Black Dawn by Mallory McCartney

The end of an Empire, the rise of a Queen

Emory Fae enjoys leading a quiet, normal life. That is until two mysterious, and handsome soldiers show up at her apartment, and the life she knew is instantly whisked away. Memphis Carter and Brokk Foster come from the magical and war ridden world of Kiero, and upon Emory’s arrival she will discover she is the long-lost heir to the Royal Line and is thrown into the Black Dawn Rebellion with a dynamic role to ignite the rebels and reclaim her throne.

 With both men being darkly woven in her past Emory uncovers hidden secrets, a power held long dormant, and will soon realize there are worse things than supernatural humans, love, loss, betrayal, and a Mad King.

 Some things are better left in the shadows.

Black Dawn is another fabulous book by a fellow Cleans Reads author Mallory McCartney.  I would give this book four stars because I loved the amount of detail and backstory of each character. The author did a great job creating the new world of Kiero with problems of their own.

There are three main characters in this book, Emory, Brokk, and Memphis who have all been friends growing up in a military-style academy. When the book starts out, Emory is living on Earth as a normal human but Memphis and Brokk kidnap her from the life she knows to throw her into Kiero and a kingdom she barely remembers. She goes through the process of recovering her memories while training with her powers she forgot about.

There’s a ton of action in this story with multiple point of views. This is the kind of book you want to concentrate on to get all the little clues, but if you like paranormal, fantasy, or young adult you will like this book!

Enter to win a signed copy of Black Dawn HERE.

Mallory McCartney currently lives in London, Ontario with her husband and their two dachshunds Link and Lola. Black Dawn is her debut novel, the first in a series. When she isn’t working on her next novel or reading, she can be found dog grooming, book shopping and hiking. Other favorite pastimes involve reorganizing perpetually overflowing bookshelves and seeking out new coffee and dessert shops.

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

You can purchase Black Dawn below:

BAM | Chapters | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | TBD | iBooks

Read a short excerpt!

Memphis cocked his eyebrow at her. “We are the only ones left strong enough to give Adair a run for his money. We fight now for all the innocent lives he took, for shattering your parents’ legacy. We fight for them, for their love, and for our freedom.”

Emory sighed, letting his words settle in her core. Stillness seemed to suffocate them in the cell as bomb after bomb was dropped above ground. In that moment an absurd idea struck her and she bit her lip, feeling exposed. It was worth a shot—after all, how much time did any of them have?

She glanced sideways at Memphis. He looked like a carving out of marble, flawless and jagged, capturing such a unique beauty she couldn’t tear her eyes away from it.

She noticed the corners of his lips turning up as he asked, “What?”

“You know what I do when I feel really stressed about something?” Emory had his full attention now. “I dance like no one is watching or ever will.”

Confusion clouded his face. “Dance?”

She truly beamed up at him now. “Oh Commander, seeing as we have a bit of time trapped in here with each other, do I ever have a proposition for you.”

You can find the tour schedule HERE.

*I received this book in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my thoughts or review in any way *

 

Finding Hope by Lucie Ulrich

Nearly sixteen years after relinquishing the rights to his unborn child, Noah Cooper is stunned to discover his daughter, Hope, wants to meet him. With the love and support of his family, Noah sets off from Elk Flats, Montana to Albany, New York, having no idea what changes are in store for him.

Cancer survivor and widow, Beth Peterson, is more than a little nervous to meet her daughter’s birth father. Their initial meeting goes well, but things decline in a hurry when Noah invites Hope to spend time at the ranch without speaking to Beth about it first.

Determined to meet her new family, a battle of wills ensues between Hope and her mother. While Hope longs for a connection, Beth fears losing her daughter to virtual strangers—strangers who live two thousand miles away.

Struggles and misunderstandings abound between Noah and Beth, despite their growing attraction for one another. Noah is ready to commit, while Beth can’t let go of the memory of her husband and the imperfections cancer has forced her to live with.  Will hope, patience, and prayer be enough to pull this family together?

Lucie Ulrich is one of my favorite authors. I’m so glad to be interviewing her and learning more about her books.

Lucie, what inspired you to write Finding Hope?   My readers. When I wrote The Rose Ring, I did so with the idea that it would be a stand-alone book. I had no thoughts of continuing the story of the Cooper brothers. When readers asked for more, I realized that, without meaning to, I left an opening for another book. While Micah and Noah Cooper are both important to The Rose Ring, Finding Hope is primarily Micah’s story.

That’s a great way to stay involved with your readers. How long have you been writing?  I penned my first novel back in 2001. I had no clue what I was doing, but it got me motivated to learn all I could about the writing process. My first novel wasn’t published until 2012. In between, I wrote loads of skits and plays for my church and the private school where I worked as a drama teacher and eventual performing arts director.

Wow, that sounds great. So, tell me, are you an outliner or pantser? Panster all the way! I love to give my characters the lead. As crazy as it might sound, I keep track of my chapters as I write them, so that I can go back and reference days, dates, times, events, etc., so I sort of outline after the fact.

Sometimes our characters have a mind of their own. Any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer’s block?  I started writing later in life, so it was never my intention to make it my day job, which takes the pressure off. That said, I always have 4 or 5 projects in the works. Some have been around for a long time. When I find a project I’m passionate about, and I get stuck, I leave it alone for a while and work on something else for a while. I did that with Finding Hope on several occasions.

What are your hobbies aside from writing?  I don’t have a lot of hobbies. My husband and I are both retired and enjoy taking road trips. He’s a fabulous photographer, so I sometimes join him. I’m nowhere as good as he is, but I come up with the occasional “keeper.” My husband and I hit a number of estate sales nearly every week, so I guess I could count that as a hobby.

