Apocalypta Z
by Maer Wilson
Genre: Sci Fi / Post Apocalyptic / Zombie
Cover Designer: M. Joseph Murphy
Cover Designer: M. Joseph Murphy
Release Date: October 8, 2015
Posts Tagged ‘sci-fi’
First the meteors. Then the zombies ~ Apocalypta Z ~ Excerpt and Giveaway
Posted: December 11, 2015 in Blitz, giveaways, ZombiesTags: Apocalypta Z, Author Maer Wilson, excerpt, giveaway, post-apocalyptic, sci-fi, zombies
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What lurks? Lake Of Sins: Secrets In Blood and Escape ~ Virtual Tour And Giveaway
Posted: October 14, 2015 in Author Interview, Blog Tour, Dystopian, Paranormal or fantasy, Science Fiction, YATags: Author L.S. O'dea, fantasy, Lake of Sins: escape and Secrets In Blood, sci-fi, YA Dystopian
Have I got some great reads to share for your Halloween reading!
Make sure you check out the author’s interview.
Feast your eyes on the thrilling cover art for these books.
And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!
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An interview with Author L.S. O’dea
Do you have any tattoos? Where? When did you get it/them? Where are they on your body?
No, but I would like to get one. I’d love to get the comedy/tragedy drama symbols on my shoulder.
Is your life anything like it was two years ago?
Besides for me squeezing in writing instead of watching TV, it is exactly like it was two years ago. I hope to one day support myself with my writing, but as of yet, that has not happened.
How long have you been writing?
I have been actually, sitting down and working at the craft since April of 2012. I have wanted to write since I was a child and read a story that my brother wrote for one of his classes. That was when I realized that stories were written by real people.
What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?
Don’t get hung up on getting it right the first time. That’s why we revise and edit. The first time, just get it down. If you find yourself stuck on a scene/chapter then summarize what you want to happen there and move on. You can always go back.
Also, don’t fall in love with your own words/scenes/chapters. They could be excellent, witty and wise, but if they aren’t necessary in the story then cut them.
Tell us something about your newest release that is NOT in the blurb.
You’ll be seeing some of those characters in later books, but remember that just because they are antagonists in this story does not mean that they will retain that role. Just like in life, no one is completely bad or good.
Thanks so much for the fun interview. Best of luck with your tour!
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Lake of Sins:
Escape
and
Secrets In Blood
Genre: YA, paranormal, dystopian, sci-fi/fantasy
Synopsis
In a world where class distinction means the difference between imprisonment and freedom and even life and death, being chosen to stay in the encampment and breed is the only way to guarantee survival for a teenage Producer.
Every year after harvest, the finest examples of teenage Producers are assigned mates; the rest are loaded onto carts and hauled away, never to be seen or heard from again. Trinity, a sixteen-year-old Producer, knows that she has no chance of being chosen to stay. She isn’t even full-blooded Producer. Her father is a House Servant and she’s spent her entire life hiding her differences, especially her claws and fangs.
She has one week to sneak into the forest and discover what happens to those who are taken. Her plan is simple, but she doesn’t count on being hunted and captured by predators long believed to be extinct. Can she elude her captors to uncover the fate of her kind and return to camp before her escape is discovered?
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Enjoy the excerpt!
“Something’s following us,” he whispered as he unsheathed his knife.
The quiet rustle of vegetation behind them signaled that night was not the only thing approaching. He pointed to a large tree. She scurried up it and stopped on a limb high off the ground. He signaled for her to wait and then walked several yards farther before climbing another tree. He crouched on a low branch, knife in hand.
The woods were gray, the shadows growing wider as time passed. She waited, scanning the forest below, her heart pounding in her ears. What was hunting them, besides Guards? She pulled her knife out of the sheath and adjusted her position. Gaar always said that predators had to have patience, so the smart prey would too. She was still working on that. She shifted around again for a different angle. So far, she hadn’t seen anything dangerous in the forest, but she had traveled mostly with Mirra. She tried to relax her breathing, but it was coming in short pants. She had to calm down. Fear could be smelled. Fear attracted predators.
There was a soft whisper in the vegetation and a pair of glowing red eyes appeared in the brush. A few feet away were two more eyes and then another set. There were at least ten pairs, shining in the darkness.
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Author L.S. O’dea
S. O’Dea grew up the youngest of seven. She always wanted to do what her older siblings were doing, especially reading stories.
Ill at a young age, she immersed herself in books. Her life changed when she read a short story written by her older brother and realized that normal (somewhat anyway, since her brother was a bit weird in her opinion) people created these amazing stories. From that day forward, she wanted to write.
However, as with all good stories, obstacles rose in her path (mostly self-created obstacles) and it took her many years to put finger to keyboard and type her first book.
Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter
The first book of the series is on sale for $0.99 until the end of the tour.
Click on the banner below to follow the tour and comment.
The more you comment, the more chances to win!
~~~~~
Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!
To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!
The virus killed all but one in 10,000 ~ Sugar Scars by Travis Norwood ~ Excerpt and Giveaway
Posted: October 5, 2015 in apocalypse, Blog Tour, giveaways, Science FictionTags: Author Travis Norwood, post-apocalyptic, sci-fi, Sugar Scars
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Sugar Scars
By- Travis Norwood
Genre- Post Apocalyptic/Sci Fi
Living after the apocalypse really isn’t that hard for most of the survivors. The virus killed all but 1 in 10,000. The few remaining people are left in a world of virtually unlimited resources. Grocery stores overflowing with food and drink. Thousands of empty houses to pick from.
But one survivor, a nineteen-year-old girl, requires more than simple food, water and shelter. As a type 1 diabetic her body desperately needs insulin to stay alive. With civilization gone, no one manufactures it anymore. She hoards all the insulin she can find, but every day marches toward the end of her stash of vials. She has a choice. Accept her fate and death, or tackle the almost insurmountable task of extracting and refining the insulin herself.
Brilliant scientists struggled to make the first insulin. What hope does a high school dropout have?
A tiny metal horse nuzzled her hand….The Friday 56 #79 ~ Mechanica
Posted: September 25, 2015 in Science Fiction, steam punk, The Friday 56Tags: Author Betsy Cornwell, Mechanica, sci-fi, steam punk
Welcome to The Friday 56 hosted by Freda’s Voice.
This is a really fun meme!
The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader and find a sentence or a few (no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.
Then go over to Freda’s Voice and leave your link so we can visit your 56!
My 56 for this week is from
Mechanica
by Betsy Cornwell
My 56
I thought I out to say something, but in that room, at that moment, I was suddenly afraid to speak my mind. I wonder sometimes if I should have guessed, even then, what was to come.
Read on if you want to know more.
Synopsis
Nicolette’s awful stepsisters call her “Mechanica” to demean her, but the nickname fits: she learned to be an inventor at her mother’s knee. Her mom is gone now, though, and the Steps have turned her into a servant in her own home.
But on her sixteenth birthday, Nicolette discovers a secret workshop in the cellar and begins to dare to imagine a new life for herself. Could the mysterious books and tools hidden there—and the mechanical menagerie, led by a tiny metal horse named Jules—be the key to escaping her dreary existence? With a technological exposition and royal ball on the horizon, the timing might just be perfect for Nicolette to earn her freedom at last.
Gorgeous prose and themes of social justice and family shine in this richly imagined Cinderella retelling about an indomitable inventor who finds her prince . . . but realizes she doesn’t want a fairy tale happy ending after all.
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!
Leave your link and I’ll drop by your 56.
Eeny Meeny Miney Moe….Tell me which way I should go!
Posted: September 20, 2015 in Books, Holidays, horror, Paranormal or fantasy, reviews, Science FictionTags: Author Michael Phillip Cash, Halloween reads, Horror, Paranormal/Fantasy, sci-fi
Halloween is fast approaching and I’ve been reading some scary good books.
I won all of these books by Michael Phillip Cash in a giveaway and being my type of stories, I dove right in. I read all of them in one week. LOL
Now, I need your help. I’d like to review one book each week, leading up to Halloween. I thought it would be fun to let you choose in which order I should review them. So, starting with Brood X as number one and Darracia ending as number seven, help me decide!
Brood X
Synopsis
Seth is laid off from work. His wife Lara just found out they are expecting a baby this summer. Seth plans on documenting the entire pregnancy with his brand new digital camcorder.
During an evening home watching television, the news reports that a swarm of cicada (Brood Ten) are expected to overwhelm the entire Northeast.
Brood Ten is vicious and ready to invade.
During a sweltering summer night, Brood Ten emerges and wreaks havoc with the electric grid, phone and cell service, wi-fi, food and water supply. Civilization as they know it is gone.
Seth and Lara are thrown back to the stone age in their own home with trillions of cicada trying to deposit their eggs and breed.
Fast paced and filled with tension, Brood Ten is the perfect summer read when you’re sitting outside listening to the cicadas sing.
Trailer
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The Flip
Synopsis
Julie and Brad Evans are house flippers. They buy low, clean out the old occupants’ junk, and try to make a profit. Enter Hemmings House on Bedlam Street in scenic Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island. Too good a deal to pass up, but with an ominous secret. The old Victorian Mansion has dwellers that do not want to be dispossessed. As the house reveals it’s past, will the couple’s marriage survive The Flip?
Trailer
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The Hanging Tree
Synopsis
Enter a world where spirits roam the earth in Michael Phillip Cash’s haunting new novella, The Hanging Tree. Set amid the eerie backdrop of Long Island, an area famously steeped in old legend, two young would-be lovers contemplate their future while visits from those who have come before them reveal the lure of fate…and the power of free will. At seventeen years old, Arielle’s relationship with her parents is slowly deteriorating. Angry and defiant, she is at a loss on how to cope with the tumultuous situation in which she finds herself. Arielle’s only comfort is Chad, an eighteen-year-old young man who seems to truly understand her struggles. Arielle and Chad meet beneath the low-hanging branches of what the local community has nick-named the “Hanging Tree”. An ancient and majestic landmark, it has long been rumored that the tree is haunted by ghosts. These ghosts span various centuries and vary wildly in age, but each one of them has one thing in common: their deaths are all somehow connected to the tree itself. As Arielle and Chad commiserate over their current situation and their precarious nature of their future, the spectral inhabitants of the Hanging Tree witness their conversation. One by one,the ghosts begin reminiscing about their own lives-and deaths- as they examine the inner demons with which their human forms long struggled. An eerie meditation on the oft-overlooked power of choice, Cash’s The Hanging Tree will stay with readers long after they turn out the light.
Trailer
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The After House
Synopsis
Remy Galway and her daughter Olivia are rebuilding their life after a failed marriage in a 300 year old cottage in historic Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island. Little do they know, another occupant is lurking in the haven of their own home. Will the After House be their shelter or their tomb?
Trailer
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Pokergeist
Synopsis
Sometimes life, as well as death, is about second chances. Luckless Telly Martin doesn’t have a clue. An awful gambler trying to scrape by as a professional poker player, he becomes the protégé of world famous poker champion Clutch Henderson. The only catch…Clutch is a ghost.
Telly and Clutch must navigate the seedy gambling underbelly of Las Vegas learning to trust each other in order to win the elusive International Series of Poker, repair their shattered personal relationships and find redemption in this life and the hereafter.
Trailer
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Witches Protection Program
Synopsis
Wes Rockville, a disgraced law enforcement agent, is given one last chance to prove himself and save his career when he’s reassigned to a 232 year old secret government organization. The Witches Protection Program. His first assignment: uncover a billion-dollar Cosmetics company’s diabolical plan of using witchcraft for global domination, while protecting its heiress Morgan Pendragon from her aunt’s evil deeds. Reluctantly paired with veteran witch protector, Alastair Verne, Wes must learn to believe in both witches and himself. Filled with adventure, suspense and a rousing good time, Michael Phillip Cash creates a tongue-in-cheek alternate reality where witches cast spells and wreak havoc in modern day New York City.
Trailer
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The Battle For
Darracia 1 thru 3
Synopsis
The Battle for Darracia Books I, II, and III, are now combined into one epic novel!
On the planet Darracia, an ever-widening social gap between its inhabitants is causing turmoil that is fracturing a once peaceful world. Struggling with his identity, nineteen year old Prince V’sair must harness the power of the elusive Fireblade, the secret to a warrior’s heart, in order to overcome his uncle Staf Nuen’s lust for supremacy. Will the energy of the Elements guide the young prince to his true destiny or will Staf Nuen conquer Darracia?
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Cast your votes!
And thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!
Amaranthine: The Heart Of Decompose by Nina R Schluntz ~ Blog Tour & GIveaway
Posted: May 22, 2015 in Blog Tour, Fantasy, giveaways, horror, Romance, Science FictionTags: Amaranthine, Author Nina R Schluntz, fantasy, Horror, romance, sci-fi, The heart Of Decompose
Amaranthine: The Heart of Decompose
Nina R Schluntz
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror, Romance
Publisher: Rainstorm Press
Date of Publication: 19 December 2014
ISBN-10: 1937758532 / ISBN-13: 978-1937758530
Number of pages: 230 pages / Word Count: 80,580
Cover Artist: Nina Schluntz
Book Description:
Dragons, unicorns, fairies, zombies… and Santa.
At the center of it all stands Dee, a man immortalized in legend as Decompose. An ongoing war between unicorns and dragons has led to the creation of a plague… a deadly infection Dee is the host for. Not quite human, but not a unicorn either, Dee and the plague form a symbiotic relationship, resulting in immortality of the undead kind.
Every ruling Empire has desired control of Decompose. Controlling the infection means control of the people. An intervention of an old rival, Santa, results in Dee going missing. When he resurfaces decades later, Dee has one goal: locate the mythical cure to his plague.
However, complications of the heart force Dee to decide whether he truly wants to find the cure and give up being Decompose.
Available at Amazon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93Yoo-LcPZo&feature=youtu.be
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Excerpt
Jhon.
Dee focused on the name, pulling strength from it. Jhon contained the cure. Dee had to live so he could find Jhon. The cure was his way to correct all the wrongs he had done.
Dee ripped at the flesh surrounding him and clawed his way to the surface. The guts of the creature spilled out onto the ground, and he fell with them. He coughed, spitting out bodily fluids of the creature that had eaten him.
