*Spotlight* The Neptune Project By Polly Holyoke W/ Giveaway

Synopsis:

With her weak eyes and useless lungs that often leave her gasping for air, Nere feels more at home swimming with the dolphins her mother studies than she does hanging out with her classmates. Nere has never understood why she is so much more comfortable and confident in the water than on land until the day she learns the shocking truth—she is one of a group of kids who have been genetically altered to survive in the ocean. These products of the "Neptune Project" are supposed to build a better future under the waves, safe from the terrible famines and wars and that rock the surface world.

But there are some big challenges ahead of her: no one ever asked Nere if she wanted to be part of a science experiment; the other Neptune kids aren't exactly the friendliest bunch, and in order to reach the safe haven of the new Neptune colony, Nere and her fellow mutates must swim across hundreds of miles of dangerous ocean, relying on their wits, their loyal dolphins and one another to evade terrifying undersea creatures and a government that will stop at nothing to capture the Neptune kids ... dead or alive.

Fierce battle and daring escapes abound as Nere and her friend race to safety in this action-packed marine adventure.

Expected Release: May 21st 2013

Publisher: Disney/Hyperion

Purchase: Amazon

About the Author

Polly Holyoke has been imagining stories since she was in fifth grade. When she isn’t writing, Polly loves reading, camping, skiing, scuba diving and hiking in the desert (where she quite stupidly got herself bitten by a rattlesnake). She lives with three rescue dogs, two spoiled cats and a nice husband who is tolerant about the piles of books all over their house. Her debut middlegrade novel, THE NEPTUNE PROJECT, is the story of a young girl leading a group of genetically altered teens fighting to survive in the sea. She is thrilled that this novel will be published by Disney/Hyperion and Puffin Books UK summer, 2013. She thinks the best part about being an author is going to work in her sweatpants and getting paid for daydreaming!

www.pollyholyoke.com | twitter.com/PollyHolyoke

*REVIEW TO COME*

Rafflecopter giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*SPOTLIGHT* The Prelude By KaSonndraLeigh

 The Prelude

A New Adult Contemporary Romance
Author: KaSonndra Leigh
Published: March 31, 2013 Format: E-book
Places to Buy: Barnes&Noble; Amazon
Buy Links:
Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Prelude-Musical-Interlude-Novel-ebook/dp/B00C43RBFI/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1366238613&sr=8-1&keywords=the+prelude
Barnes&Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-prelude-kasonndra-leigh/1114966900?ean=2940016717609

The Prelude Synopsis
After finishing design school six months ago, Erin Angelo left her tragic past behind in the States and started a new life in Milan, Italy. Burying the grief, silencing her demons, and living a life without any real attachments has worked well for her so far. But when Erin secures her first real job as a budding clothing designer, her controlled world is shaken to its core by the mysteriously sexy director of the local symphony.
Alek Dostov is a man who knows what he wants and how to get it. He’s successful, hot, the son of a millionaire, and women all over the world flock to see one of his performances. For Alek, Erin represents the ultimate challenge: sexy, smart, and unaffected by his charms…or so she thinks. Just like Erin, Alek avoids attachments that leave him emotionally vulnerable. But unlike Erin, his pursuit of all things pleasurable is ruthless.
Knowing how wary they both are concerning any kind of committed relationship, Alek finds a way to pursue Erin, satisfying the intense attraction between them without sacrificing the freedom they both enjoy. Sometimes the deepest passion brings out the darkest emotions. And Erin finds herself completely unprepared for the forbidden world of the young maestro and his truths and even his secrets, as she struggles to deal with her own.
Music, passion, betrayal and forbidden love spun together in one of the most romantic cities in the world.
This novel contains sexual situations and mature language. It is intended for an audience at 17+ years of age.

 Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16133451-the-prelude

Excerpt: 

