REVIEW: MY DATE FROM HELL (The Blooming Goddess Trilogy, #2) by Tellulah Darling

Title: My Date from Hell

Series: The Blooming Goddess Trilogy, #2

Author: Tellulah Darling

Publisher: Te Da Media

Publication Date: October 31, 2013

Genres: YA, Fantasy

Reviewed by: Books4Tomorrow

Source: Received from author for review

My rating: 5/5

SUMMARY

Sophie Bloom’s junior year has been a bit of a train wreck. After the world’s greatest kiss re-awakened Sophie’s true identity as Persephone (Goddess of Spring and Savior of Humanity), she fought her dragon-lady guidance counselor to the death, navigated mean girl Bethany’s bitchy troublemaking, and dealt with the betrayal of her backstabbing ex, Kai (sexy Prince of Darkness). You’d think a girl could catch a break.

Yeah, right.

With Zeus stepping things up, it’s vital that Sophie retrieve Persephone’s memories and discover the location of the ritual to stop Zeus and Hades. So when Aphrodite strikes a deal that can unlock Sophie’s pre-mortal past, what choice does the teen goddess have but to accept?

The mission: stop media mogul Hermes from turning Bethany into a global mega-celebrity. The catch? Aphrodite partners Sophie and Kai to work together … and treat this suicide mission as a date. Which could work out for Sophie’s plan to force Kai to admit his feelings for her–if she doesn’t kill him first.

Add to that the fact that BFF Theo’s love life and other BFF Hannah’s actual life are in Sophie’s hands, and suddenly being a teenager—even a godlike one—seems a bit like … well, hell. Whatever happened to dinner and a movie?

The YA romantic comedy/Greek mythology fireworks continue to fly inMy Date From Hell. Love meets comedy with a whole lot of sass in book two of this teen fantasy romance series. Breaking up is easy; dating is deadly.

REVIEW

I was so excited to start reading the sequel to My Ex from Hell, it was totally worth the wait! I had no idea how Tellulah Darling was going to improve on the first book, but boy oh boy, she surprised me to no end. From the get go, with a recap of the previous book aptly titled The Cheat Sheet to my Life Thus Far, laughs abound in this fantasy adventure novel.

If you’ve enjoyed the first book, you’ll love My Date from Hell. That I can assure you. The plot moves at an incredible pace and the story hardly allows the reader time to take a deep enough breath before plunging into the next action sequence. The romance between Sophie and Kai heats up, and if that’s a plus point for me (who isn’t one for romance in books), then it should give you a pretty good idea of what to expect. The lighthearted tone throughout this novel adds to the enjoyment thereof and keeps the story flowing. But of course, the real star of the show is our lovely protagonist, Sophie, who is the personification of brave and witty. I absolutely adore her character. And as much as she shines in her role as innocent-bystander-thrust-into-the-middle-of-a-supernatural-war, many secondary characters – especially Sophie’s friends – help make this book a hit.  

As per what I’ve grown accustomed to in My Ex from Hell, this sequel sure doesn’t disappoint. The writing is clever and concise, the dialogue is natural, and the characterization for each character is realistic and believable. Tellulah Darling sets the bar high for the next book in this series and I’m even more excited than I was before to read more from this author. I’d recommend My Date from Hell to anyone looking for a read that would make them laugh, take them on a mindboggling fantasy adventure and leave them feeling as good as when coming off an adrenaline-pumping theme-park ride. Just in case I wasn’t clear enough before, I’m saying you should get the first book and this one and add both to your to-read list asap!

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My Date from Hell by Tellulah Darling has 43 reviews on Goodreads. Read it here.

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ABOUT the AUTHOR

Tellulah Darling
noun

1) YA novelist
2) Alter ego of former screenwriter and instructor
3) Sassy minx

Geeks out over: cool tech.
Squees for: great storytelling.
Delights in: fabulous conversation.
Writes about: where love meets comedy. Awkwardness ensues.

