May Freighter's Blog, page 8
October 11, 2017
Want & Need Review
Falling for your boss is never a good idea—especially if he’s emotionally unavailable…
Kyra Wilson is an average woman with a typical job. Her boss, on the other hand, is anything but average. Paul Connors is handsome, wealthy, and has massive sex appeal to boot. After some mutual flirtation, Kyra makes a move to change their work relationship to something more.
All goes as planned, until Paul makes his stance on relationships clear…
After a few hot encounters between the sheets, Kyra is ready to take it to the next level. But Paul refuses to commit—and won’t say why. Settling on ‘friends with benefits,’ Kyra is happy to make the most of Paul’s body in the hope she can change his mind.
But when a handsome stranger comes along, Kyra is swept off her feet…
Kyra meets her best friend’s soon to be brother-in-law, Scott Adams. Tall, dark, handsome—and monogamous—he is everything she wants, and more. Engulfed with the desire to settle down, Kyra falls fast and hard. Still, she struggles to cast aside her lust for Paul so she can completely focus on her future with Scott.
As always, nothing is as perfect as it seems…
When wicked secrets are exposed, Kyra dangles between the two men. With her future on the line, Kyra closes the door on her past and accepts Scott’s invitation to live together.
It doesn’t take long for a trio of tragedies to leave Kyra clutching onto her sanity, and relying on the one person she only ever dreamed of…
About the author
Born in the grand year of 1986, I am currently a 30 year old female living in Lincolnshire, England.
By day, I work in an office from 8.30 – 5 but my mind is never quiet from scenes, ideas and characters chattering away.
By night, I am an aspiring author, hoping to touch others with my crazy, wild ideas.
I am a mother to an energetic 9 year old boy and partner to the world’s best boyfriend.
My main interests are in the paranormal but I am interested in all genres and am planning stories to cover the vast array of different tastes. I am also very passionate about serious issues such as domestic violence and mental health. As such, these themes do run in alot of my stories.
I am also a hardcore conspiracy theorist and all of my stories contain twists, turns, and ideas that will hopefully leave you thinking ‘What did I just read?’
I am a redhead (and proud of it!), and as such, most of my female characters are redheaded as I feel we are underated and albeit forgotten!
On a serious note, I’m an avid supporter of animal rights and cannot tolerate abuse to animals in any way, shape, or form. My driving force behind my venture into writing is to help this cause by supporting animal charities whilst also seeking to set up my own animal rescue. This is my author brand – money you spend with me – either on my books or my products – will be put towards this vital cause. I am dedicating 25% of all my profits to The Brooke.
Review
Today, I wish to review a great romance book “Want & Need” by C. J. Laurence that made my emotions confused, my heart swell with warmth, and even got me so excited about the ending, I couldn’t put it down all day—which happens rather rarely.
The story is about a woman, Kyra, who starts having a sexual relationship with her boss who is 100% against commitment. The two of them seemed to get up to a lot of naughty things in the office and outside. It was going great until she realised that wanted to get her happily ever after, something he said he couldn’t give her. I won’t get into any more details here because it would spoil the fun for the rest of you.
Claire managed to keep me enthralled throughout the whole book. There were no parts too boring, just enough conversation and action to make a perfect ensemble. Emotions in the characters ran high along with plenty of tension and excitement in the plot. She even managed to pull one on me with her mystery skills. Good one, Miss Laurence.
Overall, I have to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed myself and almost forgot I was sick. It’s a great read for any romance reader who likes their plot well-cooked along with plenty of steamy scenes for dessert.
Release Date: 9th of August, 2016
Buy links: Amazon UK, Amazon US.
Red Night Book Review
Hello everyone,
Today, I would like to talk about “Red Night” by RK Close. I got an ARC (advance reader copy) and really enjoyed the story. You can find the review and the blurb to this book below!
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Blurb
Samantha knows what hides in the shadows…and now they know about her.
Beautiful, immortal, deadly, and living right under our noses. Vampires are real. How do I know this?
Because I met Adam, and he’s one of them.
My name is Samantha Chase, and I’m a private investigator. My life is about to change forever. Everything I thought I knew about the world around me is wrong, so very wrong.
Death in the desert.
A serial killer with an appetite for young blondes is on the loose in my city, and he’s just added me to the menu. I’m a pawn in a game played by beautiful monsters, and one wrong move could be my last.
If having one immortal after my heart isn’t enough to convince me I’m out of my league, there’s another one after my blood.
When did I become so popular?
Adam may be my only hope. Or he might be the wildest—and deadliest—mistake I’ve ever made.
Review
Red Night is one of those books that you can pick up off the shelf and not be sure what to expect. The cover was what got me, though. When I started reading it, I fell in love with Adam. He’s just such an intense character, who is also super sexy and possessive to boot. I enjoyed the fact neither he nor Sam were 2D characters that you can find in some other novels. They were full of life and determination to do what they believed was right. I can stand behind characters like these, especially if there is a lot of sexual tension going on.
In regard to sexual tension, my God. There are two good-looking men and one stubborn woman. I think Samantha is pretty lucky (well, not always) when it comes to being involved with the opposite sex. Sure they’re sexy, but each one has his own baggage.
Still #teamAdam!
There were a couple of missing commas but they didn’t take away from the story in any way. Nonetheless, it is a great paranormal thriller with a good amount of romance in it. Great read.
Interview with Brittanie Charmintine
NOTE: original post 16 Apr, 2016.
It is another lovely day. The sun is…nowhere to be found because the author who is with us today is Brittanie Charmintine and her vampires would have fled the scene if sunshine was painting our room golden. For those of you who don’t know her, Brittanie is a paranormal/fantasy author. Her first book is out for the world to see. Don’t miss out on this opportunity, guys!
The main reason we’re here is to grill her fins over the questions pan – bad pun, I know. I swear my career as a stand-up comedian is on the line here. Anywho, shall we begin?
Brittanie: Honestly, after those terrible puns I don’t know if I can do this interview. I am a very cultured and high-brow artiste!
1. What made you put together vampires and mermaids? That’s a rather unlikely combination.
Brittanie: Oh, ok. I’ll keep going despite those ghastly puns!!!
May: They weren’t THAT bad…well maybe kinda, pretty bad…sigh, my possible career as a stand-up comedian hangs on the line here.
Brittanie: I put mermaids and vampires together as a challenge to myself. I wanted to do something different because that’s what people want to read and publish. If your book is just like everyone else’s, then why write it? I asked myself what two supernatural creatures I could put in a relationship that would be the most unlikely pairing? Mermaids and vampires, of course. And it turns out they go rather nicely together. Vampires don’t need to breathe, so an underwater setting is not a big problem for them. And they can communicate telepathically, so an added bonus there.
May: I like how your vampires can use telepathy. Mine are just eager to stab things, or maybe that’s just me.
2. What do you get up to when you’re not creating worlds in your mind or getting to know your characters?
Brittanie: Do you mean when I’m not writing? Right now, I’m critiquing some work for a couple of friends. I also go to the gym, do yoga occasionally, hike, cook, and mom, though my kids are off at college.
May: Blimey, I have no idea how you can keep up such an active lifestyle. I swear as the months go by, my bum is getting too attached to this chair. I might eventually morph with it. At least, I will have a seat wherever I go!
