*Quiz* What Literary Character Is Your Mental Twin?

I got:

Bilbo Baggins

Fond of a warm hearth and a full belly, your mental twin is Bilbo Baggins! While you are typically a quiet and reserved individual, your adventurous imagination often gets the better of you as curiosity is constantly bubbling up from within. You may be absolutely in love with your books and maps and tokens of the world - but as a wise wizard once said - "The world is out THERE"! Your knack for exploring and discovering new things is unmatched, as is you're cunning when put under pressure. Yet no matter how far you travel or stray from the path you once thought you'd walk - there will never be any comforts quite like home.

What did you get?

"Captured" by Erica Stevens! *Review*

*Originally published on July 16th, 2013; re-posted for our TBT Review.  Materials from Goodreads; review owned by Desert Rose Reviews.

The Captive #1

~Released: June 6th, 2012

~Length: 168 Pages

~Parent's Guide:  PG-17

~Genres: Young Adult, New Adult, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Dystopian, Sci-fi

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Amazon

Blood Slave.

Captured, taken from her beloved family and woods, Aria’s biggest fear is not the imminent death facing her, but that she will be chosen as a blood slave for a member of the ruling vampire race. No matter what becomes of her though, Aria knows that she must keep her identity hidden from the monsters imprisoning her. She has already been branded a member of the rebellion, but the vampires do not know the true depth of her involvement with it, and they must never know.

Though hoping for death, Aria’s world is turned upside down when a vampire named Braith steps forward to claim her. He delays her execution, but Aria knows it’s only a matter of time before he drains her, and destroys her. Especially once she learns his true identity as a prince within the royal family; the same royal family that started the war that ultimately brought down humankind, reducing them to nothing more than servants and slaves.

Aria is determined to hate the prince, determined not to give into him in any way, but his strange kindness, and surprising gentleness astonish her. Torn between her loyalties to the rebellion, and her growing love for her greatest enemy, Aria struggles to decide between everything she has ever known, and a love she never dreamed of finding.

"Catalyst" by Casey L. Bond! *Tour: Dream Cast, Excerpt & Soundtrack*

*Materials & images provided by Girls Heart Books Tours.

~Released: June 18th, 2015

~Length: 198 Pages

~Genres: Young Adult Dystopian

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iBooks ~ Kobo

**0.99 cents until 21st goes up to $2.99**

The city of Confidence is surrounded by a thick, concrete wall. These walls are built to protect those within and to keep dangers outside. What happens when the only danger to the citizens within is its leadership?

When a young man on a suicide mission meets a young woman with a terminal illness, both of them use one another as a means to their own ends. They never expect to become friends. They never expect to become so much more to each other. Their backgrounds and the secrets they uncover are more dangerous than any plans they could make together or separately. 

Revolution begins with a spark.

///*Cover Reveal* "#Poser" by Cambria Hebert!

Hey guys, Rose here.  Hope you're all doing well :)

I've recently decided to limit the cover reveals I do.  People don't seem to be that interested in them, and I generally end up participating in future events for that book if it sounds interesting, or it's an author I support.  Having redundant events for the same book can feel spammy, so I'm opting for events with more substance. 

You must be thinking "Why is there a cover reveal up then.  Now.  That I'm supposed to look at.  Right down there."

Well, cuz this series is kinda fun!  I've supported the whole series so far, and figured why not?  

I don't plan on having many more cover reveals on my blog, but this series is so much fun, I can't help but keep up the support.  Cambria Hebert is an author I really admire, and her work is inspiring.  Plus, her covers rock ;) 

So, here's the cover for the newest book in her Hashtag Series - #Poser!!  It's pink!! :D

~Release Date: August 18, 2015

~Designed by: Mae I Design

~Genres: New Adult, Contemporary, College Romance, Sports 

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Purchase Previous Books in the Series

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Posers gonna pose

I am a man who had nothing, but found everything.

I’ll never go back to nothing ever again.

I vowed to protect her, and that’s exactly what I’m gonna do. 

The pictures I stumbled upon haunt me still, the secret I shoulder is heavy.

They say secrets put distance between two people, but the truth is far more destructive than keeping it will ever be. 

I won’t ever tell. She can’t ever know.

When I look in the mirror my reflection is of who I’m afraid I’ll become and not the man I am. 

It makes me feel like a poser, no better than all the others pretending to be exactly who they aren’t.

How does a man keep it together when everything is unraveling right here in his hands?

I didn’t start any of this.

I never asked for it.

But it came knocking at my door. 

When secrets and threats knock, I don’t hide.

I open the door. 

Because the best way to take down a poser is to be one.

"Spectacle" by S.J. Pierce! *Blitz & Great Cause*

*Materials & images provided by Xpresso Book Tours.

Hey guys, Rose here.  So, this series is a special one!  It's one of those seemingly rare series where part of the proceeds go to someone other than the author!  

For this book, all proceeds from pre-orders are going to a local kid named Brayden who has Muscular Dystrophy.

Please check out this book, and see if it's one you'd be interested in.  If so, you could be helping a sweetheart by pre-ordering.  Brayden's story is also below, if you'd like to learn more about him.

~Released: July 13th, 2015

~Length: 330 Pages

~Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult

~Note from the Author: ***This is currently a web series!!! I’m releasing a chapter at a time on my website. You can read there or go to Scribd, download their app, and read there.***

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Smashwords

Hunger Games meets Avatar meets Gladiator in this spellbinding new Young Adult Science-Fiction web series by bestselling author Susan James Pierce.

Fear can make you a target…

Two hundred years after the Great Disaster, the day earthquakes ravaged Earth’s landscapes, humanity has finally regrouped and is working toward a better future. But in New America – one of three small, remaining landmasses – the threat of overpopulation makes a better future seem bleaker by the year.

Mira (Mirabella) Foster and her parents are citizens of New America, and with the threat of starvation and disease looming on the horizon, a new discovery threatens to push everyone to the brink of chaos: blue markings develop on people’s skin. Markings that are distinctive of a humanoid alien race named Changers that secretly sought refuge on Earth years ago. Markings that allow them to camouflage their skin, but also make them feared, and eventually, targets of violence.

Mira’s dad is one of them.

Anger can make you a spectacle…

Banished to a treacherous, uninhabited island, a newly orphaned Mira and her kind struggle to survive and settle into a new way of life. Her main priority becomes seeing to Jackson’s care, her friend with Muscular Dystrophy, and tending to her garden as a way of distracting herself from the pain of losing everything she loved. But just as she’s adapting to this new life, their Elders approach her with a plan to insert themselves back into New America to uncover a conspiracy. A conspiracy, they believe, that includes the presidency and landed them on the island, costing many Changers their lives, including her parents’.

In a world where staying on the island means a possible untimely death, as does risking her life to uncover a horrible secret that might one day set them all free, which one will she choose? And if she chooses to help, can she tame her anger over their mistreatment long enough to make sure their plan goes off without a hitch? Because, after all, the last thing her kind needs is to make spectacles of themselves, and as she knows all too well, both anger and fear have a perilous knack for destruction.

"A Stunning Accusation" by Sarahbeth Caplin! *Cover Reveal*

*Materials & images provided by Girls Heart Books Tours.

~Genres: New Adult, Contemporary

Adelaide Scott is a 25-year-old relationship advice columnist for Stunning! Magazine. Her new boyfriend, Jordan Johnson, is a renowned photographer for Sports Unlimited. On the surface, he is everything a woman should want: Good-looking, hilarious, and charismatic. Their relationship seems perfect, and Addie slowly allows herself to consider a future with him…until his ex-girlfriend confronts them at a bar, and accuses Jordan of raping her, turning their world upside down.

It doesn’t help that her best friend and editor, Kiersten Sharp, sees rape as a black-and-white issue, with no shades of doubt. Addie is about to discover that the truth – in all its forms – is complicated, and not at all what she expects.

Authors Upset Over Bloggers Sharing Their Work

So, recently on Facebook, I saw a post by a fellow blogger about an email he/she had gotten from an author.  The email basically said the author was upset the blogger had shared the book's cover on FB, and wanted it removed, or they would get a lawyer.

The language used by the author was completely rude and inappropriate, complete with profanities.  The author was obviously very upset, and out of patience with "bloggers [who] think they can do whatever they want f**k whoever else."  I don't really understand why, at all.

Let me show you what I'm talking about:

I don't understand this, at all. Bloggers, especially book bloggers, literally live to share author's work, and/or their...
Posted by Desert Rose Reviews on Friday, June 19, 2015

If you had a hard time reading the email, here's what it said:

"To whoever you are,

My name is [blank] I'm the author of [blank] and I just saw the cover of my book [blank] on your Facebook. I didn't ask you to put it there. I think it's inexcusable for you to think you can just take my sh*t and post them wherever like that. I didn't give you permission and I want you to remove it immediately. That's stealing. You're stealing my work and I will report you. I hate how you bloggers think you can just do whatever you want f**k whoever else. This is my livelihood you're f**king with and that's just bullsh*t. I'm giving you until this afternoon to take my book cover and all the links off everywhere you shared it or I will get a lawyer. 

This is your only warning.

[Name is Blacked Out]"

I've seen this happen before, plenty of times, and I just don't understand it.  For the authors out there - would you/have you reacted like this to seeing your book shared/promoted somewhere?  Fellow bloggers, have you had something like this happen to you?  Let us know in the comments below - I'm curious!

"The Heartbeat Thief" by A.J. Krafton! *Blitz: Interview, Guest Post & Giveaway*

*Materials & images provided by Xpresso Book Tours.

~Released: June 12th 2015

~Genres: New Adult, Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Gothic 

Goodreads ~ Amazon

Haunted by a crushing fear of death, a young Victorian woman discovers the secret of eternal youth—she must surrender her life to attain it, and steal heartbeats to keep it.

In 1860 Surrey, a young woman has only one occupation: to marry. Senza Fyne is beautiful, intelligent, and lacks neither wealth nor connections. Finding a husband shouldn’t be difficult, not when she has her entire life before her. But it’s not life that preoccupies her thoughts. It’s death—and that shadowy spectre haunts her every step.

So does Mr. Knell. Heart-thumpingly attractive, obviously eligible—he’d be her perfect match if only he wasn’t so macabre. All his talk about death, all that teasing about knowing how to avoid it…

When her mother arranges a courtship with another man, Senza is desperate for escape from a dull prescripted destiny. Impulsively, she takes Knell up on his offer. He casts a spell that frees her from the cruelty of time and the threat of death—but at a steep price. In order to maintain eternal youth, she must feed on the heartbeats of others.

It’s a little bit Jane Austen, a little bit Edgar Allen Poe, and a whole lot of stealing heartbeats in order to stay young and beautiful forever. From the posh London season to the back alleys of Whitechapel, across the Channel, across the Pond, across the seas of Time…

How far will Senza Fyne go to avoid Death?

"Aphrodite's War" by Donna Milward! *Book Blast Spotlight*

*Materials & images provided by Girls Heart Books Tours.

~Released: September 7, 2013 

~Publisher: Staccato Publishing 

~Length: 298 Pages

~Genres: Paranormal, Romance

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Aphrodite despises Aries and when Zeus proposes a contest, the prize being expulsion of her enemy from Olympus, Aphrodite cannot resist. The catch: Aphrodite despises Aries and when Zeus proposes a contest, the prize being expulsion of her enemy from Olympus, Aphrodite cannot resist. The catch: should Aries prevail it is Aphrodite who must leave her home. Risks aside, she cannot refuse the possibility of a future without her former lover.

The challenge: two mortals must fall in love. It is simple. However, the players could not be more ill-suited. Poetry, a free spirited artist and Adrian, a defense attorney would not normally choose one another. But when gods interfere anything is possible should Aries prevail it is Aphrodite who must leave her home. Risks aside, she cannot refuse the possibility of a future without her former lover.

"The Calm After the Storm" by Mya O'Malley! *Tour: Spotlight & Trailer*

*Materials & images provided by the author's PA.

~Released: February 23rd, 2015

~Publisher: TouchPoint Press

~Length: 212 Pages

~Genres: Adult, Fiction, Contemporary, Romance

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The Calm After the Storm, the newest contemporary romance from Mya O’Malley, tells the story of Emma Riley, a single woman affected by the tragedy and destruction of Hurricane Sandy, and Jake Mack, a utility foreman who volunteers to assist with the cleanup of the devastation caused by the storm. Both have sworn off love, but neither counted on falling in love again so quickly. Will their love survive the devastation of the storm – and their pasts?

"Fabled" by Vanessa K. Eccles! *Blitz: Excerpt, Interview & Giveaway*

~Materials & images provided by Xpresso Book Tours.

~Released: May 5th 2015

~Publisher: Bound & Brewed

~Length: 263 Pages

~Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Fiction

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Rowena thinks the Grimm’s infamous podcasts are simply another teen fad until she finds herself trapped in a land of nightmarish storybook characters. She tries desperately to flee Mezzanine and return home, but Dresdem, Mezzanine’s wicked monarch, plans to use Rowena’s access to her world to bring dark magic and absolute rule into Georgia and beyond.

But when Rowena’s dear friend Madeline falls into Dresdem’s grasp, her battle with him becomes war, and all hopes of home are temporarily thwarted. With the help of an invisible hero, a beast, and an owl, she sets out to free Madeline from a deadening sleep. But Rowena must become her own hero when she finds herself bound by the kingdom’s darkest family. She must make the ultimate choice – align herself with her enemies or live on the run forever.

"Post Mortem" by Kira Snyder! *Review & Spotlight*

*Materials & images courtesy of Goodreads; review owned by Desert Rose Reviews.

Originally published October 12th, 2013. Re-posted for our TBT Review.

Parrish Mail #2

~Released: February 4th, 2013

~Publisher: Coliloquy, LLC

~Parent's Guide: PG-13

~Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Mystery, Thriller

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LibraryThing
Amazon U.S.
Amazon U.K.

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Celia Macarty is back in Post Mortem, the second installment in the Parish Mail saga.

Autumn in New Orleans means Homecoming, romance—and murder. When a friend vanishes, Celia believes a desperate letter about an unsolved Civil War-era murder holds the key to unraveling the mystery.

As she searches for answers, Celia enlists the help of quirky witch Tilly, and either all-American boy Donovan or, enigmatic Luc–you get to choose.

As the gang follows the missing girl’s trail, danger turns up on all fronts. A vicious stranger threatens Celia’s family. Celia’s nightmares–about a shadowy, ominous villain–get worse. And a new ghost has appeared: beautiful Angelica, who shares a past with Luc.

It will take all of Celia’s will and wit, and the faith of her friends, to solve an unspeakable crime. And no matter which path Celia takes, she will discover that sometimes the past can come back to haunt you.

What’s Cool from Coliloquy: 

Throughout the Parish Mail series, readers decide which clues to follow to help Celia unravel each mystery. You’ll even get to cast a vote for your favorite love interest. But remember: Choose carefully, or else the killer might just get away.

