EVADE

This may be one of my favorite series and one of my favorite authors. I love Toby and Frankie and Ever and all their problems. I can't WAIT for this to come out. And HA HA! I get to read it before you do. :-P

In this thrilling sequel, Ever Van Ruysdael's race to beat the odds—and the clock—begins with the introduction of an integral part of her past. As secrets are revealed, and truths uncovered, she learns her imminent death is the least of her problems: Ariadne did more than just put an expiration date on her life; she marked Ever's soul by upping its value for greedy collectors looking to buy their freedom.

Condemned by the countdown on her life, and hunted by hired Seekers, Ever’s journey leads her to question everything she’s known and everyone she’s trusted, while growing closer to the one person from her past she was determined to avoid—and the one guy she never could—Toby James.

With her ex-boyfriend by her side, and the countdown clock rapidly ticking away, Ever tries thwarting fate’s plans. But as her nineteenth birthday approaches, and desperate Seekers follow her every move, she may be too late.

A marked soul is hard to come by … and even harder to escape

EVADE'S LINKS:

Facebook | EVADE on Goodreads 

JESSA RUSSO'S LINKS:

Website | Twitter | Facebook (Friend) | Facebook (Follow/Like)

GRAB A COPY OF EVER: Book One of The EVER Trilogy!

Amazon | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads 

COVER CREDIT: 

Cover Photo: Face On By Tamara Website | Facebook | Twitter 

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In Which I Rant: Politics

UPDATE: Literally seconds after posting this, I read that Syria is turning its weapons over to the UN. So...yay, World.

I don't usually post political things. I don't post because I don't think I'm the smartest person in the world, the most informed, nor do I think I understand everything.

I realize I am just one person with strong opinions. I know I operate quite often out of a place of emotions combined with logical thinking.

What I'm saying is: I know that I'm quite often wrong.

So, just keep that in mind as you read my rant about the US and Syria. But what I would encourage you to do after reading this is take a moment and evaluate this situation for yourself, read as many articles as you can, ask yourself WHY after every statement made by a politician. I urge you to research those whys.

Then, when you've made YOUR OWN decision about what the US should do there (and how it will impact our WORLD forever), I want you to compare what's happening in Syria to other similar (or even not so similar) LIFE-IMPACTING things. Such as "Genocide in Rwanda", "Homelessness in America", "Cancer in America". Do a tally of the amount of people those things impacted or currently impact. I also want you to take note of how many people there are in the world. Then, ask yourself if striking on behalf of Syrians, as sad as innocent lives being lost is, and ask yourself this question: Is every single life on the planet worth stopping their civil war?

Now, I promised a rant, and here it is. I almost posted this on Facebook but thought...nah. Let me blog about it. Let me make this permanent. Because even though I realize I will receive some backlash for my OPINION and my EMOTIONS, I stand by what I've said.

It really saddens me that we as human beings have progressed so far yet we still believe blowing each other up is acceptable. It saddens me that politicians who apparently have zero concept of reality wish to strike a country that DID NOT STRIKE US FIRST. I'm sad that DC is even considering what they're considering, and I'm sad that some voters even support what politicians are considering.

I'm sad that Washington thinks our military (our SONS and our DAUGHTERS) can even handle more fighting, more pain and suffering and time away from their families. For what purpose? We are not the police of the world.

I'm sad for the innocent lives lost in Syria. I'm sad that our government feels responsible for those innocent lives, and I'm certainly sad that our government is willing to engage in WWIII and risk AMERICAN INNOCENT LIVES.

I'm sad that this country has become so engaged with the international community that it forgot to be what made it great.

I'm sad that so many people will probably argue with me, or blame Bush, or say Bush did something similar in Iraq, or blame Republicans, or Democrats, or Liberals, or whatever. This is NOT the same as Iraq, Afghanistan, or simply any war of the past.

This is a situation in which members of the ridiculous international committees have THREATENED THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IF WE TAKE ACTION.

I'm sad that our government feels the need to make threats and engage in this anyway, to so callously say, "Ha ha. You can't threaten us."

I'm sad they think themselves indestructible, because frankly that's what makes us the most vulnerable. I'm sad that there are millions of people suffering all over the world of starvation, disease, homelessness and yet we are willing to let them suffer of starvation, disease, homelessness while we strike a country who needs to figure their own war out.

This is not about politics, or whether you're a Republican or Democrat or other such party affiliation. Your conscience should not be clear because you chose to agree with a party line. You need to question EVERYTHING Congress does, because you voted for them. You need to question EVERYTHING our country engages in, because YOU PUT THOSE PEOPLE INTO POWER who decide YOUR FATE.

Think, people. Think long and hard about what we're positioning ourselves to do here. Think beyond a strike by our government (which is FOR THE PEOPLE AND BY THE PEOPLE and you better believe that everyone outside this country sees our government AS US. They will seek revenge on US ALL.) tomorrow, or the next day. Think about what that strike will mean to others, how they'll get back at us. Think about your neighbor, the active duty military member. Think about what this will mean for them. Think about your lifestyle, our economy. Think beyond one simple strike. Because nothing is simple.

And, please, for what it's worth THINK FOR YOURSELF.

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POP TRAVEL #newrelease #books

It's great to be visiting Krystal! Thanks for having me! Krystal gave me a great question to ponder for this post "What part of me is in my main character?" I love it!

When I named the MC of Pop Travel, it had to involve my three sons - J.L. Cooper (Jace, Logan, & Cooper!) They are my boys! Love them to pieces! Even when they're at each other's throats. It's all good! The MC, Cooper is also a pilot, like my dad, is from Michigan, like my hub, and lives near Atlanta, my favorite city.

