July Top 5

August is tomorrow! Which makes me really happy since it's my favorite month. I have some good things coming up - which includes a Mets game, another Yankees game, one of my really good friends visiting from Spain, a couple potential trips to Florida and/or Montana, and, of course, my birthday! July was insanely busy for me and quite stressful (and the blog definitely suffered this month...my post numbers are depressing) so I'm very much looking forward to leaving July behind. But first - my top five reads (or my top 4 and Jackie's favorite book this month). 

1. All the Truth That's in Me by Julie Berry

I haven't wanted to push a book on everyone I know so much since I read Princesses of Iowa (which I bought at least 6 copies of to make sure there were no excuses not to read it). This book has refreshing narrative style and the emotions it inspired surprised me. I NEED to talk about it, so if you've read it, let's discuss some things! 

2. Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols

I just love everything Echols writes. She's incredible. Bailey is totally relatable and it becomes so easy to live vicariously through her. I really loved the country music aspect in this one - I think a trip to Nashville might be in order soon! You can check out my full review here.  

3. Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller

This book is stunning. It amazes me how much meaning Trish can pack into every single word she writes. I don't know that I can point out another contemporary author who has said so little and so much at the same time. She's a fantastic writer. 

4. Infinityglass by Myra McEntire

Finally, we get to find out what happens to the Hourglass gang. Myra totally switched things up when she wrote Timepiece and I think she keeps that going in Infinityglass. It's tough to say goodbye to these characters, but this was a great end to a fabulous series. My review is here. 

5. Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes

Jackie says: I'm really loving where Morgan Rhodes is taking the Falling Kingdom story. The new characters are interesting and complex, as are the lot of them in this series, and some of the original charaters are changing my mind about what I want to happen and with whom ;) There was no holding back in this book from any angle, and the story is getting even more intense. I love it!

What were your top reads this month? 

Some Quiet Place Blog Tour: Guest Post

I'm so excited to be taking part in the Some Quiet Place Blog Tour hosted by Mod Podge Blog Tours! Check out this character profile and a giveaway! 

 ----------------------------------------

Name: Grief

A Typical Summons: “Hey, guys, wait up!”
Maggie turns quickly, her expression lighting up. The boy who called out runs toward us, then brushes past, heading for his friends a few feet ahead. I watch Maggie’s face fall. I’m not enough for her. She needs more. I know this. And yet where there should be remorse, regret, longing, grief, there is, of course, only me. The black hole, the white canvas, the empty room.

----------------------------------------

About Some Quiet Place: Elizabeth Caldwell doesn’t feel emotions . . . she sees them. Longing, Shame, and Courage materialize around her classmates. Fury and Resentment appear in her dysfunctional home. They’ve all given up on Elizabeth because she doesn’t succumb to their touch. All, that is, save one—Fear. He’s intrigued by her, as desperate to understand the accident that changed Elizabeth’s life as she is herself.
Elizabeth and Fear both sense that the key to her past is hidden in the dream paintings she hides in the family barn. But a shadowy menace has begun to stalk her, and try as she might, Elizabeth can barely avoid the brutality of her life long enough to uncover the truth about herself. When it matters most, will she be able to rely on Fear to save her?

----------------------------------------

About Kelsey Sutton: Kelsey Sutton has done everything from training dogs, making cheeseburgers, selling yellow page ads, and cleaning hotel rooms. Now she divides her time between her college classes and her writing, though she can also sometimes be found pounding out horrible renditions of Beethoven on the piano and trying bizarre drinks at her local coffee shop. Kelsey lives in northern Minnesota with her dog and cat, Lewis and Clark. Visit her on her blog at www.kelseysutton.blogspot.com.

----------------------------------------

The Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out The Mod Podge Bookshelf for the other tour stops!

