Finding Favor (or Finding Happiness?)

Finding Favor begins with anticipation from the first breath as we get inside the head of Favor, a girl who was been brought up by a rich family ever since her father died. It brilliantly blends the worlds of the classic literature novel you love with the world of the modern in a unique way and was inspired by Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park. (Check out the Bonus Guest Post at the end by the Author- Why I Love Jane Austen!) How about you- what are your favorite classics? Looking forward to hearing from you!

Keep reading for some awesome prizes! My review is below, after the blurb on the book!

Launch Week Prize Basket – Journal with a cover inspired by Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park (as is this novel), note cards with an orchid design (Favor’s favorite flower), a hard cover edition of To Kill a Mockingbird (Ethan’s favorite book), and a cool pen (who doesn’t love cool pens?) (Reviewer-only giveaway at the end!)

About Finding Favor

Which would you choose:  friendship or freedom?

In the eight years since seventeen-year-old Favor Miller’s father died, she’s had to endure her reluctant, self-righteous guardians the Browns. Every day for eight years, they’ve reminded her that she doesn’t fit in, that she’s not one of them. Every day for eight years, she’s eagerly awaited the day when she’ll finally be free to live her life her way.

On the eve of high school graduation, Mr. Brown ambushes Favor with the offer of college funding and a to-die-for summer internship–with the one stipulation that she must discontinue her friendship with his son, Ethan.

Accustomed as she is to sharing everything with her best friend, this is one secret Favor must keep in order to protect Ethan. The distraction of his new girlfriend, her growing friendship with his older brother, and her need to understand her family history, add in further complications.

As Favor debates signing the contract, she must decide if she’s willing to give up her best friend in order to pursue her dreams.  Will she have to stay in the place she’s so desperately wanted to escape in order to make the right decision and get what she really needs?

~~~

My Review

Lana finds it nerve wracking as she wonders why her guardian has called her in for an official meeting- especially as she will soon be leaving and going out into the real world, where she will not be under their watchful rules and expectations any longer.

She is given an ultimatum, so to speak- to follow her career dreams (with their help and money and recommendations) or to follow her heart and be with the one she loves.

She has to sign away her love. Sign in blood? She might as well be. As she would be signing her heart away if she does this.

It has that classic feel but is immersed in the modern era. It is quite reminiscent of some of the classic novels with the heroine coming into her own. Our heroine in this novel is not like any other, though. She may have worn the corset, so to speak, at first. And it may have taken her quite a long time to learn how to breathe, but she really jumps off the pages right away and into your heart and mind.

I found myself putting off other books so I could get back to this one! (And that is saying something, as I read several books at a time including fast paced action and thrillers!)

But this story has that special essence- something about it stays with you and you want to be immersed in the world of the engaging characters and plot. It has its own unique twist and the characters don’t fall neatly in any patterns or expectations. Favor ends up getting more choices than she bargained for and finds that freedom also comes along with other things, things that could be both good and bad.

I will not say anymore- just this- get the book now and see for yourself! It’s a delicious world to fall into!

Below are a few quotes that will give you a taste of the exciting world of these characters.

“Everything stopped. Nothing existed but him. When he saw me, his whole face lit up.”

“His face lit up, and my little experiment seemed doomed to fail before it even started.”

“The sheer drapes blew gently in the breeze. I walked straight onto the deck not stopping until the railing caught me. I stood on the verge of freedom; it swam with the ocean currents and sailed with the ships. Nothing stopped me from seeing all the possibilities of life. I believed Mr. Rushworth’s words; I made my own possibilities.”

Want more? Read below for a sneak preview from the book and here’s how to win the prizes:

Our big launch week prize basket includes:   Journal with a cover inspired by Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park (as is this novel), note cards with an orchid design (Favor’s favorite flower), a hard cover edition of To Kill a Mockingbird (Ethan’s favorite book), and a cool pen (who doesn’t love cool pens?). CLICK HERE NOW TO ENTER!

Finding Favor is priced at just 99 cents as part of its special launch week sale. Pick up your copy on either Amazon US or Amazon UK now, and don’t forget to stop by and participate in the special release week contests.

Read an Excerpt from

Finding Favor by Lana Long

I woke early after not sleeping well. I threw on gray shorts and a black T-shirt, and put my hair in a ponytail. My eyes were only slightly puffy.

Thankfully the kitchen was the only room awake, and not even Brenda bothered me.

When I opened the greenhouse door, I stopped short. It was only seven but there she stood, by my work table—a place she’d never been—waiting for me with a malicious smile on her face, a metal garbage can at her feet.

“Hello, Favor,” Madison said. A chill traveled up my spine.

“Hey.”

“So yesterday was rather embarrassing for you.” She picked a piece of lint off her shirt. “I thought that would be enough, but after a restless night I decided it really wasn’t. My dad sent you a birthday card.”

Her eyes flashed and shone like emeralds. “I knew something needed to be done. And you know what that means.”

“Madison…”

She silenced me with a finger to her lips. “Now is not the time for groveling, Favor. That time has passed… if it ever existed.” She pulled a book of matches out of her pocket.

My heart sped up. She was going to burn down the greenhouse. I took a step toward the door. I didn’t need her knocking me over the head and leaving me in the burning building. She was sadistic, but I’d never thought of her as violent. With the manic look in her eyes and a matchbook in her hand, I discovered that I’d never before known true fear.

“Madison,” I said in a warning voice. “What are doing?”

“What am I doing? Favor, I know you’re slow, but c’mon. Even you aren’t that slow.”

“Madison, if you burn down the greenhouse your parents are going to be really, really mad. Murder is a capital crime.”

She laughed at me, her head thrown back and her fist clutched to her stomach. “That is hilarious. You think I would risk my future for you.” Her eyes went bright green and even crazier still.

“That’s it, you know?” She took a step toward me and I took a step back. “The attitude that everything is about you. Always about you.”

“Are you crazy?” I screeched. Not the best thing to say but she’d gotten me going. “Nothing is ever about me!”

“Really? Then why did my dad send you a birthday card when he didn’t send one to me?”

All hope of reasoning with her drained out of me. Mr. Brown had forgotten Madison’s birthday earlier in the year. I’d been too distracted by my own problems to make the connection.

“Madison, you have to know the birthday card had nothing to do with wishing me a happy birthday.”

“Oh, I know.” She waved her hand, making my stomach plunge as the matches waved, too. “I know about the contract. I found it in your desk.”

I tightly fisted my hands to stop my urge to throw her to the ground and take the matches.

She stretched her neck and smoothed her hair.

I stepped toward her.

She went perfectly still. “Now, now, Favor. If I were you, I would try not to piss me off anymore this summer, or I’ll tell my dad about your little crush on Ethan.”

Another thing she knew about me. I felt exposed.

