Dalene's Book Reviews

My Review: September 2013 ~ Review Copies ~

Immortalis Carpe Noctem (Immortalis, #1)

Immortalis Carpe Noctem by Katie Salidas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First, I would like to thank the author Katie Salidas for giving me this book for an honest reveiw. This book is awesome, the characters are well developed and you can easily feel for them. Katie takes an interesting take by giving us a feel for Alyssa and her struggles having to deal with the blood and hunt after she is turned into a vampire. Lysander is a vampire that you can feel his betrayal as you learn his history. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

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Stilettos & Scoundrels by Laina Turner

The Presley Thurman Mysteries

by Laina Turner

About The Author:

Who am I? It kind of depends on the day. I am a human compendium of unrelated things. I used to think I was just weird, had shiny ball syndrome and couldn’t focus, scattered, you name it. Then I decided it was OK to be all over the place as long as each avenue I wanted to explore had meaning and purpose or was fun. So I embrace the fact I am a college professor, a writer of fiction and non-fiction, promoter of other authors, human resource professional, business consultant, mom, and all around interesting person (according to my closest friends).

When I’m not working toward my goals I like, ok fine, LOVE wine, coffee, shopping, and books. I enjoy my kids, they are awesome. I hate the cold but yet live in the mid-west. Vegas is one of my favorite spots as I love to people watch and if I ever get married again it will definitely be in a drive through chapel by a fake Elvis.

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Stilettos & Scoundrels

(Presley Thurman Mystery #1)

by Laina Turner

Book Description:

Gently touching the handle of the front door was all it took to make it swing wide open. It was late, after midnight, and everyone in the house except Tom was asleep. As usual, Tom was in his study working late. Walking carefully and quietly through the foyer, the adrenaline began to kick in. The intruder confidently walked into Tom’s study. Tom was concentrating so hard on the papers in front of him that he was unaware of anything else. Raising his hand, the intruder hit a stack of books sitting on a side table, sending them crashing to the floor. Tom spun around with a look of shock on his face as he recognized the person swinging a sharp object toward him. Tom raised his hands to protect himself but he wasn’t quick enough. The spikey end of the stiletto heel punctured his neck instantly, sending a spray of blood over the papers on his desk. He tried to cry out, but all that sounded was a gurgling noise as his lungs filled with blood.

The intruder set the shoe down next to Tom and backed out of the room softly, closing the door to the study and hoped no one would come looking for Tom until morning.

Excerpt:

“Hello?”

“Presley! I need to talk to you right away!” It was Helen Daniels, hysterical. I could hardly understand her.

“What is it, Helen? What’s wrong?” I had fallen asleep, but the sound of fear in Helen’s voice quickly woke me up.

“Just meet me at Gardner’s old warehouse in thirty minutes. If you’re not there, I will not be able to wait. It’s not safe. You have to hurry!”

“Helen! Calm down, safe from whom? Why all the drama? Helen…Helen?” She’d hung up. I glanced at my watch. Crap! I’d never make it there in thirty minutes. All I could hope for was Dirt and his deputies were out investigating the Senator’s murder rather than trying to keep the streets safe from speeders.

I ran out of the house, running past my mother still working in her garden.

“Presley, where are you going?

“I’ll be back in a bit.”

“For dinner?”

“I don’t know.” I said exasperatedly. I didn’t need the third degree.

“Where are you going?”

“I’ll explain later. Just eat without me if I’m not back.”

“Pres!”

“Bye, Mother.”

I pushed seventy in a forty-five mile an hour zone, my Kia humming, just hoping to get there on time. I was surprised my car could go that fast. In Chicago, the traffic was so bad you didn’t really have a chance to speed this much. My phone rang again, but I didn’t look at it. I needed to concentrate on my driving. Gardner’s warehouse, located about twenty miles outside of town, used to be a production plant for some automotive part. The plant closed years before, when I still lived here. It was so long ago that I couldn’t remember what the company actually produced.

I pulled in the parking lot, gravel flying, hoping Helen was still here. The clock on my dash said it had been thirty-three minutes since she called me. I pocketed my keys, not wanting to weigh myself down with my purse, and jogged around to the front entrance. I had on flip-flops, not the best jogging shoes, but I was so startled when Helen called I just ran out of the house without paying attention to what I had on. This was a big place, and I huffed trying to catch my breath. I really must get in shape, I wheezed to myself.

Helen hadn’t specified exactly where to meet her, so I assumed she might be at the front entrance. She wasn’t waiting outside for me, so I tried the front door or what I presumed was the front door. It was unlocked, which I thought strange for an abandoned building, but I assumed Helen had unlocked it. Though had it been locked, I could have crawled through one of the many broken windows. I carefully stepped inside the building and the darkness engulfed me. The little bit of light in the building was let in by the broken windows, and it took a few minutes for my eyes to adjust. It smelled dank and musty, and I could hear the scurrying of what were probably little furry rodents. I shuddered involuntarily and didn’t want to think about what type of creepy crawlies were in this building, especially with me in flip-flops. I wasn’t thrilled about stepping any further into the building.

“Helen,” I called softly. No answer. Where the hell is she? I tiptoed a little further into the building in an effort to be quiet, though I still couldn’t see very well, so tiptoeing wouldn’t do me any good if there was anything in my way. All of a sudden, I felt a hand on my arm; I jumped about ten feet and started to scream.

“Shh, Presley. It’s just me,” Helen said. “Do you think you could be a little quieter?”

“Then don’t ask me to come to an abandoned building and grab me when I’m not expecting it. I can’t see! You could have been anyone or anything,” I retorted. “I am not a big fan of the creepy things I am sure are in this building.” I took one look at Helen and grew concerned. She was usually one of those women who always looked impeccable, but her dark brown hair, usually in a knot at the nape of her neck, was disheveled and loose. I could tell Helen had been crying, from her smudged make-up. She definitely wasn’t her normal well put together self. I could see that, even in this poor light. I still felt a stab of jealousy because, even a little worse for wear, Helen looked better than most women. Not fair at all.

“So what is going on, Helen? Why all the cloak-and-dagger stuff? Why did we have to meet here, of all places?” I asked, looking around and waving my arms. “Should we even be here? The place looks about ready to fall down. I’m sure the owners wouldn’t be too happy if we fell through the floor or something. This building is quite a liability.”

“It’s the only place I could go where I could easily see if I was being followed. Besides, we own the building. Or rather, I do now,” Helen, replied giving a little laugh—the hysterical kind, rather than the ha-ha kind.

“Why would anyone be following you?” I took a step forward, concerned Helen might really be in danger. It seemed so surreal.

Helen tried to keep herself from crying again. “They called my house, Presley. They called my house and demanded money. They said if I didn’t pay up, they would make sure I met the same fate as Tom. I knew they would want their money, but I didn’t think it would be like this. I thought I would have some more time. I can’t get my hands on that kind of money right now. It would look too suspicious; besides, I don’t even know yet where I am going to get it!” Helen then burst into tears.

I waited for a few uncomfortable moments for the tears to subside. To help Helen, I needed her to calm down and tell me everything she knew. Plus, I had a few questions of my own.

“Do you know who it was that called you, Helen? Who did the Senator owe money to?”

“I don’t know specifically who the caller was, nor who Tom owed money to. I didn’t recognize any voices and they didn’t tell me their names. Tom tried to hide as much as he could from me about this aspect of his life, I told you that already, and when I forced the issue, he told me as little as possible. Usually just enough to get me to shut up. To be honest, it got to where I didn’t even ask much because I didn’t really care.”

“Who else knows about the Senator’s gambling problem? Maybe that’s who called you. Could it be blackmail?” I thought blackmail seemed as good a reason as any.

“The only people who know about this, besides the people he owed the money to, are me and Tobey. As the Senator’s assistant, Tobey was privy to a lot more information than I thought he should have been,” Helen explained. “Tom said he would find out anyway, and that we could trust him. I don’t think Tobey is the type to try to blackmail anyone. Other than that, there is no way Tom would have told anyone else. He might have been a gambler, but he wasn’t stupid. At least not that stupid.”

“What about Garrison Palazzo.”

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Cover Reveal - Wolves And The River Of Stone by Eric R. Asher

*Cover by PhatPuppy Art*

Wolves and the River of Stone (Vesik, Book 2)

by Eric R Asher

Expected Pub: 10/22/2013

Philip, Zola’s boyfriend from one hundred and fifty years ago, is not nearly as dead as we thought. I really wish he was. Not only has he kidnapped Zola, but he’s raising an army to scour humanity from the earth. Hopefully the local werewolf pack will help. What could possibly go wrong?

Days Gone Bad (Vesik, Book 1)
by Eric R Asher

My name is Damian Valdis Vesik. I am a necromancer, an ability feared and hated as much as the powers my master and I set ourselves against. We've vanquished many evils, but now something is releasing an old darkness, forcing us to hunt an enemy beyond anything I’ve faced before. I was already busy enough with vampires, fairies, witches, Watchers, weddings, and … damn, I need a vacation.

