Friday, August 15, 2014

Book Blitz: The Silver Siren by Chanda Hahn - Excerpt & Giveaway




The Silver Siren
The Iron Butterfly #3

Chanda Hahn

YA Fantasy
May 25, 2014

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Every journey has an end.
Unable to find the answers she sought in Skyfell, Thalia, Joss, and Kael travel to Haven with a prisoner in tow. An attack on the road waylays their plans, and Thalia finds herself traveling alone with Kael to the hidden sanctuary of the SwordBrothers.
But war is on the horizon and the Raven is amassing his army. This time, the target is not Calandry, but the Sirens of Sinnedor. When family ties are revealed, Thalia must choose sides. Desperate to break the final seal on her power and save those she loves, will Thalia willingly taste the bitter pain of the iron butterfly machine one final time?


Excerpt

“Will you stay close?” It sounded crazy coming from my own mouth, but I needed him near.
“I’ll stay as close as you want,” he whispered. Then he sat near me cross-legged. “Is this good?” A small smile played at the corner of his lips.
Nodding my head, I curled up in his bedroll and immediately felt comfortable and safe. I yawned and inhaled the smell of him from his blanket. I was definitely tired.
“Thalia?” Kael leaned over and spoke into my ear.
“Hmmm?” I answered.
“Why don’t you want me to leave?”
“Mmm. ’Cause you keep the bad things away,” I mumbled sleepily.
“What if I am the bad thing?” His thick voice questioned. Was that a hint of fear I heard?
“You’re not,” I answered honestly.
I was almost asleep when I heard shuffling. My eyes flew open, and I reached out to grab Kael’s arm. He looked at me in surprise.
“I’m just getting comfortable,” he smirked.
“Promise you won’t leave me,” I demanded tiredly.
Kael nodded, and I let sleep finally win. But I swore I heard him whisper under his breath. “Never.”

About the Author

Chanda is a bestselling and award winning author of the UnEnchanted: An Unfortunate Fairy Tale series and the Iron Butterfly series. She’s been a bestseller in five countries and was named one of Amazon’s top 100 customer favorite author. She uses her experience as a children’s pastor, children’s librarian and bookseller to write compelling and popular fiction for teens. She was born in Seattle, WA, grew up in Nebraska and currently resides in Portland, Oregon with her husband and their twin children.
Learn more about this author visit her website www.chandahahn.com

Follow her on twitter: www.twitter.com/chandahahn



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Thursday, August 14, 2014

Blog Tour: Not Quite Dead by Lyla Payne - Review & Giveaway



Not Quite Dead
A Lowcountry Ghost Story

Lyla Payne

New Adult Paranormal Mystery
April 1, 2014

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A broken engagement sends Graciela Harper crawling back to Heron Creek with her tail between her legs, but finds the sleepy little town too changed to set her life right. Not even her budding drinking problem can obscure her Gramps’s failing health, or erase the mental picture of her first love happily married to her childhood best friend. To top it all off, she’s having a heck of time convincing the town’s dashing young mayor of her unfit-for-dating status.

When the ghost of 18th century lady pirate Anne Bonny starts insisting on a near daily audience, Graciela has to confront something else she never expected—being certifiably nuts at twenty-five years old.

Her brand new "I don't give a crap" attitude makes it easy to dismiss the mysterious threats that seem to be tied to her search for more information on the long dead pirate, but when her family becomes a target, Gracie knows she needs to find out why the ghost insists on being a constant, reeking companion.

If Graciela can put aside her prejudice against people without a pulse, she may discover that Anne Bonny’s problems are intricately linked with her own. The past harbors answers could help the cantankerous spirit find closure, but she is, after all, already dead. If Graciela doesn’t move fast, she might find herself doing the haunting, instead of the other way around.


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

They say you can't go home, and that's even more true when talking about a small town. Graciela knew that when returning, but that couldn't stop her need to run and escape when her life fell apart. In many ways the paranormal mystery takes a backseat to Graciela recovering and pulling her life back together. Though I really think the ghost helped that more than hurt. Fortunately Graciela was open minded about the paranormal, so rather than the ghost bothering her, she embraces the mystery presented.

