When Destiny Knocks by Heather M. White - Excerpts & Giveaway

When Destiny Knocks by Heather M. White
YA Paranormal Romance
Just released December 26, 2011

16 year old Karlie has had a pretty normal life... But when her Mom dies she is force to move over 1,000 miles away to live with her Dad. That's when things start getting weird.

She can't explain the earthquakes that nobody else feels, or why she no longer sleeps. But most of all she doesn't know why she trusts Shane so much, even though his Dad wants her dead.

Suddenly, Karlie's normal life is turned upside down and she enters a world she never dreamed could really exist.

First excerpt:

“Don’t worry about it, you’re beautiful.”

I don’t know why, but I giggled. Like some twelve year old little girl. “You really think so?”

“I know so,” he said as he pushed my bangs behind my ear.

He stood so close I could feel his breath on my neck, and that weird tingly sensation was stronger than ever. I thought maybe he was going to kiss me. Just then, a door opened from behind and he moved away so quick I wondered if I had imagined the whole thing.

Second excerpt: 

(After Karlie caused an earthquake, she followed Shane to try to figure out what was happening to her.)

“She’s much more powerful than we expected.” There was a pause. “Look, I can’t do that. Things have changed between her and me.” Who was he talking about? And who was he talking to? I peeked around the corner and watched him pace back and forth in the hall. Suddenly he stopped. “I got to go,” he said suddenly and disconnected him phone. He walked quickly over to me. Not knowing what to do I give him an angelic smile, hoping he ignores the fact that I am spying on him. “Do you always listen in on other people’s conversations?” “No,” I answered honestly. “This would be the first.” “Karlie, some things you’re better off not knowing. Let’s just leave it at that.” He turned to walk away, but of course I followed behind him. “I deserve answers.” He didn’t say anything so I continued. “What was that in the cafeteria? One minute everybody was under the tables and there was an earthquake. Next minute, everybody is completely oblivious to what happened. I know you know what happened.” “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he denied. He didn’t look me in the eye as he said it. “You’re lying.” “Karlie, it’s not safe. That is all I can say, and I’ve probably said too much already. I care a lot about you, and I will do whatever it takes to make you safe.” His voice was very stern and I knew he was serious. “Just promise me you won’t go looking for answers, and I promise that when it is safe, I will tell you everything.” I started to protest, but before I could Savannah and Jessica came up behind me. When I looked back to where Shane was standing just a few seconds ago, he was gone. It was just like before in the cafeteria, he had vanished.

About the author:
In her words:
I am a returning resident to Arkansas. I just migrated south from Saint Louis, MO with my husband. We have almost been married a year. :)

I love to write. I have been writing since I was a kid - literally. I decided in the 2nd grade I would write a book. I wrote lots of stories and poems... And did I mention I wrote over 200 songs? (Yeah, I'm a musician too). So I wrote my very first novel at the ripe age of 14... My Mom still has it :-/. Ok, so maybe it wasn't my best work, but I had a LOT of fun writing it!

I started college at the young age of 17. (I graduated high school at 16). And my English papers were always a hit in my classroom. Somebody told me "you should make that story into a book". I pushed it to the back of my mind... Until recently.

When I'm not writing, I am normally reading. I am also a caffeine addict.
  
Giveaway:
One e-copy (for Nook or Kindle) of When Destiny Knocks.

How to enter:
5 ways to enter. Choose 1 or all 5.
+1 Follow Krazy Book Lady on Twitter
+1 Like Krazy Book Lady on Facebook
+1 Follow Heather on Twitter
+1 Like Heather on Facebook
+1 Leave a blog post comment

Please do not leave emails or usernames in the blog post comments. Please include usernames, etc, in the section for comments on the entry form. 

Giveaway details:
Giveaway is open internationally. This giveaway will run until midnight EST on January 12. Must be 13 or older to enter. Winner will be chosen using Random.org. Winner will be emailed and this blog post will be updated to include the winner's name. Winner has 3 days to contact me or a new winner will be selected.

Thank you for entering and good luck!

Sorry! This giveaway is now closed.

Winner: Brandyzbooks

Giveaway Hop: Love Unfinished by Darian Wilk

This giveaway is part of the hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Babs Book Bistro. There are a lot of great blogs participating in this hop and each has their own giveaways. After you enter here, hop over and enter their giveaways too. Please also check out the other giveaways that I currently have. They can be located on the right sidebar.

My giveaway:
2 winners will receive Love Unfinished by Darian Wilk, one will receive a print copy and one will receive a code to download a copy through Smashwords. Print copy is available to US residents only.

Soul mates from the past leave their love unfinished when a tragic accident ends their lives on their wedding day. Yet they are destined to meet again to fulfill that love in new incarnations, leading vastly different lives.

Emma thought she had chosen the right path, but too late does she realize her mistake as her husband reveals the monster behind his smile; morphing their fairytale image with loveless obligation. Trapped in a broken marriage to a powerful, abusive husband, she knows this is not the life she was destined to live. As her hope for love withers, she meets James, her love from a lifetime ago.

Emma cannot deny the love pulling her toward James, but courage to abandon her marriage wavers and unknowingly puts her love on the line. If Emma has any hope of life and love, she must trust the bond with James and be with the man destiny has spent two lifetimes guiding her toward. Are they fated to fulfill their love, or will they once again, leave love unfinished?

Book bloggers - Darian has an open review request. 

How to enter:
Choose one or all of these options and then fill out the form below.
+1 Follow Krazy Book Lady on Twitter.
+1 Like Krazy Book Lady on Facebook.
+1 Follow Darian Wilk on Twitter.
+1 Like Darian Wilk on Facebook.
+1 Leave a blog post comment here, on my review of Love Unfinished, or my interview with Darian.

Please do not leave emails or usernames in the blog post comments. Please include usernames, name you used to leave a comment, etc, in the section for comments on the entry form. 

Giveaway details:
Print copy is available to US residents only, and eBook is available internationally. This giveaway will run until midnight EST on January 3. Must be 13 or older to enter. Winner will be chosen using Random.org. Winner will be emailed and this blog post will be updated to include the winner's name. Winner has 3 days to contact me or a new winner will be selected.

Thank you for entering and good luck!

Sorry! This giveaway is now closed.

