RELEASE WEEK REVIEW + AUTHOR INTERVIEW: His Royal Favorite (His Royal Secret #2)

His Royal Favorite (His Royal Secret #2), by Lilah Pace
Publish Date: August 16, 2016
Publisher: Intermix
Format: e-ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre: adult contemporary m/m romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) James, Prince of Wales, is making history. He's decided to come out to his subjects—and the world. However, telling the truth means exposing his relationship with lone-wolf reporter Benjamin Dahan. Although Ben never wanted commitment, the unexpected depth of his feelings leads him to join James in the media's harsh spotlight. 

When the news story explodes across the globe, Ben can endure the mockery and dirty jokes. But after his tragic past is cruelly revealed, his life begins to implode. Can even his love for James be worth this?

James has it no easier. His revelation divides the country and sparks turmoil within the royal family. He must struggle to defend not only himself and Ben, but also his younger sister, who hovers on the brink of a breakdown that could endanger her life.

Is Ben strong enough to survive the onslaught and stand by James' side? And will James have to make a choice between Ben and the crown?

This was a fantastic ending to an incredibly intriguing series. Ben and James' relationship takes a decidedly angsty and tumultuous turn at the moment when you would think it should get easier for them. And once again, Lilah Pace's intimate knowledge of all the inner workings of the royal family and all the protocol blew me away. It either means she's either really, REALLY good at researching or... she's a princess. That question is answered after my review in an interview I was lucky enough to score with her (*fist pump*). So, keep reading!

James has decided to come out of the royal closet and Ben has decided to do it by his side. They are both going into this knowing that the revelation is going to cause waves on both sides. James is aware that there are parts of his royal life - like the affiliation with the church - that will have major problems with his being gay. He may even be prevented from being King, a position for which he's been groomed all his life. And, Ben knows that this will take away his quiet, private life forever. Even if he and James don't stay together, the press will dog him for a very long time. And that's just not his thing. 

But, both James and Ben think that their love can conquer all of that. Admittedly, they were a bit naive and idealistic. 

From the very beginning, nothing goes as planned. Although, for James, things are more positive than he had hoped for. He's still able to do his job, and despite the church still potentially interfering in his succession to the throne, the support for his sexuality is remarkable. 

However, for Ben, this is his first taste at wealth and living a life in the public eye. While James has lived with this since birth, Ben isn't used to having to answer to others, or not be able to go out to eat at a restaurant, or get harassed by the paps when he simply tries to go to work. He now has to dress a certain way, say certain things, associate with certain people, and it heaps stress upon an already volatile situation. 

Ben knows he loves James. Adores him, even. But, he starts to question whether even the love of his life is worth all the sacrifices that come with it. And Ben isn't delusional - he knows that James is as good as it's going to get. He's his soul mate. And, if he walks, he will never love anyone like that again. 

Did I mention the angst? His Royal Favorite broke my heart again and again. James is suffering because Ben is suffering and he doesn't know how to fix it. He feels guilty and desperate and it all comes out on the pages. I wanted to hug both of them - I know I cried for both of them. It all just seemed so hopeless unless Ben could find some glimmer of positivity in his new living situation. 

The side characters in this book are wonderful. I loved James' PR woman - she is a shark and a sweetheart all in one package. Ben's only friend from his life before James is also pretty wonderful. And, we can't forget about James' sister Indigo. Her story definitely is an important one and is told with dignity and respect. 

James and Ben are an established couple by now (although, they still discover new things about each other - some good, some disheartening), and are going through some serious emotional stuff. As a result, sex is relegated to the back burner. There isn't quite as much sexy times between the two men, but their feelings for one another are played out in other ways - with tenderness and thoughtful gestures and passionate words. 

This was an awesome conclusion to an intriguing and passionate story. 

Lilah Pace is the author of the sexy and emotional m/m adult contemporary romance duology His Royal Secret and His Royal Favorite. I’m so excited to welcome her to Krista’s Dust Jacket to talk to us about this series! I’ve had some burning questions about it, and now I get to have them answered - so of course I’m going to share them with you!

Lilah, thanks so much for taking time out of your busy day to satisfy my curiosity!

Thanks so much! This story's dear to me, so I'm always ready to talk about it. Maybe too much!


In both HIS ROYAL SECRET and HIS ROYAL FAVORITE, we see two very different worlds - Ben’s global media world and James’ royal one. You write both sides as if you’re intimately familiar with them. Do you have a background in journalism that gave you insight into Ben’s life?

…kind of? I've worked as a journalist, but my career was very, very unlike Ben's. However, some of my former coworkers have gone on to do very similar things, so I drew on some of their experiences and advice.


Since I know you’re not a princess when you’re not writing (or are you? *raises eyebrow*), how did you manage to paint James’ world of royal structure and protocol so vividly? What sort of research did you conduct to make it so believable?

Sadly, no, not a princess. But I've been an avid royal-watcher for a long while, probably because Princess Diana's wedding hit when I was at a very impressionable age. It's been a subject I've read a lot about, that and the English tradition of being in service, which intersects with royalty a bit. My friends back in Great Britain did some Britspeak reads for me, too, and shared what they knew about the royals as well. Some liberties are still taken, and I'm sure there are huge blunders I can't even guess at—but at least a little genuine detail got in.


What was your inspiration for Ben’s and James’ story?

Really it came from being overly interested in the royals, right at the point in time when the country was beginning to seriously discuss legalizing gay marriage. I began wondering what would happen if you had a gay heir to the throne, what the legal issues would be, how it would affect the Church of England, et cetera. One day I was driving along thinking about this when I caught myself and felt silly—I went, Why are you obsessing about this? How can this ever matter in your life? And immediately I knew the answer: I had to write about it.

This duology is very different from your Asking For It series, and not just because the romance in this series is m/m and Asking For It is m/f. Do you have a preference for which type you like to write more?

Between m/f and m/m—probably m/f is my preference, but it's not a very strong one. I find both kinds of romance very compelling emotionally and very hot. (My being exclusively attracted to men means that f/f doesn't really register as sexy to me in the same way, which makes me unlikely to write it, but the emotion in f/f story arcs can still work for me as a reader.) I just want to dig into what draws two people to each other and makes it completely, utterly necessary that they be together from that day on.


Did you find it difficult to get inside the heads of two men?

It didn't seem difficult to me, though I guess male readers would have to be the last word on that one! Really, emotionally, when it comes to falling in love, I don't think men and women (and the genderfluid) are so hugely different and separate. Those feelings are ones we can all connect with to some degree.


So, what is coming next?

My editor's about to get proposals for both some m/f and m/m ideas. We'll see what she says!


And, because I like to ask one fun question, out of all the places you’ve lived, which was your favorite and why?

New York City. I'm not sure I'd ever move back—I'm at a different place in my life now—but I loved the whirl of it, the incredible diversity of people I'd meet, the incredible art and culture, and the sheer energy. The city can be rough, but it made me get my act together. I'll always miss it a little.

Lilah Pace is a pseudonym for a New York Times bestselling author, so she can’t give away too much about herself here, but she has lived everywhere from Italy to the United Kingdom before putting down roots in the American South.

She’s addicted to Diet Coke, loves her dog, and daydreams about several British movie stars (though usually no more than two at a time).

And while it took her a long while to get up the courage to write books, now she hopes she’ll never stop.

Learn more about Lilah --> Website * Twitter * Facebook

Harper Winter 2016 Blog Tour: The Great Hunt

Hi everyone! It's my turn to turn the spotlight on yet another of HarperTeen's amazing books coming out in the winter of 2016. And, to make it even better, I get to talk about the newest book from my friend Wendy Higgins, THE GREAT HUNT.

You guys - I have read this book. And, IT IS INCREDIBLE. And, I am dying here, because I need the next book, like, yesterday. I could gush for literally HOURS about it, but for now, I'll let Wendy tell you all about it. This is going to be a long post, full of so much awesomesauce - make sure you read all the way to the end. You don't want to miss entering the three - yes, I said THREE - giveaways at the end. (Don't forget to look for the secret word for today! Hint: it's in orange.)

Okay - I'll shut up for now. On to the good stuff.

The Great Hunt, by Wendy Higgins
Publish Date: March 8, 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen
Genre: young adult fantasy
To Pre-Order: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

(From Goodreads) Kill the beast. Win the girl.

A strange beast stirs fear in the kingdom of Lochlanach, terrorizing towns with its brutality and hunger. In an act of desperation, a proclamation is sent to all of Eurona—kill the creature and win the ultimate prize: the daughter of King Lochson’s hand in marriage.

Princess Aerity understands her duty to the kingdom though it pains her to imagine marrying a stranger. It would be foolish to set her sights on any particular man in the great hunt, but when a brooding local hunter, Paxton Seabolt, catches her attention, there’s no denying the unspoken lure between them…or his mysterious resentment.

Paxton is not keen on marriage. Nor does he care much for spoiled royals and their arcane laws. He’s determined to keep his focus on the task at hand—ridding the kingdom of the beast and protecting his family—yet Princess Aerity continues to challenge his notions with her unpredictability and charm. But as past secrets collide with present desires, dire choices threaten everything Paxton holds dear.

Inspired by the Grimm Brothers’ tale, “The Singing Bone,” New York Times bestselling author Wendy Higgins delivers a dark fantasy filled with rugged hunters, romantic tension, outlawed magic, and a princess willing to risk all to save her people.

Thank you so much for talking with me today, Wendy, on my stop of the Harper Winter 2016 Blog Tour. I can imagine this is an exciting time for you, as you just said a final farewell to your first published series, and now you are getting ready to launch a brand new series. 

Back when you were getting ready to publish SWEET EVIL, did you ever see yourself here? What has been the biggest surprise to you in your career so far?
WH:  Thank you, Krista! First off, I never thought I would be a published author, so this entire career change has been a surreal dream-come-true. The largest surprise, by far, was when Sweet Reckoning hit the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists. Until that moment I still felt like getting published had just been a lucky fluke. I cried ALL the tears that day!

THE GREAT HUNT is very different from the Sweet Trilogy. Was it difficult to make the transition from writing about familiar names and places to writing about the fantasy world of Eurona?
WH:  It was a very difficult transition for me. VERY. Writing high fantasy requires so much detail, but I’m not a detail person, so for me it took many revisions. In each revision I added more detail and layering. I’m still not 100% confident about it, but I do love the story and I hope that shows in the telling.

Describe Paxton Seabolt, THE GREAT HUNT’s hero, in five words.
WH:  Quiet, Intense, Loyal, Distrustful, and Rugged

The Great Hunt is based on the Brothers Grimm’s The Singing Bone. Why that fairytale? Is it a favorite of yours?
WH:  Honestly, no, I don’t like that story, hahaha. I find all of the Grimm stories too strange and creepy for my tastes. I always wanted to be that cool goth girl who loved wicked stuff, but I just wasn’t. Kuddos to all the Grimm girls out there! Two years ago, when the Sweet Trilogy was heading to an end, I knew I needed to be working on something new but I had no story ideas. Fairy tale retellings were just on the rise, so I picked up my dusty Grimm’s copy and started flipping through. I was intrigued by the title “The Singing Bone,” and when I read the intro I was like, “OH MY GOSH…” Immediate inspiration. I kept reading and got the heebie-jeebies. So really, The Great Hunt was only inspired by the beginning of that tale.  :)

If you had to liken Princess Aerity to a Disney princess, which one most closely resembles her and why?
WH:  Jasmine from Aladdin comes to mind first, because she’s this lonely girl stuck in a castle, surrounded by silks, dreaming of adventure, flying, and love.

The Great Hunt is a duology – when does the second book come out? Does it have a title yet?
WH:  No title yet. It comes out one year after the first, so Winter 2017.

Does your husband read your books? 
WH:  My husband has read all of my books to date except The Great Hunt, but he’s waiting for the final copy so he can consult the maps, lol.

One final question. Rollercoasters – yay or nay?
IWH:  t depends…I love regular old-school, up&down rollercoasters, but I’m not a fan of the ones that go upside down.

Thank you so much, Wendy, for taking the time to answer my questions about you and your new series. I’m so excited to see what else you have planned for us!
WH:  Thanks, Krista! *smooches*

Wendy Higgins is the USA Today and NY Times bestselling author of the SWEET EVIL series from HarperTeen, the high fantasy duology THE GREAT HUNT, and her independently published Irish Fantasy SEE ME.

After earning a Creative Writing degree from George Mason University and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Radford, Wendy taught high school English until achieving her dream job as a full-time writer.

Wendy lives on the Eastern Shore of Virginia with her husband, daughter, son, and little doggie Rue.

#1 – A Harper Teen Winter 2016 Catalog prizepack of 40+ books*
*All YA titles in the winter2016 catalog with the exception of The Siren by Kiera Cass, Yellow Brick War by Danielle Paige and Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard.*

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#2 – 5 Finished Copies from the Harper Teen Fall 2015 Catalog
5 books are: The Lies About Truth, Walk on Earth A Stranger, Dreamland, Dumplin’, and Da Vinci’s Tiger

Entry rules for prize #2:

Collect the daily words and phrases from each blog stop during the Harper Winter 2016 Tour (a total of 45). Once you’ve collected them all, email the saying to: HarperTeenTour@gmail.com

1.) Winner must have a valid US mailing address to receive the prize

2.) Winner must be over 13

3.) Only one (1) entry per person for Prize #2 – duplicates will be deleted.

4.) Only a completed phrase will be accepted as an entry – do not email each word/phrase daily. Wait until you have the complete saying and then email in.

5.) All email submissions must be received by 11:59 PM EST 11/30/2015.

6.) Winner will be selected 12/1/2015 and will have 48 hours to claim their prize before another is selected.

7.) Participating blogs and bloggers are not responsible for unsent, damaged, and/or stolen prizes sent by the publisher.

Your secret word for today is: Make

#3 - Print ARC of THE GREAT HUNT + signed Wendy Higgins swag 
This final giveaway is one of my own. I am so anxious to have others experience how incredible this book is, that I'm giving away a print ARC of THE GREAT HUNT. To sweeten the pot, Wendy Higgins has generously donated some signed swag from all of her books (thank you, Wendy!). This giveaway is international.

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BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Tessa Ever After (Caged In Winter) & Brighton Walsh Interview

I'm thrilled to be a part of the blog tour for TESSA EVER AFTER by Brighton Walsh. This series... OMG, I love it so much. Read on for my review, and then keep going for an interview with Brighton Walsh.

Tessa Ever After (Caged In Winter #2), by Brighton Walsh
Publish Date: May 5, 2015
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Format: e-ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre:  new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes and Noble * iBooks
 
Rating: 5 STARS

(From Goodreads) In this grippingly emotional New Adult novel from the author of Caged in Winter, what you want isn’t always what you need…

Jason’s been living (and loving) the rich playboy lifestyle for five years, but now his parents are pressuring him to get involved in the family business. The last thing he wants is another obligation, but when his best friend moves out of state and asks Jason to look after his sister, he can’t just say no.

Tessa had to grow up way too soon. After dealing with the aftermath of her parents’ deaths, then becoming a teenage mom, she knows the meaning of responsibility. Which is why, at twenty-two, she’s looking for so much more than a party boy. She’s looking for someone who can stand by her and her daughter…forever.

A relationship between them is doomed from the start, but who says they can’t have a little fun? But as Jason gets closer to Tessa—and her daughter—fun starts to turn into something else… Something Jason’s not sure he’s ready for.

We met Tessa, her daughter Haley and Jason in Caged in Winter. Tessa is Cage's sister and Jason is one of Cage's best friends. When Cage and Winter left for a life in Chicago, you might remember that he was concerned about leaving Tessa and Haley behind since they relied on him for a lot of support and help. So, he asked Jason to step in and help. I'm sure you can see where this is going. And, it's every bit as awesome as you would think. 

Tessa, Cage and Jason have been friends forever, but Tessa has often wanted to be more than that with Jason. For Jason, these feelings of more are a recent development, but no less real. The problem is... families. Cage isn't too thrilled about his manwhore BFF dating his sister. And, Jason's awful, overbearing and distant parents want nothing more than to make Tessa and Haley into Jason's trophy family in an effort to make them look better. 

In addition, Haley is the most important person in Tessa's life, and the person she always has to think of first. Given Jason's noncommittal past, Tessa has a very real concern that if she lets him into hers and Haley's life, and he bails on them when things get too real, that it won't be just Tessa that gets hurt. I get her concern, and I respect it a lot. A little girl wouldn't understand if a man who had become entrenched in her life suddenly just disappeared without a word. 

Tessa's lost her way a bit, though. She seems to have forgotten that the key to a happy life isn't just one thing, like stability or money. She's out there looking for what she thinks is the "perfect man" - one who has a good job and a house and a car and a 401K. These guys bore her to tears. They're not Jason. But, she dates them anyway because they fit in her image of the right guy. And, she's really feeling the burden of being a single mom and sees the benefit of having a steady someone in her life to help her out. And, in the process of her overthinking, she misses what's right in front of her. 

I love her and would give my life for her. The times we spend together are my favorite in the world. But at the end of the day, when she's in bed, it's just me. 

It's just me, and I can't help but want something more. 

Jason may be a manwhore, but Tessa seems to have missed the fact that he's been reformed, thanks to her and Haley. Jason, in doing what Cage asked of him and hanging around more to help out, sees all the wonderful qualities in Tessa that most people overlook. And he sees what a joy Haley is to his life, which is otherwise devoid of happiness and light. Jason starts to imagine a life with her in it, and he can't shake that image. It starts a slippery slope of wants and dreams that encourage him to go after what he really wants. 

I think for a second, what is she were mine. If both of them were mine. And I wonder if this is what my grandfather had always talked about - the kind of family that's worth something. The kind of family that's worth everything. 

I seriously loved this book. Hard. I think I liked it more than Caged in Winter. Maybe that's because I'm a mom and Tessa is a mom. Maybe it's because there's just something about a big, sexy man who willingly dons a feather boa and has a tea party with a little girl just to see her smile. Yeah - I think that's it. Jason just took my breath away with his sheer awesomeness. They way he cared for Tessa and Haley was the stuff heroes are made of. That and the hard choices he had to make. There is no way you will not finish this book and not love Jason.

Thank goodness for the dual POV. Jason's chapters were my favorite. There was a lot to his thoughts on his relationship with his parents that factored into how he grew up to be the kind of man he is now. It lent a lot to this story. The pacing was perfect. The chemistry was smoking. The ending was all I needed it to be. I need more from Brighton Walsh like this. 



Thank you so much for talking with me today, Brighton. I can imagine this is an exciting time for you, as two different series are getting into the hands of readers everywhere. Back when you began writing, did you ever see yourself here? What has been the biggest surprise to you in your career so far?

Thanks for having me! And, yes, this has been a crazy ride. Of course, I dreamed I’d be here someday, but actually being here? Crazy. The biggest surprise has been getting Captive picked up by Target. That’s one off the bucket list, baby!

Describe Jason, Tessa Ever After’s hero, in five words. 

Sexy, dirty, funny, crude, playful.

Of the two heroines we’ve met so far in the Caged in Winter series – Winter and Tessa – do you identify more with one over the other?

Yeah, I think I probably identify with Tessa more, just because we’re both moms, so I can relate to the struggles she’s gone through.

Tessa lost her parents and is now raising her four-year-old daughter practically on her own. Jason’s parents are cold and distant and not very present in his life. If you had to be either Tessa or Jason, which would you choose?

That’s a tough one! I think I’d say Tessa. Yes, she lost her parents, but she grew up in a loving family, and she still has her brother who’d do anything for her.

So far in this series, we have the stalwart, responsible chef Cade and the complicated, artistic ladies-man Jason. Do either of them represent your ideal book boyfriend?

I actually have yet to write my ideal book boyfriend. Mostly because I just realized what totally makes me all gooey-mushy: a total badass, takes no prisoners kind of guy who is totally gone over his girl. There is something about that juxtaposition of a guy who could do some serious damage, but who treats his woman with gentle hands (or not so gentle, depending on *cough* what she likes).

How many books are planned in the Caged in Winter series? Might we see one for Adam and Paige next, perhaps (please say yes, please say yes…)?

My book deal with Berkley was for two books—Caged in Winter and Tessa Ever After. I’d definitely love the chance to tell Paige’s story, though!

You’re currently in the middle of two series – Caged in Winter and Captive. Do you find that it gets confusing, having all these different characters, places and situations living inside your head?

One would think it would, right? But, no, it doesn’t. I think because they are two very different worlds and they both have such a different feel. If they were both straight contemporary romance or both romantic suspense, I think I’d have a hard time, but right now, it’s very easy to differentiate between them.

Does your husband read your books? How about your parents? 

My husband has read some of my stuff, but he’s behind (as I pointed out to him a couple weeks ago). Although he did read a chapter in Captive at my *ahem* suggestion. LOL. My parents… Lord. My dad has read (after my repeated requests that he never ever ever open one), and said, “It wasn’t even that bad.” And also, “I hope you didn’t think I thought you were a virgin.” So those were great convos to have. LOL My mom, however, won’t read. One of her girlfriends trapped her on a girls’ weekend and proceeded to read random sex scenes to her, and she said it totally weirded her out. My grandma read CiW on a plane and told me it wasn’t dirty enough. So you see what kind of family I come from, hah!

One final question. Rollercoasters – yay or nay?

YAY! (Also, really weird because in another interview it asked for a fun fact about me and I said I’d never met a rollercoaster I didn’t love.)

Thank you so much, Brighton, for taking the time to answer my questions about you and Tessa Ever After. I’m so excited to see what else you have planned for us!

Thank you for having me!

Brighton Walsh spent nearly a decade as a professional photographer before deciding to take her storytelling in a different direction and reconnect with writing. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and two children.

Learn more about Brighton Walsh --> Website / Facebook / Twitter 

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PUBLICIST INTERVIEW: Cassie McGinty, Disney Publishing Worldwide

I may have mentioned that I'm turning *cough*thirty-something*cough* later this month. This past year has been a pretty good one for me, actually, in relation to my blog. I've read tons of amazing books, met some incredible authors, and gotten some fascinating insight into the publishing world through contacts made at some of the biggest publishing houses in the world. I'm living the dream, baby.

One such contact that I've recently made is the super talented Cassie McGinty, Marketing/Publicity Coordinator at Disney Publishing Worldwide. She graciously agreed to give us an insight into her world.

Thank you so much for participating in this interview, Cassie! – No problem!

*Note: All comments are my own opinion and not official statements or views of The Walt Disney Company.*

1.    My own undergrad degree is in marketing and public relations. When I was looking into careers, honestly, doing marketing and publicity for a major publisher didn’t even cross my mind (wish it would have!). Is this something you always wanted to do, or was it more of a “right place at the right time” kind of thing?

I always loved reading ever since I was little, and was the nerdy kid that always had her head stuck in a book. I didn’t think about working for a publishing company until college. I am from rural Nevada originally and I had never really been exposed to the publishing industry.

Because I love to read and write, when I started thinking about what job I would be qualified to do with my degree (English Major with a Minor in Creative Writing) that would make me happy, it was a no brainer. I was lucky enough to get an internship at Charlesbridge Publishing in Boston. I also interned for my school’s Literary Magazine, SHENANDOAH: THE WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY REVIEW, and I also helped a local author with publicity for her book. My alumni network was a huge asset when it came time to job hunt because I got to meet so many fantastic people that work at different publishing companies in New York. They were so supportive and encouraging and it was through their sharing of resources that I got my first job here at Disney Publishing Worldwide!

2.    What skills are essential if one wants to break into the world of publishing house publicity?

In Publicity (and Marketing) you need to know how to multitask. Be organized, efficient, and creative. There is always something new going on and there is never a dull moment in the day.

3.    What does a day in the life of Cassie McGinty look like?

I usually come in around 8:30-8:45 and catch up on emails. Then the day can consist of anything from creating sell sheets, coordinating author travel, processing invoices, keeping track of author events, corresponding with bloggers, checking NetGalley, submitting books for awards and events, mailing books or promotions, and more! I really enjoy corresponding with bloggers and reading their book reviews! It is one of the highlights of my job because I get to see how the book impacts readers in a very real way.

4.    Do you find time to read strictly for your own pleasure? What are you reading right now?

Totally! I read every day on my commute to and from work and usually when I get home as well. I am a Science Fiction/Fantasy nerd. Right now I am reading CROWN OF VENGEANCE by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory (TOR) which is just amazing. I also just started THE FOUNDRY’S EDGE by Cameron Baity and Benn Zelkowicz (Disney-Hyperion).

5.    What 2014 Disney Publishing releases are you especially excited to help introduce to the world?

DON’T LOOK BACK by Jennifer Armentrout, and not just because of the killer cover designed by Tyler Nevins! I am also super excited about PERCY JACKSON’S GREEK GODS by Rick Riordan and THE HUNT by Stacey Kade.

For December 2013 I am very excited about the release of THESE BROKEN STARS by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. I have gotten to know Amie over email (she is from Australia and is HILARIOUS!) and am so excited for this book to come out. There are so many great things going for this book and I can’t wait for it to be out in the world!

6.    From your perspective, what are the things you like to see in a blogger’s review post?

I love it when a blogger falls head over heels in love with a book! Blogger reviews are such a great way to create Buzz about a book.

7.    What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

Just making sure that I have dotted my “I”s and crossed my “Ts”. There is always so much going on in any given day and I keep lists for everything that I have going on that is essential.

8.    Since this is happening in my birthday month, I have to ask – what is your favorite kind of birthday cake?

Hmmmmmm….. I love pumpkin spice cake with cream cheese icing!

Happy Birthday!

Thank you so much, Cassie, and OMG - I want cake now. Specifically the aforementioned pumpkin spice cake with cream cheese icing. Yum-o.

Don't forget to enter to win either a box of books (US only) or a book of your choosing from The Book Depository (International). Perhaps you might want to get These Broken Stars - I met Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner at BEA this year and they were so incredibly nice. Good luck!

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BLOG TOUR & AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Scorched

I'm stoked to be a part of the SCORCHED blog tour, organized by Sourcebooks! I had the opportunity to meet the awesome Mari Mancusi at BEA this year when she signed my copy of Scorched (and offered complimentary Fireballs as a snack). Imagine my excitement when Mari agreed to participate in an interview with Krista's Dust Jacket for my stop on the tour! Squeeee!! So, let's get to it!

An Interview With... 

Mari Mancusi, Author of SCORCHED

Hi Mari! Thanks so much for making time to talk to me about your new book SCORCHED. Dragons – eep! How exciting! But first a little about you. I know you have a family and a “day job;” how do you find the time to write in between wearing all your other hats?

These days being an author is actually my “day job,” but I do also work as a freelance TV producer, so it can be a bit of a balancing act! Not to mention “Mom of two year old” which, let me tell you, is a day, night, and every time in between type job! Luckily, my daughter has a wonderful babysitter she goes to from 9-4pm, and that’s my writing time. Then I usually do the TV work at night, since it’s not as mentally taxing. (Gotta really be fresh to write.) If I get behind, I have been known to book myself into a hotel or go to my in-laws’ lake house and just write for 18 hours straight with no interruptions.

Your other supernatural books are about vampires or zombies. So, how did you come to write about dragons this time around?

After doing eight vampire books, I was ready to explore a new kind of world. Dragons have always been a creature I was interested in—from back when I was a kid and first read Robin McKinley’s Hero and the Crown. Of course that dragon was evil, but he was still so, so cool. Soon I became fascinated by the beauty and the majesty of dragons, especially once I started reading Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series. I imagined how cool it would be to have your very own psychic dragon companion. Most recently I fell in love with the A Song of Ice and Fire series, better known as Game of Thrones. Daenerys and her dragons were so bad ass. I wanted a heroine like her.

I also feel like dragons an undiscovered market in young adult fiction. The dragon stories that are out there are usually set in a fantasy world—like the Eragon series, for example. So I wanted to bring dragons to our world and explore what it would be like if suddenly, because of global warming, they returned.

The cover for SCORCHED is gorgeous! How did the process work to make Emmy come to life so perfectly?

I am so lucky—I can’t even begin to tell you. Tony Sahara is the cover artist and I’d actually been fortunate enough to work with him before on a couple of re-releases I published digitally. (Tomorrow Land and Alternity.) It was a total coincidence that Sourcebooks hired him to do Scorched, but I was so excited when I found out. He really gets the book, and the cover he did for us is a true work of art. I had to blow it up poster size for my office. And it seems others feel the same. This will be my 17th novel and never before have I had so people get so excited about a cover of mine.

Oddly enough, my favorite part of the cover is actually not the dragon itself but the portrayal of the girl and the dragon together. I love the protectiveness on her face. Like, “Hey world, don’t mess with my dragon!” And the dragon is looking down on her like, “I will protect her with my life.” I just love that and it feels really true to the book.

If Trinity had to describe the differences between Caleb and Connor, what do you think she would say?

Connor is a solider. He’s loyal and protective and brave. Steadfast—the kind of guy who keeps his promises and would lay down his life for someone he cared about. But beneath his tough exterior, he’d a mess of guilt over his father’s death and ready to do whatever it takes to get revenge against the dragons.

Caleb is the forgotten twin, growing up in the shadow of his hero brother. To mask his feelings of inadequacy, he projects the image of a cocky, sarcastic, sardonic guy who doesn’t give a care about anyone but himself. Behind his shell, Trinity discovers a sad, troubled boy desperate for someone to love him for who he really is.

Why, for the love of ice cream, did you have to make me love both Caleb and Connor?? Can we expect Trinity to help me out and make a decision between the two of them anytime soon?

Ha! I can’t give too much away but I will say the true love story of Scorched and its sequels will always be between Trinity and her dragon. Not a romantic love, of course, but the idea of two beings whose destinies have become entwined and must make extreme sacrifices to keep one another safe. No matter what happens between Trinity and the boys (and expect a lot more angst in book two—poor Caleb!) she made a promise to the dragon, and she’s determined not to let anything or anyone come between her and Emmy. The fate of the world—and the entire dragon race—depends on it, after all!

If you could get a message back to the Mari Mancusi from 15 years ago, what would you tell her?
I’d probably just send her a photo of me and my husband and our beautiful baby girl (maybe holding a copy of Scorched?) and say, “Be patient. Don’t be so hard on yourself. All your dreams will soon come true.”

My Review of Scorched

Scorched, by Mari Mancusi
To Be Published September 3, 2013
Publisher:  Sourcebooks Fire
Format: ARC, obtained at BEA
Genre:  YA paranormal, YA urban fantasy
To Pre-Order:  Amazon  * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Trinity
Don't leave me here... It starts with a whisper. At first Trinity thinks she's going crazy. It wouldn't be a big surprise--her grandpa firmly believes there's a genuine dragon egg in their dusty little West Texas town. But this voice is real, and it's begging for her protection. Even if no one else can hear it...

Connor - He's come from a future scorched by dragonfire. His mission: Find the girl. Destroy the egg. Save the world.
 
Caleb - He's everything his twin brother Connor hates: cocky, undisciplined, and obsessed with saving dragons.

Trinity has no idea which brother to believe. All she has to go by is the voice in her head--a dragon that won't be tamed. 

Trinity and her grandfather are down to their last dime and right before Christmas, too. When he spends their tax money on a purported dragon egg, Trinity is furious. Until she discovers it really IS a dragon egg. HER dragon egg, apparently, And it's imminent hatching will start a chain of events that will destroy the world. So, twin brothers Caleb and Connor have separately come back in time nearly 200 years on two very different missions to try and stop that from happening. 

Scorched is a breath of fresh air (pun intended). In a world of YA paranormal where the creatures are usually angels, faeries, vampires or werewolves, dragons that can communicate telepathically with their human matches is an absolutely refreshing change. Scorched is uniqueness among sameness. 

Trinity is a great heroine. She's put in a tough spot right off the bat. Imagine someone telling you that you will end up causing the destruction of the known world. I think I'd go into a corner and rock in the fetal position for awhile. But, Trinity really tries to wrap her brain around what's being told to her, and she wants to make the best outcome possible. It's a really mature attitude, despite the complete craziness of the situation. 

Caleb and Connor - the hot, time-traveling twins. One thinks killing Trinity and the dragon would be the best way to prevent the tragedy. The other thinks that saving them and protecting them would be the way to go. Both boys experience a sort of epiphany along the course of the story, realizing that not everything can be as black and white as they have painted it. 

I really wanted to hate both of them at different points in the story, but I found that I just couldn't. They both care for Trinity, and they both want what they think is best for the world. How can you hate them for that? 

And, although Trinity macks on both the boys during the course of the story, I couldn't be mad her either. I couldn't really blame her for wanting both of them. I see the beginnings of a wicked love triangle (aren't they always worse when they involve siblings?) to come, but by the end of Scorched, it hasn't quite fully developed. 

The pacing and writing are absolute perfection. At no time during the story was I bored, lost or skipping ahead a few pages to "get to the good part." (C'mon - we've all done that, right?) Whenever time travel is introduced, there is great potential for the story to get lost in convoluted space/time continuum theory stuff.  And, that never happens in Scorched. The characters are multi-faceted and interesting. The world-building is done very well. And, the story is paced just right so that I didn't see the twists and surprises coming.

Scorched is to be the first in a trilogy. There is no cliff hanger, but events set in motion are by no means resolved when you get to the last page. I'm really excited to see where things go in the next book. But, for now  I'm content to have read this sweeping, epic dragon tale. 

REVIEW, INTERVIEW and GIVEAWAY : Talisman of El

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Talisman of El (Talisman of El #1), by Alecia Stone
Published May 20, 2012
Publisher:  Centrinian Publishing
Format:  Kindle e-book - own
Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Rating:  3.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) WHAT IF YOUR WHOLE LIFE WAS A LIE?

One Planet.

Two Worlds.

Population: Human ... 7 billion.
Others ... unknown.

When 14-year-old Char­lie Blake wakes up sweat­ing and gasp­ing for air in the mid­dle of the night, he knows it is hap­pen­ing again. This time he wit­nesses a bru­tal mur­der. He's afraid to tell any­one. No one would believe him ... because it was a dream. Just like the one he had four years ago - the day before his dad died.

