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WHATEVER YOU DO, DON’T GET OLD. In fiery young Deirdre Callaghan’s home of Skellig City, no one has dreamt their own dream in over a thousand years. Dreams are produced by the Dream Makers and sold by the Ministry, the tyrannical rulers of the city. In Skellig City, years of life are awarded equally and the ruined are cast away beneath the city on their 35th birthday.

Unbeknownst to the Ministry, Deirdre’s handsome friend Flynn Brennan is afflicted with a terrible disease – a disease that accelerates the aging process. Knowing his fate if the Ministry should ever discover his illness, Flynn has lived his whole life hiding from their watchful eyes. When Flynn’s secret is finally discovered, Deirdre is determined to free him from the Ministry’s grasp.

But to save him, she will have to reveal herself to a shadowy enemy…one that none of them even knew existed.

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My Review

I was really fascinated by the timing in Quick’s writing. The imagery itself flew off the page from the very start. The way Quick takes you across a room with the two in synch was really impressive. The dream sequences were a mind-sight to behold. I’m fascinated by dreams and their inner meaning. Likely one of the reasons I enjoyed this so much is the overall mystery of the plot as well.

This is a twisting dystopian book with some less-common archetypes that we see today. With people working to buy dreams and then considered ‘ruined’ at 35, it’s definitely bleak. Especially for a boy with a genetic disorder that accelerates aging. I liked the interweaving one had to do in exploring this new world and as Deirde discovers brutal truths, it uncovers more questions. Quick also integrates her own Irish background in the characterizations and I found it pleasantly refreshing.

Quick’s world takes a bit of patience to get used to, with the unanswered questions along the way and the changes in POV. Still by the time I was less than halfway through, I was hooked. Deirde is a very compelling character and her love for her friend Flynn and family motivates her to rebel against the norms. Dreams are a commodity and age is a downfall to them all.

Some tales can be larger than the book, if that makes sense. You’ll read a massive world created and simply know from the writing how much is still beyond the surface and likely to expand. I have to say this is certainly one of those books and should be quite exciting with its sequel.

About the Author

Irish-American author, Adara Flynn Quick, is the writer of The Dream Protocol series. Early in her career, Adara was fascinated by dreams, the unconscious, and the healing stories of many cultures. As a contemporary author, she writes young adult literature that brings ancient myths and legends into futuristic worlds. She is an accomplished visual artist and uses her background as a psychotherapist to inspire the finest and darkest moments of her characters.

Driven to distraction by her computer, Adara writes all of her stories longhand. Pen and paper are two of her favorite things. The author tortures her husband with a passion for downtempo electronica and too many pillows. She is a firm believer that there are never enough pillows.

Author Links

Website | Facebook | Twitter

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Riverside Excerpt and Giveaway

RIVERSIDE
by
Brett Burlison

Genre: Thriller / Suspense / Action Romance
Publisher: Barton Creek Press
Date of Publication: January 4, 2016
Number of Pages: 348

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Synopsis

It’s summer 1993 in Austin. Two young lovers decide to move in together and open a cafe only to be hindered by their own pasts, drugs, and bad guys from New Orleans. Set in Austin, Texas in the early nineties.

Bobby Patrick, abandoned by his mother as a child and by his alcoholic father during high school, wants a better life for himself and his true love, Katie. The couple decides to open a café and chase their dreams under the radiant Austin sunsets. There, the long, hot days of summer in inspire their passion–but complications arise when Katie’s former love interest returns, bringing with him a whirlwind of trouble.

As Katie’s dark past reveals itself, Bobby fears it could threaten all they have been striving for. Along with Katie’s best friend, Sara, with whom Bobby has his own secret history, the couple becomes tangled up in a drug deal and falls under close watch by Austin police and New Orleans mobsters.

Bobby must find a way to protect Katie, help Sara, and help himself to thousands of dollars from the ill-fated deal. If he can’t, his future with Katie could be shattered forever.

Part romance and part suspense story, Riverside is a tell-your-friends-about-it, good old-fashioned crime novel about a young couple struggling for the American dream, and the lengths to which they will go to protect it.

“A steamy tale and beguiling thriller, with plenty of local color and some provocative twists.” – Kirkus Reviews

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Excerpt

Excerpt Chapter 1, Part 1
From Riverside

One
KATHERINE ANN SMITH

Katherine Ann Smith loved me; I never doubted it. And I loved her. She was it for me. The first time we were together, I was home. Katie was funny—a smart-ass. She also had an adventurous side. Well, she wasn’t scared of me anyway. Back then, that actually meant something.

Back then, I hardly ever wore a shirt and not at all in the summer.

It was summer. Full-on. Heat rose from the pavement. I loved Austin during this time of year. Austin was meant to be hot. Summer was when she was most in her own.

It would be light out past nine, but the night approaching felt good. I parked in the apartment complex lot. Thelma’s seats were ablaze, so I was happy to get out of the car. Two guys passed me walking toward the parking lot, and I nodded. The area was sloped downward, so I looked up the hill toward the buildings, and there was Katie.

She stood at the end of a path leading into the complex. Katie was cute—sandy-blond hair, bright-blue eyes, with a small frame and a genuine smile. She wore “a red T-shirt with a hole in one sleeve and a pair of blue-jean shorts that were frayed and rolled over at the waist because they were too big. A bikini string peeked out from the top of her shirt and wrapped around her neck. She was barefoot.

The two guys retrieved a blue-and-white cooler from their truck and carried it back toward the apartment. When they walked by Katie, she said, “Y’all put that one on the balcony.” She smiled at me. “Hey, you.”

“Hey, you, yourself.”

“I s’pose Thelma is functionin’?”

“Tip-top. Want to go for a ride?”

“Nope. But I’d bet you want a beer.”

“And you’d win.”

Katie put her arm around me and squeezed. “I usually do.”

“Not always.” I kissed her on the side of her head.

She ran her hand over the back of mine. “You cut your hair too short.”

“I wasn’t the one that did the cuttin’.”

“You know what I mean.”

“I do.”

We walked up the path and then up the first stairway on our right and into her apartment. The apartment was a three-bedroom unit with light-brown carpet and wood paneling painted white; a sliding-glass door opened to a large balcony. It looked like a thousand other apartments down Riverside in south Austin. The bedrooms were down a hall, two on the left and one on the right. Katie and Sara shared the first bedroom on the left and the bathroom straight across the hall.

Sara had been Katie’s best friend since childhood. Though the two had gone to different high schools in Houston—Katie at Lamar and Sara at Kinkaid—they had remained close. Sara was what the boys called “fucking beautiful.” She had dark hair and brown eyes and was tall and wicked smart. She’d scored high enough on the SAT to go to school anywhere in the country. But Sara went where Katie went. So when Katie got into UT, Sara decided to tag along.

Lake and Danny, whom Katie and only Katie called Daniel, occupied the two other bedrooms. The four had all worked at the same diner for a short time and were fast friends. The boys found other jobs; Danny moved furniture, and Lake tended bar at a coffee shop that served beer where he could play guitar in the evenings.

At first, I worried a little about a guy with such a cool name who played guitar living with my girlfriend. I played about four chords. I’m told that was as much as the Beatles knew, but it didn’t have the same effect for me. Once, when Lake impressed everyone by playing “I Feel Fine” pitch-perfect, I looked across the room to find Katie staring right at me. After that, I wasn’t worried.

Katie walked into the kitchen where a keg had already been tapped. She picked up the hose and handed it to me along with a clear plastic cup and pumped three or four times while I worked the nozzle.

“Where’d y’all get all this?” I asked.

“Daniel got it. He moved that bar into a bigger place, and I s’pose they’re generous.”

“Whether they know it or not.”

“Bobby, don’t be a smart-ass. It’s cold. It’s Shiner. I’m the one that’s handin’ it to ya. At this moment there is nothin’ for you to be but grateful and happy.”

“Okay, I am. Where is your Daniel, anyway?”

Katie leaned on one hip and pushed a strand of blond hair from her face while looking at me with a raised eyebrow. “He went to the store. You want to come with me?”

To continue reading Chapter 1, check in with My Book Fix Blog on the 9/19/16 post of the Lone Star Book Blog Tour!

about the author

author-pic-3-burlison

Brett Burlison is a writer, lawyer, and Texan living in Northern California. He grew up in the piney woods of East Texas and went to school in Austin.

He practices law in San Francisco, and writes romantic suspense stories about young couples up against difficult odds.

author links

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Hi Everyone!

Haley and I are so excited to announce that we are a few months away from launching our new website for blog tour services! Right now we are wanting to compile a list of people interested in hosting. The services will typically be for YA and NA genres. If you would like to become a tour host with us please fill out the form below! If you have any questions please feel free to contact us.

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The Greenlee Project Review

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THE GREENLEE PROJECT

by Amanda M. Thrasher

Genre: Young Adult / Contemporary / Cyber-bullying

Publisher: Progressive Rising Phoenix Press

Date of Publication: October 31, 2015

Number of Pages: 206

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Social media, cruel jokes, and bitter betrayal – watch your teens!

Greenlee Lynn Granger is about to find out how easily social media can be used as a malicious tool: a normal teen one day and ruined the next. Who knew a boy’s affections would turn her life into such a nightmare? Becoming a designated ‘project,’ a joke in front of the whole school, turns Greenlee’s life upside down. Relationships with her family and friends strained, she is forced to make mature decisions. Greenlee knows her choices will determine the future of her abusers.

An emotional glimpse into the reality of cyber-bullying, The Greenlee Project showcases the all-too-common anonymous and cruel betrayals of others through social media, of such magnitude that it devastates a young teen, her friends, family, and the community. Cyber-bullying affects not just the victims, but everyone around them. After being the target of cyber-bullying, what Greenlee does next is shocking.

Praise for The Greenlee Project

“The Greenlee Project is a touching and chilling cautionary tale that every teen should read. Amanda Thrasher gives us interesting and compelling characters, a well-crafted plot, and a breathless pace. Her teens are so real that you will feel you know them personally. Teens will find The Greenlee Project a compelling read and a helpful guide, while adults will see the challenges today’s teens face. This is a grand and important story.” — David A. Bedford, Ph.D. Instructor of Spanish at TCU

“The Greenlee Project is a captivating fictional story addressing critical real-life issues that tweens and teens face today. Bullying and cyber-bullying are part of our society today that has had tragic consequences for many. Amanda Thrasher, is a talented author, who has delivered a story that is both compelling and also thought-provoking. You can feel the emotions of each of the characters as the story unfolds along this journey. It will leave you with the desire to change the world around you and to talk to others about the increasing severity of bullying and cyber-bullying. With the discussion questions included, this is an excellent choice for book-clubs and middle school language arts classes. Such a critical and important story.” – Lisa Robinson – NSC

“The Greenlee Project is a wonderful book about a terrible subject. It’s hard to read this book without feeling sad, then angry, then empathetic, then proud.” – Sherry Leigh Rummel

“I was blown away by The Greenlee Project. You hear so much about bullying and things that teenagers deal with online these days. It’s been a few week since I finished the book, and I’m still thinking about how real the characters are. You feel like you could meet any of them at any high school any where. This book is great for any age group, but teens and their parents should definitely read The Greenlee Project.” – E. Nieman

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This subject is a bit close to heart since I experienced my own form of cyber-bullying in high school. I’ll try to keep it short!

The Greenlee Project brings to light a very important issue that is often ignored. While it centers on cyber-bullying, the face-to-face bullying is very present in this as well. What’s interesting about this book is that you feel empathy for all of them. They are all making mistakes and taking their own personal frustration outward unto other people as a way to make themselves feel empowered. It’s a self-destructive and spiraling effect that involves everyone in this book.

I didn’t want to feel hate for any of the characters because I remember how tough high school was at times. Still, it was frustrating to read about Clay actions and non-actions in stopping the bullying of Greenlee. It made no sense to randomly choose to target her, especially after one glance. Laurel, a popular girl in the school, is also dealing with a very dangerous and important issue herself. Yet, she still puts down her friend Kelsey and expects her to ignore the issue. It really brings to light how trying to fit in can make you act in irrational and cruel ways. Even if you’re considered popular.

This book does show some positive aspects as well. While there are cliques that have friction between each other, there is also a very well-exampled mix of group dynamics and how friendship varies between them. Even someone that might feel jealously towards their friend will ultimately want what’s best for them and will do what’s necessary to make sure they’re alright. Or a friend that stands by another, even when jokes and backlash are coming down on them and they might be caught in the crosshairs. Thrasher did a great job of balancing between the positives and negatives of growing up.

Since the book doesn’t have a timeline or character line breaks, it can get a bit confusing as the writing changes between perspectives. I tended to consider this book set some years back since the slang used was more around 5 years ago. It was actually pretty easy to consider it exactly the time I was in high school since I remember texting or saying ‘true dat’ quite a bit and chatting on forums.

This might seem pessimistic but there is always going to be bullying. It’s just something that can happen randomly and intentionally. It’s the reaction to it that truly matters. Standing by someone being bullied and stopping the issue can change their day. It can change their life. So is standing up for yourself. I wish this book had been recommended reading in middle school or high school as opposed to the others. It can and will make a difference to someone that has been bullied before or may be bullied one day. The first step to making people better is being aware of what we need to change. The ending was great and I was really proud of Greenlee. This book is a great choice for teens and parents.

Multiple Award Winning Author Amanda M. Thrasher was born in England, moved to Texas and resides there still. Author of several children’s books including picture books, middle-grade chapter books, YA and even a reader’s theater titled “What If . . . A Story of Shattered Lives.” She conducts workshops, writes a blog and contributes to an online magazine. She’s a multiple Gold recipient of the Mom’s Choice Awards for The Greenlee Project, YA and General Fiction, and for Spider Web Scramble, a Mischief book. As Chief Executive Officer of Progressive Rising Phoenix Press, she assists authors with their work and shares her writing process and what she has learned as a publisher with people of all ages.

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9/11	Author Interview 1	My Book Fix Blog
9/12	Review	The Page Unbound
9/13	Guest Post	Forgotten Winds
9/14	Excerpt 2	Margie’s Must Reads
9/15	Review	Kara The Redhead
9/16	Author Interview 2	StoreyBook Reviews

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Rhodi’s Light Review

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Rhodi’s Light
Megan Linski
(Rhodi Saga #1)
Published by: Gryfyn Publishing
Publication date: September 4th 2016
Genres: Dystopian, Fantasy, Young Adult
Rating: 3/5

Flight. Hyperspeed. Clairvoyance.

These are some of the powers gifted to the Rhodi, an ancient sect of assassins who defend Crescentia, a dystopian world with a dying hope.

Dyliana Fairsson is one of them. After losing her parents to a suspicious accident, she and her twin brother, Devin, join the Rhodi to avoid starvation. Under the direction of her master, Dylan struggles to learn the strength of her magic …as well as hide the growing scars on her wrists. Can Dylan become the warrior, the hero, she’s destined to be? Or is she fated to fall from the light into the darkness?

The first installment in the epic fantasy series by bestselling author Megan Linski, Rhodi’s Light is an action-packed thrill ride that will leave readers begging for more.

The complete saga:

Goodreads / Amazon

My Review:

The story follows Dylan and Devin, brother and sister that are on the run with their parents. They don’t know what follows them and neither of their parents will answer their questions. While they flee across the borders, tragedy strikes, leaving Dylan and Devin parentless. They spend several weeks surviving on the street, with hints as to something horrific happening to them. Something had happened to them and neither one of them seem interested in remembering the night their parents died nor their endless days on the street, starving, and stealing what they can in order to survive. One fateful day, they attempt to steal from the master Rhodi whom takes pity on them. With their bellies aching and starving beyond belief they break into the Rhodi’s home where the Rhodi welcome them. Their only condition though is that Dylan and Devin must train the ways of the Rhodi. But a darkness stirs and one of their own is taken. Left alone at home, Dylan and Devin decide to take a stand, joining in on the fight, and doing what they can to save their master.

It was a little slow in the beginning, but the characters are likable so the slow-pace was still enjoyable. Rhodi’s Light does deal with depression and self-harm. Dylan emotionally struggles and has much self doubt that she learns to overcome. And the way Megan handles this plot detail is very sensitive to the concept. I think YA novels should have more books that deal with mental illnesses or disorders and I really enjoyed the fact that Megan shed light on a situation that is not often talked about in YA books but that many teens struggle with. It also shows how Dylan works through her depression and finds something to fight for. It also shows how Dylan accepts help when it is offered to her.

One thing I really enjoyed was the twins Tavana and Talidin. They are the ones that train Dylan and Devin. I think the friendship and trust that develops and grows between the four of them is solid and beautiful. I think as main characters, Dylan and Devin have alot of potential to become truly crafted and amazing characters which I look forward to seeing their development in books 2 and 3.

Overall Rhodi’s Light was a very pleasant read, and though it may not be a read for everyone since it does deal with delicate topics, I think it should still be a highly considered read since it is an interesting story and has so much to offer.

Author Bio:

Megan Linski is the owner of Gryfyn Publishing and has had a passion for writing ever since she completed her first (short) novel at the age of 6. Her specializations are romance, fantasy, and contemporary fiction for people aged 14-24. When not writing she enjoys ice skating, horse riding, theatre, archery, fishing, and being outdoors. She is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention, and is an active fighter against common variable immune deficiency disorder. She lives in Michigan.

Megan Linski also writes under the pen name of Natalie Erin for the Creatures of the Lands Series, co-authored with Krisen Lison.

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The Republic of Football Promo

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THE REPUBLIC OF FOOTBALL
Legends of the Texas High School Game
by Chad S. Conine

Genre: Texas Sports History / Biographies

Date of Publication: September 6, 2016

Publisher: University of Texas Press

# of pages: 288

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Anywhere football is played, Texas is the force to reckon with. Its powerhouse programs produce the best football players in America. In The Republic of Football, Chad S. Conine vividly captures Texas’s impact on the game with action-filled stories about legendary high school players, coaches, and teams from around the state and across seven decades.

Drawing on dozens of interviews, Conine offers rare glimpses of the early days of some of football’s biggest stars. He reveals that some players took time to achieve greatness—LaDainian Tomlinson wasn’t even the featured running back on his high school team until a breakthrough game in his senior season vaulted him to the highest level of the sport—while others, like Colt McCoy, showed their first flashes of brilliance in middle school. In telling these and many other stories of players and coaches, including Hayden Fry, Spike Dykes, Bob McQueen, Lovie Smith, Art Briles, Lawrence Elkins, Warren McVea, Ray Rhodes, Dat Nguyen, Zach Thomas, Drew Brees, and Adrian Peterson, Conine spotlights the decisive moments when players caught fire and teams such as Celina, Southlake Carroll, and Converse Judson turned into Texas dynasties.

“This is a wonderful, well-written book, full of compelling details and stories. A ‘must read’ for any Texas football fan.” —DAVE CAMPBELL Dave Campbell’s Texas Football

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Conine is a freelance sports journalist who has written for the Sports Xchange, Reuters, and Golf.com, among others. He has been covering Texas high school and college football since the late 1990s. He lives in Waco, Texas.

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The Reader Book Blitz and Giveaway

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The Reader
by M.K. Harkins
Genre: YA Paranormal
Release Date: August 25th 2016

Summary from Goodreads;

Hunted, shot, and without her memory, eighteen-year-old Ann Baker wakes in shallow water on a deserted Pacific Northwest island. She is soon approached by two young men claiming to be her friends. Something isn’t right, but when gunshots sound, Ann is left with little choice but to allow Devon and Archer to help her escape. Soon she finds herself in their North Bend mountain compound, where the higher evolved humans claim to be mind-readers. While Ann heals, she realizes they believe her to be one of the last and most powerful of all – The Lost One.

She’s welcomed by most with opened arms, but not everyone is happy about her arrival. A jealous adversary has plans for Ann, which spirals the entire Reader community into chaos.

As lies, murder, and betrayal threaten to rip apart the once harmonious mountain dwellers, Ann is thrust into making a decision that could save or devastate not only The Readers, but all of mankind. But there’s just one glitch: by doing so it may require her to make the ultimate

Buy Links:

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The Reader Author Interview:

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I know the exact date – February 3^rd, 2013. I ran out of reading material on my Kindle. I stared at the wall, for what seemed like hours. It was then that I had a light bulb moment. I thought “Well, if I can’t find anything to read, I’ll just write something!” The “something” became my first novel, Intentional.

Do you have a routine that you use to get into the right frame of mind to write?

Yes and no. I need uninterrupted time (I’m not one of those authors who can write for an hour per day) Give me four hours, and I’m good to go. I do my best writing in the parking lot waiting for my daughter to finish her basketball practice.

Where did you get the idea or inspiration for The Reader?

I have absolutely no idea! When I sat down to write it, the words, plot, dialogue literally flew from my fingers to the keyboard.

What books have most influenced your life?

The first book I remember reading was Exodus. I was in the 7^th grade and I couldn’t put it down. Although I can’t remember all the details, I’m sure it has made me more compassionate.

The next book would have to be Slammed by Colleen Hoover. I know these two books are polar opposites, but nonetheless they both left their mark. With Slammed, I was introduced to a simple, yet complex love story. It brought out all my dormant feelings of first love. My heart raced, my palms became sweaty – all of those feelings came back in a rush. If it were not for Colleen Hoover, and her wonderful writing, I would not have written my first book. That’s a pretty big influence!

What do you like to do when you are not writing?

When I’m not writing, I like to think about writing. When my fingers are not on my keyboard, my brain is batting around dialogue. I think it’s called “Voices in my Head” but for writers, it means creativity, not craziness (I think – lol)

Any future writing news you would like to share?

Yes! I am currently working on Famous by Default (another YA book). Also, if I get enough requests, I’ll continue with The Reader Series J (So email me!)

About the Author

MK has always been a voracious reader. After hitting a dry spell of reading material, she decided to write the kind of book she’d like to read. This resulted in the creation of her debut novel, Intentional. (Award for Best Sweet Romance – eFestival of Words- August 2014)

Unintentional, her second book, is based on the life of one of the characters in Intentional. Unintentional was written as a stand-alone book.

Breaking Braydon and Taking Tiffany have both been released. Available on Amazon.

The Reader is MK’s latest project, due out 2016.

When she’s not writing novels, she likes to spend her free time traveling the world, splashing in mud puddles (She lives in Seattle, what can she say?), watching movies and reading (!)

MK also runs her own business in her current hometown of Mercer Island, Washington.

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Farewell to Summer $250 Cash Giveaway

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Farewell to Summer

$250 Cash Giveaway

September 1st to 22nd

An Awesome Group of Authors & Bloggers have joined with me to bring you 1 fabulous prize!!

We’re giving away $250 in Paypal Cash! Or alternately you can choose a $250 Amazon.com eGift Code!

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Giveaway Details

$250 in Paypal Cash or a $250 Amazon.com eGift Card

Ends 9/22/16

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use money sent via Paypal or gift codes via Amazon.com. 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 authors, bloggers and publishers on the sponsor list. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Red: The Untold Story Promo

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Red: The Untold Story
by Angela M. Hudson
Genre: YA Fairytale Retelling
Release Date: July 25th 2016

Summary from Goodreads:

A powerful new YA novel by award-winning dark romance author AM Hudson.

Do not go gentle into the wolf’s asylum…

Once every twenty years, pack alpha Luther takes a new wife. On the day of Selection, Red is chosen. Just as her family always planned. Just as she always planned. Until she met Alex Plain.

Alex took Red to worlds she never imagined, where the ordinary is seen as magical, and the upright is abstract. With the help of this new friendship, Red begins to see a future for herself outside of the pack. But, unfortunately, Alex Plain came along too late.

Red is obligated to marry Luther now, and taken to live in the mysterious Ravenswood Mansion, where truth lies and the walls have eyes. What Red learns there about her alpha will ignite some burning questions—ones that, when answered, could undo the entire order of the pack:

What happened to all the children born there? Why hasn’t this mansion left the seventeenth century? And where are all his previous wives?

RED

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Buy Links:
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | B&N

Red Promo Three

About the Author:

From the town that brought you Sam Worthington, the city that brought you Heath Ledger, and the country that gave you Chris Hemsworth, comes the AusRom TODAY Author of the Year 2015 and Best Established Author nominee AM Hudson.

This internationally successful author has captivated fans all over the world since her Dark Secrets series was released in 2011. Known for her character-driven novels and twisted plots, her epic stories will confuse you, draw you in, make you feel something, including a strong desire to slap the protagonist.

When she’s not making people fall in love with her works, she spends time sorting a mountain of laundry for her four sons and drags shoelaces around the house for her Ragdoll cat Pudding to chase.

Mrs. Hudson loves a good chat about all things bookish, so come find her on Facebook at ‘AM Hudson’, and she absolutely loves readers that leave reviews.

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter
Facebook│Amazon Author’s Page

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The Retreat

by Kelly St. Clare
(The After Trilogy, #1)
Publication date: August 30th 2016
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Earth is ruined. Humankind destroyed. And it’s old news.

Romy’s life is simple—for a genetically enhanced space soldier; pick up space junk with her four friends, and stave off the invaders fixated on stealing Planet Earth.

It isn’t much. But it’s temporary—only another 850 years to go, give or take.

When her crew tangles with a gulp-worthy alien mothership, Romy’s return to Earth is brought forwards at hurtling pace.

Strength comes from the unlikeliest of quarters.

As does leadership.

…As does betrayal.

Excerpt:

Romy’s side of the battler must have torn away during landing. Only a few shredding battler walls remained. It was as though her side of the ship had been ripped off like a chunk of bread from a loaf.

The floor underneath her was gone, leaving her legs dangling. Romy herself was suspended by the harness, which dug into her torso. It was the only thing keeping her from falling three metres to the dry grass.

The bottom part of her battler segment had embedded itself into the ground on an angle. Romy’s end of the segment was immobilised in the air, forty-five degrees to the surface. She looked to have landed at the edge of a grassy clearing. Or maybe a forest, she amended, judging by the multitudes of trees before her.

Behind her, the ripped walls were flayed wide open, smoking, sparking, and hissing.

She took in the vast splash of colours before her with unseeing eyes. She was on Earth. Hanging above real ground.

Quite alone. And if her knot hadn’t . . . survived . . . she was quite possibly the only person, or being, on the planet. A numbness set in so deep that Romy could no longer feel the harness. Her head drooped as she struggled to regain her calm. She had to find her friends. That was an absolute. They were alive. She had to believe it was true.

She waited, willing her shaking hands to still until eventually they obeyed.

Inhaling sharply, Romy looked around once more.

The question was: How far did her section of the craft land from the others?

If it were a matter of hours, that would be okay, but anything more and she would require food and water. A post-global-warming Earth meant the food and water here wasn’t safe. The yellowed plant life confirmed that. The battler held supplies, but did she have any in her part? And how much oxygen was in her suit? Romy’s heart began to quicken once more, and she forced the unfamiliar fear away.

First priority was getting to the ground. Under normal conditions she would take the chance and jump the three metres, but the injury to her ankle and the extent of the damage to her head caused Romy to hesitate. If only she could take her suit helmet off . . . but the air conditions had to be terrible. She wouldn’t last five seconds.

No, she decided. She’d pull herself up onto the back of her seat and see if there was an easier way out from the back of the smoking wreckage.

She sighed in weary exhaustion, not sure she had the strength to move a single finger. But that wouldn’t help her friends.

Romy released one half of her harness. Holding tightly to the strap, she released the second half of the harness—

Something gave. Not the harness, but whatever it was attached to, or attached with. For a moment Romy thought she might be able to salvage the tatters of her plan and still climb up. Until, with a loud ripping, the harness tore free from the rest of the chair.

Purchase Links:

Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Interview with Author Kelly St. Clare:

How did you choose the genre you write in?

I read fantasy, my mind seems to naturally churn out fantasy/science fiction/action and adventure storylines. I would write in any genre, however, as long as the story interested me enough.

Where do you get your ideas?

Who knows! Some weird part of my brain. As to location; long drives where I’m in the passenger seat, bus and train rides, too. And also when I’m just falling to sleep, or around 5 in the morning. Sigh. My most compelling ideas come from dreams.

Can you tell us about your upcoming book?

Sure! The Retreat is the first novel in my new series, The After Trilogy. The story follows an early twenties genetically enhanced space soldier named Romy – don’t call her Rosemary, you’ll make her mad. The story is set in a future where Earth has been desolated by Global Warming. Now the last slice of humankind exists in space, protecting Earth—turns out some unfriendly visitors rather like the look of this new Earth—and waiting until they can return to solid ground.

During a battle Romy’s ship is shot down and she crash-lands on this supposedly unliveable Earth … let’s just say she doesn’t find what she expects.

Have you ever gone out in public with your shirt on backward?

Chh, who doesn’t? Except maybe Alexander Skaarsgard. He doesn’t wear a shirt at all.

…What was the question?

Where did you love of books/storytelling/reading/writing come from?

Everything stemmed from my love of reading. While reading, I would put down the book halfway and formulate my own ending. I guess this was the start of my story-telling.

What was the hardest part of writing this book?

I was writing Fantasy of Freedom at the same time! One book is in third person, past tense, and UK English—in space. And the other is in first person, present tense, and US English—in a fantasy world. I’m surprised the characters stayed in the right worlds.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

The freshness of the story. I love The Tainted Accords, but I have a major idea queue. I’ve been bursting to crack into another story for a couple of years.

What’s your favourite type of scene to write?

Action scenes, without a doubt.

What do you want your tombstone to say?

‘Knock three times for entry.’ I want to be the gravestone kids sneak into the cemetery for. #gravestonegoals

Where is one place you want to visit that you haven’t been before?

Just one! That’s evil. Ayres Rock in Uluru, Australia. And Greece! Oops, that’s two. Ah heck, Canada as well.

What secret talents do you have?

I can do a perfect impersonation of a seagull. I’m quite proud of it.

Do you have any scars? What are they from?

Heaps. I have one in the middle of my kneecap from a Lord of the Ring re-enactment in a blizzard on Mount Tongiriro. Long story.

What’s a typical working day like for you? When and where do you write? Do you set a daily writing goal?

I like to vary where I write. Most of the time I’m in my little study. For the most part my work day is 9-5 (or 7, or 10). If I get an idea before I get to sleep I’ve learned to get up and write it down, or I get no sleep whatsoever. Those nights can be 2-4am. I love my sleep. The idea has to pretty persistent to get me out of bed.

Characters, or plot?

Characters.

Any words for your readers?

Santee Sanna Squash Banana. Also—you guys ROCK!

About the Author:

When Kelly St Clare is not reading or writing, she is lost in her latest reverie. She can, quite literally, drift past a car accident while in the midst of her day dreams, despite the various police sirens and chaos.

Books have always been magical and mysterious to her. One day she decided to start unravelling this mystery and began writing. Her aim: To write stories she would want to read. As it turns out, this failed miserably. Do you know what it is like to read something you’ve written? Impossible, that’s what. Not to mention, the ending is ruined before you’ve begun. Never-the-less, Kelly loves it and wishes she had more time to squeeze it in between her day job as a physiotherapist.

Fantasy of Frost, the first title in The Tainted Accords, is her debut novel. It’s sequel, Fantasy of Flight, was released on May 24th, 2015. Fantasy of Fire is due for release January 2016!

A New Zealander in origin and in heart, Kelly currently resides in Australia with her soon-to-be husband, a great group of friends, and some huntsman spiders who love to come inside when it rains. Their love is not returned.

Fav quote: Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint on broken glass.

Fav Song: I believe in a thing called love – The Darkness

Author Links:

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

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