Wrong Side of the Grave by Bryna Butler

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Bryna will be awarding a $50 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

When the dearly departed of Point Pleasant start walking and talking, the Men in Black mark Mothman as suspect number one. A fun read, Wrong Side of the Grave is a fast-action Teen Sci-Fi Mystery with a paranormal twist.

Parent Approved: Contains no profanity or sexual content.

Enjoy an excerpt:

"You look at me as if you know me.”

“I like to think I do.” I keep it light and flash her a flirty grin as I continue to be clever. “I’m not lying when I say that from the first moment I saw you, I wanted to get you alone.”

Kendall seems amused by my response. Her lips tighten to a thin line, pulling up in the corners. She turns from me but keeps her hold on my hand, pulling me a few slow steps away from the door.

“Honestly, I don’t know why I bother trying to make these connections,” she says. She doesn’t look at me while she says it, but I’m looking at her. She walks like she’s dancing. Her movements are so graceful they nearly defy gravity.

I watch as Kendall’s blond curls bounce against her back with each careful step around the mud. I watch as her arms swing open for balance. Her pale skin catches the moonlight so that it glistens.

“I suppose it’s my age showing,” she continues, not paying a bit of attention to me. “I’ve become a granny rambling on about who’s related to who. I need to learn that it doesn’t matter in the scheme of things. Whether we have met before is of no consequence this close to the end.”

I laugh. That’s just like the old ones. Slipping up when they think they’re safe; when they think they’re in control. To her, I’m already dead.

About the Author: Bryna Butler is a journalism-trained writer having authored dozens of articles and financial publications before taking the leap into fiction in 2011. Her first book, Of Sun & Moon, skyrocketed to number one on Kindle top free charts in the categories of Teen/YA Supernatural Mystery, Teen/YA Romantic Mystery, and Teen/YA Time Travel in the U.S. and U.K. when the title went to free status in 2014. Butler’s work is free of profanity and sexual content making them safe reads for pre-teen as well as teen readers.
Website/Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Wrong Side of the Grave Playlist

Buy the book at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, Amazon Australia, Apple, Barnes and Noble, or Kobo. Pre-order your Paperback edition directly from the author: http://brynabutler.com/store/

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Virtual Book Tour and Giveaway: Dealing with Devils by Pembroke Sinclair

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Pembroke will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to one randomly drawn winner, a paperback copy of Dealing with Devils (US Only) to another winner and an ebook copy of Dealing with Devils to 5 other winners. All prizes will be awarded via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Enjoy an interview

What books were your favorite as a youth and why?

My favorite books as a young adult were anything by Christopher Pike. I read everything he wrote. He was a huge inspiration in how I write my YA books now.

What’s your favorite sweet treat?

Oh, man! I love anything that doesn’t have nuts in it. But my favorite are cinnamon rolls, sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, and brownies with ice cream and caramel sauce. Mmmmmm.

What candy do you give out at Halloween?

I give out whatever my kids pick to give out. They usually pick candy that they want to eat, so we have Skittles, Tootsie Rolls, and various assortments of candy bars. Hey, I have to like/eat them too! What superpower would you love to have? Why?

I would love to be able to multiply myself. There’s always so much to get done in a day, and I’m only one person, so having some help would be awesome!

You’ve just won a million dollars and you’re not allowed to save any of it. What do you spend it on?

I’m pretty boring, but I would pay off my cars and loans, then go on a vacation. I’m not sure where I’d go, but Alaska and Iceland are high on my list to visit.

Favorite class in high school. Why?

I had two. One was biology and the other was English. They were my favorites because the teachers were awesome. They were both incredibly encouraging and inspired me to love science and English.

Dating a demon has its advantages, like helping deliver souls to Hell. Wait...what?

Katie’s world has been turned upside down. She's fallen for Josh—despite the fact that he’s a demon from Hell. Wes is finally out of her system and her life. Convinced she can change Josh, she sets out to make him a better person, only to find out things aren’t as simple as she’d originally thought. For one thing, Josh has Katie help him deliver souls to Hell, and she kind of likes it. And to top it off, other more powerful demons are battling for her soul, and revelations from the past could change the course of her life forever.

Enjoy an excerpt

Katie leaned against the railing, staring into the night. A warm breeze touched her face, bringing with it the scent of salt and fish. Every so often, droplets of water touched her skin as the waves lapped against the side of the boat. The bass from the music that played behind her vibrated through her feet and into her chest. Lights flashed at her back, throwing her shadow onto the waves below in spastic fashion. She took a deep breath and squinted her eyes. On the far horizon, just to her right, she could barely make out the lights of Liberty Island. She sighed again and leaned forward farther, resting her elbows on the railing.

She had always wanted to see New York. She and Deb had tentatively planned a trip for the summer after graduation, before going to college. Katie thought maybe it would be a trip to orient herself with the city—attending college in the city was high on her list of things she wanted to do—but she hadn’t decided where to go yet. In fact, it was the last thing on her mind at the moment. She needed to get her life back first before deciding what she was going to do with it. As usual, when Josh had showed up in her room earlier tonight and asked her to come with him, she couldn’t bring herself to say no. She knew the possibility existed that she would be involved in something unpleasant such as witnessing Josh taking a soul, but she told herself she was going to stop it this time. She wouldn’t stand idly by.

About the Author:

Pembroke Sinclair is a literary jack of all trades, playing her hand at multiple genres. She has written an eclectic mix of fiction ranging from horror to sci-fi and even some westerns. Born in Rock Springs, Wyoming--the home of 56 nationalities--it is no wonder Pembroke ended up so creatively diverse. Her fascination with the notions of good and evil, demons and angels, and how the lines blur have inspired her writing. Pembroke lives in Laramie, Wyoming, with her husband, two spirited boys, a black lab named Ryder, and a rescue kitty named Alia, who happens to be the sweetest, most adorable kitty in the world! She cannot say no to dessert, orange soda, or cinnamon. She loves rats and tatts and rock and roll and wants to be an alien queen when she grows up.

http://pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/jessicarobinsonauthor
https://twitter.com/PembrokeSinclai
Google+

Buy the book at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

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Little Red Gem by DL Richardson - Interview and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award to one commenter at every stop a prize consisting of one ebook, a bookmark and a laminated pass (the passes relate to the storyline). Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Welcome to Books in the Hall!

Thank you so much for having me on your blog today. I hope your readers enjoy finding out a bit about me. I hope they can leave comments so I can find out a bit about them, too.

What books were your favorite as a youth and why?

The first books I fell in love with were Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitte and The Trumpet and the Swan by E B White. Tuck Everlasting was the story of a young girl who went on an adventure that resulted in her finding the elixir to eternal life, yet she turned down the chance to live forever. I think that was the start of much of my philosophical musings. What would I have done in her place? Eternity sounds grand, but to watch the world grow old while you don’t age could become a drag. A few years later I read The Outsiders by S E Hinton, and that was the book that really connected me to the characters. It was like “Wow, I’m not alone. There are people out there who aren’t rich yet who have values.” I think these books prompted in me a desire to question why we do things, and they also showed me how connecting characters with readers is important. These books were the building blocks for why I became a writer.

Hunger Games or Twilight? Why?

Hunger Games. There is something terrifying, more terrifying than vampires, about a world where kids are forced to kill kids for entertainment. It’s that pushing of the envelope humanity is so tempted to do, and the true test of humanity is whether we take that plunge into doing what’s wrong. The sad truth is that we often do. We see it in the news every day, how poorly humans treat each other and everything else whether through lack of education, money, or conscience. Animals are subjected to cruelty for entertainment! I can’t get understand it. Horse racing, dog racing, elephant riding, bear fighting, I could go on and on about this subject. None of these forms of entertainment are necessary nor are they right. The Hunger Games is like a mirror being held up to show humanity’s dark side. We’ve developed a culture where we’ll do anything for our entertainment despite the outcome. I think it’s good to step back and say to ourselves that some things are just not necessary nor are they right. We know right from wrong, yet many people make the decision to look away and say that right and wrong are for the lawyers to decide, but that’s not the case. It’s for us to decide what’s right and wrong, and if we can stand up for what’s right then we should be free to do so.

