The Dollhouse Asylum by Mary Gray Release Day Book Blitz

Paperback, 296 pages

Expected publication: October 22nd 2013 by Spencer Hill Press

ISBN 1937053644 (ISBN13: 9781937053642)

Edition language: English

Book Blurb

A virus that had once been contained has returned, and soon no place will be left untouched by its
destruction. But when Cheyenne wakes up in Elysian Fields--a subdivision cut off from the world and its monster-creating virus--she is thrilled to have a chance at survival.

At first, Elysian Fields, with its beautiful houses and manicured lawns, is perfect. Teo Richardson, the older man who stole Cheyenne's heart, built it so they could be together. But when Teo tells Cheyenne there are tests that she and seven other couples must pass to be worthy of salvation, Cheyenne begins to question the perfection of his world.

The people they were before are gone. Cheyenne is now "Persephone," and each couple has been re-
named to reflect the most tragic romances ever told. Everyone is fighting to pass the test, to remain in

Elysian Fields. Teo dresses them up, tells them when to move and how to act, and in order to pass the
test, they must play along.

If they play it right, then they'll be safe.

But if they play it wrong, they'll die

Buy Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Add THE DOLLHOUSE ASYLUM to your Goodreads shelf.

Excerpt #1 from Chapter One

 

Gruff fingers yank a blindfold off my face, light splashes into my eyes, and I blink. Gray walls swim about my head, and the ceiling soars much too high above me. I don’t know this place. I was walking to my bathroom when someone grabbed me from behind and forced a sour-smelling cloth over my face and—someone grapples with my hair, and I flinch. Who—who is touching me?

 

I try turning in the flimsy chair, but someone’s grabbing my shoulders, forcing me not to move. Spasms of fear shoot up and down my arms and legs. I try swinging my fists to make them loosen their grip, but my captor’s fingers only tighten.

 

Raising my arm to jab my captor in the gut, I pause. Someone’s laughing. How do I know that sound? It’s beautiful and low, a laugh I could recognize anywhere. Glancing around the sun-filled room, I find the source almost immediately. It’s Teo, my Teo, standing across from me on the hardwood floor, beaming at me. His ebony eyes shine forth like two onyx stones, and even his olive-toned skin makes me breathe a bit shallower. Choking back a strangled laugh—no one’s here to hurt me—I reach out for the love of my life, too tongue-tied to say anything.

 

His lips spread into a thin smile, reminding me of his mouth melting into my own. Fire raged beneath my skin with that kiss and it felt like I was lifted up into the air and floating. It’s been six days since our kiss and we still haven’t been able to talk about it. I tried repeatedly to go into his classroom, but it was like our school had purposely decided to schedule a more than average number of parent-teacher meetings.

 

Locking his eyes on mine, Teo asks, “Manicure?”

 

I glance down at my fingernails, trying to see why he would think I needed a manicure, when my shoulders are released and pale, icy fingers grip my hand. Chills run through me.

 

A flat, tenor voice says, “Yes.” And I’m startled to see my fingernails are actually painted. Clear and shiny.

 

The fingers drop my hand, and my captor walks around to face me. White uniform, white skin, white hair. He’s albino. Who is he?

 

Excerpt #2 from Chapter One

 

“Makeup is good.” Teo taps lightly on a handheld computer screen. “Hair is so-so.” He continues to scan the device, and I don’t like how he’s picking me apart like he’s Photoshopping me. Where are the other students? Or maybe it’s more than I could ever hope: it’s really just the two—three—of us, and he is finally unveiling his feelings. I never expected to fall in love with a teacher, but when I started at Khabela, the Austin math and science school, Teo was the only one who welcomed me. It took me a moment to understand why a math teacher would care that I read Tristan and Isolde, but soon we were knee-deep in conversation about all our favorite classic stories.

 

I wish he’d tell me why he brought me here. Maybe he let my mom know, explained what we

were actually doing.

 

“Teo—?”

 

But I fail for words, the gray walls seeming to snatch at the fear inside me. My palms break out

in a sweat and it’s calculus all over again, where Teo asked me to stand in front of my class to share the index card I had made to memorize last year’s trig functions. While I hate speaking in front of groups, I did it anyway, my heart slamming against the insides of my chest the entire time. When I’d finished, Teo congratulated me, making the fear worth it.

 

Tapping his computer screen, Teo trains his gaze on me again, softening a little. “I cannot tell you how much seeing you here pleases me.”

 

 My heart flip-flops and it’s hard to say anything. He’s happy to see me. It’s all I can do to keep

myself from smiling stupidly.

 

He takes one step toward me and I long to fill the gap. And when he speaks, his voice rings out in

a baritone melody. “I hope you enjoy our little neighborhood, Miss Laurent. The women are on one side of the street, the men on the other. They each have their own houses. Seven again.” His lips perk up into one of those smiles that I love, and I’m reminded of his reverence for the number seven, how he arranges our desks in three rows of seven.

 

Glancing at the wooden door ahead, I open my mouth to ask if he’ll show me this street, when he says, “That is right. You should desire to go through that door. Of course, the choice is yours.” He

gestures behind me. “The back door is always an option.”

 

I turn to find the back door, only to see plastic shadows, slick and dark—body bags—hanging on

a rod by the door. Another one of Teo’s jokes, maybe. A metaphorical exercise. Life without love is not living. See, Miss Laurent, you might as well be dead. But Teo would never hurt me. When we kissed, he held me like a porcelain doll, treasured me.

 

“Front door, then?” Teo asks when I manage to turn back to him, his tone light, almost happy. He

wants to show me this neighborhood that revolves around the number seven. I’m not sure what to make of it, but I want him to show me.

 

Teo and the albino grab me by the arms and force me up, but there’s no reason to be touchy-feely.

Wherever he goes is where I want to be. Teo is brilliant and kind. He would never shatter me.

About the Author

Mary Gray has a fascination with all things creepy. That's why all her
favorite stories usually involve panic attacks and hyperventilating. In real life, she prefers to type away on her computer, ogle over her favorite TV shows, and savor fiction. When she's not immersed in other worlds, she and her husband get their exercise by chasing after their three children. THE DOLLHOUSE ASYLUM is her first novel.

Author Links:

Goodreads | Website | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of THE DOLLHOUSE ASYLUM, author Mary Gray is giving away one signed copy of THE DOLLHOUSE ASYLUM (U.S. only) and an unsigned copy of THE
DOLLHOUSE ASYLUM (open to all). Ends 10/23/13 (midnight).

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway!!!

Blog Tour & Guest Post: The Dollhouse Asylum by Mary Gray

 

A virus that had once been contained has returned, and soon no place will be left untouched by its destruction. But when Cheyenne wakes up in Elysian Fields--a subdivision cut off from the world and its monster-creating virus--she is thrilled to have a chance at survival.

At first, Elysian Fields,with its beautiful houses and manicured lawns, is perfect. Teo Richardson, the older man who stole Cheyenne's heart, built it so they could be together. But when Teo tells Cheyenne there are tests that she and seven other couples must pass to be worthy of salvation, Cheyenne begins to question the perfection of his world.

The people they were before are gone. Cheyenne is now "Persephone," and each couple has been re-named to reflect the most tragic romances ever told. Everyone is fighting to pass the test, to remain in Elysian Fields. Teo dresses them up, tells them when to move and how to act, and in order to pass the test, they must play along.

If they play it right, then they'll be safe.

But if they play it wrong, they'll die.

 

It’s been fascinating to read reviews about my villain. Some confess, almost guiltily, to be in love with him (despite their better judgment) others state he’s awesome as a villain but aren’t all that star struck; and some readers absolutely despise him—his treatment of Cheyenne, and see zero redeeming qualities in his behavior in Elysian Fields.

 

It’s natural for us all to respond differently. That’s how relationships are: we don’t all connect with the same people. Further, we can’t all connect with the same books. But in writing Teo, I thought I’d share exactly what went into him, and why I wrote him the way I did.

 

Growing up, I watched a couple of abusive relationships. Nothing physical (mostly), but it was

emotional abuse, where the men played with the emotions of the girls. I saw how both parties loved each other (even in the men’s twisted and selfish ways, they did love their girls) and what the women would do to try to appease them, make things work. It’s a dark, dark feeling to be around that type of relationship. I would feel so heavy, so miserable that the discomfort became almost physical, a tangible pain.

