Brenda Sparks's Blog, page 36
February 21, 2015
Book Blitz: Blood Music by Jessie Prichard Hunter
Title: Blood Music: A Thriller Author: Jessie Prichard Hunter Genre: Thriller Publish Date: February 24, 2015 Publisher: Witness Impulse an imprint of HarperCollins Publishing ISBN: 0062389289 ASIN: B00MMG19ZU Pages: 320 pages List Price: 2.99 USD ~ Synopsis ~
Chilling...A riveting thriller." NEW YORK MAGAZINE New York City is caught in the cold grip of a brutal serial killer who savagely rapes and murders his young, blonde victims. While ravaging them, his mind whirls with symphonic images and raging desires--rarely giving thought to his loving wife and child.
Young, blonde Zelly Wyche has a new baby and a happy life with her dependable electrician husband. She, too, is petrified by the madness and the unthinkable tragedy of the murders. While the serial killers' sole survivor and a victim's brother mount a desperate vigilante hunt for the "Symphony Slasher," a chill runs up Zelly's spine. She is beginning to wonder if the killer could be closer than she thinks. But no. Impossible. She has to be dead wrong....
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About the Author Jessie Prichard Hunter is the author of the psychological thriller Blood Music, forthcoming from Witness Impulse. She currently resides in New York's Hudson Valley with her husband and two children.
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Tour-Wide Giveaway
5 individual promo codes for a free download of the book for an entire tour. Winner must have access to Bluefire Reader and have an Adobe account to receive free download.
Entry-Form
February 16, 2015
Book Blitz: Photoplay with Hallie Ephron
Title: Photoplay Author: Hallie Ephron
Genre: Adult/Suspense & Thriller
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Publisher: Witness Impulse an imprint HarperCollins
Pages: 96
ASIN: B00OG9UA1K
~Synopsis~ There were mirrors everywhere in Elenor Nichol’s house, reflecting the perfection of the glamorous movie star’s life. It would be a challenge, Duane Foley thought as he dropped his camera bag in the front hall, to keep the flash from bouncing off them, wreaking havoc with the carefully composed shots that he had been hired to take during the party. When a paparazzo in the 1960s attends a lavish Hollywood soiree at the home of the infamous Bunny Nichol he is nervous. He’s used to stolen photos on the street, not a paid high society gig. He’ll need to be speedy and discreet to snap good shots of guests such as Rock Hudson and Doris Day. But the night takes an unxpectedly dark turn and he finds himself documenting not the hijinks of drunken celebrities but rather, the aftermath of a crime scene... Add to Goodreads
Buy Photoplay Amazon**Barnes&Noble**iTunes**HarperCollinsPublisher
About The Author
Hallie Ephron (http://hallieephron.com) is the author of suspense novels. Her last three have all been Mary Higgins Clark Award finalists. Her newest, There Was an Old Woman is set in the Bronx. In it, a young woman and a very old woman connect across generations in spite of, or perhaps because, they are not related. Tess Gerritsen on TWAOL: “Superb suspense and unforgettable characters!” Washington Post book reviewer Maureen Corrigan says, "For readers who love Gotham and abhor gore, TWAOW is the perfect THRILLER LITE!" Take a sneak peek at the first two chapters. http://www.scribd.com/doc/110806557/T..." Hallie's Never Tell a Lie was made into the Lifetime Movie Network filmAnd Baby Will Fall. It, and Come and Find Me, were finalists for the Mary Higgins Clark Award. A book lover, she also wrote The Bibliophile's Devotional and 1001 Books for Every Mood and reviews crime fiction for the Boston Globe. Her Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel: How to Knock 'Em Dead with Style was nominated for Edgar and Anthony awards. She teaches writing at writing conferences. Hallie lives near Boston with her husband and has two fabulous daughters. She is the third of four writing Ephron sisters and grew up in Southern California. Connect with Hallie Website // Facebook // Twitter // Goodreads // Amazon
Giveaway
10 individual promo codes for a free download of the book for an entire tour. Winner must have access to Bluefire Reader and have an Adobe account to receive free download. Entry-Form
February 15, 2015
Book Blitz: A Scarlet Fury by Bridgett Blackburn
Title: A Scarlet FuryAuthor: Bridgette Blackburn
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Hosted by: Lady Amber's Tours
Blurb: It has been almost a year since mankind became aware of the world in shadows. It's been an adjustment, but life goes on and most have learned to adapt. There are some on both side that are not ready to let go of their plans. Madalaina Bonvillian believed nothing could harm her; she's the daughter of the former alpha and the sister of the current alpha, who would dare? After surviving a brutal attack, Madalaina must try to move forward, but where do you go when you feel like you've lost yourself? Cleary Neil has kept his feeling for Madalaina to himself. He's been her friend, and now that's what she needs more than anything. The only problem is he can't shut off the part of himself that wants to protect his mate from the pain and confusion he sees in her. Together they will go on an emotional journey to find out if love can heal all wounds. Time is of the essence, because enemies are gathering.
Author Bio:
I'm a hopeless romantic and a sucker for love stories with a happy ending. I grew up in East Texas where I married my high school sweetheart. We've called Southern Illinois home for over a decade now.
The characters in my head are loud and bossy. I began writing down their stories in self-defense. A social butterfly by nature, I love to talk. When I'm not writing, I enjoys video games, not cooking, and laughing as much as possible. I'm a horror movie junkie, makeup addict, like crazy hair colors, tattoos, and glitter. At home, I'm a wife and mother of three children. I'm claimed by a pug, a boxer, and four cats bent on world domination.
Author Links
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UK Amazon Author Page
Buy Links
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Excerpt from book #1
I sat on the screened in back porch, and watched the wind send ripples across the lake. It was after midnight. The only light shining in the darkness was from the moon. A loon serenaded me from the water and occasionally I’d hear wolves calling to each other. All in all, it was peaceful. The trees around the back of Athan’s cabin were thicker, growing closer together. I smelled the fresh pine scent more out here than I did when I was out in the front yard.
