Read an excerpt from Shadowspeak by Raven Eckman

Exploring Finding Jackson - thoughts by author Anne Holster

Welcome to the book tour for Finding Jackson, a new adult romance by Anne Holster. Today she talks to us a bit about setting up the story that actually covers a span of 40 years. Enjoy what she has to share as well as an excerpt from the book. Please leave her more questions and comments along the way as you follow the tour. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

************

Exploring Finding Jackson 

‘Finding Jackson’ starts out in present-day but then time-hops back several decades where one of my main character’s (Jackson) parents meet. Most of the book takes place in northern New Jersey, but there are a lot of scenes in Brooklyn, New York and also a few in Los Angeles, California. The New Jersey scenes were a lot of fun for me being that I’m a born-and-bred Jersey girl! There are a lot of Jersey landmarks in the story which, if you’re from the area, you’ll definitely recognize.

Jumping back in time to the decade of the ‘big-hair’ days was also a lot of fun especially since I, myself, was a child of the 80’s and lived through the rock ‘n roll hair bands as well as the litany of crazy eighties gear – spandex, leg warmers, neon and of course the ‘mullet.’ It was a great era to grow up in and I think I convey that nicely in ‘Finding Jackson’.

Since I’m a self-diagnosed hopeless romantic, I’ve always been intrigued by all things that need to align before that ‘meant-to-be-couple’ can come together. In ‘Finding Jackson’ that couple seems pretty obvious – at first. Things slowly start to change, though, and as each of the characters came to life in my mind, I wanted to know what they would discover about each other and themselves and if it would be enough to create that magical, forever love. It was definitely exciting for me to explore and I hope it will be for you as well.

Finding Jackson

It's 1977 - Star Wars is breaking records at the box office, Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run tour is taking the country by storm, and born-and-bred Jersey girl Annalise Keller has fallen in love for the first and last time. Hot and charismatic with dreams of making it as a rock star, Keith "Ace" Foxx is everything a teenage girl dreams of. He falls as hard for Anna as she does for him and the two decide to run off to California in search of his big break. Fate has other plans though, and several years and three kids later, Ace has traded in his guitar for a job at the local post office and Anna has become a symbol of all he has given up. Ace spends most nights at the local bar, trying to drink away his anger and resentment.

Flash forward a decade, and their youngest child, Jackson, is headed nowhere fast. In a life filled with meaningless jobs and too much partying, music is his only true escape from the pain of a childhood that abruptly ended one rainy night. The accident had destroyed his family and left him with a slew of unanswered questions.

Everything changes the night Jackson meets Leah. Shy and reserved, she doesn't smoke and barely drinks; she certainly doesn't put out. Not exactly the girl from the Bon Jovi videos he watched as a kid. Yet, before he knows it, she has become his world.

Then, just when it looks like his dreams might come true, betrayal and loss once again threaten everything he holds dear. As Jackson struggles to keep his world from spinning out of control, he knows one thing for sure, the choices he makes now will either be the start of a whole new life, or it just might be the end of him.

Read an excerpt:

You hear people talk about this feeling, that once-in-a-lifetime, struck-by-a-thunderbolt feeling; you know, like when two cartoon characters are staring at each other and their eyes look like two big hearts bugging out of their heads. You hear about it but never really believe it could happen in real life. That is until it happens to you and then it completely consumes you, leaving you exhausted and worn out from falling for someone so hard so fast. It’s a high that you never, ever want to come down from. I think they call it love at first sight and, well, that’s exactly how I felt when I saw him. I can’t even explain why I was so taken with him – he definitely wasn’t what you’d call “classically handsome” - I just knew I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

Buy on Amazon

(affiliate link) 

About Anne Holster

Anne Holster resides in Northern New Jersey with her husband and two children. When she's not writing she enjoys spending time with her family, playing tennis and reading angsty romance novels. She is currently working on her fourth book.

https://www.facebook.com/Anne-Holster-885353721587102

One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Follow the tour for more chances to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ExtraNormal by Suzanne V. Reese

Welcome to the book blast tour for Extranormal by Suzanne V. Reese! This YA/NA novel is for fans of sci-fi and romantic suspense. Check out an excerpt and then follow the tour for more. Be sure to share your thoughts with the author along the way. And of course, remember to enter the great giveaway!

ExtraNormal

When 17-year old Mira Johns travels from the Planet Nreim to Earth, she wastes no time blowing through a long list of rules, including the requirement that she stay away from the planet’s teenage males. But when it appears that her actions have put her new friends in danger, Mira must figure out who is behind a series of violent attacks before the agency figures out her secret relationship and sends her back home.

