  The Last Starling by C.L. Denault Publication date: December 24th 2019 Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal, Young Adult Synopsis: “They’re coming.” Words of warning haunt Jayce Wakefield’s dreams. He doesn’t believe them any more than he believes in the blue-eyed raven delivering the message. It’s totally absurd. They’re just dreams. He has nothing to worry about. Or does he? Jayce’s life revolves around three things: being a senior, worshipping a girl he can’t have, and killing vampires. As a werewolf, his job is to protect the Starling woods. That means taking out any bloodsucker who dares to cross the Boundary. And since his autistic brother can’t handle wolfing out, it’s up to Jayce to keep pack territory safe. But between the dream-raven, humans going missing, and vampires acting weird, he’s losing his grip on reality. Add to that a runaway in his territory, and he welcomes the distraction. The fact that she won’t talk about herself makes him obsessed with learning about her past. The deeper he digs, though, the more she withdraws. It’s not until her life is threatened that he discovers the truth. Who she is. Why she’s there. And the sinister darkness headed for them both. Goodreads | ~ Purchase: Amazon
  AUTHOR BIO: C.L. Denault is a speculative fiction writer who loves dreaming up tales of adventure and intrigue. A former systems analyst, she gave up her nerdy code-writing skills to care for her family (including a son with special needs) and currently lives among the vast stretches of cornfields in Illinois. Writing and working out are her biggest passions, along with coffee and sci-fi. When she’s not hanging out with her husband and kids, she can usually be found at a library or tucked away in the shadowy corner of a hip coffeehouse. She’s also been glimpsed sneaking into her garage, late at night, to work on her time machine. She enjoys connecting with people—especially those from other planets, nearby dimensions, and the future. To find her, just visit her website or social media pages. Or use a Stargate. Whichever is easiest. Author links: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads  GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Blitz-wide giveaway (US only)
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  ASYNOPSIS Maybe because they are young and innocent, cute black Valerie Davis and nerdy white Jeffrey Stark are late to realize that falling in love on Chicago’s South Side in 1963 is a highly risky business for an interracial couple. At first, they help each other out of tough racial fixes—he saves her from attack at an all-white amusement park and she saves him from injury in a racial brawl at their high school. But as their romance becomes more serious, so do the racial dangers. White police target Valerie as a prostitute and black gang members see Jeffrey as trying to sexually exploit a black girl. Seemingly inevitably, the blossoming romance collides head on with the realities of Northern-style racism one hot summer afternoon at one of Chicago’s most beautiful Lake Michigan beaches, when a racial protest turns ugly, confronting the couple with terrible choices. Gouster Girl vividly depicts the raw racism so prevalent during the early 1960s, which ushered in decades of gang violence that turned sections of Chicago into the urban killing fields they are today. Gouster Girl opens in the summer of 1963 with the white Stark family tearfully moving its belongings onto a moving truck in front of the tidy South Shore neighborhood apartment building they love, just blocks from where Michelle Obama would grow up. As they load up the truck, 16-year-old Jeff and his parents argue yet again about the racial fears and fantasies that are leading them to abandon South Shore, with its delis and shuls and beautiful beaches. Through the eyes of Jeff, Gouster Girl then takes us back to the unlikely racial violence that led to his romance with Valerie and how she variously teases and embarrasses him to confront his most deeply held racial prejudices. Valerie introduces Jeff to the highs and lows of her life– to black music and dancing, as well as police corruption, job discrimination, misguided school tracking systems and housing discrimination that keeps blacks separate and unequal. A make-out session in an isolated section of Jackson Park leads the couple into a confrontation with police, which highlights for both the realities of what we today refer to as “white privilege.” It also pushes the Stark family more fully toward a decision about whether to join other whites in fleeing South Shore. This highly evocative coming-of-age story will alternately charm, anger terrify, and upset readers as they travel back to a time that was seemingly simpler, but was also blunt in its racial and religious prejudices. ADD to GOODREADS | ~ Grab your copy of this compelling coming of age story about an interracial teen couple in the 60's! - Amazon | iTunes | B&N | Kobo | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon AU |
 ★ 🌼 ★ABOUT DAVID E. GUMPERT★ 🌼 ★ David E. Gumpert grew up on the South Side of Chicago, in South Shore and Hyde Park. In the years since graduating from the University of Chicago, he has attended Columbia Journalism School and worked as a reporter for The Wall Street Journal and an editor for the Harvard Business Review and Inc. magazine. He has also authored ten nonfiction books on a variety of subjects—from entrepreneurship and small business management to food politics. His most prominent titles include How to Really Create a Successful Business Plan (from Inc. Publishing); How to Really Start Your Own Business (Inc. Publishing); Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Food Rights (Chelsea Green Publishing), and The Raw Milk Answer Book (Lauson Publishing). He spent ten years in the 1990s and early 2000s researching his family’s history during the Holocaust. The result was a book co-authored with his deceased aunt Inge Bleier: Inge: A Girl’s Journey Through Nazi Europe (Wm. B. Eerdman Publishing). He spent much of the last half-dozen years going back to his own roots in Chicago to research and write the historical novel, Gouster Girl. While some of it stems from his own experiences growing up in South Shore and Hyde Park, he also conducted significant additional research to complete the book in late 2019. ★ 🌼 ★CONNECT WITH DAVID★ 🌼 ★ Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page |  ★ 🌼 ★#GIVEAWAY★ 🌼 ★ Enter for a chance to win a $25 GarrettPopcorn.com#GiftCard, CHM Chicago Flag Mug, CHM Chicago Flag Water Bottle! Enter the Giveaway by clicking HERE!    