Favorite TV show from your childhood?

I grew up watching American TV shows. Mork and Mindy. Happy Days. Brady Bunch. Six Million dollar Man. The Bionic Woman. Wonder Woman. Space 1999. MASH. The Muppet Show. I loved them all. These shows were entertaining (yes, we can be entertained without being cruel). These shows were vibrant, colorful, funny, poignant. But if I had to pick a favorite from this list it would be The Bionic Woman. Jaime Somers was smart, she was beautiful, she was kind, and she was strong – with or without the bionic implants. She was also one of the nice girls. She never bitched or back-stabbed or ridiculed anyone, even while they were trying to kill her or blow up the world. If my female characters end up half as decent and strong as Jaime Somers, then I’m a happy writer.

You’ve just won a million dollars and you’re not allowed to save any of it. What do you spend it on?

Oh, please don’t tease me. I would love t win a million dollars and I’d know exactly what I’d spend this money on. I would also, not for a second, contemplate staying at work because “I’d be bored” like I’ve heard some people say. I’d never be bored. I would build a house with a library and buy millions of books to stock it. In this house would be a conservatory with a black grand piano taking center stage. Outside the conservatory through a set of French doors are gardens that I would sit in to gaze over the mountain and lake views. In the garage is a red 1963 Corvette. I guess because I’m not allowed to save any of the winnings I’d have to buy lots of tinned food, chickens and goats, plant vegetable crops, and install water tanks and a solar energy system so I don’t have to worry about having no money in the bank. I could live like a hermit, not a problem.

Playlist for your current book.

There was a special song I listened to while writing the ending to Little Red Gem. I was stuck on how to end this tale of a girl who drives herself crazy in order to find out how much her boyfriend loved her, when she only needed to know how much she loved herself. On the radio came Katy Perry’s song “Roar.” As soon as I heard the lyrics, I knew I had my ending. Little Red Gem is a love story, but it’s a love story with a difference, the main character goes on a journey of self discovery. I think all boys and girls, men and women benefit from going on such a journey. There’s a great line in the book where she says, “My life. My choice.” Sure, we all make mistakes. Some we learn from. Some we regret. But the path to happiness is acceptance of the choices we make. I hate that we’re always looking to blame everyone else. I like to do like my dog, and scratch some grass over that business and move on.

Now let's learn about your book!

Love can make you do crazy things as Ruby Parker discovers when she dies and returns from the grave to unearth how much Leo Culver loved her. With the aid of bad advice from a ghost who is trapped by a curse, a little bit of magic courtesy of her unsuspecting half-sister, and a televised music talent show coming to town to hold auditions, Ruby Parker makes more of a mess in death than she ever did in life. Can she fix everything before it’s too late? Or will she spend eternity as a ghost, haunted by the unknown depths of love? Either way, one thing Ruby learns is that while love can make you do crazy things, it can make you do amazing things too. But at what cost?

Enjoy an excerpt:

…“I’d know if I was dead.” While I watched my two best friends walk with arms around each other for emotional support, I wrestled with accepting Audrey’s version of the story. To do so meant I was dead. And dead meant I would never again speak with Leo. And there were so many words left unsaid, so much business left unfinished.

The final nail in my coffin came when a customer walked out and Audrey pushed me directly in front of the customer’s path. Instead of bumping into him, I fell through him, landing on my hands and knees. My skin tingled with pins and needles from where the body had passed through me. A loud noise filled my ears, similar to water flowing from a dam. For a split second my vision blurred. Then I watched in absolute horror as my hands and legs split into millions of tiny fragments.

Audrey might have been capable of delving into her mother’s magic bag to produce this neat trick, but I wasn’t.

I crawled into the gutter because it seemed the most suitable place for a reluctant spirit to bawl her eyes out. Audrey was kind enough to sit beside me with her hand resting on my shoulder; although we were both apparitions the contact still registered. I forgot about being angry with her and welcomed her company.

“Okay, I’ll admit this has been a rather extraordinary morning so you may be right.” I sniffed back the tears and turned to face her. “How did I die?”

“Your car slid down an embankment. You weren’t wearing a seat belt. Leo dragged you out of the car but it was too late.”

I jumped up. “Leo!”

Music first captured the creative interest of young adult author D L Richardson. From choir, to her first acoustic guitar at age ten, to singing with the school band and performing in school musicals. When she left school she helped form her own rock band where she sang lead vocals, played bass guitar, and wrote all the lyrics. At age 26 she sold her equipment and focused on writing instead. She now has three novels and one short story anthology published.

Little Red Gem is a tribute to her former life as a musician and contains some of the author’s actual experiences, though she has never entered a national singing competition to capture the attention of the boy she loves. It is also a tribute to those brave young women who charge forward in pursuit of their dreams.

She lives in Australia on the NSW South Coast with her husband and dog. When she's not writing or reading she can be found playing her piano or guitars, renovating the house, or walking her dog.

Contact information

Email dlrichardsonbooks@bigpond.com

Blog www.dlrichardsonwrites.blogspot.com

Website www.dlrichardson.com

Facebook http://goo.gl/560JXl

Twitter www.twitter.com/#!/DLRichardson1

Buy Links:

EBOOK

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FUMQDUO

Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/365185

B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/little-red-gem-d-l-richardson/1117076354

PAPERBACK

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Little-Red-Gem-ebook/dp/B00FUMQDUO/ref=la_B00717D7KU_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1383280608&sr=1-1

B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/little-red-gem-d-l-richardson/1117076354

Powells http://www.powells.com/biblio/61-9781492939924-1

Create Space https://www.createspace.com/4465741

Book Depository http://www.bookdepository.com/Little-Red-Gem-Richardson/9781492939924

The 13th Descent by Ky Lehman - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Ky will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

ONE CHOICE CAN MAKE AN IMMORTAL HUMAN.

BUT WHAT CHOICES NEED TO BE MADE TO GO BACK AGAIN?

The revolutionary year following Serenay "Ren" Avalon's eighteenth birthday could rival Clark Kent's entire adolescence.

After her mother and her grandmother were killed in a car bomb explosion at the heart of their sleepy hillside town where nothing extraordinary usually happens, she discovers that her mother is actually alive and in hiding, her long lost father is a Father, and her best friend, who turns out was once an Archangel, has taken a gargantuan step back in his evolution to live on Earth with her for the past thirteen lifetimes. And besides being the only one in her immediate circle with a serious case of past life dementia, she learns that during her first lifetime, she was married to one of the greatest teachers history has ever known who is now the gorgeous lead singer of a hot new rock band taking the world by storm, and who is keen to meet up with her again in the twenty first century.

As Ren realizes that the powerful family name she bears also brings with it the promise of an unnatural death, she is reminded that it has always brought hope to people on both sides of the veil, human and Tor. As the world draws closer to being completely shrouded by the dark cloaks of her age-old enemies, the Bloodstones, she now, more than ever before, has to draw strength from her origins to protect her family and their ancient truth from this global force responsible for torturing and killing centuries of her ancestors.

As she struggles to unearth who she was, who she is, and who she chooses to be, as well as the expectations of her first mortal love and the heavenly love she has always guiltily denied, she has until midnight on the Solstice find a way to bring light to a compromised heart and to a world on the brink of perpetual darkness.

This first book in The Rosefire Trilogy by debut YA author, Ky Lehman, is a reminder of how the choices we make in the throes of love, loss, hope, and adversity are what makes the divine human, and the human divine.

Enjoy an excerpt:

“Come on, Renay! You’re as slow as a wet week,” she snaps.

“Right behind you,” I grumble, trying to coax my jelly legs to step out of the car.

She bustles us inside and disarms her house alarm. She grabs my hand, leads me straight to the navy blue comfy couch and gestures for me to sit. “Drink?” she asks.

“No, thanks.”

She goes to the kitchen and gets me a tall glass of water anyway.

Then everything goes from strange to downright bizarre when she sits down, squishes in next to me, puts her arm around my shoulders and rests her cheek on my hair. I am wedged in-between her and the armrest: I couldn’t move if I tried, and I honestly don’t want to. Hugs from my one and only aunt are like sunny days in the winter. They are rare. They are warm. They smell of cream and cinnamon. They go by too quickly. And you know you’ll have to wait a while for the next one.