They told me it would be easy—just blend in, observe, and keep to myself. They didn't tell me that failure would cost me everything.

Mira Johns is pretty much like any other teenage girl. Which is why it's a shock when she's selected ahead of six hundred other candidates to be the first student ever to travel from the planet Nreim to Earth. Even though she’s only there to observe, she’s given what feels like a million rules that are mostly intended to keep her away from the planet’s primitive males. But after she finds one mysterious boy too irresistible for stupid rules, she realizes they have a connection that transcends their two planets—and puts both their lives in danger. When a series of serious accidents makes it clear that someone wants to force her return, Mira decides her only hope is to uncover the truth to why she, the most mediocre of candidates, was actually chosen for this assignment—before the agency discovers her secret and sends her back home.

Read an excerpt:

The room circled around us, lights falling across our intertwined bodies. bodies. The rich musical notes surrounded us in full crescendo. The world and all the forces pulling against us fell away in that bright, singular moment.

I imagined him in his bedroom, tormented and desperate, composing and playing each of those harmonic parts separately, then blending them together. Even on my world, I would consider him brilliant. I never imagined my love for him could grow this much.

Jesse released me when the haunting strains of the music died away. I caught my breath—and wanted to ask him to start it again. But he would have to walk away to do that. Another—far lesser—song began. We moved again with our feet side-by-side, wrapped in each other’s arms, our bodies close. I’d often wondered why he was so different from other boys—so pure in his love for me. But with that kiss, I understood that he did long to be close to me. Not in the empty and greedy way of other boys from this world, but simply to express his love.

Available on Amazon

(affiliate link)

Note: Because this is the author's ten-year cancerversary, she will be donating author proceeds during launch week to cancer research. (The Huntsman Cancer Research program, where 100% of donations go towards research. They are also the center that treated her.)

About Suzanne V. Reese

A decade ago, author Suzanne V. Reese had a string of land-mark events—published her first novel, outlined her second novel (while daydreaming in a university science class), graduated from that university, became a grandmother, and then topped it all with a late-stage breast cancer diagnosis.

That second novel, ExtraNormal, YA speculative fiction, became her therapy during a long and difficult treatment program. It was published a few years later with the encouragement of her incredibly supportive friends and family. Despite little marketing, the book quickly became an Amazon best-seller.

Suzanne then made the difficult decision to ensure her long-term existence by focusing on her health rather than continue with the series. Happily, to celebrate her ten-year survival and end-of-treatment mark, she is releasing an updated version of the best-selling novel ExtraNormal, this time to be soon followed by the remaining books in the ExtraNormal Chronicles.

Suzanne has a degree in communications from Utah State University, as well as certifications in nutrition and holistic health. She is the founder of Story Igniters, which offers courses that help readers find their real-life superpowers. She lives with her husband in Draper, Utah, where she enjoys doting on her seven grandchildren.

Connect:

SuzanneVReese.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2726852.Suzanne_V_Reese

Twitter: @suzannevreese

Instagram: https://instagram.com/suzannevreese

Facebook: https://facebook.com/suzannevreese

Suzanne V. Reese will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal! Feather and Bone (Frey Saga #6) by Melissa Wright #FeathBoneCR

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Welcome to the Cover Reveal for

Feather and Bone (Frey Saga #6)

By Melissa Wright

The newest addition to this New Adult/Young Adult Fantasy series is coming July 21, 2020...

Goodreads│iBooks

Other Books in the Series

About the Author

Melissa is the author of the Frey Saga, Descendants Series, and KING OF ASH AND BONE. She is currently working on the next book, but when not writing can be spotted collecting the things she loves at Goodreads and Pinterest. Contact her through the web at www.melissa-wright.com or follow her blog at authormelissawright.blogspot.com.

For info on contests and new releases, sign up for the newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/zbisj.

Website│Blog│Goodreads│BookBub│Twitter│Pinterest│Instagram

Cover Reveal Giveaway

One winner will receive the Frey Saga eBook Set of books one through three and a $20 Amazon eGift Card (winner may also choose to receive a print book of Frey in place of the ebook set if in the US).

Open internationally

Ends September 1, 2019

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read an excerpt from Queen of Iron and Blood by Melissa Wright with Giveaway

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Welcome to the blog tour for Queen of Iron and Blood by Melissa Wright. Today I have an excerpt for you to enjoy before you download your own copy. Please enjoy and then remember to enter the giveaway for a great prize pack at the end!

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 extra cost to you.

Queen of Iron and Blood (Shattered Realms #2) By Melissa Wright YA, NA Urban Fantasy, SciFi ebook, 148 Pages August 20th 2018

The storm was only the beginning…

Mackenzie Scott is trapped in another realm, but that’s the least of her problems. Magic runs through her veins, and even now she can feel herself changing. She’s managed to help her brother, but in exchange, she’s turning into one of them. Worse, Mackenzie’s not just a monster. She’s their queen.

Hunter had one job: open the gateway between worlds to keep his realm alive. He hadn’t counted on betrayal. He hadn’t counted on being saved by a human girl. And he’d never guessed he couldn’t trust his own king. Now he’s trapped in a world to which he can never truly belong.

Separated by realms, Mackenzie and Hunter must save the other’s world. But the divide isn’t the only thing working against them. Beasts and men fight a dangerous battle that pits Hunter and Mackenzie against those they’re trying to protect.

And the clock is ticking.

Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo│iBooks

Read an excerpt:

Weeks after the original invasion, after the Breach and all that followed, Hannah had been in one of the trucks sent to ground zero. She had known the other soldiers for only a matter of days, but they were not easy days. She and a seventeen-year-old redhead named Riley had become close. She’d relied on him, she realized later, in a way she’d never meant to. And when Riley had told her what happened, when it had turned out he needed her, Hannah could not keep herself from promising she would help. She didn’t think she regretted it, but it was hard to be sure. 

She’d followed Riley across the storm-beaten land, home after home destroyed to the point they were no more than lumber strewn over pads of concrete, and into the one house that had weathered the Breach. It stood, albeit marked by the event and missing half a roof over the upstairs bedrooms, and they’d walked in to search for Riley’s sister Mackenzie. They’d found her. With a creature. 

Hunter, she’d called him, as if he were merely a man. And he did look more like a man than a beast—he’d no wings or horns like the others who had attacked. He’d been dressed in jeans and tee shirt, not capes and furs and war paint. But Hannah had seen the marks glowing through his skin. She’d felt the energy radiating from him. 

Hannah had shot him.

Other Books in the Series
King of Ash and Bone (Shattered Realms #1) By Melissa Wright YA, NA Urban Fantasy, SciFi Paperback & ebook, 216 Pages February 2nd 2015
When flying monsters break through the veil into her world, Mackenzie Scott has nothing left to lose. Her brother has been taken, her future has vanished, and all that remains is a desperate need for revenge. After discovering the breach the creatures used as a gateway, Mackenzie devises a plan to stop them, whatever the cost.

When she finds an injured stranger in the street, he just might be the key she needs to succeed. What Mackenzie doesn't know is that this stranger isn't the helpless boy he appears to be. He's one of the monsters. And he's got plans of his own.

Thrown into a dying city in another realm, Mackenzie is powerless to get back. With the gateway closing, time is not on her side. But the stranger is, and if they can escape execution, this girl and her monster might be able to save both their worlds.

Grab an ebook of the first book in the series for FREE!
Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo│iBooks

About the Author

Melissa Wright is the author of the Frey Saga, Descendants Series, and Shattered Realms Series. She is currently working on the next book, but when not writing can be found collecting the things she loves at Goodreads and Pinterest. Contact her through the web at www.melissa-wright.com.

Website│Blog│Goodreads│Twitter│Pinterest│Instagram│BookBub

Tour Schedule

August 20th:

Launch

It's All About the Romance
SilverWoodSketches
An Indie Adventure
Mythical Books
August 21st:
Declarations of a Fangirl
My Life, Loves and Passion
Letters from Annie (Douglass) Lima
August 22nd:
Andi's Young Adult Books
Wishful Endings
Angel's Guilty Pleasures
August 23rd:
Reading On The Edge
Getting Your Read On
Colorimetry
August 24th:
Stacking My Book Shelves!
Nicole's Book Musings
August 25th:
Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway

1 winner will receive an awesome prize pack with "survival" gear: print copies of The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey, Angelfall by Susan Ee, and King of Ash and Bone by Melissa Wright, plus Be Your Own Hero bracelet, lip balm, compass, playing cards, emergency blanket, and other fun stuff 
US only
Ends August 29th

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Secret Lives of Royals by Shalini Dua with Giveaway

Welcome to the book blast for The Secret Lives of Royals by Shalini Dua! Thanks to the recent royal birth and royal wedding, stories of royal families are a hot topic. This one is going to be a little bit different, though, which can be a very good thing. Check out an excerpt before you download your own copy. Leave a comment or a question for the author. And then be sure to follow the tour for more sneak peeks into the book, as well as more 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 to help me support my websites, at no additional cost to you.

Secret Lives of Royals

Olivia can’t take it anymore. She’s had enough of the big city and it’s lack of fulfilling her dreams. Then, just when she’s about to give up and move home, out of the blue, she is offered her dream job. Olivia is suspicious but that could just be the New York in her. She decides not to pull at threads. Despite her best efforts to remain blissfully oblivious, the secret to her life upgrade is soon uncovered when she finds herself invited to be part of a secret society.

Olivia learns that there is a thin curtain separating our world from theirs. Just beneath the surface, an entirely different one exists. One that is controlled by those of Royal lineage. The chosen ones, the Royals, hold the fate of the world in their hands. Will Olivia be able to bear the weight of the crown?

Confessions of a Shopaholic meets The Adjustment Bureau, this contemporary fairytale is both relatable and aspirational. Taking a look at the current balance of media and power with a healthy dose of humor, fashion, food and wanderlust.

Read an excerpt:

I’m getting a very weird feeling. I consider turning around and leaving, but getting a cab on a cold rainy night before 2AM is going to be tough as they don’t begin frequenting the area until the bars start to close, and the nearest Uber appears to be 25 minutes away. Plus, I did go to all of this trouble to get my lazy self dressed and over here.

There is a crest engraved in brass metal on the front of the red door, an intricately designed crown and some lettering. I tilt my head to read it all the way around. ‘Alea iacta est memores acti prudentes uturi modus operandi’ I read aloud, and below, ‘Posteriori’. I recognize the language as Latin from the three weeks we spent on it during Intro to Languages, which was designed to help us choose one to focus on during our tenure at the university.

…

Against my better judgment, I push on the heavy door, which creaks open. I enter into a cold stone-walled hall with a stone slab floor, lit by what appears to be a row of fire lanterns on each side. I guess this place is a bit behind the times in converting, or maybe they think it’s super ironic and hipster to not jump on the modernization bandwagon. Or maybe it’s me. I’m not exactly the authority on architectural trends. Maybe converted vintage is over and re-vintaged vintage is back in. Ugh, I can’t wait until I’m old and have an excuse not to be hip.

I walk down a windy stone hallway that seems straight out of a period film. Wow, they are really taking this theme seriously. How cool would it be if this stuff was authentic? I take a few pictures with my phone just in case. I mean as Cultures Editor, it’s always nice to be the one to discover the next big thing, like Connor said.

As I round the corner I hear, before I see, a British male mumbling to himself, apparently in debate.

“It’s so bizarre. But it couldn’t be. Could it? Stranger things have happened.”

I find myself face to face with a short-ish man, though taller than me, with glasses, wearing a sports coat with suede elbow patches. I scream in surprise and jump about five feet in the air. He seems slightly taken aback as well but less jumpy than me, or at least less vocal about it. He’s good looking in an intellectual sort of way and his dark floppy hair is conservatively combed back. I’m not sure if he’s startled by our unexpected encounter or my scream, but he does a bit of a double back.

“Sorry,” he recovers charmingly, “I didn’t see you there.”

“No, me either.” I try to breathe. I feel like I know him from somewhere.”

“Stuart Stephens.” He proffers his hand in greeting.

“Olivia Grace Thorpland.” I shake his in return. “But you can call me Gigi.”

“Hello, Gigi. Nice to meet you.” He is impeccably mannered even after our near death collision. Must be the British thing.

“So are you here for the party too?” I inquire. “Do you know where it is?”

“Party?” he asks, confused. “No, I just had a meeting here.”

“Ah, I see,” I say, although I don’t, given the hour. I definitely know him from somewhere. Got it, he’s a comedian.

“Well, care to join me anyway?” I offer politely. After all, he’s British, I’m being a good ambassador. He appears a bit bewildered.

“No, thanks. I best be going.”

“Are you sure? My friends are in there.”

“Really? Your friends are in there?” He seems surprised to see where I’m gesturing.

“Yup,” I tell him confidently.

“Oh, well, thanks for the invite, but I’m completely sure. Thanks anyway,” comes his nervous reply. “But, can I ask you a question?” I nod. “Is this all, um, kosher?”

“I, I, don’t know.” I hesitate. Is he Jewish and British? Is that a thing?

“Well, I’ll let you get on “he says. “Have a good night.”

“You too. Bye,” I reply. And with that, we walk off in opposite directions.

Finally, I reach a semi-circled entryway that has the option of five doors, one straight ahead and two on either side. These are not your ordinary doors either. They are heavy, arched, rustic, dark brown, slated wooden doors. I’m not really in the mood to crash a wedding reception, murder, or worse, a live band performance; and, given that anything could be behind these doorways, I’m about to give up on this expedition completely, when one of the doors, the entryway smack dab in the center, starts to creak open, apparently of its own accord. A feeling of unexpected dread overtakes me. I brace myself, unsure of what to expect to find behind it.”

Buy links

Amazon / iBooks

 

About Shalini Dua

An international upbringing and a love of stories laid the foundation for wanderlust. Shalini aspires to spend her time country-hopping and consuming pop-culture, comedy and good food but the reality is often frantically downing coffee, meeting deadlines at exactly the last second and working her unglamorous corporate job to fund all of the other pursuits.

The Secret Lives of Royals is Shalini’s debut novel. Her other work includes published poetry and scripts only she has read.


SOCIAL MEDIA AND WEBSITE LINKS

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShaliniDuaBooks/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShaliniDua126

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ididntmeantofeelanything/

Website: www.shalinidua.com/books

Shalini will be awarding a $50 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Everything Under the Sun by Jessica Redmerski

Preorder the Heavy Influence Complete Series set by Ann Marie Frohoff

I was compensated for this post via Fiverr. I only share those books that I feel my readers will enjoy. Compensation does not affect any opinions given within this post. Also, there are some affiliate links present within this post. If you click on these, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you to support my websites.

Heavy Influence

The complete, highly-rated, six book Heavy Influence Series. Where love makes and breaks the music. Heavy Influence takes you on a heart thumping journey through the trials and tribulations of a rising rockstar who reaches unimaginable fame, yet the only thing his heart desires is having the love of his life by his side. From angsty teenagers and forbidden love to lusty twenty-somethings, Jake & Alyssa will endure more than love and loss. Their happily-ever-after will bring more than bargained for.

Buy links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / iBooks / Kobo

Watch the video for FIRST KISS

Watch the video for JUST JAKE

Follow Ann Marie Frohoff on social media

www.facebook.com/authoramfrohoff
www.twitter.com/frohoffwrites
www.instagram.com/frohoffwrites

Poetic Freedom by Frank Preston with Giveaway

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on them, I may earn a small commission to support my sites.

Poetry / African American / YA / NA

Date Published: (Planned) October, 30th, 2017

Publisher: Phenomenal One Press

Poetic Freedom.

A raw, gritty, urban poetic expression with an exploration of choices we have to make at the crossroads of life. The thoughts are honest, harsh, but hopeful. A perception of the media that feeds us, the spirituality that we cling to, the expectations of the society we are a part of, and how a young man fights to decipher, decide and climb the path not easily traveled, but most strengthened.

Purchase Links

Smashwords * Amazon * Nook * Kobo

~Excerpt from Poem THE TEST by Frank Preston

Pain and frustration the fuel for admiration
Admiring the world’s temptations till they become motivation
When the sensation of success is worn as a vest
They say he's blessed but that depends on the quest

About the Author

Frank 'ThatGuy' Preston, is an artist with a powerful voice. His journey as a comedian, author and motivator didn't come easily and has lead him to have give back to the community by coaching kids, co-creating new sports, and sharing his growth through comedic videos, in person performances, his art and writing. He challenges the minds of his readers to see life through a different scope. As a speaker he explains the difficulties of life as a minority in a world that doesn’t accept him, and how anyone who is mistreated for their differences can overcome them to grow to be great. Frank positions himself as many other artist, writers, and speakers of today, but stands apart in his ability to speak the truth with no bounds.

Contact Links

Website

Facebook Author Page

Twitter

Instagram

Giveaway

Poetic Freedom Themed Prize Pack

(T-shirt * other swag – signed book)

Enter Here

Conduit by CC Dowling Release Day Celebration

FREE today 5/1! The Blood: Secrets and Lies by Brandylan James

The Blood: Secrets and Lies

What would you do for love?

Would you lie for it?

Would you die for it?

Would you kill for it?

Would you endure centuries of darkness for just one last chance to change everything, even if you knew it was probably hopeless?

Love is never easy.But in the end, it is all that is worth fighting for ... 

When the first day of senior year finally rolled around in sleepy Croft's Landing, NC, Jules Walker was definitely psyched. Not only was she going to hook up with her best bud and fellow Blud band member, Dylan Croft after the long summer vacation, but more importantly, according to the grapevine, Dylan and Landing High’s resident queen bitch, Amanda Zane were officially over. For some reason, that made Jules’ heart beat just a tad faster. However, before she even had a chance to process, much less address her newly emerging feelings for Dylan, he was already head-over-heels . . . for someone else, and not just anyone else ... for Jules' best friend, and that would be his undoing; in fact, it could prove deadly.

