Blog Tour: Jocelyn Adams author of the Lila Gray Novels Guest Post/Giveaway

As part of J. Taylor Publishing's blog tour I am sharing a guest post from Jocelyn Adams author of the Lily Gray series in honor of the release of Rise of the Magi the third book in her fantasy series. Enjoy, and be sure and check out the synopsis,stunning cover and giveaway!

Author Guest Post 

Creating Fantasy 

 Creating fantasy worlds is one of my favorite aspects of writing a book. With reality, I’m limited to the laws of physics and the boundaries of human science and capability, but in fantasy, I can dream big, set my imagination free to roam, and create something crazy...and make my readers

believe it.

When I started writing The Glass Man, I knew I wanted my fae cities to be something new, something that might surprise my readers.  When I’m searching for ideas, the most effective method for me is to put it out of my mind, and usually my subconscious eventually has an AH-HA moment.  That was certainly the case with the Black City, the first fae city Lila visits. I remember thinking, what would really shock me the most if I wandered into some realm I never knew existed?  Then I thought...if I was staring out at these strange buildings, wouldn’t it be neat if they stared back?

They have windows, right?  Those could be eyes, the curtains their lashes.  The doors could be mouths.  The buildings grew from there, becoming sentient beings with feelings that could read a fae’s thoughts and take on the form of the occupant’s dream house, creating furniture, artwork,
flooring, you name it.  The city became a living, shifting thing instead of a boring, static city.  Often they helped Lila out of sticky situations, even saving her life at one point.  The possibilities became endless.

In fantasy, if you can dream it, you can make it happen.  You want a dragon heli-pad in the middle of the street?  Go for it.  You want trolls as police?  Why not?  As long as the backstory is believable and painted well, anything is possible.

One thought to keep in mind while creating a world is to not overwhelm the reader within the first three chapters.  Try not to toss them into the deep end of your world right away, but to gradually ease them into it throughout the book.  One of the biggest complaints I hear about
fantasy books, is that “I was confused in the beginning”.  I’m a pretty bare-bones writer, keeping my description to a minimum while still painting enough of a picture for the reader to continue their own rendition of my world in their head.  It’s a hard balance to achieve, but it’s totally worth the effort.

If you could step into any fantasy world for a day, what would it be?  I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. ~ Jocelyn

Rise of the Magi
by Jocelyn Adams
Series: Lily Gray #3
Publication date: June 4, 2013
Genre: Fantasy
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon
*purchases through buy links support this blog

In a battle of wills, who is strongest? The one who hates or the one who loves?In a test of faith, who will fight the hardest? The one who has everything to lose or the one who believes only in herself?  For Lila Gray, the answer is both. For the Magi, the questions are pointless since they can’t lose, and they’ve been waiting since before Lila’s birth for this one moment. Lila only needs to find them to understand her entire purpose in life. This time, though, instead of protecting her people, Lila may be leading them all, including her unborn child and the man she loves, to their deaths — and not by accident. In the ultimate trial of heart and soul, and the conclusion to the Lila Gray series, Lila will learn that the greatest weapon of war is herself, with one ultimate unknown. For which side will she fight?

Series: 

About the Author

Jocelyn Adams grew up on a cattle farm in Lakefield and has remained a resident of Southern Ontario her entire life, most recently in Muskoka. She has worked as a computer geek, a stable hand, a secretary, and spent most of her childhood buried up to the waist in an old car or tractor engine with her mechanically inclined dad. But mostly, she's a dreamer with a vivid imagination and a love for fantasy (and a closet romantic — shhh!). When she isn't shooting her compound bow in competition or writing, she hangs out with her husband and young daughter at their little house in the woods.

Website  | Blog |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  

International Rafflecopter Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Review: Day After by Emi Gayle

Today I am excited to bring you a review of the second book in the 19th Year series by Emi Gayle thanks to J.Taylor publishing and their blog tour:

Day After
by Emi Gayle
Series: 19th Year #2
Publisher: J. Taylor 
Publication date: May 6, 2013
Genre: YA Paranormal
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository
Source: ARC provided in exchange for unbiased review
*purchases through buy links support this blog
My review of book one: After Dark

Demon crypts. Vampire lairs. Glowing angels. Sexy sirens. The stuff of fiction.  Or so Winn Thomas always thought.  Since being accepted into the fold of the supernatural, he knows better. None of what he imagined is true, but everything he feared is, and binding himself to his Changeling girlfriend until her nineteenth birthday will give him an education far beyond what he’d get at his human high school.  Luckily, Winn’s not giving up, he won’t back down, and he definitely isn’t going to run away with his tail between his legs. After all, only werewolves have tails. Right?  In this, the second of the 19th Year trilogy, Winn’s facing the challenge of one lifetime. If he doesn’t learn the truth about mythological creatures, his girlfriend Mac Thorne won’t either. That means, in six months, when she chooses her final form, she won’t know what to pick.  Winn, though, has his own ideas about Mac’s final selection—plans she knows nothing of.  He intends to have her pick human. Whether she can or not.

I was blown away by After Dark and was excited to jump back into the fascinating world Emi Gayle has created. In Day After we see more action, and learn more about the world and the creatures who reside there. I quickly consumed this and look forward to the final book. The tale is fast paced, filled with mind blowing revelations and characters you cannot help but love. 

Winn agrees to be Mac's teacher and to meet with the council for lessons. As he learns he cannot reveal information to Mac unless she asks. With only six months left, Winn takes his job as teacher seriously even if it means losing the love of his life forever. The tale that unfolds has suspense, danger, impossible decisions and an impossible romance. The tale is delivered from Winn's perspective and I enjoyed getting inside his head.

While the last book focused on Mac Thorne’s perspective and personality this time we really get inside Winn’s head. Tasked with an impossible responsibility he readily accepts. He must help Mac ask the right questions and guide her; which will ultimately separate them.  As he interviews those on the council he begins to discover everything isn’t black and white. I really like Winn, although he is only seventeen, he takes his responsibilities seriously and his love for Mac is unselfish. The relationship struggles as Mac pushes Winn away and even when he wants to throw in the towel, he cannot stop helping her. I loved how he gives this confident outward appearance and then we glimpse his inner fears and thoughts. One of things I like about him is that he totally gets Mac; from her snarky attitude to her refusal to ask the right questions. He is a loyal nerd whom you cannot help but adore. We learn more about the council as well as Winn’s Dad and sister. Suze is back and I gotta tell you I love this crazy demon protector.

Gayle weaves a tale that keeps you guessing. There is an air of suspense and mystery throughout both books that kept me turning the pages. She drops subtle clues and adds foreshadowing that make me believe in possibilities and question everything! The council and their “ask the right questions" was clever as it slowly reveals information that will aid both Mac and Winn. There are some intense scenes and unknown forces at work that kept me on edge. The last few chapters and the ending had my emotions all over and some of the things we learn had me gasping aloud. Winn and Mac really work as a couple, he is the yin to her yang and they bring out the best in each other. The book really worked from Winn’s perspective. I was excited to learn Gayle will do a dual POV in the next book. *happy dance*

If you are searching for an escape, and want a book with awesome world-building and characters to root for than the Day After and the 19th Year series is something you will enjoy. Darkest Day the final book will release in October 2013.

Four and half cups of demon coffee out of five

Review: After Dark by Emi Gayle

After Dark
by Emi Gayle
Series: The 19th Year #1
Publisher: J. Taylor 
Publication date: October 1, 2012
Genre: YA Paranormal/Urban Fantasy
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository
Source: purchase
*purchases through links support this blog

What eighteen year old Mac Thorne doesn't know will probably kill her. In exactly eight months, five days, three hours and thirteen minutes, Mac has to choose what she'll be for the rest of her life. She has no choice but to pick. As a Changeling, it's her birthright. To Mac, it's a birthchore. Like going to school with humans, interacting with humans, and pretending to be human during the pesky daylight hours. Once darkness descends, Mac can change into any supernatural form that exists-which makes her as happy as she can be. That is, until Winn Thomas, the biggest geek in her senior class, figures out there's more to what hides in the dark than most are willing to acknowledge. In this first of the 19th Year Trilogy, Winn might know more about Mac than even she does, and that knowledge could end their lives, unless Mac ensures the powers-that-be have no choice but to keep him around.

After reading the synopsis for After Dark I was excited to get my hands on this new paranormal series and Emi Gayle started with a bang. It’s the story of a changeling who must determine by the end of her nineteenth year what type of supernatural creature she will be and take her rightful place on the council. Action-packed and filled with supernatural creatures I was immediately swept into the world and its characters.

The tale begins when we meet eighteen year old Mac Thorne as she rapidly approaches her nineteenth birthday. She is a changeling and has lived with her guardians a vampire and a witch as she hones her skills and chooses her destiny. Like any typical teen at this age she isn't sure what she wants to be when she grows up. By day she attends school with “humans” and at night she takes the form of all kinds of supernatural creatures. Things are about to heat up for her, as something is attacking her, she interacts with "humans" and the council begins to pressure her to choose her destiny. She meets Winn Thomas, a geeky, smexy senior who is carrying around an ancient book about her and she sets out to get it from him. The tale that unfolds was delightful. 

Mac is strong, stubborn and determined. She is also smart, snarky, and a total badass. We see tremendous growth in her as a character over the course of the first book and it was fun to watch. She is a changeling faced with selecting one creature but the author hints that Mac is more and I cannot wait to discover what. Winn is such a loveable guy, he is sweet, cute and believable.  He is a good guy and I found him to be charming, witty and bright. His little sister was interesting from the start and added to the tale. Her guardians were present, supportive and I loved the demon that interacted with them. The council was a hoot and they each had their own unique voice.

Gayle weaves an original tale that blended paranormal and urban fantasy. I quickly connected and slipped into that sweet spot I love when I am engaged in a good book. The world-building was well done, with suspenseful threads and foreshadowing throughout. I found the council and supernatural creatures  to be fascinating and am anxious to learn more about them. We see some intense action scenes that will leave you breathless, mixed in with funny, romantic and insightful moments. The author gave each character a distinct voice and steered away from the usual tropes in young adult. There is no insta-love, triangle or absentee parental unit. It was so refreshing. The romance that develops was sweet to watch unfold and built slowly out of trust. The tale ends without a cliffhanger and gives us a clear sense or expectation of where the next book will take us.

After Dark is a must read for those who enjoy young-adult paranormal and urban fantasy. Day After the next book in the series released May 6, 2013 and you can find my review here on the blog May 23^rd.  An awesome start to this trilogy and I will definitely be reading more of Gayle’s works.

Four and half cups of caramel macchiato coffee out of five

The Sunday Post #41 ~sharing blog news and book haul

The Sunday Post ~ 41st Edition

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. 

I read 30 books in January, 21 of which were ARC's for a challenge hosted by Kerry@ Musings of A Bookworm. Kerry's site has since shut down due to illness and I hope that she is doing well. The Fiery Hot Reads for Icy Cold Nights is well underway and I hope you are all having fun hopping and entering to win great books!  Have a delightful week! 

Last week on the blog we brought you 

• The Harvesting by Melanie Karsack (review-giveaway)
• The Prey by Andrew Fukuda (release day review)
• Dream Eyes by Jayne Anne Krentz (review)
• The Woman From Paris by Santa Montefiore (review-giveaway)
• The Scent of Darkness by Margot Berwin (review)
• Breaking Point by Kristen Simmons ( early review) 
• Sign-ups for the Take Control of Your TBR Pile Read-a-thon 

This week on the blog look for

•  Austensibly Ordinary by Alyssa Goodnight (review-giveaway)
• Hysteria by (review)
• What Happens In Scotland by Jennifer McQuiston (review)
• Nobody's Angel by Stacey Gail (review-giveaway)
• Wicked Valentine's Read-a-thon Goals
• Run the Risk by Lori Foster (review-giveaway)
• Coffee Pot Reviews of The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen and Someone to Love by Addison Moore

Around the Blogosphere 

• Fiery Hot Reads for Icy Cold Nights has started, stop by the blog daily for a list of participating blogs and be sure and enter all the giveaways. It's not to late to add your blog! This event runs through March 1, 2013.

New arrivals to the Caffeinated Cafe

For Review: 

The Wanderer by Robin Carr

thanks to Harlequin this is her new Thunder Pointer Series

now that my beloved Virgin River series has ended. 

Savage Angel by Stacy Gail
thanks to Carina Press/Harlequin

Day After by Emi Gayle
courtesy of J. Taylor Publishing

All That Is Necessary thanks to author Jennie Coughlin

Spellbinding by Maya Gold
courtesy of Scholastic 

Gifted or Won:

Wicked Wives gifted to me
 by author Gus Pelagatti

Purchased or Downloaded:

 

Today's Stops on the Fiery Hot Reads for Ice Cold Nights Hop

 Check out these awesome posts and giveaways! Each day different blogs will be participating so be sure to check in daily for your chance to win and discover new Fiery hot reads!

Cambria@CambriaHebert:: Dazzle: Amber Garza

Jenn@Indie Supporter: Cambria Hebert's Ten Worst Valentine's Gifts

Jenifer@Under A Gray Sky: The Secret History of the Pink Carnation: Lauren Willig

Krista@Breathe in Books: Michelle Leighton

Have an Awesome Book Filled Week! 

Link up and share your news:)