tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22873390615826397952024-02-18T18:30:12.325-08:00The Not So Public Library I am a Young Adult reviewer who loves to read and talk about books. Here is the mystical place where I will do everything from interview authors, review books, and rate them; to share insider YA info and do giveaways! The only thing I don’t do is share my personal copies of books ;) . So welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to The Not So Public Library! #TNSPLblogThe Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13335265648319784623noreply@blogger.comBlogger808125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287339061582639795.post-67425173253051513322021-03-02T10:39:00.002-08:002021-03-02T10:39:17.236-08:00Big Update!<h2 style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Not-So Public Library has be revamped! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We now have a new home and new logo!</span></div><span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Check it out!</span></div></span></h2><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://hannahlebouthillie.wixsite.com/tnsplbookblog">https://hannahlebouthillie.wixsite.com/tnsplbookblog </a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://hannahlebouthillie.wixsite.com/tnsplbookblog" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="669" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7aWwyeEDcJzYp6AVWrZ6KOUtLTtzYhz0VorRQNEFIe3k_dwDw4xR8129HOz7QgyeienBIUhZx-_ofevSwhwDJX_SSj-orFsQPFOon8I9B0pCi7hkNqEr0mGCHEJ9CPzATrZ58xtx3nie/s320/Screen%252520Shot%2525202021-02-20%252520at%2525209_44_e.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For future notice, all future posts will be on this new site.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Once the transfer of major posts from this site have been moved over,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">new content will being to be released.</div>The Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13335265648319784623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287339061582639795.post-81323557236121774682021-01-16T22:59:00.004-08:002021-01-16T22:59:40.971-08:00I'm Back!<h4 style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Heeeeey guys, </span></i></b></h4><div><b><i> </i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVYiE1wQ1OwfigFdMOMHqgQI8C9yPyw193P_t2lj-w7zKD4hdx19yOEorIwntywf3EYnQFfAUG78oY1ptPpdepqiCKAtrHeac8KpA5UG305vZ9cA0V3Mo3gxjp1roQWpKmMdkvKVG5rvv/s500/tumblr_fd7aad611fd135d58067144bfa0ece51_3483927b_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="500" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVYiE1wQ1OwfigFdMOMHqgQI8C9yPyw193P_t2lj-w7zKD4hdx19yOEorIwntywf3EYnQFfAUG78oY1ptPpdepqiCKAtrHeac8KpA5UG305vZ9cA0V3Mo3gxjp1roQWpKmMdkvKVG5rvv/w422-h252/tumblr_fd7aad611fd135d58067144bfa0ece51_3483927b_500.gif" width="422" /></a></div><p><span> <span> </span></span>As many of you may have noticed, I have been gone for a long time, months, and I have some explaining to do. I love this blog, and I love young adult literature, and I feel pretty bad about disappearing for this long without an explanation. I have been an active and constant reviewer for over 6 years without break or fail, but like many, 2020 was a rough year for me; rough enough to interfere with my ability to properly blog, review or even read. I am back, and I intend to get back into the swing of things, but I will be a little slow on the upstart. Where have I been you might ask, what stopped me from blogging? The answers to that is complicated, but in short, in 2020 I finished my degree, which was brutal and utterly time consuming (all while the pandemic was locking everything down), I planned a wedding and got married (in the middle of a pandemic (you can imagine the nightmare that was)), moved into a new place with my husband, I got sick with covid (unrelated to those other things, it was way later)(it sucked, but wasn't the end of the world for me), I almost cut off my thumb with a soup can (that one was a doozy), I got scouted for a job in the US, and with the terrible job market, I took it right away, needing work, I moved a second time, this time across the entirety of Canada and the US to Texas by driving all of our stuff with 3 cats during lockdowns and all that (you can imagine how brutal that was), I started a brand new job in a whole different country, had to settle in a new apartment in a new place, got sick again, recovered and now here I am. After all this time, things are finally seeming to settle in my life, and I might finally get some normalcy, and with that I'm coming back to the blog! I will be taking it slowly at first, to make sure I focus on settling into my new full time job, but eventually I will be back to normal, sharing great YA reads with you all! I hope all of your 2020s were a little easier than mine, and wish you all a fantastic 2021, you all deserve it! Before I go, I have one last thing I need to share with you all, related to changes with social media, so, let's get down to business!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzVGsvHhjntSDrn2EzlYdcWR2RNWDLZnlM4y4pIgZ30Xgy7_yQEI69l-NrtJWPNMflUSRvhgjAyzK3qLiu-nG0jO0AyeyYnX7yVVR-F_HkIfLt9JjCfr-dib6yZ8kFVS12XaKB4PChrP1/s500/tumblr_0725298a4c2757920e44441a97922c45_2efaf381_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="500" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzVGsvHhjntSDrn2EzlYdcWR2RNWDLZnlM4y4pIgZ30Xgy7_yQEI69l-NrtJWPNMflUSRvhgjAyzK3qLiu-nG0jO0AyeyYnX7yVVR-F_HkIfLt9JjCfr-dib6yZ8kFVS12XaKB4PChrP1/w283-h168/tumblr_0725298a4c2757920e44441a97922c45_2efaf381_500.gif" width="283" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><span> <span> <span> Due to recent changes in the term of service for instagram, facebook and twitter, I no longer believe I will be using these services. I blog as a hobby, and their current terms of service changes have revealed extreme abuses of privacy and data, therefore I would not feel comfortable a) supporting companies that feel that that is okay and b) allowing these companies to take so much of my private data just to make a post about my reviews. I will still be sharing my reviews on this blog, Goodreads, Amazon, sometimes Netgalley, sometimes Audible and other review sites as applicable. I also might branch out into other social media sites, but that remains to be determined. I'm so sorry if this change effects you, and I hope you'll be able to make the hope over to the blog directly or to Goodreads. With all that said, here's to a new 2021, and all the books we'll read this year!</span></span></span><div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYZ4tIHnc8DfXGxcpMeqSXmq483vnk5-AzpXFTYBLrb2IUL6B9Nb_R6EuZ2rQOfkyDA-0CRTfRAgS8QOQuMS_R941eePjvoAEdbi9X9e26C3FnRYgwPU12pTX8O2aiLj-mVLvVC8QdJhq/s450/tumblr_1f1fbbe089c821b1701320166f166c9d_0c5cd5cd_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="450" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYZ4tIHnc8DfXGxcpMeqSXmq483vnk5-AzpXFTYBLrb2IUL6B9Nb_R6EuZ2rQOfkyDA-0CRTfRAgS8QOQuMS_R941eePjvoAEdbi9X9e26C3FnRYgwPU12pTX8O2aiLj-mVLvVC8QdJhq/w188-h130/tumblr_1f1fbbe089c821b1701320166f166c9d_0c5cd5cd_500.gif" width="188" /></a></div></div></div>The Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13335265648319784623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287339061582639795.post-71891072973007791432020-08-11T00:00:00.010-07:002020-08-11T00:00:04.134-07:00Book Blitz: The Fall Changes by Marie McGrath!<div style="margin: 0px auto 15px; text-align: center;">
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<p><strong><span style="font-size: xx-large;">The Fall Changes</span></strong><br /><strong>by Marie McGrath</strong><br />(Honey Cove , #1)<br />Publication date: August 11th 2020<br />Genres: Romance, Young Adult</p><blockquote><p>Change where you live.<br />
Change your parents being married.<br />
And maybe, change who you are.</p>
<p>At 16 years old, Riley Mills has had more change than she ever wanted. A new high school would be daunting for most teens, but between getting attention from the most popular girl and being paired with a boy for her class project, she is navigating many situations she never could have imagined.</p>
<p>With homecoming fast approaching and rumors about her swirling, Riley must confront her true nature. Is she a popular girl at heart? Could someone actually like her?</p>
<p>With no clear answers, Riley may just find some answers from the most unexpected sources.</p>
</blockquote>
<p style="font-size: 130%; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53314244-the-fall-changes" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://amzn.to/39ZT3sz" target="_blank">Amazon</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">—</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: xx-large;">EXCERPT:</span></strong></p>
<p>A girl with reddish-brown hair didn’t allow me to dwell on it for very long as she sat across from me. “Hey, new girl.”</p>
<p>Now what? Wasn’t one interaction enough? Couldn’t I have one minute of peace in this school without someone bothering me? All I wanted was to blend in and move on. If people kept reminding me I was the new girl, then neither of those things would ever happen.</p>
<p>“I’ve never seen those two stomp away in my entire life. I decided I had to introduce myself to the person who would accomplish such a feat. I’m Sophie Graham.”</p>
<p>I was unsure what to say. After what I just experienced, my walls were all the way up, and I wasn’t exactly thrilled with being called <em>the new girl</em>.</p>
<p>“Look. I know you don’t know me, and I can only assume what those two must have said to you, but seriously, I mean no harm. Okay? I think it’s cool what you did. Those two have been asking for it for, well, forever.”</p>
<p>“Thanks … I guess. I didn’t say much.”</p>
<p>“Well, for not saying much, they certainly bolted out of this lunchroom. Not to mention their bad mood could be felt like an earthquake across the cafeteria.”</p>
<p>I tried to stifle a giggle but wasn’t very successful. I imagined those two as an earthquake and couldn’t help it.</p>
<p>Sophie seemed to be really nice. But I thought Shelby seemed nice too, and look how well that turned out. I supposed if I was cautious with Sophie, it couldn’t hurt, could it? Something about her made her seem familiar and genuine. As my mom-mom always said, <em>“You catch more bees with honey.”</em> If I didn’t try, I would never know.</p>
<p>Sophie sat and blabbed about the school and her classmates.</p>
<p>I had a hard time concentrating. Instead, my brain churned everything that had happened so far. My thoughts were at war with each other. How much should I trust these people?</p>
<p>Sophie waved her hands in front of my face and snapped her fingers. “New girl! Hello! Are you in there? I asked you what class you had next. Lunch is almost over.”</p>
<p>I retrieved my schedule and showed it to Sophie. “I think it’s gym.”</p>
<p>“Well, isn’t that ironic. So do I. I’ll show you how to get there. Follow me, new girl.”</p>
<p>I hesitated before getting up and throwing away my trash. “The name’s Riley.”</p>
<p>“I know, new girl. Remember it’s a small school and town. You’re famous. We don’t have many newcomers, and most people have already heard your name, but new girl is more fun to say.”</p>
<p>I shot her a look.</p>
<p>“Well, I guess so is Riley. Come on, let’s go. Coach Schneider does not like you to be late. Trust me, I learned that the hard way.”</p>
<p>I may have only known Sophie for what felt like ten minutes, but Sophie was easy to listen to and seemed like she would be easy to get along with. I hoped things would be different with Sophie than how they had turned out with Shelby so far.<br />
<br class="blank" /></p>
<img height="200" src="http://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Marie.jpg" style="display: inline-block; float: left; margin: 0px 15px 15px 0px;" width="150" /><div><br />
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px;">
<p><b><span style="font-size: xx-large;">Author Bio:</span></b></p>
<p> Marie McGrath lives in a small rural town in Maryland. She hopes to inspire others with her stories. Her favorite genres to read are YA Romance and Contemporary Fiction. She loves the color turquoise, tigers, and listening to music.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://mariemcgrathauthor.wixsite.com/books" target="_blank">Website</a> / <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MarieMcGrathAuthor/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> / <a href="https://twitter.com/marie_mcgrath_" target="_blank">Twitter</a> / <a href="https://www.instagram.com/marie_mcgrath_/" target="_blank">Instagram</a></p>
</blockquote>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: xx-large;">GIVEAWAY!</span></strong><br />
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</div>The Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13335265648319784623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287339061582639795.post-59790465453817827542020-07-10T00:00:00.003-07:002020-07-10T00:00:12.536-07:00Book Blitz: Marly in Pieces by Cathrina Constantine!<div style="margin: 0px auto 15px; text-align: center;">
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<p><strong><font size="6">Marly in Pieces</font></strong><br /><strong>by Cathrina Constantine</strong><br />Publication date: July 10th 2020<br />Genres: Mystery, Young Adult</p><blockquote><div class="gmail_default">
<p>Marly refuses to believe her friend, Rae, committed suicide. Even though her wrists were slit, Marly knows her beautifully vibrant bestie would never do that.</p>
<p>Even though the two had drifted apart, Marly and Rae made a blood promise long ago to always look out for each other. Even in death, Marly intends to honor that vow.</p>
<p>Determined to find Rae’s killer, Marly faces a long list of potential suspects. It seems everyone has secrets or lies they are covering up… including the boy she loves. Can Marly uncover the murderer’s identity before she becomes the next victim?</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p style="font-size: 130%; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54251324-marly-in-pieces" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://amzn.to/3f0Sv7j" target="_blank">Amazon</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">—</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><font size="6">EXCERPT:</font></strong></p>
<p> I remember the day my best friend threw our promise back in my face. </p>
<p><em>Promises are meant to be broken.</em></p>
<p>It was always Rae and me, until boys came into the picture and screwed things up. Four years after our covenant, as she named it, Rae was missing. It wasn’t like her to take off, to leave high and dry, lacking an excuse. Sure, the past month had been dicey. Our heated argument caused a time-out of sorts, and had temporarily parted. But we would forever be best friends and there for each other, no matter what. </p>
<p>A sickening wave of worry rose in my chest as I walked over grass, wet with dew, toward the border of our property.</p>
<p>Determined to put this undertaking behind me, I crossed the threshold into the shadowed forest. I was certain it was fruitless—”She’s not there.” The wind took my murmur as a tendril of trepidation curled around me. Yet, I zipped my fleece jacket against the chill and went on. Last year I was in a similar predicament, hiking to our special place because she’d disappeared, and I found her, beaten with a blackened eye.</p>
<p><em>Why am I doing this again?</em></p>
<p>A voice in my head responded, <em>You know why</em>. <em>The promise</em>.</p>
<p><br class="blank" /></p>
<img alt="" src="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/02/Cathrina.jpg" style="display: inline-block; float: left; margin: 0px 15px 15px 0px;" />
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px;">
<p><font size="6"><b>Author Bio:</b></font></p>
<p>I am blessed with a loving family and forever friends. My world revolves around them.</p>
<p>I grew up in the small village of Lancaster, NY, where I married my sweetheart. I'm devoted to raising 5 cherished children, and now my grandchildren.</p>
<p>I love to immerse myself in great books of every kind of genre, which helps me to write purely for entertainment, and hopefully to inspire readers. When not stationed at my computer you can find me in the woods taking long walks with my dog.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cathrinaconstantine.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> / <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7179953.Cathrina_Constantine" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://www.facebook.com/wickedly333/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> / <a href="https://twitter.com/cathconstantine" target="_blank">Twitter</a> / <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cathrinaconstantine6004/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> / <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/cathrina-constantine" target="_blank">Bookbub</a></p>
</blockquote>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><font size="6">GIVEAWAY!</font></strong><br />
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The Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13335265648319784623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287339061582639795.post-66271045869894283702020-07-05T00:00:00.009-07:002020-07-05T00:00:04.850-07:00Book Blitz: Princess Bachelorette: An Exclusive Selection of Princess Bachelorette Stories!<div style="margin: 0px auto 15px; text-align: center;">
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<p><strong><font size="6">Princess Bachelorette</font>: An Exclusive Selection of Princess Bachelorette Stories</strong><br />Published by: Enchanted Quill Press<br />Publication date: July 1st 2020<br />Genres: Fairy Tales, Fantasy, New Adult, Young Adult</p><blockquote><div class="gmail_default">
<p><b>Your favorite fairytale love stories, but not how you remember them…</b></p>
<p>Enchanted Quill Press takes you on a journey to far away lands and kingdoms that need an heir to continue their reign.</p>
<p>Come on a journey to meet the fairytale princesses you know and love and find out how they met their love match in these never seen before retellings.</p>
<p>With a matchmaking competition to win the heart of the princess, this set will leave you wondering, will she choose her Prince Charming?</p>
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<p style="font-size: 130%; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53346758-princess-bachelorette" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://amzn.to/2YMw6F3" target="_blank">Amazon</a></p>
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The Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13335265648319784623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287339061582639795.post-69329337988966777112020-06-18T00:00:00.005-07:002020-06-18T14:58:51.676-07:00Cover Reveal: Unwritten by Alicia J. Novo!<div style="margin: 0px auto 15px; text-align: center;">
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<p><strong><font size="6">Unwritten</font></strong><br /><strong>by Alicia J. Novo</strong><br />Publication date: November 14th 2020<br />Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult</p><blockquote><p><span id="freeText5832213542494989817">Books whisper to Beatrix Alba. But they aren’t the reason she has never fit in. Bullied at home and school, she keeps a secret—a power of violence and darkness.</span></p>
<p>When the spell that keeps her hidden fails, she’s catapulted into the Zweeshen, a realm where all tales live, and her dream of meeting her favorite characters comes true. But wishes are tricky, and behind its wonder and whimsy, the Zweeshen is under attack. A character is burning bookworlds in pursuit of a weapon to rule both stories and storytellers. To succeed, he needs a riddle in Beatrix’s possession.</p>
<p>Now he’s hunting her down.</p>
<p>Joining forces with William, a cursed conjurer, Beatrix must face an enemy who knows her every weakness in a realm where witches play with time, Egyptian gods roam, and Regency heroines lead covert operations. And with her darkness as the only weapon, she may have to sacrifice everything to save a world that rejects her. </p>
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<p><b><font size="6">Author Bio:</font></b> </p></blockquote><blockquote style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px;"><p>Alicia has a weak spot for happy endings and transformative journeys. She spent her teenage years</p><p>
in Argentina and Europe, speaks several languages and loves to travel.</p>
<p>An eclectic reader, she grew up on a diet ranging from Lucy M. Montgomery and Jane Austen to Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, Raymond Chandler, Hermann Hesse, Jorge Luis Borges, and many classics. She's never been cured of reading a bit of everything and is as likely to geek out about Mr. Darcy as Dr. Who.<br />
<br />
She is a history and astronomy aficionado, who walked the Camino de Santiago in Spain, completed her Masters in the Netherlands and worked for Google in Ireland. She decided to become a writer at six but took a full, winding road here. Along the way, she learned if there’s one thing that cuts across cultures, one unifying thread that pulls everyone together, it's a good story.</p>
<p>A big-city girl, she now lives in the Midwest, where she occasionally picks apples and pretends witches exist.</p>
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<a href="https://www.alicianovo.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> / <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20323098.Alicia_J_Novo" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aliciajnovo" target="_blank">Facebook</a> / <a href="https://twitter.com/aliciajnovo" target="_blank">Twitter</a> / <a href="https://www.instagram.com/authoraliciajnovo/" target="_blank">Instagram</a></p>
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The Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13335265648319784623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287339061582639795.post-46260234576613315122020-06-16T00:00:00.008-07:002020-06-16T00:00:23.633-07:00Book Blitz: Out of My League by Sarah Sutton!<div style="margin: 0px auto 15px; text-align: center;">
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<p><strong><font size="6">Out of My League</font></strong><br /><strong>by Sarah Sutton</strong><br />Publication date: June 16th 2020<br />Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult</p><blockquote><p><strong>It’s all fun and games until someone catches feelings.</strong></p>
<p>Sophia Wallace is convinced her life is over when her high school cuts the journalism program. Without the elective, she loses her chance to intern with the biggest newspaper company in the county, and why? All because the baseball team needs more funding.</p>
<p>To make matters worse, her boyfriend publicly dumps her at a party, which is mortifying. But the icing on the cake is when the captain of the baseball team and the most popular guy at Bayview High, Walsh Hunter, decides to be chivalrous. He jumps in, throws his arm around Sophia, and declares his undying love for her. In front of everyone.</p>
<p>Suddenly, Sophia is thrown into a world of fake relationships and undercover journalism, and she realizes she’s way, way out of her league.</p>
<p>Good thing she’s got the team captain to teach her how to play.</p>
<p>But faced with choosing between saving her journalism class or her newfound feelings for Walsh, will she strike out or hit a home run?</p>
</blockquote>
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<p style="text-align: center;">—</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><font size="6">EXCERPT:</font></strong></p>
<p>Staring at his face, I noticed a faint, silvery scar underneath his right eye, as small as my thumbnail. I reached out with my free hand, tracing my fingertip along his skin. A featherlight touch, barely there. “What happened here?”</p>
<p>His gaze never left mine. “Baseball cleat. Fourth grade. One of my teammates threw it at me.”</p>
<p>“Some little league kid threw their <em>shoe</em> at you? <em>Why</em>?”</p>
<p>“I told him that he couldn’t bat very well.” Walsh shrugged. “He couldn’t take the truth.”</p>
<p>I snorted. “You were <em>that </em>kid? The dream crusher?”</p>
<p>“Well, someone had to be.” His small smile was unapologetic. “Ask me who the kid was.”</p>
<p>I looked at him for a moment before tipping my head. “No way. Scott?”</p>
<p>“Who else would be that aggressive as a fourth-grader?”</p>
<p>Dina pulled at my arm as I laughed, shaking my head at the thought of miniature Scott throwing a shoe at small Walsh. I stepped out from the tangle of leashes at our feet, glancing down. “Oh, your poor rich-boy shoes.”</p>
<p>“What?” Walsh looked at his feet. “<em>Oh</em>.”</p>
<p>Brown smeared the side of his expensive-looking shoe, probably coating along the bottom. “With dogs around, you should probably watch where you’re walking.”</p>
<p>Walsh let go of my hand to switch the leash and proceeded to try and smear the offensive substance onto the grass. “Now you tell me.”</p>
<p>“Should we clean the poop off your shoe together? Is that romantic?”</p>
<p>His response was dry. “Ha-ha.”</p>
<p>“What? Shouldn’t we get a photo and caption it, ‘<em>This might’ve been an accident, but falling in love wasn’t’</em>?”</p>
<p>“Watch it, or I’ll wipe it on your ankle.”</p>
<p>I jerked back just in case he tried it, nearly tripping over Dina’s wealth of leash.<br />
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<p><font size="6"><b>Author Bio:</b></font> </p></blockquote><blockquote style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px;"><p>Sarah Sutton is a YA Romance author, bringing you stories about teenagers falling in love (sometimes with magic)She spends her days dreaming up ideas with her two adorable puppies by her side being cheerleaders (and mega distractions).</p>
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<a href="https://www.sarah-sutton.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> / <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19703739.Sarah_Sutton" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SarahMaeSutton/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> / <a href="https://twitter.com/SarahMaeSutton" target="_blank">Twitter</a> / <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sarahmaesutton/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> / <a href="https://www.sarah-sutton.com/members" target="_blank">Newsletter</a></p>
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<br />The Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13335265648319784623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287339061582639795.post-38128858128173902382020-06-06T00:00:00.000-07:002020-06-06T00:00:19.149-07:00Book Blitz: Unveiled by Jacklyn Daher!<div style="margin: 0 auto 15px; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Unveiled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Unveiled.jpg" style="display: inline-block; margin-top: 0px;" width="266" /></a><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Unveiled</span></strong><br />
<strong>by Jacklyn Daher</strong><br />
Publication date: June 6th 2020<br />
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult<br />
<blockquote>
What if your entire life was a lie?<br />
Sixteen-year-old Luxor Everstone had the idyllic life-wealthy, popular and beautiful. Until in a fit of rage, she almost killed her best friend. And herself.<br />
Waking up from a coma she senses everything is different. She is different. A darkness lingers deep inside laced with rage, further fuelled by a faceless man who haunts her.<br />
Exiled to a sleepy town for a new start and to attend a juvenile rehabilitation centre, all she wants is a clean slate. Except the universe has other plans as crimson eyed people reeking of sulphur throw her life into peril at every turn.<br />
Encountering Hunter is a surprise in more ways than one. Enigmatic and antagonistic, against her will a strong electric connection draws her to him. But Hunter’s curious nature and innate ability to know Luxor’s thoughts keep her on edge so does his offer of helping her uncover the lies.<br />
Torn between attraction and her instincts to flee, will she put herself at risk for answers?<br />
Or will the truth heal, or taint her soul?</blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53341929-unveiled" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://amzn.to/2ZmjpBB" target="_blank">Amazon</a></div>
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—</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">EXCERPT:</span></strong></div>
Warm streaks of sunlight broke and radiated through the luscious looming oak and elm trees, the harmonious melodies of hummingbirds gliding mid-air dancing with butterflies, an array of multi-colours swirling around. Straight ahead, high above on a branch an owl hooted, its wide eyes wise enough to know this was a twisted world of danger under the guise of beauty.<br />
Luxor was sucked back into a world she dreaded and submerged wholly. She inhaled a sharp breath and puffed out her cheeks. She twirled around and wondered aimlessly, refusing to inhale the polluted air, all too aware of the fate which behold them.<br />
No, no, no! Not again!<br />
It was a repeat performance.<br />
The Forest.<br />
The Hunt. <br />
The Fall.<br />
This isn’t real, it’ll be over soon.<br />
Since the accident, the night terrors were her reality. Night after night. Luxor wanted to run to wake up, but it was futile. She was a prisoner inside her own nightmare. A low hiss echoed from one of the low branches. She cradled herself and shivered as she peered up, but she couldn’t see anything. She curled her barefooted toes into the dirt and moved forward. For the first time it was a new addition.<br />
Ready.<br />
Luxor changed a bit of the game to gain control, she couldn’t keep going the same way. Sixteen years was enough.<br />
Set.<br />
“What do you want?” she said into the void. It was the same question she always asked, hoping for an answer.<br />
A rumble shook underneath, a sign of a muted answer, followed by a melodious laugh echoing through the trees. But it didn’t offer a reprieve. The chase was about to commence.<br />
Go!<br />
Luxor played the part and lifted the hem of her ivory dress and clutched the chiffon tightly. She glanced over her shoulder and dashed into the distance to nowhere. She dodged any obstacles in her way, her arms scratching against rough bark. Twigs snapped and leaves crunched under her bare feet as bugs were squashed mixing in with a gritty residue of burnt dirt which stuck between her toes.<br />
As usual nobody was there, but a deep sense of foreboding awaited her and a deep chilling presence arrived which ultimately welcomed her.<br />
A gust of wind whooshed in and brought a frosty chill, a telltale sign of ominous danger, just as the flash of a violet lightning bolt ahead lit up the sky. The environment transformed, and the wildlife scampered away in all directions, leaving a mess in their wake.<br />
The lush foliage died and transformed to black, stripped of all its beauty as oak trees extended their branches, knocking the grand apple tree beside it. Apples rained down and cast her surroundings into darkness.<br />
Nobody was in sight, but that meant nothing, this was the perfect setting.<br />
Luxor stopped dead in her tracks as an iridescent glow hypnotised and blinded her. Shielding her eyes with the back of her hand, she squinted. Even if she wanted to look away, she couldn’t. The glow was utterly alluring.<br />
A large root bulged up from a towering tree and long blades of grass sprouted into weeds, curling about transforming into vines. Luxor stumbled to her knees, the spell she was under momentarily broken. After blinking three times, she noticed the vines shackled her ankles as mud covered her feet and stones lacerated them with navy blue liquid oozing out. She rid herself of the constraints and low crawled.<br />
Whispers murmured in the air, incomprehensible like static through a telephone wire.<br />
A choking mist, tasting of sulphuric acid, clouded from above just as long canopy leaves blanketed and closed her in. The suffocation phase began. It was always the same—beauty, dying, suffocation, and the promise of death. The further she ran, the louder the whispers became until it was all she could hear. The hissing joined in and she expected at any moment for a lethal boa constrictor or python to make an appearance, but nothing did.<br />
“Stop changing the game,” she cried out, her lips chaffed from the toxic air.<br />
Luxor could handle the night terrors, but this was something unfamiliar, and she hated it. While concentrating on blocking out the recent additions of the whispers and hissing she had forgotten all about the next phase. One by one, hummingbirds rained down on her until it had become a full-blown down pour, their hums replaced by caws. She peeked upwards and released the lush foliage hadn’t turn black because of death, the crows had covered them like a blanket. She ducked and covered her head and crawled to find shelter.<br />
“Bloody psycho,” she grumbled, squeezing through a hole and underneath a harsh log to hide. Pushing aside scorched, prickly pine needles, her hands brushed against mountains of hummingbirds with snapped necks and broken wings. She was exhausted, more emotionally than physically.<br />
Luxor stifled back the urge to throw up, tucking her knees to her chest, becoming rigid. Not long now she would wake up. It couldn’t change the game that much.<br />
Silence.<br />
Another round of laughs, this time darker with not a hint of a song. Luxor shivered and scratched her arms, chilled to her bone, but not because of the weather. Peering down, mosquitoes had nibbled at her skin creating navy blue spots before being glued on with her blood.<br />
“The game has just begun,” the crows cawed out in a high pitched screeched, their beaks peeking the eyes of the wise owl. “And you better get ready.”<br />
<br />
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px;">
<a href="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Jack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Jack.jpg" style="display: inline-block; margin-top: 0px;" width="200" /></a><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Author Bio:</span></b><br />
A mother of two boys, I’m a self confessed nerd who loves to write dark and twisted characters in modern settings. You could find feisty MC’s and bad boys with filthy mouths. Doesn’t mean I don’t love to read or write saucy romances too! </blockquote>
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The Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13335265648319784623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287339061582639795.post-61941224897173628852020-06-02T00:00:00.000-07:002020-06-02T07:05:40.419-07:00Book Blitz: Monster Academy by Catherine Banks!<div style="margin: 0 auto 15px; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/MA-Done.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/MA-Done.jpg" style="display: inline-block; margin-top: 0px;" width="244" /></a><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Monster Academy</span></strong><br /><strong>by Catherine Banks</strong><br />Publication date: June 2nd 2020<br />Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult<br />
<blockquote>
<strong>They thought they’d have it easy being monster elites, but these three best friends still have to deal with pop quizzes, crushes, and even worse…humans.</strong><br />
Frances Stein, Loralie Reaper, and Tsukiko Okami just want to play games and relax after their classes. Any hopes of chilling out, however, are destroyed when humans attack Monster Academy and try to use the students for ransom.<br />
In order to defeat the humans and protect their fellow monsters, they must work side by side with their crushes without giving away their secrets. Of course, that would be a lot easier if they were able to stick together, but in a move that betrays insider knowledge, the BFFs are separated.<br />
By tapping into their monstrous powers and working with their crushes, they will open their hearts and unlock abilities long thought dead. But will it be enough to save all of monster-kind? It’s going to be one hell of a year at Monster Academy.</blockquote>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
—</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">EXCERPT:</span></strong></div>
Takumi bowed again. “Yes, sir.” He straightened and looked at me. “Are we providing a guard for Tsukiko?”<br />
“No,” Grandfather and I said at the same time.<br />
Grandfather gave me a glare, and I snapped my mouth closed. My tail swished behind me, but I quickly wrapped it around my leg.<br />
“Not at this time,” Grandfather amended. “If the situation worsens before I am able to return and you believe she needs a guard, then assign one to her.”<br />
My mouth dropped open.<br />
“Even if she tries to argue,” Grandfather finished with fire in his eyes.<br />
I closed my mouth and looked down at my shoes. Fine. I got it. I would just make sure that that did not happen.<br />
Behind me, Loralie danced from foot to foot. “Grandfather?” she whispered.<br />
I looked up and saw his lip twitch again. “You may go,” he whispered.<br />
Faster than I had ever seen her move, Loralie cleared the distance between us and the hellhounds. The hounds surrounded her, rubbing their bodies on her and licking her face and hands. She cooed at them while scratching their ears and rubbing the bellies of the ones who had lain down.<br />
The ferocious, black dogs had red eyes that reminded me of the fires of the Underworld, fur that resembled shadows and mist, and razor sharp teeth that could tear through flesh and bone with ease.<br />
And Loralie loved them. As Death’s daughter, she was capable of controlling the hell hounds if needed, but she had such an affinity for them that they just did whatever she asked.<br />
“How long will she do that?” Takumi asked.<br />
“Give her at least thirty minutes,” Grandfather said. “She hasn’t seen hellhounds in several months. I’ll leave it to you, Takumi. Take care of my girls…and the rest of the students.”<br />
He added that ending like he’d almost forgotten there were other kids here.<br />
<br />
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px;">
<a href="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Catherine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Catherine.jpg" style="display: inline-block; margin-top: 0px;" width="200" /></a><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Author Bio:</span></b><br />
Catherine Banks is a USA Today Bestselling fantasy author who writes in several fantasy subgenres under two pseudonyms. She began writing fiction at only four years old and finished her first full-length novel at the age of fifteen. She is married to her soulmate and best friend, Avery, who she has two amazing children with. After her full-time job, she reads books, plays video games, and watches anime shows and movies with her family to relax. Although she has lived in Northern California her entire life, she dreams of traveling around the world. Catherine is also C.E.O. of Turbo Kitten Industries™, a company with many hats including being a book publisher and Etsy store full of nerdy fun.<br />
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<a href="https://www.catherinebanks.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> / <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2134487.Catherine_Banks" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CatherineBanksAuthor/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> / <a href="https://twitter.com/catherineebanks" target="_blank">Twitter</a> / <a href="https://www.instagram.com/catherine_banks_author/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> / <a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/c6d3i2" target="_blank">Newsletter</a></div>
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The Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13335265648319784623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287339061582639795.post-77970474723077243892020-05-26T10:04:00.004-07:002020-05-26T10:04:47.918-07:00I'm getting back to blogging!Hello everyone, you might be wondering why, for the first time in 6 years, I had stopped blogging for the past few months. The reason is over the past few months, my personal life has gotten incredibly complicated and I had to prioritize. I have had to put this blog on the back burner, which I hated to do but I didn't have time for it between finishing my degree, moving multiple times, dealing with family emergencies and trying to pay my bills. Luckly, I am now, once again, in a more normal place and will be starting the blog work up again! I'm so sorry I was gone so long, but rest assured, I will be catching up on my reviews and getting new ones out to you as fast as I can!The Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13335265648319784623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287339061582639795.post-34540404300925753032020-05-25T00:00:00.000-07:002020-05-27T07:07:04.231-07:00Book Blitz: Zinnia by Christina Bauer!<div style="margin: 0 auto 15px; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Zinnia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Zinnia.jpg" style="display: inline-block; margin-top: 0px;" /></a><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Zinnia</span></strong><br /><strong>by Christina Bauer</strong><br />(Angelbound Offspring #3)<br />Published by: Monster House Books<br />Publication date: July 30th 2019<br />Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult<br />
<blockquote>
As the last dragon shifter, I live alone, hiding in one of Earth’s sacred deserts. My human handlers tell me that I have no parents, no name, and no purpose other than to train for battle and one day become a vessel for the reincarnation of Chimera, the greatest dragon shifter of all. Sadly, Chimera’s rebirth will mean my own death. But my handlers say this sacrifice is a noble fate that will rebuild the dragon shifter world.<br />
I shall die on my seventeenth birthday. That’s five days from now.<br />
Then I hear music thumping across the desert. I take my mortal form, follow the sound, and find humans dancing in what they call a rave. There is a stage and a rock band. One thing quickly becomes clear: Unlike the audience, the musicians are dragon shifters, just like me. And one of them, the guitar player Rhodes, makes my knees turn watery. The lead singer, Kaps, has something strangely familiar about her.<br />
It all adds up to one conclusion: My handlers lied to me. I’m not the last of my kind. Memories reappear. I had parents once. Portia and Tempest. I even had a name. Zinnia. Perhaps I have a reason to live as well. I step past the dancing humans to confront the players.<br />
I will find out the full truth, no matter what.</blockquote>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">EXCERPT:</span></strong></div>
Zinnia – Age Nine<br />
Chapter One<br />
Tucking my unicorn comforter under my chin, I come to a big decision.<br />
<em>Naptime is for losers.</em><br />
I may only be nine—well, almost ten—but I know one thing: there are way too many rules for dragon princesses like me. For starters, we’re supposed to take naps every bleeding afternoon. No way. Napping is for babies. That’s why I’m sneaking out today to see my best friend, LT.<br />
Twisting under my covers, I check out my bedroom. There are pink curtains, white furniture, and the royal crest of Furonium over the door. My parents rule all the dragon shifters, so that crest-thingy hangs everywhere. My sisters, Kaps and Huntress, lie in their bunk beds across the room. So you know, my family stays in human form most of the time. No dragon caves for us, thank you very much. Those places have bats.<br />
Squinting, I look at my sisters more closely. <em>Are they really out of it? Can I sneak away? </em>Like always, Kaps lays half-off the top bunk. Wisps of brown hair hang over her mouth, blowing in and out with her snores. I shake my head.<br />
Even asleep, my twin is noisy.<br />
Meanwhile, Huntress rests curled up on her side. Her shoulders rise and fall silently. Huntress never lets out a sound, even when she’s snoozing.<br />
That settles it.<br />
Both my sisters are totally zonked.<br />
Time to go.<br />
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<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px;">
<a href="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/03/AB-Christina-Bauer-pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="199" src="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/03/AB-Christina-Bauer-pic.jpg" style="display: inline-block; margin-top: 0px;" width="200" /></a><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Author Bio:</span></b><br />
Christina Bauer knows how to tell stories about kick-ass women. In her best selling Angelbound series, the heroine is a part-demon girl who loves to fight in Purgatory’s Arena and falls in love with a part-angel prince. This young adult best seller has driven more than 500,000 ebook downloads and 9,000 reviews on Goodreads and retailers. The first three books in the series are now available as audiobooks on Audible and iTunes.<br />
Bauer has also told the story of the Women’s March on Washington by leading PR efforts for the Massachusetts Chapter. Her pre-event press release—the only one sent out on a major wire service—resulted in more than 19,000 global impressions and redistribution by over 350 different media entities including the Associated Press. <br />
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.<br />
Stalk Christina On Social Media – She Loves It!<br />
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<a href="http://monsterhousebooks.com/blog/category/christina" target="_blank">Blog</a> / <a href="http://monsterhousebooks.com/authors/cbauer" target="_blank">Website</a> / <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorBauer/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> / <a href="https://www.instagram.com/christina_cb_bauer/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> / <a href="https://twitter.com/CB_Bauer" target="_blank">Twitter</a> / <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-bauer-481b12139/" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a></div>
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The Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13335265648319784623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287339061582639795.post-42693132875960116692020-05-04T00:00:00.000-07:002020-05-04T00:00:08.911-07:00Book Blitz: Warrior Saints - Creator by Carla Thorne!<div style="margin: 0 auto 15px; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Creator_Ebook_Amazon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/Creator_Ebook_Amazon.jpg" style="display: inline-block; margin-top: 0px;" width="266" /></a><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Warrior Saints – Creator</span></strong><br /><strong>Carla Thorne</strong><br />(Stonehaven Academy Saints, #1)<br />Publication date: April 17th 2020<br />Genres: Fantasy, Supernatural, Young Adult<br />
<blockquote>
<div class="">
<b>“Hello. My name is Mary Antonia Hunter, and I picked up the snake.”</b><br />
Strange days have come to the halls of Stonehaven Academy.<br />
From brutal fights in the supernatural realm with a demon-like presence, to battling obstacles in the halls at school, Mary knows she’s different.<br />
She just doesn’t understand why.<br />
Then it gets even weirder.<br />
As her supernatural battles increase, she is drawn into friendships with others who seem to be as confused about their bizarre abilities and encounters as she is.<br />
Now that Mary, Deacon, Scout, and Ivy have found each other, what is their purpose and why? And who gifted these newly-named Warriors, and how do they manage their powers and maneuver the confusing maze of school, family, romance—and the occasional demonic force?</div>
</blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50350017-warrior-saints---creator" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://amzn.to/2VRFEx0" target="_blank">Amazon</a></div>
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—</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">EXCERPT:</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Chapter One</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mary</div>
I trembled in my bed.<br />
Or so I thought.<br />
Was it me? No. In my haze of half-sleep, I felt my cat, Paisley, sleeping beside me and breathing with a slight vibration in her chest.<br />
But then I was falling, and fighting as I fell.<br />
Darkness swirled around me and sucked the very breath from my lungs. With no air, I couldn’t scream, though I used all my energy to try. Help might come if they could hear me.<br />
But who would come?<br />
No one knew how I fought in my dream-sleep-half-awake state. How I left my body to fight on a supernatural plane where rules of gravity didn’t exist—until I was spiraling to my death.<br />
Or suffocating.<br />
Or clawing my way to the surface to breathe.<br />
The darkness crushed my chest and pushed harder still. I scratched where I thought its face would be and peeled its skin until the metallic scent of human blood filled my nostrils. But the thing that smothered me wasn’t human, was it?<br />
Logic managed to enter my thoughts, though breaths were hard to come by and oxygen was slow to reach my brain.<br />
I wondered how someone got into my room, through the alarm, without detection. If it were a large human, why not finish me off?<br />
But there was not a real human form. It was more of a presence, a blob, a changing force that covered my nose and mouth when it wanted …<br />
But I fought.<br />
I reached the supernatural space between my bed and the atmosphere, because if I’d learned anything through all those battles, it’s that there was no true in-between. I was either anchored and stable on the ground, in my earthly bed, and on my earthly feet—or I was not.<br />
And when I was not, I was fighting for my life.<br />
The other side is merely a door we walk through. The supernatural forces of evil exist just past the ends of our noses, across that invisible threshold, waiting…<br />
I knew as much because that dark force fought with me to drag me into some deep space or pull me to an epic, Biblical-like hell and take my life.<br />
I kicked. I flailed. I pushed imaginary hands from my throat.<br />
The sudden stench of death and decay lingered in the air, followed by the sweet earthy smell of fresh dirt, newly mowed grass, earthworms, and spring rain.<br />
That’s when I knew I was in trouble. It meant I’d lost my orientation in the battle. Because everyone knows a dead body stinks of rot as it’s put six feet under, but life stands by and waits and watches in the very ground that was disturbed to bury the deceased.<br />
So, I fought harder for the earthy scent, the grounded feeling, and the light of life.<br />
I dismissed the stench of death.<br />
In a final push of life-saving strength, I concentrated on the spiritual realm.<br />
<em>Is this when I die again?</em><br />
Another voice, not from that creature, answered me. <em>No, this is not when you die.</em><br />
With rage and determination, I twisted out of its grasp.<br />
My heart raced as my breaths steadied.<br />
I was asleep. I was awake. I honestly didn’t know what I was.<br />
What I did know was that I fought for my life on a regular basis. What I didn’t know was why.<br />
I gasped and bolted upright in the bed. Paisley stretched and rearranged herself against my cold feet.<br />
I was a survivor.<br />
I stayed alive.<br />
I fought.<br />
Because Shanar was determined to kill me.<br />
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<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px;">
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<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Author Bio:</span></b> </blockquote>
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Carla Thorne is the author of the YA Fantasy/Supernatural mystery series, Warrior Saints.<br />
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<a href="https://carlathorne.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> / <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19900526.Carla_Thorne" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CarlaThorneBooks/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> / <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlaThorneBks" target="_blank">Twitter</a> / <a href="https://www.instagram.com/carlathornebooks/" target="_blank">Instagram</a></div>
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The Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13335265648319784623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287339061582639795.post-17262148705201126842020-04-06T00:00:00.000-07:002020-04-30T09:15:32.042-07:00Cover Reveal: Out of My League by Sarah Sutton!<div style="margin: 0 auto 15px; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/04/Out-of-My-League_ebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/04/Out-of-My-League_ebook.jpg" style="display: inline-block; margin-top: 0px;" width="264" /></a><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Out of My League</span></strong><br /><strong>by Sarah Sutton</strong><br />Publication date: June 16th 2020<br />Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult<br />
<blockquote>
<strong>It’s all fun and games until someone catches feelings.</strong><br />
Sophia’s life isn’t all sunshine in rainbows. Her relationship with her parents is complicated, her favorite class at school is cut from the curriculum so the funding can go to the baseball team, and she loses all of chances of interning for her favorite newspaper in the fall. Everything is going down the drain.<br />
And then her boyfriend publicly dumps her at a party, which is <em>mortifying</em> and the icing on the freaking cake. To make matters worse? Captain of the baseball team and the most popular guy at Bayview High, Walsh Hunter, jumps in, throws his arm around Sophia, and declares his undying love for her. He was faking, of course, but no one else seems to realize it.<br />
Suddenly, she’s thrown into a world of fake relationships and undercover journalism, and Sophia realizes she’s way, way out of her league.<br />
Good thing she’s got the team captain to teach her how to play. But faced with choosing between saving her journalism class or her newfound feelings for Walsh, will she strike out or hit a home run?</blockquote>
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<br />
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Author Bio:</span></b></blockquote>
Sarah Sutton is a YA Romance author, bringing you stories about teenagers falling in love (sometimes with magic)She spends her days dreaming up ideas with her two adorable puppies by her side being cheerleaders (and mega distractions).<br />
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.sarah-sutton.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> / <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19703739.Sarah_Sutton" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SarahMaeSutton/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> / <a href="https://twitter.com/SarahMaeSutton" target="_blank">Twitter</a> / <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sarahmaesutton/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> / <a href="https://www.sarah-sutton.com/members" target="_blank">Newsletter</a></div>
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The Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13335265648319784623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287339061582639795.post-425873091329029162020-02-22T00:00:00.000-08:002020-02-22T00:00:09.290-08:00Book Blitz: Fang And Claw by Evangeline Anderson!<div style="margin: 0 auto 15px; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/02/Fang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/02/Fang.jpg" style="display: inline-block; margin-top: 0px;" width="266" /></a><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Fang And Claw</span></strong><br /><strong>by Evangeline Anderson</strong><br />(Nocturne Academy, #2)<br />Publication date: February 22nd, 2020<br />Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult<br />
<blockquote>
My name is Kaitlyn Fellows and I’ll never be the same.<br />
The Fire stole everything from me.<br />
My home…my family…even my beauty.<br />
The right side of my face is normal–even pretty. But the left side, I hide in shame. That’s where The Fire marked me…scarred me forever.<br />
At Nocturne Academy I’m nothing–just a little Norm girl with no supernatural powers and a disfigured face.<br />
Which is why it’s so strange that a big, Handsome Drake like Ari Reyes should take an interest in me.<br />
But it isn’t only Ari who’s interested in me.<br />
For under his high cheekbones and clear amber eyes, he hides another, much more frightening visage–A Drake, the fire-breathing monster that lives within him.<br />
A monster who has decided I should be his alone.<br />
Can I survive Ari’s love for me? And more importantly, can I survive the love of his Drake?<br />
Because once a girl has been claimed by a Drake, the only way out is through The Fire.<br />
What am I going to do?</blockquote>
<div style="font-size: 130%; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50707155-fang-and-claw" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://books2read.com/u/banZlQ?store=amazon" target="_blank">Amazon</a> / <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fang-and-claw-evangeline-anderson/1136404948" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> / <a href="https://books.apple.com/ca/book/fang-and-claw-book-2-of-the-nocturne-academy-series/id1498647755?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4" target="_blank">iBooks</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
—</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">EXCERPT:</span></strong></div>
<strong>Ari</strong><br />
I finished my test and brought it up to the teacher’s desk to place face-down on the slowly accumulating pile. Ms. Eventide was a Nocturne with sharp green eyes and a pale face. She nodded as I put down my paper and turned to go back to my seat.<br />
“Very good, Mr. Reyes, you may read quietly at your desk,” she murmured.<br />
I nodded, even though I knew that I wouldn’t be reading a thing. I would get out a book and pretend to read, of course, but mostly I would be watching Kaitlyn, who was even now getting up to place her own test on the teacher’s desk.<br />
But as she moved past me, the little human seemed to trip on something on the floor. She gasped and windmilled her arms, her test papers flying in all directions as she started to fall.<br />
I didn’t think—I just acted. Reaching down, I scooped her up before she could hit the floor and gathered her close to my chest.<br />
“Oh!” Kaitlyn gasped and for a moment I saw her full face, as I had that day in PE—both the lovely right side and the scarred left side. Then she turned away quickly, using her long hair to hide herself, as she always did.<br />
“Are you all right?” I asked, worried about her.<br />
“I’m fine. Please put me down.”<br />
She was trembling in my arms—shaking as though she feared me. I could smell the scent of her terror too—the sharp smell of adrenalin rose around me.<br />
But there was something else too—an added component to her usually sweet scent which I was, by now, completely addicted to. It was strangely metallic and…I don’t know how else to put this…<em>cold. </em>A scent like winter coming on.<br />
What was wrong with her?<br />
“Mr. Reyes, I believe you can put Miss Fellows down now.” The sharp voice of our teacher cut through me like a knife and I realized I had been cradling the little human to my chest and inhaling her scent, trying to work out what was different about her, while ignoring her request to be put back on her feet.<br />
“Forgive me,” I said quickly, setting her down gently. “I just…didn’t want you to fall.”<br />
Kaitlyn’s only answer was a frightened glance before she rushed back to her seat. But then she appeared to realize that her test papers were still all over the floor. She started to get up again, though by now, everyone in the class was staring at her—which I knew was agony for the little human. In all that she did, what she strove for most was simply not to be noticed—not to be seen.<br />
“Let me,” I told her and bent to pick up the scattered papers. Stacking them neatly, I placed them face-down on the teacher’s desk and resumed my own seat.<br />
Kaitlyn’s one visible eye—a lovely pale aquamarine that was striking in the pale, creamy brown of her face—followed me uncertainly. As I passed her on the way back to my desk she murmured, “Thank you,” in a voice so low I was certain no one heard but me.<br />
I nodded and murmured, “Welcome.”<br />
She stared at me for a moment more, then looked quickly away, her curtain of hair swinging down to hide her face.<br />
I wished she could have met my eyes just a moment more—I hated the fact that she was clearly afraid of me. I probably shouldn’t have swooped her up like that but what else could I do—just let her fall?<br />
Inside me, my Drake roared in negation. Kaitlyn was ours, he asserted passionately—ours to watch over, ours to protect. I could no more stand by and watch her fall and hurt herself than I had been able to let Sanchez get away with bullying her.<br />
But as I sat back down in my own seat, I couldn’t help lifting my nose to catch a bit of her scent once more. Her fear had faded but the new, cold note hit my nose, making it tingle. I frowned—why did she smell so strange? So unlike herself?<br />
I frowned as I wondered once again, what was happening to my little human?<br />
<br />
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px;">
<a href="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/01/Evangeline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/01/Evangeline.jpg" style="display: inline-block; margin-top: 0px;" width="133" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Author Bio:</b></span><br />
Evangeline Anderson is the USA Today and NYT Best Selling Author of the Brides of the Kindred, Alien Mate Index, and Born to Darkness series. She is thirty-something and lives in Florida with a husband, a son, and two cats. She had been writing erotic fiction for her own gratification for a number of years before it occurred to her to try and get paid for it. To her delight, she found that it was actually possible to get money for having a dirty mind and she has been writing paranormal and Sci-fi erotica steadily ever since.<br />
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<a href="https://evangelineanderson.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> / <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/240840.Evangeline_Anderson" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://www.facebook.com/evangelineandersonauthorpage" target="_blank">Facebook</a> / <a href="https://twitter.com/EvangelineA" target="_blank">Twitter</a> / <a href="https://www.instagram.com/evangeline_anderson_author/" target="_blank">Instagram</a></div>
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The Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13335265648319784623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287339061582639795.post-84560103480062217632020-02-10T00:00:00.000-08:002020-02-17T18:58:06.184-08:00Book Blitz: Off Balance by Aileen Erin!<div style="margin: 0 auto 15px; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/10/OffBalance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/10/OffBalance.jpg" style="display: inline-block; margin-top: 0px;" width="200" /></a><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Off Balance</span></strong><br /><strong>by Aileen Erin</strong><br />(Aunare Chronicles #2)<br />Published by: Ink Monster LLC<br />Publication date: February 11th 2020<br />Genres: Dystopian, Young Adult<br />
<blockquote>
<b>From USA Today Bestselling Author Aileen Erin comes the second book in the <i>Aunare Chronicles</i>.</b><br />
Broken, beaten-down, and plagued by nightmares, Amihanna di Aetes is surrounded by the Aunare race that makes up the other half of her heritage, but she feels alien amongst them. She’s not sure which is worse: SpaceTech’s overt hatred of Aunare or the Aunare’s covert hatred of halfers. She hears their whispers whenever she enters a room and sees her death reflected in their eyes. Amihanna doesn’t know who to trust anymore, but she hasn’t survived this long by ignoring the warning signs all around her, especially when her instincts are screaming that a familiar choice is coming: flee or fight.<br />
Her parents assure her everything is okay—that there won’t be any reason for her to fight, let alone flee—but with Amihanna’s sudden return, questions arise among the Aunare: who should be blamed for the start of a full-scale war with SpaceTech, how much danger will the war bring, and is Amihanna truly fit to be the next high queen?<br />
Honestly, Amihanna wants to forget all the politics, her betrothal to Lorne, and the possibility of being queen. Her needs are much more basic. All she wants is a solid night’s sleep where she doesn’t wake up screaming with the phantom pain of her skin burning. All she needs is to live without fear of a mob tearing her away from her family. All she hopes for is a chance to dream of a future instead of constantly fighting for her right to live.<br />
And yet, somehow, everything she does leads her back to Lorne. He always seems to know when she’s about to break under the pressures of her new life. His quiet patience is wearing Amihanna’s protective walls down, and she’s terrified of what will happen if they fall.</blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44350177-off-balance?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://books2read.com/u/brVM1A?store=amazon" target="_blank">Amazon</a> / <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/off-balance-aileen-erin/1130732496" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> / <a href="https://books.apple.com/ca/book/off-balance/id1454692160?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4" target="_blank">iBooks</a> / <a href="https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/off-balance-19" target="_blank">Kobo</a> / <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=KLGKDwAAQBAJ" target="_blank">Google Play</a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">EXCERPT:</span></strong></div>
“Let’s get this one thing straight—I’m not breaking our betrothal contract.” He stalked back to me. “Not now. Not ever. If you want to break it, then we’ll discuss it. They’ve talked a lot about our contract on the news, so I’m sure you have it in your head that I’m planning on breaking it. But I’m not. I haven’t brought it up because you’ve been dealing with enough. I was giving you time, but I’d marry you tomorrow if I thought you’d agree.”<br />
Tomorrow? I had zero clue before this moment that he was completely insane. He couldn’t marry me, especially not tomorrow. I couldn’t be queen.<br />
“What if I want to break our betrothal?” I wasn’t sure I did, but I wasn’t sure I didn’t either.<br />
He strode quickly to me, knelt in front of my chair. I hugged my legs tighter to my chest, but he grabbed my ankles. “Look at me.”<br />
I looked everywhere but him.<br />
“Look at me, please.” He squeezed my ankles and let go. “Please.”<br />
I blew out a breath and rested my chin on my knees so that I could meet his gaze. It was hard to really look at him. Every time I did, I wanted him more and more, and I wasn’t sure how much more I could want him without becoming completely addicted. It took everything in me not to wrap my arms around his neck and pull him to me.<br />
He let go of one ankle and cupped my cheek. “Do you want to marry me?” He was using his low voice, the one that set my skin on fire.<br />
My skin was so bright and my stomach fluttered and flipped and I forced myself to choke down my first immediate response. The dumb one that wanted to slide past my lips effortlessly. I couldn’t answer his question because I didn’t trust myself to give him the right answer. The one that made sense.<br />
All signs of anger melted away from him. His back straightened, he held his head high, his <em>fao’ana</em> stopped flashing, and his skin dimmed a little.<br />
But it was his smile that told me he knew exactly what I’d been thinking.<br />
“This is where being your <em>shalshasa</em> comes into play. I’m as sensitive to frequencies as you are, but even more attuned to yours. I can feel your frequencies as your moods shift. Your immediate answer was going to be yes before you got scared.” He rose just a little, cupping my face with both his hands, and all I could see were his aquamarine eyes.<br />
The color I associated with calm and safety. The color I’d painted the walls in my room on Earth so that I could feel more at home. The color I wanted to get lost in forever.<br />
He brushed a soft kiss on my lips. It was quick, too quick, and it left me wanting more.<br />
“Until you can say no—honestly and without stress—I’m going to assume your answer is yes, and that you just need more time. I don’t want fear to be a part of your decision. Okay?”<br />
He leaned in for another kiss, and I wanted. I wanted it more than anything. But I made myself lean back in the chair, pulling my face from his hands.<br />
“I can’t do this.” The words were shaky, but I’d said them. I had to stop it before this went too far.<br />
“Why?”<br />
“Because…” There were too many reasons.<br />
Because he needed a queen.<br />
Because I didn’t want that much responsibility.<br />
“Because you deserve someone not broken.” That wasn’t the one I meant to go with, but words slipping out of me seemed to be the theme for our little chat.<br />
“You’re not broken. If anything, you’re confused. Which is totally understandable. You’ve been through a very rough thirteen years, and memories that would help you readjust to being home aren’t there. So, you need some time to heal. Which is what I’ve been giving you. I think you’d feel less fragile if you got a decent night’s sleep. If you ate more. If you took a moment to take care of yourself instead of spending twenty hours a day in the gym. Declan and his mission are going to kill you.”<br />
<br />
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px;">
<a href="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/05/Aileen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/05/Aileen.jpg" style="display: inline-block; margin-top: 0px;" width="180" /></a><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Author Bio:</span></b><br />
Aileen Erin is half-Irish, half-Mexican, and 100% nerd–from Star Wars (prequels don’t count) to Star Trek (TNG FTW), she reads Quenya and some Sindarin, and has a severe fascination with the supernatural. Aileen has a BS in Radio-TV-Film from the University of Texas at Austin, and an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. She lives with her husband in Los Angeles, and spends her days doing her favorite things: reading books, creating worlds, and kicking ass.<br />
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<a href="https://inkmonster.net/" target="_blank">Website</a> / <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7190350.Aileen_Erin" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://www.facebook.com/inkmonster.net" target="_blank">Facebook</a> / <a href="https://twitter.com/aileen_erin" target="_blank">Twitter</a> / <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aileenerin/" target="_blank">Instagram</a></div>
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The Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13335265648319784623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287339061582639795.post-15673736971206967632020-02-02T00:00:00.000-08:002020-02-02T00:00:14.181-08:00Book Blitz: Shadowed by Michelle Areaux!<div style="margin: 0 auto 15px; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/12/IMG_2937-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/12/IMG_2937-1.jpg" style="display: inline-block; margin-top: 0px;" /></a><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Shadowed</span></strong><br /><strong>by Michelle Areaux</strong><br />Published by: Kingston Publishing Company<br />Publication date: January 2nd 2020<br />Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult<br />
<blockquote>
Sixteen-year-old Henley Abbott is just trying to make it through high school in the small town of Edison, Washington where she has lived her entire life. Constantly feeling alone, she’s surprised when she finds herself intrigued by the new boy in town, Cohen Davenport.<br />
With the entire town talking about the new and secretive family, Henley refuses to join in on the rumors swirling about them and attempts to keep her distance.<br />
However, as Cohen becomes intrigued by Henley, the pair seems to find a spark in a kindling friendship.<br />
As the intensity of their relationship builds, Henley discovers a dark secret plaguing Cohen and his elusive family. He reveals a twisted past that has kept his family on the run…for decades.<br />
Cohen should keep his distance. It is too dangerous to bring Henley into his life, but he can’t stay away from her.<br />
And, Henley doesn’t want him to.<br />
As Henley overcomes her own fears and trepidations, she finds herself engrossed in a battle that could destroy them both. Only their connection could help them all survive.<br />
Intensely romantic and extremely thrilling, this novel will pull readers in from the very first page.<br />
Fans of Twilight, The Guardian Series, and the Marked Saga will instantly fall in love with this new paranormal series.</blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49253884-shadowed" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://amzn.to/2rEQp9G" target="_blank">Amazon</a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">EXCERPT:</span></strong></div>
As much as I liked to pretend, I wasn’t completely and totally intrigued by the thought of new people moving here; I couldn’t control myself. I tried to convince myself it was all because of my mom; but as I stood there, whispering the words, I knew there was no fooling myself. <br />
“Henley, don’t you know it’s not polite to stare?” she asked, but her own hypocritical words hung heavy in the air as she raced to join me in the living room again. <br />
Standing next to me, we watched intently as the driver’s side door opened. With large eyes, we strained to get a glimpse of who would be our new neighbor. To our surprise, the rest of the car doors opened and the family emerged. <br />
A tall man with dark hair closed the driver’s side door as a woman emerged from the passenger’s side. The back two doors opened and three teens, roughly around my age, tumbled out. A girl with short, dark hair and legs-for-days gave the house a disgusted look. A boy who seemed to be uninterested in it all, stared down into his phone, which he held tightly in his grip. Finally, a tall boy with the same dark hair stood behind the rest of his family. With his hands tucked deep into his jeans pockets, he seemed reluctant to move any closer to the house. <br />
“Well, they look like a nice family,” my mom said. I turned to look at her and I could see the eagerness twinkling in her baby blues to get to her phone and be the first one to spill the news that the new neighbors had arrived. <br />
It was almost like they had landed in a spaceship and were from outer space!<br />
“Maybe,” I grumbled, still unsure about these people. <br />
Suddenly, the boy, standing alone behind his family, turned and caught me snooping on them. Our eyes connected for a brief moment before he gave me an angry snarl that had me stumbling backward. <br />
What was that? <br />
“I need to go call Susan,” my mom stated, as she rushed to the kitchen to retrieve her phone. <br />
I dared to look back out the window again; and when I did, the entire family was gone. <br />
Just disappeared, like they had never been standing there in the first place. <br />
I blinked, just to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. When I looked again, the SUV was still parked along the curb, but the family was gone. <br />
Lights glowed from inside the house. <br />
“That’s weird,” I said aloud to myself. How did they have time to get inside and turn on the lights? I literally just turned around for a second. <br />
I shook my head, unsure of what to think. Peeking out of the window again, something in the far, second-floor window caught my attention. As my gaze moved up, I felt my cheeks burn and nervous energy flow through me. As my gaze finally landed on the window, I caught a pair of red eyes staring back at me. It was the same boy who had given me the nasty stare just moments before. <br />
I closed the curtains and took a step back. My heart was racing so fast, I feared it might jump right out of my chest. With labored breathing, I slowly walked into the kitchen where my mom was blabbing the news to anyone who would listen.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/12/Michelle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/12/Michelle.jpg" style="display: inline-block; margin-top: 0px;" width="133" /></span></a><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></b></blockquote>
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<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Author Bio:</span></b><br />
Michelle Areaux is a wife, mother, and seventh grade Language Arts teacher.<br />
She earned her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Kentucky and a Master’s degree in Literacy from Asbury University. </blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px;">
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<a href="https://authormichelleareaux.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> / <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13735516.Michelle_Areaux" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://twitter.com/MichelleAreaux" target="_blank">Twitter</a> / <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Author-Michelle-Areaux-Novels-Page-1515918905127542/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> / <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdgFGExKlW05JoxUk9FyuzM4pHsTZjMSjp_cndfXT82uAQ9Pg/viewform" target="_blank">Newsletter</a> / <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/michelle-areaux" target="_blank">Bookbub</a></div>
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The Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13335265648319784623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287339061582639795.post-48086913328784107092020-01-27T00:00:00.000-08:002020-01-30T06:47:53.187-08:00Cover Reveal: Sticks & Stones by Dianne Beck!<div style="margin: 0 auto 15px; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/01/Sticks-and-Stones-eBook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/01/Sticks-and-Stones-eBook.jpg" style="display: inline-block; margin-top: 0px;" /></a><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Sticks & Stones</span></strong><br /><strong>by Dianne Beck</strong><br />Published by: Acorn Publishing<br />Publication date: March 18th 2020<br />Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult<br />
<blockquote>
When fifteen-year-old Emily Greene wakes up to police banging on her door, she is shocked to see her mother arrested on drug charges.<br />
Uprooted and in disbelief, Emily moves to a new town to stay with her grandmother, known as Crazy Carol for her outspoken faith and quirky behaviors. As if the arrest isn’t enough, kids at her new school immediately begin to stereotype and judge her based on the news they’ve heard about her mom.<br />
Emily is sure her mother’s fiancé is to blame for the crime. He has conveniently disappeared since the day of the arrest. She’s determined to find him, and prove he’s at fault. But something awful happens, shaking her world yet again.<br />
After this string of tragedies, Emily starts to question God, but is gently and consistently reminded by her grandmother, through stories she tells of all the sticks, leaves, and stones she collects, that God is her good and faithful parent.<br />
Emily must learn that the words others say about her don’t matter, that her mom’s mistakes don’t define her, and she is always deeply loved by her heavenly father. If only she can learn to forgive herself.</blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/01/Dianne.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/01/Dianne.png" style="display: inline-block; margin-top: 0px;" width="132" /></a><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Author Bio:</span></b><br />
Dianne Beck has spent the majority of her career teaching students ranging from Kindergarten through adult. No matter what age, her biggest goal is to encourage her students to be their own unique selves, to have confidence in who they are, and to follow their passions.<br />
Dianne’s debut young adult novel, Sticks and Stones, was inspired by her years of teaching, where she saw so many students struggle with varying issues, and also experienced how an understanding ear and relevant literature could make a significant impact on their lives. She hopes young people as well as adults can find faith and strength, like her main character Emily does, even when things seem to be falling apart.<br />
Dianne is motivated daily by her faith in God, her husband, and her four adult children. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading, sipping coffee, browsing a bookstore, or pursuing a part-time faith and fitness ministry at www,ofcommonground.com.<br />
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<a href="https://www.diannebeck.com/" target="_blank">Website</a></div>
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The Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13335265648319784623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287339061582639795.post-38959253034821625922020-01-14T00:00:00.000-08:002020-01-14T10:42:11.700-08:00Book Blitz: Sons of Fire by Tracy Auerbach!<div style="margin: 0 auto 15px; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/10/SonsofFire.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/10/SonsofFire.png" style="display: inline-block; margin-top: 0px;" width="265" /></a><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Sons of Fire</span></strong><br /><strong>by Tracy Auerbach</strong><br />Publication date: January 7th 2020<br />Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult<br />
<blockquote>
When Keegan’s father, the Demon King of Fire, attempted to produce an heir, a surge of light energy interrupted the process. One tiny piece of the newly forming demon broke off. That piece is Keegan. For years, he has attempted to lay low, watching from the shadows while his monstrous brother Aidan, the true Prince of Fire, is groomed for the throne.<br />
Keegan’s shaky status quo is shattered when one of his father’s power-plays goes horribly wrong. He is cast to Earth and forced to work with a suddenly powerless Aidan. The two brothers must cooperate to complete an impossible task and avoid being cast forever into the abyss. As if having to spend time with his beastly other half wasn’t bad enough, Keegan must adapt to living on Earth, wielding his new human vessel, and dealing with his demonic appetite without harming the human creatures for whom he has always cared.<br />
As Keegan and Aidan work to save themselves, questions arise. What exactly was the King of Fire up to, that sparked their Master’s interest enough to cast them from the Demon Realm? Can Aidan be trusted in his new human form, complete with emotions, or is he the same unfeeling creature he’s always been? And why are so many demons suddenly invested in the outcome of the brothers’ trial? The only thing Keegan knows for certain is that whether he succeeds or fails at the task, the consequences for the Demon Realm and for Earth itself will be catastrophic.</blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43248506-sons-of-fire" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://books2read.com/u/mgZ97v?store=amazon" target="_blank">Amazon</a> / <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sons-of-fire-tracy-auerbach/1134097556" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> / <a href="https://books.apple.com/ca/book/sons-of-fire/id1483603635?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4" target="_blank">iBooks</a> / <a href="https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/sons-of-fire-1" target="_blank">Kobo</a> / <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=4Wu4DwAAQBAJ" target="_blank">Google Play</a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">EXCERPT:</span></strong></div>
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<strong><em><u>The Demon Realm, Present Day</u></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><u>1</u></em></strong></div>
Adramelech, King of Fire, stood before all the souls he had gathered, admiring the fruits of his labor. Collecting and shepherding them to his realm had taken work, but it was nothing compared to all the time and effort he had expended to reach this moment: his moment of triumph. The pale energy orbs of the damned, thousands of them, floated above the parched brown floor, drifting aimlessly, bumping into each other or into the black-hot walls of stone around them. The stage was now set for him to finally seize control from his impotent ‘Master.’<br />
“Come to me, <em>Fire</em>,” he called. <br />
A moment passed before his offspring shimmered into being several paces away. The Prince cast a vacant stare upon Adramelech, awaiting orders. The young demon’s strong torso was bare, his dark hair hanging over the translucent skin of his face. Dragonfire swirled beneath the skin’s surface, lending the impression of movement to his form. His eyes were black with hunger while his handsome, human-like figure swelled with power. <br />
The offspring was a paradox of mental weakness and physical fortitude that had taken two hundred years to create and shape. But now it had, at last, come to fruition and Adramelech knew that his efforts had been well spent. The being before him contained so much power that it only held its pretty visage through sheer force of will. And still it wanted more. Always hungry, always obedient, always <em>his</em>.<br />
“It is time, my Fire,” crooned Adramelech. “Do you understand what you must do?”<br />
The boy-shaped demon nodded.<br />
“First, I will give unto you what remains of my power. When I leave, you must follow the instructions exactly as I have lain them out. Remember, above all else, that it is still <em>my </em>power. I will not become another Lucifer, who cast his strength into a sword and imprisoned himself in ice for all eternity. <em>My </em>sword will behave. If you fail, I shall be forced to resort to my back-up plan. And believe me that the alternate arrangement is something you would not want to experience.”<br />
The Prince nodded, eyes still dull and hungry. Adramelech knew his Fire would not speak unless he himself requested it.<br />
“Do you have any questions?”<br />
The demon shook his head.<br />
“Then let us begin.” Adramelech willed the power within every molecule of his own form to flow to the surface, watching his creation’s eyes glow in anticipation. Indeed, the only time his heir came to life was when a large feeding was expected. The boy-shaped demon opened its mouth as Adramelech began to speak. “I, Adramelech, Son of Lucifer, offer a portion of my power unto you.”<br />
“I, Fire, Son of Adramelech…” the Prince began.<br />
“You must include the ridiculous human title Paimon bestowed unto you,” Adramelech corrected. “It is your written name and therefore necessary for the ritual.”<br />
“I, <em>Aidan</em> Fire, Son of Adramelech, accept the power and take it unto my form to hold, so that Adramelech, King of Fire, may wield both it and I as he sees fit.”<br />
Adramelech focused his power into a beam of energy and shot it toward his creation. Even as the Prince’s power swelled and his eyes turned the golden hue of Dragonfire, he accepted the gift hungrily. Adramelech considered all that he had wrought and was pleased.<br />
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<a href="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/07/Tracy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/07/Tracy.jpg" style="display: inline-block; margin-top: 0px;" width="109" /></a><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Author Bio:</span></b><br />
Tracy Auerbach is an author of science fiction and fantasy for teens and adults. As an avid reader with a vivid imagination, she chose to study film, English, and education, and went on to teach and write STEM curriculum for the New York Department of Education. This helped to polish her writing skills and ignite her passion for science fiction and fantasy. <br />
Her first scholarly article, published in Language Magazine, was about the value of active, creative learning in science.<br />
On the fiction side, Tracy’s work has been featured in the online literary journal Micro-horror, The Writing Disorder fiction anthology, and the “(Dis)ability” short story anthology, in addition to her novels.<br />
When she is not teaching or writing, Tracy is usually reading or spending time with her family. She lives in New York with her husband and sons.<br />
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<a href="https://tracyauerbach.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> / <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5265528.Tracy_Auerbach" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tracyauerbachauthor/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> / <a href="https://twitter.com/TracyAuerbach" target="_blank">Twitter</a> / <a href="https://www.instagram.com/auerbach.tracy/" target="_blank">Instagram</a></div>
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The Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13335265648319784623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287339061582639795.post-14318834887992911862019-12-30T11:17:00.003-08:002019-12-30T11:17:50.355-08:00The Merciful Crow (The Merciful Crow #1) by Margaret Owen (Review)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tr1HJZQk0pSmlZRAxcJ6QxKZx9SO8kxCFPQXyvBHAMYJwMC7IOQApbMDwoxzPgmcz_7mFicr8WVx_vniQUxTL-rUoIiByfFCYU-nwNIubCbaVIMA7mhtIcjIGfzc2dSL_sFb1wuQJShL/s1600/tumblr_87f666a0e66c62a53d6ae56b0dcc2511_6932b375_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="500" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tr1HJZQk0pSmlZRAxcJ6QxKZx9SO8kxCFPQXyvBHAMYJwMC7IOQApbMDwoxzPgmcz_7mFicr8WVx_vniQUxTL-rUoIiByfFCYU-nwNIubCbaVIMA7mhtIcjIGfzc2dSL_sFb1wuQJShL/s200/tumblr_87f666a0e66c62a53d6ae56b0dcc2511_6932b375_500.gif" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFhfvx0l8vGwD3jUTyYyPusUoxEnJzj89cqNVXfCgX25br8HbHU0pWLB_ehUlgh-eDHeuW0S-KC81NV6LJRFgRDRfODhFDmz9libkL2EFVBEbb77ENmVCAbXFUqFVeYH4Bh88fCybb_p5k/s1600/36483378._SX318_-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFhfvx0l8vGwD3jUTyYyPusUoxEnJzj89cqNVXfCgX25br8HbHU0pWLB_ehUlgh-eDHeuW0S-KC81NV6LJRFgRDRfODhFDmz9libkL2EFVBEbb77ENmVCAbXFUqFVeYH4Bh88fCybb_p5k/s200/36483378._SX318_-2.jpg" width="136" /></a> Plague doctor, meets magical people, meets class struggles, meets racial-like group divides; The Merciful Crow successfully merges many different topics and ideas into an actually fun read. Fie is a Merciful Crow, and a future chieftain of her group of crows. She is loyal, dedicated and always puts her Crows first. They are the lowest caste in their society, and they go from place to place in poverty, collecting those with the plague, as they are immune, mercy killing them and burning their corpses to prevent the spread of the plague. It is a thankless and reviled but much needed job. When collecting the dead of the highest class, those of royalty, Fie and her clan get sucked into a battle to save the throne and ultimately save a hunted prince and his brother like Hawk guard. Why? Because if they succeed, the prince is sworn to save and protect the hunted and hated Crow caste.<br />
I enjoyed reading The Merciful Crow. The world building was really well done and I found myself believing in the magic in the universe. The teeth magic that Fie uses was believable and didn't reach a point of being overpowered, which I find authors often struggle to avoid with magical powers. I also enjoyed the loyalty Fie displayed, and the author avoided a lot of pouting and having the character making dumb-out-of-character choices to forward the plot, and Fie was allowed to stay consistently loyal and rational at the same time. All in all, I really enjoyed The Merciful Crow and I give it the rating of FOUR AND A HALF OUT OF FIVE STARS!!!<br />
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*Advanced Readers Copy Review*</div>
The Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13335265648319784623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287339061582639795.post-24292947126968134812019-12-02T00:00:00.000-08:002019-12-29T19:33:00.847-08:00Book Blitz: Meet Me in the Strange by Leander Watts!<div style="margin: 0 auto 15px; text-align: center;">
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Meet Me in the Strange</span></strong><br /><strong>by Leander Watts </strong><br />Published by: Meerkat Press<br />Publication date: March 27th 2018<br />Genres: Coming of Age, Fantasy, Young Adult<br />
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2019 IPPY SILVER MEDALIST – YOUNG ADULT<br />
Meet Me in the Strange is an intoxicating adventure set in a glittery, retro-futuristic world of glam rock, spectral aliens, and gender-bendy teens. Davi is mesmerized by a girl at a concert, who appears to lose herself in the power of the otherworldy music of Django Conn. Later, through a chance meeting, Davi becomes friends with the girl, Anna Z. She is like no one Davi has ever met: she loves to talk, talk, talk and has grandiose theories of the next evolution of humans and a strange phenomenon she calls the “Alien Drift.”But danger lurks around every corner, because Anna Z is on the run, and her cruel and controlling older brother is determined to find her, at any cost. Davi faces a daunting decision, go on living a safe existence at the magical Angelus Hotel, which has been in the family for generations, or help Anna Z escape her troubled past. When the two take off to follow the concert tour of their glam-rock idol, Django Conn, Davi and Anna Z will face the biggest threat of their young lives.</blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36319417-meet-me-in-the-strange" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://books2read.com/u/bzvRnj?store=amazon" target="_blank">Amazon</a> / <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/meet-me-in-the-strange-leander-watts/1127065818#/" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> / <a href="https://books.apple.com/ca/book/meet-me-in-the-strange/id1442132600?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4" target="_blank">iBooks</a> / <a href="https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/meet-me-in-the-strange-1" target="_blank">Kobo</a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">EXCERPT:</span></strong></div>
It was like she’d lost everything. Her name, her voice, any idea who she was or what she looked like, who the people were around her. The only thing that mattered was right there in front of her on the stage.<br />
We were up close—masses of glam-girls and glister-boys all reaching out at the air like we could feel the music in our hands and pull it into ourselves. Wild kids pushing and pulsing with the music. Not really dancing. But it was music and bodies, so what else could you call it?<br />
And it was the most amazing thing I’d ever seen because the girl was gone—not just freaked or blissed-out. She’d let go, totally, of everything.<br />
I got that first glimpse of her about halfway through the show, and it was like I was split right down the middle of my skull. One half was still there with the rest of the crowd, the band like the Horses of Apollo carrying me upward with the fiery sound. And one half of me was zapped by seeing this girl, like a knife juiced with electricity cutting into my brain. She was gone, vanished, disappeared inside herself.<br />
I was cranked up like all the other five thousand fan-kids who’d come to hear Django Conn, and see him and feel him. Some of them had dyed orange, cockatoo haircuts just like Django. Some—boys and girls—had eye makeup, silvery mascara, and big, shiny slashes of lipstick, dangly earrings and platform shoes, feathers and fishnets, and the whole glam look. But this girl was different.<br />
She had glasses, ordinary eyeglasses. They were steamed over and caught the spotlights from the stage, oozy reds and liquid purples. Her hair was black, long and damp in snaky-sexy locks that clung to her face and her neck. And just for a second, I thought she looked like somebody who was shipwrecked, drowning in a sea, dying almost but okay with that, or more than okay, letting the waves sweep her up and away.<br />
I don’t remember what she had on. Doesn’t matter. Was she pretty? Maybe. Beautiful? Doubtful. Amazing? Absolutely.<br />
She wasn’t one of them, not exactly, trying to look like, trying to be Django. And neither was I, even though I’d been waiting months for this show, and I loved Man in the Moon in the Man more than just about anything in the world. I’d been listening to the new album nonstop for weeks, my new diamond needle wearing out the grooves.<br />
For the song “She’s the Hype,” the lights went into a wild black and white strobe. Off and on and off and on, pulsing, slamming, stuttering. And the girl kept appearing and disappearing. Not like a ghost all wispy and see-through. In flashes, for a second or two, she was solid, real, realer than anything. It was like the light itself was a drum, pounding light hitting the crowd in sudden bursts. I got a glimpse, and then she was gone. Then back again, broken up into frames like an old film, flickering in and out of reality.<br />
Nobody was paying attention to other people. Nobody but me. All eyes were on Django, and all ears were blasted by the band. So when the girl lost it, when she totally lost it, I was the only one who saw and got it. Private, secret, just me and her alone, even though we were surrounded by five thousand others at the Maxima. Just me and her in that secret place.<br />
The band got hotter, and the crowd got wilder. Django got fiercer, jumping into “I Asked for Water but She Gave me Gasoline.” And I lost sight of the girl, like the tidal waves pushed us apart, a couple of pieces of broken driftwood in a blackwater storm.<br />
Django did all my faves: “I Fear No Venom,” “Girls Will Be Boys,” “Empire of Light,” “Pavlov’s Daughters.” They finished up with “Flash Bang Baby.” And then Django vanished in a sudden cloud, like a puff ball when it bursts and shoots that cloud of dust-spores into the air. It was like he blew up right there in front of five thousand fans. One second he was singing the last line from the last song on Man in the Moon in the Man, over and over again: “You’re all I’ve ever had!” Then the band crashed to the end of the song, and it looked as if he’d exploded. It was just a stage trick of course, lights and smoke like a magician uses to cover up his best illusion. But Django blew up and the dust spores whooshed out over us, a cloud of powder pink and velvety violet, and that was the end of the show.<br />
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<a href="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/03/Leander.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/03/Leander.jpg" style="display: inline-block; margin-top: 0px;" /></a><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Author Bio:</span></b><br />
An avid musician, Leander Watts has played and sung for decades in a wide variety of bands. His interests range from garage rock to skronky jazz, from baroque organ to Appalachian gospel. The first rock concert he attended was David Bowie on the Diamond Dogs tour in 1974. He teaches writing and literature at the State University of New York at Geneseo (his alma mater). Leander Watts is the author of STONECUTTER, WILD RIDE TO HEAVEN, TEN THOUSAND CHARMS, and BEAUTIFUL CITY OF THE DEAD.<br />
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<a href="http://zigguratlounge.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> / <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/179805.Leander_Watts" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></div>
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The Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13335265648319784623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287339061582639795.post-91825014567160746162019-11-30T23:30:00.000-08:002019-12-30T10:50:42.119-08:00Crown of Coral and Pearl (Crown of Coral and Pearl #1) by Mara Rutherford (Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51qImST39wM33S0ZTMsp6R_-G3ko8HAl8neeAnzg0iFWA_PsXsXh-GaVolVErjxhgAhST3wCzjTEJAJIUN9S-aqpgpBw-8G11cJJXBn-j2yTVUyCEYBggVNBK1b1LICX11tE8x_zuffL1/s1600/tumblr_o62h3cTen61toamj8o1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="500" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51qImST39wM33S0ZTMsp6R_-G3ko8HAl8neeAnzg0iFWA_PsXsXh-GaVolVErjxhgAhST3wCzjTEJAJIUN9S-aqpgpBw-8G11cJJXBn-j2yTVUyCEYBggVNBK1b1LICX11tE8x_zuffL1/s200/tumblr_o62h3cTen61toamj8o1_500.gif" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GGS-DVbEZmR6oxea_hT-8Yvl_MGWomKqwHYdCpeWcNSBs8AUgA3KV3bW2J5e2VaUuejgXPXyQY7kj6c4APXW42dX-q37ljuGfLoCa2l5EjflLk-Ng28zTAABIKQ1SZtoReITj3lqTsAm/s1600/37777083._SY475_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GGS-DVbEZmR6oxea_hT-8Yvl_MGWomKqwHYdCpeWcNSBs8AUgA3KV3bW2J5e2VaUuejgXPXyQY7kj6c4APXW42dX-q37ljuGfLoCa2l5EjflLk-Ng28zTAABIKQ1SZtoReITj3lqTsAm/s200/37777083._SY475_.jpg" width="131" /></a> Nor was born and raised in a water locked village on the sea. No land, just planks houses and water. She and her twin sister Zadie were raised to be beautiful, to be perfect. Perfection means being chosen, and being chosen means going to the mainland, and going to the mainland as the chosen girl means marrying the prince, it means becoming the queen. It also means never getting to come home again, never seeing their twin sister again, and losing everything they know. After a childhood injury, Zadie becomes the default choice, and their fates seemed set in stone, but as the day of choosing grows closer, the sisters become unhappy about their lot, and when a great tragedy strikes, Nor is thrust into a whole new world where things are not as they seem and things are far more dangerous then she had ever considered.<br />
I fairly enjoyed Crown of Coral and Pearl. It wasn't what I thought it would be. For some reason I was expecting a more aquatic focused novel, but this story was very tension and action entered instead. The locations change, and are almost inconsequential compared to the deep focus on political danger and drama. This wouldn't sound like something I would like, but I really did. It was fairly fantastic. I found I really liked the characters or Nor and Zadie, and the tensions in the novel towards the end were just fantastic. There was a great slow tension build in this novel. As to not spoil anything, I'll leave that there. All in all, I loved Crown of Coral and Pearl and give it the rating of FOUR AND A HALF STARS OUT OF FIVE!!!<br />
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*Advanced Readers Copy Review*</div>
The Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13335265648319784623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287339061582639795.post-60489717078614635052019-10-31T00:00:00.000-07:002019-12-30T10:50:05.936-08:00Gravemaidens (Gravemaidens #1) by Kelly Coon (Review)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfcS8nBKV8595ywELChDydk2OJE7VecUpiLUPfCtXD8hZ2V5yEtm3568QKSxpl5IytxfrvPdMO0RUsPO7dsNdD8vB798qbr8V2oL-Jx6Lvv9udz2KfWG9cGCYifBhWudV8IzmbAMCpSeBI/s1600/tumblr_d016ce5b015cef8fadaede2db414e821_ce4f4e14_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfcS8nBKV8595ywELChDydk2OJE7VecUpiLUPfCtXD8hZ2V5yEtm3568QKSxpl5IytxfrvPdMO0RUsPO7dsNdD8vB798qbr8V2oL-Jx6Lvv9udz2KfWG9cGCYifBhWudV8IzmbAMCpSeBI/s200/tumblr_d016ce5b015cef8fadaede2db414e821_ce4f4e14_500.gif" width="160" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGbHZhuCsJ8-lObo3VtGTfKtz9kRDltZE_51PoXgIZtSAwyxrbWt91uVUSKZdP33MWw_tolPgTSmeOURtdmGtacs0Xsdom5YREtG80Un_U6A0zAvK38R5B-qno7lG0gKAVTPh4GpvCAkZ/s1600/36637071._SY475_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGbHZhuCsJ8-lObo3VtGTfKtz9kRDltZE_51PoXgIZtSAwyxrbWt91uVUSKZdP33MWw_tolPgTSmeOURtdmGtacs0Xsdom5YREtG80Un_U6A0zAvK38R5B-qno7lG0gKAVTPh4GpvCAkZ/s200/36637071._SY475_.jpg" width="131" /></a> When the king of Alu grows ill, an ancient ceremony is initiated to send three women (gravemaidens) as his brides into the afterlife. Kammani is a young woman in Alu, and wants nothing more than to be a as great a healer as her father, and to restore her family through her great skill. She's on the path to accomplishing that goal, but then her world is then thrown into utter chaos as the king grows ill and her sister is selected as one of the gravemaidens destined to die. As everyone else celebrates the honour, Kammani sees what it is: a death sentence. It is up to Kammani to save her sister the only way she knows how, to heal the king. Penalty for failing? Both she and her sister will die. With the stakes being this high, she has no room for mistakes or failure, esspecially when there are people who want nothing more than to make sure the king does not get healed.<br />
Gravemaidens was a mediocre to good read. I didn't love it, and probably won't re-read it, but I will be continuing in the series. I had a good time trying to figure out the mystery of it, and I was genuinely rooting for Kammani. My only issue was that I found this book dragged a little bit, and took a while to really capture my attention. I don't think this book is for everyone, and I don't believe that is the most interesting read ever, but I also cannot determine anything very wrong with it; so all in all, I would have to give Gravemaidens the rating of THREE AND A HALF STARS OUT OF FIVE!!!<br />
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*Advanced Readers Copy Review*</div>
The Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13335265648319784623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287339061582639795.post-1989450233967098522019-10-15T00:00:00.000-07:002019-10-17T06:47:12.589-07:00Book Blitz: Scorpion Blood by Stephany Wallace & J.L. Weil!<div style="margin: 0 auto 15px; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/09/1.-SCORPION-BLOOD-EBOOK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/09/1.-SCORPION-BLOOD-EBOOK.jpg" style="display: inline-block; margin-top: 0px;" width="250" /></a><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Scorpion Blood </span></strong><br />
<b>by </b><strong>Stephany Wallace & J.L. Weil</strong><br />(Supernatural Taskforce Academy, Mission 1)<br />Publication date: October 15th 2019<br />Genres: New Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult<br />
<blockquote>
<strong>What does an ex-military, a vampire, a phoenix, a wolf shifter,</strong><br />
<strong>a fae, and a witch all have in common?</strong><br />
<strong>Nothing… other than being handpicked to save the world.</strong><br />
<strong>May the Gods save us all.</strong><br />
If someone had told young, ex-Delta Force <em><strong>Ethan James</strong></em>, that supernatural creatures were real, he would have laughed.<em><strong> See to believe</strong> </em>was his motto, until one day he was kidnapped by a being that could only exist in dreams… <em>or nightmares</em>. Taken to a place where having extraordinary abilities is the norm, he’ll be offered the opportunity of a lifetime.<br />
<strong><em>The Supernatural Taskforce Academy—or STA</em></strong> as it’s known—is an elite academy for witches, fae, shifters, vampires, and every other class of supernaturals with exceptional skills. But what the heck does STA want with a human? An ex-soldier at that?<br />
<em><strong>Renna Blackwood</strong></em> doesn’t play nice with others. She might have a <em>mean girl</em>reputation, who snubs her nose at the rules, but with skills like hers, she has rightfully earned every ounce of that reputation. She is a bleeding vampire for God’s sake. So, when the council assigns her the task of awakening new members for the academy, Renna isn’t the least bit surprised.<br />
Until she sees who her partner is…<br />
A mortal. With a heartbeat.<br />
Swell. This should be fun.</blockquote>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">EXCERPT:</span></strong></div>
Startling sapphire blue eyes pierced through me, seeming to glow in the darkness, and made only brighter by her pale skin and long obsidian hair. She had plumped lips stained dark, and I couldn’t stop my eyes from continuing their admiration. What I considered perfect breasts, were tightly wrapped in a leather crop top that allowed me to gaze at her tiny waist, and flat stomach. Her skin soon took on curves made from my dreams, widening into perfectly round hips clad in tight leather pants.<br />
Yep. I was done for.<br />
Blood rushed through my body in response—to all the right places, but at the worst possible moment. When my gaze returned to hers, I found her eyes taking every inch of me too, but she wasn’t just memorizing my eight pack, biceps and pecs, she stared at me dumbfounded. Like she knew me.<br />
“What the hell are you doing here?!” she suddenly barked, but forced herself to swallow, like the sight of me in nothing but jeans and boots flustered her.<br />
“What?” I asked, confused and hypnotized by her all at once.<br />
“Renna, excuse me. A little help over here!” a girl shouted from the other end of the room. What looked like energy spheres burst from her hands toward the <em>Spider Queen</em>, that was chasing a young man with glasses as he ran for his life, screaming like a girl.<br />
What the fuck?<br />
“Are there any bullets left in that thing?” the beauty called Renna asked me.<br />
“Yes, I have six shots left.”<br />
“Okay, I’m going to wrangle <em>Miss Itsy Bitsy</em> over there, and you shoot her.”<br />
“It won’t do anything. Her body swallowed the bullets. I was only able to slow her down by—”<br />
“Shut up,” she ordered. “You are wasting time. Just shoot her in the eyes.” Turning, she ran full force toward the creature, her body blurring in front of my eyes from the insane speed she possessed.<br />
<em>What the fuck is happ</em>—I was barely able to think the question, before she sent the whip flying through the air again. The iron cord wrapped around the creature’s neck, pulling her back from attacking her guy friend, and slamming her against the ground with force. But Renna didn’t stop there…<br />
<br />
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px;">
<a href="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/09/ScorpionAuthors.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/09/ScorpionAuthors.png" style="cursor: move; display: inline-block; margin-top: 0px;" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Author Bio:</b></span><br />
J.L. Weil is a USA TODAY Bestselling author of teen & new adult paranormal romance, fantasy, and urban fantasy books about spunky, smart mouth girls who always wind up in dire situations. For every sassy girl, there is an equally mouthwatering, overprotective guy. She lives in Illinois with her family who put up with her Supernatural and Harry Potter fanatics. It's a problem.<br />
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<b>Author links:</b><br />
<a href="https://www.jlweil.com/">Website</a> / <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5831854.J_L_Weil">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jenniferlweil">Facebook</a> / <a href="https://twitter.com/jlweil">Twitter</a> / <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jlweil/">Instagram</a></div>
</blockquote>
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<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px;">
Bestselling Author Stephany Wallace has been writing since she was about 12 years old. Thanks to the influence of her Literature teacher who was also a poet, began to write Poetry, which allowed her passion for writing to grow. Writing songs followed as her love extended to music. An artist at heart and soul, she enjoys all forms of Art, and occasionally indulges in drawing, playing her guitar, and singing.<br />
Shortly after my NPR debut, she won two awards as Best Debut Author 2016, Hidden Magic won the award for Best Debut Novel and her Oh, so #CynfullyDelicious character, Cynwrig "Cyn" Bressall, won Best Book Boyfriend From Another Country.<br />
She currently writes Fantasy Romance, Epic Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance and any other AWESOME Fantasy genre.<br />
As any die-hard Star Wars and Disney fan would naturally do, she moved to Orlando to be closer to Disney a few years back, where she lives happily ever after with her family. Now, she spends her days listening to book boyfriends and headstrong heroines tell her what to do.<br />
Steph, has many more adventures to embark on, so make sure you join her in her magical journey.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Author links:</b><br />
<a href="https://www.stephanywallace.com/">Website</a> / <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15935303.Stephany_Wallace">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://www.facebook.com/stephwauthor/">Facebook</a> / <a href="https://twitter.com/stephwauthor">Twitter</a> / <a href="https://www.instagram.com/stephwauthor/">Instagram</a></div>
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The Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13335265648319784623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287339061582639795.post-24172630457249347582019-10-01T00:00:00.000-07:002019-10-17T06:49:07.309-07:00Cover Reveal: The Mercenary's Daughter by Jessica Therrien & Joe Gazzam!<div style="margin: 0 auto 15px; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/09/The-Mercenarys-Daughter-eBook-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/09/The-Mercenarys-Daughter-eBook-small.jpg" style="display: inline-block; margin-top: 0px;" width="225" /></a><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Mercenary’s Daughter</span> </strong><br /><strong>by Jessica Therrien & Joe Gazzam </strong><br />Published by: Acorn Publishing<br />Publication date: March 31st 2020<br />Genres: Thriller, Young Adult<br />
<blockquote>
When Special Ops recruit, Tara Kafee is dishonorably discharged, there’s only one place to go—Home.<br />
But there’s more waiting for her there than she’s ready for.<br />
It’s been four years since she’s been back and ten since her mother walked out on the family never to be heard of again.<br />
She’s determined to rekindle things with her father and keep him close. That is, until he goes missing.<br />
Soon after stumbling upon a safe room full of weapons, fake passports, and a mission’s dossier marking a target in Cuba, she reluctantly accepts the help of her angsty teenage brother. He’s the only one she can trust, so together, the two set out for Havana.<br />
Tara is determined to get her father back, whatever it takes, but things are never easy when you’re the mercenary’s daughter.</blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/09/mercauthrs.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://www.xpressobooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/09/mercauthrs.png" style="display: inline-block; margin-top: 0px;" width="168" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Author Bio:</b></span><br />
Jessica Therrien is the author of the young adult series Children of the Gods. Book one in the series, Oppression, became a Barnes & Noble best-seller shortly after its release. Her trilogy has been translated and sold through major publishers around the world, such as Editions AdA (Canada), EditionsMilan (France), and SharpPoint Press (China).<br />
Aside from her Children of the Gods series, Jessica is the author of a kid's picture book called, The Loneliest Whale. Her award-winning stories can also be found in a published anthology of flash fiction.<br />
Jessica spent most of her life in the small town of Chilcoot, California, high up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In this town of nearly 100 residents, with no streetlights or grocery stores, there was little to do but find ways to be creative. Her mother, the local English teacher, inspired her to do all things artistic, and ultimately instilled in her a love for language.<br />
In 2003, Jessica attended California State University Long Beach where her passion for language found her studying Chinese, and in 2005 she moved to Taiwan to study abroad. From 2005 to 2006 Jessica was fully immersed in the Chinese language as she attended National Taiwan University, and in 2008 she graduated from San Diego State University magna cum laude.<br />
Jessica currently lives in Irvine with her husband and two young sons. She is working on a new YA thriller/suspense series and a middle grade fantasy series.<br />
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<b>Author links:</b><br />
<a href="https://www.jessicatherrienbooks.com/">Website</a> / <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5406182.Jessica_Therrien">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jessicatherrienauthor/">Facebook</a> / <a href="https://twitter.com/JessicaTherrien">Twitter</a> / <a href="https://www.instagram.com/authorjessicatherrien/">Instagram</a></div>
—<br />
Screenwriter/Novelist Joe Gazzam has been a working screenwriter for 8 years working on such films as:<br />
Shadow Run<br />
Cliffhanger<br />
21 Jump Street<br />
Barbarella<br />
Step Up: Revolution<br />
Disney's Hawaiian Adventure<br />
It Takes a Thief<br />
Anubis Tapestry<br />
(and many more)<br />
His debut novel, UNCAGED, out now!<br />
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<b>Author links:</b><br />
<a href="https://joegazzam.wixsite.com/mysite">Website</a> / <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7231923.Joe_Gazzam">Goodreads</a> / <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorGazzam/">Facebook</a> / <a href="https://www.instagram.com/joe_gazzam/">Instagram</a></div>
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The Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13335265648319784623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287339061582639795.post-46500613700324656342019-09-30T00:00:00.000-07:002019-12-30T10:43:47.417-08:00Vow of Thieves (Dance of Thieves #2) by Mary E. Pearson (Review)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlA3SNhDQySZK2oprLdQdDgZnz9UNrgdM2Xql4gQus84HmxLk2mYDWawQrY5u0RbyxcHDqJE9JZpH_r_LoOcZhp1q7nLTJQZUSmYBtfuF1OMNh9o8NSrbSnxzXGR8a1ov4MO2Ttd1BxF_/s1600/tumblr_pe87kac8YO1x5k9foo1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="500" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYlA3SNhDQySZK2oprLdQdDgZnz9UNrgdM2Xql4gQus84HmxLk2mYDWawQrY5u0RbyxcHDqJE9JZpH_r_LoOcZhp1q7nLTJQZUSmYBtfuF1OMNh9o8NSrbSnxzXGR8a1ov4MO2Ttd1BxF_/s200/tumblr_pe87kac8YO1x5k9foo1_500.gif" width="200" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnts54sv5MbjV73Q744Izw9Gug56pv_JNkCA-kMi1opFOqR3O6LBA5AygeMVSTKO3_PG1aF9AcRnxWVSEueIO8eAwHa4vNUAuVQ6YEbUy89b3VyCwHnhaij01ECdbzKHyhEuYohA19jVHm/s1600/34196663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnts54sv5MbjV73Q744Izw9Gug56pv_JNkCA-kMi1opFOqR3O6LBA5AygeMVSTKO3_PG1aF9AcRnxWVSEueIO8eAwHa4vNUAuVQ6YEbUy89b3VyCwHnhaij01ECdbzKHyhEuYohA19jVHm/s200/34196663.jpg" width="131" /></a> The sequel to the much loved Dance of Thieves, in Vow of Thieves starts with Kazi and Jase travelling back home Tor's Watch, all while... canoodling to pass their evenings. While traveling back, Kazi gets signs that things might not be great up ahead, and when they finally get back, they are attacked and Jase escapes mortally wounded, and Kazi is captured. Tor's Watch had fallen and alone and in captivity, Kazi is devastated and listless. She wants revenge, but her captors have Jase's kid siblings and if she lashes out, they will pay the price. Unsure what to do, Kazi has to navigate protecting Tor's Watch, the children and protected herself.<br />
Just like Dance of Thieves, I really enjoyed Vow of Thieves. The characters were all fun to read, dramatic and exhilarating, and I was often on the edge of my seat while reading this book. I will attempt not to spoil anything important, but I do have to say that the plot twist and turns in this novel had me actively gasping as I read. Kazi is still a great character. She is tough and capable, but the author didn't feel the need to make her heartless and gave her a sensitive and vulnerable side, which I love. I often find authors ruin powerful female characters by taking away vulnerabilities and feminine traits from them. I respect that Mary E. Pearson doesn't do that. I love all of her strong female characters because they are allowed to still be women and identifiable to a female audience. All in all, read this series, and I give Vow of Thieves the rating of FOUR AND A HALF STARS OUT OF FIVE!!!<br />
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*Advanced Readers Copy Review*</div>
The Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13335265648319784623noreply@blogger.com0