Hunting Prince Dracula Blog Tour and Giveaway!!!

PRAISE FOR HUNTING PRINCE DRACULA

“There are plenty of suspects and red herrings as well as tense escalations….A scenic, twisty mystery.”

―Kirkus Reviews

 “Readers of the previous mystery will be thrilled to have more of this likable duo. [A] delightful romp into an 1888 Gothic mystery with a hint of romance.”

                                            ―School Library Connection

About the Book

Title: Hunting Prince Dracula

Author: Kerri Maniscalco

Release Date: September 19th

Description: In this hotly anticipated sequel to the haunting #1 bestseller Stalking Jack the Ripper, bizarre murders are discovered in the castle of Prince Vlad the Impaler, otherwise known as Dracula. Could it be a copycat killer…or has the depraved prince been brought back to life? 

Following the grief and horror of her discovery of Jack the Ripper’s true identity, Audrey Rose Wadsworth has no choice but to flee London and its memories. Together with the arrogant yet charming Thomas Cresswell, she journeys to the dark heart of Romania, home to one of Europe’s best schools of forensic medicine…and to another notorious killer, Vlad the Impaler, whose thirst for blood became legend.

But her life’s dream is soon tainted by blood-soaked discoveries in the halls of the school’s forbidding castle, and Audrey Rose is compelled to investigate the strangely familiar murders. What she finds brings all her terrifying fears to life once again.

My Thoughts:  I knew the sequel to Stalking Jack the Ripper would be exhilarating, engaging and utterly intense and I was not wrong.  Maniscalco has mastered the craft of writing historical/Gothic fiction.  Her verbiage, clear and concise, with so much detail, fully captivates the reader and lunges them into the story.  So, into Romania, I went.

Audrey Rose and Thomas pick up right where they left off, with their witty and entertaining thoughts and remarks while searching for clues to Romania's darkest mystery.  This dynamic duo does not fail to impress me and with Maniscalco's intricate dialogues, I'm kept on the edge of my seat, waiting for the next clue to be discovered and the banter that's sure to follow.  

Hunting Prince Dracula is full of Romanian history and it is quite clear that Maniscalco has done her homework very extensively.  I was very intrigued by how the setting played a part in the atmospheric moods of Thomas and Audrey.  There was definitely a deeper, darker, and dare I say, more dangerous feel to this sequel.  I must admit, that I quite enjoyed that.  This story really took me for a Gothic ride that I was hoping for in every way.  I felt that it actually had a quicker pace to it than SJTR, which I really enjoyed as well.  I like quick and entertaining reads, that are sure to keep me wanting more when its over.  I will surely have to rate this with 5 bats!  Hehehe

About the Author:

Kerri Maniscalco grew up in a semi-haunted house outside NYC where her fascination with Gothic settings began. In her spare time she reads everything she can get her hands on, cooks all kinds of food with her family and friends, and drinks entirely too much tea while discussing life’s finer points with her cats.

Her first novel in this series, Stalking Jack the Ripper, debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It incorporates her love of forensic science and unsolved history.

Follow Kerri on Social media links:

Twitter   |  Facebook   |   Instagram   |   Website   |   Tumblr   |   Pinterest

Check out the rest of the tour!

Week One

August 21st ~ Paper Cuts: Hunting Prince Dracula Playlist

August 22nd ~ Literary Legionnaire: Review of Hunting Prince Dracula

August 24th ~ Arctic Books: Hunting Prince Dracula Playlist

August 25th ~ 21st Century Once Upon A Times: A “Drink Your way through SJTR: Tea Edition”

Week Two

August 28th ~ Hiver Et Café: History of Prince Dracula

August 29th ~ Justice Reads: Review of Hunting Prince Dracula

August 30th ~ Nicole’s Novel Reads: Travelling Etiquette and tips for Victorian Women

