Total Book Geek: scavenger hunt

On Tour with Prism Book Tours...

Hello there! My name is Gretchen Powell. I am 24 years old, half-Chinese, and the owner of two adorable miniature schnauzers. I am an occasional drinker of classy wines, and I wrote a book.

By day, I work for a government contractor in our nation’s capital.

By night, I binge on episodes of Doctor Who and sleep fitfully.

Sometime in the mid-afternoon, I write another blog called Honey, I Shrunk the Gretchen! about weight loss, food, fitness, and my life.

Some of my favorite things include polka dots, Harry Potter, pretty much any TV show that airs on Thursday nights (yep, I'm talking Vampire Diaries #notashamed), and playing the ukulele.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

Terra
by Gretchen Powell
Paperback, 286 pages
Published December 12th 2012 by Hopewell Media

Premise:

A broken and desolate Earth. A young girl struggling to survive. A lost boy with a powerful secret.

A discovery that will change everything.

In the distant wake of a plague that has decimated the Earth's population, humanity is split in two: The rich and powerful live in skycities that float overhead, while those who remain on the ground have gathered in settlements strewn across a dying planet. Eighteen-year-old Terra Rhodon is a terrestrial--a denizen of the barren groundworld--who makes her living as a scav. Long abandoned by her father, her caregivers gone, Terra supports herself and her younger brother, Mica, by scouring the earth for discarded scraps and metals to recycle for profit. One day, while on a routine scavenging run, she discovers something that shocks her home settlement of Genesis X-16. When the value of her discovery is revealed, Terra's world is turned upside down.

Terra suddenly finds herself asking questions no one will answer. Her search for the truth leads her to Adam--a beguiling skydweller unlike any she has ever met. But Adam has secrets and a quest of his own, and with him by her side, the world Terra thought she knew begins to unravel. Soon her discoveries unearth a terrifying conspiracy that has the potential to shatter everything--a revelation that will test the bonds of loyalty, family, and love.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Excerpt:

Mica stares at me, his brown eyes squinting in scrutiny. People still tell us that we wouldn’t even look related if it weren’t for our perfectly matching eyes. Where his hair is a light, sandy color, mine is so dark brown that it’s almost black. Though my skin is tan and freckled from years of scavenging, he is still spotlessly pale. And where Mica inherited our mother’s flat Exodusian nose, I was the lucky recipient of our father’s: thin with a high bridge and rounded tip. But our eyes.

Color-wise, everyone in Sixteen ends up with pretty much the same muddy brown. Even if they aren’t born brown-eyed, they end up that way as their eyes adjust to the atmosphere down here. It’s one of the many reasons skydwellers hate being assigned to jobs on the groundworld—eventually, their precious baby blues get affected, too. But even though all terrestrials share a similar eye color, people still point out that there’s just something different about Mica’s and mine. Almond-shaped, long-lashed, with the subtlest flecks of gold echoing out from the middle. Like little starbursts, Gran used to say.

In Terra's world, resources are scarce and many people make their living as "scavs," hunting for scraps to turn in on Collection Day in exchange for credits. For this tour, YOU are a scav, and there are scraps all over the blogosphere for you to find! On each participating blog, there will be one of 9 possible questions. Answer the question to receive a keyword that will get you an extra entry in the awesome giveaway!

Giveaway April 1 - 26

One lucky scav will win a Terra prize pack! Get a signed copy of Terra, along with three exclusive (and gorgeous!) bookmarks, as well as a delicate silver watch--just like Terra's!--all packed up inside a scav bag of your very own! US only.

An additional five (FIVE!) winners will get a digital copy of Terra in the format of their choice. International.
Open only to those who can legally enter. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced on Rafflecopter and Grand Finale posts as well as emailed and the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Burgandy Ice @ Colorimetry and Prism Book Tours and sponsored by Gretchen Powell. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terra on Tour!!

April 2013

Check out the Reviews of Terra!! And become a "scav" and track down all the answers to the Collections questions hidden in the excerpts :-) Plus, celebrate Gretchen's birthday by bringing something fun to the party!!

