Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Flicker & Burn

Hi Inklings!

I’ve returned from my holiday hibernation to bring you a pretty awesome cover reveal and giveaway! T.M. Goeglein, author of Cold Fury, has a super special, two-for-one cover reveal…Cold Fury has been redesigned, as well as the second installment in the Cold Fury trilogy…Flicker & Burn!

Cold Fury in paperback will be released in June 2013 and Flicker & Burn comes roaring onto the scene in August 2013!

FLICKER & BURN

The thrill ride that began in Cold Fury kicks into high gear in Flicker & Burn, as the threats to Sara Jane Rispoli come at her from all directions. She continues the desperate search for her missing family, but this time she’s on the run from creepy beings with red, pulsing eyes and ghostly white skin chasing her through the streets of Chicago in black ice cream trucks – they can only be described as Ice Cream Creatures. They're skeletal and ferocious, hell-bent on catching or killing her, but also a weird link to her family, a clue to where they might be and who has them.

While Sara Jane battles these new pursuers, she learns painful lessons about the phenomenon that possesses her, cold fury. At the same time, she’s uncovering buried secrets about the misdeeds of her family – old murders and blood vendettas – that might be connected to the disappearance of her mom, dad, and brother. The mysteries, violence, and constant state of chasing or being chased could be the undoing of her relationship with handsome Max Kissberg. Despite the love growing between them, Sara Jane can’t tell him the truth about her life, and fears for his safety.

Not only do the Ice Cream Creatures display the grisly amputated finger of her mom to prove their viciousness, and not only does Lucky, the Outfit Boss of Bosses, whistle in Sara Jane for a sit-down with deadly consequences, but her gorgeous cousin, Heather Richards, enters the scene, as well. All that matters to Sara Jane is saving her family and keeping everyone she loves alive and safe. But the forces she encounters, both external and the ones crackling inside of her, fight her every step of the way.

Event Recap & Giveaway: Brigid Kemmerer’s Spark Launch Party

Hi Guys! Hope you are all having a fantastic weekend. Not to brag but so far mine has been way past excellent! I was lucky enough to attend Brigid Kemmerer’s Spark Launch party at the Barnes and Noble in Ellicot City, MD today (Brigid told me she would have candy… that’s when I knew I had to go).

After picking up 2 copies of Spark at the register, I settled down in the café area with a delicious Caramel Frappuccino since I was a bit early. Soon enough the announcement I had been waiting for came over the loud speakers. Showtime!

I grabbed a seat in the back row not wanting to block anyone’s view with my height and was lucky enough to meet some awesome bloggers in the process! Alexa Abee, from Writing the Universe and Nadah from Reading, Writing, & Coffee arrived sporting these awesome t-shirts!



I’m only jealous I didn’t think of the idea myself! They were surprisingly stylish! Brigid freaked when she saw them. It was clear she was very touched and blown away by their support. Later, during the discussion, we learned that they actually made her cry! Aww… Alexa and Nadah – You two are awesome!


Brigid proceeded to tell us a bit about Spark and her writing process. I guess, not having ever written a book myself, I didn’t realize how much research went into it! She talked about how she exchanged several emails a week with her local fire chief regarding the book. It was obvious from her discussion the extent of work that went into writing Spark!

Sometimes during the discussion, it was as if I was at a comedy club with the hilarious banter between Brigid and her husband, Michael. Those two were a trip and definitely kept us entertained. She also read an excerpt from Spark involving a house fire! It made me want to pick the book up as soon as I got home. I think Carnival of Souls would have been a bit jealous though…

Then came the prizes! That’s right, you heard me, PRIZES! Brigid had several gift cards to give away to some lucky attendees. Unfortunately I didn’t win anything, but how cool is that!?

And lastly, was the signing. I picked up a copy for myself and one to give away to you guys! You can enter to win using the rafflecopter form below. Overall it was a fantastic time! Hope she will do the same when book three, Spirit, releases.

Special thanks to Brigid for having us at the party and to Amber from The Musings of ALMYBNENR for letting me know about this great event!

Giveaway

PRIZE: A signed paperback copy of Spark (Elemental, #2) by Brigid Kemmerer

SPARK (ELEMENTAL, #2)
BY BRIGID KEMMERER

Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can’t. Like the fire that killed his parents.

Gabriel has always had his brothers to rely on, especially his twin, Nick. But when an arsonist starts wreaking havoc on their town, all the signs point to Gabriel. Only he’s not doing it.

More than Gabriel’s pride is at stake -- this could cost him his family, maybe his life. And no one seems to hear him. Except a shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance. Layne understands family problems, and she understands secrets. She has a few of her own.