Author Bio:

Eric is a former bookseller, guitarist, and comic seller currently living in Saint Louis, Missouri. A lifelong enthusiast of books, music, toys, and games, he discovered a love for the written word after being dragged to the library by his parents at a young age. When he is not writing, you can usually find him reading, gaming, or buried beneath a small avalanche of Transformers.

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The Samantha Project Trilogy by Stephanie Karpinske

Character Bios

Samantha. At 17, Samantha learns she’s part of a genetic enhancement project and starts developing the powers that come with those genes. Those powers include the ability to read minds and see future events. The genes also give her enhanced strength, vision and hearing. But Sam will keep developing powers as she gets older.

Erik. He was also part of GlobalLife’s genetic enhancement project but escaped from their lab when Jack, a scientist who was against the project, rescued him. Jack kept Erik hidden until Samantha found him, putting him on GlobalLife’s radar again. He has some, but not all of Samantha’s powers, but he’s had the powers longer than she has so is better at using them.

Colin. Samantha’s high school boyfriend. He’s the popular all-star athlete. Quarterback of the football team. He loves Sam more than anything.

Jack. An expert in computer software and genetic science. He used to work at GlobalLife until he learned what they were doing to human genes. He took Erik from GlobalLife when Erik was just 5 years old and faked his death so GlobalLife would never look for him.

Brittany. The twin sister Samantha never knew about. GlobalLife made her, too. She’s the control in the experiment. But the question is why they insist on keeping her around now that they know Samantha, their experiment, is a success.

Dave. A close friend of Samantha’s parents, Dave is like an uncle to Sam. Dave attended MIT with Jack and is also an expert in computers and genetics. He worked for GlobalLife until just recently, but claims that GlobalLife forced him to work there against his will. He knew about The Samantha Project for years but never told her or her parents.

Allie. Samantha’s best friend from high school. Allie is an only child and comes from a wealthy family. She’s been friends with Sam since they were kids. But as Sam learns more about her past, she starts to wonder if Allie was really her friend all those years.

The Founders. An elite secret society made up of world leaders, high ranking members of the military, politicians, judges and other wealthy influential people. This group funds The Samantha Project and will be the first to benefit from it.

Book Info-

Title- The Samantha Project
Series- The Samantha Project Book #1
By- Stephanie Karpinske
Genre- YA Sci Fi

Blurb-

Seventeen-year-old Samantha has a seemingly perfect life; great parents, early admission to Stanford, and a boyfriend who happens to be the hottest guy in school. But Sam's life takes a dark turn when she starts developing powers brought on by her unknown involvement in a global corporation's genetic enhancement project. Now the corporation decides it's time to take Sam back and turn on the genetic switch that will unleash all the powers of her enhanced genes.

During a heart-pounding race to flee from the people who created her, Sam encounters another person who was part of the experimental project. He's been living in hiding for years and now that Sam's found him, she's put both their lives in danger. But they can't run for long. A technological safeguard embedded in their cells ensures that if the corporation can't have them, nobody will.

Links-

Excerpt:

“What is this? Why am I here?” I asked, still feeling like I was half asleep.
More footsteps entered the room. “I think she’s slept most of it off,” I heard Erik say to whoever walked in.
I felt Erik’s other hand on my arm and then felt a prick from a needle. Soon I could feel the grogginess go away and the strength in my muscles return. I opened my eyes and could see normally.
Erik was sitting at my side, still holding my hand. “Ready to get up now?” His smile was so warm and kind that the anger I had prepared to unleash on him was quickly disarmed.
Jack stood behind him, arms crossed, studying my every move.
“Amazing,” he said. “But I can’t quite understand it.”
Erik shot him a glance of annoyance.
“Um, yes. Well, let’s get started then, shall we?” Jack said, sitting on a chair at the end of my bed.
Erik sighed, disappointed in how the old man was handling things. He turned back to me. “I know it may not seem like it, but we’re actually trying to help you.”
I gave him the look that I had heard that line before.
“Sure. You don’t believe me,” he continued. “I wouldn’t believe me either. Someone drugs me and I wake up in some strange place, I’d be pretty pissed.” He flashed a slight smile. “But here’s the deal. We have a lot of stuff to tell you and we’d like you to tell us some stuff, too.” He paused, sensing my hesitation. “If, and only if, you want to. Okay?” He waited for me to shake my head yes.
“I’ll start with the basics.” Erik let go of my hand and sat in the chair next to my bed. “I don’t know if you noticed, but I’m a little like you.” I glanced over at him, unsure of what he was trying to tell me. “You see what I mean? Not everyone can do this.”
I looked at him confused. Not do what? I thought. This guy is cute but not at all good at explaining things in clear and simple terms.
“So you think I’m cute, huh?” I looked up to see him smiling. “And by the way, I think my explanation is very clear. You just need to pay attention.”
“I AM paying attention!” I said loudly. And then it hit me. My voice had filled what had been a silent room. Nobody had spoken for at least a minute. Erik hadn’t said anything. And yet we were having a conversation. A two-way conversation—without spoken words. He could read thoughts! That’s why he said we were alike.

Book Info-

Title- The Golden Couple

Series- The Samantha Project Book #2

By- Samantha Karpinske

Blurb-

In this action-packed second installment of The Samantha Project series, Samantha and Erik go on a search to find a way to save themselves from the genetic time bomb ticking away in their cells. Along the way, they discover a shocking secret that changes everything.

Although Samantha's boyfriend, Colin, is back now, she can't deny her feelings for Erik. It isn't long before she learns the real reason why she can't resist Erik. But only after she's gone too far with him. So far that Colin may never forgive her.

GlobalLife Genetics continues to pursue Samantha and they'll stop at nothing to get her. Sam still doesn't understand GlobalLife's plan for her but she knows it's something big. And she knows it isn't good.

Links-

Barnes & Noble

Excerpt:

“And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for,” Drew announced. “The arrival of our stars for the evening. Prototypes of the future. May I introduce for the very first time, Samantha and Erik. The golden couple.”

The golden couple? I glanced at Erik, who seemed just as confused. Rachel pushed Erik toward me, reminding him to take my arm as we walked out onto a small stage that had been set up. Bright lights shined down on us and people stood up and clapped. I peered through the light to see the room of onlookers. There were people of all nationalities. I could hear different languages and accents in the crowd.

“They are simply amazing,” I heard one woman say.

“What a gorgeous couple,” another woman said.

I noticed two ladies near the stage staring up at us. “Oh, can you imagine?” the one lady said to her friend.

“They’ll be even more gorgeous. And perfect in every way,” her friend responded.

I looked back to see a large banner hanging behind us. On it were the words “Celebrate The Golden Couple” along with the Greek letter phi. Just like the one on the necklace Allie gave me.

“Samantha, turn around,” Drew scolded as he smiled at the crowd.

The clapping got louder as everyone stood up. The room gradually quieted. Drew went to the microphone again. “Thank you. I can see you’re all as excited as I am about these two. And I encourage you to express your enthusiasm for the project by continuing to invest in the research that will bring this technology to life in all of us.” He gave them a huge salesman grin. Then he came over next to us and said loudly and forcefully, “This is the future, my friends! Let us celebrate it!”

Book Info-

Title- A Chosen Destiny

Series- The Samantha Project Book # 3

By- Samantha Karpinske

Blurb-

Samantha's destiny was chosen long ago. At least that's what she's told by the people who created her. Her enhanced genes and genetic software were meant to do everything from mold her personality to pick who she falls in love with.

But can destiny be changed? Ever since Samantha learned the truth about herself, she's struggled to figure out who's really in charge of her life. Can she make her own choices? Or is her future determined by her genes?

Old enemies reappear and new ones emerge as Samantha and Erik use their powers to fight the people who are after them. But it's getting harder to figure out who's good and who's evil. The enemy they've been fighting may not be the one who's truly after them.

Links-

Barnes & Noble

Excerpt:

“No! Please! Not now!” I said aloud to myself. I’d never been stopped for speeding before. And I couldn’t be stopped now. GlobalLife had connections with the police. The cop would look me up in his database and I’d be back in GlobalLife’s custody within the hour.

“Calm down.” I continued to talk to myself. “Maybe he’ll just give me a ticket and leave.”

I slowed the car and pulled over. My hands were shaking as I waited for the officer. Escape scenarios began playing in my head in response to the stress hormones being released in my blood. It was one of my abilities, but it wasn’t always that helpful. The scenes showed me different roads to take in an attempt to get away. But the last thing I needed was a police chase.

I took a deep breath to calm myself. It didn’t work. As the officer approached the car, I heard his thoughts.

“Stupid teenage drivers. She looks to be around 16. Probably just got her license. Bet she’s one of those rich kids from The Academy. Taking Daddy’s fancy car for a spin.”

“You were going 81 in a 55, young lady,” the officer said as I rolled down my window. “License and registration.”

I kept my head down. “I have to get it in the glove compartment. Is that okay?”

“Go ahead.” The officer let out a long sigh as he crossed his arms and stared down at me. “So do you go to The Academy?”

“Um, no. I don’t know what that is.” I reached over and opened the glove compartment. It was filled with papers. I started searching for the registration.

“It’s that private school. Just up a few exits from here.” The officer leaned down and poked his head through the window. “Nice car you got. Is your daddy one of the execs at that research place?”

“I don’t know what place you’re talking about.” I found the registration and handed it to him. It had Owens’ name on it. Once the officer saw Owens’ name, I knew he’d be suspicious. Some teenage girl driving a well-known billionaire’s car?

The officer didn’t look at the registration. Instead he kept talking to me. “You know, that research place that does something with genes? It’s a big corporation. GlobalLife something.”

I tried to act normal. “Um, no. I’ve never heard of that place. Is it around here?”

“It’s down in White Plains. But a lot of the bigwigs who work there like to live out here in the country and send their kids to The Academy.” He paused. “License, please.”

I froze. I didn’t have a license! It was sitting in my bedroom back in Minnesota. My mind began racing so fast that I developed a massive headache. How could I be so stupid speeding like that?

“License, please.” The officer repeated the request as he leaned down closer to me. “What’s the problem? You don’t have one? You’re driving without a license?”

I said nothing and stared straight ahead.

He sighed again. “Okay, then. You’ll need to come with me. Your folks will have to come get you at the station. Gather your things. I’ll be right back.”

The officer returned to his squad car. My headache intensified as my mind tried to hear what he was thinking. But I heard nothing as he walked away.

“Please, please just let me go,” I whispered to myself as if doing so would somehow help. “I’m begging you. Let me go. Just forget this ever happened and go away.”

My head now felt like it was splitting into pieces. I closed my eyes and tried harder to hear the officer’s thoughts. I still couldn’t hear anything.

I opened my eyes again. The bright sun made the pain in my head even worse. I checked my mirror to see if the officer was still in his car. But the police car was no longer behind me. I looked out the front window and noticed an expensive black car with dark tinted windows. Had another car been pulled over? Or did the car belong to someone from GlobalLife?

I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I knew this wasn’t going to end well. I decided I had to at least try to escape. I reached down to turn the keys in the ignition, but something didn’t look right. Then I noticed the dashboard was different. It had all kinds of equipment attached to it. I quickly realized that I was sitting in the front seat of the police car. The black car in front of me was the one I’d been driving. How did I get in the police car? I looked to my left and caught a glimpse of myself in the side mirror. But it wasn’t me! It was the officer!

About the Author-

Stephanie is a freelance health writer by day and novel writer by night. She's been dreaming up stories for as long as she can remember but finally put a few down on paper (or ebook) with her YA trilogy, The Samantha Project. She's currently working on a new adult romance series that’s coming out soon! When she’s not writing, she’s reading (usually YA/NA romance or a mystery thriller), cooking something really good, or running (to burn off the calories of whatever she cooked that was really good).

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Sapphire by Bryan Alaspa

Bryan W. Alaspa is a freelance writer and professional author of both fiction and non-fiction. Having lived in Chicago almost his entire life, he spent a few years living in St. Louis. Bryan's writing first began when he sat down and wrote a three -page story on his mom’s electric typewriter in the third grade. It’s been all up-hill since then!

With over 20 books in both fiction and non-fiction genres available, you can find most of them at Amazon.com with few books just for your Kindle and iPad users. Be sure to check them out.

A blogger for some time, you can learn about upcoming books as well as various author events Bryan is involved in.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Romance, Paranormal

Publisher: SalGad Publishing

Release date: June 2, 2013

Amazon

Book Description:

Jimmy Parker is a typical high school student. Unpopular with the girls and picked on by the boys, he’s just trying to survive long enough to escape the tiny Pennsylvanian town of Knorr. With Jimmy and his friend, George, heading to the school dance, they expect nothing but the usual ritual humiliation from their peers. But when a girl in a brilliant blue dress enters their lives at the side of a lonely old bridge…everything changes.

Her name is Sapphire, and she is the most alluring girl that Jimmy has ever met. Yet, there is something strange about her; something different. Why has he never seen her at school? Why does she only want to meet up near the bridge? And why does everybody keep warning Jimmy to stay away from her?

Before long, Jimmy is plunged into a decades-old mystery. The town of Knorr has many secrets; some held by powerful men. Men that would do anything to keep them from getting out. Something dark happened one night in Knorr, and now Jimmy is a part of it whether he likes it or not.

And Sapphire holds the key to understanding it all.

Jimmy discovers that his bond with the mysterious girl creates a unique power between them. A power that bridges time, space, and even dimensions. It is the one thing that could save them both.

Because sometimes the most powerful force on Earth is love.

Praise for Sapphire:

“A superb, well written story with a 50 year timeline. Initially a ghost story that turns into a mystery that becomes adventure and investigation turns again into a whodunit.” ~Robert Drake, Amazon Reviewer

“I was drawn to this book for the cover and it had been recommended to me by friend who knows my love of Western PA. I thought this book really captured the rural feel of a teenager's life and just as I was feeling a little complacent about it, Jimmy and George meet up with Sapphire on the river bank and the story really takes off.” ~Mary H., Amazon Reviewer

“A story of mystery and murder. A chilling, ghostly tale. An account of the pains and joys of youth, a romance, a love story like no other.” ~Daniel Cheely, Amazon Reviewer

Excerpt

Jimmy stood in front of the full-length mirror and did not like what he saw. The sleeves were too short. The white cuffs of his shirt stuck out from the sleeves of his jacket. Any dork could see that. Unfortunately, most of the student body at Knorr High School already thought of him as a dork. The last thing he wanted was feeling that way during his senior prom. However, here he was, looking at an image that could only be described as “dork.”

“No one will notice,” said his mother from behind him. She was hovering over his shoulder like a specter. She was smiling and proud. “You can take it off once you get there, and no one will even be paying any attention. Everyone will be too busy having a good time to care what you’re wearing.”

Jimmy sighed and tugged uselessly at the jacket’s sleeve. “Mom, you just have no clue.”

She came forward and hugged him. Then she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. Jimmy felt even more like a geek.

“I’m not supposed to,” she said. “Mothers are not supposed to have a clue.”

“Why couldn’t I have rented one?” Jimmy asked for the nine-hundredth time that afternoon.

“You know why,” she said, turning her back and fussing with something out of his sightline. “We can’t afford it. Your uncle had this perfectly serviceable tuxedo and it’s a shame not to use it.”

She reappeared beside him in the mirror, her hand on her hip. Her mouth was a tight line. Jimmy knew that poking at the nerve that they were not a family of means was a low blow. He had seen that look before. This was the same look she had given him as a kid when he wanted a toy that was just too expensive. It was the same look she had given him when he begged her for a cell phone. And he saw the exact same look from her whenever he talked about needing a car.

“I spent a lot of time getting the shirt and pants to fit you,” she said. “I did the best I could with the jacket. If you want, you can spend the night at home with me instead of going at all. So, either deal with this situation the best you can or don’t go. I really don’t care.”

She cared. Jimmy knew she cared. She and his father had worked their fingers to the bone to provide for Jimmy. The family had never gone hungry. They had never been without clothes. They may have shopped for their new school wardrobe at Goodwill, but they had clothes. They may have eaten more macaroni and cheese than others, but they were never hungry. Their car may have been rusted through and coughed out oily blue smoke, but they always got where they needed to go. The house may have been run down and it may have been in the part of town most of the other kids avoided, but they always had a roof over their heads. Then his father had died, suddenly, a few years ago. The pain was always there, behind Jimmy’s eyes, lurking around every corner. His dad had done what he could to make sure his family was cared for, but it had not been easy. His mother worked very hard.

Jimmy smiled his crooked smile. “Sorry,” he said sheepishly. “I appreciate it, Mom. Come on, it wouldn’t be a weekend if I didn’t complain about something.”

His mother’s face softened and then her smile returned. Jimmy managed to turn away, searching for the bow tie, before she could plant another kiss on him. He was only willing to be gracious up to a certain point. He found the tie and fiddled with it for a moment. When he turned back toward the mirror his mother was fiddling with something behind him again. He affixed the tie and straightened it. He took another look. His image still said “dork,” but he had lived with that image for a long time.

Before too long he would be elsewhere, and all of the things he had gone through in high school would be over. He could live with looking like a dork for another night. Besides, he was going with his best friend George, anyway, so things couldn’t get too bad.

“When is George getting here?” his mother asked.

“About five more minutes,” Jimmy said.

“I wish you two had managed to find some nice girls to ask,” his mother said.

“Mom, there isn’t a girl in Knorr High School that would be caught dead attending the senior prom with Jimmy Parker or George Howell,” he said as he adjusted his tie one more time. It immediately went crooked again, and he decided that the tie really didn’t matter.

“I’m sure that’s not true,” his mother said.

Jimmy turned to face her. “Mom, trust me on this one. George and I are not the most popular kids in school. In fact, we are far from it.”

She reached out and pinched his cheeks. This was the one thing worse than the kiss on the cheek. One thing was certain: his mother had some kind of cheek fetish.

“But you’re such a smart, nice kid,” she said.

Jimmy snorted. “Mom, even in your day the smart and nice kids were not the popular ones in school, were they?”

She put her hands on his shoulders. “I found your father in high school. He was smart and nice.”

“He also played football,” Jimmy said.

“He was the kicker,” she said. “You know, back in the old days when dinosaurs walked the Earth, and your father and I were young.”

“Kickers still wear uniforms,” Jimmy said. He paused to make sure his hair looked OK one more time. The cowlick towards the back of his head was still there despite the industrial strength hair gel he had put in there.

Just then, the phone rang. Jimmy’s mother vanished into the kitchen and Jimmy turned back to the mirror and adjusted his tie for the millionth time. He also tried to plaster his hair down, but to no avail. He sighed. He was always going to look this way, right?

“Jimmy,” his mother said, returning to the bedroom. “It’s Jesse.”

Jimmy smiled. Jesse was the town’s librarian. The library was small, but filled with wonder, as far as Jimmy was concerned. It overlooked a river and was surrounded by touristy attractions, but inside it was all books and musty smells. Jimmy had buried himself there when his father died and Jesse had taken a kind of liking to him. It may have been a stretch to say that Jesse was a father figure, but their relationship was pretty close. Jimmy ran to the phone.

“Hey, Jimmy! Are you looking sharp in your suit?” Jesse asked.

Jimmy laughed. “Jesse, I would not look sharp wearing a suit full of razor blades.”

“Come on, you know that isn’t true,” Jesse said. “I’m sure you and George will have a good time. Maybe try to get up the nerve to ask a girl to dance.”

“I wouldn’t put money on that,” Jimmy said. “I’m betting most of the girls there arrive with dates.”

“You just never know,” Jesse said. “I had a pretty amazing time the night of the big dance when I was your age. And I ended up going with a beautiful girl, to boot. You need to be a bit more positive.”

A honk came from outside. This was followed shortly by a sound that was only slightly quieter than a Howitzer shell going off in the living room. George had arrived with his car. The engine settled into a low rattle as the car set about trying to shake itself to pieces again.

“Yo, Jimmy!” came the bellow from the car. That could only have been George leaning out the driver’s side window. George was not known for being subtle.

“That sounds like George,” Jesse said.

“Yeah, that’s him,” Jimmy said.

There was a pause. It seemed like there was more to say, but anything else would have crossed some line between them and that line was still held by Jimmy’s father, even though he was gone.

“You be careful tonight, Jimmy,” Jesse said. “Come by the library when you can and tell me all about it or give me a call tomorrow.”

“I will,” Jimmy said, and paused, then added. “Thanks for calling.”

“You bet,” Jesse said.

Then he was gone, and Jimmy ran back to the bedroom. His mother was there with her hands to her throat in an unconscious anxious gesture she often did, looking as if maybe she had been crying. His mom appreciated how Jesse looked after him, but the pain of losing his father was still there. Jimmy smiled and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Another honk came from outside, so Jimmy had to move.

Jimmy tried to move past his mother, but she grabbed him by the shoulders, pulling him back and looking him full in the face again. She smiled, and, much to Jimmy’s consternation, he saw tears swimming in her eyes. She was about to give him some sort of speech about how proud she was of him. It would be similar to one she had given him when he had first gotten the scholarship to attend Clark University.

“Be careful,” she said instead, her voice quavering. “And have fun.”

Jimmy smiled. This time, he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. He left quickly just because he did not want to see her cry. He ran down the hall and through the living room.

Jimmy bolted through the door and heard it bang shut behind him. George was hanging out the window of his car, his tuxedo jacket already tossed in the backseat. He had a huge grin on his face, his hair already wild and windblown from driving with the window down.

“Come on, the party awaits!” he yelled in the rather odd way of speaking that George had and that so marked him as an outsider, and leaned back into the car, reaching over the passenger’s seat to unlock the door.

“What’s it waiting for?” Jimmy asked as he opened the large, rusty door with a loud screeching sound.

“Us, my man,” George said as Jimmy planted his ass on the passenger seat and slammed the door. “It is waiting for us.”

Jimmy laughed. “You do live in an amazing fantasy world.”

George leaned around the passenger seat to peer out the back window as he shifted into reverse. “You should move into my world, my friend,” he said. “Plenty of room, and the fun never stops.”

Jimmy laughed again. He thought that maybe it would be a night to remember, after all. Once Jimmy was situated in the passenger seat, as often happened when he was with George, Jimmy’s own form of speech slipped into the oddly formal way that George spoke.

“Then lead on, sir,” he said. “Lead on!”

