Blog Tour- A WHISPERED DARKNESS by Vanessa Barger and A Giveaway!

Hey y'all! I'm super excited to have Vanessa Barger here here today as a part of the A WHISPERED DARKNESS blog tour! I asked Vanessa for a playlist for the book check it out and of course I'll add videos to some of my favorites! Make sure to stick around to win a copy of the book!
Haven't heard of A WHISPERED DARKNESS? Check it out!

Title: A Whispered Darkness
Publication date: August 26, 2014
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.
Author: Vanessa Barger

ISBN: 978-1939765390

Goodreads/Amazon/Barnes& Noble

When Claire Mallory’s father leaves, her mom moves them to a new town and into a dilapidated Victorian house.

The old house creaks and whistles, and smells well — like it’s been abandoned for years. But as the nights grow longer and the shadows take on substance, Claire wonders if the strange sounds and occurrences might be more than the house showing its age.

Just as things start to pick up in Claire’s love life, her mother becomes possessed. In an attempt to save her mother and their new home, Claire enlists the help of two boys, each of whom is interested in Claire for different reasons. As she chooses one boy over the other, something dangerous is unleashed, and the spirits make their move.

They aren’t content to moan and scream inside Claire’s house, or even control her mom. They want a taste of freedom, and she’s their key to getting it. But is Claire strong enough to fight off the evil spirits, or will they claim her and her mom before it’s all over?

Now on to the playlist!

Hello! Thanks for having me today! I thought maybe I’d steal your blog and let everyone see the playlist that I listened to while writing A WHISPERED DARKNESS. I usually have music on when I write, and this is no exception. Sometimes it helps to get me in the mood if I’m not already there. On some occasions a scene will be scripted out in my head to a specific piece of music. In that case, I hit repeat and hope no one else is home to try and stop the madness before the scene is written.

So here it is!

Happy Together by Filter

Sail by AWOLNATION

Fitzpleasure by alt-j

Anthem of the Angels by Breaking Benjamin

Cups by Anna Kendrick

Heartbeats by Hillsong United

Fix the Boat, or Swim by Abney Park

Girl with the Red Balloon by The Civil Wars

Hurricane by MS MR

Clint Eastwood by Gorillaz

Volturi Waltz by Alexandre Desplat

The entire album of Skyworld by Two Steps From Hell

The entire album of Divinus by City of the Fallen

(Link to the Spotify Playlist - AWD)

I hope that you enjoy the playlist, and maybe even identify some of the places where the music might have been useful after reading the book. And I’m always looking for new artists/music, so feel free to let me know of anything you think I need to hear!

Thanks for stopping by Vanessa it was great to have you here and love to playlist!!!!

About Vanessa:

Vanessa Barger was born in West Virginia, and through several moves ended up spending the majority of her life in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She is a graduate of George Mason University and Old Dominion University, and has degrees in Graphic Design, a minor in Medieval and Renaissance Literature, and a Masters in Technology Education. She has had articles published in Altered Arts Magazine, has had some artwork displayed in galleries in Ohio and online, and currently teaches engineering, practical physics, drafting and other technological things to high school students in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. She is a member of the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) and the Virginia Writer's Club. When not writing or teaching, she’s a bookaholic, movie fanatic, and loves to travel. She has one cat, who believes Vanessa lives only to open cat food cans, and can often be found baking when she should be editing.

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

Four (4) winners will receive a digital copy of A Whispered Darkness by Vanessa Barger (INT)
One (1) winner will receive a digital copy of A Whispered Darkness by Vanessa Barger AND a $10 Amazon Gift Card or B&N Gift Card – Winner’s Choice (INT)

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Check out the rest of the blog tour schedule HERE!

Blog Tour- THE JEWEL by Amy Ewing and a Giveaway!

I loved THE JEWEL by Amy Ewing and I'm super excited to have here here today as a part of the blog tour! I asked Amy some burning questions about the book and the characters check it out and stick around to win a copy of the book!
Haven't heard of THE JEWEL? Check it out!

The Jewel (The Lone City #1)
by Amy Ewing
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: September 2nd 2014

ISBN: 978-1250024640

Goodreads/Amazon/Barnes& Noble

The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty—because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring.

Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering facade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life.

Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence... and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for.

Check out the book trailer!

Now on to the interview!

Hi Amy! First I want to say welcome to Two Chicks on Books! I loved THE JEWEL and am so happy that you could stop by for a visit! BTW I can’t wait for its sequel!

For the readers: can you tell us a little bit about THE JEWEL and the characters?

THE JEWEL takes place in a city where young girls are auctioned off as surrogates to royal women who can’t have children naturally on their own. Our heroine, Violet, is sold to the Duchess of the Lake to bear her daughter. There are so many characters in THE JEWEL it’s hard to know where to begin. There is Raven, Violet’s strong-willed best friend, and Ash, a handsome companion, paid to escort royal daughters to balls and events. There is Lucien, a lady-in-waiting with an ulterior motive, and Garnet, the arrogant and entitled son of the Duchess. There are so many layers to this world and its characters, which made it such a challenging and exciting story to write!

What about the sequel? Do we have a title yet?

The second book DOES have a title! Which is very exciting. But alas, I cannot share it yet. But as soon as I can, you can bet I’ll be shouting it from the rooftops. Or Twitter. Twitter might work a bit better at spreading that news.

Were any of the characters in the book inspired by people from your real life?

Nope! There is no one in this book who even remotely resembles anyone in my life. As lame as it might sound, they feel like real people to me, with their own lives. They are as unique as my real life friends and family.

Who was your favorite character to write? What about your least favorite?

Ok, I’m torn on this one. First, I’ll say: The Duchess! I absolutely love the Duchess. She is so layered. You never know if you want to hate her or feel bad for her. I think that’s my favorite type of character to read, and to write. But in terms of pure fun, Garnet wins hands down. He is such a jerk, but he’s a loveable jerk. Super entitled, a total rule breaker, and supremely inappropriate—what could be more fun to write than that?

The hardest character to write was probably the Electress—and she’s not even a particularly major character! I didn’t really understand her for several drafts, and it’s hard to write someone if you’re not entirely sure what their deal is. Once I realized she was from the Bank, she became a whole lot clearer and easier to understand.

What is your favorite passage/scene in THE JEWEL?

The Auction itself was so much fun to write because it’s so heightened, so emotionally charged, and all Violet can do is stand there and watch it happen. And I love the scene where Violet and Ash meet for the first time.

What kind of research did you have to do for the story?

I definitely had to research IVF, which very interesting. There was a lot of research for the names too, since every circle in the city names its children according to certain rules. I was always looking up different types of colors for the Marsh and different gemstones for the Jewel.

What are you reading right now? Or what do you have on your TBR that you’re dying to read?

Right now, I’m just finishing up a fantastic middle grade by my grad school friend and fellow author, Mary G. Thompson. It’s called Evil Fairies Love Hair, and it’s just as hilarious and crazy as its title suggests. But next up, I’m dying to start The Fourth Wish by Lindsay Ribar, another author friend. It’s the sequel to her first book, and it’s about genies and magic and be-careful-what-you-wish-for, so I can’t wait to dive into it and see how this duology ends.

Who is your ultimate Book Boyfriend?

Oh man, can I only pick one? I have so many fictional crushes…okay, it’s a toss up between Peeta from The Hunger Games and Stefan from The Vampire Diaries.

What inspired you to write YA?

I think I’ve always been drawn to YA, particularly YA fantasy. It was really Harry Potter and Twilight that got me into it as a writer myself. I know a lot of other writers who had a similar experience. Those two women did not set out to be writers, they had no experience or credentials, and I just remember thinking, “If they can do it, maybe I can too.” And it’s such a fraught time period to explore in life, the teenage years—there is so much changing as you cross that line between being an adult and a child, trying to find your place in the world, falling in love for the first time, having your heart broken, making friends, losing friends…everything is so heightened emotionally. It’s a fantastic place to live as a writer.

Lightening Round Questions

Twitter or Facebook? Twitter.

Favorite Superhero? Rogue from the X Men.

Favorite TV show? The Vampire Diaries. Specifically seasons 1 and 2.

Sweet or Salty? Oh salty for sure!

Any Phobias? I am terrified of spiders and heights.

Song you can’t get enough of right now? Ugh, my best friend just sent me this ridiculous song on Spotify called Ugly Heart. It’s by a girl group called G.R.L. and I just can’t stop listening to it. It is cheesy pop and it has taken over my brain.

Fall Movie you’re most looking forward to? Mockingjay! Because…PEETA.


Thanks so much Amy for answering my questions! I can’t wait to read THE JEWEL 2!

Thanks for stopping by Amy it was great to have you here and we'll talk Peeta later lol!!!!

About Amy:

Amy Ewing is the young adult author of THE JEWEL, the first in a trilogy from HarperTeen, coming out September 2014.

She grew up in a small town outside Boston, where her librarian mother instilled a deep love of reading at a young age. Amy moved to New York City in 2000 to study theater at New York University. Unfortunately, her acting career didn’t quite pan out. She worked in restaurants, as an administrative assistant, a nanny, and a sales representative for a wine distributor before the lack of creativity in her life drove her to begin writing.

Amy received her MFA in Creative Writing for Children from The New School, where she was lucky enough to meet a fabulous community of YA writers who keep her sane on a daily basis. She lives in Harlem, where she spends her days writing, eating cheese, and occasionally binge watching The Vampire Diaries.

