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Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Blog Tour- PITCH DARK by Courtney Alameda An Excerpt & Giveaway!



Hey everyone! I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the blog tour for PITCH DARK by Courtney Alameda ! 

I have an excerpt from the book to share with you today! And make sure to enter the giveaway below!


Haven't heard of SECRETS IN HER SCARS? Check it out!




Title: PITCH DARK 
Author: Courtney Alameda
Pub. Date: February 20, 2018
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 384
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Find it: AmazonB&NiBooksTBDGoodreads
Set against a future of marauding space scavengers and deadly aliens who kill with sound, here is a frightening, fast-paced YA adventure from the author of the acclaimed horror novel, Shutter.

Tuck has been in stasis on the USS John Muir, a ship that houses Earth’s most valued artifacts—its natural resources. Parks and mountains are preserved in space. 

Laura belongs to a shipraiding family, who are funded by a group used to getting what they want. And they want what’s on the Muir. 

Tuck and Laura didn’t bargain on working together or battling mutant aliens who use sound to kill. But their plan is the only hope for their crews, their families, and themselves. 

In space, nobody can hear you scream . . . but on the John Muir, the screams are the last thing you'll hear. 


Now on to the excerpt!

As I limp through the bulkhead, I hear my mother’s voice echoing through the bridge: 
“. . . Find us.”

“Mami?” I call out, my spirits lifting. I hurry past the bulkhead. My hopes shatter like little sugar skulls when I see a projection of my mother shooting out of a portaScreen node placed on the floor, and not the woman in the flesh.

Mami’s image stands about as tall as she does in life, a compact five feet, five inches. I still remember the day I grew taller than her, and she grumbled about me taking after my father. Her bright aureole of bleached-blond curls glows like a saint’s halo in the portaScreen’s light. Mami looks bloodied, but the fierce cast of her eyes hasn’t changed a bit.

She survived the crash. Tears press against my eyes and I don’t bother to blink them away.

Beyond her, darkness looms. The Conquistador is wrenched open like an old tin can. 

The bridge is busted, entire shears of metal are bent up like teeth in a prehistoric shark’s mouth, or rolled up in crazy spirals like snail shells. The Conquistador hit the John Muir so hard, the ships have merged together.

“Attention all crew and staff,” Mami’s projection says, straightening a bit. “For reasons we’re currently still investigating, the Conquistador has crashed and is presumed to be unsalvageable. Due to the failure of our bioware systems, those of you who didn’t make it into an emergency pod remain unaccounted for

Mami’s voice wobbles. She presses the back of her hand against her mouth, composing herself. I’ve never seen her even teeter on the brink of losing her composure, not once in my life.

“No, Mami,” I say to her image, taking a step toward her. It takes all my courage to suppress the fear rising through my chest. “Don’t tell me you left me here, alone.”

After a long moment, she composes herself. “I’ve taken the sixty-odd survivors into the John Muir, as the ship appears to have viable life support. Follow us. We’ll be marking our path every five meters with phosphorescent paint. We’ve left some supplies, including flashlights and shortwave radios.” Her image gestures to a now-empty box, which means I wasn’t the only crew member to be left behind. It was probably full of things Dad kept “on hand” because old-world tech could be useful in emergencies. But people like usprepared, professional, and practicedarent supposed to have emergencies.

My lip quivers.

I couldn’t be left behind, my family doesn’t leave people behind.


No.


About Courtney:

A veteran bookseller and librarian, Courtney Alameda now spends her days writing thriller and horror novels. Her debut novel, SHUTTER, was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award and hailed as a "standout in the genre" by School Library Journal. Her forthcoming novels include the science fiction/horror mashup, PITCH DARK (Macmillan/Feiwel & Friends 2018), and SEVEN DEADLY SHADOWS, an urban fantasy set in Japan. (Co-authored with Valynne Maetani. HarperTeen 2018).

