Book Blitz: Birthright by Jessica Ruddick | Top Ten List + Giveaway!

Welcome to the book blitz for 

Birthright by Jessica Ruddick! 

Enjoy!

Birthright
by Jessica Ruddick
Genre: YA Supernatural
Release Date: March 20th 2017

  

How do you live with yourself when you decide who dies?

Ava Parks would have killed for an iPod for her sixteenth birthday. Anything would have been better than coming into her birthright of being a seeker for the Grim Reaper, an arrangement made by her fallen angel ancestor in exchange for his re-admittance to heaven. And she isn’t just any seeker—she finds souls that have the potential for becoming angels and sentences them to death. A year and two souls into her role as a seeker with her conscience overflowing with guilt, Ava comes up with a plan to thwart the system. When it goes awry, she is forced to submit the name of a classmate, Cole Fowler, an ornery, rough around the edges guy who always seems to come to her rescue, whether she likes it or not. Her feelings for Cole prompt her to intervene, and she saves him from death, upsetting the Grim Reaper’s agenda. 

While Ava schemes to find a way to save Cole, she learns he has some secrets of his own. She lets him believe he is protecting her, and not the other way around, until a final showdown with the Grim Reaper forces Ava to make choices Cole may never forgive.

Birthright can be purchased at any of the following retailers:

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

Top Ten Books/Series You Should Read (in no particular order)

**Keep in mind I have a master’s degree in English literature and I was an English teacher for thirteen years.

1. Shakespeare’s plays, specifically Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Othello. You’d be surprised how relevant these works are today even though they were written four hundred years ago. Also, people often refer to Romeo and Juliet as a love story. Not really. It’s a tragedy about two lust-driven teenagers.
2. The Harry Potter series. Do I even need to explain this one? ☺
3. 1984. This book is another one of those that remains relevant even though it was written decades ago. There are still traces of it in pop culture today. Big brother, anyone?
4. The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. I absolutely love these books. I’m a little bit obsessed, actually. They made me laugh, cry, and everything in between.
5. J.D. Robb’s In Death series. A neighbor I babysat for introduced me to these way back when I was a young teenager and I still enjoy them now.
6. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Some consider this the first romance novel. Isn’t that reason enough to read it?
7. The Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood series by Charlaine Harris. These are a fun read. I also loved the TV show. The first season followed the first book pretty closely, but after that it veered off dramatically. Both are excellent in their own right, though.
8. Kelley Armstrong’s Otherworld series. There are thirteen books in all and it’s complete. (I read so fast I prefer a series to be complete when I start so I don’t have to wait.) There are also various novellas and short stories. The series is unique in that the narrators change from book to book, which keeps it fresh.
9. Indie author Kate L. Mary’s Broken World series. Kate is actually a friend of mine and these books are addicting. They read like a TV show, similar to The Walking Dead. Full Disclosure: I don’t actually watch that show because it would give me nightmares! But anyway, the series is well written and I devoured them.
10. Rachel Vincent’s Shifter series. This series is complete at six books. It was her first series and has been out for a while now. They were actually new adult before new adult became a thing.

So I know I’m forgetting about a million great books that deserve to be on this list, but these are the first ten that came to mind. The good news is that a lot of them are series, so I actually managed to sneak in over a hundred books! Pretty sneaky, right? ☺

   

Jessica Ruddick is a 2014 Golden Heart finalist for her new adult novel, Letting Go, which was inspired by her own college experiences. She lives in Virginia and is married to her college sweetheart—their first date was a fraternity toga party (and nothing inspires love like a toga, right?). When she doesn’t have her nose in a book or her hands on a keyboard, she can be found wrangling her two rambunctious sons, taming two rowdy but lovable rescue dogs, and battling the herd of dust bunnies that has taken up residence in her home. To learn more about Jessica, please visit her website at www.jessicaruddick.com.

Enter to win a Kindle copy of the Author’s first award-winning book, 
Letting Go.
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Blog Tour: Operation Prom Date by Cindi Madsen | Excerpt + Giveaway!

Operation Prom Date

by Cindi Madsen

Series: Tactics in Dating #1

Publication Date: March 13, 2017

Publisher: Entangled Teen Crush

Kate ships tons of fictional couples, but IRL her OTP is her and Mick, the hot quarterback she’s crushed on since, like, forever. With only one semester left of senior year, it’s now or never if she wants to land him in time for prom. Since she’s flirtationally challenged, she enlists Cooper Callihan, the guy who turned popular seemingly overnight but who used to be a good friend.

Cooper lives and breathes rowing, but his partner just broke his wrist. When he remembers Kate’s good with a set of oars, he strikes a deal: help him train, and he’ll make sure her crush notices her. Only he didn’t know how addicting spending time with her would be. Or how the more successful the Operation is, the more jealousy he experiences.

The mission has been set. The troops have their marching orders. But what if the target is the wrong guy all along?

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains stargazing, accidental swimming, and poker swindling. This kissing practice will melt your ereader…and give you a new couple to ship.  

Purchase at 

Google Play | BAM | Chapters | Indies | Amazon | B&N| Kobo | TBD | iBooks

Cooper glanced at the ducks. “Do you ship them?”

“Not that I have to, because they’re clearly already in love, but yes. I hope they have a very happy duck life and have lots of beautiful duck children.”

“I think the word you’re searching for is ducklings, because children are a human thing. Duck children sounds like a mutant science experiment gone wrong.”

“Ugh, you drive me crazy!” I shoved him, and he barely caught his balance.

“I just thought a math girl would be more into facts, is all.”

I moved to shove him again, and he caught my arm. The boat rocked, and I fell into Cooper, my hands braced against his chest. Despite trying not to think about it, my hands noticed how firm it was. I also caught a whiff of woodsy cologne, and there was something intoxicating about the way it mixed in with the fresh air and water scent.

“Careful,” Cooper warned, his deep voice vibrating against my palms. “You’re about to send us both into the water.”

“I don’t want to be careful.” I straightened. “I love the lake, and I want to enjoy my time out here. I’m glad you love rowing and all, but sometimes you’ve got to slow down for a moment and appreciate it.” I squatted next to the side, curving my hands around the edge of the wooden boat, and peered into the water. Underneath the surface, a couple of fish darted back and forth. “There’s an entire life under there and you’re missing it.”

Cooper knelt next to me, his thigh pressed against mine, and warmth wound through me. “I get what you’re saying,” he said. “No more being so serious.”

“Seriously.” In one fluid motion, I scooped up a handful of water and launched it at him.

His jaw dropped. He blinked at me through wet lashes, and then he lunged. With a squeal, I scrambled backward, attempting to flee—I’m not sure where, but I supposed there was something to be said for trying.

Unfortunately Cooper was too fast. He launched a spray of water at me and all I could do was throw my hands in front of me to try to block another attack. The boat rocked as I attempted to stand, and I flung out my arms, trying to brace myself on something.

Strong hands caught me around the waist. I gripped Cooper’s wrists, clinging on for dear life. The rocking of the boat calmed, but I couldn’t say the same for my heart rate. Instead of coming back down, it tripped over its beats, each one faster than the next.

The weirdo attraction vibes caught me off guard and overwhelmed me, so I did the only thing I could think of. I rocked the boat again, trying to get the teasing vibe back. Only I overdid it, my attempt to turn the tides apparently endowing me with super strength.

I bumped into him, and he tipped, his hands flailing now. “I’m sorry, I—”

He reached out and caught hold of my wrist, and then we both went tumbling over the side, into the icy cold water.

Cindi Madsen is a USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance and young adult novels. She sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she’d be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they’re sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads • Pinterest

Giveaway Info: Kate Hamilton's OTP Prize Pack, including two Funko Pops: The Green Arrow and Felicity* *NOTE: A $20 Amazon gift card will be substituted in the place of the prize pack if the winner is international.

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GIVEAWAY: SHADOW RUN by AdriAnne Strickland & Michael Miller! Win 2 print copies!

Hi everyone!

Today is my stop on the SHADOW RUN by AdriAnne Strickland & Michael Miller blog tour! 

The wonderful people at Random House are giving me 2 print copies of the book for a giveaway! You can enter below to win. Enjoy and Good luck!

Shadow Run (Kaitan Chronicles #1)

by AdriAnne Strickland & Michael Miller

Hardcover, 400 pages

Expected publication: March 21st 2017 

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Genre: YA - Science Fiction

"Firefly" meets DUNE in this action-packed sci-fi adventure about a close-knit, found family of a crew navigating a galaxy of political intrigue and resource-driven power games.

Nev has just joined the crew of the starship Kaitan Heritage as the cargo loader. His captain, Qole, is the youngest-ever person to command her own ship, but she brooks no argument from her crew of orphans, fugitives, and con men. Nev can’t resist her, even if her ship is an antique.

As for Nev, he’s a prince, in hiding on the ship. He believes Qole holds the key to changing galactic civilization, and when her cooperation proves difficult to obtain, Nev resolves to get her to his home planet by any means necessary.

But before they know it, a rival royal family is after Qole too, and they’re more interested in stealing her abilities than in keeping her alive.

Nev’s mission to manipulate Qole becomes one to save her, and to survive, she’ll have to trust her would-be kidnapper. He may be royalty, but Qole is discovering a deep reservoir of power—and stars have mercy on whoever tries to hurt her ship or her crew.

Purchase at: Amazon / B&N / Kobo / TBD / Indiebound

You can learn all about the authors, here and here.

Enter below to win TWO copies of SHADOW RUN! There will be 2 winners.

Open to US residents only! 

Ends March 25th

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Blog Tour: YOU CAN'T HIDE by Dan Poblocki | Top Ten List + Giveaway!

Welcome everyone to the Official Blog tour for 

 YOU CAN'T HIDE by Dan Poblocki

In this post, you can read all about the book and the author as well as enter a giveaway for copies of the book! Enjoy!

Title: You Can't Hide
Author: Dan Poblocki 
Series: Shadow House (Book 2)
Hardcover: 224 pages
Genre: Middle Grade, Paranormal, Horror
Publisher: Scholastic (December 27, 2016)
ISBN-10: 0545925517
ISBN-13: 978-0545925518

Shadow House will find you . . .

Poppy, Marcus, Dash, Dylan, and Azumi are all trapped within Shadow House, a sinister estate where past and present intertwine. As they fight to find a way out, the kids think the ghosts of the house are the greatest danger they face. Little do the kids know it's the secrets they're each hiding that will prove even more lethal.

They're going to have to come face to face with their fears if they stand any hope of escaping the house alive. Is there anyone or anything in the house they can trust? Or is all hope disappearing, too . 

Enter Shadow House . . . if you dare.

BONUS: Step inside Shadow House with the free app for your tablet or phone! Each image in the book reveals a haunting in the app, where the choices you make determine your fate.

You can purchase You Can't Hide at the following Retailers:

        

Praise for YOU CAN'T HIDE

"Shadow House has everything I love—strange characters, magic and the supernatural, endless danger and adventure—and a mystery I dare any reader to try to solve". -- R.L. Stine, author of Goosebumps

Praise for The Book of Bad Things

"Ghostly... grotesque... eerie..." -- Booklist

"Poblocki's return, full of mystery, monsters and ghosts, is sure to satisfy his fans. Old-school, John Saul-style horror." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Fun and creepy in all the good ways." -- VOYA

Praise for The Haunting of Gabriel Ashe

A YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults selection

A Junior Library Guild selection

"The social dramas mesh well with the supernatural elements... Poblocki creates a real sense of suspense." -- Booklist

"Poblocki creates danger by not pulling punches. An atmospheric, creepy ghost story best read at night." -- Kirkus Reviews

Top Ten book classics you'd like to read

To my chagrin, I admit that I still haven’t read:

• 10.  The Phantom Tollbooth – Norton Juster
• 9.  Brave New World – Aldous Huxley
• 8.  Dracula – Bram Stoker
• 7.  The House of the Spirits – Isabel Allende
• 6.  Their Eyes Were Watching God – Zora Neale Hurston
• 5.  We Have Always Lived in the Castle – Shirley Jackson
• 4.  Go Tell it on the Mountain – James Baldwin
• 3.  Frankenstein – Mary Shelley
• 2.  Parable of the Sower – Octavia Butler
• 1.  A Wizard of Earthsea – Ursula Le Guin  

Dan Poblocki is an American author of mystery and horror novels for young people. He was born in Providence, Rhode Island. During his pre-teen years, his family moved to Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Dan currently lives in Brooklyn, NY with two scaredy cats. 

Dan graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in theater. Subsequently, he toured the United States playing ultra-challenging roles such as Ichabod Crane in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and the Shoemaker in The Shoemaker and the Elves to packed houses filled with literally thousands of screaming children. (He hopes they weren’t screaming in fear.)

Dan ended his promising acting career to focus on other endeavors. While exploring various artistic options, he held a number of jobs in New York City including: a floral groomer, an audience-wrangler for a popular game show, a computer analyst, a chemotherapy-unit assistant, and a traveling bathing suit sales-dude. 

That’s right. A traveling bathing suit sales-dude.

Dan now writes full time. He's probably working on something new this very minute!

Find Dan @ Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Instangram

--Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

- 7 Winners will receive a Copy of You Can't Hide (Shadow House #2) by Dan Poblocki

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