Blog Tour: The Boots My Mother Gave Me With Giveaway

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Brooklyn James is an author/singer/songwriter inspired by life in the Live Music Capital of Austin, Texas. This year marks the Three Year Anniversary of her first novel, The Boots My Mother Gave Me. In celebration, her camp has re-released the Anniversary Edition with a new cover (as chosen by a fan) and a new epilogue, setting up the anticipated sequel.  




  You can grab yourself a copy via Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.      




Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000038_00071] ‘Have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk through life in someone else's shoes? Strong-willed tomboy Harley LeBeau puts you in the boots her mother gave her, as she takes you along her journey of escape from an abusive childhood and the desire to find herself as she comes of age. Made to feel a burden to her father simply by her gender, Harley is determined to prove her worth and independence, leaving the small town she grew up in and the one boy who gave her a soft place to fall, Jeremiah Johnson. Torn between saving herself and abandoning her mother and younger sister, Harley chooses her own life in hopes they will choose theirs, too. A mature, candid read for everyone. A must for women. The Boots My Mother Gave Me explores the dynamics of abuse and dysfunction, the courage to overcome, the strength in sisterhood, and the ongoing conflict and unconditional love between mothers and daughters. Climb into Charlene the Chevelle for a fast-paced story about a girl who is tough enough to survive and tender enough to learn to trust in love.’  


My Review:

Even though I have been only blogging for less than a year, I have been writing reviews for much longer than that. And I have to say that this it he hardest review that I have ever had to write. Not that this book was not amazingly written and completely and utterly enjoyable, but because that this is one of the most heartfelt, emotional, tear jerking stories I have ever read. I started this book two evenings ago and finished it at 4am the same evening I started reading it. And even though it is well over 24 hours since I have finished this book, I am still stilling here trying to absorb and  make sense of all the feelings I experienced reading this book. This book effected me so much, that I was thinking about it while I was stuck behind a traffic signal during rush hour in Los Angeles. I was day dreaming about the story line and did not notice the light turning green. Which if anyone has driven the streets of LA this is not a smart mistake. Let's just say that there were several of  honks and middle fingers thrown my way. OPPS....In my opinion this book should be made required reading in high school English classes. If I ever have a teenage daughter this is a book that I will sit down and read with her.

An emotional journey about a girl trying to discover her self worth after being verbally abused by a father who was disappointed that he did not have any sons. Seeing Harley trying to develop a positive self-image and trying to discover her destiny, while overcoming the negative feelings that have been instilled in her entire life was extremely powerful and heart wrenching. And let me just say that Jerimiah, Harley's love interest in this book, is more mature as a teenager than most men are in their entire life. He stands up for Harley and her abusive father and gives her a safe haven when she needs it. He gives her strength to stand, but gives her room to fly so she can discover herself.

I feel that in no way am I doing this book justice. Last night in order to see if other fans of this book went through the same emotions that I did, I spend hours searching through reviews on Goodreads and Amazon, and I was happy to see so many readers had. So if you want a more thorough review and one that does not just rumble on I suggest you read this amazing review that sums of this story as it deserves  The Boots My Mother Gave Me.

OH and by the way a definite 5 out of 5!







.


AAC PicKPI Records - WKYTV










  The Boots My Mother Gave Me was chosen as a Quarter Finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards, and has ranked in Kindle's Top 100 Coming of Age and Women's Fiction. Accolades for the book include a host of radio and television appearances, book signings, live music events, televised public readings and a music video release of the title track 'Can't Get It Right' from the original music soundtrack to the novel, viewable on YouTube. "Brooklyn James' soundtrack to her novel The Boots My Mother Gave Me does more than give a clever feminist twist to the title. Her songs serve as chapters themselves, underlining James' deft ability as a storyteller and songwriter." - Margaret Moser, The Austin Chronicle.  



