Monday, September 29, 2014

Blog Tour : The Haunting of Secrets!!!




The Haunting of Secrets
Secrets Series
Book One
Shelley R. Pickens

Genre:  YA paranormal

Publisher: Fire and Ice

Date of Publication: July 24th, 2014

ISBN:  978-1-61235-929-8
ASIN: B00M2E3IVK

Number of pages:171 pages
Word Count: 60,643

Cover Artist: Caroline Andrus

Book Description:

Are some secrets worth dying for?

Sixteen-year-old Aimee doesn't like to touch people. One touch and she sees their past. One graze over her skin and she can see all the good and bad deeds a person has ever done. It isn't until a bomb explodes during lunch that she realizes exactly how many dirty secrets the students in her school harbor-or exactly how far one of them would go to keep his secrets safe.

In the aftermath of that fateful day of the bombing Aimee is brushed by a fellow student as they are caught in the mob running for their lives. Images of tortured and murdered young girls rise up to choke her. The problem is, Aimee doesn't know who touched her. Somewhere in this school a fellow student is a killer, and Aimee is the only one that can find him before he murders again.

With the help of her friends Aimee must sift through her stolen memories to determine clues. The quest to find a killer unravels the very fabric of her carefully woven life. He won't stop until he silences her- for only she knows all his secrets.

She will have to summon all of her inner strength to decide what she must do: hunt or be hunted.
Are some secrets worth dying for?


Book Trailer 





Excerpt


Chapter Two
~ Everyone That Says School is Hell Isn’t Kidding ~

 It’s a normal Wednesday in October when the world around me is thrown into chaos. Homecoming posters litter the halls of the school. Outside, leaves scatter and fly about the campus, blanketing everything in a sheet of crispy brown. There is nothing unusual in the air. Inside, students fill the halls, chatting with friends and making their way to their classes. As usual, I am off by myself, sitting in the corner of a hall studying for a chemistry exam, invisible to everyone else. Well, almost everyone else.
“Can you please explain to me why I need to learn what a mole is, when I know it has absolutely nothing to do with my dream of becoming Zac Efron’s wife?” asked a tall, dark haired, brown eyed girl from above me, her figure blocking the light.
Looking up at her, I sigh. I want to feel annoyed by the intrusion, but I just don’t have it in me to get mad at the only friend I have in my life; the friend who not only knows my secret but, for some unfathomable reason, doesn’t seem to care. “Well, Dejana, if you actually understood how a mole works, then you would be able to see how the molecules interact to make Zac Efron so incredibly hot that it renders him unattainable for the normal teenage girl. Conversely, that same molecular reasoning would not allow good old Zac to give you the time of day.”
“Posh,” spit out Dejana, ignoring every word I just said. “That is simply a piece of science I am more than willing to overcome.”
I shake my head at her, yet say nothing, since I truly do wish her dreams would come true for her. Everyone should have a dream, no matter how unattainable it may be. Dreams are what keep us moving forward; what gives us hope for the future, no matter how silly or impractical those dreams may be. I envy Dejana. At least she has dreams. I have never been able to afford that luxury. I spend way too much time in the past.
Shaking off the impending melancholy, I turn my blue eyes to Dejana and say, “Isn’t he dating someone right now?”
Dejana’s silence tells me everything I need to know.
“Well, if anyone can turn him on, it would be you Dejana. And if you need help, I can take care of Zac for ya, kidnap him even and keep him busy so that he doesn’t go anywhere. I can tie him up, if that’s what it takes. I would do that for you, my friend. It would be a hardship, but I’d do it. ”
“That’s my girl,” says Dejana with a smile. “Now quit sulking and let’s go to math. If we’re late, Mr. Herring will have our heads.” As usual, Dejana is right.
After enduring a very long morning of math and chemistry, I am extremely grateful that it’s finally time for lunch. After grabbing my lunch bag out of my locker, I make my way down to the cafeteria. I’m late as usual, but I do this on purpose and for a very good reason. Slowly, I make my way to the doubly long rectangular table by the attendance office in the corner of the large common area. The cafeteria is filled with the usual lunch crowd doing their usual things, which involves more talking and texting rather than eating. No one had any inkling that their lives were about to change. Or even worse, about to end. There were no signs of impending doom, no masked man walking around with a detonator. It is just a normal day with kids eating their lunch. And just like in the movies, it happens in an instant.
One minute I am quietly eating my pizza and breadsticks, when suddenly a loud roar fills my ears and an invisible hand lifts me up out of my seat and flings me into the air. It is disorienting, but not really scary at first. It feels like I am floating, looking down upon the wreckage as if experiencing it second hand. I am confused at first, thinking maybe this was some kind of joke; that some mean kid had picked up my seat and hurled me across the cafeteria. They tended to do that to me, since I never fight back; never dare to get within ten feet of them. They think it is out of cowardice. I know better.

