Book Details:
Double Negative by Susan Marshall Published by: Evernight Teen Publication date: November 12th 2021 Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult Synopsis: Injured competitive swimmer Reece never wanted to be Vice Prez of West Hill High. It was her brother Jamie’s idea, just something to do until she could get back into the pool. She knew that Jamie—who led his campaign with a striptease “election speech”—would be a complete “President Dumbass.” But Reece didn’t foresee that she’d fall hard for Jamie’s Student Council rival, Zain. Zain is hot and intense, plus an amputee and a basketball star. Between Zain’s disability and Reece’s surgery, they have their challenges, but that deepens their connection—until he drops a bombshell about his accident. Suddenly, everything important to Reece starts to implode. Struggling with issues of family loyalty, secrets, and scars, Reece must decide if real relationships are worth the heartache. Goodreads ~ Purchase: Amazon ~ B&N ~Kobo ~ 
~~~AUTHOR BIO:
A lover of libraries, Susan obtained a Masters Degree in Library Science but found that she was too disorganized for that field. Instead, Susan worked at The Globe and Mail newspaper and then Seneca College. Four kids later, she decided to stay-at-home, spending her quiet moments indulging her love of writing. The old adage is to "write what you know." In Double Negative, Susan channels her experience as a parent of a teen amputee and her misguided belief that she was once an athlete. The inspiration for NemeSIS was the complicated sister dynamic in Susan's estrogen fuelled household in Hamilton, Ontario. An avid reader, she loves e-books and falls asleep nightly to the soft glow, oblivious to what happened on the last page. Susan lives in Toronto with her husband, three sons, a daughter, rescue dog Bean and Indy the cat. Author links: Twitter ~ Website ~Instagram ~ Facebooks ~Goodreads ~ 
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)
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The Sherwood Proof (The Lily Sparrow Chronicles)by Kristee Ravan
1. Carole Claus is facing her first hurdle as Santa. She needs Lily’s help. 2. Lily’s half-birthday--an important Smythian tradition--is coming up, requiring her to find time to prepare for it. 3. Her algebra teacher has an unusual (and stressful plan) for Lily. 4. Lily remains convinced that her mom is hiding something from her. 5. The investigation into the traitor is an on-going source of stress and tension at work for Lily and Calo. 6. Oh, and Calo’s still betrothed to Su’Sauna, making life difficult and confusing all around. Will Lily be able to place these variables securely in her equation? Will the Sparrow family find a way to convince their critics they are good for the Kingdom? Or will everything fall apart--subtracting all the good will Lily has already earned from her citizens? Add to Goodreads ~Amazon ~
OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES:
What Your Should Know if You’re New to the Lily Sparrow Chronicles 1. You don’t have to be good at math to enjoy the books. Lily does love math (like way more than is normal), but if there is anything that needs to be explained, it will be. You won’t be lost. 2. Lily’s family history is complicated. When The Cinderella Theorem (book 1) opens, Lily believes her family is just her and her mom, Ginnie. But before the first chapter ends, she finds out her dad isn’t dead like she thought, and before the third chapter ends, she finds out he’s actually the King of a fairytale kingdom accessible only through her bathtub, and she’s the future queen. In Calculating Christmas (book 2), Lily finds out about her Uncle Marcus, who was supposed to be king, but vanished, leaving his brother, Matt, to rule. And even though she doesn’t have concrete proof, Lily is sure her mom is lying about her own parents and why they never visit. 3. The name of the kingdom is E. G. Smythe’s Salty Fire Land. It’s a bit of a mouthful. It’s shortened name is Smythe’s SFL. E. G. Smythe (pronounced Smith) isn’t a person. The whole name is an anagram for “fairy tales, myths, legends.” All the citizens of the kingdom are characters in fairy tales, myths, and legends. Incidentally, the Smythians call the world you and I live in OtherWorld. Citizens of Smythe’s SFL can either be fictional--from the stories--or naturally created which would be someone who is mortal and not from a story. 4. Carole Claus is now Santa Claus. Carole is a good friend to Lily even if she is a bit sarcastic and calls her Algebra. Back in Calculating Christmas, Carole, Santa’s youngest child, was kind of an angry, sullen, goth chick. However, she had a secret love for Christmas. (She was able to keep it a secret because she spent most of her time on the Naughty List.) Things at the North Pole became so bad for Carole, that she actually moved out and began planning to live her life in OtherWorld. But after a Christmas crisis, neither of Carole’s brothers were able to be the next Santa. Surprisingly, Carole was chosen to take the job on. She’s a lot happier now. 5. Happily Ever After is a real thing in Smythe’s SFL. But if you have begun living Happily Ever After, you can also vanish, which must be avoided. If you get too unhappy, you vanish. If you vanish, you put your tale at risk for vanishing too. Happiologists in the kingdom monitor everyone’s Happiness and work with the citizens to make sure they are staying Happy and not in danger of vanishing. Lily is currently training as a Happiologist. Protecting the kingdom’s people from vanishing is a big part of what her future role as Queen will be. 6. The situation with Calo is complicated squared. Calo is Lily’s partner at HEA (The Office of Happily Ever After Affairs, where the Happiologists work). At the end of The Cinderella Theorem, Calo and Lily get out of a sticky situation by achieving a Happily Ever After together. (He declared his love for her and kissed her.) However, Lily’s parents didn’t want her to be living Happily Ever After as a teenager. Teenage hormones and the wild mood swings of the first months of living Happily Ever After don’t mix well. They aren’t thrilled about the kiss. And Calo testified that he’d only caused the Happily Ever After because he knew it would be the fastest way to get home. Throughout Calculating Christmas, Lily is confused about what Calo’s feelings are. He seems to be trying to tell her something but never does. At the kingdom’s annual Masquerade Ball, he finally tells her he’s actually (technically) betrothed to another girl (Su’Sauna). He also tells her that he doesn’t plan to marry Su’Sauna, but legally, he has to fulfill the betrothal contract his parents made. This news was so shocking and upsetting to Lily that she almost vanished which was very scary. When that book ends, things are still confusing between the two of them. 7. Even though she now knows about her destiny and lives in Smythe’s SFL, Lily still goes to school in OtherWorld which is unusual for a Future Protector. Lily needed something to be constant for her while everything else was changing. Her dad agreed and made the decision that she could finish high school if she agreed to some conditions. One of those is her body guard, Eric, who is enrolled as a student and in all her classes. However, not everyone in the kingdom is thrilled about Lily’s continued ties to OtherWorld. The ProFictionists--who would rather be ruled by a fictional citizen than a naturally created one--are vocal and regularly protest about Lily going to school. 8. The Agency is run by Kara Kemmer. It is an organization similar to the CIA. They provide whatever is necessary for the security and protection of the kingdom. Sometimes an agent will be a bodyguard, sometimes they will decrypt intelligence from their enemies in Uppish Senna, and sometimes they will investigate crimes in the kingdom itself. When Calculating Christmas ends, Kara sends a letter to King Matt letting him know the Rose Crystal had to have been stolen by someone who worked at HEA. (The Rose Crystal is required to dilate time so that Santa can deliver all the toys on Christmas Eve.) The Sherwood Proof opens in the middle of this on-going investigation. 9. Lily is ridiculously busy. Besides school, she works at HEA three times a week, learning to be a Happiologist. Two other afternoons are taken up with learning princess etiquette, dancing, embroidery, calligraphy, and various other things a princess needs to know with her governess, Miss Reed and general Smythian history and politics with her tutor, Merlin. (Yes, that Merlin.) She meets with them both again on Saturdays, and on Sunday afternoons she meets with her dad to discuss current events and other things before they have a weekly tea party at which they invite several citizens for a visit. There’s a lot more to being a princess than wearing pretty dresses and a tiara. 10. Lily’s mom, Queen Ginnie, is a famous and distracted writer. She is often so focused on her characters that she misses important things Lily is telling her. She’s also pregnant. If the baby is a girl, she plans to name her after a flower to match Lily’s name: Daisy, Violet, Lavender. If it’s a boy, she wants to name it after a tree. She thinks there aren’t any masculine flower names. Tree names in contention are Pine, Elm, Dogwood. Matt and Lily are hoping the baby will be a girl. 
About Kristee RavanKristee Ravan lives in Oklahoma with her husband, children, and pet cat, Kasidy. She wanted to be many things as grew up including a general, an artist, and an architect. But she never bothered to say, “I want to be a writer when I grow up.” She was always writing stories and thought of herself as a writer anyway. She sent her first story to a publisher in the sixth grade. (It was rejected—in a nice way.) When she is not making up stories in her head, she enjoys reading, juggling, playing games with her family, and hearing from her fans. You can contact Kristee at the Facebook page for her Lily Sparrow books: The Lily Sparrow Chronicles or on her author page: Kristee Ravan.
The Lily Sparrow Chronicles | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon 
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
Three winners will receive a print copy of The Sherwood Proof (US only) Ends December 15, 2021 
Book Details:
Terra Nova (Terra Nova, #1) by M.T.G. Publication date: July 28th 2020 Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult Synopsis: Evangeline is living the life of a normal teenager—going to school and hanging out with friends—until mysterious, severe symptoms begin appearing. After passing out in the middle of a party, life as she knows it spirals beyond her grasp. She is then diagnosed with a rare, genetic blood disorder that causes her body’s white blood cells to kill the red ones. In the delirium of her deteriorating health, a door to a parallel world opens before her; however, once she steps through it, the portal closes, and she is unable to return to Earth. The place Evangeline now finds herself in is called Terra Nova, a world wherein vampires rule supreme, with no traces of humanity left to speak of. Curious but afraid, she quickly learns that Terra Nova is not the shadow-side of Earth, but rather the tragic result of government experimentation. In order to survive, she must keep her mind open and accept the changes her body is undergoing; soon enough, those who she initially thinks are murderers become her trainers, whose help she must enlist if she ever hopes to return home—and soon enough, a romantic bond begins to bloom. Meanwhile, Evangeline’s brother and friends back on Earth try to figure out what happened to her, and how the government is involved, and how to bring her home. Unbeknownst to any of them is the mysterious outcast Bambi, whose secrecy disguises her power in making a devastating choice: save one world at the risk of destroying the other. Goodreads ~ Purchase: Amazon ~ 
AUTHOR BIO:
MTG has worked in numerous positions, mainly in managerial and executive roles. Terra Nova, her first publication, is Book 1 of a series. The series’ concept emerged when she, like the protagonist, was diagnosed with the blood disorder paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), and her then-boyfriend (now husband) joked she was becoming a vampire. She currently works and resides in Canada. Author links: Website ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads ~ 
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)
Book Details:
Book Title: Gallant: The Call of the Trail by Claire Eckard Category: Young Adult Fiction (Ages 13-17), 300 pages Genre: Young Adult Publisher: Mill City Press Release Date: September 2021 Formats Available for Review: print- Softback (USA), e-book PDF Tour dates: November 22 to December 10 Content Rating: PG-13 : It’s a saga about love, relationships, personal growth and adventure, set against a backdrop of endurance racing. A strong middle grader/pre-teen could read it. Book Description: A gripping journey of a young girl and a foal who are raised together in The Valley of Hearts Delight. Gallant and Gracie have a special bond, rarely seen between a human and a horse. Separated by a bad accident when Gallant is five, each gets a second chance of happiness pursuing the long-distance sport of endurance riding, neither knowing they are leading parallel lives. Will Fate bring them together again? Gallant’s arch nemesis, The Almighty Flash, threatens to destroy all that Gallant has worked for. His misguided ambition and greed, developed at the hands of an abusive owner, has created a darkness in his soul that turns to blind fury when his endurance career is threatened. Buy the Book: Author's Website Amazon ~ Target 
REVIEW By LAWonder10:
Keep a box of Kleenix close for this one! Gallant is a very touching story of the immediate connection of a very young girl and a newborn colt. After an unintentional accident, they were separated. I love that his brook is in the "Voices" of the four key characters. It centers on each character's thoughts and feelings as well as overall events and other involved characters' conversations . The author captures the reader's/listener's interest from the very first page and maintains that interest from constant interactions and events from that time forth. It covers several years in a Grandparent's life. The book ends well, yet leaving the reader/listener with the anticipation of leaning more. It is the beginning of a series. The characters all felt so real and the scenes were depicted in a way the reader/listener felt he/she was there. It "pens the door" for discussion on several topics. Although, I do feel the book would get better response if the cover were more eye-catching to us "browsers". Normally, I would have passed by this Cover Image and Title with out second glance. I am certainly glad I joined this tour to read it! This is a highly recommended book for not only children, ages eight through 18 but also for family or group reading. I offer a Four and a Half Stars rating *I was gifted this book wih no pressure for a positive review. This is my honest review.
