Girl with a Pen and a Dream

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Book Tour ~ Inside a Young Soul by Nicole A. Schmidt: Review

Inside a Young Soul

by Nicole A Schmidt

Publication Date: March 26, 2015

Age Group: Young Adult

Genre: Poetry

Summary:

Inside a Young Soul by Nicole A. Schmidt is a poetry book as beautiful, heart-breaking, and invigorating as the very soul of a young girl. Teacher, turned author, Schmidt has compiled her best poems penned when she was just a young girl herself.

The poems written in this book discuss classic teenage themes such as sex, falling in love, feeling restless, and even inadequate. Its soul-stirring pages also include less discussed themes such as spirituality and intelligence.

A must have for young girls, Inside a Young Girl even includes space for young girls to write and draw how they relate to the poems.

Heart warming, bold and truly relate-able, Inside a Young Soul is for any and every young girl making her way through the complex world!

Review:

I am a huge fan of poetry. I have been since at least the 5th grade. So it has been about fourteen years now. When I saw that LIEP Promotions was hosting a tour for a poetry collection I knew that I had to sign up. Even more so when I saw that it was poetry for young adults. I myself published a poetry collection for young adults. So that cinched it. And I just had to review this, too.

I really enjoyed the poems in this collection. What I enjoyed most was the honesty that was in them. The author was not afraid to say how she was really feeling about something. I can see how many teenage girls could relate to the poems in this collection. The fact that it is made into a workbook makes it even more interactive. This is something that I could see myself enjoying in high school and maybe going back to more than once. I'm not particularly religious, so while that section was good, ti was the one that I had the least connection with. I'm more spiritual than religious, so I connected to it, but not as much as the other two sections. However, I believe it is very important to explore our spirituality and what we believe, so this is an important section. Perhaps it would make some young women start to examine their own spirituality.

My favorite poems and the ones that I related to the most are as follows:

- "Alone"ness is Bliss

- Diamond in the Rough

- We Never Had a Chance

- "FOR REAL"

- Excuooooooooze Me! (Tribute to Early Maturation Frustration)

I think that for some people poetry can seem unapproachable and intimidating. Not just young adults. But this collection is not intimidating and is definitely approachable. I think that it is very relatable for a girl going through high school and even older; there are still things to connect with and relate to. I'm glad that I signed up to review this one. Of course, I would most recommend this to girls that are going through high school now. Howver, I believe women of all ages could enjoy this. And I won't limit it to women, if a boy or man wants to pick this up and read it I think that they may just find something a s well. I would give this one 4 quills!!

About the Author:

Hailing from Long Island, New York, Nicole A. Schmidt moved to Maryland to attend the University of Maryland-College Park. She received subsequent degrees and certifications from Notre Dame of Maryland University and Bowie State University respectively.

Schmidt (Schmidtty to her mentees) has taught high school English for the past seven years. She has always seen teaching as more than a job, more than a career; she views teaching as a divine calling. With that in mind, she became a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. whose core mission is to empower the community through education. As an educator, Nicole has had the pleasure of meeting special individuals. Her hope is that she was able to make a small impact on each of their lives as they have made a huge impact on hers.

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Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Book Blitz ~ The Foxglove Killings by Tara Kelly

The Foxglove Killings

by Tara Kelly

Release Date: 09/01/15

Entangled Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

Gramps always said that when the crickets were quiet, something bad was coming. And the crickets have been as silent as the dead. It started with the murdered deer in the playground with the unmistakable purple of a foxglove in its mouth. But in the dying boondock town of Emerald Cove, life goes on.

I work at Gramps's diner, and the cakes―the entitled rich kids who vacation here―make our lives hell. My best friend, Alex Pace, is the one person who gets me. Only Alex has changed. He's almost like a stranger now. I can't figure it out...or why I'm having distinctly more-than-friend feelings for him. Ones I shouldn't be having.

Then one of the cakes disappears.

When she turns up murdered, a foxglove in her mouth, a rumor goes around that Alex was the last person seen with her—and everyone but me believes it. Well, everyone except my worst enemy, Jenika Shaw. When Alex goes missing, it's up to us to prove his innocence and uncover the true killer. But the truth will shatter everything I've ever known about myself—and Alex.

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Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo Books

Excerpt:

“Miserable people are gonna find misery, Angela,” Gramps said to her. “There’s no point in rolling over and playing dead.” He nodded at me. “Tell that boy to go stick it and be done with it.”

“Dad.” Mom pulled the jaw clip from her bun, letting her dark hair unravel down her back. “If you had your way, this would be a saloon.”

Gramps poured pancake batter into a pan and shrugged. “What’s wrong with that? I could wear my wooly chaps.”

Mom rolled her eyes at me. “I thought I burned those.”

