Lora Palmer's Blog, page 2
August 15, 2017
Spotlight: Thomas Templeton and the Whispers of Branson Manor
Hello, lovelies! Today I'm thrilled to welcome fellow Clean Reads author Emily A. Steward to celebrate release day of her latest novel, a children's fantasy adventure/mystery. It sounds fantastically spooky!
Title: Thomas Templeton and the Whispers of Branson ManorAuthor: Emily A. StewardBack Cover Blurb: Thomas has only vague memories of the night his parents vanished, and the memories haunt his dreams: an old mansion, a game of hide and seek, and panicked screaming.After their aunt threatens to split them up, Thomas and his two sisters journey to the abandoned family mansion looking for clues to their parent’s disappearance. Soon after they arrive, terrifying messages and apparitions make it clear that someone or something doesn't want them there.When another person close to Thomas disappears, the children must work quickly to stop the sinister force before they become the next victims of Branson Manor.Tagline: A sinister force awaits…
Author Photo:
Author Bio: Emily Steward spent the better part of her childhood dressed as a ninja and trying to convince others to call her ‘Ace.’ When she wasn’t saving the world from evil samurai, she could usually be found in the branches of a tree reading a good book. She now lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, three daughters, and dog Bentley. Though she seldom dresses as a ninja now, her adventurous spirit remains as does her love of tree climbing and reading good books.
Excerpt:
Evie stood in the doorway of the room just ahead. She seemed frozen to the spot. “I think it’s in here,” she said in a loud, breathy whisper. I looked past her into the room. It was empty except for a full-length iron mirror in the right corner. The knocking came from the opposite side of the room. As I stepped inside, I signaled for my sisters to wait and crept closer. The sound was definitely getting louder and was way too consistent to be an animal. It sounded like a pattern. Just as I reached the wall, the knocking stopped.“Thomas . . . ” Sarah’s voice came out thin. “Let’s go back to the living room.” I ran my finger along the edge of the peeling wallpaper. Some faint markings were beneath it. “Just a second,” I murmured, pulling the paper back. There was definitely something written under here. The letter t?A loud thud sent me sprawling. It sounded like something was trying to get out. I scrambled to my feet and backed up to where the girls were waiting. The knocking resumed, louder and faster now. “Thomas,” she said in a low voice. “I think it’s . . . I think it’s Morse code.” Sarah and I had spent a whole summer learning Morse code. We wanted a way to communicate without our aunt understanding. Turning my head, I listened hard. The knocks came in short quiet raps and louder distinct pounding. This might represent the dots and dashes. I tried to concentrate. The first one sounded like an h . . . no, an r. Rats, it was too fast for me and I couldn’t make it out. Sarah had always been better at it. She squinted in concentration as she counted under her breath. “It’s just one word over and over.” As she spoke her face went pale.“What is it?” I asked, afraid to know the answer.“Run.”
Social Media Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Emily_Steward14Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emsteward14/ Website/Blog: https://estewardblog.wordpress.comGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/emilyasteward
Buy Links: AmazonBarnes and Noble
Title: Thomas Templeton and the Whispers of Branson ManorAuthor: Emily A. StewardBack Cover Blurb: Thomas has only vague memories of the night his parents vanished, and the memories haunt his dreams: an old mansion, a game of hide and seek, and panicked screaming.After their aunt threatens to split them up, Thomas and his two sisters journey to the abandoned family mansion looking for clues to their parent’s disappearance. Soon after they arrive, terrifying messages and apparitions make it clear that someone or something doesn't want them there.When another person close to Thomas disappears, the children must work quickly to stop the sinister force before they become the next victims of Branson Manor.Tagline: A sinister force awaits…
Author Photo:
Author Bio: Emily Steward spent the better part of her childhood dressed as a ninja and trying to convince others to call her ‘Ace.’ When she wasn’t saving the world from evil samurai, she could usually be found in the branches of a tree reading a good book. She now lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, three daughters, and dog Bentley. Though she seldom dresses as a ninja now, her adventurous spirit remains as does her love of tree climbing and reading good books.
