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DON’T WRITE A CRAPPY BOOK, Guest Post, Spotlight Tour + Giveaway! [Ends 11/7/18]

10/30/2018

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Book Details:
Book Title:  Don't Write a Crappy Book! by James M. Ranson
Category:  Adult Non-Fiction, 210 pages | Release date:  Oct 1, 2018
Genre:  Business, Authorpreneurship  | 
Content Rating: PG for occasional mild swearing (hell and damn, mostly, one instance of "shitty")
Publisher: Master Wordsmith Media, in association with Thanet House Books
Tour dates: Oct 8 to 31, 2018

Book Description: 
    A great book can launch your business into the stratosphere. Unfortunately, most self-published business books rank somewhere between “meh” and “flaming pile of crap.” But your book doesn’t have to suck!
  In “Don’t Write a Crappy Book,” editor and entrepreneur James Ranson unpacks the most common–and toxic–mistakes that first-time nonfiction authors make. Peppered with wisdom from a panel of industry experts, this book debunks the dangerous myths that can torpedo your text and offers clear, practical guidance for writing a book you’re proud of. This is the resource for the aspiring authorpreneur who wants to write and publish a book with minimum hassle and maximum results.
    This book will teach you:
      - How a self-published book can make or break your business (and the THREE factors that determine which it does)
      - The biggest blind spots no one tells authors about (and how to look for them BEFORE it's too late)
       - How to write a first book that will get positive reviews on Amazon (and why that’s a better goal than becoming a bestseller)
       - When writing a business book is the right move for you (and when you should NEVER write one)
      - How to self-publish on Amazon to actually get good results for your business (a lot of it happens before you even start writing!)
       - What NOT to do when you’re looking for an editor (and how to find a great one)
       - Why trying to write and publish a book in 90 days or less is a recipe for disaster (and why no one tells you that!)
       - How to avoid do-overs, sunk costs, and other self-publishing headaches (and how to get out of them if they sneak up on you)
    Stay out of the crap pile! Discover the secrets to creating a highly valuable book that will expand your influence and grow your business for years to come.
Buy the Book: Amazon |  Add to Goodreads

GUEST POST: Title: How to Keep Your Non-Fiction Book From Putting Readers To Sleep
    How often have you tried to read a non-fiction book you know has great information in
it...but after three pages of that information, you can barely keep your eyes open or your
attention from wandering? You definitely don’t want to write a book like that!
    The solution? Tell stories.
     Stories keep non-fiction from being boring as hell. They keep the reader’s attention
engaged even as they convey helpful info, and they often tap into an emotional
connection that makes the reader feel like the book relates directly to them.
    Let me give you an example.
An author I’m currently working with helps business owners adapt to change. And
there’s a whole lot of information that goes into learning how to do that. But he’s also
from New Orleans, and a lot of what he learned about adapting to sudden change, he
learned in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
     So this guy opens his book with a story about going home, to New Orleans, right after
the floodwaters went down. He tells the reader in palpable detail about that experience,
and as the reader you get to see what he saw, hear what he heard, heck - you can
practically smell what he smelled. You get it all painted for you through the senses, and
that allows you to start the book feeling, on a visceral level, the devastation of that
natural disaster.
    From there he guides you to the ways this experience can connect to what happens in
your business when IT goes through some episode of devastation. And you are right
there, relating to it deeply, so it naturally follows that you start to wonder about what this
Katrina moment was for you in your business. You ask yourself, “Where have I just
been standing in the wreckage of some aspect of my business, trying to figure out what
I could have done differently?”
     That is powerful! And because it’s related through story, it works so much better than if
the author would have simply opened saying something like, “Yeah, so there was a
Hurricane. It devastated a city. Your business is like that city after something goes
wrong.” The difference in impact is like night and day.
      Stories illustrate the points in your book in a way that allows the reader to say, “Oh
yeah, I had something like that happen to me.” Or, “Wow, I never thought about it that
way, but I see it now.” And the story, because it is so much more personal, and very
much more emotionally impactful than just a bunch of information, will allow the reader
to relate to what you’re saying, so much more so than if you were to just serve the facts
on a platter.

When someone reads your book, they’re not reading it to hear about you, and they’re
not reading it to hear about the step-by-step solution you have. They’re reading it to
relate to you and to learn about themselves. If all you do is either talk about yourself or
give information or instructions, that’s not going to be relatable. But when you tell a
story, you create a situation where the reader gets to see themselves in what you’re
saying. And from there, anything is possible.
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About the Author:​
James Ranson, The Master Wordsmith(TM), is a Wall-Street-Journal-bestselling editor, ghostwriter and book coach who has helped over 200 consultants, coaches, speakers and other thought leaders create high-quality books. Clients of his have gone on to sell thousands of books, receive book deals from publishing houses, and be featured in regional and national media outlets. In addition to his own clients, James is a writer and book doctor for Thanet House Books, and is on recommended professional lists for Scribe Media(formerly Book in a Box), My Word Publishing, BrightFlame Books and Authors Unite. His second book, Don’t Write A Crappy Book!, will be published on October 1, 2018. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, James lives in Atlanta, GA, with his fiancée and a very needy cat.
Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook​

Here is the tour schedule.
Giveaway:
Prizes: 5 winners will get an ebook copy of Don’t Write a Crappy Book, 1 winner will get a $20 Amazon GC and 3 winners will get a $10 Amazon GC (open to USA and Canada / 9 winners total)
(ends Nov 7, 2018)

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Book Tour & Giveaway for 221 BC: Scroll 1 of Narmer War by Kendall Price and Laura Vosika! {Ends 11/30/18}

10/28/2018

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Set against the backdrop of the Ptolemaic Kingdom in an alternative history linking the power of the pharaohs to magic, this first installment of a trilogy details the beginnings of a war pitting brother against brother.

As the debut novel opens, King Ptolemy III, Macedonian ruler of Egypt, is distraught over the apparent murder of his friend, Qibo (“Multiple gashes covered his body. His eyes stared at the ceiling, as if he could still see whatever had killed him”). The ancient Taoist master had worked at the Museum of Alexandria for years. This act seems to be the dark culmination to a number of days in which Ptolemy has been plagued with nightmares laced with what appear to be strange signs. He dreams he is the Pharaoh Amenhotep III, worrying over his kingdom and suffering from dental pain, the latter of which seems to affect Ptolemy’s waking hours as well. After exhuming the dead pharaoh’s body, experts discover that he did indeed have advanced abscesses in his teeth, which leads head librarian Eratosthenes to posit that someone might be working magic against the king, perhaps to re-create history. The theory is that Qibo was murdered to prevent him from translating ancient tablets that might help Ptolemy unlock the magical powers of a set of 12 amulets that have been in the possession of the pharaohs for untold years, each associated with a different element.
Using the artifacts, someone might be able to wrest control of the kingdom. As the story proceeds, Price and Vosika paint a vivid, intricate portrait of war, juggling a wide array of famous characters, including the notorious Hannibal, and using meticulous research to flesh out this universe, rooted in historical facts and details. The prose is rich and involving, and 
the twists are carefully designed and executed.
​Add to Goodreads ~ BUY LINKS:Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | Book Depository |

REVIEW by LAWonder10:
    This is a very unique story which blends mythology with sci-fi, plus other genres, in an YA series, which many will find intriguing. 
    There is an element of mystery and horror, surrounding the events of this first book in a trilogy.
    The characters are mysterious and fits into this time frame of another time on another planet.
    A servant is the only one who can unlock the mystery to the horrors that arise.
   This YA novel has suggestive sexual situations, and some strong language and graphic violence. I recommend this for ONLY older YA % Adults.
    It was difficult for me to connect with the characters or the plot, yet held intrigue. It however lacked the smooth "flow", enticing the reader to feel a part of the tale.
    I understand this leads to the next book in a trilogy, but I feel the ending was too incomplete, leaving the reader unsettled.
      The plot was creative, although a bit bizarre. 
I offer a Three Stars rating.
*This book was gifted to me with no with no requirement for a positive review. This is my honest review.
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About Kendall Price:
     
Dr. Kendall Price was born and raised in Columbia, Maryland, the third of four children. He attended high school at the Phillips Academy Boarding School in Andover, MA, a place that left him with many fond memories, and that he calls the most formative time of his life. The friendships in 221 BC are loosely based on his time at Andover.
     Following in the footsteps of his father and two grandfathers, all doctors, Kendall attended Amherst College in Amherst, MA and the University of Illinois College of Medicine and studied pathology at Stanford University.  While there, he did four fellowships, including medical staff/ autopsy, hematopathology, surgical pathology, and immunohistochemistry.
    Doctor Price lives in St. Paul, Minnesota with his wife Michelle and their three children.  It was Michelle’s influence, with her study of Chinese medicine, and a masters degree in Chinese acupuncture, that led Dr. Price to become certified in acupuncture himself.  The magic in 221 BC is based on Chinese medicine.
    In addition to writing and Chinese medicine, Dr. Price enjoys exercise, reading, and travel.  He has been to all 48 continental US states, Canada, Mexico, Alaska, and Copenhagen.
    Other writing credits include a small booklet, available on Amazon, on healing dental caries by nutritional means.
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About Laura Vosika:
Laura Vosika is a writer, poet, and musician. Her time travel series, The Blue Bells Chronicles, set in modern and medieval Scotland, has garnered praise and comparisons to writers as diverse as Diana Gabaldon and Dostoevsky. Her poetry has been published in The Moccasin and The Martin Lake Journal 2017.
She has been featured in newspapers, on radio, and TV, has spoken for regional book events, and hosted the radio program Books and Brews. She currently teaches writing at Minneapolis Community and Technical College.
As a musician, Laura has performed as on trombone, flute, and harp, in orchestras, and big bands. She lives in Brooklyn Park with 5 of her 9 children, 3 cats, and an Irish Wolfhound.

Website | Blog |Facebook |  Twitter |

Giveaway 221 BC: Scroll 1 of Narmer War by Kendall Price and Laura VosikaThis giveaway is for 3 winners choice of one print or ebook copy of the book. Print is open to the U.S. only and ebook is available worldwide. This giveaway ends November 30, 2018, midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.

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THE GIRL AT THE GRAVE blog tour + Giveaway! [Ends 11/2/18]

10/28/2018

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ABOUT THE BOOK
Girl At the Grave by Teri Bailey Black
Publisher: Tor Teen |  Release Date: August 7, 2018 |  Genre: Young Adult -- Historical Fiction, Mystery
Synopsis:
Valentine has spent years trying to outrun her mother's legacy. But small towns have long memories, and when a new string of murders occurs, all signs point to the daughter of a murderer. 
Only one person believes Valentine is innocent—Rowan Blackshaw, the son of the man her mother killed all those years ago. Valentine vows to find the real killer, but when she finally uncovers the horrifying truth, she must choose to face her own dark secrets, even if it means losing Rowan in the end.

BOOK LINKS
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |  Book Depository | IndieBound |
TOUR SCHEDULE
MY REVIEW: (LAWonder10)
    It has been many years since I have read such a compelling,  total baffling historical romance/mystery!
        Throughout the book, I was constantly changes my theories on "Who did it"!
     This very talented author captivates the reader's interest from the very first page, then slowly builds the intrigue and mystery of the plot until the very last two pages!
     The characters immediately became familiar to s reader, with a perfect mix for the time period. The scenes were vivid and easily visualized. A definite connection between the reader and the story was almost immediate - which is an accomplishment most authors struggle to do, and few succeed. 
        The Book cover and Title were attractive and well-chosen.

      I enjoy many series but it is nice to read a book occasionally that appears to be a "stand alone", although the lives of these individuals could continue very interestingly. Whether the author intends to allow the reader to imagine the future of these individuals or will continue in her journey with sequels, we'll just need to await for her next novel, which I hope is soon! 
          She is definitely "in the running" for a new "favorite"!!
       Young Adults and Adults alike will thrill in being caught up in this amazing mystery! It is even totally "clean"!
I offer a solid Five Stars rating*This book was gifted to me with no request for a positive review. This is my honest review
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Teri Bailey Black grew up near the beach in southern California in a large, quirky family with no television or junk food, but an abundance of books and art supplies. She’s happiest when she’s creating things, whether it’s with words, fabric, or digging in the garden. She makes an amazing chocolate cherry cake—frequently. She and her husband have four children and live in Orange County, California.
Twitter | Instagram |  Website |

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https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d9681b86328/?GIVEAWAY

Prize: Wonderland Book Beau, size XL for a standard hardcover (USA only)
Ends: 11/2/18
Click on the Rafflecopter link below to enter.

Rafflecopter Giveaway 

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Successor by Rae Miles Blog Tour & Giveaway!! [Ends 10/00/18]

10/26/2018

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BE SURE TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY AT THE END OF THIS POSTING.
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Successor by  Rae MilesPub. Date: October 24, 2018
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press | Pages: 346
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, iBooks, TBD

Synopsis:

For seventeen-year-old Evan, graduation means the freedom to leave behind her small-town life and find where she belongs. She never expected it to be in a different world.

Across time and space, deep in a mysterious jungle, Evan discovers the hidden heritage of her mother’s people and her own legacy. She becomes their elemental, a protector gifted with the power to control nature. The role has its challenges, but the biggest is the inexplicable connection with her scarred bodyguard, Ren. Frustrated and fascinated by him, Evan resists the magnetic pull after realizing there’s more to it than simple attraction.

Claiming her birthright reignites the wrath of a ruthless enemy with a score to settle. To protect her new family, Evan will need to call on her formidable power. But embracing it could cause her to lose herself and the man who holds her heart.
 

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About Rae:
I'm super excited to talk with readers and answer any questions you might have. My debut,Successor, is scheduled to release on 10/24/18, and I can't wait to share it with all of you!
A little about me. I love reading, especially romance. I'm one of those people who needs a least a little bit of romance in a story for it to really catch my attention. I also love YA, and probably have more favorite authors in the genre than in romance.
When I'm not writing or reading, I'm usually watching movies--I have probably 800+ in my
collection by now. I've recently gotten into painting, which I'm quickly falling in love with. I tend to be a bit crafty, so if I'm doing a giveaway, chances some of my handmade items will be included! I'm almost always listening to music, and my tastes are pretty eclectic. I also have 3 cats, which Successor is actually dedicated to!

That's enough about me for now. I'd love to hear from you! I can also be found on twitter and
on my website.
Website | Twitter |  Goodreads

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Giveaway Details:
3 Winners will receive a finished copy of SUCCESSOR and handmade swag from Rae, US Only. (RAFFLECOPTER WILL BE ADDED BY THIS EVENING)
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Blog Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway for JOY TO YOU AND ME (AT WORK!) by Amy Thornton! [Ends 10/27/18]

10/24/2018

1 Comment

 
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Book Details:
Book Title:  Joy to You and Me (at Work!) by Amy Thornton
Category:  Adult Non-Fiction, 179 pages | Genre:  Self-help, Business
Publisher: Tell-Tale Publishing Group, LLC |  Release date:  June 5, 2018
Tour dates: Oct 1 to 19, 2018
Content Rating: PG (This book is for ages 16+, so there is the occasional "damn", "hell", and "ass" thrown in as far as language, but nothing worse than that.)
Book Description:
Are you one of the 48% of employees worldwide who don't like their jobs? Do you feel constantly stressed at the office? Or maybe you're just feeling "blah" about your job and want to bring some life back into your workplace. If you talk to anyone about their careers or jobs these days, most of the time you won't hear positive stories or excitement. You'll probably hear words like "busy", "stressed", "exhausting", and "mind-numbing." And with the good old 40 hour workweek becoming a distant memory for many of us, this reality is just plain sad.
     You and Me (At Work!) helps turn these situations around by giving the reader easy tips they can implement quickly to start making a positive difference in the workplace. Being joyful isn't just a "fluffy-cutesy-nice" thing to do each day - it actually increases productivity and is good for any company or organization. The book helps anyone learn how to:
- Be a more joyful person
- Bring joy to co-workers
- Bring joy to customers
- Bring joy to networking

   This fun, easy-to-read guide shows people of all ages and personalities how to make a difference immediately to make not only themselves happier, but to spread that happiness throughout the workplace - and beyond!
    By sharing stories from the author's 25+ years of making a joyful difference in the workplace and examples from truly kick-ass companies, Joy to You and Me (At Work!) is a life changing, fun read for anyone who wants to improve their work life. ​

