Madison is familiar enough with change, and she hates everything about it. Change took her long-term boyfriend away from her. It caused one of her friends to suddenly hate her. It’s responsible for the death of a local along with a host of other mysterious happenings. But when Madison meets a hot new guy, she thinks her luck is about to improve.
Madison is instantly drawn to the handsome and intriguing Isaac Addington. She quickly realizes he’s a guy harboring a secret, but she’s willing to risk the unknown to be with him.
Her world really spins out of control, however, when her best friend becomes delusional, seeing things that aren’t there and desperately trying to escape their evil. When the doctors can’t find the answers, Madison seeks her own.
Nothing can prepare her for what she is about to discover.
~About the Author~
Cherie's imagination extends far beyond her Illinois roots through her love of books and reading. The discipline of her career as a Network Technician provides an opposing mindset for her fictional stories. Cherie combines her fascination of all things mythical with her passion for writing to weave together middle grade and young adult stories.
She enjoys spending time with family and friends, meeting new people, writing, reading, and loves a challenge. While she has had many great experiences, her most satisfying experience is seeing her children and stories grow into their own exciting and distinct entities.
When Toni, Joseph and Charlie arrive at their new boarding school, they are glad to leave their families - and respective problems - behind. Isolated as boarders, they meet a handsome senior with a personality like iced snake's blood, teachers with a penchant for physical punishment, and four other outcasts who reveal that their being brought to the Academy wasn't random at all. When the arrivals discover that their new school is engaged in "behavior modification" through electric shocks, isolation, restraints, and an ever-evolving set of methods to "fix" them, they declare war on their Academy. During their campaign of sabotage, they fight, hate, scorn, love, and begin to uncover the reasons why they were brought to the school. But as their war against the school escalates beyond their control, will they become the very things the Academy believes they are: dangerous, delinquent - and mad?
~From the Author~
I wouldn’t go so far as to say every author nowadays dreams of having their book made into a movie: but probably most of us do. I will openly confess that I spend a good percentage of my day, ahem, planning out the “Altered” film (the rest of my time is spent in the all important acts of perusing the internet, sleeping, and, every now and then, working). So why not join me and encourage my totally productive lifestyle? You agree? Oh, lovely.
Casting for “Altered” would require mostly unknowns, as the main characters are all teenagers, none of whom I can see being played by current young adult actors. What is more, I am not generally a fan of the practice of having twenty-year-olds play fourteen and fifteen year olds in movies and shows. While I understand that due to child labor laws many studios prefer actors over eighteen, as a former anorexic I can say that watching fully physically developed actors in their twenties playing fifteen-year-olds does contribute to our media’s unrealistic body image. I tried to make “Altered” as true to life as possible in the writing, so I would only feel right casting actors within the age range of the characters. In terms of the adult main characters, however, I do have some ideas. Mrs. Carter is, in essence, a loving mother gone too far: and I can think of few actresses who can combine sweetness and steel better than Morena Baccarin. Opposite (and often opposing) Mrs. Carter is the Headmistress, a character who needs to be both alluring and frightening, traits which actress Lucy Lawless has perfected over the years.
“Altered” is a very fast-paced action- and drama-packed novel, so adapting the book to script wouldn’t be difficult. The trick would be striking the balance between the twists and turns of the plot, and the necessity of keeping the characters and their struggles at the forefront. But, like so many authors, it is a challenge I would love to have the chance to meet.
~About the Author~
Aubrey is a twenty year old author, singer-songwriter, dancer and choreographer who attends Sarah Lawrence College. In love with reading since she was young, her favorite writers include Tamora Pierce, Joss Whedon, and Chris Claremont. A passionate fan of those artists and writers she enjoys, she may be found answering questions for fans on her own website any day of the week. Ms. Coletti is currently working on the sequel to "Altered."
Hale Simmons dreams of climbing out of her impoverished life, going to college, and getting herself a titanium crash helmet, so she can eventually bust through the Plexiglas ceiling of her crappy life. But for now, she’s just a 18-year-old girl with a flimsy hope, barely getting by with her alcoholic father, Jerry.
But for Hale, ‘crappy’ suddenly takes a nosedive, when Jerry becomes the sole witness to a horrible accident. It is an event which means to effect everyone, especially Hale, who wasn’t even involved.
While the depth of the accident has just begun to unfold, Otto Maree, a prominent business man and old family friend, stands to lose everything because of it. Otto is desperate for Hale’s father to stay quiet about what occurred the night the two men met for a drink. Out of mutual moments of desperation, the two fathers forge a deal. Jerry is desperate to gain financial stability for both himself and Hale, and Otto Maree is more than willing to pay to keep his secret just that.
