Release Day Launch & Giveaway: The Fine Art of Pretending by Rachel Harris

We are so excited to bring you the Release Day Launch of Rachel Harris' THE FINE ART OF PRETENDING! THE FINE ART OF PRETENDING is the first book in Rachel's The Fine Art of Pretending Series published by Spencer Hill Contemporary.

Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Amazon | Amazon UK | IndieBound

THE FINE ART OF PRETENDING Synopsis

According to the guys at Fairfield Academy, there are two types of girls: the kind you hook up with, and the kind you're friends with. Seventeen-year-old Alyssa Reed is the second type. And she hates it. With just one year left to change her rank, she devises a plan to become the first type by homecoming, and she sets her sights on the perfect date—Justin Carter, Fairfield Academy’s biggest hottie and most notorious player.

With 57 days until the dance, Aly launches Operation Sex Appeal and sheds her tomboy image. The only thing left is for Justin actually to notice her. Enter best friend Brandon Taylor, the school’s second biggest hottie, and now Aly’s pretend boyfriend. With his help, elevating from “funny friend” to “tempting vixen” is only a matter of time.

But when everything goes according to plan, the inevitable “break up” leaves their friendship in shambles, and Aly and Brandon with feelings they can’t explain. And the fake couple discovers pretending can sometimes cost you the one thing you never expected to want.


About Rachel Harris

Award-winning and Bestselling author Rachel Harris writes humorous love stories about sassy girls next door and the hot guys that make them swoon. Emotion, vibrant settings, and strong relationships are a staple in each of her books...and kissing. Lots of kissing.

An admitted Diet Mountain Dew addict and homeschool mom, she gets through each day by laughing at herself, hugging her kids, and watching way too much Food Network with her husband. She writes young adult, new adult, and adult romance, and LOVES talking with readers.  

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Author Goodreads | THE FINE ART OF PRETENDING Goodreads

Giveaway

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Musing Mondays (10)

     Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading, that asks you to muse about one of the following each week:
• Describe one of your reading habits.
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).
• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it!
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it.
• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!
• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!

My Musings for the Week...

     So I thought I would do something a little different today by talking about how my reviews come together, and a bit about how Our Thoughts Precisely works. First, are the reviews. Of course I have to read the books before I can even get to the review.  Once I've read the book I usually write the review in one sitting, and the length usually depends on how much I have to say about the book.  So the review could be long or short, but not based on if I enjoyed the book or not.  I could love the book, but feel like I can't say much without spoiling everything so the review would be shorter, or I could hate the book and have a lot to say on it.  It also works vice-versa.  Once the draft of the review is done I look over it for possible spoilers that might have made it in.  Once all is said and done, the reviews are posted.

     I review in no particular order, its just sort of random depending on what I do or don't want to read.  If I have review copies from the publisher I make them a priority, meaning they go first, usually.  I post when I want sometimes twice or more a week, sometimes less. It just depends, because balancing blogging with life is an important thing. In other words I've still got other things to do so blogging has fallen into my free time. Promotional post go up on the specified dates so there's nothing much to say on them.  All in all, my posts sometimes tend to be a little sporadic depending on what I'm doing at the time, or if I feel like blogging at all.
 
     Do I have someone working on the design of the blog?  Ha, ha, nope. I work on the design myself, that includes the header, background, the occasional arrows, and rating graphics. Would I considering hiring someone to do it for me?  No again. I like working on things for the blog, specifically the art.  For instance, the previous header I made was nice, but then I noticed something wrong with it later and I decided to scrap it for an entirely new look. With as many times as I want to change things, if I had to hire someone each time I would probably be broke by now.

     So that's it, a brief look into the things that happen behind the scenes at Our Thoughts Precisely.  If given the choice between making your own blog art and hiring someone else to do it, which would you choose?

The Friday 56 (10)

The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice where every Friday you pick a book and turn to page 56 or 56%, and select a sentence or a few, as long as it's not a spoiler. For the full rules, visit the the page HERE

"No way would I mention any of this to Nana and Pops. They'd freak--not that they'd ever show me. For me, they would smile and pretend all was well, never realizing I'd once caught them whispering in their bedroom."--Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter

I'm currently reading this one at the moment, and so far its ok.  What's on your page 56 this week?

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Rebellion by J.A. Souders

Today J.A. Souders and Rockstar Book Tours are revealing the cover for Rebellion, book 3 in the Elysium Chronicles releasing in June 9, 2015! And don't forget to check out book 1 & book 2 of the series.  Now, check out the gorgeous cover and enter to win the books! Now onto the reveal.

Title: Rebellion
Author: J.A. Souders
Publisher: TOR Teen
Pub. Date: June 9, 2015
Find it: Goodreads

About  The Author 

J.A. SOUDERS is the author of the Elysium Chronicles and lives in the land of sunshine and palm trees with her husband and two children where she spends her time writing about the monsters under the bed, day dreaming about living in an underwater colony, and failing miserably at playing video games.

Website   Blog   Twitter   Facebook   Goodreads   Pinterest

Alright now onto the giveaway. One winner will receive Elysium & Revelations plus the e-short as well as Ask Again Later by Liz Czukas.. If you have J.A.s books already, she will do an amazon or book depository gift card of the same value. The Giveaway is International, so go forth and enter!

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Happy Release Day: The Fires of Calderon by Lindsay Cummings

Today is the release days for Fires of Calderon (Balance Keepers #1) by Lindsay Cummings! So congrats to Lindsay Cummings on her new release. First, a little about the book. Summary from Goodreads

After following a mysterious map into the woods and then under the woods, eleven-year-old Albert Flynn learns he’s a Balance Keeper—someone with special magical skills for fixing problems in three underground Realms at the Core of the earth. His new job is important; if the realms fall out of balance, the world above could be in great danger.

Albert and his Balance Keeper teammates Birdie and Leroy arrive in the Core not a moment too soon. There’s an Imbalance in the Calderon Realm and it’s threatening to bury Albert’s hometown of New York City in a mountain of ash.

The three must train hard completing mental and physical challenges, but above all, they must harness the power of their Tiles—unique superpowers given to each Balance Keeper. So far, Albert’s mastered the art of not mastering his Tile....

Sounds interesting, right? Links below!   

    Amazon     Barnes & Noble   

Book Depository 

Musing Mondays (9)

     Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading, that asks you to muse about one of the following each week:
• Describe one of your reading habits.
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).
• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it!
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it.
• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!
• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!

My Musings for the Week...

     So picking up from last week, I'm going to continue with Part 2 of my book trailers discussions.  First up is the creepiest YA book trailer I've come across so far. And that goes to The Diviners by Libba Bray.  Everything about this book trailer is creepy but it definitely fits with the book. I've read this one, loved it, and definitely recommend it.

And since I couldn't just pick one creepy book trailer, here is the one from Lockwood & Co.: The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan  Stroud.

 I haven't read Seraphina by Rachel Hartman but it seems interesting and the trailer is nice.

Alright, moving on. Next are the Nightmares by Jason Segel & Kirsten Miller, there are three of them but I'm only going to post one here. I really love these since I'm a sucker for animated trailers. Link for trailer #1   Link for trailer #2

So that's all for the book trailers. There are plenty more out there but these were just a few of my favorites. Since I already asked about the favorite book trailers last week I'm just going to go for something different.  What are you reading this week?

The Friday 56 (9)

     The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice where every Friday you pick a book and turn to page 56 or 56%, and select a sentence or a few, as long as it's not a spoiler. For the full rules, visit the the page HERE

"He felt a tightening in his chest at the thought of abandoning his plans. But then, could he really join the road patrols with a clear conscience?"--Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne



Whats on your page 56 this week?

Review: Killer Frost by Jennifer Estep

Title:Killer Frost
Author: Jennifer Estep
Source/Format: Purchased, Paperback
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: K-Teen, February 25, 2014

Goodreads     Barnes & Noble     Audible     Book Depository

     Killer Frost by Jennifer Estep was an action-packed ending to the Mythos Academy series.  Lately, I've had a hard time finding a new series that I can really get invested in, so I'm really going to miss this one. Estep never fails to deliver an entertaining story with plenty of action and touches of romance expertly intertwined with the mythology the series revolves around.

     All of my favorite characters were back and better than ever, as the final fight is literally just around the corner. Things are as tense as they should be. As everyone is bracing themselves because the Reapers of Chaos are getting bolder with their attacks. Right from page one we're back with Gwen and her friends, but the peace surrounding them doesn't last long as the Reapers are up to no good again. The action starts as a new issue arises, and the fight over the artifacts continues. But Gwen was never alone, she always had her friends—Daphne, Carson, Oliver, Alexi, and her boyfriend Logan—to back her up, along with her adorable Fenrir Wolf puppy, Nyx.  Oh, and not to forget Grandma Frost, Gwen's baking expert, sword wielding grandmother.  The characters went through some changes—hardships and everything else—but it all added up to a great story.

    The final battle—the battle to end all battles—it happened in Killer Frost, but not how I expected it to play out. The plot—all of the anticipation built up by the previous books—just sort of intersected resulting in the final conflict as Gwen and her friends face down Loki himself. It was, and I really can’t put it any other way, one heck of an epic battle that's befitting to a series like Mythos Academy! The ending was perfect and wrapped up the plot points from previous books nicely. So I have to say, Killer Frost is another exciting final book to another great series that finished in 2014. I’m going to miss this one, but since I own all of the books in print I can almost foresee a reread of the entire series sooner rather than later. But hey, I've still got Estep’s upcoming release—Cold Burn of Magic—to look forward to.

Musing Monday (8)

    

     Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading, that asks you to muse about one of the following each week:
• Describe one of your reading habits.
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).
• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it!
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it.
• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!
• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!

My Musings for the Week...

     This is not going to be a short one...oh well, I'm just going to break it down into two parts. So here is part one. With book releases comes book trailers as a way to entice readers into wanting to read an upcoming release. I'm not judging the books based off the trailer, just the trailer itself.  Some of them go with books I've read and some of them no. (I even have a few of them on my shelf that I just haven't read yet.) Ok, so with that out of the way lets get started.  I like book trailers, they're interesting, and some of them pretty much sum up the books in question and serve as a way to pique my interest.  Since this is going to be a cheerful post, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite book trailers that I've come across at various times.  First up is the Leviathan Trilogy trailer for book one Leviathan.  I like the animation and the overall look for it.  And the part at the end always gets me, "Do you oil your war machines? Or do you feed them?" It's just so catchy.

     Ok, now these two are for Gail Carriger's YA novels Etiquette & Espionage and Curtsies & Conspiracies. I adore the whimsical theme of the trailers. The themes are just awesome.

      This next trailer is for one I haven't read but is sitting on my shelf. It's pretty cool, and it does grab my interest. The song is Fly on the Windscreen by Ane Brun & Vince Clarke, which is available on iTunes.

     As Dead As It Gets, I haven't even read any of the books, but just by seeing the trailer I'm interested. Like THIS trailer from From Bad to Cursed or the one from Bad Girls Don't Die.

     So that's all for Part 1, but check back next Monday for Part 2.  I'm also going to reveal which trailer I find to be the creepiest one I've ever seen. So I'll leave all of you with a question: What are some of your favorite book trailers?

The Friday 56 (8)

     The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice where every Friday you pick a book and turn to page 56 or 56%, and select a sentence or a few, as long as it's not a spoiler. For the full rules, visit the the page HERE

"A shadow fell over the two of us, and a Black roc dropped down from the sky."    --Killer Frost by Jennifer Estep                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               What's on your page 56 this week?

Musing Mondays (7)

     Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading, that asks you to muse about one of the following each week:

• Describe one of your reading habits.
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).
• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it!
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it.
• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!
• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!

My Musings for the Week...

       Today is truly going to be a random sort of post. Don't worry, it's about books...um, I guess. Anyway, here goes nothing. You just don't know how badly I want it to be October. No, its not because Halloween either, I'm talking about the 1st of October, because that's when Gotham Academy by Karl Kerschl, Brenden Fletcher, and Becky Cloonan comes out. I repeat: I WANT THIS COMIC SO BADLY.
     I mean look at the characters. LOOK
     AT THIS TOO
     THIS
     THIS 
     & THIS
     And I don't normally use caps lock in posts, but this is something I just felt the need to share. So yeah, October 1st. I don't normally talk about comics on Our Thoughts Precisely, but I might, because I am so excited for this.  So, have you guys heard of Gotham Academy?  Do you plan on checking it out? And, what are some of your favorite comics? (If you have any.) Leave your recommendations in the comments.

(*Upcoming: Next week I'm going to start the two part Musing Mondays featuring some of the book trailers I like.)

The Friday 56 (7)

     The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice where every Friday you pick a book and turn to page 56 or 56%, and select a sentence or a few, as long as it's not a spoiler. For the full rules, visit the the page HERE

"To Daemon, my arrival was the beginning of the end. The apocalypse. Kat-mageddon."
  --Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout




What's on your page 56 this week?

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Fragile Reign by Stacey O'Neale

     Today we're thrilled to help reveal the cover for FRAGILE REIGN (Mortal Enchantment #2) by Stacey O'Neale, which releases November 18, 2014! Check out the cover below, and let us know what you think in the comments. Then be sure to visit the bottom of the post for a giveaway!

 From author Stacey O'Neale about the cover:

In case you're curious about the cover, the model represents Marcus. The background represents the woodland court and the caves at the bottom are where the members of the royal family live. I chose caves because the woodland court protects the forests of the world. I didn't think they would choose to cut down trees to make a castle, so the massive caves worked out nicely. If you zoom in, you can see where the doors and windows are cut out. The inside is very lavish. If you read FRAGILE REIGN, you'll learn all about it.

Summary

     It’s been a week since all hell broke loose… Rumors of King Taron’s weakened powers have left the air court vulnerable. Kalin is desperate to awaken her akasha powers, except she doesn’t know how. Tension within the court is at an all-time high. Pressure is mounting for her to ascend to the throne, but a halfling has never ruled over any court. To solidify her position, the council has advised her to marry Sebastian—a high ranking air elemental she’s never met and her betrothed. Will Kalin sacrifice her relationship with Rowan to strengthen her court? Rowan and Marcus return to a fire court in turmoil. Liana’s death has fueled the fire elementals’ distrust against the air and woodland courts. The unbalanced elements have set off natural disasters all over the mortal world. Rowan takes the throne to restore balance, promising to unite the fire court. But not all elementals are happy with his leadership. Many are secretly loyal to Valac, which means Rowan needs to find allies for his cause. Can Rowan unify the court of fire before the elements destroy the world?

Pre-Order on Amazon

Be sure to add Fragile Reign to your TBR on Goodreads, or pre-order on Amazon! The prequel novella, The Shadow Prince, is currently free on Amazon, and you can also read MORTAL ENCHANTMENT for free if you have Kindle Unlimited.

About the Author

Stacey O’Neale lives in Annapolis, Maryland. When she’s not writing, she spends her time fangirling over books, blogging, watching fantasy television shows, cheering for the Baltimore Ravens, and hanging out with her husband and daughter. Her career in publishing started as a blogger-turned-publicist for two successful small publishers. Stacey writes young adult paranormal romance and adult science fiction romance. Her books always include swoon-worthy heroes, snarky heroines, and lots of kissing. Stacey loves hearing from readers. Follow her on Twitter @StaceyONeale, look for her on Facebook, Pinterest, and GoodReads. You can also visit her blog at http://staceyoneale.com/.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest 

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     Alright now that all the other stuff is out of the way lets move on to the giveaway.  Below you'll find a rafflecopter widget so you can enter for a chance to win a $100 Amazon or B&N gift card!  Sounds pretty awesome, right? Well, enter away:

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