“He’ll take away your money for college. And something tells me your precious internship is in this deal, too. But right now I’m feeling charitable, and really, angrier at my father. So, unless you do something to make me less charitable, your secrets are safe with me. But that doesn’t mean that I can let you get away with garnering even a little attention from dear, old Dad.”

I swallowed hard. “What do you plan to do?”

“Oh, I plan to burn these.” She held up the trash can and inside, stacked neatly on top of each other, were my journals.

“Madison…” I took a step towards her.

“Uh-uh.” She twisted her body so the trash can was farther away from me. “Like I said, the time for groveling is over.”

“Madison, please.” Tears welled in my eyes. “You don’t understand. Those journals are all I have of my dad. They’re everything that’s important to me.”

“I know that,” she scoffed. “Why do you think I choose this method of retribution? You take away my dad’s attention, and I take away your dad’s attention. It seems fair.” Her tone turned sinister and she sounded crazier.

“How did you find them?”

“Oh, I have my ways. You’re not the only one with secrets.”

“Madison, I will do anything you want.”

She put the trash can down and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Stop saying my name!” She started out in a whisper and was screaming by the end.

I should’ve turned to run and save myself, but I couldn’t. Those journals meant everything to me.

“God.” She sighed in frustration. “Don’t say another word, okay?” She smiled at me. “I have a whole day planned so I’m going to get this over with. This is for the birthday card.”

She pulled a match out of the box.

I stared stunned, shaking my head. She struck the match, and I felt faint.

“But most of all, this is just fun.” She flung the match into the trash can and a flame shot up a few inches from the can. Even Madison jumped back.

“Huh,” she said thoughtfully. “Shouldn’t have used so much lighter fluid.”

The flame jumped inside the trash can, but thankfully, stayed contained.

I gave Madison plenty of room as she left, not daring to take my eyes off of her. Once the door slammed shut, I grabbed the nearest water can.

Empty.

I tore through the greenhouse trying to find water. Finding a half-full can, I doused what was left of the fire, a plume of smoke rising and encircling my face. I coughed, waving at the quickly dissipating smoke.

***

Finding Favor is priced at just 99 cents as part of its special launch week sale. Pick up your copy on either Amazon US or Amazon UK now, and don’t forget to stop by and participate in the special release week contests.

Our big launch week prize basket includes:   Journal with a cover inspired by Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park (as is this novel), note cards with an orchid design (Favor’s favorite flower), a hard cover edition of To Kill a Mockingbird (Ethan’s favorite book), and a cool pen (who doesn’t love cool pens?). CLICK HERE NOW TO ENTER!

***

Why I Love Jane Austen

A Guest Post by Lana Long

I can sum it up in one word: escapism.  Don’t get me wrong; I enjoy reading books that deal with hard-hitting issues—issues that are real and difficult—but for the most part watching one nightly newscast can provide enough reality to last a few weeks. When it’s late at night, the kids are sleeping, the dog is sleeping, the husband is sleeping, everything is real quiet and the day’s activities are slipping into memory, I want to spend my last waking minutes in a world that’s interesting, satisfying, and nice.

That is why I love Jane Austen.

The social propriety of Austen’s works fascinates me. All of Austen’s novels struggle with the hierarchy of society.  In Pride and Prejudice, Darcy fights his feelings for Elizabeth because she’s not quite up to his social standing. In Persuasion, Anne pines for her lost love because she allowed her family to convince her that Wentworth isn’t good enough. In Sense and Sensibility, Willoughby leaves Marianne when the risk of lost fortune becomes all too real. Willoughby is not a hero, and in the end Marianne comes to see that love doesn’t need to burn bright and hot to be real. Society tries to deflate these characters, tries to ruin their chances at happiness, but they fight through it and come out stronger, better off, and at peace. All except Willoughby, but that lout deserves what he gets.

That is why I love Jane Austen.

The physical world of Austen’s novels is like a mythical place to me after growing up in the 20^th century western United States. In Austen’s world, people live in houses the size of apartment buildings. They travel by coach, horseback, or they walk. If they’re wealthy enough, they summer in the country, winter in London, and vacation or convalesce in Bath. Servants take care of the family (don’t insinuate to Mrs. Bennett that she can’t afford a cook), drive them from place to place, work the land, and take care of the estate. Quaint villages and abbeys sustain small communities. Without wealth, people become isolated in their communities due to the time and cost to travel from one place to another. The characters in Austen’s novels—affluent or not—find ways to traverse this world and allow the reader to glimpse the countryside, the city and everything in between at the dawn of the nineteenth century in England.

That is why I love Jane Austen.

In Austen’s novels, the family structure and the roles of men and women are so foreign but at the same time so simple. What would it be like to spend all day sewing, playing the piano, reading, drawing, or walking in the garden? At the same time the women find themselves helpless because they aren’t allowed to learn anything besides these activities. In Sense and Sensibility, Elinor is powerless to find a way to care for her sisters and mother after her half-brother inherits her father’s estate and doesn’t care for his sisters as promised. Emma‘s friends, the Bates, live off kindness and a small living, because Miss Bates never married and her father is deceased. It’s not necessarily easier for the men. If you’re not the oldest son your choices are limited to clergy, military or another profession deemed acceptable by the gentry.  Still, these people fight against the rules of gender and birth order. They are funny, kind, caring… frustrating and irritating, but they are always likeable and I cheer their success and mourn their losses, even Emma. And most of all, there’s a happy ending; our heroines and their friends find love and peace, and their foes find discomfort and an unfulfilling future.

That is why I love Jane Austen.

So why did I choose Mansfield Park for an adaptation out of all the Austen works? First, it’s a great story. The story is of Fanny Price, a young girl, coming of age away from her immediate family, who is too poor to rear all of their offspring. Fanny is required to uphold expectations set upon her by her caregivers, her wealthy aunt and uncle, but she is never to be rewarded for living up to those expectations because her true parentage is lowly. She’s in love with a boy, her best friend, who’s falling in love with someone else and by all of society’s rules unattainable even if he was available. The story felt ripe for a modern Young Adult novel.

That is why I love Jane Austen.

Second, well, I hadn’t seen Mansfield Park retold. It would take your hands, my hands and twenty of our closest friends to count the number of times Pride and Prejudice has been adapted. I’m not complaining; I love it. Other Austen works need the opportunity to be discovered through modern retellings as well. As a teenager I read Emma because of the movie Clueless.  Jane Austen’s been gone for almost 200 years and we still read her novels and draw inspiration from them because they are truly great stories.

And that is why I love Jane Austen.

***

Finding Favor is priced at just 99 cents as part of its special launch week sale. Pick up your copy on either Amazon US or Amazon UK now, and don’t forget to stop by and participate in the special release week contests.