Graciela was really hurting. She'd lost her mother, her grandmother, not to mention her broken engagement when she caught the rat cheating on her. She also had to deal with her grandfather's fading health. She spent much of the first third of the book rather depressed as one would expect. Really, the list of crap this woman has had to deal with is long and very sad.

I liked Graciela. She was sassy and fun (when she finally stopped her pity party). She seemed to meet her match in the new mayor Beau, who she loved to call Mr. Mayor to irk him. I enjoyed their budding friendship and relationship. Frankly I was worried she might go after her first love in her despair. Not Quite Dead isn't just a paranormal mystery, it's a story about mending friendships, starting over-- and it really makes one realize how precious life really is.

The mystery surrounding Anne Bonny's ghost is interesting, and I liked the romps back through history. While I really enjoyed the plot, it moved a tad slowly for my taste. I found myself skimming more than I like to. It was also quite sad and a bit of a downer at times. I do not recommend reading this if you're feeling down, save it for a brighter day. The ending is quite intriguing, letting the reader know that Graciela's life will not be boring.

About the Author

Lyla Payne has been publishing New Adult romance novels for a little over a year, starting with Broken at Love and continuing with the rest of the Whitman University series. She loves telling stories, discovering the little reasons people fall in love, and uncovering hidden truths in the world around us - past and present. In her spare time she cuddles her two dogs, pretends to enjoy exercising so that she can eat as much Chipotle as she wants, and harbors a deep and abiding hope that Zac Efron likes older women. She loves reading, of course, along with movies, traveling, and Irish whiskey. Lyla's hard at work, ALWAYS, and hopes to bring you more Whitman University antics and at least one more Lowcountry ghost tale before the end of the year.

Lyla Payne is represented by Kathleen Rushall at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

If you want to know more, please visit her at http://lylapayne.com

If you're a fan of Young Adult fiction--science fiction or otherwise--please check out her work that's published under the name Trisha Leigh. http://trishaleigh.com

Author links:
http://lylapayne.com/


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Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Book Blitz: Stormfront by K.R. Conway - Author Interview & Giveaway




Stormfront
Undertow #2

K.R. Conway

YA Paranormal Romance
August 15, 2014



Not long ago Eila Walker’s choices were limited: death by a bullet to the head, or at the hands of her beloved bodyguard, Raef. Now, five weeks after Raef triggered her power and she nearly leveled a historic mansion, Eila is dealing with the fall-out of her decisions. While she doesn’t remember dying in the arms of the soul thief who loves her, she knows that Raef remembers everything about the night he nearly killed her.

Now on the mend and attempting to keep one step ahead of the FBI, Eila and her team of misfits are desperate for a bit of normal. Eila is trying to navigate high school, while her BFF Ana is cautiously hanging with past-boyfriend and soul thief, Kian. Shape-shifter, MJ, is trying not to piss off his mother, while Raef is coping with his fears that Eila will never be safe.

But just as “normal” seems within their grasp, a powerfully built newcomer arrives. Raef knows the scarred man as a Blacklist Dealer – a soul thief, who peddles the names of humans who deserve to die. Eila, however, knows him as the protective hunter from the woods, who she nicknames Thor. Before long, Raef and Eila realize they’ve met the same killer, and he has one hell of a story to tell the five friends . . . if Raef doesn’t murder him first.


STORMFRONT is the second book in the Bestselling UNDERTOW series.



Interview with K.R. Conway

Q: How did you come up for the idea for the series and how many books are there total?

A: Ah! The idea for the series . . . I get asked that a lot. UNDERTOW is a combination of the war stories of my grandfather (who was a WWII Marine and landed on Iwo Jima), my obsession with Steven Spielberg’s film adaptation of Peter Benchley’s novel, JAWS, and my love affair with Cape Cod and its “everybody knows everybody” vibe. As for the number of books, there are 4 main novels, and one novella. Only the first 2 novels are out right now – UNDERTOW and STORMFRONT (as of August 13, 2014). UNDERTOW is now on summer reading lists for high schools.

Q: The local kids from Cape Cod are saying the stuff in the books is REAL! They are messing with me, right?

