 This sequel to The Whispering of the Willows is set in the late 1920s' Appalachia, where granny witches and spiritualism often show the path for wanderers to take, especially in matters of the heart.  The Melody of the Mulberries (Big Creek Series, #2) By Tonya Jewel Blessing Historical Romance | Paperback & ebook, 248 Pages September 1, 2019 by Capture Books BOOK DETAILS: This Big Creek sequel follows the lives and loves of two siblings. Coral determines to visit the family's nemesis, Charlie, now in prison for the rape of her sister, Emerald, and the murder of her inlaw. When Mercy re-enters brother Ernest's life, he has already found a new attraction in his elder brother's widow. Coral sat in contemplation under a mulberry tree. It was spring, and the fragrant female blossoms promised the mid-summer arrival of first white, then pink, then crimson, and finally deep purple berries. The white berries were hard and tart and enjoyed by the quail, wild turkeys, mocking birds, and blue jays. The blackish purple berries were soft and sweet - perfect for pies and jams. When the berries turned white, Coral would thank the good Lord for providing food for the birds. When the berries ripened she would thank the good Lord for the sweetness savored in her mouth and curse the birds for wanting more than their share. Where Emerald Ashby's story leaves us in the last pages of The Whispering of the Willows, sixteen-year-old Coral Ashby's story begins. Like the changing mulberries, Appalachian siblings Coral and Ernest Ashby, navigate life through the late 1920s. Coral is determined to visit the family nemesis, Charlie, who now stews in prison. When Ernest's previous love interest, Mercy, returns to the holler of Big Creek, she discovers that his heart is now singing a melody for Charlotte, the older Ashby brother's widow. But Mercy has brought along her own spiritual tools and a special friend who guides her way. Accompanied by friends and foes, matters of the heart complicate life for Coral and Ernest. Relationships must be journeyed carefully. (Affiliate links included.) Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository  REVIEW by LAWonder10: This is a story about a group of people residing in the Appalachian Mountains. Although lacking in proper education and language skills, the adults do all they can to instill in the children's minds the importance of education. Earnest and Lottie are presently the teachers. Coral feels a call from the Lord is sending her into the city to try and forgive and "save" a rapist. Since a major complication between Ernest and Lottie arose, Lottie accompanied her and the Reverend to spend some week in Charleston. The Characters were interesting and well-defined. The scenes were easy to visualize. I did not feel a connection to the story. I felt the wording was simplistic, resembling the early school books I read in elementary. The story-line was good but the story was very predictable. It is an intriguing conversational text, similar to the text of Huckleberry Finn. It is a great book for relaxed reading. I offer a Three Stars Rating. This Book was gifted me with no pressure for a positive review. This is my honest review.  REVIEW by VICKIE:  The Melody of The Mulberries - Tonya Jewel Blessing This is a great read. It was really interesting and enjoyable to learn about times in the 1920's and to understand more about the Appalachian Mountains. The Folklore and the way they taught bible and life learning. The only disappointment I had was, when reading along, I came to the end. I wasn't ready for that. The characters are wonderful. They are all well-developed and it is easy to feel their emotions. The story flows well from chapter to chapter and is easy to follow along. The book cover and title are a perfect match for the story. I highly recommend this book to all who love to read a good story. I give this story a literary rating of 5/5  A 1920s' saga of Emerald Ashby coming of age.  The Whispering of the Willows (Big Creek Series, #1) Book Details: Young Emie isn't desperate for a man, but she is surrounded by a variety of them in the Appalachian holler of Big Creek. How does a young girl find her way, and grow strong, when life begins to spin out of control? Set against the superstitions and old time religion in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, author Tonya Jewel Blessing tells a difficult, yet redemptive story of a blossoming young woman who is accompanied by her friends and her foes on a journey towards hope and healing. Love weaves through gut-wrenching circumstances and dismal poverty where Emerald Ashby grows strong despite grievous wrongs committed against her. In this desperate historical setting, mysterious disappearances lead to traps set for the innocent. Now, when key individuals begin carving out a rescue plan, Emerald Ashby sets a few of her own traps. It's a page turner. In this ailing town. What will be their measure of success? Cleverly suspenseful and sweetly spoken, the storyteller's unassuming voice transforms an Appalachian trail of tears into holy terror against an evil that stalks the innocent. In The Whispering of the Willows, an Appalachian marriage practice might be compared to the modern sex trade which exploits young females. Not since Catherine Marshall's strong heroine named Christy, has an Appalachian drama come to life like The Whispering of the Willows. Includes: Bibliography and Book Club Questions. A novel for women examining the Old Time Religion. Coming of age in the Southern Appalachians. If you love a story where the underdog surfaces and thrives, you'll love this story. (Affiliate links included.) 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Best book I have read in a while. Didn't want it to end. Great and different story line. - Christine This is a fantastic book that had me examining my own personal spiritual journey. Kudos to the author for writing such a heartfelt, inspiring work. - Verified Amazon Reader I absolutely loved the characters and the story. Their faith in God helped them through the trials they faced. The story is engrossing and very believable. Hope this book is a winner for the author. - Verified Purchaser "The story is emotionally gripping and pulls the reader along to see what will happen next. The best stories grab our emotions and don’t let go." - Judge's Commentary from 24th Annual Writer’s Digest Book Awards The Whispering of the Willows is an inspiring story full of twists and turns, freedom and redemption, the expected and unexpected. This book brings to light the struggles of young woman past and present. God’s goodness and provision flow from each page. - Linda Bottoms, Rocky Mountain Ministry Network Women’s Ministries Director   ABOUT the AUTHOR - Tonya Jewel Blessing National/International Speaker, Published Author, Co-Founder/Director Strong Cross Ministries Tonya grew up in rural Ohio. She currently lives in South Africa with her husband of 35 years. Tonya decided to trust Jesus for the destination of her young soul at the age of four. As a young adult, she worked for a well known television evangelist, and traveled with a Christian drama group throughout the Midwest. Tonya attended Arapahoe Community College and Akron University, and has enjoyed a trusted position in formal and informal ministry settings and training opportunities. Tonya also worked as a children’s pastor, youth pastor, and women’s pastor. She served on staff at Praise Church in Littleton, Colorado for a number of years, and also worked as the Director of Women’s Ministries for Journey Church in Strasburg, Colorado. She has served on a number of ministry boards that support concerns for women. Tonya and her husband operated Strong Cross Ranch Colorado for over eleven years, a place of respite for missionaries and ministers. They had the honor of hosting over 2,000 guests during that time frame. The Blessings relocated their ministry to South Africa in June of 2012. The ministry continues to serve and partner with local pastors and missionaries through a variety of creative and responsible means. The Blessings oversee building projects, feeding programs, educational services, interventions, and church planting. Tonya is a well-known national and international speaker, often serving women in areas of the world which cannot be publicized. She writes articles and devotionals for missions’ magazines and women’s groups and is also a published author. She is the author of two historical fiction books The Whispering of the Willows and The Melody of the Mulberries. Both novels are set in Big Creek, West Virginia, during the late 1920’s. Tonya has also co-authored a devotional called Soothing Rain – Living Water to Refresh Your Soul. All three of Tonya’s books have received literary awards. Tonya enjoys speaking and sharing her life with women at retreats and events. She thinks that women are amazing, and appreciates that the female gender is multifaceted yet fragile creations of God. In her personal life and as a speaker, Tonya believes that God’s Word is powerful, and needs to be read and written on her heart and on the hearts of women everywhere. For additional information, please review her author and ministry webpage: www.TonyaJewelBlessing.com She was ordained in 2011 and is currently pursuing further pastoral and biblical studies. For additional information regarding Strong Cross Ministries South Africa, please visit the ministry web page – www.strongcrossministries.org. Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram GIVEAWAY!  One winner will receive a $30 Amazon Gift Card Open internationally (to those who can use one of Amazon's branches) Ends July 1, 2020 TO ENTER, Click on HERE! 
