Showing posts with label guest posts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label guest posts. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Legacy by Ellery A. Kane Book Review & Guest Post

Title: Legacy
Author: Ellery A. Kane
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Source: Paperback
Pages: 254
Publisher: Balboa Press
Publication Date: September 5th, 2014

Summary
How do you want to feel today?
In 2041, the choice is yours.
San Francisco is deserted, the Bay Bridge bombed, and the BART subway trains grounded. The Guardians, members of an elite and mysterious government-appointed military police force, are maintaining order at all costs—thanks to emotion-altering drugs like Emovere that suppress fear and anxiety. Lex Knightley, daughter of a prominent forensic psychiatrist, risks entering the devastated city to partner with the Resistance, a group of rebels intent upon exposing the dangers of Emovere. Lex discovers an ally in Quin McAllister, a magnetic Guardian Force recruit with a haunting past that binds them together. As she uncovers the secrets of the Guardian Force and confronts the truth about her family, Lex begins to realize that even those closest to her are not quite who they seem.


Review
Cover Thoughts-
It's a bit plain for my tastes, but I enjoy the background that everyone recognizes as the Bay Bridge in San Francisco. I love how the color gives off the desolation feel that one would expect from most dystopias. 
First Thought-
First off, dystopia is my favorite genre. Furthermore, I am very critical of it. I am also in the processes of getting a degree in forensic science. So, when I see that this YA novel has a forensic psychiatrist in it, I am immediately interested. 

Review-
Legacy did not disappoint. Ellery Kane begins the novel with Lex Knightly starting her dangerous trip across the bridge to deliver a flash drive of information to the rebels. She beautifully switches from present to past explaining how Lex got there, and how her mother is the person who began this devastation. I was not at all expecting what happened next. Usually while I'm reading I can come up with my own theories of how the characters resolve their broken societies. Legacy was something different. It is enjoyable because it is original. The characters are easy to follow and empathize with, well except for Quinn. I really wanted to punch Quinn sometimes. Quinn's character was almost unbelievable for me. Some of his actions were ones I couldn't see happening in real life. Most of the parts of the book were page turners. I couldn't set it down until the 3rd part of the novel. There was a lull where Lex, Quinn, and their rag-tag group of rebels stay in Lex's house admiring or hating Lex's mother. The best part about the book is learning about the different emotion-altering drugs. Listen, I'm no druggie but I wouldn't mind trying them. Well... maybe not the one that turns me into a heartless super soldier. Legacy makes me feel like this could happen in real life. It could be more than fantasy. It isn't an end with aliens or zombies. This is a powerful drug being abused by the government. Even the ending is great... in a sad way. It has one of those sacrificial endings you don't see coming. This is what I like in a novel. It took me on an original journey through my imagination of what is bravery and what is not.  

Overall Readability-
If you enjoyed dystopians such as The 5th Wave, Ash Fall, or Eve, then I know you would enjoy Legacy. All of these novels have a lead character trying to make it through a situation on their own and then finding support in the end. 

My Final Thought-
I have to know more! Is it really over? No more super soldiers? Unfortunately, I have to wait awhile until the second one comes out. 

5 out of 5 Haunted Roses


Guest Post
Emotion Altering Medications
By: Ellery A. Kane
Imagine a world where your emotions are entirely within your control. Want to be fearless? Bold? Excited? Joyous? Euphoric? In 2041, the choice is yours. 
In creating the world of Legacy, I was inspired by my “real” job as a psychologist, where I am often face to face with individuals who are eager to change their emotional state. Just as Lex observes—“It seemed that almost everyone was eager to feel or not to feel something”—words that are as true today as ever. For many years, pharmaceutical companies have been cashing in on our desire to quickly and easily alter our emotions, so it wasn’t a stretch to imagine Zenigenic, an up and coming pharmaceutical company, creating a line of Emotional Altering Medications (EAMs). 
In 2041, EAMs are widely available, dispended in vending machines operated by biometric identification; mental illness is not a prerequisite, only a desire to alter one’s feelings. With a catchy slogan, “How do you want to feel today?” and a promise of no side effects, who could resist? 
So, step right up and consider your options, but remember, a quick fix always comes at a price.
Emovere: Developed by Dr. Knightley for Zenigenic, an up and coming pharmaceutical company based in San Francisco; targets the brain’s amygdala; intended to reduce fear and suppress anxiety. 
Euphoractamine (“Eupho”): A popular pill that induces feelings of intense pleasure or euphoria. 
Agitor: A particularly potent drug for enhancing stimulation and excitement. 
Substance X (“Onyx”): Impairs the supramarginal gyrus inhibiting empathy; not for public consumption, use with caution.
Crim-X: A first generation emotion-altering drug, developed by Dr. Victoria Knightley for use with high-risk criminals; intended to reduce crime by suppressing emotions like anger and excitement; research trials were a failure, and the project was abandoned.  
How do you want to feel? Remember, the choice is yours… 
I hope you’ll check out Legacy! I’d love to hear your thoughts about the book. I can be reached at ellerykane@outlook.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheLegacybooks. 