Winners:
SiNn - print copy
Ceri Kay - eBook

Noah Zarc by D. Robert Pease - Review & Giveaway

Noah Zarc: Mammoth Trouble by D. Robert Pease
Published: August 2011
Published by: Walking Stick Books

My review:
Noah and his family live aboard a huge spaceship, called the ARC, that they use to house the many animals (two of each) that they are saving. To save them, they go back in time and capture the animals before the catastrophic event occurred that destroyed the Earth. Noah's family are the only ones legally allowed to time travel. However, someone else shows up during one of the missions and kidnaps Noah's mom, and his dad is stranded in the Ice Age and cannot return. Noah and his older brother and sister must travel back in time to rescue their dad. Then they have to figure out a way to find their mom, and they have to save the Earth from being destroyed again while doing it.

I normally do not read science fiction, but I think Noah Zarc may have changed my mind about the genre. I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed it so much. The story has played on Noah's Arc in a whole new way. It is well written, and Noah is just an awesome kid. D. Robert Pease is obviously intelligent, and it shows in his writing. The only downside is that I was confused with a lot of the time travel and had a hard time keeping up with who was where. Also, I am pretty sure there was a reference to Area 51, which would probably have went completely over the heads of most kids. I think older Middle Grade readers and the younger YA readers would enjoy the fun and fantasy of Noah Zarc, as would the adults who enjoy the YA novels (like me).

A copy was provided by the author for review.

Blog Tour Notes

OVERVIEW

Noah lives for piloting spaceships through time, dodging killer robots and saving Earth's animals from extinction.

Life couldn't be better.

But the twelve-year-old time traveler learns it could be a whole lot worse. His mom is kidnapped and taken to Mars; his dad is stranded in the Ice Age; and Noah is attacked at every turn by a foe bent on destroying Earth... for the second time.

Get your copy today by visiting Amazon.com (available in paperback or as an eBook) or the online retailer of your choice (more links below).

CASH PRIZES

Guess what? You could win a $50 Amazon gift card as part of this special blog tour. That’s right! Just leave a comment below saying something about the post you just read, and you’ll be entered into the raffle. I could win $50 too by having the most comments. So tell your friends to stop by and comment on this post too!

GIVEAWAY

Win 1 of 5 copies of the paperback version of Noah Zarc: Mammoth Trouble by entering the giveaway on GoodReads.


THE AUTHOR

D. Robert Pease has been interested in creating worlds since childhood. From building in the sandbox behind his house, to drawing fantastical worlds with paper and pencil, there has hardly been a time he hasn't been off on some adventure in his mind, to the dismay of parents and teachers alike. Also, since the moment he could read, books have consumed vast swaths of his life. From The Mouse and the Motorcycle, to The Lord of the Rings, worlds just beyond reality have called to him like Homer's Sirens. It's not surprising then he chose to write stories of his own. Each filled with worlds just beyond reach, but close enough we can all catch a glimpse of ourselves in the characters.

Discover ways to connect with the author by visiting his site at www.drobertpease.com

BOOK TRAILER




THANK YOU! for visiting. And don't forget to comment below for that chance to win the $50 Amazon gift card. And of course head on over to your favorite online book store and buy a copy of Noah Zarc: Mammoth Trouble, for you or for the kids in your life.

Amazon Paperback | Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble Nook | Apple iBookstore | Smashwords | Diesel eBook Store | CreateSpace Paperback | Amazon UK | Amazon France | Amazon Germany

Fractured Light by Rachel McClellan - Review & Giveaway

Fractured Light by Rachel McClellan
Expected publication: February 2012
Publisher: Sweetwater Books, an imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc.

I’m dying, I thought. This was unexpected and not at all how I envisioned my death. I was supposed to die gardening in a flowerbed as a hundred-year-old woman, not as a seventeen-year-old trapped in a lake beneath inches of ice.

Llona Reese is used to living on the run. After the Vykens killed her parents, she knew they would eventually come for her too. She can’t take any chances. But when she starts to make friends for the first time in her life, she gets careless and lets her guard down. Big mistake.

As an Aura, Llona can manipulate light and harness its energy. But if she wants to survive, Llona will have to defy the Auran Council and learn to use her power as a weapon against the Vyken whose sole desire is to take her light. Now she’s caught in something even bigger than she can understand, with a power she can’t wield, and no one she can trust, except, just maybe, a mysterious stranger. 

My review:
Llona isn't like other teenagers. She has pale skin, white hair, can manipulate light, and has an excess of energy during a full moon. Llona is an Aura, like her mother was. Her mother was killed by a Vyken several years earlier. After her father also dies, she lives with her uncle, Jake. However, that means she doesn't have anyone who can teach her what it means to be an Aura, except for her aunt, Sophie, who wants Llona to attend a special school for Auras, Lucent Academy. Llona also doesn't have any friends, except for May, who still isn't a close friend. The two girls are drawn together because they are aware there is something different about the other, but they do not talk about their secrets. When Llona finally starts letting herself get close to May and meets Christian, she is finally ready to stop moving from place to place like they have been doing. Llona finds out she has a guardian. All Auras have guardians assigned to them, but usually only when they are older and have left Lucent Academy. However, the danger that they knew was a possibility is closer than she or her guardian realized, and Llona must learn to harness the power of light to protect herself and the ones she has come to care about.

The idea of someone who is going to protect you no matter what does have a strong appeal. On the one hand, it is hard to resist this character and this theme. On the other hand, there is a part of me that doesn't like the type of lead female character who needs someone to protect her. I was very surprised and pleased when Llona ended up being willing and able to protect herself, even though she did have a guardian.

Rachel McClellan did an excellent job writing her characters and spacing big moments in just the right places to keep your attention. There may have been some elements which didn't seem believable. (For example, the girl who wants to be invisible being the star player on the basketball team - during the full moons, of course.) However, to enjoy this type of novel, you have to lose yourself and let yourself believe in the fantasy. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Fractured Light. I would recommend this to anyone, and I am looking forward to reading the next book from Rachel.

A copy was provided by the publisher for review.

About the author:

"My mind only knows how to write. Other people perform simple tasks like cleaning their house or using the bathroom without a distracting thought.

I can't.

Yesterday I meant to vacuum, but ended up scrubbing blood out of my carpet instead. The body's still in the freezer. And when I went to take a shower, a little girl in a red dress and pigtails appeared to me in the vanity mirror. Again. I wish she would go away.

See what I mean? My life is a story and the only way to stay sane is write it all down. I only hope others can find joy in my insanity" - Rachel McClellan

Rachel McClellan was born and raised in Idaho, a place secretly known for its supernatural creatures. When she's not in her writing lair, she's partying with her husband and four small children. Her love for storytelling began as a child when the moon first possessed the night. For when the lights went out, her imagination painted a whole new world. And what a scary world it was…

Fractured Light is her debut novel.

Find out more on Rachel's website, Twitter, Facebook, and the Book Poster page.

View the rest of the tour stops.

Giveaway:

One copy of Fractured Light to one winner, provided by Cedar Fort.

Giveaway is open to international entries. If winner is international, an eBook will be sent. Winners in the US will have the option of a print copy or an eBook.

How to enter:

+1 Follow Krazy Book Lady on Twitter.
+1 Like Krazy Book Lady on Facebook.

+1 Follow Rachel on Twitter.

+1 Like Rachel's page on Facebook.

+1 Follow Cedar Fort on Twitter.
+1 Like Cedar Fort on Facebook.
+1 Leave a blog post comment.

Please do not leave emails or usernames in the blog post comments. Please include usernames, name you used to leave a comment, etc, in the section for comments on the entry form. 

Giveaway details:
Giveaway is open internationally. This giveaway will run until midnight on January 25. Must be 13 or older to enter. Winner will be chosen using Random.org. Winner will be emailed and this blog post will be updated to include the winner's name. Winner has 3 days to contact me or a new winner will be selected. Cedar Fort will be notified, and the book will be shipped from them.

Thank you for entering and good luck!

Sorry! This giveaway is now closed.

Winner: Rachel V.

Guest Post by Jolyn Palliata

Did you ever get a song stuck in your head? Or part of one? How did you get it out? Did you avoid the song at all costs in the blind hope it would stop hammering you into submission? Or did you listen to the song over, and over, and over, until you were so obsessed that all you could think about was that delicious, devilish little laugh….er, what was I saying? (Right. Song stuck in my head. Ahh...I mean, your head.) Now, I know this has happened to every person reading this post, so I’m hoping you’ll relate to my little story here.

Let me give you some background. In October, I released Connected (Twists of Fate #1), and here’s a brief description of the story: A rock group’s rhythm guitarist, Rhys Alexander, dies and finds himself bound inside the body of a woman he’s never met. Can she help him move on to the other side, or will he end up finding the love of his life…after his has already ended?

For a time, I had this for free on Wattpad (where I posted as I wrote it). And several readers asked me how in the world I came up with the concept. The short answer was ‘By taking the longest route possible.’ The more involved answer is this…

It all started with a song—Imagine that, huh?—which began with a synthesized-sounding guitar and a sinful, maniacal laugh that made my gut quiver. (Yes, I do realize this may be an issue I need to fully address later.) It was Disturbed’s “Inside The Fire”. Add a little Framing Hanley (with that oh-so-sexy voice), and Tavion, lead singer of the band Persevere, was born. And what kind of woman would knock a strapping rock star to his knees? Why, a best-selling author, of course.

So here I had two people who worked in the entertainment industry, but were worlds apart. What could possibly bring them together? The answer seemed so simple, really: Fate. Then my next though was “What if Fate was a living, sometimes-breathing, entity? What an interesting point-of-view that would be!” And it spiraled from there. I dug deep into the protag, Devan (the name of the girl in Disturbed’s song), and put pieces of me and my personality into the mix. Naturally, then I had to mock myself and my works along the way. (i.e., Suddenly Impending Reprisals became Devan’s masterpiece, and guess what…it made it all the way to the NYT Bestsellers list! Way to go, Devan!!)

Now, the question was ‘What inspired me to write Connected’, and so far, I’m telling you how I started writing Twisted (Book 2). Yeah, well, I’m getting there. (Remember how I said it was the longest route possible?)

So there I was, writing Twisted and having a hell of a time. And then the unthinkable happened (insert suspenseful music here)…I got writer’s block. I’m talking a stint of writer’s block that could only have originated from the deepest, most vile and sulfuric, bowels of Hell. And, man, was it stubborn! Over a year went by before I picked it up again, and even then it wasn’t because I came up with a grand master plan, or that my head was swimming with ideas. No. It was simply because I missed my characters. So I started to reread/revise/edit the 30K words I had written, hoping it would shake something loose. Enter: two new inspirations.

The first was the Demonica series by Larissa Ione. In the series, paired up mates can sense each other’s emotions and I got to wondering “What would that be like?”

The next piece of inspiration came from Avenged Sevenfold (A7X). I was studying up on rock bands for Twisted (and can A7X ever ROCK!!), and checking out the band members (*drool*) and it inspired a new character—Rhys.

From Ione and A7X blossomed Connected (finally!) where Rhys’ spirit was stuck inside Addison (my protag), and they could sense each other’s emotions.

But I had one problem. I absolutely REFUSED to walk away from Twisted again. Soooo…how could I use this? Well, first of all, Rhys couldn’t be a lead singer since that’s what Tavion is. And secondly, I wanted this to be a fast-hitting novella used to compliment Twisted’s story. What I needed was a supporting member of the band... Hello, Rhys, my luscious rhythm guitarist!

But then I had another problem. (Because I needed more, right?) I couldn’t picture Rhys in Tavion’s band, Persevere, which is a more mature, established group. No, he belonged with some just-making-it-big band that wasn’t afraid to play with the formula, to take chances, and was just enjoying the ride and what life had to offer. He belonged with the guys of Black Codex.

Then problem #3: How did Black Codex and Persevere tie in to each other? I mean, if Connected leads into Twisted, they have to know each other somehow, right? Well, as luck would have it, they’re all friends. (Who knew?!) Eh, okay, so actually two members from Black Codex are brothers and they grew up with a guy from Persevere, so, by association, they became friends. (It’s all in the details, right?) ;)

All right. Now what? I didn’t want to introduce Fate (my sassy, capricious entity) in Connected even though he’s definitely hard at work behind the scenes. It would’ve been too distracting from the plot, and I had plenty to maneuver already! (Hello…dead rock star stuck in some chicks head!!) So what I did was plot Connected so it all occurs during the same timeframe as the first half of Twisted. Perfect! Then when people read Twisted, they’ll get all the behind-the-scenes-extras that were going on in Connected that either 1) I didn’t have time for, or 2) I couldn’t smoothly transition in.

At the end of my long-ass journey, not only did I have Connected, but I shook myself loose on Twisted…aaand came up with storylines for the other eight band members. (I’ll spare you the details on those. LOL) Thusly, the Twists of Fate series was born.

So, let me ask you again: Did you ever get a song stuck in your head…?

For more information on the Twists of Fate series: http://jolynpalliata.wordpress.com/romance/twists-of-fate-series/

Twists of Fate series Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Twists-of-Fate-Series/190217514383637

To purchase Connected (Twists of Fate #1): http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&sort=relevancerank&search-alias=books&ie=UTF8&field-author=Jolyn%20Palliata

Guest post by Emlyn Chand - Hello 2012. Goodbye World!

Announcing the Farsighted Social Media Whirlwind Tour!

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Farsighted eBook edition is just 99 cents this week.

What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes, including lots of Amazon gift cards (up to $100 in amount) and 5 autographed copies of the book. Be sure to enter before the end of the day on Friday, December 30th, so you don’t miss out.

 

To Win the Prizes

1. Purchase your copy of Farsighted for just 99 cents on Amazon or Barnes & Noble
2. Fill-out the form on Novel Publicity to enter for the prizes
3. Visit today’s featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the book or a $50 gift card!
4. BONUS: If you leave a comment on this blog post, you have another chance at $100!
5. DOUBLE BONUS: If I receive more comments than any other blogger, *I* win $100.

...And I can win too!

Over 100 bloggers are participating in this gigantic event, and there are plenty of prizes for us too. The blogger who receives the most votes in the traffic-breaker poll will win a $100 gift card as well. So when you visit Novel Publicity’s site to fill-out the contest entry form, don’t forget to say that I referred you, so I can get a point in the poll.

The Featured Events include:

Monday, a guest blog on Novel Publicity! Emlyn kicks off the tour on the Novel Publicity Free Advice blog by discussing her brightly burning passion for books in a guest post entitled “My journey through the pages and toward a life-long love of reading.” One commenter will win an autographed copy of Farsighted. Don’t forget to enter for the other contest prizes while you’re over there!

Tuesday, Twitter sharing contest! A tweet is tiny, only 140 characters. But on Tuesday, it could win you $50. Send the following tweet across the twittersphere, and you just may win a $50 Amazon gift card. An autographed copy of Farsighted is also up for grabs. The winners will be announced Wednesday morning. Here’s the tweet: Looking for a fun read to round out your holiday break? The paranormal YA hit Farsighted is just 99 cents! http://ow.ly/81Dt1 #whirlwind

Wednesday, Google+ sharing contest! Yup, there’s yet another awesome opportunity to win a $50 Amazon gift card, and this time it just takes a single click! Visit Google+ and share Emlyn Chand’s most recent post (you’ll see the Stay Farsighted book cover included with it). On Thursday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. An autographed copy of Farsighted is also up for grabs. Two chances to win with just one click! How about that?

Thursday, Facebook sharing contest! Stop by Novel Publicity’s Facebook page and share their latest post (you’ll see the Farsighted book cover included with it). It’s ridiculously easy to win! On Friday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. An autographed copy of Farsighted is also up for grabs.

Friday, special contest on the author’s site! Are you ready for some more fun? Take a picture of yourself with your copy of Farsighted either in paperback or on an eReading device, then post it to Emlyn Chand’s Facebook page or email a copy to author@emlynchand.com. You just way win one of three Amazon gift cards! A $100 prize will go to the photo with the most interesting setting (so put your holiday travel time to work for you). Another $50 will go the funniest photo, and one more prize of $50 will go the scariest photo—this is a paranormal YA book after all. An autographed copy of Farsighted will go to one randomly selected entrant. For more details about this contest, please visit www.emlynchand.com.

Remember, it’s all about the books!

About Farsighted: Alex Kosmitoras may be blind, but he can still “see” things others can’t. When his unwanted visions of the future begin to suggest that the girl he likes could be in danger, he has no choice but to take on destiny and demand it reconsider. Farsighted is the winner of the 2011 Dragonfly eBook Awards. Get it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

About the Author: Emlyn Chand has always loved to hear and tell stories, having emerged from the womb with a fountain pen grasped firmly in her left hand (true story). When she’s not writing, she runs a large book club in Ann Arbor and is the president of author PR firm, Novel Publicity. Emlyn loves to connect with readers and is available throughout the social media interweb. Visit her on her website,Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

Hello 2012. Goodbye World!

A Guest Post by Emlyn Chand

The New Year is upon us. And if the Mayans were right, so is the apocalypse. Oh, man... Just when Earth was getting good.

Well if I’m going to go by flame, flood, meteoric collision, or zombie uprising, I think it’s best to be prepared. No, not with a flame retardant unitard or a well-equipped cross bow, but with mental resolution—with a calm acceptance of humanity’s plight.

Consider this a combo suicide note/ Dear John letter to the world. I might as well get a few final words in (just in case those Mayans knew what they were talking about). Pfffhew, here goes...


Dear World,

I wish I didn’t have to write this letter. We’ve been together some twenty-seven years, and that’s a long time. Sure, we’ve had our clashes. You’ve sent a fair share of inclement weather my way. Remember that thunder storm when the tree almost broke through the window of my apartment? I was so scared. That was totally not cool on your part. And tornados? I mean what’s that about. Control your temper!

But I know I’ve hurt you too. I’ve been frivolous with your resources and have sometimes even—gasp—littered. I bought a V6 when I could’ve bought a hybrid. In fact, I think my carbon footprint is a size 12 at least—and that’s a size you have to special order at the shoe store. Yeah, I’m not saying I’m perfect. We all do things we regret, but Earth, you know I love you, right? That’s why it’s so difficult saying what I have to say...

We can’t be together anymore. I’ve heard talk of a major problem. They say you’re going to die a horrific
death, and since I count on you for protection, I’m gonna die too. I’d like to say we’ll be together in the next world, but do planets go to Heaven? I can’t say for certain, so I think I should say goodbye instead.

We’ve had a good run, you and I. And I never regret having loved you. How I wish I could save us both, but who am I to interfere with an ancient prophecy?

I’ll miss the way you spill light through my closed blinds in the early morning, gently telling me it’s time to start my day. And I’ll remember fondly the way the ground smells after a restorative rain shower— the way the pitter patter on my skin prickles like teensy weensy fingers giving me a massage, the way the earthworms come out of the ground and dance on the pavement. The songs of birds in the morning are my favorite; they always sound so happy. I wish I understood the lyrics to their upbeat symphony so that I could join in with them. And ice cream? I’ll give you credit for that, because the cows are yours, the vanilla bean is yours, the sugar is yours. The taste is magnificent! To never feel that icy sensation arouse my taste buds again is such a great shame.

I’m tearing up now just thinking about all our good times together. I hope you’ll remember me with the same fondness. No matter what happens, I will ALWAYS love you.

Now it’s time to say goodbye. Go out with a smile,

Where's Alice Bliss?

Attention Book Bloggers! Would you like to join me in sending Alice Bliss around the world? I have received a copy of Alice Bliss! After the beginning of the year, I will read and review it. Then I will get it registered at BookCrossing.com and will pass it along to another book blogger who is interested in helping Alice Bliss travel as many places as possible.

What Is Where’s Alice Bliss? (This info is from the Where's Alice Bliss website.)
Where’s Alice Bliss? is a campaign to send copies of the novel Alice Bliss to as many countries and U.S. states as possible. Through www.bookcrossing.com, copies of Alice Bliss will be registered and tracked as they travel around the world, passing from one reader to the next. Your bookcrossing ID (BCID) allows you to follow your book wherever it goes.  It’s like a passport enabling your book to travel the world without getting lost.  Once your book is registered, you will leave it in a public place (or give to a friend) with a note inside for someone else to find, read, and pass on, like a modern-day message in a bottle. You will be part of an international movement encouraging readers to read, register, and release books for others to enjoy!

About the book:

Alice Bliss by Laura Harrington
When Alice Bliss learns that her father, Matt, is being deployed to Iraq, she's heartbroken. Alice idolizes her father, loves working beside him in their garden, accompanying him on the occasional roofing job, playing baseball. When he ships out, Alice is faced with finding a way to fill the emptiness he has left behind.

Matt will miss seeing his daughter blossom from a tomboy into a full- blown teenager. Alice will learn to drive, join the track team, go to her first dance, and fall in love, all while trying to be strong for her mother, Angie, and take care of her precocious little sister, Ellie. But the smell of Matt is starting to fade from his blue shirt that Alice wears everyday, and the phone calls are never long enough.

Alice Bliss is a profoundly moving coming-of-age novel about love and its many variations--the support of a small town looking after its own; love between an absent father and his daughter; the complicated love between an adolescent girl and her mother; and an exploration of new love with the boy-next- door. These characters' struggles amidst uncertain times echo our own, lending the novel an immediacy and poignancy that is both relevant and real. At once universal and very personal, Alice Bliss is a transforming story about those who are left at home during wartime, and a teenage girl bravely facing the future.

Are you interested in receiving my copy of Alice Bliss? Just fill out the form below. Sorry, this is only currently available for bloggers with a US address due to the price of shipping. If enough bloggers are interested, I would like to keep it going from one blogger to the next. Since I would like to help Alice Bliss get to states she has not yet traveled to, you will be given priority if you live in one of those states. Click here to see which states Alice Bliss has not yet been to. (I live in one of these!)

What would you have to do? Just read it and pass it on!

Sorry! My copy is no longer available. It was sent to Ashley at The Bibliophile's Corner. You can follow the journey of this copy of Alice Bliss through Book Crossing.

Review: Love Lifted Me by Sara Evans with Rachel Hauck

Love Lifted Me by Sara Evans with Rachel Hauck
(A Songbird Novel)
Expected Publication: January 2012
Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Jade never knew happily-ever-after would be this messy, loud . . . delicious.

Jade Benson embraces unexpected motherhood when her husband Max gains custody of his young son. As she and Max work out their newly formed family, an invitation to coach Texas high school football sends them on a journey.

Then a stranger reveals a painful secret, and Jade faces her hardest challenge yet. When she surrenders her heart to God and to her husband, Jade discovers the joy of love lifting her above her fears.

"All my songs tell a story. But this one is special. My first book series is about looking backward while moving forward. It's about chasing dreams, endless country roads, and tender faith." -Sara Evans

My review:
Jade is worried that she cannot trust her husband, Max, when he returns from rehab due to an addiction to pain pills. She has concerns that he will begin using again, and she is still recovering from finding out he had a baby with another woman. A baby that was supposedly conceived just one week before their marriage. Jade has fallen in love with the baby, Asa, now almost 2 years old and has been caring for him while Max was away at rehab, but a newly discovered secret may take Asa away from them. Max is also turning their world upside down when he decides he wants to leave his family's law firm in Tennessee and move to Texas, where he was in rehab, to coach the failing high school football team. Jade puts her faith in the Lord while learning to trust Max again and while they forge a new life in the face of secrets and adversity.

This book is beautifully written, and I really enjoyed reading it. It is very inspiring and touching, and it brought tears to my eyes. The main idea is simply about always putting your faith in the Lord and let Him lead you in the decisions you make. Not just during the easy times, but also when you are struggling, experiencing adversity, or following your dreams against all odds. Sometimes the right choice isn't always the easy choice. I would highly recommend this book. I now have the other books in this series and other books by Rachel on by TBR list.

About the authors:
Multi-plantinum recording artist Sara Evans has garnered such honors as ACM's Female Vocalist of the Year, CMA's Video of the Year, one of People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People," and the first country star to compete in ABC's Dancing with the Stars.

Sara's books include The Sweet By and By, Softly and Tenderly, and Love Lifted Me.

You can find Sara on her website, Twitter, and Facebook.

RITA-finalist and best-selling author Rachel Hauck lives in Florida with her husband, Tony, a pastor. A graduate of Ohio State University, she left the corporate software marketplace in '04 to write full time. In addition to her collaboration with Sara, she's the award-winning author of Dining with Joy, Sweet Caroline, Love Starts with Elle, and many others.

You can find Rachel on her website, Twitter, and Facebook.

 A copy was provided by the publisher for review.

MidWinter's Eve Giveaway Hop: Farsighted by Emlyn Chand

This giveaway is part of the hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Oasis for YA. There are a lot of great blogs participating in this hop and each has their own giveaways. After you enter here, hop over and enter their giveaways too.

My giveaway:

One SIGNED copy of Farsighted by Emlyn Chand.

Alex Kosmitoras's life has never been easy. The only other student who will talk to him is the school bully, his parents are dead-broke and insanely overprotective, and to complicate matters even more, he's blind. Just when he thinks he'll never have a shot at a normal life, a new girl from India moves into town. Simmi is smart, nice, and actually wants to be friends with Alex. Plus she smells like an Almond Joy bar. Yes, sophomore year might not be so bad after all.

Unfortunately, Alex is in store for another new arrival--an unexpected and often embarrassing ability to "see" the future. Try as he may, Alex is unable to ignore his visions, especially when they begin to suggest that Simmi is in danger. With the help of the mysterious psychic next door and new friends who come bearing gifts of their own, Alex must embark on a journey to change his future.

(My review of Farsighted.)

How to enter:
There are 4 ways to enter. Choose one or all 4.
+1 Be follower of Krazy Book Lady, either on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+.
+1 Like Emlyn's page on Facebook.
+1 Leave a blog post comment.
+1 Share on Twitter. Here's the tweet to share: I want to #win a signed copy of Farsighted, a YA Paranormal novel by @emlynchand from @krazybooklady http://bit.ly/uJ5iWo #bookgiveaway

Please do not leave emails or usernames in the blog post comments. Please include usernames, etc, in the section for comments on the entry form. If there is any question of your entry being valid, I will ask you to verify if you are the winner.

Giveaway details:
Giveaway is open internationally. This giveaway will run until midnight on December 27. Must be 13 or older to enter. Winner will be chosen using Random.org. Winner will be emailed and this blog post will be updated to include the winner's name. Winner has 3 days to contact me or a new winner will be selected.

Do you like the cover of Farsighted?
Please consider voting for Farsighted for the Alternative-Read Cover of the Year award. This is not required to enter the giveaway and does not affect the outcome of the giveaway in any way. Farsighted is currently in 2nd place, only a few votes behind.

Sorry, this giveaway is now closed!

Winner:
Deborah @ThirtyCreative 

Teaser Tuesday: Noah Zarc

Teaser Tuesdays was created by MizB of Should Be Reading.

 

My teaser for this week is from a book I finished reading a few days ago. 

 

"This is all I need." I gave the robot a smile. "Three PB&J's a day keep the doctor away."

Noah Zarc - Mammoth Trouble by D. Robert Pease, p. 25.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyone can participate in Teaser Tuesdays. Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• Be careful to NOT include spoilers! (Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author.

What do you think about this teaser? Please also share your own.

Review: Enduring Light & Guest Post by Carla Kelly

Enduring Light by Carla Kelly
Expected Publication: January 8, 2012
Publisher: Bonneville Books, an imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc.

She leaned toward him and rested her elbows on the brass rail at the foot of her bed. “All right, cowboy, just when did you fall in love with me? I’m definitely curious now.”

He regarded her in the moonlight. “I knew I was a no-hoping goner when I caught that ridiculous hat of yours on the platform at Gun Barrel.” Julia sucked in her breath. She tried to be severe. “Mr. Otto, nobody falls in love that fast!”

“I did,” he said simply, as he left her room.

Julia Darling is finally able to marry Paul Otto for eternity. But it’s a harsh world for a rancher in turn-of-the-century Wyoming, especially a Mormon rancher. When alienation and threats begin, Julia must prove she’s her husband’s equal in strength and endurance as she learns to let go of scars on the outside and inside.

Bestselling author Carla Kelly has woven a new story of a determined rancher, his wife, and how they discover the depths of love.

My Review:
In the beginning of Enduring Light, Julia and Paul are in love and are making plans to be married. At first, they have to spend most of it separated because he is searching for the cattle he lost during a bad fire at his ranch that almost claimed Julia's life. They also experience more problems both before and after marriage because of discrimination due to being Mormons. Paul is a "new" Mormon, and many of his old friends and acquaintances do not believe he is doing the right thing. Julia is sure of her decision to leave her "easy" life in Salt Lake City and take on the hard role of a rancher's wife in Wyoming because she loves him and knows that is where she should be, and even with the threat of danger, Julia will not leave Paul for the safety of her hometown because she is certain in her love for him and her belief that she belongs with him.

This book is similar to Christian fiction. I know that the two faiths are very different, but it is the best way I can think of to describe this book. The main point of Enduring Light is putting your faith in the Lord and trusting in him to help you endure any hardships that you face. You are also reminded that people are not always who they seem.

On the downside, I felt that some parts of this book could have been left out and still retain the underlying theme. It sort of dragged in some areas. I also have mixed feelings about the many references to sex. On the one hand, this is a clean romance, and there were no detailed discussions in it. On the other hand, it seemed there were a lot of references to sex for this being a LDS fiction book. Plus, there were many times that I felt were missed opportunities for the author to have provided a little more knowledge to non-LDS readers, such as myself, about the LDS beliefs. I understand this was mainly written for a LDS audience, so most will not see this as an issue. For an example, when the men would give a blessing to a person, it would have been nice to have just a little background about why men of the LDS church do this.

Overall, I did enjoy reading Enduring Light. It is an inspirational and touching story of love, trust, and enduring all hardships with your faith in the Lord.

An ARC was provided by the publisher for this review.

Guest Post by Carla Kelly:
Loving, Enduring

I’ve often thought that the moment fiction writing turns into a chore, I would stop. After a lot of books, that hasn’t happened yet. One thing a writer learns after a while is that it’s the readers who are part of the fun – probably a big part.

When Borrowed Light was published January 2011, I had no plans whatsoever to write a sequel. The story ends appropriately, and no one was left hanging. Previously, I have only written one other sequel: One Good Turn was the sequel to Libby’s London Merchant. It came several years later, after a lot of readers wanted a Happy Ending for the duke who lost Libby to a wonderful physician in Kent.

Vondell, my water aerobics buddy, told me right away: “You need a sequel.” Others said the same thing, so I started thinking about the further adventures of Julia Darling and Mr. Otto. I had enjoyed the characters, which is what a writer is supposed to do, or she’d never put a word on a page. And Julia and Mr. Otto were special to me, because I was finally writing a book that explored my own LDS roots a little.

Enduring Light took me only two months to write, because I knew those characters well. I must agree now with the folks who wanted more, because I wanted to know what happened to them, too. I’ve never written a book as fast as I wrote Enduring Light. Guess it was meant to be.

I wanted Enduring Light to be a loving portrait of a brand new marriage, one for time and eternity, which is how we do it in the Mormon faith. That means taking the good along with the bad and persisting. Since it was written for a largely LDS audience, I suppose, and since Cedar Fort, Inc. doesn’t go in for the graphic, it had to be a sexy book without being, well, sexy.

You can determine if I succeeded in that, but a lovely review from Publisher’s Weekly calls it “endearing” so I think it made the grade. This is a couple, after surmounting some heavy obstacles, who are in love, and the readers deserve to know that.

My personal favorite part of the book? I have many, but this one shines through: I dedicated it to Laura Lee Wilkinson, a rancher’s daughter from Laramie Peak, Wyoming, who married her cowboy, Chuck. After a long marriage, and several years of struggle with Chuck’s Alzheimer’s, and congestive heart failure, Chuck passed away last April. Laura misses her cowboy.

The dedication reads, “To Laura Lee Wilkinson, who loves a cowboy, ranching and Wyoming.” Love doesn’t die, which is why that dedication is in the present tense.

In the novel, Mr. Otto mentions a rancher, name of Bell, who lives at Laramie Peak. That’s Laura Lee’s grandfather. You see, beyond the story itself, this is how a writer has fun: writing to include her friends in the adventure.

So thank you, Vondell, Laura Lee, and a bunch of readers. You were right. We did need to know more about loving and enduring.

About the author:
Carla Kelly is a veteran of the New York and international publishing world. The author of more than thirty novels and novellas for Donal I. Fine Co., Signet, and Harlequin, Carla is the recipient of two Rita Awards (think Oscars for romance writing) from Romance Writers of America and two Spur Awards (think Oscars for western fiction) from Western Writers of America.

Recently, she's been writing Regency romances (think Pride and Prejudice) set in the Royal Navy's Channel Fleet during the Napoleonic Wars between England and France. She comes by the love of the ocean from her childhood as a Navy brat.

Carla's history background makes her no stranger to footnote work, either. During her National Park Service days at the Fort Union Trading Post National Historic site, Carla edited Friedrich Kurz's fur trade journal. She recently completed a short history of Fort Buford, where Sitting Bull surrendered in 1881.

Following the "dumb luck" principle that has guided their lives, the Kellys recently moved to Wellington, Utah, from North Dakota and couldn't be happier in their new location. In her spare time, Carla volunteers at the Railroad and Mining Museum in Helper, Utah. She likes to visit her five children, who live here and there around the United States. Her favorite place in Utah is Manti, located after a drive on the scenic byway through Huntington Canyon.

Any why is she so happy these days? Carla looks forward to writing for an LDS audience now, where she feels most at home.

You can find out more on Carla Kelly's blog, Facebook, and the Book Poster page.

 Check out the rest of the stops on the Blog Tour.

In My Mailbox, vol. 8

In My Mailbox was created by The Story Siren.

In My Mailbox for review this week:

(They are all YA Paranormal/Fantasy except one. I swear that wasn't intentional.)

Family Magic by Patti Larsen

Sixteen-year-old Sydlynn Hayle is the daughter of a powerful witch and a demon lord of the seventh plane. The trouble is, she just wants to be ordinary. Syd struggles to survive the minefield of her new high school while being torn between her attraction to football hero Brad Peters and the darkly mysterious Quaid Moromond. When her coven comes under attack, Syd is forced to face the fact only her power can save her family’s magic. 

Soul Protector by Amanda Leigh Cowley

After being dragged on a night out to celebrate a friend's birthday, Gracie discovers a unique talent. Doubting her sanity, she keeps it to herself while she tries to make sense of it, but unaware of her visible aura, she gets abducted by Dan; a handsome monitor. Once he establishes Gracie didn't know what she was doing, he helps her to recover before introducing her to the world of the Soul Protector.

Finally understanding the rules of being a Soul Protector, Gracie finds the courage needed to embrace her special gift. But she is unaware a secret from the past is waiting to catch up with her; one that will shock her to the core.

 The Deepest Cut by J.A. Templeton

Sixteen-year-old Riley Williams has been able to see ghosts since the car crash that took her mother’s life and shattered her family. Guilt-ridden over the belief that she’s somehow responsible for her mom’s death, Riley is desperate to see her mother’s elusive spirit to gain her forgiveness.

When her father moves the family to Scotland so they can all start over, Riley believes her life couldn’t get worse––that is until the ghost of nineteen-year-old Ian MacKinnon catches her purposely cutting herself. An uneasy truce quickly turns into friendship, and soon Riley’s falling hard for Ian.

Riley believes her gift could help Ian end the curse that has kept him tied to the land for centuries, but that would mean letting him go forever and she’s not sure she is strong enough to do that. As if her life wasn’t complicated enough, the spirit of the woman who killed Ian returns and she’ll stop at nothing to keep Riley from helping Ian find eternal peace. 

 Significance by Shelly Crane

Maggie is a seventeen year old girl who's had a bad year. She was smart and on track but then her mom left, her dad is depressed, she's graduating, barely, and her boyfriend of almost three years dumped her for a college football scholarship. Lately she thinks life is all about hanging on by a thread and is gripping tight with everything she has. Then she meets Caleb. She saves his life and instantly knows there's something about him that's intriguing but she is supposed to be on her way to a date with his cousin. But things change when they touch, sparks ignite. Literally. They imprint with each other and she sees their future life together flash before her eyes. She learns that not only is she his soul mate, and can feel his heartbeat in her chest, but there is a whole other world of people with gifts and abilities that she never knew existed. She herself is experiencing supernatural changes unlike anything she's ever felt before and she needs the touch of his skin to survive. Now, not only has her dad come out of his depression to be a father again, and a pain as well, but Caleb's enemies know he's imprinted and are after Maggie to stop them both from gaining their abilities and take her from him. Can Caleb save her or will they be forced to live without each other after just finding one another? 

