Friday Reveal: Into The Dark by Caroline Patti

Posted on June 26, 2015 by The Page Unbound

Welcome to this week’s M9B Friday Reveal!

This week, we are revealing the cover AND Chapter One of

Into The Dark by Caroline Patti!

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

A girl’s sweet sixteen party is supposed to be among the most memorable events of her life. But on the night of hers, Mercy Clare wakes in the waiting room of a hospital with no memory of how she got there. To make matters worse, she’s wearing something she’d never be caught dead in: her best friend Lyla’s clothes.

Mercy’s nightmare is just beginning. The doctor arrives to tell her that it’s she who lies in the hospital bed waiting to die. A trip to the bathroom confirms Mercy’s fears, as Lyla’s face stares back at her and Lyla’s curvy figure pokes through her tight clothes.

But finding out what’s really going on won’t be easy. Because if Mercy wants her body back, it might just cost her Lyla’s life.

Title: Into the Dark
Publication date: August 18, 2015
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.
Author: Caroline Patti

Amazon | Kobo | ibooks | Google Play

Chapter One

Mercy

A TV, bolted high on the wall, buzzes in the background, the faint sound of the local news reporter’s

voice robotically reciting the events of the evening. “One dead and another in critical condition … ”

The waiting room is empty of people. Plastic chairs line the walls. Magazines are strewn about. How

did I get here?

The news reporter continues to speak. “What appears to be a suicide occurred tonight in the alley

behind local watering hole, Wally’s Pub. Closed for a private party, owner Kate McCrimons had no

comment on tonight’s event. Relatives of the victim, high school teacher Matteo Andreas, were not

available for comment.”

It’s all coming back to me now. The party. The alley. Seeing Mr. Andreas with the gun in his mouth.

Oh God.

“Hey, you’re awake.” Jay stands before me holding two coffee cups.

“Did you bring me here?” I rub my temples with the palm of my hand. My head is pounding.

“You don’t remember?” Jay’s eyes narrow and tiny creases indent his furrowed brow. He doesn’t

look at all like his normal goofy self. His brown eyes are concerned and focused intently on me.

I close my eyes and hold my head in my hands. “I feel sick.”

“Kate is on her way,” Jay continues. He sits down next to me and sets the cups on the table. “Just a

warning, she’s pretty freaked out.”

Tiny waves of nausea roll in my stomach. My mouth is dry and parched. “I’m gonna throw up.”

“Shit.” Jay jumps from the chair. I can hear him scrambling around the room. The noise is making me

feel worse.

Something bangs into my legs. I open my eyes just a little to see a garbage can. Jay sits back down

next to me and holds my hair back as the contents of my stomach empty. My stomach clenches as I grip

the sides of the can. I hate throwing up. I hate the convulsions, the acid taste that fills my mouth, and

the way a single strand of spittle dangles from my lip like I’m a drooling dog. Luckily, this is happening in

front of Jay so it’s only moderately mortifying. Having known him all my life, he’s seen all sides of me:

the good, the bad, and the worse.

“Here.” Jay slips a napkin into my hands. He rubs my back lightly. “Should I get a doctor?”

Jay kisses the top of my head and I flinch. My head snaps up too quickly and I stare at him while the

room around me sways. “What are you doing?” I have to close my eyes again as another wave of sick

crashes over me.

He takes his hands off me. “What?”

“Why’d you kiss me?” I peer at him sideways.

“I’m sorry.” He says it like a question, and then he looks at me like I’m nuts. “I was just trying to

make you feel better, Ly.”

“Okay, but … ”

He called me Ly. As in Lyla. My best friend Lyla. “Why are you calling me Ly?” My pounding head

cannot take this conversation.

“That’s what I always call you.” Jay shakes his head. His mop of curls swishes along his forehead. He

brushes it out of his eyes by raking his hands through his hair. “How much did you drink tonight?”

I’m not quite sure.

The smell of my own sick is singeing my nostrils so even though it makes the room spin, I raise my

head to look at him. A few strands of long, dark hair fall across my face. Hesitantly, I reach up and pull a

clump around so I can see it better. My eyes cross as I stare at the nearly black hair. What the hell?

Frantically, I pick at it, like an addict with a fixation.

“Lyla, what are you doing?” Jay asks.

I drop the pieces of hair and smooth them back. “Nothing.”

“You’re acting really weird.”

I’m acting weird? He’s the one who keeps calling me Lyla for God’s sake!

“Here you guys are!” Lyla’s older sister, Kate, speaks with an exasperated tone. “I’ve been looking

everywhere for you. There’s like sixty waiting rooms in this place.” She takes one look at the garbage in

front of me and exhales, annoyed. Being a bar owner means Kate has plenty of experience with

vomit.

“You okay?”

Slowly, I nod as I slide the can away from me with my feet. She sits in a chair just across from us. “I

brought you some clothes.” She holds out a brown paper bag to me and waits for me take it.

“Don’t give me any grief about what I picked. I was in a hurry.” Kate’s appearance is frazzled. Deep

brown curls spill forth from the messy bun of hair piled on top of her head. Her feet jiggle up and down.

Kate always fidgets when she’s nervous.

In the bag I find Lyla’s “Crazy for Cupcakes” tee, a pair of jeans, and some flip-flops. Why did Kate

bring me Lyla’s clothes?

“Do we know anything?” Kate asks.

“No,” Jay tells her. “We’re still waiting for the doctor.”

“Is Eric here yet?” Kate asks about my dad.

“Not yet,” Jay answers.

My dad is on his way. Relief sinks in knowing that in a few minutes I’ll be able to hug him and he’ll

make everything okay again.

“You want some coffee?” Jay reaches for the cup and holds it out to Kate. He gestures toward me as

he says, “I got it for Ly, but I don’t think she wants it.”

I do not. I hate coffee.

“Sure.” Kate takes the cup and sips slowly. She gives me a reproachful look when she says, “You

drink too much coffee as it is.”

I start to protest, to tell them both that it’s Lyla, not me, who insists on stopping every morning at

Peet’s, but Kate quickly adds, “Well, go change. This isn’t exactly the place for heels and cleavage.”

Cleavage? I look down and see what she means. I’m busting out of the seams! This isn’t my dress.

This is Lyla’s dress. I would never wear a dress like this. For one thing, it’s pink. And it looks like dip-dyed

ace bandages wrapped around my body. I hold the bag close to my chest hoping to conceal my heaving

flesh. Wait. I don’t have heaving flesh. And I don’t have raven hair. Something is very, very wrong.

“Okay.” As I stand to go, I teeter on Lyla’s five-inch stilettos. Jay catches my elbow and steadies

me.

“You need some help?” he offers.

“I got it.” I think. I cannot get away from them fast enough.

Not only do I feel like I’m going to vomit again, but I also feel like I’m having a mental breakdown.

My hair is a different color. My breasts are like cantaloupes. I’m not wearing my own clothes. I swallow

hard to push down the panic and a touch of bile.

Kate eyes me suspiciously. “Do you want me to come with you, just in case? You don’t look so

good.”

“I’ll be fine,” I say, hoping to reassure both her and myself. I don’t have much confidence that I can

walk far in Lyla’s shoes. For a split second I think about going barefoot, but decide against it. Luckily, it

turns out the bathroom is just across the hall.
Lyla’s dress clings to me like Saran Wrap. I must look

like Bambi learning to walk as I concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other. The carpet of the

waiting room isn’t that treacherous, but the slick, overly polished hallway isn’t as forgiving. My left ankle

rolls and I stumble just as I reached the bathroom door. Damn!

The bathroom is dark. I flip the wall switch and the light flickers, groans, and burns nearly out,

casting a ghoulish yellow glow of light over the room. “Great.”

I grope my way toward the sink. It is then that my eyes adjust to the dark, and for the first time I see

my reflection. Only it isn’t my face peering back at me. It’s Lyla’s, my best friend since the third grade.

Leaning in closer, I stare, mouth agape, into the mirror. Her blue eyes are rimmed with multiple coats of

black eyeliner. The red of her lipstick is faded, leaving her lips with only a hint of berry stain. My hands

explore, skimming the sides of her cheek, hoping, praying that at any second the illusion will shatter.

Despite my desperate hopes, the reflection never morphs from Lyla’s into mine.

I rack my brain trying to piece together everything that happened tonight. It’s my birthday I suddenly

remember. We were having a party at Kate’s bar. A party I didn’t want. Lyla had talked Gage into being

my date. Well, more like forced. But we were having a good time. He’s really nice. I went outside; I

remember that part. And my teacher was there, that letch Mr. Andreas, and he grabbed me. He kept

saying all this weird stuff to me and I tried to get away and that’s when Gage came out and started

yelling at him. Mr. Andreas had a gun. And he … and he …

I remember the sound of the gun going off, and the brief second of relief I felt when I realized he

hadn’t shot Gage. But then I saw all the blood. There was so much blood.

I stagger backward knocking into the stall door. It swings open and I drop to my knees over the

toilet. I heave and heave, but nothing comes up. I curl into a sitting position. My fingers knot into my

hair.

When I finally stand up, I expect—okay hope—that everything will have returned to normal, that I’ll

be me again, and that seeing Lyla was just some sort of weird post-traumatic stress thing. But when I

look in the mirror, I don’t see me. I see her.

This isn’t possible. There’s no way. I must be dreaming.

That’s the only explanation. This is just a dream. A very strange, twisted dream.

But it isn’t a dream. I press my hand to the mirror. It’s solid. It’s real. This is really happening.

“Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!” I curse as the mother of all freak-outs rumbles inside me. What am I

supposed to do now?

About-the-Author

Caroline T Patti is the author of The World Spins Madly On and Too Late To Apologize. When she’s not writing, she’s a school librarian, mother of two, wife, avid reader and Green Bay Packer fan. You can chat with her on Twitter:@carepatti or find her on Facebook.

