Sorry, the Timing Doesn't Work For Me

For my fellow Outlander fans

Review and Giveaway: The Forbidden Trilogy by Kimberly Kinrade

BLURB:

Paranormal teens with unimaginable powers. A secret organization with deadly intentions. When Sam, a girl who reads minds, meets Drake, a boy who controls minds, they discover their lives aren't what they thought.

Together, they must escape their fate and free their friends, before they lose everyone they love.

This special edition omnibus includes the entire Forbidden Trilogy--Forbidden Mind, Forbidden Fire and Forbidden Life, as well as extensive bonus content. Meet the author in an in-depth Q&A, get to know your favorite characters better, enjoy never-before-revealed interlude scenes and so much more.

My review:

I loved the story in the three books and you can find my reviews by following the links above. The Forbidden Trilogy combines all three books into one, along with discussion questions, character profiles, a note from Sam and Drake, Q&A with the author, and a playlist.

I liked that all of the books are together so you can just read straight through. Trust me, you won't want to wait to see what happens in the second and third books. Instant gratification is fun and is harmless when it involves books. ;-)

I enjoyed the character profiles from the IPI files, but the notes that accompanied them were a little weird. There were not notes for every character, so there was no consistency and Sam's note was odd because her profile is written as if current as of the end of the third book, yet her note sounds as if it were written during the first book. It wasn't really consistent. I didn't like Lucy's, either. It just seemed thrown in, as did Brad's interview with Mary. I think the profiles could have stood alone and the extra stuff didn't really add anything for anyone who has read the books. Brad's interview with Hunter, on the other hand, was hilarious. And there are pictures of hot guys. (There are pictures of the girls, too, if you care. I didn't find that important. ;-) )

I also didn't see the point of the extra note (I know I keep using that word, but I don't know what else to call them) from Sam and Drake. All of these things are placed at the end of the trilogy, so the assumption is that the reader has already read all three books. These little notes don't do anything except summarize the story over and over. And if they're meant to be read first, they don't need to be with the discussion questions, which are full of spoilers.

I did love the Q&A with Kimberly Kinrade. There are some great questions about the series and about Kimberly's writing and family. The playlist is interesting, too.

I would definitely grab this book! Having all three of the Forbidden books together is great, and the extras at the end are just a bonus.

Giveaway:
Join the Facebook Event and win free books!
Join Kimberly Kinrade in celebrating the launch of the Forbidden Trilogy! Throughout the day on Monday Nov 26th the author will be doing random giveaways at this event, so keep an eye out for prizes and help spread the word!!
From November 26th to November 30th Forbidden Mind, the first book in the trilogy, will be 99 cents to celebrate the launch. Share the news and encourage your friends to delve into this award-winning trilogy. Get The Forbidden Trilogy for only $9.99, all three books for $5 off retail!

Everyone who buys The Forbidden Trilogy for $9.99 on the day of the launch, November 26th, and sends Kimberly Kinrade proof of purchase (kimberly.kinrade@gmail.com) will get a free short story from Kimberly Kinrade.

As certain rankings on Amazon are met throughout the day and week, the prizes will increase. Those with proof of purchase could win signed postcards from Sam and Hunter, more short stories, a free e-copy of Kimberly Kinrade's first book, Bits of You & Pieces of Me, and more!

Disclosure: I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Here's to Not Catching Our Hair on Fire by Stacey Turis

Blurb:

Did you know that if you forget to pay a speeding ticket you WILL get arrested—in front of your kids, the neighbors—the dog—and anyone else who happens to be there? True story. And the thing is, Stacey Turis has a million of them, and she imparts these and other nuggets of wisdom to offer others suffering from ADHD some hope in knowing that they are not alone.

A belly-laugh inducing romp through a life so convoluted and chaotic you know it has to be true, Stacey Turis’s debut gives a voice to the genius yet tormented souls suffering from giftedness, ADHD, or a combination of both (a condition known as twice-exceptional) who are too afraid to speak.

