A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest Review

Book: A Shade of  Vampire
Author: Bella Forrest
Pages: 143
1st in a series 
Received this book from author for an honest review
ADD to Goodreads

5/5 Stars

*Note: I think this book is appropriate for anyone 16+*

Review:

"A Shade of Vampire was a good quick read that had me gripped from the first page!"

A Shade of Vampire is written from the perspective of seventeen year old human, Sofia Claremont and vampire Derek Novak in alternating chapters. On Sofia's seventeenth birthday she is abducted by Lucas Novak, Derek Novak's brother to be part of a Harem in the Blood Shade.  The Blood Shade is a fantastic world that the vampires have created with the help of a witch to protect the vampires  from hunters and humans. Humans do not know vampire's exist or that the Blood Shade exists. The world author Bella Forrest has created is an amazing unique world that I haven't come across before.

Derek Novak was put under a spell hundreds of years ago to sleep forever as he didn't want to rule over The Blood Shade however he is awakened from his sleep, as now is the time he must fulfil his role as the prophecy says. One that he is not pleased about! Sophia is put forward as one of the girls in Derek's new Harem. Derek has an instance connection with Sophia, he sees her different from all the other girls. From there, there is twists and turns in their relationship,  with both fighting with who they are as people.

One thing I liked about A Shade of Vampire is the vampires are your typical vampires, no sparkling in the sun vampires, proper beautiful and Strong yet scary vampires who have harems of women and men and use them as blood banks.

There are also great  secondary characters in A Shade of Vampire. We have Derek's, evil brother Lucas, who wants Sophia for himself, Corrine, the witch who doesn't like what the vampires do but has a loyalty to them and Ben, Sophia's human friend who she cares for deeply.

Overall A Shade of Vampire was a good quick read, with a good storyline, a great world and a romance I was cheering for. I can't wait to see what happens to Sophia and Derek next!

Excerpt from A Shade of Vampire

I’d been meandering along the shore for about an hour when I suddenly sensed that I wasn’t alone. Someone was approaching me from behind. My heart leapt. I was so sure it was Ben, that when a stranger showed up beside me, I couldn’t hide my disappointment.

He must have noticed, because a smirk formed on his lips. “Were you expecting someone else, love?”

I eyed him suspiciously, remembering how many times my father had told me not to talk to strangers. I looked him over, taking in his appearance. My eyes widened. I couldn’t find words to describe how fine a man he was. He was almost beautiful. The first thing I took notice of was how his blue eyes were about three shades brighter than any I’d ever seen before. It was such a stark contrast to his pale – almost white – skin and dark hair. Standing beside me, he was easily more than half a foot taller. His height, broad shoulders and lean build reminded me of Ben, but he had a presence that was far more imposing than my best friend’s.

My gaze settled on his face.

I realized that he was inspecting me just as closely as I was him. His eyes on me suddenly made me feel uncomfortably vulnerable. I gave my father’s advice a second thought, but quickly canceled out all notions of heeding to his counsel when I reminded myself that he stopped caring a long time ago.

I straightened to my full height and mustered all the courage I had to keep myself from running away from this stranger.

Big mistake.

The confident smirk didn’t leave his face for even a moment.

“Like what you see?”

“A bit full of yourself, aren’t you?” I scoffed, annoyed by his audacity.

He stepped forward, closer to me, and leaned his head toward mine.

“Don’t I have the right to be?”

He knew he looked good and wasn’t about to act like he didn’t.

“Whatever,” was my oh-so-brilliant comeback.

My shoulders sagged with defeat as I took a step back, unsettled by how close he was now. I rolled my eyes and did a one-eighty, not quite in the mood to play whatever game this stranger was proposing.

I would soon realize that I was about to play his game whether I liked it or not.

He grabbed my arm and turned my body to face him. This motion alone made every single internal alarm I had within me go off in a frenzy.

This man was danger and I knew it. I tried to wriggle away from his touch, but I was no match for his strength.

“Tell me your name,” he commanded.

I was about to refuse, but was horrified to find myself blurting out my name in response.

“Sofia Claremont.”

As soon as I revealed my name, his eyes lit up with a kind of sinister approval. Then he reached for my face and traced his thumb over my jaw line.

“Hello, Sofia Claremont. You’re one stupid girl for taking a walk alone at this time of night. You never know what kind of evil a pretty little thing like you could happen to come by.”

I found myself wondering exactly what kind of evil he was. But I was suddenly overcome by the sensations that were surrounding me. My senses took in everything at once. I heard the waves, felt the sand, smelled the ocean salt, tasted the flavor of cherry and saw the stranger’s manic appearance as he stuck a needle to my neck. The effect was instant. I was barely able to gasp, much less scream. I went from sensing everything to sensing absolutely nothing.

My last conscious thought was that I may never see Ben again.

 

 

A Shade of Vampire available now from Amazon:

USA paperback
USA ebook


UK, paperback
UK, ebook


Connect with Bella:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ashadeofvampire

Twitter: www.twitter.com/AShadeOfVampire

Sign up for personal updates: www.forrestbooks.com



Interview: Colleen Boyd

The Author: Colleen Boyd

Born in Illinois on October 23rd, 1991. The family moved to Kansas when I was four, and I’ve been living here ever since. I attend Knox College, where I’m studying to earn a degree in English—Creative Writing. If I have the time, I’m going to try to double major with a Studio Arts degree. I’m the eldest of three girls in a family of five; Mom, Dad, and us. There is also Mollie, our dog, half poodle and half schnauzer and completely adorable. The rest of my family consists of my mother’s parents, my aunt on my mother’s side, her husband, and my two younger cousins. On my father’s side is his mother, her beau, and his sister and her husband.


I was diagnosed with a mild form of autism when I was nine. Since it’s mild, I don’t have most of the difficulties I could, but it still took a lot of therapy and discipline to get to how I am today. Can be awkward around people and be overly blunt and sarcastic, not to mention I have to constantly watch my tone of voice, but for the most part I like to think myself as smart, witty, and a generally nice person and friend.

As for personal interests, other then writing, I like making art, reading, surfing the Internet, video games, an occasional shopping spree, and music; genre of choice is rock . Not a big sports fan, but I do like baseball and skiing, and I try to work out every day to stay in good shape. My favorite foods are pickles, cereal, pasta, pork, and numerous sweets; being somewhat of a picky eater there are many foods I don’t like as well.

Writing


It was always something I was good at. When I was younger, I wanted to be an artist when I grew up: making things with whatever you could think up was a magic to me, even now. Throughout school, though, we were taught how to write and make arguments in English class. Such papers I found boring (and still do), but when applied to what Iwanted to write—stories—I found it highly enjoyable.

The Book -The Swamp Angel


The inspiration came from, of all things, a measly song title. I started writing SA a week before my seventeeth birthday. I had recently bought a music CD, The Black Swan, by the band Story of the Year. One song that stood out was called ‘Angel in the Swamp’. The lyrics itself seem to speak of abuse, but instead I rolled the title over in my head and asked myself, ‘What would a swamp angel look like?’ The story took off from there.

Blurb:

Rylan Forester just can't shake the feeling he's being followed, and the dreams he's been having aren't helping either, dreams of a green horned monster kissing him by the swamp behind his house. They're the last thing he needs in his life right now anyway, with his distant father, his best friend crushing on him, the school bully after his hide, and a greedy land developer after his family's property. But after a almost tragic accident, Rylan's world is turned upside-down with one important discovery: the monster's real, and she needs his help. Drawn into her world, what starts as simple friendship has the chance to become something greater. But trouble isn't far behind, and between past memories and present problems, it's going to take all of Rylan's efforts to keep his new friend safe.

 

How does it feel to be releasing your debut novel in 2013?

It feels great. Just hoping the 13 doesn’t cause any bad luck when it comes to sales or reviews!

Why should we pick up Swamp Angel when it releases?

It’s something new. Maybe I’m being too bold saying that, as that’s what most authors say about their work, but I think it really is new. This isn’t like vampires or werewolves or demons and angels; it’s an original creature with its own ways of affecting the world, both the physical world and the worldview of the protagonist Rylan.

Some Bookie Questions

Favourite YA book and why?

I have no single favorite YA book; it’s just too hard to narrow down on one when there’s so much good literature out there. Some of my all time choices are Candy by Kevin Brooks, Love Cajun Style by Diane Les Becquets, Love and Other 4-Letter Words by Carolyn Mackler, Guitar Highway Rose by Brigid Lowry, The House on Fallling Star Hill by Michael Molloy, and The Wolf by Steven Herrick.

Favourite YA author and why?

This is a bit easier. I love Kevin Brook’s stuff; it’s lyrical and thought-driven with fantastic characters and it’s just so well-written. Steven Herrick’s books are also lyrical considering they’re written in poetry format, but are still able to tell an amazing story. Some other good authors are Mary Hogan (laughably funny and sweet) and Barry Lyga (doesn’t shy away from tough subjects and writes with a frank truthfulness to his characters).

Debut author/ upcoming author we should check out?

Other than me? (laughs). I recommend any author coming out under my publisher Spencer Hill Press. They’re new, and a lot of their authors, like me, are debuting work for the first time.

Favourite 2012 read and why?

It’s not YA, but Perdido Street Station by China Mieville. It was assigned reading for a English class I took this fall, but it was amazing, with the storyline and the writing style and the animal-like races. It was like I was reading a sci-fi/fantasy film aloud (and picture it in my head), and I seriously am going to hit the library
and read more of Mieville’s work.

A Book series you love and why?

Harry Potter hands down. It’s what really got me into reading, and into writing of a sorts. I love it because it’s just so good: the world is well structured, the characters are believable and lovable, and it is the right balance of entertainment and wisdom; something I strive for in my own writing.

Check out Colleen’s blog and “like” The Swamp Angel on Facebook

The Swamp Angel  releases December 2013 via Spencer Hill Press

Reading Away The Days Blog Tours- 4 new YA blog tours to sign up for!

Four new YA blog tours you may be interested in :)
 

Born Into Flames ( Born Into Flames Trilogy #1)
Series: 1st book in Born Into Flames Trilogy
Author: Candace Knoebel
YA Fantasy Parnormal
22ND-28TH April
SIGN UP HERE: http://readingawaythedaysblogtours.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/born-in-flames-born-in-flames-trilogy-1.html

 

Into the Spiral (Spiral Defenders #1)
Author: Erin Danzer
YA scifi
13th-19th May 2013
SIGN UP HERE: http://readingawaythedaysblogtours.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/into-spiral-spiral-defenders-1-by-erin.html
 

 

Nissa
Author: Bethany Lopez
Standalone book
YA Contemp Fantasy
13th-26th May 2013
SIGN UP HERE: http://readingawaythedaysblogtours.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/nissa-by-bethany-lopez-blog-tour-sign-up.html

 

Afterlife Academy
Author: Jaimie Admans
Standalone novel
YA Paranormal Romance
10th-19th May 2013
SIGN UP HERE: http://readingawaythedaysblogtours.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/afterlife-academy-by-jaimie-admans-tour.html

Interview: Elizabeth Langston (2013 debut author)

Today we have author Elizabeth Langston on the blog. Elizabeth releases her debut YA novel this Fall though Spencer Hill Press! Enjoy the interview and let me know your thoughts on Whisper Falls!

The Author: Elizabeth Langston

I live in the southeastern part of the United States, a two-hour drive from both the North Carolina beaches and the Appalachian Mountains. I have two daughters (21 and 17), one husband (a geek like me), and zero pets (too many allergies.) My family loves to travel, watch movies, and argue over which restaurant gets our business that night.

I’ve spent my entire working career in the computer industry—writing software, not stories. My interest in fiction came more recently; I waited until my younger daughter entered kindergarten to start my first novel.

　
Writing

Many of my author-friends discovered writing in school. Not me. I was all about math and computer science. However, I didn’t mind writing—at least, not as much as the average geek—and found myself editing a lot of content for work-friends.

Then, a few years ago, I submitted an original article to a technical journal. Not only did they buy it, they also told me that I had "great diction and a distinctive voice." Insane as it sounds, I translated that feedback into "write a novel."

My first two books were awful, more like instruction manuals than romances, but I didn’t give up. I studied craft and kept writing until I got my own happily-ever-after: a contract to publish Whisper Falls.


The Book: Whisper Falls

About/inspiration

How am I going to keep this answer to a manageable length?

The concept burrowed into my subconscious during a Twilight Zone festival. I loved everything about the episode "A Message From Charity" except the ending, which made me crazy. The story haunted me with What-if’s.

In a separate (but intersecting) plane, I researched the colonial and federal periods of America with a plan to write a "pure" YA historical. Then I uncovered some material on indentured servants. My brain flooded with possibilities. Susanna took over for Charity. North Carolina in 1796 took over as the setting.

I put my hands on the keyboard, and the story just leapt from my fingers.

Whisper Falls Blurb:  

 

While training for a mountain bike race, high-school senior Mark Lewis spots a mysterious girl dressed in odd clothing, standing behind a waterfall in the woods near his North Carolina home. When she comments on the strange machine that he rides, he suspects something isn't right. When Susanna claims to be an indentured servant from 1796, he wonders if she's crazy. Yet he feels compelled to find out more.

Mark enters a 'long-distance' relationship with Susanna through the shimmering and temperamental barrier of Whisper Falls. Curious about her world, Mark searches through history to learn about the brutal life she's trapped in. But knowledge can be dangerous. Soon he must choose between the risk of changing history—or dooming the girl he can't stop thinking about to a lifetime of misery.

 

Add to Goodreads

Add to your wishlist at B & N

How does it feel to be releasing your debut novel, Whisper Falls, Fall 2013?

Wonderful, surreal, and humbling.

　
Your secret vice is dance reality shows. If your protagonists Mark and Susanna were to dance together, which dance would they do and to which song?

Viennese Waltz to "You and Me" by Lifehouse.

Susanna would adore the waltz for its blend of elegance and romance. Mark would be happy that the dance has serious body contact and absolute clarity about who’s in charge.

　
Why should we pick up Whisper Falls when it releases, fall 2013?

I struggled with how to answer this question until a few days ago. I was out on an errand when, out of the blue, my teen daughter said, "You know what my favorite line is from Whisper Falls? It’s when Susanna says…"

And there is the reason. Mark and Susanna stay with you. What they go through is intense. How they deal with it lingers past The End. That’s why you should pick up this book. Individually, Mark and Susanna are great characters. Together, they’re amazing.

　

Bookie Questions:

Favourite genre and why?

Magical realism—the genre I write in.

There’s something alluring about keeping a character in his ordinary, boring world while forcing him to accept a secret, supernatural twist. I could read (or watch) more magical realism stories than I can find.

That’s why I’m so glad my agent found Spencer Hill Press. Big publishers like to buy books with paranormal creatures, and I have none in Whisper Falls. Happily, Spencer Hill is open to books with all kinds of supernatural elements.


Favourite YA author and why?

Megan Whalen Turner. Her voice is lovely and spare. I "read" my first Attolia novel on an audio book. The words poured over me like music. The book had everything: characters with depth, a suspenseful plot, and a romance so subtly written that it had me in its grip before I noticed.

　

Debut author/ upcoming author we should check out?

Katie McGarry. Her debut, Pushing the Limits, came out in 2012. It’s a raw, honest YA contemporary.

Favourite 2012 read and why?

I know a lot of authors. I like them all and I want to stay friends. So instead of revealing my favourite, I’ll tell you my most memorable read (by someone I’ve never met), which is The Iron King by Julie Kagawa. (It released in 2011, but I didn’t read it until 2012.)

Paranormal is my "cilantro" genre; I really don’t want any, but I get why other people do. It’s odd that I picked up The Iron King at all, but I couldn’t put it down until I finished.

A book series you love and why?

Lois Lowry’s The Giver. It affected me deeply, perhaps more as an author than a reader. That series gave me permission not only to step outside existing boundaries—but to invent my own. Book 4, Son, came out in 2012, twenty years after Book 1. That’s quite a feat.

Stalk the author:
 
Website  Blog Facebook

Twitter: @langstonetc

   



　

　

　

　

　

Beyond the Eyes blog tour: Guest Post: Top 5 heros and heroines in YA & Giveaway

 

Today is the last stop on the Beyond The Eyes Blog Tour. I have a guest post for you from author Rebekkah Ford on her top 5 heros and heroines of the YA genre and an awesome giveaway where you could win a $15 Amazon Giftcard and a signed copy of Beyond  the eyes!

 

My Heros/Heroines in The YA Genre

 

Out of all the YA books I’ve read, I only have a few I consider as heros or heroines. I’m sure there are more; however, the following are the ones screaming at me right now, demanding to be mentioned.

The first one is Junco in J.A. Huss’ I Am Just Junco series. Junco is a foul-mouth teenager, who is badass. She’s been programmed at a young age to fight and kill. She knows how to kick ass and exterminate a life with her own bare hands, but she also has a heart and is extremely loyal to the people she loves. Sure, she cusses like a sailor, but did you know, people who have a potty-mouth are the most trustworthy? It’s true. And Junco is an honorable character.

