The Uprising - Playlist

The Uprising Synopsis:  Recovering from a near-fatal gunshot wound, eighteen-year-old Evan Taylor must find a way to stop the Uprising, an underground movement committed to destroying the Union, before her homeland is attacked. After spending the last four months in the Ruins trying to get back to the only girl he's ever loved, nineteen-year-old Cyrus needs to get past his jealousy over Evan's involvement with Bryce or risk losing her again. Together, Evan and Cyrus join with their friends to devise a plan to save both the Ruins and the Union, but when the pressure’s on, bickering and infighting threaten to undermine their goals. New information revealing a weakness in the Uprising is uncovered, forcing them to act quickly or risk losing everything. With the help of old friends and new allies they set out to make history, but it might just take a miracle for everyone to make it out alive. THE UPRISING is the third book in THE UNION series, a young adult romantic adventure set in the near future.

Buy Links: 

Amazon 

Catch up on the series: 

The Union: Goodreads | Amazon
 The Ruins: Goodreads | Amazon 

Playlist:

·       The One by Kodaline

·       Blue Moon by Beck

·       Come With Me Now by The Kongos

·       Pieces by Stereo Fuse

·       Trojans by Atlas Genius

·       Wherever You Will Go by The Calling

·       Fight Song by Rachel Platten

·       Uprising by Muse

·       Radioactive by Imagine Dragons

·       I Will Remember You by Sarah McLachlan

·       A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton

·       Vindicated by Dashboard Confessional

T.H. Hernandez Bio: 

When not visiting the imaginary worlds inside my head, I live in San Diego, California, with one husband, three children, two cats, and one dog. In addition to my day job as a technical writer and editor, I write young adult fiction. I love the intensity of teen emotions and the way they're still figuring out life. When I'm not writing, you can find me with my nose in a book, hanging out with family and friends, hiking, or knitting. I'm obsessed with Facebook, young adult novels, bad lip reading videos, pumpkin spice lattes, microbrewed beers, and the San Diego Chargers.

Links: Goodreads | Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Author Amazon Page  

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Blog Tour Schedule:

January 20th

Typical Distractions Review

LuLo Fangirl Review

January 21st

Romeo & Roo Books Guest Post

Star-Crossed Book Blog Review

January 22nd

I Read Indie Playlist

January 23rd

Jax's Book Magic Excerpt

January 24th

Fictional Reality Playlist

January 25th

Renee Entress's Blog Excerpt

January 26th

Love Affair with Fiction Guest Post

Nerdy Soul Review

January 27th

Reading Addict Guest Post

January 28th

Red Moon (Silence Is Read) Excerpt

SnoopyDoo's Boook Reviews Excerpt

January 29th

Evermore Books Playlist

BookCrushin Review Only

January 30th

Extreme Bookaholic's Excerpt

January 31st

Alpha Fangirl Book Blog Excerpt

February 1st

Ceres Books World Review Only

February 2nd

Cover2Cover Dreamcast

February 3rd

Collector of book boyfriends Dreamcast

G & T's Indie Café Excerpt

Alpha Book Club Excerpt

 

New Sister Site!

I've been running Fictional Reality on my own for about 3 years now.  Recently, my friend, Randi, and I decided to start a venture together called Romeo & Roo Books.

Don't worry, Fictional Reality isn't going anywhere. I will still be posting book reviews, promos, and news here regularly.  But that doesn't mean that you shouldn't follow Romeo & Roo Books. At times, the two blogs will feature the same book, but will typically share different information about it.

So what are you waiting for?  Head on over to Romeo & Roo Books and meet my new blog partner!

The Twistedly True Tale of Ruby Hood - Book Blitz

Passenger 19 - 4-Star Review

Confession... I'm kind of on this huge thriller kick right now.  Yes, you read that correctly.  I have set aside my dystopians and new adult contemporaries and picked up a slew of chiller thrillers instead.  So when I came across Passenger 19, it beaconed to me and I had to see how good it was. Let me tell you, Passenger 19 does not disappoint!

From the first chapter, Passenger 19 grabs your attention and refuses to let go until the very end.  One thing that ruins most thrillers for me is that I can predict the plot lines.  It's hard to get a chill from something that you saw coming.  Thank goodness that did not happen with this book!  It was fast-paced and full of unpredictable twists and turns.

Sale Alert!!!! For one more day, Passenger 19 is on sale for only 99 cents!!

Synopsis:

Jammer Davis has spent most of his life investigating aircraft accidents. When a small regional jet disappears over the jungles of Colombia, it is a tragedy like dozens of others he has seen…but for one terrible detail—his young daughter, who was enroute to a semester abroad in South America, is listed on the passenger manifest.  

A distraught Davis rushes to Bogotá and bulls his way into the inquiry. When the wreckage is located, it becomes clear the crash was unsurvivable. As the investigation gains momentum, the facts go astray. Two pilots had been shot before the crash, along with one passenger. The possibility of a hijacking looms large as the search begins to focus on two passengers who boarded the plane, yet their remains cannot be found.  

Davis uncovers an even more sinister plot behind the entire disaster—one that goes to the highest levels of the United States government. But how could it possibly involve his daughter?

Coloring for grown ups? Yes, please!

I've recently discovered a new trend in the book world and have become intrigued by it.  It's this idea of Adult Coloring books.  Don't let your head go in the gutter there, I'm not talking about "adult themes" to color.  There is nothing dirty about it.  It is simply coloring books with more intricate designs that are designed for adults with better motor skills than kids.

The idea is that by focusing on the designs and color patterns that it can help you release stress, flex your brain muscles, keep you sharp, and keep your fine motor skills exercised.  Oh, yeah... and they are fun!  I've even seen where some bookstores are having adult coloring parties where you can do a page for free!!

After hearing a lot of buzz about this trend, I decided to go to the bookstore and buy myself a coloring book.  And yes, I felt like a 5-year old asking the associate where the coloring books where. But much to my surprise, the associate walked right past the kids section and took me to art and magazines where there was a bright and colorful sign welcoming me to the Adult Coloring section (I may have heard the angels singing just a bit as I saw it).  There are so many different types and themes that you can choose from.  There's traditional mandalas, celtic designs, city scapes, and even some with words (bonus!!).  After much deliberation, I finally decided on the Creative Coloring Inspirations: Art Activity Pages to Relax and Enjoy! book.

And of course, no coloring book is complete without something to color with, right?  Thankfully the store I went to had already thought of that and had coloring pencils and markers strategically placed near the coloring books and I got myself the Pro Art 36-Piece Artist Pencil Set set.  Yes, I spent a little more on the pencils than I did the actual coloring book, but they'll last longer than the book, right?

Once I got home with my coloring book and pencils, it was a flashback to childhood as I could not wait to get started on a page.  Now I will admit that I gave near painstaking consideration to every color choice at first, but then I finally just let go and had fun with it.  I liked how well it turned out that I went to the Dollar Store and picked up a cheap frame to put it in!

So check out the wonderful new world of adult coloring, and let yourself relax and have a little fun!

Like All Things Beautiful - 5-Star Review

Like All Things Beautiful 

(Hearts of Haines Book 2)

By: Shannon McCrimmon

Released: May 2, 2015

Synopsis:

In this sequel to Kiss Me Hard Before You Go, Evie Barnes is living day-to-day, trying to keep her father's land and his cattle business afloat.  She is adjusting to his absence and to living with Finch and the rest of the carnies, which is creating quite a stir amongst the locals in Haines.  As Finch and the others learn a new way of life that doesn't involve the carnival, they're dealing with prejudice from almost everyone in town.  A string of suspicious incidents occur, prompting all fingers to point the blame at them.  Just when Evie and Finch learn to deal with the mountain of obstacles facing them, the unexpected happens, causing them to question if their relationship can survive it all.

Review:

Welcome back to Haines, South Carolina!  It's been a little over a year since I first met Evie, Finch, and the whole carnie crew and let me tell you... I have missed them!  To read my 5-Star review of Kiss Me Hard Before You Go (Hearts of Haines Book 1), click here.

If you thought that you loved Finch before, just wait until you see Farmer Finch who will do anything to make the love of his life happy.  He is an all-around good guy that exactly what every girl wants and needs.  

Where Evie was a strong woman in Kiss Me Hard Before You Go, she grows into an even stronger woman in Like All Things Beautiful and we really get to see the extent of her character.  She doesn't just make decisions for the heck of it or because they fit her whims.  She truly views Katie, Finch and the other carnies as her adopted family.  So she always tries to think of what is best for all of them.  

I am in love with the Hearts of Haines series for a couple of reasons.  First, while Evie and Katie are in their late teens, they don't act like stereotypical teenagers.  This means that while they face real life struggles, the story is not filled with annoying teen angst.  They face real problems that adults face and are looking for real love, not just a string of flings.  Second, it's a love story that you don't have to feel guilty about reading.  It's about life and love, not sex.  Third, the writing is fantastic!  You will be transported back in time to the 1970's with the perfect sprinkling of cultural references that will make you want to toss your skinny jeans and pull out your bellbottoms and platforms!

Stay tuned for my review of This is Where We Begin.  Book 3 in the Hearts of Haines series is Katie's story.  I'm reading it now, and I already feel so close to Katie.  

Buy Links:

Like All Things Beautiful:

http://goo.gl/9voYxJ

This Is Where We Begin:

http://goo.gl/ZYMrwq

Kiss Me Hard Before You Go:

http://goo.gl/VbZaoH

About the Author:

Shannon McCrimmon was born and raised in Central Florida.  She attended Rollins College and earned a Master's Degree in Counseling.  In 2008 she moved to the upstate of South Carolina.  It was the move that inspired her to write her first novel.  She currently lives in Greenville, South Carolina with her husband and toy poodle.  She'd love to hear from you!  Connect with her at shannonmccrimmon.com.

Connect with Shannon McCrimmon

www.shannonmccrimmon.com

writermccrimmon@gmail.com

Instagram: @writermccrimmon

Twitter: @smccrimmon1

Facebook: shannonmccrimmonauthor

Unexpected by Lily Avalon - Cover Reveal

Unexpected

by Lilly Avalon 

Release Date: 07/21/15

New Adult/Standalone

Summary from Goodreads:

Ever had one of those days? Alina Lyons is having one. Everything keeps falling apart and going wrong. Just when she thinks it couldn't get worse, it does. After a case of mistaken identity and a broken heart, she finds herself questioning the things she thought she knew. She wonders who she can turn to or trust anymore.

An unlikely bond with her former best friend's ex, Ryan Wilcox, sends her life in a new direction. He offers her a place to stay while she gets her life back on track. His friendship is exactly what she's been missing—what she's been needing. Alina's never felt this alive. As time goes by, the dynamic of their relationship becomes more than either of them expected. A few innocent kisses could lead them in a new direction, but are they prepared for what's on the other side?

Only one way to find out.

*Unexpected is a standalone new adult novel* 

About the Author

Lilly Avalon is the author of the RESIST series as well as other erotic romances. She's somewhere in the midst of her twenties and lives mostly in the stories in her head. When she's not enveloped in the worlds she creates, she's out in the real world making stories happen. That or reading other romances. It's a toss-up.

Author Links: