This I Promise You by Tressa Messenger *Giveaway & Book Tour*

Guest Post by Tressa Messenger
Author of
This I Promise You

The Blurb:

You only get one first of anything, and no matter the time, or space, or age, you never forget your firsts.

When thirteen year old Nicky Moore’s parents decide to buy a small summer beach cottage at Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, she thought her life would end.  It didn’t matter the beauty of the area - land and water as far as the eye could see - she was bound and determined to make her family’s summer vacation as dismal as she felt.  That was until she met a boy from down the beach; a beautiful boy, with the most intense brown eyes she had ever seen and a smile that could light the ocean on fire.  A summer that Nicky thought was doomed from the start, turned into a summer that she would never forget; one full of firsts.  It was impossible for her to know years later how one seemingly little decision could change everything forever, but soon, as an adult, Nicky will find out that everything she once thought were real and the promises once made, were lost in a sea of inner turmoil.

A note from Tressa on why she wrote This I Promise You...

I'm not even sure where to begin.  How do you explain what an impact a story has on one self?  This story is one so very special to me and I put a lot of tears into writing it.   

After a friend of mine came to me and presented a book idea to me, which has happened many times since becoming a writer, immediately the story unfolded in my mind. I knew the exact story I wanted to tell. A story that I felt needed to be told. It is a story of finding yourself through young love and trying to maintain that love through life’s obstacles. This story is so very special to me because this story is about me and someone who was very special to me, my first love. I am truly honored to be able to share it with you.

My story is not very unlike the one you are about to read.  I fell in love for the first time when I was just 13 years old with the most beautiful boy I had ever known, Jeremy Hayes Hewett. Some told me it was just a crush, a child’s fantasy, and some just dismissed it all together.  They were all wrong. Yes, I was 13 and that is young, but I knew how I felt and they did not. He was a truly special person who had the biggest heart of anyone I had ever known. We dated the entire school year until I moved away at the end of the school year. We continued to stay in touch after I moved away, but long distance relationships are hard whether you are 13 or 31 and like so many long distance relationships it didn’t last. Slowly, the once constant letters and phone calls started becoming fewer and further in between until they stopped all together. I would always think about him from time to time though whether I was driving through his hometown, or if I heard a certain song on the radio. I sang our song “I Swear” every night for a year.

Finally, when I was nineteen, I contacted everyone that I could think of who knew him or would possibly know how to contact him, and since this was before advances in technology had taken off I decided to leave it up to the universe. If we were meant to be, then we would be. As the years went by the universe remained steadily quiet, so once again I grew impatient and took it upon myself to try and locate him once more. Unfortunately, this time I did find out where he was, but what I found out was the LAST thing I had ever expected to hear. My first love had been dead for three years after taking his life. The impact of his death left me in complete shock, and after the shock, there was guilt. I was utterly consumed by guilt because oddly enough, it had been exactly three years since I had last tried to find him, I felt guilty for not trying harder. I thought that maybe, had I known what he was going through I could’ve helped him.

Well, what I can’t do, as much as I wish I could, is go back and help him, but what I can do now is share this story in the hopes that it may help someone else. So, that is what I have done. He and I may have only had that one perfect year together when we were kids, but it was a time in my life I will never forget. I often wonder had he and I stayed together how would our lives have played out? People always say that if they could go back in time and change anything in their life they wanted to they wouldn’t change a thing.  But if you knew that was the ending would you change it if you could do it all over again? I would.

Find Tressa here :

www.facebook.com/tressamessenger

www.tressamessenger.com

twitter @tressamessenger

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Heart Waves Blog Tour Stop **POV Guest Post**

I am so glad I got to be on this tour! I have now read 2 of Danielle's books and I have enjoyed them both... Today I have an Awesome Guest Post from Jenna's POV *main character in Heart Waves* 

Thank you so much for having me here Heather. Just want to say you really are a Supa girl! Ok, I’ll get to the point, what was it like when I met Reece? Hmm. 


It's like placing a lit candle on the table in front of a toddler and walking away. The child knows it shouldn't touch, you've explained that the flame is hot and dangerous, but the child can't resist, the draw to the dancing flame is too strong, it's beautiful and enticing. That was what it was like when I met Reece Walton. The instant he placed his ring in my hand I wanted, needed to be with him. I also knew like that candle, he threatened to cause me searing pain.