GUEST POST: ​How Long Did It Take You to Write Your Book?
This question comes up constantly whenever someone finds out about Joy to You and
Me (At Work!) and people are always surprised when I answer “Six weeks.” But that’s
not 100% accurate. I’ll explain.
Before you ever send a query letter for a non-fiction book to an agent or publisher, you
first have to create a book proposal. I never knew this until I took “How to Write and Sell
Your Non-Fiction Book Proposal” from Jen Sincero, author of You are a Badass and other
bestsellers.
I took an entire week off of work to take this course in July of 2017 and it taught me A
LOT! This proposal must include:
1. Your bio
2. Your promotion plan (authors typically have to do 70% of the work or more to
promote a book!)
3. A market analysis
4. A list of chapters
5. An outline
6. AND 2-3 sample chapters
My proposal alone was 42 pages! But as you can see, it gave me an excellent guide to
help me write my book quickly. Tell-Tale Publishing sent me my contract on December
22, 2017 and gave me a February 1, 2018 deadline!
While I did have to take advantage of some “wiggle room” on that deadline due to our
entire family coming down with the flu in January, I really did complete the 200-page
book in six weeks total thanks to that proposal. And I had a blast doing it!
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​About the Author:
Amy Thornton Shankland, GPC, has been bringing joy to her workplaces for over 25 years thanks to her innate enthusiasm. She is a former Dale Carnegie instructor, has been a grant professional for 17 years, is a former columnist for the Noblesville Daily Times, and is a current board member of Noblesville Main Street.
Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

Giveaway:
Prizes: One winner will get a paperback copy of Joy to You and Me at Work and a $25 Amazon.com Gift Card and 2 winners will each get a paperback copy of the book (open to USA only / 3 winner total)
(ends Oct 27, 2018)

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Maiden by Teresa A. Harrison Blog Tour + Giveaway! [Ends 10/25/18]

10/17/2018

1 Comment

 
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Book details:
Maiden (The Lightwalker Series, #1) by Teresa A. Harrison 
Published by: Acorn Publishing |  Publication date: October 13th 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Synopsis:
   Marta and Jayme are childhood friends with different beliefs. Marta dreams of becoming a healer. Jayme has been schooled by the black-coats, a group of priests who claim women are inferior, and he fears Marta is jeopardizing her eternal future.
    Despite a heated debate over Marta’s soul, Jayme betrays her to the priests. The consequences of this betrayal change Marta’s life forever and sends Jayme on his own journey.
      After a brutal massacre, Marta awakens deep in the forest overcome with grief for her lost sisters, but the world will not let her rest. The tragedy has changed her. She hears the call of nature, eventually steering her toward a small cottage in the wilderness. There she learns of nature’s magic and what it means to be a LightWalker. The path is there for her to follow. If she’s strong enough to embrace it…
Goodreads | ~ Purchase: Amazon |


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Maiden (Light Walker Series) - Teresa A Harrison 
      This story is a fantasy filled action packed read. I love the guardians in the story. They are my favorite characters along with Flyt and Flyk.
   The characters are well developed and it's easy to feel their emotions. Marta and
   Jayme have great character. They are good people, even as they deal with the evil ones. Through hard times they continue to remain good friends.
The book cover and title fit the story well.
I recommend this story for teens and young adults. It's a fun story.

I give this book a literary rating of 5/5
written by vickie

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AUTHOR BIO:
     Teresa Harrison grew up in Decatur, Illinois, and graduated from Eureka College with a BA in Speech and Theatre. She has a son and daughter-in-law and now two beautiful grandchildren.
      She met her husband, Glenn, while on a spiritual journey to Sedona, AZ. They realized they had something special, but they lived on opposite edges of North America. Two years later, she joined Glenn in Southern California.  
    Teresa has been studying spiritual topics for nearly 40 years and is a Reiki Master, a Breathwork Facilitator, an herbalist and teacher. She has studied Universal Laws, Reincarnation, aromatherapy, yoga, meditation and many other spiritual topics.
      Teresa has been reading and telling stories her whole life, and now she has finally written one of them down.

Author links: Website   | Facebook |

Giveaway:
Tour-wide giveaway (INTL)
  • $25 Amazon gift card
This grand prize giveaway - ends Oct 25th:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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THE HALVES OF US Blog Tour & Giveaway! | Ends 10/22/18]

10/17/2018

1 Comment

 
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Be sure to enter the Giveaway at the end of this posting!
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About the Book:
Title: THE HALVES OF US (The Halves of Us Trilogy #1)
Author: Sydney Paige Richardson
Pub. Date: October 9, 2018 |Pages: 480
Publisher: The Parliament House


Twin Sisters: one destined to rule, one cursed to destroy. 
Some say blood is thicker than water. But for twin sisters, Adie and Aura, their connection runs even deeper than blood.
After investigating a surprise attack carried out by dark souls controlled by the Wicked Willow, an evil  residing in a neighboring region, Aura uncovers a family secret: she is
the fulfillment of a curse placed upon her family centuries ago.
While Aura is destined to destroy their planet, Thindoral, Adie is fated to follow in their mother’s footsteps and become Ruler, but even Adie’s path comes with revelations.
Dangerous premonitions plague her dreams, all depicting Thindoral’s demise at the hand of her sister.
As darkness takes control of her mind, Aura must determine whether defying fate and
time is the choice that will seal her destruction, or if self-sacrifice will save all she holds
dear. Meanwhile, Adie is faced with an impossible decision: save her sister, or protect
their world? ​

​EXCERPT: Chapter One:
AURA AND ADIE
AGE 12
      A canvas of dark indigo filled Thindoral’s night sky, and the silver light of the stars reflected the mischief in Aura’s eyes. She counted them one by one, waiting for the Guards to finish their rounds. Waiting for the moons to rise high in the sky. Waiting for the right moment, when the palace was asleep and she could use the stolen key.
      As the residents of the Dome grew quiet and Aura could no longer hear the hustle and bustle from the Town Square below, she tiptoed toward the door adjoining her room to her sister’s. Reaching into her pocket, she ran her fingertips across the roughly carved key to the Holding Room which she’d stolen from her Uncle Gossamer earlier that evening.
      She shivered as the cold brass handle of the door met her palm. The wooden door creaked as she eased it open. The thin white silk of the bed’s canopy fell in folds as it twirled down the dark wood of the bedposts. Aura tiptoed across the room and looked at her twin. Adie slept peacefully. The moonlight cast through the windows of the double doors leading out to their shared balcony. Aura knelt on the floor beside the bed and tugged on one of her sister’s scarlet braids, a replica of her own. She hid, crouching down as Adie rustled awake.
      Adie sat up, her eyes still heavy with sleep. Aura jumped up onto her sister’s bed, giggling.
“Aura!” Adie said, throwing a pillow at her sister. She lay back down and covered her face with another pillow.
      “Come on!” Aura pleaded.
      “It’s the middle of the night. Let me sleep,” Adie begged, her voice muffled beneath the plush fabric.
      “Look what I have . . .” Aura’s voice trailed off as she pulled the key out of her pocket. Chiseled from petrified wood, the key’s intricate design cast shadows from the moonlight onto Adie’s bed.
      Adie raised her head, her sleepy eyes growing wide as intrigue filled them. She crawled across the bed, taking the key from Aura.
      “How did you . . . when did you—” She stopped.
      Aura failed at hiding her smile. Adie always made her thieving ways feel like grand accomplishments. “We have to go tonight,” she whispered, taking the key back from Adie and putting it in her pocket. She motioned for Adie to follow her as she made her way to the door leading out from her sister’s room and into the hall. She could hear Adie’s hesitant footsteps coming up beside her. She signaled Adie to stay back as she reached for the door handle.
       Aura tucked a crimson curl behind her ear and tried to steady her breathing before peeking out. Her heartbeat drummed in her ears, nearly drowning out the nearby footsteps as Michael,
Security Major of the Guard, paced the hallway as he did every night. The gold emblem of Thindoral’s sacred pendant, the Rokis, shimmered on the back of his dark blue uniform beneath the dim light cast from the lanterns on the walls.
      She spun out of view when Michael glanced over his shoulder, and she silently begged Adie to stay quiet. They held their breath, and Aura swore the beating of her heart was now loud enough to give them away. Closing her eyes, she prayed he hadn’t seen her. If he had, he would never leave his post again.
      After pleading to Fate herself, Aura’s gaze shifted out her bedroom window as she waited. Two silver rings lined Thindoral’s largest moon, reflecting bright light through her windows and creating a soft hue around a worried Adie in front of her. Michael’s footsteps faded down the granite hallway as he continued the last of his rounds throughout the Dome, and a grin stretched across Aura’s face.
      “Are you sure we should do this?” Adie’s voice peaked as she stepped back toward her bed. “Mother always said the Rokis must never be touched by anyone but the Ruler, and—”
      Aura stared at her. “Mother says lots of things.”
      “What about Michael?” Adie frowned as she stepped out of bed.
      “He just finished his rounds. Come on!”
      Aura opened the door and searched both directions of the hallway. Michael was nowhere to be seen. She took Adie’s hand as they moved down the lonely hallway, followed only by the sounds of their bare feet pitter-pattering across the granite floors and the light scratching of the designs etching into the walls. Aura released her grip on Adie’s hand and stopped to watch the pencil-like lines swirl around one another, forming mesmerizing odd shapes and letters. Her mother always told her these were secret messages left by the Designers, the godly beings who created the universe and all life within. Those worthy of their secret messages could decipher them. But to this day, none knew what the messages meant. Some areas of the walls repeated, and some changed as someone touched them.
      Aura reached out to touch a design, and a flower bloomed where her fingers had just been. As the petals grew larger, her breath caught when the corners became black and shriveled, ultimately falling away from the stem and fading back into the colors of the wall. Her brow furrowed as she skimmed her hands along the rough lines of the walls. The texture moved under her palm like worms through thick dirt.
      “Aura! Come on!” Adie whispered, breaking Aura from her trance as she grabbed her hand, pulling her farther down the dimly lantern-lit hallways. They peeked down where the corridor ended at the Holding Room.
      “No Guards!” Aura smirked, looking to Adie. They squeezed each other’s hands tighter as they walked
toward the towering silver door.
     “Are you sure it’s in there tonight?” Adie asked.
      Aura nodded. “Every fortnight, Mother leaves it in here for one evening. She says something about it being too heavy to sleep with.”
      They stopped in front of the door, looking up as far as they could. Even though the dark of night had taken over the Dome, the door to the Holding Room still glowed. The silver designs carved into its surface reflected in their eyes. An even brighter golden light draped the sacred design of the Rokis which hung above it.
      “You did make sure you got the right key, didn’t you?” Adie asked. Her head remained tilted back, examining the door as she fidgeted with her braid.
      Aura turned and faced her sister. A mirror image of herself nervously smiled back as she retrieved the key from her pocket. She handed it to Adie, but she shook her head. “You open it,” Adie insisted.
      They walked forward, hand in hand. As they approached the door, Aura broke free from her sister. Adie waited a few steps behind, sneaking glances back down the hallway. Aura’s hand trembled as she slid the key in the door and
twisted. The loud click of the door unlocking hung in the air, and Adie ran toward her.
      “Shhh!” Adie hushed. Aura shrugged and grinned as she twisted the handle. They gazed over their shoulders, peering down the hallway. Adie sighed heavily, relieved as she looked back at Aura and nodded. They were still alone.
Together, they gritted their teeth and pulled at the door with all their strength.
      “Keep pulling,” Adie whispered as it creaked open and she slipped in. Aura pushed her way through the opening, and the door closed behind them.
      Plush velvet curtains gathered at the sides of the stone walls around the perimeter of the room, revealing exquisite stained- glass windows. The moonlight poured in, bouncing off the tall ceilings, and a deep rush of color danced across the floor. Aura looked at her blue dress, which now took on a deep red, mimicking the lighting. She twirled around and smiled as the ends of her dress broke the kaleidoscope of colors reflecting on the floor.
      “Aura!” Adie whispered as she pointed to the stairs in the center of the room, leading up to a pedestal. Hand in hand they marched up the four giant stone steps. There lay the Rokis given to them by the Designers, who harnessed the power of a star in its center gem to protect them from the evil residing on their planet. The gem radiated a bright blue light, and twelve golden triangles jutted outward around it, reflecting a ray of sapphire on their faces.
      “Touch it!” Aura said.
      “No! Mother says I have to wait,” Adie replied.
      “Come on! We didn’t come here just to look at it. I mean, it’ll be yours one day, anyway.” Aura stood tall and struck a pose, mimicking their mother. “The Rokis belongs to the youngest born, the future Ruler.” She giggled and covered her mouth as the sound echoed throughout the Holding Room. “What’s wrong with touching it now?” she whispered.
      Aura watched her sister’s brow crease in thought as she stared at the Rokis, entranced by its beauty. The light of the
center gem captured the jade color of her eyes. Adie shivered suddenly and looked back up at Aura with hesitation.
      “Together?” Aura asked, taking her sister’s hand. Adie gulped and nodded slowly. As they brought their hands above the center of the Rokis, Aura could feel Adie’s tremble below hers. She closed her eyes and lowered their hands onto the blue gem. As soon as she felt their palms reach the center, a surge of light burst throughout the room, throwing Aura down the steps. The bright light rose higher, climbing up the walls. Pain coursed through Aura’s elbow as it smacked on the floor. Clutching her arm, she tried to stifle her tears. Taking a deep breath, she moved from her stomach to a sitting position and looked around, searching for her sister.
     Her bottom lip trembled. “Adie?” she whispered. “Adie!” she whispered louder.
     Adie was gone.
     A blue light collected around the ceiling, swirling above her.
      Silent tears fell down her cheeks as her trembling evolved into shakes.
      The light came together into a ball in the middle of the ceiling, and Aura froze. It shot down toward the ground, and she shielded her eyes with the back of her hands. Once she felt the light dissipate, she let her hands fall and opened her eyes. Motionless, Adie lay on the floor a few feet in front of her.
      “Adie! Adie! Wake up, you must wake up!” Aura ran over to her twin, hushing her voice as she heard the Guards coming down the hallway.
      Adie groaned and opened her eyes.
      Aura gasped and stepped back. “Adie, your eyes! They’re blue!” She wiped her tears and looked over at the door as the voices on the other side grew closer. “Come on, we have to get you up. We need to go!” Aura said, helping Adie to her feet. They ran over to the curtains and hid behind them.
      “Stand still and don’t make a sound,” Aura begged.
      Adie leaned against Aura’s shoulder as they both peeked out from behind the curtains.
      “The key. Where’s the key?!” Gossamer shouted from outside the Holding Room door.
      “Sir, it’s open . . .” replied one of the Guards as they eased into the room.
       Aura pulled the curtain back over them, listening to Adie’s heavy breathing. She tried to calm her down, hoping the Guards wouldn’t discover them.
      “I was making my way back to my room, when I saw a bright light come from behind the door. That’s when I discovered my key missing . . .” Gossamer’s deep voice bellowed.
      “We were on guard, sir, but saw nothing,” another Guard replied.
       Aura peeked out from the curtains once more. Gossamer walked up the tall steps to the pedestal, a puzzled expression on his face.
      “The Rokis is still here, unharmed.”
      “It could’ve been the stained glass windows reflecting the light, sir,” suggested the short, squatty Guard. Gossamer spun around to face him, and Aura quickly stepped back behind the curtain.
      “Have the other Guards stand directly outside the entrance. We’ll begin a search for the key.”
      “Minister, could you have possibly misplac—” the Guard began.
      “The keys are always on me.” Gossamer pulled on the iron loop around his belt. Hundreds of keys dangled atop one another and clinked together as he released the loop. “They never leave my side. And remember, no one is to touch the Rokis but the Ruler herself. Its powers are far more than we can comprehend. Have the Guards check all the exits. Make sure everyone is accounted for. The last time this happened . . .” He paused, his hands still in fists. “Double the Guards around the Ruler and Adie and Aura’s chambers.”
      Adie gasped, and Aura quickly covered her sister’s mouth. She narrowed her eyes at Adie in a silent plea to keep quiet. She frowned upon seeing her sister’s eyes remained bright blue. They stood perfectly still as Gossamer and the Guards quieted. Aura prayed they didn’t come any closer.
      “Sir, I don’t think we should alarm the staff. We haven’t had an intrusion in years.”
      “We take no risks!” Gossamer shouted.
      Aura peeked out as her uncle walked toward the entrance. His face reddened as he took a few long breaths. She’d never seen him this angry.
      “Check the exits. Do not wake the Ruler. I will inform her myself. Keep Guards at the door until the key is recovered,” he ordered.
      THE DOOR CLOSED BEHIND THEM, and Adie removed Aura’s hand from her mouth. She peered out into the empty room. “We have to get out of here!” Adie’s stomach churned as her nerves took over.
      Aura stepped out from the curtain and ran after Adie, hugging her tightly. “What happened? I thought you were gone!” She pulled away from Adie, wiping away new tears. “And why are your eyes blue?”
      “I don’t know . . .” Adie tried to hide the welling in her eyes. “But if Uncle Gossamer finds us in here, we’ll be in terrible trouble. We have to get back to our rooms.”
       Aura nodded in agreement. “I’ll leave the key here. He’ll think he dropped it.” She knelt and carefully placed the key on the floor.
      “I suggest we pretend this never happened.” Adie bit her lip to hide its trembling.
      “Agreed.” She made her way to Adie, hugging her again. “You had me so worried. Where did you go?”
      Her sister’s arms clung tightly to her. A warm tear fell down Adie’s cheek. “I don’t know. Let’s worry about getting out of here first.”
      Aura pulled away from their embrace, heading toward the entrance of the Holding Room.
      “Wait! The Guards?” Adie stepped in front of her, blocking her way toward the door.
Aura tugged Adie’s braid. “Those are the same Guards who were sleeping through their shift. How do you think we got in here without being detected?” Her mouth curled into a mischievous grin.
      “No! No! Aura, what if they are on the other side?”
      “We can’t hide in here forever,” Aura replied.
      “Maybe we just confess . . .”
      “And explain to Mother what happened?” Aura said.
      Adie froze, holding her breath as Aura cracked the door and glanced through the opening. She closed the door slowly and turned toward Adie. “There are two Guards with their back to us. We’re going to count to three and make a run straight out of here. Got it?”
      Adie nodded back at her and finally breathed.
     “Hey,” Aura said as she reached for Adie’s hand. “They’re on the other side of the door, toward the left. We can make it. Count with me. One . . .”
      “Two,” Adie replied.
       “Three!” they whispered as they slipped out of the tiny opening of the door and darted down the corridor.
      “They didn’t see us!” Aura said, but Adie dared not look back. They continued to run down the hallway and dashed into Adie’s room. Adie shut the door quietly behind her as they heard footsteps coming down the hallway.
      “Quick! Into bed!” Aura whispered. They both jumped into Adie’s bed and huddled together.
      “Close your eyes!”
      “Shh!” Adie responded.
     Her bedroom door creaked opened, allowing a sliver of light halfway into the room. Adie squeezed her eyes shut as she heard Gossamer sigh and close the door. Aura pushed the covers back and jumped out of bed, listening to his footsteps disappear down the hall. Adie opened her eyes and turned over, clutching one of her pillows as Aura got back in bed with a satisfied grin on her face.
      “Adie, your eyes aren’t blue anymore!” she exclaimed. Her smile grew wider.
      Adie stood and walked over to the dark wood vanity by her bed. She examined herself in the mirror. Emerald eyes stared back at her. She pulled at the puffy, tired skin beneath them.
     “Now are you going to tell me what happened?” Aura asked.
      Adie’s hands dropped to her side. She continued to stare at her reflection. She blinked and froze as the whites of her eyes vanished and went black. She blinked again and the emerald color returned. Taking in a deep breath, she walked back over to the bed, shaking her head and lying down.
      “I don’t exactly know, but I think we should promise to never talk about it ever again. If Mother were to find out—”
      “She won’t, but I must know!” Aura begged. “Adie, you disappeared—”
      Adie looked at her sister, frizzy red ringlets framed her face. She sighed, sitting up and facing Aura. “I don’t know where I was, but there was this tall beautiful tree.” Her eyes grew wide at the vivid memory. “It had long, thin branches that swayed in the wind. They filled the space around me. There was so many I couldn’t see past them! I walked closer to the trunk of the tree, but I had to tilt my head to see the top.” She hesitated. Her sister’s curious expression was opposite of the worry in her own.
      “Then there was this gust of wind, and I turned as a black cloud of smoke came straight toward me. The branches started to lose their leaves, and what I could see of the sky was changing to red.” She paused, fearing her heart would beat straight out of her chest. “So I started running. The next thing I knew, you told me to get up . . .” Adie trailed off.
      “Why didn’t I see the tree?” Aura asked, looking down at her hands.
       “I don’t know. Maybe I just imagined it all.” Adie said, trying to convince herself nothing happened. She looked at Aura, whose eyes remained down, deep in thought. “Now promise,” she said.
      “Promise what?”
      “We never talk about it to anyone. We pretend it never happened.”
      “What if your eyes turn blue again?” she asked.
      “They won’t. Just promise, please. Okay?”
      “Promise.” Aura agreed.
      Adie hugged her sister. She closed her eyes, remembering the dark cloud coming toward her. She could never tell Aura the rest of what she’d seen. She buried her face in her sister’s embrace, trying to remove the image from her mind, but the memory flashed across her eyelids, mocking her. She remembered hearing Aura’s voice and turning to see her sister standing a few feet away, hiding in the thin branches of the tree. A dark smoke-like cloud came from around Aura, charging toward Adie. Aura’s black eyes and haunting smile made Adie shudder.  She must never tell anyone.
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About Sydney:
Even before I could hold a pencil in my hand, I was making up stories in my head. I wrote my first book in the second grade, Girls [sorry Lena Dunham], about me and my best friends in college [because college was super cool when you were 8] who went on treasure hunts and fought bad guys with our super powers. My second grade teacher was so impressed with me, she laminated a cover and bound it. That will forever be the moment I dreamed of holding a copy of my own book and placing it on a shelf.
Now all grown up, my head still stays in the fantasy world, fashioning worlds where the power of a star can be harnessed and used for time travel, flying is just as easy as walking here on earth – and my best friends are fairies. My characters are dark and lost individuals, but your love for them will grow when you realize not everything is black and white. I am represented by Rebecca Angus at Golden Wheat Literary.
I have a three book deal with The Parliament House with Book One of my current trilogy, The Halves of Us, scheduled to be published in 10/9/2018.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

​Giveaway Details:
1 winner will win a $10 Amazon Gift Card, International.
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War of the Wilted Book Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway! [Hurry! Ends 10/12/18]

10/11/2018

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Like flowers denied water, people are wilting under the emperor’s tyranny.
Rose will not rest until the Gardener is dead. But there are bigger battles to fight, and Rayce—leader of the rebellion and the only man Rose has ever loved—believes their best chance at winning the war is to join forces with her sworn enemy.
Saving innocent people is more important than her quest for revenge. But their new ally can’t be trusted—and he knows her darkest secret. One betrayal could leave the war and Rayce’s life hanging in the balance, and Rose will need to make the ultimate sacrifice to save them all.
Link to Goodreads | Purchase Links:
Amazon | Amazon Australia | Amazon UK | Amazon Canada | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

GUEST POST:
If you could go back in time, what time period would that be? Why?


About a year ago, I would have a really hard time answering this question and to an extent, I still do. It’s easy to romanticize the past, but it really was a terrifying time. I don’t think I could go back to the past to stay having lived in the comforts of modern day (I live in Florida and love my air conditioning and running water!). But I know exactly when and where I’d want to visit for a little while!

A few months back, I took a two week trip to London and Scotland. Living in America, where most things are new, I didn’t realize or could never really picture well what it was like to walk the same streets that people walked hundreds of years before. Getting to walk on the uneven stones of Edinburgh castle, touch the walls of crumbling ruins and duck into abbeys that have been standing for thousands of years truly blew my mind. It was like going back in history. I could almost picture the extravagant dresses, the sound of bagpipes and lutes, the chatter of people. It felt like if I just touched the right place on the stone walls, it would reveal its hundred or thousand years old secrets to me.

All this to say, I would adore to go back in time to the Highlands and spend a few days. I really don’t even care about the time period. It would just be so lovely to see the cobble stoned streets lined with people that look like they belong in the same time period of the buildings surrounding them. Being able to experience that would be a truly magical experience.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amber Mitchell was born and raised in a small town in Florida. After briefly escaping small town life by attending the
University of South Florida where she earned her degree in Creative Writing, she decided to ditch traffic jams and move
back to her hometown. There she writes Young Adult novels, usually with a bit of magic in them, rolls D20s with her
friends on Thursday nights and enjoys hanging out with her husband and four cats. Her other job involves crafting
cardstock in to 3D art and has allowed her to travel all over the US vending at comic conventions which has only increased her love for fantasy and fandoms. She is represented by Nikki Terpilowski of Holloway Literature

Giveaway Info:
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First Full Moon by Michelle Alstead blitz& $25. Giveaway! [Ends 10/18/18]

10/8/2018

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Book Details:
First Full Moon by Michelle Alstead 
Publication date: August 28th 2018 | Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult
Synopsis:
More secrets. More lies. I’m going to die.
      She wanted a car for her sixteenth birthday, not magical powers… Candy McGregor is a teenager living in Sequim Falls, a small East Coast town, where the McGregors own just about everything. While her grandmother grooms her to run the family business—a pharmaceutical empire—Candy dreams of a life where she’s known as more than just a last name. When the monthly family dinner turns into a horror show, Candy discovers the McGregors aren’t so much blessed as they are cursed. At midnight on her sixteenth birthday, Candy inherits both the ability to do magic and the destiny to become a wolf on the next full moon. There is hope of a life that doesn’t require being chained up once a month. If Candy can undo the original spell that created the curse, she can rid the world of werewolves and remain a witch. But there’s one really big problem. Not everyone hates being a wolf. With the next full moon looming, Candy must take on forces that will do anything to stop her. Will she break the curse or surrender to life as a monster?
Goodreads | ~ Purchase: Amazon |

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​AUTHOR BIO:
      Michelle Alstead is a single, divorced mom of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder, who tries to promote autism awareness and advocate for gender equality while raising Sheldon Cooper and searching for some semblance of a love life.
      Michelle's novels are frequently available for free on Amazon Kindle. Sign up for her email list to receive notifications. http://michellealstead.com/sign-up-for-our-email-list/
      All of Michelle's adult novels take place in the same universe. Characters cross over between novels, which makes for a more interesting world. 
      One Last Try will be released Feb. 2018. 
      The Full Moon Series (four young adult supernatural stories) will be published in time for Halloween 2018.

Author links: Twitter | Website | Facebook | Goodreads | 

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Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)
  • $25 Amazon gift card
This grand prize giveaway - ends Oct 18th:
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The Lady of Astoria Abbey by Anita Stansfield Blog Tour & Giveaway for $25. + your own copy! [Ends 10/12/18]

10/8/2018

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The Lady of Astoria Abbey by Anita Stansfield

SYNOPSIS
per Goodreads:
Bess leads a quiet life, intent on easing the burdens of her widowed father. She acts as maid, cook, and assistant in his medical practice—but she is wearied by the thankless work and her father’s lack of kindness. And then a miracle happens. Lady Agatha Buxton of Astoria Abbey is seeking a physician for her ailing son, Hugh, and, sensing that Bess is trapped in her situation, offers the young woman a position as nurse. Despite Bess’s father’s objections, she accepts—and her life is forever changed. Bess and Hugh enjoy an immediate bond of friendship, which quickly blossoms into love. Despite his dire prognosis, the couple makes the bittersweet decision to wed, embracing what little time they have. Their tender union ushers in a season of both joy and heartbreak, and Bess discovers greater meaning in life than she’d ever imagined. As she’s confronted with the sorrow of living without Hugh, Bess finds herself at a crossroads—will she have the courage to trust her heart and allow herself to love again?

MY REVIEW: (LAWonder10)
When Bess was twelve, she lost her mother to an illness which her father, a doctor, could never get over. No matter how hard she tried, her father never showed her gratitude nor kindness. Now a young woman past eighteen and she began to feel there was more in life she wished than cooking, cleaning and assisting her father. 
Lady Astoria called for Dr. White and his daughter to come to her estate. Upon their arrival, Lady Astoria greeted them. Her son, who had a heart defect, wanted to spend his last weeks, or days, at his country home of Astoria. While her father was examining Hugh, Lady Astoria pulled Bess aside and offered a proposition which could change her life forever if she accepted. Would she truly have the courage to accept?
This is one of talented author, Anita Stansfield's best novels. There is sufficient intrigue, romance mystery and suspense, all in on very well written novel, to keep the reader totally engrossed.
The characters feel like close acquaintances and the scenes easily visualized,\. The book title and cover are "fitting" but nit as impressive as they could be.
I offer a Five Stars rating.
*This book was sent by the publisher with no request for a positive review. This is my honest review.

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About Anita StansfieldAnita Stansfield has been a queen of romantic fiction for more than a decade. Her work has shattered the stereotypes of romance novels with her trademark ability to combine great storytelling with intense psychological depth as she focuses on the emotional struggles of the human experience. Her novels cover a huge spectrum, from the eighteenth century to the present, from heart warming to heart stopping. Hundreds of thousands of readers agree: Anita Stansfield's characters and the lives they lead are not easy to forget. Anita also writes mainstream historical fiction (Horstberg Saga) under the name Elizabeth D. Michaels. The first book in that series is called Behind the Mask. You can see her Elizabeth D. Michaels books on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00J23Z

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The Dark Lands blog tour & Giveaway! [Ends 10/18/18]

10/5/2018

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Book details:
The Dark Lands (Angelbound Origins #5) 
by Christina Bauer 

Published by: Monster House Books
Publication date: September 1st 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult
Synopsis:
“This YA paranormal fantasy series is cute, compulsively readable and above all fun.” – The Nocturnal Library Blog
Nineteen-year-old Myla Lewis is loving life–she’s now a wife, mother, and Queen of the Thrax. Oh yeah, and being a super-powerful demigoddess who moves souls into Heaven or Hell doesn’t suck, either. In fact, everything is pretty much awesome. Until something craptastic happens.
Her honorary older brother Walker enters the Dark Lands, home to the rule-loving ghouls, and vanishes without a trace.
Now it’s up to Myla to solve the mystery of Walker’s disappearance. Of course, Myla likes interacting with ghouls about as much as elective dental surgery. To make matters harder, everyone thinks that Walker is simply taking a well-deserved vacation. But Myla and her Angelbound love, Lincoln, both suspect that the ghoul Oligarchy took Walker in order to somehow release Lucifer, the ex-King of the Angels and an all around nut job who really needs to stay locked up.
Long story short, Myla and Lincoln have just two days to rescue their good friend and stop Lucifer from taking over the after-realms. Even for them, this may be a too-tall order, especially when Myla’s own father allows his past friendship with Lucifer to threaten Walker’s future.
“I loved jumping back into the world of Angelbound.” – Mean Who You Are Blog
Perfect for readers who love angels, devils, and demons but want a fresh take on their related fairy tales, myths, and legends. This series combines fierce females, paranormal romance and urban/contemporary fantasy. Enjoy!!

Goodreads | ~ Purchase: Amazon | B&N |  Kobo |  iBooks |

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The Dark Lands - Angel Bound - Christina Bauer 
This is a great book of fantasy. I like the creativity Christina put into this excellent work.
The characters are well-developed and I really like where Myla's character begins and ends in this story. It is easy to feel their emotions.
The title of the book fits the story well
The story flows well from chapter to chapter and is easy to follow along.
I recommend this story to others. It is so full of great fun and excitement.
There is profanity throughout the book.

I give this book a literary rating of 5/5

written by vickie

Other Books by Author + Vickie's Reviews.
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Scala (Angelbound Origins #2) by Christina Bauer 
Nineteen-year-old Myla Lewis has transformed into Great Scala, the only being with the power to move souls out of Purgatory and into Heaven or Hell. Trouble is, a magical object called Lucifer’s Orb is limiting Myla’s abilities. If she tries to move a soul, the Orb’s forcing her to send that spirit straight to Hell. 

So, what’s a girl to do? Send innocents to the fiery down-under?

No way. Myla’s gone on a supernatural strike. 

No souls go anywhere until the Orb’s history. It’s the right thing to do, but Purgatory’s Soul Storage buildings are turning into time bombs. No spirits are moving out, while millions keep coming in. Myla’s determined to find the Orb and send the innocent to Heaven, but she’s running out of time. Soon, the containment fields will burst, releasing a mob of homicidal ghosts.

With Soul Storage ready to explode, Myla’s got enough on her plate without her old enemy, Lady Adair, causing problems. Adair is launching an ingenious campaign to take away everything that Myla holds dear, including Myla’s Angelbound love, Prince Lincoln. 