Courtney holds a degree in English literature with an emphasis in creative writing. She is represented by John M. Cusick of Folio Literary. A northern California native, she now resides in Utah with her husband, a legion of books, and a tiny five-pound cat with a giant personality. 

Member HWA, SFWA, SCBWI; and SDCC Creative Professional.




Giveaway Details: International

3 winners will receive a signed finished copy of PITCH DARK & pin with a quote that’s important to the story, US Only.


Ends on March 6th at Midnight EST!



a Rafflecopter giveaway




Tour Schedule:
Week One:
2/19/2018- Here's to Happy EndingsReview
2/19/2018- Adventures of a Book JunkieInterview

2/20/2018- The Blonde BookwormReview
2/20/2018- BookHounds YaGuest Post

2/21/2018- A Gingerly ReviewReview
2/21/2018- Literary MeanderingsExcerpt

2/22/2018- Howling LibrariesReview
2/22/2018- YA Books CentralInterview

2/23/2018- The OWL Book Review BlogReview
2/23/2018- Pretty Deadly ReviewsReview

Week Two:
2/26/2018- Smada's Book SmackReview
2/26/2018- Mary Had a Little Book BlogReview

2/27/2018- Adventures Thru WonderlandReview
2/27/2018- Tales of the Ravenous Reader- Interview

2/28/2018- Two Chicks on BooksExcerpt
2/28/2018- A Dream Within A DreamInterview

3/1/2018- Savings in SecondsReview
3/1/2018- The Cover ContessaExcerpt

3/2/2018- Reading for the Stars and MoonReview
3/2/2018- AbooktropolisReview

Blog Tour- SECRETS IN HER SCARS by Rebecca Trogner A Deleted Scene & $50 Amazon GC Giveaway!



Hey everyone! I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the blog tour for SECRETS IN HER SCARS by Rebecca Trogner! 

I have a deleted scene from the book to share with you today! And make sure to enter the giveaway below!


Haven't heard of SECRETS IN HER SCARS? Check it out!



Title: SECRETS IN OUR SCARS
Author: Rebecca Trogner
Pub. Date: February 7, 2018
Publisher: Rebecca Trogner
Pages: 314
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Find it: AmazonGoodreads
On a sweltering summer day, Daisy Aldridge knocks on the wrong door. She’s yanked inside. Trapped and pressed against her only means of escape she spirals into a panic. Years ago she suffered an assault. Alone and afraid, she kept it hidden and dealt with the emotional aftermath in her own way.

But this time she’s not alone. She’s helped by a man who seems vaguely familiar. Roy Blackwood is gorgeous, powerful, and controlled. She tells herself she wants nothing to do with him.

Roy sees through her resistance and is determined to unravel the mysteries of Daisy. He promises to find the identity of her birth parents and unveil the person who leaves her anonymous gifts. And most important of all, earn the love and trust of Daisy Aldridge.


Now on to the deleted scene!

“Wash my hair.” Roy kneels under the shower spray. “I can’t seem to get all the sand out of it.”
He’s been gone a week. It feels like a year. “You’re determined, aren’t you, to make me wait even longer than I already have.”
“Daisy.” He sighs. “Always so impatient. One night, we’ll remember forever, is it wrong to relish every moment?”
“No.” Yes, I want to scream. Instead, I kiss his forehead, each cheek and, finally, his lips. “It hurtswanting you.”
His eyes have traces of sadness mixed with a heavy dose of desire before he leans back into the cascade of water.
“Close your eyes.” I urge and tip his head back to rinse the shampoo from his hair, and surprisingly see a few granules of sand at my feet. He can’t tell me where’s he’s been. I know it’s somewhere in the Middle East. Somewhere dangerous.
“Don’t know what it is about the desert sand. It’s not the same as here.” He stands and spins me around. Pulls me against his chest, giving my backside a tap when I wiggle against him. “Never bait the bear.” He takes his time massaging my scalp. Shampooing and rinsing my long hair. “Let’s dry you off and go to bed.” He leans back and lets the water cascade over his body one last time.
I envy the water sliding over his skin. The heat of the shower and my desire meld together until I sway on my feet.
“You’re my beautiful angel,” he whispers into my ear and wraps me in a warm towel.

