Monday 31 August 2015

Release Event + Giveaway: WHO R U REALLY? by Margo Kelly



Today we are excited to be celebrating the Paperback Release of the Young Adult Thriller: WHO R U REALLY? by Margo Kelly

Nearly a year has passed since WHO R U REALLY? by Margo Kelly came out in hardback, and now, Merit Press (the YA imprint of F+W Media) is publishing a paperback version of the young adult thriller! Its official release date is September 4, 2015, and to celebrate, we’re giving away FIVE signed paperback copies! For a chance to win one, simply follow the steps below in the Rafflecopter.

Here are a few of the exciting things that have happened since WHO R U REALLY? debuted as a hardback:

Won 1st Place in the YA Category for the Idaho Author Award

The Department of Homeland Security took notice:
DHS invited Margo to partner with the STOP. THINK. CONNECT. campaign, which is the global cyber security awareness campaign to help people stay safer and more secure online.

Librarians have applauded the story:
“This book is sure to spark a dialogue between parents and teens as well as tell an appealing cautionary tale to a younger audience and would be a good addition to any middle school, high school, or public library.” The Idaho Librarian

“With all the different trending social media out there, this book is intriguing because the story centers around a naive yet strong-willed girl who falls into the trap of an internet predator. … You will definitely want to read this book to find out what happens!” The Dallas Public Library

Industry experts have had positive things to say:
"This tense thriller offers useful lessons." --The Horn Book Guide

"Based on actual events, the story should be required reading for all teens." --VOYA Magazine

"Kelly shows us just how terrifying, dangerous and unknown the world of online gaming can be--especially for a young teen.... The book is well-written and the story believable and engaging...I strongly recommend this book." --The Idaho Statesman

Description of WHO R U REALLY?:
When Thea discovers a new role-playing game online, she falls under the spell of Kit, an older boy whose smarts and savvy can’t defeat his loneliness and near-suicidal despair. As Kit draws soft-hearted Thea into his drama, she creates a full plate of cover stories for her parents and then even her friends. Ripped from a true-life story, Who R U Really? willscare you as Thea’s life spins out of her control.



About the Author:
Margo Kelly is a native of the Northwest and currently resides in Idaho. A veteran public speaker, Margo is now actively pursuing her love of writing. Who R U Really? is her debut novel, published by Merit Press. The Department of Homeland Security has partnered with Margo to promote online safety. Margo welcomes opportunities to speak to youth groups, library groups, and book clubs. For more information, visit her website: www.margokelly.net

Here are a few places you can buy a copy of WHO R U REALLY?:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Rediscovered Books


Here are a few places you can find Margo Kelly online:
http://www.margokelly.net
https://www.goodreads.com/margokelly
https://twitter.com/MargoWKelly
https://www.facebook.com/MargoKelly.author

GIVEAWAY:
5 signed paperbacks of Who R U Really? 
US only
Ends 9/4
Prizing is provided by the author, hosts are not responsible.
a Rafflecoptergiveaway
This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.



Thursday 27 August 2015

Excerpt: The Replacements by David Putnam

TheReplacements_Banner

Welcome to my tour stop of The Replacements by David Putnam.  The tour runs from August 24-28 and follow the tour here.

The first novel The Disposables was a finalist for the SCIBA award last year. This year The Replacements has also been chosen as a finalist for the SCIBA (Southern California Independent Book Sellers Association).

 ABOUT THE BOOK

TheReplacementsBruno Johnson, ex-detective with Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and an ex-convict, is hiding out from the FBI in Costa Rica, tending bar to support eight children he illegally rescued from abusive homes. Partway through a normal day, Barbara Wicks, a former colleague and the chief of police for Montclair, California, walks into his bar. Bruno is shocked to the core.  Is she there to arrest him and take him back to California? Turns out she's there to request Bruno's help.  Two children have been kidnapped.

The kidnapper, Jonas Mabry, was himself a victim whom Bruno rescued as a small child.  Now Mabry demands a fool's retribution, a million dollar ransom, and Bruno to put his life on the line to get the money. In this twisted turn of fate, Bruno returns as a wanted criminal to California.  Despite the risk of arrest and even his life, he cannot turn his back on these kids.  And neither can Bruno's girlfriend, Marie. 

