Saturday, April 30, 2016

Review: Mad to Glad by Angie Harris




MAD TO GLAD
by Angie Harris
Illustrated by Stacy Heller Budnick
Picture Book Non-fiction
ages 2+
38 pages




Children are often told to "Pay attention!," but how do they do that when a child's emotions and thoughts change so quickly? Mad to Glad teaches children the following Mindfulness lessons in a fun and interactive way to increase their focusing abilities. The lessons included are,

Energy transfer: Using physical movement to change negative thoughts to a positive attitude of the mind.

Visualizations: Using a child's imagination to achieve goals.

Affirmations: Using positive phrases to build a child's confidence.

Focused breathing: Using the breath to become aware of the present moment.






This is a book written to help children learn ways to identify and handle negative emotions in an effective and focused manner.

Five negative emotions are explored and with each one, a different possibility to handle the emotion is explained. First the emotion is named. Then, an example of how this emotion might arise is shown through a situation kids ages 3 to 6 have probably experienced themselves. After this, an easy action which the reader can imitate is given. And to round off the emotion/action, the reader is asked to repeat a simple phrase which will lock into their minds. At the end, there is a Mindful Diary, but I didn't find an explanation of what to do with it.

This is a calming book with good advice parents, teachers or other leading figures can use to help kids deal with their emotions. The advice is sounds, and if nothing else, readers will enjoy imitating the methods. A nice plus is the diversity of characters in the illustrations.

The illustrations are nicely done and go well with the text. Through them, it's easy for young readers/listeners to understand exactly what is meant in the text.

The writing itself is informative and easy for kids to understand. A few things didn't flow as well as they might have, but that doesn't interfere with the main purpose of the book.

Summed up: this is a lovely book for parents, teachers or others to share with kids, who might benefit from a way to deal with more difficult emotions.









Friday, April 29, 2016

Excerpt: Jordan and Justine's Weekend Adventures by Tanille Edwards with Giveaway




Jordan & Justine's Weekend Adventures for Wildlife Alliance
by Tanille Edwards & Latya Edwards, M.D.
Illustrated by Crystal Gafford
Fireflies Entertainment
28 pages
ages 3+



Jordan & Justine's Weekend Adventures® for Wildlife Alliance brings children right into the center of animal life at a wildlife conservation center. Jordan and Justine use their magical powers to explore the world of dolphins, to find out how laws can protect wildlife, and to learn what it means to be a mammal. Perfect for children ages 7 to 9. By Tanille Edwards and Latoya Edwards

2016 is the year to take a stand for Wildlife!


There are animals that need our help. Author, Tanille Edwards and publishing company, Fire Flies Entertainment have partnered with the national organization Wildlife Alliance to share 50% of the proceeds from each Wildlife book from the Jordan & Justine's Weekend Adventures series sold to the organization.




EXCERPT





All about the author!!!


Tanille is the co-author and creator of the children's green book series "Jordan & Justine's Weekend Adventures." She is also the author of the new media young adult novels with music "Cameo by Tanille," and "Broken by Tanille."

The Undercover Starlet Journal is a title Tanille created to inspire young women and has extended Undercover Starlet into brand extensions that appear throughout her novels.

Tanille has been writing music and books since age 16. She earned an MBA at 21 and graduated magna cum laude.

Readers of her latest young adult romance novel "Broken by Tanille" get free music downloads of her new Pop R&B hits "All of Me," "Feel It," "Baby Comeback to Me," "It's Not Okay," and "What's a Girl to Do" all written, performed and co-produced by Tanille.

The Undercover Starlet Reading Project is a new project we've launched, tasked with inspiring young teens in urban communities to reads and express themselves. We are committed to going above and beyond to reach youth with inspiring messages.


@MilanParkAve
www.facebook.com/BrokenbyTanille

More Links. . .


Website Link: www.jordangogreen.com



Twitter: @JordanGoGreen1



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Thursday, April 28, 2016

Excerpt: Wilder by G.K. DeRosa with Giveaway



WILDER

(The Guardian Series #1) 
 by G.K. DeRosa
YA Paranormal
362 pages








All that Celeste Wilder ever wanted was to find someone who would sweep her off her feet like she had seen in countless romantic movies. When she meets the gorgeous and mysterious Constantin brothers her senior year of high school, she gets much more than what she had bargained for. As they introduce her to an exciting supernatural world that she never imagined existed, she makes a startling discovery about her own family legacy and is forced to make a decision that will change her life forever.


During this tour:
Only 99 cents on Amazon!!!




EXCERPT


That afternoon, after Mrs. Wilder headed back to the hospital, Celeste decided to

stop at the library. A novel she had been dying to read had just arrived. It was another

beautiful day, perfect for sitting outside in her sunny backyard and working on her tan

while escaping into a good book. As she searched through the stacks of the Best Sellers

section, she couldn’t help but feel like she was being watched. She glanced around

furtively, but saw no one nearby. In fact, the library was practically deserted.


Of course, it’s a beautiful Sunday afternoon, who else would be cooped up in a

dark library?


Finally, she found the romance novel she wanted, the newest one from the series

she had been obsessing over, and made her way to the checkout desk. She turned the

corner and abruptly collided with someone. She dropped the book, which slapped against

the marble floor with a disconcertingly loud thud, echoing through the cavernous room.


“Oh, I’m so sorry!” she blurted, without looking up as she bent down to pick it up.


As she stood back up, her heart skipped a beat. Before her stood a towering, well­built

young man with wavy, raven hair, chiseled jaw, and eyes as blue as the summer sky.

Celeste felt her cheeks grow hot. Embarrassed, she flushed even redder.


“No problem. Sorry, I should have been watching where you were going, I guess,”

the stranger said, eyes twinkling.


Looking into those deep blue eyes, Celeste was completely at a loss for words.

She watched helplessly as he walked away, disappearing further into the library.


Way to go, Celeste.


She stumbled to the checkout counter trying to gather her wits. The librarian

behind the counter cleared her throat. Celeste looked up, confused, as if she’d forgotten

why she was there. The librarian held out her hand and Celeste handed her the book and

then fumbled for her library card. She looked around, but the mysterious stranger had

disappeared. Oak Bluffs was a small town and she pretty much knew everyone that lived

there. There was no way a guy like that would go unnoticed, not in this town. Who could

he be?


Celeste didn’t know what it was about him, but for some reason she just had to find

out everything. And she knew exactly who to ask.





And here she is. . .
G.K. DEROSA!!!


G.K. De Rosa has been an avid reader from a very young age. At the precocious age of two, while living in Italy, she had memorized an entire children’s book in Italian and expertly turned the pages at the exact right moments of the story. As she grew up, she always enjoyed literature, no doubt having been instilled with a love of story telling from her early years in Catholic school where she was greatly influenced by exemplary teachers who taught her the value of English and Literature. Though she did not pursue writing in college and instead went for the more traditional route of International Business inspired by her love for travel and all things foreign, after a move to New York City, she found her creative writing side calling once again. She began writing a restaurant review blog, City Lights and Tasty Bites, detailing her other passion – food! The hectic hustle and bustle of the city, combined with long commuting times gave her the opportunity to spend more time reading and rekindled a lost love. After reading countless books in many diverse genres over the two years in New York City, and returning to her home state of Florida, she felt compelled to write something for herself. She had always felt particularly drawn to Young Adult novels and having been an eternal romantic at heart, a fantasy romance was a natural choice. She currently lives in South Florida with her real life Prince Charming and their fur baby, Nico the German shepherd.

Author links:



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Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Excerpt: Above the Flames by Cassandra Fear with Giveaway



ABOVE THE FLAMES
The Flames Trilogy, Book 1 
by Cassandra Fear 

Limitless Publishing
YA Paranormal
396 pages





Jasmine’s sixteenth birthday was the worst ever…
All in one day, her dad died, she met a demon, and her mother rejected her existence forever. After all, the demon who killed her dad was there to take her, and all because of her stupid powers—the ability to conjure blue flames.

Two years later, she’s happy. But happy never lasts…
After moving to Idaho to live with her grandparents, Jasmine has a new life. Almost nobody knows about her powers, and she’s just a normal teenager with normal problems. Then comes her eighteenth birthday—and the earthquake that changes her world forever.

An army of demons rise from Hell. And Jasmine is right in the middle of the battle…
When demons claw their way to Earth, Jasmine is surrounded by hundreds of fire-eyed beasts. Worse, she is captured by a big-shot demon named Bael. He’s a tricky foe with a chip on his shoulder—and the desire to make Jasmine use her powers for evil.

Amon is a fallen angel with an attitude—and everything to lose.
Successfully escaping the underworld undetected, Amon is on a quest to regain God’s grace when he rescues Jasmine from the clutches of a particularly nasty demon he knows all too well. The attraction between him and the not-entirely-human captive is instantaneous. Heavenly sparks fly, but ideas of romance will have to wait. First they have to stop the demon race from wiping out the mortal realm. Humanity’s fate rests in their hands.

Can two troubled angels rise above the flames to ensure a future for mankind? Or will Jasmine and Amon’s souls be bound together—in hell?




EXCERPT


Amon grabbed Jasmine’s hand and pulled her to a stop right before they went inside. “Remember, control your power, but don’t hold back. If you are in trouble, use your fire to kill the demons. Do not hesitate.”
Jasmine nodded. “I won’t. Don’t worry about me.”
Amon ran his hand up her arm. “For some reason, I do.” He let his hand fall away, and they faced forward. It seemed like they both took a deep breath at the same time, let it out, and stepped through the sliding doors. Yet another thing that was very different from his own time.
Once inside, he gagged at the thick coppery smell. Blood covered everything. The floor. The walls. Even the high ceiling. Shelves of food were painted red, the boxes and bags of edibles not even recognizable as such.
Amon took a step forward and almost slipped on a bloody streak across the floor. He followed the trail with his eyes, which led to a heap of bodies piled so high they almost touched the ceiling. It was a slaughterhouse. The cattle had been killed, all of them.
“Oh my God.” Jasmine breathed the words. Her face had gone pale and her mouth had dropped open.
“Oh goody!” a high-pitched voice said. “We’ve got visitors. Do tell me, how do you like the view? I think it could use a bit more color, don’t you?”
Amon spun around, his eyes searching for the powerful demon. “Where are you, Bael? Show yourself!”
“Oh, now that wouldn’t be much fun. How about you come and find me?” A long, drawn out laugh. “Best watch out, though. My demons aren’t as happy to see you as I am.”
The sound of footsteps pounded the ground. “We have to get out of here. It’s a trap,” Amon said as he grabbed Jasmine and pulled her back the way they came. She stumbled, but he held her up, dragging her along the pavement.
“We’re never going to make it,” she said.
He knew she was right. The demons were right on his tail. He stopped, realizing escape was futile. “Keep going. Get out of here. Bael wants you more than me, so go!”
“I won’t leave you behind.”
“You will leave me behind. I told you to go.”
“I don’t care. You aren’t my boss. Two people have a better chance than one.”
Amon braced her shoulders, making her face him. “Don’t you get it? We have no chance. If you don’t go, you will die right beside me.”


And here she is. . .
CASSANDRA FEAR!!!



Cassandra Fear lives in Ohio with her husband, two kids and two dogs. Hiking, taking care of her fish tank and reading are her favorite hobbies. She loves chocolate, hates driving in the snow and could eat macaroni and cheese every day. In her spare time, she loves to write, and has always dreamed of becoming an author. Her dreams will become reality with her first book, Above the Flames.

Author links:



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Monday, April 25, 2016

Review: A Buss From Lafayette by Dorothea Jensen with Giveaway





A Buss From Lafayette

by Dorothea Jensen
Middle Grade/Young Adult Historical Fiction
Recommended Ages: 10-17
Number of Pages: 266
Publisher: BQB Publishing
Publication Date: April 22, 2016



Fourteen-year-old Clara Hargraves lives on a farm in Hopkinton, a small New Hampshire town, during the early 19th century. She has a couple of big problems. First of all, she has a stepmother, Priscilla, who used to be her spinster schoolteacher aunt. Clara resents that her late mother’s older sister has not only married her father but is about to have a baby. To make matters worse, “Prissy Priscilla” keeps trying to make the rambunctious, clever, and witty Clara act like a proper young lady. Secondly, Clara has red hair, making her a target for teasing by a handsome older boy, Dickon Weeks, and by her pretty seventeen-year-old Dread Cousin Hetty. Clara, however, has a secret plan she hopes will change this. During the last week of June, 1825, Clara’s town is abuzz because the famous General Lafayette is about to visit their state during his farewell tour of America. In those eventful seven days, Clara learns a lot about her family, Hetty, Dickon, herself, and about Lafayette. She comes to understand the huge and vital role the young French aristocrat played in America’s Revolutionary War and to see that her problems might not be quite so terrible after all.

Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ Kobo
MY TIDBITS

This lovely jaunt into the year 1825 has nothing to do with dusty history books, but rather, brings to life the less known history of General Lafayette through the eyes of a spunky girl. 

Clara is a 13/14 year old girl, who's still coming to terms with the death of her mother, quick marriage of her father to her aunt and the fast approaching birth of her half-sister. Add her strong dislike for her red hair, a pesky brother and the horrid idea that she should give up the most fun aspects of life and become more 'lady-like', and her world seems miserable. Her clever wit and slightly rebellious attitude make her easy to love, especially since her thoughts and feelings are often justified and understandable. Teenage girls will have no problem relating to her troubles, and through Clara, they can realize that girls from that time frame weren't necessarily so different from girls today.

The author does a marvelous job bringing the past to life. There's just enough details and explanations to make the lifestyle, habits and expectations from that time clear while keeping everything familiar enough that readers can relate to the characters. More unknown terms and items are explained in a way which doesn't break the flow of the story. At the end of the book, there's glossary to help out too.

General Lafayette's role in American history is expertly woven into Clara's life. The important events are relayed through her conversations with various characters in different situations. A little humor and tidbits from the time period are thrown in at the same time, helping to keep the 'tales' broken up and refreshing. There were a few moments where one or two recounts of Lafayette's important moments stretched out a little long, but in general, they were interesting.

Although this isn't an action book, the pace holds nicely. Clara finds herself in one predicament after the other as she tries to come to terms with those around her. There's a little romance involved and some tough rivalries in the area of friendship--those same things which teenagers face today. 

Summed up, this is a marvelous historical fiction story. The characters are kept true to their time frame while, at the same time, are portrayed in a way modern day teens will have no trouble relating to. The 'history lesson' glides effortlessly into the main plot, insuring an educational delight. This is one YA historical fiction, I can highly recommend.


And here she is. . .

DOROTHEA JENSEN!!!


Dorothea Jensen, born in Boston, Massachusetts, grew up in Chillicothe, Illinois. She majored in English literature at Carleton College. After teaching high-school English and serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Brazil, she earned a master s degree in education at the University of New Mexico. In 1989, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich published Dorothea s novel for young readers about the American Revolution, The Riddle of Penncroft Farm. In addition to other honors, it was named an International Reading Association Teacher s Choices Selection and is read in classrooms throughout the U.S. A Buss from Lafayette is set in the small New Hampshire town where Dorothea lives. Two things inspired her to write this story. First, was learning that Lafayette passed right by her house during his 1824-5 Triumphal Tour. Another was meeting a woman whose ancestor received a kiss from Lafayette. That buss, passed down through generations, eventually came to Dorothea. This sparked her interest in Lafayette s contributions to our struggle for independence. Dorothea also enjoys writing rhyming verse. She has written a series of award-winning illustrated modern Christmas stories in verse featuring Santa's Izzy Elves.

For more information about Dorothea and her books, please visit http://www.dorotheajensen.com/.


Giveaway!!!

Prize: One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card or $25 PayPal cash prize, winner's choice Giveaway ends: May 2, 11:59 pm, 2016 Open to: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Dorothea Jensen and is hosted and managed by Stacie from BeachBoundBooks. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to stacie@BeachBoundBooks.com.


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Cover Reveal: Tainted by Ginna Moran with Giveaway


Tainted
Tainted
 (Demon Within #1)

By Ginna Moran
YA Paranormal Fantasy

Release Date: June 2016














Seventeen-year-old Cami Anders uses one word to describe her life: purgatory. What she doesn’t know is she’s closer to Hell than she thinks.

On the run from the demon that killed her parents, Cami struggles to find her place on the fringes of the Veiled Realm, the part of the world where demons and other creatures lurk in the shadows. Striving to find a normal life in the care of a former demon hunter, who would punch even an angel to protect her, is harder than Cami ever imagined. There’s nothing ordinary about sipping holy water like it’s her beverage of choice, having stare-downs with animalistic demons, and relying on a hunter with enough secrets to fill an ocean to keep her soul safe.

When the demon from Cami’s past arrives to collect her soul, which he believes is rightfully his, she must unravel the secrets her protector has spent the last three years keeping from her. She finds herself questioning her existence and learns that running isn’t the answer. The only way to find normalcy is if she fights for it. But is it worth the risk of losing everything, including her soul, in the end?


You can find Tainted on Goodreads



And here she is. . .
GINNA MORAN!!!

Ginna Moran
Ginna Moran is the author of the Destined for Dreams and Finding Nate series. She lives in Austin, Texas but is originally from Southern California.

When she realized her love of writing was her life’s passion, she studied literature and writing at Mira Costa College in Northern San Diego. Besides writing novels, she was the senior editor, content manager, and image coordinator for Crescent House Publishing Inc. for four years.

Aside from Ginna's professional life, she enjoys binge watching television shows, playing pretend with her daughter, and cuddling with her dogs. Some of her favorite things include chocolate, anything that glitters, digital design work, and organizing her bookshelves.

You can find and contact Ginna here:
- Website
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Goodreads
- Amazon
- Instagram
- Pinterest
- Snapchat: @GinnaMoran


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Sunday, April 24, 2016

Review: Dream Walker's Destiny by Michelle Murray with Giveaway


DREAM WALKER'S DESTINY
Land of Mystica Series, Volume 3
by Michelle Murray
YA Fantasy
172 pages




The last dark wizard Spyder has been freed from his stone prison. His one quest is to find the last white wizard's stone. Sypder recruits the pirates from Dead Man's Island to help him. With the magic out of balance on Msytica, the land starts to rumble and shake. Tremors are felt throughout the land. Miranda is called back to set things right. Miranda and her companions travel to the Lost Islands to find the same stone. The Pirates are not far behind. It is a race to see who will find Polaris first. Miranda needs to bring both wizards safely back to Mystica before the Red Mountain spews its lava. Danger awaits her at every turn. The fate of Mystica rests in Miranda and her dreams.




MY TIDBITS

This is the third book in the Land of Mystica Series, and although it's not too difficult to get into the story, I still wouldn't recommend it as a stand alone.

Miranda has grown from when we first meet her in book one and has gained a good handle on her abilities and what it means to be a Dream Walker. Still, there are lessons to be learned and hurdles to over come. She's an easy character to follow and her actions usually are understandable and make sense.

This book takes a lovely pirate twist, introducing the background of the cold sea and all of its dangers. Several new characters are introduced, each with their own addition of layers to the story. Miranda gains friends, meets horrible enemies and must face some heart jerking losses.

The plot moves along at a constant pace, never lagging. The story telling feeling found in the first two books continues here, keeping the same format. Told in third person and with the traditional tale telling flair, details and depth are skimmed over letting the concentration remain on the main plot.

There are unexpected twists and turns, and moments where its impossible to know if everything will work out. Its an easy and short read with a satisfying ending which ties up most ends nicely.

The writing and length is great for reluctant readers, and I'd recommend this to the younger end of the YA spectrum.


And here she is. . .
MICHELLE MURRAY!!!

Michelle is a married working mother of two fine young men (her children). She lives in Wisconsin. When not writing, she enjoys reading especially science fiction/fantasy and classics.
Her favorite authors include Shakespeare, Mark Twain, Margaret Weiss, and Colleen Houck. 
She also enjoys doing painting and crafts, and spending time with her family. She enjoys going for walks, and swimming. She has been known to jump in Lake Michigan with no life jacket!

She has been writing since high school. Michelle took a break from writing to concentrate on raising her children. 

She has an app on her IPad that gives her a word of the day and poem of the day.


Twitter Tweet: https://twitter.com/murray_mlmurray @#thedreamwalkerseries
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/dreamwalkerseries


Here are the first two books in the series!!!


THE DREAM WALKER
Land of Mystica Series, Volume 1
by Michelle Murray
YA Fantasy
118 pages






Miranda is having vivid dreams of a world she's never been to. A world full of castles, Forests, Ice Caves, and Dragons. She goes to a bookstore to see about these dreams, and discovers she is a Dream Walker. She has been called to save this mystical, magical world. On Mystica, the evil wizard Midnight has been released. Midnight is gathering an army, and preparing for war. Miranda needs to find and release the white wizard Lightning from his stone prison to save Mystica. Follow Miranda as she travels through Mystica. Can she find and release Lightning and save Mystica?







THE DREAM WALKER 

RETURNS

Land of Mystica Series, Volume 2
by Michelle Murray
YA Fantasy
90 pages





The Darkness has waited a long time to return to Mystica. Now, with the help of the wizard Shadow it has found a way back into the land. It will stop at nothing and no one to darken all of Mystica. Miranda is called to Mystica to help fight the Darkness. Her friend Brian follows. Does he mean to help or hinder her? Can Miranda stop the Darkness and save Mystica, and if so at what cost?




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Excerpt: Landry in Like by Krysten Lindsay Hager with Giveaway

Landry in Like banner



Landry in Like


Landry in Like
 (Landry's True Colors #3)

By Krysten Lindsay Hager
YA Contemporary







Things seem to be going well in Landry Albright’s world—she’s getting invited to be on local talk shows to talk about her modeling career, her best friends have her back, and her boyfriend Vladi has becoming someone she can truly count on…and then everything changes.
Suddenly it seems like most of the girls in school are into hanging out at a new teen dance club, while Landry just wants to spend her weekends playing video games and baking cupcakes at sleepovers. Then, Yasmin McCarty, the most popular girl in school, starts to come between Landry’s friendship with Ashanti. Things take a turn when Yasmin tells Vladi that Landry is interested in another boy. Can Landry get her relationships with Ashanti and Vladi back or will she be left out and left behind?


You can find Landry in Like on Goodreads


Want to know all about the series?

The Landry's True Colors Series is a clean reads young adult humor series about friendship, self-esteem, fitting in, middle school and high school, frenemies, crushes, and self-image. It’s a clean reads book so it’s suitable for ages 10 and up.

So far this series contains 3 books: True Colors (Landry's True Colors #1) and Best Friends... Forever? (Landry's True Colors #2) and Landry in Like (Landry's True Colors #3)


You can buy Landry in Like here:
- Amazon
- Amazon UK
- Amazon Canada
- Amazon Australia
- Barnes & Noble
- Kobo
- itunes
- Smashwords



EXCERPT

I wanted to call my friends and tell them about being on the talk show, but Mom said we had to be at the TV station super early — even before school started. She said I could text them, but I had to turn off my phone and go to bed.
“I’m waking you up at four a.m.,” she said. “You have to be there at five-thirty.”
“Can I just call Peyton and Ashanti? Please?”
“Fine, but you have five minutes and then that phone is mine and you’re in bed.”
I dialed Peyton, but her mom said she was in the shower. I told her mom about the show tomorrow and said my mom wouldn’t let me stay up any later to call Peyton back.
“How exciting! I will make sure Peyton knows, and I will be watching you tomorrow. Good luck, honey,” Mrs. Urich said.
I called Ashanti next and told her.
“Get out. Get. Out. No way. This is so exciting!”
“I’m so nervous. My stomach is already doing cartwheels. I can’t do one, but my stomach can. Seems unfair. What if I throw up before I go on? I did that right before I went on at the statewide IngĂ©nue modeling competition in Detroit, and my mom had to give me a cough drop to cover up the smell.”
“I’m sure you’ll be fine, but… just in case, take a cough drop with you,” Ashanti said. “Good luck. You’ll be great and I’ll go set the DVR now.”
I hung up and sent a text to Vladi, India, Devon, Thalia, Tori, and Ericka, so no one would be mad and feel left out. Then I shut off my phone. Mom poked her head in the door to make sure I was in bed.
“Night, hon. Try to get some rest,” she said.
Easier said than done. I stared at my ceiling while thinking about all the things that could possibly go wrong tomorrow. Seeing as the show was on in the morning, I never got to watch it, so I had no idea what the set was like — did it have super high chairs and I’d struggle to get into them? And what if it had those higher stools that were kind of tippy and my rear overshot the seat and I fell off? Or what if the prep questions got lost and the interviewer asked me random things like my feelings on nuclear war or asked me about some foreign political leader who I had never heard of before, and I appeared stupid? Why did I say I’d do this? I tried to get comfortable and it felt like I had just dozed off when I felt my mom shaking my shoulder.
“Rise and shine, TV star,” she said.



Previous books in the series:


True Colors
True Colors 
(Landry's True Colors #1)

By Krysten Lindsay Hager
YA Contemporary

Release Date: June 17, 2014


A little competition can really bring out people’s true colors.

Landry Albright just wants to be one of the interesting girls at school who always have exciting things going on in their lives. She wants to stand out, but also wants to fit in, so she gives in when her two best friends, Ericka and Tori, push her into trying out for a teen reality show modeling competition with them. Landry goes in nervous, but impresses the judges enough to make it to the next round.

However, Ericka and Tori get cut and basically "unfriend" her on Monday at school. Landry tries to make new friends, but gets caught up between wanting to be herself and conforming to who her new friends want her to be. Along the way she learns that modeling is nowhere as glamorous as it seems, how to deal with frenemies, a new crush, and that true friends see you for who you really are and like you because of it.


You can find True Colors on Goodreads

You can watch the book trailer for True Colors on Youtube

You can buy True Colors here:
- Amazon
- Barnes & Noble
- Kobo
- itunes
- Smashwords
- Books-A-Million

BOOK BUZZ!!!

From Teenage Book Recommendations in the UK: "This is a fantastically relatable and real book which I feel captures all of the insecurities and troubles which haunt the modern teenage girl. It is about a young model who has to go through tough times when she is torn between a life as a model and managing her friendships. You learn which friends she can most trust and which will create the drama typical of teenage life. Follow the life of Landry and try to see if you can find out which are her true friends before their true colours are revealed. This book is all about relationships, hopes and truth. I loved this book!"

From Books & Authors Spot: “This book is such an inspiration for those who just care about their looks and are tensed about them. This thing is looks aren't everything. This book is related to every teen's problem. Hager has written a very inspiring novel.”

Best Friends Forever
Best Friends... Forever?
 (Landry's True Colors #2)

By Krysten Lindsay Hager
Genre: Contemporary
Age category: Young Adult
Release Date: March 24, 2015


Good friends have your back, but some go behind it.

Landry Albright hopes the new year will start off in an amazing way—instead she has to deal with more frenemy issues, boy drama, and having most of her best friends make the cheerleading squad without her. Suddenly, it seems like all anyone can talk about is starting high school next year—something she finds terrifying.

Landry gets her first boyfriend (her crush, Vladi Yagudin), but the relationship starts to go south just as things come to a head with her friends. She feels lost and left out, but finds good advice about dealing with frenemies from what she considers an unlikely source. Landry faces having to speak up for what’s right, tell the truth (even when it hurts), and how to get past the fear of failure as she gets another shot at competing in the American IngĂ©nue modeling competition. Will Landry get a second chance with her friends, fame, and Vladi?


You can find Best Friends... Forever? on Goodreads

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Krysten Lindsay HagerAnd here's more about. . .

Krysten Lindsay Hager is the author of the Landry’s True Colors Series, a clean reads young adult series and the new Star Series. Krysten writes about friendship, self-esteem, fitting in, middle school and high school, frenemies, modeling, crushes, values, and self-image in True Colors, Best Friends…Forever? And Landry in Like, as well as in, Next Door to a Star (Star Series). Her sequel to Next Door to a Star will be out March 22 2016.

Krysten is a book addict who has never met a bookstore she didn’t like. She’s worked as a journalist and writes YA, MG, humor essays, and adult fiction. She is originally from Michigan and has lived in Portugal, South Dakota, and currently resides in southwestern Ohio where you can find her reading and writing when she’s not catching up on her favorite shows. She received her master’s degree from the University of Michigan-Flint.

You can find and contact Krysten here:
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- Author talk show interview

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