Gabriel can’t let her guess about his brothers, about his abilities, about the danger that’s right at his heels. But there are some risks he can’t help taking.

RULES: 
- Entrants must be 13 years of age or older!
- This giveaway is open to US followers only.
- The winner will be randomly selected via Rafflecopter and will have 48 hours to respond to my email. If I do not receive a response in that time period another winner will be selected.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ARC Giveaway: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

So, I’ve been a little distant lately.. Sorry! Now that Summer is winding down I’ve found myself with a bit of time to get back into the swing of things. We’re going to kick off my return with a Giveaway!

I’m reading Pushing the Limits right now and really enjoying the dual point of views so I’ve decided to give my readers a chance to win this (hopefully) awesome book! Make sure to read the rules below and enter using the Rafflecopter form.

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
Publisher: Harlequin Teen 
Format: ARC

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.
Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again

Giveaway

Prize: An ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Rules:
- Must be 13 years of age or older!
- This giveaway is open to US followers only.
- The winner will be randomly selected via Rafflecopter and will have 48 hours to respond to my email. If I do not receive a response in that time period another winner will be selected.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ebook of the Week + Giveaway: Beyond the Eyes

"Ebook of the Week" is a weekly feature here at Inklings Read. Each week I feature an ebook as well as a giveaway! Ebooks featured in these posts will always be well rated and reasonably priced! Sometimes, if we're lucky, the author will drop by to say "Hi" with a few words on their book as well. Now let’s showcase Inklings Read’s Ebook of the Week!  Today, Rebekkah Ford joins us to talk a bit about her title, Beyond the Eyes. I couldn’t be more excited to feature it!

Beyond The Eyes by Rebekkah Ford

Goodreads | Buy It on Amazon

Paige knows evil exists in this world, but she never imagined it would want something from her.

After a ghostly voice whispers a haunting message to seventeen-year-old Paige Reed, Paige’s life takes a nightmarish turn. Unwilling to tell her friends about the supernatural occurrences happening in her life, Paige feels more alone than ever–until she meets Nathan Caswell.

Nathan is not only hot, but seems to peer into Paige’s soul, evoking a magnetic energy between them that cannot be denied. But he’s no ordinary guy. He tracks dark spirits, and becomes alarmed when they set their sights on Paige.

And then there are the two power-hungry dark spirits who believe Paige can find King Solomon’s magical ring for them, because when her father was alive, he was close to finding it. If Paige doesn’t comply with their demands, they’ll kill her.

Paige is forced to dig deep into her father’s past and unearths shocking secrets about him and his bloodline. With the past and present colliding, Paige is only sure about two things in her life: she needs to outwit the dark spirits to stay alive, and she’s completely and helplessly in love with Nathan.

Book Trailer

ABOUT REBEKKAH Rebekkah Ford grew up in a family that dealt with the paranormal. Her parents’ Charles and Geri Wilhelm were the Directors of the UFO Investigators League in Fairfield, Ohio, back in the 1970s. They also investigated ghost hauntings and Bigfoot sightings in addition to UFO’s. Growing up in this type of environment and having the passion for writing is what drove Rebekkah at an early age to write stories dealing with the paranormal. At one point in her life, she thought she wanted to be a journalist, and although she enjoyed writing articles, she quickly discovered her real passion was writing fiction. Her fascination with the paranormal is what led her to write the ‘Beyond the Eyes’ series. Visit her online and read her blog at http://themusingwriter.blogspot.com

 

ARC Giveaway: Throne of Glass

For my second BEA giveaway, I have for you the highly anticipated Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Mass (<—Rhymes with “Glass!”)!! When I first heard about this one I knew I would have to get my hands on it at BEA.  I LOVE assassin books! Especially ones with a strong female lead (think Grave Mercy!).  I’m super excited that I have an opportunity to give away this ARC to you guys! Please read the rules and enter using the rafflecopter form below.

Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1) by Sarah J. Mass
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's
Release Date: August 7th 2012

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men—thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the kings council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she’ll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she’s bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it’s the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

Book Trailer

Signed ARC Giveaway: The Raven Boys

Hi Inklings - I have a special treat for you this week! I just got back from BEA on Thursday and had an absolute blast there. Luckily my sweet/awesome boyfriend went with me, so I was able to snag a few extra copies of things for YOU! For the first giveaway of this week, I have a SIGNED ARC of The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater!! After reading the rules below, you can enter using the rafflecopter form at the bottom.

