Welcome to the book blitz for RUNNERS, a standalone adult science fiction / cyberpunk novel, by Justin Hale. See below for information on the book, buy links, an a couple of characters depicted in concept art, a teaser quote, and details on his giveaway.
Synopsis
A high octane, cyberpunk thrill ride that will have you hanging on to the edge of your seat!
On the planet Nera, a world of towering metropolises powered by nano technology and controlled by corporations, Mr. Zan and his misfit crew have trained for five years to be Omegas, the greatest and most elusive assassins on the planet. However, disillusioned with their mission, they went rogue and killed their handler, Nancy. Now, they run guns to survive, while racing to stay one step ahead of the living Shadows that hunt them. After a tragic, traumatic attack, Zan and his crew find themselves on the outs with Dietrich Boateng, one of the most powerful men on the planet.
But when Dietrich suddenly risks everything to warn them of a new, dangerous threat, events are set in motion that threaten to spiral out of their control. To make matters worse, Deputy Marshal Akira Sudo is hot on their trail, after a coverup leads her to believe that there is more to this case than meets the eye.
If they can complete Dietrich’s mission, they might secure the tools they need to survive the next Omegas that show up to exact revenge. If they don’t, they might not survive to see tomorrow. For fans of Neuromancer, Blade Runner, Ghost in the Shell, and Altered Carbon, this action-packed, dystopian Sci-Fi romp will leave you breathless and wanting more!
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Priya from RUNNERS by Justin Hale
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Quote Teaser from RUNNERS by Justin Hale
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Max from RUNNERS by Justin Hale
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Author Justin Hale
About the Author Justin Hale is an author who lives in the Bay Area of California with his wife, Candy, and crazy dog, Maya. He is originally from the small, coastal city of Brunswick, GA and is a diehard Georgia Bulldog football fan. After suffering a mental health crisis, Justin left his full-time job, using his recovery time to finish and release his debut novel, RUNNERS. In his free time, he enjoys video games, watching pro wrestling, and making his wife laugh.
Justin first wanted to be an author at seven years old. He participated in a class project to write letters to The Polar Express author Chris Van Allsburg. The project was to draw a picture of what the students thought Chris Van Allsburg looked like and to write him a small message. Justin drew a grey version of Frankenstein’s monster, writing “I didn’t know what you looked like, so I drew you as Frankenstein[‘s monster], because he is weird and so are you.” His teacher was not impressed, but the experience made him interested in becoming an author, even if it would take 30+ years to arrive at that goal.
Synopsis The mind-blowing new thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Dark Matter and Recursion—currently in development as a motion picture at Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners
“You are the next step in human evolution.”
At first, Logan Ramsay isn’t sure if anything’s different. He just feels a little . . . sharper. Better able to concentrate. Better at multitasking. Reading a bit faster, memorizing better, needing less sleep.
But before long, he can’t deny it: Something’s happening to his brain. To his body. He’s starting to see the world, and those around him—even those he loves most—in whole new ways.
The truth is, Logan’s genome has been hacked. And there’s a reason he’s been targeted for this upgrade. A reason that goes back decades to the darkest part of his past, and a horrific family legacy.
Worse still, what’s happening to him is just the first step in a much larger plan, one that will inflict the same changes on humanity at large—at a terrifying cost.
Because of his new abilities, Logan’s the one person in the world capable of stopping what’s been set in motion. But to have a chance at winning this war, he’ll have to become something other than himself. Maybe even something other than human.
And even as he’s fighting, he can’t help wondering: what if humanity’s only hope for a future really does lie in engineering our own evolution?
Intimate in scale yet epic in scope, Upgrade is an intricately plotted, lightning-fast tale that charts one man’s thrilling transformation, even as it asks us to ponder the limits of our humanity—and our boundless potential.
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My Review This was a riveting story from the opening pages. Logan Ramsay is as ordinary as they come. Ordinary intelligence, physique, life, but with an extraordinary backstory that unfolds slowly. He is the offspring of one of the world’s most brilliant biotech scientists, who also happens to be disgraces after her discovery led to the death of scores of people across the globe. But that pales in comparison to the legacy she leaves behind after her death.
After an unfortunate accident, Logan finds himself the victim of an upgrade to his entire body. He not only becomes stronger, more focused, and develops more endurance, but his new intelligence puts his former intellect to shame. But the government cannot allow him to be among the masses in his upgraded form. Soon, Logan is running for his life and the lives of everyone on earth. Because the same upgrade he was given is coming for everyone in the belief that smarter people will stop destroying the planet. Only one problem, up to a billion people could die from the upgrade.
Plot The plotting is expertly done. The author takes on a fast-paced adventure as Logan races against time to save himself, his family, and the world as a whole. There are several amazing twists that were both heartbreaking and stunning. The subplotting is subtle and involves Logan’s family, but it’s so intertwined with the main plot, it almost doesn’t feel like a subplot.
Characters The characters were fascinating, particularly Logan. His metamorphosis was believable as he evolved, his emotions wholly in synch with what he was experiencing. The rest of the cast were nearly as well developed, even minor characters.
What I Loved About UPGRADE 1. The Science. Crouch does a great job of making the futuristic seem possible and relevant.
2. Pacing. A fast-paced story that only let up long enough to allow us to catch our breath.
3. Plot. The plot was not only interesting, but chilling, and it pulled me in.
4. Theme. While the author is a little heavy with the theme, I think it’s an important one to dissect from all angles and he did a great job of that.
5. Twist. I love a good plot twist, and Blake Crouch had several that were fun as well as surprising.
Bottom Line A gripping, fast-paced tale about a totally plausible, near-future dystopian Earth.
Disclaimer
I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
About the Author Blake is a bestselling novelist and screenwriter. He is the author of a dozen novels, most recently, Dark Matter, Recursion, and Upgrade, for which he is also writing the movie for Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners. His international-bestselling Wayward Pines trilogy was adapted into a television series for FOX, executive produced by M. Night Shyamalan, that was Summer 2015’s #1 show.
With Chad Hodge, Crouch also created Good Behavior, the TNT show starring Michelle Dockery based on his Letty Dobesh novellas. His novel, Recursion, is currently being developed as a Netflix series by Shonda Rhimes and Matt Reeves, and Skydance is developing a film adaptation of his novella, Summer Frost, based on Crouch’s script. His novels have been translated into forty languages and his short fiction has appeared in numerous publications including Ellery Queen, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, and Cemetery Dance.
At the moment, Crouch is writing a new book and creating a nine-episode adaptation of his novel Dark Matter, for Apple TV+. Blake lives in Colorado.
Welcome to the book blitz for CHILD OF ETHERCLAW, the first book in the young adult science fiction/dystopian series, Etherclaw, by Matty Roberts. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on their giveaway.
CHILD OF ETHERCLAW (Etherclaw Series #1) by Matty Roberts
Synopsis
The bonds of family go well beyond blood.
But can those bonds hold when the blood itself carries a devastating secret?
Fenlee’s opal necklace had always radiated a certain warmth since her mother’s death. But now, at sixteen, her world begins to unravel as the stone sparks to life, revealing itself to be an otherworldly artifact of untold power.
Between her mechatronics studies at the academy and scavenging expeditions beneath the sprawling city of New Cascadia, Fenlee and her adopted brother, Elliot, try to decipher the mysteries of her necklace and its link to events in Fenlee’s past.
But they’re not alone in their search.
Strange undercity dwellers offer cryptic warnings, drones track their movements, and deadly corporate agents lurk in the shadows. When tragedy rips Fenlee’s family apart, she must learn to use the artifact’s power to save those who are deeply precious to her. But nothing can prepare her for the dark truths that she will uncover on that journey…
“Lee,” Elliot mumbled. “I’m not who you think I am.”
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Excerpt #2 When you grow up in an orphanage, you learn to read people pretty quickly. When you grow up in an orphanage run by an abusive drunk and his neglectful wife, you learn that everyone is full of shyt and you have to fend for yourself if you want to survive. The former enabled Quinn to do the latter. Reading people helped him find good marks, then he and Lyra would rob them blind. Lyra was quick and clever, like most foxes, but she was special. She could start fires with the flick of her tail, which came in very handy when you needed to distract a mark to pickpocket them, or on cold nights when you didn’t have an actual roof or walls to protect you from the harsh frost seasons. He’d learned long ago that they had to take care of themselves. That meant doing whatever it took to survive.
Q didn’t like looting corpses, but he wasn’t above it either; sometimes they had the best shyt. When he saw her lying there half-curled against the cold, on the side of the road just outside the Dark Woods, he couldn’t pass up the golden opportunity. She had a whole bag of who-knows-what lying next to her. It could just be food, but it could be decent enough stuff to sell or use themselves. Even if it was food, he and Lyra weren’t exactly feasting these days. Besides, she was dead. What did a dead girl need with whatever was in that bag?
“Lyra, you know the drill,” he whispered. As a fox, she was innately adept at sneaking, which was why she always made the initial approach. They’d tried other ways when they first started out on their own, but this was by far the most effective. Q sat back, partially hidden behind an old oak tree, and waited.
As Lyra crept closer, he could feel her heart rate slow and her senses heighten. She was inches from the corpse when he felt a violent shock, as though he’d been struck by lightning. He cried out, as did Lyra, before nearly blacking out. Q pulled himself from behind the tree, barely able to crawl to his knees before a second, more powerful blast struck them and he keeled over completely.
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Author Matty Roberts
About the Author Matty Roberts began their career in journalism where they earned an Emmy and had the privilege of working on several other award-winning projects. They hold an MS from Johns Hopkins University and are now an engineer in renewable energy in Denver, Colorado where they live with their wonderful partner, two extraordinary kids, and the best doggie ever.
In addition to writing, engineering, and parenting, Matty is a vegan enby nerd who is in love with this world and will forever be doing all they can to make it a better place. And they may be known to occasionally play in a punk band here or there.
For more information about Matty and their upcoming books, visit www.mattyroberts.io.
Welcome to the book blitz for SHIFTER, the second book in the young adult scifi horror series, The Healer Chronicles, by Michael J. Bowler. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on his giveaway.
SHIFTER (The Healer Chronicles #2) by Michael J. Bowler
Synopsis Fifteen-year-old Alex and his learning-disabled friends barely survived the events of Spinner, but their nightmare has only just begun.
Alex’s wheelchair has never stopped him from doing what he wants, but his supernatural power to heal every human ailment known to science has put him in the crosshairs of a dangerous doomsday cult that will stop at nothing to capture him and his long-lost twin, Andy, who can shift illness from one person to another. When the boys combine their “gifts,” they unleash the power to control life and death.
Now Alex, Andy, and the others have been kidnapped by the U.S. military. On a creepy Air Force base in the remote Nevada desert, they must decide who to trust and who to fear while uncovering secrets this base wants to hide from the world. Who is the young boy with unusual abilities who’s treated like a soldier? What is hidden in an ultra-secret hangar that no one can access? And what unnatural experiments are conducted in that closed-off laboratory?
