Katie Hamstead's Blog, page 21

Blog Tour: Competing with the Star by Krysten Lindsay Hager

Competing with the Starby Krysten Lindsay HagerRelease Date: March 22nd 2016Limitless Publishing
Summary from Goodreads:
The perfect guy, the perfect location. What could go wrong? 

Hadley Daniels’s life seems perfect…

Before the beginning of sophomore year of high school, Hadley and her family move to a beautiful beach town, where she makes amazing new friends and lands the boyfriend of her dreams—Nick Jenkins. He’s the kind of guy every girl swoons over, and it isn’t long until Hadley discovers some are still swooning.

A famous ex-girlfriend makes matters more complicated…

After some time dating, Hadley and Nick form a deep bond. But insecurity sets in when Hadley discovers her boyfriend once had a huge crush on her friend—who just happens to be the beautiful former teen TV star, Simone Hendrickson.

The past is the past—or so they say…

Hadley confronts Nick, who confesses about his history with Simone. Though he claims to only have eyes for Hadley now, it’s hard to believe—especially when she’s blindsided with the news that Nick and Simone kissed after school.

Now Hadley must determine who is telling the truth. Love, betrayal, friendship…who needs soap opera drama when you’re busy competing with a star? 
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Buy Links:Amazon US│Barnes & Noble│Amazon UK│Amazon CA

Next Door to a Star on Goodreads
Excerpt:Two days passed and Nick hadn’t called again. I couldn’t blame him. After all, I had pushed for him to be honest and then had bailed on him. I’m sure he was mad at me for telling him he could tell me the truth and then I punished him for it—and he would be right. I couldn’t handle the icky feelings, and instead of being a big girl and dealing with them, I came home from school and retreated into the world of books. A world where people were kidnapped, jewels were stolen, but nobody’s heart ever got broken because in my favorite series, The Raven Chronicles, Raven’s boyfriend, Fernando, was ever faithful and loyal and would never even look at another girl. He was the perfect book boyfriend. In other words, he was fictional and didn’t exist.I saw I had a text from Simone. Oh great, maybe she was asking for my blessing to go out with Nick, or if I was still planning to go to Watson High School next year so she could make out with him in a different hallway from my locker.  Simone: Are you mad at me? Nick said you’re upset because you found out he used to like me.  Oh fabulous. He told her the whole gross story. Well, of course he did, seeing as how he was always over with her clique and he could tell the love of his life anything.  Me: Whatever. It’s not important.  Simone: He said he hasn’t talked to you in days because you hung up on him and won’t return his messages.  Me: It’s not a big deal.  Simone: It is to him. You hurt him. You know I don’t like him, right?  Me: Did you ever?  Simone: Can we talk about this on the phone? I’m calling you.  I had no choice but to pick up. “Okay, I’m going to be honest with you,” Simone said after I answered the phone. “He was super crazy about me and honestly, it freaked me out a little. And did I think about going out with him? Not right away, but yeah. I thought about it, but he only started to look cute to me once he was with you. I know that sounds super bad, but I didn’t notice him until you guys were a thing.”
“What?” I asked. It felt like my stomach plummeted several stories down.

About the Author Krysten Lindsay Hager is an obsessive reader and has never met a bookstore she didn’t like. She’s worked as a journalist and humor essayist, and writes for teens, tweens, and adults. She is also the author of the Landry’s True Colors Series (True Colors, Best Friends…Forever?, and the soon to be released, Landry in Like) and her work has been featured in USA Today and named as Amazon’s #1 Hot New Releases in Teen & Young Adult Values and Virtues Fiction and Amazon’s #1 Hot New Releases in Children’s Books on Values. She’s originally from Michigan and has lived in South Dakota, Portugal, and southwestern Ohio. She received her master’s degree from the University of Michigan-Flint.

Author Links:Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook
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Blog Tour Organized by:YA Bound Book Tours

Review: Death in Neverland by Heather C. Myers

Death in Neverland by Heather C. Myers 
(Neverland #1) 
Publication date: November 12th 2014 
Genres: Fantasy, Retelling, Young Adult

Description:
In the Neverland, people don’t grow up. Because they’re dead.

Remy Cutler dies, and somehow escapes certain death. She returns to the land of the living with nothing but a ripped gown and a fear of heights.
She plans to escape her arranged marriage by stowing away onto a ship in hopes to leave her home with no one none knowing. However, she is found out, and the sailors aren’t happy. Before any damage can be done, she is yanked from her predicament back to The Neverland, a place where death resides – the very place she escaped from years ago. Souls are ferried by her savior. To her, he’s known as Nick, but to The Neverland, he’s the slippery Nicholas Grey.

The more time Remy spends with Nick and his crew, however, the more she realizes he’s shockingly misunderstood. Pirates aren’t all bad the way gentleman aren’t all good. One such gentleman goes by the name of Peter, and he has nothing but power on his mind and revenge against Grey in his heart. And then there are those that are completely indiscernible, like James Hook, a Viking and ruler of The Other World, whose sole ambition is attaining more souls to rule over, no matter what the cost.

This dark retelling of Peter Pan infuses familiar characters created by J. M. Barrie with new characters and Greek mythology. It is the first in a trilogy.

My Thoughts:
Remy Cutler is a typical upper class girl, sheltered, well trained, snobbish. When she runs away from her arranged marriage, she ends up alive in the underworld; Neverland.
I wouldn't call this a retelling of Peter Pan at all. Yes, it uses familiar characters like Peter and Hook in name, but that's about it. I feel like it's a closer fit to a later period interpretation of Greek Mythology, with Hook taking a sort of Hades position.
That aside, I enjoyed this story. The characters aren't particularly memorable, but the story definitely kept me engaged. I will be reading the rest of the books at some point, since it has a *spoiler* cliff hanger ending. But I found the writing overly heavy with description and "internal dialogue" to the point where it was distracting from the plot and made the pace drag. I think it's also in need of a heavy editor's hand as there were many incorrect spellings/word usage etc.
But, as I said, the plot definitely held my attention, and made me curious enough that I'd like to read what happens in the next book/s.

**Thank you to Xpresso Tours for providing a review copy**

Cover Reveal: A Taste of Death and Honey (The December People Series #3) by Sharon Bayliss

The time has come!! I'm happy to present the cover of book three in The December People Series, A Taste of Death and Honey . I'm so thankful to Curiosity Quills Press for their amazing work. I think it's stunning! And just the right amount of creepy. What do you think?

This book will grab you by the throat, challenge your mind, and turn your heart inside out. Sharon Bayliss delivers a powerful, emotional punch with her third book in the December People series. - Amy Bearce, author of  The World of Aluvia Series

When Samantha’s parents died, she lost everything. Her home. Her friends. Her hope. Then a life-loving spring witch at the children’s shelter fills her life with light and joy once again.
But like the springtime, Samantha’s happiness doesn’t last forever. Her friend dies violently in front of her, the victim of a mysterious killing spell. Furious and grief-stricken, Samantha resents her own weak spring magic. She doesn’t need life and renewal. She wants revenge…and death.
Homeless and alone, Samantha seeks shelter with her old friends, the Vandergraff family, and finds an unexpected ally in the powerful winter solstice witch, Evangeline. The girls’ anger and eagerness lead them to cast a killing spell before knowing the truth behind Samantha’s friend’s death or the identity of her killer. 
Once the spell is cast, they can’t take it back, and they must fight to stop their own curse before it takes away everyone they love.

A Taste of Death and Honey comes out on 6/9/16!! If you're interested in reading it early and writing a review, please sign up here. And if you're new to the series, you can get caught up by reading Destruction (Book One) and Watch Me Burn (Book Two), both available on Amazon and Audible. 

Thank you for your support!

  

Blog Tour: All Over You by Ayden K. Morgen

Welcome to my tour stop on the All Over You Blog Tour! Today, Ayden has a brand new excerpt and teasers for us!

Ivy Kendall's only plan for her life was to teach, but then it all fell apart...

When Rory Clark disappears from UCLA after a lengthy online relationship with a "catfish" pretending to be Ivy, the sassy former model turned kindergarten teacher is forced to dive headfirst into the mystery in order to clear her name. The catfishing phenomenon meets good, old-fashioned police work when Cameron Lewis, a bossy San Francisco detective with a dominant streak, offers to help her uncover the awful truth about her stolen identity and Rory's disappearance.

They've barely scratched the surface when Ivy is charged with a murder she swears she didn't commit.

