Friday, May 23, 2014

Blog Tour/Review: Miss Armistead Makes Her Choice by Heidi Ashworth


http://prismbooktours.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-rose-garden-tour-for-miss-armistead.html
A themed tour with Prism Book Tours

Welcome to my tour stop for THE ROSE GARDEN TOUR for

Miss Armistead Makes Her Choice

by Heidi Ashworth
Roses in the Miss Delacourt Series

It all begins when the Dowager Duchess of Marcross sends her grandson, Sir Anthony Crenshaw, to accompany her niece, Miss Ginny Delacourt, to their country estate to check on the roses. The Dowager is concerned since her neighbor is keen on stealing cuttings from her spectacular rose garden for Rosehaven, his rose-inspired country home. On the way, they have a carriage accident and are held up by highwaymen but it isn't until they are quarantined at Rosehaven for the pox that Ginny's and Sir Anthony's love begins to bloom.

Thus the series begins...

Heidi Ashworth, the author, has a beautiful rose garden
and each stop is showcasing one of her roses. 
Here is mine:



Miss Armistead Makes Her Choice
by Heidi Ashworth

Adult Historical Romance

Ebook, 274 pages

April 24th 2014 by Dunhaven Place Publishing


Mr. Colin Lloyd-Jones and his friend, Sir Anthony Crenshaw, make a pact to avoid the fair sex during the course of an entire season in order to nurse their wounded hearts. As they shake hands on it, they have no idea that one would soon be off on a trip to escort a young lady to the country and the other soon to fall head over heels in love with Miss Elizabeth Armistead. Sadly, Miss Armistead is only interested in those she trusts not to become so besotted with her beauty that they cannot see her true self. Prior to meeting Colin, she had only met one man fitting that description and she has promised to be his bride. However, Mr. Cruikshank is not due to arrive in London for a full month. Can Colin convince Miss Armistead that he loves her for more than her beauty before her betrothed's ship arrives on British shores?

There's a lot to love about this book! It's a Regency romance and proper speech is used. That took me a little bit to get used to, and I loved it! Elizabeth Armistead is beautiful but doesn't want that to be what men focus on. She's engaged to Mr. Cruikshank, who is blind so she knows he loves her for who she is and not how she looks. He's planning to join her in a month. She meets Colin Lloyd-Jones who had just broken off an engagement and was determined to stay away from all social engagements. Their first meeting doesn't go very well, but they soon feel safe around each other and manage to become friends.

I also loved the characters! Elizabeth is beautiful, kind and loyal, yet she is capable of feeling jealous. Colin is wealthy and handsome and not interested in pursuing any type of relationship. There were some great scenes between the two of them, especially when Elizabeth would describe her life with Mr. Cruikshank once they were married and it didn't seem like it would be appealing to anyone. Then there was her best friend, Katherine, who decided that Colin was the man for her. Her interest in him made Elizabeth think twice about how she felt.

I was sure the ending would be happy but it almost seemed like an impossible situation. How would loyal, determined Elizabeth get out of an engagement to a blind man? There are some twists and turns and I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. The entire book was enjoyable and what I love the most is that it's 100% clean!!

This is the first book I've read in the Miss Delacourt series, and even though it's #6, I didn't feel lost at all. I'm sure there are some references and characters that I didn't quite understand so it would be fun to read again after I've read the other ones!

Purchase from Amazon.

 

Heidi Ashworth, author of the popular Miss Delacourt series, including the award-winning Miss Delacourt Has Her Day, is a busy wife and mother who's grateful for a bit of peace and quiet in which to write. An unapologetic anglophile, she is determined to return to England to see the home of Jane Austen, a landmark she missed during her first trip across the pond, though she knows Lord Byron's house to be a suitable substitute. She's smitten with books, chocolate, and roses, not necessarily in that order, and is never averse to a round of Guitar Hero.

Tour-Wide Giveaway

- US Grand Prize: $50 Amazon gift card and paperback copy of Miss Armistead Makes Her Choice

- 3 ebooks of Miss Armistead Makes Her Choice (US and open INT to these countries: England, Canada, Belguim, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Poland, Italy, France, Japan, and Australia)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Posted by Melanie at 4:00 AM 5 comments

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Blog Tour/Review: The Eighth Guardian by Meredith McCardle




The Eighth Guardian, by Meredith McCardle
2014, 386p, YA Time Travel Thriller
My Rating=4.5 Stars
Source: Received a copy from tour host for an honest review

Release date: May 6, 2014
Publisher: Skyscape (Amazon)
ISBN: 978-1477847138
ASIN: B00DH3MP82



Amanda Obermann. Code name Iris.

It’s Testing Day. The day that comes without warning, the day when all juniors and seniors at The Peel Academy undergo a series of intense physical and psychological tests to see if they’re ready to graduate and become government operatives. Amanda and her boyfriend Abe are top students, and they’ve just endured thirty-six hours of testing. But they’re juniors and don’t expect to graduate. That’ll happen next year, when they plan to join the CIA—together.

But when the graduates are announced, the results are shocking. Amanda has been chosen—the first junior in decades. And she receives the opportunity of a lifetime: to join a secret government organization called the Annum Guard and travel through time to change the course of history. But in order to become the Eighth Guardian in this exclusive group, Amanda must say good-bye to everything—her name, her family, and even Abe—forever.

Who is really behind the Annum Guard? And can she trust them with her life?

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. It grabbed my attention right away and I had a hard time putting it down until I was finished. It starts on Testing Day and Amanda notices a man intently watching her. She's a junior so Testing Day is generally considered a warm-up for her senior year, when she will graduate. She has a feeling, though, that she'll be graduating early and tells her boyfriend, Abe, who quickly dismisses it. Her name is, indeed, announced as a graduate, and she's quickly whisked away to a new life.

 It's a scary experience and she learns that she has a new code name, Iris, which she will go by until the day she dies. She's now part of the Annum Guard and is thrown into a time travel situation. She's not given any training or information and manages to figure out what she needs to do. When she gets back, she starts learning more about the Annum Guard and not everyone is happy or welcoming and she doesn't necessarily want to be there, either. She learns that they're the guardians of time and project back in time to tweak the past to improve the present. As time goes on, she learns how being part of the Guard can help her answer questions she has about her father's death. Is she prepared to learn the truth? 

 I liked Amanda/Iris. She was tough and smart and didn't back down from a challenge. She had flaws, too, which Yellow eagerly pointed out to her. Yellow was a great character as well. She's a member of the Guard and hates Amanda/Iris on sight. I liked how their relationship evolved throughout the book. There were some other great characters that I loved, hated and didn't form an opinion of until the end. The Guard is an intense experience and I found myself holding my breath through certain parts. There are lots of twists and turns and this was such a fun read. There's a pretty good wrap up at the end but there's more to this story so I'm definitely looking forward to book two!

My only complaint is that there was some language, including two uses of the "f" word.

You can learn more about each of the eight Guardians on the author's blog.

There's not much time left to enter the giveaway, which is amazing, so hurry and do it right now!!

Praise for THE EIGHTH GUARDIAN

"THE EIGHTH GUARDIAN had everything I wanted in a story: I fell in love with the characters, gasped at the mystery, and laughed at Iris's unfailing snark. Lucky for me, this high-energy, edge-of-your-seat thriller is only the first in what I know will become one of my favorite series." ~Susan Dennard, author of the SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY trilogy


Meredith McCardle is a former lawyer who lives in South Florida with her husband and two young daughters. Like her main character, she has a fondness for strong coffee, comfortable pants, and jumping to the wrong conclusions. Unlike her main character, she cannot travel through time. Sadly. Her debut, THE EIGHTH GUARDIAN, will be published by Skyscape/Amazon Children’s in Spring 2014.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Posted by Melanie at 4:00 AM 1 comments

SYNC: Free Audiobooks, Week Two


SYNC is a program that gives away two audiobooks each week for free from May 15-August 13, 2014. When you visit their website, you can read more information and get instructions on how to download the audiobooks. 

Don't have time to listen to two audiobooks every week? What I love about this is that you just need to download it during the week it's available and then you can listen to it later when you do have time. I did this last year and still have some that I'm planning to listen to when I get a chance. The most important thing is to download it while it's free!

There are lots of titles I'm interested in, so hopefully you'll also see something you like. Happy Listening!!

For more details, click here. 

Lineup for Summer 2014:

May 22 – May 28
CRUEL BEAUTY by Rosamund Hodge, Narrated by Elizabeth Knowelden (Harper Audio)
OEDIPUS THE KING by Sophocles, Performed by Michael Sheen and a full cast (Naxos AudioBooks)

May 29 – June 4
CONFESSIONS OF A MURDER SUSPECT by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro, Narrated by Emma Galvin (Hachette Audio)
THE MURDER AT THE VICARAGE by Agatha Christie, Narrated by Richard E. Grant (Harper Audio)

June 5 – June 11
ALL OUR YESTERDAYS by Cristin Terrill, Narrated by Meredith Mitchell (Tantor Audio)
JULIUS CAESAR by William Shakespeare, Performed by Richard Dreyfuss, JoBeth Williams, Stacy Keach, Kelsey Grammer, and a full cast (L.A. Theatre Works)

June 12 – June 18
CODE NAME VERITY by Elizabeth Wein, Narrated by Morven Christie and Lucy Gaskell (Bolinda Audio)
THE HIDING PLACE by Corrie Ten Boom, John Sherrill, Elizabeth Sherrill, Narrated by Bernadette Dunne (christianaudio)

June 19 – June 25
I’D TELL YOU I LOVE YOU, BUT THEN I’D HAVE TO KILL YOU by Ally Carter, Narrated by Renée Raudman (Brilliance Audio)
ANNE OF GREEN GABLES by L.M. Montgomery, Narrated by Colleen Winton (Post Hypnotic Press)

June 26 – July 2
FORGIVE ME, LEONARD PEACOCK by Matthew Quick, Narrated by Noah Galvin (Hachette Audio)
OCTOBER MOURNING: A Song for Matthew Shepard by Lesléa Newman, Narrated by Emily Beresford, Luke Daniels, Tom Parks, Nick Podehl, Kate Rudd, Christina Traister (Brilliance Audio)

July 3 – July 9
TORN FROM TROY by Patrick Bowman, Narrated by Gerard Doyle (Post Hypnotic Press)
PETER AND THE STARCATCHERS by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, Narrated by Jim Dale (Brilliance Audio)

July 10 – July 16
CLAUDETTE COLVIN: Twice Toward Justice by Philip Hoose, Narrated by Channie Waites (Brilliance Audio)
WHILE THE WORLD WATCHED by Carolyn Maull McKinstry with Denise George, Narrated by Felicia Bullock (Oasis Audio)

July 17 – July 23
THE CASE OF THE CRYPTIC CRINOLINE by Nancy Springer, Narrated by Katherine Kellgren (Recorded Books)
THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES II by Arthur Conan Doyle, Narrated by David Timson (Naxos AudioBooks)

July 24 – July 30
HEADSTRONG by Patrick Link, Performed by Deidrie Henry, Ernie Hudson, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine and Scott Wolf (L.A. Theatre Works)
THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE by Robert Louis Stevenson, Narrated by Scott Brick (Tantor Audio)

July 31 – August 6
DIVIDED WE FALL by Trent Reedy, Narrated by Andrew Eiden (Scholastic Audio)
THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE by Stephen Crane, Narrated by Frank Muller (Recorded Books)

August 7 – August 13
LIVING A LIFE THAT MATTERS by Ben Lesser, Narrated by Jonathan Silverman and Ben Lesser (Remembrance Publishing)
THE SHAWL by Cynthia Ozick, Narrated by Yelena Shmulenson (HighBridge Audio)
Posted by Melanie at 3:30 AM 0 comments

Book Blitz: The Moon Sisters by Therese Walsh


To post this Blitz and enter to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card, 
email us at PrismBookTours(at)gmail.com with "Moon Sisters" in the subject line.


You wanted to read it... 
now you can get it for only $1.99!!

A beautiful coming-of-age novel about two sisters on a journey to forgive their troubled mother, with a sheen of almost-magical realism that overlays a story about the love of a family, and especially between sisters...

The Moon SistersThe Moon Sisters

by Therese Walsh

336 pages

Coming March 4th, 2014

Mature Coming of Age

Family Drama



After their mother's probable suicide, sisters Olivia and Jazz attempt to move on with their lives. Pragmatic Jazz takes a job in the same funeral home that handled her mother's body, while spirited, strong-willed Olivia—who can see sounds and taste words—wants to travel to the remote setting of their mother's unfinished novel to see the will-o-the-wisp lights that she'd written about. A reluctant Jazz agrees to go with Olivia, and as they journey toward the wisps, their acceptance of their mother’s death becomes as important as their journey to understand each other and themselves.