3. As writers, we all have our bad habits. What would you consider yours to be?
Brittanie: Procrastination. Self-loathing. Perfectionism. And within the writing, if that’s what you mean? I sometimes don’t incorporate enough emotion. I’m so paranoid about the pace that I may forget occasionally to let the action linger for a bit every once in a while. It’s important to slow down occasionally and let the reader breathe. Otherwise, it’s exhausting.
May: On each of those points, I can relate. I remember writing a draft for my third book of the HH series and it was like being on a bullet train. It was fun, but I feel for the emotional stability of my readers since I left them weeping at the end of the book. Also, I procrastinate a lot, so I started a calendar where I fill out a task for every day that needs to be done. Sure, I like to swap things around now and again, but it keeps me busy and focused. Didn’t think it would work until I tried it.
4. Let’s jump into your world and have some fun. If you could pick one character to steal an ancient relic from a heavily protected museum, who would be your partner in crime? This can be a character from your story or any other stories you’ve read.
Brittanie: Probably Cupid from my story. First of all, he would know his way around antiquities, being one himself. (Please don’t tell him I said that!) Secondly, he’s a god, so god powers! He can zap us in and out of the place. Transfix the guards with his godly abs. Lift a statue with one hand. And zap us back to Olympus afterward for some ambrosia and a toga party.
May: Godly abs? If this was a video, I’d be keeling over laughing. That’s hilarious. I needed that. All of a sudden, I am extremely keen on reading the book as I’m sure are the readers. Read it for the plot guys, not the abs (like me).
If I had to pick a partner in crime, it would be Lucious Ellwood. He’s done weird jobs. Sure, most of them are to do with getting information out of people (torture), but since he’s a vampire, he can influence the guards and, with the supernatural speed, we can be out of there in no time … That’s if he will let me come along. I’ve been breaking his heart a little too much in my series.
5. What is your writing routine?
Brittanie: I usually wake up in the morning. Do social media while chastising myself for not writing first. Then I write. Hopefully. I like to read back a couple of pages to remind myself where I am in the narrative. I tweak a couple of things as I go. I do a lot of research on the fly. I know I should probably just mark things: “Look this up later.” But I never do. I look it up right then. Sometimes, what I discover sparks a whole new direction. I have been known to spend two days searching for the perfect metaphor or name.
May: Oddly enough, I’ve got a similar routine. Wake up, get my phone then check social media and messages. Afterward, it’s writing or editing for me. I’m still in a love/hate (mostly hate) relationship with editing but it can’t be helped. It has to be done for the greater good. I need to say this at least once a day to keep believing it.
Just a side note: eating cake for breakfast is not a good idea, people.
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6. Do you have any writing advice for aspiring fantasy authors?
Brittanie: In Fantasy, you are asking your reader to suspend disbelief and go on this adventure with you. In order to do this, you have to carefully construct your world, and then you cannot violate the rules. If you do, the reader will awaken from the dream. The best way to bring the reader into the story and make her feel part of what is happening is by incorporating all five senses into the description. Smell is the most overlooked of all the senses. Readers have said to me that they felt like they were in the story, and to me that is the greatest compliment. Your main character is an avatar for the reader. When the main character feels, sees, tastes, smells or hears something, so does the reader.
May: Sometimes, I wish these interviews were in person and I could see you because I think you’d have a passion for writing shining through right at that moment. Beautifully said! I’m sure the readers and other writers will definitely agree with your statement.
7. Would you rather be a vampire or a mermaid?
Brittanie: I do like the immortality aspect of being a vampire. Also, the possibility of flying and supernatural strength seem awesome. Being a mermaid would be cool, but I think I’d have to go with vampire.
May: Since I’m only mediocre at swimming, I’d have to take my chances on biting people, too.
8. Could you tell us how you approach difficult scenes in regard to plotting, finding the perfect location, research?
Brittanie: Assuming you mean I already know that the plot will call for a particular scene, how do I work out the location? I usually have set up a world for my characters to inhabit. And I pretty much know where the action will take place just because of what the plot calls for. But, if I don’t, I go for something interesting and fun. For example, I needed a party-planning scene in the story but I didn’t want it to be at some boring place like a cabin or a classroom. I decided that Cupid would steal his Uncle Apollo’s chariot and take the crew up to his bachelor pad on Mt. Olympus. By doing this, I give the reader an adventure. Plus we have the opportunity to learn a lot about Cupid. For example: he likes bow ties, lava lamps, and Chinese food. Also, his mother Aphrodite has naked baby statues of him dotted all over the front of the palace. This mortifies him so he hardly ever has guests over. (And by the way, I know Cupid is his Roman name, but he despises the name Eros and asked me to call him Cupid. I never anger a god when I don’t have to.) So, once I decided on Olympus, I did some research like: What would it smell like? Look like? What foods would be there? Who would be there? Etc.
May: The more I talk to you, the funnier you become. Naked baby statues? If my mother did that, I would be super embarrassed, too. Poor guy.
The setting research is pretty important when writing Historical Fiction. I think I’ve spent about two weeks researching Russia’s (18th century) and Britain’s (19th century onward) history for a side book of my series. It was very eye opening and can’t wait to get into editing, which is coming…eventually.
9. Imagine you had a secret admirer and, on the day of the official date, he turned out to be your favourite fictional boyfriend. Who would you take out to dinner?
Brittanie: This is such a great question. Maybe Mr. Darcy. I’ve always had a crush on him. Especially the Colin Firth version.
May: This is completely off-topic, but I watched “Pride & Prejudice and Zombies” recently, and it made me want to watch the 2007 movie. Gosh, P&P was a good story – even twice in a row.
My pick for the date would be Jean Claude from Anita Blake series. I’m sure we can plot how to take over the world together over dinner.
10. Please tell us a little bit about your current and ongoing projects.
Brittanie: On April 26th, my first published story comes out in an anthology published by Simon and Schuster called ‘Imagines: Celebrity Encounters Starring You’. I am really excited about this book. My story is called ‘Redirection’. It’s about a girl who writes Zayn Malik fanfiction. Her Wattpad story has gone viral because what she writes about him ends up happening to him in real life! What will happen when Zayn meets the girl who seems to write his life before it happens?
I’m also working on a retelling of Cinderella from the Prince’s point of view for an anthology. And I’m editing a science fiction story called ‘Alien Invasion: A Love Story’ about aliens, Hollywood, tabloids and the IRS.
And I’m still editing ‘Mermaids and the Vampires Who Love Them’ as well.
May: Wow, that’s a lot of editing! I think we’re in the same boat in regard to the workload. Congrats on getting a deal with S&S. You’ve earned it. Also, thank you for taking part in the interview, Brittanie. I hope you’ve enjoyed the questions.
Brittanie: Thank you, May. Great questions. Very original and fun! Such a pleasure and I’m glad I didn’t stop because of the punning.
Review of The Siren (The Soul Summoner Series Book 2)
Note: original post 13 Mar, 2016.
Today I would like to take a break from the usual interviews and take a moment to review one of Elicia Hyder’s books – “The Siren”, which is the second instalment to “The Soul Summoner” series. Elicia’s an absolutely lovely person and someone I admire as an author.
