Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Happy Release, Duty Bound by Christina Bauer with Giveaway!





Duty Bound 
Angelbound Origins 0.5
by Christina Bauer
Monster House Books
Young Adult, Paranormal Romance







An Angelbound Prequel Novella by Christina Bauer
As the High Prince of the demon-fighting thrax, Lincoln knows he must marry for political gain. Not that he minds. For all of his eighteen years, Lincoln’s been bound to his duty. Fighting demons is his life, and he’s never given romance a second thought. Instead, the High Prince lives for the days when he leaves his hidden realm to fight demons on Earth.
Then, everything changes.
Lincoln and his nobles become forced to visit Purgatory, the home of quasi-demons (who are mostly human with a bit of demonic DNA). Here Lincoln spies Myla Lewis, a lady warrior who enflames his heart, ignites his interest, and inspires his respect. Trouble is, Myla’s also a quasi. By thrax law, Lincoln must kill anything demonic—not date them. For the first time in his life, Lincoln wonders if he’ll follow his duty…or heed the demands of his heart.



Grab Angelbound – Book 1 – for FREE:
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READ CHAPTER 1

I am Lincoln Vidar Osric Aquilus, High Prince of the Thrax. My people are renowned as the greatest demon hunters across Heaven, Hell, Earth, Purgatory, and the Dark Lands. At eighteen years old, I’ve killed precisely one thousand four hundred and thirty-seven demons in hand-to-hand combat, more than any other thrax in history. All of which leads to a single inescapable conclusion.
I can make it through this breakfast with my mother.
At least, I think I can.
“You haven’t touched your eggs, my son.” Mother spears a strawberry off her plate. After many years of maternal encounters, I’ve learned to keep my mouth closed in situations like this one. Mother will bring up her true concerns when she’s good and ready.
In reply, I merely maintain her stare. We’ve an odd relationship, but a close one. We’re both natural schemers, so neither wants to pass up a test of intelligence and charm.
“Perhaps you dislike formal breakfasts,” says Mother as she gestures to my tunic.
“I’m fine with wearing royal garb to meals. Rest assured, all my Batman costumes are safely packed away.” As a child, I fought hard to dress as a human superhero. Unlike demon killing, that was one battle I ultimately lost.
“So you say.” A small smile rounds Mother’s mouth. “Those tunics hide quite a lot.”
“True. I’ve a Bohemian Rhapsody T-shirt on under this thing.”
“I have no idea what that is, but I’m pleased to see you turned out so well.”
This morning, I’m dressed in a velvet tunic, leather pants, and tall boots. Meanwhile, Mother looks regal and lethal in her black velvet gown. She has porcelain skin, delicate features, and an all-knowing glare that reduces hardened warriors to mush.
Needless to say, I’m pleased that her glare has softened. I must remember to work Batman into our conversations more often.
For a few minutes, Mother and I continue our breakfast in silence. It would be pleasant, except for the setting. Our new feasting hall is located in Purgatory.
Yes, Purgatory.
This place combines the worst of a rundown human suburb with the best of a rotting Dumpster. The sky is constantly cloudy with two types of weather: rainy and about to rain. It’s part of the magic of this realm that the weather is always dreary. Plus, the sky never reveals the sun or moon, and even if it did, those celestial bodies follow different patterns than they do in other realms.
Closing my eyes, I let my thoughts return to the glittering caverns of my homeland. As a rule, thrax live underground on Earth in the realm of Antrum. For some reason, the oracle angel, Verus, has demanded the royal family—and our noble entourage—move to Purgatory for a short period of time. This wasn’t a popular idea, but the oracle’s word is law, so we arrived here three months ago. Until Verus sets us loose, our days will be spent in tents and wooden halls like this one.
I scan the empty benches around me and sigh. It’s hard being separated from the bulk of my people. Quiet breakfasts like this only make things worse. Usually our feasting hall is packed with thrax sharing breakfast at communal tables. However, today Mother insisted on having a family-only morning meal, which in this case translates into me, Mother, and a half-dozen terrified workers. Father should get here any minute now. I can only hope he arrives before Mother’s temper returns.
As if in reply to my thoughts, Mother spears another wilted strawberry with a vengeance. Looks like her temper will resurface before Father does. Bugger.
“You never answered my question,” says Mother. “You haven’t touched your food.” She spears a grape with such force the entire table wobbles.
“Careful there,” I say. “You’ll bring down the roof down.”
“One perk of being queen. I can bring down roofs and no one says a thing.”
At those words, the half-dozen servants in the room visibly shiver.
There’s no question about the general topic of Mother’s angst, either. It’s always the same issue: the House of Acca. That tribe is the largest and most troublesome of all thrax.
At this point, problems with Acca could fall into one of two categories.
One, Mother might be worried about my impending marriage contract with Acca’s most eligible noblewoman, Lady Adair. If Mother thinks there are problems on that front, she would be sorely mistaken. It’s a business arrangement, nothing more. I’d regret that, but I’m a prince. I always knew I’d never marry for love.
Two—and far more worrisome—would be if Mother discovered my ongoing scheme against Aldred, the dreaded Earl of Acca himself. I’ve many issues with the Earl, but my largest is how Aldred keeps leading his warriors into ill-planned demon attacks on the Earth’s surface. Thanks to the Earl of Acca, hundreds of good thrax meet bad ends every week. I meet with the families of the fallen, trying to provide comfort as their worlds fall apart. So many tears and ruined lives…and all so the Earl can prove his so-called prowess in battle.
It’s outrageous.
Even worse, my parents have forbidden me from doing anything to stop Aldred’s bloodshed. Per some ancient treaty, if I interfere with Aldred’s rights to lead his troops, then the Earl has the unmitigated right to execute me on the spot.
And as every royal knows, execution threats and breakfast do not mix well.


 And here she is. . .

Christina Bauer knows how to tell stories about kick-ass women. In her best selling Angelbound series, the heroine is a part-demon girl who loves to fight in Purgatory’s Arena and falls in love with a part-angel prince. This young adult best seller has driven more than 500,000 ebook downloads and 9,000 reviews on Goodreads and retailers.
Bauer has also told the story of the Women’s March on Washington by leading PR efforts for the Massachusetts Chapter. Her pre-event press release—the only one sent out on a major wire service—resulted in more than 19,000 global impressions and redistribution by over 350 different media entities including the Associated Press.
Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.

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Flesh and Blood by Willow Rose Giveaway!



Flesh and Blood
The Vampires of Shadow Hills Book 1
by Willow Rose
YA Paranormal Romance

For fans of Twilight and A Shade of Vampire comes a new addiction impossible to put down.

It’s like Riverdale meets Big Little Lies meets Romeo and Juliet, but with vampires!”

What if you can’t trust your own family?

Robyn’s parents are ruining her life. As if their constant bickering and embarrassing behavior wasn’t bad enough, they’ve forbidden her from hanging out with her crush just when a flirty new girl moves to their block. Strangely enough, Robyn’s parents look the other way when her big brother breaks curfew… even after a local girl's violent murder.
With the neighborhood on high alert, strange sightings are on the rise and the accusations begin to fly. Between her brother’s nighttime excursions and her parents’ odd behavior, Robyn starts to worry that the killer may be living under her own roof. In a town where neighbor has turned against neighbor, deciding whom to trust with her dark fears could be a matter of life and death…
Flesh and Blood is the first book in a fun and frightening series of romantic paranormal mysteries. If you like terrifying thrills, flesh and blood characters, and vampires without the sparkle, then you’ll love Willow Rose’s tale of suburban terror.
**Only .99 cents!!**

Blood and Fire
The Vampires of Shadow Hills Book 2

"I wish my parents were immortal bloodsucking vampires,” said no one. Ever.

Especially not Robyn who is struggling being the only human in a house filled with vampires. Can she keep it a secret that she knows what they are? Meanwhile Jayden’s family is revealing secrets of their own and nothing is as it seems in Shadow Hills anymore. .

Who can they trust?

Blood and Fire is the second book in a fun and frightening series of romantic paranormal mysteries. If you like terrifying thrills, flesh and blood characters, and vampires without the sparkle, then you’ll love Willow Rose’s tale of suburban terror.


Fire and Beauty
The Vampires of Shadow Hills Book 3

It's a neighborhood like any other. Except it is not.

Under the surface lures so many secrets that the teenagers of Shadow Hills fear for their lives.
Jazmine knows her friend's parents are strange supernatural beings, but what about hers?
Who can she trust?
Fire and Beauty is the third book in a fun and frightening series of romantic paranormal mysteries. If you like terrifying thrills, flesh and blood characters, and vampires without the sparkle, then you’ll love Willow Rose’s tale of suburban terror.



The Queen of Scream aka Willow Rose is a #1 Amazon Best-selling Author and an Amazon ALL-star Author of more than 40 novels. She writes Mystery, Suspense, Horror, Supernatural thrillers, and Fantasy. 

She lives on Florida's Space Coast with her husband and two daughters. When she is not writing or reading, you will find her surfing and watch the dolphins play in the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. 

Willow's books are fast-paced, nail-biting pageturners.
Several of her books have reached the Kindle top 20 of ALL books in the US, UK, and Canada.
She has sold more than two million books.




Follow the tour HERE for exclusive content and a giveaway!







Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Happy Book Birthday, Somewhere Bound by Fiona Keane




Somewhere Bound
by Fiona Keane
Upper YA/NA Contemporary Romance
Limitless Publishing
Cover Designer: Deranged Doctor Design
Feb. 27th, 2018

Hosted by: Lady Amber’s PR



Sophia…
I’ve only ever been Sophia Reid, the quiet girl from—and going—nowhere. If I ever want to escape the torment of my memories, and the murderer in our shadow, I need to die.
Jameson told me his story started and ended with me. Now I need to figure out who I am, who we are, and lay to rest the mysteries of our past, so our story can begin.
Jameson…
I belong by Sophia’s side. If we ever get out of this nightmare, I’ll make her my wife, and I’ll give her everything she needs to make her happy.
But right now, nowhere is safe. We left Florida, driving through deserts, across mountains, heading to Sophia’s old home in Oregon. Hopefully there, she’ll find peace…and answers.
I’ve spent my life trying to outrun death. But now, death may be the only thing that can save us.








Fueled by coffee and rainy days, shelves of books consuming her home in the Pacific Northwest, and a vivid imagination, Fiona writes about love because she believes the world needs more of it. She could spend eternity lost in a story, taken into someone’s thoughts while she is left lingering there long after the pages have turned. Fiona works to meld themes in the current world and spin them into stories of longing, determination, and hope. Her characters are relatable and relevant, as they battle their own fictional version of existence.

Author Links:
Buy Links:
Nowhere Girl: http://amzn.to/2BYrJrH Everywhere Unraveled: http://amzn.to/2FN2bAc
Somewhere Bound: http://amzn.to/2HM481E
  


Song of Dragonfire Series by Megan Linski






Song of Dragonfire Series
by Megan Linski
YA Fantasy, Reverse Harem
Cover Designer: Catnip Designs
Gryfyn Publishing


COMING. . .
MARCH 6th, 2018!!!

Hosted by: Lady Amber’s PR
"Smoke. Fire. Air.
All three are required to make me whole.
I need the love that burns within them all.
I need my dragons."

Fliss thought war ended when she saved Krakow, yet war has yet to begin. Her dragon Smok has vowed to protect her, but not even he can stop the threat that looms over Poland.

Then Fliss discovers a shocking secret— Smok’s brothers are still alive, and she's loved all of them before in her past lives.

A journey across fae kingdoms and siren realms reveals the truth of her dark heritage. With three dragons at her side, Fliss must reassemble the events of history and solve the mystery of who has been hunting her across centuries.

Yet Fliss has roused the wrath of gods... and there will be no mercy.

Will her dragons be able to save Fliss from death once again? Or do the gods have other plans?




“Please... don't let me lose my dragons.”

Wounded. Crippled. Unable to harness her magic. After suffering a painful defeat and barely escaping with her life, Fliss and her three dragons are on the run from Natska, the dark fae queen who is also Chernobog, the goddess of death... and Fliss’ sister.
They can no longer fight Natska on their own. Fliss must seek out the city of sirens and search for a master who can teach her the strength of her song, but few are willing to aid her on their quest. A war of gods and men has broken out across the realm, and the magical community is in shambles.
If Fliss doesn’t gain control of her powers, she’ll plunge the world into an eternal darkness from which it will never recover.

The goddess of song will rise to battle the goddess of chaos-- and the victor will change Poland forever.






Megan Linski is the owner of Gryfyn Publishing. She is best known for her popular series The Shifter Prophecy, The Kingdom Saga, and The Rhodi Saga, as well as recognized for her work on the Creatures of the Lands series. In 2014, Linski published the Creatures of the Lands series in Lison's honor.
Linski is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention, and is an active fighter against common variable immune deficiency disorder.

Author Links:
Buy Link:
Song of Smoke & Fire: http://amzn.to/2HLBL3A
Change of Wind & Storms: http://amzn.to/2EXh4zQ
World of Gods & Men: http://amzn.to/2FCJXTr


Dwarves of Calcus by Katie Hamstead


Sneak Peek: The History of Hilary Hambrushina by Marnie Lamb with Giveaway





The History of Hilary Hambrushina 
by Marnie Lamb
May 31st 2017
YA Contemporary





Hilary has one goal for her first year in junior high: to become popular. But her plans are turned upside down when her best friend leaves for the summer and a quirky girl named Kallie moves in next door. Kallie paints constellations on her ceiling, sleeps in a hammock, and enacts fantastical plays in front of cute boys on the beach. Yet despite Kallie’s lack of interest in being -cool, – Hilary and Kallie find themselves becoming friends. That summer friendship, however, is put to the test when school begins, reigniting Hilary’s obsession with climbing the social ladder. As Hilary discovers the dark side to popularity, she must decide who she wants to be before she loses everything.