Stay Tuned by Lauren Clark

What happens when a #1 news team becomes the top story instead of reporting it?

For TV producer Melissa Moore, crisis management comes with the job. From employee disputes to her high-maintenance boss, there’s not much she hasn’t seen or can’t handle.

But no one—including Melissa—expects a fistfight during the ten o’clock news. When sexy-but-crazy Alyssa Andrews lands a punch on her co-anchor’s face, Melissa jumps on set to help. She’s determined that WSGA’s reputation won’t be destroyed on her watch.

Both anchors are fired and Melissa agrees to fill in—but not before polishing her look from haircut to heels. While the new Melissa wows WSGA viewers, her personal life starts fraying at the edges. Melissa’s husband is away more than he’s home, leaving cryptic Post-it notes in his wake. Her mother’s antics spiral out of control at the nursing home and a stalker decides Melissa is her next target.

What happens next? Stay Tuned to find out…

What do you think about these books? What was in your mailbox this week?

 

Guest Post by Julie Smith, author of Writing Your Way

Julie Smith is the author of Writing Your Way: The Great American Novel Track.

About Writing Your Way:
WRITING YOUR WAY is a no-nonsense, jam-packed book on writing fiction that came directly out of the author’s belief that most writing teachers need to cut their students a little slack. Edgar-winner Julie Smith’s approach is to help you find your own writing method, not bombard you with “unbreakable” rules. But make no mistake, she’s going to give you plenty of how-tos—on plot, character, setting, voice, point-of-view, dialogue, pacing and marketing. As well as plenty of practice exercises. And lots of motherly advice.

She also thinks most writing books are so absurdly padded they’re a waste of students’ time. Or they’re all about getting in touch with your inner writer so you can finally get started. WRITING YOUR WAY is for the pre-published novelist who is way past that. It gets right to the point. Offering nuts, bolts, and marketing methods, it’s a thick, dense concentrate of wisdom learned from years of actually… writing. Smith’s the author of dozens of novels and short stories and the founder of Writers’ Track, a method of teaching writing by conference call. She has also taught fiction both at the undergraduate and graduate levels.


Guest Post by Julie Smith:

SINCE WHEN IS PAPER SACRED?

You love the feel of books, you love the smell of books. These are the reasons why, if you’re under the spell of paper nostalgia, you will never, ever, for any reason consider using an ereader. Let me take a guess—you’ve never tried one. Or only once or twice, briefly and with a closed mind—yes, I truly believe you declined to open your mind on that one!

Because in your heart of hearts you know there is something sacred about books, something that’s always been there and that…well, that you just can’t imagine your life without. How do I know all this? Well, to connect the dots here, my book, WRITING YOUR WAY, is an ebook, but in addition I’m a digital publisher and I routinely talk to people who greet that news with the first line of this post. The one about the feel; and sometimes the smell. Boy, are we all in agreement on this one! We all love the feel. One hundred per cent of people who even think about it say this, I promise you.

And about fifty per cent mention the smell, which, in my opinion, is misguided because if you can smell a book you are in danger from thousands of deadly mold spores. But these people may not have the kind of allergies I do.

It’s kind of bizarre how many people who’d never voluntarily hurt a tree seem to feel paper is sacrosanct. Except for that part (and the smell thing) I completely get the love of physical books. A book feels like…well, a book in your hands. I don’t think any of us would ever have considered that this was something we loved before ebooks, but it’s familiar and the other thing’s foreign. So suddenly it’s the thing we love about books.

But how, you may ask does an ereader feel? (Not that anyone ever does.)

Hey, just fine! And you can adjust the type size! I was talking with a friend about this today—a constant reader and best-selling author who said she felt exactly the same way you do about the feel and the smell. Until she held a Kindle for…well, thirteen seconds was the time she gave, but honestly, I think it could have been twelve or fourteen—who’s that precise?

So if we’re in agreement here, what’s bugging me? Well, I guess I want to reassure you, if you’re in the love-the-feel stage. The bad news is, one day you’re going to go over to the dark side, just as, kicking and screaming, you gave up the old Underwood for a computer.

The good news is, it’s very unlikely paper books are going the way of the typewriter. Why should they? My husband gave me a Kindle three years ago and I never looked back. But my reading to this day runs about 50-50, digital and paper. I didn’t for a moment consider giving up paper books. And neither should you.

Listen, did movies drive out radio and did television drive out movies? And did DVDs kill both TV and movies and did streaming dispatch DVDs? Not yet, anyhow.

In fact, did CDs and MP3 files even kill off vinyl records? Well, more or less, but they rose up again like the Terminator.

New York publishers, maneuvering to stay in the game, are actually fancying up paper books for us, so much so that the New York Times ran a Page One story about it. Good way to clean up their act, in my opinion! Who likes shoddy books?

Another good piece of news—here’s a recent headline in that very same New York Times: E-Books, Shmee-Books: Readers Return to the Stores. Looks like a hardcover Christmas! Right alongside the digital one we all know is coming, the one that’s going to involve Kindle Fires, iPads, and downloads in record numbers.

So, relax already. Peace on Earth. Let the revolution come—and try to smile if you find a Nook under the tree.

About the author:

Julie Smith is the award-winning author of twenty novels and as many short stories. She’s a former reporter for the New Orleans Times-Picayune and the San Francisco Chronicle,  as well as a veteran of her own online writing school, plus an editorial service she founded with two other writers. She’s also taught writing at the  University of New Orleans and in numerous private seminars. During her long career as a novelist, she has created four mystery series, including two set in New Orleans where she lives, featuring homicide detective Skip Langdon and poet/P.I. Talba Wallis. In 1991, she won the prestigious Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel. Counting all the novels, all the stories in all the anthologies, the odd essay, and a progressive novel or so, her publishers include just about every big publisher– Ballantine, St. Martin’s, Tor, Walker & Company, Knopf,  Doubleday, Avon, Harper-Collins, Berkley, Warner,  and Oxford University Press– plus some smaller ones, including Akashic Books, Carrol&Graf,  Allen &Unwin, Taplinger, and Four Star.

You can find Julie on her website, Twitter, and Facebook.