I'm so excited to take part in Courtney King Walker's Release Day Launch for MOLLY PEPPER AND THE NIGHT TRAIN! Check out the book below and be sure to enter the amazing giveaway! Hidden somewhere in the fog of the San Francisco bay lies Blue Rock Island, home to the bay area’s two best-kept secrets: Bell’s Bluff, the old, abandoned prison on one side of the island, and the Night Train, a mysterious train ride on the other. When twelve-year-old Molly Pepper receives a secret invitation promising a night of magic and adventure aboard the Night Train, she is skeptical. In her experience, most promises prove too good to be true. The fact that she lost her mom is proof enough. Still, Molly gives hope another chance. Together with her loyal friend, Noah Wonderly, they sneak out of the house and follow a string of clues leading to the Night Train. But when the train stops at Bell's Bluff, Molly discovers the real reason she was invited. There, she starts to wonder if hope and magic not only fix broken promises; but make you believe in them again. Goodreads | Amazon EXCERPT:Chapter 1 The Real Face of Adventure When she opened the mailbox on the first day of summer break, Molly Pepper found three pieces of mail. The first two items did not seem all that interesting: one, a Woman’s Day magazine; two, her final report card on which she already knew mostly C’s would be hogging all the white space; and three, a small, crème-colored envelope with her name on it. That was the most interesting discovery. Molly could not recall the last time she had ever received anything in the mail. Not only was the crisp, smooth envelope addressed to her, but it also lacked both a return address and a stamp. No stamp meant somebody had sidestepped the entire mail system altogether and placed this exact letter into her mailbox, probably this very day. Molly popped a cinnamon bear into her mouth and peered over her shoulder for any chance that the owner of the envelope might still be watching her. All she discovered behind her, however, was the sound of the distant ferry whistling through the salty air, and the passing by of an old, white convertible spewing a fume of exhaust in its wake. She coughed in protest, and then ducked behind a lone, thick palm tree, in case she was mistaken. She wasn’t going to take any chances. Who knew what might be out there, hiding in the shadows, watching her every move? For twenty-point-five seconds, Molly chewed on the remainder of cinnamon goo in her mouth and held her position while surveying the neighborhood for any sign of bedlam. But, she hated to admit; everything appeared just as it should. Same as always. With a sigh, Molly tucked her report card into her back pocket for safekeeping and reemerged from behind the palm tree, doing her best to appear carefree. But it was more difficult than she’d hoped, especially after her detour to the side of the house where she deposited the Woman’s Day magazine into the recycle bin. Secretly stashing unwanted mail had been her routine for the last few months. She’d taken it upon herself to bury any rogue reminders of her mother under a pile of crumpled newspapers before her dad ever had a chance to see them. Molly figured it was better she deal with the mess of their new life than him. Especially today, the first day of summer break that was supposed to be filled with the promise of adventure…not reminders of broken promises. The house was quiet when Molly stepped inside, except for the sound of her dad’s daytime snores flooding the hallways like an occasional blast of an off-tune trombone. That sound this time of morning always put Molly in a despondent mood because it meant change—an unwanted, unrequested change she hadn’t yet grown used to. Secretly, she wished her dad would learn how to sleep in silence. Then, she could live under the ruse that her life remained the same as last summer when the world was still the kind of place in which most people liked to stay put. At the kitchen table, Molly pushed aside yesterday’s mail to make room for the letter. Her letter. Now, the moment of truth. She hesitated before opening it, trying to guess just what it could be…a note from a secret admirer? A party invitation? Russian correspondence? She sucked in a deep, audible breath. Then, on the count of three she exhaled and popped open the pointed flap. A thick, crème-colored note slipped out onto the table, revealing a simple sentence printed in black ink, each line spaced evenly from top to bottom.IF ADVENTURE IS YOUR DESIRE GO TO 174 CANDLESTICK HILL AT NINE O’CLOCK TONIGHT NO SOONER NO LATER Well. There wasn’t a question in Molly’s mind about her desire for adventure. In fact, if anybody desired adventure more than her, she would like to meet them face-to-face just to see what the real face of adventure looked like. Because she was pretty sure the freckled face she met in the mirror each morning silently begged for something more than this—more than entertaining herself all summer long while her father worked two shifts at the police department and slept it