Enter tall, svelte new girl, Madison Janey who barreled into English Lit class in the middle of a discussion on Pride and Prejudice, balancing a schedule in one hand and an attitude in the other. That's when Jules intuitively knew three things for sure: Madison was destined to be her best friend, Dylan was going to fall in love with her, and that, in turn, was going to put them all on a catastrophic collision course.

It didn't take long. From the moment the iconoclastic "Maddie" moved into the Landing’s Inn, aka home-sweet-home to Jules and her single mom, Starr, there were far more questions than answers. Despite Madison’s somewhat fanciful accounts about her family, despite her mysterious disappearances in the late night hours, Jules was content to cut her friend some slack because that’s what best friends did. Amanda Zane, on the other hand, felt no such compunction. To her, Madison Janey said one thing: "competition," and she was bound and determined to expose her as a fake and a liar. That, too, didn't take long, but even when confronted with Amanda’s “proof,” Jules refused to admit what should have been painfully obvious: Madison was hiding something. The pills she found in her friend’s room should have been enough to raise a red flag; not to mention the dried blood stains on her clothes and the way her eyes changed and looked, well . . . not human. Then the mysterious texts started, suggesting that Dylan was in danger. The thing was, Jules really loved Madison . . . as much as she loved Dylan. Even though it hurt like hell to have to watch the two people she cared for the most falling in love, Jules couldn't allow herself to believe anything bad about Madison. It wasn't until she found her friend packing to leave town the night before Blud's big Halloween concert that Jules confronted her, mostly because she knew it would break Dylan’s heart if Madison checked out without so much as a good-bye. Though Madison begged Jules to trust her one last time and tearfully promised to tell her everything – and Dylan as well -- Jules knew in her heart that it was one more lie.

But Croft’s Landing was a town founded on lies and secrets, something both Jules and Dylan would inadvertently discover that same Halloween night: Jules, when she happened upon an old diary in Madison's backpack; Dylan, when his father revealed a horrifying truth about the Crofts.

As the moon turned blood red for the first time in over four hundred years, an ancient curse was about to be unleashed – one that set Madison and Dylan on opposite sides of two powerful families bent on each other’s destruction; one that freed an enigmatic prisoner to exact his revenge on the witch who condemned him for loving her; and one that would ultimately demand one thing: their blood . . . .

Available on Amazon

Read an excerpt:

It’s started again. We’re betrayed. They’ve denounced us as witches and now everyone is calling for our blood. They’ve all gone mad. I don’t know if I’ll survive this night or if I’ll ever see Daniel again … 

*** 

As Cassondra glared into her intruder’s cold, steel blue eyes, a tremor rocked her resolve. 

“Where is he, Jaydon? Where is Daniel …? What have you done?!” 

Jaydon Croft raised the gun, his red lips curling into a deadly smirk. 

“Are you ready to die, witch?” 

*** 

According to the village grapevine, Dylan and Amanda Zane were over. That mattered because: first, Amanda was never good enough for him; and secondly because Dylan was Jules’ best friend, and thirdly because … Jules pressed her eyes shut and made a demi-pirouette in the direction of the doorway. She couldn’t allow herself to finish the thought or even acknowledge that there was any more to it. There wasn’t. It was enough to say that Dylan Croft was special, and the real reason Jules could have for looking forward to senior year was that she would have the opportunity to hang out with him more if he was disengaged from Landing High’s resident queen bitch.

Rave reviews!

• The storyline is creative and the writing is exquisite! I love the intertwined plots. Let's hope for a sequel. "The Blood: Secrets and Lies" is the next Twilight! - Amazon Customer
• Great book. Once I began reading, I could not put it down. From the first words, I was drawn quickly and deeply into the story. - DogDiva

About Brandylan James

Brandylan James (aka Joanna Coons Kosloff) is a multi-published writer /creator of television continuing dramas. She created the Harlequin series: Tyler. The Blood is a Young/New Adult romantic fantasy series dealing with the Clare Curse. She writes under the pen names: Joanna Kosloff, Joanna Coons, Dylan Malloy, Brandylan James, Jamie Dylan, Brandon James. She has also authored several dog books and is a member of the Writer’s Guild of America. You can visit her on Facebook and Linked In. Find her on Goodreads.

I was compensated for sharing this post via Fiverr.

The Blood: Secrets and Lies (Book 1) by Brandylan James

The Blood: Secrets and Lies

What would you do for love?

Would you lie for it?

Would you die for it?

Would you kill for it?

Would you endure centuries of darkness for just one last chance to change everything, even if you knew it was probably hopeless?

Love is never easy.But in the end, it is all that is worth fighting for ... 

When the first day of senior year finally rolled around in sleepy Croft's Landing, NC, Jules Walker was definitely psyched. Not only was she going to hook up with her best bud and fellow Blud band member, Dylan Croft after the long summer vacation, but more importantly, according to the grapevine, Dylan and Landing High’s resident queen bitch, Amanda Zane were officially over. For some reason, that made Jules’ heart beat just a tad faster. However, before she even had a chance to process, much less address her newly emerging feelings for Dylan, he was already head-over-heels . . . for someone else, and not just anyone else ... for Jules' best friend, and that would be his undoing; in fact, it could prove deadly.

Enter tall, svelte new girl, Madison Janey who barreled into English Lit class in the middle of a discussion on Pride and Prejudice, balancing a schedule in one hand and an attitude in the other. That's when Jules intuitively knew three things for sure: Madison was destined to be her best friend, Dylan was going to fall in love with her, and that, in turn, was going to put them all on a catastrophic collision course.

It didn't take long. From the moment the iconoclastic "Maddie" moved into the Landing’s Inn, aka home-sweet-home to Jules and her single mom, Starr, there were far more questions than answers. Despite Madison’s somewhat fanciful accounts about her family, despite her mysterious disappearances in the late night hours, Jules was content to cut her friend some slack because that’s what best friends did. Amanda Zane, on the other hand, felt no such compunction. To her, Madison Janey said one thing: "competition," and she was bound and determined to expose her as a fake and a liar. That, too, didn't take long, but even when confronted with Amanda’s “proof,” Jules refused to admit what should have been painfully obvious: Madison was hiding something. The pills she found in her friend’s room should have been enough to raise a red flag; not to mention the dried blood stains on her clothes and the way her eyes changed and looked, well . . . not human. Then the mysterious texts started, suggesting that Dylan was in danger. The thing was, Jules really loved Madison . . . as much as she loved Dylan. Even though it hurt like hell to have to watch the two people she cared for the most falling in love, Jules couldn't allow herself to believe anything bad about Madison. It wasn't until she found her friend packing to leave town the night before Blud's big Halloween concert that Jules confronted her, mostly because she knew it would break Dylan’s heart if Madison checked out without so much as a good-bye. Though Madison begged Jules to trust her one last time and tearfully promised to tell her everything – and Dylan as well -- Jules knew in her heart that it was one more lie.

But Croft’s Landing was a town founded on lies and secrets, something both Jules and Dylan would inadvertently discover that same Halloween night: Jules, when she happened upon an old diary in Madison's backpack; Dylan, when his father revealed a horrifying truth about the Crofts.

As the moon turned blood red for the first time in over four hundred years, an ancient curse was about to be unleashed – one that set Madison and Dylan on opposite sides of two powerful families bent on each other’s destruction; one that freed an enigmatic prisoner to exact his revenge on the witch who condemned him for loving her; and one that would ultimately demand one thing: their blood . . . .

Available on Amazon

Read an excerpt:

It’s started again. We’re betrayed. They’ve denounced us as witches and now everyone is calling for our blood. They’ve all gone mad. I don’t know if I’ll survive this night or if I’ll ever see Daniel again … 

*** 

As Cassondra glared into her intruder’s cold, steel blue eyes, a tremor rocked her resolve. 

“Where is he, Jaydon? Where is Daniel …? What have you done?!” 

Jaydon Croft raised the gun, his red lips curling into a deadly smirk. 

“Are you ready to die, witch?” 

*** 

According to the village grapevine, Dylan and Amanda Zane were over. That mattered because: first, Amanda was never good enough for him; and secondly because Dylan was Jules’ best friend, and thirdly because … Jules pressed her eyes shut and made a demi-pirouette in the direction of the doorway. She couldn’t allow herself to finish the thought or even acknowledge that there was any more to it. There wasn’t. It was enough to say that Dylan Croft was special, and the real reason Jules could have for looking forward to senior year was that she would have the opportunity to hang out with him more if he was disengaged from Landing High’s resident queen bitch.

About Brandylan James

Brandylan James (aka Joanna Coons Kosloff) is a multi-published writer /creator of television continuing dramas. She created the Harlequin series: Tyler. The Blood is a Young/New Adult romantic fantasy series dealing with the Clare Curse. She writes under the pen names: Joanna Kosloff, Joanna Coons, Dylan Malloy, Brandylan James, Jamie Dylan, Brandon James. She has also authored several dog books and is a member of the Writer’s Guild of America. You can visit her on Facebook and Linked In. Find her on Goodreads.

'Twisted Proposal' by M.V. Miles

Blurb:

Jail is the last place fifteen-year-old Addison Solomon expected to wind up when she ran away. Not that this is a big surprise; her life has been on a downward slide since her drug-addicted aunt died, leaving her alone and penniless.

When her long-lost father appears, whisking her away with him to his mansion and second family in sunny California, Addison soon discovers that her new wealthy relatives are not exactly people she should trust. It seems that "daddy" has special plans for her--all in the name of financial gain.

Thrown into a world of betrayal, corruption, and manipulation, Addison struggles to navigate a path to safety and a home of her own. But with her father’s constant surveillance, it makes leaving quite a task.

Available on Amazon

About the author:

M.V. Miles works and lives in the Mid-west. Enjoys reading, watching movies, and writing. Her books are twisted in all the right ways. So give it a try if you like books that are far from the beaten track.

'Eyes Unveiled' by Crystal Walton

Eyes Unveiled (Unveiled Series, Book 1)

by Crystal Walton 

Release Date: 02/01/15

259 pages

Summary from Goodreads:

Twenty-one-year-old Emma Matthews lost the song in her heart the same night she lost her dad. With an unfulfilled promise and an ultimatum shadowing her junior year of college, maybe it’s better that way. You can’t hurt if you can’t feel.

But when the reflection she sees in musician Riley Preston’s eyes borders dangerously close to the one she’s spent the last five years searching for, Emma discovers her walls can’t guard her heart from its fiercest desire. Terrified of what she’s experiencing, and even more afraid of what she might lose, Emma grapples for the courage to hold on to one dream without abandoning the promise of another.

Contemporary New Adult Romance novel Eyes Unveiled lets you relive those heartfelt moments when you don’t know how you’d survive a day without your best friend, when you’re trying to figure out who you are and what you’re supposed to do with your life, and when falling in love changes everything.

Music. Friendship. Self-discovery. Hope. Purpose. Identity. Within this inspirational love story, you'll find you have a song of your own to share.

Read an excerpt:

I sat down before my knees buckled. Sunrays sifted through the clouds. “I haven’t done this in ages.” 

“What, no cloud chasing in between aerobics classes?” Riley asked. 

“Ha. It might be a better workout. You know how many times I ran in and out of my house to get my dad?” A burst of sunlight warmed my face but didn’t reach the ache inside that never really left. “The shapes were always gone by the time I rushed him out to the deck to show him. He said it was because the clouds had made that shape just for me. Like I was something special.” I knotted my fingers through the top of the grass on either side of me. “Sad part is, I believed him.” 

“Some things are easier to see from the outside looking in.” Riley slipped his hand behind his head and studied me instead of the clouds. 

Two dragonflies zipped past us, my pulse chasing after their erratic flight. I balled the hem of my shorts in my fists. If I could harness my nervous energy to my hands, maybe I could short circuit the electricity surging through me. 

Not even close. 

“Do you ever wish you could go back to that time in life when everything was so much less complicated?” he asked. 

His arm brushed mine as he rolled onto his side. His torso cast a wide enough shadow to shield the sun’s glare from my eyes, but I bolted face forward.

“It’s ironic,” he said. “As kids, we couldn’t grow up fast enough. So sure some great thing was waiting for us.” Another note of sadness—or regret, maybe. 

Summoning any molecule of courage I had left, I angled toward him. 

He twisted a small twig between his fingers and tossed it onto the field. “But somewhere along the way, we stopped chasing the future and started wishing we could postpone it.” 

I thought I was the only one who felt that way. It didn’t make sense. He was the last person I’d expect to understand. He’d already discovered what made him somebody. 

The cool earth soaked into my skin through my T-shirt. I grabbed the backs of my legs, towed myself up, and settled my chin on top of my knees. “Guess we always want what we can’t have, wishing we were either in the past or future. It’s kind of sad, actually. Sometimes I wonder if we realize what we’re forfeiting by not living in the present.”
Riley sat up, his attention never leaving me. “Maybe we’ve just been waiting to find the right reason to live in the present.”

A damp breeze—and something far more penetrating—shivered down my arms.

Buy Links:
Amazon

About the Author

Amidst multiple moves up and down the east coast, Crystal received her bachelor of arts from Messiah College in PA, married her exact opposite in upstate NY, and earned her master of arts from Regent University in VA, where she currently resides with her husband. Crystal writes contemporary new adult fiction fueled by venti green teas from Starbucks. 

When not working her accounting day job, she's delving into the wonder of words, supporting her Starbucks habit, or laughing over movie quotes & singing eighties songs with her husband.

Author Links:

   

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz Organized by: