Book Tour: Author Interview | Richard Brown

Books:

- The Gift of Illusion
- The Rebirth

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Name a few books you'll never forget.

Pet Sematary & The Girl Next Door. Both managed to equally disturb and entertain me.

What are some fictional characters you'd like to have lunch with?

Alice (Milla Jovovich) from the Resident Evil films. One, I love zombies. Two, I love watching Alice dispose of zombies. And three, I wouldn't mind staring at her across from me.

Are there any actors/actresses you'd love to see if The Gift of Illusion was made into a movie?

Bruce Willis or Liam Neeson would play a good Isaac. Any action star who also has good acting chops.

What has been your most exciting or rewarding moment as an author?

Finishing my first book. I know a lot of people say they want to write a book but never start, or start but never finish. It was a giant relief to make it across the finish line.

If you could sit down to lunch with three other authors (living or dead) who would you choose and why?

Edgar Allan Poe because from what I gather he liked to drink so he would probably get drunk and be a lot of fun, maybe even scratch a few screwed up lines of poetry into the wood of the table. Tolkien, so I could ask him if he's pissed or honored that everyone feels the need to rip off his work. Stephen King, because I would love to pick his brain and learn a lot from him. Plus he's rich so he would probably pay for the bill, including Poe's outrageous alcohol tab.

Thanks so much to Richard Brown for taking the time to answer my quick questions. I enjoyed reading your responses (and I, too, would love to meet Alice, she's such an awesome character!) I am also giving away a copy of The Gift of Illusion to one lucky winner! Check out my review post and leave a comment to enter!

Buy The Gift of Illusion

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The Reward Challenge | Stage Ø

"The Reward Challenge is almost the complete opposite to a book buying ban as you'll end up buying lots of new books throughout the challenge but only after you've completed a certain amount of reading."- Good Golly Miss Holly

Since Holly emailed me about this challenge, I was intrigued. I have tried banning myself on buying books for quite a while and for the past month or so (maybe less, hehe) I have been a bit successful. But I can't last much longer. There are so many books out there that I need. Really, I need them or I'll die. Well, not really, but you know what I mean right? The only problem with buying more books is that I already have The Paperbrick Wall. The Paperbrick Wall is my TBR list of books that are not for review. Meaning, I have a whole other pile of books to read for tours, etc. 

So Holly has created, what I think, an awesome solution: The Reward Challenge. For this challenge I will be reading books and rewarding myself by buying more. Sounds great right? The challenge isn't so bad in the first few stages because the number of books that are required to be read is low...but imagine having to read 10+ books to buy 1 book?! Now that's a  challenge. 

I am a slow reader, so I know I will struggle getting through the first few stages, let alone the tough ones. But I will continue because I want to read the books I own. And I also want to buy more books. For this challenge, I will only read books listed on The Paperbrick Wall. That means that tour books and others that I receive for review do not count. I am not too sure what the "time limit" is for the challenge yet, but I am hoping I can go at my own pace.

I will make a separate post for each stage, but I will link each stage to this post so I can keep track of my progress here as I go. Good luck to me and all other participants :)

P.S. Did I mention there is prizes? Check out the challenge ;)

Stage 1: READ ONE BOOK = BUY ONE BOOK

Book Tour: Review + Giveaway | The Gift of Illusion by Richard Brown

Title: The Gift of Illusion
Author: Richard Brown
Genre: Paranormal/Thriller
Pages: 258
Publication: 05.16.2011 by CreateSpace
Source: Bewitching Book Tours

Summary:Something wicked has returned to Elmwood, and it longs to continue the study it began over a century ago. It's looking for volunteers, but few seem worthy of the gift.

Isaac Winters might be the one. He's a detective with a damaged past, and something to prove. Still haunted by his wife's murder sixteen years earlier, Isaac has thought more and more about turning in his badge. Over the years, he's seen the worst mankind has to offer. Until now.

A strange fire has consumed the life of a young girl. But she won't be the last. There are no witnesses and no evidence except a small stone figurine, a gateway to the past. Accompanied by a partner with questionable experience, Isaac must discover and defeat this faceless villain before it takes from him the greatest reminder of his dead wife.

Their daughter.

Cover: Simple, but I like it.

Thoughts: The start of The Gift of Illusion hooked me in, and made me want to learn more. It starts off with a heartbreaking scene and then slows down a little, before picking up the pace again. I was interested in where it would go next, and I was happily surprised that the story contained lots of twists and turns.

Detective Issac Winters is after a faceless villain that is killing people in a gruesome and evil way. Winters past haunts him and he just wants to keep his daughter safe. But with such a psycho villain around, it is hard to tell who will be killed next.

I definitely enjoyed the blood and gore; this one is not for those faint of heart. I thought that the villain was truly a great character and I was a little terrified of who he would kill next. Issac, although has an traumatic past, is sort of a dry character and not the greatest detective. I had a hard time understanding where some of his evidence came from, why he touched things with his bare hands and how his clues lead him to certain places. The other characters weren't too unique either and sort of fall into the background.

