Getting to Know the Authors: Featuring Colleen Oakes!

Bio: 

   Colleen Oakes is the author of books for both teens and adults, including The Elly in Bloom Series, The Queen of Hearts Saga (Harper Collins 2016) and The Wendy Darling Saga. 
    She lives in North Denver with her husband and son and surrounds herself with the most lovely family and friends imaginable. When not writing or plotting new books, Colleen can be found swimming, traveling or totally immersing herself in nerdy pop culture. She currently at work on a standalone novel and another YA fairytale series.

    You can visit her webpage at: www.colleenoakes.com

     Find her on Facebook under Author Colleen Oakes or follow her on Twitter @ColleenBlooms.

What she has written:

Elly in Bloom (The Elly in Bloom #1), 

Queen of Hearts (Queen of Hearts, #1), 

Wendy Darling: Stars,

The Wonder (Queen of Hearts, #2), 

Elly In Love (The Elly in Bloom #2), 

and Wendy Darling: Volume 2: Seas.

Now on to the Interview!!!

1) How old were you when you started writing, in your opinion?

  I remember being interested in writing as early as fourth grade. I had a teacher, Miss Brown, who really encouraged me in that area. I earned my B.A in Creative Writing in college, but I didn't really take writing seriously until I was thirty years old, when I made a New Year's Resolution with a friend to write a book that year.

2) What do you want a reader to gain from reading your works?

 I would hope that readers would find themselves lost in a different world, inhabiting a character who somehow both a wild stranger and a good friend.

3) What are your three top suggestions on becoming an author, or being a pleasure writer?

   First, you need the right tools. Find yourself a laptop you love, earbuds and at least six or so hours to really get into your writing.  Two, research your genre before starting. Know your word count and what trends have already passed. If you have a great idea, chase it down like mad, because there is probably someone else with a similar idea out there.  Three, read. Read all the time.  If you aren't reading for pleasure, than you can't expect others to read your book for pleasure - why would they?

4) What is your favorite novel, why?

 My favorite classic novel is Jane Eyre. I love the current of Gothic horror that runs through this very buttoned-up, very religious story.  I reread it every year.

5) Who is your favorite author, why?

  I have a few, but the one that comes to mind today is Ann Patchett. State of Wonder was the best book I've read in a long time. That scene with the snake- I can shiver just thinking about it.  Patchett writes with such lyrical, bold strokes and yet her stories are so straight - like an arrow to the heart. She is one of a few writers that I aspire to. Also, if I met her in person I would probably go completely fangirl and make a total fool of myself.

6) What are your favorite past times besides writing?

  I love traveling, reading, spending time with my husband and son, swimming and keeping up with nerdy pop-culture.  Chocolate is also great.

7) Who in your life do you credit your imagination to the most? 

  My parents, who never gave an age limit on using my imagination.

8) What are the top five things on your bucket list?

 Traveling to the U.K and Italy, being able to spend summers in Kauai, to own a swimming pool, to pet a manatee, and to meet Christian Bale at some point, whether pre-meditated or accidentally.

9) What is your funniest childhood memory?

 Well, I did once tell my mother that my little sister was in the car when she actually wasn't, which caused my mother to leave her at school and drive all the way home before noticing.  They still talk about it. I'm a much better sister these days.

10) To the youth of today, if you could tell them one thing, what would it be? 

 That reading books is the best drug that will ever come their way. It's an escape, it's a release and that if they want to experience something exciting and independent, they need look no further than their bookcase.

Getting to Know the Authors: Featuring Colleen Oakes!

Bio: 

   Colleen Oakes is the author of books for both teens and adults, including The Elly in Bloom Series, The Queen of Hearts Saga (Harper Collins 2016) and The Wendy Darling Saga. 
    She lives in North Denver with her husband and son and surrounds herself with the most lovely family and friends imaginable. When not writing or plotting new books, Colleen can be found swimming, traveling or totally immersing herself in nerdy pop culture. She currently at work on a standalone novel and another YA fairytale series.

    You can visit her webpage at: www.colleenoakes.com

     Find her on Facebook under Author Colleen Oakes or follow her on Twitter @ColleenBlooms.

What she has written:

Elly in Bloom (The Elly in Bloom #1), 

Queen of Hearts (Queen of Hearts, #1), 

Wendy Darling: Stars,

The Wonder (Queen of Hearts, #2), 

Elly In Love (The Elly in Bloom #2), 

and Wendy Darling: Volume 2: Seas.

Now on to the Interview!!!

1) How old were you when you started writing, in your opinion?

  I remember being interested in writing as early as fourth grade. I had a teacher, Miss Brown, who really encouraged me in that area. I earned my B.A in Creative Writing in college, but I didn't really take writing seriously until I was thirty years old, when I made a New Year's Resolution with a friend to write a book that year.

2) What do you want a reader to gain from reading your works?

 I would hope that readers would find themselves lost in a different world, inhabiting a character who somehow both a wild stranger and a good friend.

3) What are your three top suggestions on becoming an author, or being a pleasure writer?

   First, you need the right tools. Find yourself a laptop you love, earbuds and at least six or so hours to really get into your writing.  Two, research your genre before starting. Know your word count and what trends have already passed. If you have a great idea, chase it down like mad, because there is probably someone else with a similar idea out there.  Three, read. Read all the time.  If you aren't reading for pleasure, than you can't expect others to read your book for pleasure - why would they?

4) What is your favorite novel, why?

 My favorite classic novel is Jane Eyre. I love the current of Gothic horror that runs through this very buttoned-up, very religious story.  I reread it every year.

5) Who is your favorite author, why?

  I have a few, but the one that comes to mind today is Ann Patchett. State of Wonder was the best book I've read in a long time. That scene with the snake- I can shiver just thinking about it.  Patchett writes with such lyrical, bold strokes and yet her stories are so straight - like an arrow to the heart. She is one of a few writers that I aspire to. Also, if I met her in person I would probably go completely fangirl and make a total fool of myself.

6) What are your favorite past times besides writing?

