Kiera Cass Book Signing in Manila and Cebu

Yep. You read that one right. Kiera Cass, author of The Selection and The Elite, is coming this August 3 and 4 in Manila and Cebu, respectively. I received an email from National Book Store about it and I knew I just had to post it for the benefit of the fans of Cass. I can fully say and please do NOT kill me... I haven't read the book. I just haven't got the time plus I've been hearing a so-so reviews...

Anyway, here's the details of the said book signing that will happen this Saturday and Sunday. 

EVENT: TALK & BOOK SIGNING: KIERA CASS

WHEN: AUGUST 3 / 4 PM & AUGUST 4 / 3 PM

WHERE: NATIONAL BOOK STORE, GLORIETTA 1 & ACTIVITY CENTER, AYALA CENTER CEBU

Described as “a cross between The Hunger Games… and The Bachelor” by Publishers Weekly, The Selection tells the story of America Singer who is chosen to be one of the 35 girls to compete in the Selection to win the heart of Prince Maxon and be Illea’s next queen. For America, at first, being Selected is a nightmare—she has to leave her secret love Aspen, a caste below her, and to live in a palace that is threatened by violent rebel attacks. But meeting the prince changes everything she believes in.

In The Elite, the sequel which came out in April, only six girls remain to compete for the crown and only one will get to marry Prince Maxon. As the Selection is narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are more determined to win Maxon over, and time is running out for America to decide. She is still torn between her two futures—to be with Maxon or to be with Aspen.

Kiera Cass was born and raised in South Carolina and currently resides in Blacksburg, Virginia with her husband and two kids. Her other works include the self-published novel The Siren and the short story In the Clearing, which is included in the anthology Brave New Love. The One, the final book in The Selection trilogy, will hit shelves in May 2014.

These events are made possible in partnership with Raffles Makati, the official residence of Kiera Cass in Manila, and Ayala Center Cebu.

Registration opens at 10:00 am on August 3 at National Book Store, Glorietta 1 and 12:00 nn on August 4 at the Activity Center of Ayala Center Cebu.

Cass also got an entry in her blog about it... Read here. Don't forget to check out her FAQs. :) I attended events like this hosted by National Bookstore twice already. First time was when Lauren Oliver came in the Philippines. I was with my cousin and bf then. It was so superb seeing your favorite author up close. I even hugged her! :)

Second time was with Tahereh Mafi and Ransom Riggs. I just finished reading the first book. I really tried to finish it before coming. I was reading at work and I got a night shift then so I went home early in the morning, then sleep for awhile then went to the venue ALONE. LOL. I love Tahereh. :) She's fun. And her fashion is so COOL. And I don't actually know Ransom Riggs but he is the author of the book, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. And yes, I did bought his book too and had it signed. ;)

What I'm trying to say was that I know you'll definitely enjoy being with Kiera Cass. I am not going in Saturday, so I hope you all enjoy the signing and get lots of pictures! :) ENJOY, everyone!!! 

Book Blitz: Now or Never by A.J. Bennett

Title: Now or Never
Author: A.J. Bennett
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Release Date: 19th June 2013
Book Blurb from Goodreads:

Twenty-one year old Grayson Alexander finally breaks away from an abusive relationship and finds herself free for the first time in three years.

Determined to enjoy her new-found freedom, Grayson is intent on sticking with ‘no strings attached’ relationships—one-night stands, and steamy sex.

But she didn’t plan on Derrick.

Her attraction to the sexy man in uniform quickly turns into an unhealthy relationship. They both try to resist the pull, but neither can stay away.

When tragedy strikes, Grayson realizes it’s now or never—walk away or make it work.