 

 As a person who’s susceptible to others’ emotions, I feel like I know a little about the sufferings of these women. Empathy, in fact, can be my greatest liability—I want to please others so much that it becomes a fault. That’s where Teo came in. I saw this dark, foreboding, amazingly charismatic person who I was terrified of (just like the men in my real life) but this person was my own personal kryptonite—I became obsessed with him, much like the women were devoted to the men in their lives. I loved his passion for books and math and theater and music and wanted to wrap my arms around him and kiss him. I wanted to go places with him. Listen to him.  I heard his reproaches, and yearned to hear his words of approval, yet inched away when his wrath might be kindled. He still lurks.

How often have we seen an unhealthy devotion such as this? We are in the third wave of feminism, so most women in the US understand how to stand up for themselves, but what of the women who haven’t, who flounder about in an abusive relationship? What goes on in their heads? I wrote a post about Cheyenne, specifically, which you can read in the blog tour; for the purposes of this post, though, I’d like to focus solely on the antagonist.

 

Finally, a word about Marcus. Because, how can you understand the dark without understanding the light? My husband’s love has been instrumental in my character development for Marcus, how healthy love should make you feel good inside, build you up, never make you feel like you’re doing too much or not enough. Marcus holds a joy I hope all of us can find in our relationships. I didn’t write him to make a “love triangle,” but for contrast so we can more clearly see the budding good relationship amidst the corrosive one. If you’d still like a label, I’d prefer to say THE DOLLHOUSE ASYLUM is about a “love ladder.” Cheyenne has to climb the rungs of the ladder to escape the darkness below and find Marcus waiting at the top (and in his case, with Slurpees from Seven Eleven).

 

As I said in Cheyenne’s post, this story is for those people entangled in emotionally harmful

relationships. Or, for those people who aren’t, to let them see the darkness, pain, and treachery

they’ve escaped. I suppose I’m not surprised that THE DOLLHOUSE ASYLUM hits a nerve

for many readers (how could she love him like that?!?!) but if you look close enough, amidst

the stabbing, tongue cutting, and lions and snakes, you’ll find a story about a girl who comes to

grips that this sort of relationship doesn’t belong in her life. And, in congruence with her mild

mannered personality, she takes care of it.

 

About the Author:

 

 

Mary Gray has a fascination with all things creepy. That's why all her favorite stories usually involve panic attacks and hyperventilating. In real life, she prefers to type away on her computer, ogle over her favorite TV shows, and savor fiction. When she's not immersed in other worlds, she and her husband get their exercise by chasing after their three children. The Dollhouse Asylum is her first novel.

 

Author's Website

Goodreads

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

 

Thank you so much again Mary for stopping by with a guest post and for including me in this fabulous tour! 

 

Be sure to check out the rest of the stops along the way for the tour, you won't want to miss out on all the great interviews, guest posts, review, etc...

October 8 - Interview  - Fantasy Book Addict

October 9 - Book Review - Books Live Forever

October 10 - Interview - Kiki's Bookshelf

October 11 - Guest Post  - The Bookshelf Sophisticate 

October 12 - Interview - Falling for YA

October 13 - Book Review - YA Sisterhood

October 14 - Interview - Fragments of life

October 15 - Guest Post - Two Chicks On Books

October 16 - Book Review - Harley Bear Book Blog

October 17 - Book Review - Lost in Believing

October 18 - Guest Post - Jessabella Reads

October 19 - Book Review - Stuck In YA Books

October 20 - Guest Post - The Book Goddess

October 21 - Interview - Swoony Boys Podcast

 

An of course here are the links to buy this fabulous book!

 

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

 

So if that wasn't enough for everyone...we've also got a fabulous giveaway going on!

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And now, for those of you interested, my review of The Dollhouse Asylum...

 

What a surprise this read turned out to be. Yet again I read the synopsis, thought it sounded interesting and was looking forward to reading it, but at the same time, the second I started to get a little ways into the book, I was caught off guard for some reason. I knew in some ways what to expect, and what the characters would be going through, but when readers actually get the chance to get more of a background and real in-your-face examples of the kinds of tests these indivudals are expected to perform and pass, I think they'll find it down right chilling.

 

If ever there was a villain to hope would get what they deserve in the end, it's Teo! Gray created a character so vile and evil that I'll be shocked if ANY reader feels different. She created one sick individual that readers will find themselves hoping the others bring him down. And on top of that, Gray throws in some of the great love stories readers have been falling for since the beginning of time.  I've always considered myself a fan of the classic love stories and I know I'm not alone. While a lot of them do have tragic endings and rather sad overall stories, readers are still able to focus while looking back and remembering the power of true love and what some individuals (whether real or ficticious) have been willing and able to fight for and overcome in the hopes of experiencing.

 

But after reading Gray's work, I'll admit that I think a small part of me (even if it's very small) will now remember and think about this book and what these characters were forced to act out in the name of these classic tales of love. Truly terrifying if you ask me.  Chilling scenarios and anxiety inducing and incredibly suspenseful twists and turns are thrown in all over the place throughout this read, and at times I felt myself needing to take a break before the stress got the best of me.  Only a small break was doable because at the same time I couldn't resist knowing what would happen and what the fate of these characters would be.  Readers will find themselves hooked.

In My Mailbox (109)

This is a meme that I first heard about from Kristi over at The Story Siren and immediately wanted to jump on board. I'm always picking up new books, because I never tire of reading, but the other thing I like about this meme is that it gives everyone an opportunity to check out what other book fanatics, bloggers, etc... got for themselves. I've gotten great recommendations from this meme and hope that keeps up in the future.

Here's what I got, what did you guys get this week?

For Review:

 

The Dollhouse Asylum by Mary Gray (Thanks to Spencer Hill Press)

 

A virus that had once been contained has returned, and soon no place will be left untouched by its destruction. But when Cheyenne wakes up in Elysian Fields--a subdivision cut off from the world and its monster-creating virus--she is thrilled to have a chance at survival.

At first, Elysian Fields,with its beautiful houses and manicured lawns, is perfect. Teo Richardson, the older man who stole Cheyenne's heart, built it so they could be together. But when Teo tells Cheyenne there are tests that she and seven other couples must pass to be worthy of salvation, Cheyenne begins to question the perfection of his world.

The people they were before are gone. Cheyenne is now "Persephone," and each couple has been re-named to reflect the most tragic romances ever told. Everyone is fighting to pass the test, to remain in Elysian Fields. Teo dresses them up, tells them when to move and how to act, and in order to pass the test, they must play along.

If they play it right, then they'll be safe.

But if they play it wrong, they'll die.

 

Extracted (The Lost Imperials, #1) by Sherry D. Ficklin & Tyler Jolley (Thanks to Spencer Hill Press)

 

Welcome to the war.

The Tesla Institute is a premier academy that trains young time travelers called Rifters. Created by Nicola Tesla, the Institute seeks special individuals who can help preserve the time stream against those who try to alter it.

The Hollows is a rogue band of Rifters who tear through time with little care for the consequences. Armed with their own group of lost teens--their only desire to find Tesla and put an end to his corruption of the time stream.

Torn between them are Lex and Ember, two Rifters with no memories of their life before joining the time war.

When Lex’s girlfriend dies during a mission, the only way he can save her is to retrieve the Dox, a piece of tech which allows Rifters to re-enter their own timeline without collapsing the time stream. But the Dox is hidden deep within the Telsa Institute, which means Lex must go into the enemy camp. It’s there he meets Ember, and the past that was stolen from them both comes flooding back.

Now armed with the truth of who they are, Lex and Ember must work together to save the future before the battle for time destroys them both…again.