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GUEST REVIEW: UNSEELIE TIES (Hayle Coven, #14) by Patti Larsen

Title: Unseelie Ties

Series: Hayle Coven, #14

Author: Patti Larsen

Publisher: Self-published

Publication Date: February 24, 2013

Genres: YA, Paranormal

Reviewed by: Ellen Fritz

Source: Received from author for review

Ellen’s rating: 5/5

SUMMARY

Second year of witch college has been a little boring for Syd so far. She suddenly wishes she could go back to her boredom when the Unseelie Lord Venemeth appears, a guest lecturer at Harvard. Despite all her warnings to her mother and the board of governors about him, Venner is given free rein. But what his handlers don’t understand is he’s not working alone—and his partner has her own plans for the Sidhe realm that have nothing to do with him going home...

REVIEW

Yet again a Hayle Coven novel - Unseelie Ties this time – that kept me reading long into the night. Syd's boredom with her second-year classes is transformed into another life threatening adventure when the Unseelie Lord Venemeth, Liam's mother, Sonja O'Dane and Syd's old nemesis, Ms. Spaft, surface and once more upset the peace of Syd and her friends. With Liam gravely ill, several souls in peril and, most likely, an even bigger nemesis behind it all, Syd must venture into another realm in order to save her loved ones.

It is so refreshing to find a brand new adventure in a so far unexplored world in every new Hayle Coven novel. While the author keeps the key characters in place, she constantly introduces new characters to broaden the Hayle universe. The regular characters however, undergo notable growth as the series progresses.

From a girl who wanted nothing to do with magic at the age of fifteen, Syd has grown into a young woman who embraces her power and uses it for good. Unfortunately, with powerful vampire, demon and sidhe souls co-habiting with her own, she is the target of power hungry individuals like Ameline and numerous others. Add to this that she qualifies as one of the magi and that Ameline Benoit, for one, is determined to become magi, Syd has much to protect. Unfortunately her friends and family often get caught in the cross fire.

Apart from these constant threats and dangerous situations, Syd still has a coven to lead and the issue of coven second to resolve. Despite all this seriousness, life threatening situations, imminent sidhe battles and romantic issues there is still much to laugh about. Syd's inner dialogue and quirky personality kept me smiling and the lively, witty dialogue in this book often had me laughing out loud.

I would advise that readers get the previous books in the Hayle Coven series before reading Unseelie Ties. I happily give this page-turner five stars and declare it an absolute must-read.

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ABOUT the AUTHOR

My official bio reads like this: Patti Larsen is an award-winning middle grade and young adult author with a passion for the paranormal. But that sounds so freaking formal, doesn't it? I'm a storyteller who hears teenager's voices so loud I have to write them down. I love sports even though they don't love me. I've dabbled in everything from improv theater to film making and writing TV shows, singing in an all girl band to running my own hair salon.

But always, always, writing books calls me home.

I've had my sights set on world literary domination for a while now. Which means getting my books out there, to you, my darling readers. It's the coolest thing ever, this job of mine, being able to tell stories I love, only to see them all shiny and happy in your hands... thank you for reading.

As for the rest of it, I'm short (permanent), slightly round (changeable) and blonde (for ever and ever). I love to talk one on one about the deepest topics and can't seem to stop seeing the big picture. I happily live on Prince Edward Island, Canada, home to Anne of Green Gables and the most beautiful red beaches in the world, with my very patient husband and four massive cats.

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REVIEW: UNCHOSEN (The Reaper Diaries, #2) by Michele Vail

Title: Unchosen

Series: The Reaper Diaries, #2

Author: Michele Vail

Publisher: A Freeman Publication

Publication Date: October 29, 2013

Genres: YA, Paranormal, Mythology

Reviewed by: Books4Tomorrow

Source: Received for review

My rating: 5/5

SUMMARY

I thought the worst of my reaper training was behind me… turns out I was wrong. Dead wrong. 

Molly Bartolucci has done a lot of growing up but after being accused of using illegal magic at her school for necromancers, reaper-in-training Molly is treading lightly. As the destined leader of Anubis’s Chosen, she needs to study hard, train harder, and stay out of trouble. 

Uh, right. 

It doesn’t help that she’s feeling more than academic about her melt-your-bones hot reaping instructor, Rath. And if her relationship drama isn’t enough to drive her over the edge, she has to deal with mother issues, nosy little sisters, suspicious friends, and an unnamed force stalking her at school. 

Then her family is attacked, and her bio-dad ends up comatose in the hospital. Now, Molly has to uncover who’s trying to hurt her loved ones—and all without the help of Anubis.

REVIEW

This book was absolutely amazing! I loved the first book and was afraid the second book might not live up to the awesomeness of its predecessor. Turns out I had nothing to worry about.

As with Undeadly, the sequel is full of mystery, laughs, and surprises. The more I discover about Molly and her abilities, the more I want to know about her and her mysterious family. I love that this book is something refreshing and new in the paranormal genre in that it’s about necromancy. Can you imagine a more captivating story than one that has zombies, ghosts, reapers, necromancers, and Egyptian mythology all rolled into one? Unchosen gives new meaning to the term “spellbinding”!

I can’t tell you much more about this magnificent read without including spoilers. But this is definitely one series I’ll be reading until the end. Just a pity I have to wait so long for the next instalment! I loved the characters and easily lost myself in Molly’s world. The writing is engaging and once or twice I even had to wipe away a tear.

I recommend this series to all fans of the paranormal genre. Michele Vail has created something new and unique, and if you haven’t read the first book yet, no worries, Unchosen can be read as a stand-alone.

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Unchosen by Michele Vail has 23 reviews on Goodreads. Read it here.

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ABOUT the AUTHOR

Michele Vail writes young adult paranormal fiction about zombies and reapers. 

She likes reading, dogs, cats, board games, ghost-hunting shows, and Halloween. She believes in magic, in the impossible, and in the restorative powers of chocolate. 

Michele lives happily-ever-after with her Viking and their family.

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A GIFT FOR YOU FOR PRE-ORDERING: RACING SAVANNAH by Miranda Kenneally

Sourcebooks has put together a fun campaign to thank readers for pre-ordering Racing Savannah by author Miranda Kenneally. Send them your proof of pre-order and they’ll send you a fabulous horseshoe key chain! You have until December 2 or until quantities run out to get your hands on this beaut. This is for U.S. and Canada residents only.

Book Summary from Sourcebooks:

Right before her senior year, Savannah’s father whisks the family off to Tennessee to work as head groom at fancy Cedar Hill Farms. Savannah finally sees it as the perfect opportunity to earn extra money as an exercise rider—no matter how many others don’t want a girl around the barn.  But she’s also caught the eye of Jack Goodwin, the owner’s son. She knows the rules: no mixing between the staff and the Goodwin family. But Jack has no such boundaries. With her dream of becoming a jockey, Savannah is not going to let someone tell her a girl isn’t tough enough to race. Sure, it’s dangerous. Then again, so is dating Jack.

Here’s how to get your charm:

1. Pre-order the book (print or eBook) through any retailer (Barnes & Noble, Amazon, your local independent bookseller/Indiebound, Books-A-Million, Hastings, etc.)

2. Email your proof of purchase (receipt or picture of the receipt) to teenfire@sourcebooks.com. Put “Racing Savannah Pre-Order” in the subject line. Don’t forget to include your home address (US & Canada only please) so we can send you the horseshoe key chain! If you’ve already pre-ordered this book—not a problem! Send us your receipt!

3. You will get an email back confirming when the items have been sent out.

4. Enjoy Racing Savannah when it comes out in December!

Optional: take a pic of you and your horseshoe key chain and share it with Miranda Kenneally or Sourcebooks Fire on Twitter! You can find Miranda @mirandakennealyand Sourcebooks Fire @sourcebooksfire.

BLOG TOUR: EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY: RECKLESS by Danielle Weiler

Tour Schedule

Title: Reckless

Author: Danielle Weiler

Publisher: Ranga Books

Publication Date: August 9, 2013

Genres: Contemporary, New Adult

Tour Hosted by: Xpresso Book Tours

SUMMARY

Milly Benton wants it all to go away. Wants to flip the bird to the nightmares and her parent’s grief and the incessant questions about when she’s going to make something of herself.

But when her parents exile her to the country, Milly has to cope with her annoyingly helpful aunt and three cousins instead. Bitter at the hand she’s been dealt, Milly has stopped dreaming of a future. 

In steps Jerome with his tormented blue eyes. Familiar from her childhood and as broken as she. They need each other. But how can they forget?

EXCERPT

The day before Aunt Charmaine was due to visit, Pierre arrived. I couldn’t shake off a feeling of dread. What if I didn’t like him? He came all this way to see me, only me ...


Driving to the bus stop that afternoon, my hands shook.

What if he was, like, forty years old, seedy and hairy? What if Ava laughed at me ’cos I got fooled? As I turned into the pick up area, I was instantly relieved. I recognised Pierre straight away. He was the only one left. I slowly got out of my car and walked towards him, feeling coy. At the same time, I wished I could back away and go back to my normal life of no commitments. But I wasn’t committing myself, was I? I could walk away from this whenever I wanted, right?

‘Milly,’ he said as we closed the gap, and his voice was the only familiar thing about him. I felt odd as he opened his broad arms to give me a hug as a long lost friend, yet a stranger. ‘It’s so good to finally see you. You are just as beautiful as your photos.’

‘Thanks,’ I said shyly. I wasn’t sure I could say the same. He was shorter than I thought he’d be from his photos. And I’d never seen the back of his head. Now, I could. The 3D thing was weird. ‘Let’s get your stuff into my car.’

I could feel his eyes on me, checking me out, drinking me in.

After making a joke about the steering wheel being on the wrong side of the car, we started driving.

‘You are a very good driver,’ he commented.
I said nothing as I turned the last corner into the nearest beach car park. He made me self-conscious.
A high-pitched sound began ringing in my head, like a warning buzzer.
‘I don’t really think about it,’ I said finally. ‘I bet you’re good at a lot of things.’

I rolled my eyes. ‘OK, that was lame,’ I said, and forced a smile. I hoped he wouldn’t notice the fakeness in it.

‘That’s better. I like it when you are relaxed.’
He leaned over and kissed my cheek lightly. ‘Let’s see what these Australian beaches are made of.’


We walked up the white, powder-like sand. He tried to make me laugh, telling me stories about the flight over, and how the air hostesses flirted with him.

‘You’re so full of yourself. It’s their job to be nice,’ I said as I shook my head.

‘They were about to lock me in the toilet. It was only because I told them I was going to see the girl of my dreams in Australia that they backed off.’ He nodded towards me.

I pushed his shoulder playfully then, surprised at how much I liked the feeling of his tense muscles under my palm.

Pierre suddenly started chasing me, all the way down to the water, until I only had the ocean at my back. My heart raced.

‘Pierre, you don’t want to do this,’ I said as he stepped gingerly into the icy cold water.

‘I’m sure I do,’ he answered, ‘but why don’t I want to?’

‘Because there are really big sharks. Haven’t you seen the documentaries? They can eat you.’

I eyed off ways to get around him while he kept coming closer into the water, intent on his target.

‘Let the sharks come!’ he bellowed, then went down like a little girl falling off a bike, straight into the crashing waves.

‘Pierre?’ I shouted, running to help him.

‘I’m stung! I’m stung!’ he screamed, his face contorted, hands clutching his right calf. ‘Something is eating me!’

I looked around wildly for a stingray, a blue-bottle jelly- fish. Anything sinister enough to be causing him this much pain. Then I saw little clear tentacles floating aimlessly near Pierre and rolled my eyes.

‘Ah, yes, I forgot to tell you about our deadly stingers, too. My bad.’ Smiling behind one hand and giggling, I helped him up.

Four long red streaks across his calf showed where the stinger had offered its tattoo.

Pierre began to gesture and spit in French. I could only assume he was swearing and fussing about dying. People walking past us on the beach looked at Pierre strangely. Worse, they then looked at me.

I just laughed at him.


‘Well I’m glad this is so funny for you,’ he said darkly, rubbing his calf. ‘Sook.’

‘ “Sook?’’ ’


I rolled my eyes at his accent. ‘Pierre, you’re so ... I don’t know. French.’

‘You haven’t seen anything yet,’ he winked. And the playful Pierre was back.

I shook my head to clear it, wondering at how quickly he could change his moods.

The peach sun was slowly disappearing into the horizon as we made our way back to my car.

‘Let’s go out to dinner, yes? My shout.’ Pierre’s eyes sparkled with mischief.

Yet he was limping. From a stinger.

‘After we drop off your bags. We need to check you in, King Neptune.’

‘OK, then we’ll go for our first date.’

I nodded, stomach churning.

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ABOUT the AUTHOR

Danielle Weiler loves all things written. She has her best story ideas in the middle of the night when there’s no chance to remember them the next day. Her first YA novel, Friendship on Fire, was published in 2011. Reckless is Danielle’s first novel for new adults. She has lived and taught high school in New South Wales and Victoria but prefers the sunny weather in Perth. She is kept company by her husband, son and naughty cat, Ginger.

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The author is offering signed copies of Reckless and Friendship on Fire as prizes for this giveaway! Enter by completing the below rafflecopter. Open internationally.

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REVIEW: IF YOU FIND ME by Emily Murdoch

Title: If You Find Me

Author: Emily Murdoch

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Publication Date: March 26, 2013

Genres: YA, Contemporary

Reviewed by: Books4Tomorrow

Source: Purchased

My rating: 5/5

SUMMARY

There are some things you can’t leave behind…

A broken-down camper hidden deep in a national forest is the only home fifteen year-old Carey can remember. The trees keep guard over her threadbare existence, with the one bright spot being Carey’s younger sister, Jenessa, who depends on Carey for her very survival. All they have is each other, as their mentally ill mother comes and goes with greater frequency. Until that one fateful day their mother disappears for good, and two strangers arrive. Suddenly, the girls are taken from the woods and thrust into a bright and perplexing new world of high school, clothes and boys.

Now, Carey must face the truth of why her mother abducted her ten years ago, while haunted by a past that won’t let her go… a dark past that hides many a secret, including the reason Jenessa hasn’t spoken a word in over a year. Carey knows she must keep her sister close, and her secrets even closer, or risk watching her new life come crashing down.

REVIEW

As a parent of a fourteen-year-old and five-year-old, almost the same ages as the two sisters in this book, this was a very difficult and heart-wrenching story for me to read. I was shocked at the cruelty and abuse Carey and Jenessa’s mother heaped on them. While reading, and right at the end again, I cried for so many reasons; one of it being about all the years father and daughter could’ve had together, lost because of the selfish actions of a so-called mother. This story – as far as it is removed from the reality I know – touched me on so many levels, I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.

This is honestly not a book for sensitive readers. The author doesn’t sugarcoat anything and themes such as drug abuse, child abuse, and sexual abuse are explored openly, but sensitively. Fifteen-year-old Carey and six-year-old Nessa are used to life in the woods, living with their meth addict mother – who would sometimes leave for weeks at a time – in a camper with the barest of necessities. It is not an easy life, as Carey more and more often has to fulfill the role of parent to Nessa when their mother isn’t around. Then one day out of the blue, Carey’s father and a social worker discovers the two girls out in the middle of nowhere, and takes them back to civilization to live with Carey’s father. Having lived in a camper in an eight-and-a-half-thousand-acre forest for so many years, adapting to life in a safe and stable environment proves difficult for Carey, especially with her new stepsister constantly making life unbearable for her. On top of all that, Carey and Nessa are suddenly also introduced to the things we take for granted, but which they only read about in books.

“I think of Saint Joseph and thank him for all of it—plentiful amounts of food, the miracle of electricity, inside flush toilets, clean, running water, bubbles for Jenessa, heat and blankets and the thick, plush towel that wraps around my body nearly twice, hanging down to my bony ankles.”

Cary also falls in love for the first time, and because I’m not a huge fan of romance, I appreciated that the author didn’t make it the main focus of Carey’s new life. The romance between Ryan and Carey is subtle, sweet, and there’s more of a purpose to it in the story line than it being a simple YA romance only. What stood out for me the most is how the author takes her time to tell us Carey and Jenessa’s story of their life in the woods through snippets and back flashes as Carey’s memories resurface. She also eases the reader alongside these two phenomenal characters into their new lives and explores their development and adjustment in their new home and school from every angle. The big twist at the end about “the white-star night” I saw coming a mile away, and it was easy to guess what the big reveal was going to be, but, it didn’t make it any less heartbreaking or shocking.

If You Find Me is a story about what happened to two vulnerable, defenseless girls while growing up, and how they were saved by a parent who never gave up and who never stopped hoping, or searching for his daughter. I have no doubt in my mind that somewhere in this world, such cruel child abuse and neglect are happening as I write this. Emily Murdoch has taken this sad and appalling reality and used sympathetic, but brutally honest prose to weave it into a tale that refuses to let go of the reader before getting to the last page. It feels as though I made this journey at Carey’s side, and it has opened my eyes to so many things no child should suffer, but which unfortunately remains a reality. I gave both my kids an extra hug after I finished this book. I highly recommend If You Find Me to anyone looking for a good-cry read. Trust me, this book is definitely worth your time.   

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If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch has 974 reviews on Goodreads. Read it here.

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ABOUT the AUTHOR

Emily is a writer, a poet, and a lover of books. There's never a time she's without a book. Her debut novel, IF YOU FIND ME, Released in 2013 through St. Martin's Griffin and Orion/Indigo UK.

IF YOU FIND ME has earned starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus and School Library Journal, was named a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice for June 2013, has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Awards, Best Books of 2013 in the Best Debut and Best Young Adult Fiction categories, and is an official nominee for YALSA’s Best Fiction for Young Readers list of 2013.

IF YOU FIND ME is also available in Dutch, German, Spanish, simple Chinese, Italian and Korean.

Look for Emily's next book, FORGET ME KNOTS, also through St. Martin's Press, in 2014/2015!

When she's not reading or writing, you'll find her caring for her horses, dogs and family on a ranch in rural Arizona, where the desert's tranquil beauty and rich wildlife often enter into her poetry and writing. 

Emily's other passion is saving equines from slaughter. She uses her writing to raise awareness of this inhumane practice, with the goal of ending the slaughter of America's equines through transport to slaughterhouses in Canada and Mexico. She offers sanctuary to abused and slaughter-bound equines who dazzle her every day with their forgiving nature and gratitude in exchange for security, consistency, food and love. 

As Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Emily hopes her penchant for writing will do just that.

All-in-all, she's a lefty in a right-handed world, writing her way through life and smearing ink wherever she writes.

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BOOK BLAST & GIVEAWAY: TIED by Laney McMann

Tied by Laney McMann

Normal people don't believe their nightmares stalk them. They don’t fall in love with boys who don’t exist, either.

Seventeen-year-old Layla Labelle, though, is far from normal. Her delusions walk the earth. Her hallucinations hunt her, and her skin heats to a burn every time her anger flares.

Or is that all in her head?

Layla doesn't know what to believe any more because if none of that’s true, Max MacLarnon must be an illusion, and her heart must still be broken.

No matter how much she wants to believe Max is real, doing so would mean everything else is, too. How, then, is that possible?