The weather was turning cold. Soon it would be sweater weather. I’d have to go into town to buy one or remain inside. I wasn’t ready to deal with crowds or people yet.
Staying inside won’t be too terrible. Sure, keep tellin’ yourself that.
The door to the house opened and Athan padded over silently on bare feet to take a seat in the chair across the patio table from me.
“What’s up, M? Why aren’t you in bed asleep?” he asked.
I drew my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around my legs. “Nightmares. I don’t sleep much anymore.”
“Want to talk about it?”
Raising one eyebrow, I asked him dryly, “You wanna talk about why you never sleep either?”
Athan looked down at his feet and glared.
Yeah, I didn’t think so.
We had been quiet for several minutes before Athan broke the silence, “Tell me about Livia.”
One side of my mouth tipped up into a half-smile. “Livia is the most awesome kid I’ve ever met. I hated to learn at her age but she wants to know everything about everything. She shares Dad’s a voracious appetite for books. The two of them can sit in his library and read for hours. She’s really close to Mom which was surprising since Mom hasn’t been fond of people in a long time. Mom knows all Livia’s secrets and is her number one confidant. Remember Mom’s rose garden?”
He asked dryly, “The one none of us were allowed to step foot in?”
I laughed, remembering all the times we tried to sneak in and she caught us.
“Yep. Mom lets everyone sit in the rose garden now and enjoy the flowers. She’s teaching Livia how to care for them and it appears the kid inherited Mom’s green thumb.”
Athan grunted his response. I wondered if I was making him regret his decision to leave his daughter behind.
“We celebrated her 8th birthday on August 17th, two weeks before…before Rachel and me….” My heart was shuddering.
Athan cut through my near flashback. “Hey! Focus, M. We’re talking about Livia, remember? Let the other stuff go. It can’t touch you here.”
I wish that were true.
“You said Livia just turned eight. How’s that possible? She was five when I left a year ago.”
“Well, if you’d stuck around you’d know we learned Royal Reds tinkered with their mojo a long time ago to accelerate their children’s development. Seems kids are an inconvenience to them, but heirs are necessary. Things were a little wonky at first because Livia is part Lycan and that slowed it down somehow. But after she’d turned six, it shot into high gear. Livia ages an entire year every ninety days. Rachel’s determined she won’t be cheated out of childhood so on the seventeenth of February, May, August, and November there’s a birthday dinner. At first it was a bigger thing, but people got tired of coming every three months to celebrate the same kid’s birthday.” I shrugged.
Athan was bent at the waist, forearms resting on his knees. He stared at the floor with a troubled brow. “How does Livia handle the aging? Is it hard for her?”
I sighed deeply. “A little. Her body matures fast, sometimes she has pain but Dr. Keller treats her.”
“A Vampire?” Athan spat.
“Yes, a vampire.” I held up my hands like claws and hissed to show him my imaginary fangs. “Would you rather she be in pain?”
“No,” he said contritely. “But did you have to call a vampire?”
“Yes. Get over it.” I shot back. “Livia’s manifested some Fae abilities, mostly over fire. Right now they’re minor but I expect they’ll grow stronger as she does. It’s frightening for her, I’m sure. I wish Winter were still alive to help her, to answer her questions about being Fae.”
Talking about Winter brought back the ache of her loss.
“I have a deck of cards in the house, want to play?”
I saw a glimpse of the old Athan in his eyes, the one I knew when I was a kid. We played cards until the sun came up. In the daytime, dreams don’t seem as frightening. If I woke up and the sun was shining I remembered I was safe, no longer being raped and beaten. In the dark, the demons that haunted my sleep seemed more powerful.
Excerpt from book #2
The gym looked dingy to the untrained eye with its unpainted concrete walls and floors. Very little decoration adorned the building and the dominant color was grey. The equipment was where the money had been spent. The boxing ring was brand new, top of the line weight sets lined one side of the gym, and all the machines were cutting edge.
Nikolai was beating the life out of a punching bag when I found him. He wore a black tank top and black army type pants tucked into black boots. A sheen of perspiration glowed on his dark complexion. He’d tied a black bandana over his skull cropped hair to keep the sweat out of his eyes.
Does he own any color other than black?
He wasn’t winded at all by the vigorous activity. Without stopping his exercise, Nikolai said, “Tsura tells me you want to learn how to fight as a Wraith.”
“I can’t shift. The drugs that prevented me from doing it are gone, but my wolf is repressed or something.” I hated admitting it to him, but I was defenseless without the ability to change.
Nikolai stopped the swinging bag and nodded at me, “I appreciate your honesty. I can do more to prepare you if you’re honest. Let’s move to the mats and begin.”
Fluttering butterflies in my stomach had me on edge. Nikolai was confident in his ability to disarm and disable attackers. I was confident in my ability to get my ass kicked. We spent an hour of him showing me moves and me executing them all wrong. I was frustrating him and felt like a failure.
“Enough, Madalaina!” He shouted. “I will not allow you to quit. Find your center and calm yourself. No one can protect themselves wound tight like a coil. Remember two things, you will defeat your adversary or you will die after leaving him with a lasting injury to remember you forever. Both are victories. There is no defeat for you.”
Wow, he could make a killing as a motivational speaker.
We started anew. I couldn’t call my wolf to the surface, but I could connect with her. She provided me the Zen Nikolai wanted me to adopt, reminded me I was stronger and faster than the average person without needing to be in my Lycan form. I wasn’t alone in the fight. We were a team, she and I. My newfound confidence saw me picking up the moves Nikolai showed me with ease.
“Very good, Madalaina. You’re a fast learner once you get over the roadblocks in your mind,” he playfully tapped my forehead.
I wiped fly away hairs from my face, “I appreciate your help. It means a lot, you teaching me.”
I embarrassed him. He blushed and cleared his throat. “Yes, well, we have a ways to go before I feel good about you running loose on the streets. We should meet four times a week, does that work with your schedule?”
“I’ll make it work,” I said.
Nikolai put his hands on his hips and rolled his neck. I’d gotten him trapped in a pretty gnarly headlock right at the end of training. “Good. Much easier than Tsura. She waits and calls me at the last minute for our training sessions. If she weren't such a worthy opponent, I’d hand her off to someone else.”
My eyes bugged out in disbelief, “Tsura’s a worthy opponent? My Tsura?”
Nikolai scoffed, “You’re Tsura is a pampered princess. My Tsura, the one I see in here, she’s fierce and can take a seasoned warrior to the mat.” Pride shone in his eyes.
“That’s amazing.” Puzzled, I furrowed my brow, “I never knew that about her. I wonder what else I don’t know.”
Grimly Nikolai patted my shoulder. “Let her have her secrets. She’s allowed so few.”
February 14, 2015
#Valentine #Giveaway & Book Blitz: Planning for Love by Ellen Butler
Title: Planning for Love (Love, California Style) Author: Ellen Butler Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Comedy Publication Date: January 26, 2015 Publisher: Crimson Romance ~ Synopsis ~
California party planner, Poppy Reagan is a Type A personality who runs her professional life with the precision of Swiss watch. Unfortunately, her personal life is the pits. On Valentine’s Day she walks in on her boyfriend playing hide the snake with a 20 year old. T his isn’t the first boyfriend to cheat on her, and with her 33rd birthday approaching, Poppy decides it’s time to take her dating life as seriously as she does her business. She swears off the bad boys she’s normally attracted to, and strategically maps out a plan to find an honest, nice-looking man to become her life partner. As she works her way through a string of hilariously bad dates, she begins to wonder if her soul mate actually lives in California. Her foolish emotional spirit secretly yearns for the sexy Ohio dermatologist who she met on a trip to Hawaii last year. T he one who she insists is “just a friend,” because she refuses to engage in a long distance relationship. Can the good doctor convince her heart to over-rule her head and move this California girl to the midwest?Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes
~ About the Author ~
Ellen Butler Twitter style–author, mother, wife, shoe lover, chocoholic, fashion fan, sarcastic wit, autumn enthusiast, dancer, book worm, and good-time devotee. Connect with the Author: Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Giveaway1 Winner
Signed copy of Heart of Design, the first book in the Love, California Style series (US & Canada only - ebook for International winners). An Amazon giftcard.January 31, 2015
Book Blitz: The Chronicles of Rain and Dreams
Title: The Chronicles of Rain and Dreams Series: The Legend of the Archangel book 4 Author: L.L. Hunter Genre: YA paranormal romance/ urban fantasy Cover Designer: Regina Wamba of Mae I Design and photography Release Date: January 31st 2015 Formats: eBook and Paperback Blurb Thirty- nine days ago Dyston disappeared, and the world suffered for it. Scarlett doesn’t understand why he had to leave, but Dyston is being haunted by the demons of his past, and also the truth of what he is – he is tainted. But leaving is also a ploy. Dyston can’t let Scarlett find out the real reason for his leaving, for if she does find out, he fears she could never forgive him. In the search for the missing journals of the nine archangels, Dyston also discovers some things he didn’t know about himself. But little does he know, the one journal he can’t find lies with his heart. Will Dyston be able to forgive himself and return to his loved ones, or will he hide away forever? In the fourth installment of the Legend of the Archangel series, will love prevail over darkness?
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00PHZX39S B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-chronicles-of-rain-and-dreams-ll-hunter/1119673900?ean=2940045981880 iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/chronicles-rain-dreams/id885141791?mt=11 Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-chronicles-of-rain-and-dreams Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/444026 Stalk links: Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/LL-Hunter/110104129132865 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LLHunterbooks Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/L.L.-Hunter/e/B00B2B701I/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1379386637&sr=8-1 Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6559537.L_L_Hunter Blog: http://llhunter.blogspot.com.au Instagram: @llhunter Website: http://llhunterauthor.wordpress.com Google +: google.com/+LLHunter
January 25, 2015
Book Blitz with #Giveaway: The Criminals We Deserve by James Craig
Title:
The Criminals We Deserve (Carlyle Mysteries)
Author: James Craig Genre: Thriller Publish Date: January 20,2015 Publisher: Witness Impulse ~ Book Synopsis ~
It’s always dangerous when you know too much… When the body of a journalist is found in the back of a garbage truck, Inspector Carlyle is thrown into the middle of a scandal that threatens to expose corrupt links between the police, parliament, and a hugely powerful media mogul. In his search for the killer, Carlyle goes head-to-head withhis nemesis Trevor Miller-a former policeman turned security adviser to the Prime Minister. Miller has dirty money in his pockets and blood on his hands. And he would do anything to get rid of John Carlyle…Purchase Links: HarperCollins/Amazon/ Barnes&Noble
About the Author: James Craig has lived in London for more than thirty years, working as a journalist and consultant. He lives in Bloomsbury with his wife and daughter.
Giveaway:
3 winners of Buckingham Palace Promo Code individual promo codes for a free download of the book for an entire tour. Winner must have access to Bluefire Reader and have an Adobe account to receive free download. Entry-FormJanuary 21, 2015
Cover Reveal: The Vampire of Vancouver by Liz Meldon
Title: The Vampire of Vancouver (Lovers and Liars #2) Author: Liz Meldon Series: Lovers and Liars Genre: Paranormal Romance Cover by: Humble Nation Release Date: February 10, 2015 ~ Synopsis ~ The Vampire of Vancouver (Lovers and Liars, #2)
Aphrodite, goddess of love and lust, is not impressed. After giving up her penthouse suite in trendy Manhattan to go monster hunting around the world, she finds herself in a sad hotel room in Vancouver with a decidedly distracted Loki. She hadn't expected this job to be so serious, and her Norse partner isn't exactly bowing to her whims these days. What was the point in coming with him if they weren’t beneath the sheets all hours of the day? It seems like such a waste of sexual compatibility. Humph. Meanwhile, Loki, Norse trickster, is equally unimpressed. He hadn't thought taking a beautiful partner along would make his work so difficult. Her unfocused energy grates on his nerves, and his lust for her is only surpassed by his desire for more godly power. He will complete this job, whether she likes it or not, and he’ll walk away one step closer to regaining his old abilities. Now, if only he can get his partner to focus on the task at hand, not seduction. Ridiculous woman. Aphrodite and Loki, an unlikely team if there ever was one, find themselves in the City of Vancouver hunting vampires. The job is pretty straightforward: rescue the damsel, kill the monster. Unfortunately, even the easiest of jobs hardly ever go according to plan.
About the Author
About the Author: Liz is a Canadian author who grew up in the Middle East. She has a degree in Bioarchaeology from Western University, and when she isn’t writing about snarky characters of her own, she is ghostwriting romance novellas, working on her fanfiction, loitering on social media, or selling tickets at a theatre. In the past year, she has written six romance novellas as a ghostwriter. Three have been published and are doing well. She loves writing realistic characters in fantastical settings.
Follow the Author: Website // Twitter // Goodreads // Tumblr // Pinterest
January 18, 2015
Book Blitz: A Veil of Glass and Rain
Book Title: Veil of Glass and Rain: Special Edition
Author: Petra March
Release Date: January 20, 2015
Series: A Touch of Cinnamon.
Book Type: All books in the series can be read Stand-alone
Brina and Eagan meet for the first time when she's nine and he's fourteen. They like each other from the very beginning, though their bond isn't immediate, but it grows over the years. What links them is the fact that their parents are photographers and are extremely devoted to their work and to each other; so much so that both Brina and Eagan have to learn how to take care of themselves from a very young age. Despite their differences, age, gender, nationality - Brina is Italian and Eagan is American - they find comfort in their growing friendship. Then Brina becomes a teenager, and her feelings for her friend start changing and deepening. New desires stir within her. As soon as Brina realizes how those feelings complicate her friendship with Eagan, she runs away from him. A few years later, Brina is twenty and Eagan is twenty-five, they find one another once again. Publisher's Note: This is a fully re-edited and enriched with new and special contents version of the previously published novel, A Veil of Glass and Rain, by Petra F. Bagnardi (aka Petra March).
~Excerpt ~ A stolen kiss... [...]I was wearing a yellow sundress and clutching the handle of my guitar case. Eagan offered to carry it for me, but I shook my head, for he was already bearing the weight of his huge backpack. A part of me was glad he hadn't been able to hear me play. The piece I had chosen was an acoustic cover of one of my favorite rock songs. The acoustic version was utterly sentimental; it expressed perfectly the way I felt about Eagan. After my performance, all my professors and fellow students admitted that they'd never heard me play with so much feeling. I wasn't certain I wanted Eagan to discover that part of my soul yet. We embraced awkwardly. I noticed that his eyes were red and tired. I also remarked that he was tanned and that he smelled good, as always. Of course, I didn't reveal my sentiments. It was a bright summer day. We went to a park, we sat, we didn't talk much. After a while, Eagan lay back and fell asleep. I watched him rest for a few moments, then I reclined alongside him. I placed my body very close to his, so that I could feel his heat through the thin cotton of my dress. His handsome face was turned toward me and his lips were slightly parted. Flecks of gold dotted his beard stubble and his dark blond hair. I braced one of my hands on his arm and the other one on his muscled chest, then I leaned toward his face, keeping my eyes open. I let my mouth linger over his and breathed his breath then, finally, I whispered a kiss across the side of his mouth, then I licked his upper lip. I waited. He didn't stir. So I closed my eyes and brushed his lips with mine once more. I became greedy. My tongue pressed between his parted lips and stroked his tongue once, twice and then again until I moaned and an unbearable ache surged between my legs. My fingers gripped his sweaty T-shirt. I kept kissing Eagan until he groaned softly in his sleep. “I love you,” I murmured against his lips. I moved away from him. I forced myself to stand, I grabbed my guitar case and I left. A Veil of Glass and Rain:Special Edition, by Petra March On the bus, I kept licking my lips; I tasted him, the salt of his sweat, and a hint of cinnamon. (A Veil of Glass and Rain: Special Edition, by Petra March) About the Petra
Petra March (aka Petra F. Bagnardi) studied Screenwriting and History of American Cinema at UCLA and NYU. Presently, Petra keeps traveling and dreaming through her novels. Her characters are deeply in love with Europe and the USA, just like Petra is. On October 2nd 2014 her debut novel, A Veil of Glass and Rain, won the Indie Book of the Day Award. ~Connect with Petra ~
January 15, 2015
Book Blitz: Harmony Run Series by Sarah Elle Emm
Title: Harmony Run SeriesAuthor: Sarah Elle Emm
Genre: YA Dystopian/Fantasy
Hosted by: Lady Amber's Tours
Harmony Run Series: PRISMATIC (May 2012)
OPALESCENT (February 2013)
CHATOYANT (September 2014)
NACREOUS (Coming 2015)
Buy Links:
Prismatic Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Prismatic-Harmony-Run-Book-1-ebook/dp/B0086I288A/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1418501343
Opalescent Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Opalescent-Harmony-Run-Book-2-ebook/dp/B00BKS3OJ0/ref=asap_B0063X57K6?ie=UTF8
Chatoyant Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Chatoyant-Harmony-Run-Book-3-ebook/dp/B00NMOMF54/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-1&qid=1418501631
Prismatic Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/prismatic-sarah-elle-emm/1110738980?ean=9780985154837
Opalescent Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/opalescent-sarah-elle-emm/1114635187?ean=9780988904934
Chatoyant Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chatoyant-sarah-elle-emm/1120335783?ean=9781941058183
Books at Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/sarah-elle-emm
Prismatic Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Prismatic-Harmony-Run-Book-1-ebook/dp/B0086I288A/ref=asap_B0063X57K6?ie=UTF8
Opalescent Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Opalescent-Harmony-Run-Book-2-ebook/dp/B00BKS3OJ0/ref=pd_sim_sbs_kinc_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1H3BHG77Z62WF5N9B5T3
Chatoyant Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chatoyant-Harmony-Run-Book-3-ebook/dp/B00NMOMF54/ref=asap_B0063X57K6?ie=UTF8
PRISMATIC:
Rare glimpses of birds are the only reminder of the freedoms Rain Hawkins once had. Now segregated into a mixed-race zone within the United Zones of the Authority, under tyrannical rule of President Nicks, Rain is forced to endure the bleak conditions set upon her. The possibility of a way out arises when Rain discovers an organized resistance called The Freedom Front, and learns that she, along with many other multi-racial people, has special abilities. Determined to overcome her situation, Rain sets out on a mission with the resistance that will fill her life with wonder, romance, and the undying hope for a better world.
