Read an exclusive excerpt from Blade of Ash by C.F.E. Black

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

There's nothing like curling up with a great epic fantasy! And today I am bringing you an exclusive excerpt from Blade of Ash by C.F.E. Black to whet your appetite. Be sure to also check out the rest of the tour and the great giveaway!

Blade of Ash

(Scepter and Crown #1)

By C.F.E. Black

Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance

Hardcover & ebook, 363 Pages

January 25, 2022 by Hillcity Press

The only way to beat death is to chase it. 

 

Newly crowned, Red blames one person for his father’s murder: the secret sorceress sworn to protect the king. Alyana Barron, Royal Sorcerer to the throne of Tandera, fears her magic is weakening. For reasons they don't fully understand, a powerful enemy twisted by dark magic wants them both dead. 

 

When Red is cursed, his life entwines with Aly’s in ways neither of them expected. Together, they chase after a cure that will heal the king and restore her magic, but the closer they get to a cure, the nearer they step toward death, for the path to the cure is as dangerous as the curse itself. 

 

Blade of Ash is the first in a new, epic YA fantasy series perfect for fans of clean enemies-to-lovers romance packed full of royal intrigue, legends, and plenty of ballgowns. If you like female bodyguards and forced proximity with life-and-death stakes, check out Blade of Ash.

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Read an exclusive excerpt:

Standing before him, she lifted both hands toward him.

He realized what she was doing and stiffened as her hands met his head. The way her fingers felt as they slipped into and under his hair, the cool lines traced by her fingertips on his hot skin, made his entire body shudder. She felt his tremor and clamped her hands around his skull, her magic already beginning to seep in.

The knots in his shoulders, neck, back, chest, began to loosen almost immediately. He couldn’t even tell she was doing magic, but he felt the pain ebb. His head tipped forward even more, her strong hands holding him steady. The crown of his head hovered merely inches from her stomach, and every part of Red could feel those inches like they were the last few steps between a thirsty man in the desert and a pool of clear water.

The blood flushed to the knotted areas in his body, melting the tension and seeking the places that had been closed off for too long. He heard himself whimper. As his muscles gave way to her magic, he felt sleep beginning to creep up from his toes to his torso. He was going to fall over and sleep right there on the floor.

But for a moment, he fought the tiredness, not wanting to cut this moment short. Her fingers twitched slightly against his skull, the sensation electrifying on top of her closeness and the magic surging through his body. He did not want it to end.

Unexpectedly he wanted only one thing: to cross the distance between them.

Excerpted from Blade of Ash by C.F.E. Black, Copyright © 2022 by C.F.E. Black. Published by Hillcity Press.

Other Books in the Series

Shield of Shadow

(Scepter and Crown #0.5)

By C.F.E. Black

Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance

E-book, 141 Pages

November 2021 by Hillcity Press

Alyana Barron is tired of living a secluded life apart from society, hiding her magic from watching eyes. When a nobleman offers Aly the chance to train as a Master Sorcerer, secrets hidden in her past will come to light and she'll have to fight to keep her safety and guard her heart.

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Goodreads | Download for FREE at Bookfunnel

About the Author

C. F. E. Black loves to get swept away in books, both reading and writing them. When she’s not writing or chasing her son, she’s teaching high schoolers and trying her best to be a light in their lives. She lives in beautiful north Alabama with her superhero husband, sons, and fur-family. Connect with her and find free stories at www.cfeblack.com.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Bookbub

Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

A signed hardcover of Blade of Ash by C.F.E. Black, a character art print of Red and Aly, and a map print (US only; $20 Amazon e-gift card will be substituted for INT)

Ends March 30, 2022

ENTER HERE

 

Are You Okay, Elliot Hart? by Kate S. Martin

 

Contemporary YA books are starting to deal with more real life issues that teens may relate to on some level, such as bullying. Read an excerpt from one such book and then follow the tour for more from Are You Okay, Elliot Hart? by Kate S. Martin. Best of luck in the giveaway!

"You keep it on the inside because that's the safest way to hide."

Fifteen-year-old Elliot 'Matchstick' Hart spends his days caring for his mum and hiding from the school bully.

Fifteen-year-old Josh McBride spends his days tormenting Elliot and avoiding his abusive stepdad.

Hoping to save his mum, Elliot embarks on an adventure inspired by a picture in an old newspaper. Little does he know that Josh has decided to join him.

On their journey, strangers and surprises force them to look at each other in a different light. As secrets are revealed, will they reconcile their differences or will the secrets tear them further apart?

Read an excerpt:

I’m walking faster than usual, not only because it’s raining heavily, and I am soaked through, but I’m angry. I’m not sure if I am angry at my mum or the whole damn situation. I want to get home, get out of these stupid clothes, and hide under a duvet with my book. I’m reading To Kill a Mockingbird now. Mr. Marshall recommended it to me, so Sydney found a copy at the library and put it aside. I’m up to the part where Miss Maudie’s house has burnt down, and I’m eager to know what will happen next. Marching past the terraced houses, I can’t help but sneak another look in. I see one house where two boys are running around their living rooms with lightsabers; I see dads working on computers in their offices and mums coming home from work being greeted with hugs and laughter. I see lives upon lives that I don’t have and what I want, so very, very much. I want a home with noise and chaos and giggles. I want younger brothers that annoy the hell out of me and a dad that lifts me up onto his shoulders and ducks down, so I don’t hit my head on the door frame. I want family dinners around a kitchen table, where someone shouts at you if you leave without asking permission. I want. I want. I want. I once heard Tom say I want, doesn’t get but it’s not like I’m asking for lots of money or a new house. I want a normal family.

Buy Links

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Kate grew up in a small town in Lancashire, England with her mum, dad, and two older brothers. A bit of a tomboy, she loved nothing more than going out for adventures with her brothers, as long as she was back before dark.

She studied English at Reading University and gained a teaching qualification at Manchester. Nowadays, Kate spends her days teaching English at a local high school in Cheshire and her evenings are spent writing stories close to her heart.

She believes teenage years can be particularly difficult and wants to create stories that show empathy and hope for her readers. She lives with her husband, two children, and Jessie, the miniature schnauzer.

Twitter- @Katemartin100

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/katesuzannemartin

Website- https://katemartinauthor.com/

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

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Read chapter 2 from Charlie's Story by Ann R. NcNicol

 

Fourteen-year-old Samantha spends her days exploring the shallow reef behind her island home. With her world locked in a battle against rising seas, scientists deploy genetically modified corals to rebuild reefs and protect the coastline. No one expects the reefs to be a hotbed of evolution, but they are.

When an octopus flows off a rock in her lagoon, Samantha is startled. When he purposefully arranges pieces of coral on the sand, trying to communicate, she is shocked. How she responds may determine the fate of life on Earth.

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Read chapter one.

Read chapter 2:

Chapter 2~ Samantha 

I should start at the beginning. My name is Samantha. I’m fourteen, and I live with Mom and my brother Jerry. I was born in 2035, eight years before the rising sea flooded the Atlantic coastline forcing mass evacuations. Some cities, like Miami, are now part of the ocean floor. The flood covered our house on Georgia’s coast, so we lived in our car for a while until we landed in a temporary tent city outside Savannah. Back then, all I wanted in life was a dry bed and regular meals. At the time, that was a lot to ask. 

I didn’t get a bed in the camp, but I did get a dry sleeping bag. It was better than trying to sleep in the car. Jerry was only four, and he shared a mattress with Mom and Dad. The camp was crowded, loud, and hot. I spent most nights awake listening to kids crying. Some days we got a hot meal, but mostly it was peanut butter sandwiches and a milk box. I missed Mom’s cooking. We didn’t know how long we would be at the camp or where we would go next. 