The story, as it moves along, does slow down a little. It also switches tenses a lot and it sort of confused me a bit. There were also several grammar and punctuation mistakes that bothered me some, but not too much to make me stop reading. Because of Brown's detailed description and writing, I was able to enjoy the story and kept going until I was done.

The ending left me hanging and I had to come to my own conclusions. I want to know if there is anything "next" and look forward to seeing anything in the future that might look like a sequel. I do recommend this to others who are looking for a quick thriller. The Gift of Illusion is mysterious and full of action that I am sure others will enjoy.

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Richard has been kind enough to offer an e-copy of his book!
+ one winner will receive an e-copy of The Gift of Illusion
+ open internationally!

+ to enter just leave a comment with an email address

+ winner will be chosen September 7th

About the author:

Richard is not a vampire, yet.

While he awaits immortality, Richard spends much of his time banging his head on the keyboard trying to make sentences out of words.

Since the age of ten, he's written dozens of short stories, over a hundred poems, and two novels, the first -- The Gift of Illusion -- was released May, 17 2011.

He also enjoys spending time with his daughter, girlfriend, three dogs, watching mixed martial arts, singing karaoke, debating politics, and of course dressing up for photo shoots with a guitar he never really learned to play (ahem).

Book Tour: Author Interview | Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall

Books:
- Red Winter (Hays)
- The Cowboy and the Vampire

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The Cowboy and the Vampire was first published in 1999, before the hype of all the vampire novels that are popular now (Sookie Stackhouse, Twilight, Vampire Diaries, etc.,) Where did your inspiration to write about vampires come from?

More than anything, our shared reading habits created the fertile soil from which our Vampires rose up from the dead!

We both have always been attracted to the shadowy side of literature. Kathleen, specifically, spent years reading Russian authors (Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Turgenev), loving their darkly existential souls and the Russian certainty that life must be meaningful. Clark spent years immersed in occult writers (Castaneda, Crowley, Lovecraft) pondering the mystical, and their the search for signs from the “other side.”

That was the initial inspiration, but it was our own “opposites attract” relationship that pushed the book idea into the light. Clark grew up on a ranch in Montana, Kathleen in the heart of Washington, DC, and we didn’t have much (anything!) in common except similar interests in reading and writing, wild creative energy and a passionate — almost addictive — attraction to each other. After a short, tumultuous love affair, we broke up to regroup and gather our energy for another try. This time (two years later), we set out some ground rules. Instead of letting the creativity and the passion keep us strung out and unbalanced, we decided to put our shared passion for reading and writing to good use. If we could write together, it was likely we could be together for the long haul.

The next step was to come up with a project. Sitting in a truck stop drinking bad coffee and pitching ideas, Clark wanted to write about the West, a landscape he loved so much. It seemed like a good idea, especially sketched out on the back of a paper placemat in crayon. The next step was to come up with the counterbalance, something that could stand next to the “good” of the cowboy myth. The light bulb went off. Vampires! Drawing almost unconsciously from the reading list above, as we began to research Vampires we realized they embodied all of the things that interested us.

What was the process like for titling The Cowboy and the Vampire?

The process, like the title, was pretty straightforward. We thought the tension between listing the two iconic figures would immediately attract readers and create some flights of fancy around how the title characters might interact. Even after a recent movie (featuring cowboys and extraterrestrials) stole a little bit of our thunder, we lovingly stand by the choice. At book signings and other events, fans and new readers alike respond well to the title. As an added testament, against odds, when we had our first "meet" with the editors and designers — the fiercest critics — at the publishing house, there was much discussion about the title. Several others were suggested, but in the end, everyone returned to the simplicity of The Cowboy and Vampire. Something about it just works. It must hit some hidden neuron — or pair of neurons — in the collective unconscious.

There is a bit of back story to the second part of the title. The first edition was called “The Cowboy and Vampire: A Very Unusual Romance.” This was a time when there weren’t many Vampire books out there to speak of, other than few classics by Anne Rice (Interview with the Vampire) published years before. Kathleen happened upon a rare book deep in the stacks of Library of Congress (a Shangri La for book lovers). We were there researching Vampire legends and finding the book was a light bulb moment. It was "Somebody and Somebody: A Very Unusual Romance" — at this point, we can't even remember the "somebody," or who wrote it, just that the cover was dark blue and inlaid with gilt. That original subtitle really drove home the love story at the heart of the book, added a turn-of-the-century charm appropriate for those that live forever (the Vampires, although cowboys will hopefully be around forever too) and let readers know that the romance would be straying into new — and old — territory.

When the book was re-released in a second edition in 2010, the Vampire craze was in full swing. The publisher suggested we update the title (and cover) for a sexier look. A "Very Unusual Romance" was replaced by “A Darkly Romantic Mystery.” We were (more or less) good with that change and the Vampire on the cover is very sexy. Much sexier than the cowboy boot on the original cover, at any rate. We think she looks just like Elita.

If The Cowboy and the Vampire came to life, would you want to live in it for a day if you could?

