Release Day Celebration- OF THE TREES by E.M. Fitch & A Giveaway!

I am so excited that OF THE TREES by E.M. Fitch releases today and that I get to share the news!

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author E.M. Fitch, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a $25 Fandango Gift Card, US Only courtesy of Month9Books. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

About The Book:

Title: OF THE TREES

Author: E.M. Fitch

Pub. Date: February 28, 2017

Publisher: Month9Books

Format: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 345

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | TBD | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play Books | Indiebound

Cassie and Laney fancy themselves amateur ghost hunters. When a carnival comes to town, Cassie embraces the chance to try something new.

Carnival workers watch the girls with a collective gaze that ignites in Laney a dark and dangerous fascination, leaving Cassie unnerved.

It's not just their age or the unsettling way they stare. There is something in the shifting of their skin and the way their features seem to change in the shadows.

Cassie can's shake this sickening feeling that there's more to the carnival than meets the eye.

When townspeople suddenly start dying and bloody warnings appear around town, Cassie is lured into a nightmare where trees whisper and strange, shape-shifting men haunt the backwoods she once hunted for ghosts with her best friend.

Then Laney goes missing, and only Cassie can get her back. But the creatures of the trees aren't simply going to hand Laney over to Cassie without getting something in return.

Excerpt:

He didn't hesitate, didn't speak. His hands raked up from her hips, settling warmly on her waist, and he brought his lips purposely to hers, pressing her hard back into the tree. She squeaked, surprised and shocked at his directness—and more shocked at her response.

She didn't protest, and he took full advantage of the gasp she emitted as he nipped at her lower lip. The unnatural heat that had been plaguing her flared into life, searing her insides. He wasn't gentle, and he wasn't slow; he angled against her, his whole body pressing to hers. His mouth slid open, coaxing hers to do the same, and his tongue slid along her own. She felt muddled, confused. It was delusive, fast, and unexpected. She was frozen.

But he wasn't. His hands came around her, stroking under her jacket and up her back, his fingers dancing lightly as he drew them down her sides. His kisses were heady, more intoxicating than the beer she had, and her brain shut down. She kissed him back, hard and without thought. He pulled back from her mouth, trailing his lips over her jaw and to her neck, tracing the bounding lines of her arteries with the tip of his tongue. A sigh escaped without her permission, and she felt his lips curl into a lazy smile before he dragged them up to seal over her own again.

Her mind was hazy, but through the haze came a burst of noise. A moan, loud and distinct cut through the silence of the forest. She started, stiffening in his arms. He ignored it, his hands tracing up her body and landing on her neck. His fingertips traced intricate patterns on her skin as he angled her head into the kiss. She felt weak, unable to stand on her own, but his body kept her securely pinned to the tree, and she didn't move.

Someone, someone nearby, whimpered. Cassie's eyes flew open. She didn't even remember closing them. Her breath came sharp and fast; she was gasping into the kiss. He broke free again, bending back to the column of her throat, his fingers leaving her neck and trailing slowly and seductively down her front. Her head fell back to the tree, and she was blinking fast. It was unreal. It felt so unreal. He was everywhere, surrounding her. Her mind was clouded and her thoughts scattered. There was nothing, nothing at all but his lips and his body and his warm, warm hands. She shuddered underneath him, and he stooped lower, yanking the edge of her jacket back and trailing his tongue over her exposed collarbone.

About E.M: 

E.M. Fitch is an author who loves scary stories, chocolate, and tall trees. When not dreaming up new ways to torture characters, she is usually corralling her four children or thinking of ways to tire them out so she can get an hour of peace at night. She lives in Connecticut, surrounded by chaos, which she manages (somewhat successfully) with her husband, Marc.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a $25 Fandango Gift Card, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dying to Read (195)- INTO THE BRIGHT UNKNOWN by Rae Carson

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! 

I adore Rae and her books and this series is set in my area so of course I can't wait to read the finale!!!

Title: INTO THE BRIGHT UNKNOWN

Author: Rae Carson

Release Date: October 10, 2017

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Pages: 432

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | iBooks

The stunning conclusion to Rae Carson’s New York Times–bestselling Gold Seer trilogy, which Publishers Weekly in a starred review called “Simply terrific.” A historical fantasy brimming with magic, romance, and adventure—perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Sarah Maas, and Westworld.

Leah Westfall, her fiancé Jefferson, and her friends have become rich in the California Territory, thanks to Lee’s magical ability to sense precious gold. But their fortune has made them a target, and when a dangerous billionaire sets out to destroy them, Lee and her friends decide they’ve had enough—they will fight back with all their power and talents. Lee’s magic is continuing to strengthen and grow, but someone is on to her—someone who might have a bit of magic herself. The stakes are higher than ever as Lee and her friends hatch a daring scheme that could alter the California landscape forever. With a distinctive young heroine and a unique interpretation of American history, Into the Bright Unknown strikes a rich vein of romance, magic, and adventure, bringing the Gold Seer Trilogy to its epic conclusion. Includes a map and an author’s note.

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

Blog Tour- STATION FOSAAN by Dee Garretson An Interview & Giveaway!

Hey everyone! I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the blog tour for STATION FOSAAN by Dee Garreston! I have an interview with Dee to share with you today! And make sure to enter the giveaway below!

Haven't heard of STATION FOSAAN? Check it out!

Title: STATION FOSAAN

Author: Dee Garretson

Pub. Date: February 14, 2017

Publisher: Month9Books

Format: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 300

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | TBD | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play Books | Indiebound

Scientists and their families stationed on the remote planet of Fosaan were promised a tropical vacation-like experience. But Fosaan, devastated from an apocalyptic event nearly three-hundred years ago, is full of lethal predators and dangerous terrain. 


Earthers are forbidden to go beyond the safety zone of their settlement and must not engage the remaining reclusive Fosaanians, native to the planet. Sixteen-year-old Quinn Neen is about to do both of those things. 


During an unsanctioned exploration of the planet, Quinn discovers a beautiful Fosaanian girl named Mira stealing food from his family’s living unit. But before he can convince her to show him around, scientists are taken captive, leaving Quinn and the other young Earthers at the mercy of space raiders. 


Quinn must go from renegade to leader and convince Mira to become an ally in a fight against an enemy whose very existence threatens their lives and the future of Earthers stuck on Fosaan and at home. 


STATION FOSAAN is THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND meets STAR TREK: THE WRATH OF KHAN. 

Now on to the interview!

Two Chicks on Books 2/20/2017

Hi Dee! First I want to say welcome to Two Chicks on Books! STATION FOSAAN was absolutely fantastic and I can’t wait for everyone to read it! And am so happy that you could stop by for a visit!

For the Readers: can you tell us a little bit about STATION FOSAAN and the characters?

STATION FOSAAN is a little bit like a Romeo and Juliet story set far in the future when people originally from Earth have spread out over the galaxy. Cultures have developed which are often very different from what still exists on Earth. Quinn, the main character, who grew up on Earth, finds himself on Fosaan, a planet where the people there want nothing to do with Earthers. Mira is a Fosaanian girl and a descendent of the ruling family, and though she is intrigued by Quinn, had far bigger problems to worry about

So since this is a series do you have a title for book 2 yet?

Yes! The working title is THE REYET TRAP

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

My early books had some characters based on real people but I no longer do that because it bogs me down too much. I don’t want unnecessary bits of a real person’s personality intruding on the character.  I do use individual traits and mannerisms of real people but I put them on characters who are so different, I don’t think the actual people would be able to recognize what I’ve done.

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

My favorite character to write was actually Quinn’s parrot, Mags. A friend of mine used to have an African Gray parrot and that bird was remarkable. I researched details about parrot intelligence to try to determine what the bird would understand and what it could say. I may have given Mags a bird genius level of intelligence, but I don’t think it’s beyond the level of possibility that she would be so smart.

My least favorite was the main antagonist Ansun, who is Mira’s uncle. He was the least favorite only because I find writing bad guys a challenge. I don’t want them to be cardboard villains, but on the other hand, I want them to be bad enough that readers will feel a real malevolence emanating off the page.

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

I’m interested in science and technology but I only have a layperson’s knowledge of most of those areas, so I did some research in robotics to come up with the robots that have advanced artificial intelligence in the story. Since I studied International Relations in college which included some classes in anthropology and history, I was able to draw on that knowledge for the world-building of the cultures and the political systems. I wanted the Fosaanians to have a unique culture, unlike ones that exist on Earth. I tried to put together something that would go with their history, and something I could go into more detail about in the later books.

Who is your ultimate book boyfriend?

I like a challenge, so it’s always been Mr. Darcy. Cool exterior, smoldering interior. Gets me every time.

What inspired you to write YA?

The early versions of STATION FOSAAN were actually intended to be middle grade, but I found that the natural voice for the story turned out to be older. When I start something new, I come up with plot and a character, and then it’s a matter of deciding the best way to tell the story. I like writing YA because I like writing characters who have hope for the future, no matter what situation they are in at the moment.

Lightening Round Questions

What Hogwarts House would the Sorting Hat place you in?

Definitely Ravenclaw!

Twitter or Facebook?

Both. Facebook for real-life friends, Twitter for book people

Favorite Superhero

Dr. Strange but mainly because of Benedict Cumberbatch.

Favorite TV show

The Big Bang Theory. I know many people in real life who could be characters on that show.

Sweet or salty.

Sweet.

Any phobias?

Giant squid. *shudder*

Song you can’t get enough of right now?

Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You

2017 Movie you are most looking forward to?

I’m a huge Star Wars fan so it has to The Last Jedi.

Thanks so much Dee for answering my questions! I can’t wait for everyone to read STATION FOSAAN!

About Dee:

Dee Garretson writes for many different age groups, from chapter books to middle grade to young adult to adult fiction. She lives in Ohio with her family, and in true writer fashion, has cat companions who oversee her daily word count. When she’s not writing, she loves to travel, watch old movies, and attempt various kinds of drawing, painting and other artistic pursuits.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

(1) winner will receive a Perfectly Posh, Posh To Meet You Set ($20 value), US Only.

(20) winners will receive a Fosaanian-inspired bracelet or key chain (winner’s choice), US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

2/13/2017- S.E. Muir- Excerpt

2/13/2017- Book Review Becca- Spotlight

2/14/2017- Bibliobibuli YA- Interview

2/15/2017- LILbooKlovers- Interview

2/16/2017- Lisa's Loves(Books of Course)- Guest Post

2/16/2017- Omg Books and More Books- Review

2/17/2017- So Few Books- Interview

2/17/2017- Month9Books- Excerpt

Week Two:

2/20/2017- Two Chicks on Books- Interview

2/20/2017- Don't Judge, Read- Review

2/21/2017- Susan Heim on Writing- Excerpt

2/21/2017- Book-Keeping- Review

2/22/2017- Wishful Endings- Interview

2/22/2017-Hidden Worlds Books- Guest Post

2/23/2017- Always & Forever Fangirling- Excerpt

2/23/2017- the Blacksheep Reader- Review

2/24/2017- I am not a bookworm!- Review

Blog Tour- THE WISH GRANTER by C.J. Redwine Pinterest Board & A Giveaway!

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the blog tour for THE WISH GRANTER by C.J. Redwine! I loved the second book in the Ravenspire Series! C.J.'s shared her pinterest boards with us today! And make sure to enter the awesome giveaway for a chance to win the book!!

Haven't heard of THE WISH GRANTER? Check it out!

Title: THE WISH GRANTER

Author: C.J. Readwine

Pub. Date: February 14, 2017

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Pages: 432

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Audible, Goodreads

An epic fantasy inspired by the Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale, about a bastard princess who must take on an evil fae to save her brother’s soul, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Shadow Queen.


The world has turned upside down for Thad and Ari Glavan, the bastard twins of Súndraille’s king. Their mother was murdered. The royal family died mysteriously. And now Thad sits on the throne of a kingdom whose streets are suddenly overrun with violence that he can’t stop.

Growing up ignored by the nobility, Ari never wanted to be a proper princess. And when Thad suddenly starts training Ari to take his place, she realizes that her brother’s ascension to the throne wasn’t fate. It was the work of a Wish Granter named Alistair Teague, who tricked Thad into wishing away both the safety of his people and his soul in exchange for the crown.

So Ari recruits the help of Thad’s enigmatic new weapons master, Sebastian Vaughn, to teach her how to fight Teague. With secret ties to Teague’s criminal empire, Sebastian might just hold the key to discovering Alistair’s weaknesses, saving Ari’s brother—and herself.

But Teague is ruthless and more than ready to destroy anyone who dares stand in his way—and now he has his sights set on the princess. And if Ari can’t outwit him, she’ll lose Sebastian, her brother...and her soul. 

Now on to the post!

THE WISH GRANTER Pinterest Board

Pinterest is one of the most effective tools for me before I actually start putting words down on paper. I spend several months worldbuilding, and as I figure out things like agriculture, customs, architecture, clothing, and food, I hunt through Google images to find pictures that come close to what’s in my head. You can find my entire Wish Granter Pinterest board here https://www.pinterest.com/cjredwine/the-wish-granter/ but I’ll share a few of my favorites with you.

(Link to the original post as you can buy this print on Etsy: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/19914423332705354/)

Of course this image spoke to me! This is the foundational philosophy for most systems of magic in fantasy novels, but it’s also very specific to Mr. Gold on Once Upon a Time. In THE WISH GRANTER, Alistair Teague is the Rumpelstiltskin character, and he is a Faustian villain who trades wishes for favors, influence, and souls.

This looks like a walkway in the Sundraille palace, which is wide and open to the elements so that it can catch the sea breezes.

This is how I imagine the city of Kosim Thalas. I based the architecture off of pictures of Greece.

Terrifying shape-shifters from the fae isle of Llorenyae.

Ari loves to bake, and loves to eat delicious food. Chocolate cake is one of her specialties.

 Sebastian! <3 span="">

Ari!

Beware signing a contract with the Wish Granter. He’ll grant you the deepest wish of your heart, but in ten years, he’ll return for your soul. 

Teague! 

About C.J.: (Insert Author Photo)

C.J. Redwine loves fairy tales, Harry Potter, and Sherlock. She is the author of the Defiance trilogy, a post-apocalyptic fantasy from Balzer + Bray. C.J. lives in Nashville with her husband and children. If the novel writing gig ever falls through, she’ll join the Avengers and wear a cape to work every day. To learn more about C.J., visit her website at www.cjredwine.com Where you can find C.J.:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | Pinterest |Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a signed paperback of THE SHADOW QUEEN and a signed Hardback of THE WISH GRANTER, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

2/6/2017- Zach's YA Reviews- Guest Post

2/7/2017- Fiktshun- Review

2/8/2017- Novel Novice- Guest Post

2/9/2017- BookCrushin- Review

2/10/2017- Ya and Wine- Guest Post

Week Two:

2/13/2017- A Backwards Story- Review

2/14/2017- YA Books Central- Guest Post

2/15/2017- Mundie Moms- Review

2/16/2017- Two Chicks on Books- Guest Post

2/17/2017- The Best Books Ever - Review 

Grab book 1 now!

Release Launch- UNREST by Wendy Higgins An Exclusive Excerpt

Today we have the release day launch for UNREST by Wendy Higgins! Check it out and grab your copy today!!

Title: Unrest

Author: Wendy Higgins

Release Day: February 14^th

About Unrest:

Being on the run in the desert means food and sanctuary are hard to come by, but Amber Tate and her crew are not about to give up. Not after having so many of the things they love brutally ripped from them by an unknown enemy who sent their world into the apocalypse.   Survival takes precedence, but once safe shelter is found, their guards fall and the emotions they’ve been holding in are finally released. Anger, insecurities...lust. In their tight quarters, Amber, Rylen, Tater, and Remy can't escape it. The past must be faced, and passions run even stronger in the darkest of times.   In the midst of unrest, their worlds are rocked again when they discover the truth about the war that’s ruined their lives. They thought finding out the enemy's identity would give them the edge; instead it’s revealed terrifying dangers they never thought possible.

Get your copy today:

Kindle| Nook | iBooks

Paperback on Amazon 

Exclusive Excerpt:

Remy put her head on my shoulder and I got a small but distinct whiff of chocolate. “I might have to lick you, Rem,” I blurted. Both Tater and Rylen turned to us, nearly cracking heads in the process. “She smells like chocolate,” I explained. Tater shook his head and faced forward again. Ry gave me one last bemused look before turning back too. “Hey,” Remy whispered. She raised her free hand to my face, and to my shock, there was half of the tiny candy pinched between her finger and thumb. “I saved half for you.” My heart lurched with emotion. “Are you serious?” She nodded and her chin quivered as she raised the M&M to my mouth and fed it to me. She licked her fingers off while I savored the tiny morsel. My eyes watered as I crunched down and Remy said, “Good, right?” A second later we were hugging and crying all over again. “We have to save our water,” I choked. She sniffled and let go of me to wipe her face. “No more crying.”

About Wendy Higgins:

Wendy Higgins is a soccer mom and backstage drama mama. Most people in her tiny bayside town don’t know she’s a USA Today and NYT bestselling author of paranormal, fantasy, and science-fiction romances. Wendy is a former high school English teacher who now writes full time in her pajamas, and lives on the Eastern Shore of Virginia with her veterinarian husband, daughter, son, and little doggie Rue. Wendy earned a bachelor’s in Creative Writing from George Mason University and a master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Radford University.  

Reach Wendy Online:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS | PINTREST | INSTAGRAM

Grab book 1 now!

Dying To Read (194)- THE DARK INTERCEPT by Julia Keller

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! 

I don't know how I keep missing cover reveals but this one is gorgeous and I can't wait to read it!!!

Title: THE DARK INTERCEPT

Author: Julia Keller 

Release Date: November 7, 2017

Publisher: Tor Teen

Pages: 304

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

In a radiant world of endless summer, the Intercept keeps the peace. Violet Crowley, the sixteen-year-old daughter of New Earth’s Founding Father, has spent her life in comfort and safety. Her days are easy thanks to the Intercept, a crime-prevention device that monitors and provokes emotion. But when her long-time crush, Danny Mayhew, gets into a dangerous altercation on Old Earth, Violet launches a secret investigation to find out what he's hiding. An investigation that will lead her to question everything she's ever known about Danny, her father, and the power of the Intercept.

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