Love Me Please by Chris Bedell

 

If you're looking for a read to keep you on the edge of your seat, then check out Love Me Please by Chris Bedell. Today he's sharing with us thoughts on how he created his fictional world as well as an excerpt. Be sure to follow the tour for more! Best of luck in the giveaway!

Colton should be like every other seventeen-year-old, hanging out with friends, procrastinating on homework, and dreaming about which colleges he should apply to, but Colton’s focus when he gets home every day is on how violent his alcoholic mother will be. Will he be her ashtray again or worse?

Tripp has the perfect life – handsome, from a wealthy family, and is the football player everyone wants to date. Tripp just wants to date one person – Colton, but he can’t seem to break through that tough exterior and get Colton to trust him.

A friend’s party opens the door for both to potentially get what they want, but it’s that same party ends with Colton’s best friend dead. Caught between wanting to finally find happiness with Tripp and discovering what happened to Declan, Colton discovers that he isn’t the only one who’s kept secrets. How well did he really know Declan and can he trust Tripp enough to let himself believe he’s worthy of being loved?

Read an excerpt:

The door creaked. A guy with spiked hair stood by the bedroom’s entrance.

“Sorry. Thought this was the bathroom.” Tripp tugged at the sides of his varsity jacket.

“No worries,” I mumbled.

Tripp furrowed an eyebrow. “Everything okay?”

“I’m fine.” I grabbed my Margarita, then chugged the rest of it. The tequila’s distinct taste burned my throat while I licked my lips, savoring the sweet and lime flavors. I squashed my cup, letting it fall onto the ground.

Tripp’s jaw twitched. “You don’t seem fine.”

“The bathroom is down the hall.” I shuffled towards the bed before sitting on it.

The door clinked after Tripp locked it. He joined me on the bed.

Tripp chuckled. “Something happen?”

I looked away. “It’s a long story.”

“I’m a good listener.”

“Thanks.”

Tripp placed his hands on his lap. “We lost the football game, and I’m still in a good mood. So, I’m sure your problem can’t be that bad.”

Most people might have been pissed at Tripp for making an assumption if they were me. But I wasn’t. Tripp was taking an interest in my life, and that was more than could be said for most people.

Tripp met my gaze. “I promise I won’t judge.”

“I believe you.”

“This is the most we’ve ever talked.”

“So?”

“I just meant you never speak up in class.”

“I don’t have anything important to say,” I said.

He winked. “You’re wrong.”

“Huh?”

“The quiet ones are the most insightful people.” He patted my shoulder.

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Crafting the fictional world of LOVE, ME PLEASE was interesting. While the book is a YA Contemporary novel with a Thriller/Mystery element, as opposed to something that’s strictly character driven, literary fiction, I still wanted to craft a book that had dimensions and layers to it.

Characters is one important element to the story. Too few characters and the story might not be interesting enough. But if you have too many characters, the story might feel overly convoluted. The main character is Colton. Colton’s mother is both homophobic and a physically abusive drunk. But Colton’s gonna need escapes from this abusive home life. One escape was his best friend, Declan (the popular kid). Declan’s death is what kicks off the novel/murder mystery in the book. Tripp is another escape for Colton—he’s Colton’s love interest. And there’s also Colton’s former childhood best friend (Gina) who he’s grown apart from. But Colton does cross paths again with Gina fairly early on in the novel. There are also characters who are important to the mystery—characters I can’t really discuss because that’d be spoilers.

Setting is also important. School, Colton’s home, and his outlet (Tripp’s home) are some important settings. But I wanted to give the book a unique setting. So, I created VERONICA’S (a coffee shop/diner type setting). Every town usually has a spot people flock to. Creating a hangout spot therefore gives the novel depth.

The mystery itself is another important aspect to crafting the fictional world of LOVE ME, PLEASE. I can’t spell out all of the mystery because that’d spoil the book. But I can say that the mystery starts out as kinda this slow burn. But then Colton eventually circles back to Declan’s death. And one thing after another starts unraveling.

Anyway, I hope you’ve enjoyed learning a little about me crafting the fictional world of LOVE ME, PLEASE. Because while fiction doesn’t have to be realistic, the little details (like characters, setting, plot, clues for the mystery, etc.) are what will bring a story to life.

Chris Bedell's previous publishing credits include Thought Catalog, Entropy Magazine, Chicago Literati, and Foliate Oak Literary Magazine, among others. His 2019 books include his NA Thriller BURNING BRIDGES (BLKDOG Publishing), YA Paranormal Romance DEATHLY DESIRES (Deep Hearts YA), and YA Thriller COUSIN DEAREST (BLKDOG Publishing). In addition to his YA Thriller BETWEEN LOVE AND MURDER, his 2020 books include his YA Contemporary I’LL SEE YOU AGAIN (Deep Hearts YA), YA Thriller THE FABULIST (BLKDOG Publishing), YA Thriller I KNOW WHERE THE BODIES ARE BURIED (BLKDOG Publishing), and YA SciFi DYING BEFORE LIVING (Deep Hearts YA). Besides his YA Thriller LOVE HIM/HATE HIM, Chris’s 2021 books include his YA Fantasy CROSSING DESIRES (Spectrum Books) and rerelease of his YA Fantasy IN THE NAME OF MAGIC from JMS Books. Furthermore, Chris graduated with a BA in Creative Writing from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2016.

Social Media Links:

Twitter: @ChrisBedell

Instagram: @CJohnBedell

Author's Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Chris-Bedell/e/B086JMTWRY/

Chris Bedell will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Quick Fix by Louise Cypress

 

Welcome to the book tour for Quick Fix by Louise Cypress! We're celebrating her book today by sharing an excerpt plus a Q&A with the author. Be sure to ask more questions in the comments sections as you follow the tour. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

Three teens are caught in a bioterrorism plot to destroy Seattle involving a diet drink that kills.

After accidentally breaking up with her boyfriend, Marley is ready to do anything to get her life back on track. When a new health clinic called Quick Fix opens in Seattle offering probiotic elixirs that supposedly burn off extra weight, Marley becomes their willing victim. After her first treatment, she loses five pounds in one week—and becomes so sick that she faints at work. But Marley is thrilled with the results, especially knowing that her ex-boyfriend is mobbed by girls every day.

When Marley’s best friend Ellie finds out the truth about Marley’s sudden weight loss, Ellie is concerned for her friend’s safety. Ellie knows better than anyone that there’s no such thing as a quick fix, but Marley’s not so sure. For Marley, the risk seems worth it—until the elixir takes control. By the time Marley discovers the truth about Thin Shot, she’s almost dead, and the only person who can save her is the last person she thought she could trust.

Melt away unwanted pounds with a probiotic elixir.

Thin Shot—the diet drink that kills.

Read an excerpt:

“Move aside, miss” barked a paramedic. “So we can get to—” The man stopped short when he saw Katie. “Hazmat team needed!” he shouted to his crew. “I repeat, this is a hazmat situation! Someone call the CDC!”

“Ellie!” Marley called again. “We need to go!”

The paramedics sprang into action, and I was clearly in the way. I stumbled toward the locker room, and Marley grabbed the back of my robe and pulled me to the shower. The faucet gushed with hot water. “Use as much soap as possible,” Marley told me, “to get the germs off. And hurry! We need to get out of here before they quarantine the place.”

“What?” I held my hands to my face, too shocked to move.

Marley yanked off my bathing cap and shoved me under the water, robe and all. Then she unhooked a bottle of shower gel from one of the stalls and squirted me with soap. “Clean yourself off, Ellie! I don’t want you to die like Katie did.”

“Katie’s not dead!” I pulled off my robe and rubbed my body vigorously with soap. “The paramedics will save her.”

“Um…” Olivia said from the edge of the shower rooms.

“What?” Marley asked.

Olivia spun around. “There’s no more time for soap. Put your clothes on and let’s go.”

I turned off the faucet and wrapped a towel around me seconds before the paramedics rolled the gurney past the shower area and through the doors to the locker room.

Katie’s body was covered with a white sheet.

