Cindy C. Bennett's Blog, page 23

Saints and Soldiers: The Void in theaters August 15th

Germany, May 1945, the twilight of WWII.  On a final mission deep in the Harz mountains a U.S. tank crew discovers a platoon of Germans, including three infamous Panzer tanks, preparing to ambush allied supply trucks.
Before the war, private Jesse Owens, was a product of segregation and racial discrimination. Forced by law to ride in the back of the bus and disenfranchised from the political process. Now, Owens fights the greatest tyrant in history, knowing the tyranny of racism will be waiting for him back home if he can survive the war.  
With a deadly game of cat and mouse quickly unfolding, Owens and his predominantly white tank crew find themselves out-gunned and out-manned by the German Panzer tanks.  Several in Owens’ crew are reluctant to put their faith in a black tank driver despite their dire circumstances. As the German tanks bear down on his unit, Owens has to fight for freedom on two fronts. With tension and fear beginning to manifest Owens knows they must put aside their differences to stop the enemy from their deadly plan.  Knowing that a victory over the Nazis means a victory for racial justice, Owens and his men find a way to work together to save hundreds of lives in a desperate battle against the greatest odds they have ever faced.

"As we approach the 70th anniversary of D-Day, we pause to honor those who demonstrated unselfishness and commitment to freedom. The tradition of unselfishness continues today. God Bless those then and now who serve our country." ~ Adam Abel, Producer
"During the original SAINTS AND SOLDIERS film festival run around the world we were honored to meet many WWII Veterans in person. It has been 10 years now. Many of those Veterans have passed. For those WWII vets remaining and all men and women of the armed forces since we salute you. The SAINTS AND SOLDIERS movies are intend to honor you."~ Ryan Little, Director
"Our reason for making SAINTS AND SOLDIERS: THE VOID was to explore the story of those African American soldiers who fought for freedoms abroad they didn't entirely enjoy at home. We learned from their stories freedom is and was worth the fight...regardless of race."~ Adam Abel, Producer


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The Fairy Godmother Chronicles Release PartyJune 5th and 6th
Book 1, The Godmother Spell , is FREE! 

The GodmotherSpell

Despite her mother's objections, all Lyndee's ever wanted was to become a fairy godmother. But once she's bonded to two goddaughters, she realizes that godmotherhood is much more than granting wishes. Not only does she have to protect the girls from an evil fairy bent on destroying Lyndee's career before it begins, she has to deal with an overzealous overseer named Gavin. Not that she minds Gavin so much - he's gorgeous; he just happens to make things worse when he tries to help.
Books 2, Twisted Happy Ever Afters, and 3, Complicated Kisses, are also available.

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Dystopian Blog Tour

I signed up to be part of The Dystopian Tour from Prism Books. I don't know anything about the books on the tour, but I'm always happy to help out a fellow author in getting word out about their books. So for today, I'm highlighting a pair of books by Nicole Ciacchella, who is graciously co-hosting two giveaways that can be found at the bottom of the page.
Contributor

When the Great Famine threatened the existence of mankind, the Creators saved humanity. Humanity has been their loyal subject ever since.
This history has been ingrained in seventeen-year-old Dara Morrow since her first day of Creator-sponsored school. Grateful for the life-giving necessities her Creator provides, Dara is thrilled to be one of three students chosen for an elite, year-long apprenticeship program. Now is her chance to prove herself a devoted Contributor.
But Dara’s competition is ruthless and will stop at nothing to win the competition. Worse yet, her exacting master has little patience for her.
Then Dara’s mother is seriously injured, and Dara realizes the price of being a Contributor: once you’ve outlived your usefulness, you’re discarded. Can Dara learn to manipulate the system to save not only herself, but everyone she loves?
Available at AmazonContributor Excerpt: 
“I’ll try to be as gentle as possible, but this is going to hurt,” Dara warned Letizia as she shone the light on her bag, digging through its contents. She found a sterile wipe, some gauze, and some tape. It would have to do until Letizia could receive professional medical care.
As gingerly as she could, Dara cleaned the wound. Letizia sucked in a breath, and Dara bit her lip. If she’d had both hands free, she probably could have been a lot gentler about it. But that would have forced her to put the light in her mouth, which would have rendered her unable to conceal its beam.
When she finished cleaning, Dara swiped her forearm over her eyes. Letizia still had a lot of blood crusted in her hair, but now was not the time to worry about it. Awkwardly, Dara covered the wound with gauze and taped it down as securely as she could. She looked around for a second, trying to figure out what to do with the bloody wipe and the gauze wrapper.
What the hell, Dara? This isn’t the dome. You’re not going to find a conveniently located trash chute. Just drop the garbage on the ground.
Letting out a shaky breath, Dara flicked the light off. She groped through the bag until she felt the contours of a water bottle, and she uncapped it and handed it to Letizia, before searching for the second.
“Small sips,” Dara cautioned. “I don’t know how long it’ll need to last.”
“Not sure...I can. Stomach...” Letizia moaned softly.
“You have to take at least a few sips. Becoming dehydrated will make things worse. Here, I’ll help you.” Dara set her bottle aside and took Letizia’s. She managed to coax Letizia to take two small sips before her master gagged, spilling the contents of her stomach over the dry, crusted earth.
Now Dara was very worried. She suspected Letizia had a concussion in addition to her head wound. The adrenaline from their flight away from the transport began to wear off, and Dara could feel panic setting in.
“Do you have any idea how stupid it is to use a light out here?” a low voice growled.
Infiltrator

Surviving her apprenticeship was just the first step. Now that Dara has joined the Free Thinkers, her life is about to become much more dangerous.
Frustrated by her seemingly pointless efforts to prove her worth to the Free Thinkers, she wonders if she made the right choice. Yet she can’t go back to her old life, can’t forgive Magnum for what it did to her mother. Then she discovers a crucial piece of intelligence: Andersen has been hard at work on a clandestine project that’s caught the attention of the Creators.
At last Dara is made a Free Thinker operative, trained and taught the truth about the Great Famine and its aftermath, but she must conceal her knowledge at all cost. Andersen must believe she’s no more than the sacrificial lamb he thinks she is.
But as the Creators’ interest in the project deepens, Dara is placed under surveillance and cut off from her Free Thinker lifeline. When she makes one last, desperate attempt at exposing his secret project, the repercussions are enormous.
Available at Amazon
Born and raised in Michigan, Nicole lives there still with her husband and two wonderful children. When she's not writing, Nicole enjoys reading, gaming, traveling, and cooking.
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Unexpected Favorites
by Nicole Ciacchella
One of the things that consistently surprises me when I write is how fond I grow of some characters, especially when they start out as little more than a nebulous concept. Contributor is no exception. When I was peopling the world, I thought a lot about Dara, her parents, her boyfriend, Jonathan, and her mentor, Letizia. I certainly gave consideration to the other characters as well, but this was the core group I focused on, and so imagine my surprise when I developed a major attachment to a couple of the characters I thought would just be minor players.
The first is Javier Gutierrez, one of Dara’s rivals for the position of Assistant to the Head of Engineering. I pictured Dara’s competition as ruthless, and Javier isn’t afraid to do whatever it takes to come out on top, but I hadn’t thought he’d be particularly likable. Yet as I wrote Javier I became increasingly fond of him. I loved his blasé attitude and how it concealed depths. I liked how he had a knack for cracking wise because, well, I have a certain weakness for characters with a bit of an attitude. Over time I became convinced that his motivation, unlike Ryan LeTour’s, wasn’t to destroy Dara but to ensure his own survival. Javier, like Dara, is a victim of his circumstances. If Javier were in a different situation, his actions would have been different. This led him to develop unanticipated shades, and in book two, Infiltrator, it becomes clear what motivates Javier. It wasn’t planned, but I began to see how he and Dara were parallel characters in many ways, and how their common struggle helped unite them. I was thrilled when I started drafting book three because I knew Javier had more of a role to play, and I was excited to be able to devote more page time to him.
Of course, he’s not the only character who surprised me. Raj Tiwari did as well, and I’m not afraid to confess that, yes, I do happen to fall for my own literary creations. I have a massive crush on Raj. He has an excellent sense of humor as well as being sweet, considerate, brave, and in book three he also gets to develop all kinds of new facets, which made writing about him both harrowing and a real pleasure. He plays an important supporting role in the first two books, becoming one of the few people on whom Dara feels she can depend, but he really comes into his own in book three. I don’t want to give away too much about his story, but I will offer up this hint: one of my favorite types of literary characters are those who feel they must atone for something. Redemption stories are very compelling to me, and Raj has his personal demons to battle, which made me feel very protective of him. Sorry, Javier. I adore you, but Raj has a special piece of my heart.
So there, dear readers, I have made a confession to you: I do have my favorites. All of my characters mean something to me, but there are those that I find so irresistible I just can’t help myself.
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May 27: Launch – Prism Book ToursMay 28: What Tomorrow May Bring #1 - Simplistic Reviews  May 29: Terra - Christy’s Cozy Corners  May 30: Stitch & Shudder - Nocturnal Predators Reviews June 1: Contributor & Infiltrator - Author Cindy C Bennett  June 2: What Tomorrow May Bring #2 - I Am A Reader June 3: Among the Joyful - My Devotional Thoughts June 4: The Annihilation of Foreverland & Foreverland is Dead - Mythical Books June 5: The Breeders & The Believers - Beck Valley BooksJune 6: What Tomorrow May Bring #3 - Bookworm LisaJune 8: Grand Finale

