Stillwater Promo

Posted on October 14, 2015 by The Page Unbound

STILLWATER

Melissa Lenhardt

Big Secrets Run Deep.

Former FBI agent Jack McBride took the job as Chief of Police for Stillwater, Texas, to start a new life with his teenage son, Ethan, away from the suspicions that surrounded his wife’s disappearance a year earlier.

With a low crime rate and a five-man police force, he expected it to be a nice, easy gig; hot checks, traffic violations, some drugs, occasional domestic disturbances, and petty theft. Instead, within a week he is investigating a staged murder-suicide, uncovering a decades’ old skeleton buried in the woods, and managing the first crime wave in thirty years.

For help navigating his unfamiliar, small-town surroundings, Jack turns to Ellie Martin, one of the most respected women in town—her scandal-filled past notwithstanding. Despite Jack’s murky marriage status and the disapproval of Ethan and the town, they are immediately drawn to each other.

As Jack and Ellie struggle with their budding relationship, they unearth shattering secrets long buried and discover the two cases Jack is working, though fifty years apart, share a surprising connection that will rattle the town to its core.

BUY LINKS:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Indie Bound ~ iBooks

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR STILLWATER:

“Secrets, lies, and betrayals run through STILLWATER like irrigation through dry land. Melissa Lenhardt’s writing drips with detail to create a story that rushes like a wave toward an ever-twisting ending. Don’t let the name fool you; STILLWATER’s threats lie right below the surface.” —Diane Vallere, bestselling author of the Material Witness, Madison Night, and Style & Error Mysteries

“Dangerous things lurk beneath the placid surface in Stillwater, Texas. Secrets shunning the light of day, decades-old betrayals, lies that have taken on a life of their own. Moody and atmospheric, utterly compelling, you don’t want to miss Melissa Lenhardt’s marvelous debut novel, STILLWATER.” —Harry Hunsicker, former Executive Vice President of the Mystery Writers of America, author of THE GRID

“Crisp and pacy writing pulls you in deep from page one, when Jack McBride strides into a crime scene and a world of trouble. STILLWATER is the perfect combination of a tightly plotted tale peopled by rich, complex characters (plus one or two deliciously hateful true baddies). Slashed budgets, racial tensions, messy pasts – this small town is anything but cozy. The mystery itself is a classic puzzle, though: clever and convincing. Roll on Jack #2!” —Catriona McPherson, Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity–winning author of the Edgar-nominated The Day She Died

Small-town loyalties and long-simmering secrets combine for a compelling page-turner! A fish-out-of-water lawman and his adolescent son try to escape the past in not-so-cozy Stillwater, Texas –but soon they’re battling corruption, revenge, and murder. Fast-paced dialogue, an authentic setting, and engaging characters–Stillwater is a one-sitting read.

– Hank Phillippi Ryan – Agatha, Anthony, Macavity, Daphne and Mary Higgins Clark award winning author

STILLWATER runs deep with intrigue, passion, and long-buried secrets. Melissa Lenhardt weaves a rich tale of suspense as hot as the east Texas town in which it’s set.

– Annette Dashofy, USA Today best-selling author of the Zoe Chambers mysteries

With a twisting plot, nonstop action and a sexy, complex protagonist you’ll root for from page one, Lenhardt brings the town of Stillwater, Texas (pop. 2,436), and all its long-buried secrets, to life. Fast-paced and tightly-written, STILLWATER is a must-read for anyone who loves great crime fiction. Book two can’t come soon enough!

– Wendy Tyson, author of Killer Image and Deadly Assets.

Chapter One

Thursday

A line of flashing blue and red lights led the way to a pale green single- wide trailer. Firemen, sheriff deputies, and EMTs huddled in front of the house, talking, looking around, and laughing. All eyes turned to Jack McBride’s car as it pulled into the dirt-packed front yard, which doubled as the driveway.

Jack set the alarm on his phone. “Stay in the car,” he told his thirteen- year-old son, Ethan. He opened the door, got out, and leaned back in. “I mean it.”

“I know, Dad.”

Neighbors grouped behind yellow crime-scene tape. Some wore paja- mas, others wore work clothes. Women held babies, children craned their necks to see better, eager for information to share at school. A young officer guarded them—Officer Nathan Starling.

It was his file that had fallen from Jack’s lap when he was startled awake by the early morning call. If Jack hadn’t read Starling was the youngest and newest member of the force, he would have guessed it from his role as crowd control. Starling shifted on his feet and looked over his shoulder at the crowd, as if debating whether he should leave his post to introduce himself or stay put. Jack waved an acknowledgment to him and moved toward the trailer.

Jack nodded at the group of first responders as he walked by and received a couple of muttered hellos in return. Some looked from Jack to Ethan and then back. Jack climbed the uneven concrete steps, stopped at the door, and put on paper booties and gloves. Behind him, he heard a low conversation start back up, the words alone, wife, and no one knows carrying across the yard as if announced through a bullhorn. The screen door slapped shut behind him, cutting off the rest of the conversation.

The smell of chili, paprika, and cumin hung in the air of the trailer. Flimsy wooden cabinets topped with a chipped orange Formica counter were wedged against the back wall of the main room by a strip of ugly, peeling linoleum. Brown shag carpet, flattened by years of traffic, marked off the living area of the room. Left of the door, under a loud window unit dripping condensation, sat a couch of indeterminate color too large for the room. A black-haired man with bloodshot eyes and a green tinge underneath his dark skin sat on the couch, chewing his nails. He looked up at Jack and stopped chewing—a signal for his leg to start bouncing. A bull-necked police officer, his thumbs crooked underneath his gun belt, stood guard over the man.

“Officer Freeman,” Jack said.

If Michael Freeman was surprised Jack knew who he was, he didn’t show it. His face remained expressionless.

“Chief McBride.”

A third officer stood at the mouth of the hallway to the right with a portly, elderly man. Relief washed over the officer’s face. He moved for- ward, hand outstretched. “Chief McBride,” he said. “Miner Jesson. This here is Doc Poole.”

Jack shook their hands.“Sorry to meet you under these circumstances, Dr. Poole.”

“Helluva case to get on your first day, eh?” the doctor said.

Jack nodded and gave a brief smile. He pulled gloves and more paper booties from his coat pocket and handed them to Jesson and the doctor. Jack walked down the hall and entered the room. Jesson stopped at the door.

“Gilberto and Rosa Ramos,” Jesson said. “Found dead this morning by Diego Vasquez.” He jerked his thumb in the direction of the man sitting on the couch. “Says he’s Rosa’s brother. He don’t speak much English, but from what I gathered, he came to pick Gilberto up for work and heard the baby screaming. When no one answered, he let himself in. Door was open. Found them just like that.”

They were both nude. The woman lay face down, covering half of the man’s body. The right side of the man’s head was blown across the pillow. Blood and brain matter were sprayed across the bed, under the woman and onto the floor. A clump of long dark hair was stuck to the window with blood. Her right arm extended across the man’s chest, a gun held lightly in her grip.

Jack walked around the bed.

Doc Poole stood next to Officer Jesson. “It takes a special kind of anger to kill someone you are in the middle of fucking, doncha think?” Doc Poole said. “Ever see that in the F-B-I?” Derision dripped from every letter.

Jack ignored him. “Where’s the baby?”

Jack hoped the revulsion on Jesson’s face meant scenes like this were rare in Stillwater. If he had wanted to deal with shit like this on a regular basis, he would have taken a better-paying job in a larger town.

“Officer Jesson?” Jack said. “Where’s the baby?” “Oh. It’s with a neighbor.”

“Has anyone called CPS?”

“Why?”

“To take care of the baby.”

“The neighbor offered.”

“And what do we know about this neighbor?”

He shrugged. “She didn’t speak much English.”

“So, she could be in the next county by now?”

“Oh, I doubt that,” Jesson said. “She seemed like a nice sort. Very

motherly.”

Jack cocked his head and puzzled over whether his most senior officer

was ignorant, naive, or an amazing judge of character.

He turned his attention to Doc Poole. “What’s the time of death?” “Sometime last night.”

“Can you be more specific?”

“Didn’t see the need. Seems pretty obvious what happened.”

“Oh, are you a detective?”

“No. I’m a general practitioner.”

“You’re the JP, aren’t you?”

“No. I used to be.” He chuckled. “Too old for this now.”

“Yet, here you are.”

“JP is on the way, Chief,” Jesson said.

Jack kept his focus on Doctor Poole. “So you heard this over the radio

and decided to come? Or did someone call you?”

“Well,I—”

“Do you have the instruments necessary to establish a time of death?” “Not with me, but—”

“Then get off my crime scene.”

The little man straightened his shoulders and lifted his chin. “I can

see why Jane Maxwell liked you.” He started to leave but turned back. “We do things different here in Stillwater.”

“Not anymore we don’t,” Jack said.

Melissa Lenhardt writes mystery, historical fiction, and women’s fiction. Her short fiction has appeared in Heater Mystery Magazine, The Western Online, and Christmas Nookies, a holiday romance anthology. Her debut novel, Stillwater, was a finalist for the 2014 Whidbey Writers’ MFA Alumni Emerging Writers Contest. She is a board member of the DFW Writers’ Workshop and vice president of the Sisters in Crime North Dallas Chapter. Melissa lives in Texas, with her husband and two sons.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Instagram

Tour Schedule

Oct 6 – Books and Broomsticks promo

Oct 7 – Missus Gonzo Q&A

Oct 8 – Bookishjessp promo

Oct 9 – Texas Book-aholic review

Oct 10 – Blogging for the Love of Authors and Their Books review

Oct 11 – Hall Ways promo

Oct 12 – Because This is My Life Y’all promo

Oct 13 – My Book Fix promo

Oct 14 – The Page Unbound promo

Oct 15 – Book Crazy Gals review

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Ice Like Fire Teaser

Posted on October 13, 2015 by The Page Unbound

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Ice Like Fire (Snow Like Ashes #2)

by Sara Raasch (Goodreads Author)

Book Synopsis(Goodreads):

It’s been three months since the Winterians were freed and Spring’s king, Angra, disappeared—thanks largely to the help of Cordell.

