Monday Madness Giveaway-September 2013! *Closed*

Welcome to the September 2013 edition of Monday Madness!

This September, the book I was most crazy about was an Australian novel by Ellie Marney, Every Breath which isn't available internationally, so rather than exclude people I'm going to be giving away a copy of an oldie but a goodie--a book I'm still mad about despite having read it years and years ago......Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater!

 

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Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a painfully shy but prodigiously gifted musician. She's about to find out she's also a cloverhand—one who can see faeries. Deirdre finds herself infatuated with a mysterious boy who enters her ordinary suburban life, seemingly out of thin air. Trouble is, the enigmatic and gorgeous Luke turns out to be a gallowglass—a soulless faerie assassin. An equally hunky—and equally dangerous—dark faerie soldier named Aodhan is also stalking Deirdre. Sworn enemies, Luke and Aodhan each have a deadly assignment from the Faerie Queen. Namely, kill Deirdre before her music captures the attention of the Fae and threatens the Queen's sovereignty. Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is James, her wisecracking but loyal best friend. Deirdre had been wishing her life weren't so dull, but getting trapped in the middle of a centuries-old faerie war isn't exactly what she had in mind . . .  

 

Add it on Goodreads!

 

 

 

· You MUST be a follower to enter!
· Giveaway is INTERNATIONAL or wherever The Book Depository ships to.
· Giveaway will run from today (the 26th of August) until the 9th of September (2 weeks time!)
· Enter by filling out the form below.
· Extra entries are available but are in no way necessary by:
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FILL OUT THE FORM TO ENTER!

Blog Tour: Scars of the Bifrost by A.J.M. Mousseau-Excerpt + Giveaway

 

Welcome to the Scars of the Bifrost by A.J.M. Mousseau thanks to Nicole of Fiction Addiction!

Today I have a fantastic excerpt to share with you as well as the tour wide giveaway. Enjoy!

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  Freya Catten has lived on the fringes of society her entire life, growing up in hiding with her mother in the deepest, wildest places left in North America—the national parks and forests. Freya's mother taught her how to live off the land, away from civilization—mysteriously warning her of the dangers of getting involved with society and leaving traces of her DNA behind. But five years ago Freya's mother abandoned her, leaving Freya to survive on her own.   Freya knows how to stay alive, whether she's hiding in the forest or running on the city streets. She changes her appearance often and owns nothing but her backpack filled with survival gear and a necklace that had been her mother’s.   But, keeping one step ahead of Social Services isn't her biggest fear. Freya's true terror lies with The Takers—strange men who rappel from silver cords out of the deep blue sky from nowhere. They snatch up their victims then evaporate without a trace. Freya holds a dark suspicion—that the Takers are really after her, and they are closing in.   Freya realizes that if she is to ever have a normal life she must first find her mother and answer the questions that have kept her in hiding. Along the way, she meets Theron Hawk—a rugged teenage soldier from a war-torn country—and finds herself truly trusting someone for the first time in her life.   As secrets are uncovered, and Freya comes closer to solving the mysteries surrounding her life, her blood and the priceless necklace that lays at her throat, the scars of the Bifrost will threaten to rip apart Freya's very existence. Add on Goodreads!     

The song ended too quickly. “Can you play it again?” Theron asked anxiously.

I nodded, happy he was so pleased. “As many times as you want,” I assured him and played it again and again.

The third time through I asked, “Would you like to dance?”

“I've never danced before.” His voice was slightly unsteady. I had watched him throw a knife with deadly accuracy into the flesh of an opponent with no hesitation, and now he was going to be nervous?

I stood over him and offered my hand. He took it and got to his feet. I positioned myself about a ruler's length in front of him, then held my breath as I closed the gap.

“You place your hands here.” I put both of his hands on my hips.

“I like dancing already,” he said with a smile that filled even his eyes.

“Don't be fresh,” I scolded playfully. Then I put both of my hands onto his shoulders.

“Now, I definitely like this.”

I smiled. I liked it too.

“Now we sway.” I gently rocked us back and forth and moved my feet nice and slowly.

He checked his stance and loosened up when he realized he had tensed. He looked into my face with an expression I couldn't name. Then he closed his eyes and sunk his fingers deeply into the muscles at my waist. The action took my breath away.

Intensity. The expression on his face had been intensity.

I closed my eyes, feeling it too, and involuntarily slipped my hands up onto the nape of his neck—my fingers tangled into his dark, loose hair.

What are you doing? But the music continued to play, and I had been so broken—and obviously so had he. He was strong and overwhelming, and for this moment … just for this one moment, I wanted to allow myself to get lost in his arms, lost in his power. It was—just a song—just a moment.

Want more?? I know I do after that excerpt! Be sure to pick up a copy of Scars of the Bifrost on Amazon!

 

In Her Own Words: I am an author and university student. I live in a recreational vehicle -- by choice -- with my awesome husband, four amazing kids, and huge, fluffy, 85 pound golden retriever named Titan. I write and do school on line as we travel throughout the U.S. and Canada. It is incredible to live in a new place every few months (sometimes weeks) and to see everything! We have lived this clan and tribal lifestyle for two years now and have been to over twenty national parks and forests. They gave me a lot of inspiration for Freya's story. Unlocking Brísingamen, the next book in the Scars Saga, will be released very soon!

 

Visit:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Shelf: The Last Girl by Michael Adams

The end of the world happened quickly. The sun still shone, there was no explosion - just a tsunami-sized wave of human thought drowning the world in telepathic noise as everyone's inner-most secrets became audible.

Everyone's thoughts, that is, except sixteen-year-old Danby. Everyone looked like bad actors in a poorly dubbed movie. Their expressions didn't match their emotions and their lips didn't sync with what they were saying. But they were all so loud.

God-he-looks-hot-Can't-she's-my-best-friend-How'd-she-lose-that-weight-No-don't-you-dare-Oh-no-please-

The end of the world happens in the blink of an eye.

When The Snap sweeps the globe, everyone can instantly hear everything that everyone else is thinking. As secrets and lies are laid bare, suburbs and cities explode into insanity and violence. What might have been an evolutionary leap instead initiates the apocalypse.

Sixteen-year-old Danby Armstrong's telepathy works very differently. She can tune into other people but they can't tune into her. With only this slender defence, Danby must protect her little brother and reach the safety of her mother's mountain retreat. But it's 100 kilometres away and the highways are blocked by thousands of cars and surrounded by millions of people coming apart at the psychic seams.

Danby's escape is made even more dangerous by another cataclysm that threatens humanity's extinction. And her ability to survive this new world will be tested by a charismatic young man whose power to save lives may be worse than death itself.(less)The Last Girl by Michael Adams is an immensely chilling dystopian debut that explores the harrowing impact of connectivity and the possible drastic impact it could have on our future in this harsh novel set amongst a Sydney backdrop.

More info on Goodreads......


Review:

The Last Girl really was an unexpected read for me. To begin with, there’s always something thrilling about reading good Australian fiction, and when an author utilizes the society in which they live this reflects so well on the book. Michael Adams has done that with The Last Girl. Here Michael Adams explores a concept none yet have with his exploration into our constant need to connect with one another via social media and or through texting. Adam’s different take on a dystopian world was something completely unique and different; he threw his society into a world where ones thoughts were completely bare. There were no secrets and hiding was impossible.

In a masterful manner Adams allows his story to unfold though the eyes of Danby; a teenage girl caught up in an explosion of thoughts when the worlds every thought suddenly becomes bare. The Last Girl was well written. Adams writes everyone’s thoughts in a kind of crazy haze—one thought from one person burs into another from someone else and then someone else and so on. To begin with this was confusing as the reader but as the story progressed I found I appreciated this—it felt authentic; I was experiencing things more like the heroine.

The setting of The Last Girl was another winner for me. Obviously, the book is set in Australia, but The Last Girl actually takes place in the back streets of Sydeny and the surrounding suburbs. This made the book was so incredibly real for me at times. Adams sets the book literally where I've lived my whole life; making reference to places like Bankstown and Penrith. I could jump on a train and be in Bankstown in half an hour...Penrith--my cousins live there, so growing up I spent every other weekend there.

Adam's dystopian world is harsh and raw and brutal. There's plenty of death, pain and tragedy. There's more death than life and Adams doesn't shy away from the harsh truths that one associates with this kind social destruction. Choices have to be made and decisions are tough; there's no saving everyone and surprisingly, I found I appreciated this brutality. It fit well with the story.