Book Details: Sons of Fire by Tracy Auerbach Publication date: January 7th 2020 Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult Synopsis: When Keegan’s father, the Demon King of Fire, attempted to produce an heir, a surge of light energy interrupted the process. One tiny piece of the newly forming demon broke off. That piece is Keegan. For years, he has attempted to lay low, watching from the shadows while his monstrous brother Aidan, the true Prince of Fire, is groomed for the throne. Keegan’s shaky status quo is shattered when one of his father’s power-plays goes horribly wrong. He is cast to Earth and forced to work with a suddenly powerless Aidan. The two brothers must cooperate to complete an impossible task and avoid being cast forever into the abyss. As if having to spend time with his beastly other half wasn’t bad enough, Keegan must adapt to living on Earth, wielding his new human vessel, and dealing with his demonic appetite without harming the human creatures for whom he has always cared. As Keegan and Aidan work to save themselves, questions arise. What exactly was the King of Fire up to, that sparked their Master’s interest enough to cast them from the Demon Realm? Can Aidan be trusted in his new human form, complete with emotions, or is he the same unfeeling creature he’s always been? And why are so many demons suddenly invested in the outcome of the brothers’ trial? The only thing Keegan knows for certain is that whether he succeeds or fails at the task, the consequences for the Demon Realm and for Earth itself will be catastrophic. Goodreads | ~ Purchase: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play |  AUTHOR BIO: Tracy Auerbach is an author of science fiction and fantasy for teens and adults. As an avid reader with a vivid imagination, she chose to study film, English, and education, and went on to teach and write STEM curriculum for the New York Department of Education. This helped to polish her writing skills and ignite her passion for science fiction and fantasy. Her first scholarly article, published in Language Magazine, was about the value of active, creative learning in science. On the fiction side, Tracy’s work has been featured in the online literary journal Micro-horror, The Writing Disorder fiction anthology, and the “(Dis)ability” short story anthology, in addition to her novels. When she is not teaching or writing, Tracy is usually reading or spending time with her family. She lives in New York with her husband and sons. Author links: Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram | Facebook |  GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!  Heart-melting and romantic, What Are Friends For? is a swoon-worthy best-friends-to-lovers story that will leave you crushing hard.  FALLING IN LOVE ISN'T COMPLICATED...UNLESS IT'S WITH YOUR BEST FRIEND.  Book Details: What Are Friends For? by Sarah Sutton Publication date: January 14th 2020 Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult Synopsis: A close, easygoing friendship can all change with just one kiss. Seventeen-year-old Remi Beaufort learns this the hard way when she plays a blindfolded kissing game at a party. She thinks she’s kissing Jeremy, the totally hot basketball player she’s been crushing on. And the kiss…it’s amazing. Heart-stopping, world-changing, toe-curling. The kiss makes her forget about her overbearing mother, the next-door neighbor’s drama, and the probability that she’ll fail her senior year. The best kiss of her life makes all that fall away. Until her blindfold falls off, and she realizes that instead of kissing her crush, she’s kissing Elijah, her best friend since third grade. Though she manages to convince Elijah that he was kissing his girlfriend, Remi can’t get the thought of his lips on hers out of her head. As things between them grow more and more complicated—because it turns out her fantasizing about his mouth is more of a problem than it sounds—Remi has to make a choice: does she live the rest of her life loving her best friend in secret? Or does she tell the truth and risk ruining their friendship forever? Goodreads | ~ Purchase: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo
 AUTHOR BIO: Sarah Sutton is a YA Romance author, bringing you stories about teenagers falling in love (sometimes with magic)✨She spends her days dreaming up ideas with her two adorable puppies by her side being cheerleaders (and mega distractions). Author links: Twitter | Website | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads
   Ionic Attraction by D.R. Rosensteel Genre: YA Contemporary Fiction Release Date: January 6th 2020 Entangled Teen Summary: Zach’s got a secret. The only reason he’s agreed to an internship at the Mastermind Complex, a high-tech academy for teens, is to use their supercomputer to find the person who framed him. He never stole anything but was locked up in juvie anyway. Now he’s out, he’s got a plan, and nothing will get in his way…not even the girl he’s been partnered with, who excels at proving opposites attract. Jane’s got a secret. She was the informant who led to Zach’s arrest. Did she mean for that to happen? No way. And now she has to work with him to save the world. Because an “internship” at the Mastermind Complex is actually a program to train super-geniuses as soldiers in a war of the minds. Zach’s and Jane’s intellectual skills complement each other, making them an unbeatable pair. She can’t resist their ionic attraction, but if he ever discovers the truth, she’ll lose him forever. And worse, breaking their partnership would mean sacrificing all the innocent lives depending on them. Add to Goodreads | Buy on Amazon!  Hi. My name is D.R.Rosensteel. I write clean YA fantasy action-adventure stories wrapped around real teen issues like bullying, drug abuse, and peer pressure. There may be a hint of romance or a touch of horror, but there will always be action, action action! My message to kids who feel different--stick together. We have the rest of the world outnumbered. My message to parents--pay attention. The evils of bullying, drug abuse, and peer pressure are real, and our kids don't always talk about it. Don't be a helicopter, but never be afraid to be a parent. Our kids need our guidance and our love. It's great that they have friends who have their backs, but it's better that they know you do. My message to Psi Fighters--Vanquish Evil, Do Right, Protect the Innocent! Website | Goodreads | Twitter |    ★⚡★SYNOPSIS★⚡★ When a summoning goes awry, suddenly booknerd Meena’s summer job becomes something drastically different. Instead of cleaning eccentric Carol’s house, she’s bound to a demon as his soul-collector. Soon Meena discovers that the boring, pageant-obsessed, bonfire-loving town that she’s never fit in to is a hotbed for soul-sucking demons, demon-hunting witches, and vampires who just wanna have fun… And then she comes into her own powers. Could things get any stranger? Good thing she meets new guy Jake—who gets her and still hangs around. When Jake’s mom sends him off to his Aunt Zelda’s for the summer, he thought he’d be bored. But nothing is what it seems in this town. His aunt isn’t just odd, she’s a witch who fights demons and tries to maintain the magical balance of the town. Jake should get the hell out of there and, he would leave, except for bad-ass newbie witch Meena, who looks at him like he matters. He never counted on sticking around, but Meena’s bound to a demon who wants to destroy her soul—and Jake’s finally found someone worth fighting for. Amazon | iTunes | B&N | KOBO | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Add to #Goodreads:   ★⚡★ABOUT CHRIS CANNON★⚡★ Chris Cannon is the award-winning author of the Going Down In Flames series, the Boyfriend Chronicles, and the Dating Dilemma series. She lives in Southern Illinois with her husband and several furry beasts. She believes coffee is the Elixir of Life. Most evenings after work, you can find her sucking down caffeine and writing fire-breathing paranormal adventures or romantic comedies. You can find her online at www.chriscannonauthor.com. ★⚡★CONNECT WITH CHRIS ★⚡★ Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Newsletter | Pinterest | Bookbub | Goodreads | Amazon Author Profile  Tour Presented by IndiesagePR