Like what you hear?
Brooklyn’s new album Jolie Blonde is out now and is set to accompany her upcoming novel of the same name, due for release mid-October.
brooklynjames_jolie blonde_cover


Her music can be found on Amazon, iTunes, CDBaby, Pandora and Jango online Radio. She enjoys airplay from American Independent radio stations as well as in Australia, South of France, Netherlands and the UK. Her song 'Can't Get It Right' was chosen for MEOW's (Musicians for Equal Opportunity for Women) 2012 Discoveries Jukebox, naming Brooklyn among the top 15 female singer/songwriters on the rise. Jango Radio named track two, 'Moving On,' off the same album to their Top 10 Songs of Summer. All songs from the soundtracks are written/co-written and performed by the author, and are produced and recorded at Wonderland Studios, Austin, Texas. Listen free on Brooklyn's Website or Facebook.



***Giveaways***
Win 1 of 3 Anniversary eCopies!
Entry via Rafflecopter. Giveaway closes October 8 2013.
a Rafflecopter giveaway



Win 1 of 2 The Boots My Mother Gave Me Soundtracks 
Entry via Rafflecopter. 
Giveaway close October 8 2013. a Rafflecopter giveaway



DFW Romance Book Sign
Author Bio: Brooklyn holds an M.A. in Communication, and a B.S. in both Nursing and Animal Science. Her nursing career has seen specialties in the areas of Intensive Care and Labor & Delivery/Postpartum, which she's hoping will come in handy as she and her handsome hubby (the inspiration behind Jeremiah Johnson from The Boots My Mother Gave Me) are expecting their first child this Christmas. You can read about such experiences on Brooklyn's Blog, if you fancy. A self-professed Jack-of-all-trades, she has enjoyed careers in massage therapy, personal training, teaching, day labor at a cattle company (doing everything on horseback, the old-fashioned 'cowboy' way), radio DJ, TV news writer and reporter, waitress, bartender, even amateur actor. To date, her most fun experiences in front of the camera have been starring in a Weezer video, being a 'stand-in' for Mira Sorvino on the set of TNT's Trooper, and as background in When Angels Sing with Harry Connick Jr. Brooklyn says he couldn't have been more of a gentleman and oh so swoon-worthy! She takes great pleasure in performing as part of an acoustic duo in the local live music scene in Austin. Got a little video here from a set at Austin Bergstrom International Airport. Her hobbies include, spending time with family and friends, dancing until her feet are sore, weight lifting, running, paddleboarding (anything outdoors really), reading, watching The Big Bang Theory and anything on The History Channel, partaking of a good cup of Joe and trying out new and local food fare. Brooklyn also serves as a guest speaker from time to time with a focus on awareness and prevention of domestic violence and suicide, a cause near and dear to her heart. Thank you so much for being so kind to take the time to check out my blog hop! Light & Love – Brooklyn James.  


Stay in touch:

 



FFBC: Six Months Later by Natalie D. Richards with GIVEAWAY



Welcome to the 6th Fantastic Flying Book Club!

Six Months Later
Natalie Richards
336 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: October 1st, 2013
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Chloe didn't think about it much when she nodded off in study hall on that sleepy summer day. But when she wakes up, snow is on the ground and she can't remember the last six months of her life. Before, she'd been a mediocre student. Now, she's on track for valedictorian and being recruited by Ivy League schools. Before, she never had a chance with super jock Blake. Now he's her boyfriend. Before, she and Maggie were inseparable. Now her best friend won't speak to her.

What happened to her?

And why can't she remember?



Listen to the Six Months Later Playlist
by Natalie D. Richards

"I'll admit all of this was on here for different reasons.  Some of it, it's the lyrics -- some of them it was the feel.  But every single one of these songs reminds me of Chloe, Adam, Maggie and all the things that happened in Six Months Later.  :-)  Hope you enjoy!"





At seven, Natalie D. Richards wrote about Barbara Frances Bizzlefishes (who wouldn't dare do the dishes.) Now she writes about awesome girls, broody boys, and all things dark and creepy. Natalie lives in Ohio (Go Bucks!) with her techno-wiz husband, three amazing kids, and a seventy pound dust-mop who swears he's the family dog. Her psychological thriller, Six Months Later, will be released in October 1, 2013 by Sourcebooks Fire. Until then, you'll probably find her writing her next book or trying to wade through the towers of dog-eared paperbacks that have taken over her bedroom.