Connect with the Author:

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway

One (1) digital copy of Into The Dark by Caroline Patti

Open Internationally

Winner will be drawn July 3, 2015

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Rook Teaser

Posted on June 23, 2015 by The Page Unbound

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Rook

by Sharon Cameron (Goodreads Author)

Book Synopsis(Goodreads):

History has a way of repeating itself. In the Sunken City that was once Paris, all who oppose the new revolution are being put to the blade. Except for those who disappear from their prison cells, a red-tipped rook feather left in their place. Is the mysterious Red Rook a savior of the innocent or a criminal?

Meanwhile, across the sea in the Commonwealth, Sophia Bellamy’s arranged marriage to the wealthy René Hasard is the last chance to save her family from ruin. But when the search for the Red Rook comes straight to her doorstep, Sophia discovers that her fiancé is not all he seems. Which is only fair, because neither is she.

As the Red Rook grows bolder and the stakes grow higher, Sophia and René find themselves locked in a tantalizing game of cat and mouse.

Quote 1:

“You are the variable in every equation, Mademoiselle.”
― Sharon Cameron, Rook

Quote 2:

“I think you are very beautiful,” René said, “especially when you are admiring mischief.”

“You must think that every time I look at you, then.”
― Sharon Cameron, Rook

Quote 3:

“She stared into the dark, motionless, envisioning again the reaction she’d seen when Madame Hasard told René that the money was gone. The way his fists had clenched on the back of his neck, the roughness of his voice that had not been from the rope. It had taken her a little time to analyze, but now she knew. What she had seen was more than shock or the loss of money. More than just pain. What she had seen was the loss of hope. And to lose hope, you must have had hope in the first place. René had been hoping to pay the fee. He’d been hoping to have her. And without the money, he thought he’d lost her. How ridiculous. What could the money have to do with it? How could René Hasard think any such thing, when it was perfectly clear that he belonged to no one but her?”
― Sharon Cameron, Rook

Friday Cover Reveal: Jennifer Jenkins’ and Ciny Pon’s ALA Appearance

Posted on June 19, 2015 by The Page Unbound

Welcome to this week’s M9B Friday Reveal!

This week, we are featuring

Jennifer Jenkins and Cindy Pon

who will be appearing and signing at ALA!

JJCPALA-v4

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

Nameless_450x675

Four clans have been at war for centuries: the Kodiak, the Raven, the Wolf and the Ram. Through brutal war tactics, the Ram have dominated the region, inflicting death and destruction on their neighbors.

Seventeen-year-old Zo is a Wolf and a Healer who volunteers to infiltrate the Ram as a spy on behalf of the allied clans. She offers herself as a Ram slave, joining the people who are called the “nameless.” Hers is a suicide mission – Zo’s despair after losing her parents in a Ram raid has left her seeking both revenge and an end to her own misery. But after her younger sister follows her into Rams Gate, Zo must find a way to survive her dangerous mission and keep her sister safe.

What she doesn’t expect to find is the friendship of a young Ram whose life she saves, the confusing feelings she develops for a Ram soldier, and an underground nameless insurrection. Zo learns that revenge, loyalty and love are more complicated than she ever imagined in the first installment of this two-book series.

about-the-author

With her degree in History and Secondary Education, Jennifer had every intention of teaching teens to love George Washington and appreciate the finer points of ancient battle stratagem. (Seriously, she’s obsessed with ancient warfare.) However, life had different plans in store when the writing began. As a proud member of Writers Cubed, and a co-founder of the Teen Author Boot Camp, she feels blessed to be able to fulfill both her ambition to work with teens as well as write Young Adult fiction.

Jennifer has three children who are experts at naming her characters, one loving, supportive husband, a dog with little-man syndrome, and three chickens (of whom she is secretly afraid).

Visit her online at jajenkins.com

SerpentineEbook

SERPENTINE is a sweeping fantasy set in the ancient Kingdom of Xia and inspired by the rich history of Chinese mythology.

Lush with details from Chinese folklore, SERPENTINE tells the coming of age story of Skybright, a young girl who worries about her growing otherness. As she turns sixteen, Skybright notices troubling changes. By day, she is a companion and handmaid to the youngest daughter of a very wealthy family. But nighttime brings with it a darkness that not even daybreak can quell.

When her plight can no longer be denied, Skybright learns that despite a dark destiny, she must struggle to retain her sense of self – even as she falls in love for the first time.

“Vivid worldbuilding, incendiary romance, heart-pounding action, and characters that will win you over–I highly recommend Serpentine.” Cinda Williams Chima, best-selling author of the Seven Realms and Heir Chronicles fantasy novels

“Serpentine is unique and surprising, with a beautifully-drawn fantasy world that sucked me right in! I love Skybright’s transformative power, and how she learns to take charge of it.” ~Kristin Cashore, NYT Bestseller of the Graceling Realm Series

“Serpentine’s world oozes with lush details and rich lore, and the characters crackle with life. This is one story that you’ll want to lose yourself in.” ~ Marie Lu, New York Times bestselling author of Legend and The Young Elites

