Today, we’re spotlighting The Glass Ceiling! LaVoie’s new book is the perfect mix of heart wrenching discovery and futuristic thriller. Read on for a sneak peek of this book and a chance to enter the giveaway!
First meet Julie LaVoie!
Julie lives in historic Saratoga Springs, NY with the man of her dreams and their boys. Being surrounded by males, she overcompensates by owning everything pink.
From her clothing, to purses, to even her pots and pans. She just can’t get enough pink. She enjoys taking long road trips with her family to the beach and to amusement parks. She has one cat that she showers with kissy-baby talk, but who only returns a non-amused glance every once in a while. It’s her third cat to act this way, so she’s wondering if perhaps she should get a dog next time.
From a young age, Julie’s vivid imagination constantly invented story lines. But it wasn’t until she began working in a career that required zero creativity, that her need to write poured out like a dam bursting. And she’s been writing ever since.
Now meet Julie’s new book, The Glass Ceiling!
Darkness can hide in the brightest of places…
Pickaxes, grime, and watery oatmeal are all sixteen-year-old Heart has ever known. Growing up in the tunnels, the only breaks in her muscle-aching monotony are the numerous nights spent cramped in a metal box. Stupid runaway mouth. But when strange visions and a hidden map hint there’s more to life than she’s been led to believe – boys being one of them – only one thing weighs on her mind. Escape.
Yet freedom is a tease. Heart merely trades her small prison for a larger one – a transparent dome controlled by the Guardian, an aging leader bent on creating a genetically perfect race. Heart’s birthmark on her shoulder? An abomination that carries a lifetime sentence of slavery for females.
Refusing to let a glass ceiling deter her, Heart searches for a way out of the dome. But unraveling the Guardian’s secrets is a risky endeavor. Human skulls atop crude sticks serve as a warning: treason is punishable by death. When her new friends are captured, and escape is just an arm’s reach away, Heart must decide. Take the freedom she so desperately wants or save her friends’ lives?
Watch the book trailer HERE!
Sounds great, right?! With introductions in order, we’re happy to reveal a sneak peek below, just for you!
Just as Heart touched the doorknob, muffled voices sounded from the other side. Crap. She looked around her. The closest object was a trash can. She lowered herself behind it, wrinkling her nose at the putrid smell of dirty diapers. The door swung open and the Matriarch stepped out. A messy braid laid over one shoulder.
“We need to locate her. Check the bathroom. Check the tunnels. She couldn’t have gotten far.”
The woman stomped past the trash can without noticing Heart. In one bright flash, all the fluorescents came on. Chills spread through Heart like black oil. They were going to find her.
The dorm mother put one of the older girls in charge and rushed toward the east tunnels. Heart stayed in her kneeling position, frozen to her spot. Think, Heart, think. Going inside her dorm was out of the question. Her only choice was to go west. Her heart sank. The west tunnels were in the opposite direction of the Box. She couldn’t leave 176 behind.
Before she could change her mind, she abandoned her hiding spot and sprinted toward the common area. Luckily, everyone was already in the tunnels and she made it through without being detected.
She neared the Box and moaned. She’d forgotten about the padlock. How was she going to get 176 out? She banged her fist against the thick metal. “176, you in there?”
There was no response. Of course, 176 couldn’t talk. She placed her ear against the door, listening for movement. Three thumps came from within.
“The door is locked and I can’t open it.” Heart banged once more. “I have to go, but I’ll come back for you, okay?” She hesitated. Promises alone wouldn’t help 176 survive the Box. “Just concentrate on the sliver of light. Pretend it’s an angel, wrapping you with her wings. Protecting you. That’s what I do.”
A ball formed in Heart’s throat. “Stay strong. I know you can do it.”
A thump sounded. Heart sniffled and wiped at her nose. There was nothing more she could say.
With a final glance over her shoulder, she rushed toward the west tunnels, staying close to the walls. She made a note of the small alcoves she passed. If needed, she could easily squeeze into one.
Every couple of minutes, she stopped and listened for voices. Yells and the beating of feet into dirt bounced off the cavern walls. She couldn’t tell if they were ten feet away or a hundred. Adrenaline forced Heart forward and she quickened her pace. If the Matriarch caught her, losing her tongue would be the best scenario she could hope for.
The walls grew narrower and the path more treacherous. She’d never been this far into the tunnels. Looming rock formations snagged at her hair. What if she’d picked the wrong turn? What if it was a dead end?
