Blog Tour + Playlist w/ Giveaway: Songs of Our Breakup (Playlist Book 1) by Jay E. Tria!

Songs of Our Breakup (Playlist Book 1)

Published on August 22nd 2015
by Jay E. Tria

Genre: New Adult Romance/Chicklit

Links:
Goodreads

Amazon

Every breakup has its playlist. 

How do you get over a seven-year relationship? 21-year-old Jill is trying to find out. But moving on is a harder job when Kim, her ex-boyfriend, is the lead guitarist of the band, and Jill is the vocalist. Every song they play together feels like slicing open a barely healed tattoo. 

Jill’s best friend Miki says she will be out of this gloom soon. Breakups have a probation period, he says. Jill is on the last month of hers and Miki is patiently keeping her company. 

But the real silver lining is Shinta. Having a hot Japanese actor friend in times like these is a welcome distraction. This gorgeous celebrity has been defying time zones and distance through the years to be there for Jill. Now he is here, physically present, and together he and Jill go through old lyrics, vivid memories, walks in the rain, and bottles of beer. Together they try to answer the question: what do you do when forever ends?

PLAYLIST:

Soundtrack of our Breakup

Posted on August 27, 2015 by Jay E. Tria

 

 My second baby Songs of Our Breakup is out! *jumpshot* I’ve been hearing lovely things from the handful of people who’ve read it, and one common comment is that the book needs a soundtrack. Well, it kind of does have a soundtrack. Unofficially, that is.

Writing for me usually requires a vacuum. But sometimes, writing requires a playlist.

It made sense that I needed music to write a story about an indie rock band, taking on the task of penning lyrics for the first time ever. I was ambitious, I know. But it was super fun. The words came to me at the oddest moments. The lyrics to Slipstream for one, got into my head while I was waiting for the train at Ayala Station. By the time I got off at Quezon Avenue, the song’s first draft was complete.

The point is sometimes we need noise. A pounding drumbeat, a metallic guitar riff, or just some good old rock and roll.

Below are some (vintage) songs that accompanied me while I was deep inside my writer’s hole for Songs of Our Breakup.

Click, shuffle, and repeat.

The Script. Man on the Wire.

The Strokes. You Only Live Once

Sandwich. Masilungan

Sandwich. In Case of Fire

Eraserheads. Kailan

Ed Sheeran. The A Team

John Mayer. Slow Dancing in a Burning Room

The Killers. Shot At The Night

Maroon 5. Beautiful Goodbye

Arctic Monkeys. Bigger Boys and Stolen Sweethearts.

Muse. Starlight

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Hi! I'm a writer of contemporary Young Adult and New Adult romance. These days I'm writing paranormal/fantasy too, and it's a fun exercise. I'm often inspired by daydreams, celebrity crushes, a childhood fascination of Japanese drama and manga, and an incessant itch to travel.

Links:
Website www.jayetria.com

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Jay-E.-Tria/e/B0121SG50W

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14181037.Jay_E_Tria

Twitter https://twitter.com/jayetria

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jayetriawriter

Instagram @jayetria

Book Review: Coin Heist by Elisa Ludwig

 Title: Coin Heist

Author: Elisa Ludwig

Genre: YA, Mystery

Publish date: June 10, 2014

Copy from: Netgalley

See on: Goodreads

Buy links: Amazon ll iTunes

The last place you’d expect to find a team of criminals is at a prestigious Philadelphia prep school. But on a class trip to the U.S. Mint – which prints a million new coins every 30 minutes – an overlooked security flaw becomes far too tempting for a small group of students to ignore.

United by dire circumstances, these unlikely allies – the slacker, the nerd, the athlete, and the "perfect" student – band together to attempt the impossible: rob the U.S. Mint. The diverse crew is forced to confront their true beliefs about each other and themselves as they do the wrong thing for the right reasons.

Elisa Ludwig's Coin Heist is a fun, suspenseful, and compelling thriller, told from the revolving perspectives of four teens, each with their own motive for committing a crime that could change all of their lives for the better—if they can pull it off.

 When I read the following paragraph: 

You could use the set theory in mathematics to explain most social realities: if O (Jason) was a member of A (his subset, a.k.a. Zack Pickering and his band friends), which was in turn a member of B (the HF junior class), he was technically included in B as a subset member

I was like

 But I kept on reading

 

And I wasn't disappointed. 

We have 

from coinheist.net

 the slacker, the nerd, the athlete, and the "perfect" student. What could possibly add more spice to this mix? 
An all-out coin stealing spree that is. 

