Blog Tour/Review: The Strength of Ballerinas by Nancy Lorenz

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The Strength of Ballerinas, by Nancy Lorenz
2014, 256p, YA Contemporary
My Rating=4 Stars
Source: Received a copy from the publisher for an honest review



All Kendra wants to do is dance for the Manhattan Dance Company. So when her family’s forced to move to California, her dreams of auditioning are shattered. Still determined to dance, Kendra faces social isolation and family pressures in her new home. But when she’s diagnosed with a debilitating illness, Kendra must decide which dreams are worth fighting for. 

Kendra is focused on one thing in life--to be a ballerina and she works hard. She's also good and is close to getting into the apprentice program for the Manhattan Dance Company. Her mother died six years ago and she has a younger brother, Petey, who is autistic. Her father tells her one night that he got a new job and they're moving to California in two days. She's stunned and doesn't want to go. Of course, she does go and realizes what a different world the west coast is and figures out where she fits in their new life.

This is a book that I enjoyed reading. Kendra was a teenager that was set on dancing and when she was forced to move, she tried to make the best of it. I like, too, that her life in New York had been so focused on herself and her career that when she didn't have that anymore, she was able to make some honest connections with people. She learned more about her best friend that she left behind and made new friends who truly were there for her. She also connected more with her autistic brother and became involved and interested in making his life better.

She also has a health issue to deal with and is determined to dance in spite of it. I liked what she was able to learn through that trial. She's a typical teenager at times but has some growing experiences that change her along the way. It's inspirational as Kendra found a way to deal with the tough situations that came her way. There were also some great supporting characters that added new dimensions to the story. This is a book I enjoyed reading and I am looking forward to more from this author in the future! 

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Nancy Lorenz currently teaches as an English adjunct at several colleges. She worked in publishing, public relations and in network television. She studied ballet in New York City at numerous studios, including open level classes at American Ballet Theater in the 1980’s, and continues to study ballet for the sheer love of it. She recommends that you love what you do, but also to branch out to the many subjects out there yet to discover. The more you learn, the more you can bring back into your art.

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Book Blast: Rewind to You by Laura Johnston

Rewind to You

One last summer before college on beautiful Tybee Island is supposed to help Sienna forget. But how can she? This is where her family spent every summer before everything changed, before the world as she knew it was ripped away.

But the past isn’t easily left behind. Especially when Sienna keeps having episodes that take her back to the night she wants to forget. Even when she meets the mysterious Austin Dobbs, the guy with the intense blue eyes, athlete’s body, and weakness for pralines who scooped her out of trouble when she blacked out on River Street.

When she’s with Austin, Sienna feels a whole new world opening up to her. Austin has secrets, and she has history. But caught between the past and the future, Sienna can still choose what happens now…

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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. REWIND TO YOU is her debut novel.

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Excerpt

I’m increasingly aware of Austin—his shower-fresh scent, every curve of muscle and the rise and fall of his chest with every breath—as he stands behind me and wraps his arms around mine.

“I’ll teach you,” he says, his hot breath against my ear seeping in. Whispering a thrill.

His hand cups the back of mine. I watch as he positions my pinkie and ring fingers over the threads and slides my thumb down. “Hold the football with your fingertips.”

I glance at his face above my shoulder, his blue eyes, strong jaw and his lips. And suddenly, football is the last thing on my mind.

Praise for the Book 

“Johnston’s debut spotlights romance and familial relationships, including themes like grief and self-sacrifice. It’s an ideal story for readers looking for a deep-rooted YA love story with the emotional ups and downs and poignancy of a Nicholas Sparks contemporary. There’s also a touch of wit and a sigh-worthy hero – a definite on your TBR list.” – RT Book Reviews

“This is contemporary YA fiction at its best! –Kay Lynn Mangum, author of The Secret Journal of Brett Colton

“Rewind to You will steal your hear away.” –Kelly Nelson, author of The Keeper’s Saga

BookBlast Giveaway

$75 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 10/5/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an iTunes Gift Code or River Street Sweets Gift Card. 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.

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Cover Reveal: For Eternity by Janae Mitchell

In a world of Darkness,
one must hold fast to the Light...

