Blog Tour: Out of My Heart by Sharon M. Draper | Giveaway

Welcome to our tour stop for Out of My Heart by Sharon M. Draper hosted by Rockstar Book Tours! This tour includes a giveaway.

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Out of My Heart
(Out of My Mind #2)
Author: Sharon M. Draper
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Graphic Novels
Released: November 9, 2021
Publisher: Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
 

Melody faces her fears to follow her passion in this stunning sequel to the acclaimed, New York Times bestselling middle grade novel Out of My Mind.

Melody, the huge-hearted heroine of Out of My Mind, is a year older, and a year braver. And now with her Medi-talker, she feels nothing’s out of her reach, not even summer camp. There have to be camps for differently-abled kids like her, and she’s going to sleuth one out. A place where she can trek through a forest, fly on a zip line, and even ride on a horse! A place where maybe she really can finally make a real friend, make her own decisions, and even do things on her own—the dream!

By the light of flickering campfires and the power of thunderstorms, through the terror of unexpected creatures in cabins and the first sparkle of a crush, Melody’s about to discover how brave and strong she really is.

Out of My Heart is truly a tearful story of Melony. The story is such a moving tale that shows encouragement and the true meaning of being brave. Camp Green Glades is such a fun place to camp, full of activities for campers. The camp is a place where Melony finds the beauty of being courage. If one can conquer one thing, why not all? Anything is possible if one believe in themselves and Melody was such a sweet heroine to cheer for.

Out of My Heart should be read at schools. It really teaches the value to the readers about encouragement and the power of will. Melony is such a fun and fierce character that we all can learn a thing or two. I personally enjoyed reading the book and even made tear up in couple of scenes. I would recommend this story to everyone!

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Sharon M. Draper is a three-time New York Times bestselling author and a recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards Award honoring her significant and lasting contribution to writing for teens. She has received the Coretta Scott King Award for both Copper Sun and Forged by Fire, and was awarded the Charlotte Huck Award for Stella by Starlight. Her novel Out of My Mind has won multiple awards and was a New York Times bestseller for over three years, and Blended has also been a New York Times bestseller. She taught high school English for twenty-five years and was named National Teacher of the Year. She now lives in Florida. Visit her at SharonDraper.com.

Giveaway Details: 

2 winners will win a finished copy of OUT OF MY HEART, US Only.

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Blog Tour: The Spellspeaker's Prophecy by Anna Abner | Review | Giveaway

Welcome to our stop on The Spellspeaker's Prophecy blog tour. Hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. 

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The Spellspeaker's Prophecy
Beasts of Vegas #2
Author: Anna Abner
Reading Level: Adult Fiction
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Released: April 24, 2018
Review Source: Rockstar Book Tours

Roz Carrera is a witch on the fritz. Thanks to the Coven’s rejection of her application for membership, she’s been denied a proper magical education. Without a mentor, she’s nearly useless in helping her team of vampire hunters. Complicating matters is the hulking shapeshifter she stumbles upon outside Las Vegas who may or may not be a vicious psychopath.

The only creatures shapeshifter Lukas Larsson hates more than vampires are witches. He’s in the Nevada desert to destroy the vampires who murdered his family, but the witch Roz Carrera and her ragtag team sideline him. He can’t allow the very sexy Roz to distract him from his vengeance.

The Spellspeaker’s Prophecy is a fun, action packed read that will keep you wanting more up until the ending. Of one of the major reasons why I wanted to read this book was it had vampires in it. I am a sucker for a vampire novel and all the typically clichés that go along with it. Honestly, The Spellspeaker’s Prophecy surprised me, and I ended up enjoying it a lot more than I thought I would.

Although, I did not read the first book in the series I feel The Spellspeaker’s Prophecy can be read as its own book for numerous reasons. For one it introduces a whole set of new characters. Furthermore, the world building was enough for me to understand the setting of the story without knowing anything from the previous book. It also did not throw a bunch of information at me at once, which helped with the overall flow of the book.

Two of my favorite things about The Spellspeaker’s Prophecy is the character development and the romantic plot of the story. Roz is strong female lead, who kicks some serious butt throughout the novel. She is headstrong, but has trouble trusting people. Sometimes she doesn’t believe in herself the way she should. These flaws carry on into the romantic plot with Lukas. Lukas counteracts her flaws throughout the novel. It is interesting to see how the two interact with each other from the beginning to the end.

Overall, The Spellspeaker’s Prophecy is a solid four star read. It is definitely not for everyone, but if you are looking for a fun read then this is the book for you.

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About Anna:
One of my first memories is dangling over the arm of our living room sofa telling myself a post-apocalyptic survival tale in which my mother and I were the last two people on earth. It was so fun, I never stopped telling stories. In high school, I faked being ill so I could stay home to work on a novel about a nanny who falls in love with her boss’ bad boy nephew.

As an adult I earned a college degree, got married, and had a child, but I never stopped writing. It only got more fun. I wrote through my lunch breaks at work. I wrote on the treadmill at the gym. Eventually, I had dozens of short stories, novellas, and full-length novels piling up on thumb drives and in plastic tubs.

Now, I’m ready to share my stories with you, starting with The Dark Caster Series, the Red Plague Series, and the Beasts of Vegas Series. I hope you love reading them as much as I loved writing them!

I also write LGBT short stories under the name Sadie West. All works available at Amazon, SmashWords, and Barnes and Noble.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube | Tumblr | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads

Tour Schedule:
Week One:
4/16/2018- BookishBookie- Excerpt
4/17/2018- Simply Daniel Radcliffe- Review
4/18/2018- Spilling Words- Excerpt
4/19/2018- Two Chicks on Books- Guest Post
4/20/2018- BookHounds- Interview

Week Two:
4/23/2018- Eating Between the Lines Inc- Spotlight
4/24/2018- Once Upon A Twilight- Review
4/25/2018- Mama Reads Blog- Review
4/26/2018- Becky on Books- Excerpt
4/27/2018- Read. Eat. Love.- Spotlight

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Giveaway Details:
5 winners will receive an eBook of THE SPELLSPEAKER’S PROPHECY, International.

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Blog Tour: Mad Magic by Nicole Conway | Excerpt | Giveaway

Welcome to our stop on Mad Magic tour for Nicole Conway. This tour is hosted by Rockstar Book Tour.

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Mad Magic 
Author: Nicole Conway
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Released: November 14th 2017
Publisher: Month9Books

Mad Magic is a beautifully dark and rich Young Adult fantasy from Nicole Conway, bestselling author of the Dragonrider Chronicles.

Josie Barton is a high school student living in terror. Invisible creatures torment her everywhere she goes, constantly getting her into trouble at school, and even haunting her apartment. But just when Josie thinks things couldn’t get any worse... she meets the guy from across the hall.

Zeph Clemmont is a changeling with enemies in all the worst places, fighting to undo a curse that threatens to end his life. Survival means he will have to swallow his pride and trust Josie with all his darkest secrets.

With the help of a gun-slinging shaman and the enigmatic Prince of Nightmares, Zeph and Josie are only a heartbeat away from defeating one of the most diabolical faerie villains their world has ever known.

Excerpt

I cleared my throat. “What does the faerie language sound like?”

Eldrick’s tense, furrowed brow went slack. His expression became
as serene and blissful as the cool surface of the moon. “Music,” he
breathed the word as though it were ecstasy.

“You mean like the chimes?” I knew that sound well.

He nodded slowly. “Ages ago, some called it the music of the
spheres. Your father possessed an exquisitely intimate knowledge of
spellsongs. He could hear the tones and translate the harmonics into
the human language.” We paused at a corner, letting a few bicyclers
pass on the sidewalk. “To be perfectly frank, I’m impressed he was
able to do such a thing. The details of our language, particularly the
ancient spellsongs that comprise spellwork, are difficult for even an
elder fae to discern. I’ve never seen so many texts about us in the
human language before.”

My head spun with questions as I tried to keep up with Eldrick’s
long strides. “What’s a spellsong? And what does it have to do with
spellwork?”

“A spellsong is, as you described it, the chimes. The use of magic
of any kind has a unique sound. A song, if you will.”

My lips parted—that was why I heard that sound whenever Zeph
or Eldrick worked magic!

“Some are more distinct and obvious than others, usually
depending on their desired effect. But each note, each melody, can be
paired with a unique shape, line, or design—something your father
quite skillfully deciphered.” He stopped at the edge of a crosswalk
and turned to face me. “It isn’t unlike how humans write sheet music.
You need to see the notes in order to understand how a song is made.”
“Do faeries have to write down all their spellwork, too?”
He smiled and opened his other hand. One twist of his wrist, and
a beautifully intricate ring of bright runes appeared. It hovered in the
air above his open hand, glowing softly while the details, designs, and
smaller rings within it moved like the inner mechanisms in a pocket
watch.

My breath caught as the familiar tingle whispered over on my
skin. I heard the soft, whispering of bells in my ear.

Other people were walking and cycling by, passing us on the
sidewalk. But no one else even seemed to notice. It was as though
they couldn’t see it at all. It was just the same as when Lumi had
kidnapped me—they were blind to it.

“Most faeries do not require a knowledge of how a spell is made.
For us, it is innate—comparable to someone who can play by ear
rather than requiring sheet music. But there are instances where we
must know how to read spellwork, such as in the case of learning a
new spell, or performing a ritual that would be otherwise unnatural
to us,” he explained, snapping his hand closed and extinguishing the
spell. “Apparently, your father had begun developing some of his own
spells; a dangerous endeavor for a human. His journals are full of
them.”

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My name is Ashley "Nicole" Conway. I'm originally from North Alabama and attended Auburn University where I earned a BA in English with a concentration in Classics & Mythology. I'm happily married and have one son, Ethan.  I also have a cat, Mr. Darcy, and a dog named Phoebe.

Writing has been a passion of mine since childhood, and to be able to do it as a full-time career is something I take as a great blessing and honor. My heart is in children's literature, specifically middle-grade and young adult fantasy. I'm best known for my MG/YA fantasy series THE DRAGONRIDER CHRONICLES, which is published by Month9Books. The second series, THE DRAGONRIDER LEGACY, just launched this fall!

My other works in include MAD MAGIC (2017), THE DISTANCE BETWEEN STARS (2017), SCALES (tbd), and SHATTERBEAST (tbd).

I am represented by Fran Black of Literary Counsel.

 

1 winner will win a $10 Amazon Gift Card, US Only.

1 winner will win a finished copy of MAD MAGIC, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Week Two:

1/8/2018- Once Upon a Twilight- Excerpt

1/8/2018- Step Into A Book World- Review

1/9/2018- Blushing Bibliophile- Review

1/9/2018- Book-Keeping- Review

1/10/2018- Novel Novice- Guest Post

1/10/2018- Pervy Ladies Books- Review

1/11/2018- My Crea Bookish Kingdom- Review

1/11/2018- The Book Recluse Review- Review

1/12/2018- Owl Always Be Reading- Excerpt

1/12/2018- Abooktropolis- Review

Blog Tour: Fragments of the Lost by Megan Miranda

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Fragments of the Lost
Author: Megan Miranda
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Released: November 14th 2017
Review Source: Crown Books for Young Readers

From the New York Times bestselling author of All the Missing Girls and The Perfect Stranger comes a suspenseful psychological mystery about one girl's search to uncover the truth behind her ex-boyfriend's death. Perfect for fans of We Were Liars and 13 Reasons Why .

Jessa Whitworth knew she didn't belong in her ex-boyfriend Caleb's room. But she couldn't deny that she was everywhere--in his photos, his neatly folded T-shirts, even the butterfly necklace in his jeans pocket . . . the one she gave him for safe keeping on that day.

His mother asked her to pack up his things--even though she blames Jessa for his accident. How could she say no? And maybe, just maybe, it will help her work through the guilt she feels about their final moments together.

But as Jessa begins to box up the pieces of Caleb's life, they trigger memories that make Jessa realize their past relationship may not be exactly as she remembered. And she starts to question whether she really knew Caleb at all.

Each fragment of his life reveals a new clue that propels Jessa to search for the truth about Caleb's accident. What really happened on the storm-swept bridge?

Fragments of the Lost was an interesting read but not something I was expecting. I love mystery and thrillers so when I read the synopsis of this book, I thought why not. Although the story was good, I honestly think it was too slow for my liking. Nevertheless, I liked how the story wrap up. 

As the story begin, we learn that Caleb was in an accident and Jessa, his ex-girlfriend, wants to learn the truth of this accident. She think she is missing something and she cannot live at peace without getting this resolved. As you continue reading, each chapter will focus on Caleb's room. That is where Jessa spend her time. The more she dig in his room, the more questions she begins to come up with. She's as clueless as day one. Her guilt is killing her. I wasn't sure why she felt guilty, as again, they had broken up. But that's when the story starts to pick up.  

Although, Fragments of the Lost wasn't really a mystery or thriller story for me, I like having Jessa as the main character. She wasn't the type to give up easily. When her mind was set, she was focus until she got her answers. I really liked the aspect of whenever Jessa would find an object in Caleb's room, it would struck a memory. I liked how it told the story before and after. Also, it tells you why she cared for him. However, no matter how many story Jessa is reminded of, it feels like she is in a zombie mode. Like there is no expression or emotion from her after he died. It's like she also died along him.

Overall, I liked Fragments of the Lost but it was slow built for my liking. The story started to pick up right at the very end, which didn't give me much room to love the story as I hope I would. Needless to say, I still enjoyed Jessa and her determination. It was an interesting story with some twists and turns. Just not what I was expecting it to be.

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Megan Miranda is the New York Times bestselling author of All the Missing Girls. She has also written several books for young adults, including Fracture, Hysteria, Vengeance, Soulprint, and The Safest Lies.

She grew up in New Jersey, graduated from MIT, and lives in North Carolina with her husband and two children. The Perfect Stranger (4/11/17) is her second novel of psychological suspense. 

Giveaway:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of FRAGMENTS OF THE LOST, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week Two:

11/6/2017- Once Upon a Twilight- Review

11/7/2017- LILbooKlovers- Interview

11/8/2017- Book-Keeping- Review

11/9/2017- Pink Polka Dot Books-Review

11/10/2017- Confessions of a YA Reader- Review

Blog Tour: Sticker Girl Rules The School Assets by Janet Tashijan + Giveaway

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Sticker Girl Rules The School Assets
Author: Janet Tashijan
Reading Level: Childrens
Genre: Fiction
Released: October 10th 2017
Review Source: Henry Holt & Company

Jump into Book 2 of this magical middle grade adventure series with Sticker Girl Martina Rivera!

A Chipmunk Ballerina. A Treasure Chest Full of Jewels. A Zombie DJ. These are just a few of the many stickers ready to be peeled off Martina Rivera's new sticker sheet and come to life in Book 2 of the Sticker Girl series, Sticker Girl Rules the School. With a newfound confidence in hand, Martina is thinking about running for student council. Of course, her rambunctious sticker sidekick Craig―a talking cupcake―thinks this is a great idea and volunteers her to run for class president. As Martina soon discovers, running a campaign is a piece of cake compared to organizing a class trip and managing a horde of unruly stickers determined to create chaos within her group of friends. A magical new adventure awaits with Sticker Girl!

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Janet Tashjian is a middle-grade and young adult novelist who’s been writing books for children for fifteen years. Her first novel Tru Confessions was made into a critically acclaimed Disney TV movie starring Clara Bryant and Shia LaBeouf. The Gospel According to Larry is a cult favorite and Fault Line is taught in many middle and high schools. Her novels My Life As a Book, My Life As a Stuntboy, and My Life As a Cartoonist are all illustrated by her teenage son, Jake. Their collaboration continues with My Life As a Ninja coming April of 2017.

Janet lives with her family in Los Angeles, enjoying her respite from the long Boston winters. When she isn’t writing, she’s rewriting. Learn more about her and all her books at JanetTashjian.com!

Janet has been doing school visits for fifteen years; you can email her at spatulaproductions@mac.com for details.

Giveaway:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of STICKER GIRL RULES THE SCHOOL, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

10/2/2017- Once Upon a Twilight- Excerpt

10/3/2017- BookHounds YA- Review

10/4/2017- Rainy Day Reviews- Guest Post

10/5/2017- Little Red Reads- Review

10/6/2017- Margie's Must Reads- Spotlight

Week Two:

10/9/2017- The Layaway Dragon- Review

10/10/2017- Paulette's Papers- Excerpt

10/11/2017- CGB Blog Tours- Review

10/12/2017- Daily Waffle- Interview

10/13/2017- Nish Homeschool Blog- Review

Blog Tour: Sparks Of Light by Janet B. Taylor | Interview | Giveaway

 
Welcome to our stop on the Sparks Of Light tour for Janet B. Taylor. This tour is hosted by Rockstar Book Tours.

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Sparks Of Light
Author: Janet B. Taylor
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre:  Fantasy
Released: August 1 2017
Review Source: Houghton Mifflin

For the first time in her life, Hope Walton has friends . . . and a (maybe) boyfriend. She’s a Viator, a member of a long line of time-traveling ancestors. When the Viators learn of a plan to steal a dangerous device from the inventor Nikola Tesla, only a race into the past can save the natural timeline from utter destruction. Navigating the glitterati of The Gilded Age in 1895 New York City, Hope and her crew will discover that high society can be as deadly as it is beautiful.

• What are some quirks you have that get you in the mind set for writing?
o Well, I guess my biggest quirk is that I do my best writing at the ‘buttcrack’ of dawn. I generally get up around 3am, choke down a cup of coffee, and just start rolling. That’s just when my mind is alive and clicking. (Of course, I’m ready for bed at 8pm, like an eighty-year old….) Don’t worry, though. On the weekends, I relax, and don’t get up till around 4:30!!

• What were your biggest challenges in writing Sparks Of Light?
o I think my biggest challenges for Sparks was making sure all the threads I started in ‘Into The Dim’ carried through in ‘Sparks.’
o That, and forcing myself off Pinterest, where I would spend hours gazing at all the gorgeous Victorian dresses. OHHH… those gowns!

• Were any of the characters inspired by people in real life?
o All of the historical characters we meet in Sparks Of Light were real people. JJ Astor. William K Vanderbilt. And, of course, the fascinating Nikola Tesla. o But the person who inspired me most was Consuelo Vanderbilt. She was eighteen in 1895, and was married off against her wishes to the Duke of Marlborough, when she was in love with another young man. Her mother, Alva Vanderbilt, was a tyrant, who constantly abused “Connie”—beatings, isolation, and body-shaming. Alva forced her daughter into near-starvation to ‘keep her figure.’
o The marriage with Marlborough lasted twenty-two years, though Consuelo was unhappy the entire time. Besides being incredibly beautiful, she was also kind, progressive, and worked all her life to help underprivileged women and children.
o I’ve tucked back plans to write an entire novel about her one day.

• What is your favorite scene in Sparks Of Light?
o Wow! That’s always a difficult question! But I think I’d have to say the scene where Hope is in the Victorian insane asylum, strapped to a cold surgical table, as the doctor prepares to perform a lobotomy on her.
o The HARDEST to write was near the end. And I won’t tell you what happens, but I WILL tell you I was bawling so hard while writing it, my son saw me and ran to get my husband, telling him, “Come quick! Something’s wrong with Mom!!”

• Do you incorporate yourself into your characters? If so which character are you most like?
o I think every writer puts a little bit of herself into all her primary characters. In many ways, I’m like Hope—just not the good parts. I don’t have her brains, but I AM clumsy as heck. I’m always covered in mysterious bruises, and if there’s a grain of sand on the sidewalk…I’ll trip over it. As for personality, I’m a lot more like Phoebe. Hippity, hoppitydisgustingly cheerful most of the time!

• What is an unknown fact about Sparks Of Light?
o There was a really funny scene, early on in the editing process that involved Mark Twain, electricity, and a pair of ruined white pants. Mark Twain and Nikola Tesla were real life bff’s! And the story is a true one that my editor loved, but thought didn’t go with the ‘tone,’ really well. It really happened, though…..Look it up under, “Nikola Tesla makes Mark Twain poop his pants!”

• Describe your book in 5 words.
o Darker
o Friendship
o Victorian Glamour (can I count that as one?)
o Racism
o Loyalty

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The 2013 winner of the coveted #PitchWars, Janet B Taylor, has four years' experience writing web content for a major television network fan site (CBS) that garners over a hundred thousand hits a day. Janet travels extensively to those places where her novels are set, often roaming around at night to commune with the famous historical figures about which she loves to write. She is a member of several writing organizations, including the SCBWI and the Historical Novel Society, and lives in a tiny town in Arkansas with her family.

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Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of SPARKS OF LIGHT, US only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Tour Schedule: Week One:
7/24/2017- a GREAT read- Review
7/25/2017- Lisa Loves Literature- Review
7/26/2017- YA and Wine- Guest Post
7/27/2017- Ex Libris- Review
7/28/2017- Once Upon A Twilight- Interview

Week Two:
7/31/2017- Seeing Double In Neverland- Interview
8/1/2017- Adventures of a Book Junkie- Interview
8/2/2017- History from a Woman's Perspective- Review
8/3/2017- Two Chicks on Books- Interview
8/4/2017- The Bucket List- Review