My Invented Life Tour Page

Book Description

Release Date: September 29, 2009

With Roz and Eva everything becomes a contest—who can snag the best role in the school play, have the cutest boyfriend, pull off the craziest prank. Still, they’re as close as sisters can be. Until Eva deletes Roz from her life like so much junk e-mail for no reason that Roz understands. Now Eva hangs out with the annoyingly petite cheerleaders, and Roz fantasizes about slipping bovine growth hormone into their Gatorade.
Roz has a suspicion about Eva. In turn, Eva taunts Roz with a dare, which leads to an act of total insanity. Drama geeks clamor for attention, Shakespearean insults fly, and Roz steals the show in Lauren Bjorkman’s hilarious debut novel.

Product Details

• Reading level: Teen
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); First Edition edition (September 29, 2009)
• 
  

Tour Details
    We are touring this book to attempt to get more reviews on amazon. Currently there are only 25 (at the time of posting this) I am looking for mostly reviewers and we need at minimum 20 stops.  If you can review that is great!

Giveaway Details

• $50.00 Amazon Gift Card
• Kindle Fire HD
• 3 Finished Print Copies (all signed)
• 3 bookmarks

Author Details

› Visit Amazon's Lauren Bjorkman Page

Biography

I grew up on a sailboat, sharing the tiny forecastle with my sister and the sail bags. Against all odds, we are still friends. We started sailing in California and ended in Argentina. My favorite stops along the way were Costa Rica, Panama, Isla Providencia, Key West, the Azores, the Canary Islands, and Brazil.

During our voyages, my sister drew beautiful paper dolls for the both of us. We sewed amazing wardrobes for our stuffed animals. We became excellent swimmers and beach combers. We made up new lyrics for old songs. Canned food dominated our meals on crossings, so we really appreciated fresh fruit when we came into port. I dreamed of ice cream on the open ocean.

We kept up with school through a program called Calvert out of Maryland.

My dad read to us at night by the light of a kerosene lamp. Since then, I've always loved stories and wanted to write my own.

I live in Taos, New Mexico with my husband, and two sons. We often see coyotes outside our window.

For more, please visit my website at http://www.laurenbjorkman.com

Tour Date List

Jan 7th	Jan 8th	Jan 9th	Jan 10th	Jan 11th
Review @ Overflowing Bookshelves	Review @ Cherie Reads	Guest Post @ Doctor's Notes	Review @ Asha Butterflys	Review @  YA Book Addict
Review @  The Bookworm	Review @ Broad-Minded Books	Guest Post @ YA Reviews and News	Review @ SnifferWalk	Review @ Icy Cold Reads
Q and A @  3Ps in a Pod	Review @ WTF Are You Reading?	Review @  Little Library Muse	Review @  Hey Wanna See My Indies?	Review @ Crossroads
Review @ JennRenee Read	Review @ So Many Books So Little Time	Review @  Coffee Beans Bookshelf	Excerpt @  Andi's Book Reviews	Q and A @ Andi's Book Reviews
Review @ The Cover Contessa	Excerpt @ A Dream Within A Dream	Giveaway @ Crossroads	Excerpt @ Wanted Readers	Guest Post @ Drugs Called Books

Please not that these prizes are for both this and Miss Fortune Cookie (toured in Dec.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: And All the Stars

 My Review: 5 Stars
Another outstanding book from this author!  This book never lets up until the last page!  I love that its a stand alone.  Although I know I want the story to go on forever. Its nice to not have to wait a year or so to find out what happens.  This book had a nice ending that tied up all the loose ends.

"*I received a copy of this book for free to review, this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own."

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 2012

Come for the apocalypse.
Stay for cupcakes.
Die for love.

Madeleine Cost is working to become the youngest person ever to win the Archibald Prize for portraiture. Her elusive cousin Tyler is the perfect subject: androgynous, beautiful, and famous. All she needs to do is pin him down for the sittings.

