Dead and Missing Blog Tour: Excerpt & Giveaway!

Thank You to AToMR Tours for being an awesome host, as always! I was supposed to review theses books for the tour but, as I have stated before, I have some medical issues that hinder that - but my doctors will tell you I am always reading, lol! So, my review of both books in the series will come soon. As a teaser, I will leave you with a tiny excerpt to get your minds tingling:) As a reminder, I am starting with the second book in the series so don't read the stats yet and scroll down to book one, Date with the Dead! And don't forget the Giveaway!!

Dead and Missing
(Ripsters, #2)
by Chris Myers
Released: July 13, 2013
Genre: Paranormal Mystery/Romance
Age Group: Young Adult
Tour organized by: AToMR Tours

Book Blurb:
Sixteen-year-old Brittany Howland only knows one other girl, Jolie Livingston, who can communicate with the dead like herself. When Brittany takes Jolie’s haunt fishing to get him out of Jolie’s hair, he mysteriously disappears. Brittany isn’t sure how she’ll tell Jolie she lost her stupid ghost. Jolie thinks her dead best friend Drew has finally crossed over, but Brittany knows better. Just before Drew went missing, he revealed why he hasn’t hitchhiked to the afterlife, a secret Brittany swore she’d take to the grave.

Amazon   -   Barnes & Noble

JOLIE
As I inch along the cave tunnel, cold chills wrack my body. Panic sets in as the water rises and tumbles over my mouth and into my nose. I cough out the water and turn my head to the side to catch my breath.If it gets any deeper, the water will cover my entire face. Using my hands, I feel a hole that veers off to my right and is big enough to crawl into. I scuttle out of the water to sit and rest. The hole goes back farther, but I just want to get out of the stream for a minute to warm up and calm myself before going any further. The thought of drowning, gasping for breath scares the bejesus out of me.I scoot backward until I bump into something that’s icy cold but soft and squishy—like ectoplasm. My body freezes deathly still.A whisper floats on an unnatural breeze that drifts over my shoulders, icing them. “Jolie. I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”

Date with the Dead
(Ripsters, #1)
by Chris Myers

Book Blurb:
Sixteen-year-old Jolie Livingston’s closest and only friend Drew is this really hot dead guy, and it bites that the self-absorbed princesses at school cannot even see him. That’s right she can communicate with the dead. It’s the living she has trouble with. She and her mom inherited this awesome crib in Plymouth, MA. It’s quite a step-up from the homeless shelter in New Orleans, but there’s a catch. They can’t afford the past due mortgage, so Jolie’s working on that.

She starts a ghost hunting business called Ripsters. Somehow she’s managed to recruit Brittany, a glamour SAP smothered in pink, and a techie allergic to ghosts. Brit actually thinks he resembles the R&B singer Chris Brown. All that pink has clouded her vision. They both have special talents Jolie’s hoping will be useful to their venture. Right now, they’re working for a family in need of major therapy due to a dead guy with a hole in his head.

Chris Myers suffers from an overactive imagination. She spent her high school years writing torch songs for fantasy guys then moved onto writing thrillers and young adult. She has a real job but would love to write full time. Her books have won and placed in the finals and semifinals for several awards including Paul Gillette, Rocky Mountain Gold, and Amazon Breakthrough Novel. Chris lives in Colorado with her daughter, her better half, and BeBe, a rambunctious Bichon.

Twitter - Facebook - Website - Blog - Goodreads

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(3) Print Copies of Dead and Missing – US

(8) eBook Copies of Dead and Missing - International

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The Travelers by Claudia Lefeve: Promo Blitz & Giveaway

Haven't read the Travelers Series yet? Now's your chance to get started! 

The first three books (Volume 1) in the Travelers Series are now available! Find out what happens when seventeen-year-old Etta Fleming finds out she's not only from an alternate reality, but is destined to become the future leader of a band of paranormal misfits in order to protect a future reality from destruction.

The fourth book in the series, PARAMETER, will be available late-Spring 2013!

Parallel
(Travelers Series, #1)
by Claudia Lefeve
Book Links: Goodreads  -  Amazon  -   B&N

Book Blurb:
Destiny has a way of catching up.
Saddled with powers she doesn't understand, Etta Fleming's world is turned upside-down the day she meets Cooper Everett, the man who transports her to an alternate reality. A reality she was meant to be a part of.
One minute, she's an orphan living at Dominion House for Girls, an institution for delinquent foster kids, then finds herself attending the exclusive Dominion Hall Academy.
Plucked from the only world she's ever known, Etta now has to deal with an aunt she never knew, a boyfriend she doesn't know, and a best friend who can't know.

"...every time a choice is made, we end up playing out a different scene – like a choose your own adventure book."

Paradox
(Travelers  Series, #2)
by Claudia Lefeve
Book Links: Goodreads  -  Amazon  -   B&N

Book Blurb:Everything is predestined.
Etta is slowly readjusting to life in her new reality, while still recovering from the shock over the news regarding her relationship with Cooper.
While learning more about her role as leader of the Council, she soon discovers that her future is linked to the five extraordinary individuals she must recruit in order to ensure her destiny.
Nothing is as it seems, as rivals become allies and friends become the enemy.

"Don't ever settle for what you think is going to happen. Take life as it comes and don't prepare too much for what might be. Live for the moment."

Paradigm
(Travelers Series, #3)
by Claudia Lefeve
Book Links: Goodreads  -  Amazon  -   B&N

Book Blurb:Take hold of your destiny.
Etta Fleming doesn’t know she was meant to return to her true reality four years ago. After years of being the “orphan girl” in the alternate world she grew up in, she’s finally carved a niche for herself with a great job, a steady boyfriend, and a best friend by her side.
Undeterred by the shift in the timeline, it is up to Cooper Everett and his friends to convince Etta that she is still destined to become their leader, fighting against their post-apocalyptic future.
Will meeting the ghosts of her past convince Etta that she’s part of a grander destiny? Or will her past, present, and future worlds collide?

“Because life isn’t a John Hughes movie. And even if it were, we’d be cast as one of the social misfits in The Breakfast Club...”

Book Excerpts 

(The Many Faces of Jenny) 

PARALLEL 

“Ouch!” I whip around and spot a group of girls playing lacrosse. The back of my head continues to throb where the ball made contact.

“Sooo sorry,” a voice calls out followed by hollow laughter.

I’d recognize that apology anywhere. A tall lithe blonde comes rushing in my direction in order to claim her ball. There’s no doubt in my mind that she’s the one responsible for the pathetic attempt at an apology. Per her usual M.O., she doesn’t sound sorry at all.

“Come on Etta, it’s not worth getting into it with her.” Jaime miraculously appears by my side just in time to grab me by the shoulder. Her attempt is clear: to steer me away from a confrontation. As always, Jaime takes the position of buffer when it comes to me getting into trouble.

Even though I recognized the voice, I still manage to do a double take at the girl running towards us. “Who is that?” I ask anyway, already knowing the answer. I have a feeling this isn’t going to be the end of me and Lacrosse Barbie and I want to be sure.

“You sure you’re okay? The ball must have hit you harder than I thought. That’s Jenny, duh. You know, her dad’s the Mexican Ambassador? Access to free booze because her family owns and operates Mexia beer? Super bitch from hell? Ring any bells?” Jaime looks at me curiously. “And judging from bump on your head, she must really have it in for you.”

My eyes narrow as I watch Jenny claim her ball and trot back to her group of giggling friends. The Barbie Brigade is just going to have to watch out. If they think they’re dealing with the same Etta, they’re in for a rude awakening – they have no idea who they’re messing with now.

PARADOX 

“Thank you. Now, back to this Jenny thing. Seriously?” But maybe it isn’t as complicated as I imagine it to be. I mean, logically, I know there are various versions of us running around in other realities, but my confusion lies more with Jenny being my friend. She can’t possibly be. Jaime is my best friend, not the queen bee of bitchdom. Even though Cooper said she’s from a different reality, I have a hard time believing she’s changed. She always manages to remain the same in the two realities I already know her from.

He rejoins me on the chaise lounge. “There’s not a whole lot of difference between science and destiny when you’re talking about alternate universes. Scientifically speaking, there are multiple universes that play out different scenarios, as you are now well aware, but in every reality, we maintain relationships with the same people. Some people call it fate. We are forever linked, no matter what reality you’re in. In some, we’re friends, in others, foes.”

“So, there’s a Jenny running around who’s my ally in the other world?” Incredible. My biggest nemesis is now a friend and confidant. How the hell does something like this happen?

PARADIGM 

Etta sighed. She knew her friends came from other realities that didn’t always share the same literature as she had growing-up. “Well, it was worth a shot. Charles Dickens was a legendary writer in my orphan reality. You couldn’t get through school without reading one of his classics.” As an orphan, or rather, when she lived in the reality in which she was lead to believe she was an orphan, she had developed a sort of kinship with the writer. His characters touched her in a way no author could. He would always remain one of her favorites. “I’m thinking a little Christmas Carol is in order,” she said, already scheming.

“But it’s May,” one of the Dyson twins pointed out. “What does any of this have to do with Christmas?”

“Yes, I know this, thank you, Chance. In the story by Dickens, Ebenezer Scrooge was visited by three ghosts,” Etta started.

“I think you’re thinking of the three wise men who visited Jesus in the manger,” Jenny chimed in. “Is that the Christmas story you’re thinking of?”

“No, Jenny, A Christmas Carol. I just said it was a story by Dickens.” She really did love Jenny, but sometimes she could be a bit spacey. “As I was saying, Ebenezer was visited by three ghosts: past, present, and future. If Cooper expects me to believe that he’s not only from the future, but a future in another reality in which I lead the rebellion against Thornberry, he’s going to need to bring in the big guns.” Etta looked around the room to make sure they were all listening. “And by that, I mean you guys.”

Claudia Lefeve was born and raised in the Gulf Coast border town of Brownsville, Texas; a curious place where folks see curanderas in lieu of shrinks, tortillas are served at every meal, and even gringos speak Spanish. PARALLEL, the first book in The Travelers series, is her debut YA speculative novel. She currently resides in Northern Virginia with her husband and two pugs.

Website  -  Blog  -  Twitter  -  Goodreads  -  Facebook  -  Pinterest

Contest Info:

Win 1 of 5 eBooks Sets of the Traveler Series Volume 1 (Parallel, Paradox and Paradigm.

eBook Giveaway open Internationally and Paperback open US/Canada. See full contest rules here.

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The Messenger Blog Tour & Tour Giveaway

Welcome to my stop on The Messenger Tour! This tour is brought to you by AToMR Tours. Thank you to Pamela DuMond for providing the book to review. There is also a tour-wide giveaway for some nifty goodies! Giveaway: The author is giving away (1) print copy of THE MESSENGER to US addresses. Open International giveaway is (5) eBook copies of THE MESSENGER.

The Messenger
(Mortal Beloved, Book 1)
by Pamela DuMond
*Formerly Titled: The Messenger's Handbook

Release Date: April 2012

Age Group: Young Adult

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi, Historical Fiction

Synopsis:

Infinity. Life. Death. Rebirth. Some souls are meant to be together, but pursuing true love can be dangerous and often deadly. When sixteen-year-old Madeline falls in love with Samuel, a boy who lives hundreds of years before she is even born, she will risk her very existence to be with him.

Madeline’s from present day Chicago when she is pushed onto the train tracks, and accidentally time travels to a bloody war between the Natives and the colonists. She falls in love with a Native boy, Samuel. But, she’s living in the body of a colonial girl and their romance is a crime that carries harsh punishments.

Madeline discovers that she is meant to be a Messenger, a traveler who if properly trained, can slip through time's fabric at will. The Medicine Woman mentors her. But Madeline doesn't fit in this world. She’s different from the other colonists. Rumors of witchcraft and spying arise. Deadly Hunters, dark-souled predators as well as skilled time travelers, crave Madeline's powers. Can Madeline find the way back to her future? And will that future include her one true love, Samuel?

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My Thoughts:

I am a huge fan of time travel books and The Messenger did not disappoint! Madeline has had a hard time ever since her mother vanished in a car crash. Madeline was in the car when it crashed and only remembers the fear of the car falling and that her mother was no where to be found afterward. Her family had her mom legally declared dead so they could move on, but somewhere in the back of her mind, Madeline isn't sure of what really happened. On her birthday, her father gave her a book that her mother made for you ten years earlier; a book that she remembers her mother working on, but only finds it to be nothing more than an album. But it is so much more.

Madeline is a Messenger but she doesn't know what that is. It isn't until she is almost killed that she blacks out and wakes up nearly 300 years in the past. 1675 to be exact. Everyone thinks she is this girl named Abigail, except for one medicine woman who believes her story. I knew right then that this medicine woman was going to play a big part in the story because who just believes someone when they say they are from the future? As she lives the life of an upright colonial woman, she sees things that make her sick: a reverend who is supposed to be holy using his power unethically, people who jump to condemnation and live through fear and suspicion and the ravages of a war and the treatment of the local Natives. All of this makes Madeline angry, but she can't do anything about it. She just wants to get home.

Along the way, Madeline meets Samuel, a gorgeous boy with whom she falls for. However, they should not be together because he is part native and the fact that she isn't from his time. But despite the hindurances, they do fall in love and through that find enemies. Samuel promises Madeline that no matter where or when they are, they will find each other again. He is a Healer and they are part of a duo - a Healer to work with a Hunter. However, Hunters hunt Messengers. And the Hunter that appears in Madeline's dreams is there with them.

This is a fantastic story that I could not put down. The writing was easy and flowed well and I never once had to stop because of bad grammar. My main issue with this book is that there are so many questions left unanswered. I'm not sure if this was done purposefully so that we have to read on or if things were just glossed over. I would love to know more about what it means to be a Messenger. What are they, why are they and why are they hunted? And how do healers fit into the whole equation. Also, the idea of reincarnation is used and never discussed why or how. Are all souls reincarnated? Is there a reason people meet back up in other lives? You see, so many questions. And I want answers, dang it!

Despite my previous issues, I really found The Messenger to be an exciting and engaging read. I was enthralled by Ms. DuMond's characters and her vivid descriptions of the world around them. I will definitely be reading book two as soon as she presses print! For those who like The Immortals series by Alyson Noel, Timeless by Alexandra Monir, or The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller - The Messenger is a must read!

★ ★ ★ ★ ½

FTC Advisory: I was given a copy of this book from the author for an honest review as part of a blog tour. No backroom deals or whispered promises were made.

About the Author:

Website     Facebook-Book     Facebook-Personal     Twitter

Pamela DuMond is the writer who discovered, pitched and sold the real-life Erin Brockovich story to Hollywood. Erin Brockovich the movie was nominated for four Academy Awards.

In grade school Pamela was an A student but stuttered and was bullied. Reading became her refuge. She devoured every thriller and mystery she could get her hands on and eventually wrote her own. When she was twenty-two years old she finally started talking. Her brother swears she hasn't shut up since.

Pamela writes comedic sexy Cupcakes mysteries: Cupcakes, Lies, and Dead Guys (An Annie Graceland Mystery) was published by Krill Press in 2010. She published Cupcakes, Sales, and Cocktails – A Novella in 2011 and Cupcakes, Pies, and Hot Guys in 2012.

***Giveaway***

The author is giving away (1) print copy of THE MESSENGER to US addresses.

Open International giveaway is (5) eBook copies of THE MESSENGER.

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Shadow Slayer Release Day Party

Shadow Slayer
(Shadow Series, #2)
by Laura A.H. Elliott
Purchase Link: Amazon 


Synopsis:
Shadows will do anything to become human. You see their influence everyday. You say things you don’t mean or do things that aren’t like you. You look, different. Friends you’ve known forever suddenly never call.
As a freshman, Roxie just wants to fit in which is impossible because she barely runs into her friends at her huge high school. Adrianne’s disappearance and Hayden’s attention rock Roxie’s world. But nothing rocks it like the most gorgeous guy at school, Drew. And nothing is more important to Roxie than astral projecting back to Planet Popular to solve the mystery of the map. But that changes when Drew invites Roxie to Homecoming. Hayden warns her that something’s wrong. Why would a guy like Drew like Roxie anyway? Drew must want something. Hayden’s right. Drew is...different. Planet Popular was just the beginning. Part of a bigger world, the Shadow World. There’s a war brewing between the world of humans and the world of shadows. When the shadow invasion begins at Roxie’s high school, she’ll not only fight for her life but the lives of her family and friends, when she discovers she’s the Shadow Slayer, the one human who can save Earth from the shadow onslaught. But, Roxie can’t even kill a spider. Oh yeah, there’s an evil English teacher, an enchanted play, a sword of Sandonian steel, a homecoming of horrors, and seven magic words too.

Haven't Read the First Book? 

Amazon has 13 on Halloween (Shadow Series #1) FREE!!

Laura A. H. Elliott BIO:
I love writing about enchanted road trips, shadow worlds, and alien romance while eating lots of popcorn. I live with my hubby and Oso, our aussie shepherd, in our tree house on the central California coast. After twenty-plus years as a freelance graphic designer/animator with clients including E! Entertainment Television and The Los Angeles Times, I crossed over into the world of publishing non-fiction and followed my heart to the world of fiction. Check out my other books at Laurasmagicday.wordpress.com or find me on Facebook or @Laurawriting!

**********Giveaway**********

Open to US & International Seperately

Check below for correct form.

[US only]

*Shadow Series goodie bag filled with candy & Shadow Series Swag! keychain, necklaces, rabbits' feet & more!

*1 set of signed paperbacks of the series --- 13 on Halloween & Shadow Slayer 

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 [International]

*3 ebook copies

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Make sure to check out the Shadow Slayer Tour in December!