Welcome to the blog tour for THE STARS FORGOT US, a standalone young adult paranormal suspense, by R.J. Garcia. See below for information on the book, buy links, my five-star review, and details on her giveaway.
THE STARS FORGOT US by R.J. Garcia
Synopsis Fifteen-year-old Jacob Kelly would love to go back to simpler times. Before his parents’ divorce and the onset of his brother’s Schizophrenia. But when he returns to his hometown, things feel off. After a series of strange occurrences, Jacob fears his new house is haunted or worse yet, he is losing his mind.
To his surprise, Jacob discovers a mysterious teenage runaway, Sanctuary Daniels, living in the house. She reveals she has been kept by a figure known only as Mother, in a place where downstairs children are languishing prisoners, and upstairs children do Mother’s bidding.
Jacob’s investigation into Sanctuary’s allegations, along with their budding romance, are cut short when she is reclaimed by evil beings. Beings who unleash terror upon Jacob and his family. Now he must journey to a real haunted house to save his first love and fight for his very life.
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My Review This was such a fun read! It starts off with a bang and just keeps going. Fifteen-year-old Jacob, his single mom, and his mentally ill older brother, Michael, move back to their hometown, and into a house that may or may not be haunted. The fact that Michael hears voices doesn’t help Jacob when he starts to hear a girl’s voice coming from inside his house. After all, schizophrenia can run in families. But it’s more than just voices with someone writing on the walls of his closet. Soon Jacob is seeing things, or someone specifically — Sanctuary (Ary) Daniels, the first girl he ever crushed on in middle school, who mysteriously disappeared before he moved away.
But nothing is as it seems. Ary tells a horrific tale of abuse at the hands of her foster mother, but she also tells obvious lies about how she ended up in his house, only making everything else she tells him suspect. But Jacob is drawn to her, and not just because she was his first crush. There’s something about her that makes him trust her more than not. And that’s when things get really interesting.
Plot The story flows really well and kept me turning the pages. Chapters are short and full of action and mystery that never stops coming. The romance is sweet and well done. The author does a masterful job of weaving in twists and turns that leaving you needing to know what happens next!
The Characters I love all the characters. They’re all so interesting and fun; like the kind of people you’d want to hang out with. You know, without all the dangerous stuff happening on-page. Jacob is sweet, Michael is multi-faceted, their mom acts like you’d expect a mom of teen boys to behave — I cannot overstate how rare that is in YA. Ary is by far the most intriguing character, with good reason, which I will not spoil for you.
Top Five Things I Loved About THE STARS FORGOT US 1. Jacob. He has his flaws, but he’s one of the good ones.
2. Twists. Just when you think you have it all figured out, you realize you have no idea what’s going to happen next.
3. Lucas. Jacob’s cousin, and one of his best childhood friends, is deeply layered. He kept me guessing on what his angle really was.
4. Pacing. The story moved at a perfect pace, keeping my interest throughout.
5. Ary. Her sweet innocence and complex nature made her an enigma that was a fun change from many YA love interests.
Bottom Line Fun fast read with excellent pacing and wonderful characters! This makes me want to read more by R.J. Garcia.
Disclaimer
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: THE STARS FORGOT US Author: R.J. Garcia Publisher: Midnight Tide Publishing Release Date: March 30, 2022 Pages: 298 Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Suspense Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT | Amazon FR
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Author by R.J. Garcia
About the Author R.J. Garcia is a wife and proud mom. She earned her MSW and worked with foster children and as a school social worker. Writing has been her other great love. She has published several non-fiction pieces. She has been writing short-stories for as long as she can remember. To her amazement, those short stories became novels!
Welcome to the blog tour for MORDIZAN, the second book in the young adult fantasy series, The Wraithwood Trilogy, by Alyssa Roat. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
MORDIZAN (The Wraithwood Trilogy #2) by Alyssa Roat
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: MORDIZAN Series: The Wraithwood Trilogy #2 Author: Alyssa Roat Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink Release Date: March 15, 2022 Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT | Amazon FR
Synopsis The bane of Mordred, the son of Mordizan, and a millennia-old prophecy—together they may provide what Brinnie needs to defeat the world of magic’s greatest threat.
More than a year has passed since Brinnie left Wraithwood, never expecting to see it again. But when Mordred captures her sister, she is thrust back into the world of magic. She flees to Wraithwood, where she learns of a prophecy located in the dark wizard capital of Mordizan that reveals the identity of “Mordred’s bane,” something that could destroy Mordred for good.
Brinnie agrees to a rendezvous with Mordred to exchange herself for her sister, going undercover at Mordizan as a spy to find the prophecy and Mordred’s bane. There, she weaves a complicated web of secrets, lies, and tenuous friendships. She makes an unexpected ally in Marcus Vorath, son of the Master of Mordizan, who fears the implications of Mordred’s growing power. But in Mordizan, friends and foes may be one and the same.
In the midst of court intrigue, battle, ominous new depths to her power, and searching for Mordred’s bane, Brinnie struggles to draw the lines. How far is she willing to go to destroy Mordred? And how much of herself is she willing to give up along the way?
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Excerpt #2 Crunching dirt gave way to rough stone as Brinnie stepped onto the bridge. The stream burbled beneath her, leaves twirling in the eddies, the woods serene.
The calm before the storm.
Brinnie fixed her eyes ahead. As she reached the middle of the bridge, she felt something like a ripple.
Where trees had once lined a dirt path on the other side of the bridge, a grassy plain stretched before her. In the distance, a stocky castle of the same stone as the bridge rose on the top of a hill, pennants flying from the battlements. Brinnie could just make out forms stationed on the wall. Ringing the castle from a safe distance were the tents of an enemy.
And in front of her, a guard station squatted at the other end of the bridge, manned by two sentinels in black and red livery.
Welcome to the dimension of magic. It appeared not much had changed in the past millennium. She was completely out of her depth. What did she know about any of this? Her heart beat faster.
“Halt.” The two sentinels lowered their spears.
She put her hands in the air, not moving from the center of the bridge. “I’m here to see Mordred.”
“Are you the shadowmaster?” the one on her left called.
“Yes.”
“Prove it,” the other growled.
Hands shaking, she drew shadows to her and let them swirl into her hand, an eddy of darkness.
The first nodded and gestured toward their end of the bridge. “This way.”
Brinnie remained firmly in place. “Please tell Mordred that I’ll meet him here. And tell him to bring his prisoners for the trade.”
The first man laughed. “You didn’t think it would be that easy, did you?”
Leaves rustled behind her. She whirled to see six armed men emerge from the trees, two dropping from branches above.
Her heart pounded. A trap. They’d watched her approach. For how long? Did they know Uncle Merlin was here?
She forced her voice not to waver. “I was told this would be a peaceful exchange.”
The sentinel stepped forward. “You were told wrong.”
Brinnie backed away, arms out. She felt the shadows dappling the bridge around her beginning to stir. Good. She felt the ripple again—she’d backed out of the Alternate, but now, she could still see the landscape of that dimension. Evidently, once crossed, the Alternate became clear. Also good. The plan could still work. “You don’t want to do this,” she warned.
Her words went ignored. The men behind her strode forward, and the sentinels in front of her approached.
A hair-raising howl floated through the trees from outside the circle of men. The soldiers exclaimed as a dozen shadow wolves broke from the forest and wove between them to surround Brinnie in a circle, facing outward and growling.
She patted one with relief. Thanks, guys.
“Still have your little pets, I see.” The familiar voice sent chills up her spine.
Brinnie turned back toward the guardhouse. The sentinels stepped aside to let a tall figure pass. His black robes rippled, like some gaunt, dark priest. “Brynna Ludovic. A pleasure.”
The wolves snarled.
“Mordred.” She gestured to the men encircling her. “What is this?”
“A misunderstanding, I believe.” He glared at the sentinel on his right. “Under whose orders have you accosted my guest?”
The man shrank away. “Master Vorath’s, sir.”
“Does he so fear a young girl that he would send half an army against her?”
The two sentinels exchanged nervous glances. “No, sir, but a shadowmaster—”
“So he fears one wizard?” Mordred’s gaze bored into him. “I didn’t take Vorath for a coward.” He waved a hand at the men advancing on Brinnie. “Dismissed.”
The soldiers stepped back, fading into the forest once more.
As they dispersed, Mordred smiled at her, revealing too-white teeth. “What would Arthur have thought if he knew that his line would give rise to a mistress of shadows?”
About the Author Alyssa Roat grew up in Tucson, Arizona, but her heart is in Great Britain. She has worked in a wide variety of roles within the publishing industry as an agent, editor, writer, and publicist. With 250+ bylines and 9+ books under contract in genres ranging from YA chat fiction to fantasy to sweet adult romance, you could say she dabbles in a bit of everything. Her name is a pun, which means you can learn more about her at www.alyssawrote.com or on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook as @alyssawrote.
Monster House Books and author Christina Bauer are revealing the cover to GAGE, the eighth book in the young adult fantasy/paranormal romance series, Angelbound Offspring, releasing June 16, 2022. See below for the cover, information on the book and series, preorder links, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
GAGE (Angelbound Offspring Series #8) by Christina Bauer
Synopsis Gage runs the L’Griffe, AKA the dragon shifter mafia on Earth. Since the human realm has no supernatural police, the L’Griffe do more than loan money or sell contraband. When it comes to dragon shifters, the L’Griffe are the law. And Gage isn’t the only sheriff in town, either. Other secret groups have their own gangs, including ghouls, demons, and everything in between. It’s an awkward balance, but it works.
Until the demons consolidate into the Horde. This alliance plans to take over Earth, and that’s just for starters.
Now Gage must build his own connections to fight this new threat. Fortunately, Gage’s true love, Huntress, comes from a family of superhuman warriors. All of them agree to team up and put down the Horde. Success seems just around the corner.
Then the truth becomes clear.
Thanks to magical cloning, the Horde is led by an old enemy of Huntress’ family—one that everyone thought had been destroyed forever. Now their archnemesis is back and more powerful than anyone could have imagined.
Looks like defeating these demons may also destroy Gage, Huntress, and everyone they love.
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Don’t miss the exciting conclusion to the Angelbound Offspring Series!
“An action-packed series full of adventures, romance and fun! If you want a fantasy world with sexy times, this series is for you.” -Rosee Reads
ANGELBOUND OFFSPRING
1. Maxon
2. Portia
3. Zinnia
4. Rhodes
5. Kaps
6. Mack
7. Huntress
8. Gage
* This is a completed series.
Perfect for teen and young adult readers who want their book series to deliver: badass world building, angels, demons, paranormal romance, fresh themes from contemporary fiction, LOL romantic comedy, gods and goddesses, dark fantasy, strong girls and women as heroines, themes about loners and outcasts, the best laughs in humorous literature, general coming of age whackery, and (most importantly) truly unusual epic fantasy.
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About the Author Christina Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too.
Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.
Be the first to know about new releases from Christina by signing up for her newsletter.
Welcome to the cover reveal for THE MAGI MANIFESTO, the second book in the young adult/new historical adult fantasy series, The Magi Menagerie, by Kale Lawrence, releasing December 13, 2022. See below for the cover, information on the book and series, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
THE MAGI MANIFESTO (The Magi Menagerie Series #2) by Kale Lawrence
About the Book
Title: THE MAGI MANIFESTO Series: The Magi Menagerie Series #2 Author: Kale Lawrence Publisher: EnchantFire Release Date: December 13, 2022 Genre: Young Adult/New Adult Historical Fantasy Links:Goodreads
Synopsis After the true power of the Tablet of Destinies is revealed, Ezra grapples with the horrors of the night that changed everything. Haunted by the monster who claimed his father’s life, Ezra is determined to see his promise through and become a Magus. But when the Third Order of the Magi have him arrested for crimes he has yet to commit, Ezra is willing to do whatever it takes to prove himself, even if it means going after the very force that terrorises his dreams.
But there’s more at stake than the Magi realise and major risks must be taken to settle the score. Desperate to stop the Legerdemain Brotherhood from claiming infinite power, Jonas must lead a team into the heart of enemy territory and dismantle the Brotherhood from the inside. Can Ezra and Jonas successfully stop the Legerdemain from ushering in a new era of terror? Or will yet another unlikely foe rise from the deep?
About the Author Since the early age of 6, Kale Lawrence knew she either wanted to be an astronaut or an author. Obviously, the astronaut gig didn’t work out, so instead, Kale turned to fantastic fictional worlds. When Kale is not writing creatively, she works as a Marketing Manager at a pet product company, and pretends she’s an Olympic swimmer at the gym. She has also served as a board member for the South Dakota Writes organization.
In addition to books, Kale has lent her writing prowess to television, and her writing has been featured on nationwide PBS television programming, NBC newscasts, ABC newscasts, and the Travel Channel.
Kale currently lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with her feisty tortoiseshell calico cat, Emma Bug and sassy Siamese, Seattle Bean.
Author J.H. Dark is unveiling the cover to FROM CROWN TO BLADE, a the first book in the young adult/new adult fantasy series, Crown & Blade, releasing December 31, 2022. See below for the cover, information on the book, preorder links, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
FROM CROWN TO BLADE (Crown & Blade Series #1) by J.H. Dark
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: FROM CROWN TO BLADE Series: Crown & Blade Series #1 Author: R.J. Garcia Release Date: December 31, 2022 Genre: Young Adult/New Adult Fantasy Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT | Amazon FR
Synopsis Twin sisters. One destined to rule; the other destined to fight. A quest that will destroy the fabric of magic.
Princess Naomi, the rightful heir of Wildbriar, learned at a very young age she must neglect her heart in favor of duty, even as she jealously watches her twin sister, Nayeli, do as she pleases.
But the seemingly carefree Princess Nayeli, the King’s Champion, has duties of her own. Despite her passion for training with the soldiers, Nayeli nonetheless dreads the day she’ll become Commander of Naomi’s army and be forced to uphold their father’s legacy—to protect Wildbriar from the war currently raging between three powerful kingdoms on the other side of the continent.
During their eighteenth birthday celebration, the castle is attacked by unknown rogues—and Naomi is poisoned.
In view of her sister’s perilous condition, Nayeli sets her sights on the deadly Mist Isle to find a rare ingredient for the antidote that will save Naomi’s life—and the life of their dear kingdom.
For if Naomi dies, so does her unique magic, the one power that feels and feeds the land.
While Nayeli undertakes her dangerous quest, Naomi becomes a prisoner inside her own body. Yet, the coma that overtakes her doesn’t steal her powers, and with those she discovers the assault on them is just one small piece of a much bigger puzzle.
That the war isn’t as far away as it seems.
And that Wildbriar may be lost—with or without her.
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Author J.H. Dark
About the Author JH Dark is the pen name of a USA Today Bestseller author. As JH Dark, she writes fantasy with strong women, dreamy heroes, and endless adventure and action. Her passion for books started when she was very little, and her first novel was penned at only thirteen years old. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, two kids, and way too many books!
Author R.J. Garcia is unveiling the cover to THE STARS FORGOT US, a standalone young adult paranormal suspense, releasing March 30, 2022. See below for the cover, information on the book, preorder links, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
Synopsis Fifteen-year-old Jacob Kelly would love to go back to simpler times. Before his parents’ divorce and the onset of his brother’s Schizophrenia. But when he returns to his hometown, things feel off. After a series of strange occurrences, Jacob fears his new house is haunted or worse, yet he is losing his mind.
To his surprise, Jacob discovers a mysterious teenage runaway, Sanctuary Daniels, living in the house. She reveals she has been kept by a figure known only as Mother, in a place where downstairs children are languishing prisoners, and upstairs children do Mother’s bidding.
Jacob’s investigation into Sanctuary’s allegations, along with their budding romance, are cut short when she is reclaimed by evil beings. Beings who unleash terror upon Jacob and his family. Now he must journey to a real haunted house to save his first love and fight for his very life.
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THE STARS FORGOT US by R.J. Garcia (Full Cover)
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Author by R.J. Garcia
About the Author R.J. Garcia is a wife and proud mom. She earned her MSW and worked with foster children and as a school social worker. Writing has been her other great love. She has published several non-fiction pieces. She has been writing short-stories for as long as she can remember. To her amazement, those short stories became novels!
Welcome to the blog tour for ANGELFIRE, the fifth book in the young adult fantasy/romance series, Angelbound Lincoln, by Christina Bauer. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
ANGELFIRE (Angelbound Lincoln Series #5) by Christina Bauer
Synopsis “Angels, demons and romance… YES!” – C.S., Amazon
“So addicting! Highly recommend!” – Diary Of A Wannabe Writer
“I. LOVE. LINCOLN.” – Antonella’s Book World
Someone is making life hell for our favorite royal couple, Lincoln and Myla. Natural disasters have the after-realms falling apart. Humans are going to war left and right. And the hottest couple ever can’t find two minutes alone. Sheesh.
The problem? Lincoln’s evil brother.
Yes, you read that right. Brother.
Turns out, Lincoln’s father was a busy guy in his youth… and now Connor’s secret son, Truman, wants his share of the throne. Even worse, Truman is as awful as Lincoln is noble. When it comes to claiming royal power, nothing stands in Truman’s way. Sure, Lincoln is tied by angelic blood to his half brother. But will that connection link them together… or ultimately tear the after-realms apart?
Angelbound Lincoln Series
Stories from the perspective of Mister the Prince
1. Duty Bound
2. Lincoln
3. Trickster
4. Baculum
5. Angelfire
Perfect for teen and young adult readers who want their book series to deliver: badass world building, angels, demons, paranormal romance, fresh themes from contemporary fiction, LOL romantic comedy, gods and goddesses, dark fantasy, strong girls and women as heroines, themes about loners and outcasts, the best laughs in humorous literature, general coming of age whackery, and (most importantly) truly unusual epic fantasy.
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Excerpt
LINCOLN
AGE TWENTY-ONE
I am one man with many titles.
Some call me King of the demon-fighting Thrax. To others, I’m Husband and Consort to Myla Lewis, the Great Scala. More than once, I’ve been celebrated as the Greatest Warrior in Antrum, which is my homeland hidden deep below the Earth’s surface.
Yet the finest title of all will soon be mine.
Dad.
Myla is heavy with our first child. Humans might say we’re too young to be parents. But we thrax fight demons on the Earth’s surface. My people know that life can end quickly—and if you anger the wrong monster, it most certainly will—so we marry early and start families fast. And as Myla would say, if you make yourself happy, at least that’s one person.
For this momentous occasion, I carry my wife to the Arx Hall infirmary, honeymoon-style. Together, we move through a section of the palace called the Gilded Abbey. This hallway always gleams, from the golden murals on the ceiling to the shiny tiled floor. But today? Every inch seems especially bright. And with each step forward, more adrenaline and excitement course through me.
This is really happening.
“I can walk on my own, you know,” snarks Myla. “As I’ve said many times.”
“Not a chance,” I counter. “You know how humans transport their brides over the threshold? The King of Antrum must always carry his pregnant queen to medical care in the same manner. It’s a thrax tradition.”
Myla shoots me the side-eye. “Thrax tradition, my ass. You just made that up.”
I wink. “Absolutely. Call it royal prerogative.”
“You’re a fibber.”
“And you are beautiful.”
Which she is. My wife is extra-curvy now, a look that only enhances her long auburn hair, bright blue eyes, and whip-fast tail.
Myla pretends to size me up. “You’re… okay. I guess.” I’m tall and broad-shouldered with short brown hair and mismatched eyes.
“You think I’m crazy-hot. Don’t deny it.”
Now, it’s Myla’s turn to wink. “Maybe.”
At this point, Myla’s tail comes out to ruffle my hair—which is its way of saying, I love Lincoln.
“Maybe, huh?” I grin. “Another part of you seems to disagree.”
“Ugh.” Myla rolls her eyes. “My tail is such a traitor.”
In reply, her tail bobs up and down. It’s literally dancing with joy over the idea of having bested Myla. Such a character.
Myla cuddles against my shoulder. My wife may talk about hoofing it to the infirmary, but on this occasion, she clearly likes being carried. And it’s no problem for me to do so. I’m used to toting about heavy chain mail and tunics in my everyday outfit as king. Myla is far lighter by comparison. Today, we’ve both jettisoned medieval styles for dark cotton pants and T-shirts.
“How long?” asks Myla.
It’s a short question, but I get the full meaning. How long since my last contraction?
“Two hours,” I reply.
We both know what that means. Our doctor explained everything when Myla’s first became very pregnant, very quickly. The experience is what I’d call surprising, but not a shock. After all, Myla and I are both supernatural. There’s no rule book for how our offspring should grow. Right after her belly rounded out, Myla felt some contractions, but those soon ended.
The doctor estimates that a few weeks remain before the baby’s born. However, our physician also wants to check Myla out in a more formal setting, just to be sure.
Which brings us to the present moment. Myla and I have changed clothes, freshened up, and are now on our way to the infirmary…
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About the Author Christina Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too.
Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.
Be the first to know about new releases from Christina by signing up for her newsletter.
Welcome to the book blitz for THE CASSANDRA CURSE, a standalone middle grade paranormal fantasy, by Hope Bolinger. See below for information on the book, buy links, and exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Charity’s acts of kindness always end in disaster, but when one clown costume too many lands her in the Vice Principal’s office, she receives a mysterious note from a group called “The Cassandra Coalition,” asking her if she wants to be rid of the curse that seems to follow her.
The teens of the coalition claim to be cursed by a mirror world connected with their hometown known as Delphos. To make things worse, Delphos appears to be invading their world and turning people into zombies—either that, or someone switched all the coffee to decaf.
When one of their members goes missing, they’ll try to track her down, close the portal to their world, and find a way to end their curse, before the curse ends them.
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Excerpt #2 Can I adopt this feisty unicorn of a grandma, please?
“That’s awful,” Io agreed as her grandmother placed the triangle on a half-done quilt and scooted back her chair. “It’s not even snowing that hard.”
Grandma grunted as she rose and reached for her cardigan draped on the chair. She threw it over her shoulders. Paused. “Io, dear, do you know what the opposite of love is?”
Io rubbed her bare fingertips on a navy triangle of fabric. She froze. No doubt, she’d had a hard time adjusting to the ‘no touching rule’. Charity thought back to their kitchen hug.
“That’s easy, Grandma. The opposite of love is hate.”
“No.”
Grandma raised a finger and jabbed it toward the ceiling. The white popcorn pattern had a few water stains that formed indiscernible shapes.
“The opposite of love isn’t hate. It’s apathy.” She squinted at Io and then the other two. “Not caring, indifference, whatever you want to call it. It makes you tired, lethargic, unaware of the pain of others. It can take a kind old woman and keep her at home, instead of helping to make a blanket for a family without a home.”
Remnants of the Big Sad surged back into Charity. Apathy, the word had a horrible touch of the familiar.
Is that what happened to me when Dad left?
Hadn’t the Big Sad clutched her back at the park? How the gray atmosphere had forced her eyelids near-shut and calves to trudge forward.
If she remembered right, the Big Sad acted fast and without mercy. What if the same thing was happening with the curse?
Let’s hope Cassandra gets us another clue, and fast.
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Author Hope Bolinger
About C.A. Rene Hope Bolinger is literary agent, freelance author and editor, YA novelist, and obsessed with anything to do with theater.
Books include The Quiet and the Storm (Taylor University Press), Blaze (IlluminateYA), Den (IlluminateYA), Dear Hero (INtense Publications), and Dear Henchman (INtense Publications). She’s also contributed to books that were published by Broadstreet Publishing and New Hope.
When she isn’t busy adding to her 600+ bylines, or showing up in her town square dressed as Red Riding Hood, she loves to connect with readers. Find her at hopebolinger.com or connect with her @hopebolinger
Author Ariella Moon is revealing the cover to THE VIKING MIST, the second book in the young adult fantasy trilogy, The Two Realms, releasing March 2, 2022. See below for the cover, information on the book and series, and a link to add it your Goodreads TBR.
THE VIKING MIST (The Two Realms Trilogy #2) by Ariella Moon
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited
Title: THE VIKING MIST Series: The Two Realms Trilogy #2 Authors: Ariella Moon Publisher: Star Tribe Publishing Release Date: March 2, 2022 Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Links:Goodreads
Synopsis When a fairy kills a fairy, they forfeit immortality.
Never over three centuries, since the Last Fairy King was assassinated, has a noble fay been murdered in Fairy…until now.
The mysterious murder leads to an astounding discovery. Mab, Queen of Fairy, accuses Talfryn’s parents of stealing an elixir that restores immortality. She holds his fay father hostage, forcing the Halfling to enter the Viking realm to retrieve the potion.
Talfryn has five days to navigate the world of lethal Cold Iron, locate the human mother he has never known, and recover the elixir that could mask the murderer — a quest he cannot survive without aid from Fenella. Will the Thaness of Thorburn honor their alliance, knowing the venture would jeopardize her freedom and second chance at love?
In 16th century Scotland, Fenella believes Talfryn is dead. Her covert plan to regain her thanedom and safeguard her life hinges on marrying her kidnapper’s son…for love. With weeks until their wedding, she can ill afford to break Edward’s trust, or his heart…again.
Will love be lost…or found?
In this sequel to The Beltane Escape, shape-shifters and secrets abound, time bends, fates interweave, friendships fray, and no one is safe.
About the Author Ariella Moon draws upon her experiences as a shaman to create magical Young Adult fiction. Her series include The Two Realms Trilogy, a medieval Scotland and Fairy fantasy romance, Two Realms Novellas, origin stories of characters and magic in the Two Realms, and The Teen Wytche Saga, a series of sweet contemporary paranormal romances. Ariella’s “Covert Hearts” appears in Second Chances: A Romance Writers of America Collection. She lives a nearly normal life doting on her extraordinary daughter, two shamelessly spoiled dogs, and a media-shy dragon.
Welcome to the book blitz for THE LIARS BENEATH, a standalone young adult romantic thriller, by Heather Van Fleet. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Synopsis A romantically dark YA thriller set in the backdrop of Iowa’s suspenseful farmlands.
After a tragic accident ends her best friend’s life, 17-year-old Becca Thompson succumbs to grief the only way she knows how: by wallowing in it. She’s a fragment of the person she once was—far too broken to enjoy the summer before her senior year. But when Ben McCain, her best friend’s older brother, returns home, Becca must face her new reality head on.
She isn’t interested in Ben’s games, especially since he abandoned his sister during the months leading up to her death. But when he begs for her help in uncovering the truth about what really happened the night of his sister’s death, Becca finds herself agreeing, hoping to clear up rumors swirling in the wake of her best friend’s accident.
An unhinged ex-boyfriend, secret bucket lists, and garage parties in the place Becca calls home soon lead her to the answers she’s so desperate to unveil. But nobody is being honest, not even Ben. And the closer Becca gets to the truth—and to Ben—the more danger seems to surround her.
Clearing her best friend’s name was all she wanted to do, but Becca is quickly realizing that the truth she craves might be uglier than the lies her best friend kept..
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Excerpt It was almost midnight when I heard the knock against my window. Three soft and consecutive thuds, all of which match the beat of my heart. Why he chose that way to get my attention instead of texting, is a mystery. The kind of mystery I was way too amped up to question.
I wasn’t excited in the sense that I like him and want to spend time with him or anything. At least that’s what I told my racing heart when I first saw his smile from the other side of the glass. He’d been crouched on his belly on the roof of our porch like a stealthy spy, and the sight was something I’d never forget.
I’d thrown a hoodie on over the Tee I’m dressed in, pairing it with some denim cutoffs. Then I tossed my hair up into a messy bun and slid on some cherry Chapstick—but only because my lips were chapped. That’s it. No other reason whatsoever.
Once my Docs were on, I slid out my window and met him head on, the two of us jumping the five feet off the low hanging roof. I’d giggled uncontrollably when he landed on his butt instead of his feet, and he’d nearly pulled me down with him when he tried grabbing my laces. That would be the last time I’d ever not tie my boots.
“Guess what?” he whispered when we started to walk away from the house. “I researched your family tree today and found out that you, Becca, are the biggest sap.” He ended that statement with a tap to my nose. My freaking nose, for God’s sake.
He’d booped me.
My response—one which had been paired with a hard thump to his equally as hard abdomen: “You’re so dumb, you planted a dogwood tree and expected a litter of puppies.”
We both laughed at how stupid we sounded, yet at the same time it felt good to just be goofy. Or dare I say, normal. Though that word—normal—was a bit of a stretch when it came to the two of us anymore.
After that, Ben took my hand like it was the most natural thing in the world and proceeded to lead me to where we are now: the middle of the cornfield.
I trail my fingers over the silky corn stalks, marveling at their height and the way the midnight moon reflects off the green color. Nothing about this spot eases my frazzled nerves, of course. It doesn’t give me peace of mind like it once had when I’d come out here with Rose either. It’s kind of like the alcove in that sense—a spot tainted by a bad memory, despite the many good memories trying to override it.
Ben moves closer, our shoulders brushing.
“What are you thinking about?” he asks.
“Stuff.” That no longer matters. A time and a place and a memory that’s long past.
“Rose said you guys used to hang out here a lot.”
I shrugged one shoulder, unwilling to indulge in what happened the last time she and I had been out here. It’s not a huge thing, smoking weed and all, but for some reason, I don’t want Ben to know that it’d been my bucket list item, not Rose’s. It shows my age—how I’d been so young and inexperienced.
Not that I care what he thinks.
“It’s nice,” he continues. “Quiet too. I can see why you liked it.”
“We did some of our best thinking out here.” Thinking that was more along the lines of Rose smoking joints, while I stood by to keep watch.
“Hmm.” He nods, kicks the toe of his foot into the dirt. “I’m gonna go to that party on Saturday,” he tells me out of the blue.
I frown. “You think that’s smart after beating up Adam like you did?”
“Yup.”
“Why?”
“Because Adam’s gonna be there.” He looks away, but I don’t miss the flex of his jaw—not even in the dark. “I don’t trust the guy.”
I turn him around by the shoulders, forcing him to stand in front of me. “What’s there not to trust, exactly?”
“Lots of things.”
“Like what?”
“I’ve got facts that need exploring.” His lips purse.
“Yeah.” I roll my eyes. “Because you’re suddenly a detective now. I forgot.”
Adam wouldn’t hurt a puppy, let alone be behind Rose’s death. He used to talk big, but his love for my best friend was endless. Without a doubt, I know that’s who her secret boyfriend was. I just don’t get why they never went public.
“I’m more of a private eye, actually.” He covers one eye and curls the corner of his upper lip, making an argh noise.
“That’s a pirate, not a private eye, dork.”
“Either way, they’re both sneaky, right?”
I sigh, wondering if he’s always been this weird. Cocky, a smartass, and a huge instigator—that’s Ben. Not funny.
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Author Heather Van Fleet
About the Author Heather Van Fleet is a stay-at-home-mom turned book boyfriend connoisseur. She’s married to her high school sweetheart, a mom to three girls, and in her spare time you can find her with her head buried in her Kindle, guzzling down copious amounts of coffee.
Heather graduated from Black Hawk College in 2003 and currently writes Adult contemporary romance. She is published through Sourcebooks Casablanca with her Reckless Hearts series and Bookouture with her Red Dragon series.
Welcome to the book blitz for THE OTHER BROTHER, a standalone young adult/new adult contemporary LGBTQ+ romance, by Jax Calder. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
THE OTHER BROTHER by Jax Calder
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited
Title: THE OTHER BROTHER Authors: Jax Calder Release Date: January 12, 2022 Genre: Young Adult/New Adult Contemporary LGBTQ+ Romance Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT | Amazon FR
Synopsis What happens when you fall for the one person you can’t have?
Ryan has had seventeen years of being compared to Cody, part of his toxic fractured family, so you’ll forgive him for some epic eye-rolling when it comes to Mr Perfect. Although not related to him by blood, Cody has always been annoying background noise in Ryan’s life. It doesn’t help that Cody’s a high achieving musician, while Ryan’s life ambition doesn’t extend past catching the next wave.
One summer changes everything. It’s the summer when circumstances collide, and Cody and Ryan end up spending time together at Cody’s family’s beach house. It’s the summer Ryan teaches Cody to surf and Cody teaches Ryan to play guitar. It’s the summer when they become friends.
And then more than friends.
But when summer ends, Cody and Ryan are forced back to reality, where they must hide their relationship from their warring family members. And as tragedy strikes and family secrets buried deep in the past worm their way to the surface, their relationship is threatened. Can their feelings, which began in the summer sun, survive the winter ahead?
Note: This coming-of-age story contains sexual content.
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Excerpt #2 The waves are dumpier today and Cody struggles. He curses as he falls off again.
“I just can’t find the right rhythm,” he complains. His hair is plastered to his skull, water slicking off his wetsuit. He walks a few steps to where I’m waiting for him so we can paddle back out together.
“Sometimes you’ve got to stop analyzing and just feel it,” I say.
“Feel the ocean?” He looks at me like I’ve lost my mind.
Which maybe I have. It’s starting to feel that way, at least when it comes to Cody. But I still stumble on. “Don’t you ever get that in music? Like, when you get to the point where you stop thinking about technique and worrying about being perfect and just go with your feelings?”
“Yeah, all the time,” Cody says as we brace for another wave. “I mean, you can be completely technically correct, but if you don’t get what the music is about, the feeling you’re trying to portray, then it comes out all robotic.”
“It’s the same out here. Stop worrying so much about getting it right and just feel it.”
Cody raises his eyebrow as we jump on our boards, but I can see his normal look of Cody concentration come over his face as he paddles out next to me. We turn around to face the beach, a few feet from each other. I keep one eye out over my shoulder, evaluating the approaching waves.
“Here comes a good one,” I call to him.
He nods and paddles frantically to build his momentum.
“Go, go!” I yell as the wave swell lifts me up, then leaves me behind as it barrels on toward the shore.
I give a whoop when I see the wave break, and Cody’s still there riding it. He pulls out just before the shallow water and gives me a thumbs-up.
Now it’s my turn to catch one, and somehow it’s an even sweeter ride than before.
After another half hour, Cody and I signal each other, and I catch a last wave in to meet him.
Cody waits in ankle-deep water for me. He runs a hand through his hair, shaking out the water.
“Strangely, what you said out there made sense,” he says as we start our trek home through the sand dunes, sand caking our feet like another layer of skin. “It’s like the difference of treating surfing as an art versus a science.”
I roll my eyes as I hitch my surfboard up under my arm. “Only you could turn this into a philosophy thing. You just had to stop worrying about being perfect.”
“You’re telling me I’m not perfect?” He throws me a grin, his tone teasing.
“I’m telling you that when you stop trying to be perfect and just feel, you’re better than perfect.”
I walk for another few feet before I realize Cody has stopped and I’ve left him behind. I slow down and turn back to face him.
He’s still standing on the path, staring at me, eyes wide.
I replay my words, and my shoulders stiffen, my cheeks heating.
We stare at each other for a few heartbeats.
“And you claim I’m the philosopher,” he says finally, starting to walk again, taking long strides to catch up with me.
We reach the house.
“Wetsuit off, right?” This has to be one of my favorite bits about surfing now. Cody in a wetsuit is one thing, but Cody in only board shorts is a whole other dimension of awesomeness.
“Right.”
I strip down: the wetsuit releasing my skin in a loud slurp.
Cody strips down too, showing off his tanned skin and taut muscles. He grabs the hose, a smile licking at his lips as he turns toward me.
I recognize the look of calculation on his face… because it’s normally on mine. I narrow my eyes. “Do it and die.”
He tilts his head. “Nah, see, I’m now approaching all situations with the question, What would Ryan do? And I’m sure if you had the hose, you would do this.” He lifts the nozzle up and sprays the water at me.
The blast of cold is a shock to my skin, causing instant goose bumps.
“I can’t believe you just did that,” I splutter.
“Payback’s a bitch.” Cody’s still grinning at me.
His grin fades slightly as I stalk toward him.
He lifts the hose and sprays me again, but I brace myself for the cold and don’t let it deter me from my mission. Which is to grab him and try to wrestle the hose off him.
Cody doesn’t relent, and so we scuffle. I use my superior weight to pin him against the side of the house. He stretches out his arm, holding the hose as far away as he can, but I clamp down on his hand. I try to twist the hose out of his grasp, but his fingers cling on.
“Let go of the hose.”
“Never,” he replies. His breath is coming hard and fast. Mine is too.
Our chests are pressed together, and his face is so close to mine I can see a scattering of faint freckles across his nose. My heart rate picks up to match my breathing. I’m sure he feels the frantic thumping where our skin touches, an up-tempo beat.
I drop my gaze down to his mouth for a second, which is a mistake because now all I can think about is kissing him. About how it would feel to have his red, slightly chapped lips pressed against mine. My mouth goes dry.
When I flick my gaze back up to his, Cody’s eyes are wide, his smile dimming as we stare at each other. I can’t escape the intensity of his blue eyes. I don’t want to escape it.
I stay pressed against him, feeling his chest heaving against mine, trapped in his gaze.
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Author Jax Calder
About the Author Jax’s stories are all about light-hearted conversations and deeply-felt connections. She loves exploring exactly why two characters are the only ones who’ll make the other truly happy, and the journey they take to reach their happily-ever-after.
Jax lives in New Zealand and is a rabid sports fan, a hiking enthusiast and has a slightly unhealthy addiction to nature documentaries. As an extrovert who spends way too much time in her own head, she loves to connect with readers. Join her Facebook group Jax’s Crew (www.facebook.com/groups/jaxcaldercrew) for bonus stories plus exclusive excerpts from her upcoming books.
Welcome to the book blitz for TWO TRUTHS AND ONE LIAR, the first book in the young adult mystery/thriller series, High School Murder Mystery, by Deirdre Riordan Hall. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
TWO TRUTHS AND ONE LIAR (High School Murder Mystery Series #1) by Deirdre Riordan Hall
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited
Title: TWO TRUTHS AND ONE LIAR Series: High School Murder Mystery Series #1 Authors: Deirdre Riordan Hall Release Date: December 28, 2021 Genre: Young Adult Mystery/Thriller Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT | Amazon FR
Synopsis Knives Out meets One of Us is Lying with a hint of the Inheritance Games. Like the original whodunnit, Clue, this suspenseful mystery also has three possible endings explaining what could have happened.
They all have secrets. They all have motives. They all tell lies.
Every year, at a prestigious boarding school, Professor Groff hosts the Midnight Masquerade. But this year, before the festivities, he’s discovered dead in his office. Yet six students still receive invitations. The same six students who’re questioned about his murder.
The show must go on. At the Masquerade, two additional students claim to know the truth. The lights go out and when they come back on, one of them is dead. Anyone could’ve been at fault.
Francisca blind in one eye and deadly on the rugby field. Toshi a number ninja and the campus punching bag. Taz who struggles with anxiety and lingers in the shadows. Fish the golden boy hiding wounds and not only in his heart. Caroline the heiress and the image of perfection. Gorgeous George the resident Greek God with nothing to lose.
The six receive anonymous notes, making them question themselves and the assumptions they’ve made about each other. Brought back together, they must prove their innocence before the all-school meeting the next morning, otherwise, they risk humiliation if their secrets are exposed exposed—and worse, if they’re found guilty.
It’s a long night of theft, danger, and threats by a secret society that shows Professor Groff was right during his final lecture.
Everything that can go wrong will.
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Excerpt #2 Dean Hammond straightens a stack of papers then looks up. With a severe lift to her eyebrow, she scans those of us present, and then says, “Oliver Groff was found dead in his office at 3:22 pm, shortly after his last class of the day.”
A weight in my stomach sinks just as it did when Arpad made the announcement in the dining hall. Questions roll through my mind and collide when the realization hits me full force. He was alive, teaching earlier today, making dire pronouncements about how basically everything sucks.
Boy, was he right. Now, he’s gone.
The circumstances were different the first and second times someone in my life died but the familiar emptiness, the void, vacancy returns—or maybe it never left.
“Yeah, we heard—” George’s tone tells me he wants to say something more about loss and tragedy, something sentimental perhaps, but he’s hard-wired for nonchalance as the campus crush and most likely to smoke, hook up, and skip classes.
Caroline clasps her hands in front of her chest. Her knuckles pale. “I’m so sorry to hear that.” She pauses. “He was an…efficient teacher.”
I imagine she struggles to think of a nice thing to say about Groff. I sneak a glance at the others because I can’t be the only one wondering why we’re here.
Arpad already announced the news in the Refectory. There’s a good chance not everyone was there. Hammond inhales.
“Francisca Thompson-Sanchez, nice seeing you again.”
Francisca’s expression doesn’t suggest the feeling is mutual, although she is wearing a mud-streaked rugby uniform and likely feels as out of place in the plush office as I do.
“Can you please tell me where you were from the end of English class until now?” Hammond asks.
She focuses on something on the wall behind the dean but her hands tremble slightly. “I went to talk to Mr. Groff after class, but he looked, um, busy. Then I went to the bathroom.” She glances at Caroline. “Uh, then my dorm, followed by rugby practice, and then the Refectory.”
Arpad writes rapidly on a yellow pad.
Hammond’s penetrating gaze lands on a math whiz, gamer kid whose dorm room is by the day student room in my dorm. “I was at the Library then Refectory.” He speaks clearly, but he’s all-over sweaty.
“Tazmin King?” Hammond says, going down the line.
“Taz,” she corrects. Eyeliner stains the space around her big brown eyes like she’s been crying. “After class, I went to my dorm and then dinner. If Oliver died, it was because of a broken heart,” she blurts. Emotion streaks across her features, but she captures it and makes it disappear.
“And how would you know that, Tazmin?” Hammond’s tone is dark.
“It’s none of our business,” she answers. Then it’s as though she ghosts even though she’s still in the room with us. Hammond barely conceals a look of disgust.
“Moving on. John?”
“Maybe the professor was tired of his life and wanted to escape. Suicide? Or maybe he just wanted out. Faked it. On a plane to Tahiti.”
By Hammond’s pinched expression, I instantly realize this is the wrong answer. My sweat now rival’s Toshi’s. I cannot get kicked out. I cannot afford to go back to Burningham. Whatever this is about… I cannot lose my spot here.
“No, we found the body. Poetic though. However, the question was where were you this afternoon?” Accusation fills Hammond’s tone.
“I’m sorry, ma’am. I misunderstood. I was in the dayroom at my dorm, Varth Dader, then lacrosse practice in the lower fields.”
She glances at me dismissively and nods at Caroline. I know all too well not to allow relief to replace the nerves inside. Best to stay alert.
“I was with the Promenade committee, finalizing some items for tomorrow. Wait. You’re not canceling prom because of this are you?” Typical Caroline, always concerned about her agenda.
The goth girl, Taz, narrows her eyes. “It should be after the tree went up in a blaze and now Oliver, I mean Professor Groff, is dead.”
Hammond hardly looks at them. “Ladies, that’s none of your concern. Now, George. If you please.”
“I was in the student center. You can ask Mrs. Carson.” He smirks. Likely, he was hooking up with someone.
“Do any of you have a reason to want Oliver Groff dead?” Hammond’s question is like a stone thrown in a lake. The ripples of this implication could be devastating.
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Author Deirdre Riordan Hall
About C.A. Rene Deirdre Riordan Hall is the author of the contemporary young adult bestsellers Sugar and Pearl as well as the High School Murder Mystery series. She’s in an ongoing pursuit of words, waves, and wonder. Her love language involves a basket of chips, salsa, and guacamole, preferably when shared with her family.
Author Hope Bolinger is revealing the cover to THE CASSANDRA CURSE, a standalone middle grade paranormal fantasy, releasing February 1, 2022. See below for the cover, information on the book, and a link to add it your Goodreads TBR.
Charity’s acts of kindness always end in disaster, but when one clown costume too many lands her in the Vice Principal’s office, she receives a mysterious note from a group called “The Cassandra Coalition,” asking her if she wants to be rid of the curse that seems to follow her.
The teens of the coalition claim to be cursed by a mirror world connected with their hometown known as Delphos. To make things worse, Delphos appears to be invading their world and turning people into zombies—either that, or someone switched all the coffee to decaf.
When one of their members goes missing, they’ll try to track her down, close the portal to their world, and find a way to end their curse, before the curse ends them.
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Author Hope Bolinger
About C.A. Rene Hope Bolinger is literary agent, freelance author and editor, YA novelist, and obsessed with anything to do with theater.
Books include The Quiet and the Storm (Taylor University Press), Blaze (IlluminateYA), Den (IlluminateYA), Dear Hero (INtense Publications), and Dear Henchman (INtense Publications). She’s also contributed to books that were published by Broadstreet Publishing and New Hope.
When she isn’t busy adding to her 600+ bylines, or showing up in her town square dressed as Red Riding Hood, she loves to connect with readers. Find her at hopebolinger.com or connect with her @hopebolinger
Author Deirdre Riordan Hall is revealing the cover to TWO TRUTHS AND ONE LIAR, the first book in the young adult mystery/thriller series, High School Murder Mystery, releasing December 28, 2021. See below for the cover, information on the book, preorder links, and a link to add it your Goodreads TBR.
TWO TRUTHS AND ONE LIAR (High School Murder Mystery Series #1) by Deirdre Riordan Hall
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited
Title: TWO TRUTHS AND ONE LIAR Series: High School Murder Mystery Series #1 Authors: Deirdre Riordan Hall Release Date: December 28, 2021 Genre: Young Adult Mystery/Thriller Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT | Amazon FR
Synopsis Knives Out meets One of Us is Lying with a hint of the Inheritance Games. Like the original whodunnit, Clue, this suspenseful mystery also has three possible endings explaining what could have happened.
They all have secrets. They all have motives. They all tell lies.
Every year, at a prestigious boarding school, Professor Groff hosts the Midnight Masquerade. But this year, before the festivities, he’s discovered dead in his office. Yet six students still receive invitations. The same six students who’re questioned about his murder.
The show must go on. At the Masquerade, two additional students claim to know the truth. The lights go out and when they come back on, one of them is dead. Anyone could’ve been at fault.
Francisca blind in one eye and deadly on the rugby field. Toshi a number ninja and the campus punching bag. Taz who struggles with anxiety and lingers in the shadows. Fish the golden boy hiding wounds and not only in his heart. Caroline the heiress and the image of perfection. Gorgeous George the resident Greek God with nothing to lose.
The six receive anonymous notes, making them question themselves and the assumptions they’ve made about each other. Brought back together, they must prove their innocence before the all-school meeting the next morning, otherwise, they risk humiliation if their secrets are exposed exposed—and worse, if they’re found guilty.
It’s a long night of theft, danger, and threats by a secret society that shows Professor Groff was right during his final lecture.
Everything that can go wrong will.
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Author Deirdre Riordan Hall
About C.A. Rene Deirdre Riordan Hall is the author of the contemporary young adult bestsellers Sugar and Pearl as well as the High School Murder Mystery series. She’s in an ongoing pursuit of words, waves, and wonder. Her love language involves a basket of chips, salsa, and guacamole, preferably when shared with her family.
Welcome to the book blitz for THE MAGI MENAGERIE, the first book in the young adult/new historical adult fantasy series, The Magi Menagerie, by Kale Lawrence. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway. For a limited time, you can pick up the eBook for just $1.99.
THE MAGI MENAGERIE (The Magi Menagerie Series #1) by Kale Lawrence
For seventeen years, Ezra Newport and his parents were habitual immigrants, traveling from their Ottoman Empire home across 20th century Europe. As the Newports migrate to Belfast, Ireland, Ezra wants nothing more to settle into a consistent life and lay the foundation of his architectural dreams. But after a strange, mechanical bounty hunter murders his mother and prompts the disappearance of his father, Ezra discovers that his parents had actually been on the run. Now, their enemies are targeting him, and they won’t stop until he is dead.
In a moment of desperation, Ezra’s fate collides with the Third Order of the Magi, a secret society dedicated to using their supernatural powers to protect their communities. With increasing violence around the world, the Magi are fairly certain they know who’s behind the attacks on Ezra and his family since the same group could also be threatening their own existence.
Both Ezra and the Magi’s survival hinges on knowledge only Ezra’s father has and the key to saving them could be buried within history itself. In a race across continents and time, both Ezra and the Magi must secure an ancient Babylonian artifact before hell is unleashed on the world. And, against all odds, Ezra must decide where his allegiances truly lie, despite what is written in the stars.
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Excerpt #3 Diego
Not very many things had the power to piss off Diego Montreal.
Disloyalty? Naturally.
Being held back? Of course.
Jonas’ embitterment toward his relationship with Stella? Without question.
Failure?
Failure had to be the worst offender. Nothing could make him feel more incompetent than defeat, especially if that defeat had anything to do with Time Manipulation.
Diego screwed up his face in concentration, squeezing the edges of the quartz wand into his palm. Usually illuminated with natural light, the chief constable’s office was now shrouded in shadows, too tenacious for the weak desk lamp bulb and the evening gloom. The Souvenirs—the ring and the electric torch—had been laid out before him, alongside Norman’s heavy scrutiny.
This time, it had to work.
“Forgive me for my lack of understanding, but I honestly don’t see why this situation is different than the rest,” the constable grumbled as he lit a cigar and propped his feet upon the desk. “This should have worked the first time. After all, you’ve managed to view crime scenes before.”
Diego lifted his burning gaze to his boss.
Despite his flagrant tone, the constable spoke the truth, as much as Diego hated to admit it. Previous attempts had gone without a hitch. But for some unknown reason, these crime scenes proved resistant to his abilities. What seemed like the simple work of a madman with a fondness for the word “quietus” had an impenetrable exterior. Every time Diego turned back Time to view these events, a thick darkness cloaked whatever evidence remained. He had never seen anything quite like it in any of his Time Excursions.
Either his abilities were somehow being drained or someone was erasing history. Both scenarios did not sound particularly thrilling.
“Yes, well, I wouldn’t expect you to understand the technicalities of it,” Diego muttered.
“No, I don’t,” huffed Norman, “but there’s something I do understand, and it is that now, we aren’t the only ones dealing with this madness.” The constable reached into his top drawer and dropped a newspaper on the workspace, further disrupting Diego’s focus.
His eyes skimmed the recent headline but backtracked when he realized it was in French. What Diego could not ascertain from the print, he translated from the front-page photograph.
Plumes of fire and coal dust disrupted what once was a mining operation. Lifts, splintered planks, and glass fragments littered the work site, while flocks of ravens dotted the chaotic skyline. While the photograph neglected to show any of the dead or injured, it did provide a glimpse of something far more impactful: the painful emotion in their comrades’ faces, streaked amongst the grime.
Whatever had just taken place not only rattled the northern French countryside. It had shaken survivors to their cores.
La catastrophe de Courriéres.
“They’re saying more than a thousand people are dead,” said the chief constable. “What they are not saying—in the papers, at least—is that authorities discovered the word quietus painted in red across one of the communal shacks. I suppose you can understand why this is a bit higher of a priority now that it has crossed international boundaries.”
Diego gritted his teeth and pushed the newspaper away from the Souvenirs. “So, the Irish Republican Brotherhood is out of the question, I assume?”
Norman narrowed his eyes. “Most likely.”
“Right. Well, there’s only one thing we can do,” Diego began, once again tracing the Star of David in the air with his quartz wand. “Pray my theory will hold strong enough for me to bring something back.”
“Best of luck, kid,” Chief Constable Norman said through a puff of smoke. “Do me proud.”
Diego saluted him and pressed the crystal tip to the face of his pocket watch. Focusing on the time and date written on the scraps of paper beside its corresponding Souvenir, Diego internally beckoned the power of the stars to navigate to the exact moment when the Dunmurry boy lost his life. The clock hands wound backward in a savage spiral. The present world faded away, like streaks of paint drowned in torrents of water. He was now a sailor amongst the Sea of Time, directing the helm toward imminent disaster.
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Author Kale Lawrence
About the Author Since the early age of 6, Kale Lawrence knew she either wanted to be an astronaut or an author. Obviously, the astronaut gig didn’t work out, so instead, Kale turned to fantastic fictional worlds. When Kale is not writing creatively, she works as a Marketing Manager at a pet product company, and pretends she’s an Olympic swimmer at the gym. She has also served as a board member for the South Dakota Writes organization.
In addition to books, Kale has lent her writing prowess to television, and her writing has been featured on nationwide PBS television programming, NBC newscasts, ABC newscasts, and the Travel Channel.
Kale currently lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with her feisty tortoiseshell calico cat, Emma Bug and sassy Siamese, Seattle Bean.
Welcome to the book blitz for WHAT HAPPENED TO COCO, a standalone young adult thriller, by V.B. Furlong. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
WHAT HAPPENED TO COCO by V.B. Furlong
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: WHAT HAPPENED TO COCO Author: V.B. Furlong Publisher: Darkstroke Books Release Date: December 4, 2021 Genre: Young Adult Thriller Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT | Amazon FR
Synopsis When a girl disappears, long-buried secrets resurface…
Coco is missing. Her room’s a mess, and her phone is left behind in her dorm at Lainsbury Hall School
Ella, Coco’s childhood best friend, is desperate for her to return, although she knows that if she ever sees Coco again, there’ll be a lot of explaining to do.
Bea knows that her new group of friends attracts drama, and she thinks she has the last shred of common sense between them all. Only, if that was true, she would leave Genevieve, her toxic ex, well alone.
Conrad is confident that Coco will return safe and well. Only, the way his secrets are unravelling, he’s worried he won’t be when this is all over.
Harrison and Coco are the perfect couple. Everyone knows that. But looks can be misleading. Even the smartest boy in school can make a terrible mistake.
In order to navigate the web of secrets and lies that Coco leaves behind, her circle of friends needs to unravel a few of their own.
But the question remains: What happened to Coco?
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Excerpt #1 In the misty darkness lit only by a blue streetlamp, Ella knew that she was not alone. She turned and saw the faceless figure far down the drizzly street. It came towards her at speed. It didn’t seem to be moving, but she knew that it was gaining on her. She started to run, but her legs would not move. She was stuck, as though in quicksand.
When she dared check over her shoulder once again, the figure was only about five steps away, and she could see raspy breaths escape the black silhouette in a wispy white cloud. The scene whirred in front of Ella as she pulled on her legs, sobbing, begging them to move. But they would not. All she could hear was the breathing, slow and rattling, as though it was the figure’s very last. Four. Three. Two.
It was the skeletal hand on her shoulder that woke her. In the darkness of her room, she was alone. She turned her alarm off and felt uneasy in the silence. She was soaking wet, her back from sweat, her face from tears.
She washed her face, hardly daring to open her eyes and look into the mirror above the sink. She felt watched, hunted. As she brushed her teeth, she turned on all her lights and opened the dreary brown curtains that Lainsbury Hall School had placed in all the dorms. But even in her bright vanity lamps that took over her dressing table, drowning her in bright white light as she did her make up, her eyes darted around the corners of her mirrors, checking all angles of the room in the reflection for the faceless spectre. She was not herself today. Then again, she hadn’t been herself yesterday, either.
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Author V.B. Furlong
About The Author VB Furlong is a trainee lawyer and writer of young adult novels living in Berkshire, UK. She wrote her first “novel” at aged ten and has not stopped since then. Through her writing she aims to explore many of the issues she faced herself growing up, in the hopes that others facing the same issues feel some solidarity. Her friendships are a huge part of her life and consequently is a major theme in her writing, exploring the way in which we interact with each other, especially in difficult times.
Originally from Mumbles, Swansea, VB Furlong enjoys the sun and the sea, and walking her three dogs across the cliffs. These walks have offered her inspiration for many pieces of writing, including What Happened to Coco which she is excited to introduce as a coming of age boarding school thriller.
Welcome to the book blitz for DOUBLE NEGATIVE, a standalone young adult contemporary romance, by Susan Marshall. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Synopsis Injured competitive swimmer Reece never wanted to be Vice Prez of West Hill High. It was her brother Jamie’s idea, just something to do until she could get back into the pool.
She knew that Jamie—who led his campaign with a striptease “election speech”—would be a complete “President Dumbass.” But Reece didn’t foresee that she’d fall hard for Jamie’s Student Council rival, Zain.
Zain is hot and intense, plus an amputee and a basketball star. Between Zain’s disability and Reece’s surgery, they have their challenges, but that deepens their connection—until he drops a bombshell about his accident. Suddenly, everything important to Reece starts to implode.
Struggling with issues of family loyalty, secrets, and scars, Reece must decide if real relationships are worth the heartache.
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Excerpt #2 “It’s a good thing you called,” Zain said, his eyes narrowing. “Your brother needs to be kept in check.”
“What’s with you two, anyway?” I asked, returning his look.
“He’s lived this charmed life. I’ve busted my butt to get good grades, on a winning basketball team, Athletic Council Prez. He takes off his clothes, says ‘Free ice cream,’ wins Prez, throws out the rulebook. He’s not accountable, not for anything he does. And he’ll get into a good school. I know your dad’s some hotshot lawyer with big connections. He’ll pave his way. How is that fair?”
“Nothing’s fair. You work hard, then your shoulder gives out, but you come back even better.” And as soon as the words were out of my mouth, I wished I could take them back.
“Really? Not everyone comes back better. Not when someone runs over you with their car and smashes your leg so bad, they have to take half of it off. And you fight just to walk. And then more and more to get back on the court. In the end, I can only go so far. I’m hoping that I might be good enough for college, but adjusting to the prosthesis has taken a toll on my game. Once high school is over, so might basketball.”
“Shit, I’m sorry. When did this happen?”
“Two and a half years ago.” I sighed. “I don’t want sympathy,” he added, looking straight ahead.
“You’re the team captain, right?”
“Captain doesn’t mean you’re the best player. I’m pretty good, I used to be scholarship good, but I’m not so sure anymore.”
I pulled up in front of Zain’s house, a small, tidy-looking red brick bungalow with white trim and a carport. The only difference between his house and the ones on either side was the color of the door. Helped by a large, hanging white porch light, I could tell it was a deep navy blue.
I still hadn’t thanked him for bailing me out. I was grateful that he’d come, stopped the brawl, got everyone out, and helped with the mess. The situation had been tense. Someone could have gotten majorly hurt, not just bloody-nose hurt. We would have been in deep shit.
“I appreciate that you guys came.”
“I’m glad we got there when we did. It could have gone south. Fast.”
“It almost did. You’re not going to rat us out to DiFran, right?”
“I still have to think, but let me say I like having something on Jamie. I’d lose that edge if I blabbed.” I nodded.
Zain opened the passenger door and did his hop-strut thing out of Jenny. He shut the door, leaning into the window. “Come as your favorite sexual fantasy? That’s some theme for a freshman mixer.”
“Superheroes,” I said loudly, blinking. “Remember the shirt? I was Elastigirl? The capes? Superhero, not sexual fantasy.”
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Author Susan Marshall
About The Author A lover of libraries, Susan obtained a Masters Degree in Library Science but found that she was too disorganized for that field. Instead, Susan worked at The Globe and Mail newspaper and then Seneca College. Four kids later, she decided to stay-at-home, spending her quiet moments indulging her love of writing.
The old adage is to “write what you know.” In Double Negative, Susan channels her experience as a parent of a teen amputee and her misguided belief that she was once an athlete. The inspiration for NemeSIS was the complicated sister dynamic in Susan’s estrogen fuelled household in Hamilton, Ontario. An avid reader, she loves e-books and falls asleep nightly to the soft glow, oblivious to what happened on the last page.
Susan lives in Toronto with her husband, three sons, a daughter, rescue dog Bean and Indy the cat.
Welcome to the book blitz for CROSSROADS SAGA tenth anniversary special, the award-winning four-book young adult paranormal romance series by Mary Ting. See below for information on the series, buy links, an exclusive teaser excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
CROSSROADS SAGA 10th Anniversary Special by Mary Ting
Synopsis * * * READERS FAVORITE GOLD AWARD WINNER 2012–YOUNG ADULT * * *
Based on dreams the author had in high school-chapter 1 & 2.
Protecting her was his duty.
Falling in love was forbidden.
Loving her was all that mattered, even if it meant he would be exiled for all eternity.
Claudia Emerson’s life is about to change. It seems like a tragic coincidence when her good friend, who shares the same first and last name, dies in a car accident. Grief brings tumultuous dreams—but these are more than simple dreams. In sleep, Claudia travels to another world called Crossroads.
There, she meets Michael, a Nephilim–half angel, half human. Meeting him and being there changes her forever. It marks her as special, and that may not be a good thing. Now fallen angels and demons are after her, and it is up to Michael and the other Nephilim to protect her. Her dreams become a nightmare as secrets are revealed about who she really is and the true identities of the people she loves most.
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Author Mary Ting
About the Author International Bestselling, Award-Winning Author MaryTing 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..
Stephanie Dunham is revealing the cover to TRAITORS & TYRANTS, the first book in her young adult fantasy series, Traitors & Tyrants, releasing December 6, 2021. See below for the cover, information on the book, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
TRAITORS and TYRANTS (Traitors and Tyrants Series #1) by Stephanie Dunham
About the Book
Title: TRAITORS & TYRANTS Series: Traitors & Tyrants Series #1
Author: Stephanie Dunham Release Date: December 6, 2021 Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Links: Goodreads
Synopsis
Their mother is a traitor. Their father is a tyrant. They know their enemies.
Hector is inheriting a kingdom in turmoil, one that is ready to retaliate after the many years of tyranny they have endured under a now-unstable king. Amidst a mounting coup, Hector is plagued by demons bent on hunting and killing him. Protecting himself will cost him the kingdom and countless lives. But Hector will do anything to protect his people – even if it means giving up his soul.
Kierra has lived her entire life inside a prison, watching her mother tend to everything but her. Hatred and rage fuel her magic, killing everything in her path. After years of neglect, she is ready for bloody, death-filled vengeance. But Kierra has a problem: she is being hunted. When demons infiltrate her home, she reluctantly follows her mother’s plan to free the imprisoned demon overlord, but freeing him will have dire consequences Kierra isn’t prepared for.
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Author Stephanie Dunham
About the Author Stephanie has been writing for the better part of 10 years now and reading for many more. Her favorite genres are fantasy and mystery/thrillers. When she isn’t reading or writing, she enjoys a good laugh while watching The Office or chilling with her family.
Author B. Truly is revealing the cover to THORN OF SECRETS, the second book in her young adult coming of age romance series, My Darkest Secret, releasing January 2022. See below for the cover, information on the book, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
THORN OF SECRETS (My Darkest Secret Series #2) by B. Truly
About the Book
Title: THORN OF SECRETS Series: My Darkest Secret Series #2
Author: B. Truly Release Date: January 2022 Genre: Young Adult Coming of Age Romance Links: Goodreads
Synopsis
In love with the same face that haunts me….
The falling leaves of autumn are like the deceit in my family lineage. Closing the door on the infinite cold—winter blossoms into the spring of new beginnings. In the next season of my life, I’m mending the pieces back together. Opening myself up, I even begin to date, which is a big step for me.
After graduating from high school, a shocking development causes me to be on alert. When nothing comes of it, I move forward, wanting desperately to put the past behind me.
About to start college, I bump into someone from my complicated past, and my heart is torn. The dilemma I struggle with: Do I let other people’s opinion define who I am? I must decide if I’ll push through the ridicule and pave my own path. Could the face that’s scorned me be the key to my resolve? I’ll never know if I take the easy way out.
I’ve unlocked my darkest secret only to have it return to torment me. As the thorns of his obsession encompass me, I discover I’m part of a twisted ploy. If I don’t figure a way out of this predicament, then the life I’ve known may cease to exist.
Don’t miss the riveting sequel to Madison’s story that will have you dangling on the edge of your seat.
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Author B. Truly
About the Author B. Truly has wanted to be an author since she was fifteen years old. She is grateful to have accomplished this dream. B. Truly has very vivid dreams and a wild imagination. She likes to read, watch tons of TV shows, and movies. She’s addicted to romance, and gets a thrill out of action and sci-fi. She writes new adult and adult romance—sci-fi, dystopian, and paranormal genres.
B. Truly likes to explore different elements of sci-fi romance, and create various realms of reality. She also loves creating impossible situations for her characters to grow from and try to overcome/
B. Truly has three wonderful children, and a husband who defines the person that she is today. She works full-time as an Ultrasound technologist in Houston, Texas.