Between their clever ideas and toe-curling kisses, Myla and Lincoln are fighting back. But will they beat the clock or lose everything to Adair’s devious schemes?


The Dark Lands - Scala - Christina Bauer 
I really love this second book. One of the things I like best about this book is the way
Prince Lincoln never wavers in his belief and trust in Myla.
The characters are well-developed and it is easy to feel their emotions.
The title of the book fits the story well
The story flows well from chapter to chapter and is easy to follow along.
I recommend this story to others. It is so full of great fun and excitement.
There is profanity throughout the book.
I give this book a literary rating of 5/5


written by vickie
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The Dark Lands - Acca - Christina Bauer 

I like this third book in the series. Again there is so much great fantasy. The magical
powers are very fascinating. It is great for capturing and holding one's attention.
The characters are well-developed and I really like where Myla's character begins and
ends in this story. It is easy to feel their emotions.
The title of the book fits the story well
The story flows well from chapter to chapter and is easy to follow along.
I recommend this story to others. It is so full of great fun and excitement.
There is profanity throughout the book. There is also sexual explicitness.
I give this book a literary rating of 5/5


written by vickie
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Thrax (Angelbound Origins #4) by Christina Bauer 
Myla Lewis has married Prince Lincoln, and now they’re expecting! All the after-realms rejoice. Myla should be happy too, but she has a serious problem. The day after their honeymoon ended, Myla’s real husband disappeared.

The man who’s sharing her bed is an imposter.

Myla tries explaining about “Evil Lincoln,” but no one will listen. The reason? People think that Myla’s supernatural pregnancy is making her cray cray. Mostly because that’s what Evil Lincoln is telling everyone, and that man’s a great liar. What a creep.

There’s no way Myla will take this lying down, though. She’s going to rescue her man.

The good news? Myla has a pretty good idea where Lincoln's being held. With her best friend, Cissy, along to help, Myla sneaks off to Earth. All she has to do is blend in with the humans, avoid Evil Lincoln, and find her real man before the baby arrives. How hard can it be?

The Dark Lands - Thrax - Christina Bauer 
I liked getting to know the Thrax. I really had some favorite characters in this book.
Iggy was one of my favorites as well as Walker and Drayden. As with the previous
books, the new magical powers are great and exciting.
The characters are well-developed and I really like where Myla's character begins and
ends in this story. It is easy to feel their emotions.
The title of the book fits the story well
The story flows well from chapter to chapter and is easy to follow along.
I recommend this story to others. It is so full of great fun and excitement.
There is profanity throughout the book.
I give this book a literary rating of 5/5

​
written by vickie
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​AUTHOR BIO:
Christina Bauer knows how to tell stories about kick-ass women. In her best selling Angelbound series, the heroine is a part-demon girl who loves to fight in Purgatory’s Arena and falls in love with a part-angel prince. This young adult best seller has driven more than 500,000 ebook downloads and 9,000 reviews on Goodreads and retailers. The first three books in the series are now available as audiobooks on Audible and iTunes.

Bauer has also told the story of the Women’s March on Washington by leading PR efforts for the Massachusetts Chapter. Her pre-event press release—the only one sent out on a major wire service—resulted in more than 19,000 global impressions and redistribution by over 350 different media entities including the Associated Press. 

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
.

Stalk Christina On Social Media – She Loves It!
Blog |  Facebook |Twitter |  Instagram |  LinkedIn |  Web site |

​You can find the schedule here 
Giveaway:
Tour-wide giveaway (INTL)
  • eBook copy of Dark Lands, a angel t-shirt and other swag!
This grand prize giveaway (this giveaway is set up and managed by author, not Xpresso Book Tours):
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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0 Comments

The Medallion of Murder blog tour & Giveaway! [Ends 10/11/18]

10/3/2018

2 Comments

 
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Book details:
Medallion of Murder (Nefertari Hughes Mystery #3) 
by B.R. Myers 

Publication date: September 18th 2018
Genres: Contemporary, Mystery, Young Adult
Synopsis:Still struggling with nightmares from the past summer, Terry tries to bury her secret guilt and enjoy her family’s first Christmas in Devonshire. But when a murdered man is found with a postcard addressed to her, Terry fears the repercussions from that fateful night in Egypt are becoming a reality.

After she receives a coded message from Awad, Terry and her best friend Maude are thrown into the hunt for a lost medallion, an artifact that possesses a great power—and a gruesome destiny. As each clue leads to more disturbing truths (and bodies), Terry begins to suspect she’s the real target of the search. When Awad goes missing, she becomes certain the Illuminati are involved, and has no choice but to risk losing the thing she cherishes the most to get him back.

But Terry will soon discover the secrets of the tomb cannot be erased by distance or power, because the ghosts of her past are closing in quickly… and this time, they refuse to stay buried.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39351227-medallion-of-murder?ac=1&from_search=true Purchase:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/Medallion-Murder-BR-Myers/dp/1988279631/

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Medallion of Murder - B. R. Myers

As with the first two books, this one kept me guessing. I liked the way the story leads you to believe one thing and then you find out that isn't how it turns out at all. I was totally wrong about who the good ones were and who was bad.
The characters are all well-developed. I really like Maude. She is so upbeat and positive always seeing the good. I like how each of the characters evolved throughout the three books.
The book title and cover fit the story perfectly.
I highly recommend this book to other readers. Great for young adults.

I give this book a literary rating of 5/5

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AUTHOR BIO:
Always in the mood for a good scare, B.R. Myers spent most of her teen years behind the covers of Lois Duncan, Ray Bradbury, and Stephen King. Her YA contemporary coming of age novel, GIRL ON THE RUN, was chosen by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre as a BEST BOOK for TEENS for 2016.

When she’s not putting her characters in awkward situations, she works as a registered nurse. A member of the Writer’s Federation of Nova Scotia, she lives in Halifax with her husband and two children—and there is still a stack of books on her bedside table.

Author links: Blog |Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter |

Tour schedule Here.
Giveaway:
Tour-wide giveaway (US/CAN)
  • All three books in the series in paperback + a $25 Amazon gift card 
This grand prize giveaway - ends Oct 11th:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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2 Comments

Blog Tour + Giveaway for Amanda Vs. the Universe by Patricia B. Tighe! [Ends 10/11/18]

10/2/2018

0 Comments

 
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Amanda Vs. the Universe by Patricia B. Tighe
Publication Date: September 26, 2018 | Publisher: Swoon Romance
 SYNOPSIS:

Even after a couple of months, sixteen-year-old Amanda Bryson is still nursing a broken heart. And now her
parents are forcing her to attend the traditional summer family vacation in New Mexico. She’d much rather be
home taking care of her sick great-grandmother than doing chores and dealing with her brother and his friends.
But when they arrive, Amanda learns that the studio of local potter and friend Cady Sanders has been hit by
taggers. Not only that, but the older woman broke her foot chasing them off. Now Amanda has the chance to
give back by helping out—with the added perk of no thoughts of her ex, or family chores, or obnoxious
brothers.
There’s only one problem. Cady’s nephew, Kyle Young, is staying with her for the summer. He’s surly,
ridiculously cute, and clearly doesn’t want her around. That makes two of them. But as Amanda and Kyle
compete for Cady’s attention, they find they have a lot in common, including a growing attraction. But is
Amanda ready to date again? Or will Kyle, despite his intense gazes, turn out to be just as jerky as her ex?
Link to Goodreads | ~ Purchase Links:  BAM | Indies | Amazon | TBD

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About Patricia B. Tighe
The award-winning YA romance author of THE ZONE series and the SECOND CHANCES series, Patricia B. Tighe lives in West Texas with her husband and dogs. She's a sucker for romance and loves to put her characters in sticky situations to see what happens. When she's not writing, she eats way too much pizza, drinks way too much coffee, and watches way too much NFL football. For more info, check out her website at www.patriciabtighe.com.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | Goodreads |


Tour Schedule. 
Giveaway Details:
 $10 Starbucks Gift Card
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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0 Comments

The Telling by K.J. Moulen blog tour & Giveaway ! [Ends 10/11/18]

10/2/2018

1 Comment

 
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Book details:
The Telling (The Spinner Sagas) by Kj Moullen 
Publication date: May 1st 2018 |  Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Blaine was a normal teenage girl. Sure, she moved around a lot, but that wasn’t completely weird, right? Then her mom tells her she’s actually from another dimension called Renault, whose inhabitants can do magic. Um, what? Suddenly, Blaine is running from an evil she barely understands. Blaine is thrust into the confusing, beautiful, and magical world of Renault with a mysterious boy she just met. There, she begins to discover her own unique abilities and her place in the universe.