Jhon.
Dee rolled onto his side and threw up. The acidic stomach bile had left him temporarily disabled. His hearing returned before his vision and he heard voices near him.
“That?” A boyish voice asked. “That’s what you call a great and powerful present?”
“Trust me.” Another male voice said. “Throw the net on him and all your wishes will come true.”
“What is he, a genie?”
“You can treat him like one. He will be able to grant your every wish.” The older voice sounded familiar. Air rushed into Dee’s lungs, and his heart gave a painful beat. “Throw it over him now, before his strength returns.”
“Santa,” Dee managed to say. He gritted his newly mended teeth and gave a low growl. What did that man want now?
Dee’s vision returned in time for him to see a large, light- weight fishnet fall over his head and shoulders, covering his entire body. There was something claustrophobic about it. The more he struggled, the more of a mess he made of himself and the net.
“Stop moving around like that,” the boy said. Every muscle in Dee’s body stiffened. “Straighten the net out and get to your feet.” Dee moved as quickly as his wounded body would allow. His skin continued to burn from the acidic digestive juices still covering his flesh. The child before him didn’t look nearly as young as he’d expected. He was a teenager. And a dorky looking one at that, dressed in dark green pajamas with a cowlick on the back of his head.
“Santa, what is this?” Dee asked.
“Show me a trick,” the boy said. Dee obediently raised his hand and created a tennis ball sized orb of fire. It hovered in mid- air a few inches from his hand.
“He can do whatever you want,” Santa told the boy. “He is yours. No one will miss him. They all think he is dead.”
Dee put the fire out and lowered his hand. Fear rose through his healing body as he realized Santa was right. Dee had just crawled his way out of a dragon’s belly. Everyone who knew him thought a giant winged lizard had digested him. Even if someone searched for his remains, they would likely find nothing awry with his missing body.
“What is this?” he asked again.
“You’re my Christmas present,” the boy said.
Santa leaned in close to Dee. “The boy is clever, Dee. He caught me in a trap. You wouldn’t want all the children in the universe to miss the joy that Santa brings, would you? Of course, you wouldn’t. Therefore, I bartered with him. I gave him you in exchange for my freedom. You understand, don’t you?”
“You gave me to him as a present? I’m not an object to be owned.”
“Well, let’s be honest here, Dee. Most of your life has been spent in exactly that manner. At least this time your owner only wants you for your power, not your plague. Consider it a blessing—besides you’ll still have my visit to look forward to every Christmas Eve.”
My plague. Dee tried not to cringe at the reminder.
“Can you teleport him directly to the shower? He’s disgusting. My mother will throw a fit if he brings all that goop into the house.”
“Then you’ll take him?” Santa asked, as though Dee were a puppy for sale at the pet store.
“Yeah, he’ll do. Thank you, Santa.”
“I should have thought of this years ago,” Santa said.
“Santa, please,” Dee said. “I have to find Jhon before Emperor Emanuel does. He’s the only one who can cure the plague.”
“I’m sure Jhon will be fine without you, Dee.”
~~~~~
About the Author:
Nina Schluntz is a native to rural Nebraska. In her youth, she often wrote short stories to entertain her friends. Those ideas evolved into the novels she creates today.
Her husband continues to ensure her stories maintain a touch of realism as she delves in the science fiction and fantasy realm. And their kitty, a rescued Abyssinian, is always willing to stay up late to provide inspiration.
Visit her blog; mizner13.wordpress.com for information regarding previous and upcoming publications. She also posts book and movie reviews for a wide variety of genres.
Facebook / Amaranthine on Facebook / Twitter
Amaranthine on Goodreads / Goodreads Author Page
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Follow the tour for more fun posts!
May 11 Review
I Smell Sheep
May 11 Guest blog
Mythical Books
May 12 Guest blog
The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom
May 12 Spotlight
3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!
May 13 Spotlight
The Reading Head
May 13 Spotlight
Lisa’s World of Books
May 14 Interview and review
happy tails and tales
May 15 Guest post
Books Direct
May 18 Spotlight
Reily Garrett
May 18 Character Interview
Author Karen Swart
May 18 Spotlight
Mama Reads Hazel Reads
May 19 Review
Fanatical Paranormal Romantical
May 20 Interview
Eclipse Reviews
May 20 Spotlight
alwaysjoart
May 21 Guest blog
Fang-tastic Books
May 22 Spotlight
Sapphyria’s Book Reviews
May 22 Spotlight
fuonlyknew
May 25 Interview
Roxanne’s Realm
May 25 Spotlight
CBY Book Club
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!
To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!
A Mothman Mystery ~ Wrong Side Of The Grave by Bryna Butler ~ Tour Review & Giveaway
Posted: April 30, 2015 in Blog Tour, giveaways, Mystery, Paranormal or fantasy, reviews, Science FictionTags: all ages, Author Bryna Butler, Mothman Mysteries, mystery, sci-fi, Wrong Side Of The Grave
This book wasn’t what I expected. It was a very fun surprise. Aliens of all shapes and sizes. Walking dead but not really zombies. And a book blogger after my own heart.
I was thrilled to learn this book is appropriate for readers of all ages, so I can urge everyone to read it.
Check out the cool cover.
Enjoy my review and the fun excerpt.
And don’t forget to enter the giveaway!
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My Review
I have a confession to make. The cover art is why I read this book. I loved the fun graphics. Then I read the blurb and it sounded like a fun misadventure. And it was.
The two main characters couldn’t be more different.
Hot looking drummer, Eric, is not what he seems. He’s an offworlder, an alien. He’s a lot older than the teen he poses as. He has this handy gadget, looks like a tattoo, that gives him a human form so he’ll blend in. His accidental exposure in his alien form led to the legend of the Mothman. He’s over 9 feet tall, gray skinned, with glowing red eyes.
Bridget is a book blogger into paranormal romances. She loves to share the books she’s read. I had to laugh when she went off about an author killing one of their characters that she liked. We had that in common and I liked her right away. Best friends with Eric, she knows what he is and what he does.
Eric is a Harbinger, licensed to kill vampires by the offworlder council, with Men in Black to monitor him. His weapon of choice, his drumsticks. He even has names for them. Gotta laugh at that.
I had no idea what this book was about when I started reading it, but it didn’t take me long to figure it out. The first chapter had Eric dispatching a very nasty vampire.
And get this. Vampires are aliens too. The author gave a very interesting spin on this.
Then the story takes a really fun turn and the dead start rising in Point Pleasant. Kind of zombies, but not. They are recently dead, not prepared for burial yet, and they don’t eat people.
I like zombies any way I can get them so this amped up the fun and suspense for me.
A light hearted adventure, with vampires, aliens, and a book blogger. What a great scenario.
And I’m happy to be able to recommend this book to all ages. No sex. No bad language. No gore. Just clean, campy fun.
4 Stars
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There were so many quotes I wanted to share with you. I chose my favorite.
“He’s the missing piece, the skip between the heartbeats.”
This just dazzled me.
~~~
Synopsis
When the dearly departed of Point Pleasant start walking and talking, the Men in Black mark Mothman as suspect number one. A fun read, Wrong Side of the Grave is a fast-action Teen Sci-Fi Mystery with a paranormal twist.
Parent Approved: Contains no profanity or sexual content.
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Check out this excerpt!
“You look at me as if you know me.”
“I like to think I do.” I keep it light and flash her a flirty grin as I continue to be clever. “I’m not lying when I say that from the first moment I saw you, I wanted to get you alone.”
Kendall seems amused by my response. Her lips tighten to a thin line, pulling up in the corners. She turns from me but keeps her hold on my hand, pulling me a few slow steps away from the door.
“Honestly, I don’t know why I bother trying to make these connections,” she says. She doesn’t look at me while she says it, but I’m looking at her. She walks like she’s dancing. Her movements are so graceful they nearly defy gravity.
I watch as Kendall’s blond curls bounce against her back with each careful step around the mud. I watch as her arms swing open for balance. Her pale skin catches the moonlight so that it glistens.
“I suppose it’s my age showing,” she continues, not paying a bit of attention to me. “I’ve become a granny rambling on about who’s related to who. I need to learn that it doesn’t matter in the scheme of things. Whether we have met before is of no consequence this close to the end.”
I laugh. That’s just like the old ones. Slipping up when they think they’re safe; when they think they’re in control. To her, I’m already dead.
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About Author
Bryna Butler is a journalism-trained writer having authored dozens of articles and financial publications before taking the leap into fiction in 2011. Her first book, Of Sun & Moon, skyrocketed to number one on Kindle top free charts in the categories of Teen/YA Supernatural Mystery, Teen/YA Romantic Mystery, and Teen/YA Time Travel in the U.S. and U.K. when the title went to free status in 2014. Butler’s work is free of profanity and sexual content making them safe reads for pre-teen as well as teen readers.
Buy Links
Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon Canada ~ Amazon Australia
Apple iBooks ~ B&N ~ Kobo
Pre-order your Paperback edition directly from the author HERE.
Connect
Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ YouTube
Wrong Side of the Grave Playlist
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Click on the banner below to follow the tour and comment.
The more you comment, the more chances to win.
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!
To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!
It’s a 4 for Friday Blitz and Giveaway!
Posted: September 26, 2014 in Blitz, Dystopian, Fantasy, giveaways, Romance, Science Fiction, YATags: Authors Abi Ketner & Missy Kalicicki, dystopian, fantasy, romance, sci-fi, YA
Welcome to the 4 for Friday Blitz for Crown of Ice by Vicki L. Weavil, Fire in the Woods by Jennifer M. Eaton, Avian by Nicole Conway, and Branded by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki, presented by Month9Books!
Usually I have a Cover Reveal and Giveaway for ya. Instead I have the 4 For Friday.
Just check out these spectacular books with their amazing covers.
Authors Abi & Missy have put together a super giveaway too so don’t forget to enter!
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Thyra Winther’s seventeen, the Snow Queen, and immortal, but if she can’t reassemble a shattered enchanted mirror by her eighteenth birthday she’s doomed to spend eternity as a wraith.
Armed with magic granted by a ruthless wizard, Thyra schemes to survive with her mind and body intact. Unencumbered by kindness, she kidnaps local boy Kai Thorsen, whose mathematical skills rival her own. Two logical minds, Thyra calculates, are better than one. With time rapidly melting away she needs all the help she can steal.
A cruel lie ensnares Kai in her plan, but three missing mirror shards and Kai’s childhood friend, Gerda, present more formidable obstacles. Thyra’s willing to do anything – venture into uncharted lands, outwit sorcerers, or battle enchanted beasts — to reconstruct the mirror, yet her most dangerous adversary lies within her breast. Touched by the warmth of a wolf pup’s devotion and the fire of a young man’s desire, the thawing of Thyra’s frozen heart could be her ultimate undoing.
CROWN OF ICE is a YA Fantasy that reinvents Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen” from the perspective of a young woman who discovers that the greatest threat to her survival may be her own humanity.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Chapters Indigo! | TBD | iBooks
Vicki Lemp Weavil was raised in a farming community in Virginia, where her life was shaped by a wonderful family, the culture of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and an obsession with reading. Since obtaining her undergraduate degree in Theatre from the University of Virginia, she’s gone on to acquire two masters degrees, living in places as diverse as New York City and rural North Carolina. She’s currently the library director for a performing an visual arts university. Vicki loves good writing in any genre, and has been known to read seven books in as many days. She enjoys travel, gardening, and the arts. Vicki lives in North Carolina with her husband, son, and some very spoiled cats.
Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Tumbler
When a plane crashes in the woods near Jess’s home, the boy of her dreams falls out of the sky—literally. But David’s not here to find a girlfriend. He’s from another planet, and if Jess can’t help him get back to his ship, he’ll be stuck on Earth with nothing to look forward to but the pointy end of a dissection scalpel.
But her father runs their house like an army barracks, and with an alien on the loose, Major Dad isn’t too keen on the idea of Jess going anywhere. Ever. So how the heck is she supposed to help the sweetest, strangest, and cutest guy she’s ever met?
Hiding him in her room probably isn’t the best idea. Especially since her Dad is in charge of the squadron searching for David. That doesn’t mean she won’t do it. It just means she can’t get caught.
Helping David get home while protecting her heart—that’s gonna be the hard part. After all, she can’t really fall for a guy who’s not exactly from here.
As they race through the woods with Major Dad and most of the U.S. military one breath behind them, Jess and David grow closer than either of them anticipated. But all is not what it seems. David has a genocide-sized secret, and one betrayal later, they are both in handcuffs as alien warships are positioning themselves around the globe. Time is ticking down to Armageddon, and Jess must think fast if she’s to save the boy she cares about without sacrificing Earth—and everyone on it.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Chapters Indigo! | iBooks
Corporate Team Leader by day, and Ranting Writer by night. Jennifer M. Eaton calls the East Coast of the USA home, where she lives with her husband, three energetic boys, and a pepped up poodle.
Jennifer hosts an informational blog “A Reference of Writing Rants for Writers (or Learn from My Mistakes)” aimed at helping all writers be the best they can be.
Beyond writing and motivating others, she also enjoys teaching her dog to jump through hoops—literally.
Jennifer’s perfect day includes long hikes in the woods, bicycling, swimming, snorkeling, and snuggling up by the fire with a great book; but her greatest joy is using her over-active imagination constructively… creating new worlds for everyone to enjoy.
Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
What kind of power is lurking inside him?
After a year of training to become a dragonrider, Jaevid Broadfeather has been sent home to rest during a three-month interlude. But when he returns to find the king drake has chosen Beckah Derrick as his new rider, Jaevid realizes something big is about to happen. Every fiber of his being is pushed to the breaking point as Jaevid battles through his avian year, preparing for the final graduation test of the battle scenario. But there is more standing in his way than a few pushups and fancy sword moves.
Jaevid must face a new fear as he is tormented by a gruesome nightmare of a mysterious gray elf warrior murdering the royal family of Maldobar. It seems obvious to him that this is some kind of message about how the war started long ago—until Felix assures him the king is very much alive. With his strange powers growing stronger by the day, and that violent dream replaying in his mind every night, Jaevid no longer wonders if he will pass his avian year or not . . . he wonders if he will even survive it.
The truth will soon be set loose.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Chapters Indigo! | TBD | IndieBound | iBooks
Nicole is the author of the children’s fantasy series, THE DRAGONRIDER CHRONICLES, about a young boy’s journey into manhood as he trains to become a dragonrider. She has completed the first two books in the series, and is now working on the third and final book.
Originally from a small town in North Alabama, Nicole moves frequently due to her husband’s career as a pilot for the United States Air Force. She received a B.A. in English with a concentration in Classics from Auburn University, and will soon attend graduate school.
She has previously worked as a freelance and graphic artist for promotional companies, but has now embraced writing as a full-time occupation.
Nicole enjoys hiking, camping, shopping, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends. She also loves watching children’s movies and collecting books. She lives at home with her husband, two cats, and dog.
Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Fifty years ago The Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadly sins were the downfall of society.
To punish the guilty, he created the Hole, a place where sinners are branded according to their sins. Sinners are forced to live a less than human existence in deplorable conditions, under the watchful eye of guards who are ready to kill anyone who steps out of line.
Now, LUST wraps around my neck like thick, blue fingers, threatening to choke the life out of me. I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit, and the Hole is my new home.
Constant darkness.
Brutal and savage violence.
Excruciating pain.
Every day is a fight for survival.
But I won’t let them win. I will not die in the Hole.
I am more than my brand. I’m a fighter. My name is Lexi Hamilton, and this is my story.
Abi and Missy met in the summer of 1999 at college orientation and have been best friends ever since. After college, they added jobs, husbands and kids to their lives, but they still found time for their friendship. Instead of hanging out on weekends, they went to dinner once a month and reviewed books. What started out as an enjoyable hobby has now become an incredible adventure.
Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumbler
Two (2) winners will receive a paperback copy of Predator by Janice Gable Bashman, Crown of Ice by Vicki L. Weavil, Into the Fire by Ashleyn Drake, Scion of the Sun by Nicola Marsh, and To Bear and Iron Key by Jackie Morse Kessler with some Month9Books Swag (US ONLY)
- Three (3) winners will receive digital copies of Predator by Janice Gable Bashman, Crown of Ice by Vicki L. Weavil, Into the Fire by Ashleyn Drake, Scion of the Sun by Nicola Marsh, and To Bear and Iron Key by Jackie Morse Kessler (INT)
Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!
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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!
To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!
Win Shudder ~ Stitch Trilogy Book 2 by Samantha Durante
Posted: July 17, 2013 in apocalypse, Blog Tour, Dystopian, giveaways, SeriesTags: dystopian, empath, fantasy, post-apocalyptic, sci-fi, YA
I am beyond thrilled to be a part of the tour for Shudder, Book 2 of the Stitch Trilogy
I have an exciting sneak peek for you, along with my review!
And, a giveaway! Don’t forget to enter.
Genre/Keywords: Dystopian, Paranormal Romance, Post-Apocalyptic, Young Adult, New Adult, Psychic Abilities, Empath, Clairvoyance, YA, NA
Length: ~80,000 words (348 pages)
Sample Chapters: Ch1-4 (31 pages)
Release Date: June 15th, 2013
Shudder Synopsis
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 second installment in the electrifying Stitch Trilogy, Shudder follows Samantha Durante’s shocking and innovative debut with a heart-pounding, paranormal-dusted dystopian adventure sure to keep the pages turning.
Shudder Purchase Links
Amazon (Kindle $2.99, print $8.99)
Barnes & Noble (Nook $2.99)
Smashwords (multiple e-book formats $2.99) Also available ($2.99 e-book) in the iTunes store, Kobo, and wherever e-books are sold
EXCERPT
Alessa looked back to Isaac, who was crouched and picking among the broken glass. She watched him slip something into his pocket, but before she could ask what he’d found, a loud bang echoed from down the hall ahead of them.
Isaac looked up at her at once and they both froze, waiting. The tension of the silence clotted in the air as Alessa held her breath in suspense.
When no other sound came, Isaac stood tentatively and inched over to Alessa, placing a gentle hand on the small of her back and motioning ahead with a nod.
She pointed the flashlight in the direction of the sound and they set off with quiet footsteps in search of its source.
As they reached the department store at the far end of the hallway, they paused, staring into the blackness beyond the threshold. Alessa gripped the flashlight and felt Isaac’s hand slide on top of hers, the pressure of his fingers pointing the torch downward and flicking off the light with a click.
They were plunged into night.
They stepped tentatively into the dark room and gave their eyes another moment to adjust. From what Alessa could tell, it seemed the clothing racks had all been pushed to the sides, leaving a big open space in the center of the room.
She took another few steps to get a better look.
And that’s when it hit her – an abrupt slam in the face as if she’d pivoted into a wall of brick, and the full-body crash of a tidal wave of pain.
Alessa sunk to her knees, a soul-crushing rush of sorrow and terror flooding her consciousness and draining every ounce of strength from her body.
Like a blow to the gut, the air raced from her lungs and she crumpled over, her face smacking against the cool linoleum of the floor.
A thousand images flashed before her eyes, people and places she didn’t recognize jumbled with thoughts and feelings that she knew were not her own. Alessa squeezed her eyes shut, her mind pressing outward against the onslaught barraging her senses, but it was no use.
The torrent pounded through her, raging. Helpless against it, Alessa poured her concentration into the only thing she could think to do – the simple act of breathing.
In, out.
In, out.
In, out.
She drank each shallow breath and waited in agony for the deluge to end.
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My Review
Alessa and Isaac set off to find a secure base for all of those wanting out of Paragon.
They worry that the virus may still be out there, but soon discover they are being stalked by creatures, swift moving things that remain in the shadows of the forest, shrieking their rage.
As they escape an attack, something happens to Alessa. She is frozen in place as her mind is overpowered with fear, frustration and fury. She doesn’t know how it’s happening, but she’s experiencing these creatures feelings and it terrifies her.
They have to hurry. People are waiting for them to return with a location for their safe haven and Alessa has to get her sister, Janie, out of the clutches of the Ruling Class.
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I finished reading Shudder in one sitting, never taking a break.
I could feel it in the authors writing, I was nearing the end of the book. No, not yet!
I needed to know why Joe featured so strongly in Alessa’s mind, what happened to her sister, and where the virus came from.
Samantha started to wrap up the ending while subtly layering in leads to the finale, Stuck. the last book in this trilogy. I liked that. Sure, I didn’t get all of the answers I wanted, but I did get a lot of insight into what the ‘stitch’ was and why and how it was used.
I also learned about the Ruling Class and their reasoning behind the stitch, even though I suspect some, if not most, of them were lying.
It’s no surprise that humanity didn’t learn its lesson. You’d think after all that has been written and studied, all of the wealth of info there is, they would know better. But no, the Ruling Class do the same things as before, believing they know what’s good for all. They buy into their own lies and block out the moral compass screaming stop, and do whatever is necessary to benefit the greater good. And we wonder why we don’t trust our government. Too many chiefs.
I felt twinges of The Matrix and Aeon Flux while reading this. Shudder reads like a dystopian, post-apocalyptic science fiction story. The author did an amazing job of blending these genre into an exciting, addictive series.
It makes me wonder. If Stitch and Shudder are so great, what is Stuck going to be like? I’m sure it’ll be thrilling.
5 Stars
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Haven’t read the first book in the series? Check out my review here.
Just $0.99 at Amazon!
Blurb
Her heart races, her muscles coil, and every impulse in Alessa’s body screams at her to run… but yet she’s powerless to move.
Still struggling to find her footing after the sudden death of her parents, the last thing college freshman Alessa has the strength to deal with is the inexplicable visceral pull drawing her to a handsome ghostly presence. In between grappling with exams and sorority soirees – and disturbing recurring dreams of being captive in a futuristic prison hell – Alessa is determined to unravel the mystery of the apparition who leaves her breathless. But the terrifying secret she uncovers will find her groping desperately through her nightmares for answers.
Because what Alessa hasn’t figured out yet is that she’s not really a student, the object of her obsession is no ghost, and her sneaking suspicions that something sinister is lurking behind the walls of her university’s idyllic campus are only just scratching the surface…
The opening installment in a twist-laden trilogy, Stitch spans the genres of paranormal romance and dystopian sci-fi to explore the challenges of a society in transition, where morality, vision, and pragmatism collide leaving the average citizen to suffer the results.
Stitch Purchase Links.
Amazon (Kindle $0.99, print $8.99)
Barnes & Noble (Nook $0.99)
Smashwords (multiple e-book formats $0.99) Also available ($0.99 e-book) in the iTunes store, Kobo, and wherever e-books are sold!
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A little birdie told me the third book, will be releasing in 2014!
Book 3 in the Stitch Trilogy. Expected Publication: Summer 2014. More information coming soon!
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I have an e-book copy of Shudder to give away!
To enter, click on the rafflecopter link below.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Samantha Durante lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband, Sudeep, and her cat, Gio. Formerly an engineer at Microsoft, Samantha left the world of software in 2010 to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams and a lifelong love of writing. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology, Samantha is currently working full time for her company Medley Media Associates as a freelance business writer and communications consultant. The Stitch Trilogy is her debut series.— Social Media Links —
Facebook: Stitch Trilogy | Author Samantha Durante
Goodreads: Stitch | Shudder | Author Samantha Durante
Twitter: @SamanthaDurante | Hashtag suggestions: #Stitch, #StitchTrilogy, #Shudder
LibraryThing: Stitch | Shudder | Author Samantha Durante
Shelfari: Stitch | Shudder | Author Samantha Durante
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