My review on Goodreads is short:
“I truly have enjoyed this book throughout. Although the beginning was a little slow, the rest of the story had great measured pacing. The characters’ witty banter made me giggle on more than one occasion. I even managed to laugh at the saddest times, oddly enough. To be honest, I feel that the author managed to create very fun characters and they really work well together. The universe is interesting and the mystery is always there to unravel.
The love triangle continues! I didn’t know how Sloan would continue the relationship between Nathan and Warren. Secretly, I’m probably still #teamWarren all the way, though.
In regard to the plot, I found this book to be better than the first instalment. There was a lot of foreshadowing done in the first book which made the sequel even better. It was a pleasure to read this piece and I can’t wait for the next one.”
And here, I wish to elaborate on it. I truly felt involved in the world where Sloan underwent many trials with two of the most amusing characters I’ve read about in a while. The odd bromance/friendship between Warren and Nathan makes me think of my characters at times. (Thank God Lucious and Alexander are not in love with the same person – that would be super awkward).
There were tons of times I laughed. Truly, I burst out laughing in the middle of the room just to have my bf shoot weird looks at me over his shoulder. It shows just how engaging the book was. I loved the mystery and the way she worked the angle with angels and demons.
I must say that there were a few predictable moments, but that’s just me. I love figuring out events before they happen.
So, all in all, I really would recommend this series to anyone who is interested in Mystery/Thriller/Paranormal with a good dash of Romance. Five stars without question, Elicia!
October 9, 2017
PREVIEW of Cherished (Helena Hawthorn Series Novella)
CHERISHED PREVIEW: 1 - ALONE HANS A position on the Vampire Council brought with it a lot of pain and suffering to those who were entrusted with a seat of power. Hans was no different. Everything he used to enjoy doing had been limited to giving orders that would benefit the vampire kind and maintain some form of balance in Europe. Regardless of his desperate wish to fill his sire’s shoes, he could never become Vincent. His sire was two thousand years old when he perished in the fight against the demons at the Demon Gate. To this day, the Council’s hounds were searching the streets for the stray demons that escaped through the portal. Their presence was, indeed, visible by the number of dead humans piling up in the quiet communities across England. Hans buried his hands in his short brown hair and sighed. He was sitting behind his desk at the new Council building. After the revival of the original vampire—Arthemis—more humans had been killed for no reason other than feeding someone’s ego. Hans was glad that the Royals had used the homeless for such a deed, and the mortals did not have enough time to take note of the existence of vampires. Hiding in the shadows had been the only way of life they knew. Being thrust into an open view of humanity who had great weapons of destruction, his kind would perish too quickly. As a Councilman, he cared for his people and had to stick to the original rules that the First Council had transcribed on the ancient scrolls. A knock on the door forced him to leave his brooding state of mind and drew his attention to the person on the other side. He twisted the ring that was on his wedding finger, knowing that it was Perri by the pitter-patter of her heart. She waited for him to permit her entry. He rushed to the door and opened it for her. “Is something wrong? I thought you were in the middle of unpacking your belongings.”She smiled at him, drawing his eyes to the bright smile she wore that could light up any room. In the time that they had been away from Scotland to deal with Master Vincent’s funeral and the Council’s restructure, her blonde hair had grown long enough to reach past her shoulders. “I don’t have many belongings, Master Hans,” she replied.Hans frowned at the title she used. He instructed her to use it in the event where they were not alone. Being called that in private had somehow given him a terrible aftertaste in his mouth. They were eternally spirit-bound by a restless ghost who roamed their castle near Aberdeen. Since then, he came to realise how important she was to him. Her existence was like that of a moon in the night’s sky—needed to light his path. She brought life to the saddest moments. Even when Master Vincent had passed away, she was the one who held him together with her cheer and warmth.Her expression became serious. She reached up to touch his face, and he stepped back. “There is no one here,” she whispered, her voice coming out hurt. Her face told him that his dismissal of her touch caused her great pain. Contrary to the relationship Lucious and Helena had, where both of them were part of the same soul, he and Perri were different beings. She was the pure, bright, loving human woman he had come to believe he did not deserve, and he was the darkness that fed on the blood of mortals and spent his days negotiating with unshakeable tyrants—the European delegates—about the territorial division and vampire law enforcement by the hounds. Two days ago, Lucious and Helena left to investigate the recent vampire deaths in Italy, and Hans was left to man the entire Council by himself. It was a task too great, even for someone who had observed Master Vincent as a Councilman for over four hundred years.Perri knotted her fingers in front of her. “Don’t you want me to be here? Would you prefer it if I returned home?”Hans took hold of her hands and lifted them to his lips, kissing the back of them. “I apologise for my behaviour earlier. I worry about you being here and yet I cannot bear to be apart from you for long. It is selfish of me to keep you trapped in this Council building while Lucious and I attempt to restore the Council’s power and reach.”She shook her head. “It’s not selfish at all. I want to be with you. You are my…husband.”He let go of her hands and retreated to his desk where he slid into his leather office chair. “I still believe it would be best to seek a way to break the spirit-bond. We do not know the dangers it may bring with it. And if either of us dies, the other will forever be unable to love another.”“I am prepared for that!” she countered, striding to him. She placed her hands on his shoulders and leant in, her brown eyes burning with sincerity. “I don’t think I would ever be able to love another man. You are the only one I need. Unless it’s you who wants to be free of me…”Hans pulled her down and seated her on his lap. He buried his face in the crook of her neck and listened to her excited heartbeat that thudded in her chest. “Do not ever for a moment think that I would want to abandon you. My duties take precedence, that’s all.”She combed his hair with her fingers and kissed him on the forehead. “I know. That’s why I haven’t complained and do as you tell me.”He wound his arms around her waist and kissed her soft lips, allowing her to take control with uncertainty. For now, such a small form of affection would have to satisfy him. He feared to dirty her. She was at a young age of twenty-two. She could decide to leave him or change her mind at any second. If she so wished, and chose a different path to becoming the woman of a Councilman, he would need to give up and support her decision. The life she was trying to live would bring her much sorrow. As the years pass for them both, she would eventually wish to have children or want to be turned into a vampire. He did not know if he could be the one to extinguish her life or if he knew anyone trustworthy enough who would not use their sire-childe bond for malevolent purposes later.Perri pressed her forehead to his. “We can meet for dinner tonight.” She lowered her head and her voice. “Would you consider spending the night in my room?”Hans pressed his lips together. Her blushing cheeks and meek voice had stirred his desire, but he had to control it. With her, he could not allow any room for mistakes. “I am sorry, Perri. I have a hunt to lead for the possessed vampires tonight. You will have to eat alone.”She smiled with faux cheer like she always did when he denied her something. “Another time maybe.”He nodded, and she slid