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Friday, December 14, 2012

Blog Tour: (Review + Giveaway) Soul Sisters By Janiera Eldridge




I would like to welcome Janiera Eldridge to The Avid Reader today. Thanks for stopping by Janiera. Please be sure and check out Janiera's novel Soul Sisters the first book in the Soul Sisters Trilogy. Check out my review of Soul Sisters. Oh and be sure to enter the giveaway before you leave.




Soul Sisters Banner






Soul Sisters Book Cover

Book Title: Soul Sisters

Series: Soul Sisters Trilogy, #1

Author: Janiera Eldridge

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal

Publisher: Mystic Press

Ebook/Paperback:

Pages: 134







PURCHASE

Soul Sisters




Amazon (Kindle)

Amazon (paperback)

Smashwords (various digital copies)

Barnes & Noble (Nook)

Paperback (Createspace)







BOOK DESCRIPTION

Soul Sisters




Soul Sisters is an urban fantasy novel about African-American twin sisters Ani and Dana who have a rather unique secret: one sister is human while the other is a vampire. While the sisters have lived peacefully with each other for many years one fateful night will change both their lives forever. When a drunken man tries to attack Dana (the human sister) Ani (the vampire sister) protects her sister with all of her ferocious power.

However, when the vampire's leader Donovan finds out about the public display he calls for the sisters to be assassinated for disobedience. Ani and Dana now are in for the fight of their lives to protect each other as well as the lives of their dedicated friends who have joined them on their mission for survival. If Dana and Ani can make it through this time of uncertainty, Ani can take her new place as vampire queen. Soul Sisters is expected to be a trilogy; The book also features a multicultural cast of characters that brings a new edge of chic to the vampire world.





EXCERPT

Soul Sisters
Chapter 6
1915 New York City




Bryson and Dana walked arm and arm down the blustery New York street laughing about the Christmas party they had just left. The snow was fresh and powdery. Neither of them felt the icy cold snowflakes floating down and speckling their coats because they were wrapped in the warmth of each other's company.

"Did you see how Charles acted after taking that last shot of whiskey?" Dana asked.

Bryson could not contain his laughter thinking about their friend's drunkenness. Everyone who had been at the party was probably laughing about it on their way home, too, particularly the part when Charles took off his pants and danced on top of the piano. Bryson laughed so hard people gave them odd passing glances.

"Yes." Bryson gave a bright smile and grabbed her face to kiss her as they stood in the middle of the sidewalk. He wanted people to stop and stare at his beautiful wife. He wasn't afraid to show her off every chance he got. The women cooed softly at the sweetness of the moment while the men ushered their women forward murmuring about how indecent their public display of affection was for the community. Truthfully they just didn't want their wives to get any ideas.

It took Dana a few seconds to catch her breath. She couldn't believe he would do something that indecent in public. It didn't matter to her, however, because it felt way too good to be wrong. They stepped off the curb without a care in the world; Dana held onto Bryson's arm tightly and could not stop staring into his eyes.

A few seconds later Dana felt a sharp pain and a crushing blow to her arm. It was as if a freight train slammed into her right side. She instantly started sobbing from the pain and confusion of the situation. She felt like a block of ice was on top of her chest as she lay sprawled out on the ground. Her legs were straight out together in front of her but her arms were stretched out wide, going in two different directions. Her head turned slowly to the left when she heard a woman screaming and she saw Bryson on the ground with his eyes wide open. She blinked a few times to clear up her vision and then she spotted a pool of blood circling his head like a flowing halo.

Dana tried to push against the woman lying on top of her but the person was impossible to move no matter how hard she tried.

"You don't want to see this, you're safe now," the woman said softly in her ear; she sounded just like her.

"Soul sister?" Dana asked as she felt herself losing consciousness. She heard the chaos of the world going on around her but then she slipped into a black void. When she came to in a small nearby hospital she was disoriented and feeling miserable. There was a dull ache in her head and the vision in her right eye was blurry. She thought she saw a petite woman standing in the doorway, maybe she knew what had happened to Bryson.

"Where is my Bryson? Is he OK? What happened?"

The woman walked over to the bed and placed a hand on her head. Dana could see the woman was wearing a nurse's outfit and she guessed she was in a hospital. The woman's hand felt ice cold against her burning flesh.

"I'm sorry to tell you, ma'am, but your husband was hit by a moving vehicle. He suffered a bad head injury and he is no longer alive. I am so sorry."

"No, wait. We were just coming back from a Christmas party. When did this happen?"

"You stepped off the side walk with your husband, ma'am. Apparently you could not see the car and the car could not see you. A woman who looked oddly like you pushed you out of the way and saved your life. Your husband didn't make it. I'm very sorry. Would you like some water or a cup of juice?"

"No, no, thank you. Can I see him at least?"

"Not now honey. I really think you should get some rest. There's a young woman who is here to see you. She says she's your sister. Are you ready to see her?"

Dana coughed deeply and felt a liquid build up in her throat that she quickly swallowed back down; she was afraid to see who it was.

"OK," was all she could seem to get out of her throat.

Her soul sister quietly stepped into the room as she faced the wall. She didn't want the woman to see her nervousness or confusion. As much as she wanted to hug her sister she also wanted to punch her.

"Why didn't you save my husband?" Dana asked choking back tears but keeping a straight face. As the tears filled up her eyes, her cheeks began to sting and swell.

"The car came so fast. I didn't have time to save you both. I've seen you with Bryson before and I know how much you loved him, I'm so very sorry."

"What is your name?" Dana asked, sitting up against the pillow.

"Ani," She said softly.

"Ani, I don't think I want to live much longer. I sold my soul to save my husband's life and Donovan took him away from me. I really don't see any reason to live anymore."

Ani sat down in a chair and moved closer to the side of the bed. She placed her hand on Dana's head and felt that she had a slight temperature. She would notify a nurse as soon as she left the room. Ani loved her sister and if her sister died then she died too.

"Donovan had nothing to do with what happened. Your husband's time came up again and he was taken. Donovan didn't order his death. I'm sure he is very concerned about this and knows how much this hurts you. He is good at feeling things like this."

"Your kind feels? You don't want me to kill myself because then you will die too. Frankly, I don't care what happens to you right now. You're such a small fragment of me; I don't even think you're real. This is just a bad nightmare. I'll wake from it; I'll be at home warm and safe with my parents. Bryson never actually existed and I sure as hell know you don't either."

Dana turned her head back to the wall and let the tears flow freely down her face. She placed her hand over her mouth to stifle the cries; her heart felt like it had broken into a million pieces. Now, she couldn't live for anybody else but herself. Dana saw the look of despair in her sister's face but it wasn't enough for her to let her soul sister into her life.

"I'll never turn my back on you when you need me, no matter how far away you are or how much danger you're in. I know we're supposed to be twins but I feel like you're my baby sister." She gave a light chuckle and then headed for the door. "I'll be back to visit you tomorrow, and the next day and the next day. Even if you never want to see me it's OK, but I'm not going to be without you any longer. I love you way too much."

"I don't care if you come back a million times. I will never talk to you again. Get the hell out of my room!" Dana threw a glass at Ani's head. Ani moved her head slightly to the left as it flew into the wall and shattered into tiny pieces. She took a deep breath and nodded her head up and down slowly; she had to give her more time. Ani had been programmed to take on the evil ways of the world but Dana's rose-colored glasses had just been stepped on.





MY REVIEW

Soul Sisters




The following review is my opinion and not a paid review. I was given a copy of Soul Sisters from the author for a review via Full Moon Bites Book Tours.

Dana a young woman is on her honeymoon and goes for a walk with her new husband. While they are out enjoying the beautiful day and their time of just being together her husband has an accident. Dana has been staying by his side day and night waiting to see if he will live or die. When she can't take it any longer she runs out to be by herself for a while. On her walk she meets a stranger who says he can save her husband and she will become immortal. Dana will do anything to save her husband. She ask what she would have to do to save him.

The strange whose name is Donovan tells her that he is a vampire. He explains that he will save her husband for her soul. Why does he want or need her soul? She will become immortal and he will give her a soul sister who will be a vampire. Her soul sister will always protect her and keep her safe.

Dana meets her soul sister for the first time a very short time after her husband gets better. You see the reason she meets her then is because she is watching out for Dana and has always been near. She saves Dana from being ran over in the street but she doesn't have time to save her husband. Dana loved her husband so much that although she is over a 100 years old she has never had many relationships. She likes her life and she lives it like going to work and coming home to her own place and reading her books.

Her soul sister Ani is a little different she likes living life on the wild side. Ani loves her sister so much that she will do anything and I do mean anything to keep her sister safe but that is why they are soul sisters. One night Ani talks Dana into going out to a bar and having a little fun. When a man attacks Dana, Ani kills him and there is a witness to the murder which leads to big trouble for the twins. Vampires are not supposed to kill humans or do anything that will expose them.

Donovan comes to Dana to get her to talk to Ani so that she will turn herself over to him. He wants to kill Ani. If he kills her then Dana will die also and neither one of them want to die. So Dana, Ani, a werewolf and an ex-boyfriend of Ani's all set out to kill Donaovan before he can kill Ani. Ani has to be the one who kills him and after she kills him she will be the vampire queen. She will take over Donovan's place as the head vampire. She will rule over all the vampires. Will Ani kill the head vampire Donavan? Will she become the vampire queen?

I know I have said it over and over but this time it is actually the truth. I have never ever read a vampire book like this one before. The way that vampires are created is so very unique. I have never read a vampire book where vampires were created in this way. They maybe one out there but I have not read it. I loved how they were created it gives the vampire genre a whole new twist. The ending is very amazing. While I knew how it would end I never in a million years expected it to end quite like it did.







    About the Author



Soul Sisters Author

Janiera Eldridge loves feeding her book addiction and putting all her crazy stories on paper. When she is not immersed in the world of fiction, she is working as an entertainment freelance writer.

Janiera also enjoys connecting with other authors and supporting their work on her book blog Books&Beauty.







    CONNECT WITH HER



Blog - Beauty and Books

Twitter

Facebook

Pinterest

Goodreads







GIVEAWAY




The giveaway is tour wide for a eBook copy of Soul Sisters or Dark Expectations (the squeal) (International) or 3 signed bookmarks (US ONLY).







International Giveaway Form




a Rafflecopter giveaway






US ONLY Giveaway Form




a Rafflecopter giveaway






Be sure and check out all the other stops on the tour.



TOUR SCHEDULE




Nov. 26th- Beach Bum Reads (Review)

Nov. 27th- Pink Fluffy Hearts: Diary of a Coffee Addict (Review)

Nov. 28th- The Book Diva's Reads (Guest Post)

Nov. 29th- Kaidans Seduction (Review/Giveaway)

Nov. 30th- Musings From An Addicted Reader (Review/Giveaway)

Dec. 1st- A Book Lover's Library (Review)

Dec. 2nd- Fangs for the Fantasy (Review)

Dec. 3rd- I am, Indeed (Review/Giveaway)

Dec. 4th- Lizzy's Dark Fiction (Review/Giveaway)

Dec. 5th- Laurie's Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews (Interview/Giveaway)

Dec. 6th- Paranormal Romance Fans for Life (Guest Post)

Dec. 7th- Starry Night Book Reviews (Book Spotlight/Giveaway)

Dec. 8th- My Cozie Corner (Review/Giveaway)

Dec. 9th- Ja citam, a ti? (Guest Post/Giveaway)

Dec. 10th- Musings of a Writing Reader (Guest Post)

Dec. 11th- 1889 Labs (Guest Post)

Dec. 12th- Reading with Holly (Book Spotlight/Giveaway)

Dec. 13th- The Book Diva's Reads (Excerpt)

Dec. 14th- The Avid Reader (Review/Giveaway)

Dec. 15th- Identity Discovery (Guest Post/Giveaway)

Dec. 16th- Nazish Reads (Guest Post/Giveaway)

Dec. 17th- Harlie's Books (Guest Post/Giveaway)

Dec. 18th- Bookluvrs Haven (Spotlight/Excerpt)

Dec. 19th- Tamara's One Stop Indie Shop (Spotlight)

Dec. 20th- Book Lover's Hideaway (Book Spotlight/Giveaway)

Dec. 21st- Holly Adair (Book Spotlight/Giveaway)

Dec. 22nd- Simply Infatuated (Book Spotlight/Giveaway)

Dec. 23rd- Bloodthirsty Muses (Review)

Dec. 24th- The Ebook Reviewers (Book Spotlight)

Dec. 25th- The News in Books (Interview)







TOUR SCHEDULE LINK



This tour was put together by FMB Blog Tours

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Review: Hush, Hush By Becca Fitzpatrick




Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush, #1)

Title: Hush, Hush

Author: Becca Fitzpatrick

Series: Hush, Hush #1

Published: October 13th 2010

Paperback

Pages: 391







GOODREADS SYNOPSIS

Hush, Hush




When Nora and Patch are forced together as lab partners, Nora would rather fall to her death than put up with his elusive answers to her questions, his teasing, and his infuriatingly handsome face and hypnotizing eyes. It seems Patch was put on earth just to drive her crazy.

But before long, Nora's defenses start to break down as her curiosity about Patch heats up. Why does he always seem to be wherever she is and know exactly what she's thinking? How does he know what to say to both attract and repulse her? And what is up with those V-shaped scars on his chiseled back?

As their connection grows stronger, Nora's own life becomes increasingly fragile. Nora needs to decide: Is Patch the one who wants to do her harm or the one who will keep her safe? Has she fallen for one of the fallen?







MY REVIEW

Hush, Hush




The following review is my opinion and not a paid review.

Nora is just like any other 16 year old girl she likes all the cute and sexy guys. The only problem is that she is shy and has not found that special guy. She also takes all her classes very seriously. She doesn't like to take risk unlike her best friend Vee. Vee gets dates for Nora in order to get Nora out of the house on occasion. Vee has a very out going type of personality where Nora likes to keep to herself. Vee can talk Nora into doing just about anything she wants her to do.

Nora meets Patch in Biology class one day when the teacher changes the seating arrangement. Their assignment is to find out everything that they can about their new partners. Nora doesn't like the fact that now she and Patch are partners. Patch is always very evasive with the questions that she has to ask him. And oh does this make Nora very angry with him. He seems to know a lot about her but she wonders how he knows so much about her.

Nora likes Patch but she can't figure out for the life of her why she is so attracted to him. I mean he want answer any of her questions so how is she supposed to do her biology assignment? What does he have to hide?

Nora thinks that Patch is following or stalking her. Where ever she goes Patch always turns up. Someone is trying to kill her and at times she thinks that it is Patch but after she gets to know him she knows he would never hurt her. So who is trying to kill her? Why is Patch stalking her or is he?

I read a lot of reviews of Hush, Hush before purchasing it and after each review that I read I kept thinking man I got to get my hands on a copy of this one. And boy I am I glad that I did. Hush, Hush is one those books that really does keep you hanging on and wanting more. You think you have it all figured out. You know who it is that is trying to kill Nora and then you turn the page and your like it's not him? You are surrounded by mystery through the whole book all the way to the end. When you can't figure out the "who dun it?' part until the end of the book now to me that is some awesome witting.







CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR




Website - Becca Fitzpatrick

Goodreads - Becca Fitzpatrick

Goodreads - Hush, Hush

Twitter - Becca Fitzpatrick

Facebook - Becca Fitzpatrick







Buy The Book

Amazon
Book Depository

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Blog Tour: (Interview + Excerpt) Velvet By Xavier Axelson




I would like to welcome Xavier Axelson to The Avid Reader today. Thanks for stopping by Xavier. Please be sure and check out Xavier's novel Velvet. Also I have a excerpt of Velvet for you to read. Don't forget to enter the giveaway.




Velvet banner






Velvet cover

Book Title: Velvet

Author: Xavier Axelson

Genre: Erotica, Historical, Gay Romance,

Publisher: Seventh Window Publications

Ebook:

Words: 50,471







PURCHASE

Velvet




Seventh Window Publications





BOOK DESCRIPTION

Velvet




The first novel from Xavier Axelson is set against a backdrop of decadence, privilege and intrigue. Virago, the royal tailor, makes a discovery that will test the bonds of brotherhood, unravel the forbidden secrets of his heart and threaten the very fabric of his existence.

In a land where cruelty is disguised as allegiance, loyalty is masked by obligation and the laws of sumptuary govern the people, nothing is more dangerous than Velvet.





EXCERPT

Velvet




I’d been staring at the vast body of water surrounding the ship when I was startled to find a woman, heavy with child standing by my side. She wore a red gown that gathered beneath her ample breasts. The gown fell freely, billowing against her in the brisk sea air. Her red hair hung in two braids threaded with crimson leather. Upon turning her head, small red jewels, woven throughout her hair, caught the light.

“The sea is dark as the grave, and as good at keeping secrets.”

“Who are you?” I asked. Since I’d boarded the ship the day before, I’d conversed only with Seton and my brother, Sylvain. I’d yet to earn my sea legs and everything seemed strange.

“I am Adis, wife of Doremme, the man whose ship you stand upon.” She came closer. “Secrets are only as powerful as those who carry them and the sea is a perfect place to bury what haunts you.”

“You talk as though you know me, and as I am a stranger on this ship, I know this cannot be.” I was about to bow and take my leave when she laughed.

“Fear is not your way, tailor. You were the royal tailor of the king whose land we left, were you not?”

Were the royal tailor… Her words struck at my heart. I felt this truth so keenly that I gripped the ship railings to steady myself.

“I fear only those who know more of me than I wish, and while I am indebted to your husband for granting us passage, I am in no mood for games.”

Though her laughter died, a smile lingered on her lips. “I mean you no harm, but you seem to have caught the interest of my child.”

I looked at her swollen belly. “Your child?”

“This is my third and final.” Her hands caressed her stomach. “She will be a visionary, and in her birth, I will know death. Not unlike your mother. She bore your brother, who I am told is also a visionary. And blind. How fortunate. Those who are physically afflicted see further than those who aren’t. Nature seldom curses without blessing at the same time.”

This time I laughed. “Perhaps you should ask my brother if he thinks himself fortunate. Or better, summon my father from the grave. Ask if he wished his wife lived and his son had sight!”

After this outburst, we grew silent, but the woman did not leave my side.

I closed my eyes and swallowing hard, felt the pull of the stiff fabric scrap tied around my throat. The raucous shrieks of hungry gulls overhead made me look up into the sky. I watched as the birds swooped and mercilessly chased each other. I envied their flight, but cringed beneath their cries. Behind my eyes, I saw white peacocks, heard their shrieks, and felt the crawl of disease. I shuddered, shook my head of further memory, and let my eyes fall upon the distant horizon. Would I never know peace? Or would memories chase me like the gulls chase one another, endlessly hungry and insistent?

When Adis eventually spoke, these questions and memories faded away. “True, your father suffered, but his gifts as a tailor delivered him from the grief of losing his wife and gave him the strength to care for a blind son.”

The truth in her words, stirred long buried pain. While Sylvain’s blind, tumultuous, and bloody welcoming into the world killed our mother, it also strengthened my father’s resolve to care for us at any cost.

I know not what would have become of us without King Killian’s demand for my meager abilities as a tailor. We would have been lost, we owe our king a great debt and service.

My father told this to me one day when I found him bleary eyed and exhausted at his work. I could remember the way his hands trembled, the nerves in his fingers twitching involuntarily as he struggled with buttonholes on a vest meant for Killian’s nephew.

When his voice vanished, a bitter sadness rose in me as the sea’s waves crashed against the ship.

“Say no more to me. If you were not mistress of this vessel I would think unkindly of you!”

Before she could reply, music, soft and familiar reached us. I knew the player of the tune, knew it because my heart leapt at its playing as it did the first time I’d heard it.

“Someone has leant Seton a lyre. How beautifully he plays, and how lucky his hands are healing. He is a man of passion and strength. It is no wonder you found love with him, as he with you.” Adis placed a hand on my wrist. “I am no witch or visionary. My daughter beckons from my womb. I am but a vessel as is this ship. She is my most precious cargo, and anxious to know life. You must forgive me if I have angered you. Her voice comes from my lips, so I am often unaware of what I say.”

The music rose, fell away only to start again, and as it did, I examined the woman, and seeing her kind face, put a tired hand over hers. “There is nothing to forgive. I am the one speaking from another place.”

“Your voice comes from the shores we have left behind. It would be wise to find a new sound to carry with you.”

Beyond her I saw my brother sitting cross-legged, his fox playing in his lap. He seemed peaceful. “I keep staring into the sea hoping it will take the past from me, but it seems I may never know peace.”

“In time, you shall. Nothing is forever, except the sea.” Adis cast her eyes from my face to the expanse of water surrounding us. “She is our eternal mother and will listen to you forever.”

Behind Adis’s rather mystical analogy, I had a sobering thought. “There is so much uncertainty in the world. I wonder if I have done right. Perhaps I could have done better.”

“You left a land soon to be riddled with illness. This alone made it the wisest decision for you all.”

Her knowing so much of my life discomforted me. “Must everything be told in portents and omens? What of reality? What of truth?”

“Ahh truth. It is a funny thing and varied as the sunlight on the waves. I am a merchant’s wife and have seen much in this world. Men who love men, women who love women, even a man who loved a woman he believed to have been transformed into a goat by the tree witches in the north! The world is wide and there are many lands with many kinds of people. You will see soon enough.”

“I have not heard talk of the tree witches since I played at my mother’s feet. Surely they no longer exist!” I replied, incredulously.

“I cannot say. Who can say if they exist or ever really did?” Adis said.

I sighed resignedly. “I have lived a small life in the court of a small king, and I carry the wounds of that life as sure as I carry the clothes on my back.”

“It is not for me to say what you carry with you, but I can give you a piece of advice not from my daughter, but from my own lips: Stop trying to escape what haunts you, instead think long and hard about it. Every detail, every nightmare, dream and transgression. Leave nothing out. Do this until you have expelled the poison, and when there is no more, you will find yourself exactly where you are supposed to be.”

With these words, Adis left me. I stood alone, listening to the sea, the sound of Seton’s music, the distant cries of the squabbling gulls, and my eyes focused on the unknown horizon.

What led me to find myself on the water, destination unknown? The life I knew was gone, broken, and mercurial as the swirling foam frothing in the ships crushing wake.

I would tell myself the story, if only to steal a glimpse at the unknown ending.

How would my tale end? Beginnings are for children; fairy stories begin with “Once upon a time.” Once upon a time there was a tailor. He knew string, scissor, and pin. He did not know his heart.

My breath caught. Oh, my heart. Once upon a time, there was a heart and it was not free… I was a tailor. Once…

No, it cannot begin this way. My heart knew dangerous things, but now it was free and in it’s new freedom I allowed it to teach me the way my story should begin and knew by wild instinct, if I followed it, I would know the ending, a true, and dare I hope, happy ending.

With no one to listen but the dark sea and the wheeling, crying gulls, I closed my eyes and let my thoughts move with the undulating water, its gentle rocking seeming to urge the release of my torment.

The castle, dark and glorious, loomed up in my memory…





INTERVIEW

Xavier Axelson




The Avid Reader: When or at what age did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Xavier Axelson: I started writing in elementary school, but I don’t think I realized I was a writer until I hit high school. Writing is a constant in my life, no matter what job I may be doing, I’m always writing.



The Avid Reader: What is the earliest age you remember reading your first book?

Xavier Axelson: Oh wow, I think it would have to be in second grade. I remember The Lorax being my favorite book around that time, so I’ll go with that.



The Avid Reader: What genre of books do you enjoy reading?

Xavier Axelson: All genres. I love reading anything I can get my hands on.



The Avid Reader: What is your favorite book?

Xavier Axelson: Watership Down by Richard Adams



The Avid Reader: You know I think we all have a favorite author. Who is your favorite author and why?

Xavier Axelson: I have many, but I would have to say Richard Adams endures. His books speak to a very true and personal part of myself.



The Avid Reader: If you could travel back in time here on earth to any place or time. Where would you go and why?

Xavier Axelson: The court of Henry VIII, who wouldn’t want to be involved in all that intrigue and decadence?



The Avid Reader: When writing a book do you find that writing comes easy for you or is it a difficult task?

Xavier Axelson: It isn’t necessarily difficult but it is always challenging. Writing is opening yourself up to creativity and that can be exhausting, physically and mentally.



The Avid Reader: Do you have any little fuzzy friends? Like a dog or a cat? Or any pets?

Xavier Axelson: I have many black cats and one huge white rabbit.



The Avid Reader: What is your "to die for", favorite food/foods to eat?

Xavier Axelson: Rice pudding.



The Avid Reader: Do you have any advice for anyone that would like to be an author?

Xavier Axelson: Stay true to your voice and follow where that voice leads.







ABOUT THE AUTHOR






Velvet author


Xavier Axelson is a writer and columnist living in Los Angeles.









ONLINE LINKS




Website

Twitter

Facebook







GIVEAWAY




The giveaway is tour wide for 6 Ebook copies of Velvet by Xavier Axelson




a Rafflecopter giveaway






Be sure and check out all the other stops on the tour.



TOUR SCHEDULE




Nov. 16th- A Diary Of A Book Addict (Review/Giveaway)

Nov. 17th- Andi's Book Reviews (Excerpt/Giveaway)

Nov. 25th- SnifferWalk (Review/Giveaway)

Nov. 27th- Bending the Bookshelf (Review/Giveaway)

Dec. 3rd- Holly Adair (Excerpt/Giveaway)

Dec. 4th- The Armchair Reader (Review/Giveaway)

Dec. 7th- Book Connoisseur (Spotlight)

Dec. 8th- Its Raining Men (Interview/Excerpt/Giveaway)

Dec. 12th- The Avid Reader (Interview)

Dec. 13th- The Bunny's Review (Spotlight)

Dec. 10th- Love in a Book (Spotlight)

Dec. 14th- Reading with Holly (Excerpt/Giveaway)

Dec. 15th- The News in Books (Interview)

Dec. 20th- Musings of a Writing Reader (Excerpt/Giveaway)

Dec. 21st- BASED Press (Interview/Giveaway)

Dec. 24th- Books & Beauty (Excerpt)

Dec. 29th- Book Devotee Reviews (Excerpt/Giveaway)

Jan. 1st- A Bit of Dash (Review/Giveaway)

Jan. 2nd- Identity Discovery (Excerpt/Giveaway)

Jan. 9th- I am, Indeed (Review/Giveaway)

Jan. 19th- Sweet n' Sassi (Review)

Jan. 21st- Queentutt's World of Escapism (Excerpt/Giveaway)

Jan. 22nd- Joyfully Reviewed (Interview)

Jan. 23rd- BookEnd 2 BookEnd (Excerpt)

Jan. 25th- Full Moon Bites (Interview/Giveaway)

Jan. 28th- Dawn's Reading Nook (Excerpt)







TOUR SCHEDULE LINK



This tour was put together by FMB Blog Tours

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Blog Tour: (Book Spotlight + Giveaway) The Golden Chalice By Sienna Mynx




I would like to welcome Sienna Mynx to The Avid Reader today. Thanks for stopping by Sienna. Please be sure and check out Sienna's novel The Golden Chalice. Also I have a excerpt of The Golden Chalice for you to read. Don't forget to enter the giveaway.




The Golden Chalice banner






The Golden Chalice cover

Book Title: The Golden Chalice

Series: Lee's Girl's Series Book 3

Author: Sienna Mynx

Genre: Interracial Romance,

Publisher: Decadent Publishing

Ebook:

Pages: 130

Release Date: 11/6/2012







PURCHASE

The Golden Chalice




Decadent Publishing

Amazon

Smashwords

ARe





BOOK DESCRIPTION

The Golden Chalice




The Golden Chalice has been found. But at what price?

Michelle Dixon faith is shattered with the loss of her unborn child. She struggles to remember the reasons why she ever believed life as a jewel thief could ever bring her happiness. The truth is her belief was centered on her love for one man. It’s no longer enough. Though Lee Sullivan has made many mistakes, choosing love over greed isn’t one. Now with his enemies circling he battles the odds for another purpose. Winning back his woman’s heart.

After surviving the depths of Lee’s betrayal of her trust, Michelle decides to play one final hustle. The stakes? The love neither of them thought possible. There remains one problem. Lee won’t lose her. He can’t. Lee knows Michelle plots against him and he understands why. He must race against time and those determined to steal the Chalice in order to salvage what is most important to them both. And he will do it at all costs.

Win or lose, Lee’s fate is hers.

After a shocking turn of events turns their lives inside out Michell and Lee both discover the greatest treasure to be won.

Love. For it conquers all no matter the price.





EXCERPT

The Golden Chalice




“What I want is to stop your pain. If I could have my wish it would be…I’d want our child to have lived.” His expression stilled and grew serious.

“Let’s be honest, Lee. Any child you and I have we’d destroy, after we destroyed each other.” She made to move around him and he stepped with her, blocking her pass. “Lee, move.”

“Take it back!” He frowned with cold fury.

Michelle adjusted her smile. “Why?”

“Don’t you ever dismiss our child’s death. Take it back!” he said through clenched teeth.

Michelle, shaken by the threat in his tone, had to lower her gaze. “Okay.”

Lee’s voice dropped an octave when he spoke again. “We lost our baby. It’s my fault. I should have protected you, trusted my instincts.”

“Lee, please stop.”

“I’ll make them pay. I’ll kill ’em all—”

“Stop it, dammit!” Lee blinked at her, confused. “Stop, okay? No more violence. I can’t take it.”

He touched her and she shrugged off his hand. Lee persisted and she was forced into his arms. Soon hers, of their own accord, were circling his waist. He kissed the top of her head. Stroked her hair.

“My first priority is you. I had to make sure you were okay, Michelle. Now that you are we’re starting again. Nothing has changed between us.” He relaxed his hold on her and brushed her cheeks with the backs of his fingers. She tensed over how soothing his touch was. With mild force, Lee grabbed her face in both hands. He brought his forehead down to hers until their skulls met. Michelle winced over the burn it drove through her brow, and gripped his wrist, trying hard to free herself. But his lips covered hers before she could manage the break. A crushingly needy kiss followed. She softened under its weight.

“Forgive me.” He breathed into her mouth, trying to pry her lips apart for another kiss. “Damn it, Michelle, forgive me, baby. Don’t make me beg.”

Michelle lowered her hands from his wrists. The caress of his lips inspired a trickle of love, sparking forbidden desires for him in her heart. What the hell was wrong with her? How could she even stomach the thought of them, together, now? Yet she could. It would be her secret truth. She loved him so badly, the truth hurt.







