Friday, April 4, 2014

Raining Romance Books Giveaway Hop



Welcome to my stop on the Raining Romance Books Giveaway Hop, hosted by Stuck in Books. I am giving away two prizes. The first prize is a Kindle copy of the Romance through the Ages anthology set. This includes seven novels - over 2000 pages of romance. The second prize is an ebook copy of my fantasy romance, Shadow Fire, in your choice of formats. After entering my giveaway, be sure to hop to the other blogs for some great prizes!

Romance through the Ages

From Goodreads:
USA TODAY BESTSELLING BOX SET: Romance through the Ages brings you SEVEN NOVELS from 7 bestselling authors, including New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestsellers. Join us for this fabulous, limited-availability collection. Over 800 combined 4-5 star reviews!

*7 Romance Novels, 7 Bestselling Authors, 1 Amazing Price*

Running Barefoot by NY Times & USA Today bestselling author Amy Harmon!— Deeply romantic and poignant, Running Barefoot is the story of a small town girl and a Native American boy, the ties that bind them to their homes and families, and the love that gives them wings.

Masquerade by Janette Rallison, who has sold more than 1 million books!— It's hard for a woman to keep up the masquerade when her boss is as handsome as Slade Jacobson and the job takes her to Hawaii with him. In between handling his whirlwind four-year-old daughter and dealing with a whole cast of Hollywood personalities, Clarissa has to keep a tight hold on her heart.

The Reluctant Bachelorette by Rachael Anderson, Amazon Bestseller!—Unknowingly cast as the bachelorette for her town's charity event, Shelter’s Bachelorette, Taycee Emerson is in for the ride of her life. Especially when she discovers her old teenage crush, Luke Carney, is one of the bachelors and it's up to the viewers—not her—to decide which bachelors stay or go.

Pride and Precipitation by Heather Horrocks, Amazon Bestseller!— Breezy Jones is crazy about the weather, rain or shine, which makes her job as the local television station’s meteorologist perfect. That’s before she meets the attractive new general manager, Noah Drake, who is determined to repackage everything—including Breezy’s down-home delivery.

My Own Mr. Darcy by Karey White, Amazon Bestseller!— Lizzie falls hard for Matthew Macfadyen’s Mr. Darcy character and makes a promise to herself that she will settle for nothing less than her own Mr. Darcy. When she meets two men, Chad—a science teacher, and Matt Dawson—who looks and acts like Mr. Darcy, she’s forced to re-evaluate what it was she loved about Mr. Darcy in the first place.

She Owns the Knight by Diane Darcy, Amazon Bestseller!— Why does Gillian Corbett have to travel seven hundred years through time to find a decent guy?... Why can't Sir Kellen Marshall find a lady who is obedient, submissive... or at least not trying to kill him?

Heart of the Ocean by Heather B. Moore, Amazon Bestseller!— A dark secret . . . a grieving ghost . . . a handsome stranger . . . What more could Eliza Robinson want? Except for maybe her life. When Eliza discovers that Jonathan Porter’s dark secrets may be the link between the dead woman who haunts her and her aunt’s murderer, Eliza realizes that Jonathan is the one man she should never trust.


Shadow Fire by Kimber Leigh Wheaton


Ashlyn – a free-spirited teenager whose peaceful life is shattered when the village elders honor her with a perilous quest to recover a stolen relic.

Zane – a jaded mercenary, torn by his undeniable desire for Ashlyn and the dark secret that could make her hate him forever.

Delistaire – a malevolent sorcerer driven by an insatiable lust for power.
All three are bound together by an ancient relic supposedly infused with the power of a Goddess.

Shadow Fire – adventure, passion, secrets, and betrayal

As Ashlyn and Zane race to stay one step ahead of the evil lurking in the shadows, their passions are ignited and their bond strengthens. But will they find the relic before Delistaire? Or has their entire quest been orchestrated from the very beginning by a madman in pursuit of ultimate power?

Each installment of the Light Chronicles is a standalone story.


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Blog Tour: Silver Linings by Kaylee Baldwin - Review & Giveaway

Updated Silver



Silver Linings

Kaylee Baldwin

Drew Westfall wants nothing more than to forget what he had to do in the name of "smart" business. Cutting off all ties with his parents—including handing over the entire contents of his trust fund to a charity—he takes off for Bridger, Colorado where his best friend has an extra room for him. It doesn't take long for him to realize that his business degree won’t do him much good in a town as small as Bridger, but he's broke and has nowhere else to go. Eden Torresi has every reason to wallow. Not only did she have to sell her house to pay for her mother’s medical expenses, but she also had to drop out of school and is in a relationship with a guy unwilling to commit. But Eden isn't the wallowing type. Instead, she chooses to spend most of her time taking care of the seniors at Silver Linings Assisted Living. When she learns that her boyfriend's new roommate is down on his luck, her caring nature makes her want to reach out to him and offer what help she can. But the more time they spend together, the more complicated things get, especially when the seniors of Silver Linings decide to play matchmaker.


My Review: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

Silver Linings is the second novella in the Ripple Effect romance series, and it's every bit as enjoyable as Home Matters. Remember poor, disillusioned Drew from the cafe toward the end of Home Matters? Well, he has a staring role in Silver Linings. It's Drew minus the family wealth, prestige, and trust fund. Some people have to go to great lengths to find happiness, and fortunately for Drew, it's waiting for him in tiny Bridger, CO.

Eden is far and away one of the sweetest characters I've read about. She's given up so much for others, and always puts them ahead of herself. I fell in love with her, desperately wanting her to find happiness. She is one of those people you admire while wondering if you'd step up to the plate like she has. Drew is the same way. I admired the drive he had to find something important and worthwhile in his life. He was raised in the lap of luxury, yet was out in the early winter morning scraping the ice from Eden's doorstep so she wouldn't fall.

Eden's boyfriend, Jace, is another fantastic character. You know it won't work out with them, or there wouldn't be a romance between Drew and Eden. Yet, I really liked him so much. I'm quite excited that the next book tells Jace's story. Hands down, the best parts of this novel revolve around the characters and their interactions. The crew at Silver Linings was always fun even though their appearances were brief. If you like your romance sweet and your endings happy enough to make you cry, then you'll really like Silver Linings.



KayleeAuthor Kaylee Baldwin When Kaylee Baldwin isn’t writing, she’s usually chasing after her four children, checking her email, trying to get motivated to train for that race she shouldn’t have signed up for, hanging out with her pretty awesome husband, and reading whatever good book she can find. She graduated from Arizona State with degree in English Lit. Her published books are Meg’s Melody, Six Days of Christmas (part of the All I Want collection) and Silver Linings.










Updated Ripple Effect


The Ripple Effect Romance Novella Series

Enjoy this exciting new series of clean novellas by six critically-acclaimed authors. "Like a pebble tossed into calm water, a simple act can ripple outward and have a far-reaching effect on those we meet, perhaps setting a life on a different course—one filled with excitement, adventure, and sometimes even love."
Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 4/14/14 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Feature & Follow Blog Hop


The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!


How does this work? The goal is to increase blog followers and make friends. First you leave your name here on this post, (using the linky tools — keep scrolling!) then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code at the end of the Linky and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them “hi” in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!

Pranks...
It's been a while since I pulled any pranks. But when I was in high school and college it was a different story. I had a friend/acquaintance in high school. She was an opinionated loud-mouth and made fun of anything paranormal. It wasn't nice because another girl in our group thought her house was haunted and she was genuinely scared. After nasty girl made fun of her in front of the entire cafeteria, my BFFs and I hatched a plan. A sleepover with a seance as the main event. We went all out... hidden people making creaks and groans, candles that extinguish themselves, and the coup de grace was the rigged table. It worked, actually scared her so much I ended up feeling guilty. My parents weren't pleased with the stunt either. I was grounded for three weeks. I think she learned a lesson, though. She was much less vocal in her criticisms from then on.


Melodramatic Musings: The Dreaded (and Inevitable) Negative Review

Negative reviews. I've been thinking about this topic for quite a while now with all the buzz flying around about negativity toward authors. My writer half is writing this while keeping my reviewer half quiet. She's more of the "can't we all just get along?" type while my writer side is much more realistic and sarcastic.

Personal Taste

I want everyone to read those two words and embrace them. Everyone doesn't like the same things. That's what makes the world interesting. Seriously, how many times have you read something people were raving about and had it fall flat? For months my entire neighborhood, coworkers, the girl at the checkout in Target, etc. were abuzz about how fantastic Fifty Shades of Grey was. I know lots of people loved it. I didn't get it beyond housewives finally getting a taste of the porn their spouses have been reading for years. Go look at the ranking stats on Goodreads. I've never seen a novel so evenly distributed among 1-5 stars. My point here isn't to pick on Fifty Shades of Grey. It's to remind you that what Sally next door likes isn't necessarily what you like. To expect nothing but glowing or even good reviews is unrealistic.

Star Ratings

After listening to some fellow authors cry about their 1 or 2 star rankings on Goodreads, I felt it necessary to point out the obvious. 1 star on Goodreads means 'I didn't like it'. Not 'it was awful' or 'the author is terrible'. If you have a hard time with this concept, return to personal taste. Amazon is a bit crueler with 1 star meaning 'I hate it'. Of course with Amazon, you can't rank something without a written review. I've noticed people rank books on Goodreads as 1 or 2 but don't leave a review. You won't have that problem on Amazon. I can't help but wonder, of the 73,000+ people who left a 1 star ranking for our example book, how many actually read it.

Negative Reviews

Statements like: "I didn't connect with the characters", "Started so slow I couldn't read past the first few chapters", "There were so many grammatical issues, it pulled me from the plot."— these are par for the course. If you get reviews like this time and again, learn from them. If they're solitary incidents, suck it up and forget it. Yeah, not easy, I know. Can someone explain how we can gloss over the glowing reviews to focus on the few negatives? They stick in the brain like little parasites, gnawing away at our sanity bit by bit until we're reduced to mindless mush playing with gifs.

The Two Types of Negative Reviews


1) Personal Taste Review: I didn't like this book and here's why. Constructive, about the book itself. Advice- It's over and done. Deal with it however you can, but put it behind you. Only let this one affect you if you're seeing the same complaint over and over again. That's a red flag that you may need to change something in your next novel.


2) Author Bashing Review: I didn't like the book, and the author should be drawn and quartered for writing such drivel. This author sucks and I hate her along with that stupid dog in her author photo. I mean who does she think she's fooling... you get the drift. Advice- I sure hope these don't happen often. Do Not Engage Reviewer. Feel the need to respond? Don't. You'll end up in a war you can't win. People like this are looking for attention, so don't play into their hands. Seriously, you don't need to say anything. The review speaks for itself. It's nasty and distasteful. Be the bigger person and ignore it.

I know all negative reviews don't fall into these categories. I've read a few recently where an industry novice (reader only) presented his/her opinion as irrefutable fact in the review. This is problematic on so many levels since most people reading the reviews aren't going to check the reviewer's profile to see if they're qualified to make such statements.

I really don't think most people write negative reviews for any reason other than to get their opinion out there. Think about it. It's well-known that people tend to write reviews when they love or hate something. How often do you write an ambivalent review?

There's also advice floating around the web to ignore the reviews for your book. I don't know about you, but I can't do that. I'll read every review. Love the good ones. Linger on the bad for months. Try not to let them destroy my self-esteem or affect my writing.

And lastly... Does it bother me when a reviewer doesn't use their real name? NO. Why should it? Lots of authors use pen names so why can't reviewers? Sure people hide behind the anonymity of the internet; they always have and will find a way around any rules you put in place to reveal them. If you don't engage these hate-mongers, they'll go find someone who does. So, no, I didn't sign the petition emailed to me numerous times about Amazon requiring real names for reviewers. I understand both sides of the argument and I chose mine.

How do you deal with negative reviews? If you're a reviewer, do you write negative reviews?

Book Blast: Honor Among Orcs by Amalia Dillin - Excerpt & Giveaway



Beauty must save the BEAST...


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Honor Among Orcs
by Amalia Dillin  

Publication Date: April 1, 2014
Series: Orc Saga, Book One
Genre: New Adult Fantasy/ Romantic Fantasy 


After nearly a decade as the king’s whipping-girl, Princess Arianna has no intention of going quietly into marriage to some treasonous noble, or serving obediently as the king’s spy until her death is more convenient. When she discovers a handsome orc, chained and trapped inside a magic mirror, Arianna cannot help but see a lasting freedom from her father's abuse.

Left to rot inside a mirror by the king, Bolthorn never imagined his prayers would be answered by a princess. Nor did he ever expect to meet so worthy a woman after knowing her father’s cruelty. He needs her help to escape the mirror before the king marches against the orcs, but all he can offer Arianna is ice and darkness in exchange for her aid. 

If Arianna can free the monster behind the glass, perhaps she might free herself, as well. But once they cross the mountain, there will be no return, and the deadly winter is the least of what threatens them on the other side. Romance blossoms in this gripping fantasy adventure.

Available on
Amazon  |  B&N  |  Goodreads







About the Author

Amalia Dillin began as a Biology major before taking Latin and falling in love with old heroes and older gods. After that, she couldn't stop writing about them, with the occasional break for more contemporary subjects. She lives in upstate New York with her husband, and dreams of the day when she will own goats--to pull her chariot through the sky, of course. 

Amalia is the author of the Fate of the Gods trilogy from World Weaver Press, and the soon to be released Orc Saga, coming April 1, 2014. You can learn more about her work at www.amaliadillin.com

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Giveaway!


Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Book Blitz: Black Cats and Ballet Slippers by Iva Valentino - Excerpt & Giveaway



Black Cats and Ballet Slippers - Week Blitz
By Iva Valentino
Middle Grade Humor
Date Published: March 7, 2014


Gemma Mayfield feels like middle school is a lot to bite off and chew. School, ballet classes, and planning on how to get Trevor Davis to ask her to the Halloween Dance are a tough balancing act. On top of that, Gemma is convinced that her science teacher, Ms. Pruett, is a witch.

When things start getting fishy at school, Gemma knows that Ms. Pruett is behind it all! Students are getting spells placed on them and start to go missing. Gemma and her best friend, Izzie, vow to stop Ms. Pruett from doing any more damage. Will they be able to save Middleton Middle School from witchcraft?

EXCERPT

Okay, so something REALLY strange is going on. Boys are from a different planet, but right now a few of them at Middleton are acting like they’re from a different universe. (Wait. Does this make sense? Is there more than one universe? Ugh. Maybe I should have paid more attention last year in Astronomy.)

So, by the time I got to Ms. Pruett’s class, I had already worked myself into a super version of “I Don’t Wanna Go To Class Because I’m Creeped Out!” mode. I walked into the Science Laboratory, and I swear I felt the cold of Building 400 smack me right in the face. I’m not kidding.

Of course Ms. Pruett was at the door, acting like her sweet old lady self (ha ha, I know better), and was welcoming all the kids into the classroom. I just kept my head down and muttered a hello as I passed. Staying below the radar was the goal. Then I sat down at my lab table and shivered a bit.

Joey sat down at the table just a second later. Normally he is really loud and obnoxious, cracking jokes, and calling to the other Soccer Jocks across the room. Today he was quiet.

“Hey,” I said, trying to be friendly. I thought maybe we could commiserate on us both having spells cast on us. Joey responded with a “hey” but didn’t say much else. Hello? Was this the Joey I knew?

“So, Joey, are you feeling okay?” I asked. “You know, after yesterday…”

Joey didn’t say anything, but began writing on a piece of paper. He folded up the piece of paper and passed it to me. I gave him a questioning look. He gave me a weird look back that I couldn’t decipher. The note was as follows:

     Hey Gemma,

     Sorry I gave you a hard time yesterday about the “Cute Boy” list. It was kind of rude of me.

     Joey

That’s when it hit me that Joey hadn’t recovered from Ms. Pruett’s spell. For me it was just temporary, like a few minutes. But Joey was acting weird. It had to be the spell.

“Um, thanks,” I said. “Don’t worry about it.” I then started taking out all my school stuff so that I could look busy and not have any more awkward moments with Joey until he felt better. He was taking longer to recuperate.

After class I headed straight down toward the lunchroom. On the way there, I saw Trevor going in the opposite direction past me. Our conversation went like this:

            Me: “Hi Trevor!” (with a big smile and enthusiasm)

            Trevor: “Oh, hi Gemma.” (with zombie-like attitude)

            Me: “Okay, have a good lunch!”

            Trevor: “Okay, thanks. Bye.”

            I wondered where he was going, in the opposite direction from the lunch room when it was lunchtime. It took me another couple of moments to realize that the ONLY classroom in that part of campus was Ms. Pruett’s room. He was headed back toward Building 400!

            Yikes! I turned myself around in mid-stride and turned back the way I came. I knew there was no way possible that Trevor would be going to Ms. Pruett’s. Why would anyone in their right mind be going there by themselves?

            I didn’t want Trevor to think I was stalking him, because of course I would never do that. But just in case that’s what it appeared to be, I used as much stealth as possible. I walked in the shadows and stopped to peek out behind bushes and building walls. I saw him up ahead…just before he ENTERED MS. PRUETT’S CLASSROOM.

            My mouth fell open, and I just sort of stared at the door for a while.

            Weird things are going on here at Middleton. And I think Ms. Pruett’s behind it all!


Iva Valentino

 photo 372_zpsa6615d54.jpgIva Valentino lives in Arizona with her husband and their dog, Lupo. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master’s degree in Education. She thinks visiting cold places is fun, but she loves living year-round in the warm desert.



Iva spent many years as a middle school teacher, where she enjoyed doing cool science experiments with her students. She currently works as a science editor at an educational publishing company. She loves travel, yoga, and photography. There is nothing that brings her more happiness than a good dance class!

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Release Blitz: Eva's Deadline by Linda Hope Lee - Giveaway

To post this Blitz and add your Social Media to the Rafflecopter, 
email us at PrismBookTours(at)gmail.com with "Eva's Blitz" in the subject line.


We're kicking off the release of Linda's new Harlequin Heartwarming novel and sharing an excerpt with you below! Once you've checked out the book info and read the excerpt, enter the two fabulous giveaways!

Eva's Deadline
by Linda Hope Lee
Paperback or ebook, 368 pages
April 1, 2014 by Harlequin Heartwarming



Eva Sinclair finally had it all: the Seattle sea-view condo, the fancy blue car and the assistant editorship at the city's hottest magazine. Everything she fought for since the day she walked out on her father and the Willow Beach Herald, his beloved small-town newspaper.

With one call from Mark Townson, her father's protege, it was all gone. Her father. Her career. Her independence. And, quite possibly, her mind. Because fulfilling her father's final wishes meant meeting a one-year deadline as Mark's coeditor at the Herald. That's what they call an impossible deadline. Especially when the sparks begin to fly.

Read an Excerpt now HERE!


Praise for previous books by Linda Hope Lee:
For Tell Me No Lies: "Well-written . . . fast-paced . . . highly recommended." 
-Joyce Koehl, Romance Reviews Today 
For Dark Memories: "An emotional drama and puzzling suspense . . . churns with guilt, passion, and intrigue." 
-Romantic Times  
For Finding Sara: "A modern Western, packed with secrets, intrigue, and old-fashioned romance."
-WRDF 
For Loving Rose: "A heartwarming read that will tug at your heartstrings."
-sizzlinghotbooks.net
"What a beautiful story!" 
-sirenbookreviews.blogspot.com

Linda Hope Lee writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and mysteries. She enjoys traveling especially to small towns in search of story ideas. She's also an artist, specializing in watercolor, pen and ink, and colored pencil. Photography provides inspiration for both her writing and her art. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, where many of her stories are set.



Blitz-Wide Giveaways
April 1-15

Giveaway #1:
$50 Amazon Gift Card - International

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Giveaway #2:
ENTER TO WIN EVA'S DEADLINE BY LINDA LEE HOPE!
3 paperback copies - US and Canada
3 ecopies - International

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Are you an author or publisher and would like to have us organize a tour event? Go HERE.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

April Kindle Fire Giveaway

Enter to win 1 of 2 great prizes. Winner's choice of a Kindle Fire HDX or $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 Paypal Cash! The first prize is available via the rafflecopter below. The 2nd is available only to bloggers who post about this giveaway. You can find info on how to enter the 2nd giveaway in the rafflecopter.

Kindle Fire April
 
Win a Kindle Fire HDX, Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash ($229 value)

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HDX (US Only - $229 Value)



  Or $229 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

 
Or $229 in Paypal Cash (International)

   

  Giveaway Sponsors: I Am A Reader Feed Your Reader Inspired Kathy Author Rachael Anderson Author Carolyn Cooper Author Kimber Leigh Wheaton Laurie Here - Contemporary Fiction and MORE Fabio Bueno, YA Author A Book Lover's Retreat Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews Becoming Books Fae Books Author Christie Anderson Author David Pandolfe Jetpack Dragons Clutter Your Kindle Crossangels Author Mary Ting/M. Clarke Alexandrea Weis Author Addicted Readers Author Alecia Stone Tressa's Wishful Endings Author Rae Z. Ryans Bella Street's Weird Romance Bonnie Blythe's Pure Romance Author Inger Iversen Author M.A. George Theresa DaLayne Buried Under Romance Author Myrna Mackenzie Owl Always Be Reading Jacqueline Diamond Author Joan Leacott Free Bookster Emma Michaels Jennifer Laurens - author My Nook, Books & More LOVE. WITHOUT YOU The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something year Old Girl Bound 4 Escape Reviews from a Bookworm The YA Buzz Claudia Burgoa Lynda Raymond Books for Young Children A. Wrighton, Author Author Niki Danforth Lori's Reading Corner Hearts On Sleeves Book Blog The Forever Girl Series Author Crystal Donahue A Leisure Moment : A Casual Conversation about our love for Literature Author Elizabeth Parkinson Bellows Me, My Shelf and I Author FA Michaels The Reporter and The Girl Author Ashley Stambaugh Extaordinaryreads Laurie Treacy, Author Faithful Acres Books

Sign up to sponsor the next Kindle Giveaway here: http://www.iamareader.com/category/kindle-giveaway-sign-ups

Giveaway Details 1 winner will receive their choice of an all new Kindle Fire 7" HDX (US Only - $229 value), $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash (International). There is a second separate giveaway for bloggers who post this giveaway on their blog. See details in the rafflecopter on how to enter to win the 2nd Kindle Fire HDX 7", $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash. Ends 4/30/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. 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 Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Blog Tour: Covenant by Sabrina Benulis - Excerpt



Covenant
The Books of Raziel #2

Sabrina Benulis

Paranormal Fantasy
Harper Voyager
April 1, 2014

HarperCollins    Amazon    B&N



The haunting gothic tale started in Archon continues-a mesmerizing work of the paranormal in which a young woman discovers that she is caught in a labyrinth of intrigue where angels, demons, and all the creatures between Heaven and Hell will stop at nothing to possess her.

A year ago, Angela Mathers, a talented artist with a tortured soul, enrolled at the Westwood Academy and encountered the angels who haunted her dreams. Then she discovered the dark truth … she is the Archon, a being of supreme power who will determine the fate of the universe. But with such power comes great danger, and for every force seeking to aid Angela there is another burning to stop her. After a scheming demon kidnaps the Book of Raziel, Angela must find her way through a nightmarish game and enter the Door to Hell to rescue her only friend before it is too late.

The perilous fate of both Heaven and Hell rests on her success.



Excerpt


Genesis ~ The Story So Far

     In the beginning of all things, there was a song, and starlight, and a Garden within eternity's shadows. There, God created three great angels, and they were destined to rule all of Heaven from three majestic thrones.
     Israfel, the Creator Supernal, was considered to be the most beautiful of these angels. A vision of bronze feathers and grace, he found favor in the eyes of God and Heaven and soon outstripped his siblings in both popularity and power. His brother Raziel, the Preserver Supernal, became known for the virtues of wisdom and gentleness. And then there was Lucifel, the Destroyer Supernal embodying creation's fathomless darkness and depths, who despite her taciturn personality still managed to snare the hearts of creatures.
     The storms and upsets of the universe could not touch these three angels. Sickness and death were beneath them.
     But they were not immune to the passions of the heart.
     As Israfel's favor grew, so did Lucifel's frightful envy and discontent.
     Seeing herself as an equal to her sibling and with a loyal band of angels to support her claim, Lucifel finally broke with the established order and challenged Israfel's position as Heaven's supreme ruler under God. When Raziel--who had always seemingly vacillated in his loyalty between both siblings--took Lucifel as his lover, a bloody revolution exploded. The children of their forbidden union were executed, but in retaliation Lucifel engulfed Heaven in a War that ended in Raziel's suicide, Israfel's abdication, and her own tragic destiny.
     Though defeated by both fate and circumstance, Lucifel chose to begin a new regime in lower, darker places. Yet she was swiftly imprisoned in her new kingdom of Hell.
     Those who had once worshipped her in her glory were now her fearful jailers. They called themselves demons.
     In the darkness below all things, caged and alone, Lucifel's ideals twisted even as her shadow of influence grew. From Hell it then spread like a poison, touching even the mortal world.
     Though her true motives remain unknown, she is now suspected of wishing to open Raziel's fabled Book, seeking to use its power to silence the universe and the light within it that mocks her. Lucifel moves quicker by the day to manipulate events in her favor. But Raziel's death was not completely in vain. He has returned as the guardian spirit of a human girl to see that his sister Lucifel fails in her goal. This human girl is called the Archon.
     The Archon is the only soul believed to be capable of opening the Book for the power of good. But like all creatures She has a choice, and will either stand against Lucifel and destroy her, or kill her only to take her place on the Throne of Hell and begin a darker era of Ruin.
     In either instance, Her decision must be made quickly.
     With the ties that once held the universe together brutally severed, an order long teetering on the edge of collapse has started to slide toward complete annihilation. A silence more threatening than Lucifel's looms over all creatures--one without hope of resurrection. The whereabouts of the Lock and Key of Raziel's Book are unknown, and the task of opening it to save what remains of the world verges on the impossible.
     The Archon is a soul born in mortal misery, and she has only recently grasped the virtue of friendship. There are many who believe that her dark destiny is--like Lucifel's--unavoidable.
     But if Ruin and Death born of three unhappy angels sparked the end, it is also true that covenants broken can be remade, and that the wheels of fate can be turned backwards despite all odds. Hearts call to one another, undoing the knots that have strangled hope, and imprisoned peace. For darkness to exist, there must be a brighter light. The world has always known pain, strife, and wars.
     Yet it is the bonds between souls that have moved the stars.


About the Author

Sabrina Benulis graduated with a Masters in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. She currently resides in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania with her husband Mike, and her spoiled cockatiel Caesar. COVENANT is the follow-up to ARCHON, her first novel.









Monday, March 31, 2014

Fool For Books Giveaway Hop!


Welcome to my stop on the Fool For Books Giveaway Hop! As I'm typing this, it just occurred to me that we've already made it to April—the year is flying by! I'm giving away a $10 Amazon gift card along with a copy of my YA fantasy romance Shadow Fire. After you enter my giveaway, be sure to hop over to the other blogs on the list for some great prizes!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: Aqua by M.A. George


Aqua
By M.A. George
Genre- YA Paranormal 
Expected Publication Date- April 16th, 2014 

Meet Layla McKelland: 
Novelist (unpublished, but cut her some slack…seventeen is a bit early to despair), 
Slightly neurotic introvert (Alright, let’s be honest…there’s no “slightly” about it), 
International Woman of Mystery, and…
Okay, just scratch the bio.

The only real “mystery” in Layla’s life is why her father has never been on the scene. Or why her mother drags Layla to a new coastal home every year. 

Nothing about the latest hometown seems too newsworthy…until a routine day at the beach leaves Layla questioning whether she’s read one too many paranormal fantasy novels. The plot thickens when a random guy claims to know things about her father—a bizarre claim he backs up with an equally impossible stunt. And Layla soon finds herself on the wrong side of a mysterious attempted drowning…on her own kitchen floor.

When all is done, Layla will attest that fact is far stranger than fiction. And nothing in real life is ever as transparent as it seems…Not even water.

Especially not water.

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Book Blitz: The Golden Apple by Michelle Diener - Guest Post, Review Op & Giveaway

To post this Blitz and add your Social Media to the Rafflecopter, 
email us at PrismBookTours(at)gmail.com with "Golden Apple Blitz" in the subject line!


We're celebrating the release of Michelle Diener's second fairy tale retelling:
The Golden Apple
An Adult Fantasy Romance based loosely on the Princess on the Glass Hill


The Golden AppleThe Golden Apple
by Michelle Diener
Adult Fantasy/SciFi
March 24, 2014

Kayla's world has been turned upside-down...

Her father has made her the prize in a deadly, impossible tournament, and Kayla has retaliated in the only way she knows how; by choosing her champion beforehand. But taking control of the outcome changes the game completely, and when the real reason behind the strange test becomes apparent, Kayla realizes not just her life, but her entire kingdom is at stake.

Rane's honor is torn in two...

In order to save his brother, Rane will do whatever he has to--including deceive and betray a princess. He knew nothing about this tournament would be easy, but when it turns into a deeper, far more sinister game, Rane is forced to see it through to the end, or leave his brother at the mercy of their enemy.

Now their fates are entwined, and they must venture into the deep, dark forest together...

Kayla and Rane are bound to one another by an enchantment and Kayla's actions. But the sorcerer forcing them to do his will may have miscalculated, because no-one comes out of the Great Forest unchanged. No-one.



The inspiration for The Golden Apple

The Golden Apple is loosely based on the Norwegian fairy tale The Princess on the Glass Hill. The original tale is more about the hero than the heroine, and it is a very straightforward quest story, with the hero becoming more and more accomplished, until at last he succeeds against the odds. But there were a few things in this fairy tale that stood out for me and made me take notice. The first is the very unusual situation of the king holding a contest for his daughter’s hand by putting her on top of a glass hill with a golden apple in her lap. Knights from all over are invited to race a horse up the smooth glass sides of the mountain and the one who can pluck the golden apple from the princess's lap wins her hand and is heir to the kingdom. As usual in fairy tales, there is no explanation as to how the king came by a glass mountain, but I wondered where he got it, and that sparked the starting point of the story. It is really the inciting incident that starts the story off, rather than the focus of the story, as it was in the fairy tale.

Secondly, the crux of the tale, for me, is that the hero cannot win the princess's hand without help from the princess herself. That part of the original tale is one or two lines long, but for me, it's fascinating. The feminine power determining and choosing which masculine power will prevail. This really made me interested, because the princess doesn't just sit there and take whoever it is manages to accomplish the (impossible) task set by her father, but actively chooses who it is she wants to win and helps them. I wanted to write a story about the consequences of her taking that power and using it and The Golden Apple was the result -- far, far more heroine-centric than the original, and I really had fun with it.
- Michelle Diener


LAST CALL FOR REVIEWERS!
Are you interested in fantasy romance?
Do you love fairy tale retellings?
Have you read Michelle Diener and enjoyed her work in the past?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you can request a review copy of The Golden Apple! The Golden Apple is up for review by invitation only on NetGalley. Reviewers with book review sites can apply for a limited number of pre-approved copies. Book reviewers who post their review on their review site, Amazon, and Goodreads can enter a Rafflecopter draw to win one of ten copies of any Michelle Diener book of their choice, or a $10 Amazon gift card. (Instructions in sign-up form.)

Sign up HERE


Image of Michelle DienerMichelle Diener writes historical fiction. Her Susanna Horenbout & John Parker series, set in the court of Henry VIII, includes In a Treacherous Court, Keeper of the King's Secrets and In Defense of the Queen.

Michelle's other historical novels include Daughter of the Sky, The Emperor's Conspiracy and Banquet of Lies (loosely connected to The Emperor's Conspiracy).

Michelle's first fantasy novel, Mistress of the Wind, is set for a December 23, 2013, release.

Michelle was born in London, grew up in South Africa and currently lives in Australia with her husband and two children.

Blitz-Wide Giveaways:

1 - Enter to WIN one of ten ebooks of The Golden Apple.
- March 30 - April 7.
See Rafflecopter for restrictions.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2 - For book bloggers: Review The Golden Apple by April 1, 2014 and enter to WIN one of 10 prizes:
- Choose any one of Michelle Diener's books or $10 Gift Card!
- March 24 - April 7

Request an early review copy using the form. Instructions on entering the second giveaway are included!


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