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Q and A with Louise Cypress, author of QUICK FIX

Is Louise Cypress your real name?

No, my real name is Jennifer Bardsley. I’m a newspaper columnist and the author of SWEET BLISS and GOOD CATCH, small town romance books written for adults. My young adult books are written under the name Louise Cypress. If you like YA thrillers, you might also enjoy NARCOSIS ROOM which includes the same characters as QUICK FIX.

How did you come up with the name Louise Cypress?

Louise is my middle name and Cypress was the name of the street I grew up on. Try that name generator for yourself and see what you come up with for a pseudonym.

Where did you get the idea for QUICK FIX?

Society brainwashes women into feeling bad about themselves all the time, especially when it comes to body shaming. I wanted to write a book that was entertaining but that also helped readers embrace body positivity.

Do you live in Seattle?

I live thirty minutes north of Seattle in place called Edmonds. Part of the fun writing QUICK FIX was incorporating some of my favorite Seattle icons into the plot, such as the Seattle Center.

Is The Royal Racer based on real life too?

Yes. The Royal Racer, the high-speed catamaran that Cole and Marley Evans work on is based on The Victoria Clipper, which ferries people between Seattle and Victoria, a major city on Vancouver Island in Canada. I’ve been on The Clipper several times and it is super fun.

When did you write QUICK FIX?

I wrote QUICK FIX in 2018, right around the time that NARCOSIS ROOM came out. The publisher and I finished edits in 2019 and planned on an early 2020 release. Those plans were put on hold due to the pandemic. Everything that takes place in QUICK FIX is imagined.

Louise Cypress is the pen name of Jennifer Bardsley for her YA books.

Jennifer writes the column “I Brake for Moms” for The Everett Daily Herald and is the author of the young adult novels Genesis Girl, Damaged Goods, Narcosis Room, and the Fight or Flight and Puritan Coven series. She lives in a book-filled house near Seattle with her family, and poodle, Merlin.

An alumna of Stanford University, Jennifer puts her psychology degree to good use writing fiction. She has a lifelong fascination with mind control. That focus also comes in handy in Jennifer’s role as a mother—but so far her children haven’t noticed.

Book page:  https://owlhollowpress.com/quick-fix/

Author Website:  https://jenniferbardsley.com/louise-cypress-books/

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

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JennBardsley

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16692971.Louise_Cypress

Louise Cypress will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Read an excerpt from He'll Be Waiting by Liz Alterman

   

We are thrilled to share an excerpt from Liz Alterman's debut release,

HE'LL BE WAITING!

He'll Be Waiting is a standalone YA Thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat and up reading all night!

 

GoodReads ~ Amazon ~ Indiebound ~ Barnes&Noble

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Synopsis: 

What would you do to remember? What would you give to forget?

When Tess Porter agrees to pick up her boyfriend’s college pal at the airport on a snowy December night, she has no idea she’s about to embark on the most dangerous ride of her life.

Two days later, the 17-year-old wakes up in a hospital with broken bones, unable to remember how she got there. Her parents are acting strange, and neither James, her boyfriend, nor her best friend, Izzy, has visited. As she struggles to physically recover, Tess wrestles with haunting questions: What happened? Will her memory ever return? And what if she’s better off not recalling any of it?    

     

Read an excerpt:

“Tess! Tess!’ Mom pats my right arm gently. “Honey, wake up, you’re having a bad dream.”

I stare at her, confused. It was so real. I’d been tumbling, falling down beside a flat cement wall. I’d tried to stop myself, but there was nothing to grab on to, no banister or ledge. All I could smell was damp, wet earth. A man stood above me. I couldn’t see his face and had no idea who he was. But one thing was clear: He’d come to hurt me. Me specifically.

In my nightmare and in real life, my mouth is dry, my tongue as sandpapery as Daffy’s. I can’t speak. My heart gallops, thumping hoofbeats pound in my ears.

“This is how it ends!” he shouted in the dream, his voice echoing as I plunged into total darkness and struggled to crawl out of sight. I couldn’t move. My legs wouldn’t work.

I want to tell Mom everything, but I can’t catch my breath. Was it only a dream or does it have something to do with my accident? What if it’s one of the flashes Lydia talked about? Memories attempting to resurface? Is the man in the dream Nick? My head hurts thinking about it. For once, I'm actually grateful to be in this hospital bed. Safe.

     

And check out Liz's He'll Be Waiting playlist to enhance your read!

Spotify Playlist

         

Meet the author:

    

Liz Alterman lives in New Jersey with her husband and three sons. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Parents, McSweeney's, and other publications. He'll Be Waiting is her first young adult novel. When she isn't writing, she spends most days microwaving the same cup of coffee and looking up synonyms.    

Connect with Liz:

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram

 

He'll Be Waiting by Liz Alterman

 

It's a YA thriller you won't soon forget, even though the main character seems to have forgotten how she has gotten into her current predicament. Check out an excerpt from He'll Be Waiting and then download your own copy. Be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more and leave your questions and comments along the way. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

What would you do to remember? What would you give to forget?

When Tess Porter agrees to pick up her boyfriend’s college pal at the airport on a snowy December night, she has no idea she’s about to embark on the most dangerous ride of her life.

Two days later, the 17-year-old wakes up in a hospital with broken bones, unable to remember how she got there. Her parents are acting strange, and neither James, her boyfriend, nor her best friend, Izzy, has visited.

As she struggles to physically recover, Tess wrestles with haunting questions: What happened? Will her memory ever return? And what if she’s better off not recalling any of it?

Read an excerpt:

In my hand is a beautiful silver pocket watch on a long, delicate chain. It looks antique, but it’s been polished and shined to appear almost new again. 5:05 it reads. How can it be that late already? I glance at the clock on the mantle. 4:05. It’s been in there since before Daylight Saving Time ended in early November. But how did it get there? Who gave it to Mom? It’s ticking in my hand. A truth bomb. I read the note once more.

“I’m counting the minutes until we’re together again. I’m hoping you’re doing the same.”

I study it. No loops or swirls. This isn’t a woman’s script. Aside from the fact that someone is pretty eager to see Mom again, what does this mean? I haven’t a clue, but I do know this: That is not my father’s handwriting.

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Liz Alterman lives in New Jersey with her husband and three sons. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Parents, McSweeney's, and other publications. She spends most days microwaving the same cup of coffee and looking up synonyms.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LizAlterman

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21164511.Liz_Alterman

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/liz-alterman

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liz.alterman

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethalterman/

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

Liz Alterman will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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The Ghost and the Wolf (The Broken Book One) by Shelly X Leonn

YA Mystery Thriller

Release Date: 09/26/19

Penelope, a student reporter, struggles to find her identity after a childhood of tragedy. Desperate to prove herself to her peers, she chases a story tip on a secret organization of teen urban explorers called “The Broken.” The group demands she complete a test before they let her write the story. While following the clues of their twisted scavenger hunt, she encounters Lex, a young paranormal investigator with a knack for computer hacking, and together they work to uncover the organization’s darkest secrets.

As they tag along on urban exploration missions, including an abandoned farmhouse, a vacant mall, and a haunted truck stop, they became entangled in the group’s inner fighting and their leader’s plans that turn out to be much more nefarious…and deadly…than they’d believed. Realizing her mistakes too late, Penelope will have to fight for her own life and the lives of her friends as she learns what it means to be one of the broken.

Pre-Order on Amazon   

About the Author

Shelly X. Leonn is the author of The Broken Series. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism, Shelly worked at her hometown newspaper as the web and youth editor. During her time advising the youth staff, Shelly realized her true calling was teaching. Her years in education have been spent in middle school and high school language arts classrooms. She is also an adjunct professor.

She and her two boys reside in Affton, and she enjoys reading, writing, outdoor activities, anime, video games, and other dorky pastimes.

Shelly is represented by Stephanie Hansen at Metamorphosis Literary Agency.

Publisher Links

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Meet Shannon and Hades from Project Prometheus by Aden Polydoros

Welcome to the blog tour for Project Prometheus by Aden Polydoros! As you follow along the blog tour, you're going to find all kinds of treats along the way, such as the character interview below, excerpts, reviews, and more. Be sure to check out the giveaway at the end!

Meet Shannon and Hades:

Shannon: I can't believe I'm doing this. Of all people, I think the last one anyone wants to hear about is...you.

Hades: You don't mean that. I thought you love the sound of my voice.

Shannon: More like the opposite. Let's just get this over with. First question: if you could go anywhere, where would you go?

Hades: Honestly? The Academy. The only thing I care about right now is getting to the Project overseers, and the only way that's going to happen is if we go back to the source.

Shannon: This went dark fast. What kind of music do you like?

Hades: I don't like music. If I'm driving, I'll roll down the windows and listen to the noises outside. Otherwise, I just want silence. Music makes me feel like I'm in a movie, like I'm...like I'm not the one in control.

Shannon: Well, brainwashing will do that to you. Next question: What's your favorite animal?

Hades: Dogs. They're loyal and they listen to you.

Shannon: Weird. I always figured you'd be a cat person. Do you ever want to have a, you know, real name.

Hades: You don't like Hades?

Shannon: Don't avoid the question.

Hades: I don't care about names. Before I was Hades, I was A-02, and that was enough. If I go back to any name, it will be Two.

Project Prometheus (Assassin Fall #2)

by Aden Polydoros

Genre: YA Thriller
Release Date: August 28th 2018
Entangled Teen

Summary:

The Academy stole everything from Hades, their perfect assassin. Angry and leaving bodies in his wake, he finds two other ex-assassins doing the exact same thing.

Tyler and Shannon once killed for The Academy. Now they’re tracking and hunting down its scientists. So why is The Academy only after Hades?

Shannon will do whatever it takes to protect Tyler, even if it means teaming up with a former rival. While she seeks answers to her past, Tyler wants to learn the truth about the mysterious white room, which no one has ever seen except him.

As for Hades? He simply wants revenge.

They all need answers, even if it means returning to the organization where it all started.

Add to Goodreads

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Book One:
Project Pandora (Assassin Fall #1) by Aden Polydoros

Release Date: August 1st 2017

Summary:

Tyler Bennett trusts no one. Just another foster kid bounced from home to home, he’s learned that lesson the hard way. Cue world’s tiniest violin. But when strange things start happening—waking up with bloody knuckles and no memory of the night before or the burner phone he can’t let out of his sight— Tyler starts to wonder if he can even trust himself.

Even stranger, the girl he’s falling for has a burner phone just like his. Finding out what’s really happening only leads to more questions…questions that could get them both killed. It’s not like someone’s kidnapping teens lost in the system and brainwashing them to be assassins or anything, right? And what happens to rogue assets who defy control?

In a race against the clock, they’ll have to uncover the truth behind Project Pandora and take it down—before they’re reactivated. Good thing the program spent millions training them to kick ass...

Project Pandora (Assassin Fall #1) on Goodreads

About Aden Polydoros

Aden Polydoros grew up in Long Grove, Illinois, and now lives in Arizona. He is a writer of young adult fiction. When he isn’t writing, he enjoys reading and going on hikes in the mountains. Aden Polydoros is a 2015 Gold Medalist in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and has published two short stories in Best Arizona Teen Writing of 2015. PROJECT PANDORA (Entangled, 2017) is his debut novel.

Author Links:

Goodreads│Twitter

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Review of The Ancient Tripod of Peace (A Teen Thief-Catchers Novel) by Kalen Cap

Welcome to the review tour for The Ancient Tripod of Peace by Kalen Cap. It's the first book in the Teen Theif-Catchers series and is designed for those who love history, artifacts, and mystery. Please tune in to the blurb and excerpt, followed by my review. You can also follow the tour for more excerpts and reviews, plus have bonus chances to enter the giveaway. Please be sure to leave the author any comments or questions you may have!

Please note that affiliate links are present. Should you make a purchase through one of these, I may earn a small commission to help support my websites at no additional cost to you. I only share those books that I feel will interest my readers. Also, I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Ancient Tripod of Peace

Teens Lexi and Gil face relic-thieving secret societies.

Plagued by loneliness in her Lake Erie Islands community, vegan Lexi hopes to make like-minded friends in high school. But her dad’s job is jeopardized when relics are stolen from his museum, changing her priorities. And she finds her new teachers’ eerie dislike of her troubling.

His dad in jail, cipher enthusiast and bacon-loving Gil hopes freshman year will provide a clean slate. Soon, he discovers secret codes within a Shakespearean play while paired with Lexi, pulling him into an ancient mystery.

With the official museum burglary investigation stalled, the mismatched teen sleuths join forces to try and crack the case. Lexi’s inquiries and Gil’s codes capture their teachers’ attention. But these teachers have the stolen Tripod of Peace, a powerful relic sought by rival secret societies. Caught in these societies’ crossfire as thieves wield an instrument of astounding power, Gil and Lexi are in danger.

The Ancient Tripod of Peace is the first book in novelist Kalen Cap’s Teen Thief-Catchers Series. If you like stories with artifact treasures, fighting secret societies, and spirited protagonists, you’ll enjoy this novel.

Buy on Amazon

Read an excerpt:

“Mom knows one of my high school teachers, called him an odd duck. Said she worked on a fundraiser for his bird sanctuary.”

Brandon spewed the protein shake across the counter.

“Dude! That was classic! What gives?” Gil couldn’t help snickering, although his brother looked like he might be truly sick.

“Ah. Nothing. Went up my nose is all.” Brandon grabbed a dish towel and wiped up the mess. “So, you said this bird sanctuary guy is your teacher? What’s his name?”

“Some old guy named Saffron.”

“Nick Saffron is not old.”

“If you say so. He’s at least in his fifties, older than Dad. You know him?”

“I know him to see him. He’s gotta be the only Saffron at the gym,” Brandon said. “Listen, I need some shut eye. Are you going to walk Cyclops this morning or should I?”

Blind in one eye, their dog Cyclops was originally Brandon’s responsibility. But, when Brandon left for college, Gil cared for the doberman mix. A handful at 105 pounds, Cyclops was one of the biggest dogs in the neighborhood.

“I’ll walk Cy.” In many ways, the dog had been Gil’s best friend the past year.

“Thanks. I’ll catch some Z’s. Later.” Brandon left the kitchen while wiping his face with his hands. He quickly reappeared, stepping back into the kitchen. “I wouldn’t tell Saffron about my being your brother and him knowing me from the gym.” Without further explanation, Brandon left again.

“Okay,” Gil answered. He shook his head. Why does he care about that?

Want more? Read another excerpt here. 

**My thoughts**

I am always a sucker for a book that takes place in the state of Ohio, as that is where I was born. I almost relate better to the setting, because I am familiar with it. Add in the idea of a mystery with artifacts and secret codes, and I was completely intrigued.

This story is akin to National Treasure and The DaVinci Code in that ancient codes and secrets are hidden right in front of our faces, and only certain people are able to find them and use them. The difference here is it involves a group of people called the Enlightened Pythagoreans and connections to Shakespeare. It's a totally fascinating idea that I never would have thought of on my own. It's also quite complicated, and I feel like I need to do some additional research to totally understand what is going on here. 

The group of kids involved in this mystery are definitely not a group that would normally be hanging out together. Each one of them has their own quirks. They couldn't be more different. And yet they have to work together. Brandon is very much a scaredy-cat. Gil is a massive know-it-all.  Lexi is caught up in trying to please everyone and making her mark, while also being concerned about her father's job, and having all kinds of other interesting connections to the stolen artifacts. 

Then there are the adults. Dozens of secrets abound and you almost don't know who you can trust. I had a hard time keeping all of the adults and their relationships straight, as well. I found the story both interesting and confusing all at the same time.

The intense knowledge that one must have about the history and these secrets feels like something that most people, let alone teenagers, would know anything about, let alone understand. I sometimes forgot that I was reading about teenagers here and there. Yet for those of you who are really into these quirky conspiracies and history, it won't matter how old you are. You'll want to dive into the mystery and see if you can figure it all out for yourself. It will be interesting to see where these kids go in the future.

About Kalen Cap

Kalen Cap is a writer living in Ohio and regularly commutes back and forth between Columbus and Port Clinton residences. Set among the Lake Erie Islands, “TheAncient Tripod of Peace” is his second novel, first of the Teen Thief-Catcher series. His first novel, “Tangled Ties to a Manatee,” was published in 2012.

Author website \ Amazon Page \ Series Facebook Page

Kalen Cap will be awarding a $40 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Take a peek in the Crimson Cove Mysteries by Tara Brown

Are you a fan of YA mysteries with a bit of horror and romance thrown in? Then you've got to check out this Crimson Cove series by Tara Brown. I even have an excerpt for you to check out from Second Nature.

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 support my websites at no extra cost to you. I also just like to share books that I think you might like.

Title: Crimson Cove Mysteries

Author: Tara Brown

Genre: YA romance, horror, mystery, and thriller

Hosted by: Lady Amber's Reviews & PR

If At First

Sun, Sand, and Sexy Boys.

These are the three things needed to make a stellar summer.

Unless of course you live in Crimson Cove, where you also have to account for dead bodies and missing persons.

When a summer party turns into a crime scene, five unlikely girls band together to discover the truth behind what happened on August 4th.

A date no one is likely to forget for a long time.

Along the way they discover love, strength, and friendships that last a lifetime.

Where were you when the lights went out?

Better yet, can you stay alive long enough to catch a killer?

Second Nature

Flirting, first love, fighting for your life.

All the things that represent a spectacular fall in Crimson Cove, named after the sight one sees when the trees all turn red in the crisp autumn air.

When school starts and the events of the summer no one is likely to forget haven't been solved, the five girls decide to take matters into their own hands.

But the problem with lifting stones to find the secrets hidden under them is that you never can tell just what lies beneath.

For the five unlikely friends, what lies beneath involves each and every one of them.

And as the story twists and turns, they start to see they are each connected to the murder and the disappearance still rocking the small sea side community.

Don't miss the exciting second book in The Crimson Cove Mysteries.

Excerpt from Second Nature:

Halloween Scream

October 31, 2015

Sierra 

The noise of the creaking stairs, the ones I had just crept up, sounded like it echoed in my ears. Someone had followed us here. 

“Jake,” I whispered, hoping he was messing around. If he was, I would be angry. I lifted one leg after the other and slipped my high heels off, holding them both so I could tiptoe through the half-constructed mansion without making noise. 

Jake didn't answer, but the footsteps had stopped from the moment I whispered. The scary movie marathon we’d had before Rachel died flashed through my head, bringing ideas and memories with it. I tiptoed around the corner, brushing my Frankenstein’s bride dress on the rough edge where the unfinished walls met. The drywall scraped against me, making me wince as I hurried along the corridor to the back deck. Whoever was in the house with me was either moving silently too or they were standing still, listening. 

Either way, I had a terrible feeling this wasn't a game. 

That meant one thing: Jake was injured or hiding. 

And I was alone. 

My heart raced, my eyes burned from not blinking—fearful I would miss something—and my mouth was as dry as a mouthful of popcorn. 

The floor creaked. 

I froze. 

“Sierra,” someone whispered into the dark. 

My skin crawled when I realized it wasn't Jake. It wasn't his whisper. I’d heard that enough times, always in the dark, to know it wasn't him. “Sierra, don't be scared.” It sounded like something it couldn't be, but I didn't believe. I stayed perfectly still, waiting for the moment I needed to run to the back deck and jump down onto the sandy beach. 

What had the girls in the horror movies done wrong? What could I avoid? My mind raced, remembering the runners always got caught. They always got stabbed. Usually in the back. The thought of it made my skin burn where I imagined the knife would slice. The hiders always got caught. They were the ones breathing too loudly or hiding in stupid places. 

“Sierra, I won’t hurt you if you come to me.” 

I squeezed my eyes shut for half a second and waited for the answer, the right choice, to pop into my head. 

A dog barked, making me jump and open my eyes. The sound was joined by the creaking of the floorboards again. 

With gentle breaths and controlled movements I crept along the hallway, entering the spot where the kitchen or master bedroom would likely go. The house was freshly sealed with windows and doors, but it was still in the drywall stage with plywood floors. The massive back deck was through the white French doors, facing the beach and open ocean. The moon offered light, enough to make shadows move with me. 

I hurried to an alcove I assumed would one day be a nook for a breakfast bar or maybe the ensuite soaker tub. I pressed my back against the wall and stared at the bright white French doors. If I could make it to them, I was free. 

If only I had my cell phone, I could call the police or Jake or Vincent. Someone would come and help me. Even Ashton might answer. 

But that wasn't an option. I scolded myself for my weakness in me and forced my focus to be on the doors. They were my answer. They were my hope. 

As I exhaled and plotted my moment to run and everything I would do from that point on, the floor creaked in the hallway behind me. 

It was now or never. 

Live or die. 

I took one more breath and pushed off from the wall…

Third Time’s a Charm

Kisses, kindred spirits, and killings.

The three things that sum up a Christmas in Crimson Cove.

When Christmas break starts, everyone assumes there will be an armistice.

But the killer thing about Christmas parties is someone always spikes the eggnog.

Just when the girls think they have the pieces of the puzzle falling into place, everything falls apart when a third body lands on the pile.

And this person is someone no one expected to find dead. Or find at all.

Don't miss the suspenseful third book in the Crimson Cove Mystery.

Four Crimson Corners

Love, lilies, and a lady in black?

Some things you expect in the spring in Crimson Cove, and others you don't.

The five girls have come to expect it all over the course of the eight months, but when a woman in black starts haunting their footsteps not one of them is prepared for the tidings she brings.

Or who she's related to.

But as the residents of our favorite little town start to squirm under the pressure of the mounting numbers of deaths, the girls start to see the pattern in the crimes being committed.

They start to see that no one is safe, because the killer can reach all four of the Crimson corners.

Don't miss the frightening fourth book in The Crimson Cove Mystery Series.

Hang Five

Murder. Mystery. Mayhem.

Crimson Cove has devilishly sharp twists and turns that will leave you dying—for more.

“PRETTY LITTLE LIARS MEETS GOSSIP GIRL” *****

“TWISTS AND TURNS GALORE!” *****

“EXCITING ‘WHO DONE IT’ THRILLER!” *****

"A SERIES YOU CAN'T PUT DOWN!" *****

Welcome to Crimson Cove.

Population? One less than yesterday.

Hang Five

Happiness, Hope, and Hostages.

How else do you spend a summer in Crimson Cove?

In the end, the girls realize that everything they have seen and done in the last year has been based on the desires of a few.

Realizing they have been puppets in a scheme from the start, fires up the girl’s desire for revenge.

But revenge is a dish best served cold—ice cold.

So they tuck their anger away and prepare for the retaliation they desperately desire.

But how do you attack the ones you love the most?

Who will make it out alive?

Don’t miss the stunning conclusion to the Crimson Cove Mysteries.

I believe growing up in a really small town gives a person a little advantage when it comes to the imagination. You need one or you go mad.

Needless to say, mine saved me. After it got me into trouble first, that is. That's the problem with a vivid imagination, all the lies you tell.

I am happily married with two daughters.

I have two giant dogs, two savage cats, and a penchant for a glass of red.

Also, I drag my bread through the sauce. I can't help myself, bread is life.

According to my age, I am meant to be a responsible adult, but it isn't going well at all. I would still head off to Hogwarts tomorrow and I suspect there isn't a single wardrobe I haven't crept into, hoping to find the door to Narnia. And don't even get me started on the King's Road, I get lost.

Fortunately, I am an international bestseller so I have wormed my way into a quirky or eccentric category.

Thank God for that.

I am represented by Natalie Lakosil from the Bradford Literary Agency and am published traditionally with Montlake Romance.

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