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:
Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

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Secret of the Sevens

Posted on June 8, 2015 by The Page Unbound

Secret of the Sevens
by Lynn Lindquist
Release Date: 06/2015
Flux Publishing

Summary from Goodreads:

Everyone at Singer, a boarding school for underprivileged kids, knows the urban legend of the Society of Seven. Decades ago, the original members of the secret guild for elite students murdered the school’s founder and then perished in the fire they lit to hide the evidence. Or so the story goes.

Talan Michaels doesn’t care about Singer’s past. He’s too focused on his future and the fact that he’ll be homeless after he graduates in May. To take his mind off it, he accepts a mysterious invitation to join a group calling itself the Sevens.

He expects pranks, parties, and perks. Instead, he finds himself neck-deep in a conspiracy involving secret passages and cryptic riddles about the school’s history. Even worse, he’s now tangled in web of lies someone will kill to keep hidden.

“At the end of the day, it’s Talan and his endearing combination of bravado and vulnerability, coupled with the crackling chemistry he shares with Laney, that will keep readers turning the pages. A satisfying read for secret-society fanatics and romantics alike.” – Kirkus ReviewsBuy Links:
Amazon│Barnes & Noble

Book Excerpt:I cut across the quad toward the oldest building on campus. Why would they want to see me here? Except for the Pillar thing, I can’t think of anything I’ve done wrong recently. That they know of, anyhow.I open the front door and flash my pass at the security guard. He reads the note over a couple times as I sign in. “Room 07? I don’t see a lot of passes for rooms in the basement.” He hands it back and points to a doorway. “Take that stairwell there.”The muscles in my shoulders stiffen as I ramble down the rickety steps into a dark corridor. The air is humid and musty. There’s a single dim bulb hanging from the ceiling in the center of the long hallway.Unnerved, I squint to read the faded numbers on the old wood doors. The darkness in the narrow hall is starting to trigger my claustrophobia. When my shoes squeak like a bad speaker, I twist around, thinking someone’s behind me. What am I freaking out about? There’s no one else here. I’m alone.Alone.In a strange building.

For a meeting I knew nothing about.

In an empty hallway… in a dimly-lit basement… that no one ever uses.

The hairs on my arm stand up. My eyes shift around, searching the walls for anything familiar.

“Hello?”

No answer.

All the classroom lights are off except for one at the very end of the hall. A strip of light glows from under the door. I drift toward it like an insect to a bug zapper.

The door to room 07 creaks as I open it and wander inside. The room is empty, except for a chalkboard on one wall with a message:

Yes, Talan. The letter is for you. And it’s real.

My breath catches in my throat. What letter? What’s going on? I look around the room and then peer out into the hallway, but there’s still no one around.

Scanning the room again, I spot a black velvet envelope with a red wax seal sitting on the ledge of the chalkboard. I go over and grab it, just as a cold sweat starts to collect under my shirt.

Inside is a card printed with fancy writing:

Master Talan Michaels,

You have been chosen for membership in the resurrected Society of Seven. Participation in The Society requires absolute loyalty, a lifelong oath of silence, and a commitment of sacrificial service to the true purposes of our brotherhood. In return, pledges are bestowed the secrets of The Society, including access to fraternal wealth and wisdom. Upon final initiation into The Society, each member is assigned the Great Responsibility and awarded the Great Reward—the use of society resources to fulfill your greatest desire.

Choose or refuse, you will have until midnight tonight to decide. If refusing, destroy this card and speak of it never, lest ye choose to invite misery upon yourself. Be warned: Do not take this vow lightly.

If accepting, return this invitation by way of the mausoleum of Mary Harper Singer, behind the Chapel ruins in the cemetery off Rucker Road. Slide this card under the palm of the weeping angel that watches over our beloved matriarch.

Noblesse Oblige: “To whom much is given, much is expected.”