I turn in his arms and run my thumb over his lower lip. “Don’t make me wait any longer,” I plead.

About Rebecca:
Rebecca Trogner lives in Virginia with her husband and a passel of adopted pets. Her idea of a good day is copious amounts of coffee, her computer, and no commitments so she can write all day. To find out more about the author visit www.rebeccatrogner.com.



Giveaway Details: International

1 winner will receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card, US Only.


Ends on March 6th at Midnight EST!



a Rafflecopter giveaway




Tour Schedule:
Week One:
2/19/2018- Two Points of InterestReview
2/19/2018- BookHoundsInterview

2/20/2018- Savings in SecondsReview

2/21/2018- The Phantom ParagrapherReview
2/21/2018- Twirling Book PrincessExcerpt

2/22/2018- Adventures Thru Wonderland- Review
2/22/2018- A Dream Within A DreamExcerpt

2/23/2018- F A N N AReview

Week Two:
2/26/2018- Book-o-CrazeReview
2/26/2018- Sincerely Karen JoExcerpt

2/27/2018- Reese's ReviewsReview

2/28/2018- A Gingerly ReviewReview
2/28/2018- Two Chicks on BooksGuest Post

3/1/2018- TheBooktarianExcerpt

3/2/2018- Reading for the Stars and MoonReview

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Blog Tour- LULLABYE by L. R. W. Lee An Excerpt & Giveaway!



Hey everyone! I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the blog tour for LULLABYE by L. R. W. Lee! 

I have an excerpt from the book to share with you today! And make sure to enter the giveaway below!


Haven't heard of LULLABYE? Check it out!



Title: LULLABYE
Author:  L. R. W. Lee
Pub. Date: January 15, 2018
Publisher: Woodgate Publishing
Pages: 465
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Find it: GoodreadsAmazonB&N, iBooksTBD
You've heard of the Sand Man. Meet his counterpart, the Sand Maiden.

Alissandra thrills to help her human charges make sense of thoughts that need refinement, problems that need solutions, worries that beg for action, and things they should or shouldn’t have said, as she weaves their dreams. She’s been doing it her entire immortal existence. But when the most powerful king in Dream realm sets his sights on her current charge, Prince Kovis Altairn, to exploit him in his quest to conquer Wake realm, Ali has no choice but to flee and pray the sovereign doesn’t hunt her down.

In this, the first in a three book series, Ali’s arrival isn’t applauded by some and she finds herself caught in a political game that may silence her before she can begin to defend Wake. All the while, she sees signs that the power-hungry Dream king is pursuing her. What will happen if he finds her?

Prince Kovis Altairn, crown prince and the most powerful sorcerer in the Altairn Empire, knows nothing about Dream realm, let alone his sand maiden. So when Ali is discovered naked in his bedroom, how will she convince him of her intentions, as well as the danger?

The Sand Maiden is a three-book NA Epic Fantasy Romance series with YA appeal. If you loved Sarah J. Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses, Elise Kova's Air Awakens, and/or Rachel E. Carter's The Black Mage you'll definitely love this. 

WARNING: Mature content including sexual abuse. Recommended for 18+.


Now on to the excerpt!
I heard him before I saw him, his power rippled about the room. And with two more steps, the most beautiful man I’d ever seen, my Dreambeam, stood before me.

He stiffened.

My breath caught.

Everything about him radiated power, refinement, and ease. His tattoo, beige at the moment, stood in contrast against his sun-bronzed skin and peaked out from where the two top buttons of his fine, white shirt hung open. Uncharacteristically, a lock of his close-cut dark-brown hair flopped on his forehead. A shadow, a sun’s worth of growth, accented his chiseled jaw. His eyes. I’d lose myself in those pools one of these suns. Dark circles marred their beauty, forming bags beneath. My fault.

With a hand to my back, Allard compelled me to bow.

“Rise. Please.” Kovis relaxed once more. His eyes started dancing as he took in my borrowed dress, golden locks, and clasp hands—a death grip seemed the only way I could control these damn appendages.

I shifted as he took a slow step toward me.

Don’t bite your lip! I reprimanded myself.

Then another.

Stand still!

Kovis opened his mouth as if to say something, then stopped. “Allard, I’ll be dining here, tonight.” He flicked his brows at me. “With a guest.” I inhaled sharply.

“Yes, my prince,” Allard replied. Another guard replaced him as he left.
Kovis continued looking me up and down, not saying a word. So different from those guards, his study sent excitement rather than revulsion through me. I felt like a fly in a spider’s web, and I couldn’t stop myself from fidgeting. Was he trying to intimidate me? He did a good job. But I couldn’t allow him to. I pulled my chin up. But his eyes, so much more beautiful in person. And their hazel centers. I tried, but failed to calm my breathing.

I stayed rooted to my spot as he took another step toward me. “You clean up well. You’re very beautiful.” His voice, a purr.

“Thank you.” I felt my cheeks warm, bringing a smile to Kovis’s lips.

“You didn’t address me when you bowed just now.”

The cut of his clothes showed off how impressive he was, and tingling erupted in my stomach.

“I’m sorry.”

He took another step toward me, and I wondered if he could hear my heart race.

“You called me by my first name. That night,” he said.

I averted my gaze to the floor. “I’m sorry. It was inappropriate of me.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kovis tilt his head. He took another slow step forward. “No one other than my family has ever done that.”

“I’m sorry.” I wrung my hands.

Another step. I felt like prey, frozen, unable to help myself even if I tried. Which I didn’t. I’d wanted to drink in his presence since before I could remember. But utter terror gripped me. Finally. To be this close to him. In the flesh.

My stomach’s tingling increased.

“My name rolled right off your tongue, as if familiar.”

Kovis stood before me, one hand behind his back. He placed a finger under my chin and lifted my face up until our eyes met. “And you called me your ‘Dreambeam’?”

My face burned. I wanted to stare a hole in the floor, but Kovis’s hand made that impossible. “It’s a term of endearment,” I squeaked, looking anywhere but at him.

Kovis smiled. “Yes, I’m familiar with the nature of the term. But why?”

I thought I’d burn up on the spot.

A knock at the door proved my savior. The gods still cared about me!

Kovis didn’t move, but I distinctly heard him chuckle—through whatever joined us. I gasped and drew a hand over my gaping mouth.

He winked at me, then commanded, “Come in!” 



About L. R. W. Lee:

L. R. W. Lee has a passion for fantasy and epic fantasy and in that genre, she credits C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe with its beginning in her life. Later on, she enjoyed the complex world of Middle Earth brought to life by J. R. R. Tolkien in Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. 

The multiple dimensions of the worlds, especially the dragons, mixed with a layer of meaning captivated her and made her desire to invent Young Adult Fantasy and Epic Fantasy worlds others could get lost in, but also take meaning away from. 

More recently, L. R. W. has taken her love of fantasy in a new direction, that of NA fantasy romance. Calling herself a fan of Sarah J. Maas, L. R. W. has begun The Sand Maiden series which promises to satisfy the most die hard romantic while giving a plot and obstacles meaty enough for the fantasy lover. 

L. R. W. Lee lives in scenic Austin, TX with her husband.




Giveaway Details: International
Win a Charlie Bowarter Autographed Cover Print plus an Autographed Paperback of LULLABY!

***Note***


For one of the entries below, you can gain points if you follow L. R. W. Lee on BookBub. To do so, go to Bookbub and click the Follow button (like in the picture below). Then enter the email address you used at BookBub in the Rafflecopter form below so I’ll know it’s you. That’s it. Easy.

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO BE TAKEN TO THE GIVEAWAY PAGE!








Tour Schedule:
Week One:
Feb. 14 -- Bonnie @ A Backwards Story
Feb. 15 -- Kristen @ My Friends Are Fiction (via Instagram)
Feb. 16 -- Kelly @ Book Crushin'
Feb. 19 -- Jaime @ Two Chicks on Books
Feb. 20 -- Damaris @ Good Choice Reading 


Friday, February 16, 2018

Blog Tour- ANIMAL GRAPH by M. Black An Excerpt And Giveaway!



Hey everyone! I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the blog tour for ANIMAL GRAPH by M. Black! 

I have an excerpt from the book to share with you today! And make sure to enter the giveaway below!


Haven't heard of ANIMAL GRAPH? Check it out!



Title: ANIMAL GRAPH
Author: M. Black
Pub. Date: June 7, 2017
Publisher: M. Black
Pages: 157
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Find it: GoodreadsAmazonB&NTBD
ENTER A WORLD OF ANIMAL GRAPHS in this SciFi FANTASY DYSTOPIA that is also called a "YA AMAZON POST-APOCALYPTIC
never-before-seen-concept in a kind of HUNGER GAMES meets DR. Moreau!" 

GET LOST WITH JIN IN A WORLD OF EXOTIC ANIMALS, LANDSCAPES, RIVERS, WARRING GROUPS, AND AN EVIL RULER. When prisoners are experimented on by the ruler of the Americas, after a nuclear war, their cells are grafted with cells and neural tissue from animals of the Amazon. Release to be hunted in the Amazon, to train soldier, Jin finds another Graph like herself named Adan and the two have to survive the Amazon if they are going to live.

Immerse yourself in the gorgeous and dangerous Amazon, find new creatures, learn about new exotic countries, travel the highlands, savannas, and plateaus in this breath-taking, page-turning book, ANIMAL GRAPH.


"AN ACTIVE AND EXCITING STORY THAT WOULD BE ENJOYED BY YOUNG ADULTS AND MATURE READERS. M. BLACK PACKS IN A LOT OF INTERESTING CONCEPTS. FANS OF DYSTOPIAN FICTION LIKE THE HUNGER GAMES WILL ENJOY THIS VERY CREATIVE STORY." -Netgalley 

"WOW! WHAT A CONCEPT! I CAN SAY THAT THIS IS THE FIRST BOOK OF THIS KIND THAT I HAVE READ." -Amazon Reader 

"THIS WAS AN AWESOME STORY. IN THE APOCALYPTIC FUTURE THEY ARE EXPERIMENTING ON PRISONERS." -Amazon Reader 

"M.BLACK’S ANIMAL GRAPH IS MORE THAN A DYSTOPIAN TALE FROM THE CREATIVE GENIUS OF THIS AUTHOR’S MIND. IT RAISES THE QUESTION OF SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST, OF LIVING IN HARMONY AND QUESTIONING WHAT IF THE ODDS ARE ARTIFICIALLY STACKED AGAINST THESE NEW CREATIONS." -Netgalley

"ANIMAL GRAPH TAKES A FRESH AND INTRIGUING LOOK AT ANIMAL-HUMAN PAIRINGS" -Avid Amazon Reader 

"THE CHARACTERS HAVE EXTRAORDINARY ABILITIES FROM THEIR ANIMAL GRAPHS, BUT THESE ALSO COME WITH WEAKNESSES. IT'S A REALLY GOOD BALANCE." -Netgalley

"IT IS GOOD, VERY STRANGE ON ONE HAND YET THRILLING AND EDGE OF YOUR SEAT! I LOVE THE BEGINNING WHERE THE READER IS IN THE ACTION FROM THE START! I ALSO LOVE THE WHOLE IDEA OF THE GRAPHS." -Reader Review

"THIS BOOK HAD ME HOOKED FROM THE BEGINNING." Netgalley

"YOU ARE ONE OF THE FEW AUTHORS WHOSE BOOKS LEAVE ME WANTING TO READ MORE OF YOUR BOOKS." -Amazon Reader

"GOOD STORY! I DIDN'T WANT IT TO END!" Amazon Reader 

"I HAD ANXIETY ATTACKS WITH JIN. IT REALLY BOTHERED ME THAT I HAD TO PUT THE BOOK DOWN TO DO NORMAL THINGS LIKE EAT. LOL." -Amazon Reader





Now on to the excerpt!


“This is crazy.” Ostir clenches her jaw. “We can’t just abandon you to die.”
“Then, tell me, what other choice do I have?” Adan asks, his eyes almost pleading.
Sum walks up with his knife, the blade shooting skyward. “The locator chip may not be removable, but your hand is. We cut off your hand.” We all look to Sum, Ostir grimacing and Klen debating in his head.
Then, Sum responds, “I’ve had worse. Look at me.” He gestures to his radiated face.
His comment makes Ostir and I grimace.
Klen nods. “Yes, it’s either that or you die at the hands of Borran’s military.” He looks at Adan with hard eyes.
Ostir interjects, her expression wincing already. “Can’t we just cut around the locator chip? Pull it out of the hand?”
Adan shakes his head. “No, the wiring is twisted with my veins. Any cutting around it will trigger the blow.” Adan looks down at his hand, and then at me, and then to Sum. “Okay, do it.”
I give Adan a thick branch to bite down on as Sum cuts his serrated blade into Adan’s wrist. Adan’s scream is hollow like the treeit has to be so no one hears. His body wriggles as Sum saws over his wrist bone, and I can’t look. I cast my gaze in the opposite direction, anywhere but Adan.
Ostir grabs me and stands beside me, like a comforting sister, and I miss mine. I try to keep my mind occupied as Adan’s quiet screams of agony wash over me. I remember my sister and I playing in the creek near our house, and sewing our pants together. My parents named her May, and she taught me how to cross-stitch. We had to reuse old clothes from years prior. Buying new clothing or even fabrics got expensive, but because of my sister’s sewing talents, I never had to wear the same clothes year after year. Tears swell remembering her death.

When silence engulfs me, I flip around as my eyes fall on a pool of blood around Adan, and drops of blood still seeping like syrup down his leg. Sum is wrapping Adan’s left hand with cloth torn from his garb, and Adan is fixing his glove around his bloody arm stump. I can’t look at the blood. Adan’s blood.


About M. Black:

M.Black is Ami Blackwelder and writes for the brand ENTER TOMORROW. She is a Montessori teacher, helps the deaf and hard of hearing, is an avid Pescetarian, believer in animal rights and wildlife conservation, and a lover of books. she is the author of the never-before-seen-concept Animal Graph, and dubs herself the 'Robot Girl' since many of her stories revolve around robots and A.I. She has a Siamese cat names LOTUS from Thailand when she was an educator there and he show sup in all her robot books. She adopted a cat named Ash in the States who also shows up in all of her robot books. She loves reading on Kindle Unlimited and only buys paperback. She enjoys many vegetarian dishes like veggie lasagna and four bean chili. She also likes watching movies, gardening, the beach, and hanging out with friends. Of course most of the time you will find her at home, pounding away at her computer.




Giveaway Details: International
1 winners will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card.


Ends on February 27th at Midnight EST!

a Rafflecopter giveaway




Tour Schedule:
Week One:
2/12/2018- Ogitchida Kwe's Book BlogSpotlight
2/13/2018- The Book Recluse ReviewExcerpt
2/14/2018- Don't Judge, ReadInterview
2/15/2018- Wonder StuckReview
2/16/2018- Two Chicks on BooksExcerpt

Week Two:
2/19/2018- Adventures Thru WonderlandReview
2/20/2018- BookHounds YA- Interview
2/21/2018- Savings in SecondsReview
2/22/2018- The Page UnboundExcerpt
2/23/2018- 100 Pages A DayReview

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