ABOUT THE AUTHOR






Author B&W

Sienna Mynx is your naughty writer of Contemporary, and Historical Interracial Romance. Her tales are for readers that love the bad boys but desire to be the women that tame them. She currently has 22 published books, as an indie author. A current resident of southern Georgia, Sienna Mynx has emerged into the e-publishing scene deciding to take the business by the horns.

She runs her own publishing company The Divas Pen, and works with other indie-authors who want to understand how to self publish responsibly. Sienna has also released a series with Decadent Publishing, and has a paranormal story under Cobblestone Press. Her novels reflect her thirst for romance told from a dark, sensual perspective with the diversity women of all colors crave in Erotic Romance. Look for more to come.







ONLINE LINKS




Website

Facebook







GIVEAWAY






The giveaway it is tour wide for 1 eBook copy of The Heist (Lee's Girls, #1) by Sienna Mynx and ends on Dec. 18th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway






Be sure and check out all the other stops on the tour.



TOUR SCHEDULE




Dec. 10th



Harlie's Books (Review/Giveaway)- All three books in the series.

The Bunny's Review (Spotlight/Giveaway)

Vallory V - A Romance Author Blog (Spotlight/Giveaway)

Holly Adair (Spotlight/Giveaway)

A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books (Spotlight/Giveaway)

Musings of a Writing Reader (Spotlight/Giveaway)

The News in Books (Spotlight/Giveaway)

The Stuff of Success (Spotlight/Giveaway)

Tempting Reads (Review/Giveaway)- All three books in the series.

Bookswagger (Review/Giveaway)- Book 3




Dec. 11th



Sweet n' Sassi (Review/Giveaway)- All three books in the series.

The Book Connoisseur (Spotlight/Giveaway)

SnifferWalk (Review/Giveaway)- All three books in the series.

The Avid Reader (Spotlight/Giveaway)

Reading with Holly (Spotlight/Giveaway)

Kaidans Seduction (Review/Giveaway)- All three books in the series.

Paranormal Romance Fans for Life (Spotlight/Giveaway)

BASED Press (Review/Giveaway)- All three books in the series.







TOUR SCHEDULE LINK



This tour was put together by FMB Blog Tours

Monday, December 10, 2012

Review: Dauntless By Shannon Mayer




Dauntless (Nevermore Trilogy, #3)

Title: Dauntless

Author: Shannon Mayer

Series: Nevermore Trilogy #3

Published: October 30th 2011

Publisher: HiJinks Ink

Kindle Edition

Pages: 126








GOODREADS SYNOPSIS

DAUNTLESS





As the line between monster and human blurs, Mara fights for Sebastian’s life. She is consumed by her fears that no matter what she decides, she will lose the man she loves forever- to death- or to the Nevermore drug that rages through him.

In a desperate move, Mara pins all her hopes on a garbled, intercepted message. At best it is the distant promise of a safe haven and at worst, a deadly journey that will end both of their lives as well as that of their unborn child.

For Mara though, there is only one question that truly matters in the end. Will Sebastian be at her side when she reaches the safe haven, or will he finally lose himself and run with the Nevermore pack?




MY REVIEW

DAUNTLESS




The following review is my opinion and not a paid review. I got Dauntlesss as a free download from Amazon.

Dauntless the third and last book in the Nevermore trilogy picks up where Bound the second book in the series left off as Bound did with Sundered the first book. Mara has learned of a cure for the Nevermore virus. She escapes from the army facility with Sebastian in tow of course. Mara would never leave the one she loves behind at least not with the knowledge that there actually maybe a cure. A cure that could give her life back with the one she loves or give him back his life.

After being given the cure for the Nevermore virus Sebastian goes through a very bad time running fevers and being out of it most of the time. Well as out of it as a Nevermore can be. Mara is very afraid at times wondering if Sebastian will make it or not. When she learns all the secrets of the compound and the man in charge of the compound she know that she has to get herself Sebastian and their unborn child away from there.

She then leans of a safe place that she can go and take her family and be safe. Although she is not sure that she can get Sebastian through but she has to she has to find away. She has no other choice because she will not leave the love of her life. If they won't let him through being a Nevermore she will not go either. Can Mara pull it off? Can she get Sebastian through? Can she pass him off as human?

I loved reading the Nevermore trilogy but I would have loved to know more about Sebastian, Mara and their child. I really hope that Shannon Mayer has more in store for the Nevermore trilogy like a spin-off because I would like to know more like: Is their child a Nevermore? Would their child be half human/half nevermore? Would their child act like the nevermores or humans? If their child was more nevermore than human what would that be like? How would Mara and Sebastian handle it? Will Sebastian be human again? Will Sebastian act human or nevermore?













Look for Shannon Mayer on the web


Website - Shannon Mayer

Goodreads - Shannon Mayer

Goodreads - Dauntless

Twitter - Shannon Mayer

Facebook - Shannon Mayer





Buy The Book

Amazon

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Blog Tour: (Character Interview + Excerpt) The Homeschoolers: The Ballad of Squirtina By Henry Circle




I would like to welcome Henry Circle to The Avid Reader today. Thanks for stopping by Henry. Please be sure and check out Henry's novel The Homeschoolers: The Ballad of Squirtina. Also I have a Character Interview with “Ricky” from Henry Circle’s The Homeschoolers. Don't forget to enter the giveaway.




The Ballad of Squirtina banner






The Ballad of Squirtina book cover

Book Title: The Homeschoolers: The Ballad of Squirtina

Series: The Homeschoolers Book 1

Author: Henry Circle

Genre: Young-Adult

Publisher: Sea Star Publishing

Ebook:

Pages: 110







PURCHASE

The Homeschoolers: The Ballad of Squirtina




Amazon





BOOK DESCRIPTION

The Homeschoolers: The Ballad of Squirtina




A mortifying episode of in-school diarrhea sends witty and skeptical Christina Begoni flying into the arms of a holy-rolling homeschool group where she meets "Teenage Sex Incarnate," David, and his alarmingly sweet sister, Sunny. The group is complete when they are joined by two other hardened public school students, Christina's mustachioed younger brother and one deliciously rowdy redneck bully for a raucously funny and often gripping adventure on the Mississippi River. Will Christina be able to fight the wild river, a gun-toting grandpa and her own hilariously heathen ways to hold this group of unlikely friends together?





EXCERPT

The Homeschoolers: The Ballad of Squirtina




I stretch my hand up to him, and he bends with his legs wide to stabilize himself. When Ricky pulls, I start gliding through the mud. I can feel the strength and power from his seemingly boney arms. I guess he's what you'd call wiry. But the mud seems to be trying to hold me down. I feel the mud rolling my shorts and underwear down to my ankles. I try to push my free arm under the gunk to hold onto my bottoms, but with one more yank from Ricky, they are long gone. I have no shorts. No underwear. “Stop! Stop a second!” I scream. I scrunch my knees up and wiggle my arms down through the muck trying to find my clothes. I extend my legs down and feel around with my toes. I try feeling through the mud with my hands again. And my feet and hands at the same time. Nothing.

“What on earth are you doing?” Ricky asks. “Give me your hand so I can go on and get you out.” He sticks his fingers out to me.

My eyes are misting over. “I can't come out.” I can't believe this is happening in front of Ricky Kelly. I wish I could just disappear.

Searching the pit with his eyes, he asks, “I can't see nothing. Too dark. What happened? Something caught your foot?”

The last thing I want to do is admit I'm literally half naked, but we have to get out of here and find our friends before something terrible happens to them. This isn't kiddie kiddie play time hour so I buck up and confess, “I lost my stupid shorts in here. I can't find them.”

“You aren't the first girl I've seen in her underwear. Gimme your damn hand.”

