Sheila Kelly Welch's Waiting to Forget Book Tour

Author: Shelly Kelly Welch

Date of Publish: October 1st, 2011

Source: Making Connections Blog Tour

Genre: Middle Grade ficiton
Rating: 5/5 Stars

Book Summary:

T.J. has always looked out for his little sister, Angela. When Momma used to go out and leave them home alone, he'd lock the door so they'd be safe, keep Angela entertained, and get out the cereal and milk for her. When Momma's boyfriend got angry at them, he'd try to protect Angela. Later, at their foster homes, T.J. was the only one who knew how to coax his little sister out of her bad moods. The only one who understood why she made origami paper cranes and threw them out the window.

But now T.J. is sitting in the waiting room at the hospital, wondering if Angela, unconscious after a fall, will ever wake up. Wondering, too, if he will ever feel at home with his and Angela's new parents—Marlene, who insists on calling him Timothy, and Dan, who seems to want a different son.

Going back and forth between Now and Then, weaving the uncertain present with the painful past, T.J.'s story unfolds, and with the unfolding comes a new understanding of how to move forward

from Goodreads

My Review:

The story is told through T.J.'s POV, a twelve year old boy. I have to say it is one of the saddest, yet beautiful stories I have ever read. It opens up with T.J sitting in the hospital's waiting room, anxious to know his sister's condition. The story tells about the kind of life T.j and his sister have lived, moving from one foster home to another. One minute their life's going so well, you can feel the joy spreading through T.J through his thoughts, and the next, that life is yanked from under his feet, and him and sister are spiralling to direction.  


The really enjoyed the Ms. Welch unsual writing style. The chapters begin with the words "then, between, now". Ms. Welch tells the story about T.J.'s past life, flits back to the present and in between, all the while maintaining the suspense on what really happened to T.J's little sister, Angela. I cannot really express how much I loved this book. One has to really read it and find the gems within, experience the emotional rollercoaster. 


I highly recommend this book. I really look forward to reading more work from the author.

Friday Fantastic Author Feature: Stephanie Lawton

Hi friends!

Today I have the pleasure of having a fellow Inkspeller, Stephanie Lawton on my blog for an interview. Her debut Young Adult novel, Want will be released by Inkspell Publishing on 7th June, 2012.


Here is the book summary,  as well as the gorgeous, gorgeous cover.  Yes. I repeated it twice, because once is not enough to express how besotted I am. :D  

Julianne counts the days until she can pack her bags and leave her old-money, tradition-bound Southern town where appearance is everything and secrecy is a way of life. A piano virtuoso, she dreams of attending a prestigious music school in Boston. Failure is not an option, so she enlists the help of New England Conservatory graduate Isaac Laroche to help her.
She can’t understand why he suddenly gave up Boston’s music scene to return to the South. He doesn’t know her life depends on escaping it. Julianne must face down madness from without, just as it threatens from within. Isaac must resist an inappropriate attraction, but an indiscretion at a Mardi Gras ball—the pinnacle event for Mobile’s elite—forces their present wants and needs to collide with sins of the past


So, here is our interview:

Please tell us your name

Stephanie Lawton

Please tell us about your book. When will it be released and by which publisher

It's called Want, and it comes out June 7 from Inkspell Publishing. I intended it to be a YA novel, but the 17-year-old main character, Juli, ends up dealing with some really adult issues. For that reason, I'd say it's for readers 16 and up, though it depends on the reader, of course.

Juli is trapped in the confines of her parents' social circle, where keeping up with the Joneses isn't optional. Appearance is everything, but the mask is about to come off, so to speak. Her ticket out of her Southern town is her ambition to attend a prestigious music school in Boston. She'll do anything to get in ... or so she thinks. She has no idea how bad things can get, and that getting what you want isn't always worth the price.

Her story is further complicated by her new mentor, Isaac, who is a professional pianist. He's got his own dark secrets, and when the two of them collide ... well, you'll have to read to find out. *winks*

What project are you working on?

My current project is another YA novel set at an antebellum mansion in the Deep South. Three teens with psychic abilities spend the weekend at the mansion learning how to control their gifts so they can have (mostly) normal lives. They never counted on getting drawn into a Civil War-era murder/mystery.


How much research did you do for this project?

For Want, I did extensive research on Mardi Gras customs in Mobile, Alabama; abnormal psychology; self-harm; Rachmaninoff; and the audition process of the New England Conservatory in Boston.

For the second project, I've done Civil War research; the history of Mobile, Alabama, and Oakleigh Mansion; children and adults with different kinds of psychic abilities; and spirit possession! I LOVE research so it's been a blast!


How did you come up with the story idea?

Want was born during a Mardi Gras parade for one of the oldest, most elite mystic societies in Mobile, Alabama. Some of the wives of the members were standing along the parade route next to us in their best dresses, hats and fur coats. (Yes, fur coats in the Deep South.) One lady in particular was very rude and snobby. I started to wonder what her life must be like, what toll it would take on your personal life and your family to keep up that kind of pretense. I imagined what it would be like to be her daughter, and that's where Julianne comes in.


Which genre is the book?

It was written as YA--the main character is seventeen--but it will definitely appeal to adults, as well.

Which genres do you enjoy reading and writing?

I have a master's in English so I used to be one of those academic snobs who only read "literature." Then I discovered Young Adult and absolutely fell in love. Now, I have a difficult time reading adult books. Often, they are beautiful and well-written, but incredibly boring. Either that or they are so far "out there" trying to shock people, that I can't identify with them. I love the late teen voice because it's right on the dividing line between childhood and adulthood--safety and the danger of independence.


 Where can readers and fans find you - online that is?

I'm everywhere! I love social media so I'm on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Stephanie-Lawton-author/192796874113180; my Twitter handle is @Steph_Lawton; my website/blog is www.StephanieLawton.com; my Tumblr ishttp://stephanielawton.tumblr.com/; and I have inspiration boards for my books on Pinterest at http://pinterest.com/steph_lawton/. (That's where you'll find yummy pictures of Isaac and Dave!)Want is available to pre-order through Inkspell Publishing website.

Truly, Madly, Deeply, You Release Day Party

Hey Friends!

Today is Truly, Madly, Deeply, You, or as a very good author friend of mine calls it TMDY, release party. Yay! I'm way up there floating in the air. :D 

Aah, so this is my Oscar moment... sort of :D

For the last month, I've been lucky enough to have wonderful bloggers who really helped me put word out there about Truly, Madly, read and reviewed it. Thank you doesn't begin to say how much I appreciate all you have done, joy doesn't begin to express how I feel. 

Thank you.

A special thank you to Majanka Vestraete - my publicist- as well as Inkspell team for the wonderful support. Truly, Madly, Deeply, You wouldn't be without you. :)

And for today's release party, I'd like to thank the following bloggers and friends took time to host me. My heartfelt appreciation.  If you have time, please take time to visit them. :)

 Mother Gamer Writer

Reading it All

Melissa’s Eclectic Bookshelf

I Heart Reading

Artsy Musings of a Bibliophile

Vivaciously Vivian

Aobibliosphere

Tyra’s Book Addiction

Full Moon Bites

Cece’s Reading and Writing Safari

Delighted Reader

Book Spark

Thank you Kasonndra Leigh and Liz Grace Davis for taking part in the release party as well. 

Do you enjoy  friends to lovers stories, a second chance at love, and would like to win Truly, Madly, Deeply, You ecopy, please enter the contest using the rafflecopter below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Truly, Madly, Deeply, You can be purchased in the following sites:


Inkspell Webstore   Amazon   B&N  Kobo Books  All Romance Ebooks


 Let's raise our glasses *Clink Clink* and enjoy the party. :)

Author Feature: Patsy Collins

Today I have the pleasure of having Patsy Collins. She's about to share with us what inspired her to write her book 'Escape To The Country' which will be released on 26th March, 2012. So, without further ado, let's welcome Patsy.

Thank you for inviting me over to talk about 'Escape to the Country', Cecilia!

This is the first of my novels to be published. I'm hoping it won't be the last - I have others I hope will get there someday! It's the story of Leah, a city girl who escapes her problems, and finds love, on her aunt's farm.

You asked me, "What inspired you to write this story?"

I like to write the sort of books (and short stories) I enjoy reading. That means characters I can relate to, doing things I enjoy, in locations I like. Fortunately that makes for pleasant research. Observant readers will spot several scenes involving slightly odd people eating a lot in picturesque countryside!

We're told to write what we know and I think that's good advice (although there are plenty of cases where writers successfully write about things they didn't know about before starting their books) Often we think the things we know about are boring and feel we should research exotic locations, extreme characters and unusual occupations to add colour. We forget other people will have different life experiences to us and what seems ordinary to me - driving a tractor, milking cows and delivering calves might be new and interesting to others.

You also wanted to know, "If there is a story behind the story?"

I suppose so in a way although it hadn't occurred to me until you asked.

I grew up on a farm and worked there for a time after I left school. My life is now very different Although I never had any need to escape the farm I'm now almost a townie. I guess I'm trying to show it's OK for people to change.

Were you hoping for a confession involving my own Dishy Duncan and a hay barn? Sorry, but I'm keeping some of my research methods to myself!

There you have it! And yes, I was really hoping Patsy would dish out more about Duncan. There's always a next time. :D


It was a pleasure having you on my blog, Patsy.

Like to know more about Patsy, and what she is up to? http://patsy-collins.blogspot.com/ and http://www.facebook.com/PatsyCollins.writer

Review of Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

  


Author: Colleen Houck

Book Title: Tiger's Curse (Tiger Saga 1)

Source: Kindle bought

Date of Publish: January 11, 2011

Rating: 4/5 stars

Book Summary

The last thing teenager Kelsey Hayes thought she'd be doing over the summer was meeting Ren, a mysterious white tiger and cursed Indian prince when she learns she alone can break the Tiger's curse, Kelsey's life is turned upside-down. The unlikely duo journeys halfway around the world to piece together an Indian prophecy, find a way to free the man trapped by a centuries-old spell, and discover the path to their true destiny


My Review:
I truly enjoyed this book.It has it all: curses, gorgeous old fashioned tiger princes, the setting is completely different from most books I've read (India), Indiana Jones kind of adventure, gods, magic, romance, myths....

The character's were likeable, and well rounded. And the plot - original and refreshing. Kelsey's was sometimes too much. Some parts of the story were hard to believe, but she made me laugh. It was wonderful to live the adventure through Kelsey's eyes, from caves full of traps, to rivers full of vampire-like monkeys (Kappa I think), and interesting temples. Dhiren - Ren and his brother Kishan - who are the cursed princes. The romance between Ren and Kelsey was plus.

I look forward to read the next book in the series. Recommended for fans of paranormal romance, filled with adventure, mystery and romance.

Review of The Guardian Duke by Jamie Carie

Book Title: The Guardian Duke (The Forgotten Castle #1)
Author: Jamie Carie
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Historical
Rating: 4/5 Stars










Book Summary

The Guardian Duke is award-winning novelist Jamie Carie’s most exciting story yet, a uniquely arranged Regency-era romantic adventure where hero and heroine know each other through written letters but have yet to meet.Gabriel, the Duke of St. Easton, is ordered by the King to take guardianship over Lady Alexandria Featherstone whose parents are presumed dead after failing to return from a high profile treasure hunt. But Alexandria ignores this royal reassignment, believing her parents are still alive and duly following clues that may lead to their whereabouts. Gabriel, pressured by what are actually the King’s ulterior motives, pursues her across windswept England and the rolling green hills of Ireland but is always one step behind.When they do meet, the search for earthly treasure will pale in comparison to what God has planned for both of them.

Source: Goodreads

My Review


I've never read an of Jamie Carie books, but I'm glad I got to read this one. 
Gabriel, the Duke of Easton is appointed by the King to be the guardian to Lady Alexander Featherstone. At around the same time, Gabriel mysteriously becomes deaf.


On the other side, Lady Alexander receives word that her parents are dead. In desperate need to prove that the king is wrong, she makes plans to go find her parents herself. 


Gabriel receives word that it is urgent to protect Alexander, so he decides to go and bring her back himself. Alexander gets wind of the dukes plans. A game of cat and mouse ensues, with Alexander trying as much as she can to put a great distance between herself and the duke.


I truly enjoyed this book, the letters Gabriel and Alexander sent to each other.


One thing though - and I'm not sure it was explained. What caused the duke to become deaf? 


I'd recommend this book to fans of regency stories. I look forward to reading the second book in the series. Probably will answer some questions. 

Liebster Blog Award

Thank you so much Ann Marie Walker for this lovely award. Liebster in german means - Sweetheart - So, I am really honoured. :) Be sure to check Anne's blog out. It's fairly new but awesome nonetheless. 

I am really happy to present this award plus a warm virtual hug to the following:

1. Martina @ http://martinabookaholic.wordpress.com/ Have you seen her blog? It's just wow! And she makes me laugh besides being a wonderful friend and fellow Viennese. 

2.Shilpa @ http://smmirza.blogspot.com/ A fellow author and a friend. The author of Always You which was released on 6th March 2012. 

3. Najla @ http://unputdownablebookies.blogspot.com/ A friend and from my point of view, Midas on heels. Probably better that Midas. Have you see the covers she designs? She's AMAZING! 

4.KaSonndra @ http://kasonndraleigh.blogspot.com/ the author of 'When Copper Suns Fall' a fantastic read and a wonderful and supportive friend. 

5. Sasha @ http://sashasummers.com/ A fellow Inkspeller and she brings a smile on my face. She is the author of Medusa, A love story to be pubished through Crescent Moon Press. Another of her titles will be published through Inkspell Publishing.

There you go! Now, let's raise our glasses. *clink clink*