Cherie Colyer's Blog, page 19

Merlin's Apprentice Cover Reveal, Excerpt and Giveaway

 

I'm thrilled to be a part of the Merlin's Apprentice the Mage Cover Reveal organized by Silver Dagger Tours. Susan McCauley will be awarding a $10 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter.

Merlin's Apprentice: The Mage

by Susan McCauley

Genre: Epic Middle Grade Arthurian Fantasy

Twelve-year-old Pip must embrace his magical powers to rescue his family from slavery—or help the king save the realm—a decision that will tear his world apart.

Desperate to keep his family together, Pip hides his power so he can be sold with them. But when his father and brother are sold to different mages and the slavers attempt to separate his mother and sister, Pip loses control and injures a slaver with magic. The uproar catches the attention of the southern king’s druid advisor, Merlin, who quickly offers a place to Pip, his sister, and his mother. On the road to King Arthur’s court, bandits attack their camp, and his family is further torn apart. Pip has no choice but to work with Merlin—who may not be the evil mage Pip assumes him to be—to learn to harness his powers so he can help King Arthur stop Mordred. Only then might Pip have a chance to see his family together again.

Goodreads* Amazon

Rain slapped Pip’s face and slithered beneath his tunic, running cold down his back and into his britches. These weren’t the usual autumn mists, but bone-chilling rain. Mud churned beneath his feet, sticking in clumps to his tattered, tired boots. They shouldn’t be out trudging the roads today. They shouldn’t be out at all. No one should. But today they didn’t have a choice. Today all the villagers had to attend a summons.

No one knew what this summons would be about. The magistrate had already issued a proclamation setting a new harvest quota for the ordinarius, and if it wasn’t met, King Mordred would take more than just taxes. He would take flesh.

So they’d all had to help. Even his little sister, Mary, had worked her tiny fingers raw pulling turnips in the garden. If only they lived south—in King Arthur’s realm—then surely their lives would be easier. King Arthur was supposed to be a fair king. Pip sighed and trudged along behind his parents. Mother and Da had said maybe the taxes would increase, or maybe the rations would decrease. Pip knew that whatever the magistrate had to say, it wouldn’t be good. He was a pig who only cared for himself.

The rain dulled to a heavy mist, and a group of ravens flew and twisted in the sky, their wings nearly blacking out the pale winter sun. One dove toward Pip, its caw shattering the cool morning silence and filling Pip’s belly with dread. He stopped and stared, watching the flock disappear into a smear of darkness.

“Pip. Hurry up, lad! Stop your daydreaming,” his father bellowed. “We can’t be late for a summons.”

A shiver of power tingled over Pip’s skin as he watched the last of the ravens disappear into the morning mist and then ran to catch up with Da and the rest of his family.

“Did you see the ravens, Da?” Pip whispered so his little sister Mary couldn’t hear.

Da stopped and looked at the sky. He crossed himself and shook his head, his brow furrowed with worry. “I didn’t see any. And I pray to God there were no ravens, lad. There’s too much darkness about already.”

Pip’s stomach twisted in knots. Da hadn’t seen any ravens, only Pip had. Maybe it was another vision. They’d only come since he’d discovered he was magus, and he still wasn’t used to having visions. Real or imagined, though, surely ravens were an omen of things to come. But the magus wouldn’t possibly take more from the ordinarius families. They’d taken enough already.

“When I’m a mage,” Pip swore to his sister, “I’ll make sure every ordinarius and magus is treated fairly. Then none of us will need to worry about village summons or selfish magistrates.”

“Shhhst,” Mother hissed, eyes like whips, head twisting from side to side to see if anyone had overheard.

Da grimaced, and Galen glared. Galen. Pip scowled; his older brother always sided with their mother. Pip had never been close to Galen. His brother was old enough to work the fields when Pip was born, and they’d never spent much time together. The only time Galen ever spoke to Pip was to criticize him on his handling of a chore or to try to stop him from using magic. No wonder he was Mother’s favorite.

Pip gazed at the barren field around them. The closest villagers were several paces away. “There’s no one close enough to hear us,” he protested.

“I said not to speak of it.” Mother’s words were clipped, her eyes colder than the morning rain.

Pip held his breath and then let it out slowly instead of speaking his mind. He was glad to be a magus, even if he was new to his power, which had come after his twelfth birthday, just passed. But his family had told no one. Not yet. Mother had been especially strict that no one should speak of it. No one should know. Maybe it was because he’d only discovered his power. Maybe it was because no one else in his family had any magic. Mother was just being suspicious when she should be proud.

Pip wrapped his arm around his little sister and whispered. “When I’m apprenticed to become a mage, I’ll be sure to learn more than a few tricks to keep you safe and happy.” He tweaked her nose and she giggled.

They made their way along the muddy lane to their village, which lay south of the hill fortress at Etin, a two days’ march north of Hadrian’s Wall. Both magi-soldiers and battle mages sometimes skirted their village, yet they never stayed. It was a poor place, but the local mage lord who oversaw the ordinarius farms was kind enough. It was Mordred’s edicts that were harsh, forcing ordinarius families to cut back on their own rations to provide more to his court and the magus class ruled by the cruel northern king. And all because ordinarius had no magic. Because they were not magus. It was so unfair. At least there were more ordinarius than magus in the world; otherwise, there would be no end to the work they did for the magus class.

When they arrived at the small muddy square that marked the village center—usually decorated for festivals or alive with peddlers selling their wood or tin or cloth—it was empty of festivities. Armed magi-soldiers dressed in black and blood red, Mordred’s colors, lingered at the perimeter. Their swords gleamed in the pale morning light and their wary eyes darted from face to face.

Mordred’s soldiers were here. Fear shot through Pip’s veins. He peered around the square taking in the magi-soldiers’ armor, embossed with silver runes. Da had long ago taught him and Galen to identify the magi symbols to stay clear of trouble. He saw none of the plain clothed magi with their green sashes, nor any magi marked with the golden runes or red sashes of a battle mage. Still, they’d never had soldiers here for a proclamation before. Something was different. Something was wrong.

Susan McCauley is an award winning author of paranormal, fantasy, and horror for adults, young adults, and middle grade readers. She first fell in love with the paranormal when she was three years old and scared witless on Disney's Haunted Mansion ride, but begged her parents to ride again and again! Susan has lived on all three coasts of the United States, as well as having spent a few years in the U.K. She loves to travel, snorkel, practice taekwondo, read, try new restaurants, watch movies, and go to the theatre. She’s also passionate about animals and has a special place in her heart for cats.

You can visit her on the web at www.sbmccauley.com

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the reveal HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$10 Amazon

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Book Tour, Guest Post, and review: People of the Sun by Ben Gartner

 
I'm excited to be a host for the People of the Sun virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Ben Gartner will be awarding a $50 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to follow the tour. The more you comment the better your chances of winning.

Please help me welcome Ben Gartner to my blog!

Guest Post
5 Pros and Cons of Writing Middle Grade

Pros

1. Kids are awesome. Kids are entirely candid. If they loved a part of the book, they’ll gush. If they were confused by a part, they’ll ask. They’ll tell you what they think. Sometimes they may not know how to articulate their inner thoughts, but even just a facial expression or body language can reveal so much truth.

2. Teachers and librarians are awesome. Since it’s harder to reach kids directly (see the cons list), the primary gatekeepers for children’s books are teachers, librarians, and parents. Working closely with teachers and librarians is a joy. Parents too, of course, but teachers and librarians are the shepherds of the flock. They’re sincerely heroes in my book. I can say this with all honesty because I tried teaching a class of first graders while volunteering with AmeriCorps and I did not have the stamina for it. Tutoring English in small groups was exactly my cup of tea. And working in an impoverished area gave me a gigantic respect for all the challenges that teachers have to deal with on a daily basis. Their work is hugely important.

3. It’s fun. Writing middle grade is gloriously fun. You still have to respect the rules of a world you create (kids are stickler about this!), but you’re free to create any world you like. Sure, you can do this in adult books too, but it’s a lot easier in middle grade to incorporate magical elements or fantastical ideas without worrying about legitimacy. Raining gumballs? Sure! Magic portal to another world? Yes, please!

4. The middle grade community is wonderfully supportive and uplifting. I’ve made so many friends along this writing journey. This also ties directly into #2 above.

5. Kids are awesome. It bears repeating because the middle years are when we can still slip into our imagination with such enviable ease. And, at the same time, these formative years when we’re pushing our own physical and emotional bounds are such a time of cerebral growth that it’s amazing what we go through. Kids are awesome.


Cons

1. It’s harder to reach your audience directly. Not a huge deal, see #2 in Pros. But, when you do (such as school visits), it’s super fun. See #1 in Pros.

2. Some adults sometimes see “children’s books” as somehow less than adult books. However, and I love this, often if you ask them to name a book that had a profound impact on their life, they cite . . . you guessed it, a “children’s” book.

3. I honestly can’t think of any more. Sorry, I guess this article’s title is a misnomer. But that’s okay, right kids?!


Thank you for having me on your blog! If people would like to learn more about me or my books, the best place to find me is my website:
https://BenGartner.com

I’m also active on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/BGartnerWriting

A bit less on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/BGartnerWriting

And I’m really bad at Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/BenGartnerAuthor

My books are available wherever books are sold! Again, thanks for having me.


About the book, review, and excerpt

PEOPLE OF THE SUN
by Ben Gartner
Genre: Middle Grade, Action-Adventure, Time Travel, Historical Fiction

Blurb

The explosive reveal about who John and Sarah really are and why they’re traveling through time, with their most gut-wrenching challenge yet.

In the time of the Aztec, a scoundrel named Cortés arrives and the kids are forced to make an extremely difficult decision: If you could change history, should you? For more twists, more danger, and more fun, read the third book in The Eye of Ra series, People of the Sun!

Buy LinksAmazon  |  Local bookstore  |  Apple  |  B&N  Kobo  |  Everywhere else


My thoughts
When I found out People of the Sun is the 3rd book in the Ra Series, I was a little worried I'd be lost, but Ben Gartner does a nice job of weaving in enough detail from the first two books to keep that from happening. John and Sarah are adventurous siblings who possess the ability to time travel, and their assistance is needed to save the universe. No pressure! When two unexpected people from the future visit, John and Sarah aren't left with much choice. They're the only ones who can correct the timeline and save the future. But time travel is tricky. Change the wrong event, and things can take a turn for the worse. John and Sarah might even zap themselves out of existence. 
There are a lot of twists and turns in this middle-grade adventure, and I enjoyed being a part of the journey. I recommend this book for kids and adults alike. It's just such a fun read. (However, do start with the first book. This way, you can have even more time to spend in this world.)
 
Peek between the pages
When they came out of a pine forest and could see the lake below, with Tenochtitlan as a dazzling island city, John couldn’t help but mutter, “Wow.”

He heard his sister mumble the same thing.

The city sparkled and spread out with a much bigger footprint than John had imagined. He’d heard of the famed city of the Aztec, but he’d always pictured something . . . smaller. This was a regular metropolis, with suburbs and floating islands and multiple huge temples. Canoes drifted on canals like the pictures he’d seen of Venice in Italy, though these canoes were loaded with goods headed to market. Farther out into the lake, men cast nets and brought up flopping silver fish, their scales sparkling in the sun.

John’s mouth watered when he saw a floating garden bursting with leafy greens. The rectangular plot of land had poles sticking out of each side, securing boards that held the dirt like a raised garden bed back home. But this was in the middle of the lake. John squinted at the marvel of it all.

The sound of sloshing water pulled his stare toward a stone trough that started in the hills and was then suspended on man-made islands right across the lake and into the city. “An aqueduct?”

“For our drinking water,” Ome said.

“But you’re on a lake,” John said, implying that there was fresh water all around.

“Lake Texcoco is too salty to drink. Great for the fish, bad for the people,” Huitzi said.

“There are dikes that keep some fresh water close to the island, but that is used for farming,” Ome added.

Wow. John never knew that either. They lived on a lake and yet had to build a system of aqueducts to bring in safe drinking water. Amazing.

GIVEAWAY 
One randomly drawn winner will receive a $50 Amazon/BN GC.
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About the author:
Ben Gartner is the award-winning author of The Eye of Ra time travel adventure series for middle graders. His books take readers for a thrilling ride, maybe even teaching them something in the meantime. Ben can be found living and writing near the mountains with his wife and two boys. https://BenGartner.com

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Instagram

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Book Tour & Giveaway: Two Truths and One Liar by Deirdre Riordan Hall

I'm thrilled to be a part of the Two Truths and One Liar virtual book tour organized by Xpresso Book Tours. Deirdre Riordan Hall will be awarding a $20 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter.

Two Truths and One Liar
Deirdre Riordan Hall
Publication date: December 27th 2021
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult

Knives Out meets One of Us is Lying with a hint of the Inheritance Games. Like the original whodunnit, Clue, this suspenseful mystery also has three possible endings explaining what could have happened.

They all have secrets. They all have motives. They all tell lies.

Every year, at a prestigious boarding school, Professor Groff hosts the Midnight Masquerade. But this year, before the festivities, he’s discovered dead in his office. Yet six students still receive invitations. The same six students who’re questioned about his murder.

The show must go on. At the Masquerade, two additional students claim to know the truth. The lights go out and when they come back on, one of them is dead. Anyone could’ve been at fault.

Francisca blind in one eye and deadly on the rugby field. Toshi a number ninja and the campus punching bag. Taz who struggles with anxiety and lingers in the shadows. Fish the golden boy hiding wounds and not only in his heart. Caroline the heiress and the image of perfection. Gorgeous George the resident Greek God with nothing to lose.

The six receive anonymous notes, making them question themselves and the assumptions they’ve made about each other. Brought back together, they must prove their innocence before the all-school meeting the next morning, otherwise, they risk humiliation if their secrets are exposed exposed—and worse, if they’re found guilty.

It’s a long night of theft, danger, and threats by a secret society that shows Professor Groff was right during his final lecture.

Everything that can go wrong will.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

Dean Hammond straightens a stack of papers then looks up. With a severe lift to her eyebrow, she scans those of us present, and then says, “Oliver Groff was found dead in his office at 3:22 pm, shortly after his last class of the day.”

A weight in my stomach sinks just as it did when Arpad made the announcement in the dining hall. Questions roll through my mind and collide when the realization hits me full force. He was alive, teaching earlier today, making dire pronouncements about how basically everything sucks.

Boy, was he right. Now, he’s gone.

The circumstances were different the first and second times someone in my life died but the familiar emptiness, the void, vacancy returns—or maybe it never left.

“Yeah, we heard—” George’s tone tells me he wants to say something more about loss and tragedy, something sentimental perhaps, but he’s hard-wired for nonchalance as the campus crush and most likely to smoke, hook up, and skip classes.

Caroline clasps her hands in front of her chest. Her knuckles pale. “I’m so sorry to hear that.” She pauses. “He was an…efficient teacher.”

I imagine she struggles to think of a nice thing to say about Groff. I sneak a glance at the others because I can’t be the only one wondering why we’re here.

Arpad already announced the news in the Refectory. There’s a good chance not everyone was there. Hammond inhales.

“Francisca Thompson-Sanchez, nice seeing you again.”

Francisca’s expression doesn’t suggest the feeling is mutual, although she is wearing a mud-streaked rugby uniform and likely feels as out of place in the plush office as I do.

“Can you please tell me where you were from the end of English class until now?” Hammond asks.

She focuses on something on the wall behind the dean but her hands tremble slightly. “I went to talk to Mr. Groff after class, but he looked, um, busy. Then I went to the bathroom.” She glances at Caroline. “Uh, then my dorm, followed by rugby practice, and then the Refectory.”

Arpad writes rapidly on a yellow pad.

Hammond’s penetrating gaze lands on a math whiz, gamer kid whose dorm room is by the day student room in my dorm. “I was at the Library then Refectory.” He speaks clearly, but he’s all-over sweaty.

“Tazmin King?” Hammond says, going down the line.

“Taz,” she corrects. Eyeliner stains the space around her big brown eyes like she’s been crying. “After class, I went to my dorm and then dinner. If Oliver died, it was because of a broken heart,” she blurts. Emotion streaks across her features, but she captures it and makes it disappear.

“And how would you know that, Tazmin?” Hammond’s tone is dark.

“It’s none of our business,” she answers. Then it’s as though she ghosts even though she’s still in the room with us. Hammond barely conceals a look of disgust.

“Moving on. John?”

“Maybe the professor was tired of his life and wanted to escape. Suicide? Or maybe he just wanted out. Faked it. On a plane to Tahiti.”

By Hammond’s pinched expression, I instantly realize this is the wrong answer. My sweat now rival’s Toshi’s. I cannot get kicked out. I cannot afford to go back to Burningham. Whatever this is about… I cannot lose my spot here.

“No, we found the body. Poetic though. However, the question was where were you this afternoon?” Accusation fills Hammond’s tone.

“I’m sorry, ma’am. I misunderstood. I was in the dayroom at my dorm, Varth Dader, then lacrosse practice in the lower fields.”

She glances at me dismissively and nods at Caroline. I know all too well not to allow relief to replace the nerves inside. Best to stay alert.

“I was with the Promenade committee, finalizing some items for tomorrow. Wait. You’re not canceling prom because of this are you?” Typical Caroline, always concerned about her agenda.

The goth girl, Taz, narrows her eyes. “It should be after the tree went up in a blaze and now Oliver, I mean Professor Groff, is dead.”

Hammond hardly looks at them. “Ladies, that’s none of your concern. Now, George. If you please.”

“I was in the student center. You can ask Mrs. Carson.” He smirks. Likely, he was hooking up with someone.

“Do any of you have a reason to want Oliver Groff dead?” Hammond’s question is like a stone thrown in a lake. The ripples of this implication could be devastating.

Author Bio:

Deirdre Riordan Hall is the author of the contemporary young adult bestsellers Sugar and Pearl as well as the High School Murder Mystery series. She’s in an ongoing pursuit of words, waves, and wonder. Her love language involves a basket of chips, salsa, and guacamole, preferably when shared with her family.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Newsletter

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Book Tour & Giveaway: Tripp Unleashed by Darren Simon

 

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I'm delighted to be a part of the Tripp Unleasehd virtual book tour organized by Silver Dagger Book Tours. Darren Simon will be awarding a $20 Amazon to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter at the end of the tour. 

Tripp Unleashed

by Darren Simon

Genre: Middle-Grade Fantasy 

Tripp Taylor is a teenager trying to hide his genetic disorder and live a normal life, but that’s hard to do when the smallest morsel of food and the tiniest sip of liquid bring about a change in him—a metamorphosis he cannot control, making him a danger to himself and those around him. At least that’s what he’s been told by his father and the doctor who has devoted his life to finding a cure.

By day, Tripp plays by their rules. By night, Tripp journeys through the city from one convenience store to the next to taste real food (frozen burritos are his favorite). Then comes the night when he chooses the wrong convenience store, for on that night an armed robber enters the store and threatens everyone’s life. From that first transformation come others, and soon Tripp finds himself on a collision course with destiny as a madman pushes him to use his powers, a government that fears him tries to control him, and dark secrets lead him down a dangerous path—one that could make him a hero or twist him into a monster. And that all depends on whether he survives, and the odds aren’t in his favor.

Add to Goodreads

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A gurgle rose from deep in my stomach. A belch escaped my lips. Everyone could hear. Searing heat spread like lava flowing through my veins into my heart, pumping the molten liquid through my arteries out to my limbs, setting them afire. I hunched over and screamed. The robber took a step toward me. “What the—?”
I screamed again. My knees buckled. I clutched my stomach. Something grew inside of me, pushing its way out. My body twisted. The woman shrieked. Her eyes bulged in horror at whatever was happening to me. She turned her head away, covering her face with her hands.
“Holy crap.” The clerk bent over as if to vomit. His chest heaved. Lips parted to let out the spew.
A muffled cry escaped my throat. God, make it stop! My bones cracked louder. What had I done? What beast had I unleashed? My pain subsided. Gasping for air, I glanced up.
The woman fell to her knees. The clerk gripped the counter with both hands. His arms trembled.
The gun-wielding punk slumped against a display of potato chips. His mouth agape in a silent scream. He staggered to his feet, gun aimed at my head. “What are you?”
“I… I don’t know.” My voice sounded gurgled, like I was speaking underwater. Instead of arms, I had four long green tentacles covered in suction cups. A security mirror on the ceiling revealed the rest of my transformation. Bile rose halfway up my throat. I was going to be sick.
My hair fell away. Lizard green scales covered my bald head. I no longer had a nose—just two tiny slits. My brown eyes, larger and spread farther apart, glowed yellow. I’d become a walking squid, a new horror even for me.
A round exploded from the robber’s gun. The bullet pierced one tentacle, plunging deep into my flesh. Blood spewed. The tentacle recoiled from the pain, ten times worse than any wasp sting. I drew shallow, quick breaths through clenched teeth. “Uhhhh!’
An animalistic desire for survival took over. I became the prey facing a predator in the ocean deep. I should flee. I didn’t owe the others trapped in the store anything, especially my life. Squids are loners. We save ourselves.
No, I couldn’t abandon them. I had to become the predator. I launched my tentacle arms at the gunman. Two wrapped around each of his hands. I squeezed until he yelped, dropping the gun. The weapon clattered to the floor. With my other two tentacles, I grabbed his shoulders, then dragged him closer.

Darren Simon, who is a longtime college English teacher and former newspaper journalist, is the author of five middle-grade/young adult fantasy, urban fantasy and historical fantasy books and two horror short stories published in anthologies. He writes for younger readers to inspire them as readers the way he was inspired as a youth first by the comic books he read, then the Choose Your Own Adventurebooks, and then the fantasy and science fiction novels that became so important to him—and still are. He lives in California’s desert Southwest with his family, including his wife, two sons and two crazy dogs.

