July 21, 2016

Author Interview: D.A. Roach author of Between the Bleeding Willows

D.A Stopped by Read for your Future to give us this interview:

1. How did you come up with the concept for this book?

Fall is my favorite time of year and Halloween is my favorite holiday. I felt inspired to write, so I asked my daughter to name a supernatural creature she wanted me to write a story about. She suggested demons because they frighten her. Then I put myself in her shoes and tried to think of what frightened me at her age (12 yrs old) and I remembered stories classmates used to tell about a haunted cemetery that was fifteen minutes away from my house. It was rumored that teens would go there and worship Satan in the abandoned cemetery at nightfall. So I took the two concepts and began crafting the story.

2.How did you come up with the names for the characters?

Killian, the main demon hunter, needed a strong name and I always associated that name with an Irish or Scottish warrior. For the girl, I wanted a name that could shorten to a nickname but also seemed good when paired with Killian, so Cassidy was chosen for the main character. And Tyler Romaitis, I wanted a simple and trendy guy name that was consistent with present day and the last name is homage to my Lithuanian heritage, as most Lithuanian names end in “itis”.

3.How much are you and the characters alike?

I am not much like any of them. I’m more like Brogen from my Rarity book...a small number of close friends, empathic, and nice till you cross me.

4.Do you read a lot and what are you reading now?

I read at least one chapter each night, depending on how tired I am. I am currently reading Pucked Up (not YA), and then will start A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole.

5. What made you decide to go Young adult?

I really enjoy the YA genre. It’s a time in life when people grow from child to adult and grow into who they are, not who they are expected to be. There are so many emotions, so many firsts. The trial and error of relationships, hearts broken and mended, friendships lost and made, and a path to the future is now becoming clear. It was an amazing and truly memorable time in my life, and I will also hold it with high regard. Because I loved it and went through so much, I find it easy to tap into emotions and write about that time in life.

6. How did the cover come about?

I wish I could take credit for the cover but the folks at Deranged Doctor Designs worked their magic and created that masterpiece. I told them my plot, mood, and what I envisioned the characters to look like and they came back to me with that cover. I almost fainted when I saw it :> And then I wondered if my story did the book justice. I mean, that’s an AMAZING cover.

7. So what is your next project and when is it due out?

I have a short story in the Detours in our Destination Anthology that comes out May 2016. The anthology includes stories of overcoming a hardship and rising above. I also have a short story in the thriller anthology from Limitless Publishing, entitled 13, that comes out this October. And finally, Within the Darkest Hollows, book 2 in the Demon Hunter series is due out at the end of October.

8. Do you have a daytime job or are you a full time writer?

Full time writer and full time mom.

9. How did you get into writing novels and were you worried about peoples reactions to your books?

My dental hygienist encouraged me to write down a story about a time in my childhood when my family was going through a difficult time and made it through with some help from strangers. The story of their kindness was truly amazing and deserved to be shared, so I tried my hand at writing and self-published the short tale. Turns out I really enjoyed writing and kept at it.

Did I worry about people’s reactions? Not initially. I wrote the story to tell it, hoping that people reading about kindness might encourage them to want to be kind as well. But when I published Rarity with Limitless Publishing, I worried about readers’ reactions. It wasn’t just about me anymore, a company believed my story was worth supporting and I worried that if it didn’t do well, they wouldn’t consider future stories.

Now I have some confidence with writing and have a few books under my belt so I worry less about reviews, and more about just putting forward my best effort. I enjoy writing and it’s important to remember that and stay true to writing for that reason. Honestly, I am too close to the stories to know how they will be perceived. When I finished BTBW, I reread it and said “Holy cow, that’s actually really good. I wonder if other people will think that too?” That was my only guide on the quality of my work...I liked it and enjoyed reading it.

10. One last thing do you collect anything personally?

Rocks. Lol. I love cool looking rocks. When we go to the beach, I walk the shoreline and pick rocks, then add them to my garden. My kids come home from school with pockets full of rocks and I convince them to add them to our plants or garden.

Thank you to D.A for stopping by the blog and letting us get to know her better.. Review to come.

You can find out more about D.A. Roach here:

WEBSITE: http://daroachbooks.blogspot.com/

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/DARoachDA/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/daroach12books

BOOK GORILLA: http://www.bookgorilla.com/author/B00AQNBVH2/d-a-roach

AMAZON AUTHOR PG: http://www.amazon.com/author/daroach

March 9, 2016

Waiting On Wednesday

Sooooo....what book are we waiting on here at RFYF?

I've always been a sucker for re-makes of the classics. So, of course, the Dorothy Must Die series caught my attention! The third book is coming out soon and WE WANT TO READ IT!!

Yellow Brick War
......
by Danielle Paige

Release Date: 15 March 2016
Publisher: HarperCollins

In this dark, action-packed third book in the New York Times bestselling Dorothy Must Die series, Amy Gumm—the new girl from Kansas—must do everything in her power to save Kansas, kill Dorothy, and make Oz a free land once more.

Amy Gumm’s mission to take down Dorothy Gale is not going according to plan. Dorothy has found a way to bridge the worlds of Oz and Kansas, and if the power-hungry dictator of Oz has her way, Kansas will be destroyed forever. Now, Amy has to team up with the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked to save her home, restore the balance between the magic and nonmagic worlds, maybe get the guy—and kill that not-so-sweet Kansas farm girl once and for all.

In the third installment of the New York Times bestselling Dorothy Must Die series, Danielle Paige’s twisted versions of beloved Oz characters are back, including the biggest, baddest, most famous of all: the Wicked Witch of the West.

Welcome to the other side of the rainbow. Here there’s danger around every corner, and magic shoes won’t be able to save you

(goodreads summary)

March 8, 2016

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

Just do the following:

Grab your current read.
Open to a random page.
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

JoBell squeezed my arm. "So it's okay if you need to take some time to help her. You and your mom are two of the most important people in my life, and I love you both for the way you look out for each other."

p. 63

Divided We Fall

by Trent Reedy

March 7, 2016

It's Monday! What Are YOU Reading?

This is a fun meme that allows bloggers to get an idea of what everyone else is reading and perhaps help to find our next must-read. So check out what WE are reading and tell us what YOU are reading!!

Lora is Reading:

The Boy Most Likely To

by Huntley Fitzpatrick

......

Surprises abound and sparks ignite in the highly anticipated, utterly romantic companion to My Life Next Door

Tim Mason was The Boy Most Likely To:

- find the liquor cabinet blindfolded

- need a liver transplant

- drive his car into a house

Alice Garrett was The Girl Most Likely To:

- well, not date her little brother’s baggage-burdened best friend, for starters.

For Tim, it wouldn’t be smart to fall for Alice. For Alice, nothing could be scarier than falling for Tim. But Tim has never been known for making the smart choice, and Alice is starting to wonder if the “smart” choice is always the right one. When these two crash into each other, they crash hard.

Then the unexpected consequences of Tim’s wild days come back to shock him. He finds himself in a situation that isn’t all it appears to be, that he never could have predicted . . . but maybe should have.

And Alice is caught in the middle.

Told in Tim’s and Alice’s distinctive, disarming, entirely compelling voices, this return to the world of My Life Next Door is a story about failing first, trying again, and having to decide whether to risk it all once more.

(goodreads summary)

......

Cindi is Reading:

Divided We Fall

by Trent Reedy

......

From the author of the acclaimed WORDS IN THE DUST: an action-packed YA novel set in a frighteningly plausible near future, about what happens when the States are no longer United.

Danny Wright never thought he'd be the man to bring down the United States of America. In fact, he enlisted in the National Guard because he wanted to serve his country the way his father did. When the Guard is called up on the Idaho governor's orders to police a protest in Boise, it seems like a routine crowd-control mission ... but then Danny's gun misfires, spooking the other soldiers and the already fractious crowd, and by the time the smoke clears, twelve people are dead.

The president wants the soldiers arrested. The governor swears to protect them. And as tensions build on both sides, the conflict slowly escalates toward the unthinkable: a second American civil war.

With political questions that are popular in American culture yet rare in YA fiction, and a provocative plot that could far too easily become real, DIVIDED WE FALL is Trent Reedy's very timely YA debut.

