Mel & Lana's Top 10 Indie Authors of 2012 & Giveaway

While contemplating our favorite books of 2012, Lana and I realized there were quite a few Indie books that  topped our charts. Then we realized that a lot of those were series written by some pretty amazing Indie authors. We then decided we had to spread the love around and devote a post to the lovely authors who've made us love supporting Indies. These aren't in any kind of order. Enjoy! 

D.T. Dyllin is the author of the P.J. Stone Gates Trilogy & The Death Trilogy.  I was lucky enough to read an arc of Enemy Through the Gates (before Dyllin signed with Dragonfairy Press and changed the name to Hidden Gates).  P.J.'s story had me hooked from the very beginning. And I really loved that it was New Adult, so it was a bit steamier than the YA I'd been reading a lot of before that.  I cannot wait for the second book in the series. ~Mel 

Goodreads / Amazon Author Page/ Website / Twitter /Facebook

Kaye Thornbrugh is the author of paranormal YA novel, Flicker. I got the chance to read this AH-MAH-ZING faerie book a few months ago and it is still one of my absolute favorites (and I am very, very picky person when it comes to the fae). I loved Lee from the start and still wish to kidnap and keep Filo (though I do ship him with Alice...Alice, Lana, they both have L's...). The second book in the Flicker series cannot come fast enough! ~Lana

Blog / Goodreads /  Facebook / Twitter / Amazon Author Page

Frankie Rose is the author of the phenomenal  Hope Series and the upcoming Raksha. I read Sovereign Hope in July and I have been completely besotted with the series ever since. When I finished it, I was sure I'd have to wait at least another year for the next installment. I was very happy when Eternal Hope released in October of the same year.  Aside from being a fantastically talented author, Frankie makes kick-ass book trailers & covers and she's  a pretty  fabulous person. We adore her. ~Mel 

Goodreads / Facebook / Website / Twitter / You Tube  / Amazon Author Page

J Meyers is the author of Intangible, Intuition and Indomitable. After being raged at for MONTHS by Mel (she knows she did xP) I finally picked Intangible up. It was my first Indie Novel and is the main reason I adore indie authors now. I devour anything Miss Meyers sets in front of her readers and cannot wait (can. not. wait.) for the second Intangible novel! ~Lana

Goodreads / Facebook / Amazon Author Page / Twitter 

Ada Adams  is the author of the Angel Creek Series.  One of the many reasons I adore Ada is that she took a genre (vampires) that I felt was quickly becoming overdone and gave it a complete overhaul and the result was ReVamped. The title is so very fitting. Ada Adams made vampires fun for me to read about again and honestly, I didn't think it could be done.  So again, I thank you, Ada for writing books that I am now hopelessly addicted to.~Mel  

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Amazon Author Page  /Facebook

 Stacey Rourke is the author of the amazing Gryphon series- The Conduit, Embrace, and Sacrifice. Let me tell you, I adore these books. Celeste (has an awesome name) is a kickass character with a smartass sense of humor that I just love, and the rest of her characters are all deep and wonderful and it... It is just an amazing series. I ADORE it! ~Lana

Goodreads / Amazon Author Page / Facebook / Blog

Michelle Warren is the author of the captivating Seraphina Parrish Trilogy.  She is also the very first Indie author I ever encountered. I can't thank her enough for opening the door to some amazing new stories & friends. Her books are enchanting and they draw you in from the very beginning and they don't let go. She also been kind to her readers by publishing Protecting Truth less than a year after Wander Dust. Now, we're holding our breath waiting for the finale of this wonderful series. ~Mel 

Facebook / Twitter / Website / Amazon Author Page / Goodreads 

Cora Carmack is the author of NYT Best Seller, LOSING IT. I had heard many good things about the book when I first picked it up, and I have to say it is one of my favorites this year (see our Best Of post and you shall see I am not lying). I could really relate to Bliss and Garrick, just... Yum. I love him. I wish he would step out of the book... ha. I will definitely be stalking Carmack for any book she drops next! ~Lana