Photo credit goes to http://www.estatesalesbyjessica.com/

Where is one place you want to visit that you haven’t been before?  I’m currently finishing the first draft of a story that ends in Scotland. I spent one day in England many years ago, but haven’t seen any more of the British Isles. I’m not a fan of flying, but I think if the opportunity arose, I’d love to visit Scotland and Ireland.

Here’s a fun question! What if you were just given an Island. What would you name it? And who would live there with you?  Interesting question. I wouldn’t never want to live on an island full time, but I would love a place where I could go to get away and write without distraction. I’d also love to share it with my daughter and her fellow dancer so they could be refreshed and get their creative juices flowing. I would name it Inspiration Isle.

I like that name for an island – Inspiration Island. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten? I don’t know. I mean that in all honestly. When I traveled to Holland with my daughter back in 2001 (this is where I penned the beginning of my first novel), we were staying at a retreat center. My daughter danced while I wrote. Anyway, we were fed in a communal dining room. Each morning, my daughter and I would enjoy bread and chocolate spread along with something that looked like a sausage. I can’t remember the taste, but we both loved it. When we asked what it was, nobody would tell us. They said we would never eat it again if they did. To this day, I have no idea what it was. Lol The second weirdest thing would be cow’s tongue. It tasted really good, but when I found out what it was, I quit eating. Guess our friends from Holland were right.

Photo credit goes to http://modernfarmer.com/2014/09/inner-life-cows/

 

I’m not sure if I could eat cow’s tongue, they are one of my favorite animals. If you could bring one of your characters to life, who would it be?  Noah Cooper from Finding Hope. I’m not just saying that because he’s my most recent character. I love all my characters, but Noah is the kind of guy every girl would want to fall in love with. He’s sweet, considerate, loves his mother, and is a hard worker. He has a strong sense of family, despite a troubled past. He tends to speaks without thinking—which gets him into trouble—but would give anything for those he loves.

He sounds wonderful. I hope to meet someone that reminds me of him, oh wait, I have. My husband. LOL!   Do you have any advice for other writers?  As trite as it might sound, I’d tell them to never give up. I’d also suggest they join some sort of critique group—whether online or in their community. It’s important not only to get feedback, but to help them grow tough skin. Criticism is hard, but constructive criticism is a must.

Can you share an excerpt of your book with us? I’d be happy to.

The bell over the door jangled, as did Noah’s heart. He needn’t have worried. Other than some fine lines at the corners of her green eyes, and a few added pounds, Amanda was still as beautiful as the last time he’d seen her. He stood and greeted her, brushing her cheek with a quick kiss. “You haven’t changed.”

Amanda flushed and took a step back. Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Thank you for seeing me on such short notice.”

“Are you kidding? I’m so excited about the news; I would have come to you.”

Her eyes widened. “No. That’s exactly what I didn’t want. I had to arrange a weekend with a friend in Missoula just to pull this off.”

Pull this off? Amanda’s enthusiasm clearly didn’t match his. He pointed to the booth he’d occupied. “Let’s sit.” He waited until she was seated before sliding in on the opposite side. “Want something to eat or drink?”

“I could use a cup of coffee.” Noah gestured to Julie, holding up two fingers.

She nodded her understanding and brought a carafe and two mugs. “Can I get either of you anything else?”

Amanda shook her head.

“We’re good, thanks.” Noah poured the coffee and pushed a cup her way. “What’s going on Amanda? You didn’t have to come in person to give me the contact information.”

Amanda kept her hands wrapped around her mug and her gaze focused on the table. “For the last fifteen years, there hasn’t been a day go by that I haven’t wondered what would have happened had I kept our baby.” She looked up, her eyes glassy. “I was so young and scared. After the birth and adoption, I did as my parents suggested and tried to forget.”

Pain squeezed his heart. “Kind of hard to forget when you get yearly updates.”

Amanda had the decency to blush. “Are you angry I never told you?”

He shrugged. “Anger won’t change the past. All I care about now is that we get to be part of our daughter’s future.”

“You do, Noah. Not me.” Tears slipped down her cheeks. “Don’t you think I would have done it years ago if I could?”

The pain in her voice matched the hurt in her eyes. He handed her a napkin. “I don’t understand.”

Amanda dabbed at her tears. “I never told my husband.”

Noah sat back. Pulling off this meeting made a little more sense now.

 

You can follow Lucie Ulrich on Social Media:

Facebook   Twitter   Amazon   Website

And you can purchase Finding Hope on Amazon and Barnes & Noble

 

Lucie Ulrich is an award-winning author of inspirational fiction. Her books are filled with stories of faith, family and forgiveness. She was honored to receive a RONE Award for her second novel, “The Rose Ring.” 

A former performing arts director, Lucie now enjoys going on photo shoots with her husband, and taking long (or short) road trips. She continues to find inspiration as she and her husband explore the four corners of the United States.

Review: Into The Light by

Laney Pearson was shot at point blank range…

With the help of his friend and colleague, Dr. Nathan George, Josh Stone managed to save her, giving them both a new start and a second chance at love. But when Laney’s parents try to take their recovering daughter back to Missouri, Josh fears he’ll lose her…possibly forever.

A mysterious stalker and Laney’s family aren’t the only ones who want Josh and Laney apart…

Jillian Stone has struggled with her own demons, always leaning on her brother Josh for support. When she sees him doting on Laney, spending days on end by her hospital bed, Jillian grows increasingly jealous. She pictures a life where Laney is gone and she and Josh can be closer…​much closer.

A familiar shadow still threatens the light…

They thought Laney’s stalker was completely erased from their lives, arrested when he tried to kill her. But they find it wasn’t Laney’s ex-boyfriend who tormented her for weeks on end, even if he was the one who pulled the trigger. They are now on the lookout for the ​real stalker, who becomes braver with each passing day, always in shadows, never creeping into the light…

They fear he might be back to finish what he started…​sending Laney to an early grave.