Excerpt:
Evie stood in the doorway of the room just ahead. She seemed frozen to the spot. “I think it’s in here,” she said in a loud, breathy whisper. I looked past her into the room. It was empty except for a full-length iron mirror in the right corner. The knocking came from the opposite side of the room. As I stepped inside, I signaled for my sisters to wait and crept closer. The sound was definitely getting louder and was way too consistent to be an animal. It sounded like a pattern. Just as I reached the wall, the knocking stopped.“Thomas . . . ” Sarah’s voice came out thin. “Let’s go back to the living room.” I ran my finger along the edge of the peeling wallpaper. Some faint markings were beneath it. “Just a second,” I murmured, pulling the paper back. There was definitely something written under here. The letter t?A loud thud sent me sprawling. It sounded like something was trying to get out. I scrambled to my feet and backed up to where the girls were waiting. The knocking resumed, louder and faster now. “Thomas,” she said in a low voice. “I think it’s . . . I think it’s Morse code.” Sarah and I had spent a whole summer learning Morse code. We wanted a way to communicate without our aunt understanding. Turning my head, I listened hard. The knocks came in short quiet raps and louder distinct pounding. This might represent the dots and dashes. I tried to concentrate. The first one sounded like an h . . . no, an r. Rats, it was too fast for me and I couldn’t make it out. Sarah had always been better at it. She squinted in concentration as she counted under her breath. “It’s just one word over and over.” As she spoke her face went pale.“What is it?” I asked, afraid to know the answer.“Run.”
Social Media Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Emily_Steward14Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emsteward14/ Website/Blog: https://estewardblog.wordpress.comGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/emilyasteward
Buy Links: AmazonBarnes and Noble
May 14, 2017
Goodreads Giveaway for The MirrorMasters
It's here! The print version of The MirrorMasters is here, and you can now get it through Barnes and Noble and Amazon! So, to celebrate, I'm giving away a signed copy of the paperback on GoodReads. To enter between May 15th and May 23, 2017, just click on the widget below. Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor!
#teen #YA #fantasy #goodreads #mustread #cr4u
.goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px;
font-style: normal; background: white; }
.goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; }
.goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink {
display: inline-block;
color: #181818;
background-color: #F6F6EE;
border: 1px solid #9D8A78;
border-radius: 3px;
font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
font-weight: bold;
text-decoration: none;
outline: none;
font-size: 13px;
padding: 8px 12px;
}
.goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover {
color: #181818;
background-color: #F7F2ED;
border: 1px solid #AFAFAF;
text-decoration: none;
}
Goodreads Book Giveaway
The MirrorMasters
by Lora Palmer
Giveaway ends May 23, 2017.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
Enter Giveaway
May 9, 2017
Spotlight: Insurrection Trilogy (YA Sci-Fi) by Kadee Carder
Today on the blog, I'm featuring my fellow Clean Reads author Kadee Carter with her amazing YA science fiction trilogy, Insurrection. I'm excited to have her on the blog to celebrate the release of Volume Three, Indelible! This is a series I can't wait to check out, so look for my reviews to come on Amazon and Goodreads.* * * * * * * * * * * *We humans have to be stronger than we ever imagine, love ourselves in the process, and dig in when the ground seems to sink. We not only relish adventures, we create them. That’s the basis of Saylor’s story in Kadee Carder’s young adult science fiction trilogy, Insurrection. Volume One, Insurrection, and Volume Two, Incomplete, is now available on iTunes, Amazon Kindle, and Barnes & Noble Nook, and Volume Three, Indelible, will be available May 9th! Scintillating gadgetry, crackling romance, and endless riddles fill the pages of this trilogy, in a fresh adventure for the restless reader.Beneath the façade of covert laboratories and military exploits, Saylor’s story twists further in this thrilling final installment of the Insurrection trilogy. Concealed identities. Puzzling truths. Cryptic alliances. Amid hasty exits and curious arrivals, Saylor pursues the answers haunting her conscience.Dealing with the consequences of her decisions, will Saylor find herself invincible, or drawn even closer to Breame’s conniving promises? And with humanity’s existence at stake, will Saylor advance toward the brimming war, or succumb to the battle bubbling in her blood? Saylor must decide. Humanity will always be worth fighting for. 
Excerpt from Insurrection (book One):“I have to stay with my sisters. Protect them. Are you serious, is this a lifelong contract? How about we settle for a two year?” I leaned back in the chair.
A half smile crossed the Commander’s face. He looked amused. He was pleased? “Private, any moment on the field could be your last. Do you understand that?”“I do, sir.”“You choose to join the ranks of the elite?”“I refuse to be toast.” Sitting up and throwing back my shoulders, I let my own smirk play on my lips, recalling my first harried day of training.His jaw set in place, in a familiar habit. Those navy eyes searched mine.My lungs filled with vigor and valor, as well as a smidgen of oxygen and a hint of audacity.“Very well, then.” The Commander sighed, as if he were content from a large meal. He reached down to the side of his desk and pulled open a large drawer, taking out a manila envelope. Withdrawing a long sheet of paper, he placed it on the desk in front of me. “Here are your papers. I am advancing your rank to Private First Class. You are assigned to Echo Company Bravo, effective today. Lieutenant McConnell will remain your supervising officer and provide further instructions at Front Deck.”I bobbed my head up and down, glancing at the piece of paper. The blanks had already been filled out. He knew what I would choose.“Sign at the bottom on the back page,” the Commander said, placing a pen parallel to the top of the paper.I read through the legal jargon, picking up the pen, and scanning the lengthy words. Henceforth. Litigate. Propagate. Disseminate. Prohibited. Deceased.He leaned forward. “Once we accomplish our goal, we will move on to the next assignment, and then the next, regardless of how long it takes. You do not get to leave this island unless you opt out right now.” With a flourish, I signed my name. “Then I suppose I need to go suit up.”