“I lost those, too. Can I have your shorts, please?”

Ricky brightens, blooming into a grin as bright as a garden sunflower. Even in the dark of the evening, I can see the foolish look on his face. “Ricky, hand me your shorts,” I repeat.





CHARACTER INTERVIEW

with “Ricky” from Henry Circle’s The Homeschoolers




Q. How’s homeschooling going these days, Ricky?

A. Ah, man. Alright, I reckon. Pretty much like North Yokel High: just another place to catch up on my sleep and practice blaming my farts on somebody else. But we is reading one of them classic books right now. I ‘member that much. Wurthering Originals or The Scarlet Pumpernickel - something like that. The good thing is Kip and David, they don’t bother me none. But them girls, Sunny and Squirtina – excuse me; Christina- I forgot she don’t like to be called Squrtina. My bad. Anyways, I was just gone say that they hen peck the hell out of me. Sunny’s always up in my grill like a Jehovah’s Witness about Jesus, and Christina thinks I need to learn about the “cultural superiority of the French.” Oh, hell. Wait a minute...You ain’t one of them Witnesses or one of them Frenchy Fries; are ya? Ya’ll just cut me some slack if I say something stupid. Remember, you’re boy here is straight from the trailer.



Q. Some readers have said they sensed sexual tension between you and Christina in The Homeschoolers: The Ballad of Squirtina.

A. Heheh. They said that? What Christina say? You ask her? Well, she’s all hot and heavy with David. But, hey, I’m single. And I took a look over at that follower box and seen that you got some pretty good-looking women up in here. Any girls wanna hang, drink a little moonshine, watch a little Duck Dynasty- give me a holler.



Q. What do you want to do when you grow up, Ricky?

A. I got me a little business going already with one my uncles. Raccoon trapping business. We shoot them thangs, and these ‘ol boys from Russia buy them for the fur coats or coon skin caps or something. I never ask ‘em cause I get scared that’ll make ‘em think. Then, they’d prolly figure out that putting a coon skin on your head is a dumb thing to do. When that happens, I gotta come up with another way to get cigarette and strip club money. For my Grammaw. She loves the man candy.



Q. Thanks for your time, Ricky. Best of luck..

A. Hold on, now. Got something to plug. I’m a celebrity now. Even got me my own story.“A Very Ricky Sunday.” We giving it away for free ‘cause I told Henry, “You think you Larry the Cable Guy or somethin’? You ain’t that funny. You gone have to give that shiznit away.” But it’s about when Christina took one Grammaw’s weed pies up into a church. And people call me dumb.





PURCHASE (Free)

A Very Ricky Sunday

A "Homeschoolers" Shorty




Smashwords







ABOUT THE AUTHOR






Author 2

Henry was born in a hidden cave on the Mississippi River. She was sent to an awful place called Kah-lidge for many years to learn to be a writer. Her hope is that her first series of young adult novels, The Homeschoolers, will make you laugh every now and then, get you excited about this spectacular thing called life, and teech ewe to spehl as gut as she do. ;)







ONLINE LINKS




Blog

Facebook

Website

Amazon







GIVEAWAY






a Rafflecopter giveaway






Be sure and check out all the other stops on the tour.



TOUR SCHEDULE




Dec. 3rd- The Insane Writings of a Crazed Writer (Character Guest Post)

Dec. 4th- Juniper Grove (Author Interview)

Dec. 5th- The News in Book (Excerpt)

Dec. 6th- Off the Page (Book Soundtrack Post)

Dec. 7th- Sweet n' Sassi (Review)

Dec. 8th- Identity Discovery (Excerpt)

Dec. 9th- The Avid Reader (Character Interview/Excerpt)

Dec. 10th- A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books (Review)

Dec. 11th- Musings of a Writing Reader (Guest Post)

Dec. 12th- A Book Lover's Library (Review)

Dec. 13th- Reading with Holly (Excerpt)







TOUR SCHEDULE LINK



This tour was put together by FMB Blog Tours

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Review: Bound (Nevermore Trilogy #2) By Shannon Mayer




Bound (Nevermore Trilogy, #2)

Title: Bound

Author: Shannon Mayer

Series: Nevermore Trilogy #2

Published: September 14th 2011

Publisher: HiJinks Ink

Kindle Edition

Pages: 108








GOODREADS SYNOPSIS

BOUND





Rumours and whispers of a cure have reached Mara’s ears and hope that has been denied for so long begins to grow once more. But, if she is to find the cure, to help Sebastian, she must face down a whole new set of dangers.

A sadistic army General who’s hatred knows no bounds.

A brilliant scientist whose love for his lost wife drives him to madness.

And a new pack of Nevermores . . .




MY REVIEW

BOUND




The following review is my opinion and not a paid review. I downloaded Bound as a free download from Amazon.

Bound is the second book in the Nevermore Trilogy and as other reviewers has said Bound picks up right where Sundered left off. Mira and Sebastian are in a secret army facility. Mira's friend Scout who is a nevermore is still hanging around. Scout thinks that Mara is one of his pack leaders because Sebastian and Mara are mates. He thinks that he has to follower her orders just like he does if it was Sebastian himself giving the order. The nevermores run in packs like wolves do.

Mara is still trying to save the life of her unborn child and that of her husband Sebastian. Sebastian and other nevermores are being kept locked up at the army tacitly. The leaders of this army base are working on a cure for the nevermore disease and believe they are close to finding it. Mara bids her time and doing what she is told to do while she is being held prisoner at the compound the same as the nevermores. She tries to do what she thinks they want her to do until she can figure out a way to get her and Sebastian out of there. While at the same time she wants to get her hands on this cure so that she can get the love of her life and the father of her unborn child back.

Sundered and Bound are very great reads. I really loved the twist that Shannon Mayer gave to the zombies. I also loved how that Sebastian still knew Mara and knew that she was his wife. That is one imagination to come up with a zombie having any feelings at all much less remembering the one person that he loved before he was turned into a zombie. Image having a relationship like that. That would be the ultimate kind of love where someone loved you that much.













Look for Shannon Mayer on the web


Website - Shannon Mayer

Goodreads - Shannon Mayer

Goodreads - Bound

Twitter - Shannon Mayer

Facebook - Shannon Mayer





Buy The Book

Amazon

Friday, December 7, 2012

Blog Tour: (Review + Giveaway) The Kate Jones Thriller Series Boxed Set By DV Berkom




I would like to welcome DV Berkom to The Avid Reader today. Thanks for stopping by DV. Please be sure and check out DV's novel The Kate Jones Thriller Series Boxed Set. Check out my review of The Kate Jones Thriller Series Boxed Set. Oh and be sure to enter the giveaway before you leave.




The Kate Jones Thrillers Banner






The Kate Jones Thrillers Book Cover

Book Title: The Kate Jones Thriller Series Boxed Set

Series: The Kate Jones Thriller Series, Novellas 1-4

Author: DV Berkom

Genre: Action, Adventure, Crime, Mystery, Romance, Suspense, Thriller,

Publisher: Self-Published

Ebook:

Pages: 250







PURCHASE

The Kate Jones Thriller Series Boxed Set




Amazon

Amazon UK





REVIEWS FOR

The Kate Jones Thriller Series Boxed Set




"...Great story, fast-paced, quick read and all around fun!"

"...it's a non-stop thrill ride..."

"...It's fast-paced from the get go and the action continues through to the end. This is how I like my books!"





BOOK DESCRIPTION

The Kate Jones Thriller Series Boxed Set




Kate Jones Thriller Series Vol. 1 includes the complete text for the following four novellas:

BAD SPIRITS (Books 1-5): Kate Jones is on the run with a backpack full of money, intent on finding her way back to the United States from Mexico. Unfortunately, a ruthless drug lord named Salazar is just as intent on finding her, retrieving his stolen money, and making her pay for ever having left him. Is there anyone she can trust?

DEAD OF WINTER: Kate Jones is hiding out in small town Alaska when she witnesses an execution-style murder. Convinced the killers are Salazar's men and desperate to stop them from finding her, she reports the crime to local law enforcement, hoping to put them off her trail so she can escape.

DEATH RITES: When Kate has to leave Alaska (and Sam) behind, she runs to the last place she remembers feeling safe: the North Shore of Oahu. Against her better judgment, she re-establishes old connections, and soon faces a new problem in Alek, a gifted carver and avid surfer.

Then a brutal murder and theft of a priceless artifact from a museum is discovered, and Kate's thrown into the middle of what appears to be a violent ancient sect come to life. Her only chance of survival is to rely on her wits...

...and the ancient gods of Hawaii.

TOURING FOR DEATH: Kate Jones is hiding out from her shady past driving jeep tours through the rugged high desert of northern Arizona, determined to stop looking over her shoulder and find peace from her mistake of a gun-toting, former life. Testifying against a Mexican drug lord and a dirty DEA agent didn't turn out to be a life enhancing choice and she's been on the move ever since.

Now, five years have passed with no sign of trouble and Kate's finally starting to believe she's safe. Her current goal is to make enough money so she can get lost in the tropics when the tourist trade dies off. Unfortunately, it's the tourists that are dying off and she may be next.





MY REVIEW

The Kate Jones Thriller Series Boxed Set




The following review is my opinion and not a paid review. I was given a copy of The Kate Jones Thriller Series Boxed Set from the author for a review via Full Moon Bites Blog Tours.

Kate Jones is one tough heroine/woman who knows how to take care of herself. She can get herself out of any situation that she is put in. Kate fell in love with the wrong person Roberto Salazar an Mexican drug lord. When Kate figures out what he is and what kind of person he is she steals his money and escapes from his ruthless clutches.

After Kate escapes she doesn't trust anyone not even the DEA agents or the witness protection program. So now she is on the run trying to stay alive and hiding from Salazar and his men. She knows you can't run a way from a Mexican drug cartel and stay alive but she plans on giving it her best shot and all by herself too.

There is a lot of action in The Kate Jones Thriller Series. Kate is always getting herself in all kinds of different situations. Not that any of it is her fault or anything that she did. You don't know from one minute to the next if she is going to get out alive. People are dying all around her but she has managed to stay alive and well.

There is sometimes that she has to let other people help her because there is no way she could do it by herself. She does end up trusting a few people with her secret and letting them know who she really is. Will Salazar and his men or someone else maybe finally take Kate's life from her? Will she ever have a life without the fear? Will she ever have a life like everyone else with someone to love her and someone she can love without worrying about putting their life in danger?

The Kate Jones Thriller Series would make one fantastic movie. I love watching movies with a lot of action and killing in them. I have never figured out why I only like movies with action, killing or the paranormal types. I am not fund of comedy at all, romance is ok if it has action, killing, vampire, witches or werewolves thrown in other wise I am not going to watch it. If I do I will fall asleep. Whilst saying all of that now I guess you have figured out that I really loved The Kate Jones Thriller Series and would really love to see it on the big screen.









    About the Author



DV Berkom grew up in the Midwest, received her BA in Political Science from the University of Minnesota, and promptly moved to Mexico to live on a sailboat. Several years and at least a dozen moves later, she now resides outside of Seattle, Washington with her sweetheart Mark, an ex-chef-turned-contractor, and writes whenever she gets a chance. You're welcome to email her at dvb@dvberkom.com or chat with her on Facebook- she loves to hear from readers as well as other writers.







    ONLINE LINKS

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Amazon







GIVEAWAY




The giveaway is tour wide for 7 eBook copies of Cruising for Death (Kate Jones Thriller #5) or Serial Date by DV Berkom (Winners choice) and ends on Dec. 17th.




a Rafflecopter giveaway






Be sure and check out all the other stops on the tour.



TOUR SCHEDULE




Dec. 1st- Cocktails and Books (Review/Giveaway)

Dec. 2nd- I am, Indeed (Review/Giveaway)

Dec. 3rd- The Book Diva's Reads (Review/Giveaway)

Dec. 4th- My Escape (Review/Giveaway)

Dec. 5th- Sweet n' Sassi (Review/Giveaway)

Dec. 6th- Mallory Heart Reviews (Review/Giveaway)

Dec. 7th- The Avid Reader (Review/Giveaway)

Dec. 8th- A Book Lover's Library (Review/Giveaway)

Dec. 9th- TheFourHorsemenSeries (Review/Giveaway)

Dec. 10th- Stitch Read Cook (Review/Giveaway)

Dec. 10th- Bookluvrs Haven (Review/Giveaway)







TOUR SCHEDULE LINK



This tour was put together by FMB Blog Tours

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Blog Tour: (Interview + Excerpt) The Flight of the Griffin By C.M. Gray




I would like to welcome C. M. Gray to The Avid Reader today. Thanks for stopping by Chris. Please be sure and check out Chris's novel The Flight of the Griffin. I have a excerpt of The Flight of the Griffin for you to read. Oh and check out my interview with Chris.




Flight Griffin banner






Flight Griffin cover

Book Title: The Flight of the Griffin

Author: C.M.Gray

Genre: YA Fantasy

Published: April 16th 2012

Publisher: C.M. Gray

Kindle Edition:

Pages: 244













PURCHASE

The Flight of the Griffin




Amazon

Barnes and Noble







BOOK DESCRIPTION

The Flight of the Griffin




Living in their old boat 'The Griffin' four young boys and their guide become the unlikely heroes at the end of time when a burglary sets them on the path to finish the 'Last great Spell' - a spell to stop the balance of the World tipping into Chaos...

They become Magician, Thief, Priest and Fighter when a magical book guides them upon a quest that pits them against magic, demons and 'The Hawk,' an evil hunter of men.

Join a race against time to find three crystal skulls that must be brought together, while all the forces of Chaos try everything to stop them!








EXCERPT

Demons are fought...




The crew watched nervously as a large dark shape about halfway down slowly came into view, the globes' dim light gradually exposing the demon's features. It was huge. Its head almost touched the ceiling and its massive shoulders were brushing the walls to either side, dragging plaster and old hangings down as it lumbered forward. It was completely black except for the deep red smouldering glow of its eyes, which were set above large flaring nostrils. Pardigan pushed through to join his friends. His first thought on getting a good look at the creature, was that it resembled the features of a giant bat freshly drawn from the worst of fevered nightmares. Wings could be seen above its shoulders, folded now, but flexing from time to time as it crunched along the bone-strewn corridor towards them.





REVIEWS: Goodreads reviews (31 on site for 4.36 average)

for The Flight of the Griffin




Carol Powney's review Jul 13, 2012 (5 Stars)
Read in June, 2012

This is one of the best magical quest adventure stories I've read in a long time. It has all the makings of a children's to teen's classic. Yet I as an adult enjoyed it immensely. I go as far as to put it on a par with the stories of Alan Garner and Philip Pullman......




Rachael (4 Stars)

In this fast paced magical journey of friendship, courage and adventure, we follow the young heroes in their quest to maintain the balance of good and evil.

Best suited to the Young Adult audience it is aimed at, but accessible to adults too, this is a well developed novel written with a lot of heart and creativity. With a full compliment of likeable heroes and detestable villains this book is sure to spark the imagination....




Helen Baggott (5 Stars)

It's been many decades since I was a Young Adult. Actually, I never was one - you were either a child or a teenager.

So when I read a novel written for the YA market, what do I think? Well I question what exactly makes a novel fit the category. It must contain certain elements that a reader will expect - imagination, intrigue and adventure. And don't forget the story.

There was a point, early in CM Gray's novel - The Flight of the Griffin - when I actually felt a shiver of excitement.




Ignite (5 Stars)

This YA Fantasy story is a classic Quest tale which involves 4 young lads and a boat. It's a lovely story but not in any sickly sweet meaning of the term. The boys' characters are really believable. They have their individual skills but have their faults too. A real touch of class is Mahra, a shape changer who spends so much time as a cat that when she is in girl form she is often to be found licking her hand! These youngsters are on the side of Order and battle to keep Chaos and Order in balanc




Steph Coleman (5 Stars)

I give this book 5 stars!! Once I started I didn't want to put it down until I had read the whole thing. First off we meet Paridigan who makes his living as a thief and lives on an abandoned boat (cool). He steals from the local merchant (which is okay apparently because the merchant is mean and unpleasant) and only later discovers that his ill gotten gains have more troublesome consequences than he'd ever imagined. What follows next is a nonstop adventure that hooked me. I thought the writing was beautiful and descriptive, and never felt too rushed. I could totally picture this book being made into a movie, because it feels like you ware watching one when you are reading it. Great read!





INTERVIEW

C.M. Gray




The Avid Reader: What inspired you to write The Flight of the Griffin?

C.M. Gray: I was inspired by several things. Firstly, it was a time when I finally decided to give up watching television and do something a little more creative with my spare time. Television was sucking the life out of me, much as it does to millions of people. One day, when the advertisements came on I couldn’t remember what program I had actually been watching, which was kind of scary to me. I also wanted to write a fantasy book that sent my characters of on a hectic quest. I love fantasy so wanted to come up with something original but I also wanted to write for a readership that was both adult and older kids, bit like the harry Potter books. J.K.Rawling has fans of al ages... I guess I was trying to follow her a bit too!



The Avid Reader: When or at what age did you know you wanted to be a writer?

C.M. Gray: I have always read a lot of books, since I was really young reading Enid Blyton. Through all the years discovering new writers and reading their whole list of works I kept hearing that ‘everyone has a book in them.’ I think for several years I was getting mentally prepared and then I had this moment of epiphany, turned off the TV and sat down to write. So what age? Pretty young, but didn’t get around to it until later in life.



The Avid Reader: What is the earliest age you remember reading your first book?

C.M. Gray: I was probably five or six. My parents were big readers so it felt natural to progress from picture books and encyclopedias to stories. I read classics like Tom Sawyer and Teasure Island when I was about ten and was into Steven King when I was entering my teens. Tolkien hit me hard at about fourteen and set me on a life long love of fantasy, but I do read many genres.



The Avid Reader: What genre of books do you enjoy reading?

C.M. Gray: Obviously fantasy but I also love John Grisham lawyer/crime books. Adventure and true life. I spent a long time reading spiritual books, myths and legends and most of the religious texts. The only books I don’t like to read are Romance books... because they make nauseous :)



The Avid Reader: What is your favorite book?

C.M. Gray: It is a toss up between 'Of Mice and Men' and ‘Cannery Row’ both by John Steinbeck.



The Avid Reader: You know I think we all have a favorite author. Who is your favorite author and why?

C.M. Gray: After reading several thousand books, give or take, I picked up Cannery Row by John Steinbeck. It was a transforming moment as I started to read. By modern standards, he wrote back in the 1930’s and 40’s, Steinbeck had awful grammar; it’s as if he was rationing the commas and hyphens, but when you read a Steinbeck book you cannot really fault it. Everything is correct, not a word could be placed differently, scenes come alive and stories and lives unfold - the man was a genius. If you haven’t read a Steinbeck book, give it a go, treat yourself!



The Avid Reader: If you could travel back in time here on earth to any place or time. Where would you go and why?

C.M. Gray: I love history. My first book ‘Shadowland’ is set in the Dark ages of Britain, a time when the Romans were leaving and the Saxons and Vikings were raiding. Scary times but I read up on this period so much I would love to travel back and see it for real... but just for a week or so. I would also like to travel back to a time before people. A time when dinosaurs roamed the earth... just to check it out then I would come back to right now. I think we live in amazing times. Huge changes are happening all over the world and we have a chance to make those changes positive rather than negative. It is a privilege to be alive during these times, tough, but a privilege all the same.



The Avid Reader: When writing a book do you find that writing comes easy for you or is it a difficult task?

C.M. Gray: Sometimes I can write and the words just pour out for chapter after chapter. At other times I struggle to write a paragraph. It isn’t writers block, I don’t really suffer from that its just that certain ideas and concepts take a while to mature in my mind. I don’t write with any fixed plan so my characters can end up in a situation that take s a little time to get out. I’m currently in the final few chapters of the sequel to The Flight of the Griffin, it’s called Chaos Storm and has been a blast to write - but these final chapters are taking their time, but it’s going to be good!



The Avid Reader: Do you have any little fuzzy friends? Like a dog or a cat? Or any pets?

C.M. Gray: I have two dogs called Molly and Kipper and are brother and sister. We rescued them as pups earlier this year after they were abandoned, poor things.... They're a mixture of Catalan sheepdogs and... well, something else; I think their mum was a bit of a tart! They’re wonderful, especially as they stick with me as we walk through the woods. I wouldn’t enjoy them half as much if they ran off immediately and had to spend hours tracking them down like you have to with some dogs!



The Avid Reader: What is your "to die for", favorite food/foods to eat?

C.M. Gray: I spent several years living in Asia, in India, Thailand, The Philippines and Hong Kong so I love Asian food, the spicier the better. I also like to cook, especially Asian food. I eat fish and seafood, but not meat, which is a long story. Come around to my house, meet my dogs, I’ll cook you a curry and I’ll explain it all, washed down with a good bottle of Spanish wine, okay?



The Avid Reader: Do you have any advice for anyone that would like to be an author?

C.M. Gray: Yes, stop thinking about it and do it! You never know if it will be any good until you try. There is little or no money in it, so you have to do it for the love and fun of telling a story that nobody has told before. Be original, nobody wants a re-write of Harry Potter’s days at Hogwarts, and finally... get a really good editor. Don’t send your book out for the slaughter until it has been edited about a thousand times by somebody competent, somebody who isn’t you, your mum or your best friend!



Thanks so much for the invitation to be here today. I hope you will read The Flight of the Griffin and if you like it please write a review. In fact, any book you like be it mine or somebody else’s, please write reviews, us authors live for them!







ABOUT THE AUTHOR




Flight Griffin author

Born in Essex, England C.M.Gray has since been lucky enough to live and travel in many countries around the world. In fact he has lived more time outside of England than living there! Home now is just outside of Barcelona, Spain in a house in the middle of the forest with his Dutch born wife and two children.

C.M.Gray's writing is mostly fantasy and many of the experiences he has had in Asia, Africa and the Middle East come to life in his writing. The Flight of the Griffin follows the adventures of a group of young orphans as they battle demons and bandits on a magical quest to stop the world tipping into Chaos, while his second book, Shadowland blends fantasy with history as an old story teller takes his audience back to Britain's dark ages in a pre Arthurian legend.







CONTACT DETAILS




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Be sure and check out all the other stops on the tour.



TOUR SCHEDULE




Dec. 1 - Stephen - (Guest Post/Excerpt/ Ebook Giveaway)

Dec. 2 - Brooke - The Cover Contessa - (guest post with ebook giveaway)

Dec. 3 - Sheri

Dec. 4 - Tana

Dec. 5 - Suzanne V - (Authors interview/guest post/Giveaway)

Dec. 6 - Nancy - The Avid Reader - (interview & excerpt)

Dec. 7 - Midu - (book promo)

Dec. 8 - Faye - ( Guest Post )

Dec. 9 - Kimberly Lewis - (Author/book spotlight)

Dec. 10 - Flora - (Review/giveaway)







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