 

Sick by Tom Leveen (Thanks to Amulet Books)

 

Breakfast Club meets The Walking Dead as a group of unlikely allies tries to survive a deadly outbreak.
Brian and his friends are not part of the cool crowd. They’re the misfits and the troublemakers—the ones who jump their high school’s fence to skip class regularly. So when a deadly virus breaks out, they’re the only ones with a chance of surviving.
The virus turns Brian’s classmates and teachers into bloodthirsty attackers who don’t die easily. The whole school goes on lockdown, but Brian and his best friend, Chad, are safe (and stuck) in the theater department—far from Brian’s sister, Kenzie, and his ex-girlfriend with a panic attack problem, Laura. Brian and Chad, along with some of the theater kids Brian had never given the time of day before, decide to find the girls and bring them to the safety of the theater. But it won’t be easy, and it will test everything they thought they knew about themselves and their classmates.

Goodbye, Rebel Blue by Shelley Coriell (Thanks to Amulet Books)

 

Rebecca Blue is a rebel with an attitude whose life is changed by a chance encounter with a soon-to-be dead girl. Rebel (as she’s known) decides to complete the dead girl’s bucket list to prove that choice, not chance, controls her fate. In doing so, she unexpectedly opens her mind and heart to a world she once dismissed—a world of friendships, family, and faith. With a shaken sense of self, she must reevaluate her loner philosophy—particularly when she falls for Nate, the golden boy do-gooder who never looks out for himself. Perfect for fans of Jay Asher’s blockbuster hit Thirteen Reasons Why, Coriell’s second novel features her sharp, engaging voice along with realistic drama and unforgettable characters.

Spencer Hill Press Launch: Reading With Me

I've been a huge fan of Spencer Hill Press for as long as I can remember.  The authors they have included among their team, and the books they publish and put out on the shelves are always among my favorites.  So when I received an email from them asking if I'd like to be a part of their launch for Reading With Me, I didn't have even a moment of hesitation....I was on board!

Reading With Me is a fabulous virtual book club of awesome, concentrating on books released by Spencer Hill and Spencer Hill Contemporary. It's a way to squee with fellow fangirls and fandudes about the latest Spencer Hill releases, authors, and to ponder the ever-present mystery of Where Is Spencer Hill? (Which is like Where's Waldo? but with books and not a random dude in the same striped shirt over and over again.) At Reading With Me, we promote books that we're excited about and our goal is simple: Read them. Love Them. Come back for more.

  The launch kicks off on Thursday and ou can learn more from the following links:

 

Tumbler

Facebook

Twitter

 

Here are some of the books they're preparing to launch and all the fun that will come with it.  Here are some of my favorites that I'm most excited about checking out!

 

October 15:  Reclaimed by Sarah Guillory

October 22:  The Dollhouse Asylum by Mary Gray

November 2:  Sentinel by Jennifer L. Armentrout

November 12:  Extracted by Sherry D. Ficklin & Tyler H. Jolly

November 19:  Whisper Falls by Elizabeth Langston

November 26:  Fireblood by Trisha Wolfe

Cover Reveal: The Dollhouse Asylum by Mary Gray

Check out the cover for The Dollhouse Asylum by Mary Gray, which will be released on October 22, 2013.

Add The Dollhouse Asylum to your Goodreads list!!!!

The Dollhouse Asylum is Mary Gray's debut title and the reading community is already buzzing with excitement over this title's imminent release!

For more information on Mary and her upcoming release, please head on over and visit marygraybooks.com

Author Links:  Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads

And here's a great teaser of a description of what readers can look forward to with this debut...

A virus that had once been contained has returned, and son no place will be left untouched by its destruction.  But when seventeen-year-old Cheyenne wakes up in Elysian Fields--a subdivision cut off from the world and its monster-creating virus--she is thrilled to have a chance at survival.

At first, Elysian Fields, with its beautiful houses and manicured lawns, is perfect.  Teo Richardson, the older man who stole Cheyenne's heart, built it so they could be together.  But when Teo tells Cheyenne there are tests that she and seven other couples must pass to be worthy of salvation, Cheyenne begins to question the perfection of his world.

The people they were before are gone.  Cheyenne is now "Persephone," and each couple has been re-named to reflect the most tragic romances ever told.  Everyone is fighting to pass the test, to remain in Elysian Fields.  Teo dresses them up, tells them when to move and how to act, and in order to pass the test, they must play along.

If they play it right, they they'll be safe.

But if they play it wrong, they'll die.