Excerpt from Incomplete (Book Two):Silent, smooth, and undefined, he slipped beside me, the two of us watching the horizon and the navy sky, dotted with starlight and swaying under the breeze. In the same way that chocolate nestles down slowly and sweetly on the taste buds, or like a crisp spring morning drifts dew over the dawn, he slid his right arm around me, pulling me close. Satin brushed against cotton and hope dashed against the rough breakwater of changing tides.
“Against my own rules, the other day I allowed in the thought about what losing you would feel like,” Tucker said. “Those monsters hovering over you were a greater risk than the Commander’s orders. Holding you in my arms after you fell, motionless,” he shook his head. “That was the flip of the switch.”Several clouds meandered overhead, blocking out starlight and passing by, finally clearing out again, and I could once again accept oxygen into my lungs. Letting a smile tease my lips, a rosy glow burned across my cheeks.“I'm terribly challenged in the area of accepting someone loving me,” I admitted. “I have buckets of love. But they’ve been boxed up, packed away, and I don't know how to carry them."He turned to me, his eyes glinting in the light, probably imagining my struggle with big gray metal sand castle buckets."Well, that's convenient," he answered, somehow moving closer, arms circling, tightening around my waist, until we faced each other. "I have pretty strong arms. I'd be pleased to help you carry them."Somewhere, innocent lips blew the wispy seeds from a dandelion bud, somewhere passionate lips sputtered rhetoric and jargon, and somewhere else, lips dripped with lies and temptation. But his smoldered.
Excerpt from InDelible (Book Three):“Look.” I squared off, planting my boots, shoving my fists in the pockets of my pink jacket. “Many of you were sent to Isla Barina, or joined Alliance, thinking your last stop would be the Caribbean. Now you’ve gotten a taste of home. I know the risks ahead outweigh common sense. Breame equipped me to take on this project on my own. I am stable, but to a certain extent, I’m extremely dangerous. I can’t promise—”“What are you saying, Mack?” Annoyed, Logan scuffed one boot in the dirt.“You can all jump ship if you want. No judging. It’s not even jumping ship. It’s getting out of the sinking ship and reclaiming dry land. This is the last stop before it’s too late. I’ll be fine on my own. I’ll get a plane and make it overseas and take this on. If I fail, I fail, and nobody’s worse the wiser.”
“Are you kidding?”“Not at all. I don’t want to take anybody else down with me.”“That’s not your call,” Logan argued.“I feel a little insulted right now,” Micah said, whipping her head toward me. “Who says you get all the fun?”“What?” I asked.“And the glory,” Logan added.“No, I’m trying to give you an out here.”“No, thanks. I love swimming.” Logan leaned back on his heels. “And besides, it’s not up to you.”“Fine!” I rolled my eyes. “You each get to decide. Your contracts with Alliance are being reviewed, I’m guessing?”Logan exhaled, before a slight nod. “Possibly. The chips are still settling. Contracts have yet to be renegotiated.”“Well, then.”“As far as I’m concerned,” O’Leary jumped in, “I made ECB because I wanted to. And I’ve stuck around this far, so I might as well finish this war.”Chisholm nodded. “Too many hours of training to give up right when we get the upper hand.”“But guys,” I tried to wave them off.“You have no argument.” Canaan radiated enthusiasm.“We’re the team. You’re stuck with us. Plus, you need someone to run the coms. So, I’m in.”“There’s no guarantee about this,” I reminded. “We don’t have — we may not—”“Never had a guarantee,” O’Leary stated. “Except that we’d face dangerous circumstances. That’s why I signed up. You don’t get to kick me out the second it gets rough. Rough is my playground.”“Yeah!” Other voices agreed, rallying.Eight faces shifted, eyes shining, reflecting those immense stories.“Alright, then.” I accepted, my team lining up to face the field and our Commander. “Play ball.”
Another Excerpt from Indelible:“You could have killed us,” Tucker uttered, sounding surprised.Drawing in my own sharp breaths, my shoulders shuddered. “I didn’t think you’d be in danger.”“Oh, and you don’t mind if you are?”“Well.” I began to shrug.“No-r!”“What?”“You have to — you have to think, and to hold on.”“I was holding on.”“Saylor! It’s not a word game. That out there!” He pointed out the window. “You have to—”“What?” I cut him off. “I have to, what? You tell me. Lecture. Go ahead. Just like everyone else!” I spat out the words and a little sea salt. “Tell her, like she has no clue what to do!”“Obviously you don’t!”“Oh no?” I straightened up.He did too. “No-r!” That little ‘r’ on the end of his words sounded so adorable. If only I hadn’t been steaming mad at him.“I don’t have time for this.” I crossed my arms, tapping an impatient heel.“If you haven’t noticed, Saylor, you have all the time in the world for it. Look around.”“I am looking around!” I screamed, trying to be heard, trying to be superbly, uniquely, distinguishingly resonant. “And all I see is chaos! I see loss! I see broken!”“Saylor.” His voice calmed and he held up a palm.“No! I feel every little ripple of every wave we roll over! I hear every creak, every pin drop. I smell the salt and the curdling, bitter taste of disappointment. I see the fault in every plan. I sense the strategies not connecting. I dream in colors, hearing sounds that have no name. And I ache.” Holding up my own palms to keep him away, I stepped backwards. “I ache for the rejection that I face, from my father, from my fellow soldiers, from my — from my — from everyone who falls away, whether they mean to or not. It’s all a big, ugly game, this life! My insides are on fire. And I’m sick — sick — of waiting for some untimely death to come waltzing my way.”Tears had pooled up, finally welling over, intermingling with the ocean on my cheeks. Wiping them away, I shook my head. Nobody understood.“May I approach?”“If you want.”“I like to think I’m a simple guy. I run toward the danger when others cannot.” He shifted his weight, one foot at a time, drawing near. “You are a product of challenge. You’ve seen a lot of hard days. But when I look at you, I don’t see someone who backs away from a problem. You solve it, no matter the riddle. You find a way to beat it. In some cases, you tend to have a flair for the dramatic.”“Who, me?”He smiled. “That’s just one part of you I like. Maybe you’re on fire, but consider, maybe that’s a good thing.”“Ah. Tucker.”Shoes scuffling. Red cheeks. Heated lips. His hands on mine, his pulse intertwining with mine.“Don’t think you’re done. Not when you’ve got so-r much life in you.”“I guess I’ve got thousands of little lives inside me.”“Not that. I don’t mean any kind of artificial intelligence. Those could go away, and you’d still find a way to make the earth shudder beneath you.”“Are you saying I’m scary?”“I’m saying . . . You got moxie, mate. Embrace it. But don’t strangle it.”
****
Deep in the heart of Texas, Kadee Carder resides with her husband and daughters. Carder earned a BA in Public Relations at Howard Payne University and an MFA in Creative Writing from National University. She teaches English courses on the university level and plans her schedule around coffee availability. When she’s not dancing around the living room with her daughters, she helps at church activities, creates encouraging blogs, and orders pizza like a boss.
Connect on social media!Website: kadeecarder.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/kadeecarderink/Instagram: kadeecarderinkTwitter: @kadeecarderinkAnd please feel free to subscribe for encouraging blogs! Kadeecarder.comI’m giving away a free, empowering e-book to those who subscribe to my email list at kadeecarder.com. The book is called Ignite and offers a serving of inspiration, a dash of hope, and a cup of grace to help you get kickin’ on those challenging tasks you’ve got to do!
Purchase Insurrection, Incomplete, or Indelible for only $4.99 each:Insurrection (Book 1) on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Insurrection-K...
Incomplete (Book 2) on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Incomplete-Insurrection-Book-Kadee-Carder-ebook/dp/B01MSABMCK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485896027&sr=8-1&keywords=incomplete+kadee+carderIndelible (Book 3) on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Indelible-Insu...
Purchase on Nook/Barnes&Noble:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/incomplete-kadee-carder/1125528337?ean=2940157351953
Purchase on iTunes:https://itun.es/us/5rqpfb.l
Reviews:"I loved this story. The characters are so witty, well developed and real. The growth Saylor goes through is touching and had me rooting for her every step of the way. The technology introduced is intriguing and frightening. Like what would happen if your favorite pastime started fighting back and you were thrown into the deadliest game of baseball you could ever imagine? In the midst of the awesome kick butt-ness are the girl giggles of a first crush that will have you swooning and wanting more.
An amazing series that I can already tell will become one of my favorites.
If you are looking for a unique science fiction book you need to pick this book up! You will be memorized by the story, the wonder of the strange island, the romance developing, and the unwavering friendship."
~ Amy
***
"I loved this book. As a mom, I'm always looking for good adventure stories for my 15-year old daughter to read, and Insurrection takes the cake. The daring heroine is unafraid of adventure but also not ashamed of romance. (I have to say, though, that it was refreshing to have the focus be more on the adventure and less on the romance!)
The only negative about this book is that only the first one is available! I can't wait for the second and third books."
~ Laura***
Visit http://www.kadeecarder.com/books for book trailer, radio interviews, gift certificates, freebie codes, and more!
Excerpt from Insurrection (book One):“I have to stay with my sisters. Protect them. Are you serious, is this a lifelong contract? How about we settle for a two year?” I leaned back in the chair.
A half smile crossed the Commander’s face. He looked amused. He was pleased? “Private, any moment on the field could be your last. Do you understand that?”“I do, sir.”“You choose to join the ranks of the elite?”“I refuse to be toast.” Sitting up and throwing back my shoulders, I let my own smirk play on my lips, recalling my first harried day of training.His jaw set in place, in a familiar habit. Those navy eyes searched mine.My lungs filled with vigor and valor, as well as a smidgen of oxygen and a hint of audacity.“Very well, then.” The Commander sighed, as if he were content from a large meal. He reached down to the side of his desk and pulled open a large drawer, taking out a manila envelope. Withdrawing a long sheet of paper, he placed it on the desk in front of me. “Here are your papers. I am advancing your rank to Private First Class. You are assigned to Echo Company Bravo, effective today. Lieutenant McConnell will remain your supervising officer and provide further instructions at Front Deck.”I bobbed my head up and down, glancing at the piece of paper. The blanks had already been filled out. He knew what I would choose.“Sign at the bottom on the back page,” the Commander said, placing a pen parallel to the top of the paper.I read through the legal jargon, picking up the pen, and scanning the lengthy words. Henceforth. Litigate. Propagate. Disseminate. Prohibited. Deceased.He leaned forward. “Once we accomplish our goal, we will move on to the next assignment, and then the next, regardless of how long it takes. You do not get to leave this island unless you opt out right now.” With a flourish, I signed my name. “Then I suppose I need to go suit up.”
Excerpt from Incomplete (Book Two):Silent, smooth, and undefined, he slipped beside me, the two of us watching the horizon and the navy sky, dotted with starlight and swaying under the breeze. In the same way that chocolate nestles down slowly and sweetly on the taste buds, or like a crisp spring morning drifts dew over the dawn, he slid his right arm around me, pulling me close. Satin brushed against cotton and hope dashed against the rough breakwater of changing tides.
“Against my own rules, the other day I allowed in the thought about what losing you would feel like,” Tucker said. “Those monsters hovering over you were a greater risk than the Commander’s orders. Holding you in my arms after you fell, motionless,” he shook his head. “That was the flip of the switch.”Several clouds meandered overhead, blocking out starlight and passing by, finally clearing out again, and I could once again accept oxygen into my lungs. Letting a smile tease my lips, a rosy glow burned across my cheeks.“I'm terribly challenged in the area of accepting someone loving me,” I admitted. “I have buckets of love. But they’ve been boxed up, packed away, and I don't know how to carry them."He turned to me, his eyes glinting in the light, probably imagining my struggle with big gray metal sand castle buckets."Well, that's convenient," he answered, somehow moving closer, arms circling, tightening around my waist, until we faced each other. "I have pretty strong arms. I'd be pleased to help you carry them."Somewhere, innocent lips blew the wispy seeds from a dandelion bud, somewhere passionate lips sputtered rhetoric and jargon, and somewhere else, lips dripped with lies and temptation. But his smoldered.
Excerpt from InDelible (Book Three):“Look.” I squared off, planting my boots, shoving my fists in the pockets of my pink jacket. “Many of you were sent to Isla Barina, or joined Alliance, thinking your last stop would be the Caribbean. Now you’ve gotten a taste of home. I know the risks ahead outweigh common sense. Breame equipped me to take on this project on my own. I am stable, but to a certain extent, I’m extremely dangerous. I can’t promise—”“What are you saying, Mack?” Annoyed, Logan scuffed one boot in the dirt.“You can all jump ship if you want. No judging. It’s not even jumping ship. It’s getting out of the sinking ship and reclaiming dry land. This is the last stop before it’s too late. I’ll be fine on my own. I’ll get a plane and make it overseas and take this on. If I fail, I fail, and nobody’s worse the wiser.”
“Are you kidding?”“Not at all. I don’t want to take anybody else down with me.”“That’s not your call,” Logan argued.“I feel a little insulted right now,” Micah said, whipping her head toward me. “Who says you get all the fun?”“What?” I asked.“And the glory,” Logan added.“No, I’m trying to give you an out here.”“No, thanks. I love swimming.” Logan leaned back on his heels. “And besides, it’s not up to you.”“Fine!” I rolled my eyes. “You each get to decide. Your contracts with Alliance are being reviewed, I’m guessing?”Logan exhaled, before a slight nod. “Possibly. The chips are still settling. Contracts have yet to be renegotiated.”“Well, then.”“As far as I’m concerned,” O’Leary jumped in, “I made ECB because I wanted to. And I’ve stuck around this far, so I might as well finish this war.”Chisholm nodded. “Too many hours of training to give up right when we get the upper hand.”“But guys,” I tried to wave them off.“You have no argument.” Canaan radiated enthusiasm.“We’re the team. You’re stuck with us. Plus, you need someone to run the coms. So, I’m in.”“There’s no guarantee about this,” I reminded. “We don’t have — we may not—”“Never had a guarantee,” O’Leary stated. “Except that we’d face dangerous circumstances. That’s why I signed up. You don’t get to kick me out the second it gets rough. Rough is my playground.”“Yeah!” Other voices agreed, rallying.Eight faces shifted, eyes shining, reflecting those immense stories.“Alright, then.” I accepted, my team lining up to face the field and our Commander. “Play ball.”
Another Excerpt from Indelible:“You could have killed us,” Tucker uttered, sounding surprised.Drawing in my own sharp breaths, my shoulders shuddered. “I didn’t think you’d be in danger.”“Oh, and you don’t mind if you are?”“Well.” I began to shrug.“No-r!”“What?”“You have to — you have to think, and to hold on.”“I was holding on.”“Saylor! It’s not a word game. That out there!” He pointed out the window. “You have to—”“What?” I cut him off. “I have to, what? You tell me. Lecture. Go ahead. Just like everyone else!” I spat out the words and a little sea salt. “Tell her, like she has no clue what to do!”“Obviously you don’t!”“Oh no?” I straightened up.He did too. “No-r!” That little ‘r’ on the end of his words sounded so adorable. If only I hadn’t been steaming mad at him.“I don’t have time for this.” I crossed my arms, tapping an impatient heel.“If you haven’t noticed, Saylor, you have all the time in the world for it. Look around.”“I am looking around!” I screamed, trying to be heard, trying to be superbly, uniquely, distinguishingly resonant. “And all I see is chaos! I see loss! I see broken!”“Saylor.” His voice calmed and he held up a palm.“No! I feel every little ripple of every wave we roll over! I hear every creak, every pin drop. I smell the salt and the curdling, bitter taste of disappointment. I see the fault in every plan. I sense the strategies not connecting. I dream in colors, hearing sounds that have no name. And I ache.” Holding up my own palms to keep him away, I stepped backwards. “I ache for the rejection that I face, from my father, from my fellow soldiers, from my — from my — from everyone who falls away, whether they mean to or not. It’s all a big, ugly game, this life! My insides are on fire. And I’m sick — sick — of waiting for some untimely death to come waltzing my way.”Tears had pooled up, finally welling over, intermingling with the ocean on my cheeks. Wiping them away, I shook my head. Nobody understood.“May I approach?”“If you want.”“I like to think I’m a simple guy. I run toward the danger when others cannot.” He shifted his weight, one foot at a time, drawing near. “You are a product of challenge. You’ve seen a lot of hard days. But when I look at you, I don’t see someone who backs away from a problem. You solve it, no matter the riddle. You find a way to beat it. In some cases, you tend to have a flair for the dramatic.”“Who, me?”He smiled. “That’s just one part of you I like. Maybe you’re on fire, but consider, maybe that’s a good thing.”“Ah. Tucker.”Shoes scuffling. Red cheeks. Heated lips. His hands on mine, his pulse intertwining with mine.“Don’t think you’re done. Not when you’ve got so-r much life in you.”“I guess I’ve got thousands of little lives inside me.”“Not that. I don’t mean any kind of artificial intelligence. Those could go away, and you’d still find a way to make the earth shudder beneath you.”“Are you saying I’m scary?”“I’m saying . . . You got moxie, mate. Embrace it. But don’t strangle it.”
****
Deep in the heart of Texas, Kadee Carder resides with her husband and daughters. Carder earned a BA in Public Relations at Howard Payne University and an MFA in Creative Writing from National University. She teaches English courses on the university level and plans her schedule around coffee availability. When she’s not dancing around the living room with her daughters, she helps at church activities, creates encouraging blogs, and orders pizza like a boss.