Absolutely! Aside from all the evil Vampires skulking about forever trying to eat people and take Lizzie’s blood in order to control the world and seduce, drain and discard every human that crosses their undead paths, Tucker and Lizzie have a fantastic relationship. They are so deeply different and yet so deeply in love. Sure, they have their share of problems — they come from wildly different backgrounds — but the important part is they are committed to making it work and together they are stronger than when they are apart. And they live in a beautiful part of the country: fictional LonePine, Wyoming, which is loosely based on Big Piney. The air is clear, the people are few and far between and everywhere you look is another breathtaking scene.
Plus, who wouldn’t want to talk to Lazarus, of biblical fame. So many, many questions to ask someone who has lived for 2,000 years and had a hand in shaping some of the most important events in human history. The first question might be what was it like to die? What’s on the other side?

If you and Tucker could spend the day together, what would you do?

Clark: Probably go for a beer or two and talk about guns.

Kathleen: Clark would be pretty jealous if I spent much time alone with a ruggedly handsome cowboy like Tucker with his stubble, broad shoulders and tight jeans. Especially if his cute and sensitive dog Rex was with him.

Do you have any secret talents or hobbies that your readers may not know about?

Kathleen is a geologist by education and was completely geeked out by the recent earthquake on the east coast and how it may change the way we think about current theories regarding earthquakes and plate tectonics. She also is crazy about volcanoes and lava.
Clark is an armchair cryptozoologist who once dragged Kathleen to a Bigfoot Symposium where “researchers” presented their findings and showed participants how to make a Bigfoot mating call with a plastic bucket and a guitar string. He was also responsible for a similar trip to the UFO festival in nearby McMinnville, Oregon.

I'd love to give a huge thanks to both authors for taking the time and answering my questions and responding to each question so thoughtfully. I definitely like The Cowboy and the Vampire, and hope to see a next book in the future. If you have not done so, check out my review post for a chance to win a signed copy of The Cowboy and the Vampire. Make sure to leave a comment for extra entries!

Buy The Cowboy and the Vampire

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Book Tour: Review + Giveaway | The Cowboy and the Vampire by Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall

Title: The Cowboy and the Vampire
Author: Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall
Genre: Paranormal/Romance
Pages: 408
Publication: 10.08.2010 by MIDNIGHT INK
Source: Bewitching Book Tours

Summary: Reporter Lizzie Vaughan doesn't realize it, but she has 2,000 years of royal Vampiric blood coursing through her veins. Neither she nor Tucker, her cowboy lover, has any idea that Julius, the leader of the undead, has a diabolical plan to reign over darkness for all eternity--with Lizzie at his side.

Lizzie battles for her life--and her soul--as she and Tucker find themselves caught up in a vampire war, pursued by hordes of Julius' maniacal, bloodthirsty followers.

Who will be left standing when the sun rises?

Cover: I like it a whole lot, but for some reason I think of Wonder Woman when I see it because of the star on her shoulder.

Thoughts: I was delighted to find The Cowboy and the Vampire to be full of the things I love: romance, mystery, adventure, horror and comedy. Definitely surprised, I was able to dive into the world Hays and McFall created for these two characters with ease, and I enjoyed their journey through a world of vampires, another favorite.

Lizzie and Tucker were good characters. They both had quirky personalities that I liked and their conversations had me laughing out loud. I really enjoyed the pace of the book, it went very smoothly. I anticipated each turn of the page to find out more, and I was definitely entertained in the suspenseful journey these two have.

I was a little surprised by some of the vampire characteristics, and although I don't want to spoil them to others, I have to admit that they were a little weird and not what I was used to or expected. Being unique should be a good thing, but I have to say I thought a few things were a bit gross. Others might not agree though, so I won't reveal too many details.

Overall though, I found The Cowboy and the Vampire to be an interesting take on vampires, an adorable romance and a humorous and mysterious adventure. I do want to see what both these authors have to offer because I was intrigued by their well-written story. I recommend this to others who enjoy vampire novels, but not to those who are used to YA vampires. These vampires are quite different, and may not be for everyone.

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+ 1 winner will receive 1 signed first edition of the original publication from 1999 

+ 5 winners will receive signed copies of the current paperback edition 

+ Open to US only!
+ Leave a comment for extra entries

About the authors:

Authors Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall wrote this book as a test for marriage. He's a real cowboy, she's not a vampire, but she plays one in the book pretty well. Publisher Midnight Ink picked it up and they are still married. Happy Ending!

They are now writing the sequel, called Blood and Whiskey...

Next up is the movie and a video game.

Giveaway Results!

Sorry for the delay in choosing winners. I've been busy with tours and such, but now I have a couple of winners to announce, yay! Here are the results:

for the 300 Followers Giveaway

1st place: maidenveil

2nd and 3rd place:

TheReadingOwl
http://thestoryqueen.blogspot.com//

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for the  The Raie'Chaelia giveaway:

Morgan @ Smitten with Books

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for the Aubrie Dionne e-book giveaway:

Lisa Garrett

The winners have been contacted and have 72 hours to respond or new winners will be chosen.