Follow The Tour Here

Cover Reveal - Her by Carey Heywood

Book: HER

Author: Carey Heywood

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: October 26, 2013

Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

You know her side of the story, now learn his. "It was useless. I felt branded beneath my skin by a girl who left without even saying goodbye." When Will Price was assigned a partner for a sixth grade class project he had no idea she would become his best friend. After years of friendship, she eventually became so much more. Then, one day she left with no explanation. Will’s life shattered right before his eyes and he was left alone to pick up the pieces. Floundering, Will must figure out a way to carry on, to find a way to exist without her. Seven years later, a chance encounter leaves him desperate to get her back. He has one week to make her his again. Not everyone gets a second chance with the love of their life and Will is determined to never lose her again.

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author. I make up stuff and write it down. Here are some things that make up who I am, in no particular order; Books, Swedish Fish, Rivers, Kids (I have some), Husband (I have 1), Dog, Wuss, Reader, Elephants, Mermaid Shows, Belgian Chocolate, Plastic Rings, Fizzy Water, Abs (I don't have them...well yes, I have them but they're nothing to look at I meant Abs that I like to look at), Twitter (@careylolo), Making up Words, Chair Dancing, Old Movies, Cartoons, Belgian Waffles, Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, People, Kayaks, Screen Porches, Laughing, Colored Paperclips, Junky Green Laptop, Golden Rule, Falling in Love, Jumping in Puddles, Spellcheck, Windy Days.

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS AUTHOR

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLES

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000038_00071]

Incomplete by Lindy Zart Blog Tour with Interview

Interview:

1) First, tell us about yourself – where you live, your family, and those sorts of details.

I live in southwest Wisconsin and have for most of my life. Most days, especially winter days, I wonder why. Ha. I love warm weather and the sun, and sometimes, those are sporadic around here; like, non-existent sporadic. I have one husband and two boys, or three boys, if you want to look at it that way, which I do, especially when I’m upset with my husband. I am under 5’3”, but like to round up, and I weigh somewhere around 135, but I like to round that number down (WAY down).

2) How long have you been writing?

I started writing around the age of 12, and as I’m in my twenties and that’s where I will always be age-wise, about fifteen years…or more.

3) Do you have a favorite place to write?

Technically, no, although anywhere quiet is my favorite place to write. That doesn’t happen often with the kiddos running around. If I have my coffee, my music, and my computer, I am set, for the most part.

4) Why did you decide to write Incomplete?

I actually wrote a version of this story years ago and I always wanted to redo it ‘cause I wasn’t satisfied with the outcome. Of course, as I wrote Incomplete, almost everything with the story line changed. I like the stories about the boy and the girl who have grown up together and realize they want to be together and then fight to do so. For me, there is sweetness to those kind of stories that you don’t always find in others.

5) Who is your favorite character in your book and why?

Aidan, Grayson’s younger brother. I know, it should probably be Grayson or Lily, the two main characters, but it’s Aidan. He has innocence, a vulnerability to him, that makes you want to hug him, but there is also a fierceness to him that tells you to stay away. Grayson has that too, I suppose.

6) How about your least favorite character? What makes them less appealing to you?

Grayson’s dad. It could almost be his mother, but no, it’s his dad. He is indifferent to the world around him, particularly his immediate world. He has no excuse for the way he is, but I think Grayson’s mom kind of does.

7) Do you proofread/edit your own books or do you get someone to do that for you?

I do, then my beta readers go over it as well, and then there is an editor on top of that. I’ve had the beta readers for most of my books, but the editor is new, and she is fantastic, I have to say—an extremely appreciated stickler for grammatical errors and spelling.

8) What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Other than reading, which is a given, I enjoy camping and boating with the family, going for walks, dancing, singing, watching movies, and of course, shopping.

9) Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors?

Yes! If I am not writing, then I like to be reading. My all-time favorite author is Susan Elizabeth Phillips, but there are so many more. I have an eclectic reading style, much like my writing. Karen Marie Moning, Kresley Cole, Kristan Higgins, Eloisa James, Darynda Jones, Sandra Brown, Lisa Jackson, Sophie Kinsella, Meg Cabot, Suzanne Collins, Veronica Roth, Lauren Oliver, Cassandra Clare…there are more, way more, but I will stop there.

10) What question do you wish that someone would ask about your book, but nobody has? Write it out here, then answer it.

Will Complete, the sequel to Incomplete, be from Lily’s POV?

Yes! Incomplete is from Grayson’s POV and Complete will be from Lily’s POV, moving forward in time. It’s nice to know what each of the main characters are thinking in a story, and I originally was only going to write one book, but thought two books, one from each POV, would be interesting, so that’s what I decided to do.

Book Info-

Title- Incomplete

By- Lindy Zart

Expected Publication Date- September 6th

Blurb-

There are three absolute truths in Grayson Lee’s life:

1. His existence was a mistake.

2. No one is good enough for his best friend, Lily Jacobs, especially not him.

3. He loves her anyway.

Links-