As Alex unravels these mysteries, he strives to bond with his twin, but Andy is distant and detached, trusting no one. He’s also more attracted to the dangerous power they wield than Alex would like. When misplaced faith in science ignites a hidden lust for supremacy, rescue can only come from the most unlikely source, and Alex must confront a terrible truth.
The Healer Chronicles continue…
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Excerpt #3 Allison woke with a start. Had she been dreaming? She wasn’t sure, but she was sure she’d heard her father’s voice. She sat up in bed, the coverlet tumbling into her lap, and listened. Yes. It was her dad. His room was next to hers, but the voice was muffled enough that she couldn’t make out the words.
She slipped out of bed and dropped to the plush carpet. Not bothering with a robe to cover her pajamas, she padded across her expansive bedroom to the door. Easing it open, she peered out into the dimly lit, lushly paneled hallway. None of the household staff were up. Why should they be? It was the middle of the night.
The burnished wood flooring felt cold against her bare feet as she darted to the door next to hers. It was closed, but she pressed her ear up against it and listened.
“…just you and the two men left? Did you find any blood in the house?”
Allison gasped. Blood? Somehow, she knew her dad was talking about Alex. She yanked open his door, trembling with fear.
Her dad sat on his bed, wearing his fancy brocaded silk robe and black velvet slippers with the gold crown insignia, cell phone to one ear, worry creasing his face. He looked over as she rushed inside but didn’t seem surprised to see her. He held up a hand for silence and listened intently.
“All right. Get back here with the men. I’m going to contact my sources for any clues as to who took them.”
He ended the call and eyed Allison with a grim expression. The worry lines around his eyes looked deeper, almost like they’d been carved with a knife, and there seemed to be even more gray peppering his short dark hair.
“It’s Alex, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Armed men attacked the safe house and took him along with the other kids. Nathan and his older son were knocked out by some kind of drug and left behind, along with Martin.”
Allison felt her chest constrict with worry. “Does Martin know who took them?”
He shook his head. “The brief glimpse he had made him think military, so it might be the same group who brought Andy to that church.”
“Our government?” Allison felt disgust well up within her.
He didn’t look the least bit surprised at the idea. “There are some at the Pentagon who will use anyone or anything in the interest of national security, even children.”
Allison knew she should be angry, but she’d overheard enough of her father’s business dealings with the government over the years to know he spoke the truth.
“Go back to bed, Allison,” he said. “I’ve got to do some research.”
She knew better than to argue. “Just find him, Dad. Find all of them.”
“I will.”
She returned to her room. Knowing she could never sleep now, she sat on her bed and lay back against the heavy wooden headboard, thinking about Alex. He’d literally brought her back from the brink of death at the risk of his own life. What kind of boy would do that? Most people seemed to care only about themselves. He had to be all right. He had to be!
About the Author Michael J. Bowler is an award-winning author who grew up in Northern California. He majored in English/Theatre at Santa Clara University, earned a master’s in film production from Loyola Marymount University, a teaching credential in English from LMU, and a master’s in Special Education from Cal State University Dominguez Hills. Michael taught high school in Hawthorne, California, both in general education and to students with disabilities. When Michael is not writing, he serves as a youth mentor with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and a volunteer within the juvenile justice system in Los Angeles, but mostly he takes care of his recently adopted son. He is a passionate advocate for the fair treatment of children and teens in California and hopes that his books can show young people they are not alone in their struggles.
Entangled Amara and author Nina Croft are revealing the cover to INSURRECTION, the third book in the adult science fiction/paranormal romance series, Dark Desires Origins, releasing September 13, 2021. See below for the cover, information on the book and series, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
INSURRECTION (Dark Desires Origins Series #3) by Nina Croft
About the Book Title: INSURRECTION Series: Dark Desires Origins Series #3 Author: Nina Croft Publisher: Entangled Amara Release Date: September 13, 2021 Genre: Adult Science Fiction/Paranormal Romance Links: Goodreads
Synopsis
Don’t miss the thrilling conclusion of what led to the beginning…
Insurrection, the third installment of Nina Croft’s Dark Desires Origins series, answers the final question of how it all began. When a demon from Earth falls for a woman on the other side of the galaxy, they must make the impossible choice between doing what’s right and doing what’s necessary. Light meets dark, good meets evil…and love hurts like Hell.
About the Author Growing up in the cold, wet, north of England, Nina Croft spent a lot of time dreaming of faraway sunnier places and ponies. When she discovered both, along with a whole load of other things, could be found between the covers of a book, her life changed forever.
Later, she headed south, picked up the perfect husband along the way, and together they volunteered to work in Africa. There they discovered a love of exotic places and a dislike of 9-5 work. Afterward they spent a number of years travelling (whenever possible) intermingled with working (whenever necessary.) Eventually they stumbled upon a remote area in the mountains of southern Spain and the small almond farm they now call home.
Nina spends her days reading, writing and riding her mare, Gencianna, under the blue Spanish skies–sunshine and ponies. She reckons this is proof that dreams really can come true if you want them enough.
Nina’s writing mixes romance with elements of the paranormal and science fiction. If you’d like to find out about new releases then sign up for my Newsletter at: https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/d8y0v7.
Synopsis A young witch tries to unravel the mystery of who is framing her for dark magic in Georgia Bowers’ creepy YA debut fantasy, Mark of the Wicked.
Magic always leaves its mark.
All her life, Matilda has been told one thing about her magic: You use only when necessary. But Matilda isn’t interested in being a good witch. She wants revenge and popularity, and to live her life free of consequences, free of the scars that dark magic leaves on her face as a reminder of her misdeeds.
When a spell goes awry and the new boy at school catches her in the act, Matilda thinks her secret might be out. But far from being afraid, Oliver already knows about her magic – and he wants to learn more. As Oliver and Matilda grow closer, bizarre things begin to happen: Animals show up with their throats slashed and odd markings carved into their bodies, a young girl dies mysteriously, and everyone blames Matilda. But she isn’t responsible — at least, not that she can remember. As her magic begins to spin out of control, Matilda must decide for herself what makes a good witch, and discover the truth…before anyone else turns up dead.
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My Review I was in the mood for something different, and DAGGER HILL delivered! Set in 1989, before everyone had a smartphone, four friends hang out during their summer before senior year, each dealing with different issues associated with coming of age, when the world as they know it comes crashing down around them in the form of a military plane. Before the plane crashes into Dagger Hill, the kids see someone parachuting out of it. And Gabe sees someone in a gas mask pick up and carry their injured friend, Kimberly, to safety. At least that’s what he thinks. Until the army begins to interview them and they realize something more is going on, and no one knows where Kimberly is. Or the man in the “bug” mask.
Plot The story is gripping from early on and never lets go. The author uses a fun method for his storytelling — a combination of first person, newspaper articles, third-person, and interviews to bring his tale to life. It makes each chapter different from the last and helps reveal the information to the reader in a unique way. The plot unfolds at a steady pace with lots of twists and turns.
The Characters The characters are awesome. Each of the main characters, Gabe, Sonya, Charlie, and Kimberly, are complex, with secrets, worries, and problems of their own as they try to hold onto childhood for one more summer. The adults, from Gabe’s police chief dad to Sonya’s scientist dad, to the army officials and doctors, are just as varied and complex as the main characters, making this more than just a plot driven tale.
Top Five Things I Loved About DAGGER HILL 1. Pacing. The story MOVES. But at the right pace. I stayed up late devouring the story but without becoming overwhelmed. It was perfect.
2. Setting. I love both the small town and the era it was set in. It feels modern, but without all the high-tech stuff that can interfere with a good thriller. Plus the music and movie references were a fun blast from the past.
3. Characters. While this is primarily a plot-driven tale, the character development is off-the-charts good and will stay with me for a long time.
4. Twists. So many good twists that left my jaw hanging open.
5. Storytelling. I love the way the author unfolds his tale using different techniques for a unique approach to a really unique story.
Bottom Line Fabulous, fun, un-put-downable read!
Disclaimer
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
About the Author Devon Taylor was born in Las Vegas, Nevada and currently lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and two daughters. His day job consists of sneaking around the house with ninja-like stealth to avoid waking up his kids. When not writing, reading, or tediously typing out text messages with all the correct spelling and punctuation, he spends his time with his family. THE SOUL KEEPERS is his debut novel.
Welcome to the book blitz for WARRIOR PRIEST, a standalone adult scifi romance, by Kate Hill. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Synopsis What happens when a warrior priest from a strict religion meets a free-spirited priestess from a new age commune? Jade and Selena are as different as two people can be, but to facilitate an alliance between their worlds, they engage in a cultural exchange. With their galaxy in danger from a planet that wants to conquer or destroy all others, they realize the importance of their assignment, but it is difficult for a warrior priest and a nonviolent priestess to understand each other. Selena is both attracted and appalled by his old school masculinity, and Jade is tempted to break his vow of celibacy until marriage due to his powerful desire for her. Will this unlikely pair not only find common ground, but unconditional love?
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Excerpt #2 They stepped into the darkness outside. Icy wind lashed their faces, and several inches of snow had already fallen. Jade liked the cold after the heat from the fireplace.
Selena took his hand, and they plowed through the storm toward the circle of houses. Despite her heavy coat, she shivered. He resisted the urge to slip his arm around her and hold her close. They had agreed to be more discreet about their relationship until their assignment ended.
Because of their detour to Lemo, Jade’s visit to Neidress has been extended for another week. He had just six days left with Selena. It wasn’t nearly enough.
At the moment, her expression was distant and serious.
“What’s wrong?” he asked. “After dinner, you seemed happy about showing me your house.”
“I was just thinking about what happened at dinner. Gabe had no right to speak to you that way.”
“It must be hard for members of your commune to understand our Order and our way of life. It’s not surprising for a priest to be passionate about his religion, so I understand Gabe’s reasons for acting like he did, even if I don’t agree with him.”
“We’re all passionate about our faith, but it’s just as important to be compassionate. Gabe is so self-righteous. I know it’s wrong, but he makes me furious. How could you stay so calm when he was saying those things?”
“I’ve faced a lot worse than insults,” Jade told her, though he was actually quite pleased with himself for not losing his temper.
Gabe had acted like an ass, but Jade had no intention of giving him the satisfaction of knowing that his words affected him in any way. A few insults wouldn’t reduce him to acting like the animal Gabe and probably many others here considered him to be. Not to mention Ari Tobias—the second highest-ranked priest in their Order—had been sitting beside him, no doubt evaluating Jade’s response to the situation.
“It was surreal,” Selena continued. “I can’t believe he actually said those things.”
Jade couldn’t keep from smiling. “I remember a certain priestess who said similar things at various times in our relationship.”
Selena stared at him in shock. “Jade, I never—”
“Arrogant, self-righteous, condescending, violent, inflexible, donkey-eared lunkhead. Does that sound familiar?”
“I didn’t say all that, and even if I did how did you remember it word for word?”
