Reviewers are raving, calling this book "swoonworthy" and "one of the best books I've read in a long time." Take a peek inside this historical fiction, Journeys: The Archers of Saint Sebastian by Jeanne Roland.
A timeless romance from New York Times bestseller Julie Garwood, a tale for mothers to share with their daughters, and for women to remember what it feels like to fall in love for the very first time.
Summer never meant to lie. She just wanted to keep the most perfect guy she ever met interested in her. She had been surprised when David began hanging out with her every day... and dizzy with happiness when he kissed her. David seemed to like her unconventional Irish family, even her eccentric Grandpa. Everything was going great - until Ann entered the picture. She collected boys like trophies. How could Summer compete with someone like that?
Before she knew it, Summer was boasting to David about her passion for long-distance running. She never dreamed he'd enter them in a six-mile race. Summer dreaded the moment when he would discover the truth: she couldn't run six blocks. And the flirtatious Ann was already working on David. Then Summer's Grandpa came up with a plan that was just crazy enough to save the day....
**My thoughts** This is one of those young adult romances like I remember reading when I was younger. It felt true to life and a situation I could easily see anyone getting into. Sure, Summer is a 15 year-old girl, but I could see myself getting into a similar situation as a woman a couple of decades older.
Summer is a typical teenager. She wants to spend her summer vacation relaxing by the pool, earning some extra cash at the pizza parlor, and making a bunch of new friends. Instead, she is stuck taking care of her little brother. The bonus is that he has a gorgeous swimming instructor who actually takes an interest in her. She wants to impress David, and a little stretching of the truth ends up getting her into some potential trouble. Enter the grandfather who is slowly entering into dementia. He may be a little out of it here and there, but he is still full of sage advice that she takes to heart. Grandparents who care can be very wise and are almost easier to listen to than parents.
You can tell that this is an older story that is being re-released as an ebook. First, the kids refer to dating as "going together," which I don't even remember being said when I was in high school. Also, there is no talk of texting, Facebook, or other modern technology so frequently used by teens today. That is okay. That makes the story timeless. The gist of it holds true no matter what generation you're in.
Thank you to NetGalley for fulfilling my review request. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A page-turning novel in the tradition of stories like Twilight or Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer, or A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest. Bellocaro is a paranormal vampire romance fueled by an unusual mystery, a magical location, and a fight to stay alive.
"TWILIGHT MEETS PRIDE AND PREJUDICE"
Bellocaro will transport anyone who loves a gripping romance to a new world.
Trapped on a mysterious island and fleeing the school jock who thinks she should be his, Skye Moon encounters a strange boy in the woods. After meeting the captivating Thatcher Blue, she is dragged into a nightmare. Skye is targeted by a vampire who wants to kill her just for being near the alluring Thatcher.
With a target on her back, she doesn’t know if she’ll survive. Skye has known fear before, helping her mother battle a life-threatening illness but never has she had to deal with a vampire stalker.
Skye hopes that the dark-eyed boy from her premonitions will keep her safe, if he ever reveals himself.
She is astonished when Thatcher and his family come to the private academy on the mysterious island run by an equally enigmatic headmistress. Thatcher has managed to keep the secrets of his monster family hidden for more than a century, but not from Skye. She rightly suspects the new kids are something other than ‘kids.’
Complicating matters is the way Thatcher looks at her, like she means the world to him because he has visions too. The pair find themselves caught between danger and longing.
Will Thatcher save her?
Or like his visions have predicted －kill her?
Profoundly thrilling, Bellocaro captures the life and death struggle for these teenagers on an island that isn’t as dormant as it appears. Readers Favorite Award-winning, best selling author P.S. Meraux brings humor and heat to this novel that will drive fans of vampire love stories wild with enthusiasm.
Read an excerpt:
Whatever was coming — it was getting closer.
Feeling tense my eyes scoured the dark bushes, trying to discern whatever was in the gloom. Tegwyn’s admonishments rang out in my memory, “Nothing should be able to hurt you here, but don’t push it.” Should? Surely there weren’t wild animals on the island too, right?
There was a flicker of movement, a dark shape barely visible against the blackness of the surrounding forest it traveled through. I narrowed my gaze trying to figure out what it was. The shape slowed. Head dipping to the ground like it was sniffing at something or had caught a scent. A thudding heartbeat later I realized what it smelled was me.
Suddenly the massive bulk of a muzzle shifted through the conifers, jaw dropping to reveal a glistening row of sharp white teeth. The intimidating display of lethal-looking incisors must have been a foot long!
Panting from its run, the creature came to a stop after passing by the last branch of a bald cypress. I used the word creature because it defied common sense. Having quickly caught its breath, the tongue pulled back in the muzzle and the paws began to move.
What I saw was freaking enormous, covered in dark fur. Paws the size of horse’s hooves were steadily coming closer. The monster was unquestionably more lupine than equine.
“Oh my God,” I huffed out a frightened breath, fearing I might hyperventilate. A chill ran down my spine that had nothing to do with the October evening breeze.
Calling it a wolf was an insult to nightmares. While it was shaped like one — it was like a wolf on steroids. The bad kind, that made the user ginormous, stupid, and overly aggressive. I imagined bulging, ugly veins hidden under the thick fur.
The clouds must have drifted past the moon, I didn’t dare take my eyes off the creature to make sure. Moonlight illuminated its fur revealing touches of gray and silver in the mud-splattered hide.
My earlier dark thoughts about stepping off the railing cast aside, now I really did wonder if this was to be my last night on Sceadu.
To the left I heard something else coming through the bushes, fast with more agile footsteps. Was there another one? My hands began to grow clammy against the cold metal.
“Oh crap!” I gulped, terrified.
Unexpectedly, as the noise of whatever followed the massive beast got closer, there was a flash of blue fabric in front of me. Then two things happened so swiftly I couldn’t tell which happened first.
“No chase! No!” A voice hissed in the gloom so softly I could have imagined it.
“What the hell—” the soft voice said a second later, sounding more aggrieved.
Darting through the branches of two mature cedars bounded another monster wolf. It shifted from the cover of the forest into the clearing with such speed that it took a moment to discern that it wasn’t alone; not one but two more giant wolves! Neither as big as the first but now swarming around it. Massive teeth nipped at the grayish creature like they were trying to bite it or halt it.
They seemed to perceive this nocturnal excursion with more intensity than their larger cousin, adamant in the attempt to get the monster wolf’s attention, trampling the weeds and grass in a slapdash manner.
Frightened out of my socks, I forgot there was nothing but a long drop behind me and lifted one foot off the rail with the intention of running like the wind, abruptly stumbling. I gasped and quickly tried to correct my mistake, wildly groping the metal rail with slick hands. My body vibrated with fear as I stared into the black abyss below.
Without warning, cool fingers gently encircled one wrist, locking it in place with the power of a vice. Another set grabbed the opposite forearm as I struggled to get my feet firmly back on the slippery perch.
“I’ve got you.”
Glancing up I saw a boy standing there. His strong hands kept me from falling to my death. A disgruntled expression traveled across his face, eyes becoming distant for several seconds as though assessing some inner thought and the grimace vanished, well almost. His mouth remained twisted down.
Staring in astonishment — my mind couldn’t function properly. Unable to fathom where he came from, I knew he shouldn’t be there. It wasn’t safe.
Incisors of the monster wolves were snapping and gnashing less than twenty-five feet away. Yet he acted as calmly as if we were alone. Didn’t he see them?
The smaller creatures seemed to be corralling the grayish wolf or altering its course. And the big one didn’t like it.
Rearing back on hind legs the monster wolf growled at the other two, immense jaws scissoring open and shut over their heads as if in warning. A deep snarl that erupted from the large mouth could have been saying, “Cut it out,” if it had a voice.
The wolf with the light brown fur ignored the warning, hurtling a muscular shoulder against the gray one’s exposed midsection. The big wolf made a gagging noise that sounded like a grunt. The second newcomer hoisted dark forepaws against the same area and together they succeeded in knocking the third backward. All three landed in an explosion of yelps, barks and snapping teeth.
I gasped.
“Are you okay?” the strange boy asked in an annoyed tone.
Too stunned by what I saw to speak, I merely nodded.
Clouds hid the moon again. The clearing fell into darkness. I squinted to see where the monster wolves were. I felt rather than saw my would-be rescuer’s head shift.
“Find him,” the boy hissed so quietly I thought I might have imagined that too. Who was he talking to?
The darker wolf growled lightly, head quickly swinging toward us before returning to the downed one, muzzle pushing against the muddy body forcing it to move with some urgency. The monster creatures merged into one shapeless blob in the shadows. Unable to see them but knowing they were out there only heightened my fear.
After completing her degree in broadcast journalism at USC in 1999, P.S. Meraux used her love of writing to land multiple jobs in broadcasting, winning several awards, including a DuPont - Columbia University Award and an Emmy from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for breaking news coverage of the 2004 Asian Tsunami. Rising through the ranks to editor, she claimed a spot at a major publishing house before branching out on her own to write novels in 2013, which have won numerous awards, including several Readers’ Favorite accolades.
Bellocaro is a semi-finalist in the 10th Annual Kindle Book Awards Contest.
Welcome to the book tour for Illusions: Ravens of Darkness by Elle Preston! Today you're going to get to know her and her book better in this exclusive interview. You can also read an excerpt over at Candrel's Crafts, Cooks, and Characters. Enjoy the rest of the tour and good luck in the giveaway!
Illusions: Ravens of Darkness
Ravens of Darkness
Book One
Elle Preston
Genre: Young Adult; Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Lark Publishing Crew
Date of Publication: November 14, 2020
ISBN: 978-0578661230
ASIN: B08NGC23MS
Number of pages: 269
Word Count: 84,000
Cover Artist: Lark Publishing Crew
Tagline: Nothing is what it seems. Not even love.
Book Description:
An ancient cult. A supernatural addiction. A forbidden love. Sixteen year old Evie Willow is terrified of drowning but she's even more afraid of her own feelings.
When the charismatic and telepathic lifeguard, Talon Renwyck, suddenly turns his affections toward her, Evie’s ability to rein in her feelings is threatened. Talon knows a secret which plunges Evie into the deep waters of her hidden emotions. As she drifts away from the life she knows into Talon’s beckoning arms, Evie learns that Talon is much more than just the handsome guy she’s falling in love with. Caught in a dark and supernatural addiction and tied to a secret cult, Talon is crying out for help. Can Evie save him from himself?
Is their love the real deal or is it an illusion?
Nothing is what it seems.
Illusions is the first book in the Ravens of Darkness Series.
If you like character driven, paranormal romance sagas with supernatural elements, darkly dynamic love relationships, and a hint of magic and mystery, then you'll love the Ravens of Darkness Series.
Book Two, Reflections, to be released November 2021
What was the inspiration behind this book? It sounds funny to say, but toxic relationships were the inspiration for this book. The story, at the character level, is about a relationship between an empath and a narcissist and how that plays out for each person. I didn't begin writing a paranormal story, but as I started researching the empath/narcissist dynamic, I thought it would be interesting to make Evie Willow’s empathy more like a super power. Sometimes this power is her greatest asset, but it can also be her biggest downfall -- like when she gets entangled with Talon Renwyck, the handsome narcissist who tries to tempt her into his supernatural world.
What kind of research did you have to do for it? I read a lot of psychology articles about empathy and narcissism and the toxic nature of that pairing. I wanted to show how Evie and Talon have a codependent relationship, so I read a lot of case studies and online discussion forums to see what people were saying about this kind of relationship from their own experiences.
Which character was your favorite to write? Alex Greyson was my favorite character to write in this book. He’s clever, snarky and brutally honest. He also has a crush on Evie and is constantly bugging her about her codependent relationship with Talon. His scenes were always the most fun to write.
Will we see these characters again? YES!! Illusions is the first book in a series. Evie, Talon and Alex all come back in book two, Reflections, which is due to come out this November. I also just finished writing book three and have an outline for book four as well. I think this will be a five book series with plans to expand some of the side characters into a spin-off series.
How do you make yourself stand out in this genre? Well, I think a big trend is having teenage female protagonists that are super strong, sure of themselves all the time, and ready to kick butt and take names and there’s nothing wrong with that. But I feel like maybe I’m doing something a little bit different. My MC is very strong emotionally, but she’s not sure of herself at first. She is new to her supernatural abilities and doesn’t know how to use them. She hasn't quite found her voice yet in her personal life and relationships. I think back to when I was a teen: I had nothing figured out, made a lot of mistakes and did stupid stuff. I think it takes time to find one’s voice. So I hope people will see Evie as a little more “real.” She’s figuring things out. It’s sometimes frustrating to see her make mistakes but also fulfilling to see her grow throughout the series.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Teleportation. I hate driving and am always late. Being able to teleport myself somewhere instantly would be really great!
Let’s say I’m coming for a visit to your area. What are some must-see places? The Indiana Dunes National Park. The beaches and walking trails are beautiful and inspirational. It’s always had a mystical, spiritual feel to me which is why I chose it as the setting for my books.
About the Author:
Elle Preston is the author of the Ravens of Darkness series, a young adult,
paranormal romance saga. Illusions, Book One, is her debut novel. Book Two,
Reflections, is set to be released November 2021. She is currently working on
the third book in the series. Elle lives with her husband, five kids and
several fur babies near the shores of Lake Michigan and the Indiana Dunes where
she sets her novels.
Welcome to the book tour for It Happened on Thunder Road by Susan Antony! You can check out an excerpt here today before downloading your own copy. I also have another excerpt and an interview with the author over at Candrel's Crafts, Cooks, and Characters. Leave more questions in the comments section. Best of luck entering the giveaway!
It Happened on Thunder Road Susan Antony
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance, Suspense, Paranormal Elements Publisher: The Wild Rose Press Date of Publication: 04-24-21 ISBN: 1509235329 ASIN: B08YY7BTJB Number of pages: 292 Word Count: 72000 Cover Artist: Kim Mendoza
Tagline:Hang on, baby, for the ride of your life.
Book Description:
When Emmy Russo returns to high school in Moncks Corner, South Carolina after summer break, she discovers some changes. First: Mom has a boyfriend. Second: the cute new student, Charlie Fields, is a Rockabilly greaser with a gang who obeys his every command. Third: attractive Keir Harper wants to be more than just her best friend. And fourth: a perplexed Emmy soon finds herself drawn to two extremely different boys. How do you choose between sweet and smoldering?
Then tragedy strikes on desolate Thunder Road. Strange things start happening, with Emmy in the middle of it all. Intent on finding the truth, she must fight for her heart, her life, maybe even her soul. Because someone wants to possess all of Emmy. And they will be together, no matter what the cost. For eternity.
Read an excerpt:
We faced each other for a beat or two. Then he placed his arm around my shoulder and took my hand in his, positioning his body a respectable distance away. We danced, slow and reserved at first, but as the singer’s wails intensified, so did Charlie’s moves. His hips swayed from side to side, and he inched closer to me, smidgen by smidgen, until his pelvis ground against my hipbones.
Our bodies melded, moving together in perfect synchronicity. Side to side. Back and forth. He moved his hand to my lower back and pulled me closer. I took in a quick, sharp breath. He
“You know, baby,” he murmured, “You and me have more than chemistry. We have fire. Not the easy kind of fire you can make from a box of matches, but the kind of fire you get when you rub two sticks together. I’m all yours if you want me.”
The world around me blurred as if I were watching it through thick lenses. I imagined Charlie’s lips against mine. I imagined him shirtless, propped above me, his triceps bulging as he slowly lowered his chest—mine rising toward his, beckoning him closer. He groaned a low animal-like sound. It drew me to him.
And I wanted him bad.
I wanted our bodies to burn in Hell together for all eternity.
What was happening? Had I lost my mind? I wasn’t ready. Was I?
No.
Spasms of panic surged from my loins to the deepest recesses in my brain. In a sharp snap, the imaginary lenses cracked, and through the broken glass was a clear image of a boy with kind eyes and a halo of yellow hair.
Keir was my angel, and I was dancing with the devil. A devil who would betray his brother. A devil who would convince me to betray him as well.
I shuddered and pressed my free hand, fiercely against his shoulder. He clutched me tighter.
“Charlie, please. We can’t do this.”
“Why not?” he demanded.
I took in a long, ragged breath. “Because I don’t want to hurt Keir. He likes me.”
He forced a laugh and loosened his grip. My hand slipped from his, and he leaned toward me. His chin brushed against my cheek, and flesh bumps shimmied down my spine.
“That was the right answer, New Jersey,” he whispered in a throaty voice. “Welcome to the gang.”
Susan Antony, an aspiring Renaissance woman, never shies from a challenge. Not only does she have a degree in the Liberal Arts, she has a degree in Automotive Technology. She currently works in the IT department at a local Charleston hospital. Susan lives with her teenaged son and two behaviorally-challenged Cairn Terriers. To maintain her sanity, she cherishes her Friday evenings dancing the night away!
Be careful what you wish for! To see what I mean, check out an excerpt from the new YA paranormal romance by Christina Bauer. Quasi Redux is now available. Be sure to also check out the rest of the tour to see even more! Best of luck entering the giveaway at the end.
Myla Lewis has her life back. Wife. Mother. Queen. Great Scala. Queen of the Thrax. Yay! Then one day, Myla runs across a supernatural waterfall that makes her igni screech like crazy. Our heroine speaks the fateful words, “Some days, I wish I weren’t the Great Scala.” The waterfall grants her wish. A moment later, Myla is back at Purgatory High. No husband. No child. No powers beyond her old quasi days. And without Myla around as the Great Scala, all quasis now live under Armageddon’s rule. That sucks. Hard. So Myla sneaks into Antrum—she simply must find Lincoln and figure this out. Once she arrives, two problems arise. First, her husband doesn’t know her. At all. Second, Lincoln is married to someone else. Fuuuuuuu… ANGELBOUND ORIGINS In which Myla Lewis kicks ass and takes names. Nuff said. 1. Angelbound 2. Scala 3. Acca 4. Thrax 5. The Dark Lands 6. The Brutal Time 7. Armageddon 8. Quasi Redux
Read an excerpt:
I’ve found Lincoln. At last.
This is my chance. Sure, some crazy magic erased his memory, but this is Lincoln. My Lincoln. I’ll explain things to him. Afterward, we’ll fix this together. That’s how it’s always worked before.
Across the cavern, Lincoln scales up a climbing wall. A small group of younger guys in tunics and leather pants watch him move. This is a training session for the thrax nobility, just as I suspected.
So far, so good.
Lincoln clutches onto the wall with his right hand. Muscles strain in his face and body. All the while, my guy’s voice stays low and growly as he explains climbing stuff. In my mind, it’s a lot of blah blah blah ripped arms blah blah blah tight butt.
Did I mention that Lincoln is buck naked except for a pair of cargo pants? He is.
Here’s the problem. I’ve two inner demons—lust and wrath. And watching my guy right now? It makes my lusty side wakes up with a big HELL to the Oh.
What a disaster.
At this moment, I should be plotting on how to approach Lincoln. Instead, I can’t help but notice that single bead of sweat running down my guy’s abs… only to disappear into the waistline of his pants. My inner lust demon heats my blood with desire.
If I keep ogling my guy’s very yummy body, I’ll end up tackling him in front of everyone.
Christina Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too.
Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby. Be the first to know about new releases from Christina by signing up for her newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/CBupdates
Welcome to the tour for Baculum, the fourth book in the Angelbound Lincoln series by Christina Bauer! Today we're revealing the cover of this new book coming on January 26, 2021!
As King of the Thrax, Lincoln leads the most powerful demon fighting force in the after-realms … yet he cherishes nothing more than his Angelbound love, Myla. All of which is why Lincoln loses his freaking mind when a demon horde targets his pregnant wife.
So. Not. Happening.
Sometimes, a warrior just needs to ignite his baculum sword and kick a ton of evil ass.
Christina Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too.
Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.
Be the first to know about new releases from Christina by signing up for her newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/CBupdates
Welcome to the blurb blitz tour for Cherokee Summer, a YA romance from Susan Antony! I have an excerpt for you to check out before you download your own copy. And guess what? It's only 99 cents right now, so you can't lose! Please enjoy and let the author know what you think. You can follow the tour for even more excerpts and a few reviews. Plus you can enter the giveaway for a copy!
Cherokee Summer
When Ace leaves home to spend the summer in Cherokee, North Carolina the last thing she expects to find is a boyfriend—until she meets Cherokee Tribe member John Spears. As Ace and John's friendship blossoms, they find their life experiences mirror each other and they fall in love. Despite hurdles thrown by well-meaning family members and jealous frenemies, the star-crossed lovers remain committed to their mutual belief that the universe has drawn them together. However, when Ace sends John a strange text and then suddenly disappears, the two must rely on their trust in each other to save both their lives and their love.
Read an excerpt:
Why does this have to happen when I’ve finally found love? There has to be another ending to our fairy tale. I imagine it’s the old days when eighteen wasn’t too young to take a wife. Ace is standing in an open field, and I’m in the distance riding Billy. I gallop toward her and swoop her up behind me. She wraps her arms around my middle, squeezing until our bodies are spooned together. We ride bareback into the hills to the house of wood, vines, and plaster I built myself. We live off the land, just the two of us, and we’re happy.
But it’s not the old days, and the world has changed. I have no way to provide for her, not yet, and this girl deserves the best. My best.
I have to let her go.
The large black car pulls off, and I watch it drive from view. She’s gone. Ace is gone.
I am an IT by day, hip-shaker and writer by night, artist whenever possible, and an internet addict. I live in the sunny south with my teenage son and two Cairn Terriers.
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.
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.
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?
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.