Book Buzz: The Hunger Games Movie Trailer ♥

I am currently re-reading The Hunger Games with my boyfriend. I am super excited for the movie and am hoping I won't be disappointed. I wish this teaser wasn't so short, gah! Can't wait to see more...what do you lovlies think of it?

In My Mailbox 36

For review:
Tempest by Julie Cross

Gift:
Time of My Life by Allison Winn Scotch

Random thoughts | What do you think of my new design?

I spent several hours on it this past week, making it just right and I am really happy with the way it turned out. I know I change my layout a lot, but I really wanted a new look again and I was looking for something that would inspire me to continue blogging since I feel like I've been in a slump. I haven't been able to stop staring at it, I love it so much :)

What do you guys think? I'd love to know your thoughts, so leave me a comment. Thanks lovelies :)

Blog Tour: Review | Cry of the Fallen by Joel M. Andre

Title: Cry of the Fallen
Series: The Black Chronicles
Author: Joel M. Andre
Genre: Horror/Suspense
Publication: 09.10.2010 by Darkcountry Publications
Pages: 224
Source: Partners in Crime Tours

Summary: On a warm summer afternoon, in Northern Arizona, a double homicide stains the ground with blood. Detectives are called out to handle the investigation, each plagued with their own internal demons, and aren't prepared for what they are about to find.

Detective Lauren Bruni, faces a world of darkness and evil, as a demonic force begins to leash an attack on a small town. As the stakes begin to rise, so does the stunning truth, that not even Lauren can imagine.

In a world where her life had started to fall apart, she must pick up the pieces and push forward in an effort to save those that she loves the most.

Cover: Although the colors are great, I don't like the font. I do like the cowboy boots though, since they remind me of the killer...

Thoughts: The summary of the story is what made me want to read it, because I hadn't read a mystery like or horror in quite a while. I didn't have too many expectations on what Cry of the Fallen would be like, so I was pleasantly surprised to find myself enjoying the story and quickly reading it.

Lauren Bruni is a detective with the Arizona Police Department, and although her personal life seems to be falling apart, she tries to investigate the murders caused by the killer known as the Cowboy. Somewhat aloof, I had a hard time connecting with her at first, but eventually grew to like her better because of her tough attitude. I liked that the author made sure to add details of her life instead of making her plain, and Andre does this for all the characters. Each character has a story and I was able to enjoy the book more by getting to know all the characters a little better than I thought I would.

I was surprised at how quickly I got into the story and mainly it was due to the disturbing murders and the gruesome details provided. I love horror and Cry of the Fallen definitely had plenty of it to keep me reading late into the night. It moved along at a good pace, and it had plenty of twists and turns that made me want to know more.

The ending, although interesting, seemed to end too abruptly for me. It left me with too many questions, and this just means that hopefully they will be answered in the following book. It did leave me feeling a bit unsatisfied though, and I was a little disappointed to see it end in such a way.

Overall, I plan to read more of Andre's books and hopefully continue the series. I was delighted with the amount of gruesomeness found in this book and expect the others to be similar. I hope that there will be more of Detective Bruni and her kick-butt personality in future books. There was plenty of suspense and mystery, so I recommend this to others who are looking for some of that suspense, bloody murders and a demonic killer who wears cowboy boots. This was a thrilling read that I'm sure many will enjoy.

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About the author:

Originally, Joel wanted to be a poet growing up….but then things began to change for him. People took notice of his off the wall tales, and encouraged him to go in a new direction. That is why he is proud to deliver some of the most unique tales to date.

From, A Death at the North Pole, (a new revised edition is coming in 2011) to, Kill 4 Me, and his newest addition to his books The Black Chronicles: Cry of the Fallen, Joel has taken readers across the world, and painted worlds that are dark, sometimes comical and always exciting.

Book Tour: Guest Post | Tawny Stokes

I would like you to help me welcome the author of Static, a YA Paranormal, Tawny Stokes! She is here today to tell us just a few things about herself that you might've been curious to know, but wouldn't have asked.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Tawny Stokes But Were Afraid to Ask

1. I’m Canadian
2. I’m divorced and have a lovely daughter
3. I’m older than 30 but younger than 50
4. I also write adult paranormal romance and urban fantasy under the name Vivi Anna
5. My first love is screenwriting
6. I have a TV pilot currently being considered at MTV studios
7. I graduated from high school with honours
8. I had a big blue Mohawk in high school
9. When I was younger I wanted to be a marine biologist
10. My favourite colour is red, and blue
11. My favourite dessert is cheesecake
12. My favourite decadence is chocolate covered strawberries
13. I cried through almost the whole film of LOTR: The Two Towers
14. My favourite author of all time is Stephen King
15. I’ve read his Eyes of the Dragon about 20 times so far
16. Favorite Hollywood writer is Diablo Cody
17. Favorite TV shows are: Six Feet Under, Lost, True Blood, Game of Thrones, United States of Tara, Nurse Jackie, Supernatural, Dexter and Burn Notice
18. Favorite song of all time would be Lose Yourself by Eminem
19. I love twitter
20. Young Adult books are my favourite to read

Thanks for taking the time and sharing this with us today Tawny! I really enjoyed learning more about you, especially after reading and loving Static. I will definitely be looking out for your work under Vivi Anna, it sounds great ;)

Book Tour: Review + Giveaway | Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue: A Cynster Novel by Stephanie Laurens

Title: Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue
Series: Cynster #16
Author: Stephanie Laurens
Genre: Romance
Publication: 08.01.2011 by HarperCollins Publishers
Pages: 448
Source: Goddess Fish Promotions

Summary:

Three heros, three rescues, three weddings.

You are cordially invited to the wedding of Miss Heather Cynster

...but not before she encounters kidnappers, danger, and a daring rescue at the hands of Viscount Breckenridge.

Determined to hunt down her very own hero, one who will sweep her off her feet and into wedded bliss, and despairing of finding him in London's staid ballrooms, Heather Cynster steps out of her safe world and boldly attends a racy soiree. 

But her promising hunt is ruined by the supremely interfering Viscount Breckenridge, who whisks her out of scandal-and straight into danger when a mysterious enemy seizes her, bundles her into a coach, and conveys her out of London. 

Now it's up to the notorious Breckenridge to prove himself the hero she's been searching for all along...

Cover: I love the colors and the gown, so lovely.

Thoughts: I had no idea I was going to be jumping into the 16th book in a series when I got this for review. Luckily, I was able to pick up the story, no problem and I am glad I did. I hadn't read a romance novel in a while, and this was definitely what I needed. With a great story, wonderful characters and tension-filled romance, I was definitely enjoying myself.

I loved the hero and heroine from the start; they were definitely meant for each other. Heather definitely has become a favorite, with her stubborn attitude and courageous determination and Breckenridge, the ideal hero. He was a bit stubborn himself, but like all heroes, he came to realize that in order to be with the woman he loved, he must accept her and understand her for the unique person that she is. Together, they were definitely an interesting pair and their thoughts and conversations had me laughing out loud.

The story is fast-paced, centered around the kidnapping, so it got me hooked from the start. There wasn't a dull moment, and I kept on going with the book until the end. I didn't want to see it end, and honestly, am glad that there are at least 15 other books on this family, because I definitely want to see more of all these characters. Of course, there were plenty of characters that I didn't know too much of, and although there were a few things here and there that I might've been a tiny bit confused on because I haven't read the previous books, it was definitely not a bother.

The author did a fantastic job describing the settings, and I loved the feeling of being in the book with such amazing details. I definitely loved this book and I am glad I got the opportunity to dive into the world of the Cynster family. I will be picking up the other books from the series as well, and very likely return to this one once I get through the others. I recommend this to all those of you who love romance. Full of lovely scenes, really sweet romance, and even suspense and action, Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue is a must read!

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Stephanie and Avon / HarperCollins are giving away a $100 Amazon.com gift certificate to one randomly drawn commenter during the course of the tour AND all commenters will have the chance to win one of four autographed sets of Stephanie Lauren's backlist from Avon! Make sure to leave a comment below for a chance to win these great prizes! And check out the other tour stops for more chances to win.

August 1: REVIEW Brazen Bookworm
August 2: REVIEW Book Junkie
August 3: GUEST BLOG Reading Romances
August 4: REVIEW What Book Is That
August 5: INTERVIEW Tracy's Treasure of Books
August 9: INTERVIEW Book Junkie
August 10: REVIEW Songs and Stories
August 11: REVIEW Books Like Breathing
August 12: REVIEW A Chick Who Reads
August 15: INTERVIEW Books Like Breathing
August 16: INTERVIEW Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews
August 17: REVIEW Words of Wisdom from the Scarf Princess
August 18: REVIEW Romancing the Book
August 19: INTERVIEW Lisa Haselton's News and Reviews
August 22: REVIEW Just One More Paragraph
August 23: REVIEW Oodles of Books
August 24: REVIEW Among the Muses
August 25: REVIEW Reading Romances
August 26: REVIEW Tracy's Treasure of Books
August 30: REVIEW Reviews by Molly
August 30: REVIEW News and Reviews from the Heart of the Dragon's Den

About the author:

Stephanie Laurens originally began writing as an escape from the dry world of professional science. Her hobby quickly became a career when her novels about the masterful Cynster cousins captivated readers, making her one of the romance world's most beloved and popular authors. She subsequently introduced the equally unforgettable members of the Bastion Club. Currently living outside Melbourne, Australia with her husband and two cats, she has been writing historical romance novels for more than 20 years and is a New York Times, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal and USA-Today bestseller.

Book Tour: Review | Static by Tawny Stokes

Title: Static
Author: Tawny Stokes
Genre: YA - Paranormal
Publication: 06.26.2011 (e-book)
Pages: 251 (on Nook)
Source: Bewitching Book Tours

Summary: Be careful what you listen to....

During the summer before her senior year, 17 year old band groupie, Salem Vale, has been following her favorite punk rockers, Malice, from gig to gig hoping that one night she might get backstage and meet the sinisterly sexy guys. She’s been saving her virginity for the lead singer Thane. One fateful evening she gets her wish. It’s a dream come true.

Except the dream turns to a nightmare when she wakes up in a dumpster, tossed away like yesterday’s trash, with no memory of what happened the night before. She feels strange, different, as if something is trying to get out. Soon she realizes she’s changing…turning into something not quite human.

Now a hunger deep inside claws at her to feed, to siphon energy from those around her. Before she can do just that, Trevor, the band’s roadie shows up and stops her from killing. With his help she learns to control the hunger inside, because he’s just like her. And in return he wants her help to do one little thing…

Help him kill the members of Malice.

Cover: I love it; I think the colors are awesome and I definitely imagine Salem to be wearing that outfit.

Thoughts: Honestly, I forgot what Static was about when I first started reading it. I had downloaded it onto my Nook and it sat there for a good while, until I realized my tour date was coming up. When I finally picked it up, I got into it in a few pages, and after a few more I could not put it down.

Salem is a 17 year old fan of the popular band, Malice. Determined to meet Thane, the lead member, and lose her virginity to him, Salem comes up with a plan to get back stage passes for her and her best friend. I definitely liked Salem's attitude; she was determined, honest and willing to kick some butt if anyone got in her way. She was a great character, and I loved her snarky remarks, her raw emotions, and her ability to deal with the things that happen to her.

I really liked that the story is fast paced. Right from the start, my jaw was dropping and I was turning the pages quickly to know what was going to happen next. I was shocked and delighted at the turn of events, and there was plenty of action to keep me gripping the book until the end. I couldn't get enough and was a little sad at how short it was. I was able to finish it quickly and enjoyed the twists and turns, the characters and the way the story moved along as a whole.

There were a few things that were left up in the air, so I am not sure if there will be a sequel or not, but I plan to read more by Stokes. She definitely made Static a great paranormal that I recommend to all who love paranormal. If you are looking for a quick paranormal YA, with a story that will pull you in from the start, this one is for you.

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About the author:

Tawny Stokes has always been a writer. From an early age, she’d spin tales of serial killers in love, vampires taking over the world, and sometimes about fluffy bunnies turned bunnicidal maniacs. An honour student in high school, with a penchant for math and English, you’d never know it by the foot high blue Mohawk and Doc Martens, which often got her into trouble. No longer a Mohawk wearer, Tawny still enjoys old school punk rock, trance, zombie movies, teen horror films, and fluffy bunnies. She lives in Canada with her fantastical daughter, two cats, and spends most of her time creating new stories for teens.

Tawny also writes adult paranormal/urban fantasy fiction under the name Vivi Anna, and is an aspiring screenwriter.

In My Mailbox 35

For review:
Populazzi by Elise Allen
J'Adore New York by Isabelle Laflèche
The Time in Between by Maria Dueñas

Swapped:
Cut by Patricia McCormick

Book Tour: Author Interview | Lisa Jewell

Books:

- 31 Dream Street
- Vince and Joy
- A Friend of the Family
- One-Hit Wonder
- Thirtynothing
- Ralph's Party




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After the Party continues Ralph and Jem's story 11 years after Ralph's Party (which I have not read...yet!) Did you know 11 years ago, that you would continue their story in this book? What was the writing process like?

No, not at all. When I wrote it I assumed it would never be published and when it was published I was so excited to have the opportunity to write about loads of new people that it never occurred to me to come back to ones I’d already written about. I only made the decision after I’d rashly suggested a sequel to my publishers, and they jumped on the idea. Then I realised I was stuck with it. I turned it to my advantage though by using Ralph and Jem, the two sweet lovers from the first book, as ciphers for stuff I was raging about in my own long-term relationship at the time. It was a really difficult book to write, constantly trying not to trample all over people’s fond memories of the first book, trying to impose a narrative on something as messy as a relationship breakdown and trying to find ways of looking at marriage that hadn’t already been done before. It was the hardest book I've ever written and I'm still not one hundred percent sure I should have written it.

If you could give Ralph one piece of advice, what would it be?

‘Talk to the woman! Good grief!’ I would say the same to Jem. I did use a lot of the frustrations and resentments that built up in my own marriage after our second child was born in the fictional relationship between Ralph and Jem, but the comparison stops when it comes to communication skills. My husband and I have always been big talkers, nothing gets swept under the rug, but the story would have been very different if they'd just had a big chat in chapter three and sorted it all out I guess.

If After the Party was made into a movie, what actors would you choose to play your characters?

I never, ever know how to answer this question. It flummoxes me every time I’m asked it. If someone made it into a movie I think I'd quite like the director just to tell me who was going to be in it and hope that I'd heard of them!

What was your reaction to the cover when you first saw it? Was it what you had imagined it to look like?

Hm, good question. No. Not at all. I think my publishers went for the image because it summed up the dilemma at the heart of the book.

What are three weird, fun or interesting facts your readers might not know about you?

Erm, well, I am chronically messy, I bite the insides of my cheeks so compulsively that I have to wear a mouth guard and I have over 30,000 photographs on my hard drive.

Thanks to Lisa Jewell for answering my questions and providing the tour with books. I really enjoyed After the Party. You can read my thoughts on it here.


Buy After the Party:
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Book Tour: Review | After the Party by Lisa Jewell

Title: After the Party
Author: Lisa Jewell
Genre: Adult Fiction
Publication: 08.16.2011 by Atria

Pages: 480

Source: Crazy Book Tours

Summary: Eleven years ago, Jem Catterick and Ralph McLeary fell deeply in love. They thought it would be forever, that they’d found their happy ending. As everyone agreed, they were the perfect couple. Then two became four, and an apartment became a house. Romantic nights out became sleepless nights in. And they soon found that life wasn’t quite so simple anymore. But through it all, Jem and Ralph still loved each other. Of course they did.

Now Jem is back at work part-time as a talent agent. Ralph, a successful painter, is struggling to come up with new, hopefully groundbreaking, work for his upcoming show. But the unimaginable has happened. Two people who were so right together are starting to drift apart And in the chaos of family life, Jem feels like she’s losing herself, while Ralph, stuck on the sidelines, feels like he’s lost his muse altogether. Something has to change. As they try to find a way back to each other, back to what they once had, they both become momentarily distracted—but maybe it’s not too late to recapture happily ever after…

Cover: I think it fits the story well, except I can't imagine Ralph wearing too many suits since he's an artist and works from home.

Thoughts: Unaware that there was a first part to Ralph and Jem's story, I decided to join in on the tour when I was given the chance. It sounded like a not-so-romance novel that would interest me and I decided that I really wanted to read it. I was surprised at how quickly I got into the story and I was really glad that everything felt very realistic, and I was able to connect with the characters.

Ralph's Party starts off Jem and Ralph's story, when they become roommates and then fall in love. Of course, theirs is not a happily ever after ending...yet. After the Party picks up eleven years later, with Jem and Ralph living together in their home and they have two children. Jem is returning to work as an agent, and Ralph continues his art, but feels that he has lost something. Ralph decides to take a vacation to California and that is where the story really begins. Alternating between past and present, from Jem and Ralph's point of view, we are able to see both sides of the stories and how they got to where they are. Together, Jem and Ralph struggle to keep their marriage working, but it seems like they are not destined to be happy after all...or maybe they are?

I can't say that I liked either Ralph or Jem, but that's because they were so good at being the characters that they were. I mean, they were both so unhappy, but neither of the spoke to their spouse about it. They were good people and I wanted to see them work everything out, but they were selfish and at times, a bit immature. This made them both very real, and although I say I "didn't like" them, I think that's what the author might have been going for. I liked that I didn't like them; it made the book more real for me.

The entire book though I felt like smacking them in the head. As the story moves along, we learn a little more on how they met, how they fell in love and what they feel now. But they refuse to really communicate and when they do, they're arguing. This sounds like many couples with problems and I was glad that the author was able to write a story and situation where I felt like I knew what the characters were going through. When Jem was upset with Ralph, I got it. She had every reason to be upset with him. When Ralph was stressed out, it made sense because it seemed like his situation was difficult to deal with. I really felt like I connected with the story and was able to understand what was going on with the characters.

After the Party was definitely an emotional book with great characters. It is a very realistic story that will make you feel like you know what the characters are feeling, even if you have never been in such a situation. Although this story does have some mentions of the previous book, it can definitely be read and enjoyed as a stand alone. I do want to read Ralph's Party though, and I am looking forward to reading more on this author. I recommend this to others who enjoy adult fiction and/or chick lit. This is one you shouldn't miss out on!

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About the author:

Lisa Jewell is the international bestselling author of nine novels, including Ralph's Party, Thirtynothing, and One-Hit Wonder. She was born and raised in north London, where she lives with her husband and two daughters.



Aug. 16 - Kristin @ Kritter's Ramblings
Aug. 17 - Forbidden Reviews
Aug. 18 - Heather @ Proud Book Nerd
Aug. 19 - Cindy @ Oodles of Books
Aug. 20 - Andrea @ A Chick Who Reads
Aug. 22 - Lisa @ Books in the Burbs
Aug. 23 - Molly @ Reviews by Molly
Aug. 24 - Rebecca @ Beck's Book Picks

Book Tour: Review | Missing In Mexico by Staurt Gustafson

Title: Missing in Mexico
Series: Mystery Tourism #1
Author: Stuart Gustafson
Genre: Mystery/Suspence
Publication: 01.02.2011 by AITE Publishing
Pages: 271
Source: Partners in Crime Tours

Summary: Sarah Johnson is a 19-year college freshman who, along with her roommate Mary, spent an extra week in Los Cabos, Mexico after a family vacation over the Christmas break. Unexpectedly, Sarah's not on the plane back to Seattle, and her parents hire Stan, a seasoned Private Investigator, to locate her. Even with local help and some promising leads in the town of San Jose del Cabo, he's unable to find her, and he returns to Seattle to inform the parents. Months later he receives a mysterious letter from someone who says she can help him locate Sarah, and he jumps on the next plane to Los Cabos. Will this be the lucky break he needs to find her? Or will she remain missing -- Missing in Mexico?

Cover: I don't like the bland colors and I really don't think it suits the book too well.

Thoughts: I haven't read too many mysteries but I have enjoyed the ones that I have, so when offered this for a tour, I jumped at the chance. Although different from all other mystery books I have read, Missing in Mexico had me guessing until the end and I was able to enjoy the descriptions as the PI tries to solve the case.

Sarah is missing after spending a week longer in Los Cabos, Mexico. Her parents immediately hire a Private Investigator to find her. Even though he tries to locate her for some time, he returns home. What he doesn't expect is to receive a mysterious letter that could be a clue in finding Sarah. Eager to find her, he returns to Mexico and continues his search which leads him on with clues and lots of mystery that had me guessing what would happen next.

All the characters in Missing in Mexico are likable, but a little too simple for me to really connect with. Stan was interesting, but not too much and I didn't really care for him much. I think that Sarah was the only character that I cared for because she was the one missing, and I was hoping they would find her.

I loved the descriptions of Mexico and Gustafson did a great job with the details. I have never been, but I felt like I could see the places described and I really enjoyed learning more about the settings. It added a lot to the story and really made me enjoy the book more.

The mystery part of the book was good, but unlike others that I have read, it contained no real violence and wasn't as suspenseful as I expected. Although I really didn't know what would happen next, I expected more drama. Overall, I liked Missing in Mexico and recommend it to those who enjoy quick mysteries. This one is a little different than most, but it is still enjoyable with great detailed settings.

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About the author:
Stuart Gustafson began writing in earnest after taking early retirement from the corporate world in 2007. His professional life involved travel and so it was natural for him to want to continue traveling once he didn't have to travel as a job. Now when he travels, it's for fun; it's for pleasure; it's to see new places in the world. The way he has chosen to combine his love of travel and writing is to write mystery novels set in exciting locations around the world where he likes to go.

His debut mystery novel Missing in Mexico is set in San Jose del Cabo at the tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula, a charming location where he has spent 2-6 weeks each year for the past eight years. This is how Stuart researches his books, by immersing himself into the culture of the area, and getting to know the people and their charm. The best compliment Stuart has received was at a local event in San Jose del Cabo and some of the residents told him that Missing in Mexico was indeed about their town and would he please consider writing another book about San Jose or at least about Cabo.

Stuart has been married for thirty-seven years to Darlene and they have one daughter and one son. Stuart and Darlene live in Boise, Idaho.

Random thoughts: A weekly recap, but not really, and other possibly un-interesting news.

School started for me yesterday :/ My summer is officially over, I guess. But I am excited. Not only am I starting at a new school, but I am woking on my Bachelor's degree. It has taken me a little while to get here, but finally, I am here and ready to keep going. I also decided to take a few extra classes at the junior college a few blocks away from my home for Library Technician. Not only that, but in a few weeks I will begin my volunteer work at my local library. My goal? To be a librarian one day, of course :)

So far, I love my "library classes." My professors are librarians, super awesome and really helpful. I have already gotten to know them, met up with them and emailed each other a lot. It's so great to be able to communicate with my professors. From the looks of it I have a lot to learn in the upcoming months!

In other news, I have been trying to keep my blog as updated as possible. For the month of August I signed up for several book tours, and as you might have noticed, I have posted several reviews, guest posts and giveaways for you guys. I have enjoyed all the books I signed up for, and really, its been great working with all the tour sites.

Starting school might mean I'm going to slow down a bit, but not really. 4 out of 6 of my classes are online (woot!) and that'll keep me by the computer for a bit, which means I can also use some of that time for blogging ;) I also don't plan on slowing down on my reading now that I am doing so well! I finished 5 books last week! That's the best I've done all summer :)

To help me keep up with my reading, I am also joining in on the Bout of Books Read-A-Thon. It'll be my first read-a-thon this year and the second one I participate in ever. I really have quite a few books that I really want to read that are not part of tours, but I am having a hard time getting to (Clean, Anna and the French Kiss, Girl, Stolen, etc.), so I am going to use the read-a-thon to get to those. Learn more about it over at On a Book Bender and sign up for some fun!

Like many of you, I am sure, there are a bunch of books sitting on my shelves that I have not read. It makes me sad because every time I bought each one, or received it in the mail, I'd be really excited to read it. But I have failed to do so. So I have decided to make "The Paper Brick Wall" list soon.This list originates from one of my favorite blogs, The Infinite Shelf. The purpose of me compiling this list is not only to keep track of all the books that are on my TBR list and that I own, but to eventually make it smaller. I do not want to buy more books until I have made a dent on my list, and there are so many new books that I want. I'll write a more detailed post on it in the future.

That was all really I wanted to tell you guys. I have a lot of books to look forward to and hopefully I'll have a chance to read them soon. I haven't posted an IMM in a few weeks and maybe I'll be able to this Sunday. I also want to bring back my Weekly Recap posts, not really for my readers but more for having a place where I put everything I've done in one place every week. Really, it would be more for me. Anyways, have a good rest of the week and happy reading :)

P.S. For those of you who know, how is Pottermore?