A Question of Counsel Book Blitz

Posted on May 20, 2015 by The Page Unbound

A Question of Counsel by Archer Kay Leah
Publication date: May 27th 2015
Genres: Adult, Fantasy

Synopsis:

Life hasn’t been easy for Aeley since she arrested her brother, and her role as a political leader leaves her feeling isolated and lonely. Days before her brother’s trial, she meets Lira, a quiet and modest scribe who makes Aeley want more than just a professional relationship.

When she attends the trial and leaves with a marriage contract, Aeley doesn’t know what to do. She must choose one of two brothers, marrying into a family she doesn’t know. Then she discovers that Lira is part of the same family–a sister to Aeley’s suitors and the family’s disgrace. And not at all opposed to an intimate relationship.

Except random acts of violence against her people test Aeley’s ability as a leader, and a web of lies and deceit threaten not only her chance at happiness, but her life…

Buy Links:

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Smashwords

Excerpt

“It could be any one of the available men and I still wouldn’t be happy about it.” The words

tumbled from Aeley’s lips before she could stop herself. “It isn’t just your brothers being

themselves, it’s the whole concept of giving myself over to a guy I don’t care for. I have no

interest in sleeping with them, or procreating. And it isn’t because I don’t know how—I know

how. I’ve slept with guys before; I just don’t care for it. I don’t get pleasure from it like everyone

thinks I should. I know Father wanted me to find someone nice, but his idea of nice isn’t the

same as mine.”

“Is it the same reason why you and Mayr aren’t together?”

“Partially,” Aeley replied. “That, and he’s my best friend. The only one who really

understands me. We never wanted to ruin it.” She tilted her head back to stare at the stars. “If

only it wasn’t your brothers. If only it was y—”

Closing her mouth, she knew she’d said too much already. It always happened whenever they

were together. Rarely did she tell anyone her most private thoughts, and when she did, she

trusted only Mayr. But even then, she preferred to keep her deepest thoughts to herself,

protecting them as if they were precious and easily shattered. Why could she not stop exposing

those secrets when she was with Lira?

“What were you saying?” Lira asked softly, her eyes searching Aeley’s.

“Nothing. Never mind. I was rambling.”

“Or telling the truth.”

When Aeley turned, Lira stepped closer. Their chests touched—a deliberate move, Aeley

realized, when Lira leaned into her. She watched the rise and fall of Lira’s chest under the simple

gold pendant around her neck.

“Imagine if you could tell me everything, without worrying about what I’d think,” Lira

murmured. Her face neared Aeley’s. “Maybe this is exactly the change you wanted. Maybe you

just need more time to put everything together. Or maybe you just need all the pieces.”

There was no time to breathe before Lira’s lips touched hers, coaxing a soft kiss from Aeley

with a gentle push and tug.

Her thoughts spun. Aeley raised her hand to the balcony to keep steady, only barely

registering the fact that her hand made it halfway before stopping in the air. Was the silence just

in her head or had the music stopped?

By the time Aeley realized what was happening, Lira’s lips left.

“Something for you to think about,” Lira whispered. Without waiting for a reply, she walked

towards the ballroom.

She paused in the doorway and looked back, the light from the room illuminating her face

and giving her skin a yellow glow. Her lips showed the hint of a smile, but her eyes said

everything.

About the Author

Archer Kay Leah was raised in Ontario, Canada, growing up in a port town at a time when it was starting to become more diverse, both visibly and vocally. Combined with the variety of interests found in Archer’s family and the never-ending need to be creative, it has been this diversity that has inspired Archer’s love of toying with characters and their relationships, exploring new experiences and crazy situations.

Archer started writing stories at age six and became “that kid” with their nose in the books and a pen in their hand, pursuing the challenges of writing novels at age thirteen and conquering the dread of poetry at fifteen. Archer most enjoys writing speculative fiction and is engaged in a very particular love affair with fantasy, especially when it is dark and emotionally charged.

When not reading and writing for work or play, Archer is a geek who has too many hobbies, keeping busy with other creative endeavors, a music addiction, and whatever else comes along, especially if it is in technological form. Archer lives in London, Ontario with a same-sex partner and their cat.