Alek’s POV
Erin Meets the Ex
“So, your mother was born in Dallas? That means you’re all mixed up, like me. Interesting,” Erin says and shakes her head as though she’s in deep thought.
She takes a bite of her focaccia, a type of yeast roll covered in garlic. Since we’re still well into the aperitivo, Milan’s happy hour, this is about all we’re going to be served for the time being. “It all makes sense now. I was wondering why Adriana doesn’t have a Russian sounding name. And how you got those…nevermind.”
“Don’t do that stopping mid-sentence thing. It drives me insane, yes. Finish. What do I have?” I lean over on the table, so I’m closer to her face. A rush of pink spreads through her cheeks. She blushes so easily. I enjoy watching it happen.
She shrugs and stabs at her food until I’m ready to snatch the plate away and eat the bread myself. I place my hand over hers. “Erin, you were going to tell me something, yes?” Our gazes meet, and she stares deep into my eyes.
“Your eyes. They’re not blue like a lot of Russians. That’s all. You don’t need me to be telling you things you’ve heard all your life, I’m sure.” She glances down at her plate and then over at my hand massaging the skin on top of hers.
“Look at me, Erin.”
“No. I mean, I’d rather not.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s—”
“What have we here? The two of you look cozy,” a familiar female’s voice says, ripping through our bonding moment. Nadya. I sit back and give her a hard look. She’s wearing fur in July, the same thing Mother likes to do. And she looks ridiculous.
“Nadya. You look warm today,” I say, smiling.
“I am. These Milan nights can get a little chilly. Especially when a girl sits at home alone more often than not,” she replies.
“I’m sure a woman of your means can easily find male companionship,” I say with a smirking grin. She turns to Erin.
“Hi there. I’m Nadya, Alek’s ex-girlfriend.” She holds out her hand for Erin to shake.
“I’m Erin. And I’m not the new girlfriend.” Shaking her hand, Erin passes a quick glance in my direction.
“Erin Angelo, the student designer who wooed and won the hearts of all three Martuccio brothers? I’m in awe. Tell me, what kind of sexual favors did you do in order to convince them to take you in and spend all that money for you?”
“Nadya. This isn’t the time or place for that shit,” I warn.
“Oh, Alek, this is girl talk. Obviously, Erin has what it takes to survive in the fashion capital of the world. I simply want pointers on how she managed to snag yet another successful man so very quickly. Has he taken you to the waterfall yet?” Nadya gushes, her voice dripping with sarcasm. I stand up and face her.
“I’m warning you, Nadya,” I repeat.
“No, Alek, it’s okay, really. I don’t mind helping Nadya out,” Erin says, a devious gleam in her gorgeous eyes. Easing back down to my seat, I get the feeling that Nadya is in for a surprise.
“First, I signed up for design school. This meant I actually had to use intelligence over sex,” Erin begins, using the sweetest voice I’ve ever heard on a female. “And then, my instructors noticed I had a sharp eye for identifying trends. You know what I mean, right? Real. Raw. Talent. Now, this doesn’t include shopping sprees and matching up the designer labels in all my outfits. I’m one of the people who actually sat down and created the design for that acrylic, also known as, fake fur vest you’re wearing.”
Erin beams a smile at Nadya and then glances at me just before she says, “Men can’t help but to notice someone who does this kind of thing. Right, Alek?”
“Damn right. I couldn’t help it, anyway,” I add, feeling more turned on by Erin than I’ll ever care to admit. She removes her shawl and exposes the way her dress dips low enough to show off her generous cleavage. I lower my head so neither one of them will catch me laughing.
“In fact, Alek told me that my ambitious nature outside of the bedroom turns him on so much that he can’t wait to get back and make mad, passionate love to me tonight,” Erin says with a smile. I almost choke on my saliva.
“Obviously. Have a nice dinner,” Nadya says in a flat voice and walks off toward a man standing near the bar.
“I cannot believe I just said those shitty things to her,” Erin says, shaking her head and gasping.
“She opened the door wide,” I answer.
“Can we have a subject-change moment, please?” she asks and moves on without questioning me about the waterfall statement Nadya made. I appreciate that she doesn’t question or judge me. Not yet.

Meet your word sculptress...
Author of the Lost Immortals Saga and the Path Seekers Series. I’m also a mother, blogger, reader, gardener, home renovator, and a slayer of undead Egyptian mummies in Tomb Raider. I believe in karma, coffee, and seriously wish that the producers of Xena would bring my favorite show ever back.
Strange things about me: Everything. I am weird, odd, unusual, and generally tend to make people think I swooped down from another planet. I don’t know. Maybe I did. Who knows? I’m also a member of the #zombiesurvivalcrew on twitter. So if you need protection from the upcoming apocalypse, don’t hesitate to call on us.
I was born in the race-car city of Charlotte, NC, and now live in the City of Alchemy and Medicine, NC, when I’m not hanging out in Bardonia (Lost Immortals). Most of my characters are based on people that I’ve met throughout my travels and adventures. People tend to stop and start conversations with me as if I’ve known them my entire life. Does this freak me out? Not really. My mom says that one day I’ll get kidnapped by one of them. I told her that if it weren’t for these lovely people then I wouldn’t be able to create the stories that I do.

KaSonndra’s Author website: www.kasonndraleigh.com
Prelude's Fan page: http://facebook.com/kasonndraleighbookspage
Prelude's Pinterest Board: http://pinterest.com/alestasia/the-prelude/
KaSonndra’s Twitter: http://twitter.com/kasonndraleigh
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/KaSonndra-Leigh/e/B0066W7GY4


Thank you for letting me be a part of this KaSonndraLeigh! 

Book Spotlight/Review *Saving Wishes By GJ Walker-Smith

                                                 
                                                 SAVING WISHES
                                              By: GJ Walker-Smith
                                                      Publication Date: February 10, 2013

For Charli Blake, being seventeen is a tough gig.
She's been branded a troublemaker, her reputation is in tatters and she's stuck in Pipers Cove, a speck of a town on the coast of Tasmania.
Thankfully, it's temporary. Her lifelong dream of travelling the world is just months away from becoming reality. All she has to do is ride out the last few months of high school, which is easier said than done thanks to a trio of mean girls known as The Beautifuls.
When Adam Décarie arrives in town, all the way from New York, life takes an unexpected turn. His arrival sets off a chain of events that alters her life forever, convincing her of one thing. Fate brought him to her.
Saving Wishes is the story of a girl who doesn't quite fit the life she's living, and the boy who helps her realise why.

EXCERPT:
Alex’s smile disappeared along with her, and an eerie silence set in. It was as if we’d all witnessed a terrible train crash and were too shocked to speak. I could feel his glare but kept my eyes on the front door.
“You have ten seconds to explain,” he informed me.
I punched out the explanation so quickly, I had five seconds to spare. I could almost see his mind ticking over as he processed my confession.
“Of all the stupid things to do.” His reproach was warranted, and defending myself would only have added fuel to an already raging fire. “You’re like a mini terrorist. Are you trying to get us run out of town?”
Gabrielle’s tried to stop a giggle escaping. I turned my attention to Adam
“I think it was ingenious,” he murmured, revealing the dimple on his cheek.
“You are too easily charmed,” complained Alex, waving his hands as if he was showcasing the major prize in a game show. “Charli Blake is the kind of girl your mother warned you about, Adam. Nothing but trouble.”
So much for defending me to the death! If he hadn’t been so worked up it would have been funny. The only people in the room game enough to see the humour were those of French lineage.
“I would be more than happy to claim her,” Adam told him.
“Me too,” added Gabrielle, much to my surprise.
Alex shook his head. He marched to the front door and flipped the sign, declaring the shop shut for the rest of the day.
“Are you closing?” asked Gabrielle, checking her watch. “It’s early.”
“I’m done. If I don’t get out of here, I might explode,” he muttered, pushing past me to collect his coat.
I knew Alex was close to breaking point. Escaping the café before he had a chance to lock the door seemed like a good idea. I reached for Adam’s hand. “I’ll see you later.” I moved quickly, giving Alex no chance of calling me back. Adam turned to face him as we reached the door.
“I’ll have her home early.”
“I honestly don’t care,” Alex said wearily.
He sounded broken. For a horrible second I wondered if I’d finally pushed him too far. Perhaps in the process of slaying the Beautiful dragons I’d accidently assassinated my white knight too. I peeked at my brother. “Do you mean that?” My voice was small because I feared his answer.
Alex looked back at me for a long time. He didn’t look angry any more, just beaten. “No,” he said simply. And I believed him.

------

REVIEW

5 STARS

I fell in love with this book when I read the summary of it.Then I feel in love with it even more when I read it.Saving Wishes takes place in Piper's Cove on the coast of Tasmania.Charli is your typical teen that has some issues.She has been branded by the town for something that should never have come to light.Adam is a New York Boy that is visiting his sister that Charli cannot stay away from.There relationship gets serious pretty fast.This book has some unexpected twists and some great romance.I would totally suggest this to anyone who wants a great read.Im anxiously awaiting Second Hearts By GJ Walker-Smith.If you don't read this you will seriously be missing out!

AUTHOR BIO:

I love any kind of travel, especially when it's decided on a whim. The last time it happened, we ended up in West Africa. Luckily, I have a fantastic husband and three gorgeous sons. I'd go anywhere with them.

My day job used to be in the stressful world of property management, until I realised I'd rather write books and raise my babies.
I live in Western Australia, have an egotistical French bulldog, a love for really good coffee and a million stories in my head that I hope to get into print.

*BOOK SPOTLIGHT*The Earth Painter By Melissa Turner Lee

When a self-conscious young woman discovers the boy in drama class is actually the immortal who painted the world into being, she becomes the target of another painter who hates humanity. The Earth Painter is a Young Adult Supernatural Romance set in the small mill town of Chesnee, SC. It revolves around Holly Scruggs, who's family has just moved back to Chesnee after her dad lost his job along with pretty much everything they owned. Her image conscious parents correct her to the point of brokenness until she meets Theo. He is the artist responsible for all the beauty of the land and he thinks Holly is beautiful too. Together they will fight against Fritz, the water painter who hates humans and is hiding a secret under the high school.


Guest Post by Melissa Turner Lee

I’ve always loved anything weird or different. As a child I loved The Twilight Zone. Anything strange or bizarre got my attention. In school I loved studying Edgar Allen Poe's work. I've always loved romance too. Until recently, a story could be one or the other. I’m thrilled to be writing in a time when Paranormal Romance is so popular. I can make a story about falling in love, but with that extra twist that keeps it from being the same-old-same-old.

The Earth Painter is my first attempt and it is different even for the genre. No vampires, angels or lycanthropes. My story has painters—immortal painters who were once given the job of painting the world into being. And then there is Holly, a human girl who becomes aware of it all and falls in love with a painter named Theo. But it’s more than a love story. Holly discovers who she is, what she is meant for and her own beauty. Plus she lives the everyday life of a teen. Her best friend has issues that impact Holly in a serious way. And Holly’s mom is a piece of work. Never in my life have I only had one issue at a time, so I write my character’s lives the same way. There are lots of layers.

So if you like your romance with a twist of different, or your different with a twist of romance, either/or, then I hope you will try my book, The Earth Painter. It’s like peanut butter with chocolate. They are great alone but together they are awesome.