  Book Details: Starlight (Starlight Chronicles) by P.S. Malcolm Published by: Parliament House | Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult Publication date: December 10th 2019 Synopsis: A treaty upholds the peaceful lands of Ersarence— who have suffered from the spilt blood of their humble goddess, Titania, which stains the hands of the ruthless Urenphians. Julian Rancewood— a small town delivery boy— wishes he could afford to save his dying mother. He never imagined a larger life for himself until he meets Adrina Hesfetter, the village seamstress’s daughter. After striking a deal with the elusive King’s advisor and joining the royal army, he finds himself helping to search for a missing, unknown heir. Against all odds, Adrina and Julian soon meet again within the palace walls. When Julian discovers Adrina’s fire magic— an impossibility among non-royals— they uncover a scandalous secret that will cause whispers of a Urenphian rebellion to travel through the kingdom. A thirst for revenge and a passionate romance causes the two villagers to set the events in motion which will bring down the entire Starlight Kingdom. A Starlight Chronicles Novella. Goodreads | ~ Purchase: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play  AUTHOR BIO: P.S.Malcolm (Pagan) grew up in Proserpine, Queensland-- a small, Australian country town on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. She was a storyteller from a young age and spent years perfecting her craft. For two years, she juggled waitressing in tourist filled coffee shops while undertaking two degrees in Creative Writing online. She has always had an interest in writing, but never saw herself working in the industry until she made the choice to self-publish her debut novel, STUCK ON VACATION WITH RYAN RUPERT. Realizing that she loved the process of publishing her book, she pursued an internship at a publishing house and snagged a spot as Pen Name Publishing's Marketing Assistant. In between interning and writing, Pagan opened her first business working as a freelance Marketing Strategist for Paperback Kingdom-- which helps indie authors with all aspects of their author careers. Pagan also enjoys reading-- particularly fantasy and paranormal-- and is a passionate blogger. She reviews books that she has read on her personal website, and indie books on her business blog. Some of her favourite and most influential authors include Amanda Gernentz Hanson, A.G. Howard, Marissa Meyer and Michele Jaffe. She is a cat enthusiast, tea lover, and floral fanatic. Her newest book, LANTERNS IN THE SKY, is set to be released by The Parliament House Publishing in Spring 2019. Author links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads |  GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Blitz-wide giveaway (US only)
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!   King of Hearts is the first book in the Kings of Karmichael series. The series is interconnected, but each book can be read as a standalone.  Book Details: King of Hearts (Kings of Karmichael, #1) by R.H. Tucker Publication date: December 5th 2019 | Genres: Romance, Young Adult Synopsis: Derrik Tyler has it all. He’s a world-famous rock star with a legion of adoring fans and has obtained teen idol status. He even has a Hollywood starlet who wants nothing more than to be the only girl in his life. It’s a publicity stunt only his band knows about, but that’s not detracting her from trying to turn their fake relationship into a real one. Yep, he has it all. Except the girl who stole his heart before his life turned into a rock n’ roll rollercoaster. Zoey Jacobs has been friends with Derrik and the Kings of Karmichael, since before they became the hottest band in the world. She even dated Derrik before he was known as the King of Hearts—the biggest teen heartthrob in the last decade. But that’s all in the past. She’s just a few short months away from graduating high school and moving on to college. When spring break rolls around, Derrik invites Zoey along for the last leg of the band’s tour. What should be an amazing road trip turns into Derrik’s personal mission to win back his first love. But can two people from different worlds reignite a past relationship, or is a teen icon and a future college freshman too big of a gap to cross? Add to Goodreads | ~ Purchase: Amazon  AUTHOR BIO: RH Tucker writes cute & edgy YA romance. He also lives in Southern California, consumes too much caffeine, eats too much pizza, and firmly believes Rocky Road is the best flavor of ice cream. You can sign up for my newsletter for previews, excerpts, and short stories at: Web Page Subscribe | Author links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads |
   Book Details: The Last Atlantian by Mikki Noble Publication date: December 13th 2019 Genres: Mythology, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult Synopsis: Spencer did not plan to work on her birthday. She didn’t plan a lot of things, but they happened anyway. Like, when she touched a guy and he turned into a gold statue, or when some stranger appeared to tell her she was in danger. She didn’t plan to see her life forever changed by one simple act, and it still happened anyway. What Spencer doesn’t know is why. Why is all this happening to her? Why does she have the power to turn people into gold all of a sudden. Who is she really? And why is this cute guy calling her the last Atlantian? Goodreads | ~ Purchase: Amazon EXCERPT 1: Steamy fog sprayed from the espresso machine as Spencer slammed the lever all the way down. She shouldn’t have had to work, today of all days. But the universe obviously hated her and it was punishing her. That was the only explanation “Stop moping,” her best friend Cia said, shoving a tray of mugs beside the gurgling coffee machine. “Your boyfriend’s here.” Spencer groaned and rolled her eyes. She tried not to be angry with her friend but refused to look at her. It was all right to be upset, but not good to show it. Although, technically her shift hadn’t even started yet, but Cia’s cute friend just had to have a latte and couldn’t wait, so Cia let him in, without asking Spencer first. This left just enough time for him to show up and squeeze his skinny frame through the doors, according to Cia. Spencer would bet that Cia held the door open and even waved him over. “Not my boyfriend,” Spencer told her through gritted teeth. “But does he know that?” Cia asked, smirking in that annoying way she did. One side of her mouth turned up and her brown eyes went dark, almost black. Spencer looked around the machine to see she was right. Josh, she thought his name was, stood at the counter taking off his gloves, eyes finding hers instantly. A smile lit up his face, although his cheeks had a slight color from the cooler December air. Spencer only nodded and went back to finishing up the latte order. Josh was kind of cute, light eyes, strong chin. Although he had to be in his mid-twenties and he was just a touch creepy. He was in here every day and he stared when he thought she wasn’t looking. He would sip at his coffee and she’d feel his grey eyes on her. And he’d always be toying with this pretty blue pendant he wore on a black rope around his neck. Spencer only caught a glimpse of it one time, because he kept it hidden under his shirt or in his hand most of the time, but it was pretty. Some pitchfork looking thing. “She will be right with you, Jeremy. She’s just finishing up an order.” Jeremy, that was his name. Right. She never remembered his name. Yeah, an order that I shouldn’t have to make for another… Spencer’s eyes went to the little clock on the wall in the back. Half an hour. Spencer just wished that this guy would let someone else serve him, but no. If she was on shift, he would wait for her. Why did she have to work today? At least, no one told him it was her birthday today. For some reason, she didn’t want him to know. As luck would have it, the next words Cia uttered were, “She’s grumpy because she had to work on her birthday.” Spencer noticed that Cia leaned in close to him and pretended to whisper, even though Spencer heard her quite clearly. Mainly because there were four people in the shop and only one person actually working. “On her birthday? That’s too bad.” Jeremy smiled from ear to ear, running his thin fingers through his thick, black hair. Yeah, and I thought I was lucky enough to have the day off school today. Then Cia’s parents had to call and shatter that hope. Spencer decided she might as well get this part of her day over with so she could celebrate her day, tossed a lid on the latte, called out for Cia’s friend and then made her way over to Jeremy. She offered him a smile, but it was robotic at best. Normally, she dismissed Jeremy’s actions as a bored guy with nothing better to do, but today, she didn’t feel like dealing with him. She just wanted to go out and hang out with her friends, do fun stuff. After all, she was seventeen today. But when her parents wouldn’t help her get a car, she decided that she’d get the thing herself. Fast forward to today, and she was stuck working. “Hi, what can I get for you?” she asked, finger hovering over the computer screen, taking in the scent of his cologne. It wasn’t terrible, but it was too much, too powerful. It almost made her gag. “No polite chitchat today?” he questioned, still smirking. Spencer shuffled uncomfortably. The way he was looking at her made her insides crawl. Couldn’t her best friend in the whole world see how uncomfortable this guy made her? “Bad day. Would you like the usual?” “Plain black. Straight cup of joe.” “Anything else?” His smile faltered a bit, but he still aimed his grey eyes at her and he was leaning over the counter so he could be closer to her. Seriously, Cia should see something is wrong here. Thanks for nothing, Cia. “I don’t suppose you’d give me your number.” A loud bang from behind Spencer made her jump. Cia called out, “Sorry.” Spencer used the opportunity to sneak away and grab Jeremy/Josh’s coffee order. On the off chance that he’d forget what he asked and she’d be home free by the time she slinked back over to the counter to bring him his coffee. Spencer poured, noticing her hand was shaking. Normally she didn’t let it get to her but today seemed different. She couldn’t say why, but he seemed to crawl deeper under her skin today. She shivered and prayed it was almost time to open the shop. With people impatiently waiting on their caffeine fix, she didn’t have time to talk to him and Spencer liked it that way. She stalled as long as she could. When Cia came out from the back with a stack of to-go cups, Spencer turned and gave the guy his coffee. He held out a twenty and she took it silently, hoping they didn’t have to talk anymore. But then Cia went back to the back of the shop. Spencer gave the guy a strained smile as she reached over to give him his change. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer to him. “You should give me your number, Spencer. We’ve been dancing in circles for too long,” he whispered. Spencer’s heartrate changed, sped up. She felt herself begin to sweat and shallow breaths were the only ones to reach her lungs. He was so close she could see his pupils dilate. She tried to jerk her arm free, but he refused to let go. “Just give me your number, Spencer. No need to play shy.” Spencer shook her head and grabbed his hand to remove it. It all happened so quickly, she could have blinked and missed the entire moment. Josh… or Jeremy… or whatever his name was, stood before her, a six-foot solid gold statue. The grey eyes that had just dilated in need for her and creeped her out, were now cold, metal and unseeing. A gasp slipped from her throat. She wanted to scream or cry. She wasn’t sure which. The hand gripping her arm hurt and that’s where she decided to focus. It took her a few tries to twist her wrist from his grasp, but as soon as she shook loose and jumped back, Cia came back to the front of the shop. She squealed and dropped the handful of coffee bags she’d been holding. “What the heck happened here? I run to the back for supplies and suddenly there’s a gold statue at the counter.” She stared at the statue, not looking over and seeing the terror on her best friend’s face. Steamy fog sprayed from the espresso machine as Spencer slammed the lever all the way down. She shouldn’t have had to work, today of all days. But the universe obviously hated her and it was punishing her. That was the only explanation. “Stop moping,” her best friend Cia said, shoving a tray of mugs beside the gurgling coffee machine. “Your boyfriend’s here.” Spencer groaned and rolled her eyes. She tried not to be angry with her friend but refused to look at her. It was all right to be upset, but not good to show it. Although, technically her shift hadn’t even started yet, but Cia’s cute friend just had to have a latte and couldn’t wait, so Cia let him in, without asking Spencer first. This left just enough time for him to show up and squeeze his skinny frame through the doors, according to Cia. Spencer would bet that Cia held the door open and even waved him over. “Not my boyfriend,” Spencer told her through gritted teeth. “But does he know that?” Cia asked, smirking in that annoying way she did. One side of her mouth turned up and her brown eyes went dark, almost black. Spencer looked around the machine to see she was right. Josh, she thought his name was, stood at the counter taking off his gloves, eyes finding hers instantly. A smile lit up his face, although his cheeks had a slight color from the cooler December air. Spencer only nodded and went back to finishing up the latte order. Josh was kind of cute, light eyes, strong chin. Although he had to be in his mid-twenties and he was just a touch creepy. He was in here every day and he stared when he thought she wasn’t looking. He would sip at his coffee and she’d feel his grey eyes on her. And he’d always be toying with this pretty blue pendant he wore on a black rope around his neck. Spencer only caught a glimpse of it one time, because he kept it hidden under his shirt or in his hand most of the time, but it was pretty. Some pitchfork looking thing. “She will be right with you, Jeremy. She’s just finishing up an order.” Jeremy, that was his name. Right. She never remembered his name. Yeah, an order that I shouldn’t have to make for another… Spencer’s eyes went to the little clock on the wall in the back. Half an hour. Spencer just wished that this guy would let someone else serve him, but no. If she was on shift, he would wait for her. Why did she have to work today? At least, no one told him it was her birthday today. For some reason, she didn’t want him to know. As luck would have it, the next words Cia uttered were, “She’s grumpy because she had to work on her birthday.” Spencer noticed that Cia leaned in close to him and pretended to whisper, even though Spencer heard her quite clearly. Mainly because there were four people in the shop and only one person actually working. “On her birthday? That’s too bad.” Jeremy smiled from ear to ear, running his thin fingers through his thick, black hair. Yeah, and I thought I was lucky enough to have the day off school today. Then Cia’s parents had to call and shatter that hope. Spencer decided she might as well get this part of her day over with so she could celebrate her day, tossed a lid on the latte, called out for Cia’s friend and then made her way over to Jeremy. She offered him a smile, but it was robotic at best. Normally, she dismissed Jeremy’s actions as a bored guy with nothing better to do, but today, she didn’t feel like dealing with him. She just wanted to go out and hang out with her friends, do fun stuff. After all, she was seventeen today. But when her parents wouldn’t help her get a car, she decided that she’d get the thing herself. Fast forward to today, and she was stuck working. “Hi, what can I get for you?” she asked, finger hovering over the computer screen, taking in the scent of his cologne. It wasn’t terrible, but it was too much, too powerful. It almost made her gag. “No polite chitchat today?” he questioned, still smirking. Spencer shuffled uncomfortably. The way he was looking at her made her insides crawl. Couldn’t her best friend in the whole world see how uncomfortable this guy made her? “Bad day. Would you like the usual?” “Plain black. Straight cup of joe.” “Anything else?” His smile faltered a bit, but he still aimed his grey eyes at her and he was leaning over the counter so he could be closer to her. Seriously, Cia should see something is wrong here. Thanks for nothing, Cia. “I don’t suppose you’d give me your number.” A loud bang from behind Spencer made her jump. Cia called out, “Sorry.” Spencer used the opportunity to sneak away and grab Jeremy/Josh’s coffee order. On the off chance that he’d forget what he asked and she’d be home free by the time she slinked back over to the counter to bring him his coffee. Spencer poured, noticing her hand was shaking. Normally she didn’t let it get to her but today seemed different. She couldn’t say why, but he seemed to crawl deeper under her skin today. She shivered and prayed it was almost time to open the shop. With people impatiently waiting on their caffeine fix, she didn’t have time to talk to him and Spencer liked it that way. She stalled as long as she could. When Cia came out from the back with a stack of to-go cups, Spencer turned and gave the guy his coffee. He held out a twenty and she took it silently, hoping they didn’t have to talk anymore. But then Cia went back to the back of the shop. Spencer gave the guy a strained smile as she reached over to give him his change. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer to him. “You should give me your number, Spencer. We’ve been dancing in circles for too long,” he whispered. Spencer’s heartrate changed, sped up. She felt herself begin to sweat and shallow breaths were the only ones to reach her lungs. He was so close she could see his pupils dilate. She tried to jerk her arm free, but he refused to let go. “Just give me your number, Spencer. No need to play shy.” Spencer shook her head and grabbed his hand to remove it. It all happened so quickly, she could have blinked and missed the entire moment. Josh… or Jeremy… or whatever his name was, stood before her, a six-foot solid gold statue. The grey eyes that had just dilated in need for her and creeped her out, were now cold, metal and unseeing. A gasp slipped from her throat. She wanted to scream or cry. She wasn’t sure which. The hand gripping her arm hurt and that’s where she decided to focus. It took her a few tries to twist her wrist from his grasp, but as soon as she shook loose and jumped back, Cia came back to the front of the shop. She squealed and dropped the handful of coffee bags she’d been holding. “What the heck happened here? I run to the back for supplies and suddenly there’s a gold statue at the counter.” She stared at the statue, not looking over and seeing the terror on her best friend’s face. Spencer couldn’t speak. She couldn’t open her mouth to form words. Her brain wouldn’t even form any words. If it was, it wasn’t relaying the message to her mouth. Finally, Cia turned to Spencer and must have noticed the horror on her face. She took a step closer, kicking at one of the coffee bags. Spencer watched it slide along the tile until it hit the baseboard and bounce less than a centimeter. She backed away from Cia, for her own good. It was too risky and Spencer didn’t want to be touched. She didn’t understand what had happened and there was no way she’d risk hurting her best friend. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?” Spencer shook her head and shrugged. “I… I-I think I did that to him.” Spencer pointed, but she couldn’t quite look at the guy… the statue. “He… grabbed me and… I don’t know.” “Him?” Cia’s eyes went from the statue to her friend and back. “Is that… That’s Jeremy?” She squinted at the statue and then it seemed like she was finally starting to understand. “He grabbed you?” Spencer nodded, unable to continue speaking. Tears filled her eyes, causing her vision to blur. “Good thing we haven’t opened yet,” Cia muttered. “Hey, do you think maybe we could melt him down and sell him  AUTHOR BIO: As far back as she can remember, Mikki was creating characters and stories in her head. It wasn’t until fate brushed the tip of its wings over her eyes that she began to see that writing was what she was born to do. She loves animals, reading, everything supernatural related, and enjoys spending her free time on social media whenever she can. Author links: Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram |
  2019 IPPY SILVER MEDALIST – YOUNG ADULT  Book Details: Meet Me in the Strange by Leander Watts Published by: Meerkat Press | Publication date: March 27th 2018 Genres: Coming of Age, Fantasy, Young Adult Synopsis: Meet Me in the Strange is an intoxicating adventure set in a glittery, retro-futuristic world of glam rock, spectral aliens, and gender-bendy teens. Davi is mesmerized by a girl at a concert, who appears to lose herself in the power of the otherworldy music of Django Conn. Later, through a chance meeting, Davi becomes friends with the girl, Anna Z. She is like no one Davi has ever met: she loves to talk, talk, talk and has grandiose theories of the next evolution of humans and a strange phenomenon she calls the “Alien Drift.”But danger lurks around every corner, because Anna Z is on the run, and her cruel and controlling older brother is determined to find her, at any cost. Davi faces a daunting decision, go on living a safe existence at the magical Angelus Hotel, which has been in the family for generations, or help Anna Z escape her troubled past. When the two take off to follow the concert tour of their glam-rock idol, Django Conn, Davi and Anna Z will face the biggest threat of their young lives. Goodreads | ~ Purchase:Now in Paperback! Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo  AUTHOR BIO: An avid musician, Leander Watts has played and sung for decades in a wide variety of bands. His interests range from garage rock to skronky jazz, from baroque organ to Appalachian gospel. The first rock concert he attended was David Bowie on the Diamond Dogs tour in 1974. He teaches writing and literature at the State University of New York at Geneseo (his alma mater). Leander Watts is the author of STONECUTTER, WILD RIDE TO HEAVEN, TEN THOUSAND CHARMS, and BEAUTIFUL CITY OF THE DEAD. Author links: Blog Site | Goodreads  GIVEAWAY Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)