“How could I forget?”
“I’m sorry I said all that, even if you deserved it at the time, but that’s beside the point. I would never try to berate you at a social gathering.”
“I know you wouldn’t, and I wish you’d just let it go, Selena. Gabe isn’t worth the trouble.”
“No, but you are.” She gazed at him, and the urge to kiss her almost overwhelmed him.
He squeezed her hand and smiled.
She returned his smile and paused outside of a small house that looked very much like a gypsy caravan. A stove pipe extended from the snow-covered roof.
“This is my place.” Selena pushed open the door and guided him inside.
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Author Kate Hill
About the Author Kate Hill is a vegetarian New Englander who started writing many years ago for pleasure.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, watching horror and action movies, working out, and spending time with her family and pets.
Welcome to the book blitz for DAMAGED GODS, the first book in the adult scifi alien/monster romance series, The Monsters of St. Mark’s, by New York Times bestselling author, J.A. Huss writing as K.C. Cross. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
DAMAGED GODS (The Monsters of St. Mark’s Series #1) by J.A. Huss Writing as K.C. Cross
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited on Release Day
Title: DAMAGED GODS Series:The Monsters of St. Mark’s Series #1 Author: J.A. Huss writing as K.C. Cross Publisher: Science Future Press Release Date: July 27, 2021 Genre: Adult SciFi Alien/Monster Romance Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon IT | Amazon DE | Amazon FR
Synopsis If you’ve gotta be stuck in a curse with monsters—they might as well be sexy monsters.
When I answered an ad for a caretaker at Saint Mark’s Sanctuary I thought I’d be dusting chandeliers and polishing floors. I didn’t expect to be tricked into a curse, going in debt to a monster, and being forced to take a self-paced “Let’s Learn Magic” course so I can fix a two-thousand-year-old problem.
And that monster? Not your ordinary, everyday beast. He has hooves, and horns, and fur on his legs. But ya know where he doesn’t have fur? Yeah. There. Which is fine. Except he doesn’t wear pants.
Nothing at Saint Mark’s is exactly what it seems. The entire inside is magic, the hallways upstairs are nothing but parties from the past, and the super-hot guy who lives in the dungeon? Yeah. Not human.
My name is Pie and all I want is to be a normal girl with an average life. I refuse to get stuck in this curse. I refuse to learn magic to break it. And there is no way in hell I will fall in love with a monster.
Famous. Last. Words.
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Excerpt
“If this kills me—”
“If this kills you, you should thank me. Since you’re immortal. That means your curse would be broken.”
Well. She’s got a point there. I put the test tube up to my lips, almost pass out from the horrible smell, then down it in one gulp. It hits my stomach with a burn.
“The burn passes,” Pie says hurriedly. And she puts her hand on my arm, either faking compassion or really meaning it.
Her touch is warm too. And something about it does make me feel better. Soon, the burn is gone and in its place is a tingling feeling in my hands. Then a buzzing in my head.
“Did you get to the buzzing yet?” she asks. I nod. “Good. You’re almost there. Now, while we’re waiting for it to work, let’s talk about this job.”
“No.” I put up a hand. “Not now.”
“Yes. I need a job. Just a part-time one. The Honey Bean is looking for a waitress. I need that, Pell. And I will use all my money to buy what we need and then I won’t have to go into debt.”
“You don’t get it. That won’t work. The harder you fight the curse, the more it works against you. The less magic money you use, the more the curse will force you to use it. Bad things will happen. And that will force you to work harder to…” I pause, not really wanting to say the last bit.
“Harder to what?” she presses.
“Please me. The harder you’ll have to work to please me with the debt book stuff.”
She points a finger in my face. “I will not be blowing you. Just… FYI.”
I cannot hide my laugh. “Good to know. And for the record, Pie, you’re not my type.”
She lifts her chin up in indignation like I just insulted her. “I’m not your type?”
“Nope.”
“What kind of type do you like? Bull girls?”
“I’m not a bull.”
“A satyr chimera girl?”
“There are no female satyr chimeras. We’re all men.”
“Then what is your type?” And now she’s annoyed.
I shrug. “I’ve always been partial to the nymphs.”
“Nymphs.” She crinkles her nose like the thought of nymphs is distasteful. “Water fairies?”
“Not fairies. Nymphs. You know. Willowy girls with evil intentions lurking in the forest.”
She laughs. A real laugh. “You like bad girls?”
“I do.”
“I’m not bad enough for you?”
“Not even close.”
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Author J.A. Huss
About the Authors JAHuss is the New York Times Bestselling author of 321 and has been on the USA Today Bestseller’s list 21 times in the past five years. She writes characters with heart, plots with twists, and perfect endings.
Her new sexy sci-fi romance and paranormal romance pen name is KCCross and she writes novels and teleplays collaboratively with actor and screenwriter, Johnathan McClain.
Her books have sold millions of copies all over the world, the audio version of her semi-autobiographical book, Eighteen, was nominated for a Voice Arts Award and an Audie Award in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Her audiobook, Mr. Perfect, was nominated for a Voice Arts Award in 2017. Her audiobook, Taking Turns, was nominated for an Audie Award in 2018. Five of her book were optioned for a TV series by MGM television in 2018. And her book, Total Exposure, was nominated for a RITA Award in 2019.
She lives on a ranch in Central Colorado with her family..
Author C.L. Denault is revealing the cover to GAUNTLET, the third book in her young adult scifi dystopian romance series, The Prodigy Chronicles, releasing August 25, 2021. See below for the cover, information on the book and series, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
GAUNTLET (The Prodigy Chronicles #3) by C.L. Denault
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: GAUNTLET Series: The Prodigy Chronicles #3 Author: C.L. Denault Release Date: August 25, 2021
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction Dystopian Romance
Links: Goodreads
Synopsis In 2160, humanity is divided. The ruling class of prodigies dictates law and order for all, while normals fight to survive. Only the Councils in charge of advanced Core cities can decide the fate of a traitor.
A life of luxury is Willow Kent’s destiny. As long as she plays within the boundaries of the Core’s game, she can have anything she wants. Anything except for her friend Kane to avoid execution. Driven by guilt, she negotiates a secret Meta-X exchange to free him. But when a new threat emerges—one even her rare skill level cannot withstand—the stakes become dangerously high. To save Kane, she must navigate the slippery political terrain that surrounds her House, her mysterious Guardian, and the corrupt, unforgiving Council.
The most lethal terrain, however, lurks inside her own mind. Can she overcome her skillset before its savage intentions spiral out of control?
About the Author C.L. Denault is a speculative fiction writer who loves dreaming up tales of adventure and intrigue. A former systems analyst, she gave up her nerdy code-writing skills to care for her family (including a son with special needs), and currently lives among the vast stretches of cornfields in Illinois.
Writing and working out are her biggest passions, along with drinking coffee and watching sci-fi. When she’s not hanging out with her husband and kids, she can usually be found at a library or tucked away in the shadowy corner of a hip coffeehouse. She’s also been glimpsed sneaking into her garage, late at night, to work on her time machine.
She enjoys connecting with people—especially those from other planets, nearby dimensions, and the future. To find her, just visit her website or social media pages. Or use a Stargate. Whichever is easiest. .
New York Times bestselling author, J.A. Huss writing as K.C. Cross, is revealing the cover to DAMAGED GODS, the first book in the adult scifi alien/monster romance series, The Monsters of St. Mark’s, releasing July 27, 2021. See below for information on the book, preorder links, a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR, and details on her giveaway. Preorders are available everywhere, but it will be available exclusively on Amazon come release day, so preorder now!
DAMAGED GODS (The Monsters of St. Mark’s Series #1) by J.A. Huss Writing as K.C. Cross
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited on Release Day
Title: DAMAGED GODS Series:The Monsters of St. Mark’s Series #1 Author: J.A. Huss writing as K.C. Cross Publisher: Science Future Press Release Date: July 27, 2021 Genre: Adult SciFi Alien/Monster Romance Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon IT | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo
Synopsis If you’ve gotta be stuck in a curse with monsters—they might as well be sexy monsters.
When I answered an ad for a caretaker at Saint Mark’s Sanctuary I thought I’d be dusting chandeliers and polishing floors. I didn’t expect to be tricked into a curse, going in debt to a monster, and being forced to take a self-paced “Let’s Learn Magic” course so I can fix a two-thousand-year-old problem.
And that monster? Not your ordinary, everyday beast. He has hooves, and horns, and fur on his legs. But ya know where he doesn’t have fur? Yeah. There. Which is fine. Except he doesn’t wear pants.
Nothing at Saint Mark’s is exactly what it seems. The entire inside is magic, the hallways upstairs are nothing but parties from the past, and the super-hot guy who lives in the dungeon? Yeah. Not human.
My name is Pie and all I want is to be a normal girl with an average life. I refuse to get stuck in this curse. I refuse to learn magic to break it. And there is no way in hell I will fall in love with a monster.
Famous. Last. Words.
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DAMAGED GODS (The Monsters of St. Mark’s Series #1) by J.A. Huss Writing as K.C. Cross (Full Cover)
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Author J.A. Huss
About the Authors JAHuss is the New York Times Bestselling author of 321 and has been on the USA Today Bestseller’s list 21 times in the past five years. She writes characters with heart, plots with twists, and perfect endings.
Her new sexy sci-fi romance and paranormal romance pen name is KCCross and she writes novels and teleplays collaboratively with actor and screenwriter, Johnathan McClain.
Her books have sold millions of copies all over the world, the audio version of her semi-autobiographical book, Eighteen, was nominated for a Voice Arts Award and an Audie Award in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Her audiobook, Mr. Perfect, was nominated for a Voice Arts Award in 2017. Her audiobook, Taking Turns, was nominated for an Audie Award in 2018. Five of her book were optioned for a TV series by MGM television in 2018. And her book, Total Exposure, was nominated for a RITA Award in 2019.
She lives on a ranch in Central Colorado with her family..
Welcome to the blog tour for THE GOD QUEEN, the first book in the new adult scifi fantasy series, The Rebirth Saga, by M.L. Tishner. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
THE GOD QUEEN (The Rebirth Saga #1) by M.L. Tishner
Synopsis The God Queen returns. So, why is everyone squelching her power?
In a backwater Earth town, Rei Ettowa dreams of traveling across the stars to destroy Infiernen – the knight who murdered her brother.
When Rei discovers she is the reincarnation of the prophesied God Queen, she relishes her newfound ability to channel lightning for revenge. Unfortunately, blazing through a battlefield clashes with the Federation’s plan for Rei and the others like her. All the gods are to be trained as diplomatic figureheads to sway voters, not agents of war. Infiernen must remain untouched.
Unable to let go of her brother’s murder, Rei finds Infiernen. But instead of killing him, Rei discovers a secret the Federation has been keeping from her about her brother.
Now Rei is mad as hell. Her enemies must pay. But who are they? And what else is the Federation hiding from her?
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Excerpt #1
Chapter 7
Bronx stood in a golden forest. Shimmering leaves that reflected the sunlight covered the ground around him, yet he saw no sun. Black tree trunks reached the height of at least three men before the first golden branch appeared. A gentle breeze moved through the woodland, carrying with it the soft scent of lavender. He took a few steps forward, daring to venture in further. The soft ground absorbed the sound of his footsteps. He didn’t see a single living thing around him, and the silence wrapped him like a cocoon.
The crack of a branch echoed in the distance, and Bronx whipped around but saw nothing. He wasn’t alone.
“Bronx?”
He snapped awake. Crona peered down at him. He must’ve dozed off. Documentation was the most boring part of being a combat medic for the Federation, but Bronx preferred the monotony over returning to the battlefield. He wasn’t ready for that yet.
“Interesting read?” she asked, gesturing to the mountain of paperwork.
“Riveting.”
“Yeah, the snoring was a good indication.” She pulled out the chair opposite him and sat down.
He chuckled. “It’s the only way to let people know. In case they’re curious about what I’m reading.”
“I’m well aware of the practice. I believe I have done my fair share of snoring after reading some captivating reports on supply chains.” She snorted, taking a handful of papers and placing them in a folder.
“Must run in the family, then.”
“At least on Mom’s side. From what I knew of your dad, he would have actually stayed awake for this sort of thing.” She cocked her head to the side. “Professor of Anthropology, right?”
Bronx nodded but bit his tongue. Crona never met his father, but he knew hers. He never got along with his half-sister’s father and was quite certain that anything he said in his presence would come off as an insult.
He returned to his paperwork.
From where they were stationed on the planet Gliese VI, they saw little action in the current civil war with the Dominion. However, they were close enough to get the wounded from nearby planets, the ones still fighting to be free of the hold of their leader, Sovereign Anekris Praymer. Bronx currently filled out a form in the medical wing for a soldier who was flown in the day before. First Petty Officer… something Prue; he couldn’t recall the soldier’s first name now. He’d been brought to Gliese VI because it was the closest facility and currently lay in a bed, the steady beep of his heart monitor the only sound that echoed in the medical wing.
It wasn’t a very large facility with its six beds and various monitors and machines, with desks for the medics on the far end. Despite being underground, the shiny metal plating surrounding them made it easy to keep clean and avoid infection.
“Manca! Sandern! I was just looking for you two. I have news!” Kazimir Ettowa entered the medical wing with a large piece of paper. He ran a free hand through his unruly black hair, his blue eyes bright.
“Your family, Kaz?” asked Crona.
Kaz nodded and handed the message to Bronx.
Found them. Had a little run-in with Negander while on Earth. Will be arriving on Gliese VI within the hour. Have Bronx bring a stretcher.
—M
“What does it mean?” asked Crona, who read it over Bronx’s shoulder.
“Obviously, someone’s hurt,” Kaz said.
“Or worse,” said Bronx quietly.
“No need to be negative just yet.” Crona pointed at the time stamp on the message. “Let’s go. They’ll be here soonish, and I want to welcome our new friends to the party.”
“I’ll help with the stretcher,” Kaz offered.
Bronx threw other necessary supplies—a pulse scanner, gauze, and tools for stitches—into a bag and slung it over his shoulder. He joined Kaz in helping with the stretcher
The beeping from Prue’s heart monitor grew erratic, and the petty officer breathed irregularly with labored and painful sounds that stopped as quickly as they began.
Bronx dropped his bag, sat down at the edge of Prue’s bed, and took off his gloves, unsure why he did it, as if his actions were not his own. His heart hammered in his chest, knowing what was about to happen, and yet he didn’t fight it; some part of him knew this was the right thing to do.
“Uh… Bronx—” began Crona as she approached him, but it was too late.
Bronx reached out and took the man’s hand. Some force pulled on what felt like a string. Teasing him, taunting him. He tugged on it hard and everything unraveled. Dread pooled in his core. He knew what he’d freed—a soul. A plume of black smoke appeared above Prue’s body, curling upwards before it dissipated in the air. Prue took one last deep breath and with a heavy sigh, he died.
“Shit,” muttered Bronx as he regained control of his body, releasing Prue’s hand like it burned him. He leaped from his seat and backed away, knocking over a tray of scalpels and tongs. The metal clanged as each of the pieces hit the ground. This was not the first time, but he always prayed it would be the last. He looked over at his sister; Crona said nothing as she put a hand to her mouth, stunned.
Bronx felt his sister approach. “Are you alright?” she asked.
Bronx’s eyes darted in her direction. His face lost all feeling, his legs weak. He’d done it again, and this time, there’d been witnesses. Shit.
Bronx rubbed his face. “I—I don’t know what happened. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“I’m sure you had a good reason,” Kaz said.
“That’s the thing.” Bronx paced, adrenaline rushing through his legs. “I didn’t have a good reason. I just felt compelled. Like I could ease his suffering if I did something.” He rubbed his face again’.
“Well, you certainly eased his suffering. As well as any other ailment he would feel in the future,” mumbled Crona, leaning on the bed next to Prue’s.
Bronx glanced back at his sister. “You’re not funny.”
“I’m not trying to be. This is serious.”
“Of course this is serious. A man just died.” Bronx’s voice shook. He took a deep breath. “Sometimes I wonder what I’m doing here. Everything I touch dies.” He sat down in a chair next to Prue’s bed and put his head in his hands.
“That’s not true!” Kaz said.
Crona approached him, getting as close as she dared. She reached out to him, but he pulled back. “Bronx, I’ve managed to hug you loads of times before, and you haven’t killed me yet.” She pointed to her eyes. “I can see the future, remember?” She reached out quickly and pinched his cheek. “See? Haven’t killed me yet.”
Bronx pulled back and swatted her hand away. “Stop it.”
“No, you stop it.” She tried to lock eyes with him, but he refused to meet her gaze. “I’m sorry Prue died. I know you didn’t do it on purpose, but face the facts. Look at the bigger picture. You kill people with a touch—that’s your gift. I know you have no idea what you’re doing, but we will get through this, and you will learn how to control it.”
“Your sister’s right, Bronx.” Kaz hadn’t moved from his position at the foot of Prue’s bed. “We’re all still figuring things out. I know we sound like we don’t understand since our powers aren’t as deadly, but we are on your side.”
Bronx stared at his sister, his pulse rising. He knew she was right, and he hated it. It frustrated him. He wished she would just leave him alone on the subject. He may no longer wear the uniform, but his own Daer instincts still kicked in.
He took a moment to take several calming breaths before responding. “You’re both insufferable.”
Crona shrugged. “And you’re acting like a little shit. What do you want me to do? Agree with you? Oh, woe is you, Bronx! Yes, everything you touch dies. Maybe you are a freak.”
“That’s a bit much, Crona,” muttered Kaz.
“Stop it!” Bronx snarled.
“No,” she said flatly. “Because it’s not true. You are not a freak; you are doing so many good things here. Not everything you touch dies. You’re the one with the magic touch. You have a higher success rate of saving people than any other corpsmen. I know, I’ve seen the stats.”
He refused to meet her gaze. He knew he was being stubborn, but he didn’t want to listen to her.
Crona rolled her eyes, then turned to Kaz. “Come on. He stops being fun when he’s like this.” She walked to the stretcher. “I’m sure Manden and the others will be here soon.”
Bronx removed his other glove and threw both away in the trash with enough force to tip it over. “I’m coming.” He grabbed a second clean pair, put them on, and stood to help Kazimir once more with the stretcher.
“But first, can you help me put him into cold storage?” He gestured to Prue. “I’ll worry about the paperwork when we get back.”
Chapter 8
The medical wing sat at the end of a long and shiny metal-plated hallway where the Federation soldiers slept. This floor was only for women, while the men stayed below.
Bronx and Kaz carried the stretcher down the hall as Crona ran ahead to a different tunnel to grab the keys to their vehicle for the long drive to the hangar. The tunnel to the hangar was still underground, but without the metal plating. Its long row of UV lights along the low ceiling was the only hint of technology present, aside from the few cars parked at the entrance. The musty smell of fresh earth and car exhaust was more pungent here, but the stench lessened once they started driving.
As Crona drove, Bronx decided to push his current problem out of his mind and tried to think about what awaited him at the other end of the tunnel: Rei Ettowa.
When he had apprenticed with Niklaryn all those years ago, he frequently saw his mentor sneaking glances at a picture of his little sister. Niklaryn never told a soul about her, but he trusted Bronx. Bronx had heard so much about her that he felt he already knew her, yet he never thought that he would meet Rei after what happened.
Part of him expected to see the same young girl from the photo—with pigtails and missing front teeth—but he knew she was only a few years younger than him and was prepared to meet a young woman. What he hadn’t prepared for were the questions she was bound to ask about the day her brother died.
“Bronx?” Crona’s voice rang through his head like a bell. “Oy! Wake up!”
Bronx snapped out of his reverie to find that they had already arrived at the hangar. It was hidden deep within Mount Environ, several kilometers away from their base. The underground tunnel they had just traveled through allowed a veil of secrecy for the comings and goings of their soldiers. Bronx jumped out of the bed of the vehicle and approached Manden’s ship.
According to their friend, the Luciernaga was several thousand years old and resembled a hodgepodge of scrapped ships, metal pieces—some of them gold—and a few ion cannon stations that appeared to have been placed randomly, yet had been essential. Bronx swore the end result made Luciernaga look like a face with the cockpit as the eyes and the front hatch as its mouth.
The hatch opened like a long tongue, and their redheaded friend strode out to greet them. Crona ran to Manden and almost knocked him down with a big hug. Kaz followed with a hand extended.
“Are you kidding?” Manden pulled Kaz in for an embrace. “Come here, you.”
Bronx stayed behind as usual.
“Bronx,” Manden said, giving the medic a nod.
“You look familiar,” said a young man who came into view from the hatch. He was as tall as Bronx with brown hair and light eyes. For a moment, the medic thought a ghost had come back to haunt him. Niklaryn? he wanted to ask. The newcomer’s violet eyes flashed. He was someone different, and yet it still took several moments for Bronx’s heart rate to return to normal.
“Do I?” asked Bronx. “I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.”
“Arram Bronto.” The young man extended a hand to Bronx, who only stared at it.
“Bronx, doesn’t do hand shaking,” muttered Manden.
Arram pulled his hand back. “Sorry.”
Bronx shook his head. “I’ll explain later.”
“Okay.” Arram stepped out of the way, clearing the path for Kaz and Bronx to enter the ship. “You’re a Daer Knight, right?” he continued.
“I was once.” Bronx readjusted his grip on the stretcher, his heart pounding in his chest. This was the moment; he was going to meet her. The stretcher must be for either Bernie or Rei.
“He still is a Daer,” added Crona.
“Well, I-I’m sure Rei will be excited to meet you,” was all Arram said as his eyes stared at the floor, the muscles in his jaw flexing.
“Where is she, by the way?” interjected Crona.
“She’s probably with Bernie,” Manden said, walking toward his ship.
He, with Kaz helping on the other end, continued hauling the stretcher up the ramp into the first room of the ship—the cargo hold.
“We’re in the infirmary.” Manden’s voice echoed from the belly of the ship. The infirmary sat behind the cargo hold, currently filled with plants from every corner of the star cluster. A mix of lilac and magnolia filled Bronx’s nose.
The men maneuvered the stretcher around the mesh metal staircase that led up to the rooms, kitchen, and cockpit.
Bronx sneezed as they ventured through what appeared to be a small forest, lightly brushing against several pots of vines overflowing onto the floor. He continued to the infirmary where Manden and Bernie stood on either side of a bed.
“I didn’t want to leave her alone in case she suddenly woke up. That’s why I didn’t come out earlier,” Bernie said quietly. She turned and saw that the combat medic had entered. “Hey, Bronx, Kaz.”
Bronx didn’t answer. All his thoughts focused on the unconscious woman lying before him in blood-splattered clothes. Rei Ettowa appeared to be asleep, her dark hair framing her face. His pulse raced.
Not long after Niklaryn was gone, he dreamed about a beautiful woman who made his heart stop with a smile. Time had since obscured many of the details, but he clearly remembered Rei’s face.
He never told anyone about it, thinking that she was some subconscious fantasy. But somehow his brain must have created the woman of his dreams from memories of Rei. Thank the gods Nik wasn’t here. He knew he shouldn’t have impure thoughts about his mentor’s kid sister—no matter how attractive she may be.
He pulled the pulse scanner out of his bag, placed it on her neck, and read the little screen. The lines blipped, showing a strong and steady heartbeat.
He lowered his face toward hers to better hear her breathing—slow and steady. He pulled away, using all his willpower to not lean in closer. His eyes glanced over the rest of her body, trying to the find the source of the blood on her clothes.
“I don’t see a wound,” he said.
“Just a graze from a bullet. I already patched her up.” Manden pointed to Rei’s other side.
“Very nice.” He admired the tiny stitches. It was no surprise knowing Manden’s history on the battlefield. “And the rest of the blood?”
“Unlucky victim,” Bernie said.
Bronx helped Manden move her to the stretcher; he double-checked that the gloves reached his sleeves so that not an inch of skin was exposed. One could never be too careful.
“What happened?” Bronx took one end of the stretcher while Manden held the other, leading it out of the infirmary and through the cargo hold.
“As I said in my message,” Manden said, “we had a run in with the Negander. They attacked the town, trying to get to Rei and Arram. Bernie, Hotara, and I managed to save them in time; however, the Negander had already killed Sagitan and his wife.” He gazed down at their unconscious newcomer. “This little lady was angry. Her powers came out for the first time and fried them.”
“It was quite a sight,” Bernie said.
“She used too much energy and passed out,” Manden said. “It happens to people like her at some point in their lives.”
“Where is Hotara?” Kaz asked.
“I sent her to Tas’und’eash. With any luck, she can rally the rest of the Volocio to help with our cause.”
The group continued out of the ship and back toward the vehicle. Arram took Rei from Bronx and helped Manden carry the stretcher.
They brought Rei to the medical bay and laid her down on an empty bed. Bronx made sure it was far away from where Prue had passed earlier.
He placed a heart monitor on her finger and waited for the steady beep to fill the silence in the room. Arram stood nearby, his eyes never leaving Rei’s face. Bronx imagined how concerned he must have been.
“Come, Arram.” Crona linked arms with him. “They’re still serving dinner in the mess hall. You look like you could use some food.”
“I feel uncomfortable leaving her here,” he said quietly.
“I’ll stay,” offered Bronx. “I’m still on duty here.”
Arram nodded and allowed Crona to lead him out the room with Kaz following.
Crona stopped at the door and quickly glanced in Bronx’s direction. “Should I bring you something, too, Brother?”
Bronx shook his head. “I know where Ayres hides his snacks. I’ll be fine.”
Manden stayed behind, watching Bronx thoughtfully. The redhead always did that when he studied one of them—as though he were trying to see more of Bronx than what was there.
“Yes, Manden?”
He cocked his head to the side. “I’m desperate to know what you’re thinking.”
“Thinking?”
“About her.” Manden gestured to Rei lying between them.
Bronx couldn’t shake the feeling of having met her before, but that was impossible. “Well,” he finally answered, “she’s a great conversationalist.”
Manden chuckled. “Jokes aside, smart ass. I really want to know. I’ve been looking forward to the two of you meeting for a long time.”
The medic shrugged. “Kind of hard to have a meeting when one’s unconscious.”
Manden waved his hand dismissively in Bronx’s direction “Bah. Details.”
“Does this have to do with him?”
“Yes.”
Of course it did. Everything in Bronx’s life the last few years always came back to that man, and a part of him resented it.
“I’m sure you’ve felt some of his memories. As dreams, perhaps?”
Bronx clenched his sweaty palms, which stuck to his gloves. “Dreams?”
“Your sister once told me about dreams she had before her powers manifested. Kaz, too. That’s what they are. Memories. I watched Rei go through hers, so I’m just taking a leap here.”
It was bad enough Bronx shared the same gift and the same face as the man in question. But Manden suggested they had the same taste in women. The idea didn’t sit well with him, but his body already betrayed him whenever he looked in her direction. His pulse elevated and his mouth had gone dry.
Manden still watched him, waiting for a response. But Bronx didn’t want to talk about that, so he stuck with a truth he was comfortable with.
“I’m relieved she’s here and she’s safe.”
“Oh?”
“You remember me telling you how I knew Niklaryn? We were close friends. Close enough that I was the only person he told about her. Not everything—only that she needed to be protected. He made me vow to protect her if something happened to him.”
“You’ve done a great job doing that all these years,” Manden said dryly.
“Niklaryn forgot to give me the minor yet crucial detail of where she was hidden. I knew Earth, but that was it. Then there was the problem that no one else knew about her, so who could I ask? It turned out your wife hid her all along.” Bronx laughed. The universe really wanted them to meet. He believed it was some cruel joke.
“You’ll have a chance to uphold that vow now, Bronx. I don’t know how she’s going to react when she wakes up. The last few days have been overwhelming for her. You saw how Arram is handling things and he just lost his grandparents. Rei lost everyone she knew and grew up with. Infiernen and his Negander destroyed her entire town. Her powers manifested out of pure rage. She brought down countless Negander and turned them into charred husks.”
Bronx’s eyes widened, and his heart stopped at the mention of Infiernen. He hunted her, too? It made sense. The Negander had been hunting Bronx and the others for years now.
He studied Rei. He didn’t think she would be so dangerous—almost as dangerous as he was. The idea of no longer being the only one with lethal gifts gave him a little comfort, especially if it meant protecting the others against the Negander.
“You and I are the ones with the most battle experience,” continued Manden. “We’ve seen the most. We also know what happens to those who experience trauma and have no support group to help them through it. These two are the only survivors of that massacre. Just be prepared.”
“Of course.” Trauma was something Bronx knew plenty about.
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Author M.L. Tishner
About the Author Mari, a native Hoosier, currently lives in southern Germany where she entertains people with her adventures as an American expat in the Land of Beer and Pretzels on her blog adventuresoflamari.com as well as the adventures of her pugs, Abner and Roxy. When she’s not writing, Mari cooks, snowboards, dances to the beat of her own drum, reads late into the night, and binge watches Netflix with her husband. The God Queen is her debut novel.
Welcome to the book blitz for BECOMING BROOKLYN, a stand-alone young adult contemporary scifi, by Amanda Deich. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Synopsis Eighteen-year-old Brooklyn never knew her father. Rex Blackburn died in the 9/11 attacks four months before she was born.
And even though she never met him, she always dreamed about what he must have been like before he died. In her mind, he was a hero.
Little did she know.
After an attack at a 9/11 memorial gala, Brooklyn learns her father had been a member of an elite, anti-terrorism, military task force, made up of a very select group of people who had superhuman abilities. On the day the towers fell, he died using his power to save people.
The Army believes she inherited his gift, and Brooklyn is invited to train at West Point in order to hone her skills. Knowing deep down she is different than anyone else her age and wanting to learn more about a father she never knew, she readily agrees to become a cadet at the prestigious military academy.
She and five other 9/11 babies strengthen their superhuman abilities and spend weeks preparing themselves for their future in the army, fighting terrorists at home and abroad. And in the process of training, they identify with their deceased parents in a way they never knew they could.
Brooklyn knows she’ll go to war someday, but when terrorists find out about the group’s gifts, they don’t bother to wait.
They bring the war to West Point.
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Excerpt #3 I was still shaking when Liam crawled off of the ground and clung to me in an embrace. He was wheezing, but other than that, he seemed okay.
Different, but okay.
And I felt different, too. Altered, somehow. Like I was an actor cast in a part I never wanted to play.
I studied him, exploring those eyes that had grabbed hold of me from day one and refused to let go.
And I saw something new.
I saw hate.
His jaw clenched. He left my side and walked purposefully toward the body of the man trapped under the bench. He grabbed the knife that was resting on the ground next to the body and without hesitating, he strode toward the man who had choked him and had threatened to hurt me.
“Stop, Liam,” I commanded.
He wasn’t listening.
“STOP!”
I ran to him now. He was still intent on reaching the monster.
Finally, I caught his elbow.
“You’re a healer, Liam. Not a killer.”
That role had been filled by me.
“You are a healer,” I repeated, making him look me in the eye.
And just like that, Liam stopped. His look softened, as if he was seeing what he was doing for the first time.
“Christ,” he mumbled, first dropping the knife, then dropping to his knees.
And instead of trying to reach the body of either man, he reached for me, instead.
We stayed like that for a moment, lost in a place we’d never visited before: one where we’d done the worst kind of things.
Jacob shuffled out from the shadows and walked briskly to the first man I’d attacked, who was trapped under the bench.
I’d almost forgotten he was there.
Jacob kneeled, pressing his neck for a pulse. “He’s gone,” he declared.
I didn’t know if I was relieved or upset.
“I- I’ll go find someone to come help,” Jacob offered. He seemed thankful when I nodded my assent.
“I’m sorry,” Liam said as Jacob left. He’d turned his back to me, and his voice was a quieted whisper. His shoulders fell forward as he spoke. “I’m sorry I was going to – to do that to him– in front of you. What I was feeling – what I was thinking when he threatened to hurt you – I-I’d never felt or thought those things before.
When he said that about how he was going to show you how pretty you were…” He spun toward me, his face masked in pain.
“That image was worse than anything I could ever imagine.”
“I don’t know what’s happening to either one of us – who we’re turning into,” Liam continued. His eyes looked more silver than green, as if he’d been shocked into becoming someone – or something – else. “But I do know that I don’t want to ever see you in danger again.”
I closed my eyes for a moment and considered how nice that sounded – a danger-free life.
He grabbed my hand. “But Brooklyn, if we have to be in danger, if we are going to be part of this world, then I need you by my side.”
In that moment, I wanted more than anything to kiss him, to reassure him I felt the same way.
But I never got the chance.
Jacob returned. And just as he entered the room – before he could warn Liam, and before I could even utter a word, a knife flew into Liam’s back.
“Sorry I break up this… this romance,” the man whom I’d thrown into the wall snarled, tearing the knife out of Liam’s flesh, catching his body and holding it hostage. “But I’ve got job to finish.”
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Author Amanda Deich
About the Author Amanda Deich is an author out of Littleton, CO. In her non-writer life, she is a teacher and coach to hundreds of kids, and she is a mama to two. If you meet her, she’ll talk Jesus and identity like no one’s business.
Welcome to the book blitz for SEDITION, the first book in the young adult steampunk series, Children of Erikkson, by E.M. Wright. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
SEDITION (Children of Erikkson Series #1) by E.M. Wright
Synopsis She was created for more than slavery; she was built for rebellion.
In an alternate Victorian England, clockwork cyborgs provide the primary source of labor for the upper class. Known as biomatons, they are property by law and have been manipulated and mind-controlled into subservience.
Taryn Roft, a 17-year-old girl, attending classes at Grafton’s School of Mechanicks in London has a secret. What’s even worse—she cannot remember anything before her twelfth birthday.
When a mysterious privateer discovers her secret, he offers her an ultimatum: accompany him to his airship, or her secret will be revealed to everyone. For Taryn, it’s not much of a choice. Facing prejudice and cruelty may be nothing new to the only girl at an all-boys’ school, but the further from home she gets, the darker her situation becomes.
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Author E.M. Wright
About the Author E.M. Wright is an author from Portland, OR. She writes science fiction and fantasy novels set in original worlds.
Willow Lane Publishing and author Alanna Mackenzie are unveiling the cover to THE JADE TALISMAN, the second book in her adult science fiction/dystopian series, The Jade Chronicles, releasing March 28, 2021. See below for the cover, information on the book and series, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
THE JADE TALISMAN (The Jade Chronicles #2) by Alanna Mackenzie
About the Book
Title:THE JADE TALISMAN Series: The Jade Chronicles #2 Author:Alanna Mackenzie Publisher: Willow Lane Publishing Release Date: March 28, 2021 Genre: Adult Science Fiction/Dystopian Links: Goodreads
Synopsis A talisman. A song. A story about time itself, as it moves through each winding branch in the tree of life.
It is the year 2762 in the Empire of Khalendar, and AI Masters rule the civilized world, striving to crush all dissent. But they have not yet managed to quell the Jade Rebellion or its leader, Walter Saltanetska. The Jade Queen, once a prison ship commandeered by the AI Masters, is now a rebel stronghold. Walter and his companions have sailed all the way to Vei’arash, a lush island reputedly home to exiled dissidents and evil shamans. Their mission is to fulfill a pact with their Mage allies—to find animal spirits exiled to Vei’arash long ago by the AI Masters.
As the rebels plunge deeper into the jungle, physical laws are upended. The plants and animals of the rainforest are inextricably linked to divine beings. The most powerful of these beings entrusts Walter with an enchanted gemstone, the Jade Talisman, that warps the basic rules of time and space.
The Talisman allows Walter to gaze into a mesmerizing labyrinth of future possibilities. But the visions it offers up are troublingly dark, giving Walter insight into the deepest recesses of the human soul. While he needs to remain emotionally distant from them, he cannot. The people in these visions are not strangers, but Walter and his loved ones. This gift proves to be a crushing burden, and Walter desperately longs for an ordinary life. But there is no going back…
The gripping sequel to The Jade Rebellion, The Jade Talisman is a tribute to the perseverance of spirituality in a world dominated by the cold logic of artificial intelligence.
About the Author Alanna Mackenzie lives in Vancouver, Canada. She holds degrees in History, French studies, and Law from the University of British Columbia. An environmentalist at heart, she believes in using the law as a tool for social and environmental change. When she is not pursuing that passion, she can be found brainstorming the next chapter in her novels, playing Irish fiddle tunes on the violin, and hiking West Coast trails.
Vesuvian Books and author Mary Ting are unveiling the cover to CODE, the fourth book in the young adult science fiction/dystopian series, International Sensory Assassin Network, releasing April 20, 2021. See below for the cover, information on the book and series, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
CODE (ISAN Series #4) by Mary Ting
About the Book
Title: CODE Series: International Sensory Assassin Network Series #4 Author: Mary Ting Publisher: Vesuvian Books Release Date: April 20, 2021 Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction/Dystopian Links: Goodreads
Synopsis Behind enemy lines, new soldiers will emerge, and unexpected heroes will rise.
Ava is a prisoner. And she is not the only rebel held hostage at ISAN’s secret compound. As she plans an escape, the lives of the rebel prisoners are in her hands, along with those she thought were dead.
Rhett and his team desperately search for Ava while one of the Remnant Council joins forces with another network looking for the creator of the Helix serum. And time is running out. Mr. Novak has been secretly creating an army called CODE, and what he plans for Ava will mean a permanent end to the rebels–and her.
About the Author International Bestselling, Award-Winning Author Mary Ting writes soulful, spellbinding stories that excite the imagination and captivate readers all over the world. Her books run a wide range of genres: science fiction, fantasy, and swoon worthy stories. Her storytelling talents have won her a devoted legion of fans and garnered critical praise.
Mary was born in Seoul Korea and resides in Southern California with her husband, two children, and two dogs—Mochi and Mocha. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Becoming an author was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother. After realizing she wanted to become a full-time author, she retired from teaching after twenty years..
Welcome to the book blitz for A FLOOD OF POSIES, a standalone adult scifi fantasy, by debut author Tiffany Meuret. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Synopsis *2020 Cygnus Book Award for Science Fiction Long List*
It’s 2025.
Sisters, Doris and Thea, exist worlds apart, despite living within a few miles of one another. Doris with her regular home and regular husband and regular job, and Thea slinking along the edges of society, solitary and invisible. When a storm of biblical proportions strikes, the wayward sisters are begrudgingly forced together as the rain waters rise, each attempting to survive both the flood and each other.
One year later, Thea—now calling herself Sestra—floats throughout a ravaged, flood soaked world. Her former life drowned beneath metric tons of water, she and her only companion, Robert, battle starvation, heatstroke, and the monstrous creatures called Posies that appeared alongside the flood. When they run across what they assume to be an abandoned tugboat, their journey takes a new turn, and the truth about the flood and the monsters seems more intricately linked to Thea’s past than she may realize.
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Excerpt #3 Knock knock. She mouthed the words, realizing a while later she hadn’t actually knocked on the door.
James answered once she did. She made sure to come when Doris wasn’t around. He seemed shocked to see her. He shouldn’t have been.
“I need some money.”
Realization dawned on him, his pasty jaw shivering at the indignity. “You stole my wallet.”
“Of course I did. Now I need more money.”
Blocking the doorway with his body, he leaned toward her as if he meant to shake her. “Where’s my ring?”
“Why was it in your wallet?” she asked. It’d been bothering her since she found it.
“Where is my ring, Thea?”
“It’s odd for a married man to keep his ring in his wallet during clandestine meetups with his sister-in-law. Very, very odd, if you ask me.” It was so easy to toy with him; his emotions reeled against his features.
“Where is my ring?” He was getting angry now.
All the better. Angry people were the least reasonable of all people. “Some people might get the wrong idea.”
“What wrong idea? What the hell are you talking about?”
She shrugged. “You know what I mean.”
He was fit to explode, but somehow buttoned it up just in time. “You don’t have it anymore, do you.”
The pawn shop had paid handsomely for it, but he didn’t need to know that. Yet.
“It’d look awfully bad for me to show up with your ring on my finger. Who knows what people might think?” She laughed. God, he was the easiest mark on the planet.
But he laughed too, as if the idea of them together was too ludicrous to take seriously. “Doris wouldn’t believe that for a second and you know it.”
“She’s probably the only one to not underestimate the depths of my shittiness. I’m sure she’d figure it out. But the rest? Jesus, can you imagine what my mother might say? Can you imagine how tiring that would be? Especially for Doris.”
His body went rigid, to the point that she could have rung him like a bell. “You truly are a psychopath.”
No, she wasn’t. Of course she wasn’t. She was smart and he was dumb, and this was all too easy. She wasn’t a psycho—she just needed money. And he was going to give it her.
She smiled. “Small bills, please.” Then she waited.
James stood in the doorway, stunned. It was all too easy. Too easy.
Then he backed away from the door, moving at an odd slant that had her wondering if he was fainting or was just too upset to function properly. Slipping into the dark of the living room, she grabbed at the edges of the door and peered after him.
“I don’t have all day, James. And if I know Doris’s schedule like I think I do, neither do you.”
But he was gone. The shades were drawn and the lights off—the room was completely empty. No furniture, no pictures on the wall. The archway into the kitchen was black as tar.
“James?”
When had they moved in? It was years ago. She remembered their housewarming party—Ma had been adamant that Thea show up and be presentable for the love of God. There was champagne, and she’d stolen an entire bottle for herself, boozing it up in the corner of their yard while pretending to smoke. Ma had found her, and she’d been spitting mad.
Where was all that shiny new furniture now? Where was James?
She was about to step inside when a low gurgle echoed from the black space where the kitchen should be. Then came the water—a slow trickle at first, like runoff from a leaky cooler.
“Doris?”
No one responded.
The water picked up, churning into the living room and spilling through the doorway. Where was all this water coming from? It just kept coming, more and more and more. Thea wanted to back away, to run, but something rooted her in place.
“James!” Her voice cracked, springing from her throat in a panic. “What the fuck is going on, James?”
A voice—so familiar and so strange and so not possible.
“I told you they were coming, sister.” The noise oozed from the black space. “Now look what you’ve done.”
She spoke delicately, so that Thea had to lean in to hear.
“Doris?”
There was no answer.
“This isn’t funny. Fuck this, I’m leaving.” Her body wanted to bolt, to get the fuck out of there as quickly as her feet would carry her, but the moment she stepped back from the doorway, a wail erupted from the house. Something monstrous and huge shuddered and shook the walls apart. The floors began to rock, splashing against the drywall in waves.
Before she could run, a tentacle sprung out of the black. It snatched her around the waist, crushing her organs between her bones with ease. She tried to scream or fight or do something, but it gripped too tightly.
It pulled her down and down and down. Down under the house. Down under the waves and water. She could do nothing as the house sealed up over her head, her breath pressurizing in her lungs.
Down she went.
Down she stayed.
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Author Tiffany Meuret
About the Author Tiffany Meuret is a writer of monsters and twisted fairy tales. Her publications include Shoreline of Infinity, Luna Station Quarterly, Ellipsis Zine, and others. When not reading or writing, she is usually binge watching comfortable sitcoms from her childhood or telling her kids to put on their shoes for the tenth time. She lives in sunny Arizona with her husband, two kids, two chihuahuas, gecko, and tortoise.
Welcome to the book blitz for THE HOLLOW WORLD the third book in the young adult fantasy scifi series, Fragments, by Tracy Auerbach. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
THE HOLLOW WORLD (Fragments Series #3) by Tracy Auerbach
Synopsis The time has come for Kai and her friends to make a final stand, and as the war begins, everyone must choose a side. But with the lines between good and evil more blurred than ever, Kai has to stick with her convictions and follow her heart. Kai’s first priority is to free Finn from the clutches of Tessa Raven, who has become no better than the evil she once fought against.
As Kai reluctantly turns against the people she once considered her closest friends, she becomes entangled in a struggle with a mysterious new power that threatens to destroy what is left of Finn and change everything she thought she knew about the planet.
Meanwhile, Charlie and Aric remain behind and help Raven breach the underground world of the Science Council. All bets are off as they prepare to cross every line and burn every bridge in an attempt to claim the world that has abused them for too long.
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Excerpt #2 Aric stormed into the weight room section of the training facility and cast his eyes around, over the two soldiers working out with dumbbells, before catching sight of the huge type ‘A’ soldier he’d been looking for.
Charlie stood in the center of the gym, a good ways apart from the other soldiers, curling a massive bar weight up to his chest and down again in quick reps. Beside him, on a sit-up bench, sat the trademark type ‘A’-sized flask of whiskey that he was rarely seen without nowadays. Or was it scotch? It hardly mattered.
“Charlie,” called Aric, approaching him.
“That’s me.” Charlie grinned dopily, dropped the weight—which sent a shockwave through the floor—and reached for his drink.
“Enough of that,” Aric snapped. “Are you even sober enough to understand what I’m saying?”
“Sure.” Charlie kept the grin plastered on, but Aric noticed it didn’t reach his bloodshot eyes. It never did anymore. He was so changed from the hopeful, intense, good-natured soldier that Aric had known back at the fort. That had been back when Charlie had hope—when he’d been in love.
“I need to talk to you,” Aric whispered, “but not here.” He glanced toward the other two soldiers, lowering his voice even further. “We need privacy.”
“Privacy?” mumbled Charlie. “I can do that.” He turned toward the other soldiers, shouting, “Get out!”
As his deep voice echoed through the gym, the soldiers—Aric couldn’t remember their names—beat feet out the door as Charlie slumped down against the wall he’d been standing beside, uncapped the flask, and took a swig.
“I…” Aric didn’t know how to begin. The rumors he’d heard about Raven’s plan for Finn Turner were too awful, and he didn’t know how Charlie, his only friend, would react to them. He took a seat beside Charlie. “I’ve heard a few things that won’t be easy for you to hear, Charlie, but I need to tell you because we have to decide what to do.”
“I’m listening.” Charlie stretched his arms above his head and exhaled, filling the air around them with the sweet, heavy reek of liquor. Aric winced.
“Raven’s been talking to her inner circle, and the rumors have spread because Larson can’t keep his big mouth shut, so now everyone knows… I think.” He paused. “Charlie, I think she’s planning to use Finn as a missile. She’s going to have him run into that crystal column at full force. It will probably be our best chance of breaking the thing, but it’s a suicide mission.”
A long silence stretched out between them. Charlie took another, longer swig from the flask, and they both sat there for a moment, staring off into space. Finally, Charlie cast his eyes to the other object on the sit-up bench: the tablet that controlled Finn. It was never out of his sight.
At first, Aric had thought it an odd choice for Raven to leave it in his keeping. But then he’d realized the brilliance of the decision. Nobody—not even the other type ‘A’ soldiers who were controlled by Raven—could get something away from Charlie Manning if he didn’t want to give it up. Charlie knew how to fight, and he was smarter than the others.
Also, Charlie had confided to him that Raven kept calculating things about the people she’d known on an emotional level: Aric himself, Charlie, Kai, and Finn. A lot of her calculations for “potential outcomes”—the way she read probabilities to see the future—were inconsistent when it came to them.
However, one thing that was always the same was Charlie’s loyalty to her. It was always one hundred percent. Not ninety-nine point nine. One hundred. Every single time, regardless of what factors she used in her equations.
Aric supposed it was hard to argue with odds like that.
“I guess there’s nothing I can do, then,” said Charlie, scooping up the tablet. He also grabbed a towel off the bench and mopped sweat off his dripping face. “She’s made her choice.”
Aric’s heart sunk, and he failed to suppress a grimace. This wasn’t the Charlie that he had known. Not at all. Even if the type ‘A’ was resigned to his own fate as Raven’s lapdog, Aric had a hard time believing that he would allow something like this to become of his best friend. Charlie had fought so hard for Finn—only to give up now? If only he’d quit the damn drinking, maybe he’d start acting like himself again.
“How long have you been working out?”
“About three hours.”
“Holy shit.”
“Not much else to do.”
“Charlie…”
“I’ll see ya around, Aric.” The type ‘A’ waved then as he exited the gym, bringing his towel, flask, and Finn’s tablet with him.
Aric bent and, just for curiosity’s sake, attempted to lift the immensely weighted bar that Charlie had been using off the floor. He couldn’t even roll it; his body jerked down, and he felt a pop in his back.
“Holy shit,” he muttered through the pain. “He is strong.”
Shaking his head, he left the room and walked down the hall. The few soldiers who’d been idling outside, waiting for Charlie to leave, shot Aric a side-eye before heading into the gym. Raven didn’t trust him, so, by proxy, none of her goons trusted him.
Aric once again ruminated on his own part in all this as he walked down the brightly lit corridors, passing soldiers who either ignored him or shot him suspicious glares. Had his actions back at his bunker—driving Tessa and Finn away and experimenting on Charlie—somehow dragged all of them further down this awful path? And then they’d helped him, even when he hadn’t deserved their help.
Damn it! I can’t let this happen. I owe it to all of them not to let this happen to Finn.
Since Charlie was, as usual, not very responsive, Aric figured he’d go and give Kai a try next. Not that he thought she’d be much better. She truly cared about Finn but hated Aric himself so much that he doubted she’d be willing to work with him in any capacity, even to save Finn.
Aric drew in a deep breath, preparing himself for the well-deserved ire he knew was coming his way.
“Hey, Kai,” he said, knocking on her door. “It’s me. Aric.”
“Screw off!” she shouted from inside her quarters.
“It’s about Finn…”
He heard footsteps, and the door opened with a creak, exposing Kai’s tear-streaked face. Her dark eyes, so much like Dex’s, shone with fresh wetness, pooling and dripping down her cheeks.
God, he missed Dex.
She blinked, scowling at him through her misery. “Come to rub it in?” she asked. “Well, you’re too late. I’ve already heard.”
“Maybe there’s something—”
“Not with you!” She wiped at her eyes with her fists. “I’ll save him, but I’ll do it on my own. I’d let him die before accepting your help. I don’t even know why you’re still pretending to give a crap.”
Before he could answer, she slammed the door in his face.
With a sigh, Aric walked back to his room, marveling at his own uselessness. He’d once been so powerful, and he’d sunk so low. Sometimes, he wished he’d never gotten emotions, because times like this hurt so bad, he felt like he was falling down a deep well. And every day, the chance of ever crawling out of it seemed farther and farther away.
About the Author Tracy Auerbach is an author of science fiction and fantasy for teens and adults. As an avid reader with a vivid imagination, she chose to study film, English, and education, and went on to teach and write STEM curriculum for the New York Department of Education. This helped to polish her writing skills and ignite her passion for science fiction and fantasy.
Her first scholarly article, published in Language Magazine, was about the value of active, creative learning in science. On the fiction side, Tracy’s work has been featured in the online literary journal Micro-horror, The Writing Disorder fiction anthology, and the “(Dis)ability” short story anthology, in addition to her novels.
When she is not teaching or writing, Tracy is usually reading or spending time with her family. She lives in New York with her husband and sons.
Welcome to the book blitz for PRIME VECTOR, the first book in the adult scifi series, Prime Vector, by D.A. Hicks. See below for the for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, the book’s trailer, and details on her giveaway.
PRIME VECTOR (Prime Vector Series #1) by D.A. Hicks
Synopsis If you like immortals in space, romance, and fast-paced thrilling action, you’ll love Prime Vector!
PRIME VECTOR, Season 1
During a routine tour to Earth, first-year cadet Catita witnesses the murder of her immortal twin. To unravel the mystery behind her sister’s death, Catita will have to assume her sister’s identity and join the dreaded Forever Queen’s immortal army.
Tek, a mercenary from Earth, has finally found a way to save his sister from a terminal illness. That is, if he’s willing to pull the heist of his life: kidnap the Martian princess in return for his sister’s cure. But the princess has a mission of her own and leaving Mars isn’t an option.
As both Catita and Tek struggle to do right by their loved ones, their paths cross and they soon find themselves in the middle of a century-old feud to control the virus that gives its host immortality.
Season 1, Ep 1 – The Immortal Oath
Season 1, Ep 2 – The QEC Trials
Season 1, Ep 3 – The Titan Orbiter
Season 1, Ep 4 – The Girl in the Labyrinth
Season 1, Ep 5 – Letters to Elizabeth
Season 1, Ep 6 – Wela’s Prime Secret
Season 1, Ep 7 – The Leader of the Loyalists
Season 1, Ep 8 – The Sentient Being
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Trailer
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Excerpt Tek disappeared into the dark storage room. A gust of wind lashed down the narrow hallway, carrying a small trace of his scent—a mix of ocean breeze and sweat. Smiling, I stared at the dilapidated red door, breathing him in, memorizing every detail.
Downloading to Earth hadn’t been a mistake. I was glad to have met him. The guy from my dreams had turned out to be way more than I thought. He was brave and kind. The best part was he didn’t die today, as he had in my nightmares. I made a mental note to ask Ry if she was sure she’d never seen him. Why else would Tek be in my head? Ry messed with my thoughts on a daily basis. Maybe Tek had been a residual afterthought.
Immortality and the virus had been around for over one hundred years, but we still didn’t know everything about it. Ry and I were Wela’s guinea pigs. Since we were little, she’d been impressed by how well Ry’s compulsion worked on me. She figured it had to do with the fact that we were twins.
“First-year,” Captain Weston called out to me.
Time to go home, but first I had to deal with the consequences of everything I’d done tonight—sneaking out of the Epoch, riding in a vehicle next to Ry, sailing across the bay with Tek, and saving Ari. No, I wasn’t sorry at all for any of it. I wasn’t sorry for wanting more. I pursed my lips to chase the grin off my face before I turned to face Captain Weston and Ry.
Mak had already left the bar, and all the commandos kept busy outside searching the marina. At least we were alone in here, and I wouldn’t be getting my ass chewed out in front of Ry’s entire unit. Thank the Titan for small favors.
The wide gash on Ry’s temple dripped with her silvery blood. It glittered and bubbled before it healed completely. The process was so fast it was as if I had imagined her wounds, though looking around the room, I knew that wasn’t the case.
