Giveaway and Book Recommendation: The Veil

This is my good friend,  Cory Putman Oakes:

Cory is amazing.  A former lawyer, she now juggles full-time mommyhood with a flourishing career as a novelist.  She writes, edits, and manages publication deadlines during her toddler's naptime.    She also maintains a gorgeous home, throws creative parties, cooks original recipes, and completes P90X in her spare time.  To top it off, Cory's a genuine friend who, within hours of a major disaster striking you, will show up at your home with homemade baked goods and hugs.  Cory's a bit younger than I am, but I nevertheless aspire to be as cool as she is when I grow up!


Today is extraordinarily special for Cory, because after years of hard work, she is releasing her debut young adult urban fantasy novel, The Veil, published by Octane Press:

The Veil is a paranormal romance set in Marin County, California.  Here's the publisher's blurb:

Seventeen-year-old Addison Russell is in for a shock when she discovers that she can see the invisible world of the Annorasi.  Suddenly, nothing is as it appears to be -- the house she lives in, the woman who raised her, even the most beautiful boy in town all turn out to be more than what they seem.  And when this strange new world forces Addy to answer for a crime that was committed long ago, by parents she has never known, she has no choice but to trust Luc, the mysterious Annorasi who has been sent to protect her.  Or so he says...

Sounds good, doesn't it?  I had the privilege of reading a manuscript of The Veil, and I liked that while it's accessible and appropriate for young adults, it's also a page-turner for grown-ups.  I read it straight-through, with no breaks, twice!  And as a mom of girls, I also appreciated the strong female protagonist and the clean language.  If you enjoy the fantasy worlds created by Stephanie Meyer, J.K. Rowling, and Madeleine L'Engle, you'll immerse yourself in Cory's world of the Annorasi.  I'm not the only one who thinks so; the reviews so far have been great, like this one by Emelie Saunders on The Pioneer Woman:   "It was rejuvenating to read a fantasy novel without vampires or werewolves....This was the book I have been looking for all this summer."


To celebrate The Veil's release, I am honored to give away an author-signed copy of The Veil to a cul-de-sac reader.  Cory will even personalize her inscription, if you wish to give it as a gift to a young reader (perfect for the holidays!) or keep it for yourself.  


Here are five ways to enter -- you can use any or all of them to increase your chances of winning:


1.  Subscribe to Cory's blog and then leave a comment here telling me you did.


2. Add The Veil to your reading list on Goodreads and leave a comment here telling me you did.


3.  Ask your library to purchase a copy of The Veil and leave a comment here telling me you did.


4.  Become a Google Friend Connect follower of the cul-de-sac and leave a comment here telling me you did.


5.  Blog, tweet, or post on Facebook about this giveaway and leave a comment here telling me you did. 

Entries close Wednesday, November 9, at 6 pm Central.  If you don't win, don't despair: just purchase your own copy at Amazon, support a wonderful writer who is making her publication dreams come true, and transport yourself to the fascinating world of the Annorasi!


Happy Reading!


(this giveaway is now closed --- winner will be announced soon!)