Click on the Rafflecopter link, to enter. RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!    Slippers And Thieves (Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #4) by Christina Bauer Published by: Monster House Books Release date: November 26th 2019 Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult Synopsis: Years ago, Elle—never call her Cinderella—escaped her evil step family in order to build a new life for herself in Manhattan. Today, Elle’s awful past is a distant memory. In fact, Elle even attends West Lake Prep, an exclusive high school where regular humans mix with members of the Magicorum, such as fairies, shifters and witches. Although she still must live in hiding from her evil stepfamily, Elle has always found ways to get whatever her heart desires. That is, until Alec Le Charme. Alec is the heir to the Le Charme dynasty of high-end jewelers. He’s also kind, charismatic, has a knee-melting smile. Elle has fallen for him, hard. Unfortunately, thanks to Elle’s evil step family, Alec is absolutely off limits. In fact, if Elle and Alec so much as kiss, it will start a magical chain reaction that would end in powerful factions of witches and wizards going to war. As a result, Elle and Alec vow to stay friends, no matter what. Then West Lake Prep holds a masquerade ball. Identities get mixed up and forbidden kisses are finally shared. Time for the Magicorum to go to war, and for Elle to confront her hidden past in ways she never thought possible. Goodreads B&N Amazon Kobo Google Play
Alec – Age Fifteen Clarissa leads me to the L’s loading dock. She asks me to wait (again) while she tries to find someone to answer a few questions (again.) So I hang by the back wall and stare out across a small and empty lot. In New York, this counts as a Zen moment. A girl steps onto the concrete. She’s about my age and clearly a Cinderella template. Now I’ve met my share of possible Cinderellas. This girl is singular in how she combines so much in a single glance. She’s both fierce and sweet, gentle and rough, lovely and simple. In fact, a bubble of life and light seems to surround her. Beside her, a few boxes sit on a broken wagon. A bunch of human girls stand close by, along with an elf. The girls all wear passes for tonight’s Le Charme Extravaganza. My pulse speeds. Every corner of my soul becomes awash with one thought. How can I approach this girl? With extravaganza fans around, I can’t step out as Alec Le Charme. A plan forms. I scan the dock. Excitement zings through my limbs. Sure enough, a worker’s jacket hangs on a nearby wall hook. True fact: it’s amazing what you can get away with when you wear a uniform. I slip on the jacket and march out to meet the girl. “Hello.” I wave in her direction. “Hey, I need to drop these off and…” My perfect girl looks around. “Everyone’s gone.” "That’s right. There was an elf and some humans here before. Lucky for me, they’ve all taken off. I gesture toward the boxes. “Can I help you?” “That would be great.” Her face brightens with a dazzling smile. Inside my soul, emotions shift. Desires align. This girl. Returning the grin, I hoist up one box on my shoulder. The other goes under my arm. I could use magic, but these aren’t too heavy. Soon I’m setting them both onto the edge of the loading dock. The girl takes out a little scrap of paper. “Um, can you…” “Sure, I’ll sign for them.” I scratch out my signature. For once, I’m glad my writing is an unreadable mess. I’m not ready to reveal who I really am. Yet. “Thanks.” She takes in a shaky breath. “I’m Elle.” I grin. “Elle.” She gestures to my jacket. “And you’re Fred.” “I am?” I look down at the jacket. Sure enough, the name Fred is written on my chest. “I mean, I am.” Elle blushes. “Thanks for helping me with the boxes.” “Any time.” “I should probably get going.” Elle takes a step backward, but the pavement here is really uneven. She missteps and starts to topple. On reflex, I move forward and catch her. A second later, I’ve got Elle in my arms. An electric charge pulses through me. Threads of connection wind between us. Is this magic? Do I really care? The moment stretches on. I should really let Elle go. yet I don’t. It’s not like I want to kiss her. I mean, I do want a kiss, but it’s more than that. Together—it’s like we’re meant to fit this way. I shake my head. I’m only fifteen and Elle looks about the same age. That’s early too get feelings for someone, isn’t it? It’s an effort, but I release her. “You almost took a tumble there.” “Yes, thanks for your help. Again.” Think, think, think. There must be some way to keep her here.  ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 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 WEBSITE | GOODREADS | FACEBOOK | TWITTER Tour Schedule HERE.  Giveaway Details: Tour-wide giveaway (INT)
Enter by clicking on the Rafflecopter link below. RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!    Book Details: Wingless and Beautiful by Jerilee Kaye Category: YA Fiction (Ages 13-17), 290 pages | Genre: Romance Publisher: KIX Creative Publishing House. Release date: November 2019 Tour dates: Nov 21 to December 4, 2019 Content Rating: PG-13 : some curse words and there are kissing scenes. There is one love scene in the end, but non-explicit and non-descriptive. Book Description: Beautiful Allison Harley is far from perfect. She was a victim of domestic violence that left her physically scarred and emotionally broken. Hunter Vaugh was handsome, rich and brilliant. He was a golden boy who thought he was invincible until a tragedy took away his perfect life… along with his ability to see. When they met, Allison was running away from her nightmares, and Hunter thought he had no reason to undergo the treatments needed to recover his eyesight. He was blind, but he saw how beautiful she was, and she gave him a reason to live… a reason to see again. She was his angel, and he was hers. Hunter went away with a promise that once he returns, he will be able to see her, protect her… be the guardian angel she deserved. But once he got his eyesight back, can he look past the scars that her nightmares left her? Will he keep the promises he made her? Or will he go back to his perfect life and leave her in the hands of the new angel, who took care of her when he left? Mark your calendars! Jerilee Kaye's new release will be available on November 21, 2019! Pre-Order Today: Amazon  Meet the Author: Jerilee Kaye was born under the sign of Leo in the year 1979. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Legal Management from De La Salle University. She has post-graduate qualifications in the fields of Product Management, Project Management and Procurement. She is a Certified Senior Professional in Supply Management from NLPA, Pennsylvania and is currently working her way to an MCIPS certification from CIPS UK. She manages a global supplier portfolio for multi-national and government entities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. She is also an entrepreneur, managing a photography and printing company with her husband. She is married to her first love, Sam, who she's been dating since she was 16. They are blessed with two beautiful angels, MarQuise Justine Jerilee and Sir Alfred IV. When she's not buried under stacks of paper at work, or engrossed with her writing, she spends some down time playing golf, kicking her husband's butt on a judo match and learning to play the piano. Connect with the author: website ~facebook ~twitter ~ instagram Here is the tour schedule  Giveaway Details: Win one of three ebooks of WINGLESS AND BEAUTIFUL (3 winners) (Open Internationally) (ends Dec 11) RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!    