August 31st ~ Sophie Reads YA: Favourite Stalking Jack the Ripper Fanart

September 1st ~ LILbooKlovers: Top Ten Quotes from Stalking Jack the Ripper

Week Three

September 4th ~ One Way or An Author: Hunting Prince Dracula Phone Backgrounds

September 5th ~ A Blinding Book: Hunting Prince Dracula Aesthetic

September 6th ~ Rants & Raves: Review & Snacks

September 7th ~ Rattle the Stars: Hunting Prince Dracula Playlist

September 8th ~ A Gingerly Reviews: Review of Hunting Prince Dracula

Week Four

September 11th ~ The Plot Bunny: Hunting Prince Dracula Trick or Treat Customer Ideas

September 12th ~ Blame it on The Books: Hunting Prince Dracula Review

September 13th ~ The Reader & the Chef: Hunting Prince Dracula’s Menu

September 14th ~ Books, Tv, and More…Oh MY!!: Top Ten Favourite Traits of Audrey & Thomas

September 15th ~ Unquenchable Reads: GIF, GIFS, and more GIFS

Week Five

September 18th ~ Rattle the Pages: A Glimpse Back in Time: Vlad The Impaler edition

September 19th ~ Beyond the Book Reviews: Character Wears of the 21st Century

September 20th ~ The Heart of a Book Blogger: Hunting Prince Dracula Mood Board

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Pre-order links:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books-A-Million

Book Depository 

Book People

Hudson Booksellers

Kepler’s Books

Target

Add HUNTING PRINCE DRACULA to your goodreads shelves here!

FIRST CHAPTER IS EXCLUSIVELY UP ON ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: READ IT HERE!

Review ~ Strange The Dreamer

I have to be honest and say that I really didn't care for the beginning of the story. Yes, we got our back story on Lazlo Strange but back a little too far in my opinion.  However, once Lazlo was grown, I was more intrigued.  I loved his snarky attitude towards the philosophers, towards life. I loved that he is a dreamer, not ready to settle into the ordinary.  He knew more was out there and he didn't want to give up on it, no matter how much others mocked him.  I listened to the audio book version, so if I spell the names wrong, that's why. 

Thion Nero is such a spoiled aristocrat and I truly hated him from the first mention of him.  I felt bad for him in one moment and then went right back to hating him.  

Sarai and her group of God-Spawn definitely threw me off in the beginning of the book, though it could've been due to me listening to an audio book rather than reading it.  I love the convenience of audio books, however, I tend to miss some details sometimes and that does suck.  Either way, I eventually understood what was going on in the story and loved every waking second of it.  The small group of God-Spawn were a family, and every family has its black sheep.  In this case, Sarai is not the black sheep, that position fits goes to another. 

So many unexpected twists, kept me intrigued and wanting more.  The emotions that Laini Taylor makes you feel are intense and raw and real.  These characters, all of them, powerful and resilient, are legit.  Their feelings, drafted so carefully, and with no mistake, pull at every one of your heart strings.

The different plots that are in Strange the Dreamer keep you wondering and guessing what will happen next.  When you read of a character and truly feel for them, you know it's a good book.  The complexity of the relationships between each of these characters is overwhelming and surreal.  With its weirdness and authenticity, Strange is definitely my most surprising read of 2017 and I cannot wait until the sequel is released.  

GIVEAWAY and Guest Post of Love is Both Wave and Particle

Bog Tour:  Love is Both Wave and Particle

By: Paul Cody

 LOVE IS BOTH WAVE AND PARTICLE

“My First Book for Teens”

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Release Date: August 1, 2017

Genre: Young Adult,  Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

This achingly beautiful novel considers how to measure love when it has the power to both save and destroy.

Levon Grady and Samantha Vash are both students at an alternative high school for high-achieving but troubled teens. They have been chosen for a year-long project where they write their life stories and collect interviews from people who know them. The only rule is 100% confidentiality—they will share their work only with each other. What happens will transform their lives.

