Review: Every Stolen Breath by Kimberly Gabriel

EVERY STOLEN BREATH

by Kimberly Gabriel

Blink

YA Thriller

336 pages

The Swarm is unrecognizable, untraceable, and unpredictable—random attacks on the streets of Chicago by a mob of crazed teens that leaves death in its wake. It’s been two years since the last attack, but Lia Finch has found clues that reveal the Swarm is ready to claim a new victim.

Lia is the only one still pursuing her father’s killers, two years after attorney Steven Finch’s murder by the Swarm. Devastated and desperate for answers, Lia will do anything to uncover the reasons behind his death and to stop someone else from being struck down. But due to debilitating asthma and PTSD that leaves her with a tenuous hold on reality, Lia is the last person to mount a crusade on her own.

After a close encounter with the Swarm puts Lia on their radar, she teams up with a teen hacker, a reporter, and a mysterious stranger who knows firsthand how the mob works. Together, they work to uncover the master puppeteer behind the group. Though if Lia and her network don’t stop the person pulling the strings—and fast—Lia may end up the next target.

Inspired by the real-life “flash mob” violence that struck Chicago in 2011, Every Stolen Breath by debut author Kimberly Gabriel is a fast-paced and immersive thriller that shows just how hard one girl will fight back, knowing any breath might be her last.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

MY TIDBITS

This is the kind of book to take to a comfy chair because the tale is impossible to put down until that last page.

Lia's father died at the hands of The Swarm, a group of hundreds of teens who beat unsuspecting victims to death. She's obsessed with learning who they are and thanks to help from her friend, has discovered where and when the next attack will take place. But things don't run as she'd planned, and she's washed up on shore of the mayor's house. She might have survived, but she's now attracted the attention of The Swarm. She doesn't know who to trust or what actions she should take. She only knows that she could be next.

From the very first page, this read grabs and doesn't let go. The pacing holds steady, while a well-laid mystery unfolds. Lia is a wonderful heroine. She's determined, loves her family dearly, and is stronger than she appears or believes. The title hints at her asthma problem, which causes her quite a few problems and makes her an even easier target for those who'd do her harm. But it's her inner strength, which makes her a girl to root for until the very end.

This is a wonderful game of cat and mouse, where it's almost impossible to guess who is on which side. There are several characters in play, all which claim to have her best interests at heart but all which could be trying to see how much a threat she truly is. More than a few moments and decisions cause reason to hold the breath, since its impossible to guess what will happen next. The press, the mayor, friends at school and even possible members of The Swarm lay around every corner, keeping their true intentions in the shadows. The ending pulls the plot around with satisfying grace.



And here she is...

Kimberly Gabriel is and English teacher who writes every chance she gets and struggles with laundry avoidance issues. When she’s not teaching or writing, she’s enjoying life with her husband, her three beautiful children, and a seriously beautiful boxer in the northern suburbs of Chicago.

Connect with Kimberly

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Sneak Peek: The Sunrise Prophecy by Emily Mah with Giveaway

The Sunrise Prophecy

by Emily Mah

YA Paranormal Romance/Action Adventure

Cover Designer: Linda Caldwell and Emily Mah

Editor: Sally Gwylan and Trent Zelazny

Hosted by: Lady Amber's PR

Liana Linacre thought she was in love, but what began as her fantasy romance ended with a curse that threatens her life and everything she loves. Orphaned and alone, she barely escapes the dark forces that want her soul.

Corban Alexander belongs to an ancient order of vampire hunters and wants to kill everyone who is demon-touched. He knows that the creatures who want Liana dead will find her again before long.

Liana must fight if she wants to live, while Corban must decide if he can love a girl who made the one mistake he believes is unforgivable.

No one, mortal or immortal, has ever won against the evil that plagues Liana, but if she and Corban can work together, they might just defy the laws of the universe.

Corban Alexander has a dark side, and ever since a chance encounter with Liana Linacre, a girl he was supposed to protect, it's darker and more addictive than ever. Every minute of every hour of every day he fights to resist succumbing to his worst instincts. If he doesn't, he will fall, and gain the power to scourge and wreak havoc upon humanity, feeding off their pain. It would take a legion of angels to stop him.