Our big launch week prize basket includes:   Journal with a cover inspired by Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park (as is this novel), note cards with an orchid design (Favor’s favorite flower), a hard cover edition of To Kill a Mockingbird (Ethan’s favorite book), and a cool pen (who doesn’t love cool pens?). CLICK HERE NOW TO ENTER!

***

About Lana Long

As a devoted fan of young adult novels herself, Lana Long is thrilled to be gracing the YA world with her first novel, Finding Favor. Many years of daydreaming and several writing classes and workshops have contributed to the development of Finding Favor as well as to her inevitable future books. Through her experiences at Lighthouse Writers in Denver, the Big Sur Writing Workshop in California, and the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Colorado Gold Conference, she has learned an amazing amount about writing novels.

Although writing serves as a relaxing process, Lana is also grounded by her family, by her work as a church treasurer, and by volunteering at her kids’ elementary school.

She hopes that her books provide readers with the same entertainment she herself finds in YA novels. If you enjoy a good coming-of-age story featuring enthralling characters, check out Finding Favor and read more of Lana’s thoughts at www.lanalongbooks.com.

Click here to enter the Reviewer-only Rafflecopter giveaway to win cool prizes!

Please comment below on your favorite classics! What makes you fall in love with the story and the characters?

The Sound of Loneliness (Or Lunacy?) A Review

This book was quite a read. It was thought provoking and draws interesting parallels to real life.

I started reading it because I was drawn to the idea of a writer giving just about everything up to become  a published author, which is my goal. (Becoming published, that is…) The way he goes about it is quite different from the normal routes one might normally use. He sets out to practically starve himself in the hopes of dedicating himself to nothing but writing. Quite a premise for a novel.

The topic that the book ended up delving into was very revealing (and somewhat questionable). The main character tried to come to terms with who he really is. And what he’s learned from his family. And if he is destined to repeat their mistakes. This makes you think about the “genes” you may have inherited from your family line. But also shows, in the end, that you don’t have to follow the pattern. You can break free out on your own.

But it takes a turn in a different direction when it focuses on the main character’s obsession with a young girl that borders on pedophilia. Not in a very good way. Not the horrors of The Lovely Bones, thankfully (I say thankfully, for the sake of the girl in the story, as The Lovely Bones is actually quite a powerful- though disturbing- read), or the twistedness of Lolita.

This actually describes our character almost to a ‘T’ : Psychology of the Pedophile

Related: Must read for parents, caretakers, older siblings- how to keep your child safe

It also plays on the theme of “the grass is greener” elsewhere, quite a bit.  His loneliness takes him to many places and he is quite foolish in the way he deals with it at times.

Related: The Right Way to deal with feeling lonely and where it really comes from

The writer side of him seems to suffers from delusions of grandeur (grand, GRAND grandeur!). He tells people all about himself becoming a famous author but sadly, does not always put the work in to accomplish this. (Which may be some telling advice for would be writers out there, myself included, I would confess.) As NephGirl quotes, Dreams don’t work unless you do ~John C. Maxwell.

Related: Ways to start writing

But the main character goes quite overboard with his arrogance and how he views himself, which is a red flag of another color- (Read: Wizard of Oz- Now that’s a horse of a different color).

Arrogance is not the key concern as we discover what kind of person he really is.  He is one of those characters that is easy to hate.  He really has no major redeeming qualities and he does not change in any major or important ways.

Meaning of horse of a different color

Back to his writing- it is only until later in the novel that he meets someone who does not put up with the dramatics of his ideas about his writing.

(Where can you water your grass to succeed at what’s important to YOU?) Related: How to water the grass of your goals

Overall, I would recommend this book for those who want to see another side of one particular writer who thought he could not make it with his writing nor with making any good choices, but finally got around to see otherwise.

I was disappointed with how one of the main plot points was handled, because of the conclusion. Yes, he didn’t damage himself in the choices he made (too much). But it focused on that, I felt, at the expense of discovering what really was at stake and I don’t feel he really learned anything crucial from his journey. It takes him full circle, but is he really any the better for it?

About the Book – About the Author – Prizes!!!

Welcome to Novel Publicity’s first ever publishing house blog tour. Join us as three new titles from Perfect Edge–we’re calling them the Perfect Edge Trifecta–tour the blogosphere in a way that just can’t be ignored. And, hey, we’ve got prizes!

About the book: Manchester in 1991 is a town suffering under the weight of high unemployment and massive government budgetary deficits that is plunging the UK into a recession.

To Daniel Crabtree, a struggling writer, it is the backcloth to his first novel, one that will see him become a famous published author. Living off mostly water and flour, Daniel has embraced penury into his life under the mistaken belief that many young artists have: one needs to suffer for success in art. But Daniel is a terrible writer. In the three years since signing on the dole, of every morning chastising his Irish singing neighbour for waking him from his sleep, and scrounging food from his close friend Henry Soperton, Daniel Crabtree has produced one short story. His heart is bereft of words as much as his pockets are of money.

The Sound of Loneliness is a story of love, and how a poor starving man chasing a dream came to the understanding that amidst the clamour of life, the sound of loneliness is the most deafening of all.

Pick up your copy of this Literary/ Urban Life/ Black Comedy through Amazon US, Amazon UK, or Barnes & Noble.

About the author: Craig Wallwork lives in West Yorkshire, England. He is an artist, filmmaker and writer. His short stories have appeared in many publications in the US and the UK. He is the author of the short story collection Quintessence of Dust, and the novels To Die Upon a Kiss and The Sound of Loneliness. Craig is also the fiction editor at Menacing Hedge Magazine. Connect with Craig on his website, Facebook, GoodReads, or Twitter.

About the prizes: Who doesn’t love prizes? You could win either of two $25 Amazon gift cards, an autographed copy of The Sound of Loneliness, or an autographed copy of one of its tour mates, Stranger Will by Caleb J Ross or Angel Falls by Michael Paul Gonzalez. Here’s what you need to do…

1. Enter the Rafflecopter contest
2. Leave a comment on my blog.

That’s it! One random commenter during this tour will win a $25 gift card. Visit more blogs for more chances to win–the full list of participating bloggers can be found here. The other $25 gift card and the 3 autographed books will be given out via Rafflecopter. You can find the contest entry form on the official Perfect Edge Trifecta tour page via Novel Publicity. Good luck!

Perfect Edge Books was founded in late 2011 to unite authors whose books weren’t “obviously” commercial. Our books tend to sit in various genres all at once: literary fiction, satire, neo-noir, sci-fi, experimental prose. We believe that literary doesn’t have to mean difficult, and that difficult doesn’t just mean pointless. We prefer to cultivate a word-of-mouth approach to marketing, and keep production as simple as we can. Learn more at www.PerfectEdgeBooks.com.

Learn more about The Sound of Loneliness‘s tour mates HERE.

