Cover Reveal: A Whisper In Time

A WHISPER IN TIME

(Whisper Falls #2)

by Elizabeth Langston

Paperback: 360 pages

Expected publication: April 8th 2014 by Spencer Hill Press

ISBN: 1937053814

Book Blurb:

“I have never been useless in my life…”

Rescued from a life of servitude by the boy she loves, Susanna Marsh escapes across two centuries, only to be plunged into a world she’s ill-prepared to face. Unable to work or go to school, Susanna finds herself dependent on others to survive.   

Immersed in the fun and demands of his senior year of high school, Mark Lewis longs to share his world with the girl who’s captured his heart. But first he must tackle government bureaucracy to prove Susanna’s identity.

Overwhelmed by her new home, Susanna seeks refuge in history and in news of the people she left behind. But when she learns that danger stalks her sister, Susanna must weigh whether to risk her own future in order to save Phoebe’s happiness.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound 

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Author Bio:

Elizabeth Langston lives in North Carolina, halfway between the beaches and the mountains. She has two teen-ish daughters and one husband (a geek like her). When she's not writing software or stories, Elizabeth loves to travel with her family, watch dance reality TV shows, and dream about which restaurant ought to get their business that night.

Elizabeth's debut novel WHISPER FALLS released in November 2013. Its sequels, A WHISPER IN TIME and WHISPERS FROM THE PAST, release in 2014. Learn more about her at http://www.elizabethLangston.net.

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AWOKEN by Timothy Miller

Publication date: August 13th, 2013
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Number of Pages: 240
Date read: August 8th, 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy
Source: ARC from Spencer Hill Press
Format: Paperback




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(Description source: Goodreads)

Fourteen-year-old Michael Stevens has never been ordinary; no orphan who hears music coming from rocks considers himself a typical teenager. But life gets a lot more complicated when two-foot-tall, albino, doll-like men sneak into his room one night, transforming the harmless music into a frightening ability he cannot control.

Soon, strangers in black suits begin to ask unsettling questions while unnatural animals with mismatched eyes haunt the streets. They are hunting, and not just Michael: anyone he cares about is in danger.

With the help of a mysterious drifter, an annoying girl he's accidentally mutated, and one of those creepy doll men, Michael finds himself in the middle of a war that could forever change the world he knows - reconstructing the very definition of humanity.

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Awoken really surprised me, I really was not expecting to enjoy it as much as I did!

Firstly it began in a really interesting way, which I certainly was not expecting.

It drew me in from the beginning and even though Michael isn't the type of character I can usually relate to, I found that I grew to really connect with him.


Awoken opened dramatically, enticing me with curiosity to gather more information about what is in store for Michael and what the doll men are up to, as well as, why Michael is so important to them.

I found it increasingly easy to dive into the world, especially the more that I read it.

I enjoyed the way that the character relationships were formed and maintained, the way that they interacted with each other and grew as friends as well as people in themselves.

The detail given to setting and both plot and character development was lovely, events flowed into each other without leaving any dull gaps in the excitement.

I found that towards the end, just after the journey to the final confrontation, that the pace suddenly picked up and that a lot of information and action was packed into a few small chapters. This made it very challenging for me personally to create connections to the new characters introduced, the ending felt a bit rushed and as though the author tried to hurriedly tie up loose ends.

Overall I really enjoyed the world that was created and wish that there were more books set in this world, the doll men were hilarious at times and I adored their antics as well as Michael's responses to them!

I rate Awoken four out of Five!

BREAKING GLASS by Lisa Amowitz

Publication date: July 9th, 2013
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Number of Pages: 232
Date read: July 5th, 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Fantasy, Thriller, Paranormal
Source: ARC from Spencer Hill Press
Format: Paperback





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(Description source: Goodreads)

On the night seventeen-year-old Jeremy Glass winds up in the hospital with a broken leg and a blood alcohol level well above the legal limit, his secret crush, Susannah, disappears. 

When he begins receiving messages from her from beyond the grave, he's not sure whether they're real or if he's losing his grip on reality. 

Clue by clue, he gets closer to unraveling the mystery, and soon realizes he must discover the truth or become the next victim himself.

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One tiny sip to beat back the rising waters that threaten to drown me.

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I pride myself on my steely self-control.

The way Breaking Glass is described makes it sound so incredibly mysterious and suspenseful and that really drew me in, I love a good mystery! The blurb of Breaking Glass only covers the very basics, so be prepared! This novel will surprise the hell out of you! But only in the very best of ways...

Breaking Glass begin with the main character, Jeremy Glass, stuck in an awkward situation that will lead up to his accident. The novel then goes on flipping between the present and Jeremy's memories. Jeremy reveals secrets throughout the story and deals with a lot of devastation, all the while trying to figure out exactly what happened to Susannah.

Breaking Glass is misleading in the best possible way, keeping you guessing as to what is going on and throwing you for a loop every time you think you may finally have guessed what will follow. Jeremy is an incredibly interesting character, he doesn't spend a whole lot of time dwelling in complete self-pity, rather focusing on the mystery of Susannah, and trying to untangle the many lies. There are reasons why he is the way he is and his reactions are authentic, he is strong, self-deprecating and still capable of being funny.

Jeremy is an amazing narrator, giving up more information bit by bit and keeping readers hanging, is he right? Has Susannah been murdered? Or is everything in his head?

Lisa Amowitz creates real characters who are flawed and completely 3 dimensional, with real problems and issues that have reasons explaining them and consequences for how they react. Each character will surprise you with how much they change in your opinion from the very first impression they give, some are the exact opposite from how they first seem and others shock you with how incredible they are. Ryan is my favourite character aside from Jeremy.

Lisa perfectly developed her antagonist, making this person twisted, manipulative, and sinister. The plot of Breaking Glass is tumultuous and such a rollercoaster with so much going on and so many emotions, this read is dark and haunting and so unexpected.

After reading Breaking Glass, I am of the firm belief that there is not a chapter that Lisa Amowitz can write, not matter what the subject matter is, that is not readable. This story will draw you in, captivate you and intrigue you, a dark, twisted and unforgettable read.

I begin to run at full tilt. I still have some distance to cover, but that’s no problem for me, even with the Absolut pumping heat through my veins. But my boot heel catches on a wet leaf then slides out from under me.

I’m flying, but I land softly.

I rate Breaking Glass Five out of Five!

Breaking Glass Book Blitz!

Breaking Glass by Lisa Amowitz
Release Date: 07/09/13
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Summary from Goodreads:

On the night seventeen-year-old Jeremy Glass winds up in the hospital with a broken leg and a blood alcohol level well above the legal limit, his secret crush, Susannah, disappears. When he begins receiving messages from her from beyond the grave, he's not sure whether they're real or if he's losing his grip on reality. Clue by clue, he gets closer to unraveling the mystery, and soon realizes he must discover the truth or become the next victim himself.



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***Excerpt***
“So where is he?” She cranes her neck, trying to spot Ryan in the crowd.
Heart pounding, my mind hiccups through its storehouse of facts. I reposition myself to block her view. There’s no time to try texting Ryan a warning.
I could tell Susannah. Tell her how Ryan has been sneaking around behind her back for over a year, even hooking up with two college juniors in a motel room during one of our out of town meets. But defying the Morgan machine by pointing this out takes too much energy. Instead I blurt, “Did you realize the Watch Hill carousel was once part of a traveling carnival?”
She laughs and shakes her head. “What? Jeremy, sometimes you can be such a--”
But her voice trails off as her gaze wanders past mine, her smile crumpling like a paper bag. I follow her line of sight and I know this is it. The crowd has thinned around Ryan, enough for her to see him with his mouth smashed against Claudia’s.
“Oh, man,” I gasp. I turn to comfort Susannah, but she is already gone.
I stand, dithering; wanting to run after her and apologize for letting her walk into this ambush.
But, no. This is something Ryan needs to take care of. I might have signed on to sweep his mess under the rug, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to clean up after him. I push through the crowd to get to him.
“What? She what? Did you know she was coming back early?”
I feel my face heat. “No.”
Ryan pushes Claudia off of him, his stage makeup still glistening and thick, traces of Claudia’s lipstick smeared on his lips. “Good job, Jeremy. You could have at least texted me.”
My hand curls into a fist. I stuff it in my jacket pocket. “She ran out,” I say. “Maybe you can catch her.”
Ryan shrugs, and without a coat, stalks out of the theater into the night. I wait a few minutes then follow. Susannah’s car is gone, and so is Ryan’s. I try to call Susannah, but she doesn’t pick up.
I get in my car and focus on resisting the water bottle’s siren call, panicked glimpses of my waking nightmare crashing through the floodgates, the terrifying memories swept through with it. The rain and the torrents of water sweeping past, draining into the Gorge, forcing me to remember. To relive it. No. Not now. I need to stay clear.
Since eighth grade, when I discovered that liquor dulls my terrors, I have been a master thief and spy.
Not even Ryan knows.
Just a sip to calm my shaky nerves. One tiny sip to beat back the rising waters that threaten to drown me. I can do it. I pride myself on my steely self-control. My ability to remain stone-cold sober even when the track team holds a victory keg party. They call me Jeremy the Teetotaler. Jeremy, the History Nerd who never partakes.
I snap open the glove compartment. The innocuous silver bottle is shoved behind the owner’s manual, gas receipts and a collection of power bar wrappers. I raise it to my lips and gulp once, twice, three times; the cold liquid igniting as it hits my throat. It takes two, three more gulps to slow my heart to normal speed. The bottle is nearly empty. I cap it and return it to the compartment, warmth flowing to my cold fingers. I’d need to drink three times as much as that to lose focus.
Swerving the deserted black roads slick with rain over ice, I follow my usual running circuit. This is familiar turf. My backyard, practically.
Yes. I can do this. Susannah knows my route so I hope she’s come this way and parked, knowing I’d find her. She wants me to find her. To comfort her. I’ll tell her everything. How I’m sorry for lying to her. For letting Ryan hurt her. And maybe at last she’ll accept that it’s not Ryan she wants, but me.
But there’s no sign of her.
After driving and searching fruitlessly, my mind churning with outcomes, the now driving rain blurring my windshield, I can’t stand it anymore. My heart is racing. Just one last sip to fortify myself is all I need.
When I round the next hairpin curve, my headlights flash on Ryan’s car parked behind Susannah’s, engines running. I squint through the rain and mist and spot them behind the guardrail, illuminated in the headlamps’ cone of light. There’s no shoulder on this side of the road, so I pull over when I can, about twenty yards past them.
When I finally get out of the car I can hear her shouts over the racket the rain makes. My head is buzzing, but my thoughts are clear.
In fact, they’ve never been clearer, as the roots that entangle me fall away.
The damp air smells like freedom.
Susannah screams, and pounds at Ryan’s chest with her fists. He shoves her hard and she falls backward. I don’t see her get up again. Raucous arguments were nothing new between Susannah and Ryan, but I’d never seen him hit her before.
There’s a steep decline into the woods where they’ve chosen to have their argument and I worry Susannah could have gotten hurt. Ryan disappears now, too. What the hell are they doing?
I begin to run at full tilt. I still have some distance to cover, but that’s no problem for me, even with the Absolut pumping heat through my veins. But my boot heel catches on a wet leaf then slides out from under me.
I’m flying, but I land softly.

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About the Author

Lisa has been a professor of Graphic Design at her beloved Bronx Community College where she 

has been tormenting and cajoling students for nearly seventeen years. She 

started writing eight years ago because she wanted something to illustrate, but 

somehow, instead ended up writing YA. Probably because her mind is too dark and 

twisted for small children.

BREAKING GLASS which will be released in July, 2013 from Spencer Hill Press, is her first 

published work. VISION, the first of the Finder series will be released in 

2014, along with an unnamed sequel in the following year. LIFE AND BETH will 

also be released in the near future, along with graphic novel style art. 

Website│Twitter│Goodreads

***GIVEAWAY***

1-custom pendant like the one pictured on the book cover

 2-signed ARCS

 1-original work of Breaking Glass related art created and signed by the author.

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

TRIANGLES by Kimberly Ann Miller

TRIANGLES
Author: Kimberly Ann Miller
Standalone (but will have a companion novel)
Publication date: June 18th, 2013
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Number of Pages: 175
Date read: June 14th, 2013
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Science Fiction
Source: ARC from Spencer Hill Press
Format: Paperback
Add on Goodreads


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(Description source: Goodreads)

A cruise ship. A beautiful island. Two sexy guys. What could possibly go wrong? 

In the Bermuda Triangle—a lot.

Hoping to leave behind the reminders of her crappy life--her father's death years ago, her mother's medical problems, and the loser who’s practically stalking her--seventeen-year-old Autumn Taylor hops on a ship with her sister for a little distraction. When she wakes up in the Bermuda Triangle, she fears she's gone nuts for more than one reason: that loser’s suddenly claiming they're a happy couple... a hot guy is wrapping his arms around her and saying "Happy Anniversary"... and suddenly, she’s full of bruises, losing her hair, and getting IV medication. Autumn visits the ship's doctor, hoping for a pill or a shot to make the craziness go away. Instead, she's warned that these "alternate realities" could become permanent.

She just has to ask herself one question—how the hell is she going to get out of this mess?

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I have been dying to read Triangles since I very first found out about it when participating in the cover reveal! Th cover is simply gorgeous, but that's not the only thing gorgeous about this - in fact there are a lot of gorgeous aspects to Triangles: the location! the two guys! and the writing style!!!

Triangles is the story of seventeen-year-old Autumn Taylor (by the way, I love her unique name: Autumn Rayne Taylor), who has just recently quit school and is desperately searching for a way out of her hometown. Autumn feels responsible for the fate of her parents and carries the guilt around with her, it especially comes to the surface when she and her sister, Jessica, go on a cruise to the Bermuda Triangles which was organised by her mother years earlier. What makes Autumn more reluctant to go on the cruise? The fact that her shadow, a work mate who has a crush on her, ends up on the very same cruise.

Autumn thinks her vacation can't get much worse... that is, until she starts waking up confronted with alternate realities involving family, boys, secrets and choices. She is also confronted by the possibility of any one of the realities becoming permanent.

Autumn is a very stubborn character, very set in her ways of thinking and seeing things, she has let her grief consume parts of her - the more optimistic, carefree parts of her, and it really shows in her interactions with other people, specifically her interactions with her sister and Joey. But Autumn is also strong and smart, as she lives the alternate realities, she holds tight to her morals and comes to several realisations that you can see giving her the potential to become a better person and someone who makes better decisions.

The plot is very well paced and it is so easy to forget to put this book down, the characters, the storyline, they all serve to pull you in and bring YOU to the realisation that there are some things that mean more, that should be a priority despite more often being pushed aside, and that no matter what you might think, there is always more to people than meets the eye.

Triangles is an absolutely amazing novel and it has made it impossible for me to not read any future books by Kimberly Ann Miller! Triangles definitely has a place on my list of all-time favourites, it teaches you to always look on the bright side of life, it is so insight and heart warming with hidden depth, an absolute must read!!!

I rate TRIANGLES Five out of Five!!!

Cover Reveal: 400 lb Gorilla

400 lb Gorilla by D.C. Farmer

"Matt Danmor thinks he’s lucky. Not many people survive a near death accident with nothing more than a bout of amnesia, a touch of clumsiness and the conviction that the technician who did the MRI had grey skin and hooves.

Still, it takes time to recover from trauma like that, especially when the girl who was in the accident with you disappears into thin air. Especially when the shrinks keep telling you she’s just a figment of your imagination.

So when the girl turns up months later looking ravishing, and wanting to carry on where they left off, Matt’s troubled life starts looking up. But he hasn’t bargained for the baggage that comes with Silvy, like the fact she isn’t really an English language student, or even a girl.

Underneath her traffic stopping exterior is something else altogether, something involving raving fanatics bent on human sacrifice, dimensionally challenged baked bean tins, a vulture with a penchant for profanity, and a security agent for the Dept of Fimmigration (that’s Fae immigration for those of you not in the know) called Kylah with the most amazing gold-flecked eyes…

The 400 Lb Gorilla is caustic, (vampire-free) introduction to the Hipposync Archives: Contemporary fantasy at its sparkling best."

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400 lb Gorilla sounds like an immensely strange and intriguing read, the cover looks awesome and the description is unlike any I've ever really read before!

What do you think?

Triangles Blog Tour!!!

Triangles by Kimberly Ann Miller is a novel that I have been long awaiting and I had planned for this post to be a review of Triangles, but alas, I get to today and my review copy has not yet arrived. But better late than never, I get home from school and what was waiting for me.... Triangles was. It was the best thing for me to come home to on my birthday (yes, I am finally 18!).

