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Friday, August 29, 2014

Iron Pendulum Blog Tour: Character Playlist + Excerpt


Welcome to SassyCat's Books Review, today I'm participating in Megan Curd Iron Pendulum Blog Tour and today I asked for her Character Playlist. Since Avery is the main character, below is her playlist! Then if you follow down, there's an excerpt of Iron Pendulum,. Enjoy!


AVERY’S PLAYLIST:

Rusted Wheel – Silversun Pickups
Invincible – Muse
No Air – Jordin Sparks [I remember Megan saying something about while writing to this song, someone get's their heart broken]
Everybody’s Watching Me – The Neighbourhood
Monster – Imagine Dragons
Excuse Me Mr. – Ben Harper
Dark Doo Wop – MS MR
Cracks (Flux Pavilion Remix) – Bell Humble
Bleeding Out – Imagine Dragons
Last Chance – Kaskade
Broken – Seether [It can be another sad, and heart breaking moment when you listen to Broken, its one of my favorite "heartbroken" song to listen to]
Breathe Me – Sia [Such an beautiful song]
Days are Forgotten - Kasabian
Elastic Heart – Sia
Goodbye, Apathy - OneRepublic
Radioactive – Imagine Dragons [Of course Radioactive has to be on there! She haven't stopped listening to their music since her upon discovery of the band!]

Excerpt 
Her huff echoed in our headsets, and I was glad she couldn’t see my smile.
“Avery, don’t act like I don’t know you’re smiling behind that mask.”
I put my hands up in submission. Alice knew everything about me.
Jaxon took the map. “Let’s go left.” He turned and walked away like he expected us to follow. Which we did.
I was thankful for the mask, because it dulled the stench of refuse floating along the shallow water in the tunnel. Rats scurried along the waterline, our lights sending them into a frenzy. Each step caused the water to slosh and echo through the tunnel, giving our position away.
“We should try to stay out of the water,” I said into the mic, hoping someone would agree with me before Jaxon could argue.
No dice.
Jaxon touched his earpiece and spoke. “Why? Are you afraid of your toes pruning in the water?”
“It’s not that.”
“Contrary to legend, there are no alligators in the sewer.”
“That you know of,” Alice quipped.
Deep down, Alice liked Jaxon. She just enjoyed making him squirm. And the truth was, I enjoyed watching it happen.
“That I know of.” Jaxon admitted. “But I will take one for the team and wrestle the beast into submission if it floats down our tunnel. Then I expect minstrels to sing of my heroics in future years. You can be the minstrel, Alice. I bet you’d look great with a lyre and kilt-y getup.”
Alice shook her head. “If anyone would look good in a skirt, it’s you, chicken legs.”
“Oh, please, you know you wish you could look as good as me in a skirt. Have you seen your calves?”
Everyone laughed and Alice huffed. Jaxon took the lead and sloshed through the water, making more of a ruckus than necessary.
But then he went still. As still as a dog that had caught a scent on a hunt.
Alice’s whisper came through the earpiece. “Jax, what did you hear?”
I watched as the muscles in Jaxon’s back tensed and his shoulders squared. I heard the minor intake of breath and wondered if everyone else knew what it meant.
He was afraid.


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About Iron Pendulum and about Megan Curd herself!

Iron Pendulum (Periodic, #2) A month ago, Avery thought the world ended outside Dome Four. Thought she was one of the few of her kind. Thought the war that brought the human race to the brink of extinction was over.

But a month can change everything.

After fighting to escape a tyranny she didn't even know existed, Avery has had to come to grips with all the secrets she's uncovered. But more secrets continue to come to light, revealing how little of her world she truly knew. When evidence starts to show that Dome Four might be under siege, Avery knows what she must do.

Returning to the dome she longed to escape is a challenge for Avery, but now she knows there’s corruption lurking in the shadows. A massive steam shortage leaves half the dome without power, and people are falling ill. Dying.

And they’re blaming Avery.

A month can change everything. One more month could kill everyone. The clock is ticking.

Expected publication: August 28th 2014
 Megan Curd

Megan Curd is a graduate of Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minnesota. While having always enjoyed reading any books she could get her hands on, Megan didn’t begin writing until a friend encouraged her to do so while in college. 

