THE GIRL THEY LEFT BEHIND by Roxanne VeletzosHardcover: 368 Pages | Publisher: Atria Books (October 9, 2018)
SYNOPSIS:
       A sweeping family saga and love story that offers a vivid and unique portrayal of life in war-torn 1941 Bucharest and life behind the Iron Curtain during the Soviet Union occupation—perfect for fans of Lilac Girls and Sarah’s Key. 
     On a freezing night in January 1941, a little Jewish girl is found on the steps of an apartment building in Bucharest. With Romania recently allied with the Nazis, the Jewish population is in grave danger, undergoing increasingly violent persecution. The girl is placed in an orphanage and eventually adopted by a wealthy childless couple who name her Natalia. As she assimilates into her new life, she all but forgets the parents who were forced to leave her behind. They are even further from her mind when Romania falls under Soviet occupation.    
      Yet, as Natalia comes of age in a bleak and hopeless world, traces of her identity pierce the surface of her everyday life, leading gradually to a discovery that will change her destiny. She has a secret crush on Victor, an intense young man who as an impoverished student befriended her family long ago. Years later, when Natalia is in her early twenties and working at a warehouse packing fruit, she and Victor, now an important official in the Communist regime, cross paths again. This time they are fatefully drawn into a passionate affair despite the obstacles swirling around them and Victor’s dark secrets.  
      When Natalia is suddenly offered a one-time chance at freedom, Victor is determined to help her escape, even if it means losing her. Natalia must make an agonizing decision: remain in Bucharest with her beloved adoptive parents and the man she has come to love, or seize the chance to finally live life on her own terms, and to confront the painful enigma of her past.
Purchase Links; Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble    

 MY REVIEW: (LAWonder10)
I highly recommend this book, based on factual events and some real individuals! In a world where confusion exists so strongly on what life in Socialism is like, this book gives the general public a good view.
This story covers the time period from the beginning of World War ll, then into the 1960s. 
The author has done a lot of intense research to bring the fiction portion of the book as close to fact as possible.
Based on the lives of real individuals, this is the story of a young Jewish couple with a small child fleeing place to place for safety as they flee persecution of Jews in Romania. They find refuge at a home of a friend of the young man's father. However, they have to live very quietly in the small attic. 
Knowing they couldn't remain hidden with a small child, and if she were discovered on a resident's step, she wouldn't be killed, the parents very reluctantly leave the child behind. Upon the discovery of the little girl, the resident took her in her home for the night then to the orphanage the next day.
A volunteer at the orphanage told a cousin, who had not been able to complete her pregnancies, of the little girl who had not been speaking, eating or drinking since they found her. The couple eagerly made arrangements and adopted the young girl.
This is a story of complete of of two couple for one little girl. It is, also, a story of the successes and devastation occurring during that time period. It is very interesting and, at times, emotionally stirring. The reader's interest is maintained throughout the story.
The characters are very real and the reader is'brought into: the story in a way one can imagine one's there.
The Title and Cover a a terrific "fit".
I offer a Four and a Half Stars rating
*This book was gifted me with not request of a positive review. This is my honest review.

About Roxanne Veletzos:
​Roxanne Veletzos was born in Bucharest, Romania and moved to California with her family as a young teen. Already fluent in English and French, she began writing short stories about growing up in her native Eastern Europe, at first as a cathartic experience as she transitioned to a new culture, then simply to pursue what had become an unrelenting passion. She has worked as an editor, content writer, and marketing manager for a number of Fortune 500 companies and has been writing fiction since 2012. Her first novel, THE GIRL THEY LEFT BEHIND, is based on her family’s true story.
Connect with Roxanne:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

To have the opportunity to WIN your OWN COPY of this book, complete the Rafflecopter below!