The second one is Katniss in The Hunger Games. She’s tough and knows how to survive off the land. She also has common sense and is able to keep a clear head in the most volatile situations. She’s a fighter who would do battle in the most extreme conditions for the people she loves and her beliefs.

The third is Noah in The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. I love Noah. He’s great.
He has an air about him that shouts arrogance, but really he’s an intelligent guy who will do everything he can for the girl he loves. Need I say more?

Last, but certainly not least, there’s Nathan from my Beyond the Eyes series. Nathan is no ordinary guy. He’s a tracker. He tracks dark spirits and is one of the best. He can be just as ruthless as the dark spirits and doesn’t have a problem torturing them if the situation warrants it. He’s intelligent and knows about magic. Through magic, he has created his own incantations to use on the dark spirits that packs an extreme, agonizing punch compared to the normal invocations used by others on malevolent entities. It’s used to cast them out of humans, and Nathan’s organic enchantments prolong their suffering. Nathan also knows how to fight and would walk through hell and do battle against any wretched soul crossing his path, in order to save Paige. He’s definitely a fighter. Before he met Paige, his main objective was to be a thorn in the dark spirits’ side, to protect humanity from them. He was born and raised on a farm in the Midwest and has those Midwestern values. But if you cross him, watch out. He’ll never trust you again and might make your life a living hell.

The above heroines and heros know how to handle themselves and can be callous, but yet they also have a heart and would do anything for the ones they love. To me, those qualities are admirable, and I always look forward to reacquainting myself with the above characters because I can’t seem to get enough of them.

Beyond the Eyes by Rebekkah Ford

Paige knows evil exists in this world, but she never imagined it would want something from her.
After a ghostly voice whispers a haunting message to seventeen-year-old Paige Reed, Paige’s life takes a nightmarish turn. Unwilling to tell her friends about the supernatural occurrences happening in her life, Paige feels more alone than ever–until she meets Nathan Caswell.

Nathan is not only hot, but seems to peer into Paige’s soul, evoking a magnetic energy between them that cannot be denied. But he’s no ordinary guy. He tracks dark spirits, and becomes alarmed when they set their sights on Paige.

And then there are the two power-hungry dark spirits who believe Paige can find King Solomon’s magical ring for them, because when her father was alive, he was close to finding it. If Paige doesn’t comply with their demands, they’ll kill her.

Paige is forced to dig deep into her father’s past and unearths shocking secrets about him and his bloodline. With the past and present colliding, Paige is only sure about two things in her life: she needs to outwit the dark spirits to stay alive, and she’s completely and helplessly in love with Nathan.

Buy Beyond the Eyes:

Amazon
Smashwords
Barnes & Noble

Stalk the author

http://themusingwriter.blogspot.com
http://www.Facebook.com/RebekkahFord2012
Twitter: RebekkahFord
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First Frost Blog Tour: Character Interview & Giveaway

Today is my stop on the First Frost blog tour and it just happens to be author Liz De Jesus's birthday!

A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

And because it is Liz's birthday I have a great giveaway for you along with a character interview  you main character Bianca Frost! Enjoy the interview and don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Thank you for coming to chat with us today. Why do you think Liz DeJesus choose you to represent her?

Thanks for having me. J I like Liz, she laughs at my jokes and believed me when I told her that there was an evil witch trying to kill me and my mom. I don't know about you but that makes for a friendship that will last forever.

Tell us a little about yourself?

My name is Bianca Frost. I’m seventeen years old. I work part time at the Museum of Magical and Rare Artifacts with my parents and I recently discovered that I’m a witch. Yeah….that is still taking me some time to get used to. And here’s the kicker…my great-great-great grandmother was Snow White. As in THE Snow White. Yeah…still trying to get used to that too.

　

What is your birth date?

I’d rather not say. I’m not into surprise parties or anything like that, besides, we just met and I don’t know your birthday.

What music do you listen too?

I listen to Imogen Heap, Evanescence, Linkin Park, Eisley, Green Day and other bands. My tastes are all over the map.

Will we be seeing more of you or are you stepping out of the lime light?

You’ll definitely be seeing more of me. I know for a fact that Liz is working on another story I told her about my return to Everafter. I got to spend some time with Terrance and his parents… which was a little awkward. And then there was the whole thing about Cinderella’s glass slippers and Rebekah the Frog Queen. So yeah, you’ll definitely get a chance to read what happened to me in the next book.


　
What is your perfect evening?

A bag of chips, a two liter bottle of soda, and a marathon of Glee, 30 Rock or Community. I have a serious crush on Donald Glover; he’s so cute and funny. Oh yeah, and NOT having a giant fireball thrown at me by an evil witch. That’s always nice for a change.

What do you do to relax?

I draw. Read. Or stare off into space and do absolutely nothing.


What really pushes your buttons?

Reality shows. God, I hate them so much. I’d rather watch something that makes me laugh.

What’s your favorite sports team?

What about the Man/Woman on the cover is that a fair representation of you?

What’s your biggest turn ons?

Terrance. J

　

　
What are your biggest turn offs?

Evil witches that are trying to kill me.


What your favorite Ice cream flavor, Chocolate, Vanilla, or Strawberry?

Chocolate, obviously.

Do you believe in ghosts?

Yes. I had a very strange encounter with Blue Beard’s wives once. They were very angry and with good reason. I also believe in aliens and reincarnation.

What is your biggest fear?

Losing my family and my friends. Lose everyone I love, that’s the thing that scares me the most. Or that someone got physically hurt because of me.

Why should the readers be interested in your story?

It has everything: fairy tales, witches, magic, action, romance and smart ass remarks by yours truly.

Blurb:

Fairy tales aren’t real…yeah…that’s exactly what Bianca thought. She was wrong.

For generations, the Frost family has run the Museum of Magical and Rare Artifacts, handing down guardianship from mother to daughter, always keeping their secrets to “family only.”

Gathered within museum’s walls is a collection dedicated to the Grimm fairy tales and to the rare items the family has acquired: Cinderella’s glass slipper, Snow White’s poisoned apple, the evil queen’s magic mirror, Sleeping Beauty’s enchanted spinning wheel…

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Frost wants none of it, dreaming instead of a career in art or photography or…well, anything except working in the family’s museum. She knows the items in the glass display cases are fakes because, of course, magic doesn't really exist.

She’s about to find out how wrong she is.

 

Buy First Frost:

 

Musa Publishing

Amazon

B & N

 

Stalk the author:

 

Facebook

Twitter

Website

 

 

 

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YA Feature: Interview with 2013 debut author, Keshia Swaim!

 

This week we have author Keshia Swain on Reading Away The Days. Keshia releases her debut novel Bloodbound in September 2013. Enjoy the interview and let me know what your thoughts on Bloodbound!

 

 

The Author: Keshia Swaim


 I’m that small-town girl who always had her nose in a book and her head in the clouds. In college, I studied history and modern literature, because I love them, not because I thought I’d ever be able to use them. J Straight out of college, I married the man of my dreams, and we currently have one son, who takes up all of my non-writing hours.


Writing 


I’ve always been an obsessive reader, and somewhere along the way I started making up my own story lines. In college, I did have a creative writing professor who encouraged me to seek publication, but it was just a dream for me, until my mother found a short-story contest, and wouldn’t quit bugging me until I entered it.


The Book: Bloodbound About/inspiration  


Blood Bound is actually the result of that fateful writing contest. My first short story, “Family Ties,” was published in the anthology, UnCONventional. It received such a positive response from readers that Kate Kaynak, my editor, encouraged me to turn it into a full length book, and so Blood Bound was born.


How does it feel to be releasing your debut novel, Bloodbound, September 2013?


You know that childhood dream that seems a million miles away once you “grow up.” Imagine it coming true, because that’s exactly what this is. Even though I always thought of it as a distant dream, I’ve never seriously wanted to do anything else.


If you could encourage anyone to pick up Bloodbound when it releases in September 2013, what would you say?  


DO IT! No, seriously, I tried to pour everything I love about great books into Blood Bound. So, if you’re looking for something with love, heartache, friendship, danger, and magic, you will enjoy it.



　
Bookie Questions:


Favourite genre and why?

YA fantasy. I love YA because the characters are always on the verge of discovery, and their personalities form right on the page. And I have a strong preference for fantasy because literally anything can happen. I (usually) live in reality, so when I pick up a book, I want to go somewhere else for a while.

Favourite YA author and why?  

Oh, goodness. That changes a lot. Currently, I’m a huge fan of Kiersten White’s Paranormalcy series, because, not only does it have a unique story, but it’s good, clean fun, and I really respect that. I also credit Tamora Pierce for getting me hooked on YA fantasy in the first place. I could go on and on, but I’d better stop here.

Debut author/ upcoming author we should check out?

Another tough one. On my publication journey, I’ve gotten to know several upcoming authors who are all great. I will say that I had the pleasure of receiving an advanced copy of Kelly Hashway’s YA debut, Touch of Death, which released in January, and I loved every page. (Check out my 5* review of Touch of Death) I also have to mention that my mother, (Yes, the same one who encouraged me to write) Lisa Rogers, had her YA and non-fiction debuts in 2012 with Angelina’s Secret (Check out my 5 * review of Angelinas Secret) and On Haunted Ground. 


Favourite 2012 read and why?

Juliet Marillier’s Shadowfell. Because I felt magic literally dripping from the pages, and her plots are so unpredictable that, even though I’ve developed yet another book-crush, I still have no idea what side anyone is on.

A book series you love and why?
 

Song of the Lioness quartet, because they introduced me to the world of YA fantasy, Lord of the Rings, because Tolkien is a master at world-building, and The Books of Bayern because I love Shannon Hale’s re-telling of such classic stories. Again, I could go on for quite a while with this, but I should probably stop. Thanks so much for having me!


So, what are your thoughts on BloodBound? Leave a comment below! Check out author Keshia Swaims' Blog, Facebook and twitter!


 

 

   

Protector blog tour: Top Tens List & #Giveaway

Today is the last stop on the Protector's blog tour and author Tressa Messenger has put together a Top Tens List of must read books. Read on to see the great books, Tressa has picked and your chance to win a ebook copy of Protector by Tressa Messenger! 

 

 

Blurb:

 

When Anna-Marie’s boyfriend, Dylan, dies under mysterious circumstances it drives her into a deep depression. She desperately clings to his memories for solace.

After reports come out of a second mysterious death, Anna-Marie climbs her way out of despair as she throws herself into a search for the assailant, who is callously tearing so many lives apart. During Anna-Marie’s search, she has a chance encounter with a mysterious man who flips her world upside down once again. Alessandro Pierre appears just as normal as the next guy, but he is far from it.

The further Anna-Marie digs into a world she isn’t quite prepared for; she gets caught up in a deadly game from her worst nightmares and eventually learns that it is her own world as well.

 

ADD to Goodreads

 

Connect with the author:

 

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Top ten must reads

Light Tamer-Devyn Dawson
Enlightenec-Devyn Dawson
The legacy series-Devyn Dawson
My Sisters Keeper-Bill Benners
The Notebook-Nicholas Sparks
Wide Awake-Daniele Lanzarotta
Mermaid's Curse-Daniele Lanzarotta
All books by Natalie Kroll
Fall of a King-James Fuller

Protector series by Tressa Messenger :)

 

For you chance to win an ebook of Protector by Tressa Messenger simply leave a comment below with your email address and one person will be randomly picked! Giveaway ends 24th Febuary 2013!

 

Interview & Review: Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black

Today I have author Yelena Black on the blog. Yelena released her YA paranormal debut this week, 12th Febuary, Dance of Shadows. I had a chance to read the book before its release and I have to say it is an amazing book, I couldn't put it down. You can check out my  5* review after the interview with Yelena!

 

 

 

 

The Author: Yelena Black
 

I grew up in Massachusetts, then moved to New York City when I was eighteen. In high school, I loved English and History because they’re both so story oriented. I remember despising Physics. I was always frustrated by how many unknowns there were, and how so many of my questions about the way the world worked had no answers. Now I find the mystery of it fascinating and wish I had paid more attention in class. I received my undergraduate and graduate degrees from Columbia University, and now I am a full-time writer.
 

How did you got into writing?
 

I always loved to write, but I really began to focus on fiction when I received my M.F.A.