“Look at me, Renay,” she gently commands. Bleary eyed, she carefully scans my face and sighs.

It seems she is already regretting what she is yet to say. A chill of forewarning forces a shiver: it sets my heart pounding and my legs that have finally regained feeling start to twitch and shake, preparing to run. She senses my panic and holds me tighter, and starts to softly hum a familiar tune that Nanna must have used to calm her down too. Slowly, the dread resides and the warmth returns. My stiff posture thaws allowing me to slump into her side. Realising she has been given the green light, she takes a deep breath and starts talking.

Aunt Romey has never been one to beat around the bush. Simple English. No fluff. The bare facts followed by her opinion of them. But this time, the candour I usually appreciate brings with it a realisation that hits me so hard, that, for the first time since the bomb went off, I am relieved the undercooked takeout chicken kept me home that night.

Bedtime stories that once lulled me into sweet dreams now leave me feeling cold, heavy and sick.

Horrifying truth gives a voice to the intoxicated mutterings of a grieving husband and father.

Nanna’s fairy tales.

Georgie Pa’s drunken rants.

All of the frayed strands and loose ends I’ve obliviously left hanging tangle and weave into the blood stained tapestry that is Aunt Romey’s history lesson.

Three versions of the same unfathomable story, each with its own conclusion. The fairy tale ends in hope.

The drunken rant ends in fear.

And the history lesson will only end with the death of the Three Roses, who my newfound enemies believe are Nanna, Mum and me.

Surrounded by the ghosts of our ancestors and their vindicating screams, I cling to the only olive branch within reach.

Mum may be on the run, but she is alive and well.

But the sinewy little branch is not strong enough to bear the weight of centuries of lost life. It snaps, and I limply fall into large, familiar, bloodstained hands that carry me off into the black quiet.

About the Author:

KY LEHMAN is a novelist, a children's author, a teacher of swimming and water safety, wife to her high school sweetheart and the proud mother of their three very tall sons. She lives in the Yarra Ranges, Victoria, Australia, with her husband and their children where she is currently writing the second book in The Rosefire Trilogy, The 13th Rising.

Facebook ~ Amazon Author Page ~ Twitter Buy the book at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.





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Altera Realm: Discovery by Jennifer Collins - Book Review and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Jennifer will be awarding a Grand Prize of a $50 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a Mobi or paperback (paperback US ONLY) copy of Altera Realm: Discovery to a randomly drawn winner at every stop during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Syney Andrews has secrets—she just doesn’t know she has them. She spent the last eighteen years in the human realm with her adoptive parents unaware of her real powers and role in Altera Realm.
,br> Altera Realm has been at war for well over a century and is connected to the Human Realm by a portal and no human knows it exists. It is home to the five old and great races—Magic Users, Lycins, Vampires, Daemons, and Shifters. Each race is an entity of their own with its own life purpose, rulers and guarded secrets.

Syney is the prophesized “chosen one”, the one destined to end the over hundred-year war and become queen of the Magic Users. Not that Syney wants to rule or even knows anything about Altera. Falling in love with her Lycin Protector, a crime punishable by death, only serves to make matters worse and Syney’s new life more complicated.

Review:

This reviewer loves books about portals to another world and was one reason I chose to review this book. Add into that a world populated by some of my favorite paranormal creatures and I was in heaven. And, thank goodness, this book didn't let me down.

Syney made me laugh at times...you can definitely tell this is a character who is part of the post-Buffy generation. A guy turning to wolf? She doesn't take long to accept the reality of the whole situation.

The author does a great job in sharing the history of the Altera Realm without going into an info-dump. It helps that as matters are being explained to Syney, they are also being explained to the reader.

Syney runs into a lot of problems once she is brought back to the Altera Realm...not everyone is happy with the potential change, which sets up the scene for a lot of controversy and intrigue. I could so see this as a movie.. or even a TV series (are you listening, Hollywood?)

4 stars for a book that will keep you wondering what is happening next (ps: not to give any spoilers away, but Ms. Collins--you will fix that situation with Hunter, right??)

Enjoy an excerpt:

Hunter looked back up at her and gave her a curt nod. “We need to go. The more time we spend in this Realm, the more dangerous it gets for us.”

Syney nodded and got up from the bed. She looked at Gabriel. “Thank you, for what you did.”

He stood. “It wasn’t free.”

Syney blinked at him, not understanding.

“I can kill him,” Hunter said quietly behind Syney, causing her to almost laugh from the absurdity of the comment.

“What do you want?” she asked.

“To go with you,” Gabriel said matter-of-factly.

“Why?”

Gabriel eyed her for a moment before cocking his head to the side. “Not all Vampires are fans of the Great War. We all are, however, very opportunistic.” He paused. “I want to be there, to see the new reign. And get in on the ground floor.”

Syney smiled. She liked this Vampire. He was honest, something she hadn’t gotten a lot of in the last couple of days. “Deal.”

Hunter spun to stand in front of Syney and glared at her. “No deal. Vampires aren’t to be trusted. They’re hired killers who care only for themselves. They aren’t allowed in the Village and for good reason. Their blood may have healing properties, but they also need blood to survive, and where do you think they get that from?”

Syney was taken aback by Hunter’s forcefulness. This was another side of him, one she only had seen when he was the wolf and fighting. “He saved my life.”

“Because he wanted something.”

“He saved my life,” she repeated.

“And now he’s charging you for it,” Hunter said.

Syney placed her hand on his chest. “Listen to me. He didn’t hesitate to save me. He even tried before she attacked me. He’s been nothing but honest with us. It was my life he saved, and I want to repay him. If this is what he wants, than then this is what I can do.”

Syney felt Hunter take a deep breath.

“And what if you’re leading a lion into a sheep’s den?”

Syney smiled. “When he starts eating the sheep, you can do what you like with him.” She looked around Hunter’s large frame to Gabriel. “You OK with that?”

Gabriel gave her a sly smile. “I will put up no fight to him.”

Syney looked back at Hunter. “You OK with that?”

After a moment Hunter nodded reluctantly.

About the Author:

Jennifer Collins holds a BA in English with concentration in Creative Writing from Montclair State University and completed a certification program at Kean University for teacher of English K-12 in New Jersey. She enjoys being a high school English teacher at the Plainfield Academy of Arts and Advanced Studies, a public performing arts middle school and high school in the urban inner-city school district of Plainfield, New Jersey.

For more information on the Altera Realm Series visit Jennifercollinsbooks.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Altera-Realm-Trilogy/133256366854276
https://twitter.com/AlteraRealm

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The Girl by Lola StVil - interview and giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card. The Rafflecopter to enter the contest is at the end of the post; click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Many thanks to Lola for visiting with us today!

What did you want to be when you grew up? Why?

An actor. Acting out a character in a different life and different world is releasing. You can be anyone, anywhere, anytime.

What superpower would you love to have? Why?

I want the ability to have my thoughts transferred to print. Carpal tunnel is not my friend!

Hunger Games or Twilight? Why? I love them both!

Twilight was a huge inspiration because if Stephenie Meyers could do it, I had no excuses. And I love Hunger Games because of the growth and the depth of the characters and plot.

Sum up your book for Twitter: 140 characters or less.

Love, loss, danger and growth shape humanity’s heroes, a team of angels and one human, from doom. While saving the world, they discover themselves and risk it all for love.

You’ve just won a million dollars and you’re not allowed to save any of it. What do you spend it on?

New notebooks and pens. As a writer, I have an obsession with a great pen and new notebook. I get giddy. And then I would buy a new home and spend the rest on my family.

Favorite class in high school. Why?

Drama. I’ve been fascinated with characters and drama and slipping into other worlds, other lives. It’s just like writing, and why I enjoy writing. You can be anyone, anywhere.