Presented by TLC Book Tours

Title: SCALES (Spirits of Chaos, #1) Author: Nicole Conway
Pub. Date: 2019 | Publisher: Owl Hollow Press
Formats: Paperback, eBook | Find it: Goodreads
 Synopsis:
    When New York City faces the threat of an ancient evil, a teenage boy must use a magical bracelet to transform into a monster-slaying dragon superhero.
    Koji Owens is the new kid … again. As the only son of an Air Force F-16 pilot, he’s learned to adapt and survive every time they move. It’s not easy starting over with new friends and schools every two years, but when the Owens family makes their final move to New York, Koji finally has hope for a normal high school life—that is, until he finds a strange bracelet in his locker.
       Transformed into a storm-summoning dragon warrior, Koji finds himself caught up in a world of ancient powers, secret identities, and colossal monsters threatening to destroy his new home. But these awesome powers come with strings attached, and revealing his true identity could mean losing everything he loves. With his family and friends now in mortal danger and New York City in flames, Koji must find the courage to become the hero they need and face down an enemy hiding in plain sight.
       A comic-obsessed teenage misfit embraces his inner hero in this action-packed adventure that will leave you ready to get your scales on!
 
Exclusive Excerpt!
     Piercing light bloomed from the totem scale. It swept over me and took away my pain, molding and stretching me into my full dragon form. The instant the searing energy coursed through my body, I launched myself into the sky.
     I didn’t have a single second to waste.
     Now that I was a beast of comparable size, I crested the skyscrapers in a few powerful beats of my wings. From a few blocks away, the wyvern spotted me. It let out a howl of fury as it surged straight for me. I answered with a battle cry of my own, driving more and more power into every beat of my mighty black wings.
     Two F-22 fighter jets rolled in on either side, joining me in aerial formation. Their engines roared, and both pilots gave me a confirming thumb’s up. They were following me in for the attack.
      I’d never felt so cool in my entire life.
    I clashed with the wyvern in the air over Central Park, clamping my jaws around his throat. I prepared to give him a taste of my lightning, the same way I had the crocodile monster. One good jolt and maybe I could bring him down.
    Before I get a good grip, he swung his spiked tail and whacked me across the eyes. I let go, snatching back with a roar.
     He dove at me; his toothy mandible jaws open wide to rip my throat out.
     A sudden plume of fire scorched his hide and sent him reeling. I drew back, wary of the blistering flames.
     Another giant dragon clashed in battle, had scales as red as fresh blood and a ridge of tall, slender black spines all the way down her back. My breath caught. Madeline? She’d gone full-form, too?
     She attacked the wyvern mercilessly, pinning him under another blast of her fiery breath.
    Shaking off the blow to my head, I charged headlong back into the fight, lightning sizzling and popping off my open jaws. We had to get him on the ground. If we could pin him there, he’d be within range of ground fire and an easier target for our air support. We could contain the damage to the rest of the city, too.
     So I went for one of the wyvern’s wings full-force.
     Fyurei had him distracted. He never saw me coming. I swooped in to break one of his wings at the shoulders with a single powerful crunch of my jaws and sharp jerk of my head. The creature screeched and kicked, floundering with his one good wing and swinging his tail like a medieval mace. The bulbous, spiky tip struck one of the F-22 jets and sent the aircraft flipping through the air end over end. Not good. I watched the aircraft fall, waiting for the pilot to eject.
     He didn’t.
     I didn’t hesitate—I dove straight after the jet, summoning every bit of speed I had. The jet spiraled, smoking and streaking toward the ground. I threw myself the final distance with a desperate cry, jaws open wide.
      I caught the tail of the jet in my teeth about a hundred feet shy of the ground. As soon as my jaws clamped onto the metal, I reared back, kicked my legs out, and flared for an emergency landing right in the middle of the park.
      It took a second for the dust, snow, and trees to settle.
      Picking the jet carefully out of my mouth, I held it up to my huge dragon eyeball like a little kid’s toy. Inside the cockpit, the tiny pilot was giving me a shaky thumb’s up. He was okay.
      I gave him my best dragon smile, terrifying as it probably was, and placed his jet, right side up, on a grassy spot in the park. Then I turned around to get back to business. I still had some wyvern rear end to roast and an evil headmaster in dire need of reeducation.