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Why Can't Freshman Summer Be Like Pizza? By Andy V. Romer Book Blitz & Giveaway! {Ends 7/2/20}6/22/2020   Book Details: Why Can’t Freshman Summer Be Like Pizza? (The Pizza Chronicles #2) by Andy V. Roamer Publication date: June 1st 2020 Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult Synopsis: RV, having successfully completed his freshman year at the demanding Boston Latin School, is hoping for a great summer. He’s now fifteen years old and looking forward to sharing many languid summer days with his friend Bobby, who’s told him he has gay feelings too. But life and family and duties for a son of immigrant parents makes it difficult to steal time away with Bobby. Bobby, too, has pressures. He spends part of the summer away at football camp, and his father pushes him to work a summer job at a friend’s accounting firm. Bobby takes the job grudgingly, wanting to spend any extra time practicing the necessary skills to make Latin’s varsity football team. On top of everything, RV’s best friend Carole goes away for the summer, jumping at an opportunity to spend it with her father in Paris. Luckily, there is always Mr. Aniso, RV’s Latin teacher, to talk to whenever RV is lonely. He’s also there for RV when he inadvertently spills one of Bobby’s secrets, and Bobby is so angry RV is afraid he is ready to cut off the friendship. Goodreads | ~ Purchase: Amazon | B&N | Kobo |  AUTHOR BIO: Andy V. Roamer grew up in the Boston area and moved to New York City after college. He worked in book publishing for many years, starting out in the children's and YA books division and then wearing many other hats. WHY CAN'T LIFE BE LIKE PIZZA? is the first novel in THE PIZZA CHRONICLES. The books follow the exploits of RV, the teenage son of immigrants from Lithuania in Eastern Europe, as RV tries to negotiate the four years of his demanding high school, his budding sexuality, and new relationships. To relax, Andy loves to ride his bike, read, watch foreign and independent movies, and travel. Author links: Website | Instagram |  GIVEAWAY! Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)
TO ENTER, Click on HERE!   Hungry Hearts by Julie Hoag Published January 21st 2020 by Swoon Romance Book Blurb: For fans of “The Boys Next Door” by Jennifer Echols an d “Holding Up the Universe” by Jennifer Niven. When an amateur chef attempts to use food as his love language, Landra, who struggles with anorexia, finds his approach off-putting. In fact, she finds Brian to be rather annoying. Undeterred, Brian snags Landra in a friendship that eventually grows into something else, as she finally trusts him enough to sample some of his homemade gourmet treats. But things have not evolved to the level Brian would like, and soon he realizes Landra’s issue isn’t only with the food he makes. She into the football team’s hottest player. But Brian isn't about to get one-upped by a jock. He decides to ask Landra out at the same time that Landra manages to snag a date with the football star. ADD to GOODREADS |  Hungry Hearts - Julie Hoag This book has a good story line. It addresses many of the things teenage kids go through in their jr. high and high school years. The mean things kids do to other kids is unbelievable I wish there was a way to get through to them so they could understand the harm they cause. Also get them to care about others enough not to continue to hurt them. The characters are well-developed and their feelings and emotions are well-written and easy to feel. Brian is my hero. He got hurt more than once but was fast to forgive and came back. The story flows well from chapter to chapter and is easy to follow along. I recommend this book to others to enjoy a good story and also to learn more about what goes on with our youth. This is a great deal of profanity throughout the book. I give this book a literary rating of 5/5 written by vickie  ABOUT the AUTHOR: Hello & Welcome! I’m Julie. I’m a wife and a mom to 3 boys. I’m sharing Ideas for Recipes, Family Lifestyle, Travel, DIY & Pets:) I’m SO happy you are here! Leave me a comment, I’d love to hear from you. I’m also a YA Author of the novel “Hungry Hearts” published in 2020 with Swoon Romance/Month9Books and Georgia McBride. “Out of Control” releases in 2021. WEBSITE | GOODREADS |    Book Details: Monster Academy by Catherine Banks Publication date: June 2nd 2020 Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult Synopsis: They thought they’d have it easy being monster elites, but these three best friends still have to deal with pop quizzes, crushes, and even worse…humans. Frances Stein, Loralie Reaper, and Tsukiko Okami just want to play games and relax after their classes. Any hopes of chilling out, however, are destroyed when humans attack Monster Academy and try to use the students for ransom. In order to defeat the humans and protect their fellow monsters, they must work side by side with their crushes without giving away their secrets. Of course, that would be a lot easier if they were able to stick together, but in a move that betrays insider knowledge, the BFFs are separated. By tapping into their monstrous powers and working with their crushes, they will open their hearts and unlock abilities long thought dead. But will it be enough to save all of monster-kind? It’s going to be one hell of a year at Monster Academy. Goodreads | ~ Purchase: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo |   AUTHOR BIO: Catherine Banks is a USA Today Bestselling fantasy author who writes in several fantasy subgenres under two pseudonyms. She began writing fiction at only four years old and finished her first full-length novel at the age of fifteen. She is married to her soulmate and best friend, Avery, who she has two amazing children with. After her full-time job, she reads books, plays video games, and watches anime shows and movies with her family to relax. Although she has lived in Northern California her entire life, she dreams of traveling around the world. Catherine is also C.E.O. of Turbo Kitten Industries™, a company with many hats including being a book publisher and Etsy store full of nerdy fun. Author links: Website | Subscribe | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads   GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)
To Enter, Click on HERE!    Book Details: Zinnia (Angelbound Offspring #3) by Christina Bauer Published by: Monster House Books | Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult Publication date: July 30th 2019 Synopsis: As the last dragon shifter, I live alone, hiding in one of Earth’s sacred deserts. My human handlers tell me that I have no parents, no name, and no purpose other than to train for battle and one day become a vessel for the reincarnation of Chimera, the greatest dragon shifter of all. Sadly, Chimera’s rebirth will mean my own death. But my handlers say this sacrifice is a noble fate that will rebuild the dragon shifter world. I shall die on my seventeenth birthday. That’s five days from now. Then I hear music thumping across the desert. I take my mortal form, follow the sound, and find humans dancing in what they call a rave. There is a stage and a rock band. One thing quickly become | s clear: Unlike the audience, the musicians are dragon shifters, just like me. And one of them, the guitar player Rhodes, makes my knees turn watery. The lead singer, Kaps, has something strangely familiar about her. It all adds up to one conclusion: My handlers lied to me. I’m not the last of my kind. Memories reappear. I had parents once. Portia and Tempest. I even had a name. Zinnia. Perhaps I have a reason to live as well. I step past the dancing humans to confront the players. I will find out the full truth, no matter what. Goodreads | ~ Purchase: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play  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 Ass ociated 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  GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)