Author Information

Ellery Kane is a forensic psychologist residing in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her writing is inspired by her day job, where she spends her time evaluating violent criminals and trauma victims. Legacy is her first novel. She can be reached at ellerykane@outlook.com

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Heart By Nicola Hudson Release Event and Guest Post


Heart
By: Nicola Hudson
New Adult Contemporary
Companion Stand - Alone to CURVE
Releasing November 28, 2014
This title is suitable for readers over 15 


                  Summary
Sometimes it doesn’t end with happy ever after.

Neve believes Jake is the one.  She is miles away from home, struggling to fit in at university and missing the people she loves.  The only thing getting her through is the knowledge that Jake will be visiting for the weekend.

Jake believes he isn’t the one.  His family and lifestyle mean he can’t give Neve what she deserves: so much more than him.  He arrives for the weekend, knowing that he has to break her heart, along with his own.

Sometimes we make decisions and have to live with the consequences.

Each of them struggles to cope with the aftermath of the weekend.  Each of them is unhappy.  Each of them refuses to do something about it.

Sometimes it isn’t about a boy meeting a girl and falling in love; sometimes it is about what happens next.
Buy Links:
Amazon US  Amazon UK iTunes B&N Nook Kobo Scribd
Author Information
As well as being a writer, I love reading and reading about reading. My taste goes from Shakespeare to John Green...and much of what lies between! Dickens, check. Austen, check. Atwood, check.

Over Christmas 2012, I discovered the joy of new adult fiction and, inspired by Colleen Hoover and Tammara Webber, I decided to try my hand at writing my own NA novel.

I love the friendliness of the Indie writer community and have been overwhelmed by the support of followers interested in my journey. Please feel free to monitor my publishing progress via my Facebook page, Twitter or blog :-)

My first novel, Curve, was released in October 2013. My second novel, Heart, is a standalone companion to Curve and will be released in November 2014.



Guest Post
Fun Facts about HEART
By Nicola Hudson
  • When I started to plan Heart, I knew I didn’t want to write about Neve and Jake falling in love. That’s the easy part – dealing with the end of a relationship is much more traumatic! This is where the tagline sometimes it doesn’t end with happy ever after originated.
  • When I wrote Curve, I didn’t think that I would be writing a second novel, let alone using some of the same characters. However, by the time Curve was finished, I already had the title Heart and knew it would be Neve’s story.
  • I didn’t really like Neve when I started to write her in Curve! But that changed as she supported Cass and I saw what a wonderful friend she was.
  • Like Neve, I went to university in Brighton and loved sitting by the sea, especially on a wintry, windswept day.
  • I took the photo on the back cover – on yet another wintry, windswept day at the beach.
  • Without being too spoiler-y, the ending was very different in my plot outline. But then I reached a point where it felt like the planned ending was going to feel too contrived to be realistic - and a late night conversation with a blogger gave me the courage to change it.
  • One of my wonderful friends, who is also a beta reader, let me go with her when she had a new tattoo. The scene where Neve gets her tattoo is a pretty faithful account of that afternoon; I even wrote it in a coffee shop close to the tattoo studio!
  • The hospital scene was the hardest scene I’ve ever written. I’ve been in a similar situation to Neve and writing about it brought all of the emotions back to the surface. I was drained and couldn’t revisit it for a few weeks.
  • I found writing Heart much more difficult than Curve. I hit a metaphorical brick wall and was really struggling when I went to an author event in Edinburgh. I asked every author I met for advice. So I have Abbi Glines, Kirsty Moseley, Karina Halle and Natasha Boyd to thank as they gave me some really useful tips which got me back on track.
  • Myrtle is a beautiful evergreen plant with white flowers that symbolizes love and immortality: which is why Jake uses it as a nickname for Neve.


GIVEAWAY
Nicola Hudson is hosting a giveaway to celebrate the release of her novel HEART! Check it out and enter on her Facebook Page!

  • Signed Print Copy of HEART (International)
  • eBook Copy of HEART
  • Nicola Hudson Swag Pack
  • $20 Donation to the charity of your choice OR a $10 Amazon Gift Card
  • $20 Donation to the charity of your choice OR a $5 Amazon Gift Card


Friday, August 3, 2012

Secrets Tour! Guest Post!



Good day bookworms! Welcome to my second post on the Secrets Tour! Today is the awesome music guestpost by Dawn Kirby and yesterday was the review! Don't forget to comment what you think!

Title- Secrets (Serenity series #1)
Author-Dawn Kirby
Source- ebook sent from author 
Pages- 319
Publisher- Dark Dragon Publishing
Publication Date- July 29th, 2012

Goodreads Summary-


It is said that the truth will set you free, but for Leah it kills.
Leah always knew she was different. From her extreme light sensitivity, to her ability to read people by their auric scent, she kept these differences secret.

Not even Mia, Leah's mother, knew the fullness of her daughter's differences, but she held even greater secrets to Leah's past - the truth about her father and Leah's conception.
With the escape of an old foe, Mia is too late to reveal to her daughter
the truth before Judith can exact her revenge in a wash of blood and death.
Thrown into a world unheard of, Leah discovers that she is not alone in keeping her secrets. That there are people from her parent's past who would die to protect her. If she only knew why.
Raine, placed as her protector, hides deadly secrets of his own. Drawn to each other, Leah and Raine must uncover the truth before one of both are killed.



~Guest Post~

Music as a Muse

Author Dawn Kirby describes how music played a big part behind the characters in her debut novels, Secrets.


            Inspiration derives from many sources. Pictures, scenery, weather, a certain someone. For me, none is more powerful than music. It literally feeds my soul when I write.  The right song can drive an entire scene. Sometimes it can even aid in the creation of a new character. And sometimes a song or simple melody can breed a whole new story altogether.

            When I wrote SECRETS I had several songs on my playlist I could count on at any given time to help with one character or another. Anytime I needed a little help wrapping my head around Kale’s “I’m all that” attitude, I could turn on One Republic’s EVERYBODY LOVES ME and dive right into his head without fail. For Donovan; his attitude is always a bit more regal than most of my other characters. That’s where Phantom of the Opera came in handy. I could turn on almost any song on the soundtrack and let it carry me right into him.



            As for driving scenes, the most memorable one from SECRETS was when Raine came back for Leah. Only one song drove me; Nickleback’s I’D COME FOR YOU. It said everything I wanted conveyed between the two and more. Their connection to one another is so strong no force in Heaven or Earth could tear them apart. They refuse to make the same mistakes others have made regardless of what they have to endure to be together.

           

 LIKE YOU by Evanescence was another song I used. I won’t spoil the reasoning behind it, but I will say it fit David and the situation he found himself in to a T. He’d sacrificed so much throughout the years, its no wonder. Apathy, no matter how much or little of it there is can be our biggest enemy. 




            So far I’ve had only one song bring a whole new story to mind. A very dear friend posted UNINVITED by Alanis Morissette on my Facebook wall not too long ago. Almost immediately after hearing the first verse, I had an entire story mapped out in my head. The music is haunting, the lyrics un-giving, almost daring the listener to fall for the one thing they can’t have. What a fascinating paranormal tale that will make.



    I love it when friends and/or fans send me songs they think I’ll like. Most times they have my tastes nailed and I add it immediately to my playlist. Other times, it may take some searching, but I can usually find a use for it within any number of stories I’m developing in one way or another.

            Music is never wasted. 
There will always be room for it in my life as well as the stories I write.  

           

 Purchase on Smashwords(https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/169730), 



About the Author: By day, Dawn is a typical mom running around after her children, catering to her husband’s needs, acting as a taxi driver, and gourmet chef living in Odessa, Texas, with her husband, and three children. Then by night she falls into a world filled with shirtless werewolves, lethal vampires, and dangerous adventures. Her short stories have been published inSeven Deadly Sins (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13517087-seven-deadly-sins) and 13 Tales of Paranormal(http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12852482-13-tales-of-the-paranormal)




Blog Tour Set Up By Illuminated Tours:
            

Saturday, July 21, 2012

#MMBlogTour Supernatural Urban Legends Guest Post By Sherry Soule


Supernatural Urban Legends

Hi everyone, I’m Sherry Soule—waving from California, where it’s getting pretty foggy! Well, it’s the start of summer here, and even with the fog burning off by afternoon, I’m cranking the air conditioner and chatting on Twitter about my love of YA books.
Thanks for letting me stop by today as part of my Moonlight Mayhem Blog Tour this summer. It’s a thrill to get to be a guest and fellow booklovers such as yourself.For those of you who haven’t heard of my epic blog tour, it’s not too late to join the fun!


To celebrate the release of Sherry Soule’s new YA novel, MOONLIGHT MAYHEM coming this July, she has put together a few mysterious and intriguingurban legends that surroundthe eerie township of Whispering Pines, California…

Urban Legend #1

Some researchersbelievethat certain demon races areactually the disembodied spirits of the Nephilim. (They are also considered to be Shadow People.) The origination of the Nephilim began with the legend of an archangel named Raziel.Urban legend states that Raziel escorted a sect of angels that were to instruct humans in morality.
Unfortunately, these angels began to educate man in sciences that God had deemed to be forbidden. These subjects included astrology, divination, and magic. The tutelage went on for centuries, until the angels began to pine for the human females.
After the fallen angels, or sometimes known as the Fallen, had sexual relations with the women, their unholy union resulted in the hybrid offspring called: Nephilim, whichare the direct descendants of the antediluvian Fallen. Nephilim are also known as the Grigori or the Watchers.
It has been insinuated that one of the main reasons for the great flood, was not only to punish man, but to cleanse the earth of the Nephilim created from the union of fallen angels and human women. The flood banished most of the Fallen and their offspring into a Sheol.
So, do you believe in the Nephilim? What do you think will happen if they are ever freed?

Urban Legend #2

One haunted house claim that continues to be an urban legend is the infamous, Ravenhurst Manor in Whispering Pines. Books and stories have been written based on its hauntings and its reputation as one of California's most ghostlyplaces.
Ravenhurst Manor’s first owner was a woman and dark sorceress named, Rowan Broussard. After her death, the estate was used as an all girl’s boarding school for many years. Thesixty room Gothic mansion was listed for sale with the resident ghosts. Other odd things that occurred in in this house were: doors and windows that opened or closed on their own, cold drafts, whispering voices,and some visitors even claimed to see a dark shadowy figure roaming the halls.
However, Ravenhurst is most famously linked to the disappearance of six children during the years of 1964 through 1967. (After the school was closed, the estate became the property of the town before it was sold to an wealthy, oil magnate.) After the children’s' bodies were discovered buried within the walls of the house, obviously from less than peaceful circumstances, the town buried them in Silent Hollows Cemetery.
Did these Children buried on unconsecrated ground, lead to the strange tragedy that would make this mansion so famous?

Urban Legend #3

Ah, let’s move on to the zombie apocalypse!
Another interesting urban legend states that on September 28, 1941, during an eclipse,a zombie was spotted in Whispering Pines. To make matters worse, a fire at the local mill had swept through town. As day turned to night, more zombies appeared. Many townsfolk mistook the undead for dazed mill workers. After the residents received hugs from the zombies, they were bitten by theseparanormals, and soon the epidemicspread across the town like wildfire. 
To make matters worse, the roads and bridges connecting Whispering Pines to the rest of the Bay Area had burned in the fire. The townsfolk had no way to escape. Scores of people become lost when they chose to venture into the dark depth of Deadwood Grove rather than face the insatiable zombie menace.
Within days, the Paranormal Research Group(PRG) converged on Whispering Pines in a variety of aircraft. They established a base on the south side of the forest and went about the process of extermination. It took two weeks to secure the town. A total of 500 people were plague-ridden, an enormous number considering that there wasn’t a zombie vaccine available at this time.
Whatever the case, Whispering Pines’s zombie outbreak affected just under 600 people, making it one of the worst cases in U.S. history.
Are you prepared for a zombie apocalypse? What if zombies start showing up again?

Twitter hashtag: #MMBlogTour


Otherworldly Creatures. Dazzling Magic. Fiery Romance.
Shiloh Ravenwolf thought she was getting used to the strange events in Whispering Pines, until the full moon brings another surge of supernatural threats to her coastal town. Ferocious wolves, deadly necromancers, and shambling zombies have descended upon the neighborhood, so Shiloh needs to gain control of her magical abilities—fast!
It sucks that she has a crippling fear of the dark, which for a demon hunter can be an epic problem.
When her classmates are attacked by a mysterious creature and her father is murdered, Shiloh vows vengeance. Forcing her phobias aside, she forms an unlikely coven of supernaturally gifted teens to help her eradicate this menace. Except that's not all Shiloh has to worry about. She’s battling a different monster within herself and struggling not to become the very thing she fights: evil.
But with demon blood inside her—anything can happen…

Places you can cyberstalk, Sherry Soule:
Official Spellbound Series Universe: http://thespellboundseries.blogspot.com
Twitter @WriterSherry: http://twitter.com/writersherry
Book Trailers on YouTube: http://youtu.be/5uqVXKygvUs

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Vaempires Revolution Tour! Guestpost and Giveaway!

Hello and welcome to this awesome tour stop including the amazing soundtrack in the guestpost from Thomas Winship and a giveaway of 1 ebook! Woot woot!


Title- Væmpires Revolution

Author- Thomas Winship

Pages- 216

Publisher- Createspace

Publication Date- October 28th 2011


Goodreads Summary-
It is the morning of Princess Cassandra’s sixteenth birthday. Everyone’s attention is focused on the heir to the vampire throne. World leaders, the rich and famous, and VIPs from every corner of the globe have gathered in the nation’s capital to celebrate the momentous event. 
Cassandra’s boyfriend, Daniel, is late for the party. He’s still outside the city when all hell breaks loose. What he believes is an act of terrorism proves to be a full-fledged revolution. Væmpires—former vampires who mutated into warm-blooded creatures with an insatiable hunger for cold blood—have launched coordinated attacks across the globe, with three goals: the eradication of humanity, the enslavement of vampires, and the ascension of væmpires as the dominant species on the planet.
The vampire and human leaders are killed. Cassandra is missing. Daniel is the acting king. Desperate to find the princess, Daniel and his friends fight their way across the besieged city. With the hopes of the free world resting on the shoulders of four vampire teenagers, væmpires unleash their secret weapons—væmpires with special powers.
What can four teens do against an enemy that can shape-shift, fly, or walk through walls?






Thomas Winship


Thomas Winship was born in Middletown, NY (USA) and still resides in Orange County. He holds an MBA in Management from St. Thomas Aquinas College, where he serves as an adjunct professor of courses in English Composition, Communications, and Business. He also spent fifteen years working for a global pharmaceutical company, specializing in organizational development, talent management, and training. Tom writes in his spare time. His first novel, a mystery/legal thriller entitled Temporary Insanity (a.k.a. Case Closed), was a 2008 finalist in a national contest but failed to garner industry attention. His second novel, Væmpires: Revolution, was published in October and a follow-up novella, Væmpires: White Christmas, was published in December. He is an avid collector of books, comic books, music, and movies. His interests are diverse: on any given day, Tom is likely to be found watching a horror movie, attending a hard rock concert, or enjoying a Broadway show. He is currently working on the next installment of the “Væmpires” series, which is scheduled for a 2012 release.








~Væmpires Soundtrack~ 
Hello everyone. I’m so excited to be today’s guest blogger at The Haunted Rose! I’m Thomas Winship, author of Væmpires: Revolution and Væmpires: White Christmas. Both books are part of a new, ongoing vampire series that explores the question: what if vampires evolved? On the subject of questions—one of the most common questions I’m asked is: which songs would I select for a Væmpires soundtrack?I haven’t answered the question as yet, because doing so involved a lot of soul searching that I simply wasn’t ready for. Until now, that is. When I saw Rose’s website, it finally felt like it was time to make those long-awaited decisions. They weren’t easy. I’m a huge lover of music (my iTunes library has 150,000 songs), so I gave each selection serious consideration. And even now, as I’m ready to unveil them, there’s still a debate running in my mind. These songs represent a good mix of genres, as well as a mix of new and old. It’s also important to note that this list will probably change over time … but for now, I give you the unofficialVæmpires: Revolutionsoundtrack: Track 1) Opening/Daniel’s Theme: Linkin Park – Burn It Down Chapter 1 This track captures the feel of Orion as the attack gets underway and Daniel begins to realize the scope of what he’s up against. Embed: Track 2) Vampires Theme: Skillet – Hero Chapters 2-4 This is the perfect track for segueing from our introduction to Daniel into our introduction to Princess Cassandra. Embed: Track 3) Vielyn’s Theme: Spill Canvas - All Over You Chapter 5 As on reviewer put it, “Vielyn has some major resentment issues.” The old saying claims that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned … but Vielyn’s out to prove it wrong. Embed: Track 4) Daniel’s Theme:Kansas -Carry On Wayward Son Chapter 6 This is a wonderful classic track that was the easiest selection; because it ran through my head the entire time I wrote this part of the novel. Embed: Track 5) Cassandra & Vielyn’s Theme:Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know Chapters 5 & 7 This is a song that accurately portrays the disconnects and lingering echoes of a broken relationship—the perfect fit for the dynamic between these former lovers. Embed: Track 6) Vielyn’s Theme: Marilyn Manson - No Reflection Chapter 7 I selected this track for a few reasons. The song speaks to a traditional vampire stereotype, so it was hard to resist, but Vielyn also reminds me of Manson. Embed: Track 7) Daniel’s Theme:Shinedown–Unity Chapters 8-9 A song about strength and helping those who need it; exactly what Daniel is doing as he passes through the embattled city. Embed: Track 8) Væmpires Theme: Halestorm - Love Bites (So Do I) Chapter 10 Much like the Manson song, the title alone makes this a compelling choice for a vampire soundtrack. The content is a bit more light-hearted, but it fits perfectly with the celebration—the soon to be abbreviated celebration—that Daniel stumbles upon. Embed: Track 9) Væmpires Theme: Skillet – Monster Chapter 12 The perfect track for the scenes in which Vielyn and Jorl expose their monstrous sides to Cassandra. Embed: Track 10) Cassandra’s Theme: Katy Perry - Part of Me Chapter 14 Cassandra triumphant. As if we ever doubted it … Embed: Track 11) Daniel’s Theme:Nickelback - This Means War Chapters 15-16 With a little help from his friends, Daniel takes the fight to the væmpires … in “shoking” fashion. Embed: Track 12) Cassandra & Daniel’s Theme: Blake Shelton – God Gave Me You Chapter 17 Against all odds, the lovers reunite. Embed: Track 13) Battle Theme: Five Finger Death Punch – Back For More Chapters 20-22 Unfortunately, our heroes’ celebration is premature. The væmpires are back with a vengeance for an all-out epic battle. Embed: Track 14) Closing/Cassandra & Daniel’s Theme: Miranda Lambert - Over You Chapter 23 I’m not giving this away. You’ll have to read it for yourself. Embed: So, there you have it: the unofficial Væmpires: Revolution soundtrack. Enjoy! I’d like to thank all of you for stopping in and offer a very special “thank you” to Rosefor hosting my Dark Mind Book Tour and for inviting me to The Haunted Rose. I hope you enjoyed my guest blog. I’d love to hear what you think of it and/or answer any questions you may have. Post comments or questions below and I’ll be sure to respond. Feel free to stop by my website and reach out. I’d love to hear from you if you check out Vaempires. Below are links where you can find me. 
Take care, 
Thomas Winship 


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~Giveaway~


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