Website* Facebook * Twitter * Instagram* Amazon* Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$20 Amazon

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Chatting with author Kassandra Garrison

I'm delighted to welcome Kassandra Garrison to my blog. Her book, The Walls We Built, is celebrating its 1 year anniversary. 


Hi, Kassandra! Thanks for joining us today. 
Can you tell us about your main character? Charlotte Pryor is an introvert who would rather read books than chance more heartbreak. She is witty, blunt, funny, and deeply loyal to those close to her (not many). After her mom and brother left without an explanation, Charlotte remains guarded but college and a persistent boy named Ezra will challenge her way of thinking.

What are you reading? I am currently reading Uninvited by Lysa Terkeurst. My previous read was Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon.

What is your favorite comfort food? CARBS. Cake, pasta, bread… give me all the carbs!


Now for the speed round...
Good guys or bad guys? Good guys with special skills.
Good girls or bad girls? Good girls who work to discover how great they are.
Morning or night? Morning
Favorite food? Lo Mein
Favorite beverage? Coffee
Coffee or tea? Coffee
eBook, paperback, or audiobook? Paperback
Plotter or Pantster? Plotter but things change as I write
Favorite season? Fall
Dogs or cats? Dogs
Favorite holiday? Christmas
Favorite movie? Pride and Prejudice (the Keira Knightly version!)
Ironman or Superman? Ironman only because he’s in the Marvel Universe (otherwise, Superman)
Wonder Woman of Top Model? Wonder Woman
Night on the town or cozy evening in? Cozy evening in (total introvert)
Favorite book? Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Sandell
Favorite fictional world? Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunters
Last book read? Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
Black or white? Depends on what it is
Stilettos or flipflops or sneakers? Flipflops if I have to wear shoes
Favorite song? I change it up quite a bit but I love Ed Sheeran, Dean Lewis, and James Arthur
Chicken or steak? Chicken
Cake, cookies, or pie? Cake
Favorite junk food? Chocolate! (Specifically dark chocolate with sea salt caramel)
Favorite thing to do to relax? Bake, read, or walk
Paranormal or Historical:? Historical
Favorite TV show? The Great British Baking Show, Outer Banks, New Girl
Hot or cold? Depends on what it is but I would rather be hot than cold
Favorite vacation? Bahamas (Swam with the dolphins!)
Beach or mountains? Beach 100%

About the book

The Walls We BuiltAuthor: Kassandra GarrisonGenre: YA Fiction/Romance

Blurb
At the young age of eight, Charlotte Pryor was abandoned by her mother and brother without an explanation. Left only with her father, Charlotte pushes away anyone who could hurt her. Now at college, she is forced to interact with her peers and a particularly persistent guy who challenge the walls she worked so hard to build. Through lessons about life, love, and heartbreak, Charlotte and her family learn there is more to life than hiding behind walls.
Read it today

Amazon

Peek between the pages
His eyes searched my face as I smiled up at him, one of his hands leaving my waist to gently cup my chin. Electricity shot through every vein in my body as his soft, warm lips touched mine. Ezra’s lips grazed over mine tenderly before he pulled away, a grin pulling the corner of his lips upward. The cold night air and snow dusting our hair had no match to the warmth his kiss made me feel as we continued to dance, snow falling silently around us.





About the author:
Kassandra Garrison has always been a book lover. After earning her Bachelor's in Business Administration, she decided to follow her lifelong dream and share her stories with others by writing her first novel, The Influencers. She currently lives with her husband and high school sweetheart, Joseph, along with their daughter, Nora. In her free time, she enjoys baking, drinking coffee, and taking her rescue dogs on walks.

Connect with author Instagram  | Facebook  |  Goodreads  |  Amazon

This is my word... what's yours?

 

Welcome to 2022! I hope it's off to an amazing start. 
Last year, I set a list of goals, which I will admit I forgot about halfway through the very busy year. Looking back on my goals, I didn't do too badly. The two I failed to achieve and wish I had are to drive somewhere to specifically watch the sunrise and to drive somewhere to specifically watch the sunset. Maybe I'll do both in 2022.
This year, I'm taking a page out of Bryn Donovan's newsletter and choosing a theme word for 2022. My word is...
Inspired
I used to be easily inspired, which made it easy to be positive and see the cup as half full even when it was almost empty. When I was inspired, I inspired others. But certain events in my life stifled my inspiration. Over the last couple of years, I've worked hard to get back to me. I'm almost there. So in 2022, I aspire to be inspired. And hopefully, I'll inspire others to do the same. 

Do you want to choose a theme word? Did you set goals last year? How did you do? 

Book Blast: Their New Year's Beginning by Michelle Major

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Michelle Major will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

 

At the stroke of midnight, a stranger’s kiss changes everything…

Brian Fortune doesn’t think he will ever find the woman he kissed at his brother's New Year's wedding. So when the search for the provenance of a mysterious gift leads him into a local antique store a few days later, he's stunned to find Emmaline Lewis, proprietor—and mystery kisser! Surprise turns to shock when he realizes that she's also six months pregnant. Brian has never been the type to commit—and he’s really not ready to become a family man in one fell swoop! But suddenly he knows he’ll do anything to stay at Emmaline's side—for good…

Peek between the pages
I do need you. So much. Emmaline’s heart pounded with all the things she wanted to say to him. But those things would just make her look like a bigger fool. She’d already let her heart stay in the lead for far too long.

“I’m a soon-to-be single mother living in a small town in Texas.” She pointed a finger at him. “You’re a big-city bachelor who likes your freedom and your uncomplicated life. I’m a box of complications, Brian.”

“The past month has seemed simple enough to me,” he murmured. “Why does that have to change?”

Because I’m in love with you, she wanted to scream. But she didn’t. It was bad enough that she felt as though she was dying on the inside. She couldn’t bring herself to invite outright rejection from him. If he wanted more, he’d tell her.

“We’ve had fun,” she said, which was only a tiny bit of the truth between them. “I’ll keep up the research on the sculpture and let you know if I find anything.”

“That’s it?” He blew out a long breath.

“Is there something more?” she asked, hoping beyond hope that he’d give her some sign that her fears weren’t founded. All she needed was one tiny reason to launch herself into his arms and ask him to stay.

Their gazes held, and she could almost feel the current of electricity running between them. Emmaline wanted to believe that Brian would tell her something more. That he would give her what she needed to hear, the admission of love she was too afraid to say to him.

 About the author: USA Today bestselling author Michelle Major loves stories of new beginnings, second chances and always a happily ever after. An avid hiker and avoider of housework, she lives in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains with her husband, two teenagers, and a menagerie of spoiled furbabies. Connect with her at www.michellemajor.com.
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Cover Reveal and Giveaway: Mirrors and Mysteries by Christina Bauer

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Christina Bauer will award a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. In addition, the author is running an additional giveaway to celebrate this cover reveal. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Isn't this cover stunning!

Rapunzel meets Jane Eyre in the epic conclusion of this fairy tale romance!
Grayson Eyre has left her old life behind. She’s no longer stuck serving Lady R, a sadistic Rapunzel from the Lowood clan of elves. Instead, Grayson now teaches at the Thornfield home for shifter orphans. Even better, her boss is none other than the sexy alpha, Dex. It’s all good until a mysterious witch, Jocasta, appears in a nearby tower, demanding that Dex and Grayson discover the true nature of all Rapunzels. If not, Lady R will return to claim Grayson… and Thornfield will be wiped out by the evil Prism Master. Can Dex and Grayson discover the truth in time? And what will it mean for their growing attraction?
Secrets are revealed and feelings explored in this epic conclusion to the story of Dex and Grayson!

Peek between the pages
Grayson

My escape spell dropped me off on a random floor somewhere. Literally. Talk about awkward. For a moment, all I can focus on is the literal pain in my butt.

“Okay, that hurt,” I murmur.

“Grayson!” Oh, no. That’s the Prism Master.

The mirror dropped me off at the Refraction palace. As in, the one place I did not want to visit.

Rising, I slap on a smile. It’s never worked on the Prism Master before, but it’s not like there are a ton of options here. “I bet you’re wondering how I escaped. You see—”

A shiver runs up my back. It’s so intense, I forget what I was about to say.

What’s happening?

Suddenly, all my nerve endings go on alert. No doubt about it. Someone’s behind me. Inch by inch, I turn around. And there, I see a man.

Not just any man, mind you. He’s the one I’ve daydreamed about. Everything’s perfect, from his strong jawline and full lips to his very long and touchable hair. And the fact that he’s wearing an all-black outfit with a cape? That’s never a bad fashion choice. I may even be drooling a little.

My friend, Elle, keeps telling me that I’ve never met a real guy before. I’ve told to her stop being dramatic. But now? Elle is so right.

The Prism Master addresses the dream man. “If you’ll excuse us, Dex, I must speak with my ward.”

Dex. That’s his name.

I should be worried about the Prism Master and my failed escape attempt. I’m not. Instead, Dex and I stay in a serious state of eye lock. Connections form. Something awakens inside me.

“Dex,” repeats the Prism Master. “I asked you to leave.”

My brows lift. The Prism Master has beaten into my head that I’m a tower tithe, end of story. I must be linked with this Dex. Could he be a Rapunzel? I’d never heard of a male Rapunzel before. But if Dex is one? I’m in.

Dex ignores the Prism Master. “Grayson… Is that your full name?”

“Grayson Eyre,” I reply.

Dex smiles. “Nice to find you.”

My insides get all twisty at those words. I have the strange impulse to grab this guy’s palm and race for the exit. I even raise my hand a little, ready to clasp his.

Suddenly, lights flare all around. A magical wind strikes up. Cords snake out from the mirror behind the Prism Master. A sense of weightlessness surrounds me. Fast as a whip, I’m dragged into the mirror.


About the Author:Christina Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too.

Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby.

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Monster House Books

Mirrors and Mysteries, Book 9 of Fairy Tales of the Magicorum 

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Towers and Tithes, Book 8 of Fairy Tales of the Magicorum 

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A Christmas Cannoli Kiss by Anne Armistead

I'm continuing the holiday romances with A Christmas Cannoli Kiss, a sweet contemporary romance. Enjoy!

Blurb
When Isabella decides to move back home to Pittsburgh, she doesn't expect to meet her teen crush Nate on the flight home…or to find out that he has come back to turn the beloved neighborhood corner bakery into a parking deck—unless Isabella can cook up a solution that will save the bakery and their romance in time for A Christmas Cannoli Kiss.
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Peek between the pages
Her mind wandered to Nate. To call or not to call? That was the question. He didn’t seem to be her type at this point in their lives. He put out definite player vibes, and she swiped left on players. Why get lost in his damn blue eyes again?

Admit it, though, Bella. You are curious. What did he mean about owing you an explanation?

She needn’t hurry to contact him. He’d be in Pittsburgh until Christmas Eve, which was a week away. She faced enough complications at the moment without layering him into them. She ticked off her to-do’s: shopping for new clothes, purchasing a car, finding a place to live, settling in once the moving van arrived. figuring out a new career.

Whew.

A life reset could be overwhelming, if she let it be. For now, she would enjoy the rental car and Christmas with her best friend and her family. She toyed with the car’s audio system until she located a Christmas music station. While humming along to “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” she couldn’t stop grinning. The lyrics did not apply to her anymore.

No more being home only in my dreams…I’m really home, for good.

Browse my blog for more holiday romances!

Her Sugar Cookie Heart by Sarita Leone

 

Today's holiday romance Her Sugar Cookie Heart is filled with Christmas magic and second chances. 



Blurb
Willie Sharpe and Liz Klein were high school sweethearts but their plans to marry in December 1940 are put on hold when war in Europe calls him away. When he returns to the States, he brings a French wife with him.
Twenty years later, Liz has learned to live with her broken heart. The respected New York artist has moved on. The only reminder of her past are the heart shaped cookies she has the local baker snap in half.
Then Willie shows up out of nowhere looking to rekindle their romance. Will it take Christmas magic for Liz to give him a second chance at love?
Read it todayAmazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Peek between the pages
“The usual?”

She held up two fingers. They shook ever-so slightly.

“Ah, a two-cookie kind of day.” He removed two of the bakery’s best-selling heart-shaped cookies and set them on baker’s paper on the counter. After grabbing a white bag, he took first one cookie, then the other, and snapped the frosted hearts in half before placing them in the bag and turning down the top. “Just the way you like ‘em.”

“Thanks.” She pushed two quarters across the glass countertop and took the bag from him with a forced smile. Ignoring the voice behind her didn’t mean that it disappeared. He must still be there, a few steps away and close enough to witness her discomfort. “See you tomorrow.”

“You got it, Liz.” The baker gave her a fast wave.

The moment she avoided couldn’t be put off any longer. She turned to leave and came face to face with the man who’d broken her heart as easily as Bigley snapped sugar cookies.

He stood before her an older man, but she would have recognized him anywhere. The same cornflower-blue eyes, smile that raised one edge of his upper lip higher than the other, and soul-penetrating gaze.

“You haven’t changed a bit.” His voice had grown deeper and held a hint of something she couldn’t put her finger on. Experience, maybe. Who could tell? Tiny wrinkles radiated from the corners of his eyes when he smiled. “Still gorgeous.”

Want more holiday romances? Browse my blog or hop over to Amazon and see the full list of The Wild Rose Press Christmas Cookies series.