My Crazy Corner

“The Guardians” coming August 2013…
Book #1 in the Lost Realm Series
Synopsis:

When sixteen-year-old twins Emma and Evin LeFay are suddenly forced to pack their belongings after the tragic murder of their mother, they soon find that the busy city life of Boston, Massachusetts is more than they could have expected.

First are the two mysterious boys that Emma crosses paths with one night, after being caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. She thought she escaped them without getting caught, but it soon becomes apparent to her and Evin after a series of strange events that someone—or rather, several people—seem to be following them.

It’s after a close-run in with a group of menacing creatures, and the sudden aid of the same strange people that have been following them that Emma and Evin quickly realize there is more to Boston than skyscrapers and noisy cars.

Left with no other options and seeking the truth behind their mother’s murder, Emma and Evin accompany their saviors to a place known as Hawthorne Academy. It’s here that the twins soon learn they are part of a supernatural race with rare abilities, known as Dracons, one Otherworld race amongst four other paranormal races that have lived in disguise as humans for centuries.

Being part of an Otherworld race has its drawbacks, however, when Emma and Evin are enrolled for training at Hawthorne after a heated meeting with the Otherworld Council and its leaders. It’s either sink or swim for these Otherworldly twins as they train at the academy and learn to control their unique gifts.

Convinced life couldn't get much more bizarre, Emma and Evin discover a mysterious archway leading to an entirely different realm that has been lost over time. It's in this Lost Realm and the Celestial kingdom of Evmurah that the twins are dubbed the Guardians of the Realms, protectors of both the Mortal and Immortal Realms.

It's Emma and Evin’s job to protect both realms from the darkness that taints them and the mysterious Precursor that seems to want them dead.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18273636-the-guardians

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

K.L. Penington was born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana, which is what initially inspired the background for Emma and Evin. It was at an early age that K.L. discovered she was not whatsoever athletically gifted, an evil genius, or the next Beethoven. One thing she did know, however, was that she loved to read. As a result, growing up, some of her best friends and biggest influences in her life were the characters from her favorite books.

The passion behind K.L.’s writing comes from the ability to be anyone and do anything, and because she can share the multiple different personalities living in her head without anyone judging her—much. Her dream has always been to one day see own books on bookshelves, next to the hundreds of other books she enjoys reading.

Currently residing in Wichita Falls, Texas, K.L. attends Midwestern State University, where she is in fierce pursuit of English degree. When not writing, K.L. can be found haunting the local coffee shop, nurturing an everlasting addiction to chai tea, or spoiling her only child, Lily, the small poodle with the big attitude.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/KL-Penington/541739525889863

Twitter: www.twitter.com/KLPenington

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/user/show/21785998-kl-penington

Website: www.kpenington.tumblr.com

Wicked Hunger (SomeOne Wicked This Way Comes, #1)
by DelSheree Gladden
Published: July 9, 2013
Publisher: GMTA Publishing

Synopsis:
Vanessa and Zander Roth are good at lying. They have to be when they are hiding a deadly secret. Day after day, they struggle to rein in their uncontrollable hunger for pain and suffering in order to live normal lives. Things only get worse when Ivy Guerra appears with her pink-striped hair and secrets. The vicious hunger Ivy inspires is frightening, not to mention suspicious.

Vanessa’s instincts are rarely wrong, so when they tell her that Ivy’s appearance is a sign of bad things to come, she listens. She becomes determined to expose Ivy’s secrets. Vanessa tries to warn her brother, but Zander is too enamored with Ivy to pay attention to her conspiracy theories.

One of them is right about Ivy … but if they lose control of their hunger, it won’t matter who is right and who is wrong. One little slip, and they’ll all be dead.


Excerpt:
Chapter 3: No Happy Endings

"I want you to stay away from that girl,” I say.

“But she’s Laney’s cousin. I can’t avoid her without doing the same to Laney.”

“Maybe that’s just how it has to be, then.” Giving up friends, it’s something Van should get used to, now, because it isn’t going to stop any time soon.

Van shakes her head. “No, Zander. She’s my best friend. I’m not going to bail on Laney like that.”

“You think she’ll be happy you stayed friends with her when you kill her pretty little cousin?” I snap.

Her head drops down, but I can still see the corner of her mouth twitching. “I can control it. I won’t hurt her.”

“You can’t guarantee that.”