Book Review: Destiny Unchained by Leia Shaw

Blurb:

They call her The Huntress. A vampire with lethal focus, Natalia hunts rogue werewolves and kills them without mercy. She buried her heart centuries ago. Now she lives only for revenge. But when she’s forced to team up with the alpha of the northwest werewolf pack to catch a werewolf serial killer, her carefully controlled world is shattered by the passionate Cristian. Will Natalia accept Cristian’s claim on her heart even if it means sacrificing a part of who she is?

*Warning: this book contains sexual content not intended for readers under the age of 18*

Book Review: Thoughts Without Cigarettes by Oscar Hijuelos

Blurb:

A beloved Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist turns his pen to the real people and places that have influenced his life and literature. A comprehensive look into the mind of a writer.

Born in Manhattan’s Morningside Heights to Cuban immigrants in 1951, Oscar Hijuelos introduces readers to the colorful circumstances of his upbringing. The son of a Cuban hotel worker and exuberant poetry-writing mother, his story, played out against the backdrop of a working-class neighborhood, takes on an even richer dimension when his relationship with his family and culture changes forever. During a sojourn with his mother in pre-Castro Cuba, he catches a disease that sends him into a Dickensian home for terminally ill children. The yearlong stay estranges him from the very language and people he had so loved.

Book Review: The Holedigger by Arthur Nelson Thornhill

Blurb:
The Holedigger cries out to be read by anyone who has ever had a taste of the hell that being poor, sick, lonely, depressed, tormented, abandoned and abused brings to human existence. Witness growing up with ''the boys'' hanging out at a country store, as they learn to get mad, get even, and get over it to survive and move on about the business of living, loving and dying. They let you see what life is like for those who have far greater enemies to fight than those we met in all of our wars.

The holedigger, Rayford Franklin, personifies evil all his life as he digs wells and graves while victimizing generations of women around Woosterville, Georgia. His story digs up some human treasures buried deep in the rural south. Out of the incest and inbreeding comes a mix of characters who clearly reflect the complex sea of humanity in our real world. The chiseled-from-stone permanence of these characters gives us a bold new look at ourselves by uncovering bits and pieces of our own humanity in each of them. ''The boys'' and their heroes meet evil head on. They fight and cut their way through every danger to carve from a legacy of injustice and depravity a future with great promise and a ray of hope for all. They become as real as the story they tell.

Hurricane Relief Review-a-thon

In response to my ever-growing backlog of reviews to be written and the need for donations for the victims of Hurricane Sandy, I'm hosting a Hurricane Relief Review-a-thon on my main blog, Living, Learning, and Loving Life. It's like the old-school walkathons or bike-a-thons. You can pledge a certain amount per review or just donate a fixed amount any time throughout the weekend. I'll be posting about half the reviews here, but for simplification purposes, I'm only going to be posting the donation information on the other blog. I have 10-15 reviews to write this weekend and duplicating information just doesn't make sense.

You can read my post from last weekend about the background for the Review-a-thon. Then the full Pre-review-a-thon post with the details for this weekend. This is also where you will find donation links and information, as well as the Rafflecopter form. You can win a $20 Amazon gift card (donated by Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave) by tweeting, sharing, and blogging about the review-a-thon.

Review and Giveaway: Forbidden Life by Kimberly Kinrade

BOOK BLURB: The road to redemption begins in darkness. A sinister force waits for them in darkness, ready to devour their powers and take their lives. Sam's baby is the key to a lock that must never been opened. To keep her child safe, Sam will do anything. Drake might have found a way to get his powers back and save his family, but is it too late? Luke and Lucy uncover secrets in an organization they thought they could trust, and the lives of all Rent-A-Kid children are at stake. In this last Forbidden Trilogy installment, the secrets to Rent-A-Kid will finally be revealed.

Review and Giveaway: Forbidden Fire by Kimberly Kinrade

Blurb:
"She escaped, but she'll never be free."

"Time held no meaning as my mind darted in and out of memories. Past and present collided to create a full-sensory collage out of my life: playing hide-n-seek with my best friends Luke--who always cheated by walking through walls when he was about to be caught--and Lucy; Mr. Caldrin critiquing my sketches and offering ideas to make them more realistic; targets changing faces, blending into the same person, their thoughts rippling through my mind like waves. Through it all, a demon stalked me from the shadows of my memories, never quite showing its face, but crouching, waiting. And then I dreamed...."

Sam and Drake may have escaped, but they aren't free—not with a powerful Seeker after them. As Sam struggles with the ethics of her new powers and embraces a blossoming physical relationship with Drake, Lucy and Luke face challenges of their own. With forces coalescing inside and outside the Rent-A-Kid dorms, it's only a matter of time before the fire they started forces each of them to make choices they can't undo. But will it be enough to save them?

Help Collect Books for All Hallow's Read and Win an Amazon GC

Help raise 1,000 books for charity and enter to win $200, signed books and swag!

We are excited to share about an ambitious blog tour—Fiction Frolic for All Hallow's Read—where ten authors from several genres are working hard to raise 1,000 books in three weeks for Books for America.

From October 1st to 19th, donate a new book (or books!) and earn extra bonus points in a huge giveaway that these authors are hosting.

Review and Giveaway: Forbidden Mind by Kimberly Kinrade

Book blurb:

49% of Americans believe their government officials are honest.

I don't know these officials, or their supporters, but I know their secrets, and 49% of Americans are wrong. 

My employers pay me well to be right, to know things others can't. But I don't know why they brought that boy in, strapped to a stretcher, barely conscious. He asked me for help when I could give none.

I'm a wealthy spy, a talented artist, a martial arts black belt, and a prisoner. 

They tell me that on my eighteenth birthday, I will be released, free to go to the college of my dreams.

It's my eighteenth birthday, and a man in black is at my door. I know he's not here to free me.

I know, because I can read minds.

My name is Sam, and this is my story.

So begins the tale of Sam and Drake--from the time they link minds, forging a bond that leads to an unconventional romance--to their fight for survival against the corrupt, twisted organization known as 'Rent-A-Kid.' 

Book Review and Giveaway: Pleasant Lake P.D. by Kelly Fitzpatrick

Book blurb: 

Alexandria Moreno, parking enforcement officer for the serene town of Pleasant Lake, has signed on with the FBI to nail a gorgeous suspected criminal, Miguel Diaz, who's passing himself off as a legitimate businessman. Alex's assignment is to use her feminine wiles, of which she has few, to infiltrate Diaz's world and find some evidence for a conviction. To complicate matters, she's teamed up with Detective Roman Plow, who is her ex-boyfriend, though the FBI doesn't know it. As they focus on retaliating for past wrongs, real and imagined, their smoldering love/hate relationship brews. They're not exactly an ideal team. With her bumbling nature, a steamer trunk full of emotional baggage, and no investigating skills, Alex spends most of her time reminding herself that the tall, dark, and handsome Miguel Diaz is not her real boyfriend and struggling to keep from falling into his bed. As she tries to dig up dirt on her undercover lover, the steamy investigation leads to a fight for her life. But who is behind the attacks?

Passion Creek by Avery Flynn: Excerpt and Chance to Win $100 Amazon GC

Passion Creek by Avery Flynn

Uptight history professor Sam Layton may have the abs of a movie action hero, but he stopped believing in the joy of adventure a long time ago. However, when a one-night stand with a tattooed bombshell leads to a treasure map for the long-buried Rebecca’s Bounty, the call to action is too strong to ignore. All Las Vegas cocktail waitress Josie Winarsky wants to do is paint. But when she lands smack dab in the middle in a mob plot, she has to push aside her dreams to find a treasure in Dry Creek, Nebraska and save her family from harm. With Sam at her side and a Vegas loan shark on her tail, the treasure she finds turn out to be much more valuable than emeralds and rubies. This book is intended for Adults 18+   Follow Blog/ Twitter / Facebook

