Follow Friday and Book Blogger Hop

Q. It's circle time. Time for us to open up and share. Can you tell us FIVE quirky habits or things about you? We all have them...

1.  I'm a serial reader.  I have to finish a collection unless it get too outrageous. (Think the Anita Blake series)
2.  I love potatoes in all their many forms!
3.  I'm a serious Coca Cola junkie but I have switched to Coke Zero in  an effort to break the addiction! LOL
4.  I'm a teacher and I hate grading paper!
5.  I'm a book hoarder!  I hate lending out my books because I'm afraid they'll come back damaged.  E-books have made it easier for me to share!



To join the fun and make now book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

(Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list

(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers - http://ninjagirlreads.blogspot.com/

Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.

Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments

Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"

If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers

If you're new to the follow Friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!



In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word!  This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books!  It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs to read!  So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog.

This week's question comes from Ivan who blogs at Ivan Bookworm:


"If you were given the chance to spend one day in a fictional world (from a book), which book would it be from and what would that place be?"

My answer:I would love the world found in the J.D. Robb "Death" series.  It's still earth but totally futuristic.  It's has flying cars, all the best gadgets but the still very human existence of crime and crime fighters.  Even though it's set in the future, the reader can still relate to the story and actually envision the advances featured in the books.

Blog Tour De Troops: Let's Give Back To Our Troops!

 

Support the Indie Book Collective's efforts to get Kindles to our troops!!

 

 Please DONATE to Blog Tour de Troops now - Memorial Day!

The Indie Book Collective is running a special eBook promo over Memorial Day weekend where all authors will provide free eBooks to every commenter as well as a troop member. In addition, we'll give as many free Kindles as possible to our troops!



Please help us by donating. Click here to donate whatever you can to PayPal. Your dollars will be used strictly for Kindle purchases for our brave men and women who protect our country. Thx so much!

 

Bestseller for a Day; Fierce Dawn

BESTSELLER FOR A DAY

About Bestseller For a Day:

Making authors dreams come true one promotion at a time.

Each month, for one day, readers, friends, family and peers rally together to drive an ebook up the Amazon Kindle rankings with a goal to pierce the top 100. The aim of the program is to help indie authors get a foothold in the traditionally published dominated market. Authors coordinate with book review sponsors to show readers that the 99 cent promotional price is worth every penny.

As thanks, each author creates give aways for participants and drives traffic to participating review sites. Additionally, readers are offered Bonus Buy reads discounted to 99 cents for the event with that price offered to be rebated back by the participating authors when readers fill out the relevant form.

Fierce Dawn Giveaways:

Amber Scott will be giving away an Amazon Kindle to one lucky winner who purchases Fierce Dawn during the promotion on May 18th  and fills out the form located on the http://bestsellerforaday.com site. Signing up the for event newsletter earns readers extra entries toward the Kindle, too!

Additionally, any reader who purchases Fierce Dawn through May 18th can request a signed ebook copy of it after submitting proof of purchase in the form of a five word phrase from the middle of the book sent by email to amberscottbooks@gmail.com!

May 18th Bestseller for a Day: Fierce Dawn

Blurb of Fierce Dawn:

“X-MEN action meets True Blood heat.”
-Ann Charles
Nearly Departed In Deadwood, 2010 Daphne Winner

“Intensely satisfying!”
-Carolyn McCray
Kindle Bestselling author, 30 Pieces of Silver

Snarling teeth, glowing eyes. Someone--something--is after Sadie Graves.

Elijah Stokes, the man who haunts her dreams, enters her reality claiming she’s transforming into a changeling--not quite immortal but no longer human.

Battle lines are drawn and blood spills as the two fight not only for Sadie’s life, but for all of mankind's as well.

Fierce Dawn excerpt:

He stepped closer, so close he could see thin gold flecks in her sky blue eyes. “Do you remember the night something chased you past the park?”

Her eyes widened. She perceptibly swallowed. “A werewolf?”