What I like about this book is that each of the main characters were given the spotlight. We see their different points-of-view particularly what they are going through before, during and after their scheming. 

I also like the part where they were already fulfilling their mission and a curveball happens.

Overall, it is what a thrilling, (a little bit) blood-pumping action YA where you get the thrills, swirls and a little bit (or should I say quite a lot) of romance on the side. 

Albeit, the ending could have been a lot better. 

*And also, check out awesomesauce fan-arts on the book's site coinheist.net

My debut young adult novel PRETTY CROOKED (Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins) was released in March 2012, and the sequel, PRETTY SLY, is out in March 2014. COIN HEIST, a YA thriller, is out in June 2014 (Adaptive Studios). I live in Philadelphia with my husband and son.

Author links: 

Website ll Twitter ll Facebook

Chrysophase Book Blitz + Giveaway

GAH! It's finally here! The second book to the Chalcedony Chronicles. EEEEEEEP (*fangirl mode on*)

Chrysoprase by B. Kristin McMichael
(Chalcedony Chronicles #2)
Publication date: February 1st 2014
Genres: Time-Travel, Young Adult

See on: Goodreads
Buy from: Amazon

Mari’s return to the present was not exactly what she expected. As the goddess predicted, there are always consequences to going into the past. Now, with the help of her friend Ty, Mari must find a way to get her loved ones back. Unfortunately, it may require the assistance of an ex-boyfriend whom she never wished to see again. He just might be the key to learn how to time travel on her own, or he might have another motive. Mari is left to decide, can he be trusted to help?

 A new player is introduced into Mari’s already complicated world:

I looked up. It felt like someone was watching me. I glanced around the room. The door was still closed, and no one was around. I hadn’t heard anyone enter. Their maids were silent, but not that silent. I looked back around the room. The feeling was still there, but I was alone.

My focus went back to the documents scattered around the room in glass cases. One toward the far window caught my attention. The carnelian lines around my hand pulsated as if to tell me I was going in the right direction. The tingles in my arm felt much like they did when I was around Seth. I missed him so much, and I was nowhere near knowing how to get him back. It was like Seth was sending me a sign even though we were far apart. I moved slowly down the line of books. Something was calling to the stone that was now imprinted into my arm. I stopped at each book as I passed. Why was one calling to me and all the others not? As I got close to the one I really wanted to see, I paused again. I still felt like someone was watching me. I looked down at the words on the page in the box in front of me. They weren’t the ones calling to me, yet were pretty all the same.

“Figured this would be where you ran off to,” Logan said quietly from somewhere in the room.

I was sure I didn’t hear him enter, and I had no clue how long he had been there. He stepped out of the shadow he was hidden in and slowly slunk across the room. Logan had always puzzled me. Around everyone else, you would think he was just another very friendly jock, but alone, he was completely different. His movements were always perfect and graceful, but he kept that hidden from everyone else. I remember the first time I was alone with him. Logan was exciting, and he made me feel like I was the one he had spent his life hunting. I still felt that vibe from him, but now it was just confusing. I didn’t have feelings for him anymore, beyond the annoyance I still felt about our last date. That would probably last forever. The reason I didn’t trust guys in general, and rightfully so, was standing in front of me now. Having him slowly analyzing me was strange. I still got butterflies in my stomach—anyone would get that when someone as hot as him was looking at you. But I didn’t have the loving feelings that once went with those butterflies.

And new mysteries to be solved:

I was going to do it right this time. I pictured the Jones house library, and the book that called to me at the party over Thanksgiving. By the time I finished thinking of the book we were there, standing in front of it. Ty took a breath and moved a few feet away from me.

“I’ve never done that more than a once in a day. That was a bit weird,” Ty commented, shaking out the hand that had been touching the stone.

I nodded and looked down at the book with the ancient text. I still felt a hum coming off the book. I wanted to touch it and see if the pages were humming like I felt they would be. I peered into the box and looked at the weird lines. It was nothing I could understand. I looked up and around the room. Logan wasn’t there. I really wanted to touch the book.

“What is it?” Ty asked, stepping behind me and looking over my shoulder.

“I don’t know. Something about the book makes me feel like I should touch it. Like if I touched it I would know the secret it’s trying to tell me,” I explained. “Gosh, that sounds weird,” I added as I turned around.