Meira just wants her people to be safe. When Cordellan debt forces the Winterians to dig their mines for payment, they unearth something powerful and possibly dangerous: Primoria’s lost chasm of magic. Theron sees this find as an opportunity—with this much magic, the world can finally stand against threats like Angra. But Meira fears the danger the chasm poses—the last time the world had access to so much magic, it spawned the Decay. So when the king of Cordell orders the two on a mission across the kingdoms of Primoria to discover the chasm’s secrets, Meira plans to use the trip to garner support to keep the chasm shut and Winter safe—even if it means clashing with Theron. But can she do so without endangering the people she loves?

Mather just wants to be free. The horrors inflicted on the Winterians hang fresh and raw in Januari—leaving Winter vulnerable to Cordell’s growing oppression. When Meira leaves to search for allies, he decides to take Winter’s security into his own hands. Can he rebuild his broken kingdom and protect them from new threats?

As the web of power and deception weaves tighter, Theron fights for magic, Mather fights for freedom—and Meira starts to wonder if she should be fighting not just for Winter, but for the world.

Quote 1:

“That’s what makes me the most upset about the world – how magic shoves people into lives they might not want. No one should have to beseech higher people for permission to be who they are, only to find their pleas ignored.
No one should be forced to be something they aren’t.”
― Sara Raasch, Ice Like Fire

Quote 2:

“The most powerful magic of all is choice.”
― Sara Raasch, Ice Like Fire

Quote 3:

“That’s how relationships work – when one person is blind, the other must see for them. When one person struggles, the other must remain strong.”
― Sara Raasch, Ice Like Fire

Quote 4:

“Dendera silences me with a hand on my cheek. “You listen to me, Meira Dynam. Yes, you have made mistakes, but I have watched you succumb to this role over the past few months, and that, I believe, is the biggest mistake you have made. The biggest mistake we all made. We’ve all been afraid, and Meira, you look at me. You saved us. You, this beautiful, wild girl before me – you saved us. So be you again, and whoever that is will be exactly what we need.”
― Sara Raasch, Ice Like Fire

The Ghost Host Blog Tour and Giveaway

Posted on October 13, 2015 by The Page Unbound

The Ghost Host

The Ghost Host by DelSheree Gladden

Everyone thinks Echo Simmons is crazy, but being The Ghost Host isn’t just a YouTube hoax like people think. It’s the only way to control the ghosts haunting her…at least until the FBI shows up asking questions.

The first eighteen years of Echo Simmons’ life have been less than ideal. On more than one occasion her parents have considered committing her. They don’t believe she sees ghosts or that they harass her on a daily basis. So when a rogue ghost begins tormenting her, they’re the last people she’s going to tell. Her best friends Holden and Zara are doing their best to help, but ghost attacks are only the beginning of Echo’s problems.

Handling the ghosts by giving them a voice on YouTube through her webshow has been her saving grace—even if her parents think it’s all a hoax—but that gets a little complicated when the ghost of Madeline Crew reveals a little too much about her previous life and the FBI shows up at her door wanting to know how she gained access to long-buried government secrets.

It just keeps getting worse from there. Madeline’s message to her great grandson sparks a strange connection between Echo and Malachi, which leads to Georgia, secrets, mistakes, love, lies, and life changing revelations.

Quote:

Everything feels wrong. I glance over at Malachi and Kyran first, thinking they’d be the ones to recognize something isn’t right, and I get all the confirmation I need from the strained expressions on their faces. They aren’t alone. Everyone with us feels the claustrophobic oppressiveness of this building. It’s not an unfamiliar feeling. I felt it when Archer died, only for a few brief seconds, but reliving the memory imprinted the queasy, unnatural feel of death on my soul forever.

“Do you see anything?” Agent Morton asks.

“If I do see something, I’m certainly not keeping it to myself,” I say. More likely than not, everyone in a five mile radius will know when I see something. I have lots of practice at screaming.

Excerpt:

Somehow, I always knew the people I saw hovering around looking aimless were ghosts, and it never really bothered me. Sometimes I talked to them when I was little. They never talked back. Sometimes they would play with me, though. My mom used to tell people what a good baby I was, how I never cried or fussed. She thought she had just lucked out with an easy first kid. Really, I always had someone standing over my crib smiling at me or making silly faces. Ghosts really seem to like being around babies for some reason.

It wasn’t until I got a little older that I realized some of my ghostly friends were hanging around for a reason. A few of them were just lonely and either weren’t ready to move on or didn’t know how. I haven’t got a clue about how to send them on their way, so I figure the least I can do is keep them company.

Others, they had messages they wanted to pass on. At first, I didn’t know how to do that without getting into trouble. My mom refused to make phone calls or send my letters to who she deemed were random strangers. I found ways to get the letters in the mail, at least, without her knowing, but it wasn’t easy and they occasionally got sent back to us when the address proved inaccurate. Mom wasn’t happy when she found one and realized what I’d been doing.

