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Thursday, July 29, 2021

Release Day Blitz: WOLF MARKED by @AlexisCalder1 With An Excerpt & $10 Amazon GC #Giveaway!

I am so excited that WOLF MARKED by Alexis Calder is available now and that I get to share the news!

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a $10 Amazon GC courtesy of Alexis, & Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, check out the giveaway info below.

 

About The Book:

Title: WOLF MARKED (Moon Cursed #1)

Author: Alexis Calder

Pub. Date: July 29, 2021

Publisher: Alexis Calder

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 232

Find it: GoodreadsAmazon, Kindle

Read For Free With A Kindle Unlimited Membership!

They tried to break me. Now I’m going to break them.

Cursed to never shift, the only thing I was looking forward to about the First Moon Ceremony was that the magic sealing me into Wolf Creek would break, and I could finally leave.

Instead, the ceremony reveals my true mate: Tyler Grant, future leader of my pack and the man responsible for my most recent concussion and black eye. He’s as brutal as he is handsome and fate is a bitch to put us together.

There’s a rumor that a mating bond could break my curse and just as I’m getting my hopes up, Tyler destroys them all.

Instead of bonding with my mate, I’m beaten and left for dead.

A hot-as-sin feral shifter finds me and helps me back on my feet. But his help comes with a cost and I’m not sure I’m willing to pay the price.

With my former pack hunting me down, even an enemy might be a better ally than trying to stay alive on my own.

This is book one in steamy rejected mate series. This is not a reverse harem series. 17+ for steam, language, and darker themes.

 

EXCERPT:

Tyler moved closer to me and I held my ground. Not because I was trying to be overly brave, but because between the throbbing pain and blurred vision, I wasn’t sure I would stay standing if I tried to move.

“I’m going to be overjoyed when I feel our bond break. You were living on borrowed time already. I’m just finishing the job my father should have done.”

I glared at him. There was no way I was going to let Tyler know how much he’d hurt me. In a final act of defiance, I did the only thing I could think of that might cause him any kind of pain. I grabbed his head and pulled him into a kiss.

I couldn’t feel the mating bond, but I knew the physical contact would make it stronger. When I died, he’d feel the pain of losing a mate and he’d hate himself for it.

To my surprise, his hands gripped my hips, pulling my body closer to his. His lips moved with mine, deepening the kiss. Heat rose in my chest, and tingles spread down to my core.

His hand traveled up my back as his tongue slipped into my mouth. Fingers tangled in my hair, he pulled me even closer. The kiss was hungry and angry and it felt like I was releasing all of the pent up aggression I had for him into one far too steamy kiss.

My lips felt bruised as heat grew into the kiss. Tyler’s stubble was rough on my cheeks. I hated him with every ounce of my being and I put all my emotions into the movement of my lips.

I was the first to pull away, breaking the connection. Eyes wide, I stared up at him, expecting to see the fire of hatred I’d gotten used to seeing in his gaze. Instead, I saw lust.

And that scared me a whole lot more.



About Alexis:


Alexis Calder writes sassy heroines and sexy heroes with a sprinkle of sarcasm. She lives in the Rockies and drinks far too much coffee and just the right amount of wine.

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 





Giveaway Details:

1 Winner will receive a $10 Amazon GC, International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, July 26, 2021

Blog Tour: GEMS OF FIRE SERIES by @diane_samson With An Excerpt & $25 Amazon GC #Giveaway! @RockstarBkTours

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the GEMS OF FIRE by Diane E. Samson Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About the Books:

Title: MOUNTAIN OF FLAME (Gems of Fire #3)

Author: Diane E. Samson

Pub. Date: August 4, 2021

Publisher: Diane E. Samson

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 347

Find it: GoodreadsAmazon

Kindle Unlimited members will be able to read this for FREE!

Reeling from Jack becoming king of Oclen, Princess Anna returns home as Sunderland’s Defender. Earning her title was a hard-fought honor, but Anna can’t escape the guilt of leaving Jack alone in that cursed, starving place.

When Jack comes to Sunderland seeking aid from Anna’s father, she must decide whether to return with him and help defeat the curse plaguing the cold northern land. If she remains Sunderland’s Defender, she knows her heart would never forgive her for abandoning Jack to rebuild a crushed kingdom.

Can Anna leave what she loves to become queen of a people suspicious of her and the gems? Joining Jack would mean battling an evil greater than anything she’s ever faced, for the curse’s roots grow deep. But if she doesn’t, Oclen will likely fall and Anna will lose Jack forever.

 

Title: VALLEY OF BONES (Gems of Fire #2)

Author: Diane E. Samson

Pub. Date: February 15, 2021

Publisher: Diane E. Samson

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 351

Find it: GoodreadsAmazon, B&N, TBD, Bookshop.org

Kindle Unlimited members will be able to read this for FREE!

Princess Anna is left to rule Sunderland as regent when her father, brother and her presumed fiancĂ© Jack ride to battle devouring creatures in Jack’s home kingdom of Oclen. She must establish herself as a strong leader with the Sunderland council and a neighboring king who brings along two handsome princes to negotiate an alliance.

Trouble erupts as outlining Sunderland villages are attacked by pillaging marauders and the council loses confidence in Anna’s leadership. As Anna waits in trepidation for word from her father’s army, all she hears is silence. Her scouts never return. When the reports of a coming horror reach Anna, she forges an unlikely alliance and forgoes her father’s long-standing policies against gems of power. She trains Sunderland’s remaining soldiers to fight with gems. She’ll lead them to battle to rescue her family and the one she loves.

But first she must survive the treachery brewing in her own court.

 

Title: GEMS OF FIRE (Gems of Fire #1)

Author: Diane E. Samson

Pub. Date: August 4, 2021

Publisher: Diane E. Samson

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 347

Find it: GoodreadsAmazon, Audible, B&N, TBD, Bookshop.org

Start reading the series now for .99 or Kindle Unlimited members will be able to read this for FREE!

Palace of Sunderland. Paradise to the peasants. Prison to sixteen-year-old Anna, daughter of the king. She can never escape the castle’s cold walls and scorning disapproval of her father and his brute royal counsel, Seamus. She’ll always live in the shadow of her late mother, the queen. Will they ever see her for who she really is?

A riding accident lands Anna in the hands of traders who sell her as a slave in distant Kasdod to none other than her father’s enemy, Lord Anwar. After overhearing a dangerous plot to conquer Sunderland and kill the royal family, Anna must escape and warn her father, even if it means facing her greatest enemy.

With the doom looming over her, Anna is approached by a dangerous man in the dark. He claims to want to help her, but can she trust him with her secrets? The perils of the journey ahead will push Anna to the limit and answer the one question that has always plagued her...

Will she ever be enough?  

 

Excerpt:

He took a step closer. “Not everything that night was because of the alcohol. You know that. If things don’t work out with Jack, I think I could make you happy. I’ve loved every minute of our time together.”

Anna curled her lips inward. Truth was, she had too.

He tipped her chin up, leaned close, and paused, searching deep into her eyes. He closed his lids and kissed her cheek.

She put her arms around his waist. “It would take me a long time to get over him. It wouldn’t be fair to you.” Being honest with him felt like a weight lifted off her shoulders.

“I never thought I’d have a chance at fair.” His cheek pressed against her forehead. “But I’m confident we would be happy. I know I would be.”

She kept her arms around him while her heart thrummed. You left him.

Zac glanced back toward the stairs. “We need to go.” He squeezed her hand as they started up the steep steps. When Anna needed to catch her breath, they stopped on a landing and looked back at the ocean.

Anna’s gaze landed on several broken gull shells on the beach near the stairs. “See those eggshells?” She pointed. Broken. “That’s what I’m like. You should find someone who’s whole.”

Zac was silent for a moment. “Those shells aren’t smashed. The chicks had to hatch to become who they’re meant to be.”

Anna watched the gulls hovering over the surf, following the ever-changing patterns of the wind and waves. “They do have a serenity about them.” A gull’s cry pierced the air, and the breeze carried it out to sea.

Zac stared into the sky. “They always call me home.” He pulled her close with one arm and kissed the top of her head.

Anna didn’t know what to say as they climbed the last steps. She hadn’t told him everything. How she’d been a slave in Kasdod, how she still saw the faces of the men she’d killed with sword, arrow, and flame. How she’d shed so much blood he’d never understand. Zac reached back and helped her up the last few steps. Perhaps he sensed her aching side. They came to a stop in front of King Darragh.

 

 

 

About Diane:

Diane E. Samson grew up on acreage just north of Kansas City, Missouri, with horses and dogs in the backyard. She later pursued her love of words and earned a degree in magazine journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. After graduation she worked as a reporter, managing editor, freelance writer and in public relations. After moving around the country, she's recently returned to the Kansas City area where she lives with her husband, children and golden retriever.

She's written fiction off and on her whole life. Gems of Fire is her first series about a girl traveling a journey of self-discovery in a world of powerful gems, supernatural forces, epic battles and of course, handsome heroes.


Sign up for Diane’s Newsletter!

 

Website  Facebook  | Twitter  | InstagramGoodreads | BookBub

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will win signed copies of all three books, a purple gem necklace, a $25 Amazon gift card and three bookmarks, US Only.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

7/26/2021

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt

7/27/2021

Jaimerockstarbooktours

Instagram Post

7/28/2021

Living in a Bookworld

Dream Cast

7/29/2021

BookHounds YA

Fave Movies

7/30/2021

Writer of Wrongs

Excerpt

Week Two:

8/2/2021

#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Excerpt

8/3/2021

Rajiv's Reviews

Review

8/4/2021

GivernyReads

Review

8/5/2021

@pagesofyellow

Review

8/6/2021

Reveal + Review

Review

Week Three:

8/9/2021

More Books Please blog

Review

8/10/2021

@coffeebooksandmascara

Review

8/11/2021

Don't Judge, Read

Review

8/12/2021

The Momma Spot

Fave Books

8/13/2021

Jaime's World

Excerpt


Blog Tour: WHAT’S INSIDE A FLOWER?, WOMEN IN SCIENCE, and WOMEN IN SPORTS by @ignotofsky With An Excerpt & #Giveaway! @randomhousekids, & @RockstarBkTours

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the WHAT’S INSIDE A FLOWER?, WOMEN IN SCIENCE, and WOMEN IN SPORTS by Rachel Ignotofsky Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Books:

Title: WHAT'S INSIDE A FLOWER

Author: Rachel Ignotofsky

Pub. Date: February 2, 2021

Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 48

Find it:  GoodreadsAmazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBDBookshop.org

From the creator of the New York Times bestseller Women in Science, comes a new nonfiction picture book series ready to grow young scientists by nurturing their curiosity about the natural world--starting with what's inside a flower.

Budding backyard scientists can start exploring their world with this stunning introduction to these flowery show-stoppers--from seeds to roots to blooms. Learning how flowers grow gives kids beautiful building blocks of science and inquiry.

In the launch of a new nonfiction picture book series, Rachel Ignotofsky's distinctive art style and engaging, informative text clearly answers any questions a child (or adult) could have about flowers. 

Reviews:

"The lush, geometric illustrations are the superstars of this adventure, drawing in readers from the front endpapers to the rear . . . A beautiful bloom for the nature shelf." - Kirkus Reviews

"There’s an abundance of detail in this attractive first work in the “What’s Inside” series, but it’s never overwhelming . . . The pages overflow with life." - Booklist

 

Title: WOMEN IN SCIENCE

Author: Rachel Ignotofsky

Pub. Date: July 26, 2016

Publisher: Ten Speed Press

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 126

Find it:  GoodreadsAmazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N Exclusive Edition, iBooks, Kobo, TBDBookshop.org

Women in Science highlights the contributions of fifty notable women to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) from the ancient to the modern world. Full of striking, singular art, this collection also contains infographics about relevant topics such as lab equipment, rates of women currently working in STEM fields, and an illustrated scientific glossary. The women profiled include well-known figures like primatologist Jane Goodall, as well as lesser-known pioneers such as Katherine Johnson, the African-American physicist and mathematician who calculated the trajectory of the 1969 Apollo 11 mission to the moon. 

Reviews:

"With the help of eye-catching artwork, Ignotofsky celebrates not just astronauts, but also the engineers, biologists, mathematicians, and physicists who’ve blazed a trail for women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields from the ancient to modern world. The book elevates this information with beautiful and instructive infographics that delve into topics like the number of women currently working in STEM fields."– Entertainment Weekly (online)

"With short, inspiring stories and the accessibility of a graphic novel. . .the perfect book to share with the science- and tech-minded people (male and female, young and old) in your life. . . .The must-read, girl-power STEM book."– InStyle.com

"This book of illustrated biographies of scientific pioneers is hands-down gorgeous. . . .Kids will love paging through this, looking at all the detailed drawings, but they'll likely have to rip it out of the hands of the adults who are marveling at each new page of factoids."– Sarah Mirk, Bitch Media

"The book is a beautifully curated collection of personal narratives from female scientists from a wide variety of backgrounds and disciplines, with a dash of whimsy thrown in." – Upworthy

"I applaud Ignotofsky and her publisher for telling these important stories about women through such a rich, visual medium. The world needs more books like this."– ScientificAmerican.com's Symbiartic

". . .an illustrated homage to some of the most influential and inspiring women in STEM. . . .Ignotofsky captures the heartbreaking inequalities that only amplify the impressiveness of these women’s feats."– Maria Popova, BrainPickings.org

". . .a clever introduction to women scientists through history."– Science Friday

 

Title: WOMEN IN SPORTS

Author: Rachel Ignotofsky

Pub. Date: July 18, 2017

Publisher: Ten Speed Press

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 128

Find it:  GoodreadsAmazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBDBookshop.org

Women in Sports highlights notable women's contributions to competitive athletics to inspire readers young and old. Keeping girls interested in sports has never been more important: research suggests that girls who play sports get better grades and have higher self-esteem--but girls are six times more likely to quit playing sports than boys and are unlikely to see female athlete role models in the media. A fascinating collection full of striking, singular art, Women in Sports features 50 profiles and illustrated portraits of women athletes from the 1800s to today including trailblazers, Olympians, and record-breakers in more than 40 different sports. The book also contains infographics about relevant topics such as muscle anatomy, a timeline of women's participation in sports, statistics about women in athletics, and influential female teams.

Reviews:

"Exhaustive and enlightening—don't miss it."– Kirkus Reviews

"This is one of the books we've been waiting for—a compendium of great women athletes and the struggles they faced. As Billie Jean King taught us, ‘Pressure is a privilege.’"– Lesley Visser, Hall of Fame sportscaster

"This luminescent book tells the stories of women and girls who have not only excelled in athletics, but also often changed the world by doing so. I was agog at these lively biographies, and dazzled by the accompanying illustrations that seem to cartwheel, swim, pole vault, and double flip off the page. This is a book for girls who want inspiration on the field, in the pool, or down the track. It’s also for girls who aren’t sporty at all, but love stories of courage, perseverance, sass, doggedness, and fun. And don’t forget the boys, who will be riveted by these rollicking tales and who need to see that girl power has been alive and well for many years, and is alive and well today."– Caroline Paul, author of The Gutsy Girl

"Rachel Ignotofsky's delightful book renders the healthy pleasure of sports for girls and women in buoyant color and form—from Bloomer Girls to Skate Bettys, in calf length skirts or disguised as men—reminding us that no matter if you are nine or ninety-eight, the question to ask is, ‘What is my next victory?’"– Mina Samuels, author of Run Like a Girl

"What an inspiring book! These beautifully drawn portraits cover the triumphs and troubles of fifty athletes—some you've heard of and many you haven't. There's a familiar pattern to these stories: A woman sets her mind on something, someone tells her it can't be done, and she goes ahead and does it anyway, setting records along the way. You'll cheer for these ladies, and for author Rachel Ignotofsky."– Lisa Taggart, author of Women Who Win

 

WOMEN IN SPORTS EXCERPT:

INTRODUCTION

“The weaker sex!” It wasn’t the first times those untrue words were said, and it wouldn’t be the last. It’s what Bobby Riggs, a former tennis champ, said about women in 1973. But tennis player Billie Jean King stood up to this bully. With masterful skill, physical strength, and a sense of self-worth, Billie Jean would change the world with her tennis racket.

Throughout history, women have been stereotyped as weak and routinely excluded from competitions, gyms, teams, and sports clubs. With no arena in which to prove themselves fit and strong, it was hard for women to fight this sexism. Of course, this stereotype has pervaded other segments of society throughout history. Women have been denied educational, civic, business, and leadership opportunities and have had to prove they are just as smart and hardworking as men. Female athletes like Billie Jean have had to fight the most basic stereotype of all: that women’s bodies are inherently not as strong or capable as men’s. Their progress has been truly inspiring.
During the 1970s, the feminist movement was in full swing in the United States, United Kingdom, and other developed nations. Women were demanding equal pay and equal opportunities. In 1972, the United States passed Title IX as part of the Education Amendments, making it illegal for U.S. schools to discriminate in funding based on gender. For the first time, many schools began funding women’s sports programs, and colleges began giving out women’s sports scholarships. Finally, women could pursue their athletic passions and show the world their true strength.

The backlash was inevitable. Many still thought women should do only traditional “ladylike” activities. Tennis player Bobby Riggs wanted to prove that women had no place in sports by beating the best female tennis player, Billie Jean King. In 1973, he challenged her to a “battle of the sexes” tennis match. At first she declined. But when Bobby beat Grand Slam winner Margaret Court in the “Mother’s Day massacre” game, Billie Jean understood there was more at stake than just a tennis match.

The whole world was watching as Billie Jean and Bobby entered the tennis court. Winning would not be enough; she would have to wipe the floor with him. And she did: 6-4, 6-3, and 6-3 for each set. Billie threw her racket into the air in victory as the crowd went wild!

Women around the world watched Billie Jean and felt empowered to stand up for themselves. Many thanked her for inspiring them to finally ask for a pay raise or a promotion. Men wanted their daughters to grow up strong and brave like Billie Jean. She used her sports star status as a leader off the court as well, lobbying and creating initiatives for equal opportunities in the workforce for women and people of color. This is the cultural power of sports: through entertainment and competition, they inspire courage. The fight for social justice often starts in the field or on the court. Through historic victories and setting new records, female athletes like Billie Jean shared their stories, broke down stereotypes, and created change.

Sports have always been a part of human culture, and athletes become heroes, social icons, and positive role models. Although sports should be about skill and hard work, societal prejudices often prevented women from competing. It took gutsy, fearless women to break down these barriers—to defy the rules, be resourceful, and take dangerous risks—all to prove their strength, independence, and ability to lead and change the world.

When the newspapers scoffed that a “weak “woman like Gertrude Ederle couldn’t swim across the English Channel, Gertrude decided that she would either drown or triumph. She triumphed—and set a new world record in 1926. When Althea Gibson, a black woman, played tennis during the segregation era, her talent was so undeniable she was able to cross the color line and become the first African American to showcase her skills at Wimbledon. The world would judge her on her skills, not her skin color, helping the civil rights movement and paving the way for athletic greats like Serena Williams. When Sue Sally Hale was told women were not allowed to play polo, she disguised herself as a man for 20 years to play the sport she loved. Sue Sally eventually leveraged her secret to force polo to become a co-ed sport, allowing her to become a leader on the field.

These are just a few examples of female athletes who proved their worth as individuals, showing the world what women can do and creating more opportunities for future generations. There are still problems in women’s athletics, such as a lack of funding and media coverage, and unequal pay. But with each generation, women defy expectations and accomplish feats of strength that challenge the status quo. This book is filled with stories of little girls who grew up to achieve their greatest dreams—stories of women who pushed themselves to the limit, did the impossible, and became legends.






 

About Rachel Ignotofsky: 

Rachel Ignotofsky is a New York Times Best Selling author and  illustrator, based in beautiful Santa Barbara.   She grew up in New Jersey on a healthy diet of cartoons and pudding and graduated from Tyler School of Art in 2011. 

Now Rachel works for herself and spends all day and night drawing, writing and learning as much as she can. Rachel is a published author with 10 Speed Press and Random House Kids. She is always thinking up new ideas.

Check out her books:

What’s Inside A Flower?
The Wondrous Workings of Planet Earth 
Women In Science
Women in Art
Women In Sports

Her work is inspired by history and science. She believes that illustration is a powerful tool that can make learning exciting.  She has a passion for taking dense information and making it fun and accessible. Rachel hopes to use her work to spread her message about scientific literacy and feminism.

If you like what you see and would like to have it for yourself, please visit her shop.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Tumblr | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon

 

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will win a finished copy of WHAT’S INSIDE A FLOWER?, WOMEN IN SCIENCE, and WOMEN IN SPORTS, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

7/26/2021

BookHounds YA

Excerpt

7/26/2021

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt

7/27/2021

#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Excerpt

7/27/2021

Kait Plus Books

Excerpt

7/28/2021

pagesofyellow

Review or Spotlight

7/28/2021

The Phantom Paragrapher

Review or Spotlight

7/29/2021

Feed Your Fiction Addiction

Review

7/29/2021

@ChristenKrumm

Review or Spotlight

7/30/2021

Do You Dog-ear?

Review

7/30/2021

Lifestyle of Me

Review

Week Two:

8/2/2021

100 Pages A Day

Review

8/2/2021

Locks, Hooks and Books

Review

8/3/2021

Jazzy Book Reviews

Review

8/3/2021

The Momma Spot

Review

8/4/2021

Nerdophiles

Review

8/4/2021

Two Points of Interest

Review

8/5/2021

Everyone's Librarian

Review

8/5/2021

Midnightbooklover

IG Post

8/6/2021

onemused

Review or Excerpt

8/6/2021

booksaremagictoo

Review