Cover Reveal + Giveaway - The Girl Who Could See by Kara Swanson

Today Kara Swanson and Rockstar Book Tours are revealing the cover for THE GIRL WHO COULD SEE, which releases June 1, 2017! Check out the gorgeous cover and enter to win a $5 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of the eBook!

On to the reveal!
 

Title: THE GIRL WHO COULD SEE

Author: Kara Swanson

Pub. Date: June 1, 2017

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 200

Find it: Amazon | Goodreads

All her life Fern has been told she is blind to reality—but what if she is the only one who can truly see?

Fern Johnson is crazy. At least, that’s what the doctors have claimed since her childhood. Now nineteen, and one step away from a psych ward, Fern struggles to survive in bustling Los Angeles. Desperate to appear “normal,” she represses the young man flickering at the edge of her awareness—a blond warrior only she can see.

Tristan was Fern’s childhood imaginary hero, saving her from monsters under her bed and outside her walls. As she grew up and his secret world continued to bleed into hers, however, it only caused catastrophe. But, when the city is rocked by the unexplainable, Fern is forced to consider the possibility that this young man isn’t a hallucination after all—and that the creature who decimated his world may be coming for hers.

Exclusive Excerpt!

CHAPTER ONE

Present Time

On television, they never tell you how cold it is.

They might show you the dimly lit room or the hard, uninviting chairs—stark reminders that you have no power here. They may depict the lonesome table separating you from the elderly agent with the stone-grey eyes. But those cop shows never depict what a chilly affair an FBI interrogation truly is. If their aim is to make this process as intimidating as possible—it’s working.

I wrap my hands around bare shoulders, fingertips far colder than the skin exposed by my red tank top. Brilliant move, Fern. Wear a scarf, but forget your jacket. Stifling a shudder, I try to meet the sharp gaze of Agent Barstow standing rigidly across from me.

“I don’t know where you’re from, miss Johnson—but in LA, state-of-the-art buildings don’t just crumble.” His voice is gravelly, matching the jagged lines of his dark skin and weathered face. “Federal buildings, no less. There one minute and the next…destroyed.”

His tone chills me even more, and I tug nervously on my scarf. His arms slowly unwind from his chest as he takes a deliberate two steps toward me. “We’ve had everyone on the disaster—CIA, local police, firemen…heck, we even called NASA. No one can find a plausible reason why a skyscraper, in excellent repair, would collapse like that. No one, that is, except you.”

I fight the urge to bolt for the door as he leans down, palms flat on the table, so close I can make out the creases on his dark suit. “You warned us of an attack in that area two weeks ago. How did you know?”

I suck in a deep breath as his voice lowers, dark fists tightening on the edge of the table. “Are you involved with a terrorist organization?”

I almost laugh at his words, at how they couldn’t be farther from the truth. I’m here to save LA, not destroy it. To save everyone. And I don’t have much time—none of us do. If I can’t gain this man’s trust, a shattered building is nothing compared to what will come next.

“No, sir.” I shove my shaking hands beneath my legs as I glimpse a pair of lucid blue eyes over the agent’s shoulder. They shouldn’t be there—and I know not to stare. But those eyes that only I can see are the reason I warned the FBI in the first place. Their owner the reason I’m even sitting in this room.

Licking my lips, I keep my attention on Barstow. I’ve wanted this for years. Someone to listen. Really listen. And it’s the FBI, no less. Be careful here.

When I open my mouth, the words are calm and steady. I hope they’re convincing—they have to be convincing. “I knew about the incident, Agent Barstow, because my friend warned me.” Throat suddenly dry, I look away. “My imaginary friend.

About Kara:

As the daughter of missionaries, KARA SWANSON spent sixteen years of her young life in the jungles of Papua New Guinea. Able to relate with characters dropped suddenly into a unique new world, she quickly fell in love with the speculative genre and was soon penning stories herself.

At seventeen, she independently published a fantasy novel, Pearl of Merlydia. She has since published many articles, including one in the Encounter magazine. Kara received the Mount Hermon Most Promising Teen Writer Award in 2015. You can find her on Facebook as Kara Swanson, Author, or attempting to be artistic over on Instagram (@karaswanson_author). When she’s not creating new stories and placing characters in peril, she’s probably binge-watching Marvel movies, playing with her huskies, reading till two in the morning or experimenting with a dairy-free mocha Frappuccino (skills, I’m telling you).

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

(1) winner will receive a $5 Amazon Gift Card, US Only.

(1) will receive an Advanced eBook Copy of THE GIRL WHO COULD SEE, International.

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Review - The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Title: The Last Song
      
Author: Nicholas Sparks

Rating: 2/5 stars

Synopsis: Seventeen year-old Veronica “Ronnie” Miller’s life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wilmington, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alienated from her parents, especially her father… until her mother decides it would be in everyone’s best interest if she spent the summer in Wilmington with him. 

Ronnie’s father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church. The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story about love in its myriad forms – first love, the love between parents and children – that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that deeply felt relationships can break our hearts… and heal them.

My Thoughts:

I wanted to write this review before I watch the movie because I don’t want to get influenced by that experience when I write about the book. So here is what I think about The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks.

It was way too sweet and sugary for my liking. Long walks by the beach, lots of pure, first love-y conversations, lots of ‘I love you’s… there was too much syrup for me between the lines of this book.

I don’t like when love becomes too vocal, because I believe one can express love better with action than with diction, and of course it’s necessary to say ‘I love you’ once in a while, but if you say it too much, the words lose their wonder. And I’m not only talking about relationships between a girl and a boy, a woman and a man. It is also true for family bonds.

I know there was a special situation here between Ronnie and her dad, because tragedy was striking, but after a quick escalation their relationship became unrealistically intense – considering that they hadn’t talked to each other for three years – and of course soon the big words flew around like colourful balloons in a fun-fair. The problem is, if we pop them, the essence of the book disappears and since I didn’t like the balloons, I’m left with nothing.

Ronnie, the protagonist is an irritating teenager who tries to solve every problem by shouting at someone. Sure, towards the end of the novel you can see that she’s becoming more mature, a better person even… right until the point when Will tells her his secret; then the mirage shatters, and she shouts some more. I was excited for this book partly because the protagonist has my name. I’m not happy with what I got.

The characters in general were clichéd. We had the psychopathic bully, the good guy with a guilty conscience, the know-it-all girl who learns some life lessons by the end of the story. I didn’t get very attached to either of them, up until the very end they didn’t acquire any depth. 

I regret to say, there is nothing mind-blowing about the plot either. From the very beginning you have an inkling how the book will end, it is hard to miss, really. The whole plot is predictable as heck. One positive thing is that the last part is delivered pretty well at least. I cried, I confess. The last fifty pages or so earned one more star for the book in my eye, but before that I was simply bored.

I didn’t care much about the budding romance, all they did was walk, they went fishing once and guarded a turtle nest all summer long. I swear I cared more about the turtles than what would happen to their love after the summer ends. Despite it being first love for both of them, it didn’t burn that hot, or so it seemed to me. When they were forced to separate, Will didn’t even try to contact Ronnie for a long time, which seemed strange to me.

All in all, I wouldn’t recommend this book unless you read other Sparks novels and loved them. This was my first Sparks, but my last too, I think. Now I’ll go and check out the movie, maybe this is one of those cases when you can get more out of the movie than the book. At least I hope so.

Goodreads | Amazon

WWW Wednesday #2

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words. 

WWW stands for three questions: 

1. What are you currently reading?

 

The Lady and the Highlander

by Lecia Cornwall

Synopsis:

Laire MacLeod’s father has married a mysterious widow who is a vain beauty that deals with potions and spells. Laire does not drink them with the rest of her family and is the only one who could see through her stepmother’s games. When Laire flees to find help from her Uncle the Lady’s huntsman follows her with orders to kill. Laire must survive in a dangerous new city and find the antidote to a poisonous potion before it is too late.

Iain Lindsay is cursed. He is bound for seven years to be the hunter of a Lady who uses him to bring back birds to use in her potions. When Laire MacLeod escapes the Lady’s nets, Iain tracks her to Edinburgh, where she’s found shelter with an unusual band of thieves, but he cannot bring himself to harm her. Instead, he finds himself falling in love with the MacLeod beauty.
But a Highlander’s oath is his bond, and the price for helping her is death, both his own, and of those he loves.

   

Fairy tale mood: ON

2. What did you recently finish reading?

 

The Last Song 

by Nicholas Sparks

 

 

Synopsis:

 

Seventeen year-old Veronica “Ronnie” Miller’s life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wilmington, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alienated from her parents, especially her father… until her mother decides it would be in everyone’s best interest if she spent the summer in Wilmington with him. Ronnie’s father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church. The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story about love in its myriad forms – first love, the love between parents and children – that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that deeply felt relationships can break our hearts… and heal them.

The review is on the way. Unfortunately I can't say it'll be positive.

 

3. What do you think you'll read next?

 

Girl in Disguise

by Greer Macallister

  Synopsis:

For the first female Pinkerton detective, respect is hard to come by. Danger, however, is not.

In the tumultuous years of the Civil War, the streets of Chicago offer a woman mostly danger and ruin-unless that woman is Kate Warne, the first female Pinkerton detective and a desperate widow with a knack for manipulation.

Descending into undercover operations, Kate is able to infiltrate the seedy side of the city in ways her fellow detectives can't. She's a seductress, an exotic foreign medium, or a rich train passenger, all depending on the day and the robber, thief, or murderer she's been assigned to nab.

Inspired by the real story of Kate Warne, this spirited novel follows the detective's rise during one of the nation's greatest times of crisis, bringing to life a fiercely independent woman whose forgotten triumphs helped sway the fate of the country.

 

Probably. The Girl in Disguise book tour reaches my blog on 25 March and that's not so far away now.

What are you reading at the moment? Do you have a WWW post? Don't forget to leave your links below.

Happy reading!

Bookmark Monday #1

Bookmark Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Guiltless Reading. Take a picture of a bookmark you own or show us one you'd like to own!

Since Guiltless Reading shared a handmade bookmark this week, I'm going to do the same. I made this with decoupage technique.

Do you make bookmarks for yourself? Do you use bookmarks at all?

Stacking the Shelves #4

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews that makes it possible to share with other bookworms what books you added to your shelves – physical or virtual – during the week.

I have three e-books to show you this week.

Title: Bohermore

Author: Jennifer Rose McMahon

Source: NetGalley

Synopsis:

'When your dreams become reality, being cursed can be a real nightmare.'

Like a punch in the face, eighteen-year-old Maeve O'Malley's visions knock her off her path. The Pirate Queen stalking Maeve in her dreams, killed her mother years ago, and now is coming for her.

Maeve's decision to ditch Boston College takes everyone by surprise as she packs her bags, leaves Boston, and heads to the west coast of Ireland to chase her dreams – and end them.

Maeve uncovers an ancient family curse that refuses to remain silent until she accepts her predestined role in what many thought was only legend. Her Irish history professor – a man she shouldn't be falling for – is the only person who understands the origin of the tormenting events.

Maeve's journey becomes a medieval treasure hunt through Ireland's castles and ruins as she tracks the wrathful Pirate Queen who has her marked for vengeance...

I'm excited for this one, because it's set in Ireland and the protagonist is going to go on castle tours... sort of. Who can that mysterious Pirate Queen be? 

 

Title: The Cult of Unicorns (Penny White #2)

Author: Chrys Cymri

Source: the author

Synopsis:

Raven's ears flicked. 'Dragons aren't known for their patience.'

'More is the pity, ' said the unicorn. 'Father Penny and I were about to amicably settle our differences. A dragon invading our home vastly complicates matters.'

Five months ago my life was changed forever when I learned about Lloegyr, the sister nation to England on the magical parallel world of Daear. Thrilling rides on Raven, a darkly beautiful search dragon, break up the monotony of my life as the priest of a small village church. Nor are things dull at home, not with a sarcastic gryphon, a snail shark, and my younger brother all sharing my living space. And then there's Peter, the almost too perfect police inspector who enjoys Doctor Who and single malt whisky as much as I do.

But Lloegyr is facing its own struggles. As various races such as dragons, gryphons, elves, vampires, and harpies flood to the rapidly growing cities, they all trust the unicorns to act as peace makers. But dead humans are turning up in the city of Northampton, with wounds which only a long spiral horn could have made...

Chrys Cymri was kind enough to send me the next book in the Penny White series (Yesssssss!). Can't wait to join Penny, Morey the gryphon, Raven the dragon and the rest of the team for another adventure.

 Title: The Lady and the Highlander

Author: Lecia Cornwall

Source: NetGalley

Synopsis:

Laire MacLeod’s father has married a mysterious widow who is a vain beauty that deals with potions and spells. Laire does not drink them with the rest of her family and is the only one who could see through her stepmother’s games. When Laire flees to find help from her Uncle the Lady’s huntsman follows her with orders to kill. Laire must survive in a dangerous new city and find the antidote to a poisonous potion before it is too late.

Iain Lindsay is cursed. He is bound for seven years to be the hunter of a Lady who uses him to bring back birds to use in her potions. When Laire MacLeod escapes the Lady’s nets, Iain tracks her to Edinburgh, where she’s found shelter with an unusual band of thieves, but he cannot bring himself to harm her. Instead, he finds himself falling in love with the MacLeod beauty.
But a Highlander’s oath is his bond, and the price for helping her is death, both his own, and of those he loves.

I'm still not awfully keen on fairy tales but who knows? Maybe a pinch of Scottish charm can put that right...

Review – Penny White and the Temptation of Dragons by Chrys Cymri

Title: Penny White and the Temptation of Dragons (Penny White #1)
      
Author: Chrys Cymri

Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis: Bishop Nigel smiled at me. ‘Holy water doesn’t harm vampires. Which is just as well, as it would make it impossible to baptise them.’

When I was asked by a dragon to give him the last rites, I never dreamed it would lead to negotiating with his cannibalistic family or running from snail sharks. Life as the priest of a small English village is quite tame in comparision. At least I have Morey, a gryphon with sarcasm management issues, to help me. And if all else fails, there’s always red wine and single malt whisky.

As if my life weren’t complicated enough, a darkly beautiful dragon named Raven keeps appearing where I least expect him, I’ve met a handsome police inspector who loves science fiction as much as I do, and my younger brother is getting into trouble for trying to pick up vampires.

That’s what happens when you’re dealing with an incredible and dangerous parallel world full of mythical creatures. And I have to learn to navigate it all without losing myself, or my brother…

Source: E-copy from the author


My Thoughts:

I cannot thank Chrys Cymri enough for providing me an e-copy of Penny White and the Temptation of Dragons. It was pure fun to peek into the daily life of Penny White, vicar of a small English village and Vicar General of Incursions. The latter title makes our Penny a dragon rider, a snail shark tamer and a friend of a gryphon among many things.

What gripped me in this book?

We have an adorably crazy protagonist. Penny is a Doctor Who and Buffy fan and she often throws in references to these and other series during conversations. Being a Whovian myself I welcomed this addition to the character. She is a very funny individual, she often goes into witty banters with Morey, the gryphon who becomes a sort of sidekick in the story. I liked that she was realistic (you know, despite the fact that she was surrounded by all kinds of mythical creatures). She is a very caring person, yet sometimes she fights her inner battles against selfishness – like all of us do. She fulfils two different kinds of role successfully and that’s something, if one of the roles occasionally include dealing with cannibalistic dragons or entering a bar full of drunk harpies…

It was great to get a glimpse of the everyday life of a vicar in England and get to know what tasks they have to handle. Of course the book was spiced up with humour, but I believe we get a close-to-real picture of what goes on in a vicarage if we take the colouring layers off the story. You don’t have to be a Christian to enjoy Penny’s day to day journey though; even religious matters are shown in a humorous light (however, religion is not treated offensively, remember, both the protagonist and the writer are priests).

The part that is set on Earth reminds us how impossible – impossibly ridiculous? – people can be sometimes. Consider this excerpt for example:

The baptism family grinned indulgently as I apologised and let the call go to messages. But then I had accepted without comment the name they had given their son, Friday Storm (He was conceived on a Friday during a storm) and that they had chosen eight people to be the godparents. Including an atheist who was still happy, they said, to make the promises and the profession of faith.

But Penny doesn’t spend all her time on Earth. After she encounters a dying dragon on the road and gives him the last rites she is offered a job: she has to help mythical creatures and humans that accidentally end up on Earth or Lloegyr (a parallel world where the creatures live).

Penny gets to meet dragons, vampires, unicorns, elves, harpies, gryphons and other strange beings. I was so pumped when it turned out there are snail sharks in the book!! I have a thing for giant snails/ snail monsters for some reason.

All of the creatures speak Welsh (a language I want to learn since I watched Torchwood), that was really lovely!

The plot revolves around the death of the dragon and how Penny learns to manage her double life. She also has to try to keep the peace between James – her brother – and the gryphon, Morey, she ends up living with.

There is a mysterious dragon that appears to her at the most unexpected places, too. Raven takes an interest in Penny and the vicar soon realises the curiosity is mutual. I have to confess I was afraid there would be human/dragon racy stuff in there – I don’t know if I’d be comfortable with that – but the relationship is written very tastefully so far. It’s all hugs and dragon rides (no pun intended, haha :).

There were a few tiny things for which I took away a star, but they weren’t major issues.

One: Penny’s reaction was too mild when she saw the dragon in the beginning and she digested the existence of Lloegyr too easily I think.

Two: There was too much booze in the story for my liking but drinking became a character trait of Penny in a way, so I got used to it after a while.

And three: I was a bit confused during the first half of the book because I didn’t understand why one person can see the creatures but others can’t. It gets explained too late why it’s so, I think.

But then again, these don’t change the fact that I loved this novel and I can’t wait to read the second instalment in the series. I think I haven’t written such a long review in a while and I still could go on and on… It means something, doesn’t it?

Goodreads | Amazon

Next in the series:

Penny White and  the Cult of Unicorns 

Let's talk La La Land

I'm kinda happy I didn't stay up to see the organizers' major screw up with the Best Picture award at the Oscars. I was up until 4:30 a.m. but then I got bored, because the show wasn't that great (I realized I'm not a fan of Jimmy Kimmel) and I had to get some sleep before my afternoon class. As it turned out I was right to do that. I think I couldn't have slept a wink if I saw the Best Picture part live...

I wanted La La Land to win. I enjoyed that movie immensely and I want poeple at Hollywood to make more good musical films. We haven't got enough of them. And Emma Stone is amazing, you go girl!

I haven't seen Moonlight yet but I'm sure it deserved the award and of course now it's on my watchlist.

But back to La La Land. There is still cause to celebrate, since the picture won 6 Oscars, including the one for Original Song. Now, to keep the matters bookish while I pay tribute to the creators and the film this is what I'll do:

I'll tell you which three songs I'm the most fond of from La La Land and then I'll let you know which book's imaginary tracklist could include them in my opinion.

You can access La La Land's full soundtrack on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmKlaGpmYig&t=1528s&spfreload=10

Let's start with this year's Best Original Song:

City of Stars

 The Deep Blue Sea by Terence Rattigan

Everyone needs someone because we cannot truly be happy alone – that's the message of City of Stars.

In Terence Rattigan's drama, The Deep Blue Sea, Hester Collyer has a home and a husband, yet she feels lonely. One day a Royal Air Force Pilot sweeps her off her feet and they start a turbulent affair. However, both Freddie and Hester come close to breaking point as the consequences of their relationship catch up with them.

I chose this book to go with this song for two reasons. One, I think Hester's dilemma coincides with the message of the song, and two, because the love story and the ending are very similar to what we see in La La Land.

A Lovely Night  

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Since I'm not someone who appreciates instalove, the slowly developing romance between Mia and Sebastian just seemed right to me. The relationship starts off on a wrong foot? Even better. 

Do you remember the story of the boy who promised his love a shooting star and then found himself falling in love with said star? Yvaine and Tristran's relationship didn't start out very well either, but of course they ended up together later.

The playful teasing in A Lovely Night reminds me a lot of Tristran and Yvaine's conversations and of course the mention of night and stars in the song makes it an even better fit.

Audition (The Fools Who Dream)

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Gatsby's character influences how Nick Carraway thinks about life, just like Mia's aunt had an impact on Mia's way of thinking. Not to mention the American Dream connection...

These were the songs that captured me from La La Land.
Which songs did you like in the movie? Are you satisfied with Moonlight's victory?