Holden was the one who came up with the idea for the webshow. It made things a lot easier since my parents think it’s just a funny hoax we like to pull, and it gives us a hobby and keeps me out of trouble for the most part. That’s the biggest reason they let me do it. As I got older and more capable, more able to help the ghosts, they became more insistent. That’s when things got really bad.

Up until that point, I didn’t know the ghosts could affect my dreams, and not in a good way. The nightmares got progressively worse, morphing into full on night terrors. The headaches followed, though I’m still not sure if the ghosts were trying to talk to me, or just doing whatever they could to get my attention. Sometimes, their presence would become so oppressive as they tried to communicate that I would completely zone out… which sent my grades into the toilet and my behavior into the realm of unmanageable. The worst by far is when they try to touch me.

Ghost Host

Amazon

Author DelSheree Gladden

DelSheree Gladden was one of those shy, quiet kids who spent more time reading than talking. Literally. She didn’t speak a single word for the first three months of preschool, but she had already taught herself to read. Her fascination with reading led to many hours spent in the library and bookstores, and eventually to writing. She wrote her first novel when she was sixteen years old, but spent ten years rewriting and perfecting it before having it published.

Native to New Mexico, DelSheree and her husband spent several years in Colorado for college and work before moving back home to be near family again. Their two children love having their cousins close by. When not writing, you can find DelSheree reading, painting, sewing and trying not to get bitten by small children in her work as a dental hygienist. DelSheree has several bestselling young adult series, including “Invisible” which was part of the USA Today Bestselling box set, “Pandora.” The Date Shark Series is her first contemporary romance series, and her first book in her upcoming new adult series, The Ghost Host, will be releasing 2015.

Website / Facebook / Twitter

$25 Blog Tour giveaway

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 10/29/15

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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End of Day Book Blitz

Posted on October 12, 2015 by The Page Unbound

End of Day by Summer Lane
(The Zero Trilogy #3)
Publication date: October 9th 2015
Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult

Book Summary

The end has come.

Elle Costas and her dog, Bravo, have survived the dangers of Hollywood and escaped the clutches of Slaver Territory. The apocalypse has been cruel, and the wasteland of California has forced them to seek shelter in a civilian refugee camp at a place called Bear Mountain.

Here, they meet Cheng, a mysterious boy with the skills of a samurai, and Luli, a steampunk warrior with a thirst for vengeance. But friends cannot always be trusted. When a horrific tragedy befalls Bear Mountain, Elle and Bravo come face to face with their most dangerous enemy yet.

Betrayal and heartbreak threaten to destroy the bonds of friendship. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Run, or be caught.
Kill, or be killed.
Fight, or be forced to surrender.

The end of the day will change everything.
Will Elle and Bravo survive?

The explosive, thrilling conclusion to the #1 Bestselling Zero Trilogy by Summer Lane.

Purchase through Amazon

Author Q&A

Does writing post-apocalyptic fiction make you want to be more prepared for an emergency or disaster?

Naturally! Because I’m constantly writing about survival situations, I can’t help but think about how I need to be prepared for an emergency. I walk into a store and think, “If something crazy happens right now, how am I going to react? Will I survive?”

So dramatic, I know. But I can’t help it! My head is ALWAYS in the world of the apocalypse, because I’m always working on my series. By extension, I would say that a good ninety percent of my dreams for the last three years have revolved around the end of the world. Staying alive. Hiding in bunkers under the ground, or escaping the zombie apocalypse. I can’t say that I’m sorry, because I really love writing about survival scenarios.

Who is your favorite character in The Zero Trilogy?

Without a doubt, my favorite character is Bravo. I love his selfless nature and his heroic actions. He’s a true role model for me. I didn’t create him – he created himself, and he’s based on the true inspiration of real heroic canines everywhere who work in the military and in law enforcement.

What’s next for you?

Now that I’ve finished this trilogy, I’m working on the seventh installment of The Collapse Series, and beginning a new trilogy starring Bravo. I am so in love with his story, it’s not even funny. I think everyone will love it, because everyone has heard about the apocalypse from the viewpoint of people – but how about the dog? The way he sees the collapse of the world might be so different than how we see it!

What are your favorite post-apocalyptic book, TV show and movie?

You know, I get asked this question a lot. It’s really hard for me to choose just one favorite! The Road, by Cormac McCarthy is definitely in my top five favorite novels, and so is World War Z by Max Brooks. My favorite post-ap show is The Walking Dead. The zombies terrify the heck out of me, but I watch it for the character development and the outstanding post-apocalyptic sets. Robert Kirkman and Scott Gimple are brilliant.

I’m not sure that I have a favorite post-ap movie. I do sincerely enjoy the Resident Evil films and The Book of Eli. Modernly, The Maze Runner and Scorch Trials are excellent looks into that genre. Movies are bringing it to life better than ever these

When you have time off, what do you like to do?

I like to read! I adore my Kindle fire. I love to watch movies and television shows, too. Netflix has been a good friend to me. My fiancé and I like to go out to dinner as much as we can and try new food. I love playing with my kitty, crocheting brightly colored afghans and using sharpie markers to spruce up “adult” coloring books.

About the Author

Summer Lane is the #1 Bestselling author of The Collapse Series and the compelling tie-in novella books of The Zero Trilogy, as well as the upcoming Bravo Saga (releasing March 2016). She is also the author of Collapse: The Illustrated Guide, a #1 Bestselling graphic companion to her phenomenal original series.

She is the owner of WB Publishing and Writing Belle, an online magazine. Summer is also an accomplished journalist and creative writing teacher.

Summer lives in the Central Valley of California, where she spends her days writing, teaching, and writing some more. When she is not writing, she enjoys leisurely visits with friends at coffee shops, movie dates, reading and spending the day at the beach or mountains.

Author Links

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway

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The Infected Book Blitz

Posted on October 12, 2015 by The Page Unbound

The Infected (PODs #2)
by Michelle K. Pickett
Release Date: October 12th 2015

Summary from Goodreads:

From the author of the award winning Unspeakable, and the best selling PODs, comes the highly anticipated sequel to PODs. A world where death stalks the unsuspecting, and this time even the PODs might not save them.

A virus nearly wiped out humankind…

Months have passed since a human infection has been reported. Survivors of the deadly pandemic have finally started to build a life in a world left devastated by plague.

Ironically, for nineteen-year-old Eva, life made more sense when she battled the deadly Infected than it does in the serenity of her new home in Rosewood. Separated from fiancé and former POD-mate, David, after an impossible ultimatum, Eva finds her life a little lonely and a lot confusing.

But as troubled as Eva’s life is, it’s about to take a turn for the worse as untold dangers watch and wait for the right moment to attack…

The virus refuses to die quietly.

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Smashwords│Kobo│iTunes

Book One

(click on image for link)

BOOK TRAILER:

About the Author

I can’t write without a hoodie. Yeah, I live it Texas. We all have our quirks.

I majored in accounting in college. I was required to declare a major, but I had no clue what I wanted to do, so I picked accounting because it was the first thing listed in the booklet the counselor gave me. Surprisingly, I graduated with a 4.0 GPA. Go figure.

Forget coffee. Hand over the Red Bull or Monster Khaos and no one gets hurt. Seriously, just set it down and step away. I will turn into a normal human after I guzzle my can of caffeine.

I hate to cook, but love to watch cooking shows on television.

I paint my nails weird colors just to see my husband roll his eyes and make my 9 year-old twin girls giggle. Oh, and mortify my 13 year-old son.

I’m a hopeful romantic and love swoon-worthy endings that keep the butterflies going for days, but I don’t believe a HEA always ends with the boy getting the girl. Sometimes a HEA is an ending we don’t see coming, but is still best for the characters.

I write across genres in the young adult and new adult age groups while eating way too many peanut butter M&Ms (but we’ll keep that second part just between us).

I was born and raised in Flint, Michigan, but now live in a suburb of Houston, TX with my very supportive family, a 125lb rescue “puppy” and a 12lb attack cat, also a rescue animal.

And last, (but certainly not least), I love my family with everything in me. Everything I am, is theirs. There are no words in any language known to man to describe my love for them. They are my center.

I’d love to hear from you. So drop me an email! Let’s chat. You tell me what you like in books, what you’d like to see happen in the writing community, what type of books you like to see more of…less of—I want to hear it all! So tell me, please. Because the one thing I wish I could put on my list, but I still haven’t figured out how to do, is mind-reading. But don’t tell my kids. I still have them fooled. 🙂

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

GIVEAWAY:

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Author Interview with Jessie Rosen

Posted on October 12, 2015 by The Page Unbound

Jessie Rosen Author Interview

Author Links:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Purchase Link

Please provide your official author bio/summary.

Jessie Rosen is a writer, producer, and performer. Since 2007 she has written the blog 20-Nothings.com – a TIME TOP 25 Blog and named among the Top 100 Websites for Women and Top 10 Websites for Millennials by FORBES. She lives in Los Angeles, where she’s working on film and television projects, as well as her next novel.

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

I have always been writing. It started with little stories my mom would “publish” between pieces of cardboard cut up from cereal boxes, morphed into journalism at college and then expanded to blogging, TV/film writing and this novel most recently. I am inspired to write by hearing stories that move me and deserve to be told. I have always understood myself and the world through characters and stories. So not only do I want to give my readers something to enjoy but I also hope to change their perspective or offer them a vantage point they’ll take with them long after they finish the book.

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

My intended audience is YA lovers who enjoy a twisty tale that turns into a very wild ride. I’ve always thought about DEAD RINGER as a GONE GIRL meets PRETTY LITTLE LIARS, so lovers of those amazing titles will hopefully love this book, too.

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

The team at Full Fathom Five (my publisher) and I did a lot of brainstorming about a title that would be instantly catchy and instantly clear. The idea of my main character Laura Rivers being a dead ringer for a dead girl is the whole crux of the story, so the title felt like a perfect fit.

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

Full Fathom works with amazing artists, one of whom came up with this concept. The goal was to make the cover instantly intriguing and, frankly, creepy. With the darkness of the cover we wanted to convey maturity and the fact that this really is a thriller. The legs in the water only added to that whoa factor. But my favorite part is the pink toe nail polish. Just a little splash of color to remind you this is a YA tale.

Who is your favorite character from your book and why?

Ooh this is tough. I think my favorite character is Sasha because I wish I were as genius as she is when it comes to her special skills (that I can’t possibly reveal…). Sasha is also the character that remains a mystery for much of the book so she was really fun to write.

How about your least favorite character? What makes them less appealing to you?

Hm I don’t know if I have a least favorite character but I certainly don’t agree with a lot of the things that Amanda does in the story. She has a motivation so I understand why she does what she does (and did what she did in the past), but I would never follow that same path.

If you could change ONE thing about your novel, what would it be? Why?

Great question! I think I would like to spend more time at Laura’s house getting to know her and her world a little better. We see her mostly in school and outside of school with Charlie, but a bit more about her environment would be nice to paint an even clearer picture of this new girl.

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

Almost every single name in the book is the name of a real person, same goes for all the towns and places. I’m from New Jersey where the book is set, and I wanted to give my friends some fun “easter eggs” to find in the book.

Another fun fact: I wrote the book while raising my puppy. Louie arrived at 8 weeks old right around the time that I started working on DEAD RINGER, and by the time I was finished he was a well-behaved pup! I should have thanked him in the acknowledgements!

What other books are similar to your own? What makes them alike?

The Pretty Little Liars and Gossip Girl series remind me of my book. Also Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver and Conspiracy Girl by Sarah Alderson. The former are in a similar tone as my novel and paint a similar posh world. The latter deal with equally intense issues and unfold in an equally twisty way. I also really looked to Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn for inspiration on dealing with multiple narrators.

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

Examples: Webpages and/or social media

DEAD RINGER is all over the web, as am I! Here are some handles:

@DeadRingerBook on Twitter and Instagra

www.DeadRingerBook.com

I am @20Nothings on Twitter and @JessieRosen on Instagram and my blog is www.20-Nothings.com

What can we expect from you in the future?

Hopefully two more books in the DEAD RINGER series! I’m also tackling an emerging adult novel right now. It’s an epic love story set against a major national tragedy, and it all takes place in 72 hours.

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

Share, share, share! Whether it’s placing it on your GoodReads shelf, adding it to your blog list or Tweeting/Instagramming your love to friends. Every little bit is so helpful.

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

Two tips:

Write, write, write. The more you write the easier that writing becomes. Writing is a muscle and if you exercise it, it will get stronger.

Know the market. I did a TON of reading before embarking on this project and it really helped me understand what YA readers (and readers overall) were enjoying and how I could create a story that both tied into my passions and ideas but also found a place in the world.

Is there anything else you’d like to say?

I’d like to say THANK YOU for your support and that I have been overwhelmed by the support and appreciate from the entire book-lover community. I always knew the book lovers were fantastic people, and it’s proven every day that I work toward my release date!

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

Here you go!

For the first time in forever, she had decided to wear her long, blond hair down and parted on the far-left side so a waterfall of curls danced over her right eye, the slightly bluer one—the one that usually made her self-conscious. Today she let the curls do their thing instead of making sure every piece of frizz was locked down with an army of gooey hair products. She wore simple makeup paired with a shocking pink lipstick she’d seen on the girls strolling the pier all summer long. It was wild, but it made her feel powerful. Her first day outfit was a vintage, floral shirt belted over a flirty, white sundress to make sure her tan legs showed, because why not milk the Cali-girl vibe? On her feet were cork-soled wedges in a neon-colored, striped print from 1989—one of her favorite vintage finds besides the car, of course. She was pretty sure she wouldn’t look like anyone at this posh, brick-and-ivy-covered, suburban New Jersey school, and she loved that fact. She was ready to start out on a totally new foot.

But just as Laura’s first-day confidence finally locked in, it vanished.

Across the parking lot, she caught the glance of two girls getting out of a shiny, white Corvette. Laura smiled in their direction, but something was off about the way they both looked back at her. Their faces were frozen in a strange, almost confused look that made her instantly uncomfortable. It was more than just the usual new-kid-in-school stares.

It wasn’t until the shorter, curly-haired girl glanced back and quickly turned away again that Laura saw the real feeling behind her eyes: she was scared.

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Book Summary (Goodreads):

From the moment Laura Rivers steps foot into Englewood High, she notices the stares—and they aren’t the typical once-overs every pretty new girl endures. The students seem confused and…spooked. Whispers echoing through the halls confirm that something is seriously off. “That new girl looks just like her,” they say.

It turns out Laura has a doppelgänger, and it isn’t just anyone—it’s Sarah Castro-Tanner, the girl who killed herself by jumping into the Navasink River one year ago.

Laura is determined not to let the gossip ruin her chances of making a fresh start. Thanks to her charming personality and California tan, she catches the eye of Englewood’s undisputed golden boy, Charlie Sanders, and it’s only a matter of time before they make their relationship official.

But something is making Charlie and his friends paranoid—and Laura soon discovers it has to do with Sarah Castro-Tanner.

What really happened to Sarah? Why is Charlie unraveling? And how does Laura Rivers fit into it all?

After all, she’s the dead ringer for a dead girl.

The 5th Wave

Posted on October 11, 2015 by The Page Unbound

The 5th Wave
by Rick Yancey
Series: The 5th Wave (Book 1)
Paperback: 512 pages
Publisher: Speak; Reissue edition (February 10, 2015)
Rating: 5/5

Book Summary:

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother–or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

My Review:

I simply loved this book. From the very beginning it’s a gripping read. Once you get about a third of the way through the book it is non-stop, filled with action, love, and suspense. I can’t even put into words how incredible this book is. It was a wonderfully designed plot, and intricate characters. If you like apocalyptic, science fiction stories filled with aliens and the end of the world scenarios, and an incredible love story than this book is definitely for you!

Cassie.
Not Cassie for Cassandra.
Not simply Cassie.
But Cassie for Cassiopeia.

Evan Walker.
Not just a farm boy.
Not just a boy who has lost his entire family.
But Evan. Complicated. Conflicted.

Ben Parish.
Not just your average jock.
Not just a boy Cassie used to have a crush on.
But a soldier. Honest. True. Honorable.

These three have survived the first four waves from the aliens that came from the skies. The waves had wiped out most of humanity, but still, these three survived somehow. Cassie is alone, trying her best to survive, not really sure where to go or what to do to get her brother back. And as she travels she has flashbacks from their arrival. Flashbacks of what happened to her mother, her father, people that survived the first four waves and made a camp together. Along her journey of trying to figure out what to do Cassie is shot by a silencer and left for dead. But Evan, farm boy, shy, sweet Evan finds her and helps her. Evan and Cassie are instantly drawn to each other, their attraction for each other undeniable. Evan encourages Cassie to stay with him, that he’ll take care of her, that going after her brother is suicidal, but Cassie won’t be swayed. She has to rescue her brother even if it means her death. Just one problem, Evan refuses to let her go without him. Together they set out to rescue Sammy, but secrets and betrayal surround them. Despite it all, Cassie has to do whatever it takes to save her baby brother. Still the question lingers, can they infiltrate Camp Haven and save her brother from the inevitable 5th wave?

Meanwhile, in Camp Haven, Ben has miraculously survived the virus and is trained to be a soldier. The soldiers at Camp Haven have uncovered a horrible truth. Ben suits up, stricken with grief over the death of his family, but pushes his sorrow way down inside of himself. He trains, hard. Desperate to get back at the aliens that took so much from him. He befriends the members in his squad, and they become a formidable team. Once they’ve completed their training, they are sent out on a mission to take care of alien hostiles. But what they find is an undeniable truth. A truth so dark, it turns your insides out.

Inside the camp and outside the camp the world is crumbling and people are turning on people, all because of the horrible things the aliens have done to them. But despite it all, can these three overcome all of this and save the one thing they have in common? A little boy that has come to mean so much to them. To Cassie, her brother. To Ben, his friend and a promise he refuses to break. And to Evan, what it means to be human.

I simply couldn’t put this book down. I read this book because I saw the movie trailer and just couldn’t believe how exciting it seemed. The book is amazing, gripping, with a wonderful fast paced plot, completely action packed, a great love story that is gripping and intense, truly marvelous memorable characters and so much more. Be sure to check it out before the movie comes out in January. And just in case you haven’t seen the trailer be sure to check it out too!

Movie Trailer:

About the Author:

Rick is the author of fifteen novels and a memoir. His books have been published in over thirty languages and have earned numerous accolades and awards from around the world. His young adult novel, The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp, was named a “Best Book of the Year” by Publishers Weekly and was nominated for the Carnegie Medal. In 2010, Rick received a Michael L. Printz Honor for The Monstrumologist. The sequel, The Curse of the Wendigo, was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His latest novel, The 5th Wave, the first in an epic sci-fi trilogy, made its worldwide debut in 2013, and will soon be a major motion picture for GK Films and Sony Pictures.

The Five Warriors Promo

Posted on October 10, 2015 by The Page Unbound

This is our stop on The Five Warriors blog tour! We are so excited to be a part of this! Be sure to check out an exclusive book excerpt and giveaway for The Five Warriors!

About the Book

Title: The Five Warriors

Author: Angela J. Ford

Genre: YA Fantasy

What if… your best friend started a rebellion in the middle of a war? your lover awakened a deep evil and helped it grow? your people were too cowardly to face a battle? you stole an ancient power source? you gambled with the fate of the world?
Join five powerful warriors each with a unique ability and magical weapons. Their quest is to discover where the transformed creatures are coming from and put a stop to it.
Along the way they run into treacherous immortals, sea monsters, powerful beasts of the air and talking animals.
Each has their own reasoning for joining the quest, but one carries a deadly secret which just might be the destruction of them all.

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Purchase Links:
Amazon

Book Excerpt:

Are there beings with the ability to shift forms?” he asked.

She reached out a hand to caress his serious face and laughed lightly. “Why would you ask me that?”

“Tell me, would I know if I saw one?”

“You are serious.” She stood, letting the moonlight filter through the waves of her waist-length hair. “Changers are old beings from the beginning of time, the last scraps of the creator’s spark which formed this World. You would be unlikely to meet one, for they are above us; too distinguished to flirt with the people groups and too haughty to lower themselves to live with the immortals.” Her long fingers rested on the balcony, gripping it tightly as she continued. “If you ever met one it would be unexplainable. They have two forms which makes them indestructible. One is physical and another is spirit.”

“Would you know if you met a Changer?” he pressed. “Are they dangerous?”

She laughed again, her voice rippling gently through the air like the tinkling of silver bells on a crisp night. “Dangerous? There are no creatures in the World more powerful or dangerous.”

“What if I met a Changer. What should I do?”

She turned back to him, bending to take his face in her hands. Her intense gaze met his questioning eyes. “Run as fast as you can and never stop.”

About the Author:
AngelaFord

Angela J. Ford is an imaginative and entertaining writer who creates stories of fanciful worlds that enable young adults to confidently believe in possibilities and overcome differences to be stronger together.

Born in Ann Arbor, MI, and raised in Alabaster, AL, she moved to Nashville, TN, where she currently resides, to pursue a degree in Music Business at Belmont University.

Although her career has not been largely focused on creative writing, it has been an integral part of her lifestyle. Brought up as a bookworm and musician, she began writing The Four Worlds, a fantasy action, adventure series at the age of 12. The storyline of those books was largely based off of creative games she played with her sisters.

Originally finished when she was 16, after college, Angela began to re-write the Four Worlds Series, bringing it from a child’s daydream to an adventure young and old alike can enjoy. Inspired by fairy tales, high magic and epic fantasy, you’ll enjoy your adventures within the Four Worlds.

If you happen to be in Nashville, you’ll mostly likely find her at a local coffee shop, enjoying a white chocolate mocha and furiously working on her next book. Make sure you say hello!

Author Links:
Book Site | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

GIVEAWAY:

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Pirate Princess Cover Reveal

Posted on October 9, 2015 by The Page Unbound

About the Book

Title: Pirate Princess

Author: Catherine Banks

Genre: YA/NA Fantasy

As the daughter of the Pirate King, Tilia Swanson has an unusual upbringing learning skills that aren’t often available for women. As the heir apparent for the Kingdom of Crilan, her skills set her apart as she is trained by the best in the land and taught to harness her magic. However, piracy is in her blood, and draws danger to Tilia in the way that treasure draws pirates. Some treasures are more valuable than others. Will this lesson be learned in time or will the betrayal of those around her be her undoing?

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Isn’t that cover just GORGEOUS? I can’t wait to read this book!

Author Bio

Catherine Banks is the author of the Artemis Lupine Series, Little Death Bringer Series, Ciara Steele Novella Series, and the novel Daughter of Lions. She began writing fiction stories when she was only four years old and finished her first full length novel at the age of fifteen.

Catherine is a Northern California native and has lived within a twenty mile radius her entire life. She plans to travel to as many places as possible in her thirties to make up for her lack of traveling experience. She is married to her soulmate and best friend, Avery, who blessed her with two amazing children. After her full time job she reads books, plays video games, and watches a lot of anime shows and movies with her family to relax.

Links

M9B Friday Reveal: Return of the Jed

Posted on October 9, 2015 by The Page Unbound

M9B-Friday-Reveal-Bannernew

Welcome to this week’s M9B Friday Reveal!

This week, we are revealing the cover for

Return of the Jed (DEAD JED 3) by Scott Craven

presented by Month9Books!

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

Dead Jed 3.Ebook

With seventh grade behind him, Jed jumps at the opportunity to spend the summer in Mexico with his dad. But there’s just one catch: Luke and Tread get to tag along.

In Mexico, fitting in might be easier than Jed imagined, with holidays such as Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Here, a rising 8th grade zombie boy and his zombie dog won’t draw that much attention.

But then Tread unwittingly sets off Mexico’s Chupacabra Defense Network and Jed accidentally collides with a bus. So much for blending in. The unusual pair catch the eye of a professional wrestler, who challenges Jed to a fight!

Their antics manage to capture the attention of a doctor whose knowledge of the undead causes Jed to question his very existence. Is this the answer Jed’s been hoping for since his parents sat him down for the “you’re a zombie” talk? Jed may have finally found a way to be normal, but at what cost?

Dead Jed: Return of the Jed is book 3 in Scott Craven’s humorous and heartwarming series about surviving middle school, fitting in, and embracing one’s differences – even if you are a zombie.