Winner of the Grave Memory Giveaway!

Congratulations 

Jennifer K

You've Won!

Please reply to the email sent, 

you will have 48 hours to confirm your win.

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It's a Blog Party!

  Welcome

to the

Mad Hatter Reads

Blog Launch Party

I'm heading over now to Traci's place now, come join me for some fun!

www. madhatterreads.blogspot.com

  

Before we go any further, I'd like to give a huge thanks to Reimy who's beautiful Mad Hatter babe is the cutie you see above and  in the Mad Hatter Reads Blog Launch Party badge used during the week.  She was gracious enough to allow us to use it for the launch.  Thanks Reimy!  Please view her work at www.reimey.deviantart.com for more amazing art work.

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~Trailer Thursday #74

This Week's Book Trailers...

~ The Winemakers Dinner ~

Appetizers 

by Dr. Ivan Rusilko and Everly Drummond

The book trailer...

Buy Now! 

~ Dream Lake ~

Friday Harbor

by Lisa Kleypas

The book trailer....

Buy Now!

~ All Afternoon With A Scandalous Marquess ~

by Alexandra Hawkins

The book trailer....

Buy Now!

~ The Light Between Oceans ~

by M.L. Stedman

The book trailer...

Buy Now!

~Speechless ~

by Hannah Harrington

The book trailer...

Buy Now!

This Week's Interviews....

~ Kresley Cole ~

~ Kiersten White ~

HarperTeen

~ Capital Girls by Ella Monroe ~

This Week's Movie Trailers...

~ Jack and Diane ~

~ The Impossible ~

(Spanish Trailer)

~ A Royal Affair ~

~ The Oranges ~

~ The Canyons ~

~Branded ~

READ MORE

Blog Launch Party News!

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Review: Eternal Rider by Larissa Ione

Book 1

Lords of Deliverance

They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

His name is Ares, and the fate of mankind rests on his powerful shoulders. If he falls to the forces of evil, the world falls too. As one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, he is far stronger than any mortal, but even he cannot fight his destiny forever. Not when his own brother plots against him.

Yet there is one last hope. Gifted in a way other humans can't-or won't-understand, Cara Thornhart is the key to both this Horseman's safety and his doom. But involving Cara will prove treacherous, even beyond the maddening, dangerous desire that seizes them the moment they meet. For staving off eternal darkness could have a staggering cost: Cara's life.

Cindy's Review:
I read the "Lords of Deliverance" completely out of order and I love the fact that each book stands on its own. But they make you WANT the next or the first or the....well, you get my drift. The story builds and builds...some winning moments and some so very NOT the moments you want to think of ever coming to pass during the prophesied Apocalypse.

Four Horsemen are born of the demon Lilith, 3 boys and a girl, the boys are traded out to human mothers to be raised human. When they are told of their fate they go on benders raising a little (a LOT) Hell of their own and are cursed to go either evil and bring Hell to Earth or become good and keep Hell at bay. As each is cursed they are given a means to stay good or crack the curse and become the worst possible being ever thought of.

The story opens with Ares, who is slated to become the Horseman of War. Whenever a war breaks out he is compelled to join and stop it with his Battle horse and charmed Armor. The means to break his curse is an Angel who is being hunted to break Ares into becoming WAR. With the Angel's dying touch he transfers the curse to a human woman named Cara, who's magical touch can heal animals and who has met Ares under human circumstances. Ares takes Cara to his home to be guarded until another Angel can be found to willingly take the curse from her, a curse which carries a death sentence for a human...with her death as catalyst to the start of the Apocalypse and his growing affection for her, Ares is torn between fate and love. I enjoyed these books so much that I can't wait for the fourth story "Rogue Rider" due November 2012.

Buy Now!

Click Here for more wonderful reviews!

A "Cinfully Wonderful" Review by Cindy McCune

Guest Reviewer and Collaborator

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Review: Grave Memory by Kalayna Price

Book 3
Alex Craft Series

When the dead need to talk, Alex Craft is always ready to listen…

As a Grave Witch, Alex solves murders by raising the dead—an ability that comes at a cost, and after her last few cases, that cost is compounding. But her magic isn’t the only thing causing havoc in her life. While she’s always been on friendly terms with Death himself, things have recently become a whole lot more close and personal. Then there’s her sometime partner, agent Falin Andrews, who is under the glamour of the Winter Queen. To top everything off, her best friend has been forever changed by her time spent captive in Faerie.

But the personal takes a backseat to the professional when a string of suicides occur in Nekros City and Alex is hired to investigate. The shades have no memory of the days leading up to their brutal endings, so despite the very public apparent suicides, this is murder. But what kind of magic can overcome the human will to survive? And why do the shades lack the memory of their deaths? Searching for the answer might mean Alex won’t have a life to remember at all…

Cindy's Review:

Our wyrd witch, Alex Craft, has discovered many hidden agendas by her father, the police, with who she has worked with for years, the soul collector that has always had her back and the Fae she is trying NOT to love. There is a new game in town that no one even suspects is a case for a Grave Witch. Suicides are happening to people who have no memory of the days prior to their deaths. Alex Craft has raised their "Shades" and found that things are just not adding up to suicide. And the closer she gets the more things are looking GRAVE for her!

I don't quite know what to say right now. I want so badly to spill the beans and talk about what has just happened in this book. But I can't and have you still be surprised. I know I WAS! I feel as if the heroine of our novel has climbed to the highest peak on the tallest mountain...and once she got there we said: Hey babes, make yourself comfortable, there's no way down. Surprise!

Sigh. I LOVE this series. Ms. Price has given us a woman in a tough field that has not turned hard. But sometimes I want to just grab her and tell her to wake up and move on. Pick a color and fly your flag! You have discovered a secret that can be a glorious thing...enjoy it!

Buy Now!

Click Here for more wonderful reviews!

A "Cinfully Wonderful" Review by Cindy McCune

Guest Reviewer and Collaborator

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Reveiw: Black Night by Christina Henry

Book 2
Black Wings Series

Madeline Black is an Agent of death, meaning she escorts the souls of people who have died to the afterlife. Of course, not everyone is happy to see her...

If obstinate dead people were all that Maddy had to worry about, life would be much easier. But the best-laid plans of Agents and fallen angels often go awry. Deaths are occurring contrary to the natural order, Maddy's being stalked by foes inside and outside of her family, and her two loves-her bodyguard, Gabriel, and her doughnut-loving gargoyle, Beezle-have disappeared. But because Maddy is Lucifer's granddaughter, things are expected of her, things like delicate diplomatic missions to other realms.

Cindy's Review:
Christina Henry has hit another one out of the ball park! Home run lady! And a damn good read! Some one is killing Werewolves and trying to shift the blame on to Madeline "Maddy" Black, the long lost many times removed great-granddaughter of the Morningstar. Yep, you got it. Maddy is relate to THE devil. And she owes him a favor, one he demands she act upon. Lucifer wants Maddy to go into the Queen of Fairies castle and broker a treaty with her. Maddy is at her wits-end over the dead werewolves when someone kidnaps her bodyguard and love interest, Gabriel. Then they nab her beloved little Gargoyle, Beezle. She is punched and kicked and almost raped, and then things get worse: she must live through the killer maze on the Queens estate. If she survives she can free Gabriel, return and let Old Lucifer know of the treason some of his higher ranking officials are plotting, feed her grumpy gargoyle and go back to being a plain old soul collector. Why does everyone want to kill her? A girl just has to be her own protector sometimes! Excerpt of fun: I felt the blood drain from my face. I'd just stepped in in, again. "Never play chess with a master, Maddy." Beezle mumbled from inside my coat. Forget chess. I was still playing Candy Land.

Buy Now!

Click Here for more wonderful reviews!

A "Cinfully Wonderful" Review by Cindy McCune

Guest Reviewer and Collaborator

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Review: Night Seeker by Yasmine Galenorn

Book 3

 An Indigo Court Novel

Eons ago, vampires tried to turn the dark Fae to harness their magic, only to create a demonic enemy more powerful than they could have imagined. Now, the Vampiric Fae are on the move, hunting anyone in their path. As the war with the vampires ratchets up, Myst, Queen of the Indigo Court, enshrouds New Forest in her chilling grasp.

Cicely Waters, owl shifter and Wind Witch, has rescued the Fae Prince Grieve at a great cost. Their reunion has lost them the allegiance of the Summer Queen--and the tolerance of the vampires. In desperation they turn to the Consortium for help. Now, to regain the good will of Lainule, they must dare to enter the heart of Myst's realm. But as Cicely and Grieve embark on their search for the heartstone of Summer, Winter is already wreaking her terrifying revenge.

Cindy's Review....
Cicely Waters is in the battle for her life. To save everyone she loves she will go into the bowels of earth itself and return with a remedy to aid in this endeavor. Saving her beloveds soul has become of paramount goal for Cicely...without Grieve, there is no Cicely. So a group of friends gathers to embark on this adventure to see to the downfall of the terrifying Myst, ruler of the Indigo Court and purveyor of mayhem and mischief. While battling Mysts Vampiric Fae warriors,Cicely must fend off the unwanted amorous advances of Vampire Regent Lannan, the day-walkers trying to abduct her and her cousin Rhiannon for ex-vampire regent Geoffrey, try to regain the help of the Summer Queen to assist in this battle and seek the aid of the aloof magic Consortium. What is a young witch to do? Take it day by day, and page by page. I began to wonder if this was the last of the Indigo Court novels...now? I'm not so sure!

Buy Now!

Click Here for more wonderful reviews!

A "Cinfully Wonderful" Review by Cindy McCune

Guest Reviewer and Collaborator

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~ Trailer Thursday ~ #72

This Week's Book Trailers...

~ Subterranean ~

by James Rollins

The book trailer...

Buy Now!

~ Zombie Love ~

by Anne Elizabeth

The book trailer....

Buy Now!

http://bit.ly/bnnPqH 

Short Story Comic

~ Something Strange and Deadly ~

by Susan Dennard

The book trailer...

           

Buy Now!

   

~ Insignia ~
by S.J. Kincaid

The book trailer...

Buy Now!


~ Blood Betrayed ~
by Gabrielle Bisset

The book trailer...

Buy Now!


~ Return to Willow Lake ~
by Susan Wiggs

The book trailer...

 
Buy Now!


~ Within Reach ~
by Sarah Mayberry

The book trailer...

Buy Now!


~ Circus of Curiosities ~
by Kailin Gow

The book trailer...

Buy Now!


~ Lost Witch of Salem ~
by Annabel Horton

The book trailer...

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~ Home by Nightfall ~
by Alexis Harrington

The book trailer...

Buy Now!

This Week's Author Interviews...

~ Michele Jaffe ~

~ Susan Elizabeth Phillips ~ 

This Week's Movie Trailers...

~ Oz ~

The Great and Powerful

~ Sleepwalk with Me ~


~ V/H/S ~


~ Hello, I Must Be Going ~


~ Nitro ~


~ Ganster Squad ~


~ Rec 3 ~ Genesis ~

This Week's E.T.C.

~ Entertainment, Technology, and Culture ~

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Review: Magic Dreams by Ilona Andrews

Alpha Pack leader Jim Shrapshire has always been the strong, silent type. But something has come over him--a magic force currently residing in one of the Pack's headquarters. Were-tigress Dali Harimau has always wished she could get Jim's attention--but now he needs her help.

Stricken with a magic-sickness, Jim needs Dali's flair for magic. And to save him, she must challenge a powerful, dark being to a battle of wits.

I gave this book a 4
    

Magic Dreams by Ilona Andrews delivers delicious bits of a world we can't get enough of.  Wow, I loved learning so much more about Dali and her family.  Her strength and intelligence took this short story exactly where it had to be taken. Andrew's ability to intertwine Indonesian folklore with such detail and at the same time weave a wonderful tale, only demonstrates true mastery of the craft.  Dali's desire to keep Jim alive regardless of the danger she faced, brought her feelings for Jim to the forefront. Sadly there was not a cameo of the lovely Kate, but Dali did mention her a few times.  Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and the knowledge that Ilona Andrews will make it worth our wait, only makes this series even more intriguing.   I can't wait for Gunmetal Magic so I'll be able to indulge once again in all things Katie, even though it will be focused on our girl, Andrea, there are sure to be glimpses of our darling Kate. Andrea's story can no longer be contained and must be told, she is a force to be reckoned with and followers need more. 

Buy Now!

Source Code: R

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Interview and Giveaway with Kalayna Price

Hi Everyone,

I’m super excited to welcome 

USA Today Bestselling Urban Fantasy Author, Kalayna Price

to Readaholics Anonymous!

I had the pleasure of reading Grave Witch, the first book in the Alex Craft series, with my book club this past month.  We were blown away with this incredible world of witches, faes, and shades.  Kalayna has graciously  agreed to an interview.  

USA Today Bestselling urban fantasy author Kalayna Price writes the Alex Craft Novels and the Novels of Haven. Her books, which are available around the world, contain not only the mystical elements of fantasy and folklore, but also a dash of romance, a bit of gritty horror, some humor, and a large serving of mystery. 

Below are all the books in the Alex Craft series:

So, without further ado, let the questions begin.

Dana:   Kalayna how would you describe the Alex Craft series to someone who hasn’t read the books?
Kalayna: The series is about a broke PI who raises shades, talks to ghosts, and even flirts with Death himself. She uses this ability in her firm to find answers for her clients and occasionally for the police to help solve murders. In the first book, Alex is drawn into a case involving a dark cop, a sexy reaper, and a ghost silencing killer but more than her rent is on the line—this case just might cost her soul.


Dana:   Alex’s character is so interesting; she comes across as such a down to earth person even though she is quite unique on multiple levels.  During the writing process, is Alex a character that is carefully preconstructed or does she reveal herself during the writing progress?
Kalayna: Alex (and most of the main characters) could be described as being both. I’m a plotter so I worked hard to get to know who Alex was before I ever started the first book. That said, as I’m writing she still surprises me at times.


Dana:  Your books are rich in spells and the use of charms.  Did you consult with any experts with knowledge on the subject?
Kalayna: Most of my research is in the form of folklore from around the world. This is rich with interesting stories and beliefs which I use as I’m forming ideas for the story. 


Dana:  Your ability to describe the different realms in your books is amazing, readers are drawn into Alex’s world because you make it remarkably tangible.   Where did the idea to make Alex a planeweaver come from?
Kalayna: I wish I could remember exactly where the idea started, but I can’t pinpoint any single thing and say “this is it!” Alex’s abilities have been part of her character since the very beginning, before the first word of story was ever put on the page. If I had to pick one thing, I would say that I had an idea for a woman who could physically interact with non-tangible beings (like ghosts and soul collectors) and I most likely worked backwards to figure out how that would be possible in an interesting way.


Dana:     The series takes place in the fictional town of Nekros, where did the name come from?
Kalayna: Nekros is the greek root word for corpse. It is a rather grisly name, but as Alex’s job involves the dead, it seemed appropriate in the context of the story.


Dana:   Fans of the series are torn between Team Falin and Team Death, both have their pro and cons.  Will Alex ever find happiness with one of them? Give us a hint.
Kalayna: Alex will eventually get her happily ever after, but there is sure to be heartbreak in her future first. ^_^


Dana:  Some authors travel to different locations in order to collect data that will later be used in their books, have you visited any cemeteries? And if so, in what city? 
Kalayna: I really enjoy cemeteries, especially old cemeteries. I visit them in most cities I pass through. My favorite cemeteries are probably in New Orleans where there are so many mausoleums. 


Dana:  Fans of the series are in love with PC  just as much as they are with Alex.  When did you know that you were going to pair Alex with a Chinese Crested in the series? 
Kalayna: I knew from early on that Alex would have PC. I chose a Chinese crested for PC’s breed because he is a purebred dog whom many people discount as being ugly. This paralleled Alex’s situation nicely—not that people found her ugly but that she is an outcast despite her heritage. 


 Dana:  I know Alex is your fictional creation, but do you have any qualities in common with her?
Kalayna: Every character reflects small details of the author and Alex is no different. That said, she’s also completely her own “person” and once in a while she surprises me with what she decides to do or think.


Dana:   Do you always know before you finish a book how it’s going to end?
Kalayna: I’m a plotter, so I think I know how books are going to end. I’m usually right about the end, but many of the details along the way tend to change as I’m writing.


Dana:    What are you reading right now?
Kalayna: I’m reading READY PLAYER ONE by Ernest Cline and BLOOD AND BULLETS by James R Tuck.


Dana:   Do you enjoy connecting with your fans via social outlets.
Kalayna: I do. I use both twitter and facebook to stay in contact, and I recently held a live release party over google air.


Dana:    Fans of the Alex Craft series are eagerly anticipating Grave Memory which was released July 3rd 2012.   Are there plans for a fourth book in the Alex Craft series?
Kalayna:   Yes! Book four will be out summer of next year. As I mentioned earlier, I’m a plotter and I have an idea how the series will end. Right now my best estimate is that it will take eight books to reach that ending.


Dana:    Will there be any spin offs from the Craft series?
Kalayna: I wouldn’t be opposed to a spin off, but there are currently no plans for one. If I were to write a spin off, I could totally see Briar Darque (introduced in Grave Memory) being a good lead character.


Dana:  Kalayna, thank you so much for stopping by and chatting, it’s been such a pleasure.  I look forward to reading and reviewing Grave Memory and hope you’ll stop by again.
Kalayna:  Thank you so much for having me. I’ll definitely stop by in the future!


Dana:  Before you leave, we’d like to award you the Readaholics Anonymous Book Club Award for Grave Witch and wish you the very best.

Kalayna:  Wow, Thank you! I’m honored and I’m thrilled that you liked the book so much. Thank you again.

  Death and Falin are a fantastic source of material for our book discussions and we can’t get enough of this series.  LOL

To find out more, please visit her at

 www.kalayna.com


Readaholics Anonymous 
will be giving away Kalayna's latest
 in the Alex Craft series to one lucky reader!



For a chance to win this amazing title please fill out the form below!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Special thanks to the DJ Fan Group for making these books  even more interesting!

*Note: The copy of Grave Memory by Kalayna Price will be provided by the blog owner.

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Review: Bound by Blood by Cynthia Eden

Book 1 

Bound (Vampires/Werewolves) Series

It's an Immortal War...

Vampires and werewolves have been blood enemies for centuries, but now a new threat is rising...demons are escaping from hell and these demons are intent on wiping out both the vamps and the werewolves.

When you have no one to trust...

In order to stop the demons, pureblood vampire princess Morgan LaBeaux agrees to the treaty offered by werewolf alpha Jace Vaughn. She'll mate with him, share her blood with him...and in return, the wolves will aid the vampires in this battle.

The enemy of my enemy is my husband...

But Morgan doesn't realize just how dangerous the wolves can truly be. Jace has been waiting years to claim her. He's set a trap for his princess, and now that he has her, Jace doesn't plan to let her go. He'll send the demons back to hell, and he'll keep his vampiress--forever.

Because the blood binds all.

Cindy's Review:
     The sexy little vampiress walked into the bar as if she owned the place. And it just got better and better. I got a heads up that this Novella was free over at SmashWords...and I went flying over and downloaded it. Now I have other books I'm reading or that have been waiting to be read, but once I started this I had to keep going!

Morganna LaBeaux is a born Vampire Princess, royalty and class. Jace Vaughn is a Werewolf, alpha of his own pack, and he wants Morgan as his mate. He will use any means to get her and once he has her, he will keep her. So when demons escape from hell, killing off vampires, their council sends Morgan to make a pact with Jace, to combine their forces and close the gates of Hell permanently.

Who will win in the end, Jace, Morgan, the Vampire council, Hell's Demons or is there another player in the game? Time and a wonderful read will tell .

Buy Now!

Click Here for more wonderful reviews!

A "Cinfully Wonderful" Review by Cindy McCune

Guest Reviewer and Collaborator

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The Great Publishing Wars of 2012

I came across this wonderful post by Bob Mayer, I thought the title was amazing.

The Great Publishing Wars of 2012  

      I thought it was going to be more of an informative article, filled with all the publishing giants vs. the makers and shakers of the electronic world's existing angst. Mr. Mayer's first sentence in the post was an attention-getter, but the post was not what I had expected.
     After reading the article I think things may be different for female authors, based on my experience.   Yes, they speak to each other via the social outlets, but if you look closely more often than not, they speak to fans of their work more than they do to other authors. I know this because I am one of those fans, I hang out on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, etc., and connect with my favorite authors on a regular basis.  I am a book junkie that dedicates at least 40 plus hours a week to reading about anything that has to do with books or fave authors via the internet, this being one of the reasons I come across Bob Mayer's work quite often.  I'm not alone on these sites, they are embraced with readers like me, who love to connect with our favorite authors.  Readers love to have connections to authors and the social outlets are an amazing way of doing just that. The majority of the authors who connect with their readers are warm and receptive, which only endears them more to fans,  both new and old.  Content is crucial to a reader, but nowadays if a reader falls in love with your work, the best advice to authors would be to connect with them via the social media outlets.
   I completely agree that ebooks are here to stay. I came across this great illustration a while back and thought I'd share it, because it shows the impact of the social outlets.

English: Infographic on how Social Media are being used, and how everything is changed by them. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What do you think, do authors speak more with fellow authors than they do with fans?

Read more post by Bob Mayer:
http://www.digitalbookworld.com/author/bob-mayer/

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Review: The Night Beat by Gini Koch

Book 1

From the Necropolis Enforcement Files

The majority of Prosaic City’s residents don’t know that their town exists on top of another place -- Necropolis, City of the Undead. For the most part, the two planes of existence manage to remain separate. And when they don’t, Necropolis Enforcement has beings in place to ensure the general human population remains blithely clueless.

Victoria Wolfe is more than just a policewoman. She’s an undercover werewolf assigned by Necropolis Enforcement to work Prosaic City Police’s Night Beat. Victoria’s comfortable working the shift where all the weird comes out to play, especially since her partner is also her perfect man. Or would be, if Victoria could ever work up the nerve to tell him she isn’t like other girls.

It’s hard enough being a werewolf in disguise, but when a creature from the Depths of Hell shows up in an alley preferred by junkies, bums, and hookers, it’s going to take more than just Victoria’s special gun and werewolf skills to subdue the ancient Sumerian demon. Especially when the demon is merely the start of what appears to be a major takeover attempt by the Prince of Darkness.

Soon all of Necropolis Enforcement’s Undead Brigade is involved in the fight to stop the Prince’s Major Minions from taking over Prosaic City and the rest of the human plane. But it’s Victoria who has to face the Adversary and figure out what intricate plan Lucifer has up his wings before everyone she cares about is destroyed.

In other words, it’s just another day on the Night Beat.

I gave this book a 4

   

The Night Beat by Gini Koch serves readers with a banquet of all things paranormal.  Gods and Monsters?  Historical figures from the past, living and working 9 to 5?  If you can't find it in The Night Beat, then you aren't reading Gini Koch's latest smorgasbord, straight from her Necropolis Enforcement Files. This buffet of paranormal dishes is mind boggling, Koch doesn't skimp on the "lusus naturae", she serves them up one after the other.  This new twist, to all we thought we knew about the gods and monsters living on earth, is a winner.  

Buy Now! 

Source Code:  R

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~ Trailer Thursday ~ #71

This Week's Book Trailers...

~ Eternal Beast~

 by Laura Wright

The book trailer...

Buy Now!

    

~ Defiante ~

by Pamela Clare

The book trailer...

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~ So Close To You ~

 by Rachel Carter

The book trailer...

   

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~ The Forsaken ~

 by Lisa M. Stasse

The book trailer...

   

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 ~ Team Human ~

 by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan 

The book trailer...

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~ One Breath Away ~ 

 by Heather Gudenkauf

The book trailer...

   

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~ Troll Hunters ~

 by Michael Dahl 

The book trailer...

   

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~ Daughters of Jared ~

by H. B. Moore

The book trailer...

 

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This Week's Author Interviews... 

~ Author Amy Kathleen Ryan ~

  

~ Veronica Roth ~

  

 This Week's Movie Trailers.... 

 ~ The Perks of Being a Wallflower ~

~ The Inbetweeners ~ 

 ~ Why Stop Now ~

 ~ Jack Reacher ~

This Week's E.T.C.

~ Entertainment, Technology, and Culture ~

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