Omigosh, TOO HARD! So many I love! So, is this fair? Hunger Games, Harry Potter, Wintergirls, 13 Reasons Why, Neverwhere, A Great And Terrible Beauty, Find Me, Shiver, Poisonwood Bible, and more. LOL!


When the coffee is warm, the chair is cushy, the music is perfect, and I'm so swept up in what I'm writing, I don't notice any of it.

Love several, but right now it's a tie between Elementary and Falling Skies. Very excited about the way Sleepy Hollow's starting, though!


New? Iron Man (any) or Star Trek reboots. Old? The Empire Strikes Back



Spent on a sleepy beach in North Carolina


Zillions!  At the moments, probably Royals by Lorde, Applause by Lady Gaga, or Sweater Weather by The Neighbourhood



Chocolate, Sushi, and Chipotle. You know, health food.  ;-)


TV?  Damon Salvatore.  (Oof.)  Book? I'd take either Noah or Ryan from Pushing the Limits and Dare You To, currently.


Both!

YA. Is there another genre? ;-) 

"Fiction is the truth inside the lie." -- Stephen King (at least I usually hear it credited to him.)

Great writing in any form at all. (Books, movies, TV shows, blog posts, etc.)

Writers owe absolutely everything to readers, in my opinion. You are the ones who treasure the joy of a great book. So, thanks for being who you are and doing what you do. You make my job possible. :-)




First off, thank YOU! You guys have been absolutely amazing and I am so thrilled to be here and to have your support behind me. :-) 

Okay, brace yourself for a corny moment. I know it sounds cheesy, but the very start of Six Months Later was a creepy dream I had about falling asleep and waking up feeling like a couple of minutes had passed. But when I glanced outside in said dream, it was a totally different season. It scared the heebie-jeebies out of me. From there, I spiraled through a list of questions -- what would it be like to forget six months of your life? What if everyone else remembered? What if everything was suddenly perfect but felt awful? Could you play along? Would you? 

It was a trail of creepy goodness. :-) 

There were sections of Six Months Later that were a total pain in the rear, but other parts that I flew right through. So, I'd say this one was a fair mix. So far, most of my writing projects have followed suit with that mix!



When Chloe falls asleep in Study Hall, she wakes up six months later to a suddenly perfect life. But why does everything feel so wrong? And why can't she remember any of it? 

For me the best thing about the story is the way it pulls you in and keeps you guessing. Several readers have echoed that sentiment, so I think that's one of the strongest features of the book. At least, I hope so!


Ah, Chloe. I love her. She's a bit of a slacker, but she knows what she wants. She can be a daredevil, but spends a lot of the book pretty understandably terrified. Chloe's a mix of a lot of things, and that's part of the reason I enjoyed her so much.


The way she loves. She doesn't do it in half-measures. Her fractured relationship with her best friend Maggie is a source of intense pain and conflict for her in the book. Part of why Chloe is so important to me is because her people are so important to her.


Chloe secrets? Hm. Well, she doesn't turn down dares. Like, ever. She's jumped off of bridges and streaked in the middle of winter. :-)


Blake is the lacrosse-playing, high-fiving good guy of the high school. He's friendly and popular, the kind of guy that lives on the honor roll and on the Homecoming Court. 

Adam is a completely different animal. He's an enigma in the school. Wickedly smart but a known juvenile delinquent. Quiet and a little reclusive, he's the kind of guy everyone notices and is careful to give a lot of space. 

So, naturally, I want to marry him. ;-)


Really shortly after waking up, I'd say... 

The best: 2150 (You'll see!) 
The worst: Maggie


Maggie is a free spirit, a creative type who doesn't care much what people think of her. She's a bit willowy and soft-spoken, so people might take her for a wilting violet. They would be so very wrong. 