Into The Light is a romantic suspense novel published on February 28, 2017 by Limitless Publishing. This is the second book in the Dark Series so you will want to make sure to read the first book before this one. That’s why I was a bit confused in the beginning. Into The Light starts off right after the first book, with the same set of characters and suspense. The author does a great job with the characters and medical terminology, as she should being a rouge nurse herself. Even if you aren’t a surgeon or medical employee, you can still follow what’s going on in the book. I loved the flow and suspense and will definitely go back and read the first book to get the whole story. I gave this book four stars for keeping my attention throughout the whole read.

Purchase Into The Light: Amazon and Barnes & Noble

JG Sumner is a Registered Nurse who went rogue.  As good as she was at starting IV’s, she enjoys writing the down the stories in her head even more.  Most of the time the characters won’t stop pestering her until she has them down on paper.

JG can often be found with a glass of red wine or prosecco in front of her computer.  When she’s not creating, she enjoys the outdoors hiking, bike riding, snowboarding, and camping.

JG has a very dry sense of humor, and should never be taken too seriously.  She loves to hear from her fans, and even those who aren’t and would love to hear your opinion on her books.

JG writes romantic suspense/thrillers including: A Shot in the Dark, Into the Light, The Surrender Trilogy including Surrender, Shattered, and Saved which will be available through Limitless Publishing soon.

Follow your next favorite author on

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jgsumner and Twitter: @jg_sumner

Excerpt:

Dr. Josh Stone stood helpless as Laney, seemingly in slow motion, fell to the floor. The thud of her body hitting the tiles shot goose bumps through his flesh. For a brief moment, he was paralyzed. His girlfriend, also a trauma nurse, had been shot by the patient they had been taking care of. The sight of the man sitting up and grabbing Officer Miller’s gun from his holster replayed in Josh’s brain. The man pointed it at Laney and shot her several times before anyone was able to subdue him. Now, Josh stood helplessly as she lay motionless on the floor. How could this happen in his trauma room? Why couldn’t he protect Laney? His knees seemed to buckle as he sank to Laney’s side, stethoscope dangling from his neck.

Laney’s curly blonde hair covered much of her face, but it was clear she was unconscious. Josh gently shook her, hoping for the slightest response. There was none. She had been shot in the chest.

Someone shrieked. One of the ER nurses, Dinah, looked shocked, both hands covering her mouth. She pointed to the floor. A puddle of blood oozed from under Laney. His nose wrinkled from the metallic aroma.

Josh fought the anger raging inside him. He wanted to make the son-of-a-bitch who shot Laney pay for hurting her.

For now, he had to let the cops handle it. Josh took a deep breath and struggled to regain his composure, but failed miserably.

“My God! Laney! How could this happen?” His face was hot. He swiped at it with his blood-soaked hands and realized he was crying.

“Dr. Stone! Dr. Stone!”

Josh looked up. Dinah’s lips were moving, but her words weren’t computing. A couple of techs and nurses eased Laney from his arms. Not only did he feel the emptiness, but it also plagued his heart and his soul.

Josh helped lift Laney onto a gurney. Dinah placed her hand on his shoulder. “You need to help her. She needs you now more than ever.”

Dinah put her cold hands on Josh’s flushed face. “Dr. Stone, I know you’re in shock, but you need to focus. You’re the only one who can save her.”

Josh turned his head, causing the frigid hands to fall from his face. He rubbed his swollen eyes and surveyed the room. The devastation was beyond words. Officer Miller had the man who shot Laney subdued in handcuffs. He lay on the table with his disheveled hair covering his face. Someone must have sedated him because he wasn’t moving. Equipment had been knocked over and supplies thrown everywhere. Josh’s heart rate sped up as he cast his eyes down at the pool of blood surrounding his feet.

“Where is she?”

“They’ve taken her to the OR to get her prepped. You need to get down there right now. Dr. Nessler is coming in to finish up with this guy.”

Josh darted out of the room with an urgency he never felt before. With each step he took, his pace quickened until he was in a full sprint to the OR.

When Josh arrived, the anesthesiologist already had Laney intubated and sedated and was inserting a central line. The nurses had just finished putting in peripheral IVs.

“Hang two units of O positive PRBC’s. Tell the blood bank to have more on standby. She will need them.”

“Are you sure you want O positive and not O negative?” questioned Sandra, the OR nurse.

“Yes! Laney is O positive!” Josh barked.

He rushed to Laney. He took a step back seeing her naked body lying lifeless on the table. Blood still seeped from the bullet wounds. He took a deep breath, steadied himself, and promptly got to work.

“Has anyone called the cardiothoracic surgeon?”

“Yes, he’s been called,” Sandra stated.

“Who’s on call today?” Josh mentally crossed his fingers it was his friend Nathan.

“It’s Dr. George. He should be here any minute.”

Josh sighed. “Thank God. Have chest x-rays been performed?”

“Yes, we also did a CT of her abdomen. There were two bullets that landed there. One hit the large intestine. The other looks as though it may have grazed the liver. There doesn’t appear to be any bleeding, so it may not have been hit. A bullet also went through the right lower lobe of her lung. The worst of the injuries is her heart. She took a direct hit to her left ventricle. She’s losing a lot of blood. I have everything set up when you’re ready to go, Dr. Stone.”

“Let’s get her chest cracked. We can’t waste a moment. Dr. George will start to work as soon as he gets here.”

One of the techs handed Josh a scalpel. He made an incision straight down the center of Laney’s chest to her abdomen. They would need the entire area to work. Once the incision was made, the tech handed Josh the saw. He carefully cut down the middle of the sternum. The sound of metal against bone was raw like Josh’s emotions. It was surreal to know it was Laney.

Josh pulled apart Laney’s sternum and held it open with a sternal retractor.

“Oh, Jesus.”

“Dr. Stone, what is it?” the nurse asked.

“The bullet went through her ventricle.” Oh my God, she’s not going to make it. Josh stared at Laney’s heart losing blood at an alarming rate. If something wasn’t done fast, she would bleed out.

Incomplete by Kadee Carder

We humans have to be stronger than we ever imagine, love ourselves in the process, and dig in when the ground seems to sink. We not only relish adventures, we create them. That’s the basis of Saylor’s story in my young adult science fiction trilogy, Insurrection. Volume Two of the trilogy, entitled Incomplete, is now available on iTunes, Amazon Kindle, and Barnes & Noble Nook!

Book Blurb:

Saylor started out on one adventure and ended up on another. After finding herself on a Caribbean island filled with strange noises, dazzling beaches, and a secret military base, Saylor must clutch the missing pieces of her fate. While harnessing her ability to communicate with deadly weapons of mass destruction, attending the annual gala, and fighting her growing feelings for the hunky Australian soldier, Saylor’s instincts become increasingly distressed. Tempted by greed and independence, she must determine what she stands for and on whose side she belongs. Power within in her. War without.

They wanted a warrior. They got one.

Excerpt:

Silent, smooth, and undefined, he slipped beside me, the two of us watching the horizon and the navy sky, dotted with starlight and swaying under the breeze. In the same way that chocolate nestles down slowly and sweetly on the taste buds, or like a crisp spring morning drifts dew over the dawn, he slid his right arm around me, pulling me close. Satin brushed against cotton and hope dashed against the rough breakwater of changing tides.

“Against my own rules, the other day I allowed in the thought about what losing you would feel like,” Tucker said. “Those monsters hovering over you were a greater risk than the Commander’s orders. Holding you in my arms after you fell, motionless,” he shook his head. “That was the flip of the switch.”

Several clouds meandered overhead, blocking out starlight and passing by, finally clearing out again, and I could once again accept oxygen into my lungs. Letting a smile tease my lips, a rosy glow burned across my cheeks.

“I’m terribly challenged in the area of accepting someone loving me,” I admitted. “I have buckets of love. But they’ve been boxed up, packed away, and I don’t know how to carry them.”

He turned to me, his eyes glinting in the light, probably imagining my struggle with big gray metal sand castle buckets.

“Well, that’s convenient,” he answered, somehow moving closer, arms circling, tightening around my waist, until we faced each other. “I have pretty strong arms. I’d be pleased to help you carry them.”

Somewhere, innocent lips blew the wispy seeds from a dandelion bud, somewhere passionate lips sputtered rhetoric and jargon, and somewhere else, lips dripped with lies and temptation. But his smoldered.

****

Deep in the heart of Texas, Kadee Carder resides with her husband and daughters. Carder earned a BA in Public Relations at Howard Payne University and an MFA in Creative Writing from National University. She teaches English courses on the university level and plans her schedule around coffee availability. When she’s not dancing around the living room with her daughters, she helps at church activities, creates encouraging blogs, and orders pizza like a boss.

Connect on social media!

Website: kadeecarder.com

Twitter: @kadeecarderink

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And please feel free to subscribe for encouraging blogs! Kadeecarder.com

I’m giving away a free, empowering e-book to those who subscribe to my email list at kadeecarder.com. The book is called Ignite and offers a serving of inspiration, a dash of hope, and a cup of grace.

Purchase Incomplete for only $4.99:

Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Incomplete-Insurrection-Book-Kadee-Carder-ebook/dp/B01MSABMCK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485896027&sr=8-1&keywords=incomplete+kadee+carder

Nook/Barnes&Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/incomplete-kadee-carder/1125528337?ean=2940157351953

iTunes:

https://itun.es/us/5rqpfb.l

Reviews:

“I loved this story. The characters are so witty, well developed and real. The growth Saylor goes through is touching and had me rooting for her every step of the way. The technology introduced is intriguing and frightening. Like what would happen if your favorite pastime started fighting back and you were thrown into the deadliest game of baseball you could ever imagine? In the midst of the awesome kick butt-ness are the girl giggles of a first crush that will have you swooning and wanting more.

An amazing first novel in a series that I can already tell will become one of my favorite series.

If you are looking for a unique science fiction book you need to pick this book up! You will be memorized by the story, the wonder of the strange island, the romance developing, and the unwavering friendship.”
~ Amy

***

“I loved this book. As a mom, I’m always looking for good adventure stories for my 15-year old daughter to read, and Insurrection takes the cake. The daring heroine is unafraid of adventure but also not ashamed of romance. (I have to say, though, that it was refreshing to have the focus be more on the adventure and less on the romance!)
The only negative about this book is that only the first one is available! I can’t wait for the second and third books.”
~ Laura

***

Visit http://www.kadeecarder.com/incomplete.html for book trailer, radio interviews, gift certificates, freebie codes, and more!

Operation Prom Date by Cindi Madsen

OPERATION PROM DATE (TACTICS IN DATING #1) BY CINDI MADSEN

Kissing practice has never been more fun.

Publication Date: March 13, 2017    Publisher: Entangled Teen Crush

Kate ships tons of fictional couples, but IRL her OTP is her and Mick, the hot quarterback she’s crushed on since, like, forever. With only one semester left of senior year, it’s now or never if she wants to land him in time for prom. Since she’s flirtationally challenged, she enlists Cooper Callihan, the guy who turned popular seemingly overnight but who used to be a good friend.

Cooper lives and breathes rowing, but his partner just broke his wrist. When he remembers Kate’s good with a set of oars, he strikes a deal: help him train, and he’ll make sure her crush notices her. Only he didn’t know how addicting spending time with her would be. Or how the more successful the Operation is, the more jealousy he experiences.

