Author Jen Crane's Top 10 Favorite Books

Welcome to the book tour for Sun Scorched by Jen Crane! For today's stop, author Jen Crane is sharing her Top 10 Favorite Books. How do yours stack up? Be sure to let her know in the comments! Also please check out her book and then follow the rest of the tour for even more fun.

Please note that affiliate links are present within this post. Should you make a purchase through one, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Top Ten Favorite Books, in no particular order:

1 - Pride and Prejudice (Austen) 

2 - Anne of Green Gables (Montgomery) 

3 - The Princess Bride (Goldman)

4 - A Game of Thrones (Martin) 

5 - Outlander (Gabaldon)

6 - Darkfever (Moning)

7 - Throne of Glass (Maas)

8 - Wuthering Heights (Brontë)

9 - Prisoner of Azkaban (Rowling)

10 - Educated (Westover)

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Sunscorched
by Jen Crane
Genre: YA Sci-fi/Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic
Release Date: October 23rd 2018

Summary:

Death in daylight. Danger at dark.

Life can’t possibly get more treacherous than a violent sun allergy in a solar-blighted world. At least that’s what seventeen-year-old Nori Chisholm thought before news of an impending sunscorch delivered her death sentence.

Desperate to survive the scorch, she’s forced to shelter underground and discovers a secret subterranean world where life is hard, and so are the people. Betrayed and left for dead by the man who pledged to help her, Nori is sold to a gritty pit fighting ring. There she makes a friend—and plenty of enemies.

Sam Cooper’s motives are at times impenetrable, but speeding through the underground world on the back of his motorcycle is a dark freedom Nori can’t live without. On the run from a group of cutthroat rogues, their escape takes an unexpected twist. A shocking discovery shatters everything they thought they knew. Can they use the knowledge to save what’s left of the world?


Winner of the Rosemary Award for excellence in young adult fiction, Sunscorched is a tale of survival and self-discovery at breakneck speed. Fans of Bella Forrest and Marie Lu, who crave dangerous heroes and dark secrets, will love the Sunscorched world.

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Purchase Links

 Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

About Jen Crane

Though she grew up on a working cattle ranch, it's fantasy and sci-fi that shine Jen Crane's saddle. Her newest novel, Sunscorched, received the 2017 Rosemary Award for excellence in young adult fiction.

Book 2 in Jen's fantasy romance series, Descended of Dragons, was selected by iTunes/iBooks as "Our Pick" in fantasy/sci-fi.

Jen has a master’s degree and solid work histories in government and non-profit administration. But just in the nick of time she pronounced life *too real* for nonfiction. She now creates endearing characters and alternate realms filled with adventure, magic, and love. She lives in The South with her family and too many pets.

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GIVEAWAY

 Signed copy and swag Sunscorched hair bands 

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Read an excerpt from Zosma (The Lost Children of Andromeda) by Jason Michael

Welcome to the book tour for Zosma by Jason Michael Primrose. This is the first book in the Lost Children of Andromeda series. I'm sharing an exclusive excerpt with you today, to check out before you download your own copy from your favorite retailer. You can follow the tour to read reviews, interviews, and more. Plus there's a great giveaway for FIVE paperbacks to enter!

Please note that affiliate links are present within this post. Should you make a purchase through one, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Zosma (The Lost Children of Andromeda)

ZOSMA IS A POWERFUL PRE-APOCALYPTIC SCIENCE FICTION STORY EXPLORING THEMES OF TRUTH, RESILIENCE, AND DIVERSITY

Zosma opens the series on Earth in 2052 A.D. as Allister Adams, a young superhuman, begins his search for the planet’s possible savior: Zosma Caster. Zosma is an intergalactic refugee and the vessel for an otherworldly energy source from the Andromeda Galaxy. The rogue organization C20 has been interested in Zosma’s power, but are its intentions entirely pure? Allister’s search for an alien becomes a search for truth as the walls, literally and figuratively, are closing in.

Zosma is the first in the series The Lost Children of Andromeda. Inspired by his personal journey of self-discovery, Jason Primrose has created a world in which even superhumans are challenged by the effects of greed, fear, and natural disasters. The apocalyptic tale explores the themes of reality vs. perception, human extinction and climate change, diversity of thought, and resilience.

Book links

Preorder / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Mascot Books 

Read an excerpt:

ALLISTER ADAMS

Abandoned C20 HQ, Former Middle East

Foolish and fast, Allister powered toward the storm, his forearms acting as shields, and when he got to its outer rim he dove in, face turned away. Allister veered sideways, losing momentum, and surrendered to gale force. His stride slowed. He sank low to listen and kept both heels up, balancing on his toes, fingertips pressed in the sand.

“We’re under attack, detective!” a robust voice shouted. “Might be one of those goddamn superhumans you warned us about.”

Assuming the soldier’s communication had been routed through Cynque, he watched their formation restructure. Hand gestures commanded action from the cavalry, and they scampered to new posts, preparing their weapons to shoot whatever came through the cloud. Their expressions, hidden beneath helmet visors, failed to shroud their uncertain voices.

“Get ready!” Allister heard a different man scream, holding back none of his frenzy.

They’d gone through rigorous training in preparation for C20’s retaliation, but perhaps they didn’t train for him.

The elemental distraction had backfired, in that now, they’d dispatched to the middle entrance he’d planned to use.

An act that called for more running. Allister pivoted to the side, dodging a plasma blast, fast enough for it to miss, slow enough for him to feel the burn as it passed his ribs. An uppercut to the gut knocked the wind out of the attacking soldier and he doubled over. One down. Another soldier came at him, feet behind the first. Allister threw an elbow at his face. The soldier spun out and landed on his back. Two down. A third soldier swung a right hook. Allister blocked the punch, evaded a blast, crushed the weapon’s barrel, and threw the soldier over his shoulder. Three down. He served violence cold, zipping through to the middle, taking out soldiers as they filed in to halt his infiltration. The last thing he’d wanted was a brawl, yet, after five minutes, he stood surrounded by dozens of unconscious bodies and subsiding winds.

He hopped over the U.S. soldiers, ever cautious of their recovery or the chance he’d missed one in his haste. He clambered up a dune to a somewhat submerged window. Whoomph. His palm hit the concrete wall. Allister’s hand stung from striking it, but he needed the grip to keep from sliding backward. He heel-kicked the window’s edge. It splintered. In the same fashion, he kicked it once more. Fractures wove a web on its surface, and the glass shattered.

A true gentleman, he let the sand enter first then lowered his head to peer in. Empty. Hesitation harnessed around his waist, he hovered at the edge as the hourglass in his mind ran out of sand. He had to keep moving.

His shoes crunched against the sand ridden floor. His breath shortened. His stomach tightened. It sank in. He’d volunteered to revisit the place where he’d lost the pillar of his being, Dolores Edna Adams. Two months prior, April 2052, C20 had captured his mother, Dolores. Allister led the charge to C20’s doorstep to rescue her. A noble effort complicated by the organization’s motives. They wanted him to come. And they wanted him to come alone.

His colleagues, Dr. Florence Belladonna and Lieutenant Leesa Delemar came after him, even when they were ordered not to. The showdown ended with the devastating energy pulse from Leesa, which neutralized the base, Florence’s imprisonment and...

He pressed his hand on the nearest wall. The woozy sensation derailed his progress. If he closed his eyes, he’d see the heart-wrenching moments in high-definition, so he kept them open until they dried from the heat and blinking became reflex. An unexpected reunion with facets of his humanity that had been destroyed there—his purity (if nothing else).

Allister told himself to keep moving. And he did, one foot, then the other, and again. There was less at stake this time around, and still, he found himself performing the same choreography as the last visit. Lukewarm, sheeted metal protested his heavy hand’s need for support as he traversed the musty hallway, heading opposite the dome. The creaks were normal, a result of a foundation built on shifty earth. His vision adjusted to darkness revealing a canopy of wiry, metal nooses and a field of jagged steel scraps, bordered by a forest of dented paneling. Leesa’s telekinetic handiwork.

The wall creaked louder, shouting at him. He swiveled to it and the wall creaked again, not shouting, he’d misjudged. It was warning him to move farther, faster. Its distress brought his attention to the rotting wounds, creases in the metal wall gaining weight and folding over themselves, spreading past him into the dark. The ceiling slid closer to his bun’s curled tips.

Hint taken, he swapped caution for speed. The floor caved and tumbled soon after. As if fueled by their own preservation, each knee lifted double time to carry him out of danger. He dove onto sturdier ground, rolled and thumped a door as the wall and the floor’s final slabs crashed below.

He spent seconds on his bum; skull rested against the door, staring at dust and debris-riddled air. Catching his breath, knowing he could spare seconds at most, he felt a full minute’s burdensome and unwarranted arrival. More seconds passed. He said goodbye to another wasted minute. Time continued to slip from his grasp, it fell and unraveled like yarn, while he, the kitten, pawed at it, hoping to bring it closer, to reclaim it as his own. He needed to keep moving.

Allister rebounded to his feet, faced the door, and was confronted by a name placard affixed to the office’s frosted glass: Captain Jared Brandt, C20’s leader.

“Lying son of a—” He punched at the glass. It didn’t put up a fight and broke down the middle, leaving fragments in its corners.

About the Author
Jason Michael Primrose has been creating alternate worlds and characters since childhood. For nearly ten years, he has used his unique storytelling gift to impact the entertainment, fashion, and tech consumer product industries. His experience spans brand strategy, creative direction, retail merchandising, and influencer/celebrity partnerships.

www.lostchildrenofandromeda.com
https://twitter.com/lostchildrenofA
https://www.instagram.com/lostchildrenofandromeda/
#zosma #lostchildrenofandromeda

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Book Release! Kismet & Karma by Robin Daniels with Giveaway

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Welcome to the Release Blitz for

Kismet & Karma

By Robin Daniels

Learn more about this YA duology, about its characters, and enter the giveaway below...and stay tuned to this blog for my upcoming reviews during the book tour!

Kismet & Karma

(Fate & Fortune #2)
By Robin Daniels

YA Contemporary Romance, Duology
ebook, 184 Pages

October 25th 2018

Bryce and Paige belong together, but they’ll never make it happen alone. When inspiration strikes in multiple ways, a friend decides it can’t be a coincidence; it’s a call to action. With a little luck, the help of fate, and the matchmaking plan of the century, Bryce and Paige just might get their happy ending.

You heard Paige and Bryce's version of the story in Fate & Fortune. Now join Eric, Amy, Cody, Kennedy and Genie to see how things really went down.

***This book completes the series. Book one can be read as a standalone, but book two cannot. Fate & Fortune should be read first.***

Goodreads│Amazon

Please note these are my Amazon affiliate links. Should you make a purchase through it, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

The Cast of Kismet & Karma

Meet the cast of Kismet & Karma – personalities revealed through their astrological signs!

Paige – Taurus (April 24th) Paige proved her reliability, patience and devotion during her relationship with Jason. Like a true Taurus, she hates the sudden changes and complications in her love life. Pair that with her stubborn streak, and it’s no wonder she needs help to recognize what’s right in front of her; a gift in the form of her greatest passion—novel worthy romance. 

Bryce – Virgo (September 15th) As a Virgo he’s loyal, kind and hardworking. He’s always thought his practicality and desire to stay out of the spotlight were good things. But now he wonders if they’ve only kept Paige from noticing him. Bryce has started to realize that if he wants to get the girl, he must cast aside his careful nature. Good thing he has a magic Genie to help him do just that.

Amy – Aquarius (February 11th) She’s original, independent, a good listener and cares deeply about others. This makes her a great best friend and the only voice of reason Paige will listen to. But Amy’s also inherited some of the less attractive Aquarius attributes; namely her tendency to be temperamental and emotionally withdrawn. Lucky for Amy, there’s a special guy who’s crazy about her, flaws and all. 

Eric – Scorpio (November 12th) Eric is a true friend. It’s one of the many positive traits held by Scorpios. He’s passionate, dedicated, resourceful and determined to help his baby sister. Of course, that might be easier if he wasn’t so distrusting and secretive. Let’s not forget the fact that he’s a tinsy bit jealous by nature. But hey, some women find that sort of thing attractive. And if that’s not enough, he’s got those dazzling dimples for backup.

Kennedy – Leo (July 31st) Ken’s a Leo, through and through. She loves theater, hanging with her friends, expensive clothes and being admired. But as the baby of the group, she often feels ignored or left out. It’s her absolute biggest pet peeve. Ken’s admittedly a little self-centered though she’s got a big, warm, generous heart. Fate will soon put her creativity and passion to good use, and she’s all for it.

Cody – Sagittarius (Despite his September 15th birthdate.) Clearly, Cody was born under the wrong sign. Extremely extroverted, he’s the total opposite of his very Virgo twin—definitely an honorary Sagittarius. Cody’s constant antics and humor are charming, which makes the group willing to overlook his impatient and sometimes tactless ways. Optimistic and enthusiastic, he’ll do anything to achieve his goal: getting Bryce to pull his head out of his butt and man up.

Genie – Aries (April 1st) As an April Fools baby, it’s fitting that Genie be the most essential part of such an outrageous plan. But like all Aries, she’s confident and optimistic that she can get the job done. Frustrated by people who don’t use their talents, she jumps at the chance to showcase her own. Sure, Bryce often brings out her aggressive, moody and impatient side, but she likes a good challenge. Plus, who’d have thought she’d gain so many good (and hot) friends?

This cast is super fun and you’re sure to get some good laughs. Fate and Fortune (Book One) shares the crazy week the as told by Paige and Bryce. But if you want the REAL story, check out Kismet and Karma (Book Two) to see how everything actually went down.