The Only Boy by Jordan Locke

Blog Tour Schedule

The Only Boy by Jordan Locke Mary is stuck in Section One, living with three hundred women in a crumbling hospital. She wonders what life was like two centuries ago, before the Cleansing wiped out all the men. But the rules—the Matriarch's senseless rules—prevent her from exploring the vacant city to find out. Taylor's got a dangerous secret: he's a boy. His compound's been destroyed, and he's been relocated to Section One. Living under the Matriarch means giving up possessions, eating canned food and avoiding all physical contact. Baggy clothes hide his flat chest and skinny legs, but if anyone discovers what lies beneath, he'll be exiled. Maybe even executed. Mary's never seen a boy—the Matriarch cut the pictures of men from the textbooks—and she doesn't suspect Taylor's secret. If she knew, she might understand the need to stop the girls from teasing him. If she knew, she might realize why she breaks the rules, just to be near him. Then again, she might be frightened to death of him. Taylor should go. The Matriarch is watching his every move. But running means leaving Mary—and braving the land beyond the compound's boundaries.

Amazon
Excerpt:      The pit is dark and musty. Dirt walls line two sides, and bars surround the rest. Every so often, footsteps tap overhead, but other than that, silence.     No one told me how long I’ll be here. I think the rulebook says three weeks for fighting, but the Matriarch might have added destroying property. I touch my chin, and stubble prickles my fingers. Before long, the beard will be impossible to hide.     I should never have come to Section One. I could have run—disappeared—after the Earthers bombed my compound. Even when the Matriarch sent a carrier pigeon, I didn’t leave. I waited for someone to come. My hair was long, and I figured I could pass for a girl.     I should have realized it was a mistake.     I have no idea how long I’m here—maybe hours, maybe days—before a shaft of light shines across the room. Footsteps approach, hinges squeak, and metal slams shut. Someone is breathing in the cell next to mine. I imagine Katherine sitting inside. It could be weeks of only her and me. I’ll go insane. I crawl away, push my back against the cold wall.     A calm clear voice says, “Taylor?”     I let myself smile. It’s Mary.
Praise for The Only Boy “It’s not a dystopia that does a good job—it’s a great book that happens to be a dystopia.” Rachel Miller, Editor “This book is one of the best of its genre I have read, it kept me gripped to its satisfying end.” Janet Love, Amazon UK Reviewer “If you like a different take on the dystopian genre then I would highly recommend this unique and amazing book.” Tamara Bass, The Avid Book Collector  
My Review of The Only Boy by Jordan Locke
     The Only Boy is an interesting concept: disease has eradicated the earth of all males, and most of the females as well. Those who are left behind fiercely guard their health by refusing to let any males be birthed, genetically engineering babies from only female DNA. Taylor, a boy in disguise as a female to protect his life, shows up in Section One, where he meets and befriends Mary.     The story is about their blossoming friendship, and their growing feelings which Mary thinks are illicit because of a strict “no touching” law. Yet she yearns to be with Taylor. When she learns he’s a boy, she debates whether she should do the right thing and turn him in—or if she should follow her feelings and help him escape.     I had a few issues with the book. There were places where the story jumps from one thing to another and I felt like it was missing pages. Luckily, the story fills in enough that I wasn’t completely lost. The MC’s (Taylor and Mary) had a few too many misunderstandings. That’s a common and completely acceptable story trick, to create misunderstandings that lead to conflict. I just felt like with these two it was practically every chapter. The other characters weren’t particularly likeable, none I felt like I could really get onboard with—excepting Rose, who was only in the book briefly. It seemed like some of the characters loyalties swayed with the wind, and no one seemed to have really clear cut morals or ideals that led them to make the choices they did. I’m not sure who Jordan’s editor is, but I feel like most of these things should have been addressed with the editor.     That being said, once I really got into the book, I wanted to keep reading to see what would happen next. The story was compelling enough to keep me interested, and I really enjoyed the book. The MC’s were innocent and had never been exposed to what we would consider normalcy, so some of their inconsistencies I attribute to that. I really did root for them, which to me is important in determining what I consider a good book. It was written in short, staccato sentences which added to the feeling of the book and gave it a nice, sort of urgent feel—perfect, since it’s a dystopian book.     I’m giving it 4 out of 5 stars because it was hard to put down once I really got into it, and I would recommend this for anyone who likes dystopian novels.

 Author Jordan Locke Jordan Locke lives in Connecticut with his wife, two lively daughters and a well-behaved whippet. A graphic designer by trade, his creativity spilled over into the literary world. After years of writing, reading and learning the craft, his fifth novel, The Only Boy, brought him offers of representation from two well-known agents. Now, after the dog is fed and the kids are in bed, you will find him tapping away at the keyboard.

Website * Twitter * Goodreads
  Blog Tour Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 6/8/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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The Dystopian Tour

A Prism Tour with Prism Book Tours

Welcome to the Launch for
THE DYSTOPIAN TOUR!
What will the future bring? We're featuring several possibilities. Come along and check them out!
May 28: What Tomorrow May Bring #1- Simplistic Reviews
Goodreads - Amazon

Follow 11 authors into 11 dystopian tomorrows, where the dark portions of our humanity have taken hold of today, where the fabric of society is torn and greed consumes us all. Follow us down a dark path.
Titles in the boxed set include:Open Minds, Susan Kaye QuinnThe Moon Dwellers, David EstesPrison Nation, Jenni Merrittdaynight, Megan ThomasonStitch, Samantha DuranteThe Annihilation of Foreverland, Tony BertauskiThe Girls from Alcyone, Cary CaffreyThe Narrowing Path, David J. NormoyleThe Rain, Joseph A. TurkotVirulent: The Release, Shelbi Wescott External Forces  (Bonus Chapters!), Deborah Rix

May 29: Terra by Gretchen Powell - Christy’s Cozy Corners  
Goodreads - Amazon - Barnes and Noble - Kobo - Apple Store

Terra follows protagonist Terra Rhodon through a dystopian future where the planet’s natural resources have been depleted and the rich and powerful have fled to cities in the sky.

May 30: Stitch & Shudder by Samantha Durante - Nocturnal Predators Reviews   Goodreads - Amazon - Barnes and Noble
Her heart races, her muscles coil, and every impulse in Alessa's body screams at her to run... but yet she's powerless to move.

June 1: Contributor & Infiltrator by Nicole Ciacchella - Author Cindy C Bennett   
Goodreads - Amazon

When the Great Famine threatened the existence of mankind, the Creators saved humanity. Humanity has been their loyal subject ever since.