Prismatic excerpt:
“We have to go now, my young ones. We can’t let them take this away from us. So be quiet, be brave, leave as you normally do, and come back next week on Wednesday instead. Oh, and most importantly, keep hope alive, young ones. Remember the trials of Nelson Mandela this week. Imagine what he overcame on his quest for freedom. Peace be with you.”
“Peace be with you, Takara,” we said in unison.
Takara hobbled up the steps, leaning on her cane until she disappeared from our view, and we stood up to follow her. Daktari, Zi, and I would all buy some canned peas or corn with the small amount of money we had to take home to our parents. Our parents didn’t know about the meetings we went to, but they didn’t see anything wrong with us helping shop at the market, especially Mom since she was afraid of everything. Also, they knew we hated to stay cooped up in the small apartment and we wouldn’t be forced to work the hours they worked until our eighteenth birthdays.
“I’m picking out the vegetable today, Rain. I refuse to eat green beans again,” said Daktari, before jogging up the steps.
Zi followed him a few seconds later, and I started to go after her, afraid to look at Jabari again, but Jabari grabbed my hand as I started up the steps. “Rain, wait a second.”
I turned around, staring into his eyes now that I was nearly level with them from my spot on the step above him. I wondered if he could hear the drumming of my heart. “Yes?” I asked, my voice unusually small.
“I have to see you again.” He said it like it was a necessity. Like I was a medicine that he had to have or he would get sick. His hand felt strong and comforting.
“Okay,” I heard my voice agree readily. “I’ll see you here next Wednesday?” It was more of a prayer than a question. I had to see him too, but I wasn’t sure why I needed to see him so bad. Standing so close, I could practically feel his breath on my face. I felt like a force beyond us was pulling me towards him. I wanted to lean all of the way into him and forget about the world.
“No, sooner. Friday. How about I run with you?”
“Okay,” I heard my suddenly small voice agree way too quickly. I really didn’t even know him, after all. And my parents certainly wouldn’t be thrilled about me running with a guy I hardly knew. I withdrew my hand from his, afraid he would feel my pulse quickening and make this even more awkward, assuming that were possible.
“I’ll be waiting a block up from your house when you leave to run. Seven-thirty sound good?”
“Yeah. But you don’t know where I live,” I commented.
He grabbed my hand again. “I wanted to make sure the Droid Dogs didn’t hurt you the other night, so I followed you home.”
I stared into his eyes, speechless. He had followed me home? He was worried about me? I tried to swallow and relieve my dry throat. “Okay, see you Friday.” I didn’t want to, but I knew it was time to go. I had to walk out of the store with Daktari and Zi in case the Droid Dogs were watching from up the block.
“Rain, try and stay out of trouble before Friday, okay?” A smile spread across his gorgeous face and he chuckled.
“I don’t exactly look for trouble, you know,” I said, a little defensively.
He squeezed my hand before I could grab it away from his. “I know. Trouble finds you. You have a lot of spirit. Takara is right about you.”
I was starting to turn away from him, but I stopped short. “What do you mean?”
“Tell you on Friday, Rainchild.” He smiled easily. And my heart sped up again.
“Goodbye, Jabari. It was nice to meet you.”
“Don’t say goodbye like we won’t meet again. The Authority wants us to be scared. It’s how they control us so easily. Look forward to tomorrows. Otherwise, they’ve already won. I’ll see you Friday.”
“Friday,” I said softly, finally prying myself away from him and up the steps. He was right. That was the same sort of thing I told Daktari all of the time, but of course, my family and I were determined to make each farewell important in case it was the last. My mom had already given up hope of a better tomorrow and if we weren’t careful, we could end up just like her. Jabari was right.
I was going to see him on Friday. My stomach flipped. I tried not to let the smile spread across my face. Zi was waiting for me at the cash register.
“Sweet peas and two baked potatoes, Rain...How’s that for success?” asked Daktari.
“You found two potatoes? Wow, we’re going to be eating good tonight, Daktari.”
“Yeah, but I need the rest of your money to get the potatoes. I only have twenty dollars. The prices have gone up again,” he said, holding out his palm to me.
I fished five dollars with Elizabeth Nicks’s face on them out of my pocket and handed them to Zachary.
“Tell your parents I said hello, kids,” he said as he handed us our groceries. Zi had gotten a can of mixed vegetables.
“We will. Thanks, Zachary,” said Daktari.
“Stay safe out there, kids,” he said as we left.
Once outside, Daktari talked the short walk home about the sweet
peas and potatoes my family was going to have for dinner. Zi eyed me suspiciously. “I didn’t see you walking around the store, Rain. Something on your mind?”
“No, nothing,” I said quickly.
Everything, I thought. Jabari needed to see me again. He grabbed my hand and held it. Twice. It felt like a gravitational force was pulling me towards him. My stomach felt like it had butterflies in it, and I became crazy around him. My heart betrayed my private thoughts with its ridiculously loud hammering when he was close. He was going to meet me the day after tomorrow to run with me. He had followed me home. He was worried about me...
“Rain? Hello? Where are you?” asked Zi.
“Huh?”
“I said, I’ll see you in the morning, I guess. You going on a run tonight?” Zi asked. We were standing at the steps to our building. I had walked home in a complete daze.
“Oh yeah, want to run with me?”
“I’d rather let the Droid Dogs chew on my foot, thank you very much.”
I laughed, rolling my eyes at Zi. “I’m telling you, girl, it’s liberating. Running is the best way to relieve stress. It makes me feel good,” I said, smiling.
“I think the reason you feel good right now has nothing to do with running, girl.”
My face flushed red, and Zi winked at me.
“What’s she talking about?” asked Daktari. “Oh yeah, you’re excited about the potatoes we’re having for dinner, right?”
“Yes, Daktari,” I said, ignoring Zi’s laughter. “Potatoes, I’m excited about those potatoes.”
Excerpt compliments of Winter Goose Publishing
OPALESCENT: Still enslaved in a mixed-race zone within the United Zones of the Authority, Rain Hawkins is part of a secret resistance preparing to take on the tyrannical President Nicks before plans to kill the mixed zones across UZTA are executed. When unsettling dreams and a mysterious voice begin to haunt the dark nights, Rain fears someone more powerful than she has discovered the resistance and their secret abilities. With a known Authority spy on her heels, and her boyfriend, Jabari, suddenly acting strange, Rain doesn’t know who to trust and if the voices calling to her are friend or foe. As conditions across all of the zones get worse and the stakes rise, Rain embarks on a quest for answers that will put the people she cares about most in more danger or take them one step closer to the truth and their eventual freedom.
Opalescent excerpt:
The voices of Zi, Daktari, Cole, and Marcello echoed softly down the corridor from our underground meeting place, but I was too anxious to join them. Waiting in the shadows, specks of light casting a soft glow into the corridor from the solar lights Cole had lit for TFF’s meeting, I stood beside the iron ladder, desperate for the hatch to open and Jabari to climb down. Once he was safe inside of the storm shelter with me, the bulk of my anxiety would fade away, if only for a while. When I had seen him a block behind me, moments ago out in the street, my nerves and senses had shot into overdrive. I had forced my feet to keep trekking so I could enter the hideout as usual, as we all did to protect our secret. The mere sight of him and the knowledge that his eyes were on me as I walked ahead, had caused its usual effect of craziness on my mind and body. Once inside our hideout, Marcello had jumped into his account of what he had seen outside of the market, giving my friends all of the gory details of the spiders he had seen crawling away from Darryl and the aftermath of what I had done. But I couldn’t listen. I had fled back to the tunnel entrance to wait for Jabari.
I needed to get the tightness in my chest to go away, and Jabari was the cure. The past two weeks had been challenging at home. Keeping our relationship a secret from my mother, who adamantly refused to allow me to see Jabari, meant trying not to smile constantly around the apartment as if I were a teenager in love, especially after my nightly run with him. Not that Mom would have noticed. Before, reading one of the few antique books we had managed to bring to the zone with us would have comforted her and was how she coped with life, but lately, she rarely turned a page. She sat staring blankly for hours sometimes, only moving a little when Dad got home from his late shift at the hover manufacturing plant. I wasn’t sure how, but Daktari and I needed to figure out a way to get her to snap out of her depression. She was moments away from slipping away for good. I could feel it.
The slight sound of metal scraping across metal just above me and light peeking in stirred me from my thoughts, and hope swelled in my chest as Jabari closed the entrance and climbed soundlessly down the ladder. Through the dim light I studied his light brown skin, short black hair and long limbs. I recalled the first time his dark brown eyes had studied me from across the street, and tried not to sigh at the memory. The guy was so handsome it made me self-conscious, even in the shadows. I imagined pinching myself to see if this was real. Was he really mine?
As he stepped off of the ladder and turned to me, he looked deep in thought with his brows crunched together, but his face relaxed when he saw me waiting for him. “Rain.”
My heart melted when he spoke my name, the relief and longing clear in his tone, and took two steps towards me, picking me up effortlessly, his super strength one of his abilities. He really was mine.
“Finally,” I murmured into his neck, wrapping my arms around him. My feet dangled off the ground since he was over six-foot-three. He was hugging me tighter than usual, but I didn’t mind. The uneasiness faded away. In his arms, the world felt good again. He slowly released his hold on me and lowered my feet to the floor.
I felt his breath on the tip of my nose as he leaned down to me. “It’s only been eighteen hours since we ran last night, but it felt like an eternity.”
“Tell me about it,” I whispered back, my arms resting comfortably around his waist now.
“My girlfriend, the brown recluse whisperer. That was…”
“Creepy?” I volunteered.
“I was going to say fierce. You are fierce, Rain.”
“We had better get in there. I’m sure they are waiting on us…” I said, shy all of a sudden from his compliment.
“May I kiss you, Rain?”
The shyness was gone in an instant. Funny how he had such an effect on me. “Is this the Indy Mixed Zone?”
He chuckled before closing the two inches between us and brushing his lips to mine. My mind fell into a tailspin, and I wondered if I was really spinning. The chaotic worries I had been obsessing about in my mind, spun away, one by one, with the room around me. Mom, Daktari, Maha, Darryl, our death sentence… And then it was just me and Jabari, the gentle strength of his mouth dissolving the dark world of my existence.
Someone coughed at the other end of the corridor. “Hola, people…It’s not like we don’t have important things to do.”
Jabari’s lips broke away from mine, and we turned our heads towards Marcello. He swept one hand through his cheek-length black hair off of his face and continued ranting. “It’s just a revolution. You know, six teenagers save the world before our execution in seven months? You guys just take your time and kiss. No big deal. Romance rules. Revolutions drool . . . Vive el Amor!” His hands shot up in a V-shape at his final proclamation, using the native tongue of his Mexican father, and dropped again as he turned away to enter our storm shelter meeting space.
Even in his rant he appeared handsome. He was multi-racial like us and not quite as tall as Jabari, but still over six feet and was naturally muscular. But I would sooner turn myself into Metro Prison for conspiracy than admit that to Marcello, our resident flirt and ladies man.
Jabari took my hand firmly in his, and through the shadows I could see his mouth curving into a perfect grin. “Shall we?”
I couldn’t help but smile back. “After you, leader of the revolution.”
Excerpt compliments of Winter Goose Publishing
CHATOYANT: In the wake of an interrogation led by the UZTA’s dictator, President Nicks, Rain Hawkins and her friends must deal with the consequences of their defiance as the countdown continues towards the execution of the mixed-zone citizens across the United Zones of The Authority. The Freedom Front faces new challenges as Rain’s cousin, Calista, prepares for her impending relocation to the pure zone, and Rain sets out to solve the mystery surrounding her mother’s torment while being followed by an officer of the Elizabeth Guard. As she uses her abilities to dodge The Authority and follows the strange clues from her dreams, Rain is determined to persevere, to secure the future she and Jabari have been fighting for, and to earn The Freedom Front’s ultimate goal of liberation.
Chatoyant excerpt:
Droid Dogs growled throughout the crowd, “Everyone back home!” one ordered.
Daktari and Jabari pulled Takara to her feet, handing her the wooden cane she used for walking. Takara tapped the cane lightly on the street. “Think I’ll keep it. Might come in handy someday if I need to defend myself.” She winked at me as I rose to my feet.
I stared dumbstruck at her, searching for words. She had almost died, and now she was joking around, acting like everything was normal. Takara leaned closer. “Peace be with you, children. Now go. The droids are coming…”
“Meet you at home, Rain,” Daktari kissed the top of my head and took off, guiding Zi beside him.
One by one, The Freedom Front dispersed, but I stood frozen, taking in the frenzied scene. In the aftermath of our ruler’s first in-person visit to our zone in over four years, people were panicking, crying, and running in all directions. The madness began to blur around me as my thoughts took a turbulent turn of their own. Where did the great horned owl come from? Did Nata know that her plan to kill Takara hadn’t worked out? Would she come back if she knew? And how in the world did we stand a chance against her when she had just demonstrated how easily she controls people? I couldn’t resist her powers.
A strong hand clutched mine, yanking me into the maze of people. My feet followed in autopilot, but my mind raced on.
Jabari’s voice sounded irritated, lugging me from my worries. “What were you thinking? I can’t believe you ran to the fountain, Rain. She could have killed you.”
As he guided me through the crowd, I realized for the first time how terrified he must have been when I took off to help Takara. Sadness lingered in his brown eyes. We had been talking about our future plans together when I had taken off, leaving him in the dust. Some soul mate I was turning out to be. I had chosen to help Takara over playing it safe. Basically, I had chosen to help her and by doing so, had chosen her over Jabari, Daktari, and my family for that matter. What would they all be going through right now if I hadn’t made it out alive? “I’m sorry. I freaked out.”
“How am I supposed to keep you safe? Why do you have to be the hero all the time? You can’t save everyone, Rain.”
Irritation rushed through me at his last statement. Wasn’t that the point? To try to save everyone? Especially the people who couldn’t stand up for themselves? “It was Takara. I’m sorry if you don’t understand, Jabari. And I know it was rash, but we’ve got bigger problems. Nata controlled me and Takara. She’s powerful. How are we supposed to beat her? And then there’s her,” I finished, gesturing across the street.
Jabari’s gaze settled on Aleela, the spy. She wasn’t much taller than Zi, scrawny like the rest of us, and her wavy black hair fell to her shoulders. Her eyes were huge, filled with horror, as she hurried past us in the opposite direction. Jabari said she had changed, but she had just told Nata that Takara was the one who probably freed her prisoner.
Jabari halted mid-stride, grabbing my shoulder so I would face him. His expression softened. “I promise, she won’t be a problem for us anymore. She caved under Nata’s power and gave Takara’s name up, but she’s on our side now, Rain. I’m sure of it. And I’m sorry if I sound upset.” His eyes clouded with emotions. “I was scared. I am scared. I can’t lose you.” He brushed a lock of my curls from my face and rested his hand on my neck. My pulse sped up in its usual manner from his touch. “I know I can’t control you, but please, be more careful, will you?”
Emotions rolled through me as he gazed into my eyes. Forgiving Jabari for the weeks of agony he put me through while I thought he was falling for Aleela hadn’t been easy, but I’d done it. But the idea of trusting Aleela after her role in Takara’s interrogation made my stomach burn. I had just seen Nata in action, so I knew he was right about Aleela not having a choice. But still. Was I the only one who was angry with her? And he was asking me to trust her? To just let it go? And he wanted me to be more careful. But if Aleela hadn’t betrayed us, I never would have had to risk my life in the first place. As I struggled to say what Jabari wanted to hear, I noticed an Elizabeth Guard staring at us and heading in our direction. Human officers were few and far between in our zone, and it was rare to see one outside of Metro Prison or their headquarters at the Town Hall. Of course, he was likely hanging around the entire time Nata had been in our zone. Uneasiness filled me anew…Any interest a human guard had in me and Jabari was not good. We needed to disappear and fast.
“I promise to be more careful. Don’t look now, but there is a guard watching us,” I blurted.
Jabari shot a look over his shoulder.
“Hey, I said not to look,” I scolded.
Jabari clutched my hand, starting to jog again. “I’m not taking any chances with you and your safety anymore. And he is watching us, you’re right. Let’s lose him on the next corner. If he shows up again, we’ll know we’ve got problems. Maybe he’s just trying to clear the streets and restore order. But if he is a problem, he’s our problem, you understand? We’re in this together, Rain.”
“Okay,” I mumbled.
As we jogged, the tension dissolved a little, and Jabari looked down at me. “We’re going to survive this, soul mate. I promise.” He smiled at me encouragingly, and I wanted to pretend he had made me feel reassured.
“I hope you’re right, Jabari…”
But even as we put more distance between us and our pursuer, doubts filled my head. Nata had left our zone without the traitor she sought in custody. She had scared the people here, sure. But would she be back to continue the interrogation? Did this guard have something to do with it? Or was he following us for another reason completely? And was he following Jabari and me? Jabari alone? Or just me?