As for character traits, his sarcastic, dry humor is all me. Though I love to help and encourage others, I'm also a doubter. Don't want to be taken for a fool. I'm suspicious of every strange phone number that pops up on my caller ID. I also like to do things my way and be in charge. All of the above qualities make me a great teacher - ha! And make Cooper a perfect private eye. But Cooper has lots of qualities I don't have, as well. He has guts, for one, and other guy traits, like not wanting to talk about his feelings, inconsiderate sometimes, you know how guys are! ha!

Well, that's J.L. Cooper. He's fun to write, but his supporting characters are hilarious. I'm having a ball editing the next one, Simulation!

Thanks so much for this opportunity, Krystal! I really enjoyed thinking about this question!

Pop Travel by Tara Tyler
A tale of deception and teleportation.

When a distraught client enters J.L. Cooper's small town detective agency ranting about a pop travel teleportation cover up, Cooper takes the case. He blames pop travel indirectly for his wife's death and would love to expose a glitch in it.

But the glitch turns out to be disintegrating travelers. And now, his client is dead, his secretary is missing, and a hitman is stalking him. Plus there's all the webcams watching his every move. So, Cooper has to find a way to expose the deadly flaw, while using pop travel to escape the maniacs covering it up, not to mention save a couple of tag-alongs he's not sure he can trust. No problem.

Available now on Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Goodreads  <==>  Trailer  <==>  FB Author Page

After having a hand in everything from waitressing to teaching math to rocket engineering Tara Tyler now writes and teaches in Ohio with her three active boys and Coach Husband. In addition to her novels, she has published short stories and poetry in Science Fiction, Fantasy, Thriller, and Humor. So many stories to tell!

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For EVER and EVER and EVER and EVER!

Happy Release Day, EVER! 

To celebrate EVER's rebirth, and Jessa Russo’s first step into the indie self-publishing world, she is giving you the first chapter of EVER for FREE! Yup! FREE! You can read along, decide if you want more, then click on one of the buy links below to grab a copy for yourself! *Paperbacks available soon!

Check out the FREE first chapter HERE. 

We're also having some fun on Twitter (details below), and Jessa has also compiled TWO prize packs of super awesome stuff! There will be one (1) lucky winner in the US, and one (1) lucky winner Internationally! Want to know what we’re giving away? 

***GIVEAWAY FUN!***

The winner(s) will receive the following items:

US ONLY Prize Pack (ONE winner):
Set of 4: custom Frankie4Ever / Toby4Ever Coasters (2 of each) + Signed EVER bookmarks +
Signed paperback copy of EVER by Jessa Russo (YA)
Complete set* of The Darkness Falls Trilogy e-books from Krystal Wade (YA)
*Includes WILDE'S FIRE, WILDE'S ARMY and WILDE'S MEADOW
Signed paperback copy of EYRE HOUSE by Cait Greer (NA, adult content)
Paperback copy of THE CHARGE by Sharon Bayliss (YA)
Paperback copy of SEALED WITH A CURSE by Cecy Robson (A, mature content)

INTERNATIONAL Prize Pack (ONE winner):
E-book of EVER by Jessa Russo (YA)
Complete set* of The Darkness Falls Trilogy e-books from Krystal Wade (YA)
*Includes WILDE'S FIRE, WILDE'S ARMY and WILDE'S MEADOW
E-book of THE CHARGE by Sharon Bayliss (YA)
E-book of BROKEN FOREST by Eliza Tilton (YA)
E-book of THE VALENTINE CHALLENGE by Marisa Cleveland (A, mature content)
E-book of THE GATHERING DARKNESS by Lisa Collicutt (YA)
E-book of 1,000 SLEEPLESS NIGHTS by Connie Michael

ENTER HERE:
a Rafflecopter giveaway | a Rafflecopter giveaway

***TWITTER FUN!***

We're also going to be tweeting a bit today, to celebrate not just EVER's re-release (hashtag: #EVERTrilogy), but also playing up a major theme of the book--Ever's love for her deceased best friend. We'll be tweeting the theme with the hashtag #IfICouldBringBack and then sharing who we would bring back and why, or what we'd do with them, etc.

So, sticking with EVER as my example, the main female character of the series may tweet something like this:

#IfICouldBringBack Frankie, I'd finally tell him the truth. That I've loved him since we were in diapers. #EVERTrilogy 

Who would you want to bring back? An old flame? A relative? Maybe a famous author or dignitary? Think about it and join in the fun on Sunday, 9/1/13! We'll see you on Twitter!

***BOOK DETAILS!***

EVER

The EVER Trilogy, Book One 

By Jessa Russo

September 1, 2013

Seventeen-year-old Ever’s love life has been on hold for the past two years. She’s secretly in love with her best friend Frankie, and he’s completely oblivious. Of course, it doesn't help that he’s dead, and waking up to his ghost every day has made moving on nearly impossible. 

Frustrated and desperate for something real, Ever finds herself falling for her hot new neighbor Toby. His relaxed confidence is irresistible, and not just Ever knows it. But falling for Toby comes with a price that throws Ever’s life into a whirlwind of chaos and drama. More than hearts are on the line, and more than Ever will suffer.

Some girls lose their hearts to love. 
Some girls lose their minds.

Ever Van Ruysdael could lose her soul.

Purchase Links:

Amazon | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | GoodReads | Facebook (The EVER Trilogy)

Jessa Russo's Links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook (Friend) | Facebook (Follow/Like)

Stay tuned for the second book in the trilogy, EVADE, set to release on October 1st, 2013! 
You can now add EVADE on Goodreads!

Remember to follow EVER's 9/1/13 re-release day FUN on Twitter with these hashtags: 

#EVERTrilogy

and 

#IfICouldBringBack

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