Amazon | B&N |Kobo | TBD | Indiebound | Chapters | BAM

about-the-author

Cindy Pon is the author of Silver Phoenix (Greenwillow, 2009), which was named one of the Top Ten Fantasy and Science Fiction Books for Youth by the American Library Association’s Booklist, and one of 2009′s best Fantasy, Science Fiction and Horror by VOYA. The sequel to Silver Phoenix, titled Fury of the Phoenix, was released in April 2011. Serpentine, the first title in her next Xia duology, will be published by Month9Books in September 2015. She is the co-founder of Diversity in YA with Malinda Lo and on the advisory board of We Need Diverse Books. Cindy is also a Chinese brush painting student of over a decade. Visit her website at http://www.cindypon.com.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads • Tumblr

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Will Choose Cover Reveal

Posted on June 16, 2015 by The Page Unbound

Will Choose by Laura Catherine
(Djinn #1.5)
Publication date: July 27th 2015
Genres: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Will loves Kyra, but he know he can never be with her. He is Guardjinn and she is Djinn. Their love is forbidden.
He has a duty to his people. Will is a palace guard and after the Blooders attacked he is needed more than ever.
Will knows he should stay away from Kyra, but then why does he keep ending up at her house, watching her from a distance?

A choice is coming.
What will Will choose?
Love or duty?

About the Author:

Laura Catherine is Young Adult author focusing on Paranormal Romance, Dystopia, and Fantasy.

She writes stories full of action, secrets, and magic. She loves creating worlds where anything is possible and everyone has a story to tell. She has an over-active imagination, spends a lot of her time daydreaming, and wishes pokemon were real so she would have one.

Laura Catherine lives in Melbourne, Australia.

Author Links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Cover Reveal Organized by:

Bound By Spells Book Blitz

Posted on June 13, 2015 by The Page Unbound

Bound by Spells

By Stormy Smith
(Bound #2)
Publication date: March 19th 2015
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal

Book Summary:

Aidan Montgomery hadn’t been prepared for Amelia Bradbury to walk in and then out of his life. He also hadn’t expected to find the powerful magic hidden deep within him for the last nineteen years, but he’s embracing it — finding more control and more answers every day. Now, with the help of Amelia’s best friend, Bethany, Aidan is on a quest to understand his destiny and find Amelia.Amelia decided to stand by her duty, which meant walking away from her first chance at love. Trapped in Cresthaven at the Queen’s mercy, she spends her days with Micah — an ally she still holds at arm’s length — struggling to manage her heartbreak while keeping her mind focused on the task at hand. As she continues to unlock the secrets of the Keeper power, Queen Julia’s true motives reveal themselves, forcing Amelia to decide, yet again, how much she’s willing to sacrifice.Will Aidan get to Amelia before it’s too late, or will the very power that sustains them keep them apart?

Purchase Links:

Book 1 will be only 0.99c during the blitz!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Review for Bound by Spells:

“Featuring a cast of mages and shapeshifters with unique magical abilities, one destiny-shaping prophecy, a genocidal megalomaniac, and a budding, heated romance (or two!), this book is paranormal gold! Read the first book in the series first, of course, but once you finish this one you’re sure to be salivating for the next release in this not-to-be-missed romantic paranormal series.”

— Serena Chase, USA Today’s Happy Ever After blog

About the Author:

Stormy Smith calls Iowa’s capital home now, but was raised in a tiny town in the Southeast corner of the state. She grew to love books honestly, having a mom that read voraciously and instilled that same love in her. She knew quickly that stories of fantasy were her favorite, and even as an adult gravitates toward paranormal stories in any form.Writing a book had never been an aspiration, but suddenly the story was there and couldn’t be stopped. When she isn’t working on, or thinking about, her books, Stormy’s favorite places include bar patios, live music shows, her yoga mat or anywhere she can relax with her husband or girlfriends.

If you want to stay tuned in to all of the new release news, sign up for Stormy’s spam-free newsletter. It only comes out when something exciting is happening…promise! http://eepurl.com/WLlq1

Get more information on her website – www.stormysmith.com.

Author Links:

Wedsite | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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A Matter of Time Blog Tour: An Interview with Lisa M. Basso

Posted on June 13, 2015 by The Page Unbound

This is our stop on the blog tour for A Matter of Time by Lisa M. Basso! To read more reviews and posts on Lisa M. Basso check out the A Matter of Time blog tour schedule here!

A Matter of Time (Angel Sight #3) by Lisa M. Basso

Publication date: eBook June 9, 2015 / Paperback August 18, 2015

Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.

Summary from Goodreads:

Rayna entered Hell to save Kade. Kade entered to protect Rayna. Both have failed.

Centuries of Kade’s demons are unearthed when he is brainwashed and used as a Fallen pawn.

In the freezing pits of Hell, Ray is beaten and tortured, pushed to her breaking point. She takes a stand, firing back at her attackers though she’s only begun to understand the true strength of her wings. A strength she will need once she uncovers the evils that await on Earth.

Together they find solace, alone they will fight.

Buy Links:

Amazon

Author Interview:

Q: Tell us a little about yourself. How did you begin writing? What inspires you to write?