“No,” Elijah said, not wanting to correct the mortal term and create even more confusion. “I thought she was a shapeshifter, but she claimed to be a changeling. And that you are, too.”

“It doesn’t sound like you’re sure I am.”

“I wasn’t. Until now. The changeling has been following you. I can’t get a strong enough trace to hunt her again.”

“She wants me dead?”

“I don’t think so, but she wants something. She’s waiting, watching.”

Her hand went to her throat but her gaze hardened. “That’s why you want me to come with you?”

 “Yes,” Elijah said. “There are immortals who would kill you just to keep the realms pure. Half-breeds aren’t tolerated in the immortal realm. They’re seen as inferior, tainted perfection by many. A changeling would be far worse. Right or wrong, your existence threatens both realms. The fact that I’m not the only one who knows you are transforming puts you in higher danger.”

She threw her hands up and started yanking drawers open, tossing clothes aside. Impatient but not angry.

He took in her every move, listened to the even keel of her vibration. She sounded resolved. Elijah’s worries subsided. She was far sturdier than he’d first assumed.

She paused but didn’t face him. “And?”

“And there is a faction—The Illeautians—who consider humankind parasitic. They want the human realm destroyed. If humans start evolving….”

She pulled off her tee. The smooth bare skin on her back, two crescent shaped scars at her shoulders, filled his vision. Elijah couldn’t look away as she strapped a bra around her slender ribcage and put her arms through the straps. His gaze caressed the slope of her back. Two hollows above her ass peaked out from her bottoms. His imagination filled in what he could not see.

His body tightened against his will. He had no business wanting a mortal.

Even a changeling one. Because a part of her might always be human.

Humans died. Immortals lived.

“If you’re right and I’m not going to be human anymore, why would anyone care what I am?” She brought a snug blue shirt over her head then glanced meaningfully over her shoulder.

He should turn around, give her privacy. “Because, what are realm lines for if humans are evolving? Mortals live, they die, they do not become immortal. In human terms, it could be seen as the first stages of Armageddon. Only this wouldn’t be a war between Heaven and Hell.”

Interested in a review of Fierce Dawn?  Click here! 

Amber Scott bio:

In between naptimes and dishes, Amber Scott escapes into her characters’ addictive lives. She often burns dinner, is a sucker for chocolate and still believes in happily ever after. She makes her home in hot Arizona with her two children, husband, and one day, two cats.

Contact info:

amberscottbooks@gmail.com (for readers)

amberromances@yahoo.com (for main contact)

Twitter: @amberscottbooks

Weblog: http://amberscottbooks.com

Facebook: http:// HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/AmberScottBooks" facebook.com/AmberScottBooks

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Helping to drive “Fierce Dawn” to #1 on the Kindle lists just got all the more enthralling!

Stacey Kennedy is offering a 100% rebate** on her paranormal hit, “Stolen Dreams” book one in her Hanson series.

Simply purchase “Stolen Dreams,” at the same time you purchase “Fierce Dawn” on May 18th, then fill out the entry form (located at the top of the right hand column), enter your email, Amazon confirmation code, and 5 words from mid way through ““Stolen Dreams,” and Stacey will send you the 100% rebate.

Plus you get 5 more entries for the Kindle!

Blurb of Stolen Dreams by Stacey Kennedy:

Tess Jennings has the ability to see and talk to spirits. On a daily basis, they harass and annoy her to save their souls. Sometimes she helps, other times she ignores them, but one ghost will give her no choice. Kipp McGowan, a cop with the Memphis Police Department, uses his ghostly charms to gain her attention and forces her to expose herself to his partner.

As she’s pulled into the five year old cold case of Hannah Reid she wants no part of, she finds herself in more than one precarious situation. But that’s the least of her worries―Tess begins to have a serious problem on her hands. Kipp might be dead, but he’s drop-dead gorgeous and she’s beginning to forget that he’s a ghost.

Murder and corruption has brought Tess and Kipp together. But as her feelings for Kipp deepen, she suspects she just signed herself up for a one-way ticket to the nut house, and can only hope, straitjackets come in a size four.

And the news just gets better.

Purchase “Fierce Dawn” and Kindle Bestselling Author Carolyn McCray’s “Fated” on May 18th and qualify for a 100% rebate** for the full purchase price on “Fated”!

Blurb of Fated by Carolyn McCray:

Lovers torn apart by history
Bound for eternity

Amazing author Edie Ramer is offering a 100% rebate** on her “in one word--AWESOME," “Cattitude,” After Belle the cat switches bodies with a psychic on the run from a murderer, she wants her perfect cat body back instead of this furless human one. 

But she doesn't count on falling in love with her former owner. Or that a CEO and a beauty queen want to use up her nine lives. Now is her chance to prove anything a human can do, a cat can do better.

Simply purchase “Fierce Dawn,” then purchase “Cattitude,” both on May 18th, then go to the rebate form** and enter your email, Amazon confirmation code, and 5 words from mid way through “Cattitude,” and Edie will send you the 100% rebate.

Blurb of Cattitude by Edie Ramer:

It's all in the Cattitude...

After Belle the cat switches bodies with a psychic on the run from a murderer, she wants her perfect cat body back instead of this furless human one. But she doesn't count on falling in love with her former owner. Or that a CEO and a beauty queen want to use up her nine lives. Now is her chance to prove anything a human can do, a cat can do better.

"Cattitude is a magical tale that you won't soon forget. Edie Ramer has a writing voice that charms, and she pulls the reader right into Belle's amazing world." -Cynthia Eden, author of Deadly Fear and I'll be Slaying You

Feature Author Interview and Review - A Long Drive Home

 

A Conversation with Will Allison

Author of LONG DRIVE HOME: A Novel

1.  Your first novel, What You Have Left, has three viewpoint characters and moves back and forth in time. Long Drive Home has one viewpoint character and proceeds, for the most part, chronologically. Did you make a decision at the outset to structure this novel differently?          

I did. I wanted to write a book with a strong sense of tension and narrative momentum—more of page-turner—but one that’s still character-based, where plot is a function of character and not vice versa.

2.  When you were executive editor of Story magazine, thousand of submissions must have crossed your desk. How did your editorial work influence your writing?      

Reading through the submissions—we averaged about 50 a day—I was constantly reminded of the importance of 1) giving the reader a reason to care, and 2) keeping the story moving. I write with an acute awareness that readers have a lot of other things they could be doing besides reading my book.

3.  Where did the idea for the novel come from?

I live in New Jersey, in a quiet neighborhood much like the one described in the book—lots of kids, joggers, people walking their dogs. One morning a few years ago, I went out to get the newspaper. A car came flying down the street, going probably twice the speed limit. I remember picking up the paper and thinking I’d like to chuck it at the guy’s windshield, give him a scare. Then I thought, “You’re an idiot, Will. You could kill someone.” Then I thought, “But what if no one saw?” That was the seed of the story.

4.  Is the book autobiographical?

No. The circumstances of Glen’s life are similar to my own—I work at home; my wife works in the city; we have a young daughter; we moved here from the Midwest; etc.—but the characters and plot are wholly invented.

5.  Has your daughter read the book?

No. She’s only nine. Some of the language isn’t appropriate. Also, I’d hate for her to conflate me with Glen. She knows what the book is about, though. On the way to and from school, when I was writing it, she’d ask what part of the story I was working on. She gave me a lot of input. She still thinks Sara’s name should have been spelled “Sarah.”

6.  Is the traffic in New Jersey really as bad as Glen says?          

It seemed pretty bad to me, coming from the Midwest. I did some research when I started the book. New Jersey is the nation’s most congested state and has the highest pedestrian fatality rate. A 2006 study found that northern New Jersey has four of the ten most dangerous American cities to drive in—all within fifteen miles of where the story takes place. And a 2008 study ranked New Jersey drivers dead last in their knowledge of basic safety and traffic laws.

7.  Was the accident investigation based on a real case?

No, but I did get a lot of help from Detective Arnold Anderson, who recently retired from the Essex County Prosecutors Fatal Accident Unit. Andy read an early draft of the book and very patiently answered my questions. I remember being nervous when I first got in touch with him and said I was writing a book about a guy who tries to cover up his involvement in an accident. I thought Andy might think that’s what I was doing. He told me later that, yes, he did check up on me after that first phone call, to make sure I was really a writer.

8.  Was there any kind of moral you were aiming to impart in Long Drive Home?

I was very interested in the moral implications of Glen’s actions, particularly how he justified—and was later affected by—doing things he himself believed to be morally wrong. But no, I intended no moral lesson for the reader, only moral questions.

           

9.  How much compassion do you expect the reader to show Glen?

Obviously, Glen makes some terrible mistakes. But I do hope readers will put themselves in his shoes. That’s why I chose to tell the story from his viewpoint. If the story had been told from Rizzo’s or Tawana’s viewpoint, Glen might have come off as a clear-cut villain. That to me would have been less interesting.

10.  What’s next for you?

Another novel, one that may or may not revisit the characters in Long Drive Home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Long Drive Home shows how a series of seemingly unrelated decisions can lead to a tragic mistake.   Glen, an accountant, and his six-year old daughter are coming home from school when a series of events lead to a tragic car accident that results in the death of a teen.  Glen lies about his role in the accident to protect himself but as the investigation continues with a persistent detective in the lead, guilt eats at Glen and he can only watch as his world falls apart.  His wife divorces him and takes away their daughter, the one witness to the accident.  His moral character is shaken to the core and even in the face of his lies and the destruction of his life, Glen continues to cling to his story, afraid of the consequences.  Glen refused to accept his role, instead seeking someone else to blame for the accident and the downward spiral his life has taken.

The author, Will Allison does a wonderful job of showcasing the moral dilemma in this story.  What started out as a lie or an omission of truth builds into a huge, self-destructed force.  The main character, Glen, cannot live with himself as the lies continue to grow and take on a life of their own and the author allows us to become a part of Glen's psyche and see the mental and emotional angst he suffers from.  As Glen, whose viewpoint the story is told, tries to explain to his daughter years later, we come to understand the toll that day took on him and how the consequences of his actions weighted heavily on him.   The story is heartrending and we, the readers, are forced to examine our own feelings of moral ambiguity.  How far is too far?  How much of the truth can we omit and still be telling the truth?  Is telling the lie worth the mental anguish and the moral guilt?

Will Allison does an excellent job of splitting open the human psyche and letting us, through the eyes of Glen, peer deep into our own moral souls.

Review Post: The Resurrection by H.A. Parker

Synopsis (From Author):


Nothing stops Bancroft Enterprises from developing the best in scientific technology, despite the harsh competition. At the height of its power, biomedical technician Clark Ravensdale performs the nearly-impossible: raising six New Testament figures.
Though criticisms from the religious and scientific communities persist, both groups use this project as an opportunity to advance their agendas. In the midst of division, Clark shies away from discussion, hoping that the fierceness subsides and won’t deter his workaholic life. However, those mixed feelings change.
While some have characterized the disciples as primitive, others like Clark notice the abnormal behaviors and uncanny intellect. As more time is spent living with the disciples, a realization comes to mind: perhaps there is more truth to the New Testament than some thought.

Review:
The Resurrection by H.A. Parker tells a story that forces you to examine your own personal convictions regarding science and religion.  As a science teacher, I can understand the almost fanatical belief held by the scientists and their goal to resurrect the disciples.  The main character, Clark, has had his faith in God challenged and he clings to science as an acceptable way to process the world.  At the same time, his life has become void of everything.  He lives alone, has few, if any, friends and he is very devoted to his job and his enigmatic boss.