Worst Nightmares Coming True

Live Reactions as I read the rest of the Gone series by Michael Grant

Now Reading Fear: Book Five of the series

Join me as I read and share your reactions!

Read my other Gone reviews. Read the Series Spotlight to to catch up and see which book to start with to join!

Caution- Proceed at your own risk- Spoilers may be ahead, but I kept it as vague as possible to not give away anything major!

This book definitely tones up the dial on the fear factor, so it is true to its name!

It is one of those books that I suspect, shows your worst fears realized. Which for this series, can be pretty daunting and downright horrifying!

The kids suspect that someone who cannot die (apparently) is on the way back and is looking for them.

The Healer, Lana, gets some inkling of the Darkness’s thoughts and knows that he is after Diana for her new connections to the dark side. How does Lana know this? She almost “hears” another characters’ voice- can the darkness sense Diana’s voice or fears because of her connection? Does this mean that the beloved Diana will go over to the Dark Side? (Pun most likely intended…?)

Will Diana’s guilt and fear lead to her downfall? She feels horrible about what she has done and greatly struggles with giving into her dark side or fighting it. Can it be stopped or does she feel it’s too late?

Penny= the queen of all fears=your worst nightmare! What’s even scarier is there is not a simple way to fight her- she can give  visions of your worst nightmare to a group of kids at once, so she can fight many people at a time.

It feels so real, that it is hard to fight what you feel is happening to you, even though your head might say it is not real. She really knows how to get in your head, as she uses even what you enjoy against you, to the point of you not knowing what is really happening and doing damage to others or to yourself in the process.

But this shows that even though people may fear you, they do not respect you or love you or like you in the slightest- which is a lesson that several characters might have to learn, as they let the thirst for more power and risk and danger overtake them…

Penny is not very smart though either, as she has lost her mind. She doesn’t think things through. Her hate rules everything. She wants to be in charge and uses the fear of others to get on top, so she can get back at them and express her hatred of being rejected all those times.

So this also is stemmed in fear on her end (of others, what they think of her, not being part of the group, being alone, we all have fears…) she wanted everyone to like her and wants to get back at Caine for rejecting her. She wants to get back at Lana now as well after their showdown. But if she kills the only one who can heal people, she might be signing her own death warrant in the process in this desert wasteland with no other way of getting help if everyone is your enemy (no one else to go to in the FAYZ, is there?).

Talking about death warrants, one of them was not signed for a major character in the FAYZ after all. The consequences of this could be fatal for many of the survivors left in the FAYZ and could have some pretty far reaching consequences.

The deliciousness of the fear in this book is that anything can happen and you are shivering in anticipation (and horror) just thinking about all the things that could wrong with the new ways of life here under the barrier. Past decisions come back to haunt some of the characters and the newfound power in the FAYZ just hints of all the darkness that is coming and ever growing as life continues for the kids as they try to do what they can to survive.

The fear is not only growing on the inside of the FAYZ either.

I like how the outside world is being explored more in this book of the series. Before we only saw glimpses, now we are getting a story line that is being shown alongside of all the craziness of the FAYZ.  And if what is inside is somewhat “contained,” then just imagine what the outside is like in response to the creation of the barrier. This also leads to more tension and dials up the fear as well because of the choices of those on the outside and how it will affect the kids-  will those on the outside do whatever they can to help?  Or will they risk the lives of the  children stuck inside?

To join me as I read the series (and possibly re-read the earlier books!) comment below and share where you are in the series or if you would like to start it! It’s always more fun to read together! I want to hear your reactions as you experience life in the FAYZ- so please do share below. And if you would like to post it on your blog- please link back to your blog in your comment! I would like to share some of your posts here in the Castle!

What scared you the most as you read? What power would you want to have in the FAYZ? Who would your allies and enemies be?

Gone Postal: The Ultimate Gone Post

Series Spotlight: Gone

Let’s hear it for the Gone series!

Have you ever gotten lost in a book series that you didn’t want to end, but couldn’t wait to read the next book as soon as it came out?

This is that series!

There is nothing quite like getting entranced with a new world when you discover an amazing new series.There is the rush of experiencing and learning about a whole new world and all of the unique characters. It’s like opening up a gift! There is also the pleasure, the hope, of knowing that this world has no end yet in sight, though with each book you read, you know you will want to get the next one right away.

When you start getting to the last couple of books, the feeling increases that you don’t want this world to end. I did the same thing with the Lost TV series- I did not see the last final episode(s) until later- which is a whole different story (though I also was overseas at the end of the series). Sometimes I don’t read the last book right away to extend this feeling! Though that is not always possible, of course 😉 !

This seems to be the case with this series– not reading the last couple of books, that is. Yes, normally I would have finished the last book by now. Especially.with.a series.like.this. With moving overseas to different countries the past couple years, I didn’t stay current with this series, so I will be reading the last two books! (Though are we not too far away from the recent release date of the final book- Light in this amazing series, which was just released on April 2nd, just 10 days ago from the date of this post!)As I complete this series, I will be posting the rest of my reviews! (So please don’t send me any spoilers! 😛 ) If you haven’t read the whole series, now is the perfect time to do it- we can read them together! I will be recording my reactions as I read, so please join me and read along!

The new Series Spotlight page will highlight some of the series I have enjoyed immensely and would recommend, as I would not mind getting lost in them again. (And I don’t usually like to read a book more than once, same thing with seeing a movie more than once!)

I would like to hear your thoughts on this in the comments below. What are some series you would recommend checking out? What series should I highlight next?

Here is the first series I will spotlight, in honor of it being the first series and the first book(!) I started reviewing here on BookwormCastle! Click on the titles below to check out my reviews! More reviews to come for this series soon- as well as highlights after I finish the series and other juicy tidbits as I read! So sign up for updates above on the top right hand side of the page or Follow my page! (NOW! 😉 )

What did you love (or loathe) about this series? (Remember, you can have a love/hate relationship sometimes with books too!) Favorite parts? Favorite quotes? Best and worst characters? (I have a whole yearbook style section below for the highlights, bests (and worsts sometimes!) too, which I can add to as I receive feedback from YOU, my dear readers! And best of all, for those who want to read along, there are no major spoilers below, just teasers*! 🙂

*Read at your own risk. May become hooked to the series.

Book One:

Gone

Favorite Parts: When Sam decides to make the right choice and take a stand. He really comes into his new power and learns how to use it! This is something we all can do too! We all have the power inside of us to live the best life we can, it’s a matter of making choices and taking the next step towards your goals, towards what is really important to you.

Favorite Characters who really shine (in no particular order): Sam, Brianna aka “The Breeze”, Lana

Lana’s back story and strength is just amazing and reminds me of Julie of the Wolves meets Lord of the Flies, (then meets Animorphs ;)- check out this great description of this amazing series here- Why Animorphs is awesome– that you may remember from childhood. But anyone would love it!)