I first began writing in my early teens, when all the feelings were too much to handle. I picked it up again in High School when an English teacher assigned the class to write a short story then provide feedback. Mine got pretty decent feedback. In my early twenties, after not being able to decide on a career path that satisfied me, I started to notice how, when things got hard, I returned to writing. So, return to writing I did, and have been writing full-time ever since.

Q: Who is your intended audience and why should they read your book?

I write for people who love to read. Of course, the Young Adult genre is intended for young adults, but so many people read YA these days, including adults just looking for a great story. So, I write for people who love to read YA.

Q: How did you come up with the title of your book or series?

The first book in the series, A SHIMMER OF ANGELS went through several title changes before it was published. Angel Sight was one of them. The Angel Sight series begins with A SHIMMER OF ANGELS in which the main character, Rayna, thought her hallucinations of the men with wings were a thing of the past until an angel appears in her class and her classmate turns up dead.

Q: Tell us a little bit about your cover art. Who designed it? Why did you go with that particular image/artwork?

It’s no secret that I have been blessed by the cover gods. Have you seen the trilogy of covers together? Stunning! In truth, I didn’t have much to do with choosing the cover art, all that credit goes to my publisher, Month9Books, and the cover designer, Stephanie Mooney.

Q: Who is your favorite character from your book and why?

Hands down, Kade, the Fallen angel with oil-slick wings and a smart mouth is my favorite not just to write, but to read, too. His mood swings keep the readers on their toes. And who doesn’t love a handsome guy with a hard exterior and a (somewhat) less iron-like interior?

Q: Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about your book or series:

Fun Fact One:

The first draft of A SHIMMER OF ANGELS was written well over five years ago.

Fun Fact Two:

The ending to A SHIMMER OF ANGELS was completely rewritten at least four times.

Fun Fact Three:

A MATTER OF TIME is the first series ending book I’ve ever written. Earlier drafts of the story were very different than the book you’ll see today.

Fun Fact Four:

If I had the time, I’d write fan fiction about all the secondary characters in the series I love (Lee, Ray’s best friend, Gina, his girlfriend, and Laylah, Rayna’s bratty little sister).

Q: How can we contact you or find out more about your books?

Blog: http://Lisa-Basso.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/LisaMBasso

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-M-Basso/340213186037936

Instagram: http://instagram.com/lisambasso

Tumblr: http://www.tumblr.com/blog/lisambasso

Q: What can we expect from you in the future?

I have several irons in the fire, as they say. YA is always my first love. I’ve been experimenting with a particularly intense YA Sci-Fi that I hope you all get to read soon.

Q: What can readers who enjoy your book do to help make it successful?

Nothing compares to the glorious love readers have for books. Literally nothing. The best part of my job is getting a message from a reader who enjoyed one of my books. So, thank you. You guys make me all kinds of mushy inside.

The best thing readers can do–for any author or book they’ve loved–is to leave a review. Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, or all of the above, it doesn’t matter. The more places the review posts, the better. Every review helps us get the word out to possible fans. You guys are the voice that is strong and loud and keeps publishing alive, don’t forget that. Your voices matter.

Q: Do you have any tips for readers or advice for other writers trying to get published?

Read. Write. Work hard. See rejection as a stepping stone not a deterrent (we’ve all dealt with it). Never give up–and eat lots of chocolate. 😀

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to say?

Thank you so much for having me today. A MATTER OF TIME will be available in ebook and audiobook June 9th and in print August 4th.

Q: And now, before you go, how about a snippet from your book that is meant to intrigue and tantalize us:

(*Spoiler warning* This excerpt comes from the very first chapter in A MATTER OF TIME. If you haven’t read A SHIMMER OF ANGELS and A SLITHER OF HOPE, I would advise skipping over this clip.)

Trapped.

Tortured.

Alone.

The walls no longer closed in the way they once did. Now they only screamed; the jagged, shattered sound of souls and wills being ripped away.

I used to cover my ears. Now, even when the screams stopped, they never truly quieted.

About the Author:

Lisa M. Basso was born and raised in San Francisco, California. She is a lover of books, video games, animals, and baking (not baking with animals though). As a child she would crawl into worlds of her own creation and get lost for hours. Her love for YA fiction started with a simple school reading assignment: S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders. When not reading or writing she can usually be found at home with The Best Boyfriend that Ever Lived ™ and her two darling (and sometimes evil) cats, Kitties A and B.

Connect with the Author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Tumblr

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Age of Alandria Series Review Tour: Review of Silent Orchids

Posted on June 11, 2015 by The Page Unbound

This is our stop on the review tour for the Age of Alandria Series by Morgan Wylie! To read more reviews and posts on Morgan Wylie check out the Age of Alandria review tour schedule here!

Summary from Goodreads:

A dying realm.

The ancient evil of the Droch-Shúil has been unleashed.

The Orchids have been silenced… but for how long?

Daegan, elite of the Ferrishyn warrior tribe of Faeries, is charged with a mission to find the Sol-lumieth, a mysterious new power that could change the fate of all in the realm of Alandria. But he is conflicted by his purpose, and he cannot trust the motives of those he serves. He has too many questions and they must be answered.

Kaeleigh, a girl abandoned as a small child just outside Missoula, Montana, is now 18. She is trying to discover who she is and where she belongs. In her heart, she feels she has family out there… somewhere. Desperate to unravel the mysteries of her past, she embarks on a journey that will forever change her along with her two best friends, Finn and Chel—who have secrets of their own.

Silent Orchids (The Age of Alandria #1)

by Morgan Wylie

Release Date: 05/05/13

238 pages

Rating: 4/5

My Review:

Silent Orchids by Morgan Wylie caught my attention not only with the beautiful cover, but the intriguing story line as well. I love books about Faeries and this one did not disappoint.

Silent Orchids is about Kaeleigh, an orphan living in Missoula, Montana. Her only sentimental thing of value is a locket in the shape of an orchid, which came with her to the orphanage when she was two. Today is her 18^th birthday and for Kaeleigh, it’s just an ordinary day, which includes her trying to find out where she fits in. For as long as she can remember she’s had these vivid visions of places and people she’s never seen or met before. She’s never been sure why these visions happen or why orchids are always present, but today the visions are changing, becoming stronger and feel more real. Kaeleigh would love to tell her two best friends Finn and Chel, who’re not only her friends, but the only family she’s ever known, about these flashes but is afraid they’ll think her crazy. Kaeleigh will soon find out that she’s not the only one hiding something.

As Kaeleigh heads off to start her new job, little does she know that her life is about to be turned upside down when she meets mister tall, dark and handsome, Daegan, who’s under strict orders to find the new power as foretold in the prophecy and bring it back to Elnye.

I really enjoyed the world building and character development. Sometimes I felt like Kaeleigh was a little whinny, but it didn’t deter from the story. Wylie gives you a little bit of everything: self-discovery, love triangle, and danger lurking behind every corner.

Silent Orchids is an action-packed book that will keep you on your toes as you get to learn more about Alandria and the race to save the realm.

I enjoyed the book so much; I had to find out what happened next, which turned into reading the entire series!

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes&Noble│Smashwords│Kobo│iTunes

Want more of The Age of Alandria? You don’t have to wait!

Veiled Shadows (The Age of Alandria #2)

by Morgan Wylie

Release Date: 10/01/13

360 pages

Summary from Goodreads:

Shadows linger where light is obstructed, and truth is veiled.

Evil is an untreated disease in the once beautiful realm of Alandria.

Kaeleigh is faced with a revelation that she must reconcile. She will decide if discovering the truth is worth the unknown consequences to both herself and her friends.

Daegan, the Ferrishyn warrior, is conflicted by more than his loyalties, and is confronted with emotions he doesn’t know how to deal with. A choice must be made. A choice… that may cost him more than he ever wanted to give.

The Droch-Shúil—enforcers and servants of the ancient darkness—continue to cast their shadow over Alandria seeking those who can be turned to their side.

The magic of The Orchids is growing, but not everyone will survive what is to come.

Veiled Shadows is the second installment in The Age of Alandria series: the story of the Sol-lumieth’s quest for freedom of self and the power to battle the evil of the Droch-Shúil.

Buy Links:

Barnes and Noble│ Kobo│Smashwords

$fractured darkness morgan w$

Fractured Darkness (The Age of Alandria #3)

by Morgan Wylie

Release Date: 01/29/15

325 pages

Summary from Goodreads:

The darkness in Elnye is growing.

There is screaming in Exhile.

The mysterious woman, known only as “She”, is in a rage. Her pawn, Maleina has made a dangerous move and severed her communications with the dark mistress. Now as dueling dark forces, master and willing initiate, they begin to jockey for power as the stage is set for the coming war.

Kaeleigh and her small band of loyal companions have escaped the dungeons of Elnye and found their way to the secret home of the Ehsmia. After breaking the vicious bond that enslaved Daegan to Maleina’s will, the walls between Kaeleigh and her Ferrishyn warrior begin to fall, as their feelings for each other begin to give way to passion.

The darkness is fractured, but its relentless quest for power goes unabated. A war is coming. However, the power of the Sol-lumieth has finally come together and found its light. A blinding light of freedom, that may be the salvation for all of Alandria.

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes and Noble │iBooks

About the Author:

Morgan Wylie, originally from the Pacific Northwest, now resides near Nashville, TN with her husband and daughter. She and her husband work everyday at their individual and combined creative pursuits while she learns to balance being “Mama”, wife, and mediator to the many voices and muses constantly chattering in her head.

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

GIVEAWAY:

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Hollly Hearts Hollywood Blitz

Posted on June 10, 2015 by The Page Unbound

Welcome to this week’s

Swoon Romance YA Wednesdays!

This week features:

Holly Hearts Hollywood by Kenley Conrad!

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

Holly-Hearts-Hollywood-Cover

Holly Hearts Hollywood
by Kenley Conrad
Publication Date: September 2014
Publisher: Swoon Romance
Status: First Book In Series

Book Summary:

Seventeen-year-old Holly Hart wants to be a star. She moves to Los Angeles from the small town of Cedar Junction, only to hear she’s too fat and ugly to be a famous singer.