The mission has been set. The troops have their marching orders. But what if the target is the wrong guy all along?

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains stargazing, accidental swimming, and poker swindling. This kissing practice will melt your ereader…and give you a new couple to ship.   

Review:

This book was surprisingly funny and romantic! Kate sets out to snag the popular Mick guy by prom, but along the way ends up falling for someone else. The story trope is used quite a bit but every time I read a book like this I love it. And this book did not disappoint. The author has a way with words and sarcasm, something I only dream of having.

There’s a plethora of bickering, laughing, and romance to keep you busy. The characters were well thought out and complex. They all had decent backgrounds that you miss out of knowing in books. I liked that she gave every character a purpose. I even liked Kate’s mom in this story, she was just as funny as all the other characters.

I can’t say how much I loved this book without gushing too much so I will leave it like this: I will definitely read more from this author! Can’t wait to see what else she writes.

Link to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33224662-operation-prom-date

Purchase Links:  Google Play | BAM | Chapters | Indies | Amazon | B&N| Kobo | TBD | iBooks

Link to Tour Schedule:  http://www.chapter-by-chapter.com/tour-schedule-operation-prom-date-by-cindi-madsen-presented-by-entangled-teen-crush/    

 

Cindi Madsen is a USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance and young adult novels. She sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she’d be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they’re sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads • Pinterest

Read below for some fun, snarky excerpts!

“That’s Klaus,” Kate said. “Don’t worry, he’s got a much better temperament than his namesake.”

“Oh? And who is he named after?”

“An original vampire. From the show The Originals? Technically he was on The Vampire Diaries first, but they did a spin off, and anyway…” She scooped up the creature as she sat on her bed. “Klaus kills for fun—the vampire. This Klaus is too lazy to do much of anything.”

I sat next to her on the bed, still taking in her collection of figurines.

“That’s my Funko Pop collection. I paired them up the way they should be on the shows.” She gestured at one in a green hood and the blonde figure next to him with the glasses. I realized it was from Arrow.

    “I ship Olicity the hardest.”

“‘Ship’ them?”

“I want them in a relationship. Like I’d put them in a ship together so they’d be forced to see they’re perfect for each other, bribe the writers to get them together, ship them. Partnership, friendship, please-God-put-them-in-a-relationship-already ship them.”

“Oh-kay.”

“It’s a common phrase. Oliver and Felicity are totally my OTP, which means one true pairing, if you haven’t somehow heard of that, either. I also ship Alexa and Clarke on The 100 a crazy amount, and I was pretty mad at the writers for a while, but something happened and…well, I won’t spoil it, but I might’ve teared up. Then of course there’s Stydia and Captain Swan”—she pointed at a blond figure wearing a red jacket and a goateed dude with a hook for a hand—“I used to be all about Damon and Elena, but there toward the end, I shipped her and a coffin. Which sounds mean, I know, but vampires don’t technically die, so a bit nicer?”

“I’m still judging you too much for saying ‘ship them the hardest’ to judge you for the vampire stuff.”

She smacked my arm and I laughed. Honestly, I was also trying to keep up with all the words she’d spouted, trying to make sense of them. We’d spent the past few afternoons on the boat, and the more time I spent with her, the more amused I was by her, even though I only understood about half of what she said.

Klaus crawled higher on her lap and she rubbed his chin. I never knew a lizard could smile, but damned if the thing didn’t grin. Kate caught my eye. “Just call me Khaleesi, mother of dragons. Or dragon, as it were. Please tell me you at least get that reference.”

“Game of Thrones. I’ve only read the first book, though. Okay, half of the first book, but I meant to pick it back up. But then I sort of just watched the show instead.”

She glanced around like someone might be listening and then leaned in. “Don’t tell anyone, but I’ve never read the books.”

I leaned a few inches closer, until I could see the different shades of green in her eyes. “Your secret is safe with me.”

“You’re starting to have a lot of my secrets, so I certainly hope so.”

    Unexpected warmth swirled through my chest. I’d never thought I would want to be a secret keeper, but there was something about having Kate’s trust that made me proud to be one.

Excerpt 2!

The boat bumped the shore before I realized how close we were. I stood, planning on jumping onto the dirt and grass embankment so I could help pull the boat to shore. I nearly fell in the water but managed to land on a muddy spot instead, my shoes making a sloppy squishing sound.

When I grabbed the boat and tugged, it was heavier than I expected. My foot slipped, unable to get any traction in the slimy sludge, and I fell backward, all my momentum now working against me. As squishy as the mud was between my fingers, it sure was hard on the butt.

Cooper’s laughter came out sputtered at first, like he’d made an attempt to stop it, but then he laughed full out, the boat rocking as he folded over. I flicked mud at him, but it barely hit his legs, which was hardly satisfying.

Once he semi-recovered from his laughing fit, he took a large step and jumped onto the dry part of the shore. Show off. He tugged the boat up next to him, then extended a hand to me.

“I like how you took care of the boat first,” I grumbled as he grabbed my clean hand.

“Well, it doesn’t have feet. It’s hardly fair to expect it to climb onto the shore.” His implication was clear—he expected me to have that ability. He yanked me up, and I nearly bumped into him. My hands automatically went to his waist.

He gripped my upper arms. “Whoa. You steady?”

Suddenly, I didn’t feel steady at all. My stomach did a sommersault, and my skin tingled underneath his large, warm hands.

I must just be lightheaded from standing up so fast—that was it. I shook off the momentary dizziness, and glanced down. My muddy hand left a big smear of brown across his T-shirt and the top of his jeans. “Oh shoot, I got your clothes messy.”

