Tudor Tuesday: Catherine Howard

Hey guys! Kathy at A Glass of Wine is hosting a fantastic event called Tudor Tuesday for the upcoming release of Gilt by Katherine Longshore. For the tour we are discussing all the wives of Henry VIII. 

Don't forget to grab the highlighted word for the scavenger hunt!
You could win one of three finished copies of GILT!

This week I will be sharing with you a short summary on Catherine Howard, who was King Henry's fifth wife.

Catherine Howard
(c. 1518–1524 –  Killed 13 February 1542)

Catherine was a lady-in-waiting in King Henry’s household. Three short weeks after the annulment from Anne of Cleves, Henry and Catherine were married.

Catherine never produced a heir for Henry, and she was beheaded after two years of marriage for committing treason and adultery while married to Henry.

Now I have a Teaser to share with you from the Katherine Longshore's upcoming book; Gilt!

“Your eyes,” Edmund said, and tucked a strand of hair back into my hood.  “They say more than your words.” His finger traced the line of my jaw to my lower lip and tugged lightly.

“Oh?  What are they telling you?” But I knew.  I just wasn’t sure I agreed with them entirely.

“That you want to be kissed.”

He drew his finger beneath my chin, forcing me to look at him, and put his mouth on mine.  I had expected the kiss to be like William’s, soft and bright, like a smile made for two.  But Edmund’s kiss tasted of smoke and felt like a mad rush, like shooting the waters of the Thames beneath London Bridge.  Thrilling and dangerous.




To enter fill in the Rafflecopter below (US ONLY) once you have the words to complete this sentence:

In the ____ of King ____ VIII, who you ____ can get you in, but ___ you ____ can get you ______.

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Guest Post: Interview with Kelley York! (Hushed)

Hey guys! Today we have a guest post from author Kelley York!

Today I'm asking her some questions that I was wondering while reading her awesome new book, Hushed.

Keep reading to see what she has to say!

Hey Kelley! Welcome to the blog!

1. If you could describe Hushed in two short sentences, how would you describe it?
HUSHED is a dark look into the human psyche. It explores the deadly lengths some will go to for the ones they love.

2. Hushed is such a unique read. Where did you come up with the idea for the book?
Really, it all started with Archer. I had the idea of wanting to write a boy who was broken and had a skewed sense of morals, and who killed people because he thought it was justified, even if it was wrong.

3. The characters in the book are all so very interesting, especially Archer. Are they based in any way off people you know in real life?
Not at all. I did know a lot of girls like Vivian in high school—the girls who were always with guys who treated them terribly, but they seemed to think it was the best they could get.

4. Who is your most favorite/least favorite character in the book, and why?
My favorite is definitely Archer. He's so broken and in need of a hug, and all I wanted was for him to have some hope that everything would be okay. Least favorite...probably Richter. He's meant to be a sleaze-bag of epic proportions. I hate Vivian, but I love her, too. She's a character I love to hate.

5. Evan was one of my most favorite characters in the book. Was he an easy character to write?
For the most part, yes. Sometimes it took some work because he's a far more patient person than I could ever hope to be. Otherwise, he's sweet and laid back, so writing him isn't difficult.

6. There were quite a few emotional parts in the book. What part was the hardest to write for you?
I'm not sure any of it was difficult to write, per se. But I do get very attached to my characters and sometimes I'll smile when I write something sweet, or I'll cry during the heavier scenes. I cried during a certain pivotal hospital scene in the middle of the book.

7. This book had definitely has me hooked. Do you plan on writing more books in the near future?
Absolutely! I'm working on another one right now. At some point, I also want to rework my first book, which would be the first in a paranormal series.

8. What type of books do you read in your spare time?
Primarily YA. Dark, edgy books are my favorites, and I've kind of been staying away from paranormal these days. I recently finished DROWNING INSTINCT by Ilsa J. Bick, and SAVING JUNE by Hannah Harrington.

9. Did you always want to be a writer?
I always wanted to do something creative, though being a writer wasn't originally it. I used to want to be a character designer for video games. But the problem with being an artist like that is you have to draw what other people want you to draw. I got burnt out on my art, and threw myself full-force into writing. (Something that had been only a hobby before.) After finishing three books now, and working on a forth, I definitely know this is what I want to do for a living.

10. If you were stuck on an island, what three books would you want with you?
(1) HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE by Diana Wynne Jones
(2) GONE, GONE, GONE by Hannah Moskowitz
(3) THE LAST UNICORN by Peter S. Beagle

Awesome answers, Kelley!  Thank you for stopping by the blog today to share with us! So great to get to know you better!

'Kelley York delivers in this impressive debut. I was at the edge of my
seat waiting to see what would happen next! Bottom line, this was
unputdownable!!!' --- YA Fantasy Guide ---

'How exciting that we live in a time when gay teen protagonists can be
just as screwed up as straight ones -- and their stories just as creepy!'
--- Brent Hartinger, award-winning author of Geography Club and Shadow
Walkers ---

Author Bio:

Kelley was born and raised in central California, where she still resides with her lovely wife, daughter, and an abundance of pets. (Although she does fantasize about moving across the globe to Ireland.) She has a fascination with bells, adores all things furry - be them squeaky, barky
or meow-y - is a lover of video games, manga and anime, and likes to pretend she's a decent photographer. Her life goal is to find a real unicorn. Or maybe a mermaid.

Within young adult, she enjoys writing and reading a variety of genres from contemporary with a unique twist, psychological thrillers, paranormal/urban fantasy and horror. She loves stories where character development takes center stage.

Kelley's website: http://www.kelley-york.com/blog

About the Book:

He's saved her. He's loved her. He's killed for her.

Eighteen-year-old Archer couldn't protect his best friend, Vivian, from what happened when they were kids, so he's never stopped trying to protect her from everything else. It doesn't matter that Vivian only uses him when hopping from one toxic relationship to another - Archer is always there, waiting to be noticed.

Then along comes Evan, the only person who's ever cared about Archer without a single string attached. The harder he falls for Evan, the more Archer sees Vivian for the manipulative hot-mess she really is.

But Viv has her hooks in deep, and when she finds out about the murders Archer's committed and his relationship with Evan, she threatens to turn him in if she doesn't get what she wants...And what she wants is Evan's death, and for Archer to forfeit his last chance at redemption.

Available for Purchase at: Barnes & Noble | Amazon

Dark Eden: BLOG TOUR! Top Five Scariest Books!

Welcome to the official Dark Eden blog tour!
Halloween is just around the corner and to celebrate the publication of Dark Eden, available everywhere November 1st, this month author Patrick Carman will be visiting blogs to share spooky guest posts and sneak peeks from his brand new book and app.

Today on the blog Patrick Carmen will be sharing with us his
Top Five Scariest Books!

1. Frankenstein - I'm completely nuts for this book.

2. Edgar Allen Poe - He's not a book, but he is a category. No one creates chilling atmosphere like Poe. He kills.

3. The Turn of the Screw - I love the set up, the unreliable narrator, and the timeless sense of doom.

4. The Stand - This book unnerved me for weeks. It blew me away.

5. Salem's Lot - I was way too young to be reading this book when I did, but I loved it all the same.

That's a great list of books, Patrick! I will definitely keep these in mind for my Halloween Reads list!

About the Book:

Dark Eden

by Patrick Carmen

"When Will Besting approaches Fort Eden for the first time, he knows something isn't right. With more terrifying secrets at every turn he discovers a hidden fear deep inside himself, a dark mystery a thousand years in the making, and the unexpected girl of his dreams. But can he save everyone from the dangers of Fort Eden before it's too late?"

Want more??

Do you dare to face your fears? Take the Dark Eden Fear Test.
Patrick Carman on Twitter | The Official Dark Eden Website.

Official Dark Eden Book Trailer:

Be sure to check out all the stops on the Dark Eden blog tour:

October 3rd: The Bookish Brunette

October 4th: The Reader Bee

October 5th: Novel Novice

October 6th: The Bookworms

October 7th: Girls in the Stacks

October 10th: Between the Pages

October 11th: Dark Readers

October 12th: Letters Inside Out

October 13th: The Book Faery

October 14th: Books Complete Me

October 17th: Two Chicks on Books

October 18th: Starry Sky Books

October 19th: Great Imaginations

October 20th: Once Upon a Twilight

October 21st: Me, My Shelf and I

October 24th: Fiktshun

October 25th: PageTurners

October 26th: Icey Books

October 27th: Truly Bookish

October 28th: Stuck in Books

Happy Reading!

Blog Tour: The Beginning of After

Hey guys! Today we have a special guest on the blog! Please join me in welcoming Jennifer Castle, debut author of The Beginning of After, released on September 6th, 2011. Today Jennifer will be talking with us about Before and After: Marriage. Enjoy!

(Check out my review for The Beginning of After HERE.)

When my husband and I got married, it was a little, well, anticlimactic. We had been a couple for seven years; we had shared an apartment and even bought a house together. People kept asking, “What’s taking you guys so long?” and we had no freaking idea. Wasn’t there supposed to be some aha moment where one of us suddenly knew we had to be married to the other? We were writing screenplays together and working so hard to make our creative dreams come true, we didn’t feel like grown-ups yet. And you have to be a grown-up (or at least be able to fake it) if you’re going to be married, right?

The screenplay dreams stayed dreams, the aha moment a no-show. But we were best friends and didn’t want to live apart, so we went for it. We had the fun, beautiful, slightly offbeat wedding that we’d always wanted and that I’m sure people expected of us. We went to Hawaii where everyone else was sporting shiny new rings too, and we came home and opened a ton of gifts, and then it was like, “Well, okay then. We’re married.”

So what had changed? I wasn’t sure, at first. The biggest difference was just trying to wrap my tongue around the terminology. It had started to feel silly to say “my boyfriend,” but now when I said “my husband,” I felt like I was lying. It felt like something you say when you’re 10 and playing Which Tiger Beat Hottie Am I Married To?

But then I realized the difference: Before we tied the knot, I kept thinking that something big had to happen before the next stage of our lives could start. It wasn’t until after we took the leap anyway that the big things did happen -- exciting work projects, two gorgeous babies, a book deal, a move cross-country. I realize now that we made those Afters ourselves. What’s the next After? I don’t know, but it’s not something we’re sitting around waiting for. When we see it up ahead, we’ll be sure to grab it.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today, Jennifer!

Check out the next stop on the Beginning of After Blog Tour:

Thursday, September 8th @ YA Bliss!

Laurel’s world changes instantly when her parents and brother are killed in a terrible car accident. Behind the wheel is the father of her bad-boy neighbor, David Kaufman, whose mother is also killed. Now, Laurel must navigate a new world in which she and her best friend grow apart, boys may or may not be approaching her out of pity, overpowering memories lurk everywhere, and Mr. Kaufman is comatose but still very much alive. Through it all, there is David, who swoops in and out of Laurel’s life and to whom she finds herself attracted against her better judgment. She will forever be connected to him by their mutual loss, a connection that will change them both in unexpected ways.

B&N | Amazon | The Book Depository | Goodreads

Jennifer Castle graduated from Brown University and worked as a celebrity publicist's assistant, an advertising copywriter, and a struggling screenwriter (yes, that's an actual job) before falling into a niche producing websites for kids and teens. The Beginning of After is her first novel. She lives with her husband and two young daughters in New York's Hudson Valley. Visit her at http://www.jennifercastle.com

Guest Post: Tera Lynn Childs & Sophie Jordan

Vanish and Sweet Venom Romance Blog Tour

Hey guys! Today we have two very special guests on the blog, Tera Lynn Childs and Sophie Jordan! Both have new books being released on September 6th: Sweet Venom and Vanish. I am so very excited to be a part of the Vanish and Sweet Venom Romance Blog Tour, hosted by Big Honcho Media and HarperTeen! Keep reading as Tera and Sophie talk about their Favorite Romantic Songs!

Favorite Romantic Songs

Tera Lynn Childs

My taste in music usually depends on a particular memory I have associated with the song/artist/band in question. I love metal bands from the late 80s because I remember listening to it on my way to school in junior high. I love Beat It and Oh, Mickey because they were two of the first pop songs I ever knew, way back in first and second grade. And I love the following romantic (melodramatic?) love songs because of the movies in which they were featured.

“(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” by Bryan Adams from the soundtrack of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Still my favorite Robin Hood to date and so many great moments (romantic and otherwise) in that movie.

“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston from the soundtrack of The Bodyguard. The former Secret Service agent with a ghost in his past. The diva superstar with a stalker on her trail. Plenty of romantic fireworks.

“My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion from the soundtrack of Titanic. Yes, this is probably one of the cheesiest, over-the-top romantic movies of all time, but that didn’t make me cry any less when that ship went down.

“Keep On Loving You” by The Donnas from the soundtrack of Drive Me Crazy. This is my all-time favorite teen movie, with darling Melissa Joan Hart and pre-Entourage Adrian Grenier. When they start dancing to this song at the end... Well, my heart goes pitter-patter.

Favorite Romantic Songs
Sophie Jordan

I’m a sucker for a romantic song –of course. ;) I’m all about a good romance. That’s what I write … love to read, love to watch. The first romantic song that immediately pops into my mind is Vanessa Williams’s “Save The Best For Last”. As a teenager I had a long-standing crush on one of my best guy-buds. This song became my anthem. Picture me at age fourteen … fifteen, sixteen, seventeen (um, I said long-standing right?) listening to this song over and over again in my bedroom, reveling in my heartache.

The lyrics summed up our relationship perfectly. All of the nights you came to me/ When some silly girl had set you free. Oh, yeah. Story of my high school life. I could write a book on unrequited love(oh, wait. I have!). I totally get that sentiment. It was like this song channeled all my heartache. You wondered how you would make it through/ I wondered what was wrong with you/ Cause how could you give your love to someone else/ And share your dreams with me? This song was my life. Still pretty applicable to the theme of unrequited love today, too. That’s what a good romantic song needs to be. Not overly sappy. Real. Something we all identify with … hm, just like a good romance in a book. Right?

Today, I still love romantic songs, but the edgier stuff appeals to me. Pink is at the top of my list. And almost all of her songs are a win since most of them deal with relationships. They’re just so relevant. And emotional. Again, I feel like I could be describing a good book – edgy, emotional, and relevant. Some of my favorite Pink songs are: “Crystal Ball” and “I don’t believe You” – this one has strings in the background. It really sweeps you away. Gotta love that. And yes, I love listening to Pink while writing … maybe that’s why my heroines are so spunky. What about you? What are some of your fav romantic songs?

Thank you so much, Tera & Sophie, for stopping by the blog today!

Don't forget to check out the next stop on the blog tour:
Tuesday, September 6th @ Confessions of a Bookaholic!

Want to meet the authors in person?? Here's a list of where they will be in the next few days!

• September 7 @ 7 PM - Blue Willow Bookshop Houston, TX
• September 8 @ 7 PM - Books & Co  Dayton, OH
• September 9 @ 7 PM - Magic Tree Bookstore  Chicago, IL
• October 1st - Austin Teen Book Festival  Austin, TX
  

About the Books:

Sweet Venom
Grace just moved to San Francisco and is excited to start over at a new school. The change is full of fresh possibilities, but it’s also a tiny bit scary. It gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks just like her shows up to fight the monster.

Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, especially on a school night, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though.

Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they’re triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters. These three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful Gorgon maligned in myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in this unique paranormal world where monsters lurk in plain sight.

Vanish
An Impossible Romance. Bitter Rivalries. Deadly Choices.

To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

In bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s dramatic follow-up to Firelight, forbidden love burns brighter than ever.

About the Authors:

Tera Lynn Childs (Authora neo) is a newly discovered species of author fish who always dreamed of being a mermaid, but never got closer than a career as a competitive swimmer. She loves to spend as much time as possible in and around water (right up until her fingertips turn all pruney) in the vain hope that one day her legs will magically turn into fins. When stuck on land, Authora neo can be found writing in coffee shops across the country, prowling for cool mermaid gear on Etsy, and spending way too much time online. Visit her at http://teralynnchilds.com.


Sophie Jordan grew up in the Texas hill country where she wove fantasies of dragons, warriors, and princesses. A former high school English teacher, she's also the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Avon historical romances. She now lives in Houston with her family. When she's not writing, she spends her time overloading on caffeine (lattes and Diet cherry Coke preferred), talking plotlines with anyone who will listen (including her kids), and cramming her DVR with true-crime and reality-TV shows. Sophie also writes paranormal romances under the name Sharie Kohler. Visit her at www.sophiejordan.net.