But deals like this need to be made of the strongest vows and bound with the most faithful of loyalties. Otto proposes a marriage between Hale and his playboy-son, Oscar, in order to assure that the secret remains ‘in the family’. The mystery surrounding the accident continues to grow and Hale struggles against her own mysterious feelings that begin to develop for Oscar, who turns out to less of a playboy, but just as fiercely loyal and dedicated as his father.
As the pressure around her continues to escalate, Hale realizes that she’s got to decide if this arranged marriage is really just a big mistake or an amazing twist of fate that has been waiting around for this particular accident to happen.
Please be advised that this book is NOT suitable for Young Adult readers due to language and explicit sexual situations.
~My Review~
How this amazing lady manages to write a winner every time, I'll never know. But, in case you haven't read any of my previous reviews of Ms. Provencher's work, I just so happen to love her!
Hale Maree is so wonderful because I was completely taken aback by how in a world of pretty unoriginal story ideas (MOST of the time), Hale Maree is like a breath of fresh air. I'll be honest, I didn't even read the synopsis before agreeing to review because I was pretty sure this book would rock. But, then, to read it without any idea of what to expect and have the book surprise me was SUCH a treat!
Hale and Oscar's characters are both SO endearing and clever. I loved their chemistry right from the beginning. What started as an intent to read just a "few chapters before bed", ended in me finishing the entire book in one sitting. THAT'S how much I enjoyed the characters and the story.
If you're in the mood for a story about a couple who have chemistry and heat from page one, then Hale Maree is a book I KNOW you would enjoy!
~My Rating~
~Giveaway~
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~Coming Soon From Misty Provencher~
My will to survive is the first thing to drown.
I know, because I hold it under myself.
After facing severe tragedy in life, Madeline assumes her death will be easy.
But the angels do not come to take her to Heaven.
Instead, what retrieves her is something she never expected: a gargoyle.
Delivered to Truce, the King of the Gargoyles, Madeline now has choices she never wanted. She has the ability to take over the entire Gargoyle Kingdom, if she is willing to kill the king. However, looking to prevent takeover, Truce transforms Madeline, thereby granting her the ability to achieve the thing she wants most—death—if she can just find the human recipient for the Gargoyle Gift that she now has to give. It should be easy.
But lives, whether they are lived or not, are seldom simple, and Madeline’s past still stands in her way. Now, only a voyeur in the life of The Boy with the Golden Rod Voice, Madeline’s must reconcile her own life and death, if she ever hopes to have free reign of her soul.
Scheduled Release Date: 12/8/12
~Mercy Excerpt~
It is a lion, I suppose. A grotesque lion, with a great, smooth hole, arcing through the center of its head, from a broad opening at its crown to its wide and snarling teeth that line its open jaw. If I were a girl again, I could pass my arm through it’s mouth and out the top of it’s head, crooking at the elbow. As a gargoyle, my claws would get stuck.
The snout of the immobile beast is as wide and flat as Moag's, but sculpted to be more lionesque. The eyes are fierce with fat rectangles at the edges, narrowing like an Egyptian queen's eyeliner toward the ears. The mane could be made of snakes, tangling and reaching out its undisciplined fingers on all sides. It’s body is that of a muscular and half-starved king of beasts, but with magnified feet and claws that are as long and sharply arced as a collection of machetes.
To stare at the thing, I must tip my face up and peer out the holes of my bone mask.
I stare at the thing for a long time but it's own gaze never falters from its focus over the city.
I stare a long time more and begin to itch, although I never dare, to touch it.
I stare until the moon has begun its decent and then I finally say, "Hello."
The lion does not move, but its enormous eyes slide, like gravel stones, rolls to the side of it’s head. It looks at me.
~About the Author~
Books by Misty Provencher
The CORNERSTONE Series (Young Adult)
HALE MAREE (Adult)
MERCY, A GARGOYLE STORY (New Adult)
Available in paperback and ebook at:
Barnes & Noble / Amazon / Smashwords
Check Out Misty's Blog
Title: Glimmers Author: Barbara Brooke Find "Glimmers":
Amazon / BN / Fishpond
Indie Bound / The Book Depository
A simple touch and suddenly, Paige is in the past - living someone else's life, seeing the world through their eyes, and feeling their deepest emotions.
Paige used to think memories only existed in one's mind. But now, she knows better. She can't explain how or why, but she has glimmers: special moments that have remained behind - clinging to a letter, a ring, even a worn-out pair of boots.
When Paige returns from each glimmer, a small part of her has changed. Who is this gourmet cook, fashion designer, feisty lover? And how is she supposed to explain this to her family without them thinking she has completely lost her mind?
Paige thought her new talent was a gift, until…she was suddenly transported into her sister’s memory, and caught a glimmer of her secret life.
Take this humorous and romantic journey, as Paige learns about true love through the lives of three extraordinary women.
Runner-Up in the 2012 New York Book Festival (Romance)
~Book Trailer~
~About the Author~
Currently, Barbara Brooke resides in sunny Florida with her supportive husband, two adorable children, gorgeous greyhounds, and scruffy mutt. She is actively creating new worlds and interesting characters for the next book in one of her series. Shhhh, can you keep a secret? Not only does she write spellbinding, heart-pounding women’s fiction, she also writes books for the young-at-heart, adventurous sort who yearn to dive into a good young adult fantasy story. These particular books are written under the name H.B. Bolton, but that is another story altogether.
Title: His Black Wings Author: Astrid Yrigollen Find "His Black Wings":
Amazon
Claren Maidstone has been forced to flee her childhood home after the death of her parents and a vicious assault from a sadistic young man who intends to marry her. Claren changes her identity and finds employment as an assistant to the handsome Fredrick Lowood, a generous yet mysterious benefactor. However, she soon finds out his generosity comes at a price. Fredrick wishes for Claren to befriend his disfigured son who resides in seclusion at their estate, Westwind.
Fredrick Lowood knows what the history books do not teach, that the Grand Council built this new world of peace and beauty on hidden blood and greed. He has plotted for years to bring down the family that enslaved his own people. Suddenly, he has the last living heir in his grasp.
Etrigan Lowood rejects the world that forces him to hide. He is powerful, plagued with a terrible dark beauty: WINGS. It is these wings that carry him out only at night to watch the unwanted intruder in his home. A creature of refined instinct yet little social grace, he is strangely captivated by Claren but knows nothing of how her family’s dark past is intertwined with his own . Through their blossoming friendship, Etrigan realizes he still retains his human heart and yearns for Claren’s love.
Kurten Wandsworth is the only son of the Mayor of St.Marhen. Kurten lives his life fueled by cruelty and lust. Whatever he wants he takes and he wants Claren to be his wife even it if kills her. Scarred by Claren he hunts her down mercilessly until he can set a trap which she will never be able to escape from.
~Teaser~
Prologue
I didn’t know what to say, so I sat there stupidly. He grinned at me from behind white teeth. His ice blue eyes held a coldness and judgment I had not seen before. My heart fluttered and felt like a huge fish was rolling over in my breast.
“Well?” He said as he traced the outline of my knee through my heavy skirt with his slender, white finger.
“What is your wish, Claren?”
My heart, upon hearing him use my real name beat harder. I felt the adrenaline push itself through my veins. He seemed to be aware of it, and licked his lips quickly.
“I don t know what is it you ask Sir.” I stammered, my own voice sounding as a child’s would when confronted with some wrong doing.
He had used my real name. Was it safe to assume he knew who I really was?
He stopped smiling and cocked his head to one side, contemplating me.
“But you do Claren, you know very well what I want, what you want.”
How did it ever come to this? I thought franticly. What was I going to do, now that he knew who I was? He seemed to read my thoughts in my eyes because he answered my question without it ever being posed.
"What will I do indeed? What can I do is the question, Claren. Here we are on a train, bound for the quaint countryside. No alarm has been raised, no Porter is valiantly trying to fight for your honor or to even help and cover your embarrassment, your lies. Thus, it shall remain so. At least, until we arrive at our destination."
“Then what?” I questioned quietly.
I am resolved to die, but not without a fight. He knows this. That is why he will not attempt to take me here, on a train full of people.
My question hangs in the air between us, like a solid thing. He still has not answered as the whistle of our train shrieks into the wind, we race into the tunnel, blackness engulfing our private car.
~About the Author~
Astrid started her writing career when she begun work for the international video game giant, Sega of America. Working her way up the ranks, she began writing companion guides for games. With a love for writing fiction since childhood, she took her short stories out of storage and had her first story ever written published. It was only after that she found out that first stories are never published!
She has resumed writing full time and has succeeded in putting out the titles, The Doughnut Tree, Mysterious Pootkins, and The Mosswoods to name a few. Her short stories have appeared in the literary Threshold Press␣ and Shock and Awe Magazine.
She finds writing for young adults both refreshing and challenging. She always wishes to provide examples of positive role models, conflict resolving methods and communication for young adults with their parents or guardians.
