#Review: The Escape (Gumshoes & Grifters Series #0.5) By Allana Kephart & Melissa Simmons @MelandLanaWrite @GHBTours

The Escape
Gumshoes & Grifters Series #0.5
By- Allana Kephart & Melissa Simmons
Expected Publication Date- TBA
Cover Design: Designed by Starla

Run for your life…

Sixteen-year-old Claire McBride just witnessed a brutal murder at the hands of someone she knew, someone she thought she could trust. Now she's alone, afraid and desperate to put as many miles as possible between herself and the killer. Seeing no other options, she flees her hometown of Galena, leaving behind everything and everyone she's ever held dear.

Run for your life…

Carter Emerson's whole world has come crashing down around him. He woke to the news his best friend, Claire has gone missing without a trace, and there's nothing he can do about it. Finding out her car was abandoned in the busy city of Chicago, he and his brother can't help but fear the worst… With no solid suspects or leads, it looks like Carter's worst nightmare could come true, and Claire's disappearance may turn into a cold case.

Run for your life…

With the killer at her heels, Claire has no choice but to leave Carter in the dark. She can't risk his safety just because she misses the sound of his voice… But will the run of Claire's life be worth it in the end? Or will her past catch up with her no matter how hard she tries to escape it?

  

My Review-
I received a free copy of the book from the authors for my honest opinion.

Claire and Carter have been bffs for many years. Claire had rather be at his house then at her own. Both of her parents worked all the time which meant that she spent a lot of time home alone and making her own dinner. So therefore she had rather be at Carter's not only for the food but the company as well. Cater's older brother Adam spent time with them too teaching them a lot of different things about being a cop over the years that her and Carter have been friends.

Claire had a boyfriend whom she has never told anyone about. She has kept him a secret because he is like ten years older than her. She is sixteen and Liam is like twenty six. At dinner one night Claire hears Adam and Mr. Emerson talking about the Cavanaugh family. Claire's secret boyfriend, Liam is a Cavanaugh. Carter's brother Adam and their dad are both police officers.

Claire was out on one of her secret dates with Liam when he got a phone call and rushed out. After hearing the conversation between Adam and Mr. Emerson she decides to follow him instead of going home. She only wants to know the truth of what is really going on. Is the conversation that Adam and Mr. Emerson were having about Liam at dinner one night true or not?

Claire sees something that she was never meant to see. She tried to slip away without being seen but she wasn't quiet that lucky. She was so scared for her own life but she was more afraid for the people she cared about and didn't want to get them killed so she left town, her parents, her bff and her life behind. She took off running for her life and trying to save the lives of the ones she cared about the most.

She left knowing that she was going to hurt a lot of people but she thought she had no choice. Her bff Carter is devastated not knowing where she is or what has happened to her. He has no idea if she is alive or dead. He doesn't know if she has been kidnapped and being tortured or what. His bff, his heart is missing from his life and it is tearing him apart and he doesn't know what to do about it or how or where to look for her.

Claire and Carter both have these great big hearts who never want to hurt anyone and they always want to do what is right. Both of them would put both of their lives in danger and hurt their own hearts if it means that they could save someone else from harm.

Melissa and Allana have written another amazing book. They just keep getting better and better. I just love their writing style. I love and hate the way they leave you hanging at the end of The Escape. They definitely leave you wanting more and more. I can't wait for the next book in the Gumshoes & Grifters series.

About The Authors-

Allana Kephart has been making things up and bending people to her will from a very young age. She loves animals and reading and spends a large amount of time thinking up ways to torment her characters. She shares a brain, a love of coffee and the color purple with her alter ego/best friend/co-author, Melissa Simmons.

Melissa Simmons is an avid reader who married her soul mate and is the proud mother of a spoiled cat. She spends her days helping promote independent authors and doing what the voices in her head tell her to. She shares a brain, a love of coffee and the color purple with her alter ego/best friend/co-author, Allana Kephart.

Links-

Allana Kephart 

Melissa Simmons  

Allana Kephart 

Melissa Simmons 

       

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Book Blitz: Ward Against Disaster (Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer #3) by Melanie Card @melaniecard @entangledteen @NereydaG1003 #Giveaway

Ward Against Disaster 
(Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer #3)

by Melanie Card

Release Date: 01/19/14

Entangled Teen

276 pages

Summary from Goodreads:

Ward de'Ath should be dead by now. Instead, he's chasing after a soul-eating creature-that he unleashed- and is bent on stopping her before she slaughters more innocents. Fortunately, Celia Carlyle remains by his side, a nobleman's gorgeous and deadly daughter, who is…well, dead.

Celia claims she'll champion Ward wherever he goes, even when she thinks his quest is hopeless. He can only hope her pledge comes from her heart, and not because she's bound to him through his magic.

When they enter Dulthyne, they stumble upon a dark power that threatens the entire town. Ward, with his unreliable necromancy, is determined to help but finds himself ensnared in the lure of white-hot magic…blood magic he struggles to resist. But if Celia's love is a lie, it might just doom his soul to the dark arts forever. 

Pre-Order Links:
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo Books * iBooks

Books in this series:
(click cover for Goodreads)
 

Excerpt:

The room was dim, but clear, dark splashes of blood stained the pale plaster walls. Bloody speckles crept high, close to the ceiling. Spray from a major artery while the heart was pumping with panic. There was so much of it, as if Allette had painted all four walls with it like a manic artist.

Ward's gaze slid to the table. More blood. Then lower.

Bile burned his throat. He knew what he'd see. All that blood. It couldn't be from just one body.

His gaze landed on a dismembered arm first. It was so small that the hand, if curled into a fist, could have easily hidden in one of his.

His throat tightened and the bile rose higher. His pulse roared and panic clawed at his chest. This was his fault. He'd seen a corpse before. Many actually. He'd even dug a few from their graves to perform necropsies and further his illegal studies in medicine, but he'd never seen such carnage before and he couldn't dissociate from these victims like he could with the necropsies. Father, mother, half a dozen children, all murdered. Their blood, with the precious soul magic Allette needed to survive, slicked the floor, pooled in uneven spots on the hard-packed dirt, and splattered the furniture.

He couldn't catch his breath. "I did this."

Celia grabbed the back of his shirt and jerked him from the doorway. He stumbled, his heel catching on a rock, and she shoved him against the wall outside the house.

"This is not your fault."

"I knew she was a monster and I set her free." His stomach heaved, and tears burned his eyes with the effort not to throw up. All that blood was on his hands.

About the Author

I have always been drawn to story telling. In fact, I can't remember a time when I wasn't telling a story in my head or on paper. In grade school, we had journal writing time which I turned into story telling time, weaving tales of magic and adventure that mimicked the fairy tales and myths that I loved to read. It was there, with the help of two very special teachers, that I nurtured this love and started my journey as a writer.

I write fantasy, paranormal romance, and everything in between, seasoned with a good dash of adventure and mystery. Join me on my tales of magic, adventure, and romance.

Author Links:

   

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Book Blitz: Bridges Burned (Going Down in Flames #2) by Chris Cannon @ccannonauthor @entangledteen @NereydaG1003 #Giveaway

Bridges Burned (Going Down in Flames #2)

by Chris Cannon 

Release Date: 01/19/15

Entangled Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

Don't just fight the system…burn it.

Since discovering she is a shape-shifting, fire-breathing dragon on her sixteenth birthday (surprise!), Bryn McKenna's world has been thrown into chaos. Being a "crossbreed"-part Red dragon and part Blue-means Bryn will never fit in. Not with dragon society. Not with the archaic and controlling Directorate. And definitely not when she has striped hair and a not-so-popular affection for rule-breaking…

But sneaking around with her secret boyfriend, Zavien, gets a whole lot harder when he's betrothed to someone else. Someone who isn't a mixed breed and totally forbidden. And for an added complication, it turns out Bryn's former archnemesis Jaxon Westgate isn't quite the evil asshat she thought. Now she's caught between her desire to fit in and a need to set things on fire. Literally.

Because if Bryn can't adapt to the status quo…well, then maybe it's time for her to change it.

 

Buy Links: 

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo Books

Book One:
(cover linked to Goodreads)

Available from:
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo Books

Excerpt:

"Hi. I wanted to ask Jaxon a question about the Directorate. Is he here with you?"

Rhianna pointed to the midnight-blue book bag hanging on the back of the chair next to her. "He went to look for a book."

"Know which way he went?" Searching for someone in the monstrous library could take all night, and there was no guarantee of success.

"Up to the second floor, I believe."

Which meant he could be anywhere. "I'll ask him another time."

"Thank you," Rhianna said.

"For what?"

"You came to me rather than searching him out on your own. We just quashed those strange rumors about you two, and I'd hate for them to start again."

"How can people be so stupid?" Bryn plopped down in Jaxon's seat. "I'd never sneak around with Jaxon for two reasons: one, because I like you, and two, because he annoys the hell out of me on a regular basis."

Rhianna covered her mouth with her hand as she giggled. "I envy your ability to say what you're feeling."

"You should try it sometime."

"This is a frightening development." Jaxon came toward them carrying a thick leather-bound book.

"Afraid I'll be a bad influence?" Bryn asked.

"Yes. If you could remove yourself from my seat and stay away from my future wife, I'd appreciate it."

Bryn leaned forward, placing her elbows on the table. "Now I'll have to become best friends with Rhianna to spite you."

About the Author

I love reading and writing snarky, kick-butt characters who take on the world and win.

My truths: You can never have too many books, shoes, or purses.

Coffee is the Elixir of Life.

There should be a National Nerf Bat Day where you are allowed to whack annoying people upside the head.

Author Links:

   

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Book Blitz: Forever Now (Forever #1) by Elise Sax @theelisesax @NereydaG1003

Forever Now
(Forever #1)
by Elise Sax
Release Date: 11/29/14

Summary from Goodreads: 

When Tess's mother abandons her during her senior year at high school, she must find a way to keep the secret and survive until graduation. She's surprised when Cruz, her crush and an aspiring model, moves in to help. Tess has dreams of studying in Paris, France and becoming a writer...impossible dreams without money or family. But as Tess and Cruz's relationship grows closer, Cruz will do anything to make sure Tess's dreams come true. But at what price?

Forever Now is the first book in the Forever YA / NA trilogy about finding love, living dreams, and overcoming great odds.

Forever begins now.

Available from:

Teaser Quote:

But I was wrong about the line he wouldn’t cross, wrong about him not wanting to share himself with me. Cruz would always be generous. He would give and give and never hold back where I was concerned.

In fact, later, he would give me too much. He would love me and cherish me, and out of that love would come pain and more. But sitting there by the pool the day my mother abandoned me, I didn’t understand the other side of love. Why would I? I had no experience with that particular emotion.

About the Author:
Elise Sax worked as a journalist for fifteen years, mostly in Paris, France. She took a detour from journalism and became a private investigator before writing her first novel. She lives in Southern California with her two sons.

She loves to hear from her readers. Don’t hesitate to contact her at elisesax@gmail.com, and sign up for her newsletter at http://elisesax.com/mailing-list.php to get notifications of new releases and sales.

Author Links:

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Cover Reveal: Hearts on Fire by Alison Packard @Alleyfics @GoddessFish #Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour revealing the cover of Alison Packard's newest book Hearts on Fire which will be released on February 3. One randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter will receive a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Country music star Jessie Grant has it all. An amazing voice, a string of multi-platinum albums, and a sold-out concert tour. But just before her Hearts on Fire tour rolls into Las Vegas, her lead guitarist is badly injured and is unable to play. Desperate to find a replacement before the night of a televised live show, Jessie is forced to accept help from the last person on earth she wants to see again.

Drew Carmichael has earned a well-deserved reputation as one of the best up-and-coming musicians in Nashville, without cashing in on his renowned father's name. When Jessie's manager calls and asks him to fill in for her band's injured guitar player, he agrees to help Jessie out even though she cut him out of her life four months ago.

In Sin City, sparks fly between Jessie and Drew, and it isn't long before they give in to their mutual attraction. But when the dark past Jessie has successfully hidden for ten years explodes in the media, their tenuous bond is put to the test, and both Jessie and Drew must learn to trust each other if they don't want their newfound romantic relationship to go up in flames.

Enjoy an excerpt:

As if sensing she was being watched, she turned and their gazes collided across the stage. Her smile faltered as the seconds ticked by. She remained rooted to the spot, so he moved forward. One of them had to make the first move; it looked like it would be him.

"Hey," he said as he halted in front of her.

She thanked the roadie, who smiled and left them to attend to Tara and Renee.

"Hello," she replied, her tone formal and her eyes guarded. "Thank you for agreeing to help us out."

"You're welcome." He rested his arm along the top of his favorite guitar, a Fender Strat that he'd bought when he was sixteen, after years of saving his allowance and hoarding the money he'd earned doing odd jobs around town.

Although his father had made good money and left them fairly well-off after he died, his mom always believed that he should learn the value of money. It was a lesson he'd learned well, and to this day, he hadn't touched one dollar of the money his father had left him. He wanted to make something of himself on his own terms, not because he had connections or an inheritance.

"Wally gave me the set list yesterday. It looks like it's pretty much the same as before," he said, after an uncomfortable silence.

"For the most part." Jessie tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear. "The only difference is, I've changed up the order so that some of my older stuff is sprinkled throughout the set. Works better that way."

He nodded. "So what the hell happened to Kenny? Wally said he broke his arm?"

Jessie rolled her eyes. "The damn fool decided to take a swan dive off the stage, and because he'd had a couple of fireballs before the show, he miscalculated how close the audience was to the stage and fell smack dab onto the concrete floor."

Drew gasped, equally shocked and amused at the picture she'd painted. "Jesus. Are you serious?"

Her lips curved upwards with a ghost of a smile. It was something, even if it wasn't the usual mega-watt smile she gave him when they used to hang out together. "It's true. I couldn't make something like that up. Broke his arm in two places."

"Ouch." He winced, thinking of the pain Kenny must have been in. "So he'll be laid up for a while?"

"Looks like it," she said. Then, without warning, her tone turned frosty again, and the laughter vanished from her eyes. "Well, we should get started. Do you feel comfortable with all the songs?"

"Yeah. I could do them in my sleep," he said, then frowned. "Did that sound cocky?"

"No. Just confident." Her unreadable eyes roamed over his face. "Wally wants us to do a duet."

"I know."

He'd taken a look at the sheet music and recognized the song immediately. Anybody who'd ever attended a wedding in the last twenty years would probably be aware of the hit ballad that was popular in the early '80s. It was a nice song, and one that would suit his and Jessie's harmonies to a tee.

"I'm not sold on the idea, but he seems to think it'll be good for the CMT taping."

"Whatever you decide is fine with me." He brushed his hair back from his eyes and held her gaze. "I miss talking to you, Jessie," he said, unable to stop himself.

Her eyes flickered with some unknown emotion, which vanished as quickly as it came.

"We should get to work. Time's a wastin'." And with that, she turned her back on him, moved to the center mic near the front of the stage and never looked back.

About the Author:

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Alison now lives in Southern Nevada where she's still getting used to the blistering summers and the slot machines in every grocery store.

When not working at the day job that pays the bills, keeps a roof over her head, and supports her book and chocolate habits, Alison spends most of her free time writing. But when she takes a break, she enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with her family and friends.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Amazon Author Page ~ Barnes and Noble Author Page

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