Sitting there in the car, a part of me bitterly resented what she was doing to me. I knew it wasn’t her fault. But does she have to be so... alluring? I need to focus on something else besides the spot between her earlobe and neck. It looked so soft. Her lips were slightly parted as she looked out the window. I wanted to part them further with mine. I put both my hands on the steering wheel. I could not allow myself to let go until she was out of the car. Suddenly she leaned in and kissed me. It was far better than I could even begin to explain to you. I've fought and died a slow and painful death on earth. And nothing, NOTHING can compare to how hard it was for me to pull away from her lips. I don't think any angel could do it twice in a lifetime...

Now enjoy and excerpt:

“Go to hell!” I cry out. Who the heck said that? I realize it’s me. I guess I’m more than in pain, I’m fighting mad. Well, verbally at least.

Agony shrugs his shoulders and says, “Okay, we’ll do it the hard way”

He raises his hand a final time and snaps off my finger...

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lola StVil is a Haitian born writer and actress. She lives in Hollywood, CA., and welcomes online interaction with readers.

http://www.amazon.com/Guardians-The-Girl-Series-Book-ebook/dp/B006VRXR42/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394682303&sr=8-1&keywords=gurdians%3A+the+girl

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/guardians-lola-stvil/1113116420?ean=2940045019897

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/guardians-the-girl-the-guardians-series-book-1

uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Guardians-Girl-Series-Book-ebook/dp/B006VRXR42

authorlolastvil@gmail.com

http://www.lolastvil.com/

https://www.facebook.com/guardiansgirl?ref=hl

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The Possession by J. D. Spikes - Book Spotlight and giveaway!

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding winner's choice of two ebooks from Lachesis Publishing (http://lachesispublishing.com/) to a randomly drawn winner via the rafflecopter at the end of this post.

Daphne Wentworth is almost seventeen, definitely a red head, and most likely the tallest girl in her class, which is awkward to say the least when it comes to dating boys in her school. But she doesn’t have to worry about school for the next two months since she’s spending the summer at her aunt Dwill’s lighthouse in Maine.

What she does have to worry about is seeing ghosts in the lighthouse cemetery, having strange dreams, and hearing the voices of star-crossed lovers who lived two-hundred years ago. And then there’s a local boy named Zach Philbrook who works for her aunt. He’s too gorgeous for his own good. He’s also very tall, with midnight black hair, and the most beautiful indigo blue eyes Daphne has ever seen.

Zach is treated like an outcast by the local teens in town. He’s Micmac and therefore not “one of the gang”. Daphne can’t help being drawn to his strength, especially considering that he’s had to live his entire life dealing with ignorance. But the local teens aren’t the only trouble-makers in town. As Zach and Daphne get closer, the lighthouse ghost lovers begin haunting them. When Daphne and Zach try to figure out how to fight them, the spirits get bolder and more dangerous. So how do you protect yourself from something that isn’t really there?

Enjoy an excerpt:

It wasn’t the first time a good idea had come back to bite me in the ass, but I was afraid it might be the last.

The plan had seemed harmless enough. I never intended things to get so out of hand, and I certainly hadn’t expected Zach to get involved. No, wait. If I’m going to tell this tale, write it down so it’s never forgotten, I must tell the truth—the whole truth.

I should start at the beginning . . .

I had always resisted being a redhead.

“My hair is brown,” I’d declare, “with red highlights.”

When you were one of six heads that spilled out onto the sidewalk every morning though, the sun unmercifully spotlighting the fact that you varied in shades from the red section of the crayon box, you eventually had to let that notion go. When I was twelve—we were only four heads bobbing off to Catholic school at the top of the hill by then—Mom tried to soothe me by pointing out my hair was auburn.

Auburn. I’d liked the sound of that. It wasn’t red, it was auburn.

Auburn sounded regal and refined.

So did Daphne Wentworth. That’s my name, but I can tell you truthfully I’m neither regal nor refined. I favor t-shirts and jeans and my battered sneakers. I usually have a basketball in my hands. Or a softball bat. I’m tall, always have been. Do you know what it’s like to go through school like a giraffe above the crowd? Above the boys?

But I digress.

My point is, I’m not at all what you’d expect from my name. And what happened to us last summer, what waited at the lighthouse, in that small copse of trees, well . . . you’d never expect that, either.

Not in two hundred years.

Jeanine Duval Spikes is a spinner of romantic tales with a touch of the supernatural. Lifelong research and experience with the paranormal infuse her stories with ethereal spirit, while her belief that love conquers all suffuses them with heart.

She is a paranormal investigator with a small local group, aspiring to help those in need by advancing this exploratory field both spiritually and scientifically. When not writing, you can find her cooking, gardening, horseback riding, or forever getting lost in secondhand shops. The mother of two grown sons, she lives in Rhode Island, the Ocean State, with her very own hero-husband Tim, and two crazy cats. She is the proud recipient of the Jo Ann Ferguson Service Award for selfless assistance and dedication to fellow writers and the craft.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeanine.duvalspikes?fref=ts

Website: http://jeanineduvalspikes.wix.com/jeanineduvalspikes

Buy Link:  http://lachesispublishing.com/?product=the-possession-by-j-d-spikes

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Severed Ties by Angie Skelhorn - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Angie will be awarding a Bronze Tone charm bracelet with a pentagram charm and witch riding a broom to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour, a second prize of a key chain with pentagram and witch riding a broom to another randomly drawn commenter and a third prize of a free copy of Severed Ties will be awarded to another randomly drawn commenter during the tour (Canada, U.S.A. and the United Kingdom). Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Severed Ties is a story of close friendships, addiction and magic.

Severed Ties - By the use of divination and magic, some ties can never be severed

Consulting tarot, ordinary playing cards, astrology, and spell-casting—Frankie and Sandra set forth to free Candice from the dangerous situation she is in.

Now enjoy an excerpt:

Frankie sat on the stoop and looked around. Across the street, a woman only a couple of years older than her had two infants in a playpen and was chain-smoking. An old man, his lined face showing the evidence of his hard life, pushed a shopping cart full of empty beer bottles past her. Kids too young to be on their own played out front, in the streets.

“I’m Calvin. Who are you?” a young man asked, walking past her down the stairs. She gave a quick glance in his direction before turning away.

He had medium brown hair cut close to his scalp, brown puppy-dog eyes, a stocky build, and a sweet smile. The tattoos around his neck, arms, and hands surprised her. She read “love” on one set of his knuckles and “hate” on the other.

“Doesn’t that say it all,” she said.

“This one I fight with,” the young man explained his hand in a fist. “This one, I love with.”

She smiled at his answer.

“Are you moving in?”

“I’m Frankie. I think so. I’m waiting here for my friend,” she said, pointing to the front door. “She’s inside, making the arrangements.”

“I live here on the second floor. Have now for a couple of years. You’ll like it here. The tenants mind their own business. Well, they mostly keep to themselves. Do you have a job, yet?”

“No, I’m going to start looking tomorrow. I think Sandra wants to spend tonight settling in.”

Calvin lit a cigarette. He blew the smoke out of his nostrils.

“I’ve got to go. I’m in room 203 if you need anything. Just knock.”

“Okay,” she giggled, giving him a quick once over without being obvious. She found him quite interesting. She hoped to know him better. She didn’t know why, but she did.

Calvin disappeared down the street and rounded the corner before Sandra reappeared.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  My name is Angie Skelhorn and I live in Canada. My interests include tarot, and other forms of divination, astrology, spirituality, mythology and harness racing. I gear my writing toward Witchcraft and Spiritualism. I've been published in Circle Sanctuary Magazine and online at Witchvox, WitchesandPagans.com and GlobalGoddess.org.

http://DamnationBooks.com/book.php?isbn=9781615728206

http://Facebook.com/pages/Author-Angie-Skelhorn-Witchskel/106332176093960

http://AngieSkelhorn.com

http://Witchskel.com

http://amazon.com/author/angieskelhorn

http://BarnesandNoble.com/s/severed-ties-by+Angie+Skelhorn+store=book

The Hazel Tree by Julia Debski - Virtual Tour and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Bewitching Book Tours. There is a giveaway for two print books (US/Canada only) and 5 ebooks via the Rafflecopter at the end of the post.

The Hazel Tree by Julia Debski
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
Available at Amazon and BN

Book Description:

The Hazel Tree revisits a classic Cinderella tale of abuse and sought after freedom from the confines of a cruel life.

Ivy Lune is not your ordinary girl for within her blood flows the secrets of an ancient species of werewolf; a secret that also foretells of a great war and a struggle for ultimate supremacy.

Ivy lives a life of isolation torment at the hands of her aunt and cousins for the majority of her life. Mistreated and neglected, she longs to escape the shackles of her prison-like life. And in that longing, she learns the truth of her identity. She learns her place in a long line of events that were set into motion many years ago. She finds intimacy and belonging in a much larger family.

All the while, unknown to her, there are dangerous forces are at work; old blood ties and murderous plots threaten her chance at happiness beyond her current life.

The Hazel Tree is a tale of mystery and romance set against a supernatural backdrop of terrifying and awesome power.

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/a6y2fro8eG8

Now enjoy an excerpt:

Prologue

Nestled deep within the dark mountains that neighbor the Black Sea lay an ancient castle in a valley, forever hooded by a swirl of thunderous clouds. It looked as though some god or deity had taken an inkbottle and poured the contents into the dip between the mountains. It cloaked the ground, the water, the stone, and even the air. To each molecule of oxygen clung a droplet of shadow, tinting the air so black no torch could pierce it. The air hung heavy, masking Waelwulf Castle and its residents. Any sign of Mother Nature’s beauty had long escaped this land, all vegetation long gone. In its place resided an evil force, something far more vicious and deadly than any visitor could imagine. It belonged to the family who lived within the impenetrable stonewalls: the royal family of Wulf, the head of the Black Sea Pack, the sole survivor of the Great Wars, the most ancient and powerful pack on planet Earth.

In front of their home was a vast plain, stretching deep into the darkness. Two massive wolves emerged from the shadows simultaneously. Upon catching sight of each other’s glittering eyes in the blackness, their hackles rose and growls erupted from deep within their chests. Circling slowly with teeth bared, each step was calculated, measured, carefully placed. Wolves crossing paths on the barren grounds that surrounded the castle were rare. A direct challenge such as this was always met with death for the offending party. Both wolves had this in mind as they faced each other off.

A howling wind brushed across them then, curling around their paws and tails and the hills of their tense raised shoulders before sweeping into the darkness. With it though the wolves caught each other’s scents and relaxed with recognition. They moved in unison towards the castle.

They reached the scarred metal gates that stood a few dozen paces from the castle’s front door. For centuries all that had stood between the foe in battles and the castle had been these gates, somehow untouchable by the enemy. Warriors believed it was protected by magic.

The wolves shifted into their human forms. "Axel," one said, nodding. His appearance was much like his wolf: black hair, confident brown eyes, square jaw, long legs and a tall frame. Even his gait was like his wolf’s, the slow cadence of a predator.

"Robinson," Axel said in return. He was short with a brush of red hair across his head and jaw, and small, nervous eyes. He didn’t have any of the grace his comrade had, due to his short stature.

After the brief exchange, they took the time to make themselves presentable, straightening the rumples in their clothing. The old gate creaked open, allowing them to pass and approach the castle’s front doors. Robinson stepped forward then and knocked evenly three times.

After a long pause, one of the doors slowly creaked open, revealing a thin young man dressed in plain black clothing with royal red embroidering, leaning heavily on a wooden cane. Recognizing the two men, he quickly hobbled aside. They strode past him without any acknowledgement. It was later, after they had moved out of earshot of the handicapped porter, that Axel said something.

"Learn a lesson from Dane, Robinson. Never ever question your superiors. Look at him, once one of the kingdom’s finest warriors. And now condemned to a life of servitude, and with a damaged leg! He doesn’t even have the option of marrying, poor fellow."

Robinson merely nodded. There was not much too be said, in any case, as he knew more about Dane’s offense than Axel thought or knew himself.

Any chance to continue the conversation was ended as they reached the end of the cold corridor. Axel reached out almost hesitantly, and knocked a specific beat on the plain little door. A peephole was opened, revealing a menacing eye staring down upon the two men.

“I am here to see King Cronan. He is expecting me,” Robinson said confidently, silently challenging the eye to deny him.

“I am also here to see His Majesty,” Axel added, a slight quaver to his voice.

The eye flickered from one spy to the other several times before taking a few slow, long blinks. After a long minute, the eye finally withdrew itself and the peephole slammed shut. Then the door opened to reveal the owner of the eye, a large man, taller than Robinson and thicker than Axel’s height, with an array of battle scars that shone in the light as he grunted at them and led them down a narrow hallway.

It eventually opened into a large, majestic room. The walls were covered in looted swords, shields, heads of enemies, and other treasures; priceless paintings of the kings who had ruled over Waelwulf Castle long ago were hung over the multiple crackling fireplaces. Yet even with the candlelight and the fires burning, the room was still dark, darker than much of the castle Robinson and Axel had traveled through.

The most ornate chandelier hung over a painting of a bearded man standing beside a dark brown wolf, their shoulders touching. In the center of the room was almost an exact replica of the portrait, minus the wolf, who had simply been the same man posing in his other form. In fact, it appeared as if the King had barely aged a day since the portrait was finished over sixty years ago.

"Axel. Robinson. I trust you bring news?" King Cronan asked, sipping wine from a silver goblet.

"Yes, Your Highness. I have returned with information of the Orarius Pack, as you requested," Axel announced puffing his chest out grandly.

"And you, Robinson? What do you return with?"

"I return with good news, Your Highness," Robinson replied with a shadow of a smirk. Cronan chuckled slightly, mildly impressed by Robinson’s word choice. Axel didn't find it amusing.

"Your Highness, the descendant we have been watching—his mate is with child," Axel said, disgruntled.

The King’s expression grew somber once more and he focused a penetrating gaze on Axel. "And do you know the sex of the child?"

Axel hesitated before bowing his head. "I do not, Your Highness. My deepest apologies."

"Your apologies will not tell us the gender of the offspring, Axel, no matter how deep they may be," the King said in a cold, detached voice. Axel swallowed audibly.

Suddenly the King snapped his fingers and a dozen wolves emerged from the shadows of the room. They prowled forward, snarls erupting from them one by one as they closed in on Axel.

"It will be a she-wolf, Your Highness," Robinson said calmly, as if the proceedings around him didn't bother him in the slightest—which, knowing Robinson, actually didn’t. He knew that in light of Axel’s disappointing performance, he would be rewarded for the morsel of information.

King Cronan held up a hand, signaling the wolves to halt and return to their designated spots. "And do we know anything about the garden?" he asked, looking thoroughly pleased at the vague wording of his question.

But Robinson understood perfectly. "The tree has sprouted, but it can barely be distinguished from the weeds," Robinson replied.

"So we will have to wait," said the King, making it sound more like a statement than a question. He locked his eyes onto his spy’s. Robinson did not waver, holding his gaze calmly as the atmosphere in the room grew tense until, finally the King began to chuckle and they both looked away at once.

With a flick of his wrist, King Cronan dismissed the two men. Axel was the fastest to bow and turn his back on the king. Eager to leave the room, he didn’t notice the change of his superior’s expression.

Robinson had been slower, and paused at the subtle shift in the air. “You must be wondering why I told both of you to report to me at the same time.” While the question was directed at both of them, the king’s gaze did not waver from Axel’s back. The ginger man had frozen, eyes closed, still facing the door, though there was no denying the fear that trembled through his body. Cronan continued as if he had not noticed. “You see, I suspected that one of you was, perhaps, a spy. An infiltrator.”

Robinson froze as well, despite his best efforts. No, surely no…

Another snap of Cronan’s fingers and the wolves re-emerged, more aggressive and terrifying than before. Half moved towards Axel, the others towards Robinson. Axel turned to his king. “Your Highness—please—I don’t understand.” The words slipped from his tongue and into the room before he had a chance to stop them.

That was a mistake.

Cronan’s nostrils flared and a hand twitched towards the goblet. “How can I be more clear, Axel?”

“Yes Axel, what has His Majesty said that you find so difficult to understand?” Robinson said, against his better judgment. The king’s eyes snapped to Robinson, growing ever more black but still holding a sparkle of amusement. What boring company he must keep for Robinson’s words to hold such humor.

Axel looked at Robinson, eyes full of betrayal and fear. In return Robinson looked back with remorse.

A second snap of fingers signaled two wolves to grab each of Axel’s arms. The cries echoed around the room as sharp teeth sunk into tender flesh. “You see, I think that you know more than you are revealing to me. If Robinson was able to discover the gender of the child and find the tree, surely you would be able to as well. So why not tell me? Ah, yes. Because you had something to protect. Because your loyalties lie elsewhere—with the Orarius Pack, the Coastal Pack,” Cronan spat at Axel.

“You are mistaken, Y-your Highness.” Axel’s voice hitched as the wolf holding his right arm tightened his grip, sinking his teeth deeper into the muscle. Axel’s knees gave out, and his face paled.

“I am not mistaken, Axel. You are. You pledged allegiance to the wrong pack,” the King deadpanned before drinking the rest of the liquid in his goblet. He smacked his lips a couple of times before returning his gaze to the man on his knees, now quietly sobbing. Robinson discreetly bowed his head, but turned it at a slight angle so he could catch Axel’s eye. Through the tears, the doomed man watched as Robinson mouthed sacred words to him: Father Moon, may you carry my brother’s spirit and his wolf safely to the Sacred Land and may you-

Robinson stopped and turned his head away as droplets of blood splattered across his face and screams pierced the air. The sound of tearing flesh was not unfamiliar, but it still made Robinson feel a deep, inconsolable sadness. He finished the prayer in his head, hoping it caught onto Axel’s spirit in time. Soon the screams stopped and silence fell, except for the quiet drip-drop of blood. Robinson slowly raised one hand and wiped away the red stain on his cheek. It smeared instead.

“Well then, I suppose we will just have to pay them a visit. Go find Prince Naples and tell him to get ready,” Cronan, said, continuing the conversation as if nothing had happened. And indeed, it appeared as if nothing had, the wolves having returned to the shadows while King Cronan and Robinson stood facing one another. The stench of death was easy to ignore if you tried hard enough. The sound of dripping blood, however, still echoed.

“Yes, Your Highness,” Robinson said. He stowed away his remorse and grief for Axel. They had only known each other briefly and compassion was not welcome in the Mara Negra’s court. Turning his head away, Robinson allowed himself a small triumphant smile. Everything was going according to plan.

The king rose from his seat, empty goblet in hand. He approached Axel’s torn and mangled body and lowered the goblet into one of the deeper pools of blood, making sure to fill it as much as he could before he took a sip. So perhaps it had not been wine.

Julia Debski was born in Warsaw, Poland in 1996. Her family moved around a lot during her childhood before finally settling down in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It wasn't until the 8th grade that she found her passion for writing. It was thanks to a particularly inspiring English teacher and a story that needed to be told. So she began to write, and she never stopped.

Four years later she found herself with nearly a dozen started novels and short stories. As junior in high school she was introduced to Greg Wilkey, a self-published independent author of four novels. He soon became a mentor to her as she worked to write and self-publish her own novel. After two years of hard work, and a nearly a year of mentorship The Hazel Tree was published in October 2013.

Website: http://juliadebski.weebly.com

Blog: http://spotofinkandstory.blogspot.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/juliadebski (@juliadebski)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjuliadebski

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7351439.Julia_Debski

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/julponey/

http://www.pinterest.com/julponey/the-hazel-tree/

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REVIEW: Soul Slam by Allie Burton

Soul Slam by Allie Burton
Contemporary, Fantasy
237 pages
4.5 stars

A sixteen-year-old on her first heist to steal an ancient Egyptian amulet inadvertently receives the soul of King Tut…and the deadly curse that comes with it.

And Olivia is not alone at the museum.

A member of a secret society, Xander believes it is his place to inherit King Tut’s soul and justly rule. He knows nothing about the society’s evil plan to control the world or the curse. Now, he must deal with the female imposter who stole the amulet.

Xander convinces Olivia they must form a temporary partnership. The two teens develop a connection, and together they must figure out how to end the curse before it turns deadly. On the run, unable to touch because of the curse, and managing the male soul inside her female body, Olivia must learn to trust Xander.

As the mystery surrounding the amulet unfolds, Olivia and Xander start to fall for each other. But is love enough to save them and the world from destruction?

MY REVIEW:  I really enjoyed Soul Slam probably because I have always had a fascination with Ancient history and I really liked reading a different view on Pharaoh Tutankhamen. I thought the plot was interesting and funny, and I really loved watching Olivia fight Tut and the arguments and discussions they both shared. It was neat to see her gain insight into his life and learn from it.

It was also very intriguing to see Olivia and Xandar connect due to their previous lives
and that Olivia has been out on the streets most of her life. (*Cough* Oliver Twist *Cough Cough*) It gave an interesting view on what she felt and what she went through, and what she was willing to give up to keep the small children in her care safe. I really thought her love for them was sweet.

I hated the bad guys. That's good, you're supposed to, right? I wanted to punch them silly because of their stupidity (of sorts) and their overall selfishness and greed for power and the ability to control Tut's soul. I was very tense as I learned more and more about them and what they were going to do to get what they wanted.

It's funny but serious, loving with hatred on the side, and complete with power-hungry villains and homeless heroines. A wonderful read for fantasy, comedy, and history lovers all around. Recommended for 12+.

Initiation by Rayna Noire - Virtual Book tour and Giveaway

Today we're visiting with author Rayna Noire on her tour with Bewitching Book Tours for Initiation. She'll be giving away 5 print copies of her book (US only), and a $50 Amazon GC via the rafflecopter at the end of this post.

PAGAN EYES CHARACTERS INTERVIEW/Esmeralda Hare

Today, we are talking with Esmeralda Hare. She’s the family matriarch of the Carpenter Family, an integral part of the Pagan Eyes series.

(Esmeralda clears her throat.) Esmeralda: Excuse me; I am the matriarch of the Hare family, not the Carpenter family. My daughter happened to marry a Carpenter, but that does not change who she is or who I am. The matriarch of the Carpenter family took off with a visiting evangelist. You could try tracking her down, but I doubt you’d have any luck with that.

(Interviewer is flustered.) Well now, Mrs. Hare. Tell me about your family.

Esmeralda: You can call me Madame Esmeralda, like my clients. Since you are so young, I might even let you call me Nana like my grandchildren do. My husband Buell and I only have one child, Maura. She’s exceptionally precious to me. Family is everything to the Romany. With Buell disappearing, I held my daughter and her family very close.

Interviewer: Your husband disappeared?

Esmeralda: Yes, he did. Left me a note about having to do something. Don’t get the wrong idea. He’s didn’t take up with some traveling evangelist like some. If he had to do something, then I believe it. Still, it’s been hard on me. Having the love of your life blink out of existence is a shock.

Interviewer: Did you search for him?

(Esmeralda glares at the interviewer.) Esmeralda: Do you think I would not look for my soul mate? I did. We did. Brought in the police, the ceremonial magicians, even a psychic who knew him well attempted astral projection, but no sign of Buell anywhere. There was no sense of his essence.

(Interviewer covers heart.) Interviewer: Do you think he might be…

Esmeralda: Dead. I thought of it. Even got my friend, Trisha, to do a séance. The spirits have not seen him, which means he isn’t dead. My only explanation is he has slipped into another dimension or time.

(Interviewer looks doubtful.)

Esmeralda: I recognize that expression. You think the old woman has gone around the bend due to grief over her loss. Think again, missy. There is a lot that goes on in this world that you miss because you refuse to believe. Ever wonder about people who mysteriously disappear?

Interviewer: I always assumed they were a crime victim or simply ran away.

Esmeralda: Some do, that’s true enough. Others stumble into time portals that are scattered throughout the planet. Maybe you heard of Einstein.

Interviewer: What does Einstein have to do with your husband?

Esmeralda: Buell met him once, but that’s beside the point. He described time as being folded on itself as opposed to being linear as most people believe. With that in mind, there are times when we can experience other times or even slip into them. I believe people leave emotional imprints. Have you ever visited a place of suffering like Alcatraz prison or a Nazi death camp? (Interviewer nods.)

Esmeralda: You probably felt a sense of oppression or hopelessness pulling at you. Some are more sensitive than others. I believe that need often pulls people in. That might have happened to Buell, but unfortunately, I don’t where he went. Interviewer: That must be rough on you.

Esmeralda: It is. More so now.

Interviewer: Why is that?

Esmeralda: My youngest granddaughter, Leah, is being pulled back in the past.

(Interviewer looks shocked.) Interviewer: What are you going to do?

Esmeralda: I’m not sure there is much we can do if it is her destiny. I bestowed protective amulets upon her. Amelia, another talented friend, is creating her an enchanted garment, but other than that, there is no alternative. All we can do is pool all our intentions and focus on a successful conclusion.

Interviewer: It seems like so little.

Esmeralda: It is more help than most get. In the end, everyone has to walk their own path, no matter their age.

Initiation
Pagan Eyes
Book 1
Rayna Noire

Book Description:

Leah Carpenter thought being the only witch in her local high school was hard. That was until she inexplicably found herself in the past running from an angry mob, which turned out to be much harder. Lionel, the man in charge of the mob, holds a grudge against a girl he calls Arabella. He thinks she’s Arabella.

Luckily, just about the time it looks as if she’s done for she pops back into her century. This causes trouble at school, but at least she has an understanding family. What happens in the past can hurt her. The whiplashes covering her body are proof enough. Her Nana believes she has to right a wrong in the past to stay in the present and go out with her crush, Dylan. What she discovers in the past is an evil so pure that it makes her blood run cold. She might not ever make it back for geometry class or more importantly a possible date with Dylan.

About the author:  Rayna Noire is an author and a historian. The desire to uncover the truth behind the original fear of witches led her to the surprising discovery that people believed in magick in some form up to 150 years ago. A world that believed the impossible could happen and often did must have been amazing. With this in mind, Ms. Noire taps into this dimension, shapes it into stories about Pagan families who really aren’t that different from most people. They do go on the occasional time travel adventures and magick happens.

www.facebook.com/AuthorRaynaNoire

www.twitter.com/raynanoire

www.raynanoire.weebly.com

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Alex Finch: Monster Hunter by C.A. Dean - Virtual Tour and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.
The author will be awarding signed bookmarks or pins to a randomly drawn commenter at every stop.  Grand prizes are: a $25 Amazon GC to two randomly drawn commenters during the tour, and a swag bag with exclusive merchandise related to the book, to one commenter during the tour (this last prize is US ONLY).
The Rafflecopter is at the end of this post, and you can see the other stops on the tour by clicking on the tour banner.

Meet Alex Finch - tomboy, techno geek, monster hunter.

Reluctant monster hunter.

When Alex’s project partner Misty loses her notes for the most important English project of her school career, Alex heads to the local haunted house to find them. Instead she makes a life-changing discovery.

Monsters are real.

That single, mind-blowing incident throws her life in a completely different direction – and into the path of Sam, the boy she’s had a serious crush on since first grade. He knows more than he’s telling, and the further she digs, the deeper and darker the secrets become.

What else is hiding behind the ordinary facade of her California beach town?

Alex is about to find out.

Here's an excerpt from the book:

“Alex!” Sam caught up with me before I reached the trees. “Please—you have to believe me.”

“Why?” I turned on him, angry and terrified fighting to be on top. “Because I saw something in the McGinty house? Because I was attacked by what was probably a big, feral dog?” Who could stand upright and track like a hunter. Keep on believing the lie, Alex.

“You saw him. You know better.” Sam refused to let me avoid. Gripping my upper arms, careful of my injury, he leaned in until I could see the pale gold flecks in his grey-blue eyes. “You have to believe, Alex. Because there’s no going back from this.”

“What—what are you talking about?” This whole conversation just took a turn I didn’t see coming—a scary, I-should-have-stayed-in-bed turn. “All I did was run for my life—”

“You saw him.” Sam let me go, let out a sigh. And I knew, in that moment, my life was about to change. “That makes you a danger to my family.”

“Whoa—wait a minute. ME? What about your hairy, seven foot cousin? I’m not going around trying to eat innocent people—”

“No—you just saw what was trying to eat innocent people.”

“And Misty? What are you going to do to her?” Panic had my voice jumping into eardrum-bursting range. “Or is she exempt, because she’s one of you?”

He blinked. “What?”

“One of the populars, one of the pretty people. Not a geek, like me.” I jerked free, surprised he let me go.

“Alex.” That quiet voice left goose bumps on my skin. I kept staring at the ground, focusing on the scratches that marked my boots. I really needed to pull out the leather polish again— “I always admired your geek side.”

I wanted to clean out my ears, have him repeat that. Several times. So I could record it.

About the Author:

C.A. Dean believes in ghosts, witches, magic - and monsters.

She loves the supernatural, the odd and the strange, and writing about it is like going to a job she loves - no work and all fun.

She would love for you to join her as she hunts for monsters - real and imagined.

And there's the official biography, out of the way.

I love telling stories, and my four nephews have been a big influence in what I read, and now what I write.

Sliding into YA has been as easy fit, especially since I've been reading and loving it for years.

Alex Finch: Monster Hunter is the first book of a series I have been planning for a while, and I can't wait to introduce you to Alex and her rather quirky friends. :)

You can find out more about me and my books at my website: http://cadeanauthor.com. Hang out with me on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cadeanauthor. Or come and exchange tweets at: https://www.twitter.com/cadeanauthor.

I look forward to meeting you. :)

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FOECNUW/?tag=catdea03-20

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/alex-finch-ca-dean/1117052211?ean=2940148820734

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/alex-finch-monster-hunter-monster-files-1

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The School of Ministry by Braxton A Cosby - Virtual Tour, Tour Wide Giveaway

Today we're visiting with author Braxton A. Cosby on his tour with Bewitching Book Tours for The School of Ministry.  He'll be giving away a $20 Amazon gift card via the raffle copter at the end of this post.

Why YA (or Middle Grade) fiction? What draws you to it?

I love YA for the simple fact that I have never lost the joy of being young and the power of youth. I love to dream of places never seen before, characters that are interesting, and action that screams frenetic. And that’s just from a television or movie perspective. I grew up watching cartoons like He-Man, Johnny Quest, GI Joe and transformers. As much as those shows carried a cool factor with them, I really fell in love with the characters and the relationships they built amongst one another. That gave them life and that life, made me connect with them. With YA, more than other genres of writing, connection between the reader and the characters (especially the main ones) is critical and that has to be built early on or you will lose the reader. The richness of the storytelling compels you to dive into the worlds. There’s a sweet elegance to Young Adult storytelling that you have to be aware of wherein the reader is constantly wanting to see something new and fresh. Whenever I write, I’m conscious of this and if my stories ever begin to sound cliché, I immediately switch gears.

What’s your favorite sweet treat?

I love chocolate, mainly dark chocolate for health reasons, but I find it almost impossible to pass up on a good brownie, covered in ice cream and hot fudge.

What would you write in a letter to your teen self?

Self, get it together. Stop wondering or worrying what other people think about you and focus on you being the best you that you can be. Imagine, dream, visualize and establish your dreams. You are unique, and that makes you powerful because what you have to offer the world cannot be duplicated in any form or fashion.

What superpower would you love to have? Why?

If I could turn invisible I would not be a very good boy I’m afraid. Not that I’d steal or break the law. But because I’d probably disappear from my family so that I could get some me time. Then there’d be the occasional sneaking into the movies to screen it before I lay down my hard earned money. After the first thirty minutes, I’d know for sure if it’s a worthy investment. I have to do something a little devious with my powers, why not?

What book is on your nightstand currently?

My Lenovo touchscreen tablet/laptop. I usually fall asleep listening to some YA audiobook or jotting down and idea for a story that comes to me in my sleep.

Hunger Games or Twilight? Why?

That’s easy, Hunger Games. Not that I discount Twilight by any means, I love what Stephanie Myer did with it from a creative standpoint. The characters, the storyline, the vision, all very cool. But there’s something about Suzanne Collins’ writing that is ridiculously amazing. She teleports you into her world within seconds of reading. Her words become a part of you and you are Katnis. She can take a seemingly simple scene and stretch it out to 3-5 pages of glorious substance that makes you sad that it comes to an end .Her dialogues are brilliant and you understand each character inside and out. TO do such a thing from a first person perspective from a writer’s standpoint is incredible.

Favorite TV show from your childhood?

The Cosby show….I know, shameless Uncle plug, but really. Who didn’t love The Cosby Show. In a day and age where reality television sells more on sex and filth, it was nice to recall how Bill had a knack for making you fall in love with simple family issues that we all live with on a day to day basis. Comedy is the best medicine for most woes. Yet, nowadays, we turn other things to medicate. Simple television, like reading, leaves an opportunity for you to use your own mind.

Sum up your book for Twitter: 140 characters or less.

A desperate struggle for identity, built on perseverance, love and faith. Action packed, character driven storytelling.

You’re stranded on a desert island—which character from your book do you want with you? Why?

I’m bringing Francis with me. He slowly became one of my favorite characters, although admittedly, Ziv is probably my alto ego. Francis is cool, slick, and tough as nails while dripping with endless ‘swag’. Plus, I have a feeling that he’d easily figure out how to live on a deserted island and still manage a decent hair style. LOL.

Create an ice cream flavor. What’s it called?

Tootsie roll, Irish cream. I want to love Tootsie rolls, but it’s something about the after taste that kills it for me. If I were to add one of my favorite flavors, like cream soda and Irish cream, I think that would kill the after taste and completely make it amazing. I’d also have to add some pecans to it, being from Georgia!

You’ve just won a million dollars and you’re not allowed to save any of it. What do you spend it on?

Marketing my books, retirement and babysitting. You can never have enough of either when you are trying to create an empire of good stories.

Who was your teenaged crush? Why?

And still is, Jessica Alba. I love her on Dark Angel. *sigh*

The School of Ministry
The Windgate
Book 1
Braxton A Cosby

Genre: YA Paranormal
Publisher: Keith Publications
Number of pages: 367

Book Description:

TO CHOOSE, IS FATE!

A young man named Ziv struggles to find his place in life after both of his parents are murdered. Orphaned and alone by the age of six, he bounces in and out of foster homes hopeless and afraid, wondering if he will ever find a path to happiness. He resolves to accept a life of depravity, until one day he discovers he possesses the gift of sight: to see creatures from the afterlife, but not angels...demons!

Ziv is recruited by The School of Ministry, a secret society that promises to help him find his best friend Stephanie, who has gone missing. But there is one catch: he must agree to join them in their quest to eradicate evil and protect the weak. Ziv learns that he is a "Conduit," which allows him to cross over into the spirit world and transcend time itself.

When he is partnered with two other young men who have similar gifts, the unlikely trio is trained in the mastery of weapons and the art of Shouting, during treacherous challenges of the tortuous Quad in preparation for their mission: to secure the Windgate. Ziv becomes entrenched in a quest of identity, love, and will, until he comes face to face with pure evil itself--Akabod, the spiritual prodigal son to the School of Ministry and a master of talents.

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/jIuB6zXCnY4

Now, enjoy an excerpt:

It's Miss Evans!

I approach the tank and investigate it, looking for signs of movement from Miss Evans. She floats lifelessly in the water. Her hair flows, carried by the waves and her face appears angelic. I notice the softness of her eyelids and the elegant curve of her mouth as she floats. But the beautiful view is interrupted by a dramatic jolt of her body as her eyes open and a cluster of bubbles escape her mouth and nose. She stares at me and thrashes, eyes bloodshot as she slaps at the glass. I gaze back at her powerless, examining the tank for locks or levers; some way to release her from the watery prison.

I'm helpless as she continues to struggle for air. Then, an image flickers from the corner of my eye as a side door opens and Maxwell walks out, holding a staff of his own.

"Maxwell," I plead. "It's Miss Evans. Please help her!"

He shakes his head and lifts his staff in his hands, twirling it in a circle as he begins to slowly walk sideways, circling me like a predator, encasing me in a hedge of danger.

"Hold your ground. Make a choice: fight or flight," Maxwell bellows.

Miss Evans' banging on the glass behind me blends with the pounding of my heart. I lift my staff and spread my feet, turning my attention to Maxwell. As much as I'm afraid for my own safety, I find it impossible not to focus on Miss Evans. Her muffled scream comes from the tank and I look away from Maxwell to check on her. Her hands clutch her neck. Her face is bright red with a tinge of blue around her lips.

"No," I scream, stepping back away from the tank.

Raising my staff above my head, I crank back and rip it down, slamming it into the side of the tank, as I yell. The water explodes from the crack in the tank and glass shards crash to the floor below. I swing once more and this time the entire tank shatters, launching Miss Evans into the air toward me. I catch her in my arms and the force of the water propels us backward onto the floor. She coughs, gasping for air. I hold her in my arms and caress her head. Her sobbing brittles me and I'm relieved to see her skin color returning to its natural tanned shade.

We're here, an odd place, an unfamiliar place. But as I hold her delicately in my arms, it makes me feel like I'm heading back home. Not the place where I live now, but the place where I used to live, when mom and dad were still alive. The way she rests in my arms beckons me to a time when I used to hold my kitten, Priceless. She'd climb into my lap during the thunder storms. I was her comforter. Priceless would purr when I did it. And now, so many years later, I find myself feeling the same way as I hold Miss Evans. Her soft body pressing into my skin—warming me—calls me to hug her even closer with each passing second. The times when I needed someone to hold me reflect in my mind like a mirror as I stare at her. Her chest rises as her heart beat quickens, mixing evenly with her breaths. As warmth returns to her body, a subtle tremor comes over her; like a purr.

I can't resist. I have to do it. I must do it. I hug deeply, ignoring the senseless urge to pull away.

"Bravo!" praises Maxwell, exiting the room as the lights come back on.

Miss Evans resting in my arms and I comfort her, caressing her hair. She finally looks up at me and mouths, "Thank you."

About the Author:

A graduate of the University of Miami, Cosby earned his bachelors, masters and doctorate in physical therapy. He also is certified by the American Physical Therapists and is a Certified Sports Nutritionist.

And now he’s getting you in shape. “I feel that God has given me a calling to help people,” said Cosby. It was through his own injury that taught Cosby about “getting people back to their prior level of function.” He said he want to motivate “people to stay on the course” so they can meet their own individual goals.

Cosby is a personal trainer, nutritionist and physical therapist and is using his talents and knowledge to help bring attention to the health issues and disparities such as heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

He was the featured keynote speaker at the 2012 Atlanta CARES STEMFest for Children and Young Adults event. He also was a presenter for Mercer College School of Medicine and the Louisiana Medical Society’s Focus on Exercise and Fitness. He has partnered with Emory University as a clinical instructor and worked with a major rehabilitation company in geriatrics.

The host of a weekly radio show – Ask the Fat Doctors, Cosby also is an award-winning author and has been seen on CBS, Fox and Atlanta Live. He’s teamed up with retired offensive lineman and NFL analyst Jamie Dukes to create a workout video for men called Chachersize (C_4).

Ask the Fat Doctors is where Cosby, Dukes and radio personality Tee Foxx where they cover a variety of topics from current events to obesity to disease prevention. Cosby also shares tips on how to lose pounds.

Cosby’s goal is to share information on how to create healthy habits and how they can counteract serious health ailments. His articles can be found in “OMTimes Magazine” and “Skinny Limits”. Cosby also posted regular workout tips on his YouTube page.

As the nephew of actor and comedian Bill Cosby, Dr. Braxton A. Cosby has charted his own path, but embodies his uncle’s creativity and vision for a healthier America. “Of course” he was an influence, the younger Cosby said. “He taught me how to develop a passion for what you do.”

And Dr. Braxton A. Cosby has a passion for fitness.

Find me online at:

@Cosbykid_fatdoc

www.facebook.com/DrBraxtonCosby

www.cosbyscorner.com

www.braxtoncosby.com

www.theschoolofminsitry.com

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