The whole world around me is moving in slow motion. It isn’t until I am hit in the face with a bloody hand wrenched completely off at the wrist that I realize the roar I had heard was a bomb. I begin my descent to the hard floor; my body constantly hitting pieces of table, metal mixed with plastic from chairs, and chunks of things stained red that I don’t even want to know where they came from. I hit the ground on my right side and the contact sends a painful jolt through my shoulder that travels the length of my body. My gloved hands cover my face to ward off the feet trampling all around me. The images of body parts flying through the air and blood spattering on the walls and floor are seared into my brain. In another life, it could have been art, a pretty mosaic depicting the tragedies of life. My first instinct is to avoid, at all possible costs, the touches of the hordes of people that come my way in a desperate attempt to flee the carnage. I have no idea where I am in the cafeteria anymore. All I know is that I have to get out, get away from all those people and from all of their secrets.

About Author




Shelley Pickens is a Spanish teacher by day and a novelist by night. She’s been in love with everything paranormal since she can remember.  After years of teaching high school students, she decided to take her firsthand knowledge of young adults and apply it to her passion for creative writing and fantasy. 

When not teaching or writing, Shelley likes to spend time with her husband and two beautiful children in Atlanta, Ga. 

Her escape from reality is her love of complex thriller and science fiction TV series like Supernatural and Sleepy Hollow.  In her spare time she is an avid watcher of little league baseball. 

THE HAUNTING OF SECRETS is her debut novel. 







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Thursday, September 25, 2014

Review Tour: The Neumarian Chronicles: Escapement





Escapement
Book 1: The Neumarian Chronicles
 By: Ciara Knight
Genre: Dystopia, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Synopsys

Ten years after the great war of 2185 the queen’s reign is threatened by uprisings and fear. In celebration of my sixteenth birthday it is my duty as princess to sacrifice a slave to be initiated into the ruling council, solidifying my mother’s empire. When my own erratic powers surface I’m captured and tried for treason. Slaves hate me, my mother wants me executed, and my only chance of survival rests in the hands of a young man, Ryder Arteres, whose sister I sentenced to death.



My Thoughts
5 Amazing Stars


All I can say is this book is amazing. The powers that the characters have are fascinating.  The connection the main character has to Ryder is like nothing I can ever imagine. I absolutely can not wait to read the next book in this amazing series.

Purchase:

Escapement (The Neumarian Chronicles, #1)


About Author

Ciara Knight writes to ‘Defy the Dark’ with her young adult speculative fiction books. Her most recent Amazon best-seller, Escapement, book I of The Neuamrian Chronicles, released to acclaimed reviews securing a Night Owl Top Pick and five stars from InD’Tale Magazine.
When not writing, she enjoys reading all types of fiction. Some great literary influences in her life include Edgar Allen Poe, Shakespeare, Francine Rivers and J K Rowling.
Her first love, besides her family, reading, and writing, is travel. She’s backpacked through Europe, visited orphanages in China, and landed in a helicopter on a glacier in Alaska.



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Saturday, September 6, 2014

The Lilith Scroll : Review and Interview



Title: The Lilith Scroll
Author: B.L. Marsh
Genre: Urban Fantasy / New Adult
Tour Organizer: N K Author Services



What if you discovered there was time before time began? What if everything you thought was true, was not? What if there was a beginning before, “In the beginning”? What if another story was unfolding within our time? A story steeped in loss, love, betrayal, and secrets?
On her twenty-third celebrated birthday, Lilith arrived in Scotland, following clues she had secretly collected about her past. Little did she know that her arrival at the Rosslyn Chapel would reignite one of  the oldest wars of all time- The Fall. Sides will be chosen, lives will be lost, and the secret kept all this time by the Illuminati will be exposed.  
Welcome to Eden. The place where magic was born, trees are gateways to other realms, and Angels aren’t what you think they are. Meet Lilith. A young woman with an incredible story; one she isn’t supposed to know, much less tell. Meet Sam. A man with an unknown past and powers that rival Lilith’s. 

Go back in time. Back to the garden. Experience the magic of creation, the wonder of nature, and the betrayal that destroyed it all.


“Did you sense the pain from within the child?” Declan asked.


