Tag Archives: Amazon

Children’s Books Turned Into Movies

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Every writer has a dream of seeing their manuscript published. To hold the bound pages and sniff the fresh ink would bring a euphoric state of mind. Those who’ve never slaved over writing a manuscript may not be able to relate.

Then there is the ultimate dream the dream of having your book optioned for a movie! I’m talking the double payday. During a break in my “binge blog pre-scheduling”, I surfed the net to see how many books for children have actually made it to the big screen. Here is a list of just a few:

  • Harry Potter
  • The Giver
  • The Fault in Our Stars
  • Coraline
  • My Dog Skip
  • Jurassic Park
  • The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
  • If I Stay
  • Hugo
  • A Monster Calls
  • Black Beauty
  • Charlotte’s Web
  • Diary of a Wimpy Kid
  • Divergent
  • Holes
  • Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
  • Matilda
  • Paper Towns
  • The Book Thief
  • The Lorax
  • Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
  • The Chronicles of Narnia
  • Twilight
  • Love Simon
  • The Hunger Games
  • Goosebumps
  • The Perks of Being a Wallflower
  • And so many more.

I perused to see what was interesting about the books, meaning I read a LOT of opening pages on Amazon and book blurbs (for the books I haven’t read yet). The honest truth is what we’ve all heard so often. You just need a damn good story! (And, of course, good writing skills and voice.)

Movie Reel

It’s an interesting list, and it’s not absolute. If you want to check other stories that have made it to the “big screen”, go to this Wikipedia link. Some books I’ve listed are not on the Wikipedia site yet though. But have fun reading, or watching (if that’s what you choose), about the ones that are there.

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

Books I’ve Recently Read

I don’t often blog about what I’ve read, mostly because Goodreads has my list if anyone is interested. But, I realize some of my blog readers may not be part of Goodreads. I will try to do this more often. So, here are a few books I’ve read recently. (And yes, some of them I should have read a long time ago.)

I can’t tell you how long I waited to read this sequel to Caraval! Okay, I waited as long as everyone else had to, but after enjoying the first book in the series, I wanted more right then! And needless to say, Stephanie Garber did not disappoint with this mesmerizing tale filled with magic. Another game of Caraval must be played, avoiding a murderous heir to the throne. And there are people trapped in playing cards! Freaky! But do you finally find out who Legend really is? Well, I won’t spoil it, you’ll have to read Legendary for yourself!

The Dead Key by [Pulley, D. M.]

The Dead Key BY D. M. Pulley was a BookBub deal I decided to buy. I don’t normally read thrillers like this, but I was hoping I’d run into a ghost. (I’m not gonna tell if I did.) The author wove an interesting tale with flashbacks from 1998 to present day. Here are parts of the Blub that got me interested with the story of Iris, whom was doing a renovation study of the Cleveland Bank:

Amid strange staff disappearances and allegations of fraud, panicked investors sold Cleveland’s largest bank in the middle of the night, locking out customers and employees, and thwarting a looming federal investigation. In the confusion that followed, the keys to the vault’s safe-deposit boxes were lost. And then later in the blurb: With each haunting revelation, Iris follows the looming shadow of the past deeper into the vault—and soon realizes that the key to the mystery comes at an astonishing price.

The Witch's Boy by [Barnhill, Kelly]

The Witch’s Boy by Kelly Barnhill had healing witches, talking stones, bandits, and a boy carrying around the soul of his dead twin brother. I couldn’t wait to read the story of Ned to see how he got on with his life as he helps protect magic that bandits want to steal. A fantastic read!

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by [Black, Holly]
I have been a fan of author Holly Black for a while, so it’s no surprise I finally picked up her book The Coldest Girl In Cold TownJust look at that cover, it intrigued me from the start! The blurb sums it best: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a wholly original story of rage and revenge, of guilt and horror, and of love and loathing from bestselling and acclaimed author Holly Black. So, if you LOVE stories about vampires, this is for you!

The False Prince (Ascendance Trilogy Book 1) by [Nielsen, Jennifer A.]

What would you do if someone forced you to fake being the Prince? What fun that’d be, you say? Well, what if that person said you’d die if you didn’t, so now you can’t flub anything up! Too much pressure, right? The False Prince by Jennifer A. Neilsen is full of tension, adventure, lies, and deadly truths that will keep you turning the page! I definitely recommend!

Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story by [Hahn, Mary Downing]

Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn was made into a movie a few years ago (which I haven’t watched yet), so I decided I’d give it a whirl. Here is the blurb:

Twelve-year-old Molly and her ten-year-old brother, Michael, have never liked their seven-year-old stepsister, Heather. Ever since their parents got married, she’s made Molly and Michael’s life miserable. Now their parents have moved them all to the country to live in a house that used to be a church, with a cemetery in the backyard. If that’s not bad enough, Heather starts talking to a ghost named Helen and warning Molly and Michael that Helen is coming for them. Molly feels certain Heather is in some kind of danger, but every time she tries to help, Heather twists things around to get her into trouble. It seems as if things can’t get any worse.

But they do—when Helen comes. (Oooo, that sealed the deal for me!)

Deep and Dark and Dangerous by [Hahn, Mary Downing]

Is it no wonder I decided to try another Mary Downing Hahn story, Deep and Dark and Dangerous? After all, If I’m going to write ghost stories, I need to read ghost stories! I’ve decided that the author has a thing with bullies, which at times made this story unlikeable. But I had to know about the girl, the one missing from the photo. “Just before summer begins, 13-year-old Ali finds an odd photograph in the attic. She knows the two children in it are her mother, Claire, and her aunt Dulcie. But who’s the third person, the one who’s been torn out of the picture? ” Could she possibly be the girl named Teresa who drowned under mysterious circumstances, and her body was never found? You’ll have to read to find out.

The Apprentice Witch by [Nicol, James]

As Library Journal put it, there are shades of J.K. Rowling in this story! The Apprentice Witch by James Nicol begins with Arianwyn failing her witch’s assessment and is thrust to a town called Lull to work as an apprentice for six months, then retake her assessment. Of course, she’s worried she’ll fail again, but has more troubles than the test to worry about as she encounters a dangerous infestation of hexes, banished spirits, forest creatures, and her arched-rival showing up.

The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches: A Flavia de Luce Novel by [Bradley, Alan]

When I read The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley, I didn’t realize I was reading the 6th book of a nine book series. The story read as a standalone, so if you haven’t read the others, no worries! Though most of the narration felt old school, it was fitting considering the setting was 1951 and during the time of Winston Churchill. Flavia de Luce’s mother had been missing for ten years, but her body had recently been found in a glacier and returned home for burial. And I got delighted when Flavia gets a wild idea to resurrect her mother through some brilliant science research she reads about. (I love that she’s a science geek!) But the story is mostly about her following a trail of clues to discover who murdered her mother. An interesting tale, with some big words. LoL. Totally loved it!

What? You want to know if she resurrected her mother? Puh-lease! You know I’m not gonna tell!

See the source image

And there you have my current list of books. Hope you find one to put on your TBR. Have a great day!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

 

Books I’ve Recently Read

I don’t often blog about what I’ve read, mostly because Goodreads has my list if anyone is interested. But, I realize some of my blog readers may not be part of Goodreads. I will try to do this more often. So, here are a few books I’ve read recently and enjoyed. (And yes, some of them I should have read a long time ago.)

Snow Like Ashes

NOW LIKE ASHES by Sara Raasch. I loved this tale because instead of starting in a world of people showing of their magic, it started with only eight survivors (Winterians) whom had lost there magic (actually they had it stolen). This story is full of dangers and evil politics, and a bit of romance. I think readers of FROST BLOOD will enjoy this

The Delphi Effect (The Delphi Trilogy Book 1) The Delphi Resistance (The Delphi Trilogy Book 2)

THE DELPHI EFFECT and it’s sequel THE DELPHI RESISTANCE by Rysa Walker. It’s no secret I love a story with ghosts involved, but then add magical powers, secret governments, and kids on the run…I’m in! The character Anna, picks ghosts up by simply touching something the spirit has clung to. Then they journey within her until they feel they’ve completed something, but bits of them stay with her after they’ve gone, which is really cool. For example, wouldn’t you love just to suddenly know how to play a piano without ever taking a lesson? There is a third book in this series and I can’t wait to get to it.

King's Cage (Red Queen)

KING’S CAGE by Victoria Aveyard. This is the third book in the RED QUEEN series. And y’all know I’ve already read the first two books. Mare Barrow’s journey continues after discovering new bloods and the war wages on between red bloods and silver bloods. In this story she is prisoner of the boy she once loved and stripped of her magic. I couldn’t wait to see how the story would end and how she’d regain her magic. One thing that has intrigued me throughout the series are the various types of magic in this series, I’m so in love! And lucky for me, the fourth installment came out last month, which means I get to read more about Mare Barrow!

Rise of the Empress (2 Book Series)

FOREST OF A THOUSAND LANTERNS by Julie C. Dao. The story of Xifeng destined to become empress had me WOW’d when I realized the story was darker than I had thought. Her aunt is a witch who has taught her magic, but until she finds herself in the company of the Empress and Emperor does she discover how callous she can be. I’ve never wanted to root for someone who is good and so bad at the same time! I’m crying because I have to wait for the sequel to come out this November. I want it NOW!

The Amulet of Samarkand: A Bartimaeus Novel, Book 1

THE AMULET OF SAMARKAND by Jonathan Stroud. I am a fan of a few of Jonathan Stroud’s LOCKWOOD & CO. series books, so I thought I’d give this a try. The author had me laughing out loud at times. Nathaniel is a magician’s apprentice, but his master seems to be a bit daft. Then Nathaniel gets humiliated by other magicians and his master does absolutely nothing to protect him. So Nathaniel summons the powerful djinni, Bartimaeus, to help him get revenge. Seriously, this is a funny and magical read for kids and adults both.

Off to Be the Wizard [Kindle in Motion] (Magic 2.0 Book 1)

OFF TO BE THE WIZARD by Scott Meyer. What would you do if you found out that a computer program controlled everything you and everyone in the entire world did? Become a wizard, of course! This is another story that had me in stitches! Martin discovers a program that controls what he does, where he is, “when” he is, and how to get there, but it gets him in trouble with the cops, so he does what anyone else would do, he goes back in time and discovers someone thinks he’s Merlin (or rather, is imitating Merlin). But thankfully, Martin finds a wizard who is willing to make him an apprentice. Just know the computer has everything to do with why he’s a wizard. So miscalculate some codes and you’ll appear to hover above the floor instead of standing on the floor. There is so much funny in this story, you have to read it!

The Outsider: A Novel

THE OUSIDER by Stephen King. Okay, I have to admit that this was really, really, really, hard for me to read. I couldn’t stomach the way the young boy died. I put the book down, but would pick it back up again later. I’d put it down, then back up, and so forth, and so forth. What kept me going was my curiosity of how Mr. King would resolve the issue of the murder suspect being in two places at once, and the need to see the true murderer–an evil of no human being–be killed. But reading this story reminds me why I like to read middle grade and young adult novels, the brutality may be insinuated most times, but isn’t described in detail. (I don’t need details, not when it comes to kids being murdered.) So, read at your own risk. You have been warned!

Grayling's Song

GRAYLING’S SONG by Karen Cushman. Well now, when I read the blurb about people turning into trees, I HAD to read to find out how different it might be from a manuscript I wrote regarding the same issue. I’m was thrilled to find a huge difference, so I won’t have to shelf my story! Grayling must find who has stolen her mother’s grimoire and prevent her from turning completely into a tree. Along her journey she finds other witches are turning into shrubbery and their grimoires gone too. She picks up a few unlikely witches to help her along the way. This was an easy read and quick read. I not only enjoyed it but I found myself a new comp title. Woo-hoo!

And there you have my current list of books. Hope you find one to put on your TBR. Have a great day!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

Books I’ve Recently Read

I don’t often blog about what I’ve read, mostly because Goodreads has my list if anyone is interested. But, I realize some of my blog readers may not be part of Goodreads. I will try to do this more often. So, here are a few books I’ve read recently and enjoyed. (And yes, some of them I should have read a long time ago.)

RED QUEEN by Victoria Aveyard. I was instantly taken in by the story of Mare Barrow’s world being divided by blood. Red and Silver. Mare always thought she was a red blood, and reds arent’ treated well by the magical silvers. Yes, this is a story where she finds out she isn’t truly a red blood. She will be called a new blood, and with it comes powers that no red blood has every possessed. And she is thrust into the king’s court to be hidden in plain sight of the silvers.  This story is full of magic, betrayal, and yearning for love. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Glass Sword (Red Queen) by [Aveyard, Victoria]

GLASS SWORD by Victoria Aveyard. Well, obviously I had to read these back-to-back! And the sequel did NOT disappoint. After escaping a near execution in the first book, Mare discovers she is not the only “new blood”. She races against time to find as many as she can before they are murdered by the evil king. An uprising is coming! Oh, and a little love. And yes, I will be reading the 3rd addition to this series!

Below by [Lockwood, Ryan]

BELOW by Ryan Lockwood. Well, I’ll admit that I bought this hoping for a monster under the sea. When I realized the book was about humbolt squid, I was briefly disappointed. Check out the blurb that confused me:

In all his years as a professional diver, Will Sturman has never encountered a killing machine more ferocious than the great white shark or as deadly as the piranha. Now, off the coast of California, something is rising from the deep–and multiplying. Voracious, unstoppable, and migrating north, an ungodly life form trailed by a gruesome wake of corpses. With the help of the brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Valerie Martell, Will finds himself in a race against time to stop the slaughter–by a predator capable of devastating the world’s oceans.

Did you know that humbolt squid really changed colors under the ocean depending on their mood, or if they are hungry? How fascinating is that? They are also known as diablo (devil) squid and flying squid (because yes, they fly out of the water!) As for the book, the more I read, the more I couldn’t put the story down. It’s told from alternating POVs, even from the squid’s point of view! Whoa! But I must say, it might be a long time before I ever go diving again. LoL.

The Littlest Bigfoot by [Weiner, Jennifer]

THE LITTLEST BIGFOOT by Jennifer Weiner. For anyone that has ever felt like they don’t belong, this is a great story. What would you do if someone thought YOU were bigfoot? What would you do if you really met a young bigfoot? This story weaves a familiar tale of bullying, not belonging, with a fantastical take on bigfoots living among us. I cried and laughed. Definitely a good purchase. I can’t wait to read the sequel.

Shatter Me by [Mafi, Tahereh]

SHATTER ME by Tahereh Mafi. Just WOW! The way Tehereh writes the story is amazing. There were times I really wondered if the main character, Juliette, was really insane. Her words sometimes read insanely! But I didn’t get distracted by them, in fact, sometimes I found certain passages almost lyrical.

I won’t deny, I listened to the audio book with this one and I think it made the story come alive for me. It might’ve even made the repetition of various passages more likely to read as a broken mind. Juliette is locked up in solitary confinement with no human contact, not even guards visit her. She has a magical power she thinks is a curse, and is the reason she’s locked up. But when she suddenly gets a roommate who’s a BOY, things begin to get sticky. While the reality about her powers begins to unravel, she needs to decide if she’ll embrace it. The way this unlikely character becomes the hero of her own story is just breathtaking. Not sure why I waited so long to read this and I can’t wait to dive into the sequels!

And that’s what I’ve read lately. If you have a great recommendation, just let me know in the comments. Until next time, have a fantastic day!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

One For Sorrow by Mary Downing Hahn

One For Sorrow BookPublisher: Clarion Books
Sold By: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Release Date: July 18, 2018

Okay, I’ll admit the cover drew me to this story! But look at it, soooo spooky! ONE FOR SORROW is set during World War I and the influenza epidemic of 1918, this story unravels the tale of childhood school days gone wrong. Annie is eager to make friends at her new school, but Elsie claims her as her own bestie, refusing to allow Annie to connect with other girls. After Elsie passes from influenza, her ghost returns to torment Annie for befriending others and to make sure Annie is isolated and disliked as much as she had been when alive.