Then the Reef Restoration project recruited Dad as a biologist and Mom to record data on tides, currents, water temperature, and pH. They gave us a modular house on an island five miles off the mainland at a field station named Georgia Coastal Habitat Ten. It was great to have a place of our own again. The house was on the highest part of the island and raised on a platform. You needed to climb the stairs to get to the place, but you could see the ocean once you did. I had my own bed, and Mom cooked our meals. My school was online, which suited me just fine. We lived at Coastal Habitat Ten for eighteen months. Long enough for it to feel like home. Long enough to feel safe. 

But the water started rising again. At first, there were just a few high tides where the ground under the house got wet. Then, it got worse. Sometimes there was so much water that fish were swimming under the house. I couldn’t stop crying when they said we had to move. Dad tried to make me feel better. He said the Institute would take care of the move. But I started waking up in the middle of the night, thinking we were back at the tent camp and couldn’t get back to sleep. Mom started taking me to a doctor for depressed kids on the mainland. 

The Institute gave us boxes for our clothes and personal stuff a week before we were to move. We packed our boxes and had them ready when they came. They dismantled our house and moved it to another island. Mom described the houses as “KISS” (Keep It Simple Silly). The house had waterproof polymer panels for walls, floors, and ceilings. They unbolted the pieces and took everything to the new location. So our new house is really our old house, just in a new place. 

I wanted to visit our old island and reef, but Dad said no. He said the island would soon be under water. When I asked about visiting the reef flat, he said it was already too deep. We would need to use SCUBA. He looked sad, saying no. I think it hurt him a lot when he lost his reef. 

But things were different at Coastal Eleven. I was older, and Mom and Dad let me pick colors for curtains and make choices about arranging the furniture. Mom took me around the island, showing me all the places to explore. Dad started taking me out on the reef with him. We’d walk off the shore, and soon we were knee-deep in water on the reef flat. In under an hour, we were in the lagoon, swimming around sea fans, soft corals, and small coral heads. The lagoon was so shallow that I could stand with my head above water, at least at low tide. Going out to the lagoon with Dad and seeing the corals made me remember what it was like to be happy. 

Didn’t you know there were coral reefs in Georgia? Well, they haven’t been here long. Corals reproduce by sending eggs and sperm into the ocean—the larvae travel with the currents. The Georgia corals moved here from Florida. With the seas getting warmer, they could settle and start new reefs here in Georgia. 

The bioengineered heat-tolerant corals saved the Florida reefs and unexpectedly spread northward and deeper. Now Florida and Georgia both have thriving reef systems. That is the good news. The bad news is that much of Florida is now under water. I think Dad loved reefs more than anything else. And after spending time with him, I came to love them too. The reforestation and reef restoration projects were part of a push to slow and reverse global warming. The hope was that robust and expanded reefs, with bioengineered corals, would protect the mainland from storms and flooding. Corals don’t just protect the mainland from wave action. They remove carbon dioxide from the air when they build exoskeletons. Coral growth slows climate change, so they are essential to everyone. 

Don’t get me wrong. It’s great that reefs are good for the planet, but I would love them anyway because they are just so beautiful. The colorful fish are everywhere, and the soft and hard corals are amazing. I had a hard time believing Dad when he told me they are animals because they look more like plants. My favorite coral is purple and takes the shape of fingers. It’s called Porites furcate, or purple finger coral. The lagoon floor looks like a garden of flowers with yellow, green, and purple sea fans (soft corals) waving in the current. Dad taught me not to touch any corals because touching them can give them diseases. He said I should never step on them and taught me to stay on the patches of sand. It took a lot of concentration to learn how to avoid stepping on coral, but I do it instinctively now. 

We were on the reef almost every day back then. But in 2045, there was an outbreak of dengue fever. Dengue is spread by mosquitoes, and it seemed like everyone was getting sick. We used repellent and tried to stay inside at dawn and sunset when the mosquitoes were really biting, but Dad got sick. The hospital was so crowded that his bed was in a hallway instead of a room. He died five days later. 

When Dad died, I lost my teacher and my best friend. Now, what helps me most is going out on the reef flat. When I’m on the reef, I feel like I’m with Dad. I can almost hear his voice telling me the names of corals and tropical fish. Being on the reef makes me feel less alone and less sad. I promised to stay on the reef flat or in the lagoon, in the section close to shore (although sometimes I’m not all that close.) I had to work on Mom, but she gave in, and now she lets me go out on my own. 

Dad died two years ago. I still spend most of my time on the reef studying marine life. I do my online schoolwork, but it doesn’t compare to what I’m learning on the reef. I’m keeping detailed journals on everything I see. Everyone calls me a science geek. It’s true. I get busy with ocean stuff and forget to show up for meals. Mom fusses at me because I’m too skinny. It’s not that I don’t get hungry. I just sometimes forget to come in.

About the author:

Ann R. McNicol grew up watching space launches and devouring science fiction. Scuba diving, exploring coral reefs and Florida beaches cemented her interest in science.

When not writing, she walks with her husband, bikes, camps, keeps up with her adult children and plays with their attention-demanding cats.

https://www.amazon.com/Ann-McNicol/e/B09TS32X5H/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1

https://www.facebook.com/ann.mcnicol.98

I was compensated via Fiverr for sharing this post. I only share those books that I feel will be of interest to my readers.

Building Resilience and Finding Meaning in Life: A Guide for Teens by June Rousso, PhD

 

Building Resilience and Finding Meaning in Life: A Guide for Teens is an interactive book meant to engage readers in learning how to face adversities in life and to find meaning in these experiences. It gives the message that we have a treasure chest of inner resources that can be called upon in the face of adversity. These resources must be discovered and, in some instances developed to build resilience and find what holds personal meaning.

The guide also can be read by counselors and educators to help teens cope and live a more meaningful life. The guide was inspired by the teachings of Dr. Viktor Frankl, noted author of Man’s Search for Meaning, and by the research findings on character strengths presented by the VIA Institute on Character.

Book Links

Goodreads * Kindle * Paperback

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Dr. June Rousso is a licensed psychologist, life coach, and writer. She is a Clinician Diplomate in Logotherapy and Existential Analysis and maintains a private practice in New York City working with children and adults. Dr. Rousso is on the advisory board to Child Resilient, a student-led nonprofit organization focusing on fostering emotional resilience and mental health wellness in children and adolescence thorough education, outreach, and awareness. She also is the author of The Little Book of Character Strengths that focuses on helping children become aware of their character strengths to feel better about themselves and learn to face difficult situations in their daily life.

Website: http://junerousso.com

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2VxRD0U

I was compensated for sharing this post. I only share those books that I feel will be of interest to my readers.

Read chapter 1 from Charlie's Story by Ann R. McNicol

 

Fourteen-year-old Samantha spends her days exploring the shallow reef behind her island home. With her world locked in a battle against rising seas, scientists deploy genetically modified corals to rebuild reefs and protect the coastline. No one expects the reefs to be a hotbed of evolution, but they are.

When an octopus flows off a rock in her lagoon, Samantha is startled. When he purposefully arranges pieces of coral on the sand, trying to communicate, she is shocked. How she responds may determine the fate of life on Earth.

Buy on Amazon

(affiliate link included)

Read chapter 1:

Chapter 1~ Night Encounter 

I knew it was risky when I took the skiff out at night, but I had to do it. Small comfort as swells lifted me into the air and dropped me onto the seat. My knee was braced against the hull, keeping me from falling to the floor. The chaotic bouncing made my stomach churn, and sour liquid tickled the back of my throat. Terrific, why not throw up and make matters worse? I gripped the throttle, urging the skiff forward toward the collection boat anchored off the reef crest. The skiff was too small to be out on open water, and I knew it. 

Occasionally, a small fin from a blacktip shark crossed in front of me. Sometimes, when the shark was in a wave crest, the moonlight showed its silhouette like a shadow puppet. I bet sharks don’t get seasick. What if I sink? No one knows I’m out here. Mom will kill me when she finds out I took the skiff at night. If I reach the collection boat, what can a fourteen-year-old say that will stop them? 

It seemed to take forever to reach the boat, but then I was there, only ten feet or so from its side. My relief was mixed with panic. What happens next? I eased the motor, slowing my approach. Men in wetsuits gathered at the railing, watching me. I lost sight of them when a blinding floodlight blocked everything from view. 

“Hello?” 

“Please lower your lights. I can’t see.”

“Jesus, it’s a kid,” a deep voice called out into the night.

About the author:

Ann R. McNicol grew up watching space launches and devouring science fiction. Scuba diving, exploring coral reefs and Florida beaches cemented her interest in science.

When not writing, she walks with her husband, bikes, camps, keeps up with her adult children and plays with their attention-demanding cats.

https://www.amazon.com/Ann-McNicol/e/B09TS32X5H/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1

https://www.facebook.com/ann.mcnicol.98

I was compensated via Fiverr for sharing this post. I only share those books that I feel will be of interest to my readers.

Life in a Nutshell by Kay Cee

 

This book follows the story of a 17 year old boy named Jesse. He goes from wanting nothing out of life and struggling with his mental health to becoming a person he never thought he could be.

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Read a sample of the book!

I was compensated via Fiverr for sharing this post. I only share those books that I feel will be of interest to my readers. 

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.

Available on Amazon

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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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Annie Jones And The Animal Sanctuary Part Two: Jersey's Unexpected Arrival by Tami Colby

 

Annie Jones struggled to make sense of what her gut was trying to tell her. Her entire adult life, up until this point, was centered around one prevailing thought — staying as far away from Murphy, Texas, as she possibly could. She didn’t fully understand what she was about to do, but in typical Annie Jones fashion, she pulled the trigger anyways. After sitting on the couch, for more than an hour, rehearsing what she was going to tell Ralph, she made the call. “Ralph, I’m taking the farm off the market. This town needs me, and for some strange reason, I think I need this town.” This sequel will answer many of the questions that Tami Colby left readers to ponder at the end of ANNIE JONES AND THE ANIMAL SANCTUARY, ANNIE MEETS MOLLY. So, sit back and enjoy the ride that Annie is about to take you on.

Buy on Amazon

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Click on the cover to learn about Annie's first adventure!

Find more of Tami Colby's books on Amazon!

I was compensated via Fiverr for sharing this post. I only share those books that I feel will be of interest to my readers.

Annie Jones and The Animal Sanctuary: Annie Meets Molly by Tami Colby

 

Annie Jones couldn't wait to leave behind the small-sleepy town of Murphy, Texas. She needed to spread her wings; and that she did. After graduating high school, Annie attends New York University where she earns a degree in journalism and becomes a reporter at one of New York's largest newspapers. Her life was finally going all according to plan... or was it? A phone call from home suddenly forces Annie to re-examine her life and make decisions she never dreamed she would have to make.

Buy on Amazon

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Click on the book cover below to learn more about Annie's next set of adventures!

Find more of Tami Colby's books on Amazon!

I was compensated via Fiverr for sharing this post. I only share those books that I feel will be of interest to my readers.

Review of Thorn of Secrets by B. Truly

 It's the second installment of this young adult, coming of age romance series. Read on for an excerpt and my thoughts on Thorn of Secrets by B. Truly. Then follow the tour for even more. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

In love with the same face that haunts me….

The falling leaves of autumn are like the deceit in my family lineage. Closing the door on the infinite cold—winter blossoms into the spring of new beginnings. In the next season of my life, I’m mending the pieces back together. Opening myself up, I even begin to date, which is a big step for me.

After graduating from high school, a shocking development causes me to be on alert. When nothing comes of it, I move forward, wanting desperately to put the past behind me.