On sale through May 23rd... 
Pick up your e-copy of The Moon Sisters for $1.99!


REVIEWS

Therese Walsh has done it again. She is fast becoming known for delivering lush, emotional and deeply atmospheric reads that never disappoint. Her second book, The Moon Sisters, is a magical journey of grief, hope and the power of family bonds. It is a novel for the senses, a harmony of sounds, sights, scents and tastes, the likes of which you have never experienced before. You won’t want to miss this one.”
-Sarah Addison Allen, New York Times bestselling author of Lost Lake

Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

Walsh’s second novel (after The Last Will of Moira Leahy) is a story of sisters Jazz and Olivia, who take separate but winding paths toward moving on with their lives after their mother’s suicide. Jazz, older and angry, decides to plunge into a new job while Olivia, who can see sounds and taste words, runs away to the remote setting of her mother’s unfinished novel. Jazz follows, determined to drag her younger sister home, only to be met with more roadblocks as Olivia attaches herself to a train-hopper who insists he can’t be trusted. Tension between the siblings mounts on the way to their destination as each sister is hiding secrets about their mother. VERDICT Walsh has written a beautiful, lush novel fueled by a fairy-tale journey of grief, love, and will-o’-the-wisps. Fans of coming-of-age novels and magical realism will be drawn in and may never want to leave.

Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

Jazz and Olivia Moon are about as different as sisters can be. The death of their mother, which appears to have been a suicide, hits them both hard, but their reactions are completely opposite. Practical, 22-year-old Jazz gets a job at the funeral home that handled their mother’s funeral, while dreamy 18-year-old Olivia half blinds herself by staring at the sun and decides to visit a bog to catch sight of the wisps that her mother talked and wrote about. Accompanied by reluctant Jazz, Olivia sets off, but when the bus they’re driving breaks down, Olivia makes the rash decision to stow away on a train. There she meets a tattooed, reticent young drifter named Hobbs, who agrees to help her find the wisps. When Jazz catches up with them, she’s immediately put off by Hobbs and furious with Olivia’s refusal to give up her mission or accept that their mother’s death was a suicide. Both heartbreaking and hopeful, the Moon sisters’ journey is no quixotic quest, and readers will find themselves completely immersed in their transformative search. This magical, moving tale is not to be missed.

Publishers Weekly

Walsh’s luminous second novel (after The Last Will of Moira Leahy) examines the disparate emotional and physical journeys undertaken by two sisters from the town of Tramp, W.Va., after their mother’s death. Because Olivia Moon is cursed (or, arguably, blessed) with synesthesia, a condition that causes her to taste sounds and see smells, her mother, Beth, decides to homeschool her. Beth is a dreamer who writes letters to her estranged father that she never mails and works on a fantasy story that she is afraid to finish. Olivia’s no-nonsense older sister, Jazz, is adamant about not following in their mother’s footsteps. When Beth dies from inhaling gas from a stove—whether she does so accidentally or willfully is not known—Olivia sets out on the daylong trip that her mother had planned on making, to a cranberry bog where Beth hoped to see “ghost lights” and be inspired to finish her book. Jazz secretly follows her sister and they end up joining a small group of “train hoppers” who spend their lives riding the rails. Walsh explores how the sisters’ experience of the outside world transforms their views of each other and themselves, in a book packed with invention and rich characterizations.



Therese Walsh's debut novel, The Last Will of Moira Leahy, was published in 2009 by Shaye Areheart books (Random House). Her second novel, The Moon Sisters, will be published by Crown (Penguin Random House) in March 2014.

Therese is the co-founder of Writer Unboxed, a blog for writers about the craft and business of fiction. Before turning to novels, she was a researcher and writer for Prevention magazine, and then a freelance writer. She’s had hundreds of articles on nutrition and fitness published in consumer magazines and online.

She has a master's degree in psychology.

Aside from writing, Therese’s favorite things include music, art, crab legs, Whose Line is it Anyway?, dark chocolate, photography, unique movies and novels, people watching, strong Irish tea, and spending time with her husband, two kids and their bouncy Jack Russell.


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Posted by Melanie at 3:00 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Blog Tour/Review: The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen


The Queen of the Tearling, by Erika Johansen
2014, 448p, Fantasy, Dystopia
My Rating=3 Stars
Source: Received an advance copy from HarperCollins and TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review



On her nineteenth birthday, Princess Kelsea Raleigh Glynn, raised in exile, sets out on a perilous journey back to the castle of her birth to ascend her rightful throne. Plain and serious, a girl who loves books and learning, Kelsea bears little resemblance to her mother, the vain and frivolous Queen Elyssa. But though she may be inexperienced and sheltered, Kelsea is not defenseless: Around her neck hangs the Tearling sapphire, a jewel of immense magical power; and accompanying her is the Queen’s Guard, a cadre of brave knights led by the enigmatic and dedicated Lazarus. Kelsea will need them all to survive a cabal of enemies who will use every weapon—from crimson-caped assassins to the darkest blood magic—to prevent her from wearing the crown.

Despite her royal blood, Kelsea feels like nothing so much as an insecure girl, a child called upon to lead a people and a kingdom about which she knows almost nothing. But what she discovers in the capital will change everything, confronting her with horrors she never imagined. An act of singular daring will throw Kelsea’s kingdom into tumult, unleashing the vengeance of the tyrannical ruler of neighboring Mortmesne: the Red Queen, a sorceress possessed of the darkest magic. Now Kelsea will begin to discover whom among the servants, aristocracy, and her own guard she can trust.

But the quest to save her kingdom and meet her destiny has only just begun—a wondrous journey of self-discovery and a trial by fire that will make her a legend…if she can survive.

The Queen of the Tearling introduces readers to a world as fully imagined and terrifying as that of The Hunger Games, with characters as vivid and intriguing as those of The Game of Thrones, and a wholly original heroine. Combining thrilling action and twisting plot turns, it is a magnificent debut from the talented Erika Johansen.

When I first read the summary for this book, I thought I would love it, but it was just okay. First of all, it was hard to tell when it took place exactly. It had the feel of medieval times, but some of their comments would remind me that it was, indeed, set in the future. It didn't have a true dystopia feel to me. I thought it started out really slow and took about 100 pages before anything interesting seemed to happen. The back copy refers to romance and there was absolutely none of it. There are, however, plenty of crude sexual references and lots of swearing, including about twenty "f" words. There are also references to The Hunger Games and The Game of Thrones. I haven't read The Game of Thrones, so I can't speak to that, but The Hunger Games is a stretch. I won't spoil what that is, but it is truly horrific.

The good thing that Kelsea did was put a stop to what was happening right away. She didn't know what she was doing or understand the consequences that would come but she did it anyway. I wanted to like Kelsea, but she seemed to be so concerned with looks--hers and everyone else's that I didn't feel like she had much substance. Certain aspects of her story seemed too easy so it was difficult to see any real growth.

What I did like were some of the side characters, both good and bad, that kept my interest and moved the story along. There are more back stories to be revealed. There was a lot of action towards the end when one of her enemies disobeyed her orders and set up his own deal. Life has been tough for many people during the years since her mother's death and the ones who betray her have had some tough personal losses, so it was hard for me to completely hate them.

This book doesn't have a nice wrap up at the end. There are still lots of questions to be answered and Kelsea has plenty of enemies that I'm sure will appear in future installments. It will be interesting to see what direction the series takes in the future, and even though it's not one of my favorites, I know there are lots of people who will absolutely love it. This book will be made into a movie (with Emma Watson to play Kelsea) and is one of the few where I think I'll like the movie better than the book!


About Erika Johansen
Erika Johansen grew up and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She went to Swarthmore College, earned an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and eventually became an attorney, but she never stopped writing.

Erika’s Tour Stops
Monday, April 21st: Literally Jen
Tuesday, April 22nd: Ageless Pages Reviews
Wednesday, April 23rd: Bibliophilia, Please
Thursday, April 24th: Book Loving Hippo
Friday, April 25th: The Written World
Monday, April 28th: More Than Just Magic
Tuesday, April 29th: Book Marks the Spot
Thursday, May 1st: Books Without Any Pictures
Monday, May 5th: Must Read Faster
Wednesday, May 7th: Reading Reality
Wednesday, May 14th: Adorkable Me
Thursday, May 15th: Giraffe Days
Monday, May 19th: No More Grumpy Bookseller
Tuesday, May 20th: The Best Books Ever
Wednesday, May 21st: Mel’s Shelves
Thursday, May 22nd: An Avid Reader’s Musings
Friday, May 23rd: Bewitched Bookworms
Tuesday, May 27th: Fyrefly’s Book Blog
Wednesday, May 28th: booknerd
Thursday, May 29th: The Bookmark Blog
Monday, June 2nd: Ladybug Literature
Tuesday, June 3rd: She’s Got Books On Her Mind
Wednesday, June 4th: Katie’s Nesting Spot
Thursday, June 5th: One Book at a Time
Friday, June 6th: Not Yet Read
Friday, June 6th: BoundbyWords
Monday, June 9th: Books and Bindings
Tuesday, June 10th: The Infinite Shelf
Wednesday, June 11th: Spiced Latte Reads
Thursday, June 12th: The Reader’s Hollow
Monday, June 16th: Open Book Society
Friday, June 13th: The Road to Here
TBD: Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile
TBD: Girls Just Reading
TBD: Conceptual Reception

Posted by Melanie at 4:00 AM 2 comments

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Blog Tour/Review: What is Hidden by Lauren Skidmore


Tour Schedule

What is Hidden, by Lauren Skidmore
2014, 256p, Clean YA Fantasy
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: Received copy from publisher for an honest review



In a land of masquerades and mystery, Evie is a mask maker in Venesia, where masks represent rank and identity. When a cryptic bandit strips away Evie’s mask and destroys her home, she goes into hiding at the palace to find both a new identity—and revenge. Fantasy lovers will be caught up by the mystique, romance, and magic of What Is Hidden.

First of all, I absolutely LOVE the cover!! I don't actively seek out fairy tale retellings but I enjoy reading them when they come along and I loved this one! 

 Evie has it rough at the beginning of the book and she's not sure where to go or who to trust. She decides to go to the palace to hide until she can figure things out. She sneaks in and starts working in the kitchen. It wasn't easy and she definitely had her Cinderella moments.

She has a friend, Aiden, who used to just appear and hang out with her, but any time the conversation turned to him, he quickly changed the subject and avoided talking about himself. He found her at the palace and they spent time together when she was done working. It wasn't too difficult for me, as the reader, to figure out who he was, but it took Evie quite a while. I loved the scenes where they were together and enjoyed watching their relationship grow.

 The story really sped up for me toward the end as quite a bit happened: there was lots of action, secrets were revealed (one of them being the identity of the villain, the Chameleon), and we learned the status of their relationship. I couldn't put it down and wasn't ready for it to end when it did. I have questions and there are loose ends to tie up! This is a great debut novel and I'm looking forward to reading more of Ms. Skidmore's books in the future!

I'm excited because I got to ask Lauren some questions, and again, the one I was most interested in hearing the answer to was, is there more? Read on to find out!

1. When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I got my start writing way back in 7th grade doing fanfiction for fun, and after a while, I wanted to try writing about my own characters instead of someone else’s. So I put what I’d learned about writing to the test and got to work on original stories. But since fanfiction is kind of looked down upon by a lot of people, I didn’t really consider myself a writer until I worked on original stuff, even though I’d written several novel-length stories already. Lately I feel like fanfiction has become more acceptable, which I think is great for young writers.

2. What inspired you to write What is Hidden?
I love Venetian masks and I wanted to write about a world where people wore them all the time. I also love fairy tale retellings, and Cinderella just fit perfectly. So I blended the two together and What is Hidden was born.

3. How did you come up with the title?
I went through a few titles before settling on this one, and I chose it because so many characters are hiding something, and the things that are hidden are what really drive the story.

4. Is What is Hidden a stand alone book or part of a series?
It's part of a series.

5. If part of a series, how many books are you planning to write and when is the next one scheduled to be released?
Right now I'm planning for three, and if all goes well, the next one should be out toward the end of next year.

6. What project are you working on now?
In addition to the next book after What is Hidden, I'm working on a stand alone YA contemporary that will hopefully also be out next year.

7. What are some of your favorite books and what book are you reading now?
My most recent favorites have been the Shadow and Bone books by Leigh Bardugo and the Daughter of Smoke and Bone books by Laini Taylor, and of course the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. I also loved basically everything by Tamora Pierce growing up. Right now I’m reading Plus One by Elizabeth Fama.

8. What do you like to do when you're not writing?
I spend way too much time on the internet, particularly tumblr.

9. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
Read as much as you can and find other people who like to write. You'll learn so much.

10. Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?
Thank you! I love hearing from readers and really appreciate every message and review.

Thank you, Lauren! I'm glad that there will be more in this series which will hopefully answer my questions without creating too many more and I'm excited to read your stand alone book as well!


Lauren Skidmore grew up in Kansas, with stints in Ohio and New York, and currently lives in Utah. She attended Brigham Young University where she earned a BA in English Teaching with an emphasis in Teaching English as a Second Language and Japanese. She then spent a year in Japan teaching and travelling. She hasn’t made it to Europe yet, but it’s on the list and has been to 30 states in the U.S. so far. When she’s not exploring new places, you can probably find her on the internet with fifteen windows open and looking at just one more thing before actually getting something done.

Posted by Melanie at 4:00 AM 1 comments

Book Blast: Goddess Born by Kari Edgren


Goddess Born

Pennsylvania, 1730

Selah Kilbrid keeps a dangerous secret: she has the power to heal.

A direct descendent of the Celtic goddess Brigid, it’s Selah’s sacred duty to help those in need. But as the last of the Goddess Born living in the New World, she learned from an early age to keep her supernatural abilities hidden. The Quaker community of Hopewell has always been welcoming, but there’s no doubt they would see her hanged if her gift was revealed.

When a prominent minister threatens to try her with witchcraft unless she becomes his wife, Selah has only one hope—that her betrothed, a distant cousin from Ireland, arrives as planned. Marrying Samuel would keep her secret safe, preserve her sacred bloodline, and protect her from being charged as a witch.

But when news of Samuel’s death reaches the Colonies, Selah is truly on her own. Terrified, she faces an impossible choice—forfeit her powers and marry the loathsome Nathan? Or find an imposter to pose as her husband and preserve her birthright?


2013 RWA Golden Heart© Finalist
2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award semifinalist

ABNA Publisher Weekly Reviewer

Set in the colony of Pennsylvania in 1730, this riveting novel begins as 18-year-old Selah Kilbrid runs into Quaker minister Nathan Crowley, a man who “labor[ed] under the delusion that [Selah] would soon be his wife” despite the fact that she was betrothed to a man on his way to America from Ireland. Nathan tells Selah that if she refuses him, he will have her “charged as a witch” because of her ability to heal the sick. To avoid Nathan’s plan to marry her the following Sunday, she leaves for Philadelphia to wait for the arrival of her betrothed and marry him before returning home. In Philadelphia, she discovers that her betrothed has died at sea. She then purchases Henry, an indentured servant, and convinces him to pose as her husband and help protect her from Nathan. As the story continues, the reader learns of Selah’s family history and the powers she possesses; Selah is half human, half goddess. It’s important that her secret stay safe, because if discovered, she could be killed. The characters are well developed and relatable; the reader empathizes with Selah and her plight. The fast-paced plot is exciting and keeps the reader guessing and in suspense. The end leaves room for a sequel, which, after such a tremendous beginning, would be anxiously awaited. A clear winner!


Author Kari Edgren

Kari Edgren did not dream of becoming a writer. Instead, she dreamed of everything else and was often made to stay inside during kindergarten recess to practice her letters. Despite doting parents and a decent school system, Ms. Edgren managed to make it through elementary school having completed only one book cover to cover – The Box Car Children, which she read approximately forty-seven times. Things improved during high school, but not until she read Gabrielle Garcia Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude in college, did she truly understand the power of a book.

Ms. Edgren aspires to be a Vulcan, a world-acclaimed opera singer, and two inches taller. She resides in the Pacific NW where she spends a great deal of time torturing her husband and children with strange food and random historical facts. Ms. Edgren hasn’t stopped dreaming, but has finally mastered her letters enough to put the stories on paper.











Blast Giveaway

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 6/15/14

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, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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