Monday, April 30, 2012

Author Interview: Jacqueline Gardner ~ HUGE Giveaway!

Welcome to The Wormhole!
It is with great pleasure that I feature an interview with Jacqueline Gardner, author of ThoughtlessMutiny, and Jade.

 When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I’ve been telling stories since I was little. I kept an idea journal by my bed and still do. I often wake up in the middle of the night, turn on a light, and write things down. When I read those entries in the morning sometimes they make sense. Sometimes they don’t! I think for me writing a book was always in the cards. It was just a matter of finding the time to sit down and do it.

 How long does it take you to write a book?
The first book I wrote took me about 9 months to write. That manuscript taught me a whole lot about myself and my preferred writing style. Sadly though, it will never see the light of day!

 What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
I can’t write in absolute silence.

 Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?
I draw a lot from personal experience. Though I never use names of people I know! At least I try not to. But all my main characters are a little like me, and I don’t intentionally do that. I just write what I know.

 How do you decide what you want to write about?
My book ideas usually start with a question. And not all my ideas work out. I have a few manuscripts that I started but never finished because I wasn’t in LOVE with the characters. If you’re going to devote months of uninterrupted time to something, you should probably be in LOVE with it. Love-hate relationships work too.

 What are you reading right now?
Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series

 What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I like to hike, camp, and decorate cupcakes.

 What is your favorite comfort food?
A lot of people are probably expecting me to say cupcakes, but I actually prefer salty over sweet. I have a weakness for tortilla chips.

 What do you think makes a good story?
A lot of things, but something that I think makes a story stand out is honesty. Books with a lot of raw emotion are ones I connect with. Putting your feelings out there for the world to see isn’t easy, so I admire authors who do that.

 Who would you consider your favorite author and why?
I admire a lot of authors, but there is one in particular that made me fall in love with books. Roald Dahl.

 What book, if any, do you read over and over again?
The Harry Potter series.

Fun random questions:
• dogs or cats?
Dogs.

• Coffee or tea?
Tea.

• Dark or milk chocolate?
Dark chocolate.

• Rocks or flowers?
What kind of ‘rocks’ are we talking about here? If a diamond counts, I would definitely take that over flowers.

• Night or day?
Night.

• Favorite color?
Green.

• Crayons or markers?
Colored pencils.

• Pens or pencils?
Whatever I can find! I’m always losing both.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
...and now...the books!!!
Her website is HERE.
You can buy her books HERE or HERE
...and now for the Giveaway...
***you can choose either Thoughtless or Mutiny  FREE by COMMENTING on this post!

When Bridget finds a dead cheerleader in the janitor’s closet, she becomes the killer’s next target. High school just got worse. It’s bad enough that she can hear the shocking truths that pass through her classmate’s heads. Now she has to worry about staying alive, and all clues point to the one person whose thoughts she can’t read - her boyfriend Terrence. Someone is taunting her, threatening to expose her secret. And when Bridget tries to single out her blackmailer, she’s nearly beaten to death by a mind controlled minion with fiery eyes.


But when Bridget finally comes face-to-face with the killer, suddenly a horde of brainwashed students programmed to destroy her life doesn't seem so bad.


Eric's life aboard a top secret stealth submarine as a member of the government’s M.E.R. program has been about discipline, cunning and survival. As both a soldier and a natural born regenerator, he can heal from any wound, but to stay alive he must accept a vein-burning serum that prevents his DNA from over-mutating. In exchange Eric must follow his Chief Commander’s every order. And never ask questions, no matter the assignment.


When he goes ashore on his first solo mission he runs into a complication he didn't expect; Mariella, the target’s daughter. She’s about to change everything.

Informant, M.E.R. book 2 (coming fall 2012)


It was only a game – a contest of wits. But the night Crystal snuck out to meet her competitor was the night she didn’t return.


Now her younger sister Jade has returned to Silver Hills, the place Crystal disappeared, only to find hostile townspeople and a creepy admirer. Silver Hills isn’t what it seems, and Crystal’s ghostly image has made a reappearance. Jade’s suspicions only lead to trouble as she slowly starts to realize that history is about to repeat itself.

No wonder grandma slept with a gun under her pillow.  
(Release: April 2012)

Thanks for stopping by The Wormhole.
Happy Reading.