Book Details: The Abyss Trilogy by A.C. Ward Genres: Dystopian, Fantasy, Young Adult Book 1 - Avoiding the Abyss Synopsis: Aubrey has always been told she isn’t special. If only that had remained true. Aubrey grew up as part of the rebel movement, protected but lonely. All she wants is her mother’s love, but without an ability she’s worthless in her mother’s eyes. When she’s captured by the government, Aubrey sees an opportunity to prove her worth. Instead, she realizes that her mother has been withholding many truths. Aubrey experiences an acceptance outside of the rebels that her heart has yearned for, and a discovery. She has an immunity that has never been seen before. But Aubrey isn’t immune, she’s absorbing powers as the key to the Abyss—a portal into the demon realm. Her mother finally sees purpose in her daughter and hopes to use it for her cause. Aubrey isn’t as certain. If she doesn’t gain control of her ability, she’ll open the gateway to hell and destroy everyone she’s come to care about. Including herself. The first installment in the Abyss trilogy, a coming of age YA dystopian fantasy. Perfect for fans of dystopian worlds, apocalyptic prophesies, and demon lore. Download now to find out if Aubrey will succeed in Avoiding the Abyss.  Book 2 - Approaching the Abyss SYNOPSIS: A new prophesy. Demons on the loose. Then the angels come to kill them all. After her mother abandons her, Aubrey doubts her abilities more than ever. She failed to close the Abyss. Desperate to prove herself, Aubrey enters the demon realm only to trigger a new disaster. She releases the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. These angels are uncompromising in their purpose; to massacre humanity. Aubrey alone has an immunity to match the angels, but it isn’t enough. She is faced with making a pact with a demon, or worse, her own mother. Aubrey must decide or lose those she care about. Will her choices prevent the apocalypse, or are they actually the steps leading to the end? The second installment in the Abyss trilogy, a coming of age YA dystopian fantasy. Perfect for fans of dystopian worlds, apocalyptic prophesies, and angel lore. Download today to find out if Aubrey will avoid Approaching the Abyss.  Book 3 - Accepting the Abyss SYNOPSIS: The angels and demons are defeated. Aubrey knows true happiness. Then the Devil comes to destroy it all. Aubrey had never dreamed that life could bring such joy. She has a family, friends, and is falling in love. She’s even mended her relationship with her mother. Together they’re working to change the way abilities are viewed. But a final prophecy looms, one that threatens to destroy the world. The Devil offers her a deal; to choose her own happiness over the life of an innocent. Lucifer is charming, compelling, but not to be trusted. Neither are many of those Aubrey has grown to care about. Aubrey has more to lose than ever before. Will she find a path to save humanity, or do all choices lead to the end? The third installment in the Abyss trilogy, a coming of age YA dystopian fantasy. Perfect for fans of dystopian worlds, apocalyptic prophesies, and devil lore. Download now to find out if Aubrey will end up Accepting the Abyss. Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48273293-avoiding-the-abyss Purchase: Book 1: https://books2read.com/u/4j1Qal?store=amazon Book 2: https://books2read.com/u/bPRj0J?store=amazon Book 3: https://books2read.com/u/bzvwWD?store=amazon  AUTHOR BIO: Amanda Ward is a little worried that her internet search history is on some sort of watch list. For Death Daydreams, she researched serial killers, hidden rooms, death, suicide, and third-story falls. Her next work in process is only making it worse. Amanda lives with her husband, daughter, and various pets - dog, cat, gecko, fish, and tarantula. When she's not writing she's watching Netflix or rereading her favorite manga. She'd love to hear from her fans. You can contact her at wardabooks@gmail.com. Author links: Instagram | Amazon | Facebook | Website |  GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)
To Enter, Click on link RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!    The End of the Magi By Patrick W. Carr Christian Historical Fiction Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 384 Pages November 5th 2019 by Bethany House Publishers SYNOPSIS: Centuries before the magi arrived in Bethlehem, a prophecy sets a young magus on his path . . . Following his vision of the coming Messiah, the prophet Daniel calls forth a select group of men who will count down the calendar until the arrival of Israel's promised king. Centuries later, as the day draws near, Myrad, a young magi acolyte, flees for his life when his adoptive father and others are slain by a ruthless Parthian queen. Equipped with very little, in haste Myrad escapes the city and, searching for a way to hide from the soldiers scouring the trade routes, tries to join the caravan of the merchant Walagash. The merchant senses that Myrad is keeping secrets, but when the young man proves himself a valuable asset, an epic journey filled with peril, near captures, and dangerous battles begins. With every day that passes, the calendar creeps closer to the coming Messiah. And over everything shines the dream of a star that Myrad can't forget, and the promise that the world will never be the same. (Affiliate links included.) Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Christianbook | Publisher (Affiliate links included.) Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Christianbook | Publisher (Affiliate links included.) Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Christianbook | Publisher REVIEW BY LAWonder10: Myrad was a cripple, yet when his mother died, the magus, Gershon, took him in and adopted him. He raided him as his son, and taught him in the ways and knowledge as a magi acolyte.. Their close relationship ended in the terrible day at the palace, where the newly pronounced queen had him and others slaughtered. Myrad fled to this fathers house to grab a few important and sacred belongings, barely fleeing from there with hos life. He had to obtain the shelter of a caravan in order to avoid being caught and slayed. many regarded his crippled body as a curse and refused his plea to join them. However after endlessly searching, and through his persistence, the merchant Walagash allowed him to join them. Little did any of them realize what events would take place in the upcoming months and years.... Would Myrad be able to honor his father and fulfill his dreams? This is an excellent story in honor, integrity, greed, perseverance, and in overcoming obstacles. It is a well-written tale, using creative imagination concerning an event in history which is vaguely addressed. The characters are well portrayed and feel very real. The events and scenes are well defined and visualized with relative ease. The Book Cover is too dark to effectively attract "the browser's eye". However the Title is very interesting and fitting to the book content. I did find it disconcerting that some important parts were left out of a well-known biblical event. A couple of other places in the story is not in accordance to most individuals understanding, yet is left open to interpretation. The author used that to create his own, interesting, scenario. I offer a solid Sour Stars rating and recommend this book, especially for holiday reading. *This book was gifted to me with no pressure for a positive review. This is my honest review.
"Carr retells the story of the Magi in this bustling biblical adventure . . . . Myrad's divine vision of the star and his arduous trek battling his own physical problems to pay homage to the Messiah capture the majesty of biblical narratives and will appeal to Christians well versed in scripture."-- Publishers Weekly "Patrick Carr brings us a captivating tale in The End of the Magi. Based on the Holy Bible, he weaves a fictional tale of the adventures of a group of magi from the east looking for the Messiah. Myrad is a strong main character even though he doesn't see himself as strong. He has great character traits and these help him find triumph over tragedy. . . . The End of the Magi is a great holiday read and gives us much to think about in our journey to know God better."--Fresh Fiction  ABOUT the AUTHOR: Patrick W. Carr is the author of the acclaimed fantasy series The Staff and the Sword. A Cast of Stones won the 2014 Carol Award for Speculative Fiction and the 2014 Clive Staples Award. A Cast of Stones and The Hero's Lot were both finalists for 2014 Christy Awards. He teaches high school math and makes his home in Nashville, Tennessee, with his incredible wife, Mary, and their four sons. Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | 
TOUR SCHEDULE: November 18th: Launch Locks, Hooks and Books - Review (print) Paulette's Papers - Excerpt Rockin' Book Reviews - Review (print) November 19th: Christian Chick's Thoughts - Excerpt Remembrancy - Review (print) I'm Going on an Adventure - Review (print) November 20th: A Baker's Perspective - Review (print) Library Lady's Kid Lit - Review (print) Inspirational Reading Adventures - Review (print) November 21st: Kimber Li - Review (print) Wishful Endings - Review (print) Faithfully Bookish - Review (print) November 22nd: Christy's Cozy Corners - Review (print) J. L. Mbewe - Excerpt Daughter of Increase - Review (print) November 25th: Pause for Tales - Review (print) Splashes of Joy - Review (print) Backing Books - Review (print) November 26th: The Heart of a Scribe - Review (print) Reading Is My SuperPower - Review (ebook) Bookworm Lisa - Review (print) November 27th: Tell Tale Book Reviews - Excerpt Red Headed Book Lady - Review (print) The Shelf Life - Review (print) Worthy2Read - Review (print) November 28th: For Him and My Family - Review (print) Hallie Reads - Review (print) Labor Not in Vain - Review (print) November 29th: Heidi Reads... - Excerpt Paper Ink & Lizard - Review (print)   If you love books like Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s American Gods or Good Omens, Joe Hill’s Nos4A2, or Stephen King’s (Richard Bachman) Blaze, then you’ll love Awakening!  Awakening: Rise as the Fall Unfolds by Carissa Andrews Publication date: November 12th 2019 Genres: Science Fiction, Thriller, Urban Fantasy Synopsis: The final five angels have been located and averting the apocalypse means somehow recreating the birth of Christ. Morgan never expected total annihilation would come down to the actions of five misfit angels. But as each one’s hidden angelic power unfolds, so does the sinister truth… the entire Jesus storyline has been wiped from the collective consciousness, leaving a tear in the fabric of reality. The final five need to figure out how their gifts are meant to fit together in order to set things right. However, coming to terms with the responsibility resting on their shoulders doesn’t come easy. To make matters worse, the demons have found them and unless they get on the same page quickly, the darkness will consume them all. But how can they make things right when the thing that’s missing happened more than 2000 years ago? One thing’s for sure. If they fail, existence ceases. Goodreads | ~ Purchase: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play |
Carissa’s Top Ten Favorite Supernatural Reads Being a reader, as well as writer, it's SUPER hard to pick some favorite books. I had to brainstorm like a crazy person and get as many of them down as possible. Once that was done, I was able to see a common theme about them: supernatural reads! As it turns out, I love to both read and write books with a genre bending quality that pulls in elements of the supernatural through them. Let’s see if we share some of the same awesome love for supernatural reads! 1. Nate Temple Chronicles, by Shayne Silvers – So good and so, so funny! If you are trying to decide between this or his Feathers and Fire series, I can honestly say – Nate Temple is where it’s at. Start here! 2. Rise of the Seer, by Brandon Barr – I bought this book when Brandon was still alive and trying to raise money for his family before his passing. It was a good read and one that I still recommend in honor of his legacy. 3. Blood, Flesh, Bone Trilogy, by Juliet Vane – Juliet is a friend of mine and I adored this series! I love anything with ghosts and hauntings and supernatural occurrences. Bonus: if you like music, too, you’ll love this series! 4. The Lux Series, by Jennifer Armentrout – Oh, what to say about this series… It reminds me of Roswell (old TV show) in a way. My BFF turned me on to this series and I have to admit, I really enjoyed the twists and turns! About mid-series it wandered a bit, but it came back around. If you love supernatural beings (or aliens), you’ll enjoy this read. 5. Beautiful Creatures, by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl – It’s been a while since I read this series, but I loved it! Obviously, it went on to become a movie as well, so I must not have been the only one! HA! 6. House of Night Series, by PC and Kristin Cast – I read this series as it came out years ago and to this day, it still lingers with me. It was post Twilight and probably one of the first true “academy” books outside of Hogwarts. 7. The Witch, by Christopher Pike – This one is a super throw-back to my childhood. I read this book when I was a kid and fell in love with all things witchy because of it. It doesn’t look like they have it in digital format, but the paperback is still out there! 8. The Relic, by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child – Oh to read the supernatural twisty turny books by Preston and Child. I love this duo and if you only watched the really craptastic movie of this book, you are sorely missing out. It was SO well written and intriguing. If you haven’t yet read the Pendercast books, get started with this one. Super good! 9. The Sookie Stackhouse Series, by Charlaine Harris – I read the Sookie Stackhouse books well before TrueBlood was a thing. I loved Sookie and her quirky town and all the crazy things that went on there. I haven’t yet had the chance to read her Midnight Texas books, but I can tell you, the show had me until mid-season and I binned it after the vampires got insanely action porny. (I am a plot driven girl and if you throw in weird action sequences for the sake of it, I bounce.) LOL! 10. Twilight Saga, by Stephenie Meyer – When I was pregnant with my daughter, and just before I started writing Pendomus, I watched an episode of Ellen where Stephenie Meyer was talking about New Moon coming out and the impending movies. I hadn’t yet heard of the books and instantly thought I needed to read them. (I was, after all, about to be housebound by a new baby.) Once I started reading them, they took off with my imagination and it was a wild ride until the end. Looking back, every author has to start somewhere, and while many critics give Stephenie a lot of slack over this series, I think for a first-time author, she did incredibly well. No, she nailed it, in fact. Her job as an author is to spellbind her readers – and she did that with flying colors. There you have it, my friends! My absolute supernatural favs.
 Carissa Andrews is a freelance writer, award-winning graphic designer, indie author coach, and internationally bestselling author from Crosslake Minnesota. She is the President of the Lakes Area Writers Alliance, a 501c3 nonprofit for writers in central Minnesota, as well as the owner of Author Revolution, LLC – an organization geared toward helping new authors navigate the waters of indie publishing. For 2020, Carissa has her sights set on becoming a NYT or USA Today Bestselling Author with her upcoming series, The Windhaven Witches. You can learn more about Carissa, her services, and her upcoming novels by visiting her websites: Website 1, Website 2, or Website 3 Author links: Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter |  Giveaway Details: Tour-wide giveaway (US only)
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