Maggie and Chloe are two peas in a pod. They have the kind of friendship that's more like family. The whatever-it-is-we-will-deal-with-it-together kind of bond that Chloe desperately needs in this book. Too bad for her, she doesn't have it when she wakes up. ;-)


Aw!! You are so sweet! Thank you so much. This is actually a standalone, but I won't lie, I'd love the chance to explore what happens next for the entire crew. But sometimes, stories are best wrapped up on their own. 



I am, however, currently in edits with my second YA thriller, which I am absolutely crazy about. I can't say much yet, but I can tell you it's a book about a girl who makes a couple of disturbing discoveries and then is given an opportunity to make them right. But the opportunity might cost her more than she ever dreamed. Very scary and the characters in this book are just amazing. I'm so, so excited about this one and can't wait to say more.



Okay, I admit it, I received a request for a Dream Cast from another blogger too and I was ten kinds of excited! I mean, come on, browsing pictures of pretty people all day long? 

But the truth is, it was brutally hard. Who, I came up with wasn't necessarily the perfect coloring fit for everyone, but the faces and general "feel" of these actors (at least in the pictures that mattered to me!) felt right. 

So, my picks are: 

Maggie: Dakota Fanning 
Blake: Jonathan Keltz 
Chloe: Georgie Henley 
Adam: Kellan Lutz 

Note: Adam was SO hard. I'm dying to get other opinions, because I had a couple of actors that made a close second for me. Kellan is often blonder and always a little shorter and more "built" than Adam, but in certain pictures, he has a certain Adam-ness about him. Observe the smolder. ;-)






SEPTEMBER 25th
The UnofficialAddiction Book Fan Club & A Reading Nurse -> Welcome to the Fantastic Flying Book Club & Find Me Reviews


SEPTEMBER 26th
Reader Rising -> Review + Dream Cast
Book Worm In Barrie -> Review
Book Swoon -> Review + Excerpt
Nick's Book Blog -> Review + Interview


SEPTEMBER 27th
Paper Cuts -> Review + Excerpt
Jessabella Reads -> Review + Guest Post
Curling Up With A Good Book -> Review + Dream Cast

SEPTEMBER 28th
Addicted 2 Novels -> Review + Excerpt
Doodle's Book Blog -> Review
Book Sp(l)ot Reviews -> Review + Dream Cast


SEPTEMBER 29th
The Bookish Outsider -> Review + Interview
Coffee, Books and Me -> Review + Favorite Quote


SEPTEMBER 30th
Some Like It Paranormal -> Review + Excerpt
Peace, Love And Fangirl -> Review + Dream Cast
The Life & Times of a Book Addict -> Review + Excerpt 


OCTOBER 1st
Forever 17 Books -> Review + Favorite Quote
Best Chick Lit -> Review
Literary Meanderings -> Review
Wicca Witch 4 Book Blog -> Review + Guest Post

OCTOBER 2nd
The UnofficialAddiction Book Fan Club -> Find Me Review
A Reading Nurse -> Six Months Later Review

OCTOBER 3rd
The UnofficialAddiction Book Fan Club -> Six Months Later Review
A Reading Nurse -> Find Me Review




  • There will be ONE winner
  • You must be 13 or older to enter this giveaway
  • It's an US/CAN ONLY giveaway. Sorry international readers! :(
  • Each day there will be available a #QOD (question of the day) in each participant blog. You can earn more points by answering the answers leaving a comment in the Blog Tour stops (the Schedule in this post will be updated daily).
  • For those who don't know how this works, the winners will be those who have participated the most. Meaning, the winners will be those who have more points. No Rafflecopter luck this time, Book Addicts. This is all on you now! If there's a draw, then the odds will decide and this time the Rafflecopter luck would be a major factor deciding if you win or not.

HUGE PRIZE:

Win (1) autographed book of SIX MONTHS LATER by Natalie D. Richards
Win (1) Starbucks Gift Card
Win some promo goodies: bracelet, bookmark, button and personal note!

**US/CAN ONLY**


1) Choose TWO questions (OR more! ^^) from the "Interview with Natalie" and answer it. We would love to know something about you!

2) What do you think about the book? ;)


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Thank you to our beloved team for making this event possible.






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