Book Tour by My Foolish Heart by Susan May Warren

My Foolish Heart by Susan May Warren

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Publish Date: April 18, 2011

Paperback, 384 pages
ISBN: 978-1414334820
Fiction, Romance

***  My Review will be coming later this week (I'm still running behind and I'm at Duke University Hospital today getting a MRI and visiting with my neurosurgeon) ***

About the Book:

Unknown to her tiny town of Deep Haven, Isadora Presley spends her nights as Miss Foolish Heart, the star host of a syndicated talk radio show. Millions tune in to hear her advice on dating and falling in love, unaware that she’s never really done either. Issy’s ratings soar when it seems she’s falling in love on-air with a caller. A caller she doesn’t realize lives right next door.

Caleb Knight served a tour of duty in Iraq and paid a steep price. The last thing he wants is pity, so he hides his disability and moves to Deep Haven to land his dream job as the high school football coach. When his beautiful neighbor catches his eye, in a moment of desperation he seeks advice from My Foolish Heart, the show that airs before his favorite sports broadcast. 

Before he knows it, Caleb finds himself drawn to the host—and more confused than ever. Is his perfect love the woman on the radio . . . or the one next door?

Read an excerpt here: http://www.susanmaywarren.com/novels/contemporary-romance/

 Link to buy the book: http://www.amazon.com/My-Foolish-Heart-Deep-Haven/dp/1414334826/ref=sprightly-20

 

About the Author:

Susan May Warren is an award-winning, best-selling author of over twenty-five novels, many of which have won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, the ACFW Book of the Year award, the Rita Award, and have been Christy finalists. After serving as a missionary for eight years in Russia, Susan returned home to a small town on Minnesota’s beautiful Lake Superior shore where she, her four children, and her husband are active in their local church.

Susan's larger than life characters and layered plots have won her acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. A seasoned women’s events and retreats speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!. She is also the founder ofwww.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.

Susan makes her home in northern Minnesota, where she is busy cheering on her two sons in football, and her daughter in local theater productions (and desperately missing her college-age son!)

A full listing of her titles, reviews and awards can be found at:www.susanmaywarren.com.

Win a Romantic Night on the Town from Miss Foolish Heart! Susan May Warren is thrilled to announce the release of her latest Deep Haven book, My Foolish Heart! Read what the reviewers are saying here. To celebrate this charming novel about a dating expert who's never had a date, Susan has put together a romantic night on the town for one lucky couple. One grand prize winner will receive a Miss Foolish Heart prize package worth over $200!

The winner of the Romantic Night on the Town Prize Pack will receive:

• * A $100 Visa Gift Card (For Dinner) 
• * A $100 Gift Certificate to a Hyatt/Marriott Hotel 
• * The entire Deep Haven series 

To enter just click one of the icons below. But, hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on June 16th. The winner will be announced that evening during Susan’s Miss Foolish Heart Party on Facebook! Susan will be chatting with guests, hosting a book club chat about My Foolish Heart, testing your Deep Haven trivia skills, and giving away tons of great stuff! (Gift certificates, books, donuts, and more!) Don't miss the fun and BRING YOUR FRIENDS! 

FTC Information: I received this book through Litfuse Publicity Group to review for the current tour.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

Book Review: C.Y.A.: The Sext Crime by Jason Ancona

The Sext Crime (Covert Youth Agency #2) by Jason Ancona

Publisher: CreateSpace

Publish Date: March 1, 2011

Paperback, 280 pages
ISBN: 978-1460969342
Young Adult, Suspense
Ages 12 and up

My Review:

The Sext Crime was a thoroughly entertaining book that I think would do well with teenagers 12 and up.  The warning below is perfect for the book and for the humor.  There is no sex in this book, just references to a picture the girl texts to her boyfriend.  The boo also has very little bad language and the only one who uses bad language is a grumpy teacher who is out to find out who the members of the Covert Youth Agency are.  So this book is completely appropriate for pre-teens and teens and others (meaning adults) should enjoy this as well.