Find Chapter One Here: http://www.entangledpublishing.com/the-foxglove-killings/

About the Author:

Tara Kelly adores variety in her life. She’s an author, one-girl-band, graphic designer, editor, and photographer. She lives in Sin City with her beloved guitars, sound design master husband, and a fluffy cat named Maestro.

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

GIVEAWAY:

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Book Blitz Organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Blog Tour ~ Healing (Finding Home, Book One) by Rachel Caid

Title: Healing

Author: Rachel Caid

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Series: Finding Home

After a devastating loss, Anna Johnston has finally gotten the pieces of her life to fit back together and has created a comfortable pattern for her and her son, Roman. Trying to protect both of their hearts, Anna has given up on dating accepting that she will never completely heal from losing Roman’s father. Noah Evans just got out of a relationship based on lies and isn’t looking for anything permanent. New to town, he and his friend and business partner are focused on finishing their new remodel and making money. One boys’ night out introduces him to Anna and all of that changes. Noah wants something real; a place to call home.

He might be pushy, but Noah is determined to get what he wants. Just as Anna and Noah start to come together, someone from the past comes back to cause trouble. Can Noah convince Anna to take a chance on him and break free from the pain of her memories? Will Anna look past what she cannot change to see a future that includes Noah? **Due to graphic sex scenes 18+ please

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“Are you going to stare at the door all night or are you going to come in here and explain what I just walked in on?” Christine’s shout from the living room pulled me out of my stupor. I turned and walked to the couch. When I sat down, I curled my legs underneath me and hugged one of the pillows. I didn’t know what to say. I wavered between showering Noah’s scent off of me and reliving the whole scene with my sister. She waited a few heartbeats, letting me settle, before making me spill. “Alright Banana, I’ve given you a minute. Now, tell me again how you’re not interested in dating Noah? You seemed pretty interested as the two of you were eye f***ing all night and I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to suck face with guys you don’t want to date.” She quirked her lips and held back the laughter I knew was bubbling up inside her. “There was no eye f***ing and what you walked in on was a momentary lapse in judgment. He took me by surprise, is all, and it won’t happen again. I don’t have time and I won’t have a parade of men in and out of Roman’s life. This isn’t even worth talking about.” I was angry now; angry at Noah for kissing me, yes, but more angry that I let him. Hell, I did more than let him. Now I was knocked off kilter, feeling too much about someone I had just met. My world had spun out of control. It was one hell of a kiss though. “You know sis, it’s ok to be a priority too. You are the best mom Roman could ask for. No one is asking you to stop being that for him. We just want you to take care of yourself too. You deserve it, honey. I know you don’t want me to say it, but I’m going to anyway. Henry would be so disappointed that you are holding yourself back. He never would have wanted you to be lonely. You have to believe that.” Tears filled both of our eyes; I knew she was right. “I’m so afraid, Chris. So many things could go wrong, and it won’t be just me that suffers. I need to think of Roman. Maybe if Noah is willing to go slowly, really slowly, maybe it could work.” I stood and walked over to her, giving her a hug. “I need to sleep. It’s been a big night.” She nodded at me and I turned to go to my room. Shutting the door, I let silent tears stream down my face.

Rachel Caid lives in Missouri with her husband and two sons. She is a self-proclaimed coffee addict with no plans on recovery and an avid reader of all types of romance. Her day job is very black and white, so she enjoys being able to lose herself in the colorful world on novels; whether it’s reading or writing them. Find her at: http://www.facebook.com/authorrachelcaid

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Saturday, August 22, 2015

Cover Reveal ~ Ward Against Destruction (Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer #4) by Melanie Card

Ward Against Destruction (Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer, #4)

by Melanie Card

Release Date: 10/05/15

Entangled Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

Ward de’Ath used to the think that nothing could be more terrible than death. Now he realizes

there are worse things. Like his never-ending hunger for blood. Even if he conquers the

unbearable cravings that drive him headlong toward destruction,he’s a wanted man with a bleak

future.

Assassin Celia Carlyle learns she is the only one who can protect Ward from disaster. She loves him–she wants to help him, but no one can tell her how to save him from himself. And the confusing voices in her head scream to let him go.

But Ward's dark trials keep mounting. A malevolent evil is rising in the land, threatening to

unleash horror upon the world. The only way Ward can defeat it, and have the chance to marry

Celia, is by accepting his fate and becoming the one thing he swore he would never become...

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Books in this series:

Ward Against Death│Ward Against Darkness│Ward Against Disaster

About the Author:

I have always been drawn to story telling. In fact, I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t telling a story in my head or on paper. In grade school, we had journal writing time which I turned into story telling time, weaving tales of magic and adventure that mimicked the fairy tales and myths that I loved to read. It was there, with the help of two very special teachers, that I nurtured this love and started my journey as a writer.

I write fantasy, paranormal romance, and everything in between, seasoned with a good dash of adventure and mystery. Join me on my tales of magic, adventure, and romance.

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

Cover Reveal Organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours

Tuesday, August 18, 2015