 Triangles has a gorgeous cover, a gripping description, and upon diving straight in - an even more amazing story. Although I have not finished Triangles (due to too much homework grrr) I am be putting everything aside tomorrow to finish what I started and I am soo excited. Expect a review in the next few days....

Here is the description (from Goodreads)  so that you know what to look forward to:

A cruise ship. A beautiful island. Two sexy guys. What could possibly go wrong?

In the Bermuda Triangle—a lot.

Hoping to leave behind the reminders of her crappy life--her father's death years ago, her mother's medical problems, and the loser who’s practically stalking her--seventeen-year-old Autumn Taylor hops on a ship with her sister for a little distraction. When she wakes up in the Bermuda Triangle, she fears she's gone nuts for more than one reason: that loser’s suddenly claiming they're a happy couple... a hot guy is wrapping his arms around her and saying "Happy Anniversary"... and suddenly, she’s full of bruises, losing her hair, and getting IV medication. Autumn visits the ship's doctor, hoping for a pill or a shot to make the craziness go away. Instead, she's warned that these "alternate realities" could become permanent.

She just has to ask herself one question—how the hell is she going to get out of this mess?

FINN FINNEGAN by Darby Karchut

Book One in the Adventures of Finn MacCullen series
Publication date: March 12th, 2013
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Number of Pages: 184
Date read: January 3rd, 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Action
Format: Paperback
Source: ARC from Spencer Hill Press



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(Description source: Back of Book Cover)

Finn (not bleedin' Finnegan) MacCullen is eager to begin his apprenticeship. He soon discovers the ups and downs of hunting monsters in a suburban neighborhood under the demanding tutelage of the Knight, Gideon Lir. Both master and apprentice are descendents of the Tuatha De Danaan, a magical race of warriors from Ireland. Scattered long ago to the four corners of the world, the De Danaan wage a two thousand year old clandestine battle with their ancient enemy, the Amandán, a breed of goblin-like creatures.

Now with the beasts concentrating their attacks on Finn, he and his master must race to locate the lost Spear of the Tuatha De Danaan, the only weapon that can destroy the Amandán, all the while hiding his true identity from his new friends, Rafe and Savannah, twins whose South African roots may hold a key to Finn's survival. Armed with a bronze dagger, some ancient Celtic magic, and a hair-trigger temper, Finn is about to show his enemies the true meaning of "fighting Irish."

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“I dinna write the rules. It clearly states in the ‘How to Train Yer Apprentice’ manual that the apprentice does the laundry.”

The fact that Finn Finnegan is an immensely enjoyable read was obvious simply from reading the first few chapters. One of my favourite things about this novel is the easy-going banter between master and apprentice.

Finn Finnegan decides to take it upon himself to start his apprenticeship slightly early and when Knight Gideon Lir agrees to take him on despite unforeseen circumstances, he has no idea exactly what he's getting himself into. With a temper to match Gideon's, Finn is seriously lacking in manners and restraint.
Training to fight the Amandan, ancient goblin-like foe of the Tuatha De Denaan, Finn is learning new things everyday and trying to make friendships too, but it soon becomes abundantly clear that the Amandan are high in number and becoming an evermore deadly threat. 

This book is genuinely surprising in the best way possible. The characters were really compelling in their stubbornness and tempers and their witty dialogue.

Set in modern day, Finn Finnegan is a mix of following ancient traditions while using modern day technology. There are such realistic everyday life things as well as 

awesome action-packed fighting sequences. Well rounded characters who each brings piecces of their own story and draw you in to the novel, make this book so incredibly enjoyable.

The plot is so well thought out, there is never a single lulling moment or any kind of hole in the plot, with surprising twists it is so difficult to attempt to guess the ending. This is by no means a difficult read but the story line challenges you to figure out what exactly is going on, you begin to need to know, to need to keep reading till the end!

Purely and simply a fantastic read, I can't wait for book two in The Adventures of Finn MacCullen series!

“Now, the most important thing to remember when battling an Amandan with a blade is to…” He paused, eyebrows raised as he waited for Finn to answer. “Stick it with the sharp end?” The knight blinked. He scratched the back of his neck with the tip of the weapon and tried again. “The second most important thing to remember when battling an Amandan with a blade is to…”

I rate Finn Finnegan Five out of Five!