While this was an easy read, Elsie didn’t become a ghost until halfway into the story. This was delayed longer than I’d anticipated, making some of the bullying redundant in order to get to the good stuff–a scary ghost! And even though the historical setting enriched the story, I felt cheated with the lack of generational terms. But make no mistake, author Mary Downing Hahn creates a realistic story of how easy it is to get swept into bullying when a child just wants to be liked. She also paints a cruel tale of how difficult it is to get out of a this horrible situation. So, if you’re looking for a darker read, this is for you!

Mary Downing Hahn

Mary Downing Hahn, a former children’s librarian, is the award-winning author of many popular ghost stories, including Wait Till Helen Comes, which is being adapted for film. An avid reader, traveler, and all-around arts lover, Ms. Hahn lives in Columbia, Maryland, with her cat, Oscar.

***THE OFFICIAL BLURB***

Against the ominous backdrop of the influenza epidemic of 1918, Annie, a new girl at school, is claimed as best friend by Elsie, a classmate who is a tattletale, a liar, and a thief. Soon Annie makes other friends and finds herself joining them in teasing and tormenting Elsie. Elsie dies from influenza, but then she returns to reclaim Annie’s friendship and punish all the girls who bullied her. Young readers who revel in spooky stories will relish this chilling tale of a girl haunted by a vengeful ghost.

Amazon | BN | Kobo| Google PlayGoodreads | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt | Target | BAM! | Audible

And check out these additional reviews:

“Hahn’s story is characteristically steeped in eerie atmosphere, and the novel’s blend of historical drama, the supernatural, and the intricacies of adolescent friendship is a gripping combination.” —PW

“Hahn is a veteran author who clearly knows her apples about writing ghost stories, as this, her latest inventive page-turner, evidences… Shivers aplenty, but also genuine emotion that will invite empathy.” — Booklist

“Another historical and chilling success.” —Kirkus

“Another solid addition to Hahn’s oeuvre, this would also make a spine-chilling pair with Cohen’s The Doll’s Eye.” —Bulletin

Author Links: Website | Facebook

Jelly Bean Summer by Joyce Magnin Pre-order & Review

Jelly Bean Summer

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Release Date: May 2, 2017

Oh man, Jelly Bean Summer by Joyce Magnin took me back to my youth of wanting to escape unpleasant realities and to feel a sense of doing something worthwhile. And like Joyce Anne, I spent many nights staring at the starry sky. Heck, I still do! And even though the story takes place during the time of the Vietnam War, kids today can still relate to soldiers, some family or friends, going MIA because of our current international wars.

Now let me tell you, this isn’t a war story. Oh no, it’s about making unlikely friendships and getting past mutual sorrows. But most importantly, it’s about finding a purpose and to know you made a difference in someone’s life. This book made me laugh. Oh, and this book made me cry. But never did I stop cheering for Joyce Anne to continue with her funny flying saucer mission. Yep, I said flying saucer. Truly, I dare you to pick up Jelly Bean Summer to find out what I mean!

ABOUT THE BLURB

Jelly Bean Summer (Back)

Joyce is desperate to get out of the room she shares with her older sister. All she wants is some peace and quiet, not the kind of quiet that fills the space left by her missing brother. It’s the kind where you can breath deep and see the stars.

So she moves to the roof. Up there it’s nothing but blue sky. Blue sky and…another roof dweller? Joyce soon discovers she’s not the only one who’s been driven to rooftop living. With the help of a pair of binoculars, a sketch pad, and a pen, Joyce makes an unexpected friend and sets in motion a summer she’ll never forget.

Amazon|BN|Kobo|Google Play|Goodreads|Sourcebooks Jabberwocky|Target|BAM!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joyce Magnin

Joyce Magnin is the author of the popular and quirky Bright’s Pond novels. She is a frequent conference speaker and writing instructor. When she’s not writing or reading Joyce enjoys baseball, needle arts, video games and cream soda but not elevators—especially glass ones. She listens to many kinds of music, shamelessly confesses to enjoying American Idol, has never eaten a scallop or sky dived. Joyce has three children, Rebekah, Emily and Adam and three grandsons, Lemuel, Cedar and Soren and one son-in-law, Joshua. Joyce lives in Havertown, Pennsylvania with her son, Adam and their crazy cat, Mango, where she cares for an eighty-year-old onion plant.

Discovering BookBub for Readers & Writers

bookbub

I recently discovered BookBub and have been piling up books to read! If your an avid reader, you’ll want to subscribe to this site because most of the deals are below $1.99 (US) or FREE! The site allows you to build a profile based on the genre of books you like to read and when they find deals, they’ll email to let you know. A lot of what I’ve been receiving in my inbox are from New York Times Bestsellers and USA Today Best-Selling Books. They even let you know when a book has had raving reviews from Kirkus Reviews or Publishers Weekly, or gained five star reviews from places like Goodreads, and more!

If you’re a writer, reading more of the genre you write in can only help hone your craft. Industry professionals don’t hold back telling writers to read more. Even famous authors, including Steven King, preach to read more to improve writing skills. It’s kind of a no-brainer, right?

Needless to say, I was thrilled when I discovered BookBub! (No, they didn’t pay me to say this stuff.) They even supply links to where the deals are: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple, or Google. Let’s face it, most of us don’t have time to search the web to find the deals we want. Why not let BookBub do it for you? So, get purchasing and happy reading!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

Bone Jack by Sara Crowe + #Giveaway

Bone Jack by [Crowe, Sara]

It’s with great pleasure I announce Bone Jack by Sara Crowe is being released in the United States on February 7, 2017. I originally interviewed Sara in June of 2014 regarding Bone Jack in the UK. However, the US link on that interview goes to the Book Depository for the UK version. BUT…now you can get the US version with a brand new cover design. And doesn’t it look fabulous?

Synopsis:

Times have been tough for Ash lately, and all he wants is for everything to go back to the way it used to be. Back before drought ruined the land and disease killed off the livestock. Before Ash’s father went off to war and returned carrying psychological scars. Before his best friend, Mark, started acting strangely.

As Ash trains for his town’s annual Stag Chase—a race rooted in violent, ancient lore—he’s certain that if he can win and make his father proud, life will return to normal. But the line between reality and illusion is rapidly blurring, and the past has a way of threatening the present.

When a run in the mountains brings Ash face-to-face with Bone Jack—a figure that guards the boundary between the living world and the dead—everything changes once more. As dark energies take root and the world as he knows it is upended, it’s up to Ash to restore things to their proper order and literally run for his life.

Sara Crowe
Sara Crowe

If you would like to learn more about Sara, visit her on twitter or Instagram. She is a wonderful photographer, as well. So check out all she has to offer!

***Congrats to Giveaway Winner: Diana Debolt***

If you live in the United States, be sure and enter the Rafflecopter giveaway (Closed) for a free copy of the US version of Bone Jack! (Yes, this is for U.S. only, sorry guys.) As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

Blog Tour: SOME KIND OF MAGIC by Mary Ann Marlowe + #Giveaway

somekindofmagic_reviewtour

Check it out! SOME KIND OF MAGIC by Mary Ann Marlowe is releasing January 31, 2017! Lucky for me I was chosen to be part of her blog tour and received an ARC. What compelled me to read this novel was the fact it sounded similar to the movie Love Potion No. 9 with Sandra Bullock. So, I HAD to read it!

Since I have a science degree, I got a kick out of Eden being a biochemist. The story had me busting at the seams due to a test they run detecting, um, erections. Working in a lab of this type, it’s no wonder the development of a pheromone enhancement serum was created. So, when Eden meets Adam, she can’t be sure he really likes her for her. And come on folks, who doesn’t dream of hooking up with their favorite lead singer! But the story is much more than that. Eden mistakes him initially for some grungy want-a-be musician and not the famous Adam Copeland. After all, she doesn’t really listen to his music. It doesn’t take long for some steamy sex to heat up your night. But this story is about Adam being a real person and Eden having dreams of her own, not to mention, learning to trust in love. Mary Ann Marlowe is a funny and brilliant writer. I highly recommend this story. (Be sure to scroll down for a #Giveaway!)

Publisher: Kensington Publishing
Release: January 31, 2017

Blurb

In this sparkling debut novel, Mary Ann Marlowe introduces a hapless scientist who’s swept off her feet by a rock star—but is it love or just a chemical reaction?…

Biochemist Eden Sinclair has no idea that the scent she spritzed on herself before leaving the lab is designed to enhance pheromones. Or that the cute, grungy-looking guy she meets at a gig that evening is Adam Copeland. As in the Adam Copeland international rock god and object of lust for a million women. Make that a million and one. By the time she learns the truth, she s already spent the (amazing, incredible) night in his bed

Suddenly Eden, who’s more accustomed to being set up on disastrous dates by her mom, is going out with a gorgeous celebrity who loves how down-to-earth and honest she is. But for once, Eden isn’t being honest. She can’t bear to reveal that this overpowering attraction could be nothing more than seduction by science. And the only way to know how Adam truly feels is to ditch the perfume—and risk being ditched in turn

Smart, witty, and sexy, Some Kind of Magic is an irresistibly engaging look at modern relationships why we fall, how we connect, and the courage it takes to trust in something as mysterious and unpredictable as love.

Amazon | BN | Kobo | Google PlayGoodreads | Penguin Random House Audio | Target | BAM! | Audible

And check out these additional reviews:

  • “An amazing first novel.” —Sydney Landon, New York Times bestselling author
  • “Frisky, Flirty Fun!” —Stephanie Evanovich, New York Times bestselling author of The Total Package
  • “Sexy, engaging and original. I completely fell in love with Eden and Adam.” —Sydney Landon, New York Times bestselling author”
  • “This love potion romance, which pairs up the lead singer for a rock band with a biochemist who’s also an amateur singer/songwriter, is light and fluffy.” —Publishers Weekly

***GIVEAWAY***

One winner will receive a $50 Amazon OR Book Depository Gift Card (International). Three winners will win a signed copy of SOME KIND OF MAGIC (US only).

RAFFLECOPTER LINK

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Some Kind of Magic is Mary Ann Marlowe’s first novel. When not writing, she works by day as a computer programmer/DBA. She spent ten years as a university-level French professor, and her resume includes stints as an au pair in Calais, a hotel intern in Paris, a German tutor, a college radio disc jockey, and a webmaster for several online musician fandoms, plus she has a second-degree black belt. She has lived in twelve states and three countries and loves to travel. She now lives in central Virginia where she is hard at work on her second novel. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.maryannmarlowe.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter

jhpr_host_badgeProfessional Reader

Digital Book World 2017 + Expo

 

With the boom of digital publishing, it’s no wonder conferences are covering the topic. After all, as much as I love holding a book, I download a LOT of books to my Kindle app to read and keep up with market trends. As publishing evolves, so has Digital Book World (a conference for anyone in publishing). They say they will now be known as simply DBW. And that’s not all they’ve changed for the conference January 17-19, 2017:

More Real-World Solutions | Your team needs tactical, actionable solutions to the challenges facing publishing—DBW’s speakers have them.

Fresh Content | Experience targeted programming across a host of four brand-new DBW focus areas.

More Choices | A new program means new pricing and registration options. Now you can bring your whole team—executive, editorial, production and marketing.

Some of the publishers and agents attending are:

With over two hundred publishers and agencies in attendance, there are too many to name! For a complete list of those currently registered, go here. And as for the speakers list, go here. You won’t be disappointed! So be sure to register to attend and make your reservations at the New York Hilton Midtown.

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.
https://pdpabst.com/tag/amazon/
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