A: The series is based on a REAL version of Cape Cod. In fact, one of the characters owns an ice cream shop named The Milk Way. While “The Milk Way” is fictitious, it is 100% based on Four Seas Ice Cream in Centerville (a REAL town, were fictional Eila lives). Four Seas knows they are in the book and they host book signings. Other things in the book that are real to Cape Cod (so you can basically visit here and do all the things that Eila and her crew do) are:

1. Eila’s house – The home the main character inherits, and thus sets off the chain of events for UNDERTOW, does exist in the historic area of Centerville, not far from Four Seas Ice Cream. It used to be owned by a friend of mine and we hung out in it all the time when we were young. She now resides in Hong Kong as a pilot, so we catch up on Facebook and she gives me more secrets about how the house was built. FYI – don’t go knocking on the door, because someone else owns the house now.

2. Barnstable High School – Totally real and totally cool public high school that does some crazy thing. The students and faculty know they are in the novels (and even decided to begin building their own book trailer based on the series), so they allow me to come in and walk the halls as needed to make sure I stay true to the story. And yes – it is so huge that I need a GPS to find my way out. 2000+ students go there. Their award winning theater department became part of a major TV network series known as High Drama a few years ago. American Idol contestant Siobhan Magnus was a student there.

3. The Jeep Subculture – Again, totally real. On Cape Cod, Wranglers are the most beloved vehicles of all. Most families have one, and if you drive one, other Wrangler drivers will wave to you when you pass each other – like Harley riders do. And yes – you can drive them out onto some of the beaches (MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHICH ONES!)

4. Witch Balls, The Crimson Moon, and Eila’s Bracelet – All real. Witch Balls are made at any one of our beautiful, glass-blowing shops (and yes – you can watch them actually blow glass, which is so cool). The Crimson Moon was based on The Lavender Moon, which is no longer in business. It was owned by a real coven of witches and when you would go in there, you could buy healing stones, herbs, crystals, oils, etc. Don’t worry – Dalca didn’t work at the real version! Eila’s bracelet is a staple of Cape Cod and there are several variations, though the original is simply called a Cape Cod Bracelet. They come in various sizes, so having a two-year-old with one is not unusual. The ball screws the bangle together, which means that sucker ain’t coming off, so don’t get it caught on anything or your arm may go with it.

5. Town Neck, the Bonfire party, and the infamous bridge – All real, though I did take a few creative liberties. So, Town Neck beach is part of the town of Sandwich. It has the boardwalk, just as described, and the long beach at the end, AND, yes, the river. Kids can jump from the bridge (yup, I’ve done it too, and IT IS FREEZING). However, you cannot drive a car out on Town Neck and you are not supposed to bonfire there – all those things can be done on SANDY NECK or NAUSET (where Raef hunts), so I kinda sorta blended the two beaches.

6. Barnstable Harbor and the Ferry – Totally true and yes, you can sit and people watch. You can also catch a Cape Cod Baseball League game in the nearby field. The Cape Cod League is famous because so many players get called up to the Majors.

More of Cape Cod appears in each new novel in the series and I do blog often about the Cape, writing, and the series on my blog at http://capecodscribe.com


Q: DUDE! I saw Raef at the mall!!! Like – REALLY HIM! I was totally fangirling!! How is that possible?
           
A: Because all the cover models are real kids from Cape Cod and none were professional models. We found them through Facebook (yes – I stalked teenagers on Facebook). They needed to match the characters that were already written and their parents needed to agree to let them become the faces of the characters. I have a fabulous, young photographer named Alex, and a full television studio that we use when we do photoshoots. Each shoot takes about seven hours. It is weird to be there during the shoots as ALL the characters are hanging out, laughing and sharing music. The kids also come to book signings and sign as their characters and pose with fans. They have been on TV, in newspapers, and on blogs.  Their complete profiles and who the real kids are behind the faces can be found on my blog, CapeCodScribe.com.

Q: How can I contact you? Enter to win Swag? Find out when the next book will launch? Meet you in person?