SNEAK PEEK

I put on a sweatband and sneakers and brought down a water bottle. My plan was to pedal non-stop for an hour. I figured I could do it, since I was used to riding my own bike, and how different could this bike be? I should lose at least one pound that way, I told myself. So if I use the bike every day, in fifteen days I’ll have lost the weight I want to lose.
I stepped over boxes and piles of books to reach the bike, which sat in a dark corner. This corner had a musty smell, like an old church that hadn’t been dusted since Queen Victoria was my age. A fake raccoon-fur hat someone had given my dad as a joke hung on the wall nearby.
The bike seat was too high for me, but I couldn’t move it because it was screwed in place. Gripping the handlebars for support, I tried to heave my leg over the seat several times without success. I was becoming angry and sweaty, so I started breathing deeply, like I was having a baby, to calm myself down. “Hoo hoo hoo.”
“Hilary!” shouted my mom. “Why are you making monkey noises?”
I froze. I knew that if I said, “It’s nothing,” she’d come down, and I didn’t want her to think I needed help getting on a stationary bicycle. So I called, “I’m just playing a game.”
I managed to lift myself on to the bike. I had to stretch to reach the pedals, but I finally did and started pumping. It was O.K. at first, but soon, my muscles felt like some psycho was using them as rubber bands. And some people actually do this for fun! What’s wrong with them, I thought. I reached for the water bottle and tried to squirt some water in my mouth. Nothing but air came out. I’d forgotten to fill the bottle! I threw it away and continued to pump furiously. Objects on the wall began rattling, and I was making so many strange noises my mother must have thought a whole pack of monkeys was performing a conga line in the basement. I began to have visions of monkeys in spangly pink bikinis
kicking up their heels (did monkeys have heels, I wondered) on stage at the Princess of Wales Theatre.
Suddenly my sweatband fell over my eyes. I didn’t stop to fix it, though. You’re going to pump for the full hour, not for fifty-nine minutes, I ordered myself. Instead, I tried nodding vigorously to get the sweatband to fall under my chin. It fell over my nose and I couldn’t breathe. Then something dark and furry leapt on my head, covering my eyes and tickling my face like a bunch of feathers. I screamed, batting at the thing with one hand and pumping frantically, as if I could escape that way. I soon realized it was only my dad’s hat, but I still couldn’t get it off. Finally I stumbled off the bike and yanked the hat’s tail away from my eyes.
I had no energy left to remove the hat, so I left it on and trudged upstairs. I passed my mom, who took one look at me and started to snicker. Ignoring her, I went into the kitchen to check the clock. I’d been on the bike five minutes.
So that was the end of my experiment with exercising.



And here she is. . .
A Journey Prize nominee, Marnie Lamb earned a master’s degree in creative writing from the University of Windsor. Her short stories have appeared in various Canadian literary journals. Her first novel, a YA book named The History of Hilary Hambrushina, is forthcoming from Iguana Books. When she is not writing fiction or running her freelance editing business, she can be found cooking recipes with eggplant or scouting out colourful fashions at the One of a Kind Show. 



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Monday, February 26, 2018

Review: EVERYWHERE YOU WANT TO BE by Christina June


EVERYWHERE YOU WANT TO BE
by Christina June
Blink
YA Contemporary
288 pages

COMING. . .
MAY 1st, 2018!!!


From author Christina June comes Everywhere You Want to Be, a modern tale inspired by the classic Red Riding Hood.

Matilda Castillo has always done what she was told, but when she gets injured senior years, she watches her dreams of becoming a contemporary dancer slip away. So when Tilly gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend the summer with a New York dance troupe, nothing can stop her from saying yes--not her mother, not her fears of the big city, and not the commitment she made to Georgetown. Tilly's mother allows her to go on two conditions: one, Tilly will regularly visit her abuela in New Jersey, and two, after the summer, she'll give up dancing and go off to college.

Armed with her red vintage sunglasses and her pros and cons lists, Tilly strikes out, determined to turn a summer job into a career. Along the way she meets new friends ... and new enemies. Tilly isn't the only one desperate to dance, and fellow troupe member Sabrina Wolfrik intends to succeed at any cost. But despite dodging sabotage and blackmail attempts from Sabrina, Tilly can't help but fall in love with the city, especially since Paolo, a handsome musician from her past, is also calling New York home for the summer.

