Archive for September, 2013

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I love doing Cover Reveals.

I always try to guess what the cover will look like I’m always wrong!

Just feast your eyes on this!

And when you read the synopsis, you’re going to want to read this as much as I do!

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The Wicked We Have Done by Sarah Harian

Publication date: March 2014

Genres: New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:
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Evalyn Ibarra never expected to be an accused killer and experimental prison test subject. A year ago, she was a normal college student. Now she’s been sentenced to a month in the compass room—an advanced prison obstacle course designed by the government to execute justice. If she survives, the world will know she’s innocent. Locked up with nine notorious and potentially psychotic criminals, Evalyn must fight the prison and dismantle her past to stay alive. But the system prized for accuracy appears to be killing at random. She doesn’t plan on making friends. She doesn’t plan on falling in love, either.
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Sarah Harian
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the wicked Sarah
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Sarah Harian grew up in the foothills of Yosemite and received her B.A. and M.F.A. from Fresno State University. When not writing, she is usually hiking some mountain or another in the Sierras, playing video games with her fiancé, or rough-housing with her dog.
Author Links:
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

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Welcome to my stop on the tour for Keeper of Reign.

I fell in love with the cover art. Makes me think of lightning bugs and moths. Or maybe butterflies or dragonflys.

All are drawn to the light as I am drawn to this story.

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Mrs. Potter’s Book Publicity Services Presents:

A Deluxe Blog Tour For:

“Keeper of Reign”

By: Emma Right

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Book Description:

Books written in blood. Most are lost, their Keepers with them. A curse that befell a people. A Kingdom with no King. Life couldn’t get more harrowing for the Elfies, a blend of Elves and Fairies. Or for sixteen-year-old Jules Blaze. Or could it?

For Jules, the heir of a Keeper, no less, suspects his family hides a forgotten secret. It was bad enough that his people, the Elfies of Reign, triggered a curse which reduced the entire inhabitants to a mere inch centuries ago. All because of one Keeper who failed his purpose. Even the King’s Ancient Books, did not help ward off that anathema.

Now, Gehzurolle, the evil lord, and his armies of Scorpents, seem bent on destroying Jules and his family. Why? Gehzurolle’s agents hunt for Jules as he journeys into enemy land to find the truth. Truth that could save him and his family, and possibly even reverse the age-long curse. Provided Jules doesn’t get himself killed first.

Genre= YA Fantasy

Purchase Links:

Amazon / B&N / Twitter

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Here’s a peek inside Keeper of Reign

Ralston said, “How’d Gehzurolle even know we’re Keepers? We were always so careful not to tell anyone.”

Jules looked over his shoulders. “Gehzurolle’s not supposed to be omniscient, but his spies lurk everywhere.”

“You mean the Scorpents?”

Jules lowered his voice. “Not just. Could be Handoverans, or Elfies who’ve been bought with a price. Then there’re three others. One looks like a red flame and his name is Rage. It‘s hard to notice him, especially during a fire, although some have seen him and lived!”

“So, he’s in charge of fire?”

“Rage lives up to his name. He’s in charge of anger. That’s what Grandpa said.”

“Who else?”

“Another resembles smoke: name is Whisperer. He whispers things in the air to influence people or the weather or such. He gives them suggestions. And the third is Sekt: he’s rumored to roam in fogs and mists, but he hides well and not much is known of him. Gehzurolle’ll do anything to make trouble for us. He can even manipulate birds for his end.”

“Birds?” Ralston made a face.

“Not all kinds. Prey birds. That’s why I think Gehzurolle’s involved. Our raven attack seemed too coincidental, especially with this.” He swept his arm about. “Did you hear anything last night?”

“Besides your snoring?”

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Author Bio:

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Emma Right is a happy wife and homeschooling mother of five. Besides running a busy home, she regularly reads and writes stories for children. An avid Christian, she enjoys writing stories with themes involving family-life, friendship, faithfulness, and seeking wisdom, all in an imaginary fantastical world. She has written several young adult novels and plans on writing many more. Right worked for two advertising agencies and has won several major awards, including the prestigious Clio Award. She currently resides in California where she takes care of her children and her many pets.

Author Links:

Website: http://www.emmaright.com

Blog: http://www.emmaright.com/Blog.aspx

Twitter: https://twitter.com/emmbeliever

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emma.right.author

Fan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KeeperOfReign

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17995764-keeper-of-reign

Librarything: http://www.librarything.com/work/book/98432219

Follow along with the blog tour by clicking on the photo below:

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew.

I’m a collaborator with Troy Aaron Ratliff.

He has begun an attack and I’m a part of it.

Join us!