But when Shell Shocked Records looks past Holly’s plus-size and less-than-graceful-personality to offer her a recording contract, Holly cannot believe her good fortune. On closer inspection, however, the the record execs want Holly to do all the singing, and a thinner and more beautiful girl, Lacey, would lip-sync and get all the credit. Holly goes for it because after all, she wanted to sing.

Contractually bound to secrecy, Holly is more than happy to sit backstage and write in her journal while Lacey shimmies in the limelight and basks in the fame. Before she knows it, Holly is friends with Serena, the pop-star daughter of a music-mogul, flirting with an intern, and developing a strange half-friendship with Lacey.

When Grayson Frost, the biggest country star in America, and coincidentally, a former school bully begins dating Lacey, Holly hopes that he won’t recognize or torment her.

Through a series of embarrassing and weird events, Holly gets to know Grayson and learns that he is much nicer and more mature than he was four years ago. Holly is horrified when she starts falling for him. When Grayson admits he fell for Lacey’s voice, what is a girl to do when she can’t legally tell the truth at the moment when the truth matters the most?

Purchase Links:
Amazon | iBooks

About-the-Author

Kenley Conrad

From nine to five, Kenley is a home insurance agent. At all other hours of the day she is a young adult author, singer, dancer, cat lady, fangirl, wife, bookworm, and internet enthusiast. Her favorite pastimes include crying over really good books, riding with her husband on their motorcycle, and binge-watching seasons of television shows. When she’s not working or writing, she likes to perform in local community musical theatre productions.

Author Links:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway

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Fabled Book Blitz

Posted on June 8, 2015 by The Page Unbound

Fabled

by Vanessa K. Eccles

Publisher: Bound and Brewed

Publication date: May 5th 2015
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Rowena thinks the Grimm’s infamous podcasts are simply another teen fad until she finds herself trapped in a land of nightmarish storybook characters. She tries desperately to flee Mezzanine and return home, but Dresdem, Mezzanine’s wicked monarch, plans to use Rowena’s access to her world to bring dark magic and absolute rule into Georgia and beyond.

But when Rowena’s dear friend Madeline falls into Dresdem’s grasp, her battle with him becomes war, and all hopes of home are temporarily thwarted. With the help of an invisible hero, a beast, and an owl, she sets out to free Madeline from a deadening sleep. But Rowena must become her own hero when she finds herself bound by the kingdom’s darkest family. She must make the ultimate choice – align herself with her enemies or live on the run forever.

Excerpt:

“Heads or tails?” Lil asked as she opened the door and stood in front of me.

“Tales.”

“When are you going to learn that heads always wins?” She snickered and rolled her eyes in amazement of my apparent naivety.

“Not always. Besides, tales are more interesting.”

Not understanding my word play, she shrugged and searched her pockets for a coin.

I leaned into the porch swing, coffee and book in hand, and watched as autumn’s first leaves sunsetted the deadening grass. I rested the mug on my knee and let the cool breeze sway me back and forth while I waited.

Trying to ignore my little sister’s attempts to aggravate me, I looked down at the fantastical book in my hands and realized how beloved, yet unrealistic it seemed. Most of us lead relatively dull lives and are content but never satisfied. The “happily ever afters” they crammed in our minds as children were merely lies, but I couldn’t help but dream of an adventure like the one I was holding. I wanted my life to be epic. Who was I kidding? Only characters in our favorite stories experienced magical lives. Mine had already been planned out for me − go to college, land a mediocre job, get married, and have 1.8 perfectly groomed, smiling children. That was it. The end.

Links:

Amazon | B&N | Smashwords

Ten Fabled Facts:

1.) Trapped in a world of dark magic, Rowena must learn how to become her own hero. Easier said than done.

2.) In Mezzanine, neither time nor death exist.

3.) Many storybook characters appear, but they’re not as friendly as we remember.

4.) Kidnapping and slavery doesn’t sound like a fairy tale, or does it?

5.) Adelaide Kane would be my pick to play Rowena in a movie.

6.) The Brothers Grimm make an appearance.

7.) Someone becomes possessed, and someone gets married.

8.) Sometimes aligning with your enemies is the only solution.

9.) Betrayal of a sister is the worst of all wounds.

10.) Home isn’t how she left it.

About the Author:

Vanessa K. Eccles graduated Troy University with a degree in English. She currently serves as executive editor of Belle Rêve Literary Journal and is founder of the book blog YA-NASisterhood. When she’s not writing or devouring books, she enjoys the lake life with her Prince Charming and their four dogs.

Author Links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Author Interview:

1.) Where did you get your inspiration for your book?

I studied the Grimms for nearly a year before I started Fabled. I wrote an academic paper “Fairy Tales Revisited: Cause and Effect of Adult Enchantment” and presented it at the PCAS Conference in 2012. Later, I attended a poster session at my university with my paper, “A Grimm History: Nazi Uses and Abuses of Fairy Tales.” It wasn’t until I understood the true purpose of folklore that I realized how pivotal and timeless it is. I hope in some small way to have contributed to the literature with Fabled by not retelling what’s already been told but building on it with new stories and characters.

2.) What is Fabled about in two lines?

Trapped in a world of dark magic, Rowena must learn how to become her own hero. Easier said than done.

3.) If you could invite your favorite literary character to dinner, who would it be and why?

Probably Jacob Grimm from Tom McNeal’s Far Far Away. That’s one of my favorite books of all time. I’ve had a fascination with the Grimms since I spent a year researching them academically. I’d ask him to share all his wisdom and teach me how to tell off bullies in German.

4.) What are you working on now?

I’m currently drafting a young adult southern gothic about an orphan who finds her family in another time, and I’m also working on Book Two of Fabled.

5.) If you could give any advice to writers what would it be?

Live a life worth writing.

Book Blitz Organized By:

Descent Book Promo

Posted on June 8, 2015 by The Page Unbound

Descent (Kissed by Death #3)
by Tara A. Fuller
Release Date: 06/02/15
Entangled Teen
320 pages

Book Summary (Goodreads):

He’ll destroy everything and everyone to save her…including himself.

Easton doesn’t believe in love. He believes in death. Darkness. Sin. As a reaper for Hell, it’s all he’s known for more than four hundred years. So when he gets slapped with the job of training the boss’s daughter, an angel that knows nothing but joy, he knows he’s in for a world of trouble.

Though he’s made it clear he wants nothing to do with her outside of work, Gwen will do whatever it takes to get close to the dark and wounded reaper—even taint her angelic image and become a reaper herself. But in all her planning, she forgot to factor in one thing—how far the demons Easton doomed to Hell will go for revenge.

When the dangers of the Hell threaten Gwen, Easton will destroy everything and everyone to save her. But as the darkness closes in, will he be able to save himself?

Book Excerpt:

The room seemed to settle into a dangerous calm as we entered, and at least a dozen sets of eyes followed our progress.

“Why are they all looking at me like that?”

“Because most of them have never seen anything like you,” I said. “Put on all the black leather you want, Red, but you’ll never be able to cover up what you are.”

“And what am I?”

My gaze coasted over the soft curve of her cheek, the slender arch of her neck. She was beautiful, a warm sunrise in a world that had only ever known a cold, unforgiving night. To think I’d even tried to hide what she was from the filth here showed how foolish I really was. There was no hiding the goodness in Gwen.

“Pure,” I finally said, tearing my gaze from her. I had to stop looking at her like that. I had to stop wanting to touch her. I had to stop… I just had to stop. Giving in to that desire wasn’t going to do either of us any good.

“Then maybe I should do something to make them think I’m not,” she said, voice small and unsure.

I laughed. “Like what? Murder someone? News flash. Everyone here is already dead, sweetheart.”

“I don’t know,” she said, looking around. “What about that?”

She gestured to a man and succubus on the dance floor. Lips locked together, dancing so close you couldn’t tell where he ended and she began. A group of pain demons closed in on them, waiting for her to deplete and release the drained soul. They’d drag him away and finish him off once she’d had her fill. That was the real dance here.

Feed. Punish. Pain. Repeat.

As much as the thought of having Gwen pressed against me like that scared the shit out of me, she was right. We needed to blend in. I grabbed her around the waist and pulled her against me, telling myself I was only acting. That I didn’t care. She gasped and her hands landed on my chest. She was stiff in my arms, staring at my throat. A table of demons pushed their drinks aside to watch us with suspicious, glowing eyes.

“Gonna need to come a little closer than that, Red,” I whispered against her hair. “Are you a succubus or an angel? Quick survival tip…you want to be the succubus.”

She inched forward and buried her face in my neck, releasing a shaky breath against my jaw. Her mouth pressed against the serpent tattoo on my neck, and I could feel the brand of ink writhe, basking in the pleasure of her purity. My heart kicked a painful rhythm against my ribs. Without permission, my hands slid down to her hips. She felt so warm under my palms, perfectly clumsy, trying to find a rhythm to match mine. I’d never really danced before, but in a place like this, I figured there was no right way. Not when everything was so wrong. Gwen peeked out from under my jaw, looking at the others dancing.

“Should we…kiss?” she asked. “L-like them?”

I stopped swaying and forced my hands to loosen their grip on her hips. My blood felt too hot, my body tense and unfamiliar. My gaze dropped to her mouth, and my mind went places it had no business going.

I wanted to kiss her.

I’d never wanted to kiss anyone. Almighty knows that’s all it would take to soil her. One touch from my lips and she’d never be the same.

Other books in this series:

About the Author:

Tara Fuller writes novels. Some about grim reapers. Some about witches. All of course are delightfully full of teen angst and kissing. Tara grew up in a one stop light town in Oklahoma where once upon a time she stayed up with a flash light reading RL Stine novels and only dreamed of becoming a writer. She has a slight obsession with music and a shameless addiction for zombie fiction, Mystery Science Theater, and black and white mochas. Tara no longer lives in a one stop light town. Now she lives with her family in a slightly larger town in North Carolina where they have at least three stoplights.

Author Links:
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