LRT Blog Tour: Chaysing Dreams by Jalpa Williby

Once again, I'm hosting for LRT Book Tours, with an interesting new read by debut author Jalpa Williby. It starts off firmly in the YA category, but morphs into more of a NA read as the character ages, so straddling the line between genres but more of a YA with a toe dipped into NA waters.

I haven't finished reading the book yet (and think there might be an excessive use of exclamation points in her writing) but it seems interesting so far. And I kind of love the cover...

 About the Book:

Life…secrecy, deceit, danger…No, no! Run, escape!

“Run!” Her inner voice is shouting. She has to run faster! She’s about to get caught! No, no! She has to get away. Please, she must escape! “Run faster!”

As long as Tess Sanoby can remember, she has always had the same nightmares, where the girl in her dreams is running for her life with an unknown force chasing her. Each time, right before the girl is caught, Tess awakens, shaken with fear and confusion. Who is the girl? What do these dreams mean?

Getting through the growing pains of high school with her best friends Jack and Kylie, and then being accepted into her dream college, Tess is excited to start her life of independence. There, she meets the mysterious trainer and mentor, Chris, and she instantly feels a strong connection with him. Unfortunately, Chris wants nothing to do with her. Although Chris continues to give her the cold shoulder, his overprotectiveness and the occasional slips of sensitivity confuse Tess. Not understanding Chris or their relationship, she is on a constant emotional roller coaster with him. Could her best friends be the stable force that she desperately needs?

Unfortunately for Tess, the more she tries to connect the missing pieces of her life, the more obscure her past and future appear to her. To make matters worse, she realizes she has fallen hard for a man who may be her worst enemy. As passion ignites between the two, she can’t help but surrender her heart and soul to him.

Tess is unexpectedly exposed to a world of secrecy, deceit, and danger, causing her to be running for her life, chased by the unknown. Can Tess escape and save not only herself, but also her loved ones? Or, will she be caught, leaving her no choice but to face her worst nightmare?

Chaysing Dreams is the ultimate love story, full of suspense, friendship, betrayal, tragedy, and sacrifice. In this epic tale, you will laugh and cry with Tess--a story full of twists and turns, keeping you guessing until the end.

About the Author:
Jalpa Williby was born in India and immigrated to the United States at the tender age of eight. A voracious reader, Williby’s adolescence was marked by a promising academic career. After graduating with a Bachelors of Science from the University of Illinois, Williby went on to earn Masters in Physical Therapy from Northwestern University. Her passion for helping her patients led her to a specialty in neuroscience, focusing on children and adults with neurological impairments. 

Juggling her time as a wife, a mother, and working full-time, her love for books never subsided. Williby introduces her debut novel, Chaysing Dreams, as she writes with her heart and soul, her passion flowing through every page.

Author Links:

Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Website

Purchase Links:

Amazon

LRT Blog Tour: ALIVE, By Megan Martin

As a host for LRT Book Tours, I'm giving a shout out today to Megan Martin and her new release, ALIVE.

This is a New Adult, paranormal, dystopic future tale and... a zombie novel! What does that mean? A whole lot of sex, violence, blood and hands-on killing. Did I mention the blood? Not my usual cup of tea, I must admit - I like my zombies more complex and refined, like Kate Evangelista's Taste or Isaac Marion's Warm Bodies.

But ALIVE is a fast-paced romp, full of action and complex emotional trauma. Here's a bit about the book:

About the Book: 

Flesh-eating zombies, dirty sex, and a shattered past…
What’s more dangerous—the man who broke her heart or those trying to eat it?

Fighting to survive, Eve finds herself alone in the world after the Crave—the only parallel of her former life. On the hunt for her sister, she runs into Gage—the first and only boy to have her heart and break it. It’s been four years and he isn’t a boy anymore, nor is he the same person he used to be. Against her better judgment, Eve agrees to stay with him when he divulges information on a safe haven near the small town they grew up in—but that doesn’t mean she has to like it…

Returning home elicits a myriad of emotions that both Eve and Gage thought they had buried. The past and present collide and they are forced to the face bitter deceits that ruined them in the before and threaten to destroy them now…

Buy it on AMAZON for $2.99

About the Author:

Megan D. Martin is a multi-published author, mother, student and editor. She writes New Adult Romance with a bloody, sexy twist. Her characters are damaged souls who find each other in the dark and have to fight for a love they may or may not deserve.

In her spare time Megan plays Batman with her incredibly sweet son, watches too many episodes of Vampire Diaries (Ian, call me!), buys fish for her many fish tanks, and has long talks with Gandaldore (the little writing wizard that sits on her desk.) She is well known for losing her keys and has more than one nerdy tattoo.

Here are Megan's links to find out more, or you know, become a stalker:

http://megandmartin.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMeganDMartin

http://www.amazon.com/Megan-D.-Martin/e/B00AP5SZ7A

http://twitter.com/Megan_D_Martin

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6656963.Megan_D_Martin

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Book Review: SLEEPLESS, by Tracey Ward

Tracey Ward is touring this month with LRT blog tours, and I’m so excited to help promote her new book, SLEEPLESS. It was just published at the beginning of January, and I received an ARC for review as part of this tour.

 

This is the first book in her New Adult paranormal Bird of Stone series… and the bad part is that the second book isn’t available yet. Yeah, it’s that kind of book where you want to plunge right on with the story. But I’m getting a little ahead of myself. First, the cover and the blurb…

About the book (from Amazon):

My name is Alex Mills and I have a superpower.

Don't be jealous, it sucks. I can't control it. My mind is a mutinous SOB that takes over when I go to sleep. I'm just a girl trying to get some shut eye while it decides to throw a rager that can land me just about anywhere in the world.

The base of the Eiffel Tower.

The shore on the coast of Ireland.

The third baseline at Wrigley Field.

Sounds exciting and fun, right? Wrong. My not so superpower is unpredictable, uncontrollable and annoying as hell. It's also how I met Nick.

Every cloud has a silver lining. Nick is mine.

Nick is extraordinary as well. He can't feel fear. Never has, never will. It's worked out for him as a PJ in the Air Force, one of the most dangerous jobs in the military, but where it's not helpful is with his social skills. Nick is cold, distant and apathetic.

He's also my hero. And if he's to be believed, I'm his.

I first met him when he died and that wasn't even the weirdest moment of our relationship. Neither is this moment here and now, trapped together in an island prison on the Behring Sea. It's a long, strange story between his death and this prison. One full of sheep, docks, Jabberwocks and a very special stone. I could tell it to you if you'd like to hear it. I've got time...

*This Young Adult - New Adult science fiction romance contains mild language and sexual situations.

MY TAKE:

In short, I loved this book. Ms. Ward took a fairly unique concept and blended it together with a little of this and a little of that to create a New Adult paranormal romance that kept me spellbound within its pages.

We meet each of the characters in quick succession, but spend most of the book with no idea of the root connection between them. When they start meeting up in the dreamscape, Nick doesn’t even believe Alex is real.

In terms of paranormal, there are no “creatures” – no vampires or angels, no mermaids or shape shifters. All of the characters are human – some just have extra, abnormal abilities.

The chapters alternate POVs between the two main characters, Alex and Nick. The author does a wonderful job differentiating their voices and giving each character a unique personality. I loved Alex’s sass and snark. Nick’s character grows and changes through the novel from someone who’s pretty heartless to a guy the reader can feel is worthy of Alex.

What Alex does isn’t quite “time travel” but close enough to that vein of story to attract readers who enjoy that genre. When she awakens in different locations, not knowing where she is, I was reminded of those scenes in THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE, by Audrey Niffenegger, where the MC arrives in a new locale and has to do a quick assessment of his whereabouts and danger level. Also similar is her inability to control her abilities.

With Nick’s chapters, the author does a great job with the “guy” POV and dialogue. You can tell she has experience with military protocol and speak, and the banter flows easily.

Some of the strange characters and things that happen toward the end aren’t explained fully enough, but I get the feeling they are intentional omissions by Ms. Ward, given that she’s writing a series. It reminded me of the book, I AM NUMBER FOUR, by Piticus Lore, where not everything is explained right away but unfolds over the course of the series.

While I was completely absorbed by this story, I have to say that I hated the ending. It felt slightly rushed, and then suddenly it was over. Not too satisfying, given that the second book isn’t available yet. But. I still loved the story and the characters, and feel good about recommending this to other readers who enjoy paranormal romance.

About the Author:

 

Tracey Ward was born in Eugene, Oregon and studied English Literature at the University of Oregon (Go Ducks!) It was there she discovered why Latin is a dead language and that being an English teacher was not actually what she wanted to do with her life.

Her world consists of her husband and son, and the 80-pound pitbull who thinks he's a lapdog. Find her on Facebook to learn more about Tracey.

Buy SLEEPLESS on Amazon 

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New Release Blog Tour: ROSE OF THORNE by Mia Michelle

Author Mia Michelle is on tour this week with Lite-Rate-ture Blog Tours. Her New Adult contemporary novel, ROSE OF THORNE, is available now on Amazon. I'll be posting my review on Amazon soon, but I can tell you now it's pretty steamy and kinda edgy, recommended for readers 18+, with highly sexual scenes and abusive content. Check out this intriguing cover:

The Goodreads book blurb reads:

When a drunk driver tragically orphans Skylar Rose at the age of sixteen, she leaves her dreams behind and takes on the daunting task of helping her elderly grandmother raise her young sister. While other girls her age were living a typical carefree life, she was picking up double shifts at a local café and struggling to pay the bills.

Always putting her sister’s needs and school first, Skylar has never had time to date or develop relationships. Now a senior in college, she has her sights set on an amazing internship opportunity. The last thing she needed was for a sexy distraction like Sebastian Thorne to walk into her life. 

Sebastian Thorne had been an entitled and reckless nineteen year old when he got behind the wheel of his new sports car that night. When his night of indulgence goes tragically wrong, Sebastian hesitantly turns to the one person, he knows can make everything go away…the one person he hates ..his father.

Now twenty-six, Sebastian is the young enigmatic and powerful CEO of his late father’s design company, Thorne Enterprises. With both millions in the bank and a new woman on his arm almost every night, the world never knew the dark secret he carried inside. Still plagued with nightmares from the night of that horrific accident and having to leave the beautiful girl behind, Sebastian vows to find the one that haunts his dreams. Sometimes the choice of revisiting our past opens the door to a future that we never thought possible.

Haunted by their past, these two want nothing more than to have their life given back to them. But what do you do when the person who gave you back your life, was the very one that took it from you in the first place?

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As a special treat, I've got an interview with two of the characters, Sebastian Thorne and Lucas Drake. They're the two hot guys vying for the affections of Skylar Rose...

So I am sitting down today with Sebastian Thorne from Mia Michelle’s new book, Rose of Thorne.  Thank you so much for joining us today, Sebastian.

Sebastian:  Thank you for having me today.

So, Sebastian you are well known for your wealthy bachelor lifestyle.  You have dated hundreds of different women over the years. Tell the readers what makes Skylar Rose so special?

Sebastian: Yes, it is true. I have had more than my fair share of beautiful women over the years. But no one, and I mean NO ONE, can compare to Skylar.  From the moment I laid eyes on her, I wanted her and only her. However, sometimes what we want isn’t the right thing.  Sometimes we have to tell ourselves ‘no’ to protect the other person.

I see.  Well, can you elaborate on that last part? What does she need protecting from? Is she in some sort of danger?

Sebastian: I will never allow her to be in danger of anyone or anything ever again. When I say that, I am including myself.  If there is anyone she needs protecting from, it is me. I wish I could stay away, but I can’t seem to fight this incredible magnetic pull between us.  It is absolute torture seeing her everyday knowing that I can never have her.

Why is that exactly? 

Sebastian: She doesn’t really know the real me. No one does actually.  She deserves someone she can love and trust and I am simply not that man.  All I want is for her to be happy, even if that isn’t with me.

I understand that Skylar is currently caught the eye of Lucas Drake, CEO/CFO of  Drake Corporation.  How exactly are you handling the idea of the two of them dating?

Sebastian: Yes, I am well aware of Lucas’ interest in Skylar. He is an alright guy I guess, but Lucas is like me, he has quite the history of being a ladies man. I am not sure if I like the idea of him using Skylar that way.  So my answer is no, I definitely don’t think that he is the right man for her.

Lucas: Oh really…and I suppose that you are implying that you are then?  Hello everyone, I apologize for my lateness. My flight home from New York was delayed because of the weather.

That's fine Lucas. Thank you for being able to join us today.  As you probably heard, we were just discussing with Sebastian about your interest in Skylar Rose.  Would you care to elaborate on your relationship with her?

Lucas: Let’s just say that Skylar has my complete and undivided attention and I plan on keeping it that way.  Don’t f***ing roll your eyes up at me, Thorne!  I can’t help it that you let her slip through your fingers. Not that you were any competition to me to begin with.

Sebastian: Don’t f***ing tell me that you have any serious intentions with her.  I know you all too well my friend.  You don’t give a damn about anyone but pleasing that d*** of yours!

Lucas:  F*** YOU! You have no idea what I feel for her! Besides that, aren’t you a fine one to talk?  If you care so much about her, then why did I see you leaving Driskill’s the other night with that blonde?  I bet you thought long and hard about Skylar when blondie was riding your d***! You are one selfish arrogant son of a b****, you know it?

Alright gentlemen, please settle down!!  Mr. Thorne! Mr. Drake!  Please sit back down!  We don’t want any violence in here. And please watch your language!

Lucas: I apologize for getting out of line here at the studio.  But Thorne, you better back the f*** off or I swear to Christ that I will take you down! You know I am not afraid of you! Skylar is mine now, not yours.

Sebastian:  Yours?  Give me a f***ing break!  You barely know each other and you act like you are already in love with her.  She isn’t yours, Drake, and she never will be!

Lucas:  Really? Then I guess we will just have to see about that then won’t we? 

Sebastian: Yes! Yes, we will!  And then maybe you will finally understand that she has and always will be mine.

Lucas: You f***ing a**hole!  She will NEVER be yours! 

Alright folks, that is all we have time for today.  We appreciate our guests joining us….Wait! I said NO FIGHTING in here!  PLEASE!  SECURITY!!!!!

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Purchase ROSE OF THORNE on Amazon

Find Mia Michelle on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7190456.Mia_Michelle

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