About Nicole:
    MY NAME IS NICOLE CONWAY and I love to write stories! I've been writing books since I was very young, and am blessed beyond measure to be able to do it now as a full time career. Although I sometimes step out into other genres, I primarily write Fantasy for teens and middle graders.
      ​I graduated from Auburn University in 2012, which is also where I met my husband. As a military family, we move frequently and have lived numerous places all around the world. We have one very energetic son, Ethan. We also have two dogs (French Brittanys) named Joey (currently 5 months old) and Phoebe (4 years old) and a ball python named Noodle Nagini.
      For inquiries on how to book me for a school visit, presentation, or interest in my future or current projects, please contact my amazing literary agent, FRAN BLACK, of Literary Counsel.
Subscribe to Nicole’s Newsletter!
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Tumblr | Pinterest | BookBub | Amazon |  Goodreads

Giveaway Details:
One lucky winner will win an ARC of SCALES, US Only.

​Being a bully isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
    Sixteen-year old Brianna had everything she wanted: money to ski all over the world, underlings to do her bidding, and parents who gave her every freedom—as long as she played by their rules. But when she’s busted shoplifting and assigned to the Chain Gang, she ditches her shallow ways and realizes being herself is easier than manipulating people.
    Forced to partner with kids she’d never dream of befriending, including Xavier, a boy who makes her pulse go into hyperdrive, Brianna vows to be a better person. Breaking Old Brianna’s habits isn’t easy, but her infatuation with Xavier—someone her parents would never approve of—motivates her to keep trying.
Even when he convinces her to trade her swanky skis for a beat-up snowboard.
    Brianna lets go of her need to control everything and finally starts to feel free—until her past threatens to jeopardize her first real chance at love. She discovers balancing on the edge is as challenging in life as it is in snowboarding, and when a new friend is in trouble, Brianna must decide between the superficial things that used to be her world and putting her friend’s safety before herself.
​Goodreads | Purchase Links |

Guest Post: What story ideas would you like to tackle in the future? Why?
       I’m really intrigued by unreliable narrators. I’ve yet to write one, and I really haven’t read that many, but I’m eager to try—and I’ve already outlined a story with that in mind.
     I get a lot of ideas from the news and the world in general, so whenever I hear something that sounds too unbelievable to be real, my brain starts working—and it usually switches the protagonist and antagonist to really flip the story on its head.
        My next novel is going to deal with multiple levels of mental illness within a family, plus a
boatload of secrets, uncertain sexuality, and an ending that will hopefully shock readers. The
biggest struggle I’m anticipating is showing growth in the character—but that’s why I’m the
author, right?
        I also have an idea for a new adult novel based on the eclipse from the summer of 2017. It will be sexy and fun and while I’m not quite sure how it will fit in with the rest of my books, I can’t wait to write it.
      When I first started writing, I was focused on novels for an adult audience, but once I started writing young adult, I knew I’d found what I’m meant to write. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to keep challenging myself. With every book I’ve written, I’ve challenged myself in a different ways. With Flicker, for example, there are zero dialogue tags (he said, she said). With The Slope Rules, one of the characters never actually appears in the book—she’s only present via text and video messages. So I know that no matter what I write next, I’ll find a way to grow as a writer, and hopefully please my readers even more than the previous book.

Multi-award winning young adult author Melanie Hooyenga first started writing as a teenager and finds she still relates
best to that age group. She has lived in Washington DC, Chicago, and Mexico, but has finally settled down in her home
state of Michigan. When not at her day job as a Communications Director at a nonprofit, you can find Melanie attempting
to wrangle her Miniature Schnauzer Owen and playing every sport imaginable with her husband Jeremy.
WEBSITE |  SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram |

Hair in all the Wrong Places #3 by Andrew Buckley
Release Date: October 30, 2018
Publisher: Month9Books
A menacing shadow looms over Elkwood, as a dark and sinister evil creeps into town. Only Colin Strauss can feel it
happening. He is a werewolf, after all.
A routine Night Watch mission ends with Colin rescuing a mysterious girl from monster hunters, causing shock waves
threatening to rock the town of Elkwood to its very foundations. Just when Colin thinks things can’t get any worse, he
starts having girl problems.
If anyone is up to the task, it’s Colin. In the past year, he’s faced an evil biology teacher, defeated a power-hungry
wizard, and united a group of unlikely creatures and freaks to defend their home.
Can Colin defeat the growing evil, evade ancient monster hunters, and not mess things up with his sort-of girlfriend?
Having hair in all the wrong places is fast becoming the least of Colin’s problems.
Goodreads ~ Purchase Links: Google Play |BAM | Chapters | Indies | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | TBD​

Other  Books in the Series:

Goodreads |

Andrew Buckley attended the Vancouver Film School’s Writing for Film and Television program. After
pitching and developing several screenplay projects for film and television, he worked in marketing and public
relations, before becoming a professional copy and content writer. During this time Andrew began writing his
first adult novel, DEATH, THE DEVIL AND THE GOLDFISH, followed closely by his second novel,
STILTSKIN. He works as an editor for Curiosity Quills Press.
Andrew also co-hosts a geek movie podcast, is working on his next novel, and has a stunning amount of other
ideas. He now lives happily in the Okanagan Valley, BC with three kids, one cat, one needy dog, one beautiful
wife, and a multitude of characters that live comfortably inside of his mind.
Andrew is represented by Mark Gottlieb at the Trident Media Group
​Website | Facebook | Goodreads | 

Book details:
Rival (Fate of the Stars, #2) by Arwen Paris 
Publication date: November 1st 2018
Genres: Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy,Young Adult
Synopsis:It’s a role she didn’t want…  
    One deadly week has passed since seventeen year old Allison Delaney realized she must save Earth from the parasitic race of Ma’tiok. But the task is even more complicated than Allison feared, and she’s being set up to fail. Blamed for a fatal blow to the Alliance fleet that killed dozens of soldiers, Allison must face judgment for their deaths. The High Priestess Kiobaan is Allison’s only hope. Kiobaan sees the warrior spirit in Allison, along with her potential both politically and physically and agrees to train her.
And a game she can’t afford to lose.
Meanwhile, though Allison is the human host of Eenoki, protector of life, she’s not yet ready to harness their combined energy. Their bond is unpredictable at best—volatile at worst. Time is running out for Eenoki and Allison to trust each other—all or nothing—or she’ll never gain the power she needs to defeat the Ma’tiok and save Earth. When Allison is marked for death by an unknown enemy, the High Priestess Kiobaan must step-up and fight. But in return Kiobaan extracts a pledge from Allison, one that will compromise her new status and make her a target.
Goodreads | ~ Purchase: Amazon |

Rival - Fate of the Stars - Arwen Paris 

    This story is an action packed fantasy with lots of interesting characters.
       The characters are well-developed. It is easy to feel their emotions.
    The story flows well from chapter to chapter and is easy to follow along.
    The title of the story is a good fit for the book. I also think the book cover is a great fit.
I highly recommend this book to other readers who love a good fantasy adventure.
I give this a literary rating of 5/5

written by vickie

AUTHOR BIO:
Arwen Paris is the author of young adult fiction. Her debut YA Sci-fi Urban Fantasy novel FATE OF THE STARS releases September 1, 2017. The actions packed pages of her novels are filled with characters that are forced to face fears they never expected. When she's not writing, you can see posts of her (too many) vacations that keep her sane. Arwen lives in Washington, has a big crazy family & after the day job, she writes Fiction For the Fearless - #F3Fanatic 
Author links:
Website |  BookBub | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram |

 You can find the schedule here (http://xpressobooktours.com/2018/08/24/tour-sign-up-rival-by-arwen-paris/).

Giveaway:
Tour-wide giveaway (INTL)

• 2x $50 Amazon gift cards

This grand prize giveaway - ends Nov 15th:

​Fate & Fortune
(Fate & Fortune #1)
By Robin Daniels
YA Contemporary Romance, Duology
ebook, 279 Pages
September 20th 2018

Bryce has liked Paige since they were little but has never had the guts to act on his feelings. Paige is devastated over being dumped by her long-time boyfriend and can’t seem to move on. They’re stuck in a rut, until fate decides to pull them out.

Both Paige and Bryce are talked into seeing a fortune teller at the annual Summer’s End Carnival. Neither of them buys into the mysticism, until the psychic’s predictions start coming true. Now, the most bizarre things are happening and there isn’t a clear explanation. Each of them must figure out if they’re the subject of an elaborate hoax or a bigger plan forged by destiny.