1 April Fool's Day LAUNCH!
Colorimetry
I Am a Reader, Not a Writer Excerpt 1
fuonlyknew Excerpt 2
2 A Tiffyfit's Reading Corner Review
Pause Time - Review
3 Jessie's Book Place Excerpt 3
The Reading Diaries - Excerpt 4
4 Mel's Shelves - Review
5 Lovin' Los Libros - Review

7 Christy's Cozy Corner - Review
Total Book Geek - Excerpt 5
8 The Quiet Concert - Review
9 LDS & Lovin' It - Review
10 Jessabella Reads - Excerpt 6
11 Gretchen's Birthday Party!!
Passion & Life - Excerpt 7
12 Tressa's Wishful Endings - Review

14 Living a Goddess Life - Review
Books, Books and More Books - Review
15 Marked by Books - Excerpt 8
16 Blood, Sweat and Books - Review
My Seryniti - Review
17 Bookworm Lisa - Review
Mortality Bites - Excerpt 9
18 Getting Your Read On - Review
The Broke Book Bank Interview 10

19 Grand Finale Blast!!

Total Book Geek

What must he overcome to protect her?

With no clue of what to do next and the responsibility of looking after Alex and Mia as promised, Kale is up to his ears in problems and no solutions. How will Kale save Ella, keep Alex and Mia safe, control Jace as well as control the Bloodlust that creeps beneath the surface waiting to be released? Will Kale be Ella’s savior or will he convict her to a fate worse than the one Laurent has already promised her?

What truths will she learn?

Ella knows that the choices she makes affects not only her but everyone else around her, but what about the choices made to find her? Ella learns the truth about the death of her parents, learns that the ones she thought she could trust aren’t so trustworthy after all.
How will Ella handle these betrayals, and will she be able to sacrifice what is necessary to obtain eternal life?

Excerpt:

“You should be sleeping Ella.” Kale’s voice was low and sent warm _______ up my spine.

“I couldn't sleep.” That wasn’t a lie. Though I was exhausted, a nightmare had me grasping for some form of reality. I needed the one person that grounded me and made me feel safe.

Kale’s voice was soft and full of concern. “Why not? Is it Jace?”

“No, it’s not Jace.”

“Then what is it?”

“Doesn’t ______,” I fumbled with the phone suddenly nervous about my phone call. I didn’t want us to argue about my ________ to stay with Jace versus going back to Alex’s parent’s house. I needed Kale and what hurt the most was that the only thing separating this time was him. Well, not Kale, but la Luxure inside of him. We had accomplished and overcome so much, but still, here we were with another hurdle placed in front of us. Mother Nature couldn’t even make a mountain as big as the hurdle before us.

Kale sighed. “What is it?” My silence must have made him realize that something was wrong, but I didn't want to worry him. I just ______ to hear his voice.

“Nothing, it was nothing that you need to be concerned about I _______.”

“Hmm… You are a horrible liar.” Kale chuckled.

“Well, I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Yeah, you would.”

“I miss you,” I whispered. I was scared Kale would give me the whole, ‘You have to move on for your own safety,’ speech. I closed my eyes and waited for the words that always seemed to come. My heart pumped in my chest and I had to fight control my breathing.

“I miss you too.” His words brought a smile to my face. I relaxed into my pillow and then turned to my side. The light from the moon illuminated the room enough for me to see the bag I’d packed placed under the desk and not for the first time, I doubted that I had made the right decision to leave Kale back in Moose Nose. “He’s dangerous,” Jace said over and over and unfortunately Kale agreed, but there was something that kept me _________ if Jace had an ulterior motive.

“I was ________ about you and I wanted to hear your voice,” I snuggled under the warmth covers. I missed the few days that Kale and I had together before la Luxure made him go all crazy. I missed his arms ______ me as we slept, the warmth of his breath as he placed his mouth on my neck for the sweetest goodnight kiss I'd ever experienced, but most of all I missed the waking up in his arms.

“What were you thinking about me?” Kale asked in a breathy voice. It was amazing to be able to _____ an intimacy with Kale yet know that there was still so much more to explore with him, but I was still lonely. I still needed the reassurance that he would fight for us even when he thought that he would only bring me pain and sadness. “Is it my sexy voice, boyish good looks or maybe my breath taking kisses?” Kale added a noisy kiss for good measure and I couldn’t help but to laugh.

“Honestly, I can’t get your kisses out of my head, but that wasn’t all I was thinking about at the moment.”

“Naughty girl,” Kale growled and I chuckled.

“Learned from the best,” I said _______ a yawn. “Will you stay on the phone with me until I fall asleep again?” I squeezed my eyes tighter refusing to let the tears fall. I was stronger than before and I had a plan. I knew it would work and I also realized that I would have to ask Jace to help me get to the Council of Immortals in Alaska, but I still had faith in my plan. If Kale could sacrifice his life and the things he held close to his heart for me, then I would do my part in keeping us ________.

“Ella, I’d give anything to be there beside you.” I could hear the sincerity in his voice and it fueled my desire to be with him.

“I __________ that for now, this will have to work,” I said fighting another yawn.

“For now?”

“We will be together soon Kale, you may not believe it but it will happen. We have been through far too much to give up now.” My hopes were up, hell, they had blasted through the ceiling, but I wasn’t going to tell Kale why because he’d fight me on it and I couldn't have that.

“Go to sleep Ella, I’ll stay on the phone with you.” Kale’s voice still held doubt but I had enough faith for the ____ of us.

“No,” feeling a bit defiant I continued, “I want you to talk to me, Kale.” I heard him sigh on the other end of the phone. It didn't sound annoying or restless, but I had to wonder. When would this get old to him? Yes, he’d followed me throughout time and yes, he _____ my soul, but how long could he hold on to himself and beat la Luxure? There was so much at stake and I couldn't let that get me down nor could I let him doubt our future. “Want to hear a secret?” I asked lowering my voice. There was a brief moment of silence before Kale spoke.

“Yes, tell me.” ____________ laced his voice and I stifled a giggle. “And then to bed, baby.” I almost groaned when he called me baby. His terms of endearment always made me melt, just a little, even when I was angry or sad.

“I dream about you,” I ________ with a smile. There were times at night where my dreams of Kale would wake me up. My heart would stutter or pound in my chest; I’d be short of breath thinking of the life he and I could start when all of this was over.

“You dream of me?” Kale chuckled. “That isn’t some big secret seeing as how I often daydream about you. Ella, I have dreamed about the life that I know you deserve and the life that you will more than likely have with me, but most of all I dream about dating you, learning your wants and fears, _________ for an apartment with you and living in the shack in some Podunk town.” It was nice to know that Kale’s dreams of our future were attainable. “Then placing a ring on your finger, we’d walk down the aisle where the people we love gathered and watched as we make the ultimate commitment.”

“Oh God Kale we can have that,” I said.

“What _____ kids, I can never give you any.” I started to lie and say that I didn't want kids, but I was way too young to make a decision like that. “The Council of Immortals will always hunt me and that would include you even if you weren’t the Arc. You will have to run with me and I can’t convict you to a life like that, I just can’t and the more you ask it of me the harder it is for me to do the right thing and walk away.” How dare he make this decision for the both of us?

“I agree that you ______ do the right thing, Kale, but you don’t get to decide what is or isn’t good for me, it should be a decision we make together. Now, promise me you will think about it.”

“I promise, now go to sleep, Ella. I’ll still be here in this cage when you wake.” I didn't speak. I closed my eyes and let sleep take me. He wouldn’t be in that cage ____ longer no matter what he thought.

About the Author:
Inger Iversen lives in Virginia Beach with her tree-hugging boyfriend Joshua and her overweight lap cat Max. When not reading or writing she spends her time watching reruns of True Blood or killing zombies in Call Of Duty.

Connect with Inger Iversen:

Facebook - Twitter - GoodReads - Blog - Website

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION
Everyone who successfully completes the excerpt with the key words in the correct order will be entered into a giveaway. The winners will then be randomly selected. The following prizes are up for grabs:

Grand Prize
One lucky winner will receive a print copy of Few Are Angels, Awakened, and an ARC of Immortal Heart by Inger Iversen! The release date for Immortal Heart is September 13th and the ARCs will not be available until June so there will be a short delay in receiving the prize.

First & Second Place Winners
Two runner ups will receive an eBook copy of both Few Are Angels and Awakened by Inger Iversen!