Connect on social media!Website: kadeecarder.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/kadeecarderink/Instagram: kadeecarderinkTwitter: @kadeecarderinkAnd please feel free to subscribe for encouraging blogs! Kadeecarder.comI’m giving away a free, empowering e-book to those who subscribe to my email list at kadeecarder.com. The book is called Ignite and offers a serving of inspiration, a dash of hope, and a cup of grace to help you get kickin’ on those challenging tasks you’ve got to do!
Purchase Insurrection, Incomplete, or Indelible for only $4.99 each:Insurrection (Book 1) on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Insurrection-K...
Incomplete (Book 2) on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Incomplete-Insurrection-Book-Kadee-Carder-ebook/dp/B01MSABMCK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485896027&sr=8-1&keywords=incomplete+kadee+carderIndelible (Book 3) on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Indelible-Insu...
Purchase on Nook/Barnes&Noble:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/incomplete-kadee-carder/1125528337?ean=2940157351953
Purchase on iTunes:https://itun.es/us/5rqpfb.l
Reviews:"I loved this story. The characters are so witty, well developed and real. The growth Saylor goes through is touching and had me rooting for her every step of the way. The technology introduced is intriguing and frightening. Like what would happen if your favorite pastime started fighting back and you were thrown into the deadliest game of baseball you could ever imagine? In the midst of the awesome kick butt-ness are the girl giggles of a first crush that will have you swooning and wanting more.
An amazing series that I can already tell will become one of my favorites.
If you are looking for a unique science fiction book you need to pick this book up! You will be memorized by the story, the wonder of the strange island, the romance developing, and the unwavering friendship."
~ Amy
***
"I loved this book. As a mom, I'm always looking for good adventure stories for my 15-year old daughter to read, and Insurrection takes the cake. The daring heroine is unafraid of adventure but also not ashamed of romance. (I have to say, though, that it was refreshing to have the focus be more on the adventure and less on the romance!)
The only negative about this book is that only the first one is available! I can't wait for the second and third books."
~ Laura***
Visit http://www.kadeecarder.com/books for book trailer, radio interviews, gift certificates, freebie codes, and more!
May 8, 2017
GoodReads Giveaway for The MirrorMasters!
Check out what arrived in the mail the other day! To celebrate the print version of The MirrorMasters, I'm hosting a GoodReads giveaway. Between May 15 - May 23, 2017, enter to win a signed paperback. Just click on the widget below for your chance to win! Good luck! .goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; background: white; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink { display: inline-block; color: #181818; background-color: #F6F6EE; border: 1px solid #9D8A78; border-radius: 3px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; outline: none; font-size: 13px; padding: 8px 12px; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover { color: #181818; background-color: #F7F2ED; border: 1px solid #AFAFAF; text-decoration: none; }Goodreads Book Giveaway
The MirrorMastersby Lora PalmerGiveaway ends May 23, 2017.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter GiveawayApril 29, 2017
Spotlight: Prophecy Awakened by Tamar Sloan
Today I'm excited to welcome on the blog my fellow Clean Reads author, Tamar Sloan, with her new YA paranormal fantasy, Prophecy Awakened. It sounds like a fantastic read, and it's already getting some great reviews on Goodreads and Amazon! I've got my copy already, so look for my review to be posted on those sites in the near future.
About the Book:
Eden - shy, wounded...all she wants is to finish her senior year and escape to college.Noah - the guy who’s spent two years drifting aimlessly, not knowing why he failed to come of age as every one of his ancestors has. When the two meet the connection is instantaneous and undeniable. A connection that has Eden running and Noah burning to know more.A connection destined to be the catalyst for a prophecy that neither knew existed.A prophecy others are willing to kill for.As families rupture and struggle to realign, as their hearts connect and ignite, Eden learns to trust. But with their love and life on the line, Eden must find the power to believe.Prophecy Awakened (ISBN: 978-1-62135-652-3, Clean Reads Publishing) is now available at www.tamarsloan.com and on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and iBooks.Website Linkwww.tamarsloan.comAmazon USAhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XWCGYLK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1490948333&sr=8-1Barnes & Noblehttp://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/prophecy-awakened-tamar-sloan/1126053455?ean=2940157362218iTuneshttp://itunes.apple.com/us/book/isbn9781621356523Goodreads Linkhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34737063-prophecy-awakened
About the Author:
A school psychologist by day, Tamar channels her passion for books into creating young adult stories about discovering life and love beyond our comfort zones. She is the award-winning author of the Prime Prophecy Series. Her debut novel, Prophecy Awakened, is an epic story of a love that defies boundaries. When not reading, writing or working with teens, Tamar can be found with her ever-patient husband and two beautiful sons enjoying country life on their small acreage in the Australian bush. Tamar finds it deeply rewarding to share her stories and she loves to hear from her readers and fellow lovers of all things book related. You can find her at www.tamarsloan.com or on Facebook www.facebook.com.au/tamarsloanwriter or Twitter www.twitter.com/sloantamar.
About the Book:
Eden - shy, wounded...all she wants is to finish her senior year and escape to college.Noah - the guy who’s spent two years drifting aimlessly, not knowing why he failed to come of age as every one of his ancestors has. When the two meet the connection is instantaneous and undeniable. A connection that has Eden running and Noah burning to know more.A connection destined to be the catalyst for a prophecy that neither knew existed.A prophecy others are willing to kill for.As families rupture and struggle to realign, as their hearts connect and ignite, Eden learns to trust. But with their love and life on the line, Eden must find the power to believe.Prophecy Awakened (ISBN: 978-1-62135-652-3, Clean Reads Publishing) is now available at www.tamarsloan.com and on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and iBooks.Website Linkwww.tamarsloan.comAmazon USAhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XWCGYLK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1490948333&sr=8-1Barnes & Noblehttp://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/prophecy-awakened-tamar-sloan/1126053455?ean=2940157362218iTuneshttp://itunes.apple.com/us/book/isbn9781621356523Goodreads Linkhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34737063-prophecy-awakened
About the Author:
A school psychologist by day, Tamar channels her passion for books into creating young adult stories about discovering life and love beyond our comfort zones. She is the award-winning author of the Prime Prophecy Series. Her debut novel, Prophecy Awakened, is an epic story of a love that defies boundaries. When not reading, writing or working with teens, Tamar can be found with her ever-patient husband and two beautiful sons enjoying country life on their small acreage in the Australian bush. Tamar finds it deeply rewarding to share her stories and she loves to hear from her readers and fellow lovers of all things book related. You can find her at www.tamarsloan.com or on Facebook www.facebook.com.au/tamarsloanwriter or Twitter www.twitter.com/sloantamar.
April 28, 2017
It's Here! The MirrorMasters is in Print!
For those of you who were waiting for a print version of The MirrorMasters, your wait is over. You can now get The MirrorMasters in print, and I'm so excited to share it with you! I just found the the link on Amazon yesterday.
Check out the back cover.
Yesterday was my first time seeing the design, and it's so pretty! I love everything about it, from the font to the gorgeous mirror with its shattered glass effect, to the scenery. Oh, and it even has one of my lovely Amazon reviews. As soon as I'm holding it in my hands, actually holding my book, I'll post a picture for you.
#coverlove #ya #fantasy #books #cleanreads
Check out the back cover.
Yesterday was my first time seeing the design, and it's so pretty! I love everything about it, from the font to the gorgeous mirror with its shattered glass effect, to the scenery. Oh, and it even has one of my lovely Amazon reviews. As soon as I'm holding it in my hands, actually holding my book, I'll post a picture for you.
#coverlove #ya #fantasy #books #cleanreads
April 26, 2017
The MirrorMasters is Going Into Print!
Hailey kitty wants to announce that a print version of The #MirrorMastersis forthcoming! Mrowr. Further details will be announced as soon as they become available, so stay tuned. #books #ya #fantasy #mustread
The MirrorMasters is Going into Print!
Hailey kitty wants to announce that a print version of The #MirrorMasters is forthcoming! Mrowr. Further details will be announced as soon as they become available, so stay tuned #books #ya #fantasy #mustread
April 20, 2017
Please Vote! The MirrorMasters is in the InD'Tale Magazine Creme De La Cover Contest!
Hi, all! I'm so excited to announce that The MirrorMasters cover by the amazing Cora Bignardi of Cora Graphics is in InD'tale Creme De La Cover contest! Love the cover? I absolutely love it, too, and I'm so thrilled it was selected for the contest! I'd love it if you'd take a moment to vote to help it win. Thanks, guys, for your vote! You're all awesome :)
http://indtale.com/polls/creme-de-la-cover-contest
The MirrorMasters is in the InD'Tale Magazine Creme De La Cover Contest! Your Vote is Needed!
Hi, all! I'm so excited to announce that The MirrorMasters cover by the amazing Cora Bignardi of Cora Graphics is in InD'tale Creme De La Cover contest! I just got the email today, and I'd love it if you'd take a moment to vote to help it win! Thanks, guys, for your vote! You're all awesome :)
http://indtale.com/polls/creme-de-la-cover-contest
http://indtale.com/polls/creme-de-la-cover-contest