When not writing, Megan enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Photography, traveling and snowboarding are hobbies she loves, and she doesn’t turn down the opportunity to play xBox with her brother and friends when it presents itself.

Megan currently resides in Ohio with her husband and son, where she is trying to convert them into Buckeye fans.




Monday, August 25, 2014

The Cat's Meow: Hiatus



Hey everyone,

So I will be going on  a blogging hiatus due to school starting up and these classes that I'm taking will required extensive studies.

If you didn't see my post about the Future is shining bright here's a recap . . . I was offered to take the Intro class for my program which I might be starting next fall 2015, this gives anyone on the wait list a chance to wet their feet in the program before starting the core classes.

I had already planned to take General Physics and I can't believe how much Math is involved! There's stuff that I don't even know because well one Math isn't my strongest suit . . . I can do basic math but all that algebra and such it's kind of where I've taught it once and then I don't ever use it and so I lose the whole knowledge about it. SO I'll be spending great amount of time in the Academics services getting helped.

I haven't been reading, I did read Opposition but I haven't posted the review because I'm still writing it and so I might have to read the book once more before posting it. So sorry for those that are waiting for that review of Opposition from me, you'll have to wait a little bit longer and enjoy everyone's else reviews. I'll be sure to promote my review largely because I know mine will be late/later posting the review.

Here's something New . . .

A friend and I are going to be co-blogging on a different blog title which we still have to discuss about what the title of our blog is going to be. We are sharing our conditions/diseases that we both share on many levels, you'll expect posts about our Ups and Downs, some of journey through life dealing with our condition. It will be fun and something new for me as well for her. But I'm glad we will get to share our stories to others out there.

So stay tuned for that! 

I will possibly be opening an Etsy account for some jewelry bead work that I've been doing this past couple weeks. But first I need to go all Business like to determine pricing and such, since a lot of these jewelry are one of a kind and limited. They will become unlimited if I earn enough profit to buy more supplies as well a little profit to me. So yeah that the other NEW thing that might be happening.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Catty Chat Discussions: Delirium Pilot

Delirium (Delirium, #1) Pandemonium (Delirium, #2) Requiem (Delirium, #3)

Okay so remember how Delirium was unaired for Fox network? Then Hulu picked it up but here's a few problems that Hulu and Fox came across.

One only members of hulu could view it, the non member could watch the first episode. (Now I'm writing this as I'm watching the episode) 
I don't know if hulu ever got rights for the other episodes

Two the problem Fox ran into was that delirium was made for young adult and for those that actually read the books. Fox focused a lot on the middle age audiences. 

Third the CW network or ABC Family should have picked it up because of the target audience that they have. 


The Pilot Episode
Episode one was so fast pace that it actually ruin the whole theme of the episode, I would have much rather save the first kiss between Alex and Lena for later in the season rather when they barely knew each other and only had two run in before that kiss in the episode. 

I like the whole part where Alex is part of the resistance and that he has to get close to Lena because of her father but again they or Fox network fast pace them together so it was really almost intentional force between Alex and Lena.

The end of this episode should have been SAVED for the last episode of Season one!!!! GRRR


The cast that was pick was fine for their setting,

Billy Campbell plays the best bad guy role! I've seen him in other shows where he plays the controlling male and he does well in that category.









HOW CAN YOU IGNORE THIS HOTNESS?????
Daren Kagasoff as Alex: It's about time I saw this guy back on screen, after the Secret Life Series ending I had always wonder what would be his next projects, Delirium was one of them.


Emma Roberts as Lena
She wasn't bad and I admire for how far she is willing to act like something was really happening, rather than that "Just Acting" scenario. I have no problem with how she play Lena.


So the cast picking was just fine

Now because I don't know how the first book goes, I'm assuming that there were a lot of small details that could have been played into episodes.

So I don't think it was the book or the story itself that didn't gain audience, because it clearly had one when the books came out. It was the matter of what Network decided to pick it up and it failed on both part.

If I was a screenwriter writing/producer or whatever title you have to make a film or an episode, should have really thought it out on how each episode was going to grow as well the characters. The pilot was done ALL wrong in my opinion. As well the network's target audience.

So I would hope that if the fan based is large enough that maybe a movie could be a way to revamp the actually pilot and keep all the same casts. Or another network that its target audiences are young adults will pick it up and revamp it all over again because this show needs a do-over needless to say. 