On the surface, The Sext Crime appears to be a light-hearted and easy-going fun book to read.  Yes there is a problem to solve and The Covert Youth Agency is on the job.  A girl who is running for school President is being blackmailed to leave the race because racy pictures were found that she sent to her boyfriend.  Sexting as it is know is illegal and when pursued in the legal system system can lead to serious consequences.  At the beginning this is mentioned but more effort it put into the story.

The main characters are introduced, Pi, Lightman and Tollhouse, the members of the CYA.  They all  have their parts and thei r specialties.  I believe they were introduced more in the first book (which I have but have not had a chance to read yet).  But I got a good feel for each of the characters in this book.  After introductions are made and the case is accepted, the ball really starts rolling and never slows down.  I enjoyed trying to figure out with the members of CYA just who was behind the blackmail.

It's a fun romp but when you finish reading it you realize that there is so much more there.  It does cover sexting, there is even some addressing of bullying, but one of my favorite things, is that this book shows there are consequences for all actions even as teenagers, even the ones you think are innocent or the ones you do to protect someone.  The second thing I really liked (and this is as a parent).  The parents of the kids in CYA are well-represented and caring parents.  They are involved in their kids lives and don't let them run completely without supervision and I find that refreshing and more realistic in teen fiction.

But when it comes down to it - The Sext Crime is a fun book full of intrigue, spying and general teenage mayhem.  I loved every minute and look forward to reading the first book in the series and any more that follow.  So read, enjoy, fall in love with Pi, Lightman and Tollhouse and try to figure out the bad guy.

My Rating: 4.0/5.0



About the Book:
SNAP--a girl sexts racy pics of herself.
She thought the fun shots would stay between her and her boyfriend.

SNAP--an anonymous hacker hijacks her photos.
If she doesn't obey, she'll be exposed.

SNAP--the Covert Youth Agency takes the girl's case.
The agents jump headfirst into Operation: Sext Crime. Their new client has less than a week to surrender to the hacker's ultimatum. Or else the naughty photos go "wide."

SEND--a squad of goons are closing in on C.Y.A. members.
Agent identities may be unmasked.

REPLY ALL--end communication.
It's not safe.

WARNING--this book contains NO explicit sexual content.
Material suitable for ages 12 and above. May contain some humor.

About the Author:
Freakishly nerdy in high school, Jason became a certifiable weakling his sophomore year when he lost an arm-wrestling match to a female cheerleader in class. Never a participant in school activities, he fantasized about being someone else--an athlete, a secret agent, or whatever character he commanded in the latest computer role-playing-game. His imaginary worlds didn't help in the dating department, but they sure were fun to explore. A graduate of UCLA's Screenwriting Program, he has written various feature film scripts and television shows. In the Fall of 2010, he quit his corporate job, leaving Los Angeles and all of his belongings behind, save his computer and his clothes. He's currently hiding in the Chicago suburbs, where he's making friends with the locals--mostly deer and squirrels.

Website/Blog
Twitter
Facebook

FTC Information: I received this book through The Teen Book Scene to review for the current tour.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

Book Review: Bloodspell by Amalie Howard

Bloodspell by Amalie Howard

Publisher: Langdon Street Press

Publish Date: June 1, 2011

Paperback, 369 pages
ISBN: 978-1-936782-11-6
Young Adult, Paranormal

My Review:

One thing I think sums this book up best is a statement in the Langdon Street Press' publicity page for Bloodspell and it says this:  "Bloodspell is a story of feeling like an outsider, a love story and a story of triumph over adversity.  Don't fall victim to what you are, but find the courage and strength to define who you are."

That truly sums up this book.  But in a way it oversimplifies.  I found this book to be very complex and engaging.  It does hold true to the above statement.  Victoria or "Tori" is an outsider and she is trying to figure out why and how to come to terms with who and what she is.  When she starts attending a new school, she starts to fit in better and finds herself intrigued by a student at the nearby college who is often at the high school helping out, Christian.  And there begins their love story.  But their love story if fraught with difficulties.  I like how this book made it different by each of them having their doubts at different times.  It wasn't him always saying they couldn't be together or her always saying it.  They both had doubts because of what they were and laws that governed witches and vampires.

I also found the witch and vampire element to be refreshing.  I know there are witches in the Sookie Stackhouse series along with the vampires but I haven't seen this element as much in young adult fiction.  It felt fresh and new.  I especially like that the main focus was on Victoria and her learning to be a witch and control her special powers.

The first third of the book starts the world building and the defining of the characters which is enjoyable.  But after about 100 pages this book really takes off and is action-filled.  No long sappy scenes for the whole book - this is more about Tori finding herself and helping Christian and others as well.  There are some great scenes where these two declare their love and while it's always in the background, I never felt the love story was the true focus.  The focus was more on the inner struggles and that really made the book.

If you enjoy books with good character development and a lot of action then this is a book for you.  I like how the ending is pretty much sewn up, but there are some open threads I could see possibly leading to another book, which would be awesome, but if there is not another book in the works involving Christian and Tori, I would be okay with that as well.

Some of my favorite quotes, first one that shows the struggle Tori faces (and how well the author puts it in Tori's words):

"Tori, she attacked you. You defended yourself and she lost.  That was it," he said.

"You don't understand.  I took her magic into myself, and even though it was filthy and cloying, I liked it.  I liked the feeling of power and when I killed her I liked it even more!  I loved it.  It was so easy ... I reveled in taking ... the taking ..." Victoria gasped, unable to finish. "The blood takes and feeds ... and I am helpless against it."

Another fun quote that pokes fun at vampire lore and mainstream media at the moment (I think it shows the author has a great sense of humor).  This is Christian talking about hiding being a vampire with Tori:

"Their scientists and forensic experts have the tools and technology now, not to mention all the books and films flaunting our secrets!"

My Rating: 4.25/5.0



About the Book:
The spell was simple... ''Cruentus Protectum'' (''Defend the Blood'')

But what do you do if your blood is your enemy?

Victoria Warrick has always known she was different. An outcast at school, she is no stranger to adversity. But when she receives an old journal for her seventeenth birthday, nothing prepares her for the dark secrets it holds--much less one that reveals she's a witch with unimaginable power.
What's more, when she meets the dazzling but enigmatic Christian Devereux, she has no idea how much her life is about to change. Enemies will hunt her. Friends will turn on her. The terrible curse that makes her blood run black will stop at nothing to control her. And Christian has a sinister secret of his own...

Without knowing whom to trust, can Victoria survive her blood's deadly desires? Or will she lose everything, including herself?

About the Author:
Amalie Howard grew up on a small Caribbean island where she spent most of her childhood with her nose buried in a book or being a tomboy running around barefoot, shimmying up mango trees and dreaming of adventure. She received a bachelor's degree from Colby College in Maine in International Studies and French, and a certificate in French Literature from the Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris, France. She has also lived in Los Angeles, Boston, and New York City. She has worked as a research assistant, marketing rep, global sales executive, freelance writer, and blogger. A lover of other cultures and new experiences, especially of the culinary variety, she has traveled extensively across North America and Europe, and as far east as China, Indonesia, and Australia. She currently resides in New York with her husband, three children, and one very willful cat that she is convinced may have been a witch's cat in a past life.

FTC Information: I received this book through The Teen Book Scene to review for the current tour.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

Book Tour: Cursebusters! by Julie Smith

Cursebusters! by Julie Smith

Publisher: Bold Strokes Books

Publish Date: May 17, 2011

Paperback, 264 pages
ISBN: 978-1602825598
Young Adult, Paranormal

** I apologize, I am running behind and have just started this book.  I hope to have all four reviews from the past two days up over the weekend.  Until then, learn more about this book below.  **

About the Book:
Budding-psychic Reeno is the most accomplished teenage burglar in California, but one tiny screw-up and poof!—she's sentenced to Bad Girl School. And that isn’t even her worst problem. Her sister Haley’s dying of an illness no one can diagnose, and now she can’t even help.

But wait, maybe she can! The school psychics have found each other and formed their own club. With the help of her gay friend Carlos and the other Ozone Rangers, Reeno finds out Haley’s disease is the result of an ancient Mayan curse. And A.B., the group's sinister non-faculty adviser, claims he knows how to break it.

All Reeno has to do is time-travel to an ancient Mayan city and steal a little item A.B. needs to save the world. Since she’s an ace thief, he has complete confidence she can execute the task before the outraged Mayans can execute her.

But can she trust A.B.? Despite his cuddly appearance, she knows he’s a merciless predator and ruthless assassin.

And he's not even human.
About the Author:
Julie Smith is a former journalist who began her career at the New Orleans Times-Picayune and then moved on to the San Francisco Chronicle, where she remained for fifteen years, absorbing gritty realism and (hopefully) street smarts, as careful preparation for a life of crime. Crime-writing, that is.

She’s the author of 20 adult mysteries featuring three female sleuths and one neglected guy: A cop (Officer Skip Langdon, NOPD), a PI (Talba Wallis, poet and computer genius, also of New Orleans), a semi-amateur detective (Rebecca Schwartz, San Francisco lawyer), and a complete amateur (Paul McDonald, crime writer, also of San Francisco). The first book in the Skip Langdon series, New Orleans Mourning, won the Edgar Allan Poe award for Best Novel.

Cursebusters!, Smith’s first YA novel, is also her first paranormal adventure. While writing it, she met a young male editor who gave her the quote she thinks most embodies the spirit of the book and her own philosophy as a YA author. It’s this: “There’s far too much emphasis in YA on the importance of girls getting the guy (or the girl—this is Bold Strokes here!) and not nearly enough on the importance of girls kicking ass.” Smith deeply and firmly believes in the importance of girls kicking ass, an opportunity they’re seldom afforded in real life—hence, every opportunity must be taken in fiction.

FTC Information: I received this book through The Teen Book Scene to review for the current tour.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

 

Book Tour: Faith by Jennifer Haigh

Faith by Jennifer Haigh

Publisher: Harper

Publish Date: May 10, 2011

Hardcover, 336 pages 
Fiction
ISBN: 978-0060755805






*** My review will be coming later today ***

About the Book:
When Sheila McGann sets out to redeem her disgraced brother, a once-beloved Catholic priest in suburban Boston, her quest will force her to confront cataclysmic truths about her fractured Irish-American family, her beliefs, and, ultimately, herself. Award-winning author Jennifer Haigh follows her critically acclaimed novels Mrs. Kimble and The Condition with a captivating, vividly rendered portrait of fraying family ties, and the trials of belief and devotion, in Faith.

About the Author:

Jennifer Haigh is the author of the New York Times bestseller Baker Towers, winner of the 2006 PEN/L. L. Winship Award for outstanding book by a New England author; Mrs. Kimble, which won the PEN/Hemingway Award for debut fiction and was a finalist for the Book Sense Book of the Year; and The Condition.

Her fiction has appeared in Granta, Ploughshares, Good Housekeeping, and elsewhere. She lives in the Boston area.

Visit Jennifer at her website.

Jennifer’s Tour Stops

Tuesday, May 10th: Booking Mama
Wednesday, May 11th: The 3 R’s: Reading, ‘Riting, and Randomness
Thursday, May 12th: Jenn’s Bookshelves
Friday, May 13th: 5 Minutes for Books
Monday, May 16th: Hospitable Pursuits
Tuesday, May 17th: The House of the Seven Tails
Wednesday, May 18th: nomadreader
Thursday, May 19th: Bookchickdi
Friday, May 20th: Stargazerpuj’s Book Blog
Monday, May 23rd: As I turn the pages
Tuesday, May 24th: Books in the City
Wednesday, May 25th: Life In Review
Thursday, May 26th: Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books
Friday, May 27th: The Prissy Book Snob
Monday, May 30th: Bookstack
Tuesday, May 31st: Confessions of a Rambling Mind
Wednesday, June 1st: Colloquium
Thursday, June 2nd: Proud Book Nerd
Friday, June 3rd: My Reading Room
Monday, June 6th: Reading Between the Lines
Tuesday, June 7th: A Cozy Reader’s Corner
Wednesday, June 8th: Peeking Between the Pages
Thursday, June 9th: The Book Chick
Friday, June 10th: BookNAround
Tuesday, June 14th: Rundpinne
Wednesday, June 15th: For the love of books
Thursday, June 16th: Literate Housewife
Friday, June 17th: Amused By Books

 

Book Tour: Bloodspell by Amalie Howard

Bloodspell by Amalie Howard

Publisher: Langdon Street Press

Publish Date: June 1, 2011

Paperback, 369 pages
ISBN: 978-1-936782-11-6
Young Adult, Paranormal

** I apologize, I am running behind and about half done with this book - I hope to finish this evening and post the review.  I am really engrossed in the book so far - a very interesting world and interesting characters.  **

*** My Review is now posted here ***

About the Book:
The spell was simple... ''Cruentus Protectum'' (''Defend the Blood'')

But what do you do if your blood is your enemy?

Victoria Warrick has always known she was different. An outcast at school, she is no stranger to adversity. But when she receives an old journal for her seventeenth birthday, nothing prepares her for the dark secrets it holds--much less one that reveals she's a witch with unimaginable power.
What's more, when she meets the dazzling but enigmatic Christian Devereux, she has no idea how much her life is about to change. Enemies will hunt her. Friends will turn on her. The terrible curse that makes her blood run black will stop at nothing to control her. And Christian has a sinister secret of his own...

Without knowing whom to trust, can Victoria survive her blood's deadly desires? Or will she lose everything, including herself?

About the Author:
Amalie Howard grew up on a small Caribbean island where she spent most of her childhood with her nose buried in a book or being a tomboy running around barefoot, shimmying up mango trees and dreaming of adventure. She received a bachelor's degree from Colby College in Maine in International Studies and French, and a certificate in French Literature from the Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris, France. She has also lived in Los Angeles, Boston, and New York City. She has worked as a research assistant, marketing rep, global sales executive, freelance writer, and blogger. A lover of other cultures and new experiences, especially of the culinary variety, she has traveled extensively across North America and Europe, and as far east as China, Indonesia, and Australia. She currently resides in New York with her husband, three children, and one very willful cat that she is convinced may have been a witch's cat in a past life.

FTC Information: I received this book through The Teen Book Scene to review for the current tour.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.

 

Book Tour + Giveaway: Broken Wings by Carla Stewart

 

Broken Wings by Carla Stewart

Publisher: Faithwords

Publish Date: June 3, 2011

Paperback, 320 pages 
Fiction, Inspirational Fiction
 ISBN: 978-0446556569

***My review will be coming later today or tomorrow***

About the Book:
Onstage, the singing duo of Gabe and Mitzi Steiner captured America's heart for more than two decades. Offstage, their own hearts have throbbed as one for sixty years. Only now, Gabe has retreated into the tangles of Alzheimer's, leaving Mitzi to ponder her future alone.

On the other side of Tulsa, everyone believes Brooke Woodson has found the perfect man--a handsome lawyer with sights on becoming Tulsa's next District Attorney. If only Brooke felt more sure. If only her fiancé could control his anger. If only love didn't come with so many scars.

When an accident lands Brooke in the hospital where Mitzi volunteers, the two women quickly develop an unlikely friendship birthed by providence and bathed in grace. And with Mitzi's help, kindness, and insight, Brooke learns how to pick up the broken pieces of her life.

About the Author: 
Carla Stewart is the author of Chasing Lilacs. Her writing reflects her passion for times gone by, cherished relationships, and the mysteries of God in our skid-marked world. She and her husband have four adult sons and delight in the adventures of their six grandchildren.

Website
Twitter
Facebook
Blog

Twitter Party


WHEN: Friday, June 3, 2011 - All day.
WHERE: Wherever you are.
HOW TO FIND THE PARTY: Follow @Chasing Lilacs (that's the author) and @FaithWords (they're throwing the party) on Twitter. Use the hashtag #brokenwings and join in the conversation!
LIVE Q &A from noon to 1pm Central time! Chime in with your questions, and she'll do her best to answer.

A "birdie" told me there might be giveaways!!


Giveaway
Thanks to Sarah Reck, I have one copy of Broken Wings to giveaway.  Open to US/Canada only, no PO boxes, this will ship directly from the publisher. Ends 6/9/2011.  Simply fill out the form below to enter.  For an extra entry leave a comment below telling me whether you have read Carla Stewart before and if you plan to read Broken Wings.

FTC Information: I received this book from the Sarah Reck at Faithwords for an honest review.  I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws.  I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.