off the next morning. Adventure was the easy part. The difficulty about this whole message, if Molly chose to follow the card’s directions after all (and she was definitely still debating the whole idea), was the getting-to-the-top-of-Candlestick-Hill-without-passing-out part. See, Candlestick Hill was the steepest hill in all of California. In fact, if Blue Rock Island were situated a little closer to Canada instead of in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, Candlestick Hill would make the world’s best ski run. But, a thick blanket of fog was as close to white the island ever got, making Candlestick Hill a nightmare instead of the attraction it could be. Therefore, a little skepticism about the mysterious message was in order. The more Molly thought about it, the more she wondered if perhaps somebody was playing a joke on her just to get her to climb the murderous hill for nothing. Who would do something like that? Molly chewed on that thought along with another cinnamon bear, and drummed her fingers along the tabletop, trying to come up with a few criteria. First off, somebody with easy access to her mailbox; secondly, somebody creative enough to make up the whole idea in the first place; and lastly but most importantly, somebody who knew Molly well enough to play on her longing for adventure. Somebody probably like… “What’s that?” asked a voice coming from a space right behind her. Molly coughed on her cinnamon bear and whirled around as the beginning of a scream eked its way out of her throat. She stopped just before it grew loud enough to wake her dad. “Noah!” Molly hit her next-door neighbor on the arm. “Why are you sneaking up on me?” “I’m not. You didn’t answer when I knocked, and I know your dad’s rule about ringing the doorbell, so…” “You could have warned me! I thought you were a burglar.” Noah Wonderly rubbed his arm and pulled out a chair beside Molly. “I’m sorry. But, I did knock, you know.” Molly slid the mysterious note across the table. “Do you have any idea what this is?” she asked, getting right down to business. She wanted to gauge Noah’s reaction, certain if he were behind it, the truth would reveal itself immediately. He could never withhold information without the whole truth bleeding out through his shifty brown eyes and seesawing smile. Because of that, Noah was a terrible secret-keeper and an even worse actor. When they were kids, Noah was the lousiest performer in the history of neighborhood plays, resulting in Molly having to play both Darth Vader and Princess Leia (which didn’t turn out so well). Even now, Molly could tell by the way Noah shifted his eyes to the right whenever they made eye contact that he had a crush on her. But, she was careful not to let on because she wasn’t quite sure how she felt about him. Not yet. Noah picked up the crème-colored note and studied both sides of it very thoughtfully, as if taking a test. His eyes narrowed as he mouthed the words of the message quietly to himself. Molly couldn’t stand how long he took just to consider a few words on a piece of paper, and immediately concluded that he was much too serious to be part of any practical joke. She snatched the note back from him, a little relieved. “Is it some kind of joke?” he asked, helping himself to the bag of cinnamon bears lying open on the table. She allowed it. “I thought the same thing,” she said, glad she wasn’t the only one to jump to conclusions. “Who’s it from?” “I don’t know. I found it in the mailbox.” Noah glanced at the note. “Well, are you going to go up there tonight?” Molly thought for a minute, but still didn’t know what her answer should be. She wanted to go. The promise of adventure had definitely piqued her interest. But, at the same time, she felt this deep, lurking fear building up inside her. What if she went all the way up there, only to be met with…nothing? “Not sure,” Molly said. “I have to think about it for a little while. I’m trying to decide if it will even be worth the climb.” “I don’t think you should go.” She looked up, surprised. “Why not?” “I just don’t trust it,” he said, revealing a bit of the blood-red remains of his demolished cinnamon bear. “What if it really is a joke?” Molly sunk back into her chair, not sure what she should do. She had hoped for a little more support from him than this. Noah remained quiet, his mind searching for a solution, a way to help Molly without her having to risk falling victim to some kind of mischief. Noah Wonderly was that kind of friend—the kind to back you up when you didn’t know where to go next, and the kind to offer up solutions to problems that weren’t even his. Molly almost always felt happier when he was around; he had his own way of making everything look brighter, even on a foggy day. San Francisco had a lot of foggy days. And he also usually smelled like a clean laundry room. Though, that didn’t mean Molly liked Noah, or anything. “What about your dad? Would he drive you up and check it out for you?” Noah asked, dropping his chin on his hands. “Nope. He’ll be at work. Plus, policemen don’t approve of this kind of correspondence.” “You mean, like secret messages?” “Yes. Secret messages. Not exactly a police-approved activity. We’ll have to keep this one under wraps. Which means if my dad starts asking questions, you’d better leave. He’ll be able to tell you’re hiding something just by looking at you.” “What? No he won’t!” Noah jerked upright and ran his hands through his dark hair, as if proving he was smooth and had skills. Molly pointed a finger. “That look on your face right now…guilty.” “What are you talking about?” A hesitant smile spread across Noah’s face, despite his every effort to tame it. Molly laughed. “What’s so funny?” asked Noah, laughing now, too, though he wasn’t sure what he was even laughing about. But, that was the thing about Molly, and the whole reason he liked her. Everything about Molly Pepper was contagious, making it that much harder to be around her when she was sad. Molly looked up at him. “If I decide to go, will you come with me?” Noah wasn’t sure about that. Did he want to go? Not really—who wanted to climb Candlestick Hill ever? Plus, he wasn’t very excited about chasing after an anonymous prankster. It just seemed…stupid, and maybe even a little bit dangerous. On the flipside, he never turned down an opportunity to hang out with Molly, especially when it meant the chance to prove he was brave and strong and all that other macho stuff girls liked. What guy wouldn’t want that? But, first, he thought he might as well ring in a favor in exchange, and hoped Molly wouldn’t run away screaming at his request. Especially when she found out there might be spiders involved. “Yes,” he said with his shifty eyes. “But I need you to help me with something, first.”Chapter 2 The car backfired when it pulled into the neighborhood, which was the last thing Ruby Dodd wanted to happen seeing as how she was supposed to be undercover. Why the bureau didn’t give her something a little more inconspicuous, maybe something made in this decade instead of the one in which she was born, was beyond her. But, she had a job to do, and complaining about vehicle options was not it. The ferry ride over had been uneventful, just like every other day for the past month. Although, this morning Ruby couldn’t figure out how the ferry captain could see through the fog enough to land safely on Blue Rock Island instead of crashing into the rocks at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. She was relieved when they docked right on time at ten am. The drive to Penny Lane was a mere five minutes, and she parked in her usual spot around the corner from the stucco rambler, close enough to see the front of the house…but not so close that she would be spotted. Ruby eyed her watch and started counting down. She had a feeling something would happen today. It was June 13th, Moody’s five-year anniversary. Just thinking about it made her exhausted—five years of following clues all leading to dead-ends. Until now. She was this close. This close! At the thought of victory, Ruby smiled, until a UPS deliveryman wearing brown shorts and a brown shirt emerged from the fog. She sat up straight in her seat when he stopped in front of the small, stucco house and placed something the size of a letter inside the mailbox. Ruby looked around for any sign of his truck. Certainly he had other packages to deliver? But, just as she suspected, the UPS man walked to the end of the street, turned the corner, and disappeared. The fog seemed to blot out his existence. Ruby panicked. She didn’t know whether to chase after the man or try to intercept the correspondence inside the mailbox before it was discovered. She jumped out of her car, ready to spring to action, but stopped at the sight of Molly Pepper already standing in front of the mailbox, peering inside. Shoot! Now it was too late. The UPS man had vanished, and Molly Pepper had already found his message. That left Ruby with no other choice. Today she would follow that girl’s every move.About the Author Courtney King Walker grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area building rocket ships and rafts out of cardboard, hoping to make it the moon or at least Niagara Falls. But a trip across the border to Tijuana was as exciting as it ever got, so she decided writing about adventure was the next best thing. She now lives in the Rocky Mountains with her husband and four children, and still dreams of flying to the moon. Her YA debut, ON THE FRINGE, was published in 2011 by Lands Atlantic Publishing. Giveaway
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Title: Howl at the Moon ( A Liarus Detective Novel #1) Author: L.A. Starkey Publisher: Patchwork Press Publication Date: February 23, 2015 Genre: Middle Grade, Mystery GoodReads Amazon Blurb: Eighth graders, Ben, Jake, and Leah need cash, and mowing lawns in the winter just isn’t cutting it. Their need for cash births the Liarus (Liars R Us) Detective Agency! Their first client is Old Lady Smitz, who is said to have murdered her three sons and husband. She’s missing a family heirloom, but it’s not just any old trinket, it’s the crest of Lykoi. There are only two rules: No girls are allowed and never seal a deal with the witch doctor. Disregarding danger, these three discover that money is usually more trouble than it’s worth! About the Author: L.A. Starkey is the author of the Soul Keeper Series, a supernatural young adult series, and The Liarus Detective Series, a supernatural middle grade series. She is a CPA by trade, a church planter and entrepreneur at heart; however, writing and reading are passions she just can’t help but indulge in. With more ideas than one person should be allowed, she is blessed to have a muse that doesn’t seem to take a vacation and more energy that one might consider healthy. She writes under the following pen names: Kate Thomas (NA/Adult Paranormal); Isabella James (Sci-fi/Fantasy); and Lauren Elizabeth (Adult Contemporary Romance). Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads Since the release of Patchwork Press's first anthology (The Lost Locket of Lahari), we've been talking about the next anthology and how great it's going to be. We've been pretty tight-lipped on the details, only revealing small facts like the theme -- CONSTELLATIONS! -- and the genre -- YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE FICTION! -- but everything else? A mystery. But no longer! Today, we are revealing the title, the authors involved, the constellations the stories are inspired by, and the mythology behind each star cluster. We'll begin with the title reveal. Drumroll please... Polaris Awakening is the title of the newest Patchwork Press anthology! Each of the seven stories in the anthology take place aboard the space station of Polaris. The station of Polaris is the brightest star in the galaxy, with it's shining technology and renowned space academy. But not everything on Polaris is perfect -- there's a tilt of balance in social classes, and those below are beginning to awaken to the injustice of their leaders. A rebellion is thrumming through the ship, and the characters of each story all play a part in the ripple of discontent. There are seven stories contributing to the anthology. And our authors (in order of appearance) are: Kellie Sheridan, Erin Latimer, Erica Crouch, Janna Jennings, Hannah Davies, Terra Harmony, and Meghan Jashinsky. Kellie Sheridan's story will not only open the anthology, but it will be peppered throughout the anthology, interspersed between the other pieces. Kellie's story doesn't focus on one particular constellation or origin myth, but rather she is writing as the embodiment of Zeus (you know, Mr. Lightning Bolt, the Big Guy in the Sky). Zeus is personified as the supercomputer operating Polaris, and he's more aware than you'd expect, which could lead to some danger for our characters... After Kellie Sheridan's introduction, we have our first full story from Erin Latimer. Erin's story centers around the constellation Ophiuchus. The constellation represents the god Apollo struggling with the huge snake that guards the Oracle of Delphi. After Apollo slew the snake, he was ordered by Zeus to host the Pythian Games as a form of penance. Next up is Erica Crouch with her story based on the constellation Lyra. In the original myth, Orpheus -- a musician with almost supernatural talent -- falls in love with Eurydice. But their love is doomed, and Eurydice dies, stolen away to the Underworld by Hades. When Hades hears Orpheus's mournful music, he strikes a bargain: Orpheus will be returned his love if he continues playing his music. Eurydice will follow him from the Underworld, but if Orpheus doesn't trust Hades and turns around to check that Eurydice is still with him, he will lose her forever. The deal is made, and Orpheus plays his lyre, but when he walks over pine needles and can no longer hear Eurydice's footsteps, he turns around and Eurydice fades away, gone forever. Following Erica's piece is Janna Jennings's story of the constellation Gemini. The Gemini twins, Castor and Pollux, were both born from Leda, the Queen of Sparta. Their sister is Helen of Troy and there are several myths about them, including sailing with Jason and the Argonauts to find the golden fleece and fighting in the Trojan War to bring their sister Helen home. Castor is a renowned horseman, and Pollux is a great boxer. Then we have Hannah Davies's story, inspired by the constellation Scorpio. Scorpio has a few different mythologies to chose from, but the one Hannah chose was a story about Orion and Artemis. Orion boasted that he was the greatest hunter in all the land and could kill any animal. Artemis -- Goddess of hunting and also protector of beasts -- sent a scorpion after Orion to defeat him. The scorpion stung Orion's ankle, killing him. Zeus was impressed by the scorpion, so he made a constellation for it. In the sky, the scorpion is at the opposite side of the horizon to Orion to keep them apart. Terra Harmony's story follows next, and she was inspired by the constellation Virgo. Persephone, beautiful daughter of Zeus and Demeter, is tricked by