As the weeks wind down and the competition with Sabrina heats up, Tilly's future is on the line. She must decide whether to follow her mother's path to Georgetown or leap into the unknown to pursue her own dreams.




MY TIDBITS


Taking a nod at Red Riding Hood, this tale follows a girl's decision between dancing dreams or a path her mother laid out for her.

Tilly is all set to go to Georgetown as soon as summer ends, but until then, she has the chance to dance with a temporary troupe in a show in New York. Little does her mother know she's actually already informed the college that she'll be enrolling first a year later. She's determined to use the troupe as a stepping stone into a dancing career. If she can. There aren't many spots available, she's still coming to terms with an injury and not all of her troupe members are willing to work together. In other words, there's more stumbling blocks on her journey than she could have ever expected.

Although this is a retelling of Red Riding Hood, it is a distant one. The main character is on her own in New York with plans to take a different path than her mother expects her to take. She's determined but not always sure of her decision or, at least, how it will affect those she loves. Her vulnerability makes her a character to cheer for and one that touches the heart. Her intentions are good, and she has tons of support from all sides. Not only does she meet great friends, who offer tons of wise words, but the grandmother, her abuela, is one anyone would love to call their own. There's a bit of romance too, which adds a sweet twist but never overpowers the main plot.

This is a heart and soul read, which follows Tilly on her personal journey of discovering who she is and what she wants. The author does a fantastic job at capturing a girl just leaving high school and ready to embark on what her life might be. There are some tough decisions to be made, ones with several possible solutions or outcomes. And it's exactly this which makes it flow so naturally and stay true to life.

The pacing holds steady the whole way through as Tilly turns from one situation to the next and tries to work her way through. It's not an action read but a deep exploration of decisions, possibilities and learning to remain true to oneself. Drama is key in this book, the kind which makes the reader sigh, cheer or even grab a cookie and snack along the way. It's perfect for readers who love to dive into a character, feel her emotions and be enveloped with a caring warmth with the end of the last page.


All about. . .

Christina June is a debut author who writes young adult contemporary fiction when she's not writing college recommendation letters during her day job as a high school counselor. She is a voracious reader, loves to travel, and hopes to one day be bicoastal - the east coast of the US and the east coast of Scotland. Christina lives just outside Washington DC with her husband and the world's most rambunctious four-year-old. Visit www.christinajune.com to learn more about Christina. Follow her on Twitter: @ChristinaJuneYA and on Instagram: christinajuneya.


Happy Book Birthday, A Song of Summer Lost by Sarah Negovetich with Giveaway!





A Song of Summer Lost
by Sarah Negovetich
YA Urban Fantasy
Cover Designer: Jasmine at Glamma X Graphics
Editor: Tia Bach at Indie Books Gone Wild
Proofreader: Krystal Wade at Indie Books Gone Wild

Hosted by: Lady Amber’s PR



Princess Caolainn of the Summer Court has her entire future planned out for her: assume the throne, marry the man her father selects, and produce an heir. A life that promises more isolation inside the stone walls of her castle and none of the passion she yearns for.
When the King does an about-face and approves her request to travel to the human realm, Caolainn is granted a few short months to taste freedom and live the life she’s only ever dreamed about. But when an ancient enemy threatens both realms, will Caolainn choose the life planned for her or the one written in her heart?







Sarah Negovetich knows you don't know how to pronounce her name and she's okay with that.
Her first love is Young Adult novels, because at seventeen the world is your oyster. Only oysters are slimy and more than a little salty; it's accurate if not exactly motivational. We should come up with a better cliché.
Sarah divides her time between writing books that her husband won’t read and performing on stage at BE Theatre. Her goal in life is to never grow up.
Author Links:
“I’m going to hurt you,” I choked out. “Hurt both of us.” The words pumped out of me in between great gulps of breath and choking cries.
“I know,” he said softly, holding me even tighter.
“Then why aren’t you running for the door?” I asked into his chest, his damp shirt sticking to my face.
“Because that’s not how life works. I didn’t fall in love with you because it would guarantee me a future of sunshine and rainbows. I don’t even think I made a conscious decision to do it. It just happened. And if that means I get hurt in the end, then that will just happen too.” He rubbed at my back and planted a soft kiss on top of my head. “Our lives don’t get perfectly composed endings with a fancy coda like a classical piece of music. They are messy and complicated and sometimes they don’t make any sense.”
I used a dry inch of his shirt to wipe at my eyes and looked up at him. “Then why do we bother?”
            David let out a sad huff of laughter. “Because the alternative isn’t really living at all.”