Char­lie doesn't know why this is hap­pen­ing. He would give any­thing to have an ordi­nary life. The prob­lem: he doesn't belong in the world he knows as home.

He belongs with the others.

Talisman of El certainly was a feast for the eyes. You like Greek mythology? You got it! Angels and demons more your speed? They're there! Magic? Fights? Puppy love? Yes, yes, yes!

Talisman of El reminded me a little of the Gregor the Overlander series. A kid finds his way underground and discovers a whole other world with a different race of people. Talisman of El is like that on steroids.

Charlie is a kid who has been dealt a rotten hand. I felt so bad for him in the beginning, but then he sucked it up and tried to do something about it. I prefer main characters who don't lay down and die (proverbially, that is). Charlie knows something in his life is wrong and incomplete, and then people are put into his path who can help him do something about it. I like that he took that and ran with it even though the trip was a little unbelievable.

The supporting characters were pretty well developed, although I'm still not quite sure what Rich added to the story. He seemed to be there just for the food.Where did he come from? Why did he stick around? What did he add to the story? None of that was ever explained.

My biggest problem with Talisman of El is that the worldbuilding was very complex. TOO complex. There are Rulers and Elders and Lightbearers and a bunch of other people with different titles. They all have different abilities and non-abilities. Some could go here but not there. Group A could date Group B but not Group C. It was all very confusing - I couldn't keep them all straight. And, it seemed significant to the story in some way, which made me frustrated, because I just didn't get it.  

There are elements of mythology, religion, and fantasy. I wish the author had just picked one and gone with it. Instead, there was a little of everything, but not enough of any one thing.

Even so, after a slow start, Talisman of El picked up and kept moving at a lightning pace. There was lots of action, mysteries to be solved, a new world to discover. There were a lot of great moments and an endearing ending. I did feel satisfied at the end and am looking forward to the next book in the series. Arcadia's secrets have only started to be revealed, and I look forward to find out more of them, as well as a further understanding of the people who live there.


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Author Alecia Stone - Interview

1. Dreams play a big part in Talisman of El. Did the concept for the book come to you in this way? If not, how did the ideas for the plot and characters come to you?

I’ve always been fascinated by dreams, but no, the concept for Talisman Of El didn’t come to me in this way. The character of Charlie Blake yields a lot of special abilities – having the ability to see things before they happen in the form of dreams being one of those abilities. Charlie was actually influenced by someone I know who has a unique ability – not quite to the extent of Charlie’s – to see things before they happen. The story started with the main character and just developed from there. The characters drive the story through their actions and interactions.

2. Do the words come easily most of the time? How do you unblock your writer’s block?

Thankfully, I haven’t experienced writer’s block just yet. Fingers crossed, things remain that way. For the most part, the words do come easily to me, which I’m thankful for.

3. Talisman of El features characters with special abilities. Do you wish you had a special ability? If so, which super power would you want?

Oh, yes, I do wish I had a special ability. I would want the ability to manifest my thought into reality.

4. Do you have any plans for a new series after Talisman of El trilogy is finished?

I currently don’t have any plans for a new series, but who knows, when I finish the trilogy, something could pop into my head. For now, I think I’ll just focus on finishing this trilogy.

5. If you could have dinner with any author, who would it be, and what would you like to talk about?

I would like to have dinner with George Orwell. I loved 1984, and what we would talk about is the mysterious Room 101.

'You asked me once,' said O'Brien, 'what was in Room 101. I told you that you knew the answer already. Everyone knows it. The thing that is in Room 101 is the worst thing in the world.'

I wonder what Orwell would say is the worst thing in the world.

“Fast Ten” questions!

1. Chocolate or vanilla? Vanilla.

2. Favorite color? Navy Blue.

3. Look up, and tell me what the first thing is you see. Darkness. It’s night right now.

4. Do you love roller coasters? Nope. Not a fan of theme park rides – or rather my stomach isn’t a fan.

5. Summer or winter? Summer.

6. Favorite book? Pride and Prejudice & Peter Pan (I’m indecisive okay).

7. How many pets do you have? None.

8. Country or city? Country.

9. What was your first job? Customer Service Rep in a courier company.

10. Have you visited another country? I’ve been to about three different countries.

Alecia Stone is the author of Talisman Of El (Centrinian, 2012), the first book in the Talisman Of El trilogy. She graduated with a BA in Film & TV and has worked in television for a short period of time before branching out into storytelling. Alecia loves anything and everything paranormal. Her fascination with all things supernatural sparked her obsession with books, particularly young adult fantasy fiction, which she has never grown out of. She was inspired to become an author after reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen at the age of fourteen.

In 2008, Alecia started working on Talisman Of El, a contemporary young adult fantasy fiction inspired by people who disappeared mysteriously, including, but not limited to, Amelia Earhart and Percy Harrison Fawcett, who went on an expedition in search of an ancient lost city. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys going to the movies, listening to music, and travelling.

Talisman Of El is her first novel. At present, Alecia lives in England, United Kingdom with her family.

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