“I won’t live like you,” she says quietly. “I won’t live alone for the rest of my life because I’m scared of hurting people.”

I sigh and close my eyes. “It’s not about being scared, Van. It’s about being smart. Stay away from her.”

For a long moment, she doesn’t say anything. Deep down, I’m hoping with everything I have that she’ll listen to me. I can’t go through it again. Oscar nearly broke me. She can’t expect me to go through that with her. I won’t make it. Please just listen to me, I beg.

When she finally speaks, her voice startles me. “She knows something.”

It’s just a simple sentence, but it ignites my anger like a match to a fuse. “She doesn’t know anything! Nobody does. Get that through your head and quit looking for answers, Van!”

My sister’s head snaps up and my hands tighten into fists at the determination in her eyes. “She knows something, and I’m going to find out what it is.”

Then she throws open the door of the truck and runs away.

About the Author:
I live in New Mexico with my husband and two children. I love expressing my creativity through writing and painting and I get a lot of my inspiration from my family and from the culture and beauty of New Mexico. I write mainly Young Adult urban fantasy, but my writing interests are ever expanding. I am also currently in the Dental Hygiene Program at San Juan College, so 90% of my waking hours are devoted to thinking about teeth for the time being!

Author Links:
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon 

Don't you love it when you spend three hours writing and think you've actually accomplished something? Then you realize that you have way too many stories running around in your head. What you've actually written is one character from novel A into the storyline of novel B. You have to shake your head and just sigh.

Wicked Hunger is finally out peoples. I personally loved this book. I had the opportunity to read it before it came out and was so excited for my good friend, Sheree.

Blurb from Goodreads:

Vanessa and Zander Roth are good at lying. They have to be when they are hiding a deadly secret. Day after day, they struggle to rein in their uncontrollable hunger for pain and suffering in order to live normal lives. Things only get worse when Ivy Guerra appears with her pink-striped hair and secrets. The vicious hunger Ivy inspires is frightening, not to mention suspicious.

Vanessa’s instincts are rarely wrong, so when they tell her that Ivy’s appearance is a sign of bad things to come, she listens. She becomes determined to expose Ivy’s secrets. Vanessa tries to warn her brother, but Zander is too enamored with Ivy to pay attention to her conspiracy theories.

One of them is right about Ivy … but if they lose control of their hunger, it won’t matter who is right and who is wrong. One little slip, and they’ll all be dead.

This is positively some of her best writing. The book is dark, deadly, and sexy. It will draw you in like a spider traps prey in its web. Once caught you won't be able to wiggle your way out and will end up reading all through the night.

Gladden has done it once again - she's created a world that is believable, real, and downright scary at times. You have to read this book. it is just amazing.

I will have a detailed review up later this week.

You can buy the book on amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Wicked-Hunger-Someone-Comes-ebook/dp/B00DU1831O/ref=sr_1_cc_3?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1373381433&sr=1-3-catcorr&keywords=delsheree+gladden

From Goodreads:

Nineteen year old Nia is shocked when she is secretly offered the leadership of Third Barn. This new barn full of flying horses will need someone confident, experienced, and innovative, so why are both warring factions pursuing an untried girl? Suspicious that both sides want a puppet instead of a leader, Nia races to discover their secrets before making the biggest decision of her life.

Some of those secrets are unknowingly buried in the disconnected memories of a young groom named Owain. Terror and guilt haunt Owain’s dreams – and then a face from his nightmare arrives in High Meadow. Owain looks for answers in his past and uncovers a dangerous plot that could doom High Meadow's future. How can he foil the plot and save his people as well as the winged horses?

Linda Ulsett has an amazing remarkable ability to create a world so real you’ll find yourself immersed in her flying horses for hours. The book is set in the Welsh environment and the beautifully woven atmosphere only adds to the book. It will hook you without even trying.

As the sequel to On A Wing and a Dare, In the Winds of Danger delivers yet again a story full of heart, warmth, and treachery. The interwoven mystery of the story will keep you guessing and create a need to know. It is a gorgeous piece of work that I would highly recommend to anyone, young or old.

Description from Goodreads:

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

I’m a sucker for a ball gown and the cover of the Selected is what caught my attention. When I read the description of the book, my first thought was The Bachelor goes YA. Then I started reading the book and to my dismay, it was so much like The Hunger Games, I almost stopped reading it.

First, the caste system is set up very much like the districts in The Hunger Games. Food is scarce and it’s what all the people below 3’s worry about the most. Then there is the competition. Yes, it’s not a fight to the death, but it is a fight to win the affections of the Prince, the crown, and the fight to never be hungry again. Being prepped to meet the Prince was also very Hunger Games. It was very much like the way Catniss was scrubbed and cleaned to meet the masses. Though to be fair, America voiced an opinion about her image and held to it, whereas Catniss didn’t have that option.

When I compare Catniss to America, Mer wins hands down. She is full of life, personality, and emotions. Catniss always came off a bit dry. So in that respect, Mer comes out ahead. The relationships she shares with Maxom and Aspen are very much like the relationships between Catniss, Peta, and Gale. Catniss was in love with Gale. America is in love with Aspen. Catniss falls for Peta, America falls for Maxom. Very much the same storyline there.

The story itself was different enough from The Hunger Games to say, yeah, okay, I can read it, but it wasn’t “unique” or “original” in its main core concept. The Bachelor part of it was the most original concept of the book.

Overall, I’d a give the book three out of five stars. It was well written, and different enough from The Hunger Games, to hold my attention, but in the same breathe, it was a version of The Hunger Games.

Cherry blossom lipstick: check
Smokey eyes: check
Skinny jeans: check
Dead kid in the mirror: check

For sixteen year old Mattie Hathaway, this is her normal everyday routine. She’s been able to see ghosts since her mother tried to murder her when she was five years old. No way does she want anyone to know she can talk to spooks. Being a foster kid is hard enough without being labeled a freak too. Normally, she just ignores the ghosts and they go away. There’s a little glitch this time. The ghost she sees is her foster sister, Sally. Everyone thinks she’s just another runaway. Mattie knows the truth, though—she’s dead, murdered. Foster kids look out for each other and Mattie feels like she has to help Sally, but she can’t do it alone. Against her better judgment, she teams up with a young police officer and together they set out to discover the truth of Sally’s disappearance.

Now the killer has set his sights on her. It becomes a race to see if she can find the truth before the serial killer finds her.

I am so excited to announce the release of Heal Me, book 2 in A Touched Trilogy! Heal Me goes on sale today and don't worry if you haven't read book 1, because Lie to Me is going to be FREE on Amazon on March 27th and 28th! You can also go tot he end of this post and enter to win an ebook copy of both Lie to Me and Heal Me!

In Heal Me, Lily is struggling to deal with the effects her healing ability has on her and those she heals. When a loved one dies, her life begins to spin out of control. Desperate to feel her own emotions, she clings to her friend Micah. But as she begins to fall for him, she realizes that healing others is easy. It’s healing herself that’s much harder.

I thought I’d share some of my favorite lines from the book and give you a sneak peek into the lives of Lily, her sisters, and her friends. Heal Me is definitely not a funny book but there are times when sometimes a good laugh is needed, so I picked my top funny lines from the book. Enjoy!

#5
“I was going to say acted liked the genius that I am, but ass will do.” ~ Micah
#4

“I’m really flattered and all that you can’t resist my overabundance of good looks and charm, but I’m not looking for a new already attached girlfriend. Besides I’m not even sure you’re old enough to drive.” ~ Micah
 #3 

“Your invitation was clearly based on you dressing as Mickey Mouse. Since you chose to wear no costume at all, you are officially uninvited.” ~ Phoebe

#2 

I felt like I was ten again and Phoebe had just told me I was the ugly sister. ~ Lily

 #1 

“Dude, are you deaf? My girlfriend told you to leave.” ~ Dylan

“Dude, you sure she’s your girlfriend?” ~ Micah

Thanks Apryl for having me on your blog!

Connect with Angela:

Facebook / Twitter / Website / Blog / Amazon / Goodreads

About the Author:

Angela Fristoe grew up in Alberta, Canada where she dreamed of becoming the next Dian Fossey or Jane Goodall, until she realized she wasn't all that keen on the outdoors or animals. Her passion for writing was ignited by The Hunger Games and Twilight crazes. Her first novel Songbird was published in 2011, and book 1 of A Touched Trilogy, Lie to Me was released 2012. The final installment of A Touched Trilogy, Watch Me will be available winter of 2013.