The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle, #1) by Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: Sept 2012

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

Book Trailer

Ebook of the Week + Giveaway: At The End

"Ebook of the Week" is a weekly feature here at Inklings Read. Each week I feature an ebook as well as a giveaway! Ebooks featured in these posts will always be well rated and reasonably priced! Sometimes, if we're lucky, the author will drop by to say "Hi" with a few words on their book as well. Now let’s showcase Inklings Read’s Ebook of the Week!  Today, John Hennessy joins us to talk a bit about his title, At The End. I couldn’t be more excited to feature it!

At the end by John Hennessy

Night 1: 12 billion taken. Day 1: Confusion. Night 2: 13 billion taken. Day 2: Panic. Night 3: 13 billion taken. Day 3: The fight for survival begins. In 2048, the human population borders 39 billion after the termination of the birth control industry, and the realities of overcrowding have sunken into the minds of the world, until billions mysteriously go missing. In the wake of civilization’s collapse, a trio of teenage gamers from Washington struggle to endure. Maggy, a strong-willed intellectual, leads Darrel and Félix, two shy geeks, on an expedition down the west coast, as they try to determine the source of humanity’s downfall. A YA post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller.

Goodreads | Buy It

Book Trailer

About John Born in 1988, John Hennessy became entranced by the world of fantasy at a young age, playing video games and reading books for many long nights/early mornings. He recently graduated from Western Washington University, and now lives in the green land of Bellingham, at work on the second book in The Cry of Havoc series. Visit his website at: http://www.johnhennessy.net Please describe At The End using only 5 words!  Near-future Earth at its end What can we expect from you in the future!?   I am currently working on part two of The Cry of Havoc series. Part one was recently made a finalist in ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Awards in the fantasy category.

Want to connect with John?

Goodreads | Website

Ebook of the Week + Giveaway: Water

"Ebook of the Week" is a weekly feature here at Inklings Read. Each week I feature an ebook as well as a giveaway! Ebooks featured in these posts will always be well rated and reasonably priced! Sometimes, if we're lucky, the author will drop by to say "Hi" with a few words on their book as well. Now let’s showcase Inklings Read’s Ebook of the Week!  Today, Terra Harmony joins us to talk a bit about her title, Water. I couldn’t be more excited to feature it! Not only has she put up with me pushing her feature back twice due to my being sick, but she is also generous enough to offer to giveaway one e-copy of her book to a lucky reader!

Water (Akasha, #1) by Terra Harmony

Elemental powers in the palm of her hand...and it won't be enough to save her. When Kaitlyn Alder is involuntarily introduced to a life of magic, she becomes part of an organization hell-bent on saving the Earth. Just as her new-found life holds promises of purpose, romance, and friendship, the organization divides and a rogue member holds Kaitlyn hostage. Now one of the most terrifying men the human race has to offer stands between her and Earth's survival.

Goodreads | Buy It

Book Trailer

About Terra Terra is author of the Akasha Series, a set of four contemporary eco-fantasy novels. 'Water' and 'Air' are available as e-books, and 'Fire' is due to release in October 2012. Terra also has a vampire short story anthology published as an e-book called 'The Kindred Curse Anthology'. Terra was born and raised in Colorado but has since lived in California, Texas, Utah, North Carolina and Virginia. Terra has served a 5½ year enlistment in the Marine Corp, has earned her bachelor's and master's degree and presently runs the language services division of a small business. Terra currently lives in a suburb of Washington, DC with her husband of 13 years and three children. Please describe Water  using only 5 words!  Fast-paced, adventurous, meaningful, authentic, and last but not least - entertaining!    What can we expect from you in the future!?   I just finished up the Kindred Curse Anthology, a collection of five vampire short stories for adults. This was sort of a 'guilty pleasure' writing experience for me. The vampires are now all out of my system! I am currently finishing up The Akasha Series. 'Water' and 'Air' are now available as e-books, and 'Fire' will be released in October 2012. The final book of the series, 'Earth', is due out Spring 2013. Although The Akasha Series has been fun, my thoughts are already on my next project. I am planning another eco-fantasy series, this time with mermaids and werewolves. I am in the research stages now, reading up on popular werewolf and mermaid books, and cutting out pictures for a large 'underwater' collage. The visual helps me write! A beta first chapter has been posted here.

Want to connect with Terra?

Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Blog

Ebook of the Week + Giveaway: Gifted

"Ebook of the Week" is a weekly feature here at Inklings Read. Each week I feature an ebook as well as a giveaway! Ebooks featured in these posts will always be well rated and reasonably priced! Sometimes, if we're lucky, the author will drop by to say "Hi" with a few words on their book as well. Now let’s showcase Inklings Read’s Ebook of the Week!  Today, Liz long joins us to talk a bit about her debut title, Gifted: A Donovan Circus Novel. I couldn’t be more excited to feature it! She has also been generous enough to offer to giveaway one e-copy of her book to a lucky reader!