EXCERPT


The day the house bled started out sunny and warm. I was a rookie street cop in South Central Los Angeles. I worked uniform patrol for the sheriff ’s department, a job that could impact the community in so many positive ways. I ferreted out the predators, either put them in jail or prodded them until they moved on to another neighborhood. I liked working with the kids the most. I tried to find them before they were corrupted by the cancerous part of the street. There were the lost causes, but most kids wanted to better themselves and were hungry for guidance.
The absolute worst part of the job was bearing witness to the lowest ebb of humanity. I never could understand the motivation, the reasoning, the excuses for harming children. Because there weren’t any. Not in this world or any other.
The day of the horrible bleeding house incident started out great. A Blood by the name of Little Ghost had been dodging me for weeks. Anytime I was able to feed my handcuffs with a predator gave me a warm feeling. He’d set up shop slinging rock cocaine two blocks from a middle school, and I hadn’t been able to nab him. That day I put on a gray raincoat over my uniform and snuck up on him through a back alley, caught him right in the middle of a hand-to-hand deal.
So I was having a good day until the call to “keep the peace” came my way. I pulled up to a house in East Compton. White Street, west of Atlantic. A house like any other on the street, light blue with dark blue trim, maybe maintained a little better with a mowed lawn and a trimmed hedge. A man in slacks and a long- sleeve blue dress shirt stood out front wringing his hands, his expression one of genuine concern. I pulled up and parked half in the driveway, half in the street, and got out. “How can I help you, sir?”
“My name’s Micah Mabry, and I’m worried about my kids, Jonas, Betsy, and Sally. Jonas is five, Betsy’s seven, and Sally, she’s…she’s eight. Yes…yes, she’s eight last October. I knocked and knocked and they won’t answer the door. Please, you have to help me. Please.”
“Okay, Mr. Mabry, slow down and start from the beginning.” “Right, right, sure. My wife Bella and I are separated. We’re
getting a divorce.” “I’m sorry.”
He waved off the apology. “It’s okay, it’s a long story. But two nights ago she was supposed to meet me at McDonald’s. I was supposed to get my three kids for the weekend.”
Dispatch hadn’t told me this was a hostage exchange—the term used for child custody conflicts. The adults never acted like  adults,  and  the  losers  were  always  the  children  caught between  parents  they  loved,  with  their  petty  conflicts  and wounded egos. The parents’ bitter emotions were the worst to deal with in these incidents. People became irrational. Child custody calls tore at my gut. I couldn’t stand to see children cry and I always had to suppress the urge to do something about it.
Mabry continued, “She never showed up. I’ve tried to call her for the last two days, so I came over here. Listen, I’m going to tell you up front, she has a restraining order against me, and I’m not supposed to be here.”
No wonder she wasn’t answering the door. I  couldn’t allow him to stay if he was telling the truth about the TRO, the temporary restraining order. I said, “Do you have the court custody papers signed by the judge?”
“Yeah, yeah, sure.” He pulled them from his back pocket. I checked; they were complete and in order. He was right, it was his turn to have the kids. “Okay,” I said, “Here’s the deal. All I’m allowed to do in this case is take a report and submit it to the DA as a violation of a court order, a PC 166.4—”
“You can’t make her give me my kids?”
“No, you have to have your attorney pull her back into family court.”
“Come on, that can take forever.”
“I know, I’m sorry.” I sat in the front seat and filled in the report form while he stood in the open door of the patrol unit staring down. I knew he was staring at me, and I couldn’t look up at him. He pulled out his wallet. “Deputy Johnson, you have kids?”
I was raising my daughter on my own and found it damn difficult to juggle her upbringing with an ever-shifting patrol schedule. I knew how hard it was to raise children and disliked him a little for throwing the kid card.
He held out his wallet, the plastic sleeves cloudy from overuse. The kids were cute. What child wasn’t? I wrote the case number down on a business card, got out, and stood in the open door. I handed it to him. Micah Mabry stared at the card as if it were a disappearing lifeline.
I said, “Ah, hell. You knocked?”
“Yes, yes. I’ve been here for an hour. I’ve knocked again and again the entire time. I know they’re in there. Please, Deputy?”
Son of a bitch. I reached in and picked up the mic. “Two- fifty-five-Adam, start another unit to back. I’m going to force entry.”
I’d hardly unkeyed the mic when Sergeant Foreman came up on the air. “Negative, Two-fifty-five-Adam. Stand by, I’m responding.”
Once Foreman arrived, no way would he do  anything other than what the book said.
I tossed the mic onto the seat. The window configuration of the house, outlined in dark blue paint against the light blue of the house, made the windows look like the eyes of a monster.  I walked with purpose to the front door. I’d made up my mind and didn’t want to think about the consequences. I knocked loud enough for the neighbors to hear. No answer. “What’s your wife’s name?”
“Bella. Her name’s Bella, but this won’t do any good. I’ve tried.”
I believed him and was beginning to have a bad feeling about the entire situation. I yelled, “Bella, this is Deputy Johnson with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. I need you to open the door. Come to the door and talk to me. Now.” Something was wrong about the whole setup. Anxiety rose up in me, and I could no longer follow proper protocol.
I looked down just as water, a little at first, then more, seeped under the door and out onto the porch.
I stepped back and booted the door.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

dave-5x7-reframe-1
During his law enforcement career, David Putnam worked primarily in California on special teams for Patrol, Investigations, SWAT, Narcotics, Violent Crimes, Criminal Intelligence, Internal Affairs, Detective Bureau and as child protective services coordinator.

He rounded out his law enforcement career with a few years in the Hawaiian Islands as a Special Agent-part of a real-life "Hawaii-50″ team.

He's now retired from law enforcement and spends his time growing organic California avocados and writing, with his wife Mary and their two dogs.

Wednesday 26 August 2015

Excerpt: Violet Chain by J Kahele


Welcome to my tour stop of Violet Chain by J Kahele!  This is a contemporary romance novel.  The tour runs from August 24 - 28 with reviews and excerpts.

About the book:

After catching her fiancé with another woman at their engagement party, Violet Townsend's world is turned upside down.

Desperate to numb the pain, she falls into the arms of charming, young entrepreneur Chain Alexander.

Chain, a notorious womanizer of Philadelphia, not looking for anything more than a night of pleasure with a woman, is drawn to Violet instantly. There is something about her that he needs and wants so desperately and it’s not just sex.

But Violet is resistant. Can she open her heart again after having it broken so brutally? And more importantly, should she?

This book is intended for mature audiences only!


----------------------------------------

EXCERPT 


The silent communication in her eyes, the stillness of her body told me she knew I was hurting.
Her hand cupped the nape of my neck. “It’s okay, I’m here—I’m here,” she whispered as she kissed each tear on my cheek.

She slanted her mouth to capture mine and kissed me slowly as her hand curled around my body, pulling me against hers. I drew a breath and held it as her lips caressed my neck.


I was falling.

Deeply.

Unconditionally.

In love with her.

A chill swept across me as the warmth of her body left mine and she sat up, sliding off the t-shirt I had given her to wear to bed, then slid on top of me. Her deft fingers slipped beneath the waistband of my boxers, light kisses raining from her lips against my skin as she moved down my body, sliding my boxers off and throwing them to the side. She reached to the nightstand to grab a condom, when my hand stopped hers. I wanted to feel all of her—bare.

Her eyes blinked hard as I flipped her over and slid on top of her.

As our sleek bodies moved feverishly against each other, I held her tight, wanting to remember the smell of her hair, the touch of her skin, the taste of her lips. This was where I wanted to be, this was where I belonged, buried inside of her.

As we found our release together, her body fell limp against mine and I wrapped my arms around her, never wanting to let her go. I raised my head to look down at her and could see tears forming in her eyes and I knew for that moment, she was completely mine and I was hers. And I knew I was ruined, I would never feel the same way about another woman as I felt about Violet.  I kissed her softly on the lips.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I am a proud mother of three daughters who are my absolute complete existence. I write to relieve the scattered thoughts that stream through my mind, constantly. My biggest downfall is that I am a huge procrastinator, which makes my life at times hectic!





Tuesday 25 August 2015

Excerpt & Giveaway: Unexpected Gifts by S.R Mallery

 Blog Tour Schedule + Giveaway: UNEXPECTED GIFTS by SR Mallery

Welcome to my stop on the Blog Tour of Unexpected Gifts by S.R Mallery.  
"Unexpected Gifts" is the story of a confused college student who gains clarity in life when she begins to read the journals and diaries of her ancestors from America's past.
Checkout my post and enter the cool giveaway! :)

Follow the Tour to read Interviews, Excerpts, Reviews and Guest Posts. Checkout the schedule of the Tour: Click Here

~About the Book~

Title and Author: Unexpected Gifts by S.R Mallery
No. of Pages: 317
Publication Date: 2013
Genre: Historical Fiction

Blurb:

Can we learn from our ancestral past? Do our relatives’ behaviors help mold our own? 