“Weird? Yes. But I’ve seen a lot of weird things happen since we first found these stones,” Ty said, holding his up. The glow I normally saw off the stone was gone. I looked down to my arm. The lines were faded around the edges. We were going to have to wait until the power returned, or for Logan.

I looked up at Ty. I really wanted to see why I should touch the book. Ty nodded to me. It didn’t matter how weird it was, I was going to try. I looked around the room one more time. Ty stayed right behind me, he was so big that if anyone was in the room they would be blocked from actually seeing me while I touched the book. It felt like I was stealing, or doing something wrong. These texts were old and priceless. Oils from your hands could damage the paper, but I still had to know. The longer I stood there, the more the book pulled at me. I lifted the glass case only enough to get a finger in to touch the text. I slid my finger in and felt the shock as I touched it. I quickly pulled my hand out in surprise.

I turned back to Ty to tell him what happened when the shimmer of Logan traveling into the room caught my eye.

And true love to reunite with:

I leaned forward and pulled his head down to meet mine. I kissed him again. I needed to. I needed to feel that he was real. Each time he went away, and my memories changed, it felt like I lost a part of him. In losing him, I was losing part of me. He was everything I ever wanted. It was scary to feel that way about one person, but it was true. Even Logan and our past couldn’t compare with the feelings floating around inside me at just the touch of Seth’s lips to mine. He was everything I needed.

“And you?” he asked as he pulled back a little.

“Me what?” I asked, looking up into his eyes. The desire I saw there was surely mirrored in my own.

“How long has it been in your time?” Seth asked as he eyed me over, looking for any change in me.

“Five weeks,” I replied, watching his eyes roam over my body. When most men looked at you like that it was creepy, but the way he looked made my stomach tumble.

“And Ty was with you there?” Seth asked, finally bringing his eyes up to mine.

“Yes,” I answered, looking up at him. Did he really want to just talk after all this time apart?

“But he didn’t come with you,” Seth replied to my answer.

He balanced on the wall with only one hand, allowing his free hand to reach up and touch my face. I closed my eyes and tried to memorize his touch. No matter how I was with him now, it would never last. I had a feeling we would always have to fight to be together.

“No,” I responded, feeling his body press up against me. His lips met mine again, and I rested my hands on his bare chest. There were a few perks to the Egyptian military clothing, or rather lack of clothing.

“Why,” Seth began as he moved his kisses to my ear. “Are.” He kissed down my neck, sending tingles to my toes. “You.” He reached the indent where my neck and shoulder met. “Here?”

He finished asking his question, but the kisses continued as he pushed the fabric of the multiple tunics I wore out of the way to continue kissing down a line. He began moving back up my neck slowly as he waited for a response, but I was having trouble even remembering the question. It was hard to carry on a conversation when we couldn’t keep ourselves apart.

Originally from Wisconsin, B. Kristin currently resides in Ohio with her husband, two small children, and three cats. When not doing the mom thing of chasing kids, baking cookies, and playing outside, she is using her PhD in Biology working as a scientist. In her free time she is hard at work on multiple novels; as each day passes, she has more ideas for both current and future novels.

Links: 

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Sadly, it's for US citizens only. :(

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Book Review: Prom Impossible by Laura Pauling

Title: Prom Impossible

Author: Laura Pauling

Genre: Young Adult, 

Copy from: Netgalley

See on: Goodreads

Buy links: Amazon 

1 girl + 1 prom + 3 guys = Prom Impossible!

Cassidy decides her senior year, including prom, will be about Michael Greenwood, the boy destined to be her soul mate. One problem. He hasn’t figured that out yet.

But certain events meant as innocent pranks—that weren’t completely her fault—introduce her to Zeke, the reformed bad boy. And cutting deals in the boys’ bathroom with Jasper, the hottest guy in school, lands her in a complicated web of half-truths that spirals out of control.

At the end of the year, she’s dateless the day before the big night but risks a lot more than her pride if she can’t find a way to fix her mistakes.

PROM IMPOSSIBLE is a modern-day Shakespearean romantic comedy in the world of teens, true love, and life.

 I really don't know what to say about this book. There are those books that you just have to keep reading coz it's so good, books that you barely just finished (but did because you have to or the sheer sense of hope that it would get better in the end) and those books that you just have to drop and leave.

This book belongs to the second.

With the onslaught of New Adult books these days, readers are used to more meat in the story (i.e. broken girl/boy, had a bad childhood but has grown or on his/her way to becoming a better person, a little bit of "ehem ehem" with the retribution, salvation, peace added to the mix).

Having read quite a lot of the category above, I still have a penchant for Young Adult books especially those whose characters have a strong, uhm, character. Sadly, this book is a little lacking in that department. All that I ever got from this book was that girls can't just live without having the perfect prom. Sure, there are other things such as discovering her inner heart, how she's making herself a loony for the wrong boy when in fact there is that one guy who's perfect for her. Go figure.

I also found one line in the book that quite summarizes it.

"Senior year was supposed to rock. And it sucked. Everything I did was an attempt to make this year the best of my life with friends, a boyfriend, and prom. But obviously, that was impossible."

Enough said.

Let me just show my emotion after reading this book.

 And, based on her About page, Prom Impossible is "a modern-day Shakespearean romantic comedy". Sadly, I haven't seen which of Shakespeare's works this book has an inclination to.

Maybe, just maybe, the thing that can save this plot is when a companion book be written on Zeke's perspective.

Laura writes young adult romantic suspense and romantic comedy. She’s the author of the exciting Circle of Spies Series, and the time travel mystery, HEIST. She’s a former elementary teacher and currently lives in New England. After spending time reading books to her kids and loving a good plot turn, she put her fingers to the keyboard. Don’t ask her about the unfinished quilts and scrapbooks. Stories are way more exciting.

She writes to entertain and experience a great story…and to be able to work in her jammies and slippers. 

PROM IMPOSSIBLE, a modern-day Shakespearean romantic comedy will be released in May 2014.

Author links
Website .. Goodreads

Book Blitz: The Artful by Wilbert Stanton

I can't believe it, it's finally here!
WOOOOT!!!!!

I'm really glad for this blitz courtesy of

I'm so excited. I can't wait. AAAAAAAAAHHH!

Title: The Artful (Shadows of the City #1)

Author: Wilbert Stanton
Published by: Curiosity Quills Press
Publication date: May 27th 2014
Genres: Post-Apocalyptic, Young Adult

Add to: Goodreads

Buy from: Amazon ll B&N

 New York City, 2025: Everything is changed. The city that never sleeps is now a land of death and decay. A rampant virus has taken over and the survivors have become carriers, quarantined from the rest of the world.

Twist and Dodger grew up in the streets, the sewers and underground tunnels – their playground. They aren’t heroes. They just like attention; and stealing meds from the rich and giving them to the poor is their golden ticket.

On their latest raid, they unknowingly steal a cure that puts them square between the ailing Emperor of Manhattan and the war hungry Governor of Brooklyn and forces them on a quest into the darkest shadows of their putrefying world.

 Here's an interview with the main cast: Dodger and Twist!

Wilbert: Hi everyone, today I have a special treat for you, flown in on a secret military chopper from the shadows of New York City, are Twist and Dodger, better known as —

Dodger: Dodger and Twist.

Wilbert: Excuse me?

D: It’s Dodger and Twist.

Twist: Oh come on, really?

D: Well it just sounds better. Straight from the shadows of New York City, Dodger and Twist, better known as the Gutter Punks!

W: Ok, well… sorry about that.

T: It’s really not all that important—

D: We were promised a really attractive female reporter, not a writer… What happened to her?

W: Well she couldn’t make it; she’s conducting an interview with Gia.

T: Gia is getting interviewed too? Did she say anything about me?

D: Here we go again, all you have to do is mention Gia and he falls to pieces.

T: I don’t fall to pieces… I just wanted to know if she mentioned me.

D: Yeah she mentioned what a dork you are. Am I right Wilbert!?

W: Well, no, I’m sure she thinks very highly of you—

T: Really?

W: Yeah, you’re a nice guy. You steal meds from the rich and give them to the poor. I mean that’s what you guys are known for right? Helping out those in need, trying to make New York a better place?

D: I do it for the women, really. I mean not that I have problems in that area, but it’s a really good way to get into a girl’s—

T: He’s lying! We do it to make a difference. It isn’t right that all those rich tower babies get all the meds and live in the safety of their towers, while the rest of us are forced to live underground. We couldn’t, wouldn’t stand for it anymore. So we had to make a difference!

D: Also the women love it, did I mention how they drop their—

T: Oh, god, can we just get on with the interview without you saying something offensive?

D: We can try, but I make no promises. You know the longer I talk the easier it is for me to say something inappropriate.

T: Nice to meet you Wilbert, and thanks for having us… did you have any questions?

W: I… um… yeah, we got a little off track there, didn’t we?

T: Sorry that happens with us, we have the gift of gab.

