Monday, June 30, 2014

Cover Reveal: Smolder by Kelbian Noel - Giveaway


smolder

I'm excited to share the cover for Smolder, book three in The Witchbound series by Kelbian Noel.  This is a YA urban fantasy series and the first two books are Roots and Sprung.  Check out the gorgeous cover and then enter to win a $25 gift card!

Smolder Book Cover

Smolder (Witchbound #3) by Kelbian Noel
About Smolder:
Calida Cevallos has never been special. In fact, as far as she’s concerned, there isn’t an exceptional bone in her body. But, this summer, she’ll discover extraordinary literally runs through her veins.
I’ve always been a burden. The girl people put up with, the one they tolerated. When I finally found someone who actually wanted me around, I couldn’t have be happier. But lately something’s been bubbling at the surface. Something wants to break free…and I’m afraid it’s me.
I love him. And, for a time, I thought I needed him. Now I’m not so sure. These days, I get the feeling I’m the one who’s needed. By whom? I’m about to find out.

Goodreads 


Roots (Witchbound Book One) by Kelbian Noel

288 pages

Seventeen-year-old Baltimore Land just wants to be normal, but magic has other plans.

I don’t consider myself a witch, that’s my parents’ thing. I’ve never really believed in magic either. Sure, I tried it a few times. Fell for the whole “magic happens” thing. But it didn’t happen to me. No amount of rhyming stopped my parents from moving me halfway across the country. Not one spell stopped me from being labeled the town freak.

And worst of all, no matter how many times I begged the Universe to bring my twin back, I was ignored. Until now.

He’s back all right. And in a magical bind of his own. Not the magic-won’t-work-for-me kind either. In fact, it’s working a little too well. Too dark. Too deep.

It turns out our entire family’s magical roots run just as deep and my brother didn’t end up where he is by accident. So I’m going to help him. But magic isn’t really on my side. Nope. Once I finally get the craft under control, I’m expected to abandon the one person in the world who’s closest to me, just to save myself.

Sprung (Witchbound Book Two) by Kelbian Noel

336 pages

Since she discovered magic, seventeen-year-old Skye Jackson’s life is almost perfect. Almost. Even perfect has its glitches.

What happens when the one with all the power makes the biggest mistakes? Welcome to my life.

Four months ago, I couldn’t have been happier. When my parents got divorced, I wasn’t exactly thrilled. Especially when Mom married a guy half her age. But then I found out I wasn’t the average Joana. Discovering magic existed and, best of all, I could use it, made everything easier to deal with. That is until I got a little too spell happy. But what girl wouldn’t defend her best friend against a world-class creep? Now I’m stuck in a nightmare, forced to make life and death decisions I never dreamed I’d face.

Love the magic, hate the responsibility.



KelbianNoel

About the Author:
Kelbian Noel was born on a warm June night in Moncton, New Brunswick. From a very young age, she loved to read. She found herself engulfed in novels by Janette Oke and L.M. Montgomery, but never seemed to find herself in the pages. At the age of 11 she declared she would simply have to rewrite them, and become the youngest author in history. But life was full of baseball, homework, BFFs and boys. Decades later, having studied writing in college and pursued it as a career, she rediscovered her hobby. She is excited to introduce The Witchbound Series to the world with hopes someone will love this story as much as she does. Kelbian lives in Toronto, Ontario with her two children (where, thanks to a thick layer of smog, Junes are much warmer than they used to be).

She is the founder of www.diverse-pages.com and blogs there often, in the company of some pretty cool people.


 Giveaway:
$25 Amazon Gift Card (INT)
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This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions
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Saturday, June 28, 2014

Blog Tour: Blood Bath by Rachel Rawlings - Review & Giveaway



Blood Bath
Maurin Kincaide #4

Rachel Rawlings

Dark Urban Fantasy
R Squared Publishing
February 20, 2014



A serial killer in Salem? Not for decades, but the bodies are piling up and all signs point in one direction. Rogue vampire. Except things aren't always what they seem, especially in a murder investigation.

With her current relationship on the rocks, her father playing match-maker and her neighbor tossing his hat in the ring, the body count isn't the only thing on the rise. Maurin is neck deep in magic, mayhem and murder.

