Starflower Blog Tour: Finale Spotlight and Giveaway Winner Announced!

I'm proud to present the finale of Starflower Blog Tour today, as hosted by Prism Book Tours!
Before the giveaway, here's a few things about Starflower, by Anne Elisabeth Stengl!

Series: Tales of Goldstone Wood, #4

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 400
Publisher: Bethany House
Publication Date: Nov 1, 2012
Website: Anne Elisabeth Stengl | Starflower on Goodreads

Synopsis:


When a cursed dragon-witch kidnaps the lovely Lady Gleamdren, Eanrin sets boldly forth on a rescue mission...and a race against his rival for Gleamdren's favor. Intent upon his quest, the last thing the immortal Faerie needs is to become mixed up with the troubles of an insignificant mortal. 

But when he stumbles upon a maiden trapped in an enchanted sleep, he cannot leave her alone in the dangerous Wood Between. One waking kiss later, Eanrin suddenly finds his story entangled with that of young Starflower. A strange link exists between this mortal girl and the dragon-witch. Will Starflower prove the key to Lady Gleamdren's rescue? Or will the dark power from which she flees destroy both her and her rescuer?

Get Starflower on Amazon | Amazon Kindle | Book Depository | Barnes and Noble Nook
You can also check out the other books in the series! Heartless | Veiled Rose | Moonblood | Starflower | Dragonwitch

Book Spotlight, Excerpt and Giveaways! Spellbound by Nikkie Jefford

I know I've been MIA for a while (missing a huge amount of posts at that), as my laptop has some trouble connecting with the wifi network at my place and it's only been fixed today! But  I hope it's will be up and running more consistently from now on, as I've got a lot to share with you guys!

For today, I'm hosting a book promo for the series Spellbound by Nikki Jefford. This promo is hosted by Xpresso Book Tours.

Now, a few things on all the 3 books in the series!

Entangled (Spellbound, #1)

Series: Spellbound
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 303
Publication Date: Feb 20, 2012
Website: Nikki Jefford | Entangled on Goodreads

Synopsis:

Two months after dying, seventeen-year-old witch Graylee Perez wakes up in her twin sister Charlene’s body.

Until Gray finds a way back inside her own body, she’s stuck being Charlene every twenty-hour hours. Her sister has left precise instructions on how Gray should dress and behave. Looking like a prep isn’t half as bad as hanging out with Charlene’s snotty friends and gropey boyfriend.

The “normals” of McKinley High might be quick to write her behavior off as post-traumatic stress, but warlock Raj McKenna is the only person who suspects Gray has returned from the dead.

Now Gray has to solve the mystery of her death and resurrection and disentangle herself from Charlene’s body before she disappears for good.

Get Entangled on Amazon | Amazon Kindle | Book Depository | Barnes and Noble Nook
Keep reading to learn more about the 2 other books in the trilogy!

WinterHaven Sleigh Tour: Dear Santa

Christmas is coming, and today I'm joining the WinterHaven Sleigh Tour hosted by WinterHaven Books!
This week, I am writing Santa a letter for my book wish that I hope to receive this season. To see who else has written to Santa, go to WinterHaven Sleigh Tour for a list of participating blogs.

Dear Santa, 

It has been a while since I last wrote to you, but this year I felt like I should. It’s not that I stopped believing in you, I just thought I’m a bit too old to be writing to Santa Claus. 

First, let me introduce myself: I’m a 15-year-old girl, currently studying in Singapore on a scholarship, and a blogger in my free time. In fact, the last part is one of the reasons why I’m writing to you now :P 

I’ve achieved my little share of goals this year: I worked hard at school to receive the aforementioned scholarship, and graduated my junior high with good grades. Also, I plucked up the courage to do a few things I’ve always wanted to do, like joining a drama team and starting my own book blog :) 

Santa, this Christmas I would love to get The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. It’s a well-written book, with sky-high reviews, and I think the themes are rather fitting for Christmas! 

Thanks so much, and please send my love to Mrs. Claus and all the elves and the reindeers! 

Katie

What are YOU wishing for this Christmas?

READ-A-THON! X-It by Jane George: Chapter 13-15 “In which everything changes”

*THIS POST CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR THE BOOK

Check out the previous posts of the Read-A-Thon!

Disclaimer: This book contains some descriptions of sexual nature (that only adds to the plot and characterization, if I may add).

What X-It is about:

Genre: Young Adult

Pages: 210
Publication Date: Mar 26, 2012
Website: Jane George | X-It on Goodreads

Synopsis:

LOVE IS A DRUG.

In 1980 NYC, eighteen-year-old J.J. Buckingham is an uptight trendoid. Working as a mannequin painter and a counter girl, she moonlights as a creature of the nightclubs. J.J. falls for aloof, crazy-talented artist and bicycle messenger X-It. In order to win his love, she succumbs to the dark machinations of drug dealer Marko Voodoo. X-It will love her if she’s the queen of underground Manhattan, right? Her plan backfires with horrendous consequences. Can J.J. find her way out of a maze of drugs, clubs, and danger?

In Chapter 13-15...

It goes kinda crazy here: After the breakdown at J.J. and X-It’s house, their relationship back in NYC seems much better (to J.J.’s excitement). She checks out art school as promised to Michael, although it ends in disaster. But when everything seems to be looking up, X-It moves out with Penny, leaving Voodoo to be J.J.’s new roommate.

My thoughts

Once again, a late post - life has been going everywhere it seems. I’ll try to update sooner for the next 3 chapters!

Anyway, back to the story. I think these 3 chapters would be what we call the “hinge” of a novel, as everything seems to turn to a new direction. Things are going amazing for J.J. and X-It in Chapter 13 – I can’t forget that flashback when she calls them the Peter Pan and Tinkerbelle of Never Never Manhattan – that even after the catastrophe at art school in Chapter 14 can’t dampen the mood of the story. And then comes Chapter 15.

X-It’s “betrayal” must have struck J.J. hard. He’s her roommate, her best friend, her confidante, her everything. Gosh, he’s the person she loves so much she would give her all to see him succeed. She loves him - how can he do this to her?

As long as I have him to love, to urge on to greatness, I will keep painting mannequins and paying the rent.

This comment is even more resonant when a few pages later, J.J. is forced to face what she wants and what she thinks she wants while talking to Bela, a mannequin sculptor:

"You have hands of an artist, sensitive, but you are not an artist, no?"
"I want to be."
"Is mannequin painter the kind of artist you want to be?"

And then, even when she decides to check out art school:

I already increased my salary for the week by hand modeling, so I’m not worried.

*EMPHASIS ADDED

The not-so-coincidental repetition of the phrase “mannequin painter” does make us wonder if X-It is holding her back, or rather, if she is holding herself back devoting all her life to X-It. Her first priority is to paint mannequins and pay the rent (to, if you remember, "have him to love and urge on to greatness"), not doing what is necessary for her future.

This also put X-It’s feelings for her in perspective. J.J. is so happy now that he’s interested in her – in fact, this makes her list of the two Christmas presents. But does X-It actually feel that way? The more I think, the more I find I don’t understand him. Does he not understand J.J.’s feeling? Aren't they best friends? If not, how can he be so ignorant? But if so, how can he be so cold-hearted as to sign on the lease with Penny and not talk to J.J.’s first? Or is this just some artist’ temperament?

Now that X-It’s gone, Voodoo volunteers to be J.J.’s new roommate. That creates some new questions itself: Does Voodoo care for J.J. – even love her, or is he just using her? And is he evil or not? (Since he is now living with J.J., I sure hope Michael is right, and that he is not as evil as he thinks he is.)

And most importantly, what does Crikey know about Voodoo? Why this expression?

[Crikey] looks from me to Voodoo with a strange expression riding his features, then turns and lives.

So many questions in need of answers! I can’t wait to continue reading!

Comment below on your thoughts of X-It – and of the questions I just posed!

READ-A-THON! X-It by Jane George: Chapter 10-12 “All the broken families”

*THIS POST CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR THE BOOK

Check out the previous posts of the Read-A-Thon!

Disclaimer: This book contains some descriptions of sexual nature (that only adds to the plot and characterization, if I may add).

Once again, what X-It is about:

Genre: Young Adult

Pages: 210
Publication Date: Mar 26, 2012
Website: Jane George | X-It on Goodreads

Synopsis:

LOVE IS A DRUG.

In 1980 NYC, eighteen-year-old J.J. Buckingham is an uptight trendoid. Working as a mannequin painter and a counter girl, she moonlights as a creature of the nightclubs. J.J. falls for aloof, crazy-talented artist and bicycle messenger X-It. In order to win his love, she succumbs to the dark machinations of drug dealer Marko Voodoo. X-It will love her if she’s the queen of underground Manhattan, right? Her plan backfires with horrendous consequences. Can J.J. find her way out of a maze of drugs, clubs, and danger?

In Chapter 10-12...

We are introduced to J.J. and X-It’s families, both dysfunctional in their own way. J.J. has a mother whose only contacts to her are postcards and long-distance phone calls, a father who is brain-damaged and doesn’t recognize her, and a grandma who was the one who signed her parents’ divorce papers. X-It has a family who calls him Thomas and disapproves of his life and his friends.

My thoughts

Firstly, I want to apologize for the late post, all kinds of things have been happening yesterday and I couldn't find the time to write this till now!

Anyway…
WOW, that was one of the best reading sessions I've ever had! Totally blown me away – I so wanted to keep reading and find out what would happen to J.J.! The pacing was so tightly-packed, the story full of interesting plot points! There’s not a single excessive word!

And I got what I wanted in the last post! The backstory was enough to help fill some of the contradictions in the characterization, like how J.J. craves to be a rebel slash punk-chic, and still keeps her morality intact (instead of sinking to the depth of Voodoo and the like).

These chapters also come the reappearance of a character I haven’t talked about (I thought he would not be important, but maybe I was wrong :P), Michael. I’ll just let J.J. describe him for you:

Michael’s ability to be practical after being woken in the middle of the night is just the tonic I need.

Yes, this guy is reasonable. He is kind, caring, and gentle. He is perfect.
Kind of too perfect for me.

On my first read, I was swooning over him about how sweet he is, but when I reread the chapters, he seems too good to be real. He’s either a serious flaw in the author’s otherwise amazing characterization, or we are going to find that Michael is more than meet the eyes. It doesn't have to be a huge plot twist or anything (like, for example, he turned out to be, say, the one who supplies Voodoo with drugs - now that would make for an interesting story), just a few small faults will do. (Keeping my fingers crossed for this!)

To backtrack a bit: The story was so fast-paced that I was skipping over passages and passages to find out what happened next! So I had to do a reread, and even so, Jane George didn't disappoint. She managed to make the languages, the descriptions and comparisons so heart-wrenching, so real, and yet still have a bit of “her” in it. Here’s one of my favorites:

The department store would make a fantastic nightclub. This thought sticks X-It into the forefront of my mind with the accuracy of a switchblade.

There’s also one awesome scene when J.J. watches a muskrat drown in the flooding river, and in my opinion, was a great allegory for her own situation.

The thing is, who – or what – is the water? Her family, her friends in New York, or her life there? What do you think?

Until tomorrow then – I mean this evening!Don’t forget to comment on what your thoughts on X-It are so far!

Keepers of the Zodiac Blog Tour: Author Interview with Sharon Wood

I'm hosting the Keepers of the Zodiac Blog Tour (hosted by Reading Addiction Blog Tours) today! Read on for an author interview with Sharon Wood!
But first, here are a few things about the book:

Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 234

Publisher: Self-published

Publication Date: Oct 19, 2011

Website: Keepers of the Zodiac | Keepers of the Zodiac on Goodreads

Synopsis via Goodreads: 

The stars have shifted and the Earth is rapidly moving into the throes of chaos. 

Four god-like beings known as the Zodiac High Council, send their winged herald, Syrie, out with twelve sealed envelopes. His mission? To bring a chosen group of thirteen future Zodiac Keepers, including a set of mesmerizing twins, to the Isle of Oriba for training. 

Syrie never could have imagined that he would fall in love along the way--ultimately forcing him to choose between betrayal and death. 

Keepers of the Zodiac is an enthralling tale of obligatory fate, temporary hope, and impossible love.

Get this book on Amazon | Barnes and Noble Nook

Now for a few thoughts from Sharon Wood herself...

Why did you first start writing? And why YA fantasy?
I have always wanted to write a book since I was little. I have written many stories, but never really finished any of them. I felt like the stars had aligned, and it was time to get serious. I like to say that KOTZ is reality with a touch of fantasy, rather than being all fantasy. I like Young Adult because it’s not too serious or heavy. Reality with a touch of fantasy is fun, because you can be transported to another world, yet still feel like things aren’t impossible. 

What’s your favorite part of an author’s life, besides writing? What’s your least favorite?
My favorite part about being an author is the entertainment factor. I love it when people say that they were entertained by the story, or were able to identify with some of the characters. My least favorite part is the editing process. I am anxious to get the work out, but I can’t because there are many things that need fixing and fine-tuning. 

What part of KOTZ was your favorite to write?
I loved inventing the characters. I have a special attachment to all of them, because they are each so unique. Their background stories were fun to create. I ended up bringing in certain elements of my own life, and it is fun because the reader has no idea whether or not they’re made up.

What part of KOTZ was the hardest to write? What was the hardest part of writing, in general?
The hardest part to write were the chapters surrounding the Keepers’ training. I did not want the training to be the focus of the book, yet I felt it had to be there. The hardest part of writing in general is keeping your head in what you are writing. I am a mom of two children that deserve my attention. I also have a full-time job, so I try to write mostly after work, after the kids have gone to bed. It is still easy to get distracted though, because you know there are household things that need to get done. 

5. What’s the inspiration behind the names of KOTZ? Do you do research on names and meanings, or do they just come to you at the right moment?
I do not do any research on names. The names come to me as I develop their personalities and stories. For instance, let’s take Cassidy. She is a bratty, rude girl, so I wanted a name that went along with that. Not that I think that all Cassidys are bratty, but when the name came to me, I immediately thought, “Sounds like Sassidy.” If I had named her something like Ann, it would not have fit as well. The only name that was inspired is Priscilla. The character Priscilla is based on my real life cousin. 

Quick fire round!

What's the last book you read? Did you like it?
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith. I did like it!

What are you currently reading?
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Who’s your favorite author? Your favorite book?
Author - Nora Roberts. Book- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Character or plot, which comes first?
Plot

Summarize KOTZ in 1 sentence?
A tantalizing tale of love, isolation, destiny, and worldly chaos. 

KOTZ as a film – who’s your first pick as director?
Catherine Hardwicke

KOTZ as a film – live action or animated?
Live Action

A film about your life – what’s the title?
The Dreamer

What’s your favorite Disney film?
The Little Mermaid

What do you think about Keepers of the Zodiac, now that you've heard from the writer? Please comment!

READ-A-THON! X-It by Jane George: Chapter 7-9 “Let’s hear it for backstory!”

*THIS POST CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR THE BOOK

Check out the intro post, the first post, and the second post of this Read-A-Thon!

Disclaimer: This book contains some descriptions of sexual nature (that only adds to the plot and characterization, if I may add).

Here's what X-It is about:

Genre: Young Adult

Pages: 210
Publication Date: Mar 26, 2012
Website: Jane George | X-It on Goodreads

Synopsis:

LOVE IS A DRUG.

In 1980 NYC, eighteen-year-old J.J. Buckingham is an uptight trendoid. Working as a mannequin painter and a counter girl, she moonlights as a creature of the nightclubs. J.J. falls for aloof, crazy-talented artist and bicycle messenger X-It. In order to win his love, she succumbs to the dark machinations of drug dealer Marko Voodoo. X-It will love her if she’s the queen of underground Manhattan, right? Her plan backfires with horrendous consequences. Can J.J. find her way out of a maze of drugs, clubs, and danger?

In Chapter 7-9...

J.J. is still annoyed with her apartment being occupied by people she has been running away from. She decided to take a trip back to her hometown, traveling partway with X-It.

My thoughts

J.J. is getting even more and more interesting, if that’s even possible. I may even have to do a character study on this girl if I have the time! She’s a contradiction to herself; she wants to do things and thinks about them always, but never gets to doing them.

What’s funny is that, usually, I would jump to the conclusion that such a character is either indecisive or weak, but with J.J, I never lose hope in her (although I still feel she could have handle the house residence problem more firmly). Maybe it’s the language she uses, or the different things that she notices, but in any case, kudos to the author for the amazing characterization!