Blast + #Giveaway: Narine of Noe by Danika Dinsmore @Danika_Dinsmore @toobusyreading

   

Narine of Noe (Faerie Tales from the White Forest Book Four)
Narine of Noe should have had her whole life to train to take her father’s place as High Sage. But when a mysterious force falls from the skies, sending the world into elemental chaos and her father into mortal danger, the fate of every living creature lands on her shoulders . . . including that of the Eternal Dragon. Without the Dragon it is impossible to regain the Balance of All Things. An elaborate plan to save the world must be hatched, and Narine is forced to take charge in a world gone mad.

Before the White Forest was born, before the Great World Cry, the story that started it all. . .

   

Praise for Narine of Noe and the White Forest series
A charming, magical journey... ~Cassandra Rose Clarke, Author, The Assassin's Curse series

Dinsmore weaves a coming of age story through a world that is both fantastic and believable. ~Rise Reviews

I was hooked before I finished the first chapter . . . I fell in love with Narine and you will, too. ~Brenna D'Amico, actor, Disney’s Descendants

Excerpt

Narine dropped to the sand from the force of the Eternal Dragon’s energy. Never could she have imagined the power of Its presence. There was no resisting or competing with that power; the Dragon commanded the elements like no other. Each bit of earth, air, fire, water inside of Narine blew open, mere seeds popping over a fire.

The Dragon glanced at her with Its eternal eyes, no more than a flick, but in that flick she plummeted deeper inside herself than she had ever known. Her existence in that eternity lasted less than a moonsbreath before she was back, gasping for breath.

Her father, perched at the edge of the dock, caught her eye, a look as eternal as the Dragon’s. He smiled at her, gestured with open hands, and then fell from the pier. Before she had time to react, to digest what had just happened, the Dragon opened Its mouth and inhaled. The world froze. She felt the Dragon’s great inhale pulling at her heart, but she could do nothing as It drew that breath and absorbed Thorze’s corporeal energies as Its own.

As It exhaled, Narine felt her own cells fill back up with her Father’s Knowing. His Transitioning of himself into her. She could feel it rooting, thin tendrils weaving themselves through the miniscule spaces within her being.

But it was too fast; it was too much. There was no way she could contain it all.

She wasn’t ready! It wasn’t her time!

“No!” she cried and grasped at the wet sand. “Father, no!”

The world popped back into place, her cries became those of Vendra’s, reaching her great flipperpaw after Thorze’s body as it plummeted into the water’s darkness.

Vendra leapt to the side of the pier, the waves shook the world, and she slammed into a silver pillar.

The great Dragon huffed and knocked Thorze’s scepter away with Its thick sea green tail. The scepter flew across the water and landed on the shore before Narine with a

heavy, wet thud. No! It couldn’t be!

“Father!” she cried, searching the waters, tears streaking her cheeks. “Father!”

The Dragon dipped Its head back into the lake, and, in one fluid motion, arced Its massive body after it. The tail of the great serpent flicked out from the water like a tongue, and the serpent was gone. The World Sages stared at the water in silent shock. Waves lapped at Narine’s feet, dragon-sized ripples.

She looked down in her daze. The scepter. She picked it up from the sand, and her body immediately seized up. A white light tortured her vision, and then streaks of blue and silver blended within the reassuring voice of her father, Yes, Narine. Take the Dragon’s Gift.

  

 

Author Danika Dinsmore 

Danika Dinsmore is an award-winning author, performance artist, and educator. Over the past 25 years she has developed content for the page, stage, screen, and web. Danika currently works in literary and speculative fiction with an emphasis on juvenile & young adult literature. Author of children’s fantasy adventure series FAERIE TALES FROM THE WHITE FOREST, she often takes her interactive Imaginary Worlds Tour on the road, performing and teaching world-building & creative writing at schools, conferences, and festivals across North America.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

Blast Giveaway 

 $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 5/30/16

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 author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.    

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Book Blitz + #Giveaway: Forestium by Christopher D. Morgan @portallasbooks @XpressoTours

Forestium
Christopher D. Morgan
(Portallas #1)
Publication date: February 28th 2016
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Joshua’s life is on the line, as he attempts to navigate through the magical world of Forestium to find the truth about his father. He and his companions will need to use all their cunning to stay alive and avoid the dark forces of the Goat. Will he find the magical orbs and open the Portallas, a magical gateway to other worlds, before he’s killed? 

Joshua sets out to learn the truth about his father. Along the way, he finds friends, enemies, adventure, romance and himself.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iTunes

 —

EXCERPT:

Prologue

Melachor and Veloria stopped just long enough to catch their

breath.

Melachor felt Sandor’s forehead with his palm. The skin was

still damp and hot to the touch. The infant’s breathing had

become increasingly laboured and he was now gasping for breath.

Melachor stared at the tattered map, his hand shaking.

“Please, Melachor, we must rest.” Veloria leaned against a

grungy building with the infant limp in her arms, barely able to

stand. Her fatigued toddler whined as he clung to her.

Sandor continued whimpering. Time was running out.

Melachor shook his head and heaved a sigh as he caught his wife’s

eye. She clutched a protective arm around Jared’s shoulders. Both

of them feared their toddler might also catch this plague.

They peeked up and down the filthy alleyway. Screams rang out

from all directions. Pandemonium in the distance wrenched at

their attention but Sandor’s wellbeing was all they could focus on

right now.

“This way, Vel” he said, leading his exhausted family further

into the maze of backstreets.

People had been running for cover, and the winding alleys were now all but empty. The sun’s rays didn’t penetrate into these

narrow passages and a foul stench hung in the air. Shady figures

lingered in the shadows, and he felt eyes staring at them from

hidden corners.

The rickety, wooden buildings gave no outward sign of what lay

behind each door. Melachor knew it was unsafe to bring his family

here, but if Sandor were to stand any chance of surviving the

illness, he needed to find a Metamorph and quickly. The pox had

claimed so many lives already and time was running out for

Sandor.

Although no longer a Trader, Melachor had spent many years

travelling from village to village and was a good listener. It was by

no means clear whether the legends were true or just tales told by

drunks and con-artists. But these were desperate times. The map

was the only clue they had to help them find the mythical creature,

and it had led them to these backstreets. Melachor had risked his

life to get his hands on the map and he hoped it was not in vain.

Veloria clutched Sandor in one hand and clung to Jared with

the other. She shuffled closely behind her husband as he led them

through the muddy alleys.

The family reached an intersection. Melachor looked in all

directions, trying to find a familiar landmark, but his search was in

vain. It had been too long since he was last here in the Southern

Tip. Already one of Forestium’s largest settlements, it had grown

considerably in recent years.

  —

Q&A with Christopher D. Morgan:

When did you first discover your love for writing? 

Actually, not until quite late in life. In fact, I was never very good at English when I was in school and writing was always a chore to be avoided at all costs. Being blessed with unintelligible handwriting wasn’t helpful either. Later in life, however, articulating myself through the written word became something I really started to enjoy.


Do you have a favourite place to write?

Not really, but it does have to be in a quiet environment. I’m very easily distracted. When I’m in the zone, I tend to quietly slip off to a cosy spot and get my nose down into the keyboard. I wrote Forestium: The Mirror Never Lies entirely from the family home. Often on the sofa, but sometimes on the bed or at the computer desk. I haven’t tried going to a writer’s retreat yet. Perhaps I’ll reserve that for a special occasion.


Do you have a writing routine or process that you adhere to? 

Oh yes. Typically, I’ll kick off a chapter with brief one-liners that describe the events to come sequentially. There could be anywhere up to 50 or more of these for a given chapter. I do this to map out the scene or chapter and then convert each one in turn into a paragraph or two. This process is repeated until all the one-liners are gone. That’s actually the hardest part, I think. I’ll then scour what’s written repeatedly, fixing and adjusting. Of course, that last part is never truly finished – ever.


Where did you come up with the name Portallas? 

Initially, it started quite literally from the word PORTAL. This quickly led to the word Portallas and the idea of having some sort of portal that would link worlds together. An interesting aside is that Portallas actually started out life as Portallus. Unfortunately, portallus.com was already taken, but portallas.com was still available, so a hasty name change took place. Despite the master plan I have in my mind, I wrote Forestium: The Mirror Never Lies deliberately to stand on its own merits as a standalone book.


Do you have a favourite amongst all your characters?

I have a real soft spot for Sarah, as do many others. She embodies many of the characteristics I’d wish for in my own daughter. She’s a strong, independent, resourceful and brilliant young woman – not to mention absolutely beautiful. Of course, she has her flaws. She tend to ramble on a bit (much to the annoyance of Andrew).


Do you have any advice for other aspiring authors? 

I’m still learning as I go but there are some things that I can advise others that may wish to follow in the path: - Go for it. Really, just do it. You may be pleasantly surprised. Even if you fail, it’s better to have tried and failed than to wonder for the rest of your life whether you could have done it or not. - If you are going to publish a book on a budget, don’t scrimp on the editing or the book cover – at least, make those your primary focus. Everything else is expendable when push comes to shove. - Don’t get conned. Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done, as there will always be people looking to take advantage of someone with a need.

Author Bio:
Christopher Morgan is an author, blogger, IT Manager, graphics artist, businessman, volunteer and family man living in Melbourne, Australia. Much of his time is spent volunteering for his local community. He creates visual learning resources for primary school children, which are marketed through his company Bounce Learning Kids. He is also involved in local civics and sits on various community & council committees. 

Christopher was born in the UK and grew up in England’s South East. At age 20, he moved to The Netherlands, where he married Sandy, his wife of 28 years. Christopher quickly learned Dutch and the couple spent 8 years living in the far South of that country before they moved to Florida in 1996. After spending 7 years in Florida, Christopher and Sandy sold their home and spent the next 2 years backpacking around the world. Christopher has visited around 40 countries to date. 

Whilst circumnavigating the globe, Christopher wrote extensively, churning out travel journals. He and Sandy settled back in the UK at the end of their world tour, where their two children were both born. In 2009, the family moved to Melbourne, Australia, where they now live. 

FORESTIUM is Christopher’s debut novel and is the first in the PORTALLAS series. 

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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Book Blitz + #Giveaway: Gagged by Aubrey Parker @AubreyParker11 @XpressoTours

Gagged
Aubrey Parker
Publication date: May 17th 2016
Genres: New Adult, Romance, Suspense

“I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do,” Caspian tells me. “I’ll just force you to do as you wish.” 

I’ve always been a good girl. Partly by choice, partly because of my mother’s shame and my father’s belt. 

Caspian White is strong. Handsome. Powerful. Frightening. The world knows his name, envies his wealth, suspects his kinks, and fears his wrath. 

I’ve kept myself pure, and that’s drawn Caspian to me like a predator to prey. 

I don’t want to do what he wants me to. I just want to conclude my business with Caspian and go. 

But Caspian seems to have been watching me for a while. I’m a target, and he knows me too well. 

I’m afraid he’ll force me to do things I’ll regret … and that if he does, my shameful half will enjoy it.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

She almost seems speechless. She has so much reason not to trust me. I’ve admitted to snooping into her private business, just like I snooped into the personal lives of so many other people. I can see the wheels turning inside her falsely sweet mind. I can see the distrust and consternation on her pretty face. She’ll pretend she doesn’t want to hear this; she just wants to storm out like she threatened. But I don’t think she will. I’ve lifted the lid of Pandora’s box, and now that she’s had a hint of what’s hidden, curiosity alone will compel her.

Aurora has reason not to trust me right now, and I’ve only told her a corner of what I’ve researched, what I know, what I’ve already dug up. She doesn’t know my connections, or how much money can expose. Truth is, I’ve been watching Aurora for months — since well before my trip to Colorado, where Bridget Miller unknowingly gave Aurora a run for her money.

But Bridget didn’t fascinate me the way Aurora does. Nobody does.

I watch her now, fighting a strange urge to tell her exactly what I have in mind. There’s an odd nervousness in my core, as if I haven’t sufficiently purged. I was just upstairs; I just spent my time decompressing. And yet Aurora has me riled again. She’s looking at me with those cool blue eyes, that halo of blonde hair that I find stunning even though she’s tried to ugly up, to bury its luster. Her slim, sloping nose, her slight features, her flawless skin.

I want more than anything to touch her.

To hold her in my hands.

To make her mine.

To show her how she’s wrong, and how I’m right.

There’s a small voice in my mind that threatens dissent, but it’s hard to understand. Whereas most of me wants to conquer Aurora’s naiveté for her own good — and mine, in the doing — a small part of me feels wounded by her quiet beauty. It’s like she holds a weapon against me, and wields it simply by existing before my eyes.

The dissenting voice inside me doesn’t want to show her she’s wrong.

That voice doesn’t want to correct her. Or dismantle her. Or break her so I can rebuild her.

No. That voice prickles at the back of my neck, urging me not to do this.

It’s the same feeling I had walking away from Lucy earlier, thinking about Aurora and how long I’ve pursued her before finally tricking her into chasing me into the coffee shop last week. It’s the same disturbing, uncomfortable, vaguely painful feeling I get every time I look at her private photos. The same quiet pain I feel now, as she watches me with eyes that don’t trust me — but that must, in a sense, if she chooses to stay.

Which she will.

And for some reason, right here and now, I don’t want to betray her. I don’t want to do this.
I imagine my father, dead in his grave.

I think of my mother, cowed to his every whim.

I think of Becky Jeffries. Myself all those years ago. The wax. The blades. The pleasure and the pain.

And for the first time in decades, I doubt myself.

“What are you talking about?” she asks.

No hesitation. No intimidation. To me, she looks as lovely and frail as one of my flowers, but there’s strength behind her. I see an inch of the woman she was on the dance floor. An inch of the woman she was when she pushed me against the restroom wall and took what she wanted. I doubt she knows her strength, or how beautiful it makes her to me.

I have to take a moment. I have to look away, then at her again. Five seconds later the odd flurry of emotions are gone and I am myself again: her instructor, ready to give her a truer education than she ever hoped to find. An education that will set her free.

“A wager,” I repeat. I pace, to distance myself from Aurora’s assessing stare. It’d hard to meet her eyes, as much as they excite me. I’m aware of my erection, but there’s nothing to do about that now. My arousal and anticipation have unmasked at least that much, but I’m hardly the only person in this room who’s dying to fuck. “A bet. A gamble. A game of stakes.”

“What’s the bet?” she asks.

“Your worldview against mine.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Of course you do. You believe in fairy tales and happy endings. I believe in reality. You believe in light and optimism, whereas I’ve seen proof, in abundance, that the opposite is true. You think we can teach children out of who we are as a species. That we can change their futures with facts and figures.”

“Of course we can! Every study ever conducted has shown — ”

I wave my hand, less than dismissive. “Studies. Investigations. Reports. All conducted by people imbued with their own biases. It’s like setting out to see blue but doing so in red-tinted glasses. Every study ever conducted — on education or anything else — fails at the start because they all make one fatal assumption: that people are capable of being civilized. But it’s a lie. We’re all puppets for the animals we are deep down.”

Aurora is shaking her head at Jasmine, who hasn’t spoken since I yelled at James to stop doing what I instructed him to do. For now. And the results are plain, making my point for me. Jasmine’s not paying attention to me, only to her beating heart and sensitive nipples. She’s not considering my argument even though she’s supposed to be the reporter; she’s thinking about her sopping-wet pussy. Jasmine knows perfectly well what’s acceptable and what’s not — what’s wise and what isn’t, what will help versus hinder her, what she’ll regret tomorrow and what she won’t — but Jasmine’s civilized nature isn’t in charge. It’s the wild beast beneath.

I can practically smell her lust. Like a bomb waiting to explode.

Even as Aurora challenges my gaze — sure she’s right and that I’m fucked up, jaded, and wrong — 
Jasmine is preparing to offer me all the proof I need.

I look at the recorder.

I look at Jasmine and see her stiff nipples. Her dilated pupils. James has turned her body into a furnace, warming my office to the tune of over 300 BTUs per hour.

In a minute, I’ll play my ace, and make the first move in this chess game.

But not yet.

“What happened to make you this way?” Aurora asks me. It’s more an accusation than a question.

“When you were dancing. When you were touching yourself in front of everyone, how did it feel?”

She rolls her eyes. Shakes her head.

“When you touched the vibrator to your clit,” I say, “how did it feel?”

“I threw it away. You’re lucky I didn’t call the cops and report you as a sex offender.”

I smirk. “When you slipped it inside yourself, how did it feel? With your eyes closed, did you think of me?”

She reaches for Jasmine, whose hand has strayed into James’s lap, now sitting on the couch beside her. “Let’s go, Jasmine. Grab your recorder.” When Jasmine doesn’t grab it, Aurora does, her stare challenging me to try and take it away. “Let’s give the press the best story they’ve ever had on Caspian White.”

“What made you put my cock in your mouth, Aurora? And when we came together, how did that feel?”

She stares at me with eyes like ice. The hatred turns me on. The hatred crushes me. The hatred makes her fascinating. I let my mind flit back to last night. I put myself in front of her, but it was only a guess as to how she’d behave, once turned on. I thought we might make out a little. I thought she might let me touch her. But what happened proved just how much more tightly bound life has made her, and how delicious she’ll be as an adversary.

“Aurora?” Jasmine says.

“We’re leaving.”

“Aurora, did you … ?”

“You know I’m right,” I answer first. “You know it felt good. All those things — those were your choices. I made you do nothing. I simply gave you a reason. An excuse. Nobody would have known, or seen. It was you being you, with your good girl mask removed.”

“Everyone makes mistakes,” she says. But I can see I’m upsetting her.

“You don’t have to believe me. You don’t have to admit anything. We’ll make a bet. I’ll donate another hundred thousand dollars to the school of your choice at every stage of the bet . And if you win, I’ll donate another million.”

“Fuck off.”

“Five million.”

“Jasmine, come on.”

“Ten million. In your name, if you’d like. Consider the good that much money could do. Just think of all the futures my money could change.” I say the last bit ironically, smirking as if there’s not a word I believe.

Aurora hesitates. She almost answers.

“I’ll put it in escrow so I can’t back out. You can choose the agent. I’ll transfer the funds into a holding account today.”

Her jaw moves. Her eyes fix on me.

“What’s the bet?”

“We’ll take turns. You take a day to show me you’re right. I’ll do whatever you want, so you can convince me. But then it’s my turn. And on my days, you will do what I say.”

“I’m not an idiot — I won’t agree to a blank check.” But she still hasn’t turned away, or gathered her bag. Proving my point, she’s intrigued — but won’t let herself admit it.

“I’ll add a condition. You don’t have to do anything. Just face it. I’ll let you show me the light, if that’s what you believe. Then I’ll show you the darkness.”

She’s considering my offer. Wheels turning. I don’t have to convince her; she’s already convinced. I just have to make it impossible to say no, because deep down she’s dying to agree.

“Ten million dollars,” she says. “Held by a third party. With one hundred thousand dollars for each of our ‘challenges.’”

It’s a ridiculous bargain. An impossible bet. One a good girl like Aurora would never, ever make — but that the real Aurora beneath is dying to discover.

I take my tablet from the end table. She watches as I authorize the transfer, then seems convinced I’ve done as I promised.

“Fine,” she says. “Convince me. Convince me that the world is a terrible place and that everyone is dark deep down.”

But I don’t answer. I turn to Jasmine instead.

“Jasmine,” I say. “I’ll pay you ten thousand dollars to delete what you’ve recorded.” I pick up the tablet. Jasmine’s bank information is already entered as the recipient, but this particular peculiarity goes unmentioned.

“Not everything and everyone is for sale. You can’t buy her.” But Aurora’s voice seems uncertain.
“Fifty thousand,” I say.

Jasmine reaches for the device, barely herself as she pushes buttons and makes the incriminating audio file disappear.

I smile at Aurora, initiate the transfer, and watch hate fill Aurora’s eyes, my first demonstration of cash over ethics established in seconds.

Then I look at James.

“Now fuck her,” I say, “while Aurora watches.”

Author Bio:
I love to write stories with characters that feel real enough to friend on Facebook, or slap across the face. I write to make you feel, think, and burn with the thrill that can only come from getting lost in the pages. I love to write unforgettable characters who wrestle with life's largest problems. My books may always end with a Happily Ever After, but there will always be drama on the way there. 

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Book Blitz + #Giveaway: The Lunam Ceremony by Nicole Loufas @NicoleLoufas @XpressoTours

The Lunam Ceremony
Nicole Loufas
Publication date: May 20th 2016
Genres: New Adult, Urban Fantasy

Born from a curse that allows her kind to shift from human to wolf, Kalysia won the genetic lottery. She is the offspring of an original, born to lead and bound by her duty to produce an heir to continue their bloodline she must leave the only life she has ever known to take part in The Lunam Ceremony. This ancient ritual will solidify her place in the pack and determine who she will love for the rest of her life. There’s just one problem – Kalysia doesn’t believe in love. 

That changes when she falls into the hands of Dillan Dukes. The attraction is undeniable. The connection unbreakable. He is everything love at first site is supposed to be, suddenly her future doesn’t look that bad. 

Unwilling to give up hope on going to college and having the life her and Dillan fantasize about outside the pack, she reluctantly takes on the role as pack leader. When an unexpected proposal is made that will grant both Dillan and Kalysia their freedom she is willing to put her ego, and her heart aside, to make her dream come true. 

One night. 

One act of selflessness. 

For the life she’s always dreamt about. 

Only things are not what they seem. 

Can Kalysia and Dillan find happily ever after with the consequences of that night haunting them forever? 

Will one fateful night destroy Kalysia’s future along with the future of the pack?

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

A loud boom rattles the windows in the building and I hit the floor. It sounds like a bomb has gone off, but I hear laughing and the music comes back on. It was just fireworks. I make my way back downstairs and out the back door. I’ll hide in the woods. By the time the ceremony starts and Layla notices I’m missing, it will be too late to find me.

I see Bonnie and Jessie carrying out the white garments. It’s almost time. I move towards the woods and I spot Cassie looking for me. I flatten myself against the wall and slide across it until I reach the end of the building. I round the corner and take off in a full sprint towards the woods. I make it three steps and then I trip.

That hurt. I spit dirt from my mouth as I push myself up to a sitting position. I look down at my knee and hear someone laughing. When I turn my head, I see Dillan Dukes leaning against the wall.

“Slow down there, speedy,” he quips.

In moments like this, there is nothing you can say. All you can do is laugh. I burst into an uncontrollable fit of laughter. Dillan joins me on the ground.

“Are you laughing with me or at me?” I finally ask.

“A little of both.” His voice is deep and sexy. He smells like sage and cigarettes. “I’m Dillan, by the way.” He holds his hand out to me and I shake it.

“I know who you are. I’m Kalysia.”

“I know who you are.” He smiles and turns my hand over. “Don’t worry about this.” He swipes his fingers across the scrapes on my palm. “After Lunam, you’ll be all healed.”

“So I’ve heard,” I say as Dillan springs off the ground and helps me up.

We stand face to face in silence. I feel his heart beating between us and suddenly something sparks inside of me. This time the burning begins in my chest. My breathing becomes erratic. I taste his breath on my tongue, and I want to kiss him. I edge forward until we are chest to chest. He steps back. I reach for his hand, and he pulls away.

“Kalysia, we can’t,” he whispers into the space between us. “Lunam is beginning.” He brushes his lips across my hand and walks away.

Author Bio:
Nicole was born and raised in California. She claims to be a San Francisco native, however she’s lived in both Northern and Southern California. She credits her creativity to the fact that she attended 12 schools between kindergarten and her senior year in high school. Her nomadic childhood allowed her to reinvent herself often. Some might say she was a liar. While others see the stories she told as a coping mechanism. Twelve schools, in six cities, in twelve years – give her a break. Today she channels her storytelling ability into writing novels. Long story short – kids that lie become writers. 

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Cover Reveal: Leaving Me Behind by Sigal Ehrlich @Sigal_Ehrlich @XpressoReads

Leaving Me Behind
Sigal Ehrlich
Publication date: May 24th 2016
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

He was supposed to be a personal challenge. A Spanish lover – younger and sinfully attractive. A daring, wild experience for one night.

My liberation from my self-oppressed lifestyle was planned out carefully down to the last detail.

Everything except . . .
HIM.

I didn’t see it coming, not by a long shot. My plan was safe. I was going to quit my job, say goodbye to the restraints of the life I had known, and follow my dreams.

I rented a house halfway across the globe in an exotic Spanish town on the coast. I made some new friends. I reveled in luscious food and a stunning landscape. Most of all I savored my new found freedom.

That is until I met HIM.

It was supposed to be a night of lost inhibitions, soon to become a sweet memory. That was my plan.

He had something different in mind.

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Author Bio:
By teen age, Sigal already lived in three different continents where she was lucky enough to experience and visit varied places, meet unique people, which only helped fuel her overly developed imagination. Currently, Sigal calls Estonia home where she lives with her husband and three kids.
Not exactly sure where they will end up next...

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Blog Tour + Review + #Giveaway: Hatred Day (Hatred Day, #1) by T.S. Pettibone @tspettibone @XpressoReads @XpressoTours #XpressoBookTours

Hatred Day 
by T.S. Pettibone
(Hatred Day, #1)
Publication date: January 29th 2016
Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Synopsis:

In the year 2052, it’s not love but hate that unites the world. Humanity is unified against the Inborns, an extraterrestrial species with godlike intelligence and abilities whose arrival on earth caused an environmental and biological crisis.

Enslaved and despised even by her own Inbornkind, 18-year-old Snofrid reawakens to the world after having her memories stolen and is certain of only one thing: she will do anything to ensure her freedom. But her resolution is soon tested when the son of a high-ranking human official is murdered and her home city becomes the center of the interspecies war, one that might see the Inborns purged. Desperate to find a way out of the city for herself and her family, Snofrid risks making a deal with the manipulative Inborn Commander, Hadrian, and his brutal cadre of soldiers. Her task is simple: take part in a historic hunt that will bring wealth and fame to all who survive. Unfortunately, Snofrid’s role is one in which survival is rarely seen—the bait.

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My Review:

Snofrid is a young woman of eighteen years who has lost some of her memories. She doesn’t remember her family or friends but she remembers her education. She also remembers that she once went to the University and hopes to return one day to further her career. Her brother and her best friend both hover over in the beginning making sure she doesn’t do or say anything in public that could get her in a lot of trouble and behind bars.

Snofrid is an Inborn an alien from another planet. Her ancestors came to Earth years, years and years ago before she was born. They left their own planet to escape war and to have a better life but the life they have on Earth is not much better but at least they are alive. Inborns are considered to be the lowest class of people and are not treated much better than an animal.

The Inborns are getting fed up with the way they are being treated and are about to cause an uprising against the humans. Snofrid wants to help her people and wants them to have a better life and will do whatever she can to make that happen if it is in her power to do so. But at the moment her number one priority is her family and making sure they are safe. Snofrid will do whatever is necessary to get her family safely out of the city before it is to late even if it means putting her own life in danger and that is just what she does in order to get some of the things they need done for their safe passage out of the city. She makes a deal with her savior or the devil himself only time will tell.

Can Snofrid get her family safely out of the city before it is too late? Will she make it out alive herself? Will the Inborns cause an uprising against the humans? Will she get her memories back? Will she ever know her brother again? Will she ever find out and know who her friend Lycidius really is?

I really like the world that the authors created for Snofrid and her family. I loved that they came from another planet. I really liked going with Snofrid on all of her journeys and seeing her world through her eyes. There was somethings that wasn’t so nice like when Snofrid was sold as a slave and Hatred Day was very sad when they lost some one very close and dear to them a very good friend who died to save them and other Inborns. That made for a sad day indeed.

If you like science fiction and fantasy all in one story then I think you will like Hatred Day it is unlike anything you have read before. It will take you to places that you have never been before.

It overwhelms me as to all the time and hard work that the authors put into the writing of this story. You can see it floating right off the pages. The info that they have on their website about the Inborns and all of the characters is just so overwhelming and shows the hard work that they have put into this story. To check out all the info on the characters, Inborns, Humans and to learn more about the story go here!

AUTHOR BIO:

T.S. Pettibone are the authors of The Hatred Day Series. Expected publication for book two, Verdict Day, is 2017.

T.S. Pettibone is the pen name of identical twins, Brittany and Nicole Pettibone. They were born in California, grew up in Kansas, and these days, live and write in California. On the rare occasion that they break from writing, they enjoy taking their dog on night walks, reading books by long deceased authors, drinking too much coffee and tea, traveling the world, making friends out of strangers and trying new things.

Author links:

Website ~ Goodreads ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

Giveaway:

one (1) paperback copy of Hatred Day

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Book Blitz + #Giveaway: 12 Hours in Paradise by Kathryn Berla @BerlaKathryn @XpressoTours

12 Hours in Paradise
Kathryn Berla
Published by: Limitless Publishing
Publication date: April 19th 2016
Genres: Romance, Young Adult

Twelve hours, thirty-six questions, and a chance to fall in love… 

It’s the last day of Dorothy Patmont’s family vacation. Soon, she must head back to Reno, where all that waits for her is the cold and the snow. To top it all off, her brother, Chester, acted like a little jerk and ate one too many cookies from the sample jar in the cookie store. But his antics have an unexpected benefit—attracting the attention of an intriguing boy who could change her life forever. 

Treats can be sweet, but love is sweeter still… 

Arash Atkinson, fluent in four languages and an adventurous soul, is in Waikiki for a high school band competition. When he meets Dorothy, he realizes their time together is limited. “Come out and play,” he texts her. A night of romantic adventure ensues, and Arash discovers an app that claims it can make people fall in love after answering thirty-six questions in each other’s presence. 

With each question asked, their stories and feelings continue to unfold. But with every hour that passes they’re more at risk of being found out—Dorothy, by her parents; Arash by his school chaperone. And then Arash gets the dreaded phone call—he has been discovered missing from his room, and must return immediately. Can they finish the questions before facing their consequences? 

When time is running out, true love cannot wait. What Arash and Dorothy have is beyond special, something that comes along once in a lifetime, and begins with Twelve Hours In Paradise…but can it survive the trials of the real world?

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—

EXCERPT:

We stepped into the open-air lobby, where tables had been set out with bowls of the usual happy-hour snacks. A light breeze ruffled my hair, and scarlet-headed birds darted from table to table, looking for crumbs. Pigeons strutted purposefully under the tables, scurrying away whenever a human foot got too close.

Chester made a beeline to the bar, where he ordered a virgin strawberry daiquiri. Arash and I followed him, each of us ordering guava juice. I really was going to miss Hawaii. I never got to drink guava juice in Reno. I never got to feel air this soft against my bare skin. The surf pounded in the distance. I’d miss that sound too. A constant. The heartbeat of this island.

We sat down at an open table while Chester brought back bowl after bowl of chips, popcorn, pretzels, and everything else he could get his hands on.

“So is that why you talk funny?” he asked when he finally sat down. “Because your mom is Persian?”

“I grew up in six different countries,” Arash said. “I speak four languages. So my accent is a mixture of all the places I’ve ever lived. A mongrel accent.”

“A mongrel,” Chester said. “Like Genghis Khan?”

“Oh my God.” I shook my head. “Genghis Khan was a Mongol, not a mongrel.” I turned to Arash and rolled my eyes. “Sorry about my brother.”

But he just laughed. “Mongrel. Like a mutt. A mixture of many things.”

And then we talked about Reno and what it was like to live there.

And about the town outside of San Francisco where Arash lived.

And about how he was in Hawaii for a high school band competition.

And at some point Chester got bored and went up to our room to watch TV while my parents finished packing.

And at some point Arash asked if we could trade contact info just in case.

Just in case he ever came to Reno.

Just in case I ever went to San Francisco.

And at some point I realized Arash was not like any other guy I’d ever known. But in a good way.
And at some point after that, he left and I went up to the room I shared with Granny and finished packing my own stuff.

Author Bio:
Kathryn Berla graduated from the University of California at Berkeley as an English major. She has lived in many different countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. She currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

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Cover Reveal: Song of Princes by Janell Rhiannon @theravenangel @XpressoTours

Song of Princes
Janell Rhiannon
(Homeric Chronicles, #1)
Publication date: June 22nd 2016
Genres: Adult, Fantasy

Sing Muse. Sing of the shining citadel of Troy rising from the hot sands of Asia. Sing of the Greek palaces ascending from their rocky hilltops. Sing of one woman’s dream heralding the madness of men and the murder of innocents. From bull dancing rings and wild meadows, the Forgotten Prince must choose between love and a golden crown. From seclusion and safety, the Golden Warrior must choose between his honor and his life. From behind the Great Wall, the Golden Prince must choose between his family and his city. And from a rugged realm on the far side of Greece, the Warrior King must choose between his son’s life and certain exile. Here shepherds and princes, warriors and kings, and seers and lovers seek to conquer their passions, outwit destiny or surrender to it.

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Author Bio:
Janell always had her nose in a book, reading by flashlight when it was "lights out" time. Her love of reading turned to a curiosity about writing. She now writes in all the spare moments she can squeeze out of a day. She also writes fiction and fantasy with some romantic spice for good measure. Janell adores Mythology and Fantasy. Anything magical and mystical. And dragons. And gargoyles. Her guiding motto: "I tell stories, not genres."
She currently lives in CA. 

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Book Blast + #Giveaway: Love’s Encore by Kathleen Ann Gallagher @Kathleenwrites @GoddessFish

Love’s Encore

by Kathleen Ann Gallagher

GENRE: Contemporary Romance

BLURB:

Desire wins the lead role.

Sadie Layne, a creative and motivated high school drama teacher, is grateful for second chances. After surviving breast cancer, she embarks on a celebratory trip to LA with her two best friends. Sadie never expected to run into the handsome and charming Vince De Carlo in the hotel lobby. She hasn’t seen Vince much since they worked together in a theater company years ago. Their meeting interrupts her plans and reminds her of the life she left behind.

Vince, a struggling actor and cover model, is in LA to promote a television pilot. His old attraction to Sadie is stronger than ever. He never forgot her, even though a trusted friendship and a scripted kiss was all they’d shared.

The reunited pair give in to temptation, but reality soon collides with lust as strong doubts about their blossoming romance get in the way. Sadie dreads facing her defeat as an actress, and Vince doesn’t think a struggling actor like himself is capable of providing the accomplished teacher with what she deserves.

Will the couple find a way to keep their sizzling romance alive and build a future together? Or will their uncertainty win the lead role and smother the flames?

 EXCERPT:

“I’m here for the week.” She wiggled away and stood directly in front of him. She parted her lips and put on a sultry stare. Sadie took hold of his heart.

“You look more stunning than ever tonight.” Vince kept his voice low.

Then, he acted on impulse. He placed his hands on the sides of her face. When she responded with a smile, he couldn’t resist another minute. His heart soared as he gazed down at her. Sadie uttered a soft moan as their lips met. She reached up and placed her arms around his neck, quivered slightly, and nestled up against him, as if she’d wanted him to kiss her all along. His knees weakened as he sampled the sweet peach lip-gloss on her soft, luscious lips.

As he savored each moment, his heart pounded in his ears. If he didn’t break free, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself. He was afraid to open his eyes to find it was all a dream. Vince tried to keep his cool as his breathing sped up like he’d run a marathon. His head spun with thoughts of making love to this amazing woman. Oh, how he wanted to show her how much she meant to him, but he’d wait. One thing he had learned from the way his father had treated his mother was to respect a woman. Sadie deserved so much more. Once their tender moment ended, he stood back, lost in her gaze.

“I’m crazy about you, Sadie. I always have been, but if I’m going too fast, please stop me.” He spoke close to her ear. Vince ran his finger along her cheek and gently lifted her chin. “We met up again this many miles away from Jersey for a reason.” He pushed a strand of her silky, blonde hair away from her beautiful eyes.

“You might have something there,” she agreed. “Don’t worry, I’ll let you know if you get out of line.”

She gave him a seductive stare and devilish smirk, which was out of character for Sadie, but he liked it. She had always been warm and friendly, but not the kind of girl who’d make a first move. Although, she did mention how her cancer scare changed her views on life. Whatever the reason for exposing her sensual side, it was certainly working in his favor.

AUTHOR BIO:

Kathleen writes contemporary and paranormal romance in her home in New Jersey, where she lives with her husband and their two fur babies, Luc and Chaz. She spent years working as a registered nurse in an emergency room. Kathleen discovered her passion for reading and writing in the fourth grade. She has three children and three lovable grandsons. Her favorite romantic getaway is Cape May, New Jersey. You might find Kathleen on a beach down the Jersey Shore, wearing a straw hat and sipping on an iced tea as she plots her next romance novel.

You can find Kathleen at the following places:

Blog ~ Twitter ~ Pinterest ~ Facebook ~ Google

Giveaway:

$25 Amazon or B/N GC

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