off his lap. With a goodbye wave, Perri left his office. For the next twenty minutes, he brooded over going after her and taking her in her room. She was innocent to the point where he knew not of what to do. His sire would turn in his grave if Hans hurt or upset her. She was like a daughter to Vincent, and Hans watched her grow up from a young age. For many years, he thought of her as a younger sister. And now that they were bound to each other, spirit to spirit, his hidden urges were much harder to conceal.Letting out another heavy sigh, he returned to his paperwork that was quickly piling up on his desk in Lucious’ absence. There were too many emails and letters arriving from the remaining delegates who did not attend the first summoning and new Council coronation ceremony. They demanded an explanation about what had happened to those who died a month ago and the strange orders that came from the Royals who up and left the second Arthemis was gone. The only one who had stayed behind was Laclia, and she was in the middle of travelling across Europe, meeting with the delegates they had already responded to. She was due to return before the end of the year if things went well. With luck, they would gather another two Council members and restore the Council’s power in Europe that had become as fragile as glass.He used a letter opener to remove the wax seal of the Cornelli family of vampires in Italy and began to read of their complaints.PERRI It was impossible to get Hans interested in her. She tried pretty dresses Helena had suggested, grew her hair out, and wore makeup to bring out her maturity. Nothing worked on the man of her obsession. Hans was an unmovable rock, and it was making her wonder if he wanted to be with her or if he didn’t want to be mean to her because she was Vincent’s favourite servant in Scotland. She had missed Master Vincent and had made weekly visits to the mausoleum where his remains were stored. She knew it was strange but doing so made her feel like he was still there with her, listening to her woes. She walked down a long corridor that led to the living quarters of the Council members and their partners. Hans had assigned a room to her in that wing. She had often overheard the hounds whispering about her and Helena’s presence there. They were scared of Lucious and what he might do if Helena was mentioned, so conversations about her friend were scarce, but Perri seemed to be on the tip of their tongue at all times. She was a human with no super powers or abilities unless she counted cooking and cleaning. Vampires could not ingest solid foods, and they didn’t particularly care if someone cleaned the huge castle-like building they were in. With four separate gardens, they definitely would need a gardener or two soon enough.Should I learn gardening, too?Her restlessness prompted her to grab the nearest hound—a vampire servant of the Council—and ask him for a dust cloth and cleaning materials. The blonde man seemed confused by her inquiry, so she repeated her request. “Master Hans had not mentioned that you would be on the cleaning team,” he said in a bored tone.“I want to do something to keep busy,” Perri countered.He raised his hands in defence. “I don’t want to anger a Councilman by doing something that he did not order. Please find someone else.”Perri blew out a breath. She couldn’t even take her mind off of things by cleaning. How was she supposed to get used to this massive castle and its grounds? Hans had forbidden her to explore without him by her side or her assigned hound, Lotte, who acted as her bodyguard. Lotte was a vampire woman who must have been turned in her late teens. She was friendly and nice on the surface, but Perri heard from Vincent that hounds did not choose to do their job because of their kind hearts. They were either being punished by the Council for some crime and had to serve a sentence by obeying orders or their sire sent them to improve relations with the Council members and gain more influence. Perri hadn’t been able to pinpoint which of the two boxes Lotte belonged in. The only things she knew about that woman was that she was created thirty-five years ago and came from some small town in Netherlands. She knew that Hans would not select someone who would hurt her to be by her side. On the other hand, could she trust a person she knew nothing about? Her shoulders sagged, and she made her way to her bedroom. If she couldn’t clean, cook, or do anything without supervision, she would go mad. Then, an idea struck her. She rushed the rest of the way to her bedroom and looked for her phone. She spied it on the bed and dialled Rupert—the butler in the main house in Scotland. Three months ago, he told her about the journals he discovered in the storage room that belonged to Master Vincent. Hans had some of the older volumes sent off to translators in other countries. Maybe if she read through the translations, she could find something helpful that could aid Hans in his work or locate Master Vincent’s favourite place where they could scatter his ashes. After all, Vincent had lived for a very long time. She was sure that he had a lot of stories to tell and advice to give.When someone picked up, she launched into the conversation, “Rupert, is that you?”His laughter came through the speaker of the phone. “It has been a while, Perri. How did the service for Master Vincent go? Did the people he worked with give him a proper goodbye?”Perri licked her lips and held the phone closer to her ear. She couldn’t tell Rupert that Vincent had received barely any attention from the vampires he had worked with for a thousand years. It was as if they didn’t care about his passing in the slightest.“It was a good send off,” she lied. “I would like to look through the journal translations you’ve received. I may be able to find Master Vincent’s favourite place there. I’m sure he would appreciate us scattering his ashes there.”“That’s a brilliant idea! You have thought of a good plan. Though, I am certain I don’t have to tell you that you should run this by Master Hans. He is the new head of the family, and we must respect his orders.”Would Hans agree to take the remains from the Council’s mausoleum and bring them to Vincent’s favourite place? Not like she found its location yet. First thing’s first, she had to get her hands on those translations. “Will you please send the documents to our new address?” she asked.Rupert went quiet for a minute. “There are a lot of them. I don’t think it would be a good idea to send them all at once. So, I will post them out to you in separate parcels.”“That’s a good idea.” Perri smiled. She was eager to get her hands on the old journals that belonged to the man who was like a father to her. “Thank you, Rupert.”“It’s not a problem. Take good care of Master Hans while you are visiting him. He must be working hard to fill Master Vincent’s shoes.” “I will, and I’ll call again to check in another time.” She ended the call. The rest of the servants at the main house didn’t know about her relationship with Hans.Then again, she scratched her head, what is our relationship? They hadn’t gone beyond kissing each other. Every time she tried to initiate anything more, he shot her down, claiming he had work or was too busy to keep her company. At first, she accepted his words without complaint until doubts began to form at the back of her head. Does he not find me attractive? There was no other reason she could think of. And what about the odd question he asked her earlier about breaking the only connection that held them together. Without the spirit-bond, she feared that he would revert to treating her like a younger sister rather than a lover. Not like she was his lover yet. Helena and Lucious were doing fine after they reunited. They slept in the same room every night like a real couple. What am I doing wrong?She fell backwards onto her king size bed and buried her face in her hands. The constant insecurities that were eating away at her sanity were hard to keep hidden. At the same time, she couldn’t allow others to see her being unhappy. It would worry them. Too many things were happening in Europe with the vampires and lack of stability of the Council for others to fret over her silly thoughts. To remain by Hans’ side, she had to act mature and happy. She forced another smile that felt unnatural. Pretending was getting a little easier.You can Pre-order CHERISHED here.
