Knee Deep blog tour: guest post

Title:  Knee Deep

Author: Jolene B. Perry

Publisher:  Tribute Books

Publish Date:  01 May 2012

Pages:  240

ISBN:  9780983741886

Genre:  romance, contemporary

Series:  unknown

Sometimes a story is more personal than you expect it to be.

I read an article in an online newspaper that talked about the YA books coming out that year which dealt with abusive relationships.

I'd part mapped one out a while back, and thought maybe I'd work on it - all evidence that the market had just gotten an influx of them didn't sway me the way it should have…

The more I wrote in the story, the more personal it became.

I was not ever hit by my boyfriend in high school. He never screamed and yelled at me - though I heard him trashing his room a few times when I left after an argument, and he didn't hesitate to show me when he was pissed about something.

He'd pick fights with me over the phone and hang up, knowing it meant I'd sneak out to "straighten things out."

There was one really horrible night with him that I'd blocked from my mind for a long time, that I remembered when I was writing, so I used it.

I see these cases my husband talks about with women who are beaten and bruised and making up excuses and going back over and over. One ended in murder a couple of weeks ago. A case my husband will be prosecuting when it goes to trial.

The abuse story I told is nowhere near that dramatic, but so much of Ronnie's story was mine. WAY more than I realized while I was writing it. When I got to the end, and started writing down the parts of her story that were real (I always do this for my author site), I realized more and more how much of me was in that girl.

I stared at my computer screen in shock.

I had one of my best friends, who was a guy, who I shared more with than I probably did to most of my girlfriends - (like Luke from Knee Deep) and a boyfriend I'd known since I was a kid (like Shawn from Knee Deep) And I felt this draw to my boyfriend, only because I'd known him for so long, not because we really had anything left in common.

I felt more like I was stuck in this relationship, and didn't even realize I didn't want to be there until I visited a friend in college and saw how much more LIFE was out there. It was just that the idea of this one person had been in my head for way too long.

And where did I end up? Married to the best friend.

People talk about writing what you know, and then talk about keeping yourself out of your books. But you know what? I KNEW that situation - and I know I'll get some bad reviews (like you always do - ESPECIALLY when you tackle a tough topic) that are going to say that Ronnie's actions weren't believable.

But here's the thing - I told her story, the best way I knew how. Ronnie's reactions with pieces of my truth. And there are some drastic differences, but there are also some startling similarities. So, to me, Ronnie's actions were completely and totally understandable.

And that's the story of how Knee Deep came to be.

Jolene grew up in Wasilla, Alaska. She graduated from Southern Utah University with a degree in political science and French, which she used to teach math to middle schoolers.

After living in Washington, Utah and Las Vegas, she now resides in Alaska with her husband, and two children. Aside from writing, Jolene sews, plays the guitar, sings when forced, and spends as much time outside as possible.

She is also the author of Night Sky and The Next Door Boys.

Knee Deep blog tour: Excerpt

Title:  Knee Deep

Author: Jolene B. Perry

Publisher:  Tribute Books

Publish Date:  01 May 2012

Pages:  240

ISBN:  9780983741886

Genre:  romance, contemporary

Series:  unknown

Shawn is the guy Ronnie Bird promised her life to at the age of fourteen. He's her soul mate. He's more uptight every day, but it's not his fault. His family life is stressful, and she's adding to it. She just needs to be more understanding, and he'll start to be the boy she fell in love with. She won’t give up on someone she’s loved for so long.

Luke is her best friend, and the guy she hangs with to watch girlie movies in her large blanketopias. He's the guy she can confide in before she even goes to her girlfriends, and the guy who she's playing opposite in Romeo and Juliet. Now her chest flutters every time he gets too close. This is new. Is Ronnie falling for him? Or is Juliet? The lines are getting blurry, but leaving one guy for another is not something that a girl like Ronnie does.

Shawn’s outbursts are starting to give her bruises, and Luke’s heart breaks as Ronnie remains torn. While her thoughts and feelings swirl around the lines between friendship and forever, she’s about to lose them both.

My front door opens. “Hello?” Shawn calls.

“In here!” I say back. Suddenly this feels weird. Why would this feel weird? This is just what happens when one of us is stuck at home. Why would today be any different? But my heart’s beating against the inside of my ribs, trying to tell me this is different.

Luke scoots away from the couch. Does he feel it too? That maybe him and me hanging out alone for the day might not have been the best idea?

Shawn steps through the hallway and scowls when his eyes meet mine and then pass to Luke. This shouldn’t be a big deal. Except...I’m so stupid. I was just thinking how I needed to make Shawn’s life outside of his house less stressful, and part of me
knew it was weird that Luke was here without Shawn. I thought it, and did nothing. But again, it is just Luke.

“What’re you doing here?” Shawn asks. His dark eyes fix on Luke.

“I figured you’d be here, man.” Luke stands up. “It’s like we always ditch together, right?” 

Romeo and Juliet kissing in the pool on the TV screen probably isn’t helping anything. Maybe Shawn won’t notice, or maybe it’s just sending my heart into crazy flutters because this tension between Shawn and Luke and, I guess, me, is happening during the most romantic scene of the movie.

“Uh, I don’t know.” Shawn’s still scowling, his brows pulled low and his jaw tight.

“You would’ve hated it,” I say. My eyes catch his, but his are as black as his mood seems to be. I’m so stupid. Why did I have to let Luke stay?

“Yeah, maybe.” Shawn’s narrowed eyes go from Luke to me, back and forth, as if judging the situation. Really? What did he think could possibly happen between Luke and I? Even if this is suddenly on my top three ‘most awkward moments’ ever. I can’t even think about what the other two might be. Maybe I’ve just found number one.

“Romeo and Juliet all day.” Luke laughs, but I know him well enough to see he’s trying really hard to be relaxed. His shoulders are too stiff, and his normal stance is too rigid. I wonder if Shawn sees it too. “Guess I’ll leave you two alone.” Luke’s trying hard to keep his voice light.

“Yeah.” Shawn has yet to return Luke’s smile. “I almost never see my girl anymore.” 

It’s like I’m on the edge of my seat, tension pinpricking every part of me. I’ve never seen Shawn like this.

“Well, I should get my ass to rehearsal anyway.” Luke gives Shawn a friendly pat on the shoulder before heading outside. 

I don’t watch him go. My eyes are on Shawn, trying to figure out what to expect next.

“What the hell was that?” His sharp gaze is now pointed directly at me.

I stand up and lean to the side, trying to be relaxed. “It didn’t seem like a big deal this morning.” Maybe if I play it off as nothing Shawn won’t be so mad. He knows Luke and I are friends. No big deal, I tell myself again. But I don’t know if I’m trying to convince myself or Shawn.

“Was he here when we were texting?” he asks. His voice may be low, but not in a good way. It’s low in a way that makes him sound like he’s past the edge of reasonable anger.

My body’s screaming for me to take a step back, which makes no sense. This is Shawn. My Shawn. “No.” But I’m weakening by the second, almost shaking inside. His jaw tightens again.

My eyes close as I remember, and dread fills my chest. “He got here as I sent my last one.” Is that bad? Good?

“And you didn’t think to tell me? What the hell is that?”

I jump at the sharpness of his voice. Shawn doesn’t need this stress. I know this. I reach forward to put my arms around him. We just need to hold one another for a minute, then it’ll all be fine.

He stops me, grabbing my arm—hard—just above my wrist.

“This is not okay.” His jaw is set.

“Hey.” My voice shakes. My body shakes. I’m actually scared of Shawn for the first time ever. I jerk my hand once, but he tightens his grip...impossibly tight. My lungs can’t pull in a breath; there’s just not enough air in the room anymore. “Shawn, you’re hurting me.” He can’t mean to hurt me. He can’t.

His face is stuck in a sharp scowl.

“He’s your friend.” My voice is crying. I want to try and pull my shaky arm out of his grasp again, but I’m afraid to; he’s squeezing so hard. Tears are hot against the back of my eyes, threatening to spill over. 

“How would you feel if I spent all day with some chick?” The words come out as angry spit from between his teeth. 

I open my mouth to answer but can’t, the lump in my throat has taken over. All I can think about is that I need to find something to say so he’ll let me go. Some way to get the air through my throat to form words. “It’s just Luke,” I plead, sucking in a breath.

“Whatever.” He throws my arm back at me, turns, and walks out the door, slamming it hard behind him. My body jumps at the sound.

I stumble backward onto the couch. I’m like a leaf battered about in the wind. Nothing’s working right. I need to sit. Normally I’d run after him, but I have no idea what to expect. And I’m afraid. Of Shawn.

He’s never been that way before. Ever. He’s moody and particular, but this seems...extreme. I’m cradling my wrist with my other hand, afraid to look at any possible damage. It hurts to move it. What just happened here? How did it happen?

It’s like there suddenly must be something fundamentally wrong with the universe. But the TV’s still on. My house looks normal and quiet. I’m still breathing, but Shawn, my Shawn, just hurt me. Lying down seems so anti-climactic, but I can’t bring myself to do anything else.

When Juliet realizes Romeo’s dying the sobs take over, and I pull my knees to my chest as if making myself smaller will somehow dull the pain. 

It doesn’t. 

Caged Moon blog tour: Excerpt

Title: Caged Moon

Author: Rachel Deagan

Publisher: Rachel Deagan

Publish Date:  8 May 2012 (2^nd edition)

Pages: 260

ISBN:  9781468194999

Genre:  Young Adult, paranormal, romance, werewolf

Series:  Caged Moon

Other books in series:  Alpha Moon (17 June 2012), Lunar Passing (Winter 2012)

Haunted by an animal attack, seventeen year old Charlotte feels she is being followed. When she runs into a mysterious boy while camping, she’s afraid. Nothing seems right about him. Despite trying to stay away, there is an unmistakable draw to be near him. Even his scent smells familiar. But the closer she gets, the faster the secrets begin to unravel. Not only is he not human, he may have a link to her past. When Charlotte finds out someone wants her dead, she is torn between love and fear. Can she trust him to keep her safe?

“What are you doing here?” I asked Liam.

“Eating,” he said.

I scanned the table. Nothing. 

“Where’s your food?”

Liam’s face lit up.

“Stop looking at me like that.” I kneaded my hands to take my attention off him, feigning casual. I wouldn’t let him know how jumpy he made me and prayed he couldn’t tell my face warmed. 

“Like what?” he said, grinning. “Nice jacket.”

My stomach flipped and I became grossly aware of the long thick leather sleeves covering my hands. I tucked my arms around my chest. “I was cold. It’s drafty in here. Besides, it’s your fault for giving it to me.”

Liam chuckled.

“So does this mean you guys are going steady now?” the left bookend asked.

“Yeah, are you his girlfriend?” The opposite sunburned twin asked. “Cause if not, my schedule might be open.”

The left bookend snorted a laugh. “You wish.”

My mind went blank with embarrassment. I didn’t have words.

“Shut up, you guys,” Liam said. “I knew I shouldn’t have brought you.”

“Wow, Liam,” the large Jock said, shaking me from my numbed state. “You weren’t kidding. She does smell like a bitch.”

My mouth dropped open.

Liam jumped to his feet and I cringed, hearing the impact of bone on bone as he caught the Jock square in the jaw with his fist. The guy toppled to the floor. People from the neighboring tables began to chant. “Fight, fight.”

 This tour is hosted by A Tale of Many Reviews Book Tours.  To see more stops on the tour, visit here.

City of Bones

Title:  City of Bones

Author:  Cassandra Clare

Publisher:  Simon & Schuster

Publish Date:  27 March 2007

Pages: 485

ISBN:  978-1-4169-5507-8

Source:  bought

Genre:  YA, angels, demons, romance

Series:  The Mortal Instruments

Other books in series:  City of Ashes, City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels, City of Lost Souls, City of Heavenly Fire (no set release date)

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

When Clarissa aka Clary went to the club, Pandemonium, with her best friend, Simon, she never expected her world to change.  She just thought that Simon and she would have a good time.  Then she saw the boy on the dance floor and followed him because she thought there would be trouble.  Little did she know what she was getting herself into.

Clary was thrown into the world of the Shadowhunters.  She met Isabelle, Alec Lightwood and Jace Wayland at the club.  She didn’t believe in this world at first because she couldn’t believe that her mother would hide it from her.  Then her mother ends up missing and it is up to Clary, Simon and the other Shadowhunters to find her.  Why has someone kidnapped her mother?  What are “the Mortal Instruments” and what do they have to do with this book?

After reading The Infernal Devices series by Clare, I jumped right into this series because I was so hooked on the Shadowhunters.   It may seem like this is a re-telling of the same story, but that is not the case.   Infernal Devices was set in the 1800s in London.  The Mortal Instruments is set in today’s time in New York City.  There are different things involved and advances made.  I fell in love with these characters just as much as I did with the characters of The Infernal Devices.  After reading City of Bones, I couldn’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series.

On the cover, you see the skyline of New York City and a picture of a male, Jace Wayland. It shows him shirtless and you can see his rune tattoos.  I like that this says “book one” on the cover.  I cannot tell you how many times I will buy a series of books and then have to look up which order they are in.  This makes it easy.

•Clarissa Fray.  She is the main character of the book.  She is the one who is a Shadowhunter by blood, but it was kept from her.  She shows great strength in this book while she is looking for her mother.  Strange things happen that are beyond her control, but she doesn’t let them get in the way of her goal.

•Jace Wayland.  Since I first read about Jace, he reminded me of Will Herondale because he has the same air to him, and thus I instantly liked him.  I read The Infernal Devices before this series and so, it was kind of backwards in the way that they were written, but time-wise, it was right.  Anyway, Jace.  He is arrogant, self-less and vulnerable – the same characterstics that I recognized in Will.  How could you not like someone like that?  He also is sarcastic and has “bad-boy” written all over him.

•Simon Lewis.  He is Clary’s best friend and has been for a long time. They always have looked out for each other.  This didn’t change when Clary was suddenly thrust into the Shadowhunter world.  Although Simon felt left out at times because he is a “mundane,” he never let Clary down.

•Isabelle Lightwood.  She is the sister of Alec, Max and Jace.  She lives in the Institute with them.  Isabelle is known for liking the bad boys, or the boys that her parents wouldn’t approve of.  You find out a little more about why in the later books, but suffice it to say that she made a habit out of dating downworlders.  She is a spitfire and will help defend those she loves.

•Alec Lightwood.  He is the brother of Isabelle, Max and Jace.  He is also Jace’s parabatai.  He is the more serious one of the group.  He is the oldest and the only one of the “kids” who is legally an adult.  The rest are considered children by Shadowhunter standards, even though most of the books are about them.  At the beginning of the book, he doesn’t like Clary very much.  The rationale for that comes out later.

•Luke Garroway.  This is Clary’s mother’s closest friend.  He is like a step-father to Clary.  There are some moments in the book where you think that he is not a nice person, but overall, I put him in the like category.

 

•Valentine Morgenstern.  You hear about him throughout the book and his connection to the “circle.”  He doesn’t like the Accords and thinks that they should not be written.  The Accords are the agreements made between the Shadowhunters and the Downworlders.

Undertow blog tour

Title: Undertow

Author: Callie Kingston

Publisher: Carolwood Press

Publish Date:  17 February 2012

Pages: 230

ISBN: 9780615599878

Genre:  Young Adult, romance, mermaids

Series:  unknown

Marissa is nearly eighteen and can't wait to leave behind her traumatic past. With long time boyfriend Drake, she thinks she has her future all figured out--until she discovers his betrayal. She flees to a desolate beach on the wild Oregon coast hoping to escape her pain, where, overcome with emotional and physical exhaustion, she dozes off beside a log. When the first icy waves strike her, it is too late: a rogue wave drags her out to sea.

Somehow she survives, and now each night she dreams of a creature who rescues her. Determined to discover the truth, her obsession deepens until she once again risks her life in the frigid ocean. Will the creature Marissa seeks save her? Will she be lost forever in the eddies of her mind, or will Jim, her new boyfriend, keep her from drowning in the abyss?

Undertow is a contemporary novel in which a young woman finds a terrible choice thrust upon her: overcome the pain in her past and the dangers which lurk in her mind, or succumb to these and be lost forever inside a beautiful dream.

Callie Kingston's home is in the Pacific Northwest, where she lives with many furry creatures (including her husband). She holds a masters degree in psychology and has worked in schools for many years. When not writing, she likes to explore the outdoors, especially the forests and beaches along the Oregon coast. She also enjoys a great cup of cappuccino, which happily is easily found in her part of the world.

This blog tour is put on by A Tale of Many Reviews Book Tours (AToMR).  You can find the entire tour listing here.  There are many interesting stops on this tour, so check it out.