(goodreads summary)

February 29, 2016

Review: Dream a Little Dream (Silber #1) by Kerstin Gier

Summary-

Mysterious doors with lizard-head knobs. Talking stone statues. A crazy girl with a hatchet. Yes, Liv's dreams have been pretty weird lately. Especially the one where she's in a graveyard at night, watching four boys conduct dark magic rituals.
The strangest part is that Liv recognizes the boys in her dream. They're classmates from her new school in London, the school where she's starting over because her mom has moved them to a new country (again). But what's really scaring Liv is that the dream boys seem to know things about her in real life, things they couldn't possibly know--unless they actually are in her dreams? Luckily, Liv never could resist a good mystery, and all four of those boys are pretty cute....

Review-

This book was extremely exquisite. The plots in it, and how fast they could turn was absolutely amazing. The characters and all the details in them as well were very nice. I had fallen in love with every character, and every one of their flaws. the detail in every scenery was amazing as well. I could picture exactly what was happening! I'm very pleased with this book, And I highly recommend it to absolutely anyone with any taste in anything. I am very excited for the next book to come out, That I can hardly wait!

Publisher-Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

Reviewer Rating: 5 STARS!!!

Reviewed by~Carman Fickey (Student at Franklin High School)

Thank you to the publisher for the donation of this book to the Read for your Future book program in exchange for a honest review!!

Summary-

Willowgrove is Kathleen Peacock's riveting conclusion to the Hemlock trilogy, a dark, romantic, paranormal suspense series that pits friendship against survival, and trust against love.

Ever since Mac's best friend, Amy, was murdered, Hemlock has been a dangerous place. But now that Mac, her boyfriend, Kyle, and Amy's ex, Jason, have investigated a mass breakout from Thornhill, a werewolf "rehabilitation" camp, the danger has only grown. Fear of the infection spreading is now at an all-time high, and anyone with a scar is suspected of being a wolf.
What makes Mac even more afraid, though, are the dark experiments that the warden of Thornhill was performing on wolves in a secret asylum called Willowgrove. Uncovering the truth about what happened may be the only way for Mac to save everyone she loves and end her nightmares for good.

Review-

Willowgrove was a fantastic, fast-paced, exhilarating read. Although this was the third in the Hemlock series, author Kathleen Peacock weaves the previous book's plot into this story so the reader can easily keep up. Mackenzie, the protagonist, is a strong female role model and a tough little cookie! And of course there are plenty of hot male characters;) Peacock writes a suspenseful plot full of twists and turns, betrayal and loyalty. The characters are all sympathetic figures, even the bad guys, as Peacock delves into their inner psyches and gives the reader a glimpse of their backstories. A five-star read and a series to keep your eye on!

Publisher-Katherine Tegen Books

Reviewer Rating: 5 STARS!!!

Reviewed by~Cindi Clubbs

Thank you to the publisher for the donation of this book to the Read for your Future book program in exchange for a honest review!!

Summary-

In 2021 the world as we know it changed. The government collapsed, and the worst characteristics of human nature were shown as the world fell into ruins. Years after The Fall, the Tribes that were established are still at war. They still fight to keep what they pillaged, and most of all, they fight to keep their lies a secret. In a world filled with deception, nothing is as it seems.

I was born into this world.
Hunter Marks was molded into this world; a General— a person cold and harsh. A person meant to kill me.
We were told to just believe.
We were taught to never question.
We’re supposed to be robots and accept our roles in this altered society.
Too bad Hunter and I don’t follow the rules.
And we’re a hell of a lot stronger than they ever thought possible.
They’ve been searching for the world’s deadliest weapon.
It’s me.
And I’m not following the leader any more.

Review-In Between Seasons, The Fall Series, is a great romance, heavy on the romance, that takes place in 2041 after the Fall of the government. Kate and Hunter are children of Tribal leaders and are, basically, Romeo and Juliet--forbidden love with both families wanting Kate dead. The romantic tension between the star-crossed lovers is sweet and tragic as Kate and Hunter both find themselves changing from the puppets their parents created to two people who can find love in the midst of a war-torn world. As in any story of war, there are tensions and suspicions, betrayal and secret allies. I personally enjoy not knowing who the good guys and bad guys are. It makes for a bit of excitement. And there were DEFINITELY a few surprises! The ending was terrific but didn't hint at what direction Giovanni is going to take with the next book in the series. I'll be looking forward to the next installation:)

Publisher-Show n'ot Tell Publishing

Reviewer Rating: 4.5 Stars

Reviewed by~Cindi Clubbs

Thank you to the publisher for the donation of this book to the Read for your Future book program in exchange for a honest review!!

