Cassandra Page Presents: Isla's Inheritance

If you haven't seen me blather on about this young lady, then you are missing out. She is fantastic with a capital FAN! Lurve her and thrilled she is a fellow TMPer with me writing YA's, taking names and numbers! (Did that even make sense???)

So, she's a newbie author and she has a new book *drum roll*...

I mean look at this cover! Isn't it just gorgeous! 

Book & Author Details:

Isla’s Inheritance by Cassandra Page
(Isla’s Inheritance #1)
Publication date: October 9th 2014
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Isla was content to let her father keep his secrets, but now she can’t stand the touch of iron and her dreams are developing a life of their own. She must discover the truth — before it’s too late.

Seventeen-year-old Isla Blackman only agrees to participate in a Halloween party séance because Dominic, an old crush, wants to. She is sure nothing will happen when they try to contact the spirit of her mother. But the séance receives a chilling reply.

SHE IS NOT DEAD.

Isla doesn’t want to upset her father by prying into the family history he never discusses. When the mysterious and unearthly Jack offers to help her discover the truth, Isla must master her new abilities to protect her loved ones from enemies she never knew existed.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22549788-isla-s-inheritance?ac=1

Purchase:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Islas-Inheritance-Book-ebook/dp/B00NUN83NA

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/479275

AUTHOR BIO:

Cassandra Page is a mother, author, editor and geek. She lives in Canberra, Australia’s bush capital, with her son and two Cairn Terriers. She has a serious coffee addiction and a tattoo of a cat — which is ironic, as she’s allergic to cats. When she’s not reading or writing, she engages in geekery, from Doctor Who to AD&D. Because who said you need to grow up?

Author links:

http://cassandrapage.com/

https://twitter.com/CassandraPage01

https://www.facebook.com/CassandraPage01

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8328228.Cassandra_Page

Okay, if you didn't fall in love with the cover, then you surely did with the author! I mean look at her. I'm sure all the mates are falling over for this chic in The Outback (and I don't mean the steak restaurant!)

And to make things even more interesting, she's giving away a prize! *swoons*

GIVEAWAY

Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)

• A $50 gift card at Amazon or Barnes & Noble

My final words! Get this book! Here's my review on Goodreads. 

Death and the Girl Next Door

Last year in Cincy, I received a copy (I bought a book and had a friend have a friend sign it) of Death and the Girl Next Door.

I didn't actually read my copy until January, which, after reading, I kicked myself for waiting so long. This book was fantastic. Just the mix of paranormal, angst, teen issues and love I needed. This is the first book I've read from Ms. Jones and I guarantee I'll be checking out her Charley Davidson (gotta love that name) series.

So, the world is coming to an end, or so "they" say and only one girl, a descendant from a prophet, the first witch, can save them all. With the help of the Angle of Death and a guy born to protect her, can she save her sleepy little town? Will her family suffer or were they in on it from the beginning? Nothing is as it appears in this paranormal YA that will keep you glued to the pages.

I devoured book 2 and now I'm onto book 3.

Swoon Reads

If you follow me on Twitter and FaceBook, you should be familiar with my posts about Swoon Reads. Its a new company, an off-shoot of MacMillan Publishing, that is trying something new in the world of publishing. They've opened their doors to all swoon-worthy YA/NA submissions and are letting the readers help decide. They've already selected their first book for publication this year.

I uploaded Need to Know on their site in December with plans to leave it there until June, when they will be selecting another round of books.

This concept is very interesting. Basically, they are letting readers share what they want in a new release. But here's the kicker. They don't want "Oh my god, so good" comments. While those are wonderful to receive, they want truthful, explanatory reviews of the submissions.

This is where you come in. They need your input. I need your input. Create an account ( I promise it doesn't hurt) and start reading. I want to know what you think. Be honest. If it doesn't work, tell me why. If you couldn't put it down, tell me what worked. I can only improve my craft with feedback.

Here's my submission, Need to Know. Who knows, you might have a hand in selecting the next run of books published!

