Katie Hamstead's Blog, page 22

Blog Tour: Without Borders by Amanda Heger

Enter to Win an Ebook Copy of WITHOUT BORDERS

WITHOUT BORDERSA Wanderlove NovelAmanda HegerReleasing April 19th, 2016Diversion Books

For Annie London, a month in a Central American rainforest means handing out mosquito nets, giving medical aid, and teaching children about the birds and the bees. With any luck, it will also land her application in the “accepted” pile at a top tier medical school. But as soon as she steps off the plane, Annie realizes her bug spray, feeble Spanish, and medical supplies won’t help her deal with her new feelings for Felipe—her best friend's older brother, who's much hotter than she remembers, and who also happens to be the doctor in charge of the trip.
Gawking “volun-tourists” may keep his family’s medical clinic afloat, but Dr. Felipe Gutierrez doesn’t have to like them. Or the way they make snap judgments about his practice and the people he cares for. But when his old crush, Annie, shows up to volunteer, her killer curves and kind smile fan the embers of a flame Felipe didn’t realize he’d been carrying. A flame that makes him question all his preconceived notions.
As ideas and cultures clash, Annie and Felipe must decide how far outside their comfort zones they are willing to go—both for their work and for one another.
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Amanda Heger is a writer, attorney, and bookworm. She lives in the Midwest with three unruly rescue dogs and a husband who encourages her delusions of grandeur.
Her debut romance, Without Borders, is forthcoming from Diversion Books. The story was inspired by the summer Amanda spent in rural Nicaragua, eating gallo pinto, speaking mangled Spanish, and showing high school students how to slide condoms onto over-sized plantains.
Her stories are represented by Jessica Watterson of the Dijkstra Literary Agency.
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Blog Tour: Emerge by Tobie Easton

Emerge (Mer Chronicles #1) by Tobie EastonPublication Date: April 19, 2016Publisher: Month9Books

Lia Nautilus may be a Mermaid, but she’s never lived in the ocean. Ever since the infamous Little Mermaid unleashed a curse that stripped Mer of their immortality, war has ravaged the Seven Seas.
So Lia has grown up in a secret community of land-dwelling Mer hidden among Malibu’s seaside mansions. Her biggest problems are surviving P.E. and keeping her feelings for Clay Ericson in check. Sure, he’s gorgeous in that cocky, leather jacket sort of way and makes her feel like there’s a school of fish swimming in her stomach, but getting involved with a human could put Lia's entire community at risk. So it’s for the best that he’s dating that new girl, right?
That is, until Lia finds out she isn't the only one at school keeping a potentially deadly secret. And this new girl? Her eyes are dead set on Clay, who doesn't realize the danger he's in. If Lia hopes to save him, she’ll have to get closer to Clay than ever. Lia’s parents would totally flip if they found out she was falling for a human boy, but the more time she spends with Clay, the harder it is for Lia to deny her feelings.After making a horrible mistake, Lia will risk everything to stop Clay from falling in love with the wrong girl.

Link to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27882492-emerge   
Purchase Links:

Google Play | BAM| Chapters| Indie | Amazon| B&N| Kobo | TBD| iBooks

Author's favorite character and why they are the favorite.
[image error]This question is, by far, the hardest one I’ve been asked on my blog tour.  I keep changing my answer because, the truth is, I deeply love all my characters.  At this point, I’ve spent so much time with them that they feel very real to me.  Earlier today, I wrote a scene for Submerge (the second book in the Mer Chronicles) that featured Caspian, Lia’s best friend.  So for today (and on many, many days), he is my favorite.            When I started Emerge, I knew that, like Lia, I would fall hard for Clay since he’s exactly the guy I would have crushed on in high school.  But Caspian snuck up on me.  I never expected I’d feel quite as strongly as I do about the observant, insightful merman who has been Lia’s closest friend since they were guppies.  With the number of hours every day he spends swimming, I knew he’d be buff.  And with his sandy bond hair falling into his ocean blue eyes, I knew he’d be handsome.  But it was his personality, which (no pun intended) emerged as I was writing him, that really drew me in.  He’s reserved, so it’s easy to underestimate him, but he’s sosmart and caring—and he sincerely values learning, which is a trait I can’t resist.             Okay, I’ll stop gushing.  Suffice it to say, Caspian, with his quiet contemplation and fierce loyalty, stole my heart.  And I hope he does the same to readers.
Ask me tomorrow and I’ll pick Clay.  Or Melusine.
Tobie Easton was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, where she’s grown from a little girl who dreamed about magic to a twenty-something who writes about it. A summa cum laude graduate of the University of Southern California, Tobie hosts book clubs for tweens and teens. She and her very kissable husband enjoy traveling the globe and fostering packs of rescue puppies. Learn more about Tobie and her upcoming books at www.TobieEaston.com.

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Talking with Teens About Reading

***Originally posted on Aussie Owned and Read***I know some great teenage girls who are smart, funny, bright, and generally pretty amazing. I contacted these teens, one who just completed her HSC last year, and the other who is in year eleven, and asked them to talk to their friends about books.I brought them the below questions:Why don't teens read very much, and what is preventing them from reading?Miss 16: There's not enough time anymore to fit it in with homework, extracurricular activities etc. Books are expensive, they're big and they're bulky. It's difficult to find anything that is interesting, and everything feels the same and cliche.I'm very rapidly getting sick of the good girl falls in love with the bad boy story, and all the modern dystopian love stories. I will always and forever love period dramas and fractured fairytales.Miss 18: Senior school English. Enough said. Prescribed text. The groans of agony as every single beautiful detail is examined and analysed like a specimen in a jar. Year 11 and year 12 English taught me to dread reading- not because of reading itself, but the critical analysis and evaluation that I knew would come. I fell out of love with reading. My favourite books grew dusty, as I went through copious others that I'd never dare to pick up again. Reading lost its spark, it's beautiful release. It became a chore.Then I finished the HSC. It didn't happen immediately, but when I saw a book from my favourite series on the shelves at the book shop, I knew I had to get it for my fellow Ruby Redfort lover and feaster, [my younger sister], for Christmas. It then dawned on me, that during the lapse in my love of reading, I'd missed the 4th book. What. How. Did. That. Happen? I picked it up, and read the 500+ page volume over two days. The flame was reignited. I tore through the entire series in 2 weeks (I didn't read for 5 days while at [a church] convention, so 9 days for 5 books). I re-established my relationships with my favourite characters. I fell in love with the way that details fitting in, no loose threads hanging at the end of the book. And I couldn't believe I'd let myself fall out of love with one of the most amazing joys in life!But yes, agreed with [Miss 16] We don't need anymore chick flicks recycled. Nope. I love fantasy without too many dystopian aspects-it's just not original anymore. I hate that one gender has to triumph over the other, like weak girl vs. strong boy, or smart girl vs. dumb guy. Give me some equality, but don't make characters identical.Seriously...is it that hard to take a cliché and turn it on its head? Bet the girl that she can't get the cool guy to go out with her. Make the pretty sweet best friend's favourite subjects art and chemistry, because she loves to watch things burn and explode. Why can't the "cool" guy teach ballet to little kids? Can we have normal characters who are just average at everything? Can we break away from the woe is me cancer story, where the main character dies and breaks our hearts? I wanna see people get to their feet and fight through their problems. I want to see characters that break the mold and are vulnerable, but aren't afraid to fight for what they want, what is right, and what they believe in. I want it to be complicated, for self doubt to creep in, for grey areas that leave us questioning. I need a book that keeps on the edge of my seat, that makes me think, that I can't predict the ending to (did not pick the end of Diverging Cadence at all. It was perfect). And I looooove fractured fairytales and historic fiction and time slip stories.What can you suggest to overcome these obstacles?Miss 16: For bulky books we suggested ebooks. Reading classics as opposed to newer things can help break cliches. And to find time, reading during car/train/bus trips to various places can be worked into busy schedules.Miss 18: I think kids need to be taught to read and to love reading when they're young, and be free to read what they want as long as it's appropriate. English teachers should give kids a de-stress lesson every once in a while to just read for enjoyment. One of the things that I loved hearing at uni the other day is the idea that you always, always, ALWAYS read a book for the first time just for enjoyment. You don't force them to learn, or think, you just read it for fun. Fortunately, reading is also becoming a bit more of a "cool thing", so younger people are being encouraged to read more, which is fantastic. And to those kids that can't find the book they want to read, write it yourself! Readers are writers, and writers are readers, they go hand in hand.We discussed the issue of expense and how that can be overcome. Many teens don't have ereaders, except on their phones, and even then that's limited according to data usage. Many teens, due to school and social expectations, don't have time for jobs, and when they do, their priority is paying for other things. An ebook that is $2 or $3 is more appealing that one that's $8 or $9, because that extra $5 can be used on that gear they need for that extracurricular activity, but they'd be happy to spend a couple of dollars for something enjoyable to read on that bus trip, because as Miss 18 said, reading is becoming "cool". It just needs to be affordable too.What I gleaned from these teens is that they face the same issues I did as a teenager. I wanted to read, but I could never find anything that felt unique or interesting enough for me to spend my limited time or money reading, especially went I was forced to read and analyse the crap out of something I hated. Honestly, the only books I purchased as a teenager were the Harry Potter books. Even my scouring of the school or local library rarely came up with much. I also had to factor in the size of the book, because I had to carry the thing home along with textbooks and what-not. A hardback book was always set aside for a paperback, and nowadays, an ebook is even lighter.I think, with our tech-savvy rising generation, access and affordability for ereaders will make a huge difference in how many teens spend their time reading.So, although there are more and more books aimed at teens, the ratio of teen readers doesn't match up. The market and industry may have changed, but the lifestyles of teens, and their accessibility to books, hasn't. Even if it is becoming cool, other factors prevent reading, like time and cost. They've also lost interest in what's "trending" in the market. They want stories that are fun, fresh and exciting, not necessarily issue driven because issues are their daily lives, and with characters who are like them; just normal, everyday kids. If we want to encourage readers among teenagers, the gap needs to be closed.