None of her plans factored in the Spires: featureless, impossible, spearing into the hearts of cities across the world - and spraying clouds of sparkling dust into the wind.

Is it an alien invasion? Germ warfare? They are questions everyone on Earth would like answered, but Madeleine has a more immediate problem. At Ground Zero of the Sydney Spire, beneath the collapsed ruin of St James Station, she must make it to the surface before she can hope to find out if the world is ending.

    About the Author

Andrea K Höst was born in Sweden but raised in Australia - mainly in Townsville, Queensland. She now lives in Sydney. Andrea writes fantasy and science fantasy, and enjoys creating stories set in worlds which slightly skew our social expectations, and most especially give her female characters something more to do than wait for rescue.

Product Details

• Paperback: 204 pages
• Publisher: Andrea K Hosth (September 30, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 098726513X
• ISBN-13: 978-0987265135
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,162,262 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

› Visit Amazon's Andrea K Höst Page

Biography

Andrea K Höst was born in Sweden but raised in Australia - mainly in Townsville, Queensland. She now lives in Sydney.

Andrea writes fantasy and science fantasy, and enjoys creating stories set in worlds which slightly skew our social expectations, and most especially give her female characters something more to do than wait for rescue.

Her novel "The Silence of Medair" was a finalist for the 2010 Aurealis Awards for best fantasy novel.

She is currently working on the YA Fantasy novel "Hunting".

You can catch the latest news from Andrea at her site: www.andreakhost.com

"Thanks to the publisher or author for sending me this copy!"

Guest Post: A Part To Play

Author Jennifer L. Fry has stopped by today with a guest post for her blog tour.

The process of writing my first novel

by Jennifer L. Fry

I've been writing since I was a young child. As such, I have an attic full of poetry, short stories, character sketches, and plenty of unfinished work. At the age of 30, I had this epiphany moment where I decided it was time I write an entire novel from start to finish. Why had my attempts at novel writing failed in the past? Because I didn't have a complete plan. I also realized that despite the fact that I am a prolific writer, I didn't know anything about how to structure a novel. So the first thing I did, once I made the decision to write a novel, was take an online writing course that was all about story structure. While I participated in the exercises for the class, I also began developing the plot for A Part to Play. I've always loved learning, so I found this part really exciting – I learned how to take a premise for a story and turn it into a complete idea with all the necessary structure to help it hold together. I turned my writing lessons into an outline for my story. It was a connect the dots of sorts; I had all the dots, so the next task was to write the words to get from one point in the story to the next. I felt much more confident knowing where my story was going. I knew it wasn't going to evaporate the way so many of my novel writing attempts had in the past. The next thing I needed was a deadline. I need to feel pressure to be motivated. So I made my goal to write the first draft of my novel in thirty days. Ambitious? Maybe. It turned out to be a lot easier than I expected. I wanted to write about 80,000 words, so I figured I had to put down about 2600 words a day to meet my goal. To some, this may sound crazy. But I had set myself up for success by: 1) Having a well organized outline, 2) Not having a full time job, therefore allowing time and bandwidth for several hours of writing a day, and 3) I made a conscious decision to turn off my inner critic. I did not self-edit, nor review what I wrote. Whatever words came out, I put them down. Period. Writing the first draft of A Part to Play was the most exhilarating, freeing experience of my life. My end goal was not to be published. It was to accomplish writing an entire novel that told the story the way I wanted to tell. It didn't matter if it was good, it didn't matter if no one else understood it. But then an amazing thing happened. By turning off my inhibitions, I allowed my natural talent to come through. As a result, my first draft was coherent. Even better than that, I actually liked what I had written, and so did my very first beta readers. Of course, I still faced edits and rewrites, which ended up taking about two years from that initial draft. I don't want you to think that everything from your stream of consciousness comes out perfectly the first time. But it gets you that all important first draft with a beginning, middle, and end. Then you have something to work with until it eventually becomes the final book that gets into reader's hands. 