Here's the Trailer which actually have just about everything in the Pilot episode


Sunday, August 17, 2014

Catty Chat Discussion: Growing TBR

Growing TBR

How long is your TBR pile? 
Does it seem that you add more books than you read? 
What do you do with the books that been on a TBR pile for so long? 
What books that are on TBR pile that you think you'll never read?

There are some many reasons to why our TBR pile never gets smaller, but we also don't eliminates books that causes our TBR to grow quickly.

For me I have so many different reasons why my TBR Pile never gets smaller, why it grows and grows, and what books that I'll probably never read, and What books I'm just adding on to my TBR pile.

Reasons to why my TBR piles grows . . .

Mostly upcoming releases by authors that I follow
Upcoming releases twitter talks
Books that I've found out that were released a couple years back but still want to read the books


Recent books that are adding on to the TBR pile . . .
 
  1. Stone Cold Touch (The Dark Elements #2) by Jennifer L Armentrout
  2. Trial by Fire (The Worldwalker Trilogy #1) by Josephine Angelini
  3. Lies I told by Michelle Zink
  4. The Dark World (Dark World #1) by Cara Lynn Shultz
  5. Take Me On (Pushing the Limits #3) by Katie McGarry
  6. The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent
  7. Talon (Talon #1) by Julia Kagawa 
Netgallery TBR Pile . . .

You think Netgallery was love at first sight right? So did I but then I found a little problem
  • You request too many then lack on reading it or reviewing it or giving feedback that it might actually hurt you in the selection process from publishers. 
  • You request a book and you haven't read the previous book (I've had this problem before)
  • You're pre-approved but then you don't read books published by that company 

Books that I'll probably never read . . .

  • The I am Number Four series, I saw the movie and was interested in reading the books but I'll probably never read them because of all the other books that I want to read
  • The Vampire Diaries because there's just too many to keep track of
  • Books that I have by Elizabeth Chandler
  • Beautiful creatures series
  • Plus more that I probably can't list at the moment

So is there a way to resolve this growing problem? 

I've heard some ideas that some of my blogger buddies are doing, 
  • Making a jar, writing down all TBR books and then draw at random . . . 
  • Some might not even keep track of the books that are on the TBR pile and the TBR pile is non-existence to them. 
  • Eliminates the years and years of dusts books, if you haven't read them by now then you'll probably never read them. It kind of like clothes in a sense where you wore something five years ago and never wore it in the last four years.


Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Hide & Seek: Perception



Today I'm taking part of a Cover Reveal for Perception an New Adult Anthology that is being published through Elephantine Publishing as well Elephantine Authors. 

Here's what Perception Anthology is all about . . .


The world will never look the same…

There comes a defining moment in every young person's life that irrevocably shifts their point of view.  For a new teacher who still compares herself to her students, it’s a missing girl and a false accusation that could cost her more than her career.  For a young man who settles into a rut that not even his broken marriage can pull him out of, it’s a drifter’s gun to his head.  For an idealistic college student, it’s her parents’ divorce pulling back the curtain on who they really are, shattering everything she thought she knew about love.  And for a recovering addict who's not ready to change, it might just be an unhappy ending to her illicit affair.

In Perception, discover five captivating stories that explore what it means to be a new adult.

Perception, a New Adult anthology is coming 9/10/14


 

Links to find our authors:
Nealy Gihan, author of Drive, on Facebook
Scott Davis, author of Outlaw, on Twitter
Mary Laufer, author of Missing, on Facebook
Linda Davis, author of My Boyfriend is a Senator, on Elephantine’s author list
Heather Hildenbrand, author of The Talisman, on Facebook

For more information and other releases, visit us at:

FICTION FREEBIES: free stories, excerpts, and interviews from Elephantine authors. Sign up and get inboxed!

Now for the Cover . . .

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

The Cat's Meow: Future is shining bright!

 

So today is not a day where I typically talk about books, today is a day where my future shines just a little brighter.

Since late 2012 to early 2013, I had questioned about my career path for Health Care Administration I never did question about the thought of changing a different path but with the focus that my local university had for their Health Care Administration program, I had to.

I was sadden from day one of orientation when the person I talked to said that their Health Care was focused solely on the aging population and how to provide and understand about the aging population where they would need more benefits and so on so on. But I did one semester of that program and if I wasn't already questioning about their route, it was the history classes and other non-necessaries that I did not need.

So I move on from that path although I do hope that down the road I might find the right match for Health Care administration and use my skills and knowledge towards people that struggle day by day health problems.

So what do I do now? 

That was the big question . . . I search programs at my Local technical college where I earn my Associate's degree in Business management and found Ultrasound or (Diagnostic Medical Sonography in their terms) might be the next path.

I have always that motherly instinct for as long as I can remember, and kids are a big future for me so I wanted to possibly work in an area where I am partly a part of a couple's beginning finding out their pregnant, the progression of the pregnancy and so on. What's great about my technical college is that they offered and plan their program to dabbed in many areas where ultrasound is needed and I'm excited to venture in that area.

The downside? 

The wait list . . . I was told that I couldn't start until 2018 that was five years from now! and Today I get a call from my advisor saying that I've been move up on the waiting list to the point where I could possibly(CROSS YOUR FINGERS) Start my Core Program in Fall of 2015!

And that's not even all of it! This year they decided to take in some students that are on the wait list to take the Intro Course limited of course and because I was within the 10 people limits list that she offered it to me to take the class and of course I said yes!

By taking this class, that will get one class out of the way for when I start . . . I actually did some crunching numbers and realizes that I could possibly get my degree in DMS in two and a half years. That is saying I take at least 14 credit load and I think some course you have to take at the same time so EEK I'm excited!

I'm one step closer to starting, and one step closer to going after my career . . . 

So with that being said I pretty sure that I'll need to find a balance to blog/read/work/school/writer.


Friday, August 8, 2014

So I Married a Werewolf Blog Tour: Character Interview



 So I Married A Werewolf (Seattle Wolf Pack #3) By Kristin Miller
So I Married a Werewolf (Seattle Wolf Pack, #3)

Carter Griffin, enforcing officer for the Seattle Wolf Pack, has a problem. He’s been offered the promotion of his dreams…if he can find a wife to prove he’s over his playboy ways. But Carter’s already walked the matrimonial road and bought the stinkin’ T-shirt. Besides, a werewolf only gets one fated mate. Been there, done that.
All werewolf dog trainer Faith Hamilton wants to do is earn enough green stuff to put her younger brother through college. Okay, okay, so she also totally wants Carter, her sexy next-door neighbor, to look at her as more than a friend. It’s too bad size 12 and plain isn’t his type. At all.
The two friends strike a deal to help one another out. They must face a variety of challenges from a psycho ex-girlfriend to a Yorkie with a shoe fetish...and that pesky problem of only having one-fated mate in a lifetime. Will a relationship ruin their friendship…or spark a love neither anticipated?
Release July 28th 2014

Book Links

Character Interview with Carter & Faith 


Carter, how long have you been in the policing business? And are you happy where you stand now in the ranks?

Carter: I’ve worked the streets as an enforcer for the last ten years. On the outside looking in, some may think that’s not very long. But when you’re tracking and bringing in rogue wolves, the days are long and the nights are longer. Most enforcers don’t last half that.

Faith: He’s being humble here. (She nudges him with her shoulder.) The enforcer turnover rate is huge. The job has crazy hours and the guys work year-round. I’m so proud of his promotion.

Carter: (Kisses her on the cheek.) Thanks, babe. I’m happy with where I am, in every aspect of my life. She’s my dream come true, though.

Faith: Awww. Isn’t he the sweetest? Don’t worry, honey. (She pats his hand as he sets it in her lap.) I won’t tell your buds how sensitive you are.

Carter: Only with you, Faith.

Faith, it appears that we don't know you very much aside from training dogs, have a dog blog. Tell us one thing we don't know about you . . . Anything.

Carter: She’s the most loyal person you’ll ever meet.

Faith: (She smiles.)

Carter: And she’s an amazing cook. Really.

Faith: Oh yeah, I believe you now that you added “really” to the end of that. (She winks, and shakes her head.) I burn things time to time, but my best recipes come from trial and error. I’m also a huge Supernatural fan.
Carter: (Scrubs his hand over his face.) Oh geez, here we go. Don’t get her started talking about those Winchester brothers.

