STEEL LILY Book Tour: Excerpt

Hello dearies!
I've been gone lately, but I'm here today to bring you an excerpt from Steel Lily, a new novel by the amazing Megan Curd!



Here's what you need to know about Steel Lily!

Title: Steel Lily

Author: Megan Curd

Genre: Dystopian

Blurb:

AVERY PIKE is a commodity. No, more than a commodity. Her existence is guarded at all costs.

She’s a water Elementalist, the strongest of her dwindling kind. She creates steam to provide energy to fuel Dome Three: the only thing standing between humanity and an earth ravaged by World War III. No steam, no Dome. No Dome, no life.

Or so she thinks.

That is, until a mysterious man offers her a way out of having to donate steam. A way to escape the corrupt government of Dome Three. While the offer seems too good to be true, Avery is intrigued.

But when she arrives to her new home, she realizes the grass isn’t any less dead on this side of the fence. Instead, the lies are just hidden better.

…Which means digging deeper.

When Avery enlists the help of her friends to uncover the truth, it may make her wonder if she was better off being a government tool than searching for freedom.

Some secrets are better left concealed, but humankind was never meant to live in a cage. And when you can control the most sought after resource, you can learn to control anything…including the fate of your world.

Doesn't it sound awesome?

You can check it out on GR here: 

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17828413-steel-lily

And now here's what you need to know about Megan Curd:

Megan Curd is a graduate of Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minnesota. While having always enjoyed reading any books she could get her hands on, Megan didn’t begin writing until a friend encouraged her to do so while in college.

When not writing, Megan enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She loves to snowboard and travel to new places, and doesn’t turn down the opportunity to play xBox with her brother and friends when it presents itself.

Megan currently resides in Stanton, Kentucky with her husband, son, and Great Dane named Dozer.

(Also, Dozer is a cool name!)

You can find and contact Megan here:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

TWITTER

FACEBOOK

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

*insert my announcment voice* And now, the excerpt you've been all waiting for... *drumrolls*

I was moving double time to keep up with his long strides. He seemed so sure of himself, so in control of his destiny, even in this place, where he claimed we were imprisoned. I didn’t have a shred of doubt that what Jaxon wanted, Jaxon got. He owned his life. I so desperately wanted to own mine as well. Could he help me take control of it, or would he cause it to crash around my feet? For some reason, it felt like either option would be exhilarating if he were involved.

Exhilarating and dangerous.

The back of his shirt was soaked. The small “v” of muscles at the base of his spine flexed as he craned his neck to make sure I was still behind him. Why did that give me butterflies?

He turned and smiled. “Are you even listening to me? You’re way past your ogling allotment.”

“I’m not ogling you.”

“Trust me, I’ve experienced enough ogling to know it when I see it. If you’d prefer to ogle in peace, I’ll turn around again. There have been contests where my ass took first place in squeezability.”

“You must have been the only person in the running.”

He grinned mischievously. “And the only one to vote, but a win is still a win, right?”

This is the part where I say that I already like Jaxon *wink*

Okay, so, thanks for stopping by and make sure to check out the other today's stops, where reviews, more excerpts, and giveaways await you!

You can find the links on Tess Watson's twitter (she organized the tour brilliantly) here!

Thanks again for stopping by! Enjoy the day!

Tammy

In which I have a new blog

Hey everyone!
I just wanted to let you know that I've created a new blog, which will be more focused on me as a writer, so if you could check it out and maybe follow, I would be very happy.

Ramblings of a teenage writer

Thanks! :)
Tammy

It's been a while.. (Plus some important news)

Hey everyone!

Firstly, I realize I owe you a huuuge apology. I know I've been MIA a very long time, but if I start to explain why exactly, it would take me about seven months.
So, what you need to know is things have been happening, both negative and positive (ain't that always the case) and I can't promise the moon and the stars, BUT I do promise I will try to upload the blog as much as I can and as often as I can. Pinkie swear.

Next, I have news!
If you follow me on Twitter or if you have me as a friend on Facebook, you'll know that a couple of months ago I ran across a blogpost by my dear author friend Katie M. John, in which she said that Little Bird Publishing House is looking for submissions for an anthology of YA stories called 'Dark Heart'. And if you know me, you know that two of my greatest passions are reading and writing. So when I saw the post, it was like a ray of sunlight falling over me. I just knew- this could be my big chance.

So I mauled over things, and this idea I've been having came back to me, and a lot of scribbling (in and out of class) later, a story called 'Wicked Games' was born.

I sent it to Katie and the publishers, and then I patiently waited. Okay, I'm lying. I am not a patient person, so I checked my mail about twenty times a day, ha!

And then finally one day, actually I know the date but nevermind, I got the mail stating they loved my story and they would like to include it as a part of the anthology. So I pretty much all but screamed and jumped across the classroom (since it was a recess), and the excitement still hasn't worn out.

So. What I'm telling you is I'm going to be a published author!
And considering I'm only sixteen, this has got to count for something, right? It's like all of my dreams coming true.

'Dark Heart' Volume 1 is out January 30th, by Little Bird Publishing House.

You can visit their website here
You can visit the blog where you can find posts about the other awesome authors working on the anthology and other up to date news here


And this is the fab final cover!  *has an omigosh my name is on the cover! moment*

To recap, the anthology is in print now, is will be available from Wednesday, Jan 30th, and it's seven YA stories, all based on paranormal folkore. (I think you'll love it *wink*) For all the other info, visit the links above.

Lastly, I want to take a moment to say a huuuge thank you to firstly, Katie John and everyone in LBPH for giving me this mind-blowing opportunity, secondly, to all of the authors out there- I learned something new from each of you.
And of course, the biggest thanks goes to every single person I made friends with since I joined the reading and writing community, to every single person who believed in me from the start and who kept telling me I'd make it one day. Well, the day has come a bit earlier than I expected.

THANK YOU.
I wish I could give you all a huge hug in person. But then again, maybe one day I'll see you at one of my signings, eh? :)

I'll keep you posted on blog tours, and giveaways, and all things cool as soon as I know them.

Till next time,

Tammy

Daemon Invasion is coming...

Hello my dear readers!

I have joined Daemon Invasion, and I can promise you it is going to ROCK!

Now, sadly I cannot give out more information, but you will find out more very very soon ;)

Oh, if you're not familiar with what Daemon Invasion is, you can go here, http://jenniferarmentrout.blogspot.com/2012/04/daemon-invasion-is-here.html and check it out a bit.. this is a very fun and awesome and super cool and exciting little thing related to Daemon (and generally the novels) from the Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout, which, if you haven't yet, you must read now! MUST ;)

Soo, this is pretty much it, stay tuned for more info.. and one more teaser.. it is going to be... Daemon-ic ;)

Blog Tour: Pure - Review

Hi everyone!

Today, I am participating in a blog tour for Pure, which is the second novel in the Covenant series written by the awesome Jennifer L. Armentrout.
You can see the rest of the blog schedule here: http://www.stuckinbooks.com/p/pure-blog-tour.html

Now, just to remind you, you can see my reviews for Daimon - a prequel novella, and Half-Blood, the first novel, here: http://tamarasbookramblings.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-first-review-daimon-by-jennifer-l.html
                  http://tamarasbookramblings.blogspot.com/2011/09/review-half-blood.html

And now, before I start the review, I would just like to say a huuuuuuge thank you to Kate and the rest of the guys over at Spencer Hill Press for sending out an Advance Readers Copy of Pure to me. Thankyouthankyouthankyou! :)

Goodreads blurb:
There is need. And then there is Fate... 

Being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn't exactly awesome--especially when Alexandria's "other half" is everywhere she goes. Seth's in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom--so not cool. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden. Or what he will do--and sacrifice--for her. 

When daimons infiltrate the Covenants and attack students, the gods send furies--lesser gods determined to eradicate any threat to the Covenants and to the gods, and that includes the Apollyon... and Alex. And if that and hordes of aether-sucking monsters didn't blow bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralize Seth, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude... or killing her. 

When the gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone.


Personal opinion:
Oh boy! Words cannot express how much I am addicted to this series (along with anything else Jennifer writes).
As much as I liked Daimon and loved Half-Blood, Pure was even better. Sometimes novels have that second-book-syndrom or whatever it's called, when the sequel just isn't as good as the first book, but boy oh boy Pure doesn't suffer from it.
In this compelling sequel, Alex is faced with even more danger, new threats and heartbreaking loss, but still she remains brave and kick-ass, with even more snarky feedback.
She is, most definitely, one heck of a main character!

Now, there are, per usual, scenes that make you want to scream till your voice is totally gone, and scenes that will make you almost cry and scenes that you will laugh out loud, but there is something, or rather someone, else I would like to talk here.

Aiden. And Seth.

Aiden, the former love of my life. In Half-Blood I absolutely looooved him. I mean, how could you not like him?

But.
There came Seth. He appears in Half-Blood, and isn't a minor character, but in HB he just doesn't stand out next to Aiden.
But in Pure, he's there. And he's HOT. And I really really love him.
To be clear, I didn't stop loving Aiden, but Team Seth is the team I'm currently on :)

So, to sum up. I adore this series, and it has some of the most gorgeous covers ever, and I seriously can't wait for the third novel, Deity, out later this year.

5 stars

ARC review: The Savage Grace

I won an ARC of The Savage Grace on Bree's blog in October, if I'm correct. Bree received them in November, and from then I waited patiently. Around middle of December I started to panic that it got lost somewhere and that it would never arrive, which made me want to sob. But then, after Christmas, on 27th or 28th Dec, it finally arrived. I was  e-c-s-t-a-t-i-c. And not even the condition of the poor book made my happiness any less (and I gotta tell you, it was obvious the book had been through a lot on the journey overseas).
So here's my review, to hold you over until March 13th when it is released.


Goodreads blurb:
A troubled soul. An impossible choice. A final battle. 

Wrestling with the werewolf curse pulsing deep inside of her, Grace Divine was finally able to find her brother, but it nearly cost her everything. 

With her boyfriend, Daniel, stuck in wolf form and Sirhan's death approaching, time is running out for Grace to stop Caleb Kalbi and his gang of demons. If she fails, her family and hometown will perish. Everything rests on Grace's shoulders. 

The final installment in The Dark Divine trilogy brings Daniel and Grace's love story to a breathtaking conclusion.


Personal opinion:
Soo. This book was pretty much awesome. 
My copy has 488 pages and each and every one was filled with action, suspense, swoony moments and that feeling of not wanting to let it go. (also, there was this one cool typo, but nevermind heh)
And, those 488 pages seemed like a hundred when I was reading. I just kept flipping to the next, and before I realized what had happened, I was on the last chapter, last page, last sentence. 
And it was all over. 
And I wanted to cry. 

Because, reading TSG I realized how much I love Daniel. Realized how strong and fierce Grace is, realized how awful Calbi is, and realized that Talbot is (highlight for spoiler) lying son of a you-know-what
Well, since I don't know what else to write, I'll just say that this is a great ending, and though there are a question or two left unfinished, you get that feeling of finishing a series after reading it. 
And I really think that fans of The Dark Divine are going to be happy with how Bree wrapped it all up.
Soo, as soon as it's out, GO PICK IT UP :D


You can check out Bree's blog (oh, and if you do, there is a contest there, you can vote for your favorite fanfiction - my entry is there too, it's the first of written entries (it's on the second page, scroll a bit down), soo if you like *blink blink* there are prizes for voting ;) )
Make sure to follow her on Twitter
And check out her Goodreads page

Review: Angelina's Secret

Hello everyone! It has been such a long time since I posted, and I feel v-e-e-e-r-y bad about it (one of my New year resolutions is to be a better blogger, so yeah...) Anyway, from now on I will do my best to post at least two reviews every two weeks. And from June to September, I will be blogging full time since I will be on summer vacation then, but till then, I can't blog more than once a week, if even that much.
Today, I have a review of Angelina's Secret written by Lisa Rogers.




Goodreads blurb:

As a child, Angelina spent years in counseling learning that Josie, her imaginary friend, wasn't real, but it turns out her childhood friend wasn't imaginary after all.Now Angelina has to accept she's either (A) crazy or (B) able to see ghosts. Wanting to believe in her sanity, she chooses (B) and welcomes Josie back into her life. But even Josie can't help her deal with Shelly, the spirit of a confused teenager, and things go very, very wrong.When Angelina finds herself in a psychiatric hospital, she faces a choice: she can spend the rest of her life pretending to be someone she isn't, or she can embrace who she is and take a chance that she may never get to go home.

Personal opinion:
Okay, so.
When I signed up for an ARC of Angelina's Secret, I had no idea what to expect, honestly.
And when it arrived, I was anxious to read it.

Angelina is not your typical high-school cheerleader.
She sees and talks to ghosts. Well, either that or she's crazy.

And you know what? You don't quite know which one it is until the very end.
At the beginning, I wasn't hooked to this novel, but I kept going, and to tell you the truth, I'm glad I did.
It was actually a fresh read,with a subject I didn't come across a lot in another novels, and I can honestly say I liked it.
The story hooks you in, makes you flip the pages to finally know what's going on, it's full of surprises, and it makes you relate with Angelina at least a bit (or maybe that was just me).

Plus, the cover is creepy-cool!

Soo, all in all, when Lisa Rogers publishes her next novel, I will definitely make sure to check it out!

5 stars

*thanks to Spencer Hill Press and Kate Kaynak for sending me an ARC*

You can befriend Lisa on Goodreads
Visit her page on Spencer Hill Press site