About to start college, I bump into someone from my complicated past, and my heart is torn. The dilemma I struggle with: Do I let other people’s opinion define who I am? I must decide if I’ll push through the ridicule and pave my own path. Could the face that’s scorned me be the key to my resolve? I’ll never know if I take the easy way out.

I’ve unlocked my darkest secret only to have it return to torment me. As the thorns of his obsession encompass me, I discover I’m part of a twisted ploy. If I don’t figure a way out of this predicament, then the life I’ve known may cease to exist.

Don’t miss the riveting sequel to Madison’s story that will have you dangling on the edge of your seat.

Read an excerpt:

The power of the wind beating against the windows becomes too much—two of them shatter. Glass explodes everywhere. Justin uses his body as a shield, keeping the invading glass from hitting me. Tanya screams bloody murder.

Jackson shouts from down the hall. “Move your asses, people!”

Justin ushers me in that direction quickly. As I move, I notice putting weight on my right foot is painful. It gives out against my will, then I’m hobbling.

Tanya rushes into the half-bath. Justin stops and scoops me up, carrying me the rest of the way, making me feel like a helpless child. It’s more than humiliating. We huddle in the half-bath. The room doesn’t have windows, thank goodness. Since the house doesn’t have a basement, this makes the half-bath the safest spot.

A flashlight propped up on the counter is our only source of light. Jackson’s forehead is wrinkled. Tanya is sitting on the toilet with the lid closed with her arms wrapped around herself. Justin is near me as I crouch in the corner, shivering uncontrollably. The house feels like an earthquake has gotten a hold of it—shaking under the wrath of the cyclone.

My heart is slamming against my ribcage. The sound blends in with the rumbling of the foundation. With the expressions on the others’ faces, I’m not imagining it. The tornado is right on top of us, and I’m certain the house is inside of it. For a couple of seconds, all sound seems to cease. The vroom of the monster is muted.

“Is it gone?” Tanya wonders.

My senses are waving red flags. The cyclone is nowhere near done. It’s only getting started. My intuition is confirmed when the roaring picks up again and, to my disbelief, is even louder. The theory about the eye is wrong. The center of the storm is not peaceful, only a momentary calm before the beast unleashes its full wrath. The wind is so ferocious, it takes everything in me not to cry.

Tanya lets out her fear. “Why is the house shaking? Why is it so loud?”

A moment later, it becomes clear why the house is trembling. It has been defeated and can no longer stay rooted. The roof cracks open. The cracks spread quickly, like worker ants determined to snag a meal, and then the roof rips off completely.

“Ah, hell!” Jackson yells.

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**My thoughts**

I've been waiting for this sequel to come out, because I needed to know what was going to happen to Madison in the future. And if you haven't read the first book, you are not going to be able to truly appreciate her PTSD and the growth that she goes through.

The book starts out with a massive BANG and becomes something like VC Andrews meets reality TV. As it continues, it mellows out a bit, skimming over some time as Madison learns to cope with her PTSD and tries to get through her senior year of high school while raising her daughter - more of a coming of age YA story. She really comes a long way, but has had an awful lot of trauma. And the secrets and betrayals just keep on multiplying. And even though there are parts where the story seems to slow down a bit, something always ends up happening that picks up the pace again, making it a true roller coaster of a ride. But I couldn't put it down because I had to know what was going to happen, especially with her and Justin and the drama with his brother. I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to the author and Goddess Fish Promotions for the requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

B. Truly has wanted to be an author since she was fifteen years old. She is grateful to have accomplished this dream. B. Truly has very vivid dreams and a wild imagination. She likes to read, watch tons of TV shows, and movies. She’s addicted to romance and gets a thrill out of suspense and sci-fi. She writes young adult, new adult, and adult romance, sci-fi, dystopian, and paranormal genres.

B. Truly likes to explore conflicted plots of romance with thrilling twists. She also loves creating impossible situations for her characters to grow from and try to overcome.

B. Truly has three wonderful children, and a husband who defines the person that she is today. She works full-time as an Ultrasound technologist in Houston, Texas.

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