Faith: (Blushes.) Carter has my heart…but if something ever happened to him, Dean’s mine.


Carter, I know this might be a touchy subject but what happen to your first mate? We know Jameson found 3(4?) luminary every decade or so and each one of them, he had a bond with them.

Faith: (Smiles sweetly and holds Carter’s hand.) He won’t talk much about the bond he had with his first wife, because I think he assumes it’ll bother me. I’m stronger than he thinks.

Carter: I know you’re strong. The toughest woman I’ve met, actually. The thing is, it’s difficult for me to talk about because it’s a failure on my part.

Faith: (Rolls her eyes.) You didn’t fail.

Carter: Hell I didn’t. When a wife tells her husband that she isn’t interested in having a relationship with him anymore, he should try his hardest to improve himself. He should want to improve himself, for her, or for his own mind. I didn’t. I buried myself in my work, and drove her further away. At least I learned what not to do next time. I won’t let Faith down, and I won’t let our love fade.

Faith: You’re a good man, Carter.

(He looks at her lovingly. She leans in and kisses him, and the light in the room seems to zone on them.)

Faith, how is your brother doing at Yale? Are you concern about him being off on his own considering he's a werewolf?

Faith: (A soft glow warms her cheeks.) Dawson’s staying out too late, eating Ramen five times a week, scheduling his classes for afternoons and evenings—

Carter: What she means is, Dawson’s loving college life. We’re not concerned about him being a werewolf on his own.

Faith: There’s a pack close to school that’s taken him in.

Carter: We’ve been in hiding for so long, it’s normal for us to keep that side private. It’s like those Andes mints Faith likes to sneak in the middle of the night.

Faith: (Sucks in a short breath and glares.)

Carter: She’s been sneaking those before bed for so long, I don’t even think she knows how stealthy she is. She’s like the Andes Ninja. (Laughs into a cough.) I can see her now, tiptoeing to the fridge, thinking I can’t see her and—

Faith: Carter! (She smacks him playfully in the chest.) Don’t make me tell them about your secret stash of weapons. It’s like you’ve got a gun for every outfit!

Carter: Okay, okay. Next question.

Questions for both of you,
How many children do you want?

Carter: As many as she’ll give me.

Faith: Awe, he says that now, but we’ll see when we have a little one running around. I’d love to have two healthy babies to add to the wolf pack.

Carter: Three?

Faith: Depends on if we have boys or girls. I can’t imagine having three Carter Juniors running around.

Carter: I can. (He nods, grinning triumphantly.)

Which house did you guys move into?

Faith: His. Once I moved into his place and Tracy moved into mine, we realized that was a better fit for us. The forest is right outside his door, and we’ve made some memories there.

Carter: Great memories there. (His eyebrows jump up and down as he gazes at her.) Simply talking about it makes me want to take another walk down memory lane.

And how is Humperdinck? Is he behaving well or did he slipped into his old ways.

Faith: He’s such an amazing little guy. He took to his training and hasn’t had any mounting issues since…well, it’s been months, which is wonderful for him! He’s warm and loving, and sleeps at the foot of the bed like a good boy.

Carter: (Shakes his head.) Don’t let her fool you. That dog sleeps wherever it wants, most days right beside her. He’s madly in love.

Faith: Would take one canine to know another, sweetheart.

Carter: (He lifts her hand and kisses the back.) I’m so in love with you, I’d sleep wherever you tell me to.

Faith: Beside me, Carter. Always beside me.


Aren't they just adorable? Thank you Carter and Faith for answering my questions and Faith best of luck with the future little ones. 
 
Giveaway 

About Kristin Miller
New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Kristin Miller writes sweet and sassy contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance of all varieties. Kristin has degrees in psychology, English, and education, and taught high school and middle school English before crossing over to a career in writing. She lives in Northern California with her alpha male husband and their two children. She loves chocolate way more than she should and the gym less. You can usually find her in the corner of a coffee shop, laptop in front of her and mocha in hand, using the guests around her as fuel for her next book.

Website: www.kristinmiller.net
Blog: www.kristinmiller.net/blog
Twitter: @km_miller
Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorKristinMiller
Goodreads: goodreads.com/kristinmiller
Newsletter: found on my website: www.kristinmiller.net