My Top 12 Favorites of 2012

You know, this year has been one of the best years for books. Why? Because more and more authors are breaking down the barriers and writing about things that need to be talked about. Things that need to be addressed in our homes, among our friends, within our families. It's also because I've read some pretty amazing books this year. Now I know that most blogs do a top ten list, but my blog isn't most blogs. Because of that, I'm going to give you my own Top Twelve of 2012! 

Ready? Then here we go!

Number 1 
Just Remember to Breathe by Charles Sheehan-Miles

This book was fabulous, and you can read my review of it here.

Number 2
The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

Again, another absolutely wonderful book. It was perfect. You'll find my review here.

Number 3
The Perfect Game by J. Sterling.

One name... Jack F**king Carter. Enough said. My review is here.

Number 4
Love and Skate by Lila Felix

Okay, now everyone who has read this book knows that it is just hot. End of story. P.S.- my review can be found right here.

Number 5
Miss Me Not by Tiffany King

Honestly, I have no words. Just read my review here. You'll see why.

Number 6
Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker

This is one of those books that you'll kick yourself for not having read sooner, and I read it as an ARC! That's just how good it is. Here is my review.

Number 7
Incendiary (Premonition #4) by Amy A. Bartol

As much as I love Reed, I love Xavier just a touch more. YUM! You can buy your copy of these awesomely fantastic books here.

Number 8
Fate Succumbs (Timber Wolves #3) by Tammy Blackwell

This is the final book in the trilogy that started my journey into indie books. I can't say enough about this trilogy! You can get all three of them here.

Number 9
Whisper by Heather Hildenbrand

This book touched my soul. It shows you how grief affects a person on an entirely new level. Plus, it has a SMOKIN' hot Native American. Get it here.


Number 10
Gravity by M. Leighton

This book is simply beautiful! I can't even begin to express how much I loved this book! Grab your own copy here.

Number 11
Chasing Nikki by Lacey Weatherford

This book will haunt me forever. I'm not even close to kidding. It. Is. Perfect! Go get it here.

And last, but certainly not least we have...

Number 12
Darkride by Laura Bradley Rede

This book is AWESOME!!! Wow! If you haven't read it, you really do need to! So good! Here is the place to get your copy!


And there you have it. Adriane's Top 12 of 2012. I hope you'll grab a least one of these books if you don't have them already, and enjoy them for yourself in 2013. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Miss Me Not Review

Miss Me Not

by 

Tiffany King

Madison Hanson's past demons have given her a "shadow" of an existence. Like so many others who feel lost, she believes suicide may be her only way out—then she meets Dean Jackson, a popular boy from school who gives her hope, and shows her the power of love and acceptance.

With Dean's help, Madison discovers a desire to live, and learns to embrace life and all its gifts.

I have to start this review by saying that suicide is never the answer. No matter how lonely you think you are, no matter how screwed up things may be, no matter how miserable you feel, there is ALWAYS someone watching. Someone who cares. Someone who would give anything to make things right for you. Please! Talk to someone. Anyone. Just get help!

I will admit that I am friends with Tiffany. I'll also admit that I have a weakness for her books. However, this one was hard for me to swallow. Mostly because it deals with something so incredibly personal to me that it has taken me more than a month to finish it. 

You see, I lost someone extremely important to me once, and when Tiffany sent me the ARC for Miss Me Not, I didn't realize how close to the anniversary of his death it was. This book broke me apart. That wall that I had built around myself, the one that shielded me from the pain that was Danny's death on the anniversary, was shattered and all of those feelings that I had thought long buried were able to seep into me and take hold.

Needless to say, I put the book down and refused to touch it again. After explaining to Tiffany why, I made a promise to her, and to myself that whenever I felt ready, I would finish the book. And I have done exactly that. I've finished this book. It was hard, and there were plenty of moments when I wanted to wash my hands of it, but being me, I kept pushing through and finally made it to the end. Because of that, I have this to say...

I have nothing to say. I have no words to describe what I'm feeling now that I'm finished. I feel like I've been forgiven without even knowing what I did to deserve the forgiveness. I feel like if Danny were standing in front of me right this instant, he would smile and say, "I forgive you, but you never needed it because you did nothing wrong." 