Goodreads / Blog / Twitter / Facebook

Kristen Day is the author of the Daughters of the Sea Trilogy. This series is amazingly addictive and action packed and really different from anything else out right now. We really can't get enough of her or the fantastically hunky male lead, Finn.  We like Stasia, too..honest! Kristen has also spoiled us by releasing both books 1 & 2 (Forsaken & Awaken) in 2012. Lana and I have been yearning for the final book in the series, Chosen.  I have a feeling I'll be devouring it in a day as soon as I can get my hands on it.  ~Mel 

Goodreads / Blog / Twitter / Facebook 

Cambria Hebert is the author of The Heven and Hell series, and Whiteout. I have not finished the Heven and Hell series yet, (damn RL), but let me tell you, it is EPIC (and I rarely use this word). So twisty and dangerous and..and...ACH I adore it. Cambria herself is a sweetheart and hilarious, and I really hope to meet her (and really, I wish to meet everyone on this list) at UtopYA this year! <3 ~Lana

Goodreads / Website / Facebook / Twitter

And now because we love you ALL so very much, we've decided to throw in a giveaway as well! Good luck! This is open internationally! 

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Mel & Lana's Best of 2012 & Giveaway

Hello there, fellow readers! This has certainly been an interesting year for us. Not only did we change our name, we have grown so much & you're all the ones to thank for that. So, Lana and I decided that we'd like to do a 'Best of' post to send 2012 off in style and add a swell giveaway for you all to enter as well, to show you our unending appreciation for your support!  We hope you all have a safe and happy New Year's Eve! 

2012 was really a stellar year for books, in my opinion. When Lana and I set out to pick our Top 5 Best Books of 2012, I don't think either of us knew how hard it would be. These aren't in any sort of order, here are my Top 5 Books of 2012. 

Buy: 

Amazon

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Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry was one of those books that made me run the emotional gamut as I read it.  I have been raving about it ever since the moment I finished it. McGarry introduces us to a stellar cast of complex characters with more story than can be told in one installment.  I can't wait to get my hands on the second book in the series, Dare You To. 

Buy: 

Amazon

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Rules of Negotiation by the always lovely Inara Scott was probably my easiest pick, honestly. It has everything you could possibly want in a romance novel and then some. I mean it; Scott jam packs her stories with humor, heart, passion and fantastic characters. I dare you to read one of her books and not fall in love. 

Buy:

Amazon

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Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi was the very first book I read in 2012 and you could   say it set the tone for the entire year for me. What a fantastic idea; scary, yes- but still fantastic. And the characters were wonderful and it was brilliantly written. I am eagerly awaiting book #2,  Through the Ever Night. 

Buy:

Amazon

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CRUSH was my introduction to the awesomeness that is Lacey Weatherford. I could not stop reading this book and as soon as I finished it, I wanted to pick it back up again. It has a little bit of everything in it, action, suspense, humor, and steamy romance. *Sigh* Plus just look at that cover! Can't wait for the sequel, Smitten! 

Buy:

Amazon

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Dash & Lily's Book of Dares was the first book I read by the dynamic duo of Rachel Cohn & David Levithan. I devoured it in a day and then spent the next few weeks raving to anyone within hearing distance about how much I adored it. The way these two authors work together is brilliant and the characters are immensely likable. Add the extremely fun plot and you have a real gem on your hands. 

Buy:

Amazon

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I am almost positive that anyone who has been following the blog all year is sick to death of seeing this cover.. But I (obviously) cannot tell you all enough how much I love this book. It is a jack of all trades, and I honestly cannot wait for the next installment, Flicker & Burn (August 20th, 2013). I am literally counting the days-- Cliffhangers do that to me.

Buy:

Amazon

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This book is a lot better than I thought it would be, too. I read through this in one sitting and honestly wished I'd taken my time with it. I love the story and I love that our protagonist is male. I really love this book and I can still get teary over it if I think too hard on it. *sniffles* A favorite.

Buy:

Amazon

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Now THIS book was a million times better than I even expected. And I expected a lot of this. I suppose I'm biased because I really do love Chris Colfer, but honestly, if I didn't know better, you couldn't have convinced me this was him. This book was so funny my ribs ached for days and the ending tore me apart (and I am a spoiler hound- I knew what was gonna happen!). Definitely one of my favorites this year.

Buy:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Let's be honest-- I bought this for the cover.. Be real, people, it is hot and steamy without being so graphic I wince. I desperately want a paperback on my shelves so I know I can never lose it (no pun intended, I swear). Bliss is hilarious and real and Garrick is just... omnomnom. I adore this book- The best romance novel I've read.

Buy:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

And this... I want to marry this book. I still am not over the emotional roller coaster that is BUTTER. I think it is still my all-time-favorite-book-ever. It is heartbreaking and disgusting and beautiful and terrible and wonderful and...and...if I keep talking about it I WILL go read it again and I simply cannot do that to myself yet. But it is my favorite and I will tell everyone to read it. PERF.

And here is the Giveaway! Good luck to all of you! This is open internationally & remember that you have 24 hours to respond when we choose the winners before you forfeit your prize.

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Jillian Dodd Appreciation Day Giveaway

“THANK YOU Jillian for all that you do!” 

Friends of Jillian Dodd are showing their appreciation! 

In appreciation for the hard work and effort indie author Jillian Dodd does behind the scenes for authors, her writing friends are offering YOU the chance to win one of her books! You can choose from one of the Keatyn Chronicles: STALK ME or KISS ME. Or maybe you prefer one of the titles in the That Boy series: THAT BOY or THAT WEDDING. All books are New Adult contemporary romance. Good luck!

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*Open Internationally. Books will be gifted from Amazon or Barnes and Noble. If winner does not have an e-reader they can download the Kindle app for free to their computers on Amazon.*

 

Cover Reveal for "Date Me", "Love Me" & "Hate Me" by Jillian Dodd

Today, Jillian Dodd is revealing the next three covers in her Mature Young Adult romance series, The Keatyn Chronicles. The covers were designed by Okay Creations.

DATE ME

 Keatyn Chronicles, #3

Expected released date: April 2013

Goodreads: Date Me

LOVE ME

Keatyn Chronicles, #4

Expected release date: September 2013

Goodreads: Love Me

HATE ME

Keatyn Chronicles, #5

Expected release date: January 2014

Goodreads: Hate Me

Jillian Dodd grew up on a farm in Nebraska, where she developed a love for Midwestern boys and Nebraska football. She has drank from a keg in a cornfield, attended the University of Nebraska, got to pass her candle, and did have a boy ask her to marry him in a bar. She met her own prince in college, and they have two amazing children, a Maltese named Sugar Bear, and two Labrador puppies named Camber Lacy and Cali Lucy.

She is the author of the That Boy Trilogy and The Keatyn Chronicles Series.

Jillian Dodd | Facebook | Twitter

'Eternal Hope' by Frankie Rose: Trailer Reveal

Eternal Hope

Hope Series Book #2 

By Frankie Rose

Publication Date: October 2, 2012

He loves me, he loves me not, he loves me

When your friends go missing and you don’t know if they’re dead or alive; when you tie your soul to the one you love; when you kill to protect and your family suffers, there’s only one thing you can do:

Move to Montana.

Farley Hope is special. She was prophesied to kill the forebears of her bloodline- a race of cold-blooded Reavers, men who steal the souls of the living to gain power. The Quorum had counted on Farley ending her own life in the process, but when Kayden came to her aid and helped save both her and Daniel, he undid their plans. Now the Quorum are displeased, not only with Kayden, but with Farley and Daniel too. Though her father is now dead, Farley’s troubles with the Reavers are far from over. An ancient Immortal, trapped for a thousand years, wants Farley for himself, and he will stop at nothing to claim her.

With secrets that lead to anger and pain, that turn friendship to dust, the group must overcome the problems within their own circle before they have a hope of fighting off the powers that threaten their lives.

You guys all know how much Lana & I loved Eternal Hope so we are super excited to share the AWESOME trailer with you!! Be sure to add this kick ass book to your to read list on Goodreads!

Frankie Rose was born in the United Kingdom, but now lives with her husband in sunny Australia.

She officially makes things up for a living, and when she's not doing that, she is generally making paper birds out of receipts and old lists or taking photographs that make her smile.

'His Black Wings' by Astrid Yrigollen Blog Tour: Excerpt

 His Black Wings

By Astrid Yrigollen 

 Claren Maidstone has been forced to flee her childhood home after the death of her parents and a vicious assault from a sadistic young man who intends to marry her. Claren changes her identity and finds employment as an assistant to the handsome Fredrick Lowood, a generous yet mysterious benefactor. However, she soon finds out his generosity comes at a price. Fredrick wishes for Claren to befriend his disfigured son who resides in seclusion at their estate, Westwind. Fredrick Lowood knows what the history books do not teach, that the Grand Council built this new world of peace and beauty on hidden blood and greed. He has plotted for years to bring down the family that enslaved his own people. Suddenly, he has the last living heir in his grasp.

 Etrigan Lowood rejects the world that forces him to hide. He is powerful, plagued with a terrible dark beauty: WINGS. It is these wings that carry him out only at night to watch the unwanted intruder in his home. A creature of refined instinct yet little social grace, he is strangely captivated by Claren but knows nothing of how her family’s dark past is intertwined with his own . Through their blossoming friendship, Etrigan realizes he still retains his human heart and yearns for Claren’s love. Kurten Wandsworth is the only son of the Mayor of St.Marhen. Kurten lives his life fueled by cruelty and lust. Whatever he wants he takes and he wants Claren to be his wife even it if kills her. Scarred by Claren he hunts her down mercilessly until he can set a trap which she will never be able to escape from.

Author Astrid Yrigollen has stopped by today with a teaser of her new book  His Black Wings.

Prologue

I didn’t know what to say, so I sat there stupidly. He grinned at me from behind white teeth. His ice blue eyes held a coldness and judgment I had not seen before. My heart fluttered and felt like a huge fish was rolling over in my breast. “Well?” He said as he traced the outline of my knee through my heavy skirt with his slender, white finger. “What is your wish, Claren?” My heart, upon hearing him use my real name beat harder. I felt the adrenaline push itself through my veins. He seemed to be aware of it, and licked his lips quickly. “I don t know what is it you ask Sir.” I stammered, my own voice sounding as a child’s would when confronted with some wrong doing. He had used my real name. Was it safe to assume he knew who I really was? He stopped smiling and cocked his head to one side, contemplating me. “But you do Claren, you know very well what I want, what you want.” How did it ever come to this? I thought franticly. What was I going to do, now that he knew who I was? He seemed to read my thoughts in my eyes because he answered my question without it ever being posed. "What will I do indeed? What can I do is the question, Claren. Here we are on a train, bound for the quaint countryside. No alarm has been raised, no Porter is valiantly trying to fight for your honor or to even help and cover your embarrassment, your lies. Thus, it shall remain so. At least, until we arrive at our destination." “Then what?” I questioned quietly. I am resolved to die, but not without a fight. He knows this. That is why he will not attempt to take me here, on a train full of people. My question hangs in the air between us, like a solid thing. He still has not answered as the whistle of our train shrieks into the wind, we race into the tunnel, blackness engulfing our private car.

  Buy Links: 

Amazon

 

 Astrid started her writing career when she begun work for the international video game giant, Sega of America. Working her way up the ranks, she began writing companion guides for games. With a love for writing fiction since childhood, she took her short stories out of storage and had her first story ever written published. It was only after that she found out that first stories are never published! She has resumed writing full time and has succeeded in putting out the titles, TheDoughnut Tree, Mysterious Pootkins , and The Mosswoods to name a few. Her short stories have appeared in the literary Threshold Press␣ and Shock and Awe Magazine. She finds writing for young adults both refreshing and challenging. She always wishes to provide examples of positive role models, conflict resolving methods and communication for young adults with their parents or guardians.

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'Testing Fate' by Belinda Boring: Cover Reveal

Testing Fate

Mystic Wolves Series Book #3 

By Belinda Boring

Nothing beats the heat of the refiner's fire.

Continue the journey as Darcy faces her greatest challenge to date and fights for her right to mate Mason, the alpha of the Mystic Wolves. Whisked away by the Fates, separated from Mason and Pack, and relying on her friendship with Devlin, this is make or break for Darcy. Everything is on the line.

Will she crumble under the pressure or emerge stronger for testing fate?

How gorgeous is this cover!! Can't wait to read the book!! Remember you can get Book 1-Mystic Wolves for FREE right now!! And Belinda Boring's Broken Promises is only 99 cents!  What are you waiting for?? Go get your swoon on! 

A homesick Aussie living amongst the cactus and mountains of Arizona, Belinda Boring is a self proclaimed addict of romance and all things swoon worthy. When she's not devouring her latest read, you can find her celebrating her passion for book on her blog The Bookish Snob.

With all that excitement, it wasn't long before she began writing, pouring her imagination and creativity into the stories she dreams. Whether urban fantasy, paranormal romance or romance in general, Belinda strives to share great plots with heart and characters that you can't help but connect with. Of course, she wouldn't be Belinda without adding heroes she hopes will curl your toes.

Surrounded by a supportive cast of family, friends and the man she gives her heart and soul to, Belinda is living the good life. Happy reading!

Follow Belinda Boring: 

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99 Authors, 99 Books, 99 cents

These prices are available on Amazon only.

For a listing of books offered and to enter to win, click here!!

 

'Lucifer' by Annabell Cadiz: Cover Reveal

Lucifer 

Sons of Old Trilogy Book #1 

By Annabell Cadiz

Expected Publication Date: January 31, 2013 

Have you ever wondered what could be hiding in the shadows?

Well, for eighteen-year-old Zahara Faraday, she doesn’t have to wonder. You see she comes from a lineage of Light Witches, those who have chosen to help protect and serve between the supernatural world and the human world. The only problem is Zahara, like her father Solomon, is as human as a human being can be whereas her mother, Mia, and her Aunt Catalina, were born as Light Witches. As a family they hunt down rogue supernaturals—creatures who harm humans or who have committed an act against their kingdom.

Zahara’s hunting skills are usually kept dormant since her parents would prefer she live life as a normal human girl without knowledge of the supernatural world. She plans on doing just that—except when she finds a couple being attacked by fairies, she has no choice but to step in. Before she can return to pretending to be blissfully ignorant, Zahara encounters a problem she isn’t the least equip to handle: Bryan Hamilton, the good looking new co-worker she has to help train. In a heartbeat, her best friend, Becca King, has set her up on a double date with herself and her new crush, Rekesh Saint-Louis, who happens to be the most powerful leader of the biggest Imago Coven in South Florida –supernatural creatures with the ability to control water . . . and suck out human souls.

Zahara has no time to focus on how she’s going to explain her double date with her best friend and the enemy they have a tentative truce with to her parents because soon one of the members of Mia and Catalina’s coven is found murdered with a strange tattoo of a snake with wings carved into his arm.

Zahara is then thrown into a whirlwind battle with an angel determined to have revenge against God, an Imago coven she doesn’t think they should trust, and slew of dream-eating fairies and powerful Nephilims, hybrid children of angels and humans, more than happy to rip her to shreds.

Normal just got a deadlier definition.

Add Lucifer to Your To-Read Shelf on Goodreads!

Go Inside Lucifer (Sons of Old Trilogy, #1)

Coming January 31, 2013!

“Care to dance?” Bryan asked, already leading Zahara to the dance floor.

She pulled him back and shook her head. “I’m the worst dancer! My feet, hips, and body don’t know how to coordinate well together, so I wind up looking like an ostrich trying to bust a move.”

Bryan laughed and pulled her onto the dance floor. “Whether you look like an ostrich or a ballerina dancer, you’re still the best lookin’ one here.”

He spun her around and placed his hands on her hips, attempting slowly to move her in the same rhythm as his own. At first Zahara’s body moved stiffly, even under Bryan’s warm and smooth hands, which were sending shivers creeping up her spine and around her midsection; she couldn’t stop looking around the club. Stuck in between a group of scantily clad teenage girls who kept dropping to their knees and bouncing back up, a giggling mass of hysteria, and a Spanish couple pressed so tightly together their dancing came off as borderline sex, Zahara felt like an alien. Even the hyena-sounding girls–who Zahara was pretty sure, were all buzzed and quickly heading to being drunk—moved with more skill than she possessed.

But Bryan pressed her closer against him and placed her arms to circle his neck from behind. He moved a little faster and Zahara fell into step, laying her head against his shoulder and closing her eyes to drown out the crowd. She focused on the hard muscles of Bryan’s chest, his heated breath against her hair, and his fingers gripping her waist. She absently wondered if it was wrong that an angel was dancing inside of a club full of youth, and if this was as weird and exhilarating for him as it was for her. Bryan spun her around to face him and kissed her. He wasn’t as gentle as he usually was, digging his hand into her hair and nibbling on her bottom lip. Zahara whimpered and moved her fingers underneath his shirt, digging her fingers into his back.

Bryan pulled back and laid his forehead against Zahara’s, his breath ragged and intense enough to set her on fire. “You’re making this difficult.”

“Making what difficult?” Zahara huffed.

“Leaving you.” Bryan closed his eyes and kissed her again.

Annabell Cadiz was born in the sweltering heat of South Florida. She was raised surrounded by Puerto Rican chefs and band of siblings that weren’t all related to her. A self-proclaimed nerd and book-a-holic (her room does hold much evidence to prove her claims are justifiable), she created TeamNerd Reviews to showcase her EXTREME love for novels where, along with her best friend, Bridget Strahin, she hosts book reviews, interviews, giveaways, Indie Shoutouts and much more. She also blog tour services for authors. She also had the pleasure of being published in three separate issue of Suspense Magazine. She also adores Cinnamon Teddy Grahams, has an addiction to Minute Maid Orange juice, and is a proud Jesus Freak. She is working on getting LUCIFER, the first book in SONS OF OLD TRILOGY ready to be published JANUARY 31, 2013.

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Waiting on Wednesday: Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly even hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spinethat spotlights upcoming releases we're super excited about. This week, my pick is:

Walking Disaster

Beautiful #2

Jamie McGuire

Expected Publication: April 13th, 2012 by Atria Publishing

How much is too much love?

Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder.

In Walking Disaster, the life of Travis is full of fast women, underground gambling, and violence. Just when he thought he was invincible, Abby Abernathy brings him to his knees.

Every story has two sides. In Jamie McGuire's New York Times bestseller Beautiful Disaster Abby had her say. Now it's time to see the story through Travis's eyes. (Goodreads)

ASDFGHJKL;

I am so friggin' excited for this, y'all have no idea. A lot of people consider Travis and Abby's relationship to be "abusive" (*sigh*), and I cannot wait to see how it looks from Travis' eyes. He is a wonderful character with a lot of depth, and I am simply sitting on pins and needles for his story to be in my hands! <3

This is my "Waiting On", what's yours?

Teaser Tuesday: 'The Darlings' by Cristina Alger

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly event hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can participate! All you have to do is:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser this week is from:

"For the millionth time, he reminded himself that this wasn't just the best exit strategy; it was the only exit strategy. He had done the math, run the numbers, analyzed the risk." 

pg.3 

That's my teaser, what's yours?