 

Tell us about Dance of Shadows/the inspiration behind the book
 

I studied dance when I was a younger and absolutely loved it. Even though I decided not to pursue it professionally, I love watching dance performances all throughout the city—especially ballet. I’ve always loved the beauty of Lincoln Center, and I thought that a story about the world of ballet would be incredibly interesting. Ballerinas are so disciplined, the training is so strict, and the world is so competitive … it’s a breeding ground for a fabulous story. After I completed my M.F.A, I knew that I wanted to write for teens. I’ve always loved mysteries and thrillers, and stories that are dark and paranormal. I decided to combine my literary loves with my performance loves and … voila!Dance of Shadows was born.
 

 

ADD to Goodreads
 

How does it feel to be releasing your debut novel?
 

It’s a strange combination of very exciting and very scary. Writing a novel is a private thing—for so many months, it’s just you and your computer. Then an agent and an editor and publishing folks get involved—and I am beyond thankful for the superb team at Bloomsbury Children’s Books for believing in me and my story. And now, well … it’s about to be released into the world! And judged! I only hope it makes people happy and entertains them, and that they love Vanessa and her friends as much as I do. Publishing a novel is a very humbling experience, and I am forever in debt to everyone who has helped me along the way.
 

Can you describe your protangnist Vanessa in less than 140 characters?
 

Talented, loving, curious, determined.
 

The cover of Dance of Shadows is beautiful. Who designed it and what was the inspiration behind it?
 

Thank you! The fabulous team at Bloomsbury designed the cover, and I think it speaks to the fact that the book has an element of balletand of the paranormal. I can’t stop looking at it and am so honored to have such a beautiful image associated with the book.
 

Why should we pick up Dance of Shadows?
 

I hope people pick up Dance of Shadows because they want to read something that is thrilling and mysterious, and has a romance at its core. I think it’s very different than a lot of the thrillers and paranormal books out there right now, and I am excited for it to make its way into as many reader’s hands as possible.

 

 

 

Some bookie questions:
 

Favourite genre and why?
 

I absolutely love mysteries—I love the suspense of “whodunit” and being kept on the edge of my seat!
 

Favourite YA author and why?
 

Suzanne Collins, because she created such an amazing character in Katniss Everdeen.
 

Debut author/ upcoming author we should check out
 

Theo Lawrence, who wrote Mystic City, which I thought was absolutely fantastic—so intriguing and romantic. I couldn’t put it down!
 

Favourite 2012 read and why?
 

 

Bliss by Katherine Littlewood. A sweet and funny middle grade novel about a family who has a magical bakery. I ate it right up!
 

A book series you love and why?
 

The Flappers series by Jillian Larkin. It’s saucy, fun, and SO sexy. I just finished the third book, DIVA—it’s amazing


Connect with the author:

www.facebook.com/DanceofShadows

www.twitter.com/TheYelenaBlack

www.yelenablackbooks.com

Review!

Book: Dance of Shadows
Author: Yelena Black
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 447
Series: Dance of Shadows #1
Recieved ARC from publishers for review
5* REVIEW

Dance of Shadows is a compelling and seductive novel that I couldn't put down. It kept me on my toes trying to figure out what was happening at elite ballet school that Vanessa Alder attends in New York city. Vanessa's sister Margaret vanished from the ballet school that Vanessa is now attending and Vanessa doesn't believe her sister would varnish just like that without contact. Vanessa feels the need to be there to find out what happeneded to her sister but also to dance. 

The author takes you on an emotional rollercoster. You can never tell if you can trust a character or not. All the characters make you feel like they could be the "baddie" of the book, the one causing the strange disapperances. They make you question eveything they say. I really liked this as I really didn't guest right at who was the "baddies". The paranormal twist is great. It is like nothing I have read before and I have read alot of paranormal books. It felt fresh.

I really liked Vanessa as a character when she interacted with Zep one of the main guys in the book, it was compelling and seductive the relationship between them and when they danced it was breathtaking. I could picture them dancing the firebird in my head!. This is one thing I really liked about Dance of Shadows, the book being centered around the ballet. The passion, romance and intense connection between people when they dance, like Zep and Vanessa was great to read and keeps you enthralled.

There was a "love triangle" in Dance of Shadows and I really liked it. The two guys, Zep and Justin, are both great in there own ways but I was varying for one, one minute and the other the next and by the end I still liked the other a little even though the betrayal of one is shocking.  I didn't see it coming.

Overall this was a great start to a new YA trilogy. I can't wait to read the next book in the series and see what happens next. I sense another amazing rollercoster ride with Vanessa and author Yelena Black!