Infinityglass - Myra McEntire

Synopsis: The Hourglass is a secret organization focused on the study of manipulating time, and its members — many of them teenagers -­have uncanny abilities to make time work for them in mysterious ways. Inherent in these powers is a responsibility to take great care, because altering one small moment can have devastating consequences for the past, present, and future. But some time trav­elers are not exactly honorable, and sometimes unsavory deals must be struck to maintain order.
With the Infinityglass (central to understanding and harnessing the time gene) at large, the hunt is on to find it before someone else does.
But the Hourglass has an advantage. Lily, who has the ability to locate anything lost, has determined that the Infinityglass isn't an object. It's a person. And the Hourglass must find him or her first. But where do you start searching for the very key to time when every second could be the last?

I still remember exactly where Hourglass was sitting on my desk, staring at me for days, begging me to read it. Even when it fell in my lap, I hadn't actually planned to read it, but I swear it wouldn't leave me alone until I picked it up. So I listened to it and I still vividly remember the start of the amazing journey with Hourglass and these characters I've just come to adore so completely. When Timepiece came along, I expected to love it, but Myra completely shocked and awed me when she switched up point-of-view. I gave up any expectation for Infinityglass and just let it happen. And it's an awesome addition and end to this series.

One of the great things about the Hourglass is the way that no one person is more important than another. They're all amazing and they are all family. Emerson was a dynamic beginning and Michael was so easy to fall in love with. Kaleb totally turned from 3rd wheel into a fabulous hero who has Lily, the perfect fiery heroine. And now Dune gets to come forward and he has the chance to step up and prove his place. I just love that this series is so much more than a person or a love story, its the way a group of people works together, loves together and becomes this important and strong force of nature.

Dune is great - who knew that behind the dreads and the quiet exterior he's so freaking sexy. He smolders in this book. He starts out as pretty sweet and very slowly he develops into this guy that's just on fire - which is funny to say considering his way with water. Then there's Hallie, who is a brand new character, and I must admit, a little hard to love at first. But she's definitely an interesting person and I was really curious about her. When she comes together with Dune, I think they prove the amazing power in finding the right person to be with. They compliment each other so well.

This series as a whole is just so fabulous. I'll always freak out about it and recommend it to everyone. I just love all these characters so much and I love that each one of them got their time on the page. I had the opportunity to really get to know them and now that it's over, I actually miss them. I think it's time to revisit Em and Michael in Hourglass. This series is just amazing and I can't wait to see how Myra surprises me next.

------------------------

The Giveaway
Thanks to Egmont and Media Masters Publicity, I have a finished copy of Infinityglass and an Infinityglass poster for one lucky winner! Contest ends on August 7, 2013 and is US only. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stay With Me - Paul Griffin

::Post by Jackie Lindert::

Synopsis: An urban romance that will capture your soul, break your heart, and restore your faith in the human spirit.
Fifteen-year-olds Cece and Mack didn't expect to fall in love. She's a sensitive A student; he's a high school dropout. But soon they're spending every moment together, bonding over a rescued dog, telling their secrets, making plans for the future. Everything is perfect. Until. Until. Mack makes a horrible mistake, and in just a few minutes, the future they'd planned becomes impossible. In this stark new reality, both of them must find meaning and hope in the memories of what they had, to survive when the person they love can't stay.
From award-winning writer Paul Griffin, Stay with Me is both heartbreaking and uplifting, filled with characters (both dog and human) that will forever change the way you look at the world.

This book is beautiful. From the very beginning I was hooked into the honesty of Stay With Me. Paul Griffin's writing is just fantastic. The language of the book make the characters so real and authentic, you're just sure this is an actual story about real people. The two kids in the story come from some pretty messed up homes, but they find each other and every seems less bleak. I LOVE Mack and Cece together. Love. Love. Love!

If you are an animal lover (so basically, in my opinion, if you have a soul), you will fall hard for this book. Mack rehabilitates pit bulls that were abused and used for dog fights. Hello, Mr. Amazing. He helps the dogs, but the dogs also help him--I can't say any more, so you'll just have to find out for yourself!