He shrugged and his voice came out low. “I don’t mind getting dirty.”

My gaze shot to his. Apparently I was the one with muddy hands and dirty thoughts, but then dawning crossed his features.

“You thought I was giving you some line, didn’t you?”

I shook my head. “No. Of course not.”

“Mmm-hm. Guess you’re not quite as serious as I thought.” He tipped his head toward his truck. “C’mon. Let’s get you home before the rest of your thoughts drift into the gutter and you offend my delicate sensibilities.”

I opened my mouth to tell him he was the one who put them there, but luckily I stopped myself just in time. No way that wouldn’t come out sounding inappropriate, and then he’d get the wrong idea and think I was crushing on him or something and run in the other direction.

That’d leave me with two social disasters on my hands, because I’d never pull off my goal to land Mick without Cooper by my side.

Dating the It Guy by Krysten Lindsay Hager

Clean Reads has published another great book by Krysten!

Emme is a sophomore in high school who starts dating, Brendon Agretti, the popular senior who happens to be a senator’s son and well-known for his good looks. Emme feels out of her comfort zone in Brendon’s world and it doesn’t help that his picture perfect ex, Lauren seems determined to get back into his life along with every other girl who wants to be the future Mrs. Agretti. Emme is already conflicted due to the fact her last boyfriend cheated on her and her whole world is off kilter with her family issues. Life suddenly seems easier keeping Brendon away and relying on her crystals and horoscopes to guide her. Emme soon starts to realize she needs to focus less on the stars and more on her senses. Can Emme get over her insecurities and make her relationship work? Life sure is complicated when you’re dating the it guy.

Pick up your copy today! Amazon Barnes & Noble iTunes Kobo Smashwords

About the author:

Besides mining her teen years and humiliating moments for her novels, Krysten is a also a book addict who has never met a bookstore she didn’t like. She’s worked as a journalist and writes young adult, middle grade, new adult, and adult fiction as well as humor essays. She is originally from Michigan and has lived in Portugal, South Dakota, and currently resides in southwestern Ohio where you can find her reading and writing when she’s not catching up on her favorite shows (she’s addicted to American Dad to the point where she quotes episodes on a daily basis and also loves Girl Meets World). She’s also a third generation Detroit Lions fan.

Krysten writes about friendship, self-esteem, fitting in, frenemies, crushes, fame, first loves, and values. She is the author of True Colors, Best Friends…Forever?, Next Door to a Star,  Landry in Like, and Competing with the Star (The Star Series: Book 2). Her debut novel, True Colors, won the Readers Favorite award for best preteen book. Krysten’s work has been featured in USA Today, The Flint Journal, the Grand Haven Tribune, the Beavercreek Current, the Bellbrook Times and on Living Dayton.

Follow Krysten here:  Website Instagram Facebook Pinterest Twitter Youtube

Check out the book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HdfnUqZPKU

Praise for Dating the It Guy:

“A sweet, endearing story—you’ll fall in love with Emme just like I did!” —Kimber Leigh Wheaton, YA/NA author

“Hager’s authentic characters will resonate with readers of all ages as they are immersed in the story  – complete with teen drama and angst, but also the relationships which make it all worthwhile.” —  Leslie L. McKee, book reviewer, Edits and Reviews by Leslie

What people are saying about Krysten’s work:

From Teenage Book Recommendations in the UK: “This is a fantastically relatable and real book which I feel captures all of the insecurities and troubles which haunt the modern teenage girl. It is about a young model who has to go through tough times when she is torn between a life as a model and managing her friendships. You learn which friends she can most trust and which will create the drama typical of teenage life. Follow the life of Landry and try to see if you can find out which are her true friends before their true colours are revealed. This book is all about relationships, hopes and truth. I loved this book!”

From Books & Authors Spot: “This book is such an inspiration for those who just care about their looks and are tensed about them. This thing is looks aren’t everything. This book is related to every teen’s problem. Hager has written a very inspiring novel.”

“Krysten captures the teenage girl today. The struggles are real, the issues are something children have been dealing with since before I was a teen, and oddly-Krysten captures the readers! I was prepared for another “Mean Girls” story. This is NOT that. This is the real story of teenage girls! You watch Landry flower into a young woman who finds out trust is an invaluable item to find, and friendships are hard to seek genuine realism in. You will learn about relationships with not just friends, but peers, boys, and others. The details put into the book will draw you, and make the story so much more realistic. Krysten expresses emotions beautifully through her writing, and the story flows flawlessly…” By Candice J. Conway Simpson

“True Colors, is just a dazzling story of how middle school kids show their true colors of jealousy, drama, loss and gains of friendship. However, the way Krysten wrote her story; she wrote it with passion, creativity and honesty that this story line could be placed in anyone’s life at any age.” Review by Double Decker Books

“Krysten Lindsay Hager understands what it means to be a teen today, and she writes with an authentic voice. Landry, the main character, is funny, lively, and very real. Readers will relate to her struggles with friends and family, self-esteem and self-discovery, boys and school and life in general. It’s fun to read about Landry’s blossoming modeling career and the changes it brings.” Review by Author Diana Jenkins

Blonde student worried about exams

Read below for an excerpt:

He put the magazine between us, and when I moved forward to see it, he put his arm across the back of my chair. Now lots of guys did put their arms on chair backs, even Kirk did that with Rory, and he definitely wasn’t interested in her, but I couldn’t help but hope it meant something. I got this shivery feeling, and he asked if I was cold. I shook my head. I always got a feeling before something major was about to happen, and it has nothing to do with being cold, but I didn’t know why I got the feeling. Grandma used to do the same thing and always said, “Somebody just walked across my grave.” Somehow I didn’t think Brendon would understand if I told him I needed to move my future burial plot to a less high-traffic area.