I'm not psychic. I pick up energy from objects and interpret it. The stronger the bond to the object, the stronger the energy on it. That's what I was doing when I met Reece. We were at a party, one I didn't want to be at, and I was passing the time waiting to leave.  That's when I heard his voice and I froze. I'd never heard anything so beautiful. Reece slipped his ring in my hand. And the words slipped out of my mouth without thought. "It's like Romeo and Juliet, you're going to break my heart." Why couldn't I pick a love story with a better ending? What if I would've said we're like Edward and Bella instead? At least then I would've known we had a chance at a happy ending and I wouldn't have been so frightened.


Aside from my dire prediction, we had one other major obstacle between us. I have trust issues. It's simple. If you're a guy I don't trust you. Even from our first encounter I could tell Reece was different. He wasn't pawing at me like guys usually do, he spoke to me. And when we touched  . . . I never felt anything like it! I fell deeper under his spell, free falling with no ground in sight. After we went our separate ways all I could focus on was finding him. Turns out he found me instead. Still I resisted. Until I saw him with another girl. Talk about gut wrenching experiences.  


Torn between the promise of a once in a lifetime love and soul crushing heartbreak I had a choice to make. At least I tried to convince myself I had a choice. The truth is, the choice was never mine. From the moment we met, I knew he was my destiny. I had to be with him. He was my soul mate.   


If you want to know more you're going to have pick up the book and take the journey with us. 

Sooo good! You want to read this... Here is where you can find the book and more about Danielle

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/heartwavesbook

Twitter @sibarium

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5292476.Danielle_Sibarium

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Waves-ebook/dp/B0087PVGGW/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1340684756&sr=1-1&keywords=heart+waves

Barnes&noble.com http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/heart-waves-danielle-sibarium/1111241896?ean=2940014367943

1 Year Blogoversary Day 26 April from Sim-Sational Reviews Guest Post & Giveaway

WOW It's Day 26 of the Celebration and I have...

April from Sim-Sational Reviews

Now on with the awesomeness that is April!!

TOP TEN BOOK BOYS WHO MELT MY BUTTER.. in no particular order

Edward Cullen – Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer

I figured we would get this one out of the way first… Unless you’re anti Twilight,   you’re probably feeling Mr. Edward, or wishing that you were. I know, he can be a bit of a wuss with a capital P, but let’s face it, he has some dreamy qualities too. He’s very protective, drop dead gorgeous, he will never get fat on deer blood, and he’s pretty darn loaded. Even if he doesn’t make me sparkly someday, I could just be his sugar human for a while… maybe I’d get a bullet proof car out of it.

Zachary Moore – Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

I have only read the first book in this series, but already Zachary has stolen my heart. He’s patient, smart, and has an adorable accent. I can’t say that I have a kilt fetish… they never really did it for me… but picturing Zachary in one adds a whole new appeal. I want to tell him to forget Aura! Here’s a wanna be Milf waiting for you! Of course he won’t listen, but I can dream right?

Delvin – from the Wicked Lovely Series by Melissa Marr

This series has a ton of characters, there are many hot guys to choose from. Delvin mostly makes his appearance in Radiant Shadows. There is just something about him… he’s bad ass. He’s the assassin to the High Queen, but he has a sensitive side too. Just trust me on this… He’s totally crush worthy.

Harry Potter – from the Harry Potter series, duh.. by J. K. Rowling

Okay, before you all start thinking, eww this girl is a total Pedi.. I am crushing on the Harry (Post puberty). I’m gonna be honest here. It’s really just the glasses.. You see, I have this thing for a guy with glasses.. If he has dark hair too, that’s a plus.. So Glasses and Dark Hair = Happy April, not so ironically it also = Aprils Husband. Lol. But as if this all wasn’t enough… Harry and I have matching scars. Yup.. I have a lightning bold scar above my lip from my surgeries as a baby. (I was born with Cleft Lip & Pallet) So I feel that Harry and I are meant to be.

