24 Hour Giveaway for Eric Van Lustbader's "Last Snow"

Hey everyone! I have a quickie 24 hour giveaway here today. I have two paperback copies of Eric Van Lustbader's Last Snow up for grabs. 

Book Description: 

The electrifying follow-up to the Jack McClure thriller First Daughter from the New York Times bestselling author of The Bourne Sanction and The Bourne Deception.

Jack McClure, Special Advisor and closest friend to the new President of the United States, interprets the world very differently from the rest of us. It’s his greatest liability, and his greatest asset.

An American senator, supposedly on a political trip to the Ukraine, turns up dead on the island of Capri. When the President asks him to find out how and why, Jack sets out from Moscow across Eastern Europe, following a perilous trail of diplomats, criminals, and corrupt politicians. Thrust into the midst of a global jigsaw puzzle, Jack’s unique dyslexic mind allows him to put together the pieces that others can’t even see.

Still unreconciled to the recent death of his daughter and the dissolution of his marriage, Jack takes on a personal mission along with his official one: keeping safe from harm his two unlikely, unexpected, and incompatible companions—Annika Dementieva, a rogue Russian FSB agent, and Alli Carson, the President’s daughter. As he struggles to keep both young women safe and unearth the answers he seeks, hunted by everyone from the Russian mafia to the Ukrainian police to his own NSA, Jack learns just how far up the American and Russian political ladders corruption and treachery has reached.

In the vein of Eric Van Lustbader’s latest bestselling Jason Bourne novels, Lustbader takes us on an international adventure in this powerful page-turner that will keep you reading through the night.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Many thanks to Wiley from Authors On the Web for this generous giveaway! 

Giveaway is open to US/Canada only. 

Giveaway ends May 1, 2011 at 4pm EST. 

Please fill out THIS FORM to enter.

Thank you! 

Blog Tour: Girl Wonder - Alexa Martin - Tens List

Today, Alexa Martin is here courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her book, Girl Wonder. Thank you for being here, Alexa! You can visit Alexa at her website, located here. If you would like to follow along with the tour, you can do so here, or through the banner. 

What top ten things would you tell your teen self?

1) Never curl your bangs.

2) Bring your own lunch to school. Cafeteria food is scary.

3) Pay attention in Spanish class--you'll thank me for this later.

4) It's okay to have a tutor for math, physics, and chemistry.

5) Be suspicious of anyone who tells you that high school is the best time of your life. It's not.

6) College is great, but for the love of God, find one that you can afford and

7) Join the cross-country team and know that it's perfectly okay to finish dead last. You'll still be ahead of the curve.

8) The pain you feel know will have big payoffs later.

9) It's okay if your best friend is your cat.

10) There is such thing as Karmic justice.

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As if transferring senior year weren't hard enough, Charlotte Locke has been bumped to lower level classes at her new school. With no friends, a terrible math SAT score, and looming college application deadlines, the future is starting to seem like an oncoming train for which she has no ticket.

Then Amanda enters her orbit like a hot-pink meteor, offering Charlotte a ticket to something else: popularity. Amanda is fearless, beautiful, brilliant, and rich. As her new side kick, Charlotte is brought into the elite clique of the debate team—and closer to Neal, Amanda's equally brilliant friend and the most perfect boy Charlotte has ever seen.

But just when senior year is looking up, Charlotte’s life starts to crumble. The more things heat up between Charlotte and Neal, the more Neal wants to hide their relationship. Is he ashamed? Meanwhile, Amanda is starting to act strangely competitive, and she's keeping a secret Charlotte doesn't want to know.

Talented newcomer Alexa Martin delivers a poignant story of first love, jealousy and friendship, where the ups and downs of senior year have never been so complicated. What else can Charlotte do but throw her hands up and ride?

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Felicity Heaton Guest Posts About Anime, RPGs & Her New Release, Ascension

What does a paranormal romance author do when she’s not writing?

Lost for Words gave me a fantastic topic to write a piece on and it’s something I don’t think anyone has ever asked me before. As an author, I’m always neck-deep in writing, editing or all the little things that go with the job description. I write dark paranormal romances and also some science fiction romance too, and with several series on the go, as well as new ones starting this year, I rarely have downtime. When I do manage to sneak some time off, or when I feel I need a break, I tend to gravitate to only a handful of things that are guaranteed to relax me or improve my state of mind. No, it’s not reading. I do read paranormal romance novels, but I generally wait until I’m between writing or edits to read them as I don’t like the books I read influencing my characters or style.

This is where I reveal my inner geek to you all and hope you find it endearing rather than freaky. When I’m stressed out and take a breather, I love nothing more than drawing, either sketching on paper or digitally with my drawing tablet, and generally my doodles revolve around my deep love of anime and manga. I love pretty much everything Japanese and have been to Japan four times now. I love reading manga or drawing manga versions of my characters, or characters from anime that I watch. Now that I’m a full time author, I start my day with a coffee and a couple of episodes of anime. Yeah, I watch cartoons in the morning just like any other kid (well, big kid in my case). I’ll also spend time learning or revising my Japanese when I can, and I’m hoping to learn my basic kanji this year. If I’m not indulging in my Japanese-related past times, I’m playing games on my PlayStation 3 or 2, mostly epic RPGs like Final Fantasy games or games such as Assassin’s Creed, Castlevania, and Devil May Cry or Prince of Persia.

Yes, I’m a geek and proud of it. I even have a collection of Gundam models and characters from anime I love, but don’t hold that against me. There are no giant robots in my stories, just vampires, immortals, gods and goddesses, werewolves and demons, as well as some witches. Paranormal has always been in my heart, setting up home there when I was a small child and used to love reading about Dracula and Frankenstein’s monster or witches and werewolves in my books. I spent days at school and college dreaming of vampires, and I think that’s where my creative writing spark came from. I would create a world for them in our world and play out scenes in my head during class. It was much more fun than studying.

I’ve always been a very creative person and I think that shows in my writing and in the covers I produce for my books, as well as the websites I design and build. I’m also a professional web developer and love nothing more than tinkering with code.

I’ve really enjoyed talking about what I do when I’m not writing or doing writing-related work. If you’d like to find out more about my books, or perhaps take a look at the covers I design for them, then you can find them on my website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk

My latest release is Ascension, an urban fantasy romance novel that is available now in e-book format direct from my site, on Amazon Kindle, and other retailers, and will be available next month in paperback.

Ascension

Felicity Heaton

A witch on the verge of achieving phenomenal power, Lealandra must turn to her half-breed demon ex-lover Taig for protection from the dark force that is after her and also from her own magic.

With her Counter-Balance dead and her coven against her, Taig’s blood and power is the only thing that can help her control her magic and survive the ascension and gain the strength to defeat her enemy.

Old feelings come flooding back as Taig allows her into his world and Lealandra finds herself fighting not only for survival but to win his broken heart again and heal the pain in their past. Can he forgive her for walking out on him all those years ago and will he ever believe her when she tells him that he’s not a monster but the man that she loves?

Read the excerpt or find out where to buy: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/

Biography:

Felicity Heaton is a romance author writing as both Felicity Heaton and F E Heaton. She is passionate about penning paranormal tales full of vampires, witches, werewolves, angels and shape-shifters, and has been interested in all things preternatural and fantastical since she was just a child. Her other passion is science-fiction and she likes nothing more than to immerse herself in a whole new universe and the amazing species therein. She used to while away days at school and college dreaming of vampires, werewolves and witches, or being lost in space, and used to while away evenings watching movies about them or reading gothic horror stories, science-fiction and romances.

Having tried her hand at various romance genres, it was only natural for her to turn her focus back to the paranormal, fantasy and science-fiction worlds she enjoys so much. She loves to write seductive, sexy and strong vampires, werewolves, witches, angels and alien species. The worlds she often dreams up for them are vicious, dark and dangerous, reflecting aspects of the heroines and heroes, but her characters also love deeply, laugh, cry and feel every emotion as keenly as anyone does. She makes no excuses for the darkness surrounding them, especially the paranormal creatures, and says that this is their world. She’s just honoured to write down their adventures.

If you want to know more about me, or want to get in touch, you can find me at the following places:

My website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk

My blog: http://www.indieparanormalromancebooks.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/feheaton

Twitter: http://twitter.com/felicityheaton

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/felicityheaton

Thank you so much for being here today, Felicity! Ascension sounds absolutely fabulous!

It looks like you have a great time when you aren't writing! :) 

Blog Tour: Back When You Were Easier to Love - Emily Wing Smith - Interview with Tweet Answers

Emily Wing Smith is here today with an interview with tweet answers, courtesy of the Teen Book Scene. Thank you for being here, Emily! Be on the lookout for more posts all week from Teen Book Scene to celebrate Back When You Were Easier to Love's book birthday!

What would the front page headline of a newspaper say about you?

YA Author Decides Craziness Not As Bad As It Looks

What is your favourite line from Back When You Were Easier to Love?

“You have the most hideous toes I have ever seen.”

Which Harry Potter character would you like to trade places with for a day?

Luna Lovegood—big-hearted, free spirit, totally chill.

Can you give us a description of your book in Haiku?

New landscape, new dream

Knew what I wanted, but then

New landscape, new dream.

You find yourself trapped in a shopping mall. What do you do? Where is the first place you would go?

Gourmet chocolate kiosk first, then search for bookstore.

Love those answers, Emily! Luna's a great character, eh? :) 
Thank you again for being here today, Emily! 

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What's worse than getting dumped? Not even knowing if you've been dumped. Joy got no goodbye, and certainly no explanation when Zan—the love of her life and the only good thing about stifling, backward Haven, Utah—unceremoniously and unexpectedly left for college a year early. Joy needs closure almost as much as she needs Zan, so she heads for California, and Zan, riding shotgun beside Zan's former-best-friend Noah.

Original and insightful, quirky and crushing, Joy's story is told in surprising and artfully shifting flashbacks between her life then and now. Exquisite craft and wry, relatable humor signal the arrival of Emily Wing Smith as a breakout talent.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Blog Tour: Future Imperfect - K. Ryer Breese - Teenage Garage Sale

Today, I'd like to welcome K. Ryer Breese to Lost For Words. He's here today courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for his book Future Imperfect. Thank you for being here today! You can follow along with the tour here.

Definitely one of the first things you'd find at my Teenage Garage Sale is a black, felt bowler hat. I wore it maybe once and looked like an idiot. At the time -- early 90s -- there was a bit of a fad with the bowler hats. People wore them on the back of their heads and had their hair sticking out the front. I think there was a Depeche Mode connection with the look. I never rocked it and the hat's been in my basement pretty much ever since. Lesson: Don't pursue fashions you don't have the hair for.

Next up would be a Variflex skateboard. The cheap kind. Type that only posers try and Ollie on. Embarrassing.

How about the Mr. Zog's Sex Wax surfing t-shirt that I got busted for wearing to school? My shop teacher saw it and sent me to the principal. I had to wear it inside out the rest of the day. Ridiculous. Still makes me mad. It was a cool shirt too, had a frog on it.

Definitely the skeleton necklace. (This is long before Hot Topic existed.) Oh, and the blue temporary hair coloring. A few bottles of Aquanet. Let's also chuck the vests while we're at it.

Last but not least would be my first dating experience. Here's a hint: don't throw popcorn and run up and down the aisles at a movie theatre with a toy lobster. Just not cool.

Love those garage sale items! Thank you again for being here today!

Blog Tour: I'm Not Her - Janet Gurtler - Into the Past

Janet Gurtler is here today talking about the books that she would recommend at different intervals throughout her past. Thank you for being here, Janet! You can follow along with the Teen Book Scene blog tour for I'm Not Her here, or by clicking the banner. Enjoy!

Into the Past: What books would your past self recommend at ages 6, 11, 16 and 20? 

Like most of us who love to read, books were like treasure to me at every age. Here’s a look at books I’d recommend at different ages.

Age Six- Harriet the Spy. I loved her so much that I think I convinced myself for awhile that I was her.

Age 11- A Wrinkle in Time. Again. This book had such a huge impact on me. We read it as a class when I was in grade 6 and I was completely absolutely hooked. The teacher would read a chapter at a time and we’d do projects and talk about the characters and I was living in Meg’s world and obsessed.

Age 16- SE Hinton books ruled my world. My favourite book was That Was Then, This is Now.

Age 20- This was a brief period in my life where I didn’t read as much because I was going to college and most of my free time I was studying. One book that was assigned in my Canadian Literature class was Lady Oracle and I can remember that having a big impact on me (and leading to a ghostly encounter that still spooks me to this day and I`ll tell you about some time if you ask).

Great books! I am intrigued by the ghostly encounter. Consider this as me asking about it! ;)
Thank you for this awesome post, Janet! :) 

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Brainy Tess Smith is the younger sibling of the beautiful, popular, volleyball-scholarship-bound Kristina. When Kristina is diagnosed with bone cancer, it drastically changes both sisters' lives. Sometimes the things that annoy us the most about our siblings are the ones we'd miss the most if we lost them.

In this YA literary coming-of-age novel that will appeal to readers who love Jodi Picoult and Sarah Dessen, sisters Tess and Kristina discover not only who they are, but who they can become.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Blog Tour: Unnatural - Michael Griffo - Tens List & Giveaway

Author Michael Griffo is here today with a Tens list and a giveaway courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for his book, Unnatural. Thank you for being here today, Michael! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking on the banner. 

Michael Griffo’s favorite things:

1. Holding my published novel in my hands.

2. The Young and the Restless – it’s a soap opera I’ve been watching for years.

3. Ice Skating – watching the pros do it and attempting it myself.

4. Yoga – I don’t do it enough, but when I do it makes me feel great.

5. Jane Eyre – my favorite novel of all time.

6. Knots Landing – my favorite TV series of all time.

7. Hearing from a fan who enjoyed something that I wrote – it’s honestly not an ego boost, just confirmation that I’m making a small difference in someone’s life and doing what I’m supposed to be doing.

8. Visiting London – my favorite place on earth.

9. Chicken parmigiana – the best meal ever!

10. My friends and family – without them my life’s journey wouldn’t be half as much fun.

What a great list, Michael! I've never heard of "Knots Landing" before, I'll have to check it out!

Giveaway

Michael Griffo has graciously provided Lost For Words with a copy of his book, Unnatural for giveaway. 

Thank you, Michael! 

Giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. 

Giveaway will end May 2, 2011.

Please fill out this FORM to enter. Comments, while appreciated, will not be counted as entries. 

Thank you! 

Unsavory Delicacies - Russell Brooks

A three-course story collection with a side-order of revenge.

For fans of Barry Eisler, Robert Ludlum, and Clive Cussler. Three short stories of suspense with unsavory results.

Crème Brulé—Rogue operative, Monique Beauvais, cons a software genius into selling her a coveted technology that would allow its user to control CIA drones while they’re in flight. And she will go as far as killing him in public in order to have it.

To the Last Bite—A renowned food critic—whose scathing reviews have closed down restaurants—gets a savoury surprise.

Shashlyk and Morezhenoe—CIA operative, Ridley Fox, leads a team against one of Russia’s most powerful crime families. He discovers secrets, but not one that he was expecting to find.

 Three stories with three consequences. All containing three Unsavory Delicacies.
Synopsis taken from russellparkway.com.

Title: Unsavory Delicacies

Author: Russell Brooks

Genre: Adult Fiction, Short Stories, Suspense

Publisher: Russell Brooks
Publication Date: April 22, 2011

Format: E-book

Source: Received from author. Many thanks goes to Russell Brooks for sending me a copy of his book. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. 

Look for it: Amazon Kindle, Nook, Smashwords. 
My rating: 4/5


Unsavory Delicacies is a compilation of three short stories from author, Russell Brooks.


Crème Brulé is an intriguing tale about a rogue operative who entices a software engineer to sell her a piece of classified technology. The story captivates the reader quickly, and leaves them wanting more as it concludes. Memorable characters make this an enjoyable treat. 


To The Last Bite is a tale of just desserts, and revenge best served cold. A harsh food critic finds that his columns can make or break a restaurant's reputation. What he doesn't realize, is how much is taken personally by certain chefs. This one isn't meant for those with a weak stomach as it has an unusual twist. I realized what had happened in this one before it was revealed, yet found it still a good read. 


Shashlyk and Morezhenoe takes a look at the lives of a powerful crime family. Ridley Fox, a CIA operative is on a mission to uncover classified intelligence, however he finds out more than he bargained for when he uncovers a secret that was supposed to be kept under wraps. 


All in all, three succulent morsels that will leave the reader begging for more. I'll be keeping my eye out for Brooks' future works. 

Blog Tour: Moonglass - Jessi Kirby - Tens List

Today, Jessi Kirby stops by with a tens list for her Moonglass blog tour, courtesy of Teen Book Scene. Thank you for being here, Jessi! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking on the banner.

Which ten places do you recommend visiting when in Crystal Cave?

*The Shake Shack—best milkshakes ever. They’re like a meal in a cup.

*The Beachcomber—it’s literally on the beach, has great food, and they raise the martini flag every day at 4:00.

*Treasure Cove-It’s at the north end of the beach and there’s a really cool cave you can go into.

*El Morro-this is the south end of the beach where the actual Ab Rock towers above the water.

*The tidepools—they’re gorgeous any time of day or year.

*The underwater park—there’s great scuba diving at Crystal Cove, complete with a sunken anchor and a downed plane!

*The Cove Store—they’ve got all sorts of art, sea glass, jewelry. Beautiful stuff!

*The Visitor’s Center—tons of great history about the place.

*The north end of the beach, in front of the not- yet- renovated cottages. They’re amazing to check out and photograph.

*Any of the overlooks on the bluff trail. Best views ever!

An underwater park, eh? Sounds like a great place to visit!

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From Jessi Kirby, a debut novel about confronting the past in order to move ahead.

I read once that water is a symbol for emotions. And for a while now, I've thought maybe my mother drowned in both.

Anna's life is upended when her father accepts a job transfer the summer before her junior year. It's bad enough that she has to leave her friends and her life behind, but her dad is moving them to the beach where her parents first met and fell in love- a place awash in memories that Anna would just as soon leave under the surface.

While life on the beach is pretty great, with ocean views and one adorable lifeguard in particular, there are also family secrets that were buried along the shore years ago. And the ebb and flow of the ocean's tide means that nothing- not the sea glass that she collects on the sand and not the truths behind Anna's mother's death- stays buried forever.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

The Shepherd - Ethan Cross - Blog Tour Review

Marcus Williams and Francis Ackerman Jr. both have a talent for hurting people. Marcus, a former New York City homicide detective, uses his abilities to protect others, while Ackerman uses his gifts to inflict pain and suffering. When both men become unwilling pawns in a conspiracy that reaches to the highest levels of our government, Marcus finds himself in a deadly game of cat and mouse trapped between a twisted psychopath and a vigilante with seemingly unlimited resources. Aided by a rogue FBI agent and the vigilante's beautiful daughter--a woman with whom he's quickly falling in love--Marcus must expose the deadly political conspiracy and confront his past while hunting down one of the most cunning and ruthless killers in the world.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Title: The Shepherd

Author: Ethan Cross

Genre: Adult Fiction, Thriller, Suspense

Publisher: The Fiction Studio

Publication Date: March 16, 2011

Format: Softcover

Source: Received from publicist for Pump Up Your Book blog tour. Many thanks goes to Tracee for sending me a copy of this book. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

Tour: Pump Up Your Book

Find it: Amazon

My rating: 4/5 

Marcus Williams is not your typical man. He has a talent, one that he uses for the good of others around him. Francis Ackerman Jr. on the other hand, shares this talent and is one of the most prolific killers ever seen. Both men, are catapulted into a game of wits against each other. Conspiracy abounds at the highest levels of government as situations spiral out of control. Will Marcus survive and unveil the corruption for what it is? 
A raging, fast-paced thriller with explosive and bloody action, The Shepherd is sure to keep you up at night. With a highly prolific and cunning villain, the spotlight is thrown onto the visual aspect of Ackerman's kills. His rituals and games, make the story all the more disturbing. He has a worthy adversary in Marcus Williams. Williams, a former homicide detective, has the ability and capabilities to confront Ackerman, however all is not as it seems. 
Captivating characters will have you reading this one on the edge of your seat, as a highly engaging yet absolutely graphic story unfolds. A devious plot, and intricate storyline will also capture the reader's interest as they will wonder just what is going on. The psychological aspect also adds to the read as we see just what makes someone tick, and just how far one is willing to go to either save or torture those around them.
All in all, a gripping, shocking, thrilling, and gory read, reminiscent of Criminal Minds. The twist at the end will leave you stunned. Believe me, I did not see "that" coming. I dare you to read this one, especially if you enjoy books that will keep you up at night. 

Blog Tour: Shadow Hunters - Brent Hartinger - When I'm Not Writing

Today, Brent Hartinger, author of Shadow Walkers stops by to talk about what he does when not writing. This post is part of his blog tour for Shadow Walkers through Teen Book Scene. You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking on the banner. Enjoy!

My “not writing” is more theoretical that reality, since I’m writing something almost all the time, mostly because I have a deadline looming. (I take on too many projects, but then again: if people are going to pay me to write – which is what I’ve dreamed of all my life -- why not do it?)

That said, I’m definitely not one of those “write every day” types. I love writing, but it’s extremely hard work for me, and when I’m not writing, I’m sooooo not writing. If I’m not writing and hanging around the house, I’m either reading, watching movies, or playing video games, or I’m over at this urban lake, Green Lake, which I live next to in Seattle. I never imagined how much fun it is to live on a lake – especially one you can walk all around because it’s completely surrounded by a park. In the winter, it freezes, and in the summer it’s full of swimmers, and the sunsets are fantastic regardless. It’s perfection!

If I’m away from home, that means my partner and I have thrown the bikes into the back of our car and have probably headed off somewhere to bike – preferably one of the islands in Puget Sound, which are my favorite places to be. Some are hilly (but that’s okay, because it makes a great workout), some are flat, some are big, some are small, some have towns, and some are almost deserted. But they’re all covered with wonderful Pacific Northwest forests, and winding roads and rocky beaches and farmlands. A couple of the islands even have these massive abandoned World War I forts to explore!

Seriously: me, a bike, a friend or two, a picnic lunch, and an island in Puget Sound is my idea of heaven.

Thank you so much for being here today, Brent! Love your idea of heaven! It sounds absolutely wonderful!

For those looking to know more about Shadow Walkers, I've included the book cover and description below.

Living with his grandparents on a tiny island off the Washington State coast, Zach feels cut off from the world. Especially when he's forbidden to chat with his online friends. But then his little brother, Gilbert, is kidnapped. To find him, Zach discovers how to astral project. Soon, his spirit is soaring through the strange and boundless astral realm—a shadow place.

While searching for his brother, Zach meets a boy named Emory, another astral traveler who's intriguing (and cute). As they track the kidnappers from the astral realm, their bond grows—but each moment could be Gilbert's last. Even worse, there's a menacing, centuries-old creature in their midst that devours souls and possesses physical bodies. And it's hungry for Zach.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

A World I Never Made - James LePore - Blog Tour Review

Pat Nolan, an American man, is summoned to Paris to claim the body of his estranged daughter Megan, who has committed suicide. The body, however, is not Megan's and it becomes instantly clear to Pat that Megan staged this, that she is in serious trouble, and that she is calling to him for help.

This sends Pat on an odyssey that stretches across France and into the Czech Republic and that makes him the target of both the French police and a band of international terrorists. Joining Pat on his search is Catherine Laurence, a beautiful but tormented Paris detective who sees in Pat something she never thought she'd find-genuine passion and desperate need. As they look for Megan, they come closer to each other's souls and discover love when both had long given up on it.

Juxtaposed against this story is Megan's story. A freelance journalist, Megan is in Morocco to do research when she meets Abdel Lahani, a Saudi businessman. They begin a torrid affair, a game Megan has played often and well in her adult life. But what she discovers about Lahani puts her in the center of a different kind of game, one with rules she can barely comprehend. Because of her relationship with Lahani, Megan has made some considerable enemies. And she has put the lives of many-maybe even millions-at risk.

A World I Never Made is an atmospheric novel of suspense with brilliantly drawn characters and back-stories as compelling as the plot itself. It is the kind of novel that resonates deeply and leaves its traces long after you turn the final page.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Title: A World I Never Made

Author: James LePore

Genre: Adult Fiction, Thriller, Suspense

Publisher: The Story Plant

Publication Date: April 2009

Format: Hardcover

Source: Received from publicist for Pump Up Your Book blog tour. Many thanks goes to Tracee for sending me a copy of this book. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. 

Tour: Pump Up  Your Book

Look for it: Amazon, Kindle

My rating: 4/5

Pat Nolan heads to Paris to confront the disturbing reality that his estranged daughter, Megan, has committed suicide. However all is not as it seems, and Pat is lead on a high-stakes chase throughout France and the Czech Republic as he follows Megan's trail. With danger looming in from all sides, Pat will have to be careful who he confides in. He teams up with detective Catherine Laurence to find his daughter before she ends up dying for real.

Pat is the quintessential man. He is world-weary, a man of regrets, and also a man who would do anything to alter the relationship he has with his daughter. Even if it means finding her and getting her out of trouble. He has his faults, and is hard on himself for them. He reminisces about his deceased wife, and Megan's childhood without him around. He has been adamant he would never fall in love again, and he has remained true to this vow, until now. A father's love is a father's love, and his race to save his daughter is compelling. The secrets we learn along the way only serve to deepen our connection to Pat. 

Megan lives a volatile lifestyle. As a journalist, she has worked on several pieces involving terrorism and terrorist organizations. She also tends to enter into relationships where she plays games with dangerous consequences. We read from her perspective as she enters into a relationship with calculating, and suave Abdel Lahani. She plays dangerous games of cat and mouse to uncover material for her pieces; however, she may have picked the wrong man to play with this time. He has secrets of his own, and is not above playing her games against her as well.

Written in both Pat's and Megan's views, we see the end result where Pat comes in, but also what preempted Megan's need to call out to her dad for help. Her elaborate game of cat and mouse spirals out of control, weaving an increasingly dangerous web around her. 

All in all, a riveting and explosive thriller sure to captivate the reader from the first page. Haunting character detail, and an elaborate plot line help keep the suspense high as the action never lets up. LePore is certainly one to watch. 

An Earth Day Message from Gillian Deacon & Giveaway

A special Earth Day message from Gillian Deacon

Earth day shouldn't just be an annual tip of the hat to greener living. This year, make it the day you recalibrate your everyday patterns to be more earth-friendly all year long.

You don't have to be a treehugger to care about avoiding toxins in your everyday bodycare. Synthetic chemicals in personal care products contaminating groundwater and wildlife is alarming enough—but they’re also contaminating us. Those hard-to-read ingredients you squint at on the back of a product label? They’re building up inside your body and in your children’s bodies—on Earth Day and everyday.

Make today the day you start paying attention to that fine print. Turn a product over and read the ingredients label before you are seduced by the “green” imaging on the package. The good news is, there are lots of safer products on the market.

Good luck and I hope you’ll check out There’s Lead in Your Lipstick for more ideas on how to clean up your act!

Researchers in Finland tested eighty-eight colours from twenty-five brands and found forty-nine eyeshadows contained lead, cobalt, nickel, chromium, and arsenic. Eyeshadows also often contain petrochemicals, such as mineral oil, dimethicone to make the powder stick to the eyelid, and a binding agent like methacrylate, which in addition to being a strong skin irritant is also a contributor to 1,4-dioxane, a known carcinogen. Glitter eyeshadows use pure aluminum to create the shimmery effect; the aluminum can migrate into the eye and cause injury to the cornea.

From There’s Lead in Your Lipstick by Gillian Deacon (Penguin Canada). Copyright © Backbone Inc. FSO Gillian Deacon, 2011

Gillian's page on Penguin can be found here. 

Thank you for this informative post, Gillian!

Giveaway

Bronwyn, from Penguin Canada, is graciously providing a giveaway prize pack to one lucky Canadian reader in honour of Earth Day.

Thank you, Bronwyn!

The prize details?

One prize pack of There’s Lead In Your Lipstick and an Eco Kiss kit from Saffron Rouge (http://www.saffronrouge.com/babybearshop/eco-kiss-kit). The retail value total is approx CDN $48.95. 

Giveaway is available to Canadian residents only.

Giveaway will end April 26, 2011. 

Please fill out THIS FORM to enter. 

Comments, while appreciated, will not be counted as entries. 

Thank you! 

Broken - Susan Jane Bigelow - Blog Tour Review

In a post-war future world where First Contact has been made, humans are colonizing the stars, and the nations of Earth have been united under a central government, Extrahumans are required by law to belong to the Union. When a young man with visions of the future sets out on a mission to define the course of human history, he encounters a devastated former hero, a fascist dictatorship bent on world domination, and the realities of living in a society where affiliation is everything.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Title: Broken

Author: Susan Jane Bigelow

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction,

Publisher: Candlemark & Gleam

Publication Date: January 25, 2011

Format: E-book

Source: Received from Susan Jane Bigelow courtesy of Teen Book Scene. Many thanks goes to Susan Jane Bigelow, and Teen Book Scene for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. 

Tour: Teen Book Scene. You can follow along with the tour here.

My rating: 4/5 

Michael has lived life on the edge, especially knowing that he can see the future through those around him. He can only see variables, and the threads of the future are ever-changing. He is on a mission though to alter the future for the better, he hopes. Michael's world is very much a dystopian one. Superhuman beings have to pledge allegiance to the Union. Government regimes rise up against each other as they battle for supremacy. Riots are erupting everywhere as the chaos deepens further, leaving everyone and everything devestated. When everything seems so overwhelmingly hopeless, it is up to Michael to bring about the seeds of peace and hope to the world. 
Michael is an industrious and brave fourteen year old tasked with a mission that is so much greater than him. He won't benefit from his actions, or see the effects of them for years to come, but his actions are needed if the world he lives in is going to change. I don't envy him his position as defeat surrounds him on all sides. Whether or not he completes his mission is the deciding factor. He is such a brave character, especially considering his prescient nature. Seeing the future of those around you, and yourself, must be hard especially when all looks bleak. However he finds the courage to keep motivated, and that is inspiring. Though he sets out on his mission alone, he also meets up with other characters who form the rag-tag team that will help him potentially complete his obstacle-laden journey. 
I especially enjoyed the fact that Broken is a superhero novel. I haven't read many superhero novels as I prefer watching them unfold on the screen, but Broken is a commendable and industrious addition to the genre.
All in all, a remarkable tale of strength and courage through even the toughest circumstances. The additional world-building adds to the overall feeling of tension within the regimes. The government upheavals also add to the precarious nature of the book where even a chance wrong word could get you killed. I think science fiction and dystopian fans will enjoy this addition to the genre.