Hades who carries her off to the underworld to be his wife. Her mother was so upset by this, she completely neglected her duties as goddess of agriculture, and famine spread over the entire world. The solution was for Persephone should be with her mother for half the year, and go to the underworld with Hades for the other half of the year. When Persephone is gone, agriculture essentially dies until she returns again six months later. And finally, to close the anthology we have a story from Meghan Jashinsky, based on the constellation Taurus. From the Mesopotamian Epic of Gilgamesh, the goddess Ishtar sends Taurus to kill Gilgamesh because he spurned her. In the sky, this is why the constellation Taurus seems to be facing off with Orion (who is representative of Gilgamesh). Patchwork Press's Polaris Awakening is going to be a whirlwind of a read! With so many spectacular myths interpreted into the science fiction world by an array of talented authors -- all with strong, unique voices -- we're readying for an epic read. You can expect the cover reveal in March, and trust us, you won't want to miss it! Here's the link to the cover reveal signup. Sign up here! The cover reveal will be MARCH 13th. The release day is scheduled for April 28th, one day before Patchwork Press's second birthday! So let us know... WHAT CONSTELLATION ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO READ?Tweet us @Patchwork_Press! Title: Greta and the Glass kingdom ( Mylena Chronicles #2) Author: Chloe Jacobs Publisher: Entangled Teen Publication Date: February 9th, 2015 Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance Blurb: Once upon a dark time… Greta the human bounty hunter never quite fit into the shadowed, icy world of Mylena. Yet she's managed to defeat the demon Agramon and win the love of the darkly intense Goblin King, Isaac. Now Isaac wants her to rule by his side—a human queen. And the very announcement is enough to incite rebellion… To make matters worse, defeating Agramon left Greta tainted with a dark magick. Its unclean power threatens to destroy her and everything she loves. With the Goblin King's life and the very peace of Mylena at stake, Greta must find a cure and fast. Her only hope lies with the strange, elusive faeries in the Glass Kingdom…if she can get there before the evil within her destroys everything. An Interview with the Characters of Greta and the Glass Kingdom Hi friends! Today I was asked to bring Greta, Isaac, Siona, and Wyatt with me for this visit. That’s a little harder than you might think, especially when it means having to deal with one stubborn human, one arrogant goblin king, one incommunicative bounty hunter, and another wise-ass human. But I got them here, so let’s get this done with. I don’t know how long I can stay in control of this circus. Greta: *snort* It won’t be a circus until the moons are full, author lady. Isaac: *turns to Greta with a raised brow* Are you suggesting that the curse Mylena suffers from is akin to a group of freaks whose purpose is to amuse you? Greta: *grins* You mean it’s not? Wyatt: Uh, should you be so cheeky with him? Siona: *huff* You obviously haven’t spent much time with the two of them. Wyatt: *glares* Thank goodness for small favors. Chloe (ie. Me, the author): *worried already* Ahem. Why don’t we focus on the interview questions I’ve been asked to ask you all, okay? Isaac: *crossing arms* I am not here for the entertainment of the masses. Wyatt: Sure you are, big guy. Just like the rest of us. Why else did you think you were here? Isaac: *knowing grin* Greta: He was bribed. That’s why he’s here. Wyatt: Bribed with what? *shaking head* Nevermind, I don’t really want to know, do I? Chloe: Please, let’s get back on topic. The blog host is going to kick us all out before I’ve even asked the first of her questions! Siona: *throws warning glance at the others* Danem author, we will behave. What is the question you wish to ask? Chloe: *looks down at crumpled sheet of paper* Whose fault was it that Greta and the Glass Kingdom took SO long to be released after the first book? *squirms* Uh, maybe we should skip that one… Greta: *laughs* Are you getting some flack, author lady? Chloe: Um…well… Isaac: I will take responsibility for this. Greta: Nope. It’s my fault. Wyatt: Actually… Siona: It’s MY fault. Chloe: Oh stop, all of you. Of course, it’s my own fault. Siona: But you had trouble because we weren’t…cooperating. Greta: *jaw set* I’m not sorry about that. I never wanted this story to be told in the first place. Wyatt: That’s because it’s a story about you, and you hate being the center of attention. Greta: What I hate is people getting in the way of my work. How am I supposed to do my job with-- Chloe: *exasperation* How about we just move onto the next question? Book 1 was about Greta’s romance with the goblin king, and their efforts to defeat the demon, Agramon. Can you tell us a little bit about Book 2? *pause* Maybe I should just answer this? Wyatt: You think just because you wrote it, you know it best? We lived it. I think we’re just as