*This book is part one of two. Books should be read sequentially.

Goodreads│Amazon

Fate and Fortune - Book 1 - Robin Daniels 

I love this story. A little mystery, romance and so much fun. I can't wait to read the follow
up story.
The characters are fun and well-developed. It is easy to feel their emotions. I really like the
twins and their differences and likenesses in their personalities.
The story flows well from chapter to chapter and is easy to follow along.
The title is a good fit for the story.
I highly recommend this book to others.
I give this story a literary rating of 5/5

written by vickie

Kismet and Karma - Book 2 - Robin Daniels

As with book 1, I love this story. How fun to read the story from different characters
perspectives. The same things happen but getting to see them from other characters
changes the whole story so much.
The characters are fun and well-developed. It is easy to feel their emotions. I really like the
twins and their differences and likenesses in their personalities.
The story flows well from chapter to chapter and is easy to follow along.
The title is a good fit for the story.
I highly recommend this book to others.
I give this story a literary rating of 5/5

written by vickie

​Kismet & Karma
(Fate & Fortune #2)
By Robin Daniels

YA Contemporary Romance, Duology
ebook, 270 Pages
October 25th 2018

Bryce and Paige belong together, but they’ll never make it happen alone. When inspiration strikes in multiple ways, a friend decides it can’t be a coincidence; it’s a call to action. With a little luck, the help of fate, and the matchmaking plan of the century, Bryce and Paige just might get their happy ending.

You heard Paige and Bryce's version of the story in Fate & Fortune. Now join Eric, Amy, Cody, Kennedy and Genie to see how things really went down.

***This book completes the series. Book one can be read as a standalone, but book two cannot. Fate & Fortune should be read first.***

Goodreads│Amazon

ABOUT the AUTHOR:
​The most important thing to know about me is that I'm basically a sixteen-year-old trapped in an adult's body. It's why I feel such a great connection to all of my characters and why I love to write romantic comedy. The kid in me just wants to be goofy. Besides being a writer; I'm a wife, mother of five, volleyball enthusiast and home decorating guru. My list of favorites includes: reading, Christmas, pedicures, dessert, steak, Arizona winters and most importantly, Diet Coke.
Website│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter│Instagram│Amazon│Newsletter

TOUR GIVEAWAY!
1 winner will receive a $50 Amazon eGift Card
Open internationally
Ends November 21, 2018

Tour Schedule

November 5th:
Launch
Heidi Reads...
Mythical Books
November 6th:
Becky on Books
Rockin' Book Reviews
Christen Krumm, Writer
November 7th:
Among the Reads
Dani Reviews Things
November 8th:
Harlie's Books
Colorimetry
November 9th:
Singing Librarian Books
Getting Your Read On
November 12th:
Katie's Clean Book Collection
Wishful Endings
November 13th:
Sarah Jane Lamb
Seasons of Humility
November 14th:
Paulette's Papers
Andi's Young Adult Books
Andi's Book Reviews
November 15th:
Mel's Shelves
Kathryn Cooper Writes
Rainy Day Reviews
November 16th:
Teatime and Books
Ghoulish Life & Reviews
A Backwards Story
Remembrancy
November 17th:
Grand Finale

​About the Book:
Jane of Air The Tattoed Girl Series Book 1 by Jessica Penot
  Jane has spent her entire life hiding. Hiding under bulky clothing. Hiding behind books. Hiding behind glasses. Abandoned in an emergency room at the age of four with her name written on her forehead in Sharpie and a mysterious tattoo of a door on her back, Jane grew up in foster care and learned early on that blending in with normal people was the only way to survive.
      Now, at the age of 16, Jane is hoping to get a fresh start at a prestigious college on a full scholarship. With limited resources and no family to help her, Jane takes a job as a live-in companion to a wealthy old woman who lives near the school. Jane grows to care for Miss Adele and loves her new home, the magnificent Thornfield Hall, even though everyone says it’s haunted. She doesn’t even mind Adele’s brooding grandson, Edward Rochester, who the locals believe murdered his first girlfriend. At first Jane tries to stay away from Edward, but she can’t help being drawn to him. As her attraction grows, so do the whispers about the dark secrets that Edward is hiding. After Jane witnesses several improbably accidents, she realizes that any sensible girl should run away in terror. She realizes that only a fool would stay, yet she can’t make herself leave no matter how dark the shadows grow and how real the ghosts become. As her fears escalate, her tattoo begins to change and spread across her back. Jane knows something wicked lurks at Thornfield and she knows it’s connected to her. She knows the only way to stop the darkness is to run, but somehow, she can’t seem to find the strength to leave the only person she’s ever loved.

Jane of Air - Jessica Penot 
​
This is a very intriguing paranormal story. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down.
I like the tie to old England.
The characters are well-developed. It is easy to feel their emotions.
The story flows well from chapter to chapter and is easy to follow along.
The title of the book fits the story well. The cover of the book is also very appealing.
I can't wait to read the following books in the series.
I highly recommend this book.
I give this book a literary rating of 5/5

written by vickie

​About the Author:
Jessica Penot is a therapist and writer who lives in Alabama.  Jessica is the owner of Tree of Life Behavioral Health and connoisseur of ghost stories and all things that go bump in the night.  She is the Author of Haunted North Alabama, Haunted Chattanooga, and Amazon bestseller, The Accidental Witch.
​www.jessicapenot.net
www.jessicapenot.com
www.hauntingdarkness.com

​Book details:
Broken Arrow 
by Azaria M.J. Durant 
(Darkened Destiny Saga #1) 
Publication date: July 29th 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Synopsis:An ancient power long kept dormant stirs in the shadows once more as one boy embarks on a quest to earn his freedom and the freedom of his world!
Magic has turned to myth, the Vaelhyreans of old to legend, and the power wielded by the ancients has long been forgotten. However, with Ealdred, a mere half-breed slave boy, myth becomes real, the forgotten remembered, and the power of legend is reborn within him.
Ealdred is merged into a world of mystery, brimming with deceit, where the remaining Vaelhyreans are in a desperate fight for their very survival. When Ealdred is kidnapped by the power-mongering dark lord Zeldek himself, he must make a choice; to commit his newfound magic to Zeldek’s service or die. But when he meets Bellator, clever yet treacherous servant of Zeldek, an alternative is presented to him: to escape from Zeldek’s stronghold and embark on a quest to find a cursed arrow and free the Vaelhyreans from the spell that keeps their powers at bay.
Yet how can he survive in a world where magic is illegal, half-breeds are hated, and the four countries are on the brink of war?


Goodreads |~ Purchase: Amazon | B&N |

Broken Arrow - Azaria M. J. Durant 

This is a great book of fantasy with lots of adventure and incredible characters. With all the characters, both good and evil, Azaria create so many magical creatures and characters with elemental magic.

The characters are well-developed. I like the extremes of Bellator. Her dragon is my favorite magical creature. Elroy is also a wonderful character. I t is so easy to feel their emotions.

The story flows well from chapter to chapter, it held my attention fully from beginning to
end of the story.
The title of the story is a good fit for the book.
I highly recommend this book to other readers who love a good fantasy adventure.
I give this a literary rating of 5/5
written by vickie

AUTHOR BIO:
Azaria M. J. Durant is a young, passionate writer of fantasy with plans to branch out into sci-fi and dystopian. She enjoys writing stories with action, adventure, unexpected plot twists, and fleshed out characters that challenge gender roles and expectations.

Azaria lives in Atlantic Canada with her family, cats, and dogs, and her big dreams to travel the world. In the moments when she isn’t writing, she is sketching concept art for her stories, participating in community theatre, or curled up with a good book and a bag of mint chocolates.

Author links: 
https://ofswordsandquills.wordpress.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17939902.Azaria_M_J_Durant
https://www.facebook.com/azariamjdurant/
https://twitter.com/HerMajestyMJ

Giveaway:
Tour-wide giveaway (INTL)

• 2x eBook copies of Broken Arrow

This grand prize giveaway - ends Nov 8th:

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 |

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 

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. 

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

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!

​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)

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 |

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

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:

​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.

To Enter click on the Rafflecopter link below and complete Rafflecopter entries!
Rafflecopter Giveaway ​