About the Author:

Lynn Lindquist lives in a suburb of Chicago with two overly-social sons and a mutt named Slugger who wisely hides under the bed most days. The hordes of teenagers that regularly frequent her house (think Panama City Beach during spring break) provide fodder for her young adult novels and growing anxiety disorder. Ever since her sons broke the Guinness Record for Largest-Rager-Thrown-While-a-Parent-Was-Out-for-the-Night, she enjoys spending her free time at home entertaining friends, cooking, reading, and writing. Thankfully, her favorite things in life are her sons, words, and kids, so she wouldn’t have it any other way. She is represented by Katherine Boyle at Veritas Literary Agency.

Author Links:

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Everlost Book Blitz

Posted on June 7, 2015 by The Page Unbound

Everlost
by Candace Knoebel
(Night Watchmen #3)
Publication date: May 10th 2015
Genres: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult

Synopsis:

One truth will unravel them all.

Faye Middleton thought the worst had come to pass the night she and her friends barely escaped from Ethryeal City and the clutches of the evil Priestess Clara. Officially shunned from the Coven, Faye is forced to lay low in order to come up with a plan to bring Clara down.

At Jaxen’s childhood manor, they were supposed to be safe from any outside issues, and they were… until his long-lost mother shows up. Determined to win back what she lost so long ago, Evangeline reveals a secret that could shatter their beliefs, or be their saving grace.

Now, with two Covens searching for Faye, they must find a way to start over. With the help of the Rebellion, they begin the arduous task of forming their own army. However, the choices they are faced with leave them questioning everything they’ve ever known.

Buy Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Book Excerpt:

THIS ISN’T GOING TO END WELL.

She isn’t supposed to be here, outside this house, across the yard, staring at me like I’m a twoheaded vampire about to suck the life from her veins. Her wordsaren’t supposed to be so intoxicating. Her gaze isn’t supposed to be the kind that glues you in place, turning your brain to mush and your instincts to that of a moth to a flame.

Evangeline Gramm… the woman who escaped the infamous Gramm Curse.The mother who so easily abandoned her two boys. The Witch who has passed under the Primeval Coven’s radar longer than anyone ever thought possible.

She could be our worst nightmare… or she could be the key to finding our salvation.

I thought the worst had come to pass the night we barely escaped from Ethryeal City. We were officially shunned from the Coven under Clara’s orders, Jaxen had been wounded, and we weren’t any closer to bringing Clara down.

But none of that could touch the look on Jaxen’s face when he found his mother standing feet away from him, with an army we never saw coming behind her.

And I’m not sure what’s going to happen now. I’m not sure he’s ready to facehis past… the same way I’m not ready to face my future.

But being born a Primeval means that pain isn’t an option—it’s a standard.We can’t escape it. There’s no silver lining in our line of work. There aren’t any small miracles that can relieve us from this hell.

There’s just fear and determination.

That’s it. That’s all we have to drive us forward.

I just hope this time we make it through.

About the Author:

Candace Knoebel is the award-winning author of Born in Flames-book one in a young adult fantasy trilogy. She discovered in 2009 through lunch breaks and late nights after putting her kids to bed, a world where she could escape the ever-pressing days of an eight to five Purgatory. And an outlet for all the voices residing in her head.

Published by 48fourteen in 2012, Born in Flames went on to win Turning the Pages Book of the Year award in February of 2013. In January of 2014, the last book in the trilogy, From the Embers, was released, thusly completing the trilogy. She now works on the Night Watchmen Series, while guzzling Red Bulls and pretending to be a ninja on Heelys.

Author Links:
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Wonder Horse Book Promo

Posted on June 7, 2015 by The Page Unbound

Wonder Horse by Anita Daher
Publication Date: May 8, 2015
Publisher: Rebelight Publishing

Book Summary (Goodreads):

Fitting into a new school in a new city isn’t easy, but dreams come true for Sera with a gift from her parents: a gorgeous and spirited American Paint horse. Sera’s bubble bursts when a mean girl, Brittany, tells her that neither she nor her less than well-trained horse belong with the rest of the “reiners” in their riding class. As Sera sets out to prove Brittany wrong, she risks losing her passion for training and the friendship of Dev, another girl who truly understands her.

An earlier version of this story was originally published by Stabenfeldt (Stavanger, Norway) in 2011 as Wager the Wonder Horse and distributed in six languages: Norwegian, Hungarian, Czech, German, Finnish and Swedish.

Purchase Links:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Book Excerpt:

As we walk our horses toward the arena door, I see Brittany watching us, and she doesn’t look happy. Talk about jealous! As usual, her mare flattens her ears at Wager. That mare might benefit from Mom and Dad’s lecture on actions and reactions.

“Dani,” Brittany calls, “have you seen some of the other things Wager can do?”

“What do you mean?” Dani asks.

“Yeah, what do you mean?” I echo.

“He’s a good looking horse,” she says. “Flashy.”

She looks at me, as if expecting me to say something. Like what? I’m way too surprised.

“Since they’re going to be at the winter show anyway, why don’t they enter a showmanship class?”

Dani cocks her head to the side. “I wonder,” she says. “Sera, what do you think?”

I’ve watched showmanship classes in Calgary. It wouldn’t be like our lesson. Wager would have to be groomed to look like a million bucks—not a problem for my boy—and must respond instantly to my cues to walk, trot or halt. He’d also have to stand still for very long periods of time.

“Honestly? I don’t think he’s patient enough.”

“Well let’s see,” she says. “Go ahead and walk a small circle with him.”

I feel like today’s lesson has been three-in-one! We walk, trot, stop, and start and backup on Dani’s cues. Finally she calls us in. “I think you’ll do fine if you’d like to try it,” she says. “Good idea, Brittany.”

“No problem,” Brittany says, and I see a strange glint in her eyes. “Wager’s a good boy.” She looks at him. “Aren’t you. Wager? Such a good boy!”

I’m so busy thinking about the show that I don’t notice how closely Wager is listening to Brittany. I catch on just in time to watch Wager offer a vigorous “yes” head-bob, which unfortunately catches Dani’s chin on the upswing.

“Son of a gun!” she shouts after a sharp cry of pain. She’s holding her chin, but manages to look at me and spit out, “What is that?”

“A trick,” I say, my voice small.

She shakes her head. “Bad idea, Sera. Does he always do that when someone tells him he’s a good boy?”

“Pretty much,” I say. “You have to be looking at him.”

“And what if a showmanship judge tells him the same thing?” She lets go of her jaw and gives her head a roll, as if to work out the kinks, and I get the sense she’s not really waiting for me to answer. Her chin is red where Wager whacked her. “I’m not confident that we can train that out of him in one week. Stick to reining this time around, Sera. We’ll work on showmanship another time.” She turns and—muttering the whole way—leads Spike out of the arena.

“Why did you do that, Brittany?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she says, smirking. “Clearly, Wager is a special boy, but that doesn’t mean he can be good at everything.” She sniffs. “You don’t have to show him, you know. He’s a nice riding horse. Why don’t you stick with that?”

My heart and every bit of happy I had in me drops to the arena floor. I don’t know what I did to turn Brittany against us, but it’s pretty clear she doesn’t want us in her world.

We’ll show her, Wager. We’ve got to.

I stroke Wager’s nose. Brittany’s right about one thing. He is a nice riding horse. We used to have so much fun together. When exactly did riding stop being fun?

ABOUT ANITA DAHER:

Anita Daher has been entrenched in the publishing industry since 1995, and is (thus far) author of fourteen books for children and teens. Aside from short stints as grave-plot seller, tour guide, and children’s party clown, she’s worked in aviation, publishing and broadcasting. When not word wrangling, she enjoys inhabiting characters on stage and screen.

Author Links:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway: Winners will be drawn June 26, 2015

· Two (2) winners will received a physical copy of Wonder Horse by Anita Daher (US/Canada)

· Five (5) winners will receive a digital copy of Wonder Horse by Anita Daher (INT)

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Blog Tour Schedule

Blog Tour Organized by:

Dorianna

Posted on June 6, 2015 by The Page Unbound

Dorianna
by Catherine Stin
Publisher: Evernight Teen
Release Date: November 7, 2014
4.5/5 Stars

Book Summary (Goodreads):

Internet followers, beauty, power. It all sounded good.

Until it transformed into a terrifying reality Dorianna couldn’t stop.

Dorianna is a dark twist for the Internet generation on A Picture of Dorian Gray.

When her father is jailed, her mother ships lonely, plain Dorianna to her aunt’s. There, Dorianna yearns to build a new identity, but the popular Lacey bullies her—mostly for getting attention from her ex, Ander.

Ander takes Dorianna to Coney Island where Wilson, a videographer, creates a stunning compilation of her. She dreams of being an online sensation, as she’s never even had a birthday party, and vows she’d give anything to go viral. Wilson claims he’s the Prince of Darkness and warns her the pledge has downsides.

Dorianna thinks he’s joking. She has no idea of how dire the consequences might be.

My Review:

What would you do for good looks, charming personality, popularity, social status, friends, and a certain amount of power that you’ve never had before? Have you ever been so lonely that you’ve wanted nothing more than to be accepted, included, beautiful, and cherished? That’s exactly what Dorianna Gilliam wanted…

Dorianna by Catherine Stine is a take on the story of Dorian Gray. Stine’s rendition of the tale is a horrifying, dark, and twisted story of a girl that is willing to pay the ultimate price for good looks and immortality. The story begins with Dorianna Gilliam looking plain, simple, buck-toothed, and pretty much disliked by everyone at school. When her father is imprisoned, her mother decides to send Dorianna across the country to live with her aunt on Coney Island. Dorianna learns quickly that this teenage society is pretty much the same as her last. Dorianna at this point is lonely and isolated, and believes her world will always be this way. But what if someone offered a way out from this desolate life Dorianna lives? It just so happens that she meets a boy named Ander whom is charming and wonderful. His friend Wilson takes to Dorianna instantly and decides he wants to give her a makeover. This makeover is exactly what Dorianna believes she needs… or is it? Wilson wants to transform Dorianna, but not for free. This make cover comes with a steep price. Needless to say, Dorianna gets the make over, and spends the rest of the book paying the price. As Dorianna continues down the dark path she’s on, she gathers “followers”, throws parties for her friends, and as she turns darker and darker a beast within her grows hungrier and hungrier for the misdeeds she does, and whispers and encourages her as she sets herself down a cruel and self-destructive path. This beast pushes her until her story meets an epic conclusion that is intense and terrifying. And I’m sure you’re wondering, is there redemption for Dorianna after all the horrible things she’s done? You will have to read the book and find out if there’s hope for Dorianna after all!

There’s so much to love about Dorianna, and trust me, it’s a very dark ride! Even though it’s based on an older tale, it’s very a creative and unique story and very much holds its own. I love the modern twist of the story and I think Stine crafted it wonderfully to fit into today’s society. I also enjoy reads about characters that either are dark and become good or are decent people and become their own worse enemies. To me it’s fascinating to see that transformation over time. Dorianna is so intense, has an incredible story ARC and has an epic climax. It’s darkly enchanting, and you feel helpless as you read Dorianna’s story and watch her spiral into that darkness.

If you like dark, horrifying and twisted tales, then I highly recommend this read! It’s beautifully dark and wickedly captivating!

About the Author:

Catherine Stine’s novels span the range from futuristic fantasy to paranormal to contemporary. Her futuristic thriller companion novels Fireseed One and Ruby’s Fire are both indie award winners. Her paranormal-horror YA, Dorianna won Best Horror Book in the Kindle Hub Awards. Her YA contemporary Heart in a Box is forthcoming from Inkspell in Dec 2015.

She also writes new adult fiction as Kitsy Clare (see her separate GR Kitsy Clare page for 18+). Her Art of Love series featuring artist Sienna Karr, includes Model Position and Private Internship.

She suspects her love of dark fantasy came from her father reading Edgar Allen Poe to her when she was a child. Learn more at www.catherinestine.blogspot.com, www.catherinestine.com, and on her Catherine Stine and Kitsy Clare FB author pages.

Author Links:
Twitter | Facebook | Website | Goodreads

So tell me, do you think Dorianna is redeemable?

Unexpected Cover Reveal

Posted on June 5, 2015 by The Page Unbound

Unexpected

by Lilly Avalon

Release Date: 07/21/15

New Adult/Standalone

Summary from Goodreads:

Ever had one of those days? Alina Lyons is having one. Everything keeps falling apart and going wrong. Just when she thinks it couldn’t get worse, it does. After a case of mistaken identity and a broken heart, she finds herself questioning the things she thought she knew. She wonders who she can turn to or trust anymore.

An unlikely bond with her former best friend’s ex, Ryan Wilcox, sends her life in a new direction. He offers her a place to stay while she gets her life back on track. His friendship is exactly what she’s been missing—what she’s been needing. Alina’s never felt this alive. As time goes by, the dynamic of their relationship becomes more than either of them expected. A few innocent kisses could lead them in a new direction, but are they prepared for what’s on the other side?

Only one way to find out.

*Unexpected is a standalone new adult novel*

About the Author

Lilly Avalon is the author of the RESIST series as well as other erotic romances. She’s somewhere in the midst of her twenties and lives mostly in the stories in her head. When she’s not enveloped in the worlds she creates, she’s out in the real world making stories happen. That or reading other romances. It’s a toss-up.

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

Cover Reveal Organized by:

The Violet Hour Book Promo

Posted on June 5, 2015 by The Page Unbound

This is our stop on the blog tour for The Violet Hour. You can find the blog tour schedule here!

Summary from Goodreads:

Secrets.

Allegra Teagarden, a musical prodigy, flees her father’s dominance and abuse while touring in pre-civil war Charleston, South Carolina. Plagued by depression over her mother’s suicide during their previous visit, she escapes in an effort to piece together the details behind her mother’s mysterious demise.

Secrets.

Down to her final coin, Allegra happens on Charleston’s Fancy, the first southern amusement park, which is searching for musicians for its orchestra. At first, the park seems her salvation; but she quickly realizes she has traded the dominance of her father, for the even more terrifying madness of the owner, Silas.

And more secrets.

Allegra meets the dashing Brighton LeFroy, Fancy’s engineer and pyrotechnics master. His shabby clothing cannot conceal the brilliant mind beneath. The musician’s whisper he is a witch, is obsessed with storms, and is rumored…to fly. And despite the danger, despite her own misgivings, Allegra is inexplicable drawn to him.

She ventures to his reclusive home on Fire Isle during a thunderstorm and together they seek to unravel an ancient mystery.

Buy Links:
Amazon

Exclusive Excerpt: Friend or Foe?

A shrill shrieking erupts from the barn, thickening my blood with fear. Animals screaming for mercy.

In his haste, Jonesy has left the barn door open, allowing the noise to escape onto the night air. Brighton steps in the doorway, slamming it shut, muting the sound of their pain.

I slide the cats from my lap, fighting to control my rapid breath as I slink toward the window. Was Marietta right? I don’t want to know. I don’t want to know.

“You must.”

I move slowly toward the barn, and the world seems to slow as I swallow hard.

I drag my hands up the bumpy fieldstone to grasp the windowsill and stand on tip-toes to peer inside. Two large balls, attached to rods, sit on a wooden table, ridiculously reminding me of metallic dandelions.

However to blow on one of these might mean an electrified-death. Bolts of light leap between the two heads, dancing back and forth, green and red, green and red, as if Brighton somehow captured the lightning from the night sky.

-Brynn Chapman, The Violet Hour (Kindle Locations 788-797).

After that excerpt I can’t help but ask what you think about Brighton. Is Brighton a good guy? Or is he a villain?

About the Author:

Born and raised in western Pennsylvania, Brynn Chapman is the daughter of two teachers. Her writing reflects her passions: science, history and love—not necessarily in that order. In real life, the geek gene runs strong in her family, as does the Asperger’s syndrome. Her writing reflects her experience as a pediatric therapist and her interactions with society’s downtrodden. In fiction, she’s a strong believer in underdogs and happily-ever-afters. She also writes non-fiction and lectures on the subjects of autism and sensory integration and is a medical contributor to online journal The Age of Autism. Author Links: Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook GIVEAWAY: a Rafflecopter giveaway Blog Tour Hosted by: //widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js