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

Win (1) of (3) copies of The Jewel (Us Only)

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Click the image to take you to the full tour schedule

The Jewel Chapter Sampler

Cover Reveal- THE ARTISANS by Julie Reece and a Giveaway!

Welcome to the Cover Reveal for

The Artisans by Julie Reece

presented by Month9Books! I freaking loved this book and can't wait for everyone to read it!

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

They say death can be beautiful. But after the death of her mother, seventeen-year-old RAVEN WEATHERSBY gives up her dream of becoming a fashion designer, barely surviving life in the South Carolina lowlands.

To make ends meet, Raven works after school as a seamstress creating stunning works of fashion that often rival the great names of the day.

Instead of making things easier on the high school senior, her stepdad's drinking leads to a run in with the highly reclusive heir to the Maddox family fortune, Gideon Maddox.

But Raven's stepdad's drying out and in no condition to attend the meeting with Maddox. So Raven volunteers to take his place and offers to repay the debt in order to keep the only father she's ever known out of jail, or worse.

Gideon Maddox agrees, outlining an outrageous demand: Raven must live in his home for a year while she designs for Maddox Industries' clothing line, signing over her creative rights.
Her handsome young captor is arrogant and infuriating to the nth degree, and Raven can't imagine working for him, let alone sharing the same space for more than five minutes.

But nothing is ever as it seems. Is Gideon Maddox the monster the world believes him to be?

And can he stand to let the young seamstress see him as he really is?

The Artisans is a delectably rich, layered and dark YA Southern Gothic inspired by Jeanne Marie Leprince de Beaumont's classic Beauty and the Beast.

"The Artisans has all the elements I love - spooky intrigue, strong friendships, and a romantic tension to be savored." ~ Wendy Higgins, New York Times bestselling author of the Sweet Evil trilogy.

Title: The Artisans
Publication date: May 2015
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.
Author: Julie Reece

Born in Ohio, I lived next to my grandfather’s horse farm until the fourth grade. Summers were about riding, fishing and make-believe, while winter brought sledding and ice-skating on frozen ponds. Most of life was magical, but not all.

I struggled with multiple learning disabilities, did not excel in school. I spent much of my time looking out windows and daydreaming. In the fourth grade (with the help of one very nice teacher) I fought dyslexia for my right to read, like a prince fights a dragon in order to free the princess locked in a tower, and I won.

Afterwards, I read like a fiend. I invented stories where I could be the princess… or a gifted heroine from another world who kicked bad guy butt to win the heart of a charismatic hero. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?

Later, I moved to Florida where I continued to fantasize about superpowers and monsters, fabricating stories (my mother called it lying) and sharing them with my friends.

Then I thought I’d write one down…

Hooked, I’ve been writing ever since. I write historical, contemporary, urban fantasy, adventure, and young adult romances. I love strong heroines, sweeping tales of mystery and epic adventure… which must include a really hot guy. My writing is proof you can work hard to overcome any obstacle. Don’t give up. I say, if you write, write on!

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

(Winners will receive their book on release day)

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Dying to Read (68)-AN EMBER IN THE ASHES by Sabaa Tahir

Hey y’all thanks for stopping by to see my Dying to Read post and of course as always I have to give credit to the lovely Jill over at Breaking the Spine for the Waiting on Wednesday Meme!

This book sounds freaking amazing!!!!! I can't wait to get my hands on it!

AN EMBER IN THE ASHES
Sabaa Tahir

Release Date: April 28, 2015

Hardcover: 464 pages

Publisher: Razorbill

ISBN: 978-1595148032

Goodreads | Amazon 

Set in a terrifyingly brutal Rome-like world, An Ember in the Ashes is an epic fantasy debut about an orphan fighting for her family and a soldier fighting for his freedom. It’s a story that’s literally burning to be told.

LAIA is a Scholar living under the iron-fisted rule of the Martial Empire. When her brother is arrested for treason, Laia goes undercover as a slave at the empire’s greatest military academy in exchange for assistance from rebel Scholars who claim that they will help to save her brother from execution.

ELIAS is the academy’s finest soldier— and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias is considering deserting the military, but before he can, he’s ordered to participate in a ruthless contest to choose the next Martial emperor.

When Laia and Elias’s paths cross at the academy, they find that their destinies are more intertwined than either could have imagined and that their choices will change the future of the empire itself.

Vow your blood and body to the empire.

Keep your heart for yourself.

So what do you think? Will you be adding this to your pile? What are you dying to read this week?

SUMMERFALL by Claire Legrand Teaser and a Giveaway!

I LOVED WINTERSPELL so when Claire asked me to help out with her teaser tour for the prequel SUMMERFALL, releasing August 26th, I just had to say yes! I'm super excited to read this one and I can't wait for everyone to read both books! So check out the books and stick around to enter the giveaway!
Haven't heard of WINTERSPELL? Check it out!

WINTERSPELL

Claire Legrand

Release Date: September 30, 2014

Hardcover: 464 pages

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers 

ISBN: 978-1442465985

Goodreads/Amazon/Barnes& Noble

The clock chimes midnight, a curse breaks, and a girl meets a prince . . . but what follows is not all sweetness and sugarplums.

New York City, 1899. Clara Stole, the mayor's ever-proper daughter, leads a double life. Since her mother's murder, she has secretly trained in self-defense with the mysterious Drosselmeyer.

Then, on Christmas Eve, disaster strikes.

Her home is destroyed, her father abducted--by beings distinctly not human. To find him, Clara journeys to the war-ravaged land of Cane. Her only companion is the dethroned prince Nicholas, bound by a wicked curse. If they're to survive, Clara has no choice but to trust him, but his haunted eyes burn with secrets--and a need she can't define. With the dangerous, seductive faery queen Anise hunting them, Clara soon realizes she won't leave Cane unscathed--if she leaves at all.

Inspired by The Nutcracker, Winterspell is a dark, timeless fairy tale about love and war, longing and loneliness, and a girl who must learn to live without fear.

Rinka is a faery, passionate and powerful, determined to maintain the tenuous peace between faeries and humans.

Alban Somerhart is a human, a reluctant king trapped in an arranged marriage, desperate to prevent war.

Their love could save the kingdom of Cane . . . or shatter it forever.

In this captivating novella, prequel to the upcoming Winterspell, Claire Legrand weaves a story of magic, political intrigue, and forbidden love that sets the stage for the rise of a wicked queen and the journey of a human girl named Clara . . .

amazon | barnes & noble | books-a-million | ibookstore

Now on to the teaser!!!

About Claire:

Claire Legrand is the author of books for children and teens, including The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls, The Year of Shadows, the upcoming Winterspell, and its prequel, Summerfall. She is also one of the four authors of The Cabinet of Curiosities.

When not writing books, she can be found obsessing over DVD commentaries, going on long walks (or trying to go on long runs), and speaking with a poor English accent to random passersby. She thinks musicians and librarians are the loveliest of folks (having been each of those herself) and, while she loves living in central New Jersey, she dearly misses her big, brash, beautiful home state of Texas.

Her work is represented by Diana Fox of Fox Literary, LLC.  

site | blog | twitter | facebook | instagram | pinterest | goodreads

Giveaway!

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Cover Reveal- VESSEL by Lisa T. Cresswell and a Giveaway

Welcome to the Cover Reveal for

VESSEL by Lisa T. Cresswell

presented by Month9Books!

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

The sun exploded on On April 18, 2112 in a Class X solar storm the likes of which humankind had never seen.

They had exactly nineteen minutes to decide what to do next.

They had nineteen minutes until a geomagnetic wave washed over the Earth, frying every electrical device created by humans, blacking out entire continents, and every satellite in their sky.

Nineteen minutes to say goodbye to the world they knew, forever, and to prepare for a new Earth, a new Sun.

Generations after solar storms destroyed nearly all human technology on Earth, humans reverted to a middle ages-like existence, books are burned as heresy, and all knowledge of the remaining technology is kept hidden by a privileged few called the Reticents.

Alana, a disfigured slave girl, and Recks, a traveling minstrel and sometimes-thief, join forces to bring knowledge and books back to the human race. But when Alana is chosen against her will to be the Vessel, the living repository for all human knowledge, she must find the strength to be what the world needs even if it's the last thing she wants.

Title: Vessel
Publication date: May 2015
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.
Author: Lisa T. Cresswell

Lisa, like most writers, began scribbling silly notes, stories, and poems at a very young age. Born in North Carolina, the South proved fertile ground to her imagination with its beautiful white sand beaches and red earth. In fifth grade, she wrote, directed and starred in a play "The Queen of the Nile" at school, despite the fact that she is decidedly un-Egyptian looking. Perhaps that's why she went on to become a real life archaeologist?

Unexpectedly transplanted to Idaho as a teenager, Lisa learned to love the desert and the wide open skies out West. This is where her interest in cultures, both ancient and living, really took root, and she became a Great Basin archaeologist. However, the itch to write never did leave for long. Her first books became the middle grade fantasy trilogy, The Storyteller Series. Her first traditionally published work, Hush Puppy, is now available from Featherweight Press.

Lisa still lives in Idaho with her family and a menagerie of furry critters that includes way too many llamas!

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

(Winners will receive their book on release day)

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