"Hope In Every Raindrop" by Wesley Banks! *Blitz: Dream Cast, Top Tens & Giveaway*

 ~Released: May 26th 2015 

 ~Publisher: Chasing Pace Publishing 

 ~Length: 214 Pages 

 ~Genres: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance 

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Amazon

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"Small towns have big stories.” That was a lesson Katie’s father taught her years ago. A lesson she’s taken to heart. And right now, Katie is desperate for a big story. Reeling from the recent loss of her father and with her agent breathing down her neck for the next book, the twenty-one-year-old writer picks a spot on the map and finds herself bound for a middle-of-nowhere town called Bishopville, South Carolina.

Taking a chance on the words of a local grocer, Katie stumbles upon a rare breed of dogs raised by the town doctor and his nephew Kyle. The only problem? Kyle isn’t interested in telling stories—especially not to a big-city girl who can’t seem to sit still. In an attempt to win him over as the clock winds down, Katie finds herself immersed in Kyle’s world, doing everything but writing.

When inspiration finally strikes, Katie is faced with an unforeseen catastrophe and a truth she can no longer ignore. While she has come to love the dogs, the real story may be about Kyle Walker.

"Secret of the Sevens" by Lynn Lindquist! *Blitz & Giveaway*

~Materials & images provided by YA Bound Book Tours.

~Released: June 8th, 2015

~Publisher: Flux

~Length: 408 Pages

~Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery

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Everyone at Singer, a boarding school for underprivileged kids, knows the urban legend of the Society of Seven. Decades ago, the original members of the secret guild for elite students murdered the school's founder and then perished in the fire they lit to hide the evidence. Or so the story goes. Talan Michaels doesn't care about Singer's past. He's too focused on his future and the fact that he'll be homeless after he graduates in May. To take his mind off it, he accepts a mysterious invitation to join a group calling itself the Sevens. He expects pranks, parties, and perks. Instead, he finds himself neck-deep in a conspiracy involving secret passages and cryptic riddles about the school's history. Even worse, he's now tangled in web of lies someone will kill to keep hidden.

"Dream Girl" by S.J. Lomas! *Blitz, Top Tens & Giveaway*

~Materials & images provided by YA Bound Book Tours.

~Released: October 30th, 2013 

~Publisher: Scribe Publishing Co. 

~Length: 194 Pages 

~Genres: Young Adult, New Adult, Fantasy, Fiction, Adventure, Romance

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For Christine, dreams have never meant much. Until she meets Gabriel. Everyone thinks Christine should stay away from her new coworker at the library-thanks to his bad reputation-but when her dreams grow more vivid and she becomes entangled in a dangerous dream world with Gabriel every night, she can't stay away. Soon it's clear there is far more to dreams than Christine ever imagined, and now she's on the path to making the biggest, and strangest, decision of her life. 

"The Color of Happiness" by K.P Gazelle! *Blitz: Interview, Guest Post & Giveaway*

 ~Released: April 1st, 2015 

 ~Publisher: Radiant Publishing 

 ~Length: 218 Pages 

 ~Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance 

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Amazon

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Kobo ~ iTunes

Faith Lane is the girl who has everything. At least, that’s what everyone thinks when they see her rocking a killer dress while laughing with her best friend, Tiffany. But Faith’s life is far from flawless. Her peers torment her relentlessly, and her parents expect her to be the epitome of perfection. Criticized and pressured at school and home, Faith retreats into silent acceptance and finds an escape in her passion of dancing. Then she meets Alex – quirky, forever with a pass, and concealing a mysterious secret of his own. And through his encouragement, Faith starts believing in her gift for dance and gains courage to stand up for herself. But will she be able to keep her footing when the events of one night consume her with the need to jump off the rocky cliffs near her coastal home? And what has pushed her to the edge of reason? 

"Confessions of a Virgin Sex Columnist!" by Kay Marie! *Blitz: Spotlight, Interview & Giveaway*

~Released: May 18th, 2015 

~Length: 215 Pages 

~Genres: Young Adult, New Adult, Humor, Contemporary, Romance 

Goodreads ~ Amazon

From bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis, writing as Kay Marie, comes a new adult romantic comedy about a girl who'll soon discover that some secrets can't be kept forever, especially those of the heart.

My name is Skylar Quinn. I just moved to New York with my best friend Bridget, and I have a confession. Well, more than one. Okay, quite a few really. Fine, here goes!

Confession #1: I'm a sex columnist. Hold on, that's not really the confession. You see, I'm sort of a virgin...sex columnist.

Confession #2: I'm kind of in love with Bridget's older brother, Oliver. No, I was. No, I am. Wait, was? Am? Crap.

Confession #3: I've been avoiding Oliver for four years. Or I was until today, because he just moved in. Yes, you read that correctly. He's my new roommate. So that night we've both been pretending never happened, well, we might not be able to keep it a secret any longer. 

And trust me, this is only the beginning.

"Open Minds" by Susan Kaye Quinn! *Review & Spotlight*

~Images and info from goodreads.com; review owned by Desert Rose Reviews.

First published in 2014; re-posted for our TBR Review

Mindjack Trilogy, Book 1

~Published: November 1st 2011

~Length: 326 Pages

~Genres: Young Adult, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Dystopian, Romance, Paranormal

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Kindle (FREE!!)

Amazon Paperback

Amazon Audio Book

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When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep.

Sixteen-year-old Kira Moore is a zero, someone who can’t read thoughts or be read by others. Zeros are outcasts who can’t be trusted, leaving her no chance with Raf, a regular mindreader and the best friend she secretly loves. When she accidentally controls Raf’s mind and nearly kills him, Kira tries to hide her frightening new ability from her family and an increasingly suspicious Raf. But lies tangle around her, and she’s dragged deep into a hidden world of mindjackers, where having to mind control everyone she loves is just the beginning of the deadly choices before her.

"Days Like This" by Danielle Ellison! *Blitz: Playlist & Giveaway*

~Materials & images provided by YA Bound Book Tours.

 ~Released: June 2nd, 2015 

 ~Publisher: Bookish Group Press 

 ~Length: 220 Pages 

 ~Genres: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Women's Fiction, Chick-Lit 

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One More Page Books

Sometimes the only thing standing between fear and hope is you. 

Almost a year ago, nineteen-year-old Cassie Harlen had a lot to deal with. A stack of college acceptance letters waiting for answers, a proposal from the boy next door, and a mother whose most recent bipolar episode left Cassie hurt and confused. Tired of cleaning up the messes caused by her mother's disorder, of resenting her mother for not being there, and scared of being trapped by an inevitable future—which included marrying Graham Tucker—Cassie did the only thing she could think of to keep from ending up like her mother: she left.

Graham never knew why Cassie walked away. He woke up one morning and she was gone—along with the life that he’d created around her. After eleven months, Graham has a new plan for his future. One that doesn't involve Cassie Harlen.

When Cassie's mom nearly burns down her house, Cassie’s forced to return home. Back to a mother she’s tried to ignore and the guy she’s been unable to forget. Graham doesn't know how he's going to spend the whole summer living next door to the person who broke his heart without letting those old feelings push through to the surface.

Neither does Cassie.

It's Ken's Birthday!!

Ken.

K. E. N. 

Kind.  Eccentric.  Noble.

So many words fit to describe Ken, but those three seem to jump out at me today.

For those who don't know it, Ken is my hubby, best friend, and one of the most epically amazing people I've ever known.  He is a blessing to me and the world, and I just love him to pieces!!

Today is his birthday, and I'm so glad - I love celebrating Ken!! :D

Across my blogs and our Lifestyle blogs, I'm going to have a myriad of posts all dedicated to, focused on, or gushing about the awesomeness that is Ken.  I can't get enough of him, and I want the whole world to know it, and to know how amazing he is!

If nothing else, I'll get to gush about him.

I hope you have an amazing birthday hun, and enjoy all the surprises Ethan and I have for you over the next few weeks :)

Lots of love,

~Rose