qualified. Chloe: Oh sure. Go ahead. Who wants to field this one? Isaac: *silence* Greta: *silence* Siona: *silence* Wyatt: *silence* Chloe: Oh, come on. *turns to Wyatt* You just said-- Wyatt: I said we were qualified, not that we wanted to do it. *sigh* Okay, I guess the second book is more about the Wyatt character. He’s got to rescue Greta and save everyone from-- Isaac: *chuckle* The second book is about the goblin king. It explores his moral journey to do right by his people, and make Mylena a better place for all to-- Siona: Excuse me, but if weren’t for Siona, there wouldn’t be a second book. It’s because of her challenges, her divided loyalties, her sacrifices that-- Greta: Oh for goodness sake, they don’t call it Greta and the Glass Kindom for NO reason. Book 2 is about Greta’s battle with her…uh…inner demons, and her various failures. Chloe: *patting Greta’s hand* Don’t be so hard on yourself. Isaac: *Fierce scowl* She hasn’t had much choice. As the author, that’s your fault, is it not? You are the one who tore her from the human world as a child. *Leans forward, fist clenched on table* You are the one who forced her to learn to kill, who almost got her killed by a demon, who almost lost her to a portal of darkness, who subjected her to an environment of hate. And that wasn’t enough. You continue the torture in your second book, and now I hear that there will also be a third. *growls* I should-- Greta: Damn it, Isaac. You can’t kill the author. She’s only doing her job. Isaac: You’re too soft-hearted. I can do exactly what I like. Am I not the goblin king? Greta: Hey! I take exception to that. I am not soft-hearted. I’m a freaking kickass bounty hunter. Wyatt: You are kind of soft-hearted. Siona: *nods* Greta: I’ve got a sword and I know how to use it! Chloe: *claps hands nervously* That went well, didn’t it? *cough* Is it time to go home yet? Thank you for inviting us. My apologies if it wasn’t what you expected. Unfortunately, these characters have a way of taking control. Something I ought to know very well by now. Enter the awesome Giveaway: About the Author: Chloe Jacobs is a native of nowhere and everywhere, having jumped around to practically every Province of Canada before finally settling in Ontario where she has now been living for a respectable number of years. Her husband and son are the two best people in the entire world, but they also make her wish she'd at least gotten a female cat. No such luck. And although the day job keeps her busy, she carves out as much time as possible to write. Bringing new characters to life and finding out what makes them tick and how badly she can make them suffer is one of her greatest pleasures, almost better than chocolate and fuzzy pink bunny slippers. Title: The Core ( Equilibrium #1 ) Author: Kate Thomas Publisher: Patchwork Press Publication Date : February 12, 2015 Genre: New Adult, Paranormal, Romance Format: ebook Synopsis: There’s something strange about David, something that goes beyond the way he makes Ellie feel. He’s wealthy, poised, and a complete enigma. With nothing to lose but her heart, Ellie goes in search of the truth—a search that leads her down an eye-opening path that reveals secrets about the world she thought she knew. The world’s order is held in careful balance, the essence of good and evil tilting the scale. When the fabric of reality is stripped away, Ellie is forced to make a decision to follow the path David’s constructed before her or simply walk away. The Core is missing and someone must step up and stand between the light and darkness, holding each back and maintaining equilibrium. Enter the Giveaway! Join Kate's mailing List About the Author: Kate Thomas, is the author of the upcoming Equilibrium Series, a five-book supernatural new adult series, with plans for a few more series in 2015. She is a CPA by trade, a church planter and entrepreneur at heart; however, writing and reading are passions she just can't help but indulge in. With more ideas than one person should be allowed, she is blessed to have a muse that doesn't seem to take a vacation and more energy that one might consider healthy. She writes under the following pen names: L.A. Starkey - Young Adult & Middle Grade Paranormal Isabella James - Sci-fi/Fantasy Lauren Elizabeth - Adult Contemporary Romance Awakening Release Date: 04/07/15 Entangled Teen Summary from Goodreads: A thrilling, futuristic sci-fi novel set in a unique and thought-provoking world, from author Shannon Duffy. Desiree Six (because she was born on a Friday) believes in everything the Protectorate stands for. She likes the safety and security of having her entire life planned outâher career, her mate, even the date of her death. She doesn't even think to question when Darien, her childhood friend and neighbor, is convicted of murdering his parents. They had seemed like such a loving family. But if he was convicted, then he must have done it. Then Darien shows up in her room late one night. He has escaped from the Terrorscapeâa nightmare machine used to punish all Noncompliantsâand needs Desiree's help. What he tells her rocks her world to its core and makes her doubt everything she's ever been told. With this new information, will Desiree and Darien be able to escape the Protectorate before it's too late? Pre-Order Links: by Janeal Falor Release Date: 01/28/15 Summary from Goodreads: Perfection. Goodness. Elimination of evil. It's what seventeen-year-old Kaylyn has trained her entire life to achieve. But no one is prepared for the consequences of her actually defeating all evil people on the planet. Finally successful in her mission, Kaylyn faces an unfamiliar world, full of good people doing good things, in which she no longer has purpose. When the skies grow dark, and a stranger from another village pleads for her help, her instincts roar to life. It turns out their perfect world isn't exactly what it seems. Kaylyn's new quest, harder than any she's been on before, will rip apart her friendships, her life, and her soul more than any evil man ever managed to. About the Author Janeal Falor lives in Utah where sheâs finally managed to live in the same house for more than five years without moving. In her spare time she reads books like theyâre nuts covered in caramel and chocolate, cooks whatever strikes her fancy, and enjoys the outdoors. Her husband and three children try to keep up with her overactive imagination. Usually they settle for having dinner on the table, even if sheâs still going on about the voices in her head. Author Links: Book Blitz Organized by: Excerpt :
Being the one chosen to kill the entire evil population is a burden heavier than sin. Not that I know what itâs like to sin, but I imagine this is worse. Killing is never taken lightly, even when sanctioned by our leaders, the same leaders who chose me to carry it out. Iâve lost count of how many Malryx Iâve executed for that exact reason. And now there is only one left. Only one evil being. My purpose of being is almost complete. The sound of thunder forces my eyes wide open. I find myself half buried in this sea of sand . No creature seems to be crawling, just hollow bones are to be found. Could I be the last soul roaming this world, or did I just take an uncommon road? I walk aimlessly in this dessert, without even a mirage to give me a false hope. Nothing from my past could be remembered , so how am I supposed to overcome this. Without a past or even a future dream, how can I survive the present?
A cool breeze passes me by, accompanying me on this journey of why. Why am I here, I whisper to the wind passing me by. As if responding to me, the wind carries bits of sand and twirls around in a swift motion.Its movement blurs my vision. I welcome the pain caused by the sand in my eyes because I believe that feeling pain is feeling alive. The pain triggers fuzzy images from my past. About how I was on the rise , and lost sight of what I stand for. Guilt settles inside of me, although the reasons are still not clear. It seems that I have been climbing the tower of a Sand castle, and my legs tremble with every step. Pebbles arise from the ground, forming knights with armors and swords. I am an intruder , so mercy is not to be expected . What used to look like a perfect place is now a battlefield. The knights strike at me all at once. I am outnumbered and encircled by these creatures of stone, and the reason of why I am being attacked is still unknown. As if the circumstances were not bad enough, a sand storm emerges in. I am the only one who feels wobbly , cause the stone knights are still on the move. The ground begins to swallow me up, and the swords are only inches away from my body. I am entrapped , and there seems to be no way out. Now that I am about perish, I figured out why I am here. Answers to why these knights hate me are now clear. I am not just an intruder, but also a betrayer. I used to rule this masterpiece , used to be their queen, but gave it all up for selfish reasons. Only then, after tempting fate and running away with hate, I see the the weight of my mistakes. If only the clock could turn back, I promise to make every single crystal of Ignorance crack. A prayer escapes by breath, loud and clear. My past is regretted and a second chance is the only future wished for. As if responding to the purity within, which shines among this dark cave of moths, all of the sand is swallowed, along with all of the the armored knights. I feel a rotatory movement, and I find myself sitting on the solid porcelain ground. No more skeletons, no more sand, everything is gone ,just like that. People walk around , caught up in their own Dilemmas. I dust off my shoulders, but there is always traces of sand. I look up to the sky to uncover what many others do not see. Sand falling , gracefully and invisibly as a light pixie. My entrapment in the sandstorm makes absolute sense and my prayer of second chance is now my present. I watch with my mind wide open and observe what my eyes have failed to see. I am soul living inside an Hour Glass , and only amid the darkness I became consciously and wisely aware. How many