So when he learns that Liana needs help once again, he knows he is the last person to provide it. The problem is, no one else is willing.

Corban must return to the side of the girl he loves, and pray that he is strong enough to save both her and himself.

Angels are falling all over the world and earthquakes and tidal waves are demolishing the major cities. Vampires are proliferating in the chaos, and a deadly, demonic plague is spreading like wildfire.

The pressure is on for Liana and her faithful friends: Corban, the ex-angel and possible boyfriend; Amy, the anthropology-student-turned-loremaster; and Gina, the jeweler-turned-supernatural-weaponsmith. The four of them plus an army of soldiers drawn from across all the human realms must journey into the demon realm and close the portal once and for all.

But when the fallen discover their plans, the battles begin, and Liana finds herself alone in a strange realm of immortal demons who live in perpetual night, under a sky studded with stars. It is the demon realm, or Starlight Kingdom, and its inhabitants are on the brink of their own war. While her friends fight to reach her, she must decipher the prophecy and figure out how to free both Earth and herself from dark forces that could rend the very fabric of the universe, and destroy all creation.

  

Emily Mah has been writing science fiction and fantasy for over twenty years. A graduate of Clarion West Writers Workshop, Viable Paradise Writers Workshop, and a guest presenter most summers at Taos Toolbox Writer's Workshop, she clearly doesn't know when to stop with the workshops... She's also a member of the Critical Mass Writers Group, which is basically another ongoing workshop. Before she started making money from writing, she was a lawyer. You may know her as the chick-lit, contemporary author, E.M. Tippetts. Nowadays she writes full time and manages E.M. Tippetts Book Designs, a formatting and cover design company. To keep up with the latest news of her upcoming releases, subscribe to her mailing list at: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/e7t5p1

Author Links:

Web: http://www.emilymah.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/emilymah

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2QuIDta

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/emily-mah

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6572430.Emily_Mah

Buy Links:

Chasing Sunrise: https://books2read.com/u/31r7vW

Catching Moonlight: https://books2read.com/u/meB6PE

Conquering Starlight: https://books2read.com/u/mBONDk

"Our gazes met, and his eyes widened a notch. A second later, he was gone, though I didn’t remember seeing him step away. It was as if he’d winked out of existence. Well, that had gone about as well as I’d expected, truly."

"No sooner had I gotten my bearings than I found myself backed against a wall, Corban looking me straight in the eye.

'Listen,' he said. 'You can try to hide, but I know what you are. You’re not welcome here.'”

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Review: The Lobsters' Night Before Christmas by Christian Laurie

THE LOBSTERS' NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

by Christina Laurie

Illustrated by Elizabeth Moisan

Schiffer Publishing

32 pages

ages 4 to 8

Creatures of the ocean celebrate Christmas Eve in an undersea retelling of "A Visit by St. Nicholas" by Rev. Clement C. Moore. Under the waves and surrounded by swaying ocean eel grass, Sea Santa makes his yearly Christmas journey. Pulled in his clamshell sleigh by his eight faithful minnows, beautiful watercolor paintings illustrate his visit to a family of lobsters. Told in sweet and clever rhyme, The Lobsters' Night Before Christmas combines a holiday classic with delightful newness. After the poem, children can learn fun facts about lobsters, such as what they look like, what they eat, and how they molt. See if you can find the lobster hiding in the eel grass throughout the book! 

 MY TIDBITS

Every page rings a true love for lobster, while taking a sea spin on the most well-known Christmas poem.

Following true to The Night Before Christmas, the author switches things up just a little bit.  Lobsters and their life under the water become the setting and characters with a new twist of words. Some moments will cause grins, while others a pause for wonder or thoughts. But when Sea Santa arrives, the magic takes over as it should.

While the change to the familiar poem is cute, this story also helps young listeners to learn more about lobsters and gain a greater respect for the creature. It's obvious that lobster love abounds on every page, along with a care for the sea. At the end of the book, there are some more tidbits and basic facts about lobsters.

The illustrations are done in watercolor and are beautiful. The life of the sea comes across in such a way which awakens the fantasy, while still presenting a fairly realistic scene (in so far as possible). It's fun simply to flip through the book and get lost in the undersea world. 

And here they are...