Through the Ears of a Horse I don’t remember a time as a child that I wasn’t around horses. I was raised in England where my brother did gymkhana with his ponies, and I remember being allowed to sit on the pony in between events, surveying the world between its dark brown ears, not knowing then what a familiar view this would become to me. I progressed to riding a very short, round Shetland pony called Bubbles. He was aptly named! Bubbles would trot me around the English countryside and through the woods where I somehow felt more at one with nature when seeing it from the back of this short-but-magnificent living and breathing creature. Not all horses in my life were destined to be as good to me as Bubbles. I have fallen off numerous times. I have been unceremoniously dumped along some of the most beautiful trails of the American West and done some amazing feats of gymnastics where I nailed some glorious, and not so glorious landings. I recall a horse called “River” who loved to throw a buck into all his trot-canter transitions. One day we were riding across the desert in Arizona, and he bucked harder than he ever had before, throwing me up and out of the saddle before I even realized that he was no longer beneath me. Somehow, I managed to tuck my legs underneath me, swing elegantly off to the side, and straighten my legs for a perfect landing while still holding the reins! It looked like I had been training on the double uneven high bar with the US Olympic team for the past year and a half. How I wished someone would have filmed that one! I also managed to fall off the same horse at a walk and fracture my tailbone. I wasn’t quite so proud of that landing. Now I am older, I am back to riding a short horse, a mustang who very slightly resembles my childhood partner, Bubbles. He takes good care of me, and if I were to fall off him the ground wouldn’t be too far away. Yes, horses have given me some bruises over the years, but they have also given me spectacular moments of pure joy, and the most perfect way to see the beauty of this earth. I wouldn’t trade my moments in the saddle for anything. I will be forever grateful for all the lessons I have learned from horses, good and not-so-good, and I hope that I will have many more years ahead of me to see the world so perfectly through the ears of a horse. 
Meet the Author:
Award winning Author Claire Eckard combines her love of writing with her passion for animals to create memorable children's books that are fun to read, but also include valuable life's lessons. Claire grew up in England and moved to Hawaii in her early twenties where she married her husband of thirty-four years. Together they raised two sons, Mitchell and Matthew. Claire is inspired by her two Granddaughters Mila and Ella, as well as the beautiful backdrop of the Arizona mountains where she lives. Claire has a farm full of animals, and has spent many years as a board member and volunteer of her local animal shelter. connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads
Here is the tour schedule.
Giveaway Details:
Enter to win a signed copy of GALLANT: THE CALL OF THE TRAIL! (one winner/USA only) (ends Dec 17) 
Book Details: Towers And Tithes (Fairy Tales of the Magicorum, #8) by Christina Bauer Publication date: November 9th 2021 Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult Synopsis: I’m a Tower Tithe with a Rapunzel problem. That’s not as weird as it sounds. Ever wonder how Rapunzel survives without leaving her home? After all, someone must stock groceries, buy hair products and fix the plumbing. Witches don’t wield toilet brushes, so “Rapunzel care” becomes the job of Tower Tithes like me. Not that we choose this gig. We’re just unlucky elves who get magically chucked into servitude. Since our kind live for ages, being a Tower Tithe can drag on for thousands of years… and I’m eighteen. Yipes. That said, it wouldn’t be too awful if I had a cool Rapunzel. No such luck. I serve none other than Lady R, the social media sensation and sadist who lives in Manhattan’s famous Apex Towers. With the help of her manager—a witch named Jocasta—Lady R releases daily gossip videos while assigning me “torture chores.” Many tasks are designed to remind me how Lady R is the gorgeous variety of elf, while I’m beyond plain. I spend a lot of time scheming my escape. My work pays off when an eccentric billionaire offers to magically set me free. The catch? I must move to Arizona and become his personal assistant. Needless to say, I rush for the door. Turns out, my new employer is none other than Lady R’s ex-boyfriend, Dex, a guy who was blinded in a strange accident and has since become a recluse. In other words, I ran from my fairy tale life, but it found me again anyway. At this point, I should head for the hills, yet I simply can’t leave Dex. For the first time, I truly feel comfortable around someone. In all honesty, it’s probably because I have self-esteem issues and Dex can’t see my bland face. Even so, it’s all good until Lady R discovers where I am. And that leads to my Rapunzel problem. With Lady R back in the picture, can I still find my happily ever after? The truth will emerge soon enough. Because my name is Grayson Eyre, and this is my story. Ideal for readers who crave a mash-up between Rapunzel and Jane Eyre. FAIRY TALES OF THE MAGICORUM 1. Wolves And Roses 2. Moonlight And Midtown 3. Slippers And Thieves 4. Shifters And Glyphs 5. Bandits And Ball Gowns 6. Fire And Cinder 7. Fairies And Frosting 8. Towers and Tithes Goodreads ~ Purchase: Amazon ~ B&N ~ iBooks ~ Kobo ~ Google Play ~
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Getting Published By Christina Bauer
As part of the launch tour for my fairy tale romance, Towers and Tithes, the lovely folks at Rocking’ Book Reviews asked me to write about my publishing journey. What are the oddest and most surprising things I’ve learned? Here are my top three. Disclaimer: publishing journeys are incredibly personal. Everyone’s book and experience will be different. This is my unique story based on my wackadoo writing style. (For instance, who uses wackadoo in a sentence?) Thing Number One. Money, Honey I was never offered a traditional publishing contract, so I went indie. Later on, I was offered an advance and contract to move all my content to one of the serial publishers that are popular now. I’m still indie. Key lesson: If people are offering to publish your stuff, that means they can make money off you. Dollars that, in my case, I wanted to keep for myself. In indie writer lingo, I decided to ‘go wide’ and work directly with the serial publishing houses. Pro Tip: Learn from indie communities like Wide for the Win on Facebook before making a final decision about how to go to market. Thing Number Two. Serial Formats Charles Dickens originally wrote in serial format. Guess what? That’s becoming popular again for people who are mobile-first readers. These folks like reading a chapter at a time and enjoy the pay-per-chapter model of serial apps. It’s not how I read, but it’s a growing and separate market. Key Lesson: I put my content on Radish Fiction and Kindle Vella. It does drive a steady readership from folks who otherwise wouldn’t have seen my work. Pro Tip: Check out this Facebook group: Writing And Selling on Fiction Apps Thing Number Three: Love Your Readers Getting to interact with readers is my favorite part of my job. They inspire me. One even named his dog after a character of mine, Myla. Check out the pic below and say it with me: Oooh! Ahhh! So there you have it, some strange things that happened on the way to being published! Hope to see you on a future tour! 
AUTHOR BIO:
Christina Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too. Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby. Be the first to know about new releases from Christina by signing up for her newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/CBupdates Blog: http://monsterhousebooks.com/blog/category/christina Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorBauer/ Twitter: @CB_Bauer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christina_cb_bauer/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-bauer-481b12139/ Web site: http://monsterhousebooks.com/authors/cbauer 
Giveaway Details:
Tour-wide giveaway (INT)
managed by author, not Xpresso Tours): 
Book Details:
BLUE by L.E. DeLano Publication date: October 26th 2021 Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult Synopsis: When Blue Mancini’s mother picked her name, it ended up being a self-fulfilling prophecy. A year ago, Blue’s brother, Jack, was involved in a car accident that killed the father of her classmate, Maya Rodriguez. Luckily for Jack, he got out of a manslaughter charge and into a plea bargain thanks to the top-notch lawyer hired by Blue’s wealthy parents. The fallout is now affecting Blue as Maya returns to school determined to carve out a pound of flesh from the only member of the Mancini family she can reach. On top of that, Blue has a demanding mother, a father who’s never around, a drama-addicted best friend, and a secretive new guy who’s determined to make Blue his own personal cheer-up project. It’s a perfect storm of misery. When Maya’s social media taunts and in-person digs finally push Blue to retaliate, they find themselves in afterschool detention and forced into a project meant to foster cooperation and civility. As the layers of their tangled drama unravel, Blue learns more about Maya’s life—and her own sense of privilege—when secrets are revealed that cast a new perspective on everything in Blue’s world. Goodreads ~ Purchase: Amazon ~ B&N ~ iBooks ~ Kobo ~
In what ways has writing affected other aspects of your life?
Writing has changed my life in oh-so-many ways. When I was young, it was an escape. I grew up in a tiny Southwest town with very strict, very religious parents. Other than church, I wasn’t allowed a social life, so writing became a way to travel to exciting places and speak out about all kinds of issues and interact with people I didn’t have access to in real life. After high school, I secured my own financial aid and headed off to college where I became (gasp!) a Theatre major. Writing was all about creativity and expression – I journaled, I wrote scenes and plays, and I read freely and voraciously. After college, writing faded into the background as life took over, ending up as a dozen or more partially finished novels that I was going to finish “someday.” I became a parent, then a special needs parent, then a single parent all in the span of a few years. Writing became therapy, and I ended up leveraging that into badly needed income as a blogger and freelancer. Eventually, I took a good hard look at those half-finished book projects and decided to find some discipline and get writing until something was done. I queried my first YA book in 2014 (TRAVELER), entered it in a YA contest in 2015, and ended up winning a two book contract with Macmillan! TRAVELER was a Keystone State Reading Association Secondary Book Awards Finalist in my home state of Pennsylvania. It’s sequel, DREAMER was one month from release when the world went kaplooey. While visiting family out of state, I ended up in the Emergency Room with a devastating brain bleed that put me in the hospital for a month and lost me the use of the left side of my body. Once again, writing became therapy, making my stumbling fingers type and engaging my brain to make those connections. BLUE was a labor of love, and a story about resilience and perspective as you work your way through a rough situation – something I can speak to with great authority. Blue makes a journey out of her own bubble of personal misery (with both heart-wrenching and hilarious turns) by making connections and realizing everybody has a story and you don’t know more than a few pages of it. Thanks for letting me share my story – and Blue’s – with you!
You can find the schedule HERE .
AUTHOR BIO:
L.E. DeLano comes equipped with a “useless” Theatre degree that has opened doors for her in numerous ways. Though mostly raised in New Mexico, she now lives in Pennsylvania with two adventurous kids and two ridiculous cats. When she’s not writing (which is almost never), she’s binge-watching Netflix and planning road trips. Her debut novel, TRAVELER was selected as a Keystone To Reading Secondary Book Award finalist for school year 2018-19 by the Keystone State Reading Association (KSRA) and also voted one of The 20 Most Beautiful Books in the World for 2017 by MTV UK. Author links: Website ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ 
Giveaway Details:
Tour-wide giveaway (US only)
a Rafflecopter giveaway Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d04251234573/
Book Details:
BLUE by L.E. DeLano Publication date: October 26th 2021 Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult Synopsis: When Blue Mancini’s mother picked her name, it ended up being a self-fulfilling prophecy. A year ago, Blue’s brother, Jack, was involved in a car accident that killed the father of her classmate, Maya Rodriguez. Luckily for Jack, he got out of a manslaughter charge and into a plea bargain thanks to the top-notch lawyer hired by Blue’s wealthy parents. The fallout is now affecting Blue as Maya returns to school determined to carve out a pound of flesh from the only member of the Mancini family she can reach. On top of that, Blue has a demanding mother, a father who’s never around, a drama-addicted best friend, and a secretive new guy who’s determined to make Blue his own personal cheer-up project. It’s a perfect storm of misery. When Maya’s social media taunts and in-person digs finally push Blue to retaliate, they find themselves in afterschool detention and forced into a project meant to foster cooperation and civility. As the layers of their tangled drama unravel, Blue learns more about Maya’s life—and her own sense of privilege—when secrets are revealed that cast a new perspective on everything in Blue’s world. Goodreads ~ Purchase: Amazon ~ B&N ~ iBooks ~ Kobo 
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AUTHOR BIO:
L.E. DeLano comes equipped with a “useless” Theatre degree that has opened doors for her in numerous ways. Though mostly raised in New Mexico, she now lives in Pennsylvania with two adventurous kids and two ridiculous cats. When she’s not writing (which is almost never), she’s binge-watching Netflix and planning road trips. Her debut novel, TRAVELER was selected as a Keystone To Reading Secondary Book Award finalist for school year 2018-19 by the Keystone State Reading Association (KSRA) and also voted one of The 20 Most Beautiful Books in the World for 2017 by MTV UK. Author links: Website ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ 