Author Links:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

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An Ember in the Ashes Teaser

Posted on May 19, 2015 by The Page Unbound

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An Ember in the Ashes (An Ember in the Ashes #1)

by Sabaa Tahir (Goodreads Author)

Book Synopsis(Goodreads):

Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free.

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.

There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

Quote 1:

“Life is made of so many moments that mean nothing. Then one day, a single moment comes along to define every second that comes after. Such moments are tests of courage, of strength.”
― Sabaa Tahir, An Ember in the Ashes

Quote 2:

“There are two kinds of guilt. The kind that’s a burden and the kind that gives you purpose. Let your guilt be your fuel. Let it remind you of who you want to be. Draw a line in your mind. Never cross it again. You have a soul. It’s damaged but it’s there. Don’t let them take it from you.”
― Sabaa Tahir, An Ember in the Ashes

Quote 3:

“Fear is only your enemy if you allow it to be.”
― Sabaa Tahir, An Ember in the Ashes

Riders Cover Reveal

Posted on May 18, 2015 by The Page Unbound

Check out this awesome cover reveal for Veronica Rossi’s new novel Riders.

Book Summary:

For eighteen-year-old Gideon Blake, nothing but death can keep him from achieving his goal of becoming a U.S. Army ranger. As it turns out, it does.

Recovering from the accident that most definitely killed him, Gideon Finds himself with strange new powers and a bizarre cuff he can’t remove. His death has brought to life his real destiny. He has become War, one of the legendary four horsemen of the apocalypse.

Over the coming weeks, he and the other horsemen–Conquest, Famine and Death– are brought together by a beautiful but frustratingly secretive girl to help save humanity from an ancient evil on the emergence.

They fail.

Now–bound, bloodied, and drugged– Gideon is interrogated by the authorities about his role in a battle that has become an international incident. If he stands any change of saving his friends and the girl he’s fallen for–not to mention all of humankind–he needs to convince the skeptical government officials the world is in imminent danger.

But will anyone believe him?

My Thoughts:

I simply cannot wait to read this book! Doesn’t it sound FANTASTIC?! OMG and that cover is BEAUTIFUL! Anyone else excited for this book? Looks like we have to wait until February 2016!!!

Rogue (The Talon Saga)

Posted on May 17, 2015 by The Page Unbound

Rogue (The Talon Saga book 2)
by Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: April 28, 2015
Rating: 4/5 Stars

Book Summary (Goodreads):

Ember Hill left the dragon organization Talon to take her chances with rebel dragon Cobalt and his crew of rogues. But Ember can’t forget the sacrifice made for her by the human boy who could have killed her—Garret Xavier Sebastian, a soldier of the dragonslaying Order of St. George, the boy who saved her from a Talon assassin, knowing that by doing so, he’d signed his own death warrant.

Determined to save Garret from execution, Ember must convince Cobalt to help her break into the Order’s headquarters. With assassins after them and Ember’s own brother helping Talon with the hunt, the rogues find an unexpected ally in Garret and a new perspective on the underground battle between Talon and St. George.

A reckoning is brewing and the secrets hidden by both sides are shocking and deadly. Soon Ember must decide: Should she retreat to fight another day…or start an all-out war?

My Review:

Rogue begins with Ember and Riley setting out to rescue Garret from The Order. Garret has committed treason by conversing with dragons and allow them to live. Garret, the Perfect Soldier, that has killed dragons for most of his life, showed two dragons mercy, allowing them to escape, and by doing so is subjected to firing squad. Riley and Ember manage to save Garret, and them, along with their computer hacker genius Wes, are on the run from both The Order of St. George, and Talon. But how long can they run before they get caught? Their luck is about to run out.

Rogue is action packed right from the start. It’s a page turner, and hard to put down. I really enjoyed reading more from Riley’s POV, and getting to know Riley from twelve years ago when he had decided to leave Talon and go Rogue. I think his POV as a major character brought a lot of insight and depth to the story. I enjoyed the inclusion of new characters, Ava and Faith. And I loved reading from Dante’s POV as well. Julie Kagawa is my all time favorite author, and she doesn’t disappoint in her story telling or character development.

Of all the main characters, my favorite is Garret, the Perfect Soldier. I think of all the characters, Garret has a lot to offer to the story, and has the most growth to do. Garret no longer knows who he is. And it might take him awhile to figure that out, and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series entitled Soldier to see where the story takes him.

Riley is still bossy as ever, but he is exactly what all the rogues and hatchlings need. I don’t like him like I like Garret, but I have to admit he has surprised me at times with how considerate he can be. I love him and Garret’s interactions. They flat out hate each other, and with good reason. Yet there are moments when they have to rely on each other, and save each other. I can’t wait to see in future books how these two evolve. There’s a moment in Rogue when they fight back to back, and it’s amazing. I felt like we were getting a glimpse into their future, of how it could, and possibly will be between them once they get over who each other are. They work together in a way that is exactly what the other needs. I can definitely see a camaraderie in the future between these two characters.

Ember drove me a little nuts. Sure she’s stuck in a hotel room and going crazy and all the flashing and bright lights of Las Vegas are surely alluring for a dragon that didn’t leave the nest until recently. But on two occasion I remember for sure that she tried to use both the boys. Once with Garret, to get him to take her to the slot machines, and another on Riley, trying to get him to let her contact her brother. She flat out used them, and I didn’t like that. She knew that she would get her way if she was stubborn about it. It worked with Garret, but didn’t work real well with Riley. But Ember is a very stubborn, fiery dragon, and she isn’t used to the shiny allure of a beautiful city or the freedom to be able to do what she wants, so I get it. But still, try to be nice to those boys Ember! They obviously would do ANYTHING for you! Try not to take advantage of them!

And on that note….

I’m also not a fan of love triangles and really hope Julie doesn’t plan to draw this one out much longer. I understand that the dragon side calls to Riley, and that her human form calls to Garret, but I’m not sure I can take many more books of Ember not being able to make up her mind, no matter how well it’s written (because lets face it, Julie rocks as an author and even though I don’t like love triangles Julie writes it very well in her books). And to top it all of, I personally think Garret is the better person for her. Riley wants to be dominant. He get’s mad at her stubbornness. He wants her to stay put like a good little girl and fights her about it until he relents and gives in to her. Garret on the other hand accepts who she is and works with her as an equal, not as her leader. In fact, I think he likes her stubbornness and that fire burning inside of her. I think he makes her a better person, and I think she makes him a better person. I don’t think that is the case for her and Riley. Riley tries to hold her back, while Ember is very distracting to Riley, and he tends to lose control of his composure because of her. I’m definitely team Garret over here!

Another POV I loved was Dante, Ember’s brother, whom lets face it is still naive and stupid. It’s amazing how easily and quickly Talon can turn blood on blood. But even though he’s an idiot, I still love his character.

A new character I loved was Mist, a dangerous, icy blue dragon. Hoping we see more of her!

Overall I think Rogue was fantastic and a great sequel to Talon. I still think that Talon is my favorite of the two books but who doesn’t enjoy a good love story and surfing on the beach? 🙂 Rogue is more about trying to escape and survive. It’s more action packed, and a very enjoyable read.

If you haven’t read Talon yet be sure to do so! You are missing out if you haven’t read it yet! And if you have, and haven’t read Rogue yet DO IT! Especially for all those fans out there that prefer more action than a love story, there’s lots of action in Rogue, so you won’t be disappointed!

Some Favorite Book Quotes:

I waited, holding my breath, my whole body coiled and ready for a fight. I didn’t know what to expect, but whatever was coming, I was ready.

And then the door to the guard room opened, and I met a pair of vivid green eyes across the hall. Turns out, I wasn’t ready at all.

The breath caught in my throat, and for a moment, I could only stare. Not only a nervous breakdown, I’m also hallucinating. Because there was no way she could be here. no sane reason she would show up in the middle of a St. George base, minutes from my execution. My mind had snapped; I was seeing things that weren’t there.

– Julie Kagawa, Rogue

There was no disgust. No regret. I stood on this roof, openly kissing a girl who was really a dragon, and I wasn’t sorry at all.

– Julie Kagawa, Rogue

I reached out and put a tentative hand on her neck, feeling warm scales under my palm. My heart jumped, still thrilled by the idea of touching a real dragon.