Gifted (Donovan Circus, #1) by Liz Long

Even in a world of freaks, being a Firestarter is considered a dangerous Gift. Lucy was born with the ability to create and control fire. She longs to leave the human world for one filled with Earthshakers, Transporters, and Chameleons, to name a few. When she rejoins the circus, it’s everything she hoped it could be—new friends, a potential love interest or two, and a place where she can be herself. When troupe members begin turning up dead, however, Lucy is suspected of foul play. She must not only prove her innocence but also realize the full extent of her power. To find the real murderer, she must uncover the truth behind her father’s fiery legacy while figuring out whom to trust within her new circle. Little does she know the history of the Donovan Circus and its enemies might actually destroy the entire gifted world.

Goodreads | Buy It

About Liz Liz Long has been writing stories since she could spell the word "unicorn" (second grade). She fears a zombie apocalypse, though admits it would give her good reason to stay inside and write more. She is a proud graduate of Longwood University with a degree in English. Gifted is her debut title, the first in the Donovan Circus series. She lives in Roanoke, VA with her husband Jason and their Jack Russell terror, Fisher. Please describe Gifted using only 5 words!  Witty, adventurous, surprising, fast-paced, action-packed. What can we expect from you in the future!? I’m currently working on the second book in the Donovan Circus series as well as a separate YA novel.

Want to connect with Liz?

Goodreads | Facebook

Giveaway: Storm by Brigid Kemmerer {Signed}

Hi Inklings!

Some of you may already know that I went to the Brigid Kemmerer reading/signing at Barnes and Noble this weekend! It was such a great time. Brigid was super friendly, generous, and thankful to all of us for coming. She gave away a TON of prizes to guests, including a Nook and a bunch of gift cards! I thought it was only going to be a signing, but I was very excited to learn that it was a reading as well. Let me tell you guys: I was hooked after hearing the first chapter! I wish I had some space for it in my current reading schedule. At the first opportunity, I will definitely squeeze Storm in. I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews!

So now for what you all have been waiting for: I had a copy of Storm (Elemental, #1) signed just to giveaway to you guys! A bookmark and bracelet that I received from the signing will also be included. She says that the bracelet will make sense after reading the book!

Terms and Conditions:
- Must be 13 years of age or older!
- US mailing addresses only.
- Enter using rafflecopter form below.
- Winner will be randomly selected via rafflecopter. Winner will be given 48 hours to respond to my email. If I do not receive a response in that time period another winner will be selected.

STORM (ELEMENTAL, #1) BY BRIGID KEMMERER

Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her, Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys—all the ones she doesn't want. Then she saves Chris Merrick from a beating in the school parking lot. Chris is different. Way different: he can control water—just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and earth. They’re powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death.

And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca.

Secrets are hard to keep when your life’s at stake. When Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, turns up with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, Becca thinks she can trust him. But then Hunter goes head-to-head with Chris, and Becca wonders who’s hiding the most dangerous truth of all.

The storm is coming . . .

Ebook of the Week + Giveaway: Entangled

"Ebook of the Week" is a weekly feature here at Inklings Read. Each week I feature an ebook as well as a giveaway! Ebooks featured in these posts will always be well rated and reasonably priced! Sometimes, if we're lucky, the author will drop by to say "Hi" with a few words on their book as well. Now let’s showcase Inklings Read’s Ebook of the Week! This week we have Nikki Jefford, author of the Spellbound series, here with us today to tell us a bit about herself and the first book in the series, Entangled.

Entangled (spellbound, #1) by Nikki Jefford

Twin witches Graylee and Charlene Perez agree on one rule: No dating warlocks. Not so easy when a certain rogue warlock is convinced he and Graylee belong together and will use anything, including magic, to try and impress Gray. When Charlene’s boyfriend dumps her, she threatens to kill either herself or the girl who stole Blake. Somehow, Gray ends up dead. A Resurrection Spell Gone Wrong: Two months after dying, Gray wakes up in Charlene’s body. As a witch, can anyone blame her mother for attempting to bring her daughter back to life? Only now Gray’s stuck sharing her sister’s body 50/50 in twenty-four hour shifts. The race is on for Gray to find a way back inside her own body before Charlene purges her from existence. Raj McKenna is rumored to meddle in the black arts, not to mention he’s after Gray’s invisibility spell and worse – her heart. But Raj might be the only one powerful enough to save Gray from fading away forever.

Goodreads | Amazon

Book Trailer

About Nikki Nikki Jefford is a third generation Alaskan who found paradise in the not-so-tropical San Juan Islands where she is, once more, neighbors with Canada. She has a degree in journalism and was an entertainment reporter before returning to her first love: fiction. After a whirlwind romance in France, Nikki married Sébastien in March 2000. They reside with Cosmo the Wonder Westie. Please describe Entangled using only 5 words!  Twins trapped in one body. What can we expect from you in the future!? Book two in the Spellbound trilogy, along with a much darker (violent and sexual) vampire slayer series.

Want to connect with Nikki?

Blog | Goodreads

EOTW + Friendly Fire Tour: Ebook Giveaway!

"Ebook of the Week" is a weekly feature here at Inklings Read. Each week I feature an ebook as well as a giveaway! Ebooks featured in these posts will always be well rated and reasonably priced! Sometimes, if we're lucky, the author will drop by to say "Hi" with a few words on their book as well. Now let’s showcase Inklings Read’s Ebook of the Week! This week we have Lynn Seresin, author of The Thin Air Saga, here with us today as part of the official Friendly Fire Tour!

Friendly Fire (Thin Air Saga, #2) by Lynn Seresin

Though their love remains strong, the pressure of constant danger has taken its toll on Alice and Daniel’s relationship. Paralda’s assassins continue their murder spree in New York City, targeting girls who resemble Alice in an effort to fulfill the air king’s deadly directive. As if life wasn’t complicated enough, the couple must also fiercely guard the secret of Alice’s emergent powers and true identity from everyone--including their closest friends--to protect her safety. Enter Ash and Terrance: two former elementals, each with their own set of reasons for transmuting to the human plane. For Ash, the material realm represents freedom and the possibility of fulfilling a forbidden wish. Terrance has only one aim in the mortal world: to win Alice’s heart. And it seems he’ll stop at nothing to achieve his goal.

Goodreads | Amazon

About Lynn Lynn Seresin worked as a children's book editor and freelance writer of middle-grade fiction before writing Thin Air, the first book in the Thin Air saga. She lives with her husband, daughter and son in Connecticut. A black Lab named Dudley, a teacup Chihuahua named Layla, and a black cat named Shadow share their household

Want to connect with Lynn?

Website | Goodreads

Ebook of the Week + Giveaway: Moon Spell

"Ebook of the Week" is a weekly feature here at Inklings Read. Each week I feature an ebook as well as a giveaway! Ebooks featured in these posts will always be well rated and reasonably priced! Sometimes, if we're lucky, the author will drop by to say "Hi" with a few words on their book as well. Now let’s showcase Inklings Read’s Ebook of the Week! This week we have Samantha Young, author of The Tale of Lunarmorte trilogy, here with us today to tell us a bit about herself and the first book in the series, Moon Spell.

Moon Spell (The Tale of Lunarmorte, #1) by Samantha Young

Enter a world of fierce wolves, stunning magic and romance... It’s bad enough feeling different among the human crowd, but feeling different among wolves? No one said returning to her pack would be easy, especially after ten years without them, but seventeen year old Caia Ribeiro is unprepared for the realities of the transition. Raised in a world where kids aren’t scared by bedtime tales of the bogeyman but by the real life threat of enemy supernaturals who might come creeping into their community to kill them in their sleep, Caia is used to the darkness; she’s used to the mystery and the intrigue of the ancient underworld war she’s bound to by chance of birth. What she’s having trouble with are pack members treating her with wary suspicion, the Elders tucking secrets behind their backs out of her sightline, and her young Alpha, Lucien, distracting her, with a dangerous attraction, from her decision to uncover the truth. But as the saying goes ‘the truth will out’ and when it does, Caia will only have so long to prepare herself before the war comes pounding on their door threatening to destroy the safe, secret lives of the wolves… and the girl they protect.

Goodreads | Amazon

About SamanthA Samantha Young is a 25 year old writer who resides in her home county of Stirlingshire, Scotland. She is a self-proclaimed book addict and kindle junkie, using fantasy, dystopian, sci-fi and paranormal novels to feed her addiction. After graduating from the University of Edinburgh with a degree in ancient and medieval history, Samantha returned to her main passion, writing, and often incorporates history and mythology into her novels. Samantha's first release, The Tale of Lunarmorte trilogy, was followed by a second series titled Warriors of Ankh. At present, she is a full-time writer working on a number of projects for near future release. She is the author of nine novels and one novella. Her young adult paranormal series' are amazon bestselling novels. Please describe Moon Spell using only 5 words!  Dramatic, Mysterious, Romantic, Thrilling, Snarky. What can we expect from you in the future!? I'm currently working on my YA Urban Fantasy series, Fire Spirits (http://firespiritsnovels.blogspot.com), about the Jinn :-) Book One and Two are already available to buy and I'm working on Book three currently, with plans for more in the series for later this year.

Want to connect with Samantha?

Blog | Goodreads

Ebook of the Week + Giveaway: Every Last Kiss

"Ebook of the Week" is a weekly feature here at Inklings Read. Each week I feature an ebook as well as a giveaway! Ebooks featured in these posts will always be well rated and reasonably priced! Sometimes, if we're lucky, the author will drop by to say "Hi" with a few words on their book as well. Now let’s showcase Inklings Read’s Ebook of the Week! This week we have Courtney Cole, author of the The Bloodstone Saga, here with us today to tell us a bit about herself and the first book in the series, Every Last Kiss.

Every Last Kiss (The Bloodstone Saga, #1) by Courtney Cole

17-year old Macy Lockhart has the weight of the world on her shoulders. For thousands of years, she has been a Keeper in the ancient organization, the Order of the Moirae. She literally holds fate in her hands. But this is something that she forgets, because her memories are wiped clean in every life until it is time for her cycle to start again. And in the last two thousand years, there has never been a problem. Until now. And now…Fate, the very thing that Macy was born to keep, is being tampered with and she has only one choice: To return to a previous life to fix it; a life where she was Cleopatra’s handmaiden, Charmian. Cue up the second problem: Unless she interferes with the fabric of time, the very thing she has returned to repair, her soul mate will die leading Marc Antony’s forces against Rome. Can she really stand aside and allow the love of her life to die all over again?

Goodreads | Amazon (I LOVE this cover!)

About Courtney Courtney Cole is a novelist who lives near Lake Michigan with her domestic zoo (aka family) her pet iPad and her favorite cashmere socks.  Courtney is the author of the Bloodstone Saga, the Moonstone Saga and the American Princess series.  She's always hard at work on her latest book.  Learn more about her at www.courtneycolewrites.com Please describe Every Last Kiss using only 5 words!  Rich, Exquisite, Romantic, Tragic, Beautiful. What can we expect from you in the future!? I loved writing the Bloodstone Saga so much that I started a spin-off series called The Moonstone Saga. The first book is Soul Kissed. I'm working on the sequel, Soul Bound.  It's about the daughter of the goddess of witchcraft and the moon... and the son of the god of the sun.  They have conflicting powers which could kill them... and she's cursed.

Want to connect with Courtney?

Blog | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook

Please click "Read More" to proceed to page with the giveaway (if you don't see it below)!

Ebook of the Week + Giveaway: Pride’s Run by Cat Kalen

"Ebook of the Week" is a weekly feature here at Inklings Read. Each week I feature an ebook as well as a giveaway! Ebooks featured in these posts will always be well rated and reasonably priced! Sometimes, if we're lucky, the author will drop by to say "Hi" with a few words on their book as well. Now let’s showcase Inklings Read’s Ebook of the Week! This week we have Cat Kalen, author of the Wolf’s Pride series, here with us today to tell us a bit about herself and the first book in the series, Pride’s Run.

Pride’s run (Wolf’s pride, #1) by cat kalen

Seventeen year old Pride is a tracker—a werewolf with a hunger for blood. Taught to trick and to lure, she is the perfect killing machine. Kept leashed in the cellar by a master who is as ruthless as he is powerful, Pride dreams of freedom, of living a normal life, but escape from the compound is near impossible and disobedience comes with a price. When she learns her master intends to breed her she knows she has to run. Pride soon learns if she is to survive in the wild, she must trust in the boy who promises her freedom, the same boy she was sent to hunt. With life and death hanging in the balance the two find themselves on the run from the Paranormal Task Force—officers who shoot first and ask questions later—as well as her master’s handlers. Can Pride flee the man who has held her captive since birth and find sanctuary in the arms of a boy who has captured her heart? Or will her master find her first?

Goodreads | Amazon

About Cat Cat Kalen is a multi published author in the romance genre under two pen names, Cat is a wife, mom, sister, daughter, and friend. She loves dogs, sunny weather, anything chocolate (she never says no to a brownie) pizza and watermelon. She has two teenagers who keep her busy with their never ending activities, and a husband who is convinced he can turn her into a mixed martial arts fan. Cat can never find balance in her life, is always trying to find time to go to the gym, can never keep up with emails, Facebook or Twitter and tries to write page-turning books that her readers will love. A maritime native and former financial officer, Cat has lived all over Canada but has finally settled down in her childhood hometown with her family.   Please describe Pride’s Run using only 5 words!  She’s the perfect killing machine. What can we expect from you in the future!? I am currently working on Pride’s Pursuit, the third book in the Wolf’s Pride series.

Want to connect with Cat?

Blog | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook

Please click "Read More" to proceed to page with the giveaway (if you don't see it below)!

Spring Cleaning Giveaway Hop!

Tomorrow is the first day of spring!! We've had some gorgeous weather here in MD this week, and I've been enjoying every second of it! In spirit of the new season, Inklings Read is participating in the Spring Cleaning Giveaway Hop hosted by Kathy at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer. For this hop I’m giving away an entire box of books aka box of awesomeness to one lucky winner!

You can check out the video below for more info on the prize, but for those looking to know quick, prize highlights include Cinder by Marissa Meyer (ARC), Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges (ARC), Boneshaker by Cherie Priest, and the entire Secret Circle series by L.J. Smith.

After reviewing the terms and conditions below, you can enter using the rafflecopter form at the end of this post.

Terms and Conditions:
- Must be 13 years of age or older!
- US mailing addresses only please! The cost to ship internationally is far too high.
- Winner will be randomly selected via rafflecopter. Winner will be given 48 hours to respond to my email. If I do not receive a response in that time period another winner will be selected.

Ebook of the Week + Giveaway: Anew

"Ebook of the Week" is a weekly feature here at Inklings Read. Each week I feature an ebook as well as a giveaway! Ebooks featured in these posts will always be well rated and reasonably priced! Sometimes, if we're lucky, the author will drop by to say "Hi" with a few words on their book as well. Now let’s showcase Inklings Read’s Ebook of the Week! This week we have Chelsea Fine, author of The Archers of Avalon series, here with us today to tell us a bit about herself and the first book in the series, Anew.

Anew (The Archers of Avalon, #1) by Chelsea Fine

Two years ago, Scarlet awoke in the forest alone, afraid, and unable to remember anything. Lost and confused, her life was a mystery...until she met a boy with a familiar voice. Gabriel Archer has a voice from her past, and Scarlet's determined to remember why. She immerses herself in his life only to discover he has a brother he's kept hidden from her: Tristan Archer. Upon meeting Tristan, Scarlet's world becomes even more muddled. While she's instinctively drawn to Gabriel, she's impossibly drawn to Tristan--and confused out of her mind. As she tries to piece together her history Scarlet realizes her past...might just be the death of her.

Goodreads | Amazon

Book Trailer

About Chelsea Chelsea lives in Phoenix, AZ where she spends most of her time writing young adult fiction, painting murals, and avoiding housework at all costs. Her obsessions include: superheroes, coffee, sleeping-in, and crazy socks. She lives with her husband and two children, who graciously tolerate her inability to resist teenage drama on TV and her complete lack of skill in the kitchen.  Please describe Anew using only 5 words!  Mysteries, curses, forbidden love, sacrifice. What can we expect from you in the future!? I am currently working on a YA thriller (dum-dum-dumm), a Christmas love story (because who doesn't love snow and cozy kisses?), and a science fiction romance (because, clearly, I can't decide which genre I should write in, haha)

Want to connect with Chelsea?

Blog | Twitter | Goodreads 

Please click "Read More" to proceed to page with the giveaway (if you don't see it below)!

Author Interview: Ari Marmell & Giveaway

I’m super excited to have Ari Marmell, author of Thief’s Covenant, here at Inklings Read to tell us a bit about his writing and first venture into the young adult fantasy genre!

Q. First off, It's a pleasure to have you here at Inklings Read! I was reading up on your background a bit and noticed you wrote several fantasy books and guides. What inspired you to venture into the YA genre? How did you have to change your approach when writing for a YA audience?

Quite honestly, it happened almost by accident. The very earliest drafts of what would become Thief's Covenant weren't written as YA. It just happened to come out in such a way that, as my agent at the time pointed out, it wouldn't take much rewriting to change it into a YA book.

Some of the reasons for doing so were purely clinical--such as the fact that the book was too short for most publishers to publish as an adult fantasy. But the truth is, I liked the idea of branching out into YA. I was about that same age when I first really began devouring fantasy fiction. Many of the authors I read back then still stick with me, and are responsible for my love of reading. I love the idea of just maybe being that writer for someone else.

As far as changing my approach, they were all fairly minor. It involves writing about a younger protagonist than I did in any of my other books, but Widdershins was always meant to be fairly so young, so that wasn't really an issue. I toned down the blood and violence a little bit, but not much. (And yes, that will come as a surprise to people who read the fairly bloody prologue, but it's true.) And Widdershins herself isn't as dark of a main character as many of my others.

Q. I LOVE the cover of Thief's Covenant! It's what initially drew me to the book. What role did you play (if any) in the design of the cover?

The artist, Jason Chan--a god among illustrators, if I may say so--provided Pyr Books and me with a selection of rough sketch ideas he had. My editor and I talked it over and chose the one we liked best, and that's the one he turned into the full cover design.

So, I had a little input, but pretty much all the credit is due to Jason.

(By the way, just for giggles, I gave Widdershins her own Facebook page. If anyone wants to see those preliminary sketches, I got permission from Jason to put them up there. Just look for "Widdershins" in the FB search bar.)

Q. What do you think sets Thief's Covenant apart from other YA fantasy books?

I'd start with the setting. The modern speculative fiction market in YA is either near-future science fiction or modern/urban fantasy. While there certainly are plenty of traditional fantasy YA novels, the majority of them are a bit older. I like the idea of brining traditional fantasy back to a position of equal prominence in YA. (Not that I'm likely to accomplish that by myself, but...)

I think the combination of a Renaissance-inspired setting, rather than the more common Medieval, and the peculiar religious system at the heart of the culture, would also qualify as setting the book somewhat apart.

And I'd like to think that Widdershins herself--particularly her unique relationship with Olgun--stands out as well.

Speaking of whom...

It's My Blogoversary! (+ Giveaway)

Dear Inklings,

Inklings Read is officially one year old! Thank you so much for hanging around and supporting me through my first year blogging. I cannot express to you how much fun I’ve had participating in this awesome community! Everyone has been so helpful, supportive, and welcoming. It has truly been an amazing year!

Around this time last year, I had just finished reading The Iron King by Julie Kagawa (AMAZING if you haven’t already read it). I was browsing the web and somehow came across The Story Siren. I remember being blown away by Kristi's passion… and thinking “I want to do that.” I started up Inklings Read shortly after and posted my first review of The Iron Daughter. I was so excited when I got my first couple followers… To this day I still get a high from every new follower and every comment!

189 posts,
1,962 tweets,
55 reviews,
24 giveaways,
721 followers,
602 feed subscribers,
1 new blog design,
numerous squeals,
a ton of happy dances,
a bunch of great blogger friends,
hours lost chatting on twitter,

later and I’m still here today! I couldn’t be more enthused about what this year will bring. I’m already looking forward to BEA in June (my first big book event)!

So, cheers to all of you for making this experience as wonderful as it has been! Here’s to new friends, new books, and another (hopefully) fantastic year. ANYWAY, I think I've blabbered on enough... As a thanks to all of you for sticking with me, I’ve arranged a celebratory giveaway! Click Read More to continue to the giveaway.

Ebook [Series] of the Week + Giveaway: The Hayle Coven Novels

 
"Ebook of the Week" is a weekly feature here at Inklings Read. Each week I feature an ebook as well as a giveaway! Ebooks featured in these posts will always be well rated and reasonably priced!

Sometimes, if we're lucky, the author will drop by to say "Hi" with a few words on their book as well. Now let’s showcase Inklings Read’s Ebook of the Week!

This week we’re doing things a bit different. We have Patti Larsen, author of The Hayle Coven Novels here with us today to tell us a bit about herself and the entire Hayle Coven series!

Aren’t the covers gorgeous!? I’m in love with them!

about book one, family magic

Sixteen-year-old Sydlynn Hayle is the daughter of a powerful witch and a demon lord of the seventh plane. The trouble is, she just wants to be ordinary. Syd struggles to survive the minefield of her new high school while being torn between her attraction to football hero Brad Peters and the darkly mysterious Quaid Moromond. When her coven comes under attack, Syd is forced to face the fact only her power can save her family’s magic.

Book Trailer

About Patti When asked to describe Family Magic in 5 words she stated: “Teen witch craves the ordinary.” Patti Larsen has a serious passion for YA paranormal and thrillers. Now with multiple books in happy publication, she lives on the East Coast of Canada with her patient husband and four massive cats. She is currently in edits for the Diamond City Trilogy, coming out in March and writing the first book of a new series, Clone Three.

Want to connect with Patti?

Blog | Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads 

Please click "Read More" to proceed to page with the giveaway (if you don't see it below)!