D: Oh would you let that go? Gia once told him we have the gift of gab and he acts like she wants to date him or something.

T: Let’s talk about something else.

W: Okay, why don’t you tell us how you guys met?

D: That’s easy, I saved his life.

T: He didn’t really save my life—

D: He was a scrawny little orphaned street rat with nowhere to go. If it hadn’t been for me protecting him from some street kids and taking him under my wing, he’d be dead.

T: He tried to rob me, when he saw I didn’t have anything he decided to help.

W: So wait, Dodger and a bunch of street kids tried robbing you?

D: We wouldn’t put it like that… would we?

T: No what actually happened is the street kids were robbing me, and then Dodger joined in!

D: I decided to help in the end though… that counts for something.

T: Then we both got beat up.

D: Yeah, but after that I took you under my wing, and taught you the laws of the street.

T: I will admit I learned a lot from Dodge.

D: See I saved his life!

W: Well… it actually looks like we are running out of time, I guess one last question.

D: Okay, where is the hot interviewer I was promised, the one with the huge—

T: I think he meant he has one last question…

W: What do you guys have planned next?

T: We are going where no one has ever gone before, beyond the quarantined zone.

W: That sounds frightening.

T: It is, we have no way of knowing what’s out there. But it’s something we have to do. For all the people who look to us for help, for a better tomorrow.

D: Oh god, really? Is that what you’re closing with? Let’s just say we are about to save the world. And be done with this interview.

W: Well thanks for your time, I think. I look forward to hearing about your adventures. And um, good luck with everything.

D: Whatever.

T: Thanks, sorry about him. I enjoyed meeting you.

Cigar turned his head to the side until his neck cracked, then again to the other side. He reached for one of his guns. I knew my face went pale, my hands began to shake, and the prospect of throwing myself through the glass window seemed more and more inviting. He put the gun on the counter with a noticeable thud, taking care to aim the muzzle at Dodger.

“Now, now, Fred, we’re all friends here.”

“Name’s not Fred, and you’re no friend of mine.”

“And here I invite you into my place of business and offer you my liquor, thinking we shared the bond that comes with supply and demand―”

“I’m beginning to wonder how you came to own this place. Last I been here, the bartender was a lot older.”

Dodger slammed a cup down on the counter. Prying the whiskey bottle from my frozen fingers, he poured a drink and chugged it down. “Maybe you don’t want to find out.”

This made Cigar laugh, a slow chuckle. “You got a set on you, huh? Now why don’t you tell me where this vault is, and pray to God that there’s more value in it than in turning over a couple of Gutter Punks!”

The game was over. He knew who we were. Frankly, it wasn’t surprising. Dodger and I had made quite the reputation for ourselves, but this, this wasn’t in our favor. And the threat was on the table in the form of a shiny gun.

Dodger held up his hands in mock surprise. “Ahh, you made us. Fine, maybe we can help each other. I tell you where to find the vault, and you walk away?”

“I’ll decide on that when I see fit.”

Dodger looked at me and winked. I knew the look. It meant I had to stay on my toes. After taking a swig of the whiskey, he went through his pockets and produced the lighter I stole at the Empire. I sat on the tip of my stool as he held it out to Cigar, who smiled in turn.

“Smart boy,” he said, holding out his cigar in Dodger’s direction. Dodger opened the lid and flicked the wheel, causing the flame to spark. As soon as Cigar leaned in close enough to light his cigar, Dodger spit the whiskey at him, and the lighter’s flame in-between ignited the flammable liquid, shooting a hail of fire into Cigar’s face.

He yelled, clawing at the flames. His beard caught on fire; the smell of burning hair was instant. I used the distraction to my advantage and jumped for the gun before his wild hands could find it, training the muzzle on him before he could regain composure. Dodger and I tensed as he got up, brushing the last of his scorched beard from his face.

            “You boys really made a mistake. What you fixing to do, huh? Shoot me? Look at you, ain’t no man in you! Shaking like a leaf. What makes you think I think you have the balls to shoot me? You got the fear of God in your eyes, but you know what, boy? I ain’t God… I’m the Devil.”

Wilbert Stanton was born and raised in New York City. From an early age, Wilbert decided he would either write books or take over the world; everything else was just a precursor to his end game.

Along the way, he has studied Psychology, English, and Computer Science. He’s held jobs in a wide range of fields and met people from all walks of life. Wilbert is constantly learning and growing as a person, in order to solidify his dreams.

In the end world domination was a bit tedious, so he decided to focus on writing books.

His links

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