Breaking Point blog tour. Spotlight, Review & Giveaway.

The second installment in Kristen Simmons's fast-paced, gripping YA dystopian series.

After faking their deaths to escape from prison, Ember Miller and Chase Jennings have only one

goal: to lay low until the Federal Bureau of Reformation forgets they ever existed.

Near-celebrities now for the increasingly sensationalized tales of their struggles with

the government, Ember and Chase are recognized and taken in by the Resistance—

an underground organization working to systematically take down the government. At

headquarters, all eyes are on the sniper, an anonymous assassin taking out FBR soldiers one

by one. Rumors are flying about the sniper’s true identity, and Ember and Chase welcome the

diversion….

Until the government posts its most-wanted list, and their number one suspect is Ember herself.

Orders are shoot to kill, and soldiers are cleared to fire on suspicion alone. Suddenly Ember

can’t even step onto the street without fear of being recognized, and “laying low” is a joke. Even

members of the Resistance are starting to look at her sideways.

With Chase urging her to run, Ember must decide: Go into hiding…or fight back?

 

 

 Breaking Point picks up right where Article 5 left off.  Ember and Chase are attempting to acclimate into their new positions within the Resistance.  Confident that they were successful in faking their deaths until an "old friend" shows up and throws a monkey wrench in their well laid plans.  Ember Miller has spent the last several months trying to be something she isn't; now people actually THINK she is someone she isn't.   

 

The world Simmons has created is disturbingly believable!  As we delve deeper into Ember and Chase's stories, we learn even more about the past as well as the Articles and the danger's of breaking them.  There is a lot of growth in this book, not only of the characters but within the story as well.  The relationship between Ember and Chase took a back seat in this book, but the love is still obviously there.  Simmons concentrated more on building trust and showing personal growth in her characters for Breaking Point.   

 

I give this one 4/5, it wasn't quite as intense as Article 5 was and there were a couple spots where the story lagged a bit.. but overall it kept me entertained. 

 

 

 

 

Kristen Simmons has a master’s degree in social work and is an advocate for mental health.

         She lives with her husband Jason and their precious greyhound Rudy in Tampa, Florida

 

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Indie Authors need love too, so I adopted one!!

I've adopted Indie Author LM Preston!!

For the next 8 weeks I will be sharing her various books and short stories, upcoming releases, guest post and giveaways and so much more.

 

Peter Saints’ life stinks. But things are about to get much worst. First, his parents are murdered in front of him. Then another victim dies in his arms.

Visions plague Peter with warnings that something wants him for a sinister cause. It desires the one thing that Peter refuses to give—his blood. Peter carries within him the one gift or curse that could unlock a secret to destroy the human race.

On the run with Angel, a scruffy kid, Peter starts to unravel the mystery. It’s the one treasure the heavens sought to hide from the world. Unfortunately, when Peter finds the answer he hopes that will save the girl he loves, he opens the door to a great evil that happens to be salivating to meet him.

 

My review of Purgatory Reign

 

 

 

 

 

LM Preston is a Young Adult, Middle Grade, www.lmpreston.com, Writing stories for and about kids that overcome the impossible...

 

Author: LM Preston, www.lmpreston.com
blog: http://lmpreston.blogspot.com/ (go to blog to see trailers and giveaways)
L.M. Preston was born and raised in Washington, DC. An avid reader, she loved to create poetry and short-stories as a young girl. With a thirst for knowledge she attended college at Bowie State University, and worked in the IT field as a Techie and Educator for over sixteen years. She started writing science fiction under the encouragement of her husband who was a Sci-Fi buff and her four kids. Her first published novel, Explorer X - Alpha was the beginning of her obsessive desire to write and create stories of young people who overcome unbelievable odds. She loves to write while on the porch watching her kids play or when she is traveling, which is another passion that encouraged her writing.

Check out Prestons Amazon  page for more Fabulous reads!

From now through April 1st it's all about LM Preston!  There will be weekly challenges that will include a giveaway for one lucky winner over the next 8 weeks.  Start now by entering for this weeks prize below, then check back every week and enter again.
~ You can share on Twitter daily for even more entries ~

Week 1 ~

RePost “Frog and Prince”

Week 2 ~

Share Thundering Luv cover reveal post

Week 3 ~

Share the Purgatory Reign post

Week 4 ~

Tag and Share!