As the evidence against her piles up and the intense attraction between her and Cameron deepens, Ivy wants nothing more than to lean on the tattooed detective. He's already seen her at her worse. Now she has to find the courage to trust him with her heart. But how can she when she's terrified doing so will ruin his career?

Her greatest fear becomes reality when the ugly truth is revealed and their lives come tumbling down around them. 

Betrayed by the one person she never suspected, Ivy makes a reckless decision that puts her in the sights of a murderer and jeopardizes Cameron's career. He will do whatever it takes to save the woman he loves...even if that means becoming a killer himself.
 
Will he be able to reach her before it's too late, or will Rory's catfish take more than just one life?
All Over You is a completely standalone sister novel to the All Falls Down duo, intended for readers aged 18 and over.
AMAZON (Free on Kindle Unlimited!)| GOODREADS


Excerpt
"You gotta be kidding me," I mumble to myself, my gaze catching on Tall, Dark, and Brooding as I take a drink of water before my first set. He's sitting in the back of the room, looking as gorgeous as he did last night.
He's in jeans and a slate gray t-shirt this time, with his tattoos peeking from beneath the sleeves, drawing my attention. The colorful ink looks amazing against his biceps. He's staring at me again, a devilish smirk on his face.
My stomach dips and spins at the look in his gray eyes. It's pure sex.
I sip my water, watching him over the top of the bottle. When the tip of his tongue peeks out to swipe across his full bottom lip, my hands tremble, causing some of the water to spill down my chin before dripping onto my chest. I gasp and wipe it away, but not quickly enough to keep several drops from trickling down my breasts. My sweetheart dress plunges into a deep V that ends in a flirty little bow around my waist. The bottom flares out at mid-thigh. It's retro and very cute, but I can't wear a bra with it, so my nipples immediately tighten when the cold water spills across my chest. I look around for a napkin to dry myself off, but there isn't one in sight, and the nearest waitress has her back to me, flirting with a group of college students sharing a bottle of whiskey at a table near the stage.
Screw it. It'll be burning hot in here in a few minutes, anyway.
My gaze shifts back to the mystery man in the corner, taking in the way his long fingers wrap around the beer bottle on his table. His gaze roves openly over my breasts, which only makes my nipples that much harder.
He notices.
His cocky smirk grows as he meets my gaze again, a dimple in his cheek popping out.
God, he's hot.
No way am I about to let him know that though.
I arch a brow at him, silently telling him to keep his eyes off my tits.
"You ready?" my drummer, Chad, asks, sliding into position behind his drum set.
"Yep, I'm ready." I set my water aside and step up to the microphone as the rest of the band takes their places. I'm not playing the guitar tonight so I grab the mic from the stand so I can move around a little. My gaze sweeps over the crowd as they quiet down a notch. The place is packed, bodies crammed into every available seat in the house.
Situated close to San Fran State, the audience at the Red Roomis always a little younger than my audience at Mitch's. They're mostly college kids out to let loose and have fun after a hard week of studying. Except for the gorgeous bastard in the back corner, anyway. He's definitely not a college kid. He's all man and he knows it.
He's still watching me when my gaze flickers to him again.
Who is he?
And since when did blatant staring become sexy to me?
I turn to the band and mouth the name of the song I want to open with.
A couple of the guys chuckle at me, knowing damn well I reserve it for instances when someone in the crowd crosses a line and pisses me off, but they don't argue.
"How y'all doing tonight?" I ask the audience, who clap and whistle and shout their responses.
"I'm fucking horny!" One guy shouts after everyone has quieted, causing laughter to erupt around the room.
"I'm sure you are," I tease him before glancing back at the mystery man in the corner and giving him a smirk of my own. Two can play this game of his. "I gotta ask you guys in the room, has anyone ever turned you on so much you just had to do something about it, but you were too chicken shit to actually make a move so you just kind of stared all night?"
"Fuck yeah!" The same guy shouts.
Some of the girls in the crowd boo. One little redhead yells out that he's a creeper. It doesn't deter him. He just laughs along with the room, obviously too drunk to give a shit what anyone thinks about him.
"This one is for you then, sweetheart," I say to him, before moving my gaze back to Tall, Dark, and Brooding, making it clear that I'm talking to him. "Maybe it'll help you grow a pair."
As soon as the last word leaves my lips, Chad counts off behind the drums and then the first bars of Radiohead's Creep roll across the room. The crowd explodes into cheers and laughter, shouting out, "Because I'm a creep!" at the top of their lungs.
I belt out the lyrics, staring right at Tall, Dark, and Brooding.

The gorgeous bastard throws his head back and laughs before lifting his bottle in a mock salute.
*****


About the Author
Ayden lives in the heart of Arkansas with her childhood sweetheart/husband of twelve years, and their five furry minions. When not writing, she spends her time hiking, reading, volunteering, causing mischief, and building a Spork army. Ayden graduated summa cum laude with her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Forensic Psychology in 2009 before going on to complete her graduate degree in CJ and Law. She currently puts her education to use in the social services and CJ field. 
Ayden also writes Young and New Adult fantasy under the penname A.K. Morgen.
You can find her on Twitter, Facebook, or via her website at http://aydenmorgen.com.
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Blog Tour: Embattlement (The Undergrounders #2) by Norma Hinkens

Embattlement (The Undergrounders #2) 
by Norma Hinkens
Genre: YA Dystopian/Sci-fi
Release Date: February 21st 2016

Summary from Goodreads:

Against all odds, Derry and a handful of survivors have escaped the malevolent Doctor Lyong’s clutches, but victory proves bittersweet. No one knows if Owen is dead or alive. The shaky plan to rescue him falls apart when the Council splits over rumors of Owen’s ties to the Craniopolis.

Forced to find new recruits Derry makes the treacherous journey to Shoshane City, home of the mysterious riders. Behind the imposing barricade the city’s leader, Jerome, is hiding secrets. Mutiny and sabotage is afoot and Derry finds herself caught up in a desperate struggle to save the city from being destroyed by The Ghost, a man who swears allegiance to no one. Time is running out to save Owen, and tensions are rising between Jakob and Sven, who may turn out to be a deadly distraction.

Will Derry emerge victorious from the showdown at the Craniopolis, or will the price of freedom mean sacrificing the man she loves?  
Add to GoodreadsImmurement (The Undergrounders #1) on Goodreads
EXCERPT
“What do you think he meant about saving Owen?” Trout looks at me curiously. “I thought he was dead.”“He is,” I say, too sharply.The room falls silent. My brain screams a million thoughts at me. I clench my trembling fingers into fists. It all seems unreal—the kind of heart-stopping nightmare you wake up from, gasping for air, soaked in sweat.After what Won said, I’m questioning everything. What if I’ve made a terrible mistake? What if Owen's still breathing when Lyong finds him? What if they take him to Sektor Sieben and hardwire some kind of circuit board into his brain? I jam my hands into my hair and blow a few listless puffs of air over my face. I’m suddenly burning up in the bunker. I turn around and walk unevenly back to my seat, legs bending like reeds.Big Ed scratches the back of his neck, throws me an uneasy look. The Council members look at me expectantly, but I avert my gaze and sink back in my chair, undone and disconnecting. I have nothing to offer them. All I ever wanted was the chance to step up and be somebody, but that dream’s become my burden. Do they think I can just take over where Owen left off? Lead a teenage flash mob to take on the Schutz Clones.And now that the Sweepers know we have some kind of resistance movement going, they’ll be ready for us when we go back. I groan and bury my face in my hands. When we go back. It’s like I have a subliminal death wish.I save your brother. Won’s words sear my brain. Even more agonizing because the lie preys on my tattered emotions. There’s nothing Won can do that will bring Owen back, but I can’t stop speculating about what he meant. I know what Won’s idea of saving brain-dead participants entails, and the thought of Owen being subjected to anything like that makes me want to put Won’s head on a spike.I rub my hands vigorously over my face as if to scrub the grisly images of Sektor Sieben from my mind. It may be too late to save Owen, but there are others. I owe it to Mason to try and free the rest of the clones. And then there’s the deviations—I felt their silent pleas. The Sweepers have to be stopped.But how?
About the AuthorFor news and special offers join Norma's VIP Reader List at  http://eepurl.com/bDGdIX .

Travel junkie, former professional globetrotter, legend lover, idea wrangler. Norma Hinkens has lived, worked and visited her way across continents, soaking up stories along the way. Her writing is influenced by the resilient characters she met along the way; everyone has a story!

Norma grew up among vibrant storytelling traditions in her native Ireland. She's a legend-loving author who takes a fiendish delight in pushing reluctant characters over cliffs to find out what they’re made of. Epic odds, seemingly impossible missions, pasts that haunt, intrigue and misadventure. She’s happiest when wrangling provocative big picture ideas that are never black and white when you turn them inside out. It’s all about the tension in the journey.

She currently resides in California with her husband, three children and Chihuahua extraordinaire. She is the author of the YA post-apocalyptic Undergrounders Series: Immurement, Embattlement and Adjudgement.
Author Links:Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook
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Book Tour Organized by:
YA Bound Book Tours

Cover Reveal: THE PERILOUS JOURNEY OF THE MUCH TOO SPONTANEOUS GIRL by Leigh Statham

Today Leigh Statham and Month9Books are revealing the cover for THE PERILOUS JOURNEY OF THE MUCH TOO SPONTANEOUS GIRL, book 2 in THE PERILOUS JOURNEY OF THE NOT SO INNOCUOUS GIRL Series! Which releases October 11, 2016! Check out the gorgeous cover and enter to be one of the first readers to receive an eGalley!!Here’s a message from the author.
Why I love the cover: Hello, GOGGLES! I love how artist Christel Michiels captures Marguerite's amazing fashion sense and tech gadgets. Plus this cover, like the first, is just the right mix of danger and fun. Who doesn't love leather gear cuffs and a good tophat?


On to the reveal! 



 Title: THE PERILOUS JOURNEY OF THE MUCH TOO SPONTANEOUS GIRL (THE PERILOUS JOURNEY OF THE NOT SO INNOCUOUS GIRL #2)
Author: Leigh StathamPub. Date: October 11, 2016Publisher: Month9BooksFormat: Paperback & eBookFind it: Amazon| B&N| TBD|Goodreads
Lady Marguerite Vadnay and her trusty automaton, Outil, have settled into life in New France rather well. Marguerite is top of the class at flight school and her future as an aerpilot is nearly secure. She has everything she wants— except a commission on the pirate hunting dirigible The Renegade. Using every card in her aristocratic arsenal, Marguerite wiggles her way onto the finest warship France has to offer. But as usual, Marguerite’s plans endanger the lives of those she holds dear— only this time no one else is going to save them. As Marguerite and Outil set off on a rescue mission they may not return from, she finally realizes it’s time to reorder her cogs.
This steampunk adventure is littered with facts from The Golden Age of Piracy and follows (not too closely) some of the lives and adventures of the brave men and women who sailed the seas as privateers, pirates and soldiers.







Leigh Statham was raised in the wilds of rural Idaho, but found her heart in New York City. She worked as a waitress, maid, artist, math teacher, nurse, web designer, art director, thirty-foot inflatable pig and mule wrangler before she settled down in the semi-quiet role of wife, mother and writer. She resides in North Carolina with her husband, four children, five chickens and two suspected serial killer cats. If the air is cool and the sun is just coming up over the horizon, you can find her running the streets of her small town, plotting her next novel with the sort of intensity that will one day get her hit by a car.

Where you can find Leigh:  Website|Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads






1 winner will receive an eBook of THE PERILOUS JOURNEY OF THE NOT SO INNOCUOUS GIRL & an eGalley of THE PERILOUS JOURNEY OF THE MUCH TOO SPONTANEOUS GIRL (when available), International.

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Release: All Over You by Ayden K. Morgen

A detective is about to take down a kindergarten teacher, one dirty word at a time...
All Falls Down Series (Standalone)Genre: Contemporary RomanceRelease Date: May 1st, 2016Cover Designer: Jada D'Lee DesignsPublisher: Enchanted Publications


Ivy Kendall's only plan for her life was to teach, but then it all fell apart...
When Rory Clark disappears from UCLA after a lengthy online relationship with a "catfish" pretending to be Ivy, the sassy former model turned kindergarten teacher is forced to dive headfirst into the mystery in order to clear her name. The catfishing phenomenon meets good, old-fashioned police work when Cameron Lewis, a bossy San Francisco detective with a dominant streak, offers to help her uncover the awful truth about her stolen identity and Rory's disappearance.

They've barely scratched the surface when Ivy is charged with a murder she swears she didn't commit.

As the evidence against her piles up and the intense attraction between her and Cameron deepens, Ivy wants nothing more than to lean on the tattooed detective. He's already seen her at her worse. Now she has to find the courage to trust him with her heart. But how can she when she's terrified doing so will ruin his career?

Her greatest fear becomes reality when the ugly truth is revealed and their lives come tumbling down around them. 

Betrayed by the one person she never suspected, Ivy makes a reckless decision that puts her in the sights of a murderer and jeopardizes Cameron's career. He will do whatever it takes to save the woman he loves...even if that means becoming a killer himself.
 
Will he be able to reach her before it's too late, or will Rory's catfish take more than just one life?

All Over You is a completely standalone sister novel to the All Falls Down duo, intended for readers aged 18 and over.


AMAZON (Free on Kindle Unlimited!)| GOODREADS
 Facebook Release Event (May 4th from 3p-9p EST)




"Morning," Detective Lewis says, leaning against the doorjamb with a cup of coffee in each hand and a smirk on his face. He's dressed casually today, in jeans and a dark t-shirt. His tattoos once again peek from beneath his sleeves. He's foregone shaving. The scruff on his face makes him even hotter than usual. He's all rough and rugged, and what is he doing here?
"What are you doing here?"
He throws his head back and laughs at me, the wicked sound making my belly flip.
His laugh is incredible.
Before I can decide if I'm offended he's laughing at me, confused that he's here, or happy to see him again, he straightens up and holds out a cup of coffee like a peace offering.
"Wasn't sure how you take it," he says, his hungry gaze running up and down my body. Desire flares in his eyes as he takes in my tank top and tiny shorts, turning them that same dark, stormy gray from yesterday. "But I'm thinking you got about as much sleep as I did last night, so it's strong."
I take the proffered coffee, gaping at him.
"You gonna invite me in?" He cocks a brow at me, smirking again.
"Didn't think I needed to," I grumble, lifting the cup to my nose and inhaling the rich scent. "You didn't wait around for an invite yesterday."
He narrows his eyes on me, clearly not amused by the sarcastic edge to my comment, but I'm not nearly awake enough to heed the warning inherent in that look.
"Sure, Detective Lewis," I enthuse loudly, holding the door open wide for him and rolling my eyes. "Come on in."
He steps inside, crowding me even though there's plenty of room for him to go around me. My nipples immediately pucker as his scent wraps around me. God, why does he have to smell so divine? I can't deal with him smelling that good this early in the morning, especially not with those tattoos on display.
He crowds closer, until he's right up in my personal space, his breath washing across the side of my neck. "Dreamed about that smart mouth all night," he mutters right beside my ear. "So don't fuck with me if you don't want me giving you something to fill it with, kitten."
Jesus. That mouth. That filthy, sexy mouth.
A shiver rolls down my spine, and a little whimper escapes my lips.
He hums as if he's satisfied by my reaction and steps away, giving me room to pull the door closed. I take a moment to turn the deadbolt, trying to marshal my thoughts before I face him again.
What is he doing here?
And why is he so fascinated with my mouth and filling it?













Ayden lives in the heart of Arkansas with her childhood sweetheart/husband of twelve years, and their five furry minions. When not writing, she spends her time hiking, reading, volunteering, causing mischief, and building a Spork army. Ayden graduated summa cum laude with her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Forensic Psychology in 2009 before going on to complete her graduate degree in CJ and Law. She currently puts her education to use in the social services and CJ field. 
Ayden also writes Young and New Adult fantasy under the penname A.K. Morgen.

You can find her on Twitter, Facebook, or via her website at http://aydenmorgen.com.


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Blog Tour: Capturing the Captain (American Pirate Romances: Book 1) by C.K. Brooke

Title: Capturing the Captain (American Pirate Romances: Book 1)
Author: C.K. Brooke
Genre: Historical Romance, Sea Adventure
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
Release date: 4/26/2016
Book Description:

In 1720, it’s a pirate’s life for Abigail Clear, daughter of a notorious colonial pirate captain…

But when a rival crew invades Abigail’s ship, she is taken prisoner. Now aboard the enemy vessel, she must contend with its formidable captain. But who is the real captive?

Locked away in the belly of The Indomitable is no place for a woman…

Captain James Morrow is more than displeased to discover his sole captive to be none other than an untamable young lass who will earn him no bounty. Yet if he can soften the little rogue, she just might switch her loyalties to him, and reveal the whereabouts of the infamous thief who sired her—and his stolen treasure. But two can play that game, as Abi is equally inclined to charm the dogged sailor off her father’s tail.

Might she and Captain Morrow run the risk of falling for their own charades?

They dance about their disguises as genuine developing emotions clash against deeper motives, and suspicion runs high. When the captain finally steals a first kiss, Abi decides it’s high time to make her escape—fleeing not only his vessel, but her fondness for the man who intends to see her father hang.

The high seas heat up as Captain Morrow’s quest to recapture Abi is halted by her pirate father, Captain Clear. Will James succeed in pursuit of his captive love, or will his desires conspire to make him a captive himself?

Excerpt:

“I don’t believe it.” His words were low and guttural. “After all of my patience with you…”

Abi snorted. “Patience?”

He took another step. “The kindness I’ve shown you…”

“Kindness!"

“This is how you treat me in return?”

Had Abi been a gentler woman, she might have lowered her eyes. However, she had the audacity not to.

“Your kiss, your sketch and company were but charades as you bade your time to deceive me,” he snarled. “And there I was, risking my hide and that of my friends to rescue you!”

“I do not need rescuing!” Abi whirled around and marched across the sand.



Author Bio: 

C.K. Brooke grew up in the coastal state of Maryland. She began writing books when she was six years old. Her debut novel, The Duchess Quest(48fourteen, October 2014), received a five-star editorial review from Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews & Awards Contest and was selected as a Shelf Unbound Top 100 Notable Indie Book of 2015. Since its publication, she has authored seven more fantasy and romance novels, including Capturing the Captain, the first book of the American Pirate Romance series.

Today, C.K. resides outside of Detroit in Washington, Michigan with her husband and young son. When not haunting the local library or blissfully buried in her eBooks and manuscripts, she enjoys blogging, singing, and playing the piano by ear. For more, visit her at www.CKBrooke.com.

LinksCapturing the Captain on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Capturing-Captain-American-Pirate-Romances-ebook/dp/B01E82IVQA/
Website: www.CKBrooke.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/CK.Brooke
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/AuthorCKBrookeGoodreads: www.Goodreads.com/CKBrooke

Blog Tour: No One Dies in the Garden of Syn by Michael Seidelman

No One Dies in the Garden of Syn
by Michael Seidelman
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: April 26th 2016

Summary from Goodreads:

Synthia (Syn) Wade is a teenage girl who struggles with cystic fibrosis, an incurable life-threatening disease. One day she is pushed into a pond by an unseen figure and wakes up in a new world – a mysterious garden where illness and death don’t exist.

Welcomed by the garden’s residents and now free of her symptoms, Syn decides to stay. But, before long, she realizes that this apparent utopia holds many dangers and dark secrets.

Surrounding the garden is a fog that Syn is warned never to enter. She encounters bizarre creatures that defy reason. And always lurking in the shadows is a masked woman - a woman who may have a connection to the disappearance of Syn’s parents many years ago. A woman whom no one will speak of, but whom everyone fears.

While No One Dies in the Garden of Syn, Syn will soon discover that some fates are worse than death.
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Excerpt - From Prologue “Honey,” Synthia heard her mom say, “You need to wake up.”“Is it morning?” she asked, yawning and squinting on account of the bright ceiling light.“No, Sweetie. Not yet.”Synthia’s nose was dripping. Her mom wiped it and her upper lip with a tissue. “Your dad and I are going to take you somewhere. Some place wonderful. But we have to leave really soon so you need to get out of bed right away.”“Can’t we wait until morning?” “I’m afraid not, Sweetie. We have to get you dressed and leave tonight. You will love where we are going. I promise.”Synthia reluctantly sat up and allowed her pajama top to be pulled off. The bottom of the undershirt had just been lifted when Synthia’s father walked in. “Deb, Masie is outside.”Her mother’s face turned white. She pressed her palms against each side of Synthia’s face. “Sweetie, we’ll be back in a few minutes. Please get dressed.”After they left the room, Synthia listened to them thumping down the stairs, opening the front door and slamming it shut.She was tired, not to mention bewildered, and didn’t want to go anywhere. She lay down, coughed lightly, and fell back asleep in less than a minute, despite the gleaming ceiling light above. If she had stayed awake for just one minute longer, she would have heard yelling outside, and seen a bright white light flashing through the window.When Synthia woke, there was enough sun shining in, even with the blinds shut, that she didn’t notice the ceiling light was still on. She rubbed her eyes, wiped her runny nose with a tissue, and coughed until her throat was clear. She took a sip of water from the cup on her night table and checked the time; 9:32 a.m. She was late for kindergarten. Her mom usually awakened her at 7:30. Was that a dream, when her mom shook her awake last night? If not, why didn’t she come back? Synthia coughed a few more times, put on some slippers and left the room. Her parents’ bedroom was empty. So were all the bathrooms and the bedrooms. The living room was empty, as were the dining room and kitchen. She tried to turn the knob on the basement door, but it was locked as always. She looked through the kitchen window into the gardens out back and didn’t see so much as a bird. Synthia was more confused than worried. In the kitchen, she took her morning pills with a vanilla shake. The back door was slightly ajar, so she pulled the doorknob and stepped outside, curious. A light wind ruffled her undershirt and pajama bottoms. A robin landed on a tree in the garden as a breeze rustled its leaves. There was no sign of her parents. Holding the handrail, she descended the stairs and peeked inside the carport. Both her parents’ cars were parked there. Now Synthia was no longer just confused. She was worried. The basement window on the right side of the carport had always been covered by blinds, so she couldn’t see in. She knocked on the glass, hoping her parents were down there as they often were. Quiet taps at first, then harder and louder. Nothing. A tear rolled down her cheek, followed by another. Now Synthia was more than worried; she was scared. She left the carport and went to the front of the house. The mailman was walking up the driveway.Concerned to see this little girl, partially clothed and crying in the driveway, he bent down to her level. “Are you okay? Where are your parents?” Synthia broke down, tears flooding from her eyes. Through the phlegm building up in her throat, she managed a quiet, yet desperate reply. “I don’t know.” 
About the AuthorMy name is Michael Seidelman.  I was born in Vancouver, BC Canada where I continue to reside. When I was growing up, my passions were reading, watching movies, nature and creative writing. Not much has changed since then. In high school when I had an opportunity to write short stories in class, I relished reading them out loud to my classmates who would gasp at the unexpected twists and applaud when I was done. I took several creative writing classes and have continued writing over the years while working in Interactive Marketing.
About two years ago, I decided to take some time off to focus on my writing and work on a Young Adult trilogy. The first book in The Garden of Syn series – No One Dies in the Garden of Syn – will be released on April 26th. Meanwhile, I am working hard on the second and third books in the series.Getting up every morning and sitting down to create new characters and bring new worlds to life is the most fulfilling job I have ever had. Beyond the trilogy, I have many ideas plotted out and I look forward to sharing them all with the world!
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8 Years Ago...

December 25th, 2008 was the last time I had Christmas with my family. It was the last time I was in Australia, enjoying Christmas like I had my entire life. My last summer Christmas. My last Christmas when I didn't suffer from a pit of loneliness and homesickness.

But this year I want it to be different. I want to go back with my little family for this Christmas. Eight. Years. Later. This year is mostly different because my little/not-so-little-anymore sister is having her first baby. This is a huge deal in our family that seems to struggle to conceive, and because she's my only sister and we were so close growing up and I can't get there when she has the baby in August due to financial restraints and kid #1 starting kindergarten, I need to be there for her.

So, in a desperate attempt to save up enough money, I'm asking you to  BUY MY BOOKS. Since you're following along, there's a good chance you already have, but maybe not all of them? *puppy eyes*. I'm especially encouraging purchase of the Kiya Trilogy , the Cadence Duology and Princess of Tyrone as these come to me as direct payments.

I'm also selling signed paperbacks of all of my books (except Athenian Rain) for $15 each plus postage. Just email me (katiejteller at gmail dot com) and I'll make arrangements with you.

I'm also looking to do query and first 250 word critiques for $5, query and first chapter for $10, query and first three chapters for $20 and query and full manuscript for $50. Since I work as an acquisitions editor, I can give you pretty solid feedback, hopefully. I'm not a line editor, but can give you points for plot holes, voice consistency etc.

So, there you are. Help me get home for Christmas this year!