October 6, 2017
The Abnormals Underground by Holly Hook
BLURBFollow the adventures of Alyssa, a reluctant teen vampire, as she finds herself Bound to Xavier, a hot, rejected Mage. Living in a society who hates "Abnormals" like her, Alyssa has always had to hide her true nature. When her father is kidnapped by the demonic mayor of her city, she must embrace her true nature and join the supernatural world if she's to rescue him. As she is forced to grow closer to Xavier, she also discovers that the mayor has greater plans for her, and she may be far more Abnormal than she thought...SAMPLEPrologue“Honey, I'm sure the highway is only a couple more miles up this road.” Alyssa's father took a sip of Mountain Dew. The lights from the dashboard shimmered green through the bottle. “We've been driving for who knows how long,” her mother said. “Face it, Craig—we're lost. You put more spin on your directional ability than the news.” Alyssa had gone to Grandma and Grandpa's new house that day but now it was late. The clock ahead of her said it was past midnight, way past her bedtime. She yawned in the awkward car seat. Tall, dark shapes that might be trees rolled past. If she tilted her head, the stars came through. There was no moon. “We're in the wilderness, Craig,” her mother said. Was she scared? “At night. You shouldn't have taken that detour. It would have been better to stay in that traffic jam.” “The chances of any of them finding us is slim.” “I still don't like to take chances. They've been reporting more vampire attacks lately and even some werewolf ones. One woman was drained so much she died before they got her to the hospital. That Russell Fox guy bites as many people as he can." Alyssa yawned and her mother faced her. “You're awake,” she said. “Alyssa, honey, go back to sleep. We'll be home in an hour." She yawned again and started to close her eyes. "Good," her mother said. "Now, back to the topic. Are you sure there's no one out here?" “There aren't even any other cars.” Then he muttered, under his breath: “This has been a long dr--" “Craig!” Her dad slammed the brakes. Alyssa lurched forward but the belts of her car seat held her in place. Standing in front of the car was a tall man. He was a short, pale man in a white T-shirt. He stood still in the headlights, staring in at them. And streaks of red filled his eyes, where the normal color was supposed to be. He stood just on the other side of the hood and he was smiling. “Back up,” her mother ordered. She locked her door. “Now! That's him!" Her father grabbed onto the gearshift just as the door came open. A hand—this one belonging to a woman—seized her father's arm and pulled him out of the car so hard his seat belt snapped. He didn't fight back. Her mother screamed as her door came open, too. There were people around the car. They'd come out of the darkness. She froze. Another person stood outside her door. Alyssa could only see a bearded chin and a the leather vest of a man. Her mother sat there, watching the figure. Why wasn't she moving? Why wasn't she going out and yelling at these people? Were these the bad guys from TV? Alyssa drew closer to her window. Maybe these people weren't bad guys after all. Didn't bad guys have guns they pointed at you? Didn't they wear black masks and laugh evilly? But the man opened the door and yanked her mother from the car. He dragged her, screaming and flailing, to the edge of the trees. And then he bit her on top of her shoulder. Alyssa's heart stopped. Her mother screamed again. A tiny stream of blood ran down towards her chest. Alyssa snapped her belt off and climbed out of her car seat. She climbed through the front of the car and outside. “Stop!” The bearded man released her mother, who fell against a tree and grabbed her neck. Alyssa beat on the man's legs. She knew that she should run, but she was too angry. Who were these people and why would they want to hurt her parents? The man seized the back of her shirt. Lifted her up. Alyssa could barely breathe. Her shirt cut into her throat. She rose to the man's eye level. He had a pointed beard and the same pale skin as the man in front of the car. Even though it was dark here—almost too dark to see—she could make out the red, jagged lines in his eyes. “Nooooo!” The man shook his head and said something low. "This is the one?" “We need to go, Russell,” a woman said. Alyssa screamed and closed her eyes. He bit. The pain was horrendous, exploding where her neck met her shoulder. Alyssa screamed. The man was taking her blood, swallowing it down. The woman shouted something again and the man dropped her. Alyssa landed, crying and grabbing at her wound, at the blood that was seeping out. "We've done enough," the scary woman said. "Let's go." Darkness swallowed her. Alyssa remembered nothing until she opened her eyes sometime later. Her neck still hurt and she was lying in a bed under a light that was too bright. Her mother sat next to her along with her father. They both had bandages on their necks and her father hung his head. A man in a white coat stood behind them. Alyssa's mother was holding her hand. "But it's so rare," her mother said. "My daughter can't be turning." "It's my fault," her father said. "I gave her the gene." "One in five hundred cases turn when bitten," the doctor said in a flat voice. "I do believe it's genetic and rare. I'm sorry, but your husband and daughter are both in that one in five hundred." "What are my parents going to think?" her mother asked, clutching her hand harder. Alyssa felt too weak to lift her head or try to understand what the adults were saying. She felt sick. Her arms and legs tingled and the light above was too bright. "Please don't tell the authorities," her father begged the doctor. "Please. If you do call them, just tell them about me." "I won't call them," the doctor said and left the room. Alyssa tried to speak. Why did she feel so hungry and strange? But then her father left, checked the door to the hospital room, and returned. He scooped Alyssa up and pulled out an IV she didn't know was there. "Come on, Cindy. We're leaving and we're never coming back."Chapter OneMy day was going really great. First, I had probably bombed my Algebra test and there would be hell to pay when Dad found out about it. Second, the sun was out in full force and all I could do was fake a migraine and stand in the doorway of Cumberland High School while my friends, Maisha and Janine, got to go out and do soccer practice with all the other Normal girls. And third, there was a creepy guy standing at the gate to the football field, staring at me. I didn't notice the weirdo at first because I was busy stewing about my plummeting grade in math (again) and about the fact that I couldn't stand being out in the sun for more than five to ten seconds without getting really sick. Thank you, other creepy people, who bit me and my family years ago. And thank you, rare gene that let their disease take hold. Janine kicked a killer goal and Coach Lancey blew her whistle and shouted something. She glanced at me, to my shadow sanctuary. I drew back, hiding from her glare. That was when I saw the guy, a kid who had to be around my age. He stood there, silent, leaning against the fence like he was totally comfortable in his leather trench coat, brimmed hat, and sunglasses. He was only about fifty feet away, not close enough to make me uncomfortable but close enough for me to know he was studying me hard. My vision was better than Normal eyesight but those sunglasses were so dark that I felt like I was staring into a couple of black pits. Coach Lancey blew her whistle again. Over on the soccer field, she waved at a couple of girls who were over on the perimeter, chatting away. I adjusted my own sunglasses to block out the unbearable light and checked the guy again. In the second I'd glanced away, he had moved closer. Much closer. As in, he now stood leaning against a traffic pillar only ten feet away. His arms were folded across his chest. He stood a full head taller than me. His face was smooth and young, unshaven. His hair, long and scraggly. I hadn't heard him take a step. No. I was not dealing with this right now. I hadn't met another Abnormal other than Dad since I was two and the fateful bite happened on that country road. We, no they were out there, staying out of sight of both the authorities and human society. Everyone knew that shifters, human magic users, and even demons existed among them, blending in the best they could or staying out of sight. Schools taught kids to stay away from them just like they warned against strangers and above all, to tell a grownup if they spotted an Abnormal. The human ones who had magic were okay some of the time, but it was the ones like me, the ones capable of preying on Normals or worse, infecting them--we were guilty without a trial. Losing your job, getting disowned by your family and turning into human society's punching bag was only the beginning. It was the reason I filed my canines down every morning. The guy continued to stare at me for what felt like an eternity. I couldn't tell what his motives were. I caught no whiff of metallic adrenaline pumping through his veins, which was always a strong scent. He was calm but he also wasn't going away. If I got into the shadows enough, I could try to fight the guy, but out in the sun, I was too useless to even slap someone. I was stronger than the Normal girls, a fact I had to hide during practice, but I wasn't sure what I was doing here. I could fence but my equipment was at Thorne's Fencing School and that foil wouldn't do much damage anyway. I thought about running down the hall and hiding in a classroom but that would brand me as easy prey, so I stood there and stared back at the guy. I never let my secret out to anybody so I wasn't sure why he'd chosen me out of all the girls to eyeball. I was alone. Maybe that was it. "Do you have a problem?" I asked, licking my teeth to check that I really had filed them earlier. They were sharpening again like they always did later in the day but it wasn't that bad yet. “Or are you some kind of pervert? You're even dressed for the part.” The guy smiled at me and patted his trench coat. “Oh. You mean this. I know. Crappy impression but it's best if we hide, you know?” We hide. We. I looked around to make sure no one else was standing there. All clear. Coach Lancey had sent the two girls to sit on the bench and the others were running around the field again, kicking the ball. They were so far away, across a forbidden field of light. I was trapped until I could bum a ride from Janine and hide under the official Fake Migraine Blanket until she drove me home. “Are you trying to do some cosplay thing?” I asked. “What character are you?” I scrambled for anything and to not sound all freaked out. "I had a friend at my old school who loved cosplay." I had to steer this conversation in another direction and fast. The guy stepped forward, keeping his sunglasses trained on me. The wind blew and the air got warm, almost crackling as he approached. The teachers always taught us that magic felt like that, to watch out for that sensation. He might be one of those humans who had it. Mages. There were supposed to be different kinds. “Alyssa,” he said. The world dropped out from under me. I hadn't heard my real name spoken anywhere but home since I was two, since Dad had brought me here to Washington after our bites and bought us new identities on the black market. Even he had started calling me Roslyn when I was five and the last time I heard my name spoken was when Mom called us to check in a couple of years ago. (Lucky Mom. She'd been bitten like Dad and I, but she didn't have the rare gene that made someone turn.) It was then, as I stood there in stunned silence, that I caught the full scent of Mr. Trenchcoat's blood. Adrenaline and stress were the strongest smells but most people gave off whatever they had eaten for lunch—I had to endure the afternoons in a cloud of greasy pizza, Mountain Dew and Cheetos—but this guy gave off the scent of wood smoke and something I couldn't identify. He was definitely human but I had never encountered anything like it. “Alyssa,” he repeated like he was trying to make it sink in. “Are you from the government?” I asked. I'd heard too many stories about Abnormals getting sent off to special therapy to become more “normal” and never coming back. “How do you know my real name? And by the way, it's still rude to stare.” “I...” the guy said. He stepped closer. “You can't hide much longer, Alyssa." I tried to come up with something to say to blow this whole creepy thing out of the water, but there was nothing this time. I felt naked like this guy could see every flaw that was me. My disease. My secret that I hadn't dared utter to even myself for years. So I did the last thing I should have done. I backed away, searching around for a weapon. There was a dust bunny on the floor and someone's cell phone case by the lockers, smashed into pieces. If he attacked I'd have to use my fists. “Look,” I said. “I don't know how you know my real name but please. Someone could see you dressed all weird like this. You're standing out. And I'm not hiding." "You are. Every day." The guy looked up and down my body, checking out my legs and the shorts I had thrown on because I'd been too dumb to check the forecast this morning. “You know,” he said, flashing me a grin. “For such a hot girl, you're really missing a good tan. And not to mention, you should be skin and bones since you never eat anything at lunch. Or all muscle since you fence all the time. You're not on a liquid diet by any chance?" I had to act. This was dangerous and I needed answers. I lunged at the guy and grabbed the front of his trench coat. Now that I was more out of the sun I was stronger, strong enough to pull him towards me. I held him there with my left hand, pulling him closer and closer until I could feel his breath on my face. The wood smoke smell got overpowering now, so much that my stomach rumbled. I could hold my hunger back. I always managed it until I got to the freezer at home. “You've been watching me,” I said. “I suppose you peek in my windows and watch me undress, too?” That was impossible—or maybe not if he was some kind of Mage who could teleport. I always kept my blinds shut to keep out the sun and to hide...other things. But this guy had magic. I still hadn't worked out what he was capable of. Maybe he teleported into my closet every night and watched the show from there. The guy grinned. “I've thought about it, but—no, you don't have to hit me. I was just joking.” I lowered the hand I had raised. “Sorry. This is just a really tense situation for me. How much do you know?" "Well, I know now that you file your teeth. I was wondering how you blended in. You must really hate sunny days, though." He knew everything. Crap. A stranger knew the secret Dad and I had been working years to keep covered. Even if he was a fellow Abnormal, he might be one of the more acceptable ones--he was human--so this made the whole thing not cool. I'd heard stories about some Mages selling out worse Abnormals to the treatment centers to save their own skin. Or maybe he just wanted to talk. I needed answers and punching him wouldn't get me there. So I did something I wasn't sure I wouldn't regret. I let go of him. “Thanks,” he said, brushing off his coat. “Maybe we can get down to business now. Is there a room around here that's a little more private than this?” He gestured to the hallway, which remained empty except for the janitor lady rolling a trash can out of one of the foreign language classes. The whistle blew from outside again and Coach Lancey yelled something else. Practice was still in session but not for much longer. “Okay,” I said. “Tell me how you know what I am. I have to meet my friend after practice and she needs to drive me home. Then I need to finish my Lit homework.” The guy looked at me like I was some kind of freak. "Your Lit homework? Most Abnormals don't have that problem." And he snickered. I felt naked. If Janine found him with me or worse, caught him teleporting, suspicion would go on me next. She'd wonder why the heck I'd been talking to an Abnormal. Already I hatched excuses in my mind. “In the conference room,” I said, pulling open a door nearby. The light was off in here which was a welcome relief. I guided Mr. Trench Coat inside and closed the door, leaving us in almost pitch darkness. I expected him to freak out since he was in my element now, but he stayed calm. My eyes adjusted quickly and I could make out the conference table within two seconds, and then the phone on the table, and then the shelf with all the stuffy old books on the walls. Everything was gray in my night vision. I couldn't remember a time I'd been scared of the dark. Well, that fateful night. That was it. Mr. Trench Coat banged right into one of the chairs that I could clearly see. “Can we turn on the lights?” he asked. “No,” I said. “Someone might notice. Really. Not trying to be a jerk, but my friend Janine goes crazy when she thinks someone's making out somewhere." “I'm Xavier,” he said. “I'm a War Mage from Abnormals Underground.” He spoke like I should know what that was. “From where?” I asked. War Mages were some of the stronger ones and more in the class of Mages to be avoided. They were the kind known to shoot fireballs and roast their opponents and the media made them look like monsters waiting to happen. Maybe Xavier wasn't planning to sell me out to the government after all. A Nature Mage would have scared me more. The government was more likely to work with them. “You know,” he said, rubbing his elbow. “Abnormals Underground.” “I've never heard of your group,” I said. “That's because we're underground,” Xavier said. “Your dad never told you about us?” “My dad mostly just talks about work. He's an insurance agent.” Xavier burst out laughing, leaning over the table. “Sorry. I can't help it,” he said. “A vampire insurance agent. That's the most Normal career ever." “That's the point,” I said. “We want to be Normal. That's all we want.” I felt the familiar pain rising in my