“Are we still on for the art fair?” he asked.

I had only been circling it with hearts on my calendar since he asked.

“Sure, I think I’m still free,” I said.

We finished up our work, and he walked me out to meet Kylie.

“Okay, I’ll pick you up at three tomorrow,” he said, walking off.

“Can I ask a stupid question?” Kylie asked as soon as Brendon was out of earshot. “What’s he like? Because he’s so well-known, and I can’t imagine what it’d be like to grow up with your whole life under a microscope. I mean, my mom remembers his first birthday party pictures being shown on the news. And he’s hot, but he’s not like I-know-I’m-a-hottie hot, but more like a confident, ‘Yes, I am hot. Any questions?’ I mean, he has to have noticed there aren’t any guys who look like him walking around.”

“I should tell him what you said.”

“Don’t you dare,” Kylie said.

“I get what you mean—he’s grown up with everybody knowing his dad and watching him, but he’s pretty down to earth.”

“So what’s up with you two? You guys didn’t do any work last Saturday, and now you’re going to an art fair.”

“I dunno. He just asked me to go with him.”

“Asked you to go with him as his study buddy or asked you to go with him because he’s desperately in love with you?” she asked.

I said we were just friends, but she wouldn’t let it go.

“Okay, duh, obviously I like him, but let’s be honest. He’s out of my league. He’s out of most people’s league. It’s weird because normally if I like a guy then one of two things happens—either he likes me and asks for my number…or I find out he’s not into me and I cry in my pillow and listen to man-hating music for at least three days,” I said. “But this time’s different because he’s, I dunno, not just ‘some guy.’ I mean, I’m not putting up a shrine to him in my room, and I haven’t rooted though his garbage can, but I have as much chance of going out with him as Kirk does of getting an ‘A’ in this class.”

“You listen to man-hating music?” she asked, and I narrowed my eyes at her. “Whatever. Anyway, Em, he’s asked you out once already, and you are seeing him tomorrow. Plus, he’s always staring at you.”

I said he was probably just bored in class today, but she wouldn’t let it go.

“I’m not just talking about today. When we watched the movie on Monday, he watched you instead, and whenever I see you guys, he acts like there’s no one else in the room,” she said.

I couldn’t hold back the big, stupid smile spreading across my face. “He does? For real?”

She nodded. “You know, it’s weird. Here you were all upset you didn’t have a partner at the beginning of the semester, and then you ended up with like, Mr. Perfection, as your partner.”

5 Star Book Review- Damaged Goods

Have you heard of The Genesis Girl? Well, you should have. It’s the first book in the Blank Slate series and it’s amazing. I had the chance to read the sequel, given to me by the author herself, and I was pleasantly surprised how much I loved it.

Here’s a recap of The Genesis Girl:

Eighteen-year-old Blanca has lived a sheltered life. Her entire childhood has been spent at Tabula Rasa School where she’s been protected from the Internet. Blanca has never been online and doesn’t even know how to text. Her lack of a virtual footprint has made her extremely valuable and upon graduation Blanca, and those like her, are sold to the highest bidders. Blanca is purchased by Cal McNeal, who uses her to achieve personal gain. But the McNeal’s are soon horrified by just how obedient and non-defiant Blanca is. All those mind-numbing years locked away from society have made her mind almost impenetrable. By the time Blanca is ready to think for herself, she is trapped. Her only chance of escape is to go online.

I gave this book a five star review and knew after I finished it, that I had to read the second book!

Now that I have finished Damaged Goods, I can easily say it was another FIVE STAR review. I couldn’t put the book down! The author does a great job with continuing the story in a way that catches the reader. She also brings subtle details from the previous book into the second one so the reader doesn’t forget. She leaves out certain information that might be revealed later in the series. I really like the rocky relationship between Blanca and Seth. It seems so real. The whole book Blanca struggles with the option of being adopted by Cal McNeal and Seth’s denial about the whole thing only shows how much he loves her. I’m so excited to read the third book, if there is one, which I want there to be!

Here’s the blurb for Damaged Goods and where you can find the book!

Blanca has everything she ever wanted, a hot boyfriend named Seth and the loving support of her foster father, Cal. She’s finally escaped the abusive control of her birth father, Barbelo Nemo, and her tortured childhood at Tabula Rasa School.

But the scars of Blanca’s Vestal upbringing run deep, especially when the FBI start asking questions. Blanca feels abandoned by Seth who is hunting for Lilith, Blanca’s only blood relative. The Defectos, a support group of Vestal-Rejects, offer Blanca comfort instead.

While the Vestal order crumbles, Chinese rivals called the Guardians rise to power and wrest control of important Tabula Rasa contacts. Now Blanca’s life is in peril once more, and this time, Blanca struggles to recognize friend from foe.

You can purchase the ebook or paperback on Amazon or Barns & Noble!

Jennifer Bardsley is the author of GENESIS GIRL and a newspaper columnist for The Everett Daily Herald. She lives in Edmonds, Washington with her husband and two children. You can find Jennifer online at http://JenniferBardsley.net, or http://TeachingMyBabytoRead.com. Follow Jennifer on Twitter @JennBardsley or on Facebook as TheYAGal.

Free eBook Giveaway!!

In celebration of Valentine’s day, I am hosting a Rafflecopter giveaway of my book, Bleeding Hearts. I know you all have heard so much about my book, but this is your chance to get your free copy!

Here are some fun facts:

• There are two holidays and a birthday represented in the book, New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day and Cami’s birthday.

• Red roses, a flower famous on Valentine’s Day is a symbol of death in the book, not love.

• The book is set in Richmond, VA.

 

Author Interview: Sara R. Turnquist

Hey ya’ll! I have a special guest with me today and she’s talking about her book and fun facts about herself. Check it out!

Hope In Cripple Creek

Amidst devastation and loss, can one woman find love?

Tragedy strikes Katherine Matthews and the small town of Cripple Creek, Colorado. An epidemic teams her with an old enemy, Wyatt Sullivan, the town’s doctor. In the midst of desperation and death, Katherine has decisions to make. But she has no idea to what extent they will affect her daily life and livelihood. The town is turned upside-down when the gold miners go on strike. The owners bring in outside reinforcements, ready to break the resolve of the Western Federation of Miners. Everything in an upheaval, Katherine faces a crisis of faith and hard choices. Will life ever be normal again?

What inspired you to write this book?

I have always loved this time period from shows like Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. I wanted to set it somewhere in Colorado. My husband who has lived in Colorado suggested Cripple Creek as it was a small-ish town there. When I began researching Cripple Creek, I found this story of this rather famous mine strike that took place there around this time. So, I decided to set my story during that strike and incorporate it in the story. So, part of the story is based on the true history of the strike (featuring the main character’s brother) and it’s woven in and around the love story.

How long have you been writing?

I’ve always kind of written short stories and fan fiction (surprisingly, not Dr. Quinn, but Star Trek 🙂 ) But I was in college (many moons ago) when I started the manuscript which would become my second published novel, The General’s Wife.

Are you an outliner or pantser?

I am a born pantser. But, the longer I am writing and learning, the more I am becoming a PLANTSER (plannter/pantser). I do some planning (mostly with characters) up front, and then let the story take me away. That part will never change.

Any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer’s block?

Inspiration is not always going to be there, sometimes you have to find the muse. Your determination is up to you. I would suggest that you use google to search for “writing prompts” or just start journaling. Sometimes you have to “prime the pump” as they say. And it’s true. If you will start writing anything, even if you don’t feel it, you will be surprised how quickly your mind will get flowing again. Many writers will edit the previous days’ scene(s) to prime the pump before getting started on their day’s work.

What are your hobbies aside from writing?

I love to read, paint, scrapbook, sing, play the piano, but between my three little kiddos, the house, groceries, laundry, cooking, and whatnot, I rarely have time for anything other than writing.

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

Egypt…I’d love to see the pyramids for myself.

You were just given an Island. What would you name it? And who would live there with you?

A name…oh, I don’t know…”Peace” sounds good. My family and friends. But the kids would have their own section of the island with a barrier to the water.

Weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten.

I am NOT an adventurous eater, but I did try alligator once. Tasted like chicken. No joke. Like really chewy chicken.

If you could bring one of your characters to life, who would it be?

My mind ran through my heroines first, then the heros…best not think about that (my husband isn’t reading this is he?)…I like all of my heroines, but I really like the handmaiden of my heroine in The General’s Wife, Alonah. She was such a fun character to write. And she is enough like me that we would get along, but different enough that we wouldn’t butt heads. I think we’d be great friends.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Have determination. Just as I said before, no one will caretake your writing journey for you. You have to do it. And sometimes that means writing when you don’t feel like it. Sometimes that means stretching yourself in the area of marketing when you don’t want to.

Can you share an excerpt of your book with us?

Absolutely!!  EXCERPT:

“Katie!” Someone shook her, rubbing her face. “Katie!”

Her eyes opened. There was no tunnel, no Ellie Mae. Katherine was in the hotel room in Denver with Wyatt. He leaned over her, hands on her arms, shaking her awake. Ellie was dead and had been for many years. Katherine lay covered in a layer of sweat as tears flowed down her face.

“Katie, are you all right?” Wyatt asked, his voice now gentle as he pushed her hair out of her face. He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her into his embrace. “That must have been some nightmare. But you’re safe.”

Katherine did feel safe in his arms, but the memory of what happened to Ellie was fresh in her mind, in her heart, and she couldn’t let herself remain in Wyatt Sullivan’s embrace. She pushed at him to create some distance between them.

She smacked at her face, wiping the tears away. “I’m fine,” she lied.

His eyes darkened. Who cared if he didn’t believe her?

But she would have none of his comforting. The wound was fresh. He had left Ellie Mae behind.

Sara is originally from Middle Tennessee where she currently resides with her family. She is a prolific reader and enjoys reading and writing clean Historical Romance. Her travels have also served to inspire her writing. Sara is the author of The Lady Bornekova, The General’s Wife, and Off to War. She is also a member of ACFW.

• Website/URL: http://saraturnquist.com/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarat1701/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorsararturnquist/
• Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/saravturnquist/

If you are as excited as I am about this book, you can purchase it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, or Kobo!

Check out the book trailer for Hope In Cripple Creek here!

The Great Siege

A reckoning is coming…

Exiled and hunted, Aurora, the last of the Vlnndruill bloodline, leads a rebellion far from the peaceful forests of Edenhart she once called home. With the Apocrypha imminent and surrounded by enemies, the dark forces gathering in the north will stop at nothing to see her dead.

Aurora is the only one powerful enough to bring an end to this war, the only one with the strength to face the Sorcerer of the North. But will her allies and magic be enough? If she cannot find the will to accept her fate, even if that means she must die, all that she’s fought for—all those who’ve pledged to her their loyalty…

…will be destroyed.

Please find The Great Siege on Goodreads.

Author J.N. Tomczak has published another book in the Kingdom of the Faeries series by Clean Reads.  She grew up on a small farm in central Arkansas and now lives in Tucson, Arizona with her husband. When not writing, Julianne loves playing video games, listening to music, hiking, and collecting books and Star Wars stuff.

You can follow her on:

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14918148.J_N_Tomczak

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JNTomczak

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/J.N.Tomczak/

Street Team: https://www.facebook.com/groups/953086374762831/

Website: http://jntomczak.weebly.com/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/juliannetomczak/

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