Second Blogoversary & Giveaway!

Today marks two years since this little blog made its first post! I still remember hitting "Publish" for the first time (had no idea even how to schedule posts back then) and feeling a bit freaked out about venturing into the book blogosphere. It truly was a life-changing moment; book blogging has become such an important part of my life, and that's because of all of you. I know I say this all the time, but it's talking with you, and often fangirling with you, that makes blogging the rewarding experience that it is for me. And now we need to move on to the giveaway part before this post gets too sappy.

To celebrate Blogoversary Number Two, one winner will receive either a $20 Amazon gift card (if you live in the U.S.) or up to $20 in U.S. dollars to spend at The Book Depository (if you live outside the U.S.). Just enter the Rafflecopter form below! Again, Ally, Melissa, and I thank you with all our hearts for sticking with us for two years! ♥

** Giveaway **

• You must be at least 13 years old to enter.
• There will be one (1) winner. If the winner lives in the U.S., a $20 Amazon gift card will be sent via email. If the winner lives outside the U.S. and The Book Depository ships to your country (you can check by clicking here), you can choose up to $20 (in U.S. dollars) in books from The Book Depository, and I will order them and have them shipped directly to you. I am not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged packages.
• Winner will be notified via email and have 48 hours to respond or else another winner will be chosen.
• Giveaway ends at midnight EDT on April 19, 2014.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Holiday Giveaway!

Who doesn't like bookish gifts for the holidays? I know I love them! As a way of saying thank you to all of you for your amazing support for this blog over this past year, I'd like to send some bookish holiday cheer your way. One winner will receive either a $25 Amazon gift card (if you live in the U.S.) or up to $25 in U.S. dollars to spend at The Book Depository (if you live outside the U.S.). All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!

** Giveaway **

• You must be at least 13 years old to enter.
• There will be one (1) winner. If the winner lives in the U.S., a $25 Amazon gift card will be sent via email. If the winner lives outside the U.S. and The Book Depository ships to your country (you can check by clicking here), you can choose up to $25 (in U.S. dollars) in books from The Book Depository, and I will order them and have them shipped directly to you. I am not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged packages.
• Winner will be notified via email and have 48 hours to respond or else another winner will be chosen.
• Giveaway ends at midnight EST on December 14, 2013.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review & Giveaway: Chase Tinker and the House of Secrets

Chase Tinker and the House of Secrets (Chase Tinker #2)
By Malia Ann Haberman
Publisher: Crossroad Press

* A copy was provided by the author for review.

To Sum It Up:

The evil Marlowes are more determined than ever to steal the source of the Tinker family’s magic, and now they’ve been joined by some unlikely allies. In addition to worrying about protecting his family, Chase Tinker is learning that his relatives can be quite secretive. There isn’t much time for him to be angry about being kept in the dark, though, because the Tinkers need to stick together if they’re to stand against their enemy and rescue one of their own.

Review:

Chase Tinker and the House of Secrets is a strong follow-up that certainly lives up to its name. We find out several surprising things about the Tinker family—and even a few about their old foes, the Marlowes—in this action-packed sequel that maintains the charm of the first book, Chase Tinker and the House of Magic, while also reflecting in tone the increasing maturity of its characters.

Continuing character development is something that I look for in any sequel regardless of a book’s target age group, but I’m especially keen to see it in middle grade titles. The ones that tend to click with me as an adult reader feature characters who make me feel as though I’m watching them make a progressive journey into young adulthood. Chase Tinker and the House of Secrets does not disappoint in this area. Chase still acts impulsively at times, but he’s also more aware of the responsibilities he’ll shoulder one day as the Keeper of the Tinker’s magical house. He grows up quite a bit over the course of the novel, and by the end of it, he’s been thoroughly tested. Extreme circumstances force Chase to take some drastic action that leaves him shaken and guilt-ridden. It’ll be interesting to see how he copes with what happened as the series continues.

Although this book delves into a little more serious territory than the last one, there’s still plenty of lighthearted stuff going on. Chase is more preoccupied than ever with not looking like a dork in front of Persephone, the housekeeper’s daughter. After very briefly becoming Keeper, Chase is able to use powers that once belonged to other Tinkers . . . every time he sneezes. This causes some distress for our young hero, of course, like being attacked by a garbage can in the school bathroom. There’s also an incident involving Nori, a newcomer to the series with a special connection to the Tinkers, and everyone in the room turning into goats. Moments like these made me laugh and reminded me why I still enjoy reading middle grade books.