The answers lie in an age-old legend the supernatural aren’t prepared to reveal, and with a curse that could tear Layla and Max apart forever—if it doesn’t kill them both first.

In TIED, book one in the Fire Born trilogy, learning the truth will mean fighting an arsenal of demons, and being with Max will put Layla on a path toward her own destruction.

Just how far will Layla go to protect the one she loves?

The answer may never be far enough ... away.





Excerpt:

My window opened easily. The same way it had so many times before. Climbing out on the ledge, I found the ground empty and dropped from the second floor—a jump I'd made a hundred times. In another life.
My feet sunk into the sand, and I followed the well-worn pathway through the dunes. Even the strong evening winds hadn’t misshaped the deep gully. The ocean's breeze lashed at my hair as the moonlight glinted off the water’s surface. Seagulls flew up from their nesting grounds. They should have recognized me, since I’d been wandering at night for so long. Wrapping my arms around my knees to block the slight chill, I settled in the sand, and the birds quieted in a tight huddle, the wind blowing their feathers in awkward angles.
My gaze fell on a figure standing beyond the dunes edge, a shadow hidden within the darkness. My pulse quickened, but I didn't move. Another trick—an illusion. Weary of the games my mind continued to play, I bit back tears and the catch in my throat. I should have been immune to them—the hallucinations—the way they haunted me and followed me, but I wasn’t.
Forcing myself to blink, I turned my head away. The visions had grown worse as I’d become older. I’d tried to convince myself they were nightmares—or weird dreams. Hoped for years they were, but only people who sleep dream.
Unable, or unwilling to stop myself, I glanced back over my shoulder, thoughts flooding my brain. Memories I knew couldn’t be memories but I cherished all the same. For years I’d tried to shake them away. To make myself forget.
I couldn’t.#**#**#
A stone raps against my bedroom window. I creep over and peer through the blinds.
"You’re late." I lean out over the sill, grinning at the boy staring up at me.
"Come on, let’s go before she comes," he says.
I climb onto the window ledge. "Be nice. She’s my friend."
"Okay. Jump." He waves at me to go faster.
"Move, and I will."
He takes one casual step to the side.The jump isn’t too high; I make it all the time.
He grabs my hand when I land beside him in the soft sand. "Ready?"
I nod.
"One, two …"
"I’m going to tell!" Benny runs across my yard toward me, her blonde pigtails flapping in the wind. "You’re not allowed to talk to that boy, Layla! Your mom said!"
Max tightens his grip on my hand.
"Shut up, Benny! I'm old enough."
"You’re only nine. Don't go! "
"Three!" Max and I leave the ground.
“You're going to get in so much trouble.” Benny’s yell rings in the distance.
Our feet touch down in the wet grass of the Otherworld, icy sea air whipping at my face.
"Hopefully, she won’t follow us again." Max lets go of my hand.
"She won’t. I told her not to." I lead the way down the cliff face to the ocean.
"She never listens to you."


Book Trailer

Praise for Tied:

“The author has taken a unique concept and created a brilliantly written story. One of my new favorite fantasy books.” — The Reading Diaries
“I was so engrossed in this story that real life went on without me being aware of it.” — Crazy Four Books

“In the midst of games between parallel worlds, past and present, interrupted by visions and ancient prophecies, you are caught up in the story’s threads.” — Mythical Books
“There's so much amazing creativity that has gone into the Fire Born world; McMann combines and twist legends and the paranormal to come up with the perfect urban fantasy setting. ” — Known to Read



Author Laney McMann

With a passion for the supernatural and all things magical, Laney developed a voracious appetite for reading fantasy at a young age. A vivid imagination helped set the stage for creating her own worlds and placed her onto the writing path.
By the time she reached her teens, she'd accumulated notebooks full of poems, which led to short stories and finally novels. Young adult dark fantasy, paranormal romance, and mythology are among her favorite genres.

A former classical dancer and chef, she grew up in sultry Florida where she still resides with her family.

BookBlast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 11/24/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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