Need to Know description:

Nineteen-year old Jessica Crispin’s long lost grandfather died, leaving a large inheritance. The catch? She has to find her mother and bring her home.
She turns to her father, who’s in jail for murder, for help. He directs her to a stack of unread letters sent to Jessica by her mother. With the letters in hand, she and best friend Violet set out on a string of road trips where she meets Jackson King. Dark hair, blue eyes and a knack for clever shirts, Jackson helps Jessica learn the truth that eventually leads to her mother.
Has too much time passed? Can anybody ever get over a parent leaving them behind? And when her journey ends, does she return to life as usual or begin a new one with Jackson?

Perfect Scoundrels review: 4 Nuts

I have to admit, whenever I'm in the mood for a light hearted, funny, easy YA read, I generally grab a book by Ally Carter. Her stories are quick and keep my attention and Perfect Scoundrels was no exception.

Kat Bishop excels at being a thief except instead of doing bad, she's trying to do good. Stealing artwork and returning it to the rightful owner and in PS, her target is Hale. His grandmother has died and left her empire for him to run which seems too good to be true, mainly because he's only like 16 years old.

Can Kat meet her deadline? Will Hale prove to be a unwilling prize for her to steal back?

You'll have to read book #3 in the Heist Society novel.

My only complaint with the series is Kat's age. I feel like she's been 15 for the last 3 books. I know this is YA, but she can get older. In fact, I'd like her to get older. She acts older. Heck, the girl on the cover looks way older than 15.

For those who enjoy kissing boys in YA, there's enough to keep you interested as well. I'd like to see Kat's cousin find a mate.

And watch out for the surprise ending. Carter does a great job of slipping that in when you least expect it.

I can't wait for #4 and for the next installment of The Gallagher Girl series.

Along for the Ride 5 Nut Review

GoodReads blurb:
It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.

A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.

In her signature pitch-perfect style, Sarah Dessen explores the hearts of two lonely people learning to connect

I haven't had the opportunity to do much pleasure reading this summer and was lucky enough to get a chance to attack my TBR list while on vacation and immediately fell in love with Sarah's Dessen's book. But I wasn't surprised. Her writing is flawless and takes you on a journey that allows you to connect with the characters. 

As simple as riding a bike, I found myself loving the fun nature behind the book. Sure, there are deep issues and you want to scream at Auden's dad and mom but when Eli helps her to live, I fell in love. The journey to find herself in the matter of a few months was beautiful and allowed Auden to make changes in her life that I think she always needed to be made. I think most people come out of their shell or discover what they are capable of right before college, which can be a scary time in a person's life. College opens the door to all new experiences and gathering the courage to step through the door can be life altering. 

The ending was great and I wanted to read more about Auden and Eli. Do you think if we begged, we might get a "what if" scenario or sneak peak?  

Be sure to also read the letter from the author in the back. Its just as touching as this wonderful story. 

5 Nuts for Pushing The Limits

Blurb from Pushing The Limits from GoodReads:
No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

First off, I saw this book everywhere and people were talking about it but I didn't have time so I added it to my TBR list. Then I attended the Reader Author Get Together in Cincy back the second weekend in June and Katie was slotted to attend as a special guest.

Okay, I'm totally going to geek out on you.

When I arrive with my donated gift baskets, I was standing in line behind her. I didn't know it was "her" until I saw her gift. Then, Saturday morning, I sit down to breakfast with some co-workers and a few ladies I didn't know and BOOM Katie is sitting with us. I kept it cool and we talked about our kids, our love of donuts (because the hotel kept running out of them at the buffet) and where we were from. Which turns out, the other ladies I didn't know where also from Missouri! They live like 20 minutes from me.

Anywho, I had to buy her book and have her sign it. And I did. And I started reading it that night and couldn't put it down. BTW, I stayed up until 2:30 and needed to be up by 5ish to drive 5.5 hours back home. And even on the drive home, I couldn't let the story rest. I kept replaying scenes and I honestly think that's how I arrive back home so fast.

I had to finish that book!

I loved it! I absorbed every word until I moved onto the next. Love, love, love it!

5 Nuts for Hopeless

GoodReads blurb:

Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies…

That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past that she wishes could just stay buried.

Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever.

WOW! Not to sound crass or make fun, because no pun intended but Hoover sucked me in from the start. Sky and Holder are beautiful together and their journey of how they met, again, and watching their relation grow kept me glued to it. I couldn't put this book down and when I finally had to, I wanted to pick it right back up.

The story itself, even though it might happen once every million years, was connectable. And for Holder to carry the burden of what happened to his childhood friend was heartbreaking. You were right there with him when he explains how he realized who Sky really was and how he struggled with the information.

Well done!

But be warned, there are some tough situations in this book and if you are sensitive to sexual abuse, this book isn't for you. But trust, the scenes are not graphic, just moving in their realization.

If you're a fan, here's an extra scene from Hopeless from Holder's POV. Loosing Hope is out July 2013.

5 Nuts for The Reese Malcolm List

I might be a little biased since the author is a dear friend but I can honestly say I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN!

And look at that great cover! Well done, Ames!

Here's the blurb from GoodReads:
Things I know about Reece Malcolm:

1. She graduated from New York University.
2. She lives in or near Los Angeles.
3. Since her first novel was released, she’s been on the New York Times bestseller list every week.
4. She likes strong coffee and bourbon.
5. She’s my mother.

Devan knows very little about Reece Malcolm, until the day her father dies and she’s shipped off to live with the mother she’s never met. All she has is a list of notebook entries that doesn’t add up to much.

L.A. offers a whole new world to Devan—a performing arts school allows her to pursue her passion for show choir and musicals, a new circle of friends helps to draw her out of her shell, and an intriguing boy opens up possibilities for her first love.

But then the Reece Malcolm list gets a surprising new entry. Now that Devan is so close to having it all, can she handle the possibility of losing everything?


Ms. Spalding has done a fantastic job of making you love Devan. Even if you weren't a show choir/drama geek like some of us, you will instantly want to sign up for the next community theater production of Grease but you will also root for her and the relationship with her mother. I love her tough attitude when dealing with being the new kid in school. Heck, I've been there and I only wish I had half the guts to not care what people thought. 

Yet, there's this vulnerable side to her that she doesn't share with anybody. She's still a girl who's lost her dad and now is forced to live with a mother she thought didn't want her. Man, tough stuff and Amy sucked me in and I couldn't help but love Devan. 

I have a special place in my heart for Devan and thank you Amy for bringing these characters to life and a big thank you for the kissing. Who doesn't love kissing?

To keep up on all things Amy Spalding and her next release, Ink is Thicker than Water, visit here at theamyspalding.com.

Fun Summer Read

Here's a book I stumbled across today that looks very interesting.

Emma has always tried to be perfect in her almost eighteen years of existence, but it has never been good enough for her mother and stepfather. As she finds herself counting the days until she’s officially free from her parents’ reins, her stepfather hands her a plane ticket explaining that she must attend the Re-Boot Camp in the wilds of Alaska. 

Once she lands in the middle of nowhere, she realizes the camp is nothing like she imagined, and she wants out immediately. 

That is until she meets Liam. 

The camp is full of teens with dark pasts, but she finds herself drawn to Liam’s ability to see who she really is and who she wants to become. While Emma and Liam begin adjusting to a place neither wants to be, frightening events begin to unfold. When people begin disappearing, it becomes apparent they can only trust one another as they fight for survival.

To make it even better, it's on sale for $.99 on both Amazon and B&N. PLUS, the author is doing a giveaway on her site. Visit her at http://blog.karicebolton.com/ to enter.

Show an author a little love. Visit her site today!

Oh, and while you're buying her book, add a few more to your cart ;-)

Men in Uniform

Ice Princess

Prince Charming

Queen Mean

King of the Lake

YA Submissions

My friends at TMP are open to submissions for a new YA anthology: Love is a Battlefield. If you're interested, here are the details.

Love Is a Battlefield

TMP YA Anthology

Summer 2014

WANTED: Seasoned YA authors who yearn for a challenge or YA writers who want to break into the world of publishing. Wow us with your story for our new YA anthology, Love is a Battlefield. This collection will be available both digitally and in print.

Young Adult readers love angst. And what’s better than a book full of angst. Love is a Battlefield will consist of 8-10 YA short stories (5K to 8K word count) that tug at the heart strings. We want strong heroines who are willing to fight for what they want.

Submit a polished short story to yasubmissions@turquoisemorning.com. Please allow 6-8 weeks from submission date for us to get back with you on the progress of your story.