Week 5 ~

The Pack Spotlight

Week 6 ~

Purgatory Reign Review

Week 7 ~

Thundering Luv excerpt

Week 8 ~

Sneak Peak at Preston’s next project



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Opposites by TM Smith cover reveal

 

 

Opposites

Author TM Smith

Tentative release date; March of 2013

Genre: Adult Dystopian 

 

Calendar year 2081. Our planet has finally succumbed to Global Warming. 

 

Dr. Anthony Smith, one of only a few thousand people to survive Global Warming Ignition, has come to the conclusion that the destruction of our planet and society had been due to Injudicious Breeding which lead (in his opinion) to over population, WAR, unnatural climate changes, lower intelligence, poor physical health, poverty, lust and greed. Having isolated the Dionysus gene, he decided to start society anew by manipulating Human DNA to ensure all their offspring would be born Gay/Lesbian. Thus creating a society where Gay/Lesbian is the norm... to be straight labels you an Opposite and makes you an Outkast.  

 

~ Nature Versus Nurture ~ 

 

Some 200 years later Dr. Smith’s descendants have maintained control of the Government that rules society. House Gaeland rules their lands, as well as the other 6 countries that survived GWI. Twins, Aiya and Aiyan, are next in line to rule alongside their soon to be wife and husband. There is, however, a growing anomaly; one that threatens to unravel over 200 years of progress. This anomaly is known as Opposites.

 

 

 

 

 

A military brat born and raised at Ft. Benning Georgia; Smith is an avid reader, reviewer and writer.  She now calls Texas home from her small town on the outskirts of the DFW Metroplex.  Most days you can find her curled up with her kindle and a good book alongside a glass of something aged and red or a steaming cup of coffee!  

 

At 42 years young, she’s decided to enter the next phase of her life by adding the title of “author” to her list of accomplishments that includes single mom of three disturbingly outspoken and decidedly different kids, one of which is Autistic.  Her two eldest kids and gay best friend were the inspiration for her upcoming new release, Opposites. 

 

A personal note from author TM Smith

 

I can’t thank all my sister bloggers enough for supporting me by hosting this cover reveal event!  I’ve made some wonderful and fascinating friends this past year while working on Opposites; bloggers, reviewers and authors that have made a huge impact on me.  I wish I could list you all by name.  I hope you all know how very much I appreciate the support. 

 

I will say the three most important things in life are Faith, Family and Friends.  I have the best of all three!  I thank god everyday for my wonderfully dysfunctional family and close knit group of friends.  To have family and friends that support you when you are right, wrong or indifferent is a gift!

Without Consent Release day guest post and giveaway

 

She found the first victim...now she might be the next.

In South-Western Ontario a crafty, vicious psychopath is at work excising the kidneys of the women he abducts. Doctor Claire Valincourt, recently jilted, finds his first victim and assists with the autopsy. But little does she know the killer has his sights on her, too.

Relationship-jaded Detective Gerry Rosko desperately searches for a serial killer who is on a quest of his own—the hunt for a perfect kidney for the terminally ill mother he tends. Will Rosko track him down before Claire becomes his next victim?

 

Purchase Without Consent through Amazon
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Purchase Without Consent for Kindle

 

 

 

Bev Irwin
 

What an exciting day! And a contest too!
 

Another release day. Today is the day my medical / police thriller, WITHOUT CONSENT, comes out. So thrilled, I’m doing the happy dance. Glad you could come and join me.

 

What type of dance would you do? Jive, polka, rumba, or would you be refined and do a graceful waltz?
 

I’m doing a rock and roll. This is the fifth book in just over a year to be published which leads me to the today’s topic.

 

What to do while you are waiting for the train to stop at your corner?
 

The first thing you need to do is decide where you are going.

 

Do you have a specific genre you love to write and read? Or are you like me and like to genre hop?
 

I guess it’s my ADD but I like to multitask and I also like to flit from one writing project to the next. Not the most effective way to get the job done but it does keep things interesting. Usually, I have several projects in varying stages of completion. Right now, in the romance genre I have a

contemporary, a medical, and a suspense manuscript nearing completion. Another medical thriller with the same characters in WITHOUT CONSENT is partially written. I have three young adult novels in progress, one of them a sequel to my paranormal young adult, GHOSTLY JUSTICE with Daria and ghost, Amanda.  Now to just get them finished. But I have been so busy with edits and promotion for the books that came out this year that my writing time has been limited. I’m not complaining. It has been an amazing time. I’m so glad I’m ADD and had so many projects to pitch once the train stopped and let me get on.

 

So how did my journey begin?
 

It started with a pitch session with Savvy Authors in the summer of 2011. I pitched my medical romance, WHEN HEARTS COLLIDE to Debby at Soulmate Publishing and that book came out in December of the same year. At the same session, I pitched two books to Lauri at Black Opal Books and she contracted me for both of them! The first, my paranormal YA, GHOSTLY JUSTICE, was released in April, the second, a suspense with romantic elements, MISSING CLAYTON, came out in July.  Then, in October, Black Opal Books published IN HIS FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS, a middle grade/ YA,vadventure. This book is about a boy’s survival in Northern Ontario while he searches for his missing father.  And, now today, (I’m doing a drum roll) my medical / police thriller, WITHOUT CONSENT, is being released. Wow! What a ride it’s been.
 

Now to get back to writing and finishing all those other projects and pray that they also find homes.

But I’m digressing. The point I’m getting at is that while you are waiting for that first amazing contract, you need to be writing, revising, writing, revising... It’s always good when you get a contract to be able to say, “Well, if you like that one...I do have...” And there you go, possibly not only published but multi-published. You write, you write some more. Keep that pen moving. You take courses, learn your craft, join on-line groups, go to conferences, meet other authors, network.

Go to conferences in the genres you like to write in. There are a ton of them out there and at different prices and lengths. You can find some that are an afternoon, a day, or even a week. Remember they can be a tax right-off when you do get published.
 

For myself I really enjoy a good mystery or thriller so I tend to go to conferences like Bouchercon (for writers and readers), Sleuthfest, Book Passages.  Network at the conferences. You never know what will happen. For me one of the most thrilling thing was chatting with Lee Child and him offering to read my manuscript and giving me the book endorsement: “A fine medical thriller.” Now how cool is that?
 

I’ve met so many wonderful writers at these conferences. You don’t harass them, you chat about life and interests. Respect them and their privacy, but don’t be afraid to approach them and say how much you like their books or their characters.  Do all the prep work so that when the train stops you are ready to leap on board with your bags packed with a variety of the best you can write manuscripts.

And keep dancing. I know I hope to.
 

Enter the Giveaway Below for a chance to win an eBook of your choice of one of my novels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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Kallos blog tour, Spotlight & Giveaway

Kallos Series Book #1
By Khelsey Jackson
Publication Date: January 18, 2013
Published By: Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing

 

 

Kallos is a shy sixteen year old girl unready to face the world, but when she meets Ian and Sean
Hunter the world will open up for her. Secrets revealed are too much to bear and her past
life as a goddess, unimaginable. In a visit from the goddess Aphrodite, Kallos is told her soul
mate must be found or her life will be forfeit. Kallos, desperate to find her one true match has
discovered she may have two possibilities. Kallos has a choice to make and her decisions may
have life ending consequences.

Excerpt from Kallos: 

“We didn’t have any aftershocks,” Sean replies.

“We also didn’t have someone taking our pain. Maybe we’re

causing more pain.” Ian looks concerned. She feels someone touch

her right arm. She feels a cooling sensation enter her body, but the

pain is still there.

“Babe, look at me,” Sean says.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Sean didn’t answer Ian.

“You can’t be serious! What if it doesn’t work? What if you do

more damage?” Kallos finally looks up and notices that Sean isn’t

even looking at Ian. Sean’s gray eyes are looking at her, and they

have gone stormy.

“Good. Where do you hurt?” he asks her.

“My head and my whole left side” she whispers. Sean nods and

puts both of his hands on either side of her head. Along with the

pain, she now feels an intense pressure. It feels like he’s pushing

her skull in. Kallos starts to see dark spots fill her eyes. She is just

about to scream; then, she hears a loud pop. All she can see is

darkness.

 

“Open your eyes,” Sean whispers against her ear. Kallos didn’t

realize that she had shut them. Slowly, she opens her eyes, and

Sean is only inches from her face. She sees Ian standing not far

behind him. He doesn’t look happy; he looks like he wants to hit

something. “I’m going to put my hands on your body now.” Now,

Ian’s face turns a bright red. If she didn’t know any better, she

would say he’s jealous. Then, he growls when Sean starts to touch

her neck on the left side. Sean hears him because she can see a grin

spread across his face. “Easy, brother,” he says and chuckles.

Kallos glances behind Sean, and Ian isn’t settling down; he seems

to be getting angrier.

“Sean, you don’t know if you are going to help her or do more

damage!” This does alarm her. She really doesn’t want more pain

or damage. Kallos doesn't think she can handle too much more.

She knows that Sean would never hurt her, and her head has

stopped hurting. So, that’s a plus… right?

Sean decides to ignore Ian’s protests. He's moving his hands

slowly down her body. As he does, the same cooling sensation is

there, and so is the pressure. The pressure is almost too much, but

just when Kallos can't handle the pressure, it turns back into

coolness. When Sean gets down to her hip, he pulls his hands away

slowly, and she has no pain. Her head and left side is tingling, but

the pain is gone. She looks back at Ian, and he still looks as angry

as he did when Sean first started touching her.

Kallos thinks back to all the times she has really kissed them,

and she realizes that the other one has never been around. When

they are both around, they would only kiss her cheek or forehead,

and she would always grab both of their hands when they are

together. Looking at Ian now, there is something different about

him. He is Kallos’ sweetheart; she thought that she would never

see him mad.

“Is that better, Babe?” Sean asks, and it brings her attention

back to him.

“It is. What did you do?” she looks into his eyes and notices

that they aren’t stormy anymore.

“It’s part of being part demon. I just took your pain and

replaced it with my cooling energy. That’s why you felt the

coolness.” Kallos remembers something that Ian said, that he could

do more damage.

“How many times have you done this?” Sean looks away from

her and starts to bite his bottom lip. That can’t be a good sign.

 

 

 

 

About the Author:

Khelsey hails from the Sunshine State (California) but moved to Minnesota when she was 11 years

old. Her grandmother raised her and her brother. When she was 18, she did what any sane teen

would do and moved to the city of sin, Las Vegas NV. There she met her handsome husband and the

rest is history. She loves to read, and will read almost anything- guess when you have read just about

everything, the only next logical step is to write :)

 

Acidalia: The Beginning of Kallos a short story was released September 15. Sean and Ian, another short in the Kallos Series, is available on Amazon. Kallos will be coming soon from Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing!

 

Follow Khelsey on Facebook

Follow Khelsey on Twitter

Email Khelsey

Visit Khelsey's Website

Find Khelsey on Goodreads

 

Up for grabs for one lucky winner Kallos Series Ebooks: Acidalia, Sean & Ian, Aphrodite’s Curse and Kallos.

 

 

 



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*COVER REVEAL* A Special's Love

 A Special's Love, Release date February 4th 2013

 

 

 

Kyle was not sure if he should tell her to take a hike or hug her, she looked so nervous he just couldn’t stop looking at her eyes. Shaking himself out of his daze he looked up at her sighed, offered his hand to shake and said “Hi, my name is Kyle, I’m Jane’s brother.”

As they touch to shake hands, Brianna started to have a vision of her and Kyle sitting on a couch. Not sure what house they were in, he was cuddling with her on the couch rubbing her large baby bump stomach.

Kyle just stood there staring at her and for the life of him he couldn’t figure out why. He noticed she was crying the urge to take her in his arms and make all the bad stuff go away was strong and he didn’t even know the woman. He took his hand back and then he said “I don’t know why I should trust you, but for the life of me I do. If you harm my sister in any way you will regret it, got it?”

“I understand, but let me just say I am not here to harm your sister. I am here to help her. What I have to say may help ease the ache in her heart” Brianna said to Kyle.

 

 

Follow Blaney on Facebook

 

 

Cover Artist info:

Cover Artist Crystal Clifton

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/crystallclifton

Email crystalc23@yahoo.com

Guest post and Giveaway with Author Donna Burgess

 

THE END IS ONLY THE BEGINNING

 

On the eve of winter Solstice, a massive flash envelopes the Earth and then there is nothing. The sun no longer shines and civilization is plunged into unending darkness. Those exposed to the mysterious flash have changed—they have become bloodthirsty, cunning, and determined to devour anyone who is not infected.

They are Ragers.

In Sweden, uneasy travelers Tomas an architect, his young son, Christopher, and university student Melanie, hear a broken broadcast. There is hope. Something called Sanctuary waits, but it is thousands of miles away, somewhere on the shores of the British Isles.

Meanwhile, in a London supermarket, Stu, a high school English teacher from the States finds himself stranded along with a handful of students on a senior trip. Outside, hoards of hungry Ragers await, ready to tear them limb from limb. Their only hope is to find Sanctuary.

Solstice is a tale of hope, terror, survival, and finding love at the end of the World. *amazon.com*

 

I began this blog in August of 2012, my FIRST Interview and Review was with Donna Burgess.  It is a huge honor for her to grace my pages with her thoughts again in 2013!  With a couple new release out later this year, I hope to be seeing a lot of Burgess in the coming months.  Here is my review of Solstice, A Novel of Zombie Apocalypse.

 

A real life, honest to goodness, Zombie book!  WooHoo!!!

My favorite genre of books are Zombie books; I especially enjoy a good zombie book; this was a great zombie book!

Burgess unfolds such an interesting post apocolyptic world for us, you are drawn in more and more with every page as you learn about these blood thirsty zombies in a human shell (Ragers).

Another aspect of this book that I enjoyed was the justification; how these "Ragers" came to be.  They also retained their human memories, locked up somewhere in their psychotic mind, but still there in the forefront. Then we have the human aspect of the story with our characters like Melanie and Tomas, Stu and Tana, adding to the gravity of the situation at hand and delving into the how far would you go to survive?  To ensure the survival of and to protect the ones you loved? How far is too far, is that even a question in this type of situation.

This is a very dark, bloody, dystopian world Burgess has created and I thouroughly enjoyed it.
I give it 4/5, but that's just my two cents!!



 

And now Burgess is going to share a little news on her upcoming releases for 2013, and some of her favorite zombie reads from 2012. 

 

It looks like we made it through the latest doomsday apocalypse without the appearance of a single zombie (although it was looking sort of promising with the cannibal/bath salts incidents earlier last year). I hate to admit it, but there was a twinge of excitement surrounding a possible zombie invasion and I know I’m alone, judging from the Facebook posts I read on December 21st. Right now, it seems we’re going to have to wait a bit longer before we get some real-life Walking Dead action, but the fictional zombie apocalypse remains alive and kicking. 

 

I would love to spend most of this guest post tooting my own horn and talking up my zombie novel, Solstice and I will get around to mentioning it in a moment, but I also wanted to give a shout-out to some incredible zombie fiction from 2012. And if you haven’t noticed, zombie fiction is no longer a man’s world. The chicks now rule this realm of horror. If you love zombie fiction that doesn’t pull punches, you’ll need to add these titles to your collection, if you haven’t already.

 

* Siege by Rhiannon Frater. This is the third installment in Rhiannon’s As the World Dies trilogy. Rhiannon uses strong female characters that stay miles away from the clichéd protagonists who inhabit the pages of the more recent urban fantasy and paranormal fiction. This was a great finish to an awesome trio of books. If you love The Walking Dead or Dawn of the Dead, you’ll eat these books up. You’ll also want to download the As The World Dies Untold Tales. 

 

* The Becoming: Ground Zero by Jessica Meigs. This is the second book of The Becoming series. The first novel introduced the world to the Michaluk Virus. In this sequel, we catch up with the survivors a year after the devastation. 

 

* This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers. One reviewer called this novel Breakfast Club meets Dawn of the Dead. I can’t think of a better description. A terrific cast of characters, some you’ll grow to love, and others you’ll end up hating by the end. It was riveting. I read it over a couple of days (and I’m a SLOW reader). 

 

* Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter. Sure, this novel has nothing to do with Lewis Carroll’s Alice and these zombies aren’t the Sunday night walkers we’ve all grown to love. Instead, these are infected spirits drawn to the living. A nice change of pace and an interesting relationship between Ali and Cole, if you’re into that romance stuff. 

 

* Undead by Kirsty McKay. I loved that this was UK novel because I’m a sucker for novels set on the other side of the pond (see Solstice!). These are straight up zombies at their best. The kids are snarky and bitchy and not always likable, but ultimately entertaining. Lots of good gore and black humor. Worth the read despite the cheesy cover art.

 

So, that’s that. There were dozens of other awesome zombie reads in 2012, but these were a few standouts, at least for me. 2013 should shape up to be just as great. Back to tooting my own horn, I want to mention my own YA zombie offering Notes from the End of the World, which will be available later this year. If you liked Hollowland by some chick named Amanda—something, or This is Not a Test, you’ll want to check it out. For a taste of what it’s like, I’d like to suggest my short ebook Dead Girl’s Blog. 

 

In addition to Notes from the End of the World, I’ve also started outlining the next Solstice novel. After the wonderfully encouraging feedback I received regarding the first novel, I realized I owed it to Tomas and Melanie to give them another shot at survival and hopefully some contentment (I won’t say happiness. The world of Solstice is pretty desolate). I invite you to join Tomas, Melanie and a group of engaging new allies as they continue their search for the illusive and possibly mystical Sanctuary in Solstice Book II: The Hunter, coming late 2013. 

 

In the meantime, I’m giving away two digital and two print copies of Solstice: A Novel of the Zombie Apocalypse to the readers of Tammy’s Blog. Tammy was key in helping get the word out about my novel. I can’t say enough about how awesome she and her blog is.

 

Thank you Donna Burgess for taking the time to visit with us today, and for offering up copies of her book so even more people can dip their toes in her world! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This giveaway is International

 

 



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Interview, Review & Giveaway. Seven days series by Andrew Grey

 

 

Can a person's life change in just one day?  How about seven?

This is the story of seven pivotal days in Evan Donaldson's life. Evan was a teenage street hustler when Father Valentin talked him into coming to Saint Bartholomew's Academy. In that one day, Evan's entire life changed. That's the day he met his roommate, Clay Mueller, and the day Evan began to live. But Evan's life would change again and again, from abuse to first love, to separation and heartbreak, and eventually to starting his own family. Through it all, whenever a door closed for Evan, a window opened, and the window was Clay.From the first day of finding faith and connecting with Clay through their relationship's twists and turns, this is a glimpse into seven decisive days and the critical, amazing way a single moment can change destiny. *goodreads.com*

This story follows the lives of Evan Donaldson and Clay Mueller and the seven most pivotal days in their lives. Loosing both his parents in a car accident was only the beginning of the sadness that would creep into this young mans life. Homeless and living on the streets, Evan makes some disturbing choices in order to survive. When Father Valentin stumbles upon him and offers him an escape and a better life at Sant Bart's, Evan is understandably skeptical. Swept away to Saint Bart's Evan finally accepts the sanctuary Father Val offers, and the friendship of his new schoolmates, including Clay Mueller. Just when Even thinks that life is finally heading in the right direction and finds solace in his new school and friends, a person in a postion of power pulls the rug out from under him.

Through Grey's eyes we follow Evan and Clay as they graduate, go to college, find a career and become men. This book was a rollercoaster ride of emotions, told majorily from Evan's point of view. Grey has a way of pulling you into the story so you are right there with the characters for every bump, bruise, tear, laugh and experience. His characters always have depth and realism and his storylines are always top notch hitting home with real life problems and issues, as well as adding likeable secondary characters to the mix. We even have the proverbial bad guy to keep it real, and when he gets his just desserts I was singing from the rooftops!

Highschool alone was hard enough; can the love and friendship that Evan and Clay developed withstand the test of time?

What I took away from this story is that not everyone can be trusted, but life is all about taking chances. You take the good with the bad and you come out on the other end stronger, most of the time. Love always finds a way, in the end.

I give this one 5/5. I must warn you, this book will have you laughing then crying, then laughing while you cry. And there is some pretty steamy guy on guy action to keep it spicey!

 

 

 

 

 

Donald Pottier and Jason Greene are barely more than boys when they meet on Chincoteague Island, Virginia. A day of crabbing soon turns them from strangers to friends, then to something more, but the boys' time is limited: at the end of the summer, Jay will leave Don and the island behind.

But Fate has more in store for Don and Jay than a summer of might-have-beens. Through eleven years of friendship, pain, love, loss, sickness, and misfortune, seven days stand out. Seven days define and shape the people they are and the relationship they share. Seven days of reunions and separations, accidents and serendipity, rejection and acceptance, disappointment and hope lay the foundation no romance can survive without unconditional love.  *goodreads.com*

In this story, we are following the lives of Donald Pottier and Jason Greene and the seven most pivotal days in their lives.

I was completely enthralled with this book from the first chapter. Donald Pottier has lived his life on the island with his mother. He has resinged himself to a life just shy of poverty, never thinking he'll have the means to go to college and make a better life for himself. Jason Greene is the proverbial rich kid that wants for nothing; except for the unconditional love of his parents. These two meet and become fast friends after Jason saves Donald from the town bullies. Friendship becomes attraction and then love as these two grow closer with every passing day. When Donald learns his mom has cancer, Jason drops everything to rush to his side. When Jason's dad learns of the affair he suddenly becomes interested in his sons life and quickly removes him from Donald's.

As a parting gift, Jason gives Donald a gift he won't soon forget.

In his final year of college, litterly weeks before graduation, Donald gets the heartbreaking news that his mother has finally succumbed to her cancer. And just like he did so many years before, Jason is by his side at the funeral. Jason offers him one more night; to love each other, touch each other and share one more night of passion. As tempting as it is, Donald wants all or nothing. So he watches the love of his life, walk out of his life, again.

This book has more ups and downs than the Texas Giant! Just when you think "Yay, they found each other again." you just get smacked with "Oh goddamn, what now!" I assure you though, that the ride is definitely worth it in the end. This book is erupting with emotions; happiness and sadness, anger and hatred, love and passion. There isn't an emotion on the spectrum that this story doesn't cover, and Grey conveys those emotions on paper with realism, heartache and determination. I told the author when we did our interview that I was dubbing him the M/M Nicholas Sparks. His stories are always bittersweet, poignant, uplifting and beautiful condensed into roughly 200 pages! 

If you need to ask, I give this one 5/5... but that's just my two cents!!

My Interview with author Andrew Grey...  

 

*Tell us a bit about yourself. Where were you born and where do you call home? I was born in Western Michigan where a number of my stories are set. I’ve worked throughout the country, west coast, midwest, and east coast. I currently live in the small historic town of Carlisle PA. I love this town. It has history, wonderful people, and an amazing sense of community.

*How much of your work is "art imitates life", and how much is imagination? There is a part of me in every story, but they are almost all imagination. I do sometimes use people I meet or know as the basis for characters, but everything else is purely form my imagination.

*How do you keep the stories fresh from one to the next? I wish I knew. There isn’t a formula to any of my stories. I get the idea and go with it. I also have a wide range of interests and experiences. I incorporate those interests into my writing, along with research.

*What are the Pro’s and Con’s to being an Indie Author?  I don’t see myself as an Indie author. Yes I write in a smaller genre, but I have a wonderful and supportive publisher and incredible readers. I think the biggest pro of working in a genre like M/M is the ability to experiment and grow. Publishers are willing to take works that are different and experimental. I have been able to grow and develop so much as an author in this genre, and its largely because of that freedom.

*Whom in your life would you say has influenced you the most?  My father. Wen I was growing up, my dad didn’t read us stories, he told us bedtime stories that he made up himself. I heard stories of Benjamin Bunny, Amelia Aardvark and so many others. I believe that being a good writer is first being able to tell a good story and I owe that gift to my father.

*What has been the most interesting comment (or review) about your book?  I got a letter form a man in new England. He and his partner had been together for decades. At the end his partner had become blind, so he read stories to him. He told me the last story he read was Love Means... No Shame and that the two of them had both laughed and cried together. It was the most moving note I have ever received from a reader and it still holds a special place in my heart. As a writer, you hope to touch someone’s life, but rarely do you get proof.

*Who is YOUR favorite Author?  My very favorite author of all time is Charles Dickens. He may have been long winded, but he knew how to weave a spell binding story.

*What are you reading right now?  I am currently reading Under the Rushes by Amy Lane. She is a dear friend and I’m enjoying the story.

*Tell us your latest news.   I have a number of stories coming in the next few months. But right now I’m most excited about By The Creek. I decided to try my had at a Young Adult story. I often wish there were positive stories of gay youth and I decided to try my hand at writing one. Its releasing January 15 under the pen name Geoff Laughton.

 

Follow author Andrew Grey at the following links:

Web site: www.andrewgreybooks.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrewgreybooks

Twitter @andrewgreybooks

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Andrew-Grey/e/B002LKEK3U/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1358040551&sr=1-2-ent

email: andrewgrey@comcast.net

A huge thank you to Grey for taking the time to share his thoughts with me.  In the coming months I will visit with this author again when I review his "Stories from the Range" series and the sequel to Love comes Silently, Love comes in Darkness releases later this year.

Grey is offering up one free ebook to one lucky winner, follow the Amazon link above and pick one of the many titles he's penned (May I suggest one of the seven days stories, or Love comes Silently).



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Release day Review & Giveaway; By the Creek

By the Creek a gay YA novel

Published by: Harmon Ink Press

 

Author: Geoff Laughton


Soon-to-be high school junior David Harper hates his family’s move to the country. There’s nothing to do, and he misses his friends in the city. But he doesn’t have a choice. His mother’s job is in Mason County now, so David and his mom are too, and he has to make the best of it.

At first, the only redeeming feature of David’s new home is the swimming hole across the field from his house. Then David meets Benjamin Killinger, and suddenly life stops being so dull.

Benjamin is Amish, and cooling off in the swimming hole is one of the few liberties he and his brothers enjoy. A friendship with an English boy is not—but that doesn’t stop him and David from getting to know each other, as long as it's on the neutral ground by the creek. After David risks his life to save Benjamin’s father, the boys’ friendship is tolerated, then accepted. But before long, Benjamin’s feelings for David grow beyond the platonic. Benjamin's family and the rest of the community will never allow a love like that, and a secret this big can’t stay secret forever….


When I first took this book for review I asked the author to tell me about the story.  He said he wanted to write a YA novel with a gay storyline because there really aren't any available.  I have to agree with him, atleast not where the entire story is based on the two young men.  This isn't a sexy steamy M/M novel, this is a well written YA novel about young love, that love just happens to be between two young men. 

David and Benjamin happen upon each other one afternoon at the swimming hole that lies between their properties.  David has recently moved into his ancient country home with his mom, and Benjamin is a member of the Amish family that lives in a homestead across the road from David.  The pair move at a steady pace starting with a friendship that is forbidden at first, then accepted due to David's actions, moving into something kind of like love.  It's not an instant overnight love, and it's not a slow burn, it's pleasently steady and happens exactly when it's supposed to.

Benjamin is wildly curious about the outside world and David is more than happy to fill him in.  The swimming hole becomes their sanctuary where innocent conversations lead to looks of longing and ultimately, that first kiss.  It's during one of these afternoon frollicks when the boys are locked in a passionate embrace that Ben's father finds them.  David is inconsolable as his mom and two best friends rally at his side.  Will Ben come back to him, or will he ultimately choose to stay with his family. 

Laughton has a way of conveying emotions from pen to paper that is really unique in books today.  I was seriously drawn into David and Benjamin's reality, I grew with them, I fell in love with them, I cried with them.. it was Fabulous!
I was reminded of one of my favorite movies while reading this book, Latter Days.  There is a line in By the Creek where Ben questions if the love that he and David share is a sin, David quickly tells him that to be loved and love someone could never be a sin.  At the end of Latter Days Jacqueline Bisset's character has one of the best lines in any movie ever "So, your church forbids drinking and homosexuality.  Well, forgive me for not joining, I can't imagine Heaven without both of them."   That line is so perfectly, David and Ben!

I give this one 5/5. Well written.  Characters have depth and realism.  Overall an emotionally fabulous read!! 

Laughton is offering up an ebook copy of By the Creek for one lucky winner.

 



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