She turned a corner and her stomach flipped. A wrought iron gate marked the exit, a six inch thick steel bar holding it in place. Beyond the gate, a pinkish purple glow filled the tunnel. Freedom? Heart grasped the cold metal bar. C’mon, c’mon, c’mon! She tugged until her veins threatened to pop out of her forehead.
It didn’t budge. She whipped her head back and forth, searching for something hard. She grabbed a rock and slammed it into the bar. A pinging sound echoed off the walls. She didn’t care that the commotion would attract attention. There was no other escape. No bright arrows pointing the way. Nothing left to do but hit that bar with every bit of strength she could muster.
The footfalls came quicker now. A whistle blew. Heart hit the bar faster. Harder. The sounds were closing in. Every hair on her head could sense her pursuers. And yet she continued. Bang. Bang. Bang.
The bar moved slightly and tears of hope stung her eyes. Please!
Her body jolted as someone grasped her arm. The rock, and her only chance of escape, slipped from her fingertips.
The Glass Ceiling
By: Julie LaVoie
Release Date: December 18, 2015
*GIVEAWAY DETAILS*
Two winners will receive one copy of The Glass Ceiling AND and a $25 Amazon gift card. International addresses welcome. Entering is simple, just fill out the entry form below.
*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway*
I love that cover.
There are a couple things that really interest me about this book. One is that it sounds like it’s a stand alone so I’m interested in how what seems like a big idea will be contained in one book. Second thing that interests me is the main character, I have a thing for plucky, determined characters and Heart seems to fit that category. Third, after that teaser I’m interested to see how 176 got in the box, who 176 is and how they make it out of this.
Hi Krys, thanks for the comment. The Glass Ceiling is a stand alone book, which for a dystopian makes it highly unique. You’ll find that the plot constantly moves forward, promising you lots of action. There is relationship building, but not so much that it bogs down the story. I hope you like it!
The glass ceiling sounds very exciting! I actually bought a copy and am looking forward to reading it ♡ Thank you
Good Luck to everyone but i hope am the one who would win this amazing book :p 😉
The cover is so beautiful, i was staring at that girl and i had a feeling that i want to help her get out of there, to find out later that ther’s A BOX !!! ?
OMG this so exciting, + in my country i can’t find this kind of books :(:( i really hope i’ll win and share the story with my book club and facebook friends.
thank you very much for this amazing opportunity.
Thank you so much. 🙂 Good luck, and I hope you enjoy the book!
The title and the metaphorical possibilities given that and the protagonist’s being named “Heart” draw me to this read. Thanks for the chance to win! Cheers, Kara S
Love the cover! Can’t wait to read it!
Astounding. Intriguing. I have absolutely encompassed myself into finding more about this book. Writing a dystopian novel is difficult enough, but you are making it a stand alone- which defies any unspoken literary laws. The fact that you are willing to defy those unset laws and the wonderful insert from the book makes this new novel at the top of my very long list. I cannot wait to read it!!
The cover really draws you in. And the synopsis is wow or simple amazing. It makes me want to read the book and find out if things turn out happily.
The plot 🙂
I find both the cover and the synopsis harrowing and thus need the answers as desperately as the heroine.
Wow, what glowing comments! Thank you all so much. Good luck in the contest. I do hope that if you don’t win, you’ll still purchase the book in order to find out what happens to Heart. 😉
This sounds like a real page turner! I love suspense so this sounds perfect!
I usually attracted to the book’s titles and its covers. 😉
I love dystopian tales. I am very interested in learning about this world’s culture, way of life, government, etc. The author’s world-building is always of great interest to me. Then, of course, I want to know the problems and how the protagonist plans to solve them.
I really like the cover and the plot seems interesting. I want to read it 😉
I want to read more about this world–the dome–and how this character deals with new freedoms.
This book sounds very interesting! love the excerpt 🙂
I haven’t read a good dystopian in a while! This one looks promising!!
I love dystopian novels! Definitely gonna read it if I got the chance.
+ a little dillema won’t hurt
I’m interest in knowing more of the main character. In reading the synopsis, she sounded mysterious.
I think that what most interests me about this book is the mystery. I adore dystopian novels, and this sounds like a breath of fresh air!
The summary is so interesting!!! I’ve tried to buy the ebook from Amazon for the longest of time but it always results unavaible for purchase! >.
The cover is beautiful!
Annamaria, I’m sorry you’ve had troubles purchasing the Ebook. I’ve sent you an instant message.