In "Unexpected Gifts" that is precisely what happens to Sonia, a confused college student, heading for addictions and forever choosing the wrong man. Searching for answers, she begins to read her family’s diaries and journals from America’s past: the Vietnam War, Woodstock, and Timothy Leary era; Tupperware parties, McCarthyism, and Black Power; the Great Depression, dance marathons, and Eleanor Roosevelt; the immigrant experience and the Suffragists. Back and forth the book journeys, linking yesteryear with modern life until finally, by understanding her ancestors' hardships and faults, she gains enough clarity to make some right choices.


 Add to Goodreads: Unexpected Gifts by S.R Mallery


~Excerpt~


SONIA’S paraplegic Father --CHAPTER 2: Sam––Living With Fear

First thing I killed was no kind of thing at all. It was an enemy
soldier, which was a hell of a lot easier to say than the first thing I ever killed was a man.”
--Steve Mason

“...Nearing the village, we passed women in their beige tunics, black pants, and Sampan hats, shouldering thick bamboo rods weighted down by buckets of water. Most kept their heads lowered as they walked, but the few who didn’t, stared up at us with dead, black-brown eyes and pressed lips. The afternoon was drawing to a close by the time we reached a village compound that reeked of nuoc maum rotten fish sauce and animal dung. An old, leathery woman, squatting by her hooch was our welcoming committee, but once she saw us shuffle by, she scurried back into her hut, clacking loudly in Vietnamese as chickens pecked at rice granules, bobbing their heads up and down in 2/4 time.

            Carbini cut to the chase. “First, pull every one of those gooks outta their hooches, then line them up here,” he barked.

            I watched my troop comb each thatched home, rounding up families of all ages and herding them out into the open like a cattle drive in Oklahoma. I, too, started the mission and stooping into one of the huts, saw a young woman sitting on a straw mat, eating some rice in a black bowl, a young child at her side.

            She was exquisite—the best possible combination of French and Chinese ancestry, with such delicate features, she made my heart ache. My immediate instincts were to protect her and her son from Carbini and this horrendous war, but she just gazed up at me, emotionless.    

            I could hear Carbini yelling orders to get a move-on, and I signaled this girl, this treasure, to follow me. She shook her head vehemently, and curled her legs around her son. I motioned again, but still, she refused. I froze, unable to think, but when Carbini popped his head in the doorway and snarled, “Weylan!” she got the message and followed me out.

            Whimpering slightly, she joined her fellow villagers, gripping her child’s hand and wiping off a tear that had slid halfway down her cheek. I suddenly pictured slave owners in pre-Civil War days and felt my lunch rise up in my throat.

            “Now, get your Zippos ready, men.” As Carbini’s face flushed red, I sucked in my breath. He caught sight of my reaction and came over. “Weylan here doesn’t like my orders. Anyone else here who doesn’t like my orders?” Nobody spoke up.
            He opened up one of my backpack pockets, yanked out my Zippo lighter, and shoved it into my face. Immediately, you could hear the snap of pockets opening and boots shifting. We were getting ready to Rock ‘n Roll.

            Carbini was first. He marched over to a hooch, flipped on his Zippo, and carefully lit the underbelly of its thatched roof. It smoldered for a few seconds, a thin, rising wisp of smoke twisting in the tropical air. From that, a flame grew, nibbling at the straw with a low, blue heat before suddenly bursting into a torch, arcing up towards the sky in a yellow-hot blaze.

            Carbini turned to us and nodded, his eyes glazed. This was our cue, yet I spun around to search for the girl, who was at the back of the pack, crying softly as she hugged her son. I glanced over at some of the other men, their hands jammed deep into their pockets, and decided to follow their lead. The fire was raging full force on each hooch now, the thatch and bamboo crackling like a 4th of July fireworks display, leaving its reflections in the villagers’ eyes and turning the sky dark with thick, bulbous smoke.

            “Weylan! You son-of-a-bitch coward! You’re no better than the rest of us, you hear me?” Carbini started to charge over, then stopped mid-stride.

            In the distance, a large formation of F4’s was headed our way, torpedoing fireballs of napalm every several hundred yards and scattering screaming villagers down the main road. We were ordered to take cover, but followed the fleeing Vietnamese instead, charging after them and trying not to show our own fear...”


~HERE'S WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT UNEXPECTED GIFTS BY S. R. MALLERY~
“The author has a remarkable gift. The amazing ability not only to bring rich, historical events to life, but also the ability to perfectly blend different generations…”
“It simply is one of the best books I've ever read. I wish I could give it six stars!”
“I have never read a book that wasn’t a textbook that was able to successfully cover so many time frames in such little space, with the accuracy you really would expect from reading the journals of those who had actually lived in those times.”
“Colorful writing, recreation of periods that prove adept challenges for any films about the influences of the past being made, and all of this is written with such style that it often times is dazzling...”
“SR Mallery has created an important and impressive monument of a novel.”
“If only my history teacher would have taught history like Mallery has, enriching it with living, feeling people that the reader can equate to, I would have been a better student.”
“Long after the completion of the book, I missed the characters and the impact their stories made on me. This one really touched me deeply.”
“Beautifully and sensitively written, anyone who loves a good story interwoven with actual historical events will enjoy this very special novel.”
“A master storyteller has been at work, and this marvelous piece of writing is the result.”
“I'm in awe of how the author could write about the events so realistically, putting the reader firmly into different time periods in America's history.”
“… she blends the past and the present with a seamless texture that only a “true” storyteller can manage.”
“This is a book you can keep on your shelf to read over and over…”

~Buying Links~

Grab the book for just 99c or Rs 61 on Amazon and Kobo!



~Meet the Author~

S.R. Mallery has worn various hats in her life. First, a classical/pop singer/composer, she moved on to the professional world of production art and calligraphy.
Next came a long career as an award winning quilt artist/teacher and an ESL/Reading instructor. Her short stories have been published in descant 2008, Snowy Egret, Transcendent Visions, The Storyteller, and Down In the Dirt.

Website/Blog:  www.srmallery.com
Twitter:  @SarahMallery1
Goodreads:
Pinterest:  (I have some good history boards that are getting a lot of attention—history, vintage clothing, older films)
Amazon Author page:   http://www.amazon.com/S.-R.-Mallery/e/B00CIUW3W8/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1


~Giveaway~
Prize: 10 Ebooks of Unexpected Gifts by SR Mallery
Ends 13th September
Open Worldwide.

Open only to those who can legally enter and receive the prize. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded.No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Nikita (Njkinny) from Njkinny Tours & Promotions and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

~Organized by~



Teaser & Giveaway: Teresa of the New World by Sharman Apt Russell


Welcome to the teaser tour for Teresa of the New World by Sharman Apt Russell!  Teresa of the New World is a young adult/new adult historical fiction with fantasy elements and is available for sale through most book stores.

About the Book:
From the bestselling author of An Obsession with Butterflies comes a magical story of America in the time of the conquistadors.

In 1528, the real-life conquistador Cabeza de Vaca shipwrecked in the New World where he lived as a slave, trader, and shaman.

In this lyrical weaving of history and myth, the adventurer takes his young daughter Teresa from her home in Texas to travel to outposts in New Spain. Once there, Teresa is left behind as a servant in a Spanish household. But when an epidemic of measles devastates the area, the teenager must set off on a new journey, listening again to the voices of the desert, befriending a war-horse and were-jaguar, sinking into the earth to swim through fossil and stone, reclaiming her power to outwit the cunning figure of Plague.

A story of apocalypse and hope, Teresa of the New World takes you into the dreamscape of the sixteenth-century American Southwest.


GUEST POST

It took me twenty years to write Teresa of the New World, a reflection of my long time obsession with the Spanish conquistador Álvar NúñezCabeza de Vaca, with the numinous deserts of the American Southwest, with the dreamscape of the sixteenth century, with the deadly diseases unwittingly brought by the Europeans at the time of First Contact, with the complexities of the hero father, with deep earth magic, with were-jaguars, with all that and more.

Supposedly this is the story of Teresa, daughter of a Capoque mother and a Spanish adventurer. But really I think it has become my autobiography.

In 1528, the real-life conquistador Cabeza de Vaca shipwrecked in the New World where he lived for eight years as a slave, trader, and shaman. Later, he wrote about those years in a report to the king of Spain, and that account—rich with details about the tribes of Texas and how they lived--has always fascinated me. In my retelling, the Spaniard takes his young daughter Teresa from her home to walk with him toward the setting sun, west to the outposts of New Spain, their travels accompanied by miracles--visions and prophecies.

But when Teresa reaches the outposts of New Spain, life is not what her father had promised. As a kitchen servant in the household of a Spanish official, she grows up estranged from the magic she knew as a child, when she could speak to the earth and listen to animals. When a new epidemic of measles devastates the area, the sixteen-year-old sets off on her own journey, befriending a Mayan were-jaguar who cannot control his shape-shifting and a warhorse abandoned by his Spanish owner. Now Teresa moves through a land stalked by Plague: smallpox as well as measles, typhus, and scarlet fever.

Teresa lived in a time of apocalypse and hope, of magic and change—and I think we live in a similar time. She had to let go of fear. She had to let go of anger. Living in her world was a wonderful and profound experience for me.

I would love to hear your reactions or thoughts to any aspect of Teresa of the New World. And I would be pleased to post your comments, stories, and drawings on my website. Just contact me at www.sharmanaptrussell.com.


About the Author:
Sharman Apt Russell has lived in the beauty and magic of Southwestern deserts almost all her life and continues to be amazed by that. She has published over a dozen books translated into a dozen languages, including fiction and nonfiction. Teresa of the New World is her third middle-grade and young adult novel.

Sharman teaches graduate writing classes at Western New Mexico University in Silver City, New Mexico and Antioch University in Los Angeles, California and has thrice served as the PEN West judge for their annual children’s literature award. Her awards include a Rockefeller Fellowship, the Mountains and Plains Booksellers Award, a Pushcart Prize, and the Henry Joseph Jackson Award. Her work has been widely anthologized, with numerous starred reviews in Publishers Weekly and Booklist. The San Francisco Chronicle has said “Russell’s writing is luminous” and Kirkus Reviews wrote, “A deep reverence for nature shines throughout Russell’s rich, enjoyable text.” The Seattle Times described her An Obsession with Butterflies as a “masterpiece of story-telling” and the San Diego Union Tribune called it “A singular work of art, with its smooth, ethereal prose and series after cascading series of astonishing lore.” The New York Times and Discover Magazine both described her book on hunger as “elegant.” Of her Anatomy of a Rose, the Sunday Times (London) said, “Every page holds a revelation.”


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Giveaway:
Three (3) signed copies of Teresa of the New World 
US only
Ends Sept. 8th
Giveaway provided by the author, bloggers are not responsible in any way for the prizing.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.


Monday 24 August 2015

Review & Giveaway: In the Demon's Company by Tori Centanni


InTheDemonsCompany_Banner

Welcome to my tour stop for In the Demon's Company by Tori Centanni. This is the second book in The Demon's Assistant series and is a young adult urban fantasy. The review tour runs August 17-28th. Check out the tour page for more information.

About In the Demon's Company:
inthedemonscompany-3

There’s a new demon in town… …and my boss, Azmos, isn’t happy about it. I guess he doesn’t like competition in the soul-binding business. 

Meanwhile, my Chemistry teacher seems to be caught up in this magical mess, so I’m anxious to get to the bottom of what's going on. Now that Az has promoted me from errand girl to demon’s apprentice I might actually be able to do something to help. Of course, my boyfriend Cam wants me to stay out of it, and for once Azmos actually agrees with him.  

Sorry, but I can’t just sit around doing homework while a demon is leaving a trail of bodies all over town. Besides, I’ve got my own posse now. Okay, I’ve got an ice-cold death demon, a tortured psychic and a pink-haired demonologist to help me. Together we’ll figure it out, and I’ll prove I’m ready to be a full-fledged apprentice…or I’ll die trying.

--------------------------------------

REVIEW

After accepting to work for the demon, Azmos, Nicki is now running errands for him, skipping classes, skipping her time with her boyfriend Cam and skipping her personal life.  And now, there is another demon who is killing people and making them slaves.  With the help of Gabriel, the psychic, Azmos and Nicki tries to find that other demon and bring her down.  But, the thing is it's going to take a lot from Nicki's life than she expects, to bring the demon down.

The author has a plot that's so engaging and heartbreaking, that I just can't get enough of it. All the characters are unique in their own way. Cam, Nicki's boyfriend, is one guy you can die for.  And the demons are scary and trying-to-be-good-ones type.  I like those guys.  They are different type of heroes from the regular ones.  The story and characters are really fresh.

By the end of this book, I was so angry at Nicki for being so selfish that I just want to shake her and put some sense into her super-selfish brain.  I hate the girl for giving such a hard time for everyone who loved her.  The one and only thing I hated about this book is Nicki. 

This book is so full of twists and turns, that the readers wouldn't feel bored even for a second.  The ending will leave you craving for more... I can't wait to start with the next book.

4.5 STARS!


TheDemonsDeadline-2About the first book, The Demon's Deadline:

Some teenagers deliver pizza, some deliver newspapers. My part-time job? I deliver mysterious envelopes for a demon. I don’t even get tips. 

