Stacey Rourke's Virtual Blog Tour!

Hello there! :D

Today I'm so so happy to host the virtual blog tour for Stacey Rourke! Check out her amazing books and in the end I'll have a series review!

Book Feature:

The Conduit 

All 18-year-old Celeste Garrett wants is to head off to college and make those fun, yet ill-advised, choices college kids are known for.  And maybe to spend some time with the hot cameraman she just met.  Instead, because of a pact her ancestors made in the 17th century with a mythical creature, she has to save the world.

While normal kids are slamming energy drinks and cramming for exams, Celeste will get her adrenaline rush fighting a fire breathing dragon.  She wants to meet friends in the quad to exchange lecture notes, but first she must exchange blows with a shapeshifting demon on the rooftop.  Life isn’t always fair for a superhero, but at least she doesn’t have to do it alone.  With her brother and sister as sidekicks, they alternate between saving lives and getting on each others’ nerves.  Together the trio encounters unspeakable odds, mystical forces and comes face-to-face with an image that will haunt them forever—their grandmother in a leopard print bikini.

"Okay, little side note here. If a psychopathic killer asks if you want to see a trick, say no. That’s the smart thing to do. I, on the other hand, responded, 'Bring it'."

-excerpt from THE CONDUIT

Embrace:

Whether she likes it or not, eighteen year old Celeste Garrett has come to terms  with being  the Chosen One. She knew having a “normal life” would be tricky,  between intense training  sessions and epic demonic battles, but she didn’t know  at what cost it would come. That is,  until a dear friend is harmed by the  malicious forces hunting her.

 Now, she’d like nothing more than to retreat into a hermit lifestyle to prevent anyone else from getting hurt. But startling revelations, amazing new abilities, and mortifying moments in front of insanely hot guys won’t allow time for that. Soon, Celeste finds herself surrounded by darkness and wondering who she can trust—if anyone.

 The Sidekick Chronicles:

Celeste isn't the only member of the Garrett family whose life changed when destiny called. Every sidekick has their tale and in this Gryphon Series short the spotlight is turned on Kendall, Grams and even Gabe. Get an inside look at the hilarious stress that goes along with being a...sidekick.

Sidekicks...ya can't live with 'em and you'd probably die horribly without 'em.

Sacrifice (Coming Soon - PS YOU ALL ARE GONNA LOVE THIS ONE!)

Celeste Garrett has finally found a happy balance in her life as the Chosen One, thanks in large part to a certain hunky Irishman. But if there’s any lesson she should heed since receiving her calling it’s that everything can change in the blink of an eye. Soon a terrible new threat, unlike anything she’s ever encountered, causes her to make a gut-wrenching choice that will strip her of someone she holds dear.

As much as she’d like to have a pity party for one, there’s no time for that now because wedding bells are ringing in Gainesboro! In between dress fittings and rehearsal dinners Celeste will have to fend off attacking demons and leering pirates. As if the Dark Army wasn’t scary enough our heroine is faced with the horrifying trauma of attending a bachelorette party with her mom and watching Grams do Jello shots. Is a walk down the aisle even possible for a member of the Garrett family when the Dark Army is out to destroy them? More importantly, will the Dark Army Glee Club sing at the reception?  

Raise your glass to the happy couple, and get ready for a wedding…Conduit-style.  

Series Review:

Well where do I start?! Reading the Gryphon Series has been so much fun! This series is without a doubt one of my favorites ever! With a story that flows flawlessly and with gripping scenes, this book series is a roller coaster! Filled with action, romance and sarcasm The Gryphon Series will draw you in and make you never wanna let go.. ;)

It is full of these amazing lines that will make you laugh out loud (Trust me I woke up everyone in my house one night :P ) and characters that you'll love and those that you'll love to hate. Take my word on it.. Just go get these books!! They are THAT good!! :D

Book Purchase Links

The Conduit- http://www.amazon.com/The-Conduit-Gryphon-Series-ebook/dp/B007H7UMR0/ref=pd_sim_kstore_2

Embrace- http://www.amazon.com/Embrace-The-Gryphon-Series-ebook/dp/B0080GLL5Y/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1

Sidekick Chronicles- http://www.amazon.com/Sidekick-Chronicles-Gryphon-Novella-ebook/dp/B0099S7J9O/ref=pd_sim_kstore_2

For the Nook- 

The Conduit- http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-conduit-stacey-rourke/1107395872?ean=2940044687929

Embrace- http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/embrace-gryphon-series-book-2-stacey-rourke/1112134874?ean=2940044697713

Sidekick Chronicles- http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-sidekick-chronicles-stacey-rourke/1112860418?ean=2940015291629

About the Author:

Young Adult and Teen Reader voted Author of the Year 2012.

Stacey Rourke is the author of the Gryphon Series. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant, drooly dogs. Stacey loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head. She is currently hard at work on the continuations of this series as well as other literary projects.

Stalker Links! ;)

Visit her at www.staceyrourke.com

Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stacey-Rourke/

or on Twitter @Rourkewrites.

Embrace by Stacey Rourke Blog Tour

I’m super excited and so so very glad to be a part of the Embrace Blog Tour!! The Gryphon Series is now one of my favorite series and I would encourage everyone to read it! Doesn’t matter if you are a teen or an adult! Its an amazing read and you will fall in love with it as I did! :)

The blog stops on the Blog Tour:

August 1^sthttp://www.delphinareadstoomuch.com/ (Review)

August 2^ndhttp://andisyoungadult.blogspot.com/ (Review)

August 3^rdhttp://youngadultbookaddict.blogspot.com.au/ (Author interview)

August 4^thhttp://paranormalbooks.blogspot.com/ (Character interview)

August 5^thhttp://www.curiositykey.blogspot.com/(Review)

August 6^thhttp://addicted2bookreviews.blogspot.com/ (Review)

August 7^thhttp://jennswiger.blogspot.com/(Character interview)

Here is my review for Embrace by Stacey Rourke:

"I guess you're unaware of my official title; Conduit of the Gryphon and killer of romance"

Embrace is the second book in The Gryphon Series. I absolutely loved The Conduit and the bar had been set high. Embrace does not disappoint! This book was beyond amazing...  There’s just so many amazing moments in the book that I don’t really want to spoil it for you all! So just a teeny tiny description will have to do...

Celeste has come to terms of her being the Conduit and having her sacred duty just because her ancestors made a pact centuries ago.  Her siblings seem to be able to adjust to performing their sacred duties and have a normal life too. Celeste is unable to get over Alec and find love again... Enter Caleb and all that is about to change. Add to that Rowan the bad boy pirate demon and everything she knows, she has to question. Who should she trust? What should she do?

This book was just too good if not better than its predecessor. The plot was amazing and it kept me guessing as to what would happen next. There was not a single dull moment in the entire book and it had me hooked right from the start. What I loved most about this book is that its believable. Not everyone is perfect as its always shown in the books. But Celeste’s character shows that even though she is super strong and the fabled “Chosen One” she still is vulnerable – That to me just makes the story that much more better for me. She is the superhero and still needs her family and friends as we all do.

And as last time there were so many lines that I absolutely loved! I just included one of my favs on the start of the review! ;)
I’ll just say that this is an amazing book and you all should definitely give it a read!! :D
And the cover!! *-* Isn't it just amazing?!

Author Bio –

Writing is something I have always done.  I can remember in elementary school creating stories that I would stand up and read aloud to my classmates…whether they liked it or not.   As I grew older I didn’t flaunt my writing as freely.  It became something I did just for me  to vent my teenage angst, or chronicle my journey to adulthood.  I never thought about becoming a writer because that title prompted the visual of a grey-haired man in a tweed smoking jacket with suede elbow patches, slaving over an old fashion typewriter while puffing away on a pipe.  No way was that stuffy kind of life for me.  (Plus tweed is itchy.)  Instead I wanted to be in the spotlight!  I wanted to be–pause for dramatic effect–an actress!  I gave it my best shot, too.  Got about as far as any aspiring actress can get in Flint, Michigan.Which is exactly no where.  But I did get two great things out of my time delving into the theatrical world; I gained the ability to act out the scenes I write to make sure they’re believable (yes, I really do that and no, you can’t watch) and I met my amazing husband.

My theater ambitions behind me, I decided to do the “mature,” “grown up” thing and went back to college.  As I worked toward my Bachelor’s degree in marketing I did a lot of writing.   Essays, research papers,  PowerPoint presentations. All of it mandatory, none of it what I would ever call fun.  Even then, becoming a writer never entered my mind.  No, then I was going to be a business tycoon…or somethin’.

Truth be told, I never picked writing.  It picked me.  During my time as a stay at home mom I needed an outlet to give me a mental break from diapers, formula and midnight feedings.  That’s when my hands found their way back to the keyboard.  Story ideas began coming at such an incessant rate that my rapidly clicking fingers couldn’t keep up.  Post-It notes and scrapes of paper with story ideas decorated every inch of our house.  In mid-conversation with my husband I would dart off to jot down things that would come to me.  Sweet guy my hubby is, he would just shake his head at my obvious rudeness and hold my place in the conversation.

My first book was completed for an entire year before I told anyone about it.  I outed myself as an author and then sent out my first round of query letters to literary agents.  Surely, it would be picked up immediately and become an overnight success!  Yeah, not so much.  For two years I got rejection, after rejection, after rejection, after rejection…you get the idea.  Thankfully with the ever increasing pile of rejections came feedback.  I digested all the suggestions and applied the usable ones to my manuscript.  Little by little, the rough edges were chipped away and the diamond shone through.  The work paid off when I received an email from a publisher offering me a contract on The Conduit.

It’s been a long road, and it ain’t over yet.  But now, at thirty-mumble, mumble years old I finally know what I wanna be when I grow up–-a writer.

Here’s some stalker links for you all! ;)

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/staceyrourkeauthor

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5309409.Stacey_Rourke

Twitter - https://twitter.com/Rourkewrites

Website - http://www.staceyrourke.com/

Blog - http://www.diaryofasemi-crazyauthor.blogspot.com/

Buy Links for Embrace

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Embrace-The-Gryphon-Series-ebook/dp/B0080GLL5Y/ref=as_li_tf_mfw?&linkCode=wey&tag=phenoparanrev-20

B&N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/embrace-gryphon-series-book-2-stacey-rourke/1112134874?ean=2940044697713

Smashwords - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/170451

And now what you all are looking forward to! The GIVEAWAY!! :D

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you all for stopping by! And oh Happy Friendship Day!! :D

Till later!

oxox

Freebie Friday: Embrace by Stacey Rourke

Its that time again Freebie Friday!!! :D This week one of my FAVORITE books is up for grabs!! Go get your copy now! :D

 Jump aboard Anchor Group Publishing's Friday Freebie. Check out Stacey Rourke's book Embrace. It is a fabulous read for Freebie Friday. Freebie Friday's are sponsored by Anchor Group. And remember, while you're downloading, click the:  

Each like, tag, or review helps the author out. Your small chance to pay it forward. Happy reading!

Fifty-one 5 star reviews:

“I can't wait to read the next book in the series which will be out November 2012. ”Leslie D.  |  31 reviewers made a similar statement

“It is such a great continuance from The Conduit with new added characters and no lack of humor. ”Crystal Clifton  |  24 reviewers made a similar statement

“There is plenty of adventure and twists and turns to keep the reader on their feet...and not wanting to put the book down. ”Melissa R  |  19 reviewers made a similar statementSynopsis:Whether she likes it or not, eighteen year old Celeste Garrett has come to terms with being the Chosen One. She knew having a “normal life” would be tricky, between intense training sessions and epic demonic battles, but she didn’t know at what cost it would come. That is, until a dear friend is harmed by the malicious forces hunting her. Now, she’d like nothing more than to retreat into a hermit lifestyle to prevent anyone else from getting hurt. But startling revelations, amazing new abilities, and mortifying moments in front of insanely hot guys won’t allow time for that. Soon, Celeste finds herself surrounded by darkness and wondering who she can trust—if anyone.
Download your free copy HERE!You can follow Stacey Rourke via Facebook, Twitter, or Goodreads.