Noteworthy Characters: Caine, Drake

Caine loves conflict and is bloodthirsty, hence his namesake. He has to be in charge or there is hell to pay. Sacrilegious (?) view of Cain’s story (does not necessarily reflect my beliefs)

Favorite/Amusing/Haunting Quotes to Introduce the World of Gone: “Welcome to Perdido beach, where our motto is: Radiation, what radiation?”

“But if all they did was kill time, time would end up killing them.”

“Sam was slow getting up. To Quinn he looked like an old man standing up after slipping on the ice. But he looked up at Quinn and performed a sort of salute.
I owe you, Quinn.”
I’m sorry I didn’t get him,” Quinn answered.
Sam shook his head. “Man, don’t ever be sorry you don’t want to kill someone.”

Best Couple: Sam and Astrid

Most Cringe-worthy moment: Meeting the Darkness, Drake’s “healing”

Book Two:

Hunger

Favorite Parts: Duck’s heroics, Dekka’s courage,  Caine showing his love for Diana in quite an unexpected way

Favorite Characters Who really shine: Astrid, Quinn, Duck, Dekka

Noteworthy Characters(For better or for worse): Caine, Computer Jack, Drake

Favorite/Deep/Comic Relief Giving Quotes: “She collapsed at the bottom of the trail, at the edge of the ghost town. Dekka sat on Edilio and pressed down on the wound. The force of the blood was weaker now. She could almost hold the blood back now, not a good thing, no, because it meant he was almost finished, his brave heart almost done beating. Dekka looked up straight into the glittering eyes of a coyote. She could sense the others around her, closing in. Wary but sensing that a fresh meal was close at hand.”

“Brianna dropped the skateboard in front of Sam. “Don’t worry: I won’t let you fall off.”
“Yeah? Then why did you bring the helmet?”
Brianna tossed it to him. “In case you fall off.”

Best Couple: Caine and Diana

Most Cringe-worthy moment:The Darkness controlling the kids, Caine VS. Drake

Book Three:

Lies

Eerie Parts: The eerie nighttime beach meetings that brought to mind “Who’s Afraid of the Dark?” meets Poltergeist with a bit of The Adam’s Family mixed in

Scary Parts: The Helicopter scene. Picture this: Caine and a helicopter….

Favorite Parts: Caine showing his love for Diana and sweet (and crazy!) ways (again..).

Favorite Characters Who really shine: Dekka

Noteworthy Characters(For better or for worse): Nerezza, Pete, Diana

Diana is really starting to step out and step up more and more. Girl crush?

Favorite/Amusing/Gone-esque Quotes:“Hey, thanks for stopping by,” Howard said. “I’d offer you some tea and cookies, but all we have is boiled mole and artichokes. Plus, we kind of have a dead girl in the living room.”

Best Couple: Caine and Diana

Most Cringe-worthy moment: Everyone following the namesake of the book title to their own destruction, Hints of someone’s return, Caine’s choice to feed the others…

Book Four:

Favorite Parts: Sanjit meeting Lana for the first time 😉

Favorite Characters Who really shine: Dekka, Edilio, Diana

Diana is like a magnet and you are attracted to both of her polar opposite sides.

Noteworthy Characters(For better or for worse): Caine, Bug, Sanjit

Favorite Quotes: “Okay, look. I get it. You’re one of those people who thinks they have to help screwed-up people. Or maybe you’re attracted to dangerous, unbalanced people. But listen up: I’m not Edward and you’re not Bella” – Lana
“Let’s get out of here while we can,” Dekka said. “I brought a gun, by the way.” “Are we going to be in danger?” Taylor cried. “The gun’s in case you get on my nerves, Taylor.”

“It’s Sanjit. It’s a Hindu name. It means ‘invincible.'”
“That’s great,” Lana said.
“Invincible. I can’t be vinced.”
“That’s not even a word,” Lana said.
“Go ahead: try to vince me,” Sanjit said.”

“Caine met Diana’s disbelieving gaze and laughed aloud.
“Why so gloomy? Doesn’t every little girl want to grow up to be a queen?”
“Princess,” Diana said.
“So, you got a promotion,” Caine said.”

Most Cringe-worthy moments: (Other than the whole book…?)

Knowing that certain people in the FAYZ are capable of more than you think (and more people than you think are!)

Hunter’s Choice and Sam helping him had to be one of the saddest moments!

Drake’s conquering and convincing methods

Thinking of Penny’s power (C’mon, Admit it! Her power could arguably said to be the scariest one, because of its…. great flexibility and changeable qualities to the situation at hand. You would be scared, there is no denying this!)

Book Five:

Do not Fear- Book Five and Six sections to be coming soon! Don’t let your fear stop you from reading- grab the next book in the series now!

Book Six:

What are some of your favorites series- recent, ancient, from your childhood?

More to come on this soon! Please share your thoughts and votes for the categories in the comments below! Do you agree with my selections? Which book is your favorite? Stay tuned for Best “Bad Guy” Characters Coming Soon! What other categories would you like to see? Soundtracks? Sound off below!

Angel Falls: The Way through Hell and Back?

“I closed my eyes and felt her presence in my veins, wandering, like a lost girl inside of a dark tunnel. My pulse pulled on her, drawing her ever closer to my heart, until the gravity was too great. I felt her soul enter, felt the familiar fire burn, felt myself grow stronger even as she vanished. And for some reason, for the first time, I cared.”

Ever wonder what the devil really wants with all those souls? Or about what hell is really like?

Angel Falls (a.k.a Hell) has an interesting perspective on what hell could really be like if it were a city with gods who could rule it as if it were their own playground.

Angel Falls is very tongue in cheek and is an enjoyable read as you imagine what could be true about our final destination.

Related: What is heaven really like?

This tale will open up the question as you read about a new and unique take on hell. It stands on its own, while also making you think about some of the classics and has fun references to modern culture.

Think you know all about how it went down in the Garden of Eden? This tale will enlighten you and will give you a taste of the forbidden fruit.

The characters in the story will surprise you- it reads like a confessional mixed with a fairy tale-like romp that mixes the pilgrimage of The Canterbury Tales with Dante’s Inferno and blends in some new spices that you wouldn’t have suspected resulting in an engrossing and enjoyable journey as long as you don’t mind too much heat- and it’s the right amount of heat, so if you think you are too faint of heart for a tale of hell, don’t be afraid- angels can even make the journey here, though they need to first announce their names, positions, who they were sent from and for what purpose when they do (as Lucifer kindly reminds the visiting angel that this is protocol  when he visits him down south, much to his chagrin).

Overall, you will be delighted at the characters you meet- and the ones you thought you knew will shock you as you learn about a whole new side of them here in Angel Falls.