Suddenly becoming the "keeper" of the resurrected disciples, Clark quickly discovers many of their ideas about them were wrong and he is faced with the faith and religion he turned his back on for science.  He also comes to realized that things are not as he believed with his boss and he wonders if they are doing the right thing. 

I really enjoyed the fact there was no clear-cut answer.  All the characters had to deal with the issue of their own faith and belief in the face of the Disciples. This book serves as an excellent example of what is going on in today's churches.  This story explores the goals of the modern church and how so many shift focus to a corporate mindset.  This story evokes deep thought into the reader's own personal ideals of religion and how the face of the church has changed.

Everyone who interacts with the Disciples find themselves changed.  From the fanatical coworker Fulbright to the maniacal boss Bancroft, everyone has reactions to the Disciples. For some, their faith is reaffirmed.  For others, the need to control the Disciples outweighs all.


As for the Disciples, I found them to be delightful.  Quickly adjusting to being in the 21st century, they have never lost their faith in God and waste any time starting their mission of evangelizing.  They grow concerned as they realize the modern world has deviated from the message of God, as they know it and the Disciples do not bite their tongue in letting everyone they have strayed from the message.

This story was so compelling.  See everything through Clark's eyes really made the story so poignant.  It was interesting to see his battle with himself, his religious convictions and his science beliefs.  This story is such a reflection on much of the discussion between religion and science today.    This story is such a reflection on much of the discussion between religion and science today.  This is one you should pick up if you are ready to read and be challenged to think outside the box.

Follow Friday and Book Blogger Hop!

Q. Keeping with the dystopian and apocalypse theme that seems to be running rampant on parajunkee.com, I have one very hard question for you: If you were stocking your bomb shelter, what books would you HAVE to include if you only had space for ten?

Only ten?  WOW that's a tough one but here's my list

* Bible

* The Fever Series (5 Books)

* Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

* The Stand by Stephen King

* Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris

*Obsidian Butterfly by Laurell K. Hamilton (I think this was the last Anita Blake book that I actually liked!)

To join the fun and make now book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1. (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list
2. (Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers - http://startingthenextchapterbooks.blogspot.com/
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
7. If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog! 

 

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word!  This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books!  It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs to read!  So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog,

"Summer is coming quickly - what 2011 summer release are you are most looking forward to?"

Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris

A Discovery of Witches: A Novel by Deborah Harkness

Buried Prey - John Sandford

Review: The Advice Girl by L.A. Shaw

Title: The Advice Girl

Author - L.A. Shaw

Format: E-Book

Review:

As a first offering, The Advice Girl by L.A. Shaw really delivers.  The story focuses on the friendship of Kira and Sophia.  Having been friends since childhood, Sophia has always been the one everyone has gone to for advice in love and in life. The story opens with the friends living the postgraduate life: their own apartment at the beach, dating and work.  Everything seems normal but lately Sophia, the eternal optimist, has been have a strong sense of foreboding.

The author presents the friendship realistically.  Nothing seems forced and you really get the sense of the deep bond between the girls. After the mysterious death of Sophia, you really go through the emotions and depression with Kira.  The sense of loss on the pages cut so deep!  However, after getting a cryptic note, Kira begins to wonder if she knew Sophia at all.

But WAIT!  This book offers so much more!  There is a love story and a dark and sinister group out to destroy those who would do good and so much more!  The author deftly ties the parallel stories together into a seamless, wonderful read.  You can’t help but wonder what is going to happen next and keep turning pages.  The suspense is great and as more things are revealed, there are moments of absolute surprise.

Now, there were a few things that took away some of my joy.  The ending was rather abrupt but at the same time, it made me eager for the sequel (coming soon I hope!).  In addition, the romance portions of the story happened rather quickly and while I am saying it couldn’t happen, it still was rather quick.

I hope in the sequel, we can find out more about the various characters.  I would love to know some background on some of them (especially Markus!) and I’m eagerly waiting to see what happens to everyone! 

Grab this one up!  You will not regret it!