chest, constricting my heart like a snake. Mom wouldn't have left. I wouldn't have screwed up so badly when I was eight... “But you're not Normal,” Xavier said, catching a breath and facing me. “Neither one of you are and you never will be. Question. Are you happy right now?” “Where is this going?” I asked. “Of course I'm happy. If you're looking to have us join your club, we're not interested. Sorry.” Practice was getting close to ending. It must be. It was only supposed to go until four and the clock on the wall told me it was three fifty and sometimes Coach Lancey wrapped up early if she needed to pick up her daughter from daycare. Xavier took a step closer. His eyes were adjusting. I could tell because he was actually facing me and not bumping into the chairs. “Your father registered with us years ago. Most Abnormals are registered with us. We helped you both get your new identities and move place to place. I'm here to represent us. We offer you protection." “We've been doing fine,” I said. This was a revelation. “I'll keep you in mind, though.” I moved back towards the door and put my hand on the handle, but remembered that he probably couldn't see the cue. “Alyssa,” he said. “I came here for more than that. We're going to need fighters soon. Strong fighters. Some people in the city government have started cracking down on us. Cumberland's not a good place to be right now. We need people like you. You're strong and I have a good feeling about you." I started opening the door but stopped when what he said sunk in. “Fighters?” I thought about him watching me at my fencing classes—maybe even my tournaments. “I don't, you know, kill people when I fence. I don't kill anybody. We all wear padding and it's safe. It helps me get my anger out. Sure, I have a sword collection at home but I have no plans to use those on anybody. And by the way, I don't hurt people, period. My dad has a friend who gets us rejected blood bags from the Red Cross--” I had never told anyone that before. In fact, I'd never even said it out loud. "But what about your kendo classes?" Oh. Those. "And the Iaido club?" And that. We used wooden sticks and real swords for those along with actual armor. Thorne also instructed those classes but I was the only one under eighteen in those classes. The rest were college kids. Thorne and my father had worked out some deal I still didn't know the details of to get me into the university club on weekends and supply me the equipment. Fencing was about focus but Kendo and Iaido--actually learning to "kill" with a sword--was actually about learning to hurt people. Or pretending to hurt them. It vented my aggression better than fencing did. "I still don't hurt people there," I said. "We all wear armor. I can't do things like boxing, you know? I'd get found out." “You know,” Xavier said, leaning against the table and looking all cool. “You're going to have to deal with this sooner or later. We both know you'll stop aging in just a few years and people are going to notice. You can't carry on like this forever.” “Then we'll move,” I said. “We always do. I'm used to it. Dad already moves because of that. Throne can find me more classes in another state. He's got connections with all the instructors. Now I need to get back to practice.” “But you'll get sick out there.” “I need to talk to my dad, too,” I said. Why hadn't Dad told me about this? Xavier could be lying. He had some other plan, even though I couldn't think of what that could be. "I only fence to vent my stress." "And sword fight," Xavier said. "You're a natural fighter. I've seen you and heard about you. You can get better--much better. It won't take that much." "I can't. I have too much to do already." “You must hate Abnormals,” Xavier said. “I know one did this to you, but trust me, we're not all like that.” “Everyone thinks we are,” I said, trying to ignore the fact that he also knew my history. Maybe Dad was the one I should be angry at. He'd betrayed my trust. Dad had always told me we would keep this whole thing a secret from the outside world, that the Normals would never figure out what we were. But Xavier wasn't a Normal. “Don't listen to the crap you hear,” Xavier said. “None of us chose to be what we are. I didn't choose magic. They want us to feel bad so we'll turn ourselves in.” "People say those like me chose to turn when they were bitten." "That's crap." I often wondered if I really had chosen to turn when I was two and just didn't remember it. Some scientists said different but a lot of people didn't believe that. I wasn't sure if I did because the gene hadn't been proven yet. It was a theory. Xavier waited for my response. Outside, the whistle blew again but he didn't seem to notice. His wood smoke smell got stronger and my stomach rumbled. I was shaking and getting hungry. I had to get home soon and have a snack. “I'm sorry,” I said. “Please. I have homework tonight and a test to study for.” Xavier kept his cool. I couldn't tell what kind of expression he had behind those sunglasses. He reached into one of his trench coat pockets. “Take my card, at least. You'll never know when you'll need it.” He produced a cardboard rectangle and handed it to me. I took it mostly to humor him. It was a plain white card, with his shining name sunk into the paper in shimmering letters. XAVIER LOVELLI. His name was beautiful and perfect in the gothic font. Underneath it, more shimmering letters read APPRENTICE MAGE for ABNORMALS UNDERGROUND. There was a picture of two flaming, crossed swords in the corner and as I stared, the fire seemed to dance. It was the coolest business card I had ever seen, but I kept my face stony, trying not to show my amazement. Things like this got people in trouble. And the card was warm, like some life force was running through it. “You don't know what you're missing,” Xavier said. “That ink, by the way, is made from a dragon scale and incubus blood mixture.” He paused there like I was supposed to know what he meant. "It's awesome binding magic in there." “That's...cool, I guess.” “Take it out if you're in trouble,” Xavier said. “Rub your thumb over the swords.” “Okay,” I said. "Thanks." I'd take this card home and keep it but using it wasn't something I'd have to do any time soon. I heard footsteps approaching the school, scraping grass and then concrete. Someone was coming. Practice had let out. I had to get back to Janine, get under the Migraine Blanket in her car and have her take me home. Then I had to figure out how to get to fencing practice tonight. Dad wasn't supposed to be home until nine or so and he usually drove me but he worked late shifts to avoid going out too soon on sunny days. I went to leave the room, but Xavier brushed past me and the wood smoke smell got even stronger. He opened the door, oblivious to the fact that someone was coming, and made a left down the hall. Before I could stop him, the double doors to outside squeaked open.AMAZON LINKSAmazon US,Amazon UK, Amazon CA, Amazon AUalso available in Kindle UnlimitedYou can find out more about Holly and her work on her WEBSITE or subscribe to her MAILING LIST and get some free books.
October 4, 2017
Case: 0 Book Trailer
September 26, 2017
YA Scavenger Hunt
Welcome to the YA Scavenger Hunt!ABOUT ME:I am a tea drinker.Spring is my favourite season.I write in U.K. English because I really love my S's and U's.I haven't gone a year without killing a character...You are currently onTEAM PINK! The best team, of course ;) 
The TOP SECRET evil deeds I'm planning to share with you are the cover reveal for ALEXANDER: MEMOIRS, a spin-off novel in HELENA HAWTHORN series, cover REVEAL for CHERISHED, a spin-off novella in HELENA HAWTHORN SERIES, and a preview of CHERISHED!SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE RULES:DIRECTIONS: Below, you’ll notice that I’ve listed my favourite number. Collect the numbers from all the authors on TEAM PINKand then add them up (don’t worry, you can use a calculator!)HINT: THE SECRET NUMBER IS HIGHLIGHTED IN PINK!ENTRY FORM: Once you’ve added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.RULES: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by SUNDAY, OCT 9th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.On this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each participating YA author, you also get a secret number. Add up the numbers, and enter it for a chance to win a major prize–one lucky winner will receive at least one book from each author on my team in the hunt! But play fast. This contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for a limited time!There are SIX contests going on simultaneously as well as a bonus contest and you can enter one or all! I am a part of thePINK TEAMbut there is also a GOLD TEAM, RED TEAM, BLUE TEAM, ORANGE TEAM, PURPLE TEAM, &GREENTEAM! Check out each team for a chance to win nine different sets of signed books!If you’d like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.Now that all the technical stuff is out of the way, I’ll introduce the author I am hosting on this hunt.Today, I'm hosting CHEYANNE YOUNG!
ABOUT CHEYANNE:Cheyanne Young is a native Texan with a fear of cold weather and a coffee addiction that probably needs an intervention. She loves books, sarcasm, and collecting nail polish. After nearly a decade of working in engineering, Cheyanne now writes books for young adults. She also runs a bookish Etsy shop.Cheyanne lives near the beach with her daughter and husband, one spoiled rotten puppy, and a cat that is most likely plotting to take over the world. Her newest book, The Last Wish of Sasha Cade, releases in 2018.Cheyanne is represented by Kim Lionetti of BookEnds Literary.The book Cheyanne is showcasing is...THE BREAKUP SUPPORT GROUP
I sat down and counted the different colours on the book cover and came up with:
If you're interested in the story, read on!ABOUT THE BOOK:After four years of first love bliss, Isla Rush just got dumped. Any hope she has of winning her ex-boyfriend back is shattered when the town rezones her neighborhood, forcing her to spend senior year at a wealthy high school in the next town over. With a broken heart consuming her soul, Isla can’t focus on anything, except maybe Emory Underwood—a ridiculously hot guy who dates a new girl almost every day. She can’t help but crush on him, even though it’s wrong. When memories of her ex make her cry in second period, the school counselor sends Isla to a club that meets during lunch. The Break Up Support Group is a collection of broken-hearted misfits who are all helping each other heal. Just when Isla’s heart is finally on the mend, Emory shows up, forced to atone for all the broken hearts he’s caused over the years. While hiding her massive crush, she helps him understand the seriousness of breaking a heart. In turn, Emory offers to help Isla get back on the dating scene by agreeing to be her fake date for the homecoming dance. Isla gladly accepts the ruse, because if anyone can make her into a desirable girlfriend, Emory can! There's just one small problem. Isla's little crush on Emory might be exactly full blown. And a homecoming fake date with him could push her over the edge to possibly uttering the "L Word!" Isla can't afford another heartbreak so soon after the last one. She will have to resist his charms, refuse to look into those dreamy eyes, and above all else, not make the mistake of letting him kiss her. If only she hadn't let her guard down at the end of the night, under the light of her porch in a toe-curling kiss moment of weakness. And now, after months of Breakup Support Group therapy, and with a heart fully on the mend, Isla has just handed it over to a guy who knows full well just how to break it. You can now add THE BREAKUP SUPPORT GROUP to your TBR list on Goodreads!Are you as interested in this book as I am?Here’s how you can get your hands on it!You can buy her book HERE! Check out more on her Website, Twitter, or Instagram.
Now for something a little different. Cheyanne graciously provided her Fan Casting and Inspiration Board for her book THE LAST WISH of SASHA CADE!Raquel Clearwater just buried her best friend. The funeral went exactly as she and Sasha planned—the glitter painted coffin being lowered to the ground, covered in wildflowers. The two best friends had a year to plan this event, starting with the day Sasha’s lymphoma diagnoses became terminal.Raquel knows she’ll never see Sasha’s stunning blue eyes again. Then she runs into a mysterious but attractive guy standing near Sasha’s grave. Elijah has those same eyes, and a letter from Sasha telling him to find Raquel. Months ago, Sasha went against her adopted parents’ wishes and tried to find her birth parents. What she found instead was an older brother, Elijah, who had aged out of the system after eighteen years of never being adopted.Sasha wanted her brother to know all about her, but she didn’t want him to meet the girl dying of cancer. So with her last few months on earth, she set up an elaborate scavenger hunt all over the state, taking Elijah on ten adventures that helped shape who she was as a person. There are memories, experiences, heart ache—hidden in each location. All of them reveal a piece of who Sasha was before the cancer took her. Some are secrets that even Raquel didn’t know.The plan will be laid out fully as the scavenger hunt goes on. But Sasha’s first, most important wish? Raquel must join him every step of the way. And if it means they happen to fall in love, well good. That’s exactly how Sasha planned it.Add toGoodreads.THE LAST WISH OF SASHA CADE releases next fall from KCP Loft. Cover reveal and ARCs are coming soon, but in the meantime, here’s a dream cast I created for the main characters.
Bianca Lawson as Sasha Cade.Sasha was beautiful with dark skin and long dark hair. Although Bianca played a character I totally hated in Pretty Little Liars, I think she’s make a perfect Sasha! (Of course, she’d need blue contacts.)
Mae Whitman as Raquel Clearwater.Mae seems like a laid back and chill person in real life, and I loved her acting on the show Parenthood. I think she’d make a great Raquel! I also like this picture because Raquel’s hair is short at the start of the book, so Mae has the perfect look in this photo.
Nathan McLeod as Zack.Nathan is cute – Zack is cute. He’s also a character I love to hate in my book, and this guy looks like he’d be wonderful at playing that part. ;)
Avan Jogia as Elijah Delgado. He’d need shorter hair and some blue contacts, but every time my kid watches a TV show starring this actor, I think he’d make the perfect Elijah. He’s got that swoony, bad boy vibe that would totally make Elijah’s character come to life on screen.
Kristen Wiig as Mrs. Cade.This one might seem out of left field once you’ve read the book, but bear with me! Kristen Wiig is a talented actress and totally beautiful and she’s exactly how I picture Mrs. Cade looking. Although Kristen is known for her comedy, I think she’d do a great job of portraying the classy well-off mother in my story.Check out my Inspiration Board.Don’t forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of signed books by me and many more! Just check out all these books on TEAM PINK:
To enter, you need to write down my favourite number, find all the other numbers on TEAM PINK, add them up, and you’ll have the secret code to enter for the grand prize!Thank you for coming over to my website! Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter bonus contest I am running exclusively during the YA Scavenger Hunt. Five lucky winners will receive a copy of 2-book bundle of my HELENA HAWTHORN series. May the odds be in your favour!
Ready to move on to the next link in the hunt? Then head on over to visit author Colleen Houck page.LINK TO NEXT BLOG
September 25, 2017
Announcing FALL 2017 Young Adult Scavenger Hunt Teams!
For all of you who love finding new reads, I have just the thing for you. The YA Scavenger Hunt is coming in October. If you’ve never heard of it, the hunt runs twice a year in the spring and in the fall. During the hunt we showcase new and upcoming YA releases, give out tons of prizes, and release special bonus material. Sound interesting?This fall, we will have one hundred forty authors split into seven teams of twenty. Each team is assigned a colour. The blog hop begins Oct 3rd and runs through Sunday, Oct 8th. It’s easy to play. All you have to do is either start on my blog or head directly over to the YASH website. There you’ll find a list of all the authors participating as well as an answer sheet you can print off to gather the info you’re hunting for and to keep track of any bonus contests you may have entered.Are you ready to see all the books featured this season? Here they are!
Get ready to build up your reading library with this hunt!
September 20, 2017
Alexander: Memoirs is available for pre-order
I'm pleased to announce that Alexander is getting three novels to himself! The first, a novel about his past and how he got to be a cold-hearted businessman, will be arriving on Amazon in December.Alexander lives his life for two reasons: to protect his mother and keep his one-sided love for Katharine hidden. He is a servant, incapable of reaching the top of the social ladder without help. Chances like that come at a cost, and he is more than willing to pay for it. All does not go according to plan. The woman he loves marries another, the man who tried to kill him becomes his rival, and the fate of his mother changes for the worst. Alexander knows one thing for certain. He cannot turn the time back, just as he cannot become human again. *This book does not have a HEA ending. **This book is a prequel to the Helena Hawthorn series. To pre-order, click on this link.