Novel Phalanx Attack #2

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After several five-star short stories and novellas, Troy Aaron Ratliff is finally releasing his first novel of horror fiction DO I BOTHER YOU AT NIGHT?

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They say nothing ever happens in Kansas.

Sylvester Petersen used to think so too. That is, until a mysterious new neighbor moves in next door, seemingly out of nowhere. His handful of friends – people who tried to help him cope with the sudden death of his wife – think that it might be an opportunity for him to get reacquainted with the world outside his farmhouse and to build a new relationship with his neighbor. But that idea is soon snuffed out as strange events begin to happen around him. None of them wrong. Just strange: driving in the middle of the night, the sulfur-like odor coming off of him, the fact he doesn’t talk to anyone in the area.

And what about that dog?

Sylvester chooses the logical explanation and ignores the peculiar behavior. But when other oddities start to happen – the kind that affects Sylvester directly – he begins to worry. His reasoning dwindles and his growing fear points to his neighbor.

Where is that stray dog going?

After enough time, Sylvester starts to see and hear what the people of the area have been muttering about: Unexplainable blue light, corn crops moving on their own…the slaughtered cattle entirely too close to home.

And that stray dog that keeps getting fatter and fatter…

At the peak of summer, and with the walls closing in, Sylvester experiences something that will take him to the brink and haunt you forever.

Bathed in loss, terror and human spirit, Do I Bother You at Night? will be a story you won’t forget and one that will give you a few restless evenings of your own.

Love thy neighbor.

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I’m only about half way though with DIBYAN so my review will be coming later.

What I can do is talk a bit about the writing.

Troy is an amazing writer.

Even before the eerie events and the horror began, I was immersed in the story.

His characters are so well written I almost mistook them for people I know.

He takes everyday, average people, and puts them in these wild situations and you get to see them transform.

You’re not going to want to miss Troy’s first full length novel. True horror at it’s best.

Oh yea, watch for the dog!

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It will be available on Amazon October 4th!

I have more to show you in the weeks before this release.

Be sure to stop back for more fun stuff!

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I’ve read several of Troy’s short stories and enjoyed them immensely.

Just Past the Trees

Just Past the Trees

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My Review

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Little Bernie’s Map.

Little Bernie's Map

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My Review

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And last, but certainly not least,

The Uninvited Guest.

The Uninvited Guest

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My Review

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Troy Aaron Ratliff

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Troy Aaron Ratliff was born and raised in Hamilton, Ohio and self-educated in writing, art and voice impersonations. When he’s not reading, writing and cooking up his next monstrosity, you can generally find him defending the galaxy from the forces of evil, feeding hippopotamuses, dining with foreign dignitaries and Zen masters, waking up to his supermodel wife, altering the space-time inter-dimensional warp or, more than likely, stuck in traffic somewhere in Southern California.

Website

Goodreads

Twitter

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Jump in and enjoy the water!

I have a fun post for you today.

Learn all about JUMP ZONE : Cleo Falls and the author Wylie Snow.

I have an interview and excerpt to share with you.

And don’t forget to enter the giveaways!

That’s right. I have two giveaways for this exciting new series!

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JUMP ZONE: CLEO FALLS

By Wylie Snow

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Jump Zone: Cleo Falls by Wylie Snow (Jump Zone #1 )
Publication date: September 9th 2013
Genres: Dystopia, New Adult
Synopsis
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All Cleo wants, all she’s ever wanted, is the acceptance of her tribe and the love of her family… and she almost dies trying to earn it. But the man who saved her, who found beauty in her flaws and loved her without condition, has cruelly betrayed her, and she’s dying all over again.
Was it all lies? His words, his promises, his kisses? Lost in unfamiliar territory, Cleo will fight the forces that conspire to destroy her homeland, even if she has to do it alone.
Libra longs for freedom—from prison, from pretense, and from his birthright… but he’s caught in a political game where only greed and power can win, and Cleo Rush is the pawn. How much is he willing to sacrifice for liberty? His morals, his principles, the woman he loves? No matter which path he chooses, people will die, their blood on his hands. And it could be hers.
To save themselves and their world, Cleo and Libra must overcome the double tragedy that binds their families in hatred. Together, they might live. Apart, Cleo will fall.
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Get to know more about  Wylie Snow and Jump Zone in this fun interview!
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1)     What’s the scoop on the romance? Why can’t the hero and heroine get on with their sweet loving?

You’d think, since he saved her life, that Cleo would instantly fall into Libra’s arms in a heap of grateful, quivering lady-love. The physical chemistry is undeniable, but she doesn’t trust the urbanite as far as she could spit.

Cleo is a ‘triber’ from the Taiga forest and Libra hails from the city of Gomeda. They have some serious misconceptions to overcome and it doesn’t help that they’re both lying through their teeth about, well,… everything.

2)     What the heck is a Taiga?

Also known as a boreal forest, the Taiga (pronounced ty-guh) is the world’s largest land biome and comprises 29% of the world’s forest. It circles the globe, with the largest bits located in Russia and Canada. The winters are long, cold and harsh. In Jump Zone, the Taiga is divided into regional tribes named for common animals like wolverine, beaver, bear, wolf, moose, etc…

Survivalists by nature, the tribers are protective of their lands, and their resources. Especially their energy source. Shhh… spoilers!

3)     What makes Jump Zone’s hero sexy?

Libra is the Robin Hood of Gomeda. Born into a wealthy, powerful family, he eschews his high-born status and fights for the marginalized citizens living in the slums of Gomeda. His idealism gets him a sentence of hard labor in the penal colony but it also gives him the hardened edge he needs to survive the coming turmoil.

4)     Fave line?

“For the record, I’ve never killed another human being. Not even a Banger.” Cleo Rush says this when defending her reputation against Libra’s assumptions that she’s some kind of savage. Second fave is, “You’ve never had bacon? You poor, deprived soul.”  Because… obviously!

5)     Where did you get the idea for your story? 

I had an idea for a post-apocalyptic Romeo and Juliet type of story but the world didn’t begin building in my head until a family vacation took us on a drive through Northern Ontario. The untamed beauty of the landscape literally took my breath away. Miles and miles of uninhabited land, a stunning palette of greens and dark blues, harsh rocky outcrops. I thought, “What if I had to survive out here…”

6)     Is this a stand-alone or part of a series?

Cleo Falls is book one of the Jump Zone trilogy. Libra Rising is scheduled to release in December 2013, followed by the series conclusion in the spring of 2014.

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Enjoy this peek inside Jump Zone!

Taiga Forest

I’d always presumed the moments before death would be fuzzy and warm.

They’re not. Death is painful. And cold.

Death is terrifying.

For me, there are no sepia vignettes of my childhood, no sign of my mother’s smiling face to usher me into a blissful afterlife, open armed. There’s nothing to distract me from the fright that slams me every time my mouth fills, every time my head slips under.

No matter how hard I kick or thrash, the current is merciless, dragging me downriver, closer to the edge, closer to the—

I can’t even think the word.

I claw for the surface, flailing desperately for something to grab onto. But there’s nothing. Not a rock, not a log, not even a stray root. Even if by some miracle I don’t drown, there is nothing to save me from the fall.

Seventy feet, straight down.

And the rocks at the bottom… I’ll be smashed.

My chest burns so bad, I want to scream from it. Can’t, don’t dare. I bite down on the inside of my lips to seal them from another mouthful of icy water and taste the copper of my blood. I will my legs to get me to the surface for another breath, but I’m tumbling through the blackness, not sure which way is up.

The rapids twist and toss me, pull me fast and hard as if they’re doing me a favor in getting me to the edge quickly. It’ll be over soon. Yet every agonizing second feels never-ending.

The more my muscles ache from cold, the heavier my limbs become, the slower time goes. Death is a cruel bitch.

My lungs are on fire. And no matter that my eyeballs feel like they’ve been dunked in acid, panic won’t let me close them.

There’s a legend amongst my people of a Ghost Warrior, a survivalist from Old Canada who lost his life in the Polar Wars. They say he guides folks home in their time of need, gives them a second chance. Where is this phantom rescuer for me? Am I not worthy?

I already know the answer…

The pressure in my chest begins to crack me open. I acknowledge my fate, look it in the eye, welcome it. The thought frees me. The simple act of mental acquiescence releases my fear, replaces it with regret. And anger. I’ll never get a chance to make amends to my tribe, to Jaegar or my father, never feel the love I’ve tried so hard, so damned hard, to earn.

Anger fuels my strength, gives me a final burst of energy. My anaesthetized legs push off of something solid. My head breaches the surface.

I scream in Death’s face.

Then water fills me, douses my fire. I am numb, unable to feel my extremities, unable to feel anything. Like a piece of flotsam, the current tosses me over the precipice toward the jagged rocks below. My world goes dark.

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Purchase Links
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AUTHOR BIO
Almost every author says they wanted to write from a very early age. Not me. I wanted to be a detective like Nancy Drew, or a wildlife expert like Jim Fowler or an archaeologist like Indiana Jones. Or have my own island resort and make fantasies come true!
I didn’t do too badly with any of those… I married a detective, worked in a zoo, explored ship wrecks instead of old ruins, and spent 18 glorious years living on a sunny island.
As for those fantasies… I also write erotic romance as Wylie Kinson. Happy reading!
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Author Links:

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Two Giveaways!

My giveaway:

I have one ebook copy of Jump Zone: Cleo Falls to give away (International)!

To enter, please leave your email address along with a comment.

Something about the book or the interview would be wonderful!

This giveaway ends September 30th.

AND

For the rafflecopter giveaway:

Two Winners. A $25 Amazon Gift Card for each.

Click on the rafflecopter link below to enter.

RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For all of my giveaways go HERE.

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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!

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

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Here are some I picked up to review on fuonlyknew.

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And this is free on Amazon. Get your copy HERE.

Got some good ones!

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Some freebies for ya!

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Get your copy HERE.

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Spine Tingling Tales! Free HERE as of posting.

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Books for Review.

Dark Migration

Also will be reviewing 3 new ARCs, but can’t tell you anything yet!

I had to have these!

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Books I won.

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I won a print copy of Blood of the Lamb by Sam Cabot from a giveaway on My Bookish Ways.

Thanks so much Kristen and Sam!

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Reviewed this week.

The Devil's Walk

You can read my review on my Monday Minis Post HERE.

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You can read my review and help celebrate the release of Beck Sherman’s Goodbye Nothing HERE.

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Resilient

Catch my ARC Review of Resilient by Patricia Vanasse HERE. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway! A chance to win a KINDLE!

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Catch my ARC Review of Falling Stars and interview with author H.D. Gordon HERE. All will be revealed!

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Scheduled reviews for this coming week.

The Man in the Fire

You can read my review on my upcoming Monday Minis post.

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Curse of the Chupacabra cover

Read my review and enjoy my interview with Mickael Hebler on Tuesday, September 10th. Then enter the super giveaway!

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Read my review of Hidden Gates,Book One by D.T. Dyllin and enjoy my blog tour post and giveaway on Friday, September 13th.

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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.

Kat Scratched Trilogy ~ Cover Reveals

Release Day ~ Stripped ~ Win a Kindle!

New Release and ARC Review ~ Goodbye Nothing by Beck Sherman

Giveaway and Guest Post ~ The Witch on Twisted Oak

Teaser Tuesdays #38 ~ 13 Drops of Blood

Giveaway Blitz and Free Book ~ Audrey’s Promise

Giveaway and ARC Review ~ Resilient ~ Win a Kindle!

WWW Wednesday  #17~  As The World Dies ~ ombies Everywhere!

Grand Finale Giveaway ~ Samantha Durante’s Shudder!

Thursday Theatre #16 ~ You’re Next!

Trailer Reveal ~ Sanctuary

ARC Review plus interview ~ Falling Stars by H.D. Gordon

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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.

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When H.D. told me she had completed writing Falling Stars and asked if I’d like to read it I did this

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I was all over this book and finished it in record time.

Now I get to tell you all about it, and I promise there will be no spoilers, as this is the second book in the series.

But first, please join me and welcome Heather. She’s taken time out of her hectic schedule to do a little interview!

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It’s really great to have you on my blog today Heather.  I don’t want to keep everyone waiting, so let’s get started shall we?

1)      How do you write a series? Do you have it all planned out as one story and break it into several books or do you see each story individually?

I start a story, knowing it will end somewhere, and usually even how it will end, but I never know how many words the particular story will take to tell. I get an idea, a character/s, or just a strange situation, and do my best to let it lead me where it will. With my series, I look at the works independently, but I also feel they are just one story broken up into parts, because essentially, they are. While I do my best for people to be able to start with any book (who begins a series with the second or third book anyway?) each book is just a continuation of the last, and being so are dependent on each other.

2)      Which is more fun to write, the good guy or the bad guy?

It depends on the character. But the short answer would be that for me, all writing is fun when it is going well. I look at the thing as a whole-which means that no matter whose perspective I’m writing from at a particular time, if I’m doing my job correctly, it is always enjoyable. I don’t write just word to word or sentence to sentence. I write from beginning to end-something that flows from paragraph to paragraph, page to page, and chapter to chapter. Everything depends on everything else, if that makes sense, so while characters may be different, they all are ingredients to the same cake.

3)      Do the characters come first or the events?

Characters, usually. Then the situation, not necessarily the events. I am inspired in some way to write a particular character, to be that character for a while, and then I place them in some sort of terrible situation, just to see how resourceful they are at getting out of it. That way, I learn more and more about the character as I go along; how they react when faced with certain problems, what morals they guide themselves by, and so on. I also learn a lot about myself, because most of the time the person on the page and their feelings strongly reflect my own at whatever point in my life I’m at. The characters always become their own people, always tell me their stories as we move along. But initially, it is usually about freeing something that’s been trapped in my soul, about sharing those things with other like-minded souls.

4)      Would you like your books made into movies or a television series?

Oh, either one would be cool. I think every author would agree with that, but I also think it would be strange. I’ve already seen the stories acted out on the screen in my head, so the differences between the two would be something interesting to me.

5)      If you weren’t a writer, what would you like to be?

Hmm, no one has ever asked me that. I wouldn’t want to be anything, except a mother, of course. But what I mean is, I didn’t choose writing. Writing chose me. I have been writing since I first saw words fall right on a page, which was pretty early because I was never restricted reading material. My mother gave me To Kill a Mockingbird when I was about seven. She gave me a collection of short stories and poems by Edgar Allen Poe when I was around five or six. I would read and read while other kids did whatever other kids did. It didn’t take very long before I found myself compelled, challenged to see if I could do better. I have always had to write. I have had to write since before I ever even understood what a paycheck was.

Five Fun Shorts!

1)      High heels or flip flops?

Flip flops. Definitely.

2)      If getting a tattoo, what would it be?

I have several actually. But my next tattoo will say “wordsmith” in old typewriter print. Black ink, on the inside of my bicep.

3)      Were you a tomboy or Barbie doll girl?

Tomboy. Still am. I love to fish and be outdoors. I wear sweatpants and t-shirts unless there is a special occasion.

4)      Your favorite indulgence?

I wish I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.

5)      Fly a plane or drive a race car?

Neither. I’m a weanie. I like to keep my feet on the ground.

That was fun! Thanks for answering my questions and letting us all get to know more about you.

Thank you so much for having me!

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And now I get to show you the cover art!

Just look at Charlie!

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Synopsis

Surah Stormsong’s life has fallen down around her in the past week. Her father is in a coma induced by demon poison, two Highborn Sorceresses have been murdered, and a crazed Sorcerer by the name of Black Heart has made it his mission to take the kingdom for his own. As princess, and next in line to the throne, Surah is his primary target. But he’s not the only one she has to look out for.
Now, Surah is on the run, having just helped Charlie Redmine escape from the castle dungeons. This makes her a traitor in the eyes of many, as Charlie is not only a common man suspected of murder and treason, but also Black Heart’s younger brother.
The stars are crossed against the two lovers, the universe trying to keep them apart. In the end, will the stars align for Surah and Charlie, or will they fall from the heavens, dead and lifeless, like the tears of angels?

My Review

H.D. has done it again!

I’ve read her Alexa Montgomery Saga, every one, and just like with them, this series just keeps getting better.

I loved Shooting Stars, just loved it. Now that I’ve read Falling Stars, I’ll tell you, it’s so much better. Not to say the first book wasn’t awesome, but which each book, H.D. ups her standards and rises above it every time.

This book grabs hold of you with the first sentence and never lets you go.

My favorite books are character driven and the stars of the Surah Stormsong Series are incredible.

Surah is wonderful. She’s smart yet impulsive, self-confident yet vulnerable, scared yet double-tough. And Charlie has her acting all girlie.

“…this man, just had a way of making her feel like a silly teenager, which was ridiculous considering she was older than most creatures on Earth. For the first time in a very long time, she felt as young as she looked, which was no older than twenty.”

I had such a great time getting to know Surah better. Wait until you read how she cleans house. Wish I could do that.

Charlie. Charlie is delectable. Sexy and sardonic, confident,and shy. How could I not love Charlie. What worries Charlie, worries me too. Will Surah still feel the same about him when she learns his secret. A secret that will shoot straight to her heart?

“The Charlie Effect.”

Another thing H.D. does really well is the romance. This is the second book and Surah and Charlie are slowly falling in love. It’s not instant love but a fondness built on getting to know each other. That makes it much more fun to read. You want them to finally say it, to admit their feelings, and that keeps you pouring over the words, looking for it.

Then there’s Black Heart, Charlie’s brother. He goes deeper into his lust for revenge and is hooked up with Tristell, the Fae Queen. Boy, what a twisted affair that is. Neither one shows any feelings for others. That makes them the perfect diabolical companions.

Follow one of their conversations if you can.

“Michael is always thinking inside of boxes,” she said.

He sighed, “And Tristell is always speaking in riddles.”

I can’t forget Samson, Surah’s tiger. He’s been left behind at the castle while Surah and Charlie are on the run and he’s being very sneaky, staying in the shadows, watching and listening as sorcerers whisper and conspire in dark places. I love reading his thoughts. He’s almost human sometimes, then his tiger side comes through. Wouldn’t want to be on his bad side.

There are some wicked creatures and extreme action in this story. I wouldn’t expect anything less from H.D. Her fight scenes are almost graceful when described. You can practically see the action, feel it, and hear it. Just like her characters, it’s all so real.

Some scenes remind you that Charlie and Surah both can be cold-blooded and it chills you when they exact punishment. And at some points in the story you almost can’t discern their individual voices. That’s how well this is written. You begin to understand how similar these two are, how they think alike, how well they go together, like soul-mates.

“I can only breathe right when you’re breathing beside me.”

Most excellent writing.

As the story races to the finish, you wonder how anything can be alright, how anything good can happen. Each time you think it’s going okay, something goes horribly wrong, taking you in another direction. I felt as Surah so eloquently put it,

“However this ends, wherever this is going, it’s going to effect a lot of people. Innocent people. I can feel that in my blood…I just hope whatever role I play isn’t one that causes heartache and pain.”

There’s so much more I want to tell you. I have nine pages of notes. But I’m going to let you read this super awesome story and find out for yourself.

One more thing. Watch out for the ending. It will rip you up one side and down the other. This ain’t over.

Prepare to be enthralled. I was and still am.

5 Stars

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A quote I just have to share with you. So Poignant.

“Because she was, after all, a princess, and she wanted so badly to believe her story would end in happily ever after.”

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Shooting Stars, Book One

Shooting Stars

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My 5 Star Review

Synopsis

Surah Stormsong is one of the most powerful Sorceresses in the world. She is a princess who is next in line for the throne. As someone who has lost almost everything to this world, she only wants to pull away from it and live a normal life, but when Highborn ladies start being murdered and the Black Stone-a weapon that is capable of great destruction-goes missing, she is called upon to solve the issues and return her people to a state of safety. But danger lurks inside the castle walls as well, and when she runs into Charlie Redmine, a common Sorcerer Surah met once as a child, things grow complicated very quickly. He is the main suspect of the murders, but Surah is powerless against the connection she feels to him. Time is ticking, and if she doesn’t figure out what’s going on things will go from bad to worse, and an entire kingdom will suffer for it. From the author of the bestselling series, The Alexa Montgomery Saga, comes a tale of star-crossed lovers and magic, of hope and love and loss. The greatest question is, can love overcome all?

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About H.D. Gordon

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H. D. Gordon is the author of The Alexa Montgomery Saga. Blood Warrior, the first book of the Alexa series was her debut novel and has held a spot in the top 100 fantasy bestsellers for over a month. Half Black Soul is the second book in this series and H. D. plans to complete Alexa’s tales by the end of 2012. In June of 2012, Joe, a fantasy novel about a young clairvoyant, was released as well. H. D. is a lifelong reader and writer, a true lover of words. When she is not reading or writing she is raising her two daughters, playing a little guitar, and spending time with her family. She is twenty three years old and lives in the northeastern United States.

You can follow H.D. Gordon at:

Blog

Author Facebook Page

Twitter

Goodreads Author Page

H.D.Gordon Facebook page

Webpage

Goodreads Fan Club

H.D. Gordon’s Books

The Surah Stormsong Series

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The Alexa Montgomery Saga

       

JOE

I love book trailers. They;re like mini movies and really help me relate to the content and characters.

I can’t resist the book after watching!

Sanctuary

By: Pauline Creeden

Expected Publication Date: September 30th, 2013

Published by AltWit Press 

 

In a heart-racing thriller described as Falling Skies meets The Walking Dead, Jennie struggles to find a safe place for what’s left of her family. But it seems as though there is no place sacred, no place secure. First the aliens attacked the sun, making it dimmer, weaker, and half what it used to be. 

 

Then they attacked the water supply, killing one-third of Earth’s population with a bitter contaminate. And when they unleash a new terror on humankind, the victims will wish for death, but will not find it…When the world shatters to pieces around her, will Jennie find the strength she needs to keep going?

(more…)

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Welcome to Thursday Theatre

Here is where I’ll be posting video clips about books and movies and fun stuff.

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Remember how terrifying Strangers was?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1TBIPelvbe]

Well check out You’re Next!

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The Highlight Tour with Prism Book Tours

& Samantha’s Summer Tour

Shudder

348 pages

Published June 15, 2013

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It’s only been three days, and already everything is different.

Paragon is behind her, but somehow Alessa’s life may actually have gotten worse. In a wrenching twist of fate, she traded the safety and companionship of her sister for that of her true love, losing a vital partner she’d counted on for the ordeal ahead. Her comfortable university life is but a distant memory, as she faces the prospect of surviving a bleak winter on the meager remains of a ravaged world. And if she’d thought she’d tasted fear upon seeing a ghost, she was wrong; now she’s discovering new depths of terror while being hunted by a deadly virus and a terrifying pack of superhuman creatures thirsting for blood.

And then there are the visions.

The memory-altering “stitch” unlocked something in Alessa’s mind, and now she can’t shake the constant flood of alien feelings ransacking her emotions. Haunting memories of an old flame are driving a deep and painful rift into her once-secure relationship. And a series of staggering revelations about the treacherous Engineers – and the bone-chilling deceit shrouding her world’s sorry history – will soon leave Alessa reeling…

The Highlight Tour

8/24 – 9/1

Sharing some of the best of the summer-long tour

Shudder by Samanth Durante Blog Tour - June 15th to Sept 1st

24 – The Reading Diaries – The Mystery!

 Why does Alessa keep feeling something following them through the woods? – Review at Here’s the Story

Shudder is filled with surprises around every corner, keeping me guessing till the very end.

 

The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl – Raving Fans!

Can I just freaking say how much I LOVE this series?! Stitch was good. Shudder? AMAZINGLY AMAZING!!! I can’t even express how much I just LOVE LOVE LOVED this book. Everything about it was perfection. – Review at Literary Meanderings 

Rose & Beps Blog – Crushing on Side Characters!

Lizzie: I’ll support whoever can deliver that future, whether it’s the rebels or even the leaders of Paragon, if they were willing to change. I do believe in second chances. – Character Interview  at Mousehead & Tales

25 – Chapter BreakVile Villainy!

Samantha: …the Engineers(the bad guys) are based on a variety of people I’ve met and disliked over the years for their general arrogance and lack of ability to connect with people (though I’m not naming names, haha). – Interview at Joanna In the Sky With Books:

Review:

 I enjoyed the merging of genre and thought it was a unique twist on sci-fi and dystopia, with a little paranormal aspect until we learn otherwise. 

Wonderings of One Person – Review

Shudder by Samantha Durante is a deeply touching and sensational story of discovery and freedom laden with heavy doubts and uncomfortable choices. I was swept away…

Mortal Moments – Crushing on Characters!

Do YOU have any favourite fiction crushes or book boyfriends? Care to share them… so we can all swoon together! 🙂

Issac is one to add to the list of “book boyfriends”. – Review at A Thousand Lives

26 – A Tiffyfit’s Reading Corner – Review

…what an ENDING! This story is keeping my head bent to my kindle. Ms Durante has IT, ladies and gentlemen. That thing that some authors have that just keep you turning the pages…

27 Kindred DreamhartCatch some STYLE!

 

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The Bookish Daydreamer – OMG Endings!

Samantha: My favorite scene to write in Shudder was definitely the big revelation in the very last chapter. Heart-wrenching. – Interview at Lovely Reads

Melissa’s Eclectic Bookshelf – Developing Deep Characters

Things get even more complicated when Alessa discovers something new about herself, a twist that I sure never saw coming. Again kudos Samantha for a great job well done. ~Review at Total Book Nerds

28 – YA Book Addict – Review

The one constant thought that kept coming at me while I was reading Shudder was the originality of it. I remember feeling the exact same way while I was reading Stitch. Personally, I have never read anything like it before and I have to give huge applause to an author who can create such a fantastically original, well written, engaging piece of writing.

Library of a Book Witch – POV Perfection!

…the transitions between character to character are smooth and never feel unnatural or jarring, each character’s situation has a different aura to it, I could immediately tell which character I was currently reading about… Review at Book Adoration.

Mommasez…Writerly Wisdom

Do what you love. – Guest Post “Celebrating the Stitch 1 Year Anniversary” at Head Stuck in a Book

Imagine the world ended tomorrow. – Guest Post “Family & Relationships in a Dying World” at My World in Words and Pages 

Review

Samantha teases us with two girls, one stoned by an angry mob, the other in a prison cell. We don’t know who is who. And it’s deliciously mysterious!!

29 – Mel’s ShelvesPraise for Pacing!

Fast paced with not a single dull moment, this book will have you turning pages until the end. – Review at Little Hyuts

Review

Oh, my! Dystopia at its finest! A quick word on Stitch (book 1): It had been a while since I’d read what it was about so I just started reading. It seemed like a nice time travel romance with a hint of something else and then BAM!, in came the dystopia element. At that point, I couldn’t put it down…

Fundinmental – Painstakingly Plotted World

The complexity of the plot and the dynamics have you wondering what exactly Samantha has in her mind to be able to imagine this complex world. I never one time imagined that what happens in the book could actually happen but now the idea is planted firmly in my mind. It is a little freaky. – Review at Cynthia Shepp Book Reviews & Editing

Review:

 Shudder… has so many things going on that, at times, I was torn about where I wanted the story to go. 

 

30 Literary Meanderings – Top Ten Raving Fan Moments!

Shudder is one of the best dystopians I’ve read so far! It’s so intense, so captivating. There’s a lot in it, and it’s so well written. The action, the suspense, the thrill… All of it will leave you begging for more. I know I am! Samantha, you’ve really set the bar with this one. I enjoyed every second of it. ~ Review at City of Books

31 My Devotional Thoughts – More Crushing On Characters! 

 

Isaac Sttich Trilogy

Interview with Isaac at Always YA at Heart

– Green Mountain Couple – More Vile Villainy!

“The memory alteration research mentioned some, well, unfortunate side effects…” – Guest Post at Crys Book Reviews

Review

I absolutely LOVE LOVED this book. It was one of those books that I picked up and didn’t want to set back down even after it was finished.

Sept. 1 – The Book Rogue – Review

Some things were not that unusual for a Dystopian, but there were also some shocking aspects — in the regard that I don’t find them too absurd to actually happen, like right now. Genius and insanity are utterly and truly a very fine line that tends to blur a lot.

Quote:

“What we haven’t told you yet–“

He paused, searching her eyes before he dropped his bombshell.

 

“– is that the outbreak wasn’t exactly a mistake.”

See what you’re missing… read Stitch & Shudder now!!

Stitch (Stitch Trilogy, #1)  Shudder (Stitch Trilogy #2)

Also available in the iTunes store, Kobo, and wherever e-books are sold!

Samantha Durante, Author of the Stitch Trilogy

Samantha Durante

Tour-Wide Giveaway:

5 Winners. August 24 – September 16, 2013

* Signed print copy of Stitch & Shudder for you and two friends (USA only)

* Signed (via Authorgraph) e-book copies of Stitch & Shudder for you and two friends (Int’l)

* Signed Stitch & Shudder bookmarks + e-book copies of Stitch & Shudder (Int’l)

* $10 Amazon Gift Card (Int’l)

* $5 Amazon Gift Card (Int’l)

Enter the Giveaway HERE!!!

WWW Wednesday

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Hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

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What are you currently reading?

 As The World Dies

Untold Tales #2

by Rhiannon Frater

13484697

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THE FIRST DAYS: AS THE WORLD DIES introduced Jenni and Katie and their harrowing journey to the makeshift fort in the Texas Hill Country.  FIGHTING TO SURVIVE: AS THE WORLD DIES continued their story as the two women joined the members of the makeshift fort in Ashley Oaks in the fight for survival against not only zombies, but the evil designs of bandits.

But theirs is not the only tale to be told.

In the second volume of the AS THE WORLD DIES UNTOLD TALES experience three terrifying tales of those who are forced to face the unrelenting and hungry walking dead.

In a nearby town Ken and Lenore have started their regular routine at Ken’s Beauty Salon.  A terrible accident brings the undead plague to their front door and soon the best friends are scrambling to escape their overrun town…

Katarina is just finishing her shift at a roadside café when a badly injured man stumbles through the front door.  She quickly realizes that to survive she must learn to kill…

And finally, a trapped family must face the fearsome truth that sometimes zombies are not the worst monster they have to fear as the world dies…

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What did you recently finish reading?

As The World Dies

Untold Tales #1

by Rhiannon Frater

12295280 

goodreads-badge-add-plus

THE FIRST DAYS: AS THE WORLD DIES introduced Jenni and Katie and their harrowing journey to the makeshift fort in the Texas Hill Country. But theirs is not the only tale to be told. In the first volume of the AS THE WORLD DIES UNTOLD TALES experience three terrifying tales of those who are forced to face the unrelenting and hungry walking dead.

Deep in the Texas Hill Country, a man and his little dog takes refuge in a bed and breakfast located in the hills above a doomed town where an infested rescue center might unleash the hungry undead…

On a deserted highway slicing through the desolation of West Texas, a woman struggles to survive as she faces the horrifying aftermath of the rise of the zombies…

And finally, discover what happens on the first day to Katie’s beloved wife, Lydia, as the world dies…

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What do you think you’ll read next?

As The World Dies

Untold Tales #3

by  Rhiannon Frater

As The World Dies Untold Tales Volume 3

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In the third volume of the AS THE WORLD DIES UNTOLD TALES experience three terrifying tales of those who are forced to face the unrelenting and hungry walking dead.Returning to Texas after celebrating his divorce in Vegas, Rune, a biker cursed with the ability to see ghosts, discovers that the world is being taken over by the hungry undead. Soon he realizes  he will have to depend on all his abilities to survive not only the ravenous zombies, but the dangerous men lurking on the back roads of Texas.Senator Paige Brightman abandoned the Madison Mall and its inhabitants to the hungry hordes, but her journey did not end there.  Her attempt to reach the president’s safe haven called Central has far reaching ramifications for her and the people she abandoned.The final in the three stories reveals the aftermath of the great battle in SIEGE as one woman faces the ultimate decision whether to live or die in a world of the undead.
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So, whatcha readin?

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