  I love traveling, reading, spending time with my husband and son, swimming and keeping up with nerdy pop-culture.  Chocolate is also great.

7) Who in your life do you credit your imagination to the most? 

  My parents, who never gave an age limit on using my imagination.

8) What are the top five things on your bucket list?

 Traveling to the U.K and Italy, being able to spend summers in Kauai, to own a swimming pool, to pet a manatee, and to meet Christian Bale at some point, whether pre-meditated or accidentally.

9) What is your funniest childhood memory?

 Well, I did once tell my mother that my little sister was in the car when she actually wasn't, which caused my mother to leave her at school and drive all the way home before noticing.  They still talk about it. I'm a much better sister these days.

10) To the youth of today, if you could tell them one thing, what would it be? 

 That reading books is the best drug that will ever come their way. It's an escape, it's a release and that if they want to experience something exciting and independent, they need look no further than their bookcase.

Getting to Know the Authors: Featuring Raye Wagner + Special Cover Reveal of Demigods and Monsters!

Bio: 

     Raye Wagner grew up in an urban fantasy believing she was related to the goddess of literature. As the second of eight, she was surrounded by monsters, demons, and her sometimes mortal parents. She read heaps of fantasy while locked away in the upstairs room of the family cottage.

    Raye studied the art of medicine long before she had an interest in the Gods on Mount Olympus. One sunny afternoon, Apollo revealed to Raye the history of his ancient curse and the myth of the Sphinx. Stories have haunted Raye ever since. She writes young adult fiction for teens and adults. Curse of the Sphinx, a YA urban mythology, is her first novel. Demigods and Monsters, the second book in the Sphinx series, will be released April 2016.

What she has written:
Origin of the Sphinx (Sphinx, #0.5),
Curse of the Sphinx (Sphinx, #1) 

And Demigods and Monsters (Sphinx #2) 
Here is the cover reveal of Demigods and Monsters!

 

Blurb for Demigods and Monsters:

     Can Apollo’s curse be broken?

     Seventeen-year-old Hope Nicholas is done running. Apollo’s curse has ruled her entire life, limiting her choices and robbing her of the things that matter most. But she refuses to live in fear any longer. In fact, she’s ready to do whatever it takes to break the god’s power over her existence. 

     When the goddess Artemis instructs Hope to impersonate a demigod and infiltrate a conservatory to get access to the Olympian library, she doesn’t hesitate. As she sees it, there’s nothing left to lose. 

But once inside, Hope discovers the only way to get what she needs is to work with her sworn enemies. As the lines between demigod and monster are crossed again and again, Hope has to dig deep for the courage to accept her fate or fight for the freedom to save herself.

    Demigods and Monsters is the second book in the Sphinx series.

Demigods and Monsters Excerpt:

     Glass shattered, followed by a thud. In one fluid movement, Athan slid his hands under the pillow, grabbed the matching silver blades, and sat up. The thin sheet fell from his shoulders, and he shifted to the edge of the bed.

    The night was dark and thick with humidity. The ceiling fan continued to whir despite the escalating tension in the small motel room. Through the broken window, the sour stench of rotten humanity wafted from the street. Athan waited to hear what, if anything, else was coming. 

    He’d been following a lead, a mere rumor from an acquaintance of a friend. The message came via text a week ago and spoke of a golden girl at Athena High in Seattle. Thought to be a demigod, the girl didn’t blend in with the rest of the senior class and made no attempt to. By the time he’d arrived, the mysterious girl had disappeared. Vanished. No forwarding address. No next of kin listed on the records, no emergency contact. Just gone. The apartment was vacant despite the rent being paid through the end of the six-month lease. Even more frustrating, the girl had withdrawn from school weeks ago. Any trail she’d left was now cold. Bitterly so.

    Desperation made a foolish companion, and he wore his recklessness like a heavy cord, tangling his intuition and instinct into a messy knot. Regardless, he’d spent the next several days talking to students, searching popular hangouts, even going so far as to call the conservatory. Unfortunately, he’d gotten voicemail. Not too surprising. Most demigods carried their own cell phones. It was rare to use the conservatory’s line, and even more rare for someone to call it. Perhaps it would be worth a brief visit to see if there was any news of Hope, or rather the Sphinx. The thought of a visit to the demigod residence made his stomach roll. But if it led to finding Hope, it would be worth it.

No sound came from the small sitting room on the other side of the bedroom door. If there were visitors, they weren’t human. He stood and crossed the room.

    As he reached for the handle, the door crashed open, and a thick, pale hand grabbed his wrist in a crushing grip.

    Athan ducked as black steel swept over his head. He tilted away from the hulking figure and kicked his heel into the Skia’s stomach. The soft give told him he’d missed the ribs. Not that the dead needed to breathe, but a punctured lung might’ve slowed the monster down.

    Crouching low, he swung his leg close to the ground in a smooth arc. The minion from Hades anticipated the move and closed the gap with a knee to Athan’s face. The taste of copper filled his mouth, and warm blood ran down his chin. He spit a mixture of saliva and blood and then swung his jeweled dagger at the Skia restraining him.

Now on to the Interview!!!

1) How old were you when you started writing, in your opinion?

   When I was in elementary school I used to write stories about girls that drove too fast and got in trouble. My teacher actually called a parent teacher conference and told my mom I needed counseling. I stopped writing fiction in middle school with the exception of school assignments. I was in my 30s when the idea of the Sphinx being a cursed monster of the gods fell into my head. And that's when I started writing in earnest.

2) What do you want a reader to gain from reading your works?

   Fiction is meant to entertain, but I believe it can deliver so much more than that. I want readers of my writing to set down my words and feel empowered, educated, and even contemplative. If we can see ourselves in another character, we can polish our strengths, and challenge our weaknesses.

3) What are your three top suggestions on becoming an author, or being a pleasure writer?

   Don't give up. Success in anything takes time. You will have to hone your craft, and if you persist, you'll be a better author next year than this year.
   First drafts are diamonds in the rough! Ernest Hemingway said "All first drafts are $h**" You will think yours is different. And you should. But take the feedback from good critique partners and write it again and again. A friend of mine said that you will have to write seven novels before you write anything good. You can write seven different novels, or write the same one seven times.
   Write down your goals. I'm a firm believer that if you want something write it down. It declares your intention to yourself and the universe. If you see your goals in black and white in front of you, you will think about how to achieve them, and then you will act in a way to make those dreams come true.

4) What is your favourite novel, why?

    I have two... Exodus by Leon Uris because it inspired me to go into nursing.

   Twilight by Stephanie Meyer (groan- I know)  But not because I loved it, although I probably did at the time. Twilight was the first YA book I read in my adult life, and it opened up to me the realm of YA literature.

5) Who is your favourite author, why?

   A.G. Henley   I read her novel, The Scourge, and fell in love with the characters. Seriously in love. My first author's convention was UtopYA in Nashville in 2012, and she was there. I completely fan-girled (is that even a verb?) and made an idiot of myself. Seriously, I don't think I could form a coherent sentence I was so excited to meet her. When I got ready to need an editor for Curse of the Sphinx, I emailed her and asked about her editors. We started corresponding, and have become friends. She's been a great mentor! And she's an amazing author.

6) What are your favorite pass times besides writing? 

    I love to bake cookies, cake, almost any treat. I try and exercise 3-4 times a week. And I love to read. If I get time to do all three of these things in a week, it's been a pretty good one!

7) Who in your life do you credit your imagination to the most?

   My family. My mom read to us a lot when I was little, so I have to give her credit for my love of the written word. My father is a big believer in persistence, and reaching for your dreams. And I have seven siblings who all like each other. We made forts, haunted houses, played in the woods, built fairy homes, and ran away from bad guys (imaginary). Sometimes I still think we're not all oriented in reality.

8) What are the top five things on your bucket list?

   I want to live long enough to see my children be parents and strong citizens in society. I don't have a bucket list other than that.

9) What is your funniest childhood memory?

   In high school we used to like to toilet paper other people's houses (and got our T.P'd in return). As a senior class we decided to TP the high school. A whole bunch of us got caught by the police. When the officer asked my friends where their parents thought they were they all pointed at me and said, "her house" (this was true). When he asked me, I also told him the truth. "Toilet papering the high school."
   My mom actually took me the first time I went. My parents were oddly supportive of my vandalism, although they cautioned me that if I got caught they wouldn't bail me out. I had 40 hours of community service and a fine I had to pay before I could graduate.

10) To the youth of today, if you could tell them one thing, what would it be?

   Persistence and hard work can overcome almost any obstacle.

Getting to Know the Authors: Featuring Raye Wagner + Special Cover Reveal of Demigods and Monsters!

Bio: 

     Raye Wagner grew up in an urban fantasy believing she was related to the goddess of literature. As the second of eight, she was surrounded by monsters, demons, and her sometimes mortal parents. She read heaps of fantasy while locked away in the upstairs room of the family cottage.

    Raye studied the art of medicine long before she had an interest in the Gods on Mount Olympus. One sunny afternoon, Apollo revealed to Raye the history of his ancient curse and the myth of the Sphinx. Stories have haunted Raye ever since. She writes young adult fiction for teens and adults. Curse of the Sphinx, a YA urban mythology, is her first novel. Demigods and Monsters, the second book in the Sphinx series, will be released April 2016.

What she has written:
Origin of the Sphinx (Sphinx, #0.5),
Curse of the Sphinx (Sphinx, #1) 

And Demigods and Monsters (Sphinx #2) 
Here is the cover reveal of Demigods and Monsters!

 

Blurb for Demigods and Monsters:

     Can Apollo’s curse be broken?

     Seventeen-year-old Hope Nicholas is done running. Apollo’s curse has ruled her entire life, limiting her choices and robbing her of the things that matter most. But she refuses to live in fear any longer. In fact, she’s ready to do whatever it takes to break the god’s power over her existence. 

     When the goddess Artemis instructs Hope to impersonate a demigod and infiltrate a conservatory to get access to the Olympian library, she doesn’t hesitate. As she sees it, there’s nothing left to lose. 

But once inside, Hope discovers the only way to get what she needs is to work with her sworn enemies. As the lines between demigod and monster are crossed again and again, Hope has to dig deep for the courage to accept her fate or fight for the freedom to save herself.

    Demigods and Monsters is the second book in the Sphinx series.

Demigods and Monsters Excerpt:

     Glass shattered, followed by a thud. In one fluid movement, Athan slid his hands under the pillow, grabbed the matching silver blades, and sat up. The thin sheet fell from his shoulders, and he shifted to the edge of the bed.

    The night was dark and thick with humidity. The ceiling fan continued to whir despite the escalating tension in the small motel room. Through the broken window, the sour stench of rotten humanity wafted from the street. Athan waited to hear what, if anything, else was coming. 

    He’d been following a lead, a mere rumor from an acquaintance of a friend. The message came via text a week ago and spoke of a golden girl at Athena High in Seattle. Thought to be a demigod, the girl didn’t blend in with the rest of the senior class and made no attempt to. By the time he’d arrived, the mysterious girl had disappeared. Vanished. No forwarding address. No next of kin listed on the records, no emergency contact. Just gone. The apartment was vacant despite the rent being paid through the end of the six-month lease. Even more frustrating, the girl had withdrawn from school weeks ago. Any trail she’d left was now cold. Bitterly so.

    Desperation made a foolish companion, and he wore his recklessness like a heavy cord, tangling his intuition and instinct into a messy knot. Regardless, he’d spent the next several days talking to students, searching popular hangouts, even going so far as to call the conservatory. Unfortunately, he’d gotten voicemail. Not too surprising. Most demigods carried their own cell phones. It was rare to use the conservatory’s line, and even more rare for someone to call it. Perhaps it would be worth a brief visit to see if there was any news of Hope, or rather the Sphinx. The thought of a visit to the demigod residence made his stomach roll. But if it led to finding Hope, it would be worth it.

No sound came from the small sitting room on the other side of the bedroom door. If there were visitors, they weren’t human. He stood and crossed the room.

    As he reached for the handle, the door crashed open, and a thick, pale hand grabbed his wrist in a crushing grip.

    Athan ducked as black steel swept over his head. He tilted away from the hulking figure and kicked his heel into the Skia’s stomach. The soft give told him he’d missed the ribs. Not that the dead needed to breathe, but a punctured lung might’ve slowed the monster down.

    Crouching low, he swung his leg close to the ground in a smooth arc. The minion from Hades anticipated the move and closed the gap with a knee to Athan’s face. The taste of copper filled his mouth, and warm blood ran down his chin. He spit a mixture of saliva and blood and then swung his jeweled dagger at the Skia restraining him.

Now on to the Interview!!!

1) How old were you when you started writing, in your opinion?

   When I was in elementary school I used to write stories about girls that drove too fast and got in trouble. My teacher actually called a parent teacher conference and told my mom I needed counseling. I stopped writing fiction in middle school with the exception of school assignments. I was in my 30s when the idea of the Sphinx being a cursed monster of the gods fell into my head. And that's when I started writing in earnest.

2) What do you want a reader to gain from reading your works?

   Fiction is meant to entertain, but I believe it can deliver so much more than that. I want readers of my writing to set down my words and feel empowered, educated, and even contemplative. If we can see ourselves in another character, we can polish our strengths, and challenge our weaknesses.

3) What are your three top suggestions on becoming an author, or being a pleasure writer?

   Don't give up. Success in anything takes time. You will have to hone your craft, and if you persist, you'll be a better author next year than this year.
   First drafts are diamonds in the rough! Ernest Hemingway said "All first drafts are $h**" You will think yours is different. And you should. But take the feedback from good critique partners and write it again and again. A friend of mine said that you will have to write seven novels before you write anything good. You can write seven different novels, or write the same one seven times.
   Write down your goals. I'm a firm believer that if you want something write it down. It declares your intention to yourself and the universe. If you see your goals in black and white in front of you, you will think about how to achieve them, and then you will act in a way to make those dreams come true.

4) What is your favourite novel, why?

    I have two... Exodus by Leon Uris because it inspired me to go into nursing.

   Twilight by Stephanie Meyer (groan- I know)  But not because I loved it, although I probably did at the time. Twilight was the first YA book I read in my adult life, and it opened up to me the realm of YA literature.

5) Who is your favourite author, why?

   A.G. Henley   I read her novel, The Scourge, and fell in love with the characters. Seriously in love. My first author's convention was UtopYA in Nashville in 2012, and she was there. I completely fan-girled (is that even a verb?) and made an idiot of myself. Seriously, I don't think I could form a coherent sentence I was so excited to meet her. When I got ready to need an editor for Curse of the Sphinx, I emailed her and asked about her editors. We started corresponding, and have become friends. She's been a great mentor! And she's an amazing author.

6) What are your favorite pass times besides writing? 

    I love to bake cookies, cake, almost any treat. I try and exercise 3-4 times a week. And I love to read. If I get time to do all three of these things in a week, it's been a pretty good one!

7) Who in your life do you credit your imagination to the most?

   My family. My mom read to us a lot when I was little, so I have to give her credit for my love of the written word. My father is a big believer in persistence, and reaching for your dreams. And I have seven siblings who all like each other. We made forts, haunted houses, played in the woods, built fairy homes, and ran away from bad guys (imaginary). Sometimes I still think we're not all oriented in reality.

8) What are the top five things on your bucket list?

   I want to live long enough to see my children be parents and strong citizens in society. I don't have a bucket list other than that.

9) What is your funniest childhood memory?

   In high school we used to like to toilet paper other people's houses (and got our T.P'd in return). As a senior class we decided to TP the high school. A whole bunch of us got caught by the police. When the officer asked my friends where their parents thought they were they all pointed at me and said, "her house" (this was true). When he asked me, I also told him the truth. "Toilet papering the high school."
   My mom actually took me the first time I went. My parents were oddly supportive of my vandalism, although they cautioned me that if I got caught they wouldn't bail me out. I had 40 hours of community service and a fine I had to pay before I could graduate.

10) To the youth of today, if you could tell them one thing, what would it be?

   Persistence and hard work can overcome almost any obstacle.

Dark Touch by Aimee L. Salter (Review)

   Very interesting with very dark and depressing content, Dark Touch takes a look at the mind of a victim of abuse through very interesting and slightly magical story telling mediums. Tully has a strange ability, others can feel her emotions when they touch her hands. She believes herself to dark and toxic, so when she meets Chris, she tries to keep his light away from her. Chris is having none of that and their relationship goes through many highs and lows, taking the reader for a ride alongside them.
    I struggled to overcome the dark content in this novel like drugs, sex and violence; but I ultimately respect Dark Touch. It takes a hard look at how victims tend to blame themselves for things that happen to them and call themselves 'bad' or 'broken'. Many times in this novel Tully has very self destructive and hateful thoughts that give the reader insight into just how much pain the abuse over the years has caused her. All of this was wrapped up with a romance that spoke of true unconditional love. It felt good to read of forgiveness and healing, even if it comes mainly towards the end of the novel. I loved Chris as a romantic lead and found him to be a solid character. His refusal to have use Tully in the ways many other guys have or would shows his stength of character. Plot wise, the story was slower in the beginning but really picked up the farther into the story you get. I warn you that content in this novel does not make it appropriate for younger audiences. I give Dark Touch FOUR STARS OUT OF FIVE!

*Advanced Readers Copy Review*

The Awakened (The Awakened Duology #1) by Sara Elizabeth Santana (Review)

    It's the end of the world, and Zoey Valentine is on the run with her father and the annoying boy next door Ash Matthews. After an illness takes down a lot of the population, only to have them crop up again as zombie like creatures named the Awakened. On the run for their lives, Zoey will be faced with many dangers and mysteries while she tries to survive and keep those around her alive. 

    I enjoyed The Awakened. It was chock full of danger and suspense. I found Ash and Zoey were interesting characters. I both loved them and hated them. Ash is sweet but cocky, and Zoey is capable but selfish and prone to childish tantrums. Although these traits agitated me, they also made the characters more human, and therefore more connectable as characters in the long haul. There was moments in this novel that had me crying, and others that had me on the edge of my seat, but I wouldn't say that this is necessarily a happy story, so I don't recommend it as a feel good read.  Plot development wise, the novel was very well written. I specifically enjoyed the mystery that spawned at the end of the novel. I am eager to find out what happens in the next installment. I give The Awakened FOUR AND A HALF STARS OUT OF FIVE!!!

*Advanced Readers Copy Review*

Book Blitz: Angel in Training by C.L.Coffey!

Angel in Training
by C.L. Coffey
Release Date: February 17th 2015

Summary from Goodreads:
   After a night out turns fatal, a misunderstanding with the Archangel Michael presents Angel with a chance at Eternal Life: the opportunity to earn her wings and one day become an archangel herself.
    Angel is given the task of protecting her charge, trainee detective, Joshua Walsh. There's no denying the attraction between Angel and Joshua, only Michael has pretty strict rules: no drinking, no drugs, and certainly no relationships with humans. Thankfully, she's got other things to deal with, like trying to convince Joshua New Orleans has a serial killer who is preying on other angel potentials like herself.
    Angel must quickly learn that when keeping someone safe, doing the right thing is not always the easiest, especially when you've got an archangel looking over your shoulder.

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble│iTunes│Kobo│Smashwords│Amazon UK

Excerpt:

As if he sensed me watching him, Joshua looked up. My breath caught in my throat. If I thought Michael was gorgeous, it didn’t even begin to compare to this guy. Whereas Michael looked like he had been sculptured into perfection, Joshua was gorgeous because of the slight imperfections. His nose was ever so slightly crooked and he had a small scar just above his right eyebrow. Even his five o’clock shadow made him look a little rugged. I pulled my eyes away from him just long enough to stare at the ceiling and mutter, “I hate you a tiny little bit right now.”
When I dropped my gaze back to him, I discovered he was still looking at me through his long black eyelashes. His eyes were such a clear blue; it was like staring at the sky outside. His hair was as dark as his lashes, looking almost like it had a blue hint to it in the dim light. Stray locks of his hair that were no longer brushed to the side, were dangling in his eyes.
As one of his eyebrows arched up questioningly, it dawned on me that I was just standing there, gawking. I tucked my hair nervously behind my ear and hurried over. “Joshua Walsh?”
“Who wants to know?” he asked, looking up at me through hooded eyes.
“I’m Angel,” I offered. With one look he was throwing me off balance and it was really disconcerting. I’m not scared of going up to guys and talking to them, but this one had the geese back in my stomach.
“Yes. Yes you are,” he agreed, smiling. He pointed to the seat opposite.
I slid into the seat, only just making it graceful before my legs gave out on me. “No,” I told him, clearing my throat. “My name is Angel.” I frowned. “Although I suppose you’re technically correct.”
“It may be the beer, but you’re not making any sense.” He picked up his bottle and used it to point at me, winking as he did so. “It’s alright though, because you’re hot.”
I tucked my hair back behind my ear again, then, conscious that I had just done that, dropped my hands into my lap. Of course he noticed and smirked. I took the opportunity to clear my throat again. “Let me start again. You’re hot.” My eyes bulged as I realized what I had said. “No, I mean, I’m hot.”
I froze, mortified. As he continued smirking, I did what any self-respecting woman would do. I let my head drop to the table with a bang which was sure to leave a red mark. I would have gladly had the floor open and swallow me whole, even if at this point, there was a strong possibility there would be something under there.
“You know, I’m going to be honest,” he drawled. I raised my head just enough to look at him. “That’s the most entertaining pick up line I’ve ever had.”
My head shot upright as I began furiously shaking it. “I’m not hitting on you!”
He leaned forward. “It’s alright,” he told me in a stage whisper. “Because you’re hot. And so is that accent. Where are you from?”
“England,” I admitted, knowing full well my face was quickly turning an interesting shade of pink. “But I live in New Orleans now.”
He leaned forward again, this time propping his head up with his hand, and smiled. “I think I could listen to you talk all day.”
“I think you should probably go to bed and get some sleep,” I retorted.
The smirk was back. “You going to come back with me?”
“No,” I told him, trying my hardest to appear unaffected by his suggestion.
The smirk grew into a grin. “You’re totally lying,” he informed me. “You think I’m hot.”
“I think you’re drunk,” I informed him. And hot, yes. But there was no way I was going to tell him. Again.
He shrugged, the grin never slipping from his face. “But that doesn’t stop you from thinking I’m hot. I can be both.”
“Cocky much?” I asked him, rolling my eyes.
He pulled himself back and allowed himself to lean back into his seat. “Well, if you’re not hitting on me, why are you here?”
“Because apparently, somebody upstairs has got a twisted sense of humor,” I told him, the statement verging on a growl. I took a deep breath and forced the growing resentment from me. “I’m going to start over. My name is Angelina, or Angel, but I am also your Guardian Angel.”
Joshua rose to his feet, the motion scattering the empty bottles across the table. “And that’s where your chat up line failed, darlin’, because there are no such things as angels.” He downed what was left in the bottle and stalked over to the bar.

Angel in Training Playlist

C. L. Coffey

1) Better Than Ezra – Sincerely Me

2) Short Stack – Planets

3) Howie Day – Collide

4) The Cab – Bad

5) The Last Goodnight – Pictures of You

6) Wallflowers – One Headlight

7) Lady Gaga – Born This Way

8) Imagine Dragons – Radioactive

9) Garth Brooks – Callin’ Baton Rouge

10) Matchbox Twenty – Long Day

11) Lea Michelle – Cannonball

12) Little Big Town – Boondocks

13) Jedward – Luminous

14) Major Lazer – Get Free

15) Tim McGraw – Live Like You’re Dying

About the Author:

     Cheryl works in an office by day. By night she leads a (not-so) secret life DJing, and throughout it all, is constantly scribbling away as the plot bunnies demand constant attention.
     Her first novel was written when she should have been revising for her exams. While it is unlikely to ever see the light of day, it was the start of long relationship with the evil plot bunnies of doom.
     A need to do more than just one subject led her to the University of Hull, where she graduated with an honours degree in American Studies. For the third year of the four year degree, she was able to call Baton Rouge home. Since then, Louisiana has claimed a large chunk of her heart, and remains a place she will always consider home.
    LSU was where she discovered FanFiction and currently writes (mainly) CSI:NY stories and a Rescue: Special Ops story.
    When not transcribing the stories of the angels and archangels, working, or DJing, she is at the beck and call of three cats – all of whom rank higher in the household than she does.

Author Links:

 Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook│Pinterest

   

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Cover Reveal: Quanta Reset by Lola Dodge!

Quanta Reset
by Lola Dodge
(The Shadow Ravens #3)
Published by: Ink Monster LLC
Publication date: October 4th 2016
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult
   Quanta has escaped her laboratory prison, but that’s where the good news ends.
   Life at the Shadow Ravens’ compound is a disaster. She’s drowning in visions of the dark pasts and darker futures of her fellow Ravens and is plagued by her own panic-inducing memories, but Lady Eva still expects her to “train” and “participate in missions.” Plus, the food tastes like burnt plastic.
   The only bright spot is her genetic pairing to the brilliant Altair Orpheus. As their relationship grows, she’s positive that chemicals aren’t the only things drawing them together—although chemistry is definitely involved.
   While they test the limits of her game-changing new ability to reset time, word arrives from Eva’s agents: Doctor Nagi is still experimenting with her DNA. If he succeeds in duplicating her power…
    Forget the Shadow Ravens. The whole world is toast.

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Author Bio:
    Lola Dodge is a compulsive traveler, baker, and procrastinator. She earned her BA in English from Stonehill College and MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University--and hasn't stopped moving since. When she's not on the road, Lola spends her time indoors where the sunlight can't melt her, writing or bingeing on anime and cherry soda. She can be summoned in a ritual involving curry, Hello Kitty idols, and a solid chocolate pentagram.

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Future Shock by Elizabeth Briggs (Review)

    A riveting science fiction novel, Future Shock tinkers with the idea of what would happen if you can travel 30 years into your own future. Elena Martinez has an eidetic memory and has been enlisted by huge company known as Aether Corporation to travel to the future in a top secret mission. With her motley crew, Elena quickly realizes that everything is not as it seems. There is something mysterious going on that might get Elena and her team killed if she doesn't figure it out in 24 hours.
    I enjoyed Future Shock. There characters were unique and I got very invested in them pretty quickly. Their personalities were each distinct and interesting. Plot wise, the story was pretty good. It had its shinning moments that left me unable to put the book down. Although, there was also moments that were quite boring. I was pushed to tears towards the end of the novel, but I can't complain. It meant the story was written well enough for it to get me crying and invested. I give Future Shock FOUR OUT OF FIVE STARS!!!

*Advanced Readers Copy Review*

Love Me, Love Me Not by Alyxandra Harvey (Review)

   In a world with magic, there are two families who hate each other in a very Romeo and Juliet way. One family can transform into swans, while the other can transform into foxes. Anastasia Vila is a swan caught up in the family feud and trying to find love.Without love, she will never be able to transform and become a swan like the rest of her family.
   I did not enjoy reading Love Me, Love Me Not. I found the story to be boring, chaotic and unorganized. I found the characters hard to like or invest in. Even the main character and her romantic lead seemed to irk me with how inconsistent their personalities were. I found that there were a lot of plot holes and things left unexplained. Romance wise, the book missed the mark. I was not feeling it and there was little to no romantic tension between the characters. I do not recommend Love Me, Love Me Not and give it the rating of ONE OUT OF FIVE STARS!

*Advanced Readers Copy Review*

Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard Release Day Celebration Blast!

Glass Sword
(Red Queen #2)
 by Victoria Aveyard
Release Day Celebration Blast February 9, 2016
Red Queen #2
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Pages: 448
Release Date: February 9th, 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen

SYNOPSIS:
    Mare Barrow’s blood is red—the color of common folk—but her Silver ability, the power to control lightning, has turned her into a weapon that the royal court tries to control.
   The crown calls her an impossibility, a fake, but as she makes her escape from Maven, the prince—the friend—who betrayed her, Mare uncovers something startling: she is not the only one of her kind.
   Pursued by Maven, now a vindictive king, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red-and-Silver fighters to join in the struggle against her oppressors.
   But Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat.
   Will she shatter under the weight of the lives that are the cost of rebellion? Or have treachery and betrayal hardened her forever?

BOOK LINKS:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Glass-Sword-Queen-Victoria-Aveyard/dp/0062310666/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452009011&sr=8-1&keywords=glass+sword
BN.com: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/glass-sword-victoria-aveyard/1122187012?ean=9780062456199
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23174274-glass-sword?from_search=true&search_version=service

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Victoria Aveyard is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Red Queen. Victoria was born and raised in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, a small town known only for the worst traffic rotary in the continental United States. She moved to Los Angeles to earn a BFA in screenwriting at the University of Southern California. She currently splits her time between the East and West coasts. As an author and screenwriter, she uses her career as an excuse to read too many books and watch too many movies. She has sold several television pilots and feature-length screenplays. You can visit her online at www.victoriaaveyard.comor on Twitter at @VictoriaAveyard.

GIVEAWAY!!!

One winner will get a RED QUEEN Prize pack from HarperTeen, which includes:
- 1 Physical Copy of CRUEL CROWN (0.1 & 0.2 Red Queen)
- 1 Red Queen foam sword that reads “Kneel or Bleed”
- 1 Scarlet Guard scarf

Must be 13+ To Enter | Ships in US only |
See Terms & Conditions for full contest rules before entering some restrictions apply

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Greta and the Lost Army (Mylena Chronicles #3) by Chloe Jacobs (Review)

    The third and final installment of the Mylena Chronicles, Greta and the Lost Army finishes the tale of a human in a world of monsters. After finally returning to her home like she has always dreamed, Greta wants to go back to Mylena. Mylena is in danger from the demon that is hell bent on destroying everything. Torn between her family and those she has come to love in her time in Mylena, she must decide if she is to return to fight and almost certainly die for Mylena and it's Goblin King.
    Greta and the Lost Army was quite a pleasant surprise to me. I felt that the second novel in the series was lack luster, so I am glad to see that the series improved and became very good again through the third book. I liked Greta, she was a strong and well developed heroine. Her courage was inspirational and nice to read about. Romance wise, Greta and the Lost Army was very good. I loved the love between the Goblin King and Greta. Its quite adorable and fun to read about. Overall, I really enjoyed Greta and the Lost Army and give it FOUR OUT OF FIVE STARS!

*Advanced Readers Copy Review*

Cover Reveal: Freeing Destiny by Faith Andrews!

Freeing Destiny
by Faith Andrews
(Fate #2)
Publication date: March 14th 2016
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Words to live by:
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
Don’t break the rules.
I’d managed to fail at both by fraternizing with the enemy’s brother. Guess I’d followed in my mother’s footsteps by ignoring all the rules when it came to love.
Mom was marrying a man only six years older than me. A man who was also her student. But the biggest surprise that came out of their wedding wasn’t my new stepdad’s academic status or his age.
It was Jack Davis—my stepfather’s best friend.
Jack was the guy who could change the whole game. He was quite possibly my soul mate. But time and circumstance were against us—there was no easy way around it. I was moving back to New York in two weeks and his sister, Aubrey, was the one person my family hated most in this world. How would his sister—the enemy—deal with another Edwards girl claiming what she believed was hers? The idea of letting Jack go crippled me. Would I have to cut ties with the only man I’d ever let into my heart?

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Previous books in the series:

Author Bio:
  Faith Andrews is living out her dream right outside the greatest city in the world, New York City. Happily married to her high school sweetheart, she is the mother of two beautiful and wild daughters, and a furry Yorkie son named Rocco Giovanni. When she's not tapping her toes to a Mumford & Sons tune or busy being a dance mom, her nose is stuck in a book or she's sitting behind the laptop, creating her next swoon worthy book boyfriend. Coffee addict, lover of wine and cheese, and sucker for concerts and Netflix, Faith believes in love at first sight and happily ever after.

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Book Blitz: Sing Sweet Sparrow by Angela J. Townsend!

Sing Sweet Sparrow
by Angela J. Townsend
Publication date: January 12th 2016
Genres: Historical, Romance, Young Adult

   With the odd disappearance of her parents, Gussie Gibson has lived her entire life with her granny on a peaceful pecan orchard, owned by the meanest man in all of Georgia—Mr. J.P. Combs. Granny teaches Gussie many valuable life lessons as a black woman growing up in the still-segregated south. Mr. Combs is an evil underhanded banker who takes liberties beyond his privilege. When Granny dies, Combs informs Gussie she owes him back rent—but he wants much more than money for payment—and more than Gussie can live with.
After defending herself against his sexual advances, Gussie flees to escape certain vigilante justice when she meets a charming, handsome stranger, Sam Johnson, who is just returning from World War II.
Gussie and Sam’s friendship is short-lived when Mr. Combs hunts her down and drags her back to Green Ridge, driven by his craving for revenge and a grudge too deep to comprehend. Gussie fights to return to Sam and his love, but it seems, no matter where she runs, danger follows close on her heels, in the troubled South where cruelty disfigures the human spirit and love is a dim beacon of hope.

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EXCERPT:

1945

    No one on this earth deserves to die more than Mister J.P. Combs.

    Mister Combs is the vice president of the Green Ridge Union Bank, and the nastiest man in all of Georgia. He robs from the old, the poor, the sick, and the weak. Granny and I been working for the Combs family for as long as I can remember. Granny taught me how to wash their silver and fancy china so it comes out shiny, how to iron the tablecloths, and how to fold the napkins just how Missus Combs likes it done.

    Missus is a nice woman. She treats Granny and me right. On Sunday she takes her coffee into the kitchen to visit with us after church. But not Mister. He hates colored folks. He says we don’t know our place.
    Mister never takes his eyes off of me. It’s like he’s making sure I don’t stop to take an extra breath while I’m working, so he’s getting his money’s worth. Granny and I tend the Combs’ house for just sixty-nine cents an hour. That’s a lot less than most maids. The trouble is that Granny is old, tired and slow. Her feet don’t work so good no more. We got to take what work we can get.
    Mister comes home early every Friday. He likes to lean against the stove while he peels an apple with a buck knife. He chews the pieces and leers at me while I polish the silver. I’d love to stuff that apple in his mouth and stick him in the stove. I gotta learn to control my temper, sometimes it’s hard, especially when Mister’s at me. Don’t know from one day to the next what’s gonna happen. Somedays I wish I could explode and blow up the whole world.
    Granny knows I got a bad temper. It worries her. She takes me into Mister’s parlor and stares at me with her brow all crinkled up. “Gussie child, you keep outta Mister’s way,” she whispers. “I don’t like how he looks at you.” Granny shakes her head in disgust. “You’re only sixteen years old. Don’t you let him get close. You stay by me—you hear?”
   I can’t look at Granny. My cheeks burn with shame.
   Granny takes hold of my hands. “You listening to me, child?”
   I nod. She leans in real close, her bottom lip quivers in a two-tone brown. I stare at the wrinkles around her mouth, and at her bottom row of teeth all worn down. I worry about how much longer she’ll live. I don’t want her to leave me. “I see the way he’s been looking at you,” Granny says. “Like you the hottest thing on the lunch menu.” Granny lifts my chin so that our eyes meet. “If he comes round, and you alone—you tell him you got chores to do.” Granny squeezes my hands tighter. “His heart ain’t nothing but a thumpin’ gizzard. He’ll hurt you if he has a chance. You stay away from him. You understand me, child?”
   I nod again. “Yes, Ma’am.”
   The lines around Granny’s eyes soften. She cradles my head in her knobby hands. “You the only thing I got in this world, Gussie. I done lost my boy. I don’t plan on losing you too.”
   My lips tremble. “I know Granny, I’ll be careful.” I cross my heart. “I promise.”
She hugs me round the waist, but I don’t hug her back too hard. She’s so frail, I worry that she’ll break. I press my face into her chest. Her heart pounds against my ear and I feel her shaking. All this worry isn’t good for her old body. I don’t want to let go of her. I bury my head into her shirt collar. She smells like shea butter and sweet ginger. Granny runs her hand over my head. Her fingers untangle the curls in my hair, the ones she makes with the pressing comb heated on the stove every morning. Granny pulls away from me and sits down. She never sits at Mister’s house. She looks so tired.
   “Granny, you okay?”
   She closes her eyes for a moment, placing a hand on her chest. “Take me home, child.”
I help her up, and hold tight to her thin hand as she walks unsteady beside me. My heart twists over Granny working so hard at her age. How she worries over me.
We head outside and make our way down the path through the pecan grove. The path is uneven and it’s hard for Granny to walk. Her toes are twisted like tree roots with arthritis. I wish I could carry her home so her feet don’t have to hurt. She holds onto my arm as I help her up the front steps of the shack we rent from Mister.
   We go inside but Granny won’t rest. She puts supper on the stove, and waves me away when I try to help. She lowers herself onto her rocking chair while the beans boil on the back burner. Granny releases a heavy sigh, closes her eyes and stops rocking. I touch her hand and she don’t move. I can’t breathe. My soul dissolves into darkness. I know she’s gone but I can’t face it. I run to Mister’s house. Missus lets me use their telephone and I call for help.
   Half an hour later, Granny’s church ladies come and take her away while my heart rips into pieces. I sit in the dark staring at her empty chair, at her shoes, at the knitting needles sticking in the ball of yarn. I close my eyes willing it all to be gone, for the day to start over with Granny alive. I wish life could be like a chalk board where you can erase the bad parts and start over. Hours pass with nothing but the ticking of the clock. I look out the window surprised to see the world still going on even though Granny isn’t.
   After the funeral, I lay up in the bed and pray that God kills me so I can be with my Granny—the only mother I’ve ever known—the only person I ever loved. I don’t sleep. I don’t eat. I don’t go to work. I just don’t care about living anymore. When Granny died, something came apart and broke inside me. Fell off a shelf and shattered to the floor. And I just can’t put all the pieces back together.
A week passes and Mister comes looking for me. He’s mad that I haven’t been to work. He yells his fool head off, saying I gotta pay the rent or get out. I don’t got no money and nowhere to go. I don’t know why God don’t come down and take me to Granny. What kind of a life do I have to look forward to anyhow. I don’t want to be stuck in some white man’s kitchen the rest of my life.
Mister comes back the next day, but I already got my bags packed. He looks at me and frowns.    “Where you think you’re going?”
   I just shrug.
   “You come on home with me. You can have a room in exchange for looking after the house. You got that, girl?”
   I nod my head. I don’t know what else to do.
   I don’t got no choice.
   A lonesome sparrow hatches inside of me, flies out my mouth, and pulls out my insides as it leaves, taking all my happiness with it.
*****
    Missus shows me to my room. Mister follows and stands in the hallway, watching. Missus hands me a washrag and towel, shows me where to put my things, and then pulls back my bed sheets.
“I’m so sorry about your Granny. She was a good woman and I‘ll miss her,” Missus says. “Try to get some sleep, child.”
    She closes the door behind her, but I hear Mister breathing through the thin wood. I get undressed and slip my nightgown on as quickly as I can, wash my face and jump into bed, hoping he’ll go away. As I close my eyes I see Granny, smiling at me. Tears fill my eyes and roll down the sides of my face into my ears.
   Later that night, the feeling of being watched startles me awake. In the moonlight, Mister stands in the doorway. Clamping my eyes tight, I try to shut him out. The wood floor groans as he creeps closer. The smell of whiskey and cheap cologne fill the room. His cigar breath comes in rapid, short bursts, followed by a wheezing rattle. My heart jumps like a cricket and blood pulses in my ears. The bed shifts under Mister’s heavy frame. I lay still as death, petrified, pretending to be asleep.
Mister leans over me, dripping sweat from his forehead onto my face. I fight to keep my eyes closed. I don’t want to look at him. He flips back the thin sheet. The bedsprings squeak like a flock of birds.
   “J. P., are you coming to bed?” Missus yells.
   Mister lets out a grunt and curses under his breath. The bed squeaks again as he moves away. The sounds of his heavy footsteps echo across the floor and the smell of whiskey grows fainter. Springing from the covers, I close the door, lock it and slip on my clothes. I climb back into bed, pull the blankets up under my chin and try to erase what just happened from my mind. I stare at the moonlit ceiling, praying that God will keep me safe or take me to heaven so I can be with Granny.
   A few hours later, the grandfather clock in the hallway strikes midnight, waking me up. Heavy footsteps shuffle outside my door again. The doorknob moves slowly from left to right then rattles fast against the lock.
   I don’t sleep the rest of the night.
   The next day Mister slinks up behind me in the kitchen, grabs my shoulders and yanks me backward until his big gut presses against my backside. My legs tremble when his hot breath brushes my ear. “I can get into that room anytime I like, so you better be ready” he growls. His rough tongue flicks at the base of my neck. I swing my elbows back hard and pull away. I return to my chores, paying him no mind at all. I may be his house girl, but he don’t own me. I won’t give in without a fight.

Author Bio:
Angela is a multi-published, award-winning author of young adult and middle grade books. She has a motion picture based on her award-winning novel, The Forlorned, coming out soon, and a second motion picture project in production for River of Bones.

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