No holds barred. No punches held back. The characters band together and do whatever it takes to complete an impossible mission: to break out of hell and take on heaven. The question is- will they ever be able to return alive?

How about in real life? Does hell really compare to the stories? What do you believe hell is like?

Do you believe in heaven and/or hell? Do you think the devil is like we imagine him to be? Please sound off in the comments below!

About the Book – About the Author – Prizes!!!

Welcome to Novel Publicity’s first ever publishing house blog tour. Join us as three new titles from Perfect Edge–we’re calling them the Perfect Edge Trifecta–tour the blogosphere in a way that just can’t be ignored. And, hey, we’ve got prizes!

About the book: It’s been rough lately for the Lord of Darkness, with ex-girlfriend drama rearing its head at inconvenient moments, ancient gods returning to take over the universe, and Satan’s own unstoppable laziness. But whatever.

Satan is okay, and he thinks you’re okay, too. This whole eternal damnation thing is all a bit of a misunderstanding.

He runs Hell as a resort, kind of. A vacation spot. The point is, he’s not a bad guy. He’s trying to save Heaven and all of creation, and he only has a dimwitted giant, a surly waitress, and a monkey to help him. So, a thank you might be nice. Maybe buy him a cup of coffee next time you see him. And you will see him.

It’s the Apocalypse, and all that.

Pick up your copy of this Fantasy/ Satire through Amazon US, Amazon UK, or Barnes & Noble.

About the author: Michael Paul Gonzalez lives and writes in Los Angeles. He is the editor at ThunderDomeMag.com, an online lit zine and small press. He is at work on his next novel as you read this. Seriously. He probably just rattled off a really amazing chapter, and someday you’ll read it and think back to this moment, and exhale. Connect with Michael on his website, Facebook, GoodReads, or Twitter.

About the prizes: Who doesn’t love prizes? You could win either of two $25 Amazon gift cards, an autographed copy of Angel Falls, or an autographed copy of one of its tour mates, The Sound of Loneliness by Craig Wallwork or Stranger Will by Caleb J Ross. Here’s what you need to do…

1. Enter the Rafflecopter contest
2. Leave a comment on my blog.

That’s it! One random commenter during this tour will win a $25 gift card. Visit more blogs for more chances to win–the full list of participating bloggers can be found here. The other $25 gift card and the 3 autographed books will be given out via Rafflecopter. You can find the contest entry form linked below or on the official Perfect Edge Trifecta tour page via Novel Publicity. Good luck!

Perfect Edge Books was founded in late 2011 to unite authors whose books weren’t “obviously” commercial. Our books tend to sit in various genres all at once: literary fiction, satire, neo-noir, sci-fi, experimental prose. We believe that literary doesn’t have to mean difficult, and that difficult doesn’t just mean pointless. We prefer to cultivate a word-of-mouth approach to marketing, and keep production as simple as we can. Learn more at www.PerfectEdgeBooks.com.

Learn more about Angel Falls‘s tour mates HERE.

Enter the contest to win prizes! Get your code here!

Persnickety Princess: Or a Lesson in How (NOT?) To Be Rescued!

Ever wonder what it would really be like to be a princess from the classic fairy tales you read as a child? Would you dwindle your time away in the highest tower waiting for the day that your handsome Prince Charming will dash in (if he ever arrives, that is…) to your rescue?

Lavender, the Princess of a particular purple castle, decides to try to speed up the waiting process (after all, it’s been TOO long already, and no prince seems to want someone who is so….picky? Is that the right word?)

The irony of the story adds to its enchantment. There are some definite laugh out loud moments (which is not princess-like at all, according to our Resident Princess, I might add!) that add to the lovableness of the story.

What do you get when you take a princess who waits in a tower all day, mix in a fire breathing dragon, a not so wicked witch and a prince who tells it like it is and falls in love with the sister of the princess waiting to be rescued for years? You get the Persnickety Princess: A princess who will do nothing short of throwing herself in harm’s way,  even if that means inventing some danger for herself that she must be rescued from by her prince.

Enter Petunia, the princess who doesn’t need rescuing. She ends up turning the tables on the prince and turning her sister’s plans upside down. (How does the Happily-Ever-After Ratio of The Fairy Tale deal with this?) The princess learns how being so persnickety might not really help her (as well as some other crucial lessons that are not taught in Princess School these days!)  And she learns what happily- ever-after might really mean!

This could be a how to for girls today, as it shows that you don’t have to wait to be rescued and that not every guy who claims to be a prince is really the one for you. The persnickety princess just might find a dashing suitor who looks beyond all her…. finickiness(?) to see that she might be quite a beauty after all.

A charming love story with a funny twist at the end, it will keep you hanging onto every word of the Bard and forgetting that there is a story teller at all (until the end!) as you go along for the adventure and as are slightly conned like the jailers of the Bard- as you find yourself on a bit of a precipice hanging right along with them!

About the Book – About the Author – Prizes!!!

About the book: High up in the tallest tower of the purplest castle in the Kingdom by the Sea, Princess Lavender awaits rescue. Desperate as she may be, only the most dashing, well dressed, properly mannered prince will do. Oh, and he must stand exactly four and three-quarters inches taller than her. A princess has got to have standards, after all.

When, finally, one such prince comes to her castle—not to rescue her, but her younger sister—Lavender refuses to be ignored. Instead of waiting for the next suitor to come along, she devises a plan to put herself in danger, thus forcing the upstart prince to forget her sister and rescue her instead.

Well accustomed to getting her way, there is only one thing, unfortunately, that this princess can’t control—her luck. When her plans go awry, putting her in very real danger, will she allow the prince to rescue her as he sees fit? Will he even want to try?

And will anyone be able to find a way to rescue Lavender from her persnickety ways once and for all? Find out in this comedic tale of princes, dragons, and dreams that just may come true.

The Persnickety Princess is a lower grade chapter book intended for kids 6 to 9 years old (although kids of all ages are sure to enjoy it! Pick up your copy through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords or Kobo Books.

About the author: I was born in the frozen wasteland of Alaska with the unfortunate stigma of being both a daydreamer and left-handed. Starting from an early age, I’ve filled my life with stories of every sort from my father’s hunting trips to the Holy Trilogy (read: Star Wars). In the fourth grade, I became more interested in telling stories of my own than listening to those of others. Doctors—being doctors—attempted to medicate them out of me, but the best cure has always been a pen, a notebook, and my crazy, unrestrained imagination. I continue to whittle away at these stories in my endless search for the one that will finally bring me back to reality. All the while, I secretly hope such a story will never come along. I hear “reality” is far too boring. Connect with Falcon on his website, Facebook, GoodReads, or Twitter.

About the prizes: Who doesn’t love prizes? You could win (1) a $25 Amazon gift card, (2) a $50 Amazon gift card, or (3) a Princess Prize Pack, which includes a plush purple dragon, necklace with lavender pendant, The Fairy Godmother’s Guide to Being a Princess, tiara and wand party set, and a DVD of The Princess Bride.

Here’s what you need to do…

1. Enter the Rafflecopter contest
2. Leave a comment on my blog.

That’s it! One random commenter during this tour will win the $50 gift card. Visit more blogs for more chances to win–the full list of participating bloggers can be found here. The other two prizes (including the awesome Princess Prize Pack) will be given out via Rafflecopter. You can find the contest entry form on the official Persnickety Princess tour page via Novel Publicity. Good luck!

The Road to Tomorrow: Will it ever come?

Will I ever get out of here? Was this the best way to do it? Will I really be able to leave him?

Such were the questions that were racing through main character Andrea’s head in Mary Metcalfe’s stirring new novel, Road to Tomorrow.

How will I get away for good? What about the kids? Will he really let me leave? Will I even survive trying to leave or will he kill me first?

Read on to enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card!

With the tension mounting as Andrea prepares her getaway, the reader becomes the character and breathes in the fear and anxiety that Andrea feels when she is trying to make fleeing from her abusive husband a reality. The reader is thrown headfirst into the action and can feel the heat and smell the smells that the character is experiencing.

Everything seems to come crashing to a halt once something unexpected happens that ruins Andrea’s attempt to escape. Will she still be able to get her freedom and her children? At first, it seems doubtful, but many surprises happen that  leave the reader wondering what will happen next.

When the unexpected turns out to  be a blessing in disguise, Andrea finds herself staying with some new friends while she is on the run and she cannot believe her good luck with this new support system that forms around her. She is staying with them while trying to get on her feet so she can get her kids back and into safety with her.

But some things might be too good to be true, after all. Andrea’s husband comes to town and pays a visit. Will he find her and get his revenge?

Not in this town!

One of the highlights (that provided some comic relief as well) was seeing how the town really stood up around Andrea and protected her as one of their own (the military catch phrase for protecting their soldiers. Andrea also has to deal with the military standing behind her husband to protect him. Will anyone still be able to protect her?) The town becomes a force of its own as they rally around Andrea and do battle for her against her abusive husband who tries to come to get her back.

This novel really stands out as a powerful message for how to show support to those dealing with and suffering from abuse and domestic violence and living under fear. It delves into the sometimes scary truth (that happens in real life!) of those whom you go to for help sometimes sending you right back out into the line of fire. But fear must not stop us from helping those we love. Andrea is able to stand strong and her family and friends also stand with her, though it doesn’t all come easily at first.

Also a testament to the courage it takes to be in the military (and to be in a military family!) and how this comes with a duty to protect and not to hurt others, Road to Tomorrow is a powerful story about what to do when you think your world has ended and how to rebuild it.

Even if the trouble comes back to haunt you again.

But armed with a plan, courage and those around her who love her, Andrea just might make it out okay.

This hits close to home for some and it is crucial to know that there is help out there. It may seem impossible, but you are loved and there is help for you. Read here on how to find out about Making a Safety Plan.

Sometimes we don’t know or may suspect that a friend or loved one is facing abuse, read here on How to help your friend who is in this situation.

Remember, there is always hope and you can always ask for help to get to your tomorrow, no matter how rough the road may seem now.

Have you or a friend experienced abuse? What are some ways that you got help? Please share in the comments below, I want to hear your story!

“The road that is built in hope is more pleasant to the traveler than the road built in despair, even though they both lead to the same destination.”

~Marion Zimmer Bradley, The Fall of Atlantis

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About the Book – About the Author – Prizes!!!

About the book: Andrea Garrett is trying to escape her abusive marriage. Fearing for her life, she leaves her two small children with her twin brother and flees her home the day before her husband is due to arrive back from a tour of duty. After falling asleep at the wheel and landing in a ditch, her life takes on a new direction when strangers step in and introduce her to a life she could only have imagined and one that could save her soul and give her children the future they deserve. Get Road to Tomorrow through Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

About the author: Mary Metcalfe lives in the foothills of the Laurentians, northeast of Ottawa, Canada with her husband, three cats and a very large dog. Love of writing runs in the family. Their daughter is a published literary non-fiction author. Clarion Review described Mary’s debut novel as a “sparkling debut… readers will love being swept along by Winds of Change.”Road to Tomorrow is her third novel in the Look to the Future series. Connect with Mary on her website, blog, Facebook, GoodReads, or Twitter.

About the prizes: Who doesn’t love prizes? You could win one of two $50 Amazon gift cards or an autographed copy of Road to Tomorrow! Here’s what you need to do…

1. Enter the Rafflecopter contest
2. Leave a comment on my blog.

That’s it! One random commenter during this tour will win the first gift card. Visit more blogs for more chances to win–the full list of participating bloggers can be found here. The other two prizes will be given out via Rafflecopter. You can find the contest entry form linked here on the official Road to Tomorrow tour page via Novel Publicity. Good luck!

Eating Frogs, Making Sh*t Happen & the Motivation to Reach your Concrete Goals

Challenges and Warriors

The Crazy Frog Goal Style Method- Doing Whatever it takes, even if it's crazy or scary

What is the thing that challenges you the most? What do you really care about? What is one thing you want to change?

In honor of the new year, I will post about a couple of inspirational books I have read or people I have heard about.

Many people may be fed up with any mention of New Year’s resolutions or change by  now. This might be because they didn’t follow through after the first day or because they didn’t see a need to make a resolution this year at all. Like a jaded warrior, you may run the other way or pull out your sword and start slashing wildly when you hear any talk of resolutions or goals. Why the fear? (Or violence?)

Here’s a quote that might give a possible answer.  “In order to change we must be sick and tired of being sick and tired.” ~ Anon.

This quote could describe how some people may feel if they constantly face failure or not following through on their goals. This is how I sometimes feel, but I am ready to dive in and make the changes that I need to in my life. Jenny Blake, motivator and awesome life coach I just found out about, may have some answers as well. She quit Google to pursue her dreams that included writing a book and she speaks about the importance of taking little steps towards your goals and not just having an all or nothing mentality on following your goals in her web conference here about how to Make Sh*t happen.  She is also the author of Life After College: The Complete Guide to Getting What You Want, a book I just discovered that may be very helpful for anyone graduating, recently graduated, or feeling like they should have done something more after this so-called graduation into real life. It is also helpful for anyone wishing to make changes in their life and turn things around.

Samurai Style Method: Facing your Fears to carry out your goals (and not stabbing blindly at them)

I have also been reading called Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy.  Don’t turn away yet, as this book is powerful and packs a punch that goes straight to the core of what you need to do to change your habits that bring you nowhere. You need to take the right steps and this cuts right to the bone of the issue. There is so much you can take away from this book, but a few helpful tips it suggests are:

• Do something, whatever it is and however small it is, RIGHT NOW towards your goal. Taking the first step is always very difficult and just starting can really be a great motivation for you to keep going.