June 2: What Tomorrow May Bring #2 - I Am A Reader Goodreads - Amazon

Follow 11 authors into 11 dystopian tomorrows, where the dark portions of our humanity have taken hold of today, where the fabric of society is torn and greed consumes us all. Follow us down a dark path.

We will be sharing excerpts from these titles:Open Minds, Susan Kaye QuinnThe Moon Dwellers, David EstesPrison Nation, Jenni Merrittdaynight, Megan ThomasonStitch, Samantha DuranteThe Annihilation of Foreverland, Tony Bertauski

June 3: Among the Joyful by Erin Eastham - My Devotional ThoughtsGoodreads - Amazon
Everyone knows that it’s a citizen’s duty to smile; negative emotion is a social contagion, an aggressive act against society. For Alaire Larkin, staying positive has never been a problem.

June 4: The Annihilation of Foreverland & Foreverland is Dead by Tony Bertauski - Mythical Books  

Goodreads - Amazon - Barnes and Noble - Google Play - Kobo - iTunes

When kids awake on an island, they’re told there was an accident. Before they can go home, they will visit Foreverland, an alternate reality that will heal their minds.


June 5: The Breeders & The Believers by Katie French - Beck Valley Books Goodreads - Amazon - Barnes and Noble

Sixteen-year-old Riley Meemick is one of the world's last free girls. When Riley was born, her mother escaped the Breeders, the group of doctors using cruel experiments to bolster the dwindling human race.


June 6: What Tomorrow May Bring #3  - Bookworm Lisa Goodreads - Amazon

Follow 11 authors into 11 dystopian tomorrows, where the dark portions of our humanity have taken hold of today, where the fabric of society is torn and greed consumes us all. Follow us down a dark path.

We will be sharing excerpts from these titles:The Girls from Alcyone, Cary CaffreyThe Narrowing Path, David J. NormoyleThe Rain, Joseph A. TurkotVirulent: The Release, Shelbi Wescott External Forces  (Bonus Chapters!), Deborah Rix
Tour-Wide Giveaway
Ends June 15th.

US Only Giveaway
Print copy of Terra + bookmarks
Print copies of Stitch & Shudder + bookmarks
Print copy of Among the Joyful

Internationally Open Giveaway
Amazon GC $15 (Megan) + $10 (Erin) + $10 (Samantha)
11 ecopies of What Tomorrow May Bring
Ebook of Terra
Ebooks of Stitch & Shudder
10 e-book copies of the complete Contributor trilogy, including book 3 (Kindle only)
Ebook of Among the Joyful
Ebooks of The Annihilation of Foreverland & Foreverland is Dead
Ebook of A Taste of Tomorrow Boxed Set
5 ebooks of The Breeders & The Believers

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The Guns of Napoleon by Peter Lean

The Guns of Napoleon takes Victor Sirkov, professor of History at St. Petersburg State University, and passionate scholar of Napoleon, on an adventure through time to meet the very man he thought he knew so well. 
Victor is contacted by the mysterious ChronoLab and given the opportunity to witness first hand what he could only have imagined. He is sent back two hundred years through a natural wormhole, and brings his personal demons with him. 
Thrust into a world very different from the one he left behind, Victor must fight for survival during Napoleon’s fateful, and bloody, conquest of Russia. Knowing how history should play out, doesn’t always give him the upper hand, as Victor soon finds out. 
The Guns of Napoleon deals with the consequences of changing significant moments of world history, and to what lengths one man will go to correct them, not only for the greater good of mankind, but for the woman he loves.
My review:
I love the idea of time-travel, and especially the idea that what might be done in the past can change our present. Like every author I have a book or two in mind to explore this idea. (I know there’s a technical term for this, but am not sure which the right one is: The butterfly effect? Temporal paradox? Bootstrap paradox? Retrocausality? Take your pick. You get the idea.)
When I first read The Guns of Napoleon, I wasn’t quite sure what I was in for. I was pleasantly surprised to find myself in for an enjoyable ride using this idea with a real historical figure (Napoleon Bonaparte) and an unassuming professor who tries to spread his love for all things Napoleon to his disinterested students. A present day man used to today’s luxuries thrown into the rough past that he’s unprepared for has to figure out how to survive to get back home. Due to a mistake made by his time-travelling companion, history is changed and he eventually returns to an unexpected world, the only man with the knowledge of how it’s changed.
Peter Lean gives us Victor, who could be any one of us, and skillfully weaves a tale around his passion for history and the unexpected chance to get to witness firsthand the object of his great knowledge. Who among us wouldn’t jump at the same chance? Victor is a great character because he is us. The rest of the story is an added bonus. All of the secondary characters really only show up for a short time, but Lean manages to make their indelible impact on Victor’s life clear and concise in their scenes. Great authors are able to do that subtle trick without us even realizing they’re doing it.
Even if you don’t consider yourself a fan of historical novels, this is one you’re going to enjoy. The history to me was secondary to a character study, and how even the smallest of our actions can have a profound effect on the world we live in. I look forward to reading the sequel to this novel.
Get your copy of The Guns of Napoleon today at Amazon.
*Note: Peter Lean had me edit this book for him which is how I came to read it. That didn't affect my review. My review is an honest, unbiased review.

Airel: The Awakening

Airel: The Awakening is a young adult paranormal romance about the angel Kreios who falls so deeply in love with a woman that he chooses to fall from heaven to be with her. She gives birth to a daughter in Arabia, 1250BC. The girl is pursued ferociously, relentlessly by an enemy in the deepest darkness.   In present day, Boise, Idaho is just a girl: Airel. She's just your average high school student...who turns out to be anything but average. It's because of who she is, because of her ancestry, because of her lineage. Past and present collide as what has been twisted comes dangerously unraveled.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble
Excerpt: “CLASS, THIS IS MICHAEL Alexander. Michael, welcome to Borah High. Please take your seat.” Mr. Brashear turned back to the board while Michael began moving toward the only empty seat, just one over from mine. I wanted to shake my fist at the sky and shout, “Why, God, why,” but I couldn’t do that in the middle of History 301.As he moved through the motionless room, I felt the difference his presence made. I didn’t want to, but I was staring, too numb to do anything about it. He smiled as he looked around. His wheat- colored hair was spiked up softly, wildly, in the most out-of-control, amazing way. I felt my heart speed up as his bright blue eyes fell on me.There he was. Mr. Napkins. I was Miss Coffee Spill, and I so wanted to be Mrs. Napkins.I felt heat rising to the surface of my face. I’d never felt anything like this. Airel, what is wrong with you? This is so not like you. Michael moved with smooth grace. I was gawking, staring like some love-struck calf. I hoped he wouldn’t notice me. This was so stupid. Why was I acting like this?But I could hear the universe calling my number, and I was stunned to discover that I had really been waiting in line all this time, staring wide-eyed, ticket in hand. But I don’t want this. I held my breath without realizing it. The draw I felt toward him was overpowering.He sat in his seat and looked straight ahead, and I shook my head ungracefully. Just as fast as the room had stopped, it launched itself into hyper speed, and then I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Kim, wearing a big, dumb grin on her face. Her eyes sparkled as she said, “Wow, girl. You’re as red as a lobster.”“What?” I said. It came out as a raspy, forced whisper, but it was all I could manage. Kim was stifling a laugh. I slunk down behind my history book. “Shut up, Kim.” But she just smiled and batted her eyes. I really didn’t like her right now. Maybe I could find a new best friend.***THE CLASS BELL RANG. I jumped up and rushed out the door, desperate for the bathroom. I didn’t feel well. I turned on the water and splashed its cold wetness over my warm cheeks, trying to cool myself down and shake my mind from the maddening fog that had overtaken me. It wasn’t like me to freak out about a boy. I was the last girl in the world to go gaga over a good-looking guy. But it was more than that. So what if he was good-looking—there were lots of hot guys around. It was something else, and I was starting to think it was really a spell.I looked in the mirror. “Aw, man.” My face looked like I’d just had my first kiss and then sat under a heat lamp for a few hours.Kim came in and stood with her foot jammed at the bottom of the door—so she could grill me in private, no doubt. “So,” she said, “you see the new guy?”I shook my head and rubbed the back of my neck. “Whatever. I was hot. That classroom … it’s always so muggy, and I had a headache.”“Oh, is it? I hadn’t noticed.”I ignored her, pulled my hair into a ponytail, and splashed more cold water on the back of my neck. I was relieved to see my face returning to its normal slightly fair hue. Kim just grunted and smirked and looked down at her nails, inspecting them, looking up at me in little snatches of concern. “Well, I think he’s ugly. Besides, what kind of name is ‘Michael Alexander?’ It’s like he has two first names. I mean, what is he, America’s Next Teen Pop Superstar?” Her face was calm. Much too calm.She’s totally mocking me. I couldn’t help smiling. His face filled my mind for a split second. I could feel my blood warming, rising to my face again. I thought of all the dumb 80s song lyrics that my parents continually tortured me with. “Hey,” I said, trying to go on offense a little, “you and I both know he’s gorgeous, so stop lying. I don’t know what came over me. The room was actuallyspinning.”“Oh, the room was spinning? That’s news. Airel, are you crazy? Because, like, how did I miss that?”“Kim, I don’t know. You know this isn’t like me at all. Something weird is going on. When he walked in, I completely lost it. It was weird. It’s like the clock stopped. Or jumped forward. Am I going crazy?” “Yeah, and he looked at you like he knew you or something,” she said, coming closer to me, a little worry showing on her features.I couldn’t make my mind stop. It was racing, replaying every second of our first meeting—the coffee, his hand, his smile. He looked at me like he knew me, looked me right in the eyes, saw me, and I could feel him searching me, looking for something, perhaps some kind of confirmation from me that I knew him too. My heart fluttered with the memory of that moment. I suddenly had this insane desire to cry and laugh at the same time.Kim made a kissing sound, reaching out to me. “Loooove, Airel.”I brushed her off, moving to an empty stall and locking myself in.“You should see yourself. You so just went all googly eyed over him.”I fell to my knees as crippling pain suddenly shot through my side. I couldn’t help whimpering. Then a sickening wave of warmth washed over me and I was instantly depressed. Hello, roller coaster. Wow, what’s your name? Could it be Michael Alexander? Ugh. Or maybe it’s just barf.“Ugh,” I said aloud, turning toward the toilet. “I think I’m going to be sick.” “Loooovesick.” Kim was clearly enjoying my discomfort, but I had no time to defend myself. I bent and threw up into the toilet. Oh, dear God. This is fun. I was totally heaving in the high school bathroom.Kim snapped out of taunting mode and rushed in to help me, going back into best-friend mode. I lost my dinner and yesterday’s lunch and started to wonder if maybe I should have had breakfast after all—was that why I was so sick all of a sudden? Skipping breakfast? There is a nasty flu going around this year…Kim held my hair and rubbed my back. I didn’t know I was crying until I saw the tears splashing onto the floor and heard myself sobbing. I’m crying. Why am I crying? My stomach felt like a knife had been plunged into it and my whole body convulsed as I tried to stand up, my legs shaking like a newborn colt.Kim helped me to the nurse’s station and soon after, I was on my way home, looking like death in the passenger seat. Trusty Kim was driving my trusty Honda. It was a good thing Mom was at work, and that Dad was out of town. I hoped I would be feeling better by the time Mom got home because she had a tendency to go overboard when I got sick. Parents. Kim parked in the driveway and helped me up the stairs, and even though it was the middle of the day, I went to bed and fell asleep feeling cold and scared. Maybe I wasn’t lovesick and something was really wrong with me.
  About the Authors Aaron Patterson is a NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestselling author of over a dozen novels. He writes hard-boiled thrillers and young adult fantasy. He was home-schooled and grew up in the west. Aaron loved to read as a small child and would often be found behind a book, reading one to three a day on average. This love drove him to want to write, but he never thought he had the talent. He wrote Sweet Dreams, the first book in the WJA series, in 2008. Airel is his first teen series, and plans for more are in the works. He lives in Boise, Idaho with his family.