Stay With Me isn't just about dogs, obviously. Cece is such an interesting character to me. She's a tough girl, yet very self conscious and sensitive. The things she is able to get through are unbelievable, and you will adore her family, especially her brother. 

The end of the book was not what I was expecting, and I was so nervous about what was going to happen. I I feared I might not have a heart afterward, depending on how things turned out. Although it wasn't what I expected, I think it was a great ending. It really leaves you thinking about life and growth. A lot of books about teen love are really romanced up and glamorized, so it was refreshing to read about something that seemed more real. My heart felt healthier after reading this book. 

It's not easy to keep spoilers from pouring out, which makes reviewing this book a little difficult, so I'm going to have to avoid some of my favorite parts of the book :( Trust me that there is more too it, though, that will make your heart wrench and your tears fall (both in good ways and sad).

In a Few Words

So....I've been so awful at writing reviews lately. Absolutely awful. Want to hear my excuses? Probably not, but I'm going to share anyway. I've been ridiculously busy at work for two weeks and my computer has been out of commission. So, blogging has definitely taken a back seat. Now my computer is fixed (yay!) so I don't have that excuse anymore. I'm still busy, busy, busy at work, but hopefully it will quiet down soon. And the point to all this rambling is to let you know what this post is. Because I've still been reading, but not reviewing, I'm way behind in my reading list and a lot of the books aren't fresh enough in my mind to give them a fair full review. So I'm going to run through a few books that I read awhile ago pretty quick here and give you a few words on my thoughts!

The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski

I was so excited for this one. I love that she kind of just goes off the grid and travels across the U.S. As the anywhere-but-here kind of girl, I get this impulse 100%. I actually took a huge issue with the ending of this one, so what was a really great story left me a little bitter. I did love getting to know Andrew - I think the way his story comes to light was pretty awesome. I really felt the intensity of the developing relationship between Andrew and Camryn. I loved his book up until the end, so I will definitely be reading The Edge of Always just in hopes that I might feel different about it - because it is possible it's my own neurosis that left me cranky at the end.

Wait for You by J. Lynn

I adore this book. I actually started this one twice. The first time I just read the first chapter before I was convinced it would be like so many other books - average girl literally runs into the ONE dude that every girl wants (seriously why is it always ONE dude that ALL the girls seem to fawn over. In my experience there are hot dudes EVERYWHERE, excuse my caps) and despite her apparent disinterest he pursues her relentlessly. You know the story. But thankfully I started it up again because even though it has those stereotypical elements, J. Lynn manages to make them enjoyable and fun, while still telling a pretty serious story. I don't really know how she pulled it off, but she did and I'm a little in love. Cameron is seriously a perfect book boy. Had to throw that it, because I know you were curious about that. He's so worth reading this book for.

Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens

This book is giant and I'm not a fan of the cover, so despite the fact that it's been on my shelf for a long time, I haven't picked it up. Then I was on a mission to read all the books in the NA Crush Tourney so I picked it up (and then Kellan won!). So, there's a lot to judge in this book. And I get why people can get pretty down on it- with all the cheating. But I was so wrapped up in these characters so quickly, it's so easy to lose sight of anything Kiera can't see. All judgement left me while I was reading and I just devoured it. Even though she's doing bad things and making some bad choices, I just had to know how everything would unfold. She's not my favorite heroine, but her story is completely compelling. And Kellan is pretty great.

Addicted to You by Colina Brennan

With a premise like this, I'm honestly a little shocked how much I enjoyed this book. It was definitely refreshing to read about a girl who isn't sheltered or inexperienced. I think Leah is a great heroine, but I can't even lie - I love this book because of Will. He's Scottish and I have a thing for accents...so I love him pretty hard. I will say that there are parts of this book that felt unresolved or too easily tied up at the end and I wish some plot lines would have received more attention. I think with more development this book would be absolutely fabulous. But as it is, I still love it and it's worth checking out. Because....did I mention that Will is Scottish (and sweet and smart and adorable...)?

Cover Reveal: Behind Closed Doors by Ashelyn Drake

Behind Closed Doors (Campus Crush #2)

by Ashelyn Drake

Release Date: 08/06/13

Summary from Goodreads:

Julia Monroe is through wishing she had an older guy like her best friend Noelle does. It’s time for her to act on her desires. So when she sees sexy, twenty-three-year-old Darren McEntire eating dinner alone at the pub, she decides to make her move. The attraction between them is undeniable, and even through Julia isn’t looking for a one-night stand, she winds up back at Darren’s place the same night she meets him. Only being with him makes her realize what she’s been missing dating other guys. All she wants is Darren.

But Julia allows Darren to think she’s his age and a grad student at the nearby college. She knows she has to confess the truth, but she’s afraid to shatter what they have. Not knowing what to do, she starts the semester only to discover that her new teaching assistant is none other than Darren. With the lies out in the open and campus policy against them, Julia and Darren know the relationship should be over before it even begins. But the chemistry between them is too strong to deny.

Can they find a way to be together or are they doomed to only see each other behind closed doors?

About the Author

New Adult and Young Adult romance author represented by Lauren Hammond of ADA Management Group. Look for her upcoming N.A. title, Romancing the R.A. (S.B. Addison Books, 2013).
Where to find Ashelyn Drake:

   

Cover Reveal Hosted by:

Falling Kingdoms - Morgan Rhodes

::Post by Jackie Lindert::

Synopsis: 

In a land where magic has been forgotten but peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest is simmering. Three kingdoms grapple for power—brutally transforming their subjects' lives in the process. Amidst betrayals, bargains, and battles, four young people find their fates forever intertwined:
Cleo: A princess raised in luxury must embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of a magic long thought extinct.
Jonas: Enraged at injustice, a rebel lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country impoverished—and finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.
Lucia: A girl adopted at birth into a royal family discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.
Magnus: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, a firstborn son begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword. . . .
The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

I started reading this book because I wanted to change it up from all the contemporary books I had been reading. I told my roommate, Hannah herself :), that I was in the mood for a good fantasy, and she handed me this book. It was absolutely perfect.

Falling Kingdoms is like an awesome mix of Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone and a YA version of Game of Thrones. If you are familiar with either of those, and enjoy them, you will love this book. The world this story takes place in is just flat out amazing. That is by far my favorite aspect of the book. The world is divided into 3 separate kingdoms, each with their own hierarchy and culture. The detail is incredible, and of course, there are tense relations between the monarchies.

The different perspectives in this book really make it a layered, complex, better read. I swear I changed my mind about whether I liked certain characters or not, and whose side I was on in different confrontations. It messes with your mind like that, but I'm so into that. It will show you a world, get you thinking in terms of black and white, and then *BAM!* Shades of gray! People you thought were bad end up having a heart, and they do terrible things, but you still care about them. It's glorious.

Lastly, I think another great thing about Falling Kingdoms is that Morgan Rhodes does not hold back. Think Game of Thrones-eske gore and barbarianism. It totally works and make the story of clashing kingdoms seem way more accurate and realistic. I was on the edge of my seat (literally, on the subway--not trying to be cliche) worrying if one of my favorite characters was going to be killed. And just when you think maybe it's going to go too far, you're thrown for a loop and remain sucked in.

I'm so excited to see where the series goes from here. This first book ends with a cliff-hanger, obviously, so there is a lot of action and drama I'm dying to see worked out. Stay tuned for my review of book 2, Rebel Spring!

Cover Reveal + Excerpt: For the Summer by Shey Stahl

I'm so excited to help reveal the gorgeous cover for For the Summer by Shey Stahl and I also have an awesome excerpt to share as well!

Check it out! 