– Julie Kagawa, Rogue

Did you notice all my favorite quotes were from Garret? Tell me, which team are you on?

Buy Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the Author:

I’m a writer and the YA author of THE IRON FEY trilogy, beginning with THE IRON KING. I love books, anime, sushi, writing, and video games. (Occasionally, the characters from my book will hijack the computer and make an appearence, but I take no responsibility for anything they say.)

Author Links:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Etsy Store

Holding Court Cover Reveal

Posted on May 16, 2015 by The Page Unbound

Holding Court

by K.C. Held

Release Date: March 2016

Entangled Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

When sixteen year-old Jules Verity, who suffers from what her best friend calls “Psychic Tourette’s Syndrome” (spontaneous outbursts of seemingly absurd prophecies that she can’t control) takes a job at a castle turned dinner theater known as Tudor Times, all she wants is the chance to make some money, wear a fancy gown, and ogle gorgeous-but-taken Grayson Chandler from afar. Instead she’s forced to wear the most mortifying costume ever, stumbles over a dead body that promptly disappears, and becomes a suspect in a jewel forgery scam.

Determined to prove she’s not a total freak who hallucinated a dead girl, Jules goes looking for answers in the secret passageways of Tudor Times. At first she’s thrilled when Grayson volunteers to help her on her quest to find a dead body, but his sudden interest in spending time with Jules becomes suspicious when she discovers his girlfriend may be guilty of a lot more than perfect hair and fabulous cleavage.

And if she can’t unveil the truth in time, wearing an embarrassing costume and her psychic outbursts will be the least of her problems.

About the Author

K.C. HELD was born and raised in California with stopovers in
Honduras, Mexico, and France. Married to her high school sweetheart, and mom to two wee bookworms, she holds an MFA in costume design and is an accomplished seamstress with a background in opera, theatre, film, and television. K.C. is represented by Kathleen Rushall at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. Her debut young adult novel, HOLDING COURT, will be published by Entangled Teen in 2016.

Author Links:

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A Court of Thorns and Roses Teaser

Posted on May 12, 2015 by The Page Unbound

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A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1)

by Sarah J. Maas (Goodreads Author)

Book Synopsis(Goodreads):

A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she’s been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!

Quote 1:

“Do you ever stop being so serious and dull?”
“Do you ever stop being such a prick?” I snapped back.
Dead–really, truly, I should have been dead for that.
But Lucien grinned at me. “Much better.”
― Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Thorns and Roses

Quote 2:

“Would you like me to grovel with gratitude for bringing me here, High Lord?”

“Ah. The Suriel told you nothing important, did it?”

That smile of his sparked something bold in my chest. “He also said that you liked being brushed, and if I’m a clever girl, I might train you with treats.”

Tamlin tipped his head to the sky and roared with laughter. Despite myself, I let out a quiet laugh.

“I might die of surprise,” Lucien said behind me. “You made a joke, Feyre.”

I turned to look at him with a cool smile. “You don’t want to know what the Suriel said about you.” I flicked my brows up, and Lucien lifted his hands in defeat.

“I’d pay good money to hear what the Suriel thinks of Lucien,” Tamlin said.

A cork popped, followed by the sounds of Lucien chugging the bottle’s contents and chuckling with a muttered, “Brushed.”
― Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Thorns and Roses

Quote 3:

“I was loosened, a top whirling around and around, and I didn’t know who I danced with or what they looked like, only that I had become the music and the fire and the night, and there was nothing that could slow me down.”
― Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Thorns and Roses

Out of Control Book Blitz

Posted on May 12, 2015 by The Page Unbound

Out of Control

by Sarah Alderson
Publication date: May 12th 2015

Published by: Simon Pulse
Genres: Thriller, Young Adult

Synopsis:

A girl looking to escape her past in New York City ends up on the run from a dangerous conspiracy in this sizzling, high-stakes novel.

When seventeen-year-old Liva came to New York City, all she wanted was to escape the painful memories of her past and finally find a fresh start. Her hopes for a new future were dashed the moment she became the sole witness to a brutal murder. When she’s taken into police custody—supposedly for her own protection—she realizes something isn’t right, but it’s too late. Soon, bullets start flying, and Liva realizes that she is not just a witness, but the target—and she needs to escape before it’s too late.