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Chris White is an award-winning author and editor, and is co-author of the Airel Saga with Aaron Patterson. Chris also writes psychological thrillers under the nom de plume Jet Deaver, and has penned some short stories as C.P. White. He blogs occasionally about writing and the journey of the Christian artist at C.P. White Media Blog and lives in Idaho with his family.

Praise for the Book “This is not your typical fallen angel story. It is one that has left me breathlessly waiting for the next one in the series.” --Sandra Stiles, Amazon review
 “A beautifully written and crafted fiction about teenage innocence, faith, loss and love. A must read for teens and adults alike." --Vincent Zandri, International Bestselling Author of The Remains, The Innocent, and Concrete Pearl
 “This was such a unique twist to the common way angels are portrayed…. The struggle between good and evil is the forefront of this great story!” – Courtney, Amazon review

Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 6/16/19 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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The Secret of Darkwood Castle

The Secret of Darkwood CastleBook 3 in The Shapeshifter’s Secret SeriesRelease date: May 21, 2014
"Julia’s vision became completely black. All she saw now was Alexis’s haunting eyes, burned in her memory. She felt the shift as Alexis lowered the sword, ready to kill Julia."
Julia has embraced who she is. She's a shapeshifter, a siren, and a princess. But her fate is still unclear. As she runs for ambassador of Ossai, The Guild, lead by Julia's estranged mother begins attacking and killing those Julia loves in an attempt to overthrow the kingdom. To defend her family, her home, and her country, Julia must stop the Guild once and for all. 
But when a mysterious stranger shows up offering help, Julia is forced to trust them in order to solve the secret to the Guild’s whereabouts. Soon she travels to Darkwood Castle, a sinister palace, to confront the Guild—and her mother. If she doesn't succeed, all Julia holds dear will be ripped away and destroyed forever. 
Deadly forests, dangerous alliances, and a hidden fortress—nothing is what it seems at Darkwood castle. Discover the epic conclusion to Julia’s journey in Ossai.   
Visit Heather: Website: Heatherostler.blogspot.comTwitter: @HeatherostlerFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheShapeshif...
About the author:Heather Ostler grew up near the mountains with a rambunctiously entertaining family. She graduated from Utah Valley University and soon began composing stories about shapeshifters, sirens, and spooky castles. She and her husband reside in Utah Valley with two remarkably pleasant pugs.

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What is Hidden Blog Tour

In a land of masquerades and mystery, Evie is a mask maker in Venesia, where masks represent rank and identity. When a cryptic bandit strips away Evie’s mask and destroys her home, she goes into hiding at the palace to find both a new identity—and revenge. Fantasy lovers will be caught up by the mystique, romance, and magic of "What Is Hidden."






My thoughts: What is Hidden is a fresh, unique tale full of romance, intrigue, excitement, and a woman torn from the life she's always known. In her world, masks are worn by all; going without them is akin to being naked. This is a great device for people to conceal their true identity or hide their secrets easily—and Evie has a whopper of a secret to keep, as does Aiden.

Skidmore paints exquisitely detailed masks and a vivid world that's nothing like you've imagined. She's created a world I'd like to see, and characters I'd like to know in this tale reminiscent of Cinderella. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next, and how each of the characters were going to resolve their specific issues. Definitely a page-turner that I recommend. 

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Lauren Skidmore grew up in Kansas, with stints in Ohio and New York, and currently lives in Utah. She attended Brigham Young University where she earned a BA in English Teaching with an emphasis in Teaching English as a Second Language and Japanese. She then spent a year in Japan teaching and travelling. She hasn’t made it to Europe yet, but it’s on the list and has been to 30 states in the U.S. so far. When she’s not exploring new places, you can probably find her on the internet with fifteen windows open and looking at just one more thing before actually getting something done.


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