A: My blog is a great place to start (CapeCodScribe.com), but I also have a Facebook Page, Instagram (K_R_Conway), and Twitter. On Amazon, you can sign up to get an email when a new book releases. Fans who post Facebook statuses about the book, tweet, Pinterest, Instagram and what not can win swag from me.


About the Author

K.R. Conway has been a professional writer for most of her adult life.  She has been a journalist since 1999, an editor, graphic designer, critique partner for other writers, novelist, and book reviewer. She teaches the devious art of telling lies for money to various impressionable young people (i.e. she teaches fiction craft classes for teens and adults). She is also on the Board of Directors for the Cape Cod Writers Center, a PAL member of the SCBWI, and the driver of a 16-ton school bus. She tweets her random thoughts @sharkprose and is on Facebook, because even her BFF’s dog is.

K.R. Conway is the author of the UNDERTOW series, which includes last year’s Amazon bestseller, UNDERTOW, and this August’s release, STORMFRONT.She lives on Cape Cod with her two children and husband, two weird dogs, and a cage-defiant lovebird that sleeps in a miniature tent.

Author links:

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Release Blitz: Flawed by J.L. Spelbring - Giveaway




Title: Flawed (Perfection #2)
Author: J.L. Spelbring
Release Date: August 12, 2014
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

In a world where Hitler won the The War, and perfection is constantly sought, Ellyssa has broken free from her austere life and has found another meaning for her existence.

Family, friendship, and love.

But her happiness is short lived. Ellyssa finds herself on the run, again. Her father's work didn't die with him, but lives on in her siblings, Aalexis and Xaver, and they are determined to complete his unfinished dream.












 
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR



J.L. Spelbring lives in Texas, where she wanders out in the middle of the night to look at the big and bright stars. Besides knocking imaginary bad guys in the head with a keyboard, she enjoys being swept away between the pages of a book, running amuck inside in her own head, pretending she is into running, and hanging out with her kids, who are way too cool for her.

Her novel, Perfection, released in July 2013 and the sequel, Flawed, releases August 2014.







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Monday, August 11, 2014

Blog Tour: Thoeba by Donna Milward - Excerpt, Top 10 & Giveaway




Thoeba

Donna Milward

Fantasy
Staccato Publishing

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Thoeba is a creature of light. As all things must be in balance, when the Energy created her kind it also created the darkness.

Thoeba’s world fell to darkness forcing her to flee. She came to Earth to protect the Energy, losing everything in the process.
Darkness has found a way to follow her and threatens to take this world as well.

With only humans as allies, can she succeed?


Excerpt

“Wait a minute.” Peter inched forward, narrowed his eyes. “What are you saying? Did you influence that decision? Are you saying you controlled my thoughts?”

“We are desperate....” She did not like his resonance. It seethed like anger and it fed hers. She would have to answer his questions. She needed him to trust her, but this was not a good start.

“No, I did not. Not intentionally anyways.” She couldn’t help herself as she added, “It would help if you did not think at top volume.”

Peter gripped his head. “Okay, that’s it. I call bullshit.”

“That will not stop me from hearing you,” she said. Thoeba sympathized with the dog. While not as empathic as her, the tension caused him to whine. “I am already sick of you humans. This whole mess is your fault anyway.”


The exhaustion, pain and loneliness caved in on her. She hated this planet. Why did humans insist on being so difficult?

Top Ten List by Donna Milward

My top 10 Movies in no particular order:

1.                Labyrinth
2.                Cloud Atlas
3.                The Star Wars Trilogy (That counts as one!)
4.                Serenity
5.                The Watchmen
6.                The Avengers
7.                Erik the Viking
8.                300
9.                Drag me to Hell
10.            Pitch Black


About the Author

Donna Milward lives in Edmonton, Alberta in a tiny house with a huge yard. She’s been writing all her life, but decided to put writing on hold to get ‘a real job’ as a meatcutter and build a future with her beloved troll, Dan and her cats Freya, and Spartacus Jones.
Twelve years later, an invitation to a Romance Writer’s Conference in Washington D.C. led not only to new friends and new knowledge, but to the inspiration to write again. Thoeba was completed the following year.
Donna likes to mix her fascination with reincarnation and all things paranormal with her love of mythology in her work, and has even written her own myth ‘The Sacred Truth” (on earthtothoeba.blogspot.com) as the lore behind Thoeba and future novels to come.

Donna enjoys fishing, gardening and canning. Despite these hobbies, she much prefers city life.


Links-


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Friday, August 8, 2014

Pandora's Box Book Tour - Anthology - Excerpts & Giveaway

 photo PandorasBoxBanner_zpsa48621fe.jpg


Pandora photo boxsetsmallimage_zps0aadf9e4.jpg Title: Pandora Box Set

Author: Angela Fristoe, Apryl Baker, Carole Lanham, Christi Goddard, Conner Kressley, DelSheree Gladden, Heather Kenealy, Kelley Anne Blount, Laura Howard, Louise Caiola, Noree Cosper, Peter Dawes, Rachel Walter, Rainy Kaye, Rebecca Hamilton, Riley J Ford, Samantha LaFantasie, Steven Katriel, Susan Stec, Thomas Sullivan

Genre: Paranormal // Urban Fantasy // Horror

Publish Date: August 5, 2014

Publisher: Indie Published

Event organized by: Literati Author Services, Inc.         






~ Book Synopsis ~


**COMPLETE BOOKS! NO CLIFFHANGERS!**

PANDORA, a best-selling box set of wicked paranormal reads, is brought to you by twenty exciting, best-selling, and award-winning authors! Ready for a touch of magic? Whether you love paranormal in the form of romance, suspense, mystery, horror, or fantasy, this box set will have something to entice your preternatural sensibilities. Supernaturally thrilling and engaging, this box set has it all: ghosts, vampires, mind-readers, shape-shifters, demons, faeries, werewolves, and more. For a limited time, you can enjoy books from today's New York Times, USA Today, Amazon and Barnes & Noble bestselling authors and many more. We have everything from titles that are slated for the big screen to stories from Pulitzer Prize and Bram Stoker Award Nominees! When purchased separately, these books cost over $50! But they are your's today for less than $1. Professionally formatted, no cliffhangers, and no short stories. Every selection in this rare, limited edition paranormal box set are full-length novels and novellas! A few are "First in Series," but we carefully selected only those which can still be enjoyed as a standalone!

Riley J Ford, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author: INTO YOU What if you could know exactly what your friends are thinking? High school student Winter Reynolds can, but there's a catch... She can only read people's thoughts when she's kissing them.

Rebecca Hamilton, Amazon Best-Selling and Film-Optioned Novelist: HER SWEETEST DOWNFALL Ophelia's initiation into the supernatural council won't be complete until she kills the man she loves.

Apryl Baker, Amazon Best-Selling and Film-Optioned Novelist: THE AWAKENING Snap...crackle...pop. The sounds of bones breaking and shifting and of muscles tearing haunt Alexandria Reed. Aided by her new friends, who have some dark secrets themselves, can she and Jason survive long enough to figure out the secret behind the secret?

Carole Lanham, Amazon Best-Selling Author and Bram Stoker Award Nominee: CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE "There are monsters in this world, I’ve learned, and sometimes I have fallen victim to them and sometimes I have been one." A story of Welsh witchcraft, love, and murder.

Thomas Sullivan, Pulitzer Prize Nominee: THE WATER WOLF A global quest by a cynical adventurer searching for links in a colossal subterranean network he has stumbled upon lead him from the ancient fortress at Cuzco, Peru, to the Pyramids of Giza to a dangerous churchyard in Connemara, Ireland, where he falls in love with a woman of more than mortal roots and encounters the strange magic of a small village.
  
Rainy Kaye, Amazon Best-Selling Author: SUMMONED A dark twist on genie folklore, SUMMONED follows a reluctant criminal as he unravels the mystery of the paranormal bond controlling him.

Laura Howard, Amazon Best-Selling Author: THE FORGOTTEN ONES Truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity.

Noree Cosper, B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree: A PRESCRIPTION FOR DELIRIUM Demons, werewolves, possessed bikers, madness spreading like a virus, and a revenge that has waited for over five-hundred years. What more could Gabby look for in a vacation spot?

Louise Caiola, Amazon Best-Selling Author: WHAT TRULY KNOWS She was born with the Magical Knowing – a gift, some said. A curse, said others. But for Truly, it was the very thing meant to save her life. If it didn’t kill her first.

Kelley Anne Blount, Amazon Best-Selling Author: SHADE Coming Soon!

Susan Stec, Amazon Best-Selling Author: DEAD GIRLS NEVER SHUT UP Toni's grandmother is a psychopath. Her sister is a ghost. Her boyfriend is possessed. And she has no idea who she is.

Christi Goddard, Amazon Best-Selling Author: FOUR IN THE MORNING When a smart-ass magical creature invades Kathleen’s life, a boy she hates turns up dead and her mother goes missing.

Steven Katriel, Amazon Best-Selling Author: THE PORTRAIT OF ALATIEL SALAZAR When Gabriel Holland’s beloved Helena vanishes from his life, he journeys to the home of disgraced artist Cristian Salazar, the man he holds responsible for her disappearance and the death of several friends.

Heather Kenealy, winner of MTV's "Stan Lee presents the Seekers" contest and Cinescape's Short Story Contest: THE TRAITORS' TRILOGY Betrayal comes with a price. For these betrayers, it also comes with an opportunity.

Peter Dawes, Blogger Book Fair Reader's Choice Award winner: EYES OF THE SEER It all started with a murder, but what laid in wait would turn a man into a monster.

DelSheree Gladden, Amazon Best-Selling Author: INVISIBLE Being invisible won’t hide Mason for long.   with...

Angela Fristoe: LIE TO ME As a Truth Teller, Phoebe knows a lie when she hears it. Knowing what to do when her best friend lies is the problem, because in lies, intention is everything.

Conner Kressley: THE BREAKER'S CODE Cresta's the kind of girl who thinks everything is the end of the world. Turns out, she might be right.

Samantha LaFantasie: MADE TO FORGET After waking up in a hospital with no memory, Elsabetha quickly learns those who claim to be her friend are anything but.

Rachel Walter: TRUE CONNECTION With the help of supernatural friends and protectors, Jazzy thinks she's safe until what remains of her family is put in danger. Does she have what it takes to save her family, life, soul, and soul mate, or will all be lost?

Save over $50! This set is only available for a limited time, so order your copy before it's gone


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Do you dare to open Pandora's Box?

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Title: Lie to Me (A Touched Trilogy, #1)
Author: Angela Fristoe
Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy
Publish Date: December 2012
Publisher: Indie Published
Event organized by: Literati Author Services, Inc.  


~ Book Synopsis ~


Phoebe Matlin has always felt broken. While one of her sisters sees the future, and the other can heal people, Phoebe has come to accept that her truth telling gift just doesn't work.   Then her best friend, Tonya, lies to her and Phoebe's gift flares to life. With Tonya pissed at her, being a Truth Teller suddenly doesn't seem like such a great gift. Although, it is nice knowing she was the reason her crush, Nathan, dumped his stalker girlfriend.   But in lies, intention is everything and Tonya's lies are a cry for help. The fear that her friend is covering darker and more serious truths is something Phoebe can't ignore. But knowing when someone is lying is the easy part. Now she has to decide what to do about it. And with Nathan and his doubts about her ability confusing things, finding a way to help Tonya isn't as easy as Phoebe thought it would be.


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Excerpt


LIE TO ME
by Angela Fristoe

Vivian was such a drama queen. What did Nathan ever see in her? I rolled my eyes, then slid the note over to Tonya. Her soaring eyebrows made me wish I hadn’t. No way would she believe me about the first note now. My best chance against her questioning was a quick escape after class, before she started the interrogation. Luck, however, deserted me.

The bell rang and Tonya grabbed my bag, holding it hostage behind her as she stood with the table between us. That was the problem with having a best friend; they always knew what you were going to do. She was almost as bad, or good depending on your point of view, as Chloe sometimes, though I’d never say that to Chloe. Doing that would just open Chloe’s vision floodgates and I’d be constantly bombarded with every detail of every soon to be minute of my life.

I refused to struggle for my bag. Tonya would only take it as confirmation that I was hiding something from her. Instead, I screwed my face up in confusion and hoped she’d buy it.

