This book is awesome. I even gave it a blurb!
“By Blood effortlessly transports you to the cobblestone streets and small pubs of Oxford, and Emma’s sassy voice pulls you right into the story with its hot British boys and touch of magic. A must read!” —Susanne Winnacker, author of Impostor and The Other Life
Synopsis:
For 17-year-old Emma Wong, spending a summer in England should be a dream come true. Gorgeous scenery? Check. Lots of hot guys with accents? Yes, please.
Throw in an estranged mom, annoying new stepdad, and drooling baby half-brother, and it’s a disaster even her favorite cherry red leather jacket can’t fix. Even worse, there’s (hot) live-in research assistant Josh to contend with. The only thing more embarrassing than drunk-kissing him hours after they meet? Knowing he’ll be witness to her family’s dysfunction all. summer. long.
But when Emma meets a mysterious girl who happens to be a Druid, her vacation suddenly promises to be far more intriguing than she anticipated. Powerful rituals, new friends, an intoxicating sense of freedom...and Simon, the sexy foreign stranger she was hoping for. It’s all a perfect distraction from dirty diapers and awkward family dinners.
Trouble is, intriguing doesn’t often mean simple. And Emma is about to discover just how not simple her life really is.
By Blood is a novel about the ways that blood can bind us to others – or tear us apart.
Throw in an estranged mom, annoying new stepdad, and drooling baby half-brother, and it’s a disaster even her favorite cherry red leather jacket can’t fix. Even worse, there’s (hot) live-in research assistant Josh to contend with. The only thing more embarrassing than drunk-kissing him hours after they meet? Knowing he’ll be witness to her family’s dysfunction all. summer. long.
But when Emma meets a mysterious girl who happens to be a Druid, her vacation suddenly promises to be far more intriguing than she anticipated. Powerful rituals, new friends, an intoxicating sense of freedom...and Simon, the sexy foreign stranger she was hoping for. It’s all a perfect distraction from dirty diapers and awkward family dinners.
Trouble is, intriguing doesn’t often mean simple. And Emma is about to discover just how not simple her life really is.
By Blood is a novel about the ways that blood can bind us to others – or tear us apart.
And here's what other people had to say about By Blood:
“A five star read from start to finish. Un-put-downable!” —Vanessa Garbin, author of the forthcoming Captivate
"Emma's sarcastic, biting narrative and the lure of Celtic myth and magic constructs a brilliant book to cosy up with...if you dare!" ~ 21st Century Once Upon a Times blog
"Love this book! It's a sweet little gem and I am glad that I got to read it! If you are looking for a story that is fun and quick, then I would recommend this book. You will want to know what happens to Emma in the matters of boys, family and adventure!" ~ Sarah, Me My Shelf And I blog
And Tracy even wrote a little guest post about kickass girls (don't we all love strong girls?). Here it is:
##
GUEST POST ~ THE BEAUTY OF A BADASS CHICK
One of my biggest role models when I was in
high school was Buffy Summers, of Buffy
the Vampire Slayer. Growing up, I constantly felt like I had to prove I was
just as strong/smart/brave as the boys.
And here was Buffy, a short, dainty blond chick who was constantly
underestimated…and then totally kicked people’s butts.
The truth is, being a girl can be awfully
scary sometimes. It’s just a fact of nature that we’re often shorter or weaker
than our male counterparts, and that can lead to moments where we feel
powerless or out of control.
Emma, the main character in By Blood, is a short, curvaceous chick,
but it was really important to me that she also be strong enough to take care
of herself. Not with special powers, but with knowledge and a little skill. Her
dad’s a cop and she helps him teach self-defense classes, so she has the tools
to defend herself (which, yes, she has occasion to use in By Blood! ;-)).
Here’s a little peek at one of these classes:
Dad moved to stand behind me, then simulated a
slow-motion attack so I could demonstrate as I explained the best techniques to
evade or incapacitate an assailant. I walked the girls through “SING” – solar
plexus, instep, nose, groin – and they laughed at the funny face Dad made when
I pretended to hit him in the crotch.
“Remember,” I said, “it doesn’t matter how tall or
short you are, or whether you’re in shape.” I made a grand gesture that started
at my black sneakers and swept up purple leg warmers, black leggings, to the
loose gray tunic that clung to my curves. “I’m not exactly intimidating, right?
I’m shorter than most of you for one thing. But that doesn’t mean I can’t
protect myself.” I shifted my position, ready for the next move. “The more we
practice, the more muscle memory we build, so our instincts when in danger will
be the right instincts.”
Now came the best part—the part that got the oohs and
aahs. Dad reached over my shoulders and before you could say “speeding ticket”
I had him on the floor, belly up on the mat. The girls started clapping and a
couple laughed in surprise. Dad grinned up at me. I loved that he let me lead
the class, and that he was okay with me throwing him around in front of a bunch
of girls. Not all cops were cool like that. Not all Dads either.
There are lots of places to take
self-defense classes, and resources online and elsewhere that can give you tips
on how to protect yourself. As Emma says, you don’t have to be in great shape
or a black belt to save yourself in a scary moment. All you need is knowledge –
and maybe a little practice!
Here’s an example of some good self-defense
tips!
http://lifehacker.com/5825528/basic-self+defense-moves-anyone-can-do-and-everyone-should-know
##
Doesn't Tracy's post make you want to read By Blood even more?
Tracy E. Banghart is a cheesy movie–loving,
fantasy football–playing (go Ravens!), globe-trotting Army wife who began
“practicing” her craft at the age of five, when she wrote her first story. She
loves visiting the international friends she met while pursuing her MA in
Publishing and spends a portion of every summer at her family’s cabin in
Canada, where she finds inspiration and lots of time to relax on the dock. She
lives with her husband, son, two lazy dogs and one ornery cat. When not writing
or spending time with her family, she is on a mission to bake the perfect
cupcake.
Tracy’s next novel, Moon Child, a companion to By
Blood, will be available this August!
LINKS:
Giveaway:
Giveaway Prize Pack #1 (US only)
Signed paperback copy of By Blood
Plus (all hardcover):
Beauty Queens, by Libba Bray
Starcrossed, by Josephine Angelini
The Body Finder, by Kimberly Derting
Jane, by April Lindner
By the Time You Read This, I’ll Be Dead, by Julie Anne Peters
Sean Griswold’s Head, by Lindsey Leavitt
Under the Never Sky, by Veronica Rossi
Slide, by Jill Hathaway
Wither, by Lauren DeStefano
Imaginary Girls, by Nova Ren Suma
Giveaway Prize Pack #2 (Intl)
Plus (all hardcover):
Beauty Queens, by Libba Bray
Starcrossed, by Josephine Angelini
The Body Finder, by Kimberly Derting
Jane, by April Lindner
By the Time You Read This, I’ll Be Dead, by Julie Anne Peters
Sean Griswold’s Head, by Lindsey Leavitt
Under the Never Sky, by Veronica Rossi
Slide, by Jill Hathaway
Wither, by Lauren DeStefano
Imaginary Girls, by Nova Ren Suma
Giveaway Prize Pack #2 (Intl)
Signed paperback copy of By Blood + $50 Amazon Gift Card