My New Book Deal With Soul Mate Pub!

I said I have more contracts in the works, and now I can officially tell you about this one!


Set in Australia, "Brownlow Medal" as I signed it as, but the title is subject to change, possibly "Brownlow Baby" or something to do with AFL and babies, the book comes from my love of Aussie Rules and the hot men who play it!

So, here's a quick blurb:


Julia Saxon has been in love with her best friend since the moment she met him. The problem is, Lachlan Daniels was already in love with his model girlfriend. But she just dumped him, and the night of the Brownlow medal ceremony--the most prestigious award in Australian Rules Football--Julia is determined to win him over.
For one night, she believes she has succeeded, until in the morning he runs out in a panic, apparently regretting their passionate night together.
With the support of her friends, she tries to move on, and even manages to snag herself a boyfriend. Then, the vomiting starts.
When the pregnancy test shows up positive, Julia knows exactly who the father is; Lachlan. But that is all kinds of complicated as he continues to pine after his ex, who has moved on, although, she still toys with him.
When she makes the decision to keep the baby, her boyfriend leaves, unable to watch her carry his team mate's child. This results in Lachie finding out he will soon be a father.
As the following months ensue, Lachie vows to stand by Julia, and the pair struggle through a tumultuous and complicated relationship. When it comes down to it, Lachie will be forced to choose between Julia and their baby, or his ex, leaving Julia alone and brokenhearted.

Yay! More details to come, like release and such, but for now I'm excited!

Review: Inconceivable! by Tegan Wren

From Goodreads:
A popular, young royal couple can't produce an heir? INCONCEIVABLE!

When Ozarks native Hatty goes “whole hog” during karaoke, she catches the eye of Prince John. He isn’t what she expects the heir to a small European nation to be: he's affable, witty, and isn’t put off by her tell-it-like-it-is demeanor. Their flirtation should be short lived, but a force stronger than fate—Hatty’s newspaper editor—assigns her to cover the royals. After spending time together, she and John soon begin dating, and Hatty finds herself making headlines instead of writing them. 