Can she catch the killer before the killer catches her? One things for certain, when hunting vampires there will be blood.

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

Blood Bath is the fourth book in the Maurin Kincaide series. I haven't read the previous books but after reading this one, I will be adding them to my TBR list. While I think you can enjoy this novel without reading the first three, I highly recommend reading them first. If you've read Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series, I think you'll find some similarities (without the graphic sex that plagued the later books) -- so I think fans of that series will like this one.

Maurin is an intriguing character. She is descended from a powerful fae lord and that power runs through her veins, literally. She has more male suitors than any woman should, leaving me to wonder what exactly is drawing all of these powerful men to her. There's a lot of jealousy and baiting among the men, reminding me of a high school drama. Maurin is a rather kick-ass woman which I always appreciate in a heroine.

I liked the villains, Caligula and Countess Bathory. Both very interesting historical figures. Though I do wonder how there are any women left in the world with Countess Bathory roaming around as a vampire. There were lots of things I liked about this novel: Maurin, the villains, Conry, the inclusion of fae along with the other preternatural characters. But there were also some things I found off-putting: the constant rivalry and jealousy among the men (some definitely old enough to know better), and the relationship drama being the main plot line rather than the mystery.

Overall, I found Blood Bath to be an enjoyable read with fun characters and an interesting plot. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

About the Author

I was born and raised in the Baltimore Metropolitan area but my family is originally from Rhode Island. I spent summers in New England with my grandparents, which probably sparked my fascination with Salem, MA. I started writing fictional stories and poems in middle school. In fact I had notebooks and notebooks full of incomplete stories and poems. One of which I managed to hold on to and is safely stashed in a box under my bed. When I was in seventh grade I entered a poetry contest in the back of an Archie comic and won, after that I was hooked on writing after that. Amazingly it took almost two decades to find a voice for my snarky, ass kicking heroine Maurin Kincaide and complete my first length novel. Meeting the love of your life and raising three amazing children together must have caused a rift in time because I still can't believe it's gone by so quickly. I'm fortunate to have an loving and supportive family who don't mind sharing me with all the other people in my head. 



Author Links


Other books in the Maurin Kincaide series

Wolfsbane #3 Novella

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Friday, June 27, 2014

Tortured Souls Update


The release date for the ebook version of Tortured Souls has changed. Originally the release was scheduled for July 14th, but with a little luck, it looks like I'll be able to release it on July 1st instead. For those of you waiting on the print version, the expected release date is July 22nd.

More great news. The ebook will release for $0.99 on Amazon and run at that price through July 20th. After that it will be back to the regular price of $2.99. 

Now I'd like to share an excerpt:

Chapter One
Something Wicked
  

Deafening music shakes the walls, vibrates the floor, and pounds a rhythmic beat in my skull. Gyrating bodies turn every bit of space into a dance floor. Sweat breaks out on my forehead, and my heart races. Strobe lights flash, teens dance with wild abandon. Shrieking laughter bubbles around me.
“Gotta take a leak!” my dance partner shouts over the music.
He races off, weaving through the thick wall of bodies. Mike or Mick or something—I didn’t catch the name he yelled when he asked me to dance. Doesn’t matter, he wasn’t my type at all. I mean, the guy guzzled beer while dancing. After grabbing a diet soda from a nearby cooler, I’m about to search for my friends when a dark feeling washes over me. My feet refuse to move, and I stand rooted in place.
The once loud music is now hollow in my ears. I gasp for breath, choking on the lack of air around me. Tiny hairs on the nape of my neck rise to attention. Something wicked is behind me. I know I’m the only one here who feels a difference in air pressure. An oppressive weight presses against my skin, making me feel as though I’m underwater. I blink a few times, watching the people around me continue their manic dancing—oblivious to the bogeyman that just entered the room.
Afraid to turn around, I stand my ground, sipping my soda. I pretend I’m unaware of the shuffling noises behind me, sounds I shouldn’t be able to hear over the blaring music. Swaying my hips, I hum along with the music, trying to ignore the ominous presence crushing me.
Whatever it is, I can’t let it know I sense it. Evil pours off it in waves, blanketing the entire room. I close my eyes, willing the creature to go away, return to whatever mausoleum or grave it calls home. Malevolent spirits feed on fear. I must control mine at all costs.
When I open my eyes, I’m gazing into the face of an angel. Not literally, but he may as well be in my book. Logan glances behind me, and I know he sees the spirit. He doesn’t gasp or scream or faint dead away. His golden eyes narrow as though he’s in a staring contest with the specter.
“You’re not welcome here,” Logan says to the presence behind me. He meets my gaze again. “You know it’s there.”
It’s not a question but a statement. I nod, a weak bob of my head, unsure whether this intimate moment with my dream guy is a good thing or not. Meeting over a nasty phantom is not my idea of romantic. And yet I can’t stop staring at the way his blue t-shirt hugs his broad shoulders and chest—how his light brown hair curls around his earlobes. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. For six weeks I’ve wanted out of the friendship box with Logan, but I was hoping for girlfriend, not crazy girl.



Thursday, June 26, 2014

Book Blitz: The Lost Kingdom by Stephanie Beerden - Giveaway


The Lost Kingdom
The Elements Series #1
By- Stephanie Beerden
Genre- YA Fantasy
Release Date- April 28th, 2014

A Prophecy made long ago, announced the arrival of the new Ladies of Elements.

And now almost a millennia later, it finally came true …

All her life Arima thought she knew who and what she was. That is until the day of her sixteenth birthday came and her world is turned upside down, when she’s told she’s not a White Witch but Lady Spirit. And that she is the one that has been foretold, will unite the Five Ladies of Elements once again and save Ilendia and the Other Lands from Ahriman, the Demon King.

At first Arima refuses to accept her new fate, but when Shanums come and destroy her village and kill her loved ones, she has no choice but to flee and fall right into the destiny she never wanted.

As she grudgingly starts her journey into the unknown, she is accompanied by her unicorn familiar Sirrim, Blythe, a Vampire with a dark past and Myrddin, a mysterious Ljosalfar.

And the longer her journey lasts, the more Arima begins to realise that she can’t escape her own destiny and she must learn to control her powers and learn to be a Lady for the sake of the Sisters she doesn’t know and the people of Ilendia and the Other Lands.

However, things get more complicated when Arima comes into the possession of a key. Her instincts compel her to go towards danger when she discovers that the key she holds, can unlock the legendary kingdom of Eléssima, the home of the Ladies of Elements.

She will have to make the choice to follow her instincts …

…or stay on the path that has been laid out for her.

  
   

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Promo Blitz: Written on Her Heart by Paige Rion - Excerpt




Written On Her Heart - PROMO Blitz
By Paige Rion

Contemporary Romance / New Adult
Date Published:April 23, 2014

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Andi Callaway has dreamed of becoming a published author her entire life.

Ford Delaney has always wanted nothing more than to escape his past.

An opportunity of a lifetime. This is what Andi finds when she returns home to Callaway Cove on summer break. A chance to work for her literary idol Ford Delaney is up for grabs, and she’s willing to risk everything—her boyfriend, her best friends, and her education—to get it.

She’s positive this will be the key to reaching her dreams. But the moment she begins working for the reclusive author, Andi realizes there’s more to him than just a name. As attraction builds between Andi and Ford, she begins to discover consequences must come hand-in-hand with something great—which could loosen control over her tightly wound life. And once romantic sparks fly, Andi’s other relationships start to crumble, Ford’s fame comes back to haunt him, and the heat they generate will either forge a powerful, enduring love or threaten everything she holds dear.


EXCERPT

     He went to pull away, but Andi caught his hand, holding it there.
     He exhaled, breath caressing her skin. “How do you do it?” he asked.
     She swallowed, a razor blade in her throat while his eyes searched hers. “Do what?”
     His face became distorted and her vision blurred until she wondered if this all wasn’t just a dream.
     “Get under my skin,” he whispered.
     The second the words left his mouth, he leaned in and crushed his lips over hers, kissing her as though it was going to be his last time kissing anyone. She blocked out the world, blocked out every thought except of him and the warmth of his touch. His fingers trailed over her jaw, her throat, and moved over her cool, damp skin, leaving her breathless.
     She tipped her head to the side, deepening the kiss, reveling at how the pain in her throat and the throbbing in her chest vanished with his touch. Never before had she felt this. As if she was soaring and falling at the same time. As if she was witnessing something exotic and rare. As if she could die right now and not care, as long as it was in his arms.
     She reached up to him, running her hands through his hair, something she had wanted to do from that first day in his office. He groaned and every nerve came alive with each second his lips danced with hers. All her worries slipped away. She was invincible.
     And then their lips parted and Ford breathed her name. But when she blinked her heavy eyelids open, seconds later, he was gone.



About the Author:
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Paige Rion is a contemporary romance author. She's a mother, wife, blogger, hopeless chocoholic, coffee-addicted, wine-lover. Her debut, novel--a new adult romance--Written On Her Heart, is the first in the Callaway Cove series. The next in the series is to be released this summer. She loves connecting with readers on her blog and social media.








Author Links



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Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Book Blitz: Love, Laughter & Happily Ever Afters - Excerpt & Giveaway



Love, Laughter & Happily Ever Afters
Eight Fun Romantic Novels by Eight Bestselling Authors

June 24, 2014

Amazon * B&N * iTunes


EIGHT full-length FUN, Romantic Novels by Eight Bestselling Authors

An all-star collaboration by some of today's most popular New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, and B&N bestselling authors. From the funny & sweet to the steamy & heartfelt, this collection has EIGHT full-length FUN, romantic love stories hand-picked to bring a smile to your face this summer. This is a limited edition collection available until July only so get your copy today!

At just ***99 CENTS*** for over 1,800+ pages, that's a huge SAVINGS of over 95% off retail for the individual novels sold separately!

ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAE by USA Today Bestselling Author Marilyn Brant -- A shy dessert cookbook writer reconnects with her longtime crush--an ex-football star turned businessman--when they run an ice cream shop together.

FINDING THE RIGHT GIRL by NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Violet Duke -- Tessa Daniels has no idea why she told her friend's brother she was some sort of fling expert. She's never been flung before and she sure as heck doesn't know where or how to begin flinging a guy like Brian Sullivan. The man's got the body of a football god straight off a billboard, as many skeletons in the closet as she does, and worst of all, he's got her thinking of the one thing she stopped letting herself hope for years ago. A happily-ever-after.

SWEET TO YOU by iTunes & Barnes and Noble Bestselling Author Jessie Evans -- Where there's smoke, there's fire... When s'mores and whiskey shots lead to skinny-dipping at a singles' camping retreat, Maddie Whitehouse knows she won't be able to resist another steamy encounter with the sexy firefighter her childhood friend, Jamison, has become...even if he is off limits.

UNAFRAID by USA Today Bestselling Author Melody Grace -- Brittany Ray's learned the hard way that some dreams aren't meant for girls like her. Handsome, charming Hunter Covington is one of those dreams. Years ago, they shared one life-changing night together, but Brit walked away before he could break her heart. Now Hunter's back in Beachwood Bay, their reckless passion can't be ignored. But will dark secrets tear apart their new beginning?

LOVE LOVE by Amazon Bestselling Author Beth Michele -- Gabrielle Willis is smart. She's funny. And oh yes, she's a bit klutzy.  But she's also running.  When she meets Brad Dixon, the sweet guy with the crooked smile, can he make her see that the very thing she is trying to run from is the very thing that just may push her to see the light?

GETTING OUT OF HAND, the brand new novel by Samhain Bestselling Author Erin Nicholas -- Genius scientist Mason Riley can cure world hunger, impress the media and piss off the Vice President of the United States all before breakfast. But he's not sure he can get through his high school class reunion.  Then he meets the new girl in town.  Adrianne Scott loves the sleepy little town of Sapphire Falls--the perfect place to open her candy shop and live a quiet, drama-free life. Until Mason Riley bids four hundred dollars just to dance with her.

TEMPTING LOVE by Amazon Bestselling Author Melanie Shawn -- Haley Sloan knows exactly what she wants out of life. With her designer lingerie business booming, her career is moving forward, but her heart is still in the same place it had been for four long years...hopelessly in love with the former wild boy turned responsible adoring father, Eddie Thomas. Will this self-sacrificing single father finally realize that accepting his love for Haley may be just what his little girl needs to get the family they both deserve?

NOT OVER YOU by NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Marquita Valentine -- Summer Holland is set on one thing--convincing her childhood sweetheart *and* local preacher's son, Gabriel Edwards, to marry her so she can get back the daughter she gave up for adoption. She's always been able to count on him rescuing her when she needed it most, but this time is different... there's a new woman in Gabriel's life. Only, Summer's not going to let that get in her way.

Excerpt


UNAFRAID by Melody Grace

“Say it,” he demands. “If you want me to go, just tell me, and I swear I’ll never bother you again.”
I open my mouth. The words are there, so simple on my tongue, but nothing comes out. One simple lie, that’s all it would take, and I’d be free from him forever.
But it’s still a lie. I can’t do it, not to him. Not when Hunter is the only truth I’ve ever known.
I exhale a slow sigh and press my lips shut in defeat.
Silence.
There’s a beat, and then victory blazes, fierce in Hunter’s eyes.
“Brit,” he whispers. I wait for him to make his move, breath catching in my throat, but instead of a rough hold, he reaches for me gently, lifting one hand to touch my face in a slow, sweet caress.
I tremble. His fingertips softly stroke the outline of my jaw, like he’s memorizing every contour, watching me so closely that I feel more naked than when I was half-dressed.
 It’s too much. I try to turn my head away, but he gently takes hold of my chin and keeps my face steady in place, so I have no choice but to meet his eyes again and lose myself in that piercing blue stare.
He sees right through me.
I can’t fight it with a quip or a barbed comment. I can’t break away. His eyes demand everything from me, and I have no choice but to surrender. I feel naked, stripped bare, like all my fears and dreams and insecurities are right there for him to see. The worst of me, my darkest secrets.
Still, he doesn’t look away.



Connect with the Authors on Facebook

USA Today Bestselling Author Marilyn Brant
New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Violet Duke
Amazon, iBooks, and B&N Bestselling Author Jessie Evans
USA Today Bestselling Author Melody Grace
Amazon Bestselling Author BethMichele
Amazon & Samhain Bestselling Author Erin Nicholas
Amazon Bestselling Author 
Melanie Shawn
NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Marquita Valentine


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Book Blast: Killer's Instinct - Trailer & Giveaway


Killer's Instinct

Dawn Dalton & Judith Graves

YA Paranormal
Leap Books

Amazon * Goodreads

Where there is NO life there's Hope.

Hope has always been a bit of a freak. But when her mother crawls from her grave and her undead corpse goes MIA, Hope s last thread of normal snaps with a vengeance.

Enrolling in a militia-style school for monster hunters seems her best bet for tracking down Mommy-dearest and putting what s left of her mother to rest. But the stakes are raised when she s partnered with three unique male recruits each with their own personal demons to slay if they want to survive basic training. But does Hope have a true killer s instinct? If she finds her mother, will she have the guts to do what must be done to save her soul? In a place like Le Manoir, all bets are off.

What could be creepier than hunting down your own zombie mommy?....A single page in, I was hooked. Jacqueline Mitchard, author of What We Lost in the Dark and The Deep End of the Ocean Killer s Instinct is going to knock other YA monster-battling books off the shelves. Gary Braver, bestselling and award-winning author of Tunnel Vision.

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About the Authors


Dawn Dalton is the author of creepy young adult fiction. When she isn’t dodging monsters, you can find her at creepy crossroads with her husband and two hounds — you know, just skulking around. Dawn also writes adult thriller, romantic suspense ad contemporary young adult under the last name Ius. She is represented by Mandy Hubbard at D4EO Literary Agency.

INSTAGRAM: DawnDalton


Judith Graves has multiple young adult novels and short stories published with Leap Books,  Orca Book Publishers, Compass Press, and, under the pen name, Judith Tewes, is also published with Bloomsbury Spark. In addition, Judith is abscreenwriter and playwright, writes freelance articles for literary magazines, and facilitates writing workshops for both adults and young adults.




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