  Title: A Part To Play 

Author: Jennifer L. Fry 

  Genre: YA Contemporary Romance 

  Pages: 261 

  Book Blurb: When fifteen-year-old actress Lucy Carter loses her older sister in a car accident, her mother shuts down and her father can’t hold the family together. Their only choice is to ship Lucy off to the Edmond School for Performing Arts. But boarding school is no cure for Lucy’s grief. With failing grades, wooden stage performances, and curfew violations, Lucy is threatened with expulsion. For the once talented Lucy, it feels as though she has nowhere to turn. One night, Lucy hears mysterious music drifting through the school’s old heating system. The music leads her to a troubled but passionate songwriter whose brilliance gives her the strength to perform like never before. Yet their intense relationship puts Lucy in a precarious position: if she follows her muse, will she lose herself? And if she breaks it off, can she stand on her own again? About Jennifer L. Fry: Jennifer L. Fry is a writer, artist, and teacher in Marin County, California, where she lives with her wonderful husband, two adorable dogs, and orange tabby cat. Though she has been writing since she was young, A Part to Play is her first novel. 

  Author Links: 

  Author website: http://www.jenniferlfry.com/home/ 

 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennifer-L-Fry/394827827250769 

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/frygurl 

 Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15835670-a-part-to-play 

 YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/component/content/article/28-young-adult-indie/13056-a-part-to-play

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/A-Part-to-Play-ebook/dp/B008VSW614/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1344998757&sr=8-7&keywords=a+part+to+play

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-part-to-play-jennifer-l-fry/1112451468 Audible: http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?asin=B009MH10FG&qid=1349917179&sr=1-1

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/audiobook/a-part-to-play-unabridged/id569381147

Review: Purity By Jackson Pearce

This book I ended up buying after standing in Books a Million for about 30 minutes trying to find something else to buy. That I didn't have. To make the $25.00 minimum for my coupon. I really didn't feel like reading this book because of the content. But, after standing around going up and down the isles I needed to just grab something.  Well I am happy to report that this is now one of my fav. books of 2012!  I loved it. It was so funny at times. (check out my Facebook for shares as I posted a ton of them)  I already have all of Jackson Pearce's (or JP as I have been calling her) books some in both print and ebook (as you wish if one of those and so is fathomless) So since I loved this book so much I am going to do a giveaway!  
My Review: 5 Stars

I purchased this book via Books a Million with my own money lol. 

Title: Purity                                                                                                                     Author: Jackson Pearce

Pages: 218 

Book Description

Publication Date: April 24, 2012

A novel about love, loss, and sex -- but not necessarily in that order.

Before her mother died, Shelby promised three things: to listen to her father, to love as much as possible, and to live without restraint. Those Promises become harder to keep when Shelby's father joins the planning committee for the Princess Ball, an annual dance that ends with a ceremonial vow to live pure lives -- in other words, no "bad behavior," no breaking the rules, and definitely no sex.

Torn between Promises One and Three, Shelby makes a decision -- to exploit a loophole and lose her virginity before taking the vow. But somewhere between failed hookup attempts and helping her dad plan the ball, Shelby starts to understand what her mother really meant, what her father really needs, and who really has the right to her purity.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; 1 edition (April 24, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031618246X
• ISBN-13: 978-0316182461
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 1 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #399,383 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

› Visit Amazon's Jackson Pearce Page

Biography

Jackson Pearce lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with a slightly cross-eyed cat and a lot of secondhand furniture. She recently graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in English and a minor in Philosophy. She auditioned for the circus once, but didn't make it; other jobs she's had include obituaries writer, biker bar waitress, and receptionist. In addition, Jackson coaches both colorguard and winterguard at a local high school.

Jackson began writing when she got angry that the school librarian couldn't tell her of a book that contained a smart girl, horses, baby animals, and magic. Her solution was to write the book herself when she was twelve. Her parents thought it was cute at first, but have grown steadily more concerned for her ever since. Visit Jackson online at www.jacksonpearce.com.

#TranscenderBookTour

Transcender: First-Timer

Mini URL: http://ow.ly/eQNd4 

Tweetvite: http://tweetvite.com/event/Transcender

Join us for a three week tour of Transcender: First-Timer! And then come back and enjoy another three week tour in Jan for book 2!!  And don't forget to enter the wonderful giveaway!

Book Description

Publication Date: August 3, 2012

When a freak lightning storm turns terrifying, Jaden Beckett, a typical Connecticut teenager, is suddenly shifted into a parallel existence where she finds herself a member of the ruling family in a counterpart of America on a strange alternate version of earth--one filled with hidden dangers, political intrigue, remarkable creatures, and forbidden romance.

› Visit Amazon's Vicky Savage Page

Biography

Born and raised at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains, in Salt Lake City, Utah, Vicky Savage became irresistibly enchanted by the lure of the ocean when she attended law school in Florida. She practiced law for several years before taking time off to raise her two children. She lives on the water on the west coast of Florida with her husband, son, and two dogs. Ms. Savage recently completed Book 2 of the Transcender Trilogy, Streaming Stars, which will be released in 2012.

Find Vicky Savage

Website | Twitter | Facebook 

Find Transcender: First-Timer

Amazon Paperback | Amazon Kindle | BN | Smashwords

EVENTS LIST Facebook | Twitter | Google+

Grab the button it will resize

<a href="http://www.crossroadreviews.com/2012/10/when-we-collide-by-al-jackson.html" target="_blank"><img title="Hop" src="http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee393/witchever82/1_black-6-1.jpg" alt="Hops" width="100%" /></a> Follow the Tour

Dec. 17th

Overflowing Bookshelves http://overflowingbookshelves.com

Dec. 18th

Asha Butterflys http://ashabutterflys.blogspot.com

Dec. 19th

The Cover Contessa http://thecovercontessa.blogspot.com/

Broad-Minded Books http://broad-mindedbooks.blogspot.com

Dec. 20th

SnifferWalk http://www.snifferwalk.org

Sweet Southern Home http://sweetsouthernhome.net

Dec. 21st

Aspired Writer http://lynelleclarkaspiredwriter.blogspot.com/

Always a Booklover http://alwaysabooklover.blogspot.com

Dec. 24th

Christine Fonseca, Author http://christinefonseca.blogspot.com
Ashley's Bookshelf http://ashleysbookshelf.blogspot.com

Dec. 26th

Hollow Tours http://hollowtours.blogspot.com

Jenn Renee Read http://jennreneeread.blogspot.com

 Dec. 27th

Reader Girls http://www.readergirlsblog.com

Dec. 28th

WTF are you reading? http://www.wtfareyoureading.com

Dec. 31

Cherie Reads  http://cheriereads.blogspot.com

Ya Book Addict http://youngadultbookaddict.blogspot.com.au

Surrender Promo Tour #SurrenderBookTour

 

Surrender 

by: Rhiannon Paille 

Mini URL for Tour Page: http://ow.ly/eQuah 
Tweetvite: http://tweetvite.com/event/Surrender

Join us for a week long tour of Surrender by Rhiannon Paille!  We will be giving away 2 print copies of this wonder book!

How far would you go to save everything you ever loved?

Kaliel was warned about her love for the Ferryman. One day he will marry the land and leave Avristar forever. She doesn't listen, and because of what she is-- a Flame-- one of nine apocalyptic weapons, she sparks a war. In a desperate attempt to save her home and her love, Kaliel tries to awaken Avred, not knowing she may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

I was never a normal girl. My life was an urban fantasy wrapped in a paranormal romance and served with a side of horror. To escape my everyday weirdness I began writing fantasy. I studied at U of Sedona and MIMT, obtaining a PhD in Metaphysical Science and Parapsychology. I'm married to a chef/comic book shop owner and I have a fondness for architecture. I frequent twitter and facebook, but if you really want to get to know me you should visit my site: www.yafantasyauthor.com

Find Rhiannon Paille

Website | Twitter | Facebook 

Grab the Tour Button

It will resize! 

<a href="http://www.crossroadreviews.com/2012/10/when-we-collide-by-al-jackson.html" target="_blank"><img title="Hop" src="http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee393/witchever82/399138-vlcsnap_00040-1.jpg" alt="Tours" width="100%" /></a> Follow The Tour

Dec. 11

1. K is for Kechell http://kechell-j.blogspot.com

2. JennReneeRead http://www.jennreneeread.blogspot.com

Dec. 12

1. The Cover Contessa http://thecovercontessa.blogspot.com

2. SnifferWalk http://www.snifferwalk.org 

Dec. 13

1. 3PsinaPod http://www.3psinapod.org

2. The BookWorm http://pinkngreenbookworm.blogspot.com

Dec. 14

1. All About YA Novels http://allaboutyanovels.blogspot.com/

2. Reader Girls http://www.readergirlsblog.com

3. YA Book Addict http://youngadultbookaddict.blogspot.com.au/

Dec.15

1. Reads and Thoughts http://karlaamaemaglaoy.wordpress.com/

2. Bossy Book Babes http://bossybookbabes.blogspot.com

Dec. 17

1. Aspired Writer http://lynelleclarkaspiredwriter.blogspot.com/

Dec. 18

1. Broad-Minded Books http://broad-mindedbooks.blogspot.com/

2. Andi's Young Adult Books http://andisyoungadult.blogspot.com

3. Doctor's Notes http://doctorsnotes-shy.blogspot.com

Dec. 19

1. Cherie Reads http://cheriereads.blogspot.com

2. Overflowing Bookshelves http://overflowingbookshelves.com/ 

 3. Crossroad Reviews http://www.crossroadreviews.com

Dec. 20

1. Fiction Predictions http://fictionpredictions.blogspot.com 

Dec. 21

1. Little Library Muse http://littlelibrarymuse.blogspot.com/

2. Hey Wanna See My Indies? http://heywannaseemyindies.blogspot.com

Dec. 24

1. ***QWERTY*** http://zue-leysza.blogspot.com.au/

2. WTF are you reading? http://www.wtfareyoureading.com

In My Mailbox

Welcome to my post for IN MY WITCHBOX!  This weekly (if I get stuff) post is full of books and things that I get in the mail during the week.  If you would like to keep up with what I find at the store etc. follow my Pinterest Board Here Some of these books will end up being given away to you guys!

So these I purchased

These I have received for Reviews and Tours

And these are what I have found at the lovely used bookstores

Two and Twenty Dark Tales

 My Review:

"This one was great! I love anthologies. They are so fun! And with these authors you just couldn't go wrong! Big 5 stars for this one! I love the cover to. Its always intresting to see how they are going to add all the authors names. And this way it's beautiful and doesnt take away from the cover art. Great Job!"

"*I received a copy of this book for free to review, this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own."

Book Description

Publication Date: October 16, 2012

In this anthology, 20 authors explore the dark and hidden meanings behind some of the most beloved Mother Goose nursery rhymes through short story retellings. The dark twists on classic tales range from exploring whether Jack truly fell or if Jill pushed him instead to why Humpty Dumpty, fragile and alone, sat atop so high of a wall. The authors include Nina Berry, Sarwat Chadda, Leigh Fallon, Gretchen McNeil, and Suzanne Young.

I didnt know what to do for the authors so here they are and their links to goodreads.com  by Nina Berry (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Sarwat Chadda, Shannon Delany (Goodreads Author), Max Scialdone, Karen Mahoney (Goodreads Author), Lisa Mantchev (Goodreads Author), Georgia McBride, C. Lee McKenzie (Goodreads Author) , Gretchen McNeil (Goodreads Author), Francisco X. Stork (Goodreads Author) (Foreword), K.M. Walton (Goodreads Author).

"Thanks to Netgalley and Month9Books for the review copy. Sorry it took me so long to get it done!"

Review: Buddy How a Rooster Made Me a Family Man

Title: Buddy How a rooster Made Me a Family Man 

Author: Brian McGrory 

Pages: 311 

Buy Links/BAM/BN 

My Review: 5 Stars

"This book I won via Awareness Pro. I was so excited when it came in the mail. I ended up reading it as soon as it came and then had to stop it. Chapter 6 you will want to have a BIG box of tissues with or near you. It is a very sad chapter. The rest of the book is both funny and great!  It was a great read and dont let that one sad chapter stop you from picking up this wonderful witty, comical book!"

"*I received a copy of this book for free to review, this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own."

Book Description

Release Date: November 13, 2012

Award-winning journalist Brian McGrory goes head to beak in a battle royale with another male for a top-spot in his home, vying for dominance with the family’s pet rooster. 
   Brian McGrory's life changed drastically after the death of his beloved dog, Harry: he fell in love with Pam, Harry's veterinarian. Though Brian’s only responsibility used to be his adored Harry, Pam came with accessories that could not have been more exotic to the city-loving bachelor: a home in suburbia, two young daughters, two dogs, two cats, two rabbits, and a portly, snow white, red-crowned-and-wattled step-rooster named Buddy. While Buddy loves the women of the house, he takes Brian's presence as an affront, doing everything he can to drive out his rival. Initially resistant to elements of his new life and to the loud, aggressive rooster (who stares menacingly, pecks threateningly, and is constantly poised to attack), Brian eventually sees that Buddy shares the kind of extraordinary relationship with Pam and her two girls that he wants for himself. The rooster is what Brian needs to be – strong and content, devoted to what he has rather than what might be missing. As he learns how to live by living with animals, Buddy, Brian’s nemesis, becomes Buddy, Brian’s inspiration, in this inherently human story of love, acceptance, and change.
   In the tradition of bestsellers like Marley and Me, Dewey, and The Tender Bar comes a heartwarming and wise tale of finding love in life’s second chapter - and how it means all the more when you have to fight for it.

Brian McGrory is a longtime newspaper reporter, editor, and columnist. Born and raised in and around Boston, he went to college at Bates College in Maine. He worked for the Patriot Ledger in Quincy, the New Haven Register in Connecticut, and has written for and edited the Boston Globe since 1989. He has a twice weekly column that appears on the front of the metro section, for which he has won the Scripps Howard journalism award, and is the author of four novels. He lives in Massachusetts with his entire family.

"Thanks to Awareness Pro and Crown Publishers for sending me this review copy!"

In My Mailbox

So this post will come up every Friday and will include pictures of all the books I have gotten in the mail this week.  

All books will be added to my Mailbox Board on Pinterest  if you would like to see all of them.

 

Worldsoul

Title: Worldsoul
Author: Liz Williams
Pages: 311
Buy Links/BAM/BN

My Review: 4 Stars

"This one I read in a day. It was a great idea but had some issues.  It was still a great read! I would deff. pick it up and give it a try."

"*I received a copy of this book for free to review, this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own."

Book Description

Publication Date: May 29, 2012

What if being a librarian was the most dangerous job in the world? Worldsoul, a great city that forms a nexus point between Earth and the many dimensions known as the Liminality, is a place where old stories gather, where forgotten legends come to fade and die - or to flourish and rise again. Until recently, Worldsoul has been governed by the Skein, but they have gone missing and no one knows why. The city is also being attacked with lethal flower-bombs from an unknown enemy. Mercy Fane and her fellow Librarians are doing their best to maintain the Library, but...things...keep breaking out of ancient texts and legends are escaping into the city. Mercy must pursue one such dangerous creature. She turns to Shadow, an alchemist, for aid, but Shadow - inadvertently possessed by an ifrit - has a perilous quest of her own to undertake.

"Thanks to O Prime Books for the review copy."