Summary-

Katelyn Michaels plans on hating every moment of her visit to Mont Saint Michel with her father’s new French wife. Once there, she is confused when she experiences sensations of déjà vu as she and her younger brother explore the medieval village and abbey. She is even more disturbed when she is confronted by two unusual young men, one who insists she has a sacred mission, and the other who will stop at nothing, even murder, to prevent her from fulfilling her destiny.

When the oddly-dressed but alluring Nicolas slips Katelyn a strange medallion, she is whisked back through time where her Watchmen hosts tell her she is the only hope to save Mont Saint Michel. Even worse, she learns that those trying to destroy the mount are led by a fallen angel intent on learning the mount's closely-guarded secret.
Katelyn is torn by feelings of anger at being taken back in time, inadequacy at finding a modern solution for a medieval problem, and responsibility for the mount’s starving inhabitants. She is also perturbed by her surprising attraction to the ill-tempered Nicolas. Will she stay to learn why she was chosen by the Archangel Michael and find a way to save his mount?

Review-

Author Kathleen C. Perrin combines religion, history, romance, and adventure in a story that will entertain and entrance readers. Heroine Katelyn Michaels travels back in time to become the modern, electronically-aided version of Joan of Arc alongside handsome Nicholas, the young Frenchman who brings Katelyn back to 1424. In order to return to a world that's based on Freedom, Katelyn must stop being a typical 17-year-old girl and instead become a leader of a ragtag French village, saving them from the English army and from one of Satan's own evil minions. I devoured this book within several days because Perrin created such wonderful and sympathetic characters, I absolutely had to find out what happened to the villagers of Mont Saint Michel and to Katelyn and Nicholas. The historical event that this novel is based on was just an extra little goody in a plot chock-full of excitement. A must-read for anyone wanting an edge-of-your-seat plot that includes some brilliant military strategy involving an ipod, camera, and computer.

Publisher-Langon House

Reviewer Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewed by~Cindi Clubbs

Thank you to the publisher for the donation of this book to the Read for your Future book program in exchange for a honest review!!!

Summary-

A continuation of the Twin Willows Series that began with WINTER FALLS...
The Twin Willows Waterfall is now under the control of the Benandanti, but for Alessia, the victory comes at a steep price. And the arrival of Nerina, one of the seven Concilio elders from the Friuli Clan, only complicates her life. Now she’s hiding a 450-year-old immortal on her farm, juggling school and her increasingly frustrated friends, and trying to keep the Malandanti from regaining the Waterfall. But it’s the passion that still lingers between her and Jonah that really keeps Alessia awake at night.
After a fatal visit from the Malandanti’s mage, Alessia brings in Jonah’s twin sister, Bree, to serve as a Benandanti spy. Bree has her own reasons for wanting to bring down the Malandanti, and soon she and Alessia find themselves in a tenuous alliance. But not even the powerful magic that Bree possesses nor the strong leadership that Nerina provides can stop the vicious Malandanti. As the two Clans barrel towards their inevitable collision, Alessia and Jonah are swept into the devastation and forced to make the ultimate choice.

Review-

The quote on the cover of this book reads "The highly anticipated sequel..." They must have been talking about me! I read Winter Falls last year and loved it--I couldn't WAIT for book two to come out. I wasn't disappointed. In The Mouth of the Wolf is even better than I could have hoped for. In book one, we meet shape-shifting Benandati heroine, Alessia, her forbidden Malandanti boyfriend, Jonah, and Jonah's angry, emo twin sister, Bree. In book two, the problems that the three teens face because of their respective shape-shifting clans get even more exhilarating and dangerous. The choices they make are brave, bold, and far more adult than a teen should have to make. Relationship problems, family issues, deep secrets kept from best friends, In The Mouth Of The Wolf delves even deeper into the secret world of the ancient Benandati and Malandati clans and illustrates the difficulty of being a supernatural creature at night, while being a normal teen during the day. Author Nicole Maggi relates so well to the teenaged crowd while creating a magical story of good and evil, magical creatures and mystical lands. Thoroughly enchanting story!

Publisher-Medallion Media Group

Reviewer Rating: 5 STARS!!!

Reviewed by~Cindi Clubbs