It seemed like a good deal at the time. I almost died in a car accident, and Azmos saved me… gave me a second chance. At first, it wasn’t so bad. I got to live, go to high school, hang out with my boyfriend Cam. He’s too cute for his own good, but he’s getting tired of all this demon stuff. I hate lying to my best friend Melissa and my dad, who's still not over my mom's death. Neither am I. 

But now, this gig is getting dangerous, and it’s not like I can quit. Even if I could, then what? I’ve seen things I can’t unsee. I just hope I can figure out how to navigate the darkness before I do something I can’t undo. 

It’s time I face my own demons.

------------------------

About Gabriel's Demons, a novella:

My name is Gabriel Price, and I’m no stranger to bad dreams.

After losing my family in a house fire, I suppose it’s normal to have nightmares. Except now, I’m dreaming awake, seeing things I don’t want to see, things I shouldn’t be able to see.

The first time I saw someone’s death, the vision hit me hard, just like the speeding car that crashed, killing its driver. There was nothing I could do to stop it from happening. Not the first time. Or the second. Or the third. But now…I think I might have a chance to prevent my visions from coming true.

It’s a gift to be able to stop someone from dying, right? The demon who’s interested in my ability thinks so, but I’m not about to accept the deal he's offering. My inner demons give me enough hell. I don't need even more.

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About the Author:

Tori Centanni is a nerd girl and a recovering goth. She likes dark, quirky stories with elements of humor. When not reading or writing, she can be found baking, watching too much television, and wrangling cats. She lives in Seattle, WA.

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GIVEAWAY:

$25 Amazon gift card (INT)
Ends Sept. 2nd
Prizing provided by the publisher, hosts are not responsible in any way.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.


Friday 21 August 2015

Review & Giveaway: Family Magic by Patti Larsen


 FamilyMagicBanner
Welcome to my tour stop for Family Magic by Patti Larsen! This is a young adult paranormal that is now available for sale.

The tour runs August 3-31 with mostly reviews as well as author interviews and guest posts. Check out the tour page for more information.


Family MagicCategory: YA Fiction, Genre: magic, witches, demons, paranormal romance, young adult paranormal romance, vampires, family saga, covens
Publisher: Premiere
Release date:May 2015

Book Description: Her mom’s a witch, her dad’s a demon and she just wants to be ordinary. But, when an insidious evil comes after her family, Sydlynn Hayle has to choose to be the normal girl she craves or step up, embrace her magic and save her coven from disaster.



REVIEW

Although Sydlynn Hayle pretends as much as she as possible that she is normal, the truth is she is a witch,  Not an ordinary witch; but the daughter of the Demon Lord and the leader of the coven.  Being born to the most powerful witch and the demon, Sydlynn has more responsibilities in the coven.  But, Syd wants nothing to do with the coven nor her powers.  She can't wait to reach the age of 18, so that her parents can take her powers and let her be normal.  She is bullied at school and things get nasty for Sydney, when Quaid shows up and her mom says she is promised to him for marriage, when she was a child.  When Syd just wants to move away from all of this, there is some danger to her coven and many of them get hurt.  Is Sydney going to accept finally who she is?

When I started this book and went on with this book, most of my thoughts were like "Sydlynn is so self-centered, ruthless and a total idiot".  All those things were connected to being a teenager.  And the problem is I can relate to it.  I know how it sounds, but don't tell me that you haven't crossed that path.  I definitely did.  And Syd has lot of faults..true, but the story is all about her finding the power to accept her true self.  The characters are very beautifully brought out, leaving no room for doubts. And I felt close to almost all the characters.

The plot is the main strength to this book.  It was so thrilling that I can't put down my Kindle.  It's quite confusing to leave the book awhile and do my regular chores.  I keep thinking about the book and want to go back to my bed, curl up and just read.  This book was just super-amazing.  Why haven't I heard about this series before now, seriously stuns me.  And the author has written like 20 books in this series.  This book is going to be on my favorite list for a very long time.

LOVE IT!

5 STARS!




About the Author:

Patti is an award-winning author with a passion for the paranormal. Now with multiple series in happy publication, she lives in Canada with her patient husband and six demanding cats.





Giveaway:

5 paperback copies of Family Magic (US/CA) and a $25 Amazon gift card (INT)

Ends Aug. 6th

Hosts are not responsible for prizing, prizing is provided by the publisher.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.



Cover Reveal & Giveaway: SWORD by Realm Lovejoy



Today I'm excited to share the cover reveal for SWORD by Realm Lovejoy! SWORD is the sequel to HENGE and is a part of the Le Fay Series. It is a young adult fantasy and releases November 11, 2015.

HENGE (Le Fay Series Book 1) is on sale for only .99 cents to celebrate the cover reveal, grab a copy while it's cheap!

Also, a limited edition Le Fay Series T-Shirt is available on Mister Dressup! The illustration is from HENGE (Le Fay Series) and features Morgan le Fay in front of Camelot. The T-shirt will be on sale for a month only so grab one while it lasts!

About SWORD:

 Evil lurks. Camelot sits, vulnerable. The fate of a future king hangs in the balance.

After surviving a string of brutal trials, sixteen-year-old Morgan le Fay is an official member of Camelot. But beneath its shining façade, Camelot is a crumbling government where loyalties are divided.
Nobody believes Morgan’s suspicions that enemies are closing in. Prince Arthur, a boy more interested in playing video games than ruling, will not listen to her, and neither will Lancelot, Camelot’s head of security. Even Morgan's friend Merlin refuses to take action.
When Morgan discovers that someone is plotting to assassinate the future king, she must take her destiny—and his—into her own hands. With the sword Excalibur beckoning in the distance, Morgan embarks on a seemingly impossible mission. And before her journey ends, everyone will know what she is truly capable of . . .
In this second book in the LE FAY series, author Realm Lovejoy takes readers deep into the heart of a splintering Camelot.

Don't miss out on book one, HENGE, available for only .99 cents from 8/19-8/22!

HENGE Cover

Realm LovejoyAbout the Author:

Realm Lovejoy is an American writer and an artist. She grew up in both Washington State and the Japanese Alps of Nagano, Japan. Currently she lives in Seattle and works as an artist in the video game industry. CLAN is her first book. Her second book is HENGE (Le Fay Series).


To be eligible for a review copy of SWORD, be sure to read HENGE and check out the review policy set by the author.


GIVEAWAY:

$10 Amazon giftcard, 6 HENGE (Le Fay Series Book 1) ebooks (international)
Ends Aug. 30th
Prizing is provided by the author, hosts are not responsible in any way.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions



Tuesday 18 August 2015

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Silenced in the Surf by Kate Dyer-Seeley


Welcome to the cover reveal for Silenced in the Surf by Kate Dyer-Seeley! This is book three in the Pacific Northwest Mystery series and releases March 29th, 2016.

About the Book:
Covering a windsurfing competition should have been a breeze for reporter Meg Reed, but with a killer in the curl, she's headed for rough waters…

Hood River in the Columbia River Gorge is the windsurfing capital of the world, and Meg is stoked to cover the King of the Hook event for Portland's Northwest Extreme magazine. Before the competition gets under way, Meg has a chance to try some windsurfing on her own. But when the current sweeps her downriver, she spots a body snagged on the rocks. The dead man is Justin Cruise, aka Cruise Control, a celebrity windsurfer and not exactly a nice guy. It's soon clear his death was no accident, and Cruise had no shortage of enemies. As Meg dives right in to discover who wiped out the windsurfer, she'll need to keep her balance--or she too may get blown away.

Praise For Scene Of The Climb

"A splendid overview of the greater Portland and Columbia River Gorge region, perfect for travel buffs. Her protagonist shows promise with her determined attitude and moxie." --Library Journal

"A fun, terrific adventure." --Suspense Magazine

Includes Adventure Guides!
Goodreads |  Amazon | B&N

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Don't miss out on the first two books, Scene of the Climb and Slayed on the Slopes!



About the Author:

Kate Dyer-Seeley writes the Pacific Northwest Mystery Series for Kensington Publishing. The first

book in the series, Scene of the Climb, features the rugged landscapes of the Columbia River Gorge and a young journalist who bills herself as an intrepid adventurer in order to land a gig writing for Northwest Extreme.

Her work has appeared in a variety of regional and international publications including: The Columbian, The Vancouver Voice, Seattle Backpacker, Portland Family Magazine, and Climbing Magazine.

Kate lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and son, where you can find her hitting the trail, at an artisan coffee shop, or at her favorite pub. Better yet—at all three.


Giveaway:

Signed copies of Scene of the Climb and Slayed on the Slopes, Windsurfing Barbie kit,  Pink inflatable pool float, Clif bars, Burt’s Bees Pink Grapefruit lip balm, Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate bar with raspberry
US only
Ends August 27th
Prizing provided by the author, hosts are not responsible in any way.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.


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