But challenges loom that are even more complicated than figuring out how to mesh Hatty's journalism career with life at Belvoir Palace. Hatty and John soon find themselves embroiled in an unusual sex scandal: they can't produce an heir. Tabloids dub Hatty a “Barren-ess,” and the royals become irate. Hatty politely tells them to shove it. But beneath her confident exterior, she struggles to cope with a heartbreak that invades her most intimate moments with John. Pressured to choose between invasive medical procedures and abandoning John’s claim to the throne, the couple feels trapped until a trip to Ethiopia shows them happy endings sometimes arrive long after saying “I do.”

My Thoughts:
This is a fun, light read. It has a cute romance, but also has a powerful message that comes through in the second half of the books.

A couple of nit-picky things first: I felt like the political system was poorly set up. It came across like an Americanized presidential system, rather than a monarchy. With the countries supposed origins in England, moving away from the three tier parliamentary system, especially while still in Europe where this system grew to be the major political set up for Monarchies, felt off. 
Also, all the Australian references bordered on offensive with how cliche and stereotyped they were.
There were parts that were so cheesy I literally cringed.
Those things aside!
The story itself is kind of two stories coming together as one. In the beginning you have a great romance, well written, with a solid voice, even a little cheesy at times. The writing is good, with some telling, but not enough to be distracting.
Then the second part hits. The pace is... it feels like I'm skimming over things. Hatty and John are married, and suddenly their relationship is no longer important. Yes, she's struggling with concerns about infertility, but I have fertility issues, and although my husband frustrated me at times with his lack of understanding, our relationship remained central to our lives. The writing here didn't help it; it's almost like a different author stepped in to take over. The scenes became very clinical and moved in the blink of an eye. It was like I'd start reading a scene that I wanted to move me, and it ended a second later. I don't want to criticize, because the topic is something that's near and dear to me and I believe should be discussed, but the execution came up short in places. 
Then Hattie hit rock bottom and the writing and pace returned to how good it was in the beginning. It's probably debut author "jitters." But the last portion of the book definitely improved.
I will admit, going in I was very concerned about how the succession would be handled with throwing adoption in the works, since an adopted child cannot be next in line. Without giving out spoilers, Wren handled this very well, and I appreciated it enormously.

Quote that says it all for me:
To tell the truth, it was a punch in the gut... By rote, I squashed my grief, longing, and heartache, making them compact enough to bury in the recesses of my heart.

And:
Another punch. The grief threatened to erupt, but I suppressed it. At least... I wouldn't have to watch her body bloom into fertile fullness... But my line of thinking wasn't about them; it was all about self-preservation.

Those quotes are pretty much the anthem of infertile/limited fertility women. I have felt EXACTLY THIS while struggling through my own limits and fight with my body to conceive baby #2, and I've seen so many women I love feeling exactly this. I've seen it in their eyes when other women seem to glance at their husbands and fall pregnant. When teenagers fall pregnant. It's this deep pain that tears at the heart and makes it impossible to even LOOK at a pregnant woman without the pain resurfacing, or hear a pregnancy announcement and have to hide to cry your eyes out.

All up, this was an enjoyable read with a message that should definitely be talked about more. I wouldn't call it a "clean read" as there is some sex scenes, but they're not explicit, but rather tastefully handled.

I recommend it to all women, especially those who know someone who is struggling with having children, not just those in the throws of infertility.

Blog Tour: Escape from the Past: The Kid (Escape from the Past #2) by Annette Oppenlander

Escape from the past: The Kid (Escape from the Past #2)
by Annette Oppenlander
Genre: YA Historical Fiction, Time-Travel
Release Date: February 26th 2016

Summary from Goodreads:

Time-traveling gamer, Max, embarks on a harrowing journey through the Wild West of 1881! After a huge fight with his parents, Max tries to return to his love and his best friend, Bero, in medieval Germany. Instead he lands in 1881 New Mexico. Struggling to get his bearings and coming to terms with Dr. Stuler s evil computer game misleading him, he runs into Billy the Kid. To his amazement Billy isn t at all the ruthless killer history made him out to be. Trouble brews when a dying Warm Springs Apache gives Max a huge gold nugget to help his sister, Ela, escape from Fort Sumner. Shopping for supplies Max attracts the attention of ruthless bandits. Before Max can ask the Kid s help, he and Ela are forced to embark on a journey to find his imaginary goldmine. This is book 2 in the Escape from the Past trilogy."
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Escape from the Past: The Duke’s Wrath (Escape from the Past #1) on Goodreads
Buy Links:Amazon│Barnes and Noble│Indiebound
Reviews/Endorsements“What a fun summer read! The Kid is an artful combination of science fiction and historical fiction that come together in a fantasy that is believable enough that the suspension of disbelief is possible and make the reading truly enjoyable. The contrast between Max’s present-day gamer lifestyle and the historical setting that he finds himself in offer a glimpse of the past and make history relevant for young people who may find historical connections difficult to make. What a wonderful way to bring history to life, re-imagine the past, and imagine the future all at the same time!” —Patrice W. Hallock, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Education, Chair, Educator Preparation & Psych-Child Life, Utica College
“Escape from the Past: The Kid is a magical fictional mystery interwoven with historical facts and exciting adventures. The reader experiences the twists and turns of the story while gaining a greater appreciation of the challenges of life in the Wild West during the late 1800’s. Max, a typical teenager of today, is thrown into a series of arduous challenges he must overcome in order to return to his former humdrum life. Along the way, he and we gain valuable insights and appreciation of the hardships encountered by the new western settlers and the Native American people amongst outlaws and the formidable desert climate of the New Mexico area. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable experience you will not want to miss.“  —Richard Rafes, Ph.D., J.D., President of East Central University
“As an English teacher of 43 years and as a life-long student of the Wild West and Native Americans, I found Annette Oppenlander’s, The Kid, to be an accurate, well-researched and thoroughly entertaining novel for young readers. The portrait of Max, the adventurous and risk-taking protagonist, is spot on;he has the language of young men his age and all the angst, dreams and longings that are hallmarks of a typical 17 year-old adolescent male. Ms. Oppenlander has a keen eye for detail, and her ability to create cliffhanging situations of high suspense makes for a great read. I strongly recommend this novel for any imaginative young reader who likes to have one foot in fantasy and one in reality.” —Bill Hays, English AP/Honors Teacher, Retired, Bloomington North High School



Excerpt:My chest began to throb without warning, then tighten. Had it been this painful last time? Ten months had passed since I’d last played. I smiled despite the pain. I couldn’t wait to sneak up on Bero. Hug Juliana. The pressure on my body increased. She’d be mad, of course, but then she’d kiss me. Maybe we could sneak into the barn tonight. The weight on my lungs grew. Breathing stopped. My vision filled with the red haze of oxygen deprivation. I tried to gulp, but my ribs were glued to my sides. I was stuck...and terrified. The fog turned gray...then black. Like last time, I managed to stand, but my legs and feet stood rooted like the giant oaks in Hanstein’s forest. My heart pounded in my neck, the only sign I was still alive. The fog deepened. Why was this taking so long? Still the pressure held as if I’d been thrown under a boulder. I was dying. I’d made a huge mistake. It’s easy to forget fear. Stuff happens and you get distracted. After a while all you remember are the good things. Now that I was unable to move, unable to do anything, I remembered the way I’d felt the first time I landed in the game. I’d felt terror. And terror was back now in full force, squeezing my middle and poking at my heart. As the pressure lifted and the fog cleared, the sense of impending doom gripped me with such force that I fell forward. I’d made a horrible mistake. Stumbling, I stubbed my toes and suppressing a shout. In the near darkness, a rock or cliff rose wide as a house and three stories high. I only saw its outline, a black edge against the starry sky above. The whistling I’d heard earlier definitely came from between the giant rocks. The air was filled with the scent of grasses, grit and something like sage. Had I returned in the summer? Behind me the area appeared more open. Maybe I was down near the river and Luanda’s house. Should I move in the dark or wait? I’d get lost, wandering off in the wrong direction.
A cold wind dug under my shirt and nipped at my skin. I tugged my sweater closer around me when I saw something glowing on the ground like a huge red eye.
“Not a move, Boy,” the voice hissed. “Or I’ll blow a hole through your gut.”


About the AuthorAnnette Oppenlander writes historical fiction for young adults and anyone who loves stories set in the past. When she isn’t in front of her computer, she loves indulging her dog, Mocha, and traveling around the U.S. and Europe to discover amazing histories.

"Nearly every place holds some kind of secret, something that makes history come alive. When we scrutinize people and places closely, history is no longer a number, it turns into a story."
Author Links:
Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook│Pinterest

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Blog Tour Organized by: YA Bound Book Tours

Blog Tour: One Night with Hemsworth by Eden Finley

 Cole Turner’s ex-wife is getting remarried. No amount of alcohol can drown that out, but taking home the hot brunette at the bar is a good enough distraction. That’s all Paige is meant to be—a distraction.

Paige Minor is too busy studying for her law degree and getting over a bad breakup to care about finding another boyfriend. All she wants is one night of careless fun with a complete stranger. Cole seems like the perfect candidate.

When Cole goes to pick up his son from his ex’s perfect house, with her perfect fiancé, and perfect new life, the last person he expects to see is Paige. She definitely shouldn’t be the one opening the door. As he stares at the person who was in his bed less than twenty-four hours earlier, a single thought occurs to him: I just slept with my ex’s new stepdaughter.
**********
One Night with Hemsworth is the first book in a series, but can be read as a standalone.
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1QnY6Ek Buy the book on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1SdPJN0
Excerpt:“Are you okay?” My voice was smaller than I intended.His head snapped up to mine. “You’re in the men’s toilets.”“Thanks, Captain Obvious. I just wanted to make sure you were okay after—”I was cut off by him slamming into me and crashing his lips down on mine. His tongue swept into my mouth, making me moan from the intense need behind the spontaneity.He pulled my hips towards him and started walking backwards, bringing me with him. His lips never left mine until we were in the toilet stall and he was locking the door behind us. Pushing me against the door, he parted my legs with his knee as he pressed his body to mine, his lips landing on my neck.I ran my hands through his hair as his lips made their way down to the top of my breasts. He palmed one in his hand while he focused his tongue on the other.His lips slowly came back up to mine as his hand reached around, grabbing my ass.My breathing was staggered, and I knew I had to stop him, but … just a couple more minutes? Please?His hand ran up my thigh and under my skirt. He fingered the edge of my panties before pulling them aside to touch me. I threw my head back and moaned, pushing myself onto his fingers. I practically hissed as they entered me.As much as I wanted more, I couldn’t do it. It’d already gone too far considering the only reason he was doing it was because he was angry at Reece.“Wait,” I said, trying to pull back, but the door behind me didn’t let me get far.“I don’t want to wait. I want you, Paige.”“Only because you want to get back at your ex for being a bitch.”He pulled away from me abruptly, removing his hand from underneath my skirt. “Is that really what you think?” he asked quietly.“I don’t know. You haven’t even looked at me since I arrived, and—”He pressed his body to mine again, bending slightly at the knees, his erection straining against his jeans and pushing into me right where I wanted it. “You feel that?” He rocked his hips against mine and I had to hold in a whimper. “I’ve been like that since I met you. No matter how many cold showers I have, no matter how many times I make myself come thinking of you, I go hard again the minute I remember our night together. The reason I haven’t looked at you tonight is because I haven’t let myself. This has nothing to do with Reece and everything to do with wanting to be inside you again.”“I’m not having sex with you in a dirty bathroom stall, Cole. I’m a lady, remember?”He chuckled. “Sorry, I keep forgetting.”

Author Bio Eden Finely grew up near Brisbane in Qld, Australia. She's a romance/erotica author by day, and Batman at night ...
Okay, I’m not Batman, but I feel like I am. I have a cool secret name and everything.
I have several Young Adult works published under my real name. For this reason, I chose a pen name to write for this genre to keep them separate. Well that, and I don’t want my mother to read Eden's books. Seriously, how freaking awkward would that be?I'm a lover of reading and writing anything that involves romance, contemporary, paranormal, suspense, and YA. If I'm not spending time with my family, chances are I'll have my laptop or kindle in my hand.

LinksWebsite: http://edenfinley.weebly.com/ Facebook: http://on.fb.me/24xx1or

Blog Tour: Escape from the Past: The Duke's Wrath by Annette Oppenlander

Escape from the Past: The Duke's Wrath
by Annette Oppenlander
Genre: YA Historical Fiction, Time-Travel
Release Date: July 31st 2015

Summary from Goodreads:

When fifteen-year-old nerd and gamer Max Anderson thinks he's sneaking a preview of an unpublished video game, he doesn't realize that 1) He's been chosen as a beta, an experimental test player. 2) He’s playing the ultimate history game, transporting him into the actual past: anywhere and anytime. And 3) Survival is optional: to return home he must decipher the game's rules and complete its missions—if he lives long enough. To fail means to stay in the past—forever.

Now Max is trapped in medieval Germany, unprepared and clueless. It is 1471 and he quickly learns that being an outcast may cost him his head. Especially after rescuing a beautiful peasant girl from a deadly infection and thus provoking sinister wannabe Duke Ott. Overnight he is dragged into a hornets' nest of feuding lords who will stop at nothing to bring down the conjuring stranger in their midst.
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Buy Links:Amazon│Barnes and Noble│Indiebound




Excerpt“His name is Max,” Bero offered from the bench. “He hid inHanstein’s forest.”The woman stepped closer and then crossed herself. “May theLord have mercy. A Wanderer to bring doom to our Haus.”I vehemently shook my head. “No, no, I’m just lost and needa place for the night.”Bero’s mother stepped closer still. She was inches shorter, yether shoulders were wide and her arms thick and muscled. Ishrank back. She’d beat me to a pulp no problem. To my horrorshe extended an arm to inspect my hair. “What’s a lad like youdoing in the Lord’s forest? You look like a stranger. A conjurerperhaps.”“He said he is from the village,” Bero intercepted. I wishedhe’d shut up. It was nerve-wracking enough to deal with Bero.The woman was positively frightening—nothing like my motherwho was gentle and sweet.“I’m visiting,” I tried. Maybe it was best to say as little aspossible.Bero’s mother grabbed my T-shirt and rubbed the fabricbetween thumb and forefinger. “Your clothes are…odd.” Thenher eyes fell on my shoes, half hidden in the straw. Obviously nothidden enough. She got on her knees mumbling something. Thenshe crossed herself again. I stood waiting and hoping my legswouldn’t tremble. To keep from fidgeting, I stuck my hands inmy pockets, my right fingertips making contact with somethingwithin.

About the Author Annette Oppenlander writes historical fiction for young adults and anyone who loves stories set in the past. When she isn’t in front of her computer, she loves indulging her dog, Mocha, and traveling around the U.S. and Europe to discover amazing histories.

"Nearly every place holds some kind of secret, something that makes history come alive. When we scrutinize people and places closely, history is no longer a number, it turns into a story."
Author Links:
Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook│Pinterest

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Blog Tour Organized by: YA Bound Book Tours

Blog Tour: Life in the Lucky Zone by Patricia B.Tighe

Life in the Lucky Zone (The Zone #2)by Patricia B. TighePublication Date:  April 5, 2016Publisher:  Swoon Romance

Seventeen-year-old Lindsey Taylor has been living a charmed life—always the lead in school plays, possessor of a healthy entourage and a hot boyfriend. But halfway through her junior year, the unthinkable happens. Her boyfriend dumps her. She screws up her audition for the spring play. And to top it all off, her theater teacher wants her to run lines with Trey Berger, a gamer guy who irritates her practically every time he opens his mouth. Lindsey needs to find some better luck and quick.
Trey Berger can barely tolerate Lindsey Taylor. It’s bad enough that their best friends are dating and he has to see Lindsey at group hangouts. Now they have to rehearse together. Berger would rather do just about anything else, even chill with his grandmother, whose dementia has forced her to move in with his family.
But as the semester continues, Berger discovers there’s more to Lindsey than the drama queenpersona she puts on for everyone else’s benefit. And the person behind the mask might be someone he cares about. A lot. So what exactly is he going to do about it?

And while Lindsey desperately tries to change her luck and heal from the breakup, she slowly realizes Berger has become her best friend. This video-game-playing boy makes her laugh. And holds her when she cries. Could he possibly become something more?
Thanks, Katie, for having me on your blog!
My favorite scene would have to be when a hurting, tipsy Lindsey makes a move on Berger. His shocked reaction was so much fun to write! I hope I showed what a caring, decent guy he is through that scene.




The mother of two grown sons, Patricia B. Tighe lives in El Paso, Texas, with her husband and two dogs. Her love of the written word caused her to get a journalism degree from Texas A&M University in 1980 and an MA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University in 2008. When not writing or reading, she can be found walking the dogs or yelling at the TV during an NFL game. She's also a fan of British TV shows. Downton Abbey, anyone?

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All Falls Down Series (Standalone)Genre: Contemporary Rom...

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.




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Maroon 5's Payphone rips through my bedroom, pulling me out of a deep sleep.
I groan and roll toward my nightstand, searching blindly for my cell. My head is pounding and my mouth feels like sandpaper. I never want to leave my bed. Why did I let Erin talk me into drinking so much?
Oh, right. Because she's the devil, and I'm clearly a glutton for punishment.
"I think I hate you, and I'm definitely never drinking vodka with you again," I mumble into the receiver, pulling the blankets up over me and groaning. "How are you even functioning right now? My head is killing me." Cracking my eyes open, I frown at the black marker scrawled across my forearm. "And why the hell am I naked with your name and phone number written on me?" Lifting my arm so I can read the text beneath her number, I groan again. "Property of Erin? In permanent marker? Seriously, you whore? That's never going to come off! I'm firing you as my best friend."
"Uh…" a masculine voice answers with a chuckle.
I sit upright, my eyes widening. The blankets fall from around me and my head throbs in protest.
"You aren't Erin." I blurt the first thing that comes to mind.
"No," the guy says with another dark chuckle. "I'm afraid not."
My mouth works, but no sound comes out. I cannot believe I didn't look at the phone before I started spouting off. Holding it away from my face, I squint at the number. It's familiar, but I can't place it. And it's already noon. I never sleep this late.
Jesus, what did Erin and I do last night?
I remember vodka, and Mitch and Erin grinding on the dance floor while Jake and I laughed our asses off at the two of them. A group of frat guys tried to pick us up at some point after my last set. Is that when Erin wrote on my arm? I can’t remember. I think Mitch poured us into cabs around three in the morning. Everything that happened in between is a little fuzzy, though.
I hate vodka. And my best friend.
"You still there?" the man asks, still laughing at me.
Crap.
"Yes. W-who are you?" I hold the phone up to my ear, praying it's no one important.
"This is Detective Lewis with the San Francisco Police Department. I'm trying to reach Miss Ivy Kendall."
Well, there goes my dignity.
"Oh my god," I whisper-groan, flopping backward on the bed. "This isn't happening. I'm dreaming. Please tell me I'm dreaming this whole thing and I didn't actually just call you a whore and tell you that I'm naked." I squeeze my eyes closed and whimper as soon as the word naked slips from my lips. Great. I just told a cop that I'm not wearing any clothes. Twice.
Detective Lewis laughs loudly into the phone. It's a nice laugh, all dark and low, masculine.
My stomach flutters.
"Miss Kendall, I presume?"
I consider telling him no. He can't tell my boss I'm an alcoholic with questionable morals who can't remember what the hell she did last night and definitely shouldn't be allowed around impressionable children if he doesn’t know it's me…right?
"Miss Kendall?" he says, and I think he's even more amused now.
Yep. I definitely hate my best friend.
"Yes, this is Ivy," I say with a sigh and bite back the urge to tell him I'm not usually a crazy person. There's just no way to recover now, so why even bother? I've already humiliated myself enough, thank you very much.













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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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