With the help of a sexy car thief that she met at the station, Liva manages to get away from the massacre unharmed, but now the two of them are alone in New York, trying to outrun and outwit the two killers who will stop at nothing to find them. Liva and Jay are living on the edge, but when you’re on the edge, there’s a long way to fall.

Buy Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

BOOK EXCERPT:

The boy snatches the key from my outstretched hand and jams it into the tiny hole. The cuff springs apart, freeing him.

Instantly, he throws himself on top of me. ‘Get down!’

A bullet smacks itself into a filing cabinet just behind us as we tumble to the ground. His chest presses down on mine, my face is buried in his shoulder. Quickly he rolls off me and pushes me towards a desk. I scoot underneath it, banging the side of my head on the sharp metal corner of a drawer unit. I let out a cry.

‘Shhh.’ His hand clamps over my mouth.

I tug his arm away. ‘What’s going on? What’s happening?’ I whisper.

Before he can answer me, the shooting stops and a silence falls that is even more terrifying than the gunfire. The boy and I both freeze, staring at each other unblinking, just a few millimetres between us. Together, enclosed in the tight space beneath the desk, we strain to listen, and over the radio static and the whir of the air conditioner overhead, I pick out faint cries coming from somewhere in the distance; the unnatural keening howl of a wounded animal.

The boy shifts his weight. His back is pressed to one cabinet, his feet to the drawer unit. Carefully, he peers around the edge of the desk then ducks quickly back, breathing fast. A bead of sweat trickles down the side of his face.

‘Shit,’ he murmurs, resting his head back against the cabinet and closing his eyes.

‘Wh— ’ I begin, but stop when I hear the sly creak of the door being pushed open. A boot crunches on glass. The boy’s eyes flash open and lock on mine, holding me in place, silencing the scream that has risen up my throat and is threatening to tear free. My legs begin to shake from holding still in a crouching position. The boy’s right hand squeezes my knee hard – another warning, his eyes wide and burning fiercely into mine, telling me: Do not move.

Something topples off a desk on the far side of the room and, over the boy’s shoulder, through a gap between two filing cabinets, I glimpse the back of a man’s leg. Whose? Is it a cop? Where is everyone else? What happened to the cops who ran out into the corridor?

No. I shut off the thought, not wanting to go there.

The man in the room is standing stock-still with his back to us. What is he doing? I can’t see. He’s facing the wall – the chalkboard with all the homicide cases listed on it. The seconds seem to extend into whole hours, days, centuries, and I’m holding my breath and the boy’s hand is still squeezing my knee and my heart is bursting, literally bursting, as though too much blood is pumping through it. My leg muscles are on fire and, without warning, my foot slips. Not far. But it bumps the edge of the desk. The man spins instantly in our direction. The air rushes from my lungs and the boy shifts beside me, a single word that I don’t catch, falling from his lips like a dying man’s prayer.

The man starts to head in our direction, is almost on us, when someone somewhere else in the building shouts something that’s instantly swallowed in a storm of gunfire and the man rushes out into the corridor.

The boy darts his head out and then he’s out from under the desk and reaching for me.

‘Move!’ he says, pulling me to my feet.

About the Author:

Having spent most of her life in London, Sarah quit her job in the non profit sector in 2009 and took off on a round the world trip with her husband and princess-obsessed daughter on a mission to find a new place to call home. After several months in India, Singapore, Australia and the US, they settled in Bali where Sarah now spends her days writing by the pool and trying to machete open coconuts without severing a limb.

She finished her first novel, Hunting Lila (winner of the Kingston Book Award), just before they left the UK, wrote the sequel on the beach in India and had signed a two book deal with Simon & Schuster by the time they had reached Bali.

A third book, Fated, about a teenage demon slayer, was published in January 2012.

The Sound, a thriller romance set in Nantucket, was published in August 2013 and this was followed by the critically acclaimed Out of Control in May 2014.

She also writes New Adult romance for Pan Macmillan (UK) / Simon & Schuster (US) under the pen name Mila Gray.

You can find Sarah on facebook and at www.sarahalderson.com or follow her blog at www.canwelivhere.com

Author links:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

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The Artisan Release Day Blitz

Posted on May 12, 2015 by The Page Unbound

THE ARTISANS
Author: Julie Reece
Pub. Date:
May 12, 2015
Publisher: Month9Books
Pages: 300

I am so excited that THE ARTISANS by Julie Reece releases today and that I get to share the news, along with an awesome giveaway! If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author Julie Reece, be sure to check out all the details below. This blitz also includes a giveaway for 2 eBooks of THE ARTISANS (International) So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

About The Book:

They say death can be beautiful. But after the death of her mother, seventeen-year-old Raven Weathersby gives up her dream of becoming a fashion designer, barely surviving life in the South Carolina lowlands.

To make ends meet, Raven works after school as a seamstress creating stunning works of fashion that often rival the great names of the day.Instead of making things easier on the high school senior, her stepdad’s drinking leads to a run in with the highly reclusive heir to the Maddox family fortune, Gideon Maddox.

But Raven’s stepdad’s drying out and in no condition to attend the meeting with Maddox. So Raven volunteers to take his place and offers to repay the debt in order to keep the only father she’s ever known out of jail, or worse.

Gideon Maddox agrees, outlining an outrageous demand: Raven must live in his home for a year while she designs for Maddox Industries’ clothing line, signing over her creative rights.

Her handsome young captor is arrogant and infuriating to the nth degree, and Raven can’t imagine working for him, let alone sharing the same space for more than five minutes.But nothing is ever as it seems. Is Gideon Maddox the monster the world believes him to be? And can he stand to let the young seamstress see him as he really is?

Praise for THE ARTISANS“The Artisans has all the elements I love – spooky intrigue, strong friendships, and a romantic tension to be savored.” ~ Wendy Higgins, New York Times bestselling author of the Sweet Evil trilogy.“Read The Artisans in the middle of the night with a flashlight if you dare. The perfect blend of romance and horror with a strong female lead kept me reading through the night.”~ L.S. Murphy author of PIXELATED Bloomsbury Spark and REAPERJ. Taylor Publishing“Wowza!!!! That book was so freakin’ good! Intense, insane, freaky at parts and sooooo good! I haven’t had emotions like this about a book in a long time!”~ Mindy Blogger @ Magical Urban Fantasy Reads

“The first thing I thought when I finished this book was ‘dang, I would love to see this as a movie’. The Artisans has such an awesome and haunting concept to it plus I just adore all of the characters.”~Jena Blogger @ Shortie Says

“The Artisans was a unique modern day retelling of Beauty and the Beast filled with mystery, romance and wonderful characters. From the first page I was completely lost in the wonderful setting that Reece created.”~Bridget Blogger @ Dark Faerie Tales

Buy Links:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble

About the Author:

Born in Ohio, I lived next to my grandfather’s horse farm until the fourth grade. Summers were about riding, fishing and make-believe, while winter brought sledding and ice-skating on frozen ponds. Most of life was magical, but not all.

I struggled with multiple learning disabilities, did not excel in school. I spent much of my time looking out windows and daydreaming. In the fourth grade (with the help of one very nice teacher) I fought dyslexia for my right to read, like a prince fights a dragon in order to free the princess locked in a tower, and I won.

Afterwards, I read like a fiend. I invented stories where I could be the princess… or a gifted heroine from another world who kicked bad guy butt to win the heart of a charismatic hero. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that? Later, I moved to Florida where I continued to fantasize about superpowers and monsters, fabricating stories (my mother called it lying) and sharing them with my friends.

Then I thought I’d write one down…

Hooked, I’ve been writing ever since. I write historical, contemporary, urban fantasy, adventure, and young adult romances.

I love strong heroines, sweeping tales of mystery and epic adventure… which must include a really hot guy. My writing is proof you can work hard to overcome any obstacle.Don’t give up. I say, if you write, write on!

Author Links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

3 eBooks of
THE ARTISANS International

Ends on May
22^nd at Midnight EST!

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The Violet Hour Blitz

Posted on May 11, 2015 by The Page Unbound

The Violet Hour (The Violet Hour #1)

by Andrea L. Wells

Release Date: 05/11/15

Infinity Publishing

309 pages

Summary from Goodreads:

Still shocked over her mother’s mysterious death, California socialite Logan Keller is handed a one-way ticket to her long lost roots in Wyoming where love, deceit and danger await. Though she could forget everything staring into Luke Callahan’s eyes, Logan is quickly thrust into a fight for survival.

Taking fate into her own hands, she begins unraveling the dangerous deceptions that abound at every turn. Her father is keeping secrets and Luke is keeping more. But Logan is keeping the biggest secret of them all.

The Violet Hour is a page-turning captivating twist of young romance and the supernatural.

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo Books

BOOK EXCERPT:

I sat up and pulled my knees in close to my chest. Electricity flared in the air as Luke inhaled.

“You know, Logan, you’re not who I expected you to be,” he said, taking a long thought-filled pause. “I thought the next twelve months were going to be hell living with a California socialite, but you’re pretty amazing. I guess I owe you an apology.”

“So, it’s a good thing that I’m nothing like you expected?” I asked.

“It’s a really, really good thing.”

As I started to smile back he craned his neck to look away from me. His eyes focused. Something black flashed across the road but I was more scared by Luke’s reaction. The warmth had vanished from Luke in a heartbeat. The object stopped moving toward us when it got to an opening between the trees. Even though I could feel Luke’s concern, I leaned forward toward the window, curious. It was a wolf – a really big wolf, staring directly at us with bright green eyes. It was close enough I could see quick breaths escape into the crisp rain-drenched air. I was startled when the engine roared to life. Luke threw the car into reverse, and I nearly slammed into the dash as the sound of gravel scattered everywhere. He quickly jockeyed around and pulled back onto the road heading home. I kept my eyes on the wolf until he was no longer in sight.

“Was that a wolf?” I asked. Everything happened so quickly, I had to be sure.

“Yes,” he spit.

“I’ve never seen a wolf before – that thing was huge.”

Luke immediately turned to look at me with an expression that I couldn’t begin to read.

“What’s going on?” I pressed, puzzled.

When he looked toward the road and didn’t answer, I knew my question needed to be more specific to get results.

“Why are you freaking out? It was just a wolf.” I was worried. He had gone from warm and comforting to moody and distant over such a small thing and I second-guessed how quickly I had fallen for him.

“Because I need to get you home, it’s getting late,” he muttered, failing to control his tone.

“That doesn’t make any sense, Luke. I have no curfew and you flaked as soon as you saw the wolf.”

“Wolves are dangerous.”

“We were in the car,” I countered.

“Doesn’t matter.”

About the Author:

The Violet Hour Series has been begging to escape Andrea’s subconscious for more than five years. Focusing on a wonderful career, handsome husband and two beautiful children by day, she began feverishly penning the series by night. Now a full-time writer, Andrea debuts The Violet Hour. Available May 11, 2015.

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

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Book Blitz Organized By:

Author Interview & Giveaway: T.A. Maclagan

Posted on May 7, 2015 by The Page Unbound

They Call Me Alexandra Gastone

By: T.A. Maclagan

Release Date: May 20, 2015

Synopsis:

When your life is a lie, how do you know what’s real?

Alexandra Gastone has a simple plan: graduate high school, get into Princeton, work for the CIA, and serve her great nation.

She was told the plan back when her name was Milena Rokva, back before the real Alexandra and her family were killed in a car crash.

Milena was trained to be a sleeper agent by Perun, a clandestine organization from her true homeland of Olissa. There, Milena learned everything she needed to infiltrate the life of CIA analyst Albert Gastone, Alexandra’s grandfather, and the ranks of America’s top intelligence agency.

For seven years, “Alexandra” has been on standby and life’s been good. Grandpa Albert loves her, and her strategically chosen boyfriend, Grant, is amazing.
But things are about to change. Perun no longer needs her at the CIA in five years’ time. They need her active now.

Between her cover as a high school girl—juggling a homecoming dance, history reports, and an increasingly suspicious boyfriend—and her mission in this high-stakes spy game, the boundaries of her two lives are beginning to blur.

Will she stay true to the country she barely remembers, or has her loyalty shattered along with her identity?

Buy Links:

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AUTHOR INTERVIEW

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

If you’re a teen or adult who likes books with a strong female lead, twists and turns galore, compelling romance, and a believable journey of self-discovery then you’ll like They Call Me Alexandra Gastone.

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

I wanted a title that was immediately intriguing. Something that suggested spy without having ‘spy’ in the title. I think They Call Me Alexandra Gastone does that, especially when paired with the cover art. It suggests that the protagonist is actually someone other than Alexandra Gastone.

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

Fiona Jayde was the designer. I was lucky in that my publisher was very keen on me being a part of the design process and asked for my input at each stage. Given the title of the book, we all thought a full on face shot would be good and we wanted to highlight Alexandra’s heterochromia (2 different eye colors) as it’s an integral component of the book. The red and black color scheme was chosen because it practically screams spy. If you look up spy novels on Amazon, most will have the same color scheme. It harkens back to the cold war and all the spy novels featuring the Soviets. Lastly, the rifle scope was added because as the designer zoomed in on the model’s face, her expression started to seem bland. However, once the rifle scope was added, her expression morphed from bland to defiant, which was perfect!

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

Alexandra is definitely my favorite character! I love how she’s both emotionally and physically strong but also has a sensitive side. I love that she’s willing to fight for what she believes in.

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

Least favorite is a hard one. All the characters came from me so I have a certain fondness for everyone. I guess I’d have to go with the most despicable of the characters which is Mistress, although I actually love her in all her evil glory!

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

To be honest, I wouldn’t change a thing at this point. I’m more than happy with the final manuscript. On the road to being published, my agent and editors had me do some pretty big rewrites on portions of the book and each one made it better. By the end, I think we’d collectively figured out the way the book needed to be in order to be its best possible self. That’s the version being published on May 20th!

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

In the book, Alexandra is a sleeper agent from a small country called Olissa, but in my original manuscript she was from Russia and had strong communist leanings. My agent and editors wanted less ‘boring political stuff’ since it was a YA book, so Alexandra was moved from Russia to Olissa.

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

YA Spy books tend to fall into two broad categories, ‘lighthearted adventures’ like The Gallagher Girls and Also Known As and then the ‘more serious suspense’ novels like Sekret and Code Name Verity. Alexandra Gastone is more in keeping with the second category, although the book differs quite a lot from Sekret and Code Name Verity because of its contemporary American high school setting.

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

I love interacting with readers! Don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Website: www.tamaclagan.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tamaclagan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tamaclagan
Tumblr: tamaclagan.tumblr.com/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/tamaclagan/

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

Lots more books I hope! And a sequel to They Call Me Alexandra Gastone!

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

Tell their friends they liked it! Suggest it for book clubs. Ask the local library to buy a copy. Leave a review on Goodreads or Amazon. They say good word of mouth is one of the best ways for a novel to gain traction with the public so a lot of a book’s success has to do with readers getting the word out.

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

Don’t let a fear of failure prevent you from pursuing your goals. Don’t let criticism get you down. Learn and grow from it. As far as writing goes, there are few things I value more than constructive criticism. It helps make you better as a writer.

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

I hope you enjoy reading They Call Me Alexandra Gastone as much as I enjoyed writing it! If you like the novel, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me. I love chatting with readers!

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

“I stared at the video screen. At the girl with my eyes—one blue and one gray-green. I’d seen this video hundreds of times, so I knew it by heart. It was of Alexandra Gastone walking home. “

About T.A. Maclagan

T.A. Maclagan is a Kansas girl by birth but now lives in the bush-clad hills of Wellington, New Zealand with her Kiwi husband, son and four pampered cats. With a bachelor’s degree in biology and a Ph.D. in anthropology, she’s studied poison dart frogs in the rainforests of Costa Rica, howler monkeys in Panama and the very exotic and always elusive American farmer. It was as she was writing her ‘just the facts’ dissertation that T.A. felt the call to pursue something more imaginative and discovered a passion for creative writing. They Call Me Alexandra Gastone is her first novel.

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