Ry stood tall, oozing strength and confidence. Her shiny hair draped her shoulders, framing her pink cheeks as if her face were a work of art. After tumbling around the dirty floor of the bar fighting Mak, Ry should be covered in cuts and scrapes, but she wasn’t. Captain Weston and my sister made quite a pair—flawless, impossibly beautiful, and lethal.
Captain Weston’s intense blue eyes under thick brows regarded me with the same disdain as the rest of Ry’s unit. He pressed his lips together, and his strong jaw flexed. For a beat, I imagined running my hands through his blond hair. It looked so soft and shiny, like strands of gold. Suddenly, it didn’t seem so bad to be killed by someone as handsome as him.
Wait, what? What the hell?
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Author D.A. Hicks
About the Author D. A. Hicks is the alter ego of Diana A. Hicks, an award-winning author of steamy romantic suspense and science-fiction romance.
When Diana is not writing, she enjoys hot yoga, kickboxing, traveling, and indulging in the simple joys of life like wine and chocolate. She lives in Atlanta and loves spending time with her two children and husband.
Connect with D.A. Hicks on social media to stay up to date on her latest releases.
Synopsis Alliances are forming. The resistance is growing. Everything is about to change.
With her memory still fragmented, Ava returns to the International Sensory Assassin Network (ISAN) to find the twin sister she never knew she had.
But as Ava hunts for information, she finds herself tangled in a web of yet more lies and conspiracy. The Helix serum may not be required to access her superpowers, and the number of male assassins—previously considered too volatile to tolerate Helix—is growing in every territory.
The more Ava uncovers, the more of a threat she becomes to ISAN. Her only salvation may be to join the rebels—if she isn’t killed first.
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My Review
WARNING: Spoilers for books 1 and 2.
The third book in the International Sensory Assassin Network (ISAN) series, GENES is a rollercoaster ride that never lets up. It picks up in the immediate aftermath of HELIX. We once again find Rhett, Ava and their renegade friends struggling for survival while trying to find a way to bring down ISAN. Except this time, they have the help of some super-powered little friends. At the end of HELIX, we learn a plethora of heinous acts ISAN has been up to. Armed with this knowledge, Ava is more determined than ever to end them and Mr. Novak, the leader of ISAN, once and for all. Ava now knows the identity of her twin, but they are not who she expected. As the rebels fight to save the lives of everyone they love, they willingly risk their own. There’s not much I can say without giving too much away, but this installment is action-packed with more romance, more love, and more loss than in the previous two books. It’s the very definition of a page-turner.
Plot The story is well-plotted and moves almost constantly. The author does a good job of planting the seeds we need at just the right time for everything to fall inevitably into place. Ting is an expert at white-knuckle suspense and GENES is no different. The stakes are higher than ever and Ava and Rhett have so much more to lose.
Characters Not only do we hear from Ava and Rhett again, but we get some new points of view. Rhett’s goes from first person to third and it was a little jarring at first, but I got used to it quickly. Ava continues her growth arc, learning that she is not responsible for everyone and everything. In addition to the new characters we met at the end of HELIX, there are more new characters, both good and evil. Some of the bad dudes aren’t as well developed as they could be, but that’s a small complaint in an otherwise stellar read.
What I Loved About GENES 1. Twists. There are more twists and turns, starting in chapter 1, that kept me on the edge of my seat.
2. Rhett. Once again, he is swoon-worthy and nearly perfect.
3. Mr. Novak. He is the type of villain I relish hating.
4. Ava. She has her moments when I want to slap some sense into her, but the more I learn about her backstory, the more I’ve come to understand her.
5. Momo. A new character, she’s spunk on steroids and may be my new favorite character. Watch out Rhett, you have some adorable competition for best character in the ISAN series.
Bottom Line Another pulse-pounding edition in this high-tech, sci-fi dystopian romantic adventure.
Disclaimer I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
About the Author International Bestselling, Award-Winning Author Mary Ting writes soulful, spellbinding stories that excite the imagination and captivate readers all over the world. Her books run a wide range of genres: science fiction, fantasy, and swoon worthy stories. Her storytelling talents have won her a devoted legion of fans and garnered critical praise.
Mary was born in Seoul Korea and resides in Southern California with her husband, two children, and two dogs—Mochi and Mocha. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Becoming an author was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother. After realizing she wanted to become a full-time author, she retired from teaching after twenty years.
Today is release day for ADAMANTINE, an adult scifi romance, by Rosie Weir. See below for information on the book, buy links, a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR, and an exclusive excerpt
Synopsis Deep in the Appalachian Mountains, a brilliant scientist and his daughter retreat from a catastrophic global plague. Worried for Molly’s future, James crafts the ultimate gift for his lonely little girl: A sentient AI charged with the task of protecting her and keeping her company in the event he is no longer able to do so. His creation, Will, is bestowed with an expansive intellect, superhuman strength, and a fierce protective streak. However, as year go by, Will’s feelings start to change from duty and service to something more.
At eighteen, Molly knows little of the world beyond a collection of grainy VHS classics. Life with Will and James is idyllic. But Will’s mission to protect involves keeping dangerous secrets, including some that could destroy the trust between them forever. Will struggles with the rigid self-discipline of his programming, versus turbulent, irrational feelings that grow stronger each day. True love can’t exist without honesty and risk; the two things Will has been programmed to control at all costs. But trouble is brewing outside their sheltered utopia, and ignorance might be a luxury neither of them can afford any longer.
From the primitive heights of the Appalachian Mountains to the revolutionary scientific breakthrough hidden within, Adamantine, a story of love, sacrifice, and sentience is scheduled to be released in June 2020.
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Excerpt Fatigue lines circled James Walkers eyes and forehead; dry canals of wrinkled flesh ran down the sides of his face. A flood of light washed over him, flickering ever so often. He found himself hissing at that inconvenience before resuming his examination. James spent months inspecting every piece of hardware and taking voice notes—he was ready to proceed.
“James Walker, Ph.D.,” he said into the recorder. “After meticulous examination that produced minor wins and fails, everything seems to be in order. The mechanism is responsive. I’m proceeding to the next step—implementation. Cooling systems have taken to the previous modifications, refer to doc-234. Internal examinations will continue intermittently.”
James clicked off the recorder and sighed. He walked across the room and paused inches from his destination, letting his eyes scan the table and its contents. The thin, silicone-based polymer suit reflected the soft light in the room. The project was close to completion and when he thought of what was at stake, the usual litany of questions and doubts arose. He scratched his stubble and pushed aside thoughts of consequence. He knew all too well that one wrong move might bring down his research like a flimsy deck of cards.
“Positivity doesn’t exist in the realm of fringe science, but you have to try,” he muttered under his breath. Those words fueled James, who focused on the most favorable outcome.
The augmented bio-hybrid suit had muscles, tendons, and ligaments designed to replicate the human body—an exact replica. He rolled the table close to the gurney then proceeded to couple the parts together. It took thirty minutes of concentrated effort to get the body sheathed. James took a step back and admired his masterpiece. It reminded him of a Renaissance anatomical painting he once saw in a museum. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips, but he wiped it away with the back of his hand. He attached a transfusion tube to the small glass cylinder filled with dense liquid. He injected the mixture into the body’s cervical vertebrae. Spider-like microscopic nanocells hurried down the spine and spread into the hybrid suit. The muscle tissues expanded and solidified over the impenetrable frame underneath.
James watched the process unfold. His heart beat in double time, eager to move to the next phase. The pulsating vibe in his ears synced with his anxiety. He ambled to a wall lined with metal cabinets and retrieved the synthetic skin from its compartment. At the table, he arranged them over the entire body like a giant jigsaw puzzle. He watched the panels of skin adhere to one another. His hands imprisoned within his pockets to resist the urge to touch. Soon, skin covered the mechanical suit and a man lay in its place. The transformation was a success.
Exhausted, James glanced at his watch and wondered if he should call it a night or continue to the next phase. Logic advised against that course of action, but the restless inventor needed to proceed. A tremor ran through his hand, a reminder of the imminent situation he was in. Time was no longer a commodity he could afford.
He shook off the reverie and began the final phase. He flipped a switch and waited.
James didn’t expect movement, so when the eyes fluttered, he was startled. Rapid eye movement meant the system transmitted the packets of data through a private server James created, which allowed limited access to a vast global network.
“William? Can you hear me?” James whispered. He moved closer to the table and repeated the question. The eyes continued to flutter for a moment, then flew open. Gracefully, the body sat up and surveyed the room. It—he—was trying to assess its surroundings.
“How do you feel?” James asked tentatively.
“William? Is that my name?” His deep voice resonated throughout the room. His eyes stopped on the bespectacled man in a dark green, cable knit sweater, who stood next to the table. He looked to be in his fifties with tired blue eyes and short, graying, brown hair.
“Yes. Your name is William. And my name is James. I am your creator.”
The AI tilted his head to the side. His dark brown eyes rose to meet James’. “You’re ill. You ha—”
“I-I know,” James interrupted. “Do you know what you are?”
Will held up his hands and flexed the digits. “Am I awake, or am I programmed to feel awake?”
James smiled and sat in a chair near the wall. Excitement welled up inside him. “The fact you even ask that question gives me hope that you are exactly what you’re meant to be.”
“I’m not human,” Will stated.
“No, you’re far more advanced. I was able to correlate specific patterns of the central nervous system with emotions and thought processes to create something beyond a program—an organism. You are the first AI ever to have this organism installed.”
They held each other’s gaze for a moment before James broke contact and continued.
“This evolutionary system will gradually alter and determine your choices based on the human interaction you experience throughout your life, much like a regular person. Over time—I’m not sure how long—but over time, you will start to engage in a more human-like behavior. You will continue to write code as a sentient being.”
Will canted his head and blinked rapidly. “I’ll be able to freely write my own code?”
“To a degree. There are restrictions, uh, goal-oriented programs. More specifically, there is a source code which will prevent you from accessing data that can alter or corrupt your program. Once certain milestones are crossed, you will have the ability to act upon your own thoughts and emotions.” James looked at Will and let out a deep sigh. The expunged breath formed a visible cloud over his face before it dissipated. “For the time being, I need you to remain here in the lab until I’m certain your program is fully functional and is safe enough.”
“Safe enough for what?” William asked.
James didn’t answer.
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Author Rosie Weir
About the Author Rosie Weir is an authoress by passion and now profession. She penned her first story at the age of 10 and has been writing ever since. Obsessed with science fiction, horror, and sometimes dark historical romances, her writing repertoire is wide-ranging and wildly diverse. On a quest to tell unconventional stories, human behavior and humanness are at the heart of all her literary works; stories that inspire readers to rethink and reshape their perspectives. When she’s not busy writing, she’s baking and chasing after a tiny, and rambunctious human.
Her debut novel, Adamantine, is scheduled to be released in June 2020 with The Champagne Book Group..
