Blog Tour- A Little Too Far by Lisa Desrochers

Order A Little Too Far from: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Amazon UK, iTunes, Kobo, and The Book Depository or just add it on Goodreads!

Have you ever gone just a little too far?

Lexie Banks has.

Yep. She just had mind-blowing sex with her stepbrother. In her defense, she was on the rebound, and it’s more of a my-dad-happened-to-marry-a-woman-with-a-super-hot-son situation. But still, he’s been her best friend and confidant for the better part of the last few years … and is so off limits. It’s a good thing she’s leaving in two days for a year abroad in Rome.

But even thousands of miles away, Lexie can’t seem to escape trouble. Raised Catholic, she goes to confession in hopes of alleviating some of her guilt … and maybe not burning in hell. Instead, she stumbles out of the confessional and right into Alessandro Moretti, a young and very easy-on-the-eyes deacon … only eight months away from becoming a priest. Lexie and Alessandro grow closer, and when Alessandro’s signals start changing despite his vow of celibacy, she doesn’t know what to think. She’s torn between falling in love with the man she shouldn’t want and the man she can’t have. And she isn’t sure how she can live with herself either way.

My god, this book was sexy and steamy!! If you thought Desrochers' YA trilogy was steamy, this is way more so. Both guys in the book are very hot, and Desrochers does a fantastic job with the sex scenes. They're just the right amount of titillating without it being too graphic. At least, for me, but I read and write much more graphic sex scenes, so maybe my judgment is a bit skewed, lol.

Lexie is a good main character, though perhaps a bit whiny and indecisive at times. I did really enjoy her knowledge and insights into the art world, and it made for a fun side plot that not only brought her and Alessandro closer together, but also really gave her character more depth.

Personally, I didn't find her having sex with her step-brother weird at all (I mean, he's hot and they're not really related), but I'm sure some people might find it icky or wrong so that may deter you from reading and enjoying. But I'm really excited to read more in this series and follow these characters along; they're great fun.

Overall, a great, promising start to what I'm sure will be a very steamy, fun series.


and I have an interview with Lisa:

1) Your Personal Demons trilogy was pretty steamy, so was there much difference between writing that and this upcoming New Adult series?

The A Little Too Far series is steamier. New Adult is not just sexed up YA, as some people seem to think. It does, however, deal with some of the same self-discovery issues. But because it’s geared toward adults, there is no fade to black. Where sex is integral to the story or character arc, it’s pretty much spelled out. So, where it was often a struggle for me to work within the parameters of YA sensibilities, now I don’t have to worry about that.


2) What are you currently working on? Can you tell us anything about it? Will you be writing more YA in the future?

My deadline schedule for the A Little Too Far series has been pretty tight, so my focus has been there this year, but I will definitely write more YA. I actually wrote a YA I really love back in December, and in the two weeks it was out with my critique partner, I wrote A LITTLE TOO FAR. ALTF sold in March, so things got a little crazy and I haven’t had a chance to get back to the new YA. It’s a story that was inspired by some real life things that happened here in my little town. A LITTLE TOO MUCH (book two in the ALTF series), releases on Nov 12th. The protag in that one is probably the most complex character I’ve ever written, and it’s much darker than ALTF. And I just finished book three in the A Little Too Far series, which is titled A LITTLE TOO HOT and releases on Jan 21st. They are companion novels to A LITTLE TOO FAR, but they all stand alone.


3) Since I've already asked your favorite Jelly Belly jelly bean flavor, what's your favorite snack to have while writing, or as a reward for writing?

Albanese green apple gummi butterflies. (Confession: I bought 15 pounds of gummi butterflies for A LITTLE TOO MUCH promotional swag, and ate all of them while I was writing the book.) #truefax


4) What book(s) are you currently reading, or are about to start?

I have been in the middle of Easy by Tammara Webber for over a month because I was on deadline for A LITTLE TOO HOT and didn’t have time to finish it. I really like it so far and I’m hoping to finish soon =)


Lisa Desrochers lives in central California with her husband and two very busy daughters. There is never a time that she can be found without a book in her hand, and she adores stories that take her to new places, and then take her by surprise.

Look for her New Adult novel, A LITTLE TOO FAR , courtesy of HarperCollins Sept 2013, and the first companion, A LITTLE TOO MUCH , in Nov 2013. Also in stores is her YA PERSONAL DEMONS trilogy (Macmillan).

You can find Lisa on her website, Facebook, Twitter, or Goodreads!


Lisa is hosting a tour wide giveaway - Prizes include an iPod Mini, pendant, tote bags, temporary tattoos, and annotated chapters of A Little Too Far!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sad News

So if you've been on Twitter anytime in the last two weeks or so (and you follow me), you may have seen some of my tweets about something not so fun going on in my life. I've been diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, though they still are not exactly sure what specifically it is that I have. I'm in the middle of going through a bunch of testing to figure it out. I'll hopefully know for sure next Friday, Oct 4 when I see my doctor again for results. But one thing is for sure: I will need chemotherapy. They just need to figure out how much and for how long.

I am pretty scared regarding what's coming up in the next few months, but I've already gotten a bunch of support on Twitter from the YA community and from my friends and co-workers that really boosts my spirit. I am very positive about this whole thing, and it is a very treatable cancer, so there's nothing too bad going on (i.e. I'm like 99% sure I won't die).

I will keep all of you posted on my Facebook (personal one, if you're friends with me) and Twitter as I go through this. If any of you can help, I've added a Paypal donation button if you want to help out with my mounting medical bills, other bills and getting the new Cher and Lady Gaga CDs.

No one probably cares about this blog after that news, but I have a bunch of scheduled posts through the beginning of December, with more being added before chemo even starts so you'll still get to read reviews and maybe an interview here and there.

If there are any questions, leave them in the comments and I'll get around to them when I can. Hopefully over the next few days.

Blog Tour- Just Between Us by J.H. Trumble

Title: JUST BETWEEN US
Author: J.H. Trumble
Publication Date: September 24, 2013
Pages: 320 pages
Publisher: Kensington
Find it: B&N | INDIEBOUND | Amazon
| Goodreads
Genre: Fiction | Romance | Contemporary

Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Luke Chesser is trying to forget his spectacular failure of a love life. He practices marching band moves for hours in the hot Texas sun, deals with his disapproving father, and slyly checks out the new band field tech, Curtis Cameron. Before long, Luke is falling harder than he knew he could. And, this time, he intends to play it right.

Since testing positive for HIV, Curtis has careened between numbness and fear. Too ashamed to tell anyone, Curtis cannot possibly act on his feelings. And, Luke—impulsive, funny, and more tempting than he realizes—won’t take a hint. Even when Curtis distances himself it backfires, leaving him with no idea how to protect Luke from the truth.

Confronting a sensitive topic with candor and aplomb, acclaimed author J. H. Trumble renders a modern love story as sweet, sharp, and messy as the real thing, where easy answers are elusive, and sometimes the only impossible thing is to walk away.

I absolutely loved Trumble's debut (and I have a blurb from that review listed in this book and her previous one, Where You Are, under GuysLitWire) and was excited to be a part of this blog tour so I could fit reading this into my schedule. So many books, so little time! I still haven't gotten around to reading her second book, Where You Are.

To start off, I'd like to say that if you haven't read any of Trumble's books yet, read them in order. They're all separate stories, but there are characters that make appearances in each book. One of her guest blogs on this tour mentions each of the gay characters in each book. I'd completely forgotten that both Luke and Curtis, the main characters of this book, make an appearance in Don't Let Me Go (and in Where You Are). Then there was the inclusion of Robert, who had his own story in Where You Are, and it just makes me want to re-read her debut and read the second book to see all these connections.

Anyway, this was another wonderful story from Trumble, tackling the HIV issue so gracefully. I'm dealing with my own medical issues currently (not HIV) and reading Curtis' chapters after getting his prognosis felt extremely similar to how I currently feel about my diagnosis. It really affected me in a big way, and his reaction is so realistic and the reader really feels for him. Luke was also a wonderful character and it's nice to learn more about him and the way his mind works in this book.

Trumble just has such a way with character interactions. They're so believable and there's so many different relationships going on, as there's a lot of characters and they're all talking to each other. She makes each character believable and a fully realized individual. I particularly liked Luke's little brother Matt, Curtis' twin sister Corinne, and Curtis' roommate Jaleel (who wasn't around too much, but I liked their scenes together).