The titular house figures prominently in the story once again, but its amazing magic never eclipses the characters, which I really appreciated. You always know that the characters are the heart of the story; it just so happens that they live in this fantastic house where probably anything is possible. Returning to the Tinker house was a total thrill, and I loved the direction in which the series turned.

All in All:

This was another awesome adventure for Mr. Tinker and his family and friends. The intensity went up by just the perfect amount, and the magic was irresistibly enchanting once more.

The Kindle edition of Chase Tinker and the House of Magic, the first book in the Chase Tinker series, is currently available from Amazon for only $0.99! Click here to buy a copy!

** Giveaway **

One (1) winner will receive a $15 Amazon gift card and a bookmark signed by author Malia Ann Haberman!

• This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.
• You must be at least 13 years old to enter.
• Winner will be notified by email and have 48 hours to respond or else another winner will be chosen.
• Giveaway ends at 11:59 P.M. EDT on July 22, 2013.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lee's Birthday Giveaway!

And the giveaway goodness around here continues! It's just the way the timing worked out: blogoversary in April, Armchair BEA last month, and now . . . my birthday! To help me forget about turning an age that possibly begins with a "3" and ends in a "6," I'm giving away one of my favorite books! One winner will get to choose from one of the following: (Click on a cover to read the Goodreads description.)

Please Note: While I'll do my best to obtain a hardcover, depending upon the availability of the chosen book, the winner may receive a paperback. Also, if the book is part of a series and you would like a different book from that series (for example, Hallowed or Boundless instead of Unearthly, I'm happy to do that.

** Giveaway **

• You must be at least 13 years old to enter.
• Winner will be notified via email and have 48 hours to respond or else another winner will be chosen.
• Book will be shipped directly from Amazon if the winner lives in the U.S., or from The Book Depository if the winner lives outside the U.S. and The Book Depository ships to your country (you can check by clicking here). We are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged packages.
• Giveaway ends at midnight on June 26, 2013.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Armchair BEA 2013: Giveaway!

Design credit: Nina of Nina Reads

Yay! It's giveaway day! One winner will get to choose any paperback book up to $10. If you live here in the U.S., your book will be shipped via Amazon, otherwise it will be shipped via The Book Depository. Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter!

** Giveaway **

• You must be at least 13 years old to enter.
• Winner will be notified via email and have 48 hours to respond or else another winner will be chosen.
• Book will be shipped directly from Amazon if the winner lives in the U.S., or from The Book Depository if the winner lives outside the U.S. and The Book Depository ships to your country (you can check by clicking here). We are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged packages.
• Giveaway ends at midnight on June 2, 2013.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

First Blogoversary & Giveaway!

A year ago today, our little blogging adventure began. It is really hard to believe that twelve months have gone by. We started this blog because we had no one else to share our bookish thoughts with. You have no idea how many times we'd been told by the rest of our family to stop yammering at the dinner table about whatever we were reading. So we decided to seek out others whose love of fictional characters is also misunderstood by their loved ones.

It has been absolutely amazing getting to meet all of you over the past year and chatting about books with you. We thank you for all of your wonderful comments and for introducing us to so many incredible titles that we'll never have to worry about running out of books to read.

As a way of saying thanks and to celebrate our blogoversary, we're hosting a giveaway. You can win any book of your choice, up to $15. If you live here in the U.S., your book will be shipped via Amazon, otherwise it will be shipped via The Book Depository. Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter!

** Giveaway **

• You must be at least 13 years old to enter.
• Winner will be notified via email and have 48 hours to respond or else another winner will be chosen.
• Book will be shipped directly from Amazon if the winner lives in the U.S., or from The Book Depository if the winner lives outside the U.S. and The Book Depository ships to your country (you can check by clicking here). We are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged packages.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Within Anniversary Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway

I'm excited to be a part of the blog tour to celebrate the first anniversary of Clare C. Marshall's Within! I have a review of the book for you today, and there's also a giveaway in which you can win a copy of Within plus some swag from Faery Ink Press.