“It was greater than anything I have ever experienced. What was done to her is unforgivable. Her strength in not giving into the Shade is unfathomable. Normally, I would say the child has much to learn, but in this case, I fear we have much to learn from her.” Alaric answered with reverence.

Turning toward the pool Declan responded, “Emzara will know what to do. I will call for her as well.”

Looking into the water, he saw the fair-skinned child lying at Adela’s feet, her long copper locks strewn across a perfectly round face. Declan, the great black unicorn, whispered, “Happy birthday, little one. We will find out who or what has awoken you. You will be safe. No harm shall befall you. This is my solemn vow.”

“It is time dear friend.”  A voice shook him from his thoughts.

The Dragon and Unicorn Knights cast spell after spell into the pool.  Runes in ancient languages long since forgotten began to glow on her skin weaving a glowing web of magic around the sleeping girl. A faint orange light caught the Unicorn Knight’s eye. Amongst the glowing runes on her body, a faint symbol appeared on her wrist. Adela watched as the sleeping girl accepted the magic from the knights -- and strengthened it.

“She bears the mark of the Great Sacrifice. The myths are true. I knew she someone important when she came to the cave, but never in all these millennia did I think she was the Taken.” The Knights looked at one another as the reality of who the young girl’s identity became clear.



My Thoughts:
5 Stars
This has got to be one of the best love stories I have ever read. This story talks about the creation of these two powerful immortals. They now nothing about who they are they are all they know is that they are searching for each other. This book shows how powerful love and heartbreak is. The author has a way of bringing everything to life. I can not wait to get my hands on more of her works.








B. L. Marsh has been writing and telling stories her entire life.  She is a music teacher, guest lecturer and runs Master Classes.  Her academic research is focused on the L’homme arme tradition, the Dead Sea Scrolls, chant transmission in the Medieval and Renaissance, and Gnostic and Kabbalah history.  Her passion for spirituality, mythology and developing her relationship with God are parts of her Rule of Life.  In her reading of the Bible and other extra-biblical texts however, she began to daydream about the characters, about how life was back then, and how cool it would have been to walk in the Garden with God.  Her stories weave a new mythology revolving around Genesis.  
  
When she is not writing or teaching, she spends her days hanging out with five of the coolest boys on the planet and at night can be found doing completely ridiculous things like reading Joseph Campbell and Jane Austin and watching the same 3 movies on TV.




Interview:

1. Tell us a little about yourself.  I am a musicologist/historian/theologian turned writer.  
I teach and play the clarinet and piano and love telling stories.



2. What was the first book you wrote? 
The first book I wrote was called Sasha’s world. It is a children’s book that I wrote and illustrated. No one will ever see that book.




3. Who or what motivates you to write?  
I am motivated by the story, but my kids push me to write and tell them stories about the worlds I have created.




4. Who are your top 3 go to authors? 
CS Lewis, JRR Tolkein, and Jane Austen




5. What are you currently working on?
 I am currently working on three projects and bounce back and forth depending on my mood. I’m writing the second volume of The Lilith Scroll, the spinoff series called The Sanctuary, and a romance series called If You Seek Amy.




6. If you could write a book with any author in the world dead or a live, who would they be, and why? Joseph Campbell. Because his Hero with a Thousand Faces changed and solidified a way of thinking and writing. I would probably pass out if we were to have met before he died.






7. Who is your favorite character out of your book Lilith Scroll, and why? 
I think it has to be Raz, but you haven’t met my favorite character yet. He’s introduced in book 2 and he is a hot mess.




8. If your book were made into a movie, who would play Lilith? 
Bryce Dallas Howard hands down.


The Lilith Scroll

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

The Winter People : Release Day Party!!!





THE WINTER PEOPLE
Author: Rebekah Purdy
Release Date: September 2, 2014
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Pages: 320
ISBN: 978-1622663682


An engrossing, complex, romantic fantasy perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore or Maggie Stiefvater, set in a wholly unique world.
Salome Montgomery fears winter—the cold, the snow, the ice, but most of all, the frozen pond she fell through as a child. Haunted by the voices and images of the strange beings that pulled her to safety, she hasn’t forgotten their warning to "stay away." For eleven years, she has avoided the winter woods, the pond, and the darkness that lurks nearby. But when failing health takes her grandparents to Arizona, she is left in charge of maintaining their estate. This includes the "special gifts" that must be left at the back of the property.
Salome discovers she’s a key player in a world she’s tried for years to avoid. At the center of this world is the strange and beautiful Nevin, who she finds trespassing on her family’s property. Cursed with dark secrets and knowledge of the creatures in the woods, his interactions with Salome take her life in a new direction. A direction where she’ll have to decide between her longtime crush Colton, who could cure her fear of winter. Or Nevin who, along with an appointed bodyguard, Gareth, protects her from the darkness that swirls in the snowy backdrop. An evil that, given the chance, will kill her.



 Excerpt!
The pond water rippled while the trees bent beneath the strong gusts. Soon, everything became so white I couldn’t see the house. In the distance a strange tinkling sounded, like dozens of wind chimes. Not the chimes. Not the chimes. Not the chimes, I repeated over and over in my mind.
What had the shrink told me to do?
Ten, nine, eight. Breathe. Seven, six, five. Shit! I held my head in my hands for a long moment. Get it together.
Panic stole my thoughts and I raised my head, backing away from the pond as the flurries swirled toward me. Chasing me.
I bumped into something—something that felt quite human. A firm chest, arms, hands. Not something, someone. A shriek tumbled from my lips and I spun around to face my captor.
“It’s okay. I won’t hurt you,” a soft masculine voice said, pale hands clinging to my arms as he kept me from falling.
My gaze followed those long fingers, then up black leather sleeves, to the most gorgeous face I’d ever seen. My breath caught in my throat. I was gawking. But I couldn’t help it. His raven hair was shot with strands of blue, his face was pale and perfect, like an ice sculptor had chiseled it into existence. His eyes—oh God, his eyes. They were the palest blue I’d ever seen. Glacial. He had to be over six feet tall, muscles evident through the tight shirt he wore beneath his unzipped leather jacket.
His mouth turned up at the corners as if enjoying my scrutiny. A cocky grin that made my cheeks warm and my whole body buzz. “You’re trespassing.” I tried to keep the tremble from my voice. “This is private property, or can’t you read the signs?” Bravo. I’d scare him off with my bitchiness. He chuckled. And it sounded like the low song of chimes. “Doris doesn’t mind me coming around. In fact, I’ve met you before, Salome.”
My name on his lips made my knees go buttery. I groaned inwardly.





About Author

Rebekah was born and raised in Michigan (just look for the mitten-shaped state on the map). She’s lived there most of her life other than the few years she spent in the U.S. Army.  At which time she got a chance to experience MO, KS, SC, and CA.
She works full time for the court system and in her free time she writes YA stories. Pretty much any genre within the YA realm is game for her, but her favorites are fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, thrillers, light sci-fi, and some time travel.
She also has a big family–she like to considers them the modern day Brady Bunch. When her hubby and her met and got married, he had 3 children from a previous marriage, she had 2 and  have 1 together. It’s a lot of fun though.
And she can’t forget her other family members–yep, they’ve got some pets: 4 dogs, 3 cats,  and 1 turtle. Everyone in the family has one…she won’t bore you all with their names (unless you really want to know). Okay, you talked her into it! Jack, Pearl, Grr…(yes that’s her dog’s name), Callie, Shadow, Mooshoo, Grouchy, and Sorbert. Other than writing some of her other hobbies include: reading (mostly YA of course), singing, swimming, football, soccer, running, camping, sledding, church, hanging with her kids, and traveling.
She belong to a fabulous writing group called YA Fiction Fantatics (YAFF) and you guessed it they all write YA!
REPPED by Jennifer Mishler and Frances Black of Literary Counsel.
And that’s her in a big ‘ol nutshell.




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Monday, September 1, 2014

Fallen: Blog Tour Review






Young Adult Fantasy
Date Published: April 1, 2009
Author: Laury Falter 
Maggie is unaware of the terrifying fate that awaits her. It isn’t until she lands in New Orleans for a full year at a private high school and her unknown enemies find her does she realize that her life is in danger.

As a mystifying stranger repeatedly intervenes and blocks the attempts on her life, she begins to learn that there is more to him than his need to protect her and that he may be the key to understanding why her enemies have just now arrived.


My Thoughts 
3.5 Stars

All together this book was good. It had a great story line and Maggie was an interesting character. I have to say though that thanks to this book I have a new book boyfriend cause OMG I am so in love with the leading man. He is always there at the right moments.
The only thing that I had a problem with is that I expected there to be more action.

Fallen (Guardian Trilogy, #1)

BUY LINKS


About the Author

Laury Falter

Laury Falter is a bestselling author of young adult romantic suspense and urban fantasy. She is also an animal rights activist, a sailor, a one-handed golf putterer, and a Colorado River conqueror.
She has three series out: the Guardian Trilogy, the Residue Series, and the Apocalypse Chronicles.