Goodreads | ~ Purchase: Amazon |  B&N |

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The Telling- The Spinster Sagas - K. J. Moullen
Great story! I got totally engrossed in reading this book. There is lots of adventure and
fantasy with many different worlds and different types of characters.
The characters are well- developed and it's easy to feel their emotions.
The book flows well from chapter to chapter and is easy to follow along.
I like the book cover and the title of the book fits the story well.
I highly recommend this book to other readers who can't get enough action.

I give this book a literary rating of 5/5

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​AUTHOR BIO:
K.J Moullen started her life as an adventurer. She always loved the outdoors, whether it was playing king of the hill with her pet goat in southern California, playing hockey on the frozen lakes of the Kenai peninsula of Alaska, or snorkeling and surfing off the shores of Maui. Amongst the breathtaking places she lived, her imagination and love for writing knew no limitations, allowing for a lifetime of plotlines and characters to be created and written about. She now shares her life’s adventures with her husband and two children in their home in North Texas.
Author Links: Website | Goodreads |Facebook | Twitter |

Giveaway:
Tour-wide giveaway (INTL)
  • $40 Amazon gift card
  • Signed copy of The Telling
This grand prize giveaway - ends Oct 11th:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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1 Comment

$50 Blast Giveaway – Something About Forever by Kimberly Loth! [Ends 10/29/18]

10/1/2018

1 Comment

 
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Something About Forever by Kimberly Loth
Boys.
They are bound to be the death of me.
      Especially one with blue eyes, perfectly Mormon cut hair, and probably the inspiration for the girl’s camp song “Hot Priest”.
      Why the heck did he have to be the bishop’s son?
    Cause here’s the thing. While I’m Mormon, I don’t really belong. I mean, I want to, but I just can’t seem to keep on the straight and narrow. Seriously, look at me. I’m not even supposed to use the name Mormon anymore, but Latter-Day Saint is a mouthful. So I’m sticking to Mormon. Sorry, Prophet.
​      The bishop knows my past. He knows my problems. There is no freaking way he’s going to let me date his son.
Yet, Nate comes after me anyway. And I fall hard.
But eventually….I will have to tell him about my past.
And I know, he’ll run far, far away from me when I do.
Get it Now on Amazon
Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Praise for Something About Forever:
      Something About Forever hit me directly in the feels. I haven’t read a book in a while that’s made me cry but this one got my tear ducts flowing. Lauren and Nate’s story is very reliable. I completely recommend this book if you haven’t read it yet! ~Brianna

      While this book could have been preachy, it is far from it. Religion isn’t forced on you, even though it plays a major role in the story. It is simply one part of what helps Lauren turn her life around. I liked the way Lauren struggled to overcome her past and forgive herself. It was realistic. This story is unlike any I’ve read by Kimberly Loth. She moved in an entirely new direction with her writing. The result is a story well worth reading. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next book in the series. ~Donna
      Being not so perfect either, this book resonated deeply within my soul. The power of forgiveness for yourself and in giving to others can change your life. What a masterfully told story of love, acceptance, and forgiveness that is appropriate for teenagers and adults alike. ~Alie
        I’m not really someone who is big on books with religion, but I really loved this story… This is such a sweet and forgiving story that the entire time I read it I felt light-hearted and happy. I really enjoyed the adventure of Lauren and Nate. ~Ruby
     A different genre than normal, I was totally enraptured by this tale. This author truly breathed life into these characters and captured the very essence of forgiveness and redemption. ~Patty
        A heartbreaking love story. It was hard for me to get passed the specificity of religion but I feel it could fit into any Christian setting. It’s a good story. Well written. I hope that you enjoy it too. ~Richard
        This book draws you in from the beginning and keeps you enthralled in Lauren and Nate’s story. It’s a real tear-jerker, so make sure the tissues are handy when you read it. It has great characters that you soon become invested in and an emotional plot that keeps you turning the pages. ~Rabid
Add to your Goodreads Shelf

                                                                  EXCERPT 3
        I pulled into the parking lot and gaped at the school. It was at least three times as big as my old one. Now I wished Mom had come with. Terror gripped me. A few kids looked at my car funny. Oh yeah, this probably wasn’t the best image. I needed to get out of there, so most people’s first impression wasn’t of a crazy girl in a ladybug. Seriously. My dad had to know this would humiliate me.
        I hurried out of the car and kept my head down as I approached the school. I entered the front doors. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust. The light inside was unnatural and weird. I spotted the office right away. Mom had already submitted all my paperwork, so all I had to do was pick up my schedule and a map. The secretary was impersonal and short with me. So much for a good start. I stopped outside the door, not sure where I was going.
Nicki’s familiar purple head bobbed over to me. She gave me a wide smile. “Hey, you look lost.”
        “Yeah, a little.” She had no idea how glad I was that she found me.
        “Here, let me look at your schedule.”
         She perused it. “We’ll make sure you don’t get lost.”
        “We?”
        “Yeah—me, Jessica, Emma, Nate, and Fitz. Come on. Nate brought donuts.”
         What an odd thing. “Does he always bring donuts?”
        Nicki gave me a crooked grin. “No. Don’t tell Jessica, but I think he’s trying to impress you. Either that or his mom is making him be nice. My money’s on the first one though. Nate’s a nice guy, but this is a little over the top.”
        “Why would he try to impress me?” I wanted to believe her, but it seemed too good to be true.
She sniggered. “I’m not even going to answer that. Miss I’ve-got-curves-for-miles, great hair, and a smile to die for.” Yeah, so I had an hourglass figure, and I did have good hair. It was deep brown and thick. No one ever mentioned the smile before though.
        Nicki chattered as we moved through the crowds. “We all eat lunch together. Don’t feel obligated to sit with us though. It’s just something we’ve done since freshman year. It’s more than just us though, and it’s a mix of juniors and seniors. You’re a junior, right?”
        “Yeah.”
        “Me too.”
        I liked her a lot. Something about being around her immediately put me at ease. It was like she assumed we’d be friends. Things were like that with Cherise, but Nicki was a better person than Cherise. At least I hoped so.
        We entered the cafeteria, and conversations buzzed all around us.
“There are so many people.” I missed my little school where everyone knew everyone. Though maybe this was better. No one here knew my past, and I didn’t have to be that person. Maybe my past would go away.
        “Yeah. It’s easy to get lost among the crowds.”
I sat across from Nate and shocked myself on the table. I tried not to look like anything had happened, but Nate met my eyes, and I got another shock. My heart raced. Nicki took the seat next to me.
         “She’s in my pre-calc and lit class.” She handed the schedule to Jessica.
        “We’re in American History together,” Jessica said with a fake smile.
         Nicki took the schedule back. “Oh, you’ve got speech with Fitz.”
        “If you’re in Jessica’s history, I’m in there as well,” Nate said.
        My head spun. It sounded like I’d have classes with all of them. Emma sat on the other side of Jessica but didn’t even look up at me. She had her head buried in some book.
Nate opened the donut box. “I got glazed because everyone likes that.” He met my eyes for a half second and then dropped them again. My heart raced. There was no way he was interested in me. He was completely out of my league.
         I took a donut even though I’d already eaten. Jessica looked down her nose at the box and stood. “I’ve got to run. See you in class,” she said and spun on her heel.
She’d decided not to like me from the moment she saw me in the chapel. She never bothered to even know who I was. She pretended to be nice, but I’d obviously angered her in some way just by existing.
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​Author Kimberly Loth
Kimberly Loth has lived all over the world. From the isolated woods of the Ozarks to exotic city of Cairo. Currently, she resides in Tucson, Arizona with her family including an old grumpy cat named Max.
She’s been writing for ten years and is the author of the Amazon bestselling series The Dragon Kings. In her free time, she volunteers at church, reads, and travels as often as possible.

Website * BookBub * Goodreads * Facebook * Twitter

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$50 Blast Giveaway
Winner’s choice of a $50 Amazon Gift Code or $50 in PayPal Cash

Ends 10/29/18
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. The giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
                                    Presented by I Am A Reader
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