Within
By Clare C. Marshall
Publisher: Faery Ink Press
Amazon | Goodreads

* A copy was provided by the author for review.

Synopsis:

Trinity Hartell’s life changed after the accident. Left with irreversible brain damage, she becomes a burden to her mother, a cause for heartbreak for her boyfriend Zack, and a flattened obstacle for her jealous best friend, Ellie.

But then she starts writing. Perhaps it’s a coincidence that the psychotic, murderous protagonist of her novel bears a striking similarity to the charming Wiley Dalton, a mayoral candidate in the upcoming election.

Or, perhaps not . . . .

Review:

Within is an ambitious novella that presents two main challenges to the reader. First, the story is told from multiple points of view, including that of a truly vile villain. The POVs shift frequently and within chapters, so it’s not as though a single character narrates a whole chapter. Second, some of these characters are quite unlikable, and one is just beyond despicable. I thought that both of these aspects combined to give Within an edgy feel to it that at once made me nervous about what was going to happen next and anxious to read on and find out.

I really liked the way in which the multiple POVs were handled. I didn’t find them confusing to follow at all, and I think that this style worked very well for the story. My only problem was that I didn’t always like what the characters were thinking, but that’s the type of book Within is. It’s not a fluffy, sugary tale. Clare Marshall took a unique approach to telling this story, and it paid off greatly.

Even with access to their thoughts, I couldn’t understand the actions of Trinity’s mother, Stephanie, and Trinity’s best friend, Ellie. “Best” is a word that should be used loosely in Ellie’s case because she spends most of the book pining away for Trinity’s boyfriend, Zack. Even after the car accident that leaves Trinity severely brain damaged. Actually, “pining” isn’t even the right word to describe how badly Ellie wants Zack all to herself. Even after Trinity’s accident. Note to Ellie: moving in on your best friend’s boyfriend right after she’s suffered brain damage is so not cool.

Trinity’s mother, Stephanie, equally frustrated me. All this woman thinks about is her volunteer job helping mayoral candidate Wiley Dalton get elected. If there were a prize for having a one-track mind, there’d be a dead heat between Stephanie and Ellie. While the logic, or lack thereof, of these two characters made my head spin, I admit that their behavior made for intriguing reading. I got the impression that not all of the characters in Within were supposed to be likable, that their actions were meant to raise eyebrows. Interestingly, I think that this had the effect of making Zack look a little too perfect, though he is definitely not without faults. It’s just that in comparison to Ellie and Stephanie, Zack appears saintly.

I knew going into this book that it was a dark, intense read, and it was. There were some scenes of violence and a POV from a hate-spewing villain that made me shudder. Although there is a touch of the paranormal to it, Within could also easily fall under the thriller genre because at its center is a ruthless, murderous maniac who is determined to carry out his twisted plans.

Within makes the most out of its novella-sized length with both a thought-provoking plot and characters. What really stood out for me, though, was the narrative technique. Marshall skillfully uses the multiple POVs to assemble her chilling tale suspenseful piece by suspenseful piece.

All in All:

This is a dark, gritty read with characters who are not easy to warm up to. It’s also a gripping read, thanks to the way in which the story comes together through the eyes of different characters.

About Clare C. Marshall

Clare Marshall grew up in rural Nova Scotia with very little television and dial up internet, and yet, she turned out okay. She has a combined honours degree in journalism and psychology from the University of King’s College, and is a graduate from Humber College’s Creative Book Publishing Program. She founded Woulds & Shoulds Editing and Design in 2010 for self-published authors and businesses looking for quality editing and design services. She enjoys publishing books through her publishing imprint, Faery Ink Press, and released her first novella, Within in 2011. When she’s not writing, she enjoys playing the fiddle and making silly noises at cats.

You can find Clare on Facebook, Twitter, her website, and Goodreads.

** Giveaway **

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Embrace Birthday Bash & Giveaway

It’s Embrace’s Book Birthday and to celebrate the success of her debut novel Cherie Colyer is giving away a copy of her book plus swag. Before we get to that, here is a brief excerpt and some information about Embrace.

A stillness filled the air, a calm serenity that wrapped around me like the wings of an angel. A moment later, Isaac’s strong arms circled me, pinning my back to his chest. His breath smelled of spearmint. It brushed the side of my neck and sent an excited shiver through my entire body.

Embrace
By Cherie Colyer
Publisher: Omnific Publishing

How far would you go to save the people you love?

Synopsis:

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.

To add Embrace to your Goodreads’ lists click here and to view the book trailer click here. If you’d like to curl up with Embrace today you can download the eBook on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Find Cherie: Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

** Giveaway **

To win a copy of Embrace or swag, all you have to do is fill out the form:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fang Girl Book Blitz & Giveaway

We're excited to participate in the Fang Girl Book Blitz, organized by Xpresso Book Tours. We have an excerpt from the book for you today, and be sure to enter the giveaway below for your chance to win an awesome Fang Girl prize pack!

Fang Girl
By Helen Keeble
Publisher: HarperTeen
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Goodreads

Synopsis:

Things That Are Destroying Jane Greene’s Undead Social Life Before It Can Even Begin:

1) A twelve-year-old brother who’s convinced she’s a zombie.
2) Parents who are begging her to turn them into vampires.
3) The pet goldfish she accidentally turns instead.
4) Weird superpowers that let her rip the heads off of every other vampire she meets.(Sounds cool, but it doesn’t win you many friends.)
5) A pyschotic vampire creator who’s using her to carry out a plan for world domination.

And finally:
6) A seriously ripped vampire hunter who either wants to stake her or make out with her. Not sure which.

Being an undead, eternally pasty fifteen-year-old isn’t quite the sexy, brooding, angst-fest Jane always imagined . . . .

Helen Keeble’s riotous debut novel combines the humor of Vladimir Tod with Ally Carter’s spot-on teen voice. With a one-of-a-kind vampire mythology and an irresistibly relatable undead heroine, this uproarious page-turner will leave readers bloodthirsty for more.

** Excerpt **

In which Our Heroine, Xanthe Jane Greene (unexpectedly undead vampire fangirl) makes some resolutions for her new unlife . . .

As a vampire, I solemnly swear I will not:

1) Angst
2) Suck
3) Summon a dark goddess
4) Fall in love with a vampire hunter
a) Or a werewolf
b) Or anyone evil, no matter how hot.
c) Or anyone of species not approved of by my vampire elders, because no one is worth that sort of stress
5) Accept any gifts, give any gifts, carry any messages, take part in any mysterious rituals, etc. etc.

“Here’s another one,” said Mum, sticking a Post-It into the massive tome in her lap. “Running backward while carrying a lit candle in one hand and a live tortoise in the other. Makes vampires flee in terror.”

“Thanks, Mum.” I didn’t bother to look up from my laptop. I’d given up making notes on any of her findings over an hour ago—Eastern European vampire folklore was turning out to be utterly cracktastic. “Can I remind you that we’re looking for ways to stop vampire hunters, not vampires?”

When Mum had said she’d gone to work to get research materials, she wasn’t kidding. Every surface in the living room was piled high with books. This was not unusual, but the familiar physics journals and academic monographs had vanished. In their place: Interview with a Vampire, Dracula, The Vampire in Romanian Legend, Vampire Nation. The Encyclopedia of the Undead, Love Bites, Fourteen Essays on Vampirism, Twilight, Undead and Unwed, Vampires of Stage and Screen, In Search of Dracula. . . everything from huge, leather-bound library reference volumes with cracked spines to shiny new paperbacks with luridly embossed covers. Mum must have checked out every book about vampirism from every library in a thirty-mile radius. I wasn’t quite sure what she was expecting to learn from texts like Marxism and the Vampire, but at least it was keeping her occupied.

About Helen Keeble

Helen Keeble is not, and never has been, a vampire. She has however been a teenager. She grew up partly in America and partly in England, which has left her with an unidentifiable accent and a fondness for peanut butter crackers washed down with a nice cup of tea. She now lives in West Sussex, England, with her husband, daughter, two cats, and a variable number of fish. To the best of her knowledge, none of the fish are undead.

Her first novel, a YA vampire comedy called FANG GIRL, is out 11th Sept 2012, from HarperTeen.

She also has another YA paranormal comedy novel (provisionally titled NO ANGEL) scheduled for Sept 2013.

You can find Helen on her website, Goodreads, and Twitter.

** Giveaway **

Open internationally and ends on December 25, 2012.
Enter using the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The 12 Days of Magic: Spellbound Book Blitz & Giveaway

We're excited to be a part of the Book Blitz for Nikki Jefford's Spellbound series, organized by Xpresso Book Tours. Read on to find out more about each book in the series and to check out an excerpt from the first book, Entangled. There's also a giveaway, so be sure to enter for your chance to win a Spellbound prize pack!

Entangled (Spellbound #1)
By Nikki Jefford
Publication Date: February 20, 2012
Goodreads

Synopsis:

Two months after dying, seventeen-year-old witch Graylee Perez wakes up in her twin sister Charlene’s body.

Until Gray finds a way back inside her own body, she’s stuck being Charlene every twenty-hour hours. Her sister has left precise instructions on how Gray should dress and behave. Looking like a prep isn’t half as bad as hanging out with Charlene’s snotty friends and gropey boyfriend.

The “normals” of McKinley High might be quick to write her behavior off as post-traumatic stress, but warlock Raj McKenna is the only person who suspects Gray has returned from the dead.

Now Gray has to solve the mystery of her death and resurrection and disentangle herself from Charlene’s body before she disappears for good.

Duplicity (Spellbound #2)
By Nikki Jefford
Publication Date: March 20, 2012
Goodreads

Synopsis:

If Graylee Perez thought sharing a body with her twin sister was bad, dealing with a duplicate of herself is two times worse. Gray the second doesn’t seem to get that Lee’s boyfriend, Raj McKenna, is off limits. Then there’s the problem of Adrian Montez. He expects one of the Grays to be his.

Nearly a year later, the council is onto them for past misdeeds; Lee, along with the rest of the coven, has lost control of her powers; and Gray is being stalked by what looks like the Grim Reaper.

If they work together, they may stand a chance of setting things right and making it out alive.

Enchantment (Spellbound #3)
By Nikki Jefford
Publication Date: April 2013
Goodreads

Synopsis:

In the third and final installment of the Spellbound series, Graylee Perez (the duplicate), goes to Spain for a summer of escape. There she meets new friends and comes face to face with her old adversary, Adrian Montez.

When Gray tries to set up a spell that will banish Adrian from her life, she inadvertently falls under a love spell instead.

Charlene returns, having hijacked a new body, for one final battle between the twins.

Purchase the Spellbound series:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | The Book Depository

** Excerpt **

"Being Charlene," from Entangled (Spellbound #1):

IN THIS SCENE: After Graylee Perez is brought back to life she must pretend to be her twin sister Charlene while she’s stuck sharing her body. To “help” her out, Charlene has started a communications notebook instructing Gray on ‘How to be Charlene.’

“. . . for now I’m supposed to pretend to be Charlene?”

Mom brought a notebook over. “Yes, and your sister left some notes to help you out.”

Gray stared at the notebook a moment before taking it. She flipped it open.

NO MORE PIZZA, YOU PIG!!! I GAINED 2 POUNDS BECAUSE OF YOU!

No wearing your clothes in public. I will choose an outfit for you to wear to school on the days you’re me.

Hair must be worn down. No pig tails, pony tails, hair clips or goofy Princess Leia style buns on the side of your head.

No leaving the house without makeup. I have taped examples and tips in the following pages on how to create a smoky eye.

Gray flipped back to several pages of magazine print and step-by-step illustrated guides for creating a smoldering look. She flipped back to the front page.

No speaking to anyone at McKinley who isn’t on the approved list (see the following pages). Don’t even think about trying to visit with your old friends unless you want to get us committed to an insane asylum.

Absolutely no—UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES—having sex with Blake.

Ewwww!

Gray looked up, her face still contorted. “Did you read this?”

Mom was putting away the brown sugar. “No, Charlene told me not to.”

“And you listened to her?”

Mom looked directly at Gray. “She said it was private.”

More like psychotic.

About Nikki Jefford

Nikki Jefford is a third generation Alaskan who loves fictional bad boys and heroines who kick butt. She writes edgy teen fiction, including the Spellbound Trilogy and Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter.

Nikki married Sébastien, the love of her life, while working as a teaching assistant in France. They now reside in the not-so-tropical San Juan Islands, 70 miles northeast of Forks, Washington.

You can find Nikki on her website, Goodreads, Facebook, and Twitter.

** Giveaway **

Open internationally and ends on December 27, 2012.
Enter using the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Frost Fire Book Blitz & Giveaway

We're excited to be a part of the Frost Fire Book Blitz, organized by Xpresso Book Tours. We have an excerpt from the book for you today, as well as a giveaway in which you can win an eBook copy of this YA Paranormal Romance.

Frost Fire (Tortured Elements #1)
By Olivia Rivers
Publisher: Red Sparrow Press
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Synopsis:

“Magic is just like love, Allai. It won’t wait for permission before it destroys you.”



Like sand in an hourglass, Allai’s future is dwindling away. She’s spent her entire life fighting the Mages who threaten humanity, and dreams of someday eradicating magic. But all it takes is an anonymous phone call for the truth to spill out: Allai is the one thing she despises most. 



She’s a Mage. 



Though ancient law mandates Allai’s death, she still has one last chance of survival. His name is Drake Rhaize, and he swears he can lead Allai to a sanctuary for Mages. Allai hasn’t seen Drake in years, but she remembers him as the Demon boy who used to hold her close and softly whisper that he’d keep her safe. But Drake has changed since then: He’s now suspected of murder, and has been out-casted for betraying his own kind. 



While Allai doesn’t trust Drake, she has no choice but to put her life in his hands and hope he can get her to safety. Because Allai’s father has hired a pack of Demons to bring her back to him, dead or alive–and Demons never stop the hunt.

** Excerpt **

Luke cleared his throat, bringing her thoughts back to the present. “So, about these nightmares.”

“I thought we changed the subject away from them.” Allai crossed her arms and fingered the sleeves of the old t-shirt she used as a pajama top. She always felt like her hands had to be doing something. The Demons she lived with were constantly alert and responsive, so the least she could do was look active.

“You changed the subject,” Luke said. “I never agreed to it. So how are you going to stop your nightmares?”

“You said it yourself. They’re not just going to stop.”

“Of course not. You have to make them stop.”

“How the hell do you expect me to do that?” She took a deep breath, and then said in a calmer tone, “He tried to kill me, Luke. You were there, you know the details. How am I supposed to just push that memory away?”

“Don’t push at it,” Luke said. “Just accept it. Embrace it, and then move on.”

There was no way she could do that. Part of her wanted to; getting that memory out of her head would be beyond relieving. But the other part wanted to remember, because every memory she had of Drake Rhaize was a piece to a puzzle. And part of her hoped that once she put together the entire puzzle, it would tell a different story than her nightmare.

About Olivia Rivers

Olivia Rivers is a high school student, a literary agent intern, and an obsessive-compulsive reader. She has a slight obsession with Kootenai County in Idaho, and she’s pretty sure life will always be awesome as long as Irish accents exist. She lives with dysautonomia, a chronic medical condition affecting her nervous system. Portions of proceeds from her Tortured Elements series go toward supporting youth with dysautonomia.

You can find Olivia on her website, Goodreads, and Twitter.

** Giveaway **

One (1) winner will receive an eBook copy of Frost Fire.
Open internationally.
You must be at least 13 years old to enter.
Winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be chosen.
Giveaway ends on December 13, 2012.
Enter using the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Violet Fox Blog Tour: Review, Character Interview, & Giveaway

Welcome to our stop on The Violet Fox blog tour! Besides our reviews, we also have an interview with one of the most intriguing characters in this action-packed fantasy novel, Advisor Ivor Ferguson, as well as a very cool giveaway!

The Violet Fox (The Violet Fox #1)
By Clare C. Marshall
Publisher: Faery Ink Press
Amazon | Goodreads

* A copy was provided by the author for review.

Synopsis: There are two kinds of people in the land of Marlenia.

The Marlenians, who live on the surface,

and the Freetors, who are forced to live underground.

The war between them ended two hundred years ago, but the Freetors still fight for the right to live under the sun. Fifteen-year-old Kiera Driscoll embodies the Freetors’ hopes as the Violet Fox. In a violet cape and mask, she sneaks around Marlenia City stealing food and freeing her people from slavery.

Then the Elders task her with a secret mission: retrieve a stolen tome that contains the secrets of Freetor magic, something the Marlenians both fear and covet. Kiera must disguise herself as a noblewoman and infiltrate the Marlenian castle before the Freetor-hating Advisor finds out her real identity, before her brother is imprisioned because of the secrets he hides, and before she falls any more in love with the prince she’s supposed to hate.

More is happening in the castle than she realizes, and Kiera is faced with a difficult choice. Will she be loyal to her people and their fight for freedom, or will she be loyal to her heart?

Ally's Review: I was kind of torn while reading The Violet Fox. There were times when I was wholeheartedly captivated. At other times, I felt as if I were forcing myself to read the book. But the good outweighed the couple of things that I wasn’t so enthusiastic about, and I ended up really enjoying the book.

I guess I'll start with what I wasn’t crazy about. The main issue I had with the book was Kiera. Well, it wasn't really Kiera herself, but her attitude. At times, I felt that Kiera was unbearably arrogant. She referred to herself as the invincible Violet Fox who would never, in any situation, be caught. Kiera expected the best for herself and her people and whined when it wasn't. I did, however, value Kiera's wit and unyielding dedication to her cause. I also didn't like the relationship between Kiera and Keegan. I felt that it was unconvincing. The relationship didn't work for me, and I was looking for any other guy to replace Keegan as the love interest.

Now to end on a good note. The world-building in this book is amazing. The information and history are given to you in small bits, never choking you or causing confusion. The pacing was ideal. I expected it to slow down while Kiera was undercover so I was okay with that. I loved, loved the whole Robin Hood feel to the story. I was rooting for the Freetors all the way! My favorite part of the book, though, was the relationship between Kiera and her brother. They were so close, and Rordan was just the perfect brother! I was kind of reminded of my own brother, and I'd like to think that in that situation, Denis and I would be like that.

The Violet Fox ended up being an entertaining read. I feel that right now any bit of time I put into reading a book is valuable, seeing as I don't have much free time at all. My time was definitely well spent reading The Violet Fox.

All in All: The Violet Fox took me a little while to get into but it ended up being an enjoyable, action-packed book. I'm glad I read it, and I eagerly await the sequel.

Lee's Review: When I first read the synopsis for The Violet Fox, I immediately thought of Robin Hood. I absolutely love Robin Hood, so I was beyond excited to read this. I was not disappointed! The Violet Fox is a thrilling fantasy packed with adventure, magic, social injustice, and political intrigue, all set against a richly detailed world. In short, it’s exactly my type of fantasy novel.

Hands down, my favorite part of the book was the world-building. It’s a critical element in any genre, but I think particularly so for fantasy, where you have to be able to believe that things like magic and mythical creatures are real. Marshall does an outstanding job of putting the reader right in the middle of both the opulence of the Marlenian court and the bleakness of the underground Freetor caverns. I also loved how thorough the lore of this world was and how well it was explained. The history between the Marlenians and the Freetors is a key part of the novel, and it’s never overwhelming to absorb.

Although I admired Kiera, whose alter ego is the title character, for her courage and fierce dedication to helping her people, at times I also found her a little too sure of herself. Occasionally her sense of invincibility as the Violet Fox sends her charging headfirst into situations. Kiera does, however, mature a lot over the course of the novel and tempers her swagger. Another character who really grew on me as the book went on was Prince Keegan. At first I wrote him off as a haughty, privileged rich guy with nothing but disdain for those beneath him. Like Kiera though, Keegan learns to see things from the opposing point-of-view, and he proves to be an honorable fellow. Finally, I have to mention Advisor Ivor Ferguson, the right-hand man to Marlenia’s ruler, the Holy One. The Advisor is quite an enigmatic character; I had a lot of fun trying to guess what he was up to.

With its vividly descriptive world, fully drawn characters, and engrossing story, The Violet Fox is a prime example of YA fantasy. I’m eager to see what adventures await Kiera (and the Violet Fox) in the next book, The Silver Spear.

All in All: For anyone who’s been hesitant to try the fantasy genre, I think that The Violet Fox is the perfect place to start. If you’re already a fan of the genre, then by all means read this, especially if you love Robin Hood like I do!

About Clare C. Marshall

Clare Marshall grew up in rural Nova Scotia with very little television and dial up internet, and yet, she turned out okay. She has a combined honours degree in journalism and psychology from the University of King’s College, and is a graduate from Humber College’s Creative Book Publishing Program. She founded Woulds & Shoulds Editing and Design in 2010 for self-published authors and businesses looking for quality editing and design services. She enjoys publishing books through her publishing imprint, Faery Ink Press, and released her first novella, Within in 2011. When she’s not writing, she enjoys playing the fiddle and making silly noises at cats.

You can find Clare on Facebook, Twitter, her website, and Goodreads.

** Our Interview with Advisor Ivor Ferguson **

Welcome to Rally the Readers, Advisor Ferguson! We know that you’re an extremely busy man, so we really appreciate your time today.

I will always make time for good ladies and lords who devote their time to spreading the word about worthy books.

We’ve heard some rumors that you covet the Holy One’s position. Is this true? If you were in charge, what would you do differently?

Ah yes, many tongues wag about things they know nothing of. It is best that ladies such as yourselves pay no mind to such nonsense. The rumours were no doubt started by Freetor-loving, jealous merchants. I was once a successful merchant, you know. Many of the shops I’ve invested in carry on today.

However, if the ladies must know, if I were in charge I would enforce stricter laws and penalties against Freetors, and allow merchants to carry more weapons to defend themselves in case of a Freetor attack.

What is your opinion of the Freetors? What, in your opinion, is the best way to deal with them?

Freetors are sub-human creatures that must be exterminated like a disease if we are ever to achieve economic prosperity.

What do you think of Freetor magic? Who do you think should control it: the Marlenians, the Freetors, no one, or everyone?

Magic is still a misunderstood field to all Marlenians who try to study it. Because of its mysteries, very few should control it (if it indeed can be controlled). If it were my decision, I would propose that the most learned scholars--such as myself--have an opportunity to wield its majesty, assuming that it does no harm to me physically.

The Violet Fox is a bit of a thorn in the Marlenians’ side, to say the least. What do you think of her?

A filthy creature, playing dress-up, believing that she is above the law. She whispers in the ears of the susceptible Freetors, rallying them to her cause, ruining the lives of the good Marlenian people everywhere. I hope that you ladies steer clear of her, lest she relieve you of your valuables.

What is the toughest part of your job?

I admit, dealing with the everyday troubles of the Marlenian folk can be tiresome. I know it tires the Holy One, and I hope that I can someday relieve him of this duty before young Prince Keegan takes over.

If you are wondering if the Freetors give me trouble, I assure you, good ladies, that dealing with the Freetors is one of my easier tasks. In most cases, a Freetor is unable to comprehend the difference between right and wrong, and therefore must be removed from society.

And now for a few random questions:

Favorite color?

While I have great respect for the Tramore colours, the Violet Fox has tainted the colour violet and purple for me. Therefore, I would have to say that I prefer greens, browns, blacks, and sometimes red, when I am feeling fashionable.

Ideal job?

While my position as Advisor to the Holy One has its stresses, I do enjoy the freedom to roam the castle and travel the realm, especially when it nets me a good book. I would not trade it for anything. Well . . . almost anything.

I suppose it would be nice to retire at some point, when my work is complete. A simple shop would keep my mind stimulated until Dashiell decides it’s time for my eternal rest.

Person you most dread having to deal with?

Ha! Ladies, you grow bold with your questions, but how can I resist a curious mind? The day we catch the Violet Fox, I dread dealing with her as one dreads dealing with a rabid Northern tiger stuck in a cage too small for its size.

Thank you again for stopping by today, Advisor!

My pleasure, ladies. Though I must advise you. Your organization, “Rally the Readers.” Such words like “rally” may attract the attention of the Freetors. They may think it’s an organization sympathetic to their cause. I trust it is not. Such learned, proper ladies have no business dallying with cutthroats and thieves.

** Giveaway **

a Rafflecopter giveaway