The Author...
Christina Laurie has won many poetry prizes since her first haiku was published in 1976, and her work has appeared around the world. A United Methodist minister for 12 years, Christina now resides on Cape Cod with her cats and a variety of critters that hang out behind her home. She is a member of numerous poetry associations and has served as national chaplain with the National League of American Pen Women. She currently lectures and teaches in schools, churches, women's groups, and libraries.

The Illustrator...

Elizabeth Moisan, a native New Yorker, has worked professionally as an artist since graduating from Parsons School of Design. She is retired from working as a carpet designer and currently works as an illustrator and book designer. She is an Arts and Letters member of the National League of American Pen Women, the founding host of two literary programs, and a member and former facilitator of a writing group. She lives on Cape Cod and is the author of an historical novel.

Happy Book Birthday, The Abyss Trilogy by A.C. Ward with Giveaway

AVOIDING THE ABYSS

by A.C. Ward 

The Abyss Trilogy, #1

YA Dystopian, Fantasy

Aubrey has always been told she isn’t special.
If only that had remained true. 

Aubrey grew up as part of the rebel movement, protected but lonely. All she wants is her mother’s love, but without an ability she’s worthless in her mother’s eyes.
When she’s captured by the government, Aubrey sees an opportunity to prove her worth. Instead, she realizes that her mother has been withholding many truths. Aubrey experiences an acceptance outside of the rebels that her heart has yearned for, and a discovery. She has an immunity that has never been seen before.
But Aubrey isn’t immune, she’s absorbing powers as the key to the Abyss—a portal into the demon realm. Her mother finally sees purpose in her daughter and hopes to use it for her cause. Aubrey isn’t as certain. If she doesn’t gain control of her ability, she’ll open the gateway to hell and destroy everyone she’s come to care about. Including herself.
The first installment in the Abyss trilogy, a coming of age YA dystopian fantasy. Perfect for fans of dystopian worlds, apocalyptic prophesies, and demon lore.
Download now to find out if Aubrey will succeed in Avoiding the Abyss. 

The Complete Trilogy:

Goodreads / Amazon

SNEAK PEEK

It wasn’t the first time her mother had punched her in the face, and Aubrey doubted it would be the last. The most frustrating part was that she saw the punch coming. Not because it was slow—her mother, the paragon of the rebels, didn’t do slow—but because it was her typical move. Aubrey had fallen for the same thing in prior training sessions. She had learned tactics to avoid it, blocking the punch or turning to the side or even ducking, but indecision led to her freezing up.
Her mother’s controlled swing hit Aubrey in the jaw. She tasted blood. Trying her best to ignore it, Aubrey kept her feet moving, managing to pull back in time to evade the second swing. She had never been able to keep up with her mother but wanted to put up a good enough fight to avoid being a complete disappointment. Again.
Sparring matches were one of the few times Aubrey interacted with her mother. It had become a form of communication between them. The way her mother’s green eyes hardened to stone, the deep crease that formed between her brows, the firming of her lips as they turned down in displeasure, Aubrey could read them all. Her mother treated only her that way. A ball of tension twisted in her stomach, the pain of it worse than a connected blow could ever be.
Aubrey swung out at her mother, the punch a surprise even to herself, and sloppy. Her mother caught it in her own fist, the crease between her brows deepening. She used Aubrey’s own momentum against her, pulling her into the next blow. Aubrey tried in vain to turn it into a glancing blow, but the force of the impact snapped her head back. Dots danced in front of her eyes as Aubrey fell. Her mother released her grip to let her.
There were ways to fall to keep in the fight. Aubrey tried to get her body to do it, to roll back to her feet, but she flopped onto the rock ground instead with a sickening thud. She blinked, and the dots whirled, creating arcs of white light. Her mother stepped forward into the glow, pressing her advantage, and behind her an image formed.
Aubrey blinked but the figure remained. It was a man, and it was not. The scowl on his face was even fiercer than her mother’s. When he crossed his arms, Aubrey thought she saw three pairs of limbs folding over his bare ridged chest. He towered above her mother at an impossible height.
Aubrey lost her breath even before her mother’s kick connected with her side. What little air was left whooshed out of her lungs and she squeezed her eyes shut, giving in to the pain. The next kick popped them open wide again. Behind her mother, the figure was gone, burst like the figment of imagination he must have been.
The third kick had her body screaming in protest. Aubrey tried to roll away, to not just sit there and be beaten. Her mother was intent on her prey. The next blow to Aubrey’s side drained the last of her resistance. She curled in on herself, covered her head as best she could, and waited for the punishment to be over.
“Myra,” a voice interjected, warm and unhurried like the man it had come from.
Aubrey’s arms tightened even further around herself, wondering just how much of her shame he had witnessed.
Her mother paused, looking back over her shoulder to where he stood.
“They are asking for you, mi alma,” Tony said, the smile on his face one he reserved for Aubrey’s mother.
Myra frowned at him, her typical response to the pet name. “I’ve told you not to call me that.” She turned back to her daughter, her stance rigid. “Not good enough.”
Aubrey let the words pierce her, forcing her grip on herself to loosen. “I know.”
“You’re already at a disadvantage with no powers. You should be putting every effort into becoming useful in the one area where you have any chance.” Her mother stepped back and picked up a towel to wipe her face, though it wasn’t needed. Myra hadn’t even broken a sweat.
Aubrey’s own sweat ran in rivulets through her short-cropped hair. She used her trembling arms to push herself to a sitting position.
Myra tossed the towel, streaked with red dirt, into her lap. “This performance was even worse than last time.”
Aubrey tensed as her mother stepped toward her, half expecting another kick.
Myra crouched, forcing her daughter to meet her sharp eyes. “You’re becoming even more of a waste of time. If it gets any worse, we’ll end these sessions.” She stood again, turning her back on Aubrey.
Tony moved to the side of the entrance as she passed through, staring after her silently. When she was out of sight, he let out a heavy sigh and glanced at Aubrey where she was still frozen in place. “Happy fifteenth birthday, nena,” he said. Then he left to chase after her mother.
Aubrey stared at the rocky ground beneath her. Her hands curled into fists, the urge to hit something coming too late. She slammed them down hard enough to raise the dirt in plumes of red dust.



And here she is...

Amanda Ward is a little worried that her internet search history is on some sort of watch list. For Death Daydreams, she researched serial killers, hidden rooms, death, suicide, and third-story falls. Her next work in process is only making it worse.
Amanda lives with her husband, daughter, and various pets - dog, cat, gecko, fish, and tarantula. When she's not writing she's watching Netflix or rereading her favorite manga. She'd love to hear from her fans. You can contact her at wardabooks@gmail.com.

Website / Facebook / Amazon / Instagram

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Review: Fierce Winds and Fiery Dragons by Nan Sweet

FIERCE WINDS AND FIERY DRAGONS

Dusky Hollow Series, Book One

by Nan Sweet

Middle Grade Fantasy

ages 8 to 12

Ivy and Carrie love their new classroom even if the new teacher is a little strange. When Mrs. Huffity asks for volunteers to care for an egg, Ivy doesn’t budge. She’s had a few scary dreams about that egg and wants nothing to do with it.

But when trouble comes, Ivy defends the egg. In her desire to save the baby that hatches, Ivy is tossed into the middle of an adventure. She discovers more than she ever wanted to know about fierce winds and fiery dragons.

 MY TIDBITS

With easy to relate to characters, this is a  cute dive into fantasy and touches upon a creature many young readers would probably like to hatch themselves.

Ivy and Carrie are great friends, but their lives are, in many ways, so different. While one has a life which runs smoothly, the other's parents are facing divorce. Ivy is then plagued with nightmares...ones that could relate to the new class project. So when Ivy has the chance to take a day to care for a dragon egg, she turns it down. Still, life has other plans.

I enjoyed the balance between a familiar setting and character lives with the toss in of something as fantastical as a dragon. Ivy and Carrie start out as very usual girls in a very usual classroom setting with very usual problems. Both girls have good hearts, and both struggle with their own problems. Add in the normal classroom drama, and it's something young readers will connect to right away.

The dragon egg settles in with so much finesse...as if it's a natural part of any classroom activity. But, of course, that's when the real adventure starts. The pacing holds smoothly until the last page and keeps readers in the pages. It's a fun tale in so many ways, and one kids are sure to enjoy.