• It also lets you know how important it is to develop the right habits, as they can determine how successful you are. This is important because what you spend your time doing, or what you are used to doing can determine what opportunities you open yourself up for and what you miss out on because your habits or ways of doing things get in the way.
• The importance of Visualization and seeing yourself successful and as the person you would like to be. This is similar to Jenny Blake’s method of Act As If.
• The super importance of writing your goals down. This allows you to see your goals in concrete form, or rather, on paper I should say. Or Concrete Paper? Check out Papercrete here- recycling paper into concrete
• I won’t say anymore about what the book advises you, just that it is awesome advice presented in a way that allows you to apply it to your life right away to make true changes.

Other Inspirational people who really blew me away

Alicia Kozakiewicz  is someone who survived being kidnapped and exploited for human trafficking. She was rescued by a FBI team and now has goals to prevent others from experiencing the trauma that she did. She is currently going to school to reach her dreams of being on a FBI team herself.

“I’d like,” she says, “to ultimately become the person who rescues the child, and then helps to recover that child’s soul.” 

Find out more about her at the Alicia Project

Someone else who has touched my heart ever since I heard about her is Elizabeth Smart. I was glued to the TV and scoured the internet trying to find out more about her and praying that she would return home safely and soon. Elizabeth and Alicia created a video on how everyone can help to rescue children who have been kidnapped and held in horrible conditions against their wills, just like they were. Everyone can be a hero and it starts with taking a single step, a single click of your mouse. Check out their video here, called Not One More Child and determine today how many more children should have to be stuck in slavery.

Issues like this really touch my heart and set it on fire. I will make a difference for these children, many who have nobody out there fighting for them. And EVERYBODY  can make a difference for the causes they believe in. The Wikipedia Blackout has shown us this. Where there is a fire, there is a way, a solution to that fire. You have to spread the fire to get to the solution. What are the causes that you believe in, that you are wildly passionate about? Please share below, I would love to hear!

Change.org|Start an Online Petition »

What happens when Shadows from the Past return to haunt you?

Review: Shadows from the Past by Ashley Dawn

Shadows from the Past opens up with a bang, literally. This is one story that really hooks you in and keeps hold of you. It is one that I did not want to put down and found myself wondering what would happen next.

 Bullets and shadows and a faceless murderer. It’s the stuff of nightmares. This is the problem that the main character, Aurora, an undercover cop, must face. She has had nightmares every night that she has been on her undercover stakeout, trying to put a name to the shadows. It tortures her that she is helpless to solve the crime and find out who the murderer is.

And what happens when there are characters that you fall in love with and you root for that unlikely couple? You know, that one where it seems they will never get together, even though they are so right for each other? But this is not just a love story, it’s a try-to-say-it-while-the-bullets-fly-around-you type of story, the one where you hope against hope that it’s not too late to tell people how you feel about them.

This is Christian suspense that holds your interest and doesn’t go over the top with the message. You really get to know the characters and feel their struggles. It is a great story about God coming through even when everything seems to be impossible.

It shows how it is important to trust God even when that is the last thing that seems to make sense. Because God truly does have the best for His children. And He sees them through loving eyes. One may look at themselves completely differently and focus on their faults. But the characters and events in this story really help you to explore what is going on with your own life and helps you to see that God really is there and He really can and does work everything out. Against all odds.

Bullets. Love. Inspiration. It’s all there.

Are you ready for WIRED?

When reading a good book, you would think that you need to truly relate to and care for the characters. But every so often, a great book comes along that makes you cringe and not feel any sense of empathy for the characters. This is how I felt at the beginning of Wired. The characters are people we all might recognize: so full of flaws that they cannot ever be redeemed. But this does not stop you from getting wired into this book.

The two main characters are both quite unloving, even though some may prefer one over the other (depending on gender, world view and part of the novel you are at). Mary Elizabeth and Charlie, married for years and even high school sweethearts, are polar opposites: Not just in the opposites attract way either, but more like the this is the end quality that usually comes right before a divorce. They seem to be almost torn to shreds in regards to how their relationship is holding up. And it gets even worse.

At first I hated the characters. I did not think I would come to feel for them or like them, but the author did a truly amazing job of showing how the hero and heroine can be human beings with many faults that others might not like them for (and might even hate them for) in real life. But this allows an authentic portrait to be shared with the reader.

This novel explores it all: what love and loss and betrayals and the breakdown of a relationship looks like. What fear and hate and hiding things and lying can do to a person.

It shows that even when there seems to be no more hope, that the characters still find strength from somewhere to hang on to and courage to keep going and to make the right choices, even if they are the hardest choices of all.

Real life is never easy and the novel does not take the easy way out either. It shows that in order for love and truth to win out, you have to be brutally honest, even if it hurts and you cannot let go of the ones you love. Sometimes you will push away the ones you love. You will do horrible things. But the fight cannot be taken out of these characters. They win you over with their raw humanity, their weaknesses and their ultimate strengths that bring about healing and before you know it, you are somehow rooting for them. Because they are human.

Nothing is tied into a neat pretty bow, so to speak, in that everything is real and given to you straight, no punches held back. There are resolutions made that are satisfying, yet realistic and leave you with the glow that maybe something good came out of everything after all, just as you hope it does in real life.

This is a novel that showcases raw honesty and real humanity including the flaws, evil and all. But it also holds the hope of coming to terms with your life, making the right choices for yourself, and learning to be honest even when it hurts. This is a must read for all fans of suspense, intrigue, murder mysteries, action, and real relationship portrayals with some romance thrown in too. But it also has characters that you might not like at first but who come to the front of everything standing strong and beating all odds in their own way. Characters that you will not forget.

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Tour Notes:

Enter to win 1 of 3 free paperback copies of this novel on the official Wired blog tour page. The winner of the give-away will be announced on Wednesday, October 26 – be sure to enter before then! Just can’t wait to read Wired? Pick up your copy in the Kindle, Nook, or iTunes stores or visit Smashwords with the coupon code AK95A to receive a discounted price (just $2)!

Don’t forget to vote for my blog, BookwormCastle in the traffic-breaker poll for this tour. The blogger with the most votes wins an Amazon gift card and a special winner’s badge. I want that to be me! You can vote in the poll by visiting the official Wired blog tour page and scrolling all the way to the bottom.

Learn more about this author by visiting her website, Facebook or GoodReads pages or by connecting with her on Twitter. You’ll definitely want to check out Martha’s Mystery Blog–each week a new short thriller is serialized Monday through Friday. The entries are nice and short, easy to read via smart phone or tablet. It’s all at www.MarthaCarr.com.