"To find out what a story's really about,' the Librarian said,

'you don't ask the writer. You ask the reader."


- SNOW & ROSE by Emily Winfield Martin


Showing posts with label Rockstar Book Tours. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rockstar Book Tours. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Release Day (Excerpt and Giveaway): THIS RAGING LIGHT by Estelle Laure (YA)


I am very excited for today's release today!!! 
THIS RAGING LIGHT by Estelle Laure sounds amazing!!!
I cannot wait to get a copy of it!!!

If you haven't heard about this book yet, be sure to check out all the details in this post... 

This blitz includes a giveaway for a finished copy of the book!
And, a bottle of nail polish that matches the cover! Courtesy of Estelle, HMH and Rockstar Book Tours!!! 
Be sure to enter using the Rafflecopter towards the bottom of this post.

http://www.rockstarbooktours.com

by Estelle Laure
Release date: December 22nd, 2015
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Format: Hardcover (288 pages), eBook, Audiobook



SUMMARY

Can the best thing happen at the worst time?

Her dad went crazy. 

Her mom left town. 

She has bills to pay and a little sister to look after. 

Now is not the time for level-headed seventeen-year-old Lucille to fall in love. 
But love - messy, inconvenient love - is what she's about to experience when she falls for Digby Jones, her best friend's brother. 

With blazing longing that builds into a fever pitch, Estelle Laure's soulful debut will keep readers hooked and hoping until the very last page.


BUY IT NOW





Praise for THIS RAGING LIGHT

"A funny, poetic, big-hearted reminder that life can - and will - 
take us all by surprise.” 

- Jennifer E. Smith, THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT 




EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT

When Wrenny and I roll up the hill to Eden’s house in Mom’s ancient Corolla, Digby and his dad, John, are outside playing basketball, and I want to get in the house as fast as possible,
because otherwise I might be trapped here all day, staring. I get a little twinge of something seeing a dad and his kid playing ball like dads and kids are supposed to. That’s a real
thing, and my hand wants to cover Wren’s face so she can’t see all that she is missing.

            Which reminds me. “Wren.”

            “Yeah?” She’s wiping at her shirt, reading a book on her lap, and she’s a little bit filthy, her hair greasy and knotty in spite of my efforts this morning. At some point the braids came out, and she’s reverted to wild.

            “You know how Mom hasn’t been around lately?”

            She stops. Tightens. “Yeah,” she says.

            “Well, we don’t want anyone to know about that, okay?
            Even Janie and Eden and Digby and John.”

            “But Mom’s on vacation. She’s getting her head together. She’s coming back.”

            “Okay, yes,” I say, “but still. We don’t want to tell anyone, because they might not understand that. They might get the wrong idea.”

            “Like that she left us permanently?” There is so much more going on inside that Wrenny-head than I can ever know.

            “Maybe, or at least for longer than she was supposed to.” I reach for the handle to the door because I can’t look at her. “Someone might think that.”

            “She didn’t, though,” she says. “She’s Mom.”

            “Of course she didn’t.” Lie.

            “So who cares what anyone thinks?”

            “Wren, just don’t, okay?”

            “Okay.”

            “Some things are private.” I open the door, then lean back across and wipe uselessly at her shirt with my thumb. “Like Mom being on vacation. So, okay?”

            “I said okay, okay?” She gets out and waits, stares at me like I’m the most aggravating person on earth. “Hey, Lu?”

            “Yeah?” I say, bracing myself for what’s next.

            “Your mama’s so fat, she left the house in high heels and came back in flip-flops.”

            I would tell her that I hate her new obsession with fat jokes, but I’m not in the mood for any dawdling, so I half laugh and get moving. I want to get inside and quick because there’s also the other thing. And by “other” I mean what makes me sweat just standing here. And by “thing” I mean Digby, who I have known since I was seven but who lately makes a fumbling moronic moron out of me, a full-on halfwit. Ask me my name when I’m in his presence and I’m not likely to be able to tell you. I’d probably just say, “Lllll . . . lllllllu . . .” and you’d have to catch the drool running down my chin.

            I know. It’s not at all attractive.

            But really. Tall, sweaty, and not wearing a shirt, so the muscles are all right there for the watching. He doesn’t exactly glisten, on account of the fact that he’s whiter than white, that he tans by getting freckles so he’s covered in them now after a whole summer outside. But seeing his hair all plastered to his forehead, his body so long and lean, looping around his dad to get the ball into the hoop, I want to fall out of the car and onto my knees in the driveway, say Lord have mercy, hallelujah, write sonnets and paint him, and worship that one little curve where his neck meets his shoulder that is just so, so perfect.

            He is beautiful.

            Which is why when he says hi as I pass him, I barely raise a pinky in response. There are two main problems here, aside from the fact that he is Eden’s twin and that’s all kinds of weird.

            One, he’s had the same girlfriend since the dawn of time. They’re pinned, she wears his jacket, their marriage certificate is practically already signed. Angels bless their freakin’ union. And two, if I ever did get a chance with him, like if he ever kissed me or something, I would die of implosion. I know I sound like a twelve-year-old mooning over some celebrity, and not the extremely self-possessed woman-tobe that I actually am, but something about him makes me lose my mind. Something about the way he moves, about his himness — it shatters me all the way down. So I hope he never does kiss me. That would be nothing but a disaster. No one needs to see me fall apart like that. Least of all him.

            Actually, maybe least of all me.




GIVEAWAY

- One winner will receive a hardcover of THIS RAGING LIGHT 
and a bottle of Essie Nail Polish that matches the book cover!
- US only. 
- Giveaway ends December 31st at midnight EST.

(*Bumbles and Fairy-Tales will not be held responsible for any lost, damaged, stolen, etc. prizes.)




ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Estelle Laure


Estelle Laure is a Vonnegut worshipper who believes in love and magic and the power of facing hard truths. 

She has a BA in Theatre Arts from New Mexico State University and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and thinks everyone should have to wait tables or work in a kitchen at least once in their lives. 

She lives in Taos, New Mexico with her children.



Thursday, June 4, 2015

Blog Tour (Interview and Giveaway): CHARLIE, PRESUMED DEAD by Anne Heltzel (YA)



CHARLIE, PRESUMED DEAD
by Anne Heltzel
Release date: June 2nd, 2015
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Mystery
Format: Hardcover, eBook


SUMMARY

In Paris, family and friends gather to mourn the tragic passing of Charlie Price — young, handsome, charming, a world-traveler — who is presumed dead after an explosion. Authorities find only a bloodied jacket, ID’d as Charlie’s. 

At the funeral, two teens who are perfect strangers, Lena Whitney and Aubrey Boroughs, make another shocking discovery: they have both been dating Charlie, both think Charlie loved them and them alone, and there is a lot they didn’t know about their boyfriend. 

Over the next week, a mind-bending trip unfolds: first in London — then in Mumbai, Kerala, and Bangkok, the girls go in search of Charlie. Is he still alive? What did their love for him even mean? The truth is out there, but soon it becomes clear that the girls are harboring secrets of their own. 

No one knows whom to trust in this thrilling tale of suspense and deception.




PURCHASE LINKS




INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR - Anne Heltzel

Thank you, Anne, for taking the time today to answer a few questions about your latest book – CHARLIE, PRESUMED DEAD!


*CHARLIE, PRESUMED DEAD is a very unique story, what inspired you to work on it?

In all (mortifying) honesty, I once dated a guy who was busy declaring his love for me while simultaneously dating another girl. It was intense and disturbing and dramatic. I won’t get into exactly how complex his lies were, but it was the stuff of Lifetime Original movies. His girlfriend figured it all out by snooping in his phone, and it was she who contacted me to out him. Our ensuing email exchanges (which were supportive and relatively compassionate) made me wonder about the phenomenon of girl friendship born from boyfriend betrayal.

*Which character spoke to you first - Charlie, Aubrey or Lena? And did you know right away who they were and what their story was going to be, or did they grow into something more than you thought that they were capable of?

Of the two girls, Lena was fully formed before Aubrey was. She seemed like the kind of girl who’d be up for anything, so it made sense that she’d push for the international manhunt. She has an impulsive streak I can relate to, and the fact that she doesn’t put limits on her experiences — no matter how unconventional — inspired me. Lena needed to be contained and Aubrey needed to be coaxed out, so it makes sense to me now that Lena — always full to overflowing — felt a little more real at first.

*What kind of research did you have to do in order to incorporate all of the traveling that was involved in the story?

I lived in Paris for a year and Mumbai for about a year and a half, and I studied abroad in London many years ago. While I was living in Mumbai, I was very lucky to be able to travel briefly across China and Thailand, as well as other parts of India. Mumbai was by far the easiest city to write about, because I remembered it most vividly — it left a deep emotional impression. I did have to research Bangkok prisons (fascinating and heartbreaking) as well as London nightclubs (it’d been a while); and I had to do a refresher on the layout of Paris. But almost all the rest was from memory. It was a lot of fun to mentally revisit my old stomping grounds — it made me very eager to return to Asia in particular.

*I am obsessed with book titles – was CHARLIE, PRESUMED DEAD the original title? Or were there other titles that were being considered?

It was! It just popped into my head. I’m not saying it’s the greatest title in the world, but I do think it fits — and titling has never come to me so easily since!

*On a fun note! What do you think Aubrey’s favorite fairy-tale(s) and/or fairy-tale character(s) would be? Lena’s?

I could see Aubrey liking Thumbelina and Lena being into Rumpelstiltskin.


Thank you again for taking the time to chat with me, Anne!!!



GIVEAWAY


- 3 winners will receive a finished copy of CHARLIE, PRESUMED DEAD 
- and a Gold Rose Necklace & Antique Gold Pewter Rose Charm on a Delicate 18 Inch Gold Plated Cable Chain. (Pictured above.) 
- US Only.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Anne Heltzel

Author Photo by Kristi Hedberg Photography

ANNE HELTZEL is a Brooklyn-based author and editor of children's books. 

Anne was born in Ohio, has been a voracious reader since the age of three, and credits her careers in publishing and writing (both lifelong dreams - just ask to see her childhood journal) to a serendipitous coffee shop conversation during her senior year of college. Anne was on a law school track until the aforementioned fateful conversation prompted her to switch gears and move to New York City, where she entered an M.F.A. program. 

In 2007 she began her first job in publishing. 
In 2008 she graduated from The New School with a master's degree in Writing for Children. 

Anne has since lived in India and Paris, and has taught writing and reading workshops in each of her former homes. More recently, she participated as a mentor in NYC's Girls Write Now program. 

When she is not writing, Anne is furiously (and passionately) editing novels for a Manhattan publishing house. She is represented by Stephen Barbara at InkWell Management. 

Anne also writes under the pseudonym Anna Collomore.




http://www.rockstarbooktours.com/

CHARLIE, PRESUMED DEAD Blog Tour Schedule

Week One:
5/25/2015- Falling For YA- Interview
5/26/2015- The Bibliophile ChroniclesReview
5/27/2015- Moonlight Gleam ReviewsGuest Post
5/28/2015- Book BriefsReview
5/29/2015- FiktshunInterview

Week Two:
6/1/2015- One Guy's Guide to Good ReadsReview
6/2/2015- Literary MeanderingsGuest Post
6/3/2015- Seeing Double In NeverlandReview
6/4/2015- Bumbles and Fairy-TalesInterview
6/5/2015- Please feed the bookwormReview


Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Blog Tour (Review and Giveaway): ILLUSIONARIUM by Heather Dixon (YA)



by Heather Dixon
Release date: May 19th, 2015
Published by Greenwillow Books (HarperTeen)
Genre: Young Adult Steampunk Fantasy
Format: Hardcover, eBook (368 pages)
Format read: ARC from the publisher


SUMMARY

What if the world holds more dangers — and more wonders — than we have ever known? And what if there is more than one world? 

From Heather Dixon, author of the acclaimed Entwined, comes a brilliantly conceived adventure that sweeps us from the inner workings of our souls to the far reaches of our imaginations.

Jonathan is perfectly ordinary. But then — as every good adventure begins — the king swoops into port, and Jonathan and his father are enlisted to find the cure to a deadly plague. Jonathan discovers that he's a prodigy at working with a new chemical called fantillium, which creates shared hallucinations — or illusions. And just like that, Jonathan is knocked off his path. 

Through richly developed parallel worlds, vivid action, a healthy dose of humor, and gorgeous writing, Heather Dixon spins a story that calls to mind The Night Circus and Pixar movies, but is wholly its own.



BUY LINKS




BOOK TRAILER



MY REVIEW

Original, clever, page-turning... imaginative! Parallel worlds, realistic illusions, quick action, intriguing one-of-a-kind characters and adventure! 

The ILLUSIONARIUM is a plot-driven story about a teen trying to save his mother, sister, and all the women in his city from a deadly plague. 
Jonathan is an apprentice to his father who the King has sought out to create an anticdote as quickly as possible to save the Queen and stop the plague from spreading and killing more women. Jonathan is quick to turn to any means possible to make this happen and disappoints his father by going behind his back to try to learn more about a hallucinogenic gas that can distort reality. His father quickly dismisses the idea in toying with something so unknown and dangerous. But Jonathan is hopeful and determined to prove him wrong and chases after the one chance of hope that can change everything. 

But what will Jonathan have to do in order to get the antidote before it's too late???

Jonathan was such a fun character to read about; his sense of humor and snarkiness really kept the story moving along. Even though he seemed a bit immature and naive at times, he still held his own quite well and dealt with the matters that were thrown at him in the best ways that he could. Sometimes you have to literally be in that character's shoes in order to realize that what he did was the right decision at the time. He's sweet on one red-headed girl; but this story barely touches upon it. There is no love story on display here. Although, Jonathan does get briefly distracted a few times, it just made him more realistic to me. 

The world building is truly imaginable, magical and movie-worthy!
There are aerial cities, airships and human creatures. I was able to picture everything and smell every smell, the good and the bad, with every word on the pages. Just like in ENTWINED, I was able to cling onto every word and understand everything that was happening in every way. 

For those who love steampunk fantasy with a hint of historical fiction, plot-driven stories with magical elements! There's something here for everyone!!!


*An ARC was sent to me from the publisher for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.



GIVEAWAY

- 1 winner will receive a finished copy of ILLUSIONARIUM 
- PLUS an ARC of THE UNQUIET by Mikaela Everett. 
- US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Heather Dixon


Heather Dixon grew up in a large family with four brothers and six sisters. She is a storyboard artist as well as a writer, and lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Viennese waltz is her dance of choice. 

She is the author of the novel Entwined.





BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

Week One:
5/11/2015- Chapter by Chapter- Interview
5/12/2015- Bumbles and Fairy-TalesReview
5/13/2015- FiktshunGuest Post
5/14/2015- A Dream Within A DreamReview
5/15/2015- Supernatural SnarkInterview

Week Two:
5/18/2015- Mundie MomsGuest Post
5/19/2015- Falling For YAReview
5/20/2015- Fire and IceInterview
5/21/2015- Reading with ABCReview
5/22/2015- Two Chicks on BooksGuest Post

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Blog Tour (Review and Giveaway): ROOK by Sharon Cameron (YA)



by Sharon Cameron
Release date: April 28th, 2015
Published by Scholastic Press
Genre: Young Adult 
Format: Hardcover, eBook
Format read: ARC from the publisher.

SUMMARY

History has a way of repeating itself. In the Sunken City that was once Paris, all who oppose the new revolution are being put to the blade. Except for those who disappear from their prison cells, a red-tipped rook feather left in their place. 

Is the mysterious Red Rook a savior of the innocent or a criminal?

Meanwhile, across the sea in the Commonwealth, Sophia Bellamy's arranged marriage to the wealthy Rene Hasard is the last chance to save her family from ruin. But when the search for the Red Rook comes straight to her doorstep, Sophia discovers that her fiance is not all he seems. Which is only fair, because neither is she.

As the Red Rook grows bolder and the stakes grow higher, Sophia and Rene find themselves locked in a tantalizing game of cat and mouse. 



BUY LINKS

Amazon / Barnes & Noble



ROOK Book Trailer



MY REVIEW

From the very first page I was kept on the edge of my seat anxiously awaiting for what was going to happen next! Again and again, with much anticipation, second guesses and charming moments - ROOK is everything that I wanted it to be and more... 

Now let me backtrack a bit for just a moment, I have to admit, the beginning took some getting used to. There is a lot of information and characters to take in; a lot of french names, words and phrases... Also, the story is told from multiple third persons - it took a while to get used to the writing style and catch on as to whose voice I was getting into. Once everything started clicking into place, oh my, there was no stopping on how quickly I was turning these pages! 

Our main character, Sophia, really took me by surprise. She is stubborn, determined, naive and so very brave. I was very impressed with her development and how her flaws were genuine and would sometimes work to her favor. 

And then we have our love interest, Rene. What starts out as a nuisance to Sophie slowly turns into a whole lot more. Their banter is fun and aspiring. He's mysterious and provoking. It wasn't hard for me not to fall for him and root for their budding relationship.

What I liked the most about ROOK was the sister/brother relationship between Sophia and Tom. Their banter and closeness was believable, sweet and the perfect touch of reality to the story. Also, Sophia's group of supporters all make a good and memorable impression - I was so pleased to see so many unique characters that stood out and helped with Sophia's cause.

And, the villains to the story, were outstanding! There are very few villain's that I despise and have a hard time forgetting... the things that happen are unimaginable!

Everything about the "Sunken Paris" is intriguing, unique and quite possible! Imagine the world we know now getting out of hand, where we let technology run wild, to the point where it destroys the earth, killing thousands and thousand of people. Which then leads the governments to unite and get rid of technology and all beliefs and go back to the way people used to live in colonial times (- history repeating itself!) And for those who oppose to the new laws will be beheaded in from of an audience. Like I mentioned about, the villains are to be despised... and feared!!! 

How can the Red Rook continue to save innocents and defy the new laws???

This is an amazing rendition of The Scarlet Pimpernel. I highly recommend this to all who not only love post-apocalyptic type stories, but to those who love historical fiction and fantasy too. And the biggest bonus, this is a standalone novel!



*I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.




GIVEAWAY

- 5 winners will receive a finished copy of ROOK courtesy of Scholastic. 
-US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway



ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Sharon Cameron


Sharon Cameron was awarded the 2009 Sue Alexander Most Promising New Work Award by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators for her debut novel, The Dark Unwinding. When not writing Sharon can be found thumbing dusty tomes, shooting her longbow, or indulging in her lifelong search for secret passages. She lives with her family in Nashville, Tennessee.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads



http://www.rockstarbooktours.com/

ROCK STAR/ROOK's Blog Tour Schedule

Week One
4/20/2015- Xpresso ReadsInterview
4/21/2015- The Starry-Eyed RevueReview
4/22/2015- The Eater of Books!Guest Post
4/23/2015- Mundie MomsReview
4/24/2015- Two Chicks on BooksGuest Post

Week Two
4/27/2015- FiktshunReview
4/28/2015- BookishGuest Post
4/29/2015- Bumbles and Fairy-TalesReview
4/30/2015- Chapter by ChapterInterview
5/1/2015- Winterhaven BooksReview


Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Release Day Blitz (Letter From the Author and GIVEAWAY): AN EMBER IN THE ASHES by Sabaa Tahir (YA)


I am SO excited that AN EMBER IN THE ASHES by Sabaa Tahir releases today!
And, that I get to share the news, along with a special intro from Sabaa herself!!!

If you haven't heard about this wonderful book yet by author Sabaa Tahir, be sure to check out all the details below!!!

This blitz also includes a GIVEAWAY for a signed copies of the book! and some of those awesome sword letter openers we have all seen around the internet - courtesy of Sabaa, Penguin Teen and Rockstar Book Tours!!!

SO, if you would like a chance to win, be sure to enter in the Rafflecopter below!!!


A LETTER FROM THE AUTHOR, Sabaa Tahir
  
Dear Readers,

Today, my “baby” AN EMBER IN THE ASHES is finally out in the world! From inception to pub date, this journey took eight years. And what a journey it was: writing, rewriting, revising, editing, querying, submitting; Meeting other debuts, bloggers, booksellers and librarians, and hearing their thoughts on EMBER. There aren’t enough superlatives to describe the radness.

And now, the book is here! I am so excited to see it in the hands of readers. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. To celebrate release day, I’m giving away two signed, first-edition hardcovers of the book. Details below!

All my best,
Sabaa


by Sabaa Tahir
Release date: April 28th, 2015
Published by Razorbill (Penguin Teen)
Genre: Young Adult 
Format: Hardcover, eBook and Audiobook

SUMMARY

Set in a terrifyingly brutal Rome-like world, An Ember in the Ashes is an epic fantasy debut about an orphan fighting for her family and a soldier fighting for his freedom. It’s a story that’s literally burning to be told.

LAIA is a Scholar living under the iron-fisted rule of the Martial Empire. When her brother is arrested for treason, Laia goes undercover as a slave at the empire’s greatest military academy in exchange for assistance from rebel Scholars who claim that they will help to save her brother from execution.

ELIAS is the academy’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias is considering deserting the military, but before he can, he’s ordered to participate in a ruthless contest to choose the next Martial emperor.

When Laia and Elias’s paths cross at the academy, they find that their destinies are more intertwined than either could have imagined and that their choices will change the future of the empire itself.


BUY LINKS





AN EMBER IN THE ASHES BOOK TRAILER



GIVEAWAY

- 2 winners will receive a signed hardcover of AN EMBER IN THE ASHES. 
US Only.
- 3 winners will receive a hardcover of AN EMBER IN THE ASHES 
and a Sword Letter Opener! US Only.


- Ends on May 9th at Midnight EST!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
(Bumbles and Fairy-Tales will not be held responsible for any lost, damaged, unclaimed, etc. prizes.)


ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Sabaa Tahir


Sabaa Tahir grew up in California’s Mojave Desert at her family’s 18-room motel. 
There, she spent her time devouring fantasy novels, raiding her brother’s comic book stash and playing guitar badly. 
She began writing An Ember in the Ashes while working nights as a newspaper editor. 
She likes thunderous indie rock, garish socks and all things nerd. 

Sabaa currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family.



* * * * *

http://www.rockstarbooktours.com/

 
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