Blog Tour: The Guardian by S.B. Rodgers


This virtual book tour is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.
Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.
I am pleased to feature this guest post from S.B. Rodgers.
Why Paranormal and Fantasy make the YA world go ‘round


I don’t know about you, but I have always read books to get away from reality. Let’s face

it--reality sometimes sucks!! What better way to get away than to immerse oneself in someone else’s head? Their life, their adventures, their romances are all a welcome change from the everyday drudgery, and sometimes you learn a little something about yourself along the way, which is always a cool bonus.

There’s a reason why fantasy and paranormal YA novels are hot right now--they’re a total change from the norm! The world can be the same, or completely different; a post-apocalyptic nightmare, a flawed utopian society, a magical fantasy land or an alien dreamscape. With paranormal, the different and uncanny becomes, if not commonplace, then at least feasible! Life suddenly brims with magic and romance and wonder, everything felt in extremes through the characters’ eyes--you can be anything at any moment, and you can meet anyone while you’re at it.

I mean, why settle for the boring, average guys in your school when you could have the

sexy new transfer student who just happens to have fangs, feathers or claws? You say he has a brother?! Excellent.

The romantic heroes are a huge draw of YA for a lot of people, and no wonder! Romance

is always a welcome distraction, and the love triangle, tale old as time as it may be, refuses to be played off. Two boys vying for your affections? Yeah, I think you can handle that, especially since they aren’t quite like the dudes you grew up with. There’s something a little different about them--not bad different! Good different, you think…well, you hope.

The sense of mystery that surrounds these boys only adds to the intrigue; they’re definitely not the kind of people you meet every day on the street! They’re suave, protective, instinctive, more than a little bit dangerous, and they’re waiting to take you on out-of-this-world adventures.

It doesn’t really get much better than that.



What and who is S.B. Rodgers?
S.B. Rodgers is a pen name that stands for Sara & Becky Rodgers. Becky argued extensively


that in the name of humour, the letters should be listed alphabetically, but lost out to her arch

nemesis common sense. Sara and Becky met at the young ages of twenty-two months and zero

days, thrust into each other’s lives by fate and situations beyond either of their control. They

are sisters, frenemies and most importantly co-authors. It’s theorised that they were identical

twin in a past life…not really but it’d be pretty cool. Their parents taught them that a person’s

imagination is a precious gift and stories should be cherished. As a team the siblings bring very

different skills to the table, each one’s strength perfectly complimenting the others weakness.

They try not to take themselves very seriously and strive to look for the humour in life. Their

partnership is one of extreme love and respect for each other, both as family and literary artists.

Sara is the younger of the two. She lives with one cat, five dolls and her potato head man

collection in an orange room. Regrettably she is not Spiderman or Batman, but she is a card

holding Pokémon master and that’s good enough for now. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts

from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She collects graphic novels and manga

as well as all things written by the fantastic Neil Gaiman. When she is not reading or writing she

is needle felting and posting her work on her popu-lish tumblr account: The Land of Fluff and

Needles.

Becky is the classic girly-girl. Her blond hair and pink nails served as the perfect camouflage

during school years were teachers undoubtedly took her day dreaming for air-headedness. To

the contrary, she spent that time drifting in and out of imaginary worlds filled with fantastical

creatures and memorable characters. Today she divides her time between working with animals

as a certified pet stylist and typing away at new manuscripts. Among other things she describes

herself as a Gleek, sci-fi nerd, smustle expert extraordinaire and above all she just “wants to

believe.” She lives with her two German Shepherds-Abby and Odin-and is driven by delusionsLinks:
Blog: sbrodgers.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/SB-Rodgers/260803420636830
You tube: http://youtu.be/DBMOkpw1vtI
Twitter: SBRodgers1
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5517745.S_B_Rodgers



Guardian: The first book in the trilogy (Guardian, Thief, Human)
By S.B. Rogers


Paranormal YA


Blurb:
It’s been almost a year since Abby Shepard’s once-perfect life crumbled into little more than a nightmare. Dumped, bullied and abused, the seventeen-year-old has all but given up hope. Little does she know that her father died protecting a family secret; a secret that has the forces of good and evil battling to claim the power lurking just beneath her skin.

Thanks for stopping by The Wormhole.
Happy Reading.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Blog Tour: The Angel Chronicles by Amy Lignor

This blog tour is presented by Tribute Books.
You can see the entire tour schedule by clicking HERE.
Welcome to the Wormhole and my day on the tour.
It is my pleasure to feature Until Next Time by Amy Lignor.
Author, publisher, and book Links:

Until Next Time: The Angel Chronicles, Book 1 Summary

How does a girl choose between the one who steals her heart and the one who owns her soul?

Matt and Emily were created for a specific job. Raised and trained as the ultimate angel/warrior team, they are sent down to save, defend, judge and forgive, depending on the 'life' they've been assigned. What they don't realize is that the power of human emotions, such as love, anger, passion and fear can take over even the best of souls, causing them to make mistakes and follow paths that lead to confusion and heartache.

When the reason for their training is finally revealed, the angel/warrior team find themselves thrust into a world they know nothing about. Matt takes over the life of Daniel, a young man with a great deal of baggage. Emily becomes Liz, a girl living in a remote village who relies on nothing more than her own strength to survive. A violent storm erupts one night, and framed in the window of Liz's establishment is a frightening face. Let in by the soul of a Good Samaritan, the two visitors bring with them a past full of secrets that could literally change an angel's path and a warrior's plans.

From murder to redemption, this angel/warrior team must find a way to keep the faith they have in each other in a world that's ripping them apart.

Amy Lignor's Bio:

Amy Lignor began her career at Grey House Publishing in northwest Connecticut where she was the Editor-in-Chief of numerous educational and business directories.

Now she is a published author of several works of fiction. The Billy the Kid historical The Heart of a Legend; the thriller, Mind Made; and the adventure novel, Tallent & Lowery 13.

She is also the owner of The Write Companion, a company that offers help and support to writers through a full range of editorial services from proofreading and copyediting to ghostwriting and research. As the daughter of a research librarian, she is also an active book reviewer.

Currently, she lives with her daughter, mother and a rambunctious German Shepherd named Reuben, in the beautiful state of New Mexico.

Buy links: Kindle buy link, Nook buy link Smashwords buy link, PDF buy link
Thanks for stopping by The Wormhole.
Happy Reading.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Author Interview: Jacqueline Gardner

Welcome to The Wormhole!
It is my pleasure today to feature Jacqueline Gardner and her book Thoughtless.
Thoughtless by Jacqueline Gardner

Amazon Product Description:  When Bridget finds a dead cheerleader in the janitor’s closet, she becomes the killer’s next target. High school just got worse. It’s bad enough that she can hear the shocking truths that pass through her classmate’s heads. Now she has to worry about staying alive, and all clues point to the one person whose thoughts she can’t read - her boyfriend Terrence. Someone is taunting her, threatening to expose her secret. And when Bridget tries to single out her blackmailer, she’s nearly beaten to death by a mind controlled minion with fiery eyes. 

But when Bridget finally comes face-to-face with the killer, suddenly a horde of brainwashed students programmed to destroy her life doesn’t seem so bad. 
Jacqueline has graciously stopped by for an interview!
? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I’ve been telling stories since I was little.  I kept an idea journal by my bed and still do.  I often wake up in the middle of the night, turn on a light, and write things down.  When I read those entries in the morning sometimes they make sense.  Sometimes they don’t!  I think for me writing a book was always in the cards.  It was just a matter of finding the time to sit down and do it.

? How long does it take you to write a book?
The first book I wrote took me about 9 months to write.  That manuscript taught me a whole lot about myself and my preferred writing style.  Sadly though, it will never see the light of day! 

? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
I can’t write in absolute silence. 

? Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?
I draw a lot from personal experience.  Though I never use names of people I know!  At least I try not to.  But all my main characters are a little like me, and I don’t intentionally do that.  I just write what I know.

? How do you decide what you want to write about?
My book ideas usually start with a question.  And not all my ideas work out.  I have a few manuscripts that I started but never finished because I wasn’t in LOVE with the characters.  If you’re going to devote months of uninterrupted time to something, you should probably be in LOVE with it.  Love-hate relationships work too.

? What are you reading right now?
Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series

? What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I like to hike, camp, and decorate cupcakes.

? What is your favorite comfort food?
A lot of people are probably expecting me to say cupcakes, but I actually prefer salty over sweet.  I have a weakness for tortilla chips.

? What do you think makes a good story?
A lot of things, but something that I think makes a story stand out is honesty.  Books with a lot of raw emotion are ones I connect with.  Putting your feelings out there for the world to see isn’t easy, so I admire authors who do that. 

? Who would you consider your favorite author and why?
I admire a lot of authors, but there is one in particular that made me fall in love with books.  Roald Dahl.

? What book, if any, do you read over and over again?
The Harry Potter series.

Fun random questions: 
·        dogs or cats?
Dogs.
·        Coffee or tea?
Tea.
·        Dark or milk chocolate?
Dark chocolate.
·        Rocks or flowers?
What kind of ‘rocks’ are we talking about here?  If a diamond counts, I would definitely take that over flowers. 
·        Night or day?
Night.
·        Favorite color?
Green.
·        Crayons or markers?
Colored pencils.
·        Pens or pencils?
Whatever I can find!  I’m always losing both.

Thank you so much Jacqueline for being here today and thank you followers for stopping by to visit!
Stay tuned for an INCREDIBLE giveaway and review: 
May 28, 2012



S.B. Lerner and In the Middle of Almost

Welcome to The Wormhole!
It is my pleasure today to feature S.B. Lerner and her collection of short stories, In the Middle of Almost.
? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
 When I was single and working at a high pressure job in Manhattan, I took a writing workshop and wrote my first story in a fit of inspiration. The teacher called it a “little gem” and I was hooked. Not only because I can’t resist a compliment, but because the process of zeroing in on an emotional state and revealing through a story was liberating. Often I didn’t even know what I was writing about until I finished. Even then, other people would see things in my stories that I hadn’t realized were there. It was all very heady.

? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?
 I worked as an attorney/businessperson for many years, while writing.

? How long does it take you to write a book?
A couple of years, including researching and editing.

? Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?
Sometimes from research, although the personalities are often derived from friends and family.

? How do you decide what you want to write about?
The stories in IN THE MIDDLE OF ALMOST came about from conversations with friends and from observing people. There are potential stories in every overheard conversation.

I was inspired to set my upcoming novel, A SUITABLE HUSBAND, in prewar Poland after learning about the Zionist youth group my father belonged to as a kid in Poland. His enthusiasm for it showed, even all these years later. I began to research and learned they were educated and serious young men and women who were passionate about social justice and rejected both the anti-Semitism they’d experienced in Poland, as well as the stratified Jewish cultural hierarchy.  As I researched the period and learned more about the plethora of politically active youth groups, I knew it would make a great background for a novel.

? What books have most influenced your life?
I read mostly historical novels because I like to learn about other periods of history through great characters and a touch of suspense.

? What are you reading right now? 
I’m in the third book of Game of Thrones. It’s outside my normal fare, and I’ll admit I skim through some of it, but it’s got some great characters that show moral ambiguity and complexity.

? What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I play with the puppy, exercise, and enjoy the family.

? What do you think makes a good story?
Complex, interesting characters and a sense of suspense.

? Who would you consider your favorite author and why?
I love Ken Follett. I’ve read everything he’s written.
And now for the book:

Amazon Product Description:
An engrossing collection of funny, poignant and bittersweet stories about busy young women who find men in all the wrong places (the garage attendant across the street, the stay-at-home dad in the playground, the younger man at the diner counter) and discover something about themselves in the process. 

The short stories and memoir were previously published in literary magazines and newspapers.

You can buy your own kindle copy and see reviews by clicking HERE.


Review:  My thoughts:
This is a nice collection of short stories about women and their encounters with men.  Some are fleeting encounters and some are potentially much more.  Each story gives the reader an inside glance at the woman and where she is at in her life.  They are touching, personal, and thought provoking.  Each story is different, but all encourage the reader to look at the piece of their life that the story reminds them of.  I both liked and disliked the unfinished aspect of the ending for each short story.  I am usually looking for either closure or a "...to be continued" feel at the end of a story, but these stories don't actually have either of those.  Each story leaves the reader with the opportunity to find the ending in their own story or imagine what happened next.  
I am normally a strict "not about real life" story reader, in other words - I am all about fiction.  I tell people I have enough reality in my day to day life that I read solely for pleasure and solely about things that are no where near my life.  Having said that, this was not my normal, average read.  I am pleased that I had the chance to read this well-written collection and will look for more stories written by S.B. Lerner.  

Review: The Slayer: Book 2 of the Legend Chronicles by Theresa Meyers

The Slayer: Book Two of the Legend Chronicles by Theresa Meyers

Amazon Product Description:
April 1, 2012 
The Legend Chronicles (Book 2)
Brothers Winchester, Remington and Colt know the legends--they were trained from childhood to destroy demon predators, wielding the latest steam-powered gadgetry. It's a devil of a job. But sometimes your fate chooses you. . .CHASING TROUBLE

Winn Jackson isn't interested in hunting nightmares across the Wild West--even if it's the family business. Unlike his rakehell brothers, Winn believes in rules. As sheriff of Bodie, California, he only shoots actual law breakers. That's what he's doing when he rescues the Contessa Drossenburg, Alexandra Porter, a lady with all the elegance of the Old World--grace, beauty and class. And then he sees her fangs.

Alexandra isn't just some bloodsucking damsel in distress, though. She's on a mission to save her people--and she's dead certain that Winn's family legacy is the only way. Luckily, aside from grace and class, she also has a stubborn streak a mile wide. So like it or not, Winn is going to come back with her to the mountains of Transylvania, and while he's at it, change his opinions about vampires, demon-hunting, and who exactly deserves shooting. And if she has her way, he's going to do his darnedest to save the world. . .


My thoughts:
(The short, fast version) ~ Wonderful story!  I couldn't put it down.  The Legend Chronicles are a must read for fans of steampunk!  The characters are fantastic, the plot is intriguing, the story itself is entertaining, it is paced perfectly and the ending leaves you screaming for more!


(The longer version) ~ I fell in love with this book from the start.  I was intrigued by the characters right away.  Theresa Meyers has created a wealth of fantastic characters in this series.  She started with creative names and flushed them out with well developed personalities, enough back-story to make sure you get to know them, and principles/beliefs that they are willing to sacrifice for.  She takes these fabulous characters and sets them into a world that has been carefully built to be the perfect setting for their lives.  It is a clever blend of Old West meets technology with a few extra twists.  I truly enjoyed the interactions of the characters and was thrilled by the way the relationship developed and played out between Winn and Alexandra.  


I can't wait for the next book and would encourage all steampunk fans to check this series out!




Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Blog Tour: Alyssa Ivy

This blog tour is presented by Majanka Verstraete at Inspell Publishing.
Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.
It is my pleasure to feature Alyssa Ivy Rose ~
Alyssa Rose Ivy lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. 
Important Links
and her books:
Title: Beckoning Light (The Afterglow Trilogy #1)
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
As Charlotte steps through the gate, she has a strong feeling that nothing will ever be the same again.

Moving back to South Carolina after three years away, Charlotte knows she's going to have to face people from her past and adjust to a new high school, but she's completely unprepared for what else waits for her in Charleston.

Drawn through an old garden gate, Charlotte discovers a hidden world where she meets Calvin, a boy to whom she is inexplicably attracted. As Charlotte is pulled deeper into this hidden world, it's up to her older brother Kevin to rescue her. No matter how hard Kevin tries, the rescue depends upon Charlotte fighting her intense feelings for Calvin while mastering a set of abilities that she has only just discovered she possesses.
Title: Perilous Light (The Afterglow Trilogy #2) 
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Would you sacrifice everything for a world you barely knew?

It has been over a year since Charlotte and Kevin first stepped through the gate into Energo, and neither has been able to settle back into a normal life.

Even though she tries to deny it, Charlotte is in love with Calvin and can’t push him from her mind. She distracts herself with the antics of James and her growing friendship with Liam—the one person who seems to understand her.

Kevin is starting to adjust to his new identity as a college student and basketball player, but he can’t seem to shake his feelings for Samantha, his fear for Charlotte’s safety or the sensation that basketball is no longer enough.

When they unexpectedly return to Energo, both Charlotte and Kevin must face their fears and step up to become the leaders they were always meant to be.
Thanks for stopping by The Wormhole.
Happy Reading.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Blog Tour: Hunter Moon by Cait Lavender (Giveaway too!)

This virtual book tour is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.
You can see the entire tour schedule by clicking HERE.
Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.
It is my pleasure to feature Cait Lavender and Hunter Moon.
About the Author:
Cait Lavender is a twenty five year old wife and stay at home mother of one in Central California. Living on a cattle ranch and raising her daughter doesn’t afford her much leisure time, but when she has a spare minute or two she loves riding horses, baking and reading everything she can get her hands on. She grew up loving the written word and creative writing and finally decided to work on her dream of becoming a published author.
She has a short story, Cowboy Moon, and a full-length novel, Hunter Moon, both available on Smashwords, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. She’d love to hear from you on her Facebook author page, @caitlavender on Twitter or on her blog, www.caitlavender.com
Top Ten Favorite Books And Why.

1.        Guards! Guards! By Terry Pratchett—God, I love this book. I pretty much love anything that Pratchett writes, but this is one of my favorites. Sam Vimes is the main character and he’s a rough-around-the-edges Watch captain doing his best to be a good man, protect the city he loves and deal with his team of miscreant guardsmen.
2.        Moon Called By Patricia Briggs—I love all of her werewolf books, but the Mercy Thompson series is by far my favorite. Mercy is a kick-ass shifter who takes care of herself and those she loves. No wusses there.
3.        Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin—Let’s be real; if you’re a woman odds are you love this book too. I’ve read and re-read this book so many times I could almost quote the whole book.
4.        A Spell for Chameleon By Piers Anthony—This series really lit the flame of my love for the fantasy genre. In fourth grade my older brother ripped my Goosebumps out of my hand and gave me this book and while I didn’t understand the faintly sexual double entendres I enjoyed the Alice In Wonderland­­-like story filled with jokes and puns.
5.        Shadowfever By Karen Marie Moning—I loved the entire Fever series, but this one was my favorite because we finally got to know what the hell was going on! I love Mac and especially Barrons and I blame Moning for ruining me for all other male main characters like Austin ruined regular men with Darcy.
6.        Darkly Dreaming Dexter By Jeff Lindsay—Dexter is the serial killer we all love, because though he’s got deeply seeded issues he only kills bad guys, so he’s alright, right? I have to hand it to Lindsay for creating such a likeable character from a cold, emotionless murderer.
7.        Fool by Christopher Moore—Man, I love this book. It’s my go-to if I need a laugh. I mean, what don’t you love about a book that uses the phrase heinous Fu—ery most foul? If you’re sensitive to language I wouldn’t reccommend it, but otherwise it’s a humorous and intelligent take on Shakespeare’s King Lear. A.Maz.Ing.
8.        Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott—Yup, I love it. What can I say? It’s one of my favorite Robin Hood stories of all time. Romance, chivalry, intrigue, knights; what more could you need?
9.        The Heat by Heather Killough-Walden—Walden is one of my favorite Indy authors. Period. This book is her take on werewolves (I’m a sucker for a wolf, what can I say?) and is full of steamy romance, thrilling action and a little bit of magic.
10.     Neverwhere by Neil Gaimon—This book is such a wonderful mind-bending take on the classic quest story. I love Gaimon’s dark side and his take on the underworld of London.

There you have it! My list. Enjoy these books and I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Hunter Moon
By Cait Lavender

Bawling cattle tore Shelby Flint from her bed. With lawyer fees to pay in her struggle to keep her ranch from the clutches of her greedy cousins, she couldn’t afford the loss of even one calf. When she sees a large wolf circling her cows, she aims and fires. While the wolf escapes, Shelby can’t seem to get away from her troubles when a marijuana grower sets up shop on her land, sabotaging her property and eventually coming after her.

Adding to that, a handsome game warden is poking his nose into her business and working his way underneath her skin. Shelby will have to fight harder than she ever fought before to keep from losing her heart and everything she ever loved.

Shelby Flint is a self-sufficient cowgirl and cattle rancher, but when a wolf goes after her calves, a man is murdered on her land and someone is sabotaging her property she can’t do it by herself any longer. In walks a handsome game warden, poking his nose in her business and working her way under her skin. Shelby will have to fight harder than she ever has before to keep from losing her heart and everything she ever loved.


...and now for your reading pleasure...
Excerpt:
“Hey, have you heard anything about—wait, what? The fuzz is after me?” I sifted through my recent actions, but couldn’t remember doing anything illegal that would put a cop on my tail. “Wait, you’re not talking about Tyler, are you?”
One of her husband’s favorite pastimes was making me pull over without cause. I was always tempted to pull a stunt like I was on Cops and lead him in a high speed pursuit. But since I’d gotten out of a few speeding tickets by dropping his name, I guess it was a wash.
“What, Tyler? No, I wish he was this hot.” She leered. “The game warden stopped by about five minutes ago asking all about the girl who lives on the Flint ranch.” She waggled her eyebrows at me.
It was Jesse’s mission in life to set me up with a man. It was the bane of her existence that I’d sworn off cowboys. A cowboy hadn’t worked out too well for my mom, and that was pretty much all there was around Raymond. It was probably the only lesson I’d learned from my mother.
“I have to say, Matt Albert wasn’t a fan of Mr. Warden asking about you.  Gave me one scary glare when I told the hottie where you live.”
“Oh geez. You haven’t told Matt I’d date him again did you? The guy’s dumber than a box of rocks!”
The Albert clan was huge in Raymond. Half the population was related in some form or another, and Matt had his eyes on me since grade school. I’d always chalked up his infatuation with me to the fact we weren’t related. Kissing cousins were so Alabama.
Matt liked to get drunk at the rodeo and pick fights. The one date I had gone with him I ended up with four glasses of Coors on my shirt and a bruise on my cheek where the other guy had elbowed me to get at Matt. That had been four years ago. He was either tenacious to the extreme or stupid, and I leaned toward the latter.
“Of course not. Especially if you’ve got Hunky McWarden in the wings!” I rolled my eyes at Jesse’s outrageous nicknames. It was never a good sign when she waxed poetic.
“Why do you keep saying that? I thought the game warden was an octogenarian?”
“Yeah, that was Bill Freedman, and he retired last month. Officer Hotstuff must be his replacement. Lucky for us! Lord knows we need an infusion of new blood around here.”
While that was certainly true, I wasn’t in the mood to play ‘The Dating Game’ with Jesse. “Oh quit it. I’d better get home if there’s a popo waiting for me. Wish me luck!”
I walked back to my truck and looked down at Reggie.
“Sorry, I forgot your hot dog. I guess I owe you one.”
He hopped in the back, forgiving as always and off we went. I wondered why the warden would be looking for me. I hadn’t hunted or fished in years, not since grandpa’s health went downhill. I hoped one of my cows didn’t get out. That could be a nightmare if it ruined property or someone hit it with a car. Great, that’s all I needed right now.
I saw the warden’s forest green Silverado when I pulled in, but no sign of the warden himself anywhere. I lowered the tailgate of the Blazer to let Reggie down and he took off toward the barn. I trusted his instincts and followed him and found an image I could use to warm the lonely, cold nights. On the trailer of alfalfa was a 6’4’ Adonis. The man, or god, who I assumed was the warden, had his shirt off while he was unloading hay. His fantastic shoulders were bare and rippling as he unloaded bale after bale of hay. His biceps flexed as he squatted to pick up another and bless him, I had a front row seat to his fantastic rear.
The warden couldn’t have been any older than late twenties or early thirties, and his golden skin just added to the Greek god effect he had going. Something stirred in me while I watched him work, something I had never felt before. Pure unadulterated lust. I wanted that man more than anyone in my whole life.
Irritated with my surging libido, I tamped down my unwelcome feelings as much as I could. I definitely didn’t need that kind of complication in my life right now. He bent over and picked up another bale and I had to bite the inside of my lip to keep from moaning. No man should look that delicious. I nodded my head in agreement with myself and continued to gawk. His shoulders were nearly twice as wide as mine, and his broad chest narrowed to flat, rippling abs and a trim waist.
In the ten minutes I supposed he’d been there he had almost the whole trailer unloaded, and it didn’t even look like he’d broken a sweat. If I’d unloaded that much I would have been a puddle of exhausted goo. I stood there, staring at all his assets, for a few minutes longer before I climbed on the trailer and started helping.
When I came up behind him, he stopped working and stared at me. His nostrils flared wide, but he didn’t seem surprised at my arrival. Unnerved a bit by his piercing gaze, I picked up a bale. He just shrugged and resumed unloading, maintaining a silence the whole time we worked. In between bales he brushed his dark brown hair off his forehead to reveal two eyes the brilliant blue of sapphires.
He looked at me for a moment, and then unloaded the last bale of alfalfa. I hopped off the trailer, suddenly needing distance from his cobalt stare. Without the hay bales to occupy my hands, they were itching to touch the ripples of all six of his abs. I stared at the ground, shifting from foot to foot.
“Thanks. I really appreciate the help. If I was by myself, this would have taken hours.” I handed him his uniform shirt that was hanging off the side mirror of my truck and glanced at the name tag. “Officer Newcomb.”
“It’s warden Newcomb, but you can call me Cash.” He put his uniform back on and I couldn’t help feeling a sense of loss. The fabric covered a spectacular chest with just a judicial smattering of curly brown hair that drew together in a fuzzy line that lead south. Talk about a happy trail.

Tour wide giveaway:
 Cait is giving away 5 print copies of Hunter Moon and a $25 Amazon gift card
Click HERE to go to the giveaway form.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Blog Tour: A Bite's Tale: A Furry Fable by Veronica Blade

This virtual book tour is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.
You can see the entire tour schedule by clicking HERE.
You can see my review by clicking HERE.
Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.
It is my pleasure to feature Veronica Blade and
A Bite's Tale: A Furry Fable.


Interview:
 How many jobs did you have before you became a writer? I’ve had way too many different jobs, because I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. Then I grew up and still had no idea. But as soon as I finished the first page of my first manuscript, that was it for me. I was hooked!


 How long does it take you to write a book? It depends on the length. A novella like A Bite’s Tale: A Furry Fable takes about ten days. From Fame to Shame took 6 days. But that’s only to vomit out the first draft — which, for me, is always garbage. My real work comes after the fact. Something that takes a week to write will need about a month of revisions.

 What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk? I do most of my writing in bed, almost horizontal. It’s comfortable :-P

 Do you have a routine that you use to get into the right frame of mind to write? It’s harder to write when you’re drowning in negative emotions. If someone upsets me, I can’t find my muse. I’ll usually “cleanse the palate” first with something fun, like scrabble or The Vampire Diaries. It works!

 Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters? I don’t think we writers know where this stuff comes from. We’re all just a little bit crazy, I guess :-P

 How do you decide what you want to write about? The possibilities are limited only to my imagination, so I can pick just about anything. I’m big on following my passion though. If I’m not feelin’ it, the story will suffer and it will have been a huge waste of time. After a few duds, I’ve learned my lesson! I never force it. Whatever I get excited about is exactly what I will work on.

 What books have most influenced your life? I never knew the YA genre existed until I read Twilight. Been addicted to YA ever since.

 What are you reading right now? Vesper, by Jeff Sampson. It’s actually pretty good, with an intriguing plot, but if there’s no romance (which there isn’t, so I’m not sure why I bought it), it can’t hold me. I’m about to move on. What do you suggest?

 What do you like to do when you are not writing? I watch The Vampire Diaries! I’m a total TVD junkie.

 What do you think makes a good story? Lots of romance! Not the graphic stuff, but the anticipation. Other than that, we have to care about the character — what she feels, what she wants. If we can’t relate to her and get inside her head, we won’t care enough to finish the book.

Fun random questions:

• dogs or cats? Cats. They’re a little more independent and they don’t require baths, which leaves me more time to write.

• Dark or milk chocolate? Milk. It’s creamier and not as bitter.

• Night or day? Night, because everyone is in bed and there are no distractions to come between me and my characters.

• Favorite color? Purple!

• Pens or pencils? Pencils. Sometimes my writing is very sloppy.


Thanks Veronica for joining me on my blog today!!!!
By Veronica Blade


A sweet romantic tale with a Cinderella spin featuring vampires, witches and werewolves


Blurb:
A Cinderella who spends her nights as a wolf. A prince with a taste for blood.


Seventeen year old Cydney struggles against her werewolf nature, trying to keep everyone around her safe. No way will she risk exposing the beast at the prince’s ball, no matter how her two cousins try to persuade her. Even as she attempts to get on with her life, Cydney can’t forget the boy she loved three summers ago — or what she did to him after losing control.


Turned into a vampire to save his life, the prince refuses to live up to his royal duties. He just wants to find the girl he loved and lost...the werewolf girl who bit him. But his father, the king, commands him to attend a ball where he must choose a wife. Can he find his Cinderella before he's forced to marry another? He doesn’t even have her real name, much less a glass slipper.


More About the Author:

Veronica Blade lives in Southern California with her husband and whichever of their kids — or someone else’s kid — decides to drop in. By day she runs the family business, but each night she slips away to spin her tales. She writes stories about young adults to relive her own childhood and to live vicariously through her characters. Except her heroes and heroines lead far more interesting lives — and they are always way hotter.


You can visit Veronica Blade on FaceBook, check out her website at www.VeronicaBlade.com or follow her on Twitter @VeronicaBlade. She loves hearing from readers!


FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000174247353
Twitter: @VeronicaBlade
Website: VeronicaBlade.com
A Bite’s Tale: A Furry Fable