Cover designed by Sarah Hansen at Okay Creations

-----------------------------------

About For the Summer: Freckled cheeks, sunburns, a river bank -- young, wild and free. Sophie Kaden falls in love with the smart-mouthed boy she can't seem to forget. She's looking to fit in for the summer, he's just hopeless. She's afraid to let go; he won't let her. 

Add to Goodreads

-----------------------------------

About Shey Stahl: Shey Stahl is the USA Today and Amazon Bestselling author of Delayed Penatly; the Racing the Edge Series: Happy Hour, Black Flag, Trading Paint, The Champion and The Legend; Wait for You; and Everything Changes. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and daughter. 

Find Shey Online: Website :: Facebook :: Twitter :: Goodreads

-----------------------------------

Excerpt: 

No love, no friendship can cross the path of our destiny without leaving some mark on it forever.

Francois Muriac

The sun set. Just past the dock you could see the boats lining up and smoke billowing as the party started near the clearing. Country music drowned out the party not more than twenty feet from us, but it was him I saw. Only him.
I thought—hoped—that my feelings would have changed. But they haven’t, and in that moment I realized they probably never would.
I wasn’t sure I would ever see him again. And I’d certainly never wanted to after what I knew now. But part of me, the part that still held on to those eyes and that smart­mouthed southern drawl, was waiting for him to

at least acknowledge me, tell me everything that happened wasn’t my imagination.
I’d gone over it in my head, what I’d say to him—the words, the expression, the tone. All of it. This, right
now, wasn’t how I envisioned this would happen.
Barefoot, covered in thick Georgia mud, a beer in hand, and scars on my heart wasn’t how I planned it.
“You don’t remember me, do you?” I spat, regretting the words immediately. After last night, I said I’d let this go. But ... I couldn’t. The liquid courage in my hand made sure of that.
I expected him to say something—anything—but there was only silence, the awkward kind before his eyes deceived him and he looked at me, briefly.
That expression, that one right there, told me what I needed without any words being spoken. He remembered but wouldn’t admit it because who wanted to admit they purposely broke someone’s heart?
He crumbled me with that look—the only look I’d gotten since he’d been back.
Bensen, though a complete asshole at times, didn’t want to break my heart. “No,” he said, his eyes on the lake avoiding any reaction I might have. He took that old worn baseball cap from his head with his right hand and ran his fingers through his mop of dusty brown hair before replacing it, agitated and aware.
But the thing was, all these years, all those summers of writing in that damn journal had led me here, remembering and regretting the things I couldn’t let go of.
“Well,” I said, shifting my weight from one foot to the other—my journal, my life, my tears, and my dreams clenched in my sweaty palm. My eyes drifted to his; he stared at my feet, wishing they’d move, wishing all
of me would move away from him, but I couldn’t.
Feeling the sudden panic rise, my hand and heart trembled as I decided what I would do next.
I’d had enough remembering, and certainly enough regretting, so I did what I never planned to do when I opened that leather bound notebook all those years ago. Inside that book was a love bound by blue gray and sealed by the thick Georgia mud around us. It was pages and pages of nights I didn’t regret; it was memories of legs on the dash while singing Marshall Tucker and his arm around my shoulder, swimming after the sun went down and anything else those summers brought with it. Everything was in that book. Unfortunately, my anger got the best of me. Searching for the moment, the lie I knew he’d been keeping, I wiped the tears from my heated cheeks, squaring my shoulders, before I threw the notebook at him. “Maybe this will help you remember.”
Not that I expected anything less, given his behavior the last week, but the notebook fell at his feet, his eyes never moving as I walked past him.
“Read that, and tell me you don’t remember.” I didn’t turn around, nor could I. I had just handed him my heart, as if he hadn’t already had it. Only now, nothing was hidden.
Suddenly, I’m thirteen again, living for the summer. The sun glowing, the days long and hot, sticky and heavy, everything his memory was. 

Dirty Little Secret - Jennifer Echols

Summary: Bailey wasn't always a wild child and the black sheep of her family. She used to play fiddle and tour the music circuit with her sister, Julie, who sang and played guitar. That ended when country music execs swooped in and signed Julie to a solo deal. Never mind that Julie and Bailey were a duet, or that Bailey was their songwriter. The music scouts wanted only Julie, and their parents were content to sit by and let her fulfill her dreams while Bailey's were hushed away.
Bailey has tried to numb the pain and disappointment over what could have been. And as Julie's debut album is set to hit the charts, her parents get fed up with Bailey's antics and ship her off to granddad's house in Nashville. Playing fiddle in washed-up tribute groups at the mall, Bailey meets Sam, a handsome and oh-so-persuasive guitarist with his own band. He knows Bailey's fiddle playing is just the thing his band needs to break into the industry. But this life has broken Bailey's heart once before. She isn't sure she's ready to let Sam take her there again... 

I might sound like a broken record when it comes to Jennifer Echols, but seriously, it never fails to amaze me how much she writes my life. Somehow she creates characters that I have so much in common with, yet their stories are so different from my own. Her talent for creating relatable, yet interesting and unique, characters is just one of the many reasons I love Jennifer Echols so much. This time around, I connected with the country music (love it!) and the violin playing (I played for 9 years), so even though I never had big musical dreams or a sister on the verge of superstardom, I totally get Bailey.

I love the musical aspect in this book. I played violin for a long time (I gave it up to switch to flute - I couldn't play violin now to save my life, which makes me pretty sad) and I grew up with country music (despite my parents' disdain for it) so I got really excited when I saw that Echols' new book was all country.  I've always loved the idea of Nashville, even though I haven't spent too much time there. So this music culture and what it takes to stand out was so cool to read. It was the perfect background to this story and there's a built in soundtrack, which makes the whole book so dynamic.

I don't know if it's just me, but I totally pictured Bailey's sister as Taylor Swift...So in my head I have Bailey out-shined by T-Swizzy which is a pretty tough shadow to be in. I think Bailey actually handles herself pretty well, considering she got the short end of the stick. She was a little hard to get to know in the beginning, I think her walls are pretty tough to get through even for the reader. But as she lets Sam in, I feel like she let me in as well. By the end, I was just totally attached.

So Sam. I don't really know what to think about him. I've always fallen hard for the boys Echols writes. She's great at creating guys that are totally flawed, but are perfect for the heroine. But Sam kind of made me really cranky. There were times it definitely came off that he was using Bailey and I never really felt like he was genuine. Still, I think he's pretty true to life, because there are a lot of guys like this. And maybe they come off the wrong way or can't quite communicate right, but they always pull through for you in the end.

I think where Echols stepped it up in this book were in the secondary characters. Bailey's grandfather was awesome, even though he only made a few appearances. And then the other band members - Charlotte and Ace - were definitely highlights of this book. They have a bit of a side story going on and that was so fun to watch unfold. The whole band dynamic had me rooting for them and really wondering if they could make it big time if they really existed.

I love Echols' writing - she's definitely an author I'll always read no matter what. She has a real talent for creating vivid characters and settings, and Dirty Little Secret is definitely a great addition to her body of work. I love the country and the music and all the characters that make up this story. It's larger than life and so full of hope and healing, yet accessible at the same time. It has all the elements of the stories we've come to expect from Echols.

Cover Reveal: Wings by Elizabeth Richards

Today we are super excited to share the cover to WINGS, the third and final book in author's Elizabeth Richard's BLACK CITY series!

Check out this beauty! 

Wings (Black City #3) by Elizabeth Richards

Get the first two books in the series! 

OPEN INTERNATIONAL!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Shadow of the Mark Blog Tour: Interview + Giveaway

I'm so excited to be a part of the Shadow of the Mark blog tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours! I was lucky enough to get to interview the lovely Leigh Fallon. So let's get to it!

In the Best Worlds: Since you write YA, what were you like as a teenager?