“What’s wrong?” I sank back further in my chair, tipping it up on its back legs again as Mrs. Schaeffer went out the door, following the rest of the students. Owen and Bianca stopped behind Tonya, waiting, Owen looking mildly disinterested, while Bianca was completely confused.

“What are you hiding?” Tonya asked, her head tilting to the side.

“Noth-”

“Cut the crap, Phoebs. Vivian is pissed and you’ve been looking guilty all class, well at least the part where you were awake.” Her eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms over her chest, ignoring my bag as it swung around and bumped her hip. There was no way to get out of this, but if I told her now it’d be all over campus within an hour.

“Fine, but not at school. I’ll tell you when you come over tomorrow.”

“I can’t tomorrow.” Her face shuttered and she turned around, tossing my bag to me in a quick motion. I caught it as it slammed into my chest.

“Why? I thought we were gonna go Christmas shopping? You already ditched me last weekend.” There were only six days left to shop and I needed to get, well, everything, and Tonya was one of those people that managed to find the best things the instant she walked into a store.

She shrugged and twisted a strand of her straightened hair. “I’ve gotta go see my mom.”

Liar. It whispered through me, my stomach churning to the point I thought I’d puke. There was a moment when my brain tried to make sense of what I was hearing, what I was feeling, then it came again. Liar. 

“Liar.” The word slipped out, unrestrained in its harshness, and almost instantly, my stomach settled. Until I saw the expression on Tonya’s face.

“What did you call me?” Her back stiffened and her head reared back. Shit. Owen and Bianca went bug-eyed behind her. Tonya’s lips pursed and her eyes narrowed, darkening from brown to black.

“I...I...” My voice faded, unsure if I should call her on it again, or try and fib my way out of it. This wasn’t the first time I’d called her a liar and she’d always laughed it off before.

Her reaction and the flush coloring the soft brown of her cheeks told me I’d actually caught her. “Screw you,” she snapped as I stood there with my mouth moving like a gasping fish.

“I don’t need to tell you every move I make, and I don’t need my best friend calling me a liar.” She spun, shoved Owen out of her way, and took off out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

My bag thudded to the floor. Owen and Bianca stared at me, the question in their faces a reflection I was sure of my own. What the hell had just happened?
   
About the Author



Born in Northern Canada, Angela grew up on the Canadian prairies amid dreams of becoming the next Dian Fossey or a world famous flight attendant. Those, however, were never meant to be. Instead, she moved to the United States where she divides her time between her family, writing, and her day job as an instructional coach.  

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Title: Cleopatra's Needle
Author: Carole Lanham
Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy
Publish Date: July 29, 2014
Publisher: Immortal Ink Publishing
Event organized by: Literati Author Services, Inc.  


~ Book Synopsis ~


THERE ARE MONSTERS IN THIS WORLD, I'VE LEARNED, AND SOMETIMES I HAVE FALLEN PREY TO THEM AND SOMETIMES I HAVE BEEN ONE…   When Lilabet last saw Iago, they were ten years old. Whisked off to America by his father in a desperate attempt to escape the dark superstitions of Wales, Iago’s letters have been the single thing to connect them. Now, fourteen years have passed and Iago has asked Lilabet to be his bride.   Eager to begin a modern life in an exciting new land with the man she has loved for all her days, Lilabet is about to discover that black magic may find a home on any shore. Three red-haired witches have been playing a deadly game of revenge with Iago and if she wants to have a life with him, Lilabet will first have to fight the dark forces that have claimed her young husband for their own.   CLEOPATRA’S NEEDLE A story of Welsh witchcraft, love, and murder


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Excerpt


CLEOPATRA’S NEEDLE
by Carole Lanham

13 June 1897 It’s dangerous for me to keep going to him but Iago says the only time his head is clear is when we’re together. I’ve explained to him what Bethan is doing; calling him to her, making him hurt himself. I’ve told him to listen for my voice instead whenever he hears Bethan intruding in his thoughts. If we can work together to overcome what she’s doing, I think he’ll be able to leave.

1 July 1897 Today Iago came running like his hair was on fire and all because of me. Bethan made me call him.

‘Tell him to bang his head against that wall,' she instructed.

His beautiful cheeks are still scratched from yesterday when she commanded he tear off his face. I didn’t want to see him bang his head on the wall but I kept thinking about what she did to Ceiro that last day and I didn’t want to make her any angrier than she already was. I spoke inside his sweet trusting head and he hammered his skull until blood poured in his eyes.

‘That’s wonderful, Meriel. What a good little witch you’ve turned out to be. He’ll do anything for you, won’t he?’

Poor Iago. He was still hitting his head on the bricks.

‘I’ve got a better idea,’ Bethan said. ‘Why don’t you ask him to show Gwendraith and me what you’ve been doing to him every night?’

‘Stop it!’ I said, fed up to my core. ‘This has gone far enough. We need to let him go.’

Bethan grabbed him by the hair to stop his thrashing. ‘Show me what Meriel does to you when you’re alone, Boy’ she said.

When I tried to block her voice, Gwendraith put my head in a bucket and held me under water. By the time she let me up, he was kissing Bethan. She made me watch this for several moments before shoving him away. Her smile was covered with his blood.

‘I want you to punch my sister in the head as hard you can now, Boy.'

He didn’t hesitate. The first blow struck me across the jaw. The second, crunched my ear. Between the pounding of his fists, Bethan pounded me too.

‘How dare you take him for yourself!’ she said. ‘He belongs to all of us!’ She gave him the ax. ‘Kill her.’

‘No Bethan!’ Gweny said.

I looked at my sister who I loved. I’d followed her blindly, I loved her so. I waited for her to put an end to all of this. Iago lifted the ax and she folded her arms. He swung. Luckily, he lost his balance and his aim was bad. I saw the tops of the fingers on my left hand come off. They scattered across the floor between us and there was a lot of blood, but I didn’t feel it. Iago staggered to his feet and we all looked at Bethan, expectantly. Bethan kicked the tip of my little finger across the room.

‘Lock her in the barn, Gwendraith.’      


About the Author


Carole is the author of the book The Whisper Jar, 24 short stories, and one novella. She lives in the St. Louis area with one mighty fine husband, two wonderful kids, and a huge collection of aprons.  

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Cover Reveal: Cold Burn of Magic by Jennifer Estep - Giveaway



Cold Burn of Magic

Black Blade #1

Jennifer Estep

Releasing April 28th, 2015

KTeen, imprint of Kensington Publishing




THERE BE MONSTERS HERE…


It’s not as great as you’d think, living in a tourist town that’s known as “the most magical place in America.” Same boring high school, just twice as many monsters under the bridges and rival Families killing each other for power.

I try to keep out of it. I’ve got my mom’s bloodiron sword and my slightly illegal home in the basement of the municipal library. And a couple of Talents I try to keep quiet, including very light fingers and a way with a lock pick.

But then some nasty characters bring their Family feud into my friend’s pawn shop, and I have to make a call—get involved, or watch a cute guy die because I didn’t. I guess I made the wrong choice, because now I’m stuck putting everything on the line for Devon Sinclair. My mom was murdered because of the Families, and it looks like I’m going to end up just like her…



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New York Times bestselling author Jen­nifer Estep is constantly prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea. Jennifer is the author the Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series for Kensington and the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series for Pocket Books. She is also the author of the Bigtime paranormal romance series. 

Jen­nifer is a mem­ber of Romance Writ­ers of Amer­ica, Sci­ence Fic­tion and Fan­tasy Writ­ers of America, and other writ­ing groups. Jennifer’s books have been fea­tured in Cos­mopoli­tan, Enter­tain­ment Weekly, South­ern Liv­ing, and a vari­ety of other publications.

To learn more about her, visit www.jenniferestep.com . You can also sign up for Jennifer's fan page on Facebook and follow her on Twitter and Goodreads.



What do you think? I'm so excited to be able to share this cover with you. Jennifer Estep is a great author. If you haven't read any of her books, I highly recommend picking one up. I really like this cover. It goes well with the title and adds a touch of intrigue. I also like the colors used. The blurb captured my interest from the first sentence. This is definitely one for the TBR list!