Excerpt compliments of Winter Goose Publishing
Author Bio:
Sarah Elle Emm is the author of the HARMONY RUN SERIES, a young-adult fantasy and dystopian series, released in May 2012 by Winter Goose Publishing. (PRISMATIC, May 2012, OPALESCENT, February 2013, CHATOYANT, September 2014, NACREOUS set for release August 2015) Her debut fiction novel, MARRYING MISSY, an Amazon Best Seller in marriage, was published by Bird Brain Publishing in October 2011. Sarah is a graduate of The University of Evansville, she has lived and worked in Mexico, Germany, England, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and has traveled extensively beyond. Her love of journal writing, travel, and multicultural experience have all influenced her novels. Sarah lives in Naples, Florida with her husband, Chef and Restaurateur Charles Mereday, and their two daughters. When she’s not walking the plank of her daughters’ imaginary pirate ship or snapping photos of Southwest Florida scenery, she is writing.
Join her website blog for book updates and enjoy her photo blog, Sarah’s View from the Bottom. Sarah is also on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Visit her Chef Husband’s restaurant website here. Sarah’s novels are available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Author Links:
Website: http://www.SarahElleEmm.com
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sarah-Elle-Emm/146731658742629
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarahelleemm
Instagram: http://instagram.com/sarahelleemm
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5354926.Sarah_Elle_Emm
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Sarah-Elle-Emm/e/B0063X57K6/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Amazon UK author page: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sarah-Elle-Emm/e/B0063X57K6
January 11, 2015
Book Blitz with Giveaway: Unhidden by Dina M. Given
Title: Unhidden (The Gatekeeper Chronicles, Book #1)Author: Dina M Given
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Horror
Release Date: Dec. 29, 2014
Hosted by: Lady Amber's Tours
Book Description:It’s not always easy to differentiate between the good guys and the bad guys, especially when a trained killer may be falling in love with her evil hunter…
Emma Hayes, a former military Special Forces Operative turned mercenary-for-hire, finds her tightly controlled world turned upside down when she becomes the target of attacks by powerful supernatural creatures.
Emma must use every skill in her arsenal to stay alive as she tries to solve the mystery of why she has been targeted. Her list of enemies keeps growing - from Zane Shayde, an evil Mage, to a secret branch of the US government - and she doesn't know if there is anyone left she can trust.
To complicate matters further, Emma is inexplicably drawn to Zane in a way she does not quite understand, even knowing her life is forfeit if captured. Who is he and why does he have this effect on her? How can she fight someone who calls to her, body and soul?
Emma is left haunted by questions, doubts and fears as to why she has been targeted, when they will come for her next, and how she will possibly survive against an enemy she doesn't understand.
Author Bio:
Dina Given lives in rural New Jersey – home of farms, horses and the largest hot air balloon festival in North America – with her husband, two crazy kids, and one rescue dog. She is an exercise enthusiast and avid lover of food and wine (hence the need to exercise). Dina also works full time for one of the largest healthcare companies in the world. She attributes her ability to juggle family, work and writing to her obsessive, hyper-focused, Type A personality.
Author Links:
http://www.dinagiven.com
https://www.Facebook.com/DinaGivenAuthor
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8394925.Dina_Given
Excerpt:Claws, teeth, and a slavering black tongue rose over me as I lay prone on the floor. It could have easily ripped my throat out or killed me in a dozen hideous ways. It seemed to realize this, too. Its jaw cracked and popped, unhinging so wide it could make a meal of my head in one bite. Hot, putrid saliva dripped onto my face, leaking into my open wound and searing it like acid. I hissed at the sensation and turned away; however, I couldn’t escape its fetid breath.
It leaned in, eager and hungry, while I was frozen. I would meet death in the jaws of an inhuman beast. It would drink my blood, feast on my organs, and gnaw on my bones for dessert.
Darko’s hoarse voice called from down the hall. “Don’t kill her! We need her.”
The thing paused and let out a high-pitched wail of anger at being deprived of its dinner. The sound shattered my fear.
I threw up a knee, violently slamming it in the creature’s crotch. Thankfully, it was humanoid enough, that it had the same effect as any other male. He howled and rolled off me into the fetal position. I immediately scrambled backward, sliding along the marble floor. My left arm, screaming in pain, remained limp at my side.
With my right arm, I reached over my head to grab the gun. As my fingers wrapped around the grip, the familiar feeling was like coming home again.
I pointed the Glock down the length of my body, and without a moment’s hesitation, I pulled the trigger in three quick, precise squeezes. The head of the creature I had nut-cracked exploded in a spray of blood and gore.
Shifting the gun’s sight, I found the second creature barreling down the hall toward me. The first three shots hit him square in the chest, yet he hardly slowed. I lifted the gun slightly, took a deep breath and held it, then squeezed the trigger, putting a round straight through its eye and into its brain. That time, it stumbled yet still kept coming. I put four more rounds into its head, not missing a shot, before it finally crashed to the floor only inches shy of my feet.
Darko merely stood there, a sly, half-smile tugging at the corner of his mouth while I unsteadily got to my feet, pushing myself up with my gun hand. Despite the fact that Darko carried no weapon I could see, for a moment, I considered shooting him. He had set me up, kidnapped an innocent girl, and commanded those creatures. Even though he had stopped them from killing me, I was sure he wouldn’t hesitate if he got what he wanted from me.
With him only a few yards away, I had a clear shot. I pointed my weapon at him, and for the first time today, he reacted. The blood drained from his face, his eyes darting around, seeking escape. He quickly came to the same conclusion I had—there was no escape for him.
My finger tightened on the trigger, but before I could get off the shot, a monstrous animal bounded from the shadows behind him. It leapt past Darko, springing at me on all fours. It was the size of a bear with dry, scaly skin, and a mouth full of sharp teeth. Two tusks extended from the roof of its mouth, past its jaw. It bellowed like a foghorn as it charged me.
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