times will I stand in the eye of the Sandstorm to wake up? How many times will I be given a second chance? Whatever the answers are, my latest entrapment has enlightened me. At least for now, I can walk a couple of right steps. Title: The Marriage Match Author: Tracy March Publisher: Bliss( Entangled imprint) Publication Date: January 19th,2015 Genre: Contemporary, Romance Format: e ARC My Rating: 3/5 stars (C-) Blurb: Hot bachelor seeks bride… Resort tycoon Trent Hawthorne is looking for a wife. His all-business, no-nonsense grandmother (and the matriarch of the small town of Maple Creek) has selected three potential brides―all beautiful and approved. Each “fantasy date” will take place in a lush Caribbean setting, filmed like a reality show to promote the Hawthorne family’s chain of resorts. All of Trent's hopes for love combined with a clever marketing gimmick…what could possibly go wrong? As it turns out, all it takes is a kiss. A sizzling, sweet-as-sin kiss. But Cynthia Sawyer isn't one of the bachelorettes, and she's definitely not supposed to be making out with her boss's sexy grandson. Not to mention it's strictly against company policy. But Cynthia has her own reasons for hooking Trent up with a bride who isn’t her as soon as possible. And losing her heart is a price that she's willing to pay… My Review: I received an eARC of The Marriage Match from the publisher in exchange with an honest review. This was a short, quick, and a kind of predictable read with a known ending from the start. I expected to enjoy this much more, but I think that Smitten novels are not my cup of tea. Although my favorite parts of the story were whenever Trent and Cyn were together;however,I found that their interest in each other was way too rushed. I might wrong about this, but I like how Cynthia's nickname is Cyn (sin), which could also be Cinderella. This would fit the story perfectly. I wish the author spared the novel a few more pages to describe more of the islands they visited because from what I have have read , it is just like heaven. I give this 3/5 stars and a C- according to my own rating scale. Title: Ignite Author: Erica Crouch Publisher: Patchwork Press Publication Date: June 11th 2013 Genre: YA, Paranormal,Romance,Angels and Demons Format: e-ARC My rating: 4/5 (B+) Blurb: Penemuel (Pen) fell from grace over a millennium ago, yet there are still times she questions her decision to follow her twin brother, Azael, to Hell. Now that the archangel Michael has returned, threatening Lucifer’s vie for the throne, she begins questioning everything she has always believed. As Hell prepares for war - spreading a demonic virus and pilfering innocent souls to build an army - the lines separating the worlds blur. Fates erase and the future is left unwritten. Azael is determined that he and his sister will continue to serve as demons together, but for the first time in her life, Pen is not ruled by destiny. She has the freedom of choice. With choice comes sacrifice, and Pen must decide which side she’s willing to risk everything fighting for: the light, or the dark. My Review: I received an e ARC of Ignite from Patchwork Press via Net Galley in exchange with an honest review. I went into this knowing nothing but that it revolved around Angels and Demons''Paranormal". I also heard nothing but good things about it, and watched the author's vlogs and decided that this book must be awesome. And I was right, I enjoyed reading Ignite and here is why! The writing is, and I am in no way exaggerating this,is magical ! It is just so beautiful, that I plan on getting back to it and rereading in a much slower pace to take in and enjoy the writing more! I am adding Erica Crouch to my list of Authors with Beautiful writing Style,which includes Lauren Oliver,Tahereh Mafi, and A.G Howard! However, there were times were the descriptions were a bit long and the story was a bit slow.During these descriptions, a concept was repeated a lot. Sometimes it slowed the story,and other times it was what made the story great. Each character had his/her own little flavor to add to this story. No one is the same, and every character affects and is effected by another one. What I really liked about it is that nothing was rushed. There was not a second where I thought a character's thought were all over the place. In other words, the character building was pretty much well done! Ignite is more about getting to know the background stories of everyone, and in my opinion, settling the accounts within each character to what they believe and how should they proceed in life. The Romance here is just spectacular and I can't wait to see what happens next. I would also love to add that by the end of this book, I was craving more than ever to go back to high school for that 1 hour of literature everyday! Erica's writing seems to be inspired by brilliant authors such as Edgar Allan Poe and Robert Frost, two of my favorite writers ever! I give Ignite 4/5 stars and a B+ according to my own rating scale ! |
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