Overall, just another awesome book from Trumble. I'm even more excited to read Where You Are now, and am looking forward to more books from her. It's great to see an author writing these wonderful, poignant gay romance novels. Fan for life here!

Find J.H. Trumble:
Facebook | Website | Twitter | Goodreads
J.H. Trumble is a Texas native and graduate of Sam Houston State University. You can visit the author online at http://www.jhtrumble.com as well as on Facebook and Twitter.


Also, along with the Rafflecopter contest below, each blog on the tour is giving away a copy of Just Between Us to a lucky commenter! US residents only. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post by Monday, Sept 30 at 9pm and you'll be entered! Good luck to all!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


FTC: Received ARC from publisher. Amazon link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.

Rapture Practice by Aaron Hartzler

Rapture Practice by Aaron Hartzler
"Aaron Hartzler grew up in a home where he was taught that at any moment Jesus might come down in the twinkling of an eye, and scoop his whole family up to Heaven. As a kid, Aaron was thrilled by the idea that each day might be his last one on planet Earth. He couldn't wait to blastoff and join Jesus in the sky!

But as he turns sixteen, Aaron finds himself more and more attached to his life on Earth, and curious about all the things his family forsakes for the Lord. He begins to realize he doesn't want the Rapture to happen, just yet; not before he sees his first movie, stars in the school play, or has his first kiss. Before long, Aaron makes the plunge from conflicted do-gooder to full-fledged teen rebel.

Whether he's sneaking out, making out, or at the piano playing hymns with a hangover, Aaron learns a few lessons that can't be found in the Bible. He discovers the best friends aren't always the ones your mom and dad approve of, and the tricky part about believing is that no one can do it for you.

In this funny and heartfelt coming of age memoir, debut author Aaron Hartzler recalls his teenage journey to find the person he is without losing the family who loves him. It's a story about losing your faith, finding your place, and learning your very own truth--which is always stranger than fiction."-summary from Amazon

This book is a little different from what I normally review, as it's a Young Adult memoir, but the synopsis really pulled me in. I'm fascinated by this particular brand of religion, so it was interesting to read someone's account of it who was now an adult and away from that belief system.

Hartzler did a wonderful job talking about his childhood and fleshing it out. I mean, the whole book is just about his childhood and teen years, so there's a LOT there. He also does a good job of making these people fully fleshed out when it could be so easy to just focus on the "fire and brimstone" aspect and make them hate-filled and evil with no redeeming values. He talks about the good times and the bad times, showing that these people were just caring for him in the way they thought was right. There's no judgment necessarily in the way Hartzler writes, and that makes the book better. I don't think I could write that balanced.

It hurt me reading about how his parents treated him for doing minor things or for not doing anything at all (like seeing a movie, or buying a music CD). I felt terrible, and I know that people treat their children like this out in the world and it really saddens me. How anyone can treat their child like this is beyond me. How some "Christians" act and interpret the Bible is unbelievable and, in my opinion, is very close to emotional and psychological abuse. That may be taking it a bit too far, but that's how I feel. I don't want to get into a huge rant so I'll just stop here (on this point; the review goes on).

I was a bit disappointed on the lack of gay stuff. In the summary, Hartzler promises kissing and there's barely any! Not until like the very end, and it's not exactly what I was expecting. That was sad for me. I thought the "growing up gay in that environment" aspect would have more of a role in the book, but it wasn't so. Not to say that the book is bad, but it was something I was disappointed about because I was interested mostly in that.

Regardless, Hartzler's book is very worthwhile and I do highly recommend it.


FTC: Received e-galley from Netgalley. Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.

Exile by Rebecca Lim

Exile by Rebecca Lim
"Mercy is an angel in exile and is doomed to return repeatedly to Earth, taking on a new human form each time she does. Now she "wakes" as unhappy teen Lela, a girl caring for her dying mother but never herself.

As Mercy's shattered memory begins to return, she remembers Ryan, the boy she fell in love with in another life, and Luc, the angel haunting her dreams. Will Mercy risk Lela's life to be reunited with her heart's true desire?"- summary from Amazon

I read the first book Mercy two years ago (even though the whole quartet finished overseas in 2012, it still took two years for Hyperion to release the second book) and so was a bit wary about going into this sequel. I barely remembered anything from the first book, except that it was similar in concept to Every Day by David Levithan but with a bit more magic and backstory involved. So it took me a while to get into it and get caught back up into the storyline.

Mercy was a bit of an okay read for me- it wasn't bad, but it wasn't that good either. It intrigued me enough that when the e-galley got put up, I requested it but I came out of reading Exile feeling exactly the same way. It's an okay read, but nothing terribly special. I also felt like the story didn't have to be a quartet; it could've easily been a stand-alone. I just felt like not enough happened in either book, yet it just kept going on and on for 300 pages.

Overall, if I have the time, I'll probably continue the series (hopefully they'll release the final two books faster). It's a good read to pass the time but nothing to really go out and buy right away.

FTC: Received e-galley from Netgalley. Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.

Smoke by Ellen Hopkins

Smoke by Ellen Hopkins
"Pattyn Von Stratten’s father is dead, and Pattyn is on the run. After far too many years of abuse at the hands of her father, and after the tragic loss of her beloved Ethan and their unborn child, Pattyn is desperate for peace. Only her sister Jackie knows what happened that night, but she is stuck at home with their mother, who clings to normalcy by allowing the truth to be covered up by their domineering community leaders. Her father might be finally gone, but without Pattyn, Jackie is desperately isolated.

Alone and in disguise, Pattyn starts a new life as a migrant worker on a California ranch. But is it even possible to rebuild a life when everything you’ve known has burned to ash and lies seem far safer than the truth?"- summary from Amazon

Burned is my favorite Ellen Hopkins book, and I was so excited to hear that a sequel was finally coming out. I even re-read it right before diving into Smoke. It really helped since I'd read it originally 6 years ago and maybe once again sometime between then and now, so I was going in with a fresh memory of exactly what Pattyn had been through. Smoke picks up shortly after the end of Burned and is told between Pattyn's voice and her sister Jackie's, as the two are now separated. Pattyn is on the run, and Jackie is left at home to deal with the aftermath.

Like with all Hopkins' books, I pretty much loved this one. It feels weird to say that about books where generally bad things happen, but there you go. I loved getting back in Pattyn's head, but also getting a glimpse into her sister Jackie, who Pattyn confided in the most during the events of Burned. Both characters have fantastic, distinct voices and a major growth throughout the book.

Overall, Hopkins has written another great sequel as well as a wonderful, realistic ending for Pattyn as well as her sister Jackie. Highly recommended.


FTC: Received ARC from publisher (upon urging from Ellen- thanks!). Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.

All I Need by Susane Colasanti

All I Need by Susane Colasanti
"The last night of summer is only the beginning.

Skye wants to meet the boy who will change her life forever. Seth feels their instant connection the second he sees her. When Seth starts talking to Skye at the last beach party of the summer, it's obvious to both of them that this is something real. But when Seth leaves for college before they exchange contact info, Skye wonders if he felt the same way she did--and if she will ever see him again. Even if they find their way back to each other, can they make a long-distance relationship work despite trust issues, ex drama, and some serious background differences?"- summary from Amazon

I love Colasanti's books and it's such a treat getting a new one every year. She just writes these great swoon-worthy romances so well and this is no exception. It's a bit different in that it's a sort-of insta-love story, but Colasanti really makes it work. I think including the dual perspective really helps ground it a bit, as well as the long timeline. We spend more than a year with these characters as they work through their relationship and try to make it work long-distance and get past their own problems and insecurities.

Skye and Seth are wonderful characters and I'm sure readers will instantly fall in love with them and want to read their story. It's very compelling and such a perfect read to end the summer with. I wasn't able to put this book down; read it so quickly!

Overall, another winner from Colasanti, and I really like how she handled this kind of romance here. Cannot wait to read what she writes next!

FTC: Received e-galley from Netgalley. Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund
"In the dystopian future of For Darkness Shows the Stars, a genetic experiment has devastated humanity. In the aftermath, a new class system placed anti-technology Luddites in absolute power over vast estates—and any survivors living there.

Elliot North is a dutiful Luddite and a dutiful daughter who runs her father’s estate. When the boy she loved, Kai, a servant, asked her to run away with him four years ago, she refused, although it broke her heart.

Now Kai is back. And while Elliot longs for a second chance with her first love, she knows it could mean betraying everything she’s been raised to believe is right."- summary from Amazon

I put this book off way too long. I finally read it because I was seeing Peterfreund at an event, and even though they're not related, I wanted to have it done before the companion book came along. I absolutely adored this book. I've never read Persuasion but looking over its summary, I can see the similarities. It's also written in a similar style to Austen, I felt; not completely, but there is more of a formal nature to the prose.

Elliott is a wonderful main character and I really enjoyed reading her story, especially the bits in between chapters showing letters between her and Kai over the years. It was really cute to see those and really get a glimpse into their interactions and friendship. I also want to say that I hated her father and wanted to just kill him throughout the entire book.

I thought Peterfreund did a good job setting up this post-apocalyptic world and explaining everything without it seeming like slogging through a ton of details. It's an interesting world and there's some great reveals throughout the book. I liked seeing Elliott and Kai together and Peterfreund wrote their back-together scenes beautifully, really showing the tug of war inside each of them. They obviously both want the other, but there's a lot of hurt and pain to get through before that can happen. It's handled so well.

Overall, a fantastic book and I strongly recommend it. I'm excited to read the companion book, which is based on The Scarlet Pimpernel (another book I've never read, lol).

FTC: Received ARC from publisher. Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.

Blog Tour- The Dark Between by Sonia Gensler

I'm so excited to be a part of the blog tour for The Dark Between by Sonia Gensler. Here's a little bit about the book and then I've got an interesting little guest post from Sonia.

At the turn of the twentieth century, Spiritualism and séances are all the rage—even in the scholarly town of Cambridge, England. While mediums dupe the grief-stricken, a group of local fringe scientists seeks to bridge the gap to the spirit world by investigating the dark corners of the human mind.

Each running from a shadowed past, Kate, Asher, and Elsie take refuge within the walls of Summerfield College. But their peace is soon shattered by the discovery of a dead body nearby. Is this the work of a flesh-and-blood villain, or is something otherworldly at play? This unlikely trio must illuminate what the scientists have not, and open a window to secrets taken to the grave—or risk joining the spirit world themselves.

The Dark Between, a supernatural romance about the powers that lie in the shadows of the mind, is perfect for fans of Sarah Rees Brennan, Alyxandra Harvey, and Libba Bray.

In The Dark Between, Elsie Atherton has a passion for photography. Female photographers weren’t that common in 1901, but they certainly did exist. Some even made a profession out of it.

Women have been involved with photography since the earliest cameras were in use. Most often they were wives or family members of photographers, and they acted as assistants. In England, women began to independently explore photography as an art form in the middle of the 19th century. By the early 20th century, one could find professional female photographers throughout Europe and America.

For Elsie, the most influential female photographer was Julia Margaret Cameron, who worked to elevate portrait photography to a serious art form. In The Dark Between, Elsie is particularly fond of photographs like Alethea, a portrait of Alice Liddel (who was famous for inspiring Alice in Wonderland) and “Maud” (see below), which illustrated Tennyson’s Idylls of the King.

credit: commons.wikimedia.org
Learn more about early female photographers.

Next time, we’ll talk about the strange phenomenon of Spirit Photography . . .


There's also a giveaway being held on Sonia's website where you can enter the various code words given at each tour stop. My code word is PORTRAIT.
- Contest open to U.S. only
- Readers can enter multiple times if they visit each blog on the tour and submit an entry with the various secret codes; one entry per person per code word.

Blog Tour- The Secret Side of Empty by Maria Andreu

I'm so pleased to be a part of the pre-publication blog tour for The Secret Side of Empty by Marie Andreu. Here's a little bit about the book:

It's the story of a teen girl that is American in every way except for in one very important way: on paper. She was brought to the U.S. as a baby without proper documentation, so she's "illegal." As the end of the safe haven of her high school days draw near, she faces an uncertain future. Full of humor and frustration and love, The Secret Side of Empty speaks to the part in all of us that has felt excluded or has had a secret too scary to share. What M.T., the main character, finally discovers is the strength of the human spirit and the power that's unleashed when you finally live the truth.


and I've got a nice little interview with the author Maria Andreu:

1) What was the inspiration for The Secret Side of Empty?

The Secret Side of Empty is the story of a high school senior who is undocumented or “illegal.” It gives an inside glimpse into a life people don’t usually get to see. What is it like to be considered “illegal” in the only country you’ve ever called home? It presents issues most people don’t even fathom – no social security number, no college, no job, no real future.

I was undocumented as a child and teenager. Unlike M.T., the main character of The Secret Side of Empty, I crossed the Mexican border as an 8-year-old. (She came over as a baby). I vividly remember what it felt like to feel unworthy to be here. As soon as I got my residency papers (thanks to an amnesty) I worked hard to forget all that. But the story kept coming back to me and finally it served as inspiration for The Secret Side of Emtpy.


2) What are you currently working on? Can you tell us anything about it?

I am learning that I like stories about characters that society might consider marginalized. My second novel, which I’m halfway through, is about a girl who enters into what most would consider a bad relationship. I tell it from her perspective, showing how deeply one can feel that the wrong relationship is right for us. It’s a journey of self-discovery and learning to love oneself enough to make good choices. At its heart it is a love story.

Simultaneously I’m also working on a memoir. I like to say both books are racing each other – some days I’m inspired to work on one, on others the other.


3) What's your favorite Jelly Belly jelly bean flavor(s)? Or, if you don't like those, your favorite snack to have while writing or as a reward for writing?

I feel like if you’re asking the jelly bean question jelly beans must be important to you, so I don’t want to dis jelly beans! I don’t have a favorite food, necessarily. I am fairly obsessive about my tea, though. I don’t feel complete without a cup of Earl Gray with lemon and stevia. I’m very particular about my tea preparation. It’s my one “finicky” thing.


4) What book(s) are you currently reading, or are about to start? Any upcoming reads you're excited about?

I am reading Why We Write, which could be the most insanely inspiring book I’ve read in a decade. It’s a series of essays by successful writers about (you guessed it) why they write, as well as the challenges they face. They all come across as so human, so in the process that I’m in, that it bolsters my own confidence in myself as a writer. I think every writer should carry a copy around with them everywhere they go.

I’m also about to start The Willpower Instinct by Kelly McGonigal, PhD. Because… you guessed it… I want to get better about writing more consistently. I write just about every day on my blog but sometimes my long projects can gather dust. Then I go on a bender. I want to make more time for them.


5) Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Pages and pages worth! If I have to condense it it’s this: the main thing that makes you a writer is your decision that you are one. No one needs to give you a special tiara or a certificate that says you are. Craft can be learned, feedback can be sought out, but the decision that you’re going to write is yours alone. There is no “right” way, no one has anything you don’t have. Only you can give the world the unique blend of words that are yours. So get writing.

Read more of my work at http://mariaeandreu.com


Maria's also running an awesome giveaway with this tour. For a chance to win the $250 Amazon gift card, OR the Kindle Fire leave a comment on her blog post for that day. Winners will be randomly selected on September 30th.

Maria’s writing has appeared in Newsweek, The Washington Post and the Star Ledger. Her debut novel, The Secret Side of Empty, is the story of an “illegal” high school senior. It was inspired by Maria’s own experiences as an undocumented teen. Since becoming a citizen, Maria has run her own business and has become a soccer mom. She lives with her 13-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son in northern New Jersey.

Preorder The Secret Side of Empty- http://amzn.to/17LaXLX
Maria Andreu’s website- http://mariaeandreu.com/
Maria Andreu on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WritersideofM
Maria Andreu on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maria.andreu.books

Infinityglass by Myra McEntire + Contest

Infinityglass by Myra McEntire
"The stakes have risen even higher in this third book in the Hourglass series.

The Hourglass is a secret organization focused on the study of manipulating time, and its members — many of them teenagers -­have uncanny abilities to make time work for them in mysterious ways.

Inherent in these powers is a responsibility to take great care, because altering one small moment can have devastating consequences for the past, present, and future. But some time trav­elers are not exactly honorable, and sometimes unsavory deals must be struck to maintain order.

With the Infinityglass (central to understanding and harnessing the time gene) at large, the hunt is on to find it before someone else does.

But the Hourglass has an advantage. Lily, who has the ability to locate anything lost, has determined that the Infinityglass isn't an object. It's a person. And the Hourglass must find him or her first. But where do you start searching for the very key to time when every second could be the last?"- summary from Amazon

I absolutely love this series and was so excited to get an early look (at the time- I read it in July though the review is just going up now) of the final book. I've been eagerly awaiting it since finishing Timepiece and it's just so good.

My only problem with going into this and Timepiece is that so much happens in each book and each one has a different narrator that it was a little difficult starting the book. Things would be mentioned and I'd be so confused; McEntire does do some background and especially with the addition of a new character, past events are brought up to bring her up to speed, but sometimes I was a little bit lost.

Anyway, I loved the dual perspective and McEntire employs it very well. I really enjoyed getting into the mindsets of Dune and Hallie and reading about their lives and backstories. There's some interesting reveals and wonderfully written action scenes, but there's also a sizzling romance (a bit too insta-love though) and great chemistry between the two. Lots of humor and witty banter as well which I always enjoy.

Overall, a fantastic conclusion to the series. If you've not read this trilogy yet, get on it! I cannot wait to read what McEntire writes next!

Courtesy of Egmont USA and Media Masters Publicity, I have a hardcover copy of Infinityglass and an Infinityglass poster to give away to a lucky winner! US residents only! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post by Wednesday, Sept 11 at 9pm EST.

Myra McEntire has had her nose in a book since she could hold one. She was once caught reading in the shower (true story) and only stopped when her father disconnected the hot water heater. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and two boys. You can visit her online at www.myramcentire.com or follow her on twitter at @MyraMcEntire. You can visit her on Facebook and Tumblr too.

Blog Tour- Thornhill by Kathleen Peacock

Rockstar Book Tours

Mac can’t lose another friend. Even if he doesn’t want to be found.

The ripple effect caused by Mac’s best friend Amy’s murder has driven Mac’s new love, Kyle, to leave Hemlock and disappear from her life forever. But Mac knows that Kyle plans to enroll in a rehabilitation camp, where he can live with other werewolves. She refuses to accept his decision, especially since the camps are rumored to be tortuous. So she sets out in search of Kyle with a barely sober Jason—and Amy’s all-seeing ghost—in tow.

Clues lead Mac to find Kyle in a werewolf den in Colorado—but their reunion is cut short by a Tracker raid. Now Mac and Kyle are trapped inside the electric fences of Thornhill, a camp for young werewolves. As she devises an escape plan, Mac uncovers dangerous secrets buried within the walls of Thornhill—and realizes that the risk to the people she loves is greater than ever before.

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So apparently I never reviewed Hemlock, even though I absolutely adored it. When I signed up for this blog tour, there was a question asking for the link to a Hemlock review. I spent half an hour trying to find one; for some reason, I never got around to writing one. How weird is that? But I really loved the first book and have been eagerly awaiting this second one. It does not disappoint.

The action picks up pretty much shortly after Hemlock ends. With the way it ends, it makes sense. I loved coming back into this world and these characters and Peacock does a great job of recapping the events of the first book without it seeming out of place. Mac is a strong main character and I was on the edge of my seat throughout the whole journey. A lot happens in this book and it's very suspenseful. There's some interesting twists and turns, and luckily, there isn't a cliffhanger with this book like there was with the first. The adventure is over for now but I'm sure the third book has some fantastic surprises coming.

Overall, a wonderful, unique series about werewolves continues on a great path. I highly recommend this book and its prequel, and I cannot wait for the final book!

Kathleen Peacock spent her teen years crushing on authors and writing short stories about vampires. She put her writing dreams on hold while attending college, but tripped over them when office life started leaving her with an allergy to cubicles. Her debut, HEMLOCK was published by Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of Harper Collins, with the sequel Thornhill out now, and was published in the UK under the title DEADLY HEMLOCK from Simon and Schuster Children’s Books.

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Tour Schedule:
Week 1
9/2/2013- Book Chic- Review
9/3/2013- In the Best Worlds- Interview
9/4/2013- Fall Into Books- Guest Post
9/5/2013- Portrait of a Book- Interview
9/6/2013- The Book Life- Review

Week 2
9/9/2013- The Reader's Antidote- Guest Post
9/10/2013- Auntie Spinelli Reads- Review
9/11/2013- The Book Belles- Review
9/12/2013- Two Chicks on Books- Guest Post
9/13/2013- Mundie Moms- Interview