*EXCERPT*

Why was she acting like an idiot? He was just a guy; he probably didn’t even give her another thought after their brief eye gaze exchange.
     Once she got her drink, she made her way to the cream and sugar stand to grab a napkin and hightail it out of there. Grayson turned to leave and slammed into a solid wall of muscle.
     Shit.
     Coffee spilled on her hand and down the front of his black T-shirt. As she held the remains of her coffee out of harms way, her chest pressed firmly against his. Horrified, she lifted her gaze.
      He cupped her elbows with both hands and steadied her, his startling green eyes ringed with gold swept over her. Then he reached around her, grabbed a napkin, and wiped the hot coffee off her hand. She caught herself giving him the once over while she had his gaze elsewhere; he was so hot, his dark red hair was so fitting to his rugged facial features.
     “You alright?”
     Grayson mumbled something that didn’t sound like English. Her breath caught at her throat as she took in his powerful frame: his legs were slightly parted and his faded jeans clung to his muscular thighs. His T-shirt was stretched over his broad shoulders.
     He smiled instantly softening his hard face. “Why don’t you come and sit down with me?”
     “Um, what?”
     He tilted his head towards his seat, “The cafe is full. You can share my table.”
     Good grief.
     All she did was make eye contact with the guy, and now he thought that gave him the right to invite her to sit down? She’d clearly been in a relationship way too long, because she had no idea how to react to his question. A part of her was curious about this man who made her heart rate speed up with just a glance, but a much bigger part of her wanted to turn and run. She just got out of one relationship; she wasn’t about to start another the moment she drove into town. Besides, she’d always heard two redheads were a disaster waiting to happen.
     No thanks, she thought, I have had enough disaster in my life for at least five more years.
     Although, her mother claims she’s only half redhead, the other half light blonde. So maybe it would only be half a disaster?
     Snap out of it Grayson, she thought, trying to get her shit together and not look like a blabbering idiot.
     “I can’t. I have to meet my family. But thanks for the offer.” Grayson tried to step by him, but he widened his stance and blocked her.
     “Can I at least give you my number?”
     Oh my God, Grayson thought, this guy was persistent. He was hot as hell, but come on.
     “Do you hit on every girl who walks through the door?” Grayson asked with a little attitude in her voice; she couldn’t let another man gain the upper hand on her so fast.
     He laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and she wondered how old he was. “Not all of them.”

*BUY IT AT*

 

*ABOUT THE AUTHOR*

A.J. Bennett lives in Nashville, TN with her husband and bulldog. She’s addicted to coffee, popcorn and books. Becoming an author has been a lifelong dream, and she’s extremely excited about her debut novel Now or Never.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter 

Sizzlin Summer Giveaway Event: Guest Post featuring Andrea Heltsley

Welcome to the Sizzling Summer Giveaway hosted by YA Bound Tours, featuring over 50 authors.  You can check out the participating authors and blogs here.  The giveaway is for two Kindle Fires with the giveaway packs listed below.

My stop features the author, Andrea Heltsley and her book, Dancing with Deception.

Blog Tour + Giveaway: Nearly Broken by Devon Ashley

Welcome to my stop on the Nearly Broken blog tour hosted by YA Bound Book Tours. Click HERE to see the full blog tour schedule!

Title: Nearly Broken

Author: Devon Ashley

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Abuse

Release Date: 4th June 2013

Rating: 

Review Copy: Devon Ashley (YA Bound Book Tour)

Book Blurb from Goodreads:

We’d both gone missing at one point, but Claire had one thing I didn’t. Someone to notice. So why was I the one still here and she the one still gone?
Nineteen year old Megan Smith has spent the past year working in a small town diner in the middle of nowhere. Life is quiet, simple, safe. Then comes the news that her look-a-like has gone missing.
Claire.
Still damaged both physically and mentally, Megan's not looking to be noticed. Wherever she goes from here, it's a road she needs to take alone. But when Nickolas Ellis takes the job as the new nightshift cook, it scares her how easily her defenses crumble down, down, down for him. But there are secrets she can't bear to share with just anyone, unspeakable acts that continue to haunt, and when the similarities of Claire’s abduction couples with the fear of an unwanted visitor in town, the urge to run before it all happens again intensifies, threatening the only happiness Megan's ever found.
New Adult Romantic Suspense / Realistic Fiction
Recommended for 17+ for mature and disturbing situations, language and sexual content.

REVIEW:

I didn't really expect anything from this book. I just started reading it because July 22nd was just around the block. So when I did, I was hooked. I wanted to know the whys. All the whys surrounding Megan. Why is she hiding. Why is she scared. Why does she kept to herself. Why does she have all those physical deformation. Did she do it herself? I was under the impression that she did. But of course, I don't, will not say if what I thought about was right. You have to find it for yourself.

This book got such a gripping story that I can't help myself but cry. It's not only a one time cry. Every damn scene, every time she relive her past, when she spilled it all, I got so teary eyed. I have to stop myself for a minute before continuing it. It's so intense that I could somehow feel what Megan's feeling.

When she reconnects, I feel happy for her that I got tears again in my eyes. I love how it was written. Love how Devon Ashley created this world. I know. This is fiction. It might not be realistic enough for other readers, but it was for me. I could feel all the emotions Ashley hope a reader could feel. I am happy, sad, devastated for them, for the life stolen from her and her loved ones. 

Ashley created a world that a lot of people didn't really thought about too much. I mean, yes, there are lots of news about it all over the world, but do we really did something to help? To take notice? I could say yeah, I did when it was on news and then I forget about it. I like how the author make us see what the families of those persons who got abducted, feel when their loved ones went missing one day. It makes my heart shatter for all those families. For the families that never gave up, never loses their hope of one day, they might find them again.

My only complaint would be how it was on the climax. I mean, I didn't like it that much on how it was created. It might be necessary but I just don't want her to be that way again. Or in this case, much more. :( But overall, I do like it a lot. 

Will I recommend it to other readers? YES, but only for readers who is mature enough to read this kind of story.

BUY IT AT:

   

*ABOUT THE AUTHOR*

Devon Ashley was born in Huntington Beach but has spent most of her life residing in Texas. She spends a great deal of her time taking care of her husband and son but always seems to find time to write, knit and create unique decorative pieces. She particularly likes to write Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance.

Interesting Fact: Devon Ashley shares her birthday with her favorite author, Jane Austen.

  

*GIVEAWAY*

2 signed paperbacks and 2 e-books (epub or mobi) of Nearly Broken, open Internationally!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: Not Pretty Enough by Jaimie Admans

Title: Not Pretty Enough

Author: Jaimie Admans

Release Date: 1st August 2013

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance

Book Blurb from Goodreads:

“New Year’s Resolutions:

1. Lloyd Layton will know I exist. He once said three whole words to me, so this is obviously progress. If I don’t get a proper conversation out of him soon, then I’ll take my top off and streak through the cafeteria, because nobody could fail to notice these boobs.

2. I will not get expelled for streaking through the cafeteria.”

Those are the words that begin her mission.

Chessie is fourteen, not pretty enough, and very much in love. Lloyd Layton is hot, popular, and unaware of Chessie’s existence.

Her goal is clear: to get Lloyd to love her as much as she loves him, and she has exactly one year to do it.

As Chessie’s obsession with Lloyd reaches boiling point and she starts to spin a web of lies that spiral out of control, Lloyd turns out to be not quite the prince she thought he was. Can Chessie avoid the gathering storm before things go too far?

Not Pretty Enough is a contemporary young adult comedy suitable for ages thirteen and over.

Book two in the series will be released early 2014.

Book Blitz + Giveaway: Endure by Laura Diamond

Title: Endure (Book One of the Endure Series)

Author: Laura Diamond

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Release Date: 12th July 2013

Book Blurb from Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Justin's anemic blood is a blessing. Or a curse. It all depends on who you ask. 

To most of the immortal Vie, his blood is a scourge: untouchable and useless. To some Vie, his blood is a drug. To Justin, it’s something that gets him in a lot of trouble. Being poisoned by a Vie is just one example. His sister getting kidnapped is another. Whether it’s being coerced by a deluded cult leader, or negotiating with Alex—an Vie scientist addicted to Anemie blood—Justin struggles to keep every mutated drop of blood he’s got.

His fight for survival gets more complicated when he meets Alex’s slave, Cara. Despite coming from different worlds, they’re both prisoners, at risk of being drained by a hungry Vie any moment. When she risks her own neck to help Justin find his sister, he's left with a terrifying choice.

Saving what's left of humanity.

Saving his sister. Saving the girl he loves.

Or sticking a stake in Alex’s chest. 

Justin can't decide which option will get him killed first.

  

*ABOUT THE AUTHOR*

Laura Diamond is a board certified psychiatrist and author of all things young adult paranormal, dystopian, horror, and middle grade. Her short story, CITY OF LIGHTS AND STONE, is in the DAY OF DEMONS Anthology by Anachron Press (April 2012). Another short story,  EGGING DEATH, is coming soon in the CARNAGE: AFTER THE END Anthology by Sirens Call Publications. Her Young Adult Paranormal Romance novelette NEW PRIDE was published November 2012 and her novel SHIFTING PRIDE is coming December 7, 2012 from Etopia Press. When she's not writing, she is working at the hospital, blogging at Author Laura Diamond--Lucid Dreamer (http://lbdiamond.wordpress.com/), and renovating her 225+ year old fixer-upper mansion. She is also full-time staff member for her four cats and a Pembroke corgi named Katie.

  

***GIVEAWAY***

One e-book copy of Endure, Open
Internationally!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz hosted by:

Book Blast: Prophecy of Solstice by Diantha Jones

Introducing Book Three in the Oracle of Delphi series, 

Prophecy of 

Solstice's End

Summer Solstice is here. Let the games
begin.

Nothing but lies (some of them her own) and deceit
have brought Chloe to Olympus for the Solstice Olympic Games. As the Oracle and the special guest of the
King of Myth, Chloe becomes immersed in a life of unfathomable luxury, taunting history, and overwhelming
excitement. Though scheming and untrustworthy, the gods remain on their best behavior as the tension and
anticipation builds around the outcome of the Quest of the Twelve Labors, the deadliest competition of the
Games. All seems well on the celestial front...until athletes start turning up dead and a philosopher missing for
months returns with a most terrifying story...

But that’s not all.

As Strafford confronts his troubled past
and more is learned about the Great Unknown Prophecy, Chloe grows close to another, setting off a chain of
events that will bring her face-to-face with a truth that will rock both of her worlds to their core.

And it’ll all happen before Solstice’s
end..

in eBook and paperback!

Amazon  |  Barnes&Noble  |  Goodreads

Other books in the Oracle of Delphi series...

   

Prophecy of the Most Beautiful

Amazon
(eBook) | Amazon (Paperback)  |
 Barnes&Noble  |  Goodreads

Prophecy of the Setting Sunrise

Amazon
(eBook) |  Amazon (Paperback)
 |  Barnes&Noble  |  Goodreads

Solar, Defeated (A Mythos: Stories from Olympus
Novella)

Amazon
(eBook) |  Amazon (Paperback)
 |  Barnes&Noble  |  Goodreads

Diantha Jones was born the day thousands of turkeys sacrificed their lives to
fill millions of American bellies on November 22 which also happened to be Thanksgiving Day (Her mother
says she owes her a turkey). She is a Journalism graduate who wants to be a career novelist (of books, not
Facebook posts). When not writing or working, she is reading on her Nook, being hypnotized by Netflix or on
a mission to procure french fries. 

The Oracle of Delphi fantasy series is her first
series. She is also the author of Mythos: Stories from Olympus, a companion series, and
there is another fantasy trilogy in the works. She also writes (new) adult fantasy/paranormal romance under the
name A. Star. Invasion (An Alien Romance) is her first title released under this
name. Future releases under A. Star include, the Love & Steampunk series,
the Purr, Inc. stories, and more.

Connect with Diantha Jones

Follow
@DianthaJones

Website  |  Facebook  |  Goodreads  |  Amazon

Prophecy of the Author's Genius Contest:
Solve the prophecy and WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

WIN the entire Oracle of Delphi
series!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Click the banner below for the schedule of the month long tour!

Book Blitz + Giveaway: Breaking Glass by Lisa Amowitz

Title: Breaking Glass
Author: Lisa Amowitz
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Mystery
Release Date: 9th July 2013
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Book Blurb from Goodreads:
On the night seventeen-year-old Jeremy Glass winds up in the hospital with a broken leg and a blood alcohol level well above the legal limit, his secret crush, Susannah, disappears. When he begins receiving messages from her from beyond the grave, he's not sure whether they're real or if he's losing his grip on reality. Clue by clue, he gets closer to unraveling the mystery, and soon realizes he must discover the truth or become the next victim himself.

Available from:

  

***EXCERPT***

“So where is he?” She cranes her neck, trying to spot Ryan in the crowd.

Heart pounding, my mind hiccups through its storehouse of facts. I reposition myself to block her view. There’s no time to try texting Ryan a warning.

I could tell Susannah. Tell her how Ryan has been sneaking around behind her back for over a year, even hooking up with two college juniors in a motel room during one of our out of town meets. But defying the Morgan machine by pointing this out takes too much energy. Instead I blurt, “Did you realize the Watch Hill carousel was once part of a traveling carnival?”

She laughs and shakes her head. “What? Jeremy, sometimes you can be such a--”

But her voice trails off as her gaze wanders past mine, her smile crumpling like a paper bag. I follow her line of sight and I know this is it. The crowd has thinned around Ryan, enough for her to see him with his mouth smashed against Claudia’s.

“Oh, man,” I gasp. I turn to comfort Susannah, but she is already gone.

I stand, dithering; wanting to run after her and apologize for letting her walk into this ambush.

But, no. This is something Ryan needs to take care of. I might have signed on to sweep his mess under the rug, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to clean up after him. I push through the crowd to get to him.

“What? She what? Did you know she was coming back early?”

I feel my face heat. “No.”

Ryan pushes Claudia off of him, his stage makeup still glistening and thick, traces of Claudia’s lipstick smeared on his lips. “Good job, Jeremy. You could have at least texted me.”

My hand curls into a fist. I stuff it in my jacket pocket. “She ran out,” I say. “Maybe you can catch her.”

Ryan shrugs, and without a coat, stalks out of the theater into the night. I wait a few minutes then follow. Susannah’s car is gone, and so is Ryan’s. I try to call Susannah, but she doesn’t pick up.

I get in my car and focus on resisting the water bottle’s siren call, panicked glimpses of my waking nightmare crashing through the floodgates, the terrifying memories swept through with it. The rain and the torrents of water sweeping past, draining into the Gorge, forcing me to remember. To relive it. No. Not now. I need to stay clear.

Since eighth grade, when I discovered that liquor dulls my terrors, I have been a master thief and spy.

Not even Ryan knows.

Just a sip to calm my shaky nerves. One tiny sip to beat back the rising waters that threaten to drown me. I can do it. I pride myself on my steely self-control. My ability to remain stone-cold sober even when the track team holds a victory keg party. They call me Jeremy the Teetotaler. Jeremy, the History Nerd who never partakes.

I snap open the glove compartment. The innocuous silver bottle is shoved behind the owner’s manual, gas receipts and a collection of power bar wrappers. I raise it to my lips and gulp once, twice, three times; the cold liquid igniting as it hits my throat. It takes two, three more gulps to slow my heart to normal speed. The bottle is nearly empty. I cap it and return it to the compartment, warmth flowing to my cold fingers. I’d need to drink three times as much as that to lose focus.

Swerving the deserted black roads slick with rain over ice, I follow my usual running circuit. This is familiar turf. My backyard, practically.

Yes. I can do this. Susannah knows my route so I hope she’s come this way and parked, knowing I’d find her. She wants me to find her. To comfort her. I’ll tell her everything. How I’m sorry for lying to her. For letting Ryan hurt her. And maybe at last she’ll accept that it’s not Ryan she wants, but me.

But there’s no sign of her.

After driving and searching fruitlessly, my mind churning with outcomes, the now driving rain blurring my windshield, I can’t stand it anymore. My heart is racing. Just one last sip to fortify myself is all I need.

When I round the next hairpin curve, my headlights flash on Ryan’s car parked behind Susannah’s, engines running. I squint through the rain and mist and spot them behind the guardrail, illuminated in the headlamps’ cone of light. There’s no shoulder on this side of the road, so I pull over when I can, about twenty yards past them.

When I finally get out of the car I can hear her shouts over the racket the rain makes. My head is buzzing, but my thoughts are clear.

In fact, they’ve never been clearer, as the roots that entangle me fall away.

The damp air smells like freedom.

Susannah screams, and pounds at Ryan’s chest with her fists. He shoves her hard and she falls backward. I don’t see her get up again. Raucous arguments were nothing new between Susannah and Ryan, but I’d never seen him hit her before.

There’s a steep decline into the woods where they’ve chosen to have their argument and I worry Susannah could have gotten hurt. Ryan disappears now, too. What the hell are they doing?

I begin to run at full tilt. I still have some distance to cover, but that’s no problem for me, even with the Absolut pumping heat through my veins. But my boot heel catches on a wet leaf then slides out from under me.

I’m flying, but I land softly.

*ABOUT THE AUTHOR*

Lisa has been a professor of Graphic Design at her beloved Bronx Community College where she has been tormenting and cajoling students for nearly seventeen years. She started writing eight years ago because she wanted something to illustrate, but somehow, instead ended up writing YA. Probably because her mind is too dark and twisted for small children.

BREAKING GLASS which will be released in July, 2013 from Spencer Hill Press, is her first published work. VISION, the first of the Finder series will be released in 2014, along with an unnamed sequel in the following year. LIFE AND BETH will also be released in the near future, along with graphic novel style art. 

Website│Twitter│Goodreads

***GIVEAWAY***

1-custom pendant like the one pictured on the book cover

2-signed ARCS

1-original work of Breaking Glass related art created and signed by the author.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz + Giveaway: Rush by Eve Silver

Title: Rush (The Game #1)

Author: Eve Silver
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia

Release Date: 11th June 2013

Publisher: Harper Teen

Book Blurb from Goodreads:

So what’s the game now? This, or the life I used to know?

When Miki Jones is pulled from her life, pulled through time and space into some kind of game—her carefully controlled life spirals into chaos. In the game, she and a team of other teens are sent on missions to eliminate the Drau, terrifying and beautiful alien creatures. There are no practice runs, no training, and no way out. Miki has only the guidance of secretive but maddeningly attractive team leader Jackson Tate, who says the game isn’t really a game, that what Miki and her new teammates do now determines their survival, and the survival of every other person on this planet. She laughs. He doesn’t. And then the game takes a deadly and terrifying turn.

Available from:

    

***Excerpt***

There’s a flash of light, blindingly bright. Colored halos obscure my vision. They dance and flicker and then disappear, leaving only a rectangle of light boxed in by the dark door frame.
I see then that the door’s gone and in front of me are people. No…they aren't people. They have limbs, hair, faces, but they aren't human. After the first glance, they don’t look even remotely human. They’re pure, painful white, so bright they throw off a glare. They look like they've been dipped in glass, smooth and polished, but fluid. And their eyes…they’re a silvery color, like the mercury in the antique thermometer that my mom used to have at the side of the front porch.
When I was ten, I knocked that thermometer off with my wooden kendo sword, shattering the glass. The little blobs of mercury went all over the porch. I was a kid. I didn't know better. I touched them, prodding the little balls until they joined the bigger blob. My mom swooped down on me and snatched me away, telling me it was poison. It could kill me.
I stare at the things in front of me: the Drau. I can’t look away.
Somewhere in the back of my mind, I remember Jackson talking about Medusa.
Don’t look at their eyes.
Their mercury eyes.
They’re poison.
They will kill me.

Copyright

© 2013. Eve Silver. All Rights Reserved.

*ABOUT THE AUTHOR*

Eve Silver lives with her gamer husband and sons, sometimes in Canada, but often in worlds she dreams up. She loves kayaking and sunshine, dogs and desserts, and books, lots and lots of books. Watch for the first book in Eve’s new teen series, THE GAME: RUSH, coming from Katherine Tegen Books, June 2013. She also writes books for adults.

     

***GIVEAWAY***

Signed copy of Rush, US and Canada only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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