Danby was likable as a character but I found I was more absorbed in the overall story than with her per-se. I think her relationship with her family, including her brother Evan, and then Nathan was perfect within the story. Jack with a shocking twist as a young man who has immense power in this difficult situation but who's essentially the villain.

Featuring plenty of shocks, twists and harsh devastation, I look forward to reading the next book!

 

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Allen & Unwin (Thank you Lara!)
Format: Paperback
Buy it: Bookworld | The Nile |  Fishpond | Amazon (Kindle)
My Recommendation: Fans of good Aussie fiction and dystopian will want read this!
Cover: I quite like it. It's simply, but nice.
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Yes.

Book Blitz: Deadly to Love by Mia Hoddell- Excerpt & Giveaway!

Today I'm taking part in the Book Blitz for Deadly to Love, the first book in the Elemental Killers series by Mia Hoddell!

I have a really fantastic excerpt to share (I just love excerpts!) as well as the tour wide giveaway!

First, however lets take a look at Deadly To Love.......

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The world is dangerous – but love will kill you.

Little did Serena Jackson know that one simple, flirty remark to an anonymous guy online would lead to her world being changed forever.

She doesn’t know him, but inexplicably, is drawn. She knows it is wrong but she agrees to meet.

His real name is Kai. He is beautiful. And immediately Serena feels herself blindly falling for him even though she senses a lie. She knows he is hiding something and it terrifies her.

What she doesn’t realize is that her entire life has been built on secrets and lies. The people she loved left her in the dark for a reason.

She trusted them. She trusts Kai. But as he pulls her straight into the heart of the danger the lies and deadly secrets are revealed. They overwhelm her, and the person she once was no longer exists as she is thrown into a ruthless world of elemental forces. The price of truth is her life—and now the world wants her dead.

Add on Goodreads!

 

  As he spoke I checked out the surroundings. It was just starting to get dark outside but I could still see the black outlines of the trees that surrounded us on either side of the narrow road.

“Why are we in a forest?” I asked, a slight hint of fear creeping into my voice as I was unnerved by the fact that we were in a place where Elementals were most likely to inhabit.

“Because the house is located in the forest. Don’t worry we’ll be safe there, I’ve hardly had any Elemental sightings when I’ve stayed here,” he said, but something about it didn’t sound very encouraging.

“And how often do you stay here?” I said slowly, my tone wary.

“Whenever I’m in the area.” His avoidance of a definite answer unnerved me even more as I knew what he was going on to say. “I have to say, that isn’t very often, but the four times I’ve been here since buying the place have been peacefully silent.”

I was dumbfounded by his statement and my eyes were wide in shock as I watched him to see if he was joking. I saw nothing that led me to believe that or to make me doubt his words though.

“You’ve only been here four times?! How do you know this is a safe place then? It could be crawling with Elementals for all you know.”

He laughed at my sudden outburst of panic.

Want more? Be sure to pick up a copy of Deadly to Love to find out what happens next!

Purchase :

Amazon (Kindle) | Amazon (Paperback) | Lulu

 

 

PRAISE FOR DEADLY TO LOVE!

“I couldn't put it down. So I finished it last night and all I can say is WOW! This book was amazing and different.” Brianna (Book Blogger)

“I loved how the author took a different approach to writing a love story in modern times with the paranormal element present. I thought it was absolutely wonderful and refreshing. Marvelous!” Kathy H (Amazon Reviewer)

“I will admit I scoffed at the way it started but in the end I had fallen in love with this story…completely untraditional it was a very original idea, not to mention modern. This story had such a good plot and the story structure was sound.” Kacii – The Kooky Bookworm (Book Blogger)

 

Mia Hoddell lives in the UK with her family and two cats. She spends most of her time writing or reading and loves anything paranormal. Mia always had a love of writing but never reading. She was more interested in sports and hated sitting still - despite getting three poems published before the age of sixteen. Finally though, she found some novels that captured her interest and developed a love of reading which is now one of her favourite hobbies.

Mia began with poems before moving on to short stories. Although she enjoyed this, Mia found she had too much to tell with too little space, so later on she created her first series 'The Wanderer Trilogy' and from there other ideas have emerged. With a total of nine books planned at this moment, she is busy working on her second series 'Elemental Killers' before moving onto the next idea on her ever growing list.

Visit Mia:

Blog | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

 

Mia Hoddell is giving away an Amazon gift card this month only there is a slight twist: the more entries she receives the more money she will put on the gift card to giveaway! For example:

No matter what = $5

100 entries = $10

150 entries = $15

200 entries = $20

and so forth...

So if she gets 1000 entries she will give away $100, there’s no limit!

To enter all you have to do is buy or have bought Deadly to Love. It's only $0.99 or £0.79 on Amazon for the duration of the giveaway! This will also unlock extra entries for you so you can earn more points by sharing the giveaway. Remember the more entries she gets the bigger the prize for you so share!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

I want to say a big thank you to Mia Hoddell for inviting me to be a part of the tour for Deadly to Love!

Cover Reveal: Mine To Tarnish by Janeal Falor + Giveaway!

Welcome to the cover reveal for Mine To Tarnish by Janeal Falor!

 

Mine To Tarnish is a prequel novella to You Are Mine and features the character Katherine from You Are Mine. I adored You Are Mine and I am so looking forward to discovering more about the Katherine!

 

 

 

 

Katherine’s place is the same as any woman’s—on the shelf next to the dresses and bolts of cloth. When she’s sold to a warlock, life grows even bleaker. Her new owner is as old and rancid as he is cruel, driving her to do the unthinkable: run.
  Nothing prepared her for being on her own. And she’s definitely unprepared for the warlocks hunting her down. But she must stay one step ahead because if caught, the best she can hope for is death.
 

 Be sure to add Mine To Tarnish on Goodreads!

 

 And don't forget to check out book one, You Are Mine on Goodreads too!

 

 

 

 

Janeal Falor lives in Utah where she’s finally managed to live in the same house for more than five years without moving. In her spare time she reads books like they’re nuts covered in caramel and chocolate, cooks whatever strikes her fancy, and enjoys the outdoors. Her husband and three children try to keep up with her overactive imagination. Usually they settle for having dinner on the table, even if she’s still going on about the voices in her head.

Visit Janael:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

 

10 e-ARC copies of Mine To Tarnish (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal Organized by:

I'd like to say a BIG THANK YOU to YA Bound Book Tours for putting together this cover release and congrats Janeal on her upcoming release--I'm so excited for you!!

 

Book Shelf: Chameleon (Supernaturals #1) by Kelly Oram

For small-town rebel Dani Webber magic and monsters are no more real than the Easter Bunny… until the day she accidentally stops time. Dani quickly discovers that not only do supernaturals exist, but she herself is one of them. This is great news for her life-long best friend Russ, who can finally come clean about his own supernatural status and his undying love for her. Before the two can start to enjoy the long overdue relationship, Dani is taken by a powerful council of supernaturals who believe she is the Chosen One destined to save them from extinction.

As if being kidnapped and expected to save the world isn’t bad enough, an ancient prophecy warns of the Chosen One’s dark nature: “Only the truest love will keep her an agent for good.” The council believes they know who this “true love” is and, unfortunately, that person isn’t Russ. The mysterious, powerful and devastatingly handsome Seer is the last person Dani wants in her life, but when she starts having visions of a horrific future, she has no one else to turn to for help.

Soon Dani finds herself torn between two very different boys with two very different opinions of whom she can trust. With the visions getting worse and time running out, Dani is forced to put aside her feelings and work with both the Seer and Russ before an ancient evil is unleashed upon the earth.

More info on Goodreads......


Review: (Warning: Contains spoilers)

I have to be honest here and say I'm at a mixed mind when it comes to Chameleon by Kelly Oram. I'm a BIG Kelly Oram fan, having loved all the books of hers I've read so far, so I was really excited to read Chameleon. It had a great premise and knowing Kelly's knack for great characters and quirky storylines, I had high expectations. Unfortunately, Chameleon just wasn't for me.

It may have just been me, but Chameleon failed to suck me in like I wanted it too. Don't get me wrong, the storyline was interesting enough, but there was just something missing. Something I looked for time and time again as I read that I just didn't find.

I struggled to connect with the characters the most. Dani started out as feisty, fiery heroine, but I felt she lost who she was as the novel progressed. This may have been intentional to show her confusion and uncertainty in this whole new supernatural world she was discovering, but it was just lost on me as I second guessed and disagreed with so many of her choices and actions.

This may be one of the few, if only, books where I've ever thought the "best friend" was the better choice for our main character. Gabriel was a decent enough guy, but he was just too bland and boring and "good" and I didn't really buy his and Dani's love. I tried though. I did. I wanted to feel it--kept waiting for the moment when I did, but it just never came. I hate to say it, but it just seemed too fast and far fetched that these two people would connect the way they did; so fast and so soon. I understand this connection had a legitimate reason for happening, but it still didn't sit right with me.

Russ was the one I liked, the one I wanted Dani to choose. I didn't like that Dani went from wanting Russ desperately one moment to finding her "true love" in Gabriel the moment he was out of the picture. Just didn't seem legit.

I have to give Kelly Oram props for thinking outside of the box with this book however. The mystery that surrounds what Dani is gives way to a really interesting supernatural creature. Dani's abilities are something I've never ever seen before and I definitely enjoyed this aspect of the book. Add this with the characters of Russ, Duncan and perhaps even Gina and I may pick up the next book to see if Kelly Oram can win me over once more!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by the author (Thank you Kelly!)
Format: Kindle ebook
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
My Recommendation: Fans of Kelly Oram will want to give this a go.
Cover: The cover is stunning.
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Maybe. Maybe not......

Blog Tour: Every Breath by Ellie Marney-Interview


Welcome to the Australian Blog Tour for Every Breath by Aussie author Ellie Marney thanks to Allen & Unwin!

Every Breath is a fantastic addition to the Aussie YA genre and set in the Australian city of Melbourne is Sherlock Holmes meets the boy next door! Today, Every Breath author Ellie Marney chats with me about her recent release.

And, while you're here be sure to check out my recent 5 star review of Every Breath

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Hi Ellie! Congratulations on the upcoming release of your debut novel, Every Breath! 
Thanks, Rachel!

I know this must be a really exciting time for you, and quite busy I imagine, so thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions!
It’s been a bit mad, yes, but it’s lovely you asked me to visit :)

Let's jump straight into it, shall we?

Every Breath hit Aussie stores on the 21st of August, how do you feeling knowing people will be able to read your work?
Well, I’m a little nervous!  It’s a very strange feeling, having this little private world of your own suddenly come to life and go out into the Real World.  When I went to Sydney last May to visit the Allen & Unwin team, everyone in the offices was saying ‘Oh, I read your book!’ and it felt very odd, because up to that point it had just been sort of a secret place that only my editor and I had ever visited.  But it’s hugely exciting too – I love Rachel and Mycroft so much, and I’m so happy to be introducing them to other people!  It’s an author’s dream, to be sharing your work with so many readers :)

As part of the celebration that is Every Breath's release, you're participating in your first blog tour. How has the blogging community been treating you? Hopefully we've all been as welcoming and as supportive as possible....
Oh, that has been amazing - people have been so generous and supportive!  I’d like to say a massive thank-you for that, to all the readers, reviewers, bloggers, and others in the writing community who’ve welcomed Every Breath with such open arms!  I’m incredibly grateful and full of love.

Every Breath has been pitched as Sherlock Holmes being the boy next door. For those who haven't read Every Breath yet, what can readers expect?
Every Breath is about a former-rural girl who is forced into city life when her family’s farm nosedives.  In Melbourne, she discovers that the wildly eccentric boy next door is an amateur Sherlock – a genius with a passion for forensics – and they combine forces to solve a grisly murder near the Melbourne zoo.
What else can you expect?  A leading lady who does most of the grunt work.  A leading man who fits the profile of Sherlock but not the mould.  A ‘Melbourne: multicultural melting-pot’ cast.  The seamy side of the city.  Blood – don’t be squeamish now, this is murder.  Bad guitar playing.  Chemistry, in more ways than one.  Lots of oddball t-shirt in-jokes.

Having recently had the pleasure of reading and reviewing Every Breath (I loved it by the way ;D) I know first hand how fabulous the characters are, so let's talk about them. Are Rachel and Mycroft based on anyone you know?
Thank you, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!  On characters, I think most writers would say that their characters are a bit of an amalgamation – they share some traits with people you know, or people you observe, with a dash of yourself thrown in, and a big dollop of imagination. 

Rachel and I are a bit alike – we’re both quite stubborn – but she’s really a mix of a number of rural people I know, who’ve spent their lives growing up on farms in the Australian country.  

Mycroft drinks tea with condensed milk – something I love as well – but he has a lot of skills that I can’t imagine possessing, like the maths-science thing (I can’t even balance a chequebook).  In some ways, Mycroft was easy to write because he already has a template – Sherlock Holmes – but Mycroft turned into his own person, with traits that Conan Doyle’s Sherlock never showed, like empathy, and humour, and an ability to communicate and reveal stronger passions.

Describe James Mycroft in 5 words?
Oh, that’s hard! I suppose…eccentric, super-smart, sarcastic, haunted…and, yeah, hot.  (Although that could be my bias towards smart – I always think smart is hot!)

 You're not biased at all Ellie! Smart is very hot! Admittedly I'm a bit biased in the name department, but I honestly found Rachel to be a great leading lady. How do you think you'd cope if you found yourself in Rachel's shoes?
I think I’d cope okay, although I could never do some of the things Rachel does – my vertigo would probably get in the way.  But I could certainly see myself getting a bit tenacious, the way she does, and a bit obsessed.  And as for Mycroft…well, I admit it.  I would fall in a heartbeat!

Every Breath is a essentially a YA murder mystery with a hint of romance thrown in. How much research went into the forensic aspect of the novel. How did you make sure you got all the details right?
Ah – well, that proved to be quite a tricky aspect of the writing.  I wasn’t allowed access to the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, so a number of things I had to just Google (god bless the internets!) or ask my sister, who’s in training as a cardio-thoracic surgeon.  She got used to me ringing her up and asking weird questions about how much blood you’d lose if you had your throat cut, and so on!  In the final fact-checking stage, I was very relieved to be given the opportunity to talk to a professor of forensic medicine in Queensland, who was kind enough to answer some of my kookier questions about autopsy procedures and Y-incisions.

Ha! Google=our friend! It's amazing the things we can find. A little birdy told me you're quite the traveler so in saying that, what stopped you from taking the same road other Aussie authors have taken and setting the book overseas? Why keep it on home soil?
For one, I wanted the book to be based in Australia – so few YA novels are.  I also wanted readers to get a sense of Melbourne as a city, its mean streets and its gritty side.  I love my adopted city to death, and it’s always showing me new little twists and turns – it has a real personality, which I wanted to convey in Every Breath.
On a practical note, I also knew it would be a lot easier to research – I have a big family (four boys) and I can’t take much time outside of Real Life to go racing off on research trips, it all has to be squeezed in somehow…and my sons were adamant that the zoo was a great place for an exciting finale! (so it worked out well for everybody, really – they got lots of zoo trips, and I got to check out the location!)

If you could meet anyone dead or alive, real or fictional, who would you want to meet and why?
William Shakespeare, because of THE GENIUS.

Every Breath will be followed up in June 2014 with Every Word. Any hints as to what we can expect from our crime fighting duo Rachel and Mycroft in book two? *hint* *hint*
Ah…I foresee a long journey, back to the heart of Mycroft’s mysterious past, and a great deal of angst and danger in Rachel’s future…compensated for by some really hot moments with Mycroft while unchaperoned…
But I can’t give any more away!

EEEE! I'm excited for that!! Especially these "hot moments" that you speak of! Thanks again for stopping by to chat Ellie! 
It’s been a pleasure, Rachel!  Thanks for having me!

I'm looking forward to lots more fantastic tales for you in the future.....

....but before you go....

For all you non-Aussie's out
there---this is a galah, one of
our native birds!

6 Quick Questions: (Aussie Inspired!)

1. Nutella or Vegemite? Vegemite – with avocado on toast please

2. NRL or AFL? AFL - I have adopted all the strange Victorian customs

3. Favourite native animal? Galahs.  We rescued a baby galah with a dislocated wing a few years ago, and its parents came back every day to feed it on our veranda until it was well enough to fly away!  I love galahs – they mate for life, and they’re loyal family birds.

4. Favorite [Australian] holiday destination? South-east coast of NSW

5. Favorite [Australian] City? Has to be Melbourne

6. Lucky Number? 5

Rachel Watts is an unwilling new arrival to Melbourne from the country. James Mycroft is her neighbour, an intriguingly troubled seventeen-year-old genius with a passion for forensics. Despite her misgivings, Rachel finds herself unable to resist Mycroft when he wants her help investigating a murder. And when Watts and Mycroft follow a trail to the cold-blooded killer, they find themselves in the lion's den - literally.

A night at the zoo will never have quite the same meaning again...

Every Breath is published by Allen & Unwin and is available now online and in all good bookstores!

Pick up a copy from:

Bookworld | The Nile | Amazon (Kindle)

Add on Goodreads!

 

Ellie Marney was born in Brisbane, and has lived in Indonesia,Singapore and India. Now she writes, teaches, talks about kid’s literature at libraries and schools, and gardens when she can, while living in a country idyll (actually a very messy wooden house on ten acres with a dog and lots of chickens) near Castlemaine, in north-central Victoria. Her partner and four sons still love her, even though she often forgets things and lets the housework go. Ellie’s short stories for adults have won awards and been published in various anthologies. Every Breath is her first novel for young adults.

 

Visit Ellie:

Website | Blog | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

 

 

I want to say a big thank you to Ellie Marney and Lara from Allen Unwin for organsiing this tour and for allowing me to be a part of it!

 

 

 

 

Every Breath was a brilliant book and I loved it--check out the below giveaway on Goodreads for your chance to win a SIGNED copy!!! I've entered; now's your chance! 

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Every Breath

by Ellie Marney

Released September 01 2013

Giveaway ends in about 1 month (October 31, 2013)
3 copies available, 316 people requesting

giveaway details »

Enter to win

Free Ebooks!

Hello lovelies,

It's that time again! Enjoy ;)

Book Shelf: Every Breath (Every, #1) by Ellie Marney

Rachel Watts is an unwilling new arrival to Melbourne from the country. James Mycroft is her neighbor, an intriguingly troubled seventeen-year-old genius with a passion for forensics. Despite her misgivings, Rachel finds herself unable to resist Mycroft when he wants her help investigating a murder. And when Watts and Mycroft follow a trail to the cold-blooded killer, they find themselves in the lion's den - literally.

A night at the zoo will never have quite the same meaning again...

More info on Goodreads.....

Review:

Every Breath is a deliciously mysterious thriller set in the haunting streets of Melbourne, and is brimming with excitement, intrigue and sizzling chemistry; featuring two passionate and daring teens on a fast paced adventure as they go on the hunt for a cold blooded killer!

I have to say, I found myself pleasantly surprised by Every Breath. I'm still new to the contemporary genre and haven't read a lot of Australian fiction, besides the ones I read in high school, so I was a little bit hesitant when beginning Every Breath. I quickly found myself immersed in this urban tale and happily became involved and invested in Rachel and Mycroft's adventure.

Every Breath was well told and fast paced. It's a real who-done-it kind of story from the opening chapter, and as teen sleuths Mycroft and Rachel put the pieces together, author Ellie Marney does a fantastic job with the mystery and details. Told against a Melbourne backdrop, Every Breath stays true to many typical Aussie sayings and attitudes, featuring a real authentic Aussie feel that only an Australian author could write. Even though there are some aspects of the story that seemed far fetched there were also many times where everything felt very real and plausible, and this is one of the things that drove the story for me--those believable aspects blended in with the scenarios the teens found themselves in as well as the interactions and relationships they shared. Rachel and Mycroft proved to be really enjoyable to follow.

Rachel really is a typical Aussie teen, and name aside, it was easy to emphasize with her. She's just a normal girl with a kind nature, brave soul and feisty attitude at times. Mycroft on the other hand was a diamond in the tough; a tough bad boy genius whose street smarts and whose unexpected easy to talk to nature proved to be unexpected.

I found Mycroft to be very driven and passionate and it's this passion that pours over to Rachel and gives her something to fight for in this whole new city world she's still trying to find her feet it. The tension and chemistry between Mycroft and Rachel is written brilliantly on Ellie Marney's part, with the intricate banter and dialogue between them a highlight of the story. These two have fabulous chemistry as friends and partners in crime that spills over into the more intimate parts of their relationship.

With a high stakes and nail biting ending, Every Breath has me quite excited for it's sequel, Every Word. Ellie Marney's debut into the YA world is smart, exciting and electric.....I'm looking forward to see what this duo get up to next!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Allen & Unwin (Thank you Lara!)
Format: Paperback
Buy it: Bookworld | The Nile | Amazon (Kindle)
My Recommendation: Looking for a bit of mystery? A bit of fun? Then Every Breath is for you!
Cover: I'm quite diggin' it! It's very urban-chic
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Yes!

Book Blitz: Heist by Laura Pauling- Excerpt & Giveaway!

Today, the Heist Book Blitz hits The Rest Is Still Unwritten. This book looks fantastic--loving the look of it!

I have a fantastic excerpt to share and a ecopy of the book to giveaway to one follower :)

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  Can one decision change the past? Jack Brodie has a sixth sense that someone has been watching him. Following him.   One night he travels back in time to one of the world’s largest art thefts, known as the Gardner Heist. Why that one moment in time? And what does it mean for Jack?   When he returns, his world is different. His best friend is rougher, meaner. His dad hasn’t been around in years. And then there’s Jetta. The girl who took over his heart the moment she stepped into his life. No one is safe.   Each time Jack goes back to the heist to fix his mistakes, he returns to face the fallout. Disaster strikes in the present until Jack must make a choice. His family and his own happiness. Or the girl he loves. Except, he learns that his sixth sense was right.   Someone has been watching him and wants him dead.
Add on Goodreads!

The cops return. Their fake swagger and cop routine is gone. Now they move and talk quickly, with purpose, with no one to impress or fool. They leave the lobby and take the stairs two at a time. I follow them on silent feet up a wide and smooth marble staircase into a small alcove on the second floor. I hover in the hall and peek around the corner, afraid of what I’ll find.

 

Light from fake candles cast a ghostly shadow on the mix of large and small paintings hanging on the walls. The room drips with elegance, like two old ladies should be sitting on the velvet love seat, sipping Earl Gray Tea and nibbling on rye crackers. 

 

The cops survey the room like they’re kids in a toy store. Dad’s partner moves close to a painting and a screeching alarm sounds. The blaring noise echoes through the entire museum. They mutter curses, and I jump back and clap my hands over my ears, the sound drilling into my head. 

 

Seconds later, it stops. My heart pulses in my throat, and I dare to peek into the room again. Dad has kicked in a motion sensor on the wall. The plastic is shattered and wires hang out. He stands on one of the three chairs, not caring about the street grit on his black shiny shoes, and pulls a large painting of a boat on the ocean from the wall.

 

Together, they smash the painting from the frame. A knife glitters. Dad pierces the painting and cuts it like he’s slicing an apple for his kid’s snack. Flakes of paint drift to the floor. 

 

I lean against the wall in the hallway, a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. My legs shake. I cringe at the sound of another painting being smashed from its frame. I want to go home. I want to party with my friends, eat a roast beef sandwich with Mom. I want to laugh with Jetta. I want to hold her hand and trace my thumb across her smooth skin. I want to pull her to me and feel her heartbeat against mine.  

 

A strong hand grips my arm and jerks me into the room. “Looks like we have a little friend.”

I stare into Dad’s gleaming eyes. Eyes I don’t recognize. There’s no hint of a smile of recognition. Of course not. 

 

The Gardner Heist happened in 1990. I wasn’t even born yet.

 

Want more? Purchase Heist on Amazon or Barnes & Nobles!

 

 

Laura Pauling writes young adult fiction. She lives the cover of suburban mom/author perfectly, from the minivan to the home-baked snickerdoodles, while hiding her secret missions and covert operations. But shh. Don't tell anyone!

Her YA Circle of Spies Series includes A SPY LIKE ME and HEART OF AN ASSASSIN. Book three, TWIST OF FATE will be released in the fall of 2013.

HEIST, a young adult, psychological thriller, will be released the summer of 2013.

Visit Laura:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

As I mentioned in the beginning of my post, I have 1 (one) ecopy of Heist to give away! To enter simply comment with which format you would like and a way to contact you. Easy! Giveaway will run from today (September 18th) until September 2nd :)

 

Thanks for stopping by! Good luck to all who enters!