BLOG TOUR~ Fun Facts, Review and Giveaway for The Gryphon Series by Stacey Rourke.

FUN FACTS ABOUT THE GRYPHON SERIES

By Stacey Rourke

1)    Gainesboro is a real town in TN, however it’s not nearly as tiny as I took creative license to make it. It is, however, surrounded by a scenic mountain range.

2)    In Embrace Celeste finds a copy of Silas Marner on Caleb’s nightstand. The book, about a respectable man that’s wrongfully accused of a crime and forced to live as a hermit, struck me as one that would really speak to the man Caleb had become.

  3)  I am creeped out my garden gnomes. There, I said it. When I wrote Sacrifice I included a garden gnome in the list of characters as a way to get myself over that irrational fear. It didn’t work. They still weird me out.

4)    A white owl with gray tipped wings appears for a brief moment in Ascension. That particular scene is a wink and a nod to my editor, Melissa Ringsted, that LOVES owls.

  5)    The line, “The life of a superhero. Glamorous, no?” Appears in all four of the Gryphon Series, only in Ascension is that line slightly altered.

  

 The Gryphon Series

Young Adult Fantasy/Humor

By Stacey Rourke

To see other stops on the tour for reviews, guest posts, and excerpts click here.

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      

My Review

This book was so much fun to read! I absolutely adored the humor that kept itself present through the entire read! You really feel like you are right there with Celeste enduring  the sibling bantering and can't help but cheer her on with her witty thoughts and responses! I, by nature am a very sarcastic person so this read just felt perfect for me! The humor of Celeste was not all! Trust me everyone of the siblings, including grams will make you laugh quite a few times! Put all the humor aside, you have evil ex soldiers whom turn into dragons, his soldiers whom turn into panthers and mythical creatures like guides and a Gryphon! So, curl up in bed or on the couch (maybe not at work, you may get busted for laughing to much) and enjoy the book!  You will be left wanting more.

Buy HERE (Free)                        

Embrace

     RONE Award Winner Best YA Paranormal Work of 2012

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.    

My Review    

When I read Stacey Rourke's first book in the series I was beyond amazed at how incredible of a story I was reading! I thought there was no way she could top it in another book. Well, I was proved wrong in so many ways!

Stacey once again provides you with that laugh out loud hysterical ride with the Garrett siblings we all loved in The Conduit and brings it to an even higher level of fun with the Dark Army Glee Club!!! A Demon Glee club! Seriously hilarious!

                                                 

Buy HERE ($2.99)

Sacrifice

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.

 My Review

Where on earth do I even start! Oh, I know where...My love for this series! (Good place, huh).

I have been a huge fan of this series since I got my hands on her first book The Conduit! I had never actually LOL'ed while reading a book. My family kept looking at me like I was nuts! (okay, they may not be to far off on that one, but shhh...don't tell them I said that) Embrace, book two had me doing the same thing, The Sidekick Chronicle a Novella as well (The swan scene..OMG..) Now bring in Sacrifice............. Darn you, Stacey! Darn you! You changed up on me! Instead of LOL'ing constantly I had to add tissues! Yes, I said add cause it's still a hilarious read but there are some moments you need those tissues!  Someone is suppose to be getting married! (I almost gave away who and had to delete..Ooooppssyyyy) I say suppose to be because well.....that darn Dark Army is at it again..They just won't give those Garrett's a break!(Not that we want them to) but anyhooooo..........The dress fitting kind of gets a bit buggy, Kendall does some things WAY out of character ( make you want to smack her upside the head and knock sense in to her kind of stuff), The bachelorette party get's some...interesting visitors, we have a bit of heartache (okay, a lot), our wonderful gnome's true intentions are revealed and we develop an issue to where we actually have to decide..are we team Rowan or Caleb!! I know right?!?!?!?! I can't believe this! How do you chose that!!!! HOW?!?!?! Why did you do that to me, Stacey? WHY?    

Needless to say I loved all the event's in Sacrifice! Poor Celeste..Her brothers relationship,her Grams..Jello shots, her mom and Kendall a stripper all in one scene! HAHAHA! Priceless! Just, just priceless.... I can't even express to you how much you need to read this book or series if you have yet to read the first ones! You get all of it in Sacrifice! Humor, pain, action, sorrow, love, rising love, deception  shock.....I mean really! How can you not want to read this! 

This series is great for all ages! I had NEVER been able to get my teenage daughter to sit down and read a series without forcing her until The Gryphon Series! After reading The Conduit she came to me begging me to give her the rest of the books...Now, she patiently (*shakes head*, not so patiently) awaits for more!

Buy HERE ($2.99)

Ascension, releasing November 2013

From best selling and award winning author Stacey Rourke comes the heart-pounding continuation of the acclaimed Gryphon Series.

The turning point of the Gryphon saga is at hand …

Battle looms. Three unstoppable forces prepare to clash in a colossal explosion that could wipe Gainesboro off the map. Fate and sacred calling have landed nineteen year old Celeste Garrett in the middle with nowhere to run.

Her trust wavers as she uncovers dark secrets of the Council, powerful enough to test her loyalty and turn her against those she swore to protect. Playing to the longing of her heart, a malevolent enemy uses her weakness against her to form an alliance.

With the trumpets of war about to sound, which side will the Conduit choose, and who will be left standing? 

 My Review

Well, just when you think it couldn't get any better than the previous books in this series it does! Talking about keeping things lively! A lot of series you see fade off as they get past the famous "trilogy" level. It's always a gamble after book three to continue! The Trilogy Curse maybe? However Stacey Rourke pulls off book four like the pro she is making Ascension my FAVORITE out of her series! I can't believe I said that!!! Yes! This one surpassed her others in my opinion! Sarcastic humor, sibling teases, character building, action packed, love story, allies and enemies oh my!!!!!  

At one point I wanted to contact her at four in the morning and scream "What was that?!?!?! Why! Why would you do that?!?!?!  I managed to refrain...at least until about Nine A.M. Then it was fair yelling time! Sigh.... I'm still shaking my head in shock! I can't tell you, don't ask! Just.....just..... well, read it! You won't regret it! I was ticked off every time I was interrupted by someone while I read! I mean, REALLY? I know I'm suppose to work but don't they know what it's like to be truly immersed in a book? So, ahem, as I was saying! When it's released in November be sure to grab it! You won't regret it!

"Careful Gryphon girl. Your feline side is showing" 

Buy HERE ($2.99)

Check out all her books by visiting her Amazon page! You don't want to miss out on this fabulous LOL butt kicking girl power series! It even includes a couple of hotties! Did I mention a Pirate? Oh yeah, there's one of those!!! Uh-huh!!! Hubba hubba!
http://www.amazon.com/Stacey-Rourke/e/B0062KO148/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1379963427&sr=8-1

RONE Award Winner for Best YA Paranormal Work of 2012 for Embrace, a Gryphon Series Novel.

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

Stacey Rourke is the author of the YA Fantasy Gryphon Series and the nonfiction
autobiographical I'm Not Crazy, I'm on Lupron; a Journey Through Infertility.
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 the Gryphon Series as well as other literary projects.

Visit her at www.staceyrourke.com

diaryofasemi-crazyauthor.blogspot.com

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

or on Twitter @Rourkewrites.

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