When Malyn Reed, seer of ghosts, fell in love with one, she knew it wouldn't end well, but when love pleaded with her heart, she was unable to deny it. Falling hard for the sexy, southern gentleman, Beau Brogan, who died in 1910, her already strange life quickly turned into a life she'd never imagined, filled with love and heartache that would change her... for always. 

When Beau Brogan died, left to haunt his homestead for over a century, he thought it was his hell on earth, until Malyn Reed moved in. Stealing the heart that hadn't beat in over one-hundred years, she gave him a new life that he'd never known, even while he was alive. But like his life, their time together came to an untimely end and they were forced to say goodbye... for now.

In this third and final installment of the series, love will be tested in ways that Beau and Malyn aren't prepared for. During the battle of good and evil—Darkness and Light—choices will have to be made and sides taken.

Unbeknownst to Beau, one final decision will change everything... for eternity. 

Their love survived beyond Beau's death, 

but can it survive beyond his absence 

and the Darkness that threatens them all?

If you've not started this series yet, you can find the first two books here:

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About The Author

Janae has been a writer since she was old enough to hold a pencil. Her genre of choice was poetry and short stories—until now. After falling in love with so many books over the past decade, she decided that she wanted to write a novel of her own and bring life to the characters that haunt her mind. It wasn't until 2012 that she pursued that passion and started on her first YA novel. 115,000 words later, For Always was born.

Having grown up in an historical Dandridge home that was used as slave quarters during the Civil War, she experienced several things that couldn't be explained. Due to these events, she sought out and joined an investigative team called Eyewitness Paranormal. Her interest in ghosts and the unexplained, combined with her love for telling a story, made writing the For Always series inevitable.

Janae was born and raised in East Tennessee, where she currently resides with her husband, two children, and their hairless dog, Slick. In her spare time, she likes to read, play tennis, and spend time with her family on the lake.

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Blog Tour/Spotlight: An Event to Remember...Or Forget by Melissa Baldwin

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An Event to Remember… or Forget

Sienna Harris is a girl with a plan. Her days of slaving away at Carrie’s Classic Events and More are numbered as she is on the brink of launching her own event planning company. Her relationship with Luke Price is headed in the right direction and they are approaching their one-year mark. The future is looking bright and she knows that life could not get any better . . . That is until her perfectly planned world is thrown upside down by the unexpected arrival of someone from Luke’s past.

She receives the shock of her life on the night of the biggest event of her career. Sienna will now have to pull it all together without a list or a plan. The question is, can she do it?

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Excerpt

The waiting area is full of big, cushy love seats, and the décor is very Mediterranean with rich shades of gold, red, and brown. It is so warm and inviting. I have to text Madison, so I tell Luke I need to use the restroom and check my makeup. I’m sure he knows I’m lying, but who cares. 

There is a very sweet attendant handing out hot hand towels in the restroom, which is probably the size of my apartment. It has so many products that it could very well be a beauty supply store. I pull out my phone to text Madison. 

BEST PLACE EVER!

I put my phone back in my Tory Burch clutch purse (a small splurge, but I bought it at the outlets), check my makeup and hair, and head back to Luke. As I am walking back to him, I notice that he is talking to someone. His body language says it all; he does not like this person. I walk up and stand beside him to see who this person is. I think my heart stops beating for a minute. I look up to see the most handsome man I have ever seen in my life; he smiles at me and his eyes actually sparkle. I am NOT KIDDING! I feel like I have landed in a Disney movie.

“Luke, who is this beautiful woman standing here?” he asks with the hottest Australian accent I have  ever heard. “Good for you, mate!”

“Hello, I am Ace Eckelund. I am Luke’s mate from our summer of soccer in Europe. I am sure he has  mentioned me?” 

How do I answer this?

“Um, yes he has briefly. I am Sienna, Luke’s . . . girlfriend.”

Why did I just hesitate? I am on an anniversary date with my boyfriend. “It’s nice to meet you.” I reach out to shake his hand, and I swear my stomach does a backflip.

Author Melissa Baldwin

Melissa graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications; she has always had a love for writing. An avid journal keeper, she fulfilled her dream with her debut novel, An Event To Remember . . . Or Forget.

Melissa resides in Orlando, Florida, with her husband and young daughter. She is a master at organization and multi-tasking. Her daily jobs include mother, chauffeur, wife, PTA President, Fitness Trainer, and now Author.

When she has free time, she enjoys traveling, fitness, decorating, fashion, and taking a Disney Cruise every now and then.

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Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 10/2/14

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 and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Blog Tour/Review: Visions From Beyond the Veil

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Visions From Beyond the Veil, by Lee Nelson
2014, 464p, LDS Non-fiction
My Rating=4 Stars
Source: Received copy from publisher for an honest review



For those who believe, it’s no secret that this life is not the end. Learn for yourself what awaits us all in these inspiring true accounts from Latter-day Saints who have been shown a glimpse through the thin veil between this life and the life thereafter. Sure to uplift any reader, this beloved book, compiled from the previous Beyond the Veil series, is a must-read—a true testament to the eternal nature of God’s plan.

I haven't read any of the Beyond the Veil series so all these stories were new to me. I enjoy reading near-death experiences (NDEs) and like to learn what people who have had them share. Every experience is so different, yet there are lots of similarities between them. 

I love that I could read a few stories, put it down and pick it up again later. I did find myself reading just one more story quite often. Some are quite short and others are longer with quite a bit of detail. There were a few times that the person who had the experience didn't seem to get much out of it for themselves but wanted to share it in case it helped someone else.

I liked getting little glimpses of many different people's experiences and wished that some of them had been a little bit longer. What they all share is that there are amazing things awaiting us when we die. I enjoyed reading these stories and look forward to reading it again!

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About the author: 

Lee Nelson was a public relations and advertising copywriter before his first book was published in 1979. Lee is best known for his Storm Testament series historical novels (nine volumes), and his Beyond the Veil series (four volumes). Lee is well known for his authentic research, which includes killing a buffalo from the back of a galloping horse with a bow and arrow, crossing the murky waters of the Green River many times on horseback, and riding with Mongolian nomads while gathering research for an upcoming book.

Movie: Believe--In Theaters Now!!

Movie Plot:

In the early 80’s the legendary Manchester United football manager Sir Matt Busby helps a wayward boy fulfill his dream.

Having lived with football all his life and survived the tragic 1958 Munich plane disaster in which 8 of his promising young players were killed, Matt, still haunted by the ghosts of the “Busby Babes” comes out of retirement for one last coaching challenge, to transform a young group of scallywags into a dream team to compete for the upcoming Manchester United Football League Cup.

A funny and touching family film, Believe tells the story of how Matt is finally healed, while continuing to inspire generations of dreamers and leaving the world’s greatest football team as his legacy.

I had a fun opportunity to view this film prior to its release in the theaters. My children love soccer so they watched it with me. It's a heartwarming movie which is predictable and slow at times but still fun to watch. The English accents made it a little difficult for my children to understand some of what was said but they caught the gist of it. 

The young actors are adorable and there are some parts that were pretty funny and made all of us laugh. Sir Matt Busby's story is interesting and sad. Having lost many of his players in a plane crash led him to question why he survived so it was good to see him realize the value he was able to give a group of young boys. This is a wonderful family movie that all ages will enjoy!!

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Book Review/Guest Post: The Gray Horizon by M. Kircher

The Gray Horizon, by M. Kircher
2014, 256p, YA Dystopia
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: Received copy from author for an honest review



What does it mean to be brave? This is the question Caden must answer as he accompanies Thea, Ben, Rain, and Naomi back out under the dark clouds of the canopy, to rescue Viv from the deadly shadows and save a shattered Earth from the brink of destruction. Caden’s lazy, arrogant nature is tested as the group draws closer to finding Viv, forcing him to confront his inner demons and admit his feelings for Thea—even as their relationship is threatened by her ever-growing connection to Ben.

Will Caden discover his true potential? Or, when the group uncovers a devastating secret and faces a betrayal that has the power to turn the tide in the war with the shadows, will he abandon his friends and go back to a life of never-ending darkness?

Find out in The Gray Horizon, the exciting, action-packed sequel to The War Inside.

I really enjoyed the first book, The War Inside. To learn more about that book and read my review, click here. 

The first book is told from Thea's point of view and this book is told from Caden's point of view. At the end of book one, Viv was taken by the shadows and Thea, Rain and Naomi made it to Maria's settlement. In the beginning of this book, Thea, Rain, Naomi and Maria's son Ben set out to find Viv. Ben is a tracker and his skills come in handy. Caden realizes his attraction to Thea is deeper than he's used to. He gets jealous of the attention she pays Ben and then Naomi helps stir the pot.

Meanwhile, Captain Steele receives a visitor who brings him out of the darkness and helps him realize there's a better life in the light. He's resistant to the help but decides to give it a try and is surprised by what he finds. 

Towards the end, there's a betrayal which is painful for all involved and it sets off a devastating tragedy. I was feeling devastated along with the rest of the group and then there was a twist that changes everything. The ending set up the third and final book quite nicely and I'm excited to see how this ends!

I loved this book! The characters learn more about themselves and each other, some good and some bad. There's a lot of traveling and I tend to lose interest in sections of books when this happens, but I didn't with this one. Ms. Kircher's writing held my attention and I kept reading to find out what would happen next. This is a series that is worth reading and I'm looking forward to book 3!

Content: Mild swearing; some kissing. Clean!

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Guest Post: Why Dystopian Fiction is Important

Dystopian fiction is important to culture and society for a numbers of reasons. First, I think that many of us feel a lack of spark in our lives. And so we look for ways to wake us up and feel something. We work nine-to-five jobs that we hate, forget what our true passions are, and get lost in the never-ending quest for success and security. Worldwide destruction, or the loss of civilized society, sings some sort of life back into our hearts and grabs us in a way that perhaps historical fiction and mystery novels don’t. Dystopian plots inspire us to consider what’s really significant.

Secondly, I think we all long to fight a righteous battle. Dystopian novels usually involve the end of the world or the future of the human race being put into jeopardy. Whether it’s through government control, oppression by another species, an apocalyptic event, etc., there is a sense that if some brave soul doesn’t stand up and fight, everything’s going to go to hell. Preventing destruction and the loss of life are causes that almost everyone can get behind, and when we see these things happening, we instinctively want to fight against them.

Human being also have a deep need to be worthy. The idea of fighting for what’s right takes a kind of bravery that not many of us get to exercise in our daily lives. And even though the idea of fighting scares us, it thrills us too. Dystopic novels allow us to imagine what it would be like to test ourselves and come out a hero or heroine. Think about the current popularity of Katy Perry’s song, “Roar.” The lyrics to the chorus go:

“I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar”

These words resonate with so many people because we do really want to be champions. We want to be strong, and brave, and fight an amazing battle. We want people to look at us and say, “Wow, look what he or she did!”

I believe dystopian novels inspire us to change the world. Most dystopian novels seem to have an element of someone challenging the status quo or questioning the way that things are done. There’s this unease, and unrest, and a feeling like things should be different. I think that many of us feel that way today, but we also feel so small, like we could never do anything to affect real change. But reading a book or watching a movie can inspire us. Stories move something inside the human heart like nothing else, and doesn’t all change begin with one human heart moved to make the world a better place?

While the market popularity of dystopian fiction might wax and wane, I think the genre will be an enduring one and I’m proud that The Horizons Trilogy is part of it!

Thank you so much for having me!

-M. Kircher

Thanks for visiting, M! I love and agree with your thoughts on dystopia. It's a genre I love and will always read and I'm glad there are some quality books out there that I feel comfortable sharing with others, so thank you for being part of that!

I believe that stories can change the world. I also believe that teens and young adults have eyes that are open and ears that are awake to the thrumming life hidden deep within great books. I write YA fiction because I'm in love with stories and because I want generations of young people to hold tight to the vastness of their potential—the potential that lies waiting in all of us. The world is ours for the making.

No matter who you are, you have the power to do great things.

Happy reading! — M. Kircher

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