GIVEAWAY DETAILS
Blitz-wide giveaway (US only)
Book Details:
The Finest Lies by David J. Naiman Publication date: October 14th 2021 Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult, Magical Realism Synopsis: High schooler Nicole Hallett has just about had it with her brother Jay, so when a mysterious man appears with an offer to replace him with a better one, she doesn’t hesitate. Nicole has always been impulsive, but this time, she finds herself in predicament far worse than anything she’s experienced. Just like that, an average snow day—usually filled with hot cocoa and snowball fights—is commandeered by the stranger, who forces the siblings into a dangerous game. Confronted by past reflections, tested by present complications, and threatened by future possibilities, Nicole has until the end of the day to disentangle the riddle of her life. This suspenseful, yet winsome novel by award-winning author David J. Naiman explores the power of family and forgiveness. But take heed. The truth can cut like shards of glass, especially for those who’d rather avoid it. Sometimes, only the finest lies will do. Goodreads ~ Purchase: Amazon ~ 
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58967157-the-finest-liesAUTHOR BIO:
David J. Naiman is a best-selling independent author of award-winning books for children, teens, and adults including Jake, Lucid Dreamer, first-place winner of the Purple Dragonfly Book Award and the Moonbeam Children's Book Awards in pre-teen fiction and Didn’t Get Frazzled, humorous medical fiction written under the pen name David Z Hirsch. He is also a successful physician specializing in internal medicine and an unsuccessful speller specializing in vowels that sound identical to other vowels. He lives with his wife and two children in Maryland. Visit him at www.davidjnaiman.wordpress.com Author links: Website ~ Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ 
GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)
“The Sand Pounder is one of those rare historical novels with a charm that appeals to both young and old readers.” - Vincent Dublado for Readers’ Favorite
Book Details:
The Sand Pounder - Love and Drama on Horseback in WWII by M. J. Evans Category: Young Adult Fiction (Ages 13-17) Genre: Historical Fiction; Rated G - Completely clean Publisher: Dancing Horse Press, 284 pages Release date: September 2021 Tour dates: October 4 to October 22, 2021 Book Description: Fearing an invasion by German and Japanese forces during World War II, the U.S. Coast Guard enlisted horsemen to patrol the beaches along the east and west coasts. The unit was called "The Sand Pounders" and they rode their horses up and down the beaches from 1942 to 1944. In Tillamook, Oregon, a young equestrian decided to join them. There was only one problem...they were only accepting men. That didn't slow her down. "The Sand Pounder" is a Young Adult historical fiction set during World War II. add to goodreads ~ Buy The Book: Amazon 
REVIEW By LAWonder10:
The Sand Pounder is a highly recommended book for not only Young Adults but for the whole family. It is about the time period when the U.S. entered World War ll, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It is the sad part of the U.S. History when faithful American Japanesewere ripped from their homes and businesses and treate like criminals. It is the time Aerican citizens allowed fear and stereo-typing to rule their sense of humanity and turn on respected friends and neighbors, simply because of thei Asian decendancy. It was interesting to me to learn about a Coast Guard group, called the Sand Pounders, of which I had never heard of before. While I am aware of the horses used in calvaries, I had never heard of this elite group of men. This story is of a young girl, determied to do her part in the defense of her country. The story pulls together the various wartime scenarios into one captivating tale of the little known defense of the western coast and of the events occurring within te U.S., as well as outside the U.S., during those remorseful times. The book portrays the value of commadary, patriotism, friendship, and women being acknowledged in new roles. It was a time when men were awakened to the value of women, outside of the home. and and the trials many individuals endured. It also portrays a sense of human respect and honor. This is a literary work book clubs would benefit from reading. There is much material ffor various discussions. The characters were very realistic, well-defined and the scenes drew the reader in, allowing him/her to feel a part of the story. The Title and Cover image were bothe well-chosen, eye-catching and depicted the main idea of the story well. I offer a Five Stars rating for this book. *This book was gifted me with no pressure to post a positive review. This is my honest review. 
Meet the Author:
Award-Winning, Best-Selling author, M.J. Evans grew up in Lake Oswego, Oregon, and graduated from Oregon State University. She spent five years teaching junior high and high school students before retiring to raise her five children. She is a life-long equestrian and enjoys competing in Dressage and riding in the beautiful Colorado Mountains. connect with the author: website ~ instagram ~ facebook ~ goodreads ~ pinterest
Here is the tour schedule.
Giveaway Details:
Enter to win The Sand Pounder - Love and Drama on Horseback in WWII by M. J. Evans, signed by the author (one winner/USA only) (ends Oct 29)
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In the Echo of this Ghost Town by C.L. Walters Publication date: October 12th 2021 Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult Synopsis: When everything in your life unravels and the future you imagined disintegrates into dust—how do you decide which way is forward? Griffin Nichols has lost everyone close to him. Unhealthy choices rooted in unmet expectations have him feeling like he’s failing at being a man. Everything he thought he knew about being a good son, brother, and friend has him feeling as substantive as an echo. He’s lost. Then Maxwell Wallace walks into his life and teaches him sometimes in the weakness of the echo is where he can claim his strength. Goodreads ~ Purchase: Amazon ~ B&N ~iBooks ~ Kobo ~ 
AUTHOR BIO:
As a kid, my world revolved around two things: stories and make believe. I have built a real life around those two things as well: I am a teacher of stories and a writer of make believe. While I went to high school in a small town in Oregon and college in a smaller town in Oregon - both gifted me with treasures to fill my creative reservoir and most importantly, my husband. We got married, I followed him from Oregon to Hawaii (it was that or forgo the marriage). We have two children, and several furry kids. I read and write everyday. Author links: Website ~ Instagram ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Bookbub ~ Pinterest ~ Newsletter ~ Goodreads ~ 
