Shattered: A Story of Betrayal and Courage by C. Lee McKenzie

 

Welcome to the book blast for Shattered: A Story of Betrayal and Courage by C. Lee McKenzie! This one looks like a heartbreaker and yet empowering all at the same time. Read an excerpt and then download your copy. Be sure to follow the tour for more. Best of luck in the giveaway!

Courage put Libby Brown into the final selection for the Olympics, but betrayal crushed her spine and her chance at the Gold. Now she has two choices, use her courage to put her life back together, or remain shattered forever.

Read an excerpt:

I knew hearts didn’t stop beating until you died, yet I was certain mine had just stuttered to a halt. I couldn’t breathe. My lungs refused to expand. My throat went dry. I’d planned most of my life for this one year. I’d worked out, built my strength, gone to ski camps, kept at it until I’d made it through the selection process—until I’d almost made the US Olympic slalom team. I had my passport. I’d packed my bags weeks ago. Now, my mother was telling me I couldn’t do what I’d lived for all these years?

My heart kicked in and air filled my chest. “Shut up! Shut up!” In my mind, I screamed, but that’s not the way I heard my voice. Shut up sounded like a whimper.

“Libby, stop.” Dad was back, his hand on my shoulder, his face filled with pain. “Please, stop.”

His calm presence and the terrible sound of his plea brought me up short.

I gulped back the ragged clutch that filled my throat. “Why? Why can’t I ski with my team?” Then I glanced down. Mom was lying across the foot of the bed. She was lying across my legs, and I didn’t feel the weight of my mother’s body.

Buy Links

Amazon * BN

(affiliate link included) 

I’m someone in love with the English language...well, any language for that matter. How did we decided to use words, intonation, structures to communicate? Does our language come from our culture or does our culture come from our language? I love to drive people nuts with questions like this.

I have a background in Linguistics and Inter-Cultural Communication, but these days my greatest passion is writing for young readers. My young adult novels are Sliding on the Edge, The Princess of Las Pulgas, Double Negative, Sudden Secrets, and now Shattered, A Story of Betrayal and Courage. Sometimes I write Middle Grade Fantasy and have four of those stories published.

When I’m not writing I’m hiking or traveling or practicing yoga or asking a lot questions about things I still don’t understand--like what is language anyway?
Podcast: https://pod.co/lit-with-lloyd-podcast/c-lee-mckenzie

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

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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

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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.

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Meet Autumn Mattison, Protagonist in Dickensen Academy by Christine Grabowski

Welcome to the virtual book tour for Dickensen Academy by Christne Grabowski! Today's stop is one of my favorite kinds of guest posts, as the author interviews Autumn Mattison, the main character in her book. Please enjoy this and then follow the rest of the tour for even more fun! Remember to leave your own comments or questions for Autumn or for Christine and then enter the giveaway!

Dickensen Academy

Dickensen Academy isn’t a typical boarding school. The faculty is hiding an unbelievable secret within their fine arts program. When Autumn Mattison receives an invitation to attend the high school, she yearns to escape her overbearing father yet remains reluctant to leave her mother and brother. Her doubts fade away when a vivid dream convinces her she belongs there.

Away from home, Autumn discovers a unique school environment that awakens her creative potential, and her new friends become like a second family. However, as she uncovers more about the dark side of the school and struggles with its curriculum, she questions whether Dickensen Academy is truly where she belongs.

When tragedy strikes, Autumn must learn to believe in her own power and stand up to her greatest fear or risk having her memories destroyed to protect the school’s secrets. Caught between secrets and dreams, can she find her true self?

Read an excerpt:

“I feel like there’s something big we don’t know about. Something those students were protecting. I mean, really, why are we here?”

I thought it was just me who was confused. “Well…the recruiters said we’re creative and focused.”

“Yeah, that’s what Principal Locke said too.”

“And we have the right personality.”

Ben looked up at the sky, sighed then turned toward the forest. “What did he say…something about how it will soon become clear why we’re here, and there’s some ultimate purpose for our creativity?”

“I know. That whole creativity part was a bit bizarre.”

He shrugged. “It seems everyone is going with the flow. But I have so many questions.” Then he touched my arm to stop me, so I turned toward him. “I’m thinking they’re isolating us for some special reason,” he admitted in an embarrassed tone.

I tried not to laugh—he was acting paranoid. But I didn’t know Ben well. Maybe he was joking, trying to freak me out. Or was he hitting on me? The flutter in my chest moved to my stomach. I was already anxious about being away from home and whether or not I could hack the academics. I didn’t need to obsess about anything else. But I still had to know about Ben’s dream.

“So…I also had a dream about Dickensen before I accepted the offer.”

Ben’s head snapped toward me. “You did?”

Buy Links:

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / iTunes / Google Play / Kobo / The Wild Rose Press

Meet Autumn Mattison

Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Autumn Mattison. I’m from Seattle, and I just started my freshman year of high school at Dickensen Academy. I’m fourteen years old, but will turn fifteen in November.

Why did you choose to attend Dickensen Academy?

Who wouldn’t? Almost no one gets into the place, so when I got in, it shocked us all. And it made my dad so proud. It’s got this great writing program, which I’m really excited about. And the art classes sound fun too. Besides, I’ve got to admit, it was great to move out of the house. My dad is a control freak and sometimes I feel like I can barely breathe around him.

What do you like about boarding school so far?

It’s so amazing to be off on my own. I’ve only been here a couple of weeks, and I’ve already got four really good friends. My roommate, Aditi, is so sweet. And then there’s Hannah, this girl I run cross country with. Ben and Ryan usually hang out with us too.

What about the classes?

I’m really liking school so far. The classes are small, and the teachers are super-passionate, especially Mr. Robbins. He teaches Creative Core which is this art class that is supposed to be the backbone of the fine arts program. To me, it just seems like an art class. But the faculty says it’s much more than that.

Anything you don’t like?

Well…there’s something weird about this place that sometimes gives me the creeps. It’s almost like I’ve been here before. I keep having these déjà vu moments. But it’s probably all my imagination. My dad would say I have too much of that. But there are also all these rules. Like freshmen can’t leave campus until Thanksgiving, and we can’t hang out with the upperclassmen. There’s even this huge electric fence hidden in the woods. It feels like we are locked in. But the teachers say it’s because up here in the mountains there are lots of wild animals. But it seems overkill to me.

Do you have any goals for the year?

I’m hoping to get good grades. I don’t think my dad believes I can hack it on my own, but I want to prove him wrong. No way will I ever do as well as my brother, Josh. But hopefully I can do well enough to get my dad off my back.

Anything you’d like to add?

Well, there’s this guy, Ben. He’s really cute. We hang out a lot, but usually in a group. Aditi thinks he likes me. He even dreamed about me before we got in. Weird, right? But I doubt he’s interested in me. I’m sure he’ll end up with someone more like Hannah, who is model gorgeous.

About Christine Grabowski

Dickensen Academy is Christine’s debut YA novel. After graduating from the University of Washington, she earned her MBA at the University at Albany. She honed her technical writing skills in marketing and consulting but attributes the creative part of the process to her passion for reading.

When she isn’t reading or writing, Christine can often be found running, skiing, or hiking. She lives in Newcastle, Washington, with her supportive husband, two avid teen readers, and their energetic wheaten terriers.

https://www.christinegrabowski.com/

https://facebook.com/christinegrabowskiauthor

https://twitter.com/christinegrabo

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

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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!
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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

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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.

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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

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.

'WhipEye' by Geoffrey Saign

Blurb:

Samantha and her neighbor, Jake, have no idea that Samantha’s best friend, a parrot named Charlie, is a thousand years old. Charlie is also at the center of a secret battle between magical creatures and an ancient, evil man. When Charlie asks Samantha and Jake to protect him, they are chased by monsters from both sides. To save Charlie, and two worlds, Samantha and Jake have twenty-four hours to figure out how to use the supernatural staff, WhipEye, and find the courage to confront what they fear most…

Appropriate for middle grade/YA and up. (Age 9+)

Read an excerpt:

The monster slithers a dozen yards away, coming fast, both heads reared back. I want to scream. 

Ten steps ahead is a big birch. Jake reaches the east side of it, finds a rock, and throws it. He hits one of the cobra heads in the snout, and the beast hisses and veers toward him. Yelling, he bolts. 

Squawk! “Jump, kid!” says Charlie. 

The other snake head strikes at me. 

I leap sideways and the snake misses my legs, catching a mouthful of dirt instead. I’m inches from its long fangs and wrinkled mouth. It gives me a burst of adrenaline. 

Gasping, I spurt around the west side of the tree. The snake’s heads chase us on opposite sides of the trunk, one after Jake and one after me. Its body smacks into the tree trunk, the two heads twisting, trying to force the other around its side. Stupid monster. It buys us a few seconds. 

Not far ahead, a massive rotting log is leaning against another big tree, its high end four feet off the ground. It’s a natural deadfall in front of a small opening at the base of a pile of boulders. Dad showed it to me several years ago, explaining how dangerous it could be and warning me never to go near it. He said just bumping into it could knock it over. 

“Under the tree,” I yell. I watch Jake and trip over a tree root, my legs flying too far out as I try to remain upright. “Don’t touch it,” I croak. 

Jake dives beneath it and Charlie flies in low after him. 

I stumble to the slanted log off balance and bend over at the waist. The back of my head bangs against the wood when I try to duck beneath it. “Umph.” 

Dropping to my knees, I roll to the side several times, ending up on my back. Little rocks and sticks jab through my flannel shirt into my skin. 

Behind me, Jake scrambles into the opening in the rocks, shouting, “Sam.” 

I tilt my head to see beneath the crack under the log. The cobra is racing toward us, inches above the ground. Feeling exposed, I slide over farther to hide behind the low end of the deadfall. 

“Here I am, you stupid worm!” Charlie perches on a rock near Jake, trying to take the snake’s attention away from me. Squawk! “Do something, kid.” 

Bringing my knees to my chest, trying to time the snake’s speed, I kick the deadfall with both feet. It’s like hitting a boulder. It doesn’t budge. Huge disappointment. The way Dad described it, a big mosquito flying into it would topple it. 

The hissing cobra slides beneath the dead tree five feet from me, and stops abruptly, slowly raising its heads and eyeing Jake and Charlie. 

I go rigid while staring at the monster. Please don’t see me.

Available on Amazon

Early Praise for WhipEye

"WhipEye is a thrilling magical adventure with surprises at every turn, a story that deserves to be read."
- Laurisa White Reyes, author of The Celestine Chronicles series and Editor-in-Chief of Middle Shelf Magazine

“WhipEye is a gripping, imaginative adventure from start to finish. I didn’t want to put it down until the very last page!...I cannot wait to read book two!” -LitPick reviewer

About the Author: 

Geoffrey Saign can often be found looking for interesting critters, and magic, while swimming, snorkeling, sailing, or hiking in the woods. His passion for nature and wildlife led to his nationally endorsed book, Green Essentials: What You Need to Know About the Environment, as well as his books African Cats and Great Apes. He has assisted in field research with hummingbirds and humpback whales, and sailed as far away as Australia. With more than twenty years of experience working in special education, he has taught adults and children everything from sailing to novel writing. He won the Shabo Award in 2010. He lives in St. Paul, Minnesota. You can visit Geoff at www.geoffreysaign.net

'The Monsterjunkies: Sanctuary (An American Family Odyssey #2)' by Erik Daniel Shein and Theresa A. Gates

Blurb:

The Monsterjunkies are an enchanting gothic family trying to raise their children in a world that is not. Talon Monsterjunkie is a cryptozoologist who travels the world, continuing an ancestral legacy of saving and researching rare and thought to be non-existent creatures from their Victorian estate at 1313 Road to Nowhere in Foggy Point, Maine. His partner in life and work, Pandora, is a botanist with pagan roots and a passion for otherworldly healing practices. They find joy and mirth in their lofty Thunderstorm Room, the bat colony below, an Odd Orchard, a labyrinth, gargoyles with an agenda, and their darkly decorated Halloween tree. Meanwhile, outside forces are scheming to rid the Monsterjunkies from the area, desiring the real estate their mansion sits on as well as wanting to expose them for illegally harboring exotic wildlife. It does not help that the Monsterjunkie name itself brings suspicion and rumors about what goes on at the odd and mysterious compound.

Cromwell (aka Crow) Monsterjunkie is their passive, macabre teenage son who prefers to cope with life by escaping into the world of comic book creatures and superheroes or spending time with unusual species. He laments that if his territory had not been invaded, plowed over, and contaminated by polluting commercial activities---the hubris of man, would The Creature of the Black Lagoon still be alive today? And why do the bullies of the world ---- the real monsters ---- always seem to win? Insecure, self-conscious, and risk-averse, his friends push him to ask a girl he likes out on a date while his older sister, Indigo and friend Winter Hodges grapple with life during their senior year. His sister is distant and less upbeat after two of her friends are outed and exposed in fake compromising situations online and other forms of harassment for being different.

Crow does not need any more stress. Not only does he not like his body but he endures random acts of micro-aggression. Retaliating last year in school only escalated the conflict with his nemesis, Ruth Grimes though the urge to get back at him is strong, nonetheless. Crow’s been targeted for his goth tastes, his Monsterjunkie name, and the unreal nature of his family’s generational legacy. He hates the haters but just wants to be left alone, free from the pressure to respond to other people’s vices. While in Africa with his father two years ago, they encountered men with guns, jeeps, and machetes, and numerous elephants slaughtered or left for dead. Crow cannot get their screams and cries out of his head. And his father used a gun that night. Crow has not forgotten those disturbing details but no one knows how this incident has affected him. His underground sanctuary is the one place he can block out those horrific sounds of suffering.

The Monsterjunkie family is soon confronted by the suicide attempt by Winter Hodges on their estate. This is the same Winter Hodges who is torn by grief, loss, and humiliation but who also believes in Crow and his talents, and who has a special connection to the family and their adopted pygmy elephant. In the aftermath, Crow finds Winter’s sketchpad and private journal entries. There, he discovers the depth of her emotional distress. For Crow, it is one more situation involving someone he cares about under siege. His private sanctuary below ground cannot continue to hold the tension that is growing inside. To add to his burdens, Talon Monsterjunkie announces that their intelligent, affable Sasquatch, Beau, who has a special relationship with Crow, must return to British Columbia. What would the MJ Manor be like without him? Crow cannot imagine it. This news sets off an honest yet painful eruption of emotion. He tells his father he’s stressed most of the time, and that even though he apologized to Ruth Grimes months ago for his own retaliation, it hasn’t made a bit of difference. Crow is upset that his sister is leaving, that Beau will be gone, and that his dad is missing in action. He also feels pressure to carry on the family’s legacy in cryptozoology while angry at his father’s preoccupation with his life’s work.

Buy it on Amazon

~~Also check out Book 1!~~

Bio

Erik Daniel Shein
Visionary Entrepreneur, and Animal Welfare Advocate

Erik Daniel Shein was born Erik Daniel Stoops, November 18th ,1966 He is an American writer, and visionary, film producer, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, and philanthropist, pet enthusiast and animal health advocate. He is the author and co-author of over 30 nonfiction and fiction books whose writings include six scientific articles in the field of herpetology. His children’s book, “The Forgotten Ornament” is a Christmas classic, and was endorsed by Hollywood legends Mickey and Jan Rooney.