Waiting on Wednesday, #18

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we can't wait to get our hands on.

Here's my selection for this week...

Spellcaster by Claudia Gray

Expected Publication: March 5th 2013

Publisher: HarperTeen

When Nadia’s family moves to Captive’s Sound, she instantly realizes there’s more to it than meets the eye. Descended from witches, Nadia senses a dark and powerful magic at work in her new town. Mateo has lived in Captive’s Sound his entire life, trying to dodge the local legend that his family is cursed - and that curse will cause him to believe he’s seeing the future … until it drives him mad. When the strange dreams Mateo has been having of rescuing a beautiful girl—Nadia—from a car accident come true, he knows he’s doomed.

Despite the forces pulling them apart, Nadia and Mateo must work together to break the chains of his family’s terrible curse, and to prevent a disaster that threatens the lives of everyone around them. Shimmering with magic and mystery, New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray’s new novel is sure to draw fans of the Hex Hall and Caster Chronicles series, and fans of the hit CW TV show The Secret Circle.

I’ve been a huge fan of Claudia Gray since the first week her Evernight series hit the shelves and despite this author’s incredible, head-desk worthy plot twists, I enjoy her writing a TON! I haven’t picked up another book by Gray since the final installment Afterlife, and I’m just about ready to revisit her exciting storytelling and the likeable casts she’s able to create. Books that involve powerful magic, mystery and curses… well sign me up! I can’t wait to get my hands on Claudia Gray’s first book of her new witchcraft-based trilogy!

Soooo, what book are you waiting on?

Blog Tour: Commencement by Paige Cuccaro

Hey everyone!  We are so excited to be apart of this amazing blog tour set up by Jamie over at Entangled Publishing. Commencement is part of their Flirt line and it sounds amazing!  We have the author Paige on the blog today and in the spirit of Halloween we asked her..

Which book boyfriend would you trap in your personal spider web and why?  

Take a look at her answer, it is awesome!

"Eli. For sure! Because he’s awesome…and really fast. He can move at the speed of thought, so if a girl wanted to get close to him she’d have to trap him in a sticky web. Eli’s an angel with a kind of Superman vibe. He’s powerful, pure of heart, loyal, sexy as heck, and being with him could ruin you both. He’s the ultimate forbidden hero."--Paige

Thanks Paige for stopping by!  I can't wait to meet Eli!!

For those of you out there who aren't familiar with Commencement here is a little peek about the book and it's amazing author!

Commencement (a Hellsbane novella) by Paige Curraro
Published in September 2012 by Entangled-Flirt
Purchase: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Hell hath no fury like a woman’s scorn for frat guys…

Emma Jane Hellsbane knows something evil is worming its way through her college campus—she can feel it. Literally. Her freakish ability to feel other people’s emotions as though they were her own has always been monumentally awkward, and it’s easier for her to just pretend it doesn’t exist. But this time her paranormal ability just might help her save lives.

Emma Jane’s fairly certain that whatever the hateful, egomaniacal, Godlike thing is, it’s set up shop inside her boyfriend, the frat boy/soccer star Justin. And if she doesn’t figure a way to get it out of him soon, Justin’s soul will be the appetizer to the main course—the whole student body. Problem is, the big baddy is granting sinister wishes, and with each one the risks grow higher and the phrase Be careful what you wish for becomes a real-life dire warning. Of course for Emma, what feels like it could be the end is in fact just the beginning

About the author:

Writing was never a foregone conclusion for me. I once had dreams of being a psychologist, a pediatrician, a school teacher, a photojournalist, a bartender, and/or an EMT. And then I met my husband and my world came into focus. Being wife and mother are my highest priorities and greatest joy. But escaping to the fanciful, sexy worlds twirling through my mind is an absolute necessity. Putting those worlds, and the cornucopia of characters that people them, on paper is just plain fun.

Paige lives in Ohio, with her husband, three daughters, three dogs, three cats, a parakeet and a bearded dragon named Rexy, in an ever shrinking house. When she’s not writing she can be found doing the mom thing with a book in one hand and a notepad and pen in the other. Ideas come without warning and the best way to stimulate your imagination is to enjoy the imagination of someone else.

Find Paige:
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Wait that is not all!  We are also happy to announce that Entangled has graciously donated an eBook copy of Commencement!  All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below.  Giveaway is international!  Good luck everyone!

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Teaser Tuesday, #3

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

    

                       

Splintered by A.G. Howard

Expected Publication January 1, 2013 by Amulet Books

Goodreads Link

My Teasers

Page 125/126

"So the sketches you made of me...they're the basis for your paintings?" His eyebrows rise. "All those times I caught you looking at me like I'm a palette of paint."

Thumping his fingers on the boat, he frowns.

"Not sure what you're talking about."

"Tell you what. We get out of this in one piece, and I'll give you a private viewing."  He holds my gaze for a minute too long, and my blood runs hot. How am I supposed to figure anything out when I can't even read my own body's signals anymore?

 PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!

Slammed & Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover Optioned for a Movie!!

Well it’s a happy week for Will and Lake fans because we recently found out that Slammed and Point of Retreat have been optioned for a movie. How awesome is that??!! If you’ve had the pleasure of reading these great books, you’ll probably agree with me that seeing the stories come to life on the big screen will be pure bliss!

If you haven’t read them yet, Atria Books is having a sale on the eBooks in celebration for the film rights being optioned. You can get them for only $3.99!! So grab them now before it’s too late!