Purchase

Temptation Creek & Seduction Creek and

Passion Creek

Amazon All Romance Ebooks Evernight Publishing

Avery Flynn is a pseudonym for the author who, at least for now, prefers to remain behind the scenes. She believes having Avery as her alter ego is a very good thing because, as she says, “Pen name Avery is way cooler than me. Her favorite color is hot pink. She drinks single malt scotch on the rocks. She loves the Argentinean tango and stays at Iceland’s Ice Hotel.” Author Avery has been writing since she was a child and her father gave her a baby blue Brother typewriter. She couldn’t read but nonetheless wrote numerous stories about her stuffed animals in gibberish. She hasn’t stopped since, though she maintains that her spelling has gotten much better and she now prefers to write in English. Today she’s enjoying her own happily ever after with her dashing husband, three crazy kids and two arthritic dogs. She dreams of one day having a floor-to-ceiling library à la Beauty and the Beast and is working to perfect the coffee IV drip.

Tour Starts September 4th!!

The author is giving away a HUGE prize pack! Digital copy of Passion Creek Signed paperback copies of Temptation Creek and Seduction Creek, 1 I heart Dry Creek, Nebraska T-shirt, 1 I heart Dry Creek, Nebraska keychain, 1 $100 Amazon gift card To pick the name of a character in Avery Flynn's next book Fill out the form below to enter. Open US Residents. International receive Digital books and Giftcard. a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Follow the Tour

September Social Splash - Win $100 Amazon GC

I can't believe it's been a year since I was first
sucked intointroduced to Adopt an Indie and what has evolved into The Indie Exchange.  I saw a tweet with a suggestion to "Adopt an Indie" (and I still remember who sent the tweet, but I don't think said tweeter is associated with TIE these days), and replied with, "Do I have to adopt one, or can I just foster a couple?" I ended up "adopting" four authors for the event, as well as writing a guest post. I have since learned that indie authors are like cats: You adopt a few and it doesn't take long for all the others to find you. I've made some great friends along the way, though, so I think I'll keep them. As long as I don't have to clean up after them.

E-reader Giveaway

In conjuction with the Feed Your E-reader Giveaway Hop, twenty blogger have joined together to give away an e-reader.

Win a $40 Amazon Gift Card from UniqueVanities.com

Mama Papa Barn is pleased to offer this giveaway thanks to our sponsor, UniqueVanities.com.

No, it has nothing to do with books, but it's an Amazon gift card! And they do have some really cool stuff on their site. - Amanda

UniqueVanities.com is a unique e-boutique that prides itself on not only have the largest selection of individual and truly unique bathroom vanities and fixtures, but also the best client experience available on the web. We strive, with each client, to return to the sales process of the "five and dime," where not only did associates know you by name, but they were genuinely interested in helping you find the perfect item for your project--whether you bought from them or not.

Babypalooza With Anderson O'Donnell: Free Ebook and A Chance to Win a Signed Copy

To celebrate the birth of his second child, for the next three days (August 13–15) Anderson O’Donell is offering his debut novel Kingdom for free for your Kindle and Kindle reader apps! To get your filthy little mitts on a complimentary copy, just drop by Amazon. And, if you like it, buy one for a friend—diapers ain’t cheap! (He is kidding, well sort of)

Review and Giveaway: Too Many Cooks by Shirley Ann Wilder

Book description: 

Bitter news leads a San Diego widow and widower to true love—and to a scheme to marry off their adult children, a plan that goes deliciously awry.

Opportunity for Authors and Book Bloggers:September Social Splash Sign-ups

The Indie Exchange is now planning its biggest ever giveaway: the September Social Splash! If you’re an author or blogger, you’re welcome to sign up.  Get the details and sign up HERE.

Morrigan Cover Reveal and Giveaway

Welcome to the Morrigan Cover Reveal Giveaway, sponsored by Author Laura DeLuca, Mom to Bed by 8, The Sisters Elemental, The Whimsical Pixie, Crones Magical Crafts / Moonwise Creationz, and New Age Mama! This is a giveaway filled with magic and we're sure you will enjoy walking through the land of Tír Na nÓg with our heroine and all her supporters.  To start off the fun, lets share a little about the YA novel, Morrigan, which is due to be released by Pagan Writers Press on October 31st, 2012!

Win a $100 Amazon GC from Promotional Book Tours and 9 Great Authors

Welcome to Promotional Book Tours Group Tour taking place August 3 - 24. We have teamed up with 9 Amazing Authors and several awesome bloggers to bring you a $100 Amazon Giftcard! Brought to you by these 9 books! Don’t miss out on these great reads even if you don’t have a kindle yet. You can download the kindle app for you phone, desktop, or ipad HERE. All of these books are less than a Starbucks Coffee!

Review and Giveaway: Kentucky Green by Terry Irene Blain

Book Description:

April Williamson’s heart calls her across the frontier, but only one man—a handsome army scout with a tormented past—can get her safely to freedom.

Daniel McKenzie was an army scout—quiet, capable, handsome…and utterly unwilling to be the trail guide April Williamson needed to reach Kentucky. The Indian attack at Blue Licks was but one bitter taste of the American frontier, a massacre that had taken her father just as cholera had taken her mother. But April would not give up on her dream. At journey’s end was independence, and nothing would stand in her way. 

The young widow was beautiful and determined, but the months of travel involved in her plan would be too hard. Without the general’s order Dan would have told any woman no, but April especially. His secret would destroy her—or she might destroy him. April’s kiss was like the country itself. Restless and sweet, it promised a love that denied every boundary and looked only to freedom and the future.

Review and Giveaway: Colorado Silver, Colorado Gold by Terry Irene Blain

Book description: 

To protect her sister, Juliette Lawson stole documents and fled west. Now Wes Westmoreland, undercover lawman, threatens both her plan and her heart.

Socialite Juliette Lawson fled west from Philadelphia on a train and in disguise. In Colorado she’d be safe; she’d take work with her uncle at the Rio d'Oro, his smelting operation. Her actions back east had been wrong, but to protect her pregnant sister from scandal she would have done anything. Then she met a man as hungry for answers as she was for independence. A handsome, honorable man. For him, she wished the truth was hers to tell.


From the first, Wes Westmoreland knew he couldn’t trust her. Having grown up in the saloons and brothels of San Francisco, he saw trust, like love, as a luxury an undercover lawman couldn’t afford. Not on a job like this one, not with gold involved. This woman dressed as a widow was clearly hiding something; he’d felt it the moment they touched. But he’d felt other things too, stirrings in his heart, and for the first time ever, he saw riches worth the peril.

Free Blogger Opportunity: Morrigan Cover Reveal, $20 Amazon GC

Coming Soon! Morrigan Cover Reveal- Help Spread the Word and Build Your Following – Free Blogger Event!! So far, the giveaway includes a $20 Amazon GC, a signed copy of Destiny, a rose quartz pendant, three packs of incense, three crystal points, a crystal pendant, and a geode. Laura is offering a FREE LINK to anyone who joins and is willing to post the giveaway html provided by her. And two links if you post about the event on your blog to help get the word out. So if you would please join me in supporting a fellow blogger - Sign up HERE

Guest Post & Giveaway: The Strong Female by Sheryl Steines

I am always amazed in the year 2012 woman are still talking about strong female characters.  It’s funny that we’re always surprised when one comes along.  Even in Hollywood, actresses still can’t find the roles they can sink their teeth into.  As a reader, I look for characters that I can relate to in some way; a character who is more than a damsel in distress but less than an unfeeling, mean, witch.  I’m putting it gently, but I’m looking for someone, who when facing a problem, doesn’t necessarily need a man to bail her out, but a woman who can take care of herself in spite of her vulnerabilities.  Because in reality, women are multi-layered and complex.  We don’t fall into one end of an extreme.   

Blogger Opportunity ~ Free Sign-Ups for $100 Amazon GC Giveaway

Promotional Book Tours has teamed up with nine amazing authors and several awesome bloggers to bring you a $100 Amazon Giftcard! Tour begins August 3rd.

Bloggers Sign Up! Promote and you get a entry into the contest! 

Brought to you by these 9 books! 

Incredible Dreams 

50 Parent Commandments: “The Essential Guide to Hiring a Good Nanny” 

Murder & Mayhem in Goose Pimple Junction 

Bitten Shame 

As Above~ So Below: A Channeled, Assisted, Unfolding Story 

Restless 

The Unsacred Gift 

Night Game 

Phantom

Sign up HERE. Please tell them My Other Book Blog referred you.

Sunday Shorts: Life in Death

Sunday Shorts is a fun and unique meme. The rules are easy, a short story, an anthology of short stories, a novella, or a quick weekend read that is also short on your wallet! Yes, I know it's not Sunday. It's still short and it's still fun.

This week we're having a read-along of Life in Death by Harlow Drake. See how to join us and how to win a copy of the book and other prizes over at The Cabin Goddess.

Book Description
When a girl that social worker Kari Marchant places in foster care is brutally murdered, she’s compelled to learn why. Her quest for the truth pits her against friends and coworkers. As Kari works to solve the horrific plot, more people die. How far should she go to learn the truth—even if it threatens her life?

When homicide detective Rance Nicolet meets Kari, his attraction to her is powerful—and the feeling is mutual. But things between them go terribly wrong when Kari’s old lover is found murdered with a letter from her in his pocket. The evidence against Kari is damning. Rance’s personal and professional lives collide. Does he blindly believe the woman he’s falling in love with or follow the evidence no matter where it leads?

My review of Life in Death
I think this author has a great future, but I don't think it's in novellas. It's very hard to tell a story in less than 100 pages without leaving out critical information or making readers feel as if they were cheated. Life in Death has the potential to be a great thriller, but there were too many things that didn't make sense because the author was trying to rush the story. I think this is supposed to be the first in a series, but there still shouldn't be huge chunks of story missing. I would love to see this as a full-length novel. I can't say much more about this book without giving away the story, but you might want to keep an eye open for future work from Harlow Drake. She's an author worth watching. I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Win a $100 Amazon GC from Promotional Book Tours

Welcome to Promotional Book Tours July 6 Group Tour. We have teamed up with 10 Amazing Authors and several awesome bloggers to bring you a $100 Amazon Giftcard and a $50 Amazon Giftcard!Please check out the Fantastic authors bringing you these Giftcards.

Giveaway: Dark Dealings by Karen Victoria Smith

About Dark Dealings: At thirteen, Micaela O’Brien was found wandering a pasture in Ireland, the sole survivor of a mid-air explosion. Now, as a successful investment banker, she will discover that Wall Street has fangs and claws. When international power brokers, creatures hiding in plain sight, threaten her and those she loves, will this heiress to a Druid legacy deny her power and let loved ones die again? A thrill ride of money, monsters and murder across the globe.


Kick Cancer Overboard All through the month of July, 50% of the royalties from Dark Dealings, from any platform (eBook or print) will be donated to

Free Blogger Signups: Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

On July 6th Promotional Book Tours is having a 10 Book Group Giveaway!They’re giving away a $100 Amazon Giftcard and a $50 Amazon GC Plus a$25 Amazon GC to the blogger that refers the most sign ups for this event!!Here are the awesome books that are sponsoring this event!July 6 – 20 UnboundLiving Sensitive (Book 1 of the Delia Rhodes Series)Living SoulHunter MoonBroken Wings (Soul Searches Book 1)All the Blue Eyed AngelsStorm of DesireCheyenne, A Timeless Series NovelPromises, a Timeless Series NovelFinding Alice

Sign up HERE. Please tell them My Other Book Blog referred you.

Immortal Voyage and Taming the Wolf Release Day Blitz

Immortal Voyage and Taming the Wolf release day blitz

Please join Stephanie and C.G. on their event page on FB, there will be lots of games, prizes, and chatting with the authors! There's also a free book at the bottom of this page!

Immortal Voyage by C.G. Powell

A Terra Stellar Novel

Before the time of the great pyramids, there was a place like none other, a city of glass and metal rising from the depths of the ocean.  Shrouded in mist, the island of Hy-Brasil and its capital Atlantis lay hidden from the rest of the world by its people, a race of long lived, interstellar nomads.