This book is real, and it is raw, and it is unrelenting in the way it grabs hold of your heart and doesn't let go. This book isn't for everyone and it may even be considered taboo based on the topic of discussion, but it is well worth reading. I give it 5 stars. 5 HUMONGOUS stars!

Great job, Tiffany. I couldn't be more of a fan if I tried. And thank you for giving me this sense of peace. I've needed it for so long now.

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

Walking Away is LIVE!!!!

So, as all of my loyal followers know, I have released a book!!! What?!?! That's madness, right?!?! Well, madness or not, I have done it. I am now a fancy published author!! YES!!! Hang on while I mark that off my bucket list...

*carefully unrolls the bucket list and scrolls down to number 3*

#3- Publish a book.

DONE!

*sings Celebration by Kool and the Gang while dancing around like a maniac*

I would insert a soundbyte or the video, but I think we all know that song. Anywho! So, Walking Away is now available on Kindle, and will soon be available on Barnes & Noble for Nook and on Kobo for those of you who use that platform. I WOULD upload it to Smashwords, but it has decided to be my arch nemesis, and so Kobo is the best I can do for now.

However, if you don't want to wait for Walking Away to finally show up on Kobo or B&N, you can always download the Kindle app onto you mobile device or computer and purchase Walking Away using this link.

And now I'm going to leave you guys with a giveaway!!! Just fill out the Rafflecopter below and you will be entered to win one of 3, that's right, THREE ecopies of Walking Away! Good luck!

OH! Two more things... 

1)Don't forget to send me a request for an Authorgraph! The widget is in the sidebar over there on the right. 

2) My friend Michelle Nicole created a playlist for Walking Away. Check it out in the sidebar on the right as well.


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Ten Tiny Breaths... An ARC Review and Giveaway

Ten Tiny Breaths

by

K.A. Tucker

K.A. contacted me not too long ago and asked me if I would be interested in doing a cover reveal for her upcoming book Ten Tiny Breaths (you can find it here), and naturally, I jumped on it. Of course I wanted to be a part of the cover reveal. DUH! Who doesn't want to be a part of one of their favorite author's new works in some small way? I know I do!

Well, after the reveal went off without a hitch, K.A. reached out to me once again and asked me the one thing that I had been dying to hear her ask... "Would you like to receive an ARC of Ten Tiny Breaths?"....... Pardon me a moment while I scream my utter delight and utmost fan girl joy....... 

AAAAHHHH!!!!

And we're back... I'm sure you can all guess what my response was, right? I should hope so, because you're all too smart for that! 

Well, I JUST finished the book. Like literally, I just turned the final page and all I can say is W.O.W! This book is absolutely fan-freaking-tastic!!! It's the love story you've been dying to read, but by the time you're halfway through it, you want to scream and throw things and punch someone in the mouth, because all of the tension is eating you alive.

It's so beautifully written that you can't help but feel every single touch, hear every single breath, and live every.single.minute. It sucks you in and it doesn't let you go. I mean it. And I know what you're thinking, "She says that a lot," but it's true! It is so true about Ten Tiny Breaths.

You see, Kacey is messed up. Like really, REALLY messed up. She's lost everything. Well, not everything,everything, but everything that meant the world to her. Everything she thought she'd never lose. And it's all because of a decision that someone else made. A decision that left her broken and alone and scarred beyond just the physical damage. She's compartmentalized her feelings over the trauma that she's suffered, channeled all of her rage into kick-boxing, and shut herself off from almost all human physical contact. Let me tell you, this girl is one step away from owning the crazy train! 

After her sick uncle climbs into bed with her sister, Kacey has had enough. She packs their bags and moves them both to Miami. Once there, she meets a gorgeous guy named Trent who slowly begins to try to put her back together. Only there's just one problem... Trent is hiding something, and it's a complete game changer. This gorgeous hunk of man, isn't who she thinks he is, and falling in love with him will change everything she thought she ever knew. Because when the truth comes out, Kacey learns about forgiveness in a way that not many people ever do. Letting go is hard, but facing your past is even harder. Especially when your sanity is involved.

K.A., I am happy to say, totally delivered! Even as I sit here writing this review, I still feel as though my emotions and my heart have been ripped out of me, tossed to the ground, and mercilessly stomped on... Repeatedly. This story is beyond powerful. It's beyond gut-wrenching. It's beyond phenomenal. I feel comfortable telling y'all that I'm sure this book with haunt me for quite some time. It is definitely in a class of it's own! 

And now I have a giveaway for you... Just fill out the Rafflecopter below and you'll be entered to win one of 3 e-copies of Ten Tiny Breaths!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Song For Julia Cover Reveal!

Hello readers! I'd like to share with you guys the cover for A Song For Julia, the newest book by a man who's come to mean a whole lot to me, Mr. Charles Sheehan-Miles! A few weeks back, I posted a review that I wrote for his book Just Remember to Breathe (you'll find it here) and gushed about how much I loved the book. Well, I can assure you that this one will be just as good as that one!!

Now, I've already seen the cover, and it is beautiful! I absolutely love it, and it truly encompasses the feel of the book. Here... I'll just let you see for yourselves...

And now for the blurb...

Blurb:

Crank Wilson left his South Boston home at sixteen to start a punk band and burn out his rage at the world. He’s at war with his father, a Boston cop, and doesn’t ever speak to his mother, who left when he was sixteen. The only connection that really matters to him is his younger brother. Watching out for Sean can be a full-time job: at seventeen, with Aspergers, he doesn’t fit anywhere. The only thing Crank wants in life is to be left the hell alone to write his music and drive his band to success. Julia Thompson left a secret behind in Beijing that exploded into scandal in Washington, DC, threatening her father's career and dominating her family's life. Now, in her senior year at Harvard, she's haunted by a voice from her past and refuses to ever lose control of her emotions again: especially when it comes to a guy. When Julia and Crank meet at an anti-war protest in Washington in the fall of 2002, the connection between them is so powerful it threatens to tear apart everything they've ever worked for.

But wait, there's more!!! What? More? Yes, more. There's a GIVEAWAY!!!! 

AAAAHHHH!!!!

You guys are so incredibly lucky! Okay, here are the rules:

In order to be entered, you must comment on this post. Charles will give one lucky commenter a digital copy of the first book Just Remember to Breathe. The winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter on 12-7-12.

Good luck!!!

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Announcement time!!!

Hi guys!!!! Now I know that lately it seems as though my blog has become one of the many review blogs floating around the blog-o-sphere, but that is really only because I've been reading some pretty outstanding books. Plus, it gets my name out there for when I do things like what I'm about to share with all of you!!! 

In the last month, I have been working on a super secret project. *gasps* WHAT?! Yes, you definitely read that right. I have been working on something that IS NOT You Just Know. You guys have no idea how excited I am to finally share it with you! YAY!!!

Are you ready? I am! Here we go!!!

This project I have been working on started out as a short story that I was going to publish after one round of editing, but I was wrong. After I had committed to putting this thing out there, I wanted it to be perfect. Absolutely perfect. Perfect cover, perfect text, perfect everything. So... I worked my booty off to make it that way and after hiring the PERFECT cover designer and having the most rocking editor get her hands on it, I have managed to produce a NOVELLA! Whoa! 

And now for the cover and blurb! 

When I was thinking about what I wanted in a cover designer, one name kept flashing in bright pink neon lights in my mind... Sarah Hansen from Okay Creations! This woman is the best damn cover designer I know. I'm quite sure there are others out there, in fact I know there are, but Sarah has this knack for taking the smallest of details and turning them into exactly what the author sees in his/her mind. That is exactly what she did for me, and here's what she came up with...

Perfection!!!!! Now as you may have guessed, the title for this novella is Walking Away, and if you'll hang in there I'm dying to tell you what it's about.

Blurb:

Twenty -five year old Coraline Renfro is in mourning. She and her long time boyfriend, Blake Parrish, have broken up and Cora hasn’t been dealing with it well. She’s shut herself off from the world around her, and buried herself in her work. Tired of being alone, Cora accepts a date from a colleague, and slowly begins to move on. When Blake comes calling again, will Cora take him back or will she show him how it feels to have a door slammed in his face and his hopes and dreams of a future with her dashed?

I am SO excited for you guys to finally read this book. I feel like I've been working on it for ages, when in reality it's only been a month! You're probably wondering when you'll finally be able to download Walking Away on your Nooks or Kindles, and I'm relieved to tell you that it can be yours on December 14th! WOO HOO!!! I can't wait to find out what you guys think of the story, and I really hope you guys will love it. 

Love and Skate

Love and Skate

by Lila Felix

On the rink she’s tough, she’s a leader, she’s fast and she’s the epitome of a rebellious girl. But Nellie’s been hurt, only once, but it was enough to make her look at life through different eyes and off the rink she’s a timid girl who loves with no pretenses.

A long time ago Owen Black was betrayed by the girl he thought he loved and the guy he called his best friend. The anguish set off a domino effect of negativity in his life and he never has fully recovered. He meets Nellie Forrester and thinks he can let it go for her. 

But how can you love someone when the wounds from your past are still wide open?

I cannot even begin to tell you guys just how much I loved this book. It is literally beyond words, but I am going to try. 

I absolutely, 100%, positively, L-O-V-E-D this book! Now, I know I say that a lot, but as we all know, you will only find reviews written by me for this blog, ONLY if I LOVED the book. Therefore, that explains why you are now reading this review. Now, according to Amazon, I can only give a book 5 stars, but in the case of this book, I feel that all the stars in the universe should be awarded to this story. 

Love and Skate is steamy, it's beautiful, it's heartbreaking, and it has a resolution unlike any other. I wanted to literally crawl into this book and wrap both Nellie and Owen in my arms and tell them that they could get through anything. I wanted to kiss Falcon smack on the lips (Don't judge me, read the book, you'll see) on several occasions, because the guy was just too much of a mess and he made me giggle. I found myself wanting to nail Nellie's mother to the wall, and believe me, you might want to as well. That woman is... well, she's... Okay, just read it for yourself. You'll see. And I absolutely adored Owen's parents, and now I have this need to find out Sylvia's recipe for lemon cheesecake and make it for myself!

It's hard to find too many things that I can share with you that won't give anything away, so let me share with you one of my favorite lines in this book. I think I laughed for a good 3 minutes afterward...

"We spent the next day skating. Well, I skated and Owen tried but honestly he looked like the Hulk trying to glide on a Hot Wheels car."<----Funny stuff, right??? This book is filled with stuff like this. I swear.

Now, I will admit that there were a few times when I wanted to scream at them that they were moving too quickly, but in all honesty, if things had happened any slower, it wouldn't have captured my heart the way it did, and it certainly wouldn't have left me aching when the inevitable happened. I literally finished the book with tears in my eyes. Unshed ones, but tears are tears, right? 

Again, I'll tell you that this book sank into my heart and touched my soul. And it made me was a new tattoo, spider bite piercings and blue, pink, and purple hair! I'm not even kidding. It's my second favorite book of the fall (2012) and I hope you will all give it a try! You'll thank me. You have my word!

Also, be sure to check out the links below to get to know more about Lila Felix and her books! You'll also find the purchase links for Love and Skate below as well. Thanks for stopping by!!! 

Love and Skate on Amazon

Love and Skate on B&N

Lila's Facebook

Lila's Twitter

Lila's Blog

Incendiary Cover Reveal

Ladies and gentlemen, Amy Bartol has stopped by the blog by way of my friends over at SupaGurl Tours to reveal to you the cover for her upcoming release in the Premonition Series, Incendiary. You guys have absolutely NO IDEA how super excited I am about being a part of this cover reveal! I am so ready for this book to be out, that I can barely contain myself! Amy is an absolutely wonderful author, and a fabulous friend. I love her to pieces. 

The Premonition Series is definitely at the top of my reading chart for this year. There's something truly magical about these books. Is it the angels? Is it the Gancanaugh? Is it Reed or is it Brennus? Really, I can't say. What I can say though is if you haven't read these books then you are totally missing out. 

Before we get to the cover for the newest book Incendiary, allow me to share with you a bit about Amy Bartol. 

This is Amy. Isn't she beautiful?

Bio:

I live in Michigan with my husband and our two sons. My family is very supportive of my writing. When I’m writing, they often bring me the take-out menu so that I can call and order them dinner. They listen patiently when I talk about my characters like they’re real. They rarely roll their eyes when I tell them I’ll only be a second while I finish writing a chapter…and then they take off their coats. They ask me how the story is going when I surface after living for hours in a world of my own making. They have learned to accept my “writing uniform” consisting of a slightly unflattering pink fleece jacket, t-shirt, and black yoga pants. And they smile at my nerdy bookishness whenever I try to explain urban fantasy to them. In short, they get me, so they are perfect and I am blessed. Please visit me at my website:  http://www.amyabartol.com.

Okay, okay, I won't drag it out any longer. I know you guys are dying to see it, so...

Ready?!?!?!

Set....

COVER!!!!!!

Gorgeous, right?!?!?!

And this is the back. 

Blurb:

Cold, fine drops of rain fall softly on my cheeks as I emerge from the darkness of the ship’s interior to the gray, overcast sky of the main deck. Pulling my dark pea coat tighter to my body, the wind lifts red tendrils of my hair. I walk slowly to the railing overlooking the water.

I catch my first sight of the Irish coastline; its craggy landscape makes me shiver in dread. I find it difficult to imagine now how the Gancanagh had made this their home for so long without anyone realizing it. The cold, moss-covered edifices practically scream their presence. As I study the shadows between the falling-down stone, I imagine creeping shapes of undead Faeries grasping the rock, waiting for our ship to draw nearer to their position.

Tipping my face up, I let the rain wash over me. It bathes away the frigid sweat of fear that has broken on my brow. “You don’t know how fiercely beautiful you are, do you?” A quiet voice behind me asks, causing me to stiffen and fix my eyes on the rocks along the shoreline.

I know I've said it a few times throughout this post, but it needs to be said again. I absolutely cannot wait for this book!!! Now, I must tell y'all that the paperback version of Incendiary will be released on November 30th, and the eBook will release on December 7th. Neither of those dates will arrive quickly enough for me. In the meantime though, please be sure to visit the links below to find out more about Amy and her truly beautiful books!!! Thanks for stopping by and being a part of this reveal with me!!!!

Website/Blog

Pinterest

Facebook

Twitter

Amazon

Goodreads

From Where I Stand Cover Reveal

I am so incredibly honored to reveal to you guys the cover for my friend Robert Zimmermann's book of poetry due out soon. I absolutely cannot wait to add this book to my collection of books of poetry. I am an absolute sucker for it, but that could be because I'm terrible at writing it. *laughs* 


So anyway, on to the cover...

I am totally over the moon about the colors!

Blurb:

From Robert Zimmermann comes From Where I Stand, an emotional debut poetry collection.  Zimmermann explores strained parental relationships, loss of life, and the despair associated with grief.  Alongside these darker themes, he delves into the small areas of life that often go unnoticed but become the hope we are searching for.

Expected release November 2012

Example’s of Robert’s poetry can be found in the poetry section on his blog. He also has poems published by Albany Poets.

_____

QUOTES:

"Rob writes with an incredible sense of observation and feeling made all the more poignant by his struggles. Every verse is genuine and every poem is a journey toward understanding the soul of a poet." - Ben Ditmars, author of Night Poems.

“Zimmermann has achieved something rarely seen in modern poetry. Each poem is a personal and detailed story that will strike the heart of the reader with a torrent of emotion.  Zimmermann balances the dark and light beautifully and without a hint of hesitation.” - Jessica Fortunato, author of The Sin Collector Trilogy.


"Rob's poetry has a very real tone to it and in some ways creates a tragic yet poetic story." - Paulina Ulrich, author of the Flightless Bird Series.


"Honest, heartfelt and moving" - Amber Jerome-Norrgard, author of In The Gloaming

_____

And now please let me tell you a little about Robert...

Bio:

Robert has been writing poetry since the eleventh grade. His writing started as impulsive rambling, but soon became a passion. A few years later he attended SUNY Potsdam where he received a B.A. in Creative Writing.
His main focus is poetry, but at times you can find him dabbling in short fiction. Robert has also created the blog A Life Among The Pages, where he posts his writing as well as book reviews.
When he’s not reading or writing, Robert enjoys spending time with his dog, Deuc. Deuc ran out of the woods in August 2011 and the two have been inseparable ever since.

Thank you all for stopping by and sharing Robert's cover reveal with me. I was incredibly honored to have done this for him. I truly hope you will all buy your copy of this book the second it's available. Don't forget to follow the links below to learn even more about Robert.

Robert's Blog

Robert's Twitter

Robert's Facebook

Robert's Goodreads

Just Remember to Breathe

 Just Remember to Breathe

by

Charles Sheehan-Miles

Blurb:

Alex Thompson's life is following the script. A pre-law student at Columbia University, she's focused on her grades, her life and her future. The last thing she needs is to reconnect with the boy who broke her heart.

Dylan Paris comes home from Afghanistan severely injured and knows that the one thing he cannot do is drag Alex into the mess he's made of his life.

When Dylan and Alex are assigned to the same work study program and are forced to work side by side, they have to make new ground rules to keep from killing each other.

The only problem is, they keep breaking the rules.

The first rule is to never, ever talk about how they fell in love.

When I first read the blurb for Just Remember to Breathe, I knew that it had to be the book I had been waiting for.
 
Just Remember to Breathe was different, and in very many ways. The most profound way being that every so often I would have to remind myself that this wasn't my story written by someone who knew it.

This was fiction, and it was amazing.

The story grabs hold of you and does not let you go. I cried, I laughed, and I cried a little more.

When I turned to the last page, I was astounded. It was over. I wanted more, so much more. I had become completely invested in the world that Charles created, and I wanted...needed to know how the story would continue. Mostly, I wanted to hug Alex and Dylan. Watching, or reading as it were, the struggles of a wounded warrior and the woman who loved him was difficult. Here's why...

I understand this book.

I know this book.

I have lived this book.

Having said that, I must tell you that Just Remember to Breathe is, hands down, my FAVORITE book of 2012. This book is too good to pass up, and I beg of you, please read it. You may find yourself somewhere inside its pages too.

Don't forget to grab your copy by following one of the links below.

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords

Elizabeth Marx Dual Cover Reveal

Well, I'm doing it again everyone!!! I have another cover reveal for you guys. However, this time I've got two covers! 

The beautiful, and wonderfully talented Elizabeth Marx has stopped by my lovely blog to give us all a sneak peek at the covers for her upcoming books, Descent of Blood and Ascent of Blood. She's also been gracious enough to give us the blurbs for both books, and I have to tell y'all that I am super excited to read these books. Before I show you guys the covers though, I'd love to tell you a little about Elizabeth.

 Windy city writer, Elizabeth Marx, brings cosmopolitan flair to her fiction, which is a blend of romance and fast-paced Chicago living with a sprinkle of magical realism. In her past incarnation, she was an interior designer--not decorator--which basically means she has a piece of paper to prove that she knows how to match and measure things and can miraculously make mundane pieces of furniture appear to be masterpieces. Elizabeth says that being an interior designer is one part shrink, one part marriage counselor,  and one part artist, skills eerily similar to those employed in writing. Elizabeth grew up in Illinois and has also lived in Texas and Florida. Is she's not pounding her head against the wall trying to get the words just right, you can find her at a softball field out in the boonies or sitting in the bleachers by a basketball court. Elizabeth resides with her husband, girls, and two cats who've spelled everyone into believing they're really dogs. Elizabeth has traveled extensively, but still says there's no place like Chi-Town.

You can find Elizabeth at the following links:

Elizabeth's Website 

Elizabeth's Facebook 

Elizabeth's Twitter 

Elizabeth's Email 

Elizabeth's Blog 

Now, I know what you're all thinking. Why can't we get on with the reveals, right??? Well, I am happy to inform you that the time has come!!! So what do you say we get started, huh? First up is Descent of Blood. 

 

Blurb:

When times are darkest, some vampires desire more than blood …
England, 1465. Mortal men clash in the War of the Roses for the English crown, while vampire warriors’ move undetected among their ranks, savoring the flow of blood that battlefields provide.

Vampire prince, Severian Pearce, fears the revelation of the immortal clans to humankind should King Henry fall from power. While in pursuit of Henry’s enemies, Severian comes to the aid of Meridian Neville, a human woman he craves—and not for the scent of her blood … Meridian is torn between honoring her father’s dying wish and her unexplainable yearning for Lord Severian. But as Severian and Meridian work together to protect a relic hunted by mortals and immortals alike, the red veil descends over them. This all-consuming attraction can drive immortals to the brink of madness. Will the existence of this powerful bond between a human and a vampire be enough to unite the immortal clans or is the red veil a scourge set on destroying any chance they might have of happiness?

When all hope is lost, one vampire will fight unto death for his forbidden love.
 

I know y'all want this book now. I know I do. So, what do you guys say we dive right in to the cover and blurb for Ascent of Blood?

 

Blurb:

Sometimes, love is conceived in the mind of a man long before it is ever realized.

1990, Cardiff, Wales.  Vampire prince, Sebastian Pearce, has waited six-hundred years for the right human mate. His own beloved mother was a mortal capable of carrying immortal offspring. While vampires no longer require live donors for sustenance, Mother Nature has played a cruel trick on them … making breeders a rare commodity. As numbers in his Imperial House dwindle, Sebastian’s virgin bride eludes him, until he happens upon a young woman searching for information about a sacred vampire text, the Book of Descent. Sebastian’s desire for her is more potent than anything he’s felt for another woman, but Everleigh Marbut isn’t innocent. She’s an American with a mind of her own, and worst of all, she’s already carrying an immortal being. Sebastian and Everleigh are so intent on fighting their attraction to each other and the influence of the red veil that they don’t realize they’re being pulled into a battle pitting medieval myth against the power of modern science to recreate life.

Please allow me to say that I am completely interested in reading these books. I absolutely cannot wait for the release! They're going to be wonderful. Thank you all for stopping by to check out the cover reveal, and an even bigger thank you to Elizabeth for allowing me to do this cover reveal for her. It's been great!!! Don't forget to head over to Amazon and check out other books by Elizabeth! You'll find the link below.

Amazon

 

 

Ten Tiny Breaths Cover Reveal

Okay guys and girls! I've got another cover reveal for y'all! My beautiful friend, the ever amazing and uber talented, K.A. Tucker is gearing up to release a new book called Ten Tiny Breaths. I can assure you that I am so stoked about this book, I'm not going to delay the reveal any longer. 

Here it is, in all it's glory!

Isn't it just spectacular?!

And now for the blurb that goes along with this absolutely stunning cover...

Blurb:

Kacey Cleary’s whole life imploded four years ago in a drunk-driving accident. Now she’s working hard to bury the pieces left behind—all but one. Her little sister, Livie. Kacey can swallow the constant disapproval from her born-again aunt Darla over her self-destructive lifestyle; she can stop herself from going kick-boxer crazy on Uncle Raymond when he loses the girls’ college funds at a blackjack table. She just needs to keep it together until Livie is no longer a minor, and then they can get the hell out of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

But when Uncle Raymond slides into bed next to Livie one night, Kacey decides it’s time to run. Armed with two bus tickets and dreams of living near the coast, Kacey and Livie start their new lives in a Miami apartment complex, complete with a grumpy landlord, a pervert upstairs, and a neighbor with a stage name perfectly matched to her chosen “profession.” But Kacey’s not worried. She can handle all of them. What she can’t handle is Trent Emerson in apartment 1D.

Kacey doesn’t want to feel. She doesn’t. It’s safer that way. For everyone. But sexy Trent finds a way into her numb heart, reigniting her ability to love again. She starts to believe that maybe she can leave the past where it belongs and start over. Maybe she’s not beyond repair.

But Kacey isn’t the only one who’s broken. Seemingly perfect Trent has an unforgivable past of his own; one that, when discovered, will shatter Kacey’s newly constructed life and send her back into suffocating darkness.

Do you guys see what I mean? This book is going to be noteworthy, and I can't wait to get my hands on it!

Make sure you guys grab K.A.'s Casual Enchantment series if you haven't already. It's a wonderful series, and I will be posting a review on all three of the book in the coming weeks. Make sure you check back for that! 

Be sure you follow the links below to learn more about K.A., Ten Tiny Breaths, and the Casual Enchantment series.

K.A.'s Facebook

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Amazon

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Grab My Hand (Indie Authors & Bloggers Against Bullying)

My friends (Kismet & Kindred) over at Sparring Stepsisters recently started an anti-bullying campaign to let everyone know that they too are against bullying in any way, shape, or form. Kismet asked me if I would like to be a part of this campaign and of course, I jumped at the opportunity. I couldn't be any more against bullying if I tried. It's disgusting and ignorant and cruel. No one is perfect, and I'm of the firm belief that those who bully others are cowards or are trying to compensate for the lack of something be it love, understanding, guidance, what have you.

That being said, please allow me to share with you a story. One that will probably have a profound effect on you, but every single word of it is absolute truth.

I myself was never subjected to bullying. People pretty much knew to leave me alone and stay out of my way. It didn't stop people from trying, but I'm not one to be easily intimidated, and I will fight back when push comes to shove. However, I knew several people who were subjected to bullying, whether at the hands of their peers or even their own parents. My best friend Danny was one of those people.

Danny was a shining star, and he always will be. To me at least. When Danny and I met, it was pretty much cosmic. There was an instant bond between us that even to this day I could never be able to explain in detail. It was just there. He had the world at his feet. He could have been anyone, gone anywhere, done anything. He was in a band, he had stellar grades, he was going places. He knew it, I knew it, his band mates and all of our other friends knew it, but... Danny never got the chance. 

You see, Danny's father was a drunk and a bastard and a BULLY! No matter how well Danny did, his father always found a way to bring him down. It didn't matter. In his eyes, Danny was worthless and would never amount to anything. His father didn't know the Danny I knew, and I was ALWAYS there to pick Danny up after his father knocked him down. ALWAYS. It didn't matter what I was doing, who I was with, or even where I was. If Danny called, I ran and I ran fast. I watched him battle through depression and illness and cutting and suicide attempts. You name it, I got him through it, or at the very least I tried to. We'd talk it out or I'd take him to a therapist or he'd play while I sang. Music was his outlet, and on more than a few occasions, Danny would tell me that I was his life. "Love eternal," he would say. You know how some people say Cake or Pie to one another? I would say blue butterflies, and Danny would say love eternal. It was our thing.

Now, you may be wondering why I continuously refer to Danny in the past tense, or maybe some of you have already figured it out, but I'm going to tell you anyway.

Danny committed suicide. His father came home drunk and called him names and punched him repeatedly. Danny couldn't take it anymore so he found his way out, and I will forever be haunted by the guilt I feel over his death even though I know it wasn't my fault. Even though I know that even if I had just sat outside with him for 10-15 minutes and done what I could to talk him down, he still may have done it. If not that night, then another. Even though I know the real reasons behind his doing it, I will forever feel guilty for turning my back on him all because I wanted to spend time with the guy I had been seeing. I was selfish, but so was Danny. 

The pain is always there. Sometimes I wonder where Danny would be today had I just sat out there with him and listened like he'd asked me to. I wonder if he'd be recording music for some big label and touring the world sharing his gift and his genius with all the people in it, but I know it will never happen. The world lost a diamond, and I lost my star.

So this post is for Danny and for all of the others out there who have been or are being bullied. THIS ISN'T ALL THERE IS! THIS IS NOT THE END! Please, please, I am begging you... GET HELP! Find a therapist, take a self defense class, talk to a teacher or an adult period. STAND UP AND FIGHT BACK!!! There are people out there who can and WILL help you! There are people out there who will love you no matter what. THIS IS NOT THE END!!!

In the words of my everlasting star...

Blue butterflies and love eternal!