Callum – from the Raised by Wolves series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

I love him. Oh my gosh I love him… he’s not exactly the love interest in these stories, though he plays a huge part.. He’s more like the father figure to Bryn the main character. I’m very proud of this choice.. Because he’s an adult! Notice how I listed this one after Harry Potter to make myself look good.. Did it work? :oP Anyway, I would like to have his wolf babies. Not until we are dating a while, both have secure jobs, and possibly married with a house. ßAfter school special comment of the day!

Etienne St. Clair – Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

What is there to say? He’s foreign, adorable, and funny. Funny is huge for me. That’s usually one of the first non physical things I’m attracted to. I read this book not to long ago, so I’m still a little flustered.. He’s just the kind of guy you want to be with. He’s real.. Flawed a bit.. He’s not perfect; he makes mistakes just like anyone else.. But in the end, he will turn you into a puddle.. *sigh*

Alex – From Delirium by Lauren Oliver

First off, this book is amazing. I loved the concept.. Imagine being cured of love. That’s insane.. Life is nothing without love.. Lena is about to be cured.. when enter Alex… and she falls in love.. She’s not the only one. I fell in love right along with her. I don’t think Alex had any specific endearing qualities that did it for me.. I think it was more the Authors writing that had me desperately clinging to his every word… It was written in a way that had me falling in love again for the first time. As I’m typing this, I couldn’t even tell you what Alex looked like. I don’t remember, and I don’t care. It’s who his is, and how he made me feel that has me all gushy when thinking about it.

Adam – from Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

He’s hot.. He just is. I hope that if I ever do something bad in life, and get thrown in jail… the government will be kind enough to drop a lovely specimen like him into my cell. After hundreds of days in seclusion..  getting a cell mate like that.. I would be eating him up like a thanksgiving dinner. What I wouldn’t give to eat some candies yams off that set of abs. Delish

Ash – from the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa

Ooooh, Ash.. He’s the perfect man.. from book one I have been smitten, and through every book, I have grown to love him more and more. I just finished the final book, and I’m at a loss for words. Let’s just say.. It’s a good thing my daughter can’t shoot icicles from her fingers, or I would have some serious explaining to do.

Dimitri – from The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead

I feel like his picture should be in the dictionary next to sexy because holy crap he’s sexy. I can’t even explain, if you have read this series.. then you know what I’m talking about. Thank you to Mead for creating this yummy forbidden fruit… the hot instructor/teacher you shouldn’t dabble with, but totally want to. Oh but they shouldn’t, Oh but they want to, ect. The chemistry in these books was insane. I want Dimitri . I would give up cupcakes for the rest of my life if I could have him. That’s hard core, because I love cupcakes. LoL.

So that was my current top ten. I have a bunch of books on my shelf I haven’t read yet, so this list is subject to change someday. Haha! Hope you all enjoyed my hormone induced rambling! Thanks for stopping by.    

Oh, How I love that girl!! Thank you so much April for being a part of my Celebration!! 

There has been a change in prize totally my fault make sure to read below!

Now April has a giveaway for you!!  **A book of your choice from Any of the Series Mentioned in her Guest Post** from the Book Depository Super Easy - Raffle Copter Leave a Comment!

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1 Year Blogoversary Day 25 Andrea From The Bookish Babes Guest Post

25 Days in to the Celebration and I have with me today...

Andrea from The Bookish Babes

Thank you for stopping in Andrea and away you go...

Hi, guys! First and foremost, I want to congratulate Heather on her first year blogging. Blogging is so fun, and so tough and anyone who lasts a year deserves major applause.

Secondly, I would like to thank Heather for asking me to write guest post; and especially for making the topic super-easy and fun. I had my list in my head within five minutes. So here we go.

Top Five Books I Want to Be Made Into Movies

5.) The Vincent Boys, by Abbi Glines

Why? Two words: Beau Vincent. This is a book that is hard to explain if you don’t know Beau. He was the bad boy with a hidden heart of gold. And, if I were casting the movie, I would look for a young Josh Lucas.

4.) The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, by Jennifer E. Smith

Why? Have you read it?? This book would make the perfect movie. It reminded me of Serendipity, Love Actually, and Valentine’s Day. You know, those great movies that are sort of lighthearted, but catch you somewhere along the way and knock you on your butt. But, I want to be clear here. Oliver would have to be perfectly cast. Perfectly.

3.) The Iron Fey Series, by Julie Kagawa

I’m hesitant to list this one because it would be extremely tricky. The Nevernever was so beautifully built by Kagawa. I know it would be so difficult to replicate, but definitely worth the risk. Could you even imagine Ash and Puck on the big screen? Sa-woon. And the kissy scenes! Squee! And Grimalkin? I firmly stand by my position that he is the best cat ever. Yeah, that would be a fantastic movie.

2.) The Soul Screamers Series by Rachel Vincent

Where do I even start? For starters, the Netherworld, that place is so freaking creepy. But mainly, I would love to see that cast. A wholesome, sweet girl as Kaylee; a hot, sweet guy as Nash; and a guy who could be snarky and smirky as Tod, but still be likeable. Yeah, I could spend hours googling images in my search for the perfect cast.

1.) WVMP Radio Series, by Jeri Smith-Ready

Surprisingly, this is the only adult series on my list. For anyone who knows me, this is no surprise. I talk about this series all the time. I’ve become a bit of a bully about it. From the moment I met Ciara, a reformed (in progress) con artist, I was hooked. She’s smart, wry, realistic, and the ultimate in cool lead characters. And then you have the vampires. Trust me when I say, these vampires are unlike any you’ve read before. Music (awesome music, in fact) makes up a huge part of this series, fitting since the vampires are DJs. And then there’s Shane. Shane McAllister is my number one fictional guy. It would take the perfect actor to play tall, quiet, but passionate Shane. This series is the ultimate in cool.

Wow. I had a lot more to say than I intended, which is how it usually goes with me. I hope I’ve slightly entertained you. Thanks again, Heather, for having me. Congratulations!

There you have it... Now you know a tad bit more about the Awesomeness that is Andrea!! Stop by her blog and say HI.

For Today's Giveaway I bring you..

Your choice of either 

Awake at Dawn by C.C. Hunter

or

My Soul to Steal by Rachel Vincent

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1 Year Blogoversary Day 11 Cidney Swanson Guest Post with GIVEAWAY

Dropping in today is the Fabulous Author of Rippler and Chameleon 

Cidney Swanson

Now I am going to give it over to Cidney's Guest Post...

FIVE PLACES I’D LOVE TO SEE

Earlier this year, I got to visit a place I’ve wanted to see since I was a small child: Madeira. (It’s a volcanic island off the coast of West Africa.) Like most of the places I want to see some day, Madeira first came alive for me as a word I liked to roll around in my mouth. Madeira, Madeira, Madeira . . . My grandmother traveled extensively as a tourist in the days of turquoise-blue-suited stewardesses. She would come home bringing names of far-away places, and I treasured the sounds of those place-names almost as much as the gifts she brought back. To this day, the places I most want to visit are still from the list of places she visited.

Kuala Lumpur

Seriously, how can you not want to visit a place with a name this yummy? My sister’s been as close as Singapore, and in spite of how long the flight would be, this definitely makes my list.

Machu Picchu

Another place my grandmother visited. And what kid wouldn’t want to walk around the house chanting “machu-peechu-machu-peechu-machu-peechu”? When I heard about the railroad tracks that take you there being buried under a load of mountain, I felt heartbroken. (January 2010.) Fortunately for my dreams, the area was re-opened April 2010.

Cuba

Since my grandparents lived here in the 1940’s, I’m especially eager to visit. My grandmother taught me to make several Cuban dishes, but I’m sure they taste much, much better in Cuba itself! I want to see the breadfruit trees, clouds piled miles high at sunset, and hear the rhythm of Cuban Spanish.

India

Wow. So. Big, big country. I can’t imagine visiting without seeing the Taj Mahal, which my grandmother said was the most beautiful building she’d seen in all the world. She also loved the people she met, from wealthy hotel-owners to women who ran orphanages. She called India the friendly nation. I’m already a curry fan, and I’d love to try foods from India’s rich and varied cuisine.

Budapest

As a kid, I was convinced this was in the country of Hungry. I felt very sad for the children who lived here, and I often wondered if I could mail food to them. As an adult, I met people from Hungary. When they told me their capital city was called Bu-duh-pesht, I added it to the places I needed to visit. I mean, how amazing-sounding is Budapeshhht? I could say it all day.

And of course, once I visit a place, it does tend to show up in the stories I write. So, if I’m fortunate enough to see some of the places listed above, you can count on my including them in future novels.

Thanks Cidney! Those all sound like great places! Although I have a totally bookish reason I want to go to Budapest... umm yeah Lords of The Underworld anyone??

Click on the books for my Reviews on each one! 

Find Cidney on the Web: Goodreads | Website | Twitter

Cidney has a E-copy of the Awesome Chameleon for you!

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Review & Guest Post: Chameleon by Cidney Swanson

Review and Guest Post of 

Chameleon by Cidney Swanson

*Rippler Series #2*

Published September 6th 2011 by Williams Press

Sixteen-year-old Samantha Ruiz has a lot on her mind. The crush who kissed her but changed his mind. The BFF who thinks Sam is in an abusive relationship. The geneticist who wanted Sam dead but now wants her ALIVE. And of course, Sam’s still dealing with a tendency to disappear into thin air.

When Sam learns of her nemesis Helmann’s Nazi-like plan to establish a Thousand-Year Reign, she’s determined to fight him. Along with Will and Mickie, Sam flees to France to meet Sir Walter—their best hope for stopping Helmann’s brave new world.But Sam isn’t any safer in France. Someone is following her. Someone invisible. Sam will have to figure out how to hide from an enemy she can’t even see.

Guest Post by Cidney Swanson : 

Truth and Beauty

A few weeks ago in a dark movie theater watching the last Harry Potter movie, I remembered why I love to write. I wasn’t one of those who made it for the midnight viewings. I’d promised my niece that we would watch it together. (We’re both very bookish and deeply devoted to all things JK Rowling.) The promise was hard to keep; she didn't come to visit ‘til July 18^th. But a couple of days after the premiere (and taking advantage of cheaper matinee pricing) we marched down to the local Cinemark.

I knew I’d be sad. I’d read a tweet by Cheryl Klein (continuity editor on later HP’s) where she compared her night at the premiere to watching your best friends getting beaten up for two hours. So, yeah, I knew it would probably be a tear-jerker. For some people.

But I wasn’t prepared.

Like many readers, I feel an intense connection to Severus Snape every time I read through the second half of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. But I seriously wasn’t prepared for the effect that his story would have on me when presented on a really, really big screen.

From the moment Alan Rickman first walked on the screen, and without his having uttered any words, you could feel Snape's inner turmoil. It was painful, hearing him deliver that initial warning about not sheltering Harry Potter. If you’ve seen it, surely you felt what I’m talking about. How conflicted Snape was as he made those demands of all of the Hogwarts students? I got shivers.

And then the pensieve scene. Oh, I so did not see my reaction coming. I shook with tears.  And, of course, tried to do so quietly so as not to disturb other people near me. But I couldn’t stop. I think the tears started the moment I heard young Severus’ voice. So small, so earnest. So obviously over-the-top in love with Lily, his one friend in all the wide world.

And Snape’s anguish when he comes to Dumbledore knowing Lily’s been killed? “They put their trust in the wrong person, just like someone else I know.” Which brings us to the on-screen moment when Snape weeps over the dead body of his best friend, his compass-star, his one true love.

That was the moment when I leaned into my husband, took his hand, and whispered, “I want to tell stories like this—the kind that make you ache because of their beauty and truth.” He squeezed my hand back. I think he might have been crying a little, too.

Cidney Swanson is the author of RIPPLER, Book One in the Ripple Series available here: http://amzn.to/YAread on sale this month for .99!

Review : 5x5

This continues Rippler and if you haven't read that well, what the heck are you waiting for? Really great!! Chameleon finds us right after the other book left us off and boy howdy are Sam and Will stuck in some trouble... It's adventurous, exciting, and angsty *just a tad* but who doesn't like some of that? The story line just keeps getting better Love where it is going and once again .... CAN NOT WAIT for MORE!!! Great Job Cidney Great Job!!