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They Stay (They Stay Series, #1) by Claire Fraise Publication date: October 12th 2021 Genres: Supernatural, Thriller, Young Adult Synopsis: For fans of Stranger Things comes a suspenseful YA mystery about a missing kid, a girl who can see ghosts, and a horrifying crime only four outcasts have the power to stop. What if the only person who could help you find your missing brother was dead? Nothing is as important to sixteen-year-old Shiloh Oleson as her little brother Max. So when the six-year-old goes missing without a trace, a heartbroken Shiloh refuses to believe nothing can be done and sets out to find him. When one of Shiloh’s classmates says she knows where Max is, Shiloh hesitates to believe her. Francesca is creepy. She says she can see ghosts, but everyone knows ghosts aren’t real … right? But Francesca says that Max is going to be murdered. And a ghost told her where he is. As the line between the dead and living begins to blur, Shiloh starts to think Francesca might not be as crazy as she believed. One thing is becoming clear. Someone has gruesome plans for Max, and Shiloh must confront her worst nightmares to find him before it’s too late. THEY STAY is the first book in the They Stay Series. Read on if you like ghost stories, plot twists, enemies-to-friends, creepy circuses, budding romance, and unlikely heroes. Content Warnings: This book contains death, kidnapping, domestic abuse, references to suicide, bullying, and mild adult language. Goodreads ~ Purchase: Amazon ~B&N ~ Kob
10 Things You Didn’t Know About 'They Stay'. 1. I wrote the first draft of the book for NaNoWriMo in 2017 Well, not exactly the first draft of the book, but the first draft of what would eventually become the book. I wrote a book for NaNoWriMo my freshman year of college about a formerly-homeschooled girl who moved to a small fishing village and decided to help find a teenager who had just gone missing at her new public school. There, she teamed up with two outcasts, nerdy Miles and bad-boy Jonah, to solve the mystery. What ensued was the most out-there, ludicrous adventure that included 5 deaths, a ritual sacrifice, gang activity, secret societies, murderous grandfathers, motel fires, messy love triangles, and a random pregnant girl who didn’t interact at all with the plot who could see ghosts and solved the mystery before any of the main three hooligans did. The manuscript was 101,000 words. At the end of November, I decided to put it to rest and never look at it again because it was too embarrassing. But for the next two years, those four characters stayed with me. They had a story to tell, it just wasn’t the one I originally thought. So when I dialed down the drama, made the girl who could see ghosts a more important part of the plot, and made the boy who went missing Shiloh’s little brother instead of a random stranger, They Stay was born. 2. I started by wanting to make the book more of a horror book but found I was scaring myself I was working on this book with my fiction writing professor in college and he suggested that I try writing it as more of a horror book. Something was missing from it, and he thought making the ghosts scarier might fix it. So I challenged myself to learn how to write horror. But by doing that I ended up giving myself so many nightmares that I didn’t keep going with that. Later, that same professor helped me realize that it’s okay for the ghosts not to be sources of horror and that an equally compelling story could be told where the expectation was inverted—the ghosts are not the sources of horror in the book, but instead, the people are. 3. I spent a year living in the county I based the fictional York County off I spent my freshman year of college at Kenyon College in rural Ohio, which ended up being a major source of inspiration for Bethany and York County. 4. I spent a lot of time researching, talking to officers and community organizers, and joining task forces to help people struggling from the opioid epidemic in that part of Ohio. I was an investigative journalist at Kenyon and wrote two longer research articles while I was there—one of which was on the opioid epidemic in Knox County (https://www.thecollegianmagazine.com/the-home-front/). While writing this article, I interviewed many law enforcement officers, community organizers, and non-profit leaders on the struggles not only those struggling with opioid addiction face in the county but also their children. In the article, my co-author and I wrote, “The Public Children Services Association of Ohio reports that 28 percent of children in Ohio taken into custody in 2015, as well as 70 percent of children under the age of one, had parents who were using opiates.” So I drew from this research when creating some of the characters in They Stay. 5. That same year, I mentored kids in foster care. I volunteered for the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), and through that program, I mentored kids in foster care and juvenile detention. Not only was I able to meet some amazing kids, but I learned a lot about the way the foster care system in this country is structured, and exactly what kind of support is available to kids in the system. This experience inspired the character of Jonah in They Stay, and the struggles he faces as not only being a juvenile delinquent but also in foster care. The foster parents I met personally during this volunteering experience were wonderful people who cared deeply about their foster kids, and they inspired the character of Jonah’s loving and nurturing foster mom in They Stay. 6. Shiloh’s love and protective instinct over Max is based on my relationship with my little brother I have a little brother, and he’s the best. I often find myself writing about sibling dynamics in my stories. 7. I drew inspiration from The Clockwork Angel when first establishing the relationship between Shiloh, Miles, and Jonah The Infernal Devices series has been my favorite YA series of all time ever since I first read the books in middle school. I used to have a T-shirt that said “I love Jem Carstairs, get over it” on the front (at the end of the day, I was team Jem, although it was a really hard decision). I just loved how the relationship between the three of them was not a standard “love triangle,” and how it was so complicated that it made the readers love each of the characters and made the decision hard. So I pulled some inspiration from those books when writing about Shiloh, Miles, and Jonah (although a lot of their dynamics are different, as well as the way these relationships are ultimately going to resolve themselves). 8. The book was almost written in the 3rd person past tense Up until the second draft, They Stay was in 3rd person past tense. I decided I wanted to do a tense change because my writing just feels more present in first person present tense. 9. I don’t know if I believe in ghosts I think about this question a lot, and I still don’t know if I believe in ghosts. I love writing about them. I think because I like writing about them so much, on some level I have to believe in them a little. 10. I can see ghosts just like Francesca Just kidding on this one. It would be pretty cool to be able to, though. Don’t you think? 
AUTHOR BIO:
Claire Fraise earned her B.A. in English from Tufts University. She is also the author of YA dystopian novel Imperfect (winner of the San Francisco and Beverly Hills Book Festivals), which she published when she was 16. When Claire’s not writing, she likes crocheting amigurumi animals, reading, and hanging out with her dogs. Even though it goes against every introverted bone in her body, she is on social media. Connect with her on Instagram at @clairefraiseauthor, on YouTube at Write with Claire Fraise, or visit her website at clairefraise.com. Author links: Website ~ Instagram ~ Facebook ~ Youtube ~ Pintrest ~ Goodreads 
Giveaway Details :
Tour-wide giveaway (INT)
This grand prize giveaway - ends Oct 21st:
Book Details:
The Sand Pounder - Love and Drama on Horseback in WWII by M. J. Evans Category: Young Adult Fiction (Ages 13-17) Genre: Historical Fiction; Rated G - Completely clean Publisher: Dancing Horse Press, 284 pages Release date: September 2021 Format available: Print softback, mobi ebook, PDF Tour dates: October 4 to October 22, 2021 Book Description: Fearing an invasion by German and Japanese forces during World War II, the U.S. Coast Guard enlisted horsemen to patrol the beaches along the east and west coasts. The unit was called "The Sand Pounders" and they rode their horses up and down the beaches from 1942 to 1944. In Tillamook, Oregon, a young equestrian decided to join them. There was only one problem...they were only accepting men. That didn't slow her down. "The Sand Pounder" is a Young Adult historical fiction set during World War II. Buy The Book: Amazon ~ add to goodreads 
BOOK PRAISE:
“The Sand Pounder is one of those rare historical novels with a charm that appeals to both young and old readers.” - Vincent Dublado for Readers’ Favorite “M.J. Evans does an excellent job of winding the era's history and the lesser-known job of the Sand Pounders into a realistic story of a mature teen's determination to make a difference in her world.” - Diane Donovan for Midwest Book Review “A gripping YA historical novel packed full of twists, turns and memorable characters. Highly recommended!” - The Wishing Shelf Book Review (UK)
How I do research for my Historical Fiction books. The most fun part about writing Historical Fiction is, in fact, the research! If you cultivate a sense of curiosity, you will enjoy learning throughout your life…and you’ll NEVER run out of new things to learn. The Sand Pounders were an arm of the U.S. Coast Guard during World War 2. Their job was to patrol the east and west coasts and in Texas to watch for and report an enemy invasion. Very few people have ever heard of them as they only existed for two years…from mid-1942 to mid-1944. But, during that time, they patrolled 3,700 miles of coastline and employed 24,000 men on horseback. I stumbled across an old picture of the Sand Pounders, and it piqued my curiosity. I started searching on the internet. I was fortunate to discover that the confidential report on their activities written by the Coast Guard, was recently released and I was able to send for a copy of it. I also purchased a short printed article and a novel about the Sand Pounders. I grew up in Oregon and frequently visited the Oregon Coast, including Fort Stevens, the only place in the continental U.S. that was actually shelled during World War 2. I also visited Tillamook, the Coast Guard Station in Garibaldi, and the other places on the Oregon Coast that are included in the book. Personal visits to locations are not always possible for an author but it is a great way to enrich the setting and make it more believable when it is possible. I hope you will enjoy reading “The Sand Pounder – Love and Drama on Horseback in WWII.” If you do, please post a review on Amazon and Goodreads and tell your friends about it. 
Meet the Author:
Award-Winning, Best-Selling author, M.J. Evans grew up in Lake Oswego, Oregon, and graduated from Oregon State University. She spent five years teaching junior high and high school students before retiring to raise her five children. She is a life-long equestrian and enjoys competing in Dressage and riding in the beautiful Colorado Mountains. connect with the author: website ~ instagram ~ facebook ~ goodreads ~ pinterest
Here is the tour schedule.
Giveaway Details:
Enter to win The Sand Pounder - Love and Drama on Horseback in WWII by M. J. Evans, signed by the author (one winner/USA only) (ends Oct 29)
Paint Me Fearless (Shady Gully #1) By Hallie Lee
Christian Contemporary Fiction Paperback, ebook & audiobook, 322 Pages January 6, 2021 by WordCrafts Press SYNOPSIS: Although their petite appearances are strikingly similar, ROBIN and DESIREE (DESI) have little in common. When Desi moves to the small town of Shady Gully, Louisiana, the unpopular Robin feels diminished by the new girl's notoriety. But fate has other ideas, and as these two isolated girls are drawn together, a friendship born in high school evolves into a bond that promises to last a lifetime. Even as their paths diverge, and they clumsily marry and plow through raising families of their own, they remain true. Even as they nurse their respective bruises, and carry their traumas from childhood into their own marriages, they always have each other's backs. Even when a sordid secret from their past emerges to threaten their families, together...they remain a force to be reckoned with. Until years later, when they're enjoying the prime of their lives, a stunning rumor surfaces that threatens their lifelong connection. The allegation suggests that one has betrayed the other. Truth? Lie? Does it matter? Sometimes just the hint of betrayal is enough to ruin a lifelong bond. As their worlds collide, and old insecurities rise to the forefront, the layers of Desi and Robin's legendary friendship begin to unravel. Just when it seems they've lost everything, the truth brings them full circle...and in their brokenness they come to realize that there is only one true way to fill the emptiness inside, to quiet the lies...and to ultimately become...fearless. (Affiliate links included.) Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Target | Book Depository 
EXCERPT:
(Desi) On the bus ride home, a husky high school guy wearing cowboy boots and a western belt slipped into the seat in front of me. He stretched his arm along the top of his seat and casually turned back to me. “Howdy,” he offered with a lazy drawl. “Uh…howd…hi?” He grinned and let out a low chuckle. His name was Adam, and he said he was going to be a country music star one day. He just thought I should know. “Is that so?” “Count on it,” he said. He had reddish hair. A nice smile. I believed him. He chatted for a bit, pointing out dirt roads here and there. “Yonder direction is where the Wolfheart clan stays. You need to steer clear of Brad and his bunch. Ain’t no place for a girl like you.” Interesting that Adam already had me pegged for a particular kind of girl. I resisted the flair of irritation. Instead went with a wide-eyed, earnest nod. “Thanks. Good advice.” “My pleasure.” Adam tipped his imaginary cowboy hat. Mama said to smile and make friends, so I figured I could add Adam to the list. He ought to count for more than one, seeing as how he was going to be the king of Nashville one day. He rolled the bus window down, and the breeze felt good. It was a hot breeze, but that might be as good as it was going to get here in Shady Gully, Louisiana. Adam hummed a song, and it wasn’t half-bad. He acted real casual about it, but I could tell he was giving it his best effort. I sat back in my seat, surveying my surroundings. Country roads indeed. No red lights, traffic jams, or five-car pileups. Just twisty blacktop paths and an occasional house set back from the road. Excerpted from Paint Me Fearless by Hallie Lee, Copyright © 2021 by Hallie Lee. Published by WordCrafts Press. 
About the Author
Born and raised in Louisiana, most of Hallie Lee’s screenplays and novels are set in the south. Inspired by a landscape rich with cantankerous, salt of the earth folks, Hallie’s characters tend to be dramatic, but kind, and quirky, but smarter than they appear. A move to the creative community of Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2005 gave her the opportunity to take up screenwriting. As her screenplays were recognized with awards and placements in various contests, she had the opportunity to learn from award winning talents like Kirk Ellis (The John Adams miniseries) and Ronnie Clemmer (A League of Their Own). But alas, her heart is southern, and when she and her family made another move to Kentucky, it renewed her passion for writing novels. And southern story telling. Paint Me Fearless is the first in The Shady Gully Series, a series which promises thought provoking, relatable journeys whose cast of characters tend to be ornery, but loveable. It’s women’s literature. It’s book club fiction. It's faith based. It’s Hallie Lee. Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Bookbub 
GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Two audiobooks of Paint Me Fearless by Hallie Lee (US) Two audiobooks of Paint Me Fearless by Hallie Lee (UK) Ends October 6, 2021 
Book Details:
The Grove by Karri Thompson Publication date: September 21st 2021 Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult Synopsis: Entering the woods is forbidden. To go in can mean a fate worse than death. At least that’s what seventeen-year-old Laura has been told. But living in a new town with nothing to do, she ignores her mother’s dire warnings and explores the forest near her home. The trees entice Laura deeper into the woods. A mysterious, soothing voice calls her name, and she becomes lost. When a young man finds her, she thinks she’s saved. But he insists their meeting is more than a coincidence. For centuries, his colony has been waiting for a savior. With his alluring eyes and gentle smile, Laura almost believes his crazy story. Caught between worlds, and with her life at stake, she doesn’t know who to believe or trust. Her heart tells her one thing and her head another. Is it her destiny, or will her fate only postpone the inevitable? Goodreads ~ Purchase: Amazon ~ B&N ~iBooks ~ Kobo ~ Google Play ~ 
AUTHOR BIO:
Karri Thompson, a native of San Diego, attended San Diego State University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in English and master’s degree in education. When she’s not writing novels and teaching high school English, she can be found nerding out at San Diego Comic-Con and cooking delicious meals for her family. Karri is the recipient of the San Diego Book Awards Best Published Young Adult Novel for 2014. Author links: Twitter ~ Website ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads ~ 
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Angelbound: Clockwork Icni by Christina Bauer Book Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway! {Ends 9-28-21}9/19/2021 
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Clockwork Igni (Angelbound Origins, #9) by Christina Bauer Publication date: September 21st 2021 Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult Synopsis: As Queen of Antrum, I rule an underground realm of demon hunters who love finding new caves. Hey, it’s boring down here; I’m glad they all have a hobby. Per usual, I try to act interested about their latest discovery, but all I hear is blah blah blah new cavern blah blah blah Forbidden Tombs blah blah blah massive bronze pyramids blah blah blah creepy ticking sounds. It’s a little odd, but I’m not worried. My bad. Suddenly, the Forbidden Tombs burst through the ground in my home realm of Purgatory. Bronze pyramids smash through abandoned buildings and highways, making rush hour a nightmare. Even worse, the metal structures attract tiny lightning bolts called igni, which are my very special supernatural buddies. Within minutes, every last igni gets stolen away. Now. I’m. Pissed. Whoever hides inside those pyramids? Time to dust off your mummies and shine up your sarcophagi. Because my husband, Lincoln, and I are breaking in and kicking ass. Angelbound Origins In which Myla Lewis kicks ass and takes names. Nuff said. 1. Angelbound 2. Scala 3. Acca 4. Thrax 5. The Dark Lands 6. The Brutal Time 7. Armageddon 8. Quasi Redux 9. Clockwork Igni Goodreads ~ Purchase: Amazon ~ B&N ~ Kobo ~ iBooks ~ Google Play ~
My Secret Cheat Sheet-O-Writing By Christina Bauer, author As part of the launch for my latest book, CLOCKWORK IGNI, the lovely folks at Rockin’ Book Reviews have asked me to share some of my process for creating visual and engaging scenes. As fate would have it, I keep a list! Please take a look at my personal cheat sheet, take what you like, and leave the rest… · Character must start off somewhere emotionally and end up somewhere else. · Stories must be in first person and have an active storyline. · Use a “ticking clock” plot device to increase tension and stakes and put a time limit on the protagonist as she works to resolve a conflict. · There must be clear romance in the story. · Physical attributes of the space or scene should go in Chapter One and within two paragraphs of every chapter if the scene changes. Physical attributes of the main characters should be described in Chapter One, preferably on the first page. · If the book is part of a series, a quick recap of previous books in the series should be made in Chapter One. · In Chapter One o There should be action or dialogue by the third paragraph. If you can get it in there, put it in the first sentence. Ideally, Chapter One ends with the heroine on the move. o Set up something to make the heroine likable. (e.g., she helps a kid; if the heroine is with her partner, put in something to show their relationship like cuddles, etc.) o The heroine’s emotional arc should be established. · By Chapter Four (ideally earlier), we must know five things: o Who’s the good guy? o Who’s the love interest? o Who’s the bad guy? o What’s at stake? o What’s the ticking clock? - The heroine must have an emotional (internal) arc with a physical (external) arc to complement it. · A bad guy needs to die (or be defeated in some very clear manner) at the end. No cliffhangers! · Follow the feels rule. Every three paragraphs, the character must talk about their feelings. For a romantic scene, it’s one out of every three sentences. · Action scenes, in order to make them feel intense, should have shorter sentences and more consonants (ie, chop, cut, crack, gut, etc). · Romantic scenes should have longer sentences and assonance. Make it sound more poetic. · The word “is” is my enemy. Try to use it as little as possible. · Repetition is limited to 75 times in the whole book. You can love the phrase “bedroom eyes,” but you can only use it in the book 75 times. · Data dumps must be at most 5 sentences. More than that, and the reader feels overwhelmed by the amount of information being dumped on them. No more than 3 data dumps per chapter. · Every chapter, ask yourself: could the plot in this chapter have been shown versus told? For instance, when describing magic, instead of simply TELLING the reader that magic is happening, we SHOW the heroine experiencing magic—what it looks like AND what it feels like. · Character voices must be unique. Make a style sheet that helps you flesh out each individual voice. (For example, Character A is more peppy and happy, while Character B is more realistic and the voice of reason). · The heroine should visit the Shire before she leaves on the quest (yes, I’m a Lord of the Rings fan). In other words, she has to go home, say her goodbyes (or just reminisce, if she’s sneaking off), and then head off on her quest. In other words, get a “before” shot of the heroine. Readers need to see her (and who she is) before she leads everyone on the grand adventure. We see Dorothy in Kansas before we see her in Oz, for instance. This may help the reader form a more emotional connection with the character because it shows she’s human. Hope you enjoyed my list and I look forward to seeing you on a future tour! 
AUTHOR BIO:
Christina Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too. Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden ~ retriever, Ruby. Be the first to know about new releases from Christina by signing up for her newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/CBupdates Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ LinkedIn ~ Web site ~ 
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