel stands in the doorway, his uniform a black and grey one-piece jumpsuit with the lavender eye of the Seer sewn above the right breast pocket. It matches our eyes, all of which are the same hue of purple, the mark of a Seer. His combat boots are tied tightly and shined to perfection. Gabriel is always perfect. Always.

“Just me, Bea. It’s my turn to make the rounds tonight. I can’t stay long here, though. Gotta keep moving.”

I smile as I lie down in my bunk. “Okay, okay. I’ll go to bed.” It’s not going to be easy to sleep tonight, though. Not with the thought of the Dreamcatcher girl on my mind. They arrested her yesterday after I saw her in a Vision. She looked so young…so innocent.

Gabe grins and steps back from the door, allowing it to slide into place. With a click, it locks from inside. I flick the lights off, and I’m left in the dark to think about how it will be now that the Dreamcatchers have actually made their appearance in the City. Already, the change in security is overwhelming, and I’m sure it won’t be long until the Keeper is back at my door, ready to record my latest Vision.

In two days, our new training begins, and I am not ready. None of this feels real, and there are so many unknowns that it seems like I’m walking around a corner without any idea what’ll be on the other side. Yesterday as we sat together at dinner, Gabe told me not to be afraid. I poked around at my mystery-sauce pasta, and just as he always does, he picked up on my worry. Gabriel has been by my side since before we could remember. We were in the same batch of infants brought to the Institution, ready to be inducted into a lifetime program that we didn’t choose to be in. It is the law, though, and anyone caught harboring a rogue Seer is put to death.

He’s my best friend, but not my only one. Lately, though, it’s been different. When he comes around I feel like something is curling up in my core, ready to spring out in excitement or giddiness. I wait anxiously to see him every day, just to catch a glimpse of him before we go to class. It makes me feel like a silly little girl, so I try not to think about it. Especially when he is close.

Ready or not, neither I, nor any other Seer, have any choice but to step into this whole new Dreamcatcher conflict which we’d previously only read about in our school books. This is more than just words on a page now. The Dreamcatchers are here, and it’s our job to keep them at bay. But how much will we have to sacrifice to keep the City safe?

 

Giveaway

And now it's giveaway time, guys! Just enter in the rafflecopter below for your chance to win a signed copy of Luminosity and some super cool swag! Unfortunately, this contest is US only. Good luck, everyone! :)

 

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My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century BLOG TOUR: Review + Giveaway

MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY BLOG TOUR

Blurb

On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze. 

Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore. 

Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?

Release: Sept. 11, 2012 | Publisher: Entangled Publishing | Purchase: Amazon | BookDepository

My Review

 My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century  was a 'super sweet', light, summery read that I enjoyed very much.

Cat Crawford is just a normal teenage girl...apart from the fact that her dad is a well-known film director and her mum is infamously known for the long trail of broken-hearted men that she has left behind in her lifetime, Cat's dad being one of them. I liked Cat very much as a main character - she was fun, witty and down-to-earth, despite her famous parents, and the kind of girl that I would have liked to be friends with if I knew her in real life.

Cat's magical trip to sixteenth century Italy was very interesting, and quite amusing at times - 21st century girl Cat attempting to behave according to the very different customs and etiquette of 16th century Italians made for some funny moments indeed! It was fun to see her try to adapt to the situations she found herself thrust into, and fun to see the reactions that the people around her had to her 'odd' behaviour. Luckily, she had a cover that saved her a little bit - in this world that she has found herself in, she is 'Patience D'Angeli,' a girl who has recently moved all the way from London to live with her Italian cousins.

Said cousins were very nice characters - Cipriano, or 'Cip' was very big-brotherly and protective of his cousin, and Alessandra, or 'Less', was very kind and sweet.

One of the best things about this book was the feeling that I had been whisked away to Italy right along with Cat. Rachel Harris' writing was so vivid and colourful, painting me a bright, warm, sunny picture that made me wish I was actually there in Italy with Cat.

However, Cat's trip to the 16th century was not purely for leisure - she was also meant to get something valuable out of it. 'Keep your mind open to the lessons ahead,' were the words of Reyna, the gyspy girl who made this trip happen for Cat. And I do think it worked - Cat comes back from her trip a happier, more carefree person, more willing to open up, let go, and take a chance once in a while.

 I really loved the ending of My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century - there are a few nice surprises in store for Cat that I thought were really sweet. And if you want to find out what they are...? Well, I guess you'll have to go and read the book! 

Author Bio (Spotlight)

As a teen, Rachel Harris threw raging parties that shook her parents’ walls and created embarrassing fodder for future YA novels.

As an adult, she reads and writes obsessively, rehashes said embarrassing fodder, and dreams up characters who become her own grown up version of imaginary friends.

When she's not typing furiously or flipping pages in an enthralling romance, you can find her homeschooling her two beautiful princesses, hanging out with her amazing husband, or taking a hot bubble bath…next to a pile of chocolate.

MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY is her debut novel.  She did have her own fantabulous Sweet Sixteen in high school. Sadly, it wasn't televised.

http://www.rachelharriswrites.com | @RachelHarrisYA | facebook.com/RachelHarrisYA

Giveaway

Enter below to be in with a chance of winning your very own copy of My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century (US only) or some My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century goodies! (INTL) Good Luck :D

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#MMBlogTour - Spellbound Series Trivia and ebook GIVEAWAY!

 Hey there! Today, I'm super excited to be participating in the EPIC blog tour celebrating Moonlight Mayhem, the second book in the spellbinding Spellbound Series by the spell-tastic Sherry Soule!!! She has a fun 'Spellbound Series Trivia Quiz' to share with us today (which will be great fun to test your knowledge of the series, or to just find out some interesting facts that you never knew before about it!) so without further ado, I'd like to give Sherry a warm welcome onto The Book Parade! :D 


Oooh, and Sherry has also been kind enough to offer an ebook copy of the first book in the series, Beautifully Broken, for a giveaway - so keep reading for your chance to win this awesome book that is up for grabs! :)

 

This giveaway is open internationally! So let’s tell the blogging world!

*SPELLBOUND SERIES TRIVIA QUIZ*

Hi everybody, I’m author, Sherry Soule—waving from the SF Bay Area, where it can get pretty foggy. And I can’t believe that summer’s finally here, and even with the fog burning off by afternoon, I’m cranking the air conditioner and chatting on Twitter about my love of reading.

Thanks for letting me visit today as part of my epic Moonlight Mayhem Blog Tour. It’s an honor to be a guest and meet all of these awesome booklovers—like me!

Thus far, my tour has been a blast for me and the readers that participated. It is nice seeing familiar names in the comments at each stop. For those of you who haven’t heard of my super fun blog tour it’s not too late to join!

To celebrate the release of author, Sherry Soule’s new paranormal novel, MOONLIGHT MAYHEM, take this super fun quiz to see how savvy you are about the first two books in this unforgettable YA series, and score a Kindle or Nook version of the first book in the series, BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN!(Hint: you can most of these answers on the Spellbound Universe blog and Sherry’s blog.)

Now, let’s see how well you think you know this series (even if you’ve never read the books, you can find all the answers online) and be sure to check the bottom of the post for the details regarding this random giveaway.

1.     In the Moonlight Mayhem book trailer what is Shiloh’s epic problem?

a.      Ferocious wolves

b.      Deadly necromancers

c.      Shambling zombies

d.      Fear of the dark

2.    Where did Shiloh and Trent first see each other?

a.      At school

b.      In the gym

c.      Luna Pizza

d.      At church

3.    What remote coastal town is the series located?

a.      Castro Valley

b.      Larkspur

c.      Madrone Woodlands

d.      Whispering Pines

4.    Which paranormal(s) tormented Shiloh in the first book?

a.      Wraith

b.      Shades

c.      Shadow People (demon)

d.      a, b, and c

5.    What is Shiloh’s freakishness?

a.      She has a severe limp

b.      She is missing an ear

c.      She has six toes on her right foot

d.      She has a jagged scar on her wrist

6.   Which fictional demon hunter(s) does Shiloh must admire?

a.     Sam Winchester

b.     Salvatore brothers

c.      Buffy

d.     Charmed Ones

7.    What is Shiloh’s heritage?

a.      Heritage Witch

b.      Half Asian and Half Caucasian

c.      Hispanic

d.      Half American Indian and half French

8.    What type of magick does Shiloh’s mother, Jillian practice?

a.      White Magick

b.      Voodoo

c.      Wiccan

d.      Dark Arts

9.   What is a Sheol?(*Hint: Google Sheol for the answer)

a.      A ride at Disneyland

b.      A town in Marin County

c.      A contagious rash

d.      A gateway to the Underworld

10.What are Shiloh’s supernatural pet(s)?

a.      Phoenix (exotic bird)

b.      Siamese cat (familiar)

c.      Fairies

d.      Shades

11.  What type of paranormal is Mrs. Baylock?

a.     Vampire

b.     Necromancer

c.     Witch

d.     Ghost

12.  Who was the first owner ofRavenhurst Manor? (*Hint: Google Owner ofRavenhurst for the answer)

a.      Michele Broussard

b.      Wealthy unknown family

c.      Maxwell Donavon

d.      Rowan Broussard

13.  What significance does the number “13” have in the series?

a.      Nothing it’s just a stupid number

b.      It’s the number of rooms in Ravenhurst Manor

c.      It’s the number of times that Shiloh sees a ghost

d.      It is part of an ancient prophecy foretelling of a girl who will break a curse

If you answered...

Mostly a's: You need to reread BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN and MOONLIGHT MAYHEM

Mostly b's:You should become a follower of the Spellbound Universe blog

Mostly c's:You need to recheck your facts, and then retake this quiz

Mostly d's:Congrats! You’re an impressive expert on all things Spellbound!

MOONLIGHT MAYHEM Synopsis:

Otherworldly Creatures.Dazzling Magic.Fiery Romance.

Shiloh Ravenwolf thought she was getting used to the strange events in Whispering Pines, until the full moon brings another surge of supernatural threats to her coastal town. Ferocious wolves, deadly necromancers, and shambling zombies have descended upon the neighborhood, so Shiloh needs to gain control of her magical abilities—fast!

It sucks that she has a crippling fear of the dark, which for a demon hunter can be an epic problem.

When her classmates are attacked by a mysterious creature and her father is murdered, Shiloh vows vengeance. Forcing her phobias aside, she forms an unlikely coven of supernaturally gifted teens to help her eradicate this menace. Except that's not all Shiloh has to worry about. She’s battling a different monster within herself and struggling not to become the very thing she fights: evil.

But with demon blood inside her—anything can happen…

Moonlight Mayhem is the second novel in the unforgettably epic Spellbound series

By Sherry Soule

Twitter hashtag #MMBlogTour

Places you can cyberstalk Sherry Soule:

Official Blog: http://www.sherrysoule.blogspot.com

Official Spellbound Series Universe: http://thespellboundseries.blogspot.com

Twitter @WriterSherry: http://twitter.com/writersherry

Awesome Book Trailers/YouTube: http://youtu.be/5uqVXKygvUs

andhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o44sW-gFtvA

goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4925996.Sherry_Soule

A random winner will be picked on 20th August and be posted at the top of this quiz, please check back on that day to find out if you’re the lucky winner!

Giveaway details for an eBook of BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN:

1.) You must comment with your quiz results

2.) Leave me your email address in the comments (so I can contact you if you win) or email me at thebookparade@gmail.com with your email address.

3.) Be a follower of the Spellbound Series Universe Blog

4.) Be a follower of this blog (optional)

5.) FOR AN EXTRA TWO ENTRIES...Follow us both on Twitter @WriterSherry and @TheBookParade

6.) FOR AN EXTRA ENTRY...tweet about this giveaway!

Good luck!