Archive for June, 2013

Epiphany ~ Sneak Peek!

Posted: June 12, 2013 in Adult Fiction, Contemporary Romance, New Adult, New Release, suspense
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Enjoy this sneak peak into Epiphany by Christina Jean Michaels.

Sneak Peek Promotion Event

Epiphanycover

Title: Epiphany

Author: Christina Jean Michaels

Genre:  Contemporary/romantic suspense

 Age Group:  New Adult/Adult

Expected release date: July 19, 2013

Event organized by: AToMR Tours

 First three chapters on Goodreads until release date:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17704279-epiphany

Book Description:

“I had my first psychic dream when I was nine. Psychic implied power, and powerful wasn’t a word I’d use to describe myself. I couldn’t foretell the future or conjure visions at will, but I couldn’t think of a more fitting word to describe what I sometimes saw in my dreams.”

For 23-year-old Mackenzie Hill, tossing her life down the garbage disposal is easy after a painful incident shatters her life. Her heart is bleeding, and moving to Watcher’s Point is a chance to start anew, only she isn’t prepared for the guy who walks out of her dreams and into the flesh. Literally . . . because she’s been dreaming about this sexy stranger for years.

Mackenzie is even less prepared to face the dark nature of her dreams. They’ve turned disturbingly gruesome, full of blood and murder, and when they begin to coincide with the media’s headlines, she and Aidan realize her visions might be the key to stopping a madman from killing again.

Only Aidan has painful secrets of his own, and perhaps the biggest danger of all is falling for him.

About the Author

epiphany Me

                       

Christina Jean Michaels was born in Paradise, California, but she has found the true home of her heart in Eugene, Oregon where she finds plenty of inspiration for storytelling.

When she was young, her mother said she hated words. Now she can’t imagine not writing. She became an avid reader when she was thirteen and discovered the world of Sweet Valley High. About a year later she realized she could play God and write about her own characters. She has been writing in some form ever since.

She lives with her husband and their four children—three rambunctious UFC/wrestling-loving boys and one girl who steals everyone’s attention.

EpiphanyPrintCover

Excerpt

 

Something inside me cracked right along with Aidan’s expression. Everything he’d been hiding spilled from his eyes.

“Aidan . . .”

“I need a drink.” He strode away, leaving me glued to the spot where he’d trapped me. A crash resounded from the kitchen, followed by splintering glass. I willed my feet to move, ignoring the little voice of reason pointing out that maybe I should leave him be for now.

He was sweeping broken glass into a dustpan when I walked in. “Are you okay?” Instantly, I wished I could cast a net and pull back the stupid, inconsiderate question. Of course he wasn’t okay. “I’m sorry. I know you’re not . . . okay.”

“Don’t worry about it. I know what you meant.” He emptied the dustpan into the trashcan and then opened a bottle of Jack Daniel’s, all the while refusing to meet my eyes.

“Mind sharing?” I asked. If there was ever a time for drinking, it was now.

“I thought you were beyond corruptible.”

I recalled how he’d said something similar on Halloween. “You remember more about that night than you let on, don’t you?”

He pulled two tumblers from a dark cherry wood cabinet. “I remember you.” Amber liquid sloshed into both glasses as he poured, and moment later he closed the distance between us. “Straight up?” The question sounded like a challenge.

“Sure.” I gulped down the whiskey and ignored the burn as it slid down my throat. Heat ignited low in my belly, though whether from the alcohol or Aidan’s scrutiny, I wasn’t sure.

He leaned against the kitchen sink and finished off his own drink before pouring another. “I’m sorry I blew up on you. I didn’t come here to make friends . . . to complicate things.”

“I’m a complication?”

His laughter was empty, cold as a morgue. “You’re about as complicated as they come.”

I stared at the bottom of my glass. “Why’s that?”

“You look at me as if you see right through me. It’s unsettling.”

“I don’t mean to unsettle you.”

“Consider me unsettled. Problem is, I think you’re using more than eyesight.” He glanced at me and, never breaking eye contact, finished the whiskey in one long gulp.

I gripped my glass. I’d rather have my teeth pulled than tell him how often I’d dreamed of him over the years. “Can I have another?”

He grabbed the bottle and moved toward me, and I saw him in my mind’s eye as he’d been in the drawing; bare chest, subtle muscles, hair narrowing down to his belly button . . . I stumbled back as he poured a refill.

“Thanks.” The smooth whiskey went down easier the second time.

“Did you dream about me too? Is that why you followed me on Halloween?”

I took another step back, but he advanced until the edge of the counter bit into my spine. “I didn’t.” The lie sounded weak, even to my own ears.

“I think you did. The way you looked at me, like you saw a ghost or something . . .” Brushing against me, he set his tumbler on the cool granite. “At first, I thought maybe you recognized me from somewhere—”

“No,” I interrupted, desperate to lead him away from the subject. “You were imagining things.”

“No, I wasn’t.” He gently pried the empty glass from my fingers and set it next to his. Nothing stood between us now; not even the last shred of my secret.

I held fast to it anyway, like a child unwilling to let go of a tattered teddy bear. “You can think whatever you want. Doesn’t make it true.”

“Doesn’t make it not true.”

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VBT Giveaway for Hidden by M. Lathan ~ Author Interview!

Posted: June 11, 2013 in Blog Tour, giveaways
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VBT Hidden Banner copy

The Virtual Book Tour for Hidden by M. Lathan is here!

I first was hooked by this awesome cover art.

Once I read the synopsis, I just knew I had to help spread the word about this exciting story.

Please enjoy the Excerpt and the interview with M. Lathan.

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

banner hiddenMEDIA KIT BookCover

HIDDEN

By

M. Lathan

BLURB:  

 

Sixteen-year-old Leah Grant has given up on being normal. She’d settle for stopping the voices in her head, intrusive visions of the future, and better odds of making it to her seventeenth birthday.

 

That’s the thing about pretending to be human in a world where magic used to exist – at any moment, her cover could be blown and she’ll be burned to death like the rest of the witches.

 

Everything changes when she loses control of her powers and flees the orphanage she grew up in. She desperately wants to be invisible but finds her face plastered on every news channel as humans panic over the possible resurgence of her kind. And now the hunters won’t give up until they find her.

Making friends for the first time in her life and falling in love with one of them drives her to discover why she is unlike any being she’s ever met – human or otherwise. The dangerous powers inside of her that would repel Nathan, her new, handsome reason for living, are priceless to some. The locked up forever kind of priceless. And to others, they are too dangerous to allow her to live.

 

Let’s hope she can stay hidden.

   

Excerpt

A far second to oranges, the song I sang in the shower every night had a way of soothing me. More than anything, it made me tired enough to fall asleep. With Whitney gone, I didn’t have to whisper it.

The stars are out,

It’s time for bed.

Now close your eyes,

And rest your head.

May angels shield you with their wings,

As you dream your little angel dreams.

I didn’t recall composing that song, but apparently, I used to think I was good and perfect like the angels. I knew better now.

I stepped out of the shower and tugged a brush through my unruly brown tangles. I stared into the mirror over the sink as I started the song again. My skin screamed winter. I should be a warmer tan; I looked less creepy in the summer. Maybe that was why the girls had been digging into me so hard. I looked rather witchy. The unease that made them mock me was probably their souls warning them, urging them to notice I was different and dangerous.

At my worst, it feels like the fire that could easily shoot from my palm is raging inside of me. My heart picks up, more than when I’m scared. It pounds, I can’t hear. My blood dances, taunting me, begging me to hurt whoever’s hurt me. And I know that I can. I feel that I can.

But I don’t. I breathe and pray and let the magic cool.

Please enjoy this short, fun interview with M. Lathan

1. How would you spend ten thousand bucks?

Very slowly. I’d put it in savings. I rarely spend large sums of money.

2. What are 5 things within touching distance?

Ivy (my dog), iPad, laptop, the rainbow slinky on the nightstand, and the remote to my TV that has been off all weekend.

3. Do you have a crush on anyone?

My husband may be reading this, so I’ll say no.

4. What do you do to relax?

Re-read my favorite books. I like when I know what’s going to happen in a story.

5. Do you write about what turns you on?

Not really. It probably wouldn’t be a good scene. I think people would read it and say, “Really? Is that was does it for you?”

 

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

hiddenMEDIA KIT AuthorPicture

 

M. Lathan lives in San Antonio with her husband and mini-schnauzer. She enjoys writing and has a B.S. in Psych and a Masters in Counseling. Her passion is a blend of her two interests – creating new worlds and stocking them with crazy people. She enjoys reading anything with interesting characters and writing in front of a window while asking rhetorical questions … like her idol Carrie Bradshaw.

Links

Website: mlathan.com

Twitter: @hiddenseries

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/hiddenseries/

Buy links: Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=B00A6301BO

 

 

Giveaway

 Click on the link below to enter the giveaway.

Rafflecopter Giveaway

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

 

 

Embers and Sparks ~ A Blaze in my Kindle and a Fire in my Heart

Posted: June 10, 2013 in Blog Tour, reviews, Series, urban fantasy
Tags: , , , , , ,
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I was excited to sign up for this tour organized by Bewitching Book Tours.

I had never read anything by Laura Bickle and was looking forward to something a little unusual.

What I got was, oops, need to save that for my reviews.

Read on to see why I loved this series so much!

Embers

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       EMBERS

Anya Kalinczyk #1

Pocket Juno Books

Mass Market Paperback, $7.99

ISBN: 978-1439167656

April 2010

 

“One of the most promising debut novels I’ve read in a great while… I’d highly recommend this book to anybody who reads fantasy. It reminds me in many regards…of another exceptional first novel…Emma Bull’s seminal War for the Oaks, and there’s not much higher praise that I can give.”

           —Elizabeth Bear on Tor.com

 

“Bickle has something great in Anya. Embers has everything: demons, ghosts, dragons, love, sex, police, and murder.”

           —M.L.N. Hanover, bestselling author of Darker Angels

 

“Gritty but never grim, Embers is a truly urban fantasy, where the soul of a city haunts every page. I can’t wait for more of Anya and the unforgettable Sparky!”

           —Jeri Smith-Ready, award-winning author of Bad to the Bone and Shade

Unemployment, despair, anger–visible and invisible unrest feed the undercurrent of Detroit’s unease. A city increasingly invaded by phantoms now faces a malevolent force that further stokes fear and chaos throughout the city.

Anya Kalinczyk spends her days as an arson investigator with the Detroit Fire Department, and her nights pursuing malicious spirits with a team of eccentric ghost hunters. Anya–who is the rarest type of psychic medium, a Lantern–suspects a supernatural arsonist is setting blazes to summon a fiery ancient entity that will leave the city in cinders. By Devil’s Night, the spell will be complete, unless Anya–with the help of her salamander familiar and the paranormal investigating team –can stop it.

Anya’s accustomed to danger and believes herself inured to loneliness and loss. But this time she’s risking everything: her city, her soul, and a man who sees and accepts her for everything she is. Keeping all three safe will be the biggest challenge she’s ever faced.

My Review

I’ve never heard of a Lantern before. Sure, I’ve heard of psychic mediums, but a Lantern is new.

Apparently Anya can see ghosts, the good and the bad ones.

Her moonlighting job with DAGR puts her in contact with all kinds of ghost. As a Lantern, she draws in, or consumes the ghost, banishing them forever. She assumes they just cease to be.

As an arson investigator during the day, she’s investigating a serial arsonist and comes to realize the case also has ties to her night job.

She’ll have to set aside her differences with the leader of DAGR and work as a team to catch this guy.

The authors description of Detroit is so close to the way many big cities are now. Rife with crime and disillusion, people are without hope. That would make these cities prime hangouts for the darkness of the otherside.

Dragons, demons, evil spirits, and lots of ghost busting made this book one adventure after another.

The DAGR team is a mixed bag of characters, with a witch, a go to guy, the leader, and a tech wizard.

Anya’s romantic history with Brian is one reason she tried to distance herself from the group. She worries about the growing hollow in her chest and it’s hunger for more spirits.

She says it’s her “scariness” is why they aren’t a couple. That and her invisible familiar, Sparky.

Brian couldn’t care less,. He just wants Anya.

Anya is my favorite character, as she should be, being the star. She’s emotionally compromised, carrying around a boat load of guilt, and dealing with her oft times out of control Sparky.

I also really liked Katie, the witch. By day she runs her bakery shop, specializing in wedding cakes and pastries.

One scene cracked me up. She is working on the topping, a bride and groom, and the bride puts her through hell until she gets the figures just so, but not before Katie givess the bridezilla her just desserts.

Katie smirked, ” I did make her butt a bit bigger for revenge though.”

I think I like Katie, a lot.

Then there’s Sparky.

Anya’s mother gave him to her when she was little. When he’s not nosing around or working with Anya, he sleeps coiled around her neck. To anyone else, he is a pretty necklace.

No one else can see him, not even her paranormal friends. But they can tell when he’s around. Electronics go haywire, often causing fires.

Sparky is a Firedrake, also called a hell bender, a fire elemental salamander. Where Anya goes, he goes, and he comes in handy. When he’s not a necklace, he’s a walking breathing small dragon, with lots of powers.

Picture him as a frilly eared komodo with iridescent skin.

komodo dragons photo: Komodo Islands is the NEW 7 Wonders of the World KomodoIslandistheNew7WondersoftheWorld.jpg

Problem is, he’s like an overgrown puppy with a mind of his own, always getting in trouble. If Anya doesn’t watch him closely, he gets into all kinds of mischief.

Like this scene.

She looked down to see the salamander creeping across the tile floor, stalking a microscope perched on a table. Anya stepped on his tail, pinning him to the floor. Sparky glared at her in irritation, straining forward with his legs churning in futile slow motion against the tile…

Sparky switched directions, circling around to get a better look at an unattended slide projector that had attracted his attention. Anya adjusted her stance to remain on his tail, trying to look nonchalant – not like she had to pee.

There were lots of funny scenes with Sparky and some really sweet ones too.

But keep in mind, he’s also her protector and has many weapons.

As the clock winds down to Devil’s Night, Anya and the group are desperate to stop the arsonist. They have a good idea of what he’s up to and no one wants to find out who or what Sirrush is.

 This is a fantastic story, well written, with attention to detail and lots of research. The technical aspects are written in laymens terms making it easier to follow and the story more genuine.

There are some super characters you come to love and care about, along with a sweet. lovable, funny sidekick.

Something just struck me about Embers. I didn’t want to let the characters go. Bittersweet when I reached the end. But wait, I also had Sparks, Book Two, and I wasted no time diving right back into this series.

5 Stars

EMBERS is available now from Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.

 

Read an excerpt at http://books.simonandschuster.com/Embers/Laura-Bickle/9781439167656/excerpt

And now for SPARKS

Sparks

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SPARKS

Anya Kalinczyk #2

Pocket Juno Books

Mass Market Paperback, $7.99

ISBN 978-1439167687

September 2010

 

The second book in Bickle’s series about Anya Kalinczyk is just as wonderful as the first—Anya is a compelling and likable protagonist and Bickle does an outstanding job in her portrayal of the city of Detroit; there are ruins, yes, but also hope in the ashes. Anya never takes herself too seriously and there is a scene in a baby supercenter that is absolutely not to be missed. (4 stars)

                 – RT Book Reviews

 

…a charming and inventive read.

                 -Elizabeth Bear, Realms of Fantasy Magazine, December 2010

WITHOUT A TRACE…

Anya Kalinczyk is the rarest type of psychic medium, a Lantern, who holds down a day job as an arson investigator with the Detroit Fire Department—while working 24/7 to exterminate malicious spirits haunting a city plagued by unemployment and despair. Along with her inseparable salamander familiar, Sparky, Anya has seen, and even survived, all manner of fiery hell—but her newest case sparks suspicions of a bizarre phenomenon that no one but her eccentric team of ghost hunters might believe: spontaneous human combustion.

After fire consumes the home of elderly Jasper Bernard, Anya is stunned to discover his remains—or, more precisely, a lack of them; even the fiercest fires leave some trace of their victims—and she is sure this was no naturally occurring blaze. Soon she’s unearthed a connection to a celebrity psychic who preys on Detroit’s poor, promising miracles for money. But Hope Solomon wants more—she’s collecting spirits, and in a frantic race against time, Anya will face down an evil adversary who threatens her fragile relationship with her lover, her beloved Sparky’s freshly hatched newts, and the wandering souls of the entire city.

My Review

I’m back in this series and the gang is all here.

It’s always exciting to start the next book in a series you love. The hard part is doing a review.

How to tell you about it without spoiling it for you.

This case also has ties to her night job.

Someone or something is burning people, reducing most of their bodies to ash. It’s like they just burst into flames and burn up.

Residual traces let Anya know there is something otherworldly at work which leads her right to Hope Solomon. a psychic medium sucking the money out of poor innocents.

She’s doing more than that, and Anya and her team, along with her faithful familiar, Sparky must rush to stop Hope before she becomes too powerful to stop.

While this is going on Anya has big problems with Sparky. She never thought to check what sex Sparky was and is astonished to find her bathtub full of salamander eggs. Over 50 of them.

salamanders photo: BW Salamanders salamanders.jpg

This is a pickle, since, like Sparky, nobody else can see them. With Hope lusting after them, they devise a camera that can detect their heat signature and take turns guarding them.

A scene where Katie drags Anya and Sparky into a baby store is down right hilarious. Anya gets caught up in the buying game, and you won’t believe what heppens. By the time they are done… I want to tell you what happens so bad. I read this scene twice, it was good.

When it’s apparent that Sparky won’t stay with them if Anya leaves, they design a portable incubator bag for her to carry them in.

This struck me as funny. What would people think if they looked in that bag and saw nothing.

Another thing was what are they going to do with over 50 baby Sparky’s crawling around, getting into mischief.

One thing to remember. They may be babies, but they are also hellbenders, with their own powers, and you’ll discover they’re not always cute and cuddly.

Sparks takes you to the gates of Hell and through them.

I was so worried about what was going to happen to my beloved characters. I just couldn’t see how they would all survive.

I did survive the end of the book. Sparks is every bit as good as Embers and I can only hope for more books about these awesome characters. Soon.

5 Stars

SPARKS is available for pre-order from Amazon and Barnes & Noble

 Read an excerpt at http://books.simonandschuster.com/Sparks/Laura-Bickle/9781439167687/excerpt

Author Bio:

Laura Bickle

Laura Bickle has an MA in sociology-criminology (research interests: fear of crime and victimology) and a BA in criminology. She has worked in and around criminal justice since 1997. Although she does read Tarot cards, she’s never used them in criminal profiling or to locate lost scientists. She recently took up astronomy, but for the most part her primary role in studying constellations and dark matter is to follow her amateur astronomer-husband around central Ohio toting the telescope tripod and various lenses.

Writing as Laura Bickle, she’s the author of EMBERS and SPARKS for Pocket – Juno Books. Writing as Alayna Williams, she’s the author of DARK ORACLE and ROGUE ORACLE.

More info on her urban fantasy and general nerdiness is here: http://www.salamanderstales.com/

Laura/ Alayna’s blogs

http://www.salamanderstales.blogspot.com and http://delphisdaughters.blogspot.com

She’s also at Facebook

What’s New On My Bookshelf #22

Posted: June 9, 2013 in Book Promos, What's New on My Bookshelf
Tags: , , , ,
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This is my own version of a weekly bookhaul post where  I’ll be telling you about all of the books I got this week, whether print or e-book plus all things new on fuonlyknew.

I got a few books this week, some free, some for review, and some I purchased just for my reading pleasure.

I also post reviews on another blog aknifeandaquill . It’s all about horror. If someone doesn’t die, we don’t do it here!

Here’s some I picked up to review on both blogs. Double exposure for the author:)

Apocalypse: An Anthology by Authors and Readers  Night Chill

Here are some I picked up to review on fuonlyknew.

Paranormal Anthology with a TWIST  Snowbound

Got some good ones!

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Books for Review.

  Dead Girl: A Romantic Zombie Tale of Revenge

I had to have these!

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Books I won.

After a two-week dry spell, I cannot believe all of these wonderful books I have won!

I won all of these from Lada Ray’s Giveaway! Thank you so much Lada. My summer is booked!!

The Earth Shifter  Gold Train (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure)  Stepford USA (Accidental Spy Smalltown Adventure)

Green Desert (Accidental Spy Prequel)  Catharsis (Legend of the Lemurians, Earth Keepers Chronicle 1)

And her two upcoming new releases. Is that not awesome!

Lumarian Crystals and Atlantis.

I also won this giveaway hosted at Modern Goodreads.

Many thanks to these awesome authors. Now I have more to follow and what a great way to discover ya’ll!


MODERN GOOD READS PRESENTS:
MEMBERSHIP DRIVE & OFFICIAL GIVEAWAY

The Loved, The Lost, The Dreaming  Ancient Blood: A Novel of the Hegemony  Blue Coyote Motel  The Battle for Princess Madeline  The Nightlife: Paris (The Nightlife, #3)

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Books I’ve reviewed this week. Don’t forget to enter the giveaways!

This cover art is temporary. I'll find something better from a willing artist and post it as soon as possible.

Reviewed for my Monday Minis Meme here.

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Moonlit

Catch the Moonlit tour for my review and giveaway here.

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KissingFire amazon GR Smashwords

You can read my tour review of Kissing Fire and enter the giveaway here.

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Stitch (Stitch Trilogy #1)

My review for Stitch and everyone can get their own copy free Friday, June 7th thru 11th here.

Also enter the  giveaway!

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Jaded (Rock Star, #1) 

Read my Reviews for Jaded and Faded and enter the giveaway here.

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Scheduled Reviews for next week

Embers (Anya Kalinczyk, #1)    Sparks (Anya Kalinczyk, #2)

You can read my reviews for Embers and Sparks Monday!

The Harvesting (The Harvesting, #1)

You can read my review Thursday, June 13th.

Several more reviews and awesome giveaways coming this next week. Be sure to stop by!

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Other posts this week. Just click on the links to see the posts.

Jeff Gunhus ~ Night Chill ~ Giveaway

Cover Reveal ~ Hounded

Teaser Tuesday ~ Jezebel

Innovera Yakov ~ $50 Giftcard Giveaway Blast

Cover Reveal and Giveaway ~ Skin Deep

WWW Wednesday

Shadow of Danger ~ Promo and Giveaway

Giveaway Promo ~ Dark Musicals ~ Phantom & Demon

Vampire Elite ~ Giveaway Promo

Thursday Theatre ~ Bad Doggie ~ Jezebel

Freakin Fridays #13 ~ RUSH

Go here to find all of my giveaways. Enter one or enter all of them!!

Go here for a list of free e-books.

Busy, busy, busy. So many delicious reads! Some I’ve read and will be posting my reviews soon.

So what did you get this week? See something you like? Do you have any of these? Leave a comment and let me know.

Related articles

Jaded and Faded are Rockin this blog! Giveaway and Reviews here.

Posted: June 8, 2013 in Blog Tour, giveaways, New Release, reviews, Series
Tags: , , ,
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Hello and welcome to my stop on the Jaded and Faded Tour.

I have two reviews for you today and a fantastic giveaway.

Let’s get this Rock Star Tour started.

Jaded (Rock Star, #1)

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Jaded will be ON SALE for the blog tour. It’s normally 2.99 but it will be .99 for 7 days only! Here are the links!!!
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I’m Scarlett Ryan.Yes, THAT Scarlett Ryan. I live an extraordinary life: millionaire rock star, owner of exotic cars, pictures of me in every magazine, millions of fans, and a name that is recognized world wide. It’s supposed to be my dream come true. But, my life IS a fantasy, and I want real. I want exciting. I want… NORMAL. So, I moved from California to Florida, hoping to obtain some normalcy. Instead I find…Stephan Montgomery.He’s an arrogant jerk. Seriously, I hate him. I swear if he tells me one more blonde joke, I will punch him… again… Unfortunately  I can’t stop thinking about him, or his gorgeous green eyes. Trust me, I know that he’s bad for me. If only my heart would listen.I also find out that my parents have kept a LIFE CHANGING secret from me. I need to know the truth.The harder I strive for normal, the stranger things seem to get.

My Review

There is a big age difference between me and the characters in this book. Also, I’m not rich or famous. But Jaded still brought back many memories from when I was a teenager. Foremost were the strong bonds with my girlfriends and the insecurity about my decisions, and boys. Oh, the pain and angst of young love.

Right from the start I liked Scarlett Ryan. She’s nineteen years old and been touring with her rock band for four years. She’s never had a chance at a normal life. Too busy touring to make lasting friends or fall in love.

She knows she’s acting like a spoiled brat when she throws a tantrum, telling her manager, who also happens to be her father, that she’s had enough and storms off.

She catches the first flight out of California and lands in Hope, Florida.

Being rich and having a personal assistant has its perks as everything is taken care of while she’s high above the clouds.

She arrives at her posh new digs and her stylist has her enrolled in school and even filled her wardrobe with clothes appropriate for her age group.

Lying out is her outfit for her first day of school, along with this note.

“You told me to dress you like a normal teenager, and I did my best. Don’t blame me that you look extraordinary, no matter what you wear. Good luck with high  school. Go to lots of parties, get drunk, and kiss lots of boys. But no matter what you do: DON’T FALL IN LOVE!(Trust me, high school love sucks, and always ends in heart-break). Have fun!”

Ain’t that the truth.

I really connected when Scarlett begins highschool and attempts to live a normal teenager’s life.

Her first day of school is daunting. Once the fervor of who she is dies down, she literally bumps into Thor. Her name for this handsome God.  She doesn’t know his name and he’ll only tell her when she meets him for lunch.

Then she meets Stephan. Your typical confident, young alpha male, but he does have something going for him. A wonderful smile. He’s not impressed with who she is and quickly gets under her skin, especially when he shortens her name to Scar.

At first I was thinking, Oh no, a love triangle, and these two are step brothers. But this doesn’t last long and you clearly know where Scarlett’s interest lies. With the guy “with black hair, gorgeous green eyes, snarky attitude that makes you want to slap him…” Stephan.

Ethan and Stephan quickly become an important part of Scarlett’s life, treating her like everybody else and teasing her relentlessly.

Just when things seemed to be going smoothly, Scarlett got some startling news that shocked her. She seemed to accept it too readily, but who knows how someone would react, especially a young, vulnerable woman trying to find her way.

You are taken in a whole other direction and I could see what might be going to happen. I liked the idea and hoped it would be so.

While Jaded is written for a younger audience, Ya and New Adult, I thoroughly enjoyed this romp and raced to see what could possibly happen next, grinning all the way.

And the ending. Oh no! The ending leaves you thinking, “No way!” Luckily I already had Faded, Book Two, and dove right back in.

4 Stars

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Now for Faded!

Faded (Rock Star, #2)

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Buy Links

Amazon /  Barnes&Noble / Smashwords

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I left Hope – the only place I’ve ever felt at home. So now what? Where do I go from here?

When I left, I didn’t just leave my home. I left my friends, my sisters, and Stephan… I just found them. I can’t lose them now.

I know that I want to do MY music. I need to remember WHY I wanted to play music in the first place. And the only way to get that is by firing my dad, but that may be harder than I thought.

On top of everything, I now have cameras following me around everywhere. Even my own home isn’t safe anymore.

I’ve come to realize that normal will never be an option for me.

My Review

Faded starts off right where Jaded left us. I really liked that, as the ending left me with lots of questions.

Scarlet leaves Florida believing it is best for her friends. She thinks it’s not fair to them to have their privacy invaded because of her fame.

She can’t stay away though. She needs them and misses them. Especially Stephan. So she returns.

Faded reveals answers to many questions from Jaded. Scarlett is maturing, becoming a stronger, emotionally grounded young woman, despite her notoriety and unusual younger years.

The secondary characters from Jaded begin to come into their own with this second book, and are an integral part of this series now.

It’s hard to review a second book without spoilers, so I’ll just that Faded is every bit as good as Jaded, if not better, since we are led further into Scarlett’s and her friends relationships and stories.

I’ll warn ya. The ending is a wowser. Just sayin. You’ll definitely be reading the third book, Hated, when it’s released.

4 Stars

~~~~~~~~

Giveaway

Check out these awesome Giveaways.

PRIZE PACK #1 – Signed paperback copy of Jaded, Faded, & You Got Me. Tote Bag. Swag pack!

  • PRIZE PACK #2 – Signed paperback copy of Jaded. Swag pack!

Click on the rafflecopter link below to enter.

***US Only***

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And another giveaway.

***International***

5 e-book copies of Jaded

5 e-book copies of Faded

Click on the rafflecopter  link below to enter.

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AUTHOR BIO

I am a YA/ NA author of the books: Don’t Tell, You Got Me, and the Rock Star Trilogy: Jaded, Faded, and Hated. I have a slight addiction to the TV series Pretty Little Liars and The Vampire Diaries. I’m 23 years old, and I currently live in St Louis, with my husband of 2 years.

FACEBOOK –  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mercy-Amare/466953106650292

TWITTER – https://twitter.com/MercyAmare

WEBSITE – http://www.mercyamare.com

GOODREADS – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6464549.Mercy_Amare

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Freakin Fridays #13 ~ Their Mercury Eyes! What a “RUSH”

Posted: June 8, 2013 in Freakin Friday, Meme
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Freakin Fridays!

Freakin Fridays is my own little meme. I’ll be posting about books, movies, and all things scary.

Feel free to join in and do your own Freakin Fridays posts!

Tune in every Friday. Get your scare on!

Let’s have some fun!

First, I fell in love with the cover art for RUSH. Then I was completely hooked by the book trailer. I’m now waiting to add this book in my Kindle. Release date June 11th!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pERSIK_zuZ4]

Check out more about RUSH!

Rush (The Game, #1)

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So what’s the game now? This, or the life I used to know?

When Miki Jones is pulled from her life, pulled through time and space into some kind of game—her carefully controlled life spirals into chaos. In the game, she and a team of other teens are sent on missions to eliminate the Drau, terrifying and beautiful alien creatures. There are no practice runs, no training, and no way out. Miki has only the guidance of secretive but maddeningly attractive team leader Jackson Tate, who says the game isn’t really a game, that what Miki and her new teammates do now determines their survival, and the survival of every other person on this planet. She laughs. He doesn’t. And then the game takes a deadly and terrifying turn.

Let the games begin!

For more about the author and her books go here.

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Giveaway and Free Book ~ Stitch by Samantha Durante

Posted: June 7, 2013 in Blog Tour, Debut Novel, Dystopian, giveaways, otherworldly, reviews, Science Fiction
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Stitch by Samantha Durante is FREE on Kindle this Friday, June 7th, to Tuesday, June 11th.

A college ghost romance with a surprising dystopian sic-fi twist, Part One of this trilogy is sure to keep you on your toes! And better yet, Part Two – Shudder, launches on the 15th. You definitely don’t want to miss this innovative debut novel that will appeal to fans of the YA and New Adult genres.

Stitch (Stitch Trilogy #1)

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Buy Stitch on Amazon or Borrow Free from Kindle Owners' Lending Library!

Stitch, Stitch Trilogy, Book One

by Samantha Durante

Genre: YA/NA Dystopian/Paranormal Romance

Rating: 4.3 Stars (100+Reviews)

Synopsis

My Review

Stitch is Samantha Durantes debut novel. I loved this story and can’t wait to see how she is going to top it.

You get a blend of many genres.

First I was thinking paranormal, then dystopian, and finally, science fiction.

As I don’t read other reviews until mine is published, I can’t wait to read with other readers thought.

Another night. Another nightmare.

When Alessa started college, she thought it would help her to adjust, to move on after the death of her parents.

Now she’s having horrible nightmares and seeing the ghostly image of a man.

She picked the sorority because of the house. Something about it spoke to her, drew her to it.

haunted houses photo: Miles Manor hayrideandhouses032.jpg

Now her every thought is consumed with finding out who the ghost is that haunts the house and her mind.

In an attempt at normalcy, she goes to a dance with Nikhil. He’s the first guy she’s had any interest in.

“Alessa parted her lips and looked up at Nikhil, preparing to surrender to her body’s impulses.

But instead of the dark brown eyes she expected, she saw only blue. Unfathomable, sparkling blue…

Once again, a single word rose in the back of her throat – Isaac – and she knew the night was over.”

Isaac’s continued appearances and the fact that only she can see him becomes a quest to discover who he was and why he’s so sad.

What she finds is shocking. Was moving into the house her choice, what secrets are her friend Janie hiding, and does Alessa have a connection to Isaac, the ghost of her dreams and the house?

My thoughts.

You’ll have an exciting time finding out just who or what Isaac is and what all of this has to do with Alessa.

This mixing of genres is brilliant and captivating.

While the beginning may be calm, slowly building this new world, the author fluidly takes you back and forth through time, filling in the answers to the mystery of Alessa and Isaac.

About halfway through, I started to see where this was going but with many twists and turns and what the’s, I was continually surprised.

One thing that I found very unique was how the author dealt with the communication between Alessa and Isaac. It was not what I was expecting and really had me going.  You’ll see.

The anticipation was nail-biting and the ending was out of this world. There was no cliff hanger and I finally had all of the answers.

5 Stars

Get your free copy today. Limited time only. June 7 – 11th.

AMAZON

Share the news for a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card (Open Internationally)

Click on the rafflecopter link below to enter.

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Thanks ya’ll for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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Giveaway ~ Vampire Elite ~ A fight to the last drop.

Posted: June 7, 2013 in Adult Fiction, Blog Tour, giveaways, New Release, Steamy Romance, Vampires
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You’ll find no sparkly vampires here.

They are hot-blooded, and want yours.

Just look at this cover art! Check out her eyes!

sexy couple

VAMPIRE ELITE

By

Irina Argo

BLURB:  

 

Can the ultimate choice be made if saving your race means destroying the one you love?

At the beginning of the twenty-first century of our era a millennia long war between two immortal races was coming to an end. The Vampire Elite, the strongest among vampires, forced the race of immortal beings, the Amiti to become their blood suppliers, called bloodstock, locking them in their underground cells and treating them like livestock. The surviving free Amiti make a final attempt to strike back. The Queen of Amiti is proclaimed a traitor and is executed. Her death signifies the rise of a new Queen, her young daughter Arianna who becomes the last hope of her dying race. Arianna totally embraces her mission and is ready to fight for her people to the last drop of her blood but encounters an unexpected challenge—the vampire King Tor. They both are captured into a trap of love where they had to make an ultimate choice; to kill the loved one or to let their races die.

Vampire Elite is the epic story of a bitter conflict between two peoples, and the effect of that conflict on everyone living in its grip. The characters are driven to love and betrayal, vengeance and sacrifice in a world without easy black-and-white answers.

Based on an ancient Egyptian legend, packed with action and intrigue, Vampire Elite will pull you into the entrancing world of immortals and open new portals into their hidden universe.

                       

EXCERPT

(Oberon is captured. Anock is interrogating him)

 

“I can’t do that, Anock.”

“Oh, but you can. You don’t want this female to die, do you?”

“No, I don’t, and I appeal to your mercy, Anock. You can spare her life; it’s your choice as much as it is mine. More than mine. I will not give the Keepers up. There’s nothing that you can do that will change my mind.”

“Yes, Oberon, you will. At the count of three. One.”

“I am so very sorry.” Oberon glanced at the woman. She held her head down, but her shaking shoulders betrayed that she was crying. “There is nothing I can do for you. The Keepers are the only Amiti’s hope, I cannot give them up.”

Please Goddess, kill me. Spare me from having to make this choice.

* * *

“Two!” Anock was bluffing. He had no intention of letting the woman die. It was a test of wills.

“Please, Anock. You’re a warrior, not a butcher. How can you reduce yourself to this level? Torture me, kill me, do whatever you want, but please, don’t waste her life.”

Anock looked one last time at the Amiti.

This is so wrong.

 

“Three!”

Blade’s sword hissed through the air, slicing through the female’s neck. Her head hit the floor and rolled toward the cage, lifeless jade-green eyes staring into Anock’s soul. It took a few seconds for the body to collapse to the floor.

The hysterical screams of the other Amiti filled the room.

Anock stared, transfixed, at the lifeless eyes.

Cara’s eyes. Oh Goddess.

“Take the bloodstock to her cell and clean the place up,” he ordered, his voice and brain totally disconnected, and left.

~~~~~~ 

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

 

Irina Argo is a combined pen name for two authors, Irina Kardos and Jo-An Torres.

Irina

IrinaArgo

Irina’s world is dark. She works as a clinical psychologist in a Juvenile Correctional Facility dealing with the extremes of human behavior on a regular basis and takes care of her paralyzed husband who suffered a stroke several years ago. To bring light into her life she writes. Writing has always been her passion. She is originally from Russia where she was employed as a TV journalist.

Jo-An

Jo-An
Jo-An is a Leo, a lioness who has emerged to follow her dream, to someday write a book of her own. She owned a costume shop for 15 years and was able to satisfy and excel in her creative nature. She is an over-achiever and believes that anything is possible if you believe in yourself and ignore the nay-sayers.  Her philosophy is based on Shakespeare “It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves.” She currently resides in California with her 5 cats and 1 husband.

GIVEAWAY

One randomly drawn commenter during the tour will win a $50 Amazon or B&N Giftcard.

Go here to view the schedule.

The more you comment, the better your chances to win!

To enter the giveaway, click on the link below

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Thanks for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

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Winners! Sierra by Taylor Dean

Posted: June 7, 2013 in giveaways, Winners!
Tags: , ,
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winners photo: winners winners.gif

It’s that time again.

Time to announce the winners for Sierra by Taylor Dean!

Sierra

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The Swag Pack Winner is:

Lacey G.

Taylor sierra giveaway DSCN0374

The Winners of the e-books are:

Elisabeth W.

Lori H.

Amanda R.

Sandy S.

Stephanie G.

Congratulations!

All winners have been notified.

Thanks to everyone for your comments.

I do love reading them and hope you continue to visit fuonlyknew!

Thanks so much to Taylor Dean for her wonderful books and for letting me host her giveaway.

*****For all of my giveaways go here*****

I’d love to keep telling ya’ll about some really great books.

Subscribe by email and lets talk!

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Giveaway ~ Demons & Phantoms ~ What Music They Make

Posted: June 6, 2013 in Blog Tour, giveaways, Mytery/Thriller, Romance, Series
Tags: , , , , , ,
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Wait until you check out these amazing books by Laura Deluca.

Remember Phantom of the Opera?

Of course you do.

Laura Deluca puts her own spin on it with Demon and Phantom.

Her cover art is awesome and she has a fantastic giveaway for you!

Phantom, Dark Musicals Trilogy Book #1 and Demon-Dark Musicals Trilogy Book #2
by Laura DeLuca

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cover_Demon

Demon, Dark Musicals Book Two

Blurb

When Justyn and Rebecca set off for the New York School of Performing Arts, they think their dreams are about to come true. To their dismay, they aren’t in high school anymore, and the competition is steep. Rebecca must compete against accomplished singers for a role in the production of Demon Barber, including a stunning Gothic diva with her sights set on Justyn

It doesn’t help that things keep disappearing from their apartment or that Rebecca’s father refuses to accept that Justyn is an essential part of her life. Yet, all this seems minimal in comparison to the serial rapist terrorizing the campus.

Consumed by fear and obsessed with revenge, Rebecca and Justyn start living the story of Sweeney Todd—both on and off the stage.

Cover_Phantom

 Phantom, Dark Musicals Book One

Blurb

The “Phantom” was a musical phenomenon that Rebecca had always found enchanting. She had no idea that her life was about to mirror the play that was her obsession. When her high school drama club chooses “Phantom” as their annual production, Rebecca finds herself in the middle of an unlikely love triangle and the target of a sadistic stalker who uses the lines from the play as their calling card.

Rebecca lands the lead role of Christine, the opera diva, and like her character, she is torn between her two co-stars—Tom the surfer and basketball star who plays the lovable hero, and Justyn, the strangely appealing Goth who is more than realistic in the role of the tortured artist.

Almost immediately after casting, strange things start to happen both on and off the stage. Curtains fall. Mirrors are shattered. People are hurt in true phantom style. They all seem like accidents until Rebecca receives notes and phone calls that hint at something more sinister. Is Justyn bringing to life the twisted character of the phantom? Or in real life are the roles of the hero and the villain reversed? Rebecca doesn’t know who to trust, but she knows she’s running out of time as she gets closer and closer to opening night. Only when the mask is stripped away, will the twenty-first century phantom finally be revealed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Enjoy this teaser Excerpt

Demon

Rebecca unwound the silver ribbon. When she lifted the lid, she found two matching pendants, each laced to a long hemp chain. They were shaped sort of like seashells, with an endless spiral pattern that looped out from the center as the chambers grew larger. They were dark brown in color with a few hints of tan along the edges. The stones had been polished and smoothed on both sides, but when she lifted them, she could see that the two pieces fit together perfectly. She swore the halves fought to snap together, like magnets in her hand. There was an energy pulsing and vibrating within the stones that even a novice witch like Rebecca could feel.

“They’re beautiful,” Rebecca whispered as she ran her hand along the intricate grooves.

“It’s an ammonite.” Justyn lifted one of the pendants, brushed her hair to the side, and hooked the clasp around her neck. His breath tickled her skin as his hands moved with graceful dexterity, giving her goose bumps despite the humid August night. “They’re actually fossils that are millions of years old, named after Ammon, an ancient Egyptian deity. When they’re divided in half, they’re perfect mirrors of one another. Some cultures believe that if the two halves are given to lovers, it will bind them together forever. When made into necklaces, they’re often called soul mate pendants.”

“Wo-wow,” Rebecca stuttered. As usual, the sentiment behind Justyn’s gift was even more beautiful than the gift itself. It left her a little flustered. “That’s amazing. How do you know all this stuff?”

“You don’t spend eighteen years living with Darlene without learning a thing or two.”

Rebecca laughed. Justyn’s mother Darlene was definitely something special. EMT, exotic belly dancer, and Wiccan High Priestess were only a few of the titles she claimed. Rebecca knew she was a fountain of earth-based knowledge after years of studying the Craft. As Darlene’s new apprentice, Rebecca greedily dipped into that knowledge herself as often as possible.

“It’s beautiful,” Rebecca repeated, too overcome with emotion to think of anything more eloquent to say. “You certainly know how to make things interesting.”

“Like I told you on our first date, I try not to be boring.” He winked at her. “So … are you going to put mine on for me?”

“Oh yeah … sorry.”

Rebecca giggled as she lifted the hemp chain. She wasn’t nearly as graceful as Justyn. She almost dropped the necklace in the sand three times before she managed to get the clasp locked. When she finally had it secured, he placed his hand over her heart, where the ammonite lay. He did the same with her hands, lifting them to his chest. His dark eyes had lost all glimmer of humor. He met her gaze with a stare filled with genuine emotion. Beneath her fingers, she could feel the gentle, steady rhythm of his heart beating in perfect tune with her own.

“Our love will span both space and time. In this life and the next, you shall be mine. All eternity I will be by your side. For a love so strong cannot be denied. Spirit and flesh merged into one. So mote it be, for all days to come.”

When he was done with the recitation, he kissed her. Not just a gentle brush, but a deep, passionate embrace that left her throat tight and her heart pounding with a familiar  yearning.

“I’ve never heard that poem before,” she said once she’d caught her breath. “Who are you quoting?”

Even in the moonlight, she could see him blush. “I guess I was quoting myself. It was really more of an incantation than a poem though. These necklaces are meant to be a symbol of our love, and it seemed a little spell work could only add to the power of the stones. There is power in words, Becca. Just like there is power in nature.”

“You mean, you wrote that?”

He nodded, but his eyes twinkled, and the playfulness was back in his voice. “Well, actually, I just made it up as I went along.”

“Wow. Actor, singer, and now an improv poet slash chant writer. Is there anything you can’t do, Lord Justyn?”

He smiled and tilted her chin so he could look into her eyes. “I can’t stop loving you.”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

dark music authobiopic

Laura “Luna” DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and four children. She loves writing in the young adult genre because it keeps her young at heart.  In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the editor of a popular review blog called New Age Mama. She is an active member of her local pagan community, and has been studying Wicca for close to eight years.  Her current works include Destiny, Destiny Unveiled, Phantom, Morrigan, Player, and Demon.

Social Media Links:

http://authorlauradeluca.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/authorldeluca

www.facebook.com/authorlauradeluca

http://pinterest.com/authorldeluca/

http://www.goodreads.com/authorlauradeluca

If you haven’t read the first book in the series, now is a great time to get your copy. To celebrate the release of Demon, Phantom is now on sale for only $1.99 exclusively on Amazon!

http://www.amazon.com/Phantom-ebook/dp/B007Q3W7XC/

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/146617

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/phantom-laura-deluca/1109825093?ean=9780984680092

Buy Links for Demon:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Demon-Dark-Musicals-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00C32YAKY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1364527596&sr=1-1&keywords=demon+laura+deluca

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/299593

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/demon-laura-deluca/1114955103?ean=2940016600147

GIVEAWAY

Laura will be awarding to a US Only Winner:

a signed copy of Phantom with original cover, crystal geode, rough crystal point, stone pendant, sterling silver pentacle pendant, mini Buddha figurine, smudge stick with abalone shell, 2 Gothic style key chains, incense set with leaf holder and lavender purification bath salts.

Follow the tour here.

****Click on the link below to enter this amazing giveaway!****

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