Leigh Fallon: I suffered from horrible awkwardness and shyness and I decided at an early age that I needed to put on a front to survive in the world of an all girls secondary school (in Ireland we don’t have middle schools. We start secondary school at 13 and do 6 years, graduating at 18ish). So I developed a confident persona, I joined sporting teams, but not cliques (I can’t bear cliques). I never relied on people and stood on my own two feet. It got me through, but the act was hard to drop as I moved into being an adult. It was second nature to me. I still struggle with being the real me a lot of the time. It leads to lots of mental postmortems about things I said and did during the day. It’s a constant battle. It’s kind of funny now that I’m an adult. My husband thinks it’s cute how I constantly dissect my conversations and beat myself up over them. I guess writing YA enables me to be the people I’d like to have been, or like to have met during those years.  It’s my brain working things out. LOL!

ItBW: I love Carrier of the Mark and I’m so stoked that there’s a sequel. Can you dish anything about Shadow of the Mark?

LF: I don’t want to give too much away, but things really hot up between a few people. The Marked ones start to see a surge in their abilities, some way more than others. We meet some new allies, a few enemies, and we might even say a farewell or two (sad face).

ItBW: You’ve built a fabulous world around Megan and Adam (thank you so much for setting it in Ireland). Were there any challenges that you met in world building? Is there anything about this world that you know about, but hasn’t quite made it into the books?

LF: Thank you! It’s a world I’ve adored writing. There are still a few secrets to be revealed about this world. You learn of some of them in Shadow, but real zingers are reserved for the last book.  With regard to challenges, to be honest, I haven’t encountered too many when building this world. I based it mainly on a world I already knew. I then mixed it up with fact, history, lore, and some superstitions and voila. It lends itself beautifully to being molded into what I needed it to be.

ItBW: What has been your favorite moment of being a published author so far?

LF: There have been so many amazing moments. The first contact with my editor, my first phone call with my agent. Those first few fan letters that left me astounded that there were people out there who had read and loved my story. It’s sort of surreal. They make me giddy. Nothing quite beats meeting your readers. One standout memory is my signing booth at Book Expo America. There was a line of people waiting for me that was so long that they had to turn some away.  It was an incredible hour and I met some awesome readers. Each book I signed was a memory to hold dear.

ItBW: I know you’ve lived quite a few fabulous places, but if you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

LF: Agh! If I knew the answer to that one I’d be living there already. Each place I go to I think is fabulous, then I move somewhere else and I fall in love with it. Then I can’t make up my mind.  I’m currently loving living on the west cost of the US. The Pacific North West is so stunning. You can’t really imagine its beauty until you’ve seen it. It’s so gorgeous I’ve started writing a story based here. I guess I’d love to try a stint in California sometime in the future. Some of my favorite bookish types live down that way and I really would love little sun and surf on my next pit stop.

ItBW: What is your #1 guilty pleasure?

LF: I can’t possibly just give you one. They are all on a par. Chocolate, coffee, really bad reality TV shows (Dance Moms & Married to Jonas spring to mind), and silence (not that I get much of it in a house with four kids).

ItBW: Finish these sentences…

We could be best friends if… you’re honest, straight up, and good for a laugh.

The natural element I most identify with is ...air...., because…the sound and feel of  the breeze makes me feel alive and content with life.

People would be surprised to know… I’m very sensitive and cry at practically anything. And I mean anything, commercials, beautiful music, Hallmark movies…yes, even the really pathetic ones. I’m an utter bag of mush.

Thanks so much to Leigh for answering my questions!

----------------------------- 

About Shadow of the Mark: Their love could destroy them all.

Through the ages, Marked Ones have harnessed the powers of the four elements: Water, Fire, Earth, and Air. Much about the elements is shrouded in mystery, but one thing is certain: A relationship between two Marked Ones has the potential to cause widespread devastation.

Megan and Adam—Air and Water—are determined to defy the risks.

But the power that swirls inside Megan is growing in twisted ways. And the closer she is to Adam, the closer Megan comes to unleashing a dark force that could spell destruction for the entire Marked line.

Goodreads :: Amazon :: Barnes & Noble :: The Book Depository

-----------------------------

About Leigh: Leigh Fallon was born in South Africa, raised in Dublin, Ireland and moved to Cork in her 20's. While living in beautiful Kinsale, her novel, The Carrier of the Mark was conceived. She promptly abandoned her 'riveting' career in corporate treasury and discovered Inkpop, a website for budding writers of teen fiction. Within weeks her manuscript hit the coveted top five spot and was reviewed by an editor at HarperCollins. A few emails and some hysterical screaming later, she signed her first deal. Leigh and her family now share their time between Ireland and the US.

 Find Leigh Online: Website :: Blog :: Twitter :: Facebook :: Goodreads

-----------------------------

The Giveaway:

1st place - a signed copy of Shadow of the Mark and a boat load of goodies inc. a silver bookmark (pic attached) USA only. 

2nd  place - a $10 book depository gift card & some signed swag . International.

3rd place- signed swag International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

  -----------------------------

         Check out the rest of the stops on this tour!

               7/1/2013- The Irish Banana Review
       7/2/2013- Emilie's Book World
                             7/3/2013- Jessabella Reads                            
               7/4/2013- Bookaholics Anonymous
                       7/5/2013- Tales of the Ravenous Reader 
                              7/8/2013- A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books
         7/9/2013- The Best Books Ever
        7/10/2013- Reading with ABC
7/11/2013- BiblioJunkies
                 7/12/2013- In the Best Worlds          

VOTE FOR GARRICK!

Today is the day! Go VOTE in the NA Crush Tourney! And I HIGHLY recommend you vote for GARRICK. He's up today against Kayden from The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden and his advocate, the lovely Hannah from The Irish Banana Review. I think Kayden is pretty great, but in my opinion he has nothing on Garrick. Because Garrick is AMAZING.

Ok. I'll stop using caps. But first, THIS. Seriously, click play on this. You really want to see (ahem, hear) what happens if you click play.

SEE! Aren't you glad you played it? Are you voting for Garrick yet? If you're convinced go here and vote: http://www.naalley.com/2013/07/match-10-kayden-10-vs-garrick-7.html (And many, many thanks to Laura for this amazing audio! There's more where this came from....)

-------------------------------

But if you need more, how about some amazing incentives?

To start with how about some teasers from Keeping Her AND Finding It? 
Here's the deal -

• If Garrick is ahead at 11am, Cora will post a short teaser from Keeping Her,
• If Garrick is ahead at 2pm, Cora will post a short teaser from Finding It,
• If Garrick is ahead at 5pm, we'll get another short teaser from Keeping Her,
• If Garrick is ahead at 8pm, we get a longer teaser from Finding it! 

And just in case you need more to keep you going - if Garrick WINS this round, Cora Carmack will be offering an EPIC giveway of 8 signed copies of Losing It or Faking It + 10 signed bookplates! So go vote for Garrick!

Oh, and I almost forgot the best part: If Garrick wins the whole NA Crush Tourney, Cora will write THE PROPOSAL SCENE - you know, the one that's hinted at and mentioned in both Losing It and Faking It?! Yeah. So let's make that happen! 

Also, there's a pretty good chance we could have a bit of a chat with Garrick if he makes it to the next round...so yeah.

-------------------------------

The Team Garrick Street Team has been incredible and hopefully I'll get a chance to share some of the celeb look-a-likes and quotes they've been sharing if Garrick moves on to the next round. But you can see some of the awesome they've been creating on Twitter if you follow the #TeamGarrick and #BringOnTheBrit hashtags!

Now, just for some visual reasons to vote for Garrick and because we all love the way he cuddles with Hamlet (the cat), here's some hot dudes snuggling cats - which you can also thank the street team for!

 

Then there's this (couldn't help it):

So one more time: VOTE FOR GARRICK! And may your 4th of July be surprisingly British.