Told from the perspectives of Levon, Sam, and all the people who know them best, this is a love story infused with science and the exploration of identity. Love Is Both Wave and Particle looks at how love behaves in different situations, and how it can shed light on even the darkest heart.

Goodreads- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31145041-love-is-both-wave-and-particle

Amazon- https://www.amazon.ca/Love-Both-Wave-Particle-Paul/dp/1626726884

B&N-https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-is-both-wave-and-particle-paul-cody/1124116008?ean=9781626726888&st=AFF&2sid=Goodreads,%20Inc_2227948_NA&sourceId=AFFGoodreads,%20IncM000004

BookDepository-https://www.bookdepository.com/Love-Is-Both-Wave-and-Particle-Paul-Cody/9781626726888

Kobo- https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/love-is-both-wave-and-particle

I didn’t intend to write Love Is Both Wave and Particle for teenagers. I had always written dark literary fiction for adults, usually about people who were mentally ill, or somehow living at the margins of society—in prisons, or mental hospitals, or on the streets.

But I taught at colleges and universities for more than fifteen years, and nearly all my students were anywhere from seventeen to twenty-one years old. One course I taught often was focused on personal essay and writing from experience.

The very nature of that course encouraged students to write about their lives, their hopes, fears, the things that had upset them or gave them joy. The students often wrote about cutting, eating disorders, sexual assault, depression, alcohol and drug problems, and serious problems with their parents.

I got to know the students unusually well, because they were writing from the heart. It made me realize how even “normal-seeming” students were often carrying heavy emotional burdens, and how often, writing about the burdens would somehow ease the pain.

I also have two sons who had recently passed through their mid to late teens. So, I felt I knew kids of that age.

Kids that age are in flux. Not quite adults, not only teenagers. They have driver’s licenses, are only a year away from voting or joining the military. Many drink alcohol, at least a little, some smoke weed.

I wanted to write a novel about two seventeen-year-olds, each with some history of mental illness or disability, and throw them together, in a fairly small setting, to see what would happen.

Would they hate each other?

Understand each other?

Might they fall in love?

Might they even change each other in big or small ways?

Part of being a teenager, I’d always thought, was growing up and away from the influence of parents and home, and finding different influences in the world, from friends, teachers, musicians, books, and the internet. Many things go into the process of growing up.

As I got deeper in the writing of Love Is Both Wave and Particle, the characters deepened and changed for me. Often, a character who I thought was a certain kind of person, who was cynical and heartless, turned out to have lots of heart and a real sense of decency. It had just been buried beneath a façade of cynical cool.

My main characters, Sam and Levon, were often contradicting my expectations for them. I wanted them to go left, and they wanted to go right. And in pretty much every case, I tried to watch and listen carefully, and I nearly always followed their leads.

Characters become alive to me as I’m writing, and I develop great respect and affection for them during the creation of a novel.

When I finished the novel, and sent it to the woman who’s now my agent, she read it and said, “This is a terrific young adult novel.” 

I was absolutely surprised, but very curious about the genre. I thought of Huck Finn and The Catcher in the Rye, and that in many ways those are young adult novels, and those are also novels I had loved for decades.

And then when I thought of the thousands of students I had taught, and when I looked at my two sons and their many friends, it made perfect sense that I had written a novel about young adults for young adults.

Just as my characters had surprised me, I had surprised myself.   

Paul Cody earned an MFA at Cornell University, and has published several novels and a memoir for adults. He lives in Ithaca, New York, with his wife, the poet Elizabeth Holmes, and their two sons. Love Is Both Wave and Particle is his first novel for teenagers.

Links:

Website- http://www.paulcodywriter.com

Goodreads- https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21771.Paul_Cody

August 1st

Pink Polka Dot Books- Welcome Post

August 2nd

Little Library Muse- Promo

August 3rd

Serial Bibliophile- Review & Bookstagram

YA Book Divas- Review

August 4th

Mind of a Book Dragon- Guest Post

The Candid Cover- Guest Post

August 5th

Never Too Many to Read- Guest Post

A Dream Within a Dream- Promo

August 6th

JusticeReads- Guest Post

Here's to Happy Endings- Review

August 7th

When Curiosity Killed the Cat- Review

ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY:

1 copy of LOVE IS BOTH WAVE AND PARTICLE by Paul Cody

US/Canada only

No Giveaway accounts

Rafflecopter Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d9681b86256/?

Review and Giveaway of League of American Traitors

League of American Traitors

by Matthew Landis

Publisher: Sky Pony

Release Date: August 8, 2017

Genre: Young Adult, Historical

Synopsis:

Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it. . . . 

 When seventeen year-old Jasper is approached at the funeral of his deadbeat father by a man claiming to be an associate of his deceased parents, he’s thrust into a world of secrets tied to America’s history—and he’s right at the heart of it.

First, Jasper finds out he is the sole surviving descendant of Benedict Arnold, the most notorious traitor in American history. Then he learns that his father’s death was no accident. Jasper is at the center of a war that has been going on for centuries, in which the descendants of the heroes and traitors of the American Revolution still duel to the death for the sake of their honor.

His only hope to escape his dangerous fate on his eighteenth birthday? Take up the research his father was pursuing at the time of his death, to clear Arnold’s name.

Whisked off to a boarding school populated by other descendants of notorious American traitors, it’s a race to discover the truth. But if Jasper doesn’t find a way to uncover the evidence his father was hunting for, he may end up paying for the sins of his forefathers with his own life.  Like a mash-up of National Treasure and Hamilton, Matthew Landis’s debut spins the what-ifs of American history into a heart-pounding thriller steeped in conspiracy, clue hunting, and danger.

What an exciting historical fiction novel!  I remember reading that League of American Traitors was a mash up between National Treasure and Hamilton, and it was just that!  I couldn’t have been happier, as I am an avid National Treasure fan!  I like history more and more as I’m experiencing it through these types of novels specifically.  This was the first historical fiction novel that I read that wasn’t WWII based, so I was a little nervous to give it a shot, but I am so glad I did.  I loved Jasper!  His resilience and determination reminded me so much of myself!  And a descendant of Benedict Arnold?!  Yes please!  I need all of the notorious historical figures discussed in YA fiction the way this one was!

I loved how the story opens in a funeral. I think it’s dark but real and when it's real, it grasps on to you.  The first two chapters were absolutely filled with action and I knew this book was going to be good.  As the chapters continued and the story and characters developed, my assumptions were confirmed.  Landis is great story teller and knows exactly how to write about history for YA!

I also read that Landis was a history teacher and so I knew that the facts would be just that, facts.  I felt that because of his expertise in his field, he was able to really open up the world of U.S. history in a very unique and entertaining way.  There are not a lot of authors like that, in my opinion.  Sometimes children are looked down upon because of their parents’ actions, I really enjoyed how Landis develops his characters with their pasts held over their heads.  Nora was definitely a favorite of mine, but I do wish I would have heard a little more about her. I felt that Jasper was well thought out and handled situations, exactly how you’d expect a 17 year old descendant of Benedict Arnold to handle things, struggling to maintain honor, maturity, and responsibility.

With such a clever premise, and so much action, it was pretty difficult to not turn the page.  I thoroughly enjoyed the adventures and the clues given throughout the story that ultimately lead to a very satisfying ending.  

Links:

Goodreads-https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31213370-league-of-american-traitors?from_search=true

Amazon- https://www.amazon.com/League-American-Traitors-Matthew-Landis/dp/1510707352/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1490183188&sr=8-1&keywords=league+of+american+traitors

B&N-https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-league-of-american-traitors-matthew-landis/1124716490

Book Depository- https://www.bookdepository.com/The-League-of-American-Traitors-Matthew-Landis/9781510707351

                        ________________________________________________________

I love history, but not in the old, awful, kill-me-now-please kind of way. My passion is convincing my students that the past is actually hilarious, shocking, tragic, disturbing, and altogether UN-boring. While getting my graduate degree in History at Villanova, I realized that there was yet one more way to do this: write contemporary young adult books laced with history to convince my students that past isn't as awful as they think. That’s a huge reason why I wrote The Judas Society.

Some other stuff: I love poetry but don’t understand it; I want Gordon Ramsay to give me a fatherly hug at some point; I tend toward the unapologetically dramatic; and (to my great shame) I didn’t read the Harry Potter series until last year. I’m also really good at covering up patent insecurities with self-deprecating humor (like this joke).

Website- http://www.matthew-landis.com

Goodreads- https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7576140.Matthew_Landis

Twitter- https://twitter.com/AuthorLandis

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/matthewlandisauthor/

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/matthew_landis/

                          _________________________________________________________

July 31st

Pink Polka Dot Books- Welcome Post

August 1st

When Curiosity Killed the Cat- Q&A

Little Library Muse- Promo

August 2nd

My Thoughts Literally- Guest Post

Kyera's Library- Review

August 3rd

What's She Reading?- Review

Justice Reads- Revew

August 4th

A Dream Within a Dream- Promo

Little Red's Reviews- Review

August 5th

Tales of the Ravenous Reader- Guest Post

Books, Books, and More Books- Review

August 6th

Never Too Many To Read- Creative Option

Absolute Bookishness- Revew

August 7th

Comfort Books- Q&A

The Critic Uncritical Bookworm- Review

________________________________________________

ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY:

•    2 copies of LEAGUE OF AMERICAN TRAITORS by Matthew Landis

•    US & Canada Only

•    No Giveaway accounts

Rafflecopter Link:

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Giveaway for Of Jenny & The Aliens!!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Of Jenny and the Aliens

by Ryan Gebhart

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Release Date: August 1, 2017

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Sci-Fi

Synopsis:

When boy meets girl meets alien, the angst of first love gets an extraterrestrial intervention in a tale both outrageously funny and full of heart.

Ten years after Earth sent messages out into deep space, there has been an answer. Music from a distant planet has reached the world’s radios. Are aliens about to invade? No one knows, and almost-eighteen-year-old Derek doesn’t really care, because at a wild end-of-the-world party, Jennifer Novak invited him to play beer pong, and things, well, progressed from there. Derek is in love. Deeply, hopelessly in love. He wants it all — marriage, kids, growing old on a beach in Costa Rica. For him, Jenny is the One. But Jenny has other plans, which may or may not include Derek. So Derek will try anything to win her — even soliciting advice from an alien who shows up in his hometown. This alien may just be the answer to Derek’s problem, but is Derek prepared to risk starting an interstellar war to get his girl? Just how far is he willing to travel to discover the mysteries of the universe — and the enigma of love?

AUTHOR GUEST POST!! 

Hi y'all!

My name is Ryan Gebhart and I'm the author of the upper YA novel Of Jenny and the Aliens. It's about first love and first contact. About world peace and/or an interstellar war. It's full of crass humor, UFOs, and as Booklist says in a starred review: “The narrative probes the boundless nature of love and the boundaries people impose on it, and draws attention to the process of hiding from and then finding oneself.” I'm thrilled that the Fantastic Flying Book Club is hosting its book tour. Thank you so much to all involved!

Three main things and a million little other things inspired Of Jenny and the Aliens, but I'll stick with sharing just the top three:

1)      Well, I saw a UFO. I was at a party in Texas and everyone was lying on blankets looking up at the night sky as this ring of spinning lights moved across the sky effortlessly, sometimes vanishing, only to reappear somewhere else in the sky five seconds later. Everyone was debating what it could be, and we settled on the possibility that this UFO was alien in nature. Then the topic transitioned into what these theoretical aliens' intentions were: do they come in peace or with hostile intentions?  To me, the potential aliens on board had to be friendly. Because if they were hostile and capable of traveling to Earth, then why haven't they already killed us in an attempt to recolonize our planet for their own purposes, or to enslave humanity and/or harvest us for food? Then a thought occurred to me: maybe they're afraid of us. I knew I had expand upon that idea.

2)      Uhh, (cough) I haven't had the best of luck with relationships. Although my main character Derek's story in no way directly reflects my own, I have shared many of the emotions he experiences. I guess Derek and I both grew up having some unrealistic expectations of what love is supposed to be, and how love in real life isn't always like how it's portrayed on film. Love is complicated, it can be amazing, it can suck miserably, but as Derek's dad says at one point: “...whether we like it or not, it's what keeps the human race going.” I wanted to write a love story, but I wanted to make is as messy and shocking and nauseating and as an episode of Jerry Springer. Sure, there are perfect Cinderella romances in the real world. I chose to represent the romances that turn into absolute train wrecks that, as a spectator, you just can't look away from.

3)      The Iraq War. When I was first drafting the idea for Of Jenny and the Aliens, it was 2007 and I had already spent years trying to concept how we could be in another war after we had already been involved in so many other wars. When would the violence stop? I remember when I studied abroad, I had so much fun learning someone else's language, trying brand new foods, dancing brand new dances. Every culture across the globe has so much depth, so much history, so much humanity. Iraqis are no exception, so why were we fighting them when instead we could be communicating with them, learning about them, and just simply hanging out? I delved deeper into those thoughts until I asked myself: what would it take for humanity to collectively stop fighting each other? What would it take for actual world peace? These questions ate away at me so much until I thought of a plausible answer. I won't give it away, but it's cynical as hell and, yeah, it involves aliens...

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

   

Ryan Gebhart is the author of the middle-grade novel There Will Be Bears, about which Publishers Weekly said in a starred review, “Fully developed characters, complex and realistic relationships . . . and a spot-on narrative voice . . . make this story stand out. About Of Jenny and the Aliens, the author says, “This book is about first love and discovering that we're not alone in the universe, and how maybe those two things aren't that different from each other.” Ryan Gebhart lives in Ohio.

His debut young adult Of Jenny and the Aliens, about first love and discovering that we're not alone in the universe, will be released Spring 2017 with Candlewick Press.

Links:

Website- http://rgebhart82.livejournal.com

Goodreads- https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7177790.Ryan_Gebhart

Twitter- https://twitter.com/ryangebhart

Links:

Goodreads-https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25226092-of-jenny-and-the-aliens

Amazon-https://www.amazon.com/Jenny-Aliens-Ryan-Gebhart/dp/0763688452/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498851855&sr=8-1&keywords=of+jenny+and+the+aliens

B&N-https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/of-jenny-and-the-aliens-ryan-gebhart/1124807221?ean=9780763688455

BookDepository-https://www.bookdepository.com/Of-Jenny-and-the-Aliens-Ryan-Gebhart/9780763688455?ref=grid-view&qid=1498851994094&sr=1-8

Kobo- https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/of-jenny-and-the-aliens

  ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY:

•    3 copies of OF JENNY AND THE ALIENS will go to 3 winners

•    US Only

•    Read the Rafflecopter Rules for more details

Rafflecopter Link:

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FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES-BESTELLING AUTHOR OF GIRL ON THE TRAIN...

Into the Water

This book is intense in the best way! 

 I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the novel to follow Girl On The Train.  I loved the GOTT.  Well I must admit that Into The Water is even better.  With more characters, more story lines, this mystery isn't solved yet and I am coming to the end of the book!  I love when I don't discover the truth until the end!  

I first rented the audio book from my library of this book but didn't listen to it enough.  With 1 hour and 23 minutes left, the book expired.  I work at a college, so I immediate thought of the possibility that it would be here at the library and sure enough, bless Ms. Duphia's heart  (she took the elevator down to the main level to retrieve the book for me), there was one copy on hand.  

I read some more on lunch break and am very eager and excited for the conclusion of this psychological thriller that Paula Hawkins has very intricately crafted for us readers!