Purchase links:

SLAMMED eBook:
Apple iBookstore
Barnes & Noble
Amazon
S&S

POINT OF RETREAT eBook:
Apple iBookstore
Barnes & Noble
Amazon
S&S

  

To celebrate this fantastic book news, WinterHaven Books had the opportunity to interview Colleen Hoover about the movie option, her reaction, and all sorts of other cool stuff. Check it out!!

Interview with Colleen Hoover:
First off, congratulations on your movie deal! We are so excited to see Slammed come to life! So give us fans a blow by blow recount of your reaction when you got the news? Where were you and what went through your head?

My agent actually called when I was on my way to the airport to visit some author friends in Minnesota. I had to pull over I was so excited. That was weeks ago and I've had to keep it all in until it was ready to be announced.

What scene from the book are you most looking forward to seeing on the big screen?

Oh, the hallway scene when they find out the first big secret. And of course the slams! They would be awesome to be seen live.

If you had your choice, who would you cast as Lake and Will?

Oh, I have NO CLUE! People keep asking. I have a huge crush on Diego Boneta and I think Jane Levy is adorable, but I don't know how I'd feel about them together. 

Will Slammed and Point of Retreat be combined as one film, or is it a two film deal?

I'm not sure. I think they would try for one screenplay, but it's far off before that happens.

Any tentative release dates?

Oh, not at all. Film options are just the first of many, many steps. It's a long process and there are a lot steps that sometimes never get completed. But the fact that we took the first big step is huge!

Do you think you’ll have a cameo? If they offer will you do it? SAY YES! :D

Oh, heck no. I would ruin the film!

Any favorite music choices for your soundtrack?

I think that's obvious. It would be so cool if they could line up the songs before each chapter.

Lastly, off the movie subject… when is the next book coming out? Direct, much? :)

I have NO CLUE! lol. I've got three in the works right now. I wish I was the type of author who could just sit and finish one for the sake of deadlines, but it's more about what I'm "feeling" at the time.

Well thank you Colleen Hoover for being the awesome author that you are and graciously answering our questions!!

 Now for more exciting news!!

Colleen Hoover has graciously offered to send one lucky WinterHaven follower a SIGNED copy of Slammed! Be sure to fill out the rafflecopter link below and share your thoughts on this fabulous author, the books or the movie option!

International Book Giveaway

Signed copy of SLAMMED

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Review & Giveaway: Final Life by Rose Garcia

Final Life by Rose Garcia
Self published
Release date: May 15, 2012

Eight lives. You'd think Dominique would get it right, but she's failed every time. Now on her final life, Dominique must discover the secrets of her past before confronting the Transhuman hunter who wants to kill her for the last time. Farrell, a mysterious Transhuman protector, and Trent, a hot guy from school, want to help. But it's up to her to get it right this time—or she’ll be dead. For real

My Thoughts:
Final Life, is yet another example of why I have been attracted to Indie authors books. They are a hidden gem just waiting to be discovered. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read this fascinating story and to be able to share my affections for this book.
Rose Garcia has spun a marvelous story with unique twists that pulled me in until the very last page. The idea of have multiple lives to "get it right" was captivating in itself. I found myself very curious as to what happened in those past lives, and if the protagonist was going to conquer the evil in her last and Final Life.

"You're Being Helped. There are heavenly forces working behind the scenes to help you, even if you don't see results yet."

The concept of using Oracle cards and numerology fascinated me, throw in an Ouija board and a whole lotta creepy presents itself. Dominique had her numerology done by Jan, Infiniti's (her new friend) neighbor, which told that Dominique was in fact on her 9th and final life. Visions of a red desert haunted Dominique. Her parents introduce her to Farrell Walker, whom will stay with her while her parents go out of town. She always believed her mom and dad to be geologists, but she learns that her life is not what she thought it was. Transhumans inhabited the earth and had the ability to control the energy within them and around them. A pact was made to not interfere with its history, but some broke the pact when mankind appeared. Instead of working for good, they turned, and worked for evil by corrupting the weak souls on New Earth. They are called the Tainted. The ones who honored the pact and protected mankind later became known as the Pure.  The fate of the race rested on one human soul, the marked one, Dominique.

Dominique is torn between Trent, and the Walker who's assigned to protect her.

This story was so fascinating, I can't even begin to describe the coolness written in this book. There are so many unique twists thrown in the mix and blend perfectly into the storyline. I loved the characters, especially Dominique, Farrel and Trent. Dominique was a tough protagonist and she was determined to survive Tavion, the evil and a bit scary Tainted. He wanted to take Dominique's ninth life.

I really felt bad for Farrell. He had loved Dominique, but in this life, she had feelings for Trent. They are both great guys, and I feel so torn about which one I like better. I sort of hope she sways to Farrell. I really liked Trent too, but there was just something about Farrell that has me cheering for him. Of course I am not going to tell you how this ends, but I will say, your heart may just break a little bit.

Final Life is filled with magical moments, heart aching moments, action, and suspense. I look forward to the next chapter of Dominique's story.
 

About the Author:

I'm a lawyer turned writer who’s always been fascinated by science fiction and fantasy. From a very young age, I often had my nose buried in books about other-worlds, fantastical creatures, and life and death situations. More recently I've been intrigued by a blend of science fiction and reality, and the idea that some supernatural events are, indeed, very real. Fueled by my imagination, I created The Transhuman Chronicles—a series of books about people who have overcome human limitations. The first in this series is Final Life. Between juggling family life with my husband and two kids, I'm working on the companion to Final Life. So stay tuned! 
Twitter / Blog 

Book Trailer:

We have another surprise for you!  Rose has offered to giveaway an eBook copy of Final Life!  All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below!  Good luck!

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