Monday, December 30, 2019

Retaliation by Haley Cavanagh


It's time for a new YA sci-fi dystopian romance! Haley Cavanagh has just released her latest book, Retaliation. You can read an excerpt here today before you download your own copy. Be sure to also follow the rest of the tour and then leave the author comments and questions along the way. Best of luck entering the giveaway plus the bonus giveaway!



Retaliation

Sakota saved Astraeus and her friends from certain death, but in doing so, she gained the attention of the Oreck, who will stop at nothing to destroy everything in their path. With their ship severely damaged, Sakota and her crew land on a nearby planet and seek sanctuary while they make repairs to return home. But nothing on this perfect planet is as it appears, and Sakota soon learns they've traded one danger for another. Hunted and targeted, will Sakota be able to carry out her mission, or will everyone she cares about be destroyed?

Read an excerpt:
“No .”

Sakota bolted up in bed in the middle of the night.

Her dreams of blood and fear were monopolized with pointed teeth, cartilaginous faces, long, double-jointed arms and legs, and cruel, black alien eyes. The Oreck. They haunted her, perpetual alien God-ghosts with their eerie, electromagnetic glow beneath papery, gray skin.

Beside her, Astraeus slept, his arm flopped over the groove in the bed where she’d lain as he held her. He stirred, frowning. Was he having a nightmare too? She reached her hand out and searched with her emotions, as she’d learned to do.

He tossed, fitful, in the clutches of a nightmare to do with Upsilon’s destruction. She couldn’t remember what her nightmare had been about, but it had ended violently. Peace, she sent silently. Tranquility . Calm . Rest .

Astraeus sighed in his sleep, relaxed, and rolled over. She feathered hair out of his face. His existence had blown her away, and it still did. Astraeus’s genetic code far outstripped her own. He had defense mechanisms in place to protect him from climate extremities that she could never even dream of having. But more so, for the first time in her life, she’d fallen in love. It went against her pragmatic nature, but his comforting presence anchored her amid the wreckage.

She scrubbed her face with her hand in the darkness and swung her legs over the side of the levitating bed, careful of the bed’s height when she stood.

Humans were either a lot shorter than most of the visiting interplanetary delegates, or for some strange reason, they liked their beds high.

Her limbs ached, fatigue from the action of the last several days. She suspected healing from microgravity had something to do with it too, but she’d been through the wringer. The way she walked, the weight of her lips when she spoke, her arm and leg muscles seemed heavier and more visceral, like someone had injected them with a heavy drug. Ridiculous, of course. She was in the best shape of her life.

In the center of the room, she stretched and did some yoga until the tightness lessened. She rotated her neck. In a day or two, the slight dizziness and disoriented inertia would subside. As a physician, she knew the symptoms. She’d be fine. But telling a patient about them versus experiencing them were two different things.

She padded barefoot out onto the balcony, drew a silver cup from the shelves, and dipped it into the fountain. Distant light illuminated the Chuleron buildings along the skyline in the distance. She brought the brim of the cup to her lips and drank. Cool and refreshing, much cleaner than the sterilized water she’d had back on Earth. Tastier too. Earth water had to be purified at least five times before it could be considered healthy enough for consumption. Bacterial pathogens ran rampant in food and the polluted streams and springs back home, so sterilizing was essential. The delightful coolness soothed her throat.

She twisted her hair and pulled it over her right shoulder, taking in the strange, tantalizing city. Did her suspicions about this place come from her subconscious, because of the death and violence she’d experienced? Or was Hisoka right and something seemed off?


Buy Links:
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About Haley Cavanagh

Haley Cavanagh is a military veteran, wife, and mother. She is an alumna of Columbia College, a musical theater nut, and she loves to dive into any book that crosses her path. Haley resides with her family in the United States and enjoys spending time with her husband and children when she’s not writing. She loves to hear from her readers, and encourages you to contact her via her website and social media.







The author is giving away a $10 Amazon/BN gift card during the tour via Rafflecopter.

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Bonus Giveaway from the author!


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Sunday, December 8, 2019

Electric Skies (Twelfth Keeper #5) by Belle Malory #FantasyForChristmas19

On Tour with Prism Book Tours


Electric Skies


(Twelfth Keeper #5)
By Belle Malory
YA SciFi, Fantasy
Paperback & ebook, 256 Pages
March 8th 2019

The strange planet Kennedy has called home for the last year transformed her into something more powerful than she ever imagined.

But it’s not home.

It’s not Earth.

And most importantly, it doesn’t have Phoenix.

Faced with life-altering decisions, Kennedy is forced to abandon everything she built for an uncertain future. The journey won’t be easy, but she’s survived greater odds. If it means reclaiming the life she lost, she’ll do whatever it takes. Even if it means letting go of something she never expected to want.


(Affiliate link included.)


Excerpt

Fire.

It lit the ground, soaring straight toward her. She scrambled to her feet, her heart thudding against her chest. It was coming fast—faster than she could run.

Holy Mother of God.

A thunderous voice boomed from behind. “ASSASSIN WITCH! You dare come into this camp!”

She jumped, using the water in her own body to propel her faster, trying to put some distance between her and that blasted fire. It didn’t work. She couldn’t gain much ground, and whoever was after her was coming way too fast. The scalding heat was at her heels, blazing across her back. Sweat poured from her body. She cried out from the pain. God, it felt like she was melting.

The ground shook, and she tripped. As she fell, time slowed.

Instinctively, Kennedy did the only thing she could do. She stretched her mind, reaching into the stream. Water rushed around her, enveloping her body inside of a cube. Four walls, four sides. Within seconds, she froze each of those sides, creating her own little box of ice. It was airtight—she wouldn’t last long in here without oxygen, but hopefully long enough for the fire to subside.

Hopefully long enough to keep her alive.

The ground continued to shake from the force of the explosion. Those bright orange flames danced around her, frosting the surface of her cube and blocking everything in sight.

Kennedy curled her knees to her chest, focusing on keeping the water frozen. It took every ounce of energy she had to keep the ice from melting, to keep herself protected.

Between the flames, she saw someone coming. The fire died down, and then they were right upon her, a pair of lethal black eyes peering into her icy sanctuary. It was hard to focus. The fumes had made her dizzy. Little by little, the rest of the face came into view.

Phoenix?

She blinked several times, trying to still her wildly beating heart. A blur of hard angles, unkempt blonde hair, and muscles. The body was slightly different, a little bigger. But she would know that face anywhere.

It was him.

She must be dreaming. Had she died in that explosion back there? She blinked once. Twice. Then pinched herself for good measure.

Still here.

He stood on the other side of the ice, looking downright murderous as he glared at her. Holy bejeesus—he was the one trying to kill her!

“Your time is up, witch!” he said, his voice slightly muted.

Kennedy scrambled toward him, pressing her palms against the ice. “Phoenix, it’s me!” she said, wiping away the frost so he could see her better. But there was no recognition in his eyes. He didn’t even flinch.

It was too late anyway. Another explosion sent her cube tumbling. She slipped on the melting floor and lost her balance. Her head struck against the wall, and ice shattered around her like shards of glass.

Stars. All she could see were stars, and then nothing.


Other Books in the Series

(Linked to Amazon affiliate links.)

About the Author


I don't consider myself a writer. I'm a storyteller. I live in Orlando, FL with my family. Keep up with me on social media. I love hearing from readers!


Tour Schedule
(Posts go live on the day they're scheduled.)

December 1st: Launch
December 2nd: Rebecca Belliston - Heart of Red, Blood of Blue
December 3rd: Morgan L. Busse - Flight of the Raven
December 4thJes Drew - Tales of Parallel Worlds
December 5th: Ronie Kendig - Brand of Light
December 6th: Alisha Klapheke - Fate of Dragons
December 7th: Jessica Leake - Through the White Wood
December 8th: Belle Malory - Electric Skies
December 9th: Melissa McShane - Burning Bright
December 10th: Jennifer Silverwood - Blackbriar Cove
December 11th: Melissa Wright - Shadow and Stone
December 12th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway


1 winner will receive an Amazon Fire Tablet and a $50 Amazon eGift Card
Open internationally (as long as winner is eligible to receive prizes)
Ends December 16, 2019

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Read an excerpt from Through the White Wood by Jessica Leake #FantasyForChristmas19

On Tour with Prism Book Tours


Through the White Wood


By Jessica Leake
Young Adult Historical Fantasy
Hardcover & ebook, 416 Pages
April 9th 2019 by HarperTeen

The Bear and the Nightingale meets Frostblood in this romantic historical fantasy from the author of Beyond a Darkened Shore.

When Katya loses control of her power to freeze, her villagers banish her to the palace of the terrifying Prince Sasha in Kiev.

Expecting punishment, she is surprised to find instead that Sasha is just like her—with the ability to summon fire. Sasha offers Katya friendship and the chance to embrace her power rather than fear it.

But outside the walls of Kiev, Sasha’s enemies are organizing an army of people bent on taking over the entire world.

Together, Katya’s and Sasha’s powers are a fearsome weapon. But as their enemies draw nearer, will fire and frost be enough to save the world? Or will Katya and Sasha lose everything they hold dear?

Inspired by Russian mythology, this lushly romantic, intensely imaginative, and fiercely dramatic story is about learning to fight for yourself, even when the world is falling down around you.


(Affiliate links included.)

Excerpt

Above me, my golden eagle let out a soft cry, and as I glanced up at her, my spirits lifted ever so slightly. Elation, I’d named her long ago, because she never failed to bring me joy. Now she followed the sleigh from the sky, and I suspected she was my only remaining friend and ally.

After the horror of what had happened in the village, it was almost difficult to be afraid of what awaited me with the prince. Almost, but not quite. Rumors hammered at my thoughts as the sleigh traveled farther and farther into the deep woods that surrounded my home.

People disappearing into his castle, never to return. People with abilities beyond human limits. People like me.

Worse still was the knowledge that I went to him having committed crimes whose punishment was death.

You deserve it, the nasty part of my mind said to me, the one that sounded like the village children I grew up with. It will be a fitting punishment for what you’ve done.

We will not execute you as you deserve, the village elder had said, dressed in his long black shuba—the bearskin coat he was so proud of. Instead, we will hand you over to the prince. He’s always searching for people with your abilities, he’d said with a look of disgust. Let him deal with you as he sees fit.

Standing in the elder’s own izba, the clay oven blazing with a warm fire that could do nothing to pierce my frozen skin, I had paled at the announcement.

But Babushka—I’d stuttered, trying to think of anyone who could save me.

She has agreed to it, Elder Anatoly had interrupted, his voice brooking no argument.

Beside me, Andrei, one of the men who held my ropes, leaned toward me. They say the prince will cut your heart out and eat it. I had looked at him, this man I’d seen walking cheerfully to work in the lumber mill every day of my life, with eyes wide with fear. He’d looked back at me with a terrible sneer instead of a smile. And you will deserve it, Ice Witch.


Other Books by the Author

(Linked to Amazon affiliate links.)


About the Author
Jessica Leake is the author of the adult novels Arcana and The Order of the Eternal Sun, both with Skyhorse. She worked for years as a psychotherapist, but even though she loved her clients, she couldn’t stop writing. She lives in South Carolina with her husband, four young children, lots of chickens, and two dogs who keep everyone in line. Beyond a Darkened Shore was her YA debut and is followed by Through the White Wood. Visit her at www.jessicaleake.com.


Tour Schedule
(Posts go live on the day they're scheduled.)

December 1st: Launch
December 2nd: Rebecca Belliston - Heart of Red, Blood of Blue
December 3rd: Morgan L. Busse - Flight of the Raven
December 4thJes Drew - Tales of Parallel Worlds
December 5th: Ronie Kendig - Brand of Light
December 6th: Alisha Klapheke - Fate of Dragons
December 7th: Jessica Leake - Through the White Wood
December 8th: Belle Malory - Electric Skies
December 9th: Melissa McShane - Burning Bright
December 10th: Jennifer Silverwood - Blackbriar Cove
December 11th: Melissa Wright - Shadow and Stone
December 12th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway


1 winner will receive an Amazon Fire Tablet and a $50 Amazon eGift Card
Open internationally (as long as winner is eligible to receive prizes)
Ends December 16, 2019

Friday, December 6, 2019

Read an excerpt from Fate of Dragons by Alisha Klapheke #FantasyForChristmas19

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Fate of Dragons
(Dragons Rising #1)
By Alisha Klapheke
YA Fantasy, Romance
Paperback & ebook, 292 Pages
March 27th 2019

An Earth Queen desperate to wake her magic.

An elven prince fighting a ruthless betrayal.


A flood is coming. The Sea Queen has a mad plan to drown the world. Only the magic of the Earth Queen can stop her. Vahly, the last human, was born to fill that role and wield the power necessary to battle the rising oceans and save the dragons and elves.

But Vahly is the world’s biggest disappointment. She possesses no magic whatsoever.

When she finds an ancient scroll that mentions a human power ritual conducted deep in the homeland of the elves, she gathers her dragon allies and journeys to see the king of that great forest-dwelling race.

Welcomed by a handsome royal cloaked in dark magic, will Vahly find answers or will a twisted and powerful elven lord destroy her chance at saving the world?



(Affiliate links included.)



Excerpt

There, on the ground, was a shape that was not rock or smoke or golden earthblood.

Or dragon.

Her lips parted in a silent gasp.

Two arms. Two legs. Supple flesh instead of scales.

Crouching by the body, Vahly moved a curtain of obsidian hair away from the creature’s face.

A pointed ear.

Vahly’s tongue didn’t want to work.

It was an elf.

She shook him hard, finally forcing her mouth to make sounds. “Wake up, fool! You’re going to die out here and I’m not about to go down with you. I thought your kynd was known for wisdom. Why in the world are you out here by yourself?”

He could have asked her the same thing.

The elf was nothing like she’d imagined. Yes, he had the glowing elegance of the illustrations she’d seen from the library scrolls. His exposed arms showed powerful muscles and his features were just as chiseled as recorded in dragon history.

But there was an age to him, a feeling of having weathered many storms, a burnished look to his fine, clear skin and proud, beardless chin. His presence weighed on her like a winter cloak, heavy but somehow comforting.

A line between his sharply slanted eyebrows made her think he had experienced great frustration in his lifetime. She hadn’t thought to see that in an elf. This wasn’t the picture she’d cobbled from her research.

He was so much … more.

Other Books in the Series

(Linked to Amazon affiliate links.)

About the Author

Award-winning author Alisha Klapheke wants to infuse your life with unique magic, far-flung fantasy settings, and romance. Her inspiration springs from medieval art and artifacts, the world travel she enjoys with her husband, and the fantasy she grew up reading when she was supposed to be doing her math homework.





Tour Schedule
(Posts go live on the day they're scheduled.)

December 1st: Launch
December 2nd: Rebecca Belliston - Heart of Red, Blood of Blue
December 3rd: Morgan L. Busse - Flight of the Raven
December 4thJes Drew - Tales of Parallel Worlds
December 5th: Ronie Kendig - Brand of Light
December 6th: Alisha Klapheke - Fate of Dragons
December 7th: Jessica Leake - Through the White Wood
December 8th: Belle Malory - Electric Skies
December 9th: Melissa McShane - Burning Bright
December 10th: Jennifer Silverwood - Blackbriar Cove
December 11th: Melissa Wright - Shadow and Stone
December 12th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway


1 winner will receive an Amazon Fire Tablet and a $50 Amazon eGift Card
Open internationally (as long as winner is eligible to receive prizes)
Ends December 16, 2019