Blog Tour: Night Sky by Jolene Perry

Book Title: Night Sky
Author: Jolene Perry
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Pages: 247
ISBN: 9780983741862
ISBN: 9781466052338
Release: March 1, 2012

Source. Tribute Books

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Kindle    Nook    Smashwords    PDF buy link

iBookstore buy link
Coming soon

   

Night Sky Summary 

After losing Sarah, the friend he’s loved, to some other guy, Jameson meets Sky. Her Native American roots, fluid movements, and need for brutal honesty become addictive fast. This is good. Jameson needs distraction – his dad leaves for another woman, his mom’s walking around like a zombie, and Sarah’s new boyfriend can’t keep his hands off of her.

As he spends time with Sky and learns about her village, her totems, and her friends with drums - she's way more than distraction. Jameson's falling for her fast.

But Sky’s need for honesty somehow doesn’t extend to her life story – and Jameson just may need more than his new girl to keep him distracted from the disaster of his senior year.

Jolene Perry's Bio:

Jolene grew up in Wasilla, Alaska. She graduated from Southern Utah University with a degree in political science and French, which she used to teach math to middle schoolers.

After living in Washington, Utah and Las Vegas, she now resides in Alaska with her husband, and two children. Aside from writing, Jolene sews, plays the guitar, sings when forced, and spends as much time outside as possible.

She is also the author of The Next Door Boys and the upcoming Knee Deep.

My Review:

Night Sky's in my list of books to read for the Multicultural Challenge hosted by KM @ www.one-page-reviews.blogspot.com . I really enjoyed reading Night Sky. It was a wonderful story, written in first POV, Jameson's, typical teen hormones and all. Jolene did an excellent job writing in a boy's POV.

Jameson (Jay) has been in love with his best friend, Sarah for a while now. Problem is, he's never had the courage to tell her how he feels. Then during the school dance, Sarah hooks up with Eric. Later on Jay meets Sky, a freshman at a local college. who moved from Alaska to live with her grandparents. Although he is still inlove with Sarah, he realises Sky and Sarah are completely different. As the story progresses, Jay deals with his feelings between the two girls, but that is not the only thing he is dealing with. Things are happening at home as well. Sky has secrets up her sleeve as well. Jay handled himself well in the course of what was happening around him. It's a rollercoaster of emotions for ths teen. And very real. 

If you are looking for a well-written Young Adult book from a guy's POV (and hilarious too), I'd highly recommend Night Sky. I'm really looking forward to read Jolene Perry's other books.

Night Sky web site:
http://www.night-sky-book.com

Night Sky Twitter hashtag:
#NightSky

Night Sky GoodReads page:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12588673-night-sky

Jolene Perry's Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002038196677

Jolene Perry's Twitter:
https://twitter.com/#!/JoleneBPerry

Jolene Perry's Website:
http://www.jolenebperry.com/

Jolene Perry's Blog:
http://www.jolenesbeenwriting.blogspot.com/

Jolene Perry's GoodReads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4944599.Jolene_B_Perry

Tribute Books website:
http://www.tribute-books.com

Tribute Books Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Archbald-PA/Tribute-Books/171628704176

Tribute Books Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/TributeBooks

Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186

My Friday Fantastic today: Author Aubrie Dionne

It's Friday! Other than it being the most awesome day of the week, I'm really excited to have Aubrie Dionne, hanging out with me here. She's also Inkspeller and a talented author. So, here we go!

Aubrie Dionne is an author and flutist in New England. Her writings have appeared in Mindflights, Niteblade, Silver Blade, Emerald Tales, Hazard Cat, Moon Drenched Fables, A Fly in Amber, and Aurora Wolf. Her books are published by Entangled Publishing, Lyrical Press, and Gypsy Shadow Publishing. She recently signed her YA sci fi novel with Inkspell Publishing titled: Colonization: Paradise 21, which will release in October 2012. When she's not writing, Aubrie teaches flute and plays in orchestras. She's a big Star Trek TNG fan, as well as Star Wars and Serenity. Her dogs are appropriately named Jedi and Princess Leia. 




CeCe: Welcome, Aubrie. Please tell us your name.

Aubrie Dionne.

CeCe: What project are you currently working on? 

Aubrie: I just finished edits on Haven 6, the final conclusion to the New Dawn Trilogy! It’s so exciting. This book follows the descendants of Aries and Striker on Refuge, and answers a lot of ongoing questions about the mysterious benevolent aliens, the golden orb, and much more!


CeCe: What Inspired you to write the first book?

Aubrie: Definitely Star Wars, and Star Trek the Next Generation. Like the first three Star Wars movies, my books take place on a desert planet, then an ice world, then a jungle.


Cece: What genres do you write? 

Aubrie: I started writing fantasy, then branched off into science fiction. All of my science fiction novels sell better than my fantasy ones! But, I definitely want to go back to fantasy at some point. I also dabble in horror (not to graphic, though), and urban fantasy. (I have a set of short stories about carnival performers called The Series of Illusions series).

Cece: How do you create your characters) How do you mould them to fit what you require for the story?

Aubrie: My characters have a life of their own. I give them free reign, and they develop as the story goes on. Each character has a piece of me in them, and it’s funny, and also scary at times to see myself in them.

Cece: What is your writing style like? (more description, dialogue…)

Aubrie: I used to be overly descriptive and very floral, almost to the point of what they call purple prose. Now, I’ve cut back on that and am more character driven with internal thoughts. 

Cece: Oh, I do enjoy character's internal thoughts. One gets to know really what they are thinking:)  Have you ever hated a character/ a story you wrote?

Aubrie: Not yet! Thank goodness! 

Cece: How did you do the research for the book you are currently writing?
Aubrie: I’m working on a young adult tie in series to the New Dawn series. The first book has the benevolent aliens, but the second book has scary arachnid aliens. For this, I looked up a lot of information on spiders (which gave me the creeps!).

Cece: What can readers and fans find you (online that is)

Twitter: @authoraurbie

Blog: http://authoraubrie.blogspot.com

Website: www.authoraubrie.com

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2964057.Aubrie_Dionne


CeCe: What project are you promoting?

Aubrie: All of them! LOL

LOL... And each as fascinating as the next. I'll need to read the previous book on the series to catch up. Thanks, Aubrie!

Here is Aubrie's book, A hero Rising. I will be hosting her on her book blog tour on 16th May, and hope you drop by. I'll be putting up the review on 16th. I'm a sci-fi fan (when done right) and she has done it right. :)

After watching his love leave on a colony ship, James Wilfred must save those left behind from a planetary apocalypse. Their salvation lies in an unfinished ship tucked away in a secret government base, and only James can break in and pilot him and his people to freedom on a nearby space station.

Skye O’Connor’s boyfriend never returns after his gang attempts an assassination of the Governor, and the State Building is destroyed. Worse, crazed moonshiners addicted to the chemical Morpheus have stormed the city, and she must find a safe place for her and her boyfriend’s daughter. When a heroic man saves her, Skye asks to accompany him on his quest to find the last colony ship left on Earth.

As the city falls around them, James and Skye must work together to build a new future, all the while rediscovering their ability to love, before the apocalypse claims them both.

Insecure Writers Group

Thanks to Alex Cavanaugh for hosting this support Group.

Recently I went back to my WIP dark fantasy, Reaper's Novice. I had combined it with the A-Z challenge, which was a challenge in itself, but had a lot of fun along the way, and met lot's of wonderful people.

The challenging thing about my YA dark fantasy is writing the dialogue. That's not been easy. I've been hanging around teens (my son is one) my ears perked up, trying to catch on, but the kids sort of stop talking when I'm hanging around them. And give me weird looks, so I end up shifting on my feet, or head out to buy pizza to loosen them up abit. And the rest of the time, they talk in low voices and grunt and laugh. On the behaviour side of a teen, I've got it 100%, but dialogues, that's a challenge.

I'm really curious to hear what other writers go about this issue. What do you do? Any advice?

Review: Tempted by Her Innocent Kiss (Pregnancy & Passion #3) by Maya Banks

Title: Tempted by Her Innocent Kiss

Author: Maya Banks

Publisher: Harlequin

Imprint: Harlequin Desire

Pub Date: March 06, 2012

Rating 4/5 Stars

Book Summary:

No Man’s Bargaining Chip

Devon Carter was her first; now newly wed Ashley wants their passion to last. But her dreams of true love are crushed by the discovery that their marriage is another of Daddy’s business deals. Her strategy: act the part of perfect wife and make Devon love her.

But Devon misses the bubbly, no-holdsbarred woman his wife used to be. Who is this Ashley with the steely demeanor of a society wife? And will he find a way to rekindle the fire in her eyes...especially now that she’s pregnant?

Source: Goodreads

My Review:

Devon'S marriage to Ashley is one of convinience. In order for Devon to merge Tricorp hotels with Copeland's he should marry Ashley. Ashley's father is willing to marry her off to Devon. Later on, during their honeymoon, she comes across evidence of what had transpired between her father and Devon,though at this time Devon has seriously began to like her, like her bubbly personality. He realises this as he notices the change in her. Ashley tries to change herself to fit the kind of woman she thinks Devon wants as a wife. It was really sad to see her going through this, suffering.
Later Devon, after realising how much he hurt her, tells her he wants her back, her real self. The real Ashley. It was good to see this transformation, from a man who was only interested in what he would gain materially, to one who is hopelessly inlove with someone who, at first meant nothing to him, but a way to enhance his business.

Really looking forward to read more from the author

Review: Bared To You by Sylvia Day

Author: Sylvia Day

Source: Netgalley

Pub. date: April 3, 2012

Rating: 4/5 Stars








Book Summary:

Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness—beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I'd never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily...

Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each other's most private wounds... and desires.

The bonds of his love transformed me, even as I prayed that the torment of our pasts didn't tear us apart..

Source: Goodreads

Eva and Gideon are two characters I enjoyed reading about. They are flawed, and even though at first it feels as if their relationship is based on sexual attraction, it gradually changes as they get to know each other. Each has issues, and both are possessive of the other. Eva has gone through so much in her life, and she is still struggling with the sheer weight of what happened to her years ago.
Cary, Eva's best friend also has some issues as well. So both sitck up for each other and encourage.

I am really curious to find out more about Gideon, his past. I'm definetely looking forward to the second book in the Crossfire series.

Z is for Zanzibar

Congratulations! We did it -though I missed on the 'Y'. Life got in the way, and things didn't roll the way I wanted them to. I feel blessed, as I met a lot of wonderful people during this challenge, and got to read lots and lots of wonderful posts.Wouldn't have happened if I hadn't taken this challenge. Thank you for taking time to comment and follow me, and sending you *hugs*

Zanzibar, known as the Spice Island,  is made up of a series of islands, and is located approximately 25 kilometres from Tanzanian Coast, and is known for its brilliant white beaches, lapped by shimmering blue and turquiose waters of the Indian Ocean. The local people are a mixure of different ethnic backgrounds. indicative of Zanzibar's colourful history. Zanzibaris speak Swahili, - Swahili is spoken extensively throughout East AFrica. The island got his name as a result of plantations developed to provide spices.  Zanzibar being on the Indian Ocean gave it an advantage, as it became  famous for booming slave trade, giving it an important role in the Arab slave trade.

The Stone Town lies along the Indian Ocean, and is characterised by its maze of narrow passages some which are too narrow for cars, and mostly used by people on scooters and bicycles. It consists of shops, bazars, mosques and houses.
The architecture was influenced by Arab, Indian, European and African style.

 The Sultan's Palace, commonly known as the House of Wonders was built in 1883 by Sayyid Barghash  the third Sultan of Zanzibar. source used mainly for residential purposes

The long history of Zanzibar has its darker side. During the 18th and 19th centuries it was the main base for the trade in African slaves brought from the interior by Arab traders, who often purchased their captives from warring tribes. The slaves were sold to European and American merchants, and shipped in appalling conditions to the Americas and the Caribbean. It is still possible to visit the old slave pens, but an Anglican cathedral has been built on the site of the slave market.Source: usslav

Beckoning Light and Perilious Light Blog Tour

Book Summary:

As Charlotte steps through the gate, she has a strong feeling that nothing will ever be the same again.

Moving back to South Carolina after three years away, Charlotte knows she's going to have to face people from her past and adjust to a new high school, but she's completely unprepared for what else waits for her in Charleston.

Drawn through an old garden gate, Charlotte discovers a hidden world where she meets Calvin, a boy to whom she is inexplicably attracted. As Charlotte is pulled deeper into this hidden world, it's up to her older brother Kevin to rescue her. No matter how hard Kevin tries, the rescue depends upon Charlotte fighting her intense feelings for Calvin while mastering a set of abilities that she has only just discovered she possesses

Book Summary

Would you sacrifice everything for a world you barely knew?

A year has passed since Charlotte and Kevin first stepped
through the gate into Energo and neither has been able to settle back into their normal lives. Charlotte tries to distract herself from thoughts of Calvin with the antics of James and her growing friendship with Liam. Kevin can’t seem to shake his feelings for Samantha as he adjusts to his new identity as a college basketball player.

When they unexpectedly return to Energo, both Charlotte and Kevin must face their fears and become the leaders they were always meant to be.

My Review: Beckoning Light

Beckoning Light is written in two POVs, Charlotte and her brother, Kevin. 

Charlotte is a normal teenage girl, or so she thinks she is until events start happening, spurning the story forward sailing the reader through the world of Energo, a world completely different than our own, where Charlotte discovers things about her, and the nature of who and her brother are.

Kevin, first enters energo in seearch of his sister, accompanied by his uncle Monty and his best friend, Liam. - Liam's loyalty is astounding. Makes me wish I'd have a friend like him. Kevin also discovers who he is, and the power within him. 

I really enjoyed reading this story from the first sentence "We were flying over Canada when the panic set in.  to the last sentence "Don't worry Charlotte. No matter what everyone else sees, you will always have the afterglow."  The story is suspense and romance, a wonderful combination, and enjoyed the how the descriptions were done.

Alyssa Rose Ivy did a wonderful job with Energo's worldbuilding,  as well as portraying each character's traits. This is the first book in beginning a wonderful series, and I am looking forward to continue Perilous light where Beckoning Light left off. 

Rating. 4/5 Stars