To Enter, Click on HERE!    An epic fantasy of forbidden romance that chronicles the coming of age of a princess who is possessed by the Snow Queen and fated to rule her kingdom with a strong hand and icy heart. As a child, Princess Freyja looked into the Snow Queen’s cursed mirror - and was changed. Now an aloof and difficult young woman with a wit as sharp as her tongue, the future monarch is in need of a tutor. And Ambrose, a failed poet, is in need of a teaching position. He just never suspected how dangerous the extracurricular activities would be! Soon, Ambrose finds himself on a grand adventure fighting to save the vexing but alluring princess from the court occult conspiracies that have targeted her. He is opposed not only by sorcerers and the evil Snow Queen, but also the icy royal damsel who holds his heart. Will Ambrose’s love cause Freyja to thaw…or will she put him in the deep freeze instead? Sensuous, suspenseful, supernatural and filled with witty banter, this romantic fantasy will both turn up the heat and leave you thoroughly frost smitten! A 2019 Critters Readers Poll top ten finalist in the category of Science-Fiction and Fantasy. ~ Universal Amazon Buy Link ~ The price of this book as been steeply discounted on Amazon for this event! Check it out!
TOP TEN ESOTERIC FUN FACTS ABOUT MICAH S. HARRIS 1. My teddy bear Boo Boo ran away from home because I wouldn’t stop sucking my thumb. After this intervention caused me to declare my sobriety, we found him hanging out in a nearby tree. 2. My childhood pets include a Venus fly trap, a pink chicken, and a wolf spider…at least, it might have been a wolf spider. 3. As a kid, I read the book The Gingerbread Rabbit, so I had to have my mom bake me a gingerbread rabbit. He was delicious. 4. I attended the graveside memorial service for Schlitze, a sideshow “pinhead” (he suffered from microcephaly) who was the inspiration for the character of “Pepper” in American Horror Story. He can be seen in the 1932 cult classic movie Freaks. I wrote a book about him. 5. I was friends with the late Verne Langdon, make-up man on the original Planet of the Apes and the old TV game show Match Game among his many other projects. His company used to cast the foam rubber for the old stop motion animation Pillsbury Doughboy.   ABOUT the AUTHOR: Micah S. Harris is the Author of the epic fantasy romance Portrait of a Snow Queen, which took third place in the category of science fiction and fantasy in the Critters Readers Poll. Strong female protagonists and banter are trademarks of his work. Portrait of a Snow Queen is no exception and is recommended for older fans of Frozen and lovers of the witty verbal sparring in The Princess Bride. He won the 2016 Pulp Ark Award for best novel for Ravenwood, The stepson of Mystery: Return of the Dugpa. He is also the Author - Along with artist Michael Gaydos (Marvel’s Jessica Jones) - of the graphic novel Heaven’s War, a historical fantasy pitting the Oxford Inklings against Aleister Crowley. His lifelong love of movies also influences his fiction, whether a fairy tale retelling, horror story or paranormal mystery. He taught film on a collegiate level and has chronicled, both in print and via podcast, fascination lost genre gems. ~ Facebook ~ Website ~ ~ Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ ~ Chronicles of Aarastad Website  EVENT PAGE ...     Eden by Jamie Lisa Forbes Publisher: Pronghorn Press, (May 25, 2020) Category: Literary Fiction, Southern Fiction, Family Fiction Tour dates: May & June, 2020 | ISBN: 978-1-941052-32-2 Available in Print and ebook, 285 pages Book Description: Rowen Hart has been raised as the pampered son and only child of a prominent family in the small community of White Rock, North Carolina. It’s the 1950s and he’s drifting through the days, following the life path his parents have planned for him and preparing to go away to college. When his father’s suicide turns his world upside down, he finds himself responsible for his mother in their suddenly reduced circumstances that leave them dependent on his uncle, his father’s business partner. Ill prepared to take over as head of the family, Rowen doesn’t know which way to turn. Then a neighbor’s ten year old daughter comes to live with them, baffling him with her wild behavior and never ending attempts to win his approval and making his new responsibilities even more overwhelming. As Rowen tries to find his way, he begins to question everything about his upbringing, his current circumstances and his plans for the future as they turn to dust in his hands. Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | IndieBound REVIEW by LAWonder10: Eden is a very interesting tale about challenges, tragedies and hardship a few people in a small community experience. This is a story set in a time where prejudice still exists, the naivety of youth, corruptness of wealth and power, and injustice. The coming of age story of a young man, two very young girls and of individuals variations of facing life and loss. I felt so bad for Eden - a young girl who was so full of life, tried to be honest, straight forward and helpful, yet life was so hard and unfair to her. The story was captivating except at times it skipped too long of a time period without a summary or lead into the next time frame. The ending was rather weak. The characters were described well and felt real. The scenes were quite well portrayed. The plot was a very good story idea. I offer a Three and a Half Stars rating. I was gifted this book with no pressure for a positive review. This is my honest review.  BOOK PRAISE! “Throughout this beautifully written story (Unbroken), I pictured the scenes, the characters, and visualized it all as if I walked among them. Five stars.”-Laurel Rain-Snow, Rainy Days and Mondays “Unbroken is a powerful, absorbing book from the first page to the last. Forbes’ Wyoming ranch background adds rich flavors to the story. The author draws realistic, complex characters. Unbroken is an unvarnished testimonial to a way of life that few of us know.”– Mary E. Trimble, author of ‘ TUBOB: Two Years in West Africa with the Peace Corps’ “The Widow Smalls, is a collection of wonderful stories that will elicit a range of emotions, following a number of different themes, like loss, jealousy, regret and acceptance. Each of the stories was as well written as the last, and I enjoyed each one immensely. Wonderful diverse plots, linked with the similar thread of ranch life, and defined characters, made for a truly great read. Author Jamie Forbes, has really created something special here, a must read for all short story lovers.”- Michelle Geist, Verified Amazon Review
Q.: Where do you get the ideas for creating personalities for your characters? How to make your characters believable? A.: For most of the major characters in my fiction, I have had a person in mind to base the character on. But I don’t think I am going to be saying new when I say that the key to characterization of a major character is voice. I can’t go anywhere with a character if I don’t have a strong bold voice for that character. That voice becomes the driver of the fiction and I am in the passenger seat with my glasses and a map. A real map with all those annoying folds. I know I have created a good voice and a strong character if I find myself wrestling with the character about the turns we will make. Although I start writing with a broad outline in my head about the story, as my heroes and heroines become more and more real to me, they act on their own. To take an example from Eden, I had always planned that Rowen’s marriage would be fraught. He had married too young, he was immature, he had no concept of love. The same things could be said for Jewell, his wife, plus her rigidity was an added trigger for trouble. What I had not anticipated in this hot mess of a marriage was that Rowen really would grow to love and appreciate Jewell. He didn’t sour on the marriage as I had first imagined. I had intended an unbreakable bond between Rowen and Eden, but as Rowen traveled over the pages, I saw that he viewed his first major choice in his life, his marriage, to have been a good choice. Until the end of the novel when guilt forces Rowen to break with his community, his inclination is always to seek refuge in the expected and with that outlook, Jewell herself became a comfortable and welcome refuge for Rowen. Rowen’s love for Jewell was congruent with his internalization of the structure of his community: marriage, family, work, church. Once I recognized that development in Rowen, Jewell herself became much more sympathetic than I originally had intended. I know I did not anticipate their final reconciliation when I began writing years ago. Details are the tools I use to enhance characterization. Daily lived experience, for me, is a rich pantry and when I am building a scene and the characters’ interactions within that scene, I will rummage in that pantry for the right details that will sharpen the characters’ responses. For me, details build credibility. An example in Eden would be Rowen’s admission to his employer early in the novel that he had skipped a morning’s work in the tobacco fields to watch the murder trial. The employer chastises him. Just then, the mule, Hester Prynne, starts peeing. With my background, any kind of animal peeing is nothing remarkable, but for Rowen who feels such shame at his family’s demise, the mule peeing becomes another voice of damning judgment. Minor characters are the most challenging to write. They are role-players. They influence the plot, but the trick is to develop them so they have plausibility and are not stereotypical. Depending on where and how they appear in the story, that might demand succinct writing as well. In this novel, one such character was Coman Whitney, Eden’s mother. Coman Whitney is a villain from the first, but she still needed to be plausible so that Rowen’s refusal to stand up for Eden would appear all the more damning. After several attempts at Coman, I decided to play on her motives to build her character, specifically her bitterness at having spent her married life in poverty and her growing resentment for her husband. There too, I relied on the details of daily living to showcase her feelings, namely her comment to Rowen that, whatever his misery, he had running water where, every day, she had to haul water from a well, leaving her baby to scream alone in the house.   About Jamie Lisa ForbesAward winning author, Jamie Lisa Forbes was raised on a ranch along the Little Laramie River near Laramie, Wyoming. She attended the University of Colorado where she obtained degrees in English and philosophy. After fourteen months living in Israel, she returned to her family’s ranch where she lived for another fifteen years. In 1994, she moved to Greensboro, North Carolina. In 2001, she graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law and began her North Carolina law practice. Her first novel, Unbroken, won the WILLA Literary Award for Contemporary Fiction in 2011. Her collection of short stories, The Widow Smalls and Other Stories, won the High Plains Book Awards for a short story collection in 2015. Her law practice gave her the opportunity to travel many of the back roads of North Carolina and meet the unique and diverse individuals who inspired Eden. Website: https://www.jamielisaforbes.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jamielisaforbes Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamieLisaForbes  This giveaway is for the winner’s choice of print or ebook however, print is open to the U.S. only and ebook is available worldwide. There will be 2 winners. This giveaway ends July 1, 2020,midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only. To Enter, Click on the Rafflecopter link Below! RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!    Heir of Lies (Black Dawn #1) by Mallory McCartney Publication Date: April 21, 2020 BOOK BLURB: “Hope was a dangerous thing. It could consume every dream and make them take flight, becoming wild daydreams in one’s heart and mind. Or hope could incinerate everything you thought you knew, burning you down to your core, leaving you raw and exposed for the world.” Emory Fae has only known one thing—life at The Academy, a school for those who have special abilities. Following in her parents’ footsteps, the pressure to uphold their dream falls on her and one of her best friends—Adair Stratton. An outcast and feared by most, Adair longs to break away from the expectations dictating his future. With whispers of dark magic spreading across Kiero, Adair starts to doubt The Academy is all it seems. An unexpected visit ignites new tensions as the roguish king from across the Black Sea, Tadeas Maher of the Shattered Isles, and his heir, Marquis Maher, sail to Kiero. Notorious for their pirating and wrath, for the first time in years, they demand the Faes listen to their proposition for a new treaty. Caught in the middle of politics, Adair and Emory, with the help of their best friends Brokk and Memphis, search for the one thing that matters the most—the truth. Their world is tipped upside down as unlikely alliances are made, and war ravages Kiero. Through the throes of betrayal, lies, hidden magic, and love, Adair is faced with a life changing decision. Will he fight or bow to the darkness within? But, Adair’s decision will change the course of Kiero forever, setting in motion irreversible destinies for everyone at The Academy as Emory Fae rises as heir. Heir of Lies is the first book in the bestselling Black Dawn series. Link to Goodreads | ~ Purchase Links: Amazon | AbeBooks | Alibris  EXCERPT #5: “Hey, Em. I was wondering if you would be up for a walk?” Questions hung in her emerald gaze as she appraised him. “Sure. Give me a second.” The door clicked shut as internally he kicked himself. Did she wish Memphis had been on the other side when she opened it? Maybe his best friend had already sought her out, finding his own reprieve from what they had gone through. Exhaling, the door opened once more, Emory adorned in a black collared jacket and high leather boots. A jeweled knife was buckled around her hip. “Where were you thinking?” she asked. “I need to talk to you. Come on.” Before he could think this was a terrible idea, he grabbed her hand, warmth traveling up his arm, as he led her outside. The sun welcomed them; the warm breeze unseasonably warm for the end of summer. Drinking it in, Brokk let go of Emory’s hand, trying to keep his voice level. “Up for a trip in the woods?” “Brokk, we can’t. Whatever you have to say to me, you’re going to have to do it here.” She shrugged. “And when did you start caring about the rules?” “When people started dying.” Her tone was equally as icy, and he shook his head. “This was a bad idea. Sorry to bug you, princess.” His words were hostile. Emory stepped back. “Do you have a problem with me now, Brokk? Whatever it is, get it off your chest.” Standing in the courtyard, there were so many things he wanted to say. That he was sorry for not telling her the truth about the secret he carried. That he wished everything could go back to normal between them. Tension hung heavy, like a live wire. But most of all, he wished he could tell her about his darkest secret. That deep in the night, his heart revealed his greatest wish these past years. And it was her—had always been her. To taste her lips, hold her against his chest, feel her heart beat in time with his own. He was unconditionally in love with her, and for a fleeting moment he had the impulse to tell her everything. But now, being with her, his best friends face swam in his mind the fear of losing Memphis made him bite back every word. Shooting fear clambered through him as Emory pointedly looked at him, daggers in her eyes. “Just forget it.” Gruffly, Brokk dropped his books, shifted in one motion, and galloped toward the trees, blood pounding, heart roaring. The coolness of the forest washed over him, as he tried to empty his mind, not looking back at Emory once.   ABOUT the AUTHOR: Mallory McCartney currently lives in Sarnia, Ontario with her husband and their three dachshunds Link, Lola and Leonard. When she isn’t working on her next novel or reading, she can be found day dreaming about fantasy worlds and hiking. Other favorite pastimes involve reorganizing perpetually overflowing bookshelves and seeking out new coffee and dessert shops. Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads Link to Tour Schedule .  Giveaway Details: One (1) winner will win a signed hardcover of Heir of Lies by Mallory McCartne To Enter the Giveaway, Click on HERE!    Book Details: Elephant by Natalie Rodriguez Publication date: May 29th 2020 Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult Synopsis: Summer of 2006. Four childhood best friends. A family secret. After a strange encounter leaves him hospitalized, a timid teenage boy named Matt “Matty” Smith comes home to a continuous series of events met with anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Under the guardianship of his grandma, Lucia, Matt lives with unspoken questions about his grandfather and parents. The elephant in the room. As Matt develops over the summer, the secrets only grow more profound and complex. Will the answers ever come? While searching for answers, Matt and his three childhood best friends encounter the meanings of love, forgiveness, and fate. Goodreads | ~ Purchase: Amazon | B&N | Kobo  AUTHOR BIO: Natalie Rodriguez is an award-winning writer, director, and mental health and anti-violence/trauma advocate based in Los Angeles, CA. In 2014, she graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelor of Arts in Radio-Television-Film. Her first experience in entertainment was an internship at the Conan O'Brien show and Peter Guber's Mandalay Pictures, where she worked at the offices of producers, Matthew Rhodes ("Cherry," "Men in Black: International") and Academy Award-winner, Cathy Schulman ("Sharp Objects," "Crash"). Natalie was also a panelist at events, including Google, Hispanicize, and YouTube, where she has shared her story as a writer, filmmaker, and a female working in the entertainment industry. Some of her previous writing work can be found in publications such as the HuffPost Blog, Thrive Global, Anxiety Resource Center, Opposing Views, NowThis News, Zooey Deschanel's Hello Giggles, The Mighty, and more. In 2017, she founded her production company, Extraordinary Pictures, focusing on both films, television, digital series, and social issue projects. The company has a list of projects in its roaster, including development on a TV sitcom, "The D," which placed in top-ten for best comedy screenplays at Stage 32. At the moment, Natalie's second directorial feature film, "Howard Original," is in post-production and set for an August 2020 release date on YouTube Premium. The film is based on the award-winning short film about a washed-up screenwriter named Howard, who encounters more than just selling a story, a studio rejection, and writer's block when his pet cat comes to life. Natalie's directorial feature film, "The Extraordinary Ordinary," which she also wrote, produced, and was the executive producer on, is making its round through the festival circuit. The film deals with young adults, mental health awareness, and the aftermath of trauma. The film won 'Best Film About Women's Empowerment' at the Glendale International Film Festival and scored nominations in Best Director, Best Female Director, and Best Picture. The film also had a sold-out world premiere screening at the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival (LADFF), winning 'Best Performance' by the leading actress, Maddison Bullock. Further details on the project can be found @theextraordfilm, including recent film festival awards and nominations. Her other screenplays and films have also been featured and placed in the final rounds at HollyShorts Film Festival, NALIP: Latino Lens Film Festival, ShortsTV, Stage 32: Comedy Screenplay, Beverly Hills Film Festival, Culver City Film Festival, Indie Night Film Festival, Hollywood Screenplay Contest, Table Read My Screenplay - Austin Film Festival, and others. Natalie was most recently an ambassador for Jen Zeano Designs (JZD), a clothing company in association with USA Networks. While she continues to build her creative background, Natalie is always open to collaborating with other artists and advocates. Currently, she awaits the publication of her first young adult novel this April 2020, "Elephant," a story about four childhood best friends who uncover a family secret. The book was also a finalist at Clare Books' the Binge-Watching Cure II contest for 'Best Novel.'. Author links: Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads |  GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)
To Enter, Click on HERE!    Book details: ECHO Academy (Dimension Drift #2)by Christina Bauer Published by: Monster House Books | Publication date: April 28th 2020 Genres: Dystopian, Fantasy, Young Adult Synopsis: Our heroine Meimi Archer has been assigned to attend ECHO Academy. There, the evil Headmaster believes that Meimi will help the government conquer other dimensions. But Meimi and her friends have some very different ideas. They’re starting a revolution. That is, if the Headmaster doesn’t find out and murder them first. Goodreads | ~ Purchase: Amazon | B&N iBooks | Kobo | Google Play REVIEW by VICKIE:  Echo Academy - Christina Bauer This story was a good as the previous book. I enjoyed seeing how Thorne and Meimi changed and grew stronger. They make a great team. Learning more about their families and friends was fun and enlightening. The characters are all well-developed and it is easy to feel their emotions. The cover and title of the book are a fit for the story. The story flows well from chapter to chapter and is easy to follow along. I highly recommend this book to adults and teens. It's a great adventure. I give it a literary rating of 5/5 written by vickie
“Christina Bauer has a gift with sucking you into a story and not letting go until the final sentence is over. This was one of those stories.” – The Book Herald “If you like books set in a dystopian futuristic society then you are going to LOVE Alien Minds.” – The Avid Reader   AUTHOR BIO: Christina Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too. Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby. Be the first to know about new releases from Christina by signing up for her Newsletter: Stalk Christina On Social Media – She Loves It! Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn | Web site Giveaway!  Tour-wide giveaway (INT)
This grand prize giveaway (this giveaway is set up and managed by author, not Xpresso Book Tours): To Enter, Click on HERE!    Book details: Alpha Erased (Alpha Girls #9) by Aileen Erin Published by: Ink Monster LLC | Publication date: May 12th 2020 Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult Synopsis: Tessa—part witch, part werewolf, raised human and now the unofficial leader of a newly minted supernatural alliance—thinks nothing of her brother, Axel, texting her and Dastien to meet up. The location pin is in a weird spot, but maybe he found a magical anomaly? But when Tessa steps into the darkened warehouse, she doesn’t expect to see her brother laying in a pool of his own blood, smell the sulfuric scent of black magic, or feel the pain of her mate being shot full of silver. Tessa has seconds to make a choice, but there’s only one thing she can do to save the two most important men in her life—sacrifice herself. The last thing Dastien hears from Tessa is her pl | ea—help Axel. Then their bond goes silent. He can’t hear her. He can’t feel her. And there’s no sign of the attackers who took her. Dastien does everything he can to save Axel before calling his friends in a panic. It takes all of them to find Tessa, but when Dastien’s finally reunited with her, there’s no sign of recognition in her eyes. No magic in her touch. No wolf beneath the surface. Everything that made Tessa who she was…has been erased. Goodreads | ~ Purchase: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play
Aileen Erin, On handling negative reviews: There’s nothing worse for an author than getting a negative review. Even three-star reviews can cut deep when you’ve poured your soul into a book. If you’re only getting bad reviews, then it’s time to pause and work on your craft. But if you’re getting more good than bad reviews, then there’s really only one thing an author can do: Ignore your negative reviews entirely. I know it’s hard not to read all of them, but if you read a negative review, you might be tempted to argue with the reviewer. Don’t do that. I’m serious. Whatever you do, do NOT argue with any reviewer. Ever. Arguing that a reviewer shouldn’t feel a certain way about your book is pointless. You can’t control what someone else feels. Arguing that they missed something or didn’t read something the way you intended is also pointless. You can’t control how they read something. You can only control what you put on the page, and fighting against interpretations or feelings is a complete waste of time and energy. Once you finish writing a book, that’s it. The book is out of your hands, and the readers will interpret and make judgments and decide what they think about it. If they didn’t like the book, then that’s their choice. Almost worse than arguing with a reviewer—reading negative reviews of your books might change the way you write, destroy your confidence in your writing, or worst of all—it might make you quit writing altogether. And that would be truly sad. The people who love your books are out there wanting to hear more from you and your characters, and if you let a few bad reviews hold you back, then that’s a real shame. You didn’t write the book for the people who hated it. The people who gave it 1-, 2-, or even a harsh 3-star review aren’t your readers. You wrote it for the readers that gave you 4- and 5-star reviews. They’re your audience. Focus on those positive reviewers. Reach out to them. And keep honing your craft to engage those readers. Eventually, your fans will drown out all those pesky negative reviews, and you won’t sweat them at all. Happy writing.   AUTHOR BIO: Aileen Erin is half-Irish, half-Mexican, and 100% nerd–from Star Wars (prequels don’t count) to Star Trek (TNG FTW), she reads Quenya and some Sindarin, and has a severe fascination with the supernatural. Aileen has a BS in Radio-TV-Film from the University of Texas at Austin, and an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. She lives with her husband in Los Angeles, and spends her days doing her favorite things: reading books, creating worlds, and kicking ass. Author links: Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram  Giveaway: Tour-wide giveaway (INT)
To Enter the Giveaway, Click on HERE!    Book Details: Warrior Saints – Creator (Stonehaven Academy Saints, #1) by Carla Thorne Publication date: April 17th 2020 Genres: Fantasy, Supernatural, Young Adult Synopsis: “Hello. My name is Mary Antonia Hunter, and I picked up the snake.” Strange days have come to the halls of Stonehaven Academy. From brutal fights in the supernatural realm with a demon-like presence, to battling obstacles in the halls at school, Mary knows she’s different. She just doesn’t understand why. Then it gets even weirder. As her supernatural battles increase, she is drawn into friendships with others who seem to be as confused about their bizarre abilities and encounters as she is. Now that Mary, Deacon, Scout, and Ivy have found each other, what is their purpose and why? And who gifted these newly-named Warriors, and how do they manage their powers and maneuver the confusing maze of school, family, romance—and the occasional demonic force? Goodreads ~ | Purchase: Amazon | Get your FREE preview of Warrior Saints !    AUTHOR BIO: Carla Thorne is the author of the YA Fantasy/Supernatural mystery series, Warrior Saints. Author links: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads |  GIVEAWAY ! Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)
To Enter the Giveaway, Click on HERE!    Book Details: The Nightjar's Promise (The F.I.G. Mysteries #4) by Barbara Casey Category: YA Fiction (Ages 13-17), 130 pages Genre: Mystery, Fantasy Publisher: Gauthier Publications (Hungry Goat Press) | Release date: April, 2020 Tour dates: May 4 to May 22, 2020 Content Rating: PG. There are some themes that deal with the Jewish Holocaust and some frightening scenes appropriate for young adult and adult readers. Book Description: Jennifer Torres, one of the three FIGs (Females of Intellectual Genius) who is a genius in both music and art, is the last to leave the closed rehearsal for her upcoming performance over Thanksgiving break at Carnegie Hall when she hears something in the darkened Hall. Recognizing the tilt of the woman’s head and the slight limp of the man as they hurry out an exit door, she realizes it is her parents who were supposedly killed in a terrible car accident when she was 15 years old. Devastated and feeling betrayed, she sends a text to Carolina and the other two FIGs—THURGOOD. It is the code word they all agreed to use if ever one of them got into trouble or something happened that was too difficult to handle. They would all meet back at Carolina’s bungalow at Wood Rose Orphanage and Academy for Young Women to figure it out. As soon as they receive the text, because of their genius, Dara starts thinking of words in ancient Hebrew, German, and Yiddish, while Mackenzie’s visions of unique math formulae keep bringing up the date October 11, 1943. That is the date during World War II when the Nazis—the Kunstschutz—looted the paintings of targeted wealthy Jewish families and hid them away under Hitler’s orders. And as Carolina waits for the FIGs to return to Wood Rose, she hears warnings from Lyuba, her gypsy mother, to watch for the nightjar, the ancient name for the whip-poor-will. As they search for “The Nightjar’s Promise” and the truth surrounding it, Carolina and the FIGs come face to face with evil that threatens to destroy not only their genius, but their very lives. Buy the Book: Amazon.com ~ Add to Goodreads Coming Soon to Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and Bookstores Everywhere!   The Nightjar's Promise - Barbara Casey This is a fun story of mystery and suspense. I like the places that Carolina and the FIG's traveled to and the interesting things they found. The characters are all well-developed. Their emotions are easy for the reader to feel. Each character has a specific part in the journey of the four young ladies. The story flows well from chapter to chapter and is easy to follow along. This is a good story for anyone who enjoys a good suspense. It makes you want to read faster to see what is coming next. I recommend this book to everyone looking for a good read. I give this story a literary rating of 5/5 written by vickie
IT’S A “JUST BECAUSE” By Barbara Casey All of my life I have been fascinated by those things for which there is no explanation. As a young child, I was full of questions which my grandmother was more than willing to at least try to answer. Failing that, it was just one of those “just because.” As a writer, that same fascination continues, and I often include things that have no reasonable explanation into my stories. The F.I.G. Mystery Series is a good example. In Book 1, The Cadence of Gypsies, I introduce the Voynich Manuscript, considered to be the most mysterious document in the world. Along with that, I add the mysterious gypsy culture that includes potions and spells that I have researched. In The Wish Rider, Book 2 in the F.I.G. Mystery Series, I explore the little-known area deep underground of Grand Central Terminal in New York City, a secret society that actually exists there, and the obscure language of hoboglyphs. Book 3 in this series, The Clock Flower, takes my readers to a small province in China where the research into mortality involves the simple dandelion flower, and an ancient archeological dig site reveals some of the same hoboglyph markings that were found in Grand Central Terminal’s secret underground. And finally, Book 4, The Nightjar’s Promise, reveals the horrors and possibilities relating to Hitler’s orders to loot priceless works of art during World War II. All of the themes I write about in my books are based on fact and are thoroughly researched. Of course, my main characters—Dara, Mackenzie, and Jennifer—defy explanation given the fact that each FIG has an IQ in the genius range, and all three have developed a unique skill that enhances their coping abilities in a world where they are so different. In each book I have tried to tell their unique story and give an explanation of something that really can’t be explained. It is—just because.   Meet the Author: Originally from Carrollton, Illinois, author/agent/publisher Barbara Casey attended the University of North Carolina, N.C. State University, and N.C. Wesleyan College where she received a BA degree, summa cum laude, with a double major in English and history. In 1978 she left her position as Director of Public Relations and Vice President of Development at North Carolina Wesleyan College to write full time and develop her own manuscript evaluation and editorial service. In 1995 she established the Barbara Casey Agency and since that time has represented authors from the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Japan. In 2014, she became a partner with Strategic Media Books, an independent nonfiction publisher of true crime, where she oversees acquisitions, day-to-day operations, and book production. Ms. Casey has written over a dozen award-winning books of fiction and nonfiction for both young adults and adults. The awards include the National Association of University Women Literary Award, the Sir Walter Raleigh Literary Award, the Independent Publisher Book Award, the Dana Award for Outstanding Novel, the IP Best Book for Regional Fiction, among others. Two of her nonfiction books have been optioned for major films, one of which is under contract. Her award-winning articles, short stories, and poetry for adults have appeared in both national and international publications including the North Carolina Christian Advocate Magazine, The New East Magazine, the Raleigh (N.C.) News and Observer, the Rocky Mount (N.C.) Sunday Telegram, Dog Fancy, ByLine, The Christian Record, Skirt! Magazine, and True Story. A thirty-minute television special which Ms. Casey wrote and coordinated was broadcast on WRAL, Channel 5, in Raleigh, North Carolina. She also received special recognition for her editorial work on the English translations of Albanian children’s stories. Her award-winning science fiction short stories for adults are featured in The Cosmic Unicorn and CrossTime science fiction anthologies. Ms. Casey's essays and other works appear in The Chrysalis Reader, the international literary journal of the Swedenborg Foundation, 221 One-Minute Monologues from Literature (Smith and Kraus Publishers), and A Cup of Comfort (Adams Media Corporation). Ms. Casey is a former director of BookFest of the Palm Beaches, Florida, where she served as guest author and panelist. She has served as judge for the Pathfinder Literary Awards in Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Florida, and was the Florida Regional Advisor for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators from 1991 through 2003. In 2018 Ms. Casey received the prestigious Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award and Top Professional Award for her extensive experience and notable accomplishments in the field of publishing and other areas. She makes her home on the top of a mountain in northwest Georgia with her husband and three cats who adopted her, Homer, Reese, and Earl Gray - Reese’s best friend. Connect with the author: Website~ Goodreads ~ Facebook Here is the tour schedule.  Giveaway Details: Prizes: Win 1 of 3 print or 1 of 3 ebook of Barbara Casey's THE NIGHTJAR'S PROMISE, or a $25 Amazon Gift Card (open USA & Canada) (7 win (ends May 29) Enter the Giveaway by Clicking on HERE!    How to Quit Your Crush by Amy Fellner Dominy Publication Date: May 4, 2020 | Publisher: Entangled Teen Crush SYNOPSIS: Mai Senn knows Anthony Adams is no good for her – no matter how hard she might crush on him. She’s valedictorian; he’s a surf bum. She’s got plans, he’s got his art. Complete opposites in every way. Vinegar and baking soda, they once joked. A chemical reaction that bubbled. Yeah, they bubbled. Maybe still do. Good thing Anthony’s got the perfect plan: two weeks to prove just how not good they are together. Whoever can come up with the worst date—something the other will seriously hate, proving how incompatible they truly are—wins. Like taking a snake-phobe to the Reptile House at the zoo (his idea). Or a cooking class where they don’t even get to eat the food (her idea). It’s all about the competition, and it’s meant to help them finally crush their crushes. But it wasn’t supposed to be so hot. Or so fun. And when Mai’s future becomes at stake, will she be able to do the right thing and quit Anthony forever? Link to Goodreads | ~ Purchase Links: Amazon | Amazon Australia | Amazon UK | Amazon Canada | B&N | iBooks | Kobo
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Getting Published… I graduated from middle school and then college and then I got married and I started a career and I had two kids and I got my MFA and became a playwright and I had about 25 birthdays! Wait, what? The truth is, I thought I was going to be published when I was 13. That’s how old I was when I sent in my first story. I was sure it would be a slam-dunk. My publishing career as a novelist begun while in 7th grade. That’s not exactly what happened. That story got rejected. And then a whole lot of other stories got rejected over the years. I have a stack of rejection letters to prove it! .... Until finally, I sold my first book in 2009. After I’d done a whole lot of other things. Now, here I am with nine published books. Looking back, a lot happened on the way to getting published. But I learned from all of it and it’s why I’m here today, a brand new book baby I’m so excited to share with you all. Thanks so much for hosting me today and thanks to everyone for stopping by! For more news, excerpts and giveaways, sign up for my monthly newsletter HERE. Amy  ABOUT THE AUTHOR Amy grew up loving to read and figured out at an early age that books were magical and necessary. She started submitting her own stories to be published when she was thirteen. Amy is now the award-winning author of nine books spanning young adult, middle grade, and picture books. Titles for Entangled include Announcing Trouble and the companion novel, How to Quit Your Crush. Amy lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and a puppy who is training them. Visit Amy online at www.amydominy.com or follow her on Instagram or Twitter at @amydominy. Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads  (COMING SOON!!)    Book Details: Hickville Crossroads (Hickville High Series, #4) by Mary Karlik Publication date: May 4th 2020 | Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult Synopsis: Frasier Anderson is one of the hottest teenage actors in the UK, but he’s virtually unknown in the US. Now he’s landed the leading role in a big-budget Hollywood film that could make him an international star. So how do you prepare a Scot for a role as a Texas high school student? Give him a fake name, a fake accent, and embed him in a Texas high school. He only has to follow three rules: No drama. No girls. And no telling who he really is. Jenna Wiley is smart, funny, and has a few no-drama, no-dating rules of her own. Her friendship with new kid Ethan Smith is perfect and might even lead to something more. Except for a few things that don’t add up. Like his mom being afraid to have company. Or their house, which is more staged than lived in. Or his sister, whom nobody talks about. It all comes to a boil when Frasier’s biggest secrets hit the tabloids and the paparazzi swarm Hillside with Jenna in their sights. Can Frasier convince Jenna that shy, goofy Ethan Smith is closer to real than the image the tabloids have created? And can she ever forgive him for breaking the most important rule of all? Because for Jenna, when it comes to love and science, the truth is all that matters. Goodreads ~ | Purchase: Amazon | iBooks | Kobo |  Hickville Crossroads - Mary Karlik What a fun story. I enjoyed the idea of a Scottish actor fitting into a place in Texas. Jenna and her friend are a fun group and she has an awesome family. The characters are all well-developed and it is easy to feel their emotions. The title and cover of the book are a good fit for the story. The story flows well from chapter to chapter and is easy to follow along. I highly recommend this to teen age readers and adults. I give this a literary rating of 5/5 written by vickie  AUTHOR BIO: Mary Karlik has always been a dreamer. When she was a teen, she read The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, and then sat in every wardrobe in her Nanna’s home, trying to open the door to Narnia. She didn’t find it, but she did discover her voice as an author: one filled with her young adult self, and grounded in her roots as a Texan and her Scottish heritage, nourished by obscure Scottish folklore. You can find her Texas roots in her indie published, YA contemporary romance Hickville series , which has been described as “100% solid storytelling,” and begins with Welcome to Hickville High, a “lovely story about growing up.” She digs deep into her Scottish roots – there is magic there, she just knows it – for her YA epic Fantasy Fairy Trafficking series published by Ink Monster Publishing LLC. Her first book, Magic Harvest, debuted in September of 2018. It reached #1 in 3 categories of YA Fantasy on Amazon. Magic Heist, the second in the series has been described as “a fun twisty read which will never let you guess what will happen next.” Mary recently moved from the beautiful Sangre de Cristo mountains of Northern New Mexico where she was a certified professional ski instructor to Texas. She loves visiting Scotland where she is currently earning a degree in Gaelic Language Studies at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig in Skye—part of the University of Highlands and Islands system. Mary also earned her MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, has a B.S. degree from Texas A&M University, and is a Registered Nurse. Mary is an active member of Romance Writers of America and serves on a national committee of RWA. She formerly served on the board of the Young Adult Romance Writers of America. She is an active member of the Dallas Area Romance Authors and looks forward to raising a glass or two of gin and tonic with her fellow writers every year at RWA’s national convention. Author links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Newsletter | Goodreads |  Giveaway Details: Tour-wide giveaway (INT)
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