 
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On A Wing and A Dare by Linda Ulleseit

In Tremeirchson, a barn leader’s children are expected to follow their parents into the sky, becoming riders of the magnificent winged horses that are the medieval Welsh village’s legacy. Neither Emma nor Davyd, however, want to follow that tradition.

Sixteen-year-old Emma risks losing her family by following her heart. Eager to take her place in the air, she longs to ride a forbidden winged colt born in barn of her father’s biggest rival. She also dreams of the rival’s sons, not sure which she truly loves. Bold and exciting, Evan will someday lead his father’s barn. Davyd is quieter, more dependable, with an ability to get things done. Her father disapproves of both boys and pushes her toward an ambitious newcomer. He also insists she ride the colt he’s picked for her.

Davyd, also sixteen, is plagued with a secret—he is afraid of heights. Refusing to become a rider means public humiliation, his parents’ disappointment, and lifelong ridicule from his brother, Evan. He reluctantly prepares to join his family aloft in the Aerial Games that provide the entire village with its livelihood and tries desperately to think of an alternative.
As Tremeirchson’s barns prepare for the Rider Ceremony, winged horses suddenly start dying. Shocked, the adults hesitate, mired in tradition and politics. Is it a disease or poison? Accidental or purposeful? Someone must discover the answer and act before all the winged horses in the world are gone forever.

Download the book http://www.amazon.com/Wing-Flying-Horse-Books-ebook/dp/B00B3OF412/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1362664700&sr=8-3&keywords=on+a+wing+and+a+dare
Linda Ulleseit
author of:
On a Wing and a Dare
In the Winds of Danger
http://flyinghorsebooks.wordpress.com
lindaulleseit@sbcglobal.net

Many schools are moving toward curriculums that emphasize reading nonfiction. While I agree that puzzling meaning out of text is a critical skill for students, I bemoan the loss of time reading fantasy. Fiction, and fantasy in particular, gives students the opportunity to escape daily life, enhance their creativity, and build valuable life skills.

Everyone’s life is stressful, no matter how old you are. If it’s not completing homework and studying for tests, it’s making a deadline or pushing for promotion. Fantasy literature allows readers to escape to a place where the good guy always wins, although it may take seven really long books. C.S. Lewis, author of the Chronicles of Narnia, said, “Since it is so likely they will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage.” He goes on to point out that fantasy teaches children that enemies can be overcome. Sometimes we all need to be reminded of that, whether the bad guy is a sorcerer with a magic wand or that huge research paper that is due next week.

Fantasy, however, is not all escapist. By showcasing real emotions and relationships in a fantasy setting, these stories can take a child’s imagination and creativity to new heights. Thomas Gruber, director-general of the Bavarian Broadcasting Corporation, wrote an article titled, “How Much Fantasy Does the Future Need?” In it, he describes fantasy as an extension of reality and goes on to say, “Only by means of fantasy can we conceive and conceptualize the future…and if fantasy means an increase in knowledge, if it is the power for adapting traditions to modern standards with an aim to creating new things, then we should foster children’s fantasy.” Think of all the things we use every day that were fantasy in our own childhood: smart phones, computers, hybrid cars, Internet, even microwave ovens (okay, I’m old). Someone had to think beyond reality in order to invent these things.

Not every child will go on to invent something like the iPhone, but they all will make their own way through life, and fantasy can teach them the skills to make the right choices. Bruno Bettelheim, in his 1975 book The Uses of Enchantment, says, “Although the events which occur in fairy tales are often unusual and most improbable, they are always presented as ordinary, something that could happen to you or me or the person next door when out on a walk in the woods. Even the most remarkable encounters are related in casual, everyday ways in fairy tales.” From these encounters, children learn to deal with similar experiences in their own lives. From Harry Potter, children learn perseverance. You can vanquish the bad guy if you hang in there and keep trying. From Percy Jackson, they learn the value of working together as a team. Both series show the value of friendship, and how to deal with the ups and downs of those relationships.

Very learned scholars have debated the issue of reading fantasy, both for adults and for children. At the very least, if a young person enjoys reading fantasy they are reading. By doing so they improve their knowledge of vocabulary, grammar, spelling, and sentence structure as well as reading comprehension. As a parent and a teacher, if my child enjoys doing something that benefits them, I will make sure they have the opportunity to continue doing so.

Linda Ulleseit
Author of On a Wing and a Dare
http://flyinghorsebooks.wordpress.com
lindaulleseit@sbcglobal.net