Other Books in the Series

Fate & Fortune

(Fate & Fortune #1)
By Robin Daniels

YA Contemporary Romance, Duology
ebook, 279 Pages

September 20th 2018

Bryce has liked Paige since they were little but has never had the guts to act on his feelings. Paige is devastated over being dumped by her long-time boyfriend and can’t seem to move on. They’re stuck in a rut, until fate decides to pull them out.

Both Paige and Bryce are talked into seeing a fortune teller at the annual Summer’s End Carnival. Neither of them buys into the mysticism, until the psychic’s predictions start coming true. Now, the most bizarre things are happening and there isn’t a clear explanation. Each of them must figure out if they’re the subject of an elaborate hoax or a bigger plan forged by destiny.

*This book is part one of two. Books should be read sequentially.

Goodreads│Amazon

Upcoming Tour

The series will be on tour November 5 - 17!

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About the Author

The most important thing to know about me is that I'm basically a sixteen-year-old trapped in an adult's body. It's why I feel such a great connection to all of my characters and why I love to write romantic comedy. The kid in me just wants to be goofy. Besides being a writer; I'm a wife, mother of five, volleyball enthusiast and home decorating guru. My list of favorites includes: reading, Christmas, pedicures, dessert, steak, Arizona winters and most importantly, Diet Coke.

Website│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter│
Instagram│Amazon│Newsletter

Blitz Giveaway

1 winner will receive a $25 Amazon Card

Ends October 29th

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Read an excerpt from Everyone Dies in the Garden of Syn by Michael Siedelman

Read an excerpt from The Exene Chronicles by Camille A Collins with Giveaway

Welcome to the blurb blitz for The Exene Chronicles by Camille A. Collins! Please enjoy an excerpt from this multicultural coming-of-age novel and then leave a comment or question for the author before you download your own copy. Follow the rest of the tour for more excerpts and chances to win the giveaway!

Please note that affiliate links are present within this post. Should you make a purchase through one, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

The Exene Chronicles

Camille A. Collins's lyrical debut novel speaks to the passionate engagement of adolescent girls—with music, with injustice, with love, with life. This is a courageous coming-of-age story, one that poet Nikki Giovanni recommends "sharing with our teenage sons and daughters."

Collins's 1980s southern California set novel is a literary debut that tackles social inequality with poetic riffs and heart-pounding angst.

Read an excerpt:

It was not the paper doll cutout, but Exene’s actual mouth that Lia imagined, twisted into a snarl, blaming her. ‘It’s you, Lia! It’s all your fault what happened to Ryan!’ Because Lia’s mother had woken her to say Ryan never made it home the previous night. Fraught with worry, Mrs. Green had already phoned the police, and Lia’s first thought was that Ryan must be dead.

Right away, Lia found the only way to deal with the worst possible scenario was to confront it head-on, to embrace it as though she were cradling in her arms a soft kitten. Lia’s rendition of the death of her very best friend was not especially morbid, or as gruesomely detailed as it might have been. It was the quixotic rendering of a burgeoning poetess.

At the very least, Ryan deserved the grandeur of theater. So Lia envisioned the most enchanted garden, a neat little knoll of green, green grass nestled beneath an elegant magnolia tree in full bloom. That graceful magnolia would weep its ripe, inflorescent tears down onto a grand mausoleum. Ryan’s body would lie inside, near the hollow mouth of her final abode, a structure built of the finest marble, festooned with chiseled hearts, and inside those hearts would be inscribed eternal valentines proclaiming, “Ryan we love you” and “Forever in our hearts,” all with floating cupids, their arrows shooting heavenward. Ryan’s body would lie cold, her skin luminous, enlivened by the candent glow of four flaming torches, bathing her heart-shaped face in a delicate nimbus of pale yellow light. Her body would be covered by a white linen sheet, and nestled against the slope of her shoulders and the tapering silhouette of her waist and legs would be flowers: orchids and white roses, failing in all their beauty to compare to Ryan’s infinitely ravishing, cold, dead grace. Lia’s short reverie was disturbed by her mother’s persistence—Mrs. Payne stood in the doorway of Lia’s bedroom with a hand on her hip. “Baby, you’ve got to get up. Don’t be scared now. The police just want to talk to you about what you and Ryan did last night.”

Available on Amazon

About Camille A. Collins

Camille A. Collins has an MFA in Creative Writing from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has been the recipient of the Short Fiction Prize from the South Carolina Arts Commission, and her writing has appeared in The African-American National Biography, published by Harvard University and Oxford University Press; in The Twisted Vine, a literary journal of Western New Mexico University, and other places.

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B07HGLR7FN/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4398269.Camille_Collins
Publisher Author Page: http://www.brainmillpress.com/the-exene-chronicles/

Camille will be awarding a lovely pen and notebook to a randomly drawn winner.

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Read an excerpt from The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox